Day 249

[from StarLight]

White Star quickly located the latest monster inside a residential area. It was a strange, giant spider-like creature with four long, spindly legs. It skittered through the streets at alarming speed, crushing parked cars beneath its spiked feet and sending civilians sprinting for cover. Its size and location gave White Star a lot of cause for concern. “Okay, this is really not good,” she said.

“I agree” agreed Kousen. “This monster has the potential to cause an immense amount of damage. You'll have to take it down as quickly as possible.”

White Star nodded in agreement. “Guess I'll skip the catchphrase for today and just go straight to the butt-kicking.”

White Star started to take aim at the monster, but in her exhaustion she found it difficult to keep her eyes open, let alone keep track of the fast-moving creature. Finally, with a sweep of her arm, she cried “Star Shower!” The resulting barrage of star-shaped projectiles all missed the monster by several feet, bouncing off a nearby row of houses instead. White Star fired two more Star Showers at the monster, but missed again both times, and began to grow frustrated.

“Focus, Sanae!” said Kousen. “It's imperative that you-”

“I am focusing!” snapped White Star. “You try hitting something that's moving that fast after going all day without sleep!”

“Sorry,” said Kousen, deciding it was better to back off for now. “But… maybe it would be better to try some close-range attacks for now.”

White Star forced herself to calm down and nodded. “I guess it would,” she said. “Thanks, Kousen.”

White Star swooped in, aiming to get closer to the monster. Before she could reach it, however, she heard a cry from below her: “Hey, White Star! Down here!” Looking down, she saw the White Star Fan Club waving frantically at her, trying to flag her down. This had better be important, she thought to herself as she descended towards them.

“What is it?” asked White Star. “I'm a little busy at the moment.”

“I know,” said Hitomi, “and I'm really sorry to interrupt you – well, not really sorry, because you're my idol and it's always such a great honour to get to talk to you – I mean, I know I shouldn't be interrupting you, but-”

“Just get to the point!” said White Star, growing impatient. “I have a monster to defeat!”

Hitomi seemed a little shocked by her idol's sudden outburst, and found herself tripping over her words. “Uhh, th-the, uhh… well-”

Fortunately, Nagisa stepped in before White Star's patience wore any thinner. “Black Star has returned,” she said. “She's over in the downtown area, seeking you out for a rematch.”

White Star wasn't exactly too thrilled to hear this. “Oh, you've got to be kidding me!” she groaned. “It's just one thing after another today! I'm never going to get any rest!”

The White Star Fan Club hated to see their heroine so despondent. “Don't worry, Sanae!” said Nagisa. “We'll keep her busy while you defeat that monster! You deserve a rest for having worked so hard!”

White Star was rather touched by this promise. “Really?” she said. “You'd do that for me?”

“W-we would?!” said Hinata, who seemed rather alarmed at the thought of facing Black Star. “Eh… I-I mean, yes! Of course we would!” she added a moment later, as Hitomi nudged her in the ribs.

“Thanks, girls!” said White Star. “You're the best fan club a girl could ever wish for!”

Hitomi, having quickly regained her normal enthusiasm, quickly seized her friends' hands. “Come on, guys!” she said. “Let's go stall a villain!”

Together, the four girls rushed off to delay Black Star as long as possible, leaving White Star behind to battle the monster. “Alright,” said White Star. “Time to let the light of justice shine!”

Meanwhile, downtown, Black Star was casually sitting on an overturned bus, absent-mindedly swinging her legs back and forth and staring into space as she waited for White Star to arrive. “Come on, come on,” she muttered to herself. “Where is she? She should be here by now...”

Hearing sudden footsteps, she looked down to see the White Star Fan Club sprinting towards her. They came to a stop about ten feet away; Mio and Hinata were both gasping for breath, resting their hands on their knees as they tried to recover. “I'm not… cut out… for running… so quickly… between scenes...” gasped Mio.

“What do you want?” asked Black Star.

Hitomi hadn't quite thought this far ahead – or at all, really. “We're, uhh… uhh…” Suddenly she was struck by an idea. “We're fans of yours!” she said.

“No we a-” Hitomi promptly elbowed Nagisa in the ribs. “-I mean, uhh… yes! We're very big fans of yours!”

“So we thought… we'd come… and say hi...” said Mio.

“Hmm...” While Black Star enjoyed the attention that the four girls were giving her, she was still anxious to get her rematch over and done with. “I don't suppose any of you nice girls has seen where White Star is, do you?” she asked. “I heard she was around here somewhere, but I can't find her anywhere.”

As Black Star spoke, there was a flash of light in the distance behind her, as White Star's battle with the monster continued. The White Star Fan Club glanced at each other awkwardly. “No, we… haven't seen her at all,” said Hitomi.

“But I heard that… she might be near… the town park...” gasped Mio, who was still recovering. “God, I really need to… start working out...”

“I guess I'll go look for her at the park, then,” said Black Star, getting to her feet. “Thanks for the info, girls. I'll see you all around.” With that, Black Star flew off on what, unbeknownst to her, was merely a wild goose chase.

“Well, that should keep her busy for a little while,” said Hitomi. As another flash of light appeared on the horizon, she added, “Looks like White Star's still battling that monster. Let's head back over there and cheer her on!”

“Oh, no, please, not more running-!” objected Mio, but it was too late. Hitomi had already seized her friends' hands once more and was sprinting back towards the residential area, with the tired Mio dragging behind. You can get through this, Mio, she thought to herself. Just think of White Star and Black Star kissing… White Star and Black Star kissing… White Star and Black Star… oh myyy...~