“Can we go up to your room?” James asked Suki.

  “Ooh-hoo!” Harue exclaimed. “Remember, the door has to stay open. No hanky-panky, unless you’re into an audience.”

  “It’s not that,” James said. “Mitsue—” he glared at Harue, who had let out an excited squeal. “We ran into something else during the run we could use some advice on. Some of… your kind of advice,” he added, looking at Harue.

  “That’s my favourite kind!” Harue said brightly. “Should I fetch Kana as well?”

  “Do you think she’d be helpful?” James asked doubtfully.

  “No, but I think she’d be entertaining!” Harue said, grinning. “I’ll meet you at Suki’s room!”

  She dashed off ahead of them.

  “It’s fine with me,” Suki said, “But the door does have to stay open. If it’s privacy you want, shouldn’t we go to the spring?”

  “I really don’t want to do any more mountain climbing tonight,” James said wearily. His armour had dissipated at some point without him noticing, and he was starting to feel the effects of his exertions. “It should be fine; it’s not a secret, I just don’t want everyone to know.”

  “The problematic person is already fully informed,” Mitsue agreed. “I think it would only be to our advantage if she learns that we spoke to you about this.”

  “Well, fine then, come on up,” Suki said.

  As they walked down the corridor, James could hear some familiar voices arguing. Their door was open, but they were speaking loudly enough that he might have been able to hear them through the door.

  “Junko, it’s not that I don’t support you! You know I always have. But the ideas you had… they were just, um, a little too much this time. We don’t need a whole stage makeover every month—”

  “Too much?” Junko’s voice rose a bit in both pitch and volume. “It’s not ‘too much,’ Kaori! It’s about making a statement! An idol isn’t just someone who sings; she’s someone who captures the entire audience with her presence! We can’t settle for mediocrity.”

  “Hi!” Suki said awkwardly as they passed the open door. “Don’t mind us; we’re just passing by.”

  James and Mitsue gave the pair uncomfortable nods as they passed. Junko managed not to look embarrassed, but she shut the door firmly as soon as they passed. Not that it made any difference.

  “I get that,” Kaori said passionately. “But you’re pushing everyone too hard. Not everyone’s family has, like, endless resources for custom costumes and stage equipment. The others are worried—”

  “Worried? They should be motivated! This is our chance to stand out, and you’re holding us back! You’re holding me back, Kaori. I thought you understood.”

  “I do understand… I just don’t want to see you burn out before you even get started.”

  “Well, maybe you don’t understand me as well as I thought.”

  “The meeting did get a little heated,” Suki whispered to James. They got to her door. Harue and Kana were waiting outside.

  “Hi, Kana!” Suki said, moving past them to open her door. She hesitated on the threshold and then ushed them in. Matsuri was on the other side, lying on her bed, reading a magazine that had something to do with mechanics. There was a cutaway diagram of… some kind of motor on the cover.

  “Ughh, why’d you have to bring him here?” Matsuri grumbled.

  “Now, Matsuri, don’t be like that,” Suki scolded her gently. “It’s not James’s fault you have issues with your father.”

  “I would have been a much better pilot than a stupid American,” Matsuri muttered.

  They all filed into the room. James sat next to Suki on her bed, while Kana and Mitsue took the two chairs. Harue, with a grin, sat next to Matsuri, who was forced to sit up to get her legs out of the way.

  Everyone looked at him expectantly, but he was staring at Matsuri, working through the thought that had occurred to him.

  “Matsuri,” he said slowly. “You know about the Jade Warrior, don’t you.”

  “Of course I do,” Matsuri sniffed. “Dad tries to keep things from me, but when he locks his study, he forgets who the mechanical genius is in this family.”

  “And you’re in the Frame Club, so you would be a better pilot than me,” James said. “Do you want one of the co-pilot slots?”

  “Dad won’t let me.” Matsuri scowled. “He says it’s too dangerous.”

