JAKOzZ

Chapter 30: The Ceremony

 

 

 

"BODY CALIBRATION STARTED..."

Even before Reina understood what she had heard, a brutal wave of pain hit her and she started screaming. At the same time she also heard Kaede screaming in horror. Something tugged and pulled at her body. Her arms and legs felt numb. The suffering reached from her joints to her bellybutton, which literally threatened to tear. The impulses of pain continued their way mercilessly. Her breasts burned like in a sea of flames. The unspeakable pressure crept up her oesophagus. Then the formless something that tormented her so much hit her head, which within milliseconds felt like it was going to burst. Reina screamed her lungs out.
Then it was over. The sweet, monotone and already so familiar voice echoed in the distance:

"BODY CALIBRATION COMPLETED. SIZE. WEIGHT. WIDTH. GROWTH. UPDATED."

Reina did not move for a long moment. She was still dazed. She had forgotten all about the water around her. The rain also seemed to have stopped for quite a while. Even the strange windows that surrounded her before had disappeared. Everything was calm. The glimmer around the two girls faded away. Now the future Morning Musume members were just standing motionless in the center of the basin of cleansing.
Reina raised her hand towards her face. She stroked her cheeks, then her mouth. Finally, she let her fingers move from top to bottom all over her body. It felt different. Something seemed different to Reina. But she couldn't describe where that feeling came from.
She turned to her left and looked at her comrade. Kaede replied with eye contact. The older one seemed to be excessively confused as well. No one spoke a word.

"Go ahead! You're clean!"

Salma's voice echoed to them through the wafts of mist. Reina couldn't make out whether the moon nun was waiting for her in front or behind the basin. But she instinctively directed her attention to the end of the bathing room, where another door already seemed to let her pass through.
The two friends set off. Slowly they waded through the water. They had long forgotten that the silk dresses had almost adhered to their skin.
When they got out of the basin, even before they reached the door, people came towards them from all sides. They were also, like Salma, vessels in the clothing of the moon nuns. They were slipping off the clothes of the two girls. The process no longer seemed embarrassing to them. The past experience clung to them too much and kept them busy in their mind.
While Reina stood quietly in front of the door, daring to look down at herself, the strange feeling of having become a little fuller, both at her hips and her bust, came over her. Then she stroked her hair with her hand, which now reached far over her shoulders. Eccentrically she shook her head. She probably just imagined it, she thought.
Kaede, on the other hand, didn't seem to have changed at first sight. Reina didn't even want to know what the cool egomaniac with longer hair looked like. The short hairstyle suited her much better, the younger one decided.
Then the moon nuns showed up again. They carried many colorful fabrics and did not hesitate to dress the two former Kenshuusei bit by bit. Soon both Reina and Kaede wore a midnight blue tunic with an orange and yellow floral pattern and a salmon-colored silk scarf as a provisional belt. Even though it didn't necessarily was the latest craze, Reina felt a certain gracefulness about herself. After what seemed like an eternity, the familiar smile slinked back onto her face. She thought about the emotional ups and downs she had already experienced that day. The excitement before the exam, then the rush when she was finally called, at last the euphoria after the success. All of this was followed by the joy of being appointed a member of Morning Musume, the nervousness and insecurity in the changing room and ultimately the downright affliction of pain here in the bathing room.
Reina gave a satisfied sigh. All in all, it was probably the most eventful day in her life, if you leave the evening on the hilly lands outside.

Salma stepped in front of them and gave them a smile. Even though it was meant to be kind, Reina still couldn't get used to how unreal the emotions of vessels looked. They simply didn't seem alive in everything they did and were. At least that's what the girl thought.
Without saying anything, Salma asked them to follow her. Together they walked through the door and left the room filled with mist. A short, torch-lit corridor led them to a platform. The three of them positioned themselves on it and waited for a moment. After a few seconds, the platform buzzed and started moving abruptly. Then it went up at a slow pace.
When the elevator arrived at its destination, Salma stepped forward and opened the brass door in front of her. Immediately, a familiar joy chased through Reina's limbs at the sight of what lay before her when it opened. They found themselves right in the huge hall with the oversized glass dome ceiling. It was truly the most magnificent thing that the Haven had to offer.
With a little more speed, Reina and Kaga headed off under the leadership of Salma. They crossed the glass dome hall and headed straight for the throne room. There, Reina suspected, the final ceremony would take place.
And she was right. While they were still halfway there, the two enormous wing gates began to move with a resounding roar. Reina felt honored that the gates were opened to their full extent especially for them. Normally only headmaster Tsunku had this right.
Just before they entered the throne room, Salma stopped and turned to her two protégés. Quietly she spoke:

"You are about to be led inside by me. But we must wait for the sign. So relax for a moment."

Kaede and Reina looked at each other resolutely, then they nodded. Their big writing was on the wall. As soon as this day was over, they had done it. Then they were finally members of Morning Musume.

 

 

 

 

The throne room was filled with hundreds of people, vessels, group members, kenshuusei and teachers. They had all come to witness the intake ceremony. Miyazaki Yuka looked around excitedly. The dining tables and chairs had been moved to the walls and stacked on top of each other. The curious crowd had formed a narrow passage that reached from the entrance gate to the teacher's table. On the height headmaster Tsunku, Fukumura Mizuki, Ikuta Erina, Iikubo Haruna and Shimizu Saki had already positioned themselves. They talked with each other lively. Right behind them were the remaining members of Morning Musume.
Yuka watched them for a while, but her attention was drawn to Tomoko, who made a conspicuous squeaking sound, while she stretched on tiptoe to recognize the entrance more exactly.
Sayuki slammed her elbow into Tomoko's ribs with full force and hissed at her:

"What are you doing? Pull yourself together a bit."

Tomoko on the other hand opened her cat-like eyes wide and said enthusiastically:

"But it's almost time. I'm getting jittery."

Sayuki snorted contemptuously. Next to her, Karin moved who only gave a dull smile before she turned her face towards Yuka and asked in a sweet voice:

"Will we leave after the ceremony?"

Instead of Yuka, it was Akari who made a stunned noise. While she was still linking arms with her leader, she questioningly confronted Karin:

"You want to leave again? But we've only just arrived."

The addressed person nodded peevishly and countered:

"We still have to find the Hunter. °C-ute was unable to locate him after all..."

Suddenly she fell silent, because at that very moment Yajima Maimi and her comrades joined them. Akari blushed immediately, but Karin kept a straight face.
The leader of °C-ute must have clearly heard what Karin had said, as she said with a calm smile:

"You're absolutely right, Miyamoto. It was our mistake for letting the Hunter get away. That's how it should be proclaimed."

Yuka tried to save the situation and whirled her hands around in denial:

"No, no! That is not true at all. This all happened much too fast. Who could have guessed that suddenly he would leave everything in the hut and just disappear. Karin didn't want to blame you."

A nervous laugh accompanied the Juice=Juice leader and Maimi nodded thankfully to her. But Karin stared emotionlessly at the °C-ute members one by one. Especially with Suzuki Airi she had a long and intensive eye contact. Finally it was Okai Chisato who gave the younger one a surprisingly strong pat on the head and answered cynically:

"Don't look at us with such contempt. You may be talented, but you still have a lot to learn. Not everything always works out the way you want it to. Otherwise the world would be too simple."

For a short moment it seemed that Karin wanted to reply to this, but finally she turned away from the events and shrugged her shoulders.
This made Yuka think. Until now, Miyamoto Karin had made it too easy in all aspects. She completed every mission with flying colours. One could see her as a rising star in the sky of Hello!Project Online. She was a person everyone could definitely call a genius. She was also the definitive Ace of Juice=Juice. Yuka couldn't have guessed where the group would be if Karin hadn't pulled them out of their misery one or two times. However, this had created a certain kind of arrogance in the younger one, which was hard to eradicate. Probably only a defeat could contribute to the wealth of experience. But so far, it didn't look like Miyamoto Karin would ever know what it meant to lose.

