Video Rental Store, March 5th, Friday, 8:00 p.m.

Itzel, who was now trying to understand human behavior on Earth, spent the day observing and learning how to operate the video rental store. His attention allowed him to quickly master his tasks and follow the routine without complications.

Being new in town, it was common for him to attract the attention of regular customers. In addition, girls often tried to start conversations with him, like the two blonde, well-dressed young women who entered the store, curious about him.

“Girl! Did you see the new clerk?” said the first, covering her face with her hand.

“I did! Let’s say hi!?” replied the second, just as excited.

The two went to look for romance titles, hoping to spark a conversation or find a way to approach the newcomer. Maybe then they could get to know him better.

“Hey, sir!! We want these!” the two asked together, each holding a romantic film and showing it to him.

“Two from the romance section?” The young man took the DVDs and brought them to the counter. There, he checked where the original discs were and made sure they had no scratches.

“They’re fine! Just pay at the register and return them in three days. Oh, and thank you for choosing us. Come back anytime!” he said politely, handing the DVDs back to them.

The friendly smile of the new clerk was not enough to hide his lack of interest. The two girls felt, almost physically, the emotional barrier around him. They ended up paying and leaving with their movies, disappointed that they hadn’t managed to chat with the handsome clerk.

Ren, the young man with pink mohawk hair and the owner of the video rental store, had been behind the counter. He had watched the whole scene, was impressed, and approached.

“Ahh… Itzel…” Ren called.

“Yes?”

“Those girls… they were hittin` on ya!” he said directly.

“Oh, really? And what would that mean?” Itzel asked, not understanding.

“Right, you’re not from here, I forgot.” Ren recalled.

Ren paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain this concept to his foreign colleague.

“They want to date you, but not seriously!” he explained.

“Oh, I see. I’ll pass.” Itzel concluded.

The day passed, and it was time to close the store. The newcomer said goodbye to the last customer. Ren came over to make him an invitation:

“Hey, Itzel! Let’s go clubbing tonight?”

“Go what? Club what?” Itzel looked confused.

“Oh, right! You’re not from here, true!” Ren remembered.

Ren began to make strange and awkward dance moves to demonstrate what they were going to do.

“It’s a place where people go to dance. Lots of people you don’t know, but you can meet them.” Ren explained.

Sounds strange, but it must be important to the natives of Earth… Itzel thought, watching Ren’s odd gestures, imagining it might be some ritual of the people.

“I’ll bring my girlfriend, and some other friends are coming too. We’ll leave from here, get ready, and head there.” Ren said with a thumbs-up.

“I don’t understand any of this, but I’ll accept the invitation.” Itzel replied, still a little confused but curious to learn more about local culture.

Club D, 11:00 p.m.

Night came and everyone was ready. Itzel wore clothes borrowed from Ren: a long military-style coat with leather details on the sleeves, a shirt with vinyl details, wide pants, gloves, and black leather shoes. The style was completely different from the clothes he had worn when he first arrived on the planet, and bore no resemblance to his work uniform.

Ren wore a similar but simpler outfit: a plain shirt and a shorter coat. Ren’s girlfriend, Lauren, went with them in the car. She was a beautiful young woman with fair skin and green eyes, long black hair covering one eye, a very fashionable style at the time, wearing a black dress reminiscent of a gothic rock band vocalist.

They drove in a rounded black car up to a high part of the city, where the nightclub was located. The place was packed with young people. Colored lights flashed around the space, while the main strobe, white, blinked frenetically. Electronic music blasted at a deafening volume, and everyone jumped and danced to the rhythm while drinking all kinds of cocktails.

Everyone except Itzel, who leaned against a wall, simply observing people’s behavior.

Dark place, flashing colored lights, and very loud sounds. They keep dancing and drinking colorful liquids, he reflected about the environment.

While analyzing, he was interrupted by two beautiful, well-dressed blonde girls.

“Hey, hottie! Good evening!” said the first.

“So, what’s your name?” asked the second one.

“My name is Itzel, but I am cool.” he answered politely.

The two found his response amusing. Thinking he must be interested, they kept asking questions.

