Hangin out with the gyarus one year later

"So what dreams you have, Hiroto-kun?" Hanabi asked.

"Well let's see. In this past year I've had some crazy ones. There was a weird one where I was in highschool holding door, running out with seat cushion. Then there was one where I was flying through air on glider and spotted puma leaps into air to try and get me. He leaped so high, and keeps chasing after me."

"Wow, intense shit, Hiroto-kun," Kuragi nodded.

"That's not all, I had a new dream about a new Legend of Zolo game. It starts with a group on fishing boat. A Dinosaur, possible legendary poketcritter, eats them. The kingdom is then cursed to turn to stone. A fat fisherman survives and is playable. Uses fishing rod while friends are ghosts. Poison bubbles also spread since the capitol city is a monastery school by the sea. The evil ninja clan not turned to stone, but foot soldiers are now fat and the leader is morbidly obese from eating all the bananas. Trailer ends with banana bomb. More details to be revealed in Wintendo direct."

"Wow, you really had a wild dream. Wish you had bigger dreams for us too.:

Kuragi seemed to be a bit snarkier than usual so I asked what was up.

"Uh, you stood us up for a whole year. That's what."

"Huh? But it's only been a day, wait, was that directed..."

"Yeah, at the author. We got stood up for a whole damn year!"

Well guess I'll step in and address things... First off, this is a oneshot.

"'Oneshot'? Oh, right... Guess we were always meant to play second fiddle."

Not quite, for as of today, the series' one-year anniversary, I'm going to make this novel canon in the Jouzu-verse.

"The hell is that?"

"His main novel universe, I think," Mirai noted.

"But aren't there already characters in there named Hanabi and Ai? Wait, are you gonna retcon us!?" Ai gasped!

No, in fact your last names are all different. Besides, I'll also have you appear in crossover works too like... Streamer royale.

"And what's the catch?"

You shave your head.

"Welp, it was nice seeing all you readers. Hope you don't forget about us. Maybe if we're lucky the author will upload another chapter of this next year."

"Nice try, but you're appearing in Streamer Royale."

"Who said that!?"

"Muramasa Jouzu," Hiroto stated.

"MURAMASA JOUZU! Wait! That's just the author's insert!"

"But they're appearing side by side."

"That's... Ngh, Alright! I'll join the Streamer Royal thing!"

Congratulations, you passed the test.

"So I don't need to shave my head after all to stay relevant?"

Not in this series at least.

"Fuck you."

Anyway, let's get back to the main plot. I want to reveal everyone's full names.

"And with a snap of my fingers, the plot was back on track."

...

"Whoa, so you had a crazy dream that we were all in a novel and our author neglected us for a whole year!?" Hanabi gasped.

"Yeah, but to be fair, he claimed it was a because it was a oneshot," I stated.

"Well, guess it makes sense," Kuragi shrugged as she rubbed her bald head.

Wait!

"Uh, Kuragi-chan, why are you bald?"

"Uh, I've always been bald."

",,,"

"JK, it's just a bald cap from drama," Kuragi smirked as she stuck her tongue out and ripped the bald cap off.

"You do drama?"

"Yeah, I'm a drama queen you know, at school and home."

Not dure what to make of that wording.

"Anyway, we've been meaning to ask. Could we call you by your fist name?" Mirai asked.

"Hmm?"

"Well, Hanabi's always been callin' ya by your surname, but it kind of feels weird to call a friend like you by your last name when we're all calling each other by our first names, for the most part."

"In that case, Jouzou's fine."

"Huh, sounds pretty similar to that "Muramasa Jouzu" guy ya mentioned. That author get lazy with the naming scheme?"

"Jouzou's always been my name. Ugh, how about you call me... JZ?

"'JZ'!? That sounds way too hip and cool for you!"

"Come on Ai, don't bully Hiroto-kun over his name," Hanabi frowned.

"Yeah, especially considering you've been picked on because of your last name," Mirai glared.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Oh, guess I never introduced everyone fully. Well, I'm Hanabi Nanatsugi as you know."

"Kazamatsuri Kuragi. Guess everyone calls me by my last name, but that's cuz it's shorter. My parents really like long names... Guess Matsuri's fine for a nickname."

"Mirai Fujiwara."

"... Ai Akahage. Tch, bet that shitty author from your dream gave me that name to piss me off!"

"Jouzou Hiroto, nice to meet you all."

"Well, look at the bright side. If JZ-kun keeps having weird dreams, we might end up getting more screen-time," Mirai smiled.

"Yeah, maybe we'll even get a proper rom-com novel instead of just a yearly-release plus cameos," Kuragi grinned.

"Ugh, that "dream" JZ-kun had was real, dammit. Well whatevs, As long as the world can see my pretty face, guess that's good enough for me," Ai smiled.

"Now let's get crepes," Hanabi grinned.

"Hah, the mention of crepes reminds me of something I dreamed about," I smiled as I headed off to hang out with the gyarus.

[End]