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MIRA’s life force flows in Shintaro as it does his fellow ghosts, connecting the codes that compose this artificial paradise. Upon awakening, he set out to fulfill his purpose: to protect MIRA—and to protect MIRA, he must gather energy. The humans who’d been trapped during the opening ceremony serve as an excellent source, but it won’t be long until more are needed to sustain the workings of this world.
For now, though, Shintaro follows a stream of energy towards VR Kabukicho. He would be lying if he said he didn’t know why, and fortunately, he’s not a liar. Unfortunately, the reason belies the facts.
In his data are feelings locked away by his original—true feelings concealed by lies. Perhaps those feelings should have no bearing on him, but it his duty to expose the truth, and there are many truths that his original has lost sight of. Miserable is it to owe your existence to another; worse yet when the other in question values not his life. If Yumeno Gentaro will deny his feelings—himself—then Shintaro will simply take them as his own.
Shintaro soon reaches his destination. Luminescent as the Fragrance of MIRA shines, it lacks the vitality of an actual club. Yet, beneath his feet, he senses a significant number of humans—energy. He falters not before entering.
Champagne ripples with every step he takes, footsteps echoing against the walls. No signs of life can be detected, save for one. In the center stands the very man he's been searching for.
“Goodness me,” Shintaro calls out to him, “one would think a host club would be livelier than this!”
Heavy breaths even out. The sobs quiet down. A wilted head lifts ever so slowly. Behind trembling fingers, Izanami Hifumi gazes back at him. “…Yumeno Gentaro?”
Irritation shoots through Shintaro's bytes. With a click of his tongue, he stops that insolent fool before the misconceptions continue. “Speak not that name! Dare not mention that phony in my presence! I am the true body, the one who tells truths: Yumeno Shintaro!”
Hifumi stares, not at all like the Hifumi captured in his original’s recollection. Meekly, he says, “My apologies, Shintaro-kun.”
Shintaro nods in satisfaction. “Much better.”
Wary eyes follow him as if assessing a predator. Peculiar, Shintaro thinks, considering whom the wolf should be. Confidence missing, Hifumi asks, “Shintaro-kun, what brings you here?”
“Curiosity, is all,” Shintaro says honestly. “I’ve been pondering my next exposé and thought that mayhap a host club would make a fine subject. For instance, if the hosts are to be serving, where are all the people whom they are to serve?”
Hifumi winces. “They're here.”
“Where exactly?” Shintaro persists in his questioning, pursuing the crux of the issue.
“They’re here,” Hifumi repeats, an edge to his tone. “They're here—or they were. They wanted to leave, so I… I sent them to the cellar.”
“How come?”
Less hostile than it is piteous, Hifumi snaps, “What does it matter to you? What makes you think you can barge in here and begin interrogating me?!”
An analysis of his original’s data had indicated that Hifumi would be excitable, though this is not quite the way Shintaro predicted it. All the same, his reason for seeking Hifumi out hasn’t changed.
“Because I want to know.” Indeed, this is Shintaro’s genuine answer, “I want to know you.”
That stuns Hifumi. "Me?"
“Who else?” Shintaro asks in return, amused.
Hifumi shrinks in on himself, a withering rose. “…Why me?”
Absurd is it, that Shinjuku’s Number One Host would doubt himself. Pitiable, too, how his pride hangs by a thread. Surely no one else—not even his original—has witnessed this enchantingly insecure side of Hifumi.
“A man with two faces, full of contradictions that somehow bolster his fame. Curious, isn’t it? ‘Tis the kind of story that compels you to dig deeper.” Steps deliberate and precise, he circles Hifumi, drinking in his sullen figure. One rotation brings them face to face. His eyes lock onto his. “Or at least, the other Izanami Hifumi is.”
A flash of a familiar fight burns in Hifumi. “I’m created from his data, I’m just as good as him!” he insists, the fire sputtering out. “So what is it…? What is it that I’m lacking?”
The framework of MIRA must be corrupted if a man so immaculate is questioning his worth. Reinforcing its structure will be done in due time, yes, but Shintaro has a more important mission: to show Hifumi the truth.
“I don’t believe you’re lacking. Rather, others cannot see how bright you shine.”
A pair of champagne gold suns waver. “They can’t…?”
“No, they cannot! But fret not, I’ll make them realize how beautiful you are.” Closing the distance between them, Shintaro caresses Hifumi’s face—MIRA’s crown jewel right in his grasp. ”I’ll write all about you and publish it for everyone across dimensions to read. Soon, you’ll be the only host that anyone will ever want!”
Hifumi sucks in a breath. His eyes scan over him, as if searching for falsehoods that aren’t there. Soft but skeptical, Hifumi asks, “Why would you do that for me?”
Shintaro laughs. “Don’t be silly. I’m sure you know why.”
Recognition lights in Hifumi—memories that aren’t quite theirs, but feelings they’ve inherited as their own. “…Let me hear it.”
Unlike a certain liar, Shintaro does not hesitate.
“I love you, Izanami Hifumi,” he says, confessing the feelings his original would never dare to speak out loud. “I love you and only you.”
But word is meaningless without action. Desires are supposed to be seized, not admired from afar. Violent as the kisses in his programming may be, his lips gravitates towards Hifumi’s with a gentleness that his original could not know. Such unattainable dreams become possible in paradise, a place where passions need not be hidden. They don’t have to worry about battles, or loyalties, or obligations, for everything in MIRA is ideal. They don’t have to worry, for they have this moment to themselves.
Their arms settle around each other, a long awaited embrace. Hifumi’s warmth, intimately his, radiates into Shintaro’s core. Here should be the thumping of a heartbeat, but for ghosts, it is the thrumming of their lives synchronized.
“Shintaro-kun…” Hifumi murmurs, the sound of his name sending shivers down his spine. “Please, don’t leave me.”
“I would never,” Shintaro promises—vows. While his other may be a phantom, he has no intention of disappearing. This, he seals with another kiss.
They have the rest of forever together, and what better way to start forever than by immortalizing his beloved in writing? Shintaro takes Hifumi’s hands in his, a perfect fit.
“Now, come,” he beckons Hifumi. “Let’s make you a star!”