Chapter 2: Petals Born on Spring, pt. 2

Just after Homura gives her word she wouldn't play it again, the old man allows her to take it.

"Hmm... That lobster shamon... If I remember correctly, the people I met described something like that as the monster of the violin."

"Oh well, I'm just glad to have this problem taken out of my hands, I'm too old for that stuff!

But please, young lady, prudence and self-control are paramount for a maiden like yourself!" He says, in a scolding tone as they leave. "Little miss, who seen very wise," He says, turning to Chimera, for everyone's apparent surprise, "I hope you to refrain her from doing anything unthoughtful like that ever again!"

"I wonder..." Rika starts, "If the spirit inside the violin isn't, uh..." She gives a worried look at Homura, hoping not to offend her, "Hurt, by that playing... What if it is suffering and that's what brings the shamons?"

"I mean, if someone messed with my dresses, I would be very upset too! Oh, by the way, what did you thought of the uniform, Kusakabe-san? I personally put it in your petalframe (instead of that ugly cape) as a surprise! In my opinion you look wonderful on it!"

The girls' transport and medical support reach the place soon after, taking care of any injured among the people.

The nurse who took care of Shizuka's injuries, none other than Sister Juujisan, did a fine job of bandaging her, the former almost looking like a mummy, with all of her torso, right arm, and partially her legs were thoroughly bandaged. Her arm now supported by a sling.

"That should do it... These bandages have a special pomade to ease your pain and ensure your recovery. It probably wont even leave any scars! Besides that, don't exhort yourself too much for the next days, or you may worsen your internal damage, which would be much harder to treat.

So... No fights and no sparring." She says, with a severe look, "Understood?"

---

On the meanwhile, Claude talks to the press, doing her standard number. She's able to dismiss the concern caused by the apparent coincidence of her being whenever trouble arises; she also helps peaking the play's interest a bit.

"d'Armagnac-san, it also seems you were present in the shamon attack last night, on the docks, isn't that right?!" A journalist asks, with many more following with similar ones. When inquired about the source of that rumor, one of them shows her a newspaper, whose first page, covering the attack, displayed a photo of her, posing on the docks, standing on a strange metal structure: her petalframe, too obscured by the shadows to be distinguished.

---

With that, the maidens are ready to return to the theatre, and receive some well-earned rest.

For a split second Claude stops in thought, trying to figure out the implications of the photograph for the general public, and then decides to do what can be done to make everyone forget about the old image and anything of interest within it.

"Indeed, I was caught up in a prior attack, I think it was not far from a market, and I am pretty sure I made a press statement afterwards and postured for some photographs, though this particular one seems like a very unconvincing choice for a first page article, to the point that I'm not even sure it depicts what it's meant to. I can probably spend another few minutes to let you get a better shot, maybe even with the chief and some members of the Tokyo police squad that I fought side by side with while they're still there."

Claude uses the end of the scabbard to begin tracing "クロード・ダルマニャク" in the gravel on the ground.

"Oh, I've also been thinking: each time my name crops up, whether in those lengthy katakana transliterations, or in speech, it must be slightly awkward, especially for people who unfamiliar with overseas names. Maybe it would be more convenient, both for reporting and for the theatrical posters, to have me adopt a local pseudonym. How about Saishikajin, what do you think?"

The foreigner crosses out the katakana, then traces "才子佳人" next to it.

I wonder if that will work . . .

Chimera puffs out her chest and nods sagely in response to the shop owner's warning to Homura, completely sincere despite having full intentions of playing the cursed instrument herself one day.

"Of course, I am rationality manifest. Under the careful watch of I, Chimera Roosevelt, the seeds of impulsive urges can bear no fruit."

With a whip of her jacket cape, Chimera turns away and snaps up the violin in a single motion, tucking the instrument under her arm.

"Rest easy."

Giving a curt two-finger wave over her shoulder, Chimera exits the store, successfully resisting the urge to look back this time. She even remembers to lower the brim of her cap for that mysterious stranger appeal.

