UP TO DATE FANTASY

Sen wiped the blood off Ren’s arm while the others were talking.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was going to hurt this bad?” Ren murmured to Sen.
The two sat on the couches.

“I am sorry; I couldn’t find the proper moment.”

Philomena approached Ren.“Does it still hurt?”
She sat down next to him, raising her hands, her palms glowing.
In a second, the pain subsided. “There.” 

Ren noticed someone staring. It was Damian. His eyes glowing red, shivers went down Ren’s spine. He quickly leaped onto his feet.

“I am all okay. U-uh, yeah, the ball?”

Damian’s eye colour turned blue again. “Yeah,” Damian said to Philomena, “Amanda gave you the clothes, right?”

Philomena looked at Sen. “Did you post that we are here with the clothes?”
But I don't see any clothes around.

“Yeah.” Sen replied.

"I am vanishing everyone here!” Shar shouted.

Shar snapped her fingers, and in a flash, the lounge was filled with many people, including Riley, who waved at Ren.
It's always nice seeing someone familiar.

“What if we were in the toilet!?” Yuzuru barked.

“Does it seem I care~?” Shar swayed her hair, looking smugly.

“S-sorry,” Philomena called out.

The boy Niva turned to her. “No worries, Everyone was prepared.”

“Alright then, Philomena spoke addressing everyone. “Princess Amanda gave me the clothes, be ready.”

*Snap*

The sound echoed for a second.
White light filled the whole place, spinning around everyone.
The colourful strands of thread rose, being replaced with luminous strands of light.
It weaved patterns midair as if an invisible hand weaves clothes onto their bodies.
Without showing any skin, their clothes had been dissolved into new.

Ren looked down at his clothes.
He wore a blue military-style coat with decorative chains.
Beneath the coat was a high-collared white shirt with frills along the front, atop which he wore a patterned waistcoat.
Ren touched the frill. It’s so soft.

He noticed that all the boys wore similar clothing with variant colours and patterns.
Riley walked over to him. She looks beautiful.

She wore a multi-layered gown with white frills and long puffed sleeves. The skirt went down to her feet. It was bell-shaped with a floral border. She wore a brown corset-style belt that added shape to the dress.

“Philomena, didn’t I tell you I wanted the other clothes?”

Shar was shaking Philomena. “Yeah, but she said your tricks won’t work this time.”

Shar sighed, still holding the shorter girl.

Dacoria went to Shar. “You look good in everything.”

Shar looked down at the pants, slightly pulling them. “I know, but”—pausing—“wearing a skirt makes people assume I am a girl. It's always funny fooling them.”

Fooling?

Ren looked at Shar.
Clothes are the same as all the boys.

Masculine-sounding name.

Flat chest.

Shar noticed Ren’s stare and, with a smug look, said, “Yup, I am a boy.”
Ren stared for a second. “A boy?”

“A boy~” Shar spoke smugly, flipping his hair with satisfaction as others chuckled.

Yuzuru turned to Ren. “Dude, you seriously thought Shar was a girl!?”

 Yuzuru glared for a second before bursting into laughter. Wiping off his tears, he patted Ren on the shoulder. “Same here, dude.”

This person is nothing like I expected.

“Alright, we are off!” Philomena called out, in a gentle tone, “Computer, please.”

The floor beneath everyone glowed, and evading pixels rose from beneath. With the rising pixels, their bodies dissolved into thin air; the sight was seemingly painful.

"G-guys!?? 

 But there was no screaming, let alone a single speck of disdain on anyone’s face. In a heartbeat, they stood amid a lawn.

Ren blinked twice; he raised his hands to see if he was in one piece. That was weird.

Lush green grass ruffled with the soothing flow of a warm breeze. Ren could see the palace building a little walk from where they stood.

The porches had white pillars, encircled by blue vines with purple flowers. Ren turned around to see beyond the fountain behind them, he couldn’t see the entrance.

“Riley, how enormous is this place?”

She thought for a second, “I am not sure; this is the residential area, and the official area is on the other side, which I haven’t seen, so yeah, no clue.”

The exterior was decorated with pure white tiles with patterns of angelic feathers. The white doors carved with designs were already open.

Ren gasped, This palace is so heavenly. While the others, accustomed to frequent visits, paid no heed.

Inside, the sparkling floor had repetitive blue circular patterns. Two sets of staircases extended up to the indoor balcony. The railing grills curved into similar circular patterns.

Ren was so mesmerized that he almost bumped into a maid. "S-sorry."

Riley called him over to sit on the white Chesterfield sofas with blue cushions. Above them hung a chandelier adorned with bluish gems.

"I—is it okay to just casually sit down?"

"Yeah, it ish" Dacoria, who, at the moment, was 10 and standing on top of the sofa, answered. Ren glanced over at the rest of the members, everyone seated as if they owned the place.

Now I feel like the odd one out. He awkwardly tried settling in.

“Look—..."

Ren heard a murmur. Huh, what? He noticed scornful glares from all the servants. The gazes felt like they were piercing through him, leading to a sour, nauseous taste in his mouth. These glares—

"We shouldn't be too casual," he spoke under his breath, gaining attention from others.

