StarSingerBlue
Zenryoku Zenkai !
- Location
- The City of Lights
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Plan: Miyako is Goofy
Fool Bloom (A Magical Woman Quest)
- Thread starter ArlequineLunaire
- Start date
- Original Fantasy Modern
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Got good news in that those college assessments I brought up are now all finished. My update rate may speed up a little, but even with them it's not like I was going super-slow or anything
Vote closed
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Fountain of Youth 6.3
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan: Miyako is Goofy
-[X] "Ah, hi there Tobi-san. Hey, it's okay, even if you're stuck as a swan, you're still a Hanazakari!"
-[X] Write-in: "Maybe there's a way she could talk to us! Have you all seen that video with the cat and the buttons?" (by Embler)
-[X] Write-in: "Swans don't normally live this long, do they? Tobi-san, are you a magical swan? Can you still do magic? Can you transform!?" (by Embler)
-[X] "Ah, hi there Tobi-san. Hey, it's okay, even if you're stuck as a swan, you're still a Hanazakari!"
-[X] Write-in: "Maybe there's a way she could talk to us! Have you all seen that video with the cat and the buttons?" (by Embler)
-[X] Write-in: "Swans don't normally live this long, do they? Tobi-san, are you a magical swan? Can you still do magic? Can you transform!?" (by Embler)
As only Koyomi and Emi could hear anything Maimi was saying, Miyako awkwardly tried waving to her. "Ah, hi there Tobi-san," she began, which at least got the swan to look her way, if with something of a swannish scowl. Or was that just how swans naturally looked?
"Hey, it's okay," Miyako tried lightening her tone, then smiled, "even if you're stuck as a swan, you're still a Hanazakari!"
Not that Maimi Tobi had any easy means of a direct reply, but her attention now seemed focused on Miyako, which gave Hayato a break. "She says that, yeah, she knows she's a Hanazakari," Koyomi passed along, though Miyako couldn't tell if Koyomi's own mood had coloured her translation.
"Well yeah, 'course she knows she's a Hanazakari," Miyako said, then struggled to clarify. "What I was trying to say is that y'know, Tobi-san's still one of us! One of the team!" She then realised, "I mean, I'm obviously not a Hanazakari, nor is Hayato-kun, but you get what I mean. She's still a hero who fought to save everyone! Er, unless..."
Bringing up if Maimi had fought on the side of the Frost Fair, and right in front of her too, gave Miyako chills. It was a minor miracle that Hibiki Izumi had taken Miyako blurting that fact out as well as she did, and even her response had been... concerning. So how would someone more aggressive like Maimi take it?
Naturally Koyomi saw right through what Miyako had stopped herself from saying. "Look, I didn't know Tobi till I came to Hinodeharu, so I can't say what if anything she was doing at Shin Sekigahara. She tells me she tried being a fake defector back at Sekigahara, and eh, I guess I haven't seen any evidence that contradicts her word," Koyomi said.
"Though even if she did side with the Frost Fair," Emi was unusually forthwith in saying, "t-that alone would be no reason to discount her! Izumi-san did, yet she still came to rescue me. Even if..." she then looked over to her Starshoot and flinched. "Even if she did use my..." her clenched face couldn't finish that sentence.
Wait, was Daimon-sama with a manga company that far back? 'Cause if so, was she also forced to side with the Frost Fair? Miyako thought, having no idea how to ask Emi that, given the state she'd been in.
Maimi then cut through the mumbling with a squawk, like she was saying 'You know I can still hear you, right?'
"Oh right. Tobi, this is Daimon Emi, she's a mangaka. Well, we're not sure what she's doing with her life right now, though I am not having her play housewife. That's Nozawa Miyako, she's a ronin who keeps saying she'll get into journalism, and the boy you just trampled over is Higashi Hayato, the son of a friend of mine," Koyomi said.
Miyako huffed at Koyomi's description of her, though Hayato, despite Koyomi being no less brusque about him, appeared to take it way less personally. Given the... theorising Miyako had done about how Hayato felt towards Koyomi, she started thinking if anything Koyomi said about him could ever make him mad. Not that he was the type to get mad anyway, of course.
"Wait, so if Tobi-san did fake defect, er, since you did fake defect, Tobi-san," Miyako readdressed from Koyomi to Maimi, remembering the swan could in fact hear them, "could that mean the real reason you're stuck as a swan is 'cause they found out and cursed you?" she theorised yet again and asked.
"If they did, they hid it real well," Koyomi said, "because we would've found some Frost Fair mark by now if that were true. No, probably a side-effect of the end of the Dandelionhearts. I was thinking Sfira could shed some light on her circumstances, but of course them just showing up sends her into a squawking frenzy," she sighed.
