Ms. Roth began her lecture, her voice reverberating off the classroom walls as she tapped the pointer on the projector screen.

"Moving on, let's talk about the First Chaos War," she said, "The First Chaos War is widely considered to be one of the most significant events in Terra's modern history. Until the mid-19th century, Chaos Beasts and other Aberrants were mainly seen as mere pests to be taken care of sporadically. But the thorns these events presented would prove to be more of a mixed curse and blessing in the long run."

I sat there, listening intently to Ms. Roth lecturing us on a topic I had close to zero exposure to. Chaos Beasts? A mixed blessing and curse?

"It's almost ridiculous to think of them as such given our current framework, but yes, they were considered nothing more than pests. A simple mana ward array on a settlement would prevent them from emerging directly within the bounds of a city or town. It wasn't until the First Chaos War that our species truly had to come to terms with their existence and what they signified to us."

She paused, giving us a moment to take it in.

"The First Chaos War — which escalated between 1839 and 1860, was the first conflict that involved thousands of Aberrations at any one time in one single conflict," she continued. "The Battle of Jo Loon marked the start of this conflict and it shook us all to our cores. The carnage and devastation we witnessed during this battle was unlike anything we had ever seen before; it changed the course of history forever."

She hit the screen again with the pointer, and it zoomed in on a map of Europe and Asia she'd pulled up. We were suddenly greeted with a generated picture of an early sewing machine in a sweatshop.

"As outlined in Chapter III, the Hua Dynasty and the British Thalassocracy were the first two countries to enter the Industrial Age on Terra. Through trade and the exchange of ideas, these nations prospered and grew to become superpowers on opposite ends of Eurasia.

Ms. Roth waved her pointer around the picture. I leaned forward in my seat, trying my best to follow her gestures.

"The years after the First Industrial Revolution brought about a great period of expansion," she said. "The nations of the world were rapidly advancing and growing more complicated, their populations multiplying and mercantilism giving way to international trade. The world was becoming increasingly interconnected and economically driven, and a long period of peace persisted. Though there were still regional conflicts that erupted and nations squabbled over land and resources, the century was marked by a golden age of trade, technological advancement, and progression."

"So what happened here, Miss Red?" one of the kids asked, interrupting her. "What's this got to do with Chaos?"

Ms. Roth glared at the boy.

"Excuse me? Would you like volunteer to answer that question?" she said, her voice dangerously soft. "I would also strongly suggest that you address me properly, Mister Cho. It's Roth, not Red."

Of course, he clammed up immediately and shrank back into his seat. Ms. Roth turned right back to her materials and pretended nothing had happened.

"Now, there was a critical junction between the histories of Earth and Terra around this period. Over the past seven centuries, Terra has experienced constant small-scale Chaos Events. While wars of succession and rebellion did continue, the people of Terra often worked together to contain the more severe occurrences. This progressively led to tighter collaborative foreign policies and diplomatic relations over time."

She paused, giving the class a moment to take in her words.

"Over the past two decades, Comparative Earth History has become an increasingly popular field of study. Virtually all scholars agree that the Aberrations had a profound influence on Terra's history. The tension caused by them necessitated joint actions from the various nations. Additionally, at times of human conflict, there have been multiple reports of Chaos Rifts appearing more often directly over battlefields."

Ms. Roth moved to shuffle some papers on her desk, then she looked back up as she continued.

"Of course, it would be reductive to leave things at that. A variety of circumstances caused this divergence — for example, countries had to sink more money into protecting their border towns. Rural farming communities were also much more conservative about expanding their acreages, leading to lower population growth in the long run."

She took a sip of her coffee, then looked at the screen before tapping a key to bring out a map of Terra.

"The First Chaos War erupted on October 18th, 1860, when a Brittanian merchant ship received a desperate plea for aid from a Hua-based garrison in Jo Loon. When the fleet arrived, they found the walls breached, and the vanguard had been killed by a swarm of strange, never-before-seen beasts — now known to be Beowulves.

The Second Fleet deployed its royal marines and began to take on the aberrants, only to be bogged down in a sudden, prolonged urban quagmire. Admiral Nellsworth sent an urgent series of radios to the Pan-Asian alliance's naval base in the Strait of Malacca, requesting reinforcements. Over the next few days, more and more marines were sent. No one knew how many Chaos Beasts were attacking or why an attack of this magnitude had occurred."

Ms. Roth paused as she clicked a device in her hand, changing the slide. The map zoomed out, and I saw a distinctive map of the British Isles and Normandy.

