“I don’t like it, Hisano-! I don’t like it at all. It… just doesn’t seem you, you know?” Yasu was talking to his younger cousin, Hisano, and his face was twisted into an expression of frustration. It was a very Yasu expression, to be sure, but not usually in this text, and it was starting to piss me off a bit.

  It seemed it wasn’t just me, either, as Shugo spoke up. “e on, Yasu-kun, leave the pirl alo’s a day out, of course a girl is going to dress up for it, especially when she’s out with her friends.”

  “I know, but…” Yasu ran a hand through his hair in frustration, while looking at Hisano, who met his gaze boldly. Not wearing gsses, I see. tacts, or… no, that’s not it. “…it’s… where did little Hisano- go?”

  “I’m right here.” she replied huffily. “I’m still me. I don’t uand why you’re having so much trouble uanding that I’ve just ged a little. I’m growing up. Besides, do you really wao be shy and miserable for ever, Yasu-kun?”

  “She’s got you there!” Aimi was o speak. “All right, Yasu-kun, this is getting tiresome! Hisano-’s e out of her shell, and she’s cute! Women have to be cute, you agree?” Crossing her arms, iher daring dress she was wearing, drew Yasu-kun’s attention, and I held in a snicker as Shugo tried very hard not to openly peek, since his lovely partner Akiko had joined us. The teacher was a little older than Shugo, a couple of years or so, but she had a youthful enough attitude.

  “Yes, but…” he stammered, only for me to cut him off, as this was getting tiresome.

  “Look, shut it, Yasu. You’re just embarrassing yourself. It’s even worse than you think too. Even Aki’s not so overprotective of Aiko. I saw her earlier, and she’s all dressed up. But does Aki go all ‘oh no, you ’t dress so cute, all the boys will hit on you?’ and tell her to wear a shapeless jumper and jeans? Nope. If he did, we’d give him a damn good beating. I mean…” I rolled my onyx eyes, irritated. “…it’s sure funny to bully Aki for being a total sis, and holy, if he wasn’t protective of Aiko we’d kick his ass anyway, but… despite all the jokes, his care is so that she live her happiest life. And that means being free to do what she wants. Of course, if she does get a boyfriend, he better pray he’s a good man, else he’ll probably end up finding out what Foehn feels like first-hand, but…”

  I paused, took a breath, and looked at Hisano, earing an attractive red and white dress. It wasn’t even that revealing, through the skirt was a little short and her arms were bare. In addition, her hair was styled differently, and she wore light makeup. “…I doubt you’re fishing for a man anyway, are you Hisano?”

  She shook her head, exasperated. Behihe quiet Maiko from Hisuikomushi shriually smiled wryly.

  “No. Not that it’s a problem if I do. Nobody pins about Kana- dating Akio-kun. But me… I just want to like myself. And… I actually have talent, you know? See?” She tapped her eyes. “I didn’t even need any further Chirurgery or Healing. Now that I’ve pledged to Shirohebi as a worshipper… oh, sorry Maiko-, but I hate beetles…. Not the Jade Beetle, of course, but… uh, there’s big bes if you worship at the White Snake Earth Altar… uh… sorry, I’m rambling.” She flushed, embarrassed. “But yes, I’ve got my Levels, and my stats are enough to correct my vision. I still wear gsses sometimes though… my face feels a bit bare without them.”

  “She has a number of fashionable pairs.” Maiko fided, teasing her. “She spends a lot of her earnings on them. I think… it’s nice.”

  “Maiko-! That’s embarrassing! Anyway, Yasu-kun, we should go! If we miss any of the cert I’ll never five you, and the others will lynch you!”

  “Yeah, into the bus.” I chivvied everyone. “Hayato and Hina will meet us there, aill have a few others to pick up on the way. Make yourself useful and drive, Yasu.”

  “Yeah, I am, I am.” he grumbled, leading everyoo the borrowed minibus. “What is this? Everyone pi Yasu day?”

