3-7 The Conspiracy Closing in on Ichikishimahime

1: Away to Choshi

TV (Reporter): The submarine thought to be carrying Ichikishimahime is currently sailing in the waters off the Boso Peninsula!
TV (Reporter): From here, we will watch as the self-defense force captures the submarine and apprehends Ichikishimahime!
Mihono: Wh-What's going on...? Why is the self-defense force going after the submarine Yukari-sama and Ichikishimahime are on...?
Mirja: It's highly likely that President Takatsu has been influencing things behind closed doors.
Kiyoka: Then, President Takatsu got close to government officials so she could get the self-defense force involved...?
Kofuki: I don't get all the details, but the important part is, we're in trouble, right?
Chie: We are... If the self-defense force captures Ichikishimahime, they're sure to send her to Tagitsuhime.
Chie: And, after absorbing her, Tagitsuhime will have fully returned to her old self...
Mihono: But then... There has to be something we can do to help...
Akane: --Excuse me. Are all the members of the investigation team present here?
Chie: We are. We were all just watching what's happening on TV.
Akane: Good, that makes this quicker. I have new orders for you.
Akane: Please depart for Choshi at once, to provide aid for Origami Yukari and Ichikishimahime.
Chie: Choshi? They said on TV that the submarine is sailing by the Boso Peninsula...
Akane: Yukari and Ichikishimahime escaped in a life boat, and have already landed in Choshi Bay.
Akane: The imperial guard are searching the area though, and it is only a matter of time before they're found.
Akane: Which is why I want all of you going to rescue them. Kanami-san, Hiyori-san, Maki-san, and Suzuka-san have already left for Choshi.
Mirja: I understand the situation. However, Choshi is quite far from here. Even in a speeding car it could still take over three hours...
Akane: I know, which is why I've prepared a helicopter for you.
Kofuki: For real!? Now things are getting exciting!

2: The Strength of Yukari (1)

Yukina: --Princess, you'll be glad to hear this. We've found where Ichikishimahime landed after disappearing from the submarine.
Yukina: Though, there is no need for you to go out, Princess. I will have Ichikishimahime brought here to you.
Tagitsu: Will you? Then I will wait, for now.
Yukina: Of course. I promise, I will bring back good news.
--At that time, on Choshi Bridge.

Imperial Guard A: Sh-She's too much...!!
Imperial Guard B: This is what it's like, to fight Origami Yukari...!!
Yukari: --Taking in noro can bring out your potential strength, but it can't teach you to fight a real battle.
Yukari: The imperial guard cannot stop me. This is reckless of you, Yukina.
Imperial Guard A: D-Don't let her get to you! Attack-!

3: The Strength of Yukari (2)

Imperial Guard A: Ggh... Ghah...
Ichikishima: Have you dealt with them all?
Yukari: If you would draw Juzumaru, we would have an easier time breaking through here.
Ichikishima: A momentary victory has no meaning...
Ichikishima: Yukari, I am tired.
Ichikishima: Abandoned by both Tagitsuhime and Takirihime, I remain in this world alone...
Yukari: If you can talk that much, you're doing fine. We're moving.
Ichikishima: You slave driver...

4: The Search is On! (1)

Mihono: We got to Choshi in no time! That's a helicopter for you!
Kiyoka: But now, which way should we be going...?
Mirja: Though we're here to rescue them, we don't have an accurate idea of Ichikishimahime's current position.
Kofuki: Ichikishimahime's an aradama-chan, so can't we track her down with the spectrum finder?
Mirja: Unfortunately, due to the high concentration of aradama in the area, our spectrum finders won't be of any use.
Chie: Couldn't we call Yukari-sama and ask her directly?
Mirja: Origami Yukari-sama seems to have powered off her phone. There is a possibility that her phone's signal could broadcast her location to President Takatsu, after all.
Chie: Then that means, until we get an idea of where to go, we're waiting here...
Mihono: We can't just stand around! Let's follow our intuition for now!
Kiyoka: Your intuition? Hono-chan...
Kofuki: Nah, I'm with Mihocchi here. Let's go around wiping out every aradama-chan the spectrum finders pick up!
Kofuki: --Or I'd like to at least, but first, we've got company.
Mihono: Huh...? --Ahh! The imperial guard!
Imperial Guard A: We came to investigate the landing of an unknown helicopter, and if it isn't the infamous investigation team.
Imperial Guard B: I'm sure you came hoping to rescue Ichikishimahime, but we aren't about to allow it!

