[Clover Harbor... a magnificent archipelago anchoring triumphantly in the middle of the vast ocean. This megastructure serves as pristine proof of human Oneness and a beacon for a polishing civilization. Here, you can gaze upon the architectural marvels etched in glass, explore lush environments, learn under the great minds, dine on fine cuisines and embrace the Culture Storm!

We beckon your arrival in this wonderful Paradise!]

This was the umpteenth time Jun and Dan watched the ushering promo of the archipelago, so much that they could recite it by heart. As time went on, the passengers grew agitated and restless ever since the delay was announced and no update after that. But Jun and Dan were nothing short of bored, dull and blank.

Dan kept on chittering his teeth while Jun rolled his eyeballs haphazardly, spacing off into the open. Suddenly, he let a big, wide grin which was noticed by Dan, who gave a smug look.

"What's the plan, bro?" Dan asked with rising enthusiasm.

"It's nothing much... just a little PvP." Jun said with a subtle smirk on his face. "But before that, how many Pockies do we have?"

"I don't know... let me check in a second." Dan dug into his bag and fumbled around and brought out a box of Pockies just a while later. "What do you need this for?" Dan enquired for his budding confusion.

Jun took the box from him and started to explain: "First, I pick a target for you and vice versa, turn-based style. Second, the main goal is to make our targets laugh. One laugh equals one Pocky. Third, the one who has the most shares of Pocky wins. What do you say?" His grin sparkled white, resting his case with a sense of pride at the thought of having a brilliant idea like this. But Dan's bummed-out look of discontent says otherwise.

"Bro, give me one good reason why I should play the clown in front of people. Besides, it sounds really stupid, no offense though." Dan said.

"None taken." Jun replied.

Dan continued: "Why not just ask for a comedy stand-off PvP or a dad joke PvP?"

"Bro, have you heard the saying 'Gloom is Doom'? Well, this car reeks of that! I don't want our moods to be sour and miss the fun the islands gonna offer."

"You mean, your mood." Dan corrected with a stern look.

"Haha, come on... humor me, bro." Jun chuckled about the possible fun and chaos he's about to stir. "Besides, we have stage fright. Did you forget?"

Those two words sent chills up their spines but it made Dan flinch slightly. "Haha... no thank you! Unlike you, I have something called dignity. I'm not gonna sell it for some drops of Endorphins. Good luck!" He smiled, waiting for Jun to drop down his ridiculous plan.

"Sandstone concert tickets and merchandise, my treat." Jun offered with a serious look, out of desperation to clear his boredom at all costs.

"Limited edition and I'll start the game!" Dan got pumped with energy instantly at the thought of getting free goodies but soon realised what he did and crumbled down. He then started to clutch his hair in frustration: 'Damn it! Why did I do that?!'

But Jun didn't care about his pity party and asked: "Who's my target?"

"Huh? Uh... that man. Over there!" Dan pointed the man with glasses sitting in the front. Jun got up from his seat and went towards him. Some time later, there was the sound of laughter coming from the front of the car. Jun came back to his seat with an aura of pride emanating from his body. He stretched out his hand and demanded his prize. Dan gave one Pocky to him, who simply threw it into his mouth in style.

"Your turn now..." Jun said when he pointed Dan's target in the back. Dan looked back and saw a young woman with a long, black ponytail. He shook his head in refusal, while Jun refused his refusal by waving his finger and clicking his tongue smugly. With no other choice, he walked away. A few more minutes later, laughter was heard from the back too. Dan came back to his seat and sat down, his face flushed out of embarassment.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Jun struggled to hold his chuckles in and gave two Pockies to him for his effort. Dan snatched them from his hands and munched on them with fury and tears. Like this, the game went for a while and in the end, they successfully infected the entire car with laughter while filled their bellies full. They were in peace, including the passengers, when a woman with a llama mask called to them. "Yes, is there a problem?" Jun asked.

The llama-mask hostess explained: "There were some noise complaints from the car in front. And I found out that you two were behind the commotion. I request you not to disturb anymore."

Dan apologized to the brown haired hostess, for both of them: "We're so sorry, ma'am. We won't do that from on."