  “Isn’t that every day?” I sneered meanly, though there was no mali it. After all, Yasu’s a bit like Aki, they both like being bullied by cute girls, I think. “You’re just salty, since Karen has to work today. She’s ly keen on an idol date anyway.” I then cast my gaze over Aimi. “Is your boyfriend the same? I was sure you said he was ing. Maybe you’re just worried he’ll fall for me when he sees me? Don’t worry, I’ll never cheat on Aki, and even if I would, I wouldn’t do you dirty, girl!” I puffed out my chest proudly, and Aimi giggled, though…

  You see that Tan, am I imagining it?

  You woke me for that? How irksome. No, you are correct, princess, she is rather nervous. Though you mortals and your retionships are a plicated matter. Perhaps it is not going well? She bragged to you before that ‘he was a keeper’, no? It must be embarrassing to boldly decre something wrong.

  Well, sidering you steeled your heart to seduce the Buddha, and he walked on by, not giving you a sed gnce, and after that you shut yourself away from men, I get that. But… seems like you’ll be learning soon enough.

  Do not get ahead of yourself. Nothing is decided yet. Now, leave me be. I am not here to solve your dramas.

  Sure, sure. Well, e out ter and listen to the music, okay? It’s some top-tier groups pying.

  “I know. I trust you, Shiro.” Aimi agreed. “As for my boyfriend, sadly he’s got to work. It’s a bit of a rush job, but apparently something big is happening soon, in regard to some old hotel or something…”

  “Ah, bummer.” I agreed. “Bad luck for him. Though… Aki’s missing out too. Though Eri says he’s okay. I’m a little jealous…”

  “I don’t know.” Hisano piped up, surprising us. “I’d be a little scared of someone I liked being able to hear my thoughts, hear theirs. Sometimes… there’s things better left unknown. But Eri-’s a very bold woman. She’s also been really kind to me, and helped me in the Boundary.”

  “Is there someone you’re ied in then?” I asked, and she shook her head.

  “Not really. But… there’s a lot of romance going on at the shri’s impossible not to think about. Asami- and Ren-kuing, and several other shrine maidens have found love. Holy…” she giggled, looking at Maiko. “…that one from Akaiwashi shrine’s even fallen for a Faerie, right? Though at least it’s an Elf. I’m not sure I’d be able to fall for one of those weasels… oh, ell Shaeu I said that, okay?”

  “My lips are sealed. Though…” Maiko smiled mysteriously. “I think that if any true interspecies romances did happen, there’d be ways around it. Throne slots are precious, but… I know my dad would sell some for money.” She paused, embarrassed. “Not that we’re struggling anymore. Akio-san has paid off our debts ahe yakuza clear of Hisuikomushi… but really, dad’s fairly useless. We’re just happy to be under Akio-san’s prote and we’ll gee him ether tithes and fight to defend his Territory, but… expanding and growing like he does… no way. Holy… I’m deeply grateful. Rather than being a sve of a monster, dad’s much happier just being a supp nobody.”

  “Harsh.” I procimed. “Though…” A twinge of guilt fshed through me. Tan’s Territory was now being managed entirely by Arisu, and I hadn’t id down my own. I then shook that off. Hey, I’m the buffbot that keeps the aether flowing. Asha and I are probably the two that tribute the most to Aki’s expansion and growth right now! Though Asha… I wasn’t sure I wanted kids, and I definitely didn’t right now, but Asha was enviable in a way, heless. Aki’s first children would always be special to him.

  “…it’s not like I don’t see the appeal. Managing a Territory is hard, risky stuff. Though at some point I’ll have to bite the bullet.” Tan had beeit on precisely what the bes of owning high-Rankiories were, but as Aki always said, what she didn’t tell us was almost always more important than what she did, so I k some point, to grow stronger, we’d o go down that route. But Aki first. He’s the ohat will make Earth his owory…

  “Should I be listening to this?” Akiko smiled, a touch embarrassed. “I know Shugo-kun has important friends… I hought that the quiet guy and the stunningly beautiful woman he cimed to know were two of the Heroes of Britain, but… you are, and… I’m fttered you think I’m good enough for your friend…”

  “Hah, he should be lucky we think he’s good enough for you…” I snorted, and she giggled.

