Chapter 6: Millia Grendar

(Setting: Crystal Fields: Baku's Home- Kitchen Area)

(Scene: Baku wakes up early the next morning and heads out for school)

*Baku snaps awake from a blurry and fuzzy dream he can’t recall after his right eye twitches. Absent of any motivation, he slothly drags himself out the covers that were only a little torn and tatered for his makeshift bed. Baku looks at himself in a mirror and sees his eye recovered fully.

*Looking at himself and displeased with the reflection of weakness presented to him, Baku proceeds to part his hair in two and tie the rest in the back. After a lot of deep thought, Baku musters up the willpower to leave his bedroom.

[Baku]: *Shouts* I'm going to school, Mom!

[Nicolatrice]: *Surprised* Oh! Have a good day, Ba-...

*Baku closes the door behind him.

[Nicolatrice]: *Worried*...

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Main Street)

(Scene: Baku meets his friends at the gate to the Main City)

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* Good morning, Baku! How are you today?

[Barrtio]: Yoo, Baku! What's happenin’, man?

[Finn]: You ready to kick some homework butt at school today, buddy?

[Baku]: Hey, guys. Umm, actually I was thinking about just hanging out in the city like we normally do… Probably hit the arcades and get some pizza.

[Barrtio]: Are you sure, dude? I know things are rough, but they’ll get better, man. You know how it is...

[Millia Grendar]: *Worried* Yeah, and what about the promise you made to your mother? I thought you wanted to raise your grades for her, remember?

[Baku]: *Smiling* I'll just give school and studying another shot bright and early next Monday! Then, I’ll go to my classes for the whole week!

[Finn]: ... If... you say so, Baku…

*Suddenly, Millia speaks up again.

[Millia Grendar]: W-wait guys, I just realized that I didn't pack my hoodie. Probably because I thought we were going to be attending our classes today... Maybe I shouldn't tag along this time...

*Millia was wearing her royal uniform attire, similar to that of the Princess' and her female friends, just in a much smaller size as the adorable pink haired girl was the shortest of the group of kids.

[Baku]: Millia, you know it wouldn't be the same without you. Come on, let's just go.

[Millia Grendar]: O-okay...

*Baku walks off toward the Main City and his friends follow him unassumingly. It was still early in the morning, so the streets weren't busy just yet. It was calm and quiet, and the cool air was still.

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Antonio's Pizza)

(Scene: Baku and his friends enjoy a pizza together)

[Antonio the Pizza Guy]: *Enthusiastically* One large pizza pasta pepperoni pizza!

[Barrtio and Finn]: Thanks, Antonio! Let's dig in, fellas!

*The crew enjoys a large, hot lasagna-like pizza topped with pepperoni, smokey sausage, crispy bacon, goeey cheese, and also ravioli's stuffed with mushrooms, together while talking about things like video games and anime.

[Finn]: So, the writer of Starlight Princess Dreaming Excellence confirmed in an interview that he is going to do a continuation series which occurs 15 years after the story ends and will be about Asira Tiyanobe's son! I'm so hyped!

[Baku]: *Mockingly* Oh great 700 more episodes of shit story telling…

[Finn]: *Angry* It's not shit! It’s a masterpiece!!!

[Millia Grendar]: I hope too many characters don't get killed off... I'm way too emotionally attached to them to deal with that heartache…

[Barrtio]: Hey, Baku, I've been practicing in Ultra Versus Girls! I challenge you to rematch later! No hazards, no items!

[Baku]: *Smiling* Haha! I got you fam! That’s the only way to play, after all! I will test your strength!

*The crew leaves the pizza parlor after Millia leaves a generous tip and heads for the arcade.

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Asteroid's Arcade)

(Scene: Baku and his friends spend time at the arcade.)

*The arcade was full of next generation, state-of-the-art technology and hardware made by the kingdoms best developers. The dimmed lights made the stars and different designs on the floor glow in the dark, and best of all it wasn't packed. All of the games were auto running and showing the credits waiting for players to insert coins and challenge the highscores. Baku and his friends got a lot of the top records here, but there was one game he wasn't so good at...

[Millia Grendar]: *Gaasspp!!* Hey! They finally fixed Rainbow Idol Extreme Dance Off 3 Deluxe! Baku, you have got to come play with me!

[Baku]: *Nervous* Uhh... I don't really dance, so I'll probably lose… Badly...

*Millia grabs Baku's wrist and pulls him towards the game.

[Millia Grendar]: *Giggling* C'mon, Baku! It’ll be fun!

*The game starts after Millia inserts some tokens from her purse and the young pink haired girl is already far ahead of Baku who is trying to stay in rhythm and getting tired as he attempts to mimic the movements extremely cute idol whose hair had all colours of the rainbow, wearing a short skirt as stars and other cutesy avatars and mascots fill the screen.

*After the game ends, Millia wins and finishes with a new perfect score of 150,200,970,000,000 and types in her initials as M&B and a metric ton of tickets pour out of the game, meanwhile Baku sits at 123,456,789,000.

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* Wow, Baku! That's a new highest for you! How'd you get it to be all "1-2-3" like that? Have you been practicing?

[Baku]: *Tired* Oh well, you know, I meant to do that... Alright, let's go trade in your tickets… Kay?

[Millia Grendar]: *Giggling* Okay!

*Baku and Millia approach the prize parlor.

