...
With some help from Arona, I got a view of the Mouryo via various cameras within the district.
"This way!" I say, prompting us to turn a corner. I just watched Shizuko let them go. It seems like she and Pina have fallen for Niya's trick, thankfully.
"Izuna will never allow them to get away!" The fox declares. However, we come to a stop when Shizuko giggles proudly- sounding like an evil villain-, her and Pina blocking our way.
"Not so fast!" The short brunette declares.
"You may not pass!" The blonde adds, seeming like she's really enjoying this.
"Huh?" Michiru blinks.
"Wow! I knew this performance was gonna be popular, but I didn't think Sensei would participate too... Or a bunch of ninja girls, for that matter..." Shizuko muses. "What a fun surprise!"
"Well, it seemed like it'd be fun." I shrug.
"And how sad! For our one-time comrades against the evil lord Date Meowru to become our enemies!" Pina bemoans. "A vigilante's path is so sad! So cruel!"
"Who's this Meowru guy?" Iroha asks.
"Just a mess we had to deal with a while back." I shrug.
"Izuna and Aruji-dono kicked his butt!" Izuna adds.
"Aren't you in the Momoyodou? Why would you be getting in our way? Don't tell me... are you working with the mouryo?" Michiru asks, seeming to forget this is a PERFORMANCE.
"Oh! I recognize you now." Shizuko says. "You're the weirdo leader who plays ninja with Izuna all day!"
"Who're you calling a weirdo?!" The tanuki snaps.
"Honestly, normal is kinda boring." I comment. "Plus, everyone in Kivotos is kinda weird."
"Huh? You think we're weird too?" Shizuko asks, upset.
"I-I-I know all about the Momoyodou!" Tsukuyo chimes in. "It's a terrifying place where they subject you to m-maniacal and disturbing service... then they s-slap you with an astronomical bill!"
"A ninja won't be tricked by the seedy underbelly of the industry like you!" Izuna adds.
"You have it totally wrong! Where did you even hear that?!" Shizuko snaps.
"Clumsy airheaded idol?" I remind, raising an eyebrow and crossing my arms.
Shizuko has the decency to look away. "Ugh! I'm just in charge of the first obstacle!"
"Obstacle...?" Iroha asks.
"You mean the trial for the performance?" Michiru asks. How did she not get that?
"Yes, welcome to the first trial!" The small brunette smiles. "This one is called the Face and the Bodyguard! And I, the star and owner of Momoyodou, Kawawa Shizuko, am its gatekeeper!"
"Me too! I'm Asahina Pina!" The blonde adds.
"Aren't you wondering why they chose me as the gatekeeper for the first obstacle?" Shizuko asks with a prideful giggle. "I'll get right to the point! Because I, Shizuko, as the face of Momoyodou, am the perfect choice to be the very first face that greets you in this adventure!"
"...Should Izuna laugh now?" Izuna cluelessly asks.
"Waaaah?!" Shizuko cries. "Forget it! I don't need your pity laughs anyway! I don't need a script either. Let me start over... You brave warriors who have come to rescue the kidnapped princess, I am Shizuko, the face of Momoyodou!"
"And I'm her bodyguard, Pina! Take us down or you'll never pass!" The blonde chirps, enjoying all of this a lot.
"Guess were doin' this then." I smile. "Get 'em!" I shout, pointing at the two interlopers.
The girls all nod, brandishing their weapons, even Iroha who pulls out a pistol.
The battle is quick and short-lived, as I expected for a performance. Though Michiru did surprise me by using a firework- one seemingly overcharged with Mystic as it knocked her back onto her ass. Though it DID destroy Shizuko's fake food cart thing she made with her Mystic to use as a shield.
"Such strength! You truly must be the princess' saviors! We surrender!" The 'clumsy' girl cries.
"...That's it? That was way too easy." Michiru deadpans.
"Would you rather fight to the death? This is just a performance you know?" Shizuko asks, raising an eyebrow.
"R-Right. Of course!" The grayette says, nervously. Really?
