[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/2S3gNgPd/Shuuko-Banner.png[/img][/center]

There was no progress on the matter of Chiaki or the ‘new’ existence within Takae Shuuko’s body. Or rather, Ember [b]had[/b] made a single discovery, but it helped no one: Hiramatsu Chiaki did not exist in their shared space, as far as she could sense her. She was not certain, yet the only one who could have been able to confirm it, Sylvia, had far more pressing matters to attend to, such as trying to restore the very foundations of her existence. If Ember were a lesser woman, she would have screamed her frustration to the high heavens.

As it was, she put on the appearance of a composed adult in the new ‘club room’, which turned out to be a dusty attic of some building Rei had appropriated with the help of Nyxia’s family, thus proving how far the Detention Club head’s fingers reached. It was disturbing, especially in the light of the information she learned from Ryoba and the others. Which came from Ashbringer. Their enemy.

Regardless of that, Ember listened carefully to Suki, Kiyo, Nyxia and Tsubomi and it seemed that it fell to her to point out the obvious.

[color=red]”Why are we so certain that Ashbringer is feeding us the unvarnished truth? Though I had not encountered her personally, if she is as dangerous as you say she is, I would not put it past her to have plans within plans.”[/color] While she did not share the paranoid opinions of Hotaru, it did seem all too convenient for Sink Queen to show up at a crucial moment and then snatch Michi away from them. With the club’s permission, no less.

[color=red]”We are already stretched thin as it is and while the GEMS have not attacked us,”[/color] she nodded towards Haruna as a way of acknowledging her contributions to the matter, [color=red]”we can not know for certain when they will barge into Hibusa Town again. I do not want to expose us more than we already are. And even if we assume what Ashbringer says is true, I believe Tsubomi brings up a valid point.”[/color]

Ember ripped off one a piece from one of the cardboard boxes, then held it up. She then grabbed a pen from her pocket and drew a rough approximation of a circle, then added lines heading towards the centre of it.

[color=red]”What if every Dark Magical Girl is, in fact, a singularity… my apologies, a black hole… for Miseria specifically? It would imply they have a radius in which they ‘pull’ the power of dead Miseria in,”[/color] she tapped the circle’s edge and the lines, [color=red]”and that radius could be any size. If we continue the metaphor, then we are lesser black holes, but that does not prevent us from drawing on power from Miseria if we are close enough.”[/color]

[color=red]”Hunting lesser Miseria more frequently or extending our hunting grounds, I believe, is also an option. And while I appreciate your extensive work on locations for the club to scope out, Kuroki-san,”[/color] she nodded towards Kiyo in respect, [color=red]”I am against the idea. I think we need to establish a stronger foundation here, in Hibusa Town.”[/color]

[color=red][i]Because I don’t want to drag the others through hell and back again if we lose our home.[/i][/color]