7 Hours after Miho's kill. Tottori Police Department.
After what had happened in the mall, the tankery match had to be paused until further notice from the proper authority. Miho Nishizumi, for the current moment, is in custody of authorities under the supervision of Captain Ami Chouno of the JGSDF. The event that had happened has put everyone, including Anchovy herself, on edge after witnessing how ruthless Miho became. How merciless she was when she hanged that robber on the ceiling of the mall's ground floor.
Even the police officers there visibly shook a bit to know a girl like Miho could do that.
Although Miho was the one who hanged that robber, the officers were confused about Miho since she just sat there and smoked. She is very cooperative and complied with the officers. The officers even confused when Miho happily obliged to handcuffed herself before heading off to the station. Usually, when people committed a crime, there's a chance that the person would try to avoid the police, or even ended up doing something stupid in front of the officers. In Miho's case, her patience was pretty unnerving to a few officers but very glad that she understands what she had done.
Miho is currently in the interrogation room, with a few officers watching from the other side of the two-way window. Of course, the interrogator was Ami herself and a police lieutenant, whose name is surprisingly Nobuji Nazen, who was involved in helping the 141 to stop a robbery back in Tanabe City. Nazen got promoted and recently transferred to Tottori for another temporary assignment. Miho heard him in the news once, so she's a bit surprised to see him here.
Her friends are waiting in the main lobby, including the mothers, waiting to hear what kind of sentence Miho would receive from her kill. Emi, Alice, Kay, Maho, Shiho, Chiyo, Darjeeling, Nishi, Jajka, Éclair, Marie, Andou, Anchovy, Yukari, Anzu, Katyusha, and finally Mika are the people who are waiting in the main lobby of the police station. Everyone was pretty shaken after that event and didn't even say a word while they wait. Emi, Alice, Jajka, Marie, and Éclair were pretty traumatized of the event, while the rest of them can't banish the thought of what they saw, which in turn showing their visible concern and discomfort.
Anchovy sat on a metal bench with Shiho and Chiyo with Alice sitting on her lap, while the rest of them stand and waited near the counter or lean against the walls and sit on nearby chairs. Anchovy's bullet wound has been tended, but for the current moment, she needs to use the shoulder sling to stabilize her wounded shoulder and decrease her arm movement. It should take for at least 5-7 days for her wound to be healed fully. Unless she is experienced in quick recovery, and it would take less than five days at the maximum.
Anchovy sighed to herself before looking over to her friends, Shiho and Chiyo, around her. Alice looked so tired and pale for now and maybe she was pretty distressed when she saw what Miho did back there, can't really blame her about it when you know that she is an innocent young teenage girl. Andou seems agitated about Miho; she only bows her head down and keeps rubbing her arms on their own without her conscience. Marie ever mentioned Andou ever said about something that concerned her about Miho and she was right about it, only that she didn't expect to see Miho carried away like that. Katyusha, who knew Miho is a 141 aside from Anchovy, mumbled to herself with a frown, and she's been tapping her foot on the floor non-stop. Éclair and Jajka look so alarmed that they've been staring at each other with their tired eyes, exchanging the same look and same thought about what Miho did that time.
Emi looked so disbelieve about what Miho did; it made her cross her arms and gave a cringed look into a blank space. Nishi and Darjeeling sat across Anchovy with their frowns, Darjeeling even covers her mouth with her hand up until now. Kay, Anzu and Maho show their concerns to each other; they are quietly conversing that Anchovy knew that it has something to do with what happened to the 141. Yukari looks broken down as she leans against a wall, she rubs her face to relieve the distress she had from witnessing her favorite friend or she could call a sister-in-bond, Miho from hanging the robber. Mika rests against a wall while she's sitting, she's nearly asleep from all that event. Shiho and Chiyo have been so silent until now, never exchange looks or say a word, only staring forward with a blank stare.
Anchovy closes her eyes and sighed before she straightens her back. At least, she tries to open a conversation.
Of course, by clearing her throat.
"Eh-hum."
Everyone turns their heads at her, including Shiho, Chiyo, and Alice, who sat next to her. "How is everyone holding up?"
There is no response coming from either of the girls. But Darjeeling gasped twice in disbelieve before she shook her head at her. "In all honesty, I'm pretty freaked out."
"I'd say the same. But…" Jajka paused, continued with an uncomfortable shrug. "What the hell?"
"Wish I could say something more explicit than that," Kay added as she crosses her arms. "If not for Alice-san to be here."
"I know," Alice replied with a nod, didn't show any emotion except for her being tired.
"Anchovy-san," Andou rubs her face before she shook. "Merde, I'm scared. I can't even think straight."
"Just take it easy, will you?" Marie asked as she comforts her with a pat to her shoulder.
Yukari sighed before she looks up to Anchovy. "I-I just can't believe this is happening."
"I can't help but noticed her aura at that time…" Mika paused for a moment with a shaken tone, fiddling her fingers altogether. "Her aura rots in the air."
After a few comments from some of the girls, Emi shook her head agitatedly. "Anchovy-san, what happened back there?"
"Emi-san, you saw what happened back there," Anchovy replied as she gestures to her side.
"No, I mean," Emi replied with a shook. "Before Miho attacked the robber, you kept saying 'don't do it' to Miho."
Emi then steps closer to Anchovy and glances at her. "Did you know this would have happened?"
"Yes, I did," Anchovy replied flatly with a nod.
"And you knew she could go far like that?" Emi asked, winced her eyes at her in suspicion.
Anchovy looked away from her and looked down at her feet. "I-"
"Did you know that she could go far into killing someone?" Emi asked a bit different question.
Anchovy is taken aback of her question. She knew Miho killed people before, just the bad ones. Including her rage into killing people. But Anchovy had to lie about it.
"I- no!" Anchovy replied with a shook as she tried her best to lie; thankfully, her words were very convincing. "I mean- I knew she could go far like that, but… she would never go far into killing someone."
"Until we witnessed her killing," Katyusha shook to herself in a bit fright, who knew why Anchovy lied. "I guess Miho-san didn't show that part for your sake, until now."
"I Agree," Éclair added with a nod. "She doesn't want to show her dark side."
