Muv-Luv Reversal

by Zuoriel

Takeru has been leading a normal life until now. During the summer vacation of his second year in college he's invited by his high school friends to meet up again, to which he agrees. Shirogane doesn't know that this decision would release the nightmares that have been haunting him for some time, nightmares that would be better left forgotten.

70. Rumbling Hearts (I)

A/N:Seeing the responses last chapter got, I have three things to say.

First, thank you all for the honesty. Second, sorry for the confusion of the last scene. I had thought the state of Takeru's Gekishin after the long fights was obvious as well as that he was not fighting with a clear mind would make his self-KOing crash understandable. Same for the switches in the narration and the warning, when I finish this batch of chapters I'll go and revise that closing scene.

And third, since I don't wanna string along those who are disappointed or bored with the angst and the flashbacks, I made some additions to the disclaimer at the start of the story. Simply put, I won't change the plot because otherwise I wouldn't enjoy writing it, and this fic won't become a retelling of Alternative. There won't be a carbon copy of the 12/5 Incident, the fights against the BETA won't take the same direction as they did in canon, and I plan on riding the angst to its conclusion so that it, hopefully, reaches a good payoff instead of just solving Takeru's anguish with hypnotherapy as it happened in the VN. As I said before there are a few angst-heavy chapters coming which revolve around the issues of both our Takeru and Native, and without those the story simply wouldn't work for me. If the mix of light fluff and angst the fic has had thus far is not to your liking, know that its overall mood won't change going forward.

Thanks for reading, and for the honest comments. Stay safe.

Zuoriel

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Chapter 70:

Rumbling Hearts (I)

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December 3rd. Almost Noon.

(Hangar.)

[Meiya]

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Deafening whispers overflow the hangar to the rim, only matched by either the befuddlement or consternation found in all the gazes of those present. A jest it is not to affirm that even the most seasoned mechanics are now certainly bereft of all words.

I am merely a cadet, that is true, yet I am no stranger to witnessing the damage battle inflicts on our equipment. Be it when I left my previous residence before enlisting in the UN or when arriving at this base, the metal once bright left scarred, the firm shapes bent and bruised, steel wings forever clipped. All the abandoned machines looked like that to me through the windows as I gazed at the scenery. And now, such an image lies in front of me.

"Look at it," Yoroi whispers, holding both hands close to her body as if it were freezing. "The paint is almost fading from the plating."

"You think he crashed?" Ayamine asks, pointing with a thumb to the Gekishin.

"Either that, or the machine was sent to collide against a skyscraper or a tumbled bridge," 1st Lt Suzumiya says, curling a strand of hair, a few onlookers nodding to her words.

Just what manner of brusque maneuver did he employ to leave his Gekishinwith this level of damage? The more it's lifted to dock into the hangar, the more it screeches as if enduring torture. The joints refuse to move even slightly, which causes the crew to make the docking cease momentarily to avoid damage to the railway or the machine. To have the bare metal showing from under the paint, to have such a sturdy machine bent at places, for the limbs to be stuck in place, what in the Heavens could have caused this outcome? Why would you abuse your machine so, Takeru?

"1st Lt Suzumiya," Sakaki begins, slowly turning around towards the woman, "can you tell us anything about what happened?"

Her expression sobers up into stillness, only to then shake her head as she rests her back onto the wall. "Sadly, I know as much as you do. I was left waiting here while you battled, yet Sgt Jinguuji did not appear. I frankly have no idea what's going here, either," she then gives us a small nod in sympathy, not breaking eye contact.

"You've heard no word from your captain, either?" I ask, she sighs and shakes her head once again.

"No, nothing at all."

We all share a momentary gaze, left with nothing to do but to stare at the repining mechanics which finally manage to align the TSF with the railway, giving word for the docking to proceed. Yoroi and Ayamine look at each other, as if gauging whether to step towards the machine or not, before Sakaki taps Ayamine's shoulder then shakes her head in silence.

"Let's not, give the crew some space," she orders, and both nod despite looking down, tightening hands in response.

"Shirogane-san isn't injured, right?" Tamase finally speaks up yet low enough for the whirring of gears to almost drown her voice, not moving from the crate she was resting her frame on.

"I do not think we should hoist such concerns," I say, slowly inhaling, slowly opening and closing my hands a few times. "At worst, he has motion sickness and cannot move his machine for the moment."

Tamase looks down, lips retracting, unmoving from her position as if she had become part of the crate itself. Sakaki and Yoroi merely look away, Ayamine sighs as she goes to rest against the wall by 1st Lt Suzumiya's side. So, once more the silence around us is permeated by all the whispers, by the shouts of the mechanics near the railing.

According to what I saw on the radar, Takeru continued to fight despite having been almost bested at one point. The others also seem to have seen the same patterns. And at blinding speeddid he retaliate, for my radar had quite the issues keeping up with the pace of the last moments of the fight. The only possible explanation for the state the Gekishin is in would be that he failed to connect with one of those aerial charges of his. So, it would be natural for him to be left nauseous after that.

Yet, for him to have resorted to such a method, and for it to have left his machine in such a state… Are you truly a spy, then? Why would you decide to endow such aggression towards Tsukuyomi?

"Come on, move along!" A strong yell, which is followed by hasty footsteps. The crimson haired captain, whose name was Isumi I believe, who was in the command post during the battle enters the hangar, followed by a few nurses who bring a gurney with them. "This is no spectacle. If you've no business here, get out of the way."

"What is going on?" I look around yet the others seem equally shocked at the sight, even 1st Lt Suzumiya.

"Why is the medic crew here?" Yoroi asks, eyes wide and unblinking.

"So he really is hurt?" Tamase says, looking around then down when the rest of us remain silent.

Coughing softly, Sakaki looks towards 1st Lt Suzumiya. "1st Lt, could we approach the Gekishin to ask Cpt Isumi what has happened?"

"I do not think it's a good idea," she affirms, again shaking her head. "If Cpt Isumi brought a gurney, then approaching them now would only have your questions refused."

"So you say that there is something that cannot be disclosed, is that it?" Otherwise, why would a mere question on Takeru's state be refused?

"Eh? No, just that if your comrade was hurt, then asking questions now is-"

"Why would he have been hurt? He was wearing the fortified suit, furthermore our units' boosters are limited so that we cannot injure ourselves in the first place."

It makes no sense, all this secrecy. How they sent us five back on our own before his Gekishin was brought to the hangar, how the battle wasn't declared over as soon as he was marked as down, and now we can't even approach the machine or ask any questions. It makes no sense. Unless, of course, there is something to hide.

"Mitsurugi, come on," Sakaki sighs, grabbing one of her elbows. "Shirogane-kun must have failed one of his charges, and perhaps he's unconscious now. This is just standard emergency protocol, isn't it?"

"To the point of leaving his machine in such a state? Sakaki, do not take me for a fool. Why would have Takeru employed such a risky method when he was the last man standing?"

