"Here is a basic step-by-step process on my ramen-making technique." Began a chef in classy clothing and spiked-up hair. A bowl of ramen sat plainly on the table for Sector SA to observe. "I start with a rich seafood stock. I add plenty of green onions and a spoon of minced garlic." He did so. "And a GUN!!!" And he JABBED a gun into the bowl! "Please, try it."
Nagisa grabbed some chopsticks and slurped some up, his friends looking on with repulse. "Mmmm! That's better than I expected!"
Killua slurped his own fill. "Now, that's a recipe fit for an assassin!"
"Indeed." replied Chef Gastro, pulling his gun up to lick off the ramen.
"I feel like I'm not learning much about cooking." Goombella commented.
…
Pipirika was casually exploring the island on her own, finishing the last bites of some Magmaroni and Freezy Cheese, a specialty from Hailfire Peaks, Avalar. As she contemplated where to go next, glancing to a stall labeled "Gastro's Gun Goods," a particular pair caught her gaze: a girl with magenta hair and beefy legs and a "girl" with blue hair. Curious, Pipirika approached Sector SA and said, "Hey, mind if I join you guys?"
The five operatives turned to their tall guest with mild surprise, having to crane their heads up. Morgiana lightly gasped. "You're an Imuchakk!"
"So, you are a Fanalis!" Pipirika beamed. "But, are you an Imuchakk, too?" She faced Nagisa. "You look small."
"No, I'm a human." Nagisa blushed. "Unless my mom's been hiding something from me."
"I remember hearing about the Imuchakk." Goombella said. "You guys are supposed to be rivals, right?"
"Yeah, kickball rivals. Not that I ever got involved." Morg replied. "Did you need something?"
"Nothing really." Rika smiled. "I guess I was just curious. Name's Pipirika!"
"Morgiana." She smiled back. "And this is my boyfriend, Nagisa."
"Oh, you're a boy?"
"Yep. I just like to watch my weight." Nagisa shrugged off.
"And before you get confused," Killua said, "Morgiana is a girl. Sort of."
Morg shot him a glare. "Hey, Rika, wanna join me in a game?"
"What kind of game?"
"It's like kickball, except Killua here is the ball."
"NOT AGAIN!" Killua jumped.
"Uh…is that safe?" Rika asked in concern.
"Certainly! He specially trained his body for this kind of game."
"SCREW YOU!" Killua bolted.
"Hurry, catch him!" Morgiana gave chase.
"Well, this'll work up an appetite!" Pipirika giggled and joined in.
"You know, if this were kindergarten," Goombella said, "I'm the one they would kick around."
"Well, that's sad." Index replied.
…
Kohaku was in awe at the bustling festival. So, this was the legendary Cooking Island. This was the festival they had been preparing for, the one renowned by everyone in outer space. She had never seen so many colorful characters all at once. She wasn't sure where to go first.
"Everything looks so tasty!" Suika cheered. "And it's so hot, Suika thinks she's being cooked!"
"I hope Cooking Island isn't meant to be taken literally!" Tressa joked. "So, where should we go first?"
"I'm checkin' out that Symphonian Boombox Barbecue!" Benson said, running off.
"Save some for me!" Kipo followed. "Come on, Wolf!" The hooded warrior paced after.
"O-Tama wishest August'n were hither." The kunoichi said sadly. "The food hath no taste without him."
"Ah, you won't be saying that for long, Tama." Tressa winked. "I bet we'll find something you like, let's go!" She took the child's hand and walked off. "You comin', Kohaku?"
"I'll join you later. I'd like to look for Senku."
"Cool, can't wait to meet him!"
"Waaaah!" Suika screamed. "Kohaku, look! It's a giant!"
"You mean a…" Kohaku looked in the indicated direction and didn't need long to notice: it was a giant girl with black hair in a ponytail, a yellow top and shorts, along with yellow straps down her legs. "Whoa! She's much bigger than the Imuchakk. Though not nearly as much as that Klumsy monster…"
"She's so huge, but she looks like a kid like Suika! Can we go see her?"
"Of course! In fact…" Kohaku narrowed her eyes, "I think I see another kid on her shoulder."
