Fool Bloom (A Magical Woman Quest)

Reiji bolted upright hearing the Witch's name… then immediately winced all over in pain with such sudden movement. "She writes books, and you honestly want to stage one? No, I get it, you must feel you're in her debt for saving you. And that's me being nice by taking it she didn't pressure you into this," he said.

"What? Ugh, Reiji-kun you've got it all wrong," Miyako said, gritting her teeth a little. "Arisugawa-sama told me nobody's in her debt. And she's famous you know, well under the pen name Kuramazov anyway, so give her a chance."

"Kuramazov, wait, I've heard of them," Reiji said, with him scratching his chin before widening his eyes. "My, she's acclaimed for sure, although I wouldn't call her 'famous'. More an author's author, think that's the term. And I still only have your word they're the same person, but alright, which book of hers did you have in mind?"

Miyako stiffened on being asked that. She still didn't know that much about what Koyomi actually wrote; she was just excited by the idea of staging something written by an actual Hanazakari. "Er, well I was thinking," she said as she pulled up an author profile for Kuramazov on her phone, then pointed at "This one!" since it had the shortest page count. Shortest means simplest to adapt, right? Ignoring the fanfic she'd originally wanted to stage.

"Ladder to Heaven," Reiji read out after Miyako brought her phone closer to him, "Genji Sato was a kamikaze pilot who survived what was to be his final flight at the Battle of Okinawa. Turning to drug addiction under the Occupation, he hides out from the law in an abandoned monastery. There he experiences visions of Mahakala, Yama Dharmaraja, and the soldiers who died that day incarnated as crabs."

"Ooh, crabs!" Miyako zeroed in on, "Could make for fun costumes. All the actors would have to walk sideways though."

"I'm guessing it's a Dan-no-Ura allusion," Reiji said, "It's said the soldiers who drowned in that battle became Heikegani crabs. I of course know that from having been in many samurai plays myself," he smirked, but then admitted, "Well, I've read scripts of them anyway."

That made Miyako go quiet. Battle of Dan-no-Ura? Er, only time I paid much attention to history was when the Frost Decade came up, she blushed at the thought of saying that out loud.

"But the point is, Nozawa… is this really the sort of story you wanna be staging? Seems a bit heavy-going is all," Reiji said, "Much more so than I thought you'd be into. Wouldn't you prefer, oh I dunno, something more 'hero show', more 'capes and costumes'? Or how about something from Broadway?"

That made Miyako glare at him and protest, "Hey, I can totally do heavy-going! If Arisugawa-sama wrote it, I can put it on for her!" That choice of words did little to dissuade Reiji to her feeling in Koyomi's debt.
Then a smile spread across her face as she sensed opportunity. Till now she had no idea how she'd get Reiji to stage My Chemical Valentine, but 'hero show' made her think. "Well, I do have an alternative, Reiji-kun. One I wrote myself in fact."

"You wrote a book?" Reiji lighted up, "That's certainly something."

"Oh, not a book, a real person fanfic! Though we can change the names if that's a problem," Miyako said as she showed her fic on-screen.

It wasn't even that MCV was a Hanazakari fic that got the biggest reaction out of him. As Reiji looked over the tags and wordcount, his face gradually paled. "Ah, you know what? How 'bout we settle for Ladder to Heaven then? Short and to the point."

Miyako was about to say I never said you had to adapt my whole fanfic, but then she realised her plan had worked, Reiji was now okay with what she'd originally wanted. "Sounds great, we'll be adapting an acclaimed book right out of hospital!"

"We'll?" Reiji had to ask.

"Yeah, you'll need cast and crew, and even out of hospital you'd still be recovering, so I can't just leave you to do all the work," Miyako said and smiled.

Reiji's gaze softened. "Nozawa, thanks. It's just, er, how much know-how do you have with the theatre?" he asked, "Other than writing obviously."

"Er, well I've been aiming for a journalism degree, so I can also write reviews," Miyako said.

