"What do you mean they want me back? You haven't explained clearly!"

"I thought I explained it plain and clear?" Iku said, before continuing to chew on her shrimp platter.

While Iku had been helping herself to the party's offered snacks, Tenshi was following from right behind, demanding an elaboration on the envoy's latest message. "But it still doesn't make sense! Why would they suddenly lift my exile like that? I don't get it."

"I don't see what's not to get, but alright…" Iku was a little confused at Tenshi's reaction so far, but she didn't mind repeating the key points if it was really needed. "So you still remember that the Hinanawi clan will be hosting the summer banquet in Bhava-Agra this year, yes?"

"I remember, yes. My family would drag me to those festivities all the time. It was always a pain."

""You say that, but at some point, you started attending on your own, didn't you?" Iku said with a knowing smile, though Tenshi didn't respond. "Anyway, while this wouldn't be the first time you were absent from one of the banquets, everyone seemed to agree that it would be especially a shame this time. Believe it or not, some of them miss having you around."

"I don't believe it. And even if my family thought that, there's no way any of the other clans feel that way. After that whole mess with the elixir, the thing that got me booted out in the first place, I figure they'd all be thrilled I wasn't around for the next banquet."

"Don't be so sure. All this time, reports of how you've been carrying yourself in Gensokyo have made it back to Bhava-Agra."

"Oh? If that's the case, they should know that I haven't been the least bit repentant since being booted out." Tenshi made sure to say with a wry smile. "All this time, I always imagined everyone gasping in shock when they heard about what I was up to down on the surface."

"You're being surprisingly modest right now." Iku gave a fond smile, which at this time only confused Tenshi. "You've been working on improving yourself all this time, and you never stopped presenting yourself as a genuine celestial. Even those who criticise you have to acknowledge all that. I should know, speaking as one of your biggest critics."

That took Tenshi by surprise. She had been so sure all this time that even if those in Bhava-Agra did hear about what she's been up to, that they either wouldn't care or just focus on parts that reaffirmed their conceptions about her as a delinquent. "...What's there to 'acknowledge', anyway?"

"Why, plenty. For one, you've been helping the less fortunate in Gensokyo, such as taking in that poverty god who is always down on her luck."

"I didn't 'take in' Shion. She came to me." There were in fact times when Tenshi felt like she was the one 'taken in' by Shion. Not that she would readily admit that. "And she's more capable than she looks."

"You've also been supporting that inchling princess' noble cause for the sake of her people."

"That? Most of Shinmyoumaru's talk about revolution goes over my head, to be honest. I just like hanging out with her, and sometimes she and that amanojaku have fun ideas."

"And then there was that time you helped to save the Hakurei shrine maiden, when she was inflicted with that mysterious curse that dragged her to the underworld."

"Haha, okay that one is accurate!" Tenshi cracked a smile at that. It was definitely the version of events she preferred everyone to believe. The smile faded though, once her questioning tone resumed. "So because of all that, they decided they suddenly want me back?"

"That's right. All in all, everyone in Bhava-Agra has to acknowledge that your time in exile might just have changed you for the better. They all agree that you might have grown a bit more into a proper celestial, and that convinced enough of them to let you back in time for the upcoming banquet."

"...Well, that's real nice and all." Tenshi said, making sure the biting sarcasm in her voice was as obvious as possible. "But what makes you think I care anymore about any of their opinions? Or that I ever cared, for that matter?"

"Um…" Iku tilted her head. For as perceptive as she was to the slightest changes in the atmosphere, she wasn't quite sure how to read Tenshi's mood at the moment. "I thought you'd be happy to hear all that. Are you not?"

"Hmph. What anybody from that place thinks of me is of no matter to me now. I've already decided on being a celestial purely on my own terms, without the need for Heaven's mandates or the acknowledgement of other boring celestials."

"I know you've always followed your own rules, but surely you'll want to return to Bhava-Agra at some point?"