Why would he choose such a violent end to this battle? Considering how odd his disposition was earlier, and what Tsukuyomi has told me, could he have grown upset at something? I do not believe Tsukuyomi would taunt or press him to such extremes, Takeru did this on his own volition. But, why? Don't tell me… you're truly…

"Stand aside, make way!" A loud bark, a voice I recognize.

Looking to the other end of the hangar, Kamiyo, Tomoe and Ebisu were pushing their way through the crowds and supply crates, all of them still wearing their suits. Severe expressions mire their complexions, as if the alarm was blaring at this very moment. Why would they be coming in person to this hangar? Now the others are who look at my person, yet I sigh and shake my head in equal surprise at the matter.

"Where the Heavens- Oh, there it is!" Kamiyo quickly stomps her way to the Gekishin, people moving out of her way as the other two follow close. She slows down, taking a short breath before facing the ones near Takeru's machine, cold as ice. "Cpt, has the cadet left the unit yet?"

The nurses and medical staff stiffen, sharing looks and whispers. Those around us also indulge in the same curiosity, as us five and 1st Lt Suzumiya do by the crates near the hallway.

"I do not recall hearing you had the authorization to ask for such questions," Cpt Isumi answers, displaying a frown while she rests a hand onto the Gekishin's cockpit.

"The gall," Kamiyo fumes, taking a step forward, making some of the mechanics that were near the docking port scatter swiftly like leaves to the wind's mercy. "Your cadet lashes out against our squad leader and you refuse to even disclose what's going on?!"

"What did she say?" Sakaki says before I could, we share a gaze yet find the rest of the hangar silenced in equal measure.

Cpt Isumi sighs, brushing some hair to a side, then she takes a few steps forward while leaning closer to the rails, as if blocking Kamiyo from approaching the cockpit of the TSF. "2nd Lt, please do not speak unnecessary words. We do not wish to instigate further hostility."

"Please, do not jest," she retorts, frowning much towards the Gekishin. "Why is Mana-sama being treated as the aggressor when the cadet was the one who performed such a savage charge? You're all just trying to shift the blame to us!"

Endowing an ice cold glare, the captain holds their stares, the most adusted ones from the trio, the yet composed of the cousins, and the befuddled of all those of us who spectate the debate. Firm and relaxed, she crosses her arms slowly without moving an inch. "As I said before, you have no authorization to be in this hangar. Your squad leader was requested to detail the events that lead to the state of this Gekishin, nothing more. And I assume you were told that we requested the IRG to not try anything against cadet Shirogane. Leave this hangar at once, or we'll act in consequence." Slow are her words and the movements of her lips, yet the minute furrowing of her brows, the hand delving into a pocket and the unblinking fixation of her stare tells she is not jesting on her threat.

Yet, what is the meaning of this? Takeru truly attacked Tsukuyomi with one of those savage charges, and the UN is blaming her for it? The trio wouldn't be here otherwise, not without good reason to clash so openly with a UN officer. And I refuse to believe Tsukuyomi would have said or done anything to cause this outcome. All the whispers around us, behind the crowds, the crates, as well as the stare of that captain… They're treating my fellows as if they were the culprits? How dare-

"How dare you speak such balderdash!" Tomoe finishes mine own thoughts, a coiled fist finding her chest. "We fought with honor and you dare throw mud at us?"

"Again, we are not pointing fingers at anyone," Cpt Isumi says, giving the three of them afirm gaze, unfaltering in front of their glares, while waving a hand downwards in a slow fashion.

Ebisu frowns as she steps forward, her teeth visible for a moment as she hits the railway when she sways a hand to the air. "Why should we lower our heads and accept this without question? Furthermore, we are only here to see if the cadet is conscious at the moment. If Mana-sama is being sent to a questioning, then Shirogane also should be."

As the whispers thicken in the air, Cpt Isumi remains still, expression tight and never lifting her gaze from the trio. Seeming to stick her chest out, raising her shoulders, not a single ripple could be seen in the surface of her composure. "And I already gave you an answer. Until this situation has been clarified, you were asked to remain either in your hangar or your quarters. 1st Tsukuyomi agreed to this petition and yet here you are."

"With all due respect," Kamiyo says, still frowning as she waves a hand upwards, "a mere positive or negative answer would suffice. Simply removing the cadet from his machine also would. If you truly want to know what transpired, inspecting his control logs or bringing him along to the questioning should be the most logical course of action."

Yet, Cpt Isumi remains undaunted. "Do you think you can do as you please in this base? I will only repeat myself one last time. Desist on whatever it is you're trying to do, this was nothing but an accident. No one is pointing fingers at you, so do not leash out against the cadet. Also,please take into account how your presence here will be taken," she says, taking a momentary gaze at those around, sending quite a frozen deluge their way which makes some turn hastily leave and stumble with a cable or a crate, others merely look away.

"We are only asking for both parties to be present in the questioning. It is most unfair for Mana-sama to be treated as the sole culprit of this 'accident'," Tomoe retorts immediately, acidic and venomous as she scowls towards the damaged steel.

Yet, the captain frowns, heaving a sigh and shaking her head while pinching her nose. "Do you plan to force me to call security? Is that it? You're just trying to force my hand to make you into the victims?"

"What did she say?" Clenching a fist, I cannot help but to frown at the words.

"Mitsurugi, shh!" Sakaki says, hastily grabbing one of my arms and pulling me back.

"However, how could she say such a thing to an Imperial Guard?"

"And what do you plan to do, speak up against a superior officer?" She asks, tapping her glasses and holding my gaze, making my words lose impulse on my throat.

"As if you were the victims here!" Kamiyo once more shouts, breaking our stares. Slashing the air with a wave, punching a crate, a finger then fires off towards the Gekishin while she snarls in hunting aggression. "It was that damn American who attacked Mana-sama with such savage a maneuver. Yet, we are the ones brought into questioning? It's clear as day, that dastard is nothing but a violent element that revels in such brutal approaches. And you are shielding that foreigner from proper questioning, casting the blame onto our squad leader."

"No one is blaming you for anything," Cpt Isumi says as she again shakes her head, the stillness of her complexion an inverse reflection of what burns in the trio's faces. "Yet, you don't have the authorization to receive this intel or to question the cadet, and 1st Lt Tsukuyomi gave us word this accident would be kept to just that, that none of you would try and turn this into a blame game. For one last time, leave before I have to call for security."

The trio seems intent on not accepting the terms, yet once more affliction mires their complexions as they share a gaze and dull the cascading animosity which permeated their eyes. For them to be this upset, and to have come here in person, it means Tsukuyomi truly is being treated as the cause of whatever has occurred. Yet, for some reason, Takeru is being shielded now. When he should have been the one who forced this outcome with his piloting, when it was completely unnecessary as well, when he should have been aware of the consequences due to the punishment that still lies on his shoulders. It leaves my insides hollow, my lips dry and sinking inwards. Why… Why did you do such a thing?

"…You think the American tried to harm one of 'em?" A whisper asks, from within the crowd.

"Either that, or they went too far against the guy and are now covering their own asses," another whisper answers, and Sakaki again grabs my arm and shakes her head.

