(Disclaimer: I don't own Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru or any characters from it. It's all belongs to the respective owner. I just own the OC)

Sixth Petal: What is a "Hero"?

(Continuing from previous chapter location)

At that evening, the feeling of serenity as the sunset at the beach is never happen at the time. However, it was replaced by the sound of something hard hitting another hard thing as the blow echoed through the sand. It was a quiet time which people rarely passing the place, but if there's a person who do that, they will meet with a scene that might be only found in hot-blooded manga.

"Heh! You're not bad!"

"Same as you!"

After their little "chat", Tatsumi has decide to challenge Karin in one-on-one fight to prove what she said is wrong. It was already few minutes passed since they start their battle as neither of them showing any sign of give up. One might think that Tatsumi is on disadvantage due he's fighting bare-handed while Karin using her two wooden swords to attacks him, but they are terribly wrong. Even by only using his bare fist and his body alone, he's able to keep up with trained techniques of Karin's swordsmanship. The reason isn't because he's particularly stronger than her due he is a boy while Karin is a girl, but because he knows well about swordsmanship.

As he was once a swordsman himself.

Karin has delivering countless slash toward Tatsumi, which he effectively evade and parry it with the back of his hands while not making an unnecessary movement. Karin has to admit that he's pretty good against an armed opponent like her and she can see a trace that he's accustomated to fighting against sword-user. However, she had been trained since she was young and developed into a perfect Hero so she won't be lose to someone that just "little" better than her.

In other hands, while evading and parrying her attacks, Tatsumi has slowly able to read the style she use to fight with her swords. It's fast, effective and far more advance than normal sword art he had ever seen before. Not to mention that she use two swords at the same time, which is a very high level technique as he knows and require high level of skills to effectively using it without making any mistake. It's already a long time since he's facing a skilled opponent like her and it tickling his sense of battle that only been sharpened again after he becomes a Hero with the girls.

When they're come in stalemate position which neither of them is taking advantage of other, it will soon come to climax. As Karin unconsciously lost her patient and decide to go a bit aggressive, Tatsumi knows that it is his time. As Karin thrust one of her sword at him, he paper-thinned evade the attack as his hand goes forward and right beside the hand Karin use to hold the sword. With a small back-hand quick slap, he force her to lose her grip to the sword and using that chance to push her hand from below to make her thrown the sword into air. When Karin is still shocked by his surprisingly cunning technique, Tatsumi reach the wooden sword using his other hand while it still on air before turning around and do fast slash toward her. Karin got no choice to block the incoming strike with her other sword, but it isn't strong enough to hold the blow and thus blown the sword away from her hand before she feel to ground, butt first. When she look up, Tatsumi is already put his sword near her head as if telling her that she lose.

"This is my win," he proclaimed with his sweat dripping from his face.

"A-alright! You win this round!" Karin said as Tatsumi withdraw the sword from the side of her head, "Indeed, you're very good and I admit that you're very ready to fulfill the duty of a Hero, however!" she pointed her finger at him, "That doesn't mean they're same! I'm here to fix that so they would be a proper Hero!"

"Hah… stubborn girl…" Tatsumi said in sigh.

"What did you said!?" Karin said as she's a bit irked by his statement.

"Then, let me ask you," he continuing, "What's a "Hero" to you?"

"A "Hero" to me? They're people who has been chosen by Shinju-sama to fulfill a sacred duty that will determine the fate of the world."

"That's all?"

"W-well, they are also need a proper attitude and unquestionable will to be able to do their duty."

"I see," Tatsumi said before he stabbed the sword on his hand on the sand, "Then, we have a very definition of a "Hero" then."

"Huh? Then how about you?" she asked, "What's a "Hero" to you?"

"A Hero can be anyone," he answered immediately, "A Hero is not determined by their "duty" but by their "action". The Hero Club isn't exist just for gather the heroes, it exist for the sake of people. What we do until now isn't useless and we do that with such of responsibility… well, not all of it but what is more important about it is to enjoy it too."

"Enjoy? What do you mean by enjoy!? Our sacred duty isn't a plaything—"

"And neither our job as Hero Club member too!" Tatsumi cut off. He knows that Karin might be a stubborn girl but to think she's so uptight with this "Hero's duty" stuff make him lose his interest and decide to walks away.

