>>1205276

When to tell her no.

Sakurada-kun is like a balm to her now. Her confession to him, the kind of things you expected her to be holding back at lunch, secures in your mind that if the world is to be saved then she who carries its heart needs be saved first.

Even if she won’t share the depths of it, you’ll do your best to know it. As her friend. As her Knight. As whatever she needs you to be, whether she knows it or not.

Interlude End

Quest Start

“All I’m worried about is whether or not you’re going to be okay,” Yoshi Sakurada offers firmly, “And if you’re not, I just want to know what I can do to help you get there,”

You used to think you didn’t deserve this kind of kindness or patience.

“Sundae,” you repeat with a sure nod.

Earlier, it was easy to talk about all of this to the girls. You were being a leader, you got to feel a bit detached from it all as you made plans and shared information. There will be more of that later and for right now it was good to let the walls down just a bit.

The classroom is clean, everything is put away, and you’re pretty much done here for the afternoon. Grabbing your bag, you send a follow up message to everyone about meeting at the Crowne. Plot out what you know about Amazonite and a potential attack on the Aiba Tournament. Figure out how to approach Hisako Ito about your offer. And just digest the state of things.

After Ice Cream, of course.

“We better not waste anymore time and get going,” you resolve and head to the door, pausing before opening it and taking a moment to grin, “before my sister eats them out of stock,”

It was meant as a joke, just a chance to be light hearted after what heavier things the two of you discussed. Unfortunately it doesn’t setting with you that way and you find yourself frowning.

“Do you need another minute,” he questions as he retrieves his own bag from beside the door, where he left it when he came to speak with you.

“No, let’s go,” you confirm and set off alongside him.

It’s a bit cooler out today, and you’re thankful for the sweatervest of your uniform providing some measure of comfort against that. Together the two of you are able to easily leave the school as various clubs start rallying for their meetings and structured time.

As you’re on your way though,

>Ask Yoshi what happens to his band with Kalunite gone
>Has he made any solid plans on telling his mom of his extracurriculars?
>You want to talk to him about your pending academic withdrawal, and your new uncertainty
>Maybe let a bit of your inner nerd slip, see how he handles you talking manga
>Try and tease him about something, what? Distract from you feeling like a hot mess
>Write in

Thirty minute voting window from first vote for this first update, subsequent updates will have 15 minute window from first vote posted until thread pause.

Thread resume post will again be 30, followed by 15.

>>1205295
>Ask Yoshi what happens to his band with Kalunite gone
It's part of a larger (shady) corporation, they must be doing something with it.
Hey, it they're selling the contracts I wonder if Artemis (the moon cat) is interested in branching out.

>>1205285
>Ask Yoshi what happens to his band with Kalunite gone
>Has he made any solid plans on telling his mom of his extracurriculars?

>>1205276

Hey GM have you thought about turning this into a fanfic?

>>1205580
I have given thought to assembling the threads into continuous chapters, doing some editing, and then posting it somewhere like that.

However, that is a lot of work. My attempts to edit a continued doc assembled by one of you guys fell apart a while back.

>>1205580
Also, voting window is still up. Vote, anon!

Alright, writing.

Fuck, lots to catch up on.
Just tell me our protag ended up with sasha, please.

>>1206055
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your your archive binge, and I won't tell you anything. For weal or woe I will not tell you anything.

Though I'm curious where you left off.

>>1206055
Is good read. Was going to answer, but I'll honor Art's mysteriousness.

>>1206102
K, more motivation to blaze through the archive

I believe I left off when we were still in france and just returned.

Just finished the previous myself. Fun befriending.

The gates falling into the distance behind the two of you, the gnaw of empty air bores you. With everything that’s been going on you still have a curiosity about the lesser fallout of last night. When you destroyed Kalunite, mockery of life that he was, you left a hole in whatever things he was likely a part of for the sake of his cover.

“So, what does happen with your band now that your manager is gone?” you question with certain, and perhaps forced, casualness.

He stops beside you a moment, and looks off down the street toward the school.

“I’ve been thinking about that since Osaka-san told me,” he explains and you find yourself mildly more curious about exactly what else Kairi-chan told him, “And it’ll probably be okay, he was just a hands on presence and the agency will take over promotion and booking,”

“Well, the rest of the company is still kind of shady,” you say firmly, “Probably not the record division, but that Kalunite was involved and that their main division was doing research on Ch- here I go, turning around into shop talk,”

You grouse at yourself and massage your temple. Having wanted to avoid getting into too much of that right now, saving it for when you had to do so with the others.

“Okay, back on topic, do you think they’ll try to sell your contract now?” you question curiously.

