Symphogear Trill
Stanza 15: The Result of Omens
It was just a bit before Ritsudo and Hibiki would find themselves walking in on Kyomei and Tsubasa in the middle of their intimate moment. Even though it was a Sunday, and thus a day off for the students, as Lydian Academy was a boarding school, it meant that even on a day off like this the students were still filing through the halls in uniform if they hadn't gone into town to do other things.
After the bout of morning training, Hibiki, Miku, Ritsudo, and Wataru had reconvened a bit, spending the time chatting about various things or about school work that needed to be done at some point. But, while their chatting had gone on, Ritsudo and Hibiki found themselves getting a call at the exact same time from their 2nd Division communicators, Ogawa being on the other end of the line.
"Eh? You want us to do it?" Hibiki said, Ritsudo looking almost amused by what the request they'd gotten was, that of course having been to check up on Tsubasa.
"I'm kind of busy right now." Ogawa said, and from his end the two Adaptors could just pick up various rustlings and other things moving about. "I'm sorry, but could you two do it? You're the only ones I can really ask."
"Well I mean it's not a problem." Ritsudo said, Hibiki nodding.
"We've got it, don't worry." Hibiki hung up, and turned with an awkward look to Miku as the other girl tilted her head a bit. "Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. It was work right?" Miku said, Hibiki giving a concerned sounding grumble. "Don't worry it's fine. I was planning to go shopping, then visit Flower. But, if you're going to be busy then I'll go to the library to find a book."
"Ah. Yeah, something did some up. I'm really sorry. You were even going to invite me too… I think I'm cursed." Hibiki said, Ritsudo giving her a pat on the back, then he looked to Miku.
"Don't worry about her much, Kohinata-san. I'll be with her so it'll be fine. It's just a little errand a coworker needs us to take care of. We should be done by the evening."
"It's fine." Miku said, though Ritsudo noticed one of her hands bunch up a bit. "Besides, I can just have Wataru help me with the shopping. We can go to Flower another time if it takes you too long."
"What why me?" Wataru said, pointing at himself. Miku gave him an almost matter of fact look.
"Because I may need help with some heavier things."
"Ah…" Wataru just made a single sound as Miku said so like it was just that easy, even ignoring the fact Wataru was obviously not quite fit to the idea of a "heavy lifter". Though the dark-haired girl showed an amused little smile as Wataru looked like he was wracking his brain over it.
Hibiki though, in that moment, flinched again. Her expression still had the worried, apologetic gaze to it, but that interaction visibly bothered her. Ritsudo gave the girl a look as a sudden pang in his chest hit him. It wasn't his own feeling, but rather, like it had come from somebody else. A thought came with it, a single, almost regretful one.
"They've gotten really close, haven't they?"
"I'm really sorry." Hibiki just put her hands together, turning off and leaving, Ritsudo following after her with a wave.
Wataru returned the gesture, though Miku turned and started up the stairs behind them. Wataru looked to Miku, giving a small sigh as he saw her bunched up hands. Miku may have been acting fine with it, but it was obvious she was bothered by the sudden happening. It was just like other times. Plans had been made, but a sudden call in from work meant they had to be put aside for another time.
"Miku, if you're bothered by it, then why not ask Hibiki-san about it? Why not just talk?" Wataru turned as he said so, Miku stopping in her tracks. In the time of the two being friends, Wataru had definitely come to know one thing: Miku definitely didn't just see Hibiki as her best friend. There was obviously more to it than that, even if Miku wasn't really clear about it. Regardless of what Wataru himself felt, he knew that much. "How about this? It won't help if you try to talk about something on an empty stomach. Why don't we take care of that shopping then go eat somewhere? You can tell me anything you want to get off your chest there, and maybe I can help you figure out what to do."
"Alright." Miku gave a sigh, but a little smile at least came back. She at least had a friend like Wataru around to just be a ray of sunshine when things were down a bit, when her other sunshine wasn't around when she wanted her to be.
"Flower after all huh?"
"Sorry, I really didn't have any other ideas."
"Nah don't worry it's fine."
By the time evening had started rolling around, with the errands done and Wataru lugging most of the bags from Miku's shopping trip, the two found themselves in front of Flower. Wataru opened the door, and the owner gave a greeting to both teens as they entered the space.
"Oh? You two are rarely without your friends, especially that girl who eats three whole servings." The owner said with a cheery tone.
"It's just us today." Miku said, the two taking their seats at the counter, the owner already getting her things prepared to start cooking up the two's usual orders.
