Once more Shaina led our way through the city leading us to the cafe she mentioned her friend managed. She led us once again to the central plaza, across it to the opposite side, and down another ramp to the nearby streets. As we were approaching I could already smell the unmistakable aroma of food nearby. I expected it to look very similar to what you would see in any big city with restaurants competing for your attention with waitresses outside inviting you to go in and big signs bombarding you with light and to an extent it was like that, but also more.

As I looked into the street I saw the same variety of people as I had in the plaza but also how many of the restaurants on this street had catered to their special needs. The ground floor of some buildings consisted of the first couple floors so that those that were overly large could enter. Others had signs like Raw Options Available or Elemental Food Here. As I looked up I could also see that many buildings had open sides or balconies to allow those that could fly to land directly at them and not have to use the central plaza.

The food on display was also large in variety ranging from familiar things like yakitori, steamed buns, steak and fish dinners, and other normal things to other more exotic things like meat right on the bone, jelly blobs, raw fish and meat, and dessert with with more flavors than i could identify.

We kept walking down the busy street until we reached a building that looked like something you would see in a small town in the west rather than a big modern city. The 4 floors above all had balconies where I could see customers eating and drinking. In front there was a long line of people stretched around the corner of the building into its adjacent alley. Shaina led us down this alley where I saw a lady with big cat paws and feet, fuzzy ears on top of her head and wearing a very cliche maid outfit holding a sign that said Line Starts Here. As we walked down towards the end of the line Shaina waved towards the maid who also waved back with an abundance of energy as she waited for us to reach her.

“Welcome back Shaina-sama, it’s been a while.” the maid said with a big smile.

“Hey Kat, busy as always I see.”

“You bet, someone has to keep the line nice and orderly.” She said while pawing at the air like a cat chasing a flying bug. “By the way, who is your friend? She smells new.” She got closer to me and smelled me from various angles like a curious dog would.

“She's Hikaris friend from out of town. The bus dropped her off super early so I'm showing her around while Hikari finishes her extra curricular activities.”

“Oh, hello there, I’m Katherine but everyone calls me Kat, nice ta meetcha.” she said as she extended her big fuzzy paw to me. As I extended my hand and shook hers it was quickly enveloped in her large fuzzy paw that was also very soft as I was also drawn into a big and warm hug as she also rubbed my cheek with hers.

“Hello, I’m Yoko Oshita, nice to meet you.” I stammered as I was taken by surprise by the sudden hug.

“So are you gonna join the line?” She asked, finally releasing me from the warmth of her hug.

“Eva is waiting for us so we’re using the side entrance.” Shaina said as she walked over to a nearby steel door with no obvious way to open it.

“Gotcha, lemme tell ‘em to let ya in.” She said as pulled out a simple radio from one of the pockets on her apron. Kat pressed the obvious big red button on the front of it and it beeped to life. “Hey it’s Kat, I got Lady Evas guests here at the side entrance.” With that short sentence the side door made a soft clang and opened.

Once opened another maid stood in the doorway welcoming us inside. The maid wore a more conservative maid outfit with a long skirt and an apron with small frills on the shoulder straps. Her hair was silver and straight and she also had animal earl on her head although smaller than Kats. Her personality was also calmer and more refined with a soft spoken but clear sounding voice. “This way please, lady Eva is waiting.” She motioned us to go in through the door and Shaina led the way clearly very familiar with the inside.

As we walked through the inside of the cafe it was filled with numerous employees in maid and butler garb, each with their own unique look to the cliche clothing, attending customers. The decor was modern while keeping the feel of an old cafe. The bottom floor where we entered was filled with small tables with numerous customers drinking a large variety of hold and cold drinks. At the back was the large drink bar where all the drinks were prepared being staffed by several of the maid and butlers.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

We went up a staircase that was located on the opposite side of the building from where we entered and reached the second floor. There were less tables here but they were also larger and able to accommodate food instead of just drinks. At the back was clearly the entrance to the kitchen where numerous chefs in white garb could be seen preparing food. The next floor was very similar but the kitchen area was replaced with more seating and a smaller ladder where the servers would bring the food from.