"H-hey! What did you think are you going!?" Karin asked.

"I'm done with you. You just do whatever you want to do while we're do whatever we want to do, that's all," he answered while looking back, "And remember Karin, even as sacred it might be, it won't be enough to cost our normal life," before he turn around and walk away from there but look back once again, "And also, try to be less stiff… and eat other thing than dried sardines! Your mouth reeks of that!"

"Hey! Don't talk bad about dried sardines! They're highly nutritious!" Karin shout back, which only getting his waving hands as an answer, "I swear… He's far more problematic than those girls…"

(Opening Song: Hoshi to Hana by Sanshu Junior High Hero Club member)

Sakaraba sā
The scene showing a golden tree slowly zoom in before the screen cracking and shattering into burst of shattered glass and flowers blowing, revealing the title "CODE-Rider SIN: The Code of Flowers and Heroes".

Shizukeki mori no naka ima mezameta hana-tachi yo
The scene change, showing Yuna running with background of blooming sakura flowers at left side, approached Togo on the right side with blooming Japanese morning glory flowers at background who tried to reach her from her wheelchair, before their Mankai gauge showed as the background flowers withered. Then, it showing Tatsumi with white tree as background looking forward before he turn around and walk away, as the background cracked into tree-like lines with seven leaves-like blue flame that indicate a gauge.

Kono yo ni nani wo omoi nani wo kanjiteru

The scene change, showing Fu with blooming potentilla flowers as background turning and looking forward to the right side, before the Mankai gauge showed and the flowers withered. Then, it showing Itsuki with blooming solomon's seal flowers and like Fu, slowly turn around as she look forward but to the left side before the Mankai gauge showed and the flowers withered.

Ah shinjitsu hodo hito wo miryō suru mono wa nai kedo

Thescene change, showing the sideways of bridge where several Sanshu's students, including Yua who helping pushing Togo's wheelchair with smile at their face as they're talking about something. Then, the place change to rooftop of Sanshu's school rooftop where Itsuki and Fu are there. Itsuki pointing at something with excitement before Fu jump and hug her, before they're laughing together. Next, the place change again into below of tree on the school, where Tatsumi enjoying his spicy yakisoba as he lean his back to the tree, and then he happen to saw the sister on the rooftop smiling and laughing, before he smile at it but then look somewhere as wind blowing the leaves around.

Ah shinjitsu hodo hito ni zankoku na mono mo nai no darou

The scene change, showing everyone are inside the Hero Club room as Fu explaining something, but then forestize warning appears on their phone and the world engulfed by colorful light. It then showing inside of Jukai, where everyone facing the screen while standing on each roots, backing Shinju-sama in background as mean to protect it. After that, Yuna represent everyone there activate the Hero app and press the button at the screen phone, before storm of flowers engulf the screen.

Saki hokore (saki hokore) omoi no mama ni

The scene quickly change, showing everyone's partial transformation scene before they're posing at their own screen.

Kono shunkan (kono shunkan) subete wo kakete

The scene change, first showing Yuna charging her fist with her Fairy power before punching one of Stardust that approach her. Second is Togo who prone and taking aim before shooting at group of Stardust Vertex.

Mugen no hoshi sura mo kasumu yō ni

Next is Fu who swing her big broadsword and slash the Stardust into two in single swing. After that is Itsuki who send her strings forward and hit several Vertex. Then, it shows Tatsumi using his weapon knuckleduster mode to punch one of Stardust, then change it into blaster mode and shooting several of them, and finally he change it into blade mode and send flying sword slash that cut the entire group of Vertex in front of him.

Yūki kokoro ni afure

The scene change, showing Tatsumi standing on the white void while backing a giant golden tree behind him. He looks forward as he was ready for the next fight, but then he got surprised by a hand tap his shoulder, but not once as five more come afterward as six girl he doesn't know, clad in Hero outfit passing him. He then straight his arm forward as if try to reach those girl but they're already too far. He almost give up before an arm catch his hand and pull him, as he looks toward who was pulling him but his vision obstruct by flaming blue flame.

