“And so, this be the manju I purchased on that outing.”
“Lucky…”
“This one is thine, Hikaru, is it not?”
“I’m not talking about the manju.”
“Ah, thou meanest the anmitsu?”
“I mean the outing!”
The next day. Hikaru had come to visit Inari’s house, where Inari handed her a box of manju. Hikaru rolled lazily across the floor, voicing her envy with utmost sincerity.
“Then perchance we shouldst go out together sometime?”
“As if I could. My face is plastered everywhere, you know. You too, Inari, wherever we go, we’ll be the center of attention.”
“Yet thou wert the one who didst teach me the proper manners for outings, aye? Surely it is possible.”
“Yeah, but I get tired of keeping up the act. I don’t wanna play the cutesy role even when I’m with you.”
“Hmm…”
Indeed, Hikaru played the “cute” role as the mascot of Lion Communications. In private, she couldn’t just reveal her usual blunt personality. Being idol-like meant her public image had to be flawless—even down to eating foods that matched her persona when dining out. Not that she disliked cute things, but still… privately, she wanted to relax. That was why she came to Inari’s new home, with its strong privacy wards, to lounge about.
“If it weigheth on thee so, why not suggest going with thy true nature?”
“I’ve actually been thinking about that. Like, what if I leaned more into showing strength instead?”
“Strength, hm?”
“Yeah. Fox Phone is pushing their ‘toughness,’ right? Times are dangerous lately, so stuff like ‘reliable anytime’, ‘multifunctional’, ‘strong when it counts’. They’re thinking maybe Lion Communications should go that route too. If so, they’d need to change my character image.”
But Hikaru was personally scouted by Lion Communications’ CEO—a personal favorite. So instead of replacing her, the idea became to make her the symbol of a “reborn Lion Communications,” drawing on her real personality.
“Well, being a mascot’s just a contract thing, sure. But they’re even talking about me officially joining Lion Communications’ clan.”
“I see, I see.”
Originally, many mascots of awakener corporations were scouted from elsewhere. Popular awakener often served as the face of multiple corporations at once. Inari too had received many such offers, though Akai filtered them, handling her management contracts.
It wasn’t uncommon for an awakener who served long-term as a mascot to be recruited into that same company’s clan.
“What about you, Inari?”
“Mm. I serve as a mascot mostly as a windbreak, thou seest.”
“So that’s how it is, huh…”
“Just so.”
From Inari’s robe, Atsuage emerged. Hikaru, still sprawled on the floor, scooped it up and stared intently.
Atsuage—the block golem. Ever since Inari had obtained it as a “pet monster” reward in Saitama Dungeon No. 3, the number of awakener seeking pet monsters had skyrocketed. Recently, more had managed to tame goblins, and some had even obtained wolves. Pet monsters were becoming a symbol of a skilled awakener. But so far, no reports of boss-class pets like Atsuage had surfaced.
“By the way… is this guy a boy? Or a girl?”
“Dost toys truly possess gender, even if they be monsters?”
“Sure, why not? It got a will of its own, right?”
“Then… could it be even Divine Kingdom hath gender…?”
“Divine… oh, that robot anime? You actually watch that?”
“Aye. Atsuage loveth it dearly, so I watch alongside it.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me…”
Kicking its little blocky legs as if in protest, Atsuage was set back on the floor. It immediately pressed the remote and switched on the TV, eyes fixed as a midday variety show began.
“…Honestly, he’s more used to modern life than you are.”
“I cannot deny it. Speaking of which, lately when the Divine Kingdom toy commercials begin, Atsuage oft casts glances my way… Should I buy it one, I wonder?”
“If it starts combining with those toys, I’ll freak out. Divine Atsuage? No thanks.”
“What sayest thou, Atsuage?”
In response, Atsuage spun elegantly atop the table. What it meant was anyone’s guess.
“Hmm… I feel I sensed sincerity.”
“…Not sure I buy that.”
Hikaru had her doubts. Still, even if Atsuage did combine with a Divine Kingdom toy to become “Divine Atsuage,” it wouldn’t be that strange. After all, block golems were basically combining robots already. They just weren’t known to move while separated.
—Now then! Today’s “Frontline Trends” covers the unstoppable fox boom. Let’s investigate its cutting edge!
“…Hear that?”
“Well now…”
Inari was not the type to simply dismiss it as “not about me.” She lacked that kind of escapism.
—Inari-chan is super cuteee!—
And with that clip playing before commercial break, Inari had no words—just a sip of tea.