Blob flew around and collected the condensed drops with his water body.

Spruce’s tension eased and he began to feel the heat that had built up in his body.

Sakura was also getting slightly woozy before his eyes. “Has it already been fifteen minutes up?” He babbled in confusion. He could no longer stand on his feet and he waved uneasily back and forth.

Tundra clicked his tongue and held him.

Mezcal supported Spruce. “No, that was barely five minutes!”

“Wimps!” Tundra threw Sakura over his shoulders like a wet bag and carried him to the Spa Club’s log cabin. But suddenly, he had the feeling something was odd. Out of the corner of his eye, he could make out three shadows in the school forest, watching them with glowing fox, bear, and wolf eyes.

Metal seemed to have noticed something as well. But when they looked closer, the spook was already over. Metal shrugged his shoulders. “Guess there were only wild animals.”

***

“For the heroes of the day!” John placed two large sundaes with sparklers on the table in front of Taro and Anders and patted them on the shoulder. 

Tauno whistled and applauded, and even Ivan nodded at them.

But Taro and Anders had no eyes for praise and worldly goodies, as they were busy with virtual things.

“Now that you’ve set up your account and played through the intro, it’s time for your first free draw from the Idol lottery box.” Spellbound, Anders stared at Taro’s smartphone. It was a solemn moment that nothing in the world should interrupt.

Taro’s fingers trembled as he tapped the gold ticket. “I wonder who I’ll get?”

A fanfare sounded. Seven tickets popped up on the screen one by one.

Anders commented on the selections. “Well, there we have Shirin the soccer player, Penny the Swabian money-saver, Frauke from the north, Tine the Catholic choir singer, Tine again, Luis the cross-dresser and … Waltraud!” Anders let himself fall back. All color had drained from his handsome face in an instant. The corners of his mouth twitched. “Waltraud. In a dirndl. Spring Festival set.”

Taro was confused. “Is that good or bad?” He looked at the cards more closely. “Wait, this one is golden. Is that ultra rare? Anders? Hello?”

Anders laughed nervously. Taro had drawn the character he had wanted so badly and had failed to get, despite a hundred expensive attempts. Just like that, with a free ticket. Feeling burned out like the sparklers on the sundaes, he sighed in resignation. “Maybe I should charge you for your new clothes after all.”