/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45232280

Marisa groggily sat up to look at me "Kosuzu? What are you doing here?" Marisa looked really out of it, like she hadn't had any sleep for days. The strange woman behind her handed her a blanket which Marisa took and wrapped around herself. With her green hair, blue dress with matching blue pointy hat and lack of any legs the woman certainly grabbed my attention but it would be rude to ignore the question.

"It's about Anon. I've been investigating the brothel and I think he's been held there against his will. I need your help" It was embarrassing to say something like this in front of new and unexpected people.

"Oh, we know that" the floating woman says.

"Uh, well did you know that powerful youkai are involved in keeping him there?" I say, caught a bit of guard.

"We do"

Ah fuck, I guess I should have expected someone to figure it out. It was Marisa's duty to look into incidents like this, and this one involved a friend so no wonder she knew. It didn't explain who her friend was, or why Yuuka was casually hanging around her.

Marisa looked up at her friend. The woman looked back. "This is my friend Kosuzu. She runs the bookstore in the village. We've known each other for decades"

The woman turns to me. "Well then. I am Mima. A goddess of magic and this one's mentor" She put a hand on Marisa's head leading to the magician batting it away with a grunt. I had known Marisa for decades and she never once mentioned this mentor to me. An obvious sign to not delve too deeply into this strange situation.

"So you wanted help to free Anon . We do have a plan to dismantle the HSE, but do you have anything to bring to the table?"

I bit my lip. I expected Marisa to be here alone so we could make a plan in which she did all the fighting. If Mima wanted me to join in on the brawling she'd be disappointed. "Well, I have the ability to read any language. I can detect things about books if they contain Youma energy, and I convinced them to let me inside if I have business there. I'm not a fighter"

Mima's eyebrow raises slightly. "I suppose I can find a use for you. For now just don't bring attention to yourself and see if you can keep your ear to the ground. Welcome to the gang Kosuzu. I'm sure Yuuka already introduced herself to you" I turn to see Yuuka give me a smile and I suppress a shudder. "The others are out. Alice is doing some shopping. Shinki is off preparing some regents we need. Hana is probably on her rounds in the village now"

So that meant Hana must know her father's actually imprisoned if she's part of this. Poor girl, I hoped she had someone to help her through this. But I was glad in a way, just including the people I knew about, we had a lot of firepower on this team. Our chances were looking good.

"I'll help out in anyway I can. You can find me in the Suzunaan if you need me. It's a bit risky coming all the way out here" I tell them.

"We can arrange for your safety, don't worry. Now Marisa. Tell your friend what you've been up to lately. She deserves to know" Mima floats in front of Marisa how did her best to burrow into the blanket. My ears peeked up, was there something going on I didn't know?

Marisa grunts. "Sorry for not visiting you lately. I've been busy training and helping figure out a plan to put an end to the HSE. I had to get settled into Alice's house after my equipment at my own house disappeared and..." She sighs "I'm pregnant"

I snort with laughter. Of course Marisa would try to throw in a joke. "You can't fool me, I believed Keine at first when pretended to be pregnant, but come on"

Marisa seemed to be a bit hurt by my words. she threw off her blanket and adjusted her body so her side was facing me. Taking her hands, she pressed her dress taut against her body. With the dress flush against her I could tell she gained a bit of weight. Oh. The sluggish and tired behavior, the protruding stomach. I've been there before.

My surprise quickly gives away to excitement. "Really Marisa? That's great! If you need any help just tell me okay, I'll babysit them if you need it. I still have some of the baby stuff from when I had mine, I'm.surebthe crib is still good so I can bring it over. Oh, it'll have to wait until we save Anon, but we have time, right? How long along are you? Who's the father? Why didn't you tell me about him?" I couldn't believe she would just drop something like this on me. I'm not sure why she hid it, but I'd support her all the same.

Marisa squirms and looks to Mima for support. She glared back at her. Marisa looks like she's about to be sick. "It's Anon" she chokes out.

There was a sharp pain in my chest and my vision goes white. The world fades away and I feel myself drifting off. When my vision clears, I'm in a grey fog and see Akyuu in front of me. She looked just as she did when she left. She smiles and opens her mouth to say.

"Don't be so fucking dramatic. You're fine. Get back there"

I open my eyes. I'm back in Alice's home.