AN: Detailed author's notes will be at the bottom.
-!-
One month after the New Year's party...
The birds chirped outside their window as the sun's rays pierced through the corners of the curtains. The room was slightly illuminated by the glow, and a calm ethereal atmosphere descended upon the two sleeping figures.
Hibiki was sprawled out across the queen sized bed, her chest rising and lowering, her breaths quiet and stable. Miku was cuddled up to her, her head resting on her shoulder and an arm spread out across her stomach.
The two had fallen asleep like so the previous night, and had done so ever since they officially became a couple. And of course, upon revealing it to their friends and colleagues, they were showered with support and messages of congratulations. Their fellow wielders were obviously the most supportive, and Kirika was forcibly held back from throwing another party in their honor.
Regardless, their friends' blessings meant the world to them, and to Hibiki in particular. Miku was not lying when she said she had cheated to help Hibiki recover faster; because she truly did. With their new relationship status, Hibiki was forbidden from having extreme thoughts in any manner. That was how strong Miku's hold was on her now, both physically and emotionally.
It was exactly what she needed to be able to finally drop the matter almost entirely. It wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction for her.
And so, days of sadness and grief had almost spontaneously transformed into days of joy and togetherness.
Miku definitely marked that as a decisive victory for her cause.
A stray ray of light from behind the blinds fell upon Hibiki's face. She stirred and squirmed, desperate to escape from it. "Hnng…"
But she couldn't move. Pinned down under Miku, she was unable to escape the torture that was the morning sun, and against her wishes her eyes fluttered open slowly, squinting as she tried to avoid being blinded first thing in the morning. She tried to turn her on her side, but Miku's grip was like iron, shackling her to her current position.
She sighed, realizing she won't be able to fall back asleep any time soon. Having surrendered to the fate of being awake, it was at that moment that that previous stray ray vanished, restoring her vision to normal.
She sighed again. "I really am cursed…"
She blinked several times at her own words. How long has it been since she had muttered them? In the past, she had usually used them as a manner to lament her almost petty troubles during the day, like accidentally tearing a rice ball in half or tripping over thin air while running. Those were the only times she had ever uttered that phrase.
But now, having recovered from actually being cursed, she found the words to be far more...meaningful than ever.
Perhaps it was time to drop that phrase, and have it join the one she had once inherited from her father.
As she was lost in thought about her future, she was surprised to hear her phone ring from the nightstand. She tilted her head to look at it, watching it vibrate across the wood slightly with each repetition. It was loud and it was obnoxious, but she was curious as to who would call her so early in the morning, now of all times.
She hadn't received calls from anyone in months, or at least ever since the incident began. Wanting to see who it was that was calling her, she did her best to twist her body and reach the phone, extending her arm over Miku as much as she could.
With a bit of fumbling and some annoyed grunts from Miku, Hibiki eventually managed to grab the damned device. Pulling her arm back to a more comfortable position, she let Miku adjust herself before looking at the screen in contemplation.
'Kazanari Genjuro'
He was calling her now, of all times? That was strange.
Wanting to receive some answers, she accepted the call and put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Ah, good morning Hibiki-kun," He said. "I apologize for calling you so early in the morning."
She answered him groggingly, still half asleep. "It's fine. What's up?"
He grumbled before answering. "I was wondering if you two would be able to come to headquarters at your earliest convenience," He said. "There is something that we must discuss as soon as possible."
Okay, that was a strange request first thing in the morning. Finding herself at a loss, she thought about how to answer him. "Ah, well...I'm not really sure. Miku is still sleeping, and-"
And just as she opened her big mouth, the black haired girl stirred and opened her eyes slowly, automatically responding to her. "Miku is awake."
Hibiki smiled sheepishly as Miku raised herself, her hair ruffled and messy. Her eyes were narrowed as she woke up, staring at Hibiki through the slits.
She seemed irritated already, something that Hibiki was not happy to see. "Who is it?" Miku asked quietly.
"It's Master," Hibiki answered, signaling to Genjuro to wait. "He's asking if we can come to headquarters today."
"When?"
"As soon as possible, he says." Hibiki replied.
Miku groaned as she rubbed her eyes. "How soon?"
"Uh, one second," Hibiki replied. She then removed the phone from her ear, and bringing up the menu she switched to speaker, putting down the phone on the bed between the two of them.
"Oh, Miku-kun, good morning."
"Good morning, Genjuro-san," Miku replied. "How soon do you want us to be there?"
"Considering the distance, I'd say the soonest would be by sending Motoyasu to you right now." He said.
Sending Motoyasu now...headquarters was about an hour's drive away from the house, meaning they'd actually be there in two hours. That gave them plenty of time to wake up, prepare, and eat, as well as go over whatever other plans they had for the day.
Miku looked to Hibiki. "I think that sounds okay?"
"Yeah, that sounds fine," Hibiki responded.
"Very well, then I'll see you two in two hours. You don't need to bring anything in particular with you, just yourselves."
"Alright, then we'll see you later, Genjuro-san," Miku said.
"See you later."
At that, he hung up.
And as soon as he hung up, the two crashed back onto the bed on their sides, facing each other. "So much for sleeping in," Hibiki said, reminded of their decision yesterday to stay in bed a little more.
Miku giggled, and reached over to play with Hibiki's hair with one hand. "Yep, so much for that," She repeated. "What do you think Genjuro-san wants to talk about?"
Hibiki turned over to lay on her back, and took Miku's hand with both of her own. She played with her fingers absentmindedly as she answered. "I don't know; it could really be about anything. Although...it did sound urgent."
Miku nodded. "Yes, it did. I wonder…"
"I guess we'll find out in two hours," Hibiki reassured. "Until then, we can do whatever we want."
At those words, Miku shuffled closer to her, returning the two to the posture they'd be in while sleeping. Miku buried her head in Hibiki's shoulder, making herself comfortable. "I guess we can just sleep for another hour, but then we'd definitely wake up late."
"Yeah, that sounds just like us-"
GROOOWWWWLLLLL!
Once again, the whale's mating call returned with tenfold strength. Miku didn't move her gaze from Hibiki's face as she sighed, the chestnut haired girl blushing at her stomach betraying her once more. "Or we can just go have breakfast," Miku suggested, catching the drift.
Hibiki could only let out an undignified 'ugh'.
Reluctantly, the two rose from their comfortable and intimate position, shuffling towards the foot of the bed. It was still the cold months, and so they wore long pajamas to keep themselves warm. Together with the puffy blanket, they really did not want to leave the welcoming embrace of the bed, but with Genjuro's call and Hibiki's stomach's complaints, they were forced to say goodbye to their sweet domain to face the day.
Hibiki stood up first, stretching her arms above her head. Her shirt slightly rose above her waist as a result, and seeing the opportunity Miku poked her in the side with her fingers, causing Hibiki to yelp and jump in place in surprise. Miku immediately began to giggle from the cute response as Hibiki cradled her stomach protectively, staring at Miku with narrowed eyes.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself," The guilty dark haired girl said. "Shall we take a bath?"
Hibiki lowered her hands and nodded. "Yeah."
Her sudden contemplative stare confused Miku, who tilted her head in question. "Hibiki, what's wrong?"
Hibiki said nothing for a moment. "I…"
She sighed. "I want to tell my parents."
Miku stared at her seriously. "When?"
"Today, before we leave," Hibiki answered. "I just...I'm tired of keeping secrets. I don't want to hide it from them anymore."
