"What's that in the sky?"
"This is a dream. Think about it—anything can happen in a dream. Besides, it's only a rainbow bridge... I have no idea what she's plotting."
Hoshino found it rather baffling as well.
Of course she knew this was another trick Black Fu Hua was playing. She had always loved stirring up trouble.
"Stay alert. Hold my hand. Don't let it affect you." That was all Hoshino could do. Her command of the Eighth Divine Key was far inferior to that of the Herrscher herself, leaving her forever on the defensive.
"Something's wrong."
Hoshino muttered to herself, "She's a brat who loves showing off. At first, she said she was going to mess with Amiya, but now she hasn't mentioned it at all. Do you think she got shot down, or just never had the chance to start?"
"..."
"Either is possible."
Being led by the hand still felt a little unnatural for someone her age, someone who was not yet entirely comfortable with ordinary physical contact.
Ch'en naturally began to feel uneasy.
"Hey!"
She heard a cheerful voice and looked up. Black Fu Hua was stretching atop a building, her supple figure extending freely beneath the sunlight like a black cat that had just awakened.
"I'll give you a chance."
"What chance?"
Instinctively shielding Ch'en behind her, Hoshino blinked slightly and tried to imagine a long blade out of thin air, with just the right weight for cutting down an enemy.
In the world of dreams, and against Fu Hua no less, Hoshino still lacked confidence.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that backwards?"
Black Fu Hua shook her head. "Why is the one in a wedding dress standing in front while the shrine maiden hangs back? Are all shrine maidens this martial? Little Ch'en, be careful.