Volume 13 Chapter 303 Shirogane Kanon, STARS MISSION
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Today was the day. The day every world leader gathered, the day they would vote on the fate of the World Union.
My maids fluttered around me like quiet little butterflies, fastening clasps, smoothing silk, tugging the hem of my dress until everything sat just right.
”Thanks. It’s perfect,” I told them, and once they bowed and slipped out, I turned to the mirror to check for myself.
For today, I’d picked the most regal dress I could find—the kind that made me look just a little more grown-up than I really felt inside.
”Haah…”
I’d stood on big stages plenty of times since I was a kid, and still, my heart jittered like it was my very first.
”Still… the fate of the whole world? That’s kind of heavy for someone who used to be just a princess.”
Aqua wasn’t here. Pegonia wasn’t here. Onee-sama—wasn’t here. Grandma wasn’t here. Not even the Verification Team was here to hold my hand. So I decided—this quiet moment was the only time I was allowed to let my fear show.
”It’s okay. I can do this.”
I stared straight into my own eyes in the mirror. Remember who you are. Remember your name. Shirogane Kanon. Formerly Kanon Stars Goshenite. The girl loved by destiny, the maiden promised victory—that’s me.
”Everyone… I’m off.”
I clapped my hands once, let the sharp sound snap my nerves awake, then swept out of the hotel room with my maids in tow. At the elevator hall, Agewa-san was already waiting, perfectly composed.
”Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said.
”It’s fine. I only just managed to pull myself together too.”
We shared a quick grin. Honestly, the situation was terrible. No one knew who was an enemy or who was an ally, and the world leaders were drowning in suspicion.
It wasn’t just them either—news was burning like wildfire, social media screaming, and people everywhere were living with this tight coil of fear in their chests. Only Japan seemed relaxed, with people on the Bulletin Board casually betting on what cool way Aqua would make his entrance. Really, they should worry about his safety just a little, geez!!
The elevator hummed as it carried us down to the lobby, where SP agents [T/N: security police bodyguards] raised a hand to stop us.
”Please wait. We’ll secure the area first.”
Several SPs slipped out through the front to clear the path. With Agewa-san’s secretaries and SPs from Japan and my own maids who doubled as bodyguards, our group was… huge, honestly.
”The area is secure. There’s heavy media presence, but please don’t stop for interviews.”
We both nodded.
”Okay. Let’s go.”
The moment we stepped out of the hotel behind the lead SP, we were hit by a wall of flashing lights and shouting voices.
”Your Highness, how do you feel right now!?”
”Congressman Agewa, are the rumors true you’ll quit the World Union and break your alliance with the States!?”
”Your Highness, now that you’re a widow, are you planning to return to Stars and restore the monarchy!?”
”Congressman Agewa, is it true you’ll use this as a chance to leave the Saint’s Party and join the ruling party~!?”
Where do they even get this stuff from?! Ugh!! Political media always twist everything into gossip when they should be trying to keep people calm. As we pushed through the crowd, one reporter suddenly popped out from between the SPs.
”We are Seibaku Newspaper from Japan! Congressman Agewa! Shirogane Kanon-san! Forget the boring questions from the other trashy reporters—please just tell us the color of your lucky underwear for today!! All of Japan is dying to know, no one can sleep at night!!”
Agewa-san and I almost tripped over ourselves.
Seriously! Between hiring Emily-senpai and this… what standards does that paper even have?!
”Is it red!? Your sister Victoria always wears red for lucky dresses, right!?”
”It’s not red!! Ugh!!”
Stop scribbling that down with such a serious face, you silly!! …Okay, fine, it actually is red, but still!! I guess I’ll forgive them since it broke the tension a little. People like me or Agewa-san can laugh it off, but if they tried that on anyone else, it would totally count as harassment.
And if Seibaku Newspaper got shut down, poor Emily-senpai would lose one of her few income sources. …Wait, it’s already on the news front page?! You guys seriously—! And you’re making that smug face like “speed is our pride” again! Gaaah!! I swear you’re just Bulletin Board people in disguise!!
