The Mountaineering Circle

The Mountaineering Circle was one of the University of Tokyo's many clubs. They were a group of five -- six if you counted the Creator -- who loved to travel and explore different environments full of diversity. While AI had taken over most of the larger cities, smaller towns and communities were mostly left alone, creating an interesting sort of countryside culture made by humans, yet not necessarily for humans. Given that most of these AI-free regions were, in fact, mountainous, the President ended up calling themselves the Mountaineering Circle.

Like usual, the five were crowded in a gazebo near the edge of the Magic Department's floating island. Watch displays were sprawled around the air, containing information about their next hike: mainly the route they planned to take and what supplies could be shared. Though, only the Vice President was actively editing them. The other three were listening along, providing their own opinions, while the President herself was lazing around with a wind spell.

As for the Creator, well...

"Haah, haah." She was exhausted, gasping for air from a five minute walk.

"Um... are you okay, Ms. Igita?" the Vice President asked, looking at the collapsed Creator.

"Yeah... just give me... a minute to... catch my breath," she heaved. Usually, she would subconsciously use magic to support herself, doping her body to match those of top athletes. However, with her current restrictions, her atrophied muscles barely provided support. She had to stop quite often, resting every couple of steps, on her way to the gazebo.

"Well, I didn't expect to see you again, especially like... that. What has it been, two years since you last show up?" the Vice President greeted. She gave off a feminine yet mature vibe that, although her clothing was far too casual, made her feel reliable. It wasn't so much like a mother or sister, but if she and someone else were doing a group project, she would actually do the work rather than skip with some flimsy excuse. Even at the moment, she was listening to the other member's input, finetuning the schedule as much as she possibly could. Why she wasn't the President was a story for another time.

"Well, some things happened, but I'm here now," the Creator responded, finally able to catch her breath. Though, 'some things' was a bit vague for she simply forgot about it. "I want to join the next outing, though it looks like you're already in the final stages."

"Huh? You want to join, well--"

"Yes. We're planning to go to Hinohara this weekend and hike up Mt. Mito. You're welcome to join as long as you prepare your own camping supplies, like usual," the Vice President commented.

"That's the place with all the cherry trees right? Is there anything I need to look out for?" the Creator asked, once again being vague to the point of nebulousness.

"There are so many things--"

"Well, I guess there are a few interesting birds? Robins, flycatchers, and hawk-eagles if I recall correctly."

"I meant something more dangerous," she clarified.

"Ha! No such thing as--"

"You don't really stumble onto bears or vipers in Hinohara, or are you planning to jump off a mountain or something?"

"Ah, nothing like that."

"Then why do you sound deflated?" the Vice President rolled her eyes. She was well aware of the Creator's... eccentricities from their last time hiking together. After all, it was pretty hard to forget her almost crashing a plane, riding on snow monkeys, and eating a few aconitum 'for the experience'. It's a miracle the Vice President didn't stop her from joining, instead continuing with, "Well, we're planning on--"

"Stop ignoring me!!!! I'm trying to help here!" the President yelled, finally managing to interrupt the two. Normally, her nonchalance was just as notorious as the Creator's. Even her clothes were eerily similar, though she filled out the bagginess, a bit too thoroughly. However, being left on the sidelines for so long had forced her to break through with an almost elastic energy, eliciting a response. As for that...

"By being a nuisance?" the Vice President quipped with a side-eye.

"Isn't this the norm?" the Creator noted, once again learning the wrong social cues.

"So mean!"

"Well, anyway," the Vice President continued, ignoring the President once again. "We're planning on meeting up around eight twenty and taking the Chuo Line from Ochanomizu Station."

"I'll be there," the Creator nodded.

"Are you sure? You seem a bit tired from walking..."

"Yeah, I'll just take a pill when I get home." She was pretty sure she had some that helped build muscles in one of her junk boxes. Maybe in the one labeled 'Even More Junk 2'.

"Okay," the Vice President ignored the absurd comment, ending with a, "See you then."

"Sounds good." With that, the Creator walked away, planning what she would need for--

"Hey, are you not going to say hi?" a familiar voice stopped her. She quickly spun around and...

"Microwave?!?"