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"a... seraph? what's a seraph?" her eyebrows knit together and she looked the other girl up and down. maybe if sister hel was here , she could ask her, but she wasn't. "is that like some kind of angel? i haven't met one of those before! i've only encountered demons and a queen from the underworld!" maybe this angel could help her people in the future if and whenever queen distiny came back.

solange, with the smallest of tears in her eyes, perks up and smiles. "oh thank goodness!! i was so worried that you were really going to hurt the birds! i'd hate for that to happen!" there would be no killing or harming of any animals while she was around! she'd make sure of that! animals were their friends and unless they posed a threat to the world, she didn't see the point in harming them.

"mmm..." she looks around and realizes that she doesn't know where she is - something she'd probably noticed earlier but had otherwise been distracted. "n-no! i suppose i don't! but i know both my friends can handle themselves quite well. ali-chan helped me escape my castle when the distron army took over and lady zozo-sama was able to make herself a new body with magic! but i worry still! if you could help me find them or if we find zozo's sister, that'd be even better!"

edna thinks about messing with her, but given solange's ditziness, it doesn't seem worth it anymore. edna enjoys messing with people, but not when they don't know how to play along. that's boring. ❛  a seraph is a divine being that has connections to one of the four elements. i'm an earth seraph, so i have earth powers. rest assured: we're not demons from the underworld.  ❜ although, if solange had more intelligence, maybe edna would've poked fun at that anyway. 

what a princess, she thinks, rolling her eyes. ❛  distron army? you're being chased by an army?  ❜ ugh, great. and here edna thought it was already enough dealing with rolance and hyland when sorey was still around. lovely. ❛  fine, whatever. i'll help, but only because i'm bored.  ❜ ( and well, she can understand being separated from someone and wandering alone. ) edna looks at her. ❛  but since we apparently don't have any leads, i'll pick this way to go.  ❜ she gestures to a path that looks relatively peaceful. 

startled, edna blinks and echoes, ❛  'na-chan...?'  ❜ huh... that sounds cute, actually... but still, how could she have the audacity to call them friends already? they literally just met. she still doesn't quite understand humans, even now. she was hoping to have some fun by butchering solange's name, but she seems to actually like it! if it were meebo, he would've already been complaining—and that's fun to edna!

“Oh! So you're like an angel!” She beams brightly at her newfound friend and grabs one of her hands earnestly. Her sword falls to the ground with a loud thud. “Well, Miss Angel-chan! I’ll help you find whoever or whatever you're looking for! And you can also call me Sol-chan or just Solange is fine, too!” She lets go of Na-chan's hand and hastily picks up her family’s sacred sword. She didn't know what her father nor her brother would say to her dropping it. Actually she could see both scolding her, but Schwartz was looking after the kingdom for her and their father was no longer around courtesy of Queen Distiny. Just thinking about that upset her. If only there were some way to either turn back time or bring her father back. 

But Solange shakes her head ‘No’ in response to Na-chan's explanation about the army. “Oh no! Not anymore! My friends and I stopped them for the time being.” She puts a finger to her chin in concentration. “Although Schwartz said there was a chance they could return in the future, but I have faith in the future generations of my kingdom.” She gives her friend a smile and then asks, “Are there armies here? I spent quite a lot of time running from one so I can always give you tips if need be!” She begins to follow Na-chan in the direction they're now taking. Everything was so strange here and a variance of both light and darkness seemed to cloud the land. Was it possible that wherever she was at was feeling the effects of the Distron army? Or were they having their own problems? 

She puffs out her cheeks. “N-no!! I do not!!” It wasn't her fault her companions had been drawn to her. And they were all so nice to boot! “I-if you don't like being friends, Na-chan, I understand.” She twindles her fingers together and continues to pout. She'd never been rejected by anyone before when it came to friendship. She sniffled. It hurts! “Ali-chan is Ali-chan and Na-chan is Na-chan!” Truly a simplistic way to think! “I haven't known you too long, but I do know that you're much different than Ali! But you're both deserving of having such affection attached to your names!” She stops twindling her fingers as the wind softly blows through her golden locks. “But if you'd prefer I can always just call you Edna…” 

"I see." So it was entirely possible that Tokyo did not have any shinobi. Hmm.. She'd have to question Shirogane-san and Akasaka-san when she returned to the café if they had left because of her and her friends. Although... it was rude of them to live all the fighting to a group of teenage girls. It would be nice to have help against the aliens, but then again perhaps they're no different than regular civilians. "Oh! That... sounds so lovely. I..." She goes quiet and watches a group of people outside. "It's just my brother and my nanny at home - and all of our servants, of course. My parents are too busy with work." It was strange. Usually she didn't tell anyone these things and kept them close to her heart. Could Ichigo be rubbing off on her more than she knew? Or was it because she felt a kind of kinship with Sakura-san? "I haven't seen them in a long time." Sakura-san was lucky. Ichigo was lucky. She was jealous that these two girls with pink hair would have such loving families while her's was... fractured.