"I just can't believe about that," Emi protested with a sigh. "Miho took a bullet to her arm, um Gottes willen!"
"Yeah, but-" Maho was quickly cut off by Emi, pointing a circled finger at her.
"But!" Emi continued. "Miho didn't even flinch! She ignored the gunshot wound she got and just pushed him out the window along with herself! Now tell me how did she shrug that wound off and kill the robber straight without a problem!"
That left everyone speechless, including a few officers in there who overheard her and stopped as they glance at her. Anchovy, Shiho, Chiyo, Alice, Kay, Maho, Anzu, and Katyusha stay silent but knew that Miho might get shot a lot before that Miho already used to it. Andou seems pretty quiet, and to think about what Emi said had her agitated. Yukari breathes out with a frown; she remembered Miho ever said that Miho killed someone before she killed this robber. Nishi, Éclair, Jajka, Marie, and Mika looked terrified about what Emi witnessed. As Darjeeling, let's just say that she's already lost her mood to drink a tea.
"It's a scary thought," Andou added as she looks away, agreed to Emi's statement. "She even survived that fall through the ceiling."
"Right after she hanged him," Nishi continued, noticed that Chiyo is closing her daughter's ears. "Oh, we-we're sorry. We shouldn't have talked about this in front of Alice-san."
"No, no, it's alright, it's just…" Chiyo paused for a moment before looking over to Alice. "Dear Alice, you want to get a drink or something to eat?"
"I…" Alice fell silent for several seconds before replying. "I don't need any, Okaa-san."
"Alice, please," Shiho convinced. "You're pretty tired. You should get something to eat or drink. You don't want your mother worried about seeing you very exhausted, don't you?"
"You know, after what Miho did back there," Jajka added. But she received the glares from everyone excluding Alice, describing that is 'not helping.' "Erm, sorry, I shouldn't say that."
Alice took her time for consideration with a bow before she sighed. "I think you're right."
Alice then looks up to her mother. "Let's get something to eat, Okaa-san."
"Of course, my darling," Chiyo gladly replied, then looks back at everyone. "We'll be back for a few moments."
"It's alright," Anzu replied with a nod. "Just take your time, we'll be here."
"Ok, come on, my dear," Chiyo then leads her daughter out from the lobby until they are out of sight.
"Now, where were we?" Jajka asked she lost the plot.
"Um, how did she shrug that wound off and kill the robber straight without problem?" Shiho asked them, tilting her head twice.
"Right," Emi clears her throat. "She should have been hurt and can't do anything about it. Or at least, she held her wound with a scream."
"Maybe she is pretty resistant to pain because of the life she had in London," Mika suggested with a raised brow.
"What does that have to do with her life in London?" Emi asked as she confused about what Mika said.
"Miho mentioned that she had a rough life in London," Katyusha replied, knowing that's a lie. "She has been in a few fights before, probably that's why she is resistant to pain."
"There's no kind of fight could compare with getting shot by a bullet," Kay disagreed with that, following along with what Katyusha said. "Unless she ever got stabbed."
"Kay, don't try to scare me," Anchovy already felt unnerving on that.
"I'm not scaring you," Kay shook her head. "I'm just saying my opinion."
"That makes sense, but…" Emi shrugged uncomfortably with a sigh. "It's still bothering me."
"Tell me about it," Éclair replied with an open palm points at her. "It's our first time to see her killed someone."
Everyone didn't say a word or nod but agree to what she said.
Then it's Yukari's turn to tell. "Well, that's our first time. But not for Miho."
Everyone perked their ears on that. Those who knew Miho is a 141 taken aback of what she said. Those who were still sitting stand up immediately upon hearing that.
"Yukarin, what do you mean by that?" Marie asked as she frowned on that.
Yukari's eyes looked down for a moment before diverting to them. "She killed someone before."
Everyone fell shocked immediately with mouths agape and widen eyes. Shiho and Anchovy quickly straighten their backs to hear that, because they don't know since when Miho told that to her. Maho, Anzu and Kay were very worried and didn't expect to hear that after Miho gun-pointed Anzu to find Ogin. Katyusha froze like a statue, as she remembered how Miho slaughtered all the mobsters back in the apartments in Pravda schoolship. And Andou's tan skin turned pale immediately as she felt she wants to fall into a catatonic state.
This wasn't something that should have been said inside the police station. But seeing that every officer in the station is very busy at the moment, no one paid attention to them.
Emi was rather disbelieved and deadpanned to what she said. "W-what, she killed someone before?!"
"Yes, she did kill someone before," Yukari said as she lands her hand on her chest. "But… she didn't explain who was the man she killed or why she killed him."
They didn't like what they hear. "Did she mention with what she killed the man before?" Darjeeling dared to ask.
"Well, here's the thing," Yukari frowned because she knew they would hate to hear this. "She has a gun."
Their eyes are immediately shadowed with dread; even Katyusha looks concerned about it. Excluding only two of them, which are Anchovy and Shiho themselves. Andou is noticeably shaking in fear of what she heard along with Marie. Mika, Jajka, Éclair, Nishi and Darjeeling froze on the spot, seemingly their brains shut down a moment. Emi looked furious but shocked at the same time. Maho, Kay, and Anzu looked away from her, frowned, and disappointed to know that Yukari blew that part. That part that shouldn't be said to them.
"Wa-wait, she has a gun?" Éclair looked pretty stupefied of this. "Since when?"
"My guess," Yukari replied. "Since London."
"No, no way," Nishi won't believe that as she shook her head. "That's impossible. How can she get a gun?"
"Maybe the better question is when did she get a weapon permit?" Darjeeling asked as she crossed her arms, and, of course, she sighed in displeasure.
"I'm afraid I don't know about that," Yukari then turns her head at Shiho. "Shiho-sama, I believe you know anything about Miho's possession of a weapon?"
Shiho just sighed and can't deny them about that; at least they don't know who Miho really is. "I'm afraid I do know about that."
The girls are stunned to hear that, but Emi looks furious about it but managed to ask her with a calm tone. "You let her have a gun?!"
