2023-03-05: Happy Birthday, Banagher and Leina!

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<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

In many ways, Fujinomiya City is a study of contrasts - the gleaming spires of the central city's office blocks and the modern colleges juxtaposed by quiet, traditional-style apartment complexes. Even apart from those, though, is a non-traditional Britannian-style home withn a walled-off estate not far from the Old Photon Power Lab, bought by Gennosuke Yumi in 0083, its brown bricks contrasting with white slats supporting a magenta-painted wooden roof.

The Prime Minister of Free Japan lives in Tokyo now, though, so what purpose does this house, smoke pluming from its chimney and steam condensing on its kitchen windows showing clear signs of life within, serve?

Koji Kabuto, wearing his black apron decorated with Mazinger Z and an admonition to "GO AHEAD: TRY THE PUNCH" is hard at work in the residence's kitchen - this is a catering affair worth celebrating, no matter what the Labs might be struggling with - A joint celebration of birthdays.

Ping! "Shiro! Oven two's done," he calls out, in the middle of stirring up icing. "Already on it, bro," the younger Kabuto replies, covering his face from the steam as he fishes out the cake sponges. He sets them on the counter so Koji can properly decorate them, proceeding to hover awkwardly.

"... Hey," Koji says, glancing at him. "Go out front, already, dork. They're good people, you'll get along with them great."

"I know bro, it's just. It's gonna be awkward, y'know?"

"You befriended Boss back in the day, of all people. Since when is a little awkwardness or animosity something you back down from?" He claps Shiro on the shoulder. "If it goes bad I'll bail you out, but it's you, so it'll go... okay, at worst."

"Gee, thanks," Shiro retorts, throwing his oven mitts in Koji's face with a grin. "Alright, alright, too many cooks, right?"

"Yes that's my real reason for kicking you out, you've caught me: You're invading my Sanctum." Koji grins right back as he sets the gloves aside. "Get outta here, kiddo."

Pulling down one eyelid and sticking out his tongue, Shiro heads back out to the main living room, setting up the kotatsu and an array of soft drinks, and heading over to the room's television, opening several drawers containing some Prized Treasures. Then, he heads to the front window to keep an eye out.

When the others arrive, Shiro is the one to open the residence's front door, beaming. "Hey guys! Kotatsu's all ready for you in the front room - " it is kind of chilly, now he mentions it - "and Koji's cooking up a hell of a spread."

He offers Mineva and Banagher a proper Japanese bow. "Miss Burne. We didn't have the opportunity to really be introduced last time we met. You must be Banagher Links." He offers them each a hand in turn. "Shiro Kabuto, former pilot of Robot Jr. and Captain of OCU Japan's Third Ichinana Company. Koji's given you the grand tour of the old lab already, right? You might have seen one of Jr.'s bats in the hangar."

"Come in, come in. Either of you have any favourite video games?" 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

"Are you sure we're going to be okay moving out of the PPL's defenses..?" Banagher worries, for the umpteenth time. "If they were bold enough to attack here once, what's stopping them from doing it again?"

But there is very little Audrey and Leina couldn't convince Banagher to do. And so, dressed in a cheerful green HaroCon 0097 shirt, carrying a lovingly-wrapped present in one arm, Banagher is ready to arrive at the Kabuto household. Haro himself peeks out from a backpack around the young pilot's shoulders.

"Party! Party! Banagher!" Haro chirps, altogether more excited than his companion.

Banagher smiles back at the little robot. "Don't fall out, back there."

Even if Haro eclipses Banagher when it comes to excitement, Banagher still is in better spirits than he has been since the attack at the PPL. Dark circles are clear beneath his eyes, and there's a general sense of exhaustion around him. But today, at least, there's a smile on his face.

"I haven't celebrated my birthday since my mom died." Banagher admits to his girls, quietly. "I didn't realize how much I missed it. Or how much Haro missed it. He's been running a countdown for a month."

"Banagher! Banagher!" Haro chimes, two hands suddenly extending from his little body, only to flail around in excitement.

Soon enough, they arrive at the house. Banagher glances at Leina and Audrey nervously. He's never been great at meeting people, and meeting someone who used to date Leina... Will Shiro resent him or Audrey? But this is Leina's special day every bit as much as it's Banagher's. If she wants Shiro present, Bangher will do his utmost to get along.

Shiro's beaming face is met with a nervous smile. "Hello. Oh, thank you, I've never tried a Kotatsu before." It /is/ fairly chilly. Banagher has his usual fluffy hoodie on, along with a second and third rolled up in his backpack, in case Audrey and Leina get cold.

Carefully, he sets down his gift atop the Kotatsu. It's from him /and/ Audrey, so it's very important. Haro takes this chance to bounce out of Banagher's backpack, rolling across the floor to Shiro's feet.

"Hello! Hello!" Haro greets, waving his winglets.

"I am." Banagher says, in response to Shiro's greeting. "It's nice to finally meet you. Koji showed us around, yeah." A brighter smile -- Banagher feels more at home discussing mobile suits. "Your stuff was all really cool. Pretty different from a beam saber!"

The handshake Shiro receives is firm, but friendly. No tests of strength or such ridiculous things here.

"Video games... I haven't played many, but Audrey's a pro." Banagher smiles at her, grabbing a soda for himself. "She can pick for me." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

Between the attacks on the Photon Power Labs old and new, and fearsome new foes in the form of Atrytone and the Banshee, it really should be grim times for them. But not today, today is a day of celebration.