Sakura softens her eyes a little in sympathy.  Being a shinobi means taking on lots of missions that require them to leave the village from several hours to even years.  It’s not an easy road to walk,  so it really reinforces to Sakura that she and Mint live in different worlds.     ❝  I could understand a little,  ❞     she says,  her hands behind her back.     ❝  I live with my parents,  but sometimes my missions need me to be away from home for days. I’m still genin ranked,  so my missions aren’t too crazy,  but those who are chūnin ranked and higher can get missions that require them to be away for weeks,  months,  or even years!  So I get a little lonely too.  My mom and I fight sometimes,  but I still miss her and dad if I’m away for too long.  ❞     In Sakura’s case,  she’s the busy one.  Her parents have normal civilian jobs,  so they’re always home after a set amount of time.  For Sakura,  every mission ends at a different time,  at different conditions,  because each one has a different person the mission is from.  That means there are times when she’ll be gone from home for a while.  She wonders if her parents worry about her.

Mint was jealous. Hearing Sakura talk about her parents so fondly (even if she fought with her mother) made her miss her own parents. They were always too busy with work for anything other than the occasional card and / or present that was sent both her way and her brother's. She had never known what a functional family was like until she had met Ichigo's and that always made her longing for a ‘normal’ family that much more apparent. What was it with pink haired girls? Maybe she should dye her hair and she'd get some of the same special perks! Her nanny was more of a parental figure than her own parents were. She supposed her parents being as absent as they were was probably some form of neglect, but she still held the childish hope that one day they'd realize that work wasn't everything and they'd spend more time with their children. Of course maybe that was too foolish to hope for, but listening to Sakura just now… Well, it made her want to see her parents even more and it was making her feel a little homesick at the moment. “You’re very lucky, Sakura-chan!” Her praise is something that doesn't come often. “As a friend once told me - be sure to cherish the time you have with your family. You never know what may happen.” 

Now that was something she hadn't expected to hear especially from another girl so like herself. It's unladylike, she knows, but she chokes a little on her tea. Clearing her throat, she says, "I'm sure if Ichigo were to hear you say that, she'd wholeheartedly agree. Given how pushy he is, I think I'm inclined to agree." Thinking back to her recruitment into the Mew Mews, she did question his taste in the outfits and why they needed to work at a maid café specifically as young girls. Granted all of their clienté were girls their age or high schoolers... But it still made Mint question Shirogane-san's line of reasoning. "Perhaps we should scold him together later. I'm sure the other girls would agree to it, too." Now whether or not he would listen to any of them was another thing. It was probably his cocky attitude that caused him to brush their complaints off. 

She doesn’t really care if Ichigo agrees with her or not, but Edna thinks she must be onto something for Mint to agree with her.  ❝  I’ll pass, considering how this is something between him and you girls——but I’m there if you need another way of getting through to him.  ❞  Maybe a good ol’ whack to the head will cure whatever stupidity that plagues Shirogane’s mind. It works for Meebo and Zaveid, so why not Shirogane?  (  Or maybe not, since Meebo and Zaveid are still dummies … ?  )  Edna reaches down to pick up the umbrella she left propped against the table, showing it to Mint.  ❝  All a dummy needs is one whack to see the errors of his ways since words will not always work, assuming he’s as pushy as you claim he is.  ❞  Yeah  …  Shirogane reminds her more of Zaveid than Meebo right now. At least Meebo knows some manners. 

