Around 3 PM, a black sedan pulled up in front of Myth Inc HQ. The backdoor closest to the sidewalk opened and then Suzu stepped out, pulling a bag with her. She adjusted her crimson winter coat and then slung her bag over her shoulder before closing the door. After she did, the window rolled down.
The driver, Seigi, looked at Suzu and said, "Did you want to help you carry that inside?"
Suzu shook her head and gave him a bright smile. "No. This is plenty, Seigi-san." She bowed her head and said, "I apologize for taking up so much of your ti having you drive there and back."
Seigi adjusted the crimson scarf around his black leather coat and then waved his hand. "It's fine." He smiled and said, "I don't get the chance to take breaks very often or share stories."
Suzu stood up and frowned. "If that is the case, perhaps I should trouble you more often to keep you out of trouble."
"Heh." Seigi smirked and said, "Well, if that's what my master commands, I suppose this lowly servant will have to oblige."
"Pardon?"
Seigi chuckled and said, "Just an inside joke, Suzu-chan." He waved and said, "I'll be leaving then, but I'll be around if you need . Just send a text or call and I'll head over."
"Understood, Seigi-san!" Suzu waved and said, "Thank you again!"
Seigi gave Suzu a short salute and then rolled up the window. After that, he drove off.
Suzu watched him leave and then adjusted her bag, making her way towards the building. As she did, she said, "I wonder where Seigi-san ca from?"
He said that he was working for Myth Inc. now and that his job was to keep an eye on Suzu to make sure she was safe. But he also seed to be a man with a lot to tell.
Even though they had gone on that long road trip and Seigi told a lot of stories about how he traveled the world on missionary trips and to volunteer in natural disasters, Suzu felt like she hadn't even heard a fraction of his life story.
"And Seigi-san seems young as well..."
Suzu wouldn't put Seigi as older than his mid-twenties. And yet his steely gray eyes seed to have seen more than even so of the elderly n and won that visited her shrine...
"Suzu-chan!" A cheery middle-aged male voice called out. Takashi-san's.
Suzu blinked and realized that she had walked into the building while lost in thought.
The lobby was the sa as always. The two silent and intimidating foreigner security guards stood just out of sight by the entrance. A few decorative plants were placed here and there, while lounge chairs and seats were scattered around for visitors.
Not that there ever were. Since joining Project MirAIs and visiting the office, Suzu noticed that they never received visitors. In fact, most people tended to walk right past the building as if it didn't exist.
Though to be fair, it just seed like an ordinary office building.
But there was sothing different today. And that sothing was the person who called out to her.
Takashi waved from behind the front desk and said, "Did Mikata treat you well?"
Suzu smiled and walked over. "Seigi-san was very courteous and patient."
Takashi humd and then scribbled sothing on a notepad. "That's good to hear. Considering that Titor recomnded him, I was a bit concerned... but I guess my first impression of the kid was right. His heart's in the right place, at least."
Suzu blinked and said, "Mister Titor recomnded Seigi-san?"
"Yeah." Takashi nodded and said, "Apparently they're old war buddies or sothing. I still don't believe the bit about Titor being a secret Arican soldier, but..." He shook his head and said, "Anyway, the other girls are already here, so you can just head on up."
Suzu's eyes widened and she said, "D-Did I keep them waiting long?"
Takashi waved his hand and said, "I'm sure it's fine. They're probably just having fun before Christmas anyway."
Suzu shook her head and quickly walked over to the elevator, pressing the button to call it. "Even so..."
They had arranged to do practice streams today before the debut, and she was the only one who wasn't present...
A soft chi echoed and the elevator doors opened.
Suzu quickly walked inside and pressed the button to the Prodigy streaming studio floor. After that, she pressed the button to close the elevator doors.
They shut with a soft 'thud' and the elevator started moving.
As it did, Suzu placed her hand over her chest, feeling a soft pang of guilt. "I hope the others do not mind..."
She didn't want to disappoint her friends now after all they had been through together.
The singing lessons with Miss Zhaojun, the dancing lessons with Mister John and Miss Xuannu. Spending late nights together laughing and talking with each other in the lounge with Yuri making them snacks...
Suzu frowned and said, "I will have to make it up to them later."
She had sincerely forgotten about the eting until early that morning when the alarm went off, so she definitely needed to pay everyone back.
But she didn't have much to give... Oh! Maybe a traditional new year dance? Or blessings?