Koji is also squarely the domesticity-oriented of the duo, and as such Sayaka leaves him to putting together the best cake their guests will ever have tried.

When Shiro greets said guests, Sayaka isn't far behind him, after making sure everything is all nicely set up. "Leina, Banagher! Happy birthday, you two." She greets the birthday pair, but doesn't overlook the third guest. "And I'm glad you could make it too, Audrey. Please, make yourselves at home." They are honorary family at this point, so it's only right to. "Oh, and hello to you too, Haro." She grins at the bouncing Haro.

Sayaka notices the hint of awkwardness between the two boys at first, but she has hope that by the time the sun goes down, they'll practically be best friends. Oh, and Shiro brings up video games... "Something tells me Shiro /won't/ be going easy.. especially if Audrey's a pro. Mazin's pride." She smiles. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

"After a stunt like that where they jeopardized their source of free energy? They'll be tied up accounting their actions to OCU Brass for weeks. There's no way any of them would come back here so soon."

Leina herself is dressed in her well worn Wonderful Persimmon shirt, a light pink coat, a purple bow in her hair, some worn jeans, a scarf, and worn tennis shoes.

She's immediately laughing at Haro, echoing 'Party!' at least once, patting his rounded head in the backpack as a way to kinda keep him snugly inside.

It really doesn't surprise her to hear that he hasn't, she can understand missing birthdays due to... certain events in one's life. His mother's death would be one of them.

"Then today's your special day to make up for all the missed ones!" She says perkily, taking his arm, "Come on! Audrey and me are going to make sure you enjoy every last second of today and that's final!"

Leina's been here before many times, countless times. There's a certain nostalgia coming back here after spending a year and change away. "Just like I remember it..."

... not even at the front door yet, Leina tilts her head to the side, she could tell Shiro was here, and tell there was a certain vibe about him. After a moment, she issues the smallest sigh with a thin smile on her lips.

She'd prepared Audrey and Banagher for the moment as best as possible.

"Hey Shiro! I'd say long time no see but like, we've never really fallen out of contact? Ever?" She winks at him, with a grin, as she lets him greet Mineva and Banagher, tipping her own head down in a sorta informal bow herself.

"God, the Kotatsu." She says wistfully as if she's missed that, "I keep telling Sayla we need one for the Villa but noooo, she's never been convinced."

She then leans to look past Shiro, waving, with a close eyed smile, "Hey Sayaka! Thanks!" As Sayaka points out the competitive nature of the competition she then looks between Shiro, and Audrey, grinning, "A hot-blooded competition in the making if I've ever seen one."

She then asks Sayaka on the sly as she walks by quietly, "How are you holding up after the attack? They haven't been working you too hard fielding all the bureaucracy right?"

(As for Leina's cake, its Strawberries and Cream, a relatively simple recipe perhaps, but she just remembers her time on Shangri-la when fresh fruit was near impossible for her to afford every day.) 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Mineva's close behind Banagher and Leina; she's briefly got similar misgivings to Banagher, but Leina puts their worries to rest, and she nods with a smile. There's a little giggle at Haro's enthusiasm. "You'd almost think he was hungry for cake too," she laughs.

Her smile turns a little awkward as they reach the house and find Shiro there, but she bows in return, then accepts the offered handshake. "Audrey Burne. I'm sorry about that, by the way... that had to have been awkward for you," she says apologetically. No titles, nor explanation of /what/ she is. Simply who.

"Oh, games? Well, I've got a few... I've been getting really into Scimitarian Gamma lately. I just bought the home version last week, so I could play on my phone... it's kind of a fantasy shoot-'em-up. I was thinking it'd be fun to have Banagher play with me, actually... one of the gimmicks is you can use a second ship at the same time and control them both at the same time. *Or* with a friend." She grins.

She settles into the kotatsu with a comfortable sigh. "We've gotta practice more in Lychee x Gekiganger, Leina. I'm still kind of bad at that," she laughs. 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

Shiro shakes his head to Mineva. "It's fine - I should apologise for intruding on a moment like that, but I'm glad you're feelin' better. Scimitarian Gamma, huh? Having to split your attention on two ships is a real interesting gimmick, I always wanted to try it. They were gonna make a Getter spinoff, I remember hearin', but they couldn't work out a good way to make the third Machine playable at the same time - not to mention the combiner mechanics - and then, well. Koji, of course, is a fiend for racers."

Koji leans in from the kitchen at this point. "Hyper Motocross '50 is art and I will hear no slander against it under this roof, Shiro Kabuto!" Shiro grins back and whispers to the others. "It's kinda jank, but he and Sayaka like it because of the South Japan cross-country tracks. It's one of the few media properties that showcases the history of that part of the country nowadays."

"So." He starts going through the drawers and cabinets under the TV. "Scintarian - yeah, I have the original, the one with the terrible script that took off online. 'WE ARE YOU DEVILS, REJECT'" he quotes, grinning.

"Leina's a fiend at Lychee x - " (he pronounces it 'cross' of course) - "we used to play all the time."

His gaze lingers on Banagher, thinking. "What kinda things do you like, Banagher?" He nods to the Haro. "Bit of a tinkerer, right? You ever tried Dozoo Degwa?" 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher smiles, easily reassured by Leina. "Alright. I hope the OCU rakes Vist over the coals for it. That'd be a great birthday present."