“No, we’re still a decent draw and have a fairly decent buzz thanks to someone popular giving us a little boost,” he says with an unflappable nonchalance, “Though I’m surprised you would seriously be worried about that,”

“No, it just kind of slipped out of my mind that Venus-chan gave you that endorsement is all,” you admit, “Say, any decisions made yet as far as telling your mom is concerned?”

This is his turn to grouse.

“No, and I don’t really know how to break it to her,” he sighs, “Maybe after we publish an original album so I can show her that it’s really a career or something,”

You idly wonder how you not pushing him away anymore might affect his creative processes, but that’s not really as important right now.

“Do you think that’ll soften the blow that you’re not really as wholesome and stand up as you present yourself,” you skip forward and turn back around to face him with a sly smile.

“Please,” he adjusts his glasses and and walks on past you, smiling himself, “I’m always stand up and wholesome, I just sing about wholesome things in a villainous sounding way,”

>What about the rumors about the company you’ve been seen keeping? A delinquent and a gyaru?
>Well when you put it that way, there’s no need to worry. Right?
>Any thoughts on Endo-kun and Takeda-san?
>Right, dressing up as demons and talking about escaping from hell is so much better.
>speaking of careers, are you looking to focus on music?
>Write in

>>1206385
>Well when you put it that way, there’s no need to worry. Right?
>Speaking of careers, are you looking to focus on music?

Writing

>>1206405
Missed the vote, but I can agree with this.

“Well when you put it that way,” you muse while catching up to him, “There’s no need to worry then,”

Your eyes narrow at him conspiratorially and teasingly.

“Right?,” you drag out the word.

He isn’t as amused. Glancing away.

“Okay, maybe it’s a good justification but I won’t lead with it,” he shakes his head and keeps on going forward, “I’ll save it as a counter argument to whatever weird accusations about what I’m doing she sends my way,”

“Are you really that worried?” you question.

“Maybe, I just feel a bit embarrassed about her knowing,” he shrugs, “Though maybe I’ll catch her with this in a good mood; she’s seeing someone and I think things are going well,”

“Hmm, you mentioned showing her that it’s a viable career before,” you consider for a moment, “Are you looking to focus on music?”

He considers it.

“Maybe, maybe not, and not just performing,” he explains as the two of you come into sight of the arcade, “Songwriting, makeup, audio engineering, and general stage electric work. It’s actually all pretty complicated and interesting,”

“Oh, so you’re a jack of all trades off stage too these days,” you observe, “And here I thought you’d pursue teaching like your mom from how good a tutor you were,”

“Well, most musicians actually make money teaching rather than performing,” he explains, “What about you? What are you considering?”

>I honestly have no idea
>I’ve been thinking about politics, maybe helping the world be a better place
>Maybe pursue becoming a doctor like mom and Tomoe-sensei, helping people seems nice
>The science of the supernatural is an up and coming business, I’m uniquely situated to take advantage
>Training the girls has me thinking about martial arts and teaching, so maybe becoming a phys ed teacher
>I’ll figure it out in college
>Write in

>>1206919
>>I’ve been thinking about politics, maybe helping the world be a better place

Prime Minister Bunny Chan

Writing shortly, grabbing a snack and changing my writing venue.

“Well, I’ve been giving it some thought,” you begin as everything you’re pursuing now plays in your mind.

Just what comes next after this crisis is all done? What do you actually envision for your future? While you were keeping to yourself there was this idea you had to pursue working with the Tomoe Foundation, by a combination of nepotism and proven excellence with your studies to force Tomoe-sensei to acknowledge you...but you think you’ve mostly resolved that and the idea isn’t as appealing.

Crisis, ha!

Save the world and it will still be in danger, whether by supernatural or all too mortal threats. Civilization was nearing the precipice to the end of scarcity and the booming dawn of automation, but still wars were fought, plague yet ravaged, and famine raged.

Though, why not.

Why not try to save the world again once the dust settled.

“And politics is something I’ve considered,” uniting people toward better possibilities, “make the world a better place,”

You’re good at talking to people, are just as good at lying when needed, and have a good idea about your goals and what needs to be accomplished. Not like you aren’t used to holding the fate of the world in your hands.

Odd, you didn’t even notice when one of your hands started playing with the locket broach.

“So you’ve taken a shine to leadership?” he questions, rhetorically as the two of you enter the Crowne Arcade and veer into the cafe, “And to attention?”

That last part was less rhetorical. It was careful. The same worry you imagine he had earlier when he checked in on you.

Thread Pause
Resume tomorrow

>>1207398
Have a nice night Art!

Overslept by a a significant margin. Have a few errands to run and then we'll be back

And to attention? That isn't what I remember writing in that dialogue space last night...what the hell did I write in there? Crap...half asleep memory

>>1208960
Was a bit surprised by that turn. I could see a path to that concern, just of all the concerns he could have, was surprised that was the one.

