Thought for a second that the Orange blossom could've gone to a pirate character instead of a mangaka, until I remembered what possibly the biggest manga ever is about, so it's still kind of a pirate reference, kind of.
I'll also say that one of the Hanazakari listed and voted for is the other option you could've met at Sekigahara at the start of this arc, though she's not the mangaka
[X] "Hellebore in Full Bloom, an actress and singer. Her 'actions' at Shin Sekigahara make me doubt this cult would look favourably on her."
[X] "Alstroemeria in Full Bloom, came over from Peru, runs a private detective agency."
Thought for a second that the Orange blossom could've gone to a pirate character instead of a mangaka, until I remembered what possibly the biggest manga ever is about, so it's still kind of a pirate reference, kind of.
I'll also say that one of the Hanazakari listed and voted for is the other option you could've met at Sekigahara at the start of this arc, though she's not the mangaka
Hellebore sounds like the best guess there. Even setting aside that her description straight up mentions Shin Sekigahara, there was a good number of people figuring the masked woman was some kinda celebrity given her recognizability and "was at SSekigahara" would definetly tick the box of how Koyomi knows/recognizes her. Which, hey, one more reason for wanting to see what her deal is.
Thought for a second that the Orange blossom could've gone to a pirate character instead of a mangaka, until I remembered what possibly the biggest manga ever is about, so it's still kind of a pirate reference, kind of.
I'll also say that one of the Hanazakari listed and voted for is the other option you could've met at Sekigahara at the start of this arc, though she's not the mangaka
Though I brought up One Piece due to the oranges and pirates connection, I should say that Orange in Full Bloom isn't based on any one mangaka, though general manga trends will factor into her character
[X] "Alstroemeria in Full Bloom, came over from Peru, runs a private detective agency."
[X] "Hellebore in Full Bloom, an actress and singer. Her 'actions' at Shin Sekigahara make me doubt this cult would look favourably on her."
Heading to the exit of Nagoya station, the four of them came across a series of rings, each a little taller than a human. "Emotion Readers? they seriously still have these?" Koyomi said, then muttered, "I would say now's the time to bring them back what with a certain someone, but it's not like these things ever were any good in the first place."
"Yeah, I remembered we all got our Emotion levels read as late as high school," Miyako said, that many years after the Frost Decade.
"Oh yeah, those. Kazuya of course aced all his emotion readings and so couldn't possibly be Frost Fair bait... because he'd already been that. Rub it in, why don't they?" Reiji said with a scowl and crossed arms. "I mostly got back the same reading everyone did: Annoyed 10."
"That was one of their many problems, emotions too high you're a target, emotions too low, well how do they know you're not a disguised Frostfarer?" Koyomi said.
"And, well, can you really assign a number to something like emotions?" Miyako asked, before it occurred to her, "Wait, you don't think these E-Readers being here means they already know about Blue Lotus? If they've been warned, that's a good thing, isn't it?"
"It's possible RUNE would give them a heads up if they thought he'd attack here, but these Readers look like they've been here a while, not recently reinstalled," Koyomi said, eyeing where the rings were bolted to the floor.
"<This is also all new to me. As Pathragadans, we could always tell when someone was a Frostfarer in disguise, since we couldn't talk through their root systems as they had none,>" Sfira said, them having quickly changed back into their standard, pseudo-Koyomi human guise after those 'experiments' with Miyako. "<Nor did they disguise themselves as other aliens to us, since well, those rarely came to Pathragada. Guess I never thought about how other planets would handle that... even though I came all this way to one.>"
"Well, if these things could barely detect the Frost Fair, chances are they'll fail to find Pathragadans too. Let's just get this scan over with," Koyomi said as she pushed on through.
As expected, the Emotion Readers seemed more a leftover formality than anything, for when the rings lit up as they walked through, nobody came to inspect them over their readings. Miyako still felt a little buzz down her spine though.
