Rockbert's Cake Date & Ms. Hiyori's Snow-cone Boy

My mother’s cafe was always busy, she had a line outside the door. Her essence of imagination, manifested as spells that let her summon any baked good, anything she could think of. Producing out of this world flavor and colors, she was the queen of the online baking scene and any influencer had her goods on their page.

 She had moved into a new building last year, continuing to grow her business. She was also limiting her visits with my brother; all they would do is argue and cry. She always said she was busy, and she was much more busy that's true. I thought it was kind of an excuse not to go se him. I wish she would try a little more, but it was probably for the best.

“Here you are dear, a Full-moon Festival cake, and an extra-large iced coffee… at seven pm.”

My mother gave me a little smile, and set down my order. I was in my reserved spot on the second balcony, trying to ignore that last comment. The table had a large bouquet of fake flowers. She would tell people it was a display booth but really, she had it open for whenever I stopped by.

“Thanks mom.”

The full moon festival cakes were my favorite, they tasted like fireworks and starry nights, with the light texture of rabbits dancing across your tongue. She had been a chef before Earth’s Epiphany; the name for when magic came to earth in the year 2000. She was naturally talented but Kei would say the difference between his seventh and eighth birthday cake was extreme.

“Mom did you ever meet a Dr. Kawaguchi?”

“Your brother’s friend? Only once, a long time ago. I didn’t really know what went on over there honey. That was really your brother’s world, and your fathers. I only really saw them when they were kids.”

“Oh okay.”

“I need to get back to the kitchen dear, let me know if you need a refill.”

She gave me a kiss and scurried back to help her staff. I could tell that I made her uncomfortable. Mentioning my father was a step forward though. People kept telling her she should just move on and find a new husband; she would say she was now married to her café.

“Doctor Kawaguchi, what were you doing?”

The files laid out next to my cake were a little confusing. I took out another object from my hunter’s pack, and started casting a spell.

“ANIMATE”

The painted stone now placed on my table was yawning.

“Yeaaaah, I don’t what was she was doing?”

Said the first object I had ever used magic on, painted with daisies and stars.

“Rockbert, you gotta bounce ideas off with me.”

It helped to talk things out. The date around the time my father disappeared only mentioned one hunting trip, but it was for an elite rank monster, an Ice Falcon. There was only one trip going on involving the two of them, to the northern regions of Hokkaido. But there weren’t any arch-monsters listed, not in the research nor in the debrief.

“Keisuke said our father went missing on a monster hunting trip. He yelled at me, saying this arch-monster was too dangerous to go after, and to just drop it.”

“Yeah, that’s why you became a monster tracker.”

“But there is no arch-monster, and the falcon was defeated. And get this, there’s three names on it. Dad, Kei and one other?”

“You can’t leave me in suspense Rei!”

“The assistant researcher for the trip was Dr. Kawaguchi.”

“Huuuh, rock gasp!”

“I guess she was hiding even more. Maybe she was only meeting up with my brother because she felt guilty.”

I took a sip of my ice coffee.

“Maybe she’s secretly working with rock mafia?”

I let out a small laugh.

“The rock mafia?”

“The largest underground mafia in the world.”

“I really don’t think that’s it Rockbert.”

“Well I guess you’ll just have to ask her yourself, your brother is stony about these subjects.”

“I guess so, but I’m seeing Kei tomorrow. I at least want to give him the chance to tell me. Even if he did lie, and he might yell. I don’t think he would double down now that I have proof. I was also little then, and not platinum rank.”

Kei wasn’t unreasonable, I was his sister and one his best friends too. If he would let me inside, I could probably get him to open up. One adult to another.

“I still don’t really feel comfortable talking to the Doctor about all this. Somethings off about her.”

“I’m always a stone’s throw away!”

I dispelled Rockbert, and finished my coffee. Caffeine helps me sleep, so don’t worry mom. I really needed a good night sleep if I was going to try to pin Kei down for some answers in the morning.

-

It really was such a long ways out here. The journey alone was quite peaceful, and it was a good excuse for some exercise. I needed to keep my stamina up as a hunter. I took my time today, trying to gather my words. I needed to open this subject as carefully as possible.

“Rei! How are you! Are you going to see Keisuke!”

Poku Hiyori, was also a good reason to make the trip. If my brother did get better, I would have to come out here just to visit her. She looked so cute in her apron and dress. Carrying a few bags of groceries.

“I have your brothers order with me, mind if I walk you up?”

