At the dining table, Lois, Jasmine, Saya, Saeko, Rei, Musubi, and Matsu sat comfortably. Miya stood beside Matsu. Across from them, James sat with Kusano clinging to his arm. Kusano looked frightened.
"Nice to meet you again. I'm Matsu," Matsu said warmly as she offered a polite nod.
"The pleasure is all ours. I'm Jasmine," Jasmine replied with a gentle smile. Matsu couldn't help but notice she carried herself with elegance.
Miya stepped in. "She's another tenant. Room 201," she said.
"Room 201?" Saya echoed as she tilted her head.
"Is there even a room like that?" Lois asked.
Kusano tugged on James's sleeve. "She's a ghost," she whispered.
"Ghost?" Rei blinked.
Kusano nodded as she clutched James's arm tighter.
Saeko sipped her tea calmly. "What does she mean by that?" she asked.
James gave Kusano a reassuring pat. "Kuu, even if there are ghosts, I won't let them harm you," he stated.
Miya turned her gaze to James. She gave a sweet smile but her eyes were sharp.
"Did James do something?" Jasmine asked as she sensed the tension.
Rei smirked. "He got caught. Just like with Saya," she responded.
"Hey," Saya snapped as her cheeks were red.
"Can we see this Room 201?" Lois asked.
Matsu nodded. "Follow me," she responded.
They ascended to the second floor, stopping at what appeared to be a blank wall.
"It's just a wall," Musubi said as she looked puzzled.
Matsu stepped forward and pressed her hand against the surface. With a soft click, the wall shifted and slid open, revealing a narrow passage.
"A secret passage," Rei exclaimed.
"Our suspicions were right," Saya said as she looked at Lois.
"There really was someone hiding," Lois added.
"Yes… I've been living in secret," Matsu admitted.
"Why?" Jasmine asked gently.
Matsu hesitated, then placed her hands against her cheeks. "When I left MBI, things changed. To be honest, I'm being chased," she replied.
"MBI?" Saya repeated.
"Wasn't that the head of that company?" Rei asked.
"The one in white," Saeko added. She remembered seeing the person on the large television.
Matsu nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm being hunted. That's why I've stayed hidden," she responded.
Miya stepped forward, her tone softening. "I mentioned it before, my husband never turned anyone away. He built this passage for fun," she said as she touched the door. "He worked at MBI too. That's where they met," she said.
She paused, then bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," she said.
"It's alright," Jasmine said kindly with a smile on her face.
"No harm done," James said. He thought Matsu had taken something very important from the MBI.
Miya smiled. "You're polite," she said as she looked at Jasmine. "Unlike those two," she added, casting a playful glance at James and Matsu.
Matsu shivered slightly, a chill ran down her spine. She then moved to her room and entered it.
"Ghost," Kusano said.
"So she is now like Kuu and Musubi?" Rei asked.
"You mean winged?" James asked. "Then yes," he replied.
"We are only here for a few days and he gets three," Saya commented.
"Like your mum says, you have to keep up or he might forget you," Saeko teased.
"I," Saya said as she was about to respond.
"I will never forget you," James said as he pulled Saya into his arms. Her large breasts touched his chest. His arms were around her back. He looked at her.
"James," Saya said as she looked at him. Her heat beat fluttered. She was slightly flushed.
"James," Miya said as she gave a stern look.
Meanwhile, Homura was on the streets. He looked up to see a short and moderately curvaceous female with long blonde hair pulled up into twin tails that reached her lower back. She had grey eyes. The women wore a black Chinese-style dress with one vertical yellow stripe in the middle of the otherwise. She had black stockings and a black choker, and black high-heeled shoes. She had a whip which was brown and had a black grip.
"Mitsuha," Homura said.
She didn't turn to face him. "You? I'm not in the mood, Homura. I'm looking for someone." she said. "We've already lost a few and our Master is angry. I won't lose another," she responded.
Homura crossed his arms. "A Sekirei and Ashikabi, when truly guided by destiny, will find each other, drawn together without even realizing it," Homura said. He took a step closer. "But to ignore that to give wings like they're trophies in a collection? That's not just reckless. It's cruel," she added.
Mitsuha turned slowly. "Who said you could butt in?" she asked. She reached to her side and drew her whip. "Besides. I know you're a Sekirei who hasn't been winged," she added as with a flick of her wrist, the whip lashed out. It went forward and wrapped tightly around Homura's torso. He was trapped in place.
