[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/8Yd0SFC/Frog-Shrine-3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/mJqWtBQ.png[/img][/center]

Hizuki was soaring above Hibusa once again. She climbed higher than usual, as she wasn’t scanning the streets for miseria, hostile magical girls, or people in need, but just going somewhere. [i]She said she wouldn’t be hard to find, and she looked kinda like a shrine maiden. . . I think someone mentioned frogs on the mountain, too?[/i] Her body tilted into a lazy banking turn, bringing the towering landform into view. [i]Yeah, that’s probably right.[/i]

Her wings flashed as she put more magic in, darting toward the mountain. From the air, it didn’t take long to see the distinct cutout of human structures in the verdant terrain. She let off the proverbial gas again, gliding down toward the shrine’s entrance. As she drew close, Hizuki pulled upward a bit, bleeding off the rest of her momentum. She came to a moving stop, losing the rest of her speed with a few running steps before glancing around to look for the frog-themed magical girl from the other day.

The sun was already setting by the time Haruna made land at the shrine, painting the whole place in a golden hue. Apart from the chirps of the cicadas throughout the mountain’s surrounding woods, there was not a sound to be heard. The stone stairs led to a Torii entrance that led to the main Shrine’s ground. It had two buildings - The shrine, centered towards the back, and Sayuri’s - that is, the shrine keepers - house more to the side. A pathway beside the shrine led to the woods and, eventually, the cemetery where Sayuri first met Boleite. 

Exactly as intended, this place was the perfect refuse from the hectic city lifestyle. 

[color=82ca9d]"You actually came!"[/color] Haruna heard chirp nearby. The door of the house closed behind the girl now advancing towards the guest. She had blond hair tied at the back and modern clothing this time, not the whole shrine maiden attire.

[color=82ca9d]"We’re done for the day, but the Shrine’s always open of course. I’m guessing you’re not here for praying or good luck, though?"[/color] This Sayuri was a bit less quippy, and seemed more downright positive and outgoing than the Kaeru Haruna met last time. 

[color=fff79a]"Of course I came,"[/color] Hizuki said, turning toward the girl she only knew as Kaeru as she replied. [color=fff79a]"I said I would, and it doesn’t take me very long to go places."[/color] She looked around at the shrine. [color=fff79a]"I could probably use some good luck, given how things have been going for. . . a while, but no, I didn’t come here for another blessing."[/color]

Sayuri’s smile turned to an exaggerated frown; [color=82ca9d]"Nonsense! Here."[/color] she took Haruna’s hand as if they had been friends already, leading her towards the shrine proper. Once there she took an Ema, a wooden plaque, and began writing on it with a small brush. 

[color=82ca9d]"Did you think about what we spoke about?"[/color] she dropped, as she was still looking down, writing. 

[color=fff79a]"If you’re asking whether I’m going to ditch the Detention Club, the answer is no."[/color] She shook her head for emphasis. [color=fff79a]"They really do need my help, I think. Not that they’re exactly making it easy to do that, but they’re still people. Mostly pretty miserable people, as far as I can tell. They’re all so afraid, it hurts to watch sometimes."[/color] Haruna sighed, letting her transformation go as she did so. [color=fff79a]"And it’s not like there’s no reason. The GEMs just straight up abducted Acid Drop off the street to do who-knows-what to her."[/color]

There was a moment of silence where Sayuri finished writing and put the plaque down, still looking straight ahead. Haruna’s words resonated a bit, of course. [color=82ca9d]"Yeah, they really do."[/color] she said alluding to the needed Haruna’s help bit.

[color=82ca9d]"Of course you won’t ditch your friends - and asking you to would be so wrong of me!"[/color] Sayuri grabbed some colorful little strands of thread and began to tie them together to the plaque. 

