Persephone/Band Story 1/Chapter 1

**Interlude! Shirokage Five vs. The Cunning Writer of Doom!** is the first chapter and the introductory chapter of Persephone's Band Story.

## Synopsis

*"Once upon a time during the dark ages of chaos in Japan, demons prowl the streets and ransack villages. However! The shogunate has employed talented ninja siblings and their chieftain, Izamura-maru to fight and save Japan! Will they prevail against the demons? Or will they be snuffed out like candles in a storm? Find out next time!"*

Personal Comment by the Storywriting Club Leader : Alright, the lore is cool, I must admit...But who the hell wrote the damn intro?! It's all over the damn place! What demons? Who're the main villains?! Where does the chieftain come from and what achievements did she do to be recognized by the shogunate? Why is this story such a huge mess?!

## Transcript

[Storywriting Club, After School, YamiTsume High School]

**Angry Student** : Okay, lore sucks, writing's all over the place, backstory's a mess...

**Angry Student** : What is with this waste of space?!

**Happy-yet-Apologetic Student** : Ehehe...I'm sorry.

**Angry Student** : Okumura-san, you've been writing more nonsense ever since the first day. Nobody would understand your story's plot if your own explanation doesn't make sense!

**Izayoi Okumura** : But, aren't the ideas of ninjas fighting huge, gigantic demons under a Torii gate in somewhere around uh...Yamagata prefecture, sounds really, really, reaaaaaaaally cool?!

**Angry Student** : No.

**Angry Student** : Fantasy sucks.

**Izayoi** : S-So cruel!!

**Angry Student** : I prefer horror.

**Izayoi** : ....

(Izayoi takes out a resignation letter)

**Angry Student** : OI! You're resigning already?!

**Angry Student** : And why do you even have a resignation letter ready?! You haven't even joined the club yet!

**Izayoi** : Waaaaa! I'm sorry! I just cannot stand horror!

(Izayoi runs out of the room, then a female student enters the room)

**Calm Student** : Hm? Was that Izayoi-chan?

**Angry Student** : Yeah.

**Calm Student** : Hm, what's this?

**Angry Student** : Her idea of a joke.

**Calm Student** : Hm, it is out of place but it is pretty comical here and there. I think she's doing pretty well.

**Angry Student** : Hmph, you're just being nice. There's no need to go soft on newcomers, Hiramichi.

**Ayumu Hiramichi** : And you're being too upfront. You've managed to scare off about four potential members now, Yamazaki.

**Junji Yamazaki** : ...

**Junji** : Our leader chose me for this. The least I could do is be honest.

**Ayumu** : You did in put in effort in criticizing, but you could always tell them nicely.

**Junji** : That's your job, not mine. Sugarcoating is your specialty, after all.

**Ayumu** : "Sugarcoating"? Now, that's just too far, Jun-kun.

**Junji** : ...and stop calling me that.

**Ayumu** : Fine. I'll go find Izayoi-chan, okay?

**Junji** : Suit yourself.

(Ayumu leaves the room)

**Junji** : \*sigh\* What a bunch of-

(Just then, a knock was heard from outside the clubroom)

**Junji** : ...Come in.

(But the door didn't open)

**Junji** : ...I said come in.

(But again, no response)

**Junji** : Hiramichi, are you pranking me again?

(Then the lights of the clubroom turns off on its own)

**Junji** : A blackout? At a time like this?

**Junji** : Hm, this might be an ideal setting of a horror story.

(Junji stands up and walks around the room)

**Junji** : With the lights turned off and there being a knock outside the classroom, that could only mean...

(Junji tries to open the door, but it's..)

**Junji** : ...Locked. Figures.

**Junji** : I see. Now that the room is locked and the lights are off, I suppose it is time for the "ghost" to reveal itself. Wouldn't you agree...

(Junji takes a book from the table, and hits one of the pictures on the wall)

**???** : OUCH!!

**Junji** : ...Ms. Ghost?

**Junji** : Now, to reveal your true identity...

**"Ghost"** : Sisters, now!

**Junji** : Huh?

(Just then, four figures appear from the shadows and they all rushed towards Junji)

**Junji** : Huh, wait, stop- AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!

(Meanwhile, somewhere else...)

[School Corridor, YamiTsume High School]

**Izayoi** : No good. I'm out of ideas...

**Ayumu** : Izayoi-chan! There you are!

**Izayoi** : Ah, Hiramichi-senpai! Good evening!

**Ayumu** : I've heard everything from Jun-kun, and I've also read your work.

**Izayoi** : I-Is it awful, like what Yamazaki-senpai said?

**Ayumu** : Of course not! I really like that story! Especially when Izamura-maru poses with the other members of the Shirogane Five?! What a breathtaking sight that was!

**Izayoi** : Um, Senpai...

**Ayumu** : Yes, and when they worked together to take down the weird-looking demon, I can't wait to know the next issue!

**Izayoi** : ...?

**Ayumu** : Izayoi-chan? You look puzzled, what's wrong?

**Izayoi** : I think you might have read the wrong work, Senpai.

**Ayumu** : ...Why's that?

**Izayoi** : In my version, I only wrote until Izamura-maru and her ninja friends meeting the Shogun. They haven't fought any demons yet.

**Ayumu** : ...

**Izayoi** : Also, it's the "Shirokage" Five, I have no idea where you read about the "Shirogane" Five.

**Ayumu** : ...

**Ayumu** : I'M SO SORRY!!!

**Izayoi** : H-Hiramichi-senpai?!

**Ayumu** : The truth is, I have a lot of trouble remembering names and characters and plot points, resulting in me needing help from several people in the club.