Miku rose from the bed, and approached her partner. She wrapped her arms around her neck, only a small distance now separating their faces. "It's not like we were hiding it...but I understand what you mean. I haven't told my parents either, even though I talk to them almost every day on the phone."
And aside from the occasional visits they made to the Tachibana household, but that wasn't really part of the equation.
"But if you want to tell them, then we will," Miku said to her, comforting her and reassuring her.
"Will you be there with me when I do it?" Hibiki asked.
Miku's response was a simple one; she pulled Hibiki's head close and kissed her, their lips meeting with the same passion as they had that New Year's night. Since then, Miku made it no secret that she wanted more intimacy between, something that Hibiki found really difficult to keep up with at times. She completely set the pace for their relationship, as usual, while Hibiki was dragged along for the ride and was not allowed to complain about it.
Not that she had any reason to. Considering that they were already had been acting like a married couple even before taking this final step, the physical aspects were just the cherry on top of a very sweet pie.
And boy did Miku eat desire that pie hungrily. It didn't take very long for their kisses to become a duel of tongues, which was what was happening right now. Hibiki did not have a tiny bit of experience in that art, but it seemed Miku's more romantically inclined brain did.
So they kept at it for minutes at a time, making up for all the lost opportunities to close that distance they had in the past. Separating after what felt like forever, a string of saliva extended between them before Miku licked her lips, breaking it.
"Does that answer your question?" She asked her.
Hibiki didn't find any real need in responding.
-!-
"Are you ready?" Miku asked her partner. Motoyasu had informed them he was only ten minutes away, which was enough time for Hibiki to tell her parents everything. They had spent the last one hour and fifty minutes preparing themselves, and so now there was nothing left but doing the deed.
And obviously, Hibiki was super nervous. The Tachibana family was in the living room, the two women on the sofa watching TV while Akira was in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes from their breakfast. None of them knew the couple was hiding behind the wall, waiting for Hibiki to gather up the courage to talk to them.
"Ah-"
"It's okay...it's okay…" Miku whispered to her. "You can do this. I'm here with you. You don't need to be scared."
"But I am. I mean, what if Mom and Dad don't like it? I don't know what I'd-"
Miku silenced her immediately. "Why wouldn't they? You said your grandma already knows, right? Then there is no way they'll disapprove. You gotta have faith in yourself and them."
"I know, it's just…" She murmured, and bit her lip anxiously. "I've never done this before, so…"
"It'll be fine, trust me. Trust yourself, and them," Miku said to her, trying to fill her with motivation to go through with it. If Miku failed to convince her to do it, then no one else in the world will be able to.
Luckily, it was enough for Hibiki. Inhaling and exhaling, she remembered she had prepared herself plenty in the downtime after breakfast. All that was left was just to do it. She grabbed hold of Miku's hand, and together the two stepped forward, the light from the living room illuminating them. Hand in hand, they walked in, and the sound of their arrival made the family inside turn to look at them.
"Oh, you're going already?" Harumi asked, rising from the sofa and approaching them. "Then I'll see you two off at the door."
Hibiki and Miku stood still before her, perplexing the woman. "Hibiki, Miku-chan, what's wrong?"
Breathing in again, Hibiki spoke up. "Mom, Dad, Grandma...I have something I need to tell you."
-!-
"See you later!" Miku yelled to the trio by the entrance to the house before entering the car, closing the door behind her. Harumi and Kiyoko waved to them as they drove off, the limo leaving behind a trail of dust that settled down a few seconds later.
Harumi stared at the disappearing silhouette of the car, then lowered her hand, still shocked at what Hibiki and Miku told her.
"You know, thinking back, I think the signs were all there. We just didn't see them," Akira suddenly said, a smile on his face and his hands on his hips.
"You really didn't," Kiyoko replied. "Well, I suppose I didn't either, at least not until she told me."
"She did?" Harumi asked her.
"A long time ago, before this new development between them. You never noticed she'd come to me to share all her secrets?" The elder answered, asking her daughter a question of her own.
Harumi thought for a moment, her eyes still locked on the distance. "I guess I didn't...I thought I knew my daughter completely, but now I feel like I don't know her at all."
"She's at that age, darling. Soon enough she'll wander off to experience the world without us. She'll need to deal with life her own way, just like you did," Kiyoko said wisely, deciding to impart her knowledge.
"I know, but still…" Harumi murmured. "Well, I guess it was inevitable. They were always very close, but I never realized just how much."
"Indeed," Kiyoko replied. "I don't say this often, but I dare say those two are the perfect match. You'd be hard pressed to find something like theirs."
That, Harumi could definitely agree with. "Yeah...they are."
What a strange thing it was, getting to this stage in life. Their little baby girl wasn't so little anymore, and was slowly but surely becoming older right before their eyes. For Harumi, Hibiki was still in diapers just yesterday, a small but chubby child that kept on trying to eat everything in sight.
She barely blinked, and now that same child was off doing things she never imagined were possible.
And the icing on the cake was what she just heard from her. 'Time goes by so fast…'
Beside her, Akira grumbled to himself, which caused both Kiyoko and Harumi to turned to look at him in confusion. "Akira? What's wrong?"
"Hmm…" He mumbled. "I was wondering...do I still get to walk her down the aisle?"
He got his answer from Harumi pinching his arm. "Owowowowowowowow!"
"Of course you will, you idiot!" She yelled at him, pinching him even harder. "And you better start preparing right now!"
"Owowowowowow okay okay I will now please stop!" He begged, and she released him. He rubbed his poor arm with his free hand, still whimpering.
Watching their interaction with a smile, Kiyoko spoke up. "Now then, shall we go back inside?" She suggested.
"Sure."
The trio turned back around, heading back to the living room.
As Harumi and Akira walked past her, Kiyoko couldn't help but feel relieved. If Hibiki was able to let go of the burdens of her past...then maybe these two will be able to as well. The spark that had originally brought the two together was now showing its first signs of life for the first time in a very long time.
And she dearly hoped...that they too, will be able to find their happy days.
-!-
"Everyone!" Miku called out as Hibiki and her walked towards the small rest area inside the submarine. They had arrived just a few minutes before, and because Genjuro hadn't told them where to meet, they simply followed their standard pattern and headed straight to the bridge. That was why they now ran into the other wielders, all of them sitting on the sofa with the view to the outside behind them.
"Miku, Hibiki," Maria said, rising from her seat. "How are you two?"
"We're fine, we just got here ourselves," Miku answered, sitting down next to Shirabe. "So what's going on?"
"We don't know," Tsubasa told her. "Uncle called us all together suddenly. He was here a few minutes ago, but when he saw you two weren't here he left again. I do not know when he'll be back."
"I see...so you don't know what this is about either…"
Hibiki, as usual, fell quiet at the presence of the others. It seemed to be an almost reflexive response by now, as it happened so many times during the last month that it most likely got ingrained in her brain that she needs to keep silent when around them.
Just another strange habit that Miku needed to help her break eventually. "So what have you guys been up to lately? I know you're bored out of your minds."
"We helped out in the city this morning," Shirabe said. "It really was boring, so we decided we should at least make ourselves useful in clearing things up. Since there were no outsiders this time, we were allowed to use our Gears to help clear out some of the heavier rubble."
"That's great! So how is it going out there? We haven't been updated much on the status of the city," Miku exclaimed.
"It's a slow process like the commander said. Most of the center has been done, so now it's just repeating the process ward by ward," Shirabe said.