The giant in question was Mocha, and her friend Aisa was riding her shoulder. Aisa's red hair was tied in pigtails, wearing her usual brown dress, and blood-red arrow markings on her legs. Her angel wings flapped and bobbed from Mocha's walking, but were otherwise flightless. "Honestly, I feel like I've eaten so much that all the tastes are mixing together." Mocha said. "I'm not really sure if I could stay here for three more days."
"Me either." Aisa replied. "But Cheren keeps saying that… Hey, heads down, someone's heading for us."
"Who?" Mocha turned with alert and faced down.
Kohaku dashed up to the duo with swift speed, accompanied by the rolling Suika. The two stopped a short distance from the W7 operatives. "Um, hi!" Kohaku greeted with embarrassment. "My friend here saw you and wanted to say 'hi.'"
"You're so big!" Suika yelled. "How old are you?"
"I'm turning 14 this year!" Mocha giggled at her innocent question. "And yes, I am pretty big! Wanna come up and see the view?" She knelt down with a hand open.
"Wow!!" Suika excitedly climbed onto Mocha's palm. "Suika feels so tiny! Wheeeee!" Her heart beamed with delight as the Amazon raised her to her level.
Aisa giggled and jumped off her 20-foot friend, landing firmly as she approached Kohaku. "Well, that's a fashionable outfit!" Aisa grinned, thoroughly studying her primitive attire. "What tribe are you from?"
"Um…the Stone Tribe! From the Stone Kingdom."
"Interesting." Aisa tapped her toes against Kohaku's stone sandals. "I'm normally not a shoe person, but I can get behind that. Though if I had to guess, I'd say… you're Historian."
Kohaku flinched. "His-Historian? No-no, we're… from Earth!"
Aisa's eyes widened at her stuttering. With a smirk, she said, "You're totally from Historia, aren't you?"
"No we're not! Honest!" Suika yelled, Mocha looking curiously. "Suika is from… Melon World! Hup!" She shrank into her fruit helmet.
"Relax, relax." Aisa said. "I don't know the details, but your secret's safe with me. I can tell Historians when I see them. I'm Aisa of the Shandian tribe! The big girl is Mocha the Amazon."
"Shandian?" Kohaku asked. "I've heard of the Shandian tribe… which means, you're also Historian!"
"No, I'm actually from Earth. But hey, I consider all tribes my brethren, up top!" She raised her hand, and Kohaku dealt a high-five.
"Hehehe!" Mocha giggled. "So, Suika, how did you guys-"
"Leave me ALOOOOONE!" All of a sudden, Killua came bolting between the giant's legs and between Aisa and Kohaku.
"Sorry!" Pipirika quickly said as she and Morg were still in pursuit.
"Oh, Morg! This is perfect!" Aisa beamed. "Hey, Morg! WAIT!" The Shandian chased them, with Kohaku and Mocha to follow.
Wolf was munching on a CD (a Cracker Disc) from the Symphonian stall, bobbing her head to the beat that sounded with each chew. As she walked absentmindedly, Killua suddenly bolted up from her right. Wolf gasped and quickly grabbed Stalky to STAB him in the hip. "OW!"
"Uh-oh!" Morg gasped, she and Pipirika stopping. "Killua, are you alright?"
"I knew this wasn't a safe game!" Rika cried.
"Um…sorry." Wolf withdrew her spear sheepishly.
"Ah, no big deal." Killua brushed off. "I'm immune to poison."
"Cool, but we might need to patch that cut." Benson suggested, pulling out some bandage tape.
"Morgiiiieee!" The group turned to Aisa's group.
"Huh? Did you need something, Aisa?"
"Yeah, I wanted to… Wait, who're you?" she asked the tall blue-haired girl.
"I'm Pipirika. From Imuchakk."
"Mmmmmm…" With an interested smile, Aisa looked over Pipirika's wintery clothes. "You look like a snow person, but you're dressed kind of lightly. Don't you wear shoes?"
"Well, our skin is adept to cold, so we don't need heavy clothing."
"Ahhhh! Today is my lucky day."
"Are you checking me out?" Pipirika smiled awkwardly.
"Yes, but not like that. My name is-"
Several introductions later
"Alright, so we finally know each other's names." Wolf sighed. "What the heck is going on?"
"Don't ask me." Morg replied. "Aisa, what's up?"
"Hehe!" Aisa grinned and blushed. "I was just thinking we got quite the club going here. We're all tribal girls from different cultures. Including this little Wolfy!" She turned to Wolf.