>>1209098
Attention was previously one of Mikage's well known panic attack triggers. I figured out what I meant and am rephrasing it in the resume. Which is almost ready.

Anons queue up I suppose? Also, has anyone heard the musical adaptation of Heathers? It's kind of fantastic.

“So you’ve taken a shine to leadership?” he questions, rhetorically as the two of you enter the Crowne Arcade and veer into the cafe, “And to being a focus of attention?”

The last part was less rhetorical. It was careful. The same worry you imagine he had earlier when he checked in on you.

You consider it a moment.

“Well, after the past few days I think I can handle eyes on me without panicking,” you explain, “For now at least,”

Sitting in one of the booths, the two of you place orders from something sweet. Continuing to chat about the future, Yoshi talks about digital media certifications and electrical engineering while you wonder aloud a bit about pursuing political science or history for your own purposes presently considered. Also about band promotion and their lax if secretive rehearsal schedule, which he is supposed to be doing tonight. He’s not trying to push you into any of the more stressful directions of conversation. Its relaxing, especially with the Ice Cream when it arrives.

True to your expectations, you catch sight of your sister, Kanari, and Koito in another booth.

She’s...like she said. Acting like she normally does, though also being a bit clingy to Koito. Your time with Yoshi goes quickly as you notice Kairi, Sasha, and the other other young Senshi start filtering into the Arcade.

Odd that you don’t see Saori, Keiko, or Midori.

Venus-chan skips past your booth, drawing your and Yoshi’s attention and giving you both a smug but quick look that only someone proud of their own perceived handiwork could be before bounding off to tackle into Koyomi’s booth.

Your Knight and your unofficial Man at Arms approach the table. The smaller boy is zeroed in on you with decided concern and annoyance on his face.

“What the hell about my tournament?” Sasha says bluntly while taking off his riding gloves, having not even noticed Yoshi’s presence.

Though perhaps it is an intentional ignoring of presence. His words, though harsh, are said with an urgent and concerned tone.

Yoshi looks at everyone and noticing the cluster of people assembling around your sister and now this table. No doubt making with ease the connection between Venus-chan’s name and her painfully obvious identity.

“Well, I should get going then,” Yoshi sighs and fishes for a coin and paper from his satchel, “I’ll settle up at the counter,”

Your decision stands to keep him a bit away from this part of your life, though you momentarily debate showing off your secret base. However with Sasha here and the standing business that needs to be discussed it would be in rather poor taste.

“It’s nice to see you again, Sasha,” Yoshi offers the boy politely, as he turns to notice him for the first time, and you swear for just a moment Yoshi seems almost petulantly victorious about something.

>>1209225

“Sakurada,” Sasha replies, with the same look in his eyes you saw between the two of them when they came in at the same time to visit you in the hospital.

“Hey Sakurada-san, everything go alright earlier,” Kairi-chan follows up behind Sasha and then turns to you and smiles, conspiratorially.

“Yes, thank you Osaka-san,” he explains and then turns back to you, “I’ll give you a call later tonight, Mikage,”

“Alright,” you offer back as he rises and heads toward the counter, “Have a good rehearsal,”

Kairi-chan and Sasha watch him leave, before the smaller boy turns again back to you. The last of Yoshi’s parfait begins to tip back toward the empty space in the booth, disappearing from the glass. So Oksana is traveling with him today?

>I want to wait for the others first
>Karaoke Rooms, I’ll explain there
>An enemy general is likely to target it
>Is that all you want to talk about right now, Sasha?
>Kairi-chan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?
>write in

>>1209228
>I want to wait for the others first
>Kairi-chan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?

>>1205593

Get to make google docs each one with ten chapters and allow comments only so people can help but you avoid jerks destroying the thing. Then once you get 50 threads edited make a pdf with the first 50 threads in it or something.

Or you could ya know just write a fanfic based in this but going in a different direction.

>>1209234
Thirty minute voting window from this linked post.

>>1209228
>>I want to wait for the others first
>>Karaoke Rooms, I’ll explain there

>>1209173
Not so far, though I've been caught up with listening to I'm a Dragon, from the Iron Fist trailer, not my usual music, but it's really stuck to me lately.

>>1209287
Mom doesn't end up ruling a Crystal Tokyo in out timeline, stopping that attack on Earth was the big point of divergence between this timeline and Usa's.

>>1209228
>>I want to wait for the others first
>Kairi-chan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?

>>1209298

Yes but the point is, there are way too many divergent timelines. You have Black Moon, you have the one were Chibiusa is born but her dad dies before that, you have this one... you have the timeline were... you get the idea.

>>1209228

I want to wait for the others first
>Kairi-chan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?

