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Lottie had invited Micha'el to another one of her sleepover parties, except usually, at most sleepovers, you won't go to the person's room who invited you. Not tonight. Lottie had insisted on coming to Micha'els room for the sleepover. He wasn't sure why, but decided trying to argue against her simply wasn't going to work. Micha'el was slouched back in his desk chair, before a great window that usually looked out upon the land surrounding Hope Academy. His leg was kicked up against the side of his bed where Lottie had made her nest. She was surrounded in blankets and some cushions she brought from her room, in bright colours of red. It was a stark contrast to his usually calm room of blue, grey and the occasional splash of yellow textile. Micha'el was in some dark trousers and a white linen shirt that could pass for casual. Lottie was in her pyjamas, black lounge trousers and a scarlet red tank top. Micha'el had just closed the curtains so that the enchanted sconces on the walls could calmly light the room. He could hear the rain beating down from outside as if a thousand little rodents with wet feet were putting together a marching band. The thought could have made him laugh if it were not for Lottie's distraction.

"Hey" she said, waving her hands in front of his face. "That rain isn't going to distract us from having the best night ever!"
"Every night is the best night ever for you Lottie" Micha'el added, rolling his eyes. "And? Well... it could be better. You know." Lottie seemed to look down, saddened. Micha'el knew she must be thinking about Tsuna. Without her around, it was like a fire had been taken from their friend group. They knew that she needed to deal with some personal issues, but the way she suddenly left had hurt them. They didn't blame her, but they worried. Professor Estrella had promised them she was safe, and had managed to get involved with an impromptu mission with the Injustira Syndicate. Lottie worried a lot though, even if she often put a mask over it. Micha'el always noticed that glimmer vanish in her eyes. When she'd turn around to walk to class, or when she laughed through jokes with other students, when she would close her study book or stare out through the window. Her lips wouldn't quite curl the same way, or her eyes wouldn't quite reach the place she wasn't to look. "Well" Micha'el began, lightly kicking his foot against her bundle of cushions and blankets, knocking a few off the side of his bed. "This one kinda sucks, these pillows aren't nearly big enough for a pillow fight"
"Take that back!" Lottie shouted, dismayed, pointing a finger at him. "I'll have you know these are my favourite cushions and by the spirits within my glaive I WILL use them as ammunition." But Micha'el was already discretely grabbing his own pillow when Lottie let out a gasp and at the exact moment he moved to swing his pillow at her she had already launched 3 of her own, smaller pillows towards his face. As if stunned, knocked back in his seat he let out a laugh as Lottie began to laugh with him. For a few minutes the two of them exchanged blows, taking opposite corners of the room. Lottie had created a fortress whilst Micha'el appeared to be losing the battle beside his wardrobe. It wasn't long until Lottie decided it was time for her to grab the mother of all pillows from her room to teach Micha'el a lesson. She made her way towards the door and opened it without much of a thought of whether someone would be waiting.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Lottie felt a rush of cold move through her body, like ice. Stood there before her, taller than herself, was a drenched Tsuna. Her red hair stuck to her cheeks and her clothes were sodden through. Lottie stiffened, falling silent as her eyes grew wide. Micha'el could only see the side of Lottie from where he stood, unsure of what had happened. "Lottie?" he asked, beginning to move. Then in a sudden act of instinct, Lottie stepped forwards and hugged Tsuna tightly, so tightly it could have took the breath away from her. She held tight so that Tsuna couldn't even try to pull away. Burying her face into Tsuna's chest Lottie let out a small wimper. "Tsuna" she said, as if a great weight had been taken off her shoulders. That was when Micha'el turned the corner and stopped, too stunned to speak. He locked eyes with Tsuna over Lottie's shoulder. Now Tsuna would notice how, since she'd been gone, Micha'el had a haircut that was more mature. In fact it made his face shine. "Tsuna" he repeated under his breath. Lottie was still holding tightly and said "now it's the best sleepover ever."

