First Encounter
I arrived at the plaza, where I was supposed to meet my new Journey member.
There, I found a girl wearing a mask who was looking around nervously.
You're Kyra, right?
...H-hi there.
Kyra's voice cracked as she answered.
Ah... Do I have a cold? No, that's not it.
Maybe... it's because it's been so long since I talked to someone.
My voice... It sounds terrible, doesn't it? Sorry.
No, it's fine.
Kyra was staring intensely at something in her hand while pressing a button.
I cautiously approached her and spoke.
What's that?
...?!
D-don't come so close...!
...I think it'd be better if you didn't...
...Sorry.
Kyra almost said the wrong thing...
The wrong thing?
...Ah. It's nothing.
Kyra... often talks to herself like this.
It's nothing you should worry about, Captain.
It's... just a toy.
I press these buttons whenever I get anxious.
It helps me calm down a little.
I must look silly... playing with a toy like a little kid...
I know. Sorry.
Why do you keep apologizing?
Ah... Sorry for apologizing so much.
Oh no... I apologized again...
It must be frustrating, right? Having someone so weird like me as a Journey member.
...If it's okay, just bear with me for a while.
I'll probably get kicked out of the Journey soon enough.
...Why did someone like me even get chosen as a Journey member?
There must be so many people better suited than useless Kyra...
Hey, you won't know until you give it a shot!
...Yeah. Thanks for saying that.
But no one knows Kyra better than Kyra.
Kyra mumbled in a small voice and crouched down.
As she reached her hand under the bench, a black cat slowly approached.
The cat rubbed its head against Kyra's hand with a slightly aloof expression.
This little kitty is probably much more helpful to the world than Kyra.
Kyra... isn't cute like this little one.
Nor am I quick or have sharp claws.
Wait...! You can't bite that...!
The cat that had been circling around Kyra suddenly grabbed one of the plush toys hanging from her bag before dashing off.
Ah! My Bearcoon plushie...!
Stop...!!!
Come back!
The cat that had been sprinting away suddenly flipped in mid-air and floated back toward us.
...?!
The cat, now in a bizarre pose, landed right in Kyra's arms.
Ugh... I was trying to be careful...
But I blew it again.
S-sorry, kitty. I didn't mean to— Oh! U-um...?!
C-Captain, you're still here? Sorry!
Kyra anxiously looked me over from head to toe.
Are you hurt? Does anything feel off?
Is your heart racing or aching?
Are you having trouble breathing?
C-can you move? Can you move your body freely?
Yeah, I'm perfectly fine.
You're fine?
...How's that possible? You should've been affected by my Kotodama...
I'm not so sure, but...
...Was I supposed to get hurt just now?
N-no, that's not what I meant.
I would never want to hurt you.
...I'm just relieved.
Phew...
...Captain, have you ever heard of Kotodama?
Kotodama?
Yeah. It's an ability that imbues words with actual power.
And Kyra can use it.
When Kyra says something, it takes effect in real life.
I don't know why I got this power or when it started.
And I don't really know how to control it either.
Sometimes, even when I don't mean it, the Kotodama activates on its own.
It's been like this ever since Kyra was a kid.
So I get scared every time I speak.
If I make even a tiny slip of the tongue, I could end up hurting people around me.
It's a creepy power, isn't it?
Kyra knows. Because everyone kept telling her that.
It's not creepy.
R-really...? But...
Kyra is dangerous... and ominous.
So, Captain, you really shouldn't stay near me.
This time, you were lucky and didn't get hurt, but...
If I slip up, even for a second, you could get hurt.
And training would never go as planned, either.
...Yeah. Kyra wouldn't blame you for hating her, Captain.
Kyra's power is the one to blame.
Don't worry about it!
Huh...?
As the Journey Captain, I'll figure out a way to deal with it.
...Ahaha.
Thanks, Captain.
Even if it's just words... it makes Kyra feel a bit better.
Kyra's dark expression seemed to brighten up just a little.
A Journey member with a unique power called Kotodama...
I need to figure out how to train her.