"I see. And once that's done, then reconstruction can really begin," Miku summarized, and Shirabe nodded in response. "That's going to take the most time out of everything. Cities aren't built overnight after all."
"But when it is done, we'll throw a city wide party for everyone to celebrate!" Kirika declared, shooting up from her seat. "Speaking of parties, did you know that the New Year's party should have actually been a triple birthday party instead of double?"
Chris instantly was up in arms, not liking where this was going. "Idiot, shut up-!"
"But Chris-senpai gave up on her part, so we definitely have to celebrate her birthday this month instead!"
Total silence fell on them from the bombshell revelation. Only once she finished talking did Kirika realize that she spoke out of line, having revealed something she wasn't supposed to.
And of course, Chris was livid. She rose from her seat to pounce on the blonde wielder, ready to beat her up for giving away the secret. Before she could mete out her punishment, Hibiki of all people spoke up in shock.
"Chris-cha...Chris, is this true?" She asked with wide eyes. The white haired wielder was briefly taken aback by the removal of the usual honorific in her name, which caused her to back away from Kirika and look to the side guiltily.
Miku was equally as astounded. "Chris, what do you mean...you gave up on your part?"
"It's not important, okay?! It already passed so it doesn't matter now!" She yelled, trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.
However, neither of the two girls were having it. The both of them stood up and walked towards her, and she clearly fidgeted under their stares, her face flushed.
"Of course it matters!" Miku let out. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because it really doesn't matter! It's just a birthday party! It's not like I had that many in the past anyway, so one more really doesn't bother me!" Chris retorted, refusing to budge an inch on the matter. To her, it really wasn't all that important. So many years being in someone's captivity without the luxury of celebrating her birthday had taken away any excitement she had for such a thing.
It was only since coming to S.O.N.G that she even began deliberating on it, and as a result for her it wasn't that big of a deal.
"But that's not fair to you!" Miku countered. "You shouldn't have to give up on celebrating your birthday just because we didn't!"
Chris' face was reddening from anger, anger she she didn't really know where to place. "Well it was less fair to you, because you didn't choose to miss it! You had to deal with that whole bullshit we went through, and because of that you didn't get to celebrate it at all! I chose to miss mine, because yours was more important, okay?!"
She was actually huffing now, that outburst completely silencing the others. However, they were not shocked because she was angry, or because she shouted.
It was because of the sincerity of her voice, and the true feelings behind it.
"Chris…"
"So don't you talk to me about fair or not! You just worry about yourselves and that's it! I can go another year without a party, okay?!"
Chris crossed her arms and huffed, turning her head to the side. Miku watched her intently, her exasperated expression calming. She smiled, and crossing her own arms she replied. "Nope, not okay! Even if we're late, we're celebrating your birthday this month and that's final! Are we clear?"
Chris turned back to her, trying to come up with another argument. But then Miss Loose Lips spoke up again enthusiastically. "Yeah! We're gonna throw another huge party!"
"What! You-"
"Indeed, and with lots of spaghetti included," Maria added with a wry smile.
Chris jerked at the name of her favorite food. Seeing her reaction, they decided to push it further. "Oh yeah! A spaghetti themed party! With a spaghetti cake!"
Shirabe pondered on the idea. "Wouldn't that just be a lasagna?"
"No! It needs to be a cake, but made of spaghetti! And we can have spaghetti themed decorations, like fake noodles and meatballs and-"
As Kirika went on and on, Chris was rapidly switching from angry to incredibly embarrassed. Maria and Tsubasa giggled, while Hibiki turned to the side to hide her chuckling. And Chris' face just continued to redden, becoming as crimson as spaghetti sauce. She tried to make her irritation known, but Tsubasa beat her to the punch.
"Looks like your fate is sealed, Chris. That party is going to happen whether you want to or not. When it ends up like this, it's better to just calmly resign to it."
She was so right Chris couldn't find it in herself to dispute her. It seems she was bound to suffer a noodly fate in less than a month's time.
Well, there could be worse ways to go.
As the girls continued laughing amongst themselves, Genjuro finally showed up, turning the corner and approaching the gathered group.
"Ah, I see everyone is here," He said. "Good, then please follow me."
No explanations, and no preparations. He simply turned around again, and the girls looked between themselves for a moment before getting up to follow him with Tsubasa in the lead.
-!-
A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Miku narrowed her eyes as she noticed that they were about to enter Elfnein's lab, which was not where she had expected him to take them. She couldn't say she was expecting anything actually, but it still wasn't high on the list.
What was there that he wanted to show them? She didn't know. However, from the way Tsubasa and Maria stiffened before they entered, it seemed the two older wielders had some sort of an idea.
The door slid open, and in a single file line the entire group headed inside. Within, Elfnein awaited them, standing by her table and looking towards them with a serious expression. As they settled within, the seven girls shuffled to stand in a half circle, each of them having enough space to see what was on Elfnein's work table.
And once Miku laid her eyes upon it, she instantly understood what they were about to hear.
"I'm sorry to call all of you together on such short notice, but we have made the discovery just this morning and we found it imperative to tell you as soon as possible," Genjuro explained, getting to the crux of the matter. He knew what they wanted to hear, and so he would tell them exactly what this meant.
For what lay upon Elfnein's table was the Armed Gear of Gungnir, and the last remaining legacy of Amou Kanade.
"I won't bother you with the details, so I'll be blunt and brief," He said. "I assume you have already reached your own conclusions, all of which are probably correct. I wouldn't call all of you here if it wasn't for that anyway."
Their stunned expressions were proof enough of that.
The man looked Hibiki dead in the eye, and made his announcement.
"The Gungnir Symphogear can be remade from this spear."
It was indeed blunt and brief. Short and to the point, that single sentence told them everything about his intentions on the matter. Why he called them forth, and why he brought them here. Why he gathered them as a group and made sure they were all here to see and hear this from him.
Because all of them were necessary in the face of the decision Hibiki would have to make.
"H-how? How is this possible?" Maria asked incredulously.
He sighed in response. "I said I won't bother you with the details, but I guess I will anyway. We studied it since we got it, and from our findings there is just enough of Gungnir's essence within this spear to recreate it into a pendant that will have all of the fragment's original power," He responded. However, his next sentence was far more foreboding, implying something that they did not like. "And by all of the fragment's original power, I mean all of it."
"All of it…"
The implication wasn't even subtle. By saying it contained all of the fragment's original power, that meant…
"Are you saying...the god slaying power is there too?" She asked, hoping his answer would deny her.
She was instantly disappointed. "Yes, it's there. Since the incident, we have been able to scan and detect its presence within the spear. We quintuple tested the results, and all of them came up positive. With this spear, Gungnir as we know it can be recreated like it was never destroyed in the first place."
Like it was never destroyed in the first place, and containing the very power that forced them to destroy it in the first place.
Miku simply stared at the thing, her eyes boring into it as much as they could. With her own relic gone and the concept along with it, she could no longer sense or detect the god slaying power that hid within it.
But she didn't need to, because she could feel it in her bones.
All the Evils of this World made good on their claim. They can never, and will never disappear.
And here they lay before them, waiting to be used again. As if taunting her, jeering at her, telling her that they 'told her so'.
But that was merely her imagination. The spear did not speak, nor did it respond to her directly. It simply lay there on the table, dormant and immobile, awaiting its fate.
"Commander, how...how can you even consider it?! There is no way this is right!" Maria protested.
