I have split the first chapter into two chapters instead because I figured that Chapter 1 was too long. Chapter 2 now begins from the first time the story centers on Minamoto Chihiro. After the part wherein the regulatory match was announced, I added the part of the battle. It seemed more proper to me to finish this chapter there. Anyway, enjoy!
REMEMBER: This was originally part of Chapter 1 but I have decided to put it into Chapter 2. If you have read this before, scroll down to read the continuation.
In case you're confused~
Mihara Saya - Oujirou and Misaki's daughter - no angel
Kobayashi Hinako - Kotarou and Tamako's daughter - angel: Mimosa
Minamoto Chihiro - Kaede's son - angel: Dominique
Information Nook~
* Kobayashi Hinako (10 years old)
She has almost the same personality as her aunt, Hatoko. There is a strong reason for this. It is also not a coincidence that her name starts with letter "H". Tamayo had a Hatoko-fetish at the time she was pregnant with Hinako. Hinako is the type who always looks at the brighter side of life. She is perky and bubbly, qualities that are very contagious to folks around her. Hinako has a more naive side to her than her aunt Hatoko was when she was young.
Hinako's angel is Mimosa, an acrobatic fighter type of meta-angel. This angel is sometimes called the Berserker from Norse mythology because of its tendency to go berserk when fighting Dominique, Chihiro's meta-angel.
Odd tidbit: Hinako is a soprano in her school choir. ;)
* Minamoto Chihiro (11 years old)
Noted for his effeminate look, Chihiro is loved dearly by his fans nationwide. Chihiro feels that his name is too girlish and that many think of him as if he's Kaede herself.
Chihiro is one of the few males who controls a femme type of angel. The name of the meta-angel is Dominique. It does not fall under any particular type of angel. In fact, it has its own trait of being a "ghost". A moniker for the way it attacks or defends. Dominique does not touch its opponent but attacks with its long ribbons. Chihiro's meta-angel is known as the "Phantasm".
Chihiro has a BIG crush on Hinako. Many AL afficionados support Hinako and Chihiro pairings.
Odd tidbit: Dominique is a cosplay favorite, the most popular actually. Imagine that, a convention filled with freaky, silver-haired cosplayers.
* meta-angel - new type of angels; more advanced
* com-port - it's what I call the device deuses use during angel battle
* Regulatory Match - sometimes called Jankenpon Game; the Deus who loses the jankenpon must lose on purpose during the match
The story so far: 12-year old Mihara Saya is dealing with an age wherein "Angelic Layer" is embraced by all. Angelic Layer has greatly evolved into a new technology. To strongly show this, an AL dome has just been opened up in Saya's school and Saya doesn't like it. The turn of events follows the test run of the dome by a regulatory match between a girl and one of Saya's schoolmates....
OCast MeetO
Chapter 2
Regulatory Pains
It was another letter from one of his fans, Chihiro saw. He stared at the piece of paper torn from a notebook that was just tossed over on his desk a few seconds ago. Minamoto Chihiro didn't need ESP to discern the letter's contents. Either it was "Chihiro, We Luv You all the Way!" or "Minamoto-san, I'm your No. 1 Fan! You're the best Deus Ever!". Chihiro was tired of hearing anything along that line.
Why me of all the deuses out there? He groaned inwardly. Chihiro wasn't about to open the letter when he felt his classmates eyeing him. Chihiro avoided their looks by pretending to take an interest in his black shoes. Uh-oh. Here it goes again.
Just as he expected, his seatmate nudged him. Chihiro saw him pointing at a blonde girl a few seats away from him. A wave of panic washed over the boy. The pony-tailed girl smiled. "It's from me. Open it," she mouthed.
Chihiro faked a grin. He nodded. He was becoming more aware of the others watching him. Their stares were like pinpricks of needles stinging him.
Sweat trickled down the side of his face. The boy didn't want to open the letter. The last time he did, he caused a commotion. Although he did have special privileges, he didn't like abusing this fact and get away with his troubles because of those privileges.
Chihiro hated to be put under pressure. His mind reeled. What to do?
"MAY I PLEASE GO OUT?!" he yelled awkwardly as his seat screeched on the floor. He balled his fists, trying hard to keep himself under control. A blush crept up his face.
The teacher jumped. She was startled and gawped at Chihiro as if he had done a big crime. Regaining her composition and straightening up, she gave her consent. "Of course, Minamoto-san. You may," she spluttered out, still shocked a bit.
