Battle Phase 2-02: Miharu's New Leaf

In school, Miharu had not yet arrived, even though the time was 8:45- usually, 8:30 was her arrival time.

"Hmm... what day is it anyway?" a sudden thought came across Misaki's mind.

"Oh my, today is the 14th... Miharu's birthday is today!" Yayoi suddenly screamed, disturbing backstage crew and more. "Got to go!"

"Eh!" the other classmates screamed as well.

"Guys, Miharu's coming!" another alerted and all of them settled quickly.

"Hmm... something's strange here..." Miharu thought as she looked around her classroom- too quiet.

Later...

"Okay class... I need someone to help me in finding the reference books..." their literature teacher, Ms. Tomoe spoke. "Miharu, could you help me?"

"Sure I would..."

As teacher and student went to the library to get the books, the class gathered for a meeting- what to do.

"Okay dear... we'll talk to Yayoi on your idea..." Shuuko answered from the other end of the phone line. "I did not know that today's Miharu's birthday..."

Meanwhile, at the Hoshikawa academy, level 1 classes were at a standstill (by virtue of their weekly schedule) almost an hour ago. Only one remained sitting in room 1-A, as the others were taking their breaks... and he was busy writing a letter that he was supposed to attach to a really large gift box that he had on site.

"What's in the box?" someone asked him earlier.

"It is not for you to know..."

"Eh? You are being secretive lately..." his twin replied.

"Yukina, I'm trying to write a letter here!"

"Did he just say 'write a letter'?" the other girls asked.

"What kind of letter is it?"

"Is it for me?"

"Hey, that letter is for me!"

"Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!" the girls began to speak up a frenzy.

Yukinari sighed, remembering what happened earlier. He finished the letter and attached it to the gift wrapped package. He and it went to the school gate, towards a waiting courier.

"Luckily I'm doing this free... I'm headed for that area anyway..." the courier replied, sounding quite displeased.

"Please Ms. Ai... I really need that to be given today..."

"Okay... I'll even greet her for you..."

"Thanks... thanks a lot!"

Recess time, to the taste of custard rolls, it was really and totally unusual, for Miharu was not there- again.

"Where could she be?" Tamayo wondered.

Miharu in the meantime was humming a tune in the cafeteria, munching not just one or two, but already three Wednesday rolls (making the other boys think twice or thrice before approaching her).

"Hey Miharu..."

"Miyuki! Come on and join me here..."

"Why thank you... and my, you have quite an appetite there..." Miyuki noted, seeing 3 spent wrappers and Miharu reaching for another one on the table.

"Really? Oh my... I don't know but, today seems a bit strange- I feel that someone's telling me to eat all of these pastries here..."

"Eh... today is not your average day, you know..." Miyuki thought with a pinch of dread.

"And I forgot, I still need to remember something... but what?"

"Please principal... can you do something about it?" Tamayo tried to urge the principal, who went into their room. "Can you dismiss us earlier?"

"Hmm... let me think..." principal Sakura replied "let me see if there is something that can aid you in the schedule... Ah! Here it is... the honor society meeting is today. Lucky for you guys Miharu is an honor student from her former school... just greet Miharu for me, okay?"

Later, the PA system rang, a sign that an important school-wide announcement was about to be made.

"Attention to all honor society members and teachers, there will be a general meeting after lunch in the student council room... as for the rest of the students, classes are dismissed immediately. This is an order from the principal... that is all... Dismissed!"

"Too bad... Misaki and the others would have to go home..."

Miyuki sighed "And too bad the both of us would stay for the meeting..."

"This is inconvenient..." Miharu puffed (amazingly, this is the first time Miharu puffed over her academic record in school).

"That will give them time to be ready..." Miyu thought as the two of them went to the student council room.

Hoshikawa residence. Yayoi and Shuuko had let the kids in to help with the party, while Kajiro and Shinji were in charge of the cooking department, with Shinji being the drone of the current iron chef- recently another victor of another episode of the telecasted show. Koyomi and Asuka were also there to help- namely buying the things needed (Yzak had returned home to spend spring break in Bavaria- to his hesitation to leave his "Mimi" behind. Tomoka on the other hand was sent home by her big sis- father's orders).

"Shizune, can you pass me that please..." Misaki asked a classmate- she was doing a banner.

Meanwhile, Tamayo was creating a hydrangea necklace that only she and a few childhood friends knew how to weave.

"I came here as soon as my schedule was finished!" Kirie came barging in- from Tokyo University (for a 16-year old, she sure is smart). "So, what can I do?"

"You can help us out here in the cake department... when the cake arrives" Yayoi motioned.

"Or with your uncle in the other departments..." Shuuko added.

"Delivery for a Mrs. Yayoi Hoshikawa..." the doorbell and the man who pressed it answered.

"Finally the cake is here... and on time too..." she spoke, sealing the order form and acquiring the package.

Meanwhile, at the military base (which in an earlier chapter was the parking site of the Suzuhara vehicle) control room, things were a bit relaxed.

"Why don't you call it a day dear?" the director's wife asked him.

"I guess I should Yvonne... but there are still some matters that I need to check..."

"But Andrei, Yayoi is expecting your appearance at Miharu's birthday... and Naniko (A.K.A. Julianna) will be going there..."

"Take care of our daughter for me, okay?" he replied, sipping the juice that was there "And besides, you are on our second, so you must rest, or the baby might be stressed out..."

"Don't worry, I was about to file a maternity leave anyway..."

"Sir, message from UN Division 6- MITHRIL..." the comms officer alarmed "It says that the info that we gave them helped in the capture of Memnon..."