That last obstacle out of the way, they were now out onto the clouded, concrete massif that was the Nagoya cityscape. Though it had the luck to not be hit as hard as Tokyo or nearby Sekigahara, there were still more than a few frozen ruins across its horizon.
"Sfira, I'll need your senses to track down the Hanazakari Hellebore, civilian name Izumi Hibiki. Reiji, you're with Sfira, show them a picture of Hibiki online if they need it, voice actresses not being as recognisable as others," Koyomi directed the two.
"Wait, you mean that Izumi Hibiki?" Miyako and Reiji of all two people said in unison.
"Ahem," Reiji said trying to compose himself, "I am aware her peak of popularity was decades ago, though on the upside that might make it easier to contact her. But still, back in her prime..."
"Yeah, it's so cool she was a Hanazakari too! Hold on, how come Reiji-kun gets to track her down and I don't?" Miyako had to protest.
"Because I can at least count on him to not descend into a blubbering mess on meeting her," Koyomi said, though looking over the giddy Reiji again made her add, "Well, not as much of a blubbering mess.
Anyway Miyako, you get to meet a Hanazakari detective with me instead, shouldn't that satisfy you?" she then asked. "And along the way, I'll need you to interview any passerby you can, back things with up our own investigation."
"Okay, guess that's cool too," Miyako whimpered.
With them splitting into two, Sfira dashed off in a blinding flash, only to meekly dash back when it became clear Reiji couldn't keep up with anywhere near that speed. "<Sorry, sometimes I forget my own speed,>" they said, even trying bowing.
"Oh, do you?" Reiji sighed. He then turned around to ask Koyomi one last thing, "Wait, why would this cult be after Izumi-sama? Thought it'd be for one of her shows, but you said it was over Shin... Sekigahara?" Too late, Koyomi and Miyako were far enough away that Reiji was calling into the void.
"Hi there, could you spare some time to-" "Hello, might I ask you about-" "Hey, I don't wanna alarm you, but we could use your opinion on-" Miyako tried these opening lines and more on anyone she saw on the streets, only to be met with blank stares and people suddenly picking up speed. About all the info she was able to gather was that the Earthly Purified's local headquarters were a couple of blocks away.
She caught up to Koyomi as she entered a dingy, serpentine alleyway. They passed by an izakaya and even a scaled-down local shrine, the latter especially catching Miyako's eye, before a few more twists and turns led them to what could be charitably called an 'office'.
The flickering lights made it nearly as badly lit as Koyomi's house, though the musty yellow wallpaper, wonky ceiling fan and oversized desk were still visible. Slouching behind said desk was a scrawny individual with a jagged black bob, amber eyes set against her brown skin, and wearing a hat and trenchcoat that screamed 'Hi, I'm a detective!'
And they weren't the only person in this room...
"Wh-what are you doing here?" a voice belonging to none other than Kazuya's brother Ryoichi gasped on seeing both Koyomi and Miyako. With his styled brown hair and immaculately tailored outfit, he more than stood out here. "Oh I know, you've been tailing me, is that it? Detective, I'll pay you extra if-"
"Ooh, extra? Ahem, I mean, cool it niño," the detective said, their eyes perking up for a second before they slouched back, "Much as I could use more cash, I know Senora Koyomi, she ain't the type to play the tailing game."
"'Not the type'? After she went behind my family's backs to-" Ryoichi was about to say, but the detective cut him off.
"Ain't you going behind your family's backs right now, niño?" they asked.
"Grr, Arisugawa, 'Nozawa', you two low-lives are in cahoots with the Earthly Purified, aren't you?" Ryoichi then said and pointed at them.
"Aren't you?" Koyomi shot back at him without missing a beat. "Shouldn't your own family have enough connections with the Purified to know they want me dead, 'Bad Seed' and everything?"
Ryoichi stopped and blinked a second, only then admitting, "Alright, I may have misjudged. But so have you! Unlike my parents I seek no forgiveness from the Purified, in fact I was suspicious of them from the very moment they entered our manor." There may have been a hint of revisionism in his tone.