Tenshi deliberated for a moment, before answering in a low voice. "...And what if I said I don't intend to return."

"You mean, you don't intend to return for the banquet?"

"I mean, not ever ." When Tenshi turned back around to face Iku, she wore a serious expression. "I was just thinking today, that maybe I'll focus entirely on shaping this whole underworld to my liking! I'm already most of the way there with the surface, after all. Then afterwards, I'll set my sights on all other worlds too! I'll turn them all into my own personal paradise, so there won't be any reason for me to even think about Heaven anymore."

Iku blinked at Tenshi, looking for any sign that this was some kind of clumsy set-up to a joke, but as far as she could tell, Tenshi was serious. "I'm surprised, Eldest Daughter. You never showed such distaste towards the idea of returning before. I thought you would have been counting the days until then."

"I must've changed when you weren't looking, then." Tenshi turned on her heel, and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Now instead of wasting my time worrying about that, I have to attend to the festivities. Make sure the rabble around here know who'll be in charge soon!"

As Tenshi marched away, Iku thoughtfully chewed on the last bits of her shrimp platter. "Always carrying such a complicated atmosphere, this girl…"

Meanwhile, Tenshi weaved her way through the other party-goers, looking for Shion. It took some effort, since it seemed only more and more youkai had joined in to dine and play since Tenshi's group first arrived. She wondered if occasions like this really occurred in the capital every single day. It sounded like an exhausting endeavour, but surely a refreshing routine from the one in Bhava-Agra.

The thought was put on hold when she finally came across Shion, who was talking with someone else. Tenshi did not hesitate before barging into their conversation. "There you are!"

"Ah, Lady Celestial! I was just convincing the proprietress here to cough up the real good stuff."

"Hold on, 'proprietress' isn't exactly accurate." The person Shion was speaking to was a tall oni, wearing a yukata and a sake dish in her hand. "And you were hardly striking a good deal! I think your sister definitely had the better business sense between the two of you.

"Oh, you know each other?" Tenshi asked.

Shion nodded in response. "This oni here had the honour of being the first to do business with me during my billionaire god days! I'm happy she still considers me a memorable customer."

"You're memorable because you made a real sticky mess of everything last time. Not that it wasn't a bit fun, but there was a lot to clean up!" Despite the oni's words, she spoke of the encounter like it was a fond memory. "You're not planning on throwing more of that black water around, are you?"

"Oh no, my billionaire days are over for the foreseeable future. The luxury life comes and goes so easily…" Shion said with a wistful sigh. "Today, I'm just here to have fun with Lady Celestial here.

"That right?" The oni then turned to address Tenshi. "My name's Hoshiguma Yuugi, and I make it my business to greet any new face I see down my surprise when I overhear someone badmouthing our brew, and that someone is such a dainty little thing…"

"Dainty? I suppose my exquisite frame, not unlike fine porcelain, would make one think I'm more delicate than I appear." Tenshi said, without a hint of modesty. "I'm Hinanawi Tenshi. Not just any 'little thing', but a celestial!"

"I've never met a celestial before, but that means you come from Heaven, right? You're pretty far from home."

"I'm right where I want to be." Tenshi made sure to say with full certainty. "But never mind that right now. So if you're not the 'proprietress', then what are you?"

"I don't own any of the places around here, but a lot of folks come to me to help manage their businesses and keep the order. Most days I'm managing the marketplace or in charge of the hot springs nearby. Today, I've got a close eye on this party here, it keeps wanting to get bigger!"

"I was just telling Yuugi here about what you said." Shion continued. "The sake isn't good enough for Lady Celestial, and we need the really good stuff!"

"Usually I wouldn't just humour anyone who asks, but this poverty god tells me that you've been calling this district's sake mediocre?"

"That's right. It's quite sad, honestly." Tenshi shook her head. "The swill I've had so far couldn't even give me a buzz. I doubt I could ever get drunk on it. Can't you possibly do something to appease the tastes of a revered guest like myself?"

