Sharpen not only your eyes but all of your senses for there are much more to what meets the eyes. Know what is and what is not. Even when all your senses agree on it, listen to that tingle in your core, it will lead you to what you are looking for.
"Masumi-kun!" A spiritual arrow was shot across the hundreds of repeating images of the people she knows- Miyuki, Mayura, Manantsu, Masumi, her classmates, and teachers. They are currently in their school grounds during the Warring States period, similar to the last school festival. All students are dressed appropriately.
Some students have started attacking her with their weapons but she can't be perturbed. She's currently in another layer created by Masumi and herself. The people around her are not real, at least most of them. Just like in Mt. Togakushi, Masumi is influencing the normal students currently in the school grounds.
"Good job Izumiko-chan!" said Masumi while fading. "You still have other wandering spirits mixed up in the crowd. Make sure to only eliminate them and not the real students. I changed their frequency so it's harder for you to detect. They will be more furious now because you eliminated me, their Lord. Good luck"
"Don't overdo it Masumi!"
"Heh, Izumiko-chan asked me to do this. Sorry Shinko"
"Mayura! Have Masumi stop this!"
"Sorry, Sagara. Masumi's excitement is over the top right now, it's hard to stop him. Besides … I want to see the extent of Izumiko's ability after she starts practicing."
"Izumiko-chaan. Giving up already?" Masumi said out of nowhere when he noticed Izumiko unmoving.
"Later. I'm trying to concen- argh!"
"Oops, remember, a blow still hurts just like that in the other dimension."
That's right. In this layer, I can heal. I think I'll get hurt so I am hurt but I won't if I don't. "Stupid! Don't just stand there. Dodge the attacks!" Miyuki's and the others' remarks, though audible, does not bother her. Find them Izumiko. Connect your senses to everybody, everything else. Remember that no matter how distorted, humans, spirits, and others give off different frequencies. Concentrate. I can sense 3 more, but where? One- two-
"Thr- A kid!" After launching the third arrow to the child figure's direction, Izumiko quickly ran and caught it with her body. It hit her and she fell to the ground. Seeing this, Mayura and Manatsu immediately shouted for Masumi to stop.
"Izumiko!" growled Miyuki. After recovering from being stunned, everybody else ran to check on her. This time, there's only them. The normal students are no longer in Masumi's control and the wandering spirits are expelled.
"I told you not to overdo it Masumi!"
"Sorry Izumiko-chan. But Shinko, I told you, she asked me to-"
"Still, that was too much!"
"Stop it, you two! Izumiko, are you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't know Masumi would do something like that."
"It's okay Mayura. I did ask him to do it. Masumi, what is that kid?"
"You noticed?!" he said, elated. "That child, instead of a wandering ghost or a manifestation of the energy from real people, is a god." Izumiko grasped and he continued. "You see, Shintoism has minor gods created when people start praying at anything- rock, wind, tree, anything. But because of the nature of how they came to be, it's almost impossible for them to be more powerful, that's why they are gathered."
"And?"
"And turned to something else Izumiko-chan" Izumiko felt chills seeing the cunning expression in Masumi's face.
That's a collection of minor gods into one entity. "So, if I accidentally hit it with my arrow …"
"I would have known if you did." his smile grew even more sinister for a while before returning to his usual fun self. "I would not let anything bad happen though. Forgive me?"
Masumi doesn't really have any evil intentions, unless he goes against his siblings' enemy. "Izumiko-channn! Talk to me. Shinko is glaring at meeeeee-", more on, he acts on his whims.
"Izumiko, come on. Can you stand?"
"Yeah, sure. Urgh, actually, can you go ahead first? I believe Hayakawa senpai needed you for something" Miyuki frowned after hearing that but didn't protest.
"Sorry, Izumiko, I need to see the horses. Will you be okay if I leave first?"
"Sure. Thank you Manatsu-kun. See you later. Mayura, aren't you needed by Rena and Honoka senpai?"
"Yeah, but-"
She smiled gently at her friend. "I'm fine. These cuts are not real but I just need to tidy myself before coming back. I'm fine now. I'll follow in a while."
After everybody left, Izumiko's legs gave out and she felt sharp pain all over her body. I still can't get used to training and using my spiritual energy this much. "Masumi-kun?"