(Ikanaru) Ikanaru toki mo ikite

For final scenes, it shows SIN inside of void as it looks at every event on a screen in the sky before it raise its hand and flick its finger, blinding the screen into white light. Finally, it shows a broken giant bridge with small light raising on ground and every Hero Club member looking toward the scenery with amaze on their face. Last, it shows everyone inside the clubroom smiling in single image.

(Next day, Sanshu Middle School)

Another day arrive in Sanshu as everyone gathered once again on the clubroom after the class is over. Tatsumi, as member of Hero Club is obviously will come there, but for a reason or two, he really don't want to go there. It is not like he have argument with fellow club members, which is never happen or he feel out of weather at moment. No, the real reason is because one person that was calling them all—

—Miyoshi Karin.

The very girl that he don't want to meet for a time being. After their little "spar" yesterday, he knows that she is very stubborn on her own way, not a bad way but Tatsumi not really able to deal with that kind of stubbornness. He want to slack off for a day, but consider the club leader is his own sister and she will absolutely asking why he doesn't come and if he tell her his reason, he might got scold and the "sparring" time he had with her might be exposed. Not to mentioned that he would sound like he was picking a fight with a new member.

So, when steeling his own feeling and resolution, he goes to the clubroom. As he suspect, he is the last who arrive in the room and when his eyes got contact with Karin's, they are unconsciously try to not look to each other. Of course, their obvious action make the other club member concerned as something must be happen between them.

Regardless to that, Karin still keep her business regarding "fixing" the Heroes' attitude toward their duty, as well as sharing the information that she have with them. One thing that unexpected for them (except Tatsumi) is that Karin seems, or more like Dried Sardines as her unwilling to share it to them, even after Togo asking for trade with her famous botamochi, which Tatsumi called it a "surefire food" for any kind of situation.

"Listen. Vertex's attack might be in order, but they are always come suddenly without announcement," Karin said as she explain the information on the blackboard while everyone sit down and listen to her, while ate Togo's botamochi, "This is surely a strange phenomenon. However, it was predicted that there will be more coming in the next battle."

"Now that you mention it, a month ago there are three of them appears in the same time," Togo said as she remember the previous battle.

"Well, I can handle any kind of situation, but you all must be in caution! You can die anytime if you aren't be careful!" she continue her explanation, "And also, with the more battle experience you got, you can ascend to the next height and become stronger than before," she then pointed at the represented of symbol on Yuna's hand gauntlet, "we call it 'Mankai'."

"I don't know about it," Yuna said.

"It is listed in your app," Togo reminding.

"I see!" she answered which make both Karin and Tatsumi sweat drop, even though the latter already know that Yuna will be like that.

"W-well, you can be stronger when you call 'Mankai' over and over again. That's what Taisha's Hero System is."

"A system that make you stronger by more battle experience you got… why I feels like there's a "but" on there?" Tatsumi though as he thinking about Karin's explanation, "Might as well asking Sonoko-chan later when I meet her again. She might know something about it."

"So, did you already when Mankai before?" Togo asking.

"U-um well… I don't…" Karin said hesitantly.

"Oh, is that so? Then, you are not different than us, at very same height," Fu said smugly.

"M-my battle prowess is greater, you know! Don't you think I am as same as you!" Karin answered with little irk by Fu's comment.

"Then, does that mean we just need to work harder than before? Is that right?" Fu said.

"Oh, morning exercise! Like the Sport Club do!" Yuna said.

"Oh, that's a great idea!" Itsuki agreeing.

"Itsuki, you can't even wake up earlier in the morning," Fu reminder which make Itsuki little down and Yuna lightly laugh about it, "Well, Tatsumi is occasionally wake up earlier as he goes with his routine morning jogging."

"I just do that to keep my body fit," Tatsumi answered, "You know that I was a former member of Kendo Club, right?"

"So that's where his skills come from," Karin though as she learn new information about Tatsumi.

"But, you also not a morning person too, Yuna," Togo reminder as Yuna showing the same downed expression as Itsuki. Karin can't help but dumbfounded by that information and wonder why they are chosen to be Hero of Shinju-sama, except Tatsumi who she looks that he is far more fit in the role than the other.

"You're likely to succeed if you try!" Yuna suddenly spurt out the words.

