((Part 2))
“Dude! Sweet, I found mochi~!”
Jenny froze. She knew this voice. She slowly turned to find her other closest American friend Alfred, holding up a bag that Francis somehow fell into. And knowing Alfred, if it looked fine, he would eat it. Francis was squirming, trying to escape but horribly failing. Alfred, of course, was too excited that he found food and didn’t pay attention to the moving mochi.
“Alright, score~! I’ve totally been starving and this is a huge mochi! This’ll definitely fill me up!” The tall blonde continued gushing to himself as he started to walk away. Jenny panicked and tried following after him, but ended up calling out his name when she was about to lose him.
“ALFRED F. JONES.”
The boy stopped, looking around. “Jenny!” A wide grin formed on his face as he turned around and searched for the voice. “Dudette, where are you!”
“Down here…” She said quietly, shrinking away and getting ready to hop if he didn’t understand.
Alfred blinked, looking down and setting his sights on the mochi. He frowned, thoroughly confused, but kneeled down in front of it. “Jenny…?”
The mochi tilted herself up, locking her green eyes onto Alfred’s blue ones. She could see herself reflected in his glasses, and could see that even though she tried, she still looked scared. She was relieved when her friend realized her current form.
“Jenny, dude!” Alfred cried, losing his smile. “What happened to you?”
“Ask the dummy in the bag.” Jenny replied bitterly. It was obvious that she hadn’t forgiven Francis yet.
Alfred blinked and looked at the mochi in the bag, now seeing that it was still squirming. He turned the bag upside down and let the mochi fall out with a loud cry.
“Ouch! Is that how you treat royalty?” Francis huffed, shaking himself off and glaring at Alfred.
Alfred blinked and stared at the two mochis before looking at Jenny. “That prince dude that’s visiting is a mochi?”
“Quoi- non! I am human! And that- that- idiot Arthur turned my beautiful self into an uncreative and plain form!” Francis cried.
Jenny stared at Francis for his statement before looking at Alfred again. “Can you help us, Al? As you can see, he has a knack for lowering self-esteem.”
Francis was horror-struck again. He didn’t mean to keep angering Jenny, he was just angry that he was also stuck in the same form. He shut his mouth closed and stayed quiet, regretting his outburst.
“Sure, dude!” Alfred beamed, picking up the mochis, one in each hand. “We’ll go talk to Kiku! He’s into that weird transformation stuff, he can totally help!” He set the mochis on his shoulders, Francis on the left, Jenny on the right. Once he was sure that they weren’t going to fall, he started walking to the dorms.
“Oh.” Francis started, as they got closer to the school. “Isn’t this that really famous art school?”
“Yeah! Their music program here is super sweet and I got accepted here! I’m trying to get myself into a really awesome band!” Alfred beamed, proud of himself. He had to admit, he improved greatly with his guitar since he started attending the school.
Francis was startled when he heard an unfamiliar laugh. He was shocked even more when he found out it was Jenny.
“Alfred, you’ve been saying that since I met you on the plane ride here. That’s a silly dream!” She laughed, but it didn’t at all sound mean coming from her.
“But I totally gotta become famous one day! And what better way to get famous through a band!”
She quieted to a giggle, Francis couldn’t see it, but he could tell that she was also smiling. “Silly. My dream still beats yours.”
“What’s your dream, cherie? What’s your story?” Francis’s voice broke the two’s laughter.
The two went quiet. Francis frowned, feeling as if he said something he shouldn’t have. He was a bit surprised when he actually got a response.
“I want to be an artist. One that everyone will know my name and appreciate my art. I’ve had this dream since I was little. I’m not pursuing this dream for the fame. I-… I just want to share my art and make people happy.”
Alfred and Jenny continued the conversation, starting to laugh again. Francis went completely silent. The wheels in his head were starting to turn when he realized what was going on. He realized that she also went to the school, and she worked hard to pay for both school and her living space. Hearing her dream seemed to have touched him, because he started to admire her. Just a little.
Another voice cut through the Americans’ conversation and the Frenchman’s thoughts. “Amigo!”
A tan brunette ran towards the three, waving. “Hola, Alfred! I didn’t see you at the party!”
Alfred waved his hand in dismissal. “Psh. Those types of parties are totally lame for a hero like me!”
“People are those parties are so rude…” Jenny muttered. Antonio blinked and stared at her, quite surprised at her form.
“Jenny?” He obviously wasn’t bothered because he went straight to smiling once more. “Oh! I saw you at the party!” He pouted. “Are you okay? I saw that chica push you after she spilled her drink on you.”
“What!?” Alfred cried. “Jenny!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine…” Jenny sighed. “Chero helped but… well now this situation is kinda worse than that was, isn’t it?”
The prince blinked. This must have been when he saw her walk in with her friend. He wondered why her friend was giving her new clothing to borrow. Now he felt bad again, but he continued to stay quiet and let the trio talk so he wouldn’t get into trouble.
“Anyways, Antonio, dude! Can you watch these two? I gotta find Kiku!” Before Antonio could reply, Alfred placed the mochis into his hands and ran away, disappearing into the dorms.