Still fuming, I ducked into the waiting car.
”We’ve been expecting you, Acting Prime Minister Agewa, and you as well, Shirogane Kanon-san.”
”Eh?”
”You’re…!”
Agewa-san and I both froze. Across from us sat a nun with her face hidden by a black veil. The design on her robe was unmistakable—Holy Aqua Religion. And that Shirogane crest… it was only allowed for the Twelve Bishops.
”One of the Twelve Bishops… Overseer Workaholic. Why are you here?”
”For the same reason you are.”
Workaholic… then she’s… Oh. Right.
”Let’s not scare them too much,” she said softly. “It looks like Kanon-san has already figured out who I am.”
Claire-san slowly lifted the veil.
”Claire-san…?” I whispered.
Emily-senpai had told me, but still… seeing serious, straight-laced Claire-san actually turn out to be a top Holy Aqua Religion leader was surreal. Then again… thinking back to the, uh, extremely advanced techniques she showed off at the Cultural Festival’s beauty pageant… maybe it wasn’t that surprising.
”You’re Emily-chan’s friend, the sister from the Shirogane Kingdom church…”
”Formally, nice to meet you, Congressman Agewa. I’m Chihiro Claire. Also known as Overseer Workaholic, No.1 among the Twelve Bishops of Holy Aqua Religion.”
Agewa-san’s eyes went wide. Right, she hadn’t known Workaholic’s real identity. No one would expect a normal high school girl to be part of that… uh, very eccentric group.
”Kanon-san, you didn’t bring Pegonia-san, did you?”
”No.”
I couldn’t risk bringing my son Kanoa and my daughter Anon to Stars. The monarchists would get ideas. So I’d left them with the one person I trusted most—Pegonia.
”That was wise,” Claire-san said. “This chaos will probably spark moves in Japan. So I left an Observer and our strongest Kunoichi behind with Pegonia-san.”
If Claire-san said so, it meant they had intel. The thought chilled me.
”I’ve already contacted the Shirogane Kingdom and Fuji Shion and Sumeragi Kukuri-sama in Japan. They’ll keep them safe.”
I nodded. There were no absolutes, but… I had to believe they’d be okay.
”Now, my request. Please, whatever happens, don’t let the World Union collapse.”
”…Holy Aqua Religion wants to keep it?” Agewa-san asked.
”No. We don’t care if it lives or dies. The world will belong to Aqua-sama anyway. I just don’t like letting those schemers get their way.”
Claire-san said it flatly. Agewa-san and I exchanged looks. So much for thinking she was the normal one. “The world will belong to Aqua”…? He would never want that. Later, I’d have to tell her Aqua prefers staring at the world’s big sisters’ boobs over staring at maps.
”Either way, there’s only so much we can do,” she said.
”I know. That’s why I need you two to drag things out as long as possible, using Japan’s favorite slow-walk tactics.”
Claire-san’s smile curled like a cat’s. For a second she looked… honestly kind of evil.
”For now, our interests align. Fufufu… we’ll make sure those masterminds are all captured alive. And then we’ll teach them there’s something even lower than hell. Oh, no, we won’t let them die easily. Dying and going to hell would be far too gentle.”
Her eyes went wide without blinking as she smiled. I finally understood why Emily-senpai had sighed once and muttered, “Claire’s been kinda scary lately…” Although right after that she’d also said, “Who even turned her into this…”—but that was obviously her fault, so she should fix it herself.
”We’re almost at the venue,” the driver announced.
Claire-san popped her seat open and tried to tuck herself into the hidden compartment inside.
”This is where I get off. Don’t worry, the driver, the SP, and the maids are all Saint Guards, so you’re safe.”
Um. No, hearing that does NOT make me feel safer!? The driver and SP and even the maids are all part of Holy Aqua Religion!? Wait… is it just me who’s not part of them? No, no. That’s ridiculous. It has to be.