"Yuka?"

The person addressed startled. She had been so lost in thought that she had not paid attention to her surroundings. Akari, still attached to her, looked at her uncertainly.

"Is everything all right with you?"

Yuka scratched her cheek and smiled in response.

"Y-Yes! All is well."

The Juice=Juice leader recognized that °C-ute had moved on in the meantime. Gradually a certain calm and tension returned to the crowd. Tomoko spoke emphatically in a whisper:

"It's about to start."

On the opposite side, Yuka saw how the members of ANGERME, who as usual were talking loudest, slowly fell silent one by one. Country girls were also nearby. She wonder if Kobushi Factory and Tsubaki Factory were also present? At least Yuka couldn't find the two newest groups.
The two newcomers were about to enter the hall. And indeed it was time. At the edge of the height, a harp with lovely sounds started and accompanied the harmonic, calm walk of Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina, who now both stepped through the wing gate. A woman in a silk dress walked in front of them. She was clearly marked as a moon nun and led the two aspirants.
At the place where the small walking group was, the crowd applauded. As soon as they left, the crowd calmed down again. It was like a gentle shower of rain that pelted against the window pane early in the morning, at first approaching in all regularity and then fading away as time passed.
The spectators experienced an especially cute moment when the threesome reached the Kenshuusei. Louder cheering than necessary became audible and one could hear people named Kawamura Ayano, Nishida Shiori and Yamazaki Yuhane shouting joyful chants of encouragement to their former comrades. Even the otherwise more respectful Ichioka Reina and Takase Kurumi could not be stopped.
When Kaga and Yokoyama arrived at the peak of Juice=Juice members, Yuka began clapping with all the people around them and their comrades. She took the opportunity to take a closer look at the two personalities. It was clearly seen that they had completed the cleansing. Their appearance had adapted and they no longer looked like little lost chicks. Now they were women to whom the future was open. Anything was possible from now on.
The taller Kaga and the smaller Yokoyama. Yuka wondered what adventures and experiences they would soon have to tell? Did they have what it takes to make it to the fifth level of rehabilitation? The young woman hoped with all her heart.
Then the train was over again and the crowd ended the applause. Slowly and thoughtfully the newcomers climbed up the height and stepped in front of the team of five, which had been waiting for them eagerly.
Headmaster Tsunku stood before his own throne. A narrow smile appeared on his face. Fukumura Mizuki, as leader of Morning Musume, and Shimizu Saki, the coordinator of the audition committee, next to him radiated pure happiness. And on the very outside were also the two sub-leaders of Morning Musume, Ikuta Erina and Iikubo Haruna. The five received the two most heartily.
For a brief moment, there was a reverent silence. Here and there a clearing of throat could be heard. Then the booming voice of Tsunku resounded:

"Welcome! Welcome to Haven... again."

Parts of the crowd smiled. A few even had to refrain from laughing. But Tsunku continued to speak unperturbed:

"You have come this far. For some, it has been a long and arduous journey.

His eyes fell on Kaga, who was trying hard not to let any emotions show.

"For others, the motto was 'The first step is always the hardest'."

Meaningful his eyes wandered to Yokoyama, who grinned at him embarrassingly. Then he gave a signal and the moon nun, who had temporarily moved away, came towards him with clothes in her hand. Without further words, they were handed over to Kaga and Yokoyama, who received the pieces of cloth in awe.
Yuka tried to get a close look at the clothes. This was to be the new equipment of Morning Musume from now on. She mainly recognized colors in red and black and possibly golden strings. But she was not sure. Immediately Tsunku brought her back into the here and now:

"This is your clothing from now on. It is to protect you and to be a sign that you are a part of the Haven... that you are now a part of Morning Musume."

He stretched out his hands far out so that the palms of his hands reached over the heads of the two. Kaga and Yokoyama instantly took this as a signal to kneel down before the headmaster. In the same breath, the harp began to play again, which was temporarily silenced. This should give more authority to the following words of the headmaster, because he spoke melancholically:

"Kaga Kaede! Yokoyama Reina! You are the thirteenth generation of Morning Musume. Wear this title with pride. Stand by the side of your comrades. Study hard alongside your mentors and teachers. Seize the chance for a second life, because it is precious. Form the harmony between the knowledge of mind, energy and clarity. Progress in rehabilitation and aim to see the true reality again soon with your true eyes. Give everything for it!"

Tsunku touched the heads of the two girls gently and at once the crowd roared. Jubilation broke out and the whole throne room began to shake. The members of Morning Musume also joined in the background loudly.
Finally, it was Fukumura Mizuki who reached out her hand to both Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina and greeted them in a happy voice:

"Welcome to Morning Musume!"

Chapter 29: Cleansing

 

 

 

The afternoon left a feeling of crackling tension. Two hours ago the new Morning Musume members were chosen. The Observer had made its final decision under watching of the whole Haven. Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina should prove their skills in the first rehab grade from now on.
Kamiko gave a deep sigh. Then a smile surrounded her lips. The long, dark hair slid over her shoulders as she tilted her head downwards.
She was still sitting on the stand. The seats were now completely empty and deserted. The spectacle of the audition had faded away long ago, but still distant, excited cries and cheers echoed in her head.
Thinking of the perfect performance of Reina during the audition, Kamiko felt a slight sting in her chest. It had been really incredible, she thought to herself in silence.
Slowly she lifted her petite body. For a short moment she closed her eyes. Her mind widened and Kamiko captured all souls around her. Wavelike, positive emotions flowed through the corridors and rooms of the building. Warmth and tenderness were abundant. Kamiko's soul experienced satisfaction and happiness. She did not yet understand why, but as soon as a grouping got new members, the inhabitants of the castle enjoyed it to the utmost. In those moments, it seemed that the Haven was one big family, welcoming new sisters into its midst. Somehow this seemed to be a calming, even peaceful thought, Kamiko believed. Hello!Project Online felt like an oversized prison most of the time. But in such times, in these tiny periods of joy and happiness, it was indeed possible to be truly welcome in this magical world.
Light-footed Kamiko made her way towards the exit. Still lost in thought, she opened the door to the training hall and walked down the corridor. But even before she reached her destination, the cosy living room of ANGERME, she faltered. Sweat formed on her forehead and the cat-like eyes had widened in panic fear.
A red glow. A bleeding spark of hate spread quickly. There were souls that had no harmony. Somewhere in Haven. Kamiko sensed the roaring will of discord. She had never felt this within the walls of the Haven.
She instinctively expanded her mind again. She had to uncover these disturbing factors. She had to know who they were. Where they were. These strange subjects could mutate into danger for all of them. This had to be stopped immediately. The mind of Kamiko flowed at breakneck speed through every crack in the old building. But little by little, it lost its unpleasant presence. The more she longed to locate the people, the harder it became to grasp the fiery red souls. After only a few seconds the negative presences had almost vanished and what remained was a queasy feeling in Kamiko's belly. It was as if her stomach really wanted to turn itself inside out. She had lost track.

 

 

 

 

Reina was next to Kaede and looked at the something in front of her with a stunned look. Ayumin grinned mischievously at the two newcomers and said:

"Don't be so shy. These are the traditional silk dresses. You have to wear them during the cleansing, before you are dressed in your ceremonial tunic."

