Charles Patricius

Kazuhiko was shocked. He figured it was possible to replicate that pulse of mana, but he didn't expect it would be accompanied by an expulsion that had no buildup. "I can fucking WHAT now?!" he yelled accidentally, quickly bringing a hand to cover his own mouth. At some point, he'd have to test that and ensure it wasn't a coincidence. For now, it was time he and Angelica made their way. The princess claimed he didn't have to do what he did, but Kazu disagreed. "I did have to. I was never just gonna leave you hanging. That part, though... that was an accident," he said about the sudden flow of mana into her womb. She didn't explode or anything, so it seemed fine as a single occurrence. He would soon be slipping back into his pants to follow Angelica out, narrowly avoiding the gaze of a very perturbed store manager.

Well, it wouldn't be so difficult to slip anything past that man presently. He simply couldn't take his eyes off the sight in front of him. He was shocked for reasons well beyond the fact that an entire sex act was unfolding. It all looked rather fun, actually. This view of Konomi from the side showed him how much she actually had going on under those dresses and skirts... and that was exactly what he tried to avoid in every job he took. Konomi couldn't think clearly? Neither could he! "Obviously! Did you just give up?!" the manager questioned aloud, both arms flailing until an eventual collapse. "I... no. I can't do this. I'm quitting," he concluded. Meanwhile, Soma was making more noise than ever before ─ mostly from his pelvis slapping against Konomi's arse repeatedly. That would only be paired with a full gushing of that alcoholic mana, effectively applying the proverbial snake's venom into Konomi's soul. "No, it's not all you're doing. Think a little harder. While you're at it, say goodbye to your job," he said as all that thrusting halted in a single moment, heralding the final squeeze of fluid into the woman's womb.

If Lady Luck incarnated as a person, Hiruko would be the first to lay claim to her. According to Sakura though, the world may not handle such a meeting. Hiruko laughed. "It'd be fine. It can handle us, after all~" he flirted. If this planet could handle Sakura, he was sure it could handle luck personified. Little did he know. Whatever the case, Sakura confirmed that most people wouldn't be able to see her tattoos. He figured as much, as they weren't even visible on his phone. She had to discover what he was allowed to know before any real answers came about. That was something he'd said to some people before, albeit for very different reasons. As for his theory, it didn't have a proper start. Her phone call was inconsequential to him presently, but he could at least entertain the girl until she decided to fork over something sensible. "It's just a fun little thought ─ not a real theory. There's a book series called Transylvania; have you read it? They cover the old 'vampires don't have reflections' schtick with lore. I think they said the real reason that happens is because the more traditional vampires basically come back as souls to manipulate their bodies, and mirrors can't see souls. It's a great book if you haven't read it... but it is an Aeons title, so be careful~"

Apparently, Kazuhiko didn't know he was going to ejaculate when replicating that pulsing sensation for Angelica. She on the other hand knew of a possibility of other things but it wasn't something that required immediate acknowledgement. Kauzhiko's outburst wouldn't just see him covering his own mouth, but Angelica doing something similar in the moment. "Shuush! Later!" she whispered as she slipped out. Dressed once again she gathered her things and began sneaking towards the cash register, but it appeared that sneaking wasn't truly necessary as the poor manager was well and truly distracted. Another worker was busy, ringing up the end of Miko's purchase for taking to her home away from home. And then Angelica's would be up next. "Oh and don't worry... I think Miko balanced out the rest... at least I don't feel like I'm being overwhelmed but more like it's being absorbed. That's a bit abnormal for me," Angelica specified. Miko stayed around mostly to be the one to pick up her credit card after everything else.

That poor manager, he was seeing so much. Whatever the case, Konomi was blitzed and still having someone slamming into the depths of her person. It was like every movement forward shattered some of her understanding of self, and left her more open and malleable. "It was initially a calculated risk, but... obviously math isn't my best subject," she stated. Perhaps now wasn't the time for snark, but it kept her from feeling too embarrassed. She knew he was looking and while she couldn't take her eyes off the man behind her, she still didn't want anything bad to happen to anyone else. "Whaaa? No. I'm sorry it's me..." she mentioned. There was no reason for her manager to feel at fault. Just the same that loud slapping of bodies wasn't one which could be taken out of the equation. She didn't know what she looked like but Soma's words were one's which caught her attention. "Hm, I'm becoming a different person. Yeah, that one. I already said goodbye to my job. Aihara-san, gomennasai. Consider before this my resignation, that way it won't reflect badly on the company. I don't think I can do this normal life thing anymore. This one might have changed my life a bit too much, I have to trust him with the rest," she stated earnestly. What all did she mean by that? Well, maybe she was a bit more like that person who was drinking in the middle of the night deciding to get her life together, but what was more, she was climaxing a second time as her womb was filled from within. Her tongue flew out of her mouth, her face was reddened from intoxication and a climax had her legs shaking and subsequently giving up on everything else.

At the same time, Hiruko had a joking bit of conversation to have with Sakura, claiming that the world had survived the two of them so a romp with Lady Luck couldn't be so bad. "Ara? You think so... we haven't seen the outcome of us yet though... we might have already broken the world~" she said in a manner which was teasing but was a fact. Oh well, it didn't matter if he fully understood what she meant right now, she'd clear it up eventually. Actually, she would have to considering her spite baby had yet to be birthed into the world. Whatever the case, among all the questions and hints of magic, it would appear that he'd at least read a book with some very interesting information in it. He claimed said book explained away the lack of visual representations in mirrors of vampires by the fact that their souls made their bodies invisible in such a way, because you can't see souls. "Oh? That's a pretty interesting way to consider souls. Those Aeons have to be some very interesting people. And since you recommended it... I'd definitely enjoy reading such a story," she mused happily. As for his question... about her tattoos the idea was similar at least, "I like your borrowed theory, nothing wrong with the way that sounds, maybe the easy explanation to why you can see my tattoos as you call them, is because the quality of your soul is high enough to actually see me~" she mused as if it was reasonable. She didn't know that she sounded a bit like one of those kids who never let go of anime and manga, but it was a reasonable enough way to answer his question.

Despite Kazuhiko's accidental outburst, it seemed everything was fine. Miko was long gone, Angelica slipped out, and he managed an exit without any problems. With that being the case, Kazu casually followed along behind Angelica, just as he'd been doing since their arrival. The filling of Angelica became a topic of conversation, apparently being another non-issue the princess had a theory about. "Balance, huh? Well, whatever works! If that's all it takes, I'll make the call next time you're trying to push me away~" Kazu decided half-jokingly. By the time they reached the counter, his gaze shifted toward Miko. A single wink was offered before he spoke. "Learned a thing. Gotta test it. Might be awesome."

Kohara Konomi would be a name to remember. Whether she knew it or not, she'd chosen math and taken a quick route to science instead. Chemistry was established with a bit of spunk... and Soma had given her much more than a bit. Konomi's manager easily reached the decision to resign. This event, combined with a similar story from days prior, did not bode well for him. There was every reason for him to feel at fault, but she Konomi didn't need superstitions thrown her way ─ so said the male's previous bosses. "No, it's over. You wouldn't understand, but if I stick around any longer with stuff like this happening, things will turn bad," he insisted. Aihara, as he was called, would take this moment as a lucky sign before his own eventual termination. Konimi admitted to abandoning her job, even wanting him to consider her resignation from a time before this debauchery. Her later clause implied some level of hentai-style mind-break, but everything else she said belied an honor he felt compelled to meet. "I... won't quit just yet. Finish up quietly. I'll smooth things over to keep your record clean before I quit. Sayonara, Kohara," he said before closing the door and walking away. He would soon enough be assembling a report to claim Konomi was only helping the obviously drunken pink-haired girl involved in deviance. Any sounds heard from outside the room would have been blamed on Chika instead. While he ran off to deal with that, Soma was basking in the afterglow of success. "Throwing it all away already? That was still practice. Whatever. If you're not fit for normal life, what are you going to do?" he asked, curious what kind of answer she would give at this juncture.

Perhaps Hiruko and Sakura did do something that would break the world; time would tell. If the world shattered, he'd just have to ensure another few rounds before the end. "May as well make sure we're done before that happens then," Hiruko answered. Time would also tell what sort of answers Sakura had in store. He shared his crackpot theory based on a popular novel, and Sakura didn't seem very put-off by it. Their conversation passed as if jokes were being shared. Even so, he'd seen Sakura's emotional range for himself. Her sense of humor wasn't that dry. Considering the fact that he could definitely see those marks, he was just slightly more inclined to take her seriously when she spoke of soul quality. "I mention a crackpot theory, and you bring out the foil hat. Sakucchi... what if I told you I've seen magic before?"

Kazuhiko acting as the follower boyfriend to his girlfriend was way more normal than anything else. No one could even question his being present by the time purchases were being made, and this group managed to get outside without much of a problem. Still there was what was being paid for so Miko remained in close proximity as the clerk currently handling transactions rang up the clothing that Angelica wanted and, like everyone else today, packed it into the duffle of Angelica's choice, which was royal blue. "It seems to work, I'd have to ask Saku, she has a better understanding of that part than I do. But if it works I am not going to argue about it," Angelica said seemingly huffy. Of course she would be, she would be careful about how she chose to deal with Kazuhiko from now on given the bright and smiling girl to the side of them who seemed to be very extreme from time to time. That wink offered to Miko was seen and she beamed in return. Apparently, something had been learned and she was definitely trying to find out about it, given that Kazuhiko thought it was awesome. "Aye Sir, open for testing too~" Miko chimed enthusiastically. At the end of that transaction an amount was listed "460,000 yen," the clerk who'd served Miko the previous day mentioned. "Hai hai... one more for the road~" Miko claimed she was unused to having such fair prices it was almost ridiculous, she ran that black card one more time, knowing she'd spent about the same amount on every person here, she'd likely bought more in underwear than she had in shoes the previous day. "Thank you, Miko-chan... for everything," Angelica managed almost sheepishly. It was cute to see her being legitimately nice. "Hai hai, happy to help, anytime♫~" Miko mentioned with a wicked grin. With the purchases all made this group was able to leave to the lobby and Miko started to do her head count.

At the same time, the pair and the manager in that other dressing room were having quite an interesting moment. Konomi may have looked like a girl in a hentai style mental break, but she was still Japanese. Honor wasn't something she was willing to break on, even when she was upsetting the status quo. She was a person of her word, and she wouldn't take anyone else down with her in a bad situation. Her manager had never done anything wrong to her, she didn't want him to suffer because of her bad calculations. Still that one claimed he wouldn't be sticking around though he matched her honor with his own, taking her resignation and even going so far as to offer her the opportunity to finish up quietly. "Aihara-san, arigatou gouzaimasu..." she said truly appreciative of his discretion. As they wrapped up, if normal life wasn't for her, what was... well that was kind of easy to answer. "This job just isn't for me. I am... a student at a local college and I am applying to a graduate program that is supposed to be really exclusive and will give me the opportunity for one on one teaching which I prefer," she thought oddly clearly only to hiccup soon after. "Ugh, I feel drunk. Getting laid in a changing room has apparently changed my motivation," she mused. Chika for all her outness, finally seemed to be coming to as well. She'd started shifting pulling on her own clothes, though... her skirt was shifted around wrong and her shirt was pulled on inside out. "Chika can't... need nuggies," she groaned as she finally stood leaning against the wall.

