Anime Girls are Moist

They were now entirely independent individuals, yet as two God-Kings, they could also fuse to unleash even greater power.

[Name]: Menjou Hare

[Level]: 50

[Abilities]: "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Level-2 God: God of Light"

[Possessions]: "Divine Artifact: Light God's Plume"

[Name]: Kuhouin Arisa

[Level]: 50

[Abilities]: "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Level-2 God: God of Earth"

[Possessions]: "Divine Artifact: Guardian of the Earth"

[Name]: Shinomiya Ayase

[Level]: 50

[Abilities]: "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Level-2 God: God of Speed"

[Possessions]: "Divine Artifact: Divine Speed"

[Name]: Tsugumi

[Level]: 50

[Abilities]: "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Level-2 God: God of Data"

[Possessions]: "Divine Artifact: Eye of Data"

The other four each received Level-50, Level-2 God seats. Regaining their energy, the newly anointed gods rejoiced.

"Big Sis Ayase, I feel like I might be invincible now!"

Tsugumi exclaimed gleefully at her new power, perhaps a bit puffed up. But she quickly panicked when Rei Ao aimed a weapon at her with a mischievous grin:

"Invincible, you say? How about we test that?"

"Wah! W-wait, I…!!!"

…

Elsewhere…

Hazy water ran in the sink of a bathroom. A blonde girl gazed at her reflection in the mirror, eyes red and puffy from weeping. Mascara had smeared, leaving two dark streaks on her cheeks. Her once-delicate makeup was now a mess.

Toyohama Nodoka pressed trembling fingers to wipe the stains away, but they refused to go. Rather like a goal she could never reach, no matter how she tried.

Her mind still echoed with scenes from the audition she'd just lost:

"Miss Toyohama, your performance was compelling, but it doesn't align with our vision for this role…"

The producer's delicate phrasing stung her ears. Nodoka understood what it meant: she had failed this audition.

Leaving the room behind, she felt her heart sink to the floor in sync with that soft click of the door. The corridor outside was empty; only her footsteps echoed.

Another failure. She clenched the script in her hand so hard her knuckles went white. Worse yet, she knew the producer had a "better candidate" in mind—her cousin, Sakurajima Mai. Even though Mai quit show business two years ago, the industry hadn't forgotten that dazzling teen actress.

Exiting the building, the summer sun's glare stung her eyes. Nodoka pulled out her phone, hesitated a moment, then sent her mother a short message:

"Didn't pass the audition."

Those five words felt like they drained all her courage. She could imagine her mother's reaction—disappointment, anger, a cold "I knew it." The phone vibrated almost instantly. Her mother's name glowed on the display.

Nodoka inhaled, bracing herself, and answered:

"How come? What went wrong this time?"

Her mother's voice cut sharp as a knife. Nodoka wanted to hold the phone away.

"They said I wasn't…quite right for the role…"

"'Not suitable'?"

Her mother gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Mai was never 'unsuitable' for any part. At sixteen, she could handle anything. Do you realize how much I've spent on your acting coaches?"

Hearing Sakurajima Mai's name, Nodoka bit her lip until she tasted blood.

"…I did my best, Mom."

Her voice trembled. She had done her utmost, never slacking in training, but it always ended the same.

"Come straight home. We need to talk."

The call ended abruptly, leaving only the drone of the disconnected line.

"…"

Nodoka felt empty. She knew precisely what awaited her at home: her mother's usual tirade, scolding her for failing again. She dreaded how it would carve more wounds into her spirit.

Nodoka stared at her reflection in the train window: golden hair, features resembling Sakurajima Mai, but missing that innate brilliance Mai possessed. Although not biological sisters, they looked alike. But Nodoka knew it was only superficial. Mai was a genuine acting prodigy—no matter the role, she excelled. Meanwhile, she felt like she could never catch her "big sister's" shadow.

….

She opened the door, greeted by a strong coffee aroma. Her mother sat on the living room couch, an open album in front of her. Nodoka recognized it as the scrapbook of Mai's press clippings. Her mother had diligently compiled every article and photo of Mai over the years.

Her mother glanced at Nodoka, her smeared makeup making her frown.

"Go wash your face, unless you want someone to see you all sloppy like that."

A stab of pain lanced through Nodoka's heart. She pressed her lips tight.

"…Okay."

She rushed to the bathroom, rinsing away the blotched makeup and revealing the obvious signs she'd cried. The red puffiness wouldn't go away so easily.

…

Nodoka perched nervously on the sofa's edge, fingers twisting together. On the coffee table lay footage of her last audition. A label read "Comparative Reference: Mai's Performance at 16." Her mother's cold stare weighed on her. After a few beats of that chilling silence, her mother finally broke it:

"Do you know why this audition was so crucial for you?"

Her mother's gaze was razor-sharp.

"B…Because it's an important role?"

Nodoka could only guess.

"No. Because it's the same type of role that catapulted Mai to stardom!"

Her mother raised her voice:

"If you got this part, people would start comparing you two as equals, instead of always thinking of you as the cousin who's not as good as Mai!"

Nodoka felt a sharp pain in her chest. She knew her mother's motive: shaping her into someone who could match—no, surpass—Sakurajima Mai, turning her into "Mai."

~~~

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