"But wow! I didn't expect such a small girl to be so strong!" Pina praises Iroha, who punched her at one point when she got close enough. Tell that to Hina. Or Hoshino. Or Neru. Or... a lot more small but strong girls in this city. "That battle was so exhilarating! I'm still buzzing from the adrenaline! You ninjas might be doing something right."
"Hm, you're onto something..." The brunette maid hums. "It didn't occur to me during the Cherry Blossom Festival, but theatrics if that caliber... might be worth a pretty penny... Say, you're the Ninjutsu Research Club, right?"
The trio of three happily nod- or slightly shyly in Tsukuyo's case and confused in Michiru's.
"I'll admit, I thought the whole ninja shtick was silly at first, but you know, you really proved yourselves. I'll be rooting for you, underdogs!" Shizuko smiles.
"Um... thanks." Michiru says, still a touch confused.
"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but you passed!" Shizuko announces. "And I will be your guide to the next trial."
"Well ain't that helpful." I smile.
Michiru nods. "Let's do this. Let's go get those mouryo, squad!"
"Yes!" "Y-Yes...!" "Alright." The other three say, causing me to chuckle.
----------
As we continue to chase the mouryo, so too does the blimp Niya is on. Or maybe she isn't on it? I dunno at this point. Whatever the case, she sure is keeping the act up. Shizuko pointed us in our targets' direction as Niya continues to be the announcer.
"Countless students from both schools are in hot pursuit of the evil kidnappers as we speak!" Thre oni says. Are they? They must be falling behind 'cause I don't see anyone else. "Meet some of the front-runners in the race! These girls in particular are a crowd favorite, it seems. Introducing the Ninjutsu Research Club from Hyakkiyako!"
Sure enough, the camera footage show on the blimp is following us closely.
"They're more of a social group than an official club though... Bwahaha!" Niya laughs. "But all that could change if they rescue Princess Waraku from the evil kidnappers! Bwahaha! Here's to a dazzling performance~!"
"She's just commentating the entire thing like a sports tournament! Can she not do that?!" Michiru snaps.
"Meh, from what I've gleamed of her, I'm not surprised." I deadpan.
"And it'd be weird if there was no commentary at all... It's supposed to be a broadcasted event." Tsukuyo points out.
"That's not what I'm saying!" The tanuki complains.
I agree, Niya seems to have played along with this TOO quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if she planned this, honestly.
"President! This way!" Izuna says.
"Come on." Iroha quietly adds.
"Oh! Right..." Michiru nods.
As we move forward, we hear complaining. Maybe some of the other competitors? Doubtful. Did any even pass us?
"Sh-She's too strong!" One girl complains.
"How can someone have no openings...?" Another groans.
Rounding the corner, we find why they're having troubles.
"Let's hurry this up. I'm late for my nap." Tsubaki, the girl with... panda? Raccoon? ears says, sounding sleepy as usual.
"Oh, it's you, Tsubaki." I greet.
"Hi, Sensei. It's me." She smiles. "This is... the second obstacle, the Sleeping Beauty..." She explains with a cute yawn. "Don't let... your guts... or... be..." Her eyes begin to blink more and more. "...finished... off..." Her eyes then shut. "Danger..." Then she falls asleep.
"Is she... sleeping?" The tanuki asks, wide eyed.
"That's Tsubaki for ya." I smile.
"And I thought Gehenna students were weird..." Iroha mutters, glancing at the defeated students, some of them from Gehenna.
Then the raccoon girl's eyes open slightly as she yawns. "The cabal that kidnapped the princess fled through here... If you want to go after them, the rules are simple."
"We have to pay close attention... She could give us tips." Tsukuyo suggests.
"Mm-hmm." The sleepy girl hums sleepily. "If you can cross over this line... while I'm asleep... You're... Kaede... called this... 'Snooze'..."
"Izuna is confused!" Izuna cries.
"She fell asleep mid-sentence again... Are all Kivotos students like this?" Iroha asks.
"Now you're getting it." I joke, causing the redhead to smack my arm lightly.
Unfortunately, more people arrive. Even more unfortunate, they're Tsubaki's 'fans'.
