What do you think about living plastic model?

Well, not like that.

We are made of plastic, mainly polystyrene, with a side dash of ABS to ensure soft movement. We are mass produced, molded into a runner to be cut off and assembled. We are molded in various color, sold and priced accordingly to the size and complexity of final product.

Our very concept and design are taken from this military science fiction anime franchise called Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as numerous sequel and Alternate Universe Spinoff.

The most attention always been given the humanoid vehicle called "Mobile Suit"

"WAKE UP, ZAKU AMAZING!"

Early in the 21st century, a new breakthrough in technology gave us a new life, literally. Plavsky particle, this specific particle will form a holographic lattice given enough stimuli. Manipulated, Plavsky particle will also, for yet unexplainable reason, move us plastic model as if we're actual machines.

And even fight each other.

From that point onward, a new trend born and grew phenomenally.

Gundam Plastic Model Battle –usually simplified to Gunpla Battle, everyone put their plastic model at stake, and control it using plavsky-made virtual cockpit console.

Millions of gunpla enthusiasts… each have their own story.

This is just one of such story.


Gundam Build Fighters

-Colorful Rhapsody-

Disclaimer:

Bandai-Sunrise own Gundam

I buy mine from them


Chapter 9: Voice of the Distant Stars


"[I apologize for the intrusion, please forgive him.]" Yuuki deeply apologized to Tamaki and Airi via the communication console.

"It's okay, I owe Sei-kun something myself." Tamaki said confidently, "Now, where are we again?"

Tatsuya combed his hair back with such elegance, only for him to unleash his inner devil. His eyes set ablaze, like those of a beast, his hair accentuate the angles of his expression, long lost the gentlemanly soft spoken Yuuki Tatsuya. Glistening sweat ran down his cheek, reflected the hard light of the plavsky interface.

What's left is Yuuki Tatsuya, the burning crimson comet.

"[IT'S TIME FOR GUNPLA BATTLE.]"

In the blink of an eye, Nu Brave already one step in front of Unicorn, ready to cleave the horned gunpla in two. Tatsuya swung the control orb with no time wasted. Tamaki jerked his control, took a step backward to avoid the brunt of impact.

"Oh damn!" Tamaki cursed as his beam saber thrown away, because of timing failure on his parry, "We're dead."

Steel blade slipped underneath Unicorn's arm, Akatsuki tried to take advantage of the situation, but Nu Brave slipped under the blade and fired its head vulcans, destroyed the visor and caused Airi to temporarily feel disoriented with lack of vision.

Within the shade of the broken cover, a single red eye gleamed.

Nu brave's gatling gun roared again, but Unicorn yanked Akatsuki aside and neither machine unharmed.

"Meguru-san?"

"Thank God it was temporary static."

Airi ejected another blade from her Akatsuki's weapon rack for Tamaki to use, which he gladly accepted. Whatever the power difference between Nu and two smaller gundams, they will face with heavier melee weapon. Rocket thruster flared to maximum level, Unicorn and Akatsuki made a synchronized attack move to hit Nu Gundam at the same time. Loud clangs and frenzied sparks marked the attack hit the target full force, second, third, Nu Brave was overwhelmed.

"Just because you're getting serious, don't think we'll going to surrender, Yuuki-san." Airi declared.

"[UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT!]" Tatsuya grinned, rotated his shield again to fire a hidden gunpla-scale shotgun at point blank range. While most of the attack missed its intended target, it breaks the synchronicity between the two gunpla.

"Just how many weapon he store in that thing?" Tamaki cursed.

"Huh, this little brat actually good at running." Kojima chided as he had to evade yet another chunk of concrete and rebar, his sensor filled with nothing but junk, unable to get radar lock on Sei's gunpla.

Sei smiled; his plan of baiting Neue Ziel into the densest part of the debris cloud work. Thanks to China's assistance, he's given a lot more leeway and able to concentrate with what's in front of him.

"Iori-kun, Mega-particle something, at 70… uhh… top left!"

Sei flipped the Zaku and raised its shoulder to dampen the impact of the cannon. Its armor ripped and vaporized to pieces, the unharmed internal parts exposed for everyone to see.