Chihiro got something out from his bag and stuffed it down his pocket, making it bulge. He kept his head down as he made his way out, very much conscious of the millions of needles pricking his back. He knew he was walking rather stiffly and that his face was burning.
The boy was too much relieved the moment he came out. It was like he just came out of a prison cell. Chihiro heaved a sigh.
*****
It was when Saya was staring at the ceiling in the hallway that a yellowish green headed boy ran across her.
"Huh?" Saya eyed him, speculating on why the boy was sprinting at such a speed. Saya thought that he might have been running away from a bully. The anxious-looking boy turned a sharp left, towards the lavatory's direction.
"Nature calls?"
*****
Minamoto Chihiro was eleven, two years younger than most of his classmates. So he was special, or at least that's what they kept telling him. Chihiro didn't believe it. He thought hard of reasons why he was supposed to be special.
Chihiro let the water cool off his face. I'm just a boy who loves Angelic Layer. Why do I have to go through this? With one hand, he felt his pockets for his handkerchief. This, he used to wipe his face dry.
Chihiro gazed at his reflection in the mirror of the boy's lavatory. Teal eyes gazed back. Chihiro was almost the spitting image of his mother, he admitted. With his olive green hair and teal eyes, many have noted that he could have passed as Minamoto Saitou Kaede if not for his gender. He strongly disagreed. Aside from that , Chihiro sounded so much like a girlish name. The boy never failed to feel insulted every time he was mistaken for a girl because of the name.
One thing Chihiro could not get over was his shyness. He was never much into public relations, though he looked quite calm during televised AL tournaments. In reality, his heart could've jumped to his throat if not for his second's reassuring words of advise. For all the tournaments, his mother had been the second. Chihiro was thankful for this.
A sentimental smile lit on the boy's face as he thought of his mother. Minamato Kaede was the one who opened his world to the layer.
Chihiro removed the bulging item in his pocket. The boy laid it down in front of him.
"Dominique," Chihiro called out to his angel. "I'm sorry I had to jam you like that into my pocket." It blinked up at him with purple eyes.
This was the only thing holding him back from finding the layer pleasant. Chihiro was a prodigal deus. That was something to flaunt. He had the SM12-4X chip implanted on his right arm. Once you had the chip on you it makes it possible for one to take hold on a meta-angel. Meta-angels were capable of thinking on their own albeit they receive the knowledge from the deus. Chihiro was awed the first time he saw a meta-angel. Its deus was talking happily to it. He discovered from his mother that the deus did not create her own angel. A meta-angel was always readied by the manufacturer. It already had an appearance. But the data inside was still yet to be filled in, through its deus.
The meta-angels were not really perfect. There were conditions. Not everyone who wanted the chip put in them succeeded. 96% of the time, the body of the recipient would reject the microchip. Only a few, including Chihiro, actually accepted it into their bodies. Also, meta-angels were very particular as to the deus they react well with.
Something to flaunt, right? That was not the case for Chihiro. The only angels he was compatible with were....femme types. His best compatibility was with the angel he now had - Dominique.
For some reason, Chihiro wasn't too proud to have Dominique for an angel though he used it well in the layer. Many people compared Dominique to Buranshe, his mother's angel before. They would comment on how Dominique moved gracefully just like Buranshe.
Chihiro's angel was a female. Its name, Dominique, was given by his okaasan. So was Chihiro's own girlish name. But he was a boy...who was said to look like his mother. Well, it was natural for him to be like his mother. But actually look like as in appear as a girl? Maybe that was why he was popular.
Was it so becoming for him to have a female's side? Had he been hanging around too many girls and women?
"Forget about your musings," Chihiro snapped out of his thoughts. "There's nothing I can do about Dominique or my name."
Feeling much better, Chihiro put Dominique on his shoulder and left his place in the lavatory. He walked down the corridor, having no intention to go back to his class since the bell would be ringing in a few minutes.
The speakers crackled. An announcement came up, "Attention. To all students: The first Angelic Layer battle special in Megumare Middle School's Angelic Dome will commence this afternoon. The match is between Megumare Gakkoo's Minamoto Chihiro and our guest deus, Kobayashi Hinako. Dominique vs. Mimosa..."
"Wha~!!??" Chihiro squawked. It was the unexpected.
*****
"...Students who are interested in watching may proceed to the dome after regular classes. Thank you."