"You know... I been thinking... with all the time travel going on between our side and the bad guys... what if someone is pulling the strings on both us and the bad guys? Sailor Moon had faced beings from other dimensions, creatures with control over life and dead, monsters that manipulated time, demigods that could easily destroy and or create planets... but everything seems to follow a theme... are we all just some play for however is behind all this amusement? Crystal Tokyo doesn't happen, millions don't die but enemies keep apprearing, pushing us, taking what we hold dear. And why? Earth is not the only planet out there with life, do they see us as weak? Do they just ignore all the threats the Senshi have defeated? No... I think something or someone is making all those enemies target Earth."

Alright, tallying this up and-

And what am I reading here.

>>1209326
This seems to be a mostly local threat, though Earth is one of the few with life, no counting what Galaxia is reseeding now after Mom got her to stop her murder-bender across the cosmos.
I'd imagine any intergalactic evils would like to avoid anywhere that she is treading right now, so we probably are as ripe as it gets for that.

For the most part, as far as topics to talk about right now, these seem a bit out of place at the moment, el6hTJKm.

File: Chaos.jpg (69 KB, 441x335)

69 KB JPG

Chaos.

You're thinking of Chaos. Not the concept of chaos but the being Chaos with a capital C.

That is a known element and part of this over arcing plot. A very known element and its involvement in the current enemy's plan was a major plot revelation.

Also, writing.

Was a touch distracted not by here, but news of a major cemetery vandalism within my social stomping ground range.

“I want to wait for the others to get here first before talking shop,” you say while sliding over and gesturing for Kairi-chan to slide into the booth next to you, “because we have a lot of shop talk to cover. Please sit down, Oksana seems to have already,”

He glances over while Kairi slides into the booth with you. The now empty parfait glass tips back upright and wobbles in a circle before settling flat on its base. Sasha isn’t wearing his riding jacket, though it’s obvious he rode here, but his red jacket from Infinity Academy. Sliding into the outside seat of his booth, he glares and then sighs.

“Right…” he says before looking over to the growing assembly across the cafe around your little sister and then over to you, “You and the others okay? Heard about you know, stuff,”

You look over at Kairi-chan as she thumbs through a menu, trying to look perfectly innocent.

“I’m fine, they both seem fine,” you huff a bit, “Coping, dealing, and planning next moves,”

He nods. No doubt where he heard what from given the timing of arrivals. Though as you sit there and the two order things, including a parfait for the empty space beside Sasha, you imagine Kairi-chan has more she wants to say. You know it, in fact, and have been waiting for this shoe to drop since you dragged Mio Nomura halfway across the school.

“Kairi-chan, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?” you ask as a fruit bowl topped with only a slight bit of yogurt and crumble is set before her.

She nods. Doesn’t look up, but takes a tiny spoon and cuts a piece of balled melon in half.

“Well, I did want to let you know that Estra’s kid brother called me back, but first I would rather let you know that I think you were more than a little heavy handed with Nomura-san earlier,” she pauses to savor her tiny spoonful of fruit, speaking with a certainty and steadiness that tells you she is still riding the affects of your earlier bite, “Unnecessarily so,”

>”She was being stubborn, I may have been aggressive but it was for her own good,”
>”I may have been a little stressed about last night and took it out on her,”
>”Is that why you told Yoshi enough to get him to take my temperature?”
>Simply disagree, and contemplate more sundae.
>Simply agree, and contemplate more sundae.
>Write in

>>1209805
>”Is that why you told Yoshi enough to get him to take my temperature?”

>>1209805
>>Write in
Having been on the wrong end of those kinds of feelings before, I didn't want to see another person be that stupid.
And yeah, probably coming on a bit heavier than I would have if it weren't for the night before.

>>1209890
Bonus thought: "Something convoluted and clever to lure her friends to her, but sometimes things are too short to lose time being a self-hating dummy. What if I started something longer, but then wasn't here later to see it through" responsibility worry, survival worry, etc

>>1209805
>”I may have been a little stressed about last night and took it out on her,”

Sorry, had to take out the trash, Writing and combining the two votes that were within the window.

>>1209400

Chaos has agents.

And really Galaxia cannot realistically be everwhere, she has several galaxies to seed life. But maybe the enemy really needs life energy for advanced lifeforms or something.

Sasha watches the two of you warily, perhaps even muttering something about drama before enjoying his simple fare. There is a brief back and forth in your mind over how to respond, but there is something else you need to ask before you continue and defend your position while still conceding you may have gone a bit too far.

In your head it’s almost like you’re already practicing politics.

“Is that why you told Yoshi enough to get him to take my temperature?” you ask her evenly while pushing your empty dish a bit forward and scooping Diana up and out of your school bag to scritch her behind the ears as a fidget to steady your own nerves.

