30 August 2010
Central Shopping District, Tatsuhime Shrine
Daytime

Midori watched carefully as Nanako fed the Fox. She had brought her with her to the Shrine this day to meet up with Amane, and the Fox had met them at the entrance to the shrine, whereupon it had looked at the little girl, and Nanako, in the tradition of little girls everywhere, thought that the 'wild' animal looked cute in the scarf around its neck, and wanted to play with it.

Normally Midori would have said no, but she was going to be at the Shrine anyways, and as much as she didn't trust the land god, knew that it wouldn't hurt Nanako. Maybe scare her if she tried to pull its tail or something like that, but for now, they were content to play hide-and-seek on the shrine grounds.

"You don't have to worry," Amane said, knowing what was going through Midori's head. "The Fox won't do anything bad." She handed Midori a broom and dustpan. "You have to clean the pathways today."

As 'punishment' for her little thing two weeks ago, Midori was going to be officially helping upkeep the shrine for a month or two. Not that she minded in the long run, as it meant she could spend time with Amane.

"On it!" She accepted her assignment with cheer, and started from the shrine itself to work outwards to the edges.

After she had been working for a few minutes, keeping track of Nanako by the giggles and yipping of the Fox, she passed by Amane, who was working on repainting one side of the shrine. Putting down her brush, she turned to Midori – still sweeping away, and asked a question. "Midori, can you help me study?"

"Huh?" It was such an oddball request that Midori almost stopped swishing the dirt and early leaves from the rocks. "Study?"

"Yes," Amane said as she glanced up at the sky, worried about the overcast clouds opening up sooner rather than later. "I would like your help there."

"With what?" Midori kept sweeping. "I mean are you trying to improve your priest qualifications? Is that even a thing?"

"No, not that. I would like your help with my High School education."

"What?" That was enough to get her to stop sweeping and instead lean on her broom to pay Amane more attention. "I though you graduated already."

"No, I have not."

"But, you're like... 19!"

Amane retracted in surprise. "Midori, I'm seventeen. I haven't been to a proper school in over five years, and a condition of my current state is that I complete my education to at least the High School level."

"You... bwuh... WHAT?" Midori yelled out.

"Big sis! Are you OK?" Nanako said from where she and the Fox were playing a game. The two of them were looking at the older humans, one in worry, one without.

"I'm fine, Nana-chi!" Midori waved away their concerns. "Big Sis was just not expecting something that Amane said to her!"

"Oh. Alright." Nanako turned her attention back to the Fox. "Come on! I saw something neat!"

Watching the two move toward the back of the shrine, Midori waited until they were out of hearing before rounding on her friend. "You haven't finished High School?"

"No. My father took me out in order to train me in the Shomankai."

"I could have sworn you were older," Midori muttered to herself. "So, what does that mean for me?"

"Can you help?"

"Well, duh, I'll help." She honestly couldn't see any situation in which she wouldn't. "But I mean, what do you need, or want? Like, study sessions? And why aren't you in school?"

"It was felt that registration would create too much of a paper trail for the cultists to follow," Amane admitted. "And so I'm taking correspondence equivalence courses through the SDF. It is one of the things they do to make sure their soldiers have the right education."

"So, you want to come over to my place for this, or shall I go over to yours?"

"I am hesitant to impose..." Amane said. "But there isn't much room at our place."

"Then come over!" Midori would take any opportunity to have friends at her place, especially when her daddy wasn't home. She held her exuberance in check as a couple people came into the shrine, Amane putting down the paint to greet them.

Eventually, they paid their respects, offerings were made, and they left. Amane returned with a sad smile. "More people praying."

"Junes opens on Wednesday," Midori nodded in understanding. "Were they asking for help or harm?"

"Does it matter?"

Midori pointed with a thumb at the Fox, who was investigating the donation box. "Depends on what it wants to do."

Amane sighed. "I cannot wave an ofuda around to make things go away," she said as she looked down at the paint. "I have been asked to perform rites at the store tomorrow, before they open. Manager Hanamura is hoping for good business himself, and thinks he can make peace with the Shopping District if I am seen to... not support, but at least tolerate their existence.

"I can't help you with that," Midori replied. "And I'm not the kind of girl to go burning down a store in the dead of night either."

"You wouldn't!" Amane exclaimed, shocked at the mere suggestion.

"No! Never!" Midori backtracked harshly. "No. No. I'm just saying that I can't help with any of the prayers like that."

"Good. This is a bad subject. If I can come over, when would be a good time?"

"How about tomorrow, after you're done your thing. It's the last day before classes start, so I'll be doing some last minute stuff myself."

"Thank you."

