Mochi tried to move, but it was impossible: she was completely pinned down. Haruka was holding her arms firmly above her head.
—H-Haruka… l-let me go, okay?
Haruka didn't answer. She might not have even heard the plea.
—See-through panties, Mochi?
—It was a mistake! I bought them online without reading the description properly! I never wore them!
Haruka stared at her in silence for a few seconds that felt eternal. Then her trembling hand moved down and rested on Mochi's abdomen, just under her clothes, as if she wanted to confirm something for herself. Her hand was freezing; Mochi let out a small gasp.
—H-Haruka… you're really cold… —she whispered, more nervous than scared.
Haruka's hand slowly caressed her stomach, moving upward millimeter by millimeter.
Haruka leaned in closer, slowly, dangerously… her bangs falling over her eyes. Mochi could see her face up close and was stunned. She expected anger… but it was the opposite. Haruka's eyes were filled with tears, and her expression was closer to desperation than fury.
Haruka kept approaching, slowly, dangerously…
But then the parka anomaly acted. It lunged forward and wrapped itself around Haruka, pulling her back to separate her from Mochi.
—Let go of me! —Haruka protested.
With one hand, she removed the parka from herself with ease and threw it against the wall.
The distraction was brief, but enough for Mochi to sit up, shaken.
—It's the truth, I swear! I bought them by mistake and stored them away without using them!
Haruka blinked, looking at her with suspicion.
—And what about the… woman it mentioned?
Mochi took the chance to explain everything about the panties incident that had happened earlier that day.
After hearing the whole story, Haruka finally calmed down. Slowly, her shoulders relaxed, and her expression returned to something more normal. She looked away, avoiding eye contact.
—I see… —she murmured, still tense.
—Anyway… you should be more careful —she added, crossing her arms in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment—. I don't want you to… No, forget it.
Mochi didn't know what to think. Haruka had been intense before, yes… but never this intense.
Haruka cleared her throat, trying to compose herself.
—Back to the anomalies —she said suddenly, as if nothing had happened—. It seems they're indeed harmless. But even so, I can't allow you to keep them.
—But they—
Mochi didn't get to finish.
—I can't let them stay —Haruka continued firmly—. Unless you form a familiar pact with them.
—Familiar… pact? —Mochi's eyes sparkled instantly. Her ears and tail trembled with excitement. To her, it sounded like something straight out of a manga.
Seeing Mochi's enthusiasm, Haruka continued explaining:
—Basically, it's a ritual. One in which these anomalies become your familiars and accept various conditions and rules they cannot break. Among them, you can force them to follow an order, as well as the impossibility of acting against you in any way. Of course, this isn't free: in exchange, they will stop feeding on ambient ether or on people. Instead, you will have to feed them with your own ether.
Haruka leaned forward on the couch, becoming more serious.
—That's the difficult part. Your ether will no longer be only for combat; a constant portion will flow toward the anomalies, as if you shared a bond. This has an extra benefit: your familiars will be able to grow stronger as you do. The stronger you are, the more ether you'll possess… and the more they'll receive. What do you say? Do you accept?
Mochi didn't hesitate for even a second.
—Of course! That sounds amazing!
—Not so fast —interrupted the eye anomaly—. I don't accept anything. I don't want anything to do with that.
—If you don't accept, I'll eliminate you or throw you out on the street. And you should already know that going outside as a low-rank anomaly is basically suicide. As I see it, your options are accept or die.
The eye growled, but fell silent shortly after.
—I'll take that silence as a "yes" —Haruka declared—. I assume the other anomaly agrees as well.
The parka responded by nodding several times with its hood.
—Good. Since everyone agrees, there won't be any problems doing it today. Mochi, get dressed: we still have time to go.
—Go? Where are we going?
—We're going to buy the materials needed for the ritual, of course.
Mochi checked the time. It was already past ten at night. She had no idea what kind of shop would be open at that hour, but she trusted Haruka. She quickly got dressed, and they left together. Before they left, Haruka warned the anomalies not to do anything strange in their absence or they'd regret it.
The anomalies nodded quickly; they seemed to fully understand they shouldn't anger her.
Mochi wondered how far they would have to go. She hoped it wouldn't be too far… but she was surprised when, after walking just one street, Haruka stopped and announced they had arrived.
—Here? —Mochi asked, confused—. But this looks like an ordinary alley. Is there some kind of hidden shop? The type that's only visible when you know it exists or when you have permission to enter?
—You're partly right. The place we're going to is special: it's located on a different plane than ours. You can access it from any alley in the city… as long as you have the invitation.
With that said, both stepped inside. After a few steps, Haruka reached into her pocket and took out something: an omamori with a cute design of yellow fireworks on a red background.
She held it up.
—Stay close to me, Mochi.
As they moved forward, Mochi felt something strange: resistance, as if she were trying to pass through thick jelly. She had to make a small effort to cross. Immediately, the atmosphere changed. She could hear voices, laughter, distant music… almost like a night festival. And there was a delicious smell in the air.