"It's not my authority to question Miho's intention," Shiho replied with a frown and a shook. "She has her own reason why too."
"A reason so she can kill someone?!" Emi exclaimed back at her angrily. "What kind of-?!"
"Hey, enough!" Anchovy quickly stood up and walked over to Emi. "I know you don't like Shiho-sama, but don't blame her about it!"
"Wha- what makes you say that about me?" Emi asked back. Her expression turned into a mix of surprise and anger.
"Because Miho ever mentioned about that before today," Anchovy replied as she frowned. "She said to me that if you actually keep antagonizing her, she has no choice but to hate you like what she said to you back in your elementary days before."
Although Miho had killed someone today, Miho's statement about that left everyone stunned. Shiho and Maho were both surprised by the statement. Yukari fell into disbelieving to hear that. But Emi is very taken aback from the statement that Miho said to Anchovy before. Miho screamed she hates her once because of Emi's cold, arrogant, and selfish attitude back then, and worst of all, Emi didn't want to show her true self at that time.
"Wait, no," Emi denied that with a shook. "She won't say that I knew her."
"That's before she changed," Anchovy replied with a shook. "You don't know who she is now."
Emi could stand unresponsive to Anchovy's answer because the only person who knew Miho too well is Anchovy herself. Aside from Shiho, Kay, Anzu, Katyusha and Maho knew who Miho is until now, some of them knew her deep too. How can Emi reply to her statement? Anchovy was right about Miho's change of true self.
As the atmosphere fell into silence, they heard footsteps coming from the cubicles behind Emi. They turned their heads to that direction right when Chiyo and Alice came back right in time. They saw Miho, along with Nazen and Ami, walking over to the group un-cuffed. They are pretty surprised to see her here, looking so calm and in control. Miho, Nazen, and Ami then stopped in front of the group.
Nazen put his hands on his hips and began. "Well, I got some news about your friend, Miho Nishizumi."
"And that is?" Katyusha asked with a raised brow.
"First," Ami answered with a pause. "She's not going to jail."
Everyone is so relieved on hearing that. "And Two?" Emi asked to them.
"Her actions are marked as self-defense," Nazen then glances at Miho. "Even though she ended up killing that poor robber."
"And three?" Andou asked, touching her chin.
"It's clear that my actions would be written in the police reports," Miho replied with a shrug. "So, the police will be keeping an eye on me for the current moment."
Darjeeling raised her eyebrow in suspicion of Miho's release. "Miho, forgive me for asking you this, but… did you bribe the police for your release?"
That left everyone stunned for a while until Miho shook her head. "No, I didn't. Nor does Ms. Chouno did."
"The reason we spent more than 5 hours on keeping Miho here was that we had a lot of discussions with the judges directly," Ami replied, resting her hands behind her. "Right after we interrogate her thoroughly."
"Wait a minute," Mika halts for a moment. "So you're saying that she's…"
"She's innocent," Nazen replied, then bows awkwardly. "Even after what she did."
"The robber took the shot first," Ami replied as she looks at Miho. "And hurt Anchovy. Everyone with her saw that. She did what she had to do to stop him from hurting others. But… thankfully the judges are pretty tolerable about how angry Miho was until she ended up killing him."
"And by tolerable, you mean…?" Chiyo asked as she tilts her head.
"They understand why I was angry about it," Miho sighed to that with her eyes closed. "I knew I shouldn't have killed him but-"
"Miho," Anchovy called, halting Miho mid-talk as she glances to Anchovy's shoulder sling.
"I…" Miho paused, looking over to her fist she used on the robber before continuing. "I didn't realize I got carried away."
"Miho-san," Marie told her with a shook. "I hope you're not blaming yourself about it."
"I-" Miho was about to say.
"Miho, stop," Shiho softly and hastily replied; she doesn't want to hear it. "Just stop. Please."
Silence fills the air again despite the constant noises of officers working around the station. Everyone, especially Anchovy and Emi, seems to understand why Shiho asked her to stop what Miho was about to say. They could see the guilt she had after committing her to kill. She never wanted that to happen. But it happened anyway; Miho stifled a sigh as she rubs her head.
Nazen then began. "Anyway, Miho has been discharged from custody so that she can return home now."
"Alright," Shiho then bowed to them. "Nazen-sama, Ami, thank you for looking over my daughter."
Miho then smiled and looked back at Nazen. "Want to meet again someday, Leftenant?"
"Sure," Nazen replied, surprising the girls of how friendly are they. "Give me a call if you want a meetup."
"I will, Leftenant," Miho then salutes him with her two fingers. "Have a good day."
"You too, Miho-san," Nazen then headed back through the cubicles with a smile as everyone watches him leave.
Miho turns her head to her friends and the mothers, who are staring at her in confusion. "What?"
"Did you get interrogated and had a nice talk at the same time?" Mika asked with a dumbfounded look.
"Yes, I did," Miho replied with a nod. "He's nice enough."
"Erh-hum," Ami clears her throat. "Shouldn't you get going now?"
"Of course," Miho replies with a nod. "You coming?"
"No, I should stay here for now," Ami shook her head. "I need to make sure the trouble you made is finished here. And also, I need to discuss with some officials about the canceled match."
"I'm sorry I ruined your match back there," Miho apologetically replied with her head bowed.
"Don't worry about it. I'll take it from here," Ami happily replied. "You just go ahead and head home."
"If you say so, Captain," Miho then turns her head at her friends and mothers. "Shall we move out?"
"Yes, we should," Alice agreed with a nod.
Miho then turns her head to Ami. "See you soon, then."
"See you soon," Ami responded with a bow, before Miho, the girls and the mothers began to leave from the main lobby.
As soon as they leave, Ami sighs before she turned around and headed through the cubicles. It was a short walk for them to reach the front door of the police station. And none of them said a word when they reached the door. They go through the door before walking down the stairs, passing a few officers who are heading for the door.
After they walked down the stairs, they stopped to meet a couple of individuals standing in front of them. Much to everyone's surprise, those couples are Vicek and Rinnai Chiyomi. Emi didn't recognize them, but the rest sure did. Miho really didn't expect to meet them here.