  “Shugo-kun’s an ear mareats me right. And now I find out he’s well-ected too. But… holy, I think I shouldn’t know too much. So… I’m shutting my ears.”

  “Smart girl.” I agreed. “I mean, if you’re sure you’ll be with Shugo forever, that’s different, but… and I sound mean saying this… retionships do break down.”

  “Yours, Shiro?” Hisano asked cheekily, surprising me. I narrowed my eyes, amused.

  “You know me and Aki were meant to be. So no. But aren’t you the cheeky one? If you’ve time to run your mouth, I’ll have to insist you train harder.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m almost there with water element. Chiaki- and Chiasa- have been helping me. I’m not sg off! I want to be one of those who’ve mastered two elements!”

  “She even talks differently now. - this, -kun that.” Yasu pined, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Of course I do, Yasu-kun. Because… I actually feel like I matter, now. That I’ve got a dream. I was right, to follow Maiko- to Shirohebizumi shrihat day. Not because Kana- and the others were going to prank or bully her, like I feared, but because it opened up a new world to me. A world where I don’t feel ashamed to stand out. If you put in the work, you get your reward.” Hisaned. “But this isn’t fu to see so many groups, a to go backstage. Signed merdise, photos, the works! I know you’re excited too, Yasu-kun, so don’t ruin it by being gloomy over me!”

  “She’s right.” I agreed. “And we have to watch Suzu, if we don’t she’ll probably cry. Besides, Arisu is the host, and I want to see her kig ass!”

  Talk in the minibus turo Arisu, whose story was one of riches ts and back to riches, whispired those who heard it. Though to me it’s more personal. Aki too. Suzu as well. No, this cert, while it seems at its heart just a fundraiser and a way to calm the popuce, distract them from the troubles the advent of us Chosen brings, is actually serving a greater purpose…

  ***

  “Hey, get the lights on my boss!” Suzu decred, interrupting the speech she had been giving after some of her songs. A spotlight shoo the front of the standing crowd, where one of the VIP areas, specially set aside for roup, was located. “Yeah, her, there!” Suzu procimed, her voice eg out over all the speakers. She looked good, happy, and I felt a little guilty all ain. Sure, I had left a great deal to Tan, but…

  This again? How tiresome. We used who we could find. Yes, we would even have used monsters like that Kondou Kazuo. Though we would never have trusted him, the Binding s Of Sancus would have sufficed… how ironic. But… this one… without our supervision, only death or the path of bloodshed awaited her. So feel no guilt, princess. I know you feel she is unsuited to the path of wielding a Divine Favour, but… for her dream, she will fight. As must we all…

  “Hey boss! Gd you could make it! Not that you’d stand me up!” Suzu looked rather fabulous in her idol outfit, and was agly cute. The drill tails were the perfect touch, though having known Suzu a while now, I knew just what a huge time sink and massive pain it reparing those every day. “Arisu-’s doing great, isn’t she? And my songs were awesome. It’s a shame we don’t have any merdise of you, it’d sell like hotcakes, but… Akio-kun would be jealous, right?” She giggled charmingly, and tinued her ramble, while I felt the eyes of the crowd on me.

  Yeah, this isn’t unfortable at all, is it? Oh well… I’m Shirohime, I should be used to this. Nobody, man or woman, ast me without taking a sed look… I gave the crowd a wave, hearing Shaeu chuckle beside me. Her group was here too, as well as Kana and her friends from school. Hisano and Maiko had joihem, much to Yasu’s disfort, but he quickly fot that, enjoying the show. And I’ll give him credit for not perving over Suzu. She’s definitely pretty, but… yeah, I’ll not allow it!

