EDIT: Error pointed out by redlerred7 fixed
Disclaimer: I do not own Lucky Star or any of the characters/plot points/dialogue associated with it and other franchises.
Of Galge and Imaginary Friends
Chapter 33
Last time in Of Galge and Imaginary Friends…
"Don't worry, Kagami; Otou-san and Okaa-san had their DNA tested when they were younger and they weren't at all closely related. That hair thing, though, is a good point. I don't think blue, purple, pink, or green were ever mentioned in biology, and none of my family dye. We should investigate once you're not using Miyuki-san for comfort." Even Tsukasa twitched a little at the insinuation, though it was only to let her head fall a few millimeters in heavily diluted confusion.
"Please think of your brain cells when you make those comments," Kagami muttered into her organic pillow. "You're not going to have any if you keep this up."
Kagami -MB01-
Apparently, when an out-of-control lightning ability that causes rather (very) unpleasant "tingling" upon being forcefully repressed is, well, forcefully repressed, time slows down to one hundredth of its usual pace. This, to be honest, wasn't necessarily a fair accusation, since class hadn't felt nearly as long before lunch than after, something that Kagami wouldn't have believed had she not been forced to live through it, but, at some point during lunch, something happened to exasperate the time-slowing field she seemed to be in.
Naturally, she blamed Konata (She was the only one who did anything, anyways.).
That's not to say that Kagami wasn't grateful to the short otaku for her efforts to distract her from the near-painful discomfort, but those same attempts at providing the twintailed teenager relief ultimately ended up making the afternoon classes even more difficult. By the time school let out, Kagami had nearly no notes, incomprehensible homework, and a craving for another soft headrest (Not that I enjoyed it when…).
"Hm~?" two teasing voices said from either side of the older Hiiragi twin.
"It seems that Kagami is thinking about something pleasant," verbally poked Konata on the right.
"I wonder what it is…" Kanata, left, muttered with a tone of faux ignorance.
The ghost's words went unheard to most of the group - her cat-grinning daughter, a dazed Tsukasa, and the half-embarrassed, half-amused Miyuki (Why the hell is Miyuki-san amused?) - allowing Kagami to answer without having to deal with a back-and-forth teasing loop. Her current annoyance at the two Izumi women was adding enough pressure to her worn-out willpower; the only reason she hadn't snapped and started electrocuting everything around her was sheer stubbornness. "Whatever you're thinking, I doubt it's true."
"You didn't deny it, Kagami!" Konata countered, while Kagami retired into giggling.
"Yes, I did."
"Not definitively. Wanna test it to make sure?"
"Absolutely not."
"You seem sure of what I was thinking, Kagami, even though I might've been talking about my cornets."
"You weren't."
"No, I wasn't, but you had no way of knowing that. In other words, whatever you think I was thinking was on your mind when I asked and, since whatever was on your mind caused you pleasure, what you were thinking I was thinking is the source of that pleasure! So, Kagami, would you mind telling us?"
"I would mind. Also, what the hell kind of logic was that?"
"An after-the-fact explanation that happens to fit perfectly," responded Konata immediately. "Anyway, come on, Kagami! Don't be a spoilsport!"
"No." It was such a routine thing to argue with Konata that Kagami, against her will, found herself enjoying the distraction, which, of course, Konata noticed (Damn you - again - Konata's family knowledge!).
"Was that happiness I saw, Kagami?"
Kagami's reaction to this came from a combination of factors, including a subconscious note that Tsukasa could recognize when her twin was avoiding a question, the knowledge of Konata's family teachings in reading people, and pure exhaustion from holding her electricity in check. Of course, Tsukasa wasn't in any shape to point things out and Konata had obviously figured out what the twintailed girl was feeling anyway, but Kagami was too slow in remembering this to stop herself.
"I-it's not like I wanted to do this with you or anything…"
"I'll never live that down," Kagami managed to moan matter-of-factly once she had led Tsukasa home. Since the "incident," Kanata had entered non-stop giggle mode and hadn't yet emerged, though it had become more of a mildly annoying background noise after about ten minutes. The ghost hadn't been the only one overjoyed, either; Konata had, after a shocked pause of about three seconds - in which Kagami's face had turned a very bright shade of red that the otaku claimed went surprisingly well with her hair and eyes (Which definitely didn't embarrass me more.) - glomped her and proceeded to ramble on about tsundere until she got off the train (I don't think she stopped then, either.).
To top it off, this and Tsukasa's continued unresponsiveness were worrying Kagami enough that she had to work even harder to keep herself from destroying the house. It would be very safe to say that the second-youngest Hiiragi wasn't in the best state of mind when she and Tsukasa were called to the living room by their mother.
This managed to halt Kanata's light laughter; apparently, she'd developed a fear of Hiiragi Miki after the several suspicious glances the mother had sent the spirit's direction (I will so use this against her.).
It took longer than Kagami would have liked to find her younger sister - she'd managed to hide herself under one of three piles of stuffed pandas and frogs, though how the out-of-it Tsukasa had managed to create the piles in the first place was unknown - and even longer to coax her to their mother's presence. When the twins and Kanata, who likely followed only so she wouldn't be bored and, even then, stuck uncomfortably close to her hauntee, finally arrived, they found that Matsuri and Inori were both there as well.
