But just as she gets off the chair a sound of powerful steps comes from the other room, Haru begins to tense up as the sound gradually gets louder. Hoshi recognizes this so she decides not to depart, choosing to remain still on her chair
The sound of the steps suddenly disappears & the only thing that remains is the noise of the blades of the fan cutting through the air before even that disappears too
Haru leans closer to the table, this way she gets a greater view of the kitchen through the doorway behind Hoshi. "Hoshi's in the way," Haru thinks as she shifts her head to gain a better view of the kitchen. So far all she could see is the ceiling, amber wooden cupboards, & cream white walls
The small Esper currently obstructing Haru's view was looking down at the table before immediately looking at the Oni in front of her. After a short blank look at Haru, she rapidly angles her body to her right side giving Haru more room & a better view
This gave her an ample glance at the cedar-coloured floorboards, all seemed normal except for a fluffy green speck that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Haru's eyes began fixating on this dot & as her yellow-green pupils focused like binoculars she discovered what it was. "That girl & her feathers," she thought with furrowing brows.
She gets forced to direct her attention elsewhere by a shadow sliding across the floorboards. The black silhouette of a person is so warped you could mistake whatever is in the kitchen to be a giant chicken but seconds later this inhabitant makes themselves visible to Haru.
A youthful schoolgirl with arms covered in long bright green, black & small patches of yellow feathers & legs bearing feathers of the same intricately luscious pattern as her arms. One fuzzy feather from her left shin gets dislodged & gradually dances to the floor, passing her large yellow bird feet & their long black talons. A Harpy!
Yet as a Harpy, she still possesses human traits like her skin, teal green eyes, hair & lips. This person steps into Haru's full view while holding a plastic container of finely chopped carrots & sweet potatoes,
As for hands, this girl possesses three fingers bearing the same texture & deep yellow colour as her feet all with sharp black claws which she uses to open the container. She grabs hold of the lip & yanks it off with ease.
Her head slightly jerks itself, waving her long green hair in the process. She steps towards the kitchen window in front of her, letting the warm sun illuminate her blue & white striped pyjamas but modified for her half-bird half-human body. T-shirt without any sleeves & shorts for pyjama bottoms
She continues to Haru's right & leaves her field of view. The distinct sound of bare feet stepping on the wooden floor becomes accompanied by the sound of pouring milk & singing which reaches Haru's ears. "What? She's singing" she thinks as she heads back to her chair.
This was the same shrieking voice from earlier only it didn't sound infuriating at all, instead lovely & pleasant. The natural beauty of those vocals began to leave an impact on her & Hoshi who waited in the dining room. Haru herself felt a warmth rising inside of her from this soothing voice which conflicted with the previous feeling she had.
She can finally relax her shoulders as this singing voice now entered the same room as the Oni & Esper
Standing in the doorway was the singing siren herself however this was no siren.
This was Akiyama Shika (浮山四箇). She stands there in shock widening her teal eyes & twitching her pointy elf-like ears
Keeping a tight grip on her bowl containing the breakfast prepared by Haru only it also had a dead mouse on top of her hands & her heavy breathing exposed her sharp white teeth.
Shika: "You heard nothing!!"
She shrieks as her feathers stick up & take a moment to shake her hair before walking to her seat at the table, to the right of Hoshi
However, as a Harpy Shika is still half-human, her skin, eyes, sky blue hair & precious lips are human in appearance.
Taking her seat next to Hoshi, her hand attached halfway between her shoulder & tip of her wing grabs a fork. With lightning speed, she jabs the fork into the dead mouse.
Shika would want to munch on her grey furry breakfast but a gloomy feeling interrupts this, Shika takes one look at Haru who looks disappointed hiding her rage
Shika: "Itadakimasu!"
Knowing what could have happened Shika corrects herself & retreats into polite table manners but letting goes of her fork & clapping her hands in a pleading position. However, this won't stop what is about to happen next
Haru: "You're the only one here with unkempt hair! Do you even brush it?"
Spoken with a stern tone of voice, unfortunately for the inhabitants of the house, this causes a furious retaliation from Shika who starts shrieking.
Shika: "Shika can just brush it at school, it gets too messy when she flies…eh!? Oh no"
Staring blankly at the table with a large open smile & crimson forming on her cheeks, those words exiting her mouth lit a match in Haru's mind causing her eyes to widen drastically
Haru: "What!?! I told you not to go flying outside! Every time you fly in plain sight you run the risk of someone seeing you!"
