Fool Bloom (A Magical Woman Quest)

"I, I see," Miyako muttered out, then asked, "How much d'you think RUNE had to do with that, bringing out her bad side I mean? And why did she ever join them anyway?"

"Can't say, I've tried to have as little to do with RUNE as possible all these years. Though I guess that answers your first question," Koyomi said. "As for why she'd join them, well keep in mind she was about your age when she enlisted. You thought RUNE were supposed to be the 'heroes' till only just now, didn't you?
Hell, I almost joined back then too," she strained herself to ever admit, "I was... scared. Scared I'd lose what Hanazakari contacts I had left if I didn't. But then I remembered that slaughter I told you about, when the JSDF gunned down all those Frost Pawns we could've purified, and I just couldn't. So, here I am today."

Miyako at first had no idea how to respond, but then ventured, "Then Hoshizora-san never saw that slaughter did she? She couldn't have. And I'm a bit confused, aren't the JSDF and RUNE different organizations?"

Koyomi chose not to answer that first question, moving on to say, "What, you think the UN can set up a whole branch of a new military group in Japan and the JSDF will have nothing to do with it? RUNE's got a ton of JSDF and CIRO overlap... Yumemi included," she sighed out.

"So, you think if you had joined RUNE, you would've ended up like Yumemi?" a trembling Miyako had to ask.

"...I don't want to even think about that," Koyomi said.


Later that day, the two met up with Yumemi again for lunch to tell her who their third would be, right at... The Black Goose?

Glaring daggers at Yumemi, Koyomi asked, "Are you trying to mock me, bait me? Or did you just 'happen' to pick this place out at random?"

"You're leaping to conclusions again, Koyomi. The Black Goose was your girl Miyako's recommendation, so take any complaints up with her," Yumemi said, already seated, "Though it's a good idea for me to check up on this restaurant anyway, knowing your, ahem, past actions here."

"Arisugawa-sama, I-I'm sorry. I know I went behind your back, b-but I can explain!" Miyako said, turtling up a little, "I thought if you just had a nice, normal meal at The Black Goose, it'd show the staff that you aren't some scary monster, you just had a well-meaning misunderstanding and can let bygones be bygones. I didn't tell you 'cause..." she gulped, "I didn't know how you'd react. Well, till now."

"Alright," Koyomi said, before she turned back to Yumemi and went, "but this is all coming out of your expenses, you hear?"

"Gladly, it'd be but a drop in the bucket," Yumemi said, before she looked Koyomi up and down, "And I was tempted to dine at the Black Goose anyway, with its rising prestige. I suppose you not knowing where we'd have lunch at till now explains why you're still dressed in your shabby day clothes." Yumemi had gotten dressed in a silken back gown, which she'd for some reason taken with her on a routine inspection.

The only high-class apparel Miyako could picture Koyomi in was her Hanazakari regalia, and that was more swashbuckler than socialite. As if psychically confirming her, Koyomi then said, "No, I still would've come here dressed like this, if anyone judges it's their problem."

Yumemi was starting to seethe. "Koyomi, Hanazakari powers aside, you simply must take better care grooming herself. Your house too, do you think a dark and disheveled wreck like yours is conducive to a productive mental state?"

"Given all the books I've written there, it seems yes. And how would you redecorate, by filling the whole place with sand?" Koyomi asked back.

"Anyway, we were going to say we've decided on our 'one more'," Miyako said, popping up between the two, "Kai Kazuya, he's the guy Arisugawa-sama saved from that Heart Leech."

"Good choice," Koyomi gave a fanged smile, "Show you at RUNE someone you failed."

"And how could we 'fail' someone we were never asked to save?" Yumemi asked, then leaned in closer and said, "Oh yes, I also checked up on the Kai household in the meantime. You involved their eldest son in your affairs, regardless of how much you were 'pressured' to do so, so I had every right to involve them in my investigation."

