Translator: Reflet

　In the train that was racing through the night in Juunis.h.i.+ma, a disguised Youran slipped into the group of pa.s.sengers .

　She had ordered the maid Michiyo to continue the search for Taiyou, telling her to contact upon finding his location . Until that was cleared up, she figured she would first head to the hospital .

「Look at this . 」

「What?『New Moon-sama looks even cuter when idle . 』……What is this? Your j.a.panese is screwed up . 」

「……」

　She could hear two men of the community conversing . It seemed that・・・・she had been brought up as a topic, so Youran secretively listened in .

「If she became cute then it’s not a problem saying she became cute . What’s wrong with saying that she looks cute while idle?」

「She’s New Moon-sama . You realize that you need to use the appropriate words . 」

「The heck? So what do I gotta do, refer to her head and b.u.t.t as sir?」

「I’M GOING TO SLAUGHTER YOU!」

　One of the men gave off a threatening voice .

「I get it, calm down . And what is this?」

「It’s a picture of New Moon-sama . It’s the one that was taken earlier by the ma.s.s media with the prime minister and princess of Phili . 」

「Oh, it was on the news . I think it was some sort of conference or whatnot?」

「Yeah……New Moon-sama is so cute……」

　The man let out an ecstatic voice .

「I feel like I can do anything if it’s for New Moon-sama . 」

「Anything? So if she tells you to die then you’ll die?」

　The other man was not being malicious; he simply was questioning him .

「Of course! If she says “Will you fight and die for me?” then I’ll take a round trip of all the world’s disputed regions . 」

「You’re exaggerating . And do you really understand New Moon-sama? I don’t think someone like her would say “my” . She is refined after

all . 」

「Very true!『My cause』or『My sake』would probably be more accurate!」

（Sorry, but I don’t use either of those . ）

　Youran quipped in her head .

　She was listening to the men gossiping about her like it was an everyday thing .

　Youran, Juunis.h.i.+ma’s New Moon Director .

　A few years ago, she had this t.i.tle added to her actual name .

　Bombastically adhering to formalities, this name was the proof of being this island’s sovereign .

　Since then, she had been called「New Moon-sama」by the island’s residents .

　The name of the family that had served the island for generations and the appearance that she had been born with .

　Thanks to those things, Youran believed that she was looked upon favorably by the island’s citizens . She confirmed with the men’s conversation that this was the case .

「Oh, she’s just so cute! New Moon-sama, she’s totally the new moon . 」

「What do you mean by “totally the new moon”, you mean “angel”!」

「Don’t put New Moon-sama with the likes of an angel! That’s blasphemy!」

「O-Okay, sorry . 」

「Ahh, New Moon-sama…I wonder if she’ll have a handshake event . 」

「……You sure you aren’t the one who’s blaspheming New Moon-sama the most?」

　Exasperated at what his friend said, he said “Really now” .

「I just looked it up now, but there’s actually a New Moon cram school . 」

　Hearing what he said, Youran peeked over her shoulders . Both had their smartphones out, and she could see the big LCD screens displaying websites .

「That’s right . New Moon-sama isn’t just some transcendent beauty . She’s been providing a.s.sistance to kids without relatives and the like . While putting the talents of the children to use, she recruits the s.h.i.+ning ones as her subordinates . 」

「Whoaaa . 」

「Yeah……I also wanna be New Moon-sama’s subordinate……Guess I’ll beat my old man to death . 」

「Wait until you find a way to return to being a child .

. 」

　The man who was behaving in a violent manner, and the friend who was calmly evading him .

　Listening for some time, Youran’s mind drifted off .

　Those were conversations that she had heard numerous times up until now, all lacking originality .

　Even amongst the members of Juunis.h.i.+ma, she boasted an immense amount of popularity . If she were to face off against her father, the current head, in a democratic election, she would probably win with an overwhelming vote of 98% .

　She was that popular .

　So what exactly could she do to answer to her vast amount of popularity and support? Swaying in the train, Youran continued to think about that .

　Having arrivated at the hospital, Youran went straight to Akita Mio’s room, having heard about it previously . Mio was resting on a bed in the two-person room of the general hospital wing . An IV tube was attached to her arm, and the exposed skin peeked out from bandages .