"Vicek-sama, Okaa-san?" Anchovy called with her high tone. "What are you doing here?"
"We both heard about what happened to Miho back in that canceled match," Vicek replied flatly with his arms crossed.
"So we both decided to head here to see how you are doing," Rinnai replied as her open palm points at Vicek.
"Wait, 'we'?" Miho asked confusingly, doesn't remember anything about Mrs. Chiyomi knew Vicek except for Garhaaye. "I don't recall you know Vicek, Mrs. Chiyomi."
"Well, we met by accident and had a small conversation in the middle of the road," Rinnai replied with her thumb's pointing behind her. "When I know he's a friend of yours, we both decided to get here together."
Miho could notice right before Rinnai lowers her hand, she signaled number 1-4-1 with her fingers. Miho nodded at her to confirm it's true he's 141, thankfully everyone excluding Anchovy and Shiho are unaware of that.
"I see," Miho replied with a small smile. "But I didn't expect you want to meet me here, right after I'm off from custody."
"I could guess that made you tired," Rinnai replied with a smile.
"I'll say the opposite, actually," Miho replied, clasping her hands below her waist and points her head to behind her.
"True," Shiho agreed with a frown. "We have to wait for her for hours inside the station."
"Thankfully, we don't have to wait in there for a full day," Chiyo added as her arms hug around her only silent daughter. "My dear Alice, is getting very tired."
"Hey, don't forget about us, Chiyo-sama," Kay added with her hand raised.
"We're also tired too in there," Anzu added as she points her thumb to the police station.
"And I almost slept in there," Mika added as she stretches her arms.
"Well, you're still standing here," Vicek replied, widen his arms to his sides at them. "I guess you're not that tired."
Miho then turns her head at Emi by chance and remembered for introduction to her. "Ah, I almost forgot. Emi, this is my friend and relative, Vicek and Mrs. Chiyomi, Anchovy's mother."
Emi then shook hands with them. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"The pleasure is ours," Rinnai replied with a bow, with Vicek nodded at her. "I hope you have a good day."
"It's more like an agitating day for us than that, I'm afraid," Emi replied with a tone of doubt and a frown.
"I can understand why," Rinnai replied with a nod, but frowned at that statement before smiling again. "I think we should take a walk to a park not far from here and also some treats for ourselves. So that we lighten our mood up and talk about what happened."
Everyone looked each other for a moment. It seems that everyone wasn't in a hurry about getting back home. They all turned their heads back to Rinnai and agreed with a small nod.
"We can do that, Chiyomi-sama," Yukari replied with a smile. "Let's go."
Everyone then begins to go to the park from the station. There is a small park a bit far from the station but reachable on foot. There's no need for them to find transport and get there because it would be a hassle to do so. It was no longer than a 7 minutes walk until they reached there. Anchovy felt much safer for now because Miho is here, and Vicek is here as well, who is actually one of Miho's men.
By the time they reach the park, they immediately looked around for nearby food stalls to get some snacks. Most of them ordered Senbeis and Anpans. But for Vicek, he ordered a snack called Manju, and Miho ordered a few cookies called Melon Pan. But Alice doesn't seem to need a snack, even though her mother is still insisting that Alice should eat a small snack aside from the one back in that station.
After a while, they head in deep into the park and find someplace to sit down. They found a couple of picnic tables in the area and sat down there. Enough for the 19 of them to sit down. One table is for Emi, Miho, Anchovy, Shiho, Chiyo, Alice, Rinnai, Andou, Kay, and Maho. One other table for Mika, Darjeeling, Anzu, Jajka, Éclair, Vicek, Marie, Yukari, Nishi, and finally Katyusha. They sat down and eat their snacks, as the group who sat with Vicek talked to each other a little.
Those who grouped with Miho didn't say a word and ate their snacks. Miho's frown was visible for them but everyone still has their poker faces on them. The funny thing was when the girls and the mothers were about to eat their snacks, Miho's snacks were already finished. And more surprisingly, Miho's eating sound was unheard of. It took them 7 seconds to turn their heads at her and notice it's gone.
"Miho, where's your food?" Maho asked with a raised brow.
"I already ate them."
They paused for a moment, as the group on the next table wondered why they paused.
"Something's up?" Vicek asked them.
"M-Miho just finished her snack," Andou replied as she points her open palm at Miho. "We were just about to eat our snacks."
Vicek just giggled, much to their confusion. "Good ol' Miho. She's just fast when it comes to eating snacks. Dining in a restaurant or a house, slow like a turtle."
"I appreciate the irony, Vicek," Miho replied with a sigh. "You don't have to remind me about it."
"You're not having food stress, right?" Vicek asked back to her.
"What do you think?" Miho lifts her hand a little on the table. "I had two hours of interrogation and five hours talking with the judges. But not so stressed enough that I need to get more food."
"So… that's a no?" Rinnai asked confusingly.
"Yeah, no," Miho replied with a shook, before landing her elbows on the table. "Instead, it feels like a burden for me."
Emi raised an eyebrow to that. "How can you feel guilty about it because you-"
Emi noticed Alice's expression but nodded at her to continue. "Because you murdered someone who tried to hurt us and hurt Anchovy."
Miho only shook her head before looking up to her. "You would understand what I mean if you were in my position. Because it's hard for me to explain."
"Then explain," Emi asked her.
"I don't even know where to start," Miho replied with a shrug.
"Ei, Miho," Vicek called, which Miho noticed he was using another language.
"Sim?" Miho responded, but everyone confused about her word.
"Quer jantar depois disso?" Vicek asked, asking if he could get his captain a dinner.
"Não, eu te disse," Miho replied with a shook, the girls around her try to understand what she's saying. "Estou bem com isso."
"Não depois que você enforcou o pobre bastardo," Vicek replied with a shook.
"Sim, não depois disso," Miho then sighs about it. "O que eu fiz lá atrás, se tornou viral, não?"
"Sim, Tenho certeza de que toda a cidade tem medo de você," Vicek replied, tilts his head on his hands.
"E os nossos homens no quartel-general?" Miho asked him, wondering if her men heard the news. "Eles ouviram sobre o que aconteceu no shopping?"