Saya smiled wryly at the announcement. "So this is the fun event huh?"
The school bell rang on cue. Students filed out of the classrooms. Saya knew too well that most of them were going to witness the school's first AL battle.
Saya waited for the rest of her classmates to evacuate the classroom. She claimed her things just when they were all gone. Through the window, she saw students in large groups making their way to the dome.
Saya was exiting the room just as she saw the same boy who was running her way a while ago. The boy glanced at her shortly.
The latter mustered up the courage to dare ask the boy. "Ano, why were you in a hurry just now? I was standing outside when you passed me by."
The boy was caught off guard by Saya's question.
"Who were you running away from?"
The boy was even more surprised. It took him several seconds to speak. "Um, I can't explain now. I have to go to the dome."
Saya deduced that the boy was a fanatic and didn't want to miss the match. "Oh. I'm sorry I interfered. Of course. Everyone's off to see the fight. So are you."
"Uh no," said the boy, "actually, I need to go to the video room."
Saya squinted her eyes. A doll that was sitting on the boy's shoulder drew her attention. She put two and two together. "You're Minamoto Chihiro."
*****
Inside the control room...
"This is unprepared for, Oujirou," remarked Oogata a few minutes after the recent announcement was made.
"I know. I'm merely making things thrill, Oogata-kun," replied Oujirou casually. "Now, will you please ready the layer for our two deuses?"
"But-"
"No excuses, Oogata-kun." Oujirou smiled.
Oogata took action in his task, mumbling, "it's good for publicity...boosts up fan's enthusiasm, I guess...after this...udon bowls...yummy..."
The door slid open. Asami Shouko stepped in followed by the Élan, Hinako.
"Everything alright here?" Shouko asked, looking around.
"Shipshape!" Oogata said with a thumbs up and a wink.
Hinako went to Oujirou's side. "Ou-san, hello!"
"Hello Hinako-chan." Oujirou touched the girl's sandy tresses. He noticed Hinako's outfit. She wore a saffron blazer over an aqua top matched with a plaid saffron skirt. Hinako's long hair was gathered by a band with the AL mark. The girl carried a rucksack with angel wings.
"That's a cute outfit," Oujirou observed.
Hinako sparkled with glee. "Arigato, Ou-san."
"Chihiro-kun will have a hard time concentrating."
Hinako was bewildered but started laughing in a high-pitched voice. "I don't think so. Where's Chihiro-kun anyway? I can't wait to begin our match!" Hinako rocked back and forth on her heels, her hands clasped at her back.
Oujirou chuckled. " Oh, he'll be here."
The door slid open again. Two people came in.
"Saya," Oujirou said when he realized who walked in. "Ah. You're with Chihiro-kun," he added upon seeing the other person.
Hinako smiled at Chihiro. Chihiro avoided her sight, slightly turning red. He shook his head vigorously and turned to Oujirou instead. "Mihara-san, I never knew you had a daughter. Let alone a daughter studying in the same school and same grade as I am."
"Really, Ou-san? This is your daughter?" Hinako chimed.
"Well, I don't talk about her much do I?" Oujirou answered stoically. "And she doesn't see you guys much either."
"You're not a deus?" Chihiro inquired Saya.
"I don't do Angelic Layer," Saya said in a rather strong response. She sat down on a chair.
An expression of concern reached Chihiro. "Saya, right? I apologize for provoking you," he told Saya sincerely.
Saya fixed her gaze at Chihiro. "No you didn't. Why should I feel provoked?"
Out of the blue, Hinako giggled.
"What's so funny?!" Chihiro glared at Hinako.
"Down 10 notches! You just lost 10 heart points!" Hinako couldn't stop laughing. She doubled over, clutching her tummy.
"Hinako-san!" Chihiro protested. Then as if seeing Hinako for the first time. He averted his eyes, reddening.
Hinako finally restrained herself. She straightened up and brushed aside obstructing bangs on her forehead. The young deus approached the sitting girl and said to her in a friendly manner, "Kobayashi Hinako. Call me Hinako. Nice to meet you! And that guy there is Minamoto Chihiro-kun."
Saya stared at the ten year old and the eleven year old then she smiled. "Saya. Mihara Saya."
Oujirou cleared his throat. Chihiro and Hinako focused on him.
"First match. You two are doing the honors," Oujirou declared. "Regulatory, okay?"
