"Um..." Hanako looked up through her bangs and said, "W-What should we do together, Sen? Until the others come back?"

  I gnced at her and frowned. That was a good question... We couldn't just awkwardly sit here in silence the entire time. I mean, we *could* but that'd just be weird.

  Hanako blushed and said, "Is... there anything you want to do? With me?"

  Aaand, cutting off that fg. Let's quickly steer this back to ptonic retionships...

  "Well." I hummed and said, "I guess we should just get to know each other...?"

  Actually...

  Hey, Help-chan. Can I use the talent scouting skill or whatever on Hanako too?

  [Help: Yes! Should I open it for you?]

  Please.

  ===

  [Hanako Nadeshiko]

  Idol potential: A-

  Support Staff potential: EX

  Talents: Cheering on, Dancing, Analysis

  Weaknesses: Singing, live performance, public speaking

  Specialty: Choreography

  ===

  Wait, she's really a Nadeshiko? No, hold on. What's this Support Staff potential? That wasn't there before, was it?

  [Help: An idol group is more than just the idols! You need a whole team, you know! It's important to think about all the pieces, Mister Sen!]

  I know that! But what's the deal with springing up new features like this? It's feature creep! Won't that just get confusing for me and everyone else ter?!

  "Sen?" Hanako tilted her head and poked her fingers together. "Is something wrong?"

  I sighed. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking." I pretended to look at her while I was really reviewing her stats.

  Wait. Since when was idol potential a letter grade?

  Argh, I swear when I got my hands on whoever was revising this system...

  But anyway.

  I read the stats again and then said, "Do you like dancing, Hanako?"

  Hanako blushed and then quickly nodded. "Y-Yes! I love dancing! I've always dreamed about being an idol before... you know." She lowered her gaze. "But... well, I tried once too. I'm terrible at singing. And getting up in front of people to perform is scary..."

  Oh, that expined the minus on her ranking then. And even if I didn't have that talent scouting skill, I already had the vibe that Hanako wouldn't really be reliable on stage or as a VTuber.

  Setting aside the whole being spirit brought back from the dead thing, Hanako's personality didn't suit being an idol or VTuber. She was far too reserved and shy. Maybe in the future, but not right now.

  Still, her skills were definitely good. So...

  "In that case, do you want to help me with some choreography?"

  "E-Eh?" Hanako blinked. "Choreography?" Her eyes lit up. "Like with dancing?"

  I nodded. "Yeah. There's a dance studio here on the second floor and the others will probably be gone a while. How about we try dancing and you can help me design some fun routines?"

  Hanako jumped to her feet and said, "I'd love that! I'll go first!"

  Before I could say another word, Hanako dashed off to the elevator and pressed the button.

  But the elevator was taking too long for Hanako, so she ran to the stairs and started taking those instead.

  I chuckled at her enthusiasm and then headed into the elevator. It was a bit unpnned, but a little dance practice video should be fun, right? Let's see if all these random skills I have will help...

  [Help: By the way, Mister Sen!]

  Hm? What is it, Help-chan?

  [Help: Did you give up on becoming a handsome man? You've been acting a lot more girly recently. Um, if you want to-]

  OH MY GOD CAN YOU HELP ME GET BUFF?!

  [Help: Y-Yes?]

  I WILL SELL YOU MY SOUL, HELP-CHAN! TEACH ME

  [Help: Owowow, don't yell…]

  Sorry...

  ===

  Cici pouted, idly listening to Sen and Help-chan's exchange. After hearing that st bit, she huffed and licked her popsicle.

  Sena noticed and giggled. "Someone looks annoyed. What, don't like hanging out with us girls, Cici?"

  Cici stuck out her tongue.

  Celes frowned and muttered, "I still cannot believe you are Sen's sister."

  Cici giggled. "What? Jealous, Celes?"

  Celes paused to think about it. "...No. I am not jealous. Though it would be interesting being in that sort of sinful retionship with Sen... And there has been precedent in the royal family before." She quickly shook her head. "But no." She shifted her gaze to Cici and said, "I am simply annoyed that I will have to deal with you for the rest of my life if I wish to be with Sen."

  Cici pouted. "Meanie."

  Yui chimed in. "Cici *is* a bit extra at times..."

  Cici rolled her eyes and took a look around.

