Chapter 93 - A Request - Ninja Club
...
Upon returning from Gehenna's beach, it was right back to work. Thankfully, Arona was still fired up from her trip and ended up helping me with FAR more efficiency than ever before.
Additionally, I got to thinking about everything that's gone on since I've arrived. I still haven't gotten any word from Himari or Eimi about their club being fixed, nor have I heard anything on Decagrammaton. Thinking on it made me a bit worried. There's gotta be nine other prophets out there. Plus, knowing Kivotos, there's gotta be other crazy and strong shit out there.
Thus, I began working on a project in Schale's basement. I began making a weapon, something I could use to take down bigger targets and make sure they STAY DOWN, but not big enough that I couldn't carry the damn thing. That means no railguns or anything obscenely big.
Thankfully, I oughta be able to handle the recoil on what I've got planned. I'd wager only someone truly strong like Hina or Hoshino could handle what I've cooked up in my head. Unfortunately, I'll have to draw out those plans before I can begin working on it in any tangible sense. Man, I can't wait!
...I wonder if this is how the Engineering Club feel?
On one day, while sketching another design in my free time, I jolt when the lights go out. The fuck? Wait, I think I heard the light switch actually be shut off.
I tense as I hear quiet footsteps. Then, for some idiotic reason, I hear speaking.
"We snuck in without a hitch." A nasally, feminine voice whispers with a giggle.
"W-We... We really did it! We really infiltrated the infamous Schale..." Another, more timid-sounding girl whispers, sounding torn between proud of herself and worried of repercussions.
"Ninja rule number one! A ninja must be willing to take on anything, anytime, anywhere, without hesitation!" The first girl says. "This is how we'll take over Schale!"
Wait... ninja...? Could they be...?
"Oh! Yes, of course!" The timid one says. "As a ninja, you need to take action instead of being timid and indecisive...! What wise words from our president! Let me put that in my notebook!" I then hear rustling. Seriously...?
"Uh... That was a compliment, right...?" The nasally voice asks. "Okay, time to go! Whup-whup-whup! Ninjas on the move!"
"Oh, uh, yes! Wh-Whup-whup-whup...!" The second one repeats, more timidly.
Okay, enough of this. I get up, completely silent, and walk around to behind the two intruders.
"You know..."
"Huh?" "Eh?"
I then flick the lights on as I stand right behind them. "...ninjas are supposed to be silent, right?" I finish.
The two girls turn around to face me, slowly and rigidly.
The shorter one, the one with the nasally voice, has grey hair done in long twin tails, golden eyes decorated with red eye shadow, and grey animal ears... Tanuki ears? She wears an outfit similar to Izuna's- a sailor uniform with various ninja-like additions such as long, black, fingerless gloves that come to just below her shoulder, and a black scarf that's hot pink at the end. She has on black leggings, one trimmed to end at the knee and black, slip-on tennis shoes. She also has a large, grey and black tail... Tanuki tail? She also has a shotgun that fades into blue then hot pink, and her halo is shaped like a hot pink shuriken.
The timid-sounding girl, who is nearly my height. has long, dark purple hair that's yellow on the inside along with what look like dark purple rabbit ears- the kind that lay down. Her eyes are a lighter shade of purple and she wears a similar outfit to the other- a sailor uniform with a purple scarf and light purple cardigan over it. Under the top is a thing the same as leggings, but over her rather ample chest. She also has a long skirt, split to one side revealing white bandages wrapped around one thigh. She has on brown, slip on shoes and white socks. She carries a pale purple SMG over her shoulder, and her halo is shaped like a pale purple and very detailed flower.
"HUWAH?!" The tall girl immediately panics.
"Argh! Don't panic, Tsukuyo!" The small girl shouts. "How many times do I have to tell you?! Rule two of being a ninja!"
"Oh! I-I know!" The tall girl, Tsukuyo says.
"A ninja never gives up, no matter the adversity!" The small one proclaims. "Tsukuyo! Time for our special two-person ambush, you and me! Right here, right now!"
"Wh-What? Right now?" The purplette asks.
"Yes, right now!" The small one repeats.
"You two can try." I challenge.
"EEK?!" Tsukuyo shrieks, recoiling in fear.
BAM
Just then, the grate of the vent above us is broken off, falling to the floor. From the small vent, comes Izuna, landing clean on her feet. How did she even fit in something that small. Hang on... Izuna's last name is Kuda... Is she a guda kitsune?
"Never fear! Izuna is here!" The fox girl chirps.
"Izuna...?" Tsukuyo asks. I knew it, they're her pals.
"Izuna made her way here as quickly as her ninja legs could carry her, Aruji-dono!" Izuna says. "C-Could it be what Izuna heard was a cry for help?"
"Not from me." I grin, pointing towards the other two.
"...Eh?" The brunette blinks.
"Why'd you pop out like that, Izuna?! That wasn't part of the plan!" The small one shouts.
"B-B-But... President!" My ninja whines. "Izuna heard her lord's pleading cries, and her body acted on it's own! L-Like a true ninja!"
I smile. "Again, that wasn't me."
"It's not that I don't understand your motives, but..." The small one trails off.
"Y-You know, the way Izuna rushed over without a second thought..." The tall one trails off, before smiling. "She looked so valiant!"
Izuna giggles, a smile on her face. "Izuna thanks you for the compliment, dear Tsukuyo!" She says, theatrically, causing the tall girl to chuckle awkwardly.
BAM
"""AHH!""" The three ninjas jump in fright as the door slams open.
"Anata-sama! We have intruders in-!" Wakamo, mask on and gun at the ready, stops herself upon seeing the cowering trio. "Ah, you found them already. As expected."
"Tha-Tha-Tha-Thaaaa...!" The small ninja stutters. Tsukuyo is just muttering nonsense, equally afraid.
"Hm? Why are you two so scared?" Izuna asks, innocently.
"Izuna! That's the friggin' Fox of Calamity!" The small one whisper-shouts, grabbing Izuna by the collar.
I sigh. "They ain't intruders, Wakamo. They're Izuna's friends."
"Heh?" Wakamo asks, lowering her gun. "Izuna...?"
"Izuna is Aruji-dono's personal ninja!" The brunette fox introduces, fearlessly, popping over next to me. "And she will do her best to keep him safe!"
"Hoh?" The blackette fox challenges, her voice lowering. "You wish to protect, Anata, tiny fox?"
"I-I do! It's Izuna's duty to her lord as his ninja!" Izuna proclaims, slightly intimidated.
