Princess Maker
September 26, 2026. Saturday. 11:40.
Somewhere in Shinagawa Ward.
Antique shop. [Princess Maker]
Last night, my conversation with Tetsuya was lively, and by the time I returned to the base, took a shower, and crawled into bed, it was past 4:00 in the morning. After taking a nap for about three hours, I woke up at 7:00 AM. I got ready to go out, quickly finished my office work, bought a lot of souvenirs at a department store basement, and here I am now.
Yes. A formal apology to Asagiri. And also to thank her for saving my life from Judgement.
The reason it had been quite a while was that Asagiri’s schedule was quite tight.
This is because, after that battle with Judgement, it seems Asagiri had also consumed a lot of power and was forced to rest. With her church duties as well, it seems she couldn’t easily make time.
”Hello.”
I open the door of the shop. Fortunately, nothing happened this time.
I still vividly remember that time when I first opened this door, receiving a cold, intense gaze from somewhere, as if it was seeing right through my heart.
The terror and chills that assaulted my whole body back then… what on earth was that…?
”Welcome. I have been expecting you. Please, come this way.”
Asagiri, wearing a shop apron, welcomed me with a smile. I am guided to a sofa in the back.
”I am sorry. Truthfully, I wanted to come earlier to apologize and thank you, but…”
”No, I was the one who couldn’t make the time. The fault lies with me…”
Perhaps she is somewhat tired; there is a slight cloudiness in Asagiri’s expression.
”This is just a little something, but…”
Thinking about it now, I clearly feel like I bought too much. Three large shopping bags. Teacakes and roll cakes. And even wine on top of that. This is Japan. It’s not a home party back in the States. I unintentionally give a wry smile.
”――You are an interesting person, Himemiya-san.”
Seeing me like that, Asagiri covers her mouth with her hand and giggles. Very cute. A picture-perfect composition.
”I will go prepare some tea.”
Saying so, Asagiri goes into the back of the shop. As always, tight denim suits her slender body. Even just from behind, she is quite a beauty. Her hair seems well-cared for, and its gloss is amazing. I was somewhat confident in my own hair, but it feels like that confidence is about to be shattered.
From the sofa where I sit, I gaze outside. Even though it is late September, the sunlight is still harsh. Year by year, abnormal weather has become the norm, and the city sunlight has a harsh glare reflecting off the asphalt.
”Sorry to keep you waiting.”
With unhurried movements, Asagiri poured cold lemonade into a glass for me.
”Thank you very much.”
”Because when you were here before, you said it was delicious.”
Asagiri smiles faintly. To be honest, this person seems to possess a charm that attracts even the same sex. She isn’t just a simple beauty. She appears to be overflowing with natural feminine charm and purity of heart. It makes sense that she is revered as the ”Messiah” of Alsard.
”Umm… I am truly reflecting on what happened last time. I am sincerely sorry. And, thank you so much for saving us.”
For some reason, my words become faltering. What am I so nervous about…?
”Don’t mention it. Rather, I feel very sorry that my aunt raised her hand against you. I got angry at her afterwards. Even if she was going to raise her hand, I felt it was a bit too much…”
Asagiri speaks looking apologetic.
”Ah, it’s fine. Actually, a few days later, I was slapped in the same way by the Chief and even struck with a backhand. Though I was scolded to guard properly.”
Hearing that, Asagiri smiles as if she can’t hold it back.
”You’re quite tough, Himemiya-san.”
Asagiri, laughing as she says that, is very lovely. From her gestures, it is completely unimaginable that she is the owner of such power as to keep even Judgement at bay.
’Stop it now. With your power, you cannot defeat me. To borrow your words, trampling you is easy for me. Leave here at once.’
Those words. They sounded so cold and full of divine majesty that I couldn’t believe they were uttered by the Asagiri in front of me. If she had shifted to the offensive, she probably could have passed judgment on Judgement, but she intentionally didn’t do so…
”Have there been any changes since then? I’ve cast a spiritual protection just in case, but…”
”About that――”
I explained to Asagiri about what I saw in the mirror. Was that some kind of mental attack, or an hallucination brought on by my own mind? That had been bothering me all along.
”As far as I can tell from what you said, I don’t think it was a ”Mind Attack” from Judgement. The protection we’ve applied to you is a special one that completely blocks even rather high-level mental attacks. Besides, speaking of protection, I sense some kind of special protective power within you yourself, Himemiya-san.”
”Within me――myself?”
”Yes. I feel as though you yourself are being protected by some special power, Himemiya-san. By the way, have you ever experienced anything like spiritual disturbances before?”
Spiritual disturbances… effects on the human body caused by evil spirits, or sleep paralysis, etc. Encountering an evil spirit might also be a kind of spiritual disturbance, but…
”No, strange things happened or I saw things like spirits when I was a child, but… nothing in particular since then.”
For a moment, Asagiri falls into thought.
”When one is a child, the soul has just been born and is said to be in a state not yet anchored to this world. Therefore, it is easily subjected to interference from the ”Astral Dimension”, and as a result, one might have mysterious experiences, see spirits, or even be dragged into the spirit world. I hear there have been many spiriting aways in Japan since ancient times, but that means the target was dragged into the Astral Dimension.”
Asagiri continues speaking.
”――Himemiya-san. I believe you must be cherished very much. Whether that is a divine protection from the Astral Dimension, or someone has placed a powerful protection on you, I cannot determine, but it is protecting you from spiritual entities. However, no matter how powerful the protection or blessing cast, depending on the subject’s mind, the effect can become weaker, or it can become stronger.”