“Oh, how cute! Such a different name! Is it foreign?”

“Yes!”

“And how long have you been here?”

“Not even a week.”

“Visiting?”

“I came for work.”

“That’s awesome! Hey, how about taking a walk around the city with the two of us?” invited the first, pulling him by the arm.

“Sure, I’d love to see it.” Itzel agreed, taking the chance to leave that place.

Seeing the scene, Ren quickly stepped in between his friend and the girls, making them let go of him.

“HEEEY! SORRY TO RUIN YOUR NIGHT, LADIES, BUT THIS HANDSOME GUY HERE IS TAKEN!” Ren shouted loudly.

The two girls exchanged confused looks and whispered to each other.

“Oh no, I think the cutie’s on the other team.” they lamented, believing the two guys were a couple, and returned to the dance floor.

After they left, Ren put his hands on his friend’s shoulders, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

“Itzel, what’s your secret? I leave you alone for two minutes and TWO girls come hit on you.”

“Secret? They just wanted to show me the city, nothing more.” Itzel replied, not really understanding why Ren was so agitated.

“Man, you’re way too innocent. The city’s not what they wanted to show ya.” Ren explained, exasperated by his colleague’s naivety.

Sayuri’s House, Saturday, March 6th, 7:00 a.m.

Excitement filled the house from early in the morning. Akiko, who never woke up early on her own and hated leaving bed on a day off, was already up, dressed, smiling, and tidying up the house. Her energy was contagious.

Sayuri had just woken up and came downstairs. She heard the sound of running water from the kitchen sink and smelled detergent. Surprised by the scene, she asked:

“Akiko? It’s 7:30 on a Saturday morning! Why are you up so early?”

“Today’s the sleepover! I’m so excited, I couldn’t sleep.” Akiko explained, beaming with joy.

“Oh, that’s right! The house will be really full. I’ll ask Guang to buy food and drinks. Matsui’s still young, she can’t stay up too late.” Sayuri was already mentally organizing her day.

“Relax! We’ll keep everything clean!” said Akiko.

After the house-cleaning task force, the smell of cleanliness filled the air. Everything was ready for the guests. Akiko felt proud to have finished in time. Miyu noticed the shopping bags and complained that nothing healthy had been bought, while Naoko sighed, exhausted from all the preparation.

But that wasn’t the end of the work. Naoko and Miyu went to cook brigadeiro on the stove, while Akiko teamed up with Megumi to think of games and activities for the night. Their preparations were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

“Aino and Yukino are here! I’ll open the gate!” Sayuri volunteered.

“Welcome! Come in, make yourselves at home,” she greeted warmly.

As soon as her friends arrived, Akiko ran and threw herself into Aino’s arms with a tight hug.

“Aino!!! Yukino!!! I’m so glad you’re here!”

“Ugh, let go! Why do you and Yukino always do this? Can I at least put the ice cream away first?” Aino grumbled at Akiko’s overly warm reception.

Yukino, quiet in the back, wondered why she had been dragged into the comment out of nowhere.

“Oh! Is that the ice cream you make?” Akiko asked, eyes shining.

“Yes! But hey, I’m not sleeping over, so don’t get too excited.” Aino said, carrying the ice cream to the kitchen.

“Girls! Let’s start already and eat it all before Aino leaves!” Akiko announced.

“WHAT A FUSS!” Aino complained.

The girls suggested many activities, from karaoke to makeup, but couldn’t decide. In the end, they settled on board games, which had the most support.

Aino left around 10:00 p.m., and the others kept playing late into the night. When it was time to sleep, they set up mattresses in the living room, some on the couch, but everyone managed a good night’s rest.

Sunday, March 7th

Sunday promised to be full of excitement. The sun was intense, perfect for a beach day. Akiko woke up early and immediately roused everyone else, eager to enjoy the day.

Megumi realized Guang’s car, though spacious, wouldn’t fit everyone comfortably. So she called a taxi to take her, Miyu, and Naoko, ensuring everyone could travel at ease.