　Her face was a color of the worst degree, and she wasn’t even conscious .

「Oh, who might you be?」

「――」

　A voice approached her from behind as she was staring a Mio . Turning around, she saw a woman of about the same age as Mio .

　With a gentle expression and strong bright clear eyes, this woman was exhibiting a special gentle, refined human aura .

　From the report about Miki Aoba’s three mothers, she was able to immediately grasp that this was Atsuko .

「An acquaintance of Mio-san’s?」

「No, I’m Natsuno-kun’s friend . I heard that he was here earlier . 」

「I pa.s.sed by him as he left the room . 」

「Do you know where he went?」

「No clue . 」

　Atsuko came to Mio’s side, peering at her closely to check her condition . As if seeing something rea.s.suring, her face from the side had a clear color of relief paint it, and Youran didn’t miss that

miss that detail .

「When I came, he pa.s.sed by me and went somewhere . Said that he had something to do . 」

「Something to do?」

「Yeah . 」

　Atsuko nodded, but she seemed to be implicitly saying that she wouldn’t explain anything else .

　Youran was puzzled . From the information provided by Michiyo, the mothers’ beloved daughter Aoba was abducted, and yet Atsuko didn’t seem to be minding that at all .

　At least that was what Youran thought . She was a bit concerned .

「Umm, is that person fine?」

「Huh? Hmm, well the doctor said that she won’t die, so I’m sure she is . 」

「I see . 」

「Seems like there will be some wounds remaining on her body though . 」

「Umm……might I introduce a doctor? I know an plastic surgeon who’s skilled at that stuff . They’re a little weird, but they’re very skilled as healing women’s wounds . 」

「Thanks, but I don’t think that Mio-san would want that . 」

　Atsuko made a slightly exasperated expression .

　Youran wondered why she said such things with such an expression .

「Wouldn’t want that?」

「Yeah, I haven’t heard it from her, but I sort of get it . When Mio got injured, Aoba――That’s my daugher’s name by the way――she was trying to protect Aoba, I think . I don’t think she’d want those wounds to be erased . 」

「Is that how it is?」

「Mio’s stubborn, see . 」

　A proud color was mixed within Atsuko’s exasperated smile .

　Seeing that appearance, Youran・・・・envisioned something in her head .

「Is that Youran-chan there?」

　Leaving the hospital room, she heard a carefree voice . She initially jumped at her name being called, but without revealing any of that, she turned toward the voice .

　There stood a 30 centimeter, human-shaped organism with blonde hair floating in the air without wings- a fairy .

　Youran silently turned aside, heading to the other side of the building .

「Did you

.

「Did you not hear my voice? Waitー」

　The fairy Hera cried out in a loud voice, following suit . She caught up to Youran in an instant, overtaking her in front of her face .

「Look over here! Ignoring me is a no-noー . That’s weird . Can you no longer see me?」

　Youran continued to ignore her . After finally reaching a place where there were no people around, she turned back to Hera and opened her mouth .

「Long time no see . 」

「Long time no see, Youran-chan . So you really can see me . 」

「I’m the only one who can see you there, right? If someone saw me conversing with you there then they’ll think I’m a poor, stupid girl . 」

「Oh, that is very true . 」

「So why are you here?」

「I was asked by Taiyou-chan . He wanted me to stay here and notify him if anything happened to Aoba’s mother . 」

「Okay, and, where is he?」

「I don’t know . I can get to Taiyou-chan’s side quickly, but I don’t know where he is whenever he goes to a new place . 」

「You can’t show me the way?」

「I’m sorry . 」

「No, it’s fine . Then later on, let him know that I’m searching for him . You can do that, right?」

「I understand . I will inform him . 」

　Hera said, immediately disappearing . It was like she had teleported .

　If she could teleport then she’d probably return soon . Youran a.s.sumed that, waiting there briefly, but no matter how much she waited, Hera showed no signs of returning .

　What’s wrong? Did something happen?

　She was slightly panicking, and just like that, the phone she was holding rang .

　The LCD screen displayed a call from「Michiyo」, so Youran returned to the stiff version of herself, answering the call .

「What hast happened?」

『Milady, we’ve grasped Natsuno Taiyou’s whereabouts . 』

「――Ngh!」