Category: oshi

Final Act: Wings of Similarity
 

In a stylish sweets café, one particular pair drew more attention than any other customers.
 
A flaxen-haired man wearing black-framed glasses put on an expression that practically screamed “What, you think my last name is Ibusuki?”
 
This was Ibuki.
 
His “disguise” consisted solely of glasses—chosen for the flimsy logic that “glasses are the best disguise”—yet they somehow accentuated his features, transforming him into a stylish, intellectual-looking handsome man. In other words, it wasn’t a disguise at all.… Read more

At last—or so it seemed—the backup power activated, spreading relief throughout the branch.
 
Even the children gathered in the [Star Tower] were no exception.
 
“Alright, the elevator’s working again, so let’s all head down for now!”
 
The laid-back tour guide’s announcement is met with a chorus of cheerful “Okaaay!” from the kids.
 
Despite being caught up in the earlier incident, their lack of urgency stems from Izayoi’s defeat without major casualties.
 
Contrary to Izayoi’s—and by extension, Roselia’s—expectations, Hinata had grown overwhelmingly stronger.… Read more

“……It’s my *Compensation Umbra.”
 
“Compensation Umbra?”
 
She could tell he nodded from the shift in his presence.
 
“It demands *physical contact with people*… as a delayed payment.”
 
The exhaustion in his voice made it impossible to doubt.
 
And it explained things.
 
Like the incident during Hinata’s first mission, when *Separation* had hugged her out of nowhere.
 
Now that she thought about it, that must’ve been his Compensation Umbra too.… Read more

A gentle, floating sensation—as if being laid down. The cold touch of the landing pad presses against her back.
 
At the same time—
A warm droplet falls onto her cheek.
 
Hesitantly, she opens her eyes—and stares.
 
A face of breathtaking beauty hovers above her.
 
“Hahh—uugh…!”
 
Lips bitten bloody, contorted in agony.
 
◇◇◇◇◇
 
Lux can’t be used during Umbra’s compensation.
 
There’s no rule stating that
 
The instant-deferred cost only dulls cognition upon activation.
 
True—if caught off-guard, the user is easily swallowed by the torrent of impulse.… Read more

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—Crimson confetti spilled from the sleeves of the robe, swirling upward in the skyscraper winds.
 
Brighter than the orange-stained white fortress—red, scarlet, vermilion—the vortex spread outward.
 
—Like a flower blooming on the distant shore.
 
At its center, I looked up at Rui.
 
She scrutinized the crimson paper, her expression puzzled.
 
Just a flashy spectacle, right?
 
A hunter of cold-blooded precision wouldn’t understand the purpose of such extravagance.
 
A faint smile escaped me.
 
Apologies for gifting you this [Killing Intent] myself, but—
 
“I’ll give you an excuse.”… Read more

I had to expand my awareness—diffuse my focus.
 
The deadly arcs advanced slowly, inexorably.
 
Priority order: lower right, upper left, upper right.
 
Assessed. Then concentrated on just one swing.
 
First—lower right.
 
Simple. A kick off the ground would evade it.
 
But of course, she anticipated that. The blade from upper left came next.
 
I responded by—fully extending my arm.
 
Rotational slashes favor cleaving over thrusting.
 
Which also meant there would be moments when the hilt faced me.… Read more

Act 6: Repercussions
 

 
The aroma of coffee filled the air in the calm, relaxed atmosphere of [Café Manhattan].
 
At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than a stylish urban café, but in truth, it also served as a gathering place for [Negā-Messiah: The Covenant of Salvation].
 
On this unusually quiet holiday, the shop’s owner, Bakurou Yuika, placed an order in front of a customer seated at the counter—
 
a sweet café latte, generously mixed with honey.… Read more

“Tsukumo.”
 
“Mmm?”
 
Somehow already beside me, Tsukumo watched the fight with sparkling eyes like the other kids.
 
Though I wished she’d stop muttering “So cool how she disappears into shadows…”
 
“I need to get to the [Moon Tower].”
 
“…Oh? And?”
 
“Uh, yeah. I mean, …… ”
 
She looked intrigued.
 
I look back into those big eyes and ask.
 
“Well… You got any ideas?”
 
I asked about escaping this battlefield.… Read more

But [Izayoi] laughed at my expectations.
 
She crossed her blades, deflecting the strike with a slippery twist—
 
Bending her body like a contortionist, she barely avoided the sword—
And melted back into the shadows before hitting the ground.
 
“Tch…!”
 
Rui clicked her tongue in frustration. Even if she’d failed to land a hit, she’d still protected the children when no one else could—
 
Wait.
 
For [Utsurugi Rui], missing that strike was unthinkable.
 
—She’s still not at full strength…!… Read more

As I hesitated, she continued.
 
“Wouldn’t you like to set off fireworks? On the grandest stage—something that’ll overshadow even [Nega Messiah].”
 
“…………Outdo them?”
 
“Exactly.”
 
The recent incident where rampaged through the shopping mall remains fresh in memory.
 
To my irritation, their influence as the largest antisocial faction is substantial.
 
I had considered staging another performance soon, but accounting for their notoriety, I decided against it.
 
And at that very moment—an invitation from one of the world’s foremost merchants of death.… Read more