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[formidable]

MUSELIST This a post where I'll RP anything with you! Got a scenario in mind? I'LL DO IT. If you wanna chat IDEAS.GIF, contact me at maiscribbles or my Discord (Maiscribbles#6780). Have at it! ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

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Fujino

[redmeansgo]

[Ever since Aisaku became a Zelraider, he was starting to notice all kinds of people coming and going through the Steamy Sketch shop. Some of them were normal and then there were the abnormal types like him. This place was like a safe haven or a 'save point' for him whenever there was a lot on his mind. It was almost funny how he went from a normal student to a superhero who fought off shadow monsters in the blink of an eye. But it was the quiet times of normalcy that he appreciated the most. After all, this gave him a moment to actually reflect on what he was fighting for...

But right now? His current battle was against the dart board as he was keeping watch of Shunji's cozy coffee cafe. The owner was currently running errands and entrusted Aisaku to hold the fort. It was pretty late at night and it was raining, so he wasn't expecting any customers. Hence why he was currently focused on hitting the bulls-eye on the board.]

Damn it... My score still hasn't gotten any better. How the hell does Shujin do it?

[fujino]

[The shop door opens revealing a girl in a modest dress uniform at its entrance. She looks both ways before stepping inside completely.

Fujino, despite being a Servant, is pretty inconspicuous all things considered. The Chaldea Master is with the other two team members that were brought along to the singularity, but she can't help but feel that this time this wasn't quite where she was supposed to be. Nonetheless, she goes with the flow and went exploring by herself leading her to the Steamy Sketch.]

Excuse me.

[She says this softly to the boy who's having a fight with the dartboard and looks around to see if there's a menu. The least she can do if she's inside now is to order one item off the menu instead of being rude and just leaving after a glance.]

[redmeansgo]

Ehhhh?! O-Oh crap! I wasn't expectin' a customer! Welcome to the Steamy Sketch!

[Already Shujin would've been facepalming at Aisaku's rather unprofessional greeting. He was a good hearted boy, but not the brightest bulb at times. He looks rather flustered at the girl who just quietly walked in like a ghost. She almost looked like one of his childhood friends at the church orphanage that he'd go to help out. Aisaku quickly dashes over to the counter to grab a menu and hands it over to Fujino.]

Here you go. Please have a seat wherever you want! The owner is out right now, but I can totally serve you somethin'.

[fujino]

[The girl doesn't react to Shujin's bluster as one might expect; there's not much of any reaction at all. Just a blink and a nod of acknowledgment and she takes a seat.]

I see. Thank you.

[She also takes the menu and sets it down flat on the table in front of her.]

... Something hot to drink, please. I think a cafe au lait if that's available?

[At least it's an easy order!]

[redmeansgo]

Yeah! Sure thing! Alrighty theeeen....

[He'll be going behind the counter to put on his apron in preparation. Even the dim-witted Aisaku could pull off something simple like this.]

So you new 'round here? I don't think I've seen you at my school or at the church.

[fujino]

Ah... Yes. I'm just passing through. [She rests her hands on her knees and gives the boy a pleasant enough smile.]

I attend a Catholic school, but I don't go to church all that much. That's probably why you haven't seen me before.

[redmeansgo]

That right? I ain't crazy religious myself, but I help out with an orphanage with some childhood friends.

[First things first, he had to prepare the coffee maker and scoop up the beans. Making some conversation during the process was bound to make this move a bit faster. At least whenever he watched Shujin's magic fingers, it looked pretty quick to him.]

It's always good to see some tourists around in Mitsuito City. There's plenty of cool places to check out here if you wanna do some sightseeing.

[fujino]

[What a nice young man.

The thought crosses her mind immediately when he mentions helping out orphans with his friends. It's a different kind of kindness when Fujino thinks about Senpai or Fujimaru Ritsuka though.]

Is that so? Hm...

Actually, are there any unusual places to visit? Or places where strange happenings occur? I'm sorry if that doesn't make any sense, but...

[This is her way of gathering intel for the team, okay!]

[redmeansgo]

Weird stuff, huh? Weeeeell...

[Aisaku wonders if she was an occult otaku. Was there really any harm in pointing her to a strange place involving the mystical? With the Schatten popping up around in town, he knew that it could get dangerous... But it wasn't like he was weak anymore to not do anything. Worst come to worst, he'd go take a patrol walk in that area to make sure everything would be okay.

Though that made him feel like a creepy stalker which would've made things awkward. Maybe a more straightforward approach about this would've been better and it was more of his style, anyway.]

There's Mt. Yasukage which has the An'in Temple. You interested in hearin' a bit of a folklore legend that we talk about 'round here?

[fujino]

[Mt. Yasukage is it? It sounds like a lead if nothing else. Fujino nods and smiles.]

I am very interested. I don't know this area very well, so any information or stories you have will be an immense help.