"Oh no, does Tobi-san have something against Pathragada then?" Miyako asked.
"I always took it..." Hayato said as he got back on his feet, "that if you had the mind of a swan and suddenly saw a bamboo alien wandering around, it'd make sense if you overreacted. Ah, nothing against Sfira-san on my part, as we haven't been properly introduced."
Something in Hayato's words still did cause offence, as Maimi began squawking and flapping at him again. Miyako inferred this may have been due to the 'mind of a swan' remark.
The difficulties with Vasilisa coming back to her mind, Miyako said, "This would kinda be easier if we didn't need someone to interpret all the time. Wait, I've got it!" she beamed, "Maybe there's a way she could talk to us! Have you all seen that video with the cat and the buttons?"
Koyomi and Hayato stared blankly at her, but Emi brightened and said, "Oh, I know what you mean. They had this cat pushing buttons on a board that said words for her, I watched it while, er, while procrastinating with an approaching deadline," she admitted.
"Listen," Koyomi then said to her, "you worked till your hands fell off. You of all people have earned the right to procrastinate. But anyway, you're saying we should get one of these talk-button-board things for Tobi then?"
"Yep, certainly couldn't hurt," Miyako said, under the assumption that comment wasn't tempting fate, or that Maimi would be talking that more with the unanointed.
While she was here though, Miyako still had to ask as she quivered, "Swans don't normally live this long, do they?" But her spirits lifted as her eyes glimmered, "Tobi-san, are you a magical swan? Can you still do magic? Can you transform!?"
And predictably this got Maimi squawking and flapping at Miyako, to the point where Koyomi had to hold the swan off. "She says," Koyomi managed to say, "that if she could still transform, she wouldn't be stuck like this. But you could say if she's got the body of a swan but the mind of a human, then yes, she is a magical swan. And well," she gritted her teeth, "she really doesn't appreciate her lifespan being brought up. Most people don't, obviously, but in her case..."
"Swans aren't the birds I know most about, but I did some research, and well," Hayato said then paused, slowly backing away from Maimi as he did, "at most they only live about twenty-four years, don't they?"
"And-and Shin Sekigahara was just over twenty-three years ago," Emi gasped as it hit her.
"Hold on," Koyomi spoke firmly, before Maimi could get riled up again, "We still don't know if she's retained her human lifespan or not. And Tobi says she's feeling fine as ever. Well, says."
Both Miyako and Hayato could attest that Maimi was still active and restless, unless the sand running out of her hourglass had only made her more stubborn in response.
"Er, so Hayato-kun, Daimon-sama, since you've both seen each other's skills, now you've got no reason to compete, right?" Miyako asked, deciding the best way forward was to swerve back entirely.
"Higashi-kun, I heard you say Arisugawa-sama saved your parents' lives countless times back in the Frost Decade. I... can undeniably see why you hold one as heroic as her in such high regard," Emi said to him, before she just had to add, "I, I don't think I even saved that many people, if any at all, back then. Even Tobi-san as a swan is still more of a Hanazakari than I am."
Emi praising Koyomi, especially her saving his parents, did get Hayato to soften slightly towards her, and what she said next started making him feel like he'd been kicking a puppy.
On the other hand, Koyomi was not so moved. "I already told you, Daimon, stop beating yourself up like that. You're not making anything better," she muttered.
"Ah, most definitely, Arisugawa-sama. I-I won't say such things about myself anymore," Emi said, in a tone of voice that suggested she still would.
It was just after that, in the depths of these woods, when another voice made itself heard. A voice Miyako really, really didn't want to hear right now.
"Hello? I'm hearing talking out here, is everyone alright?" Asahi called out.
Article: At risk of her boss discovering how quickly she'd disobeyed her about seeing Koyomi, Miyako:
[ ] Gestured at everyone to run, she'd say why later.
[ ] Quickly told everyone about Asahi in what time she had, then get them all to run.
[ ] Took off on her own, asking the others not to tell Asahi she'd been here.
[ ] Told Koyomi not to say she was here, then hid behind her.
[ ] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
[ ] Asked Hayato to come clean for her, with her being scared to face how Asahi might react.
[ ] Threw a rock or twig or something to make Asahi look the other way.
[ ] Write-in
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Gestured at everyone to run, she'd say why later.
[X] Quickly told everyone about Asahi in what time she had, then get them all to run.
[X] Took off on her own, asking the others not to tell Asahi she'd been here.
Once again picking the optimal drama options.
[X] Quickly told everyone about Asahi in what time she had, then get them all to run.
[X] Took off on her own, asking the others not to tell Asahi she'd been here.
Once again picking the optimal drama options.