  “Too dangerous for you, but not for me?” James asked, feeling a little bit put upon. Sure, Matsuri was Professor Toei’s daughter, but still. “He said I could pick whoever I want, though, so…”

  “Yeah, well, he thinks the world about the ‘Chosen One’, but I bet he puts his foot down if you put my name up.”

  “Ooh, pick me! Pick me!” Harue piped up, waving her hand in the air. “I can’t wait to go stomping all over Tokyo!”

  James took a deep breath. “Look, it’s not like we take turns. It’s more like a ship’s bridge, where we’re each in charge of different functions.”

  Harue shrugged. “As long as I control the legs, we’re golden.”

  “Mental note,” James said aloud. “Make sure Harue doesn’t get control of the legs.”

  “Spoilsport,” Harue said, pouting and sticking out her tongue.

  “I, also, wish to participate in this venture,” Kana said.

  “Are you sure?” James asked. “This whole thing is about defeating a dragon, after all. Do you really want to fight for humans against one of your own kind?”

  “Has being a human ever stopped a human from attacking another one?” Kana said scornfully.

  “It has not,” Mitsue admitted.

  “It should have,” James said. “And, I don’t know, there were times when differences get set aside to deal with the greater threat…”

  Kana cut him off. “This Jade Warrior will allow me to defeat the Dragon God,” she said proudly. “Then I will be the greatest dragon in all of existence.”

  “You do know that the rest of us will be there, too, right?” James asked.

  “You are not dragons,” Kana sniffed. “You do not count.”

  “I’m not sure if I should accept that, but fine,” James said. “I’ll talk to the Professor when I get a chance.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Harue clapped excitedly. “Yay! But I don’t think that was why you brought us here?”

  “It wasn’t,” James admitted. “During the run, Akazuki Chiemi-san tried to kill me.” It felt a little weird to add -san to the end of the name of someone who wanted to kill him, but that was what his grammar lessons had told him to do.

  “Well, I hear that some of those obstacles can get a little rough, and if you manifested your armour, it would only be natural for them to step it up a bit,” Harue replied.

  James shuddered as he remembered the rock being pulverised under the impact of Tiffany’s basketballs. “I did see some of that,” he said. “But this was different. She said she could slip one death past the observers, and she was going to eat me.”

  Harue nodded agreeably. “Oh, well, that makes sense,” she said.

  “No, it doesn’t!” James protested. “How does that make sense?”

  “A girl’s gotta eat, you know?” Harue said. “She should be under the same restrictions as Kana here, but if she thought that she could slip something past the Student Council…”

  “Is that possible?” Kana asked with sudden interest. Everyone looked at her with alarm, but it was Harue who replied.

  “First of all, Kana, you can’t. You’re the opposite of a sneaky fox. If you killed a human, you’d fly up to the top of the nearest mountain—which has a shrine on it, by the way, with people—and bellow at the top of your voice: “I killed a human, and I’m going to eat him!” That’s not going to slip by the Council.”

  “I would not… necessarily do that,” Kana said stiffly. Harue ignored her.

  “And second of all, what have I told you about talking about hunting in front of the humans!”

  “Not to,” Kana said sullenly. “I apologise,” she said to the room. “That was in poor taste, and I forgot myself.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence that lasted until Mitsue coughed.

  “Am I to understand, Harue, that you already knew she was a kitsune?” he said.

  “I haven’t talked to her, but I’ve seen her around,” Harue confirmed. “Did you see how many tails she had?”

  “I did not, but it was more than two,” Mitsue told her.

  “That’s a shame. So what was your question?”

  “I—you—she—” James stuttered. “Are you saying that her trying to eat us was fine?”

  “It’s not like she managed it,” Harue said dismissively. “Are you saying it’s fine for her to starve to death?”

  “No, but she shouldn’t have to—be able to—” James took a deep breath. “Is she starving to death?”

  Harue shrugged. “She doesn’t look like it, and she’s been here for two years. She must have been getting her Ki from somewhere.”

