Time wasn't about to pause anytime soon. That was, sadly, the cue for Lucky to return home.

After leaving Champion Island and parting with Symphony at the little port town, the cat had wandered on her own for another while. The forests and towns beyond the skyline beckoned her, as did rumors of competition. She met many creatures, some wholesome while some were ruder than necessary, some brimming with hopes and dreams like herself while some were shrouded in doubts. She lent a hand wherever she saw fit, regardless of whether her presence was at all welcomed.

To jump right in the middle of people's problems without being asked was what she was good at, after all. The traveling athlete firmly believed that there was no harm in helping strangers - if anything, she wished to be a spark lighter, like her big sister. With both strength and words in her arsenal, Lucky knew that she, of all creatures, would be more than able to do just that.

On that short journey before the summer ended, she happened to stumble upon a cat her age in an average city.

There was no contest being held at the time being, so she simply thought of venturing through its streets for a day before exiting on the other end, probably finding sleep amongst the natural canopy along the road, and setting foot on the next place by tomorrow's dawn. What else, because during the short of a month or so in the wild, she had come to be known as a wayfarer - those who travelled far and wide on their feet alone. Lucky, who held the record of making a fifty days' worth trip in less than a month - that included an entire night out at sea, and she still landed safely and healthily on Champion Island - was exceptionally good at such sort of journey. That was her plan, making use out of the little time she had left before returning home to view the world, until she met a cat named Axol.

Light grey fur - unlike Vanille's coal-grey, which displayed perfectly her assertive charisma - highlighted by a pair of clear teal eyes, he took Lucky's extended hand as she helped him up his feet, and immediately realized that she was an ear taller than he was.

"Are you okay?" she asked, tilting her head so innocently that he almost did not want to figure this as the same creature who singlehandedly punched robbers twice her size, all three of them, to help him retrieve his valued camera. Seeing his hesitation, however, she once again proved to be quite a pure soul despite her strength, as her expression contorted to that of worry:

"Um, is it alright to hit them like that? I saw you were in trouble, so I did what I could, but I'm not sure if this is how it works... I'm not from around here."

"I can tell," Axol shook out of his shock, regaining his ability of speech, "And no, you're not in trouble or anything. You just helped me. Thank you."

"Oh, really? I'm glad then!" she grinned, "My name's Lucky. What's yours?"

"It's Axol. Axol Feles," he nodded in response.

"Yorushiku, Akuseru."

The strange term and the word resembling his name sounded so foreign, and it suddenly dawned on the grey cat that the kin facing him was speaking in a funny accent. He brushed it off as cultural different - reasoning that perhaps, she had come from a rural area, hence the manner of speech and her raw strength.

She must've noticed his stunned state - he froze a second too long that even someone without trained sense like Lucky could take note of - and chuckled, breaking the awkward silence that was threatening to emerge, with one hand tugging at her red scarf:

"That means 'Nice to meet you, Axol'," she repeated, trying to pronounce his name more clearly this time, "It's my local accent. You haven't heard someone like me before?"

She raised her voice at the end, making it a question.

"N-no, you're the first," he shook his head, "Anyway, I need to go somewhere. You better leave this area as well, or those backstreet creatures will come back for you. No matter how strong you are, you are still a cat. If you're a visitor, I advise you go to the fountain downtown. It shouldn't be too hard to spot."

Lucky half-wanted to argue that she just won against three of such creatures herself, and that her species had nothing to do with her capabilities. Yet instead, as always, curiosity took over, and with a quick wave she rushed off to the said fountain.

Axol could only sighed. Clutching his camera, he took off to the opposite direction. If his calculations were correct, there should be a majestic hue in the sky, and being able to capture it would make a great addition to his collection.

~

The Astronomy Museum had captivated Lucky - much like anything that was novel to her. The most boring part was the walls of infographics, but she read through them nonetheless. Her favorite part, however, would have to be the planetarium.

The room was dark and painted a paint of pitch black that reflected no light, littered with miniscule drops of light that represented distant stars. The Sun and Moon and planets revolved on their metallic orbits, the rhythmic mechanical beat stirred the background, giving it life alongside just the right amount of marvel mystery. The star-resemblers, she noted, seemed to form patterns. Sun-niichan had once shown her a map of constellations, but she couldn't recall much of that, though now she seemed to be starting to make connections between myths of constellations to kamis and yokais. After so much interaction with them, why not? Nord Eule, for example, reminded her of Fukuro.

Standing in front of the majestic construction, she couldn't help but wonder...

If that thing suddenly gets haunted and starts to attack me, will I survive?

The kind of question could only come from someone like Lucky, who was somehow both mature for her age and surprisingly pure at the same time. She was simply thinking about the planetarium boss in "Magic Cat Academy".