No, they could take a trip together back to the shrine for the new year and Suzu could give them blessings there.
Yes, that would work. And then she could ask her adoptive parents to reserve their private onsen to go relax as well afterwards.
And it could double as a celebration for their debut!
Suzu clapped her hands together and said, "Perfect!"
Right. That was a perfect idea. She never brought friends over before, so it was a good excuse as well.
Transportation might be an issue since they were all too young to drive, but if she asked nicely, Seigi-san should agree... Though she didn't want to trouble him too much.
Then again, he seed like he would spend the holidays alone if he wasn't asked... Just like her adoptive father.
Well, like her adoptive father would if it wasn't for her adoptive mother.
A soft chi echoed. The elevator continually rising as it headed towards the studio.
Suzu glanced at the floor display and then couldn't help but reflect on her life.
A young girl who grew up with adoptive parents, never knowing where she ca from or who her birth parents were. And not only that, one who grew up being dragged around by her adoptive parents as they traveled the world before they retired and settled down back in Japan.
On a whim, she packed her bags and gave up on her training as a shrine maiden to get a job in the city. And sohow, she miraculously arrived without any misfortune.
Instead, she was greeted with nothing but fortune.
Discovering that she had remaining family with Uncle Bai and Uncle Qing. Making friends for the first ti with Yuri, Shu, and Chihiro. Being accepted as a Project MirAIs idol, as well as being accepted by everyone at Myth Inc., including Mister John and his entire family as well as her Senpais in Project MirAIs...
It was like a dream- No, a wish that she didn't know she wanted.
A place to belong and a place to call her ho.
Not that she had anything against her adoptive parents, but while they were kind, it was also clear that the two lived mostly in their own bubble. They took care of Suzu, but there was also a bit of a distance there as well.
A soft chi echoed. The elevator arriving at its destination.
Suzu blinked and then smiled. As the doors opened, she walked out and bowed her head. "My apologies! I forgot that our eting was today, and so-"
"#!" Yuri let out another strangled gasp and then threw Shu off.
"W-Whoa!" Shu flailed and had to quickly regain her balance. But that gave Yuri ti to lunge at Chihiro.
The artist grinned and raised the chocolate bar again, completely unfazed by Yuri's lunge.
Yuri noticed and grit her teeth, reaching out towards Chihiro.
And then a tiny chocolate bar flew towards her face.
Yuri reflexively grabbed it. "Huh?" She blinked, montarily forgetting her wrath from the unexpected event. "This is... A Giggle bar? Wait." She blinked again and said, "Who threw this at ?"
Jenny raised her hand and said, "I did. You're not you when you're hungry, Yuri."
Yuri paused. And then she narrowed her eyes, glaring at Jenny. "Do you think this is a joke!?"
"Yep! And it's even funnier since none of you noticed that Suzu-chan's here." Saying that, Jenny looked towards Suzu.
Yuri froze and then slowly turned towards Suzu. When she saw Suzu standing there, Yuri cleared her throat and waved. "H-Hey, Suzu-chan. Haha..."
Shu brushed off her hands and waved as well. "Suzu-chan! Glad you're finally here!"
Suzu let out a nervous laugh and said, "Um... Am I interrupting sothing?"
Chihiro finished eating her candy and then wiped her fingers on her pants.
Yuri's eye twitched.
Chihiro ignored her and said, "Nothing really. We were just waiting for you, actually."
Jenny nodded and said, "Yep! Now that everyone's here... Well, it's a bit too late to keep practicing, so how about we have so fun instead?"
-----AI|IA-----
The Three Realms, sowhere above the Celestial Jade Palace.
"Hm." An old man with a magnificent silver beard and splendid erald robes floated above the palace and stared up into the skies, gazing at a blue star in the distance. "If that ssage was accurate, the ti has co to pay my daughter and her family a visit."
The source of the ssage was unknown, but there hadn't been any ill karma or malevolent intent. Not only that, but the timing lined up with what he anticipated as well.
The Celestial Jade Emperor stroked his beard and said, "It would not do for this regal self to miss the birth of his second grandchild." He flicked his sleeve and then roused his spiritual energy.
The mont he did, the blue star began to shine. And as it did, a portal erged.
"Hoh?" The Celestial Jade Emperor's eyes lit up. "Interesting, interesting! My son-in-law's holand is unfathomable... But very well. If you are welcoming , forgive for being rude." After saying that, the Celestial Jade Emperor stepped through the portal, vanishing in a flurry of light.
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