Tea Time With Witches

[Bobbie]

Millie #8

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At the offer to speak to her Aunt, Millie grimaced. She was planning on lying to her Aunt and telling her that she was in school activities, study clubs, and extra classes.

“Uh… thank you, but there’s really no need to do that.” Entirely convinced that the older woman wouldn’t understand, she felt it better this way. It wasn’t intended to be an insult, but they came from two very different world and that made it difficult for Millie to connect with her sometimes. Having been raised in America made it very challenging for the girl to make sense of this side of her heritage, and she wondered how her mother managed to remain in touch with it and her family despite the distance.

Millie was not quite acclimated yet, and she felt that she constantly stood out like a sore thumb among most of her peers. Her discomfort and cluelessness was at times painfully obvious, but she was willing to learn and not afraid of making mistakes in the process. Her online social persona made it clear that she was outgoing enough to find a place for herself anywhere and was ready to put in the work.

“This weekend sounds great! If Kin could be there too, that would really be amazing.” She nodded to her friend’s request and started tapping away at the screen of her phone. Within seconds, Kin’s phone would buzz and she’d have the photo sent to her inbox, a proud grin on Millie’s face before she carried on with the conversation. “Oh, secret snack-stash! I’ve heard so much about the snacks you have here, I want to try them all! I’ve ordered some boxes before, but could only get items that would store well while they’re transported all the way to America…” she muttered with something of a pout, before she laughed.

“I’ll trade you snacks for photoshop tricks!” she offered although, in reality, she would have helped her with any photo editing for free anyway. Then a thought occurred to her…

“Shinobou, would you show up in a photo or a video?” What started off as simple curiosity quickly grew into something more serious as a slight frown grew on her features. If the answer was no, then Shinobou wouldn’t be the first figure in her life to appear to her but not her online viewers… she wondered how many of her streams under the tag ‘MillieSmiles13’ Kin had actually followed. Could she see them through the camera?

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Millie: #45e093

[Gaz]

Kin #9

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Kin was inspecting the photo she had received over the phone with a brilliant smile, Millie had a knack for getting just a good photo. Kin had never before had such a nice photo of her self taken before! With this she could make that superhero picture of herself she has always tried and failed to draw.

“Oh yeah!” Kin replied in Japanese, the excitement making her brain default. “We should go to all the sweet shops! You need to experience them all.” She spoke with a nod. The trade for photoshop tricks would be a massive help because Kin had virtually zero idea of what to do using the software.

“That depends Millie. I have an artificial body that I inhabit so I can speak to normal people. That will show up on your photos. And I will also show up to those people are spiritually sensitive like you and Kin are when I don’t use that Gigai.” Shinobou explained, leaning back to rest on one of her arms that was extended out, a soft smile on her face.

“Oh yeah! I forgot to say but I can come and help this weekend!” The young witch finally replied, now that she was done fangirling over her own picture that had looked so good. “It’s not hard work keeping this place running!” Kin said, and in a move faster than the eye could track Shinobou sat up right and leaned over to bonk Kin on the head. “Ow! I was joking!” She whined, still smiling.

“It will be hard to master your powers Millie, I am not going to lie.” The Shrine maiden spoke, her smile kind and her voice kinder. “But you’ll be able to do it. I know you can.”

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Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[Bobbie]

Millie #9

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Millie respectfully put her phone away and nodded as Shinobou explained how her Gigai would also affect her appearance on cameras, hoping that she wasn’t too irritated about having to repeat. “So even in photos and in recorded video, Kin and I will be able to see you without your artificial body, but anybody who isn’t so… spiritually sensitive… would see right through you? Like you’re not even there?”

Turning to Kin once the respected shrine maiden was finished, she grinned at her friend, “You already promised me a maid café, will there be anything in all of Japan left unexplored when we’re finished?” She teased, though she was actually very grateful to have her new friend. She was excellent company and a great tour guide, apart from the fact that she seemed like the sweetest soul Millie had ever encountered.
Watching the pair interact made her laugh, which she quickly tried to cover up with a hand as she lowered her gaze. They were adorable and seemed to be on such good terms with one another that she couldn’t stop herself from wondering how things would have been in a different life – Shinobou was like Kin’s big sister, or perhaps a cousin or adored aunt. In any case, Millie was convinced that they would be related. On that note, a thought occurred to her, and she looked at Shinobou once more.