Kirika immediately joined in. "She's right! We worked really hard to get rid of it, so why would you bring it back?!"
"Commander, is this really a sound course of action?" Shirabe added in.
"Old man, whoever made you think this is a good idea probably needs to get the fuck out," Chris bit out.
The only ones who did not speak up were Tsubasa, Miku, and Hibiki herself. The former stared, choosing to wait until Genjuro had finished explaining completely before passing by her judgement.
In contrast to the others' justified outbursts, Miku instead spoke up softly, her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Genjuro-san...please elaborate."
He could definitely see she was angry. She radiated it in droves, but a man like himself was not about to cave in to a bunch of girls over a decade younger than himself. But, Miku was right. They deserve an explanation.
"It's because we're tired of keeping secrets," He interjected, shutting the girls up. Miku's eyes widened, having heard that phrase just this morning. "Hiding this fact wouldn't do anyone a favor, and it's our duty and responsibility to make sure all of you have the right to decide your own fates. I cannot hide this fact from you, nor can I make you choose one option or another."
So it was a proof of sincerity and trust. During the incident, he had broken that trust, choosing to hide Miku's involvement until the very last minute. This was his way of saying that such a thing will not have a repeat.
His gaze fell on Hibiki once again, who had yet to speak up at all. "And in the end, the choice is not mine or any of yours. It is Hibiki-kun's alone, and it's a decision that should be made without any outside influences."
There was merit in his words, and as a result the girls remained silent. Hibiki walked forward, passing by Genjuro and standing face to face with the spear on the table. She looked at it with an unreadable expression, and raised a hand to touch the relic metal.
She seemed lost in thought for a moment, and the others waited to hear what she'd say. Hibiki did not turn around as she spoke up, choosing to keep her eyes locked on the weapon.
"If I agree...what will happen?" She asked.
"Then we'll turn it into a pendant, and decide from there. Considering we have no need of the Gears at the moment, there will be no reason to use it until we really need it."
"And if I don't?"
"Then it will be locked away in the vault along with all the other relics. We can't destroy it due to it being what it is, but we can keep it under lock and key, never to see the light of day again."
His answers were swift and to the point, which was exactly what she needed to hear. She moved her hand over the spear, as if caressing it softly.
"And what do you think I should do?" She inquired of him.
He said nothing for a moment, thinking on how to answer her.
No, it didn't require any thinking at all. From the moment Elfnein told him that the conversion was possible, his mind had already decided what to think.
"In all honesty, Hibiki-kun…" He began. "I don't want you to do it."
She did not turn around to look at him as he continued. "I believe that you had done enough. You made miracles possible, and for that we'll always be grateful. It is my fondest wish that you girls will finally be able to shed the burden of protecting the world, and that has not changed even in the slightest. I want you to focus on living your life for your own sake. If I can do it for you now, then I will."
Don't take up the mantle again, he was saying. "Hibiki-kun, I want you to consider what you want above all else. Whatever it is you decide, we'll support it."
He doesn't want her to fight anymore, plain and simple. It was out of an honest desire to take away her burden, as well as the unspoken one to avoid a repeat.
Her response was hushed. "I see…"
They waited. He wanted to give her time to decide, but from the way she sounded and the way she stood, it seemed that she has already reached a decision. Or at least, was on the way of making one.
She removed her hand from the spear, and turned to face him fully. She looked up at him, her gaze determined. "Can I ask you a favor?"
He tilted his head. "Yes."
"I want to see the footage," She requested, and his eyes widened. "All of it. I want to see everything that you have."
He grumbled. "Hibiki-kun...are you sure? It might be difficult to take in."
"I'm sure. Please, I want to see it."
He couldn't really stop her, could he? He could deny her access to the footage out of mercy, but that's not something she'd want.
She wanted to use the footage to justify her reasoning. She wanted, through it, to truly internalize her own path. For until now it was uneven, and she had walked it with teeth clenched and many doubts.
And it would only be through seeing her own darkness that she would be able to decide whether to walk it again.
"I understand," He replied, and Miku took a step forward in concern, as if trying to stop him. "I figured you'd bring this up, so I already had everything compiled for you for your convenience. We can have it up and running in a bit."
"Thank you."
She turned back around, heading towards the silent group of girls again. Halfway through, Miku stepped up to her and held her hand. "Hibiki, are you sure you want to do this?" She asked, looking her straight in the eye.
"Yes, I do," Was Hibiki's simple answer, and from the look in her eyes, Miku knew she was not lying. "Will you watch it with me?"
Her resolve and determination to go through with it stunned Miku for a moment. But then she smiled, understanding that this was truly her heart's desire. "Of course I will."
"In that case," Maria chimed in. "I suppose all of us will join in too. We won't let you face it just with the two of you. It's either none of us or all of us."
"Yes, let's do it," Shirabe joined in.
Chris huffed. "Sure, I guess, don't see why not."
"Should we get popcorn and drinks?" Kirika suggested.
It was such a strange suggestion that they stared at her for a moment in silence, and then laughed.
"I see, I guess that's how it is then," Genjuro said, smiling. "Hibiki-kun, it seems like there's another action movie waiting to be watched. An action movie starring yourself."
She nodded in response. If everyone was together with her, then of course it will be much easier to handle. Seeing the footage itself was very redundant, considering she remembered everything she had done.
But this time, it would be from a different perspective; an outside perspective, not clouded by her own twisted judgement.
Maria turned to her idol partner. "Tsubasa, you joining in too?"
"I will, I just have need to exchange a few words with the commander is all," She responded. "You should go ahead before me. I'll join you in a bit."
"Alright, we'll wait by the bridge then," Maria affirmed. "We'll see you there in a bit."
"Mhm."
With Maria leading the way, the wielders sans Tsubasa left the lab, the door sliding closed behind her. She pushed off the wall she had been leaning against, staring straight ahead at Genjuro. "There's one thing that struck me as odd all this time which I wanted to confirm with you."
He already foresaw what she was going to ask. "You're wondering why the old man hadn't done anything lately?"
She seemed surprised he knew, but nodded regardless. "Yes. He has been...quiet. I would have assumed he would have protested against your judgement."
"Beats me," Genjuro shrugged. "At times I still don't understand him. Whatever it is he's thinking, it ended up working in our favor. He may be a lot of things, but a fool he is not."
Tsubasa turned around, having gotten her answer more quickly than she had anticipated; however, that was enough for her. She headed towards the door, and it slid open before her. "Yes...he's definitely no fool…"
And she headed out, following after her comrades. Genjuro watched her go, and once the door closed he sighed, leaning back against the wall and staring at the ceiling. Elfnein looked at him in concern. "Genjuro-san…"
"It's fine, I saw this coming," He replied. "All that's left is seeing what she'll do…"
-!-
It was incredibly long, but not once had she taken her eyes off the screen. She had watched every recording, every scene, every blurry image carefully, burning the sight into her mind so she would never forget it.
It rolled in front of her eyes just like a film. Edited only slightly to compress the time, she was exposed to everything, leaving not a single stone unturned.
And through it all, Miku had held her hand tight, sitting beside her and watching along with her. The worry was evident on her face, but she had remained strong together with her.
Her friends had also not moved, eager and determined to see this through to the end with her. Their mere presence calmed her heart, for the sight was truly difficult to see. Had she seen it alone, she would have broken down in tears and grief, lamenting her own existence.
But they'd never allow it. Miku would never allow it.
