“ if we could get something sharp and dangerous that would be great ”
"I think I have something that would work..."
You shuffle off to your room and retrieve a long, wooden box. It was tucked away in your closet, rarely seeing the light of day. An embarrassing little secret.
"Here, do you think this would be okay?" you say, putting the box down in front of Pomni.
Her colorful eyes dart from the box, up to your face. "What- What's in there?"
Oh, yeah, you should've opened it. Perhaps you're just a little embarrassed by what's inside, an indicator of a simpler time in the city, back when the sudden influx of spending money meant you bought things that were a little... questionable.
You undo the latches on the box and take off the lid. Pomni stands on her tiptoes to see into it, and then looks up at you again.
"Gangle, you have a katana?"
Sheepishly, you nod. "Uh... yeah. I got it from one of the stores in Cotes, so it's not one of those cheap mall replicas... it's, uh, the real deal."
But still embarrassing. See, there's different about spending money on, say a nice figure or a DVD. With a scale figure, you can put it on display to appreciate the artistry or let people know what you like. With a DVD, you can watch it. But with a katana... well, you don't need a weapon. And it's a little embarrassing to display it when your only connection to it is that you like anime.
Eyes glittering, Pomni picks it up and gives it a few experimental swings. You take a few steps away.
"Woah, I didn't know you could just go out and... buy things like this," she says. "Though I guess it makes sense. Wonder if you could buy other weapons..."
The spell of the katana is finally broken, and she looks back at you. "Oh, uh, yeah?"
"Didn't you want to..." you tilt your head towards the corner. "Use it?"
"Oh, right! Right, yeah!"
Wielding the sword in both hands, Pomni inches over to the corner of the room, with you huddling a safe distance behind her. Up above you, just a little out of reach, sits a big, black beetle. Neither of you are experts, but neither of you are fans of giant bugs, either. Even if using a sword might be a little cruel, you literally cannot imagine another option right now.
"I'm gonna do it," she says.
"Wish Kinger was here," she says.
You can't help but notice both of you are still standing still.
Sighing, Pomni lets the sword drop to her side. "I don't just wanna... murder it. Is there something else we can try?"
"I think... Zooble has a net arm?" you say. "Or maybe it's just a regular net."
"Yeah, catch and release. Let's do that instead."
Extermination plan abandoned, you take out your phone to beg for Zooble's help. Or at least permission to go into their room, because it's rude to do it without asking. But before you can go, Pomni calls out to you.
"Hey, Gangle? Do you mind if I..."
She looks a little sheepish, but her eyes keep flicking to the sword in her hand. Not like you were using it in the first place.
"Sure, that's okay," you say, giving her a small smile. "You can borrow it. Just, uh... be careful, okay?"
Her grin widens, and you think her teeth look a little pointy. "I will! Promise! I just wanna... try some stuff out!"
She leaves without taking the box, and you wonder if you should've given her the scabbard (or, saya, if you want to be accurate) to go with it. It's... probably fine. Pomni's pretty responsible.
As the two of you leave, the beetle seems to relax. Spreading its wings, it buzzes down from its spot high on the wall, towards an open window, and out of the house.
