Day 7: Fantasy

Day 007: Fantasy

"Kiara told me they had a reunion a while ago," Flare said as she snuggled up in bed with Noel. "Maybe we should do something like that too."

"No!" Noel pouted as she hugged Flare tighter. "Flare is mine! I won't let them take you away from me again!"

"Don't worry," Flare shifted in the bed so she was facing Noel. Flare smiled down at her girlfriend as she stroked her hair. "We're together now. It's not like I would cheat on you."

"I love you, Flare," Noel buried her face into Flare's neck.

"I love you too, Noe-chan," Flare smiled as she closed her eyes.

-

"Konpeko konpeko konpeko!" Pekora shouted over the phone. "What's up-peko?"

"Hi Pekora!" Noel said over the phone with an excited tone. "Flare and I are trying to put a Gen 3 reunion. Does today at KFP sound good to you?"

"You know, I would love to, but I'm bus-," Pekora was cut off by a loud explosion. She turned around to see half of the building that Usada Constructions was commission to build was completely blown to smithereens. "On second thought, I would love to come!"

"Sanchou, you can't keep running away from these things," Moona heaved a sigh. She was wearing a yellow construction hat and looking a few sheets of blueprints. "You're the CEO, after all."

"That's why I have such a wonderful second in command!" Pekora gave Moona a bright smile.

"I better be getting a raise," Moona muttered under her breath.

"You'll get a raise in hugs!" Pekora hugged Moona tightly before hopping off.

"Sanchou wait-," Moona heaved a sigh when she realized that Pekora was gone. "Why do I even work here?"

-

Marine was heavily concentrating on a bottled ship that she ordered. Since she couldn't make a gigantic galleon as quickly as she can make a ship in a bottle. Plus, YAGOO already gave her a magic floating galleon for celebrating one million subscribers, so she didn't need another one. She was interrupted when her phone started vibrating on her desk, causing the ship to fall into pieces. "WHAT THE HELL?!" She shouted, grabbing her phone. "WHOEVER IS CALLING ME WILL- Oh."

Realizing who was calling her, she immediately answered the phone, a smile on her face. "Hello? Fuu-tan?"

"ORA!" Rushia appeared out of nowhere, decking Marine in the face, sending her sprawling.

"Is everything okay there?" Flare asked, genuine concern on her voice.

"Yeah, everything's alright," Marine laughed as Rushia gave her a death stare.

"Why are you talking to other girls, Senchou?" Rushia looked down at Marine, a dark expression on her face. "Weren't we going to get married?"

"I was wondering if you and Rushia wanted to join a Gen 3 reunion," Flare said.

"Hold on a second," Marine covered the phone with her hand before looking to Rushia. "Flare just wanted to ask if we wanted to go to a Gen 3 reunion."

"Ah," the dark expression on Rushia's face faded. "Sure."

"We're in," Marine said before hanging up the phone.

-

Ryan yawned as he woke up, his limbs sore. He spent the last night tinkering and passed out after not sleeping for several nights. Despite that, he only slept for about a couple hours. "Man, I really need to learn how to sleep better," he grumbled to himself as he got up.

"Hey Ryan, you up?" Nux asked in his head as Ryan cracked his neck. "I tried to contact you about an hour ago, but you were dead asleep."

'Despite all this magic, I'm still human,' Ryan ran his fingers through his hair, sighing. 'I still need sleep every now and then.'

"Shame," Nux said. "I guess sleep is something you need to work on?"

'Yeah,' Ryan sighed. 'I just hope I can sleep well tonight.'

"Whatever," Nux sighed. "I'm gonna hang with Storm and Aloe. See ya!"

'See ya,' Ryan smiled as Nux's voice faded away from his head.

-

"Morning Tenchou," Ryan sighed as he entered the restaurant. Kiara ran out of the back room, her smile fading as she saw Ryan's face.

"Didn't sleep well, huh?" She asked.