She scolds Shika with flaring nostrils & furrowed brows. This would have been in broad daylight which is the most vulnerable to exposure to human society. Her deep sinister eyes glared straight at the Parakeet.
Haru: "Do you know what happens to monsters who become exposed to humans?"
Shika: "Now, no history lessons this early"
She reached out her wings & hid her head from the ferocious Oni's bared teeth, shaking her long green hair until it concealed her face. The childlike Esper sitting to her right let out a quiet breath.
Hoshi: "Shika, I see that you are desperate to spread your wings & fly but you must understand if the wrong human catches you, it will have severe repercussions on the rest of us"
Her orange eyes met Shika's, contrasting Haru's terrifying outburst with a face void of emotion & a calm voice. In response to Hoshi's approach, Shika moves her hair out of the way of her face like a curtain.
Shika: "But! Overcast makes it difficult to see the flying machines as they pass through the area…"
Hoshi: "Shika"
She interrupts Shika with a deep demanding voice as her eyes gaze straight into those teal pools of eyes. The one person who is present to see Hoshi's stern yet calm way of handling the Parakeet is Haru observing from afar with astonishment
Hoshi: "Shika. Please lower your voice when talking. Both Haru-san & Neko-san have very sensitive hearing. This could also be why Haru-san gets furious around you so much"
She elaborates before lifting off her chair, without holding onto the table Hoshi calmly floats to the floor & begins walking off. Raising her left arm, with one click of her fingers the chair drags itself momentarily to a neat tucked-in position against the table.
She departs from the room leaving Haru & Shika in the dining room together. The Oni remains seated at the head of the table but with her body directed away from Shika looking disdainfully at the window
Shika: *crunching*
The silence was broken by the sound of hard carrots being hastily munched down, with every bite coming from Shika's direction the muscles on Haru's face began to tense evermore so sharpening her horns & making her more irritated
Kucha Kucha Kucha |
Haru begins to frown before she takes a look at Shika, this annoying bird sits there eating like it's her favourite meal. Her right-wing rests on the table spreading her feathers across the surface like a blanket
The fingers on her left wing grabbed on many tiny pieces of chopped carrots & carried them all to her mouth, her razor-sharp teeth munching on each with every bite. Her eyes fixating on the meal in front of her
At the head of the table, Haru sat with a rigid back. Her eyes are directed right while her head periodically inches in the same direction until Shika comes into view. She relaxes her cheeks slightly at the sight of Shika's determination to finish her carrots & sweet potatoes, "This is rare, not seeing her focussing on her phone or manga". As Haru thinks she stares at the Parakeet with her monstrous eyes but her train of thought comes to a screeching halt
Shika: "Why are you staring like that? Is there something in Shika's hair?"
With a screechy voice she sprang out of her comfortable position at the sight of Haru's unfriendly eyes, the momentary bliss she felt while chewing was shattered by two menacing dots. Her back went straight like a building with her arms frantically shifting her hair, her eyes were shifting all over the place as the feeling of discomfort gets exacerbated by Haru eyeing Shika like a predator
Haru: "No Shika, there's nothing in your hair"
Shika's shrieking voice hit her ears like a bullet & she responded with a giant eye roll but her frustration wasn't registered by Shika pressing her cheeks together with her talon-like hands
Shika: "Cheeks then?"
Highlighting her lower face with her long-sharpened claws
Shika: "Are you sure?"
Haru: "I'm perfectly sure, there's nothing on your face, you're all good"
Shika: *sigh* "That's a relief. Shika would die of embarrassment if she had a piece of sweet potato stuck in her hair"
Shika licks her scaly fingers, running her pink tongue across her talons like a child licking ice cream off its fingers. Haru watches as small droplets of saliva leak off Shika's fingers & fall to the table, Haru's jaw dropped & her eyes simmer
Haru: "Shika! Not at the table!!"
Her eyes hold a great deal of resentment toward Shika who's still using her tongue to clean herself
Shika: "Well Shika doesn't devour her food like a lizard"
Haru's fists clench into tight balls under the table, her nostrils flaring once again as she inhales air rapidly juxtaposing Shika's relaxed posture. Sitting nonchalantly on the chair with one hand buried in those long green vines growing from her head, simultaneously flashing a smug grin at Haru
Haru: "Is that what you think of me? A lizard?"