"Hah, you've got some guts saying that to my face!" Yuugi grinned, clearly amused so far. "Sure, I've got something I can break out just for you. But if I do, you better be able to drink to the last drop with me, or else there will be consequences."

"Is that meant to be a challenge? For anyone to challenge a celestial, they'd have to be a fool. Just try me!"

"Wait just a moment, Eldest Daughter."

From further behind, Iku called out as she hurriedly approached Tenshi and the others.

"I couldn't help but overhear the gist of that. I do think before you drink yourself into oblivion, you should put some more thought into what I've told you."

"I already told you my answer, so stop bothering me with it." Tenshi indignantly answered.

"Oh, who is this? Another celestial?" Yuugi asked.

"Don't even think about lumping us together." Tenshi said, haughtily. "She's closer to being the celestials' errand girl. Oh, and don't mind her strange clothes. That really is just how she dresses normally."

"Strange clothes?!" An aghast Iku exclaimed. She quickly composed herself and spoke in a cool, confident tone. "...I'll have you and everyone else here know that among us beings who live beyond the clouds, I am considered to be a stylish trendsetter."

Upon saying that, Iku took one step back and performed a flawless twirl for everyone present, letting her cloth swirl all around once, before striking a powerful pose with her pointing to the sky. It drew a good mix of awe and confusion from everyone that happened to be looking her way, and Shion even clapped.

"...Folks from heaven sure are an interesting bunch." Yuugi said with a wry smile. "Anyway, if you're serious about drinking with an oni, then come with me. It'll only take a minute for me to set things up."

Yuugi walked away and towards elsewhere in the area. Tenshi proceeded to follow her, before Iku swiftly moved to her side. "Eldest Daughter, what about the banquet?"

"Drop it, Iku!" Tenshi snapped back, and exasperation only increased as she spoke. "I've got business to attend to here. If you need to relay something back, feel free to tell them all that I'm doing just fine as a celestial, and that I don't care about any of their stupid parties!"

After that, Tenshi strided away in a huff. Tempted as she was to follow and push the matter, Iku just found herself groaning and slumping her shoulders. "Seriously, what's with her…?"

"Um… Hello? Miss Oarfish?" Shion slowly spoke as she floated to Iku's side. "What was all that about?"

"Oh, sorry! Miss Shion, right?" Iku straightened herself once again. "For Eldest Daughter and I, disagreements aren't uncommon between us. Although I usually have a better understanding of why they happen.. Anyhow, I thought you'd be following after her right about now?"

"I'll catch up, but I'm concerned about you were talking about with her. Could you tell me what's bothering her?"

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing you need to concern yourself with. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you. She has me stumped, despite how long I've known her…"

"Well, I may have some special insight into Lady Celestial that you don't." Shion said, rather proudly at that.

"...You know, you might actually." Iku pondered the offer for a moment, before nodding. "Alright, then. I don't have anyone else at this party to talk to, anyway."


"So, what's so special about this 'Oni-killer' stuff?" Tenshi asked as she raised a bottle of the sake she was hearing so much about. The two of them were seated somewhere in the middle of the area, and Yuugi had brought out her 'very special' collection.

"It's special , alright." Yuugi took the bottle back in hand, showing it off while also admiring it herself. "This is prestige stuff, made by oni and typically only for oni too. I'd explain the story behind its name and inspiration, but I get the sense you wouldn't be interested."

"You're right, I'm not. I only care about whether this sake is as strong as you say it is."

"I'm honestly just a little worried that you're full of bluster and that this stuff might actually kill you."

"Oho, you're really raising my expectations." Hearing that only made Tenshi more interested. "I assume it's called that because it can even drive an oni into a blacked-out stupor? Then I'm sure I can at least handle more of it than you."

"You want to make a contest out of it?" Yuugi asked, intrigued. "Now I really hope you're not just full of hot air, because that'd be really embarrassing at this point. But I'm game if you are!"