So all I can do is bite my lips and look away as further whispers prickle my ears. And if the trio continues to argue with the captain, they too shall bear some manner of punishment for these actions. When they're only safeguarding Tsukuyomi's honor in front of an irrational claim. If Takeru was the one who acted out of line, then he too should be questioned. And reprimanded, if his action indeed put Tsukuyomi and his TSF at risk. Yet, if he is injured or unable to leave his unit, then haste is of essence. Only then this will be clarified, whether you truly are at fault or if this was nothing but an accident, as well as the causebehind the state of your unit.

Thus, I sigh and feel a shiver on my nape. To step forward and speak up at this time will only serve to garner all the attention, use my image for my own interests. Dubious it is that Cpt Isumi will simply bow down at my words, yet I must be careful not to cause the trio to flare up further. I still have to share some words with them regarding their treatment towards Tamase during the battle, after all. However, to simply remain watching is not something I should allow myself to do. After all, you truly might be injured or unconscious within your cockpit due to the G-Forces of your maneuver, and all this discussion is achieving is delay your treatment.

Licking my lips when taking the first step, releasing my arm from Sakaki's binding hand as she tries to restrain me, I cough when approaching the debating four. "If you'd excuse me, captain?"

Her eyes narrow, merely moving her eyes to gazemy way for a moment. "What is it, cadet?"

"I believe ascertaining the condition of cadet Shirogane should be a priority, which would easily defuse this argument. Even if he is taken to the medbay, he also will certainly be taken to questioning at a latter moment. I do not believe the presence of the guards here puts your orders in-"

"You're speaking out of line, cadet. Stand back," she replies, another frozen downpour aims at my person this time from within her stern frown.

"What?! You think you can dismiss Meiya-sama's words?" Kamiyo's hands twitch as she frowns. "You're nothing but a baseborn, how dare-"

"Kamiyo," Glaring her way, I hold her gaze. She nods in apology along the other two, taking a step back. Inhaling slowly, I then turn to look at my superior once more. "Cpt, ma'am, I am aware I should not be speaking up. Yet, my comrade's safety, and his image, is being jeopardized by this argument. Whether he is to blame or not, that shall be clarified in due time. But first, ascertaining his status should take priority. More so considering the damaged state of his machine."

She then nods, her shoulders sagging for a moment. "Sigh… I do agree with you. However, the guards here have no authorization to be near the cadet. And I cannot deny they'd try to something against him the moment he exits the cockpit."

Waving a hand their way, my eyes briefly meet the trio's as they say no word yet engrave the displeasure in their faces. I then nod, keeping my head low. "I do not believe that to be a concern, an Imperial Guard would not shame their teachings with such crude a conduct. Please, my squadmate might truly be injured." Even if that is nothing but his fault, considering what seems to have happened.

"Did you not hear, cadet Mitsurugi?" She says, once more firm and frosting. "I ordered you to stand back. I understand your concerns, but this is a UN base. We have a protocol to follow, and 1st Lt Tsukuyomi already agreed on this procedure. So," brushing her hair, a slow drizzle of absolute zero leaves her lips, "if you three do not leave this instant, I will be calling security," she then procures a communicator from her pocket, flickering the switch on.

"P-Please wait, ma'am. There is no need to-"

Another set of voices, loud voices reach my ears as they ask for people to move.

Both the captain and the trioseem startled as well, a minuscule twitch and subsequent lost of tension in their forms as their gazes seek the source of the sounds which were coming from two opposite hallways. Mion and Shion, also wearing their suits, hurry towards us from one end of the hangar while the Instructor slowly nudges herself through the people to get to our position, only to halt her steps in utter shock as she sees the state of the Gekishin.

"You three, what do you think you're doing?!" Shion berates them, waving a finger about with quite the adusted expression in her as she rushes the last steps.

Kamiyo stutters, gaze crumbling to a thousand pieces. "W-We only wanted to take the cadet to the questioning. It is unjust, for Mana-sama to be-"

"Silence," Mion says, shaking her head as she rubs her forehead with a finger. "Sister gave us our orders, did she not? And yet, you defied her and came here anyways. It seems you even caused problems for the cadets," she then gives me a fleeting glance, both cousins subtly nodding my way, cascading lips in apology.

"…Mitsurugi, what is going on here?" The Instructor asks as she walks towards us, a sharp glance towards the guards as she takes care to mind her steps and walk a set distance from them.

"I was merely asking Cpt Isumi to retrieve cadet Shirogane from his unit, in case he was injured."

"What? Injured?!" Flinching back, only to gain a towering tint in her eyes. She gazes at the Gekishin, lips shaking for a second, then looks to me, yet I can only lower my gaze, so I can hear her give out a short yet deep sigh. "Just what on earth happened here? Cpt, what is the state of the cadet?"

"We do not yet know. I have orders to take him to medbay, just in case. But as you can see," she then gazes to the guards, sighing with a delayed gesture towards them, "we had some company."

"My apologies, captain," Shion immediately says, bowing down along Mion, then glaring at the trio who then also bow down, despite how they bite their lips as they do. "Forgive the intrusion, there was no ill will from them. Only their duty to their squad leader fueled their actions and words." Her voice composed, her lips pressed into a firm line, nothing but a forced veil which hides the pressure of her fingers upon her palms.

Cpt Isumi nods, finally dispelling the cold aura in her posture. "Apology accepted. Please, take your leave. Let's not make this accident into something larger than it is."

"We are in agreement then," Mion nods as she rises back up, brushing some hair. "Please do look after the cadet, we shall be taking our leave here."

"However, Mion-sama, why should we-"

"Kamiyo," Shion glares at her, one of her eyebrows twitching for a moment, "we are taking our leave. Do not shame the Blood squadron any further."

The trio bows down in apology, then give a minute nod to Cpt Isumi before turning around and stomping their way out, clearly seething to the rim. Both cousins once more apologize to the captain in a formal manner, giving me a faint gaze before they also take their hurried leave, eyes fixated upwards in their perfect march.

"Come on, show's over!" The Instructor shouts, clapping a few times, glaring at the onlookers that start to disperse. "Move along, you've got work to do, I'm sure!" She then hits a crate a few times, making it shake slightly, the echo hastening the departure of the steps.

And with those mere words, most people that had gathered empty the hangar in but a few seconds. I cannot help but to sigh, as those along the captain do. Looking back, the other four were almost petrified on the spot, Tamase with her eyes barely open and the others unable to look my way, while 1st Lt Suzumiya slowly walks towards the captain.

"Isumi, what happened here?" The Instructor asks, arms folding slowly.

Yet, she shakes her head. "I am not at liberty to speak. I suppose you will be notified of this soon enough."

"I see…" she then looks to the Gekishin, eyes squinting and brows arching, a slow yet extended exhalation through her nose once she veils her sight.

1st Lt Suzumiya stops besides me, giving a court bow. "Um, captain, should I go back with the rest or-"

"You stay with the Instructor for now, Suzumiya. Inform her of what you saw, and then go get lunch with the rest," she orders with a nod, to which the 1st Lt salutes in acknowledgment.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Sakaki takes a few steps towards us, standing in attention. "Could you allow us to at least see how cadet Shirogane is faring?"

