Fool Bloom (A Magical Woman Quest)

"Really, it's great to see you!" Miyako beamed like the sun at him, only inching back when she figured she may have come off a bit too strong. "All in one piece too! Er sorry, hope I didn't say that too soon."

"Not at all," Kazuya said, like before he barely seemed fazed by her behaviour. "And it is more accurate to say I am in one piece now, I had to have extensive stitching done. Would you like to see, I've been told people can be interested in that?"

"Ah, no, I'm fine not seeing that, thanks," Miyako winced through her smile. Though it does explain why they wouldn't let me in for so long, she thought. "But the big news is you've finally got your emotions back, after all these years! I mean, not all at once what with how these things works, but it's good feeling them again, right?"

Kazuya took a little while to respond to that, briefly staring down at himself and out the window. "I suppose it is more advantageous this way. My lack of emotions meant I was going nowhere in life, so I should be pleased with even being able to be pleased. And yet…" he said then sighed, "What I have felt so far has been 'unpleasant', I believe that's how people describe it. I am reminded of how my family sees me, and then if I have to keep feeling, I wish to feel anything else."

Miyako instantly thought back to her encounter with the boy who could be Ryoichi a minute or so ago, and further recalled Kazuya's parents had refused to seek treatment for him all this time. It made her shudder, then shudder more to think how it'd feel like on the receiving end of that. But she brightened up again and said, "Kazuya-kun, I don't wanna overshare or anything, but... I ran away from my parents. Ah, personal reasons, lot to get into right now. Point is, 'family' is more than biology, and I'm saying that from experience. Don't let them get to you."

"I appreciate your words," Kazuya said, with Miyako hoping he meant it but fearing it was just on response. He then titled his head to the side and asked, "Are you suggesting I run away too? I once thought I might as well do so, but could never bring myself to care. Perhaps now will be different, since I've… felt?"

"Well, running away's not a one size fits all solution," Miyako said, but then remembered, "Wait, you're older and richer than me, and your parents don't care where you go. You can just move out! Er, once you're out of hospital of course."

The blankness of Kazuya's face stayed the same though. "I should be released in a day or so, but that is not my issue. I may have a from, but where would I move to? In with Reiji, him being the only other person I know that well? Start all over somewhere else? Seems too much effort."

"Ooh I know, we could go house-hunting once you're out, how's that sound?" Miyako asked, "Ahem, if you already didn't have other plans, of course."

"Other plans?" Kazuya asked of himself. "I was thinking of applying for another job, as that's what I always do after I lose one. If I had to name something else though, hmm, I suppose somewhere people go to feel happy, wherever that is."

That got Miyako thought just how much not having emotions made you unable to recognise others' emotions. That's what the Frost Fair did, had to detect emotions to steal them. But that's not the same, they were trying to seek them out, she thought. "Well, guess what places make you happy depends on what sort of person you are."

Article:

All sorts of places, now I say that:
[ ] "We could go out to eat somewhere real fancy, food makes everyone feel good."
[ ] "We could go to an amusement park, even if it's a bit of a drive to one."
[ ] "We could go to an arcade, if you don't like one game there's plenty more."
[ ] "We could go to the cinema, I'd say this sure counts as a special occasion."
[ ] "We could throw a party at- no, Arisugawa-sama would say no, and the shrine's not that sort of place. Party at Reiji-kun's if he's cool with that."
[ ] Write-in

"Sounds like a good idea," Kazuya said, with Miyako hoping that wasn't him on autopilot again.

"One thing though, this is not a date," Miyako stressed, making an X with her hands. "Like, that's not something either of us should be pushing for right now. Uh, no offence meant." Maybe later? She suppressed that thought, but did add, Plus, wanna keep my options open for a bunch of other cute guys.

"None taken," Kazuya said, again seeming like he meant it.

"Great. Oh and um, hey," she said, quivering as to how to bring up this next topic. "Look, about Arisugawa-sama getting a bit excessive back there," she then recalled Kazuya talking about all his stitches, "She's really, really sorry. She hadn't used her Hanazakari powers in years, and there was that leech unleashing all that fear, so she won't do anything like that to you, or anyone, ever again!" She instinctively pictured that if Koyomi were here she'd just tell her to quit making excuses.

"To be honest," Kazuya said as he looked down in shadow, "I did not expect to even survive that ritual. When my leech started choking me as it sprang out, I was certain that would be the end. And while the Hanazakari nearly proved me right, in the end she proved me wrong. So I don't hold it against her," he then stopped to reflect a little more, "I'm just surprised that a Hanazakari did come for me after all. Hmm, 'surprise', is that an emotion, or just a reaction?"

Miyako smiled, "No reason why it can't be both," and then said, "…Thanks, it means the world to me you said that about Arisugawa-sama."

"I take it then the Hanazakari is very close to you?" Kazuya asked, "I believe that is how you act when someone's near and dear to you, is it not?"

