Vol. 5 Ch. 1 Ep. 17: Rumors of the Streets 1

Preparations are complete! Right this way.

The eagle has landed! I repeat, the eagle has landed!

Wow! It looks as if it was made just for you.

How does it fit? Is anything uncomfortable?

Not any more than usual.

Heehee. You look stunning, Lady Kadenokouji. It is wonderful to see you finally stepping into your role.

I'm thrilled our lady decided to quit this Hyakkaryouran nonsense and return home.

Now everything is back the way it should be!

Um... Yukari...

You're well aware, but this event will be the centerpiece of the festival. You as the Kadenokouji miko will perform the ritual dance on stage at midnight.

There are cameras set up to live stream your performance to all of Hyakkiyako.

It'll be a great symbol of rebirth and new beginnings for the students here.

Yes! So it's like you're the symbol of a better tomorrow, of Hyakkiyako's hope!

To think a tradition this cool would have been lost to history! I am very honored I get to experience it.

Everyone's real excited!

Here's a schedule and a list of...

Heehee. How kind of you, but Lady Kadenokouji requires no such assistance. She has studied tirelessly in the ritual arts since she was but a small child.

Since she was a child?!

Naturally. My education began as soon as I could read and write.

I assure you, everything will be fine.

That's good to hear, but...

Will YOU be fine?

Yes.

I...

I am perfectly fine.

Okay... If you say so.

In that case, it's time to take our places!

Yes... Everything is fine.

At least, it will be.

And that concludes my report.

Are you crazy, Kikyou? Why would you indulge her succession contest?

...Ugh, I know why! She really meant it with her whole heart. But you were still too harsh...

Well, you didn't tell me all this just so I could chastise you.

...

I know she went to see you too, before coming to me.

I assumed you would want to know the ending.

I didn't manage to deter her in the slightest, did I? Oh, Yukari...

Tsk. I meant what I said though. There's nothing to go back to.

We can be done now, Kikyou.

...Done?

Let's lay the past to rest. You don't have to reach out at the slightest hint of nostalgia.

Don't worry about updating me, or thinking about what I might want. I've moved on. I'm searching for my youth.

I don't have time to waste on a relic like the Hyakkaryouran. So let's lay it to rest.

...Consider it buried.

I'm relieved to hear our feelings on this subject align.

...I do hope you find your youth.

But take care of yourself, Renge. You look unwell.

Your bones look as if they would snap if I so much as touched you.

What?! Kikyou! Hey!

You think you can just have the last word and then run away?! Ugh!

UGH!

Worry about taking care of yourself, you overgrown cat!

*sigh* You dummy...

Why are you reopening old wounds...

Huh?!

Are you okay, Renge? What happened?!

Renge?

*yawn*

Oh, sorry. Nothing happened!

Just a blast from the past...

Is it related to the Hyakkaryouran?

How'd you...

It doesn't matter. None of that matters anymore, as a matter of fact!

After all, I'm here as a member of the Inner Discipline Club to enjoy the Lantern Festival.

Attending festivals is a quintessential experience for those seeking their youth! So let's go be youthful!

Right, Pres? Mimori? Kaede?

I don't mean to be rude, Renge, but your deception skills are atrocious.

Wh-What?

Can you say that again with a straight face? That none of it matters to you anymore?

You should hear the way you were talking about it. "Hyakkaryouran this" and "Hyakkaryouran that," all the time!

Was it really that much...?

If you don't care, why were you so upset by your phone call?

I believe it's because it still matters to you all too much, no?

Heehee. Don't even try to deny it, Renge. You're talking to Mimori the Mind Reader of Hyakkiyako! Nothing escapes her watchful eye.

You might as well own up to everything now!

K-Kaede, please! I claim no such thing!

What's the point even if I do admit it?

It's done. Everything's over.

I can scream and cry and throw a temper tantrum right in the middle of this square. It won't bring back Nagusa and the others.

I won't dig up skeletons that have already been buried.

I've already told you all. Those days are behind me. I'm Renge of the Inner Disciplinary Club now.

If you really felt that way, you wouldn't have been so kind to Yukari.

Me? Kind to Yukari? That's not the word I would've used.

I...really hurt her. Yukari, I mean.

The opposite, actually. You tried to relieve her of the pain of being the one left waiting.

I don't think someone who can shoulder their underclassman's burdens like that doesn't care at all.

And regarding Kikyou... Aren't you two childhood friends?

...

I don't think she holds it against you. What are friends for, after all?

Relationships are forged through the good and bad times. We lose our temper, cry our hearts out, and say things we don't mean. But the bond underneath never wavers.

I've had some similar experiences, after all.

Really?! Even you, Mimori?

Heehee. I'm hardly perfect, Kaede.

I have a childhood friend of my own, and things haven't always been easy with her.

Isn't that right, Tsubaki?

...Mad Mimori is worse than my scariest nightmare.

Oh, oh! I actually know exactly what you mean!

E-Excuse me?!

You two...

Let's focus on the matter at hand.

...It's too late.

I can't go back now. I already resigned from the Hyakkaryouran. I've met all of you in the process of finding my youth. I'm already walking down this path.

