"Hello there! Sorry for the intrusion. I do hope I am not imposing on you all," the Stel said with a nod and a warm smile.

  I raised an eyebrow at her and she returhe gesture, winking pyfully.

  "Oh no," Albert said, waving his hands in the air in front of him. "Not at all. Not at all. We're just gd to have the pany, right, Sienna?"

  I nodded, giving her a warm look. "Yeah, absolutely. The more, the merrier. Good to... er. Good to see you so soon, Stel," I added, catg her eye and smiling.

  I had no idea why Stel, who was so goofy around me and Albert the other day, utting on airs now. Was she embarrassed? I guess it ossible... she hadn't met Ichigo like this before, and she had an image to keep up.

  Although unknown to both her and Albert — Ichigo and Stel already knew each other in passing. We'd spent a good k of the st two weeks hanging out as magical girls, and I had only learned about their identities over the st day or so.

  "I had a lovely time the ht," Stel tinued, fshing Albert a smile. "I am so gd I was able to get to meet the both of you."

  She turo Ichigo with a nod, extending her hand to the irl with a warm smile.

  "I do not think I have had the pleasure, however. You must be a mutual acquaintance of Albert and Sienna, correct? I'm Matsudaira. Stel Matsudaira."

  "o meet you," she squeaked, taking the hand. "I'm... I'm..."

  She looked up at Stel and swallowed nervously.

  "Uh, I'm... uh..." She trailed off, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. "Aw, crap. Of course I know who you are."

  Ichigo took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

  "I'm Ichigo," she said, finally finding her words. "Ichigo Tennokari. I'm a first-year student like Sienna and Albert here. And you're Stel Matsudaira, of the Matsudaira Corporatiht? Your dad's pany produces a ton of the high-end equipment superhero teams use. I-I-I mean, that's amazing! That's awesome!"

  Stel ughed and nodded. "Ihat would be me, and I am quite proud of my family's work. My... parents have done much for the unity and for our local hero popution. I hope to one day live up to the legay parents, perhaps even surpass it. I have much work to do before then, though. But yes, that is indeed my family, ahat is indeed my name," she firmed, ughing.

  A fsh of pain shot through her eyes for a split sed, but she masked it with a cheerful expression.

  "But enough about unearned aplishments!" she said, waving her hands. "It is an honor to meet you. Tell me about yourself, Miss Ichigo. Where are you from, what brought you to the academy?"

  Stel was a good actor.

  "Oh, I'm from the greater area." She shrugged. "My family runs an MMA dojo called Tennokari Fight Camp. They wao get me enrolled at the academy as early as possible to get a good education, but... er... my parents are a bit old-fashioned. Unlike my brother I never unlocked a World Skill so I 't do the cool fshy powers thing and had to settle for the general program."

  "Oooh." Stel nodded. "Yes, of course."

  She turned her attention back to the food oe, cutting into a piece of tofu with her chopsticks aing it.

  "Ichigo, huh? That is quite a lovely name, you know," she asked, smiling. "I must admit I find it quite charming. And I couldn't help but overhear. It seems you are quite the fighter, is that correct? I hear that there is a rge unity of batants here. I would love to learn more."

  "Well, er... my mom was an amateur boxer in Japan before she came here to the states for a college degree and found out she loved the culture. And then my dad met her in a tour and ohio another, and... well... the rest is history," Ichigo said. "And well... they run a general martial arts gym. They were really excited when my older brother was born, and they've alushed me and him into the fighting arts. He was better at it thahough. He's s and cool."

  Ichigo blushed. "I wish I had the talent he does."

  "Oh, I am sure you do!" Stel smiled, pg a gentle hand on her arm. "I know we have just met, but you strike me as a passioalehlete. And I am sure you are every bit as capable as him."

  "Thanks." Ichigo blushed, smiling back. "I, uh, don't know if that's true but I'll take the pliment. You, uh... I'm sure you've done all sorts of stuff. Given who your mom is and who your dad is... that must've been a wild upbringing."

  "Quite," Stel nodded. "Quite indeed. But we need not discuss that. I have a reputation, I am aware, and I would much rather learn about you. I must admit, your background is fasating. Your mother and father both have quite the pedigree when it es to bat and martial prowess. It seems the apple does not fall far from the tree, as the saying goes. Your mom was quite the prospect."

  "E-eh?! You've heard of my mom?!" Ichigo's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened.

  "I was quite young, of course." She nodded. "But yes, my parents and I were present duriitle eliminatainst Holly Stone in Saffron Grove Stadium when I was seven, if I recall correctly. A splendid bout of petition. It was the closest anyone ever got to beating Holly. Holly was a dear friend of the Matsudaira family, you know. Long before she uhe belts."

  "I had no idea," Ichigo stammered.

  "Your mom is an amazing fighter, and a wonderful woman." She nodded. "I must admit I was rather saddeo learn that she retired shortly after her bout with Holly."

  "It was her third attempt w up to a title shot, and it broke her heart." Ichigo sighed. "Plus, she was crossing over thirty three and the pressure to support my brother was getting to be too much. She had to make a hard call. I still remember how devastated she was when the decision was made, but... well. I don't bme her. It's hard to chase your dream and take care of a family at the same time. She gave up two years of her prime to have us and her career suffered because of it. I've just always felt like I owe it to her, to try to chase heights she couldn't reach. My brother is a lot better at that, though. He's a prodigy."