Yet, the woman immediately shakes her head. "No, I'm afraid I've orders to take him immediately to the medbay and I already lost plenty of time."

Standing besides Sakaki, giving a deep bow, I ask as I remain in position. "Please, we merely wish to see if he's uninjured, is all. We won't intrude on your orders nor try to speak with him."

"Mitsurugi, Sakaki," the Instructor begins, giving us both an unblinking, fixed stare, "you've heard the state of things. We shall be taking our leave, and you all have to prepare for the afternoon lectures as well."

"However, we're merely asking to-"

Taking a step closer, further do her eyes narrow upon mine. "Didn't you hear?We're on the captain's way. So, we're taking our leave now. Come on, you'll know what happened to the hotshot later."

Holding my breath and nod is all I'm allowed to do, taking a few steps back, flattening my lips as I gaze at the Gekishin. Why would they even deny us being present? Could it be… he isn't truly injured and all of this was a jest? All a ploy to force Tsukuyomi to be the culprit? I would like to believe that is not the case, yet all of this is abundant in suspicion.

"Um…" Tamase speaks up, bows down and tries to hold the Instructor's gaze. "So, we'll know if he's injured or not?"

"We shall know soon," she answers, low and simple. "Let's not loiter around. You five, to the changing room," she orders, gazing into our eyes as we nod. She then turns around, seeming to sigh as she salutes the woman. "My apologies, Isumi. I should have been the one in the command post."

Yet, the captain grimaced for a moment before shaking her head and heaving a short sigh. "It's not your fault, Sergeant. This was nothing but an accident, I'm sure," she says, before saluting all of us and turning around, walking back to the TSF's side.

After looking at it one last time, I turn around and walk into the hallways along the others, following behind the Instructor as 1st Lt Suzumiya details her what had happened before the battle.

Slow steps, slow inhaling. A badly timed word? A too forceful inquiry? What did Tsukuyomi do to have you do such a thing, Takeru? He has never shown any ill conduct towards us, not even as we kept our distance from him. No, there was…

The CCSE. That moment when his back was thrust against the wall, and when we spoke the next day. The clear affliction when he spoke of that woman who bestowed him with the Minaru Kamui. He had said that those methods were reserved for when he had no other choice. Are you saying Tsukuyomi threatened your safety as those chasers did, then? If she is such a danger to your eyes, then… then could you truly be a spy? All this secrecy would make sense then, to cast a shield over Takeru. The XO must have ordered the captain to come look for him, after all he seems to be deeply linked to her considering he refers to her as 'Sensei'.

Slowly, my arms fold over each other. Falling back, back into the currents of thought leads me to all our talks thus far. I do not see such an aggressive person in Takeru, I do not believe Tsukuyomi would do anything to cause such a reaction in him. Yet, the shining visage he shows might only be the surface, what easily meets the eye. What do I know of the shadows that lay beneath the horizon of his facade?

…Either way, it does not change the fact that Tsukuyomi is being falsely accused of harming him. And as much as I may loath it, waiting is all I can do.

"…See?" A whisper follows us as a few MP pass by our side. "Told you the guy got sent to the medbay."

"Heh, because he tried to attack a guard," another replies, their conversation fading as we march on.

Yet, the whispers and gazes follow us on our way to the changing room. As if their shadow had grown eyes, Yoroi and Tamase start to slow down, to throw gazes around at irregular intervals. Ayamine and Sakaki do not show any signs of inconvenience, yet it is doubtful they are immune to the faint echo that now traces our steps. This, too, is yet another repercussion of Takeru's folly. It is not a triviality for us, to remain with a low profile. Even if he were free of guilt, all the unpleasantry that's brewing around him shall also etch itself onto our backs as well, even to Tsukuyomi's and her fellows. As if they already weren't facing enough hardships in this base to begin with.

It's all because of you. You always spoke of how you desired to fit in, yet once again you chose violence. Perhaps I merely set myself up for disappointment, thinking his words on the CCSE were genuine. However…

"Okay but, what if because everyone says he's a yank he finally snapped at something?" another whisper reaches my ears, causing me to follow those soldiers with my eyes.

A female foreigner shrugs, not caring to lower her voice. "It's his fault for attacking the guards. Even if the guy was right, now everyone is going to assume he's some violent jackass. He fucked up, and now he's gonna have to own up to it."

…I cannot deny that what seems to have transpired does not align for what I know Takeru to be. No, wordplay means nothing in front of his actions. However, if he did not have the intention to harm Tsukuyomi and apologizes, then perhaps all these whispers will be vanquished.

Yet, there is nothing to be done at the moment, and while not everyone is speaking of the matter, quite a few are the ones who grow silent when we approach them, their bodies relaxing oddly against a wall or their eyes evading our presence, only to restart the whispers as soon as we pass them by.

Yoroi has been deadly silent all this time, Tamase seems to be walking as if compulsed by some strings and barely paying attention. Sakaki and Ayamine both halt their steps when another aggravation echoed in the whispers, causing Tamase to run into them. Signs of ignition surface in their eyes, as if ready to take immediate action.

"Sakaki, Ayamine," taking a step forward, I shake my head slowly, "do not be foolish. Nothing we could say would aid this situation in the slightest."

"…Ain't that smart," Ayamine clicks her tongue.

"I am only keeping a level head at the moment, is all. Silence is our ally as of now."

"I agree, partially," Sakaki taps her glasses, taking a deep breath. "For now, let's just stay quiet."

"Cadets!" the Instructor shouts, arms folded and staring at us, "do not dally. You can talk at large in the changing room or during lunch."

"Apologies, Instructor," Sakaki quickly says, bowing down first and us following behind. "We were distracted by… a few foul words."

"Don't pay attention to the whispers, you still have the better part of the day ahead of you," she reminds us, never waning in her imposing aura. "We shall be told what transpired by tomorrow, so do not dwell on the matter. I know it might be a hard ask, but clamp your ears and do as you always do. This won't be the last time one of your squadmates becomes the talk of the base, these things happen for both good and ill motives," the Instructor then heaves a short sigh, shaking her head as she turns around. "Come on, we aren't that far from the changing area."

"Uh…" Tamase speaks up, taking a hesitant step forward, "Instructor, what are the chances that Shirogane-san is injured?"

Blinking for a moment, closing her eyes as she sends a hand to her hair, the Instructor's lips seem to retract ever slightly. "It all depends on how his machine got in that state in the first place. I believe he simply lost consciousness due to high G-Forces, possibly during one of those aerial charges of his. So the Gekishin collapsed to the ground then. I do not believe Shirogane is in any danger, he was wearing a fortified suit after all."

"I see…" her head lowers, both arms loosen and lay limp by her side.

"Please, don't be so distraught," 1st Lt Suzumiya says, giving a brief smile to Tamase. "Even if he received some minor injuries, I believe your squadmate will be fine. And don't worry about all the rumors, I'm sure he was not at fault either."

"Eh? How can you affirm that, 1st Lieutenant?"