"Large debris, 10 seconds to impact!" China had a lot of difficulty reading them without knowing the context. "3, 2, 1…"

Sei pushed the thruster, dodged a colony piece the size of a city block with ease last second before impact. "Thank you, Class rep."

"Zaku Amazing's thrust to weight ratio is only marginally inferior to ours." Tachibana informed, finally understood why Sei played the chicken here, "And the fact that he had support operator with him helped him immensely when it comes to situation awareness, debris posses slightly lesser danger to him than to us, Iori-kun lured us on purpose."

"Not to mention coming here would prevent us from delivering proper fire support." Kojima nodded, Sei tanked yet another beam unharmed, "Damn that gunpla is tough, and the brat knew how to block properly."

Looked at the screen, the tall and lanky boy smirked ominously.

"If he can lure us, let's lure him as well."

The overweight builder took a while to process that information, "WOAH! WAIT!"

"Keep him occupied!"

"You asshole!"

Tachibana engaged Sei in close combat, and despite Zaku Amazing's greater power, Murasame managed to push it to the corner.

"Iori-kun, there are cloud of debris to the left, be careful." China informed him.

"Ah, might be able to use that…" Sei muttered, immediately changed his bearing toward the cloud China mentioned. Murasame easily able to catch up with its superior speed, even in MS mode.

"[Your defensive technique is amazing, Sei-kun. But you shouldn't be hesitant going on the offensive as well.]" Tachibana warn the younger boy as he hacked away Zaku's heat cleaver, and raised his beam rifle to finish the job.

Rains of meteor the size of mobile suit torso smashed Tachibana's unit. Murasame crushed under great pressure, but the much sturdier Zaku came out barely damaged, not to mention China's early warning saved Sei out of trouble. This caused Tachibana to yell in anguish.

"Damn it, I should just be Kyoji's operator!"

"I… I won!" Sei smiled, even though it's a fluke, it's still his first victory in his long history of gunpla battle. Regardless, he can't be satisfied with just that, he need to help his senpai."A-Anyway, class-rep, let's go and help everyone!"

"H-hai!" the girl awkwardly confirmed. She glad her presence helped,

Took a sharp turn, Neue Ziel overloaded it's booster to return into fray, passed over SUMO and Nobel as they wreck whatever left of the colony with their melee fight.

"JUST GO DIE ALREADY!" Alice balked, "TAKE THIS!"

Gonda retorted, "NOT SO FAST LITTLE LADY, EAT THAT!"

As he unloaded his arsenal, Kojima warned, "IMAI GET OUT"

Realized what he meant, Alice let the momentum from SUMO's attack smashed her gunpla away to assist with evasion.

"Heh." Gonda charged his wrist cannon once again, completely oblivious to the feint, wanting to end the fight here and now-

Only for SUMO to be engulfed with explosion, courtesy of Neue Ziel's missiles.

"Oh crap!" Sei caught the bait and chased Neue Ziel toward the other section, closer to the direction of the brawl between Nu Brave, unicorn and Akatsuki.

Sensing the changes in the enemy's behavior, China warned. "Iori-kun, be careful!"

SUMO managed to survive at the last second thanks to convenient colony wall plates nearby, which he used as a cover. Gonda cursed his own arrogance and yelled, "DAMN IT! DON'T FALL FOR THAT, IORI!"

Instantly reacted to Sei's scream, Yuuki ejected the longsword, revealed that it was mounted on a railgun all along.

And he fired, right on Neue Ziel's tail booster. The Mobile armor shook hard, its engine burned brightly due to overheating.

Zaku Amazing regained stability and fired it's launchers as well, saturated Neue Ziel with explosion. Not forgetting his two opponents, Yuuki Tatsuya once again engaged Tamaki and Airi.

"Class rep!"

"I'm okay, Azuma. Those missiles barely scratched our armor, but slowly wrecking my internal frame." Kojima replied, "The tail booster was busted though; it was a critical hit on a lucky spot, thrust power reduced by 30%!"