[redmeansgo]

Whenever I was a kid, we would always sing this local nursery rhyme called the Shadow Stomping Song. The song is all about kids playing stomp the shadow and befriending the boogeyman who helps 'em crush their nightmares.

[In the process, he's grinding those beans up. He does pause for a moment to make sure that the measurements were alright before putting the grounded beans in the filter, then he adds water into the compartment and presses the button to let it brew. While that's going on, he's going to move on to heat up the milk.]

So far, there's only been four verses translated. And the rest of 'em are on the back of a stone tablet up there. But hardly anyone knows them all... It's still throwing researchers for a loop even to this day.

[fujino]

Shadow Stomping Song... That sounds like a classic urban legend.

[And that's coming from an urban legend herself.]

Oh? If the verses aren't translated, does that mean it's in a language that's hard to decipher?

[redmeansgo]

It's more like people can't decide on what the rest means. This song has been around for thousands of years, so everyone's got a different interpretation of what the lyrics say and what it comes down to.

[Aisaku had never thought too deeply on it. But he's been told some pretty interesting information that had been becoming more relevant today.]

But nowadays... Stuff about this song is becomin' real. Whenever you hear this song in your head, you become a monster called a Schatten.

[fujino]

[Well, there it is. Fujino doesn't notice it herself, but she is leaning forward as if eager to hear more.]

What does this monster look like? Have you seen it for yourself?

[redmeansgo]

[This wasn't the type of stuff that Aisaku expected girls to be into. But it might've been better to show her what one looks like than keep her in the dark. He'll take a moment to grab a napkin and a pen to start sketching what a schatten looks like.]

They look like creepy shadows from horror movies. The weakest form looks like something like this.

[He'll be lifting up a picture of a schatten... But it look more goofy since Aisaku isn't the best drawer.]

But they've got other transformations too. As long as humans are around, then they're gonna get even stronger.

comes back from hell WHAT'S UP

[fujino]

[Fujino's eyes narrow at the creature that Aisaku depicts for her. Goofy and childish of a scrawl it may be, but it gets the message across.]

So that's what it was...

[So she murmurs under her breath.]

Thank you for the information.

[She suddenly stands up, smoothing out the skirt of her uniform before bowing her head at Aisaku politely.]

Sorry for leaving suddenly, but I'm needed someplace else.

YOOOO LET'S GO

[redmeansgo]

Ehhhh?! Ehhhhhhhhhh!? B-But your coffee ain't even finished yet!

[He's looking fanatically between the boiling milk and Fujino. Did the atmosphere get too serious that she got put off? Aisaku was known for making the atmosphere a bit awkward sometimes, but he didn't think that he was that bad. What would Shujin do in this situation?!]

Gimme like three more minutes and I can fix it up in a jiffy!

[fujino]

[Fujino shakes her head in objection and already at the door.]

I'm sorry again, but I can't stay. I saw those monsters you drew on the paper so there's no time to spare.

[redmeansgo]

What? Seriously?

[He'll be moving to turn off the kitchen supplies. Even if Shujin came back, he would understand that Aisaku had to take care of a schatten emergency. The good news about being a Zelraider was that Aisaku didn't have to keep it a huge secret from his closest friends. He'll be running over to Fujino looking more determined than before.]

If that's the case, then let me come with you. I can take care of those things if you show me where they are!

[fujino]

[Everything's a bit sudden and it's really on her because she wants to move so swiftly.]

I... Um. Please, don't... I don't want to involve you in any danger. Although... Are you a fighter of sorts?

[redmeansgo]

I am! Fighting monsters is kind of my specialty!

[He'll be opening the door for her as he jerks a thumb towards himself.]

I'm known as a Zelraider. Remember the part of the story where there's a boogeyman who stomps shadows away? That person is me!

[fujino]

... Then let's hurry. If you can really help, you can pinpoint those creatures for me and I'll...

... [Her arms wrap around her side.]

... I'll take care of it as well. [She bows her head to Aisaku.]

I'm in your care.

[redmeansgo]

[Does she have a hidden ability? Aisaku was quite curious about that, but before he could ask the schatten alarm (a loud 'beep beep beep' noise) in his pocket does go off to confirm that there was an attack happening. Quickly turning off the large box, he steps outside and takes out his cellphone to confirm the coordinates.]

Alright! The location is the park! [A beat. They could run there, but Aisaku had a far more quicker way.] I've got a quick question! Are you afraid of heights or anything like that?!

[fujino]

Eh?

[She blinks, surprised at his seemingly unrelated question.]

N-No. I don't think so? I mean... No, I'm not. Why did you ask?

[redmeansgo]

I can fly us there! But first... You should stand back!

[He'll wait for a moment, take a deep breath and shouts with resolve.]

Shadow Cloak!

[A dark tornado bursts upward from Aisaku's feet and envelopes his body until it finally clears to reveal him wearing black armor. Instinctively without thinking, he strikes a pose. It just became the standard by now!]

Zelraider... Imperial Guardian!