Qingyi stood in front of the Random Play Video Store, gazing at the closed sign hanging on the door. She rubbed her chin in deep thought, thinking about her next move. She looked around the glass display, observing the movies currently shown in it.
"Hmm..." the robot girl hummed softly, considering her option. She can leave for tomorrow and see if they're available. Or perhaps the store is empty because the Cunning Hares are busy in Ballet Twins? "Is there a back entrance?" she was about to walk around the building when a young girl in elementary school uniform walked up to her. "Oh hello,"
It's a red haired girl wearing an eyepatch. A single red eye gazed at her, almost in suspicion. She folded, staring right at Qingyi like a delinquent staring at a new kid. "Something we can help you with?" she asked gruffly.
"Oh, ahem, I'm here to return a tape," Qingyi showed them the tapes Zhu Yuan gave her. "Is the store closed?"
"Ah, big sis is out today, I'm just clocking in earlier," the girl walked past her and took out a key, opening the store. "Come on in!"
The red haired girl ushered her into the display room before turning on the lights. "Are you related to the owner of this video store?" Qingyi asked, handing her the tapes.
"Kinda, the name's Koleda," Koleda said, taking the tapes. "Is there anything else I can help you officer?" she grabbed a Bangboo from its charging port and putting it behind the counter.
"Yes, I'd like to have a chat with the owner if that's alright," Qingyi replied, walking around the display room looking for anything suspicious.
At a glance, there's really nothing impressive in the video store. Aside from the collection of movies and how diverse it is that is. Qingyi wondered where the owner sourced these movies, some of them aren't even registered in her database.
"I can let big sis know, can I have your name?"
"Yes, it's... Officer Qingyi," the automaton replied.
"When are you next available?"
Qingyi paused, she wants to be polite but she also don't want to give the owner time to clean up anything. "I am available all day today, would she be available this afternoon? Is it too soon?" she asked.
"Later today is fine, I'll let her know," Koleda replied.
Qingyi nodded, taking one last look at the video store before turning around. "Thank you for your assistance, miss Koleda, take care now," she left the video store, closing the door behind her and walking off outside.
Once far enough, Qingyi took out her walkie talkie. "Zhu Yuan I've secured an appointment with the Video Store owner, prepare back up,"
"Understood, good work Qingyi," came Zhu Yuan's reply. "We'll send a special team to secure Sixth Street Perimeter,"
[LINE BREAK]
Koleda was nervous.
This is practically the first time she ever had sleepover with friends. Well, the first time to have sleepover as an adult at least. She's not even sure how she should act, as a kid? As herself? Who even is herself? She wasn't even sure how she should act with that officer!
...
"Are you nervous nyaa?" Nekomata asked, two tails swaying behind her as she lay on the brand-new soft carpet. "Is the President of the Belobog Industry nervous of sleepover with friends?" she asked again.
Koleda rolled her eyes. "Ugh, bear with me here Nekomiya..." she muttered. "It's my first time acting as a kid..."
"Nyaa~ What do you mean acting?" Nekomiya stood up and walked up to her, licking her hand like a cat. "You're a kitten, nyo?"
"Oi,"
Nekomiya smiled sheepishly. "I don't mean that in a bad way nya~" she held up her hands. "I'm saying that you just barely finished high school before becoming the president. You should enjoy being a kid whilst you have a chance,"
Koleda rolled her eyes before grabbing a bowl of snack in the corner. "You sound like Belle," she muttered. "Keep treating me like a kid..."
"Is that bad nyaa?"
A memory resurfaced and Koleda found her hand trembling. "If you treat me like a kid... You don't trust what I say..." she gritted her teeth. "And then bad things happen damn it!" she snapped, slamming the bowl on the table.
Nekomiya's eyes widened. "Oh..." she averted her gaze. "Well... I mean... sorry," she closed her eyes. "I'm really sorry..." she whispered.
Koleda's face softened and she sighed. "It's okay, I... I get what you're trying to say, I'm just taking things too seriously," she sighed and picked up some snacks off the floor and tossed them into the bin. "Sorry for yelling. I'm just... tired."
The cat thiren nodded, though the guilty look on her face didn't go away. "Yeah... It's okay," she took a deep breath, shaking her head. "Anyway, about the officer thing, have you told Belle?"
"Hmm? Yeah, I did, something wrong? It's prolly just an annual inspection. Election's coming up soon," Koleda said, waving it off.
Nekomiya winced a little. "Nyaa... Koleda do you know the kind of person Public Security are cracking down on?" she gestured around the place, then to herself. "Our occupation isn't really uhh... legal, yknow?"
Koleda blinked a little, realization dawning. "Wait!" she stood up. "But that's today!!! Shoot!" she looked around. "We... uhh..." she looked at the H.D.D. "Can we put this somewhere else!? Or... Maybe we can... Uhh..."
"Don't worry nyaa~ Belle has it all under control," Nekomiya said. "Just make sure your friends stay here for the weekend," she grinned. "The more fun you have today, the better!"
"Right, phew, should've told her that you guys aren't available for a week... Sorry bout that,"
"Don't worry nya~" Nekomiya stood up and stretched her arms. "Anyway, I have some business to attend to, see ya~" she said before walking out of the staff room. "Have fun with the Sleep Over!"
"Alright, stay safe!"
Koleda watched as the cat thiren left, leaving her alone inside the staff room. She continued cleaning up the mess she made, pushing down her feelings and guilt deeper in. Her friend's gonna come here to have fun, it's no time for her to dwell on the past.
