"What… do you mean?"
Yoimachi Tsukino pressed against Shichen's hand on her head, tilted her face up and stared blankly at him.
Shichen smiled faintly and gently ruffled her smooth, beautiful lilac hair. "I told you I came here to help you. How could I go back on my word?"
"But I already…"
"Is that so? Then check the news again."
"What?"
As if realizing something, Yoimachi hurriedly threw herself onto the bed, grabbed her phone, and started checking.
Amazingly, she couldn't find the scandal articles about her anymore.
All that was left was one report clearing her name. The main characters in that article were the TV producer who tried to sleep with her and her manager.
The two of them had confessed everything — trying to coerce her into sleeping with them, attempting to threaten and lure her, as well as other past crimes.
The comments section was surprisingly gentle. Everyone was praising her for not bowing to power, expressing their respect, and even apologizing.
It was all very harmonious.
There were also plenty of comments condemning the producer and the manager — full of curses and righteous outrage.
Yoimachi stared blankly at those comments, feeling like none of it was real.
Less than an hour ago, they'd been spitting on her, insulting and despising her.
And now they were all speaking up on her behalf.
The whiplash felt like a dream. It was too surreal.
Her emotions rose and fell violently, but she couldn't help letting out a breath of relief.
Even though she'd said earlier that she couldn't go on living in this world, that she had no redeeming qualities — it wasn't as if she truly wanted to leave this world.
"How did you do it?" Yoimachi put down her phone, turned back to Shichen, and asked, her eyes shining.
"I just did," Shichen answered with a smile.
"Tell me!" Yoimachi glared at him.
"All right, all right. Basically, I just made them rediscover their conscience so they went to turn themselves in to atone."
"You hypnotized them?"
"Why would I bother hypnotizing men?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yoimachi immediately angled her body away, hugging herself and watching him warily.
"…Relax. There's no way I would ever hypnotize you."
"Really? Is it because I have no charm?" she muttered under her breath.
"That's not it. You're very pretty, Tsukino. But hypnosis is a pretty low-level trick. I'm not going to use it — unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Tsukino…?" She hadn't expected him to call her by name so naturally, and her face flushed.
"Wait, what do you mean, 'absolutely necessary'?"
"For example, using it as a last resort on bad people… or for, you know, a bit of fun in private…"
"Fun in private?"
"Ahem. Just talking nonsense. Back to the point. All I did was magnify the moral part of their hearts and then they went to confess — with all kinds of evidence. Really something else," Shichen said, shaking his head in mock amazement.
"What kind of evidence?" Yoimachi asked curiously.
"Videos and such. You can probably guess the kind of thing."
"So gross." Yoimachi's expression was full of disgust.
"Anyway, that's the situation. You're in the clear now. I said I'd help you, so of course I'd follow through," Shichen said, smiling at her.
"Is that so…"
Yoimachi pressed her lips together, feeling a strange sweetness in her chest. There was someone willing to think of her.
"Why… are you helping me?"
"Do I need a reason to help you? It's not like I saw you and thought, 'Wow, she's hot,' or anything."
"Saw me and… am I really that pretty?"
"Have a little confidence in yourself. You're beautiful. And very cute," Shichen said, looking at her seriously.
"R-really…" Her cheeks flushed bright red. Being praised so directly like that left her flustered.
"And you don't need to think about taking revenge on those two. They won't get another chance to be 'punished' by you."
"Huh? Don't tell me you…?" Yoimachi stared at him, eyes wide.
"Relax. I didn't have to lift a finger. Those two will find their conscience all on their own."
"I…"
She didn't know what to say.
She'd been so angry just now, but she hadn't seriously thought about killing them. Did that mean he was actually a very ruthless person?
Or… was it for her sake?
"What are you going to do from now on? Continue as an idol and keep singing? That shouldn't be a problem. Your name's been cleared, people will definitely accept you back," Shichen asked.
"I… don't plan to be an idol anymore," Tsukino said after a moment, shaking her head.
