Archive of Our Own

It started, as most of their chaos did, with something entirely—by logic, not on the account of Wonderlands×Showtime—harmless.

They were gathered on the Wonder Stage, on a break from practice, sprawled across props and platforms while Rui adjusted something suspiciously mechanical behind the curtain. 

Emu was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the stage, kicking her feet in the air as if she had just thought of the most important question in the universe.

“Everyone!” she said suddenly, pumping up her fists. “What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?”

Tsukasa, who had been dramatically toweling off sweat after finishing a line rehearsal, froze mid-pose. “What an unexpectedly profound inquiry!”

“It’s not that deep,” Nene muttered from where she was sitting on one of the painted wooden crates, scrolling through her phone.

Rui poked his head out from behind the curtain, goggles still perched on his forehead. “Ice cream, hm?” His eyes gleamed with interest. “Interesting discussion topic you've brought up there, Emu-kun.”

Emu beamed. “I’ll go first! I like all of them!”

“That is not an answer!” Tsukasa declared.

“It is if you love them all equally!” Emu countered, hands on her hips.

Tsukasa placed a hand over his heart. “As for me, there are far too many exquisite flavors to narrow it down to one! Vanilla, for its classic brilliance. Strawberry, for its vibrant charm. Perhaps a rich chocolate to symbolize my depth as a performer—”

“So you can’t pick either,” Nene cut in.

"No! I—" Tsukasa stammered, before cutting himself off with a cough, setting himself back to his usual flamboyant attitude. “A true star cannot be confined to a single flavor!”

Rui stepped fully back onto the Wonder Stage, brushing not-so-imaginary dust off his sleeves.

“I personally prefer ramune popsicles fufu~” he said.

Emu’s eyes sparkled. “Ooooh!”

Nene didn’t even look up. “Of course you do.”

Rui pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. “What ever do you mean by that?”

“You’re addicted to soda candy,” she replied. “This tracks.”

Rui’s smile widened. “Consistency is a virtue, Nene!”

Emu turned suddenly, eyes locking onto Nene with laser focus. “Nene-chan! What about you?”

There was a pause.

Nene sighed.

“…I don’t like ice cream.”

Then—

“WHAT?!” Tsukasa and Emu screamed.

Nene winced, lowering her phone slowly. “Why are you yelling?”

“You don’t like ice cream?!” Emu repeated, eyes wide with surprise. If it wasn't for that time Nene admitted to not being too big on taiyaki, this would have been her most shocked look from a food take.

“That's— impossible!” Tsukasa exclaimed, staggering backward as though struck.

Rui tilted his head thoughtfully. “Ah. That’s not entirely accurate.”

All three of them turned to him.

“She prefers sorbet,” Rui clarified.

Nene shot him a look. “You don’t get to talk. You like popsicles.”

Rui placed a hand over his heart again. “Nene, you wound me.”

“Oh, fuck you,” 

“Affectionately, I assume,” Rui added cheerfully. Actually—that was better than his previous… questionable responses.

Tsukasa recovered enough to jab a finger in Nene’s direction. “Sorbet is simply ice cream’s distant cousin!”

“It doesn't have milk, it’s not creamy,” Nene said.

“That is irrelevant!”

“It is!”

Emu leaned forward eagerly. “But Nene-chan, there are so many flavors! There has to be one you like!”

“They all taste artificial,” Nene replied. "And way too sweet.”

Tsukasa gasped again, as if personally insulted on behalf of the entire dessert industry. “Artificial? How dare you slander the noble frozen treat!”

"It's mid at best—"

Tsukasa suddenly straightened, eyes blazing with purpose.

“Very well then,” he declared. “Then it shall be my mission!”

Nene narrowed her eyes. “What...?”

“I shall take you out to find an ice cream you enjoy!”

“I just told you I don’t—”

“You have simply not experienced the right one yet!”

“They’re all artificial flavored—”

“Not if you know the right place!” Tsukasa interrupted triumphantly.