"Whoa! A Sleeping Beauty attraction? I never would have thought of that!" One exclaims.
"She has no blind spots! Is she asleep right now? Is she awake?!" Another cries.
Tsubaki looks at them, before closing her eyes.
"Now's our chance!" The second fan shouts, like an idiot. As they fire at her, Tsubaki easily blocks it with her shield.
""She's really unstoppable!"" They cry.
"You idiots announced your attack! Of course she's gonna stop it!" I snap at them.
"Uh..." Tsubaki groggily moans. "The rules if this trial go like this... 'If you cross over the line while I'm asleep, you pass. If you're caught before you cross, you fail'. And you've all failed! Here's your punishment." She then snaps her fingers.
"What does she...?" Michiru asks.
Suddenly, we all hear footsteps. A lot of footsteps, all coming right towards us. A moment later, a fucking battalion of part-time students show up.
"Holy crap! It's a horde of Labor Party members!" One cries, fearfully of the new arrivals. The Labor Party members then grab a hold of the losers and literally drag them away, leaving us all baffled.
"Not a horde... a tsunami! They were swept away!" Tsukuyo cries, fearful as well.
"Impressive." I compliment. Very dramatic.
Tsubaki yawns. "Who's up next...?"
"Wait, we have to fight the Sleeping Beauty?! Why did the difficulty rise so much from the first trial to the second?" Michiru asks. "Right when we're so close... How're we supposed to get through?"
"President! Aruji-dono! Izuna will show you her ninja powers!" Izuna chirps.
"I-Izuna?" Tsukuyo asks, surprised.
"You have a plan to beat the Sleeping Beauty?" The grayette asks.
"Yep, yep! Izuna prepared a little something special for situations just like this!" The fox smiles.
"Izuna. Are you sure you can do it?" I ask, looking her dead in the eye.
"Nn!" Izuna nods, before pulling out... what is...? "Behold! A tool ever self-respecting ninja should own! A hollowed-out bamboo barrel! Izuna will use this to employ her Sleepy Raccoon Ninjutsu technique and figure out if Tsubaki is sound asleep or not!"
That's... certainly a plan.
"G-Good luck, Izuna." The purplette says.
Michiru smiles. "Not bad. Crush it, Izuna!"
"You got this." I nod, sure she can do it.
Izuna then hops into the thing, sneaking around Tsubaki. Although, not very quietly...
"Sneak quietly..." She mutters, for some reason. She moves back and forth, eyeing the sleeping girl from every angle, before... "Now! Nin Nin Slide!" She then slides on the ground, right past the sleeping Tsubaki.
"And the winner is Izuna!" The fox girl cheers, making fox head shapes with her fingers.
Tsubaki opens her eyes with a yawn. "You... passed me...?" She blinks a few times before smiling brightly. "Hah. Congratulations!"
"Whoa!" A onlooker from Hyakkiyako gasps. "That technique blew my mind!"
"She really managed to pass the Sleeping Beauty without a scratch?" A onlooker from Gehenna blinks.
"Wh-Who IS she?" A Hyakkiyako student asks.
"Excellent job, Izuna!" Michiru smiles, proud of her friend.
"Izuna, you're... amazing!" Tsukuyo praises.
"I'll admit, that was impressive stealth." Iroha nods.
Izuna is all smiles as she comes back over to us. I walk over to her and pat her on the head. "You've improved, huh, Izuna?" I ask.
"Hehe~" Izuna smiles.
"...Aren't you celebrating a little early?" Iroha asks. Ah, right.
"Great job, Izuna! Let's go on to the next station-" Michiru begins to walk forward, before leaping back as a Labor Party member shoots at her. "Wha?! Why are you shooting at us?! She crossed over the line, fair and square!"
"...Uh-huh... She sure did..." Tsubaki groggily nods. "But did the rest of you?"
"Huh?" The tanuki blinks.
"Ah, so it's a free for all." I hum.
The raccoon girl smiles. "No, I'm teasing. Since one of you made it through... The obstacle's special rule kicks in! And that rule is... If you can beat me, you can pass!"
