[AQ] Defeat the meat monster [Ai/Akemi]

[Akemi]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Quest details}
Portal To The Meat Dimension
+ Description: A new noodle shop has opened up in Otonoki and they're holding a special promotion to get the word out! They're giving anyone who can finish their Mega Beef Bowl, a free week's worth of noodles for you and a friend! Many have tried, few have succeeded. Will you take the challenge or will you be sucked into the next meat dimension?
+ Give the Mega Beef Bowl challenge a shot: -1 Guardians, +1 Faberge
+ Cheat and have your guardian character help you finish the bowl: -1 Faberge, +1 Roost
+ Pass on the challenge but cheer a friend on: +1 Guardians, -1 Roost
+ Attempt the challenge but throw in the towel: +1 Faberge, -1 Roost
+ Judge the noodle-eaters for their gluttony: -1 Guardians, +1 Faberge, +1 Roost
+ Requirements: Minimum Level 1
+ Submitted by Kingmochi

---

Akemi stared at the noodle shop’s menu a little skeptical at her Chara’s choices. She had been interested in visiting the shop since it’s opening but since Beni heard about the free noodle promotion she had been nagging at the girl non-stop about how that was an “unique chance to hang out with your friends more” and Akemi gave in and decided to give the eating challenge a shot. But now, looking at the amount of ingredients that made the dish she was starting to think that maybe she could find other ways to hang out with her friends.

She sat at the table a little uncomfortable with only a cup of water making her company, fidgeting a little, thinking about just giving up at the idea and going back home. If at least she had some company —besides her guardian character, who seemed very excited about the whole thing— things would be a little more fun.

Ai

[Ai]

With all the stress of eggs, exams and potentially falling to 3-C next year, Ai started to forget things a lot lately. Today, for example, he forgot his bento at home and ended up starving the whole day. The boy mentally kicked himself for being so careless and was close to asking his friends if he could share lunch... but he was a little too proud for that. And the cafeteria, well... he just HAPPENED to forget his wallet at home as well, together with his keys. This really wasn't his day.

As the silver-haired went through the day starving and unsure how he was going to actually get inside the house when he arrived home, his guardians were there to keep his spirits up at every step. " I'm sure that if you ask, someone is going to share food with you, Ai-sama." Nagamasa noted. Well, Ai didn't doubt that either, it just wasn't like him to ask, so he did not.

As he was heading home, Ai texted his dad to see if he could drop by and leave him te keys so he could get inside. Meanwhile, Luciel was looking around at restaurant windows, salivating at all the delicious food. Yes, the guardian was quite hungry himself. Suddenly, in the window of a noodle restaurant, the angel-like guardian saw an announcement: "Free noodles for a week!!" He squealed. "Look, Ai-kun! Ai-kun! Free noodles!"

At the association of "noodles" and the word "free", Ai instantly turned his head around and went to double check. "Wow, this is actually legit. Let's go?" He gave a look to both his guardians. Luciel nodded enthusiastically while Nagamasa shrugged. That was an instant yes. However, when they walked inside, the place was packed full. "Oh boy, so much for luck." It seemed that a lot more people were tempted by the free food.

"Aww, is there really no seat available?" The owner just happened to be around and hear Ai whine, to which he chuckled and said: "There's a girl sitting alone there, maybe you can ask to join her table, if she isn't waiting for anyone." That was an actual good alternative and possibly the only existent one, but did he have the guts to ask?" Thanks sir, I'll...go ask." Ai finally said after hearing his stomach growl loudly. What would one not do for food.

"Excuse me, uh, is this seat taken?" He approached Akemi's table, asking the question with a smile. Hopefully she won't be intimidated by his appearance and let him join her.

[Akemi]

Akemi played with the napkins that were disposed at her table, making some paper animal and then undoing her work and making a different animal while her guardian character floated around her, not minding the chance of someone seeing her and commenting about each person that got her interest and how they reminded her of this and that. It was fun actually, how Akemi could ignore the world around her and still be in contact with it thanks to her chara’s babbling. She was just about to finish a rabbit when Beni hid announcing the “approach of a suspicious person”.

“Not really. You can sit here if you want!” She smiled brightly at the stranger while putting the half-finished bunny aside. “It’s very crowded here and it would be nice to have some company.”

[Ai]

Happy that the girl agreed to let him sit with her, Ai took off his jacket and placed it on the back of the chair then proceeded to sit down. It was quite hot in the building, especially with the huge mass of customers. There was a menu on the table, but even without it, Ai knew what he was going to order. That noodle challenge might prove to be too much for him, given his small appetite, he will fail for sure, but at least it was free. And he had no money. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"Thanks and yeah, company is always nice." The silver-haired nodded with a smile. "My name is Ai, by the way. What's yours?" If they were going to sit at the same table, the two might as well get acquainted with each other. This seemed like a nice girl and Ai wouldn't mind a brief conversation while they were waiting for their food. "Do you happen to, uh..." And it was then that Ai caught sight of her guardian character. So she was one of them! "Be from Seiyo?"

Akemi could most likely see Nagamasa and Luciel hovering around Ai as well. They, or at least Luciel, were excited about getting something to eat and meeting new friends. Upon seeing the foreign guardian, Luciel floated to her and offered his hand for a handshake, smiling brightly. "Hello, my name is Luciel! Let's be friends!"

[Akemi]

Embarrassed with her lack of presentations, Akemi scratched the back of her neck. “I’m Akemi. Nice to meet you.” She nodded out of habit and offering a handshake over the table.

While Akemi introduced herself to the boy in front of her, Beni got out of her hiding spot on Akemi’s lap to look at the Guardians who floated without a care around Ai. Beni floated to stand in front of Akemi, trying to look brave or something of the sort, which was a funny considering her size. When one of the boy’s guardians came flying towards Beni was when Akemi finally noticed the little beings.

“How can you be so carefree with your appearances like that?” Beni scolded. “Don’t you know that people beside Seiyo’s students have guardians Characters? What if someone suspicious saw you? You should plan your tactics more.” She finally took the guardian’s hand. “Lucky you I’m great with this kind of thing and can teach you how to be more careful.” She finished her speech with a confident smile.

“Uh… Yes…” Akemi stared at her guardian, a little worried at how the boy and his guardians would react at Beni’s, let’s say, proposal? Akemi really didn’t knew what her guardian planned with that comment but she couldn’t help feel a little uneasy that the people she just met would feel offended by it. “And… that’s Beni.” She pointed at the guardian slightly. “She can be… a little intense like that. But she has good intentions, I swear.” She finished her sentence a little frantically, trying to make up for whatever damage Beni may have caused to their first impressions, while said guardian just stared at her, probably trying to understand how that was intense at all.

[Ai]

"Oh, nice to meet you Akemi-chan. And sorry for intruding." Ai smiled and bowed slightly to the other. She was, after all, kind enough to share a table with him.

The silver-haired boy was, however, taken aback when Akemi's guardian mentioned them not being careful enough. That caused Ai to stop for a brief second and wonder...Was that really the case? He'd never worried about other people seeing his guardians... because he just assumed other egg bearers wouldn't care. But now, thinking about it, egg hunters could see guardians too and they weren't... particularly good people, seeing as their goal was to exterminate the innocent little fairies. The thing was, usually Ai could tell whether an egg hunter was near by the smell of dust... and there seemed to be none right now.

"I mean, she's not wrong..." Ai flashed a guilty smile at both Beni and Akemi. "But I'd dare say we're safe now. Most people who can see guardians are good people... and usually when bad people are around, I can tell almost straight away. You can comfortably play around if you want, Beni. I'll warn you if something comes up."