Roast of the Hidden Mountains (Hikaru/Invite)

Hikaru’s booted feet padded through along the makeshift streets between the various food vendors of the world tournament. She easily weaved through the crowds as she looked at the various vendors all around. The scent of so many different foods in the air was almost overwhelming. Namekians didn’t typically cook as they didn’t need to eat. Some did for pleasure, but they didn’t biologically need to. Not many cooked in the village Hikaru lived in. She mostly fed herself. There was food a plenty to find in the larger towns and cities that carried a more varied population.

But Hikaru had never been in such a wild bizzare of culinary delights before. She had spent her life eating PTO rations. Sometimes they had celebratory feasts after a successful mission, but it was still an entirely different environment. There were so many different foods, so many different choices, Hikaru almost found herself overwhelmed.

Then she caught a familiar smell. And her choice was made instantly.

Hikaru turned her head, trying to hone in on the scent. But there was just too much of everything covering it. So she just started wandering in the vague direction she thought it might have come from. As she traveled the scent grew stronger and she was more confident in what it was.

Coffee!

Hikaru hadn’t had many vices in life. But if she did have one, it would be coffee. It was something she had been given a long time ago for a late night mission. She’d loved it, and had put in requisition requests for it whenever she could. At the time she had no idea it had been a human creation, so when she found out where it came from, she found herself mildly amused. Maybe there was something inherit in her human genes that craved it. Who knows?

It took her a little longer to hone in more specifically where the coffee was being brewed. She had been looking amongst all the vendors in the middle of the crowd. It didn’t occur to her at first that the object of her search might have been hidden away in an alleyway. Afterall, such a location wouldn’t be a good place to draw customers, right? But sure enough, she spotted a sign declaring free coffee.

Free coffee? Well, that explains why they didn’t care about their location attracting customers. The part of Hikaru who had lived with the brutal nature of the PTO, wondered what the catch was behind this stall. No one would give away things for free. Especially not when this was such a great opportunity for profit. But the part of her that had been living with the people of Namek for the past few months was less cautious. She had grown accustomed to their kindness. They were a people that shared freely amongst themselves and strangers. Surely there were others who did the same. And why wouldn’t they be found on earth??

Hikaru nodded and then entered into the alley looking for who was brewing her favorite treat.

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Word count: 518

Power Level: 34,145
Weighted Power Level: 8,536

Brushed her blue hair from her eyes as she walked towards the old man. This was definitely where the scent was coming from. When the old man noticed her, she raised her hand in hello, but was then caught off guard by his own greeting.

“Uh…” Hikaru’s brow creased ever so slightly, “Thank you?”

She didn’t quite follow his flowery speech. Quality? Precious moments? What??? He was a bit odd, but Hikaru wasn’t put off. She just settled down, taking a seat at the stall. She assumed he was referring to the free coffee in exchange for her story?

What did he mean by her story anyway?

Hikaru closed her eyes, the better to focus her senses on the delicious smells. She hadn’t experienced many baked goods, so this was truly a delightfully new experience. It was amazing the magic people could pull off with food.

Hikaru opened her eyes when he spoke again. It was only polite to look at the person when spoken to. But once again he spoke in his confusing and flowery way. Charmer??? Hikaru had never been called that before.

“Uh… thank you?” She repeated a second time, utterly at a loss as to what else to say.

Hikaru cocked her head as the old man told his tale about the roast behind this cup of coffee. Hikaru wrapped her rough and scarred hands around the mug, and absorbed its warmth through her palms. She sighed softly, her shoulders relaxing almost imperceptibly. She looked about the table for cream and sugar, but didn’t immediately see any within reach.

“Sir,” Hikaru asked in her quiet husky voice, “Do you have cream and sugar?”

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Word Count: 284
Total Word Count: 802

Power Level: 34,145
Weighted Power Level: 8,536

Hikaru took the containers of cream and sugar, pausing for a moment to enjoy how cute they were… before dumping generous amounts of both into her cup of coffee. She stirred quietly and thought upon his request for a story.

“I’m not sure…” she tapped the spoon on the rim of the cup, removing the clinging droplets there, before lifting the cup to her lips and blowing softly, “Stories or legends…”

Hikaru really didn’t have much ‘culture’. She didn’t know many stories like those. There were a few that she’d heard since her time on namek but… his next suggestion was easier for her. Someone she admired, that would have to be-

“Mollau,” Hikaru nodded to herself, “He is a healer. He’s teaching me, and he saved my life.”

Hikaru sipped her coffee and looked at Ayumu from over the rim of her coffee. She raised her eyebrows just a fraction, as if to ask ‘would that work?’

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Word Count: 163
Total Word Count: 965

Power Level: 34,145
Weighted Power Level: 8,536

Hikaru lowered the coffee from her lips, and savored its sweetness. She let herself bask in the familiar taste of the brew. Something about it just always soothed her(in spite of the caffeine). Hikaru was able to put down the world when it was just her and a cup of coffee…

Moment fully absorbed, Hikaru opened her eyes and returned to her conversation with Ayumu, “I crashed upon his planet. Someone else rescued me and brought me to him when I was grievously injured. He saved my life, nursed me back to health. I wanted to do what I could to repay him, so I assisted in his work.”

Everything was said in a factual manner. It wasn’t a very flavorful story. Hikaru wasn’t much of a talker. All this was actually quite a lot for her. She’d been talking more thanks to the personable company she kept on Namek. But she still wasn’t much for speaking more than necessary.

Hikaru reached forward with her battle scarred fingers and carefully plucked one of the cranberries that Ayumu had laid out and asked her to partake. While the coffee had been Hikaru’s priority, she wouldn’t turn down additional sweets. He seemed as though he wanted her to try some. So she felt it would be rude of she didn’t.

Hikaru didn’t answer Ayumu immediately. She chewed on her little snack and took another few sips of coffee to buy herself a little reprieve from talking so much, “I am participating. My friends encouraged me to go… so I did.”

She hadn’t had a reason to turn down the trip. Peardian, and her students had been excited at the news when Sora told them. And since he was going to participate, he had convinced Hikaru as well. Surrounded by everyone's enthusiasm and encouragement, Hikaru just went with the flow.

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Word Count: 319
Total Word Count: 1,284

Power Level: 34,145
Weighted Power Level: 8,536