"By October 24th, the situation had become critical on this front. Unbeknownst to all combatants, a second massive attack occurred thousands of miles away.

The way she said it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This was a version of history I'd never heard of.

"The French and British capital cities of Lutecia and Londinium were suddenly set upon by packs of Mannangals and Beowulves, just as the garrison in Jo Loon had been. Even worse, the militaries of both countries had no time to react. The walls were immediately breached in both cities and the resulting civilian death tolls were catastrophic. For the first time in Terra's history, the Aberrations had attacked our cities en masse. The First Chaos War had begun."

Ms. Roth clicked the device again, and a series of grainy, black-and-white photos appeared on the screen of monsters fighting with Terran marines circa 1880.

"Most of our history books will describe the conflict's next few weeks and months as an unmitigated disaster. What began as a series of strategic and tactical blunders by the Britonian and Hua militaries deteriorated into a complete... clusterfuck. The forces of each nation were stretched thin, with an ever-increasing number of Aberrations to fight against. By the end of 1861, these aberrants had emerged from various rifts to wreak havoc in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The events of the First Chaos War had never happened before, leaving us without a plan in place to combat it."

Ms. Roth paused again, giving us a moment to take in the images we'd been shown as she looked around.

"The international community was taken completely by surprise. Towns and cities were destroyed by the Alkonosts and Beowulves in Calcutta and Toulon, while a Leviathan roamed around the Great Lakes. Llameros erupted from the ground in Brandenburg and Ulyssippo. To make matters worse, Aberration hordes had been reported in almost every technologically advanced nation on Terra. The First Chaos War had become a globe-spanning war in a matter of days, with the two Superpowers bearing the brunt of it."

The screen changed again. A picture of a devastated city with blackened ruins of tall buildings.

"The statistics were staggering. Within the first year, the death toll of military and civilian casualties exceeded fourteen million. By 1863, it was up to thirty million. Mind you, the estimated Terran world population at the time was around six hundred million people."

Ms. Roth looked at us, raising her eyebrows as she clicked the device in her hand again. The map zoomed out again, showing the whole of Terra in the late nineteenth century.

"By the mid-1860s, nearly every nation on the planet was in a state of total war. Chaos Beasts swarmed like mosquitoes in the modern-day Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. But then, the first Magical Girls began to appear."

The pictures on the screen changed again. A girl in an intricate black robe held a stylized spear crackling with lightning. She faced off against a pack of familiar raptor-like beasts.

"It all began with Zhi Xiao, a girl from the Hua Empire. In 1862, the Britonian military saved her from a pack of Ayakashi as she ran from her village, but not without significant injury. To everyone's shock, her wounds had miraculously healed once the dust settled. But their surprise didn't end there-- another pack of Ayakashi descended on them, throwing their platoon into chaos and confusion. Suddenly, these beasts were slain by a warrior woman wielding a spear of lightning. This woman was none other than Zhi Xiao herself.

The soldiers returned the girl to Kaifeng, where she was put through various trials to determine if her powers were genuine. But, of course, it took only a short time to see that she was legitimate. Zhi Xiao was accepted as an apprentice under a Hua court wizard and master martial artist, and she went on to defeat countless Chaos Beasts."

The picture on the screen changed again. Another painting from the era. A girl in an intricate black robe held a stylized spear crackling with lightning.

"Reports of Zhi Xiao quickly reached Emperor Cheung-Yan, who had fallen into despair. Her existence restored his faith and hope, and he issued a now-famous statement to the people of Hua: Chaos is inherent in all things, but Harmony is entrusted to us. Even a single spark can start an inferno. He posited that there may have been other Magical Girls in hiding, and thus sent out requests to other cities and villages to collect reports of individual with unexplained powers. He even offered to sponsor any who would fight on behalf of mankind and pay a handsome reward. Upon her arrival to the court, Zhi Xiao was apprenticed to a court wizard and became the first known Magical Girl."

She took another sip of coffee and then again clicked the device in her hand.

"As tales of Magical Girls started to spread, the tides of the First Chaos War suddenly changed course. The world, stretched thin by a large amount of Chaos Beasts now ravaging the land, quickly took advantage of the situation.

People noticed a definite pattern forming between supportive communities that had built trust among their members and areas where Magical Girls began to appear. Even now, no one is sure why this correlation exists. But, the presence of these Magical Girls was sufficient to relieve these scattered communities and the larger cities."