Rui’s eyes glinted with interest. “Ah. I see where this is going.”

Emu bounced excitedly. “A flavor adventure!”

“It’s not an adventure,” Nene groaned.

“Oh, it absolutely is,” Tsukasa said, pointing dramatically toward the exit. “Tomorrow! We embark!”

Tsukasa stepped closer, hands planted firmly on his hips. “Nene! As your troupe leader and star, it is my duty to expand your horizons!”

“You’re not—”

“You will accompany me,” he declared.

Nene stared at him. Then at Emu, who was nodding excitedly. Then at Rui, who looked far too entertained by all of this.

There was a long pause.

Nene let out a sigh.

“…Fine.”

Emu let out a shriek of joy and tackled her into a hug.

Tsukasa threw his arms into the air. “Victory!”

Rui smirked. Him and Emu slowly turned to look at each other. The realization dawned simultaneously.

“Oh!” Emu said.

“Oh my,” Rui echoed.

Tsukasa was still basking in his triumph. “We shall depart tomorrow afternoon! I will curate a selection of the finest flavors for your consideration—”

“Wait,” Nene interrupted, eyes narrowing suspiciously at the other two. “Are they not coming?”

Emu clasped her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels. “Welllll…”

Rui’s smile stretched, suspiciously calm. “It seems Tsukasa-kun and Nene will be quite occupied. We wouldn't want to bother your date!”

Nene’s cheeks warmed at the word 'date', but she was slightly more concerned of a different thing.

Tsukasa finally caught up. “Ah. Indeed. That would leave you two unsupervised.”

The two in questioned’s eyes gleamed. Both of them said nothing.

And that silence was worse than any answer.

“Don’t,” Nene warned immediately.

“Don’t what?” Rui asked innocently.

“Whatever you’re planning.”

“Planning?” Emu echoed sweetly.

Tsukasa crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at Rui specifically. “I expect responsible behavior in our absence.”

“Rest assured, my star,” Rui said smoothly, placing a hand over his heart once more. “It’s nothing… stupid.”

The slight upward lilt at the end of his sentence did not convince them whatsoever.

Nene’s gaze sharpened straight into his skull. “Rui.”

“Yes?”

“I heard an engine earlier this morning.”

Rui blinked at her slowly.

“…And?”

“What are you planning?” she asked flatly.

Rui’s cat-like grin widened. He still said nothing.

Emu leaned closer to him, eyes sparkling in a way that could only mean disaster.

Tsukasa’s eye twitched.

“Nene,” he said slowly, “did you really hear an engine?”

“Yes.”

“Large?” 

“…It didn’t sound small.”

Rui clasped his hands behind his back, rocking slightly on his heels.

“Rui,” Tsukasa said in a tone that suggested he was about to scold the other boy and chase him around as bombs exploded—like every other day at school. “Explain.”

“There is nothing to explain,” Rui replied calmly.

Emu was vibrating with barely contained excitement.

“Rui,” Nene repeated.

He tilted his head, mischievous grin still plastered on his face.

That was not reassuring.

Emu mirrored his expression with an equally suspicious grin.

Tsukasa looked between the two of them, dread creeping into his posture. Nene felt a headache forming already.

And somehow, she was certain the real chaos hadn’t even started.

…Whatever, that was a problem for future them.

The next day was warm in a way that felt almost gentle.

Winter had finally loosened its grip, but summer hadn’t taken over yet—in simple terms, it was springtime. The air carried a soft breeze that rustled through the trees lining the sidewalk, sunlight bright but not totally oppressive. 

Tsukasa was already waiting at their ageed meeting spot.

“Nene! You’re here,” he said immediately when he saw Nene approaching.

“Sorry I'm late, I left my phone at home and had to go back.”

"Nonsense! There's no need to apologize for that my dearest diva.”

"Don't call me that in public!"

He huffed (fondly) but fell into step beside her anyway, taking the lead down the street with exaggerated confidence. Nene walked behind him, hands tucked into the pockets of her light jacket.