As I looked around the third floor I noticed we were led up a staircase that was roped off with a simple sign that read Staff Only. As we walked up the atmosphere slowly but surely changed. The light jazz music that could be heard on the lower levels was replaced with classical piano, the noise of all the people faded to a gentle silence, all the tables and chairs were replaced with more comfortable furniture like sofas and loungers, and the coolness of the air conditioning was replaced with a gentle breeze that came from the balcony.

On the balcony, sitting under the shade of a large parasol, sat a young looking girl, younger looking than shaina, sipping tea in a rather dignified manner. Her long golden hair stood out in the shade she sat in drawing your eye to it. Her clothing seemed to be a school uniform but it’s design clearly showed that it was for a more advanced school year than her young appearance would suggest. As we approached she turned her gaze towards us and her red eyes seemed to reflect the sunlight around us making them seem to glow. She gently stood up and made a simple but elegant bow.

“Shaina, Yoko, welcome to my humble cafe.”

“Hi Eva. Yoko, this is Eva Scarlet, we’ve been friends for a really long time. Eva, this is Yoko, Hikaris friend from out of town.”

“Hello, nice to meet you Eva.” This was all I could really say as I was still trying to understand the situation. Not only did she look far younger than Shaina, but she was also the owner of what was clearly a very successful cafe.

“Please have a seat” Eva spoke as she invited us to sit at her table. “Today's tea is perfect for the season.” We sat at the table and she promptly served us the tea she mentioned.

“Thanks Eva, it’s been a while since we had tea together.”

“It can’t really be helped since you’re busy with City Council matters and I'm the advisor for multiple clubs. Speaking of which, I'm sure Chie is frustrated running around town looking for you by now.”

“Probably, leme give her a quick call while you get us lunch.”

With that, Shaina took her cell phone out once more and went a few steps away from the table while making the call. I was still trying to piece together information I had just heard about my two hosts. Aside from her horns and tail, which seemed rather common in this city, Shaina was friends with the owner of what is clearly a very successful cafe in the center of the city, something that although not impossible would be very rare for someone who looked 15 or less. Add her special pass that had warranted a courteous bow from the bus driver and a custom welcome message when she used it and she was clearly no ordinary girl

Then there was Eva. Her manner of speaking, calm and composed persona, and the fact that she owned the cafe we were in were already special enough. Add to that that she appeared even younger than Shaina and the only thing I could conclude was that both of them were far from ordinary, even in this city. I don’t know how long I had been lost in my thoughts while holding the cup of tea before I was awakened by my guide's return to the table.

“All set, seemes the rest of the council was looking for me for some approvals and all four were ready to join in searching.”

“Oh dear, you really don’t make poor Chies life easy do you?” Eva said in what was clearly a playful voice.

“I’m not THAT bad, besides the paperwork gets done in the end so there is no reason to worry anyway.”

“I must agree that paperwork IS rather dull but we should probably change the subject as we seem to have left your guest out of the conversation with such a boring topic.” She turned to me clearly expecting some type of remark. In the past being put in the spotlight so suddenly would have made me feel embarrassed but with them that didn’t seem to happen.

“Um, well..”I muttered. “How is it that both of you seem to have such important things to do even though you are so young?”

My question seemed to have been rather unexpected since both of them froze as they sipped their tea. What followed was what could only be described as giggling fit as both proceeded to giggle amongst themselves for almost a minute. As I sat there thinking back on what I had just asked and trying to understand what part of my question would have prompted such a giggling fit.

Eva drew a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and cleaned up her tears while Shaina used the abundant sleeves of her top to do the same. “Oh, sorry my dear, it’s just been so long since we’ve been called young that it caught us by surprise.”

“Yeah, hehe, normally people who know us are overly reverent and cordial and that gets boring after a while.”

“Indeed, so let's get that question that is now at the tip of your tongue out of the way shall we?”

I sat there with a blank expression on my face that matched what was going on in my mind. There were so many questions that were trying to formulate at the same time that none were able to reach my voice in a coherent manner. My two hosts were clearly enjoying my confused expression as they went on to answer the most obvious question that I should have been able to ask but couldn’t.

“You see my dear both Shaina and I are well over 3,000 years old and we have known each other for the great majority of that time.” Both Eva and Shaina seemed to have a confident expression on them as Eva said these words while all I could do was sit there and just let that bombshell of information slowly land into my mind. My first reaction was to assume that it was a simple prank but seeing their calm expression slowly but surely led to me to accept what I was told as the truth.