—Mochi, give me your hand from now on. I don't want you to get separated from me… you know how you are: you always get into trouble.
—Got it! —Mochi replied. But instead of simply taking her hand, she clung to the elf's arm with a playful sparkle in her eyes.
—This way is safer, don't you think? —she said, resting her cheek against her shoulder.
—Yes… I suppose it's fine —Haruka answered in her usual indifferent tone, turning her gaze away to avoid meeting Mochi's eyes.
Despite her neutral posture, Mochi noticed how red the elf's ears were and smiled.
—Come on, Haruka! I can't wait any longer!
After just a few more steps, the darkness of the alley faded, and a warm, vibrant light enveloped them. Mochi blinked, dazzled.
In front of them opened a street full of floating lanterns, colorful stalls, and traditional music. The crowd moved like a river, but what truly took her breath away wasn't the liveliness of the festival…
It was who inhabited it.
The place was filled with anomalies of all kinds: large, small, shapeless, humanoid… each one enjoying the festive atmosphere as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Mochi stopped dead in her tracks.
—No way… —she whispered with wide eyes—. They're… anomalies?
—Yes —Haruka replied, looking at her with a serene expression—. Not all anomalies are monsters. Some just want a place where they can exist without fear.
Mochi watched a small fox-shaped anomaly run between people's legs, laughing as it carried a giant cotton candy.
All this time… I thought they were just monsters to be destroyed.
—Come —Haruka said softly.
Mochi nodded, though she couldn't stop looking everywhere, fascinated by every stall, every creature. Her tail swayed from side to side with excitement, and Haruka couldn't help smiling as she watched her so animated.
Soon, the air was filled with an irresistible aroma: hot batter, sweet sauce, and a toasted touch. Mochi sniffed like a curious cat and stopped Haruka by gently tugging on her arm.
—Is that… is that… takoyaki?
In front of them, a steaming stall displayed golden balls turning on a griddle. The one cooking them was a green-skinned kappa with round eyes and an apron tied at the waist.
—Would you like to try, ladies? Fresh takoyaki, nice and hot! —the kappa greeted them with a friendly smile.
Haruka nodded without hesitation.
—Two portions, please.
—Takoyaki for two beautiful ladies, coming right up! —sang the kappa cheerfully, skillfully turning the balls.
Mochi watched him, hypnotized, as if witnessing a magic trick. When the kappa handed them the steaming trays, she bowed slightly.
—Th-thank you…
Haruka paid with a couple of regular coins. Mochi perked her ears up, confused.
—They accept normal money here? —she whispered.
—Of course —Haruka replied—. This place is special, not wild.
Mochi let out a nervous little laugh and took a bite of takoyaki.
—Mmm! It's delicious! —she exclaimed with her mouth full, eyes sparkling—. Haruka, you have to try it!
—I already am —Haruka replied, amused, watching Mochi savor every piece with such happiness that it was impossible not to smile as well.
Between laughter, floating lights and the murmuring of the festival creatures, the two girls continued walking, still with their arms intertwined.
They walked for quite a while through the crowd, until Haruka stopped in front of a secluded stall, half-hidden behind a paper curtain and a thick cloud of incense.
The sign, hand-painted with uneven golden strokes, read:
"Rare Objects and Forbidden Curiosities."
The inside of the stall was filled with unsettling artifacts: jars with glowing liquids, masks hanging from ropes that followed passersby with their eyes, black feathers the size of a sword, and small talismans carved from bone.
Behind the counter, a slender woman with an elegant posture watched in silence. Her face was covered by a red tengu mask, with a long curved beak and golden eyes that gleamed intensely.
—Well, well, long time no see, Haruka —the woman said with a deep, mocking voice—. I thought they didn't let you come to these parts anymore.
Haruka gave a slight, almost polite smile, though her eyes remained cold.
—Rumors exaggerate, as usual. I came for materials for a familiar pact.
The tengu let out a nasal chuckle.
—Of course, of course. I expected no less from you. —She leaned down and pulled out three objects wrapped in black cloth from a box—. A skin parchment, cursed ink and a brush made of kitsune fur. Just what you need.
The tengu woman huffed and extended her hand with feigned elegance.
—A thousand dollars. And you don't owe me anything else… for now.
Haruka paid without arguing, though her jaw tensed. The tengu tilted her head in an overly theatrical bow.
—May the spirits favor you, elf. And you too, curious kitty.
Mochi flinched at the nickname, her eyes widening slightly, but before she could reply, Haruka had already taken her by the arm to lead her out of the stall.
Once they were far enough away, Haruka lowered her voice.
—Don't talk to her more than necessary —she whispered firmly—. That woman enjoys playing with people.
Mochi nodded, still giving a final glance toward the stall. For a second, she swore the golden eyes of the tengu mask were still watching her through the incense smoke.