Nah, I don't think I can. She answered herself. That thing looks huge and heavy. It'll just crush me in one strike.

All the reason to respect Momo even more, then!

Smiling to herself, Lucky advanced to the next room, which was more of a community hall than an exhibition, with children gathering in front of a low stage and a songbird lady by a cool-looking 3D projector, telling them science facts and stories.

The songbird was called Madam Serena, as she would later learn. She had a sweet voice, and she hummed the song of the origin of the Universe - of the World of Doodle they all knew of, of the first creatures, the kamis, and the celestial bodies. Lucky sat down keenly listening to her tales. Songbirds, as the name suggested, were the best natural bards.

Madam Serena then projected a photo, and the kids all exclaimed in awe. It was extraordinary, almost as if it was a hyperrealistic painting of a different realm. The sky was indigo, in contrast to the orange setting sun, and the clouds were pink and scattered. But that was not everything - the crescent moon was early to rise, standing lonely and dully in front of its counterpart yet to be gone; a planet, on this scarce occasion, had come close enough to their atmosphere to have its outline and terrestrial features faintly visible, resembling a second satellite; a flock of unknown birds zoomed across the lenses of the camera, imprinting dark shadows on the light show of the sky, their wings spread and their formation sharp as an arrow.

And dear, the field beneath that sky looked extraterrestrial. With hardly a building in sight, the grassy plain stretched far and wide, littered with little white and yellow wildflowers that were almost hidden to naked eyes. Tall blades of grass rippled to the afternoon winds like waves of an ocean, basked under the aura of a fading day it seemed as if they were a mere brass-colored remain of a once thriving ecosystem, even though the real scene was probably still well alive. A tree or two stood in the distance, branches casting great shades to sit under on sunnier days by their wrinkled, twisted trunks. However, here, they seemed insignificant in the vast prairie.

Whoever had captured that moment must be amazingly good at timing! And super lucky, too! Lucky admired the photograph.

"This picture was donated to our museum just now, taken by a young meteorologist. He had to plan several months in advance for this, to show us just how incredible the work of the universe is! This, is planet Suisei," she pointed to the planet, "It seldom becomes visible in our atmosphere, and will only for a brief moment. And this hue of sky you see," she gestured to the entire panorama, "Is caused by an extremely rare alignment of the stars and planet, a one-of-a-lifetime perfection. Every few decades, even centuries, can this occur for a short few seconds."

"Where is it? Madam, do you know where it is? I want to see it for myself!" a kid excitedly asked.

"Well... I am not quite sure, I'm afraid. Our meteorologist is talented and dedicated, but he's also one with few words. Besides, this submission was sent in just now, so I haven't got the chance to ask any further."

"Awww..." the kid pouted, clearly disappointed. That's when Lucky decided to speak:

"That's west to this city," she said, immediately gaining attention, "The light makes it look strange, but that field, trees, and buildings from afar is unmistakable."

"Oh? West to the city, you say?" Madam Serena hummed, "The work of celestials is amazing as always."

"Oooh! I see it now!" chatters roused again as revelation dawned upon the little kids, and they tried to beat each other in pointing out how many similarities they could spot compared to the playground they had grown used to.

"When I grow up, I'll make sure to find that scene again. Then, I'll take a picture with all of us in it! Scenes without creatures are beautiful, but they are sad," one declared.

"I'll look forward to that," the songbird smiled, "Try your best, and do not give up on your goal halfway, alright?"

~

"Young lady, may you stay for a while? I have something I want to discuss with you."

Lucky stopped midway through the door to the last hall of exhibition, planning to travel back to the wilderness and hit the road again, when Madam Serena put a wing on her shoulder. The songbird was smaller than the cat, her plumage a simple brown, and her round black eyes were framed by striking gold feathers.

"Oh, okay," she raised her voice slightly at the end, signaling that she was confused.

"Thank you. My name is Serena, but since you're still more of a kitten than a cat, please call me 'Madam Serena'," the bird said, and Lucky nodded in compliance, "Great! Now let's wait for him to arrive and we can get started."

"Him? Who?" she tilted her head. It was a habit whenever she felt confused.

"The meteorologist guy who took the photo you saw just now, silly. He's about your age - wait, no, I think he's a few years older, and his name is Feles."

"You mean Axol?"

"That's his birthname. Have you two known each other already?" Serena asked, intrigued.

"We just met before I came here, actually. I think it's before he went to take that photo, because he had a camera on him. I helped him retrieve it from some backstreet bad guys," Lucky recalled their encounter.

"No wonder why they call you a god-tier athlete. Lucky, you're impressive!"