"You what?!" Koyomi said, before she hissed, "You're a Hanazakari, the Dandelionhearts asked you to save everyone who had their hearts taken."

"Oh, so now you care what the Dandelionhearts wanted?" Yumemi said, then cryptically added "Funny considering your... particular history with them," her hands folded beneath her chin.
Koyomi didn't say anything, instead she just scowled and resisted the urge to drop her lunch down Yumemi's gown once it arrived.

"...How did the Kai react to hearing Kazuya-kun had his emotions back?" Miyako tried to course-correct while shivering.

"They were quite surprised; they wouldn't have guessed. Accused me of lying of all things," Yumemi said. "This might make them more open to taking their Kazuya with us, not having him around will take a lot of weight off his parents' minds. Though if they weren't, we are still RUNE, there's little they could do to refuse."

"Like your people are immune to bribery," Koyomi kept below her breath.

So Ryoichi kept Kazuya-kun's secret from his parents? Miyako thought. Was he scared he'd lose the heirship, or did he really care for Kazuya? Here's hoping it's the latter.

"Huh, well it's not like I ever cared to maintain a good standing with the Kai, what with their dinner invites I've refused," Koyomi said. "Still, their whole reason for disassociating with the eldest son out of shame has crumpled. Since I don't see a happy ending from such people, this may only make them feel backed into a corner. Guess it's a good thing then we're skipping town."

"Glad you're coming around," Yumemi smiled, which made Koyomi frown again.

"Hey Yumemi, so is every RUNE member a Hanazakari?" Miyako said.

"Oh no, we have several unanointed in our employ. Though they cannot cast, the affairs of magic concern them too," Yumemi said. Her tone growing pleasanter, she asked, "I believe you're applying for college, aren't you Miyako-chan? Then if your visit goes well," she couldn't help side-eye Koyomi, "we could consider you for a job at RUNE. It'll automatically get you a foot in the door at many fine universities."

What Yumemi had just told her versus everything Koyomi had said made Miyako's thoughts ricochet all over. With both Yumemi awaiting an answer and Koyomi starting to fume, Miyako defaulted to, "I'll, er, think about it. Yeah. Again, should actually see the base first before I decide."

"Of course, and my apologies. I certainly didn't mean to pressure you," Yumemi said.

"So, was there anyone else you 'inspected', besides the Kai and Asahi?" Koyomi swooped in to ask.

"A boy named Yuuki Reiji was the only other one, but he didn't say tell me anything anyone else didn't," Yumemi said, then smirked. "Be grateful, I could've just said 'you aren't authorised to know'."

Miyako let out a sigh of relief hearing that, her worries that Reiji would jump at the chance to rat out Koyomi appeared to be unfounded. Well, that or Reiji didn't really know that much more, but she liked to think the former was it.
Sensing the tensions remaining between Koyomi and Yumemi, despite the latter's niceties, she then asked, "So, er, back in the Frost Decade. You would've done other things than just fight the Frost Fair, right? They do say a Hanazakari's powers are watered by their bonds."

Article:

Koyomi made sure to answer that before Yumemi could:
[ ] "We were on the same sports team, Yumemi of course had to be Captain."
[ ] "We were both in the school band. You can imagine the arguments."
[ ] "We were in the same study group. We Hanazakari used to all pool together, since it was hard to schedule homework alongside fighting the Frost Fair."
[ ] "She was in Arts class, I found out about her since I was looking for an illustrator back then."
[ ] "Everyone in school knew Yumemi, she was Student Council President, because of course she was."
[ ] "Everyone in school knew Yumemi, she was the lone delinquent, believe it or not."
[ ] "No, most of our contact really was just from fighting the Frost Fair."
[ ] "Everyone in school knew Yumemi, she was Student Council President turned one of the Greatist delinquent in the city at the time, believe it or not." (Iris-Iven-Ibis write-in)
[ ] We used to be a couple. I never got to pick any of our dates. (Edgedancer write-in)
[ ] Write-in