#callmepyrus

Dugong (Dugong dugon)

(Photo by Smithsonian Ocean)

Conservation Status- Critically Endangered

Habitat- Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Size (Weight/Length)- 250 kg; 4 m 

Diet- Seagrasses

Cool Facts- Although related to manatees, the dugong is the only living member of the Dugongidae family. Dugongs are shy and only group together on rare occasions during mass seagrass growth. During these gatherings, the water is filled with clicks and whistles as they communicate. Due to poor eyesight, only touch and sound keeps these animals socially connected. Dugongs have one of the longest periods to reach sexual maturity of any mammal, ranging up to 18 years before they can have offspring. Females only have a single calf every five years or so. The calf will stay with its mom up to three years before splitting off to find its own underwater meadow. Sadly, due to their slow movement and tendency to swim along the ocean surface, dugongs are easy targets for poaching and tangling plastics. Hopefully, other countries will follow Australia’s lead and create marine sanctuaries to protect these amazing animals.

Rating- 13/10 (Don’t let them go the way of the Steller’s sea cow.)

The spring was soon arriving, few pink little petals were carried along the rushing wind and tickling Kanra’s cheeks when she opened the doors to check on her unexpected guest on her birthday.

And this time was the turn youngest member of Wicked Requiem being greeted by a certain super enthusiastic pink-haired wagashi maker of Nara…

“Ohayo, Little D.Vil of Wicked Requiem☆ SWEET-T of Miraitabi is at your service today! Let’s say Happy Birthday and here our team has prepared some presents exclusively for you~ \(ˆᗜˆ˵ )/”

“First one is from our leader… It surely has a sweet look but this one is for your little friend, Haku-kun! Tee-hee~ It’s kinda suits him since he is someone who has currently adopted our feline buddy too~ A comfy fruit tart (Actually a cat bed) was hardly a bad choice after all! And the next one is from mine~”

The older boy brought out a pink box with a pretty sakura pattern and began to remove its lid.

“Ta-da☆ Harumatsuya and Miraitabi of Nara are proudly presenting~ It looks like you have always made a nice cake for most people in other divisions, right? Now it’s time for you to get a cake too, kid!”

“Again, Happy Birthday and Happy White Day (｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )✿”

Kanra cheerfully squealed at the sight of another cake. It was days like this that Kanra appreciated her super metabolism. Most people couldn't finish 1 whole cake by themselves, let alone the 5 she had eaten in the last few hours. Oh, that was right. Yuriko had banned her from consuming any more sugary sweets for the rest of the night. Well, it would be rude of Kanra to let this cute cake go to waste, and what Yuriko didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

Whether it was the spread-through fact that people believed she was a passionate lover of flowers or not, it was undeniable that there were so many bouquets sent over to her manor today.

And that was also applied to a certain gift which she picked to have some look out of boredom.

it surely looked like a humble gift compared to other outrageous or extravagant presents laying around —But there was a certain reason that drew the ‘poison specialist’ like herself to it.

“To Lady Aichi of Shizuoka

Wish you a happy birthday and a great year forward

Sincerely,

Nara Division”

Greeted by the sweet colors and sweet fragrance of a bouquet full of Sweet Peas attached on its front, their actual gifts were lying beneath in a neatly-wrapped Morning Glory patterned fabric. The first one was a box containing some peculiar and beautiful bracelet made with vibrant seeds of Rosary Pea, making it an exotic choice of jewelry but a good combination of red and black nonetheless.

And thus for the last one was surely harmless, it was a wagashi set full of beautiful wintery flower nerikiris!

—————Meanwhile somewhere else,

“This time your recommendation on our birthday gifts aren’t anything weird, right?”

“Of course. Why do I have to recommend something ‘weird’ in your opinion, Kanata-kun? They’re all lovely flowers and a lovely ornament.”

“…That is because you are the one who comes up with the idea, Chishio-san.”

“Oh, so? I’m more than sure that lady Aichi must like them.”

