Case 71: To the capital.
Magical Osbeckia's little livestream blew up overnight, becoming the number one trending topic nationally, even surpassing the rising heat of the country's number one idol amidst her album release for a period.
Miss O's deeds, from seducing one Alpha to another, making two of the most decorated magical girls in the country fall head over heels for her, were soon hailed as 'legendary' by netizens. Coupled with her soft-spoken voice and entertaining interactions with fans, she had gained a considerable number of supporters.
In fact, her fame was so large that gossip trickled out of the basin of the internet, and her name was spoken by just about seven out of ten people in the real world, including... students of Orion University.
''I wonder how she did it in such little time...''
''Same. It's like they're hypnotized.''
''Is this the power of a real Sea Queen?''
''Who knows? Maybe the queens before Miss O were false royals.''
The few female classmates laughed among themselves as they exchanged light-hearted jokes... not knowing that the person they were talking about was right beside them.
'...I can hear everything, you know?' Moeka bit her lip in absolute embarrassment. She was fidgeting with her phone during a break, though the neighboring conversation was simply too tantalizing to ignore.
At some point, one of them sprawled out on the table, sighing loudly, ''Ahh... I'm suffering...'' She pouted, ''I'm a big fan of Miss Gold, you know? She's just so dazzling.''
Another chimed in, teasing, ''What? You think you have a chance with her? She doesn't even know you.''
''...Shut up. Let people dream for once.''
The members began cackling again. Then, one suddenly spoke up, ''By the way... who do you guys think Lily was referring to?''
As they began fervently speculating, Moeka lamented inwardly. Thanks to Yurika's unnecessary interference, an element of mystery was added to the Sea Queen's case, further drawing people into it. As much as Moeka wanted this shameful ritual to pass quickly, she was forced to endure it.
Lowering her face, Moeka sat timidly, as if fearing people might find something out. Ironically, her jumpy attitude actually made the girls take notice of her.
One classmate, leaning toward Moeka, remarked with a friendly smile, ''Now that I think about it, doesn't Miss Kisaragi's vibe seem similar to Magical Osbeckia's?''
Moeka blankly perked up, ''...Eh?''
Then, the floodgates were open. Others, eager to gossip, immediately leaned in, all expressing their interest.
''So true!''
''Both of them are so classy... like, refined Omegas...!''
''Actually, doesn't it seem suspicious? By any chance, are you two the same person?''
''No way...!''
''But they feel so similar!''
Although they were obviously joking, Moeka was sweating bullets. Somehow, everything was coming to get her these days. The little Omega heart inside Miss Kisaragi could hardly handle all of this attention and constant teasing!
Thankfully, just as Moeka considered an escape, someone else came to her rescue instead.
''Excuse me.'' Himeko came up from behind the Omega, smiling, ''Ladies, I'll take my girl. Is that alright?''
Instantly, the little crowd around Moeka was stunned. The Alpha, tall, somewhat imposing, yet dazzling, left them speechless. In the end, they could only muster a few dazed nods as Himeko and Moeka, hand in hand, exited the classroom.
Once the two found a secluded spot outside, the faint anxiety finally subsided.
''Were you in a pinch, my princess?'' Himeko softly chuckled.
Turning to her junior, Moeka pouted, ''Whose fault do you think it is? All because you crashed my stream...''
''That... well...''
''Besides, I'm not your girl... yet. People might get the wrong idea.''
''O-Oh, okay.''
''...''
''...''
Moeka was averting her eyes, though her flushed cheeks and fluttering lashes were enough to convey her current feelings.
'If it were now...' Himeko dared to think. Then, Himeko boldly acted on her thoughts. She closed in, held the Omega gently, and kissed her on the lips. Not an ounce of rejection was felt, which made her immensely blissful. Though before she could even consider escalating this rendezvous, a sharp voice cut through,
''Having fun?''
'''' ...! ''''
In sync, the two jolted. Behind them stood a woman in a white lab coat, none other than Uehara Fumiko. Still with her slightly haggard, lazy yet piercing crimson eyes, still with a perpetually unpleasant expression, but none could deny her charms.
''Miko!'' Moeka, panicking inwardly and outwardly, pushed Himeko away and ran to Fumiko, who roughly pulled her into her arms.
The Alpha held her lover tightly while glaring at the other Alpha as if flaunting her possessiveness. In front of the rival's increasingly unsettled countenance, Fumiko cupped Moeka's chin and kissed her almost forcefully, an act fully reciprocated by the Omega. For a long minute, Fumiko repeatedly lapped at Moeka's soft lips, thoroughly mashing tongues with her.
As if erasing someone's traces or sending a reminder.
The tension between the two Alphas was palpable, though as time passed and Moeka still clung to Fumiko, Himeko's own helplessness only grew.
Moeka herself, barely escaping a daze after passionately kissing two people in a row, finally snapped out of it and spoke, ''...I didn't expect to see you here, Miko.''
''Mhm.'' Fumiko nodded as she caressed the back of Moeka's head, ''I thought I'd have a little break, and I wanted to see how you were doing.''
''What about the lab?''
''I let Orchid handle it.'' The Alpha slowly kissed Moeka's face at various spots, ''By the way, she said she could take you to Helios this weekend.''
''Really?!''
''Mhm. Text her back later. For now...''
Fumiko smirked at the other Alpha, who was grinding her teeth, ''Moeka, you mentioned a special room used for relief in the chess club. Let's go there.''
The pink-haired woman flinched, ''You mean...''
''Let's have sex.''
''...!''
Those last words, whispered directly into Moeka's blushing ears, were both flirtatious and clearly a provocation at Himeko. And, to Miss Gold's dismay, her crush shyly nodded at the haggard woman's request, showing not a sign of defiance. Rather, from the sweet, viscous pheromones she was radiating, one could say Moeka was welcoming it.
That afternoon, Himeko was unfortunate enough to feel the despair of a latecomer. A nagging frustration veiled her mind, which could only be quelled by throwing herself at Moeka at night. In short, that was exactly what she did—viciously overlapping her marks with Fumiko's fresh ones to somehow assert her position. Only Moeka, whose body was littered with said marks, expressed a sense of distress.
Complications aside, Himeko was still obedient and devoted to Moeka as a well-trained puppy, and she did not intend to let her crush wander the wild world named 'Helios' alone.
And so, a few days later, the two met up with Ruri, who was more than happy to be the guide to the flourishing city of Helios.
'Finally, I can get rid of this mark...' Moeka instinctively rubbed her navel area.
At this point, she did not, in the slightest, have an idea of how catastrophic a train wreck she would cause by showing herself in the capital city.