Can't believe it's been a month since uploading the past chapter...

Chapter nine: Melonpan-chan and Currypan-kun

4/14 Saturday: Afternoon; Anna's

It was a good thing Morgan had told Robin and Robyn to turn in early for the night, otherwise the pair could have stayed up all night playing Generals of Hyrule. Morgan pointed out that they both looked tired, so they listened to her counsel. An outing in the Halidom had taken its toll on their minds and bodies.

So the weekend came, and with no school either. Dressed in their weekend clothes, Robin wore a collared shirt under a peacoat, while Robyn wore the sweater, scarf, and skirt she had bought last weekend. When they saw each other upon walking out of their rooms, they greeted each other simultaneously. Maybe Robin was a little biased, but Robyn looked sharp.

"What do you think, Robin-kun?" she said. "Do I look good?"

"Perfect." When Robyn raised her eyes thinking that Robin was sarcastic, he added, "No, really! If I were you, I would have picked the same style and colours. And you know, I think plaid looks fine for a skirt. It's–"

"Not too boring?" Robyn finished for him. "My thoughts exactly." They couldn't help but laugh, as if perfectly timed. They decided to do some shopping at Anna's to get more basic supplies. And it helped that they had new funds from their last outing, which helped.

It wasn't long until Robyn picked out their choices for lunch for the upcoming week. While they were at it, they also bought a new SIM card for Robyn's phone, ingredients to make dinner if there was time, and a few bento boxes for themselves and Morgan.

4/15 Sunday: Evening; Parthia Plaza, Finest Armoury

But food was only a small part of their agenda the following day. The weight of the Fire Emblem in Robyn's bag reminded her that she still was on a mission. At Parthia Plaza, there happened to be a specialist shop called Finest Armoury which was the sort of place neither Robyn nor Robin would venture regularly. But as far as they were concerned, anything that might help them had to be considered. After spending the day studying at home, Robin informed Chrom of Robyn's new phone number which would then be shared with the rest of the Shepherds.

From the name of Finest Armoury alone, they supposed it sold weapons. Not that it was exactly legal to brandish these weapons in public in Iris-shi. Chrom had made sure of that. Was the shop more so for collectors and so on? The owner, a middle-aged man with balding hair and a moustache, greeted Robyn and Robin with a rough voice.

"G'day! What can I fix you with?!"

That set the serious tone already the moment when Robyn and Robin walked in.

"Uh… Sir." Robin bowed politely. "We were only interested in some of your works."

"Right, right. Swords are at the back, axes on this side, lances on the other," the owner pointed to the displays all around the shop. "Finest weapons you will ever see in Iris-shi, if not the kingdom."

For more reasons Robyn couldn't explain, she knew which were the right weapons she and Robin needed and their respective strengths. By default, Chrom wielded Falchion, but everyone else also needed their own weapons. In her case, she could wield a tome and sword. Lissa could hold an axe but might be more useful as a supporter. Frederick and Sumia…

She didn't even realise how long she had been deep in thought when she heard Robin quietly said her name. Snapping back to reality, Robyn looked at the prices of the weapons. They were relatively cheap compared to the other weapons on the racks. There were also more expensive weapons which left Robyn to wonder how much more effective they would be in the field. And what about the tomes, anyway? Was it possible that Finest Armoury could carry some of those? Unlikely.

To Robyn's surprise, Robin did exactly that. Where she thought of doing it, Robin was actually doing it. He talked with the owner and to Robyn's further surprise they started to negotiate over price.

Was it possible that Robin was smarter than her?! Did he have better social skills or something? If so, then what was she doing wrong. It occurred to Robyn that Robin wasn't as similar to her as thought. Maybe some differences were expected, but not at like a micro scale.

"Alrighty, then. The price is right," the owner said. "I'll get me contact to do as you wished. Expect them for pickup this week." When Robin nodded, the owner replied, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Robyn hadn't decided on leaving yet. So when Robin went up to her asking what was on her mind, she decided on getting more equipment for the rest of the Shepherds – at least those that were for sure going to the Halidom. There were some staffs lined up on display which left Robyn wondering if other Shepherds could use them. Perhaps… Lissa?

