Taki. Shiina Taki.
A scrappy little kid — and even after months of hard work, after quietly accumulating all that time and effort, she was still a scrappy little kid.
But it was exactly that kind of scrappy little kid that gave Yoshiiro Chiose the most trouble.
Because before she'd been bound to The System… she never would have called a kid like Taki that.
Barred from drinking, Yoshiiro Chiose was forced to sit stone-cold sober with her own reflection — to look clearly, without softening, at everything she had done.
It was the first time she'd truly understood. The first time she had been completely, lucidly awake to just how total her grip on another person's life could be.
Chiose stood on the balcony of the Takamatsu apartment and let the night air wash over her. She didn't check the time. It didn't matter anymore.
Pulling an all-nighter in a simulation wasn't going to kill her anyway, so — stay up, pull through to dawn, whatever. Did it matter?
"If it weren't for me, would Shiina Taki still be out there trying to form a band right now? …Hard to say."
She'd charged ahead in a rush of excitement and done so many terrible things one after another — and now she was moping about it? Yoshiiro Chiose, you really are a strange one.
"Talk to Taki more, Chiose. Our simulation is going to end soon."
The System patted Chiose on the back, doing its best to keep its voice gentle and soft.
"Tong — how many more simulations do you think I'll have to live through before I can finally… just be happy living?"
"I cannot provide an accurate answer to that question." The System's golden eyes were calm and still as stagnant water.
"It depends on how greedy the host is willing to be."
As long as you were greedy enough for the things of this world, you could keep running simulations in happiness — as naturally as drinking a glass of water.
"Is that so."
"It is."
And even if you weren't greedy enough on your own, The System would help you get there.
"If all the host needs is ten more years of life — without trading lifespan for anything at all — just a few simulations would be enough to manage that, wouldn't they."
"Is that so."
"It is."
A thoroughly aggravating exchange — they might as well have said nothing at all. Completely empty.
Whoever invented the non-answer "is that so" ought to be held accountable. It was every bit as dismissive as "I don't know" — all deflection, no substance.
Yoshiiro Chiose made herself a solemn vow: she would never say those words to the people she simulated. Because dismissiveness — even a small drop of it — had a way of leaving a residue on people, making them feel vaguely, persistently awful.
...
"Fifth take. Let's hear it."
"Okay."
To help Taki hear her own voice with greater clarity, Yoshiiro Chiose had gone and bought a professional recording setup.
Shiina Taki pressed the headphones over her ears, nerves taut — and the moment her own voice came through, her heart stuttered.
"Just like I thought. It's still not right…"
Her technique was flawless. The emotion was all there. Chiose's arrangement was nothing short of brilliant…
So what was still wrong?
"Are you so nervous you've talked yourself out of your own confidence?"
"That sort of thing — it shouldn't be possible for me."
I absolutely cannot look at this like that. I, Shiina Taki, have always been a confident person. …Right.
"Little Taki, I have an idea that'll sort out your confidence — you hopeless dummy, you always pick the most critical moments to cause me problems."
"Ah, I'm really sorry, it's just that I genuinely…"
"Don't say another word! Shiina Taki!" Chiose cut her off without ceremony, grabbing Taki by the wrist and forcing her to meet her eyes directly. "Tonight — you're coming to my place. We're watching movies all night again."
"But the festival is almost here. We need to rehearse."
"Trust me. It'll be fine. I promise."
The two girls spoke in low, quiet voices. Taki loved the soft warmth in Chiose's tone when she was being serious — like a cluster of tiny cats had surrounded you and were demanding affection all at once.
But then Chiose's phone rang.
"Little Taki — excuse me for just a moment, I need to take care of something."
"Something? What something?"
"You'll see soon enough. Don't forget — you're coming to my place tonight, no excuses!"
Chiose did exactly what Taki had done at this same hour yesterday — vanished in an instant, not even a shadow left behind.
Shiina Taki stood there with her hand still half-outstretched in the space where Chiose had been. She pressed her lips together, then, with all the reluctance in the world, opened her contacts list.