"Okay, so let's team up then!" Miyako said and smiled, "We came to the same detective, and could use all the help we could get against the Purified-"
"Absolutely not," Ryoichi said, "My own investigation of them is already smoothly underway, and Detective Sakata has already given me all the information I need, thank you! Now, if you'll excuse me..." he then stomped out the door.
For a second, Miyako felt him not speaking to her at the hospital and theatre was a bullet dodged, but she then said, "Maybe we just caught him at the wrong time? His heart seems in the right place."
"And if he's not bluffing, then his own 'investigation' will likely get him doll-ified. If he's lucky," Koyomi muttered as she glared out the door.
"Well, he paid upfront, so I'm good. Anyway, Senora Koyomi. Well, Senorita technically, but that feels a little diminutive for you, no?" the detective then said to bring brightness back into the conversation, then chuckled as they attempted a gravellier voice again, "You ain't exactly the Hayworthian long-legged dame I'd have hoped to see in a joint like this, but eh, beggars can't be choosers."
"...Right," was all Koyomi said at first, before introductions were in order, "Nozawa Miyako, this is Sakata-Kuroiwa Palmira-Aureliano, AKA Alstroemeria in Full Bloom."
"Hey what are you, mi madre? We're all friends here, just Palmira Sakata will do," the detective said, before their swagger faded as they told Miyako, "Er, Senorita Nozawa, since it's really hard to tell with Spanish names, I'm non-binary. That's like X-gender, you might have heard of that."
Miyako smiled hearing that, "Don't worry, I'm trans too, trans girl in my case. Ah, no pun intended, 'case' y'know. Ooh, so how do you and Arisugawa-sama know each other? You totally teamed up and trashed the Frost Fair, right?" She thought to also mention Sfira, but Pathragada might be too much at once.
"Haha, not quite," Palmira had to admit, "Most of it's confidential, but long story short, Senora Koyomita hired me way back when to check if her old publisher was swindling her out of royalties. Ah, but how did you two meet? Take it you can already see Koyomi's not the social sort."
"Miyako's a runaway," Koyomi said outright before Miyako even had the chance. "She was searching for Hanazakari, ended up finding me."
That and I'd kinda tracked you down on the internet, Miyako chose not to bring up, especially with what Palmira had said about being 'the tailing type'.
"Gotcha. And ooh, the Purified went and dubbed you a Bad Seed, eh?" Palmira winced.
"Sent a Slayer after me even. Freesia in Full Bloom, have you heard of her?" Koyomi asked. When Palmira nodded, she added, "Because right now Freesia's holding another Hanazakari hostage, a cosmonaut with the flower Zinnia."
"...Dios mio, these cults y'know," Palmira muttered, then perked up with, "Well, what dirt on these guys are ya looking for? Given they sent a freakin' Slayer after you, I'll tell it to ya half-price!"
"Er, thanks?' Miyako said.
Article:
Koyomi then asked [multiple votes at once allowed through Plan]:
[ ] What Palmira knew about the cult's leader.
[ ] What Palmira knew about the cult's members.
[ ] What Palmira knew about Slayers.
[ ] What Palmira knew about those who'd been dubbed Bad Seeds.
[ ] What the cult had said about the Resurrection.
[ ] About anyone other than the Kai the cult had ties with.
[ ] About how RUNE had been dealing with this cult, or more likely not.
[ ] About what the cult feared most.
[ ] Write-in.
[X] Plan First Five
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's leader.
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's members.
-[X] What Palmira knew about Slayers.
-[X] What Palmira knew about those who'd been dubbed Bad Seeds.
-[X] What the cult had said about the Resurrection.
This is arguably an "all of the above" situation, but five questions already feels like pushing it, so a line has to be drawn somewhere.
Anyway, I'm pleasantly suprised to see Reiji's gidiness over an actor beating out his anti-hanazakari leanings.