Ms. Roth paused again, then clicked the button in her hand. The following slide showed a beautiful young girl with long, dark hair dressed in white robes with a black scarf stretched over her face. She was standing against a backdrop of dark storm clouds. The picture on the screen changed again. A girl in an elaborate red Hanbok sat on a marble dais with a banner behind her.

"The tide of the war quickly shifted as Magical Girls fought and eliminated a large number of monsters. People all around the world began to recognize them as heroes, and the Pope even declared that these brave individuals were blessed by God, like angels sent to Earth in a time of desperation. Even in the face of overwhelming darkness, a single Magical Girl could give hope to the people. However, the situation soon took a turn for the worse."

She changed the slide, and a painting of a terrifying human-looking monstrosity glared at us from the screen. Its skin was a tanned, olive color, with empty, gaping holes for a nose and mouth. The creature's fingers were tipped with vermilion-colored nails. Its eyes were large and wide, a piercing blueish-gold, with sharp horns where ears would be. The worst part is that it was beautiful in a disturbing, vaguely feminine way. It had long red hair that fell over its shoulders and down its back.

"The cause of the first Chaos War emerged in the Mediterranean. No one knew its origin or what it was, but it wasn't a Chaos Beast. It wasn't wild like the other Beasts—it was almost human-like, possessing intelligence and utmost cunning. It had the capability to plan and strategize, making it the first Aberration known to possess such a high level of thought. Initially, it was thought to be a rogue and demented Magical Girl, but it was quickly proven not to be human at all. It was dubbed the Imperatore by the Sardinians, and it quickly swept across southern Europe, decimating city after city."

Ms. Roth sighed and clicked her device again, bringing up a new painting on the screen — this one showing a beautiful young girl in golden phoenix armor, holding a gleaming black and gold spear aloft with both hands as she faced off against the Imperatore. A girl in a nun habit slumped by her side and dozens of other girls in various colorful armor. The girls were armed with flaming swords, spears, bows, and all sorts of exotic weapons behind her in the painting.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Zhi Xiao, now referred to as the Empyrean Immortal and the Bringer of Hope, led a unified force to challenge the Imperatore as it swept across Europe. Never before had the entire world come together to fight a common enemy like this. Many of the recently awakened Magical Girls from around the globe joined her in this historic confrontation and would come to be known as the Hundred Companions. Some of you may have grown up with legends and folk tales from this period.

Of course, the stories of valor and heroism were exaggerated, but there was a kernel of truth in them. Most magical girls who were not otherwise preoccupied coalesced to fight at Tuscany, with one native magical girl leading the charge. She'd held the city alone for several days, and unfortunately, she would perish in the upcoming battle. All over the world, heroes that would be remembered as legends answered the rallying cry. St. Antonia, Bhudevi, Princess Boudica, River Orisha, and hundreds of other Magical Girls joined forces with soldiers from Europe to oppose the Imperatore and its horde."

The picture on the screen changed to show a painting of Zhi Xiao, looking young and beautiful in her Hua robes. Her eyes were half-closed. There were lines around them, bespeaking centuries of wisdom. It was a striking contrast to her youthful, pretty face.

"The Hopebringer led the fight to defeat the Imperatore in a battle that lasted days on end. But at the last moment, as the monster neared defeat, it unleashed a final attack. An arcing wave of death that swept across the battlefield and killed nearly every Magical Girl who had fought it. Zhi Xiao was among the last Magical Girls standing."

Everyone just sat there, watching the slideshow with rapt attention. I was just as enthralled as my classmates were.

"As legend has it, the Bringer of Hope walked alone among the hundreds of broken bodies of her fellow Magical Girls, and said these words when she encountered Bhudevi: 'The most difficult battles are won not by the strong, or by the cunning, or by the swift, but by those who do not fear to hope and love.' The sky quaked with the thunder of the Bringer of Hope and the malicious laughter of the Imperatore as they clashed in a battle of magic. Her wounded Sisters watched from below, their hearts heavy with pain and anxiety as her healing was pushed beyond its threshold. At the end of the battle, a brilliant crack of lightning filled the sky, and Zhi Xiao dropped from the sky with her spear thrust into the Imperatore forever joining her sisters in eternal slumber. The Imperatore disintegrated and the spear fell from the sky, and the few surviving Magical Girls were left to mourn the loss of their Sisters."