"I may be over at my Uncle's place though. Give me a call first."

"I will. And thank you again."

"No problem!" Midori said, happy and smiling. "So, what do you want for supper?"

"Hamburger!" Nanako said, having overheard her big sister ask about food.

"I was asking Amane, Nana-chi." Midori gently admonished the little girl. "She will be coming over tomorrow night."

Nanako pouted, sad that she was being rejected. "That's alright," Amane spoke, not wanting to upset the little girl. "I think hamburger would be a good idea."

This agreement caused Nanako's face to light up in glee. "Hamburger! Hamburger!" She started to dance around. "We're going to have hamburger!"

Midori glared at Amane. "Thanks for that," she said sarcastically. "Now I have to buy some meat and cheese and other stuff."

"I can pay for some of that," Amane offered. "It's only fair for your help."

31 August 2010
Komaki Household
Evening

Amane was not in her priestly garb, instead being in something far more casual and comfortable. In one hand, she held a bag full of study books and the like, the other reaching up to knock on the door. There, she paused. Doubt and worry wracking her mind as the reality of the situation kept coming down on her. A little over a year ago, this girl had gone into her own soul to route the demon Jezebel, and then stood by and helped as they conquered the Babel Server's defenses.

She was also there when Midori was attacked by Belzebulb's insects, and even so much later, she couldn't help but shudder at the attack even now.

Mari reached over her shoulder and knocked. "Don't give up now," she said encouragingly from behind Amane. "You can do this."

"I know I can," Amane said without looking back. "I was just thinking about how much I seem to owe her."

The door opened, Mamoru looking at the priestess and doctor. "Oh! Midori only mentioned one of you!" He invited the two of them in, greeting them as they crossed the threshold. "Amani-san. Mari-sensei."

Amane took off her shoes. "Thank you for having me over," she said as she stepped up to the living room.

"You're not coming in?" Mamoru asked of Mari as she stood in the entryway still.

"No, just dropping her off after all the running around she needed to do today." Mari said to explain. "I'm going home for the evening. Amane can walk home, right?"

"Of course," the girl said as she sat down at the table in the middle of the living room. "Where is Midori?"

"She's just getting the food for tonight," Mamoru said. "She should be back in ten, fifteen minutes."

"Well, I'll be going then." Mari said as she waved at Amane. "Don't be out too late!"

"I won't."

"If they stay late," Mamoru offered, "she can spend the night again."

"I hope it doesn't come to that." Mari said as she turned back to the door. "Thanks again."

"Any time," Mamoru agreed and showed the doctor out. Returning to the living room, he looked at the books now on the table. "Don't get too comfortable with them there, we still need to eat." He said as he stepped toward the kitchen. "Can I get you some water?"

"Please. The blessings today meant a lot of talking."

"I know. I've been to events like that. Hopefully you weren't accosted by anyone?"

"No." Amane accepted the water gratefully. "I already explained to the other store owners that regardless of my personal feelings, I still had a duty to perform. And we didn't want any place in Yasoinaba to be where evil spirits would gather."

"Makes sense. I just wish I could get them to listen to my ideas."

"For what it's worth, I think you have a good plan, turning Inaba into a tourist town based around the Amagi Inn and the Shopping District, but that's a lot of change for a very traditional town."

"And I'm from the big city. I know." Mamoru sat down and turned on the television to the news. There was nothing unusual, except that a local politician was making some speech or another about something economic. Then the weather came on. "Well, it's pretty much going to rain tomorrow, so that will cut down on first-day business."

"Can we not talk about Junes?" Amane asked as she sorted through her books.

"Of course. My apologies." The two waited in relative silence for several minutes until Midori came in. "Hey, Midori!"

"Hello Daddy!" Midori kicked off her shoes, then closed the door behind her by leaning into it. She stepped up and into the living room on the way to the kitchen when she saw their guest. "Hey Amane! Welcome! Let me put down the bags, then I'll be right back."

"Her cooking has improved," Mamoru admitted. "A year ago, we would have served up re-heated meals, or ordered out."

Amane could only smile. "I was never given a chance to learn in a kitchen," she admitted.

"Well, why don't you help Midori then?" he offered. "Learn at the same time!"

"I don't think that is a good idea." Amane replied. "At least, not right now. Maybe another day."

Shiroku Pub
Evening

"Doctor. Odd seeing you here." Ryotaro said as he slipped inside the small bar.

"Hello Detective," Mari replied, raising a glass in greeting. "Just relaxing after being called in for a couple hours."

"Ouch. I know all too well what that's like." He said as he ordered his own drink. "So, what happened?"