Someone else had walked into the store. Oh. Speaking of which, Lissa herself had walked in with Maribelle.

"Lissa, you know it's not very ladylike to buy weapons."

"Come on, Maribelle! It'll be fine! You know what's at stake. We will need them."

Robyn and Robin exchanged glances. Like Maribelle, they hadn't expected Lissa to walk into the weapons store without Chrom or Frederick. They assumed either one would have given better advice on picking out a weapon, but that wasn't happening. So when Lissa and Maribelle noticed them already in the store, they both waved at them and went up to them.

"Fancy meeting you two here!" Lissa said. "Getting ready already?"

"Perfect timing, Lissa…chan," Robyn added the honorific late. "Robin-kun and I were discussing whether you might like using staffs, like for support roles. Or maybe use a tome like we do."

Lissa took a moment to hold the staff Robyn offered her, thinking about what she could do with it and whether she liked the balance of it. The staff was tempting, but a tome seemed practical. Perhaps she could use both. "Hmm… What to do, what to do. I know Chrom and Frederick need their backs watched, so it might help…" She was caught in a dilemma, apparently.

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Lissa. Just buy the lot!" Maribelle demanded. "We can sort out who likes what later."

Maribelle had a point. Why couldn't they just buy the entire stock for the Shepherds to try?

4/20 Friday: After School; Yllistol High School, Student Council Room

The week of school flew by. At Lissa's request, the equipment bought from Finest Armoury was locked up temporarily until Chrom and Frederick could determine a permanent place for the weapons. But for all practical and discretionary reasons, keeping them in the student council room for now was easiest. So when the weekend neared, Chrom assembled the Shepherds in the student council room for a briefing.

"If we are going to launch outings out to, as Robyn-chan calls it, the Halidom, I think we will need a new permanent base of operations," Chrom stated, after outlining the objectives. "We need to get a good measure of what we're up against, and we need to keep an eye on the daylight hours. We can't expect to use the student council room the entire time either. Speaking of, why don't you find something you'll be comfortable with?"

The weapons from Finest Armoury were laid out before them in the middle of the room. Perhaps there were too many as they ranged from axes and lances to bows and staves. One by one, the Shepherds went ahead to look at which weapon they were comfortable with.

"I didn't think we'd be on the warpath, but whatever you say, Chrom-sama," Sully said. She went ahead with the others to grab a lance.

Sumia held onto the lance she had used in the Halidom earlier, seeing as was already comfortable with it. Robyn personally was impressed that no one objected to carrying a weapon, but she couldn't blame them. They had witnessed the work of the Fire Emblem and Chrom's account was good enough. As the weapons were selected, Robyn and Robin noted the number of lance-wielders and axe-wielders were roughly even. Gaius had taken a sword and Tharja had taken a tome.

"Wait… Where's Kellam?" Robyn said.

"I'm right here?" a voice said out of the blue.

Robyn and Robin turned towards the voice, yet couldn't make out where it came from. Then Kellam appeared as if out of thin air beside them. They jolted a little but held their cool.

"How does he do that…?" Robyn remarked. She was nudged by Robin, as if to remind her of something. Not that it was hard to remember what.

"I'm sure we can designate someone to watch the daylight, or at least ones who don't need to fight," Robyn said. "Someone who could watch when the sun rises and when it sets. On the other hand, why don't we keep using the rooftop as our staging ground? It's probably the most inconspicuous place to enter the Halidom."

Chrom looked at Robin, and then to the rest of the group. "It might be our best bet for now. Sure, let's continue meeting at the rooftop from now on. Frederick. You're keeping track of the daylight hours, okay?"

"Me? But why me?" Frederick replied. A moment passed, and then he quickly added, "Yes, yes! I shall do so! There will not a single day where I will wake up after the sunrise! It will be done."