She taps one of her cheeks as I stare at her and the others do so as well, a minute moment of hesitation before she gazes at the Instructor, who sighs and nods, so 1st Lt Suzumiya looks back towards us with a firm, serious expression. "Well, it's a simple matter. My captain was sent to take your squadmate to the medbay, immediately after the end of the battle. This is proof enough cadet Shirogane is not the cause of this incident. If there was any speck of doubt of this fact, then either the CO or the XO would have had the cadet taken to the questioning, even employing hypnotherapy were it necessary, to avoid any friction with the Royal Guard."

"So, they called the 1st Lt from the Guard just to know what had happened?" Sakaki asks, a finger on her chin as she looks my way, and I nod in thankfulness for having taken the question from me.

"I think so, yes. Of course, I don't know what actually happened, and since I never had the opportunity to even speak with your comrade I can't really give my opinion on all the rumors about him. But if someone was to blame for whatever happened, the cadet would have been taken to the interrogation room regardless of his state or all the guards would have been the ones called by the authorities. That's why," she then smiles, clasping her hands, "please don't worry, this truly seems to not have been anything other than an accident. If this had happened between you all, no one would be batting an eye at this. It's only making this much noise because you faced off against the Royal Guards."

"Which was a mistake to begin with," the Instructor adds in a low tone, a slight frown in her features which makes even 1st Lt Suzumiya twitch. "It was expected one of you would mishandle a TSF during your very first experience with live combat, it always happens. There was no world in which you were put against the guards and didn't face a total defeat when your actual piloting hours are non-existent. I swear…"

"C-Come on, Instructor," 1st Lt Suzumiya waves both hands down, futilely trying to douse the mood of our teacher, "this was nothing but a chain of unfortunate situations."

She exhales from her nose, giving a nod, which makes the rest of us relax. "Let's just leave it at that, then."

She hastily turns on her heels and resumes her march towards the changing room. 1st Lt Suzumiya sighs while placing a hand on her neck, giving us a minute nod before we all resume our pats Tamase's shoulder, and the rest of us nod at her when she looks back. Me and Sakaki share a sigh, Ayamine simply starts walking with her gaze focused elsewhere. A few more whispers followed us, but the remaining distance wasn't large at all. Saluting 1st Lt Suzumiya before entering the room, as she seems to be finished in telling the Instructor what had transpired, for a moment there is nothing but the rustling of the plastic parts as they come off, of the pressure of the suit fading, the sound of the lockers being opened.

All in all, this battle wasn't entirely a negative experience. I did manage to trade blows with Tsukuyomi, even if she perhaps was holding back on me then. With enough effort, one day I will be worthy of crossing true strikes with her. Although, before I forget…

Barely placing her fingertips on her armor, sitting with her eyes transfixed onto the floor, movements far too slow, far too quiet. As if the smallest shift in posture had her pushing against bindings, as if trapped within a cage. And to an extent that might be right, the cage is merely what lies within her mind as of now.

Sitting besides her as I start to remove my leg armor, I hold her gaze when she seems to quiver. "Are you still mulling over the words they said during the battle?"

"…Yes," the words barely made it out of her lips, once more she compacts upon herself as if sinking into darkest depths. "Sorry, I didn't think they'd take that much offense at my presence."

"Do not apologize, Tamase. You made no miss, the trio simply… have far too much ardor in their hearts towards their duty. You are a fellow regardless of your choice not to chase after your title, and I am grateful for your aid during the battle. It is no jest to say you were splendid today," so I smile in earnest, holding the cracks in her eyes.

After a moment, she gives a minute bow, "Thanks, really."

"No, no. I should be the one thanking you for your covering fire." It is truly a shame this 'accident' took place. Otherwise, we would have been able to celebrate Tamase's performance, which I am loath to admit was superior to mine in the role she played.

"Yeah," Yoroi joins in from a side as she takes off her arm guards. "Miki-san was amazing today! I can't believe you actually shot one of them down."

"Actually, she scored two kills," I say, as I cross a leg over the other and start to remove the heel guard. "While it was a mutual knockout, I believe the fortitude you displayed then was marvelous."

"No… I was so scared," she says, her shoulders sinking as low as her tone. "My hands were shaking so badly, my vision grew blurry, all I could do was spam the trigger."

A firm pat to her shoulder, I nod her way when she looks up. "That means you did not freeze, Tamase. You acted through your fear, and that is an achievement you should be proud of. It was our very first mock battle, after all."

"Yeah, that's right," Yoroi nods, releasing her hand from the gloves, "I thought it'd be easy, to just shoot and all, but when they rushed at me I couldn't fire fast enough." She then looks down, the lone free hand resting on her chest. "It was nothing like when we spar with Takeru and he comes at us, it was like a cold shiver ran through me and my mind went blank. Next thing I knew everything was shaking and the projection got turned off," she then sighs, raising the other hand to remove the armor. Yet, Yoroi makes a thumbs up with it and smiles at us, "So don't be so hard on yourself, Miki-san. You did great today."

"What did she do?" Ayamine asks, in the middle of releasing her bosom from the suit.

"Tamase managed to snipe one of our adversaries, and did not fall to fear when receiving fire at point blank," I say with a nod.

"Really?" Sakaki asks as she turns around, removing her shoulder guard.

"N-No… I just tried my best," she answers, looking down to resume her changing. As modest as always, I see.

"Still, way to go," Ayamine smiles, placing her arm guards on the locker and sitting down to deal with the lower end of the suit. "We couldn't even graze the ones we faced," she notes, a small purse of her lips.

"It was obvious, being against the Takemikazuchi," Sakaki shrugs, already slipping entirely out of the suit. "That we held out for so many minutes is a success in my eyes," she says as one finger once more spins in the air as her other hand retrieves her undergarments from the locker.

"I agree with Sakaki. While I believe they must have held back, your continued survival is a triumph in and of itself," I nod, removing my leg guards, then raise my feet to start taking off the plastic covering my body.

"…That was more thanks to Shirogane-kun, truth be told," she says, raising her legs to put her clothing on.

"Huh?" Tamase looks up, Yoroi and me also stare at her. "Sakaki-san, what did Shirogane-san do?"

"Kept us both in check," Ayamine says as she hastily puts on her tank top. "When they started shutting down our escape routes, he immediately got us close to each other."

"And then covered our flanks as always when we tried to retaliate," the finger still spinning, she enters a leg into her cargo pants. "Frankly, if they hadn't got Ayamine before you rejoined us, I think we might have had a chance to subdue the Takemikazuchi with all four of us working together."

"Well, it is a shame," I nod in agreement, pulling my arms out of the suit, folding it all and placing the plastic and each part in the right compartment. "By the by Ayamine, how were you shot down?"

"They tumbled me from afar as Special-kun retreated, and the Takemikazuchi got me before the shock countermeasure ceased," she says, shrugging with narrowed brows. "Nothing I could do, really."

"Same here," Sakaki sighs as she unfolds her tank top. "I did my best to try and limit the Takemikazuchi's movements, but it was a wasted effort. There was no way we could do anything against that TSF, piloted by an elite too. It's impressive you managed to snipe one of them, though," she nods towards Tamase, a minute smile as she taps her glasses. "I guess you truly are the ace of our original squad."