Beach

The beach was overflowing with people. The smell of the sea carried on the wind, the scorching sand, the icy water. The townspeople wanted to make the most of the last days of summer, relaxing and spending time with family. That was exactly what the girls had come to do.

“Let’s play beach ball! Who’s in?” Akiko, in a pink-and-white striped bikini with frills, invited everyone to join.

“Want to play, Matsui?” asked Naoko, wearing a cutout black swimsuit.

“Let’s go!” Matsui answered, in a delicate floral-patterned child’s swimsuit.

“I’m going for a walk.” Yukino said in a simple navy blue swimsuit, heading to the shoreline.

“I’ll read first, then play.” Miyu explained, in a red bikini with leaf patterns, moving to a quieter spot.

“Looks like everyone’s settling in.” Guang commented with relief, wearing simple black swim trunks.

“They get along just fine.” said Sayuri, in a sky-blue swimsuit, smiling to reassure her husband.

“Go have fun, Guang. You don’t need to take care of us all the time.” Megumi, in a red bikini, pointed out, noticing he needed to relax.

The sun was high, and on that crowded beach, Itzel, Ren, and Lauren chatted and drank cold beer together. They were enjoying their day off from the video store.

The men wore swim trunks, Itzel in green, matching his hair, and Ren in red, matching his alternative style. Lauren wore a simple black bikini.

“Grab a beer and let’s talk. Yesterday Lauren and I realized your name is Spanish! Right?” Ren began, handing Itzel a bottle.

“Oh, my name. Yes, it is.”

“Cool, man! Mexican?”

“Yes!”

“Nice, but you’re mixed, right?” Ren pressed.

“Yes.”

“Half German?” Ren insisted.

“Yes!”

Incredible how humans invent stories. I just have to keep agreeing, Itzel thought after going along with all of Ren’s guesses.

Taking the chance to explore the new place, he got up and told his friends he would take a walk. Watching Earthlings’ behavior, something soon caught his attention.

At the shoreline, Yukino sat tossing seawater into the air, instantly freezing the drops, training to improve her speed.

After observing for a moment, Itzel extended his hand toward the sea. The water began to drain rapidly toward him, making the shoreline retreat.

Seeing this unusual phenomenon, the bathers panicked. Chaos broke out,  screams, people running desperately, bumping into each other, trying to grab their belongings before fleeing.

Ren ran to Itzel, urging him to leave, but Itzel refused, saying he would go later and was checking if anyone needed help.

Yukino stared at the sea suspiciously. That didn’t happen in this region, and it made the situation seem off. The man responsible calmly approached her. She noticed and turned her gaze to him.

“Everything okay? Do you need help?” Itzel asked.

“No, I’m leaving.” Yukino replied, trying to brush him off as she walked back toward her friends.

Turning her back gave the outsider a chance to strike. His calm, innocent expression turned serious, though his movements remained precise and controlled. He extended his hands and manipulated the water he had drained, launching it toward Yukino.

The mass of water surged forward, knocking the girl down and trapping her. Sayuri immediately ran to protect her. Megumi quickly realized what was happening and stepped in, unleashing her Potentia of Light to blind their opponent, giving her companions an advantage.

Itzel struggled to see but wasn’t surprised. Rosália had already told him about their powers. Having now encountered one with ice and another with light, he concluded this was the same group. Even with the excessive brightness, he remained calm, trying to analyze the situation.

Sayuri stood in front of Yukino, while Naoko, who had the Potentia of water, rushed to undo the trap the enemy had set.

“Are you okay? Were you hurt?” Naoko asked urgently.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Yukino replied, slowly getting back on her feet.

The appearance of the water Potentia confirmed to Itzel that he was indeed facing the same ones who had fought Rosália. He already knew they were skilled and that he was at a disadvantage being alone, but he still decided to try capturing at least one of them.

He began to run, seizing the moment while they were distracted. What he didn’t realize was that a dense mass of air was forming behind him. Soon, he was engulfed and lifted high, suspended in the air inside a capsule of wind.

No one mentioned an air user… There must be more of them. This mass of air is strong enough to levitate me, Itzel thought.

Despite the situation, he managed to remain calm. Now, he focused on identifying the source of the air that surrounded him.