[b]Kotori Shirohane - Ferrero Mall: Yoshida Book Café | Monday, July 20 2015 - After School[/b]

Kotori cocked her head to a side when Rui concluded the discussion with the resolution to talk to Shizuka about the matter - but her worries that her previous thoughts about the other girl had somehow been so easy to read were quickly dissuaded when she realised that, unlike her, he was still talking about the topic at hand and thus was simply seeking more input on the matter. At least, that's what Kotori took from it, given that she knew little of her fellow Agriculture Club member's exact involvement with Star Drop Café. Kotori still glanced between the others at the table when silence fell upon them once more for a few seconds more to see if anyone would speak up - but when no one did, she let out an inaudible sigh before turning her gaze back on the book before her; even as she felt her guilty conscience creep up once more when she took a sip from the unbidden but not unwelcome glass of water. It didn't take long for this to vanish though when the book's story received her full attention.

[b]Kotori Shirohane - Abandoned Warehouse | Wednesday, July 22 2015[/b]

Having spent most of the morning helping her mother around the family flower shop, Kotori had headed to her room to make some more headway on the summer homework. She'd already begun therewith after she'd returned home from her unexpected visit to Yoshida's and was feeling somewhat optimistic that it shouldn't take too much longer to get everything finished up and thus not have to worry about it for the rest of the break. Unfortunately, however, she hadn't even started when she almost jumped out of her seat at the sudden ring of her cellphone. Not a prolific user thereof, she was still surprised whenever she got a message - and given the usual contents thereof, she didn't look forward to seeing who it might be from.

Her fears were proven well founded when saw that it was once more a call to gather up at the warehouse - new developments needed discussing and another expedition into the mirror realm was very likely. Whilst it didn't mention any kidnappings, Kotori couldn't help but feel her worries and fears return anew as got ready to head down the by now worryingly familiar way to the warehouse.

She was neither the first nor the last to arrive, though they didn't have to wait too long. Whilst some had to excuse themselves for various reasons, there were more than enough people present to field a full team or two - but that did little to lift Kotori's spirits when Kazuki and Megumi began to explain the situation. Ayano supported Megumi's findings that an unknown area had been located and that, according to Kaminari's investigations, they might finally be on track to finding this cult's leader. However, the fact that no one was in need of rescuing did at least serve to lighten Kotori's mood, if only a little.

Almost immediately thereafter, a squawk drew everyone's eyes to Zeke. The bird spread its wings and lifted off, wasting no time to push off into the mirror - not exactly an everyday sight when seeing the others passing through was still an uncanny experience. Still, Zeke had proven to be a great help before, so there was little reason to doubt that it was doing this without some purpose - agreement was quickly reached on this before the rest of the investigation team followed suit. As ever, Kotori held her breath in apprehension as she stepped through the mirror; only releasing it on the other side when the surreal feeling that always followed had passed.

[b]Kotori Shirohane - Mirror World: Seto | Wednesday[/b]

Zeke lead the group onwards, always flying ahead before perching just within view and waiting for them to catch up. The bird seemed to know exactly where it wanted them to go and, for a lack of any other directions, they were quick to follow. The path they travelled on took them through the many streets of this mirror image of Warakuma; the buildings on either side always seeming just a little bit off as they skirted the verge of mundanely familiar and utterly bizarre - at least until they turned on corner and suddenly found that they'd just stepped off the concrete pavement and onto similarly ashen sand. An unearthly green glow washed over the entire scenery - but Kotori was hard-pressed to say if this came from the light in the sky - whether it was a moon or a sun, she couldn't tell - or the depths of the vast sea before them, flanked all around by tall mountains far off in the distance.

Yet what caught most everyone's attention was the only colour that broke the gloomy scenery in the form of an enormous torii that seemed to stand as a gate between the grey sands they stood upon and the green waters that lay beyond. The fact that Zeke had chosen it as his final perching place only served to further everyone's suspicions that what they were looking on was not just another minor quirk of this mirror realm; the strange ripple in reality - for what it was worth here - immediately bringing a portal into yet stranger worlds to mind.

The sight brought about much muttering among those gathered - but it wasn't until Megumi suddenly spoke up in surprise at sensing another presence that everyone could tear their eyes away from this most strange scenery. Even after delving into several dungeons and experiencing their blatant violation of common sense first hand, Kotori just could not get used to the oddities that made up the mirror world - but she did her best to try to quell the unending stream of questions that sprang forth at every sight that presented itself to her as she gave a slow nod to Kaminari's words.

But even if she agreed with the notion that they had to get to the bottom of this, Kotori could not help but feel a sense of unease at this newest turn of events and most blatant transgression against reality as they knew it to date.