Organizations and titles aren't what matter here. Don't you want to talk to the people most precious to you one last time? Tell them how you really feel?

But...how would they react? Wouldn't I just upset them more?

Those things are outside of your control. What matters is what YOU want to do.

Vice President Mimori...

Renge, as president of the Inner Discipline Club, I'm officially cancelling your trial membership.

Huh?!

That frees you up to do what you need to do.

But don't worry. We'll help you.

Because we made lots of memories together as the Inner Discipline Club, right?

Tsubaki, Mimori, Kaede...

You're right. I can't run away now.

Kikyou filled me in on their succession contest.

For Yukari to hear all that from her, right after everything I said...

She won't say it outright, but I know Kikyou wants me to check on Yukari.

It's a little annoying when she's perfectly capable of doing it herself, but...

I can't just leave Yukari like that. I need to talk to her.

If that's what you want, let's make that happen.

Yeah! We'll find Yukari together!

Thanks, all of you.

Whoa. Fireworks!

That signifies the beginning of the Lantern Festival.

In that case, we don't have much time. Let's...

Run! Save yourself!

What's happening?

M-Mimori? Tsubaki! What ARE those?

!!

No idea. But I can say quite confidently they're not here to enjoy the festival.

What the...?! Everyone, don't let your guard down! Not even for a moment!

Prepare yourselves!

Wh-Wh-What's happening?!

Whoa!

Be careful, President!

P-P-President!!!

I'm okay! Nice save, you two.

More importantly, the festival is ruined...

Actually, most importantly, where did these monsters even come from?!

President... This reminds me of the day the sky turned red...

Wh-What?! Do...do you think it's something similar?

What do we do...?

Don't look at me! This is way beyond a ninja's knowledge!

There's no end to them! We're going to be surrounded in no time.

(Do I make a tactical escape?)

(But there are so many festival-goers who haven't escaped.)

(And I can't just leave Tsukuyo and Izuna behind! I'm their president!)

Waaah?

E-Eek!

President! Tsukuyo! Have no fear!

I-Izuna?

Izuna...?

After all, our lord is here at Hyakkiyako.

And our lord has commissioned us, the Ninjutsu Research Club, with an important mission.

I won't give up until I've finished the job, nin nin!

Now those are the words of a ninja! Let's do this, Izuna.

Whenever something beyond our understanding happens, Sensei always puts things right!

So let's put our faith in them, and the Ninjutsu Research Club will focus on helping the students to safety to buy Sensei more time!

Understood! As ninjas should!

We're on our way, my lord!

Vice President Kaho! We're receiving reports of unidentified creatures causing chaos at the Lantern Festival.

It seems to be concentrated in the West District! The injuries keep increasing!

Vice President! The Merchants Guild is now reporting the same sightings!

What do we do?! Vice President Kaho!

The first thing for everyone to do is to calm down! Immediately!

How did this...

What matters now is gathering intel and organizing this chaos. Niya!

You're telling me as soon as the festival started weird monsters started attacking everyone?

Taking all of the context into consideration...

Nature's Beauty.

Here I thought that letter was some silly threat to riot or stage a coup.

I dismissed Schale's assistance. Why bother them over some frivolous rumor?

It seems I've played right into their hands.

How was I supposed to know, anyway? Nature's Beauty is supposed to be a long-forgotten urban legend.

I can't predict every single possible future, you know!

What was it? What did I miss? Nothing happens by coincidence, and there's no such thing as accidents...

Niya.

...Was it Kuzunoha? Is that where this all started?

Niya...

Was I too complacent with the Hyakkaryouran? Sure, Ayame's disappearance piqued my interest, but I figured the Hyakkaryouran will do as the Hyakkaryouran does...

If I had dug into them deeper, could I have prevented this?

Niya...!

I need to think. There must've been something right under my nose... Sometimes too many clouds can make us miss even the moon...

NIYA...

I bonk you. Bad President Niya.

Ch-Chise? What the...?!

Chise?!

...

!!

Don't succumb to fear.

Avert your eyes, you cannot.

Steel your heart's resolve.

President Niya. Everyone is scared and confused.

They need you.

Chise...

...Ah.

Aah...

...

Nyahaha. My little Chise's grown wise.

It looks like it's time for me to get my hands dirty.

Kaho. Get in contact with the Festival Department and find out what's happening on the ground.

Yes, ma'am.

I can't get through. Our communications are being jammed...

Jammed? I'm not surprised, but...tsk.

They're leaving me no choice, aren't they? Looks like I'm entering the fray.

While I do that, Kaho, you're in charge. The Merchants Guild is close by. They'll lend a hand.

In a fight like this, information is our strongest weapon. Organize a timeline of events, and we can form a response team from there. Whatever happens, Kaho, think with the facts and be decisive.

Don't worry. If anything goes wrong, you can blame me.

Understood. I won't let you down.

You've heard President Niya's orders. The Yin-Yang Club will mobilize with its full force!

From this moment on, speed and efficiency are of the essence. I believe in each and every one of you.

Yes, ma'am!