"Sim eles fizeram," Vicek replied with a nod. "Os legalistas ficaram desapontados por o bastardo não ser Makarov."
Miho only gazed at him half-alarmed. Everyone tried and didn't understand every word they said that it took them off-guard to see her gazing like that. Anchovy was exceptional, however, because she heard a keyword that got Miho pissed before.
Makarov.
Anchovy puts a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. Miho snapped at her and realized that Anchovy might understand what Vicek was talking about. Miho only turns her head front and sighed. Before looking back to her comrade.
"Desculpe, Miho" Vicek apologized. "Eu não quis aborrecê-lo."
Miho just waves at him. "Está tudo bem. No momento, estou preocupado com o que todos pensariam de mim depois disso."
Once both of them finished talking, Marie asked. "You're speaking in Portuguese, I presume?"
"Yes, we did," Miho replies, then rests her hands on the table. "Just uh… wondering what would happen next after the media gone wild."
"I'm sure it won't be that bad, Miho," Chiyo is so optimistic about it.
"You sure?" Miho asked with doubt. "The public saw that, Mrs. Chiyo. What would everyone think about that?"
"But you did that to defend yourself and us," Andou replied.
"I doubt I was defending myself or you," Miho shook her head in disagreement. "When that robber shot Anchovy, my mind's off the grid."
"No second thoughts?" Yukari asked fearfully.
"No second thoughts," Miho then sighs to herself. "I was too late to realize that."
As Kay munches her snack, she lifts her index finger at her. "By the way, I just heard from a lot of people back in the mall gave you a new nickname."
Everyone surprised Kay's statement. But Miho and Vicek are both caught off-guard. Miho can't believe that many people would want to give her a new nickname that quick. Even Miho suddenly felt so alarmed about it that she really wanted to erase her police records via server hack or burn them. And she thought her nickname Banshee was enough.
"Oh, in Queen Elizabeth's sake," Miho looks away for a moment before looking back at Kay. "What did they call me?"
Kay quickly comforts her seat before leaning her head forward to Miho.
"The Hangwoman."
Miho can only deadpan at her as the rest are in a bit awe of her nickname. Miho blinks twice before rubbing her both eyes as hard as she can. The Hangwoman? Jeez Louis, she really didn't see that coming. I mean, really? Is that the nickname those people had in mind?
"The Hangwoman, really?"
"Yep, The Hangwoman."
Miho slumps back a little, then chuckled. "I was expecting something darker than that."
"Oh, don't be like that, Miho," Shiho replied as she leans forward and looks to her left. "It's just a nickname."
"Yeah, just a nickname," Miho replied as she nods and pokers face. "A nickname I gained from hanging the poor sod."
"This is not a good time for sarcasm, Miho," Darjeeling replied with a frown.
"That wasn't sarcasm, it was a fact," Miho replied as she points at her. "You saw what I did."
"She had a point," Maho said as she points her hand at her. "And you survived a fall from the third story building. Which should be impossible for a girl like you."
"Didn't I just do that before?" Miho asked her.
Her question pauses everyone to eat their snacks and raises their brows at her. "Which one were you referring to?" Jajka asked.
"The 3 vs 3 team Exhibition Match," Miho looks over to them as she pauses. "That time I jumped from the roof of a building to land on the moving Panzer IV?"
That refreshed their memories back. Rinnai, on the other hand, only ever heard about it but also baffled to hear that despite that Miho is a 141. Anchovy and Alice only sit still to remember that. While the rest of the girls and the mothers, just a lot of "oh" and slumped heads.
Anzu leans forward onto the table and points her finger to Miho across the next table. "Yeah, I forgot you're crazy."
"Insane might be better, Anzu-san," Katyusha added, recalling to herself about the anger Miho had back in the apartments. "Because, you know…"
"You don't need to continue on that," Anzu grins at Miho before looking at Vicek. "Good ol' Miho, right?"
"Yep, good ol' Miho," Vicek agreed with a nod, much to Miho's annoyance.
Miho just sighed and crossed her arms. "Thankfully, Chrome isn't here."
That brought the annoyance to Vicek, Anchovy, and Shiho. "Ah, ah, ah, don't remind me about that Canadian," Vicek immediately replied to her.
"Alright, I won't say anything about him," Miho replied as she noticed everyone knew who are they talking about.
"What of him?" Éclair asked curiously.
Vicek giggled to her question before replying. "Thinking about him writing a lot of "sorry" on tank shells before using them for the Panzerfahren match."
Everyone didn't say a word but to stare at him, and Éclair's poker face at him with an awkward reaction. "… I think I can understand why."
Because the ones who feel bad to themselves are the ones, who got shot by Chrome's shells, not Chrome himself, that's why everyone wasn't so sure to comment on that.
They continue to eat and chatter to themselves for a moment. Miho only rests her arms on the table as she is silently observing her surroundings. However, by 'observing,' she meant that while her eyes are staring forward, she focuses her hearing to her surroundings. Nothing was off she heard except for the breezing wind, crackling leaves, and pedestrians walking around in the distance, also using this time to think of something.
Alice noticed Miho's blank stare in wonder. "Are you okay, Miho-san?"
"I'm fine, Alice," Miho replied as she stares her. "Just thinking how did I get myself here again."
Emi chuckled at her. "Why do you need to think about that?"
Miho just shrugged, before replies. "Wondering if I did something wrong back then."
"I know how that feels," Éclair replied with an agreement. "Especially the part when you have to defend yourself."
Miho only tilts her head to that but didn't sense anything wrong about it. "Yeah, especially that part."
Anchovy, Shiho, Rinnai, and Chiyo began to look at each other in concern. The way Éclair just said it right now… They know what she was talking about. They then looked at Darjeeling, who stopped eating her Anpan.
"Miho, I have a question for you," Darjeeling said, without looking at her direction.
Miho looks at her. "What is it?"
Darjeeling sighs, before looking at her. "You know, you have told us pretty much about yourself. From your life in London until now."
"Yes," Miho nods, opened her palms. "So?"
"So," Darjeeling paused, before looking up to her. "Why did you never mention that you have a weapon permit?"
