Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 3

[Oldmansour]

>"Hmmm.... it does seem surprisingly versatile, but I am not sure that now is the best time to try experimenting, if we mean to leave without attracting further notice."

>"Yeah, but, if we can fix it..." Lily starts, but Rin silences her with a shake of her head.
>"Lotus's right, things're gonna be hairy enough around here without us stickin' around ta answer a bunch of awkward questions. 'sides, we still need a lot of answers ourselves before we can answer theirs rightly." Lily's wings sag a bit, but she nods. Rin offers her a small smile. "You wanna see this place fixed, I know. So do I. But hey, if Mima allows, maybe we can volunteer."

>Lily smiles at the idea, but she doesn't have the chance to say anything about it before the brown haired tengu Hatate Himekaidou pokes her head around the corner. She grins an angular grin as she spies the three of you.

[DracoOmega]

>Was this the corner ahead of us?
>It seems we have company.

[Oldmansour]

>Was this the corner ahead of us?
>It seems we have company.

>It is.
>Rin frowns. How did she do that? I couldn't hear her comin'.

>"Well, hello, ladies." Hatate greets you, stepping fully into view.

[DracoOmega]

>Nod politely
>"Good day to you, as well."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod politely
>"Good day to you, as well."

>"My name is Hatate Himekaidou." she says with a bare-bones bow. "And you are, if I may be so bold as to venture a guess, heroes?"

[DracoOmega]

>Frown slightly
>"Is the school budget so strapped that an offer of volunteer labor could make so large a difference as that?"

[Oldmansour]

>Frown slightly
>"Is the school budget so strapped that an offer of volunteer labor could make so large a difference as that?"

>Your retort makes Hatate's grin waver a bit, and draws a pair of laughs from her right. A moment later, the twins walk out into view, led by the shorter haired Akina, who covers her mouth slightly with her left hand as she giggles at Hatate. The tengu winces at the sound, then gives you a wry grin. "I can think of some members of staff who'd go for that, honestly."
>"Unzan for one." Akiko adds, folding her arms behind her head as she grins at her sister, who giggles and nods once more.
>"But," Hatate says, more seriously, "I was referring to that confrontation that just happened."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I suppose that would have been hard to miss."

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, I suppose that would have been hard to miss."

>Hatate nods. "On behalf of the students of Mayoiga High School, I'd like to ask you and your comrades a few questions."

[DracoOmega]

>"I expect the police should be making an official statement shortly. I am afraid I am not at liberty to discuss much else at present."

[Oldmansour]

>"I expect the police should be making an official statement shortly. I am afraid I am not at liberty to discuss much else at present."

>Hatate gives you a look halfway between a grin and a smile. "I hope you'll forgive me if I'd like to try anyway."

[DracoOmega]

>"I suppose that is the duty of a proper journalist, is it not?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I suppose that is the duty of a proper journalist, is it not?"

>Hatate's smile is proud. "You understand."
>"Hatate?" Akina interjects.
>"Mm? Oh, yes, please."

>Now what? Rin says with a note of caution as the pink-haired woman takes a couple of steps towards you, and then inclines her head politely.
>"We wanted to thank you, for protecting this school." she says sweetly. "We saw that beast, and the power the other two beings had, but you fought them and won. It may not be much, but you have our sincere gratitude."
>Lily's wings flutter, and she beams. "Don't mention it! It's what we do!"

[DracoOmega]

>Smile and nod politely
>"As she said. I am simply glad that no one was seriously hurt."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile and nod politely
>"As she said. I am simply glad that no one was seriously hurt."

>"We were wondering if there was anything we might do for you?" Akina says with a smile.
>Her sister nods. "We owe ya something, for chasing off those... Well, whatever they were."

[DracoOmega]

>Smile gently
>"If you wish to do something in thanks for this, I ask only that you pass along this kindness in your own lives; assist a stranger in need, show tolerance and caring to another, give someone a helping hand where you otherwise might not have. Each of us has something we can do in our own way to make the world around us a better place, and no matter how great or small, each act is important. No act of gratitude would make me happier than this."
>"Alternately, every harem could use a pair of twins."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile gently
>"If you wish to do something in thanks for this, I ask only that you pass along this kindness in your own lives; assist a stranger in need, show tolerance and caring to another, give someone a helping hand where you otherwise might not have. Each of us has something we can do in our own way to make the world around us a better place, and no matter how great or small, each act is important. No act of gratitude would make me happier than this."
>"Alternately, every harem could use a pair of twins."

>Rather like you've seen Lily do, Akina's short wings flutter once, as she giggles a light sound. "My, what a lovely sentiment."
>"Sentimental is more like." her sister says with an easy grin, not unlike you've seen Marissa offer.
>"But it's good sentimental!" Lily counters in her big voice, followed shortly by the impact of her form against yours as she gives you the glomp.

[DracoOmega]

>Gently return her embrace with one arm
>"Sentimental, perhaps, but I speak truly; if each person who received a kindness passed along another in turn, the world would be much the better for it."