  “You think she’s been killing people for two years!”

  “Probably not,” Harue mused. “Not on the island, anyway. Maybe she’s got a very lucky, very tired boyfriend.”

  “Ki draining causes exhaustion?” Mitsue asked.

  “It needn’t. It shouldn’t. As long as she doesn’t take it too far.” Harue grinned. “I was suggesting he’d be worn out from being up all night, having sex.”

  “I see,” Mitsue said disapprovingly.

  “If we could get back on the topic of the attempted murder of my boyfriend?” Suki put in.

  “Sure,” Harue said generously. “What did you want to know?”

  “Should I report it? Is Chiemi-san a danger to me, still? Or to others?”

  “Hmm.” Harue hummed thoughtfully. “You don’t have any evidence, right?”

  “No,” James admitted.

  “Then… I think the answer to all three questions is no.” Harue held her hand out to forestall his response. “Hold on, hear me out first.”

  “The answer to the first question is no,” Harue pontificated, “because it won’t accomplish anything and will be very tedious. Never fill out a form unless you have to.”

  “But what if—” James started.

  “That’s the answer to the third question,” Harue interjected. “The second answer is, no, she’s not a danger to you. For her to attack you when and where she did, she must have seen a gap in the protection that we have here.”

  Mitsue shifted uneasily. “The Administrators are not known for leaving gaps,” he said.

  “Wait,” James said, “What sort of protection are we talking about?”

  “Who knows?” Harue said. “Nobody knows how the Administrators keep the peace on Oshima. It seems like they let the Student Council take care of everything. But.”

  “But?” James asked.

  “But there are oracles involved,” Mitsue said. “Prophecies.”

  “Yeah, I’m on the end of one of those, myself,” James pointed out. “What does that mean?”

  “If you can see the future, you’re not playing the same game as everyone else,” Harue explained. “That gap that Chiemi-chan saw was there because the Administrators knew that coverage wasn’t needed. They knew she’d fail.”

  “What if she didn’t, though?” James asked.

  “She did, though,” Harue insisted. “There’s not much use in second-guessing a prophecy after it’s come true. And that’s why she’s not a danger. The Administrators are taking care of it.”

  “I’m not sure I trust these administrator people,” James grumbled.

  “Well, if you want to go after them, make sure your affairs are in order, ‘cause those folks saw you coming before you were even born,” Harue said.

  “Do not concern yourself,” Kana said. “I will inform Chiemi-chan that, as my minion, you are off limits.”

  “Hang on,” Harue said. She held up one finger while she thought. It was distracting enough that it actually worked for the three seconds she needed.

  “Nope!” she finally said. “My brief was to keep Kana away from conflict with humans. If she wants to pick a fight with a fox, then that’s fine.”

  “Minions?” James exclaimed.

  “Of course,” Kana said smugly. “You have been my minion for longer than the girls in the Idol Club, so you have seniority.”

  “And we’re back in the game,” Harue muttered. “Just leave it,” she advised James.

  “But she—”

  “What she thinks has no legal force,” Harue talked over him. “She doesn’t even know what those words mean.”

  “I do not,” Kana admitted.

  “She’s always been thinking it,” Harue continued. “And it’s been fine, so what if she says it?”

  “We do not wish to give the impression that we agree,” Mitsue said.

  Harue gave him a look. “What part of your interactions with Kana made you think that your consent was of any concern to her?”

  “That… is a good point,” Mitsue admitted. “But still…”

  “Dragons don’t think like humans,” Harue said. “You need to make adjustments when you’re dealing with spirits, we all have our little quirks. Dragons always think they’re in charge, foxes always lie.”

  “Wait a minute,” James said. “If foxes always lie, are you lying right now?”

  “Of course I am,” Harue said. “I’m surprised you even asked.”

  “So is it true?” Taro asked. “You’re going out with Ikari Suki-sama?”