Chihiro and Hinako nodded. They looked at each other, fingers in a familiar position to Saya.
"Rock!..."
"...Paper!..."
"...Scissors!"
A sweatdrop formed at the back of Saya's forehead.
"Ha! I win!" Hinako cried victoriously.
"As always," Chihiro grumbled. "Right, Dominique?" The angel who had gone unnoticed on her perch moved its head in agreement.
Hinako rummaged through her rucksack and pulled out a transparent box. Hinako snapped it open. Her angel, Mimosa, jumped into the arms of its deus.
Chihiro and Hinako proceeded to go out but Chihiro stopped midway. He looked over his shoulder at Oujirou. "Mihara-san, I almost forgot. Please let me know in advance when we're supposed to have layer battles," said Chihiro seriously.
Oujirou acknowledged the boy with a cursory motion of the head. Chihiro stepped out after getting his answer.
"Regulatory? Is that new?" Saya questioned her father.
"Yes. Deuses usually fight on their own accord but once in a while, we have these regulatory matches. The two deuses play 'jankenpon' and the winner wins the battle itself. It's just something amusing to see. You can fight all you want but if you've lost in 'jankenpon', there's nothing else you can do but lose on purpose," Oujirou explained.
Saya's eyebrow twitched. "Do the audience actually know that it's regulatory?"
"Of course. But they don't know who the loser will be. That's for them to find out. Regulatory matches have become so popular that fans even have bets."
"Let me guess. Uncle Ichirou's idea?" Saya volunteered. Oujirou did not tell her what she wanted to know. Whether his silent mode suggested the truth or not, it was up to Saya to choose what she believed. In any way, Saya only had one thing to say about her uncle: Baka. He plays with the layer like a toy!
*****
The immediate and tumultuous response of the crowd was deafening. It showed to prove that a regulatory match between two prodigal deuses was enough to stimulate excitement in the air. As Hinako, stepped up to the platform where her seat was, numerous fanpeople whooped very loudly. A few holding up 'Ms. Élan, Gambatte!!!!' banners held them up even higher to the point of covering their views.
When it was Chihiro's turn to step up to his position, countless raving schoolgirls shouted their undying support. A portion of the watchers in the stands, comprised of Chihiro's staunch followers, formed a cheering squad repeatedly chanting, "Chihiro, Chihiro, you're the best! Y-e-s, yes, oh yes!"
There was a considerably big group of Hinako and Chihiro lovers altogether. They waved flags with doodles of chibi Hinakos and Chihiros enclosed in hearts drawn roughly on them. There was one manila paper poster containing the justificative words, 'Hina-chan and Chihiro-kun are not meant to fight each other! The match should become a draw!'
This time, the commentator made a smashing entrance by unsuspectingly dropping off from nowhere. Shrieks of surprise which the commentator mistaken for cries of rejoice were heard from the crowd. Because of this supposition, the announcer made uncanny macho poses and boasted of other stunts that he could perform. The crowd expressed their disapprobation with catcalls and boos at the commentator's antics.
"I'm just kidding, you guys!" retracted the announcer. He smiled apologetically. "OOOOOKKKAAY! I don't think there's any need to introduce our duelists for today! It's easy to tell from your cries that you know them very well, folks!"
"Today's match is regulatory. Yup, the jankenpon winner has already been decided but we don't know who he or she is going to be! Whose angel will emerge victorious? The Élan's Mimosa or refined Chihiro's refined Dominique? That, we will have to find out! All bets should have been placed by now."
All the while, as the announcer with the visor, bowtie, and tacky purple coat was jabbering, Chihiro could feel his heart pounding very loudly in his chest. It was not the first time his angel faced Hinako's. In fact, they had fought several times. Dominique lost every one of those battles. Chihiro admitted that he could win against anybody else. But when it came to Hinako's angel, he just could not concentrate well when he knew it was Hinako she was up against. Battles between meta-angels and their deuses did not follow usual procedures. The deuses would act as guides for the angels while they think on their own. The deus would be the one to prod his or her angel if it is in doubt. When the angel's moves are not concrete enough, the deus helps it overcome the opponent. In some way, the thought patterns of the deus and the meta-angel are the same. They are same in the sense that the meta-angel learns from its owner and eventually develops its own style.
Every time Chihiro was fighting Hinako, he could not direct his meta-angel very well. It was really becoming a problem. He could not explain why.