Mari drained her glass, trying to decide if it was alright or not to talk to him about her day. Then she decided that it really didn't matter. "Oh, you know, the usual. Some one decides to do something to make a mess of things, and they need someone fresh to fix it all up."

Ryotaro laughed. "Oh, I know the feeling. I've been where you are before. Makes you wonder how certain people got their jobs in the first place."

She laughed with him. "I know, right? So, what about you?"

He turned sour. "Kodai, my partner? Well, he announced he's retiring at the end of the year."

"Oh? I've met him, and he seems to be well into retirement age."

"I know. It's just a shock you know. He didn't tell me anything about it beforehand, though he's been talking to the Superintendent for a couple weeks now, getting the paperwork filled out."

"So, what does that mean for you?"

"Three months of desk work for the most part, then a new partner in January."

"That doesn't sound so bad. You can spend more time with your daughter!"

"That!" Ryotaro raised a glass in a celebratory salute. "That is a damned good reason! I just wish it wasn't so sudden." He knocked back the drink hard. "Tomorrow, he and I are going to start looking for a replacement. At this point, though, the only real option we have without going recruiting from out of town, or getting a rookie is Adachi."

"Adachi? I don't think I've met him."

"Young guy. About your age. Pretty smart, but still quite new. Got a huge head of hair." Ryotaro indicated his impression of Adachi's hair style with some exaggeration. "This would be good for him."

"And good for you?"

"What? Being the senior partner?" He considered this. "You know, I can live with that."

"So, what is Kodai-san going to do with all his free time?"

"I think he's going to move down to Osaka and retire. He doesn't have any family in Inaba, so it's not like he's tearing up something or another."

Mari wisely didn't ask if Kodai was a widower or not. "Well, I think this means time for a preemptive celebration of your promotion!"

01 September 2010
Yasogami High School, Teacher's Office
Lunchtime

"Thanks fer coming, Komaki-chan." Morooka said after Midori bowed. That she had come first thing was good, as it meant that he could be more confident in his choice. "I'm gonna lay this out for you. Thanks to that damn mall," he almost spat, but knew it would be a bad example, "one of the second year members of the Student Council has had to move out. The principal wants a quick replacement, so I put your name forward."

That was putting it lightly. The departed was one in a long slow trickle of kids whose families were leaving the area for other jobs, even as they were replaced by the children of those who came into town because of that place. And he knew that Komaki could do it, she had the right look in her eyes for it, so he really wasn't concerned with her. He just had to let her know first.

Midori for her part, was quite torn. On one hand, being on the Student Council was a great step up, one that was only natural given her progression through the school so far. On the other hand, she had only been here for a single semester, plus the summer break, so it's not like she had a handle on everything yet.

On the third hand (or she could borrow one of Frosty's), he was a teacher asking her to step up and help out the school, the students and everyone with one action!

Oh, and Mitsuru would be proud of her, and probably try to give her some advice. That was a negative. Using the other of Frosty's hands, she could always call back to Gekkoukan and talk to Chihiro again! She was on the Council there as well, being the Vice President. Actually, that was a good question.

"What position will I be in?"

"Ah, that?" Morooka quickly sorted through the papers on his desk for the right note. "Ah, here we go. "Let's see here... yep! We need you to take the position of being responsible for coordinating all the sports clubs."

Midori was confused. "Isn't that a conflict of interest? I'm the captain of one of the teams."

"Nah. I already checked in with the Principal about that, and he's alright with it. Besides, the previous guy was just slacking off."

She didn't think that was the case, though she was always prepared her necessary paperwork perfectly. "I believe I can do it." She bowed again, knowing there really wasn't much of a choice as his request... wasn't. "Although I may need a couple weeks to catch up to everything that needs doing."

"Thank you, Komaki-chan." Morooka was pleased with himself, and with his student. "I'll let the Principal and the President know. Dismissed. Go have yer lunch."

"Thank you, Morooka-sensei." Midori bowed again, and left.

Student Council Office
After School

Midori knocked, then let herself into the room. "Hello?"

"Oh, you must be Midori!" There was a single boy sitting at the end of the table with a stack of papers in front of him. "I'm glad you came."

"I am glad to be here." She had set Eri to be in charge of the club today, explaining her new position. "I don't know your name."

"Oh, sorry. Everyone calls me the Quiz King. I prefer Dan though. My full name can be a mouthful."

"Dan," Midori repeated. "Oh! You're the one at the top of the marks!"

"And you're in a solid second for our year." He returned the compliment. "I heard you were in a high-class school before coming back here, so our tests must seem easy."

