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Chapter 92: The Countryside's Gentle Rhythm
However, due to the subtle gravity of the "plot," most of these hidden gems didn't seem particularly outstanding yet. Take B-Komachi, for instance. In Kaguya Shinomiya's estimation, even excluding the magnetic center that was Ai Hoshino, the skill levels of the other members were well above the industry average. Logically, a beauty like Ai should have conquered the idol world on her face alone. Yet, four years after her debut, B-Komachi remained a lukewarm underground act.
According to the Mysterious Person, she would only truly ascend after "giving birth" and grasping the genuine emotion of "love." Even then, it would take another four years to reach the Tokyo Dome. But since the Diary had entered their lives, the original script was being shredded. Kaguya had already funneled a few minor resources toward her "junior," and in just two weeks, B-Komachi's popularity had surged.
Seeing the return on her investment, Kaguya looked for more "supporting characters" to recruit. Shingo Takanashi was next on the list. She didn't expect that after his promotion, he would immediately plan a family trip during Golden Week. Originally, his line was destined to have three daughters; if tragedy struck now, that lineage would vanish.
Rikka Takanashi had initially hoped her uncle's fate was already secure. Then, she refreshed a new commission: Stop Shingo Takanashi's family from boarding their flight. The catch? She couldn't borrow the direct power of other Diary holders, or the mission would fail. Desperate, she dragged her sister Toka to Tokyo for the holiday. If she couldn't stall them herself, she'd wait for Kaguya to step in—failure was better than a funeral.
Renji Miyauchi didn't dwell on the flight. With Kaguya watching, that plane was as safe as a fortress unless a supernatural entity intervened. He just wanted to return to his base camp in Asahigaoka to relax and see how the village had fared during his month in Tokyo.
After leaving instructions for Jerry and Mashiro Shiina, Renji drafted Kaiji Ito as his driver. Kaiji needed supervision; left alone for Golden Week, he'd blow his earnings on pachinko and hostesses. It was better to keep him in Asahigaoka filming "rustic life" videos. Unfortunately, Kaiji—who hadn't touched a steering wheel since driving school—drove with a terrifying lack of urgency.
They reached Asahigaoka just as twilight painted the fields gold. At the doorstep, Renji's youngest sister, Renge, rushed toward him with a spirited "Nyanpasu!" Renji scooped her up, feeling the Ripple energy in her small frame. It was average, as expected for her age, and without the Diary's "Reading Value" to boost her, she likely wouldn't become a fighter. But Renji only wanted her to grow up healthy.
He watched Hikage sprint into the house shouting for food, completely forgetting her luggage. Renge, meanwhile, began a rhythmic list of complaints about their eldest sister, Kazuho, who apparently slept through every class and just let the students use Renji's old lesson plans.
Renji walked inside, noting that his parents' Ripple progress was excellent. Country life and manual labor were perfectly suited for the rhythmic breathing. The wrinkles on their faces seemed to have smoothed.
As for his eldest sister, Kazuho... Renji's old plan had worked perfectly. By leaving a guiding Ripple in her body while she slept, he had allowed her mind to synchronize the rhythm during her near-constant naps. In terms of pure "Zen" state, perhaps only Mashiro could match her.
After dinner, Kazuho stretched lazily. "Oh, right. Since you're back, Renji, the Asahigaoka spring outing is your responsibility again!" She waved a hand and retreated to her room before he could argue.
Renji's mouth twitched. The "tradition" he had started in elementary school had come back to haunt him. But seeing Renge's expectant face, he couldn't say no.
"Speaking of outings," his father added, "do you remember that time you saved that girl in Chichibu? Meiko Honma? She's been asking to visit."
Renji nodded. He remembered "Menma" well. He had saved her years ago, and now she was a Diary holder herself. He was prepared for her visit; as long as he hid his "Kage" identity, he could just show her the scenery. Still, he wondered why she remained so physically frail despite being rescued so quickly back then.
Retreating to his room, Renji opened his Diary. He had realized he could update both the "Senior" and "Junior" journals to maximize rewards. He wrote some filler for the new batch—including Kasumi Miwa—and then turned to his original readers.
"Today is the first day of Golden Week. I've been traveling Japan, searching for ancient yokai and... aliens.
Did you know Tsuburaya Productions went bankrupt in this world after Ultraman 80? In my world, Ultraman Tiga redefined a generation. Here, I haven't found a single trace of the Light. If Ultraman existed here, the crises wouldn't be 'skirmishes' like vengeful spirits.
Currently, the aliens on Earth are low-key, likely wary of the hidden world's sorcerers. They mostly just abduct people for research. By the way, I still haven't identified the whole second batch of Diary holders. Could some of them be aliens or non-humans? I'll keep investigating and let you know."
"So... what's the deal with the aliens?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka clutched her Diary, wide awake. For days, the Mysterious Person had been hinting at ancient ruins and extra-terrestrial traces. The chat group was in a frenzy, everyone binge-watching old sci-fi to prepare for an invasion.
The Mysterious Person seemed to suggest that Earth's hidden protectors had kept the peace so far. But the mention of the bankrupt Tsuburaya Productions was a specific clue. While Utaha knew little of Showa-era suits, Rikka Takanashi had become the group's resident expert, tirelessly explaining the "Ultra Brothers" lore and designing transformation poses.
"In his original world, the company survived and made Ultraman Tiga," Utaha mused. "In ours, they vanished decades ago. If those monsters are real, the suits won't be funny anymore."
It was time to call in the group's heavy hitter: Kaguya Shinomiya. Between managing gag orders and family politics, Kaguya still made time for the group. If the "Plot" was changing because of their world's differences, she was the one with the resources to find out why.