Even if I'm supposed to lose to her, Chihiro thought as he took his place, I must show Hinako-san a good fight. The boy stole a brief glance at the girl. She was talking animatedly to her angel. Chihiro realized that the brief glance he meant had become a long one just as Hinako seemed to have noticed him, furnishing a charming smile on her round and youthful face.
Chihiro's cheeks instantly colored. He shifted his gaze away from the other child. Why can't I look straight at her every time she smiles at me? Chihiro, this is no time to be acting like a fool. Your mother's not here right now to help you. Chihiro fumbled for his com-port. With unsteady hands, he fixed the headset onto his head and adjusted the mouthpiece to his liking. Chihiro then felt for the push button that would activate the visor.
Hinako was also doing the same. "Chihiro-kun, take a look at that," she said to the deus on the other side through the mouthpiece, pointing towards one part of the stands.
Chihiro turned his head. He saw that Hinako was pointing at a message scrawled on a manila paper being displayed by ardent Hinako and Chihiro fans. At first, Chihiro could not make out what the message said. He read it aloud very slowly, " Hina-chan and Chihiro-kun are not meant to fight each other......The match should become a draw.....Say what?!"
Hinako laughed outright upon seeing the bizarre reaction of the boy.
"Hinako-san!"
The girl tried hard to suppress herself but it was to no avail. "Gomen, Chihiro-kun...ha ha...."
"Hinako-san, that's not fu-"
A booming voice cut through. The commentator was about to announce the beginning of the battle. "....Now to get things cracking! I think the deuses are all set. Deuses, are you ready?"
Hinako was finally able to stop laughing. "Well, good luck to both of us. You can scold me later, gramps!" she told Chihiro, giving him a wink and giving the announcer a thumbs-up.
"..The time limit is 5 minutes. By the end of the allotted time, the angel designed to lose should have lesser life points or none left.."
"Hinako-san!"
"...Angels fight!"
*****
Ichirou appeared inside the video room just as the battle was starting. He was huffing and puffing when he arrived.
"Gomen, I got late," he mumbled, taking his place beside Oujirou.
"Chief, you're right on time!" Oogata said cheerily.
"Oniisan, that's just like you," Oujirou remarked ruminantly.
*****
"Let's do our best, Mimosa, even though it's a regulatory match!" Hinako smiled lovingly at her angel. She took a deep breath and said her usual line before any battle began, "Dream unto reality, Mimosa!"
With a deft movement of her hand, she threw Mimosa into the ring.
"Angel, fall-in!"
Mimosa was an acrobatic lightweight fighter. It was manufactured with flaming-red hair which Hinako kept long and a build meant for lightweights. The angel specialized in melee attacks. But being more advanced, Mimosa could do more than just pack a powerful punch with its knuckles or thrust a kick that could send its opponent flying back. The meta-angel was noted, however, for one faulty thing that always occurred every time it fought against Dominique.
Mimosa's garments were often thought to have been patterned after female protagonists in sci-fi action movies. It sported a long shiny white coat cut short around the sleeves over a large black shirt that had white crisscross designs and dark breeches. Other notable parts of the meta-angel's outfit included a trendy belt around its waist and slick knee-length boots. Mimosa had black hair cropped short and brown eyes.
Before touching the disc's surface, the meta-angel flipped in midair and landed with its hands braced upon the layer's floor, supporting its whole body.
Fans screeched in utter delight.
Now was Chihiro's turn.
"Come down from the heavenly gates. Fly, Dominique!"
Chihiro flung his own meta-angel into the ring as well.
"Angel, fall-in!"
Dominique was considered a different type of meta-angel altogether. She was the "Phantasm". People never did understand the nature of it. The ways that it could attack its enemy was hard to describe. It seemed as if Dominique was just floating there, yet it was pushing back the other angel. There was something daunting about Chihiro's angel. It had a luminescent body clad in flowing layers of white, projecting tentacle-like ribbons streaming in the air. Dominique's silver locks and crimson eyes also added an effect.
The meta-angel was ethereal, both in movements and appearance. It seemed to defy the laws of gravity as it hovered a few inches above the layer. A lambent light encumbered Dominique.
The whole crowd was stifled speechless in awe.
"Seriously, Chihiro-kun, you've yet again overdone it," commented Hinako.
Chihiro, deciding to get serious, brushed aside the remark. "Hinako-san, you better watch over Mimosa. The fight has already begun."