"It’s okay, Ren," Riley answered.

"They are all just haters," Yuzuru added smugly as he swung his feet.

"Let 'em burn, newbie."

Too cocky, he glanced over at Riley; even she doesn't mind.

He noticed Sen, who was immersed in a deep conversation with a black-haired person, whose tone was completely inaudible. He noticed Nami sitting beside Sen, talking with a pink head with decorative nails.

"Woah, you guys are already here!?"

The voice was followed by silence. Standing on the staircase was a blonde girl leaning over the railing. Her green eyes widened in admiration. She wore a long blue patterned gown, her hair tied into a bun adorned with unique ornaments.

She rushed down the stairs, slipping occasionally, and finally, once down, she composed herself. Walking up to Ren, she extended her hand. 

Isn't she a princess? Is it okay to shake hands with her? Hesitantly, he grabbed her hand.

"I am Amanda; you are Ren, right?"

"Y-yes." Ah, so she is the princess I heard about earlier. She is just like I imagined.

Shaking his hand, "So you must be confused about this world—" she began abruptly.

"Princie, you are too late; intros are done," Yuzuru called out while scratching his head.

"Ahhhh, whhhhhhhhhhhy?" She groaned. 

"Princie, did the guests for the ball come yet?" Yuzuru patted her head.

"I wanna do that too, I wanna do too," Dacoria began jumping. Amanda kneeled down for him. He patted her head.

There was some commotion amongst the servants. "She is letting the beast touch her." Amanda glanced at them, making them rush off.

"Alrighty then." She turned to the Star Awesome members, who were least interested in the whole matter. "The other guests aren't here yet, so you guys can go to the ballroom. She turned to Ren. "Ren, you must be tired; we have noticed that all of you guys are weirdly tired on your first day." 

Ren tried feeling if that was the case; I could use a bed about now.

"I will take him back." Sen took a step forward.

Amanda looked at him, confused, “huh”—though she wasn’t the only one who seemed confused. Dacoria seemed intrigued the most.

“That’s unusually nice of you,” Amanda nervously mumbled.

Dacoria jumped to his feet. “I knew it; you both are brothers. That’s why you are nice to him.” Damian and Shar are shaking their heads in agreement.

Amanda’s eyes glistened, believing Dacoria’s words.

“Idiots, we aren’t brothers.” Sen uttered, followed by a disappointed look.

"Well then, go ahead." Amanda smiled, pretending she wasnt agreeing with Dacoria earlier.

.

.

.

Woah, so this is the town.

The two teens walked down the streets under the starry sky. Lights from the shops painted them with abstract colours, creating eerie shadows. The path they walked on glistened under each step they took. Sen had bought him something that could be a burger from one of the food stalls. 

"The shops here sell a variety of stuff like food, clothes, books, magical artefacts, potions and stuff you won't understand, so try taking other Star members whenever you go shopping."

Ren took a bite of the burger, nodding with his mouth full. This place looks more modern than magical.

A bell sound echoed in the air, followed by a complete blackout. What the... Ren looked around, but it was too dark to see. A light shone from above them; Ren looked up and noticed a small flickering flame which rolled into a ball of light. 

Woah... along the path, similar flames appeared, rolling into balls. The ball hovered above them. Lightning crackled along its surface, increasing it in size while illuminating the street.

"That's normal, right?"

"Yeah, those are streetlights here, and the sound was an indicator that it's time for other business."

"what do you—"

Purplish-pink light flickered open from the other side of the street. Ren glanced over the silver building with enormous glass windows, labelled 'THE GUY'S BAR'. What kind of name is that?

Along both sides of the street, some shops dispersed moulding into similar buildings. Some carried a traditional aesthetic with coloured bricks and balconies, while the others had a sleek, white, modern look.

"There are bars, pubs, clubs and hotels; at this time of night normal shops are replaced with these."

"Wow, nightlife." Ren stood staring into the distance; all this is just like a dream. He sighed. "You know, Sen, I always wanted a retry of life. I really hated myself."

Sen momentarily glanced at Ren before looking ahead as they walked. "Why did you hate yourself?"

"I always had a hard time expressing myself. I thought if I could ever start over, I would change myself." Ren looked down. 

Sen chuckled, "If you could change, you would have in your previous life. If someone lacks the guts to change, even a thousand reincarnations cant change them."

Ren pouted, "You will see I can." 

Sen stood in front of a building. It had one golden brick, pointing at it. "These golden bricks are present at some buildings throughout this city. All you have to do is brush your finger against it, and it will vanish you to Star Awesome."

"So can anyone vanish there?" ren stared at the brick

"No, it detects your batch, so it can only be used by us."

"Can't we just walk there?"

Sen pointed at the sky; Ren looked up. Way above them floated a large piece of land; jagged cliffs hung beneath with a few swaying trees. Water spilling from its edges dispersed into glitters. A building stretched over its upper surface, surrounded by many plants enclosed in a dome lid. 

"That is star awesome."