The moment Leina echoes Haro's words, he plays a little chip-tune version of the happy birthday song. Thankfully, her pat scoots the little robot back to safety.

Banagher laughs brightly. Leina so capably raises his spirits, her excitement and happiness echoing through their bond. "Alright! We're making sure you enjoy every second, too, Leina! It's going to be great."

Noticing Leina's little sigh, Banagher blinks, watching carefully. She's still smiling, but she must be worried about introducing her current and prior partners. It's going to be great, Banagher thinks his resolve redoubling. He can be social and friendly! Especially with Audrey and Leina here. Even if Shiro is some kind of complete weirdo, Banagher is going to /make/ this work.

"Miss Sayaka!" Banagher greets, with a smile. "Thank you so much."

Rolling over to a new source of attention, Haro waves his winglets at Sayaka, now. "Hello! Hello!"

"Thank you for being there for Audrey and Leina back then." Banagher says to Shiro, thankfully. "I owe you one."

Looking between Audrey and Shiro as Sayaka mentions Mazin's pride, Banagher furrows his brow. No way Audrey is going to lose. "I'll do my best, too! No promises though."

Spending your adolescence with your nose in a book in an effort not to get kicked out of school isn't great for developing gamer skills, despite Takuya's best efforts.

If Audrey wants Banagher to play... Scimitarian Gamma? Then he'll do his absolute best. Leaning in, he kisses her on the cheek. "Whatever you want. Haro might be a better player than me, though. You've seen how good he is at Dozoo Degwa now."

Koji shouts about a racing game, and Banagher blinks, glancing between Shiro and the kitchen. Do games really talk about history..? "O--oh, uh. I've tried it, yeah! I've been using it for enrichment and coordination testing for Haro. I got this old handheld console a while ago, and he's amazing at it."

"I really like Haros." Banagher smiles. "And sure, tinkering. I was in engineering school before -- everything. Flying is pretty great, too. I was pretty disconnected from the world as a kid, so I'm still figuring it out. How about you, Shiro?"

Audrey sits down at the Kotatsu comfortably enough, and so slowly, Banagher mirrors her movements. It seems fine, and... "Wow, that's really warm." He seems to like it, smiling gently.

Haro rolls over to Banagher, and almost absent-mindedly, the young man gives his soda can to the little robot. With an excited bee-bloop! noise, Haro extends his spindly arms. Holding the soda in one, Haro lines up the soda can with his other hand. A few moments pass. Haro practically vibrates with focus.

...tshh--click!

The soda can is opened, by Haro's own hands! Banagher /beams/, taking the soda and putting it aside. Haro is picked up and hugged tight.

"You did it! That was amazing!" Banagher praises the little robot.

"Hands! Hands!" Haro says, triumphant. "Banagher!"

Suddenly remembering he's with other people, Banagher flushes a little, glancing away. "Uh -- he's never been able to open a soda before. It was one of our goals." A little pause, before he smiles to the little robot again. "I'm so proud of you, Haro." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"What, is it never cold in Spain?" Sayaka interjects dryly at Leina's remark about the kotatsu. A kotatsu is such a convenient way to warm up, come on Sayla!

"Hot blooded rivalry isn't exactly the worst way to get to know someone," Sayaka adds, at Leina's comment about Shiro and Audrey's fierce competition in the making, grinning herself.

"Could be better, sleep hasn't been the greatest." Sayaka answers Leina's concern. The vague nightmares are one thing, but the amount of work on her plate is the true nightmare indeed. "Ever since Koji over here decided to practically storm into Father's office for a piece of his mind, it's improved a lot for sure, though." She adds. "We now have Free Japan's /extensive/ intelligence networks on the case against Vist." She glances over to the party that's starting. "That's why the only thing we need to worry about today is making this the best birthday celebration either of you ever had."

Sayaka crosses her arms at Shiro's seeming dismissal of Hyper Motorcross 50, and starts laughing at Koji /yells/ across from the kitchen. Even Banagher knows what it is... "Then I gather that Haro of yours would be an absolute daredevil on the track, too?" She looks at the adorable, enthusiastic Haro.. it's hard to imagine such a cute robot has been instilled with the ability to absolutely tear up a track. "Either way, /that/'s the game both Koji and I absolutely refuse to lose at." She grins.

Deciding to share Shiro's absolutely embarassing secret to Mineva, Sayaka asides, "Shiro's not bad himself, but he can't play as Gekiganger to save his life. Which just means you get to see him combo it up as a magical girl." 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Leina gives Banagher a cheery reply, "Okay okay - sure but this is your first celebrated birthday in so long! I've had plenty!"

Plenty may be a stretch!

"Course it does, she'd rather deal with the chill with some mulled wine though." Before she then replies to Sayaka quietly, while taking off her coat, scarf, and shoes, "I feel you on the sleep."

If Sayaka looks close, she might see where Leina's makeup is covering for what are likely bags under her eyes, "Doesn't surprise me that he stormed into his office for that."

Leina smirks, "Though personally I wish he'd have done it for a different reason entirely. It's a relief that your father was responsive though. That was really a dire turn of events.""

When she hears Audrey apologize to Shiro, Leina lets it play out, then that in turn, "Audrey - you'd just taken an intense psychic attack. And Shiro! You were our getaway driver from a bad situation. I get why it was awkward but come on- give yourselves a break!"