"…Wait, you mean you'd review a play you helped put on?" Reiji asked, his gaze less soft now, "Isn't that, oh I don't know, conflict of interest?"

Miyako flinched on hearing that, but then said, "How about if I write the review under a pseudonym so nobody knows?"

"You do realise in a story about the press, doing that would make you the villain, right?" Reiji sighed, then muttered, "In real life though, yeah, ton of journalists have probably gotten away with just that."

"The villain…" Miyako said, that line looking like it cut into her. "Yeah, I see your point. Guess me being a bad journalist is why no college has accepted me yet, huh?"

"Hey, don't say that" Reiji said, "Putting yourself down like that's not gonna get you any degree. Take that from me, someone who still isn't in college," somewhat contradicting himself.

"Okay, maybe I'll instead do a retrospective on 'What I Learned from Theatrical Production', that'd be way more professional," Miyako said, "then follow it with What I Learned from Being a Shrine Maiden, and What I Learned from Writing Hanazakari fanfic… er, does my schedule sound a bit full?"

"Oh, just a tad," Reiji understated, before he had to say, "Don't understand why anyone'd write Hanazakari fanfic though. Not this soon at least, the Frost Decade wasn't that long ago y'know."

Rather than defend herself, Miyako pushed back by asking, "Yuuki Reiji, what is your problem with Hanazakari? Yes, Arisugawa-sama may have acted up a few times, but that can't be all of it, can it?"

Reiji fell into silence hearing that, only eventually did he confess, "I'm a younger brother, well I was. I had an older brother, Tadashi, was almost ten years older than me. The Frost Fair got him, but they didn't even steal his emotions like with Kazuya, even that would've been too merciful. No, they just killed him, and I saw his corpse before anyone else."

"Reiji-kun, I'm- I'm sorry," Miyako said, regardless of if she had any need to be.

"Point is, no Hanazakari came to rescue him. And before you say it, I've heard 'Even the Hanazakari can't save everyone' like a billion times now. But with their power, they can still choose who to save, can't they? So what made them decide that Tadashi's life was worth less than someone's else?!" he yelled out, even banging his fist against the bed railing… something he quickly regretted with his condition. "And I know I'm far from the only person who lost someone like that in Japan, no, the world," he muttered.

Miyako wanted to make any defence of her beloved Hanazakari… but ultimately she could only manage, "Reiji-kun, Arisugawa-sama told me that the Hanazakari weren't supposed to be heroes. The Dandelionhearts gave them their powers for self-defence, so the Frost Fair wouldn't start by attacking the most vulnerable."

"Most vulnerable? Right, so how come Tadashi never got any powers then?" Reiji said, still in his slump.

"Look, a Hanazakari did still come and save Kazuya-kun, the same Hanazakari you can't stand. Even if your brother couldn't be saved, it wasn't out of spite for him," Miyako tried to get through.

Eventually, Reiji at least said, "Yeah, I guess you've got a point."

Him saying that got Miyako smiling again. Then she glanced out the window and said, "Huh, it's getting a little late. But hey, glad to be of service, and here's to a speedy recovery. Play's gonna be great!"

"Here's hoping," Reiji smiled back.

Of course, Miyako realised this'd mean she'd have to read Ladder to Heaven first, on top of having Paradise Lost to get around to. I mean, people have adapted stuff without reading the original, right? Makes it more 'their own'… doesn't it?

Article:

Miyako now had both her dinner not-a-date with Kazuya and helping Reiji reopen the theatre lined up, on top of shrine duties and reapplying for college. So she decided to prioritise:
[ ] Dining out with Kazuya, just the two of them wouldn't be so expensive.
[ ] Helping Reiji with the play, getting advice from Koyomi by herself.
[ ] Helping Reiji with the play, and bringing Koyomi there with her to try patching things up.
[ ] Dine out with Kazuya and Reiji at once. Surely Kazuya wouldn't mind her inviting his friend.
[ ] Bringing Koyomi to the shrine to give Hayato a more proper meeting with her.
[ ] Putting her journalism skills to use by interviewing Ryoichi, see what his deal was.
[ ] Write-in

[X] Dine out with Kazuya and Reiji at once. Surely Kazuya wouldn't mind her inviting his friend.