“So,” Tsukasa began, glancing at her, “explain again what exactly you’ve been eating that made you decide you hate ice cream.”

Nene sighed. “I don’t hate it. I just don’t like it.”

“Same thing.”

“It’s not.”

Tsukasa still walked a step ahead of Nene, hands on his hips like he was leading a grand expedition instead of a trip for frozen desserts. He had ditched the map this time, apparently confident enough in his memory to navigate without visual aids.

“You know,” Nene said as they turned down another street, “most of the ice cream I’ve had just tastes like flavored ice.”

Tsukasa glanced back at her. “That sounds like popsicles.”

“Mhm, the ice cream in konbinis also taste like that.”

“Those are different!”

“Not when they taste the same! she shot back.

He slowed slightly so they were walking side by side. “Then what about the creamy ones?”

Nene made a face. “Weird artificial mess. Like sweet air. There’s no real flavor, just sugar and… something.”

Tsukasa nodded knowingly. “Tourist gelato.”

“…That’s a thing?”

“When they stack them really tall and make them look all fancy,” he explained, gesturing with his hands as if building a tower in the air. “It’s usually just whipped sugar and cream. There’s barely any real flavor. It’s more about appearance and attracting people's attention.”

Nene blinked at him.

“That’s… actually pretty helpful.” she muttered.

“I know things,” he said, lifting his chin slightly.

She huffed. “Since when are you an ice cream expert?”

“Since I’ve suffered through enough bad ones to recognize them! Hahaha!” he said loudly. Nene has gotten too used to it to be embarrassed second-handedly at this point.

Nene stared at him for a moment longer than necessary.

He wasn’t wrong. Most of the places she’d tried before had been the flashy kind, with towers of pastel swirls piled high behind glass. 

She’d always assumed that was just what ice cream was supposed to taste like. Well, besides the ones in konbinis, which again, she thought taste somehow both stale and artificial—so automatically, does not like.

“See?” Tsukasa continued, encouraged by her silence. “You just haven’t had the right kind yet!”

She rolled her eyes, but she smirked slightly. “We’ll see about that.”

They crossed a small intersection, sunlight glinting off passing cars. A group of kids ran by with melting cones in their hands, laughing.

Tsukasa glanced at her again. “You said you like sorbet. Grapefruit is your favorite, correct?”

Nene shook her head.

“There’s this place near my house that does passion fruit sorbet,” she said. “It’s really sour. Like, actually sour. But it’s good.”

Tsukasa blinked. “Passion fruit?”

“Mhm.”

“So you prefer it sour?”

“Mhm.”

He studied her for a second longer than necessary.

“Your tastes lean toward the sour side,” he said thoughtfully.

Nene felt heat creep up her neck.

“…So?” she tried to retort.

“It suits you, Nene!” he replied easily.

Her steps faltered slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she tried to ask, before deciding the yap wasn't worth turning completely red in public. 

She opted to scoff lightly. “That’s just… it's just a preference! Stop looking at me like that.”

Tsukasa tilted his head. “Like what?”

“Like you’ve discovered something profound.” she said, hoping she was just imagining the warmth on her face.

He grinned. “I indeed have!”

Nene looked away quickly, again hoping he doesn’t notice the faint pink creeping across her cheeks.

“Shut up,” she muttered.

He laughed, not mockingly—but didn’t push further.

After a few more minutes of walking, she glanced at him sideways. “You really can’t pick a favorite ice cream flavor?”

He considered the question seriously this time. “Well,” he admitted, “I do have a potential favorite.”

She narrowed her eyes immediately. “Is this going to be like your take on the matcha KitKats?”

He gasped in genuine offense. “Matcha KitKats are good!”

“They taste weird and you know it.”

“They do not!”

“They taste like grass-flavored chocolate with a dry ass wafer inside.”

“That is an outrageous exaggeration Nene, I expected better from you.”