"Just you?" I ask.
"Just me..." Tsubaki clarifies. "They're only here to assist with the regular rules." She says, motioning towards the Labor Party members.
"Seriously...?" Michiru groans, clearly not wanting to fight.
Tsubaki readies her gun and shield. "Here I come, the Sleeping Beauty and second gatekeeper of the Princess Waraku experience!"
Once again, it's a handicap fight as the fo or girls all beat Tsubaki rather handedly. She clearly wasn't going all out either, as it's a show, after all. I stayed back and let them do the work. All of this IS being televised, after all. I oughta hold back, just to be safe.
"Great work everyone...!" Tsubaki smiles, having been defeated. "Not the most orthodox way to pass... But you still beat me... Even if it was just barely, thanks to Sensei's commands..."
"Does that mean we can pass?" Michiru warily asks.
"Yup! Just go straight and turn right to go to the next trial!" The raccoon nods. "By the way, I heard on the broadcast. You're the Ninjutsu Research Club?"
"O-Oh! Haha, well... Yeah, we are." Michiru says, a bit surprised by the attention.
Tsubaki smiles. "I guess ninjas are pretty cool after all."
Michiru freezes while Tsukuyo quietly gasps. "Right?! Ninjas are the coolest!" Izuna chirps.
"Bye, Sensei! Bye, ninjas! Good luck to you all!" The sleepy girl smiles, prompting us to continue.
"Later, Tsubaki." I smile.
----------
Not long after we walk past the second trial...
"P-President. Just now..." Tsukuyo begins.
"I know. That's the first time another student has said that to us." Michiru says, still surprised.
"And she's not wrong! Ninjas are the coolest! Right, Aruji-dono?" Izuna smiles.
I nod. "Ninjas are pretty cool."
"We need to keep moving." Iroha hurries. "The kidnappers are getting farther and farther away as we speak."
"Ack. Okay, let's go." The tanuki nods.
As we proceed forward, Niya continues with her announcements. "The heart of the chase is really starting to crank up! And just as predicted! The Ninjutsu Research Club is still leading the pack after passing the Sleeping Beauty's trial with flying colors! Is this what a ninja performance looks like?" She asks. I can practically hear the grin. "Having Schale's Sensei on the team seems like a slight infraction and should likely be looked into..." You'd better not. "But a festival is a place of fun! And looking the other way when the rules get bent a little is all part of the entertainment! Hehehe! Keep on fighting, everyone!"
"I don't think she's trying to cover anything up." Iroha groans.
"I know. I thought Student Council Presidents were supposed to be smart." I snark.
"Pfft." Iroha hold back a laugh at that. "Still, thanks to her, we're..."
"Yeah..." I nod. We've got lots of eyes on us. I can hear the onlookers muttering thanks to my hearing.
"Did you hear? They got through the Sleeping Beauty in record time!" A Hyakkiyako student asks.
"Going toe-to-toe against the president of the Inner Discipline Club? What even is this Ninjutsu Research Club anyway?" Another scoffs.
"Are they even a real club...?" The first asks, unsure.
"What kind of stupid name is the 'Ninjutsu Research Club' anyway? Pfft." The second scoffs.
"Stupid?! How rude!" Michiru snaps. Guess she heard them. I wonder if having two pairs of ears like that helps?
"Don't listen to 'em." I say. "They're probably just confused 'cause they haven't heard of y'all."
"M-Maybe, but..." The grayette trails off.
"Don't listen to 'em." I repeat, more strongly this time.
"This... is still a lot of attention..." Tsukuyo mutters.
"Then that just means we have to show everyone what being a ninja really means!" Izuna says, determined. "We've got this, President!"
"Or you could do that." I nod. Proving people wrong always seems to work.
Michiru still seems unsure, but she eventually smacks her cheeks. "No! Never! Now's not the time for those thoughts! As long as we catch the mouryo and finish this ridiculous chase once and for all, we'll be okay!"
"That's the spirit!" Izuna smiles.
Walking a bit further, Michiru pauses when we come across...
