Chapter 45

"Gah!" I exclaimed, more in frustration rather than pain, as my face met with the floor again.

"As much as the secondhand embarrassment can be felt from here, are you sure this can work?" Asked Kuroko in equal parts concern and equal parts flatness. She had been supervising my multiple attempts of unaided flight for the past hour that she grew used to the sight of me diving to the concrete.

"I know this will work because I've seen my sister do it." I said while crossing my legs and sitting down where I fell to catch a short break. "I've seen Kagerou-neesan fly. I've seen Wakasagihime-neesan fly. I've seen Kogasa and Reimu do it before too! Flying is a staple from where I'm from so there no reason for me to not be able to do it too! I just have to figure it out."

"Right. I suppose you would be in the right to be so frustrated about it." She said as her gaze shifted to her right, towards the books that she let down.

"How about you? How's your study progressing?" I asked her for a change of pace. I had noticed how she had been reading the book for a few minutes at a time before bringing it down again over the course of the hour she'd been accompanying me.

"It... Could be better I suppose." She sighed. "It has inspired new ways to experiment with my own ability, but the difficulty lies in translating magic literature to coherent and quantitative science." She shot a dirty gaze at the tome. "It doesn't help the fact that it uses mystic idioms and metaphors as descriptors that, mind you, assume the reader is from your side and is culturally outdated. How do you even understand this sort of thing?"

"Well... I don't know about wards specifically, but the stuff I learnt just kinda comes naturally to me." I shrugged, much to her chagrin. "I guess part of the reason why I get it so easily is because I grew up in that sort of place. Or maybe instincts."

Kuroko seemed to deflate a bit in resignation at my own uncertainty. "I don't suppose you'll be able to help translate these for me either?"

"Uh, probably not." I replied offhandedly before immediately answering as I saw her deflate even more at my autonomous thoughtless comment. "But I can look around for more modern inscriptions and the like. Just because I don't know doesn't mean everyone else does."

"Right." I inwardly heaved a sigh of relief as she seemed to perk right back up at that. "That would be most appreciated. Thank you."

What a pile of books compared to someone trustworthy. Wouldn't wanna lose an important friend after all.

Now that the conversation has come to an empass, my thoughts wander back to the issue of flight, and Kuroko back to her wards, I'm sure.

Everyone back home made it seem so easy to just take off to the skies at any given moment and yet they hardly ever done so- now that I think about it. Even back when we fought with AFO, most of them didn't fly.

I don't think it had anything to do with The Downfall so it probably isn't that, but it's still largely probable enough to be considered as a possibility.

The way they fly- they most likely have different methods that work on them but how exactly? Do they coat the entirety of their bodies in magic or spiritual power and carry themselves with it? Or do they simply believe in themselves like a fairytale come to life?

Actually, the last part might have worked on Cirno and the gang, being actual fairies and all.

But hypothetically, if that was the case then wouldn't it mean that there are different ways to fly just as many different species of supernaturals there are residing in Gensokyo? Meaning that a Rokurokubi like myself have their own species-specific method of flight.

It doesn't have anything to do with heads ---With the way Sekibanki likes to flourish her capelet around to let it flow in the wind and all.-- and it isn't just using whatever it is that make up my smoke to coat underneath my skin and carry myself with that. ---Hurts too much. Good thing Kuroko caught me before a particularly nasty fall.--

I should also think of a way to create a proper disguise to connect my imminent capability to fly and my usual abilities, or at least, an even better excuse to reason with the media and other close associates.

Air mobility is too good of an advantage to not take even at the risk of suspicions.

The small of amount of people who can take to the air do fairly well off no matter the specialization. Be it combat, search, rescue or espionage, people that can fly would be greatly appreciated.

My thoughts were interrupted by my phone, notifying me of a message.

"Hm. Looks like Haru is missing the first semester this year." I mused. "Time off to think and settle. Plus, I don't think his parents are gonna stop watching like a hawk anytime soon."

"I see." She nodded as she looks up from her book. "That is the normal response for post kidnapping and human experimentation. If anything, I'm surprised he's only being held back a single semester."

"Oh, he isn't. The latter part, I mean." I corrected myself. "Pretty sure Uiharu is gonna send him the study material and whatnot. Y'know, just in case."

"That is nice of her." Kuroko smiled at the thought of her friend's stubborness at odd instances. "Although it would still be up to Haru himself to study those. As you've said, he's taking time off to reflect and relax. I'm sure he already has enough on his plate as is."

"Yeah, I figured." I said as I waved to gesture my phone. "I already sent a text, telling her to at least lay off of him for a week or so. She promised."

"That's good."

"Hm."