- Location
- Germany
Man, I wasn't aware that Koyomi was that broad shouldered. All that's missing is Miyako also picking up Maimi to hide behind her wingspan. Nobody here's going to question Koyomi suddenly having grown wings, right? The angry flapping of the wings only makes it more authentic. (Side note: Maimi's fun.)
This meanwhile feels like asking for Miyako to miss her mark and instead accidentally hit Asahi in the head.
That being said, getting this over quickly might be for the best. If only because handling things like this means she has to also justify herself to Koyomi when it comes to deciding who's allowed to interact with her and how often does one get to create more drama while picking the mature option?
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
Last edited:
[x] Took off on her own, asking the others not to tell Asahi she'd been here.
Tempted to also vote for the first three, they all sound fun, but I guess we do have to pick between them.
Edit:
Tempted to also vote for the first three, they all sound fun, but I guess we do have to pick between them.
Edit:
I was hoping to see, like, a swan transformation sequence. She can't become a human, but she can become a frilly swan!
Last edited:
StarSingerBlue
Zenryoku Zenkai !
- Location
- The City of Lights
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
[X] Told Koyomi not to say she was here, then hid behind her.
[X] Told Koyomi not to say she was here, then hid behind her.
- Location
- Earth
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That went better than I expected.
If only there was a fountain of youth or something around...
[X] Took off on her own, asking the others not to tell Asahi she'd been here.
I don't expect Koyomi to follow this request—she might assume Miyako is trying to shirk her duties or something—but it's probably the best way to avoid detection.
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
Honesty is also an acceptable policy.
Edit responding to an edit:
Don't get me wrong, that would have been cool. I just didn't expect it would be a thing.
Last edited:
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Oh, I see what you mean. Guess I misread your vote as 'Can you partly change back to human?', sorry about that
Maimi probably could do something like that, even if it still wouldn't be in her nature to show Miyako, and it'd only give her the basic Hanazakari physical boosts. Though it's kinda hard to speak a transformation phrase when you don't have human vocal cords, so she'd have more luck if she were a parrot or a raven. It does help though that swans are pretty frilly already
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
Vote closed
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Fountain of Youth 6.4
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Decided Asahi would be most forgiving if she just came clean.
Miyako sighed to Hayato and said, "I guess I really should come clean, shouldn't I?"
"What?" Hayato gasped. "I mean, yes, she's Mother and your employer, it's only right to be honest with her. It's just… it's just…" he started muttering.
"You're worried how she'll treat you if she finds out you went behind her back, huh?" Miyako intuited.
"Wait, 'went behind Asahi's back', what are you talking about?" Koyomi asked, her eyes already narrowed.
Butterflies in her stomach, liver, and lungs seized Miyako as she looked at Koyomi and all the way up at Asahi. Still, she breathed deep then said, "You see, I had this nightmare, so Higashi-sama thought-"
But she had to be cut off when Maimi suddenly flapped all the way up to Asahi. Not wanting to go down as the miko who let her head priestess get attacked, Miyako ran after the swan… only to find Asahi firmly glaring down and commanding Maimi to "Sit!"
Then Maimi genuinely did so, much as a swan could.
At first relieved, Miyako tensed back up again the moment Asahi would've been able to glance Koyomi just down the incline. "Okay, um, so you know how you said…" Miyako tried to begin.
"Nozawa-chan, if you ran into Koyomi by accident while going after this wild swan here," Asahi said while kneeling so she could give scritches to Maimi's neck, "that's at least understandable."
"Yes Mother, completely by accident!" Hayato called out to insist.
"Well, the thing is," Miyako gulped, "I... went looking for Arisugawa-sama behind your back. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" She then collapsed onto Asahi, leaving Hayato trembling at what his mother would say next.
"Again, mind telling me just what is going on?" Koyomi said as she strode up to them.
Juggling Maimi, Miyako's crying, her son's attempt at deception, and now her old friend in her face, Asahi took a while before she was able to answer. "Koyomi, do you remember I told you about a nightmare I had years ago? All that ice, all those leeches, all those people dead," she nearly froze up just saying that, no, even thinking it.
"Miyako's been getting similar dreams now, hasn't she?" Koyomi said.
Asahi nodded. "So I told her, well, she should stay away from you, I didn't know what else to say. The Frost Fair are gone, there shouldn't be any more nightmares like these," she said, beginning to get teary, then whispered, "especially not for someone born afterwards."
What her boss had said was at least expected, but Miyako was stung, near shattered, by what Koyomi said next. "I agree."
Before Miyako could speak back, Koyomi looked down and told her, "On top of what Asahi said, if you're having those sorts of nightmares, then you know what Yumemi will do if she gets her hands on them. Make you wish they stayed just nightmares, for starters."