“Kanon, stop eating my gift.” Reika scowled. “Those were for me not for your cold hands. Get your own damn it.”

Kanon didn't say anything as she stared at Reika straight in the eye and ate another piece of the wagashi. Even lifting the box above her head when Reika tried grabbing it. Smirking as she watched Reika try and reach it.

“I don't know what you expected when you opened that gift in front of her Reika. You know, as well as I do, that Kanon loves sweets.” Sakura huffed from her spot on the couch, watching everything go down.

“Look, if I had known Nara would send wagashi, I would've hidden them.” Reika glared back. “I'm never gonna have a piece at this rate now.”

Sakura raised her hands, not wanting to start an argument with the socialite. Reika, now finally grabbing the gift back from Kanon and much to her rage, found all the wagashi had been eaten by the mad scientist. Kanon then leaned down closer to Reika's height, an amused look on her face as she saw Reika crush the box the wagashi were in.

“They were quite delicious, Reika. Shame you couldn't have one.”

☁️ [CLOUD] for the baby Touya

and 💥[COLLISON] for the bro Rintaro

🌈 RAINBOW - what advice would they give to their younger self?

Akihisa would tell his younger self to treasure the time he had with his loved ones. Especially the time with his fiancee, Sophie. You never know when they’ll be violently ripped away.

☁️ CLOUD - a soft headcanon

Whenever Touya had a nightmare, his older sister Haruka would often sing him to sleep. Even to this day, Touya still hums it to himself sometimes.

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

Well, since he assumed that the majority of them were coming from his fans or maybe his colleagues, the option of just leaving them all under the cold of the night seems to be considered inappropriate here. So, he decided to take all of them into his residence.

Speaking of which, he also noticed that one notable-sized present with the tiny card written “from Nara Division” laying down on the floor —It was a roll of blackout curtains with so many cuts that all lights shining through them would mysteriously portray the silhouette of nighttime cityscapes and this was somehow striking some kind of aesthetics to him.

Carrying the large roll of curtains into his arms, suddenly his area of sight caught up on something nearby —It was a miniature black coffin with a lot of accessories in the theme of his interest, but what made him a little bit surprised was the name addressed as its sender and the small letter attached inside.

“Yo, What’s up, Shiba-kun (and greetings to Shiba-chan if she is around there).

First and foremost; Happy birthday and long time no see★

Time does fly very fast, doesn’t it? I thought I’ve just seen both you and your sister as a pair of shorties among the crew from back then. But now, look, you have already turned out to be even taller than me right now!

To be honest, it was such a regret when I heard you decided to quit showbiz so soon. Ever since then the world of entertainment had lost quite a number of young talents and also a lot of its muchness after you left.

However, above all else, I hope you guys are doing alright and content with the path you choose to walk from now on.

But WAIT, what if I’m already writing this long but you still have no idea of who I possibly am?! Haha, just kidding… I know you would never since both of us got our grand debut from the same drama series after all.

—ASHIBI

(My stage name is still the same, you see?)”

Lyall blinked as he read the letter. Gosh, it had been so long since he thought about the series that had given him his big break. No one could ever have expected how huge “Andromeda’s Children” would become. The series finale alone was watched by millions of people. Even now, reruns of the show were still popular to watch.  

Ashibi, huh? Lyall tried to remember who that could be and thought back to everyone who played a part in the drama. Then, all of a sudden, a figure appeared in Lyall’s mind. Someone who played a certain character and who understood what it was like to be suddenly shoved into the spotlight. 

But when the ex-idol had gone out to check it up, she only found a package neatly wrapped in a beautiful piece of cloth hanging around the handle of the door instead of any sight of its sender.

Deciding to inspect it first for safety reasons, she cautiously unwrapped the parcel until she saw what had been sent to her residence.