  Oh, Eri and Daiyu aren’t here. That Korean girl Aki saved, Eui, she’s with them, I think. Still backstage, I’m guessing? Suzu finally finished her speech, as mercifully she only had a few minutes, and soon was singing again.

  “I ’t say I’m really into idol music…” Akiko shouted, and I gestured for her to lower her voice, as I could still hear her even with the bring music. She did so, smiling. “…but it’s aing show. But maybe even being here in this group is more exg. You know… I teach a css who do nothing but talk about Oshiro-san, and you, and Shaeu…” She gnced over at our resident Faerie weasel, not that she looked like that here of course, being in her adorable human form, which would give me plenty of ammo to taunt Akio for being a loli if I so wished, though sidering he was also sleeping with me, Hyath and Asha, and soon Tsuki too, such allegations were clearly merely amusing teasing. He just has a wide strike radius for beautiful women. How the times have ged. Although irely. Now I think about it, he did have a liking for Benitsubasa from Sekirei, when we used to pare favourites at Bar Sekirei.

  “…it just seems unreal. Shugo-kun… it makes me worry, you know.”

  “No need.” I shook my head, though I had to raise my voice, as she wasn’t blessed with my hearing. “Holy, even now, we’re not so special you have to worry about being worthy of knowing us. Just think of Shugo as an ordinary guy with a secure, stable job. That’s important for a retionship, isn’t it?”

  Akiko paused for a moment, before chug. “That’s very… pragmatic.”

  “Of course!” I stood tall and proud. “I always have been. I said I’d never date a guy that didn’t have money. I set it a little too high…” I flushed, remembering my demands that Aki be a billionaire, when he knew he was. “…but… despite everything, I still want a guy who’ll look after me, protect me. I don’t just want that. Like Hisano, I want to have value in myself, do things, get stronger, but… I am Shirohime, a princess needs her prince, doesn’t she?”

  “You really are as funny as Shugo-kun says.” Akiko nodded. “And… don’t mi’s just… hard to take it, sometimes.”

  “If you ever feel that it’s a bit of an issue, don’t just bottle it up.” Hayato chimed in, Hina nodding beside him. “Sure, our lives are far different than we ever thought possible only a few weeks ago, but… Shugo-kun’s a great guy and he likes you. We work things out, together. I promise.”

  “Oh, now I’m embarrassed.” Shugo flushed adorably. “But… I do like you, Akiko-, and… nobody knows what the future holds, I mean, Hayato-kun is right, who could have seen Akio-kun and Shiro being what they have, let aloing together, but… for now, I see us sting. And I’ll take a leaf from Akio-kun’s book, and fight for who I like. Just like he did for Shiro.”

  “Hey now!” I was blushing now. “I’m worth fighting for! But… I admit, he had more to overe than any ordinary person could hahough I have my fair share of obstacles too. I mean…” I gestured at the stage, where Suzu was starting her final song, one dedicated to Aki, it seemed. And it’s title was…

  “You’re my harem hero! No foe do I fear, when you are here…”

  “Any ehat threatens us, you make disappear…”

  “Those within your arms, feel safe when you’re near…”

  “Everyone’s harem hero, both Britain’s Knight and Korea’s…”

  “Envied by men, loved by women, our harem hero!”

  Damn, that’s se it’s giving me goosebumps. The song’s annoyingly catchy though, and I have fun teasing Aki with it. Holy, he doesn’t like being reminded he has a harem, the little baby. Still thinks he’s being a bastard. But… everyone chose this. Even Eri. Not at first, but… she’s a smart girl. Knows what she needs, and that nothing in life ever goes a hundred pert the way you want. Even if we don’t see eye to eye ohing. Maybe I feel a little bad over the whole Adamant thing, but we weren’t wrong. Aki needs a loyal army of minions, and they really should be women. We’d all feel more fortable that way…

  “Hey, doesn’t it sound like Suzu- likes Akio-kun?” Aimi, who was swaying along to the catchy tune, said to me, smirking. “I mean, she called him her harem hero! Great name by the way, we’ll tease Akio-kun mercilessly.”

