Youkai Trail, an Hour Before
"C'mon, we couldn't have gotten all of them..."
A blue-haired figure murmured to herself, ankle deep in a running stream. Her white and blue skirt was hiked to her knees. A large knot keeping it out of the water. Nearby on the shore, a green-haired girl sat gazing at the flowers. Easing their blossoms open with a gentle touch. "We've been coming here for a week, Cirno. The rest of the frogs have probably run away by now."
The face of the first fairy scrunched, as though physically rejecting the idea. Before she looked over the stream, and the patches of ice formed nearby. Her mouth had only just opened to admit defeat, when a flicker of movement caught her eye. Walking along the path was a familiar face. A girl dressed in a white shirt and brown dress. Tiny wings fluttered as she strained to pull a wagon. With sudden excitement, Cirno stood up, waving as she took flight. "OI! Mystia!"
From her seat, Daiyousei smiled, following after Cirno. Mystia Lorelei raised her head wearily at the sound. Though the sight of her friends made her smile. One hand rose to wave back as she set down the wagon with a look of defeat. Daiyousei gave the Night Sparrow's expression a worried look. Cirno, in her typical fashion, failed to notice. "Heya Mystia!"
"What brings you out here?
Daiyousei asked, her eyes going to the cart. Mystia reached into her dress. Pulling out a kerchief she used to bat at her forehead. "Well...I'm not sure if you heard...there's a new restaurant everyone is talking about. I've been trying to compete, but this new owner seems to have everything...I've never even seen her come into the village. If this keeps up, I won't be able to sell anything in the Human Village anymore..."
"What?" The Ice Fairy gasped. Anger seeped into her face. Her small hands clenching as she did. "You can't give up Mystia! Your food is the best! Everyone says! This new girl? She has to have some dark secret! Humans always do. All we have to do is find it, and you have your Izakaya back."
"Its okay, really. I can just go back to blinding humans for grilled eels."
"Don't worry Mystia! We will find out what this human is hiding! Lake Fairy Crew for life!"
Present
Alice lifted the spoonful to her mouth, and took a tender bite. Instantly, her mouth was filled with the pleasant taste of fresh fruits and savory cream. At least, at first. For the barest moment, as her hostess turned to Yuyuko, the taste shifted. The fruit grew bitter, and the texture felt rotted. Then in a moment, it was back to the familiar taste. Looking down at her plate, she would see no sign of any moldy berries. But then neither did she see any sign of cream...
The window near her table suddenly gave a dull thunk as something collided into it. A flash of blue and white falling away. A moment later, a head of blue hair raised from the window's sill. Blue eyes staring intently inside, with all the subtlety of a frozen frog. Even from where she was seated, Alice could hear frantic whispers from the window. Three voices at least...
This might take a while.......)