Wakamo 'stares' Izuna down from behind her mask for a long while, the other two ninjas still panicking behind me. After a long, tense moment, Wakamo lets out a small chuckle.
"I'll allow it." The masked kitsune says. "Your conviction is strong."
"Of course! Izuna wants nothing more than to serve her lord!" The guda kitsune says.
"And what about those two?" Wakamo asks.
"We-We-We're just visiting!" The small one cries.
I sigh. "The basement's no place to talk. Let's go back upstairs." I then turn to the cowering ninjas. "And calm down, Wakamo ain't gonna hurt you two."
"Indeed. Anata-sama has no problems with you, so neither do I." The masked fox says, turning around and heading upstairs.
"...Did she say 'Anata'?" Tsukuyo quietly asks.
Not long after, the three ninjas, calamitous fox, and I all sit in my office, each having something to drink.
"So, you two are Izuna's friends. What're you doin' here?" I ask, curious.
"W-Well... Uh... The thing... You see... W-W-W-We're..." Tsukuyo stammers.
I hold my hands out. "Calm down, take your time." The tall girl timidly nods, her face slightly red.
"Fufufu." The tanuki girl grins. "So you want to know who we are?" She then clears her throat. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sensei-dono. I am Chidori Michiru.
"Uhh! Um, p-p-pleased to meet you...! I-I'm Oono Tsukuyo..." The tall girl says.
"And it is I, Izuna, Aruji-dono!" Izuna chirps.
"Nice to meet y'all, and... Sensei-dono?" I ask, curious.
"Bahahaha! Michiru laughs. "Why beat around the bush? Allow me to introduce our ninja squad! Izuna! Tsukuyo!"
"Yes, President!" "Y-Yes, P-P-President!" The other two say.
"Ninjas! Hyper unite!" Michiru says, sounding like she's ripping off Power Rangers.
"...What is this?" Wakamo asks, deadpan.
"You must be wondering, just what is a ninja?" The grayette asks. "What is this 'ninjutsu' I speak of?"
"Wh-What is it?" The rabbit(?) asks.
"Ninjas are always learning, always exploring, and always seeking more..." The tanuki continues. "We the trio of three work tirelessly to spread all aspects of ninja charm!"
"Trio of three!" The guda kitsune chirps, causing me to smile.
"With us on the case, even crying babies find their smiles!" Michiru continues. "The premier ninja club of the Hyakkiyako Academy!"
The trio then pose. What the hell is even this...?
"We are the one and only! The Ninjutsu Research Club!" Michiru announces proudly, still posing.
"Yes, the one and only!" Izuna chirps.
"Th-The one and, uh, o-o-only..." Tsukuyo timidly echoes.
"And I am the president of this very club! Chidori Michiru!" The tanuki announces.
"I... see..." I blink. "But, uh... what are you three doin' here?"
"Indeed. Why have you kids infiltrated this place?" Wakamo asks.
"W-Well.. Um..." Michiru trails off nervously, before clearing her throat. "I understand, Sensei-dono. When you first saw us, you must have thought, 'Wow! Real-life ninjas! A trio of three awesome and adorable ninjas have appeared like ninjutsu! Yes, I would love to support these girls! I hope one day they grasp their ninja dreams in their hands and live the life they deserve!'. Don't worry, such thoughts are natural when faced with ninjas. I would feel the same way, so I have prepared something to help you!"
Michiru then theatrically hands me a paper.
"...An official club-accreditation recommendation form?" I ask, stupefied.
"Yes, yes!" The tanuki chirps. "Just sign on the dotted line, please?"
So this club isn't official?
"This was your plan all along, President?! Izuna had no idea!" Izuna gasps.
"Me neither... I thought we were just saying hi to Sensei..." Tsukuyo adds.
Michiru nervously says, "W-Well, that too... I guess? ...Anyway. Your reputation precedes you, Sensei-dono! Tales of your achievements have spread across the lands, of your ability to solve any problem that comes across your path! So helping us become an official club will be a snap!"
"So you three merely wish to use Anata-sama for your own gain?" Wakamo asks, dangerously.
"I, uh, well... You see...!" Michiru stammers, the trio all frightened from the calamitous fox.
"Wakamo." I chide, causing her to relax. Sighing, I speak, "Still, there's an actual process you have to go through to become official, yeah?"
"That...?!" Michiru stills. "Well... Technically, yes. But the thing is... Th-That inconsiderate Kaho refuses to listen to anything we say!"
This sounds like the Game Development Department all over again.
"She's a total stickler for no reason!" Michiru continues. "She's super strict."
Really feeling the deja vu. Seriously, they even have someone as timid as Yuzu.
"That doesn't really sound like Kaho to me..." Tsukuyo says.
"Ahem!" The grayette interrupts, stopping her friend from speaking further against her. "Anyways! Sensei-dono, please listen to our pleas."
I deadpan. But before I can answer...
"Sensei?" Arona asks, popping up on screen.
"Yeah?"
"You have another visitor." The AI explains happily.
"Let 'em in." I order, causing Arona to nod.
The door to my office opens, a new girl entering- likely from Hyakkiyako as well.
She has long, blonde hair done in a bow at the end- behind her shins-, golden eyes decorated with red eye shadow, and round eyebrows resembling hikimayu in their shape. She wears a white and golden-yellow, sleeveless kimono that ends at her feet and gives a view of the side of her boobs. On her arms and separate, white kimono sleeves. She carries an AR over her shoulder, and her halo is two yellow-gold rings with a three-sided shape and three dots in the center. It should be noteworthy that while she has two, think fox ears on her head, she has no tail. How odd.
"Pleasure, Sensei." She politely greets. "I'm the vice-president of Hyakkiyako's Yin-Yang Club, Kuwakami Kaho. I'm here on behalf of the Yin-Yang Club to make an official request to Schale. Please, could I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure, but you didn't have to come all this way. You coulda just called." I say. "Plus-" I eye the ninjas. "-, we were just speakin' about you."
"You're...?" Kaho says, eyeing Michiru.
"Great, another fox." Wakamo groans.
"And y-you're...?!" Kaho says, wide-eyed at Wakamo's presence.
"Don't worry about her. What's this about a request?" I ask.
"R-Right." The blonde fox says, regaining her composure. "My president, Niya, would like to make a request to Schale in person."
"When?" I ask.
"Whenever you're available." Kaho explains.
I hum. "Fuck it." I say, standing up. "I'm not busy right now. Who wants to come with?" I ask.