I wonder if she ever gets lonely here…

Brought back to the present as she was addressed, the brunette blinked her thoughts away and nodded uncertainly with a gracious smile. “Thank you, Shinobou… I’ll try my best!” And that was the truth, whether she succeeded or not.

Her eyes drifted toward a hanging clock to see what time it was and Millie rose to her feet. “I should probably get going,” she started with a polite nod. “Thank you so much for everything Shinobou and Kin. I’m excited to start working at the shrine this weekend, so shall I meet you at… well, what time would you like me to start? I’m an early riser!” Her grin widened, before shifting into a more sheepish smile and she continued. “Also…”

Hesitating, she took her phone out again. “Can we get a picture of the three of us, please?” Her cheeks warmed slightly, having no issue with making such a request of a peer, but Shinobou was more like a superior… “I promise I won’t post it online! Just in case there are people out there who can see you...”

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Millie: #45e093

[Gaz]

Kin #10

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“That’s right Millie.” Shinobou replied with a soft smile a hand reaching into a pouch that was hidden under the table and pulling out a handful of sweets. She sat and watched as the two mortals shifted their conversation to exploring the city, shopping, and maid café’s. It was good to watch them enjoying their lives instead of going out to fight monsters. Though she did notice the momentary sad gaze that the American offered her.

“Don’t mention it, I’ll be training you hard to make sure you can use your abilities safely.” The shrine maiden said between mouthfuls of the gummy treats she had been munching on.

Kin nodded. “Me too! I wake up with the sun sometimes.” She replied, a giant smile on her face. “Come by after breakfast… I’d say eight!” Kin replied, looking over to see her former teacher nod in agreement. With that she then also nodded to Millie’s request for a picture of the three of them, more to remember the moment than to share it with the world.

“Yeah! That’d be great!” Kin replied as she moved to sit by Shinobou, leaving the opposite side free for Millie to get in on for this selfie of epic proportions. Kin never had a picture with Shinobou, she never thought to really ask for it.

The ancient soul was surprised at Kin’s instant move to get a pose in before she even finished chewing on her sweets! With an awkward smile she nodded before swallowing. “Sure! I’m in my Gigai so your aunt can see me.” She said as she composed herself, her hair was a mess, uniform still tattered and in need of replacement.

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Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[Bobbie]

Millie #10

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“Okay, I’ll make it for eight!” Mildred replied once they came to an agreement. Glad that Kin and Shinobou both agreed to a photo, the girl smiled brightly and launched her camera app on her phone. “Awesome!”

Hopping over to the others, she sat on the opposite side of Shinobou and raised her phone with the camera flipped to the inward-facing one. “Say cheeeeese~” Millie giggled and leaned in close, waiting for everyone to be ready before snapping a photo, before the screen flashed two more times, at a second’s interval to capture the three of them at less predictable moments.

Turning to them with a happy grin, Millie lowered her phone. “Perfect!” she said, before actually looking down to see the photos. Of course, she cheated, because she knew the follow-up snapshots were coming, but she loved taking photos of people when they weren’t prepared for it. It always brought out such genuine expressions, whether they were of happiness, frustration, or simply aloofness.

“I will send all three of them to you, Kin, and you can hold onto them for Shinobou.” Her green eyes flicked from the screen to her friend while her fingers tapped away, assuming Shinobou didn’t use phones that often.

Then she suddenly stood up and bowed her head in a respectful manner, thanking them both in her best Japanese.

“I will see you both on Saturday then at eight a.m.!” With that, she spun on her heel and made brisk pace toward her home. Millie took her phone out once more to check the time to see that she was going to be late for dinner. “Sh-t… Aunt Mimi is going to be upset.”

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Millie: #45e093