"Hai! You don't look well. Do you need me to heal you?"
"No, I'm okay. Thank you. By the way, would you tell me more about those minor gods? Where is it now?"
"Mmm, this?" Izumiko was surprised when Masumi absorbed the spirit.
"Can you do that?"
"Sure, I created this one for today's purpose. If I don't put it in its rightful place, it will absorb others and gain power. Besides, spirits, be it of gods or humans, will end up being devoured by those with greater strengths."
I guess I understand better now. Not consuming them will turn them into a powerful vengeful spirit since they never had a purpose and therefore cannot move on. Still, I need to free those that are trapped here.
"Mind if I dance?"
"Not anymore Izumiko, we're coming back. It's almost dinner time."
"But-"
Miyuki grabbed her hand and quickly nodded at Masumi while Izumiko raised her hand to apologize. She still feels very exhausted but at least the cuts vanished as they left the other dimension. Izumiko assumed they were heading to the school cafeteria to have dinner.
"Mmm, Miyuki-kun?"
"Let's eat. You must be hungry."
"You didn't go to Hayakawa senpai?"
"I just emailed him."
"Mayura is calling, can I answer?" Miyuki only stopped walking but didn't let go of her hand, wondering Izumiko. "She said she's running late a bit so I, we, should go ahead."
It was already 7 pm, a bit later than their usual dinner, but there were still quite a lot of students. She recognized some of their fellow 1st years, even her classmates, and the upperclassmen. She wanted to break away from Miyuki's grip as she was noticing the gazes some of the students were throwing.
"Sit here. I'll get our food."
She couldn't refuse. Something about Miyuki was unusually scary that time. She retraced what she might have done that angered him but couldn't think of anything. A little later, a steaming bowl of ramen suddenly appeared in front of her, together with some of her favorite side dishes. She looked at Miyuki, waiting for something but he just sat in front of her.
"What? You don't like it?"
"Nope, thank you." He just shrugged and continued eating. "So …" finding the courage to ask after barely swallowing her first bite, "what's wrong?" Miyuki looked at her for a very long time before responding.
"I'm just annoyed" Izumiko broke into a cold sweat after hearing that. So I really did something! She heard him sigh. "Not with you but the situation. I know I can't tell you to stop practicing but seeing what you put yourself into and what that stupid Masumi is doing, irritates me!"
Izumiko felt relieved knowing she didn't cause his irritation. "Thank you Sagara-kun. I can do better knowing whatever happens, I could always count on you. Ah! I don't have tea. I'll get you some too." Miyuki was too stunned to respond. Izumiko's smile was so blinding, he wondered if she ever smiled that way before. It's different from her former really shy smile and different from that of the goddess. It was so pure, so honest, and endearing. He was only glad he forgot to bring her tea otherwise, she would have seen the burning blush he could feel on his cheeks.
"I guess someone's blushing."
"Shut up.."
Mayura snickered before turning serious "Is she okay?"
"Mmm" Miyuki looked at Izumiko talking to one of her classmates. "It looks like it. I'm worried she'd exhaust herself. By the way, what did Masumi mean to do with that child entity?"
"I talked to him about it," answered Manatsu as he sat on the table with his food. "When attacked, that entity, still possessing the power of a god, would curse and devour the soul of its attacker." Everybody else looked at him in surprise. "Izumiko however, being" -coff- "who she is, is not a spirit to be devoured and not a normal human to be easily cursed. So, he wanted to see what it would have done to her."
"That -"
A hand appeared on Miyuki's left shoulder, stopping him from charging somewhere. "I could guess as much. When I stayed behind, Masumi-kun gave a vague explanation about it." She now sat beside Miyuki since her seat was occupied by Manatsu. "Please, don't make that face. I wasn't harmed and I was sure Masumi-kun would prevent that from happening. I was just glad to learn about their existence." I am not sure why but there's this feeling of knowing them and wanting to help them. Like I can relate but not really. I guess it's the goddess in me.
"If you say so. Finish eating and rest quickly. Don't practice until you recover."
"Yeah, Izumiko. Let's head to our room quickly, your father seems too grumpy" teased Mayura.