The picture of Zhi Xiao changed to a painting of a red-haired brown-skinned girl in a red robe, surrounded by a team of Magical Girls in strange outfits, including an African woman dressed as a river nymph, a Japanese girl in a Kimono, a girl with white hair and blue eyes in French half-armor and a rope belt, and a girl in a poncho and cowboy hat with a black scarf across her face. The team stood on top of a black cliff in front of a black spear thrust into the ground.

"With the death of the Imperatore, the Chaos Rifts stopped appearing entirely for a number of years, and humanity began to put the ruins and rubble of civilization back together. Zhi Xiao was honored posthumously by Emperor Cheung-Yan, who constructed a temple in her honor in Kaifeng. The surviving Magical Girls decided to use their abilities to help the survivors get back to their lives. They scattered across the world, some to help rebuild their home nations, and some to explore the world. The Bringer of Hope had defeated an enemy, but at a great cost."

The slide changed and the picture showed an intricately detailed painting of Zhi Xiao's death and funeral. A group of girls in Hua robes lay on top of a funeral pyre on a grassy hill, with Zhi Xiao at the center. In the painting, there was some sort of vague, diffused aura around her body, but otherwise, she looked like a young woman sleeping.

Her skin was pale and youthful, and her lips parted. Flowers were strewn all around her body. The painting was both hauntingly beautiful and melancholic.

Under the image was written: 'The Revolution of Heavenly Peace' by Lin Shi Min.

The entire class sat there, silent, entranced by the images on the screen.

"Humanity would rebuild once again. The survivors of this great war founded the new world. The world we live in today. The Magical Girls that lived on became its protectors, defenders of a new order," Ms. Roth said.

"But the Imperators. That wasn't the end of it, was it? That was only the first of three?" someone suddenly asked from the back of the room.

Ms. Roth frowned and took a moment to turn and look at the speaker.

"Yes. That first one was only the beginning. There were four altogether, three that destroyed Terra and a fourth that virtually destroyed our sister world. We must take responsibility for this last one, and never make the same mistake again. But those are stories for another time. It seems like our time is up here, so I will conclude the lecture. Class dismissed!"

Ms. Roth tapped a button several times, and the screen went blank.

The room was suddenly flooded with noise and movement as everyone left. I sat at my desk, finishing my notes and gathering my things.

Everything about magical girls seemed so... grand and important. So different. Having magic powers was just a part of life here.

Everyone here just took it for granted. It made me wonder what growing up here would have been like.

I stood up, looking at the exit. I was the last one in class. Ms. Roth flashed me a smile and gave me a nod.

I smiled back.

"Thank you for attending today, Ikazuchi. Take care!"

I walked out the door and made my way to my next class. It was a lot to process, and my other courses this morning blended together as I thought about Ms. Roth's slideshow. I'd grown up after the worst of it, but the Fourth Imperatore had ravaged Earth and the Aberrations it brought had taken my mother from me.

I couldn't help but think about how things could have been different if the Imperatore hadn't attacked Earth. Maybe my mother wouldn't have died when I was barely aware of the world.

The thought made my chest ache.

Before lunch, I ducked into the bathroom to splash water on my face. I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed. It felt like there was some sort of phantom weight on my chest. I wondered if there was something wrong with me.

Maybe I should take a walk before getting food — it was a beautiful day outside. There was a gentle breeze this morning, and the sunlight was just lovely. Not too hot or cold.

I checked my phone and bank account: I'd gotten a sizeable chunk of cash from my cut of the Chaos Cores Talia had turned in. I could probably skip the meal plan for today and try something local later.

Making up my mind, I quickly headed outside. I passed by the park and by the flower shops. There were a lot of old people out today. I could hear faint strains of music here and there.

There was a lot of energy in the air. People smiled and laughed. I started to walk to the end of the street when I heard something. Not loud enough to hear from all the way across the park. But a sound I recognized.

I followed the sound for a little bit until I saw a familiar girl with a violin by a small fountain in front of a closed crepe stand with some stone park tables nearby.

She brushed her curly hair behind her ears and lifted her violin, tightening the bow in her hand. Her school uniform rippled around her from the wind, and the skirt flared slightly.

The strings made a faint thrum as she played a practice scale. Each note was a symphony in itself. The violin's cues, the wind, and the fountain splash each told their own story. The music she played was sweet, soft, and sad. Like a lost love or a memory never wholly forgotten. Minutes passed in moments, and it felt like I stood there forever as she finished the piece. She didn't appear to notice me.