Remembering how Yumemi had flooded Koyomi's house with sand and torn a chasm through Taito Base, Miyako barely needed a reminder of what Koyomi was talking about. But that didn't stop her from shouting, "I don't care!" her broken voice then quieting to, "You're the first Hanazakari I ever really knew. I don't want to have to go away from you…"
Crouching, Koyomi whispered in the girl's ear, "Miyako, you were attacked by a Heart Leech, kidnapped by a Frostfarer, and barely avoided a killer cult. Please, it's better I don't see you again than have to see you die." She flinched as Namie's face flashed in her head.
With that Miyako could no longer say anything, so just fell in a heap on the forest floor.
Asahi gingerly tried patting her on the back and told her, "Nozawa-chan, it's for the best. And you did the right thing in telling me," before she said to Koyomi, "Thank you for understanding. I admit, I didn't expect you to agree so readily."
"Just hearing she's having nightmares like you did made me… rethink a lot," Koyomi said. Not that she let Asahi entirely off the hook though. "Your only concern was that Miyako wouldn't have to live with trauma, is that right? No, ahem, ulterior motives with you?"
"What? Koyomi, I'm your friend, far back as that was. You would honestly accuse me of jealousy?" Asahi spoke up.
"Hmm? I never specified 'jealousy'," Koyomi said, raising an eyebrow.
Put on the spot like that, beads of sweat began forming on Asahi's brow. But she had one clear chance to change the topic. "Well, speaking of the old days, why are you transformed right now?" she asked, before she finally spotted. "And you appear to have a guest over… who is also transformed."
"Oh, she's an intruder," Hayato said and was promptly ignored.
"Her name's Daimon Emi," Koyomi said, then lied to Maimi's relief, "and we were just, er, practicing in case we found another Heart Leech." Not that she hadn't gotten fighting practice elsewhere. "Daimon, this is Higashi Asahi, friend from back in high school."
"Er, hi there," was all Emi said at first, but then it dawned on her. "You-you actually knew Arisugawa-sama all the way back in the Frost Decade, Higashi-sama? Because someone like her must have been brilliant against the Frost Fair!"
Koyomi tensed up. "No, I… really wasn't," she muttered.
"Arisugawa-sama did save Mother and Father numerous times," Hayato was quick to chime in.
Asahi winced hearing her own son bring that up. "Indeed she did. Of course, if either Tsukasa or I had been made Hanazakari, she likely wouldn't have had to," she said.
"But if you had been made a Hanazakari," Emi then said, while quickly looking back at where she'd left her Starshoot and shivering, "You could have been granted a bad Cultivar. Something that only serves to… bring misery into this world."
At first Asahi didn't know how to respond, but then said, "I suppose there would've been the risk, but all the Hanazakari Cultivars I heard of sounded quite special. Darkness, dreams, transformations, how could any young girl not want those at her fingertips?" Even the broken Miyako had to light up hearing those words.
"Because the Dandelionhearts weren't Santa handing out toys," Koyomi hissed, and looking back at Emi had to think, and you'd think a young girl want to make someone feel pain over what they loved?
"So, if Nozawa is forbidden to meet with Arisugawa-sama anymore," Hayato then raised, "Then… am I as well? I'm complicit too, I did promise to lie for her."
"Hayato, you may not have been having similar dreams, and believe me I could tell if you were," Asahi said then asked, "But why is it you want to keep seeing Arisugawa-sama? She's twice your age, and it's not like you two have similar interests."
"Father and you have talked about her all my life; how could I not want to?" Hayato burst out, with Miyako shocked to hear him getting like this. "And besides, I- I-" he began stuttering, Miyako also nervous about just what he was trying to say. Asahi looked uncomfortable too, made to think about everything she'd told Hayato growing up.
"Then stay away," Koyomi told him bluntly. "By all you've said, it sounds like it isn't me you care about, it's your idea of me you've conjured in my absence."
Her words reaching Hayato, he reacted almost like he'd been stabbed. As he crumbled in a heap, Miyako, despite what she may have suspected about him, still had to feel sorry for him. Especially with how she'd been shattered too.
Detransforming, Koyomi then said, "I'd better be getting home. I've done what I came out here to do, keeping an eye on the swan, so I should be seeing to, ahem, 'other matters'. So, goodbye."
That made Miyako ask herself whether Koyomi had even told Asahi about Sfira yet? The woods surrounded the shrine, and Hayato was already aware of them at least, so why not just tell Asahi? Maimi had at least requested Koyomi to not say anything about her, however successfully. Was she worried even more people would try to claim Sfira?