Meanwhile, Hiruko and Sakura were busy discussing the fruits of their combined labors. According to the blonde, if the world was destroyed by what they did, he was trying to do it more before the end, "Sou, well... even if it was there might be more to do than just that~" she teased gently. Even if this world didn't survive the birth of their offspring, she could easily have him on the other side where nothing negative would happen. Sakura noted that he didn't think her to be humoring him completely, instead he was taking her seriously enough, whether just by knowing her for the past few days or simply being very open to the ideas. 'I hypothesize he is mentally capable of knowing the information I have to give. I shouldn't break his mind and any realizations will be for the better of all,' she mused internally. Much the same as her previous day, all thoughts were concerning her own calculations and observations. Ah, but what was Hiruko saying, he'd seen magic? "Are? And what counts as magic you've seen... I'm actually very curious," she said, and true to her own words Sakura's eyes were sparkling what did this man know as magic, and what could potentially be explained away in a moment. Obviously she could prove anything she liked with a very simple moment of making her son, but not all people could handle that sort of thing.

And so, most of the group that came to visit the lingerie shop went about their business, eventually exiting the building. Miko decided upon a head count, but she would find herself two members short. Chika had been virtually incapacitated for some time now, and Soma... well, he was just busy. It was necessary that he find out the current intentions of Konomi. Apparently, she was indeed through with this job. She was some sort of college student aiming for a superior education to what she had access to currently. Soma couldn't hate the ambition, but her innate ability was not so limited as what Gaia could teach. "So short-sighted. There's literal magic right in front of you, and that's what you're worried about? Oh well. I guess your horizons will open one way or another," he said during the slow process of extrication. Chika was finally stirring, and in good time as well. They should be leaving quite soon. "It's time to go," was all he said to the pink-haired girl. Fully removed from Konomi, Soma pulled up his pants and... ever so casually dropped his phone onto her back. It seemed he'd be vacating the changing room without hesitation, even if he had to drag a half-nude Chika out with him ─ something he'd be doing if she didn't prepare.

In the meantime, the strangest hypothetical discussion continued between Hiruko and Sakura. Any world-breaking that happened between them was never truly entertained as an idea by Hiruko, but it was a fun little chat regardless. Even more fun, was Sakura's new curiosity. She really wasn't letting go of the 'magical' part of their conversation, which wasn't dissuading Hiruko from the idea of it. He could continue entertaining the topic for a bit. Besides, he did have knowledge of some things that couldn't be explained with logic. "It's actually hard to put into words. For a while now, I've known someone who can use mind-control. I also know someone who's immune to everything, and then... there's you," he emphasized. "What's your magic? I'll add it to the list~"

In the lobby of the shop, Miko's head count as indeed missing two people. And she even knew which two... she sighed in the moment willing to give a moment or two before she committed to going back inside to retrieve them. At the same time, Kohara Konomi was being told about the literal magic in the world and having her motivations and logic questioned a bit by the man who'd all but ruined her life. "Eh? But, what about application. Magic can exist all it wants but if I can't use it or figure out how to make it apply to my regular life it isn't going to change anything at all for me directly," she said taking one of the most logical stances on potential magic to be uttered aloud. She wanted to finish studying anatomy find the potential theories that made magic work and then figure out how to make her own body use it. That seemed like a good route to her, she could believe the expansion of her canal and even the penetration of her womb without paint or prolapse was proof enough of a magical change... she could work on other things. She was acutely aware of her own physical changes while Soma extracted himself from her core. It wasn't natural that something so large fit inside of her. Still, a phone was dropped onto her person, and Konomi found herself feeling rather odd. She rather quickly got dressed as Soma dragged that pink haired girl out of the dressing room in a state which didn't seem unusual for her. And she quickly put her dress back on. There was no time for hair, but she figured she might as well head to the back to her little locker. She grabbed her own phone and performed a transfer to give him her phone number and take his in return before rushing out afterwards to make sure he got his device back. She assumed it wasn't dropped accidentally. Chika was dressed, but sloppily as she was dragged away to presumably rejoin the group.

At the same time, Sakura was being made privy to the magic of Gaia. She knew of a few instances, like that of her father's family. But what did relatively unknown types like Hiruko get to observe of magic. Their hypothetical conversation was more like information gathering. It was how she came to understand the shows of magic in this world of logic and science. Hiruko seemed to understand the basics that this world as supposed to run on logic and spoke of things that didn't apply to such things. For instance he claimed he knew someone with mind-control and someone who was immune to everything and then... her. Sakura found that interesting. "Sou ka, well those things could potentially have logical explanations. Mind-controlling could be done through substances, immunity a force of will power and determination to seem unbothered," she said honestly, at the same time though her eyes were gazing at the tattoo on his neck as if she could see something. "Though I assume since it could be magical there is an idea that the scaling is massive enough to warrant it, that's interesting very interesting," she said pausing to look at the man in front of her. "Hm, I wonder how to put that as well. My magic is complicated, but you could currently file it under karma and be always technically correct," she said with a small smile coming to her face. She could have chosen many things to say but that one was the easiest, well aside from admitting that she was a goddess.

Konomi was free to do as she pleased, technically speaking. Soma's plan was in full effect. She didn't seem opposed to the idea of magic. Soma figured that, after the session she just experienced, there was little choice in the matter. "You can use it. You have an affinity for it," he said plainly. He couldn't be certain, but he assumed she had the capacity to be a great sorceress. If she worked with him, she'd become even greater still. What Soma needed, however, was for that ambition to point in the right direction ─ one that aligned with him. A bit of waiting was necessary. As such, he pulled Chika through the shop with no concern whatsoever. She was wearing something that probably hadn't been paid for, but he didn't care; the people watching were probably too aghast by the scene to be worried about costs. As for Konomi's journey to her locker, she may be encountering her 'former' manager. In fact, Aihara had already gone to his own locker just moments before. In his motion to exit, however, it seemed he'd slipped on a bodice someone else must have dropped. He was collapsed right next to the doorway, in the process of getting up when Konomi entered.

Sakura was right; there could be logical explanations to the powers he spoke of. In the situations he mentioned specifically... well, that just wasn't the case. "People like me are trained to resist psychological torture and identify substances that affect the mind. And when I say immunity... I don't mean a matter of just getting over or past something. I mean things don't work," he clarified. In actuality, Hiruko's main focus was the first 'magic' mentioned. He saw where Sakura's eyes had fallen. She was looking in precisely the right place. The mention of her own 'magic' came with a claim of karma ability was perhaps a bit misplaced, considering where her attention lay. "Karma, huh? That doesn't seem related to perception at all. See something interesting?" he asked, ever so slightly tilting his head away as if to draw more attention to that tattoo.

Konomi was on board with magic, but she was also about figuring it out. According to Soma she could use it because she had an affinity for it. And when he said that all she could see was an image of herself after reading manga in which she stood, struck a pose and tried her hardest to achieve a transformation that simply wasn't possible. No, she'd spare herself that sort of embarrassment. Ah, but there was another embarrassment to encounter instead. As Konomi was going to her locker she found herself tripping over her fallen former manager. When she landed she was still holding both phones up in the air but she was on her bottom and not terribly uncomfortable. "Safe!" she chimed happily. At the same time, Miko's head count became proper though Chika looked a little less well put together than she had at the start. Kaguya looked the pink haired lass over and chuckled, "She looks as bad as I did coming out of the casino the other night," Kaguya said teasingly.

Sakura learned directly of the skills which applied to Hiruko that could have counted as 'special'. he claimed his ability identify substances and control methods was high and as such he knew that the powers enforced upon him, weren't normal. "Sou ka, both of those sound like interesting people... So are you for being able to identify it without it making you some sort of insane. Logic is usually necessary for people to live happily," Sakura was still thinking actively and pontificating. Of course, her statement about her powers was one which was truthful, but it would appear that Hiruko saw her abilities differently than she understood them to be. That was a point of curiosity which she'd explore while staring at that mark on his neck. "Perception isn't truly a magic of mine, it is a condition of my existence..." she said in a straight forward way. "Though I do understand why that alone would seem magical in the context you've known me for so far. As for something interesting I see you are always fascinating to look at... but this tattoo on your neck is a point of curiosity for me," she expressed genuinely. "The most likely cause of such a mark is that mind-controlling individual, but my amount of certainty can't be absolute in this case, since I don't know the other party," she mused. Of course she could. Much like that thing she'd done with Reiji, she could pluck the string that ran directly from that mark to the one who'd placed it. Even if it wasn't magical the intention was pure enough that it didn't have to be placed with one's own hand to belong to them.

Konomi called herself safe after landing. She was certainly safe in the traditional sense. She'd fallen onto her rear, but why was she not uncomfortable on the cold, hard floor? Well, she wasn't on the floor per se. Any comfort she felt was the result of Aihara's torso. She'd fallen ass-first onto his chest, giving him an up-close and personal view of the curve she hid under that sundress. He'd seen it mere minutes before in unfiltered form, but such a close visual was different. This was incredible. This was a total accident. This was... exactly the sort of thing he feared, and the reason he was quitting today. "... It's happening already. I was going to quit and everything. I can't escape," he lamented aloud, yet to no one other than himself. Meanwhile, Chika's attire and general state was being acknowledged by Kaguya. Soma shifted his gaze toward the pink-haired girl, and he nearly scoffed. "Only as bad, eh? There's work to be done," he decided.

Hiruko knew a great number of 'interesting' people. One in particular had some kind of ability that couldn't be real by human standards. She was such a creepy individual at her very core, it inspired fear, respect, and many other things in the masses ─ particularly the locals who knew of her. "I wasn't given much choice in one case. I could even prove it to you..." he mused. The tattoo Sakura was so fixated with was the key factor in his superstition, but there was one other reason he believed in a chance of the supernatural. "I don't remember the exact moment it was put on, but it couldn't have been normal. I eventually just noticed it when... well, that's not important. Here; I'll show you a thing," he said. Hiruko then produced his phone, doing nothing but placing it in plain sight on the dashboard. In the following moments, he simply began... thinking. What was he thinking of? Well, he had an arrangement to meet with someone within the week. Now, he was considering ways of finding an out, and perhaps running away from the person in question forever.