And she too, would never allow herself to break down again.
Five extremely long hours later, it was finally over. Not a single one of them had moved the entire time, not to eat nor for a bathroom break. All seven of them together had sat through the entire thing from beginning to end, remaining silent for the duration.
No comments had been made, and no justifications were sought.
It all came to an end, and they stayed sitting in their seats as they waited for Hibiki to respond in any manner. Miku looked to her again, watching Hibiki's eyes close in silent contemplation. She breathed in and out, thinking to herself, letting her mind focus and decide on a course of action.
Almost abruptly, she stood up, and the others kept their eyes on her as she headed towards the door. Miku immediately followed after her in complete silence as they left the room, not a single one of them saying anything in response.
And outside the door, Genjuro stood. His arms crossed, Hibiki stopped in front of him, her gaze locking onto his. Neither of them said anything, and wordlessly Genjuro stepped aside, allowing Hibiki to pass through. As she walked, Genjuro spoke to Miku. "It looks like she has made her choice," He said.
Miku could only nod in affirmation. "Yes, she did."
He sighed. "I'll wait until she comes up to me personally and says it. Until she tells me herself, I will do nothing."
"...thank you," Miku gratefully said, walking forward to follow after her partner. At that moment however she recalled something she had promised, and turned to face Genjuro again.
"Hm? What's wrong Miku-kun?" He asked.
She smiled. "It's nothing, but...I have a message for you from someone."
He stared at her in confusion, not having expected her to say that.
"She says...she's sorry. She's says she's sorry...that she couldn't return your feelings."
Genjuro froze, his muscles stiffening immediately. Miku said nothing more, and ran after Hibiki and leaving him alone in the hallway.
He stared at her retreating back. He stared, and stared, and stared, his mind racing a mile a second.
And then, he laughed. He laughed and remembered, and put a hand over his eyes as he mumbled to himself.
"Seriously...you could have at least...told me that yourself…"
-!-
She walked through the halls of S.O.N.G HQ, passing by employees who waved to her quietly. She did not acknowledge them as she simply went on her way, and Miku caught up to her just as they made it through the final hallway.
Eventually, the two made it outside, and Hibiki turned towards the pier where she and Miku had been just a month before. She went all the way to the edge and stopped, staring out into the sea.
Miku stood a small distance behind her. The wind blew, the breeze brushing by them and ruffling their hair. Miku raised a hand to push the loose strands from her face, but Hibiki acted as if it was never there in the first place.
"Hibiki…"
"Miku, I…" Hibiki began, making Miku fall silent. "I...you probably already know...what I decided, right?"
"...Yes, I do," Miku replied softly. "You also probably want to explain why, right?"
Hibiki nodded, and Miku continued. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, considering it's you. Still, from what I remember, you said that you...wanted to stop."
Another nod. "So out of everything, I guess that is what I don't understand the most."
"I...it's just…"
Hibiki raised a hand towards the sky, blocking out the sun with the palm of her hand. Then, she clenched it, as if tightening her hold on it. "I know you said...that I need to live out my life to the fullest. That if I want to pay back for all the people I've hurt, that's the best way to do so. And I understand that, but…"
The wind blew again. "If I can do this again for others, if I can sing my songs for them again...then maybe I'll be able to save as many people as I've hurt."
Miku listened closely. Taking a moment to process what she had said, she took a step closer to her. "You know that will be very difficult, right? That it might take you your whole life to balance it out."
Hibiki nodded. "I know, but...even so, after everything that's happened...I feel like there's no one else out there who understands human darkness like I do now. And that's why...I still want to reach it. I still want to make that dream real."
"A world of understanding…"
"Yes. No one deserves to go through what I had, so if I can use my hands again to save them from that suffering, then I want to do it."
Miku fell silent once more. Her lack of response bothered Hibiki, who turned around to face her. She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Miku, I-"
Before she could continue, Miku put a finger to her lips. "Whatever you do, don't apologize. That's the last thing I want to hear from you."
She lowered her hand, and Hibiki listened. "I guess I should have seen this coming."
"...You saved me, but I still want to-"
"Yes, I saved you. I dearly wished for you to stop fighting, that you won't have to dedicate your life for others. But...the main thing that pushed me forward, was that I couldn't bear to look at your sad face again."
She took her hand in her own. "Because before everything that's happened, you always seemed so sad. Like you were dragging yourself forward even though you didn't really want to, and that you shed blood, sweat, and tears without really knowing why. I always believed that you chased after a dream that you were scared of, that the path itself was far too difficult to walk."
She entwined her fingers with her own. "But now I can see that you've really made up your mind. That you understand the reason why it's difficult, and that you're no longer feeling like you're being forced to do so. You're choosing to do this, because you feel that this is what is right."
Miku was reading her like an open book, exactly understanding her way of thinking down to the letter.
"What I desire for you is to make your own choice, unburdened and unshackled by anything else. I don't want your choices to be affected by others; I want you to choose it because it's what's coming from your heart. I want to hear your true voice again, not hidden behind a veil of fake happiness."
"Miku, I-"
"And if this is what you want, then who am I to stop you from doing it?" Miku said, raising her head to show her a smile.
Hibiki smiled back, and let out a chuckle. "You're the only person who can stop me. I know this isn't what you want, and that it would be going against everything you believe, but…"
"I'm not going to stop you," Miku reassured her. "My demand for you this time is that I want you to make your own choice. And I want you to know...that'll I'll support you, whatever it is you decide, because now I know that you've already thought about it as much as you need to."
She raised her free hand to brush away a loose hair on Hibiki's face. "And while I know you like to dwell on things, when you reach a decision, then it's final."
"Miku…"
She couldn't hold herself back anymore. In a sudden move, she pulled her in, wrapping her arms around her and embracing her tightly, She put her head on her shoulder, and Miku hugged back just as tightly.
"Thank you."
Miku giggled. "You're welcome."
They stood in silence for a bit, just enjoying the contact.
"The world is a scary place, I know that," Hibiki murmured. "But I know that it's less scary...because I have you with me."
"I wonder," Miku replied. "Maybe it's because I'm scarier than anything out there, perhaps?"
They both laughed, and Hibiki could only admit that yes, that was true.
"I know you don't approve, but…"
"I don't, but I'm already used to it. You wouldn't be you if you chose differently," Miku said to her. "And that's why I love you."
It was those simple words that filled Hibiki's heart with warmth and strength. "The fact that you still want to do so after everything...just shows me how much you've grown."
The cloth beneath her shoulder was dampening as she spoke. "You do what your heart tells you. And I want you to know...that I'll always be proud of you."
Hibiki shuddered in her hold.
"Miku...I love you."
"Yes...I know."
And so the two remained.
The impossible dream she wished for...was still oh so very far away.
But the choice has been made, and all that was left to do now…
Was too see what the future holds.
-!-
One year later…
…
…
...
RING!
"Ugh…"
RING RING!
Her hand sought the damned device as she reach over to the nightstand.
RING RING RING!
It landed atop the thing, stopping the obnoxious ringing short.
Miku rose from the bed, rubbing her eyes as she forced herself awake. She moved to sit at the edge of the bed and then stood, immediately putting on the slippers to avoid touching the cold metal floor.
She dressed herself quickly, and headed to the entrance of the room. The door slid open before her, and she walked into the bright hallway. Her stomach grumbling, the only thing she wished to do now was eat. She had unfortunately skipped dinner last night due to the amount of work she had, and so now was the chance to stuff herself.