"T-thank you," she smiled. Lucky was still trying to get used to compliments. It was already a while in showcasing her unimaginable prowess to the world yet Lucky never took praises lightly. Always responding with a gentle blush creeping on her face, the cat could not bring herself to boast nor emphasize the arduous journey through which she strived for her goal. She felt like little was relevant to share in a slip of the tongue, and would only reveal to creatures who had forged with her a bond of sweat and tears. And beyond that, she felt like stepping out of bounds of an athlete's morals or a qi practitioner's principles would equal betraying the trust of Champion Island.

"Oh, and before that, may I know your surname? It's just for... formality, that's all. You rarely mention it on television."

"Really?" Lucky asked, surprised, "Well, my family name is Maneki. I'm Maneki Rakki."

"If you don't mind me wondering, why do you prefer 'Lucky the Cat' to 'Maneki Rakki'?"

"Because it's easier to remember," she answered as if it was obvious, "'Rakki' is another way to say 'Lucky', and since I often introduce myself with my given name, the kids in my town went with it."

"That's cute," Serena commented, "Ah, Mister Feles, there you are! We have an unexpected guest joining for tomorrow's excursion. I'm sure you've met Miss Maneki?"

Lucky gave him a wave and a small "hello".

"So that's your surname?"

"So that's the first question you ask me?" Lucky pouted, "Yes, it's my family name. But can't you at least say hi?"

"Um, hi," he struggled to say, "Madam Serena, why did you invite her?" he said softly, trying not to sound rude.

"Oh, you poor movement-lagged bookworm, don't you think she looks familiar?" Serena had her wings on her hips with an arched eyebrow. Looking confused and cornered, Axol sent Lucky a silent call for help, to which she only responded with an apologetic smile: Sorry, I can't help you out of there.

Axol hesitantly shook his head.

"She's all over the news, silly! Miss Maneki here is a rising star athlete," Serena teased.

"Madam Serena..." Lucky fiddled with her scarf, "You're scaring him."

"My, my, but it isn't just about knowing who you are, sweetie. Mister Feles here is a literal, well, what's your Eastern folk's term again? Hika..?"

"Hikikomori?"

"That's the one."

"Madam, how can I be something I'm not even aware of?" Axol was whining at this point, "And what do you mean by Eastern folk's term?"

"You just further proved my point. Miss Maneki, please do give him a lecture on culture. This kitten is an ace when it comes to meteorology and astronomy, but only draws blanks on virtually anything else."

"H-hey!"

"Madam Serena, aren't we here to discuss something?" Lucky tried to intervene.

"Right, right, but I'll have to come back with that later," the songbird let go of the sweating, panicking Axol, who exhaled in relief and picked himself a seat beside Lucky.

"Miss Maneki-..."

"Please just call me Lucky."

"Lucky, tomorrow, we will hold an excursion. I'm sure you know where the Milky Way Plateau is?"

"It's to the East of this city I think. I've never been to that place before, but I was planning on visiting it on my way home."

"And how long are you planning to stay here?"

"I'll depart by tomorrow morning. I only have a week left before school starts and it's still quite a distance left before I reach Wiira Town."

"Hm... A week, huh? What can I do to keep you with us for one extra day? I know this decision is largely last-minute, but if you could join tomorrow's trip to Milky Way Plateau, it'd be our greatest pleasure!"

"Well... I think I can make time for that. What do I need to do?" Lucky offered.

"The trip includes observing nature in the day and stargazing with telescopes, camping out and making a journal on their findings. Since you don't have any particular specialist knowledge but a great deal of experience travelling in the wild, you can help with looking after the kids and inspiring them."

"So it's inspiration work, then?" Lucky's amber eyes sparkled, "Sure, I'll tag along! We'll be working together for the young, right?" she looked at Axol, "Since you're a meteorologist and everything?"

"I... guess so..?" he scratched the back of his head and trailed off, clearly feeling unready for the trip despite being informed way in advance, in contrast with the nonchalant Lucky who just agreed to join the day right before.

"Don't worry too much. You're good at science and stars, I'm sure you're gonna give those young a time off their life!" Lucky spread her arms and smiled widely. Axol felt like he was being given strength. How peculiar. He had never thought a young cat like her was capable of such things.

"Then let's meet up next morning at the museum gates, shall we?" Serena concluded, "You two go plan things for tomorrow, get a good night's sleep, and don't be late."

~

"Jaa, matta-ne," that's what she had said before they parted ways.

Axol was no genius in communicating - he knew of creatures capable of captivating others with mere words, but he was not among them. He knew that there were more than one dialect used in this wide world, but he barely encountered any before hers. He was not so good with females, too, though this was rather because he was shy. This traced all the way down to this hobby and what defined the Axol Feles breathing the air of Streamwake City. A male who wasn't so keen on intensive activities and so indulged in his early-day research that he forgot how to get to know others. Adults may praise him, kids may admire him, and peers may have varying thoughts and comments, but he himself stood by few friends, scared to pick up a conversation that he couldn't fathom.