"Not that," Midori said, moving past the empty tables and chairs. "It's just I had some certain study habits drilled into me, and they stuck." She really wasn't doing anything different, and she didn't want to think that his suggestion had any truth to it. That would be insulting to the school! "So, where is everyone else?"

"It's just us, everyone else..." Dan sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "everyone else doesn't really care. It's pretty hard to get a full set of people to take all the positions this year and the last. Unlike other schools, the Council doesn't have the power or the... glamour that people normally associate with it."

"I understand." Midori picked up a sheet and looked at it. It was an application from one of the classes to set up a cafe for the upcoming culture festival.

"So if you want to leave, be my guest. I've bee running the whole show for the year so far."

That offended Midori deeply. She slapped the paper back down on the table. "Really? You think I'm just took the position to make myself look good? I already have that! I took this position because it seemed like the Council needed my help, and I don't turn people down like that! So, move your ass over, hand me some things to check and I already have a pen!" She pulled out a chair and sat down in it hard before pulling herself in. Glaring at the Quiz King, he responded by looking at her for a moment, then picking a dozen or so sheets up and handing them to her.

"Here."

Front Gate

Dan and Midori waited inside the gate for Midori's team to finish up their practice and meet them there. "Thank you for your help," Dan said as he leaned up against the gate itself. "And I want to apologize for being so harsh with you when you came in."

"Forgiven," Midori instantly replied. "Though why?"

"I wanted to make sure you weren't going to just pick up and leave, so I made things harder for you to judge your reaction."

She was almost offended at that, but recognized why he did what he did. If he – and now her – were the only good people on the council, then they had to be sure that anyone else was capable of pulling their own weight. "I thought it would have been harder than that."

He shrugged. "It was at the start of the year, with all the stuff just starting. There's still a bit of work to be done for the Culture Festival in the coming weeks."

"I don't even know what my Class is doing," she said. "We haven't even started talking about it yet."

"Better decide quickly," he reminded her. "The sooner, the more likely your plan will be approved."

"I'll keep that in mind." Midori caught movement from the front hall, and saw that it was her friends. "There they are! ERI! SAKI! KANOKO! SAWA!" She hopped up and down, waving all the while. "I'm over here!"

"Well, thank you again for your hard work. The next meeting won't be until next Monday." Dan said, as Midori's friends came closer. "Have a nice day."

"Assuming it doesn't rain before I get home, I think I will. I will see you on Monday." She bowed to her senior who returned the gesture in kind.

Dan left just as the other four girls came up. "Who is that?" Sawa demanded as she shifted the bag with her tennis equipment over her shoulder.

"That's the Quiz King," Midori replied. "He's on the Student Council, and was helping me out today."

The others shared a look amidst themselves, causing Midori to feel a small amount of confusion and worry. "Ummmm... Is there something I missed?"

"No!" Kanako was first to recover. "Not at all! We're just surprised, you know!"

Now she was very suspicious, but couldn't act on those feelings. "So, who wants to go get some beefsteak form Aiya's place?" Maybe she could pry out what was going on through food instead?

05 September 2010
Central Shopping District, Tatsumi Textiles
Daytime

Midori and Nanako walked in, hand in hand so that the young girl wouldn't trip on the steps or anything like that. "Hello, Master." Midori bowed deeply at the friendly and welcoming face of the owner.

"I keep telling you, you don't have to call me that when it's all business. And who is this?" Mrs. Tatsumi knelt down before Nanako, who retreated behind her big sister's legs in the presence of a stranger.

"This is Nanako. Nanako, say hello to the nice lady."

"Hello." She poked her head out around Midori's skirt just long enough to say the word, then went back to hiding.

"Sorry, she's not good with strangers." Midori apologized as the carefully advanced into the store, allowing Nanako to keep pace. "How was the order?"

"It came, but I want you to have a look at it first. I think something went wrong in transit, and a good second opinion would help," the older woman said, beckoning Midori to follow.

"One moment." Midory turned to gently pry Nanako off her. "Nana-chi? Big-sis has to look at something important. Can I leave you here to look at things as long as you don't touch?"

"No," Tatsumi said. "I have a better idea. Kanji?"

"WHAT MA?" The young man yelled out from the back of the store. "I'm BUSY!"

"Don't yell. And come out here. I need your help with something."

Kanji came out of the back, his black t-shirt with a skull on it hidden under the off brown apron with the cute flowers on it. "Yes Ma? Oh, hey Midori." He greeted his senior. "What's up?"

"Midori is going to help me inspect the latest shipment," his mother explained. "However, little Nanako here needs to be looked after. Can you do that?" She pointed behind Midori where said little girl had taken to hiding again at his voice and looks.

