[center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHDnSZaD8qY&ab_channel=TomBaileyMusic]Prelude[/url][/sub][/center]

Hitomi jogged back towards her school, guitar case in tow as she struggled to keep pace. She was running lopsided due to the sheer weight and size of the guitar case garnering looks from passersby as she attempted to make good time getting back for her music club. As she ran back to school she took in the sheer beauty of the city that she was able to call home. It was an innocuous mixture of pavement, dreams that hadn’t yet reached fruition and those who had given up on the idea of fruition at all. But it was a relaxing cityscape either way. There was just the right amount of pressure for young students like herself. Enough to make you want to succeed, but not enough to force breaks due to student depression.

When Hitomi had reached just a few more blocks until she would reach the school she realized that something was wrong. The city… Was [i]empty[/i]. Sure, most people were most likely busy with their day to day menial affairs, but this was…. Most students would be at their club activities, but that didn’t explain….

This was exactly like those dreams. 

She heard a voice. 

It was a voice that was entirely new to the lover, but it wasn't new in that reoccurring dream. In that dream she saw this empty city and heard that voice.

With her arms at her side the lover walked towards the yell. It was certainly more of a yell than a scream. Screams implied terror, fear, injury… This was more of a call to arms than anything else. Thought the words were lost on her. As Hitomi peered around the corner cautiously, she would think up spy names for herself. 

However when she saw the scene ahead of her, she was surprised.

[color=00a651][i][b]"DAISUKE-KUN!"[/b][/i][/color] [color=00a651]"This is your chance to seize the day! If you truly love me, prove yourself worthy! I need more carbonated mortars!"[/color]

The lover’s mind immediately barreled into self-investigations of the term ‘carbonated mortars.’ The thought started as a rough sketch and blueprint. It had the appearance of a two-litre bottle of soda that meant business. It had wings and fins for aero-dynamic capabilities. Unfortunately, however, Hitomi was unable to reach the practical analysis portion of that thought. Instead her eyes stupidly took in the rest of the picture in front of her.

The debris of what used to be a delivery truck. A large crowd forming around the scene at hand. Pizza delivery machines, that all seemed to be…

One shot Hitomi a look that spelled it out well enough for her.

“[color=#00c0e6]Cheese and crackers! Those Pizzatrons look vicious![/color] She said aloud, bringing her hand carrying the guitar case up to her mouth and nearly knocking herself over in the process. She examined the situation once more and noticed that the girl who had first spoken, the one who was about the same age as Hitomi was forming an offensive against the oppressive Pizzatrons.

“[color=#00c0e6]Holy moly ravioli those delicious delivery dudes are evil![/color]” She said racing forward, once more lopsided as half-obese seesaw. She had gotten a bit closer to the other two who were the anti-pizza coalition in this situation. While Hitomi would of course, never do anything offensive towards pizza – those who delivered it were clearly in the wrong here.

That’s when it all clicked.

Of course.

Carbonated mortars.

The soda makes the undeniably corrupt zealots of delivering pizza weak. [i]Of course.[/i] 

A smile the size of the grand canyon formed across Hitomi’s small mouth as she raised, or attempted to raise, her arms.

“[color=#00c0e6] I am ready to help with the acquisition and launching of carbonated mortars. Ma’am![/color]” She announced to the commander of the anti-pizza coalition, who, ironically enough was straddling what Hitomi could only assume to be the corpse of the deliverers of cheesy goods' leader. 

Her commander was a brave woman. That much was to be sure. She would retrieve for her only the most carbonated of mortars. She attempted to salute and almost fell once more. Some rational part of her mind reminded her she had a free hand to emote with.