“Mew,” the space kitten purrs.

“He was concerned, and knew enough about what happened and what position Nomura-san was putting herself in to understand your frame of mind about what you did, but uncertain about why you were being a bully about it,” she explains.

“Your words or his?” you question steadily.

“Mine,” she clarifies, “It was like watching you be the worst parts of Miki and the Beast in the same breath,”

“What happened?” Sasha questions with the forethought of someone immune to explosions walking into a minefield.

“Dragged the girl who was turned into a spider monster last week across the school by her ear to force her to talk to her friends and not isolate herself,” you explain rather plainly, “A very aggressive befriending and intervention...because I’ve been as stupid as her before and I really don’t like seeing others make the same mistakes I’ve made. Life is too short to lose time being a self hating dummy, and what I did probably drew added sympathy from her friend,”

He shrugs. Rin and Aiha enter the cafe together about this time, and both girls eyes are drawn first to your table and probably the presence of the ghost you imagine both of them can clearly see despite it being presently invisible to you, before a waving cry from Koyomi somewhere behind you and the generally tense atmosphere between you and Kairi-chan drags them away.

And now the diplomatic framing of things.

“Though if last night hadn’t happened the way it did,” you admit with a noticeable wilt, “I probably wouldn’t have come down on her as heavily as I did,”

Though you will be proud of yourself for starting something longer. Putting attention on the girl so people remember what happened to you and Kairi-chan after she was turned into a monster. Manipulating people while brute forcing an issue.

Maybe you could apply that to the enemy this time. The wavy red hair beside you turns, revealing Kairi’s face in the midst of a tight nod.

>>1210413
“Well,” Kairi-chan says before picking up your abandoned spoon and presenting it to you with a strawberry from her fruit bowl as a peace offering, “As long as you’re self aware,”

Taking the spoon in hand from her, you accept the strawberry.

“And about Estra?” you question before savoring the sweetness mixed with the melted chocolate that your spoon had been sitting in.

“Apparently after last week he’s been in a very deep state of recovery,” she sighs, “His siblings aren’t worried, but we should probably swing by to see them when we get the chance,”

Nodding, you remember the state he seemed in after everything. Your alien friend tried to play things coolly, and downplay his efforts or harm taken. It turns your sweets born smile a bit when you finally notice Keiko in the arcade. She’s coming out of the Karaoke rooms. She quickly approaches the table.

“I was wondering where everyone was,” she beams, “Come on, Midori and I have been showing Umeki-san the system,”

Well, that was annoyingly simple. There is a brief exchange in which Sasha asks tactlessly how she’s doing with what happened and she replies with a roll of her eyes and notes that she’s dealing with it better than anyone should.

After a quick conversation and settling bills, everyone is rallied down to the secret base.

Keiko and Koyomi make a point, a point, once out of public view of high fiving one another and declaring that they were now resurrection buddies. Most of the others don’t find any amusement to that, aside from Venus-chan.

You find yourself almost missing dour and self doubting Keiko the way she and Koyomi are playing off one another. You can at least appreciate and commiserate with Midori’s frustrated but soft and amused expression regarding the two of them as all of you enter the room.

Behind your Knight Marshal, you see your appointed Spymaster hunched over the controls of the supercomputer with Artemis sitting on the controls beside her. Her lanky frame is set wide as she turns to look back at all of you, hair wild and undone, tipped forward and covering her face. You could swear her eyes were glowing beneath this curtain of unstyled black.

On the screen she turns away from...is a pigeon behind a blue text box with cursor highlighted options against the drawn backdrop of a classroom.

>Say nothing about the obvious gag dating sim being played on the ancient moon tech supercomputer
>Rush up beside Saori and find out about this adorable and ridiculous game
>Scold Saori and Artemis for putting a dating sim on the ancient moon tech supercomputer...that is also a karaoke machine
>Write in

&

>We need to discuss Amazonite’s plan first
>We need to discuss the Butterfly lady first
>We need to discuss Hisakot Ito first
>We need to discuss what happened last night first
>Write in

>>1210420
>Say nothing about the obvious gag dating sim being played on the ancient moon tech supercomputer

>We need to discuss what happened last night first
We’re all thinking about it, so let’s talk about it.

>>1210420
Many options. Hm.

>Say nothing about the obvious gag dating sim being played on the ancient moon tech supercomputer
Maybe a dry comment about surprise that it can run Earth games.

>We need to discuss the Butterfly lady first
>We need to discuss Amazonite’s plan next

>>1210480
(Hoping Artemis and/or computer can sort out the butterfly in short order before jumping to Amazonite plotting.)