First one she saw was a knitted scarf with the design of an adorable but insightful animal, the ‘Barn Owl’,

Next was a set of cute macarons which was actually the scented candles with a sweet and fruity mixed berries fragrance,

And last one was an elegant set of twelve necklaces in the theme of zodiac star signs,

Last but not least, there was a card written “Happy Birthday & Happy New Year!” submitted with the address from the people of Nara Division

—Somewhere in a car that was heading out of Minato ward—

“Really, you should put the birthday card outside of the furoshiki,”

the young(?) man with shades said as he just casually opened a can of tuna in his grasp, not even caring that he was in someone else’s car,

“or somewhere else more easier to see —Receiving something from the seemingly anonymous sender normally startles the person who used to be at the center of the limelight, you know?”

A cold glare was pointed to the speaker from the driver seat.

“I don’t wanna hear that from someone who almost caused a ruckus in Ms. Queen Card’s birthday the previous October,”

the much older man in his usual dark colored suit retorted with somewhat hostility in his tone.

“Aww~ Don’t talk about the water under the bridge, shall we?”

that enigmatic nonconformist shrugged in an unserious manner while he was savoring his quick supper.

“That queenie is already pretty smart on her own. I know she would know in a heartbeat that the little gift I added to Misaki’s thingies was more like a greeting toy than some real threat —Well, wouldn’t we all live for some excitement?”

As the shades he always oddly wore indoors and outdoors still covered all parts of his eyes, the older man couldn’t make a guess of what was actually in this shitty cat’s head.

Turning away from his troublesome accomplice, Chishio let out a long sigh as he fought down his own urge to pack this cat in some blank luggage and send it back to where he should belong. To be honest, maybe the reason why he often got disturbed by his antics was because it reminded him so much of himself when he was with his young master and the kids in his team.

…And he never understood what in the world had made Shūkaidō think that his earnest young master could replace him when the adoptive son of his was the troublesome person like THIS of all time.

Miku blew out the match and watched as the wick on her new candles that laid on top of some trays on her bedroom floor caught aflame. A small, delicate fire that allowed the mixed berry scents to fill her room.

Surrounding her on the floor was a ring of unscented candles.

With an exhale, she tilted her head back and closes her eyes, canceling out everything around her, including the owl scarf that rested on her shoulders. Cancelling the sound of her beautiful new With her nose, she breathed in the unfamiliar scent, her ears focused on the white noise that played on her computer and the light chimes from her new necklaces that hung on her jewelry altar, and zeroing in on the heat that rose from the candles around her.

“My circle is cast.”

Candy - Evelyn

Tombstone - Rashaad

Pumpkin - Would they want to do a couple’s costume with their significant other?

"Would I do a couple's costume with my significant other?" Ace asked. "Believe it or not, Evee and I have collaborated when it comes to Halloween costumes on more than one occasion." He looks up and starts counting off on his fingers. "The first time we did that, we dressed up as a cowboy and a cowgirl. The second time, Evelyn dressed up as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" and had me dress up as Prince Eric." Ace says, rolling his eyes.

"The third time was my favorite cause we both just dressed up as a football player and a cheerleader. And another time, we dressed up as Superman and Lois Lane." Ace looks back at the screen. "Really and truly, Evee and I always collaborate when it comes to Halloween costumes. ...Because believe it or not, it wouldn't be Halloween if we didn't."

"Aww!"

Ace is suddenly knocked down by his girlfriend, Evelyn, who tackles him to the ground.

"Wah?! Evee?!"

"That's so sweet, Ace!"

Kissing sounds are soon heard as Ace screams...

Candy - If they got to choose to be any supernatural being, what would they choose?

"If I got to choose to be, like, a supernatural being?" Evelyn asked, before looking at the screen with a smile. "That's, like, easy! I'd like to be, like, a mermaid! As you probably have, liked, guess, I've always loved the movie, "The Little Mermaid". Ariel was, like, one of my favorite Disney characters growing up. The way she, like, desired to walk on land, despite her father not, like, letting her follow her heart, was, like, so sweet! It's a shame her father was so controlling that she, like, had to go to an evil sea witch to make her, like, dreams come true. But the ending where she and, like, Prince Eric finally get together is my favorite ending ever!"

