ShipTeaser

  The music died down, the lights dimming, and Kanzaki Keiko stood there pridefully, sweat beads glittering on her fad arms, the idol e she wore, the short red skirt, with fshes of bd silver cloth sewn through it, as well as the silver shirt partially covered with a red and bck waistcoat covered with sparkling sequins, catg the eye of the crowd. “And that song was Seal Train! Now, Matsui- hasn’t been well, as you all know, but she wishes she could be here to sing for you all.” Keiko tinued. “But who knows…” she addressed one of her colleagues beside her, earing the same outfit, her hair bunched into braids with cute pink ribbons. “…maybe our fans will get a nice surprise Saturday, don’t you think Yoshino-?”

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“Oh definitely, Kan-za-ki-!” Yoshino- replied into her microphone in a singsong, cutesy voice. “I just know everyone is super excited for the charity cert at the Tokyo Dome Saturday!” She paused to allow the crowd here at the AKB48 Café in Akihabara to cheer, before tinuing. “But to those of you who couldn’t get tickets, don’t despair!”

  “That’s right!” Keiko grinned, her smile lighting up the room. “Our very own café will be hosting a live viewi, and there will even be some of our ex-members ing back for a special live performance. So you cheer us on from here!”

  “And what do nned?” a third idol said, this one a cute younger girl with her bck hair tied with a single white ribbon.

  “That’s a se-cr-et!” Keiko copied Yoshino-’s iions from earlier. “But…” she lowered her voice spiratorially, a clear act sidering she eaking into a microphone. “…we’ll be pying our single, and announg our new tre. And that’s not all… we’ll also be having a colboration song with an up-and-ing local idol group. Let your specution ence!”

  “You fot that there’ll be special iional guests too!” the younger member broke in. “Though don’t let these fn idols turn your heads. Who do you love?”

  “AKB48! AKB48! AKB48!” The crowd in the café ted, waving their glowsticks frantically, much to the bemusement of some fn tourists who had been drawn in by the noise earlier, or had just e in because it was a café and they wanted something to eat or drink.

  “In that case…” Keiko grinned. “If you all keep a secret, here’s a brief taste of happiness! In fact, this song is called Tsukiakari no shita de shiawasena ai! May you all find happiness and love under moonlight! A owo, three!”

  The lights of the café dimmed, leaving the glowsticks of the fans the only light apart from a few by the bar, and then spotlights, brilliant white like the moon, highlighted Keiko, who had moved to the tre of the trio. As the members began to dahe routihey had painstakingly learhrough hard work and endless repetition, her voice rose in song, and she was gd the lights were sht, as it hid the scattering of tears glimmering in her eyes. I’ve finally do. I’ve been voted number one and I’m the tre on this single! And it’s not just any single, but it’s a sihat we’ll perform first at the biggest musical event in Japanese history.

  Her thoughts a whirl, they sung and dahough it was only half the song and their first chorus, before they switched to several different songs in a medley. As their dance came to a close, the lights came up again, and the ts of the fans finally stopped. Tossing back her head, beads of sweat scattering, Keiko spoke again. “You didn’t get the full song, as not everyone’s here, a me tell you, the ter verses are real bangers.” As the crowd cheered, she pced one hand at her mouth, to show she was sharing another secret. “The st verse we’ve actually rewritten in tribute to someohat’s done AKB48 a huge favour. I think it’s eveer now.”

  “But you’ll have to wait and see!” Yoshino- giggled. “Since you who e to our café are gest fans, we gave you a brief taste. But the full meal is served Saturday! Anyway, I know you’re all eager for the handshake event, but give us fifteen mio freshen up first, okay?” She winked, and the crowd waved their glowsticks in response. A curtain came dowhe stage, and the idols rexed.

  “Whoa, you were on fire there, Keiko.” Yoshino Asuka said, taking a towel and wiping her sweat. Now the audience was hidden, they rexed, addressing each other by their given names. “You’ve certainly blossomed retly. You’ve even shrugged off the backsh from your interview.”