Kanji almost refused, but thought better of it. Even with his improved standing with everyone in the Shopping District, he still was a rough young man. And this girl didn't look to be over six. "You sure, Ma?"

"Yes Kanji, I am."

Midori could trust him, that she was certain of. And it wasn't like he was going to take her out of the store. "If you have a TV, she can watch that while you watch over her," she suggested.

"I'm kinda doing some things in that room," Kanji admitted before he slapped himself in the forehead. "Oh, I'm an idiot! This will work out perfectly!" He knelt down in front of Midori to put himself at face level with Nanako. "Hey there. Name's Kanji. I may look and sound scary, but I'm a really nice guy." He tried smiling, but the girl retreated even further. "Maybe you should bring her back there first?" He looked up at Midori, who nodded.

"Come along Nanako." She said as she gently led her while following Kanji to the back. "I won't be more than ten, fifteen minutes. I hope."

"Eh, most of the stuff was all right," Kanji said casually. With only his mother and Midori in the store, and both of whom didn't have an issue with his hobbies, he could open up just a little. "I was just working on some stuff in the back on my own time. I'm gonna sell the hell out of them!" He raised his voice in triumph, only for Midori to knock him on top of his head.

"Language!" she said.

"Oh, sorry." He looked down in shame. He may be a manly man, but that was no excuse to be rude in front of the little girl. "Right here," he said, glad to be away from his mistake as he opened the door to the living room with the small television to one side, and the table full of scraps and sewing needles and thread on it. "Come on in."

"Here you go, Nana-chi." Midori gently pushed the resisting Nanako into the room. "Don't poke anything sharp. I'll just be a couple doors down." She looked at Kanji. "She hurts herself, I'll hurt you."

The declaration was cold and final, which Kanji agreed with fully. "Hey, any man who hurts a little girl ain't a man no more. You got nothing to worry about from me!"

"I wanna go with you!" Nanako objected to this state of affairs, even though Midori wasn't about to take her into the store room where she would be distracted.

"Sorry, but I'll be within ear shot, so if you need me, you can call out." She said as she gently undid Nanako's grip on her. "Kanji just looks scary. Trust Big Sis!"

Nanako nodded, knowing that using tears wasn't worth it this time. "Come back soon."

"I will. Kanji." She nodded, and the younger man nodded in agreement.

As Midori left, Nanako looked around the room as the scary man with the cute apron sat down at the table. "Hey," he said. "Name's Kanji. You're Nanako. Right?"

She nodded.

"Cool! Hey, you like cute things, right?" He eagerly awaited the answer.

Nanako nodded, looking at the television. "Can I watch?"

"Sure?" Kanji rooted around for the remote, then turned it on. "What do you want to watch?"

"I don't know." She said, almost sad. Kanji shrugged and tuned it to the weather channel, where the lady was predicting rain, rain and fog for the next week or so.

"So, while we're waiting, I can make you something." Kanji indicated the scraps on the table. "Don't tell my Ma, or Midori, but I was thinking of making cute little critters to sell out front, like rabbits and stuff like that." He pulled a pillow full of needles closer to him and away from the girl. "You want a rabbit?"

Nanako spared him a look, but said nothing.

Deciding that if he wanted this to work out, he would need an example, Kanji carefully began to cut the scraps into usable shapes. His idea was simple. Real men were tough, which he was already. No one was ever gonna say he was weak, that's for sure! But as Kaido told him, being tough didn't mean being all growly and physical. As much as Midori objected to him knowing the dude from Tokyo, he had to admit to looking up to the guy. Being tough also meant taking your weaknesses head on, not giving ground until they were beaten down!

So he was going to do his damned best to sew and stitch, and damn what the others said!

Or that would be the case, if he wasn't trying very hard to hide his hobby still. There were limits! But, after a few days of thinking about it, he realized that if he could do things without people knowing about it, he could be a man, and do what he loved without needing to get into a spot where people would laugh at him behind his back. So he was going to make little stuffed animals out of the left overs, and sell them cheap out front. If people didn't know he was the one making the cute things, then everything would work out, right?

And that meant that he now had his first cuteness test. If a little girl liked what he made, then he could move on to the next part of his brilliant plan! And no one would know better!

Dojima Residence
Evening

Ryotaro wondered where Nanako had gotten that little patchwork rabbit before deciding it was probably Midori's work, and let it leave his mind. He had bigger things to worry about, like bringing Adachi up to speed.

Komaki Residence

Midori curled up on her futon, planning on getting a good night's sleep before a long day ahead of her. She had Classes, Tennis, Student Council, and possibly even another Dolly video if she could make time for it.

An anniversary thus passed unnoticed.