One morning, Shirayuki happened to spot Rice Shower and walked over.
"Good morning, Rice Shower."
"Wah…! Ah… Shirayuki."
Startled, Rice Shower's tail shot up before relaxing once she recognized her. That small, animal-like reaction never failed to amuse Shirayuki.
"Where are you heading?"
"I'm looking for Matikanefukukitaru… there's something I need to do." she said softly.
Since that day, Shirayuki had been observing Matikanefukukitaru. She seemed oddly obsessed with luck, always running around Tracen muttering things like "good fortune, guaranteed victory."
After seeing so many eccentric uma musume, Shirayuki no longer found this strange. In fact, it felt normal. Fukukitaru didn't bother anyone or cause trouble, so even if she acted a little odd, it wasn't an issue.
Shirayuki was even considering recruiting her. Someone proactive, harmless, and this enthusiastic was rare. The only question was her actual ability.
"I'll come with you."
"Eh? Shirayuki too?" Rice Shower's ears perked up.
"Yeah."
"…Um…" Rice Shower hesitated, her gaze wavering. After a few seconds, she nodded. "Okay… then come with me." It felt like she had made up her mind.
They arrived at Fukukitaru's classroom, where Mejiro Dober was also present, quietly reading as usual. Not far away, Agnes Tachyon glanced over.
When their eyes met, Tachyon smiled faintly. Shirayuki immediately felt a chill. Her pale complexion and eerie aura made Shirayuki feel like she was about to be dissected. Those dark red eyes gave her the unsettling feeling that nothing about her could be hidden.
Shaking it off, Shirayuki turned back. "Morning, Dober-senpai."
"Shirayuki… and Rice Shower. Good morning." Dober replied, noticeably more at ease than before.
"Good morning…" Rice Shower bowed nervously.
"Looking for someone?"
"Yes, we're here to see Fukukitaru-senpai."
"She's over there."
Dober pointed behind her. Fukukitaru was arranging strange papers on her desk.
"Rice Shower, Shirayuki, are you here for the test too?"
"The test?" Shirayuki tilted her head and walked closer.
Now she saw clearly. The desk was covered with talisman-like papers filled with hiragana, with a coin engraved with odd symbols placed on top.
"What's this?"
"A fortune chart! It measures your luck and can even test compatibility with the one you like!" Fukukitaru declared energetically. "I call it the Special☆Fukukitaru Shiraoki-sama Fortune Slip!"
She clasped her hands and looked up. "Please descend, Shiraoki-sama, the bringer of good fortune!"
"…Rice Shower came to test compatibility."
"Got it. Please sit." Fukukitaru pointed to a chair. "With Trainer Chiya, right?"
"Yes… Rice Shower wants to know… what her relationship with Onii-sama will be like."
With me?
Shirayuki blinked in confusion. Had she done something wrong? She began reflecting.
"I see. So it's about fate." Fukukitaru nodded.
Rice Shower's cheeks turned slightly red.
"Then let me call upon Shiraoki-sama to reveal your future. Let's see how compatible you and Trainer Chiya are."
She spread out the paper.
"Shirayuki, you too. Let's test your compatibility with Trainer Chiya."
"…Me?"
"Shirayuki should do it too," Rice Shower said firmly. "I want to know."
"That's not really necessary…"
Testing her compatibility with herself felt strange.
"Please." Rice Shower didn't back down.
Seeing that, Shirayuki sighed inwardly and agreed.
"Place your fingers on the coin," Fukukitaru instructed.
Dober leaned forward, and even Tachyon watched with interest.
"Let's begin."
"The sun rises in the west, fortune turns from misfortune to blessing. Shiraoki-sama, reveal Rice Shower and Trainer Chiya's destiny!"
As soon as she finished, a faint force moved the coin.
Shirayuki's eyes widened. Someone was pushing it.
But who?
She wasn't applying any pressure, yet it moved.
"…There will be obstacles… but if you stay true to your heart… all will be well," Dober read aloud.
"That's your result, Rice Shower."
They lifted their fingers.
"What does that mean… my compatibility with Onii-sama?"
"It means things won't be smooth at first," Fukukitaru explained, "but if you stay true to yourself, you'll succeed. So seize your chance, Rice Shower!"
"I understand." Rice Shower nodded seriously. "I will."
Shirayuki frowned slightly. She didn't quite follow.
"Heh. Do people actually believe this?" Tachyon muttered with a smirk.
With the right tricks, she could make a coin move without touching it. Compared to actual science, this was nothing more than superstition.
At that moment, the door slid open and Manhattan Cafe walked in.
Seeing them gathered, she looked slightly surprised, then glanced upward as if sensing something.
"…What are you doing?"
"Next is Shirayuki!" Fukukitaru announced.
With both of them watching, Shirayuki reluctantly placed her finger on the coin. She remembered Tachyon's words. This was probably just a trick.
Even if gods existed, they wouldn't respond to something like this.
Still, she decided to play along.
A few seconds passed.
"…Huh?" Fukukitaru blinked. "Why isn't it moving? Come on, move!"
Of course it wouldn't move if no one pushed it.
Shirayuki sighed inwardly.
Fine, I'll do it—
Just as she was about to apply pressure, the coin suddenly shifted on its own.
It moved across the characters and stopped.
Fukukitaru's eyes widened.
"A perfect match! This is a perfect match, Shirayuki!"
"What?"
"It means your compatibility with Trainer Chiya has reached the absolute peak. Completely irreplaceable."
The moment those words landed, Rice Shower's eyes went blank and she collapsed from her seat.
The coin's answer was simple.
Heart and soul in perfect harmony.