  “Maybe she really does have a thing for him.” Ema, the younger idol, grinned.

  “Oh you!” Keiko ughed wryly, als herself off. “You know the way things are. If I seriously did date anyone I’d have to drop out of being an idol. You know what the fans are like… I mean, I love them, we all do, but there are some bad apples…”

  “No kidding!” Asuka hugged her, until she pushed her away. “It’s like these handshake events. I have to respect how the fans spend their hard-earned money supp us, buying multiple copies of our albums and tickets just to get more votes, but… well, it’s a good job that they are forced to wash their hands before they are allowed to e up. If it’s just that they are nervous and sweaty, that’s to be expected, but…”

  Ema spoke up, curious. She had only been a member of AKB48 a short time, and the uping single was her first major appearance, so she was a little naive about things. “…Really? I thought that was an urban myth.” She flushed, embarrassed and morbidly curious. “There’s no way a fan would… you know… ioilet beforehand?” She couldn’t even say it, and Keiko found her blush adorable. Ema’s a born idol, though she’s got a different style to Asuka and me.

  “I wish it was.” Keiko sighed. “It never happeo me, but some of our founding members ended up with sticky hands. Fortunately we’ve far better security and rules now. The worst we have to worry about is some snder online and having to remember the names or niames of all our wotaku. Although when it crosses the lio stalking that be scary…” She brightened up then, reag for her phone. “…though if any of you get hassled, just tell me. I’ll get it sorted.”

  “You’re not supposed to have your pho work.” Ema said, and Keiko pyfully flickered her forehead.

  “Everyone does it. I know you have yours, right?”

  “Guilty as charged!” Ema flourished her own hot pink phone. “So, by getting it sorted, do you mean you’ll call him?” She inquired, brown eyes sparkling.

  “I have another question. Do you really think Juu-…” Asuka referred to Matsui by her niame, as she was a senpai in AKB48 “…will be able to perform? When she had to be repced as tre on her single due to illness she was devastated. I’d love to see her e back strong!”

  “I think so. It’s all hush-hush, but the promoters of the cert are powerful, important people. The gover, big business and more.” Keiko pointed out, having done more resear the powers behind Akio-kun after their stint oalk show together with Arisu-. Now she was a frightening woman, but so powerful and elegant. I wish I could be like her someday. “I know ma suggested it without much hope, to make things go with a bang but… I met her. The bar-bar my way girl, Shaeu-. She’s the reason we rewrote the st verse. She brought hope and happio Juu-. I believe it.”

  “That’d be amazing!” Ema raised her fists to the sky, excited. “Injury and illness is scary. And we’ll get to dah her in front of all of Tokyo Dome. It’s unbelievable. I’m so lucky!” She hugged Keiko, rubbing her cheek on her. “I’m still a newbie, but thanks to being put in your trio I’m flying!”

  “It’s not just Tokyo Dome, this is going out worldwide!” Asuka ughed, and Ema froze, before her hug tightened.

  “I’m suddenly scared! Help me Keiko-senpai!” Ema cried, and everyone ughed.

  “Oh, now you respect me as a senpai?” Keiko said with mock severity. “Anyway, time is up, we o get out there and make the day for our fans. After all, we’re idols! We may not be heroes saving the world like some, but we dhten the lives of our fans!”

  “That’s right!” they agreed, and pg their hands over each other’s, they then raised them to the sky. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

  After quickly freshening up, the curtain was drawn ba the stage, and they took their positions behind their individual tables, lines of fans in front of eae, clutg CDs, posters and other merdise ready fning. With a practised smile, Keiko greeted her first fan warmly. “A-kun, good to see you!”

  “You remembered me…” the man who was niamed A-kun said, scratg at his slightly chubby cheeks with delighted embarrassment. It was only his sed time visiting her, so he was impressed.