I didn't run; I didn't hurry. I just walked over as she finished.

"Natasha?"

She paused and turned to face me as she moved the violin away from her neck. "Oh! Uh, Um. Hi Ikki."

Natasha turned a very distinct shade of red as she let out a small squeak.

I smiled awkwardly at her. "I heard some music playing in the park and it sounded wonderful, so I decided to come and see who it was. And er, well, here you are."

She relaxed a little and looked away for a second. "Oh, well. Thank you! Uh, what's up?"

"Nothing, really, just needed to get some air to clear my head before lunch. How about you? I didn't know you had this lunch period free."

Natasha shrugged, "I-I just don't feel comfortable in the cafeteria, you know? I got harassed pretty badly by some of Carrie's followers in the first couple of days so I just started eating out. It's been enjoyable, actually. I've met a lot of nice people out here."

""That... sucks. I'm sorry to hear that."

Natasha shrugged again, "It's fine. I'm just glad it didn't get worse."

She took a deep breath, then nodded in satisfaction as she put the violin down against her side. "That's umn, all I wanted to practice. Thanks for listening. If you want to go, I don't want to keep you."

"No, it's fine. I'm not in a hurry or anything," I said, shuffling my feet a little.

"Really? If you're sure..."

"Yeah, I'm sure," I said, smiling at her.

Natasha smiled back at me and nodded, packing her violin in the case beside her. She set it down gently and stretched, the wind whipping her hair about.

She waved at me and said, "Okay, if you're really sure that you're not in a hurry, then let's go eat lunch together. I'm getting pretty hungry anyway!"

I laughed. "Alright. Sounds good to me. Where to?"

Natasha smiled at me, and I drew to a halt. It was a surprisingly sunny smile.

"How do you feel about hole-in-the-wall places? There's a really neat ramen stall in here. I've been there a couple of times and it's pretty good."

I grinned in response, "Yeah, I'm definitely up for some ramen. Lead the way!"

We arrived at the ramen stand after a short walk. The ramen stall was sandwiched between a florist and a pet grooming shop. The store itself was a little small; there was only enough room for a small counter and some chairs on the opposite side of the kitchen.

The stall at the back was open, and a small old-fashioned fan was spinning inside. A middle-aged, barrel-chested Asian man with massive arms was manning the counter, prepping bowls of noodles behind it. A younger woman kneaded and pulled dough with gloves on next to a door that led to a back kitchen.

The man looked up when he saw us approaching and flashed us a toothy smile.

"Welcome!" he said boisterously.

"Hey, how's it going?" Natasha asked with a wave.

"Oh it's been going splendidly little Natasha!" he boomed. "Come, take a seat! Who's your friend?!"

"Ummm..." Natasha shuffled from foot to foot and laughed nervously, "Umm, this is my friend, Ikki. He's new here, so I thought I could show him some of the local spots and... um."

I chuckled nervously and waved at him. "It's fine! Er, nice to meet you?"

The man laughed heartily, then said, "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, young Ikki! I'm Akira, the local cook here at Akira's Kitchen. I cook up the finest ramen this side of the universe here. My daughter Kumi makes the ramen dough and her mother, my wife Mikiko, grows our seasonings at home. Yes, we're a family business! Ahahahahaha!"

"Erk. Good to know!" I said with a bow.

"Yes, a pleasure! And none of that out here!" he said, beaming at me. "What will you two be having today?!"

"I'll be having the small miso ramen with chasu and standard vegetable toppings," Natasha said casually.

The cook nodded. "Small miso ramen and a small portion of chasu."

He turned to me and raised his brows. I took a deep breath.

"I'll have the same, but large. I'd also like chashu pork and an egg," I said.

Akira nodded and turned to the ramen dough, "One small miso ramen with chasu coming up! And one large chashu, egg, and tonkotsu ramen to follow up."

He smiled at us reassuringly and pointed towards the seats by the window. "Feel free to sit down! I'll have that out to you in a jiffy!"

We both took a seat, and Akira started on our bowls. Natasha leaned over and whispered, "You looked like you were going to have a heart attack right there. I'm sorry I didn't warn you, but uhh, he's a little... loud."

I shook my head, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I just didn't expect it. That's all."

I glanced at Natasha, who was looking at me with a smile.

"I've been here a few times, so I know the owner personally. He's cool," she said, giggling.

I sat at the counter and sighed, looking around the ramen stall.

"It's a nice place, isn't it?" Natasha said as she sat down beside me.