>>1210420
>>Rush up beside Saori and find out about this adorable and ridiculous game
>We need to discuss what happened last night first

Was going to say Extended to settle the second half of the vote, but hey something late came in that breaks the tie.

Writing momentarily, I may be distracted sails.

You say nothing at the advanced alien supercomputer being used to run a dating sim, but you do approach it and the front of the room to go over what lies ahead. Saori straightens, pushes back her hair, and clears off the screen before stepping to the side.

Koyomi steps up alongside you as Midori takes herself and Saori into the gathered mass of Knights, Sailor Guardians, and your associated parties.

Where to begin. There’s so much to cover...oh well. Best to take care of the elephant in the room.

“So, about last night,” you open up, “We need to talk about it before we go forward,”

The chatter among the room dies down. Eyes are on the two of you.

“The enemy isn’t messing around anymore,” Koyomi isn’t pulling any punches on her assessment of things, though she smiles broadly and throws an arm across your shoulder, “So Keiko and I were really lucky Mikage-nee was there,”

“That said,” you sigh, “This power is something...new. And I don’t want to have to use it again, I don’t want to think about losing any of you. I don’t want to think about any of you…”

With empty eyes like Koyomi’s were.

“I don’t want to think of any of you dead,” you explain, “So we’re going to fight harder and smarter,”

There are nods, and no comments from those assembled. Koyomi hugs you, whispering a thank you, before disengaging.

“Moving on,” you note before taking a breath, “We need to talk about a new player on the field,”

You look to Artemis and the two of you confer on the console quickly to find an online photo of your mystery butterfly woman over the park last night.

“We don’t know anything about her yet, other than that she might be a Senshi from another world,” you explain what little you’ve been able to piece together.

“She cleared the poison fog,” Koito notes with a click of his tongue, “Maybe she’s here to help?”

“She could have stood to have shown up sooner if she is on our side,” Kanari grouses, “Though why’d she bail?”

“I couldn’t glean any surface thoughts at the time,” Aiha complains, “but I think she was more running from the helicopters than us,”

“Well, Senshi from beyond our solar system have come to earth before,” Venus-considers.

>>1211226

“Wait, maybe...” the white cat beside you on the console notes as he paws at a few controls.

At Artemis’s command the image crops and becomes less blurry and more well defined. He points a paw as Diana hops up onto the console alongside him.

“Those are pretty, daddy,” the kitten observes.

“I’ve seen bracers like those before,” he explains while highlighting a pair of golden bracers worn by the butterfly themed sailor guardian, “Years ago when we fought Shadow Galactica!”

“And they were?” Keiko questions.

“False or turned Sailor Guardians in the service of a Guardian corrupted after she sealed Chaos itself into herself,” you explain with some reverence, “Sailor Galaxia,”

“Sailor Moon defeated her, by freeing her from Chaos and returning it into the hearts of people across the cosmos. To our knowledge she has been busy restoring half a Galaxy of stolen Star Seeds back to where they belong and undoing the damage she did while possessed; and seeking out flare ups of Chaos activity,” Artemis recites.

“So, then she is here to help?” Koyomi questions.

“It means that I’ll try to find a way to locate and make contact,” the cat concedes, “I’ll coordinate with Saturn and Pluto on that end,”

>Talk about what Saori told you about Amazonite
>Properly introduce your spymaster and have her talk about Amazonite
>write in

>>1211234
>Properly introduce your spymaster and have her talk about Amazonite

>>1211234
>>Properly introduce your spymaster and have her talk about Amazonite

>>1211234
>Properly introduce your spymaster and have her talk about Amazonite

Late bit of dinner, then writing.

“Well, with that taken into account, I’ll leave the floor to my recently appointed Spymaster to go over what we know so far about the next expected threat,” you explain and lead yourself and Koyomi away from the console.

Joining up with everyone else, you note that Saori is still among them and just looking nervous.

Catching the girl’s eyes you gesture with your eyes and head for her to get in front of everyone. She shrinks back a bit and tightens her slouch before Kairi-chan discretely shoves her forward.

Looking far less terrifying than when she was looming over the console earlier she takes everyone in. Everyone including those she has met and those she hasn’t quite met.

“So, why no freakout that she was in here,” you ask Koyomi, realizing you never really explained to her or the other young Senshi that you’d taken Saori Umeki into this role.

“Koito explained it to us over Sundaes,” Koyomi shrugs.

“And Osaka-sempai explained things in more detail to me before that,” Koito Kino, your Zoisite Knight, offers coming up beside your little sister.

That checks out.

“Besides, she was in here with Mori-san and Sugimoto-san,” Kanari ads while Saori stands frozen, a few strands of loose hair again falling forward in front of her face.