"But you love singing, don't you?"
"I do…" She smiled. "But I want to sing for myself."
"For yourself?"
"Yeah. People's so-called 'love' for me wasn't about my songs. They turn on me in an instant, they don't believe me at all. I don't… want to see them again."
"I see…" Shichen nodded.
"Is that okay?" Yoimachi suddenly looked at him and asked.
"Of course it's okay. Singing for yourself is great. But I'd like to hear you sing too, you know. You sing really well."
"Eh? I don't mind singing for you… I mean, you did help me," she said shyly, lowering her head.
"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it."
"Mm… If you want, I could sing now."
"Now? Sure. It'd be a waste if you didn't sing when you look like this."
"Uu… Sit on the bed first. I need to get ready."
"Get ready?"
"I have to adjust my mindset."
"You don't have to go that far. Just sing casually."
"No way!" Tsukino shot him a glare, then ran off into the bathroom.
Shichen watched her flustered retreat and couldn't help shaking his head. Was she going in there to play make-up and wardrobe change?
She was already cute and beautiful enough as is, and she was still in her Astral Dress.
But well, girls caring about these things was normal. He'd just let her.
He sat on the edge of the bed and, with nothing else to do, glanced around the room. It was his first time in Yoimachi's room.
It was a typical girl's room, but there was a lot of music stuff — CDs, posters of singers, instruments… She really did love music.
Before long, Tsukino came back out. Shichen glanced at her and thought she didn't look all that different.
Oh well, that wasn't the point.
She walked over to stand in front of him, pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, looked at him, then parted her cherry-colored lips.
Her song flowed out.
"Using the shower head… as a microphone,
In the bathroom echoes my voice, la-la-la~ la-la-la…"
Yoimachi sang with complete focus, her expression serious, the whole world narrowed down to the song. Shichen quietly listened, letting her beautiful voice wash over him.
"Haa—"
When the song ended, she let out a long exhale, then looked at him, nervous and expectant.
"H-How was it?"
"It was great. I really liked it," Shichen nodded.
"Really..." Tsukino broke into a smile.
"I really hope I can hear you again in the future."
"In the future…?" she echoed blankly.
"I should get going," Shichen said calmly.
"Go? Go where?" she asked, suddenly tense.
"To the future, I guess," he replied honestly.
"The future? What do you mean?"
"Don't worry. We'll definitely see each other again. I still want to hear you sing."
"Will we really… see each other again?"
"I believe in our fate," Shichen said, standing up and moving to stand in front of her. He raised his hand and gently patted her on the head.
"Fate…"
"Mm! I believe it too!" Tsukino nodded hard.
Since he'd come to help her, their bond couldn't be shallow. They were sure to meet again.
"Then — until we meet again."
"Wait!" Yoimachi grabbed his hand.
"What is it?"
"If I want to find you… what should I do?" she asked anxiously.
"Heh, you don't need to go looking for me on purpose. We'll definitely run into each other again."
"That sounds so unreliable…"
"You're a spirit now. There isn't much you can't do."
"But I… I don't really know what I'm supposed to do next…" Tsukino said, lost.
Even now that she'd become a spirit, with incredible power, cleared of all accusations, and no longer needing to fear public opinion — she still had no idea what path to take.
"It's simple. You're still very young — why not go back to school?" Shichen suggested with a smile.
"School…?" she repeated.
"Yup. School's surprisingly fun. You can make lots of friends. I think you'll like it."
"Friends… Then I'll give it a try," Tsukino said, steeling herself.
"That's the spirit. But your current name probably isn't ideal anymore. No matter what, it'll still have some baggage."
"So I should change my name? To what?"
"Want me to pick one for you?"
"Well, you're the one telling me to change it," she said with a small smile.
"In that case, I guess I'm responsible."
"Exactly~"
"Let me think…" Shichen pretended to ponder for a bit, then looked at her and asked,
"What do you think of the name… Izayoi Miku?"
~~~
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