While Hinodeharu had its fair share of eateries, street stalls, and coffee shops, it wasn't the sort of town you'd associate with fine dining. There were a few exceptions, but Miyako had a particular one in mind, the newly opened Black Goose.

"And you're sure Kazuya doesn't mind me coming along?" Reiji asked; Miyako having called just the day after he'd gotten out of hospital, "I mean, I don't think he would, but who's to say now his emotions are back?"

"Now Reiji-kun, why would Kazuya ever mind you being along?" Miyako said, "Since I said this is not a date, three's no crowd."

"Not a date, huh, you sound oddly insistent on that," Reiji said. "Wait, did you say The Black Goose? The same place your Witch lost her senses at?" Reiji gasped over the phone.

"Hey, I told you she had the best intentions! And if you spent years having every new place that opened turn out to be a Frost Fair front, you'd get pretty suspicious too," Miyako told him back, then brightened up, "And relax, it's Kazuya-kun we're here for, that's who you should think about, I don't think Arisugawa-sama would come even if I asked."

"I know, I know… but I still sense an ulterior motive or two brewing in your cauldron, Nozawa," Reiji said under his breath, but then also brightened up with, "And yeah, seven suits me fine."

"Great to hear!" Miyako smiled back, despite having caught what his muttering had tried to hide.


And yet come that evening, when Miyako finally showed up at The Black Goose, she stumbled back on seeing Reiji already there with his eyebrows twitching, while Kazuya stared aimlessly behind him.
"Ahem, you did hear 'seven' did you not, Nozawa? Or did you secretly mean seven AM?" Reiji said. He'd folded his arms, but that still did little to crowd out the cold.

"Ooh, sorry! I had a lot of college stuff to do, well, college entrance stuff to do, plus everything at the shrine," Miyako said, then admitted, "ah, even though Higashi-sama said she'd be fine handling it. Anyway, I'm here now, and uh, if the cold's a problem, couldn't you have just waited inside?"

Kazuya shrugged. "No problem for me," he said simply, even while his breath was as ice.

"Hmph, the cads won't give us a table for three unless we can show we have three people," Reiji said. After another bout of shivering, he admitted, "I can't believe I'm beginning to sympathise with our local witch for attacking this place."

"Yeah, my bad, I'm not used to fine dining. Like I know restaurants have reservations, but that sounds… extreme," Miyako said, then narrowed her eyes at The Black Goose like there was some Frost Fair plot behind it. Aw, now I don't wanna eat here if they're gonna be rude, but I must. This is my chance to clear Arisugawa-sama's name! "Okay, let's finally get seats."

"And another thing, Nozawa," Reiji had to say, "Did you truly plan to dine in at a place like this in just your day clothes?" Not that Reiji had the most normal idea of formalwear, less suit and tie and more doublet and feathered cap.

"Er, but Kazuya-kun's in his regular clothes," Miyako pointed out, with Kazuya indeed dressed in his usual greyish-blue yukata.

"Yes, well, Kazuya's a special case! Oh, never mind," Reiji failed to sway her, Kazuya remaining nonchalant all the while.

Though waiting to be seated was still yet more waiting on their part, given how long it took for a single table of three to become available. While standing there however, Miyako was able to pick up some interesting conversation from those already seated.
"They say a Hanazakari visited this place on opening night."
Word was clearly getting around, which suited Miyako fine. People here already having Koyomi on their minds would make this much easier.

Once the three at last got their own table, Miyako's eyes swiftly became glued to the menu. They didn't have food like this at the places she usually ate at, some of the dishes she couldn't even pronounce. "Ooh, I'll have this, this, and this- no wait, should I? Eh, it's all on Kazuya-kun, it should be fine."

"Ahem, 'all on Kazuya', did I hear right?" Reiji asked and leaned over, "You're going to make him pay for everything this soon after getting out of hospital?"