And so, the trio of three ninjas, Kaho, and I all went to Hyakkiayako. Wakamo opted to stay home, her face scrunching up at the mere mention of Niya.
I went to the Yin-Yang Club a while back, but only entered the front room where I met Chise. I was surprised to find a beautiful Japanese interior, complete with shoji blinds decorated with trees and the like.
I let out a whistle. "Impressive."
"Don't let your guard down, Sensei-dono! This is the president of the Yin-Yang Club we're talking about!" Michiru warns.
"I've heard rumors... The president is supposed to be a monstrous dragon who'll leave you speechless with just one word...!" Tsukuyo adds.
"Izuna will protect you with her last dying breath, Aruji-dono!" Izuna chirps.
"Goodness. There seems to be an egregious misunderstanding here." Kaho sighs.
"Oh, guests?" A sleepy voice says. It's owner, Chise, then enters the room.
"Hi, Chise!" Kaho chirps. Where'd that energy come from?!
"Huh?" Michiru blinks, wide eyed.
"Hello, Chise." I greet.
The bluette oni stares at me blankly for a long while. Then she speaks, "A sudden meeting. A truly pleasant surprise. Hehehe, hello, friends!" She smiles.
"A haiku?" I ask, a touch surprised by the suddenness of it.
"Oh my gosh. Was that a haiku? Written by Chise herself?" The tanuki all but squeals. The fuck?
"Chise... How delicate... How obscenely cute...!" Kaho mutters, blushing.
"Why are you two freaking out?" I ask, a bit worried for them.
"Ahem." The blonde clears her throat, her blush fading. "Now is not the time. Niya! We have guests!"
A sliding door opens, revealing another girl, one with short, black hair and.. shut eyes? Why? It's Kaya all over again. She has two oni-like horns sprouting from her head, the right one has half of it snapped off. She has golden, hooped earrings and a beauty mark under her right eye. She wears a sleeveless, white kimono top and a black skirt., along with separate, white sleeves that are red on the inside. She has on sandals with very tall soles and white socks, one very short, one ending mid-thigh. She doesn't carry a gun, but instead a folded up fan. Her halo is white and intricate, having four circles and eight points at the cardinal and intercardinal directions. Various other details are within the four circles.
"Ooooh." She 'blinks', not opening her eyes at all. How the fuck did she do that? Can she even see like that? Good lord, it really IS Kaya all over again, minus the killing intent. She then walks up to me, an impish grin on her face. "Uh-huuuh..." She then takes a step back, moving here and there to look me over. "Mmhm. Okay."
I raise an eyebrow at her antics.
"Your face isn't half bad..." Niya... compliments? "I'd definitely give you an A. There's definitely a strange charm there."
"What?" I ask, completely confused as to where this is going.
"Niya, please. Could we refrain from such boorish behavior?" Kaho asks.
Niya merely giggles. "My ever-boring, ever-stiff Kaho." She then turns back to me. "My name is Amachi Niya. I am the very well-deserved, some might even say overqualified President of the Yin-Yang Club. Good to meet you, Sensei of Schale!"
I smile, what an easygoing girl. "And you as well, Niya."
"Haha! At least you aren't as boring or stiff as Kaho." The black haired oni grins. "So... The infamous Schale Sensei. Who hasn't heard the stories? You've single-handedly held Kivotos together since the General Student Council president went 'poof'."
"I'll admit I fixed everything when I arrived, but I certainly haven't done anything that impressive since." I argue, omiting the mess with the Treaty a while back. I'm still wary of the signing of that damn thing.
Niya lets out a laugh at that, before schooling her features. "Before I get to the point, Sensei, do you know the role the Yin-Yang Club serves at Hyakkiyako?"
"Aside from basically being the Student Council, no."
"You get passing marks, but that's a shallow understanding of what we actually do." The sly oni says.
"The Allied Hyakkiyako Academy is comprised of numerous unions and alliances." Kaho explains. "Put more simply, at Hyakkiyako there is no so-called student council with their foot on the neck of the student body."
"I get it. Not so much the head, but the face." I muse.
"Right you are, Sensei." Niya smiles. "We don't step on our students' necks. We've raised our foot off those kinds of duties and instead work to uphold the history and tradition of Hyakkiyako. Or, to put it more bluntly as you surmised, we serve a very necessary function for a large organization such as this- being the face of the operation. In a way, we're a little like pop idols. We put on performances, exhibitions, broadcast the Yin-Yang Club's daily horoscope readings-"
"One of those is not like the others, but okay." I interject, causing Niya's smile to widen.
"And our darling Chise's popularity grows greater with each event!" The president continues. "Isn't that right, Chise?"
"Right...!" The blue oni says, sounding sleepy as usual. "...Does it?"
"I don't get how Chise can be so popular. I mean, she's cute, but..." I trail off, noticing Chise's face has become red.
"Niya, I beg of you. We've a purpose here." The blonde fox interjects.
"Oh?" Niya's smirk widens. "Is little Kaho j-e-a-l-o-u-s~? It's okay, you have a lot of silent fans out there too! I promise!"
"Niya, please!" Kaho shouts, sporting a blush.
"What the hell...?" I hear Michiru mutter behind me.
"Bwahahaha! All right." Niya relents. "I'll cut to the chase. A few days from now, the Hyakkiyako and Gehenna academies will hold a join exchange meeting."
"That's an odd pair." I comment.
"I know, shocking." The oni continues. "This monumental event was only able to happen thanks to the cooperation of one of Gehenna's top organizations, the Pandemonium Society. For the actual day, we've invited the students of Gehenna to the Whirlpool Movie Village, one of Hyakkiyako's greatest prides. And to sweeten the deal, we're preparing something really special for our visiting academy~. And that is our dear Princess Waraku, the Yin-Yang Club's-"
"Who now?" I ask. Does she mean Chise? That's her last name, right?
"Sensei-dono, you mean to say you've never heard of Princess Waraku?!" Michiru shouts. "Out of the Whirlpool Movie Village's many attractions and special screenings, Princess Waraku is well-nigh the best! Especially since the star of the show is none other than Hyakkiyako's top celebrity, Chise! Why, Chise's charm and loveliness are downright life-changing!"
I turn to look at Chise, who's staring into space. I don't get why they gush over her so much.
"Michiru, while appreciated, please curb your enthusiasm." Kaho chides.
"Oh? I didn't know you were familiar with our work." Niya smiles. "Thank you for being a fan of our show. What was your name again... Mitchie Rude?"
