The Show of the City

“Sleepyhead, wake up!”

“Gimme a bit…”

“You idiot, it’s the show today!”

My body didn’t feel like moving, because it was a weekend. I normally took weekends off and I needed to. Maybe if I just stalled as much sleep as I can heal my body until it’s necessary. No need to waste extra time standing up.

Miharu seemed to roll her eyes before running into my body, possessing me. Suddenly, I heard an incredibly loud and annoying ringing in my ears, like an alarm clock directly inside my skull. That jolted me up, as Miharu left my body.

“Jeez, you’re such a handful,” I complained. “You’re lucky that you don’t have to deal with bodily limitations like me.”

“Excuse me? I can’t even touch the world and you’re complaining about having to wake up early? For a job YOU accepted, by the way.”

“You caught me,” I threw my hands up. Dragging myself out of bed, I began to do my routine. This time, I brushed my hair too. I couldn’t end up looking messy if I was going to be bodyguarding Shiori. That was also why I used the extra money to buy a nice suit. Not too expensive, but it made me look professional.

Putting it on, I looked like a real bodyguard. That meant people should know I was important stuff, and reliable too. Think about all of the free promotions I can put on my future posters if I successfully guarded Yamiyami’s Star Streamer.

“Miharu, can you try and add some glasses onto me? Like, sunglasses. Just like how you possess me and I get your red cloak.”

“Uhh…”

Miharu ran into my body and both the cloak and the sunglasses appeared on my head. The red cloak kind of clashed in an ugly way with the black suit, and the glasses made me look a little bit like a poser. This wasn’t great.

“Cut the glasses, then. The cloak is too important for the brand.”

The sunglasses dissipated, and only the cloak remained. It still looked a little bit odd, but it was better than before. As I was looking at myself in the mirror, I heard a knock on the door.

“Shiori?” I asked aloud, though it was a bit early for her to show up. Regardless, I decided to head towards the door and open it.

On the other side was not Shiori, but still a familiar face. A certain horse-tailed police officer standing at my front door.

“Officer Junpei?”

“Morning, Akina, Miharu.” The officer waved at the both of us as we stood in surprise. “Wow. You’re more dressed than I would expect.”

“Morning, officer!” Miharu said. “What brings you here on this fine day? Is there a rift job?”

“Well… I already have another job booked but…” I began to mutter.

“Oh. That’s inconvenient. I was going to ask you to help me see if Shiori’s show would have any place for a rift-”

“That’s convenient, actually!” Miharu interrupted. “We’re actually going to that show as Shiori’s bodyguards!”

“Huh. I didn’t know that. Though, I guess it’d make sense,” Junpei said. “That makes everything easier then. Because we suspect that Shiori’s concert is probably a likely place a rift will show up.”

“Really?” I groaned. “What makes you think that?”

The horse detective took out his notebook and began to flip through it. “To put it simply, it is the place where the most rampant emotions are running high. Imagine the school show you were at, but quadrupled in magnitude. Thus, if an unruly party wanted to summon a massive apparition there, it would be a good chance.”

“Uh-huh,” I nodded. “So, you want me to look out for them or whatever? I’ll try my best, but I do need to keep my client safe too.”

She also had to beat Azana and get that bonus. That was the true important part.

“Yes. As said, it’s convenient you’re already going. It gives you something to look out for. The police will also be there, so tell us if you see anything.”

“Gotcha, gotcha,” I snapped my fingers. “Well. I’ll see you there, and I hope we can stop this threat before it even happens.”

I honestly hoped that whoever it was didn’t show up. This job was already stressful enough as it is with the crowds and the people, I definitely didn’t need a set of giant monsters showing up to wreck things as well.

As we wrapped up talking, I heard honking from the street. A limousine had arrived at the steps to my apartment, and from the inside I could see Shiori’s massive eyes looking at me as she waved.

“Oh, there’s Shiori. Hi, Shiori!” Miharu waved at the car back. “I think it’s about time for us to go, Akina.”

“Looks like my ride is here,” I said. I grabbed Kyoha, my knife, and anything else I might need and began to head out the door. “I’ll see you later, officer!”