“It’s not.”

“They have subtle bitterness balanced by sweetness!”

“They taste like the power of regret and I should know what that tastes like.”

He stopped walking just to stare at her with a mock angry expression. "Well then, I guess we shall agree to disagree.”

"Alright.” she said slowly. 

Actually, that spared them from standing there on the sidewalk arguing like they’d been married for several years.

Tsukasa scoffed and resumed walking. “For your information, my potential favorite is cookies and cream.”

Nene blinked.

“…That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s so normal—”

“What did you expect?”

“Something dramatic.”

“I am allowed to enjoy simple things!”

She hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t know. It feels suspiciously ordinary for you.”

“It has texture,” he defended. “The chocolate cookie pieces contrast nicely with the cream base.”

“You’ve really thought about this.”

“Obviously.”

She couldn’t help it. She laughed. It slipped out before she could stop it.

Tsukasa glanced at her, startled, then smiled.

“See?” he said. “You’re already in a better mood.”

She avoided his gaze. “I was fine.”

“You were skeptical.”

“I still am.”

He shook his head, amused. 

They walked a little farther, leaving behind the larger storefronts and bright signs. The street narrowed, buildings older and less flashy. There were fewer people here, just the occasional local stepping out of a shop or carrying groceries home.

Tsukasa slowed his pace.

“It’s up ahead!” he said.

Nene peered past him.

The shop wasn’t what she expected.

It wasn’t bright or modern or covered in pastel decorations. The sign above the door was simple, hand-painted lettering slightly faded with time. The windows were clean but modest, a small chalkboard sign outside listing the day’s flavors in neat handwriting.

She tilted her head.

“…It’s family-owned?”

Tsukasa nodded, clearly pleased.

“They’ve been here for years! They make everything in-house. Since I must convince you the joys of good ice cream, this should be the place I take you to!”

Nene stepped closer to the window, peering inside. The interior looked cozy rather than flashy. 

Oh.

Now she understood.

She glanced at Tsukasa again.

He was watching her reaction closely, almost anticipating.

“…Okay,” she admitted slowly. “I see how this might actually be good.”

His face lit up instantly.

“That’s the spirit!”

A small bell chimed when they pushed the door open.

The inside of the shop was cool in a way that felt refreshing rather than cold, the faint hum of freezers blending with the soft instrumental music playing somewhere overhead. The scent that greeted them wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet. It smelled like fruit. Like citrus zest and berries and something lightly roasted beneath it all.

From behind the glass display counter, a girl about their age looked up—and immediately broke into a bright smile.

“Oh, Tenma-kun! Welcome back!”

Tsukasa straightened instinctively, returning the smile with one of his own. “Good morning, Suzuki-san!”

Nene blinked.

She looked between them.

“You know each other?”

Tsukasa nodded, stepping aside so she could fully see the girl behind the counter. “Nene, this is Suzuki Himari. Her family runs this shop!”

He turned around.

“And Suzuki-san,” Tsukasa continued, gesturing dramatically toward Nene, “this is my girlfriend—one of my troupemates, Kusanagi Nene!”

Nene’s brain stalled for half a second at the word girlfriend.

Heat rushed to her face before she could stop it.

Oh my god, why was she this flustered today?

It wasn’t like this was new. Tsukasa took every possible opportunity to proudly announce that she was his girlfriend. He said it like it was a title he’d won. Like he was proud of it. Like he wanted the whole world to know.

Which she was… kind of fond of. And also mortifyingly embarrassed by.

“N-Nice to meet you, Suzuki-san,” she managed.

Suzuki-san’s smile widened. Nene noted that the girl looked at her with some recognition, but didn't press. “Nice to meet you too, Kusanagi-chan!”

The honorific made her feel a little less like she was being put on display.

“So,” Suzuki-san asked Tsukasa lightly, “the usual?”

“Actually,” Tsukasa said, glancing at Nene, “we’ll be looking around a bit!”

“Of course!”

