Take me to San Fransokyo

Chapter 13: A Sudden Invitation

Mika's P.O.V.
I looked out the window of the van, and shivered. So Hiro was right all along about the year-long snow. The snow dimly illuminated the dark woods on the side of the road. All seemed quiet, until a phone beeped loudly, waking everyone up. It turned out to be Fred's phone. "Oh, sorry 'bout that. It's my dad." The van slowly pulled over a gas station to fill up it's gas tank. Fred went out the car to chit-chat with his dad.
A few hours later...
"NAPOVP"
As everyone went out of the van with their luggage, they went into the small, but warm, hotel-like apartment. It had a small deli beside it. Mika noticed Hiro crouching on the snow and asked, "Hiro? What're you-Oomf!" she could not finish her sentence from a snowball hitting her face. As Hiro laughed, another snowball hit his face as well, until they both ended up in a snowball fight. "Kids! We need to check in now! We'll do all of that tomorrow!" Gogo said, as they all went in. Hiro and Mika were just there, left alone, covered in snow. When they went in, the lady at the information counter ran to them and greeted them.
Information Lady: Kunichiwa! It's nice to have you here, but before you go to your room, please give this invitation to your friends who are here.
Mika: Oh, arigato! Who's this from?
Information Lady: It's from the head of the Niseko Robotics Convention. She's giving all attendees the invitation. And she told me to tell you that she's sorry for giving it to you on such a short notice.
Hiro: Again, arigato, miss. We'll tell them.
Information Lady: *bows*
Mika: I'm curious, what's the invitation for?
Hiro: I dunno, some kind of meeting, maybe?
As the two entered their room, took off their shoes, and went to their rooms, they found the rest just chilling in the living room.
Fred: What took you two so long?
Hiro: We got an invitation from the head of the convention, the information lady said so.
Gogo: Open it up, then.
Mika: *opens the envelope* 'Greetings! You are formally invited to the welcome banquet of the Niseko Robotics Convention, which is to be held at ballroom 5 in the Crowne Plaza hotel, 4/25/15, at 8:00-12:00 am. Map to the hotel enclosed. Formal attire is required. Don't be late!' wait, that's tonight! And we don't even have formal attires!
Honeylemon: *smiling* Oooh! Luckily I came prepared! *opens one of her luggages*.
Hiro: Are those...?
Honeylemon: Yes, the suits you wore when it was...his funeral...But forgive me for not shopping for new ones. I've even got dresses for the three of us!
Gogo: W-wait, do you mean...I have to wear one of your dresses?
Honeylemon: Not technically mine, but their yours too! Although my grandmother is an exceptional designer, even when she was young!
Wasabi: Well, we better start moving now 'cause it's 6:45.
Honeylemon: Oh goodness! We don't have much time!
Gogo: But the party's at eight, why should we rush?
Honeylemon: You don't know what it's like when a girl rushes, okay? Now I need to find my evening gown!
Gogo: Alright, where's mine?
Mika: I wanna see mine, too!
Fred: Welp, we better dress up, men! You too, Baymax. What're you gonna wear?
Baymax: I will wear a simple, black, bowtie. Or maybe a tophat.
Hiro: Nah, I think a bowtie is fine.
A few minutes later...
"No, Hiro. That's not how you tie a tie. It goes like this. I'm gonna ask Wasabi if he can give you some of his cologne. Stay put, okay? Or it'll mess up your tie." Honeylemon said, leaving the room. Hiro sat on the bed, and waited, until someone came through the door. Hiro widened his eyes in amazement, realizing the 'someone' was Mika.
Hiro: W-wow...
Mika: Why? Too much sparkle, right? Maybe I should remove the hair accessories.
Hiro: No! No, it looks great. I mean, you look great, or should I say...beautiful?
Mika: *blushes*
Honeylemon: Okay, I'm back. Oh my! Mika, you look absolutely gorgeous!
Mika: Thanks to you!
Fred: Well, how do I look?
Honeylemon: Maybe a bit more hair gel, if you ask me.
Gogo: Nah, I think he looks fine. We should be going now, it's already 7:30.
Hiro: Hey, where's Wasabi?