Strangely enough, they seemed fascinated by Kagami's slight grimace and Tsukasa's walking unconsciousness (This isn't something you should find interesting, dammit!).
"Was Tsukasa difficult to convince?" Okaa-san asked without prelude. Nobody was sitting, so the three new arrivals, too, stayed standing (This is kinda creepy.).
"I had to find her first," answered Kagami, though she said nothing else.
The two older Hiiragi siblings remained quiet, which, while not out-of-character for Inori, made Matsuri seem very different. It was their mother who was doing the talking for now. "I see. Could you bring her over here? I have something for the two of you."
Gently tugging on Tsukasa's uniform sleeve - she hadn't changed yet - Kagami led her twin over toward where Okaa-san was standing, Inori to her right and Matsuri to her left.
"Kaga-chan," whimpered Kanata, "something's not right." (I would never have guessed.)
"I only have these two," Okaa-san informed apologetically, holding out two necklaces with simple chains and stones the same dull purple as the woman's hair. She slid one of them around Tsukasa's neck first. Her mother's hands lingered on the blue-violet stone for a second (Wasn't it a different color? Probably just the light.) before they were removed and, for the first time in over a day, the short-haired twin's eyes focused.
"Eh?" her mouth emitted. "Okaa-san? Onee-chan? When did I get here?"
Okaa-san ignored the question and turned towards Kagami. This time, the motions were almost rushed, though her mother's fingers again lingered on the lavender-colored…stone…
Just as Kagami realized this, those same fingers were pulled back and she tingling and pressure she'd felt wearing at her willpower disappeared (There's no way…I was just joking with Konata about magical necklaces, but-).
Suddenly, the twintailed teenager had a rather strange feeling, as if there was a giant, imposing wall looming over her from behind. She, Tsukasa, and Kanata all whirled around to see the wall of the living room shimmering like the air above the road on a hot summer day.
"Again, I'm sorry we only have the two," Okaa-san said, her tone matching her words. "If I could, I'd give another to you, Spirit-san."
Kanata squeaked, looked around frantically for somewhere to hide, and then simply decided her best bet was to run off through the shimmering wall. The sound of the impact made Kagami wince (Wait, impact?), but she was still paying enough attention to notice that ripples similar to those in a pond emanated from where Kanata had hit.
"Ow!" the spirit cried out, crouching and holding her head.
"So that's where you were," Okaa-san muttered, before continuing in a louder voice. "There's no need to run, Spirit-san. We're not going to hurt you."
"I think she's female," Matsuri spoke for the first time. "I mean, that has to be a boob impact, right?" (No, actually.) "There's no way there's someone that short."
"…The nurse from before," came Inori's voice, though it sounded annoyed.
The second-oldest sister corrected herself. "There's no way there's someone else that short."
"Um," Tsukasa began, "Kona-chan's Obaa-san…"
"Argh!" Matsuri cried out. "I'm just saying that it's not really common to come across someone that short, even if Kagami and Imouto have apparently met two." (Three, but like hell I'm telling you that.)
Kagami didn't say anything; she was still focused on Kanata, who seriously looked like she might have a panic attack. Refraining from "tsk"-ing, the twintailed teenager turned back toward Okaa-san.
"It appears explanations are in order," she said, settling into her armchair (No, really?). "However, I cannot give any today." (Oh, hell no. Okaa-san or not, I'm getting answers!) Ignorant of her daughter's thoughts, she continued, "I have been labeled 'the rebellious traditionalist' by the rest of my - oh, I've said too much, already. Anyway, like Inori and Matsuri before you, you three will start learning on your - the twins'; sorry, Spirit-san - birthday. Until then, keep those necklaces on, Kagami and Tsukasa, and keep doing whatever you've been doing to use your energy, Spirit-san.
"Oh," she added as she stood, "and keep this a secret for now."
And, thus, the shimmering on the walls disappeared and Okaa-san, Matsuri, and Inori left the living room, leaving the twins and Kanata alone.
"Onee-chan?" asked Tsukasa, looking extremely confused by the entire situation. "What just happened?"
Kagami sighed. "Come on; I need to fill you in on today's stuff, anyway, so I'll try to explain as best I can." (Everything except for Kanata, that is.)
Story Notes Preview: on the Origin of oGaIF: [the Stuff that Wasn't Explained in This Chapter]
'In some form or another, [the Stuff that Wasn't Explained in This Chapter] has existed since the original idea.'
'Every effect has a cause, so, to actually change stuff and not have my conscience eating away at me for all of eternity, I had to do something that could cause the effects I wanted.'
AN: Were there any explanations? Not really! Are there more strange things to ponder? Absolutely! Is anything else about this going to be revealed this story arc? I doubt it, and so would you if you knew what -MB- stood for! Why am I not using any periods in this paragraph?
I have no idea.
In other news, today apparently marks the four-month anniversary of oGaIF's prologue's posting. Hooray!
Anyway, thank you very much for all of the reviews, comments, follows, and favorites thus far! Here's a preview for next chapter, Chapter 34, Kanata -MB01-:
Next time in Of Galge and Imaginary Friends, Tsukasa does something unbelievable.
'"Onee-chan!" the girl called out.
"No…no way," muttered Kanata in awe and disbelief. "Everything else I can believe, but this…"'