ALT-FLAG 4: The Little Things Give You Away
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This chapter was written about a few hours after this author had finished the last episode of the Goddesses Arc. For that reason, the first part shall be a recollection of the events directly from the eve of the Mai-High festival up until after the concert scene…
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X-X-X- Flashback bit via Chihiro's POV-X-X-X
I just could not stand reliving those two fateful days of my life…
It was about seven days ago during the eve of the Mai-High festival. For others, it was just another time of celebration. But for me, it was something more. Something very close to my heart, in fact…
Or so I thought.
At the end of that night, what supposedly was a great, positive, and romantic change in my life turned out to be the most devastating blow to my heart. The confession was made. The feelings deep inside my heart were delivered. The sacred first kiss was even planted for good measure.
But I never thought I would be so foolish to even have done all those, only to be thrown down like a rag doll…
Still, I tried to stay strong the following day as our band, the 2-B Pencils were scheduled to perform at the last day of the festival. Even when I bumped into that man several times, I willed myself never to make mention, or a mere indication of regret, of what had happened on that fateful night.
Sadly though, I was thrust into a part of the mess that he created. Not just me, but also my best friend Ayumi. I tried to beat some sense into him, in order to let him be more truthful to her, and to let him understand how she truly feels about him. He did take that advice to heart, and sort of succeeded with a bit of help from me and some acquaintances of his.
Then we parted ways the morning before the concert…
I don't know why but by the time me and my band mates were performing, I could not hold my emotions. I knew that I was singing the song I created personally, so technically I should be proud. But I'm not.
Maybe it's because the musical piece was completely about him – that same man who broke my heart two nights ago.
Right after that song, I was a complete wreck. My hair was already messed up from the heat, and my guitar was slightly drenched, not just from my own sweat, but also from my tears. After we made our exit from the stage, I quickly packed my guitar. I did not even bother waiting for the results of that concert as I could not maintain my composure anymore. I could not even look at my band mates, much more celebrate with them for a job well done.
I made it back home about half an hour later, and headed straight to bed. I merely placed my guitar on a space beside the door and did not even bother changing into my pajamas. I then brought out the guitar pick from my pocket, clenched it tight, and placed it over my chest. All while thinking of that same man, while continuing to cry myself to sleep.
"Katsuragi, you idiot... Why?"
X-X-X-End Flashback-X-X-X
"Hmmn… So that's what happened back then…"
Sylvia calmly said this while taking a sip of grape juice. "I was quite surprised that it escalated that much, especially as to your predicament."
"It was still quite fresh to me, to be honest," Haqua declared. "Having gone through all that humiliation and pain all because I had to raise a previously wild hunch back then…"
"Consider yourself lucky though. Based on my experience with certain members of the Public Safety Department, they really mean business."
Haqua slowly felt a little bit more relaxed with her visitor. "To think I'm receiving sound advice from a fellow Topnotcher from the RSS Academy. It really is an honor."
"No need to sugar-coat it, Haqua. We're all here doing what we were told to do anyway. Speaking of which, are you in any way familiar with that girl with the odango hair?"
"Um, you mean the one who's been with Katsuragi recently, aside from Elsie?"
"Yes. So far, the only info I have are the ones regarding those Goddesses who attend the same school as the two."
"Well…"
Haqua then set up her Hagoromo as a small computer screen.
"According to the data I currently have, apart from being a host to one of the Jupiter Sisters, she was originally registered as Nora's capture target. It may explain why Vintage never targeted her when they were looking for Keima's previous capture targets.."
"And that explains the discrepancy in Elsie's dossier…"
With that, Sylvia rose from her seat and checked her watch; it now read 5:30 in the evening, which meant that she had to return home and cook dinner.
"I appreciate your help on the matter, Haqua. You guys need not worry about looming threats related to the fully-grown Weiss; just make sure they reach neither Katsuragi, nor any of the Jupiter Sisters."
"How will you deal with them in the first place? Just six of us new devils are already no match for a mere Level-4."
Sylvia turned to her after picking up her scythe near the front door.
"Hey, need not worry about that. I'm sure me and my human buddy can get a few aces up our sleeves. And besides, do remember that we have faced Level-4 threats before…" She uttered, while giving a confident thumbs-up.
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A few hours earlier…
"This labyrinth that the God of Conquest left me is starting to get interesting…" Suzaku thought while going through the details of Keima's 'conquests' via a piece of Sylvia's Hagoromo, particularly those girls which he had marked hours ago. However, there remained a huge discrepancy.
"So far, I can aver that Aoyama Mio is definitely unrelated to Katsuragi, notwithstanding the fact that she was a previous capture target. Furthermore, the memory rearrangement team did quite a job at assuring that she would not have a clear recollection of the encounter."
With that, he closed Mio's file and proceeded to the other file of interest. "As to Kosaka though…"
Looking into the details of Keima's encounter with Chihiro, Suzaku was quite surprised by the fact that the 'conquest proper' just lasted a few hours, compared to the others which went for two to three days. Then, there was her involvement during the search for the Goddess Hosts.
"Now why would a previous capture target, which clearly had her memories altered in order not to remember the 'conquest', be so involved in the pursuit for the Jupiter Sisters, particularly the one which resided within Takahara Ayumi?"
Before he could analyze the situation further, Chihiro arrived at the rooftop. Calmly, he packed the Hagoromo and slid it into his pocket before the girl could even see what he was doing.
"Um, I hope I am not bothering you or anything, Sensei…" the girl said, while bring out a notebook and pen.
"No, it's all right. This is for your own good, after all. And I know you have a lot to ask me regarding your essay."
"It's not about how I would write my essay though…"
"What do you mean?"
Chihiro then sat at the far end of the bench where Suzaku was sitting. "The reason why I was not able to pass my essay hours ago was due to my frustrations on writing what I experienced back then."
"Well," the teacher turns to Chihiro. "Answer me this one thing: what are the three things that come to your mind when I make mention of the Mai-High festival?"
"Well…" She had trouble answering, which prompted Suzaku to stand up from the bench.
"Ms. Kosaka, are you always this tongue-tied whenever something is asked of you, or is it the fact that you had a traumatic experience during the festival?"
"I'm not always tongue-tied, Sensei!" she exclaimed.
"Then why? What happened back then that made you this withdrawn, to the point that you cannot make mention of the festival?"
With those words, she slumped back to her seat. She thought of running away from him as he was asking too much. But she could not disrespect him. Not while she's asking him for help on her essay.
Suzaku let off a light sigh as he took a few steps towards the building's fiberglass barrier. "You know, I can clearly see that there's something that continues to bother you until now. Those little things you just showed me gave you away, to be honest."
Chihiro then bowed her head in grief. "Sensei, I'm just so scared of what people would think of me if I ever told them of what happened before…"
Suzaku remained unfazed of her actions. From his experience of drawing out runaway spirits within his targets, he oftentimes lets the target open up before thinking of a strategy. But then…
"… especially the part between me and Katsuragi…"
With that line, Suzaku got thinking. "Wait a second; this may be the opportunity to learn as to how she got involved in Keima's search for the Goddesses."
He then turned towards Chihiro and sat back at the bench, a few inches closer to her but still maintaining a distance. "No need to hide that feeling now. Care to enlighten me about what happened between you and Katsuragi?"
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