There WAS one thing that any young scientist like himself would be capable of, however, that being speed-research. The name "Maneki Lucky" (or so now he temporarily put her full name, as he didn't know how name arrangements would differ across cultures) stuck in his head all dinner, and it was suddenly brought back to the surface when he was watching the evening news with his father. He often found the sports section uninteresting - why know who had won against whom when they all had little impact on his life? Until today, when her name was mentioned for the nth time and caught his attention for the first time.

It was an interview made a few days prior, at the closing ceremony of some tournament in the Auburn Metropolitan. A great city, it was, and Lucky had made her name even there by winning the gold medal in the tennis game. Despite her much, much bigger opponents - heck, the runner-up guy was about five times her size - and despite all odds against her possibility to win, she rose and prevailed. Clearly, it wasn't easy. When she was answering the hordes of interviewers trying to get the new star on their television program, she hadn't even gotten the chance to dry off the sweat trickling down her face as new droplets formed; she was smiling, her eyes full of energy, but her shoulders were tense.

They really should understand cats more. She was obviously dying to sit down, relax, and perhaps curl up and sleep a bit.

Perhaps, because most athletes were all big and mighty before she came into the playground, Lucky would have to be the one to teach them how to treat their kind right.

Answering one question on how she managed to win, she beamed - her amber eyes glinting, her canine teeth showing, her arms put behind her back in a mischievous manner, her tail squeezed excitedly and she bounced, showcasing the gold medal that went so well with her:

"I may look small, but the size isn't the only thing that determines the outcome of a match," she said, "I believe I'm as strong as anyone else here, and against fiercer opponents, I have no choice but to pull out my best! Maybe they're just underestimating me that they didn't do their best as well."

"Really so? But I think Alcor, your opponent in the finals, was rather serious," the interviewer commented.

"He is!" she exclaimed, "Arukoru-san is a wonderful finalist, and I'm honored to be his opponent. I almost lost, you know? The tables only turned last minute. Even so, we promised to have a rematch right here, at this tournament next summer!"

"Last question: What do you have to comment on the last stunt that marked your victory?"

The screen transitioned to a playback of Lucky in the finals. The light green ball was coming - dangerously, in an angle that was aimed so that there was no way she could've been able to reach, let alone strike back. Still, she leaped - higher than any normal creature should, twisted her body midair with impossible flexibility, and smacked her racket against the ball so powerfully Axol was afraid that it would break, and sent the ball back to her opponent's side in a flash of flaming purple.

"It's a secret weapon of mine," she said, "Fueled by enough willpower, concentration, and a ton of training, of course."

The interview ended there, and other contestants appeared on the news. It seemed that whatever her "secret weapon" was, they couldn't find out much more than how she, and only Lucky herself, operated it, so they let her go.

Now, how far is it from Auburn Metropolitan Center to Streamwake City again?

Oh, a few day's ride on a car or train. And she went on foot. That explained a lot how she was able to singlehandedly help him earlier today.

Axol let out a sigh and retreated to his bedroom, hoping that traveling with a famous talent wouldn't get him so nervous as to stumble over his own words.

~

"Keep going! We're almost there!" she encouraged him, pumping a fist with her free hand while the other was occupied carrying a sack of extra food supplies and holding a tour guide flag so that the crew knew where they should follow. Monster-like strength - Axol noted. She hadn't even started panting while he had felt like he could faint at any given moment.

Axol had indeed gotten a little too nervous. He almost lost sleep last night. Rubbing drowsiness away, he wondered if Lucky had experienced the same - even if she really had, she hid it well, but he doubted that was the case. She didn't look like the type to hide. He wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to be a terrible liar.

"Right," he huffed, offering her a smile. On their way to Milky Way Plateau, they had made several pit stops, both for everyone to rest and for Axol to show them how to spot some of the roadside wonders. Occasionally, the parents would prepare a small snack, and the kids would sit down to enjoy their little meal, but the grey cat was always on his feet. Youngsters - they would never run out of questions, and he was responsible for answering to them all. Lucky, too, was quite a child herself, tagging along with creatures who could barely write illegibly. He could see her efforts in containing herself whenever exhaustion surfaced - unlike him, she was terrible at hiding her feelings.

He recalled when Madam Serena announced the sudden change: Lucky would be coming in her place. There had been shock, confusion, even downright unsatisfaction as their wholy-trustworthy had seemed to dump their children to some stranger, even if she was a - as the songbird had stated, and the cat had tried to stop her with a blushing face - celebrity. Parents were wary, despite their children's excitement, yet the calico somehow won their hearts fast.