5: The Search is On! (2)

Kofuki: Now that the party crashers are dealt with, let's follow Mihocchi's intuition all the way to Ichikishimahime!
Chie: But, couldn't it make things worse if we move around carelessly...?
Mirja: I checked with Origami Akane-sama just now. It sounds as though she's already taken that into consideration.
Mirja: However, the government is watching closely, so she has asked us to cause as little of a commotion as possible.
Mirja: ...As well as that, if we encounter any imperial guard during our search, we should expect to fight again. Please be prepared.
Mihono: Understood! We should get moving then!
Mirja: ...Yes, I agree.
Kiyoka: ......
Kiyoka: (...Mirja-san noticed. That during that fight with the imperial guard, I still hesitated...)
Kiyoka: (No... I'm fine. I'll be fine. I made a promise. Where there's a will, there's a way...)

6: Princess of Denial (1)

Yukari: Phew...
Ichikishima: So even you get tired.
Yukari: After the constant series of attacks from the imperial guard, anyone would.
Ichikishima: The imperial guard... All their attacks so far, to offer me to Tagitsuhime?
Ichikishima: What great lengths they go to...
Imperial Guard A: --There they are!! It's Origami Yukari and Ichikishimahime!
Imperial Guard B: Don't let them get away!
Yukari: Another wave then.
Ichikishima: Yukari, will you still fight?
Yukari: That goes without saying.
Yukari: As for you, are you still not going to draw Juzumaru?
Ichikishima: I told you before, did I not. A temporary victory is meaningless. I've grown tired.
Yukari: I see. Then keep quiet and stand there.

6: Princess of Denial (2)

Ichikishima: ...Sigh.
Yukari: What are you sighing for now?
Ichikishima: Pity, for the imperial guard acting as tools for Tagitsuhime.
Ichikishima: After searching for one as worthless as myself, only to be beaten about by Yukari, I cannot help but pity them.
Yukari: ...At the very least, Tagitsuhime thinks you're worth enough to order her guard to capture you.
Yukari: Is there nothing you can do about that self-defeating attitude of yours?
Ichikishima: There is nothing to be done.
Ichikishima: In contrast to Tagitsuhime of vengeance and Takirihime of dominance, I am only Ichikishimahime of denial.
Yukari: That's the first I've heard of those titles...

7: The Place We Should Go Is (1)

Kofuki: Come on, Mihocchi's intuition, show us the way to Yukari-sama and Ichikishimahime!
Mihono: My intuition can't handle the pressure... At least let me find a hint or something...
Mirja: I was just thinking, could we not get information from the imperial guard searching in the area?
Mirja: We can also discover how aware the imperial guard are of Ichikishimahime's movements, which would be two birds with one stone.
Chie: Mirja-san, that's a great idea.
Kofuki: But, how do we get the imperial guard to tell us anything? Are we gonna torture them?
Kiyoka: Don't suggest something so scary...
Chie: --!! Everyone, there's some imperial guard over that way. Let's hide for a moment and listen to what they're saying.
Imperial Guard A: --The ones who arrived before us still haven't managed to capture Ichikishimahime?
Imperial Guard B: It appears that the guards who went to secure her have all been defeated by Origami Yukari.
Imperial Guard C: That means, even having lost Tagitsuhime-sama's power, Origami Yukari is still going strong.
Imperial Guard C: In that case, where should we go?
Imperial Guard B: After Origami Yukari and Ichikishima landed on Choshi's beach, they seem to have continued heading north.
Kofuki: ...Get a load of these idiots. Just sharing important info where anybody can hear.
Kiyoka: Kofuki-san, don't badmouth them...
Kofuki: So since they knew where Yukari-sama's going, now all we have to do is beat 'em up and go north.
Kiyoka: Eh-!? We're going to fight them now!?
Kofuki: Duh, of course we are.
Mihono: Yeah, I agree with Fukki. Their goal is to catch Ichikishimahime, so sooner or later we're going to have to fight them anyway.
Mihono: And it'll be easier if we attack them now, before they can group up with the other guards.
Mirja: You two have the right idea.
Mihono: Okay then, everybody, let's go!

8: The Place We Should Go Is (2)

Chie: Phew... Thank goodness we defeated them safely.
Mirja: They said that Origami Yukari-sama was headed north from Choshi beach.
Mirja: Taking that into consideration, what do you say we move to Kashima north of Choshi, and begin searching our way south from there?
Kiyoka: I think that might work.
Mihono: Good thing they knew Yukari-sama's route. Thinking about it, there's no way following my intuition would get us anywhere...
Kofuki: But hey, once we get to Kashima, we might actually have to count on it for real to help us find Ichikishimahime.
Mihono: Uugh... I never should've brought it up in the first place...