“See you,” Junpei waved, as I ran towards my luxurious ride.

***

“So we’re all set to have a good show, right?” Shiori gave a thumbs up in the limousine. I gave a thumbs up back, though Azana gave a huff.

“You look tacky,” Azana said to me.

“Well, I’m sorry that I wanted to look professional. You just look like some whatever shrine maiden, which is totally unfitting of a bodyguard,” I gave my professional criticism back.

“If you think that you can pull off a professional look then you are solely mistaken. The only professionalism you know of is making a fool of yourself—”

“Guys, guys. Let’s get along!” Miharu interrupted. “We’re almost there, anyways. Though I have something important to say.”

“What is it?” Shiori asked.

“We’ve got to be on high alert ladies! The police have identified our concert as a potential rift hotspot and we can’t let anything bad happen!” Miharu commanded the entire limousine. “But we know that the show must go on. So pay attention! If we see the riftmaker then we gotta take ‘em down and make sure Shiori’s show continues!”

Good speech. I gave my applause, and I agreed with her sentiment. It seemed like Azana couldn’t argue with the idea either, as we pulled into the stadium.

There were a lot of people. Way too many people for my liking, and they were all staring at Shiori. Looks like there were tons of cameras, and screams, and fangirls… and fanboys… eugh. It was a lot.

“Miharu. In me. Looks like we’re going have to be clearing out the way,” I told her and she obliged. Our bodies fused, as we got out of the car. I opened the limo door for Shiori, and both her and Azana followed after.

Loud screams and shouts came from the audience as Shiori stepped into the crowd. Azana sharpened her claws to make sure people stayed away, and I did so too. With Miharu’s enhanced strength, dealing with these crowds was a lot easier. Though there were definitely some more… viscous creatures trying to squirm their way past me.

“Hey, hey, hey! Give the girl her space!”

“Anybody who passes into Shiori’s personal sphere will be shredded apart! Watch yourself!”

The two of us kept on protecting Shiori, managing to eventually wade our way through the crowds. Just needed to make our way to the stadium, and things should be all set.

***

We made it backstage and to Shiori’s dressing room. The girl was putting on makeup as the three of us stood outside.

“What a mess,” Akina complained.

“It’s what happens when you concentrate all of a girl’s fame into one city,” Azana said, her arms crossed. “But it should be a lot easier now that we’re backstage, even with your sloppy work.”

“Excuse me? I was not sloppy. You were sloppier than me,” I responded.

“I had to cover for your mistakes. It’s not my fault that I was effectively doing double duty,” Azana shrugged.

“Did you see anybody that could be considered a riftmaker? Hooded girl… had a knife maybe,” Miharu asked. “As said, it’s important that we are vigilant!”

“Didn’t see any, unfortunately. Though, if you know her hooded appearance then wouldn’t it be safer for them to just not wear it until the big deed?” Azana asked.

“The police should be around, as well as the security. So if they sneak in they can’t bring in any objects…” I said.

“Though, there are always other ways,” Miharu warned. “Our number one focus should be client satisfaction. That’s the most important part of this all.”

“And, I’ll get my bonus in the end!” Azana said.

“I’ll enjoy wiping that smug grin off of your face,” I responded.

“Client. Satisfaction,” Miharu repeated.

Just as she did that, Shiori walked out of her dressing room fully set up. “How are you all doing? I’m ready!”

“We’re ready too!” Miharu smiled. “At your service, ma’am!”

“Right. I’m about to head onstage. You two keep an eye out for anything, thanks!” Shiori said, beginning to run outside. With a smile on her face, and a headset over her ears, the crowd erupted as she ran onto the stage.

“HELLO YAMIYAMI!” Shiori shouted. “ARE YOU READY TO PARTY?”

The crowd cheered, as Azana, Miharu, and I watched from backstage.

“Let’s hope nothing weird happens,” Azana said.

“Knowing this city, it’s not a matter of if… but when,” I responded. Nothing would surprise me anymore, in Japan’s Weirdness Sinkhole.