"Wolf's situation is a little different." Kohaku inferred.
"She still looks the part to me!" Aisa declared with a friendly kick to Wolf's legs.
"What're you getting at?" Wolf asked.
"Fate has bound us together for a reason! It wants us to form a club! From now on, we're… the Culture Club!"
"What did I get myself into?…" Pipirika asked with confusion.
"You should've known better than to approach us." Killua remarked.
"I'm leaving." Wolf walked away-
"Whoa, hang on, Wolf!" but Kipo pulled her back. "Don't you wanna make some new friends?"
"Why? I got you guys."
"Come on, these girls seem fun! It might be my instinct, but I have a particularly good feeling about this one." Kipo approached Morgiana.
"Yeah, if you like catgirls." Killua said.
"You're a catgirl?"
"No!" Morg hissed at Killua. "My people can transform into Red Lions. It's usually a permanent change, so don't expect me to use it."
"A Red Lion, huh?" Kipo smirked. "Well, get this: I'm a Purple Jaguar girl!" A hint of fur grew on her arm.
"Wow, I've never heard of that. Cool."
"But they don't look like lions or jaguars!" Suika shouted, hanging and swinging from Mocha's ponytail.
"Not everyone is what they seem." Mocha assured.
"When I was little," Pipirika began, "I always thought we would transform into whales. Sigh…I wish that were true."
"Too bad for you." Wolf said in sarcasm. "Okay, we're the Culture Club. So, what? What're we supposed to do now?"
"Uhhhh, I dunno!" Aisa beamed. "Any ideas?"
"You formed the club, you think of something." Morgiana said.
"Uhhh…OOH! Victory Cheese!"
"I think she's just speaking nonsense." Killua figured.
"No, come with me!"
…
Several trophies made of cheese, in the shape of bold V's, were on display in a glass refrigerator. The ones who created them were a team of Sportian chefs, aliens whose skin resembled sports balls. "Alright, fellas!" Aisa announced with an approach. "Sign us up for one of them V-Cheeses!"
"A'ight, kid, pick your cheese and we'll set you right up." The Basketman smiled. "Is it a team sport or solo sport?"
"We still have to discuss that."
"Aisa, what is this?" Morg asked.
"Victory Cheese! It's a special cheese that tastes like sweet victory! But you can only unlock that taste after victoriously winning a game!"
"And the bigger the game, the better the taste, kid!" said the Basketman. "But you better not lose, 'cause HOOOOO boy, that taste stanks!"
"What happens if we eat it without playing a game?" Kohaku asked.
"It tastes like lemon honey!" answered the Soccerman spritely.
"So then!" Aisa fist-palmed. "What sport shall we play?"
"How about dodgeball?" Morg suggested.
"I like water polo!" Pipirika said.
"Senku told me about this one game that sounded really fun." Kohaku said. "It's called… Quidditch, I think."
"You know what the Amazons like?" Mocha asked. "BASKETBALL!" She leapt into the air and slammed down with a quake, Suika swinging violently on her ponytail.
"Oh, wait!" Aisa gasped. "Let's play Mesoamerican Ringball! Like from that El Dorado movie!"
"You heard her, Quaffleman!" Basketman declared. "Set up the Ringball court!"
"Quaf!" acknowledged the red-skinned Quaffleman. He opened a briefcase and withdrew a small brown ball, amongst many others that resembled other sports. He placed it into a small slot beside a door, which glowed with magic.
The Culture Club entered the door: they had warped into a stone, Mesoamerican arena. There were two wide, thick rings situated high above either side of the field. "Oh yeah, I remember this movie." Morg said. "Nagisa once asked if we played it where I'm from."
"Yep, and I bet they play it on Historia, too." Aisa nodded. "It's the perfect game for us cultural types!"
"We have to throw balls through those hoops, right?" Mocha recalled. "I always thought that would be hard to pull off."
"We don't necessarily throw them. We bounce them with our butts." Aisa thrusted hers to the left.
"We bounce them with our butts." Wolf repeated, trying to make sure she heard right.
"Yeah, I'm not doing that." Kohaku shirked her eyes. "I'll stick to legs and hands."
"That's perfectly acceptable." Aisa said. "I'm a little behind in that department, compared to some of you. …Get it, behind?"
"This sounds kind of fun!" Pipirika smiled. "So, who's on whose team?"