"I see. Well then, maybe I'll eat some for her since she's not here. Oh, and that boy with the scar?"
"Ritsudo's a little busy today. We're here for other reasons." Wataru said.
"You don't have to eat it, but please make it." Miku added, the owner giving a laugh. Miku though had a bit of a down look on. "I'm pretty hungry. I didn't eat all day since I was looking forward to this okonomiyaki.."
"Then you're thinking on an empty stomach." Clearly able to tell the mood in the room, the owner gave a small hum as she cooked. Wataru also nodded to the statement. "And nothing good will come of that."
"Or just sitting around and thinking about things." Wataru noted, leaning on a hand. Miku glanced at him, almost surprised the normally bright boy had a pensive look. "To be entirely honest, I do feel like there's something weird about that "job" Ritsudo and Hibiki say they have. I just can't think they'd be that busy so much… plus they always seem to be gone when Noise alerts happen."
"But, if you're thinking that, then why not ask about it?" Miku said, Wataru giving a hum.
"Well… I guess it's because I think they have good reasons for not saying what it is." He replied, looking up to the ceiling. "I've been thinking about what caused Ritsudo to have his change of heart… he clearly went through something that made him want to do that, and I've been wondering just what that was. But, I also think that maybe, whatever it is, maybe it's something he just can't talk about openly. It may be the same with Hibiki."
"It's just… I kind of don't get it." Miku sighed again. "Ever since that concert, I've also always felt like Hibiki keeps some things to herself more than she should. She always acts so bright, she's like a sun. I kind of adore that about her, even if it gets her into trouble all the time. But… after that concert, there was a bit where she was really down. She got bullied a lot, and her family had it pretty rough to. First her dad left all of a sudden, then school just became… unkind for her. When I finally got back, she was almost entirely different."
"Makes you wonder how those two could've ended up huh? Maybe if things were a bit different they'd have been on opposite ends of it. Ritsudo kinda went through the same. We were in completely different classes, so we didn't really know each other… I just remember people talking about it all the time though. And when we ended up in the same class after coming to Lydian, I decided to try and become his friend… I didn't want him to be alone after that, and I had the perfect chance to do it." Wataru leaned back in his chair, giving a hum. "So my advice is kinda simple… just talk to Hibiki. You two are really close, I'm sure if you ask directly what it is, she'll tell you what it's about. You just gotta be willing."
"Yeah… you're right. Maybe I've been sitting around and thinking, without actually trying to get to know anything at all. There has to be a good reason behind it all. Geez, what was I doing? Just sitting around and being worried all the time when she's right there." Miku sighed in an amused manner to herself, her expression brightening up, Wataru nodding in approval. "Thank you, ma'am, Wataru. "
"Not a problem at all. We're friends after all, it's what I'm here for." Wataru gave a v-sign as he chuckled.
"It's nice to see people like you two. If anything happens, come on back." The cook then served up the two's plates, the two teens nodding with bright smiles on their faces. The path forward seemed fine, one that made total sense… if only these two were aware of what could be coming next, not for them, but for their friends.
As for things with the Gear users, it had turned into talking about their abilities, though particularly Hibiki's odd set of things and what she could potentially do about it. Though considering who Hibiki was, it was like going around in the circle of a cul de sac and missing the exit.
"Maybe, but I just don't know how to bring out my Armed Gear." After her humming thought, the other three just tilted their heads in defeat. They clearly weren't going to get anywhere at this rate. "Hey, did you all know this? Nothing good will come of thinking on an empty stomach!"
"Wait, I've heard that somewhere…" Ritsudo's comment was in line with Tsubasa and Kyomei's confused looks. Hibiki folded her arms and gavce a proud chuckle.
"The old lady at the okonomiyaki place told me that." Hibiki's answer got Ritsudo to hum. "Pretty smart right?"
"Uh, sure…" Tsubasa looked a little awkward as Hibiki gave her twin pointer fingers at her remark, the boys snickering in amusement at it.
"Oh I know! Tsubasa-san, Kyomei-san, I'll bring you some okonomiyaki from Flower! Once we eat, I'm sure we'll figure out the secret to my Armed Gear!" Hibiki stood up and pat her stomach, then running in place before dashing off. "I'm sure you'll both love it!"
"Oi, Hibiki-san don't rush it!" Ritsudo then immediately went after her. Kyomei sighed while laughing as Tsubasa yelped a bit. They definitely had energetic juniors.
"Wait, Tachibana!" As the two ran off though, Tsubasa's look relaxed, Kyomei leaning back with his arms behind his head. "I guess we're kind of lucky huh?"