Konomi had managed to keep her phone and that of Soma from falling to the ground. She'd called herself safe and hadn't felt the cold hard ground against her bottom. This could have been called lucky, except that she'd found she'd landed directly atop her former manager. This was the second time, this man was getting a view of her she might not have normally presented of herself. She managed to have the grace to look embarrassed and even had enough sense to understand that he was talking about weird things that happened around him. "Gommenasai, Aihara-san. I feel like you are seeing me a lot of ways I should be ashamed of today. I'm sorry for landing on you..." she offered truly meaning it. As for this being one of the things he was avoiding and why he was quitting she had a bit of news to pass along to it. "Maybe it's magic, if it is... good luck!" she wished him earnestly. She then began the process of moving aiming to get up carefully so as not to harm him further. As for the people outside, everyone was accounted for, but Soma was thinking he had more work to do, if Chika was only about the same as Kaguya exiting the casino. "Love the drive, kid~" Kaguya commented offering encouragement to her son in the way only a parent could. "Nuggies..." Chika murmured quietly. It would be Miko who reached into her messenger bag and procured a premade meat bun which she casually shoved into Chika's mouth without much extra though. "Haroguhtooogu" unintelligible noises escaped as Chika started eating without thought. "Alright everyone accounted for, everything done. We ready to move on?" Miko asked as she corralled the group. All the while she was boxing thoughts of entertaining Soma when his aggression and full knockout abilities were developed.

Hiruko's knowledge of interesting people was different. Well, very similar to Sakura's own which meant there were more magical people in this odd place on the map than the Alaya side converts knew about. "Well, I am one for evidence... all information helps~" Sakura said, but she actually mean that. The more information she had the more complete the picture she was looking at. The mark on his neck was one he didn't remember getting exactly but it'd shown up, in a time period that he didn't think was important to mention. But even by not mentioning it, Sakura was able to extrapolate where it came from, "It showed up, in a moment of sexual activity when you were submissive," she hypothesized observationally. As for what he had to show, his phone was what he chose with nothing in particular going on, except that she could tell he was thinking and by visual effect of the threads she could see in her vision, she could see... his burning down towards some unknown end. So what about that end? Well... at the other end, a woman with red hair tied in a ponytail and golden swirling eyes was sitting with perfect posture, at a perfectly organized desk, looking down at her phone. with a sudden hint of unrealized annoyance she unlocked her phone and sent a simple message. 'You have six days.' that was it. And such a message would be sent and pop up on the screen that Sakura was looking at while she watched that same signal be sent back up the thread to the mark on Hiruko's neck. "Sugei!~" Sakura chimed. Whoever that person was they were definitely not meant for this mundane world.

Aihara was somehow caught between the best final day of work, and the worst. He had no qualms about what was happening to him, apart from the fact that such things repeatedly impacted his work life and social standing. Already several prefectures deep on moving from place to place, he couldn't afford to move again. Such was life for the young man, and such was... basically the only negative to having Konomi land on him as she did. "Iia... it's no problem. This always happens. It's a nice view you should be proud of," he said, sounding oddly defeated. If this condition of his happened to be magical, he only hated it more. How cruel could fate be to a single man? Oh well. It didn't seem as if anyone witnessed the event this time, so perhaps he could go on with his day. Konomi was trying to remove herself from him, so he used that same time to push up onto his elbows. All the while, Miko was out in the entryway asking if everyone was ready to move on. "I seem to have misplaced something. It should only be a minute," said Soma.

Regarding Hiruko's tattoo, he could neither confirm nor deny that it appeared during sexual activity. It wasn't something he remembered feeling, but something he saw in a reflection after gaining consciousness. "Maybe?" was the most confirmation he could give. When the time came to showcase its more 'magical' side, however, he could provide a great deal of proof. In the midst of his mental musing, Hiruko received a text. He was given a warning that he only had six days left. Sakura may have gotten the point from just that, but he wasn't quite done. "There's more," the blonde said, still thinking. What if he showed up late, on day seven or so? Or... what if he visited early, but used it as a ploy to permanently escape in the aftermath? Hiruko's schemes were unending. Surely one of them had a chance of working... right?

Aihara was having a difficult time. He'd been made into a physical cushion but in exchange he was given an up close and personal view of Konomi's rear. And also a pretty decent feel for it. Though she had the grace to be a bit embarrassed for ending up exposed to this man twice in a single day, he didn't have any disparaging words for her. He claimed it was a view to be proud of and claimed that this always happened. "Arigatou na. I know I probably don't have good standing to say something considering but... maybe make sure to enjoy it if it always happens, ja ne Aihara-san," Konomi managed. She didn't want him to be discouraged. She didn't have the full story, but it seemed that this kind of outcome was one he was used to seeing. She had nothing negative to say about his reaction as he was quite encouraging to her directly. She'd also had no problems with him as her manager for the time period she'd been working. Regardless, she managed to pull herself off him and head out, she had a phone to return. As for the group, it would seem Soma had misplaced something, he wanted a minute for it. Miko gave a casual shrug, as Chika was also being restored at the time and if she could carry herself it'd be way less odd. "Hai hai, we can wait a minute," Miko confirmed, as she was currently looking through her phone for a store which would suit the men in the group as Kazuhiko had mentioned needing pants already. While Miko searched her phone, that blue haired girl now with loose pigtails came out with Soma's phone in hand. "Asakura-kun, you dropped this," she said quickly offering him his device which now had her number in it as well.

Meanwhile, Sakura was seeing a bit of magic in progress. It was interesting to witness the connection between Hiruko and this unknown person in his phone play out before her very eyes. It legitimately intriguing that he'd managed to get someone to text him without prompting. What was more he had more to show for his efforts. Still he had no hard confirmation of when his mark had appeared but that only served to make her hypothesis stronger. It had all the earmarks of an imon applied to another instead of being like her own which she was in direct control of. His continued thinking seemed to annoy that person who crossed and uncrossed her legs, reaching for her phone again. She felt almost compelled to message Hiruko in the moment. But what would she saw after that short message before. 'You can't escape me. Don't make me come looking for you.' That was all it said. There was absolution in this message. Finality even. Sakura saw it, the firing one direction to another. "Sou ka... I understand," she said quietly of course explaining it would be interesting. That was definitely magic, one that explointed the connection between them to track him. Whatever he'd agreed to, he was connected to the person at the other end in a way that allowed them to keep track of his movements, even if they didn't fully understand it. Sakura would say with the magical world's more expansive mana it'd be possible for this person to appear before him or summon him to her more than likely.

Aihara would have to start looking for another job posthaste. He had bills to pay, after all. Luckily, there were no additional complications to Konomi getting off his torso. He could go on with the rest of his life, and maybe even get it back on track. He would try to enjoy such things if there wasn't such a danger attributed. While he was trying to establish a new lease on life yet again, Soma was waiting for his next conquest to make its first true appearance. The group waited, and in due time... the blue-haired former clerk showed her face. She offered his phone, claiming he'd dropped it. Soma took the device, checking it immediately to see... a second contact saved within. "Something's missing," he commented absently. "And your hair is still ruined. I think it might be better this way."

For years now, Hiruko both knew and accepted his inability to escape the woman currently sending him messages. It wasn't something he intended to do after acquiring a certain amount of freedom, but it was something he could consider for the sake of triggering whatever sixth sense she had. It would actually be interesting if she came looking for him, though; that was something else worth considering. 'Thinking of coming out in public, Kimacchi? That'd be a sight,' he thought. Whatever the case, Sakura seemed to have an understanding of the situation. There was still no solid answer about Sakura's marks, but Hiruko thought that was fine for the time being. Life was about enjoyment, not being hung-up on curiosities for unnecessary amounts of time. As such, he opened the car door at last. "That's enough idling for now. Have you thought about what kinds of accessories you might like? This place has everything."

Aihara's life might have been complicated, but if he could enjoy it at least a little, Konomi didn't have to feel bad about potentially being the reason he was quitting his job. Beyond that point the girl managed to extricate herself from him without any other major problems and was soon presenting Soma his phone without any real problems. Well, aside from now catching the eye of an entire model group of teenagers. 'Jeez is it really okay for this many people like this to be in one place?' she wondered immediately. This caught the attention of Anya who was now staring directly at her and blinking multiple times. She didn't understand why that would be a thought at all given she wasn't far off from the group standards. As for what was missing out of Soma's phone, "Missing? Hair?" she gave it a moment of thought. He liked her hair this way, but obviously it was quite a lot to leave hanging freely. Tangles and maintainence were a problem after all. But that wasn't all... He'd obviously inspected his device and saw her added number but it wasn't enough. He was so pushy. "You want a picture, jeez..." she said turning to pose. She peeked back over her shoulder, to give him the angle of her hair and a look over her shoulder with the smuggest possible expression. Oh well, he'd claimed he'd liked that who was she to argue? "Sou ka, you really work fast..." Miko murmured but such wasn't disapproval at all. No, he'd found a reasonable individual in the riffraff. "Anyway, the next big spot is actually in the shopping district. So, we can actually get all the guys something to wear. It'd be easier to catch a bus than to walk with everyone," Miko mentioned casually. At the same time, Angelica was looking at her phone screen asking Kazuhiko about the message she'd received and why his name was also popping up. This 'group chat' was an oddity she'd not expected, outside of that strange phone call she'd witnessed.

Meanwhile, Hiruko's little demonstration had far-reaching implications. Before those took place though, a certain amount of action might have already been put into motion. Well, only time would tell, but another message wouldn't be sent to Hiruko's phone immediately, isntead that red haired woman stood up and began moving, something she didn't often do. Sakura could see that the magic active in some places was far greater than she originally anticipated. Interesting as that was, he was content not to get hung up on it, and actually do some shopping. "Accessories just for wearing are a bit odd for me to think about, Hair pins... I think I'll like those," she said giving it some casual amount of thought. It wasn't as if she bought or used things just to do so. No, she had some specific reasons for doing or making things, but that was all an aside, she could make do with whatever, she also aim her way out of the car as she considered other different forms of things to want. "You'll help me think of something else right? I don't actually usually pick these sorts of things..." she said truthfully.

It didn't take long for the blue-haired girl to get a grasp of Soma's intentions. He wasn't going to be some plebian who let one of a few limited contacts in his device be some blank image. Yes, he was a fair bit pushy. Pushy though he may have been, he was also... obviously successful. Konomi didn't even waste any time before turning around to show her best angle, as well as her best expression thus far. Soma quickly snapped a vertical image to encompass all relevant parts, but those who had awakened senses of any caliber would then feel a sickening mana flooding this reality. Its signature could only be called obscene in any human language, as it seemed to rub elbows with any such thoughts within those who felt it. Its primary target, however, was Soma; he was more similar to it than anyone else in the vicinity. What was the result? "Dulash," he said as if entranced into doing so. The language he spoke was not one of the human tongue, as evident by sudden reverberations in the air itself. This was more than his usual command ─ it was a curse using his speech as its medium.

All the while, Hiruko was stretching just outside his car, waiting for Sakura's exit simply so he could lock the vehicle. He did of course bring his phone along. Hiruko wasn't sure if the situation with Makima had reached its end or not, but he knew it would crop up again regardless. For now, he'd casually and recklessly toss an arm around Sakura's shoulder as the made way for the shop. She expressed a mild interest in hair pins. He thought she'd do just as well with any sort of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, et cetera. "Hair pins always work. And yeah, of course I'll have some friendly recommendations. I already know one thing that's sure to look good on you~" he commented. "Just have a look around and see what you like. Cost isn't an issue."