”We’ve arrived. Securing the area.”
After the SP gave the all-clear, Agewa-san and I stepped out. Just like at the hotel, the place was swarmed by media—and this time, crammed among them were actual political groups waving flags and chanting.
”Down with the World Union! Down with the World Union!”
”Long live Queen Kanon! Long live Your Majesty!”
”Don’t let the States rule us!!”
”Bring back Stars! Bring back Stars!!”
Ugh. I was so tired of this. The media and these groups all shout slogans, stir people up, and if things get worse because of it, who takes responsibility? It’s our children, our grandchildren. Don’t make me think about this kind of thing when I’m still a teenager.
”Political groups, free T-shirts and placards for your slogans over here!”
Huh? My gaze drifted toward the people passing out shirts and signs with big Japan-ese letters splashed across them.
[Shirogane Aqua saikyō! Shirogane Aqua saikyō! Holy Aqua Religion Saint Emily]
[Let’s free the boobs! Professor of Boobology, Shirogane Aqua!]
[Power solves everything! Founder of the Power Cult, Morikawa Kaede]
[All humanity are Bulletin Board people!! From the Volunteer Citizens of the World Bulletin Board Union]
I almost burst out laughing. They probably couldn’t even read what they were holding. Still—come on. Obviously Holy Aqua Religion again! I could tell, you know!! But fine, at least they made it impossible to focus on anyone else’s message, so I’d let it go.
”Seibaku Newspaper here! Kanon-san, Agewa-san, at least tell us your underwear color before you gooooooo!!”
…Okay. Maybe I wouldn’t forgive them after all. My eye twitched.
”Hey, you idiot, stop bothering the real political reporters!”
”Shut up!! You fake-journalist posers are just playing make-believe politics. I bet my entire career on finding out their underwear color! The fate of the world? Aqua-sama would care way more about what Kanon-san and Agewa-san are wearing under there today! If you’re a real reporter, ditch your panties like me and come ready to risk it all!!”
They were definitely risking the wrong thing. But… thanks. Even here in Stars, so far from Japan, it felt like the Bulletin Board people were still close by, and somehow that made my heart a little lighter.
Keeping our faces totally straight, Agewa-san and I slipped through the chaos into the hall where the assembly would be held.
”Several delegations are delayed. They said the session will start a bit late.”
”All right. Thank you.”
I decided to use the extra time to hit the bathroom. This could go long, and it’s always better to… you know, take care of things. After I was done, I stood at the sink and powered my phone back on.
”Aqua…”
I gazed at his face on the screen.
”I’ll do my best.”
I leaned in to kiss him—and right then, my phone buzzed and the screen flipped from Aqua to Emily-senpai.
”Mooooouuu!! I almost kissed Emily-senpai’s face instead of Aqua’s!!”
I answered.
”Hey, Emily-senpai. Where are you right now?”
’Shirogane Kanon, right? Yukishiro Emily is sitting right next to me.’
Eh? It wasn’t her voice. My chest went cold. Why was it someone else’s voice on her phone?
’You’re smart enough to get it instantly. Yukishiro Emily is our hostage.’
Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. I told myself over and over.
”I won’t believe you until I hear her voice.”
’Fine. Wait.’
I clenched my fist over my heart, trying to crush the panic down.
’Kanon. Sorry… they got me.’
”Emily-senpai. Are you okay?”
’Yeah. I’m fine. The baby’s fine too. Don’t worry.’
Hearing her voice let me breathe a little—but this was the worst. Think, Kanon. Get any info you can.
”What do you want?”
’As expected of Shirogane Kanon. You catch on fast. That’s why I called you and not Congressman Kokucho Agewa.’
So… they hadn’t even tried contacting Agewa-san. Of course. No matter how friendly she was with Emily-senpai, as a politician—especially as Japan’s acting national representative—she’d never negotiate with terrorists. But me… I was just a civilian, here as a special case. I couldn’t abandon Emily-senpai. So they’d been right to choose me.
