Team Mom and Team Dad

"WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!" Maho buried her hands in her hair, panicking. A second later, she took off sprinting, grabbing Rinku's hand along the way. "Rinku! Quit messing around!"

"Ok!" Rinku grinned cheerfully as Maho continued to drag her along. The DJ was already shouting over her shoulder again.

"Muni! Finished getting dressed!"

"I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!" A whiny, nasally voice shouted from the bathroom. The VJ in question was inches from the mirror, carefully applying her makeup and finishing her hair. You can't rush art! Or perfection!

"Oh, come on...!" Maho pleaded under her breath, looking all around for Hapiara's fourth member. "Where's Rei when you need her?!"

"S-sorry! Sorry! It took longer than anticipated to reserve the Uber!" The pianist rushed around the corner, nearly slamming into Rinku and Maho.

Ugh, Rei, help me out here! We were supposed to be Team Mom and Team Dad! Maho shot Rei a disbelieving stare. But of course, how could I have forgotten? Rich people don't understand how the common masses work.

The DJ shook her head as Muni's words echoed in her mind. Back then, they were visiting the house of a different unit, the owner even wealthier than Rei. Muni had expressed jealousy and fascination.

"So THIS is how the other side lives...?"

"Oh, never mind that now!" Maho cried, speaking to herself just as much as she was to the others. Then she grabbed Rei's hand and continued dragging her down the hallway. She cried out in surprise while Rinku continued to smile blithely.

"All right! Everyone have their music? Their lunch? Their cell phones and chargers? Their school stuff?" Maho waved her three unit-mates out the door right as the Uber pulled in, her eyes quickly darting over each of them to make sure they were all packed. Then she got a glimpse of the Uber. "A limo?!" Her eye twitched. Maybe that was another reason they shouldn't have let Rei book it...

"I do hope it is large enough!" said Rei, wringing her hands.

"Hey, it's a free ride! That's good enough for me!" Muni catapulted inside and all Maho could do was sigh and slap her forehead. #TiredDadOf4

ooo

What the—?! No way! Shinobu cursed as she fished in her pockets. For once, she wasn't searching for her phone, but it was the only thing there. Heart pounding, she stared longingly at the cafeteria menu, pulling empty hands from empty pockets. Shoot. "Hey, do you guys—?"

"Don't tell me you were playing video games while getting ready for school again?" Yuka teased.

"Hey! I do that every morning! I don't usually forget my wallet, and you know that!"

Stifling laughter, Kyoko managed to be a little kinder, though she had to smile and shake her head, apologizing ruefully. "Sorry, Shinobu. I'd be happy to share my lunch with you, but I don't have enough on me to buy anything extra. I'm saving up for that new mic, remember?"

"Don't worry about it," Shinobu grunted, looking away, trying to conceal her embarrassment. "Don't have to apologize..."

"My, my, Kyoko! So wise with your personal finances!" Esora teased, hand rising to her cheek. Shinobu's skin prickled, feeling the implied insult in Esora's casual remark. Then the green-haired girl turned to the pink-haired girl. "If you need lunch money, I'm always happy to play the National Bank of Peaky!" She winked and flicked her wrist, a black card between her pointer and middle finger.

"I don't need your help!" Shinobu finally snapped. As you yourself said, I'm part of the Rich Girls Network too!

"Oh, come on, Shinobu, she's just trying to feed you," Yuka reminded Shinobu gently.