Konomi wasn't the type who couldn't put together a simple set of requests. What she couldn't deal with however, was the sudden and sickening feeling she got after turning herself around to pose for the picture. She wasn't adverse to the picture, but even so there was a looming feeling that made her feel endangered, sick and even repulsed settling into the air. It wasn't just her either, every spiritually aware person in the group who was female had a similar reaction, with a couple even moving into back to back formations for the purpose of keeping each other safe. Weird as it was, such a feeling didn't set everyone completely awry. Though the light in Miko's eyes seemed to flash gently, she couldn't have placed the feelings she was having though she did connect them to something rather dark. But what would the outcome of that word spoken be? The undeniable urge by Konomi to flip up her own skirt and reveal her full bottom for that picture that was being taken of her. "Why did I do that?" Konomi wondered aloud. She was far from an exhibitionist of any sort. That rumble in the atmosphere from that word was also odd. Kaguya found herself looking to her son with a raised brow. "Ara... I don't even know words like that yet~" she said in an almost congratulatory manner. Weird though it was, it was far from the strangest language she heard. If nothing else, it didn't feel quite so off-putting to her.

At the same time, Hriuko and Sakura were making their way into this shop. Sakura found herself in a form of physical contact that seemed quite relaxed and unlike her general demeanor would imply she really didn't mind this kind of closeness between herself and Hiruko. According to him, hairpins always worked and he would indeed have more than a few suggestions to give. This would be after she had a look around though. According too him, the price of objects was no concern and she could have whatever she wanted. 'Sou ka, the difference between someone pretending to have enough and someone having enough is pretty obvious,' she thought as she began peeking inside the store. "Hai, I'll have a look around worry free then~" Sakura commented. She knew that people in this world were a bit too nice, too pushy against things being given to them. She still didn't understand that part, perhaps she'd question it directly at some other time? There were various small and trinket like items in cases which she'd be glancing at and looking at the prices of. Though she had a good estimation of the cost of things after her days out, she still figured that the expensiveness of these items was quite out of the ordinary. Still the first thing her eyes wandered over was a pair of hair pins with little stars on them in gold and silver. Those were cute, she decided.

Why did Konomi decide to lift her skirt right there in the open? She didn't know, and neither did others in the group. In fact, many would be found simply reacting to that eerie presence felt only for a moment. Kazuhiko was on high alert, and would remain as such for some time. He'd felt something similar to that before, albeit far, far weaker. This one didn't even have a notable direction of origin, much less a point. "Everybody else felt that, right? It fee─woah!" Kazu interrupted himself for a singular reason ─ that being the sight of another ass of ridiculous quality being unveiled right before his eyes. Soma had a good, long look as well. In fact, the black-haired male even got a second picture ─ one that just barely included Konomi's face. Perhaps he'd make that one her contact photo? Yes, that seemed worth doing as he acknowledged Kaguya's ignorance of the language he used. "I don't either. That one was a recommendation from someone I don't even know," he said plainly. As for Konomi's question... "You did it because I wanted you to. That's the life you agreed to, isn't it? Doing as I say."

Sakura agreed to browse the shop for jewelry. Hiruko intended to accompany her all the while, and lo, it didn't take long for her to find something of interest. Hair ornamentation was something Sakura would obviously do very well with, whether she decided upon anything else or not. Stars were an interesting choice either way. "Not a bad pair. You usually see stars in earrings or something instead," Hiruko commented. His eyes were shifting around to various bits and pieces. She had her eye on something both gold and silver, so he knew the possibilities. He scanned bracelets from afar, spotting a bracelet set, gold with one double band and one single, both of which featured pendants the shop was oven to engraving at purchase. "Oh, those over there might go well with them. Looks like you can get something engraved on them as well, if you're interested."

There was first the stark reaction to that presence felt by all the sensitive people present. "Yeah, felt..." the start of that was cut off by the sight of a great ass. Well, such was pretty normal at this point, but the break in Kazuhiko's speech was exactly why there was still logic in distracting him a bit by his wife's understanding of the concept. "That feels too much like opposition, more so than even Saku does," Angelica said carefully. "Also it looks great or did I miss something?" Angelica followed up. Konomi had no idea why she'd done what she had, and dropped her skirt upon realizing what she was doing. Even so, the compliment from another girl was about normal and received a head nod. "Well, thanks but it's still weird," she said to Angelica, chosing not to address Kazuhiko's outburst which she assumed was related but one man at a time. As for what Soma had to say, she'd agreed to something, the full breadth of it currently unknown to her, but... "Sure I agreed to something, but I'm still a person. I wouldn't go around flashing people, my own dignity still exists. And I want to be able to live my life..." she explained. A truth which was understood by Kaguya deeply. "Hai hai, no worries... we aren't those types, but I do understand your concerns," Kaguya offered the other girl apologetically. Being thrown into this sort of thing wasn't good. What was more that demonic presence was one that Soma didn't know, but it didn't seem too problematic. Still there was Angelica's question, and it would be Kaguya who answered that as well, "Ruri-chan, life for girls in this world isn't always what it appears to be. Your image will make or break you and doing things outside of normal respectability can make your life hell. Even if you didn't actually do anything..." she explained which only caused Angelica's brows to furrow. At the same time, Miko found herself offering snacks to Kaguya, in this case shoving a singular pocky stick into her mouth while handing her a box. She couldn't offer full comfort but, that was about the best she had without outing her friend completely.

Meanwhile, Sakura was browsing jewelry having found something she liked in a very short amount of time. All the while, she was also sparing casual attention for Hiruko who seemed to be looking around as well, though he was quite close to her. "I like stars... earrings don't sound bad either though..." she said having a pretty good look around. The hair pins were a definite good choice. But what else did Hiruko have to offer? A pair of bracelets that could be engraved with something. Hm, she assumed a lack of magic as an implication, but she supposed a specific word or character for reasons tied to emotion or ownership could still be pointed. "That does sound interesting, and they do look nice... I wonder what people get engraved on things here," she mused gently as she continued browsing. It was a legitimate question when she considered her other postulations.

Angelica still wasn't very well-versed in the way this world, or humans in general, worked. Her question was strange, but there was a definite and immediate answer coming from Kazu. "It's awesome!" he said, a ringing endorsement from the likes of him. As a reflex, Kazu wanted to snap a quick picture as well. Alas, he caught and stopped himself, realizing he didn't even know who this girl was. "Oh, whoops. Gomen. I've gone native. Very nice, though," he stated while abashedly rubbing the back of his head. All the while, Soma was staring into Konomi's face, hearing her talk about preserving dignity and other such things. He didn't care about any of that; she could be well beyond it by now. "Your life has already been turned upside-down. It's only going to start spiraling from here. You're allowed to live your life, as long as you do what's required of you. That little maneuver wasn't indicative of the future, though. That one was just a fun little suggestion I decided to take without knowing the outcome. In the end, it still made an excellent ice-breaker. You're welcome," he said plainly. "Now come with us."

Regardless of Sakura's interest or disinterest in earrings, Hiruko noted a lack of piercings on her person. She'd certainly look great with a pair regardless, but... he knew some people were either opposed to piercings, or had family members who were. "You'd have to get your ears pierced to wear any of the options this place has. If you can't do that, we'll have to visit another spot for the clip-on types," he explained briefly. Moving on, there was a curiosity involving the engravings on jewelry, particularly like the bracelets Hiruko brought attention to. "You'd usually see something cute, like names or nicknames of owners, names of loved ones, or both if you've got the space. Some people even put little personal mantras or something like that on them."

Angelica wasn't well-versed in the ways of humanity, but Kaguya's words would be taken into account. She made it sound like women in this world and maybe even the one she was from were worse off than she realized. The only thing she could do was prepare and try to figure out social norms, which would admittedly be difficult with even someone like Kazuhiko falling to degeneracy far too easily. "Extra weird! Thanks though..." the blue haired girl mentioned, though she could at least take a compliment. This group was one of the oddest she'd ever come across, but that at least made sense, they had been shopping for lingerie as a large group and some of them having sex in dressing rooms. Miko decided to speak again in this moment, "I almost did the same thing earlier... Life's gotten really weird lately," she mused but this was fine. Apparently, this blue haired girl was a pick-up for Soma, whatever odd things he had in mind, he was content to bring this one into a more magical existence. Anyone with decent senses could at least understand the choice if not a bit wary of the urgency presented. She'd definitely not been fully into magical world nonsense yet, given her very normal reaction to flashing Soma without her own implied consent. Still, Soma had a very reasonable explanation and claimed that it wasn't something which would be happening regularly regardless. "That doesn't count as an icebreaker, and I wouldn't want to be rude," she said. "Sou ka, she's definitely native..." Ai mentioned. No magical world person would worry about being pushy nor flashing anyone their panties in most situations. "We can go through real introductions and all in a bit. We've got a bunch of people and we need to get on a bus... so it's time to get moving. Men still need everything and women need outside clothes and shoes," Miko murmured pointing in the direction of the nearest pinged bus stop. All the while Anya was coming to investigate this new pick up more directly. She looked between Soma and this blue haired woman almost quizzically, but as Soma's first party member she'd be watching everyone he picked.

Meanwhile, Sakura pondered different types of jewelry and earrings were a topic of conversation. It was said by Hiruko that she'd need to get her ears pierced to wear jewelry like that or they'd have to visit another store to buy clip-ons. Well all of those words technically made sense but why would someone need to poke a hole in themselves? 'Hm, I suppose humans are ill-equipped to simply manifesting things like that on their forms,' she thought while looking at a pair in the golden teardrop style. "That won't be a problem, this doesn't look like it requires a hole that is very big," she stated earnestly. Beyond this point there was Sakura's question about what people put on pieces of jewelry which could have engravings. Personal mantras, loved ones, "Sou ka, that's cute..." she decided that she liked the idea even if it meant less. But given the little magics perhaps they worked in the way of wards or minor connections. To hold someone's name was actually a pretty powerful action. Humans without magic remembered the oddest things. "All things considered I do like the bracelets, the star hair pins and these earrings..." she decided with no need to think more. As for thinking about things to engrave on the bracelets she wasn't fully sure yet. She considered the names of her husband and wife, but also the names of her children instead. With only a few places for the engravings she couldn't go for her parents, they were simply too numerous.