"But I'll stay by your side, Arisugawa-sama," Emi said as she detransformed in turn, "e-even if I can't use my Cultivar." Or rather, won't. "And I've had all sorts of bad dreams on my own, so someone like me can't get any worse."
Koyomi gave no reply to that, though made a mental note to warn her about Yumemi the moment they were back at the house. I can't bear imagining what ammo she'd get out of you, she thought.
The two Hanazakari headed away, Emi emerging victorious against Hayato by default. Miyako may've gotten back on her knees, but she remained defenceless against the thought that this could be the last time she'd ever see Koyomi.
Seeing her employee emotionally wrecked, Asahi tried telling her, "Nozawa-chan, don't feel so bad. Look on the bright side, you'll have much more time to apply for your journalism degree, like I said before."
That did remind Miyako she was supposed to be writing an article on Blue Lotus and RUNE's corruption, something the world should seriously be warned about… but now she didn't know if she could bear to do so. With every word she'd type, how could she not be constantly reminded of all the time she'd spent with Koyomi?
"Nozawa-chan," Hayato then said as he took her hand, even blushing, "Arisugawa-sama said she doesn't want me around her anymore, but I'd, ah, still be happy to be around you. You're the closest one I have to her, after all."
Awkwardly as Hayato had phrased that, especially for a guy into poetry, Miyako still found herself blushing in return. But Hayato then had to ask, "Just one thing. I don't think you ever said why you want to be a journalist? Ah, if the reason's not too personal, of course."
Put on the spot to figure out just why she wanted that career, the first answer that came to Miyako was one she'd be ashamed to say out loud. Because most of the heroines I knew from fiction were journalists, so if I couldn't be a Hanazakari, I could still be that!
Miyako sighed to Hayato and said, "I guess I really should come clean, shouldn't I?"
"What?" Hayato gasped. "I mean, yes, she's Mother and your employer, it's only right to be honest with her. It's just… it's just…" he started muttering.
"You're worried how she'll treat you if she finds out you went behind her back, huh?" Miyako intuited.
"Wait, 'went behind Asahi's back', what are you talking about?" Koyomi asked, her eyes already narrowed.
Butterflies in her stomach, liver, and lungs seized Miyako as she looked at Koyomi and all the way up at Asahi. Still, she breathed deep then said, "You see, I had this nightmare, so Higashi-sama thought-"
But she had to be cut off when Maimi suddenly flapped all the way up to Asahi. Not wanting to go down as the miko who let her head priestess get attacked, Miyako ran after the swan… only to find Asahi firmly glaring down and commanding Maimi to "Sit!"
Then Maimi genuinely did so, much as a swan could.
At first relieved, Miyako tensed back up again the moment Asahi would've been able to glance Koyomi just down the incline. "Okay, um, so you know how you said…" Miyako tried to begin.
"Nozawa-chan, if you ran into Koyomi by accident while going after this wild swan here," Asahi said while kneeling so she could give scritches to Maimi's neck, "that's at least understandable."
"Yes Mother, completely by accident!" Hayato called out to insist.
"Well, the thing is," Miyako gulped, "I... went looking for Arisugawa-sama behind your back. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" She then collapsed onto Asahi, leaving Hayato trembling at what his mother would say next.
"Again, mind telling me just what is going on?" Koyomi said as she strode up to them.
Juggling Maimi, Miyako's crying, her son's attempt at deception, and now her old friend in her face, Asahi took a while before she was able to answer. "Koyomi, do you remember I told you about a nightmare I had years ago? All that ice, all those leeches, all those people dead," she nearly froze up just saying that, no, even thinking it.
"Miyako's been getting similar dreams now, hasn't she?" Koyomi said.
Asahi nodded. "So I told her, well, she should stay away from you, I didn't know what else to say. The Frost Fair are gone, there shouldn't be any more nightmares like these," she said, beginning to get teary, then whispered, "especially not for someone born afterwards."
What her boss had said was at least expected, but Miyako was stung, near shattered, by what Koyomi said next. "I agree."
Before Miyako could speak back, Koyomi looked down and told her, "On top of what Asahi said, if you're having those sorts of nightmares, then you know what Yumemi will do if she gets her hands on them. Make you wish they stayed just nightmares, for starters."
Remembering how Yumemi had flooded Koyomi's house with sand and torn a chasm through Taito Base, Miyako barely needed a reminder of what Koyomi was talking about. But that didn't stop her from shouting, "I don't care!" her broken voice then quieting to, "You're the first Hanazakari I ever really knew. I don't want to have to go away from you…"
Crouching, Koyomi whispered in the girl's ear, "Miyako, you were attacked by a Heart Leech, kidnapped by a Frostfarer, and barely avoided a killer cult. Please, it's better I don't see you again than have to see you die." She flinched as Namie's face flashed in her head.