"What a godlike marksmanship!" Tamaki spat, "But more than that, what kind of monster is he, capable of reacting at such speed to changes in combat condition."

"It was us who underestimated him all along, Azuma-kun." Airi calmly said "Alice; how's your condition?"

"[This gorilla is stubborn, NGGGHHH.]"

"[DON'T CALL ME GORILLA!]"

"Okay that wasn't good at all" Airi sheepishly noted, "So what about it."

Tamaki smirked, "It's just two of us obviously."

"CHESTOOOH!"

Unicorn and Akatsuki lunged once again and deliver their synchronized overhead strike, this time, it works. The right elbow of Nu exploded into pieces despite not receiving any direct hit. Its forearm hung lifelessly, its fingers twitch before stopped completely.

It was the strain from combined attack done by two gunpla at once. The joint was completely wrecked.

"CHE." Yuuki chided, realizing that Nu Brave won't likely to last much longer. He mumbled, no, prayed mentally that this is not the end yet "I'm sorry… Nu Brave, please get a hold yourself."

"…in the end, that gunpla was too old and outdated." Ral mumbled as he intently analyzed the match down to every second, "Had Tatsuya-kun use Zaku Amazing from the start, surely Kanbara high school will face humiliating defeat."

"RAGE ON!"

Nu Brave slipped between the two gunpla and sacrificed its now useless arm, using it like a whip. Beam saber projected from the shield ripped through Akatsuki's waist pack like knife through hot butter, hitting just the perfect spot to destroy it in one hit kill.

The explosion threw Akatsuki out of control, leaving unicorn exposed to attack

"RAGE ON!"

Before Tamaki can react, Unicorn's left arm was blown by point blank detonation of the retractable shotgun, along with still intact shield.

"RAGE ON!"

The Shotgun now aimed right on Unicorn's chest, Tamaki braced for his demise-

Until a single beam took out the Shotgun with unnerving accuracy.

"[AZUMA-KUN!]"

Just one, one remote weapon float harmlessly after expending its fuel and energy. Airi's voice echoed on the com link, "[NOW OR NEVER!]"

Azuma flipped the bazooka which always been there on Unicorn's back, annihilated Nu Gundam's head without trace from the sheer amount of force inflicted. Yuuki's trance destroyed at that very moment…

But he regained it just as instant "GUNPLAAAA!"

"SHIT!"

Nu Gundam ripped the beam saber out of Unicorn's back socket, cut the other arm without a single doubt. Still have yet to recover from the shock, Unicorn was put on the receiving end of the infamous red comet kick, smashed into the floating concrete island.

No matter what happened… Crimson Comet always burn bright in the sky.

The moment Nobel Gundam delivered a killing blow to the SUMO, the moment it was taken out. Alice's little moment of glory once again stolen by vastly superior pilot, much to her shock.

"How… its head had been taken out… wasn't it?" Alice dropped on her knees in disbelief.

"It's either backup camera or…" Tachibana muttered, Neue Ziel receive yet another barrage of railgun shell "Psycommu system?!"

Monta Gonda looked at the captain with mixed feelings, on the other hand, it's crystal clear that his defeat is inevitable; on the other hand, he FLAT OUT carried this battle on his own.

For the sake of Iori Sei…

And he managed to do it, Sei's heart was moved. No matter how inferior he is as a pilot, Sei Iori still stood valiantly. No matter how many times Zaku Amazing taken out, it managed to come back with retaliation. Sei fired the anti-armor rifle again and again, despite most of them failed to hit the target.

"This is… Senpai's wish…" he muttered.

Railgun barrage stopped as the gun barrel began to melt from the strain it received and rendered unusable. But unicorn's beam saber still active and Akatsuki still stood despite the major damage on its limbs.

They clashed for the final time, putting everything on the stake. Beam saber clashed, armor broken down to pieces, limbs got cut.

And Akatsuki fell; at last, its head flew away aimlessly.

"Just a little bit more… NU BRAVEEE!"

Even with limited visual, even if he had to rely on numerical data and abstract display to compensate… Yuuki Tatsuya always been the same crimson comet as he is, coming out triumphantly.

