Suzuki Superstars

Unexpected visits and departures

The anticipation hung heavy in the air, a palpable buzz of excitement filling the room as Sora and his friends gathered around the Wii U. With controllers in hand, they dove headfirst into the vibrant world of Nintendo Land, embarking on a thrilling adventure where Sora took on the iconic role of Mario, while Rio, Ash, and Rina assumed the guise of Toads.

As the game unfolded, the atmosphere crackled with tension, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional expletive. Rio, in hot pursuit of Sora, came tantalizingly close to victory, only to have it snatched away by Sora's clever utilization of the invincibility star.

"Haha, take that, peasants!" Sora crowed triumphantly as the timer signaled his victory, his friends erupting into cheers and applause. "WOOO! GG EVERYONE!!" he exclaimed, his grin infectious as he reveled in the thrill of triumph.

But amidst the jubilation, the conversation turned to Zedd's anticipated arrival. Though Sora was thrilled by the presence of his friends, he couldn't help but wonder why Zedd hadn't yet joined them. Just then, his phone chimed, a familiar tune echoing the melody of Nami's theme from One Piece-a signal that could only mean one thing: Zedd was calling.

"Hey bro, what's up?" Sora greeted eagerly, his excitement mounting as Zedd's voice crackled through the line, promising surprises to commemorate Sora's recent achievements.

"Ugh, Zedd, you really didn't have to go all out with the gifts," Sora protested, touched by his friend's gesture. "But hey, I can't say no to a good surprise! Take your time, I'll be on my way to you."

With a quick exchange, Sora slipped on his trusty crocs, excusing himself from the game momentarily to await Zedd's arrival, his heart brimming with anticipation for the treats his friend had in store. With a sense of eager anticipation, Sora stepped out of the grand mansion, ready to greet his best friend, Zedd, who was set to arrive any moment now. As he made his way down the winding path, flanked by six magnificent fountains, each one a tribute to a beloved member of the Suzuki family, Sora couldn't help but marvel at the sheer beauty of his surroundings. The fountains danced gracefully, their cascading waters catching the sunlight in a dazzling display, while vibrant flowers swayed gently in the breeze, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. The grass beneath his feet glistened with dewdrops, as if adorned with tiny crystals, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

As he approached the elegant gates, they swung open with a soft creak, revealing Zedd standing there, a wide grin spread across his face. In his hands, he held two bulging bags of goodies and a cake box, much to Sora's surprise.

"Zedd, I told you my mom was making tiramisu, why did you bring a cake, and all these gifts too?" Sora exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice as he tried to wrap his head around the extravagant gesture.

"Well, Sora, I felt like I didn't properly congratulate you last time when you won this mansion, so I wanted to make up for it," Zedd explained, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he offered the bags to Sora.

As Sora eagerly delved into the first bag, his eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of four volumes of the One Piece manga, along with an additional volume in French. But it was the customized Funko Pop, depicting Sora in his iconic backwards cap and t-shirt, that truly took his breath away.

"You did not!" Sora gasped, his voice choked with emotion as he thanked his best friend, tears welling up in his eyes.

But the surprises didn't end there. In the second bag, Sora found a Burberry Hero perfume bottle, a flat red bill baseball cap adorned with his emblem-a skeleton wearing a backwards baseball cap and headphones-and a custom-made red varsity jacket, complete with his initials embroidered on the back.