"I'll vanquish any doubts you have about me." Tenshi confidently stated. "And it wouldn't be much of a game if there weren't stakes, right? So how about this? You said you're in charge of the hot springs today, right? If I can finish that whole bottle, then how about free entry for Shion and I?"

"That's no problem for me." Yuugi responded, happily agreeing to the wager. It would hardly be any trouble to give a free pass for the hot springs to just two people, anyway. "But in that case, there should be a risk for you as well, right? What do you think ought to happen if you can't handle your drink after all?"

"The losing condition can be anything you want, I don't care." Tenshi gave a self-satisfied smile, like her victory was already assured. "Hang me somewhere, pick my bones clean, whatever. I'll still win no matter what."

"With each passing second, I'm more convinced you're just a fool after all!" Yuugi said with a laugh, before beginning to open the bottle. "Then let's get started.."

As Tenshi and Yuugi began their impromptu drinking contest, Iku and Shion were seated together a short distance away. Iku made an effort to keep drinking to a minimum at this time, while Shion didn't have to try since her cups kept breaking.

"-but I was so sure that Eldest Daughter would be happy about the news." Iku let out a sigh. "Surely she's not serious about never returning?"

"I wouldn't be so sure. Lady Celestial sounded really serious when she told me about it." Shion said, thinking back to the resolve Tenshi had spoken with. "She thought the other celestials back in Heaven would never accept her, and she had just made peace with it today. I guess your message ended up being a real shock for her."

"I can understand being surprised, and maybe even holding a grudge. But what's all that nonsense about being an 'Underground Celestial'? Did she just come up with that today? It sounds ridiculous." Iku said, holding back the urge to laugh.

"Yeah, she did." Shion wore a fond smile as she spoke. "She wants to be a celestial on her own terms, and not have to worry about the mandates of Heaven, or something like that… And from what I've seen, Lady Celestial thinks of her connection to Heaven as a burden now."

"I'm sad to hear that she's been troubled by it, but it's not something that she can just discard. Even if she wanted to, and I'm not convinced she wants to."

"What do you mean?"

"Being a celestial is who she is. You've seen up close her divine fortune, her sturdy body, and her radiant aura, haven't you? Those are all examples of her status following her wherever she goes. Even if she's far away from Bhava-Agra, she'll never stop being a celestial who hails from there. I'm sure Eldest Daughter is aware of that."

Shion nodded as she listened, though she wasn't sure if she quite liked the conclusion Iku was headed towards.

"Eventually, she'll come to realise that there's no denying that, and for all her differences and for whatever grievances she may have with the other celestials in Heaven, she is still one of them. It's not possible to change that."

"...But what if it could be changed?" Shion asked. Her question wasn't necessarily towards Iku, but more to herself.

"It can't be done." Iku stated again. For her, it was simply an immutable fact. "Her good luck is the kind that only a celestial can have."

"But Lady Celestial wants to be rid of it, and she doesn't want to be like other celestials If her divine fortune is a sign of heaven's influence… What if she came upon a misfortune, or a disaster so great, it would negate all of that? Then she wouldn't be 'one of them' anymore, would she?"

"I… suppose so." Iku shrugged, humouring the strange hypothetical that Shion was proposing. "I can't think of what kind of disaster could negate the blessings of the heavens themselves."

"...Ehehe. Do you know who I am?" A crooked smile cracked across Shion's features as she continued. "I'm the most despicable, disastrous being there is. If there's anyone who can help Lady Celestial, it's me."

"Oh right, I know about that. As a poverty god, you have a tendency of bringing ruin to others, right? But Eldest Daughter isn't affected by your ability."

"Misfortune tends to follow me even when I don't want it to, and Lady Celestial isn't affected by that. But I've never actually tried to intentionally bring disaster onto her… So then I'll just have to try harder if I want to help her. Harder than I've ever tried before!" Shion resolutely stated. Having made up her mind on the matter, she didn't wait for Iku to say anything more before rising from her seated position, and heading elsewhere.