"Tell them our appreciation is noted... kudos on their capture of the world's no.1 terrorist... at least the championships would be a bit safer."

"Okay dear... but try to be there..."

As soon as his wife left the room, he began to browse some files. He eventually picked out two from a list: Overskill and Lambda (pronounced as Lamba or Lamda) Drive.

"Is it possible?"

Back in school, the meeting was over, and Miharu at least, was now happy- after receiving various awards and such.

"Wait till mom hears about this..." she joyfully cheered.

"Hey Miharu, it's still a bit early... why don't we stop someplace else for a while?" Miyuki suggested.

"Why not? I have been itching to look at something for Hinata..."

"Okay, the princess it is... and I wanted to check Spectra's performance... and a new move that I wanted to do."

"New move?" Miharu suddenly became curious.

"I was thinking of a beam for that one- since I saw Misaki's. Say Miharu... what kind of powerful attack will you have Hinata do?"

"I don't know... I'm still weighing the possibility... if it's really applicable..."

"Why not try a cannon? A super cannon move fit for an angel as gundamlike as Hinata... like the Freedom Gundam-slash-Strike Freedom Gundam-assault you sooo love to watch..."

"Hmm... that might do... but Hinata is no ZGMF-X10A / X20..."

Now the two entered the shop and looked around for accessories for a bit. Then, Miyuki rented out a table and Hinata sat in one place, not risking being the new move's first victim. Miharu had found Hinata an ingenious add-on- a rare carry shield that contained a built-in beam shield on top- the first of its kind ever released- it activates when an emitter at the accessory's center pops up, emitting a bluish-clear elongated hexagonal glasslike pane of energy.

"Okay... here goes..." Miyuki spoke as her angel took up an energy collecting stance.

Seven points of energy began to gather on Spectra's hands, being concentrated and gathered at the same time- to the wonder of her cousin. Each point was colored with a portion of the rainbow, so it was kind of spectral. A single target suddenly appeared infront, ready to receive the attack. As a precaution, Hinata deployed her shield, just in case- the soft clear blue streaks of energy issuing from the emitter a sign of assurance.

"Give it a cool sounding name..." Miharu urged as her cousin's angel focused the energetic rainbow-colored sphere at the target.

"Spectral... Beam!" Miyuki issued, projecting the rainbow-colored beam to the target, blasting it to the nothingness from which it was generated from. Miyu panted hard afterward, tired from concentrating and such.

Later, on route back home...

"Thanks for witnessing that..." Miyuki made thanks.

"It's okay... I can do it any time..."

"Speaking of time, its 2:30 already." Miyuki added. "And by the way, when is your operation scheduled?"

"Probably after my... wait, hold it!" Miharu suddenly alarmed "What's today?"

"The fourteenth..."

"That means... today is my..."

"Happy birthday!" Miyuki suddenly tapped her shoulder.

"Hey! You tricked me there..." Miharu almost cried, starting to run. "Now I know what missing- a birthday cake!"

A few minutes and blocks later...

"Happy Birthday!" the greeting came as the door was fully open.

"Mom... Dad... Guys..." Miharu began to shed tears "Thanks!"

"For you..." Tamayo suddenly presented herself, placing the flower necklace on her neck "as my friend..."

"Hey, this weave... its familiar..." Miharu noted the necklace, and then the past suddenly flashed thru. She then came near and then whispered "So you're the flower-weaver girl... now I remember... Tamako-chan."

Tamayo did an angry jigglypuff face then laughed after that, prompting the party to begin. A few minutes later, Yvonne and her daughter Naniko arrived.

"Where's he?" Yayoi asked.

"Still working, giving out praises... being assigned with UN's anti-terror detail is getting the better of him- but luckily Memnon was caught- the 7 'o clock news should show it..." Yvonne noted, since the said person had also once done harm to Japan as well (Luckily, this person is an extra- so no worries please). "Putting him aside, I'm ready to be the food's terrorist..."

And again, after a few minutes, Icchan arrived, with Ohjiro and Ringo tailing (Rika had to return home to Chiba.). And the party continued into the night, all present people having a good time. Then, it was time to open whatever presents where there. At that point, the doorbell rang. Yayoi opened it and was surprised at who she saw.

"Do you have a wayward custodian?" the male "companion" asked.

"You know what, you're late Andrei... and you too Ai..."

"I'm sorry 'mam"

"Okay, get in..."

"Is that for me?" Miharu asked, noting Ai's package.

"It's from your friends up in Akita..."

"Okay... I'll open this later..." Miharu replied, placing the gift in one corner and unwrapping some others.

Later, as soon as the guests went home and the clean-up began, Miharu took the package and unwrapped it in the privacy of her room. Inside was a large teddy bear, and with a note to boot. She then began to read the letter, which went like this:

"Dear Miharu... I don't know what to say, after all those years... but I hope that you'll like it... Your Loving Friend, Yukinari."

Miharu cried herself to sleep- with tears of joy.

The next day, Miharu was out on an errand- but today was no ordinary day for her, for someone in a gray trench coat had been following her out of the district. She was carrying her angel and related hardware in a neat rucksack- in hopes that after the errand, she could have some practice time. Misaki in the meantime was waiting for her in the princess- because Yayoi had asked Miharu to deliver something to the office. But before Miharu rounded the last corner on her trip, the hands that were connected to the suit and a few others had suddenly grabbed her, silenced and blindfolded her and placed her in the backseat of a car, headed for the Tokyo dome.

What danger awaits Miharu? Who could have the heart to do such a thing? Will the others even know if she is missing?