The night activities had just concluded. He had done his job quite well - he taught those fascinated kids how to tell tomorrow's weather from the sky bathed in dusk and the faint clouds of night; he showed them constellations and how plants went to sleep. He handed them little clipboards, report papers and magnifying glasses and had them write down their observations before watching a meteor shower and enjoying a late night meal before returning to their tents so sleep.

Speaking of tents...

Both Axol and Lucky didn't have a tent. The heavy backpack resting on her shoulders ever since they departed from Streamwake City was filled with cooking equipment, first-aid kits, and a borrowed sleeping bag.

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"Huh-!? Oh, it's you," he jumped, but then relaxed when he realized that it was just Lucky.

"You looked drained earlier. Why are you still awake?" she asked.

"Why are you too?" he retorted, "Wouldn't that heavy bag make your shoulders hurt?"

"They really did," she let out a hearty laugh, "My shoulders are aching. I never thought pots and plates would be so scary!"

"Because, those pots and plates are for two dozen creatures," he sighed, "Won't that affect your athletic performance?"

"Nah, I'm not gonna compete anymore," Lucky lay down on the grass with her arms behind her head, while Axol was left stunned.

"An early retirement?" he managed to utter, "How-? No, why!? Aren't you still in your heyday?"

"A-re? Chotto matte," Lucky sat up, her face showed confusion, "Who told you that I'm gonna retire? I'm twelve, okay!? Who in the world even retires at twelve??"

"But didn't you just say that?"

"Eh? I just said that I won't compete again soon because I have school!"

Oh. School. Why hadn't that thought crossed his mind before? Maybe because it wasn't such a big deal to him.

"I might be some big sports star to you, but I'm just Lucky the Cat. And I still need to go to school once summer ends," she grinned.

"You were awesome earlier, by the way," she added out of the blue.

"You think so?" Axol asked breathily, "I was actually nervous. Thank you."

"Mm, you looked like a real professor! I learned a bunch of new things!"

"You're supposed to be the tour guide, not a crew child," he chuckled, "But I'm glad you found it useful."

The grey cat, too, lay down onto the dewy grass. Milky Way Plateau stretched itself under the purple sky draped with a pink hue, glistened in the starlight of the moonless night. Simply perfect. On days such as this, the Milky Way revealed itself in full glory to beholders. On days such as this, the sky seemed closer, and celestial bodies seemed within reach. On days such as this, the heart and mind could feel full - in the absence of the lonely full moon bashful behind the clouds so high, and instead basked under a thousand stars, inviting creatures onto a dream voyage.

There was some shuffling of bare feet in grass, and Lucky soon came into view, holding out a sleeping bag for him.

"It's getting cold," she said.

"But stay awake a little longer," he said after thanking her and letting his sore back meet the softness of the convenient mattress, "The sky looks best when there's nobody else around. You'll regret missing it once you depart tomorrow."

"I wasn't planning to," she hummed, "Stargazing is one of my favorite activities."

And they lay there, in sleeping bags right out in the open, fur ruffled by chilling night breezes and shone down by stars and fireflies, wondering if the luminous insects would come and share a conversation or two. Probably not. Fireflies were never known to be friendly - not that they were hostile, but they fled at the earliest sign of a possible encounter. Shining on their own, they lived secluded, knowing merely of the golden light scattered in dark hideouts. What a pity, really. They invented the best light shows.

"Do you believe in shooting star wishes?" Axol asked out of the blue, to which she answered:

"Of course! The stars are always listening. If you make a wish earnestly, it will come true."

"...you do know that it's really just a falling meteorite, right?"

"I know," she giggled, "Still, it reminds me of a fairytale setting - wishing upon the stars before a grand adventure and all that. I did make shooting star wishes before, and they made me feel like I would always achieve my dream at the end of the road! They really did!"

In truth, it had never been the work of the stars. Ever.

Rather, the feline considered words spoken under the night sky to be declarations, of purest intentions and ambitions, akin to vows made in front of a god she could've had believed in, pledges of pursuit regardless of the obstacles that might stand in her way. In other words, shooting stars were something she subconsciously took as a confidant, where she sought refuge in and entrusted to strengthen her wavering hopes. A source of motivation, at that.

"Me too," Axol said, "Somehow, even after learning of their true nature, I still can't help but believe. Is it because the sky is too vast for us small creatures? I know when something is too vast, it becomes incomprehensibly enchanting."

"I can never get tired of travelling," Lucky exhaled, "There are always new things to see next dawn."

"I haven't been on a real trip just yet, saved for small ones such as this. But I hope I'll get to travel greater distances from the city soon. To mountainous valleys or the sea, for example. I'm sure the view there would be amazing, and the sky would look so different."

"They are!" Lucky nodded, "When are you planning to go?"

"I don't know," he sighed, "I'm a bit nervous there, I admit. I never mustered up enough courage. Every time I tried to envisage a trip, it felt insufficient."