“Just treat it like reciting a game character’s story,” you hear Saori tell herself before pulling back to her full height and using posturing lessons you can only assume came from her continuing time spent as a model talent in training under Yukiko Akiyama.

“I already expected to see her in here,” Rin offers in a quiet voice, “though the pigeon on the big screen was a pleasant surprise compared to what I was braced for,”

Koyomi blushes at that and hides her face behind Koito’s shoulder while laughing awkwardly. No doubt remembering the book Saori dropped off a few nights back.

“H-h-hey everyone,” Saori starts weakly but begins gaining momentum along with everyone’s attention, “Uh, I’m Saori Umeki and I guess I’m like the Royal Spymaster now, and friends with popular girls and girls who weren’t popular but are now popular so I’m a rising star and I’ll be popular too but you probably don’t care about that because this isn’t about anything with social standing and I should be talking about Amazonite who I ran into and who I know about from my time when I was a monster,”

The freight train of her opening explanation comes to a crashing halt as all the girls just kind of stare at her.

>>1211773

“Er..hold on, let me just get a do over on that,” she bows while clapping her hands together in a brief pleading prayer over her head before she pivots without rising toward Artemis and the two exchange a few quick whispers.

The Moon Cat nods as Saori brings herself back up and pulls her hair back with a ribbon from her skirt pocket.

“They’re all friends here, you can do this,” she affirms.

Lights dim except above the console stage. This base’s supercomputer fills its mundane function as a Karaoke machine as lyricless dramatic music fills the room.

“OH-HOHOHOHOHOHOHO,” Saori’s posture is up and more relaxed as she leans back a bit and takes on a feigned confidence, “I’m Saori Umeki, invisible girl and appointed spymaster by Princess Mikage, and this is your briefing on Amazonite and what I know so far about her villainous plans!”

She sashays, actually sashays with steps you imagine she learned for Akiyama-san’s catwalk to the side of the console to clear the view of the screen. The screen is filled with tactical camera footage probably stolen from the PIT Team that responded to Sugimoto-san’s house when Amazonite and Hiddenite attacked.

She looks angry, the center of her uniform is torn and scorched, and your rose lance is embedded firmly in her shoulder.

“For lack of a better description Amazonite is a tank,” your spymaster declares as she pops out her hip and rests a hand on it while pointing the other to the screen, “And she is possessed of immense physical strength; and while the other generals are capable of powerful close and long range magical attacks, her powers just temporarily augment her already powerful body,”

The image changes to Amazonite taking that shotgun blast, courtesy of Kairi-chan’s mother, to the chest.

“Since this altercation, we have to assume she was empowered to a similar level of ability as Kalunite was when all of you fought him last night,” she rattles with growing confidence, “And while her fighting style means you’ll have to worry about less murder clouds and lasers, it does mean that she’ll outlast and tear apart anyone who stays in close physical combat,”

Saori turns from the screen and flips her hair, in an intentionally dramatic fashion.

>>1211778

“Though despite her brutish appearance she has a few notable weaknesses,” your spymaster further explains as everyone is rapt in either attention, or merely unable to look away at this thing that Saori is doing with awkward posing as she goes, “Despite being a believer in her cause, she is personally very gentle and hates hurting people. Preferring to be a shield for her allies. Her immense strength also comes at the cost of flexibility,”

Turning from her pose to hit a control on the console, the music changes and the image shifts to that of the Tokyo Dome.

“As for her plan, we suspect that she is going to either harvest aggression or some other negative energy from the upcoming international youth boxing tournament being hosted in the Big Egg Complex, or use the venue to seed potential sleeper agents or full on shadow monsters from competitors, coaches, or fans,” she explains without turning around, “As such we are fortunate to have an ally already on the roster to compete,”

“Of course,” Sasha grouses, “This is going to ruin the tournament for me. What do you need me to do?”

“Three things,” Saori counts out to the small but wiry Russian boy, “Keep your eyes and ears open, help get me in, and use the Sailor Senshi as your training dummies for the next week and a half,”

“Excuse me, what?” Aiha questions from amid the collected group.

“No, it makes perfect sense,” you nod, “If Amazonite is making a monster at the tournament, it is probably going to be a competitor or a coach,”

“Bingo, Princess,” Saori grins evilly, “So we need to get you accustomed to fighting or dodging boxers,”

“Makes sense,” Sasha crosses his arms and nods proudly, “I’ll have you girls weaving and improving your footwork in no time,”

“And, that’s all we know at this time,” Saori finishes as the lights come back on and her face takes on a greenish pallor.

Rushing through and past the lot of you, she falls into a crouch as her hands grip the edges of a small waste basket near one of the vanity/war room lockers. Lifting it up she retches into it before going a bit limp and placing it to the side.