"Hmm." Left alone once again, Iku took a casual sip of her cup before musing aloud to herself. "Wonder if I should have said something? …Ah, it'll probably be fine."

Meanwhile, Tenshi's contest with Yuugi had been proceeding without pause from either of them. They drank cup after cup and bottle after bottle of Oni-Killer sake, and as of yet, neither were even a little flushed.

Tenshi finished another cup, settling it down with a satisfied sigh. "Ha… I'll have to give credit, this is definitely a step up in quality compared to the swill I was being served before."

"And I'll have to give credit too." Yuugi said, while opening a new bottle. "You may be dainty, but you're obviously no lightweight."

"It's good you finally caught on! Are you beginning to fear your chances?"

"Hardly. It would have been too boring if you made it easy. And it looks like everyone else feels the same."

"Hm?" Tenshi hadn't noticed until this moment, but there was a sizable crowd of youkai watching them.

Most of the others who were simply enjoying the party, or just passing by, couldn't help but to stop and watch as Yuugi engaged in a drinking contest with an unknown stranger. Tenshi didn't realise until now that most of the loud clamour from around them was actually cheering.

"Hmph." Though Tenshi wasn't too happy about who that cheering was for. "Sounds like most of them are rooting for you over me."

"Heheh, does it?" Yuugi gave an unassuming smile. "They probably want me to put you in your place."

"Then they're going to be disappointed when I embarrass you!" A heated Tenshi, now with renewed determination and pettiness, reached for another unopened bottle near her.

To her surprise, the bottle she reached for was picked up by Shion, who appeared next to her. "Let me, Lady Celestial."

"Oh! Thanks, Shion!" Tenshi smiled, raising her cup as Shion proceeded to pour her a drink. "As soon as I claim victory here, I promise we'll keep having our run of the rest of this place."

"Being awfully hasty to say that, aren't you?" Yuugi chimed in, topping off her own sake dish. "You're putting on a good show so far, but hasn't anyone ever told you not to count your chickens before they hatch?"

"I don't see how that's relevant." Against all odds, the smile on Tenshi's face only became more self-assured than it already was. "I'm even stronger now that Shion's here to support me."

"Don't worry, Lady Celestial." Compared to the relaxed Tenshi, Shion wore a considerably more serious expression. "I'll always support you, even if you lose."

"You don't have to say that. I'll win no matter what!"

"Hey." Yuugi suddenly spoke up. "You seem a bit… tense?"

"I'm not tense! I'm simply bursting with energy."

"Not you. The poverty god." Yuugi was hesitant to comment at first, but she couldn't help but notice a rather concerning aura emanating from Shion. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just fine." Shion spoke in a grave tone, and an intense focus in her eyes. Her demeanour remained just as intense as she moved behind Tenshi and rubbed her shoulders. "Let me do something for you for once, Lady Celestial."

"You're awfully clingy all of a sudden." A grateful Tenshi relaxed as Shion clumsily massaged her shoulders. "Not that I mind."

"I'll support you even if you lose everything. Even if you end up in utter ruin, without a single coin to your name, I'll be with you."

"Aw, thanks!" Tenshi craned her head back, and smiled at Shion looming over her. "You're too sweet."

"That was sweet ?" Yuugi asked, perturbed at the sight before her. It would have been rude to say aloud, but it looked like a gangly evil spirit trying to possess and devour an unsuspecting prey. "I guess it's not for me to say…"

"That's enough stalling." With Shion behind her, Tenshi now had more reason than ever to make sure she looked good. "Prepare yourself, I'm going to outdrink you in front of everybody!"


The drinking contest lasted well into the day. Or evening. Tenshi wasn't sure since neither the sun nor the moon was visible from the underworld. Surrounding all of them were countless empty bottles of the capital's Oni-Killer brand sake.

Tenshi finished another cup, and by now her face was perhaps carrying just a slight tint of reddishness. "Phew. I'd have thought the taste would grow boring by now, but this sake might live up to all your boasting about it."