She says as she dismisses Shika by looking at the water chestnut-colored wallpaper encasing the room for a few seconds before spotting the crumbs on not just her plate but on parts of the table in front of her. "I didn't notice I was that messy" she thought as her mouth becomes agape corresponding with her eyes growing larger
Her vertical split pupils swiftly spot several crumbs & pieces of rice dotting her side of the table like lice in a thick brunette hair
Shika: "Oh & we don't need to mention those salamander eyes or that freakishly long tongue"
The insults she spouts flew toward Haru like a wave of arrows striking her chest, they are followed by Shika taking out her human tongue. The remarkably bright pink surface & short round shape launched a rush of insecurities in Haru's direction
Initially tilting back at this unnerving sight of a bird with her tongue out, the repulsed Oni hesitates to stick her tongue out but some external force is pushing her to let it out. Her right arm reaches upward & with her index finger, Haru gently taps the tip of her long pointy tongue. Its bumpy texture felt like a cushion as her finger examined the tip
A dark red tongue poked its way into her field of view behind her soft nose, it shot forward like a spear causing Shika to gawk at it. Seeing that Parakeet in the corner of her eye giving a stare with huge green eyes she immediately rolls her pointy red tongue back into her mouth & slams it shut like a door
Shika: "How long is that? Have you measured it?"
Gradually raising her arm as she asks with one of her three fingers pointing at Haru, those beady eyes filled with curiosity. Meanwhile, she resumed her rigid posture with her strong arms crossed. Lips retreating & eyebrows furrowing, "I can't give Shika an exact length, she'll never shut up"
Haru: "I haven't measured…it since I was a teenager"
She hesitated to say but her lack of clarity didn't deter the interested bird, what resumed was Shika's attempts to get an answer out of the Oni
Shika: "Please! Shika Really7wants to know!!"
Her loud & desperate pleas sounded like a deafening seagull. Haru took her right hand up to cover the ear closest to Shika. She briefly lets air out of her flaring nostrils & her eyes shut for a moment, even her stiff back lets go slightly as she uses her bangs to hide her distress. "This is unbearable!"
Shika: "Please Haru!"
Haru: "Fine! Almost 10cm"
She answered with a raised voice & fists hitting the table, sharp horns sticking out of her head appearing more menacing. Her whole body tensed up while her fearsome yellow-green eyes aggressively met Shika's wide startled ones
Haru: *deep sigh* "Sorry. About that"
She gives a quick apology before hiding herself behind her bangs & right arm now moving upward to caress her crimson horns. After that outburst, not a sound was coming from Shika's mouth, the Parakeet sits at the edge of her seat holding her last piece of chopped sweet potato. She stares at its cream surface while slowly moving it towards her mouth. Shika delays eating it
What now fills the room is an absence of sound from both Monster Girl, with Shika glaring at her sweet potato & Haru stroking her horns as she looks at her empty plate wondering. "Where is Hoshi"
After that though, the wide gap between them was filled by the addition of a young adolescent girl
After that thought, the wide gap between them was filled by the addition of a young adolescent girl sliding into the room as if she was skating on ice. Swiftly making her entrance from the kitchen is the Esper hovering off the ground with her arms spread out like a surfer
She immediately stops to introduce herself like a stage performer, her small white socks gripping the floor as she stands on one leg with her right arm pointing downwards & left reaching high towards the ceiling
This introduction brought with it some wardrobe alterations; a cherry red leather strap wrapped around each of her bare arms supporting a square-shaped leather rucksack. Adoring the left side of her hair is a dazzling purple ribbon matching the purple bow on her upper chest
Hoshi has entered the room wearing an adorable grin on her now cleaned face, her sparkling ivory teeth free from any fish blood stains & bright orange eyes complement the girl's charm. Her body tilts towards Haru like a tree moving in the wind
Haru: "Ahhhh Cute!"
Haru's face lights up at the sight of this precious girl melting the tension with her rare smile, she catches her widening mouth with her palm as the feeling of joy takes over her entire body along with an urge to embrace Hoshi with a gigantic hug
Hoshi twists her body to Shika, flashes her with that endearing smile, & is met with an equally joyous display of praise from the Harpy. Shika jumps out of her seat to spread her glistening green wings out dropping some feathers in the process, her green feathers shining like freshly cut grass
Shika: "Hoshi-sama, welcome back!"