She arrived at the cafeteria quickly, finding it lively and bustling as always. She scanned the tables carefully, looking for a specific person among the crowd.
She found her easily enough, seeing as she was the only person with her tray piled up with outrageous amounts of food. Her phone in hand and a fork in the other, Hibiki ate silently.
Miku smiled, and immediately stepped in line to take her own serving of breakfast.
"Oh Miku-chan, good morning!" The kitchen lady chirped.
"Good morning," She said back.
"Hibiki-chan is already here waiting for you!"
"Yes, I noticed. I'll go join her right now."
"In that case," The lady murmured, and put a huge serving of scrambled eggs in her plate. "This is for you two! I don't think she took enough food!"
Miku laughed. "I'll make sure she eats her share then."
With the now heavy tray in hand, Miku headed over to where Hibiki was and sat down across from her. The chestnut haired girl didn't lift her face from the phone's screen, and blindly reached over to take a stab at Miku's serving. She hit the mark and put it in her mouth, chewing noisily.
"Hibiki, your face is dirty again," Miku pointed out.
That was enough to force the girl out of her stupor, and she hurriedly took a napkin to wipe her face. "Oh, sorry, didn't notice. There was an interesting news story about a UFO sighting in Hokkaido, and it kind of made me lose track of time."
Miku sighed. "A UFO sighting of all things? Really? I didn't think you were into that."
"Me neither."
Miku sighed again, and got to work on eating her own meal. Between bites she spoke up, Hibiki still enraptured by the story. "So where are you working today?" She asked her.
Hibiki swallowed and answered. "We're actually gonna be closer to where you are," She answered. "Said they wanted to get some work done in the city center, so I'll be really close to Flower this time. What about you?"
"Same as usual. Last night was really busy, with that big projects leaving so many of the workers tired and hungry, but today it should be far more relaxed. Poor Obaa-san needs all the help she can get," Miku replied.
"Well, with you, Yumi, Kuriyo, and Shiori to help her out, does she really need anyone else?" Hibiki asked honestly.
And Miku sighed yet again. "Yumi is still dropping plates after two months; it's kind of getting old."
"Well, she'll get the hang of it eventually."
"I sure hope so. Who knows what will happen if I have to ditch them in the middle."
That anime nut was still a walking disaster wherever she went. The owner of Flower, along with much of the populace, were allowed back into the city only five months ago. She, along with the rest had quickly decided to set up shop once more, if only to bring some life back to the area.
And it worked wonders. With so many construction workers around, a restaurant as good as hers was bound to attract a boatload of customers every single day. The poor woman, for all her culinary experience, could not handle the onrush of people on her own, and so decided to employ a few helpers to take some of the burden off.
Miku immediately jumped at the chance, and from then on worked in the woman's renovated store full time. She had nothing better to do, considering school was still out, and it was a nice way to not only earn some money, but also help out in her own way in the reconstruction. She may not be able to lift huge piles of rubble or operate heavy machinery, but she could at least be there to help the workers out when they needed some rest, and bring them some delicious food.
Hibiki, on the other hand, had done the exact opposite thing. She chose to actually join the reconstruction crews, participating full time in building some of the new structures. She drilled holes, carried heavy equipment, stacked concrete blocks; everything that the burly men did, she also did. And it was one hell of a surprise to the men, as she proved to be a great asset to their efforts.
Miku figured that this was her own way of making amends. Hibiki had told her already that 'because I made the mess, it's my job to clean it up'. And what better way to clean up than personally helping out in the work?
It also helped her to regain some of that lost muscle mass, which began to quickly return once she gained a few months experience in her new work.
And with all that new muscles she gained, Miku had to admit she looked quite dashing...
"Hibiki, your hair is in your food," She told her.
Immediately Hibiki yelped, raising her head and grabbing the tip of her ponytail sadly. She took another napkin and worked earnestly to dry the wet tip, the thing having found itself inside of her soup.
Miku laughed, still amused by Hibiki's flustered conflict with her new hairstyle.
It was just one change among the many that had taken place during the year. Miku was surprised to hear Hibiki's desire to grow her hair out despite earlier reservations, and after teasing her for a bit about it, helped her out. Hibiki's hair always grew out strangely, more often than not growing to the sides rather than down, but with a simple application of a hair straightener, they managed to get something pretty nice. The thunderbolt hairclips had been lost at some point during the incident, and they never bothered to buy new ones; instead, Miku bought her a nice hair tie that looked good and was also strong and functional as to never fall off.
It wasn't very long, barely reaching her shoulders, but it was long enough to tie it up in a nice little ponytail that ended up making her new job much much easier.
Miku found herself surprised, as Hibiki had never been one to care about her outward appearance all that much. She did have a few nice dresses, but all in all she never gave it much thought, just like a lot of things; so it came as quite a shock that she started showing a bit of desire to look nicer, something that Miku happily obliged.
As for Miku herself? Not much had changed. Her hair had grown out a tiny bit longer, but in terms of hairstyle she hadn't changed a thing. Far too used to the white ribbon, she decided to keep it even a year later, although she had to buy a new one.
Looking to her phone again while wiping her hair, Hibiki's eyes widened, and she looked to Miku. "It's time to go."
"Oh, it's already a quarter to? Looks like I slept more than usual," Miku noted, pushing back her chair.
"You did, but I didn't wanna wake you. Your sleeping face was so cute after all~"
Miku's face evened out, and she raised an eyebrow. "What is this? Are you trying to tease me?"
Hibiki noticed her error a bit too late, and Miku smiled devilishly. "I see how it is then; prepare yourself for tonight. This time, you're the one who's not sleeping."
Hibiki blushed and gulped all at once.
She was never more thankful for the fact that the personal quarters in HQ had soundproof walls.
"W-we should go."
"Yes."
And that was another nice change Miku noticed. The very fact that Hibiki woke up before her was one thing, but she had also consciously and actively checked the time to make sure they weren't late.
She was far more diligent and serious than she had ever been. From what she had heard, her coworkers had praised her dedication and hard work repeatedly, some of them even jealous that she managed to get so much done on her own.
Miku knew Hibiki could get dedicated to a cause, but now she was no longer as absent minded. She even understood implications this time, which was the most surprising thing of all.
She was just awaiting the day they'd be back in school. Maybe Hibiki would even get better grades this time.
The two stood up, clearing their dishes away by the entrance and headed out to begin their workday.
-!-
"Here you go, Osaka style okonomiyaki with a diet coke for you, and a takoyaki for you."
"Uoh! This looks amazing! Thanks Miku-chan!"
She smiled, and headed back to the kitchen to get the next meal. As expected, lunch time was always the busiest of the day, with so many workers off for break time. While today was not as overbearing as yesterday, the restaurant was a popular spot, and so was almost at full capacity all the time.
In another corner of the shop, Yumi successfully managed to bring the customers' orders to their table. She smiled in her direction, and sent her coworker a thumbs up as she took more dishes to bring to more tables. The owner was working double time in the kitchen, but still managed to keep up.
Customers came and went, and Miku weaved her way between them to make sure everybody got their share and had time to rest. Just then, a group of around five workers came in, all of them laughing happily as they made their way inside.
And with them was Hibiki, her face dirty and her clothes sticky from all the work she did. Miku went up to them and smiled brightly, handing Hibiki a towel to wipe herself off. She led them to any empty table where they could sit, and promptly took their orders.