"Oh! Welcome, contenders!" Mimori smiles. "I am Mizuha Mimori of the third obstacle, the Scary Mind Reader! You must beat me in order to pass!"
"...The what now?" I deadpan.
"Ooh! Aruji-dono! Izuna has heard of this!" Izuna exclaims. "There are lots of weirdos in the Inner Discipline Club! One of them is blessed with the terrifying ability to read minds!"
"I... vaguely remember Shizuko mentioning something like that during the Cherry Blossom festival." I furrow my brows at the memory. There was also something like 'solving a puzzle while asleep' too, wasn't there?
"I-I believe that's simply a rumor..." Mimori instantly denies, before pausing, looking worried. "Oh, dear! Um, I meant to say... Yes! You have indeed found me! One of the most powerful allies of the princess-kidnapping cabal... 'Tis I, the Mind Reader! Th-The Mind Reader, that's me! ...That's the setup..." She mutters at the end, a bit embarrassed.
"Don't push yourself, Mimori." I tell the poor girl.
"Huh, that's a pretty professional angle. I guess I'd expect nothing less from a tourism powerhouse like Hyakkiyako..." Iroha mutters.
"Uh, ugh..." The pinkette groans. "Anyway! No thought or idea is safe from me, so brace yourselves for my mind-reading powers!" She closes her eyes for a moment as I look at the trio. Michiru and Tsukuyo are just confused, but Izuna is a bit curious. Mimori then opens her eyes. "F-First off, Izuna!"
"Eek!" Izuna squeaks, recoiling a bit in fright.
"Izuna is desperate to defeat me, so she can keep moving forward!" Mimori declares.
"Ack?! How'd you know?!" Izuna cries.
"And Tsukuyo..." She continues, causing the shy girl to freeze. "She hopes to keep doing her best so she can be helpful to her friends!"
"W-Wow! She's right! She really can read minds..." The purplette says, surprised, before it turns to slight fear at the end.
"And Michiru!" The pinkette continues, causing the tanuki to freeze. "She... She has a lot on her mind! She's ambivalent. Michiru hopes to keep moving forward with all her heart, but a part of her is telling her to return home!"
"G-Geez, it's so subtle!" Michiru worriedly says, put on the spot. "She's right... But also, not really?"
"As for Iroha!" She continues, causing the redhead to raise an eyebrow. "She wishes to save the princess with all of her heart!"
"That's kinda obvious, isn't it?" Iroha asks.
Mimori chuckles theatrically. "Knowing the extent of my powers, do you really think you can beat me?"
"Yup." I nod.
"S-Sensei-dono?" Michiru asks, surprised by my confidence.
"S-Sensei?" Even Mimori's blue eyes widen. "F-Fine! Prepare yourself, Sensei!" She then closes her eyes for a moment before opening them, a confused look on her face. "Ah! Th-This is...?"
"Eh?" Izuna blinks.
"Why does she look surprised?" Michiru asks.
"This is... How?" Mimori asks.
"What is it?" Tsukuyo asks.
"He's... I can't read his mind at all!" Mimori cries.
"""EHH?!""" The trio of three shout.
I just chuckle pridefully. "It's a trick I picked up. Never, ever let your opponent know your next move."
"But how?" The pinkette asks.
"Simple. The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma." I joke.
Tsukuyo gasps quietly. "This is just like one of President's comic books! The main characters use this strategy to fight against a ninjutsu master who can read minds! The Zoning Out Technique!"
Iroha just deadpans. "Really? She's not even mind-reading. She's just adept at reading and picking up on other people's emotions. What happened earlier was just an extension of that."
I nod. "That adds up. Mimori's always thinking about others." She really is a sweet girl.
"Oh, dear. Thank you for your kind words, Sensei." The pinkette blushes. "Well naturally, this mind-reading bit is just a feature of the event. There's no such thing as actually reading people's minds!" She smiles. "Though the trial WAS to defeat, you technically did so by defeating my 'technique', so... Congratulations on passing the trial!" Seriously? No fighting this time? Must be a miracle.
