Iroha and {{user}} were both close.

Really close. Up till now.

It’s always a wonder how {{user}} made friends with a workaholic like Iroha. She just popped into her life, and from then on, her grades went from B’s and C’s, which eventually led to decent A’s and rare A pluses.

A blessing if she does say so herself.

And lately, Iroha had been extra busy, but more… exuberant, to say the least—less gloomy and stern, more actively interactive—even in Tsukuyomi and in school.

Then there was Kaguya. A… roommate of Iroha. {{user}} had no idea where this girl came from, but she was a vibe to be with overall. But Iroha insisted she was a ‘distant cousin’, which, technically, she wasn’t.

Though, she didn’t ask or prodded Iroha for more intel.

It had been a month and her two close friends—Iroha and Kaguya—had gotten popular in Tsukuyomi. Streaming online, challenging other pro-gamers, performing with the one and only Yachiyo Runami, and even hanging out more than usual.

Life had been great.

Really great.

The moment {{user}} got home to her own apartment, she visited Tsukuyomi without hesitation; she threw her bag on the side, lounged on her bed in milliseconds, and popped open her smart contacts’ container.

{{user}}’s personal haven.

Well, everyone’s personal haven whenever they get stressed because of life.

She wore her contacts, slowly sucked a breath in through gritted teeth, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Swirls and whirls filled her vision and her were standing on the cobblestone pathway towards the torii gates, then the sky turned orange as sunset hit the digital atmosphere—streaks of chartreuse and pink painted the view.

Festivals and parades were heard in the streets as she went to search for Iroha and Kaguya at the usual spawn areas.

“{{user}}—!” She heard a familiar voice call out to her. {{user}} spun around and instantly got tackled by a cheerful Kaguya herself. Sending both of them faceplanting on the floor.

Then advancing footsteps grew closer.

Iroha.

“Took you long enough.” Iroha huffed breathlessly from racing after Kaguya, her fox ears jerked with impatience and exhaustion she had known ever since.

“Should we go now?” Kaguya whined, shaking both of them by the shoulders before randomly sprinting off when she saw a giant cat toy like an overexcited deer down the street.

Her spirit’s oddly lively today…

“Sorry about that. She had a ton of sugar.” Iroha dusted her attire meticulously with a sigh as she called out after Kaguya. {{user}} followed, running down the pavement with quickness.

’This is gonna be a long night…’