"Twilight-hime, may I ask a favor?"
"Of course! What can I do for you?" She beamed happily, overflowing with excitement at the chance she could do something for her new friend.
"It would honor me..." Hiroki shifted uncomfortably, wracking his brain for the correct words to use. He bent one leg and lowered himself respectfully as if addressing his own Lord. Twilight's head lowered sheepishly and she blushed at this development, never one to revel in the sort of kowtowing that was expected for royalty. "...If you would allow me to make dinner for you and your friends... as well as Purinsesu Serestia-o... and Purinsesu Runa..."
His eyelid twitched irritably as he stumbled over the Equestrian words and gave a short shake of his head. Ponies passing by were starting to gawk as this samurai was prostrating himself before the Princess of Friendship and were beginning to whisper about it.
"You don't have to do that... come on, stand up. Please?" Twilight fidgeted with embarrassment, growing ever more self conscious and reached down to put both hooves on Hiroki's shoulders, tugging him up from the ground. He rose with his brow furrowed, looking confused as to why this Princess did not want him to show her the appropriate level of respect. "You want to make us dinner? All of us? You don't mean tonight do you?"
Twilight had been most eager to do something for Hiroki after he'd entertained her curiosity with such deference, but there was no disguising the shock in her eyes when he dropped that particular bombshell of a request. There would be over a month of planning and re-arranging of schedules, not to mention all the political intrigue it took to free Celestia or Luna for any kind of event. She wasn't even sure she could secure all of her Ponyville friends on such short notice. This all went through her mind rapidly, her violet eyes darting every which way as she considered so many variables as fast as she could. Hiroki was intuitive enough to see the dilemma as it was forming.
"Eh? No no no." Hiroki's ears pinned back. Of course he'd needed to make himself more clear. "Sometime soon. I only ask if you would pass word to Purinsesu-" He stopped to correct himself, making an effort to speak more clearly and with less accent. "Princesses... Celestia and... Luna."
"Well..." Twilight rubbed the back of her head nervously, not wanting to make any promises she couldn't keep. At the very least she could make herself available. "I can't guarantee anything, but I'll have Spike send a letter to Princess Celestia. How's that sound?"
"Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita. Err... thank you very much." Hiroki and Twilight Sparkle smiled at one another, both turning to go about their respective mornings when Spike came bounding up as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Twilight! Hey Twilight!" The dragon skidded to a halt in front of the pony he sought, his tongue hanging out as he panted heavily, trying to catch his breath.
"Spike? What's the matter?" Twilight looked at her number one assistant and placed a hoof to his back, patting lightly. "Come on, deep breaths."
"Message... Princess... Celestia..." He huffed and wheezed, brandishing a scroll clutched in one of his claws and waved it haphazardly in front of Twilight's face.
"Oh, good timing Spike! I was just on my way back, we need to send her a message of our own-" Her voice trailed off as Twilight pulled the scroll open and began to read it, eyes daring across the parchment from left to right and top to bottom. When she reached the end, her violet eyes went wide and she gasped loudly. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are coming here to Ponyville! Tonight!"
"How come? There aren't any holidays or events coming up... at least not that I know of..." Having finally gotten his wind back, Spike tapped a claw against his chin.
"They want to meet him!" Twilight craned her head to look at Hiroki who had almost made it back through his front door. He stopped, brows rising high over his angular eyes as she galloped back up to him. "They're coming here to meet you! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!"
"N-nani?!" Hiroki's viridian eyes widened greatly with surprise as his hat slumped backwards and a bead of nervous sweat appeared on the side of his head.
"They're coming tonight! You said you wanted to make dinner, right? It's just going to happen sooner than we expected!" Twilight laughed nervously as she poured over the message a second time. "I know this is seriously short notice... can we handle it?"
Hiroki looked at a loss for words, his mouth hanging open as he stared incredulously at Twilight Sparkle. True this was exactly what he'd asked for, but with such little time to prepare? He wasn't certain if the spirits were smiling or laughing at him. Was this a stroke of good fortune, or was the universe playing him for a fool? There was only one way to find out.
"It will be done." He nodded firmly and propped the front door to his restaurant open, disappearing through it. Twilight and Spike stepped up to the door, peering through as Hiroki shouted a loud, "ISAMARU!"
A lingering silence passed and the samurai was given no response by his canine companion. Growling and muttering in his native tongue under his breath, the steel gray pony vanished behind the counter at the rear of the room. The sound of hooves thundered up a flight of wooden stairs and only then did it dawn on Twilight that the restaurant must have had a loft, much like her former home in the Golden Oak Library. After all, Hiroki had to sleep -somewhere-. Moments later Isamaru came sauntering into view with a most disgruntled look on his wolf-like face. He padded up to Twilight and sat in the doorway before her, his tail wagging lightly. Hiroki thundered back down the stairs after a minute, coming to stand beside his canine companion and held out a note.
The dog ignored him and continued to peer at Twilight with his ears perked and tail wagging as though making a point that she was obviously much nicer than he was. The samurai gave the dog a flat look and rolled his eyes at the drama. Their synergy spoke volumes as Isamaru seemed to deflate under the stern gaze Hiroki was giving him without even having to look back at his master. His ears flattened and his head lowered to show deference, which earned a few gentle pats from the samurai as well as a few quiet snickers from Spike and Twilight. The dog took the note between his teeth.
"Appurujakku ni kono nōto o tsukete kudasai. You can sleep all you want later." Isamaru gave a muffled bark and stepped out into the street, digging his nails into the ground and took off at a sprint while Hiroki called out after him. "Arigatō."
The samurai shut and locked his front door, a sign hanging from It that bore the intricate calligraphy of his native writing, but he'd hastily scribbled 'BACK AT NOON' at the bottom. There was much to do, and not a great deal of time to do it in. The intense expression of focus did little to alleviate the worry Twilight was now feeling, but he simply bowed his head.
"Do not worry, I have never shied away from battle before. Everything will be ready." With that the samurai took off at a gallop, having to dart and weave in between other ponies as they were walking the streets and minding their business, some less than appreciative at nearly being knocked over.
"I hope so..." Twilight sighed, her peaceful morning of academic understanding now disrupted with nervous anticipation for what was to come in the evening. She rolled the scroll up using magic and turned to begin running at a trot, her number one assistant trailing at her heels. "Come on Spike, we'd better go too. He's not the only pony who's got a lot to do."
"So does this mean we have plans tonight?" Spike gave a helpless shrug as he ran after her.
"What, did you have something better going on?" She slowed enough to let Spike climb up onto her back, snickering at the sheepish look on the young dragon's face.
"Well... maybe Big Mac and I were going to trade Hoofball cards..."
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