  “Of course, who could fet you? Oh, you’ve got my limited edition poster where I’m dressed as an Akiba maid. That one’s premium!” Keiko praised him. “Do you want a signature?”

  “Yes, if you could sign it with the name of the new single…” he said slyly, and Keiko couldn’t help but giggle.

  “Sure, clever! But that doesn’t mean I’m leaking as, all right?” She winked, signing her name and the name of the sih bold, cutesy kanji. “Anyway, thanks for having my back, it’s the support of the fans that makes us shine!” She held out her hand for the handshake, and the man shook her hand gingerly, before releasing it with a shy smile.

  “Great, I’ll be your fan until the end! I’ll buy more merdise and vote you for tre!” he promised, but she shook her head.

  “I appreciate it, but… this time, instead sider donating to the cert fund. It really is food cause!”

  The man promised to do so happily, and after a few more sentences and a selfie with her, the fan . The routine tinued, Keiko chatting away, shaking hands, posing for photos and signing items, and she g her fellow idols, who were also greeting their fans, though Ema looked a little bit flustered. She’ll get used to it in time, and fortunately she has the smallest line. She’s cute and has that little sister vibe, I have to step up my game or she’ll overtake me in popurity. Now that I’ve reached tre, I want to hold it for a few more si least…

  “Hi, good to see you again, oh, Sora-kun, it’s great to see you!” Keiko greeted one of her true superfans, who had been with her from the beginning of her career, when she was a newbie like Ema. He was a tall, rather nky man, with a head of white hair despite his age, hence his niame. “Are you excited for Saturday, I bet you have a ticket, right?”

  “I don’t know if I’ll go.” Sora-kun said, his tone odd. Keiko blihinking maybe Sora-kun was unwell, and she noticed that he seemed to be sweating, his forehead covered in beads of water. Also… his hands are empty. Normally he’s got all my test stuff. Maybe he’s low on funds? I love the support, but I do hate that the culture forces fans to spend big to show their love for us. If so, I be nice, since he’s a super fan.

  “Hey, just between us…” she whispered, reag under her desk. “This is for you.” She handed him a limited edition badge that had just been prio celebrate the new single. “Don’t wear it until Saturday, okay?” she smiled winningly. Normally the brushing of her fingers on his would have made him blush with happiness, but now he only looked down at the badge, seemingly puzzled. What’s going on? Keiko was starting to feel that something very odd was happening, and her senses were buzzing. Sora-kun looked around, sing the room, befng down at the badge, and his hand tightehe metal, which wasn’t thin, as AKB48 prided itself on quality merdise, crumpled.

  “Hey, you’ll hurt yourself, be careful…” Keiko warned, before realising that the noise around them had stopped. Casting her gaze around, she noticed everyone seemed frozen, faces pale and struggling to speak. What’s going on? No… it’s obvious. Sora-kun… he’s like Akio-kun, Arisu- and Shaeu-. But why… what?

  “You’re a slut, Kanzaki-.” Sora-kun said suddenly, his tone icy. “Ever sihe start I’ve been your fan, your destined one. When you came sed st in the popurity poll, I spent big t you up three pext time.”

  “And I thank you…” Keiko said, scared. Her hand crept into the inside pocket of her skirt uniform, unlog her phone by touch. This is bad, bad, bad, bad! Nobody is moving! If I get stuck too… The door to the café opened and a pair of tourists entered, only for Sora-kun to gre at them, and they were suddenly motionless, door smming behind them.

  “…every step of the way I’ve bought your merdise, voted for you every poll, praised you online, defended you from those trash that don’t know your value… but you betrayed me. Slut, whore, bitch!”

  “I’m not…” she began, but he growled menagly, freezing her fingers for a moment. Ugh, no, I have to find the right number…

  “Akio-kun is my ideal man!” he mimicked her voice. “If that isn’t wh yourself out to others, what is? I’ll kill kill kill KILL KILL that fucker!” He took a deep breath, his range suddenly dropping. “I was the chosen one. I gaihese powers, and they’re great. I khen we would be together. But no, you let that unfaithful bastard steal your heart!”

