View source for I Need a Miracle (Hematite)

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2023/11/04
|Location=Media
|Synopsis=Hematite's Silver Crystal video goes viral for no good reason.
|Cast of Characters=38
|Tinyplot=Silver Crystal
}}
'''October 29th, 2023:'''

A video is posted to Clock App without a title.


''Bokeh lights move in the background, slowly drifting, and sparkles shine off of every highlight. In the center of the video is a tall black-haired and blue-eyed boy in a dark grey uniform with shiny black trim.''

''"Hi," he says to the camera, his affect personal, inviting, gently encouraging. "I'm Hematite, and I need a miracle. Won't you help me?"''

''There's a pause, and he lifts a hand, a cloud of dark energy coalescing into a large silvery-looking diamond-shaped gem above it. It glitters much more impressively than anything else in the video. "This is the Phantom Silver Crystal, and I've been looking everywhere for it. If you think you might have found the real thing, please like, comment, and share below!"''

''There's a small smile, and the fake crystal above his hand dissolves into glittery motes.''

''Video ends.''


<hr>


'''October 31st:'''

Someone popular discovers the video and shares and comments on it. After racking up 10k views overnight, the video is downloaded and crossposted to Viewtube and Facespace. On Clock App, it's reached 30k views by the time school lets out.


'''November 1st:'''

By lunchtime, the original video has 90k views and 3k comments. Viewtube's upload has 9k views and Facespace's copy has 10k. 

There are remixes and stitches with several popular influencers and online pundits.


'''November 4th:'''

By now, the original video has two million views, 20k shares and comments and remixes; the Viewtube and Facespace iterations have 400k views between them.

It breaks containment into the real world. Tokyo's local news talk shows have commented on it, marveling at the video editing and wondering why the heck something this silly has already gone this viral. 

Popular late-night news comedians have picked up on it. The most common discussion about it seems to be divided into two sides: those who believe it's just a diamond big enough to be worth enough money to make miracles, and those who believe it doesn't exist at all-- because how can a crystal be metallic?

There is a general call for an expert in folklore or gemology or both.


'''November 5th:'''

Mamoru's ears ring in the thunderous silence of his room while Koji is out. 

He was ''busy'' yesterday, with the culture festival and then Usagi's reign of fun terror. And all this... and he henshined in front of other mahous yesterday--

He stares at the number of views his stupid video has, he looks at how out of control this is getting, he's getting texts from people who know who he is and have his number, and he has absolutely no idea what to do about this. None. Zero.

But honestly, he could never have expected it to go viral like this, not without compulsion, not without help. Maybe it's just that everyone needs a miracle.

He has regrets.


~