  "Indeed," Stel nodded, her tone solemn. "But one does not owe it to anyone, no matter how great the sacrifices their caretakers have made for them, to follow in their footsteps. It is a noble se, of course, but the heart of an artist, the soul of a fighter... they are not bound by blood or family, and it would be unfair for you or ao expect such a thing of you. I would argue that the debt owed is that you follow the beat of your ow, and live a fulfilling life in your ht. Your dreams, not those of another, must be the driving force behind your life."

  Ichigo stared at her for a moment, then nodded, looking down.

  "I suppose so," she admitted, before looking up with a cat-like grin. "But I'll kie friggin' butt and make sure my mom and dad are proud to call me their daughter, either way! They might have pushed me, and my brht have left me behind in the dust, but I'll do everything I to chase him and surpass him!"

  Stel giggled as Ichigo pounded a fist into her palm.

  "Oh my." She ughed, c her mouth. "What a feisty little kitten."

  Ichigo's eyes widened, her cheeks burning.

  "Eh?! I-I'm not a little... feisty little anything!" she squeaked. "Wait. What'd you call me?"

  "Nothing," Stel replied ily, a pyful glimmer in her eye. "You merely remind me of someone I am acquainted with. With a name like Ichigo, though. It's uny."

  Ichigo pouted, tilting her head in fusion as Albert looked betweewo.

  Stel smiled, tilting her head to the side. "I meant no offe is just a joke."

  "R-right." Ichigo frowned. She looked over at Albert, then back at Stel.

  Albert had stopped eating, lookiweewo of them. He had his eyebrows furrowed, and his lips pursed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  He'd caught on and probably had a strong clue as to what was going on.

  Of course he would have. He couldn't firm it, but he was the type to sider all possibilities in an instant no matter how improbable. Virtually without limit.

  Al snorted, rolling his eyes and taking a sip from a gss of water. I chuckled and shook my head, shooting him an annoyed gre. It wasn't the first time he'd caught onto something that should've remained hidden. Nor would it be the st.

  He just smirked back at me, a smug look in his eyes as he took another bite of his chi breast. He could be so cheeky at times.

  "Alright. So, what's everyone's pns for after school today?" Al asked.

  "Oh." Ichigo perked up. "Looking for pany?"

  "Maybe. I o er, do some shopping."

  "Okay, sure." Iiled, turning back to her food. "My css ends at four thirty. If I skip out on training for today and just head back to the dorms, I should be free by then."

  I checked the schedule on my phone, scrolling down and looking over the csses.

  "Yeah." I nodded. "Same. My st css ends at five, though."

  Albert nodded.

  "I've only got one more css, myself, but it doesill five. So, uh, just wait up for me and we all meet outside the library. Then we go to the train station and ride out downtown."

  "Alright!" Ichigo said with a nod. "Sounds like a pn to me. You, er, need any help with whatever yetting, Albert? Or..."

  Albert ughed awkwardly. "Well..."

  "He dropped his phone ioilet," I teased.

  "Sienna!"

  Stel finally breaks the facade of a formal dy after learning about Al's predit. She fights the urge but bursts out ughing

  "Hey." I giggled, shrugging my shoulders. "She's going to find out when you e home with a brand new phone anyway."

  "Yeah, I suppose," Al said, sighing. "How about you, Stel?"

  ...

  "Stel?" Albert asked again.

  The girl had her head tilted back, staring up at the ceiling with a bnk expression. She was biting her lower lip, her hands resting on her p.

  "I..." She started, her voice trailing off.

  ...

  ...

  ...

  ...

  ...

  She suddenly burst into ughter, spping the table in front of her and shaking her head, tears f in the ers of her eyes as she wheezed.

  "O-oh my God!" She giggled, her face t with mirth as she clutched her stomach.

  "Ah!" She squeaked as she lost band toppled backwards in her chair, nearly crashing into the floor as she caught herself on her palms, ughing hysterically as she practically cartwheeled nimbly ba her feet at an angle.

  The three of us stared at her in stunned silence.

  She finally calmed down, wiping the tears from her eyes, before looking back up at us and chug nervously.

  "I-I'm so sorry." She ughed, her cheeks burning. "I'm not ughing at you. I'm not. I'm not! I'm really not. I-I... just..."

  She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face as she sighed.

  "Oh my gosh," she muttered to herself, burying her head in her arms. "I'm su idiot. I'm an absolute moron."

  "Stel?"

  "S-sorry. Just how ft Sienna's delivery was... and that it's a pletely normal, pletely retable act. And then the imagery just popped in my head of Albert standing there, staring at his phone floating in a toilet bowl... oh my gosh. I'm so sorry! That was really iive, I shouldn't ugh. It's just too much. I'd l like to e too, though. You guys are... ahahahaa!"

  "O-kay," Iuttered, raising an eyebrow. "What the hell is happening?!"

  She was staring at Stel like she'd seen a ghost.

  She turned her head, giving me an incredulous stare. I just shrugged, ughing and shaking my head.

  "You'll get used to it pretty quick when it es to Stel, Ichigo," I teased, giving the girl an amused smile. "Just roll with the punches."

  "I... er..." Ibled.

  ...

  ...

  "Okay, then."