"I can see our opponents. Kotori, get closer.'
"Okay, Umi-chan!"
The Rising Gundam was currently riding atop the Raider Gundam. With the field being Forest, their opponent was able to hide themselves effectively, leaving them no choice but to search for the enemy.
"I've spotted them!" Honoka said. "Time to use my new weapon!"
The weapon Honoka was referring to was the Funnel backpack installed at the back of the Mu Gundam. It was the latest addition to Honoka's Gunpla-it was Maki's idea of an upgrade. However there was a problem.
"Wait, Honoka!" Umi said. "You haven't mastered them yet-"
Too late. Honoka unleashed all six Funnels at once. However true to Umi's words, they started firing wildly.
Some of the blasts hit the trees.
Another blast hit one of their opponents-A Tieren Ground type. The green blocky suit exploded immediately.
And another hit the wings of the Raider Gundam.
"Honoka-chan!"
"Kotori-chan, sorry!"
The Raider was falling, fast.
Now they were under fire from the other two members of the team- a Tieren Taozi and a Tieren All Region Type.
Honoka flew towards her friends, using the Mu Gundam's shield to block the attacks.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She said repeatedly.
"We will talk later, Honoka," Umi said. She got off the Raider. "Take care of Kotori!"
The Raider transformed into MS Mode. Honoka gripped Kotori's hand, preventing the latter from falling. Both landed.
"Really, Kotori-chan, I'm-"
"There's no need to apologize, Honoka-chan," Kotori said. "It was an accident."
Umi had already damaged the Tieren Taozi. The pink mobile suit now lay in the ground. Now she was fighting the Tieren All Region Type. This Tieren had a Beam Rifle that could double as a melee weapon by projecting a beam blade from it's tip. Umi was using her Naginata to parry the Tieren's blows.
However unseen by Umi was the Tieren Taozi, which was still operative! It raised it's arm, aiming it's gun.
Honoka noticed it just in time though.
"Umi –chan watch out!"
Honoka drew her beam saber and cut off the Tieren Taozi's arm before stabbing it.
Both the Tieren and Umi were distracted, but Umi recovered first, allowing her to finish off the Tieren.
Battle Ended
Winner: Muse
Umi walked over to Honoka.
"We made it. Although I have to thank you for saving me, your actions were still reckless today."
"I know." Honoka had her head down. "I'm really sorry!"
Umi was not used to seeing her cheerful friend down like this. "Just be careful next time, okay?"
Honoka nodded. "Okay."
"Well then, let's go."
Umi and Kotori were already going to the exit. Honoka followed, her Gunpla in hand.
Why… why am I not able to control my only Gunpla well?
"That was quite an impressive first match."
"What?"
Honoka looked around and saw Kira Tsubasa leaning against the wall.
"You- You are Tsubasa-san!"
"Kousaka-san."
"You may call me Honoka."
"Honoka-san. I watched your first match. I have to say, it is quite underwhelming, compared to the performance you gave me that day."
"I… I don't know what happened. I'm able to use the shield and rifle well, but those funnels just confuse me."
"Can I look at that?"
"Yeah… sure." Honoka handed her the Gunpla.
"This. Backpack…you did not make it, am I correct?"
"Wha-how did you know?" Honoka was surprised. True, she had helped with the beam rifle and shield, but not with the pack. She took one look at all those runners, as well as Maki talking on and on, that she decided to leave it to her. In the end Maki and Nico built the pack for her.
"I can tell. That is part of the reason why you cannot control them properly. Since you did not build it, you don't know it's capabilities… it's limits. However, I can see your hand in the beam rifle and shield. Which is why you use them skillfully."
"I see… thank you very much, Tsubasa-san!"
Honoka took her gunpla, her mind already forming an idea.
"That was kind of you, advising someone like that."
"E-Erena?" Tsubasa saw her teammate.
"Aww, look. She's blushing."
"Anju, you too? What are you doing here?"
"We followed you," Erena said. "We wanted to see this rival of yours."
"I see potential in her," Tsubasa said. "Trust me. I cannot wait when she masters that gunpla of hers."
The next day, at the clubroom, Umi was shaking her head. "And where is Honoka?"
"I don't know, she said she had something to do," Kotori replied.
"Maybe we should just let her be?" Rin asked.
The Stargazer was in pieces right now, with both Hanayo and Rin working to make sure that it's in tiptop shape.
The door opened and Nico came in. "Looks like everyone is busy today."
"Nico-senpai! Did you see Honoka?" Umi asked.
"Oh, I saw her yesterday, at the Gunpla shop. I don't know what she's up to though."
"Maybe we should pay her a visit," Umi said.
"How about we just wait tomorrow?" Kotori said. "I think Honoka has a good reason not to attend today."
"She better have," Umi said.
"I hope Umi-chan's not angry…."
Honoka looked at the parts laid out in the table. She had studied how Maki connected the Funnel backpack, and now she intended to connect a similar piece of equipment.
"Busy, Honoka-chan?"
"Oh, Vice President!"
Nozomi looked at the kit Honoka was using to modify the Mu Gundam.
"ZGMF-X20A…. an interesting choice. Why modify it now?"
"That last match didn't go well," Honoka said. "Someone made me realize why. So now I'm working on my own upgrade. Thanks to the help of Maki-chan I was able to make the Mu Gundam into what it is right now, and I want to upgrade it further. That way, I can use it properly and be an asset to the team."
Honoka placed the remaining part.
"There, it's done! Time to test it out."
The next day Muse was practicing at the battle room.
"Muse, I have returned!" Honoka said, opening the door.
"Where were you?" Maki asked.
"I've been doing some modifications to my Gunpla."
'Really?" Maki was interested.
"I thank you for teaching me how to customize, Maki-chan," Honoka said. "Which is why I was able to do this!"
She pulled out her Gunpla.
"I present to you; the Gundam Muse!"
_
The Tieren All Region Type is better known as Sergei's Tieren Taozi, thanks to the HG kit calling it that.
Random Viewer: Thanks for the review!
And I do love the Idiot Trio. Maybe one time I'll try to do a chapter focused on them….