"Damn, are my bags that bad?" Ryan asked, rubbing his eyes.

"You know, a friend told me about something that might help," Kiara said. "Apparently this fae is going around helping people going to sleep. Apparently, you just have to say 'LemonLeaf' three times before you go to bed to summon her."

"Huh," Ryan rubbed his chin. "Maybe I'll try summoning her tonight. Thanks for the tip."

"No problem," Kiara smiled.

"Konpeko konpeko konpeko!" Ryan snapped around when Pekora barreled through the door. "It's Hololive 3rd Gen's Usada Pekora-peko!"

"You know, I think I should get dressed," Ryan said.

"Sounds like a plan," Kiara smiled.

-

"But senpai~!" Ryan walked out of the break room to see Pekora sitting on a stool, patting Kiara's head as she slumped over the counter, crocodile tears falling from her face. "Why can't I have a hug~?"

"I'm an idol, Kiara," Pekora smiled softly at the fire bird. "I belong to everyone."

A mischievous smirk danced on Ryan's face. He had a perfect opportunity, and he couldn't help but take it. "You know, I met a shrine maiden named Sakura Miko on my day off," Ryan said as he walked over to Kiara's side. "She was talking a lot about this 'idol' she liked. You look exactly like the description she gave me. Is your name Usada Pekora by any chance?"

"M-Miko said she liked me?!" Pekora bounced back several feet, her face beet red in a blush.

"So much for belonging to everyone, huh?" Ryan chuckled, patting his manager on the shoulder. "It's okay, Tenchou. You can go hug Calli later."

"You're right," Kiara wiped her crocodile tears as she stood up.

"Kiara! Help!" Marine smashed through the door, stumbling before slamming on the counter with her stomach, causing her to keel over, hitting her head on the top of the counter. She instantly recovered, grabbing Pekora and hiding behind her.

"What's going on-peko?" Pekora looked down at Marine, who was shaking and cowering behind the bunny girl.

"I AM NOT PETTAN!" Rusha shoved the doors open as hard as she can, her crimson eyes glowing as she exuded a murderous aura. "GET BACK HERE!"

"It's okay," Ryan said, walking around the counter and patting Rushia on the head, a comforting smile on his face. Naturally, he was scared out of his wits, but fortunately, he knew how to calm the flat-chested necromancer (AN: If this is the last update, I'm sorry). "She knows you're boing boing. She's just jealous."

"Y-you really think so…?" Rushia looked up at Ryan with a hopeful look.

"Of course," Ryan tilted his head, his smile growing wider.

"Thank you!" Rushia exclaimed. "Finally! Someone who gets me!"

"How did you do that?" Kiara asked. "I've never seen Rushia calm down that quickly."

"Suisei told me," Ryan shrugged as he went back around the counter. "She figured that I should stay alive if she wanted to leech off my tea supplies every so often."

"You already met Suisei?" Kiara tilted her head, putting a finger on her chin. "It's a wonder you're alive."

"Yeah," Ryan rubbed the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "I don't know how I managed to do that either."

Ryan directed his attention to the door as Flare and Noel walked in, holding hands and showing off their friendship rings. "So, you're finally tying the knot?" Kiara asked. "I'm so happy for you two!"

"These are friendship rings!" Noel insisted, her face beet red. "The wedding comes later!"

"Whatever Noe-chan wants," Flare said, a smile on her face.

"Welcome to KFP," Ryan said. "Unfortunately, I only know a couple of your names. My name is Ryan Shade. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Uruha Rushia," Rushia smiled. "Thank you for calling me boing boing."

"Hololive's 3rd Generation, captain of the Houshou Pirates, Houshou Marine-desu!" Marine said as she struck a pose. Kiara applauded her with stars in her eyes.

"I'm Shirogane Noel, and this is my husband, Shiranui Flare!" Noel cheered, holing out her and Flare's friendship rings.