"...Speaking of which..." Kuroko started as she looked like something propped into her head. "Oneesama seems to have appeared to taken a liking towards a brute recently."

"A... Brute?" Did it really happen? The Sisters Project isn-... Wait, is it? I mean, we've dealt with clones and Bio-engineered villains already so it wouldn't be too left field if the Sisters Project was still created for some reason or another. Level 5 or not, objectively speaking there are plenty of uses for a powerful electrokinetic with enough technical know-how and even finer control that she can hack into databases.

"Hm." She gave a curt nod in confirmation. "I'm not too keen on the details myself, but Oneesama seemed to have come across a magic user of sorts and had to fight alongside the ape on multiple occasions."

"Um... When, where, how and even why?"

"I suppose I already told you the 'what'" she chuckled. "If I recall, In order:" She ticked off her fingers one by one. "The events happened in scattered frequency so I wouldn't have an accurate date of the account. Here and there, but mostly in the city. With magic and quirks, I assume. And no clue." She replied. And I didn't know whether if she was being sarcastic or cheeky. "What I do know is that Oneesama has grown closer to the primeape due to frequent occuring events. Because of the obvious connection to your side, I was hoping if you would be willing to aid me in looking into the matter."

For a moment, I thought about the repercussions about doing such a thing but all that went out the proverbial window when an intrusive thought about pranking the bane of supernaturals tickled my normally suppressed nature of a troublemaking Youkai.

"Sure." I lightly smirked. "You can count on me anytime." A different thought went to my head. "That reminds me, you and Hii-chan have been getting along lately haven't you?"

"Yes, you could say that." She nodded. "She is a pleasant person to talk with, all things considered. Although, that other girl, Mugi-chan was it? She isn't a bad person per day but I would take some getting used to."

"You be fine. She knows when to reign in herself." I chuckled at the thought. The irony of anime Kuroko compared to Mugi-chan is something I'll take to my grave.

"I suppose." She slightly shrugged her shoulders. "And you? Your wellbeing is a common point in our conversations. Especially with the recent occurance."

"Suprisingly, I'm taking it in stride." I honestly admitted. "It was odd being so calm but I already have a pretty good idea as to what actually transpired."

"Oh? Do tell."

I explained to her the gist of the beings known as tsukomogami. After that, I informed her of the little ones that I carry around with me. I even showed her the little attention-hungry bell.

"I see. Fascinating." She said as she gently held the tiny Tsukomogami. I'm glad that she wasn't off putted by something like this. Wait, why did I think that? "And you believe the reason for your unusually levelheaded demeanor at the time is due to her?"

"That is the only possible explanation that I can think of." I responded while filing away my earlier thoughts to be reviewed later. "The other one,the bracelet I mean, developed a minor telekinesis recently and the bell has been awake for far longer so I think there is a fairly good chance of my theory being correct."

"Hm." She nodded as she handed me back the bell, that was preening --Chiming-- at the attention. "Hii-chan did say something about this vaguely, about the ways you spend your time outside of other duties."

"You guys talk about me a lot, I take it?"

"There were little other we could discuss considering we are from differing sides."

"I could say the same about you. It's not like you were known to spend much time outside of your duties."

"True. But it isn't too bad." She said. "It's not like there's is always something happening that needed intervention. Unlike the time you spend in hospitals. We just didn't want a repeat of what happened before."

"That was months ago."

"Exactly. Now moving on." She switched topics. "You hobby in painting, I was wondering if you would have displayed publicly."

"Why?"

"Why, it would be a shame if you left something so well made in the dark like that."

"It's not like I can display those."

"Ah right." She let out a small gasp. "Apologies, I forgot they were from your previous home."

"It's fine. But I guess I was thinking about putting something in display." Unknowingly, a hand went up to stroke the ribbon on the back of my head. "Besides, granny was also taking to me about it. I... May have created some new pieces that would raise less questions for the sole purpose of putting them up somewhere."

"That's wonderful news!" She exclaimed. The previous negativity gone. "When would it be available, if I may ask? I would love to be there on your debut! Oh, and the other would love to attend, I'm sure!"

"Right, I still ironing out the details so I can't give anything concrete yet. But I'll tell you when it ready."

"Lovely." She suddenly received a text. Her smile disappeared as she read her phone. "Hm? Apologies, we need to cut today's session short. My presence is need back at the dorms."

"It's fine." I waved. "Later, then."

She bid me farewell and disappeared as she teleported away in her usual fashion. I laid down on the ground as my mind went back to my present dilemma. My gaze couldn't help but wander the skies but it stopped by a certain celestial object.

'It couldn't be that easy, right?' I thought.