PHASE 18 - TIARA’S SWEET VOICE GAVE ME DIABETES

Gate Guardian for Dummies, page… I forgot. Eidolons are classified by their levels, from 1 to 4. The higher the level, the stronger, faster, and smarter the Eidolon. An example of a Level 1 Eidolon is the chainsaw Buckethead (That’s when Tiara first saved me). A level 2 Eidolon is like that red dragon that attacked me back at Mirose Grande. Regardless of their levels, an Eidolon only drops one Quintessence.

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It was already lunch break, and the cafeteria is already crowded with hungry students. Good thing I already ordered curry while the supplies last.

I was waiting for the curry to cool down before taking a bite. I wouldn’t want to burn my tongue.

By the way, I am alone with Tiara in this wide table. Ranley, Chrisprel, and Daughty cut classes to play League of Losers, while Heushac went to the rooftop and took a nap. I would like to play computer games with the three or accompany Heushac, but I have my priorities.

I must attend to the serious matter that is bound to happen.

I looked at Tiara who is seating on my right. She just finished eating three plates of curries and two jumbo yakisoba bread, in just five minutes! It’s a new world record!

But I’m worried about what she has in her hand. It was the pamphlet from the Idol Club. It looks identical to my nightmare. The bacon, egg and patty breakfast, the 123456 lottery number, and now this Idol recruitment. It all happened a day after another.

If I follow the chronological order, the next thing that will happen tomorrow is…

“Oh, my. Look at that adorable girl, who has the potential to be an idol of our school.” Jeannette interrupted my peaceful thinking as she landed her tray to our table.

“N-Nette-Senpai!” Tiara replied smilingly. “I-I was so honored that the leader of the Idol Club recruited me. That was my ultimate dream~” Her eyes twinkled.

Jeannette forced a smile “You shrine maidens are not allowed to own any gadgets inside the Kozukata Shrine, right? So you only had the television as a form of communication in the outer world.”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right.” Tiara blushed as she bowed. “The mountain has a very bad reception, so our television only gets the Idol Channel.”

“So that’s how you became an Idol fanatic,” I said even before Tiara finished her sentence. That’s supposed to be her line.

I’m trying to change even the smallest details in my nightmare, hoping that her destiny would change...

“Yep yep~”

Tiara then tried to keep her head down while shyly bumping her two index fingers. “B-But I need help from you guys… I really tremble when I’m the center of attention, and extremely shy when talking to other people. My audition will be this afternoon. I-I don’t know what to do.”

“Sounds like it’s your job, Ric!” Jeannette smashed my back with her palm! Ouch!

“Why me!?” I protested.

“It’s because you’re her first friend in this school!” Jeannette continued her plastic smile as she turned to Tiara. “You can count on your Rikkun, right!? You almost never stutter when talking to him!”

“U-Um… Yes, I’m always comfortable with Rikkun…” Tiara blushed as she forced herself to have an eye contact with me. “I would really be glad if he helped me…”

I sighed heavily. “Fine.” I said.

“Yatta!” Tiara happily cried, raising both of her arms. “Thank you, Rikkun!”

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Before lunch break would end, I called Jeannette to have a private conversation in a vacant classroom. The silence broke when Jeannette herself opened up the topic.

“I bet you had a dream about Tiara being recruited by the Idol Club.” Jeannette crossed her arms as she glared at me seriously. Man, her power to analyze things is on point.

“Yes.” I bowed. “At first I thought that my dream was just a coincidence. My dream altered some small details, but the major signs keep happening. I’m troubled because there is only one event left, and it’s terrible.”

I inhaled so hard and released all the air from my lungs. I held my right trembling hand as I release these words.

“Tiara will die horribly in the Kozukata Shrine. Someone will get my Weapon Gem and use it against her.”

There is something more I wanted to disclose… It’s about a person whom I couldn’t remember his appearance or even his name.

“That’s really scary… “ Jeannette covered her mouth while staying serious. “Will her rejection to the Idol Club change her fate?”

“I think not. My dream did not spoil me if she got accepted or not. And there’s no connection between the Idol Club and the Kozukata Shrine. Unless there’s another Gate Guardian in this school.”

“Actually, there is.” Jeannette made a smirk. “But anyway, we need to watch Tiara until she’s completely safe, just in case.”

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Classes have just ended, and the afternoon sunlight was the most irritating thing because it goes straight to my face. I really hate this seat.

I looked at my left and saw Tiara trembling as she mumbles to herself. She’s psyching up, but I know that she’s too nervous even to calm herself.

She became like an epileptic when the three officers from the Idol Club entered our room. She completely lost her cool.

Apparently, her audition will be conducted in our very room to make it a little private. Tiara may not know it, but she’s so popular in this school that she deserves a special treatment. That’s what most of the students think.

“Hey, go in front and let us hear the voice of the future idol!” Divina, the class rep shouted at Tiara.

Tiara just responded with “E-E-E-E-EH!?” exclamation as her nervousness takes over her body.

Tiara turned to me with her tearful eyes. “Rikkun, what should I do… “ she cried softly.

“First, inhale so hard until your lungs are about to burst.” As I said that sentence, she gathered so much air until she had her cheeks puffed. I continued. “Then exhale until you’re out of oxygen.”

As she finished releasing air, she pumped her fist. “I’m quite calm now!”

I pushed my face forward, making an eye to eye contact with this adorable future idol. “Eye contact with the judges is vital, so you must maintain one. If you can’t, just look at the skin between the person’s eyebrows”

“R-Right! With determination, I refuse to give up!” Now she’s cheerful. I don’t know if she followed my short lecture but she seems to pick up fast.

Tiara then stood up and held her head up high as she went to the front. She repeated my inhale-exhale technique to calm herself once more, and then looked at us with all the courage she mustered.

“H-How are you, everyone! My name is Tiara Hikari, and my dream is to become an idol. I want to sing and dance in the stage one day, and produce good vibes to the audience~”

Her delivery was so cute that I thought Tiara was possessed by the goddess of waifus! All guys in this classroom were stunned by her alluring aura! We all had our cheeks glowing red!

Tiara started her sweet acapella. Her voice is smooth as white rose petals filled with dew, and her presence is like a sunset that is worthy to be watched. The warmth of her love song embraced our hearts, like a mother’s hug to a newborn baby. Her words reached our soul that cleansed our evil thoughts away.

Tiara… is an angel who descended from the sky…

Everyone would conclude that.

I closed my eyes and felt the song for my heart’s content. It was so relaxing, and I felt that my consciousness drifts away.

But then suddenly…

I imagined one thing against my will. I saw red eyes in the middle of darkness. It was so close! My body was engulfed with fear and despair. I felt that my heart is being squeezed by a claw of a monstrous beast!

And then a voice came in my head.

YOU CAN’T SAVE HER!!!

THE SONG OF THE FROZEN SOUL WILL NEVER BE YOUR SALVATION