When Kaede in particular had problems replying to it, Ayumin finally added in an encouraging voice:

"Don't worry. None of us will see you like this. You just have to wear this outfit in front of the moon nuns. They will bathe you at nightfall and... well... clean you up."

Reina struggled with a cramped smile:

"What does it mean to be cleaned up?"

Fukumura Mizuki joined them at that very moment and answered with a friendly voice:

"It is a ritual act and should serve as a symbol that you are leaving your former life and all your sins connected with it behind you forever. The mistakes and defeats of the past are washed away along with every form of shame, grief and anger."

Reina frowned confusedly:

"But I can't even remember my former life. So what's the point?"

The Morning Musume leader smiled and winked with her right eye:

"Maybe you were a really bad boy once and it's better that you don't know."

Reina had nothing to say to that. Instead, it was Kaede who asked another question:

"After the cleansing, the intake ceremony will take place. Is there anything specific we need to consider?"

Ayumin was the first to answer:

"Not really. Step in front of Tsunku together as soon as you get the sign. Afterwards you will receive the new clothes before all of us, which we will wear on missions from now on. You accept them with pride. And when the headmaster raises his hand over your heads, you will kneel in reverence. That's all there is to it."

The two new members nodded. In spite of all the uncertainty, they felt an excited tingling inside. From today on they were members of this incredible grouping. They had made it.
Reina was filled with pure bliss. Everything around her seemed to shine in radiance. Four months had passed since her arrival at Hello!Project Online. It seemed like a small eternity and she prayed fervently that Shiorin, Kawamuu, Yuhane and all the other Kenshuusei would soon follow them. She could not bear it if any of them were excluded from therapy.

"It will soon be time. You should be getting ready."

Mizuki pointed to the silky, almost transparent fabric which they had looked at in horror until a few minutes ago. Even if the two still felt uneasy, a strange determination had taken possession of them by now.
Reina grabbed the dress and unfolded it. With her outstretched hands she held the cloth in front of her and looked at it extensively. Even though the garment looked elegant in a certain way, one could not deny that it was almost invisible. It would cover the entire body... and then again it would cover nothing at all. A red glow appeared on Reina's cheeks. She felt that it choked her slightly. Shame filled her innermost being. And with a sideways glance at Kaedi she realized that her comrade was going through a similar fate.
Ayumin gave them a motherly look before she spoke:

"Take all the time in the world. We're going to step outside now so you won't feel uncomfortable. As soon as you have changed and you are ready, go outside and enter the room behind the Grand Staircase. A long corridor will lead you to the Bath of Cleansing. Everything else will be explained to you by the moon nuns. We will await you at the ceremony."

Fukumura Mizuki and Ishida Ayumi walked to the door. They gave the two unsettled figures a last encouraging smile and then stepped outside. 
For a short moment, silence fell. Reina and Kaede stared at the fabric dresses. Then the older one swallowed heavily and without further delay began to pull her training shirt over her head.
Reina looked at her in amazement, but couldn't move herself. Without knowing where these emotions came from, she suddenly experienced embarrassment and discomfort when she thought of her naked body. Especially thinking about the super slender Kaede with her well-trained body. One could definitely tell that she had four years of continuous training.
At one blow Reina noticed the grumpy look of her comrade, who was already stripped down to her underwear. Abruptly, the younger one whirled around. She certainly didn't want to be considered a voyeur.
Clumsily, Reina began to undress on her part. Because she didn't want to cause any more embarrassment between herself and Kaede, she hurried and threw her clothes one by one onto a pile next to her.
Finally, without looking at each other, since the situation was already the most awkward thing they had experienced so far, at least according to their memories, they stood stark naked in the changing room. They both held the transparent clothes in front of them. Reina bit her lips and finally overcame herself. It was in no way elegant how she pulled the piece of cloth over her head and fought a protracted battle with the silk. It took many minutes before she finally got an arm squeezed through the appropriate hole. Her head had turned bright red, partly from strain, partly from shame.

"Wait a minute! Let me help you!"

Without waiting for an answer Kaede reached for the bundle, which was a mixture of clothes and Reina. The younger one wanted to protest, but finally she had to accept the hopelessness in which she had found herself. It took another three minutes but the former Kenshuusei managed to pack the unfamiliar silk clothes properly on the spot.
Then the two finally looked at each other. Reina swallowed audibly. The description 'a breath of nothing' would definitely not have been an exaggeration. Every single part of her body was clearly visible through a veil of white fabric. Nothing was covered. Both faces were scarlet red and they turned away from each other while hiding the essentials.
Suddenly, from outside the dressing room, which was located in a side door on the ground floor of the castle, near the large marble staircase, they heard excited roaring. There was a hard knock on the door.

"Kaedi! Yokoyan! Are you still in there?"

It was clearly the voice of Oda Sakura. The sweet voice was unmistakable.
At the same time, an angry, imperious voice interfered:

"Leave those two alone! They're embarrassed enough as it is. They don't need you two perverts, too."

This was clearly Kudo Haruka. She seemed to be in a wrangle with several other members, because immediately one could hear the whining of Sato Masaki's shrill voice:

"Oh come on, Duu! Just a tiny little look. We want to get to know our new members FULLY."

There seemed to be a real fight brewing outside the door. Kaede and Reina stared at the door in horror. At any moment it would open and then they would be standing there almost without cover.
Silence. Sudden silence. No one moved outside the dressing room. Then you heard a click and the long squeak of the door. Finally it remained ajar and a face was recognizable by the frame.
It was Kudo Haruka. She had her eyes closed and was smiling. Meanwhile she spoke in her usual hoarse tone:

"The coast is clear, guys. You can now walk through the hall without a bad feeling. Don't worry."

Immediately the face disappeared again and one could hear footsteps moving away. Completely irritated, Reina stepped to the door and stuck her head outside. She looked to the left and to the right, but not a soul was to be seen in the wide hall. She turned to her partner and said smiling:

"I don't think there's anybody left. Are you ready?"

Kaede looked at Reina for a last moment and then nodded gently as a sign of confirmation. This pleased the younger one, who opened the door resolutely and ran off with a quick step.

 

 

 

 

Kaede and Reina entered the long corridor behind the marble staircase. To the left and right of them enormous paintings stretched out. After a few meters Reina realized that the paintings were telling a story and were not hanging randomly in their positions. She recognized drawings of a woman and a man walking separately, each on the left or right side of the wall, in an unknown world. The man slayed three-horned demon beings with a ruby-studded sword, while the woman shot arrows into the sky with her bow creating clouds.
The man invaded the hell deeper and deeper and was sullied by the blood and abnormalities of his enemies. His gaze became more and more murderous until he finally threw himself full of hate into a lava lake and burned himself there in terrible agony.
The woman, however, learned that she could walk on the clouds she created. She used this opportunity and shot more and more arrows in the direction of the sun to get closer and closer to it. Eventually she managed to touch the core of the fire. In complete rapture and close to enlightenment her dress started to burn. With laughter and joy her whole body charred until only dust remained.
The two new Morning Musume members reached the end of the corridor. Reina had lost her courage. The paintings had not conveyed any positive feelings to her. Why were they hanging here? This was supposed to be a new beginning? Were these stories considered a cautionary tale? Was it a story about the down-to-earth nature of human beings and that nobody had the right to reach for the deepest depths or the highest heights. But why did this have to be presented in such a macabre way? Didn't everyone have the right to be who he or she wanted to be? Was not every place freely selectable?
Reina's head was whirling. Thoughts circled around and it seemed as if she could not give a plausible explanation for what she saw.
But before she could lapse any further into resentment, the double door opened in front of them. At once, Reina was torn back into the here and now.
A young woman, also dressed in velvety clothes, though far more covering, looked at her with almost piercing calm. The moon nun possessed a steady gaze and every fiber of her face radiated a soothing aura, so Reina forgot any thoughts of the paintings.
The nun raised her soft voice:

"Kaga Kaede and Yokoyama Reina. Greetings. My name is Salma. Please come in."