It didn't last long, for Nu's left arm also gave up, the shoulder connector completely shatter as he tried to move it.

And to Yuuki's surprise, Unicorn survived the impact as well.

"I guess both of us got disarmed for good…" Tamaki manically laughed on his own joke before continue "What then?"

"Good pun." Tatsuya chuckled, "But are you going to back down?"

"That's my question, Yuuki-san."

While half wrecked Neue Ziel desperately fighting moderately damaged Zaku Amazing in the background, both white gunpla caught in a tense standoff. Both pilot finally decided their final decision and shout almost synchronously.

"NOT A CHANCE!"

Using the last drop of plavsky in their engine, they deliver a symmetrical kick against each other.

But as expected, Nu's legs weren't in much better condition than its arm. Unicorn's feet tore through the Nu's leg and proceed to thrash the main body as well.

"Now, what are you going to do to finish me?" Yuuki wondered.

Unicorn arched its back.

"A headbutt?" Ral's eyes widened in anticipation "NO IT'S-"

Unicorn's horn slowly but surely grind through the battered chest armor of the Nu Brave, made all the way to the cockpit before snap from the sheer force put on it.

"That horn isn't just for show huh…." Yuuki smiled, just a second before Nu Brave consumed in spherical nuclear fire from reactor failure. Unicorn, barely operable after being beaten to hell and back, was thrown by the brief shock.

Seconds later, Unicorn gave up and twitched, the whole cockpit console turned red, but it's still operating.

The spectator was left speechless…

It was unbelievable.

His fans wanted to forget it.

They want to wake up from such nightmare.

But no…

It was real.

"In the battlefield, no one is truly invincible." Ral released a long sigh of relief, "Sei-kun will have to decide the fate of this battlefield."

At last, Sei fell to enemy's grasp. Zaku Amazing had been caught by Neue Ziel, completely on its mercy.

"That was a long case… and I'm in critical condition, just finish it quickly."

Losing the entire complement of sub arms, the only weapon left to finish the poor gunpla is chest mounted mega particle cannon. With the amount of damage Zaku Amazing had received for the entire fight, it won't survive point blank fire.

That is, the reactor also not in a good shape and it's only a matter of time until Sei's defeat.

"I'm sorry… Yuuki senpai, Ral-san, class rep… I guess I'm a failure after all." Sei bit his lip, slowly losing his resolve bit by bit.

Until a voice called him, "IORI-KUN, DON'T GIVE UP!"

Class rep…

He can still hear the voice, albeit barely. The girl shouted at him with all her might, "I believe in Iori-kun! That's why... that's why, don't give up just yet! I'll be with you until the end, so please..."

That's right…

This fight is not only for his sake…

It's also for everyone who's been supporting him all along.

"WAKE UP, ZAKU AMAZING!"

As if the gunpla emphatically answered, its monoeye reactivated again. Sei pushed the control sphere as hard a he could before pulling it back, yanked it several times to struggle against the tight grip from Mobile Armors' claw.

Zaku Amazing managed to break free of Neue Ziel's grasp

"DAMN IT; JUST FIRE THE CANNON NOW!" Tachibana cried.

Sei got the chance to finally use the heat cleavers; heat blade sliced the head, caused its aim to deviate slightly, vaporizing Zaku's lower legs instead of the torso.

"[Iori-kun, shoot the holes! Shoot the holes!]" China frantically shouted, Sei mentally beat himself not thinking about that. Zaku Amazing raised its revolver and fired its entire cylinder's worth of bullets, right on the crater left from previous railgun impact.

The Mobile Armor left for dead, a nonfatal case of reactor failure caused it to deactivate…

"Hey, you forget about me!" Tamaki yelled.

"HUH WHAT?" Sei was confused, "Azuma-san? What do you mean?"

The older boy laughed, "I'm not going to surrender just so you know, seriously."

Zaku Amazing pulled another revolver, "Uh, I'm sorry, Azuma-san"

As soon as he got a positive confirmation of sensor lock, Sei closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

Unicorn was silenced with a single bullet to its chest.