Robin and Robyn almost wanted to laugh. They knew that Frederick would go incredible lengths to do anything Chrom asked. Perhaps too incredible.

Afterwards, Robin and Robyn raced to the school shop before it closed for the day. Gaius and Stahl had followed them in the hopes of getting a bite to eat themselves. When Stahl watched Robin and Robyn race through the hallway, he was a little puzzled.

"Like, I get why they would be hungry. I'm always starved too," Stahl said. "But don't you think their tastes are too similar?"

"I'll go miles for candy," Gaius said. His face broke into a grin. "I know Melonpan-chan likes melon pan as much as Robin, so you can't complain there. That reminds me, I need to think of a new name for Robin so I can't confuse her with Melonpan-chan."

It took a moment for Stahl to realise 'Melonpan-chan' was Robyn. "Really, Gaius? Melon pan?"

"You have to admit, it works." Gaius watched Robin and Robyn literally go at each other's arms and necks fighting for their place at the school shop. That also made Gaius curious. What was the school shop selling at this time?

It was obvious that the melon pan had sold out already. There were none left. Nevertheless the clerk had a few other goodies left on the shelves. Among them was the contrast to the melon pan: the savoury curry pan that, while not as fast-selling as the melon pan, provided a taste living up to any expectations of a student at Ylisstol High.

There was only one curry pan left on the shelf.

"I was – here – first!" Robin said.

"So – was – I!" Robyn said between breaths, trying to hold off Robin with her arm.

The shop clerk almost smiled. She had seen many faces at Yllistol High but these two were memorable. It hadn't been seven days since these two were fighting for a melon plan and now they were at it again, fighting over the last curry pan. She recognised Robin at least. "You'll have to settle this between yourselves," she said to Robin and Robyn.

"I want the curry pan," Robyn and Robin said at the same time.

And after saying that, they looked at each other, partly amused and partly annoyed.

"Hey, Melonpan-chan." And the voice of Gaius had sent a twinge of annoyance through Robyn's mind.

Robyn's eyes became wide and her face started to flush. "Gaius-kun! No! Don't even start–" And before Robyn knew it, Robin had swiped the remaining curry pan from the school shop and paid for it. The next moment, Robin had the curry pan in his hands. "ARGH! Gaius-kun! You made me lose my chance for the last curry pan!"

Gaius felt like he had this conversation before. In a way, he had. That conversation was with Robin last week. So he repeated the same offer he had made to Robyn to Robin last week, that he would go steal a curry pan for him.

An offer Robin flatly rejected.

"No thanks, Gaius. I'll just… go without food until I get home," Robin said. "I'll buy you some Pocki at Parthia Plaza…" Robin trailed off. He had only just noticed that Gaius was looking at him intently. "What is it? Are you okay?"

It was as if a light had gone on in Gaius' brain. "I only just noticed how similar you and Melonpan-chan look." On saying that, Robyn clenched her fists. Although Gaius didn't notice. "We can't confuse Robyn-chan and Robin-kun! So, Robin, you too need a new name…"

Gaius glanced at the curry pan Robyn was munching on. "Okay! I'll call you Currypan-kun from now on. Sound good? No need to complain if it doesn't sound good enough." Before Robin could even react, Gaius had already turned about and left. "See you, Currypan-kun!"

Robin was left dumbfounded. And in an act of pity, Robyn broke half of curry pan and handed it to him, which he gratefully accepted.

"Melonpan-chan and Currypan-kun…? I guess we do need some way to tell you apart."

Robyn and Robin jumped.

"S-Stahl-kun!" Robyn said. "How long have you been standing here?"

"You're not trying to learn from Kellam, are you?" Robin asked. "It would be creepy if you did."

Stahl bought a fried jam bread. "I just have an appetite, that's all."

Robin and Robyn exchanged glances. They both knew Stahl too well that he would always bring up food whenever. He was simply too average of a person.

I don't know what got into me to name our protagonists after food, but I had fun doing so. Also, if you have any ideas they could be doing at school or outside school, let me know!