Miho stares at her, alarmed. Her eyes jagged onto hers.
A part of her secret was busted.
"What are you talking about?" Miho asked, slowly leans her back off the table as her eyes never leave Darjeeling's.
"Yukari told me that you had a gun, was it?" Darjeeling said as she and Miho both look at Yukari, who seems trying hard to hide her agitation.
"Y-yes, a Browning HI-Power one," Yukari replied as she slowly sunk into her seat. "I'm sorry, Miho-san."
Miho has only been staring at Yukari for a moment before Mika asked. "Are you angry at her, Miho-san?"
Miho didn't bother to look at her, but she only sighed to herself. "Wish I could."
"Wish you could?" Rinnai asked confusingly.
Miho sighed again before rubbing her own eyes. "Everything is going over my head now. And I'm angry at myself."
Everyone raised an eyebrow to that, but Nishi narrows her eyes at her. "Why did you have a gun, Miho?"
Miho didn't reply; she instead only stares at her. Her face was cold but look sincere to herself.
"Miho, we need to hear an answer from you. Honest," Nishi said to her, as everyone excluding those who knew her as 141 gave their suspicious glares at her but also notably, concern. "Why did you never told us you had a gun?"
Miho straightens her back as she replies to her. "Because I don't want you to be afraid of me."
"Not afraid of you?" Jajka asked in disbelieve. "We're pretty much scared to know that you could fight people and chase your sister like that."
Ignoring the fact that she had her insane side after she shot Maho, Miho opens her palms and replies. "I know, it's just… I didn't mean that kind of fear."
Miho paused as she glanced at every each of her friends and mothers including her lover before she continued. "I got myself into a shootout once."
A lie that she had to make up for their sake; they cannot know about herself as the 141 yet. "There was a robbery at a store. Three armed robbers against 2 London Police Officers and I was caught in the middle of it."
Everyone raised their eyebrows to her as they interested to hear her story. "I nearly went inside the store when the police car arrived right behind me and told me to stay away from the store. I was a bit late to realize that the robbers were pointing their handguns at the officers, and me. I made a break for the police car as I ducked my head down when the robbers started firing at us. Once I was behind the police car, the officers returned fire at the robbers. It was no more than… Eight shots before one of the officers got shot and wounded."
Emi looked pretty stunned to hear her story. "And what happened next?"
"His pistol dropped next to me when he got shot. I didn't think of anything else at that time, but I quickly snatched the pistol and shoot at the robbers. My first shot was surprisingly in the head of one of the robbers. The other officer helped me to shoot the other robbers and managed to wound them. But those robbers still resisted and kept firing at us. The officer covered me as I tried to reload the handgun with difficulty. I shot back at them again, and that time, I managed to kill the last of them by shooting their chests. I was a bit shocked to know I killed them first but… I was defending myself along with the officers. Because of that incident, I immediately asked for a weapon permit at the Scotland Yard and got myself processed to get that permit. After that, I bought myself a weapon for self-defense."
Everyone takes contemplation of Miho's story. It makes sense for her to have a gun so that she would be prepared for the next life-threatening situation. Everyone was about to agree about what Miho said.
Unfortunately, Yukari beats them to it.
"You didn't use it for only self-defense."
Everyone turned their heads to her, Rinnai and Anchovy were surprised of this. "What are you talking about, Yukarin?" Anchovy asked.
Miho stayed stoic despite this. "Yukari-"
"Miho tried to shoot Ami-sama before," Yukari replied, narrows her eyes at Miho. "She ever put Anzu at gun-point and ever shot a bullet at the 3v3 teams' Exhibition Match."
Rinnai and Anchovy are both horrified of what Yukari said; Miho didn't tell them about it. Maho, Kay, Anzu and Shiho deadpanned to what she said, but show their concern for Miho. Emi wasn't sure whether to be angry or shocked at Miho. Chiyo, Alice and Vicek sat immobile in their seats; their backs are straight and didn't move a limb like statues. With the rest of them disbelieved of what Miho did, and their trust to her is going to be contested. Miho herself only stayed calm, not stoic.
Everyone can only stare at her, waiting for her answer. Miho sighs first.
"I have my reasons."
"We know," Jajka replied with a nod. "Now, we don't know if we can trust you or not since you hide a secret, and you are…"
After Jajka paused, Miho continued with a raised brow. "Insane?"
Andou seems to disagree on that. "Psychopathic."
"Sociopathic," Miho immediately corrects, much to their disbelieve.
"Are we going to argue over that?" Chiyo asked with a sincere sigh.
"You tell me, Mrs. Shimada," Miho replied but being sarcastic. "Do you want me to lose the plot now?"
"Miho, you should calm down," Rinnai suggested to her.
Anchovy is getting agitated about her lover's attitude. "You're scaring me, Miho-chan."
A single look at her lover, Miho's face soften. Miho noticed the expression Shiho had, and it was concerning. And also Alice's, who has been silent in this conversation and only stares at her with her Boko teddy under her chin. Miho frowns as she looked down at the table. Before closing her eyes in a moment of distress.
"I'm sorry."
Miho has been apologizing so much for her actions. But since she is a soldier, Anchovy can only feel sincere for her. Vicek who's been silent right now, feel sincere for her too after what she has been through.
Miho then looked back at her friends and asked them. "Which one do you want to ask first?"
Of course, Darjeeling asked this question. "Why did you shoot Ami-sama?"
Instead of Miho to answer that, Yukari answered it. "It's because Ami-sama insults her about her dislike of joining back to tankery."
Everyone turned their heads at her immediately. "Oh, you knew. What kind of insults Ami said to her?" Mika curiously asked.
"Insulting about Miho is scared to get in the tank before she shot her," Yukari then shrugged. "Everyone in Ooarai saw that."
Everyone's reaction is leaning their heads back in surprise. "And no one from Ooarai told us about that aside from yourself?" Katyusha asked.
"Yeah, basically," Yukari replied with a nod. "Everyone in Ooarai agreed to not talk about this to everyone."
"I see," then Marie asks the second question to Miho. "When did you gun-point Anzu-san?"
"Before the Exhibition Match," Miho replied flatly.
