Author's note: Shem-Ha continues to drag herself through her life as a human for our amusement.
As Shem-Ha got ready for the last class of the day, she went over what had happened so far. She had ruled over humanity, was betrayed by Enki, whom she gave the perfect wife, and when she was reborn, her reign lasted for less than a day before a mere mortal weapon struck her down. Now she was left with a mortal body, and had to go to school. The next and final trial was PE. Physical Education. After how literally everything else had gone throughout her school life, she dreaded this final hurdle, especially considering that she had to wear specialized clothing.
"Miku, are you ready?" Hibiki asked, startling Shem-Ha a little, and almost causing her to lose her balance. Miku swiftly took over and caught herself, and pulled up her red gym shorts.
"Yep, all set," Miku answered, then handed control back to Shem-Ha and mentally added, "And remember, you run next to her." Before Shem-Ha could question that instruction, the whole class left the building and gathered on a large field with a race track spanning around it.
"Alright class, let's start simple," the teacher, an athletic woman with short chestnut hair and matching eyes, said, "Ten laps around the field, then we'll continue with warm-up."
"Are you alright?" Hibiki asked while the rest of the class started jogging. Normally, Shem-Ha would be scared of Hibiki being this close, but there was something about her smile that made her feel safe.
"Yes, I am fine," Shem-Ha answered, looked at the students moving ahead, and said, "Follow me." She turned around and started jogging, forgetting her worries for once, and just moving her body. Hibiki followed her, and the two swiftly moved through the cluster of people, without so much as touching one. Before either of them knew it, they led the pack, running side by side and completing the rounds without any issue.
"That was amazing," Hibiki said, resting her hands on her knees after the last lap, and asked, "How did you do that?"
"I just… did," Shem-Ha answered, only slightly out of breath, realizing that running was easily the easiest thing she had done since her death.
"Like I said before, I used to do track and field," Miku said mentally, "Don't be so surprised that this body is good at running. The other thing was pretty cool, though."
"I mean, I already knew you're a great runner," Hibiki said, "But it was pretty cool how you just moved through our classmates like they weren't there, and got us to the front."
"Y- yes, that was… cool," Shem-Ha said, realizing that that was what Hibiki was referring to, "But if I am honest, I have no idea how I did that." Suddenly, the teacher clapped her hands to demand everyone's attention.
"Alright, break's over," the teacher said, "Now some stretches to warm up, and then we'll get cracking." Hibiki and Shem-Ha paired up to stretch, and Shem-Ha internally cursed herself for having made humans so susceptible to pain from their joints, even without damage occurring. Shem-Ha looked around and spotted several students with obvious weaknesses, and in the following game of dodge-ball, used her knowledge, and whatever allowed her to just know stuff sometimes, to secure the victory for her team.
"You were awesome," Hibiki said after the game was over, and offered another gentle smile.
"Alright, that's all for today," the teacher said, "Now help clean up, and then you're free to go." The students helped collect everything again, and put the various instruments away again, then headed back to class to get changed.
"Hey, sorry about earlier," Shem-Ha said to some of the students on the way back to class, drawing their attention, "I went a little overboard, so you might want to keep an eye on where I hit you."
"Oh, thanks," one of the girls said, and the others mumbled in agreement. The students returned to class, changed back into their school uniforms, and after one small segment at the end, school was finally over and Shem-Ha relaxed. However, just as Shem-Ha thought that her troubles were over, she discovered that they had only just begun.
~o~
Hibiki and Shem-Ha walked through the city in their casual clothes, along with Kuriyo, Shiori and Yumi. Shem-Ha already dreaded what was to come, and Miku hadn't talked to her since the last class of school, forcing her to try and get through every social interaction on her own. The group entered an arcade, and Shem-Ha looked around.
"See, I told you it won't work," a mother told her son, "Now come." She grabbed the child by his wrist and started to walk away, but the boy reached for a nearby claw machine and started crying.
"No, I want this one," the child cried. Shem-Ha looked at the child, then at the machine, and somehow knew which one he wanted, then walked over to the machine that dared upset her creations.
"Miku, where are y-? Here, take these," Hibiki said, ran up to Shem-Ha and put a pair of mirrored sunglasses on Shem-Ha, "They're my lucky shades."
"I appreciate the sentiment," Shem-Ha said and stopped in front of the machine. Kuriyo, Shiori and Yumi also followed Hibiki. Shem-Ha put some money into the machine and pressed the buttons, while observing the crane. The claw lowered, but came up empty. As Shem-Ha put more money into the machine, the woman and her son came back.
"Look, I know this isn't my business," the woman said, drawing everyone's attention, safe for Shem-Ha, "But these things are impossible."
"Correct, this is none of your business," Shem-Ha said, and bent down to pull a stuffed animal from the prize hatch, "But I will not allow something as simple as this to make a child cry." She handed the stuffed animal to the boy, who took it and hugged it excitedly.
"Thank you, miss," the boy said, looked up at his mother and said, "Come on, let's go home."
"Well… I… don't know what do say," the woman said, "Thanks."
"You are welcome," Shem-Ha said, "Keep them happy and fed, and they will follow you."
"Right," the woman said awkwardly, and turned to leave.
"That was incredible," Hibiki said and asked, "How did you do that?"
"I… just did," Shem-Ha answered.
"Do it again," Hibiki said excitedly, and Shem-Ha put more money in the machine, quickly securing another toy. After a few more times, people had gathered, and when Shem-Ha ran out of money, some were willing to give her some just to watch her mastery of the machine. She didn't care for the toys, or the money, but the attention she received was enough to keep her motivated. Once the first claw machine was empty, she went on to the next, with a crowd of people following her.