She then tells Shiro, "He's pretty good at it too, in my own judgment. I have a lot of trouble following it anytime he gets really into it." It's a tease perhaps, but its also her letting Banagher know she has her back.

It feels good hearing Audrey enthuse about games, it makes her think she made the right decision with her Christmas present, for one thing. And for another it means she's getting out there, actually getting the teenage experience, living as she wants.

Even if so many people conspire to deny her that.

Cupping her hands to call back to Koji, "I got enough 'Hyper Motocross' experience watching my brother tear off from our home every single day, thank you very much!"

Before she then tells focuses back in on Audrey and Natural Lychee Cross Gekiganger, "No problem. You just let me know who you want to focus upon learning next time we get the chance, and there is a correct answer~" Leina teases her, completely unserious about the idea of there being a correct answer, even if she's enamored with the Magical side of the crossover herself. "And we sure did!" She agrees with Shiro, "How many hours did we rack up even just unlocking Wonderful Persimmon?" She then laughs at Sayaka's evaluation, "Harsh! But true? He always was better at Natural Lychee than Gekiganger~"

Leina sits down at the Kotatsu, sticking her now besocked underneath it, "Ah, bliss. Bliss bliss bliss." Leina says happily.

Then she watches Haro curiously, "Banagher are you trying to teach him to-" The pop is topped. And Leina actually puts her hands together repeatedly in applause, "Haro! You did it! That was great!" 

<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.

"That's some great coordination for a Haro!" a voice pipes up from the doorway.

"Don't you mean 'Hello,' 'Happy Birthday,' something like that?" a woman answers him, sounding only slightly annoyed. Fa Yuiry enters right after Kamille, both of them in civilian clothes-him in a light sweater and jeans, her in a smart green dress.

"Well, of course! It's just that it's a real technological achievement to give Haro that much-but yeah, Happy Birthday!" It's been a while since either he or Fa have been to Photon Power Labs, adult schedules being what they are. It's a relief to see Leina and Banagher getting to do natural 'teenage' things.

He thinks he recognizes Mineva, or Audrey, but the last time he saw her she was so young. He doesn't look that different from his teenage self, just...a bit older. 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

"Well, given what you were hearing, I kinda get it... and yeah, it's challenging, but it feels really rewarding when I get it right," Mineva says with a grin. "And I wanna play with *you*, Banagher. Haro, too, but I want to spend time with you more. Maybe we can play some Dozoo Degwa, too... trying to set up combo chains is hard."

"And... yeah. Thank you again for helping us back then, Shiro." Leaning in toward Banagher again, her grin widens. "And just be glad I didn't try to get you into Burning Red. Ever heard of 'bullet hell'?"

And there's a laugh at Koji's loud addition to the discussion, nodding to Shiro. "Yeah... I bet. It's easy to overlook the flaws if you really like something." --wait. Shiro has the original? She gasps. "Oh my God, I've never actually seen a copy! UNDEATH COME... BUT FOR YOU. ONLY DEATH!" she quotes back, taking on a villainous-sounding affect.

She glances back, watching as Haro opens Banagher's soda. She gasps and claps, "Good job, Haro!" she gushes, petting him on the head.

She nudges at Leina. "You really should have her splurge on a kotatsu. The house is pretty full these days, it'd be great for socializing!"

And Kamille makes his appearance. It was so long ago, and only one meeting at that, but... she narrows her eyes a little, tilting her head just so. "... I feel like I know you from somewhere." 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Oh wow," Shiro murmurs as Haro pops the soda can. "Leina's right, that's really impressive." He grins at Mineva as she leans into the Scimitaran memes. "Yeah, I couldn't pass it up once I heard about the, uh, disaster of the script, and it's actually a good game mechanically besides that? They rereleased it in '92 but with, y'know, actual writing, but it's just not the same. You can borrow my copy if you like! And it was no problem." Shiro grins at Leina. "When someone you care about's in trouble, you throw in and help, right?"

"Koji definitely got bit hard by the family engineering bug," he explains when Banagher asks him about his hobbies, "he got started on his bike back in the day and he just... never stopped, just added baking to his repertoire. As for me, well, there's a reason Robot Jr. was all themed around baseball. I never had a chance of going pro, but - " he mimes a swing - "I've hit a few home runs now and again. The satisfaction of the sound it makes and the shockwave going up your arms? It's pretty good."

Kamille and Fa enter and Shiro offers them a grin and a wave. Koji steps out of the kitchen to greet them, too - stoically and professionally.

"Doctor Bidan. Doctor Yuiry." His facade lasts about three seconds before he grins and pulls Kamille into a hug, letting Sayaka ambush Fa before they swap. "Good to see you both! I hope negotiating the trip in wasn't too much of a problem. I think this is the first party you've been to at our place?" He glances to Sayaka slyly. "Definitely shaping up to be better than the housewarming party you arranged." You know, that time she tricked Boss and his gang into cleaning up the place, Boss took a swing at Koji when he and Shiro showed up, and he ended up brawling with the entire gang. Just teenager things. 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher smiles at Sayaka. "If you give him a warm-up to calibrate, he can play just about anything. He's better at turn-based or puzzle games, though. I need to make him a more accessible controller, and he'll do better."

Haro's hands are a little spindly for most normal controllers. For now, the little companion robot seems quite pleased just to sit in Banagher's lap, preening from his recent accomplishment.