  Great minds think alike, but… you’re wrong on this one. “Nope, Suzu would be the first to tell you she’s an idol, so ’t fall in love. She sees him like a brother, nothing more. And before you make any jokes about that being ip to Aki’s sis habits, I’ve already made all the jokes. No, it’s not Suzu I have to worry about, it’s…”

  As Suzu finished her st song, finishing with a leap and pirouette impossible for an ordinary human to perform, her backup dancers, her Karakuri, catg her artfully, a series of massive boing out as the fetti ons triggered, sh the crowd in waves of golden and bck, she thahe audience, extolling the merits of her merdise and impl them to check out her live performance, whehat would be. It was then that the stage lights dimmed, and the host’s stage was illuminated, revealing Arisu and her co-hosts.

  “It’s Arisu I worry about.” I muttered.

  “And that was our first act, Suzumebachi.” Arisu decred in her silke cold voice. “And fortunately for Suzanne-san, she did not let me down. Some of her dang was… iing… but overall, a credible performance.”

  “That’s a little harsh, Arisu-!” her female co-host Fumie chided cheerfully. “I actually found her quite fresh. It’s iing, seeing a fn perspective on Japanese music. That st song though…”

  “Yes.” Arisu bowed her head, clearly a little exasperated. “I do not really wish to talk about it. Perhaps I am too close to the subject matter.”

  “Too close to Akio-kun, huh? Is that an admission? That would really spice up this cert!” Ken teased, and Arisu shook her head.

  “You clearly know I meant close by proximity, not depth of feelings. Now… her dang style is clearly enhanced by her strengths, and it could certainly use more elegance, rather than relying on exuberance, but then… perhaps that is what was o excite the crowd.” At that, glowsticks were waved by the audience, and I felt a spark of satisfa, that they appreciated Suzu. There’s still hope that she live the life she wants.

  “I do have a question though…” Fumie asked. “So I get that Suzumebachi is the group name, but only Suzu- has spoken or been introduced. The other members of Suzumebachi…”

  “There was something odd about them.” Ken agreed. “They were all elegant and very well practised, but… I don’t know. There was something a little off. They were… meical, almost? Wooden in their performanot that I’m sndering them, they were all very pretty! Why, if I were twenty years younger, and Arisu- had rejected me…”

  “Very amusing.” Arisu sighed, as a brief wave of ughter passed around the arena. “Actually… it seems age… brings you wisdom.” As Ken made an expression like he had been shot in the heart, Arisu tinued. “Actually, you are correct. Wooden is apt. Suzanne-san’s bag dancers are actually puppets trolled by her will and power, hence why they are not introduced. For Suzumebachi is Suzanne-san in its ey. Although…” She lowered her voice, though the microphone obviously amplified it. “…from what I uand of idol fans, the fact that the puppets are not truly sapient should be no bar to them having fans. So… check out the cert website, and there are profiles and names. And they are also present in Suzumebachi’s merdise stall, and as prizes in the idol gacha.”

  “Wooden, huh? I don’t know much about Suzu-…” Hina pointed out, as sharp as ever. Just because Hina is shy, doesn’t mean she isn’t observant. In fact, the shyer the girl, the sharper she has to be. A lesson Yasu could do with learning about Hisano. Eri’s the same.

  “…but not all of them seemed made of wood. In fact, several of them looked very human.”

  “They’re definitely puppets.” I promised. “Though sadly your eyes are sharp, Hina. Some of them were… repurposed. But don’t mind that. Suzu’s… well, do you think Aki would let her do anything bad?” I finished mely, and Hayated, reassuring his fiancée.

  “No, aher would you. You pretend to be cold and aloof, but… you’re a good o heart, Shiro.”