"Right." Hinako decided it was time she got serious too. Chihiro, even though his meta-angel was stipulated to lose, was not to be taken lightly.
*****
A close-up view of the layer in one of the monitors in the video room showed that neither of the meta-angels were making any move. The tension was evident. Nobody dared to make any sound.
Oujirou shattered the silence. "Saya-chan," he said," It's your first time to see a battle between two superior angels and their respective deuses, isn't it?"
Saya nodded. " A battle between meta-angels from Project SS and their deuses with the SM12-4X chip...."she said quietly. The girl did not need to elaborate details. Everyone in the booth knew what she was talking about, but Ichirou could not help but recall things involving that. People had no time to notice the dark look he had on his face, as there were, at last, movements on the layer.
All focused intently on the one monitor that gave the viewers a very close angle of the fight.
*****
Dominique was always painstakingly cautious. It never ever made the first moves. The opposite went for Mimosa. It followed an unseen driven force. It was no surprise to see the fighter type attack first than the thinking type. Mimosa gambled letting Dominique's guard down right away by making a swift side-step and delivering an unsuccessful critical sweep.
Dominique moved back out of reach with unfailing grace. It was not a thinker for nothing. Defense was its domain and counterattacks, its weapon.
It was clear that the easy way of finishing off the fight was not meant to be.
No dirty tricks. Dominique seemed to be challenging Mimosa.
Is that so? Mimosa challenged back.
"I see that Mimosa has started making its move!" commentated the announcer.
Mimosa opted for its aggressive tactics. It sprinted to Dominique's side and began barraging the angel with a series of strong punches and rapid kicks. Mimosa's kicks and punches could not land a single hit on the floating angel. The fighter recoiled back and gave way for a clean roundhouse that missed the target by a hair.
Dominique was not quick in motion but it was quick to read its opponents moves. A little smile was beginning to appear on the corner of her mouth.
*****
Oujirou's eyes fell on the clock that ticked off the minutes of the battle. It had already been running under two minutes. So far, neither angel's life points decreased a bit.
"Mimosa's offense techniques are solid, but it won't work on an angel such as Dominique. Dominique's foresight doesn't allow Mimosa's to connect," observed Saya insightfully.
Oujirou was not surprised to hear this from his daughter. "What you say may hold true at this moment. In most cases, Mimosa's offense oftentimes surmounts Dominique's defenses. Chihiro's weakness lies in his strong point."
Saya smiled knowingly. " Really, you don't have to put it that way."
Oujirou smiled back. "In any case, we'll just have to watch closely."
From behind, Ichirou let loose an exaggerated sigh and said, "You father and daughter tandem...." keeping the comment more to himself rather than Saya and Oujirou.
In her mind, Saya was very curious about one thing. She posed a question with uncertainty. "Uncle Ichirou, I just wanna ask this," Saya began, looking at her uncle. "What happens if the jankenpon loser doesn't keep his end of the bargain?"
Ichirou chose to return the answer with, "what happens? Who knows?" and a wild grin that showed his teeth.
Oogata saw how silly the chief looked. He looks like a monkey, but I better not say it, he thought while snickering.
The creator of the layer stared daggers at his assistant. "OOGATA!" howled Ichirou.
"H-hai," stammered the man, feeling nervous.
"BATSU GAME!"
*****
Chihiro knew what was going to happen next. Yes, he could see it very clearly. Sooner or later, it was going to happen...
Mimosa stood hands-side down and twisted the upper half of her body in a 360 degrees turn which intended to knock down its opponent. Dominique avoided it easily enough and moved further away.
Catching up to the hovering angel, Mimosa did a series of handsprings. The meta-angel thrust its legs wildly. Its efforts were in vain.
The commentator was, without a doubt, trying his best to deliver to the spectators what was going on. He did so with gusto. " Ara, Mimosa's face is taking on an expression of frustration. It's making a desperate and pathetic punch at nothing but air. 'How come I can't hit it?!' Mimosa seems to be crying out as it is thrashing out blindly. Folks, it's Berserker Mimosa we're witnessing here. Mimosa only comes to be like this in matches with the Phantasm."
"Hinako-san, Mimosa's gone into berserk mode again..." Chihiro told Hinako.
"I know," Hinako said in a neutral tone.
"I do not understand how you can always be so complacent when your angel is out-of-control."