It felt nice to be pampered by Sister Juujisan, even though Shizuka was in a good deal of pain. Thankfully, her head didn't need to be bandaged so she could still speak easily. After the medics finished up, Shizuka stood up and tested the flexibility of her one free arm. She certainly wouldn't be climbing anything, but her sword arm still worked and she could run or jump around.

"Thanks, Sister! I already feel better from your healing touch~ Just kidding! Although, it is a little tight across the chest. But I won't start any fights, so don't worry."

After thanking the medics, Shizuka was pretty much back to normal spirits so she walked down the canal to the antiques store where everyone else had gone. On the way the watched the petalframes being loaded up by several trucks, and she overheard part of Claude's speech to the media. Once she made it to the store, she ran straight into Chimera as she was making her dramatic exit. After smashing into each other, Shiuzka couldn't see who it was due to their height but could guess it was Chimera based on her large hat.

"Oh, Chimera-san! Look we match now!"

Shizuka motioned to her bandaged torso and arm-sling, but it seemed like Chimera was still sauntering out into the steet (hopefully towards the trucks so she could get a ride back). She also looked around for Hana and Abenanka to make sure they were both fine after the fight.

"Are we heading back? Are we keeping the cursed violin or smashing it?"

"Yeah, I know..." Homura murmured, looking off to the side when the store owner scolded her. She wanted to be annoyed, but she couldn't refute it. "I suppose I'll leave it in the hands of my vice ca—er, my little friend for now. For safety."

As they left the antique store, Homura looked at Rika. "I was thinking about that, actually. If there's really a spirit suffering in the violin, we've got to find a way to help them!"

"Oh, and the uniform's lovely," Homura beamed. She pinched her uniform, pulling at the material slightly. "It's time-consuming to put on in the heat of the moment, and it's really tight in certain places, but it's beautiful and easy on the skin! Plus, I think it captures even more spiritual power than those rubbery capes we used before. You've outdone yourself, Rika-chan."

Homura noticed Claude handling the press. Not wanting to be caught up in it, she tried to quietly usher Chimera and Rika along, but the grandeur of her uniform didn't lend itself to stealth. She found the escape route to be cut off by a crowd of paparazzi, bombarding her with camera flashes and questions.

One paparazzo pushed her way to the front and made herself heard over the noise. "Homura Kusakabe-san! Just five minutes of your time. We've never seen you in something like this! Is this a new line of clothing you're modeling for?"







Homura flashed a flawless smile and smoothly transitioned into her 'media darling' mode. She might as well make use of the attention. "No, actually. This is something personal that I was gifted recently. The tailor is none other than Hoshikawa-san here." Homura gestured to Rika, briefly putting the spotlight on her. "If you want to look as good as I do, you should seek her services at the Imperial Cafe-Theatre once it's open to the public! I promise you..."

Homura swept her hair back and posed for the cameras, showing off the full extent of the uniform.

"You will not be disappointed!"

"Ackk—! Get off of me, you ten ton tunnel-visioned troll!"

Chimera scowls as Shizuka ruins her cool exit. Crawling out from beneath Shizuka, Chimera checks that the violin is still in playable condition before standing up and brushing herself off. When Shizuka mentions the matching bandages, Chimera takes a second to look it over. Hmm, the bandaged torso works, but it's hard to make an arm sling look "cool".

"To compare your mortal wounds to my spiritual struggles is like comparing the sky to the ocean. It is clear you have yet to awaken the dark potential resting within your soul—perhaps I should educate you. These restraints are but—"

Chimera gets swept up by Homura before she can continue her lecture. With Homura taking the spotlight, Chimera decides to cultivate that aloof demeanor that she hasn't managed to pull off so far today. Yes, the tabloid covers will have Homura front-and-center, but won't people notice the mysterious stranger brooding behind her and become intrigued? Nodding in satisfaction, Chimera turns her body slightly away from the camera and tips her hat over her eyes to look more...mysterious.

Shizuka didn't know what "ten ton" or "troll" meant, as there was still some language and cultural barriers. However, Shizuka had heard plenty of insults thrown her way and it sounded like an insult. In response, she plastered a friendly smile even though you could see a glint of annoyance. She listened to Chimera's explanation and torrent of words with a slightly glazed look in her eyes.

"Well, you sure are cute when are struggling with dark potentials. Maybe you need... some sunlight!"

