The crowd began to thin out, and Missy prepared to head back to Aspen's. She turned to Jezel, feeling a slight flutter of nervousness. "I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.

Jezel smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, that's an ominous statement," she quipped, though her relaxed demeanor suggested she wasn't truly concerned. She smiled playfully. "How about I swing by Aspen's this evening, and we can talk?

Missy agreed, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. As she made her way back to Aspen's shop, a knot of anxiety formed in her stomach, hoping that everything would be okay. She tried to distract herself by focusing on the bustling city around her, but her mind kept circling back to the impending conversation.

Upon entering the shop, Missy discovered that Aspen wasn't alone. Three customers occupied the space. Two of them were female kitsune, their multiple tails swishing gently behind them. One sported brown hair and fur, while the other had a striking black coloration. The brown-haired kitsune boasted two tails, while her dark-haired companion had three. They were engrossed in examining the cellphones on display, their fingers gliding over the sleek screens with obvious fascination.

The third customer commanded attention. He was a male ifrit, his flaming mane flickering and casting dancing shadows across the shop. His jagged horns, black as obsidian, added to his imposing presence. Embers seemed to dance in his eyes as he stood near Aspen, engaged in what appeared to be an intense, hushed conversation. The aura of magic emanating from him clearly marked him as one of the immortals, drawing awed glances from the kitsune girls. The air around him shimmered with heat.

As Missy entered, the kitsune immediately locked their gazes onto her, their eyes widening with interest. Their ears perked forward, and their tails swished more rapidly, betraying their curiosity. Aspen and the ifrit, however, seemed oblivious to her arrival, too engrossed in their discussion. Feeling a bit awkward and out of place, Missy decided to quietly make her way to her work area in the back. She could feel the kitsune's eyes following her as she moved, their curiosity almost palpable.

Missy had just settled into her repairs when the ifrit took his leave, the bell above the door chiming softly as he exited. A wave of cooler air swept through the shop, as if sighing in relief at his departure. Curiosity getting the better of her, Missy approached Aspen, eager to uncover the mystery of their visitor. She wove her way through the displays, careful not to disturb the delicate electronics.

Aspen greeted her with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let me guess," she said, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm, "You want to know who that was and why he was here?" She leaned against the counter, her hooves tapping a light rhythm on the floor.

Missy nodded, feeling a bit sheepish at her obvious curiosity. Aspen chuckled softly before explaining, "That was Doctor Timaeus Haze. He's a family friend. Don't worry, there's nothing to be concerned about. He was simply stopping by to invite me to a party he's throwing. You're welcome to come too if you'd like. It'll be near the end of next week."

The prospect of attending a party hosted by an ifrit piqued Missy's interest. The only gatherings she had experienced thus far were those held by the council, and she found herself curious about what kind of party an immortal like Doctor Haze would host. She imagined a room filled with flickering flames and guests of all manner of supernatural beings. After a moment's consideration, she told Aspen she would like to attend, her voice tinged with excitement.

With that mystery solved, Missy turned to head back to her work table. However, her path was intercepted by the two kitsune, who had apparently been waiting for an opportunity to approach. The dark-haired girl, seemed shy and hesitant, her three tails curled tightly around her legs. Her brown-haired friend, was clearly trying to encourage her, gently nudging her forward with a reassuring smile.

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Missy looked at them uncertainly, not feeling confident in her ability to handle the situation as smoothly as Aspen might. She glanced towards Aspen for help, only to find that her earlier knowing smile had transformed into one of barely contained glee. Missy could sense that Aspen was thoroughly enjoying her predicament and would be of no assistance.

Gathering her courage, The dark haired girl spoke first, her voice barely above a whisper. "Excuse me, but you're really pretty." As soon as the words left her mouth, her face turned scarlet, and she looked ready to bolt. Her tails puffed out in embarrassment, nearly doubling in size. The other girl quickly placed a reassuring hand on her friend's arm, both for support and to keep her from fleeing.

The brown haired girl took over, her voice more confident. "I'm June, and this is Lily," she said, gesturing to her blushing friend. "We couldn't help but notice you when you came in."

Missy, still somewhat perplexed by the situation, managed a smile. "I'm Missy," she replied. "Thank you for saying that. I'm rather fond of my appearance. I picked it myself." The last part slipped out before she could stop herself, and she noticed a flicker of confusion cross the girls' faces. Their ears twitched in puzzlement, and they exchanged a quick glance.

Choosing to gloss over Missy's odd comment, Lily seemed to find a bit more courage. "I wanted to ask you for your number?" she said, her voice lilting up at the end, making it sound more like a question than a statement. Her tails swaying gently behind her.

Missy hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Was Lily asking about her age? Missy didn't even know how old she was. Her silence seemed to panic Lily, who began to stammer, "I'm so sorry! You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm so stupid." Tears began to well up in her eyes, and once again, she looked ready to flee. Her tails drooped, nearly touching the floor.

Aspen finally decided to intervene, her voice gentle but amused. "Sorry to interrupt, but Missy doesn't have a phone. She probably isn't sure what you're asking." She moved closer, her hooves clicking softly on the floor.

Both kitsune looked between Missy and Aspen, their expressions a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Their tails froze mid-swish. "How does she not have a phone and work in a tech shop?" June asked, her shock evident. Her ears were now fully erect, quivering slightly with curiosity.

It was Aspen's turn to look sheepish. "That's kind of on me," she admitted. "I really should have given her one." She continued more to herself, "Especially after the power station incident." She rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment.

Missy, recalling what she knew about phones, decided to rejoin the conversation. "If I did have a phone, why would you want my number?" She tilted her head curious.

Lily's blush deepened as she explained, "I want to get to know you and maybe we could go on a date." Her tails began to intertwine nervously, creating an intricate braid behind her.

As Missy considered the situation, she realized that if she was going to spend her free time with someone, she wanted it to be Jezel. The thought of Jezel brought an involuntary smile to her face, though it also left her slightly confused about her feelings towards Rinale. Why had she asked her on a date? She decided now wasn't the time to worry about that. The conflicting emotions swirled within her, creating a confusing tapestry.

Looking Lily in the eye, Missy spoke gently. "I appreciate you asking me, but I already have someone I want to spend my time with. I'm sorry if that makes you sad." She tried to convey her sincerity hoping she wasn't causing too much distress.

Lily shook her head, a small, sad smile on her face. "No, it's okay. I kind of figured a girl as pretty as you must have someone, but I had to try." She took a deep breath before adding, "We should leave. Bye." With that, the two kitsune left the store, the bell chiming softly behind them. Their tails drooped slightly as they exited, but Missy could see June comforting her friend as they walked away.

Missy found herself slightly thrown off by the encounter. She wondered if the man she had avoided at the food shop had been trying to do the same thing. She made a mental note to talk to Jezel about it, thinking that her friend probably had lots of experience in handling such situations. Jezel had made it look so easy earlier that day, and Missy was surprised at how well she herself had managed to handle it. Still, she felt a twinge of guilt at disappointing Lily.

With a small sigh, Missy turned her attention back to her work, allowing the familiar tasks to occupy her mind and push away the lingering thoughts of the day's events. The gentle hum of electronics and the soft clicking of tools provided a soothing backdrop as she lost herself in the intricate world of circuits and wires. Yet, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but look forward to Jezel's visit later that evening.