Stepping up to the plate

Nagako trembled as she stared up at Piranharoo. "And who might you be?"

"Pirhanaroo, mate. I'm here for a little snack. Sabotage shishkebab's the name of it," Pirhanaroo grinned as he licked his lips.

"If it's meat you want, I can arrange-"

"You don't get it do ya? I'm gonna eat you so your town can't go wooing races no more."

Before Nagako could process things, Piranharoo was right on top of her, wrapping his paws around her. He then began spinning her around faster than the eye could see while appearing to munch at the blurring tornado. When he stopped, all that remained of Nagako was a skeleton with hair.

Rosa's eyes widened in horror as she stared at Nagako's skeleton.

"Look at that, she's all bone now. No blood left in her either," Pirhanaroo taunted as he began devouring Nagako's bones.

Rosa instantly collapsed to the ground, clutching her mouth and stomach as tears poured out of her eyes.

"And that's a meal. Here ya go, sheila. Take it to your folks so you can all cry about your dead diplomat together," Pirhanaroo sneered as he rolled Nagako's skull over to Rosa.

No longer to contain it, Rosa vomited on the spot. "Nagako! She- She was just there, but now she's dead! Am I next!? The town!? The town..."

Pirhanaroo smirked as Rosa lost consciousness. "And you two, wanna head to Evendale? Go for it, but don't cry to me if me mate, the great sky puma swallows you whole," he waved at Harajuku and Shalala before leaping away.

"Well now what?" Shalala frowned as she sat down in a chair. 

"Layover I guess... The shops n' restaurants here don't look busy though. Let's eat," Harajuku shrugged. 

"Not after seeing fuzzball eat someone. Doesn't matter if he did it so fast that we couldn't see any blood or gore, I never liked when he eats people like that."

"I don't mind, and my tummy's rumbling. I'll get the noodle soup here... what's it called again?"

"Ramen."

"Raw men? Damn. Talk about spice."

Too agitated to bother correcting Harajuku, Shalala decided to just read one of the manga volumes she always brought with her. "Pictures can only tell you so much. I need words in order to understand things," she grumbled. 

With the airport laced with cameras, Muki quickly found out about the incident and sent Jana en route while she headed back to the university to meet with Sana. In the meantime, DaVinci stood over Rosa, somberly patting her and shaking his head. 

"Hey dwear, fetch me some soda. My throat's sore from what I just saw," Shalala snarled. 

"I'm afraid I'm out of money," DaVinci frowned. 

"Then steal or I blow up your girlfriend," Shalala threatened as she formed an energy ball in her palm. 

"I'll return within the minutes," DaVinci scowled as he waddled away. 

No sooner did he leave did Rosa regain consciousness. Slowly rising to her feet, she took note of her surroundings before attempting to leave.

"No leaving. You're a hostage so sit down," Shalala snarled as she used her wind magic to force Rosa into the seat next to her. 

At this point, Rosa was too tired and dejected to bother resisting, but as she stared at Shalala's manga, she couldn't help but speak out. "That's in English... Where'd you get that?"

"Always had it ever since I was born here. I have more volumes, but only the ones that came with me are in English," Shalala grumbled. 

"You can't read Japanese?"

"No shit I can't. Why do you think we're talking to each other in English?"

"English? You've been speaking Japanese this whole time."

Shalala raised an eyebrow and turned to face Rosa. "No. You're talking to me in perfect English."

Rosa's heart began to beat. "Then, could you show me the publication info on your manga?"

"Like the year it was published? 2016," Shalala shrugged as she held her book up. 

Rosa instantly went on her phone and looked up the book. "It's true, that was published in English in 2016. Um... were you by any chance human before?" 

Shalala slammed her book shut and stared Rosa in the eye. "Never tell a soul, but me n' Harajuku got memories of a life in the States. It's been thousands of years here, so it's hard to remember, but we always remember our names, Kaeomi and Nina."

"Then maybe it's true. DaVinci mentioned that-" 

"Who cares about that freak of a mascot. I wanna know more about this place. What year's it from?" 

"2024."

"8 fucking years!? And it is Japan, right?"

"Yes."

"Whatever."

"Doesn't the topic interest you? It sounds like the phenomenon-"

"Oi, you want me to blast your jaw off? Shut up while I read."

"And I'm nothing but a hostage again. Why is it always like this?"

"Huh? You not-"

"WHY CAN'T I BE GIVEN THE GROWTH I'VE BEEN DESPERATELY SEEKING FOR YEARS!? I don't want to stagnate, I want to step forward, but every time-"

Crunch!

"Will you shut the fuck up!? I'm pissed off, you idiot!" Shalala fumed as she slugged Rosa in the stomach. 

Tears spewed out of Rosa's eyes as she clutched her stomach, but she just barely managed to hold in her scream, preventing Shalala's temper from worsening. 

"I have returned with your soda," DaVinci glared as he handed Shalala some cola. 

Shalala grabbed the bottle without so much as thanking him, chugging it down in seconds. Around the same time, Harajuku returned with takeout in tow. 

"Oh look, she's awake. Why's she look like she's constipated?" Harajuku asked. 

"Wouldn't shut up so I hit her."

"Bruh, that's like domestic abuse."

"Nah, cuz we're both girls and this ain't domestic." 

Harajuku shot her a disgusted glare. "So how long do we have to wait for a plane?" 

"Not much longer," a voice snarled. 

Everyone turned to see Jenna, Thorwall, Borferd, and Mizata all walking towards them, scowls occupying each of their faces. 

"Is that the eventyde flop? What brings you here?" Shalala snickered. 

"I heard there was plans of flying back to Evendale, and I was recruited to serve as guide," Mizata trembled.

"I heard there's a giant puma out there and figured I'd kill it," Borferd grumbled. 

"And on behalf of the United States of America, I need to be present for any potential diplomatic settlements," Thorwall stated.

"Wait, you're American!? SALUTE!" Shalala and Harajuku grinned as they shot up out of their seats and saluted Thorwall. 

"You two have heard of America?"

"No shit! America's king of the world. Are you gonna fly us?"

"Yes, I'm the de facto pilot these days."

"SALUTE! When we boarding!?"

In full control of Jenna's body, Muki eyed the cola bottle before staring off towards the gate. "Just as soon as all the snacks are finished being loaded," she glared.