Suddenly, she reached out with her uninjured hand to grab Chimera's hat in order to give her a vigorous pat on the head, similar to how one would treat a little sibling. Somehow, though, Chimera deftly avoided her hand when she made her way to handle the media along with Homura.

Tsk, I forgot she's good at running away.

As Claude tries to mislead the public with her explanation, people quickly looses interest in the rumors circling around her, instead cheering her taken pseudonym as if she was some sort of newborn celebrity- which is precisely the case.

As she points the apparent lack of quality and sense on the photo displayed on the newspaper, an older man, with a stern façade, accompanying the journalist who showed it to her says, in a tantrum: "Grr! Otoya that fool!! Fumbling our publications... Master photographer my nose! And he just phoned the office selling even more photos of girls fighting monsters... What a fraud!" Making his coworkers chuckle.

"Maybe he just wants excuses to photograph beautiful girls, heh~" One of them banter.

---

On the meanwhile, the old man at the store looks baffled by Chimera's antics, faltering at her- but too late, she's already gone.

Reacting with flusterment towards Shizuka, Sister Jeanne gasps then says, bothered, "Ah? I'm just acting on my vocation, no need to thank me!" Then she leaves- quickly, leaving Shizuka to bump into Chimera.

Homura didn't noticed that though, as she's talking with Rika: ""Uhm... A way to help them... I wonder...

Her introspection is broken by Homura's compliments, which brings a smile out of her, "I'm glad that you liked it!! Oh, I just wanted to highlight your, uh... Features!"

"About the time-burden... Heh, I'm thinking of a solution for that~" She says, with a mischievous smirk.

Finally, as she poses for photos, Rika struggles to disguise her prideful face, while Chimera looms on the background, the model's smile capturing the affection of the whole crowd, who sigh lightheaded.

As the chatter of journalist began slowly quieting down, Claude looked towards the rest of the team, checking whether it's a good moment to leave, but before that, approached the stern elder and asked quieter with a conspirational smirk:
"Does this Otoya-san have a residence and mailbox? I might want to dispatch a sternly-worded letter or a bit of help with photography, I still haven't decided which, if any."

Perfect! I've got my hooks in them. Now to make an exit.

She decided to deploy her tried-and-true method of escaping the media.

"Ah! Look over there! Meteor shower!" Homura pointed somewhere behind the crowd. Using her pyrokinetic powers, she made bright multi-colored streaks of flames appear a few miles away in the sky, resembling shooting stars. When the crowd turned to look, she dashed away to the transports.

"Y-you dare lay your hands on me!? These are royal follicles, fool!"

The mysterious facade basically falls apart before it's even cultivated. Chimera swats at Shizuka's patting hand and flails her arms at Shizuka's other hand which holds her hat. Her usually fair complexion turns red as she resorts to kicking Shizuka in the shins.

Although Shizuka's shins were one of the few areas that weren't bandaged, they were no match for the pointy, European styled boots. Getting kicked didn't hurt so much, but it made Shizuka move her leg in a way that aggravated her other injuries. She also couldn't help but laugh as she doubled over, which also hurt her ribs.

"Hehe.. hah. Ow. Here, you win Chimera-hime."

Satisfied with her teasing, Shizuka handed Chimera her fancy hat back so she could pose dramatically for the flashing cameras.

The man is distracted from his tantrum, as Claude takes his attention: "Uh? Oh... Sure, that's your right to do, ma'am!

Well, we don't have the guy's address, he works for us just as a freelancer, but..." He writes on his notebook and then pulls a piece of paper, "Here, his number, you may be lucky (or good with words) and get to him."

With that, and a fake meteor shower on the background, the group leaps into the truck and ride back to the theatre, with the goods they came for too!

---

Once at the theatre, They're greeted by Mr. Hoshikawa, carrying a bottle of sake: "Woa! Two victories in a day! We ought to celebrate~" Though he hides the bottle behind his back when he notices Shizuka.

Then, his interest seems peaked by the instrument being carried by Chimera: "Hmm... Would you look at that. What a wonderful violin! Where did you got it, Chimera-chan?"