While at work, the two never had much time to interact. Still, Miku made sure that her partner- well, now girlfriend- was not working herself to the bone. The way she interacted with her peers was nice to see, and the men seemed to respect and appreciate her as one of their own.
As if they could try anything else. Miku had quickly made it known that Hibiki was quite taken, and should anyone try anything they'd face her ire.
From the stories Hibiki told them, they really didn't want to mess with her.
And so, lunch break for Hibiki's group continued as normal. They gulped down their meals heartily and merrily, and stayed sitting a little longer before heading back to work. Right now, the entire population of the city was cooperating in the reconstruction, each person doing their part in the workload of getting them back on track.
It was like this in the rest of the world as well, people coming together to build themselves up again. It was quite a sight to see and a story to hear, as this was the first sign of the world of understanding Hibiki wished to create.
It was a small step, but a step nonetheless.
Suddenly, Hibiki's communicator rang, and she hurriedly picked it up to answer. From the corner of her eye, Miku noticed the act, and continued her work while watching her girlfriend carefully.
A few moments later she hung up, and scanned the area to look for Miku. Their eyes met, and she walked over to her to explain. "Miku, it looks like I gotta go."
Miku's ears perked at the news. "I see…"
So it meant the usual, then. The owner already knew such a thing could come up, and so Miku had arranged a few deals with her if it happened while she was at work. Luckily, Yumi, Kuriyo, and Shiori were also working in the restaurant, and so there were enough people to serve the tables even in her absence.
Hibiki turned back to one of the men, who happened to be the supervisor, and explained the situation to him. He nodded, and she rose from her seat to head to the door, waiting for Miku to join her.
The dark haired girl rubbed her hands on her apron and took it off, putting it behind the counter. "Ma'am, I'll be back in a bit."
"Alright Miku-chan! Take your time!"
With the owner's permission, Miku headed to the door, and walked with Hibiki to their destination.
-!-
A short while later, the two arrived at the harbor.
There, they saw what they had expected: a helicopter parked on the ground a fair distance away, and all of the other wielders standing by it, waving to them. The couple quickly run up to the group, glad that the vehicle wasn't running just yet.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late," Hibiki said.
"Nah, you're not late; we just got the message too," Chris answered, leaning on the side of the helicopter. "Caught you in the middle of work?"
"Middle of break actually," Hibiki responded with a smile. "How's the fundraiser going?"
"Quite well," Maria answered. "We managed to secure a lot this morning."
"People are digging our singing after all!" Kirika exclaimed as usual, her voice louder than necessary.
"Seems so. I guess we're not the Queens of Music anymore, are we Maria?" Tsubasa asked her singing partner.
"Looks like it. At the rate we're going, we might end up an idol group."
"Please no. I don't want to be an idol," Chris protested. "I agreed to do this, but no way in hell I'm gonna continue later."
"Oh come on! It's fun!" Kirika tried to argue.
As the the two of them argued between each other, Shirabe spoke up instead. "And how's it going for you? Are you sure you don't want to join us too?"
Hibiki waved her hand in front of her face. "Sorry, but no. I'm okay with what I'm doing right now."
"Still, isn't it difficult?"
"It is, but it's also fun. The people are nice. We talked about this," Hibiki reminded her.
Miku watched them all with a smile. It seems only the two of them had decided not to join in on the fundraising campaign that took the wielders all over the country. They were offered the choice, but by then they had already found work and as such didn't want to up and disappear on their employers.
And besides, they liked this more down to earth style better. It put them face to face with the people of the city, allowing them to mingle and meet new people all the while.
Not that their friends didn't, but it was just a tad bit too public for their tastes.
And this is another change Miku noticed in her girlfriend. Originally, she was far more upbeat and bubbly, jumping and scuttling around without anyone to stop her. She would glomp anyone and invade their personal space, not at all caring for what they thought at her attempts at being more friendly.
But now, most of that was gone. She no longer jumped, and no longer seemed as uncontrollably energetic. Her quiet demeanor amongst her fellow wielders seemed to have stuck somewhat, as in their presence she held herself back from being too overwhelming.
It was not out of any sort of formality or anything, but more of a sign of respect for everything they had done for her. If she did not change her outlook and attitude, then it would seem like she had learned nothing.
As they conversed amongst themselves, Genjuro eventually arrived from within the submarine, making his way towards them. "I see everyone's here. Good," He said, then turned to Hibiki. "You must be surprised that I called you as well."
She rubbed her cheek with her finger sheepishly. "A bit, but at this point I'm supposed to expect it, I guess."
Indeed. It wasn't common now that Hibiki was called to operations, seeing as a few changes had taken place since then. Usually, the other wielders swiftly dealt with the problem themselves, while Hibiki was left behind in Tokyo to do her own thing.
There was no need for six of them most of the time, and considering her new position, Hibiki was more likely than not going to stay behind.
So when she was called, it probably was serious enough to warrant needing her help. "I'll fill you in on the details in the helicopter, so say your goodbyes quickly and we'll get going," Genjuro ordered, and the girls nodded in acknowledgement.
"Alright, then I guess we'll head in," Chris said. "See ya later tonight, Miku."
"Take care, everyone. Stay safe."
And so, each of them bid their farewells to her as they entered the helicopter, seating themselves in their designated spots. Only Hibiki and Miku remained outside, and as the pilot began the process of turning the engine on, Hibiki turned to her partner.
It was their usual ritual. Closing the distance, they kissed. They didn't have time for anything more, so right now it was a short, warm thing they left them both giggling. They put their foreheads together, their eyes closed.
And so, Hibiki said the first words.
"I'll be back before you know it."
Miku found the words to be incredibly amusing, and so responded with a few of her own.
"Okay, but don't make me come and get you this time."
What a strange way to summarize what had happened a year ago.
Yes, Hibiki said she'd come back, but didn't; and so, Miku was forced to come bring her back.
They disconnected, and Hibiki turned around, putting one foot onto the steps to climb into the helicopter.
And Miku watched her. She watched her back and smiled.
Hibiki had changed. She had grown, and no longer held that sad look in her eyes that she had tried to keep hidden from all those she knew. Now, they were vibrant, and serious, and happy.
But most of all, they were heroic. Every time she looked at them, she felt like she'd be swept along for the ride.
Hibiki would from now on only look forward.
And will never look back again.
...Well, not exactly.
Just as she made the last step, Hibiki turned her head around, sending Miku one final smile before heading inside and sitting down by her comrades.
After all, if she never looked back, she wouldn't see what was eagerly awaiting her return.
And so, the helicopter's blades started spinning, and Miku took many many steps back to get away from its field of influence. The wind blew about powerfully, and both her hair and skirt flapped chaotically. She raised a single hand to stop her hair from getting in her face, and watched as the helicopter rose above the ground little by little, her head tilting as it eventually rose high enough that she could not feel the wind. It turned in the air, and began flying away into the horizon, becoming smaller and smaller across the background sky.
Miku watched it go- watched them go on their next endeavor in saving the world. It was a small step at a time, but each time Hibiki went, she knew that this time would be extra special.
Because for her, there was no greater hero.
She smiled, and turned back around, heading back into the city. Before leaving, she murmured to herself one simple question.
"Now then...I wonder what I should make for dinner tonight?"
-!-
(Play: Nier Automata OST - Weight of the World)
She was on a helicopter, yet it was quieter than it had ever been. Leaning her head against the window, she stared outside, her mind wandering.