Kazu's statement was taken as weird, but he could only shrug it off for the moment, considering what life was like of late. "It gets weirder; trust me," he said. Apparently, he wasn't the only one to almost accidentally take photos when he shouldn't have. That was a relief, but only in a minor way. He had to start consciously seeking normalcy in these situations. More importantly though, that weird sensation was fading fast, never becoming more discernable from the initial moment. Well... at least they had a vague idea what its intentions were. Konomi still didn't grasp Soma's intentions, however. "It's not rude, and it is an icebreaker. You're closer to everyone here than you were just a minute ago. Leave it at that, and come on," he insisted, content to move on toward whatever bus Miko was talking about. The pair of silent, more timid males followed along as well. Kazuhiko, on the other hand, lagged behind a bit to keep an eye open for that strange feeling again. "One day, maybe something will explain itself when it just randomly appears like that. Explanations are awesome," he mumbled. Whilst on the way, he checked his own phone to complete an explanation to Angelica about the text Sakura sent them both. "Oh, Ang! See? This is what I meant; it's a chat with all three of us. You'll see this too," he said while texting a reply. It read: "That's an awesome look for you. Are you having fun?"

Hiruko found something else strange in Sakura's observation. She began talking about the size of required piercings as if there had ever been much variety in normal cases. "Well, yeah. It's a jewelry store. You won't find gauges here; it'll all be the standard size," he said. The alien nature of Sakura was really giving credence to those magical ideas from earlier. She was ignorant of so many common things, there were hardly any excuses. "Nothing to worry about, though. You could get basic piercings right here if you want." Just as Hiruko said, there was a sitting area near the back of the store ─ one set up to be a piercing station for those in need. Sakura was rather quick to decide what she liked ─ she'd even chosen a very small number of items. Naturally, Hiruko wouldn't leave things at just that. He was already waving over a clerk and pointing out each item she mentioned. "So that, that, those and those... hmm. We may as well pick up anklets and necklaces too, right? Why not everything that looks like it could go with each and every one of those pieces?" he wondered aloud. It seemed one thing Hiruko lacked was restraint when collecting nice things.

This brown haired supermodel boy apparently thought life got weirder. Konomi found herself able to understand that but that wouldn't stop her from pointing it out. "Yep, already the weirdest day of my life," she agreed. Ah, well the intentions of Soma were ones she tried to understand. She obviously trusted him a bit but his ideas were far from standard. He claimed what he'd done was an icebreaker in that it'd brought her closer to the group at large. "I mean sure I'll come along. Not like I have anything to do today after quitting my job," she said rubbing her hand over the back of her head. Still in her hand, was her own phone and a small bag which was slipped around her wrist with her important items in it. A bus pass, her cards, her college identification and the keys to her apartment. And just like that the group grew a little bit bigger. And now everyone was on the move, with Kazuhiko still keeping track of that ominous presence until it faded. The words of Kazuhiko were heard, even by the moving Miko and she could only shake her head. She hoped he'd eventually get the kind of explanations he wanted. At the same time, Angelica was getting more an explanation after the interruption of a magical nature. "I see. That's cool..." Angelica stated about the message as she also saw the one which Kazuhiko posed. She also took it upon herself to send a picture of herself in her new outfit to their wife with a good morning and a "What he said!" message in text. At the same time, Miko was getting the right amount of money for the group to board the bus. A total of 2300 yen for a group of this size to ride to the next set of shops.

Meanwhile, Sakura was showing her alien nature to Hiruko who was not distracted enough by how good she looked to realize exactly how odd she was in certain instances. Apparently the size of these piercing holes were standard and didn't include whatever gauges were, which she had to assume were some kind of bigger holes all together based on context clues. He also went on to say it was nothing for her to worry about, as she could get her ears pierced here. "Sou ka, that's fine then," she said without worrying about it too much. What was more, the pieces she'd wanted were pointed to and Hiruko made a suggestion for a few more due to matching pieces to other outfits. "Hai that sounds fine to me," she expressed looking at a few of the mentioned items while her phone finally vibrated in return of the message she'd sent earlier. Her eyes sparkled as she finally looked at her phone and saw the message from Kazuhiko complimenting her choice in attire and asking if she was having fun. She also saw a picture of Angelica as she settled into a more human form. "Sugoi!~" she mused while looking at the picture and setting it as Angelica's image for her phone. "I'm having a lot of fun! How are you both? You seem to be outside are you going on an adventure?" she questioned quickly only to quickly add another. "An-chan you look awesome too. I'm glad you're up and moving around again!~" she relayed such messages quickly quite relieved to see that her wife was alright enough to get out of the house. Things were looking up in Sakura's world right now.

"Give it a week and you'll mostly give up on expectations of normal stuff," Kazu added for their new member's sake. "Kimura Kazuhiko. Yoroshiku," he said afterwards, getting introductions out of the way before he forgot ─ as he had a very real chance of doing so now that he and Angelica were chatting with Sakura. He'd soon be saving another image, this one of the blonde herself. "Ang, when did you take that, and why don't I already have it? Party foul!" he called out while composing a new message. "Everything's cool. We're on a shopping trip now. Lot of kids born today btw." While Kazu sent that message, Soma was looking around at other members of the group. One that he hadn't interacted with just yet was quite noteworthy, so... he'd be beating Seiichi to a seat when boarding the bus, taking his place next to Emirie and forcing the other male into the row behind. Yuuya and Kazuhiko both gravitated toward the very back, one because he was used to being shunned to that extreme, and the other... because he tended to need space for organizing a load of trading cards on bus rides.

Hiruko noticed Sakura's demeanor change drastically the moment she received a reply text. He'd never seen such a glow on her before, but he'd seen that type of reaction quite a few times. He had only a single assumption about who she was messaging based on that reaction alone. Alas, it was none of his business. As such, Hiruko busied himself by pointing out several dozen pieces of jewelry to the clerk, having it all pulled out and readied for purchase. "Looks like a nice little collection so far. If you wanted to go for that piercing now, I can handle the pay in the meantime," he mentioned while fishing out his wallet.

A week. The brown haired lad claimed that Konomi would need a week to completely adjust to the ridiculousness of life. "That's a bit depressing really," she said as a twenty-two year old a single week making the kind of ridiculousness of today into standard was terrifying. Oh well, she supposed she was past arguing. She used her bus pass to board on her own while hearing the name of that brown haired boy. "Kohara Konomi, domo," she introduced herself for the second time today. She'd end up on the bus taking up a window seat, and having Anya take the one next to her while smiling at her almost deviously. At the same time, Kazuhiko was reacting to Angelica's uploaded picture. "Eh? I took it right after we got outside. And it's not a party foul, you have it now don't you? I took it for Saku anyway. I figure I look a bit different now, but you can see me with your own eyes," she said her nose turned up in the air. Soon after she'd be texting as well. "Thanks, think the new one is fun. He's right though, we are out shopping and with a huge group," she explained of the situation at large. Well, that was logical at least. Sena ended up near the back of the bus sitting near Yuuya and Kazuhiko. While the Ai and Kaguya ended up in a seat together and Kei and Chika ended up together. Miko would be the last to settle in but she was also doing a head count. "Chi-chan where is your baby?" she asked immediately, only to have Anya pause her demonizing of the new girl to stand in her chair and hold up her hands. "Anya is here!" she said of herself which made Miko smile. "Hai hai... then that's everyone!~" Miko mentioned and she'd be settling in near the start of the group if only to keep an eye on their potential destination. At the same time Emirie took note of the fact that it wasn't her twin brother sitting next to her and instead it was Kaguya's son. She figured he'd be busy with his new recruit why would he be sitting with her? She supposed she'd be finding out soon enough.

Sakura had no idea of what her face looked like. If nothing else she was pleased with the look of her wife out and having fun finally. She looked at all the pieces she'd collected so far, and found them to be interesting while she waited for the next set of messages. She wasn't a completely absent person so she did have something to say. "Arigatou, Hirrun. You have great taste too... I'm going to get my ears pierced..." she mentioned heading back to do that. She sat down in the chair and revealed her ears while a clerk looked at her perfectly symmterical face and was stunned at how easy it was to mark her ears evenly. All the while, Sakura was reading texts and becoming more excited than normal. Her husband and wife were out shopping and there were babies! "Really?! I am shopping too today. I'm getting my ears pierced right now. Who made babies? And how many?" she seemed genuinely curious about the children and who'd made them. It was comforting for them to be doing the things the world would want of them. She was happy for all of them and was curious about the new lives. The piercing process was quite easy going and a pair of gold studs were used for her healing process after the holes were made. Oddly enough and to the worker as well, Sakura had no real reaction to the pain of the situation, but it would take much more than the equivalent of a bug bite to cause a true reaction from her.

Kazu had been watching Angelica for the vast majority of their adventure thus far, but he didn't recall seeing her take a picture. He figured she must have taken it while he was organizing the males of their group. Regardless, he had it now, as Angelica was so keen to mention as if that made everything alright. "Of course I can see it with my own eyes, but a picture will still be there even after you change to something else! Besides, it captures the whole moment and preserves it forever. Party foul!" he reiterated. In the meantime, Soma was sitting with crossed legs, crossed arms and closed eyes. He was sitting next to Emirie as if it were his natural place of belonging. Even without looking her way, he could feel the curiosity, the light hint of confusion. Unmoving, he spoke softly. "Something the matter? Maybe you'd rather I sit somewhere else?" he said calmly as ever.

Sakura would be getting her piercings, so Hiruko would be adding the service to his purchase. He loosely kept an eye on the lass while paying for the bulk purchase. In fact, he even gestured toward a few additional pieces to have them thrown in. "Did you want any of this stuff to wear out right now?" Hiruko asked while a few clerks were assembling boxes to carry to the car. In the meantime, Sakura's phone would be vibrating once more. "A lot. Martha had a daughter. Annie had one each. Yume had a son. Astolfo's sister also had one. Another of Annie's friends might be having one too? Dunno," was a message sent by Kazu through the group.

Kazuhiko had been watching Angelica for the whole of this little adventure. He'd not seen her snap the picture she'd sent Sakura but he was somehow bothered he'd not gotten it first. He claimed it was a party foul for a host of reasons. Most of which seemed superficial to Angelica but they weren't exactly illogical either. "I think there is something in this I don't really get," Angelica concluded. She still wasn't accepting the moniker of party foul though. As far as she was concerned she'd done nothing wrong. "How about this, I'll send you pictures I take of myself..." she said in an offer of peace while awaiting the next message set from Sakura. Meanwhile, Emirie had a quiet lad sitting beside her, in a pose which had him set up to be overly relaxed, but not yet opening up whatever conversation he was aiming to have. This was fine, Emirie was rather unbothered in most cases. "Nothing is the matter, Asakura-kun. I just didn't assume you'd sit beside me... I do not mind I simply didn't expect this decision," she said honestly. She was rather quiet herself. Her natural state was introspective, but she wasn't the type of make assumptions. She'd say only what she needed to and go back to quietly awaiting what was next.

At the same time Sakura was getting her piercings. All the while, Hiruko was buying more than what he'd mentioned and what she'd asked for. Observationally she found his generosity interesting, 'Sou ka, he's interesting... I wonder why he did that?' she thought to herself. As for his question to her she thought about what she'd want to wear. "I think for this look, the hair pins and a set of the plainer bangles would be good..." she said thinking about what she looked like presently. Ah, but it wasn't just that, her phone vibrated again, and this time she received a message about the children. Miko's friends had been added to the group, which she extrapolated to mean that all of her fathers now had their apprentices. Astolfo's sister had a baby, Miko had two, Hayami Saori had one, and Kaguya had one as well. "Sou ka, that is a lot. I can't wait to meet everyone. I am quite curious about the children, but I am happy everyone had a reasonable time making them." she texted back. With her new little studs in place, she walked away from that experience wasn't at all note worthy aside from the pretty jewels now in her ear.

