Ashley Taylor (Swimsuit)

thanks raposarealm, Vivi for reviewing

Ignorance is Bliss

Ashley: The Japanese Horror Project is still underway!

-----

Riko
What kind of video are you filming today?

Ashley
Today's project is... Perfect for a super~ hot summer day:
The Japanese Horror Project: part 2!

Riko
...Haven't we done enough of that yet?

Ashley
That includes all the rejected takes we couldn't release!

Riko
It's not that we can't get caught up in strange incidents,
but that we keep missing them on video, huh...

Ashley
Sou desu yo!! That's why I'm fired up today!

Riko
...Huh-?
By the way, is Kumanosuke not with you today?

Ashley
Look at this!
I transplanted him onto a swimsuit, so now he is a flat bear!

Riko
Eh-, that's a joke...right? Has the horror already started...?

Ashley
Gomen ne!! Of course it is a joke!
Kumanosuke is staying home in his locker at the beach house!

Riko
You scared me for a second...
So today Kuma-san here on your swimsuit will be substituting for Kumanosuke.

Ashley
Hai!! And now...we're off!

-Video-

Ashley
Doumo!! Ashley Taylor here!
Using the hottest new tips from our viewership,
we're going to go investigate strange phenomena!
First up, we have something that was spotted in this very area just last evening:
A poltergeist phenomenon!
Though no one was around, a rustling was heard,
and a flower by the road appeared to have been plucked!

-End Video-

Riko
I-is that really true...?

Ashley
Un! Right where we're standing!
I figured you wouldn't be scared if it's at noon, so we're doing it now!

Ui's Voice
...Oh-? Ashley-san and Riko-chan?

Riko
Ah-...Ui-chan and the onee-sans!

Ui
Are you in the middle of filming a video with Ashley-san?

Ashley
Hai!!
A poltergeist... We're tracking down a disturbing phantom.

Ui
...Did something happen here?

---

Sana
Um, the phantom that picked the flower - that may have been me...

Ashley
Hontou desuka!? How could that be!?

Sana
Right now...we're staying overnight nearby...
And, around this time yesterday, I was collecting flowers.

Ui
We picked lots of flowers to press, you see!

Iroha
It's just Sana-chan - she can't be seen by normal people...

Riko
Then the person who gave the info to Ashley Onee-san saw that...

Ashley
And assumed it was a poltergeist!?

Sana
...It seems so.

Ashley
...The true identity of the disturbing phantom was a KAWAII mahou shoujo.

Riko
The mystery was solved, but we can't reveal that, can we...

Ashley
But we must never give up!
There are still more reports from our viewers!

-Video-

Ashley
Up next, a word from a student at Mizuna Girl's Academy
about the truth behind a ghost by the seashore!

Ria's Voice
That is unnecessary.

-End Video-

Riko
Ah-...Ria and Mayu Onee-sans, why are you here?

Ria
We have seaside school. And the ghost was revealed as of yesterday.

Ashley
Uwao!! I must know!

Mayu
Umm...well...

Kanoko
...I think they mistook me for something else.

Ashley
Subarashii!!! What an omega KAWAII ghost!

Riko
So...then... The identity of the ghost...

Kanoko
Yep, it's me.

Ria
...If you're aware of it, then why would you even think of putting that swimsuit back on?

Ashley
The truth ended up KAWAII, but it looks like this is out too.

---

Mayu
I don't know...if this would work as an apology,
but I can offer you one piece of information.
Yesterday, some middle school children saw a strange floaty on the beach.

Ashley
What kind of floaty?

Mayu
Well...the floaty looked like a doggie,
but it moved along the beach by itself... Seemingly making a barking sound...

Riko
Ah...that-
Isn't that this?

Mayu
――っ!?

Ria
It does look just like the ring in question, doesn't it...

Riko
Yesterday, I came to the beach with my family,
and Mameji started crawling around with this floaty on his head...

Ashley
Ie... More KAWAII truth.

Riko
It isn't easy coming across Japanese horror, is it...

Ashley
I hate to say it, but let's call it quits today!
I'm sure Kumanosuke is tired of waiting in the coin locker!

Mayu & Ria
Huhu!

-Riko's Room-

[*Ring♪*]

Riko
... A message? From my friends in class?
Eh, the latest scary story they've heard...?

-Text-
[Did you hear about the "curse of the gurokawa teddy bear"!? It's always with you, even if you leave it somewhere and go away...]

[They say the bear gets jealous and then a curse befalls you!]

[And then this curse, right? They say it does the opposite of what its owner wants... Like if you want something KAWAII, something terrible happens to you, but if you want something terrible to happen, something KAWAII happens instead!]

[But it seems if you go see the bear and give it a big hug, the curse will disappear. ...You think it's real?]

-End Text-

Riko
――っ!?
W-w-w-what do I do!?
Should I tell Ash Onee-san...?
Ah...b-but... If I tell her about this,
she might start thinking differently,
and then Ash Onee-san herself might start getting scared...
But then again...there might not be a curse and it could just be some coincidence...
Aaah~nnn, what do I dooo...!!