"I suppose we are lucky." Kyomei said, Tsubasa giving an approaching nod. At least they didn't have to feel like they had to worry too much about them. They could rely on the two to handle themselves.
But, it wasn't long after Hibiki and Ritsudo were on the road out of Lydian that their communicators had gone off. The two didn't break stride, but they were quick to pull them out and answer.
"Hibiki-kun, Ritsudo-kun, we've got an alert!" Genjurro of course having sent the call, his voice bearing an urgent tone. "The girl in the Nehushtan Armor is en route to the area! We've issued an evacuation order, so head to the destination as quickly as possible!"
"Got it! What about Kyomei-san?" Hibiki said.
"We'll have him remain with Tsubasa for now."
"Understood. We'll be there as quickly as we can!" Ritsudo said, Hibiki nodding along as they dropped the communicators and picked up their paces.
But, it was as they got to the actual exit of the area that they came to a skidding dead halt. Right in their paths, Miku and Wataru were just before them. The other two teens perked up when they saw them and gave chipper greetings. But, Hibiki and Ritsudo looked far more worried knowing what was coming.
"Miku? Wataru-san? Why are they here?" Hibiki said, Ritsudo letting out a growl.
"To your right!"
Murakumo's response came with Hibiki also noticing something. Chris, yelling as she rose up from the tree line, lashing one of the whips at them. And Miku was already making her way over with Wataru behind her, the two completely unaware.
"Dammit! Get back!" Ritsudo dashed forward immediately, drawing Murakumo out with a quick move, slamming the blade into the whip as it crashed along the ground, though being out of his Gear meant the blow was far stronger for him than expected. Ritsudo was only knocked to the side, but Miku and Wataru went flying back from the force of the impact. Hibiki's eyes went wide as Miku and Wataru's screams went through the air.
"What the… other people were there?!" Chris though, was shocked to see civilians of all people having been around too, though she grit her teeth to steal herself. Her targets were right in front of her, slowing down wouldn't do her any good.
And only on top of it all, a car that had sent flying was coming down over Wataru and Miku. Ritsudo moved as Murakumo began to shine, while Hibiki though, dashed ahead of him first. Her voice was already ringing with her holy chant, and Ritsudo followed suit.
"Balwisyall nescell Gungnir tron!"
"Scindia Ame-no-Murakumo tron!"
Bother were transformed into a flash. Hibiki's fist came up and slammed into the falling car. Ritsudo stopped in front of Miku and Wataru as the car was sent crashing elsewhere. Hibiki's expression was tense as her fist shook, Ritsudo giving her a look. Even more, he felt that worry, the sudden pain in Hibiki's chest at having to do this in front of her friend.
"Hibiki?" Miku's voice almost broke from her surprise, Wataru also looking at the two with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry." Hibiki said, regret dripping from her voice.
"We'll explain later. You two need to get back, it's dangerous around here. Wataru-san, please, get Kohinata-san out of here." Ritsudo turned to the other two, Hibiki again tensing up.
"Yeah. Miku, come on." Maybe it was just because of how shocked she was, but Miku didn't fight back as Wataru took her by the hand and dashed off up the path. Ritsudo turned back around, flicking Murakumo as he stepped back to Hibiki's side, the girl giving a breath as she looked forward. Hibiki jumped off first, Ritsudo following after her as she began singing.
~Why have I come to this world? Destiny must have brought me here for a reason. When I hesitated, you held my hands. I can't forget the kindness you showed me.~
Hibiki's lead took them further past where Chris was, obviously to the armored girl's amusement. To Ritsudo the reasoning was clear: Hibiki was aiming to get as far away as possible to keep the threat of any harm coming to Miku as low as possible, it being her obvious priority. Ritsudo had the same idea, but a bit more generalized… if anything it proved some things he'd been suspecting every now and again.
"What? Come on, a slow kid like you can provoke me!" Chris smirked as she went off after the two, ironically enough doing exactly what they wanted her to do.
But back at the path, as they were running off, Miku came to a grinding halt. She pulled herself out of Wataru's grasp and turned back, spotting Hibiki and Ritsudo leaping over the trees for a moment with Chris hot on their tails. The worry in Miku's face couldn't have been clearer, and Wataru looked off to the ensuing battle, but with a look of more mixed emotions going around in his head.
"Why… why is Hibiki…?" Miku's thoughts weren't strung together neatly, but they didn't need to be to convey what she felt. Confusion, fear, all kinds of things.