  “Is -sama really necessary?” James asked. “She’s just one of your classmates.”

  “She’s one of the Three Heavenly Graces!” Taro protested. “And you’re going out with her!”

  “Wait, what did you call her?” James asked, struggling to make sure he’d gotten the translation right.

  “The three acknowledged leading beauties of the first year,” Tojo Masahiro, another of James’s classmates, put in. “Ikari Suki-sama, Konoe Kana-sama and Azai Fuyumi-sama.”

  “Hey now, there are plenty of beautiful girls in this class,” James said nervously. This was an understatement, if anything. James hadn’t noticed a single unattractive girl in the class. He would have thought it odd were it not for… everything else. Regardless, putting three girls on a pedestal over all the others was not, he thought, going to end well. Particularly when one of the girls was Kana.

  “None like those three,” Taro dissented. “They say that the now-second-years didn’t have anyone who could compete with Shimoyanagi Midoriko-sama, but this year has three!”

  “Have you touched her… You know?” Masahiro said. “Since you’re going out and all.”

  “I am definitely not answering that question, whatever it is,” James said firmly.

  “You’re so lucky,” Masahiro said, undeterred. “You get to sit at the Idol table, and the rest of that club are beautiful as well.”

  “You’re hogging all the cute girls!” Taro accused.

  “I’m not,” James said with what he hoped was appropriate firmness. “Look, I could introduce you, if you like?”

  “To who?” Taro asked.

  “Whoever you like,” James said, irritated. “Kana-san?” It’s probably safe, he thought, and at least she’ll appreciate being addressed with -sama.

  “We can’t!” the boys wailed.

  “Why not?”

  “We’d die if she looked at us!” Masahiro exclaimed. “That icy disdain! The cold glare she gives!”

  “Do you think she’d step on us?” Taro added. “Oh, that our cooling corpses could support her imperious tread!”

  “Okay, you guys are just being weird now,” James said. He took a deep breath. “Hatakiyama Kiamori-sensei.”

  The demeanour of the two boys instantly changed.

  “That’s not fair,” Taro said. “To toy with our emotions like that.”

  “We’re not gay, you know. We just…” Masahiro didn’t manage to finish his sentence.

  “It snapped you out of it, so I’m calling it a win,” James said. “I’ll see you in the next class, I’ve got to talk to the Professor.”

  The boys left, after some more vigorous protests that they weren’t gay.

  “Hello, Professor,” James said once the crowd had died down.

  “Ah, yes,” Professor Toei said, looking around to check for eavesdroppers. “Have you considered what I said?”

  “I have,” James said. “I was thinking that Matsuri-san would—”

  “No.” Professor Toei said flatly. “I forbid it.”

  James frowned. “It’s fine for me, but not for her?” he asked.

  Professor Toei sighed. “Look, James-san, I’ve never claimed to be a person without self-interest. If the prophecy required my daughter, it would be different, but I want to keep her out of this. I won’t allow it.”

  “But you’re happy with Kana joining us on my say-so.”

  “The thought of putting a dragon in the Jade Warrior fills me with dread,” Professor Toei admitted. “But she is a strong fighter. She would be an asset to our side. If you vouch for her… then I’ll put my fears aside. But I won’t sacrifice my daughter to my obsession.”

  “Fine,” James said, "Kana and Harue it is.”

  The professor nodded. “I’ll set up another trip for this weekend,” he said. “I’ll get back to you with the time.”

  “Any luck on finding the power stones?” James asked.

  “There has been some progress,” Professor Toei said. “I’ll let the researchers present it when you’re on the island.”

  “All right,” James said. “I’ll see you Saturday.”

  couple of Grogs, who are low-status guards, cooks, whatever. You don't play them all at the same time; the party is a mix of the three types. The Grogs don't matter, and the advice of the game is that because they don't matter, you can go to town with them, and do all sorts of stupid things that you wouldn't normally do with a PC character that mattered.