I don't think Miyako pulled the short end of the stick though. Palmira seems pretty fun with the detective act.
The lack of attention it gets feels a bit of a secretive nod. I like how much sense it makes that Hanazakari don't even raise an eyebrow at Miyako being a runaway.
She isn't ruled out of even this arc yet, it just means that Koyomi and co won't be trying to recruit her to deal with the EP.
Also, one reason I went with the name 'Palmira' is because we haven't had a character staring with P yet, which should help make them easier to remember, well that and their name being Latin. I was tempted to save the name for a Coconut Flower-based Hanazakari for a bit though
"That was one of their many problems, emotions too high you're a target, emotions too low, well how do they know you're not a disguised Frostfarer?" Koyomi said.
"And, well, can you really assign a number to something like emotions?" Miyako asked.
I wonder how badly neurodivergent people fucked with that system. Or more accurately, how badly they were fucked by it, because god forbid we admit the system doesn't work equally well for everyone...
I wonder how badly neurodivergent people fucked with that system. Or more accurately, how badly they were fucked by it, because god forbid we admit the system doesn't work equally well for everyone...
You're not wrong, but neurodivergent people would probably have them more consistently. Autistic people (for instance) already get a lot of shit for being unemotional or too emotional or both; it seems like that would get a lot worse if there was some pseudo-objective way to measure how wrong their emotions are and a pseudo-logical reason to punish people for failing to regulate their emotions? You'll let the Frost Fair hurt your friends, little Jimmy.
I'm not saying that it would only be bad for neurodivergent people. But it would definitely amplify a lot of the ways the world is already shitty to us.
I was a bit surprised that there hasn't been a reaction to Kazuya's brother Ryoichi turning up and actually getting speaking lines this time. Guess it's been a while since we've seen him, plus there's a bunch of other stuff also going on in the update
I do find it funny that a big ring got more discussion than the return of a mildly enigmatic supporting character.
But I'm not sure what I'd talk about. He didn't do much; we learned that he's going out of town to investigate the cult that his parents are getting involved with, which I don't remember if we found out before, but I'm not sure how much that would change things. It's probably just another scummy group they work with; I doubt that they're hosting sacrificial rituals or indoctrination retreats or whatever.
Shame that Ryoichi is probably competent enough to get himself into trouble, but not competent enough to get out of trouble.
Scheduled vote count started by ArlequineLunaire on Oct 12, 2023 at 2:21 AM, finished with 11 posts and 4 votes.
[X] Plan First Five
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's leader.
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's members.
-[X] What Palmira knew about Slayers.
-[X] What Palmira knew about those who'd been dubbed Bad Seeds.
-[X] What the cult had said about the Resurrection.
[X] Plan First Five
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's leader.
-[X] What Palmira knew about the cult's members.
-[X] What Palmira knew about Slayers.
-[X] What Palmira knew about those who'd been dubbed Bad Seeds.
-[X] What the cult had said about the Resurrection.
"First off, any info you got on the cult's leader. The 'Nice Lady' as Freesia calls her," Koyomi said, snarling as she used that term.
"Oh that? Easy, the dame's name's Kamizono Mariya," Palmira said while they mimed having a cigar in hand, "For someone who talks a bunch about how impure and tainted the modern world is, she's sure made a lot of TV appearances. Can't miss her in person, she's about our age and always wears this blue shawl over white robes. Oh yeah, and a crown of stars on her head, can ya believe the nerve?" they then gestured at their own hat, "Must freakin' reek though, since I ain't ever seen her in any other get-up."
"Television appearances? Huh, explains why I've barely heard of her," Koyomi said, typical as those words were for her. "But what does she preach, other than she apparently could pull off the Resurrection if not for 'Bad Seeds' like me?"
"Cool it, I was gonna get to that," Palmira said a scowled a little, "She says she can Resurrect everyone 'case she did it before. Get this, us Hanazakari on Earth used to come from the stars, we all got killed up there, but she's the one who brought back all our souls on this here Earth. That's how the Dandelionhearts knew ta find us, 'cause they'd all met us before in space, or 'the heavens', she's real insistent on that term. Yeah, crazy right?"