"A magical girl..?" Banagher glances to Shiro, trying to imagine it. "Huh. Didn't take you for the type to be into that stuff, Shiro. I bet Leina showed you how it's done, then, right?"

A shy little smile, as Leina praises Banagher's abilities with Haros. "Thanks love! Hey, you did promise to come to a tech panel with me at HaroCon. Maybe all my rambling will come in handy."

With a laugh as Leina shouts back to Koji, Banagher takes a drink of his Haro-Opened soda. It tastes better than ever. "Wonderful Persimmon wasn't automatically unlocked? What a rip-off. She's way cooler than the others."

Banagher may have a fairly biased opinion, thanks to Leina.

Leina sits down, and Banagher presses a kiss to her cheek, just to keep things balanced. Seeing how much she likes the Kotatsu, he's got to find somewhere to buy one. Spain /is/ pretty warm, but there's always cold days in any season.

"Thanks, Shiro! It's been a lot more effort than it looks, he usually just drops the can. We've been practicing outside, though, don't worry. I've never done much with sports, but it's seriously amazing you could've gone pro." Banagher says, earnestly. "That shockwave thing sounds kinda painful, though."

Haro, upon being applauded, rolls over to Leina's lap. "Thank you! Thank you!" He chirps, wiggling his still-extended arms. "Take 109!"

"Was it really--" Banagher starts, before hearing a familiar voice.

In an instant, the young man is on his feet, beaming. "Dr. Bidan! You made it!" Banagher rushes over to him, looking like he's going to launch into a hug -- but thinks the better of it at the last second. Maybe they're not that close, yet?

A beautiful woman stands next to Banagher's mentor, and he glances between them. "You must be Miss Fa." He says, shyly. "Dr. Bidan talks about you a lot. Thank you so much for coming."

"These are my girlfriends, Audrey and Leina." Banagher introduces them, smiling bright. As Audrey speaks up, he looks back at her, curious. "Audrey, you know Dr. Bidan?"

It seems Shiro, Koji, and Sayaka know Kamille and Fa too! Banagher laughs as Koji hugs them both. "Dr. Bidan, you know as many people as Leina does, I swear." 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"That sure does sound like her. And.. hope she'll be better soon. It's a shame she couldn't make it." Sayaka offers about Sayla. She also does notice Leina's own well-hidden eyebags on closer inspection, her own aren't faring the greatest, either.

Sayaka takes a glance at Koji, still in the kitchen at Leina's next remark about Koji storming into Gennosuke Yumi's office. "...Seriously! I think that's more than important enough for an audience for the Prime Minister." She replies, half-jokingly. "I'm glad too, though. As frustratingly middling as his positions can be, I know he wants to do what's right."

Whatever bickering is currently going down in the Yumi-Kabuto home is /immediately/ interrupted by a surprise visit from two esteemed doctors. And more importantly, family friends. And predictably, Sayaka does go for the ambush hug. "Fa! Glad you could make it. That dress is a /look/, by the way." When's the last time they've seen each other in casual clothes, anyways? "It's always good to see you too, Kamille." She adds, once she and Koji switch it up. "Take a seat if you'd like, there's still plenty of room."

Oh, but then Koji teases her about the housewarming party /she/ put on so long ago. "C'mon Koji... it wasn't that bad." It was that bad. "And it's definitely not my fault none of you could keep your fists to yourselves for five seconds." That gets a pouting tsun-look not seen from her in a long while. Just teenager things!

"We go back to AEUG days, by the way." Sayaka adds context for Banagher. "But Koji and I became very different types of doctors than they did, so we didn't cross paths too much in college.. that changes now, of course." 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

"Yeah I've been visiting her in obs she's... better, definitely not 'good' though." Leina tells Sayaka in short order, "Yeah I know, I'm glad he's at least not taking a fence sitting approach for this one. What happened deserves his full attention."

Leina smiles back at Shiro and Audrey as it feels like things clear up a little. Sure things were awkward, but it was really noone's fault. "Yep! Exactly!" Before she grins at Banagher, "Of course I did! You think I let him slide without making him marathon a favorite anime or three with me?"

She laughs at Audrey's nudge instantly, "I'll see if I can't convince her there's space for it~"

Leina had only just settled back down under the Kotatsu in the middle of applause when, "Oh my gosh! Fa! Kamille!" She gives a congratulations pat, "You're welcome Haro! You're welcome!" Before handing him back to Banagher, She's back up, and across the room in a heartbeat, Fa a hug, then Kamille.

"God I didn't expect you to come all this way!" She then cheerily laughs as he points out to Banagher, "Banagher, Fa and I go way back. To Shangri-la and the AEUG even. Point of order though! It's /Doctor/ Yuiry. We're just a little more familiar."

She tries to give Audrey a nodding gesture like 'you can trust them' but in the end its her decision after all to say anything. Even if she'd love to watch Kamille's jaw hit the floor in real time. 

<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.

Kamille laughs and returns Koji's hug, then gives a gentler one to Sayaka as well. "We had to put through a lot of paperwork," he mentions to Koji under his breath. "But we weren't going to miss it."

Fa beams at the compliment. "And you've put together such a nice party this time, whatever happened then," she adds cheerfully, looking to the birthday kids plus one. "You can call me Fa," she adds to Banagher, giving him a manicured hand to shake.