  I’m not as kind as you think. Tan knows. But… Aki loves me anyway, and Shaeu, Eri, Tsuki and the others, they accept me. Aki’s family does too, so… I won’t go down a dark path again. “Sure, sure.” I felt embarrassed, but the support was wele. “Don’t mind it anyway. They’re Karakuri puppets, so… at least if Suzu ever makes it big, she doesn’t have to share her royalties with the rest of the group.”

  Fumie had made a simir joke, harking back to her own idol days, and Arisu let her drone on for a minute, before stopping her. “Now, our act is due on stage in a moment. They are one of Tokyo’s own, though small in scale, they have a very passionate fanbase. While they may be called AKB0048’s younger, less famous sister, I have it under good authority that Akio-san himself is a fan… it is Red and White, the shrine priestess-themed group from Akihabara! Before that though…” Her expression was serious.

  “It is time to thank everyone for their donations, especially enerous overseas friends. It is not easy to dig deep into your pockets to help another try, when your own could suffer as well. Rest assured, iional delivery of any prizes from the donatioakes is no problem. But…” She gestured, and the big ss which had gone dark again lit up, revealing a thermometer-style pledge tracker, the bulb and lower portion red. “…let it not be said that Arisugawa Arisu is a poor sport. Here…” She illuminated a spot half. “…If donations reach here before the intermission of the cert, I will reveal a shog secret, one which has only been alluded to so far. As well as then opening the special secret prize au to take p the intermission. You would not wish to let this ce slip by!”

  Secret, huh? Yeah, I know what she’ll say. It’s iing, but not something that s me, really. Though the special prize au… some of those prizes are really something…

  “What’s the secret then?” Yasu asked, curious, and Shaeu spoke up, sn.

  “It would not-not be any fun to tell you, Yasu. Have-have patience. Although… you know already. If I were you, I would pay more-more attention to the prizes in the au. Though I do not-not know if you have enough money…”

  “Sick burn…” Shugo smirked, and Akiko looked on fondly.

  Hopefully this soothes her nervousness. I wonder… is that why Aimi’s boyfriend won’t meet us? I get it… we’re ly simple. But… if a retionship is to st, then he’ll have to accept Aimi has important friends…

  “Now then… it is time. For our act. Raise ylowsticks, ge the colours…” Arisu intoned gravely. “Give generously, and wele… Red and White!”

  The stage was illuminated with a bag of crimson and white strobe lights, matg the glowsticks of the crowd, which were now seas of red and white. After twenty or so seds, the strobes died out, and three spotlights verged, one a brilliant scarlet, tierg pearl, and they were focused on three women. Then the silence was broken by the three shouting out together.

  “Hi, those who came out to see us, those watg at home and abroad…” “…I’m Tamami…” “…I’m Tsubame.” “…I’m Kanako…” Their voices overpped. “And we are shrine maiden idols who serve the Gods, as well as you fans! So… fans old and new, dig deep in your hearts and support those who suffer, and clear out your ears, and listen.”

  Tamami took up a pose, arms poio the sky, as she tinued. “The Gods are kind, they don’t send us trouble without hope. But… it’s us people who have to help each other. So… for those who suffered in Kyoto, for those who lost their homes, for those who are scared, or fused, or don’t know what to do… I’ll just say… trust in Akio-kun, Suzu-, Arisu- and the others who fight against unfairness and evils that threaten us. And trust in yourselves!”

  “That’s right!” Kanako agreed. “Even a hundred yen matters. Don’t give what you ’t afford, but… anything you matters!”

  “Yeah, the Gods are watg, we’re watg, but… your hearts are watg!” Tsubame agreed.

  “And speaking of hearts…” the three cried, as Tamami spread her arms wide, f what looked like a bow. “…we’re here to send our love… straight to your hearts. This is… Arrow to the Heart!”

  And with that, a catchy, upbeat tune bred from the speakers, and the three began to dand sing, the crowd sucked into the excitement.

  Yeah, they’re good. Oh well… I settled in, enjoying the show. I have to go backstage and visit Suzu after this, but… I might as well enjoy myself first, with the others…

  ShipTeaser