~o~
Once all the claw machines were empty, the people quickly dispersed again, taking numerous stuffed animals with them. Looking around, Shem-Ha spotted several people in dark blue overalls inspecting the different machines. Shiori walked over to a machine with a screen and four colored arrows on the floor in front of it.
"Yumi, let's do this," Shiori said, and the two stepped in front of the machine. Shortly after, arrows started flashing across the screen, and the two girls stepped on the corresponding field on the ground. As the game progressed, the arrows came faster and faster, until Shiori could no longer keep up and missed too many, causing her to lose.
"Now this looks interesting," Shem-Ha said and walked over to a whack-a-mole table. However, since she had no money left, she simply watched other people play.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Miku said, suddenly popping back into her mind and startling Shem-Ha a little.
"Where have you been?" Shem-Ha asked mentally.
"Just in some corner of my mind, so not very far," Miku answered, "I did some thinking ever since you came back, and decided to see what would happen. Also, I know what happened during PE."
"And what?" Shem-Ha asked, "How did I know how to do all this?" Before Miku could answer, Hibiki stepped up to Shem-Ha.
"Hey Miku, what are you doing?" Hibiki asked, pulling Shem-Ha out of her thoughts. When she tried to talk to Miku, she could barely sense her. Normally, she would be happy, but if she was really developing new powers, she needed to know what they were, so she could use them more effectively, and potentially gain additional ones.
"Nothing much," Shem-Ha answered.
"Great," Hibiki said, "Shiori got tired of losing, so if you have nothing else you want to do, we wanted to go somewhere else."
"Alright," Shem-Ha said, and followed Hibiki to the exit, where the duo met up with Shiori, Kuriyo and Yumi. The group walked through the city, and Shem-Ha noticed numerous people carrying stuffed animals with them and smiling.
"Looks like you really did a good thing, Miku," Kuriyo said, "You made so many people happy."
"It definitely looks like it," Shem-Ha said, not knowing how she should feel about accepting praise meant for someone else. However, Miku could take control at any time, so she was likely fine with the current situation.
"By the way, where would you like to go now?" Hibiki asked, and everyone looked at Shem-Ha.
"Me?" Shem-Ha asked.
"Yeah, you," Hibiki answered and asked, "Where would you like to go?"
"Let me see," Shem-Ha said to herself, thinking about where she would like to go. She had never really considered preferring one location or activity over another, since her immortality had always given her more than enough time to do anything she wanted.
"If you're not sure yet, can I decide?" Kuriyo asked and said, "We can go to where you want after that, if you figured it out by then."
"That is acceptable, yes," Shem-Ha answered, earning a few strange looks from the others for her unusual response.
"Great," Kuriyo said, "Then let's hit up the zoo." The group turned a corner, and headed towards the nearby zoo.
"By the way, you don't have to wait to tell us where you want to go," Hibiki said, "If you decide, just let us know right away."
"Alright," Shem-Ha said and followed the group, pondering where she would like to go. The group boarded a train, with Hibiki paying for Shem-Ha's ticket, and Hibiki and her friends talked about various matters, while Shem-Ha found herself lost in thought. Previously, she could go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted, yet being faced with making that decision consciously felt overwhelming.
~o~
When they arrived at the zoo, they paid for entrance, with Hibiki once again covering Shem-Ha's portion as well. All five girls entered the zoo, and Shem-Ha looked around, equal parts amazed and intrigued at how humans held her other creations in such small enclosures. Before she could ask where they were headed first, Kuriyo took the lead, and the rest followed her.
"Let's see the lions," Kuriyo said, and the group walked over to an enclosure surrounded by water, inward-leaning concrete walls, and a fence. Several lions, including two males with dark brown manes, laid on a grassy island in the center, with one gnawing at a bone that it kept locked under one of its paws. Hibiki ran ahead and leaned onto the fence, startling the other guests, who took a step away.
"They look so cool," Hibiki said, as the rest of the group caught up to her.
"Yes, but you shouldn't lean onto the fence," Yumi said, "If it breaks, you'll fall in, and then the lions will get you." Hibiki stepped back from the fence and chuckled, rubbing the back of her head.
"Yeah, sorry," Hibiki said, "I guess I just got really excited to see them."
"Suddenly, Chris' nickname for you makes a lot more sense," Kuriyo said, and the rest of the group chuckled a little, except for Hibiki and Shem-Ha.
"It does not," Hibiki said, getting defensive, "Besides, even if I fell in there, I'd be fine."
"The lions have no interest in hurting humans anyway," Shem-Ha said.
"What do you mean?" Shiori asked.
"If they wanted to attack, they would have," Shem-Ha answered, "Especially that one." She pointed at a lion with a pitch black mane and dark brown fur, lying in the shade.
"That's what these barriers are for," Shiori said in a deadpan tone.
"No, they're only here to let the lions know that it's not worth the effort," Shem-Ha explained, "They can't easily get up here and strike, so attacking humans would be too much of a risk for them. But all of them could potentially get up here, especially if the black one goes first and breaks down the fence." The guests all looked at Shem-Ha, then at the lions, and stepped back from the enclosure a little.
"I'm… impressed that you know this," Kuriyo said, "But that was really uncalled for."
"My apologies," Shem-Ha said, "But to clarify, the lions will stay put as long as they know they're being watched. So everyone moving away from the enclosure is not a good idea." The guests looked among themselves, and one by one, stepped back to the enclosure, and a few moments later, everything seemed to return to normal. As the group moved on, Shem-Ha made a low growl, too low for human ears, prompting one of the lions to roar.
Author's note: Shem-Ha realizes that being praised feels really good.