**Izayoi** : Ahh! I'm so sorry to hear all that!

**Ayumu** : Yes, it is a very unfortunate fate for me, \*sobbing noises\*

**Izayoi** : Senpai! I'm willing to help you overcome this challenge, but I'm not officially a member of the club yet!

**Ayumu** : Izayoi-chan... Wah! You're such a blessing for this world! I wish to take you home, keep you in a box, and never let go!

**Izayoi** : In a box? Can you put humans inside a box?

**Ayumu** : Um, well, usually stray cats or dogs are usually put in a box, right?

**Izayoi** : Hm? But I'm not a cat or dog...

**Ayumu** : Uwaaaa! That type of innocence you possess is so DAMN cute! I am so blessed to have such a cute kouhai like you!

(Ayumu starts touching Izayoi's cheeks)

**Ayumu** : Oh, I know! I can recommend you to our leader if you want!

**Izayoi** : \*gasp\* You would?

**Ayumu** : Of course! It is the least I can do for you! I'll even make you my disciple!

**Izayoi** : No way! Yaaaay, thanks Hiramichi-senpai!

**Ayumu** : No need for thanks, Izayoi-chan!

**Ayumu** : (I'm sorry, Izayoi-chan, now that I have messed up, I have no choice but to utilize my "Snow Fairy" personality. If not, my reputation may be tarnished!)

**Ayumu** : (But then again, I suppose what Jun-kun said about me is true, after all...)

**Junji in Ayumu's Mind** : (Hey, Hiramichi. Has anyone told you you're a manipulative, little bitc-)

**Ayumu** : AHEM! Anyways, let us go back to the clubroom.

**Izayoi** : Okay!

[Storywriting Club]

**Ayumu** : Let's go in!

**Izayoi** : Okay!

**Ayumu** : Huh? It's locked.

**Izayoi** : Did Yamazaki-senpai go home?

**Ayumu** : He usually doesn't go home at this hour.

**Ayumu** : Luckily, I brought my spare key with me today.

(Ayumu enters the room and sees an unconscious Junji on the floor)

**Ayumu** : Jun-kun!

**Izayoi** : Yamazaki-senpai! Is he okay?

**Ayumu** : Don't worry, he's just fainted.

**Izayoi** : Who would do this?

**Ayumu** : Jun-kun has many bitter enemies because of his way of speaking. So, these things are bound to happen.

**Ayumu** : But, to scare him until he's unconscious. I wonder what did he see?

**Izayoi** : I thought he said he liked horror stories.

**Ayumu** : Horror stories? No, he absolutely hated them.

**Izayoi** : But he told me horror stories are the best.

**Ayumu** : Oh my, Izayoi-chan. You really are too nice for this world.

**Izayoi** : ...?

**Ayumu** : Anyways, you can go home. I'll take you to meet our leader tomorrow.

**Izayoi** : Th-Thank you, Hiramichi-senpai!

**Ayumu** : Get going. Be careful on your way home, alright?

**Izayoi** : I will! See you tomorrow!

(Izayoi leaves)

**Ayumu** : Seriously, what an adorable little girl she is.

**Ayumu** : You can open your eyes now, by the way.

**Junji** : ...

**Ayumu** : I talked to her, and all. She seems really excited for all this.

**Junji** : Her place isn't here.

**Ayumu** : Huh?

**Junji** : As positive as she is, she's not meant to be in our club.

**Ayumu** : Why? Because you don't like her positivity?

**Junji** : Call it a gut feeling.

**Ayumu** : Admit it, you just hate positive people in general. right?

**Junji** : Shut up. I can't believe I had to act today, among all other things I could possibly do.

**Ayumu** : Come on, it won't hurt to be closer to your juniors once in a while.

**Junji** : I much prefer the silence, thank you very much.

**Ayumu** : Ah, so you admit you hate her.

**Junji** : No, I don't! I just find people like her...incompatible with me, that's all.

**Ayumu** : Heh. And wow, you're a mess. Just what did they do to you?

**Junji** : Ain't gonna lie. Those are pretty awesome ninjas, if I ever seen one.

**Junji** : Wait, the correct term to use would be...

**Junji** : ..."Kunoichis"?

[Street near YamiTsume High, Yahata City]

**Izayoi** : La la la~

**???** : Izayoi!

**Izayoi** : Ah, Fuu-chan!

**Fumino Shirokage** : Sorry, I'm late. Had to do something for a bit.

**Izayoi** : That's alright. Where were you?

**???** : Sorry, she was with us.

(All of a sudden, four girls appear from thin air)

**Izayoi** : Ah! The Shirokage Five, all together!

**Yasumasa Gō** : Heya, Izayoi. Been a while. "Aogiri" Yasumasa, awaiting your command.

**Ayane Oguma** : "Kurogiri" Ayane, rushing to the scene! We meet as classmates today, Izayoi, but now you're our "chieftain"!

**Kanata Shiroishi** : "Shirogiri" Kanata, I have rang this bell for the 6th time today so may all of us reach enlightenment when our soul departs from our bodies. \*ding\*

**Sazane Yanatori** : "Akagiri" Sazane, by now you should have known how eccentric Nata can be, so please ignore her.

**Kanata** : Foolish notion, Sazane. You are aware that both the Kunitsukami and the Amatsukami are watching us from high above Koto's lands? Surely not. Oh, yes. \*ding\*

**Izayoi** : I'm glad you're all here so we can go home together. We haven't gone back in a group.

**Fumino** : Yeah, let's go!

**Sazane/Ayane/Yasumasa** : Yeah!

**Kanata** : \*ding\*

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