The woman beckoned them both to her. At the same time, she turned on her heel and stepped back into the hall from which she had come before.
Kaede and Reina followed her without hesitation. When they entered the room, they were greeted by billowing mists, wafts of heat and exotic scents. This was the ceremonial bathing room, the Bath of Cleansing, which was only used when new members joined a group.
The two former Kenshuusei followed their companion. She seemed to have an exact target in mind.
After all, they had almost reached the opposite end of the hall when Salma stopped and turned to them. They were now right in front of a huge basin with embedded water. The fumes and the resulting heat around them made Reina dizzy, almost sleepy. She tried to focus and listened to the kind words of Salma:

"Now you're both stepping into the basin. Walk to the middle and stay there. The cleansing of your hearts and souls shall then begin. Are you ready?"

Both Kaede and Reina answered simultaneously with an all-pervading "Yes!".
Salma nodded:

"So be it."

She bowed and then stepped aside to point to the basin with her palm in the same breath. Kaede and Reina knew what to do instinctively. Now the time had come.
They walked in the same step. Because of the warm and humid air around them, their silk dresses already felt clammy and heavy on their bodies. Reina thought to herself that now every detail was clearly visible on her. She didn't feel well at all and never before had she suffered from such disgust for herself. This thought again filled her with deep shame. But at the same time she clenched her hands into fists. Now there was no turning back. Her appearance. Her vices. All her doubts and worries were unimportant.
While Kaede hesitated a moment longer, Reina courageously took the first step into the water. Soft, tingling warmth surrounded her ankle. Her partner did the same. Together they entered the basin and more and more water enclosed her body.
When they reached the centre, the water level had risen until just before Reina's breasts. The wetness clung heavily to the silk dress and dragged the girl down to the ground. The thick wafts of mist didn't make constant breathing easy. Instead, Reina tried to transport the little air through her lungs in short, fast breaths.
For a long time they stood there and nothing happened. Only the occasional splash of drops bouncing off the shallow water could be heard.
But eventually the splashing increased. More and more drops of water fell gently onto the surface until a rainfall formed and even the last parts of Kaede's and Reina's bodies were coated with water.
The initial rainfall became stronger and stronger. It now almost resembled a storm and both winds and water drops whipped into Reina's face. For a moment she had the feeling that she could no longer breathe freely. Did the people here wanted her to drown? The girl bent slightly and tried to protect her face with her hands, but it didn't help. She almost blacked out. Even her partner beside her she could no longer recognize. Was it the same for her? The pressure on Reinas chest was monstrous. It felt like thousands of tiny knife stabs. And just before she finally panicked, as the sheer fear of fainting took possession of her, a strange barrier enveloped her body, bouncing off all rain and wind.
She quickly inhaled the air and oxygen entered her lungs. Suddenly she opened her eyes again and looked surprised. The pouring rain was still there. But it did not reach Reina anymore. Instead, countless violet-blue windows in an extremely futuristic design had formed around her. They floated in the air and circled around Reina's body at shoulder height. These windows contained words, texts and images of diagrams and data, which stood out with a slightly confusing 3D effect.
At first, Reina couldn't make out in any way what these square objects were supposed to mean. But then her attention was drawn to a certain window and her mouth opened in amazement.

"-- Yokoyama Reina --
Age: 15 (22.02.2013)
Grade: 1
Grouping: Morning Musume
HP: 425/425
Energy: 86
Mind: 53
Clarity: 101
Status: OK
Rehab status: in progress
Skill #1: Capture Aura
Skill #2: Accelerate"

Then, a high, monotonous voice rang out:

"BODY CALIBRATION STARTED..."

Chapter 28: Icy Gust of Wind

 

 

 

"From today on, this is your home! Welcome to Morning Koohii! The mansion of Morning Musume!"

The eyes of Reina and Kaede sparkled while Ishida Ayumi, affectionately called Ayumin by everyone, led them through the living quarters of their new comrades. It was a dream that had become reality. Reina still couldn't quite believe it and after ten steps she had to pinch her arm each time to check that she didn't wake up in the Kenshuusei dorm again.
A huge table made of oak wood was the first thing that was targeted. A snow-white tablecloth lay on it and it was laid with all kinds of fruit in bowls decorated with silver and gold. Even the one or other ruby could be seen in specially made sockets. Just as magnificent were the plates and cutlery, neatly lined up in front of each wooden chair, which, by the way, were covered with transparent rainbow-coloured fabrics.
Reina could no longer stop being amazed. Here she lived from now on? That was far too much. And until now she had only seen the dining room and the hallway, which was no less impressive with its enormous purple wardrobe and the mighty marble shoe closet.

"Back there are our bedchambers. Each one of us has a room for herself. Number 810 is for you, Kaga. 811 is for you, Yokoyama. You can bring your luggage in there later. But first, I would like to show you the most important rooms."

While Ayumin gave them the instructions, one by one the other team members also entered the villa. While they were still completely excited and full of energy they tried again and again to find a reason, no matter how trivial or even strange it was, to be allowed to meet the newcomers. In the kitchen, Nonaka Miki, called Chel, was wandering around aimlessly, as she, at least in her opinion, was desperate to cook for tonight. Although she probably didn't like the fact that they would all already be in the throne room at the ceremony, where there was clearly enough food. In the dining room Iikubo Haruna had looked for her toothbrush, but could not answer the question when she could have left it in that very room. And in the toilets there was even a rather strange or even unpleasantly embarrassing situation, as Sato Masaki and Makino Maria at the same time urgently wanted to urinate and apparently did not care that both Ayumin and the newcomers were still looking around in exactly this room.
All in all, the mansion made an almost royal impression. Reina felt overwhelmed by all the glitter around her. But now she was curious to get her own room. She separated from Kaedi, who stopped in front of the door of number 810. But the younger one didn't have to walk for long. Right next to Kaedi's room was the entrance to number 811, which was painted yellow. Hesitantly Reina reached with her hand for the knob in front of her. When she touched it, she felt the familiar coolness on her palm again, just like on the first day of her arrival in the Haven.
One could hear the soft click as she opened the door. Immediately, it burst ajar and light shone into the still darkened room. The curtains were drawn. But the brightness that flooded into the room from the hallway was already enough to determine the size of Reina's new living space.

"Wow."

The young girl made an impressive whistle. Then she entered slowly. The room was large. In her opinion, there was no better way to sum it up. A gigantic canopy bed was right in the middle of the room. Nevertheless, she had enough space to the right and left of it to be able to do a proper cartwheel. At the foot end of the bed, after a gap that could fit a person of Reina's stature at least twice, there was a wardrobe that reached from one wall of the room to the other as well as from the floor to the ceiling. With huge eyes, Reina stared at him through the semi-darkness.
Finally she went straight for the window and tore the curtains open with a powerful jerk. Instantly, bright sunlight flooded the room. And finally everything was visible. The bright yellow walls, the chrome desk next to the window, the white nightstand by the bed with the extendable commode, the blue beanbag next to the door, and the magnificent mirror with silver ornaments on the edges that was the clear heart of Reina's room.
The new Morning Musume member had her mouth wide open, but nothing, not a sound, came out. Stunned and blissful at the same time, she stood in the middle of her new home, unable to make a single movement.

"Reinaaa! This is incredible!"