"Me and Mocha will be the team leaders. And I choose Morgiana for my team."
"Alright!" Mocha smirked. "Then I'll pick my new friend, Kohaku!"
"Hehe!" The blonde warrior giggled.
"Next, I'll take Pipirika! It's only fair I get a giant against a giant."
"She's four times my size!" Rika laughed.
"Then I guess I get Wolf!" Mocha concluded.
"Why was I picked last?"
"Uh…I don't know."
"It's because you're short!" said the Soccerman.
"No one asked you!" Mocha kicked him away.
"Whose team is Suika on!"
"Suika, we would need an 8th person if we let you play." Kohaku replied. "Also, you're… not exactly the most athletic one from our village."
"Oh…okay." Suika drooped in sadness.
"But you can stay in my hair while we play!" Mocha offered.
"Okay!"
Moments later
The girls had alerted their friends of their game, and word soon spread as other interested goers amassed into the magic door. They climbed up to the stands as the six girls stood on opposite ends of the field. "Man, now I am sad Augustus is going to miss this!" Tressa said.
"WOOOOO! GO WOOOOOLF!" Benson cheered.
"Eat that lion up, Wolf!" Kipo cheered.
"Yaaaaah!" Chimney raved. "Squish them flat, Mochan and Aisa-chan!"
"Chimney, they're on opposite teams." April reminded, painting an epic image of six different armies amassing in a center, wearing the respective tribal clothes.
"Then squash everyone else but them!"
"No one beats our Morgie!" Nagisa cheered. "Go for it!"
"Seriously, I'm not learning anything about cooking…" Goombella remarked.
"Look, Big Bro Hina!" Konayuki pointed. "Pipirika is playing!"
"But why is a Fanalis on her team?!" Gorohoho questioned. "TRAITOR!"
"Or perhaps the Fanalis is the one betraying her clan?" Hina wondered.
"I will not STAND for this! GRAAAAAAHH!" The patriarch began running around in a frenzy.
"This is a 3-on-3 game between fellow clanswomen!" Aisa announced with the ball raised high. "This game is a symbol of the union between tribes! We are Aisa of the Shandians, Morgiana of the Fanalis, Pipirika of the Imuchakk, Mocha of the Amazons, Kohaku or the Stoneys, and Wolf of the Wolf Clan!"
"Don't call us Stoneys." Kohaku said weirdly.
"And I'm not from the Wolf Clan!"
"But you were raised by wolves."
"Well, they weren't called the Wolf Clan! Their family name was O'Donnell."
"Better get some music ready!" Benson said, turning on his boombox.
"The first team to score five points wins! Let's PLAY BALL!" Aisa chucked the ball into the air. (Play "Don't Stop Now" from Kipo!)
Menu Bonus: Victory Cheese
Recipe: Win Ringball!
Mocha charged at the ball, but Morgiana already leapt to kick it toward Pipirika. It bounced against her chest and into the air, but she slapped it toward Aisa, only for Kohaku to dash in and kick it to Mocha. The giant bounced the ball high, then kept it bouncing on her way to her team's hoop. Morgiana glared and blasted to the air with a Rocket Jump, kicking the ball to Aisa. She kicked it up to her hoop and scored the first point for her team. It ricocheted off the wall, Wolf running to catch it, but Mocha had already stomped ahead of her to kick the ball skyward. Mocha caught and bounced it between her hands, keeping turned away from Morg as she was aiming for it.
"Hey, pass it down here!" Wolf yelled from underneath Mocha, waving her arms for attention. When Morg tried jumping over the giant, Kohaku jumped up from the front and swung a kick to Morg's stomach, thwarting her plan. Mocha dashed over, jumped, and slammed the ball through her hoop! Pipirika leapt to grab the ball and kick off the wall, bouncing it along. Kohaku blocked her, dodging side-to-side to prevent Rika from getting around. Seeing Aisa behind Kohaku, Pipirika decided to toss the ball to the Historian, for Kohaku would trip on Aisa's leg. The ball dropped and bounced back to Rika, who made her way to her hoop.
Wolf was running to ambush her, but Morg countered her, trying to stay in the dark-skinned human's way. Wolf grit her teeth and tried to shove her, but the Fanalis's legs were too sturdy. Pipirika tossed the ball up, then served it up to her hoop, scoring a point. Mocha was ready to catch the ball, but Aisa jumped up the giant's back, up her arm as it was rising for the catch, and then kicked the ball back through their hoop. Pipirika caught the ball once more and tried to send it through again, only for Kohaku to leap up, catch it between her ankles, and chuck it to the opposite side.