"Yeah! I've never been to a proper ramen stall before. I didn't know what to expect, but it sure is nice."

The sun was getting higher in the sky, and the light was a little sharper than it was before.

"I look forward to coming here. It's kind of soothing, in a way. There's nothing like eating a bowl of hot noodles in the cold weather, right?" Natasha said idly.

I nodded. "Indeed."

Akira reappeared with our bowls, two steaming bowls of noodles with golden brown broth and pieces of pork on top. He set down two bottles of soy sauce, hot sauce, and two pairs of chopsticks.

"There you go!" he said. "A bowl of the finest noodles this side of the universe!"

He beamed at us, then bowed slightly, "Enjoy your meals!"

"Thank you!" I said as I clapped my chopsticks together.

We settled into silence after Akira's departure. I dropped the noodles into my broth, and they sizzled away. The noodles were springy, and the broth was rich, with a slight sweetness to it. The pork melted in my mouth with a smoky flavor, and the chashu was tender and well-seasoned.

I dug in, slurping noodles and chewing the toasted pork with pleasure.

I glanced at Natasha and saw her taking smaller bites, chewing carefully as she observed my reaction.

"How is it?" she asked quietly.

"It's delicious! I haven't tasted ramen this good in a long time!" I said enthusiastically.

Natasha nodded, smiling. "Yeah, Akira really knows what he's doing behind that counter. He's been running this joint for twenty years now, I think? He's been doing it since he got out of the army. He was a sergeant, I think."

"A ramen sergeant?" I asked with an exaggerated look on my face.

"Mhm. Not a very common career path, but he's living the dream, I guess."

We both burst out laughing, and I hid my face with my hands. Akira came out from the kitchen, waggling a spatula at us.

"Hey! I heard that! Keep it down out here or I'll have you give me twenty push-ups!" he said sternly.

"Ayeeaahh!" I yelped, holding my hands up.

Natasha and I burst out laughing again. Akira laughed heartily and shook his head, "Kids these days."

He turned around, heading into the kitchen. I shook my head, still laughing.

"That man is just... I have no words," I said, still chuckling.

"He can be pretty loud, I admit. I really like him though. He's really sweet and funny," Natasha cooed.

"I see what you mean," I said, nodding.

We chatted more as we ate our noodles. I felt my body tingling and my skin warming up as I finished my bowl of noodles. I leaned back, patting my belly and letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Oh my god that was really good!" I said, sighing.

"I'm so glad you enjoyed it!" Natasha said, beaming. "It's nice to have someone to eat lunch with for a change."

I laughed, shaking my head, "Yes, it's nice. Thank you for inviting me here. Say uh, Natasha..."

I hesitated for a moment, fumbling with my chopsticks.

She looked up from her empty bowl, "Yeah?"

"I have a friend who's getting a house party together this Friday for Celestial Sonata's concert stream. I was wondering if uh, you would want to come? We'll head over right after we get out from school. I know there's going to be food and maybe some games or something. It'll probably be a fun party."

Natasha stared at me for a long moment. It was a weird, deadpan stare, but I could tell she was really considering it.

"Natasha, are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

She blinked, then smiled awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just had to take a moment to think about it. I didn't know you were a fan of Sonata!"

"Ah, I actually haven't gone out of the way to hear anything by her, but my friend is a super fan. She's been raving to me about how sweet Celestial Sonata is for the last week. I think she's in love with her, honestly. I'm just going along for the ride."

Natasha raised an eyebrow and then laughed. "I see, I see! Well, sure, why not? I'm free on Friday, so I can go with you. I'm not a huge-huge fan of Celestial Sonata, but I do listen to her so I'm sure it'll be a fun time. I'm not going to be the best company, though..."

I snorted, "Don't worry about it. I'm just happy you're coming. And you'll be great company!"

We finished our meal and paid Akira, who thanked us profusely as we left. As we walked back to school, I felt a sense of contentment. Having someone to eat and talk with was lovely, and I was strangely excited about the upcoming party. Maybe it would be a chance to make new friends and have some fun.

We parted ways as we stepped back into the school, and Natasha turned to me to flash me a brilliant smile. "Thanks for lunch. And for inviting me to the party. I'm looking forward to Friday!"

"Same here!" I said, grinning. "I'll text you the details later."

We said our goodbyes, and I headed back in to my next class, humming happily.

Well, this week didn't have the greatest start, but that definitely raised my spirits.

Fingers crossed for the rest of the week.