"Thank you for understanding." She smiled and bowed down, to which the men reciprocated. Subsequently, Jun noticed something. "Excuse me, ma'am. Now that I hear a bit more clearly, your voice sounds sweet. Do you sing in your free time often?"

The hostess got flustered on hearing the double whammy of compliment and personal question, out of the blue. She fumbled: "N-n-no! I mean... my friends invite to me to karaoke from time to time... and I simply sing to go along with them." Then it hit her: "Don't tell me--!"

Jun nodded in agreement.

"No! Please, don't ask me!" The hostess was sweating bullets as she's begging not to be put under spotlight. "Alright... I understand, It's not like we're forcing you to do it." Jun shrugged with rising sadness. The hostess found relief, as shown by her closed, relaxed smiling eyes.

"But it'd be a shame if we create a louder ruckus later... for the sake of staving off boredom." His smirk got dark. "Oh... if only someone could sing for us..." Dan added in a dramatic tone.

'Uh oh! These jerks aren't going to leave me alone, are they?!' The hostess thought them as nuisances, ready to smite them with reprimands.

"We can hear your thoughts really well, you know!" The men said in unison. This made the hostess flinch and gasp in shock. Nevertheless, the hostess tried to step away slowly but Jun caught her tightly. "People! Would you like to hear her sing?" He shouted to the passengers, who were on a good mood. The passengers agreed and cheered, clapping with rhythm to hype the hostess. Jun and Dan merely fanned the flames of fervor.

The hostess had no choice but to play along. She stood in front of the car overseeing all the passengers, wrote the character for 'Human' on her palm and swallowed it. With her self-esteem and courage mustered, she breathed in and vocalised.

The car was filled with the hostess' melodious voice, brightening the mood and multiplying the joy. Before she knew it, she was enjoying it. Her fear, nervousness, anxiety disappeared from her heart. Even some of the passengers started to sing with her, including Dan. Some of the passengers started recording the entire scene and laugh behind the screen. Truly, it was a party in the sky. After the hostess finished, she was bombarded with rounds of applause and compliments. The hostess ran away to the cabin in embarassment, but not before thanking them all.

Just then, the masterpilot announced through the PA system: "Passengers, in a few more minutes, we'll be landing in Clover Harbor. Thank you for the journey!" This gave the passengers even more reason to be excited and rambunctious.

The Skyslither finally started to descend and approach Enotitropolis, the central island of the archipelago which acts as the hub of tourism and transport. After gaining the clearance, the Skyslither dove inside a column, which serves as a docking station for the flying train to stop. The roofs of the cars opened and the passengers were escorted out in their seats, thanks to the AMOS (automatic maglev orientation system).

As the cousins are exiting out of the train, they were called by the hostess. Jun asked if there was a problem, but the hostess shook her head in affirming denial. Still, the hostess nervously fidgeted with a piece of paper in her hand. Seconds later, she handed it to him: "I-if you don't mind... here's my number. You don't have to call, if you want to. Just texting is fine. And if you're interested, maybe we coul-"

"Sorry, not interested." Jun shot down politely, with a smile and without hesitation. "Have a great day by the way!" He went on, leaving the hostess to the winds.

"Sorry about that, but I'll accept it on his behalf!" Dan offered to receive it but the hostess, numb to the rejection, gave out a scoffing sigh and gave the number in pity. 'That's hella rude...' Dan silently judged her and went away as well.

"Man... you're such a heartbreaker, bro!" Dan proclaimed after he caught up with Jun. "You could've rejected her a bit softer..." He said it in a disheartened tone.

"Bro, it'd be safe to convey at the beginning itself, rather than giving her room to think she has a chance. I'm just nipping the bud, that's all." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"But still... you could've said it a bit more gently!"

"At least, you took the number, right? Save it. We'll never know what sort of connections we might gain. Or make. Worry not, I'll do better." He put his arm around Dan's back, assuring him that he will better his social skills.

"You better learn fast, bro." Dan replied.

The cousins were greeted with a bright, hot bundle of sunbeams, shooting through the stormy clouds in the horizon far away. They stretched their bodies and breathed in the air, wondering about their itinerary few steps ahead while walking out of the docking station. The journey has yet to begin.

[To be continued...]