"Eh? We seriously won?" Michiru asks, wide eyed. "Great! Let's get outta here." She smiles, moving to leave.
"Oh, but Michiru." Mimori stops her.
"Uh... yes?" The grayette asks.
"I'm just a volunteer actor in this event, so this may not be my place to speak my opinion." The pinkette begins. "But a proper lady never withholds advice when its needed. Michiru, I'm truly moved by your kindness, but you should believe in the strength of your beloved clubmates."
"...Strength?" The tanuki blinks.
"Yes, that's correct." Mimori smiles.
"What do you mean?" Michiru asks, confused.
"What matters is we made it through the trial. What is everyone waiting for?" Iroha asks. "We need to get to Ibuki."
"Oh. Uh, yeah..." Michiru blinks.
"Good luck to you all!" Mimori says.
With that, we move onwards.
----------
Soon, we come to the next trial, held at a large, Japanese-style mansion, complete with front gates and everything. Kaede, the cheerful shortstack, awaited us just outside of said gates.
"Hey, y'all! Welcome to your next obstacle, the Trick House!" Kaede chirps. "Filled with countless traps and gadgets, it's the Whirlpool Movie Village's number one tourist spot!"
"Isn't that just a ninja mansion?" Michiru asks.
"Ooh!" Izuna gains stars in her eyes.
"Please don't sweat the little details." The mouse eared girl says, frantically waving her hand. "Listen up! I am Isami Kaede, and I'm in charge of the fourth trial, the Trick House! I'm fifteen years old, and my hobby is catching beetles!"
"Little bit too much info there." I chuckle.
The small miko merely giggles. "And the cabal that kidnapped the princess has already fled inside the mansion! Or something like that... Line, please? ...Anyway, passing this trial is simple: Get through that mansion, navigate the obstacles within, and reach the goal point to save the princess!"
"Sounds simple." Iroha comments.
"But beware! It may sound simple, but I wouldn't underestimate the Trick House!" Kaede continues, theatrically.
"Okay, we got it! Trick house, ninja mansion, whatever it is, it's on! We're ready!" Michiru declares, taking a step forward.
"W-Wait, President...! Please hang back..." Tsukuyo cries.
"President! When it comes to trick houses, Izuna can't overstate how important it is to have an impenetrable strategy!" Izuna adds.
"It's fine. Fine! Everything is going to be fine!" Michiru snaps.
"Michiru, don't get a big head." I warn.
But she scoffs. "These are just attractions anyway! They're meant to be easy to get through!" And so, she runs along into the mansion.
Like an idiot.
"Wait! I haven't finished explaining yet!" Kaede shouts.
"Hang on a sec!" I shout, before a clicking sound is made.
"Eh?" Michiru says, stepping on a pressure plate.
"Oh...!" Tsukuyo cries.
"Crap..." Iroha groans.
"This is...?!" Izuna shouts.
"Goddammit..." I groan.
Then, the floor beneath us opens up and swallows us whole.
----------
"Bwahaha! The trials keep coming, but these girls just keep on forging ahead!" Niya's smiles, sitting in a traditional room. "And of course, you're right there with them every step of the way. I did have high expectations, but goodness... This is turning out to be even greater than I'd hoped. What fun. What tremendous, tremendous fun."
"Niya! What is happening?!" Kaho shouts, entering the room.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Kaho?" The oni asks.
"I received a call from the workers who were supposed to play the princess' kidnappers asking when the performance was beginning." Kaho explains. "Who on earth is with Ibuki right now?"
"You don't say? Isn't that just the strangest thing. Oh dear." Niya says, hiding her face behind her fan. "What do you think could be happening?"
"Are you-? Again?! Please, Niya! Who is it that's caught your fancy this time?!" Kaho cries, suddenly thousands of times more worried than before. But before her president can respond, the kitsune levels at glare at her. "Actually, I don't want to hear it. I'll have to handle this personally. Goodbye." She all but growls out before leaving the room just as fast as she entered it.
