Descend the Stairs (Part 1)

You’d think that with a fancy title like ambassador, you’d get at least a little credit for being one half of the duo that supposedly paved the way for cosmic peace by capturing the universe’s attention. You’d think, you know, that you’d get a nickname just as impressive as “The Blue Rose of the Galaxy.” Maybe something cool, like “The Planet’s Snow-Topped Dragon.”

But it turns out that even in the modern-day version of political “marriage,” cute girls are what the people really care about.

It might sound like I’m complaining, but I swear I’m not. I didn’t want a nickname like that at all!

* * *

“Pera! Pera, look!”

I lifted my eyes from my textbook as Nelle’s familiar voice tumbled into the classroom from the front door. She waved at Pera, who sat on the opposite side of the room from me, in the back right corner. In Nelle’s other hand, she held a piece of paper that even at this distance I could see boasted a collection of graphs in unscientifically bright colors.

“Check out these results. They’re crazy!”

It had been a few weeks since what Nelle and I had agreed to call “the Egg Incident.” Or, rather, it was the name I had accepted after a conversation that went something like this:

“We should call it the Egg Incident.”

“Wouldn’t a better name be, ‘the time you made me throw up in the physics lab’? It’s more accurate.”

“It’s worse for my image, though.”

“Your reputation isn’t going to be hurt by a name only the two of us use. No one else even knows what really happened.”

“You’re being vindictive.”

“You’re advocating for misinformation.”

“So you agree with my suggestion?”

“…”

“I appreciate your cooperation, Annin. Let’s shake hands.”

As you can see, it was a good-faith agreement forged in the fires of compromise and true collaboration.

Pera rose from her seat to meet Nelle halfway between her desk and the doorway. I watched the two of them—one animated, the other stoic—examine the sheets, Pera nodding as Nelle pointed things out on her lovingly rendered data visualizations.

“EAC stuff?” Elliso said from the desk in front of me, using the abbreviation for club Nelle had founded during our second year.

“Probably.”

“I don’t get why you’d want to have a club where you just do more school, but I guess when you find something that fun, it doesn’t feel like work.”

“She’s still hyped from the egg drop,” I said. “And the rest of the Experimentation and Analysis Club is happy to ride the wave.”

“Speaking of riding the wave, want to hit the shopping streets Saturday? I’ll wrangle Dej if you get Nelle and Pera.”

“Sounds like a lot of work.”

“C’mon, man. The two of you haven’t gone out with us forever. Also…”

“Also?” Elliso’s pause drew my attention away from the girls. “Also what?”

“There’s a new restaurant that apparently does amazing cinnamon rolls.”

Maybe it was his skills as a master flirt, but the way he strung out amazing made it seem like the word itself was delicious icing.

Now, I want to address something before anyone starts getting the wrong idea. Someone who witnessed my conversation with Nelle regarding the Egg Incident might get the impression that I’m the type of person who is bad at holding my ground. That I cave easily. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, thanks to my past, I’ve developed what some might call an iron will, a spine made of steel. You don’t make it through the gauntlet of galactic attention without an abundance of inner strength.

Still, even the most focused monk under the waterfall has to open his eyes eventually.

“Did you say cinnamon rolls?”

Elliso grinned, his dimple appearing.

“I’ll go tell Dej.”

I made my way to the girls. Nelle, true to form, radiated excitement at the prospect of a rare outing. 

“I’m in,” she said. “You’re coming too, right, Pera?”

“I’ll come,” Pera answered.

“Can I choose what color you dye your hair this time, Annin?”

“You chose last time. And the time before that.”

“And you looked good both times! Darker colors suit you just as good as lighter ones. Right, Pera?”

“Objectively speaking, you were not ugly.”

“Wow. Thanks,” I said, sighing as I recalled the deep browns and pastel purples that I’d used to cover up my white hair during our past few adventures. “Alright, Nelle. What color do you want me to do this time?”

“Hmm… I wonder…”

* * *

So it was that I arrived at our appointed meeting spot on Saturday morning with jet black bangs in my eyes. Most of the others were already there, Pera and Deji watching people go up and down the escalators leading into the nearest shopping building. A riot of geometric mirrors reflected the shoppers from the walls and ceiling, making the whole area feel twice as busy as it actually was.

“Boots and a blazer? Someone’s looking sharp today.”

I turned to my left to see a figure in a black baseball cap near my elbow. At this angle, the brim blocked their face from view, but I didn’t have to wonder who the nondescript arrival was.

“Cargo pants? In public?”

Nelle turned her face up to meet my gaze. Brown contact lenses greeted me as she rolled her eyes. She wore a baggy black t-shirt with sleeves down to her elbows, large enough to hide all hints of her figure and with a tight collar to prevent any accidental exposure of the sports bra she always wore on such occasions. With the chunky white watch on her left wrist, matching white low tops, and diamond studs in her ears, at a glance she fit into the crowd pretty well as your typical urbanite dude.

That is, if the typical urbanite dude had an extremely pretty face.

Nelle pulled a pair of oversized aviator sunglasses out of one of her deep pockets and put them on.

“Disguise complete,” she said. “Let’s go, bro.”

Elliso waved as we walked up. His eyes swept over us, me with my new hairstyle and Nelle in her streetwear costume, mouth pulling in multiple directions as he futilely attempted to hold in his laughter.

“Yoooo,” he said through an escaping chuckle. “You two look sick.”

Pera and Deji joined us, the latter far less subtle in his amusement than Elliso.

“Remarkable,” was all Pera said.

“I can’t believe how unsympathetic you all are,” Nelle said, adjusting the cross-body bag over her chest. “Do you think I enjoy dressing up like this?”

We all pretty much knew the answer to that one, no matter how much she pretended otherwise.

Even I couldn’t remain straight-faced at her indignation, sucking in my lips to attempt to maintain some level of dignity as Deji and Elliso cracked up. Only Pera remained unmoved, an mildly disapproving gaze directed at Deji as he slapped his knees.

“Alright, we get it!” Nelle said, crossing her arms. “I’m glad we can provide you entertainment while we try to live normal lives.”

“So, where is this restaurant, Elliso?” I added, deciding to give Nelle an assist.

Elliso regained control of himself, pointing to a sign posted on one of the mirrors.

“Tell me you didn’t drag us all the way out here to go to a Garbucks.”

“You really have so little faith in me,” Elliso said. “Try the other one.”

Above the familiar Garbucks green, a sign with orange text on a simple white background read Jills.

“Jills?”

“That’s the one. Oh, and the food isn’t even the best part,” Elliso said. “It’s the view.”

“What kind of view?” Deji asked.

“You’ll find out,” Elliso answered. “The elevator’s on the side of the building?”

“Elevator!?”

The single word flew from my mouth before I could stop it, sharp enough that our three friends all gave me a look.

“Yeah?” Elliso said. “It’s on the top floor.”

And that, as you’ll see, is where my troubles that day began.