With that Miyako could no longer say anything, so just fell in a heap on the forest floor.
Asahi gingerly tried patting her on the back and told her, "Nozawa-chan, it's for the best. And you did the right thing in telling me," before she said to Koyomi, "Thank you for understanding. I admit, I didn't expect you to agree so readily."
"Just hearing she's having nightmares like you did made me… rethink a lot," Koyomi said. Not that she let Asahi entirely off the hook though. "Your only concern was that Miyako wouldn't have to live with trauma, is that right? No, ahem, ulterior motives with you?"
"What? Koyomi, I'm your friend, far back as that was. You would honestly accuse me of jealousy?" Asahi spoke up.
"Hmm? I never specified 'jealousy'," Koyomi said, raising an eyebrow.
Put on the spot like that, beads of sweat began forming on Asahi's brow. But she had one clear chance to change the topic. "Well, speaking of the old days, why are you transformed right now?" she asked, before she finally spotted. "And you appear to have a guest over… who is also transformed."
"Oh, she's an intruder," Hayato said and was promptly ignored.
"Her name's Daimon Emi," Koyomi said, then lied to Maimi's relief, "and we were just, er, practicing in case we found another Heart Leech." Not that she hadn't gotten fighting practice elsewhere. "Daimon, this is Higashi Asahi, friend from back in high school."
"Er, hi there," was all Emi said at first, but then it dawned on her. "You-you actually knew Arisugawa-sama all the way back in the Frost Decade, Higashi-sama? Because someone like her must have been brilliant against the Frost Fair!"
Koyomi tensed up. "No, I… really wasn't," she muttered.
"Arisugawa-sama did save Mother and Father numerous times," Hayato was quick to chime in.
Asahi winced hearing her own son bring that up. "Indeed she did. Of course, if either Tsukasa or I had been made Hanazakari, she likely wouldn't have had to," she said.
"But if you had been made a Hanazakari," Emi then said, while quickly looking back at where she'd left her Starshoot and shivering, "You could have been granted a bad Cultivar. Something that only serves to… bring misery into this world."
At first Asahi didn't know how to respond, but then said, "I suppose there would've been the risk, but all the Hanazakari Cultivars I heard of sounded quite special. Darkness, dreams, transformations, how could any young girl not want those at her fingertips?" Even the broken Miyako had to light up hearing those words.
"Because the Dandelionhearts weren't Santa handing out toys," Koyomi hissed, and looking back at Emi had to think, and you'd think a young girl want to make someone feel pain over what they loved?
"So, if Nozawa is forbidden to meet with Arisugawa-sama anymore," Hayato then raised, "Then… am I as well? I'm complicit too, I did promise to lie for her."
"Hayato, you may not have been having similar dreams, and believe me I could tell if you were," Asahi said then asked, "But why is it you want to keep seeing Arisugawa-sama? She's twice your age, and it's not like you two have similar interests."
"Father and you have talked about her all my life; how could I not want to?" Hayato burst out, with Miyako shocked to hear him getting like this. "And besides, I- I-" he began stuttering, Miyako also nervous about just what he was trying to say. Asahi looked uncomfortable too, made to think about everything she'd told Hayato growing up.
"Then stay away," Koyomi told him bluntly. "By all you've said, it sounds like it isn't me you care about, it's your idea of me you've conjured in my absence."
Her words reaching Hayato, he reacted almost like he'd been stabbed. As he crumbled in a heap, Miyako, despite what she may have suspected about him, still had to feel sorry for him. Especially with how she'd been shattered too.
Detransforming, Koyomi then said, "I'd better be getting home. I've done what I came out here to do, keeping an eye on the swan, so I should be seeing to, ahem, 'other matters'. So, goodbye."
That made Miyako ask herself whether Koyomi had even told Asahi about Sfira yet? The woods surrounded the shrine, and Hayato was already aware of them at least, so why not just tell Asahi? Maimi had at least requested Koyomi to not say anything about her, however successfully. Was she worried even more people would try to claim Sfira?
"But I'll stay by your side, Arisugawa-sama," Emi said as she detransformed in turn, "e-even if I can't use my Cultivar." Or rather, won't. "And I've had all sorts of bad dreams on my own, so someone like me can't get any worse."
Koyomi gave no reply to that, though made a mental note to warn her about Yumemi the moment they were back at the house. I can't bear imagining what ammo she'd get out of you, she thought.
The two Hanazakari headed away, Emi emerging victorious against Hayato by default. Miyako may've gotten back on her knees, but she remained defenceless against the thought that this could be the last time she'd ever see Koyomi.