At once the person addressed jumped up and looked towards the entrance. There stood Kaede, whose perplexity was still written on her face. It almost seemed as if she had been rushed to her comrade to share these waves of feelings of joy and dreaminess with her.
Without saying another word, Reina ran towards Kaede and embraced her with all her heart. They had arrived.

 

 

 

 

The wind roared strongly. The cold winter air was finally noticeable. Around the castle, December was normally a rather autumnal month. Snow was not to be expected. And it could also happen when and then that you were more likely to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, while you had to protect yourself from icy gusts.

Inoue Rei liked this interlude of the seasons. When the weather didn't know which way to go. As soon as it reached this status, it automatically felt human to her. As if someone was sitting up in the sky and controlling all this.
Unexpectedly Rei smiled to herself. She imagined a clumsy trainee who was completely overwhelmed by the many buttons and levers that controlled the various weather functions. Yes, that's how it had to be. Both the deep winter and the high summer were well structured and easy to handle. Either it was cold or it was warm. Autumn and spring should also not be a big problem. With the first one, you simply turned the wind force up to full power. With the other one, one simply gave people a little pinch of warmth so that the flowers could bloom. But what was done during the transitions? How did you manage the change from autumn to winter? From spring to summer? Did they simply adjust parameters in a more extreme direction? Is summer just the more extreme version of spring? Was winter simply seen as a more uniform autumn? When Rei thought about it that way, it actually made sense somehow. For a weather professional, the change was definitely no problem. They probably knew exactly how to set the temperature, the precipitation or the wind strength, so it must have felt like a real weather change for the people in this dream world.
She pulled the jacket she was carrying closer to her. She liked the cool air around her, even though her body showed exactly the opposite. But that was not bad. Rei had often disagreed with her body. For example, her body had decided far too often to let parts of herself grow longer than Rei would have liked. So she thought that her fingers and her arms, but also her skinny legs were all much too long. In comparison, she was very lean and flat. But her greatest attention was focused on her neck. This also did not want to stop sprouting up into the air. Yet she was not so tall to be able to justify all these measurements. With her 1.59m, there were definitely taller Haven inhabitants, even if she could not be called small at all. And she knew that, with her fifteen years of age, she would definitely make up an inch or two. Still, she did not like what her body was doing to her.
As if by chance, or perhaps her body wanted to respond stubbornly to her self-reflection, a strong wind blew up and whipped her long, dark hair, which otherwise fell gently over her narrow shoulders, directly into her eyes. Quickly she tried to pull the single strands out of her face with her hands. Then she mumbled softly:

"That's right. I shouldn't always be so hard on myself."

Like the surroundings had heard her, the gust of wind stopped abruptly and it became quiet around the girl. After a short time of silence, however, she heard a distant call:

"Rei! There you are!"

The addressed person looked over her shoulder down the hill on which she was sitting. A slight smile formed on her narrow lips.

"Ayapan, what are you doing here?"

The person, her full name was Hirose Ayaka, had finally reached the runaway. With heavy breath she leaned on her knees and gasped for breath. Meanwhile Rei watched her amused.
Ayaka was the exact opposite of her body stature. In terms of size they were not far apart, even though the arrival was a little smaller. But from then on any similarities already stopped. Hirose Ayaka was sturdier in stature and seemed more corpulent than Rei at every single part of her body. No matter if it was the arms, the stomach, the face, the legs or even the breasts. Ayaka possessed more everywhere. But one could by no means call her fat. Rei liked these slight curves on her friend and they made her attractive in her own way. Compared to herself, Ayaka was a real woman. At least Rei felt that way. And no matter if Ayaka possibly complained about her own body stature, she would probably never show this. Because she was a strong personality who had the right word for each of her team members. But she needed to, after all, she was the leader of their grouping, Kobushi Factory. Rei admired her leader since they had joined the Kenshuusei together. They had gone through a lot together and finally they had landed here, united.

"What are you doing out here? It is cold! You'll catch your death!"

Rei grinned boldly when she answered:

"If death hasn't reached us yet, he's welcome to try it out here, at this wonderful sight. I'm ready to give him a good smack in the mouth."

Ayaka returned the grin but then she frowned and became serious.

"I was with Yamagishi at the Supremes earlier. A month ago, the Kenshuusei were attacked here, on the foothills ...and almost got them all killed.

This news should have shocked Rei, but instead she just lowered her head and thought about what she had said. Grief flashed in her eyes and she knew that Ayaka was thinking of the same thing as she was at that very moment. 
Memories from over a year ago entered the girls' memories. It was the time when they had first learned about the Hunters. At that time they themselves had still been Kenshuusei. They were about to make their debut as a new group.
A newcomer, Okamoto Honoka was her name, had left the castle one evening. She had been strongly rebuked by her teachers during the day, which she apparently hadn't handled very well. That's why she had left the castle. All groupings, even the Kenshuusei, had gone in search of her. Rei remembered that it had been a cool night. The icy winds resembled those she had just felt before Ayaka had come to her. But back then, she could not enjoy the winds. Under almost panicky time pressure and sweaty faces, they had searched the whole area. But she was simply not to be found. Days had passed. Still there had been no trace. The ceremony for Kobushi Factory had to be postponed. Rei had reproached herself. Like everyone else of the Kenshuusei. They had all been sure that they should have noticed. They should have stopped Okamoto. But they had closed their eyes and ears and didn't listen to the young girl's lamentation.
Then, one night, Rei remembered, as if it were yesterday, they had heard a bloodcurdling scream from the distance of the castle grounds. It had been shrill and unidentifiable. Terrifying. The Kenshuusei had all gathered at the tower window to see what had caused the noise. Something black and hooded had lain outside the castle gates on the flat steppe. Nothing around it. Rei remembered the sight exactly. It had been horrible. Because there, wrapped in black, moth-eaten silk, Okamoto Honoka had lain. ...dead.
Rei swallowed hard. The next day was to be their debut ceremony. Right after the funeral. They learned that the girl was attacked by a Hunter. A sinister figure who brought death and misfortune. If you met it unprepared, alone and afraid, you could never escape it alive. What sounded like a horror story told around a campfire on a cloudy night had become reality. And the Hunters never stopped. So they were told, before they were accepted as full members of the Haven two hours later.

"This time there were no victims."

Rei had heard Ayaka's voice but still looked emotionlessly at the green meadow ground. She answered weary:

"There are always victims. ...even if they are not dead."

The Kobushi Factory leader remained silent for a short moment. Finally she answered:

"Kamikokuryo Moe was with them and did everything she could to save the Kenshuusei. In the end, it was Morning Musume who expelled the Scouts."

Rei took notice.

"Scouts?"

Ayaka nodded softly.

"Yes. Apparently the Hunters were trying to find out something. But why they revealed themselves remains a mystery for the time being. Perhaps they saw an opportunity to weaken the castle by wiping out our spawn."

Rei looked at her comrade with a frown. Then she turned up her mouth thoughtfully.

"It is strange that they assumed the Kenshuusei would travel over the hills alone. A group member could have watched over them at any time. Of all days, it was not so at that time. Why?"

Ayaka narrowed her eyes.

"I assumed that the encounter with Kamikokuryo had been rather accidental. She hadn't been assigned to guard duty. So you're right, the Scouts knew exactly what they were going to attack that night."

Meanwhile Rei kneaded her lips strained with thumb and forefinger.

" For how long have beings from the Hunter tribe been able to move around our lands so undiscovered? Since we formed a group a year ago..."

"this has never happened before", Ayaka finished the sentence, "you are absolutely right and that makes me suspicious. We must be careful. Maybe Haven isn't quite as safe as we always thought."