"Let's at least give them our best… there has to be a reason they're fighting." Wataru said, though as Miku looked at him, his own hands were clenched tight. He was shoving down his own worries, instead choosing to trust in his friends despite his own turbulent thoughts.
~I won't just stand there with an evasive smile. I want to sing my true feelings with you.~
Once the two Gear users final stopped their running, not a moment was wasted. Chris struck out first, Hibiki blocking the chain whip with her gauntlets, managing to stand firm after the blow. The second struck at Ritsudo, and he parried it with a quick slash. Chris reeled both weapons back, giving a snide chuckle.
"Not bad, slow kid." Chris said, Hibiki swiping an arm with an obstinate look.
"My name's not "slow kid"!" And that kind of response made Chris flinch, while Ritsudo looked surprised she'd even done so when their enemy was clearly there for a fight. "My name is Tachibana Hibiki, age fifteen! My birthday is September 13th, and my blood type is O! I just had my height measured, and it was 157 cm! My weight is… I'll tell you when we're better friends! My hobby is saving people, and my favorite things are food and food! And… I've never had a boyfriend!"
"Is now really the time for this?! And you said food twice!" Ritsudo shouted, Hibiki snapping over to him as he looked at her with a confused look.
"How else am I going to convince her we shouldn't fight?"
"I dunno, pull the shonen method?! Beat the bad guy first then make her listen to you!"
"But if we don't have to do that then we shouldn't!"
"Don't forget I'm here dammit!" Though as that went on, Chris lashed a whip at the two again, raking it across the ground towards them. Hibiki and Ritsudo jumped out of the way of it as it came near. "Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? Why would you even bother telling me that?"
"Because we're not like Noise!" Hibiki landed and spread her arms out, again her look firmly obstinate. "We can understand each other, so I want to talk!"
"You're serious? After all of this?!" Chris lashed her whips out again, though Ritsudo shot in between her and Hibiki. His sword pulsed with lightning as he swung it, two blows so quick they were downright in synch slamming into both weapons almost at the same time.
The same went as she continued attacking. Hibiki smoothly dodged the lashes Ritsudo couldn't counter, and his attacks were so quick they were hard to see coming. But neither were actually trying to attack Chris outright, merely defending themselves.
"What the hell is with them? Something's changed, in the girl especially. What is it… resolve?" Chris growled as she pulled the whips back, her glare glancing to Ritsudo as he calmly stood up and took his stance. "And him… he's completely focused. Dammit, why is there someone else who can use a complete Relic?! Why is he better at it than me?! Just what the hell is with that damn sword?"
"We don't have to fight!" Hibiki said it again as she came to a stop herself, Chris growling at her. "Because if we can talk to each other, people can-"
"SHUT UP!" Chris's voice was shrill as she screamed at Hibiki. "People can't understand each other. That isn't how we're made. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! You keep talking but you don't understand a thing!"
In the same moment that Chris screamed, the air shifted. Ritsudo downright vanished from how quickly he moved, and the next both Chris and Hibiki knew, he reappeared right in front of Chris. His blade had stopped just dead of actually hitting, but the force was enough the air blew around Chris and black through the trees behind her as a result, some of them even falling in two.
"You know, a couple weeks ago I probably would have agreed with what you're saying." Ritsudo said, his voice level, but the fire in his eyes told more about what he was feeling than that. "But don't give me that kind of crap… if you think people can't connect to one another, that we're not made that way… then it's simple… I'll just beat that pessimism out of you and make you listen to us!"
"Feel free to try, bastard!"
Chris pulled a chain back, the weapon stiffening up as it shortened. Akin to a sword itself, she slashed at Ritsudo with it. He countered with a quick, slight motion, the extra blades in his gauntlet springing out and catching Chris's attack as he swapped his sword to his other hand. The blade lit up with water across the edge, Ritsudo bringing it forward in a reverse held slash that slammed right into Chris. As impact was made, the water around the sword burst out, blasting Chris away in a flat stream following the shape of the slash. The girl slammed into a tree, and she was growling as she stood back up.
"You held back… what the hell?!" Chris yelled again as she stood, Ritsudo resetting his grip as his gauntlet closed down. "And you… you're not better than her. Make me listen? You don't understand a damn thing either! And how dare… because of you and your stupid antics, I actually doubted myself! For that, I'll make sure that sword of yours snaps in two! I was told to bring you both back, but I don't care about that anymore. I'll destroy both of you right here! I'll ruin everything you have!"
"Yeah, well we can't lose either. Hibiki?" Ritsudo looked back, and Hibiki nodded.
