Gacha Gacha Hero

Ash and Jack reached the front of the Restaurant at the same time as Luke, Ted, and Cophin. They all congregated in front of the Restaurant and just sort of stood there for a few seconds.

Cophin looked around at the others. “I see we all had a productive day.”

Ash and Jack shrugged in their theater costumes. Luke and Ted didn’t say anything.

The five of them turned to see Ave and Rosy walking up one end of the street. Then they turned the other direction to watch Tasha, Plinth, Eins, and Lux walking up from the opposite end.

The entire group stood in front of the Eatery. Across the street the arc lamps inside the Galaxy Lip restaurant flickered on. The street was bathed in multicolored artificial light. Wandering tourists looked over at the group and whispered to themselves.

Cophin snorted and looked around at everyone's faces.

“Crap in a hat Lux, what did ya do? Why does everyone look so miserable?” he snarked.

Lux paid absolutely no attention to Cophin's bait. He held up his repaired blender. “Can I interest anyone in a fresh smoothie?”

Cophin slapped the device. “Get that out of here. What these people need is a big bowl of raw spinach. That’ll fix what's wrong with ya.”

He slapped Ted and Luke playfully on the stomach.

“As you say sir.” Ted shrugged.

Lux looked over his shoulder. “Look at that. Barely open and there is already a line out the door. I should return to my overwhelmingly popular restaurant so that I can start prepping for dinner. See you all later. Thank you again for your help Tasha.”

Tasha nodded slightly. Lux turned and walked into the Galaxy Lip.

Cophin put his hands on his hips. No one else said anything.

“Come on people. We're in the service industry. Why does everyone look so sad? Forget it. Everyone head inside.” He opened the door. “Hit the can, take a quick 5. When you come back out I expect ta see smiling faces.”

Cophin waved everyone inside. Ash and Luke walked in. Cophin put a hand on Luke’s shoulder.

“Luke you've had a hard day. You can take 15”

Luke politely nodded and walked on.

Ave walked over and picked up Eins.

Tasha itched her arm. “Ave, can I talk to you inside? You too Rosy.”

*Rattle* Rosy put a hand on the sword she was carrying. She nodded at Tasha. “Sure. Let’s all get changed before work.”

They headed into the building.

Cophin looked at Jack. “Who are you then?”

Ted nudged Jack. “This is Jack. We’re both childhood friends of Luke and Ash. Isn’t that right Jack.”

“Sure.” Jack nudged Ted back.

“You two don’t need a job, or a place to stay do you?” Cophin crossed his arms.

Jack ran a hand through his hair. “Hardly. We’re guests of Lady House and are staying at the Ocean’s Bounty.”

“Do you have any money?”

“Jack’s father is the Mayor. We have a small allowance that he has arranged for us-”

Jack elbowed Ted.

“Is that right? Please, come in.” Cophin held the door open for them.

#

“And then he climbed right up onto my arm without another word. And now he’s stuck here and won’t come off.”

Tasha sat on the floor in front of Rosy in their room. Rosy sat on the edge of the bed. Rosy pulled Tasha’s hair into three parts. She crossed the left part over the middle, then the right part over the left. She repeated this process over and over with a steady rhythm.

“Does it hurt? Having Tripillli on your arm I mean.” she asked.

Tasha shook her arm. “No, not really. He’s heavy but there’s no pinching or chafing. He’s honestly the most comfortable piece of jewelry I’ve ever worn. But still, this isn’t right is it?”

Ave kneeled on the bed behind Rosy. She ran a brush through Rosy’s hair. Eins sat on her lap and untangled the ends with its paws.

“What do you mean?” Ave asked.

“I spent my entire life without ever having met a god, or a spirit, or a whatever before. Now I’ve met like half a dozen in as many days. I mean I’ve always heard tales about Shadowbeasts, but those were rare and dangerous monsters that lived in the wild. Not, whatever this is.” She ran her finger along the edge of Tripillli’s shell.

“I don’t know what to tell you.” Rosy yanked on a strand of Tasha’s hair.

Tasha rotated her arm. “Still, this is weird right? He sort of appeared, then attached himself to me without any warning. Aren’t spirits supposed to be wise and powerful? Why would one of them cling on to a human like they are in desperate need of emotional support? That can’t be normal can it?”

Ave and Rosy said nothing.

#

“So why do you look like Constantine Grimager?” Ted asked.

Jack, Ted, Ash, and Luke stood in the courtyard behind the Restaurant. The four of them crowded around a water spigot and took turns washing their faces with soap.

“I was in a play.” Ash wiped his face with a towel.

“That’s incredible. Did you audition?” said Ted.

“Nope. I was selected because of my natural talent.”