"Why?" Marie asked her.
Miho shook her head and shrugged. "It was entirely Anzu's fault."
Everyone dislikes her answer, especially Rinnai and Anchovy. "Hey, don't blame someone because of what you did!" Rinnai scolded to her.
"Actually, Miho's right, you know," Yukari added in, in which she received their confusing stares.
"W-wait, what are you talking about?" Anchovy asked, what Anzu did to make Miho gun-point her?
"It was really my fault that I got myself gun-pointed by her," Anzu responded as she sheepishly smiled to everyone. "You may don't know this, but we had a friend from Ooarai kidnapped by mobsters before the Exhibition Match."
Everyone is pretty surprised by that, except for Anchovy, Maho, Kay, Shiho and Chiyo, who just remembered that. "Wait, who was kidnapped?" Emi asked, she never heard of this so as the other girls.
"It was Ogin, was it?" Anchovy asked, with everyone surprised by her answer.
"Yep, that's her," Anzu replied with a nod. "Her team asked her help to find Ogin and investigate her kidnapping. Of course, I didn't mention that her kidnapping was involved with Ooarai's extortion."
They looked away from her, for a moment, before immediately look back at her again with a deadpanned look. "Wait, Ooarai was extorted?" Nishi's eyes show her perplex to her.
"By the mobsters called Rogue Foxes, yeah," Anzu shook her head to herself for a moment. "They blackmailed me into giving them the money or else they hurt our school. I was late in paying them once, and I had… to sold Ogin out to get more time to give them the money they want."
They looked pretty angry and shocked to hear that. "You sold your friend out?!" Emi asked aloud furiously.
"She didn't have a choice," Vicek defended Anzu. "Either she had to sell her friend out or they harm her or worse."
"I had to keep that as a secret because the mobsters were keeping an eye on me tight," Anzu replied sheepishly. "Until… Miho found out about what I was hiding at that time."
"And how did you find out what Anzu was hiding?" Mika asked her curiously.
"I managed to capture one of the mobsters thanks to Captain Ami's help," Miho answered as she rubs her fists to each other. "Then, we interrogate her."
"And by 'we,' you mean you and Ami-sama?" Marie asked with a raised brow.
"Not only them," Kay responded immediately. "Maho and I were with her as well."
"Wait, you were?" Andou asked as they cringed at them.
"Yes, we were there," Maho replied with a nod. "But it was mostly Miho's work on interrogating the suspect."
"Mostly?" Darjeeling asked as she narrowed her eyes at Kay, before looking at Miho. "How did you interrogate him?"
When it comes to the word 'interrogation,' Anchovy and Rinnai are uncomfortable about it. "I rather not say, it's not pretty," Miho guiltily replied.
The tone Miho had was enough for them to feel the chill down their spines. Anchovy could sense what she meant by that. Just by looking at her lover's eyes, Anchovy knew that Miho might have killed the suspect she interrogated before. But she does it for a good reason.
"After the suspect said that Anzu knew about what she did to Ogin, I lost it and went straight to Ooarai school with Maho and Kay," Miho continued as she ignores the stares she received from everyone. "It was thanks to Momo that she could keep Anzu in the office until I arrived."
"And that's when you began gun-pointing at her," Emi concluded, pointing at Miho.
Anzu chuckles lowly to herself. "After she punched my face, of course."
Anzu's response was pretty unamusing for everyone, before looking back at Miho. "That's because you were angry?" Emi asked with a raised brow.
"Yes, because she lied to me about Ooarai's financial problem," Miho replied with a nod. "So after Anzu told me where those mobsters hold Ogin, we quickly went there to find her. Only to found out that the 141 got there first."
"Wait, I heard about that in the news long ago," Éclair stated as she remembered the news. "There was some sort of bombardment at the abandoned wood factory in the forest, right?"
"Yes, there was by the 141," Maho replied with a nod. "But it was already nothing but smoldering smoke when we got there."
"But the 141 was pretty kind to leave a note about the hostages they saved, including Ogin," Miho added, then sighs to herself. "I guess I could thank them for making my job easier."
Everyone seems to be satisfied with Miho's half-lie confession to them on that one, to which then they move on to the last question. "Now, when did you shot a round in the Exhibition Match?"
"When we were building a strategic plan before the match," Miho replied, putting her arms on top of each other on the table. "Kuromorimine and Ooarai commanders turned conflict again whether agreeing or disagreeing the plan. When they screamed to each other so loud as Kay and her commanders tried to calm them down, I shot a round into the air to shut everyone up."
They stayed silent for a moment until Katyusha wondered. "And what of that time you chased Maho-san with a chainsaw?"
In a moment, Katyusha received everyone's glare, including Miho's and Maho's, with Miho's annoyed reply. "Maho insulted me after that shot, low mumble."
Knowing how unstable her mental condition at that time, they could sincere about that.
Miho sighs blink once before them. "Look, I understand that you all are angry with me right now because I kept a secret from you. But I didn't do it for my selfish reasons so I can do what I want with it and I never meant to scare you by it."
Everyone didn't say a word about that. Darjeeling has only been silent because she remembered her presence in Darjeeling's tea party. Miho had a point; she never wanted to make them scared of her. The last time she did that, she felt guilty about that and saw herself as a monster.
Miho took a deep sigh. "I apologize for it. I never told you any secret because I wasn't sure if I could trust you or not to hear it."
Everyone looks at each other for the moment afterward. Miho also had a point about that, Anchovy ever mentioned to them about it. Yukari quickly reminded of Miho's story about being betrayed by a friend of her. Vicek grimly remembered of Sheperd. And Anchovy remembered the story about Yuri didn't tell her that he was an ex-Ultranationalist that costed Soap's life.
Miho only bowed her head down in a mix of frown and distress, before looking up to them as she stood up. "Excuse me, I need some time alone."
"Don't stray too far," Vicek asked her before Miho gives a final look to her friend and gave a nod and then leave them to the other part of the park.
