Dog Days Season 3: To the New World

Summer ended. Winter came. Shinku, Natani, and Becky were unable to visit Fronyard due to family obligations over the winter holiday. Instead, they visited over spring break, though their visit was short due to the length of the break and again due to family obligations. After the three Earthlings left Fronyard that spring, Ricotta, the precocious, loli scientist, decided to turn her mind to a new endeavor—how to travel to Shinku’s world. For she and the rest of her companions would dearly love to see Shinku’s world. Thus, Rico began working.

Japan, three months later

Shinku Izumi, the blonde, half British, half Japanese teenager with astounding athleticism well beyond his youthful age, was walking along, balanced on a rail guard along the street on his way home from school.

Summer was nearly upon his land of Japan and his mind was pondering the coming months and the adventures he would have with his otherworldly friends. Lost in thought, Shinku continued walking along the rail his balance never wavering. A bark roused him from his thoughts. He looked around and spotted a brown dog with a scroll in his collar.

“Tatsumaki!” The youth cried out.

The dog barked his greeting in response.

Shinku jumped off the rail, performing a backflip with a half-twist, landing the jump perfectly and dashed over to the Onmitsu Squad dog of the Biscotti Republic. When he reached Tatsumaki, he took the scroll from the collar and petted the dog between the ears in thanks. Shinku opened the scroll and read its contents.

Dear Shinku,

Rico informed me that it is nearly summer in your country. Ordinarily, you and your friends would visit our world of Fronyard as has been our custom since your summoning as the Hero of the Biscotti Republic. This year, we in Biscotti have something a little different planned. I do wish I could tell you what it is, but I must not, for we wish it to be a surprise.

Please respond in the space at the bottom of this scroll and let us know how many days until your summer vacation starts.

Sincerely,
Her Royal Highness, Millhiore Firianno Biscotti

P.S. Everyone over here sends their greetings.

Shinku finished reading the letter. He reflected on how many days remained before his freedom from school, 10 more days. He took out a pen from his backpack and wrote his response.

Millhiore, it is good to hear from you. I have 10 more days until summer vacation begins. I look forward to the surprise you have.

Sincerely,
Shinku Izumi
Hero of the Kingdom of Biscotti

He took the scroll, rolled it up, and returned it to Tatsumaki’s collar.

“Please take this to her highness.”

Tatsumaki barked his accent and ran off behind a corner. Shinku saw a bright purple flash of light and knew that Tatsumaki was on his way back to Fronyard and Millhiore.

“I do wonder what this surprise could be.”

With that remark, the blonde boy resumed his walk home.

Fronyard

"Hime-sama, it’s finished, it’s finally finished!!"

A small figure dressed in a tan vest, red miniskirt, and white lab coat burst into a castle room. The excited girl’s orange doggy tail wagged and her orange, pointed doggy ears twitched vigorously with her excitement. The room in question was the personal chamber of the Princess of Biscotti. The princess, Millhiore, was seated in front of a mirror and was facing a brown dog. She had a scroll in her hands. The princess turned to the girl.

“One moment, Rico.”

She turned back to the dog.

“Thank you Tatsumaki, you are dismissed.”

The dog left. The princess turned to the small girl who was hopping from foot to foot, unable to contain her enthusiasm.

“Now, what is it that you wanted Rico?”

“My invention to travel to Shinku’s world is finally finished!”

“Oh, that is wonderful news!” The princess raised the scroll she was holding. “I actually just received a return message from Shinku. He said it would be 10 more days until his vacation begins.”

“Yay, than I made it in time, de arimasu!”

“Indeed, thank you for your hard work Rico.”

The princess rose, walked over to Rico, and began patting her head, as was the custom in Biscotti to express deep gratitude.

Milhiore finished patting Rico’s head and addressed her again.

“Have you informed anyone else yet about your news?”

“No, not yet hime-sama.”

“Then let us go together to deliver out joint news.”

The two girls walked out of the room side-by-side to share their news with their friends.
First, the two sent a summons to the forest retreat of the Onmitsu Squad requesting the presence of Yukikaze Pantonne. Then they headed toward the quarters of the Biscotti Knights.

*************************************************************************************

The girls arrived in the training courtyard of the knights. There, a group of dog-eared soldiers were being instructed in the art of swordsmanship by a green haired girl with green-furred floppy ears and tail. The girl had her hair cut short, though she had allowed it to grow out a little from the previous summer, and was dressed in a green uniform with a black skirt. She held two swords in her hands.

“Éclair!” Millhiore and Ricotta called in unison.

Éclair looked up from her lesson and spotted the pair.

“Hime-sama, and Rico. Welcome. What brings you two here?”

“We have some news involving our planned summer excursion,” Millhi replied, “Yukikaze should be here shortly; could you please finish up the lesson and join us in the eastern royal antechamber?”

“Alright, I will be there shortly.”

Captain Éclair turned back to her pupils and began to conclude her lesson. Millhiore and Rico went ahead to the antechamber and send an order to the kitchen for some tea and scones with raspberry cream.

Éclair arrived five minutes later and took a chair. 15 minutes after that, Yukikaze arrived. She had long blonde hair with blonde-furred fox ears and a tail. She was dressed in a form-fitting deep purple shirt with a purple, open-face kimono accented with light purple flower patterns, black thigh-high socks, and tabi sandals. She had a red jewel hanging on a string around her neck.

Rico informed Éclair and Yuki that she had finished her device that would enable them to go to Shinku’s world. Millhiore then told them that in 10 days, Shinku would be done with school. After they had finished their refreshments, each girl went her separate way in order to begin making preparations to visit Japan.
Millhiore had to finish a few items of state business before she could hand the kingdom over to Amelita Tremper and Laurent Martinozzi, whom she had named regents in her absence.
Rico made a few finishing touches to her machine and tested it to make sure it was in good order.

Éclair named lt. Emilio Alcide to the position of temporary captain and Yukikaze turned over her position to Lady D’Alquien until her return.
With their public business finished, each girl began to pack for her journey and each pondered what would await them in the unfamiliar territory that was Shinku’s home.