"Right! We'll talk after this then!"
"You two won't even be around to do that when I'm done with you!" Chris leapt into the air, both of her whips topped in dark balls of energy as she pulled them back. "Blow away!"
Chris lashed both at once. The energy balls collided separately at Ritsudo and Hibiki. Both managed to block them, but they were stuck in place just managing that much. Chris didn't waste time in launching two more at both to impact with the ones they were already stopping. The added impacts brought about two rising explosions. Chris landed, chuckling as she didn't see any sign of her enemies, though her breathing was also stressed.
"It's because of you two that I'm going to…" Chris trailed off though as the dust began to clear. She hadn't gotten the result she thought had happened.
With a burst in the air, the dust blew away all at once. Ritsudo was standing with Murakumo's blade aglow as he lowered it, and the plate of the colored jewels saw all of them glowing white together instead of separately. And he looked completely untouched to boot. Hibiki was unharmed to, her hands close together as humming left her throat. And between her hands was a gleaming ball of yellow colored light. But, her attempt to close her hands caused it to explode, sending her back across the ground.
"Hibiki?!" Ritsudo was about to run over, but was stopped by an angry lash from Chris requiring him to counter. His swing came with the glow around the sword trailing behind it, the effect following through with each slash he gave as he countered Chris's wild, frustrated attacks. "What the hell was that?!"
"I can't stabilize my Gear's energy like Tsubasa-san and Kyomei-san." Hibiki's frustrated words made it clear. She had been trying to form her Armed Gear, but obviously for whatever reason, she couldn't focus that energy at all.
"Well figure it out! I'll buy you time!" Ritsudo dashed back into the clash with Chris as Hibiki nodded to him.
~My bonds with you will make me stronger so I discard my lost past. I won't just stand there with an evasive smile, I want to sing my true feelings with you.~
"Ritsu has his Armed Gear by default because of how his Relic is, while the other two have more ordinary Symphogears. But, I do have the energy. If I can't stabilize it into an Armed Gear, then just do what they said, and make it work in my own way!" Hibiki looked to her hand as a ball of light gathered at it again, then clenching her hand into a fist, her gauntlet locking up with a bit of steam shooting from it. "If I can't focus the energy, then I'll just hit with it!"
"No you don't!" Chris knocked Ritsudo aside and lashed at Hibiki with both whips at once.
As they rushed her, Hibiki quickly responded. Her open hand grabbed onto both at once, and she looked up with a solid gaze as she gripped onto the chains as tight as she could, downright crushing them in her grasp.
~We can take ourselves anywhere. Even fly into the future beyond our sight. Anything is possible if we combine our feelings. We are one, always together. As long as we hold each other's hands. Maybe we were brought together. To overcome this challenge together. As my song echoes into the future. Our smiles sing out with us. Sing your kindness, sing out with us~
"Like you were crushing thunder!"
Hibiki pulled the chains back, yanking Chris forward through the air and right towards her. She dashed forward, and portions of armor at Hibiki's waist burst to light as boosters as she pulled her fist back while charging, aiming right for Chris's center.
"Straight for her, as fast as possible, as soon as possible, I'll tell her what I'm feeling! The song in my heart!"
As Hibiki charged, her gauntlet opened it up more. She pulled her arm back her fist tight and ready to swing. Chris yelled as she got close, and Hibiki's fist slammed right into her center. Hibiki yelled as the first impact slammed the air, and the second came as her extended gauntlet slammed down. The following impact was bigger and washed out over the area. And from it, Chris's armor began cracking from the impact area.
"Impossible… the Nehushtan Armor is…" Chris's shock was also met by her visor cracking… but things weren't done yet.
As that hard impact wasn't the only one Chris found herself getting hit clean by. As she was sent flying from that impact, Ritsudo rushed in from behind and flipped over her. Chris's eyes went wide as the air burst again to change his direct as his blade was swung. The light trailing from it changed, burst to form as a roaring dragon as his blade neared Chris. The girl screamed as the impact was made, a sound like a dragon's roar echoing through the air as the explosion that followed could be seen all around.
And of course from that distance, Miku and Wataru were still watching from the high way. Wataru looked almost in awe at what he saw as the light from both Ritsudo and Hibiki's attacks faded away. But, Miku much less so. Quiet tears fell down her face as she gazed at the rising smoke from the trees.
"Hibiki…" Was all that left the girl's mouth. Wataru clenched a fist again, but not out of a troubled feeling… yet again, his own worries were being shoved down.
"Please be all right you two… I'm not sure Miku can take much more of this."