"Well, you see," Miyako fumbled for a second, "I mean, I've only known her for a week. But still… I've heard all about the Hanazakari since I was little, they've been my passion as long as, well, I can remember. Arisugawa-sama was the first one who did more than just smile, say hi, and sign an autograph. I even got to stay over a night." And had a really gross dinner, she still thought.

"Is that so? Maybe I ought to become interested in Hanazakari too, since they stir so much emotion in you?" Kazuya asked.

"Yeah, that'd be cool!" Miyako said at first, but then backed down with, "If it works out alright. Y'know, guess the adult thing to tell you is not to force yourself to like something just 'cause your friends do," she said 'adult' even though Kazuya was older than her.

"Friends?" Kazuya caught onto, then gave a slight smile himself, "It seems we are, as much as I understand the word."

Miyako was overcome by an intense blushing hearing those words. "Of course I'll be, Kazuya!" she said.
Which made her twitch as she then had to ask a potentially unfriendly question. "One more thing, I passed by a boy who looked kinda like you in the corridor, except less um 'Frost Fair-bitten'. Heard you had a younger brother, guess that's him?"

"Kai Ryoichi," Kazuya nodded. "My parents have not visited me, yet he has. Felt it was his duty as family heir, or so he told me."

"T-then that must mean he does care about you, right?" Miyako hesitated to ask, and would hesitate even more to admit how charitable she was being.

"Perhaps. I am not the best at reading people, obviously," Kazuya said, "But Ryoichi showing up at all, that's at least something to me."

"Yeah, think that's the best way to look at it. Ah, for now anyway," Miyako said, hastily adding that last bit. She then headed for the door and waved goodbye, "I've got Reiji-kun to visit now, but it's been great catching up with you! See you soon for that big 'getting your emotions back' celebration!"

"See you soon," Kazuya repeated, nodded, and tried to broaden his smile.

---

Reiji Yuuki was being kept in a mustier wooden room, his still pained face making Miyako flinch on entering. "Oh hey, Nozawa, good to see you…" Reiji tried to say, but groaned the moment he lifted himself up.

"Hi there, you're looking… well," Miyako said, trying to stay positive. As she doubted Kazuya's parents spent hardly anything on his recovery, she wondered if he'd just been quicker to recover, or if he was in just as much pain as Reiji and simply didn't show it?
"Sorry about, you know, everything," she then said, "Guess I was the one who invited you along, after all."

"Yeah well, it's not like you personally whacked me into that cliff," Reiji had to grumble. "Suppose it'll all be worth it if Kazuya's emotions really do come back."

"Ooh, saw him just now, and I can confirm they have!" Miyako said, but then had to elaborate, "Okay, not all at once obviously. But I can tell they're definitely slowly coming back!"

"Hmm, sounds like I'll have to see him myself first, but for now I'll take your word for it," Reiji said.

"You will? Oh thank you!" Miyako said, about to rush over to hug Reiji before she remembered he still wasn't pain-free. "Guess I should tell you what happened, huh? Well you know Arisugawa-sama, that Witch you saw me with that day? Yeah, she was the one who stepped him and used her Hanazakari powers to slay the Heart Leech and save Kazuya!" She thought it'd be best not to bring up that Koyomi almost killed Kazuya doing so till later.

"…You are absolutely sure of that?" Reiji asked, crossing his arms even to his discomfort. "Yes, she's the only Hanazakari in town, but I have my doubts."

"C'mon Reiji-kun, don't be like that," Miyako sighed out loud.
"Alright alright, assuming she really did save him," Reiji said, then chuckled, "Then I'll finally have something to be thankful to a Hanazakari for, let alone our town witch."

"Oh and, ahem, them saving the world! That little thing," Miyako said, staring to glare a little.

To that Reiji sighed, "More like they saved the world for some."

Rather than get riled up again, that made Miyako ask, "Reiji-kun, is there something about Hanazakari you're not telling me?"

At first, Reiji looked like he really didn't want to answer that. In the end he just said, "I'll tell you later, once I'm out of here. Shouldn't be long, hopefully."

"I, I see," Miyako muttered, but then said, "But on the bright side, I actually have something that might cheer you up. I've got this idea for a stage adaptation and a script ready to go! Er, with a few adjustments first anyway. I was tempted to bring it up when I first entered your theatre, but now I feel I owe it to you to help you build up your audience again!"

Reiji took a while to consider that, but had to say, "Well, with the theatre as it is, I'm ashamed to admit that I'll take any material at this point. And I'm not going anywhere for the rest of the day, so sure, what did you have in mind?"

Article:

"Oh, just a little something.
[ ] My Chemical Valentine, written by yours truly. Got plenty of material" She wouldn't say it was about Hanazakari till later.
[ ] My Chemical Valentine, my Hanazakari Real Person Fic. Er, will have to change the names then." Better to be honest.
[ ] Ladder to Heaven, a novel by the acclaimed Kuramazov." Knowing Reiji, she'd leave out who Kuramazov was for now.
[ ] Ladder to Heaven. By none other than Arisugawa-sama, give it a chance, it might change how you see her."
[ ] "Paradise Lost. Go big and prestigious or go home, huh?"
[ ] Write-in