9: An Elite Guard of Only Three (1)

Yume: Here we gooo! The three of us are gonna save Yukari-sama-!
Maki: Yume... Even if you forced your way out of the hospital, will you really be okay?
Suzuka: The situation may be dire enough to need everything we can offer, but you have to be mindful of your condition.
Yume: I'll be fine! Besides, there's no way I could sit around at a time like this!
Yume: And anyway, is there really any point in me staying in the hospital? Yeah I cough sometimes, but I'm not sick, right?
Yume: The doctor's are all confused too, cause they don't know which way to treat me.
Maki: You're not wrong... They can give you an IV when you have no appetite, and blood transfusions when you get anemic, but there's no treatment for the underlying problem.
Maki: What's seems to be behind most of your suffering is that the soul of yours we got back from the netherworld still hasn't adapted to your body yet.
Yume: Hmm... So does it have something to do with the noro still in my body?
Maki: I don't think there's any way it's not related.
Suzuka: It's due to the aradama power you were given that you could be recovered from the netherworld, but it also brought you this hardship...
Suzuka: Though, Maki-san and I can hardly speak as bystanders.
Suzuka: The noro continues to remain within our bodies as well.
Maki: That's right. There's still too many mysteries surrounding noro. Something could always go wrong with our bodies too.
Maki: Of course, when we were injected with noro, we were prepared for that, but--
Aradama: SHAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Yume: Aha-! Onee-sans! An aradama showed up! That's a pretty unlucky aradama, running into us like that, huh!
Suzuka: It certainly is. We hardly have the time, so let's dispose of it at once.

10: An Elite Guard of Only Three (2)

Yume: It's been so long since I got to have fun fighting aradama with you two-!
Maki: Seeing the way you fought just now, it's looking like we worried about you for nothing.
Suzuka: I'll say. Though, if anything begins to feel wrong to you, tell us at once, understand?
Yume: I know what to do by now. You worry too much, Suzuka-onee-san.
Maki: Good, then let's keep going.
Yume: Okaaay! Just you wait, Yukari-sama-!
Yume: (...It's okay. It doesn't hurt that bad. I can handle it. There's no way I was just going to sit tight in the hospital...!!)

11: Let's Talk (1)

Ichikishima: ...I have grown tired of running.
Ichikishima: I may as well submit myself and be absorbed into Tagitsuhime...
Yukari: If you have the leisure to make stupid suggestions, then you should be moving your feet.
Yukari: When you split off from Tagitsuhime, you had a desire you wanted accomplished, didn't you. Are you fine with dying leaving that undone?
Ichikishima: A desire...
Ichikishima: I desired to sublimate humanity to greater heights through fusion with aradama, at one point.
Ichikishima: But none would desire such lofty ideals...
Ichikishima: I had hoped to prove my existence was not unnecessary... But I am tired.
Yukari: Then you're giving up?
Ichikishima: None around me will forgive me.
Yukari: I see. Though that means nothing to me.
Yukari: Whether or not anyone forgives you, I made up my mind to protect you.
Yukari: Even if they all wanted otherwise, I would never give you to Tagitsuhime.
Ichikishima: Yukari...
Imperial Guard A: Everyone, target sighted! It's Origami Yukari and Ichikishimahime!!
Imperial Guard B: Circle around them, so they can't escape! Don't give them anywhere to run! Make sure we're the ones to bring her in!

12: Let's Talk (2)

Yukari: All the imperial guard in our surroundings have been dealt with. We can get some rest at last.
Ichikishima: ...I cannot understand. Why won't you break?
Ichikishima: For these twenty years, we were with you. And yet, as we wore away at you, you endured it all.
Ichikishima: From where do you find it? That strength of yours?
Yukari: You want to know? Then I'll tell you.
Yukari: You won't be able to understand just by watching, so speak with me.
Ichikishima: Communicating intent through conversation...?
Yukari: As you've said, humanity is immature. Thinking we can understand each other without conversation is nonsense.
Yukari: From speaking with you... For example, I was surprised to find how unexpectedly talkative you are.
Yukari: I thought you would be the silent type... Frankly, I was puzzled at first.
Ichikishima: Mm...
Yukari: I'm not very good at it myself, but this is how humans come to understand each other.
Yukari: --Though, saying that, it can be a problem when someone comes to understand you too well.
Yukari: Only you could have traced me this far. --Yuzuki.
Yuzuki: ...Only because you're easy to figure out, Yukari.
Other: Justified Scrutiny
Yume: Come on, onee-sans! I'm gonna leave you behind with how slow you're going-! Yukari-sama might get mad if you keep her waiting-!
Maki: ...Suzuka.
Suzuka: I know. She's not yet in good shape.
Maki: But who knows what she'd get up to if we forced her to rest.
Suzuka: She's quite the troublemaker, isn't she.
Maki: It actually feels better having her where I can see her. Especially at a time like this.
Suzuka: Though it's true that her health is coming back to her. This is a good chance to see how well she's recovered.
Maki: You have a point. But we have to make sure we don't lose sight of her.
Suzuka: Naturally. What a handful she can be, honestly. Fufufu.