There was indeed something Angelica didn't get about Kazu's point, but it wasn't something he could explain. No, his sentiment had to be felt first-hand to truly be understood. "There aren't a lot of ways I can put it. Oh! Wait, no..." He paused there, thinking of something Angelica might understand. "Think about your palace. You like to look at it, right? Wouldn't you like the ability to just look at it right now, even though you can't? Sure, you could probably just make it again, but... it wouldn't feel the same as appreciating that first 'wow' moment, right?" he asked. At the same time, he was already sending another text. "Everyone's awesome! You'll like them. I'll take pics when I can. Mind sending that one of Kazuki?"

Several seats ahead, Soma was hearing the response of Emirie. She was quite the reserved girl, physically comparable to him in age and mentally comparable in the way she operated internally before externally. He wore a casual, nigh-permanent grin as their discussion began. "Why wouldn't I sit beside you? Someone who thinks more and speaks less is someone I'm more interested in having a conversation with. This whole time since we were born, you've been silently taking it all in and reaching conclusions about everyone here. Anybody would want someone like that on their side; don't you agree?" he asked. With that hanging in the air, Soma had one other curiosity for the lass. "I wonder if you have any hard aspirations yet."

All the while, Hiruko was pointing those box-carrying clerks in the right direction. Sakura made her choice for accessories to wear out of the shop. He picked up those pieces, taking it upon himself to carry them toward the girl as the remainder was boxed. He'd even take the liberty of putting the items on her person, starting with the hair pins before holding out both bangles as if expecting an offering of her wrists. "Good choices. I've even got something else for you," he stated.

If nothing else, Angelica was always honest about not understanding the feelings behind a thing. Perhaps it was simply her realizing how inhuman she was in some instances? Regardless, Kazuhiko did work to find the proper comparison to make it something she could understand. He spoke of her creation and mostly the change in palace back home and the feelings surrounding that the first time she finished it. And the idea of commemorating that as even its recreation wouldn't quite give the same sort of satisfaction. After a moment of consideration she smiled, "Alright, that I understand," she said. But maybe she wouldn't commemorate something as simple as her own look, that wasn't something she could appreciate, but she could see why Kazuhiko might so she wouldn't hold it against him. "Whatever the case, the offer still stands... I'll send you the pictures I take of me," she said consciously. At the same time she was replying to Sakura's message. "Everyone is definitely awesome. They were great at it!" she confirmed about the children from the creative aspect.

At the same time, a casual conversation was started between Emirie and Soma. Emirie glanced in his direction and noted his constant grin. Apparently Soma thought nothing of sitting beside her. He'd taken to analyzing her at least in passing and saw her introverted personality and thoughtfulness as a bonus. He wanted her on his side because he took note of her observational skills. "Sou ka, so that's what it is..." she mused. "I could see the usefulness particularly if I had large goals in mind and wanted to consult someone else for an outside opinion," she said thoughtfully. Of course, this wasn't all he wondered about her aspirations. "My aspirations are simple presently. I want to meet my mother's teacher and figure out what actually interests me. I'll have a hard time connecting with many people on an emotional level so I prefer to listen and observe..." she explained of herself. She realized in talking with Soma that he was likely looking to recruit someone to his cause, but she didn't know if she'd be directly useful to him, especially when she considered she didn't yet know what she wanted to do with her own life. "I don't mind helping you a bit if you'd like to know the things I have observed and figured out already, but I can't promise to remain part of a long term investment," she explained hinting at what she'd figured out of him, even without fully understanding what he was doing.

At the same time, Sakura and Hiruko were nearing the end of their time in this jewelry store. Even so, it would seem that Hiruko was content to help her with the pieces she'd chosen leaving her not to have to lift a finger to place the items on herself. His initiative in these matters was quite calming and she didn't mind allowing him in her space. Even while she texted her friends back and the like she didn't bother hiding what she was saying or doing. She thought him trustworthy enough and didn't figure he'd directly question the context. "Arigatou gouzaimasu~" she said of the help as items were placed on her person. Then she'd reply to the messages she'd been sent. "Oh? I look forward to the pictures then. And here is one of the one's of Kazuki, though he is admittedly very grumpy in them." she said in a lightly teasing way. But soon enough Hiruko was speaking in a way that required her undivided attention and thus he'd receive it. "What else did you get me?" she said looking at him directly. She'd not asked for anything else, she wondered about his choices as they related to her and it was always interesting to her.

Score! Kazuhiko always had such a difficult time explaining human concepts and values to goddesses, so he always took great satisfaction in making it work for a change. Better still, receiving any pictures Angelica decided to take of herself would only improve his quality of life from the first image onward."I'll never say no to that. Besides, what's a picture if not a judgment-free way of staring at you?" he joked... sort of.

Emirie seemed clever enough to understand what Soma's short-term goal was, if nothing else. That kind of intelligence was what he had use for. Soma intended to become a peerless strategist, but in the interim, a tactician as backup would be needed. Emirie's lack of personal long-term goals was equally beneficial. All she wanted at the moment was to meet with her mother's teacher to find her own interests. As for her difficulty connecting with others, he could easily manage something so simple if it got in the way. "Not an issue. I could use that kind of observational ability and... other assets I think you have," Soma commented. His eyes finally peeled open, those glowing red irises shifting slyly in Emirie's direction. He was otherwise unmoving, apart from his mouth which wasn't quite done yet. "I'd like much more than what you've observed thus far. It isn't a long-term investment I need from your type... at least presently. A chessboard isn't complete without all its pieces. To start my game, I need a Queen," he claimed. The way Soma saw things, he currently had a Pawn and a Bishop. The Queen piece was integral, and perhaps Emirie could fit the bill for now.

Hiruko was in very close proximity to Sakura's phone, especially while placing those bangles on her wrists. Even so, his eyes didn't travel to the screen at all. In fact, he was very closely watching Sakura herself to see how the accessories looked on her person. He was right about one thing. An extra piece had been selected while he browed, and Sakura now wanted to know what it was. Hiruko flashed his bare hand, palm toward Sakura. The next moment, he turned his palm away. When it turned back with a little flourish of the fingers, there was suddenly a small, golden chain with a sizeable golden star affixed. He reached forward to pin it around Sakura's neck without further ado. It didn't have much room to hang, but Hiruko thought it was a nice addition as he remained leaned inward. "Just an extra little bit of flair♥~"

It was always interesting to see Kazuhiko work something out. Though she had a very different stance on it, Angelica also enjoyed a bit of victory from the lad. What was more, she found his commentary interesting afterwards. According to him a picture was a judgement free way to stare at her. Weird. "I don't think staring at me is worth judgement, but whatever you say Chuck," she said while looking out of a window. There was a gentle murmur from this group on the bus, with Miko trying ridiculously hard not to focus on anyone's voice in particular. Maybe she should have brought headphones for these kinds of moments? At the same time, Anya who was sitting beside Konomi was giving her a comforting pat on the head for no reason which would be apparent to anyone.

At the same time, Soma could be counted among those who would pitch woo at others. Emirie found herself listening to the dark haired lad at her side while having no firm feelings about him one way or the other. Still, she could at least acknowledge the mental acuity of this young man and his general confidence compared to the others. "Sou ka," she said to his first statement of use. At the very least she could take that as a combination of things, including him thinking her attractive. According to him he was setting a chessboard for a game, and needed pieces for it. He claimed what he was looking for now was a Queen. If she was more emotional she might have found that amusing, but for Emirie she saw it as a compliment to her potential versatility. "Hm, that's an interesting way to phrase that. I can't say I fully understand your overarching goals, but I can at least respect your choices so far," Emirie said. "As for the role I could play in that... I can't claim surety without more information. It isn't in my nature to agree to things with too many unknowns," she concluded.

Sakura noticed many things, including the fact that Hiruko's eyes never truly wandered from her. Her phone was exposed and she now had a reasonable understanding of the amount of information that could be gleaned from such a thing and yet there was no breach of their established trust. It wasn't a test she was performing but it was an interesting one which she simply got the results of without thinking about too much. What was more she was about to see something rather strange, Hiruko flanting his bare hand only to move it in an odd way and have a golden chain with a little star appear in it. "Ara?" she seemed almost confused. "Are you magic?" she wondered directly... of course, she knew of his magical status as a being but not whether he knew about it. Producing an item like that out of nowhere was quite odd. Whatever the case, she couldn't say she disliked the piece of jewelry at all and in fact with it around her neck she found herself touching it gently. "I really like this, thank you... Hirrun~" she said and since he was still leaned inward, she pecked his lips cheekily.

"Well I don't expect judgment from you, but... what if someone else saw me doing it? They'd think I was just some random pervert," Kazu countered. Even if he were to acknowledge his own visual appeal, Kazuhiko didn't/couldn't place himself in the same league as Angelica; she was far beyond the realm of good-looking by any standard. As an outsider, if he saw someone looking at her the way he did, he'd assume perverse thoughts were taking place.

Soma's eyes were currently shifted in Emirie's direction without ever glancing away. She was quite the interesting one after all. Not only could she see beyond the surface level of his intentions, but she could easily take a step even further beyond. If anyone in this group could get close to truly unraveling the mystery of Soma's goals via brainpower alone, she had a very good chance of being that person. The way she took his reference of 'Queen' without any additional information, was a major sign toward that very positive note in her favor. "I don't expect you to understand my goals. I expect you to understand and work around things in a much smaller timeframe," he said swiftly. It seemed Emirie would not easily agree to joining his cause; she needed information. It was time to open a proper dialogue, Soma decided. "Then I'll cut you a deal. I'll allow you three questions to address those 'unknowns' you mentioned. If I can give you enough information to work with just three answers, you join me. If I can't... well, that condition is for you to determine. What do you say?"

Hiruko and Sakura spent quite a long time discussing random magic theory in his car. Now, Sakura was wondering if he was magical based on a simple parlor trick. How interesting. He could count one more thing she was ignorant to... or at the very least, one joy lacking from her childhood if no other variables were involved. Either way, his answer was unchanged. "Of course I am. Isn't my magic the thing that brought you here?" he replied. During that peck on the lips that apparently accompanied Sakura's gratitude, Hiruko took the time to cup her chin and force an extra moment of lingering. He even used that empty hand to sweep away her bangs, carrying it behind and around her ear. At the end of that little journey, there was something between his fingers: a token she may or may not have seen in the possession of Miko or Kaguya. "Oh, and you should keep this handy too. Don't let yourself be caught in public without it."