Everyone reluctantly watches her leave the premises. Everyone may feel uncomfortable with her presence, but watching her leave like that felt so insecure for them. Shiho, as a mother and Maho as a sister, felt so concerned about Miho, despite her confusing temporal personality. Rinnai, Emi and Anchovy felt the anxiety to see her leave. Chiyo and Alice frowned without bothering to look at that direction, decided to hear only her footsteps as she leaves. As for the rest of them, as her friends, they are very unwilling to let her leave like that.
Anchovy shook her head to herself before she stood up. "I'll check on her."
"Me too," Emi added as she stands up as well.
"So do I," Darjeeling stands up from her seat as well.
"I want to come along too," Yukari stands up from her seat too as they looked at Anchovy.
"Alright, come on then."
The four girls then left for Miho after acknowledging to everyone with a nod. A short walk 30 seconds later, they found standing in front of them. Miho is viewing the landscape of the park, watching as the sunset is almost consumed by the oncoming night. Watching people come and go on the pathways of the park in the distance. Watching the peace everyone had in the park and enjoying the silent breeze passing her.
Before the four girls are close enough to Miho, Miho asked aloud without breaking her gaze. "I told you I need some time alone."
"I know, Miho," Anchovy replied as they stopped behind her. "Can we just talk about this, Miho?"
They could hear Miho sighed, but Miho turned around with her arms crossed and looked at them. "Fine."
But then Miho gazes at Yukari, who shivered a bit at her. "I'm sorry for telling your secret, Miho."
Miho seems to consider her apology before she shook at her. "No, I'm sorry."
Everyone is surprised by her response, and it confuses Emi. "But-"
"I know, Emi," Miho cuts her off. "You had the right to know. It's just… I don't want to be too rash about it because I'm afraid of what everyone thinks of me negatively than who I am supposed to be."
"Miho, I'm sure everyone doesn't think about you like that, darling," Darjeeling replied with a smile but in concern.
"Everyone doesn't think of me like that?" Miho asked in her stressed tone. "They would say otherwise after I hanged the bastard."
"But we would never say anything bad about yourself," Yukari replied, widen her arms up to her shoulder height. "You're our good friend."
"And sisters-in-bond," Miho added, which surprised them. "Was that what I said before to you?"
"Yes, as sisters-in-bond," Yukari replied with a nod.
Emi fell silent about what Miho had said. "Miho, what about me?"
Miho looks at her and contemplates for a moment. "I can't tell you to choose if you're also a sister-in-bond or just best friend."
"Can't you just choose both?" Darjeeling asked curiously.
Miho flattened her lips and looked her eyes down. "It won't hurt, I suppose."
Miho then stays quiet and waits for one of them to say something. It was an uttering 15 seconds of silence as they awkwardly looked at each other to see who's going to talk first. Seeing how anyone doesn't know what they want to talk about, Anchovy sighs with her eyes closed. Anchovy then looks straight at Miho.
"Is there something you want to talk about?"
Miho quickly shook her head. "Erm, nothing. Nothing. It's just…"
"Just what?" Emi asked her.
But Miho seems to hesitate for a moment, then Darjeeling tries to convince her. "You don't have to worry about what you say. We are your friends, Miho."
"And I'm your lover, Miho," Anchovy replied, with a cute frown face. "We need to know what's wrong. You don't have to be afraid."
The three girls could awkwardly look at Anchovy after she mentioned she's her lover. Miho only stood there, thinking as she tilted her head and looked down as Anchovy awaits her answer.
Miho shrugged for a moment before looks up to her. "I was just thinking about the incident back in Ooarai, the bridge where I fell."
Miho then rests her arms to her sides. "It seems ironic, actually. I should've died back there, but I survived and washed up in London without reason. How much I changed after the incident and lived in London before coming back here in one piece. How I was just a simple girl turned into a girl full of determination."
They smiled despite what Miho meant by ironic. "I guess you miss London that much," Darjeeling wondered with her both hands on her front waist.
"Very," Miho rubs her chest with her left hand. "It makes me want to live there forever."
Now they wondered about one thing, and it was Emi to say that. "If you miss London so much, why did you come back?"
Her question caught Miho off-guard, she could stare blankly at her. Then she looked down, clueless for the answer. Miho then looks back at them with a frown.
"Honestly… I don't know."
Everyone deadpanned at her words. "What do you mean you don't know?" Yukari asked confusingly.
Miho was clueless to answer that as she sighs. "I don't know. I have many reasons, but I don't know which reason I should choose."
They widen their eyes for that. "What kind of reasons, Miho-chan?" Anchovy asked.
"Many," Miho then massages her wrist, her eyes still on the girls. "Maybe it's because I belong here, my true home. Maybe because I wanted to see my family again. Maybe because I'm trying to avoid bad memories in London, especially the robbery I told you about back there. Maybe I'm trying to start a new life here as a different person. Maybe I'm trying to find a new way for me to seek. Maybe I'm just lost."
Miho paused as she lets her arms drop to her sides. "Maybe I'm trying to find a purpose for my life."
"Maybe I'm just trying to get my mind off from Makarov."
Honestly, those are a lot of reasons to say. "That's plenty, but all of them are good reasons," Darjeeling said with a smile.
"Was that a compliment?" Miho asked her.
"Yes, it was," Darjeeling replied with a nod.
"Thank you," Miho replied warmly with a smile before turning around and watch the view behind her.
As Miho watches the view of the sunset engulfed by the dark night, her friends and lover also joined in to watch. Side by side, they look toward the view Miho's looking at. None of them said a word as they watch. Only enjoy the mother nature ahead of them.
"So…" Yukari started. "What happens next?"
"We'll see," Miho answered, none of them break the gaze from the view. "Let's observe and follow the flow. Then we'll see how things turn out."
"Sounds wise," Emi commented in agreement.
"And let's hope the rest of our friends won't think otherwise about yourself," Darjeeling added. "Because you've been through a lot."
"I hope so," Miho replied with a nod.
For the next minutes, they spend their time watching the darkness of night envelops in the sky. They felt something peaceful about it, something calming about it. Something… refreshing for Miho. Their eyes gaze the dark skies, and Anchovy hugs Miho's shoulder to watch it as those who were back at the picnic tables came over and watched the skies far from the girls.
Wondering if there's something awaits for them.