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nAround 3 PM, a black sedan pulled up in front of Myth Inc HQ. The backdoor closest to the sidewalk opened and then Suzume 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.

nThe driver, Seigi, looked at Suzume and said, “Did you want me to help you carry that inside?”

nSuzume 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 time having you drive me there and back.”

nSeigi 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.”

nSuzume stood up and frowned. “If that is the case, perhaps I should trouble you more often to keep you out of trouble.”

n“Heh.” Seigi smirked and said, “Well, if that’s what my master commands, I suppose this lowly servant will have to oblige.”

n“Pardon?”

nSeigi chuckled and said, “Just an inside joke, Suzume-chan.” He waved and said, “I’ll be leaving then, but I’ll be around if you need me. Just send me a text or call and I’ll head over.”

n“Understood, Seigi-san!” Suzume waved and said, “Thank you again!”

nSeigi gave Suzume a short salute and then rolled up the window. After that, he drove off.

nSuzume watched him leave and then adjusted her bag, making her way towards the building. As she did, she said, “I wonder where Seigi-san came from?”

nHe said that he was working for Myth Inc. now and that his job was to keep an eye on Suzume to make sure she was safe. But he also seemed to be a man with a lot to tell.

nEven 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, Suzume felt like she hadn’t even heard a fraction of his life story.

n“And Seigi-san seems young as well…”

nSuzume wouldn’t put Seigi as older than his mid-twenties. And yet his steely gray eyes seemed to have seen more than even some of the elderly men and women that visited her shrine…

n“Suzu-chan!” A cheery middle-aged male voice called out. Takashi-san’s.

nSuzume blinked and realized that she had walked into the building while lost in thought.

nThe lobby was the same 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.

nNot that there ever were. Since joining Project MirAIs and visiting the office, Suzume noticed that they never received visitors. In fact, most people tended to walk right past the building as if it didn’t exist.

nThough to be fair, it just seemed like an ordinary office building.

nBut there was something different today. And that something was the person who called out to her.

nTakashi waved from behind the front desk and said, “Did Mikata treat you well?”

nSuzume smiled and walked over. “Seigi-san was very courteous and patient.”

nTakashi hummed and then scribbled something on a notepad. “That’s good to hear. Considering that Titor recommended 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.”

nSuzume blinked and said, “Mister Titor recommended Seigi-san?”

n“Yeah.” Takashi nodded and said, “Apparently they’re old war buddies or something. I still don’t believe the bit about Titor being a secret American soldier, but…” He shook his head and said, “Anyway, the other girls are already here, so you can just head on up.”

nSuzume’s eyes widened and she said, “D-Did I keep them waiting long?”

nTakashi waved his hand and said, “I’m sure it’s fine. They’re probably just having fun before Christmas anyway.”

nSuzume shook her head and quickly walked over to the elevator, pressing the button to call it. “Even so…”

nThey had arranged to do practice streams today before the debut, and she was the only one who wasn’t present…

nA soft chime echoed and the elevator doors opened.

nSuzume quickly walked inside and pressed the button to the Prodigy streaming studio floor. After that, she pressed the button to close the elevator doors.

nThey shut with a soft ‘thud’ and the elevator started moving.

nAs it did, Suzume placed her hand over her chest, feeling a soft pang of guilt. “I hope the others do not mind…”

nShe didn’t want to disappoint her friends now after all they had been through together.

nThe 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…

nSuzume frowned and said, “I will have to make it up to them later.”

nShe had sincerely forgotten about the meeting until early that morning when the alarm went off, so she definitely needed to pay everyone back.

nBut she didn’t have much to give… Oh! Maybe a traditional new year dance? Or blessings?

nNo, they could take a trip together back to the shrine for the new year and Suzume could give them blessings there.

nYes, that would work. And then she could ask her adoptive parents to reserve their private onsen to go relax as well afterwards.

nAnd it could double as a celebration for their debut!

nSuzume clapped her hands together and said, “Perfect!”

nRight. That was a perfect idea. She never brought friends over before, so it was a good excuse as well.

nTransportation 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.

nThen again, he seemed like he would spend the holidays alone if he wasn’t asked… Just like her adoptive father.

nWell, like her adoptive father would if it wasn’t for her adoptive mother.

nA soft chime echoed. The elevator continually rising as it headed towards the studio.

nSuzume glanced at the floor display and then couldn’t help but reflect on her life.

nA young girl who grew up with adoptive parents, never knowing where she came 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.