“Hmm… Alright, I shall take your advice into account.” Maybe she'd leave the actual whacking to someone like Ichigo or Purin. Hmm… Maybe a good whack with a serving platter from Retasu would do him some good too… She could see it all in her head, too. Her and Zakuro standing off to the side while Ichigo and Purin argue over who should do it with Purin being a little too enthusiastic and Retasu trying to get the two to calm down and then accidentally whacking Shirogane-san on his head. Probably even more than once. The thought brings a smile to her face as she takes a bite of her dessert. She'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the chaos her friends made. It was… not nostalgic per say but warm and cozy like home. 

a dead expression is set deeply in her face and she accepts the gift of strawberries begrudgingly. "th-thanks." even now after everything they had been through, ichigo still had to deal with quiche's advances. they weren't nearly as often or as obsessive as before and perhaps that was, in part, due to aoyoma-kun's true identity, but it never seemed to stop quiche from pestering ichigo. she supposes that this is her life now - loving aoyoma-kun deeply, but being bothered by another whom she didn't love whatsoever, but... she'd be remiss if she didn't admit that life without quiche would be dreadfully boring. she had gotten used to his antics and when he, pie, and tart had been absent during the whole mess with the saint rose crusaders... well, she couldn't help but remember all that happened before including quiche and all his advances. she is happy, however, that all seemed to be going well on the planet that they called home. it seems that the mew aqua had done its job. quiche and his people must be working very hard to ensure the beauty of their new home.

he is pleasantly surprised that she even accepts the strawberries.  yes,  he is offering them to her and yes,  he wants her to take them,  but he’s really mostly just teasing;  and given who she is,  kisshu fully expected her to simply reject the gift altogether,  probably declaring something about loving deep blue-sama’s other self.  well,  he is partially right,  but he expected to be completely right this time.  what a pleasant surprise indeed  …  not that he’s going to complain!    ❝  you’re so loyal,  ❞    he sighs,  more as a mild complaint,  and shakes his head.  after all,  kisshu has long realized that he can never compete against deep blue-sama,  alter ego or not.  it doesn’t change his feelings for her or anything,  but damn,  it sure makes things harder for him to claim her heart when his love rival is none other than his own world’s leader and savior.  kisshu may be just an alien in comparison,  but he is sure a very charming and endearing one,  thank you very much.  case in point:  deep blue-sama——or rather,  ‘aoyama-kun’——never bothered to meticulously grow strawberries for months just for his lady love,  now did he?  score one for kisshu!  heh.

❝  hey,  hey,  lighten up.  it’s not like i’m asking you for a kiss this time.  ❞    he smiles mischievously,  leaning a little closer:  not enough to violate her personal space again,  but just enough for him to see her cute face.  it is indeed a very cute face with how crimson red she is.    ❝  but if you want one,  then i certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it.~  ❞    another tease.  he would absolutely love to kiss her,  preferably until her lips are sore,  but kisshu had discreetly began a new leaf for himself as early as when the mew aqua helped restore his life.  he ought to maintain their status quo as best as he can now,  because while it admittedly hurts to know that his feelings will remain unrequited,  he finds himself genuinely wishing for her happiness  /  hence,  why he had persevered and continued growing these strawberries.  

he is unbearably close to her, too close, and it only causes her to flush even more than she already had been. she probably looked like her namesake, a strawberry, or maybe even a tomato with how red she must be. As much as she enjoyed her namesake, Ichigo still wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to eat the ones Quiche grew. Yes, he seemed to accept his ‘defeat’ when it came to trying to win her love (she was wholeheartedly head over heels with Aoyama-kun and that would never change). “Of course I'm loyal! Aoyama-kun is the most important person to me!” He, of all people, should know that. Especially after everything. Especially after sacrificing himself to protect her. Especially after she sacrificed herself to bring back Aoyama-kun. She sighs. Why'd he always have to test her? Push her buttons? It was like… it was like something the heavens above were punishing her for. Oh no! She blanches thinking back to her adventure with Ringo-chan. Had they upset a shrine on the island Ringo-chan lived on? If they did… it was one hundred percent Quiche's fault!!! Especially considering he had kept trying to get with her then too! Even more than before! She grits her teeth and begrudgingly accepts the fruit. “Thanks,” she mumbles. While she'd love nothing more than to dump them in the trash, maybe she would take her suggestion and give them to her friends… or she'd give them to Akasaka-san and he could use them in his desserts for the café. All in all, she knew she'd never eat them and if it really was true that Pai-san helped Quiche then maybe they really weren't poisoned. Pai-san would never poison anything that might end up in Retasu's presence. Thank goodness for that and his big change of heart. 