[color=82ca9d]"I know we just met, but I’m still, you know… worried a bit. Apart from the nature of simply being…a member of that Club, I just have such a hard time believing their feelings is mutual. Worried for you, that is."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"It's hard to say,"[/color] Haruna said, shrugging. [color=fff79a]"I think Evil Eye cares what happens to me, even if she's kinda inscrutable. I don't know Earthshaker that well, but her partner Nyxia seems to like me. Willow. . ."[/color] Haruna shook her head. [color=fff79a]"I have no idea honestly, and Rei thinks I'm interesting. I don't know if most of those count as worried, but it doesn't really matter. I'm a big girl, I'll be okay."[/color] She smiled, as if to emphasize the point. [color=fff79a]"All I need is to know I'm doing good by someone."[/color]

Sayuri finished binding the plaque while listening to Haruna. 
[color=82ca9d]"I’ll be honest with you. As selfish as they are, as evil as some of them can be, The Club… they seem to at least care for one another, I can give them that much. In their own way"[/color] she started to hang the plaque on the wall alongside many other, all of which had little prayers and messages written on them. [color=82ca9d]"...which I *don’t* understand, mind you."[/color]

She then bowed twice to the shrine. 
[color=82ca9d]"But we’re supposed to do more than just that. Friends are important, but we’re meant to project *everyone*. No? And I’m not saying that the GEMs do it right, or defending what they did or how they did it. Whatever they were aiming to do anyway."[/color] She clapped her hands together twice and closed her eyes.

[color=fff79a]”I [i]am[/i] still protecting everyone. I’ve been going on patrols constantly, but that’s not the main thing. Think about it. If the dark girls of Hibusa are actually happy and don’t feel terrified of light girls coming to beat them up or drive them away all the time, then they won’t need to try so hard to get strong.”[/color] She looked as if she were about to continue, then looked between the other girl and the shrine. Haruna hadn’t come for a blessing, but she did still want to be respectful, so she gave it her own couple of bows and waited a moment for Sayuri to finish. 


When Sayuri opened her eyes again, she smiled at Haruna upon seeing her respect the Shrine even though it was written all over her ths wasn’t why she was here.

[color=82ca9d]"I have no reason to doubt you, it’s just… I’m not sure if I believe as much as you do that any of the Club members would act as you believe they would. As far as my understanding goes, the Club started from selfish desires, not fear. Trust me, Rei aptly demonstrated just how much she did not fear me back then."[/color] she said, speaking of some past event without trying to clarify what had exactly transpired. 

 [color=82ca9d]"But…"[/color] Sayuri continued, changing the subject immediately [color=82ca9d]"Frogs are powerful symbols for good luck but also the safe return of anyone looking for their home. I like to think it also means not losing sight of where we come from. This Shrine’s kami is represented by a Frog."[/color] Sayuri produced a small bag from one of her pockets that she had prepared earlier; an Omamori.

[color=82ca9d]"Like I said, I didn’t want your visit just to debate or change your mind. I wanted to give you this, a small charm I made for you. For good luck, but also so you never lose sight of your home, your ideals. It’s okay to prop up your friends, but just be careful not to let them - or your mission - drag you down into the same kind of darkness."[/color]

Haruna smiled at the gift, but there was a distinctly hollow look to her expression, the happiness not quite reaching her baggy eyes. [color=fff79a]"Remember home, huh?"[/color] She took the charm and turned her gaze down to where it rested in her hands. [color=fff79a]"And my ideals."[/color] Her hand closed around the bag, and she nodded once. [color=fff79a]"Yeah, I can do that."[/color] Haruna looked back up at Sayuri. [color=fff79a]"I really appreciate this."[/color] She hadn’t been very superstitious before, but now that she was a literal magical girl, Haruna had begun to give a little more credit to things like gods and blessings. [color=fff79a]". . . You know, I don’t think we ever introduced ourselves with our actual names."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"Oh!"[/color] Sayuri’s face perked up at the realization of just how right her new friend was [color=82ca9d]"You’re right! You only got to see me at work. Well, I’m Sayuri Kotowaza. My family and I have been the keepers of Hibusa’s Shrine for a while now so I’ve been in Hibusa all my life. Nice to properly meet you."[/color] she said, yet again giving her a polite bow and a big smile. 

