[[Continued from here.]]

Susumu suddenly got a very nervous look on her face. “T-trust me!
It’s better if you didn’t call me… Uh, that! A-and well… You exist now,
don’t you? So that’s a reason to celebrate in itself! It’s… Called a
birthday. You’ve probably never celebrated one before, but Mr. Sir’s
birthday is soon if I recall correctly…”

Bonkakira then
stepped up, holding yet another bag, when she caught sight of the blue
blob. “Hey, Ink Bro! This your cousin or something?” She tilted her
shades down slightly. “Name’s Bonkakira. Survivor of 18 apocalypses.
She’s seen a lot of stuff, man. Like, stuff you wouldn’t believe. …Wanna
hear about it?”

Suddenly, the white haired girl from before
shoved her box into Susumu’s arms. “I came as soon as I heard!” Was the
first thing she said. “That little blobby fellow I saw before is here,
and there’s another one too? Well, hello! I’m Phantom Quartz, but
everyone here calls me Quartz or PQ. Oh, and, don’t worry about my arm.
That’s just my gem!”

The last one to approach Marie and Mr. Sir
was Barrette, and she was carrying the girls’ pet, Medical, with her.
“Hello!” was all she said, giving them both a shar-toothed smile.
“Bar-rette.” she proudly stated her name, before pointing at Medical.
“Med-dy.”

“Wait, the day you were drawn counts?” Marie asked, incredulously. She never expected to have a 0th birthday…

Suddenly, she found herself staring, starry-eyed, at Bonkakira.

“Oh, yes please! That sounds incredible! How did you survive all that…?”

No time for that; there was another new face to meet!

“Well, hi, PQ! Oooh, nice gem! Wh–”

No time for that, either. There was a smaller Bowyetta, and she was carrying a slime!

“Hell, hi there, Barrette and Meddy…”

Sweat marks appeared on her painted form. She didn’t expect this much attention on day one…

The Repairman’s toolbox opened, and Cat Slime hopped out, having smelled the food. His eyes widened and he gave an excited squeak. There was a new face, a lot like the Repairman’s! A new friend? She was getting a lot of buzz, too…

Quickly, he hopped into Marie’s arms, squeaking softly.

“Oh! And who might you be….?” she asked, stroking his head.

The Repairman, meanwhile, looked on grimly. He was getting replaced; he knew it! Even Cat Slime was going to her!

He shivered with quiet indignity, and slowly began to back away. He figured he would need some time. Alone, apparently.