Lucky laughed. He winced at this. The calico rolled out of her sleeping bag, onto the grass damp from midnight dew just to cease her laughter with a hand clenched on her stomach.

"Sumimase," she said what he would later find out to be the equivalent of something like excuse my manners, "No, I'm not laughing at you or anything. I just think it's funny that everyone makes the same mistake before their first voyage."

"What do you mean?" he asked, perplexed.

"Well, here's the thing: Voyaging is much, much different from taking a vacation. On a vacation, you'd want to relax, take it easy, and follow guides to where you should wonder this scene and that. But on voyages, you don't have to plan things so thoroughly. You'll need to pack, of course, so you won't forget necessities like money or fresh changes of clothes, and then you just hit the road.  Knowing where you want to go and its general direction is good enough. You can always ask for more details on the way," Lucky stared dreamily at nothing in particular, "I think it's more fun that way. You get to learn a ton of cool stuff and discover something new."

"So it's an adventure to find the truth in the unknown? Something like that?"

"I think so."

"Hmm, I'll try your tip next summer."

"That's great! If I can, I'll join you for your first trip. Can I? Adventures always feel better with company."

"That sounds like a plan to me. Will you make it in June?" he grinned.

"I'll make sure to present! Although... We'll have to stop by Hikari City if you let me tag along. I did promise I'll visit some friends. Oh, and my new rival from the tournament in Auburn! Ahh... That's so many of my pitstops."

"I don't mind. I've never been to those cities, anyway, so you can guide me in."

"Alright then," Lucky exhaled, "Seems like we're both booked for next summer."

"Can't wait," he replied, "Good night."

"Oyasumi."

~

Lucky stood in front of an all-too-familiar porch, her hands sweaty and her tail twitched. This place had seared itself into her mind ages ago, yet after merely two months spent away in a life that should've existed only in her fantasies, it felt surreal. And maybe, probably, she was scared, too. Scared of whatever reactions she would get if she was to open the door right now, treading dirt of at least a month's worth of road travel away, wearing clothes that were pretty much tattered and fixed with her own messy needle pushes, with a few new scars and an unconventional story of sneaking out of her own house in the dead of night.

She took a deep breath.

"Tadaima!"

And she felt like she had been crushed.

Warm. The fluff of cat fur made it hard to breathe, but she didn't mind. It felt warm. The mashed, incoherent mess of noises was confusing, but she didn't mind. It was endearing, calming, the sound that could only come from a sanctuary.

Because it was. This was her home, with her family of loving parents and siblings, whose image kept popping up in her mind on solitary nights during the time she spent wandering the wild. Oh, how she missed them dearly. She never realized the extent would be so great that she almost cried in their embrace, feeling her eyes get glassy and her nose scrunched up. Even with the lingering guilt of her sudden departure, she knew that she would, by all means, with all costs, regardless of any situations, she would still return to her one safe place.

"Tadaima," she repeated.

Bells was the first one that let go of the hug, and her voice sounded clear above others:

"Okaeri, Champion."

"Okaeri," the others echo.

~

Lucky had changed into more comfortable clothes while her ninja outfit went in the wash. She had taken a much-loathed shower, as Scarlet insisted that she was literally covered in dirt. She complied, knowing that her mother was speaking the truth - and suddenly felt too exhausted to even resist having to touch water, anyway.

The sleeveless hoodie she was wearing now was comfy. In fact, it was her favorite after the ninja outfit. She always wore sleeveless, not for even once minding her exposed shoulders because she thought this type of shirt allowed her to move more freely. It went with a pair of baggy shorts. Although she wasn't the best in fashion, her taste was something signature, letting other creatures learn of her presence at first glance - if they ever happened to forget she was a calico. She added the final touches with a neckerchief and a fingerless glove on her left hand.

"You look awesome."

Lucky stared at her reflection in the desk mirror. Scarlet, her mother, was standing at the doorframe with a mug of warm tea, and the kitten found herself lost of words, feeling like an eight-year-old once again, more reckless and rebellious, frailer and more prone to injuries, and shrouded by mixed feelings. There was her mother, sitting in the dead of night, stitching back her favorite pieces of clothing that she had torn, being too eager for action; yet there wasn't her mother as she found herself gazing beyond the wisteria hill, beyond the Land of the Departed, tracing the line of wisps, wishing she could reach to them with her very mortal hands, feeling a tad defeated as her yearning for the unknown came unanswered. But all the same, Scarlet was always in the picture, whether or not she had been truly willing to let Lucky explore that risky realm, looking at her with eyes filled with mixed emotions herself. A mother was complicated, and her love would sometimes make her feel torn. If only she understood that sooner, maybe...