“Of course, Ms. Hiyori.”

I stepped in line with the older lady. Maybe Ms. Hiyori’s cheery demeanor would help break the ice. It was an inside day yesterday which mean today could go either way.

“Your brother really is a nice young man, if I was a couple years younger I’d have gone after him myself.”

“Oh please, that’s very nice but you can do much better than some gloomy guy who never leaves the house. I’m sure you still have so many chasers.”

“hehe oh stop it you’re too sweet to me Rei!”

She blushed, and skipped a little ahead.

“I’m just like you though, none of these boys can handle all me!  I’m serious he’s a sweety. I remember running into your brother, years ago though. He conjured up the most delicious snow cone. A flavor I’ve never tasted since. It’s the reason I sell snow cones. You can imagine my surprise when I learned he moved right up the street from me! We have to get him to cast spells again.”

This was new information. I guess I should ask Hiyori more questions, It’s usually just small talk.

“Well I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks his magic is great, but it’s better if he doesn’t anymore.”

She looked a little confused at that but nodded along anyway.

“Why did you move out here Ms. Hiyori?”

“Oh me? I didn’t move here; I grew up here. I was a hunter for a little bit but it just became too much for me. So I took over the store from my folks.”

I couldn’t believe such a bright person came from this shabby part of town. My mother would shame me for thinking someone’s upbringing had anything to do with what they could be.

“Well I’m glad you live out here  Ms. Hiyori. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you but it makes my trip so much easier having someone not gloomy to talk too.”

“Ahhh Rei! You’re too cute! Thank you honey! I like our visits too! You’re my favorite snow cone taster, now we just have to work on your brother.”

“Trust me I’ve been trying; with your help we might have a chance today.”

I was trying to sound optimistic but as we stood in front of the gloomy warehouse, the flags hanging looked drab and I noticed all the paint peeling. The ground was free of any notes so that was a good sign.

“Keisuke!”

There was a rumble from inside.

“Kei! I’m here with some groceries and Ms. Hiyori! I want to tell you about my rank up!”

The window slid open. And a pale hand waved a finger.

“Give me a moment.”

Not loud but he sounded pretty good, at least not like he just didn’t wake up. I was glad Ms. Hiyori was here, she was a person you would feel bad being rude too. Hiyori smiled back at me.

“We’re in luck today, Rapunzel is going to let down her hair!”

I giggled at that, between the two of them, no one would think Keisuke was Rapunzel. Though he was locked in his little tower.

There was some more shuffling inside and a slamming of drawers as Keisuke was probably doing a hasty little clean up. Then there was some muffled shouts, and things falling to the floor.

“Kei? You all good in there?” Do you need me to come in?”

No answer.

More crashing sounds.

“Keisuke, are you sure you’re alright in there?”

Ms Hiyori was a little worried too as we both craned are necks to hear a little better.

“No no, stop you stupid thing!”

Kei's voice was strained. There was a few more crashes and then the window slid open further as the neck of a goose like creature poked it’s upper body out of the window.

“Doo-ah, Doo-ah! AHH ahhh AHH!”

A chicken with a duck bill flapped some more and then fell out of the window. It flailed and squawked, even dropping an egg. Before it hit the ground it popped out of existence.

“Ahh”

Ms Hiyori fell over startled, her groceries falling on top of her. I stared at the multi-colored egg that had cracked on the ground, inside was a small hotel shampoo bottle.

“What?”

There was a squawk behind me as the fat blue chicken reappeared, and waddled down the alleyway. After a few jumps and steps, it popped out of existence again, and reappeared teleporting up onto the roof of Hiyori’s store. Leaving eggs of menial object all in it’s wake.

“Rei! Rei!”

Keisuke’s half naked upper body appeared hanging out of the window. His scraggly hair falling into his face and over his baggy eyes. My lanky brother’s face filled with a desperation I hadn’t seen in years.

“Please catch that Dodo! It got loose. You need too! I can’t, I Just, I just, ”

His voice got soft, eyes filled with despair at the thought of suddenly leaving the house. His hands were white gripping the sides of the window. We locked eyes, his mouth pursed tight.

He had never asked me something so earnestly in years.

I didn’t think of him as it, but he looked so weak.

“I’m on it.”

His lip quivered.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you…”

He kept going as I raced after the dodo with Ms. Hiyori.

“You owe me big!”

This dodo could be my key to some answers.

“Let’s double this team this dodo!”