“He was chosen because he was the only one skinny enough to fit into a children’s costume.” said Jack.

“Natural talent.” repeated Ash.

“Isn’t Constantine Grimrager an insufferably annoying hairsplitter in that play?” Ted asked.

“I have to admit that it is perfect casting.” said Jack.

“Natural, talent!” Ash passed his towel to Luke. “What’s wrong?”

Luke looked up. “Huh? Oh nothing.”

Ash looked at Ted.

“We, uh, saw Mr Eaupéril on our way back today.” Ted pulled a towel around his neck.

“What? Really? Luke’s father is in town?” Ash dropped his towel.

“Yeah…” Ted tilted his head back.

“Did he say anything when you saw him?”

“No, not really.”

“Man, Luke, I’m sorry.” Ash put a hand on Luke’s shoulder.

Luke let water drip off his nose. “It’s fine. I mean I haven’t seen him in four years, but it’s fine. I’m not even sure what we would talk about. Or what I would say to him.”

Ash punched his palm. “I wish I had been there. I would have said something. Probably. I don't know what, but it would have been something.”

Ted frowned. “I'm sorry Luke. I was there and I couldn't think of anything to say at all.”

Ted put a heavy hand on Luke’s shoulder.

“I'm sorry too.” said Ash.

Ash put a hand on Luke’s other shoulder.

“I’m sure that was very upsetting. But it is good to see you.” Jack slapped Luke on the back.

Ash looked over at Jack. “You call that consolation? This is how you really commiserate with someone.”

Ash jammed his arms under Luke’s armpits. He braced his legs and lifted Luke into the air.

“Hurrrgh. That's right. Feel the stress leaving your body. *Wheeze*” Ash’s elbows shook as he embraced Luke.

“Here, let me help.” said Ted.

Ted stepped up and threw his arms around both Ash and Luke. He lifted the two of them with a full-arm grapple. Ash and Luke dangled in the air over the larger boy.

“Feeling sympathetic yet Jack.” Ash said from above.

“Piss off. I'll show you how compassionate I can be.” Jack rolled up his sleeves.

Jack stepped up. He spread his legs, crouched down, and grabbed the three other boys all at the same time around their waists. With a mighty heave he lifted the rest of them into the air.

“Grrr… there. How's that for the power of friendship.” Jack growled.

“Good job Jack. we have become one!” shouted Ted.

“How did all of you get so strong?” Ash squirmed.

“My shoulders bear the responsibility of the world.” Jack yelled with exertion.

Luke smiled from the middle of the man-crush.

Jack's foot dipped into a puddle of water on the ground.

*Crash*

The entire group of boys was slammed into the ground.

“Aaah! Is everyone okay?” Ted rolled over.

“I landed directly on my elbow.” Ash rocked back and forth and rubbed his arm.

“Ted, your foot is in my ribs.” Jack groaned.

The group of boys crawled off of each other and picked themselves up.

#

“And then he ate all of my crystals.”

Tasha sat on the edge of the bed next to her cosmetics case. Her hand made furious circles as she applied foundation to her cheek. Rosy sat on the bed next to her. Ave leaned over behind Rosy and pulled a lock of her hair through a pattern she was weaving. Eins was chewing on one of its back legs next to her.

“All of them?” asked Rosy.

“Yes. As far as I can tell.” Tasha pouted.

“Didn’t you hide your crystals in your carriage?” asked Ave.

“Yeah, but it didn’t matter since he has been living in my carriage since I don’t know when.”

“Hmmm.” Ave looked down. “Eins, can you eat summon crystals?” she asked the dog.

“I can.” Eins replied.

“But you also eat regular food.”

“That’s right. I don’t need to eat food to survive. Not in the same way that you do. But just like a human, spirits can absorb mana from the food we eat.”

“Alchemists are always saying that root vegetables and fermented foods are higher in mana content than regular food.” Rosy said.

Tasha examined her eyebrows in a hand mirror. “I always thought that’s what they told little children to get them to eat more green vegetables.”

“Nine out of ten Alchemists can’t be wrong.” Rosy said.

“Can a human eat a summon crystal?” asked Ave.

“I don't think so. At least, my parents always told me not to.” Tasha said.

Eins stomped its paw. “Your parents were right. For a human it's basically the same as eating a rock. A summon crystal is purified mana. A spirit's body is made from mana so we can absorb that energy. It’s hard to explain to a human… I guess it would be like eating a whole bunch of sugar all at once if that makes sense.”

“Not really healthy then…” Tasha shrugged.

“That’s right. But, most spirits try to avoid eating summon gems if they can.” Eins started chewing on the other leg.

“Why is that?” asked Rosy.

“They don't taste very good.”