Morgiana saw this and ran to stop the ball, sending it back to her team's side. Wolf attempted to jump and stop it, but her tiny fingers fell too short of the ball. Thankfully, it bounced off Mocha's leg, so Wolf ran to catch it, only for Kohaku to kick and dribble it along the ground. Morgiana charged her, while Mocha was running to her team's side. Just as Morg caught up, Kohaku pulled up and threw the ball to Mocha, who caught and tossed it through her hoop. The score was 3-2, with Pipirika catching the ball, and Aisa ready to defend her from their opponents.
Mocha and Kohaku bore battle-ready expressions, running to counter their strategies. However, Morgiana looked over at Wolf. The youngest warrior walked over and sat against the wall in defeat. "…Hey, guys! Time out!" Morg yelled, the four others looking in her direction. She gestured over to the downtrodden Wolf.
Mocha and Kohaku shared concerned glances and walked up to their teammate. "What's the matter, Wolf?" Mocha asked.
"I don't wanna play, anymore. I'm too short and I'm not strong enough. You two won't even let me have the ball."
"We didn't mean to make you feel bad." Mocha frowned, squatting down to hold a hand beside her. "Come on, join us. We'll help you."
"I don't need your pity!" Wolf yelled in defense, aiming Stalky at the open hand. "Kohaku was already treating me like a kid, acting all better than me just 'cause she was older, I don't need a freakin' giant to hold my hand!"
"I…I'm sorry."
"Hey, should I stop playing this?!" Benson yelled over the music of "Don't Stop Now."
"Wolf, we didn't mean to drag you into this." Kohaku knelt down and patted her shoulder in comfort. "This was Aisa's idea in the first place. How about we just call the game off? We'll go do something else."
Wolf looked her in the eyes, seeing the earnest sympathy within them. Mocha's bulbous eyes curved down in guilt. "…But won't we forfeit the game if we quit?"
"Who cares, they can have their cheese. It's not fair if you're not having fun."
Wolf glanced at the scoreboard, seeing the 3-2 score. "So, you're just going to lose because of me?"
"W-Well…I mean…" Mocha tried to think of an argument.
"I can't just let that happen! Look, just keep playing. Don't let me hold you back."
"No!" Mocha yelled, her gaze turning serious. "If we keep playing, we want you to play, too. We wanna win or lose fair and square! So, let's work together and finish this game!" She placed her hand down more assertively.
Wolf shirked in humility. She was used to riding on giant animals, but being held by an actual giant human felt bad for her pride. It was clear these warriors had more experience than her and she hated to be pitied by them. "Hmph…fine!" Wolf jumped onto the platform-size hand, being raised into the air as Mocha stood.
They turned to face their opponents with pride. "Okay! Time in!"
Aisa and Pipirika briefly exchanged a glance; the Imuchakk was confused on what to do, but Aisa gestured to keep bouncing the ball to the goal! Kohaku dashed their direction, Aisa prepared to block her, but doing so left Pipirika exposed to Mocha and Wolf. The giant clasped Wolf and spun her arm before hurling the small warrior straight to Pipirika. She headbutted the ball away from Rika, and as it bounced against the wall, Wolf recovered in time to take and dribble it. Rika tried to block her, but Wolf swiftly kicked it between the taller girl's feet, with plenty of room to slide under herself afterward.
Morgiana ran to counter Wolf, but Mocha dove down and blocked her. Wolf tossed the ball for Mocha to smack toward the goal, and as Wolf leapt onto her back, Mocha pushed herself up and flung her over as well. Wolf caught the ball and ran away, chucking the ball up before punching it straight up to the hoop. Kohaku was about to kick it back over, but Aisa ran in front to catch it. Mocha charged her direction, but Aisa kicked the ball between her legs, allowing Morgiana to kick it to Pipirika. Mocha bit her lip in worry, but saw Wolf running toward her. Mocha quickly ducked down, snatched Wolf, and chucked her to the enemy goal. Wolf grabbed the hoop and kicked the ball back down, but Pipirika punched it to Morg on the opposite side. She kicked the ball skyward, Rocket Jumped, and kicked it straight through the hoop, shoving Wolf off as well.