"Here. Lunch won't be for another while, so I've prepared some snacks in the living room. Come tell us your story when you're ready," Scarlet handed Lucky the mug and cupped her cheeks, "And just so you know, I've never been mad about you leaving in the dead of night. I was afraid, concerned for your safety. But now that you're here, I'm relieved," she planted a kiss in her forehead, "Your sister told me of your reasons. I wouldn't say that I wasn't upset, but since you've returned, I'm proud of you. For whatever you have achieved on the way."

Lucky set the mug down on her desk and tightly wrapped her arms around Scarlet.

"I'm sorry for leaving, okaachan. I was careless. I'm sorry."

In three simple sentences, she uttered. And in another simple three sentences, the mother replied, stroking the back of her head tenderly:

"I know. It's not alright, but I forgive you. I'm glad you returned to us."

Scarlet broke the hug, took a few steps back, and put her hands on her hips, her lips pressed into a thin line:

"But! I expect a proper announcement of departure next time you're planning to travel anywhere far at all, is that clear? And do come help me prepare lunch."

"I will," Lucky nodded firmly, "I love you, okaachan."

Sending sweet words as a response, Scarlet turned her back, leaving the door of her second daughter's room on the second floor ajar as she descended the stars, into her bedroom.

"So, how is she?" Nova asked.

"She seems... much more mature. At twelve and after merely three months on her own, no less," Scarlet answered, a sigh escaping through her smile despite how hard she tried to retain it, "Really, I don't know what else to think."

She remembered waking up on that particularly warm and nice summer day to Lucky's empty room and her eldest child wearing an expression she had never thought of seeing her with - guilt. Never once in her life had she thought of the responsible Beruzu to ever commit such a reckless action. Bells was not Lucky, she did think ahead most of the time, and preferred serenity. That day, however, Scarlet realized that even she herself hadn't understood her children well enough. Bells was caring, yes, and even more so towards Lucky, who found a confidant in her. But the love Bells gave was not the commonplace restraints, but the runway to the clear skies, like a pacifist by a cliff, releasing a dove they had grown attached to and watching it fly, knowing that they wouldn't be able to follow.

Scarlet sighed once more, this time sadness veiled her features. Bells was Lucky's sibling, not parent, of course her affection was different. Love varies greatly, after all.

"What do you mean she's gone!?"

Bells adverted her gaze to the floor, not daring to speak up. Tension quickly rose in the living room nonchalantly basked in the golden morning sun, so much as if it could be cut with a knife.

"Maneki Beruzu, where is your sister?" Nova demanded.

For once, Bells remained silent, eyes glued on a suddenly interesting tile, her ears flopped and her tail trickled its way around her leg - an undeniable sign of nervousness.

"I do hope your reason is justifiable," Nova added, his voice chilly. Scarlet couldn't quite recall the last time he used that tone - probably ever since Lucky tried to sneak out to the library when the sky fell dark. And once again, this happened after the calico's escape to the night.

In the corner of the room, at the bottom of the stairs, stood Sun, his hazel eyes lukewarm, unbothered as he witnessed the scene unfold, yet him remaining idle there instead of instantly moving to somewhere else, scoffing it off as none of his business must mean something. He cared about the matter, in fact. Behind him, Amulet was ushering a confused and startled Meteor to the kitchen, her normally well-combed fur still a mess.

So that's how it is, huh. Scarlet noted to herself. Sun was being on guard - for however the situation might take a turn for the worse. He may appear unreadable at first, but his character was rather straightforward, really. Once he cared, he truly did, and so he would make sure things go down the path he had anticipated. Then again, he preferred to not be engaged in things that shouldn't've involved him, so he kept his distance.

Amulet, on the other hand, was trying quite hard to hide her panic. Scarlet wouldn't find out until much later.

Finally, Bells cracked a word, and she revealed their secret conversation on the rooftop the previous night and Lucky's hasty departure. After she had finished, panting to catch her breath, she added:

"I figured that last night was the night. The time. Something told me the it was meant to happen, otherwise there will scarcely be another chance for Lucky to show her true self to the world to see."

Her soft green eyes showed clear conflict, as if she was debating with herself, criticizing her own words, yet she took nothing back. She stood solemnly firm.

In truth, almost everyone had already started to wonder when Lucky would journey beyond the town's boundaries. Her nature made the place many deemed decent to spend the entirety of their life in seem like confinement. She was part of the Wiira community, yet in so many ways she couldn't be. It was only a matter of time before this happened - both Nova and Scarlet knew - but they were unprepared, and everything happened so abruptly that they couldn't help but be anxious.