"Huh, what's that?" Karin asked in wonder.

"That's one of The Hero Club's Five Tenets," Yuna said as she pointed at above of the blackboard, "Don't worry! If we work together, we can do it!"

Karin and the other looks at above of the blackboard, which is a big paper put on there, write down the The Hero Club's Five Tenets on it. Karin who see that can only sighed in defeat as she thinks they have no believe in their course of action and just playing around.

"Um you know, we are like… like helping people!" Fu said over Karin reaction of give up.

"You just thoughts about it, don't you?" Karin said to Fu's obvious right-at-the-moment quote.

"Don't' think much about it. You might go bald," Fu answered as she changing the topic.

"M-my hair is still a lot, you know!" Karin answered with her usual reaction.

"Anyway, let's change the topic of discussion," Fu said before she stand up and call Itsuki to help her taking the paper on the desk before give it to Karin. As she read it, Itsuki explain about their next activity later on the Kid's Festival, which everyone but Karin already know it. Everyone also looks at the paper on their hand as they discuss it on the table.

"Then, what exactly the activity we will held here?" Togo asked.

"Um… we will teach how to do an origami, drawing together and many more!" Itsuki answered with enthusiasm.

"It looks exciting!" Yuuna added.

"So, for Karin is…" Fu said as she is thinking, "how about you become the target for mischief children?"

"W-wait, what!? I'm in too!?" Karin said with some protest on her tone.

"You're already register yourself as the club member yesterday, remember?" Fu said as she showing her club register paper in front of her.

"Well, technically…" Karin said as she remember it.

"And so, as long you're here then I asked you to follow our club's principle."

"B-but that's also technically!" Karin said with the same tone, "And please don't just make a schedule without asking me first!"

"Did Karin-chan have any plan this Sunday?" Yuna asked.

"Well, I don't—"

"Then just join us! There also have a party for us too! It will be fun!"

"B-but why I must deal with children too!?"

"You don't?" Yuna asked while showing a troubled expression. Karin then become little panic to say something about it before she finally give up over it.

"F-fine! Sunday, is it? It's also coincidence that I don't have any plan at that day."

"I'm glad!" Yuna said with gladness.

"Alright, everything is already decided!" Fu said as everyone happily discuss what should they do at the day. Karin can't help but to comment how carefree they are even though they have Hero's Duty at the hand too.

"That's what I tried to say to you," Karin little jolted out when Tatsumi suddenly already beside her, "We have an important responsibility but that doesn't mean we must use all of our time just to prepare for only that too. We're basically functioning as part of society in here too."

"And yet, they're still too carefree for my taste," Karin said to him.

""Old habit die hard" they say," Tatsumi quoted before taking his bag, "Anyway, Fu, I'll go back earlier because I have some plan after this."

"Okay, but please go home before dinner," Fu answered.

"I'm not child anymore, you know?" Tatsumi said with an annoyed face, "Well, see you tomorrow," Tatsumi say his goodbye before leave the clubroom and heading to his next destination before taking out his phone. Karin feels something strange from his act so she decide to follow him while excuse herself from the room.

About a minute later, Karin found him standing near the wall as he seems calling someone from his phone. She found it very suspicious and as her secret mission to watch him over due his "unnaturalness" from what people from Taisha said. She felt bad for doing this but she have no choice than eavesdropped him.

"I hope she answer it. She just put her own number on my phone before I realize it," Tatsumi said as he's still waiting for the call. Karin got more interested as she lean closer, "Ah, it connected. How are you, Sonoko-chan?"

"Sonoko? Did he means that Sonoko? The previous Hero from Nogi family!?" Karin though in surprise when she make her own assumption, "How did he know her? Wait, I felt like those priest of Taisha once said to me that there's an unintended meeting. Is that about it?"

"Ah, sorry if I disturb yours sleeping time," Tatsumi continue with his conversation, "Hah? You sleep so much that make you bored? How in the world there's a person who's bored from sleeping? Huh? You don't and just want to make some joke? Come on! I'm here for serious talk, you know?"

"Serious talk? What does that mean?" Karin though as she heard more.