"Koleda!" Belle's voice came from outside. "Your friend's here!"
"Yea, yea!" Koleda shouted back before quickly walking out of the Staff Room. She looked around, finding the display room relatively empty save for a few customers and a certain white-haired girl who looked like her age.
"Koleda!" Kiana ran around the shop, eyes sparkling. "Your home is amazing!!! It's literally an all you can watch buffet!!!" she grinned brightly, stopping in front of the new release tab. "Journey To The Core Of The Hollow? The Godether: Cursed Planet? Roberto and Diane? These movies were just released today on cinema and you already have the tapes for it?!"
Koleda raised an eyebrow. That's news even for her. Looks like Random Play isn't just some cover up shop for Belle if she actually went that far. She wondered what sort of connection she has to keep up the supply of the tapes.
The door opened and a certain black-haired girl stepped in, seemingly out of breath. "Kiana! Don't just run off like that!" she hissed before catching her breath. She then noticed Belle and Koleda looking at her. The girl straightened her posture and bowed a little.
"My name is Mei, thank you for having us Miss Belle, Koleda..."
"Aww, with pleasure~" Belle replied. "Come on in, pick any movie you like! You can watch in the staff room," she picked up 18 from the floor and put it behind the counter. "I'll be upstairs, give me a holler if you need anything, see ya!"
"Ah, thank you so much Miss Belle," Mei turned to Koleda and smiled a little. "Say, Koleda, I umm... brought something," she handed Koleda a cute little parcel.
"Oh thanks," Koleda took the parcel. It's warm. "Is this... Food?" she peeked inside it, finding a lunch box instead of a packaging. "Did you make this?"
"Definitely!" Kiana said before Mei could answer. She rests her head on Koleda's shoulder, looking at the box from behind her. "Mei loves to make homemade food and snacks, don't worry, her cooking is the best! Ah, be sure to praise her cooking a lot, she really likes that!"
"Kiana!!!" Mei's face flushed red in embarrassment. "Don't say it like that."
Koleda chuckled a little. "It's alright Mei, thanks for the food," she waved at the two. "Come on, let's get in while we wait for Bronya and Seele,"
Koleda led the two into the Staff Room. Soft carpet and an array of monitors welcomed them. She had to admit, Belle sure knows what she's doing. The monitors of the H.D.D has been arranged into one gigantic screen, while the sofa is set just far enough for perfect view.
"You have your own cinema?!" Kiana exclaimed. "Gosh, you're the luckiest girl ever Koleda!!!" she ran up to the H.D.D, her feet caught up in a carpet fold. "Eh?" her expression froze as the girl found herself falling towards the priceless monitor.
"Kiana!" Mei managed to pull her from behind, sending them both tumbling on the carpet. The black haired girl gasped a little before smacking on Kiana's head. "Would it kill you to stay still for a minute!?" she exclaimed.
"Ehehe, my bad, my bad~" Kiana stood up and helped Mei back on her legs. "But still!" she looked back at the monitor. "This thing is awesome!!!"
Mei sat down on the sofa, sighing a little, before looking back at Koleda. "I'm so sorry Koleda," she said. "We've been nothing but troubling you so far,"
Koleda waved her hand. "Nah, it's fine, it's fine..." she put the lunch box Mei gave her on to her lap. "You brought home made food, I say that's a great deal," she opened the lunch box revealing an array of steamed dumplings. "Whoa..."
"Do you like it,"
"Of course!" Koleda grabbed one and plopped one into her mouth. "Mm, big sis can't really cook, so homemade food is always a luxury!" she sighed in relief before eating another. "Say, here's the deal, you bring me food in school and I'll trade it with new release!"
Mei waved her hands. "N-no, no need for that, I can share you my food anytime you like Koleda," she said with a sheepish smile. "I'm just glad you like my cooking,"
"Of course!" Kiana sat next to Koleda and grabbed a dumpling. "That's cuz Mei's cooking is the best!" she grinned a little as she chews. "Anyway, come on! Let's pick a movie while we wait for Bronya and Seele to arrive!"
Kiana stood up and went straight for the shelf nearby. "Let's see... Watched that... documentary... Oooh, I don't know about this one... Hmm... Too cheesy... Definitely too scary for Mei..." she muttered, browsing through the tapes.
"What was that?" Mei said.
"Nothing!" Kiana exclaimed. "Anyway, you guys wanna watch the Veteran's Guide to New Eridu?" she asked. "It's the sequel to Rookie's Guide to the Hollow,"
"Rookie's Guide is great," Mei turned to Koleda. "What do you think Koleda?"
Koleda blinked a little, she really didn't expect this. The last time she binged movies was in the Hospital with... Grace. She realized now how little movie's she's actually watched. "A sequel..." she bit her lip. "I... I haven't watched the Rookie's Guide to the Hollow,"
Both turned to Koleda, eyes wide.
"Eh!?" Kiana scrambled over to her. "You haven't watch Rookie's Guide to the Hollow!?" she waved around two tapes in her hand. "That's it! We're going to watch both of them!" she turned to Mei. "Mei, shhh! Say nothing! We mustn't spoil it for Koleda!"
Mei nodded, actually agreeing with Kiana for once. "Kiana's right Koleda, we should watch this from the beginning, I'll do my best not to spoil anything," she paused for a bit. "Also, Bronya also already watched this, so we don't have to worry about getting ahead of her if she arrived."
"Alright!" Kiana took out the tape and shoved it right into the H.D.D console. "It's Movie Time!!!"