The food court presented its own adventure.
Starfire stood before the condiment station like a knight facing a dragon. Her gaze locked onto the mustard dispenser.
"What is this yellow substance?"
"Mustard," Hikaru said. "It's kind of tangy and—"
She'd already squeezed a massive amount onto her hot dog. Then she took a bite.
Her eyes went wide.
Then she picked up the entire bottle and drank from it.
"Delicious! May I have another?"
Hikaru stared. Then he started laughing. "You really like that, huh?"
"It is most wonderful!" She looked at him seriously. "We must acquire more of this mustard for the Tower."
Over the next twenty minutes, Hikaru explained Earth food culture while Starfire sampled everything—fries, pizza, soda. She asked questions about every item with genuine curiosity.
"Earth has much variety!" she said between bites of pizza. "On Tamaran, we had sputflinks and glorg."
"I... have no idea what those are."
Her expression shifted—a flicker of sadness crossing her features. "I find I can barely remember their tastes anymore."
The grief in her voice was subtle but unmistakable. Hikaru understood that look. The ache of a home you could never return to.
"Hey," he said voice gentle. "Maybe we can recreate some dishes from your home. I'll grab you some bottles of mustard in the meantime."
"Yes." Her smile returned, softer but genuine. "I would like that."
After they finished eating, Hikaru gathered the shopping bags. "Should we head back?"
"Yes."
In the evening after returning to the Tower the team gathered in the training room. Robin stood at the center, arms crossed in his characteristic planning stance.
"Starfire, we should get a better understanding of what you can do. Combat assessment."
She floated a few inches off the ground, excitement radiating from her. "I shall demonstrate Tamaranean combat!"
What followed was impressive.
First, the starbolts—green energy erupting from her hands and eyes, obliterating training dummies in bursts of emerald light.
"Okay, that's some serious firepower!" Cyborg whistled.
Next came strength. Starfire lifted a barbell loaded with weights that made even Donna raise her eyebrows.
"Not bad," Donna said. "How much can you lift?"
"I have never found my limit."
The aerial maneuvers came naturally—graceful loops and dives as she dodged incoming projectiles. She moved through the air like it was her native element.
"She's fast and hits hard," Kid Flash complained. "That's not fair."
"Dude, she's like a flying tank!" Beast Boy added.
For the finale, hand-to-hand combat. Donna stepped forward, and the two began to spar—Tamaranean martial arts meeting Amazonian technique. It was elegant and brutal.
Hikaru watched from the sidelines. He'd almost forgotten she came from a warrior race. Every movement carried purpose, every strike was calculated.
Starfire noticed him watching.
She smiled mid-combat.
Which meant she didn't see Donna's sweep coming.
"Pay attention," Donna said, catching Starfire as she stumbled.
"My apologies!" Her face flushing a brighter shade of orange.
When they finished, Robin nodded approvingly. "You're a powerhouse, Starfire. Welcome to the team, officially."
The team applauded. pumped her fist, clearly pleased.
"Thank you. All of you."
Evening found the team sprawled across the common room furniture. Cyborg stood by the TV, remote in hand like a conductor's baton.
"Okay, Starfire's first movie night! What're we watching?"
"Something with action!" Beast Boy called from his beanbag.
"Something that won't make me want to leave," Raven added dryly.
"Romantic comedy!" Kid Flash suggested.
Everyone stared at him.
"What? I like happy endings."
After brief debate, they settled on an action-comedy—explosions and jokes, the perfect middle ground.
The opening credits rolled.
"Why are the names appearing in the sky?" Starfire asked, leaning forward.
"Those are the actors," Hikaru explained. "The people who pretend to be the characters."
"Pretend? Why not use real warriors?"
"Because it's safer?" Beast Boy offered.
As the movie progressed, Starfire provided running commentary:
"Why is he running from the explosion? Can he not fly?"
"That vehicle is inefficient. Why not simply destroy the enemies?"
The team answered patiently, though Kid Flash had to shush her twice during key plot moments.
When the romantic subplot emerged—two characters finally confessing their feelings after an hour of obvious attraction—Starfire tilted her head.
"Why do they wait so long to speak truth?"
"Earth people are... complicated about emotions," Raven said.
"That seems inefficient."
"Yeah," Hikaru murmured. "It really is."
The action climax had Starfire on the edge of her seat, literally levitating an inch above the couch cushion. She gasped at explosions, cheered for the heroes.
"The hero will prevail, yes?"
"Usually!" Beast Boy confirmed.
"Good. Heroes should win."
When the movie ended with the heroes victorious and the couple together, Starfire had tears streaming down her face—but she was smiling.
"It is beautiful! They found happiness!"
"Yeah, they did," Cyborg said, his own voice suspiciously thick.
Beast Boy turned to look. "Dude, are you crying?"
"Shut up, you're crying!"
As the team dispersed for the night, Starfire called out. "I enjoyed the 'movie night.' May we do this again?"
"Every week."
"Wonderful!"
Hikaru had claimed the Tower's roof as his thinking spot—quiet, open sky, city lights below. He sat on the edge, legs dangling over the side, when a familiar presence joined him.
Starfire floated up rather than using the door. "May I join you?"
"Of course."
She settled beside him. Close, but not touching. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Jump City's nighttime glow. Traffic hummed below, distant and peaceful.
"Hikaru... may I ask you something?"
"Ask away."
"On Tamaran, we are open with our hearts. If you care for someone, you tell them. You show them."
"That's... actually really healthy."
"But here, Raven said Earth people are 'complicated' about emotions."
Hikaru nodded. "Yeah. We overthink things. Worry about rejection, timing, what others think."
"That sounds exhausting."
He laughed. "It really is."
They lapsed into silence again, this time watching the stars. Hikaru found himself comparing them to the sky back in Tokyo.
After a while, Starfire stood, stretching. "Thank you for today. For the shopping, and the food, and... being patient with my questions."
"Anytime, Kory."
She smiled at the nickname, then floated toward the roof access. "Goodnight, Hikaru."
"Goodnight."
He watched her go, then turned back to the stars.