"I did say it was special, wasn't it?" Likewise, Yuugi appeared no worse for wear, other than the smallest hint of a flush.

"I might just agree! But as much as I may enjoy it, I don't wish for this to go on forever. The audience we had has already all grown bored of waiting for a victor!"

"I don't think boredom was the reason they all left."

Indeed, it wasn't just crowds that had been cheering during their contest who had dispersed, but everyone who had been enjoying the party in the area was gone. They had no choice but to leave when they started feeling sick, or when their food suddenly turned bad, or when a stalactite fell from above and onto their head.

A wave of great misfortune and disasters had been washing over the entire area, and Yuugi was staring at the obvious source. Shion had only grown quieter as the contest proceeded. She remained where she was, hovering over Tenshi's shoulders, and staring down at her with wide, intense eyes full of some kind of indescribable emotion. Meanwhile, the miasma of pure ruin sprawled from Shion and out into every direction.

Yuugi was quick to notice the only one left untouched was herself, and it probably had to do with being within Tenshi's vicinity, since the celestial was most likely either absorbing or nullifying all the bad luck. Yuugi intended to see this content to her end, since her pride as an oni was on the line, but she was also a little concerned as to what might happen if she left her 'safe zone'.

"...Seriously, is your friend okay?" Yuugi once again asked Tenshi, because she was hesitant to address Shion directly. "You must have noticed there's something off with her."

"Off with Shion? Oh, no, this is just how she is sometimes." Tenshi said, completely nonchalant. "Sometimes her power leaks out, but it's fine thanks to my natural good fortune."

"It's fine for you , maybe…" Yuugi made a mental note that on top of being good drinkers, celestials were not very observant.

All of a sudden, the disastrous miasma that was sprawling across the whole place all disappeared at once. At the same time, Shion suddenly let out a big gasp of air, as if she just surfaced from being underwater, before whining loudly. "Aaaah… I'm exhausted!"

Both Tenshi and Yuugi looked over to Shion in confusion, the former speaking first. "Huh? What's wrong, Shion?"

"I can't do it… Your heavenly aura, Lady Celestial. It just cannot be broken no matter how hard I try!"

"Huh? What?" Tenshi blinked in further confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You really didn't notice…" Really, really unobservant, Yuugi further corrected her mental note.

"Lady Celestial, you said you didn't want to be like other celestials, right? I thought that I could be the only one who can alleviate you of that burden, of that heavenly good fortune you carry. That way, the two of us could live a life as fellow losers. I'm sure no other celestial has ever experienced anything like that, after all…"

"Shion…" Tenshi turned around to better face Shion with a wistful smile. "I don't need you to do something like that. My good luck is the kind only a celestial can have, and it's not something that can be changed."

"Lady Celestial…! Aaaah, this was supposed to be the one and only thing I'm good at!" Shion exclaimed, overcome with an embarrassment she's never felt in her life before. She quickly turned and flew away. "I'm sorry for being a bother…!"

"Ah, Shion…!" Tenshi called out, but Shion had already flown well out of sight. She slowly turned back to Yuugi, unable to hide the dejected tone in her voice. "Uh, sorry about that. We were having a contest, right?"

"I think, actually…" Yuugi meanwhile, slowly started to rise to her feet. "We're going to have to consider this a stalemate."

"What?!" Tenshi's pride was quick to reignite, loudly calling out. "Don't tell me you're bailing out this far in?! I've never heard of a cowardly oni before!"

"It's not that I want to, but well… We went and drank up my entire collection of Oni-Killer." Yuugi gestured to the empty bottles all around them, and there were no more unopened bottles in sight. It was an odd situation to be in for Yuugi, and she found herself chuckling. "This has never happened to me before, actually. We can always give it another go, on another day if you want."

"What kind of oni runs out of sake!?" Tenshi let out a frustrated sigh as she slumped backwards onto the floor.