Seeing her employee emotionally wrecked, Asahi tried telling her, "Nozawa-chan, don't feel so bad. Look on the bright side, you'll have much more time to apply for your journalism degree, like I said before."
That did remind Miyako she was supposed to be writing an article on Blue Lotus and RUNE's corruption, something the world should seriously be warned about… but now she didn't know if she could bear to do so. With every word she'd type, how could she not be constantly reminded of all the time she'd spent with Koyomi?
"Nozawa-chan," Hayato then said as he took her hand, even blushing, "Arisugawa-sama said she doesn't want me around her anymore, but I'd, ah, still be happy to be around you. You're the closest one I have to her, after all."
Awkwardly as Hayato had phrased that, especially for a guy into poetry, Miyako still found herself blushing in return. But Hayato then had to ask, "Just one thing. I don't think you ever said why you want to be a journalist? Ah, if the reason's not too personal, of course."
Put on the spot to figure out just why she wanted that career, the first answer that came to Miyako was one she'd be ashamed to say out loud. Because most of the heroines I knew from fiction were journalists, so if I couldn't be a Hanazakari, I could still be that!
Article: Taking some more time to think whether that really was her reason, or whether her reason could change with time, Miyako told him:
[ ] "Well, Hanazakari are meant to fight for justice, so I figured journalism was the best way I could do that myself!"
[ ] "I really love to hear stories, and being a journalist means I'd get to hear a whole bunch of them."
[ ] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
[ ] "Er, to be honest, it's because a bunch of female characters from fiction I know are all journalists, so I always wanted to be one too."
[ ] "Eheh, I'm not sure I could really pin down any one reason. Just feels like my calling, y'know?"
[ ] Write-in
- [ ] "I look up to a lot of journalists, and wanted to be like them." (by GreatWyrmGold)
Last edited:
[X] "Well, Hanazakari are meant to fight for justice, so I figured journalism was the best way I could do that myself!"
This is a good driving motivation, I think. Option 2 also poignant, but not as hot-blooded.
Option 3 may be implying her parents are powerful? I wonder who they'll turn out to be? It doesn't seem like she's had special insight into any group that's come up so far.
This is a good driving motivation, I think. Option 2 also poignant, but not as hot-blooded.
Option 3 may be implying her parents are powerful? I wonder who they'll turn out to be? It doesn't seem like she's had special insight into any group that's come up so far.
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ah, I meant more specifically that they held power over her
- Location
- Earth
- Pronouns
- He/Him
To be fair, Asahi probably hasn't heard of that cultivar.
Shouldn't be hard to launder that into something that's mostly true.
[X] "I look up to a lot of journalists, and wanted to be like them."
There's probably a better way to word that, but it should work.
[X] "Er, to be honest, it's because a bunch of female characters from fiction I know are all journalists, so I always wanted to be one too."
Honesty is also an acceptable policy.
- Location
- Germany
[X] "Well, Hanazakari are meant to fight for justice, so I figured journalism was the best way I could do that myself!"
[X] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
One's more focused on the hanazakari and the other more on personal history, but they strike me as having the same general vibe.
Anyway, anyone wants to start the countdown until Miyako gets dragged into danger anyway and Koyomi trying to send her away might only make things worse?
[X] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
One's more focused on the hanazakari and the other more on personal history, but they strike me as having the same general vibe.
Ah, being the rebound/stand in. Careful there, Hayato, you might beat Yumeni bringing flowers for her reunion with Koyomi for the most romantic gesture of the story so far.
Anyway, anyone wants to start the countdown until Miyako gets dragged into danger anyway and Koyomi trying to send her away might only make things worse?
StarSingerBlue
Zenryoku Zenkai !
- Location
- The City of Lights
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] "Well, Hanazakari are meant to fight for justice, so I figured journalism was the best way I could do that myself!"
[X] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
[X] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Bit of BtS info, I actually ended this update slightly earlier in the story than I'd originally planned to. There was gonna be another scene with Koyomi back at her house that'll have to wait till next update now. I postponed it as this scene with Asahi had become much longer than I initially thought it would be, and was a bit worried that both and what'd then happen in the scene with Koyomi afterwards could've made the update feel too cramped
Last edited:
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] "I look up to a lot of journalists, and wanted to be like them."
- Location
- Attached to a wall
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] "I really love to hear stories, and being a journalist means I'd get to hear a whole bunch of them."
[X] "There's a lot of bad people in power, cults, militaries, Kazuya-kun's parents, my parents that I ran away from. But if I was a journalist, I could actually do something about them, right?"
- Location
- SV's Only Complete Persona Quest
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I've had a few ideas for new Quests, and I thought to bring them up here since it'd be smart to see what my existing audience thinks of them.
