Vol. 5 Ch. 2 Ep. 9: The Hyakkaryouran President

Oh, this is delicious!

It's so wonderful to have warm food again...

Pardon me, but may I have seconds?

Y-Yes! Is this enough?

Perfect! And, if it's not too much, may I have another cup of miso soup?

...Hm? What's going on? You're acting like you saw a ghost!

I wouldn't say..."ghost," exactly...

It's just...a little hard to believe...

...President Ayame. I am glad to see that you are well.

But, as the officer of the Hyakkaryouran, I must inquire about your activities during your absence.

The Hyakkaryouran nearly disbanded during your abdication.

To be frank, I'm uncertain if you should still hold the title of president.

But I would like to hear your explanation.

...Ah. Same Kikyou as always. I'm glad to see it.

First, I have no sufficient reason for leaving you, for abandoning the presidency and forgoing my duties.

I realize that I left Nagusa with such an impossible task. For that, I am truly sorry. Please forgive me.

Oh, Ayame, please...

No, Nagusa.

Once more, I ask why you abandoned the presidency and disappeared.

Furthermore, I'd like to hear your perspective on what happened to Nagusa's arm.

...It will be a long story. Is that all right?

Of course!

I would gladly listen all night!

And you're the first-year student, Yukari? Thanks for the support.

...But before I begin, let me ask a question...

How does one get the Authority to become the Hyakkaryouran President?

Me, me! I know the answer!

It's through winning a succession contest against the previous President!

You're not wrong! But you're missing a little.

It's not about the presidential title, but more about the Authority that has been passed down since the Great Prophet...

So, the succession contest is really about determining who inherits the Hundred Lotus!

And that's why the Hyakkaryouran President is able to set her will and wield the Hundred Lotus.

Well, now that you're back, that should be you, Ayame.

No one else could possibly compete!

...Perhaps, against other humans.

What are you saying, Ayame?

A few days before I left you, I patrolled the Hyakkiyako streets.

The festival had just ended. The street was silent, but I saw a flickering light...

I was about to cross the bridge, but, at that moment, another student crossed in front of me.

She had blonde hair, purple eyes, a white undershirt, and a blue haori over that...

In short, she looked exactly like me.

I thought I must be mistaken, but it was like looking in a mirror.

My instincts told me to act. Surely this was a trick!

She wasn't surprised to see me. She simply smiled.

So I did the only thing I could.

For the first time since I had become president, I raised the Hundred Lotus and aimed it at another.

And it had no effect.

The other me didn't even notice the bullet. It kept walking.

...And so it passed me by and disappeared.

I know it sounds crazy, but it still haunts me!

"Why didn't the Hundred Lotus work?"

"Did I have no Authority? Is the Hundred Lotus itself an illusion?"

"...Did the Great Prophet Kuzunoha even exist?"

The uncertainty crept into me, and so I decided to find the Twilight Temple and Kuzunoha.

It was a fool's errand, but it was mine.

And in the end...I failed.

The only thing I managed to find were ruins where I thought the Twilight Temple should be.

Kuzunoha never met me. It was fruitless.

...And that's all you have to say?

That's all. I have no further excuse.

No. Another question remains.

Nagusa's arm... You said something to her before leaving with Nature's Beauty.

Nagusa's arm...?

Now that you mention it, what's up with bandages? Did you hurt yourself?

My arm...

Ayame, have you forgotten? We met at the Great Snowfield.

We did? I don't... Are you certain? Was I snow blind?

...

You don't remember, Ayame?

Nagusa said that you rejected her and said that you were never friends!

Impossible!

S-Sorry... I didn't mean to yell...

But there's no way I would ever say that. I would never say something so hurtful to my dear friend.

Are you sure you heard right? Maybe it was an imposter?

Certainly. I could be mistaken.

No. Not yet. While you may have Nagusa on board, I still have questions.

While I agree Ayame would never be so cruel, much has happened since then...

Between believing the President who disappeared without warning and the Vice President who stepped up to handle Hyakkiyako's crisis, I'd choose the latter, naturally.

If you wish to regain my trust, then I suggest you become more transparent.

Kikyou...

Sure. I have nothing to hide.

But, can we go into this after breakfast?

I'm going to need my energy. I suspect you will too.