Miyako had to fidget hearing that, then raised her hand to say, "Actually, there's a bunch of people online who theorise that Hanazakari have been resurrected before. Ah, not saying I believe Kamizono can do that, just that, well, to me the Resurrection having already happened sounds like a nice thing to believe in."
"Yes, until someone comes along and takes advantage of you for believing that" Koyomi said. "Just you remember skepticism, Miyako, any cult's worst enemy. Well, except if you end up skeptical of everything but the cult," she had to admit.
"Anyway, Kamizono also says all Hanazakari used ta be perfect and pure but now we've all fallen and been defiled, and the Resurrection's a no-go until the source of this defilement is dealt with, those sources being anyone she dubs a Bad Seed as you've figured. And a Bad Seed can only be dealt with two ways," Palmira said as she made a V sign with her fingers, "They convert to the Earthly Purified, or they die. Either/or, no in-between."
"Says a lot about her then that she sent a Slayer after me first thing," Koyomi said as she glared.
"Eh, knowing how itchy-trigger Slayers can get, could be this Freesia went after ya before Kamizono even gave the word. Haven't heard much about this toymaker dame, but what scraps I've gotten have been wild. Some say she killed her own mother, some her father, some both. Yeah granted, some say a lot of things," Palmira said, wildly gesturing.
"If true though, that would make her a converted Bad Seed," Koyomi said. "Heh, which'd mean Kamizono at least keeps her word on the 'conversion' part. Not that I'm tempted."
"And hey, at least this crazy broad's the only Slayer I know in the EP's employ," Palmira said, "Course, that's common sense. Too many Slayers under one roof makes people start giving you the stink eye. Do suppose the EP could be lying about how many Slayers they've really got, though RUNE hates it when people do that, natch."
"It still says a lot about RUNE that they let Slayers exist at all," Koyomi muttered, then told Miyako, "Yumemi once tried to justify it to me by saying Slayers 'provide security'."
"As for other Bad Seeds, well a ton of Idol Hanazakari are in there. Oh, not that Kamizono's got an issue with corporations when it's her they donate to. Her beef's just with Yamahi Productions and the others who fought for the Frost Fair back at Shin Sekigahara," Palmira said. "Not that I blame her there, yeesh going turncoat like that."
Hearing that turned Miyako still as a statue. "No, no, I misheard, t-that's all," she said, her whole body starting to quiver. "You just said that there were Hanazakari who fought for the Frost Fair, that, that has to be a lie." And YamahiPro, that's who Izumi Hibiki was with…
"They're telling the truth," Koyomi said to her, "I can confirm, I was there. As for why any Hanazakari would side with the Frost Fair, well with those for whom corporations called the shots, it's simple: Frost Fair paid them more. Had riches from across the universe, so they said."
"T-that still doesn't make sense!" Miyako blurted out, her breath slowing. "I've been into Hanazakari my whole life, I would've found out about this. I mean yeah, there were a couple guys online who said things like that, b-but still."
"You can thank our government for that, they worked overtime to cover up that any of our corporations ever allied with the Frost Fair. When you're both multimedia conglomerate and PMC like Yamahi, being 'vital to the economy' apparently makes terrestrial treason water under the bridge," Koyomi said, arms folded and seething from head to toe. "Same reason you never heard of the JSDF firing on Frost Pawns till I told you."
Miyako went silent after that, for her head was wracked with the wasps of paranoia. I can't trust the government, I can't trust celebrities, I can't trust companies, I can't trust my parents. Who, who can I trust?
"Huh, so if Kamizono knows about both the corporate treason and Emet's death, then was she at Shin Sekigahara?" she then asked Palmira.
"She indeed was. Loco as she is, the dame's got real cred there. Says it's where she got her 'revelation' about Hanazakari being from the stars," Palmira said, then stared at a faded map, "Meanwhile, I was fighting in Peru when that all went down, but eh, this ain't about me.