[color=fff79a]"Haruna Maeda,"[/color] she replied, returning the bow. [color=fff79a]"I only moved into Hibusa a couple weeks ago, actually. I’m from the city of light originally. Nice to meet you too, Sayuri."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"Wait…from the City of Light?"[/color] What she had been told by the GEMs came back to mind about visiting. Boleite probably also mentioned it once or twice. [color=82ca9d]"So you’re from the same place the GEMs come from? The name feels a little on the nose, doesn’t it?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Yep. Morganite’s actually the one who showed me the ropes on the whole ‘being-a-magical-girl’ thing. The GEMs wanted me to join, actually. In another world, I might have introduced myself as ‘Tenacious Tourmaline.’ I just. . . don’t like them, even with them still being mostly good. They don’t really let any other light girl teams exist, and I’d never even seen a dark girl before I came to Hibusa."[/color]
‘Hibusa has enough Gems as it is, I think. And from what I’ve seen, even the City of Light might agree.’ Sayuri said with a smile, as a jest. She wanted to say that she understood why Haruna did not trust or like the Gems. That sometimes we do the best we can but still make mistakes. The road to hell is paved with good intentions kinda talk - but she realized only too well the hypocrisy of that statement, so kept it to herself for now. 

[color=82ca9d]"Well…"[/color] she stepped back from the Shrine now that the prayer was done [color=82ca9d]"Not to worry about the light girl team thing - I work pretty much solo anyway."[/color] she said with a wink. 

[color=fff79a]"Yeah. I’d offer an invitation to my team, but, uh. . . you know."[/color] Haruna shrugged. [color=fff79a]"You seem like you’re doing fine with your amphibian friends, anyway, so I wouldn’t want to cramp your style."[/color] She sighed. [color=fff79a]"Before I head off again, I did have a couple quick questions. Do you know anything about Schrade’s past? I heard she lost someone precious to her, but it’s a little hard to talk to her personally. . . oh, and, uh, have you met a dark girl named Ashbringer or heard anyone talking to her?"[/color]

Sayuri did not often refer to the boss of the club by that name, but guessed it was expected of Haruna to do so. [color=82ca9d]"Ashbringer? Sorry, does not ring a bell. With a name like that, are you sure she’s not part of your Depression Club?"[/color] Sayuri said as a jest, sticking her tongue out, then grabbed Haruna’s hand and walked away towards a side path at a leisurely pace. 

[color=82ca9d]"As for Rei, yeah - a little. We grew up around one another due to family business. I’d like to say we were friends when we were little, but I think that was pretty much one sided. She left for a while and then…"[/color] her hand reached for her side for a moment before falling back down, but Haruna probably caught it [color=82ca9d]"...We had a falling out! Call it a difference in opinion. All I know is when she came back to Hibusa, she changed, but I got no idea why. Sorry."[/color] 

By this point, they were back near the Temple’s entrance. [color=fff79a]"So she wasn’t always the cool, enigmatic type?"[/color] Haruna asked. [color=fff79a]"Did she ever have, like, a particular guy she liked? It’s kinda weird to picture you two being friends, honestly, you’re very different."[/color]


Sayuri stared at Haruna for a second [color=82ca9d]"What’s weird is imagining Rei loving a guy. Besides, we were kids. I got it in my head we should be friends, and I didn’t take no for an answer until she made it very clear."[/color] She shrugged. 

[color=fff79a]"That’s just kinda how kids are, isn’t it?"[/color] Haruna shrugged back. [color=fff79a]"And. . . sometimes people older than kids."[/color] This was also more or less what she’d done with the detention club. [color=fff79a]"Anyway though. Thanks for letting me visit. I hope we can be friends even if we end up in conflict down the line."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"Aren’t we friends already?"[/color] Sayuri said with a warm smile [color=82ca9d]"Besides, that entirely depends on how hard you’ll hit me in a brawl. No point in thinking about that now, anyway - I don’t usually go looking for fights, despite what your violinist friend claims."[/color] She stepped forward and gave Haruna a little friendly hug before bidding her farewell. 

[color=82ca9d]"Thanks for visiting, come around anytime."[/color] 

Haruna, despite wincing at the mention of Willow, returned the hug before breaking off with a short wave. With a glance around to check for observers, she transformed, then took to the skies once more - and, for what felt like the first time in a while, she left in a better mood than she arrived in.