Apparently, Kazuhiko didn't expect judgement from Angelica about his staring. And claimed that it was only a problem because other people might think him some kind of pervert. Perhaps, Angelica was really too young for this world, because there was only one logical reply in her head, "You're obviously not some random pervert. Why does it matter what they think?" she countered. Even if he was a pervert, he was one she'd chosen to have within the space of her person, no one else's opinion on that really mattered. That last message from Sakura about the grumpiness of her baby was indeed one which reached Angelica as she looked down at the picture of Kazuki, "Eh? He really does look very angry. A lot like you though, why is he so mad?" she wondered aloud. And given the amount of politeness in this society, it seemed backwards that anyone would have anything to say about what was going on in someone else's life. It was simply ridiculous to do so.

Glowing red eyes were shifting in Emirie's direction and they'd done nothing but settled upon her since this conversation began properly. By the blonde lass's own observation, there was some kind of acknowledgement of mental acuity taking place here. She wasn't being dominated by this man or tricked with childish wonder. No, he was trying to lure her in to whatever his long term plan was, even if not on a permanent basis. He even had some explanations, he needed her to work towards his goals within his limited time frame and with only a limited understanding of what his overarching goal was, by logic he wanted her analytical ability. "Sou ka," she said having come to a conclusion in the moment and turning slightly, not to look out of the window but to look at him directly. The deal he offered was a set of three questions, which she could use to fill in the unknowns in her understanding of him. If she did so to a satisfactory amount, she would join him. And if she did not then... her terms would be her own. "A deal and a test," she said while looking at this young man directly. Her own light colored pupils flashing in understanding. "Alright, I can agree to those terms," Emirie decided in a single moment. What she knew about him already started with the fact that he was building his group from the ground up. He was aiming for someone to seek council from while he built his own understanding and gathering potential which outweighed current boundaries. "First question, which of your senses is most important to you?"

Meanwhile, Sakura had asked Hiruko if he was magical and his reply while playful was exceedingly pointed. He claimed she was here for that reaosn, and that was true, but he couldn't fully understand the rest of that information from her. Surely, "Well, yes~" she said that light teasing of hers returning. She'd thanked him and kissed him only to find him extending that meeting of the lips. It was quite pushy but also appreciated and part of the reason she could compare him to her favorite person and happily accept him. His ability to go beyond her basic expectation. At the end of that gesture a tenderness marked by a sweep of her bangs and the production of a coin. He told her to keep it on her in public and that was interesting and as she rolled it over in her fingers, she found herself looking between it and Hiruko. There was no way, the coin itself seemed to be more like an artifact than most things she'd seen in this world so far. An accessory with the same sort of magic bending around it that Hiruko himself had as a person. "Since it's a gift from you, I'll definitely hang on to it~" she said while her eyes were still locked on it. 'I am going to need a second group chat.' she thought. And thus she would be starting it in her opposite hand, Miko's number and Kaguya's number were the ones she'd use to begin that but a message wouldn't be immediately sent. No, she had to gather all her thoughts first.

One thing Kazuhiko couldn't properly explain was the importance of social image in this world's society. There wasn't much of a choice but to try, though... so he'd try. "Because the moment you're seen as a pervert here, your life is over. Jobs, social opportunities, and even freedom can be taken away based on a misunderstanding," was all he could manage. As for the young Kazuki, his angry expression was something the father in question could actually understand. If they were so similar, and considering spiritual genetics were a likely factor, there was only one real answer. "That's... probably also my fault. After the fall, I was teetering on one of the biggest boiling points of my life. That kind of anger doesn't just go away. Maybe it went into him?" he wondered.

A deal and a test. Soma and Emirie were locking themselves into a chess match of a different sort. Though it wasn't one with definite victory or defeat conditions, Soma intended to win emphatically. Emirie agreed to his starting conditions; she'd be asking three questions. Most notably though, she went ahead without establishing her own terms of victory. The realization of that fact widened Soma's grin just slightly. Now then, what did she want to know? What sense did he find most important? "I wouldn't be so short-sighted as to choose just one. Whichever accessible sense is most valuable in the moment, is what I deem most important. Otherwise, there is no hierarchy," he answered.

Sakura easily accepted Hiruko's claim of being magical... or perhaps she was instead agreeing that magic was the reason she was here. The latter seemed most likely, but it made no difference overall. What did make a difference, was the necklace he'd placed on Sakura; it really brought the rest of her look together. He was satisfied to have that in place, and more satisfied still to have her receiving his token. "Good. It might be the most important thing I can give you. So... ready to go?" he asked. The shop workers were already en route to Hiruko's car, ready to load the boxes from Sakura's new collection. At some point today, he figured a shipping order would become necessary. Oh well; that was usually the case regardless.

There was a certain truth of human life that higher order beings who were born as such would never understand, and that was the structural limitations placed on humans by other humans. Civilization did many great things, but also contributed to backwards thinking which humans seemed to just accept at face value. Such was the thing being discussed by Kazuhiko, who claimed that all manner of normal life sustaining activities could be negatively impacted by the way someone perceived your actions. "That's backwards," Angelica said. She was trying to avoid lumping all humans together in stupidity but they weren't doing themselves any favors by making up and following such stupid and unenforceable norms. To let something like a misunderstanding stop one person in an instance, but let known evils go unpunished was simply asinine. Ah, but what about the very angry looking child of Kazuhiko and Sakura? Well, apparently he was angry potentially because Kazuhiko himself was at the time of his conception. "Sou ka, you were pretty on and off for a while there... and the conditions of conception do have an effect on the outcome..." she said thoughtfully. "Still, he's pretty cute and I'm sure he'll work on a proper outlet for his emotions," she said seeming to have a bit of faith in the outcome. Her own child had flown off into the distance with only a passing goodbye so she'd have hope for Sakura's instead.

Speaking of children flying off on their own, Soma and Emirie were having a battle of minds. Well, that wasn't exactly the right word for it. Emirie was being mentally tested and potentially claimed for Soma's long term goal benefits, but she wouldn't commit to such a thing without a certain amount of clarity in her own right. So, she was asking him questions and assessing his answers to determine how much of a danger she thought he was to others. She'd not bothered declaring terms for her victory because, either she was given enough information to work with so that she'd agree to helping Soma, or she wouldn't be and thus would be free to choose an option later which left her outside of his purview. These were the only options she needed, ah but what of her first question. Soma's answer to that open ended question was that what was most important was what was needed most in a moment. He didn't apply stagnant value and that could be a sign of goodness. And since he'd given her no reason to think otherwise, she'd chose her next test question based on the potential negative associations. "Sou, I understand..." she murmured softly. Her second question would be posed in a similarly vague way but would also leave her just enough room to come to a few conclusions. "Second question, you and a group are walking in the woods, and you come to a fork in the road, to the right is a path filled with thorns and to the left a path filled with snakes, which path do you take, explain your reasoning." she said looking at the still grinning boy. He was admittedly rather easy on the eyes, and of the people born to today that she wasn't related to directly, he'd likely have been the one she could have the most interesting conversations with in this early point of her life.

Sakura knew Hiruko to be magical, and also knew that she'd found him at least in part by magical means. There was no arguing either of those points. Instead of harping on those points, she was now peeking at herself in the mirror to see how the addition of a few pieces of jewelry had altered her look. She wasn't opposed to it, and it seemed that Hiruko was satisfied by it, and thus she could be happy. This coin however though was a point of tension she now had to deal with, "Definitely the most important and interesting things I've been handed lately," she said. That little coin would be slipped into the pocket on her little jacket's inside and she'd be holding her phone in one hand as they existed this shop. "Hai, it was nice here... the craftmanship of these pieces was also quite interesting and I enjoyed seeing the things you chose for me~" she offered as they headed out to the car. Boxes and bags in hand she'd slip into the car sending a message to Kaguya and Miko that simply read. "Do you know how magical this man is?"

Human society could easily be described as backwards. Kazuhiko knew it, Angelica knew it; basically every human with a brain in this era knew it. "There's not much to be done about it. Society can only change by the will of the majority. People have a lot of problems as a group, but it'd take a big effort from a lot of people. Most people just silently complain and move on because a single voice doesn't matter, but it's the lack of movement that stops progress in the right direction. It's just the way things go," he said, almost sighing as he did so. Regarding Kazuki, he could only hope the lad had his own anger instead of inheriting that of his father. If what he dealt with was an aftereffect of what Charlemagne felt, he'd be needing a very effective outlet. "I hope he does. I wonder when I'll get to meet him, and Lux too. I've never met my first two children, and they're mature enough to go on adventures or be angry at the world. At this rate, I'll be history's worst dad before this body is old enough to drink legally," he joked.

Emirie continued her questionnaire without issue after an open acceptance of Soma's first answer. Her intentions, already open to theorization, were made abundantly clear with the second query. Alas, there was an opening for many variables ─ variables Soma believed she left open with great purpose. No matter; it was another question that could be answered with ease. "Ho? That's a good way to maximize value," he complimented, raising his hand with a single finger extended initially. "First, assuming this group is my party and there are other groups involved, the answer is waiting. When someone else has already made a move, follow suit and take advantage of the carnage and whatever mistakes they've made. Second, assuming I am alone and this is a group of strangers, the answer doesn't change. Third, assuming this is my party and there is no one else involved... then I choose to go left. I won't waste time and valuable energy guiding a group through a thorny path, but snakes have consciousness. Snakes can be frightened, dominated or controlled. It wouldn't be a problem to walk in with a group, and leave with a venomous army."

So long as Sakura was satisfied with this part of her shopping trip, Hiruko could leave satisfied overall. A moment of appraisal in the mirror seemed to confirm just that, though her main focus appeared to be that token. They each had different views of its importance, neither right and neither wrong. Regardless, Sakura kept it with her as they exited the shop. "They do make good pieces here. It's still not the best, though. There's another place back home worth looking at, but that trip is a little out of the way for now. I'll take you one day," he said by the time they reached the car, which Hiruko started while clerks sorted those boxes within. Once that was out of the way, he'd be driving toward the next destination posthaste.

The explanation that came from Kazuhiko about human society and how it worked was odd. Angelica wasn't a big thinker by any stretch of the imagination, but she definitely didn't understand human nature. As far as she was concerned doing things the way it was implied just continued a cycle of bad outcomes for numerous people just because they couldn't handle the idea of standing out from the norm. "Yeah, I am pretty sure this is one of those fundamental differences. It makes no sense to me, and given how you said it, you and other people also acknowledge it doesn't make sense," she said with certainty. But it didn't seem like one of those things any one person could fix, or rather if one person could fix it, the rest of the humans would likely strike out against it because of that free will they don't use until they feel challenged. Oh well, beyond that point there was the matter of Kazuhiko's relationship with his first two children, Angelica had a lot to say about it, but would leave it simply. "Kazuki is in Munetsuchi and since we plan to go back I am sure you'll get to meet him soon. Lux flew off into the distance like someone else I knew," she said with her nose turned up in the air. She was never going to let go of her abandonment issues, but she wouldn't let one thing stand. "I don't think you're a bad father, Chuck. I had one of those and I am going to say no," she said earnestly. "Second from another girl with a bad male genetic components," said Kaguya who was pulling out a vibrating phone. It would seem she'd been added to another group chat, this one making her smile, "Good morning, Saku-chan. I watched him walk into a casino and bet it all on green and win. I know he's magic..." mentioned Kaguya in that text message so casually. Miko had her phone vibrate and draw her attention as well. "Hai hai, good morning Saku-chan ^_^ I also know he's magic o.o That much is obvious by.... :3 Well you know by now >.<~ Are you worried about it? O_O" Miko texted as well.