  Shibuya, filled to the brim with tourists, residents, and visitors. Sena had decided to take the girls out shopping, so they were walking around and hitting up all the fashionable clothes and accessories stores nearby.

  Cici already had a few bags full of stuff, paid for courtesy of the VIMS bck card~

  But as she looked around, especially as she looked at Yui and Celes, Cici frowned. "Wait. How come I'm the only one buying things?"

  Celes shook her head and said, "I refuse to buy anything without Sen's approval."

  Cici blinked and muttered, "Whipped."

  "EXCUSE ME?!"

  Cici stuck out her tongue again.

  Celes looked like she wanted to chuck something at Cici. But she let out a deep sigh and started muttering under her breath.

  Meanwhile, Yui raised a small shopping bag and said, "Well, all I wanted to get was a repcement Nintendo Switch. I got that, so I'm fine. Besides, if I started buying clothes, Uncle might get the idea that I want some." She sighed. "He's a bit... enthusiastic about my needs even if he doesn't show it. If I come home with new clothes, I might have a whole closet full of ritzy dresses by tomorrow..."

  Cici giggled. "True~ Professor Euclid does seem like the gruff overprotective type."

  Sena ughed. "Those guys are always the best... Isn't that right, Celes? Sen is fun when he's acting like that, isn't he?"

  Celes blushed.

  Cici noticed that Sena didn't have any bags either and frowned. "How come you aren't buying anything, Sena?"

  "Me?" Sena shrugged. "I've got plenty of sexy clothes already." She fshed the company credit card and said, "What do you think the first thing I did when I got this was?"

  Cici huffed. "I guess... but this just makes me look like a spoiled brat! I'm the only one with a lot of bags here!"

  Celes looked at her and said, "Aren't you a spoiled brat?"

  Cici gred in response.

  Sena ughed again and said, "Come on. Don't fight girls. We're just here for a good time." After saying that, she smiled and continued leading the way through the streets. Even so, while her expression was rexed, her eyes were sharp, scanning the surroundings for any danger.

  Cici noticed that and instinctively moved closer to Yui.

  Yui noticed and tilted her head. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing~" Cici smiled. "Just making sure my Bestie is safe?"

  Yui blinked. "Bestie? Well, I guess we're friends. But Bestie..."

  Cici gasped. "We aren't Besties?!"

  Yui rubbed her arm and said, "Sen is my Bestie though..."

  Celes immediately chimed in and said, "A ptonic Bestie of course."

  Cici rolled her eyes. "You're just as possessive of Sen as he is of you... Yanderes, both of you."

  Yui giggled. "Don't worry, Celes! I only like girls..." She gave a teasing smile to Celes and said, "But I might make an exception for Sen~"

  Celes sent Yui a cold gre.

  Yui giggled again and then poked Celes's arm. "I'm just teasing, Celes. But..." She let out a soft smile. "You really love Sen, don't you?"

  Celes smiled, her expression instantly softening. "I do. I really, really, really do."

  Sena gnced back at the girls and chuckled. "Celes feels something special for Sen, that's for sure. I won't be surprised if we're invited to a wedding in a few years~"

  Celes blushed, pcing her hands on her cheeks. "M-Miss Sena...!"

  Cici gasped. "Ooh!" She stuck her hand in the air and said, "Can I be the maid of honor?!"

  Celes immediately responded. "No."

  Cici pouted. "Fine... I'll just be the best man!"

  Yui ughed and said, "You can try. But Ren-kun might actually fight you for that."

  "Mou~" Cici puffed her cheeks and said, "Fine! Then I'll be the ringbearer! Or flower girl! One of the two!"

  Sena ughed and ruffled Cici's hair. "That's the spirit."

  "Hey!" Cici ducked away and gred at her. "Stop that! Why are you treating me like I'm not even going to be invited?!"

  Celes hummed. "Well... If I have my way..."

  Cici gred at her.

  Celes ughed.

  Cici huffed and crossed her arms. "You're all terrible." She shook her head and swept her gaze across the surroundings to distract herself. And then she saw them.

  A group of three young men, pointedly making their way through the crowd towards them. A haughty looking trio, all wearing designer clothes. And at the front, a man with slicked back blonde hair and sungsses.

  Cici frowned and quickly moved to Yui's left side. 'This seems like trouble... Sheesh, and the one time when Sen isn't around...'