"I see… you already predict that I'll asked it once Karin get here," Tatsumi said which make Karin little surprised when her name being mentioned, "Well… to tell the truth… when she can be little annoying as she put too much effort on her duty,"

"You think I'm annoying!?" Karin though as she bit irked by that statement.

"But she's a nice girl. I don't know why but I felt something missing in here. I mean… for girl on her age to be too much focus in this responsibility is irked me… Huh!? Okay, stop! Did you try to tease me or something? Ugh… fine! You win this time!"

"It seems their conversation almost over," Karin though as she lean more to see him, but when he suddenly turn around, she hide herself as she almost feel their eyes meat each other.

"Alright, so tomorrow, is it? I can use my power to going there by myself? Really? Wait, won't that will make those Taisha guys alerted as something is wrong? No? Yeah, you're right. They're too uptight with their duty that I almost think they're a cyborg or something."

"Ugh… talking so casually about Taisha, this guy…" Karin though as she mentally sigh over his antic.

"Okay, see you tomorrow," Tatsumi said as he end the call before continue to walk, until he once again looks at where Karin is. He's staring on there for a while when Karin do her best to erase her presence, "Maybe just my imagination," then he goes back to walking toward his bike before leaving the school. As he goes away, Karin go out from her hiding place with a sigh.

"I though I'll got caught," Karin said before looks to horizon, "I should goes back too, but I need to tell them or they won't leave me alone with it."

(Next day, Sonoko's Hospital Room)

"To think that I can use this outside of Jukai," Tatsumi said he leap from one place to another toward certain direction in his Hero outfit, "Well, considering my outfit, people might questioning my appearance if they see me. Such a luck that I fast enough for people to be see me."

After quite amount of jumping and leaping, Tatsumi finally arrive on the previous location where he got called and meet Sonoko. Upon a closer look from air, he can saw several people wearing Taisha's uniform standing on the gate as if waiting to greet him.

"Great… they're here too," Tatsumi said in annoyed tone, "When I though Sonoko might do something about them, but it seems my visit is really concerning things for them. Well… let's just go with flow right now," he then jump for the last time before slowly landed in front of the gate that leading toward Sonoko's place. On his appearance, the Taisha people bow down as they greet him.

"Greeting, Tatsumi-sama," one of them say, which sound like an old man, "We have been informed that you're intended to meet with Sonoko-sama. Is there something important that you need to meet her?"

"Yes and no," Tatsumi answered, "Other than small chat as I promised to Sonoko-chan, I also want to talk to her about something."

"If you don't mind, can you tell us what this "something" you want to discuss with her?" he asked, "We might be able to give you some answer rather than asking directly to Sonoko-sama."

"Is it just me or they seems tried to make me don't meet with Sonoko-chan?" Tatsumi though. Before he can answer that, a familiar girl's voice can be heard from the place on the other side.

"It is okay, he can talk with me," Sonoko said from her bed, which surprisingly audible from where Tatsumi stand to, "I'm the one who invite him so it will be rude if I can't speak to him by myself," and almost as the same time she end her words, Tatsumi can actually felt a strong pressure from where she is. It is as if she indirectly said "Don't interfere" toward those Taisha's people, especially this old man in front of him.

"…I understand, Sonoko-sama," he said in give up and step aside from the road, "Sonoko-sama has been waiting for you. You're free to go now."

"Thank you," Tatsumi said before he walks toward the stair that leads to Sonoko's so called "room" and riding upstair. Once he arrive on the place, he is greeted by Sonoko, who was waving her only moving arm and smile toward him.

"Ah! Tatsumi-san! Welcome~!" Sonoko said as she greet him, "Fufu~ To think we can meet each other again after such a long time."

"It's not even a month," Tatsumi reminded.

"But for me it's like eternity!" Sonoko answered back, "Even though I just put my number in your phone, at least you can call me once or twice everyday~"

"What are you, a possessive girlfriend?" Tatsumi instant reply, which actually make her giggling, "Hah… for someone in your condition, you're far more cheerful."

"Well… I must or I won't be able to keep my sanity intact," Sonoko said, which Tatsumi feels like there's something hidden on that words, "Anyway, come here! You must be exhausted after going all way to here."

"Not really," Tatsumi said regardless as he walks toward Sonoko and sit near her like he do before, "Should I take your hand again?"