"My name is MICHIRU!" The tanuki snaps, before pausing, looking terrified.
"Hm. Okay. Anyway-" Niya continues, ignoring the small ninja. "-, we have a particularly ambitious performance of Princess Waraku planned for this whole shebang. But we are a bit concerned..."
"About what?" I ask.
"As you know, the students of Gehenna are rather free-spirited, some might even say flighty and temperamental-"
"Crazy, just call them crazy." I cut her off.
"Haha!" Niya laughs. "I may as well! So, in the very, very unlikely event an accident occurs during the performance due to their craziness..." She then giggles. "What an interesting thought."
I narrow my eyes, causing her to jolt. Kaho also glares at her president.
"Uh, I mean... That would be a horrible event!" Niya corrects herself quickly. "Our point is, we're requesting Schale's support in ensuring everything goes smoothly."
"Sure, I'll help." I say, pretty much instantly.
"What?! Sensei-dono?" Michiru asks, shocked.
"I would like something as payment, though." I add, mentally smirking.
"Oh?" Niya asks.
"I want you to get these three- the Ninjutsu Research Club- to help me with it. And after, you make 'em official." I say, gesturing to the ninja trio, who all jolt at the attention. I won't be able to do all this by myself, plus this can be used to help 'em.
"The... Ninjutsu Research Club...?" Niya asks, slowly.
"Sensei-dono, please hold! You can't just request something like that willy-nilly!" Michiru chides.
"And why not?" I challenge.
"Sensei, there are proper procedures for such requests." Kaho chides.
"Well, that's my offer. Take it or leave it." I say, crossing my arms.
Niya remains silent for a while. "The Ninjutsu Research Club? Can't say it rings a bell. What is it?"
"It's a... club for researching ninjas." The blonde says, sounding exhausted suddenly. "It also hasn't received official accreditation."
"I'm curious to know why." The oni raises an eyebrow.
"They have never submitted a formal club application." Kaho says, eyeing Michiru, who jolts. "The club application requires thorough documentation: the club's proff of performance report and three letters of guarantee from other clubs attesting there are no falsifications of the club's activities. In the case of the Ninjutsu Research Club, they've satisfied the first requirement with their operation of the video channel 'Michiruchi, A Girl's Ninja Scroll' and the self-created ninjutsu book they submitted to Komisen."
"Y-You remembered all that, Kaho?!" Michiru exclaims.
"Wow! What a great memory!" Izuna chimes in.
"As for their letters of guarantee from other clubs, their application would be rejected without them." Kaho explains.
I turn to the tanuki, raising an eyebrow which causes her to wilt.
"Well... You know... Most people don't really understand ninjas..." Michiru argues, weakly and quietly. "Kivotos is just too behind the times to appreciate ninja culture! P-Plus, I have some personal stuff... that..."
"Bwahahaha!" Niya laughs. "How amusing. Whatever, sure. The Ninjutsu Research Club is hereby recognized as an official club my me, Niya."
"Again, Niya! Your blatant disregard for procedure and rules...!" The blonde fox growls.
"D-Do you mean it?!" The grayette shouts.
"Kaho, didn't I say you were too stiff?" Niya pouts. "As long as the meeting goes off without a hitch, a small favor like this... It would be my pleasure."
I nod in thanks. "It's a deal."
Niya smiles. "Members of the Ninjutsu Research Club, I look forward to your help with the show~!"
Michiru's face is one of pure shock.
"President!" Izuna chirps.
"P-President...!" Tsukuyo happily says.
"Oh, um..." The tanuki stutters. "Yes! Yes, of course! We'll do everything in our power to make it a success! Leave it to us."
"...Oh, heavens..." Kaho bemoans.
Chise just smiles.
"Bwahahaha! How exciting!" Niya smiles.
"Guess that's it." I smile, turning to leave. "Oh, yeah. I also had a message to pass along."
"Oh?" Niya asks.
"Yeah, she said, 'Open your damn eyes already, stupid oni'." I smile.
Niya jolts, a wide, WIDE smile growing on her face, threatening to split it. One of her eyes creaks open, slightly revealing a dark amber eye. "So, that rumor I heard about her staying with you WAS true."
"She's certainly a handful, but it ain't so bad." I smile.
"Still, good luck with that, Sensei." Niya smiles, closing her eye as she turns around and leaves, leaving everyone else completely confused by that. I'm just glad Wakamo's message was enough to open at least one eye of hers. I'll get both of 'em next time.
I returned to Hyakkiyako a few days later, following the directions Arona gave me to find the Whirlpool Village. Sounds like a Naruto reference, now that I think about it. The place looked like a big-ass movie set, sure enough.
"President, President! Izuna found Aruji-dono!" I hear Izuna shout as she and her friends come up to me.
"You've arrived, Sensei-dono." Michiru smiles.
"Uh, h-hello..." Tsukuyo greets shyly.
"Hey, y'all." I smile. "Ya ready to get started?"
"I was born ready!" The grayette exclaims.
"Izuna worked very hard to prepare! Especially mental training!" The brunette chirps.
"Well... I-I took an anxiety reliever this morning before I left, so..." The purplette explains.
"Wahahaha, Tsukuyo! You're always too nervous!" Michiru smiles.
"Yeah, don't worry. You'll do fine." I say, causing the tall girl to shyly dart her eyes around. "Still, I was expecting Izuna to be energetic, but you're surpassing her in that regard, Michiru."
"Well, yeah. This is the chance for us to finally become an official club and it's just for helping with the exchange meeting." Michiru says, chuckling. "You're right, it's got me pretty excited! Let's kick butt!"
"I'm, um... excited too... An exchange meeting between Hyakkiyako and Gehenna... Events like this are rare...! I can feel my heartbeat in my chest." Tsukuyo smiles.
"I know. It's an odd pairing." I say, understanding the surprise. Germany and Japan coming together? Hope it ain't like it was in that World War... or in the first one, either.
"Alright, then! Let's go off to the performance stage!" Michiru smiles, running off.
""Yes!"" The other two ninjas say.
I just chuckle.
"Assistants for the show, please gather over here!" A robot man says to the crowd we're a part of, inside of the rather fancy performance hall.
"That's us." I say to the trio of three.
"Coming through!" Izuna chirps as we pass through the crowd.
"Right!" Tsukuyo adds.
"I can't believe we're really helping out with the show. I keep pinching myself!" Michiru all but squeals once we reach the backstage area, already filled with various other helpers- students, animals, and robots alike.