Niya pouts for a moment, but that doesn't last long. "Bwahaha! Oh, silly Kaho! It would be so much better if she could just sit back and relax. Well... I wonder what you'll do now? Compared to the obstacles you've been breezing through without a care in the world, I think you'll find this next one quite sensitive and... dare I say, delicate? What kind of response will you come up with in the face of such a challenge?"
Niya's smile widens.
"Hmm, Sensei~?"
----------
I groan, my back sore and stiff. Fuck, how far did I fall? Did I land on my head? Maybe, since I've got a little headache.
"Hahaha! That was quite a fall... Are you even alive, Mister?" A cute voice asks, causing me to snap my eyes open.
Standing over me, slightly bent over to look me in the eyes is a girl looking down at me- she looks upside down from my perspective. She's wearing a dark red obi with a small, black, Japanese top that forms a skirt- if it can even be called clothes, seeing as how it reveals so much of her pale skin and nearly revealing her nearly flat chest. The top has two bells attached, just below the collarbone. Over it is a grey haori with black outlines and dark red on the inside. I can't see her feet, but what I can see are the bandages. She has many of them all over- some on her shoulder, her hands, and even on her cheek.
Has she been in a fight, or is it just a style?
She carries... holy shit, that's a super old rifle. It's decorated with ofuda talismans on the barrel, interestingly. That looks like the kind of gun the Portuguese traded with Japan all the way back in the 1500s! Her halo is a dark red ring surrounded with... three clouds? No, those look like... what were they called? Hitodama I think? They're balls of fire that float around in the night, that actually are souls of the dead that've departed their bodies. Or are those onibi? That's what' will-o'-wisp' and 'jack-o'-lantern' translate into Japanese as.
Her hair is a pale mauve, but it's so pale that it appears grey- forming a sort of bowl cut around her head with the middle of the back much longer. The longer locks dangle above me, due to her being hunched over me. Small, pointed ears stick out from the bangs as well.
However, her eyes are her most striking feature- dark magenta, with pupils being a lighter shade of the color.
She grins down at me, before her eyes widen as I look at her. Her smile also widens, revealing small fangs. "You are! Haha! I'm surprised. Most adults would've broken a few things after a fall like that."
She hasn't said but a few words to me and seems nice, but my gut is never wrong- something that's been proven time and time again these past five years.
So why is it telling me to run with all of my might...?
I've met dangerous people before- the worst ones dangerous but not because of what they can do, but rather because of them seeing nothing wrong with the evils they can commit. Wakamo's notable due to being the first person in Kivotos to cause alarm bells to ring in my head, openly telling me she hates people save for me. This girl, though? Those bells sound like two dozen police sirens at max volume.
"Who... are you...?" I ask, cautiously.
"Hm?" She tilts her head. "Don't you know it's rude to ask someone's name and not introduce yourself first, Mister?"
"Ah, right. Shouldn't make a bad first impression." I say, playing off my wariness of this small girl. "I'm Joshua Birkin, the Sensei of Schale."
"Sensei...?" She blinks her magenta eyes before smiling happily. "Oh, this is great! I didn't expect to run into someone I've been wanting to meet for so long! Hahaha!" Her laughter sounds adorable.
But it's scaring the shit out of me. Why...?
"Well, I suppose I can give you my name." She grins. "It's nice to meet you, Sensei. My name is..."
The girl's smile widens, revealing those fangs of hers- the sight of her happiness unnerving me.
"...Yabuki Shuro."
AN
Well... hello there, Shuro-chan!
This chapter is shorter simply due to the fact that I wanted to to end with that cliffhanger. Not my fault I got to that part quicker than expected.
This one took a while to write because I was busy. I managed to fix my disc of the original SmackDown! vs RAW on the PS2 and have been playing that like crazy for a while now. Rubbing some petroleum jelly on it actually fixed the damn thing!
I was gonna post this Friday while at the library- since it's easier to do it on a computer as opposed to a phone- but didn't finish until Saturday, so I'm posting it today.
Also, DRESS HINA ANNOUNCED ON JP! Also, Ibuki's last name, Tanga, is revealed and will be added to chapter 5.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next!