She greets Hoshi with a gentle bow & a radiant smile of her own. Hoshi's final move is turning forward to face the window, the bright morning sun illuminates the grey buildings surrounding the house. She takes off her bag one strap at a time before sitting back down & gazing at the bright ball fixed in the sky above the buildings
Hoshi: "I told you Haru would love it"
She says with a large smile directed at the sun; she takes a long blink before turning to Haru on her left
Hoshi: "She didn't anticipate your lively reaction Haru"
Haru: "Eh?"
To that statement, Haru tilted her face slightly to the left
Shika: "The sun is female?"
The Parakeet leaned into Hoshi's personal space with a deeply curious gaze
Hoshi: "Stars do not have sexes like living organisms do so I proclaimed this one to be female because it eases our interactions"
Shika's question was answered by the beaming Esper. However, her words can't change Shika's questioning eyes
Shika: "You're still talking to the sun, it doesn't respond, does it?"
She asks before turning away to face the sun herself, those large teal eyes glare directly into the sunlight
Shika: *whine* "uhh too much…light"
With the Sun's burning light entering her retina she proceeds to bury her face in her hands whilst shielding her upper body with one of her wings
Shika: "Mah that's unfair!! Why must it hurt!"
Hoshi: "The sun emits ultraviolet radiation which is what the heat essentially is. When you stare directly into it your retina gets flooded with so much UV it burns the tissue in your eyes thus causing pain"
As she explains that to Shika the Oni behind her takes a thumb to her chin & ponders. This brings her more intrigue
Haru: "I didn't even know the details of that, what stops that from happening to you?"
Hoshi turns to answer
Hoshi: "This body was created as a vessel for me thus I can control what is inflicted on it. I'm feeling the sensation of eating that raw char because I chose to but if I let's say get hit by a truck I can choose not to be affected. There will be no damage & I'll feel normal"
Her overly long answer to Haru's question filled the room with silence. Haru understood yet struggled to comment. "Imagine being able to choose what you feel." Haru thought of ways such power could be harnessed, "getting needle shots, doing stunts, combat even"
Haru: "Such power would be abused by most humans"
She said while frowning
Shika: "Wait, that was too confusing for Shika"
Immediately Shika jumped in with her head surrounded by question marks
Hoshi: "Well, how could I express my point? You see as an Esper…"
Shika: "What's the sun saying now!?!"
Hoshi was cut off by this chambering Harpy, her question left Hoshi silent with her blank Kuudere expression but even with that Shika continues to seek answers
Shika: "Can you ask it…or her please!?!"
Leaning in with her entire body, feathers standing straight as she invades Hoshi's personal space for a second time. She got so close Hoshi can feel her exhaling air onto her round cheeks
Hoshi: "You are orbiting too close"
Maintaining her emotionless face, Hoshi calmly tries to address Shika's rudeness & audacity to get so close to no avail
With her arms crossed, Haru sits at her seat gently grinning
Haru: "That's just Shika, she doesn't realize how rude she's being, call it bird brain if you want"
With that snarky comment, Shika turns straight to Haru with a look of determination
Shika: "Ohh bird brain. Getting bratty after my takedown hah?"
Misunderstanding Haru the truly bratty parakeet prepared her retaliation. Taking her right hand inside her left-wing, whatever she was doing behind there must have been equivalent to a pinch on the skin as Shika's face expressed pain
Shika: *whines* "Ouch" (Itai but spoken very childish)
Her arm releases & presents itself to the others. A feather was stuck in between her fingers looking far similar to her bare bird feet. Taking her hand to the middle of the table
As Shika hovers her arm above the table Haru becomes visually concerned. Now anticipating Shika's next move the feather slowly gives in to gravity as it loosens its position
The feather releases itself from Shika's grip & now lumbers to the tabletop. As all three girls watch its slow descent twisting through the air, noises from the other room can be heard
These noises sounded like lite footsteps, almost as if someone is sneaking around in the kitchen. Then
???: "Meow!" (Nya!)