"I just did my best effort, and Mitsurugi-san and Yoroi-san also did a good job to facilitate that shot," she says, finally loosening her expression, finally gaining some impulse in her arms, dispelling what nested within even if for a moment.

"Still, you landed the shot. It shall be an honor to try and dodge your sniping in our coming battles, Tamase," I smile at her with vigor, before procuring my own tank top from the locker.

"No, on the contrary, I'll do my best to not disappoint," she says, nodding as her expression tightens, shimmering in resolve for a moment.

"Come on Miki-san," Yoroi gently slaps her shoulder, making Tamase squeal, "you clearly were our lifeline today. You fought very well, despite all the things they told you."

Sporting a smile and in an amicable tone as always, Yoroi nods as she sits down to tie her boots. The small retraction of her lips, how her hands fold towards her body tell Tamase is once more brooding over the matter. All my efforts to clear her mind wasted by Yoroi's unawareness. It is hard to believe she wouldn't have read the air, to go and once more mention that.

"What do you mean?" Ayamine asks, her fingers that were holding the string to tie her boots frozen in midair.

And now we have alerted them of it, to make matters worse. Siiigh… "As it were, the trio hurled some unpleasantries to Tamase while we sparred. They didn't hold their tongues and made mistaken claims, while Tamase kept an admirable composure and didn't retort even once," finishing with a nod her way, Tamase rubs her hands together as she raises towards her locker.

"I see, so that happened," Sakaki taps her glasses, closing her eyes momentarily. She then lightly overlaps her arms, looking at me and Yoroi. "Did anything happen then?"

"No, they just started insulting us a bit," Yoroi says, scratching her head. "I think they got mad because we outsmarted them and Miki-san shot down one of them."

"Perhaps, that is true," quickly nodding as I grab my boots, I cough as I continue. "Being bested by cadets surely was quite the strike to their pride as elites, so they decided to stop holding back for a moment. I do concede their words were most unproper, yet Tamase made the right choice by not reacting to them."

"Yes, even if I wouldn't have been able to retort in any capacity had I been in your shoes," Sakaki says, shrugging as she nods to Tamase, who remains silent as she gets changed.

"…So you say that when they get pissed off, the guards start spewing shit to their rivals?" Ayamine asks, voice rising as she slams her locker shut, a frown engraved into her features as she looks my way.

"I said no such thing," I answer in kind, crossing my arms. "The three we fought were merely… a bit too fervent in their devotion to their houses, so they see anyone turning their back to the IRG as a personal offense. They would have said the same to any Japanese in the UN, not only to Tamase."

"Yoroi, did they also talk shit to Mitsurugi?" She asks, Yoroi takes half a step back before shaking her head as she looks away in silence.

"Ayamine, what are you getting at?" Sakaki asks, taking a step forward despite not having her boots on.

She looks my way, grasping her chin, her lips shrinking as do her eyelids. "So the ones we fought against today would insult anyone who they see as a traitor?"

What is it with her? Why is she not letting this rest? Can't you see that lingering in this topic will only bring further unrest to Tamase? Yet, she does not lift her sight from mine. Her habitual poker face betrays her, lines of kindling lay in her eyes and forehead which foretell a small beginning of anger.

"…If provoked, perhaps. I do concede that they were at fault, Tamase did not deserve such strong worded opinions and we should praise her temperance."

"Yeah, that's true," Ayamine slowly walks up to Tamase, again petting her head as she did while she told us of the letters she sent to her father. "You were very brave, Tamase."

"No, I just-"

"No ifs or buts," she enforces her petting, smiling briefly. "Good work." Yet, Ayamine turns to face once more, shifting back to the tight expression, to the combusting eyes. "So, do you think that if the guards got upset, they'd start talking shit about us, too?"

"Why are you asking me this, Ayamine?"

"Don't you think something like that happened with Special-kun?"

"Huh? Wait, are you… Are you saying the guards are behind the accident?"

"If he knocked out those two Shinpan we saw in the hanger, wouldn't the 1st Lt have a motive to be cross with him?" She asks, slowing down her tone, back to her usual frozen composure. "If the guards are known to snap towards those they don't like… I think there is no better match for someone like that than Special-kun."

"Ayamine, be serious," Sakaki sighs, sitting down to tie her boots. "They're elites that have saw many nights of battle. Do you really think they'd be so petty as to instigate a fight like that?"

"But they did that to Miki-san and me," Yoroi adds as she puts her jacket on, closing her locket. She immediately looks down as our sights cross, a hand hastily cradling the opposite arm. "I mean, maybe they said the same things to Takeru? Maybe that's why, I dunno, he got upset and tried his best to win?"

"I do not agree with that assessment. Takeru probably lost his composure on his own, proceeded to execute one of those aerial maneuvers of his, and failed to meet his target," I affirm, arms folding as I nod to myself. In no way would Tsukuyomi ever lower herself to such crude a conduct, she is certainly not at fault for whatever it is that transpired.

"And, why do you think this accident happened?" Ayamine asks, holding my gaze.

"…Again, he must have lost his temper in front of the 1st Lieutenant. Regardless of why, this is Takeru's miss."

"I wonder about that," she says, looking away.

"What are you trying to say, Ayamine?" I ask, binding my voice, not lifting my gaze from her as I stand up.

She returns my gaze, in silence for a moment. Before the traces grow roots, before she slowly shifts her posture away from me. "Maybe you're blaming the wrong person, don't you think?"

"What did you just say?"

"Come on, you two," Sakaki claps a few timesas she gets closer. "Let's not start raising our voices."

"My apologies." The last thing I want is to sow further discord in the squad. Let's just leave this be and-

"So you think Special-kun is to blame, is that it?" Ayamine says, shrugging.

"I said nothing of the sort!"

"But you said the guards can snap at those they don't like, and start talking shit about them too."

"1st Lt Tsukuyomi would never do something of the sort. The honorable members of the Imperial Royal Guard wouldn't lower themselves to such conduct. Take back those words, or else."

"Do you really believe that?" Ayamine asks, unmoving and unblinking.

"Yes, I do."

"Then, are the insults they said to Tamase part of their 'honorable' conduct?"

"Wha- T-That is not what we're talking about, do not switch the subject."

"Ayamine, Mitsurugi, stop it. Now," Sakaki orders, hitting a locker to try and break our gazes.

Yet, the one in front of me does not veer her eyes for but a second. "What about the mess in the hangar? Coming to badmouth a cadet that could be injured, shouting and trying to trample over a captain is 'honorable' conduct for you?"

"Stop trying to shift the conversation! It is not the same thing in the slightest, Tamase did nothing to deserve those ill words yet we don't know what Takeru did to cause such a reaction."

"Why?" A frail voice asks behind me, turning around I see Tamase's eyes cracking as her hands come together. "Why do you think Shirogane-san deserves what happened to him?"

"I did not say that! Stop putting words in my mouth."

"Enough!" Sakaki shouts, clapping again. "Mitsurugi, explain yourself in clear terms. Ayamine, do not interrupt her." She then holds Ayamine's gaze while tapping her glasses, until she nods and takes a step back.