"To begin, all assistants will be assigned to various roles so we can take stock of equipment." The lead robot man announces.
"Assigned roles?" Michiru mutters, confused.
"Yes." The lead guy says, hearing the tanuki. "You, over here, please."
The grayette blinks. "Oh, uh, okay." She says, heading off.
"And you, that way."
"Okay! Nin nin!" Three guesses as to who that was.
"As for you, since you're tall, please take care of that equipment." He says to Tsukuyo, who's shorter than me.
"Oh... Okay..." The tall girl nods.
The man the proceeds to give everyone instructions on what to do, one at a time. "Great. Please proceed to your assigned stations and follow the staff's instructions." He says, once done.
"Everything's happening so fast... but this is what we signed up for." Michiru says, looking determined.
"Yes! Izuna will uphold our ninja values!" Izuna chirps.
"M-Me too...! I-I'll do my best!" Tsukuyo adds.
"Good luck you three. See ya in an hour." I smile. The guy said it'd take an hour, so...
With nods from the three girls, we split up and get to work.
An hour and twenty minutes later... Seems things took a bit longer than expected. I did what I could, but there was a lot to do. Seems the others had more since I found myself waiting on the ninja trio. Minutes passed, feeling longer than expected. I eventually pulled out my phone and played Kivotos' rip-off Tetris for a while.
That is, until...
"The hell's all that commotion?" I mutter, hearing lots of people outside.
Leaving the building, I see Tsukuyo. "P-Please... If you could just let me through..." She pleads to some delinquents, blocking her path.
"What'd we say? Just shut up and don't move." A thug says, poking the tall girl with her gun.
"You ain't movin' an inch, beanpole." The other one insults.
"We're meetin' up with our peeps and you're our landmark." The first one says with a chuckle.
"Wh-Wha...? B-B-But... I'm a person! N-Not a landmark!" The tall ninja argues. "I have to g-go... Please... I have a job to do!"
Okay, yeah, that's enough. I quietly walk behind the two thugs and place a hand on their shoulders. The jolt and whip around to look up to me.
"Why're you two botherin' my friend?" I ask, narrow eyes.
"Who the hell are... Wait..." One recognizes me.
The other freezes. "Oh, crap." She says, both of them pulling away from me. "You're... that Sensei everyone's been kickin' up a fuss about?"
"That I am. Now get." I say, motioning away with my head. Thankfully, they fearfully scamper away quickly. I just walk over to the ninja, "You alright, Tsukuyo?"
"Wa... Waaaahhh! Sensei...!" She cries, shaken up.
After a minute, she managed to calm down, thankfully.
"You okay now?" I ask.
"Y-Yes... Thank you, Sensei..." She shyly says.
"Anytime." I smile.
"I'm... I'm really sorry for dragging you into my mess."
"It's fine. I couldn't just leave ya there." I say. Geez, it's Haruka all over again, albeit to a lesser degree. "Still, the hell was that all about?"
"Well, um..." She trails off. "I'm just... I'm so gosh-darn big and tall... I think these kinds of things happen because I'm so easy to spot in a crowd."
"That's kinda messed up." I grimace. "You shouldn't get targeted just because of that."
Tsukuyo makes a small smile on her face. "I... Thank you again for your help."
"Anytime." I repeat. "You ready to head back?"
"Nn." She nods, losing all shyness in favor of determination.
The two of us then walk back. Tsukuyo fidgeted and looked around all the while.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Y-Yes!" She jolts, violently. "S-S-S-Sorry! You must think I'm rude, staring at you like that! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
Smiling, I reach over and pat her on the head. "It's fine. I was just a little worried about you bein' worried."
"Ah." She blinks, blushing. I take my hand off her head as she continues, "Well, you see... You see... Well... Izuna's lord... I always wondered... You know, what kind of person they'd be..."
"Ah." I get what she's saying.
The tall ninja just awkwardly giggles, looking away. "Ever since she joined the Ninjutsu Research Club, Izuna would always say, "Izuna is gonna be the number one ninja in Kivotos for Aruji-dono!'." She says, raising the pitch of her voice a bit, making me smile at the impression. "Of course, the president always thought she'd ben duped by some weird stranger..."
"That sounds about right." I joke, earning a smile from the shy girl.
"St-Still... that's what we used to think." She says, a bit quickly. "But... Izuna was always glowing when she talked about her lord! I didn't really think she'd been duped... I actually always thought I'd like to meet you..." She pauses, her face reddening slightly.
"Well, you've met me. Whaddya think, disappointed?" I joke.
"N-No, not at all!" Tsukuyo says. "Sensei, you were so composed even when we barged in on you unexpectedly. And... And..."
I raise an eyebrow.
She continues, voice quieter, "You didn't yell or scold us..."
Oh...
"And most importantly, even when we were talking about ninjas... Y-You didn't make fun of us at all. You even went out of your way to advocate for us at the Yin-Yang Club. It surprised me. In a good way. Learning that there are people like you in the world, Sensei... It makes me really happy. I'm pretty sure you make Izuna and the president happy too."
She gets bullied for more than her height, huh...? Still... "I'm glad you three get along so well." I say, honestly. "I'm glad Izuna made like-minded friends."
"Uh..." The purplette jolts, eyes widening at the praise. "Yes." She nods, smiling happily. "To be honest, I really went back and forth about whether someone like me could join the club. But Izuna is great... and I respect the president so much for letting me in. I can be really slow and dense... But the president... Even though I am the way I am..." She trails off, muttering at the end. "Th-The point is that I want to do my best!" She quickly adds. "To adhere to the rules of being a ninja, a-and not let them down! Which... is a lot easier said than done."
"I think you're doin' a great job." I interject.
"Eh?" She blinks.
"It's clear you enjoy ninja stuff, like the other two. I thought Izuna was crazy about ninjas, but you seem to like them just as much as she does..." I then smile. "...even if you're calmer about it."
"E-Eh?" She blushes, looking all around. "We-Well, tha-tha-thank you, Sensei..." She exhales slowly to calm herself. "S-Still, I've made up my mind to help make sure the show is a success."
I smile. "I know you three can do it."
"O-Okay. D... Do you really think I can?" She asks, worried.
"I know you can."
She smiles shyly.
"It's Aruji-dono! And Tsukuyo!" We both jolt at Izuna's loud voice.
"C'mon! The preparations are almost done!" Michiru shouts as well.