"I can introduce myself, Noe-chan," Flare said. "But you're adorable nonetheless."

"What would you like to eat?" Kiara asked, catching everyone's attention.

"GYUDON!" Noel exclaimed, her gluttony taking over.

"I'll just share with Noe-chan," Flare said.

"Do you have some spare doujin?" Marine asked. "Preferably some of myself."

"Do we have doujin of Marine?" Ryan asked. "Does that even exist?"

"Remember the thirty-fourth rule of the internet," Kiara smiled at Ryan, placing a hand on his head. "You have much to learn, my Little Egg."

"I'll have some strawberry cake," Rushia said, hearts in her eyes as she looked at Ryan.

'Oh god, not again,' Ryan wasn't scared of many things, but Rushia's yandere mode was one of those things.

"Can I have sliced carrots-peko?" Pekora tilted her head.

"Sure! I'll go cook all of it!" Kiara said.

"Wait!" Ryan extended his hand to his last lifeline as Kiara made her way towards the back room.

"Sorry!" Kiara turned her head to give Ryan an overly-cheery smile. "You're on your own for this one!"

"Ryan…" A murderous aura caused Ryan to turn. Everyone had backed 5 feet away from Rushia as her eyes covered her bangs. Even though her eyes were covered, Ryan could still see a faint, red glow coming from her hair. "Why are you talking to other girls?"

"Shit."

-

Ryan heaved a sigh as he flopped on his bed. He wanted to go to sleep, but he didn't necessarily feel sleepy. "Maybe I should try that fae that Tenchou was talking about," Ryan heaved a sigh as he sat up. "Well, here goes. LemonLeaf, LemonLeaf, LemonLeaf."

With a soft glow, a girl appeared in front of Ryan. The girl had short, peach-colored hair that went down to the bottom of her neck. She wore a headband and a bow on each side of her hair. She wore a short, black cape that covered the top half of her body over a pink and white dress. Ryan gazed into her pink eyes as a soft smile creeped on the fairy's face.

"You called me?" The fae apparently named LemonLeaf said, tilting her head.

"Actually, I was having a bit of insomnia," Ryan rubbed the back of his head, looking away. Despite his job at a fast food joint, he still had a tough time talking with strangers. "I heard from someone that you can help."

"Well, I eat people's nightmares," LemonLeaf offered. "Most people who call me because they can't sleep due to their nightmares."

"Well, I don't really get nightmares," Ryan said. "I just can't sleep. I'm sorry for wasting your time, LemonLeaf."

"Feel free to call my Lily," The now named Lily smiled. "Well, if I can't eat your nightmares, then I guess your hopes and aspirations will have to do."

Ryan tilted his head in confusion as he started to glow yellow. After a few seconds of nothing happening, Ryan sighed. "Nothing's happening."

"You… you have no hopes or aspirations…?" Lily said, gasping slightly.

"I mean, I guess," Ryan rubbed the back of his head. "I'm pretty content with life right now. There is my friend, though. I guess that's not a hope, since I know he's coming back."

"You are… an interesting one," Lily rubbed her chin. "What's your name?"

"My name is Ryan Shade," Ryan smiled. "Hey, if you can't eat my nightmares or my hopes, you must be pretty hungry, right?"

"Yes," Lily said with a small nod. "Why do you ask?"

Ryan stood up and walked over to his desk, grabbing a spare KFP pamphlet. He walked back to Lily and handed it to her. "It's not open right now, but maybe you can try some fried chicken," Ryan said. "Though knowing my boss, she probably learned how to slow-roast nightmares."

"Hmm, if she did, then I would definitely love to go there," Lily pondered the words. "Thank you for your suggestion. I guess I will take my leave now."

"It was nice meeting you, Lily," Ryan smiled and waved as Lily vanished in a soft glow. Ryan sighed as he curled up in his bed, closing his eyes. For the first time since Ryan came back in time, he was blessed with a deep, dreamless sleep.