Miyuki stopped and turned. As a Yamabushi , his duty was to protect the yorishiro —the vessel for the Himegami goddess. But to Izumiko, he was just the childhood friend who was forced to be her guardian, a role he clearly resented.
"You're doing it again," Miyuki Sagara muttered, not looking back as he led her through the crowded station. Behind them, a digital billboard flickered and died, its vibrant colors replaced by a dull grey.
From the shadows of a nearby pillar, a figure detached itself. It wasn't human. It was a mass of shifting ink and ancient malice, drawn to the pure divinity Izumiko carried. The spirit lunged, its form blurring as it crossed the distance in a heartbeat. Red Data Girl (Dub)
"Miyuki!" Izumiko cried out. Her fear was a catalyst. The lights in the station began to explode one by one, a wave of darkness chasing the spiritual intruder.
Izumiko gripped the hem of her sweater. "I can't help it. The static... it’s everywhere." Miyuki stopped and turned
Miyuki didn't hesitate. He stepped in front of Izumiko, his hand flying to the hidden charms in his pocket. "By the power of the mountain!" he shouted, throwing a paper talisman that ignited into a wall of white flame. The spirit recoiled, shrieking in a frequency that only they could hear.
Izumiko closed her eyes. She reached for the center of the storm within her, not the cold, terrifying power of the goddess, but the quiet strength of the mountain shrine. She felt the static smooth out. Opening her eyes, she didn't just see the monster; she saw the discord it was causing. "You're doing it again," Miyuki Sagara muttered, not
"Focus," he said, his voice dropping an octave as his eyes scanned the crowd. He sensed it before she did—a shift in the spiritual pressure. "They’re here."