"Oh! W-We're coming!" Tsukuyo yells back, nodding at me before running off towards her friends.
After my talk with Tsukuyo, we all got back to work. Eventually, I checked my watch to see that it was nearly time for the performance- around thirty minutes. I did this at the backstage area, the trio of ninjas along with me.
"I'm a little nervous!" The shy girl says.
"Izuna too! Her heart is pounding like crazy!" The energetic girl chirps.
"Wahaha! What're you two so nervous about? We're more than capable of this mission!" Michiru smiles.
"Y-Yeah! And, um... Sensei. Thank you for making this happen for us." Tsukuyo smiles.
"No problem." I really should be apologizing for roping them into this without asking ahead of time.
"Well said!" Izuna smiles. "Aruji-dono... You have set the stage for the Ninjutsu Research Club to finally shine!"
"It's fine. I just went ahead since it seemed like the best option." I say, eyeing Michiru. She has her reasons for not filling out the form, I'm sure.
"That's..." Michiru begins, ashamed from being silently called out, but she recovers quickly. "I'm going to give my best ninja performance right here, right now! The end! Mission accomplished!"
"G-Got it! I'll do my best to be an o-outstanding ninja!" Tsukuyo adds.
"Izuna's all in! Nin nin!" Izuna chirps, as usual.
I just smile, "You gals really love ninjas, huh?"
Michiru looks at me like I'm an idiot, "Why do you think we made the Ninjutsu Research Club? Because we love puppies?"
"Izuna really does love them! Izuna can't wait to become a full-fledged ninja!" The fox says with a bright smile.
"I mean, I'm definitely not very knowledgeable about ninjas..." The tall girl shyly says.
"Don't worry, young grasshopper. Ninjas are the coolest of the cool, so you'll catch on soon!" The tanuki says, trying to cheer up her friend. "This is exactly why I want to spread awareness of ninja culture in Kivotos. It's the whole purpose behind my video channel."
"Right, Kaho mentioned something about that." I hum.
Michiru nods. "Right now, it only has a few subscribers, but as long as we keep hustling I know people will begin to see the beauty in ninjas! Why, you ask, do we persevere?"
"Because to never give up..." Tsukuyo continues.
"That's the way of the ninja! Nin nin!" Izuna finishes.
I smile at the trio. It's always great to see people passionate about something, even more so when they bond over it. I'll hafta see what that channel is all about after this play is over. Speaking of which... "Anyway, Michiru talked this performance up a lot, so what's this 'Princess Waraku' thing about?"
"Princess Waraku is an experiential event, and one of the movie village's greatest attractions." The grayette explains. "The story goes something like this: Chise is a princess from a prestigious family. But one day, she's kidnapped by a cabal after her family's power. During this harrowing moment, the members of the audience..." She says, placing a hand on her chest. "...suddenly become the main characters! They have to overcome a series of obstacles to rescue the princess. It might be a pretty cliche plot, but the real experience is being the main character in the story, clearing the obstacles, and the excitement of saving the princess. And the audience members compete amongst themselves to be the first to save her!"
"Well... seeing as how y'all have made Chise out to be popular, I'm guessing there's gonna be serious competition?" I ask.
"Oh, definitely!" The tanuki smiles. "But that's all part of it! All of these factors come together for a perfect experiential performance!"
"I-I've only ever watched it broadcasted..." The rabbit(?) adds.
"Izuna can't believe she gets to participate this time!" The guda kitsune smiles.
Michiru chuckles. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for this opportunity... Wait just one moment!" She jolts. "The princess is played by none other than Chise herself! D-Do you think we could get her autograph?!"
"Oh, for fuck's sake..." I groan.
"President, how resourceful of you." The purplette praises. "U-Using this opportunity to finally achieve your life desire!" And that's getting the blue oni's autograph? Not spreading the word of ninjas? "You really are a true ninja...! Wow!" The purplette smiles.
Izuna just blinks in confusion, still smiling as usual.
"Tsukuyo... Was that supposed to be a compliment?" Michiru blinks. "Well, regardless, OF COURSE I'll get Chise's autograph if I can!"
Just then, the doors open, revealing the robot staff leader. "Assistants, please get ready. The acting cast will be arriving soon."
"Looks like it's time." I comment.
Sure enough, in come the actors, and... Hang on... Is that?
My thoughts are broken by Michiru running up to who she assumes is Chise. How'd she fuck that up, Chise is taller than-
"Ch-Chise...! I'm your b-b-biggest f-f-fan!" The grayette stutters a compliment out to-
"Okie-dokie, I'm Ibuki! Thanks for wishing me luck!" Ibuki, ever cheerful, takes the compliment meant for Chise in stride.
"...What?" Michiru locks up.
"Isn't that... a Gehenna student?" Tsukuyo blinks.
"Yeah, that's Ibuki." I smile, walking over.
"Oh?" The small blonde blinks, looking past Michiru. "Sensei!" She chirps, running past the still-frozen tanuki, before hugging my waist with a smile. "I didn't expect to see YOU here!"
"I could say the same." I smile, patting the girl's head over her military cap, much to her joy. "So what're you doing here?"
"Ah, right. I'm here to be a princess!" She smiles, letting me go.
"P-Princess?" Tsukuyo asks.
"You mean in the play?" I ask.
"Yup!" The tiny girl chirps.
"Heh? They just changed the star of the show like that?" Michiru asks, grimacing. "What were they thinking? Wasn't this performance supposed to be super important?"
"What? Am I not 'posed to be the princess?" Ibuki asks sadly. "D-Did I do something wrong?"
"Nah, she's just a big fan of who was originally supposed to be the princess, so she's a bit sad." I explain.
"Oh..." Ibuki says, understanding. "Don't worry, Ibuki will be as great of a princess as the other girl!"
"Urk?!" The small blonde's blinding smile blinds Michiru, causing her to let out a surprised choking sound, which brings a smile to my face.
click
However, her smile is dimmed by the lights going out in the building.
"Waaaahhhh?!" Tsukuyo yells in fright.
"The lights! Is it an enemy ambush?" Izuna asks. I can hear her hair whipping around, can she even see in the dark?
"Calm down. It's probably just a power outage." I quickly say.
"Wa..." Ibuki mutters.
"Waa...?" Michiru asks.
"Waaaagh...! Wh-Where did the lights go? I don't like this at all!" Ibuki cries, sounding terrified. "Am I in trouble? Is it my fault? I can't see... Iroha... Makoto..."