Hinako smiled. "I have to, otherwise I will not be able to beat you. Besides, I believe Mimosa."
Chihiro was dumbfounded. "S-sugoi, Hinako-san. You are really calm about this."
"Of course!" chirped Hinako. Hinako glimpsed the timer. Only half a minute left, she thought. Time for miracles.
[29, 27, 25, 23]
Bombarding the floating angel with maneuvers, Mimosa was slowly gaining in on Dominique. It had no choice but to keep on backing away.
[21, 19, 17, 15]
Dominique was trapped in one corner with nowhere else to go. Mimosa drew near the meta-angel deliberately, preparing to make its final move.
[13, 12, 11, 10]
Dominique aimed its projectile ribbons. Mimosa dodged them. It jumped in the air...
[9, 8, 7, 6]
....executed a somersault...
[5, 4, 3, 2]
....and struck down Dominique...
...1
Dominique fell limply out of the layer, landing at the foot of Chihiro.
"Un-be-lieva-ble!!" bursted out Mr. Announcer. "It was only in the last moment that Hinako-chan's meta-angel was able to make a direct hit on Chihiro-kun's. This is amazing for Chihiro-kun! I don't think he intended to lose. But rules are rules in the regulatory match. Hinako and Mimosa wins!"
The crowd cheered without restraint. Chihiro and Hinako fans usually supported both deuses. Whoever won from the two was fine with them. Yet, when the fight yielded a draw, the egging on was much more louder.
" All those who betted on Mimosa will get a free Angelic Layer poster of the said meta-angel! You can redeem it at Piffle Princess within a period of 3 days!" thundered the announcer.
"Chihiro-kun, Dominique has changed a lot. " Hinako told Chihiro.
Chihiro reddened a bit. "No, she didn't. It was your meta-angel that changed."
"Thank you for making this match exciting!"
"Y-you too."
*****
People were regarding the match inside the video room.
"Only one bar has been taken away by Mimosa and at the very last second," Oujirou said.
"Obviously, Minamoto Chihiro has been progressing. It looks like Dominique's endurance to Mimosa's attacks has improved greatly," added Oujirou in a pensive manner.
"Also, Hinako-chan didn't do anything when her meta-angel turned berserk."
Oujirou smiled mysteriously. "Our prodigies are trying out something new, I guess."
Ichirou squinched his eyes at his younger brother. After a while, he took off his glasses and began to wipe them vigorously on his dirty lab coat.
Meanwhile, Saya was losing interest. She was about to walk off when her father noticed her. "Saya-chan, going somewhere?" he queried.
"Out for some fresh air," Saya replied. "All this ululation is becoming unbearable. There's too much hype. I'll walk home, is that alright?"
Oujirou nodded his assent.
"Oh!" Ichirou suddenly exclaimed, remembering something and slamming his fist on his palm. He strode to Oujirou's side and fixed on him a grave look. "Oujirou, this Saturday's that day," he said.
Oujirou stiffened. "Yes."
"My grandmother's death anniversary," Saya volunteered, her back turned.
Ichirou gazed at the back of his niece. "Saya-chan....."
"I'll remind grandaunt just in case she forgot," Saya intoned in an unwavering voice before leaving the room.
"AHH!" yelped someone. It was Oogata, who had gone neglected until now. He had suffered a lot from his punishment a few minutes ago. It was actually a feat that he survived all the batsu games from the older days up 'til now.
Ichirou was disconcerted. He examined his assistant. "What is it?" he asked.
"Chief, I forgot to collect data!" Oogata seemed to be on the verge of bawling. For a grown man, he looked pitiful at the time.
There was a strange glint in Ichirou's eyes, a smirk was plastered on his face. A low sinister laugh creeped up from him. "There's only one way to amend for that. This calls for a" - Oogata began to sweat profusely and gulped a big lump of saliva - "BATSU GAME!"
"I knew it!" groaned Oogata, "not again!!"
Oujirou chuckled, despite the serious airs earlier on. Times had been harsh lately and what better way to tackle them with a little humor.
Oto be continuedO
How was the fighting sequence? I can't describe things well when it comes to that. But I hope you were able to imagine what was going on. I know that the way the match was carried on was different. I did not write it so that the commentator would introduce the deuses before they took their seats. But hey, this is a different type of match, right? So, conventional procedures are not applied. Next time, I'll try to keep things more vivid.
Keep an eye out for Hatoko in the next chapter! Til next time!