  “No, I didn’t… ahh!” She cried out as he spped her faot hard, but enough to leave a vivid handprint on her cheek. Her head spun, and the phone fell out of her pocket. Fortunately it nded s up, and Sora-kun wasn’t paying attention.

  “My power is great, but it’s hard. Not like iories. I didn’t want to bloody my hands. It’s all very well stopping creatures…” He poio the frozen figures around them. “…but having to finish them off… I wasn’t eager. But then I realised…” his tone was bitter. “…if I don’t grow, you’ll leave me for him!”

  She shook her head, desperately trying to distract him from what her foot was doing. Her shoe was kicked off, and she was trying to manipute the s with her toes. “I am dedicated to the fans, I’m not in a retionship…”

  “Lies!” he roared. “And now you interrupt me, your husband! Shut your mouth!” Spittle spttered her face, but she was too terrified to care. “Anyway, I knew I had to grow stronger. I took a trip to the mountains, and spent long days there iher world, freezing and killing everything I could find, endlessly hunting and freezing and killing. After the first day it was finally bearable. After the third it was even a little fun. I was such a fool.” he scoffed. “And now my Eye That Curses With Stillness eve such power here. I am the chosen one!” he grinned viciously. “Now… kiss me!” He tried to push himself on her, but as she flinched back, he spped her agaiher cheek now crimson too.

  “I see. You still don’t see reason. Then… it’s time for punishment. But I don’t want to defile you. You’re Kanzaki-, my idol, my angel! But you o suffer…” His eye fshed, and she felt a numbness e over her, body log, Desperately her toe stabbed down, and her phone began t, even as Sora-kun strode over towards the sed table, pung aside the frozen fans. Reag Ema, he gripped her by her braid, grinning. “I wonder how you’ll beg and plead for me when your kouhai cries at your feet?” He reached out, tearing the ribbon free from her shirt.

  “No… help… help me…” Ema cried, her mouth barely able to form words, and hot liquid spshed down her legs, tears falling from her eyes. It was at that moment that her st-ditch call icked up, and with desperation Keiko screamed with all her strength, her mouth so numb she could barely trol it, teeth g against her lips, red scattering. You said if I was ever in trouble… I know it’s impossible… you could be anywhere… you were in Korea? But… please, please help us! Save us!

  “Help! AKB café… Chosen… attag us! I…”

  ********

  “Help! AKB café… Chosen… attag us! I…” The desperate shouts were followed by a pained scream, and the call terminated. Split Thoughts cycled to the maximum, allowio calcute in a merest fra of a sed. It’s not a joke or a prank. She genuinely souerrified. A Chosen, huh? Why? But…

  Tsukiko’s parents seemed fused, but Tsukiko and Yukiko-san uood. Before they could speak I opened my mouth. “I have to go. Even if it’s a false arm… there’s no time. Tsukiko, enjoy your day. The others will fill you in…” With that I dismissed my Material body, leaving them behind.

  In the Boundary at Shirohebizumi, I asked Shiro to cut the buff to Asha’s Tree. She seemed fused, but I expined as quickly as I could, as every sed ted.

  “Shit, that’s bad. But… sure, you’re back from Kyoto, but Akiba is like fifty kilometres away. You’ll not make it in time…” Shiro cursed, frowning.

  “I will.” I said, furious. “Because I have to.” I made the promise half i, when would I ever o help out a celebrity like Kanzaki-? But even if I hadn’t, hearing the panid pain in her voice… In the Boundary I could sprint faster than a top-of-the-range sportscar without causing trouble for the residents, and I was off, running north, when suddenly a colossal surge of aether and shimmering violet and purple motes fred around me, and space blurred, my froretg out into momentary infinity.