"Hello? Taki? What's up?"
"Sis… I wanted to ask you something."
...
"Miss Yoshiiro, are you certain you want to go with this package? The costs will be quite substantial."
"I'm certain. I only have one question — what kind of reach does this type of campaign actually get?"
"Excellent reach. Enough for all of Tokyo to hear this record — no, all of the internet."
"I certainly hope so. After all, this is my Taki's heart and soul we're talking about. It would be such a waste if only I got to hear it."
The teacup clinked cleanly against the saucer. Yoshiiro Chiose sat straight-backed in her chair, regarding the company representative across the table.
Yotsuya-ba Co., Ltd. — a music label that would give you blanket exposure for the right price. It was a favourite of rich second-generation kids who wanted to push their rap tracks or angsty bedroom music out into the world.
These people weren't in it for the money. They just wanted something impressive to drop into conversation at parties —
"So — when does payment need to be settled by?"
"Oh, no rush at all. As long as you can transfer the funds to this account by the first of next month, we're all set."
The representative recited a long string of bank account digits, then took a small sip of tea, visibly relieved.
"Though, Miss Yoshiiro — forgive me for saying so — the package you've selected is our most expensive tier. If you find yourself unable to cover the full amount, I…"
"Stop right there. That's enough."
Yoshiiro Chiose rose from her seat and picked up her coat, her voice perfectly, carelessly light as she said: "Money isn't something I worry about. You just focus on doing your job well."
The System, wearing the form of a cool, pale young woman, fell into step beside her and took the coat. They walked out of the café together and turned the corner, and then The System spoke, unhurried:
"As I recall, your savings are not sufficient to cover advertising fees of this scale."
"You're right. They aren't."
"You're not expecting me to conjure the money out of thin air?" The System tilted its head, working earnestly to puzzle out what Yoshiiro Chiose was actually planning.
"Not at all, my dear Tong — no need for that whatsoever. Because, well…" Chiose plucked a small wildflower from the side of the path and tucked it into The System's hair.
"Our family still has that other property, doesn't it? Hehe. I'll just sell it — I have a feeling there'll be a very pleasant surprise waiting on the other side."
"Mm? You want to do this because…?"
"That's a secret. But I do genuinely need you to do something for me."
Chiose walked on ahead, completely unaware that The System had stopped moving altogether.
The System's gaze fixed on Chiose's retreating figure.
[This child… she's drifting further and further away.]
Who could have imagined that just two simulations ago, she was still the kind of girl who couldn't bring herself to push her own body off a ladder?
"What do you need me to do?"
Chiose reached her left hand back toward The System without turning around. The System, obedient, took it.
"I need a critical condition notice… ideally an exact copy of the one from my real life."
————
P.S. Silver ink!
[Citrus; Love for ALL; Esper Battles of Wit]
Chihaya Anon's powers go haywire in a disaster, forcing her to drop out of school in England and return to Tokyo to try living as an ordinary person.
Reality, however, has other plans.
What she knows: she's been pulled into a new group by the remnants of the former hero team Crychic.
What she doesn't know: her five closest friends are secretly members of AveMujica — an extremely dangerous esper criminal organization.
Tomori swears she'll be by her side forever.
Taki scowls at her every day like she's already made up her mind about something.
Her favourite VTuber Nyamume Chika and her most beloved idol Sankaku Hatsuka — both ask her out, one after the other.
Miss Togawa, wrapped in layer upon layer of mystery, moves in with her — making bento lunches by day and playing arch-rival by night.
And then there's Goto Hitori, who idolizes her; Iseri Nina, who's inexplicably fond of her for no apparent reason…
Oh, and every now and then she has to go toe-to-toe with AveMujica alongside everyone from MyGO!!!!!.
Honestly, in the middle of all this chaos, Nagasaki Soyo is the only one who's gentle and considerate — the one harbour of warmth in a storm…
Wait — why did Soyo just walk right past me without saying a word?
Hm? What do you mean I'm not needed?
Don't you dare scare me like that!
"Chihaya Anon Has Nine Wings"
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