"[BATTLE END]"

Plavsky wall around the fighters and sole operator wither down, absorbed back into the machine. The participants each have unique emotions shown on their face. Tamaki was solemn, Airi was calm and collected, Alice pouted in disappointment, class rep and Tachibana bitterly sigh, Gonda was hyped, Tatsuya STILL on fire, and China was just confused.

And Sei

He cried.

"Iori-kun?!"

"What the hell are you doing?!" Gonda pulled Sei's uniform and effortlessly lift him with his brute strength, "You're a man, why are you crying like that? Besides you brought victory to our school's team! Cheer up!"

"For someone who knows only defeat." Tatsuya combed his hair down once again, and his gaze became much softer. "Their first victory will be the sweetest…"

"Yuuki-senpai… I… thank you, for giving me chance."

"Make no mistake, Sei-kun… I do this for my own benefits." Tatsuya shook his head, "I want to fight you, the real you, and the gunpla you made for yourself in the world tournament. Also, I have to apologize to you, Imai-san."

The still-shocked female fighters blinked in confusion, "Pardon?"

"I was so absorbed in the fight that I disregard your challenge. I am truly ashamed of myself."

Alice shook her head and smile cheerfully, "Just being in the same battlefield as you is a great honor, Yuuki-sama."

Now she called him with –sama, how embarrassing.

"Besides, if I can't even dodge that blind shot, I didn't deserve to fight you." Ashamedly, Alice scratch he rosy cheek, "But someday, I will grow stronger. When that time comes, please accept my challenge."

"I'm going to wait, Imai-san." Yuuki earnestly nod, if there's one thing that makes him happier than heated battle, its making people fall in love with battle.

"My my, looks like we got another fangirl, and not the lovestruck type." Nanami silently smiled.

~333~

As formal conclusion, Kojima and Yuuki shared another handshake, before the Kanbara Student politely left the battle venue. Despite being opponents, Seihou students cheered them up, as gratitude for giving their all in that fight.

That alone was enough satisfaction for Tamaki. "See you later." He said to Sei as they parted.

Sei looked at his palm, and clenched it.

That's right.

He won't give up just yet.

Build Strike… it was never been made for him. It was made to bring his ideal into reality. That ideal was his father, Iori Takeshi. Sei loved and admired his father, and he want to be like him.

However, after this fight, Sei realized something important.

Sei is not his father; Sei is different from his father, what suit his father doesn't mean it would suit Sei. Determined to start it once more, Sei realize what he wanted to do now.

He will build a gunpla that suit him the best.

Yuuki's gentle hands pulled him back to reality, as Sei looked up, he saw the blessing of the Student Council president's smile.

"Looks like you're changed your mind, so Sei-kun, have you decided what you want to do?"

"Yes." Sei nodded, "I will enter GBWC… with my own gunpla."

"I can hardly wait to see it, the gunpla you made for yourself." Tatsuya waved his hand, as he leave with Reiji and Nanami in tow, "See you later... Sei-kun."

Sei release a deep breath, as his adrenaline began to subsidize, all he can feel is uncertainty. Nevertheless, he won't go back on his words. He will go to GBWC, even if he kicked out after the first match, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Iori-kun..."

Ah... yes, one more person Sei owes to. Sei gazed at her awkwardly and smile, "Anyway, thank you for going with my unreasonable request. I really owe you, Class-rep."

She shrugged and smiled at him, "It's okay, that's what friends are for. Besides, I saw something incredible today."

Friends huh... well, of all his classmates, Kousaka China always been the closest one to him. Sei... wasn't exactly antisocial, no, but he spend any free time he had alone at home, whether tinkering with gunpla or helping with the shop. So the relationship gap between him and his classmates are significant, and he knows that very well.

Sometimes, he felt lonely, even so, he's happy to have a youthful and caring mother with him, and people like Yuuki and Class rep would help him.

It Still, China Kousaka deserve her position as Class Rep, that's for sure.

And it's looks like she's having fun, in her own way. Sei would feel so much more guilty if he dragged her into something she don't like.

...

"So that's the power of world class build-fighter huh?" Tamaki grimaced; he was seriously scared shitless back then.