As for Banagher, he gets a hug from Kamille outright. It's the first time they've really been able to see much of each other since the Tsutsujidai incidents. "Of course we made it. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Also, you know you can call me Kamille, right? I'm not at work right now." He rubs the back of his neck. "I mean, Leina knows more, honestly. She's better at the whole social thing."

Speaking of, he gets that hug from Leina and grins. "This isn't exactly our first trip to Photon Power Labs." First in a /while,/ sure.

Kamille and Fa both look expectantly to Audrey. "It's nice to meet you," Kamille starts, unable to nudge the idea that she's familiar. "But I...yeah, I feel like we've run into each other before. Just can't say where..." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

A more accessible controller... hmm. There's an idea for Banagher's gift. She nods to Shiro, "Thank you! I'll take good care of it... and, well, I guess we won't be too far away." She smiles.

"Sometimes, Banagher, you end up finding a character you click with mechanically that isn't your style otherwise. I don't remember what game it was, but... once, back in Sweetwater, I met this *huge* guy whose main was the tiniest girl in the cast."

At the nod from Leina, and Kamille's still-vague recognition... she thinks a moment, before asking, "Does the name 'Mineva Zabi' happen to ring a bell?" 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Oh, yeah, so - " Shiro leans in to explain to Banagher, "Wonderful Persimmon was ridiculously popular - I mean, Leina's probably binged you through the entire show by now, right? But Lychee x Gekiganger was released during the anniversary celebration for Persimmon, so they put her in as a bonus for the die-hard franchise fans. They didn't want to overshadow Lychee though, so she's a pretty tricky unlock. And - yeah I had to learn the hard way that just because it's a cool robot doesn't mean it'll win." He chuckles. "Rambutan, though, she clicked." Not just because he'd get way too into it and yell THUNDER BREAK for her super, but he does idolise Tetsuya just as much as Koji.

Mineva reveals her identity to Kamille and Fa, and Koji goes poker-faced, waiting to watch their reactions. This is gonna be good. Shiro, meanwhile, reaches over to ruffle Leina's hair. "Let it never be said that Leina Ashta is not a woman of ambition, huh?"

Did they already know? Those monsters. 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

"A housewarming party that turned into a fist-fight?" Banagher asks, a little grin on his face. "That sounds like a story."

"As if that's any great burden!" Banagher says to Leina about her anime, laughing. "You have good taste, love."

Shiro goes on to explain the intriciacies of magical girl games and timing, and Banagher nods, taking it in. "We've started Wonderful Persimmon, but we haven't had time to finish yet, with the -- everything. It must've taken a lot to get her unlocked." A smile. Banagher is thankful Shiro was willing to do things Leina is interested in with her -- and still is, it seems.

Leina's mentioned the AEUG before, so Banagher picks up ont he context immediately. "Oh! That's really cool! Everyone really does know everyone. Dr. Yuri, sorry about that."

Balancing Haro in his arms, Banagher's all smiles. For now, the soda has been placed on the table, carefully distant from the wrapped gift addressed to Leina. "Oh -- Fa, then!" Banagher shakes her hand, smilling. "It's really nice to meet you."

A hug from Kamille..! Banagher's eyes go wide, and he hugs back tightly. "Thank you, Kamille. I've -- missed you. I'm really glad you're safe." His eyes are soft. It's clear Kamille must mean the world to Banagher -- someone who has such similar experiences.

"Really, Audrey?" Banagher laughs at the thought. "I can't imagine that. Games are a lot more complicated than I thought."

"Leina, would you like to open your present?" Banagher asks, excitement in his eyes. "Audrey and I worked on it together. If you want to wait, that's okay too."

Audrey chooses to reveal her identity, and Banagher almost gravitates back toward her, standing right at her shoulder, eyes serious. Banagher watches carefully for everyone's reaction, as if ready to leap to her defense -- Haro in his arms and all. 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"...Yeah. I definitely have faith since it's you who's checking in on her." Sayaka nods about Sayla. It's good that she has such a wonderful family, too.

"It's certainly proven how much we've grown up." Sayaka nods, when Fa adds how nice of a party it is this time. And that this next generation doesn't immediately resort to fistfights!

And then there's that wave of silence when Audrey reveals her self to be Mineva Lao Zabi. She watches intently on Mineva, but still retains a more relaxed, yet serious posture... She doesn't expect Kamille and Fa to judge her harshly just because of who she was born to. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

"Hmhm!" Leina looks just a little smug over Banagher telling her she has good taste. "You would say that wouldn't you~" She teases, "Otherwise what would that say about you~?"

Leina looks sideways at Shiro, "You'll just have to console yourself with beating me with an actual robot now!" She teases, "Revenge for how many times Persimmon triumphed!"

Leina laughs at Kamille saying she's better at that kinda thing, "Yeah but don't sell yourself short on your social skills Kamille. Your bedside manner is fine~ I made you my PCP after all!"

When Audrey starts to speak, Leina discreetly raises her phone, with it focused on Kamille's face, a small smirk present. Shiro ruffles her hair, and Leina just grins from ear to ear. "I admit it, he's got me pegged."

After all there are now two couples in this room she's trying to get hitched. Ambitious! As Banagher asks her about her gift, "Well if you think now's a good time, alright! So long as I get to give you yours after~"

Meanwhile, that phone sure is trained on Kamille's face real well isn't it? 

<Pose Tracker> Kamille Bidan has posed.