Just then, a soft voice echoed from behind. "Mitsuha, did you find him?" she asked. A young woman jumped down. She had long, straight black hair and pale eyes. She wore a flowing white dress and heels.
"No," Mitsuha replied as she was tightening the whip around Homura. "But I got him instead, Momo. Do it," she added.
Momo nodded silently. She reached into her sleeve and drew a pair of silver daggers. She hurled them toward Homura.
Homura's body ignited in a burst of flame. "My, my… you think you can win against me?" he said as the fire burned through the bindings and incinerated the whip in seconds.
Mitsuha recoiled and released her grip.
"Fireball," Homura shouted as she thrusted his palm forward. A sphere of flame erupted from his hand. Homura then hurled the fireball towards Mitsuha. It went through the air.
Mitsuha ducked down and dodged the attack. The fireball slammed into the wall behind her and melted the stone. She looked at Homura. "You win this round," she said.
"Are we leaving?" Momo asked.
Mitsuha nodded. "This isn't over," she said. The two women leapt into the night.
Homura staggered forward. The flames still flickered around his fingertips. There was smoke curling from his clothes. He was panting. "Wait..." he murmured.
She turned into a narrow alleyway. His body ached. It was burnt out and overdrawn. He collapsed against the wall and slid down to sit. "What an annoying body," he muttered. "I'm going to need help," Homura said as he reached into his coat and pulled out his phone. At that moment, the phone ignited in his hand and melted into slag within seconds. "Of course," he sighed.
Suddenly, a torrent of water crashed down on him. It soaked him completely. The flames hissed and died, There was steam rising from his skin.
"How pathetic, Homura," a voice said.
Homura looked up to see a blonde woman standing above him. Her arms were crossed. "Tsukiumi," he said as he blinked through the water.
"You don't get to die before I defeat you. I won't forgive that," she snapped.
Homura smirked, despite the pain. "You're pretty cool, Tsukiumi… but you know I can see your panties from this angle," she said.
Her eyes narrowed. "Just what are you looking at?" Tsukiumi remarked.
Homura chuckled weakly. "A Sekirei only unlocks their full power once they've gained wings. Why haven't you?" Homura asked.
Tsukiumi scoffed. "Instead of worrying about me, maybe worry about your own sorry state," she said.
Homura leaned his head back against the wall. "Yeah… I failed to become one. Fire-types are cursed, hated by the gods," Homura remarked. He looked at her again. "You want to be the strongest? Then hurry up and find your Ashikabi," he added.
"Don't say something so idiotic. An Ashikabi is nothing more than a monkey." Tsukiumi said. She paused, then added, "For me to jo.."
"Jo?" Homura echoed.
She turned away, arms folded tightly. "I'll never allow myself to join with one. But lately," she said. Her voice softened. "There's been this strange feeling in my chest." she added. She touched her heart lightly. "If this is the reaction to an Ashikabi. Then it'll make it easier to find him and crush him with my own hands," she added.
Meanwhile, atop a towering skyscraper bathed in moonlight. A man in white stood with his coat.
"Number 107 did well," Minaka said. "Fresh from orbit and already cleaned up the Botanical Garden. Efficient, though I was hoping for something a bit more... grandiose," he remarked. He chuckled to himself. "Still, the incident a few days ago, now that was spectacular.," he added. He turned slightly. "Takami, did we uncover anything more?" he asked.
Standing beside him, Takami adjusted her coat. She was slender, with sharp grey eyes and a long scar cutting across her left eye. She wore black T-shirt, white lab coat, and fitted pants.
"No. All surveillance equipment was destroyed. The damage was extensive. And it wasn't just Sekirei involved, Minaka." She paused. "There was something else," she added.
Minaka's grin widened. "Now that makes things interesting," he said.
Takami glanced at her tablet. "Over 90% of the Sekirei have been winged," she said.
Minaka nodded. "It's about time. The pieces are falling into place," he said.
Takami narrowed her eyes. "You're really going through with this, aren't you?" she asked.
Minaka turned toward her. He stretched his hands as if addressing an invisible audience. "How else will the ashes give rise to the next chapter of the legend?" he said. He lowered his arms. "Let the games begin," he added.