Reis eyes wandered carefully to her leader. For a brief moment, no one spoke a word. Suddenly, another icy gust of wind blew across the area and tousled the hair of both girls. In the end they were a ball of dishevelled hair, ears and nose on both sides, which caused them to burst out laughing. And finally they went back to the castle together.

Chapter 27: Be Yourself

 

 

 

The thunderous noise of the masses still resounded deafeningly through the training hall. Yokoyama Reina's eyes sparkled with bliss while she was led, supported by Yuhane, to the benches under the spectator stands. A cluster of people surrounded her. Everything seemed so dizzying and distant. The young girl saw Hashisako Rin shouting happy words to her. But because of the many voices around her, she was unable to understand the smallest one. Slowly Reina felt her feet again. Whether it was the sharp pain that kept erupting jerkily or the dizziness of her whole body, which had such an enormous load taken off her shoulders, she couldn't tell exactly. She only knew that she had taken a big step in the right direction. Her rehabilitation had now finally begun.

"Yokoyaaaan! You were great! Let me hug you!"

Puzzled, Reina looked around. Yokoyan? Who called her by that name? Then her eyes widened. Morning Musume had just stepped down the audience and came straight at her. While Makino Maria had grabbed Kaga Kaede, her former Kenshuusei comrade-in-arms, it was Oda Sakura who had called for the younger one and now came running straight towards her. In a stormy manner the petite arms were thrown around Reina's neck. Immediately she heard the sweet voice very close to her ear:

"Now you are one of us! Congratulations!"

The other members of the grouping also came closer. They all laughed and clapped. Although they were by no means larger than the Kenshuusei, they still had an appearance that did not appear from the same planet. Every single presence, as different as they were, shone brightly and brilliantly. Even as she was released from Oda, Reina noticed the pleasant tingling in her chest. A radiant smile magically appeared on her face. Finally, she had the chance to be amongst the greats of the academy and did not have to fear that she would collapse again. She was ready for her new grouping. A happy grin brought her out:

"Pleased to meet you. My name is Yokoyama Reina!"

A girl with short hair and a playful look tapped her on the head with the palm of her hand. Then the slightly hoarse voice sounded:

"You're an idiot! We already know who you are. It's more important that we introduce ourselves to you two again."

The speaker threw a wink to Kaga Kaede before she continued speaking:

"I am Kudo Haruka! If you have problems, worries or needs, you'd best come to me."

Supported by a broad grin, the short-haired girl pointed at herself with her thumb in a self-confident manner. But then she was rustically interrupted by the youngest in the troupe.

" No, no, Duu! If anyone is the perfect person to talk to here, then it's clearly me, Haga Akane!"

With her arms outstretched and her flowing brown hair, which lovingly framed her face, she presented herself to the two newcomers.
Suddenly another person pushed in between. She had put on a stern face, which emphasized her angular features.

"You two should hold your breath for now. I think these two are having thoughts other than memorizing your names right now."

Haga Akane blew her cheeks in indignation.

"Eriiii... don't be so..."

But the young woman named Ikuta Erina did not engage in any discussion. Instead, one of the smallest but oldest ones stepped forward to join Reina and Kaede. In the meantime, the latter, after she had freed herself from Maria's constraints, had also taken a seat on the wooden bench. The older one spoke to both of them laughing:

"I have watched with great amazement the way you have mastered the third test. I believe we will have much fun together at the front."

Kaede looked up in surprise.

"A-A at the front? Really?"

Reina's expression formed a single question mark.

"What do you mean? Front?"

Maria jumped to her comrade's side explaining and said loudly:

"The front forms our main line of attack. When we step into our formations, it is this subgroup who strike first with their agility and boldness. Right, Ayumin?"

Ayumin was the nickname for the leader of the front line of Morning Musume. Her real name was Ishida Ayumi and she was regarded as a great artist of movement within the Haven. Among the Kenshuusei it was even said that her level of knowledge of energy was the highest that existed in the castle. Up to now Reina did not know how to classify such statements, since she only had Murotan and Goto Maki available as direct comparisons. And these two were already pretty decent calibres.
All of a sudden, Reina noticed an unprecedented shimmer on Kaedi's face. Eventually, she heard the excited whisper of her:

"Join the front line of Morning Musume... I can't believe it... It's amazing!"

Then the younger smiled. Even though she herself was so excessively happy because of her success, it seemed all the more wonderful to her that her comrade was finally getting her dream, which she had pursued for so many years, fulfilled. Only another girl with a rather knobbly nose and an interesting accent interfered:

"However, before you can join us, you have some training to catch up on. It won't be easy."

Her name was Nonaka Miki and she was called 'Chel' for short.

"I think there's a really big party tonight, don't you?"

The voice belonged to one of the greatest of the bunch. But not only her stature was remarkable, but also the length of her black hair seemed to be unmatched. It almost reached her waist and made a sweeping arc at the end. She was known by the name: Iikubo Haruna.
The girl next to her nodded her head eagerly up and down while her dog-like gaze glided enthusiastically through the crowd. She too was a Haruna, Ogata Haruna.

"In any case we have to throw a party for our bambinis. It's a duty, right Leader?"

The loud, croaking voice belonged to the mood-loaden Sato Masaki, whose eyes were turned expectantly towards the leader of the group. Fukumura Mizuki smiled lovingly, stroking her wavy, full hair and then nodded in agreement.

"We'll do that. But first we must prepare the ceremony."

Akane's face brightened at once.

"Oh yes! This is going to be great! New clothes after all!"

Reina didn't understand anything for a long time. Ceremony?
Oda Sakura seemed to be able to interpret her new comrade's facial features correctly. Without even hearing a question, she answered playfully:

"Every time Kenshuusei join a group, a big ceremony is held in their honor. It is a celebration of entering the first REHAB grade."

Reina nodded as a sign that she had understood.

"This ceremony will take place right away tonight?"

Ishida Ayumi nodded laughing.

"So it is! You will be cleaned and then led into the throne room where we will officially welcome you, together with Tsunku, the teachers and all the castle residents, as new group members.

Kaede faltered.

"We're getting cleaned up? What does that mean?"

Kudo Haruka laughed teasingly.

"Well, Kaga. They'll slowly and gently peel the cloth from your body and will use a sponge and foam..."

Kaede's face turned redder with every word. Suddenly the speaker was interrupted by Iikubo Haruna.

"Stop, stop, stop! You'll scare her unnecessarily. The whole process isn't that perverted."

Thoughtfully, the tall, slender figure tapped her chin with her index finger.

"Okay, admittedly there may be the odd indecent touch... but other than that..."

Completely horrified, Kaga Kaede stared at her. All Morning Musume members laughed amused.
Before the troupe could calm down, more people joined them. They were ANGERMEs Murota Mizuki, Kamikokuryo Moe, Takeuchi Akari, Kasahara Momona and Wada Ayaka, as well as Juice=Juices Miyazaki Yuka and Kanazawa Tomoko. The arrivals were also accompanied by Country Girls Yamaki Risa and Tsugunaga Momoko.
Murotan was as always the first to shout out loud:

"Kaga! Yokoyama! Congratulations! You two were great."

And again Reina found herself in stormy embraces and masses of hair on her face. The queen of chaos was followed by Kamiko, who gave her a hearty hug and a dazzling laugh. Honest joy was visible in the black-haired woman's cat-like eyes and Reina returned the gaze with shimmering bliss.
Meanwhile Kanazawa Tomoko had grabbed Kaede's hands and happily jumped up and down with her. She shouted all the time:

"You've done it! You've done it! You've done it!"

Finally she gave her former Kenshuusei comrade a long hug and spoke:

"I am so proud of you! You've really earned it."