*There are tons of toys to choose from, stacked above eachother in rows that go all the way up to the ceiling with many absurd ticket prices for exchange the higher up you go. It was clearly meant for well off people like Millia who had the money to blow on the tokens required for grinding all of the tickets required, on account of her dad being head of the school system and probably gifting her a healthy allowance upon her request. Millia was an only child, so her father spoiled her like crazy. Not that it mattered though, Millia always splurged and enabled the boy habits, even though they were quite negative.

*She would buy the pizzas and the movie tickets on days the group would decide to skip school, as well as all of the video games and DVDs they had hoarded up in the hideout. Baku, however, felt bad about taking advantage of her, so very rarely they would steal overpriced manga and her favorite romantic light novels from comic book shops so she wouldn’t have to pay for them. Technically speaking, she would help break the law. But truthfully, Millia loved the rush of excitement. Millia’s eyes gleamed with excitement and wonder as she scoped the many possibilities she could choose from with all of the tickets she has gathered.

[Millia Grendar]: I want... The giant pink teddy bear on the top shelf please!

*The guy behind the counter hands the giant bear to Millia who struggles to get her tiny arms wrapped around it. It was as huge and fluffy as it was pink with big button eyes and a bow tie.

[Baku]: Do you got it, Millia? Here let me carry that for you.

[Millia Grendar]: Oh thanks, Baku!

*Millia passes the giant teddy bear to Baku, and their hands touch each other. Millia freezes and nervously stares at Baku who’s silently looking right back at her.

[Baku]: *Confused* … ? Are you okay, Millia?

[Barrtio]: You guys ready to leave yet?

[Finn]: Yeah, let's head to the hideout!

[Baku]: Oh, okay! You ready to go Millia?

[Millia Grendar]: *Blushing* Yeah!

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Main Street)

(Scene: Baku and his friends prepare to head for their hideout)

*The crew continues to walk down the Main street after a fun day in the arcade. People were starting to go about their daily lives and talking amongst themselves.

[Finn]: And that my friends, is why I think hentai is healthy!

[Barrtio]: Your whole spiel just now, made no sense, my friend…

[Baku]: I think you need to speak to a guidance counselor, Finn!

[Millia Grendar]: *Laughs loudly*

[Madame Margaret]: ... Hm? L-Lady Millia? *GASP!* *Shouting* MILADY MILLIA!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL!? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!? ARE YOU SKIPPING YOUR CLASSES!?

*A very large lady with short curly hair loudly shouts at the crew from across the street.

[Millia Grendar]: *Shocked* Oh, fuck me! It's one of my freakin’ caretakers, Miss Margaret! Uhh... Hi Madame Margaret, how are you today? School was released early today, so I'm just hanging out with my friends, you see? *Laughs nervously*

[Madame Margaret]: I absolutely refuse to believe that! Your father, Master Grendar, would have informed me if you classes were to end early today! Now come with me! I'm taking you home this instant! You’ll have some explaining to do once your father hears of this!

[Millia Grendar]: B-But…

[Madame Margaret]: NO "BUT'S" YOUNG LADY! YOU ARE COMING HOME RIGHT NOW, AND I WILL TELL YOUR FATHER THAT YOU DARED TO BE SEEN ACCOMPANIED BY THESE... These... ruffians of the Main City... And a lowly peasant boy from the fields…

[Baku]: *Angrily shouts* YOU FAT BI-...!

[Millia Grendar]: Don't worry guys, everything will be fine...

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?

*Millia leaves the crew with the Madame Margaret. Baku and his friends stare in silence as they watch the young girl get taken by the heavy set woman toward the Royal Center carrying a giant pink teddy bear.

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Crystal Fields- Secret Hideout)

(Scene: Baku, Barrtio, and Finn appear depressed in their hideout. No electronics are running, and everything is eerily silent due to the absence of Lady Millia)

[Finn]: …

[Barrtio]: …

[Baku]: …

*Baku recollects on the first time they met Lady Millia Grendar.

*It was six long years ago in the third grade when the young lady was introduced to the class as the daughter of the head of the school district. A girl born into royalty status, just like the Princess who is also very fond of her. Millia Grendar was the groups voice of reason, she was the smartest of the four and she alone enabled the group to do the things they did over the past 6 years.

*Despite her small posture, she could put her foot down the hardest and raise her voice in such a way that it would make Barrtio and Finn do whatever she says.

*Baku always thought it was funny to see and would laugh at them, causing Millia to smile cutely, blushing. With her suddenly gone, and her absence leaving a hollow pit in the tightly knit group, it seems the boys realize that they’ve been using the young lady for their own benefit the whole time and only now understand the consequences of their actions...

*After being in his thoughts for some time, Baku finally stands up with a determined look in his eyes.

[Barrtio and Finn]: ... What's up, Baku?

[Baku]: Guys, we gotta clear things up with Millia... I say that tomorrow, we go into the Royal Center and try to explain ourselves.

[Barrtio]: Uhh… Dude, how do you plan to do that? In case you didn't hear the fat lady, but she sung we're ruffians of the Main City.

[Finn]: Yeah, bro... You're making it sound like we can just waltz on in...

[Baku]: Well, I know but, we gotta try at least... Like c'mon, she's our bestfriend since third grade. Aren't you guys afraid of never seeing her again?

[Finn]: *Gulp* …

[Baku]: So, what do you guys say? Skip school for the sake of a friend?

[Finn]: I-I'm in!

[Barrtio]: Eh, fuck it. If it includes skipping school, I'm always down. I think I have a pretty good idea a-brewin'...

[Baku]: Alright, guys! Let's get Millia back!

[Barrtio and Finn]: Yeah!

*The boys pound their fist determined to help their friend.