nOn a whim, she packed her bags and gave up on her training as a shrine maiden to get a job in the city. And somehow, she miraculously arrived without any misfortune.

nInstead, she was greeted with nothing but fortune.

nDiscovering that she had remaining family with Uncle Bai and Uncle Qing. Making friends for the first time 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…

nIt was like a dream- No, a wish that she didn’t know she wanted.

nA place to belong and a place to call her home.

nNot 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 Suzume, but there was also a bit of a distance there as well.

nA soft chime echoed. The elevator arriving at its destination.

nSuzume blinked and then smiled. As the doors opened, she walked out and bowed her head. “My apologies! I forgot that our meeting was today, and so-“

n“#email protected$! Stop eating it like that! Argh!” Yuri’s frustrated voice. “That’s not how you eat TikTak bars! You’re supposed to break off each piece!”

nSuzume quickly raised her head in confusion.

nHer friends were seated at the table in the center of the room, and Miss Jenny was seated there as well.

nYuri’s face was red. But not from embarrassment. Instead, she looked really frustrated.

nAnd the reason for that was Chihiro, seated right next to Yuri.

nChihiro adjusted her red glasses and then slowly unwrapped a new chocolate TikTak bar. After that, she held it up to her face.

nYuri’s eye twitched and she pointed at Chihiro. “Don’t you dare.”

nChihiro turned the TikTak bar sideways. Instead of breaking the chocolate wafer bars apart, she brought it up to her mouth as if she was going to take a bite out of all of them.

n“Don’t. You. Dare.”

nChihiro raised an eyebrow. And then she took a bite.

n*crunch*

nYuri let out a strangled scream and then lunged across the table.

nShu quickly stood up and grabbed Yuri. “Yuri! No!”

nYuri struggled against Shu and said, “Let me at her, Shu! Let me at her!”

nShu shook her head and held Yuri in a tight armlock. “It’s just a chocolate bar, Yuri!”

n“You don’t understand! That’s a crime against humanity! A crime! It physically hurts watching it!”

nChihiro took another bite.

n“@#email protected!” Yuri let out another strangled gasp and then threw Shu off.

n“W-Whoa!” Shu flailed and had to quickly regain her balance. But that gave Yuri time to lunge at Chihiro.

nThe artist grinned and raised the chocolate bar again, completely unfazed by Yuri’s lunge.

nYuri noticed and grit her teeth, reaching out towards Chihiro.

nAnd then a tiny chocolate bar flew towards her face.

nYuri reflexively grabbed it. “Huh?” She blinked, momentarily forgetting her wrath from the unexpected event. “This is… A Giggle bar? Wait.” She blinked again and said, “Who threw this at me?”

nJenny raised her hand and said, “I did. You’re not you when you’re hungry, Yuri.”

nYuri paused. And then she narrowed her eyes, glaring at Jenny. “Do you think this is a joke!?”

n“Yep! And it’s even funnier since none of you noticed that Suzu-chan’s here.” Saying that, Jenny looked towards Suzume.

nYuri froze and then slowly turned towards Suzume. When she saw Suzume standing there, Yuri cleared her throat and waved. “H-Hey, Suzu-chan. Haha…”

nShu brushed off her hands and waved as well. “Suzu-chan! Glad you’re finally here!”

nSuzume let out a nervous laugh and said, “Um… Am I interrupting something?”

nChihiro finished eating her candy and then wiped her fingers on her pants.

nYuri’s eye twitched.

nChihiro ignored her and said, “Nothing really. We were just waiting for you, actually.”

nJenny nodded and said, “Yep! Now that everyone’s here… Well, it’s a bit too late to keep practicing, so how about we have some fun instead?”

n—–AI|IA—–

nThe Three Realms, somewhere above the Celestial Jade Palace.

n“Hm.” An old man with a magnificent silver beard and splendid emerald robes floated above the palace and stared up into the skies, gazing at a blue star in the distance. “If that message was accurate, the time has come to pay my daughter and her family a visit.”

nThe source of the message 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.

nThe 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.

nThe moment he did, the blue star began to shine. And as it did, a portal emerged.

n“Hoh?” The Celestial Jade Emperor’s eyes lit up. “Interesting, interesting! My son-in-law’s homeland is unfathomable… But very well. If you are welcoming me, forgive me for being rude.” After saying that, the Celestial Jade Emperor stepped through the portal, vanishing in a flurry of light.

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