"Both Yuuki Tatsuya and Nu Brave is top tier opponent, if not for structural problem, it's crystal clear that he will wipe out Azuma and Meguru in five minutes flat." Tachibana punched his palm, envious, "I will surpass his creation soon… mark my words!"

"Keep dreaming son." Amami slap his back, "For now, just concentrate with your studies and local tournament."

"Ah I see…" Kojima nodded sagely, before suffered whiplash as realization hit him like a brick, "Whoa, WHOA what the hell, Sensei?"

"The Principal said it; they want you all to join various tournament as our school representative. You might not be world level yet, but in National level, he said you guys have potential. Besides, wouldn't it be a good way to gt stronger?" the teacher smiled brightly.

"Oi oi oi, didn't you just scold us for not properly thinking about our career advancement today?" Tamaki wailed in disbelief as he grab her shoulder, "Forgive me for saying this but who are you and what are you doing with my teacher."

This rude snappy comments earned a deserved slap to the back of his head, of course.

"The hell are you taking me for? Besides, it's for the sake of school as well." she grumbled, "Not that I like it, but principal Promise me extra bonus if you guys can work well."

Whatever respect Tamaki had for her, it's all crumbled to dust and swiped by the windy sunset. Airi clapped her hands praying, much to Alice and Tachibana's confusion.

"Well, teacher does get compensation for being club adviser and motivate their student. Besides our school reputation still left to be desired." Kojima agreed, "I think Principal wasn't exactly wrong in his approach."

"It's not like Kanbara is short of student." Tamaki gleefully commented, "For what supposed to be private school it's very cheap and accessible, what more could you want?"

"Say the guy who consistently scored high in periodic exam, you dick." Tachibana spat, "Smartass like you should aim higher."

"Fuck off, fatty." Tamaki shove his friend away, despite that, he's smiling. Tachibana mocked fear and hide behind his much taller childhood friend, "Isn't that right, Kyoji?"

"You're the one to talk, Nerd, your grades aren't low either." Kojima grunted.

"OH C'MON, NOT YOU TOO!"

Sometimes Amami Rie wonders why three brilliant student like them enter a poorly-reputed school like Kanbara. Perhaps because they can slack off while retaining relatively high mark? Who knows, Azuma, for example, just choose it because it was closer and cheaper.

Either way, she had responsibility as their Homeroom teacher to keep their achievements.

"Being youthful is fine, but if your grades suffer I'll kick your ass." she cracked her fist.

"Don't be selfish, we're not the one making the team." Tamaki countered, "I'm my grades suffer I'm going to kick Principal's ass."

Jeez, can't argue like that...

"Regardless, I don't want you guys to come out too late. So better get in the car soon." the young teacher point with her thumb.

"I'm not riding that clown car thanks." Tamaki flat out said.

"Azuma-kun, that's uncalled for." Ari called him out, with surprisingly stern voice that doesn't fit her two years too young body, "Was it because of me? If anything my home is close enough that walking is fine."

"Whoo, Senpai is back!" Alice mentally screamed.

"I'm just worried about you and Imai. My home is relative close, so to speak. Meanwhile, Tachibana and Class rep's house will take roundabout way across the town. It would be faster if Sensei go through Meguru dojo and then to their location. Since Imai is a student in your dojo, her home should be relative close as well."

Airi can't help but sigh. "Even now you're always been too considerate. Jeez." then she turned back and face the teacher, "I'm going to walk as well, so please just go straight to Alice's house, Sensei."

"EEEH? But My home is close as well." Alice complained.

"Alice Imai."

Airi and Alice has been in the first name basis for so long that calling out family name has... implications. "Okay, okay. You just want to be lovey dovey with Azuma-senpai right?" the freshman grumbled.

"You couldn't fool me." the teacher puff a stick of cigarette, without igniting it. "Take care, don't take a detour to hotel or something."

"As if."

Besides, the closest hotel and shopping district is even further than that. Even if they wanted to, it would be just a big bother. Not that they wanted to go...

Class rep rummage through his own pocket, "Azuma-"

"One word and I'll kill you."

"Okay." The tall boy retreated back, besides the joke got old.