Kohaku caught her friend and kicked the ball skyward, setting Wolf on her shoulders as the latter kept the ball bouncing above her. Pipirika and Aisa readied to block them, but Wolf smacked the ball over their heads toward Mocha. Aisa already sensed this and was running to stop it, but Wolf jumped into the air, Kohaku did a flip, and Wolf planted her feet to Kohaku's as she was launched toward the ball. Aisa sensed this as well and tried to block her, but Wolf kicked her arm away. The ball had gotten ahead, allowing Mocha to kick it to their side, and Wolf ran to retrieve it after landing. Mocha blocked Aisa from stopping her, and Wolf tossed the ball up the wall. She used the built momentum to sprint up the wall, but could only make it halfway before the ball came down, the young warrior slapping it up to the hoop. It barely made it through, making an even 4-4 score.
Aisa got around Mocha to kick the ball to Pipirika, who bounced the ball above her to keep it out of Kohaku's reach. The Historian simply leapt and kicked off Rika's shoulder to kick the ball to Mocha. Morgiana intercepted it and kicked toward her goal, with Aisa making the move to catch it. Mocha charged toward her, Aisa smirking as she anticipated her plan. Aisa jumped and kicked off the wall, onto Mocha's left hand. Mocha tried to grab her, but Aisa dodged, throwing the ball skyward and going up the giant's arm. Wolf had leapt from Mocha's head to smack the ball toward her goal, just as Aisa predicted. She leapt up to grab Wolf and bring her to the ground.
Morgiana kicked it back to their side, between Mocha's legs. Aisa got off Wolf to grab it, with Wolf pursuing, but Aisa kicked it in Pipirika's direction. Wolf gasped and ran to Mocha, who grabbed and tossed her through the opposite side of the enemy goal. This prevented the ball from going through, but it bounced back to Pipirika while Kohaku caught Wolf. Pipirika smacked it back to the goal, but Kohaku leapt to kick it against the wall as it bounced toward the other side. Wolf dashed to keep it bouncing, Aisa dashing to stop her. The Shandian stole the ball away, and Mocha was running to block her. Aisa swiftly evaded the giant's feet and dodged past, sending it to Pipirika. Rika smacked it skyward, and Morg leapt to kick it to her hoop.
However, after Aisa bypassed Mocha, Wolf ran to the giant, who hastened to grab Wolf and throw her to the enemy goal. The force of the ball via Morg's kick blasted Wolf through the hoop, but when her legs bumped against the bottom rim and flung up, they kicked the ball up and caused it to bounce against the top rim and fall back down. Wolf crashed on the ground, bruised and defeated. Mocha and Kohaku looked to their teammate with concern, but knew they couldn't let this second chance go to waste. Kohaku kicked the ball to their side of the field, both she and Mocha rushing to follow. Aisa tried to steal it back, but Kohaku made it first and kicked it skyward. Mocha grabbed the Historian and tossed her up to kick the ball back down, Mocha jumping to grab it and shove it into the hoop. (End song.)
"Sigh…that's Mocha's team with five points and ours with four." Morgiana sighed. "They win."
"Phew…" Mocha sighed. With that, she and Kohaku hurried over to Wolf. The Amazon gently scooped her up in her hand. "Wolf… are you okay?"
"Nnnn…" Her consciousness returned, the warmth of Mocha's gentle palm easing her pain. "What… happened?"
"We won." Mocha smiled. "It's all thanks to you."
"That was so cool, Wolf!" Suika cheered. "Suika thought we were gonna lose, but you stopped them!"
"Nnn…only because she threw me."
"I thought you wanted me to throw you, that's why you ran to me?"
"I did, but… that just means I couldn't do it on my own."
"And I couldn't have done that on my own either." Mocha assured. "That's why we worked together! You might be the smallest here, but that doesn't make you any less equal."
"Hmm…" Wolf cracked a smile on her bruised face.
"Suika didn't get to be useful." Suika frowned. "And Suika is smaller than Wolf…"
"We'll let you play next time, Suika!" Kohaku promised. "You may not be the most athletic, but I'll bet you do great!"
"Then… Suika will do her very best!"
"Hahaha! Kona wants to play, too!" Konayuki cheered.