I cough, clearing my throat and mind, licking my teeth as I ponder on my wording. "Well… First, I am not defending the words those three hurled towards Tamase. However, the source of their anger at the hangar was the unfair treatment to 1st Lt Tsukuyomi. And as I said before, I do not believe an elite like her would soil her honor by uttering similar insults towards Takeru."

"Are you sure about that?" Ayamine asks, rolling her eyes as she places both hands behind her head and leans on the locker.

"What are you insinuating?"

"We know those two Shinpan tried to hurt Special-kun during the CCSE, we saw how that same 1st Lieutenant you're defending reacted when Yoroi merely touched that Takemikazuchi," she notes while raising a few fingers, Yoroi looks down, away from me, as if trying to shrink in place. "And today they insulted Tamase without her provoking them at all. So, maybe, they also said something they shouldn't have to Special-kun and that made him lose his cool."

"How dare you speak such words… Take them back this instant or-"

"Mitsurugi, calm down!" Sakaki says, gripping and pulling at my shoulder.

"However, what has her casting such defamation towards 1st Lt Tsukuyomi? She would never employ crude insults, and even if one were to escape her lips, it is still Takeru's fault for reacting to it. Tamase here kept her composure throughout the battle, and he should have done the same."

"Sigh…" releasing my shoulder, she shakes her head. "Look, it's not that simple, Mitsurugi. We both know what kind of… trials Shirogane-kun had to endure, don't we?"

"Well… I am not saying he couldn't have motives to grow upset, but to the extent to crash his machine? What if his attack had connected? He was not thinking, and that makes this clearly Takeru's miss."

Tapping her glasses as she takes a step back, Sakaki licks her lips, hiding her hands in her pockets as she turns away from me. "I don't think it's fair to place all the blame on his shoulders. True, if he reacted aggressively he will be punished for it. However, if the guards' insults were what drove him to act, then I don't think they're exactly free of guilt. Plus, if they truly held no ill will towards Shirogane-kun and only grew upset in the heat of the moment, they wouldn't have screamed as they did in the hangar."

"I'm telling you, that was only because Tsukuyomi is not being treated fairly. If as you say the blame is shared, then Takeru should also be present in the questioning."

"And what if he's nauseous or unconscious?" Yoroi asks, slowly taking a step forward, stealing glances at us. "If he suffered a recoil from the G-Forces, he needs some rest. Maybe they were planning to question him once they confirmed he was in no danger, but the guards took it as him walking free from the battle?"

"I still believe taking him out of the cockpit would have quelled their questions."

"Mitsurugi, the guards can't do as they please in this base. Be reasonable, regardless of what happened in the mock battle their conduct in the hangar was not justified."

"…I disagree, they merely came seeking for answers and Cpt Isumi withheld them unnecessarily. If there were no culprits to this accident, taking him out of the Gekishin would have solved everything. Surely you're not going to say the guards would have tried to attack an unconscious or weakened cadet now, are you?"

"Dull the frown and tone down the anger, no one is insulting the IRG, Mitsurugi," Sakaki says, taking a step forward, crossing her gaze with mine. I nod in apology, sighing.

"Still, they didn't have to make such a ruckus," Ayamine says, one eye closed. "They started screaming, knowing Special-kun's reputation and using it to pin the blame on him. It's because of them that now we're gonna have to deal with more rumors again," she clicks her tongue, kicking back at the locker as she leaves it.

"Again with that? I find it odd that you of all people is saying such things, Ayamine."

One of her brows twitches, shortly after she frowns and coils both hands. "What?"

"M-Mitsurugi-san, please don't fight," Tamase asks, pleads as a hand of hers enters my peripheral vision, yet her feet remain molded to the ground, unable to put herself in between us.

"Kei-san, you too," Yoroi pulls at Ayamine's back, yet is shrugged off roughly as Ayamine takes a few steps towards me.

"What did you mean?" She asks, as low as always, the combustion she once only showed to Sakaki flourishing in my sight.

"It is odd, that you're so quick to ascertain Takeru's innocence when we know nothing of what transpired. Despite how you were the one who held doubts towards him for the longest time. Perhaps, do you hold some… reservations towards the IRG?"

"No, I admire them, actually."

"Eh? You do?"

"Yeah, my…" she looks down, biting her bottom lip as it folds inwards, "family used to look up to the values of the Royal Guard, the honor code they practiced. That's why, I believe the military has to do what it can for the people it protects. A warrior must not waver, for we are the shield which protects our present."

"Then, what has you-"

"They did not act like proper Imperial Guards, and you know it," she shoots out, once more frowning. "Not only today, during the CCSE too. So, all things considered, I don't think we should assume Special-kun is to blame. Since we know nothing, we can't point fingers at the guards, or at him."

"However, I am telling you 1st Lt Tsukuyomi would never resort to such crude approaches. I know she is not to blame for whatever happened. How can we know that Takeru wasn't the cause of this accident?"

Slowly, she looks at me, then at Sakaki. Closing her eyes, massaging her scalp, with a soft sigh the combustion ceases, parted open as the dawn sky. And in its place, narrow lips, sagging shoulders, a quiet whisper as if coming from underwater. "Because when he snapped at me, he didn't crash. He wasn't as aggressive as those guards claimed when we fought, and Shirogane was absolutely livid back then. Not once did he fail those aerial charges, despite how upset he was at me. And I think that… when I asked him if he was okay with what happened in the island, if he really was so aggressive, he was telling the truth." She looks up, straight into my eyes, not a single speck of hesitation or disquiet in her features or breathing. "Shirogane wouldn't resort to a maneuver that might harm someone, not during a mock battle. So I don't think he's the one to blame for this."

"Then, what are you getting at? Are you insinuating the Guards would fall so low as to damage a cadet in that way?" I immediately retort,paying no mind to whatever it is that's pulling my arm.

"Maybe they said something they shouldn't have, something that hit too close to home. Shirogane then got angry and attacked seriously, fighting as well as he did when he faced me and the leader. And these 'honorable' guards took it personally and crashed him into the concrete. And in a panic, maybe he tried to use the aerial move to escape, they shot at him like the leader did in our fight, and he spiraled to the ground and crashed."

"For you to have the gall to spout such defamation towards the IRG…"

"I'm not defaming anyone," she retorts, crossing her arms. "Shirogane was really messed up after our fight, so him getting hit doing one of his aerial acrobatics is the most likely cause of the state of his Gekishin."

"And, how does that equate Tsukuyomi insulting him, spurring him to such reckless methods?"

"Mitsurugi, for the last time, no one is offending-"

"No, she's clearly placing the responsibility on 1st Lt Tsukuyomi's shoulders."

"She was the experienced pilot, though. She should have known what could happen if she landed a hit while he's on the air," shrugging, rolling her eyes, she says.

"Takeru should not have engaged in that maneuver, period. If he did, perhaps he had other motives to grow upset at Tsukuyomi's words, since as I said before, she would never resort to insults." And if this is indeed what happened, if Tsukuyomi's words spurred such an aggressive reaction from you… then, perhaps you truly were a spy all along. While she truly is fearsome when angered, using crude insults is beneath Tsukuyomi.