  I khey’d work… It was a stretch, calling what was happening an invasion, but if I sidered the Akihabara café where AKB48 pyed as its owhen an intruder would clearly be invading if they attacked, and the only logical option was to notify the Akiba Police Box. Good going, Godwicher. If I find out where yrave is in Britain, I’ll leave some flowers. Seven leagues was half the distance, and as my other foot came forwards, aether and most of my remaining spatial element scattered, and once more space blurred. Crashing down into a wall which suddenly loomed out of nowhere, stone shattered, but I didn’t eve. Of course, if I thought of it that way and the boots didn’t accept my reasoning, then I might have triggered the Geas. Fuck it, I always grow new dam…

  Looking around the Boundary, I could feel I was very close to Suzu’s Vassal territory, which meant I could orient myself. I’m in northern Akiba. Shit, I’m close… time passes faster here too, so it’s only been a handful of seds outside. A lot happen in a few seds, but… I raced down thly where the tre of Akiba was and summoned my Material body aneearing in the crowds. People were startled and screamed, before snised me, and soon people were pointing, shouting and taking photos with their phones, but I ighem, instead rag the st two hundred metres to the café in a blur that left cracks in the pavement, and the wind of my passing swept hats and scarves off passers-by.

  This is why I need a Rank four Territory, so that enemy Chosen are suppressed. But then, I’d have to own all of Tokyo. No, no time to think of this now… The doors shattered as I crashed through them, my reflexes allowio dodge the frozen people standing by the entrance. I instantly took in the se, a g, paralysed Kanzaki- with bruised cheeks and bleeding lips staring at another younger girl who was dripping with tears, snot and more, her mouth moving soundlessly, eyes wide with terror, as a tall, white-haired man was tearing off her clothes. Her waistcoat was off, and her skirt had been unzipped, hanging onto her thighs, while buttons were just now flying off her shirt, revealing her camisole-style undershirt. My mind raced, a dozen thoughts processed in an instant, and I felt a surge of relief. Safe. Looks like I’ve made it before anything irreversible happens. That relief was repigh-instantly by a powerful wave of anger, my fury spiking. Fucker. Another idiot that’s got ed by their own sense of self-importance. And the timing couldn’t be worse!

  It seemed like I wasn’t the only one relieved, as Kanzaki- went limp, her struggles against her bindings ceasing, and she crashed to the floor. At the same moment the man attag the idol turned his head at the noise of the exploding door, his eyes shining with a powerful aether.

  “It’s you! I k!” he roared, shaking the girl he held furiously. Aether spiked, and his face twisted into a manic grin. The impact of the energy struck me, and I quickly dised it was not aernal ag force, but an internal effect that he nerves and motor funs of the body. Therefore it isn’t suppressed nearly as much by being active oerial like external forces. That expins a lot…

  “When I kill this man, you’ll e bae, Kanzaki-!” He dropped the other idol, fetting her as though she was trash. “You’ll see I’m the one you should turn to, the one who loves you most!” He grinned balefully, showing his teeth, and howled. “Kill you, kill you, KILL YOU!” Energy gathered on his palm, a surge of fiery yellow power, f a fireball. “I’ve grown these past few days, trained like I was the Shonen protagonist I am… just to kill you!” All of his fme element was expended, and a huge fireball surged towards me. Kanzaki- let out a strangled scream, but it was drowned out by the man’s loud, crazed ugh. “I learned how to call on fire. Burn to ash… es… argh!”

  “I’ve seen enough.” His paralysing gaze was impressive, but against my surgiher and boiling blood, there was no parison, and it barely halted me for a fra of a sed. Light element fred, and one eye burst with a sizzling pop, severing his hold on everyone, aether scattering away harmlessly. “Training hard for days or weeks, sure it’s praiseworthy…” I snorted, water element f a bubble, drowning the fire, wind scattering the remaining sparks away from the people ing out of their bondage. “…but I’ve been in stant life or death battles and training from hell for many months now.”