“No!!!!! I don't want a kiss either!!” She didn't care what day of the week it was or what the weather was like or even if she was a cat-!!!! She'd never kiss Quiche! Never-never-never-Never!!!!!! But, sadly, her thoughts drift back to that time they first met and how her very first kiss had been taken from her by Quiche. Ooh!!! Instead of upsetting her, it only made her mad! Her precious first kiss stolen by some freak! One day she'd get back at him!!! “Don't you know what today is?? It's Valentine's! VAL-EN-TINE'S!!!!!! And I only have one gift and that's for Aoyama-kun!!!” She rips the basket of strawberries from his hands and turns away in a rush of anger. He better not be expecting a gift from her! White Day wasn't for a while and Ichigo always looked forward to that day too with equal amounts of anticipation as today. Though it was tradition for the girl to get her beloved something on Valentine's (usually homemade chocolates), Ichigo and Aoyama-kun also took turns deciding on where they wanted to spend the day. This time it was Aoyama-kun's turn and then when White Day arrived, it would be her turn. She was equal parts excited and nervous to know where he planned on taking her today, but now as she thinks she feels Quiche's eyes boring into her back, now she's nervous that he will try to intrude on their precious date. After all, she wouldn't put it past him. He's done it before. Multiple times. And always called her goofy nicknames to boot. 

Ichigo pouts a little and crosses her arms. "I always see how dooey-eyed the two of you look at each other. You can't hide it from me, Retasu-chan!" Well actually she isn't quite sure who all Retasu has affections for. Shirogane-san is always very nice to her friend, much more than he is to her. Which did make her a tad jealous, but Ichigo wouldn't have it any other way. There was no way she was going to be smitten or nice to Shirogane-san after how he both treated her and dragged all of them into this. "And whenever Quiche is... the other two are not far behind!" If any of them ruined today, she was going to make sure that they regretted it! Especially if Tart called her old again. 

❝  D-Dooey-eyed?!  ❞    She is mortified,  not even paying attention anymore as she gasps in horror,  her face feeling hot.  What sort of expression is that?  What if it makes her seem strange?  Oh no,  does Pai-san think she’s strange?!  But Ichigo just said he also looks at her like that,  so what does that mean?!  Retasu isn’t  …  Well,  quite frankly,  she doesn’t know where her heart lies anymore.  She had decided to quietly let go of Shirogane-san a while back,  so her feelings for him are dormant;  laid to rest,  but she isn’t sure if she can move on right now.  Pai-san  …  He’s pleasant company.  He patiently listens to her and actually talks to her,  and she enjoys talking with him over books they’ve read or his research,  but there’s nothing special about that,  right?  Friends talk to each other all the time.    ❝  I-I’m not hiding anything,  Ichigo-san!  And let’s not drag Pai-san into this when he’s not even here,  please!  ❞    She’d be so embarrassed if he heard this conversation.

“Mmm hmm…” She smirks, and nudges Retasu a little with her elbow. Her friend could say as much, but Ichigo knew otherwise. She just knew there was something going on between the two of them and unlike her own relationship (frenemies) with Quiche, Ichigo was rooting for her friend. Even Purin seemed to have something going on with Tart. Hmm… Was this the summer of love every teenage girl dreamed about? Spoke about and waited with baited breath each school year!!?? “Retasu~! This is the summer of love!! You have to take love by the reins!” She grabs her friend's hands and sniffles. “We can't let you fall behind!!” Somehow she'd already forgotten that it was Valentine's. The summer of love was much more important! There was so much they all could do during the summer compared to the cool season during the winter! 

retasu is nodding along and patiently smiling as she grabs a brush,  softly combing ichigo’s hair,  but she is quick to blink,  stunned for words.    ❝  eh?  pai-san?  why did you mention him?  ❞    shirogane-san,  retasu can understand.  after all,  while she seldom talks about it,  retasu’s heart considers him to be  …  well,  maybe first loves just don’t work out for her.  pai-san on the other hand,  retasu hardly knows him,  but with them being coworkers now,  she will admit that it has been slightly——just slightly——easier to talk to him.  with ichigo-san talking about loving aoyama-san,  retasu is truly happy for her,  but also a little curious and maybe even envious.  what does it feel like to be in love with someone who loves you back?    

Ichigo pouts a little and crosses her arms. "I always see how dooey-eyed the two of you look at each other. You can't hide it from me, Retasu-chan!" Well actually she isn't quite sure who all Retasu has affections for. Shirogane-san is always very nice to her friend, much more than he is to her. Which did make her a tad jealous, but Ichigo wouldn't have it any other way. There was no way she was going to be smitten or nice to Shirogane-san after how he both treated her and dragged all of them into this. "And whenever Quiche is... the other two are not far behind!" If any of them ruined today, she was going to make sure that they regretted it! Especially if Tart called her old again. 

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