Submission (#1697) Approved

The Ladybug Club was Taiki’s pride and joy. If someone asked Velia, she’d insist that becoming a club was her idea and that until she showed up Taiki and Everest were just ‘hunting bugs for no reason’. But nope! The adventurer that he was, the club had always been at the forefront of his mind.

“And that’s why, it is with great honor that I welcome you to become an official member of---bah bah- THE LADYBUG CLUB!” Taiki announced with every ounce of oxygen left in his chest.

The pattering of kittom applause was less than satisfactory, but he could work with that. What agitated him slightly was the deadpan look that one of the newest members was giving him. Right there in front of him at their club house! DURING the ceremony! 

The paw-dacity of this kit!

Before him stood a blue kittom that he assumed was more fluff than fight. Mizuki, Velia had introduced him as. Either Mizuki had his mind elsewhere, or there wasn’t a mote of humor or joy behind his eyes. Taiki wanted to believe the former, as the second would make Mizuki some kind of fluffy monster.

With a playful squint, Taiki plucked one of the crawly, wriggly little bugs from the club’s bug pile. It crawled gingerly from his paw, up his arm and toward his shoulder as he lifted that paw high in the air, “With this ladybug, you do swear to always have fun, always adventure and alw--”

“....bug…?” 

Taiki paused, smile still frozen on his face, “Huh?”

“Do I have to keep the bug?” Mizuki repeated, slightly louder this time. 

Taiki gave a deep sigh, lowering his arm to address this ridiculous question. “Of course you have to keep the bug… we ARE the Ladybug Club, Mizuki.” 

There was a cough on the other side of the clubhouse as massive ears sank out of view and Velia muttered something along the lines of “Oh, I lost mine” or something.

Suddenly feeling a change of heart, Taiki cleared his throught, “I mean, you’re supposed to keep it, but if you lose it or something it’s no big deal. It’s still a livin’ thing, it’s got a life too and all.”

Hoping at least that all the Ladybug Club bugs were still alive, and that he certainly didn’t hear Oliver admitting to sitting on his, he went to resume the ceremony--

“Does it have a name?” Mizuki again interrupted.

“A name? Well, no but you can give it one,” Taiki grumbled, waving his free paw. 

“What if I want more ladybugs?”

“You can just find some more…”

“Will I be more of a member?”

“What?” Taiki couldn’t believe this.

“I mean, I’d have more Ladybugs. So wouldn’t that mean I’m more of Ladybug Club member than someone that just had one?” Mizuki closed his eyes, apparently lost in the math of Ladybug Club membership. It just frustrated Taiki…

With a grumble, he smacked his paw down on Mizuki’s head, violently loosening the ladybug from his arm and ruthlessly letting it land between the fellow Kittom’s ears. “THERE. Take it!”

“But my quest--”

“No,” Taiki blurted, flailing his arms, “You don’t get to be more of a member with more ladybugs. You have your official ladybug, all others don’t count! Jeeze! And it’s more of a namesake really , we’re more about the adventure and stuff, dude!”

Almost disappointed, Mizuki scoffed, turning to address the others. “I hope to be a good, productive member of the Ladybug Club.”

Again the other kittoms applauded, a bit too disjointed to be the enthusiastic cheer Taiki expected, but figured that would come the more the club grew. They already had members spanning all over, and he anticipated more kittoms joining soon. He’s also finally got Oliver to stop suggesting that they allow adults to join because he was concerned about ‘supervision’ and ‘safety’ and all that dumb stuff.

“Hey guys?” Taiki looked around the room, his tail swaying as everyone slowly stopped their chatter. “I just wanted to say… thank you.”

“For what?” Oliver almost sounded offended.

“For joining the club. For being here. For being my friends!” Taiki smiled so broadly he had to close his eyes or risk looking like a maniac. “The Ladybug Club wouldn’t even exist without all of you here with me, and I hope it continues to exist for a really really long time!”

“Aww, you’re welcome, Taiki!” Velia squealed, rushing over to him and tackling him to the dirt floor of their bush of a clubhouse. Taking the hint, Oliver rushed over too, not wasting the opportunity to hop on his belly, winding him. 

Oliver chuckled, “You big dummy, we’d be your friend even without the club!”

Mizuki walked calmly over and placed a paw on the pile, as the last few kittoms made it over to join the group hug. “I just met you all, but I guess you’re alright.” He stated plainly.

Taiki smiled, and made a mental note to trip Oliver next time he had the chance.

Their applause had been scattered, but at least now they all laughed and tumbled together. At least until someone asked, “Everyone left their bugs in their chairs, right?”