What jobs are popular among children? The answer to that apparently shifts dramatically depending on the era. Pilots, police officers… and various other professions. Whatever the case, when a job becomes popular and admired, it means it shines brightly in the eyes of children.
And nowadays, one profession that can’t be left off the list of popular choices is that of Awakeners. Whether or not being an Awakener is technically a “job,” the fact that roles like “mascot” also rank high shows just how much these superhuman figures of the era captivate the public imagination.
Well, becoming an Awakener really does come down to sheer luck, so in the sense that everyone has an equal shot at it, maybe that makes it all the more worthy of admiration. Maybe—but even so, something peculiar appeared in the latest survey and even ranked surprisingly high. That was… the Fox Shrine Maiden.
…
"Well now! In the latest survey, a sudden debut at 7th place—'Fox Shrine Maiden'! Kinjo-san, what do you make of this?"
"It’s undoubtedly the influence of Ms. Kogami Inari. The footage from the battle at Akabane Port went viral online, and I’ve seen it myself—her fighting style is simply stunning. Graceful and overwhelming! People say your job directly ties into your income as an Awakener, but to be this impressive is truly rare..."
"Thank you very much! Now, let’s take a look at the video that started it all!"
…
And so, what plays on TV is the footage from the Akabane Port incident, presumably recorded by someone at the scene with a smartphone. The camera follows Inari as she fights, capturing even the moment she wipes out the enemy with a rain of lightning. Seeing it in video form, it really does make her look unstoppable.
This is actually the first time footage of Inari in battle has aired on television. That’s because most of her battles took place inside dungeons, or like in Fuchuu where everyone was asleep and the cameras were blocked by some mysterious force—so there were no records. But since there were civilians present at Akabane Port, this result was inevitable.
In any case, the footage of Inari fighting so elegantly has a certain magnetism—even those who hadn’t seen her in action before would be drawn in.
…
"Wow, that was incredible! It was like a scene from a movie. Are all Awakeners’ battles like this?"
"Not exactly. Most fights are a lot less flashy. If there's a magic dealer involved, then things can look more intense, but that’s really a matter of firepower. It doesn’t usually turn out quite so dazzling."
"So, you’re saying Ms. Kogami Inari is special?"
"Yes. Her role as the FoxPhone mascot has already been made public, and her job as a ‘Fox Shrine Maiden’ is no secret either. There’s also been a fox boom going around. I’m not at all surprised by the survey results."
…
As the TV broadcast went on like that, Inari just stared at it, frozen with the remote still in hand. She’d only turned the TV on randomly—and now people were going on and on about her.
That reaction, at least, was pretty normal. The way her ears perked straight up and her tail puffed out in shock? Maybe not quite so normal.
“Ehh…? Akabane? But that was a while ago, was it not? Why art they showing it on the television only now…?”
What Inari didn’t realize was that ever since that Akabane Port video went online, her popularity had exploded. The video now airing on TV was first uploaded about a month ago, but with the addition of the recent survey, the spark had caught flame, and her original popularity had burst wide open.
For Awakeners, having some stylish equipment is just part of the job—especially if you’re aiming to be a public mascot. In that sense, Inari was already a standout: a rare gem polished with a full-on traditional Japanese theme. Plus, she had real fox ears and a tail.
And she was a stunningly pretty girl, without a single complaint from anyone. On top of that, she was strong. Her elegant fighting style, coupled with a hero-like record of victories, was enough to make her seem like a true super-powered protector of justice. Honestly, there was no reason not to be popular.
The only reason Inari hadn’t realized any of this was because she mainly only watched baseball or shopping channels on TV. Online, she only used the internet for route navigation and dungeon reservations. She was a low-maintenance Fox Shrine Maiden whose main hobby was picking out furikake (rice seasoning).
Incidentally, Inari’s habit of standing in front of the furikake shelf in convenience stores or supermarkets, humming and pondering, had spread online too—and apparently boosted furikake sales in the process.
And when such a story spreads... it’s no mystery how a manufacturer would respond. Some things never change, no matter the era.
…
“...Hm? Akai? Let me see, hello? ’Tis I.”
“Good morning, Miss Kogami. Is now a good time to talk?”
“Ah—aye. I was just a wee bit surprised to see myself on the television, that’s all.”
“Yes, you’re quite the sensation right now. Actually, I’ve got some news—a collaboration offer has come in from another company.”
“Oh?”
“It’s from a company called Wado Foods. They mainly make furikake and similar products.”
…
Indeed… Kogami Inari had just received a collaboration invitation—from a furikake company.