Before I can say anything, Michiru cuts in. "Don't worry, little Ibuki! None of this is because of you. Right, Sensei-dono?"
"Yeah." I nod, patting the small girl's head again. "It'll be fine. The lights'll come back on soon. Just stick close so we don't get separated, okay?'
"...mmokay." Ibuki mutters with a sniffle, still scared. Poor girl.
"Yup. It's just a little hiccup." The tanuki says.
"Huh...?" The blonde asks with a sniffle. "H-Hiccup...?"
"Hiccups aren't scary, right? And Sensei-dono is here too, so you know you're safe!" Michiru reassures the small girl.
"You're right... Sensei's my friend, but... but who are you...?" Ibuki asks.
"Izuna and Tsukuyo! And our president, Michiru! The trio of three!" Izuna chirps. I hold back at laugh from the 'trio of three' bit. I like it, weirdly enough. Despite the darkness, I make out the three of them doing their pose again. Hopefully Ibuki can see it too. Izuna continues, "And we are the Ninjutsu Research Club! Our dream is to become the best ninjas of all time!"
"...Ninjas?" Ibuki asks, curious.
"I mean, ninjas are actually kind of a metaphor for-" But Michiru is interrupted...
"Y-You're lying? You're not ninjas?" ...by Ibuki, who sounds absolutely disappointed.
"What, no! Stop making assumptions!" Michiru quickly corrects.
"O-Of course it's not a lie!" Tsukuyo says, sounding a touch upset. "Our dream is to become the best ninjas out there...! And ninjas are cool and strong! So there's nothing to be afraid of... Ibuki. No matter what scary things happen, the Ninjutsu Research Club... We ninjas will protect our princess, Ibuki! Right, President?"
"Of course!" Michiru says, confident. "We'll protect you, no matter what, Ibuki!"
"And count me in, too." I gently add. "It'll all be fine, Ibuki."
"O-Okay..." The small one says. "Still... I got separated from Iroha a while ago..."
I smile. "I'm sure she's lookin' for ya right now. We'll find her."
"...I've got it!" Michiru suddenly exclaims. "Here! If you feel scared, this will keep you safe!"
I can barely make out what the tanuki holds out to the little student, but I can see that it's... "Peroros dressed as ninjas?"
"...Wow!" Ibuki gasps, looking at the toys in the older girl's hand. "What is it? Tell me, tell me!"
"So you also appreciate the coolness of ninjas!" Michiru says, sounding smug. "Don't get too excited now! This is Ninpero, the star of Ninja Ninpero! He's the strongest of the strong, defeating any evil that dares stand in his way!"
"Bahaha! He's so weird looking! I wanna pull the wings off!" Ibuki... The fuck?
"I wouldn't do that, it'd probably hurt the little guy." I quickly say.
"Hm? Oh, I don't wanna hurt 'im." Ibuki says.
Michiru just clears her throat, "Anyway, Ninpero will be your protector during the performance!"
With a nod, Ibuki takes one of the Ninperos from Michiru.
"Should our adorable princess find herself in trouble, just hold onto Ninpero as a reminder of our promise." The grayette says. "We promise we'll come and rescue you, no matter what it takes! Okay, princess?"
"You mean it?" The small blonde asks.
"Of course! Rule three of being a ninja! A ninja never breaks their word!" Michiru declares.
"Neither does a teacher." I add. "I'll come with the ninjas to help out. Okay?"
"Yay! Okay! Thanks!" The small girl chirps, bringing a smile to my face and like to the ninjas' faces as well.
"Another mission successfully completed!" Izuna chimes in, prompting Tsukuyo to awkwardly but happily laugh.
And then...
click
"The lights are back on!" Izuna blinks.
"I'm glad they could fix it quickly." Michiru smiles. "See? Told you it was nothing."
Ibuki nods, smiling.
The lead robot man reenters the room. "Our apologies, we had some technical difficulties. Princess, you're up!"
"How exciting! Break a leg, Ibuki." Izuna cheers.
"You got this...!" Tsukuyo smiles.
"Good luck!" Michiru adds.
"Thanks, ninjas! I'm gonna go now, Sensei!" Ibuki smiles.
"Knock 'em dead out there." I add, smiling as well.
The small girl nods, happily running off.
The purplette sighs, relieved. "I wasn't sure we'd be able to calm her down."
"That was really close... But ninjas must complete their missions no matter the adversities." The grayette says.
"And now it's show time!" The brunette adds.
"Here's to hoping the rest of the performance goes smoothly!" The tanuki smiles.
I nod. Although, knowing Kivotos...
Sure enough, a bunch of girls enter the room... Are those mouryo?
"Who are these guys? I didn't know they hired more assistants." Michiru asks.
"Because they aren't. They're those Street Mouryo." I say, readying for a fight. "Be on guard, girls. This might get ugly."
"On it, Aruji-dono!" Izuna nods, readying her gun.
Their leads, wielding a gatling gun instead of a rocket launcher, and wearing what looks like a noh mask. "Don't forget, us Free-Spirited Mouryo are here for a specific goal. Exectue the mission swiftly, and get rid of anyone who stands in our way. No distractions." She orders.
""Yes, ma'am."" The many mouryos say, moving out.
"Wh-Wh-What did they just say?! Get rid of...?" Tsukuyo asks, worried.
"What's goin on?! I'm confused!" Michiru asks.
"Calm down. This ain't the first time I've dealt with 'em. Right, Izuna?" I smile.
"Right, Aruji-dono!" The fox chirps.
Sure enough, the idiots start going to work, scaring everyone as they start blowing shit up, causing the many assistants to run in fear, leaving us four pretty much alone.
"Hang on, they said 'mouryo', right? Like that known group of troublemakers?" The tanuki asks.
"That's them." I nod.
"They called themselves the Free-Spirited Mouryo! Nin!" Izuna adds.
"I've heard of them...! Even for a mouryo gang, they're extra violent!" Tsukuyo warns. "They're against modernity and refuse to recognize anything other than the original traditional Hyakkiyako festivals, and demanded they be supplied with festival gift certificates twelve times a year... which seems a bit self-serving... But since Hyakkiyako Academy refused, these festival hardliners have been causing scenes at every festival they attend."
"And since this thing is a joint project with Gehenna... Surely they would've expected these idiots to show up?" I groan.
"This sounds like a bad comic book plot." Michiru deadpans.
"That sounds about right for a lot of shit in Kivotos, honestly." I shrug.
"But why would they attack this place? Just because of Gehenna?" The grayette asks.