At this point, Maneki Nova didn't know how he should take this. Should he be angry? Not quite likely. But he didn't want to simply let it slide, either. He was concerned over Lucky's safety out and about in the unexpectable wilderness, no matter how much strength she possessed. And more than anything, a claw tugged at his heartstrings. He missed her, most of all, Lucky's energy was so significant that her absence created a gnawing emptiness. He feared the shock she would encounter in the outside world, filled with more selfishness and deception than ever. Lucky was a pure child, way too pure for this stained excuse of a world - if he may say, but of course such thoughts scarcely occurred in his mind of an artisan, only likely when he was pondering hard on a creative product instead of the usual commissions.

In the end, he gave Bells a detention - at fifteen, which sounded ridiculous that she still had the obligation to obey that punishment, but she herself did not react so much except for a subtle nod and a word of response. She was willing to spend some of her time in her room, surrounded by nothingness, reflecting on herself.

However, Nova did not file a missing person report, nor really go out his way looking for her. It wasn't like he didn't care - quite the opposite, in fact. It was his intuition that kept telling him to not chase after her, because she had already broken out of the bounds that had once restrained her point of view. Deep inside, he knew she would return at some point, so for now, he would just remind himself to make sure Lucky received detention herself for making everyone worry.

That lingering thought of his almost fled to oblivion once Lucky concluded her story.

Like, what - meeting mages and yokais and kamis!? He could've questioned her sanity if not for the golden scroll encased in glass she showed them. There was his daughter's name on it, carved in perfect handwriting. The glow was real, and when he touched it, he felt... enlightened, awakened, a bit light-headed, even, as if he was contaminating something that he shouldn't have.

"I can see traces of those wounds evident on your body, so I'll believe you. Now, after this meal, you will start your one month of detention, is that clear?"

~

Lucky regretfully steered her eyes away from the detour she usually took, hands shoving into the pockets of her hoodie. For a school day, it was compulsory that she at least wore something with sleeves. Her schoolbag bounced lightly on her back, and she closed her eyes, letting her ears and instincts navigate while enjoying the small stride on the streets. Ever since returning from Champion Island, she hadn't been the same. No one could ever remain the same after living a time that defied that very foundation of life, no matter how much they wanted to witness that defiance. She was more observant, a bit more reserved, and even though she didn't really meant to, she gave off the impression of becoming more... distant. She still talked, laughed, and butted in business that wasn't hers, but the divine essence left in her was strong despite the miles away.

Wasn't that just another sacrifice one must make for living a life not destined to be? The price a hero must pay to be someone else's saving grace?

Lucky hummed a song she just learned today. The melody would come from a recorder, but she didn't know how to play one, so she often volunteered to sing. Her voice wasn't the best, either, but it was decent enough to not get detested.

It was the third week back in school year routine already, and her detention was over halfway done. Soon, she would be skipping on her favorite route again, despite the homework still needed to be done. Speaking of which, she might have to ask her brother for help again today. It wasn't her fault Math was so incomprehensible, and so was Physics.

~

In the end, perhaps Maneki Rakki was truly lucky, much aligned with her namesake.

Lucky had been through pain and sorrow - everyone must at some point. She simply picked herself up so strongly that many might think that her life was a blank page lack of necessary experience, unbeknownst how she had faced much more than they might've. 

Even though she had rejected immortality, living her mortal life limited but content, her name lived on. Lucky the Cat, the symbol of first-ever returning harmony after millennia of its absence, in a sense can be considered the embodiment of the birth of peace itself - peace for the soul, for the land, for the restless magic and divine energy in a riled-up realm of constant tension. She had braced her soul and very fragile body to make the kami's and yokai's and mortal's and outlander's wishes alike become reality to the best of her ability.

And even so, she was more than that. Every young on Champion Island and many proud civilizations beyond the seas learned of her as the lone disciple of her own self-found, self-practiced art of reining inner spirit - or qi, for a shorter term. Her publication was widespread and, to her wish, free to all who was willing to learn, even without ties to any yokai or kami, much like herself, yet no one ever reached her level. They said that she was the purest practitioner of them all, the one who waltzed down this winding path out of sheer curiosity and determination. She was such an icon that her gold statue remained radiant, even though she had long passed down the Champion's Scroll to the athlete who defeated her.

Yet, again, the esteemed Envoy of Team Yellow, who went by the name of Inari Kitsune, argued that rarely anyone knew the true her, for most of them had already departed to afterlife alongside the First Grand Champion herself, and the few who enjoyed longevity or immortality would prefer to keep her personal stories personal, treasured as the pretty diamond only they had the privilege to dream of every beautiful night.

In a way, Maneki Lucky was immortal.

The little wayfarer had already embarked on her next journey.

~

FINALLY it's done! This special had been on my mind for AGES.

Thank you for reading "Doodle Champion Island Journeys!" This fanfiction on Doodle Champion Island Games took more than two years to write, and this special, the 41st chapter, marks it officially completed.

ILY. Dreamy Jess.