Then, Asagiri gently took my hand.
Mysteriously, my heart rate goes up.
”The important thing is to believe in yourself. A strong heart nullifies any attack, and a kind heart heals everything. Without a strong heart, you will be swallowed by spiritual entities, and by all phenomena. Please――do not forget that.”
Asagiri’s eyes behind her pearl pink glasses. At their crystal-like beauty that made me feel her hidden will, I lost my words for several seconds…
Asagiri’s hands layered over mine in an enveloping manner. I suddenly felt embarrassed.
”U-Umm… I… I…”
No good. I’m tongue-tied. What is this rapid beating of my heart!
”――Ah, I’m sorry!”
Perhaps Asagiri also suddenly felt embarrassed, as she hurriedly let go of our layered hands. Her face is bright red.
”I apologize. Your hands were so beautiful, Himemiya-san… It’s just that the insides are hard in some places. I guess that’s also, how should I say, tough…”
”I am an investigator, after all… The frequency of my shooting practice is quite high too…”
It is a somewhat awkward atmosphere. My heart rate is overly high. It might be the first time I’ve felt this way towards someone of the same sex. Hojo also has an aura close to Asagiri’s, but it isn’t this intense.
”Ah, I’ll have the lemonade! It was really delicious last time too!”
I unintentionally chugged down the lemonade poured into the glass in one gulp. Even I don’t know what I’m doing. I can tell I’m appropriately confused. And the lemonade I hastily chugged down went into my windpipe.
I cough violently.
”Himemiya-san! Are you okay! Pull yourself together!”
Asagiri comes close and rubs the back of me as I cough and look down. The sweet, mind-melting fragrance drifting from Asagiri’s beautiful hair and body. No good. What this person is doing is completely counterproductive.
I continue to cough. Then, the hand that was rubbing my back changes to embrace my shoulders.
No good. Asagiri’s face is right next to mine, close enough to touch. Her breath tickles my ear. Please. Stop it already! I don’t even know if I’m suffocating from the coughing anymore!
”Himemiya-san! Pull yourself together! Himemiya-san!”
――Ten minutes later. Overcoming my daze, I was finally able to breathe calmly.
”――I’m sorry. I caused quite a commotion. Chugging isn’t good, is it…”
”Thank goodness. I completely thought something else had happened… The lemonade just went into your windpipe, huh.”
That was the trigger, but I’ll intentionally keep it to myself that it was, if anything, Asagiri’s own fault…
”――Umm, Himemiya-san. Would it be alright if I asked you to listen to me talk just a little bit more…?”
I wonder what it is. Asagiri’s expression clouds over slightly… Fortunately, I still have plenty of time. There is no problem as long as I return to the base by the 15:00 meeting.
”It’s alright. If you’re fine with me.”
I smile warmly. And Asagiri began to speak quietly.
”Actually, I… don’t have my memories. I lost my parents in a traffic accident when I was young――the doctors say it’s likely an effect of that. But I feel like I’ve completely forgotten all of my important memories…”
”――Amnesia?”
”How should I put it… Ever since the traffic accident, it’s felt like there’s a massive hole in my head and my heart… Like something important has completely slipped away.”
Partial memory loss, perhaps…? Psychiatry is honestly outside my expertise, but what Asagiri is looking for probably isn’t there.
”Himemiya-san. I am fully aware that I am making a selfish and irresponsible request. But please, would you help me recover my memories? It’s not that I want you to do anything specific. I just feel that by interacting with you, I can recover that important something I lost.”
After saying so with her head slightly bowed, Asagiri looked at me with slightly teary eyes.
Making a request with a face like that is unfair. Though, I suppose I am the same. No, my degree of unfairness is probably stronger…
”Asagiri-san. There is just one thing I want to confirm. ――May I?”
”…Yes.”
”Is that――your intuition?”
To my question, she quietly answered, ’Yes.’ And I let her voice sink deeply into my heart.
Then, I reached a conclusion.
”Understood. I will gladly accept your request, Asagiri-san. I actually just thought the same thing. That maybe your memories can be recovered. I felt it through my intuition. Although there is absolutely no basis for it, except――”
”Except?”
I calmed my mind and spoke.
”――My intuition has never been wrong before. So, I will believe in your intuition too, Asagiri-san.”
A brief silence flowed…………
A somewhat awkward atmosphere… I want to reprimand myself for saying that with such full confidence.
At that moment, Asagiri laughed as if she couldn’t hold it back anymore.
”――You really are an interesting person, Himemiya-san.”
Asagiri said with a smile, her eyes slightly moist.
”I look forward to working with you. Oh right, it might be strange to call this a fee for the request, but please accept this.”
Saying so, she picked up a ring case from the showcase lined with accessories. She opened it and showed it to me.
”It is a moonlight amethyst ring, said to have been refined by eternal moonlight. I have also poured my spiritual power into the gemstone, so simply wearing it should have a powerful protective effect.”
Then, she gently took my right hand.
”――May I put it on you?”
The delicate pause raised my heart rate once again.
”――Yes. Please.”
Asagiri gently slipped the ring onto the middle finger of my right hand.
Like a servant serving a princess, I was captivated by her demeanor…
”Please don’t press a stun gun against my neck this time. My Princess.”
Asagiri smiled sweetly. And we laughed together for a while. With her behavior, I completely tasted the feeling of being a princess.
Princess Maker. I felt from the bottom of my heart that it was a truly wonderful shop.