Genjuro was speaking, probably briefing them on what they were going to do; but right now, she really couldn't bring herself to care. She was content with looking at the sky -looking at the world- and simply watching the clouds go by.
To be here again was a rare occasion, made all the rarer by the changes she had undergone.
And she knew she had changed. She felt she had changed, and Miku wasn't very subtle about her surprise at said changes.
She felt different, but not in a bad way...no, in fact, she felt like a veil of the world had unfurled before her, letting her see things much more clearly.
Except this time, it wasn't marred by hatred and vengeance.
00
"Do it," She said quickly and bluntly.
Genjuro looked at her sadly. "Are you sure? You know you don't have to do this."
"I know, but I want to," She answered. "Now more than ever before. If I can use it to make up for everything I had done...then I will. I want to make the world I dream of a reality."
He couldn't argue with her at all.
"I want to believe...that this dream is not a mistake."
There really was nothing he could say to dissuade her from this path. "Looks like you've made up your mind," He said in resignation. "Alright, then we'll start the conversion as soon as possible."
She nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Master."
"You don't need to thank me...and as I said, honestly I wish you didn't take up this mantle again, but it looks like I can't stop you," He said. "However, I'm stubborn myself, and so I'm going to make a few changes from here on out."
She tilted her head in confusion. All at once his posture changed, his expression losing its warmth and turning to steel as he entered his commander persona.
And all at once, laid out his verdict. "Tachibana Hibiki, wielder of the Gungnir Symphogear: you are hereby relegated to reserves. Your participation in operations will be henceforth limited, and you will not be permitted to carry the relic pendant with you outside of the confines of S.O.N.G headquarters. You will be permitted to participate in training sessions, however your access to your Symphogear will be reduced and will only be allowed with my express permission. Am I understood?"
His judgement came out of nowhere, and she stood frozen before him. His seriousness then evaporated, and he smiled again, putting a hand on her head.
"I know it sounds a little harsh, but this is my way of granting you a bit of peace."
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening.
"Take this as your punishment that you'll have to calmly endure. You are sentenced to living your life happily with your loved ones. Only on rare occasions will we ever call on you."
"But...why?"
"Because you've already given enough of yourself for others", He began, his gaze gently and fatherly. "It's my belief that you've done enough; however, you seem to be a bit too stubborn for that, so I'll find a use for you here and there. Until then, put it in the back of your mind."
So this was his way of showing his appreciation...of showing his support.
She couldn't help but sniffle. "Thank you, Ma-"
No, this time, she'll call him by his name.
"Thank you, Genjuro-san."
He smiled.
"You're welcome."
00
Yes, that was how it had gone. She was punished by not being allowed to go with her comrades to various battlefields around the world.
It wasn't because they didn't trust her, or feared a relapse...but rather, as a reward for everything she had done. They desperately wanted to stop her from fighting, from sacrificing herself for the sake of others.
But she'd have none of it, and so they were forced to relent.
Someone nudged her in the shoulder, and she was stirred from her daydream. She lifted her head to look ahead, finding the rest of her comrades staring at her.
Ah, they noticed she had wandered off. Oops. "Sorry…" She mumbled.
Genjuro cracked a smile. The helicopter shook as they approached their destination, the wind currents pushing them about. "Any questions?!"
"No sir!"
"Good! Everyone, show them who's boss! Make them regret taking advantage of our period of peace for their own gain!"
"YES SIR!"
She found herself swept along. Yes, they were going to save people. Bad people were using the Alca-Noise they had received long ago to wreak havoc, and it was their job to put a stop to their tyranny.
Where were they? She didn't know, but she didn't care. It didn't matter to her where in the world she was, for her crime had been committed against humanity as a whole.
So no matter where she found herself, she'd give it her all.
To make that world a reality.
The helicopter's door opened, causing the wind to rush in mightily. It blew about in the interior, and they all held on for dear life to avoid being sucked out. "This is going to be an air drop!" Genjuro shouted over the noise. "So head out there and give 'em hell!"
Chris was already itching for a fight, and she stood up. "You fucking got it!"
The others followed her lead, with Hibiki the last in the line. Genjuro headed over, standing by them and waiting for the signal to let them drop.
Hibiki clenched the pole she held tightly, mentally preparing herself for the battles to come. She couldn't hear what Genjuro said over the noise, but a moment after he finished speaking Chris' face lit up with a savage smile, and she jumped out.
Maria followed soon after her, and then Tsubasa.
And then Shirabe.
And then Kirika.
Finally, there was only herself. She stood before the door to the world, staring down at the stretched earth beneath. She briefly raised her gaze to look at Genjuro.
He gave her a thumbs up.
Filled with resolve, she turned to face the landscape once more.
And with a final deep inhale, jumped.
She soared. Looking ahead, she could see the rest of her teammates falling towards the earth at fairly different altitudes, all of them still clad S.O.N.G's official uniform. They didn't need anything more than that, since part of the plan was to transform in midair and land smackdab behind enemy lines.
Briefly, Hibiki entertained notion of not transforming, and simply letting herself hit the ground at terminal velocity.
But then the memory of her sunshine filled her mind, and the negative thought fled her mind as fast as it came.
The lights began to cover her comrades, and so she grasped the pendant around her neck tightly. So tightly she grasped it she thought it would shatter, yet she still did not let it go.
For within it lay the legacy of those who had left the world...and the ideal she now carried deep within her heart.
She closed her eyes, simply feeling the wind brush past her frame.
It took a while for the words to return to her. So long had she been unsure with herself, the first few times she tried them it didn't work. But now, after so long, she knew they would.
She felt that they would.
And never again will they leave her heart.
Focusing on the dream she had promised to reach…
She sang, and was enveloped in light.
"Balwisyall nescell Gungnir tron"
-!-
A heart, tainted by sorrow, was now free to spread its wings.
A dream lay ever waiting beyond the horizon, one she would forever hold tightly in her hands.
The path would be long, and the journey arduous.
But she was not alone.
And remembering her oath, the girl headed towards the endless battlefields.
-!-
My Sunshine
FINÈ
-!-
AN:
Well everyone...we've reached the end of the road.
Honestly, I'm surprised at myself more than anything, considering I managed to see this through to the end.
But of course, it was a very long road. With 37 chapters, this story has now come to an end. A story that was initially born out of disappointment with the Symphogear anime going in what I considered a boring direction, and decided to take it somewhere I think was really fun.
Was it? Well, that's up to you the readers to decide. I know you probably heard this a million times before, but I really couldn't have done this without you.
So I'd like to thank everyone who read the story and enjoyed it, and I hope you had as much fun as I did on this ride.
Special thanks go to Langou and Lily White for providing me with amazing artwork for the story, and zeroblackdragon15 and Illindus for beta reading my long chapters.
I'll occasionally go back to this story and polish it up a bit more. In my small readthroughs I found some really embarrassing mistakes, and so I'll drop in from time to time and fix up everything that looks bad, and maybe upgrade some parts here and there. Nothing that will change the plot, but just some getting rid of rough edges.
Did you manage to catch all the references I made to other franchises? I sure hope you did!
But other than that, that's it for My Sunshine.
As for my next works? Well, all I can tell you right now is to keep your eyes peeled.
And who knows? You might catch a glimpse of our favorite Hamster Jesus making a special appearance!
That's all from me. Once again, thank you all for reading my story all the way to the end.
solopy567, signing out.
and Hibimiku forever!