[Oldmansour]

>Gently return her embrace with one arm
>"Sentimental, perhaps, but I speak truly; if each person who received a kindness passed along another in turn, the world would be much the better for it."

>Akina hums in agreement. "That is a lovely thought."
>"Sorta sounds like something the Morning Star might say, doesn't it, sis?"
>The comparison makes a note of concern cross your mind, but Akina merely laughs her quiet laugh at her longer-haired sister. "Perhaps, but the world would be that much the better for one or two more Morning Stars, would it not?"
>Akiko grins again, folding her arms behind her head. "Can't really argue that."

>Gee, now I feel kinda bad for interruptin'. Rin's somewhat shy voice sounds in your mind, before she takes a step forward, and speaks aloud with more confidence, "I hate ta interrupt, girls, but we still gotta find those two creeps that got away. We can't stay and talk all day."
>"Yes, you're right." Hatate agrees, stepping past Akina, her notepad and pen in hand. "And I'll do you the favor of glossing over some questions of personal interest, and go right to the more important ones."
>"Fine."
>"First, what's the connection between that minotaur creature that broke out of the window of Kamishirasawa-sensei's classroom, and the two magic-using beasts you fought afterwards?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Uncertain - this is something we intend to investigate ourselves."

[Oldmansour]

>"Uncertain - this is something we intend to investigate ourselves."

>Hatate makes a note. And then, somewhat unusually for her, she hesitates before asking the next question. "WAS that first creature Keine-sensei?"

[DracoOmega]

>How widely-spread and seriously believed were the rumors of her lycanthropy among the student body?

[Oldmansour]

>How widely-spread and seriously believed were the rumors of her lycanthropy among the student body?

>While there were a number of theories as to why she was never seen on full moon nights, the 'lycanthrope' theory wasn't one of the most popular ones. So far as you know, no one among the student body really thought it was seriously possible, but there was the odd comment of 'be cool if she was a horse', or 'she'd make a better bull', and the occasional debate along such lines. Something that was debated for fun, rather than anything serious.

[DracoOmega]

>Frown slightly
>"What would make you think such a thing?"

[Oldmansour]

>Frown slightly
>"What would make you think such a thing?"

>"I couldn't see everything that happened, not with the cops trying to keep me on the ground. But I saw enough to see you fire some kind of beam at that minotaur, and the next time I saw, Keine-sensei was lying where the creature was. The only way that makes any sense is if she WAS the minotaur."

[DracoOmega]

>Pause. Nod slowly.
>"A reasonable deduction. And a correct one. But I would ask that you be discreet about this information, for Kamishirasawa-sensei's own sake if nothing else. A dark power was possessing her, and her actions were not her own. I suspect of anyone present, her ordeal may have been the worst of all."

[Oldmansour]

>Pause. Nod slowly.
>"A reasonable deduction. And a correct one. But I would ask that you be discreet about this information, for Kamishirasawa-sensei's own sake if nothing else. A dark power was possessing her, and her actions were not her own. I suspect of anyone present, her ordeal may have been the worst of all."

>"That won't be easy." Hatate admits. "It's my nature to report the truth. But even more importantly, I know the value of the truth. Every student at this school wants to know what happened here, and they WILL find out. You can count on it. Better they find out from one of their own."
>"Maybe you oughta let the teachers here handle that?" Rin suggests.
>Hatate shakes her head. "Even the most honest teacher here gets filtered by Vice Principal Mima. Censored," she practically spits the word, "would be a more accurate way to put it." With a raised finger, she adds, "And I'll ask you to be discreet about me saying that, if that woman crosses your path."

[DracoOmega]

>"I respect the importance of truth, but this is about sensitivity to someone who has just been through a traumatic episode. Even if you say nothing but the plainest facts, I fear that spreading them so publicly will only foster needless fear and mistrust, and perhaps worse, to say nothing of what it will doubtless be like for her to see such a black moment in her life making front-page headlines - it will be bad enough already, I am sure, without her involvement spreading openly in the news. I am not sure anyone benefits from this."

[Oldmansour]

>"I respect the importance of truth, but this is about sensitivity to someone who has just been through a traumatic episode. Even if you say nothing but the plainest facts, I fear that spreading them so publicly will only foster needless fear and mistrust, and perhaps worse, to say nothing of what it will doubtless be like for her to see such a black moment in her life making front-page headlines - it will be bad enough already, I am sure, without her involvement spreading openly in the news. I am not sure anyone benefits from this."

>Hatate winces. "I'm not trying to be insensitive. Just the opposite. I have a great deal of respect for Keine-sensei, I'll have you know. As a matter of fact, I consider her a friend of mine. And I have a great sympathy for what she's been through. Akiko's told me what happens to people with her affliction."
>"That reminds me." the named twin interrupts. "How exactly did you change her back? I didn't think it was possible to do that with magic."

[DracoOmega]

>"I do not believe I did; I think she did that by her own will. I merely banished the dark aura which had taken hold of her - a force which I believe had compelled her into that state in the first place, and robbed her of her mind and will. This was something blacker than a normal episode of lycanthropy - of this I feel quite strongly."