Back to Kamizono, her flower moniker's Rafflesia in Full Bloom. Past that, she keeps a real tight leash on what her power is, but it'd have to be something able ta fool marks into thinking she really is a resurrector. But yeah, ginormous flower, S-Sekigahara vet, legions of followers, you've got yourself a hell of a nemesis."
Like Blue Lotus wasn't enough. Or Yumemi, you've earned the title, Koyomi thought, then asked, "Anything you can say about these followers of hers?"
"You already know the Kai. Like any cult EP go after the rich and insecure, more than a few celebrities are already members. Especially in entertainment, they're jonesing for that PR. The only other Hanazakari I know who's with them is a dame by the name of Daimon Emi, Orange in Full Bloom," Palmira said.
Already shaken by that Idol treason bombshell, hearing that name nearly shattered Miyako. "N-no! I know her, she can't be…" she spoke.
"Well yeah, that's kinda the point of recruiting famous people," Palmira said not so tactfully.
"Daimon-sama's been a mangaka for years. Most people know her for doing character designs in anime and adaptations, but I used to read her own works a whole bunch though," Miyako said, then muttered out, "She can't- can't be with a cult…"
Koyomi looked down at the trembling Miyako. She was about to say she wasn't surprised, given what she'd heard about the manga and anime industry, but thought better to keep quiet there.
"That all?" she instead asked Pamira.
"One last thing about Kamizono's followers," Palmira said, "She's been seen leading some who look weirdly like folks who previously committed suicide. Maybe coincidence, maybe something more. Like she's getting 'em to feign it to cut off ties with their old life, so I'd guess."
Miyako flinched, as cutting off ties to her old life was exactly what she'd done. Yeah but, I did that myself, that wasn't some cult leader telling me to do anything, and my parents were really… she lapsed into thought.
"Okay, that's about everything I can give ya that ain't just me shooting in the dark, so, what are ya gonna do next?" Palmira then asked and leaned forward, "Ooh, are you planning to take EP down? Because sheesh, that'll take some doing, might have ta tag along and make sure ya don't come back out in chunks. And 'course I got my own score to settle with EP, what Hanazakari 'round here doesn't?"
"Take them down? Oh gladly, but…" Koyomi had to sigh, "If they're at that level of power, I don't have the slightest idea how I'm gonna do that. So starting off small, Freesia told me that Kamizono wants to meet with me. And I will, but not without backup if she tries anything. Looks like I've got you for that now, but I've got more backup in mind, another Bad Seed, you'll know who soon.
Also, I'm not leaving till I get Vasilisa, Zinnia in Full Bloom, back, I don't need an international incident with Russia breathing down my neck."
"Heh, better plan than I coulda come up with. Alright, lead the way Boss Lady," Palmira said, though being thought of as a leader just made Koyomi narrow her eyes.
Palmira now in tow, they then met back up with Reiji and Sfira by the station. "Look who- we found!" Reiji tried to smile while gasping for air, what with all the speeding around Sfira would have done. At the same time, he'd now gotten dressed in Victorian detective gear, to now find out that was nowhere near Palmira's style.
"Thank you, but I'll take my entrance from here," said the woman he'd brought. She was wearing a modest yet elegant white coat, had short light brown hair with darker streaks, and smiled as she extended a hand to Koyomi. "I don't get recognised on the street as much as I used to, so getting to meet with the famed Kuramazov is quite the honour. You've guessed right that I'm Izumi Hibiki, now what can I help you with? I understood you weren't fond of adapting your work, but Yuuki-kun here says that's changing."
Koyomi smiled back, but then had to hiss at Reiji, "Wait, you went ahead and told her I'm Kuramazov, and that this has anything to do with adaptations?"
"Thought it'd be the quickest way to get her on board, that's all," Reiji said and winced.