Still inspecting it, with his hand on his bearded chin, he wanders off: "This reminds me of an old friend... The best luthier in Tokyo at the time; I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of his works... B-but he left only a few violins when he died and they should cost a fortune!! Woa! I had no idea you were so filthy rich, Chimera-chan!" He finishes, with astonishment.

---

After chatting, the maidens are called to the manager's office, where they find Mr. Moriyama and his assistant, Kanna Morinaga.

"There you are. I gathered some info on the recent attack on Nihombashi and... I'd like a report describing it later, Kusakabe-san. I'm specially interested in knowing of how it started..." He says, with a totally straight and honestly kind of scary face.

"But you can deal with that later, I have something that may be of interest to you all." He then nods at Kanna.

The woman studies the maidens with a cold gaze, and then starts. "We just got a report of a strange attack at Izumibashi (east of Nihombashi). Apparently, an infamous street musician was playing some pieces of, uh... Atonal Music. Have you heard of it? It's some awful western novelty... At any rate, it seems he was attacked by a lobster-like monster."

"It would be a good idea to investigate into that... By the way, I already talked to the police department and they're assigning the case to you anyway, Gozen-san." She finishes, in a monotone.

Then, Moriyama adds: "One more thing... It's very inconvenient that photos of you in battle are being made public... I understand d'Armagnac-san is already unto it; keep going. Earlier, your valet was able to get a number for the camera buyer you asked for; it seems to match the one you got from the journalist."

Shizuka grabbed her chin in thought, and she would have also tapped the hilt of her sword if her other arm wasn't in a sling.

"Mhm, an annoying street musician in Izumibashi? If they are summoning more shamon, I will look into it for sure! For now I need to visit the bathhouse, though."

Her hakama was already singed from sparring, and after the shamon attack it was sliced up, wet, and covered with icy, fishy bits. Her bandages were nice and clean, though, thanks to Sister Juujisan.

"I will take a bath, then a nap, then head out later this afternoon! If anyone wants to join just the investigation, let me know~"

"If I understand correctly, the attack by now ceased, as otherwise we would have been redirected to its location instead of being recalled to base. It is likely that this attack has been performed by a remnant of the decimated shamon unit, as we did witness a shamon with a crab-like armour. Thus, I would like to request clarifications: first, regarding the timing and priority of this investigation; second, whether it would be prudent to utilise less recognisable individuals for any investigations."
"Do we happen to know someone who can identify the address from a phone number if it's not included in the public listing of numbers? Furthermore, I am not privy to the specifics of any exceptional legal authority we may possess when it comes to matters of civilians. Should we find the photographer, what can we do other than give a stern talk? After all, we are now all public persons, and officially only one of us carries legal enforcement powers, and I am not sure whether those powers can be legitimately used to solve these concerns."

In response to Hoshikawa's mention of the item's obscene value, Chimera shakes her head and tuts.

"It is an art to turn good deeds into fortune. Money is but a shortcut for those who lack either."

...That said, Chimera makes a mental note to keep the violin in pristine condition. To preserve the potency of its curse, of course.

With that settled, and the matter of a second shamon incident brought up, Chimera dashes to her room and emerges a few minutes later in a completely new getup, even swapping out her eyepatch for a monocle."To untangle the Gordian knot of this mystery, a sharp mind is needed to cut straight to the truth! Detective Roosevelt is on the case!"

Clearing her throat, Shizuka decides to speak up about the camera incident while Chimera was off changing clothes.

"Morinaga-san, it's not illegal for someone to take photos in Tokyo so DON'T encourage your underlings to assault civilians. If you don't want any pictures taken, then the military should do a better job of keeping people out of the deployment area. Tokyo isn't a playground for the military to do whatever they want.

Also, Claude-san, didn't you tell journalists that you were fighting the shamon, working at the theater, and pose for pictures? I don't see how some photos make a difference, unless you think they just look bad."

"The one photograph that is of concern is not part of any deliberately postured set. Rather, it seems to be of a moment of mounting or dismounting. Fortunately, the quality is blurry - I assume the newspaper in question is already available in the archives if you'd like to verify that - but to those in the know, this is an image that technically includes experimental hardware."