"Say, you did give me one hell of a time. Even had me worried for a moment or two…" Admittedly, most of that worry concerned the poverty god. "So I'll get you and her that one free entry into the hot springs."

"...Fine. I'll accept my rightful reward, but we absolutely have to finish this another day." Tenshi said as she picked herself up and got to her feet.

"Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. Next time, I'll serve a whole crate worth of sake just for us." Yuugi nodded, before Tenshi started walking away. "Where are you headed now?"

"I should probably go talk to Shion, about… all of that."

"Hope you work out whatever's going on with her then." Yuugi said, giving Tenshi one last wave goodbye.

"Whatever's going on with her ?" Tenshi muttered to herself as she walked. "It was my stupid problem that made things awkward…"

With that, Tenshi exited the space of the long since ended drinking party, and out to the relatively quieter and spacier streets. She walked along the edge of a decline in the dirt, and took in the sights in the distance all around her as she marched.

The distant caverns, the lines of repurposed buildings, the festival lights always being replaced, and the occasional grim-looking zombie fairy or vengeful spirit floating up and about. The atmosphere in Former Hell was truly as far from that of Bhava-Agra as possible.

"A place like this... If I fit in here, and make it my own, what would other celestials think of me? …Darn it, why do I care so much about that!" Frustrated with her own thought process, Tenshi stopped and kicked a stray pebble out into the distance.

Right after that minor bit of exertion, however, her foot stepped hard on the ground and she realised her footing was somewhat unstable.

She looked down, and didn't see anything uneven along the path she walked. She then noticed a second later, upon holding her head, that she was feeling a slight throbbing.

"Don't tell me I'm actually drunk? I barely felt that Oni-Killer stuff doing anything just now. But that Yuugi didn't look the least bit inebriated…Doesn't that mean she won?!"

Tenshi grimaced, and could feel the throbbing in her head increasing. She was definitely feeling the effect of the alcohol. Just this buzz alone was like a shock to her pride. Yuugi had outdrank her, and she had ceased the contest under the false belief that they were at a stalemate, and she was clearly more popular among the cheering crowd, and she even realised something was up with Shion sooner than she did, and not to mention they already knew each other, and-

"Gaaah! Why am I feeling so jealous all of a sudden?!" Tenshi shook her head repeatedly, which only worsened the coming headache she was sensing. "Ugh, maybe I'm just not thinking straight because I haven't had enough water…"

Tenshi rubbed at her throat, her sudden outburst left it feeling dry. Really, really dry. To the point that she would describe it as an uncomfortable tingling sensation in her throat, that she only just now realised was present in her arms as well.

She curiously took a look at her hands, and realised the skin of her palms was taking on an alarming purple hue. "Geh!?"

The sight of her own hands caused Tenshi to stumble back, and her entire body failed to respond before she tripped and fell down the nearby decline, and rolled down the subsequent hill. She would have yelled out in shock if her voice was completely stuck in her throat as well.

The fall and subsequent journey to the bottom of the hill didn't actually hurt, if only because Tenshi now felt completely numb all over. She couldn't move her body, not even twitch a finger. It was probably something to be concerned about, but the most prominent emotion Tenshi felt at the moment was embarrassment. As for what to do about her situation, Tenshi was too exhausted and delirious to think very hard, and thus quickly slipped into unconsciousness.

The celestial simply laid limp on the ground. Time passed without her knowing, and having fallen into a ditch, she was well out of sight from anyone passing by as well, which Tenshi would have considered fortunate compared to being seen in such an embarrassing state.

Eventually, someone passing by did finally notice something strange lying at the bottom of the hill. That very someone stopped their wheelbarrow along the road, and curiously moved down the hill to get a better look. "Oh, what's this?"

Giving the passed out body a quick but thorough inspection, it was easy to spot the unhealthy purple hue in the hands and throat, a sickly green glow in the eyes, and a very strong smell of a strange alcohol from all over.

"Wow! Such an absolutely pitiful-looking corpse out in the open like this… That's the kind of good luck only a black cat can have!"