"Er, Senora Koyomi, how come there's this broad who looks exactly like you, except the hair?" Palmira asked as they set eyes on Sfira, yet someone else to explain.
"Look, I'll be blunt, Hellebore," Koyomi said past Palmira and straight at Hibiki, "This is about you as a Hanazakari. I've got a cult who say they 'just want to meet with me', the Earthly Purified. I hear you may've been targeted by them too."
Hibiki's sweetness faded, but she still maintained her composure as she said, "That is true. They haven't sent any Slayer after me, so far, but I've had more and more threats sent my way, and they seem to be from more than crazed fans like they used to be."
Crazed fans? How can you stay so calm as you say that? Miyako thought, even if acting was Hibiki's whole thing.
"I also know the artist Daimon Emi's with them. I'll admit Daimon-san and I haven't talked much, but we have worked on a few of the same series, so I was getting concerned for her," Hibiki went on.
For all Hibiki's composure, how could Miyako look at her the same way now knowing she'd fought for the Frost Fair, that she and Koyomi had once been enemies?
Article:
When Miyako got the chance to speak:
[ ] She outright said she knew about Hibiki siding with the Frost Fair. Tactless as it was, it was gonna come up sooner or later, certainly from Koyomi if not her.
[ ] She wouldn't flat out say she knew who Hibiki had fought for, but she'd try dropping hints to test the waters.
[ ] She asked Hibiki about her career, she'd been a fan after all. Nice easy topic, well maybe not so for someone long after the peak of their fame.
[ ] She kept quiet, trusting the Hanazakari could deal with anything that came up.
[ ] She instead saw to introducing Sfira to Palmira, help take that load off Koyomi's shoulders. [] She pushed past her doubts about Hibiki, she hadn't even been an adult when YamahiPro forced her to fight with the Frost Fair. [Miyako does not have the Emotional Intelligence or Strength for this.]
[ ] Write-in
For one thing, it says she knew you wouldn't convert.
"Her beef's just with Yamahi Productions and the others who fought for the Frost Fair back at Shin Sekigahara," Palmira said. "Not that I blame her there, yeesh going turncoat like that."
Sorry, what?
I mean, it sounds like this kind of thing is pretty well-known in-universe, but—
Hearing that turned Miyako still as a statue. "No, no, I misheard, t-that's all," she said, her whole body starting to quiver. "You just said that there were Hanazakari who fought for the Frost Fair, that, that has to be a lie."
Oh come on, like any corporations would actively work to make the planet less habitable just because they'd make a higher profit that way!
...
Oh. Right.
"But yeah, ginormous flower, S-Sekigahara vet, legions of followers, you've got yourself a hell of a nemesis."
If the size of the flower is in some way proportional to how threatening a Hanazakari is, hard to think of a worse enemy than Rafflesia in Full Bloom. Aside from the government, or an alien strong enough to escape a government facility while fighting several Hanazakari. Okay, maybe Kamizono isn't such a big deal after all.
"One last thing about Kamizono's followers," Palmira said, "She's been seen leading some who look weirdly like folks who previously committed suicide."
That is extremely specific, in an extremely worrisome manner. Especially considering the speculation that Kamizono must have some way of convincing people she can raise the dead...
"Heh, better plan than I coulda come up with. Alright, lead the way Boss Lady," Palmira said, though being thought of as a leader just made Koyomi narrow her eyes.
Sorry, ma'am, you've been appointed as leader of this band of misfits whether you like it or not.
At least you have a lieutenant who knows what she's doing now.
Article:
When Miyako got the chance to speak: [] She pushed past her doubts about Hibiki, she hadn't even been an adult when YamahiPro forced her to fight with the Frost Fair. [Miyako does not have the Emotional Intelligence or Strength for this.]
Welp. There goes our best chance of making this a cordial alliance of convenience.
[X] She instead saw to introducing Sfira to Palmira, help take that load off Koyomi's shoulders.
This seems like the most Miyako option. Friendly, outgoing, trying to help her friends.
