Help from the Shadows (Open Novella Contest)

5 (Ayame)

The Enma tribe's magical mirrors...

In all my life, I have never been more shocked than I was now, seeing the legendary magical mirrors being worn by the 4 strangers who had helped me and even came back with me to help me save my friends. I mean, sure, I've seen scarier and more unbelievable things (Natsume's intensity when she's angry is a frightening example. *shudder*), but now they felt like nothing compared to the 4 watches Akino-san, Rau-san, Choiseung-san and Chenhua-san had strapped to their wrists. I still remembered what Mitsue-san had said about the 4 magical mirrors. 

According to her, they had been created alongside the Enma Blade, and were even more picky than the Elder watch, choosing to hide away after numerous people tried to gain their favour in order to obtain their strength, since they were more battle-oriented than the Elder Watch, and thus more powerful. The legend stated that they would only appear to the worthy who could impress them in terms of determination and their will to fight for the truth, and that their mere presence could be felt from a meter away, sending shivers down all the villains old and new.

Apparently, the 4 of them fit the bill to the B, because they were now their wielders. 

"W-Well, even with the mirrors, you're still no match for me," Jorogumo tried to mock us, but her stutter and her obvious nervousness gave her true feelings away. 

"Wait, if Ayame knows about these things, then she should know how to use them, right?" Rau-san turned to look at me eagerly. The other 3 followed suit. 

I chose to grin back as I admitted, "Well, I DO know. That's why we can bring Jorogumo down." 

"Huh, don't get so cocky," Jorogumo may still be frightened of the mirrors, but she regained her composure quickly. "I'm stronger than you 5. What makes you think that you can beat me, even if the mirrors on your side?" 

"We'll just have to prove it then!" Chenhua-san replied. The 5 of us looked at one another. 

The silent conversation that we had made me realise something. 

For the first time in my life, I felt close to someone I just met, which kind of confused me. 

Maybe it's because they helped me and wanted to save my friends too. 

Maybe it's because they encouraged me to stop thinking of what Jorogumo had done while using me as a vessel. 

Maybe it's because we were all just easygoing people. 

But whatever it was, it made me smile happily before we all turned to Jorogumo, ready to fight her. 

"Let's split up! Chenhua-san, the Archery Mirror can be used as a bow and arrow. Just pull the key-part back and aim to your target, then let go once you've got enough power in it. Go to the right and corner Jorogumo from there!" I commanded. He saluted before he followed my instructions, making a light green arrow stab one of Jorogumo's legs. She yelped out in pain.

"Wow, that was amazing! Well then, if I'll be using it now, then you're now the Youkai Watch Robin Hood!" Chenhua-san named it on the spot while briefly posing with it. 

"Choiseung-san, the Bullseye Mirror can be activated by opening some space under the watch using the strap, in which a button to shoot the bullets will appear. The lens will pop up and serves as a telescope to help you shoot your attacks, so you can use it like a gun or sniper. I want you to go to the right and make sure she doesn't move around!" 

"You got it!" Choiseung-san loosened the strap, quickly naming it the Youkai Watch Hocus Pocus, much to my amusement, then shot an attack to one of Jorogumo's other legs, causing her to screech in even more pain, before she shot some spider nets at them. Luckily, I managed to throw some papers in front of them, so she ended up catching those, and then they exploded, taking out both hands in the process.