”I don’t have decision-making power. I’m only here as part of Japan’s delegation.”
’I know. But as Mary-sama’s proxy, you’re allowed to speak before the vote. If you stir things up too much, it could disrupt our plans. So we want you to only say safe, meaningless things. Of course, if you’d like to argue for dissolving the World Union, that would be fine too.’
Like I’d ever— No. Emily-senpai’s life came first. I had no choice.
”…Fine.”
’You really are quick to understand. Delaying the delegations to buy time for this call was worth it.’
So that was them too. The late groups were from the States and the Far East Federation… Meaning… no, don’t jump to conclusions. That’s probably what they want me to do.
”But you’ll return Emily-senpai safely, right?”
’That depends on you.’
My grip on the phone tightened. Anything. Any clue about where she was—
’Wait, what are you—!’
There was a scuffle through the speaker. I pressed the phone hard to my ear.
’Kanon, listen—!’
”Emily-senpai! Where are—”
Tell me something, anything, anything I can use—
’Aqua-sama will save us for sure! The man loved by the world, the only man I ever loved, our Aqua-sama—believe in him!!’
I KNOW that, okay!! Right now I just need your location—aaagh!!
More sounds of struggling came through.
’Give that back! Wait, not there, don’t grab—!! Damn you!!’
’Guhaha! I’ve been kneading my mom’s boobs since I was born! Don’t underestimate me!!’
The call cut. But just before it did… I heard a bell. Faint, distant, but clear.
And in that moment, I knew. The kidnappers were close. Watching. There had been a church right next to the assembly building. They’d seen me go in, then called.
”Fuu…”
I let out a slow breath. I could do this. I would do this.
Telling myself that, I stepped out of the bathroom and leaned lightly on the maid waiting outside.
”Are you all right?”
”Yeah. I’m fine.”
I told her softly, and as my maid bowed, I slipped a folded note into her hand—the words scrawled on it saying that Emily-senpai had been taken, and that she was somewhere nearby. Claire-san had said earlier that all the maids here were part of Holy Aqua Religion, so if that was true, this would get to her. It had to.
”Can I trust you with this?”
”Of course. Leave it to me.”
Such a capable girl. She hadn’t even read it, but she knew exactly what I wanted. With that done, I straightened up, rejoined Agewa-san, and together we stepped into the main chamber where the session would be held.
”We will now begin the assembly to decide the fate of the World Union. Each delegation’s representative, please step forward.”
States, Stars, Far East Federation, Arabian Peninsula Federation, Japan… one by one, their speeches passed, until at last, it was my turn.
”And finally, as the proxy for Her Majesty Mary Stars Goshenite, the former Queen of Stars, who contributed greatly to the World Union—please, Shirogane Kanon, former Princess of Stars, address the assembly before the vote.”
I rose slowly and walked to the podium.
”Before we vote, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the nations who have supported the World Union all these years.”
I bowed deeply to each delegation, offering my thanks. It was fine. Emily-senpai had value as a hostage. They wouldn’t kill her over me stalling like this.
”Please declare the vote,” the chair said.
”No,” I said sweetly, “may I just say one more thing first?”
I raised a hand to hold the chair back, then faced forward.
”The world is shaking right now. There must be people who are afraid. So, please—look at the person sitting beside you. Or if you’re alone, step out of your room, call a friend or family. Gods can be a comfort, yes. But it is always people who save people. So I pray that you and your neighbors will keep being good to each other.”
I folded my hands in prayer. Times like this, I was really grateful I had a good face. With an almost sacred glow, I silenced every whisper calling my speech stalling. Did they forget who I was? I was the Eternal Maiden, the Maiden of Maidenly Refinement-sama herself. Unlike some lewd sex-goddess’s sketchy prayers, mine were actually holy.
”Shirogane Kanon,” the chair said coldly, “if you stall further, we will remove you from this chamber. Do you accept that?”
