Prologue - Phantom Airship

[loveswan]

Prologue

Writer: Kino Seitarou
Season: Winter

Mayoi: …

Mayoi: Nn…. This place… Where on earth…?

Mayoi: Um… Is this…a jungle? Speaking of jungles, the Hokkaido jungle that Trickstar was trapped in… The memory is still fresh in my mind.

Mayoi:  C-Could it be that I was brought here like them—

Mayoi: No, I cannot be sure of that! Even if it is the lowly me, I have not committed offenses severe enough to have me thrown into a jungle…!

Mayoi: This has to be some kind of a cruel prank, right? Anyone… If you’re watching me, please come out!

Mayoi: …

Mayoi: Uu, No response…. At this point, it’s starting to seem less like a prank…?

Mayoi: And even though SS was chaotic, it finished without any more problems. Then, there should be no reason to abduct someone like me, right?

Agh, it hurts. Did I bump my head against something? It’s throbbing quite painfully. Is that why my memories are also so vague?

In any case, it will not do for me to meet my death by being stranded here. Let me search around for someone.

Mayoi: …? What is this… growing, long shadow—

[Stomp! Stomp]

Mayoi: (Eek…! M-Monster?! Some kind of creature covered with scales just passed by me…!)

Mayoi: (Is this a dream? Was that actually real? What in the world…I cannot make heads or tails of this…)

Mayoi: (Speaking of which, I am finally starting to remember.)

Mayoi: (A vast forest that stretches endlessly. A gigantic monster I have never seen before is wandering around—the truth of this strange, unrealistic world is—)

Mayoi: The Phantom… Airship…

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[A few hours earlier. Within the first ten days of January.]



Mayoi: Ahhh… I want to be dead already, I want to disappeaaaar!

Mayoi: Someone like me… I’m not a being that should be acknowledged by others. I’m merely a foolish, unsightly phantom who simply hides under the guise of a normal human being…?!

Mayoi: To request something from someone like that… Anzu-san is too innocent. She would obviously be disappointed if she were to see my actual abilities.

Mayoi: Uu…. I feel faint from all this self-loathing.

Mayoi: At times like these, all one can do is view the precious photo I had acquired recently…. Certain nutrients can only be obtained by seeing cute and innocent kids!

Mayoi: Oh my, how lovely…! This photo from Branco’s concert, how pure, how innocent!

Mayoi: My eyes go first to Aira-san, then the other sweet kids, singing and dancing…and they are shining! Truly a sight for sore eyes… Fufu, ufufufufu… ♪

Sora: HaHa~! (tackles)

Mayoi: Hwah?! W-W-W-What is this?!

Mayoi: T-This is a hidden room practically nobody knows about. And I had made sure to lock properly…!

Sora: HiHi~ Happy new year, Murky Onii~san!

Sora: Aren’t we meeting for the first time since SS~? Have you been well?

Mayoi: S-Sora-san…. Why are you here?

Sora: …Should Sora have knocked?

Sora: Senpai taught Sora the electronic lock’s PIN so that Sora can come here whenever he wants to talk to Murky Onii~san.

Sora: So… Murky Onii~san, have a chat with Sora!

Sora: We were so busy during SS that we couldn’t talk despite being in the same Red Team… So I want to hear what ALKALOID is doing these days~♪

Mayoi: Y-You’re acting strangely forceful, aren’t you?  It’s too dazzling for me…!

Mayoi: I don’t mind chatting but why don’t we do that in a coffee shop or the cafeteria instead of a place like this where there’s no one else around?

Sora: Why do you say that? This place is so quiet… Isn’t it great for talking?

Mayoi: Gulp… It’s difficult to refuse when faced with Sora-san’s beautiful eyes but…

Mayoi: Anyway, we simply cannot stay here. This is a secret room where no one else was supposed to enter. If my secret place is exposed, then it would cause trouble for even Sora-san…!

Natsume: Hmm. I was wondering what you were up to and it turns out you were staring at Sora’s photo without mypermissiON?

Mayoi: Eek! N-Natsume-san is also here?!

Natsume: Fufu. I entered while Sora had your attentiON.

Natsume: Not just mE. Even Senpai is hERE. I’d appreciate it if you could welcome him tOO.

Tsumugi: Hello~ Good to see you again, Ayase-kun.

Tsumugi: Your performance with Crazy:B during the SS finals was incredibly wonderful.

Tsumugi: I had actually wanted to tell you immediately afterwards but that day was really busy, right?

Tsumugi: Ah, that reminds me. I had received leftover catering food from SS, as a sort of New Year’s gift I suppose you could say? Please have some Kouhaku^[1] steamed buns if you would like some ♪

Mayoi: No. Um… Actually…

Mayoi: Everyone, what possibly could you all want with someone like me? The three members of Switch have assembled… Are the magicians going to exorcise the phantom or something…?!

Natsume: Your persecution complex is too extreME.

Natsume: ActuaLLY, we have a job perfect for someone with an inferiority complex like youRS.

Natsume: We’re inviting ALKALOID to the Phantom AirshIP. Will you cooperate?

Mayoi: Phantom Airship…? What is…that?

Sora: Seeing it yourself is more fun! And we swear there won’t be any harm in checking it out~!

Sora: Please believe in Sora and Switch! We’ll cast the magic of happiness and turn Murky Onii~san’s colour into a warm one for sure ☆

Mayoi: Huh? I cannot comprehend the meaning at all but… Understood…? 

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^[1]Kouhaku manjuu or red and white steamed buns are eaten during special occasions. Click here to learn more.