Nene drifted toward the display case almost immediately, eyes scanning the neatly arranged tubs behind the glass.

But first, she wondered how did Tsukasa—

"I used to come here in middle school. When Saki was in the hospital, whenever she was healthy enough, I'd buy her some ice cream from here." he said, as if he already read her thoughts.

Ah. Yeah that made a lot of sense.

Back to the ice cream search—

There were a lot.

More than she expected.

Despite being a family business, the selection was wide—rows of fruit-based flavors in soft, natural hues. Nothing neon. Nothing piled unnaturally high. Each label was handwritten on small placards.

Her gaze lingered on the fruit section, instinctively drawn there first.

Suzuki-san noticed.

“All of our fruit flavors are made with real fruit,” she said. “No artificial syrups.”

Nene looked up. “Really?”

“Mhm! And if you’re interested in tasting some, tasters are free. So feel free to try!”

Nene hesitated. “Ah… t-thank you, Suzuki-san.”

Tsukasa appeared beside her like he’d been waiting for that exact moment.

“What caught your eye?”

“…Strawberry,” she said quietly. “And the blueberry oolong.”

“Good choices.”

“And… maybe lemon too.”

Tsukasa nodded decisively and turned to the counter. “Suzuki-san! Could we get a small taste of strawberry and blueberry oolong on one spoon? And lemon on another?”

“Coming right up!”

Suzuki-san moved with practiced ease, scooping small, careful portions onto tasting spoons.

The first spoon had strawberry and blueberry oolong nestled side by side. The second held the lemon.

Tsukasa handed one spoon to Nene. She hesitated for half a second before tasting the strawberry first.

Her eyes widened.

It didn’t taste like straight sugar. It tasted like actual strawberries. Bright. Fresh. Slightly tart beneath the sweetness.

She tried the blueberry oolong next.

The blueberry was gentle, not overpowering, and the oolong had this subtle, roasted depth that balanced it perfectly.

Tsukasa grinned knowingly.

She moved to the second spoon. The lemon was sour. Actually sour.

It wasn’t the artificial, harsh sour she was used to. It was smooth. Crisp. Refreshing.

“…It’s really good,” she said quietly.

Tsukasa’s grin softened into something more satisfied than smug.

“Told you.”

She glanced at him. “Tourist gelato really is bad actually.”

"I was right!"

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

She blinked.

She pulled it out subtly—and nearly dropped it when a tiny holographic projection flickered to life above the screen.

“Luka-san—!”

She immediately angled the phone away from the counter, shielding it from Suzuki’s view.

A miniature holographic Luka floated above her screen, smiling sleepily.

“Nene-chan,” Luka hummed, “I heard you and Tsukasa-kun were going on an ice cream date.”

Nene felt her face heat up again. “Y-Yeah…”

Tsukasa leaned slightly closer, careful not to draw attention.

“She's trying good ice cream,” he whispered dramatically. Nene quickly shushed him.

Luka giggled. “Fufu, that sounds fun!”

They chatted quietly for a moment, Nene keeping her phone out of Suzuki-san's eyesight.

After a bit—

“I’m going back to sleep soon,” Luka said gently. “But don’t forget to get some for KAITO!”

Nene blinked. “Oh—right.”

Tsukasa straightened slightly. “Already two steps ahead of you!”

Luka smiled approvingly before her projection flickered out.

Nene slipped her phone back into her pocket.

Meanwhile, Tsukasa had moved back to the counter.

“We’ll take a tub of mint chocolate chip,” he said, “and a tub of coffee ice cream.”

Nene turned sharply. “What?”

Suzuki-san nodded, already moving to prepare them.

“What do you need all that for?” Nene whispered.

“For Saki and Toya at home,” he replied matter-of-factly. “Restocking their dessert supply for the month.”

“…You restock dessert like it’s a pantry item?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him. That would have been beyond rare in the Shinonome Household, anything that goes in the fridge, even with labels galore, is fair game. Another display from how much more sane the Tenma household was.