"Well, not everything, if he doesn't want to," Miyako trembled as she said, sinking behind the menu, "Just thought, y'know, he's from a rich family, he'll probably best be able to afford all this."

Reiji sighed. "Nozawa, how much do you honestly think Kazuya's family even let him have?" he asked.

"Reiji, it will be fine," Kazuya then spoke up, "Whatever we get here, I can pay for it."

Before he could protest again, Reiji paused and instead said, "Fine, that's what you've chosen. Er, so have we all decided on what we'll have?"

As Miyako strained herself to settle on but a handful of dishes, Kazuya titled his head and said, "I'd be fine with whatever."

Hearing that, Miyako went, "Kazuya-kun, you've got your emotions back, you've gotta use them! You can have personal preferences for things, so there's gotta be something you like more."

"Nozawa, we were told his emotions wouldn't come back all at once, remember?" Reiji reminded her, "If Kazuya's happy with whatever, let him have whatever." He may have disagreed with her, but Miyako swore she could detect a tinge of disappointment there in Reiji's voice.

You don't want to think Kazuya could still be like this too, do you? Miyako thought of Reiji. Kazuya himself didn't feel anything either way, or at least looked like he didn't.
Orders mostly sorted, she then brought up the subject, "Hey, how did you two guys meet anyway? If it's nothing personal, I mean."

Miyako's luck had it that it did appear to be personal. With Reiji blushing and biting his lip trying to respond, Kazuya intervened and said, "Reiji would come to school dressed in theatrical costume, acting out plays in the hallways with a wooden sword. The other students did not respond favourably, and when he saw I didn't respond at all, he found me easier to associate with."

"That's… that's essentially it, yes," Reiji gulped, then hissed, "I was going to say something, Kazuya, couldn't you have done the courtesy of waiting?"

"From an observational lens, it did not appear as if you would answer foreseeably soon, Reiji," Kazuya said to him.

"It's okay, Reiji-kun," Miyako said as she patted his shoulder, "I got made fun of all the time in school for what I was into," and because people thought I was just a gay boy, she kept to herself.

"At least what I was into had nothing to do with a recent cataclysm that nearly saw the whole world frozen," Reiji had to say. Seeing Miyako was going to glare at him again, he backed down with, "I'm sorry, it's just something sensitive to me. And in my case," he was able to admit, "probably didn't help I kept saying I'd be a famous kabuki actor when I grew up."

"What, why can't you still be?" Miyako asked. "I mean, I got to meet a real Hanazakari and helped save someone from the Frost Fair. Er, if belatedly," she looked at Kazuya, "But my dreams can come true, no reason yours can't! Kazuya has got his emotions back, that's one down already."

"You've forgotten how every kabuki actor ever is already from a long-established family," Reiji sighed. "And you know Kazuya's family, no way they'll put some commoner like me through to one even if they can. Far as I'm concerned, you can only dream until the curtain closes."

"Er, if it helps," Miyako said less assuredly, "I fell asleep at the one kabuki play I had to watch anyway, so maybe you're fine where you are."

"And I suppose those grapes were sour all along then?" Reiji said back.

Article:

That topic at a standstill, Miyako instead brought up [multiple votes at once allowed through Plan]:
[ ] How the staging of Ladder to Heaven was coming along, and how she could help.
[ ] If Kazuya's family had noticed something different about him.
[ ] If either of them would like to visit the shrine again.
[ ] Why either of them should want to meet with Koyomi, help set things straight.
[ ] That Koyomi had saved Kazuya, which she'd tell the restaurant to show they had nothing to fear from her. The reason she'd picked The Black Goose.
[ ] That she'd been reading Paradise Lost lately. Or trying to.
[ ] That she had a Hanazakari fanfic to the less critical Kazuya, as Reiji already knew.
[] If either of them would like a one-night stand with her, maybe both at once. [Miyako does not have the Emotional Strength to ask this. This isn't meant to be a date.]
[ ] Write-in