  “You bastaaaaaaaaaaaard!” the man yelled, one hand clutg his destroyed eye. Moments ter he fell to the ground, his other eye exploding too. Blinded, he filed around and tripped over the fallen idol, nding on his knees, even as screams started around us. Kanzaki- leapt up, despite her injuries, and raced towards me, shouting out for calm.

  “It’s all right!” she shouted. “Don’t panic, stay posed! Help has arrived!”

  As she did so, my feet suddenly started to feel a pressure, and I looked down to see the leather boots I wore were starting to shrink. Guess there’s no cheating the Geas. I tossed my phoo Kanzaki-, who fumbled but caught it. Looking at me puzzled, I spoke rapidly. “Call the local police, as I had to take on a cheat to get here in time. I was in Kyoto a couple of minutes ago.” I she situation painful but also amusing. “Unless you want my feet to tear off in front of you…”

  “No, ah.. okay!” She dialled hurriedly, and I ighe growing pain to help up the g girl, another idol running over. “Ema, are you all right? I’m sorry, I was frozen, I couldn’t do anything?”

  Ema-san, the girl I had pulled up and helped cover herself, draping my coat over her and pulling it over her torn shirt, shook, sobbing silently. I could hear Kanzaki- rep the situation to the police, and at that moment the boots stopped strig my feet. Moments ter Ema-san blew her nose, and with a shuddering breath, looked at me, eyes widening.

  “Hey, you’re Oshiro-san!” she managed. “Where did you e from? Oh… no, no…” She looked ready tain, and I looked down to see that my boots and trousers were covered in liquid where I had bent down. She blushed as red as a tomato, and in a mosquito-like voice whispered she was sorry.

  “No problem!” I said, aether surgirag the liquid from my legs and also the floor, before fme element evaporated it. “Now I’m sure this was just a spilge from a bucket that got kicked over iruggle, but it must be unfortable…”

  “Please.” Ema-san whispered, uanding my sideration, and she shivered as she felt the unusual sensations of aether and fme element sing her shame.

  “The police are on the way.” Kanzaki- handed me my phone back, looking down at the writhing man clutg his face. “They’ll take Sora-kun away… but he be tained? He’s not normal.”

  “His strength is still a problem, but he won’t be able to do much with his ability.” My Eye glowed as I firmed that it was indeed aed ability, and I had blinded him. “They’ll call for special police from the Ministry for Spiritual Matters, and they have specific holding cells. Though, maybe I should help them out, just in case.”

  At that, the man, Sora-sa out a bitter, wheezing ugh, cag madly. “I’m gd I ’t see this! Kanzaki-, you slut, you…”

  “That’s enough out of you.” I growled, my League surging. I tried to direct it, though everyone around me fell silent uhe strain of my presence. Sora-san was barely able to speak, pale from more than pain, and with a swift motion I broke his wrists and ankles with an audible snapping sound. He bellowed inarticutely, and I advised him to be silent. “I suggest you choose your words carefully. I was meeting some people I’ve now worried severely before this…”

  As if on cue, Eri’s voice spiked into my mind. Akio, are you all right? Shiro came ba a panid Tsukiko called saying it was an emergency?

  I’m fihough the fallout is going to be a pain. You reassure everyone and ha for me… I expined what had occurred, and Eri, pumped up to be of help, agreed to coordinate everyourning back to Kanzaki-, I smiled reassuringly. “It’s not your fault though, and nobody would care about being a bit worried over this.”

  “Excuse me…” the third idol said cheerfully, though I could tell she was shocked by the sudden violend putting on a brave face. “ I… have your autograph? I’m a big fan… especially now!”