“And the ramune flavor as well, please,” Tsukasa added.

Nene blinked again. “…KAITO-san likes ramune too?” she whispered again.

“Yeah!” Tsukasa said brightly. “It’s one of his favorites.”

After a few more minutes of looking around, Nene’s eyes caught on a new label near the end of the row.

She froze.

“…Tsukasa,” she said slowly.

He looked over. “Hm?”

“Look.”

He followed her gaze.

'Wonderhoy Supreme'

His eyes widened.

Suzuki-san, who had just finished sealing one of the tubs, looked mildly sheepish. 

“I may… be a fan of Wonderlands×Showtime,” she admitted.

Tsukasa lit up instantly. “Wahahaha! I didn’t know you were a fan, Suzuki-san!”

Suzuki-san laughed nervously. “It’s candied strawberry, green apple, orange, and grape. Basically—mixed fruit, it's what gave the colors.”

Nene stared at the tub.

“…We’re getting that too,” she said.

Tsukasa nodded solemnly. “Naturally!”

By the time they finished, the counter was lined with four sealed tubs—mint chocolate chip, coffee, ramune, and Wonderhoy Supreme. That lineup was very funny to say.

Tsukasa glanced at Nene apologetically. “I’m sorry. This turned into more of an ice cream run than a date.”

She shook her head immediately. “It’s fine. Really.”

And it was.

She didn’t mind.

“I’ll get two scoops,” she said quietly. “Blueberry oolong and lemon.”

“Excellent choices Nene!”

“And you?”

“Two scoops of cookies and cream.”

She stared at him.

“…And you said you weren’t sure you had a favorite.”

He coughed, spluttering. “I-I said potential favorite!”

“Sure…"

They moved toward the register.

“I’ll pay,” Tsukasa said immediately.

“I can pay for my own,” Nene replied just as quickly.

“I invited you.”

“I still have money!”

“That’s not the point!”

“It absolutely is—”

They went back and forth in hushed but intense whispers until Suzuki-san let out a soft laugh.

“You two are cute,” she said warmly.

They both froze.

Then flushed bright pink simultaneously.

“We’re not—” Nene started.

“We’re simply—” Tsukasa began at the same time.

They stopped, glancing at each other, faces equally red.

Suzuki-san smiled knowingly.

In the end, after far too much insistence, Tsukasa paid for everything—totaling a few thousand yen (which to be fair, they got 4 tubs of 2L ice cream. It was bound to be a bit pricey in the total).

Suzuki-san packed the sealed tubs carefully into an insulated cooler bag and handed it over.

“Thank you as always, Tenma-kun. And it was lovely meeting you, Kusanagi-chan!”

“Thank you,” Nene said sincerely.

They stepped back outside bell chiming behind them.

The warm air greeted them again.

Tsukasa adjusted his grip on the cooler bag, shifting it carefully onto his forearm so it wouldn’t swing too much as they walked. The insulated lining crinkled softly when he moved it, the weight of four tubs settling comfortably against his side.

Nene held her cup with both hands, staring down at the scoops of blueberry oolong and lemon.

They weren’t melting too quickly yet. The weather was warm, but not brutal. Just enough to soften the edges.

She took a careful spoonful and happily ate it. She didn’t even realize she was smiling until Tsukasa made a soft, victorious noise beside her.

“You’re enjoying it,” he said.

She kept eating.

“You were wrong,” he added, clearly unable to stop himself.

She paused mid-scoop and glanced up at him.

He had that look on his face. That deeply satisfied, smugly pleased look.

“Shut up,” she muttered, cheeks faintly pink.

He laughed. “You admit defeat?”

"…Yeah." she said, still smiling.

Tsukasa beamed like he’d just won something absolutely monumental. Of course he was.

He shifted the cooler bag more securely onto his arm, freeing his hand to finally scoop into his own cup and eat it. 

“…Perfect,” he declared quietly.