So this was the end. I’d bought enough time, but Aqua hadn’t come, nor the Prime Minister, nor President Maitrix. No… I couldn’t give up here. I had to keep going, even if just a little longer. I stayed kneeling on the podium, praying stubbornly.
”I—I will join her in prayer!!”
A Mother from the Stars delegation left her seat and knelt at my side. Mother… thank you.
”I too, as Bishop of the Stars Orthodox Church, will offer my prayer.”
”And I, as part of the Arabian Peninsula Federation delegation, wish to pray as well.”
Kythera from Stars and Manaat-oujo from the Arabian Peninsula Federation both knelt at my sides. I was sorry. But Aqua and the others would come. I knew they would.
”Enough games, everyone. This is a waste of time.”
A guard stepped forward and reached for my arm—when the main doors slammed open.
They’re here…!
Everyone thought it. But the ones who appeared were not who we expected.
”Haaah… haaah… the vote hasn’t happened yet, right?”
”Yeah… just barely made it.”
”Ugh, I’m tired. But looks like we’re safe.”
Mayuzumi-kun. Tenga-senpai. Toa-chan. What—what were they doing here!? My mind froze.
”Members of BERYL,” the chair snapped, standing. “This is not your concert venue.”
”My apologies, but this is a sacred assembly. You must leave.”
Armed guards surrounded the three of them. Toa-chan’s lips curled.
”Aaah, are you sure about that~? Because, y’know, we’re part of a delegation too~.”
”What? The Japan delegation list has no mention of you…”
The chair’s eyes slid to Agewa-san. I had checked that list too—no sign of them. Agewa-san checked again and shook her head.
”Fufu. Who said anything about Japan’s delegation.”
”What!?”
Tenga-senpai snapped his fingers. Two familiar women strode through the rear doors.
”The true representative of the Arabian Peninsula Federation, Her Majesty Queen Shams, and the true representative of the Far East Federation, Empress Su Shenliu. Anyone object to their participation?”
Mayuzumi-kun adjusted his glasses with a flash and smirked. Oh no. That was his evil-acting face—the one he used in drama shoots at night.
”And personally,” he went on, “I think these two, who just arrived, deserve time to talk things over with their delegations before the vote.”
A ripple of noise swept the chamber. Honestly… she wasn’t wrong. The chair banged her gavel sharply.
”They are permitted to join. However! Because of delays, there will be no time for discussion! We vote immediately!!”
She looked… flustered. Was I the only one who noticed?
”Then each delegation will—”
And then the giant side window exploded inward as the States’ presidential car barreled through it.
”HAHAHA! See, Chiyoko, this is how you use a state car! The thing’s heavy, and the armor’s tough as hell!”
”As expected of you, Arnie! I’ll use a state car next time I ram something too!!”
Several people went pale seeing the two figures step out. Hmph. I made sure to memorize all their faces.
”By the way,” Maitrix drawled, “you didn’t try to vote without the President of the States and my dear ally the Prime Minister of Japan, did you?”
”Ah, could this be… bullying? Inter-national bullying is absolutely not okay!!”
Japan. States. Arabian Peninsula Federation. Far East Federation. The top leaders stood in a row. No one dared speak. But the final piece still hadn’t fallen into place.
And then, through the gaping hole smashed by the state car, a bright red supercar slid in with a screech.
”Heeey, so this is where the entrance is? Stars has such stylish taste. Is this what they call art?”
Sorry—I actually snorted. Even Toa-chan laughed. Ugh, I’d imagined this reunion being so dramatic and tearful.
Aqua stepped out of the car, opened the passenger door, and escorted a woman I knew very well to stand between the four leaders. Wait—this made it look like Grandma Mary was the heroine or something!! Mooouuu!!
Grandma Mary gave me a smug little grin. Grrrhhh!!
”Well,” President Maitrix said, flashing a sharky smile, “seems the main cast is all here. Let’s try that vote again, shall we?”
That was it. The moment everything turned.
Now—our counterattack began.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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