Chapter 1:
The Princess and The Loner CAN't Express Their Feelings!
11:11 P.M.
A lot of premonitions say that you can make a wish at this peculiar time, and it might come true. Nevertheless, the concept of wishing, no matter what medium it is like throwing coins into a fountain, or pulling on a chicken bone, has always been a prominent way to instill hope or invoke something positive towards someone's current predicament.
In the case of Chamomile, however...
"Brrrr, 11:11 in the night, I wish I wasn't in this freezing cold right now!" She complained, rubbing her mitted hands together for extra warmth against the meager snowstorm. "Oh, and I also wish that Erin would have hot cocoa waiting for us when we return to the main quarters, and—and for Lucas to bring donuts, and—!"
"Millie, you're lagging behind. Hurry up." A cold voice grumbled, sending even more chills down Chamomile's spine.
"Eep! Sorry..."
"Really... The least you can do to help us both get out of this cold is for you to keep up. It's not like you're carrying the heavier load, you know?"
"I know, I know..."
The young man with the cold voice turned back towards the front and hiked on the snowy path, adjusting the knapsack on his back that was stuffed full with different parcels for delivery at the local receiving area. He picked up his pace, and Chamomile was thrown into a panic.
"Ah, Concord! Wait up!" She called out, treading against the snow. She thanked her lucky stars that her winter stockings held up perfectly against the cold, because the snow was soon hitting her shins with the rate that the storm was picking up.
Eventually, Chamomile managed to walk the same pace as her delivery partner. "Meanie! We're supposed to go as a pair, remember? It's standard Twilight Movers protocol!"
"It's also in our protocol to be as swift as we can in making deliveries at night, because of how dangerous it can get when it's dark." The young man replied flatly.
"I know that, but you’re going the wrong way again, you dork! The correct path is over there!”
“...Ah.”
The rest of the trip was silent. Chamomile and Concord reached the receiving area of the town in the further parts of the region. A middle-aged man was there to accommodate their deliveries.
"Ah, good. Let's see..." He peered over his computer and checked the records. "Chamomile and Concord. Ho ho! You're Central Station’s star pair! I’m glad to have finally met the both of you!”
“O-Oh…!” Chamomile blushed at the mention of their silly little title. Despite her thinking that it was silly, she actually had some sense of pride in carrying that title. “Hmm, hmm! Yes, it’s us! The double C’s who are A-rated in deliveries! Woo! Bars!”
“Millie, shut up,” Concord grumbled. “I can’t focus on checking if we have all the correct parcels. At least try and live up to the title by helping me out here.”
“Aw, can’t you just let me bask in the glory for once?! Tsk…”
“Ha ha ha!” The middle-aged man chuckled. “Oh, I can see why Central Station loves the both of you together!”
They went to work sorting out the packages bound for this side of town.
The Twilight Movers Corporation is an organization hiring part-time workers that take on small to medium parcels at mass quantities from different retailers or individuals looking to send a parcel to their receivers, then deliver it throughout the region via different means. Whether it be by two-wheeled vehicles like bikes or motorcycles, sometimes even cars for delicate packages, the main choice of transport for a Twilight Mover is via the train lines of the country.
Twilight Movers are recognized as a legitimate partner of the public rail lines, hence they have a priority parlor car for carrying packages and a guaranteed place to board the train. This way, everyone could save up on costs for gas, save time away from traffic, and even help reduce carbon emissions by not using motorized transport.
Thanks to the country’s rail lines stretching out into quite a lot of regions, most parcels are delivered all within the same day, even if the sender lives far away across the distance from their designated delivery address.
The only hindrance that a Twilight Mover can face is if their target designation for delivery is far from the rail station, such is the case of Chamomile and Concord’s delivery tonight.
“Good lord, my boy!” The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow. “You took on nearly 15 parcels on your back and walked all the way from Rosebelt Station to here?”
Concord merely shrugged. “It’s for efficiency, and I can handle that much, anyway. Might as well, right?”
“Ah, I wish more youngsters would take on a work ethic like yours!”
“I’m not one to take all the credit. If it weren’t for Chamomile, I would have gone to all the wrong places.”
“Hmph, that’s right!” The young lady harrumphed. “If he didn’t have a navigator like myself in tow, all of these parcels would be lost forever!”
“Maybe giving you credit was a bad idea if you’re just going to throw me under the bus like that.”
“Hey, it’s true, right?!”
“True, but exaggerated.”
The two Twilight Movers threw jabs back and forth. The middle-aged man could only laugh, seeing two spirited youths bicker playfully.
“Ah ha ha ha!” His laugh caught the attention of the two. “I see that you’re more than just a team. You two feel like an old married couple?”
“Old…?” Concord blinked, unfazed.
“M-MARRIED COUPLE?!” Chamomile blushed and stammered.
“Why, yes! You two remind me of my wife and I during the old days, except she was the quiet one! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
The middle-aged man took a clipboard and issued some release papers, handing them over to Chamomile.
“Here! Please take these back to Central Station for record keeping. Thank you again for your hard work, and keep safe out there! The winter has grown awfully strong this time around!”
“Thank you!” Chamomile chirped, waving a cheery hand before she and Concord left the premises.
The snow has thankfully eased up compared to earlier, but Chamomile still felt awfully cold.
“Brrr… Fuuuu…” Her teeth chattered, rubbing her own arms and hands for extra warmth.
“...Here.” Concord held out a hand. “Grab hold so you can keep warm.”
“Eh?”
“You’re cold, right? It’s the least I can do to return the favor from earlier. You know, watching out over me so I don’t get lost?”
“A-Ah…”
The young lady blushed, then immediately flipped the table of the situation.
“Okay! Let me hold your hand so you don’t wander off and get lost! Awww, who’s a good little kiddo! You are! Youuuu are!”
The opened hand immediately balled up and flicked Chamomile’s forehead, albeit not painfully, it was still enough to catch the young lady in a shock.
“AGAH—! Oy! That hurt! Come back here, you—!” She puffed her cheeks in mock anger, but she saw that Concord had made a run for it—in the opposite direction on where they were supposed to catch the train.
“OY! GET BACK HERE! THAT’S THE WRONG WAY TO GOOOO!!”
Thanks to their antics, Chamomile and Concord returned to the station at 12:12 A.M., and are soaking wet due to chasing each other after the snow.
Please log in to leave a comment.