Wasabi: I'm here! Please give me some time to at least put on my shoes!
Honeylemon: You better hurry up, we don't wanna be late!
After some time...Arriving at the Crowne Plaza hotel...
Gogo: Everyone seems to be having fun.
Fred: Why not? This is a party after all.
Mika: A banquet, to be precise.
Hiro: I'm gonna look for our table, you with me, Mika?
Mika: 'Kay!
As they look for their table number, Hiro spots a familiar figure in the crowd, which gives him goosebumps. *I-is that...Elliot?* Hiro thought. "Hiro! I found our table! Over here!" Mika shouted, until Hiro realized the figure was at a table right next to his.
Hiro: Um, Mika?
Mika: Yeah?
Hiro: A-are you sure this is our table?
Mika: What do you mean? Is there something you wanna talk about?
Hiro: Sigh, does it look obvious?
Mika: *nods*
Hiro: Okay, it's just that, Elliot's here.
Mika: Wait, you mean, right in this very ballroom? In Niseko?
Hiro: Yup. She's sitting in a table next to ours.
Mika: *whispers* What a load of crud baskets...
Hiro: Unfortunately, we can't change tables.
Mika: Well, we'd better just bear with it. You know, try not to get noticed much.
Hiro: I remember that time when she recognized me, even if my face was hidden in my jacket hood. And then she tried inviting me to Starbucks. (read chapter 7: what a shock...)
Mika: Epic fail.
Hiro: Anyway, we should be at the table now. Hopefully Elliot won't see us.
After the others sat on the table, the head of the convention called everyone's attention. "Good evening! Thank you so much for attending this banquet. Now some of you might not know who I really am. First of all, my name is Natasha Karts, and I'm pleased to be here. Enjoy the food and have fun, you guys!" she exclaimed. "Okay! There's a buffet nearby. I'm gonna go grab some bites." Fred said, leaving the table. The rest followed him, leaving Mika and Hiro left at the table. "So, are you alright?" Hiro asked. "Honestly, that's an awkward question to ask, but yeah, I'm okay..." Mika answered, fiddling with a fork. *Let's just hope Elliot won't notice us.* Hiro thought. "I'm gonna get some food, are you?" Mika asked, standing up. "Okay." Hiro said, standing up as well. *Wow, I can't believe Mika hates Elliot as much as I do. I don't think she even met her yet.* Hiro thought. As for Elliot, she was chatting with her best friend, Asha. "If you ask me, this is the most boring party I've ever been to. Let's just leave!" Elliot scoffed. "Hey, isn't that the guy you talked to? You know, Hiro?" Asha whispered, spotting Hiro from a distance. *Hiro's here?!* Elliot thought with mixed feelings. She ran to his direction, but bumped into a girl beside Hiro. "Hey! Watch it, idiot!" she complained. The girl turned to Elliot with one eyebrow up, and gasped. "Oh my goodness! You must be Miko!" Elliot said in an annoying voice. "It's Mika...Elliot." Mika said angrily. Hiro went to Mika with a plate of food and asked what's going on. "E-elliot! What're you doing here?" he asked nervously. "Oh, I'm just arguing with your friend, because she almost made me mess up my very expensive designer dress! Isn't that right, Mika?" Elliot said with a very charming but evil smile. Although Mika just stood in silence, disliking the moment. "Ahem! Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to my table so that I can get out of the way. Bye, Hiro!"
Elliot said, going back to her table. "Well! At least she's out of our sight...You okay, Mika?" Hiro asked in a worried tone. "I feel terrible..." Mika whispered. Suddenly, Baymax appeared out of nowhere and walked to Mika. "Mika? I was alerted for medical attention when your neuro transmitter levels were falling to a lower number. Are you alright?" The robot asked kindly. Mika nodded sadly and went back to their table. Hiro decided to cheer her up because he's never seen anyone sad during a party. "Is it because of Elliot and her arguement with you?" Hiro asked. "Yeah, I hate being in the middle of an arguement, especially when I have nothing to say. It makes me feel, you know...weak." she said, brightening up a bit at the relief of clearing her chest. Hiro hugged her with one arm and comforted her.