Nene rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small curve of her lips.

They walked slowly down the street, not in a rush to be anywhere. The ice cream gave them an excuse to take their time. 

After a moment, Tsukasa scooped up a small spoonful of his cookies and cream and held it toward her.

“Try it.”

She blinked. “I don’t—”

“Just one bite.”

She hesitated.

Then leaned forward slightly and took the offered spoon.

The texture hit first. Creamy. Thicker than the fruit scoops she’d chosen.

She made a faint face almost immediately. She swallowed, then nodded slightly. “It’s decent… don't really like it though.”

“High praise.”

“It’s not bad,” she amended.

He seemed satisfied with that.

She returned the favor a moment later, scooping a bit of blueberry oolong and holding it toward him.

He leaned down slightly, taking the bite without hesitation.

His eyes widened.

“It's good!”

“Mhm.”

She tried not to look too pleased at that.

They fell into an easy rhythm after that. A bite for him. A bite for her. Occasional commentary. Light teasing. The cooler bag rustling whenever Tsukasa adjusted it to keep it balanced.

By the time they reached the end of the block, their cups were nearly empty.

Nene scraped the last bit of lemon from the side of hers. Tsukasa finished the final spoonful of cookies and cream with a small nod of satisfaction.

“That,” he said, “was a successful defeat!”

Oh great now they were refencing songs. Whatever.

She held her now-empty cup, glancing at him sideways. “Fine. You were right.”

“I know.”

“Don’t get used to it.” she said, nudging him lightly with her elbow.

Just as she was about to suggest they head back, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She paused.

Tsukasa blinked. “Hm?”

She pulled it out.

The notification preview alone made her eyebrows rise.

WONDERHOYYY!!!!! 💛🩷💚💜

Rui

Come to sekai :3

11.12

That was it.

No explanation.

“That’s… ominous,” she muttered, already suspicious. She didn’t bother typing a response.

Instead, she opened her music app. Tsukasa immediately recognized what she was doing.

Her thumb hovered over the familiar song.

'The World Hasn’t Even Started Yet.'

And pressed play.

The world around them dissolved into a bright flash of white. Then—

They landed in the Wonderland Sekai.

Color rushed back in an instant.

Bright sky.

Floating structures.

The familiar, vibrant expanse of the Wonderland Sekai stretching endlessly around them.

They barely had time to orient themselves before—

A deafening roar split the air.

A rocket launch?!

The ground vibrated. Smoke burst outward in a dramatic plume.

And from somewhere above—

“WONDERHOY!!!”

Tsukasa’s head snapped up. Nene followed his gaze.

Emu was several meters in the air.

Several meters.

She was spinning slightly, arms outstretched, grinning like she’d just achieved peak happiness—

Before something on her back ignited with a sharp burst of light.

A jetpack?!

It roared to life, stabilizing her mid-air as she shot upward again in a burst of pink and gold.

“Emu?!” they both shouted.

Another explosion sounded—less violent, more controlled.

They both whipped around toward the source.

Rui stood a short distance away, hands clasped behind his back, smiling serenely as smoke curled around him.

Beside him stood several familiar figures—MEIKO with dusting off her hands, while KAITO scolded her. Miku, Rin, and Len bouncing far too excitedly. Luka sleeping on the flower bed being far too calm for what was happening.

Rui’s eyes flicked towards them.

“Fufu,” he called lightly. “Just in time, you two!”

Nene pointed upward. “What is happening?”

“Emu-kun is testing out my new and improved jetpack,” Rui explained cheerfully, “by racing my new and improved rocket!”

Another flare of propulsion lit the sky.

“And MEIKO-san helped with the launch!” Rui added brightly.

“RUI!” 

Above them, Emu laughed, her delighted voice echoing across the open sky as she tilted mid-air and zoomed sideways, barely missing a decorative floating structure.

"I can't believe we left them alone to their own devices." Tsukasa said.

Nene just rubbed her temples.

So much for a calm ice cream date.