A low-pitched sound entered the dining room as the footsteps felt more intense, whoever this fourth character is they will be entering the beginning of a new conflict between Oni & Harpy
As the feather at long last lands in front of Hoshi, a new house member emerges into the roster
Standing in the doorway was a girl with pink hair tied into a ponytail & less crazy than before, wearing a comfortable French blue sweater & shorts. Still, in her pyjamas, Neko stood there sloping her back with a large yawn exposing her razor-sharp teeth
Neko: "Nya~~ mornin" (Ohayo)
She takes her hand up to cover her yawning mouth & to conceal her fangs whilst her cat ears begin to stick up
Hoshi: "Good morning Neko-san, you seem drained…"
Shika: "Well Haru this bird brain knows your weaknesses"
The neutral esper girl sits in between a new shouting match, trying to move the subject to Neko's tiredness to no avail. Shika who had just let a small feather fall to the table irritates the lioness to their far left
Neko: "Sorry Hoshi-chan, I can't help today"
Neko's response was calm, like a serene stream flowing through a lush plain. The cat girl's voice was always the nicest to listen to, especially when tired, Neko's feeling of fatigue was highly contagious & even worked its way to Hoshi who sat there between two foes wishing for their bickering to end
Seeing the argument unfolding Neko chooses the smart option & retreats upstairs, leaving Hoshi behind
As she turns to leave the room letting her tail swiftly whip the air, her soft, slim tail tends to freely move where it wants as if owning its consciousness. Something that drew Hoshi's attention
Slowly getting up from her seat Hoshi begins her trek to Neko much to the dismay of Haru
Leaving Haru behind Hoshi enters the hallway to reach Neko
Now it's just the two of them, hearing small dim footsteps behind her Neko turns around to meet Hoshi looking visibly anxious
Neko: "Eh? What? Hoshi"
Oblivious to Hoshi's feelings she answers in a casual tone with no honorifics & without thought put into her speech Neko came off as distracted
This left a bad feeling inside Hoshi who tilted her head down & aimed her eyes at the walls before finally answering
Hoshi: "What was your experience in lower school?"
Now staring directly at the pink-haired cat with new confidence Hoshi started moving closer to Neko
Neko's mind re-enters the real world as she looks down upon Hoshi with confusion
Neko: "Why ask? Shika's still in school. You & Haru are the closest in the house"
Continuing her questioning with an awkward smile belling up on her soft youthful face
Neko: "What answer could I give to help you?"
Hoshi: "This is a daunting experience for me, for most children, it's their first time entering the academic environment but they have the luxury of learning with other children their age"
With Neko tilting her head not knowing the issue at hand Hoshi continues
Hoshi: "I'm 1500 years old, the last time I attended school, even the last time I interacted with children was in 1976, so much must have changed"
Neko: "Schools haven't changed much over the years; you'll be fine Hoshi"
Now changing her tone to a more reassuring one to comfort Hoshi's lack of confidence
Hoshi: "It's not just that, I don't know how to act around children…anymore. Of course, I look the part but I can't what they find enjoyment in these days, I remember how in the last century things went from horses to rockets"
Hearing this Neko comes to the route of Hoshi's problem. It must be difficult for someone to witness the rapid growth of human technology so quickly. From Hoshi's perspective, the industrial revolution & rise of the internet have completely changed the way she exists on Earth
& also knowing the reason for keeping this from the other two, is distressing to Hoshi so Shika would not be the right person to go to for this, she never takes things seriously. To Neko it's obvious that Hoshi wants to cause less stress on Haru who has to deal with organizing the household & her career on top of it, this would create an extra burden, at least in Hoshi's mind
Neko begins to lower herself to Hoshi's level, now they can meet face to face. She inspects the orange pools for eyes & sees the trembling of Hoshi's hands. This must have been on her mind for a long time, I must do something" Neko knowing the cause of Hoshi's anguish will act to comfort her
Taking her hands to Hoshi's back, Neko pulls her into her chest. Hoshi has her face buried into Neko's chest; the trembling gradually slows down
Neko goes even further & puts her hand on the top of Hoshi's head, driving her fingers through the soft golden hair
Neko: "Hoshi. You've been through so much; you've seen more things than I could ever imagine. Think of this as a new adventure…try to remain calm &…watch what the others do & copy them…"
Struggling to find words to help in this situation Neko only thinks to stop & let the hug continue. The only sound now reaching Hoshi's ears was the sound of Neko's intense purring
Remaining in Neko's relaxing hug a smile appears on Hoshi's face, those long pauses in Neko's words of comfort indicated to her that she hadn't thought this through but it was helpful
Taking her head out Hoshi, now standing straight & facing Neko, her tail waving about in the background. Hoshi straightens her arms & puts on a strong posture ready to take on the world
Hoshi: "Thank you Neko, I'll do my best today"
Speaking proudly with an even bigger smile on her cute face