Pulling into an embrace with Tsuna and Lottie felt natural. The three of them gripped tightly onto one another, a trio of love locked together by hope and friendship. Neither Lottie or Micha'el cared for how wet they had become, it was all worth it to finally have their teammate back. When Tsuna apologised they hugged her more tightly. "You're no dog or mutt" Micha'el said quietly, "you're our friend. And we will never leave you." After a few more moments the three of them finally separated and there was a moment of silent contemplation among them. Micha'el felt the weight of the moment pressing down on them. It didn't feel heavy. It was a comforting blanket taking over them. Tsuna shook herself out, letting the droplets of water fly across the room in an attempt to dry herself off. Micha'el and Lottie tried to protect themselves with their arms raised, as if it would matter at this point. Their clothes were also damp and sticky by this point. When Tsuna remarked about the pillows and threw one at her face, Lottie was taken off-guard and almost dazed. "Well..." Lottie began, "let's go to my room and grab some new clothes, then we can come back and catch up."

The two girls went to Lottie's room, who had spare clothes for Tsuna, and Micha'el took a moment to tidy his room some and change into some dry clothes of his own. Now he wore his own pyjamas that were loose navy trousers and a baggy navy t-shirt. When the girls returned, he let them take his bed to get cosy among Lottie's blankets and cushions whilst he retook his seat by the desk. Lottie caught Tsuna up on their recent studies and training, as well as a short duo mission in the wilderness between Hope Academy and Neutral City. But nothing too exciting happened. Conversation then turned to Tsuna, who described her chaotic arrival at Skyfall, meeting a mysterious figure called Legion, and her unlikely pairing with a lady named Leah - an Inquisitor for the white guild. "So" Micha'el raised a hand to gesticulate. "You're telling me this inquisitor actually managed to put up with your hot headedness? I'd say Legion is the lesser of two here.." He let out a grin as Lottie let out a gasp. She embraced Tsuna in a tight hug from the side. "Take that back!"

Lottie seemed to lean towards Tsuna more and more after each detail, taking in every name and description she could with awe. "I'm so jealous" he murmured out as Tsuna continued on. Micha'el cocked an eyebrow at the mention of Lea and how he seemed to view the world. "I hate to say it, but I've heard some of the most devout of the syndicate are... something like that." It was a cliché, but often true. The Injustira Syndicate had many great people working under its name. But there were also some that took their laws too seriously. The syndicate was basically a religion too. Micha'el knew the syndicate's history well, it was one of his favourite studies. There are some in the syndicate who believe a return to immortality and the Heavens is their true path. Tsuna then turned attention to lottie, pinching her cheek. Lottie grinned but also tried to avoid the pinch. Micha'el looked down to meet's Tsuna upside-down gaze as she laid out over the bed between the two of her friends. "You'll have to battle it out with Lottie" he said calmly, "she already made her nest." Lottie seemed unbothered, and in fact looked rather proud. When Tsuna mentioned Aoi, the three of them fell silent for a brief moment.

"Oh, well... the academy is planning the christmas ball soon and... there's a rumour the Headmaster is going to invite Merlin Academy students as well." Lottie lightly patted Tsuna's legs with a mild excitement as she announced the news. Micha'el then gestured with his hand. "Yeah, a show of unity" he said, "at least that's what some of the other students have said. Nothing has been announced yet, but the professors aren't denying anything either. The same rumour is running around at Merlin too. Aoi sent a message"

Mention of the ball seemed to pique Tsuna's interest, just enough for her to recall the Onsen twins. Those two certainly were a handful. Especially in Otherwise during the expedition. Micha'el was glad that they learned their lesson and hoped, since then, the two of them would make better choices on who to side with. At the mention of dancing, Lottie was about to give Tsuna a motivational speech but quickly noticed the girl had fallen asleep. Lottie tilted her head, giving a small smile. Micha'el noticed her expressions relax immediately. "She must be exhausted" Micha'el stated, standing up. "I don't remember seeing her ever look so calm when sleeping" Lottie pulled up one of her blankets to cover Tsuna, and then herself. Micha'el walked over towards a light switch, "you two stay comfortable. I'll grab the matress from your room and be back in a moment". He flicked off the switch and as the room fell to twilight he left.

It wasn't long until Micha'el came back, and he managed to drag the mattress behind him on the wooden floor quietly enough not to disturb the girls. It wasn't long until he had joined them in sleep. In fact he felt himself drift to sleep quite easily, no longer wondering where on Magic Earth his missing friend was.