  I paused, a little surprised, and Kanzaki- burst out ughing, as she hugged Ema-san close. “That’s a role reversal, Asuka. Anyway…” she took a deep breath, calming herself. Security for the venue had reacted, and some of the idol fans had alsaiheir own calm and were making sure everyone was all right. Several people had fainted and one was having a panic attack, but my Eye could see there were no life-threatening injuries anywhere. “…Akio-kun, thanks. For keeping your promise.”

  “Of course. Though when I gave it, I hought this would happen.” I snorted.

  “No, I know. But still… thank you.” She smiled, and I raised a hand, aether flowing, and her cheeks and lips healed up. She touched them, surprised. “I guess I should thank you again.”

  “Hey, you’re an idol, the show must go ht? Besides…” I began, only for Kanzaki- to interrupt me.

  “I know this one. Your sister is an idol fan, right? So you did it for her.” She remembered our versation from before. “Don’t worry, we pn on givihe full backstage experien Saturday.” She took a deep breath. “Anylease call me Keiko. I’m Kanzaki- to the fans, but… to my friends I’m Keiko.”

  “All right, Keiko-.” I nodded, and she looked down, face red. Asuka-san started teasing her, and Ema-san joined in, trying hard not to see or hear Sora-san who was muttering and cursing iween his roars of pain. Soon, the polid some paramedics arrived, and several minutes after that a special team from the Ministry joihem, apanied by Detective Kato and Officer Usui. On seeing me, Usui-san rolled her eyes, addressiher familiarly.

  “Why is it whehere’s trouble, especially involving girls, you’re always there?”

  “That’s a hurtful accusation.” I sighed, though I knew she was joking. “Anyway… his power is in his eyes, so I blinded him. But be careful, he’s gained a few Levels retly so he’s likely strohan you handle. I’ve broken his limbs to make it easier to trol him, but even so, be careful.”

  “You could have beeler. This is going to be problematic.” The Detective sighed, before his expression hardened. “Though I’ve no time or remorse for scum who abuse those weaker than themselves. All right, interview everyone ahe CCTV footage…” He ordered his detat to work, and as the café bustled into life, Keiko- thanked me again.

  “I’m…” Emotion was getting to her now, the relief unc her shod fear. “…so gd you came. If I had… to watch Ema… hurt because of me…” Ema-san started to sniffle and shiver again, and Asuka-san started to sole them.

  “It’s not your fault. Trust me. I know. But…” I had an idea. “…if yrateful, then make the cert a real success, okay? That’ll help me a lot. Arisu-san would appreciate it too.”

  “I am grateful.” Her fellow idols echoed her, Ema-san wipiears, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down. Keiko- then paused, before managing a genuine smile. “I guess it really was lucky that I was chosen to go oalk show with you, otherwise…”

  “Maybe.” Although there’s no guarahat wasn’t rovoked that bastard to attack. “Anyway, I have to go, now that the situation is under trol.” As I said that, Ema-san grabbed one arm, while Asuka-san grabbed my other.

  “No way!” Asuka-san protested. “You ’t just show up like a knight in shining armour in our hour of need and not let us thank you properly! Words aren’t good enough!”

  “That’s right! You even…” Ema-san looked down at my coat she was wearing, before her eyes narrowed. “…helped me out of trouble. You came here for Keiko, if you go without letting her express her gratitude, she’ll be devastated!”

  “Yes, she will be!” Asuka-san agreed, giving her a sly thumbs-up she thought I couldn’t see. Keiko- rolled her eyes, but she did seem to wao stay.

  “Holy, we’re all really shaken up. It would be good if you could expin to us how you deal with such things. Oh, but you said you were w people, if you ’t stay I’ll uand…”

  Seeing her look pitiful, the others hanging onto my arms, I gave a rueful smile, listening to Usui-san chug at my disfort. Direg some thoughts at Eri for her to pass onto the others, I ceded. “Fine. You let me go, I won’t run off. I don’t have long, but there’s a bar near here I frequent…” I sole them a little, and I could use a drink after this mess…

  ShipTeaser