I don't own anything from Danball Senki WARS
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Author's note: This will be the last update in a while as I'm having my semester finals in early July so I'll probably start updating again in the third week of July.
As Mia wandered around the second floor corridor in search of Maya and the rest, she sighed as she watched Atsuya flirt with several girls. At times, she wondered why she was even still with him despite of all of his womanizing habits. But then he wasn't like this when she first started dating him.
'What made him change?' She wondered sadly.
"Mia, stop looking so down." Maya said as she pounced her from behind. "Leave him to be. He's doing all that just to get your attention but I'll tell you that you shouldn't pay it any head since he's acting like a lady's man to every female student body instead of showering it on you."
"Do you really think so?" Mia asked skeptically.
"Of course." Maya shrugged and lightly pushed her towards the nearest training room. Mia blinked as she watch Nick and Wataru spar in the middle of the room, unaware of the two Houjou cousins coming in.
"You're leaving your right side open when you do that." Nick grunted as he dodged Wataru's punch and did a roundhouse kick of his own at his now open side.
"Ow!" Wataru rubbed his tender side and was about to get into stance again when he noticed Mia and Maya. "Mia!" The sparing match was forgotten as he ran over and hugged her tightly.
"Hey, it's only been what? Three weeks since we last saw each other." Mia laughed.
"But still, it feels like a long time since we went back to Fantasy before this and needed to help out with the rebuilding." Nick commented.
"So how was it?" Mia asked with a frown.
"We've been hit pretty badly this time around but nothing we can't recover from." Maya assured her. "So anything we need to know?"
"Nothing too important but Wataru…I think it is best that no one finds out that we are step-siblings." Mia told him. "Muraku and I have enough enemies as it is so if they find out about this, they'll come against you."
"Mia, I can take care of myself." Wataru rolled his eyes. "Besides', I faced worse bullies before."
"But still…"
"Mia, Wataru is already a capable LBX player and fighter." Nick spoke up. "Put some trust in him."
"I'm just worried that they will treat him like how they treat me." Mia said softly.
"Mia, I know that you cannot stand the criticisms and comparisons." Wataru said understandingly. "But I can. I just want to stand up to them my own way."
"I'll be calling myself a hypocrite if I continue to be overprotective on you." Mia sighed. "Muraku is already bad enough. But just remember, if you really need help, don't hesitate to ask for it."
"Sure." Wataru nodded. "By the way, Nick and I are in Rossius."
Mia would have fallen over had Nick's strong arms not catch her in time. "What the heck…"
"I don't know why either, but I don't really mind." Wataru shrugged.
"Neither do I." Nick smiled. "I'll keep an eye on him and Muraku if you want."
"Thanks." Mia said uncertainly but she pushed it aside. "Maya, want to spar with me now?"
"You're on." Maya said with a vicious glint in her eyes. Nick and Wataru sweatdropped at that. Maya was considered to be one of the most violent fighters in their group but knowing Mia, she wouldn't want Maya to hold back against her just because she was her cousin and one of the few people in her 'favorite people' category.
Mito-sensei tapped her fingers on her elbow as she waited for Jin to show up at Jenock's briefing room. She has been thinking about it and realized that they have to officialize the alliance as soon as possible. If her hunch is correct, there will be more chaos in the Second World here now not only because of Bandit, but of the Night Lurkers too. And she desperately needed to find the Lost Area to find her father. Despite Yuko offering to help, she could not help but feel that it will not be too successful. She straightened up when the doors opened and Jin stepped in.
"Mito-sensei." Jin greeted her.
Mito-sensei nodded back in greeting. "I have been thinking about this, Kaidou-sensei. We cannot move around in the shadows any more. We need to make our alliance known to the students before Bandit causes more chaos. If the students know that we are combining forces, we have a bigger chance of countering Bandit and finding the Lost Area."
"I see." Jin nodded in understanding. "How should we do it?"
"I want to test the first platoon on how well they can solve a mission unrelated to War Time directly." Mito-sensei stated. "Do you have the transmission of one of Harness' missions like I requested?"
"Here." Jin gave her a pen drive. "I think I know what you are thinking of now. I will speak to Higurashi-sensei about this too."
"Thank you." Mito-sensei nodded. "By the way, I don't think there is any point in including Mia in this mission as she already knows through Sena Reika that you are the sub-commander of Harness and I want to give her a different assignment."