Makino Maria stood right next to them and grinned over head and ears. It was Miyazaki Yuka who finally addressed both grouping rookies with her clear pronunciation:

"Your performance earlier was really incredible. I'm looking forward to seeing you both in action."

Wada Ayaka agreed with her.

"The Haven should be proud to have attracted such great people."

A mischievous laugh rang out from the third leader in the bunch. Tsugunaga Momoko winked at the two previous speakers.

"Let us not be so formal. They were fantastic. And I am glad that they have now started the long road to rehabilitation. So I'll have something of yours for a long time to come when you visit me at Café Buono."

Reina didn't know if this was really a compliment, but she still wrung a charming smile from herself. Momoko's companion, Yamaki Risa, bowed before them.

"I would also like to offer my congratulations. I wish you much success in your future endeavors."

Kaede and Reina nodded politely in thanks before a loud voice interfered:

"You have passed. Fair enough! You deserve all the praise for that. But if we meet on the battlefield, we won't be friends, I can tell you that much!"

Shocked, the two turned their attention to the red-haired Takeuchi Akari, who looked at them in a challenging manner. Wada Ayaka smiled amusedly.

"Take, you scare them."

With wide eyes the ANGERME leader looked at Reina and Kaede.

"You mustn't misunderstand her. Our hothead likes to talk about a battlefield. But actually she's talking about the big tournament that's already in full swing.

Reina frowned, while Kaede opened her mouth wide with amazement.

"To-To-Tournament? Do you mean...? We're not going to...?"

Now Fukumura Mizuki also joined the conversation. Again, a gentle smile adorned her face while she gave away motivatingly:

"You got it right, Kaga. I've already registered you as potential participants in the current Clairydance competition."

Reina silently formed the words: Clairydance. What was that? What was this tournament about? But she didn't have to ask herself another question. Kaedi had turned to her immediately and stared at her excitedly.

"Reina! Maybe we can take part in the Clairydance Tournament! Isn't that great?"

With a slightly twitching eye and an uncertain smile, the person addressed replied:

"Y-yeah... great... what's a Clair-?"

But she interrupted her sentence in the middle of it when she realized a gentle tap on her shoulders. She promptly turned to the side and looked into the hazel eyes of Kasahara Momona, the person she had met in the corridor before the exam. Reina's features relaxed. Then Kassa began whispering to her in her low peeping voice:

"Thanks for the encouragement you gave me back there. I thought about what you said. I don't want to hold back anymore. I don't want to please anybody anymore... and... and..."

Reina beamed at her and even exposed her slightly protruding canines. Then she hugged the ANGERME member and whispered joyfully in her ear:

"Tell it to her! Tell it your mentor! I want her to see what a great person you are."

When the two of them parted from the embrace shortly afterwards, Reina noticed, for the blink of an eye, how Kassas eyes fixed Kamiko, who was having an excited conversation with Wada Ayaka, before the gaze were abruptly directed back at the new Morning Musume member. Then Reina laughingly raised her eyebrows and understood.

"So that's how it is... Kamiko is..."

Kassa nodded jerkily with her lips pressed together. Reina gave her a sly look. Then she said in a clear voice:

"Be who you are. Show it to her. She will understand and accept you, I am completely convinced of it."

Kassas eyes began to water slightly but finally a slight smile appeared over the reddened cheeks. The full, round lips, already showing what an incredible beauty the young girl would become, formed a dreamlike half-moon, its soft crescent tips pointing towards the sun.
Reina spoke with a mischievous undertone:

"You are so cute when you smile. Everyone can only like you that way."

Immediately Kassa started to turn pure red and the hearty laughter of her newfound friend could be heard throughout the hall.

2nd Arc: "The Queens of Haven: Morning Musume"

 

Chapter 26: The World of God

 

 

 

Steady echoes of water drops could be heard in the darkness. The cool air in the cave was softly felt on the skin. Slight goose bumps became visible, while the pitch black silhouette of the only person in this place moved forward thoughtfully and pushed deeper and deeper into the structure. Her breath rattled because the effort it took to explore was slowly becoming apparent.

Eventually, the shadow suddenly faded away, as a soft, sonorous hum could be heard from afar. The person's muscles tensed suddenly. She was in the home stretch. Right in front of her must be what she had been looking for. Finally!
Right away she started the small descent that abruptly stretched out before her. The senses of the figure were sharpened to the utmost. Every wrong move on the wet rock could mean the end. After all, the metre-deep fall into even deeper darkness, while one slid step by step over the razor-sharp stalagmites, would be a fatal event.
Every jump contained feline elegance. Quiet. Deftly. Careful. Little by little, the person found her way... ...until finally, a faint glint appeared at the far end of the cave. Meanwhile, the distant hum had grown into a much louder buzzing.
Now the sound was clearly identifiable. It was a kind of power generator. The light source itself consisted of two large floodlight racks, which were provisionally attached to the stone walls and pointed to the location of the generator.
The stranger gathered her remaining courage and entered the platform where the object that did not fit into this location was placed. With the help of the light it was now easily recognizable that the person must have been a woman. But her face was not visible, because she had pulled a hood deep into her face.
Slowly she approached the power generator. With caution she sensitively frisked it from top to bottom. During this process she mumbled incomprehensible words to herself. Apparently she was thinking about something very specific. Or was she looking for something?
Finally she turned away from the device and looked around in a jerk. The woman gave the impression that she was not yet satisfied with what she had discovered. Her footsteps echoed softly back from the ceiling of the cave. Near the generator she had spotted something that had been hidden before. Now she wanted to have a closer look at this somewhat.
In the shadow of the floodlight, far behind the generator, was a provisionally installed control console. Obviously it was not technically up-to-date, or at least the flickering of the software on the previously hidden black screens, when the woman started pressing a few buttons, suggested it was so.
A slight beeping sound began, signaling the computer was booting. The stranger was astonished, as she remembered this station as active. But if the control console had not booted up at all, how could she manage the necessary processes from here?
An annoyed sigh could be heard. Logically, the woman needed a password to view the computer's data. She had already expected it, but it still bothered her, as the way here had already demanded all concentration.
Almost carelessly she typed in the first attempts, each time with an "ERROR! WRONG PASSWORD!" at the end of the input. The woman shrugged and grabbed under the hood with her hand towards her face. After a few seconds she pulled out a headlamp that was attached to a strap. She had worn it around her own head until just a moment ago, so that she could at least move rudimentarily in the darkness. But the light of the lamp was so weak that it would never have been noticed from far away.
For a short time she fiddled with the object. Suddenly a holder opened, which had been processed into the lamp, and the woman joyfully grasped into it. Finally a very small, cuboid object appeared. It had the size of a fingernail.
Determined, the woman placed the piece she had brought with her on the console. Then she took another close look at the headlamp, until she finally discovered an equally tiny button on the side. She immediately tapped on it.
At first it seemed like nothing was happening. The cuboid object lay still and motionless on the console, which didn't make a move either. Nevertheless, the woman slowly stepped back to the button and watched intently the screens, on which the inscription "ENTER PASSWORD" still appeared, almost provocatively.
For a long minute nothing happened. Then suddenly the first star symbol appeared in the password input field. Number two followed. Finally the third star. And so it went on minute by minute. The woman counted a total of 26 star symbols after she was sure that her placed object had done its job successfully.
Confidently, she clicked the Enter button to confirm the password. And lo and behold! It worked! The blue screen flickered several times before it finally glowed constantly. Countless folders were visible next to various switching mechanisms, which were probably used to control the system. The excited inhaling and exhaling of the woman was almost drowned out by the computer's roaring fan.
Which folder should she click on first? There were no significant names to be read. Only combinations of numbers and letters could be recognized under the small icons. Randomly she typed her way through the mass of data. After some time she finally found a promising text file:

"Hello!Project Online v.1.0.1"

Triumphantly, the woman opened the file and, full of tension, began to explore the subject matter. The table of contents had a gigantic structure with many upper and lower points. The file administrators reported on planning work or the realization of theoretical concepts. The woman realized that possibly a part of the conception of Hello!Project Online was written down here. She hastily searched for keywords that might lead to something interesting. Then she noticed point 10.1.2 in the table of contents: The selection of patients.
The woman swallowed heavily and scrolled down to point 10.1.2. The text literally burned itself into her memory:

"As mentioned above, in point 5.6.1, the exact choice of a patient's behaviour has the highest priority. Healthy girls should be avoided at all costs, as they could falsify the data collected for the Observer. In cooperation with the state, the appropriate groups of persons are filtered under exclusion of the public and assigned priority ranks (10.1.4) via nerve tests and behavioural pattern studies. Physically weak or limited persons must be sorted out from the beginning by legal means, as they could suffer a psychological shock in the event of successful rehabilitation (more on this in behavioural study 12.1.1). If one or more promising candidates have been found, a request will be made to the local institutions as well as to the state to take immediate transfer measures. The law supports the official action."

Without hesitation, the person continued her search. Curiosity overrode every other kind of feeling.

"Prio ranks are considered to be a direct comparison of which girl is most suitable to be included in therapy. Several factors play an influential role. The nerve tests and behavioral pattern studies serve as the main focus and determine the final rank. However, the reports from the facilities and institutions as well as the police files can also be used for a more precise assessment. Here, it is always decisive in which mental state the patient is in at the exact moment of the behaviour pattern study, as this is used as the central point of analysis and all results, both past and present, are evaluated there.

A faint bang sounded. The woman had just struck the dashboard of the console with her fist in a rage. It seemed as if the text excerpt set her in a negative mood. But she did not allow herself to be put off and continued her investigation. In front of her was the diary entry of an assumed employee of this factory.

"The year is 2022. We have finally made it. A virtual room dedicated to total mind control. We must not reveal it to the public. Humanity may not be ready for it. But I can hardly believe it. We created a second world. We're almost God. And it feels so real. I want to spend my life in it. No binding on any duties. No stress with the family. No trouble with the boss. Luckily, I have the morning shift tomorrow. So I'll just pretend like I have some maintenance to do. But it's perfect. I just want to live in this beautiful world. Our new reality."

Right beneath there was an entry written a few weeks after the first one: 

" They do not understand me. None of them understand me. Julianne. Tony. Sam. My colleagues. No one feels what I feel. This world is a gift. A gift of our time. No one could have completed it a hundred years ago in such a miraculous way. But we have. I have done it. It doesn't matter how much lifetime it takes. It's worth it. It's worth it. Why can't you guys understand that? We're all chosen here. We just have to let it happen. We have to give ourselves to this fantastic world. forever."

A later entry in the diary was already somewhat gloomier:

"Why are they doing this? Why these girls? I have dedicated my whole life to the exploration of virtual space. So I should be granted the right to live in this world. Not these bitches! Those freaks from hell! It's almost as if Lucifer himself corrupted and took over the world of God to dump his filth. Was my work in vain? Julianne? You left me. You took the children. But I didn't care. Because I had my own baby. But now... now what? I'm not allowed to walk on the green meadows anymore. I have to make way for those... those monsters!"

The woman turned her attention to the last lines:

"Today is my last day. The work is finished. A perfect world has been created. They say that they thank me and that I have earned my retirement well. Do they really believe that I do not realize what is going on? I'm being pushed out. From my own project. Because I'm uncomfortable. Because I ask questions. Because I don't accept. They claim I did a good job. But they know nothing. Because I've done really good work. And that was taken away from me. The pure has been contaminated. Black now feeds the White. Today is my last day. I have lost everything. There is no longer any meaning to my existence. The Kingdom of God, the Garden of Eden, I have found it. But everything around it is supposed to burn. Burning bright. As the devil and his demons like it. Don't they? You like fire. The ashes. And the darkness! The darkness is supposed to hunt you. Until you all stew together in cries of pain..."

The woman didn't move. This diary was too horrible to read. Unfortunately, no author's name could be found. The writer had been through a lot. It was obvious.
She suddenly freed herself from her rigidity. A noise in the distance caught her attention. Were there voices? In this place? Impossible! Yet she crouched in the shadows, right behind the generator. Before that, with a smooth movement and short hand grips, she had shut down the console and put the small, cuboid object into a bag. But it took an uncomfortably long moment before the blue shimmer of the screen, the high beeping of the modules and the roaring of the fan came to an abrupt end.
For a moment, all that could be heard was the humming of the power generator. Just as the woman was about to look around the corner, she dashed back into her hiding place at lightning speed. Two men's voices echoed to her, apparently only a few meters away.

"What are we doing here? It's an old goddamn installation. I don't even know why this stupid generator is still running."

It was a man with a pretty corny voice and a very worn accent. His partner, however, had a deep, serious tone:

"The bald farmer said earlier that he saw someone going into the cave. We have to investigate that."

The man with the accent answered with a groan:

"Man, that could just be any wanderer, no? The way here is blocked anyway. Don'tcha think you're overreacting a bit?"

The other did not answer directly. As it sounded, he walked across the platform. Ultimately, he examined both the generator and the console. The woman could watch the man from her dark corner. He was now literally standing in front of her, a few inches separating them. His shape resembled a giant. If he should get to grab her, he made short work of her, that much was certain. But his attention was firmly focused on the console. His hand stroked the keyboard while his gaze slowly glanced over the screens.

"Well? Did'tcha find anything?"

His comrade joined him. It was a short, stocky, bald man.

"There was someone here. I know that now for sure."

Shocked, the smaller one turned to his partner.

"What'tcha saying? Someone was here? That'cha impossible! The steel door was locked. And there's no other way out, no? Unless someone is tired of living and is trying to cross the rocky slopes. But who'shh that crazy?"

The taller one bit his thumb thoughtfully. Then he started mumbling while still looking at the console:

"Yeah... tired of life... crazy... I'm not sure those are the right words."

His comrade hesitated:

"What'tcha mean?"

But the giant did not go into it further. Instead, he turned around. In panic, the strange woman pushed herself as far as she could into the dark corner where she was hiding. The eyes of the tall man crossed for a tiny moment with the eyes of the intruder. But apparently he didn't realize it, because without further ado he stepped back into the floodlight and waved to his colleague as a sign that he should follow him. Finally he spoke:

"We must report this to headquarters and consult on how to proceed. Maybe we just close this place down completely. Then we'll have no more trouble."

The smaller one joined him and agreed with jubilation:

"You'resh absolutely right! "All this is just a pile of junk, no?"

Then the taller one had to laugh unexpectedly.

"Isn't everything in this world a pile of junk?"

Slowly the voices began to drift away. The woman could not even understand the answer from the person with the accent because of the generator humming.
Carefully she peeked out of the shadows. Relieved, she breathed out. She hadn't expected to meet people at this abandoned station. So the place seemed to be more dangerous than expected.
Nevertheless, a slender smile could be seen in the depth of the hood. Her palm opened and the small, cuboid object was shown again.
For a brief moment she lingered in place. Finally she put the tiny object back into the headlamp, put it on and made her way back along the stalagmites. It was supposed to be an exhausting way home. But quietly one could hear the soft voice of the woman, who was soon swallowed by the deep darkness:

"I hope you got it all... Reina?"