Don't worry, Fool Bloom's still my main priority by far, and I probably won't be starting any of these side-quests until FB hits at least 100k words.
My first and most dramatic idea I'd call something like Don't Date your Murderer or Don't Fall in Love with your Murderer. It's a hybrid between an And Then There Were None-style Murder Mystery and a Reverse Harem (to get some more use out of the tag) Dating Sim. So there's a murderer killing your love interests, except the one love interest who secretly is the murderer, but you don't know who. Pursuing your love interest's route will of course save them, since it'd be a dick move otherwise, but whether you'll be saved along with them is another matter.
It's the one I'm most tempted to run as a Quest, with its relatively short-term plot, the Dating Sim approach making it most suited to the Quest format, and it being fairly attention-grabbing. It would probably need the most pre-planning though.
I had two ideas for Divine and Demon-themed Quests. The first is Archangel Earthlocked, a reboot of the first ever Quest I ran before even coming to SV. It's about Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel waking up on Earth trapped in the forms of human women (or at least identified as such). Would be implementing a Faith metre, basically a MP bar, which is expended when you choose to use Divine abilities and slowly recovers when you don't. Don't have that much of an idea for a plot beyond the angels trying to regroup and figure out what's going on and demons interfering, the original was kind of a random events road trip-type deal.
The other has the working title of 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell'. It's a Yuri Quest about the heiress to the Gods and heiress to Demons ending up in an arranged marriage with each other as part of an after-war truce. Along with their own discomfort as they await their marriage in the human world of The Precipice, there are also gods, demons, and even humans who don't take kindly to the whole idea.
Lastly, I had ideas for two Final Fantasy Quests. The first one was about being a cryogenically unsealed human in a world where no other human exists anymore, just supernatural races whose evolution was supercharged by the Crystals. Kinda like the reverse of Terra being a lone Esper among humans, or like Adventure Time in premise if not execution.
The second was for a Final Fantasy take on Logan's Run, about a world where after a horrible (probably necromancy-related) sin, anyone who reaches the age of their 'Saturn return' (roughly late 20s) is hunted down and killed by giant beings of light. Thought a Final Fantasy game where the young age of the cast was a plot point could be amusing.
While the upside of doing a FF Quest is having brand recognition while getting to use an original cast and setting, the downside is the expected epic length can make them take a while to complete
Don't worry, Fool Bloom's still my main priority by far, and I probably won't be starting any of these side-quests until FB hits at least 100k words.
My first and most dramatic idea I'd call something like Don't Date your Murderer or Don't Fall in Love with your Murderer. It's a hybrid between an And Then There Were None-style Murder Mystery and a Reverse Harem (to get some more use out of the tag) Dating Sim. So there's a murderer killing your love interests, except the one love interest who secretly is the murderer, but you don't know who. Pursuing your love interest's route will of course save them, since it'd be a dick move otherwise, but whether you'll be saved along with them is another matter.
It's the one I'm most tempted to run as a Quest, with its relatively short-term plot, the Dating Sim approach making it most suited to the Quest format, and it being fairly attention-grabbing. It would probably need the most pre-planning though.
I had two ideas for Divine and Demon-themed Quests. The first is Archangel Earthlocked, a reboot of the first ever Quest I ran before even coming to SV. It's about Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel waking up on Earth trapped in the forms of human women (or at least identified as such). Would be implementing a Faith metre, basically a MP bar, which is expended when you choose to use Divine abilities and slowly recovers when you don't. Don't have that much of an idea for a plot beyond the angels trying to regroup and figure out what's going on and demons interfering, the original was kind of a random events road trip-type deal.
The other has the working title of 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell'. It's a Yuri Quest about the heiress to the Gods and heiress to Demons ending up in an arranged marriage with each other as part of an after-war truce. Along with their own discomfort as they await their marriage in the human world of The Precipice, there are also gods, demons, and even humans who don't take kindly to the whole idea.
Lastly, I had ideas for two Final Fantasy Quests. The first one was about being a cryogenically unsealed human in a world where no other human exists anymore, just supernatural races whose evolution was supercharged by the Crystals. Kinda like the reverse of Terra being a lone Esper among humans, or like Adventure Time in premise if not execution.
The second was for a Final Fantasy take on Logan's Run, about a world where after a horrible (probably necromancy-related) sin, anyone who reaches the age of their 'Saturn return' (roughly late 20s) is hunted down and killed by giant beings of light. Thought a Final Fantasy game where the young age of the cast was a plot point could be amusing.
While the upside of doing a FF Quest is having brand recognition while getting to use an original cast and setting, the downside is the expected epic length can make them take a while to complete
StarSingerBlue
Zenryoku Zenkai !
- Location
- The City of Lights
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Can we romance the murderer ?