Chapter 154 - Incomplete Soul

"Oh my God," Rin sighed. "Ara, please pinch me. I think I'm being possessed by Koharu's spirit and am becoming delusional…"

All five of them were back at the Cedar Palace, sitting in the dining room, waiting for the others to join them before dinner was served. After they left the burriko by the road in Ginza earlier, they just drove to the next street and went to another huge shopping complex, much to Rin's, Midori's, Miharu's, and Sonoda's surprise.

All four of Suzuki Ara's friends thought that their shopping for the day finished when Ara got her wedding outfit, but they were wrong. The Koutaishidenka took all five of them shopping for clothes and shoes. At first, they declined the offer, but the prince insisted, saying that this was not enough for the trouble they would be facing because of him.

According to Homura Ryuu, all of them acted like bait today – baits that were used to provoke that already dangerously derailed mind of Okada Koharu more into breaking point. This made her more dangerous most especially since a Yakuza boss was backing her up.

When Ryuu told them who her accomplice was, they were shocked, but at the same time, it made sense. Koharu alone couldn't think of such an elaborate scheme nor had the power to order someone to do something so easily. But if she hooked up with someone who could, it made sense that she was able to execute such an elaborate plan. 

They were all aghast and repulsed by the thought of Koharu letting her own stepfather touch her so she could use his power. It was more repulsive that even after selling her body, she still had the gall to dream of being a princess.

Still, they didn't think it was reason enough for the Koutaishidenka to shower them with such a lavish shopping spree, most especially Sonoda and Midori. The two of them were actually apologetic to Ryuu since they were the original targets of the burikko. It was actually Ara and Ryuu who had been troubled by them.

But Homura Ryuu was adamant that they let him treat them. He even said that it was also to thank them in advance for taking care of Ara since they would be attending the same university, which surprisingly also the same university Miharu and Rin applied to much to their delight.

So, after three hours, they got into the Lincoln while another car from the Cedar Palace came to load their items in. When they thought they would all be going back to the Cedar Palace, they were surprised when Ryuu took them home one by one instead, not to bring them home, but only to deliver their shopping bags and personally asked their parents if they could stay at the Cedar Palace for the night so they could attend the small gathering they would have there to celebrate Ara's and Ryuu's marriage registration the next morning.

It was safe to say that no parents said no, even if they normally would as it was final exam week starting Monday. Also, everybody readily agreed when the Koutaishidenka requested that they kept quiet about the marriage as they didn't want the public to know yet.

Nobody would dare say no to the Homura House anyway. But since the prince himself asked them personally – and nicely too, they had all the more reason to comply. Well, they had to stay at Rin's place longer though, as her mother who was as excitable as her daughter fainted upon learning that her daughter was friends with the Lady of the Homura House and that both the Lady and the Prince themselves were in her home.

"Oh my god, I will tell my grandchildren this," Rin's mom announced weakly making her daughter roll her eyes heavenwards as they helped her to the sofa.

"Well, you have to wait for a long time," Rin told her matter-of-factly. "I'm still in high school and big brother is gay," she added much to her mother's shock.

"What? Your brother's gay?"

"Just kidding," Rin hurriedly assured her. "He doesn't have a girlfriend though, and no plans to get married soon, so you still have to wait."

So now, all of them were back at the Homura House, wearing traditional clothes as they patiently wait for the others to arrive. Kazehaya Gin and Suzuki Aki would be staying at the place as well, although they still hadn't arrived since the party for the IBEC delegates just finished. Ryuu, on the other hand, had some business matters to look at so he left them.

Suzuki Ara laughed at Rin. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't be stupid Rin. How can Koharu possess you? She's still alive," Miharu scolded her dramatic friend.

"Ah, I don't care. I still feel like I'm in a dream," Rin said as she inhaled as much air as she could, making her chest inflate as she closed her eyes. "I think I will tell my descendants I've been to the Cedar Palace as a guest once," she announced making the others laugh. She was really totally a bag of laughs like her mother.

"Well, you can always come and visit," Ara told her, making Rin look surprised. "Why do you look like that? Aren't you my friend?"

Several emotions crossed Rin's face and she stood up to run towards Ara and give her a hug. "My ship is the best!" she declared as she rubbed her cheeks against Ara's chest making her shriek in laughter at the sudden movement. "Ara, your boobies are soft."

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Why were girls in this world so perverted again?

Ara bopped Rin's head with a playful hand-chop and Rin straightened with a grin. 

"Oi Rin, don't be so rowdy," Sonoda scolded her and Rin just stuck out her tongue at him playfully.

"Well, I think she's so excited because she's so happy," Miharu explained.

"Well, I'm happy," Rin announced.

"Oh? More than the bride?" Midori asked teasingly.

"I'm not sure about Ara, but I'm so happy for her," Rin said honestly as she pointed at Ara. "You see, she looks so different now than before her accident."

Everyone looked at Ara and was thoughtful for a while before agreeing.

"Well, I look a bit different now. Even my eye-color is different," Ara justified, but they shook their heads at her.

"It's not the physical changes – although you look more beautiful now too," Miharu told her as she inclined her head as if trying to find the right words. "It's like you're complete now."

Ha?

"Complete?"Ara was not sure she understood.

"What do you mean Miharu?"Midori asked. She was not as close to Ara before so she couldn't really say what changed.

"Before, Ara, you were like a doll," Rin said. "It's like you have a programmed personality. Very mechanical."

Ara frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."

"It's like you are there but you don't really exist. You don't have a certain glow that makes people see you completely like now. It's why you seem like a side character before even if you're prettier than Koharu."

At Miharu's words, Midori became thoughtful. "Come to think of it, you were right," she agreed. "Before, if Koharu hadn't kept saying Ara's name I wouldn't even bother finding out who she was." She turned to Ara. "Because you seem more like a shadow than a person even if you did show some emotions from time to time like when you thought I bullied Koharu and you confronted me."

Now, Suzuki Ara was confused, until Sonoda spoke and she felt shivers run down her spine.

"Broken soul," Sonoda Hiroaki said. "Or better yet, an incomplete soul. You had that vibe on you."