The talk of popular anime flies right over the head of Kamille, who mostly watched long running sports shonen as a kid. That's not the (only) reason why it doesn't click with him, though. Because he and Fa are both staring at Audrey's reveal.

"So that...you're the princess?" The Princess, as if there's only ever one. But... "Of. Right, we saw you at Axis, with Haman, and you were so little. And Quattro-..."

Kamille shakes his head, cutting himself off. "Don't worry," he adds quickly, "we won't tell anyone."

"If everyone else has kept your secret this long," Fa adds, still reeling herself clearly, "then you can count on us too. Do you want us to call you Audrey or Mineva?" 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Mineva grins at Shiro and nods, "I'm excited to watch with them." And she smiles more at the others' reactions to Kamille's arrival. If there was ever a time to drop her identity for the sake of the reaction... it seems it's now.

She nods to Kamille. Her expression is a touch more solemn, now, as he talks about Axis, Haman, and Quattro. "Yeah. I don't remember it well, but... I thought I remembered you." She smiles, again, at the assurances from both. At Fa's question.

"I'd like you to call me Audrey," she concludes decisively. "Right here, right now, I'm not the princess of Zeon. I'm just... me."

Part of her wonders, lately, what that means.

She turns her attention to the small box on the kotatsu table, though. "I think it's time for you to open your present, Leina." She grins. 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

Koji grins as Kamile and Fa are flabbergasted by the reveal, ducking out to head to the kitchen. "Shiro, help me with the drinks; Sayaka, the lights, please!" Sharing a conspiratorial nod, Shiro pauses only when Mineva calls attention to the present, thinking for a second, then following his brother.

Koji waits for the lights to go out... and then the singing starts, Koji bringing in a tray stacked with two delicious-looking sponge cakes: A red velvet one with white chocolate icing, and a strawberries-and-cream one. Shiro's shortly behind him, with a selection of beverages for the adults.

Koji sets the cakes down on the kotatsu as the song comes to an end, candles twinkling. "To Leina Ashta and Banagher Links, two bright stars of human potential. May your future be just as bright, and may we celebrate many more of these together, no matter what happens." To Banagher and Mineva, he grins: "Just try and get rid of us. Kanpai!"

With the candles blown out, the lights go back up, and: CAT.

The scruffiest flat-faced grey-haired tom Banagher and Mineva have ever seen is staring up at them with owlish green eyes. He looks... just the grumpiest.

"Ah," Koji says with a chuckle, "the old man's come down out of the lab at last. We picked this surly little brat up from a rescue in '93, and I joked he reminded me of grandfather. Play nice, Juzo."

Juzo the cat sniffs them both, then makes a hoarse-sounding 'mrawr' before slinking under the kotatsu between Mineva and Banagher, curling up. Purring emerges, shortly afterwards. 

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

"All the more reason for me to believe in you." Banagher teases Leina back, smiling softly.

Leina raises her phone, though Banagher doesn't relax until the moment has passed. Audrey is Audrey... It's important to him that everyone realize that.

Thankfully, Kamille and Fa understand. Banagher had faith in them, but he breathes a little sigh of relief all the same. "Thank you, Kamille, Fa. Audrey means everything to me. I can't believe you met so long ago..."

Koji calls for help, and Banagher sits down next to Audrey and Leina, back under the Kotatsu. Haro rolls onto the table, quietly waving his winglets. "Haro, stay out of the way, please." Banagher says, quietly, and Haro scoots to one corner of the table.

The lights go out! Banagher blinks widely when people start singing. A soft blush grows on his cheeks, and he smiles -- a little embarrassed, but clearly quite pleased. Banagher isn't used to this much attention, not anymore. After a few beats, he takes a breath, and joins in, singing for Leina.

"W--woah." Banagher breathes, seeing the cakes. His eyes settle on the red velvet, practically sparkling with excitement. "Koji, this is... incredible, thank you so much!"

Koji's birthday wish is just as spectacular, and Banagher ducks his head a little. Have he and Audrey really been accepted this quickly? This warmth reminds him of the Garencieres, at least a little. Banagher shakes his head. He's not going to try and get rid of the Kabutos, that's for sure.

"We -- make a wish, right?" He asks, shyly, looking at the candles. Banagher reaches out for Leina's hand, closes his eyes,

I wish to be just as happy next year as I am now.

and blows out the candles. He laughs a little once it's done -- feeling like a child again.

CAT.

"O--oh, uh--." Banagher holds very still. This is very clearly a different sort of creature from those at the Villa. "Hello, uh, Juzo..!"

A hand is offered for sniffs. Banagher earns a 'mrawr', and then the 'old man' is gone. "...is he going to be okay under there?"

"I think it's the perfect time to open presents." Banagher murmurs. "Especially yours, Leina. I don't need anything but this."

Should Leina indeed wish to open her gift, she will find... A box with pink wrapping paper and two green bows stuck to a corner. It's not very large, maybe as long as her forearm, and very shallow.

Within: a Haro Hat! Marked with "0097" on the back, it's a pink knit cap in the shape of a Haro with two long, dangling flaps over the ears. Pressing a button in one or the other will make the Haro's winglets flap. Cute!

...

Banagher waits to see Leina's reaction, smiling mischievously. Leina would surely accept this gift and love it, but...

There's no way Banagher and Audrey would let a Haro Hat be /all/.

"Look inside." Banagher says, taking Audrey's hand in his own.