"YEEEEAH!" Gorohoho cheered. "The Fanalis lost! Eat that, you desert-dwelling pansies!"
"But, Father, Pipirika lost, too." Hina reminded.
"Does… not… COMPUUUUUUTE!"
"A'ight, kids! Here's your Victory Cheese." The Basketman brought their reward, Kohaku taking it. Mocha sat cross-legged as Wolf jumped down.
Kohaku picked off a piece and ate it. "MMMMMM!" The cheese gave her a thrilling sensation of fireworks and banners going off in her heart. It gave her the urge to yell, "VICTORY… CHEEEEEESE! OLOLOLOLOLOLO!"
Wolf looked at her weirdly and took a bite herself. Her emotions flared up as she felt the urge to shout it.
Suika picked off her own tiny bite, though it tasted like lemon honey, and Kohaku picked off another chunk to throw into Mocha's mouth. "VICTORY… CHEEEEEESE!"
"Well, this is weird." Pipirika commented. "Still, I'm really proud of you, Wolf. Honestly, I think you were playing better than me."
"You're a perfect edition to this club!" Aisa grinned. "I knew I had a good feeling about you!"
"But you welcomed all of us at the same time." Morg replied.
"Darn right I did!"
"Heh heh." Wolf chuckled. "Hey, why don't you have some, too? You were pretty awesome yourselves."
Aisa, Morg, and Rika shared smiles. "Sure!" Aisa said. "After all, it couldn't taste that bad, right?"
With that, the other three tribeswomen took a bite of the Victory Cheese. "!!!!!" They turned remarkably green and their stomachs swelled in sickness. "UUUUUUHHHH!"
"Hooooo-wee!" cheered the Basketman. "You kids are gonna need one hell of a laxative!"
Sector SA dropped down to join their sickened teammate. "Well, Morg," Nagisa began, "you might not've tasted Victory Cheese, but how about a nice Victory Kiss?"
"Urk…sure, Nagisa." Morg cracked a sickened smile. With that, the boyfriend and girlfriend shared a romantic kiss.
Gorohoho looked upon them with frantic emotions. "A Fanalis and an Imuchakk IN LOVE?! RAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" And he ran away, crying to the hills. Hina and Konayuki shared a baffled glance over the patriarch's mannerisms.
…
After leaving the playing grounds, the Culture Club went for a walk through the island. Wolf relaxed on Mocha's shoulder, still exhausted from the game. It felt sort of humiliating to depend on a fellow warrior of superior size, but at the same time, Wolf started to feel equal with the Amazon. The festival looked rather small from this view. If Wolf were still on the ground, she would look that small to Mocha.
"You know something, Wolf?" Mocha asked. "I know exactly how you feel. I used to be smaller than you."
"You… What?"
"I used to be a normal human. I was so short that I was always left out of everyone's games. And I didn't even know how to fight. But one day, I was kidnapped, and I was basically made giant against my will. But long story short… I've never felt better in my life. I have the strength to help people now, and I finally felt equal with everyone else."
"Huh." Wolf scoffed. "Yeah, 'cause that's relatable. Now you never have to feel afraid. You get to crush all your enemies."
"That's not true. Even smaller people are still stronger than me. I would be a goner if I didn't have friends to help me. That's why I don't want you to feel bad about your size. You became strong naturally, Wolf. You're nothing like my old crybaby self."
"Heh…" Wolf never expected such praise from such a huge warrior. Her heart was welling with gratitude. "I guess you're not so bigheaded after all."
"Your head is proportionately big, too!"
"Ha ha ha!" Wolf let out a laugh, and it became mixed in with Mocha's giggles. "Hey, you guys ever been stung by a Dubstep Bee?"
"What's that?" Pipirika asked.
"I remember them from Wonderbeast World." Kohaku said. "But I wasn't stung."
"Alright, then follow my lead!"
The "Don't Stop Now" song began playing again as Wolf began dancing in a dubstep fashion. She was doing a moonwalk while Aisa was doing twirls, alternating between feet. Morgiana and Kohaku were performing leg and arm stretches and flexes. Pipirika stood between Mocha's legs as they performed stomping motions. Little Suika was mimicking this as well, though she bounced whenever Mocha stomped. The girls earned weirded looks from passing festival goers, but it did nothing to hamper their spirits. Wolf could feel her shame shaking off with each motion, happy to stand on the same ground as these great warriors.