"But anyway, I've always, like, loved the water! Don't ask me why, but I've always felt at home on a beach. I guess that's why I'm glad we're here in Okinawa than any other, like, city in Japan. The place reminds me so much of Los Angeles with it's, like, sunny beaches! But I'd like to be a mermaid, exploring the, like, world underwater. I don't know if I'd like to stay as a mermaid, though! If I could, like, change back to a human whenever I wish, then that'd be, like, cool!"

Tombstone - Would they survive a stereotypical horror movie?

"Would I survive a horror movie?" Rashaad asks, cocking an eyebrow. "Uhh... well, I'd like to think that I would, but I probably wouldn't. Usually, it's always the female main character that survives in those movies, not the male ones. Granted, I don't really watch many horror movies though, so I could be wrong. Not because I'm afraid of them, but because... well, much of what you see in those movies makes me want to raise an eyebrow and question, 'Why would the main characters do that or make that decision?' It makes me wonder if they lack common survival instincts, or if they're begging the monster or creature in the movie to kill them..."

And because of that, she almost stumbles over one package laying in front of her doorstep. 

Looking closer and she sees that on the package is written 

“Happy Birthday Setsukura-san, we hope you have a nice year.

—Nara Division”

With some curiosity about what this rather new division got for her, Makina uses the cutter to open the package and then she sees a very comfy neck pillow in shape of a long cat, and also one round box full of Japanese senbei and more snacks.

Not only that, she also discovers a blue card placed at one spot in the package with the logo of blue full-moon …which she remembers, it’s the symbolic icon of one of her streamer friends.

“Happy Birthday ‘Screen Shot’. 

Hope you have a nice day and look forward to our Chilla’s Arts collab soon.

P.S. I’ve already sent you the games we agreed to play tomorrow on Steam. Please think of that as my present to you. I’ve looked into some synopsis beforehand but still, I kinda wonder which game you would like to play first.

—Aozora🌌”

————— Meanwhile at some place in Nara.

“TXXXXX, I’ve sent your present to Setsukura-san today.”

The boy with the reddish hair turns to his dark-haired friend, who is sitting next to him. In front of them are the bright screens of their laptops.

“Oh Thanks, for both this and your help in mixing my new cover on the channel.”  

“You’re welcome, friend. Your singing is already great to begin with. And to be honest, I should be the one who feels indebted to you ever since the time I asked you to be the club’s president for me —Ah, I also heard that Setsukura-san is going to stream some horror games tomorrow and so are you? What a coincidence. Are you guys having a collaboration?”

“Hmm, spoilers aren’t fun. Why not find out about that yourself? Besides that, I still don’t forget the last time you killed me in [Among us], you remember?”

“That—”

“Kidding. I know that’s just a game. If I were the imposter, I would probably do the same.” 

“*sheepishly laughs* …Vengeful, do you?”

“*chuckles* Nevermind that, I owe you a lot too. So, don’t forget to ask me when you need some help, pal.”

Makina brought the presents to her bedroom. She put on her headphones and searched for the microphone icon on her monitor.

“I’m back, chat,” Makina said. She held up the items high enough for her viewers on the other side of the screen to see. “Nara Division sent me some goodies just now. Aren’t they cute?”

“And I also got a steam notification from ‘Aozora’ about some of the games I’ll be playing in today and tomorrow’s collabs. Like I said at the start of the stream, we’ve got tons of horror games in the lineup, so look forward to that…”

She hugged the neck pillow and the box of senbei. “I really like my friends…” she whispered as she watched the endless flood of ‘happy birthday,’ ‘ty nara division,’ messages and cute emotes fill up her chat box.

She chuckled softly and wrapped the pillow around her neck, getting comfortable. “And don’t worry, I’m sharing the senbei with Anika and Shian. Shian’s gonna kill me if I don’t share these with her.”