"Well… you can, but when I thought about it…" she seems uneasy, "Is it normal for a girl to be embarrassed for holding hand with a boy, right?" Tatsumi, with closer inspection can see her being embarrassed from saying that fact.

"It is normal," Tatsumi said, which he also a bit embarrassed regardless his experience of holding girl's hand (Hero Club member except Karin), "But it is not if you really want to."

"Really? Okay then," she answered as she raise her hand and Tatsumi hold it. There's a little jolt when their hand make a contact, but it immediately gone short while, "It is… warm… and rough too. Did you go work out or something?"

"Well, I was once in Kendo… wait, why are you asking it now? Didn't you can easily asked those Taisha people my personal info or something?"

"I don't," she answered, "It's better to heard it from the person themselves rather than from someone else, regardless the truth or not. And…"

"And…?"

"Where's the fun to try to figure out by myself if I had already know about it?" she said, which Tatsumi give her a blank stare, "Eh~~ I mean like those detective story where the detective can figure out people's information by simply asking some normal question like that! A-and also, if I know before I asked, I might sound like a stalker."

"If the stalker is cute girl like you, I don't mind," Tatsumi immediate respond, which gain a big reaction from Sonoko as her grip suddenly become strong and her eyes is swirl around as her face become red, "W-wait! I don't mean to say it like that! I just… twist my tongue?" then they become quiet for a few second before they laugh together.

"You got me~!" Sonoko said with happy tone, "To think you put my guard off like that. As I expect from a Hero~!"

"You're Hero yourself, remember?" Tatsumi retort, which again they laughing but only a little, "Well, anyway, can I ask you something?"

"Hm? You sound quite serious," Sonoko said as she looks at his serious face.

"Sonoko-chan," he talked, "Did you perhaps… know anything about "Mankai"?" then Sonoko suddenly stop smiling, "Hm? What's wrong?"

"Tatsumi-san," she calls him as Tatsumi can feel her grip become tighter as if holding something more than she shows on her face, "When I say this to you, would you promise me to remain calm afterward?"

"Calm? Is this about "Mankai" thing I just asked?" he asked which he can see the answer from her eyes right away, "I see… then, I promise that I will remain calm, no matter what you will say afterward."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You won't try to destroy Taisha after you hear this, right?"

"Wait, why you make it like I was someone with bad temper?" he said tried to joke but Sonoko keeps her stern look at him and not budge a bit, "Alright, I'll stop joking for now. Then, what do you want to say?"

"Can you get your ear closer?" she said which he do as she say, "You see, Mankai is—"

And as Sonoko whisper it through his ear, something is breaking inside of Tatsumi. Something that might affect the future of Hero Club… and the world itself.

(Ending Song put here)

Affection meter:

-Yuuki Yuna: treat him like a very close friend, almost beyond it. [49%]

-Togo Mimori: respect him as her friend, but can be more than that. [49%]

-Inubouzaki Fu: in between genuine love between man and woman and love for her family. [60%]

-Inubouzaki Itsuki: treat and respect him as a big brother figure. [52%]

-Miyoshi Karin: little respect and solely because of her duty. [3%]

-Nogi Sonoko: unknown is she have develop any feeling to him [?%]

Character Bio:

Name: Inubouzaki Tatsumi (previously only stated as "Tatsumi" without family name)

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Grade: 3rd Year Junior High School student

Blood type: AB

Height: 172 cm

Favorite Food: Udon, Special Spicy Yakisoba Bread

Birthday: August 15

Status: Active

Family: Unkown birth parents, Unnamed foster parents (deceased), Inubouzaki Fu (Step Big Sister (due their birthday)), Inubouzaki Itsuki (Step Little Sister).

Background:

Previously a member and a captain candidate of Kendo Club and currently a non-official vice-president of Hero Club. He's an individual that seems very easy-going on doing anything, although he can be serious when the time need him. He's greatly care about his family and his friends to the point of easily tempered if anyone dare to hurt them. Considerably very good at electronic works including computer as well.

However, Fu was once stated that before and in early day of his adoption, he's very quite and rarely interact with people. He tends to close himself from the others and very emotionally toward specific subject.

(Bio update soon)