“Okay, I’m spent, I’m just going to curl into a ball over here and not talk to anyone for a minute,” she says to no one while actively not looking at anyone, “That was hard,”

Perhaps your fault for putting her on a proverbial stage. She does so much better in closer conversation and surroundings like when you all have lunch together. You feel a new swell of respect for Akiyama-san taking it upon herself to turn Saori into a confident model.

>You want to talk to everyone about approaching Hisako Ito
>You just want to talk to your own knights about approaching Hisako Ito
>You don’t really need to talk to anyone else about Ito-san
>Tell everyone to carry on a bit without you, you’re gonna get Saori some air
>Write in

>>1211783
>>You just want to talk to your own knights about approaching Hisako Ito

>>1211783

"I think I got a plan to take Amazonite out, but it basically amounts to three Senshi having close combat with her while the others charge up the big spells. Then the three Senshi fighting her get out the way and she gets blasted. And then 'Sailor Moon' hits her with everything she got."

>>1211850
>>1211834
I have to ask, why the double post. Why the double post? Did you think your first posting attempt didn't go through and try to post it again but had to change it for the purpose of duplicate post filters not realizing it had already posted...or were you trying to pull a fast one on the votes and not realize that your IP address generates a unique in thread ID code on /qst/

I don't want to sound accusatory, I'm just genuinely curious and confused.

>>1211940
Oh, one was deleted while I was writing that. Never mind, carry on. Wait...why was one even deleted. Now I'm just even more confused as the only difference was some partial quotation around a name. This is what happens at 1 am, I get confused by thing. I have begun to slip.

Either way, writing.

>>1211948
Check that, confused by thing, slipping, and paranoid.

“Take that rest,” you offer before turning to the gathered crowd who is mostly just...stunned, “Well, you heard her and I’m inclined to agree. Sasha can you get them started on a routine now?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” he nods, “This place has everything we’ll need,”

“Them?” Kanari questions, “What about you?”

“I have something I need to go over with my Knights,” you explain, “Just think of this as an opportunity to close the gap between us,”

The tall girl smiles at that and pounds a fist into her open palm.

“Well if you’re going to put it that way,” her grin broadens before she breaks for the door into the more pinkly arranged room.

“I’m primarily a magic user,” Keiko grouses a bit as she walks among the younger girls, “Do you really think this is necessary?”

“Come on, Sunny-chan! It’ll be fun!” Venus cheers as she grabs the older girl’s hand and drags her along.

“You know you really bring out my sister’s competitive streak,” Koito sighs as the Sailor Guardians and Sasha head into the next room.

“I really do, it’s kind of endearing,” you find yourself smiling, “And I think it prompted her to give me a pretty good pep talk when I was feeling down,”

You reminisce briefly about when you woke up in the hospital.

“Anyway, I wanted to get all of us together so we could figure out how to approach Hisako Ito,” you explain and then turn toward Koito again only for the boy to interrupt you.

“Osaka-sempai filled me in earlier today,” he offers before you can frame things, “After last night she seems like a great addition to the group,”

Alright then. No time like the present.

“So, suggestions on approach?” you ask around the assembled group, “And we’re probably doing this tonight,”

“If we’re going to maintain secrecy if she says no,” Kairi-chan glances out over to the door the others left through, “We need to save any reveals of identity for later,”

“Though we’d need to draw her away from any of her usual places,” Koito considers, “The enemy may still have eyes on her roommate after losing Kalunite,”

“We can all approach as Eclipse and the Knights or you could just approach as the Beast,” Midori shrugs, “She has reason to trust or talk fairly to either approach,”

“She might spoil for another chance to fight you as the Beast,” Koito offers, “We could use that as a lure to get her off of and away from her usually beaten track,”

You think on their counsel and regard Kunzite’s stone in the back of your hand. There are still a few hours of daylight left, and a few more things you’ll need to do before arranging this meeting. However on the whole you have a good feeling about his.

Even as Saori retches into the wastebasket again somewhere behind you.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 145
End

>>1212125
have a good night art

>>1212154
Had. Though I wish I had gotten more sleep.

>>1212125
It was good run!

>>1212403
Must sleep the sleep of the just! Or at least the well rested.

>>1212125
Don’t worry Saori! The worst is mostly over.

Thanks for running Artemis.

I want to say, my writing speed this evening along with the general speed of events in quest was slower than I would have liked to have run, but the latter is a standing issue of mine and is why a single schoolday usually takes threads to hash out.

Binge reading Anons, Fresh to the quest or returning, how goes? I ask this assuming you get to this thread and post before it reaches the bump limit and falls.

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There is nothing we can't face, except for Bunnies! Right V-chan?

>>1212767

Is qst so is okay.

Planning for another thread on Sunday.