As the tiny car hummed, it leaves a trail of dust behind it, leaving behind a pair of student behind.

As Airi and Tamaki use different set of uniform, they stood out compared to Seihou despite getting in with the crowd. Nevertheless, they walk side by side, and keep their distance neither close nor far away. Neither of them said a word, and as time passes, the crowd got thinner and finally they struck alone.

And the sky had turned dark.

It was when they spotted a bus stop that Airi began to talk, "Do you remember this place, Azuma-kun."

"Yeah."

He had to recall things that happen a year ago, but it was crystal clear in his mind. Meguru Airi, dressed in simple blouse and cardigan, waved her hand toward him. Her curly hair extend as far as her waist, flowing endlessly as the springtime wind stream upon her petite figure.

This was their meeting spot for their first date.

"I remember that."

"You really have good memories." she chuckled, "You even managed to replicate Meguru-style kendo with ease."

"I won't be able to do that outside gunpla." he humbly said, "Even if if I know the movements, my body wasn't really conditioned for it. Martial arts is not something to take lightly after all."

She shook her head lightly, and smiled at him. It's not the sad and hollow smile she had before talking things with her parents, neither the bashful nor flirty smile she show him back when they're still dating. It was something else, a spirited and encouraging smile that Tachibana and Class Rep Hirai always throw at him. "If it's Azuma-kun, you can do it."

"Please don't praise me too much, it might make me super arrogant."

"As if you're not arrogant already, being flirty with so many girls, even Sensei too." she winked.

"Wat."

Okay this atmosphere begin to feel somewhat uncomfortable, and Tamaki can't get enough reading off her eyes because her big pair of glasses shimmering under the street lights. But still, his closest guess would be it's her mischievous side... which even as girlfriend was a year ago, rarely ever shown.

Now that she looks like unruly nerd, she just look downright terrifying.

"And you still take everything people say seriously." Airi step back a little, "But... Azuma-kun now can show a lot of expression."

Really?

Well, it would be thanks to Tachibana and Kojima, who helped him relearn the feelings of attachment. With them, Tamaki feels like his blood boils all the time. But it's not always been bad.

It's the same feeling, the same feeling he had with his best friend, Aoi. These feelings that got buried along with his lifeless body, his two classmate managed to unearth.

It was painful to remember, but at the same time, it was sweet and comforting.

"Tachibana and Class Rep said the same thing." he smirked.

"Compared to you, I'm ashamed of myself."

"It's alright." he said assuredly, "If a loser like me can change, Meguru-san certainly can do it as well."

As she slowly pulled his sleeve, her hand shivered. "Do you really think so?"

"Just like I have Tachibana and Class Rep, you have Imai with you. I'm sure things would change for the better."

"I see..." Airi snapped open the button of her gunpla casket, and pulls out the pair of heavy blades Akatsuki always use and gently place it on his palm, her tiny, calloused fingers gently touched his own. "If you don't mind, would you like to use them?"

The blades were crafted with such skill that even Tachibana would have problem replicating it. However, at the same time they're solid piece of thermoset with soft polystyrene core, which mean they're much more durable than gunpla sword you can buy in the shop.

"I'll be glad to accept them, but why?"

"In the first place, those blades weren't mean for me. But when we fought Yuuki-san today, I have the feeling that Azuma-kun would find a better use of them." Airi stared at his confused eyes, "That's why, I want Azuma-kun to have them. In the mean time, I will create a blade that would suit me more."

Ah.

Even though it's a second hand item, it carry such precious value for her.

"I'll take care of them." he put them inside his pencil case, so as not to risk damaging it.

"See you later... then." Airi bows and go her way back home.

Somewhere, in the corner of his mind, a voice called him to chase her and-either way, he ignored it. His common sense simply tell him not be stupid, and he walk his way home with a broad smile drawn on his face.

Meanwhile, on the opposite branch of the crossroad, Airi stood looking at the sky. She pulled her slightly shortened hair loose from it's knot and remove her glasses. The springtime winds tickle her ears, like echoing voices of the distant stars...


MOEAGARE GUNPLA!