"And what is that?" Jin asked curiously.
"I want her to throw the first platoon off-track to show me the ability that Yuko told me about, illusion manipulation."
The next day before school started, Mito-sensei called the first platoon sans Mia to the briefing room for an important assignment.
"Mito-sensei, why did you call the first platoon and yet, Mia is not here?" Haruki asked when they arrived.
"I have a different assignment for her later which is somewhat similar to the one that I will be giving you." Mito-sensei explained. "Now that we have captured the Wall of Gigant, our next target will be Death Forest. I expect Rossius will defend it as if their lives depend on it. Even without the reinforcements from the Wall of Gigant, Rossius can easily overpower our forces, the way they are now. So I want to form an alliance."
"An alliance?" Haruki said in surprise while the others straightened up.
"Yes, one with Harness. Though Harness is expending its teritory bit by bit, they started off with barely anything. The alliance will be in their favor as well."
"So you are saying that our interest match up." Haruki said, remembering what Mia had once said that it is better to form alliances with virtual countries that has the same goals with Jenock.
"Exactly." Mito-sensei nodded. "That' why, I would like the four of you to become the bridge between this alliance." She continued, ignoring their gasps. "Go meet the commander of Harness and negotiate with them in private."
"Excuse me, not to sound rude or anything, but why us?" Daimen asked.
"I am just fulfilling a request that my friend asked of me." Mito-sensei finally said after a pause. "After you complete this mission, I will reveal to you more about the possible affects this alliance will provide to Jenock and its students."
Now Daimen was curious at her words. What in the world did she mean by that? And by the looks of it, Haruki, Hikaru and Sakuya were just as curious.
Haruki thought about it for a moment and nodded. "I understand."
"But there's just one problem: We have no idea who the commander is." Mito-sensei told them.
"Isn't the commander Higurashi-sensei from class 2-3?" Haruki spoke up in surprise.
"No. The commander's codename is 'Doldkins'." Mito-sensei said with narrowed eyes. "We learned of their name through our intelligence team. I'd like all of you to uncover Doldkins' identity by today evening and propose an alliance between Jenock and Harness." She took out a pen drive from her pocket and gave it to Haruki. "In here are some transmissions of Harness that we managed to intercept. If you analyze the data, you might be able to find a clue about their identity. This is a private mission for the four of you only. Don't forget that."
"We understand." Haruki nodded.
"Good, you may leave now. Call in Mia for me."
"Hai."
XX
"I wonder what mission is Mito-sensei giving Mia." Sakuya wondered as they walked back to class.
"I have no doubt that it will be different from ours." Daimen sighed but stopped when he noticed something. "We are supposed to keep this mission to ourselves, right?"
"Exactly." Haruki nodded. "Why?"
"That." Daimen pointed at Catherin who was trying but failing to hide behind a wall. Haruki had to suppress a groan but Daimen nudged him and whispered. "Just don't take notice of her."
But unfortunately for them, Catherin made a beeline towards them. "What was Mito-sensei talking to you about back there?"
"P&C stuff." Daimen said with a shrug before Haruki could say anything and went on ahead but Catherin went on bugging him.
"So come on, we are a team so you can tell us."
"Catherin, I'm very tempted to do an Aussie Salute at you." Daimen muttered under his breath.
"We just got a private mission for our platoon." Haruki sighed. "It is none of your business."
"But…"
"Catherin, please mind your own bizzo." Daimen cut in as politely as he could without getting mad at her and promptly pushed the others away from her. "I've never seen a persistent fly as her." He muttered once they were far enough. "No wonder Mia hates her guts."
"So what are we going to do about the mission?" Hikaru asked.
"You and Daimen ask Higurashi-sensei for any information while Sakuya and I will analyze the recording." Haruki whispered back.
"Alright…" Daimen trailed off when he spotted Mia heading towards them. "So what did Mito-sensei want with you?"
"P&C stuff." Mia smiled. "I heard about your mission but I won't be joining you guys since she wants me to do something else. But I have a feeling we'll meet up eventually." Mia said with a small grin. "I'll see you guys back at class."
"Why do I have a feeling that she's enjoying her mission?" Haruki wondered.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Daimen shrugged. "But as long as we accomplish our own respective missions, I wouldn't really bother about it."