At the same time, Emirie was being kept track of by Soma. Both of them were busy having a discussion which was testing the waters between them. In Emirie's case, she wasn't just poking at his morality but also his intelligence and problem-solving with her questions. She wanted a fuller picture before agreeing to help him one way or the other. So what would be happening? First, Soma would be acknowledging the loaded nature of her question which would give her more answer for a singular question. In this moment, a small smile crept up onto perfectly pink lips as she confirmed a certain amount of extra thought from the lad sitting beside her. "It is," she said almost coyly. Of course, his answer to her actual question came in tiers. He revealed his level of thinking which seemed to go into specific variables left out of the scenario. Those added variables left quite a bit open to interpretation. And in so doing Emirie was able to get a fuller understanding of the lad in the moment. He was callous to his enemies and those he considered expendable, but his own friends and comrades weren't among them. He approached situations logically and in a way to maximize value and effort while minimizing casualties and maximizing advantages. He also had a great deal of faith in his own abilities, which she could now safely assume leaned in the direction of summoners given his listed reasoning of sentience in animals being the reason to chose a snake riddled path. "Those are a lot of variables covered..." she mused seeming to find something akin to amusement in the moment. That just left her last question didn't it?

At the same time Sakura was packing up after a rather fruitful jewelry shopping trip. According to Hiruko this wasn't the absolute best place, and the place he thought was best was near his home. The claim there was an interesting one, and given his hidden magical potential she had to wonder if his taste leaned towards pieces that were a bit closer to what the magical world would view as accessories? Well, she supposed she'd find out eventually, "Hai, if it's a place you reccommend, I look forward to visiting it some time~" she clarified happily. She'd take her seat back in the car and leave the driving to Hiruko. Whle that occurred she received two back to back messages, one from Shinomiya Kaguya and the other from Iino Miko, all concerning the man currently driving. First and foremost, there would be a giggle, she found Miko's method of texting rather amusing for reasons she couldn't explain, but more serious matters were being discussed. "Well, those are magical things, but there is also the fact that he is awake enough spiritually to sense people like us and to see my inmon. He is... using magic of the soul freely and his body and mana have grown to match it, but his mind isn't quite awake enough to fully utilize magic actively. Because of that, the fact that he is unaffected by karma is a bit problematic and makes him experience huge shifts in the activity around him every seven years. By his own words he is currently approaching his 4th seven and I don't think he or whatever area he is in will survive the event. And after having him I don't wish to lose him. I assumed you two are both onboard with this sentiment so what do we do?" the message sent by Sakura was done with utmost clarity and full reaosning.

"It doesn't seem like much of a difference to me. The gods of Alaya were said to mostly be absentees who let the Anunnaki do whatever they want without rising up," Kazu stated. Angelica continuously expressed an opinion of difference between humans and other species, but after seeing the results... he could easily blame all manner of civilizations. Something similar could be said about his view on bad parenthood. Kazuki's conception came during one of the darker times of his life, but it may not have been the darkest to date. Angelica and Kaguya weren't the only ones who had terrible fathers; his words were taken from a direct comparison. "Oh yeah? I also had one, you know. Two at once... sort of. Finding out you've been living a life based on the emotions of a guy you've never even met doesn't sit well with a young boy. It'll turn a bleeding heart black real quick," he insisted. For that eternally smiling face, Kazuhiko as Charlemagne was certainly not born and raised in the light.

Meanwhile, Emirie gave simple acknowledgement of Soma's assertion. What she'd done with her question, she'd absolutely done with purpose. Good. He wanted her onboard for such a potential. Seeing it was potential that was already being actualized, he only became more sure of the plan. She'd be an excellent addition, whether short-term or long-term. First, Soma had to get through her final question... which wasn't being asked just yet. Emirie commented on the number of variables he addressed, and all fell silent there. Well, not all. Soma himself would be speaking again. "You'll neither find any additional information that hasn't been requested, nor bait me into revealing more about myself than I've already decided you can know. Does that cover it?" he asked without hesitation.

Kazuhiko saw things from an interesting perspective. Seeing the gods of Alaya as the same sorts of civilized garbage as humans. As was the case with all major groups there were caveats and Angelica saw herself as one in this particular case. "Wouldn't know, it isn't as if I grew up with those gods either. I meant that from the perspective of a shut-in as you keep calling me. I don't actually know if they all let it go or not, I wouldn't but... I'll argue anything I feel is right," Angelica pointed out. And that part was true, what she found annoying about the situation wasn't just humans not doing anything about something as silly as looking after themselves, it was the other humans allowing that craziness to change their lives. Beyond that, it seemed that Kazuhiko had his own bad parenting experiences. According to him the effect that the oddity Kazuki's birth could go very badly and it was why he considered himself bad. The two girls wouldn't agree but for markedly different reasons, "You aren't planning not to see him at all, nor are you trying to dictate his life... I simply can't see it as the same," Angelica said thoughtfully. "Hm, that experience of yours is showing isn't it? But I think the fact that you are even conacious enough to question it leans you in the opposite direction, no need to be so hard on yourself, the world does that enough right?" Kaguya asked in the light kind of way she did while she read a sizeable text message from Sakura about one Daikichi Hiruko. "The only answer would be to make sure his mind catches up to his body and soul? if he's awake enough for his senses to be working he has to be at least a little suspicious by now~" Kaguya offered her opinion on the matter. Miko had listened to the argument on parents and felt she had no place in it, the first time she was born her parents were great, and the second time, well she'd ended up an orphan, her understanding of life complications was very different. So, she'd quietly continue to reply to Sakura's text message. "Yikes x.x We should definitely see about fixing up his understanding and keeping anything bad from happening. >.< I am surprised you managed to form an attachment so quickly O.o Congratulations ^_^ We could bring it up with Charlie... I took my parents through the door already D: I doubt he'd have anything negative to say about the potential after meeting Hiru-nii either *_* I also don't want to miss out on more of him -_-" Miko offered before eyes bounced up. "We'll be getting off the bus in three stops..." she stated as a method of keeping up with time for the group at large to hear.

In the meantime, there was a break in the questions which were being asked by Emirie. Such an action was also by design if only because a moment of gentle conversation could give a bit more context and let her understand the young man she was talking to a bit better. What was more Soma decided to reveal quite a bit of information about the nature of this deal of his. He made the claim that she wouldn't be receiving more than she requested and that he'd only be saying what he decided she should know. She smiled at him then in a genuine sort of way. "You can't be sure of what I will take from the things you say. If you could be you wouldn't be trying so actively to recruit me to your cause, I'd be relatively useless to a brain that could completely predict me on its own. But I didn't ask any questions to find information you weren't willing to give I was asking that way as a matter of your privacy. So yes, that about covers it..." she mentioned without the added details. If he was giivng nothing extra away she saw no need to do so either. "Last question, if you had a different name, would you be a different person?"

Kazuhiko had no intention to be missing in the lives of his children. Even so, it couldn't be said that he made no moves to dictate their lives. He didn't do so consciously, but he didn't have to if some spiritually inherited anger was going to do so for him. If nothing else, he could hope for some understanding from the other side. Both Angelica and Kaguya seemed to take the reasonable approach. A young male, however, might be a different story entirely. Time would tell. "Guys, chill. I'm not freaking out about it right now or anything; it's just a passing thought. It won't go away that easily, but it's no big deal until it is. Let's just enjoy the shopping trip," he suggested for the sake of moving on. Any concerns he had about parenthood would be shelved and addressed whenever any signs showed themselves. In the meantime, they apparently had three stops to relax on the bus... which meant it was time for something important to be addressed. "Ang, you haven't said anything yet. What do you think of motorized vehicles?"

Still ongoing was the more intellectual chat closer to the bus's center. Emirie was sure Soma had no cause for certainty regarding her takes and formed opinions. "Don't be so sure. I'm not actively recruiting you. Right now, I'm just killing time before you finish beating around the bush. You're going to join me. That much has been clear for the past five minutes," he said as if certain beyond any doubt. Moving on, Emirie claimed to respect his privacy with her questions. This wasn't a matter worth any extra care the way Soma viewed it, but that semantic was of no importance to him either. Emirie's final question, strange as it was, made the male close his eyes again. That grin hadn't gone anywhere. The nature of his answers, however, did become a bit stranger, more indifferent. "Compared to what I am currently, yes. But what I will be... isn't something that will change. I'm climbing my way to the top by any means necessary. That decision was made when I gained consciousness, before I was even born."

Ah, though the girls of this group tried to offer Kazuhiko comfort in his first steps into fatherhood. It seemed he didn't want it. He claimed he wasn't freaking out about the start of his life, but instead it was just a thought popping up in his mind. The minds of men and women were so very different, Kaguya could only chuckle while thinking that this kind of thing was why men of their era walked into oncoming traffic, but she simply nodded. "Hai hai~" Kaguya mentioned. At the same time Angelica looked at her husband and sighed, he was always like this but she wouldn't push him on this, she was trying to be more understanding of his oddities. "Of course we're going to enjoy the shopping trip," mentioned Angelica. The girls at large had already had quite the fun time finding lingerie. But what would Kazuhiko move on to? Apparently the knowledge that Angelica hadn't yet encountered motor vehicles yet. How was she enjoy it it? "It's a bit weird, there's so much vibration happening it feels almost unstable but we're moving relatively fast I guess, and in a large group which is a bit weird under normal circumstances. I guess I like it alright... though I don't really understand why there are so many kinds of vehicle," she explained of herself. Well, the magical world had different kinds of transportation.

Meanwhile, a gentle conversation was taking place between two very clever individuals. According to Soma it had been obvious for about five minutes that Emirie would join him. She supposed that was a truth she'd not considered initially. "Well, I did say that if the unknowns were covered that I didn't mind helping you..." she mused. Overall she saw several benefits to being helpful, most of them surrounding her younger half-sister. But what about her last question. She was curious about his motivations, and how deep they ran. Though apparently such things were nothing to worry about, he claimed to have been the same since his consciousness developed. "Sou ka, that was all I needed to know. I'll help you... even though I don't know what it is you're climbing to the top of," she said as calmly as she did everything else. Whatever he desired her brainpower for, she'd offer for now as she grew into herself. Whatever the case, Emirie wouldn't be arguing with a drive that existed before this man existed as a being. If he had a goal she figured he'd eventually make his way to it, she wouldn't question that.