Chapter 2: Arle: Meeting Up with Old Friends by warelander

As students across the entire school filled the halls, to each of their desired destinations, Arle made her way to the Rec Room.

While entering she was quickly greeted with the sight of several small groups of students hitting it up with each other, happy to at least spend more time with each other again. More importantly, though, she spotted a table with the trio she had come to see.

Sig, who was gently petting a ladybug, sitting on his red arm, with one finger. Marvett, who was busy writing something on her tablet with her spirited co-writer, Rabbie. And of course, her boyfriend and local RPG dork Lagnus, who was meticulously preparing everything needed for an upcoming roleplaying session.

Smiling, Arle made her way to their table, seeing them all so occupied with their passions, too off in their own little comfort spaces to notice her arrival. Slowly, she snuck up on Lagnus, who was sorting out a couple of story cards, when all of the sudden he felt a pair of arms wrapped around him.

''Huh?'' He couldn't help but utter, in confusion, which was soon replaced with contentedness as he turned his head to see a familiar bed of orange hair next to him. It made it easy to guess who's head had just begun to rest on his shoulder.

''Ah, hey Arle!'' The boy exclaimed, causing his friends to look up and do the same, both offering a smile in her reaction, which the tomboy returned in kind.

Lagnus
Age Reverse Curse RPG-er

''Oh, man.'' She exclaimed, while sitting down next to Lagnus, with backpack resting on her lap. ''I swear, Akuma's speech gets longer every year. Good thing I left the zipper a little open, right Carby?''

''Gugu!''

A sound familiar to everyone involved emerged from inside the backpack and sure enough, Arle's rabbit-like pet Carbuncle quickly made a leap out, right in front of Arle, on the table, happily flailing all the while.

Carbuncle
Ruby-Indented Gugubbit

''You gotta watch out, I think the teachers were onto something last year...'' Marvett advised while rubbing the chin of her rabbit-like thing, Rabbie. Both having helped to keep Carbuncle hidden in the past.

Marvett
Spirit-Infused Novel Enthusiast

Mr. Rabbisuke
Marvett's Writing Attention Manager

''Yeah I know, I'll be careful. It's risky, but I just can't let him alone at home for so long. Isn't that right, Carby?''

The little animal Gugu'd in agreement, gladly jumping into Arle's arms as the girl reached out to embrace him, filling the room giggles.

Sig always did love seeing Arle like this, so happy and carefree, when she wasn't in some kind of competition or trying to be strong for someone else. It wasn't lost on Marvett that Sig had been looking at the girl across the table in a dreamy way...or at least as dreamy as his expressions gave away. She saw it enough times to read her childhood friend like a book, giving him a light nudge, to snap him out.

Feeling a elbow in his arm Sig turned to Marvett, soon realizing what she was getting at. Looking back to the other side of the table he was lucky to discover that neither Lagnus nor Arle seemed to notice, with the former being too busy setting up the RPG and occasionally gazing at his girlfriend, while Arle was still occupied with cuddling Carbuncle.

Still, even then he wanted to somehow distract from what just happened, fumbling in his head to think of a conversation topic.

''Uhm...any plans for this school year?'' He threw into the room, catching Arle and Lagnus a little off guard.

Sig
Spacey and Hard-to-Read Lad

''I want to get my first full novel done.'' Marvett responded, having caught on to what Sig was getting at.

''I want to keep my streak as the best track-runner at school up.'' Arle replied, not surprising anyone in the room.

Lagnus meanwhile just leaned back in his chair, sighing. ''I just want to survive this last year of having to put up with the bullies...but what about you, Sig?'' He couldn't help but wonder. ''It's not something you'd usually ask. Do you have something in mind for this year?''

''Uhm.'' The boy stammered, not sure how to respond. ''No-no, not really no...''

It didn't take much to notice that Sig seemed almost a little embarrassed to admit he was the only one without a goal, something all of his friends quickly caught onto.

''Hey, don't sweat it.'' Arle tried to comfort. ''As long as you are happy it's all good and plans can always come on their own later, right?''

''Right.'' The cyan boy agreed, shifting his expression back to a smile, which Arle returned, both just gazing at each other with an air of comradery around them.

Soon after, everyone's attention shifted to the ringtone on Lagnus' phone, signaling that a text message had arrived. The boy quickly got hold of his phone and indeed, the message was what he expected.

''It's from Maguro. He and Ringo are gonna be here in about 10 minutes.'' He threw into the group. ''Sig also said that Jaan is with the cheerleaders today, so she won't be coming. What about Sil though?''

''Oh yeah! Arle beamed at the thought. ''It's been a while since she hung with all of us together, I'm sure she'd love to!'' With almost lightning speed, Arle grabbed her phone, typing on the digital keyboard with impressive speed.

Arle Nadja: Hey sis! I'm at the REC Room with Lagnus and the others, come on and hang out with us, it'll be fun!
Silv Nadja: No
Arle Nadja: Pretty please? You can bring Rafisol too, I'm sure she'd love some more company too.
Silv Nadja: No
Arle Nadja: Why not? What's the problem?
Silv Nadja: No
Arle Nadja: Fine be like that.

''What did she say?'' Marvett asked, noting the irritated look in Arle's face.

''She's not coming, because she wants to be a real Ms. GrumpyPants today for some reason.'' Arle ranted almost more to herself then the response, visibly rolling her eyes, though Lagnus next to her stayed calm.

''Ah well, she might just be irritable since it's the first day of school. Give her a day or two.'' He said, putting an arm across Arle's shoulders as he did so.

''Probably yeah.'' Arle agreed, while chuckling to herself a little. ''She is the more moody between us after all.''

And so, the couple nuzzled close to each other, off in their own world. Marvett turned to see Sig, who had pulled out his own phone, to instead direct his attention to write Jaan a message, until the two lovebirds were more available for communication again.

Not that she could blame him.

Authors' Notes:

EDIT: Changed the Google Translated "Rabbisque", to the Precise Museum translated "Rabbisuke". Both writers are glad they mostly used the nickname because we knew "Rabbisque" was wrong.