"Maybe. We can't know for sure unless-" I begin.
"HELP! The actor for the princess has been kidnapped!" The robot lead guy from before shouts.
The three ninjas jolt.
"Fuck." I curse.
"The princess... was kidnapped?" Michiru asks.
"Th-That means...!" Tsukuyo says.
"Ibuki is in danger!" Izuna all but shouts.
"Seems that's their plan." I groan, feeling pissed off all of a sudden.
"W-W-We have to report this! To the Yin-Yang Club! Or Hyakkayouran!" Tsukuyo shouts. Never heard of that last one.
"N-No! That's too risky!" Michiru argues.
"I agree. We're close, so let's go save her."
"""Huh?""" The three blink.
"We promised to help Ibuki if she was in trouble, right? Let's go!" I shout, motioning for us to go.
"B-But..." Tsukuyo trails off, clearly worried.
"A member of the Pandemonium Society has been kidnapped?" I hear a familiar voice ask, sounding pissed for the first time since meeting her. "If this gets out, it would set off a massive diplomatic catastrophe. Worst case scenario, it could even trigger a war between two schools."
"And it'd ruin the chances of that treaty being signed." I add.
"Yes! Exactly! Which is why we shouldn't report it now!" Michiru says, a bit too quickly. "And isn't the head of the Pandemonium Society supposed to be, like, totally scary? If they were to ever find out, we'd be screwed!"
"From what I've heard, she ain't as scary as their Head Prefect. Ain't that right, Iroha?" I ask.
The redhead nods next to me, looking furious. "...Ibuki, a member of the Pandemonium Soceity, has been kidnapped?"
The trio of three freeze.
"You're a Gehenna student?! Not only that, but a member of the Pandemonium Society?!" The tanuki shouts. "Augh! We're done for!"
"D-Do we have to prepare for war?" Izuna asks, looking ready to cry.
"I need my anxiety meds!" Tsukuyo wails.
"Calm. Down." I say, all but shouting, causing them all to freeze again. I then look down at the redhead. "You look ready to rip someone's head off."
"Pardon me, Sensei. But I am EXTREMELY composed right now." She denies, gritting her teeth.
"Mmhm." I hum.
"Ugh..." Iroha sighs, relaxing her posture. "This is exactly why I was against this. Makoto said it would be 'an unforgettable experience' for Ibuki, but I insisted it was too dangerous."
"The more I hear about your president, the more incompetent she sounds." I deadpan.
"That's about right. GAH! Didn't I warn you?! This is on YOUR hands, Makoto. What are you going to do about it?" She shouts. "I could go out there right now and cause a furor the likes of which no one has ever seen. I'd rip everyone apart."
The ninjas step back from her in fear.
"But... I'm logical before I'm emotional. This can't become public knowledge." Iroha says, more calmly. "We can't allow for political strife or conflict between the two schools."
She's only saying that because it'll cause her more work, huh...?
She groans. "Can you imagine if Makoto found out? Let alone Satsuki?" Who? "In the end, who would have to clean up the mess? Nuh-uh. Not doing it."
"That sounds like you." I smile.
"Therefore, my recommendation is to handle this quietly." The Gehenna student says.
"...Wh-What do we do?" Tsukuyo asks.
"What I said before- let's go save her." I repeat, wondering why we're standing around TALKING instead of GOING.
Michiru nods. "It's what we're meant to do. This is the way of the ninja."
"President?" Izuna asks.
"I stake my pride as a ninja that we will resolve this before the public finds out!" The tanuki declares. "The people present here and now will be the only ones to ever know!"
"Oh...!" Tsukuyo gasps.
"The president is a genius!" Izuna smiles.
"And it's not just us. We have a top member of the Pandemonium Society and, most importantly, Sensei." Michiru adds. "We can do this!"
"One problem though- how do we keep this under wraps?" I ask.
Before anyone can come up with anything...
"Mic check, one-two, one-two. Can you all hear me?"
"Is that Niya...?" Michiru asks. I remember something about Gehenna loaning a blimp for something or another. Her voice definitely sounds like it's coming from above. Walking outside of the hole the mouryo blew up, we see the blimp above.
"Bwahaha! How's everyone enjoying the show so far?" Niya asks. Hang on... is THAT her plan? "This extra-special performance is all thanks to the cooperation of those at the Pandemonium Society! Despite a few tweaks here and there, the time has come for the experience you've all been waiting for... Hyakkiyako's Princess Waraku! Now, behold!"
The screen on the side of the thing changes, showing a live feed of some mouryo running off with Ibuki in hand.
"As you can see, the cabal that kidnapped the princess is on the run!" Niya continues. "Who will be the first to rescue the cabal from the evil princess? The Yin-Yang Club have prepared a very, very special gift for the gallant hero who steps up as our savior. To all the students of Gehenna who have graced us with your presence here at Hyakkiyako, as well as our own student body that has always given us unwavering support for our festivals, we look forward to your eager and enthusiastic participation in this event! We'll be cheering for you from the sidelines! Good luck!"
She's seriously...? I hold back a groan. "That's her plan, huh...?"
"It seems so. 'The show must go on'." Iroha muses. "What a clever way to keep the audience from gleaming the situation."
"That crafty..." Michiru begins to curse. "Uh, I mean, the president's reputation truly precedes her. She bought us some time." Crafty seems about right? I thought onis were supposed to be honest and kitsune the tricksters? Seems Niya and Kaho didn't get that message. The tanuki continues, "Okay, the mission is simple. The Ninjutsu Research Club will rescue Ibuki before a single soul notices what really happened!"
"Yes, ma'am! A ninja will never ignore someone in need. Nin nin!" Izuna chirps.
"Poor Ibuki... She must be so scared now..." Tsukuyo says.
"Don't worry, we'll get her." I reassure the tall girl and the redhead, both concerned for the small blonde. "Alright, then. Let's go save the princess!"
AN
That's right! Straight into another event! I REALLY wanted to get this one in the story after reading a translation of Volume 5 on YouTube.
Nearly 10k words with this one. I couldn't find an easy way to shorten it as the last scene goes for a WHILE.
As a reminder, this story and the Kaleid one are also on Ao3 and Wattpad, under the same name. Speaking of, the Fate/Kaleid story got nuked on Wattpad for having characters under 16 engaging in seggs. Go read it on Ao3. The Wattpad version will be censored from now on, and it- along with my other stories- will no longer contain any limes or lemons on the site.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next!