Within: another tiny box, also wrapped in pink. This one could fit in Leina's palm. And finally, within that... An little electronic device. It appears to be some kind of projector, with a hair clip securely attached to the back.

"It's a barrette." Banagher explains, pride in his voice. "It can project a little hologram of any shape in any color. Audrey found the projector at HaroCon, and I altered it to work as a hair clip with its own power source. You'll need to charge it every so often, but it should last for a while."

A little charger cord is coiled nicely inside the box, in fact. A few shapes are already programmed in -- a Haro, a little cat face, a Magical Persimmon wand, a familiar ribbon...

"Happy birthday, Leina." A sweet, excited smile. "I love you. /We/ love you."

Time for cake. An entire slice of red velvet will vanish in no time at all..! 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

At Koji's call, with a metaphorical snap of the fingers, Sayaka puts out the lights, as two (!!) cakes are revealed along with some drinks. Koji really outdid himself this time. "Rest assured, you're getting the full treatment every year." Sayaka adds, as the candles shine with the intensity worthy of a Photon Power League cake, and Koji makes his speech. "Kanpai!" She adds to the toast with her own drink.

"I guess we were loud enough to wake even old Juzo," Sayaka laughs, as the grumpy grey cat makes his appearance, greeting their guests with a mrawr.

And then it's gift time! Not just a Haro hat, but also a special barrette that projects holograms. "Very creative.. putting together a gift by hand really is special." Sayaka comments, waiting to see Leina's reaction as well. And then of course, she turns her attention to the cake, one of each kind smooshed together. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Given the gravity of their reaction, Leina hits pause and just deletes the video. She's not going to embarrass the two of them for something so genuine and candid.

She'll just add them to the lists in her intelligence reports on 'Who knows'.

As she does lift the small package, lights, please! Leina's lips tugs smile as the singing starts, and she puts the package down for a moment. She's not someone who gets embarrassed having Happy Birthday sang to her.

Honestly? After how many birthdays have been ruined for her.

She loves this, more than she can express even though she waits until he's finished to say, "Koji you ham. That speech." Her lips tugs in mirth, "Sometimes I wonder if you'd have been right at home in my school's drama club."

Before she turns to Banagher and Mineva, "You two thought my cakes were good? Wait until you try Koji's!"

She does step up, holds his hand, and tells him with eyes closed, "Yeah. Let's do it together. On three. One. Two. ThrFFSHHHH!" And the candles get blown out together.

What's her birthday wish? Sore wa Himitsu Desu~

She actually walks over, and stands on her toes, giving Koji a kiss on the cheek as she whispers, "Thanks for helping make it such a special day for him."

Then, CAT!

"Oh my gosh! Juzo makes an appearance!" Leina says, as she kneels down and offers her hand to sniff since, well, they're acquaintanced but not so acquainted that she's gonna assume. Eventually she gives a skritch.

"Good to see you again~"

"It's that time? Alright, since you two insisttttt I'll go first." Leina looks a touch sheepish on that point but, picks it up. "Hm hm hm~ I wonder what this could be-"

Leina laughs, as she instantly puts the pink kit cap on her head, "So wait what's that button do-" Click, she giggles, "Oh my gosh it's adorable! Thank you so m-"

Look inside?

"Hmm?" Leina looks inside, and she lifts out the tiny box. She opens that one out and... the device, she turns it over, as Banagher explains, "I love it! I'm putting it on right now!" Leina reaches under the cap, takes off the bow, and puts on its replacement as she hits the button and-

Beams out a little holographic, Magical Girl Wonderful Persimmon wand. She instantly does the pose! Then laughs, and gives Mineva a kiss on the cheek, then Banagher one right after.

"I love both of you so much." A beat, a soft whisper, "Thank you."

Then Leina veers over to a package of a small wrapped rectangular stack, which she hands over to Banagher. Inside he'll find!

'Super Haro Party!'
'Super Haro RPG!'
'Super Smash Haros!'
'Psyco Crisis!'
And yes,
'Natural Lychee Cross Gekiganger.'

(Respectively, party games, a JRPG, a fighting game with a unique format, and a shooting Game themed on bringing down Psyco Haro.)

"This feels inadequate next to this handmade love you two got for me but... I decided since you you and Audrey have to move from place to place so much, you should have more games you can play together anywhere you go~"

It's only then, after the gift exchange is over that she sits down for the cake. "God I haven't even dug in and I know Koji's outdone himself because he always does." 

<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.

Minnie can't help but drool at the sight of the cakes. Both of them look... incredible, and she almost doesn't want to wait for Banagher and Leina to dig in before going for one herself.

But she practices ladylike restraint.

She raises her can of soda and echoes Koji's "Kanpai!" with a smile, and... gasps a little, smiling wider at the sight of that scruffy old cat. "Oh my gosh," she whispers, offering her hand on his level to sniff, and laughing softly as he deposits himself between them under the kotatsu. "I think we made a friend," she says quietly, smiling, and doesn't ask either of them their wishes.

She just watches with a bright smile as Leina opens her gift. "We love you a lot," she echoes to Leina, giving her a kiss back. "Banagher, I wasn't quite able to figure something out in time, but... I'll have it for you soon, I promise!" She looks at him sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck, as he opens his present. There's another little gasp. "Ooh...! Games to play together, awesome~" She beams.

It's not her birthday... but even so, Mineva wishes this moment, this happiness, could last forever.

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