"So it's all his fault, then?" Ayamine frowns, again shrugging off Yoroi as she tried to hold her arm, and now stumbles back at the force of Ayamine's swing. "Anything the 1st Lieutenant said was justified even if it was something personal for Shirogane?"

"Again, Tsukuyomi wouldn't employ insults of any kind. If she thought Takeru deserving of them, she would have swiftly knocked him out. So the one at fault is Takeru for losing his composure, his poise. Whatever it is she might have said, he chose to react aggressively. I believe it is clear this is his miss, as a cadet and as a warrior."

It is shameful, for a student of the Mugen Kidou to fall prey to such hostile impulses. Yet, this in itself is perhaps bountiful proof that he is no fellow of us. A properly trained warrior of our style would never allow such vicious desires to cloud their judgment. Unless, perhaps, his teacher had been insulted to his eyes.

Ayamine remains frowning, raising a brow when her teeth become visible. "And they spouting shit to our squadmate in front of the entire hangar is A-Okay in your eyes? They talking shit about Tamase is okay with you, then?"

"I am not saying anything of the sort, stop putting words in my mouth!"

"So? Answer the questions, Mitsurugi. If Tamase had snapped at the insults, would it also be her fault?"

"T-That's… different." Because she is under no suspicions, because those insults were born out of a too strong sense of duty.

Takeru, on the other hand, might be a spy. No, this decision he took, how he refused my handshake of fellowship, this is proof enough he wasn't truly trained by a fellow of us. He isn't worthy of the Minaru Kamui, and truly might not be who he claims. After all this time, after showing yourself to be such a capable warrior, such a wise fighter. Why did you have to hoist such wrath within? I truly… wanted you to become one of us, to show them you had been truthful. Was all you have told me thus far nothing but lies? Those sparking eyes when speaking of that woman… did not seem to be lying, however…

"It isn't different at all," Ayamine says, clicking her lips and looking away. "You're just taking it out on Shirogane because you can't accept that a guard you admire might have acted out of line."

"…Take back those words."

"Make me."

"You two, this is enough!" Sakaki shouts, shoving me back and pushing Ayamine away, placing a hand on her chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"She's insulting one of my fellows, I shan't allow such disrespect!"

"Shame you don't get this riled up when one of us gets shitfrom others," she says, slicing the air as she takes a step back from Sakaki's hand.

"What are you saying? Stop comparing Tamase to-"

"And what about me?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah. What about when people talked shit about me? Don't remember you getting this angry."

"I… I already apologized for that. Furthermore, it has little to do with-"

"It's exactly the same," she scowls, looking away as she thrust both hands in her pockets. "You're choosing to preemptively put the blame on someone who you don't trust, despite what they do to earn your companionship."

"I… That's not what's going on here at all! Tsukuyomi wouldn't allow such an accident to occur, so this was clearly… caused by Takeru's own actions," and because if Tsukuyomi chose to act, it means he is not to be trusted.

"Well, congrats on being an asshole."

"Ayamine, stop it," Sakaki says, giving both of us a sharp gaze. "You two, apologize to the other. You're getting dragged in the heat of the moment, I'm sure."

"I'm not apologizing," Ayamine immediately retorts, causing the other three to flinch, petrified on the spot. "I already gave Shirogane plenty of shit, and I don't believe he's to blame. I know very well how it feels, to be followed by whispers and side glances. And I thought we all had seen who he is, what kind of guy he is after all this time." She then looks at me, then spits on the ground. "I expected more out of you, Mitsurugi."

"What did you say? It is clear all he said thus far wasn't truthful, if he chose to endow in such violence!"

"Even if he was provoked?"

"He was not!"

"You don't know that."

"The Royal Guard would never-"

"They still insulted Tamase, one of your comrades. It's the same thing."

"Kei-san, please stop!" She tries to hold onto Ayamine's arm, who starts struggling to break free.

"I'm just saying what's going on here. Mitsurugi is in denial that the Lieutenant might have screwed up."

"You… take those words back this instant. Say whatever you wish about me, however I shan't allow you to tarnish the name of my teacher!"

"Mitsurugi-san, no!" Tamase steps in front of me, grabbing my sides, as Sakaki holds onto one of my arms. "Calm down, please!"

"You yourself said losing one's composure is a bad trait, so get yourself together," Sakaki pulls at me, groaning for a moment.

"See?" Ayamine smirks, chuckling. "Maybe Special-kun was just as you are now, but no one was there to stop him. You, someone trained to be a warrior, almost lost your cool."

"Eh? N-No… Do not try to justify his actions!"

"And what if they said something that hurt him much, something about someone dear to him, and he got as upset as you?"

"Even then-"

"What if that was someone from America? After all…" she then looks down and sighs, the restrained arm growing limp in Yoroi's hold, "we also treated Shirogane as if he were a piece of shit solely because he came from abroad, right?"

"That's… however… Even if that was the case," even if the woman he admires so had been insulted from his point of view, "he should not have reacted aggressively."

"Says the one who was about to ram her fist on my face," she then shrugs.

"Ayamine, enough of this!" Sakaki lets go of my arm, and again stands in between us. "Mitsurugi, you too. I don't want to hear anything else from you two. The Instructor is outside the room, what are we gonna tell her if she enters now?"

"That Ayamine should apologize and retract her insults on 1st Lt Tsukuyomi."

"And that Mitsurugi doesn't give a shit about us getting screwed over by royal guards."

"I never said anything-"

"Stop fighting!" Sakaki screams, truly loudly, from the pit of her stomach. Hands shaking for a moment, all the composure she hoisted starts to crumble in slow motion. In a mere second, the combustion and ripples surfaced in her. "Ayamine, I don't want to hear a single word about this for the rest of the day. I understand the particular issues you have with the way Mitsurugi worded her thoughts, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care about Shirogane-kun. Apologize, now."

Shifting her posture, her eyes don't meet mine. Barely moving her lips, she gives me a brief nod. "Sorry, I got carried away."

"Mitsurugi, you too," Sakaki says, tapping her glasses as she stares.

So I sigh, a void now filling me, something constricting my throat. "My apologies, I shouldn't have grown upset at you," I give her a bow, then run a hand into my hair as the air enters and leaves me in short succession, failing to douse the pressure which now is engraved in my chest.

"Listen, all of you," Sakaki says, pacing in front of us, "at some point, this was bound to happen. When we get commissioned, this kind of issues will arise at times. And while I won't add further opinions to this debate now, let me say this. Mitsurugi, for your own good, you shouldn't take a side so openly."

"What? How could I not? Defending my fellows is-"

"Because you're UN as of now," she says, drawing circles in the air. "You can feel however you wish within, but defending the guards like that will make others think you're blaming your squadmates and taking their side, as Ayamine did. Could you bring yourself to trust in someone who chooses someone from another squad over you?"

"However, that is not-"

"It's how it will look. I know you have…" she closes her eyes and sighs heavily, crossing her arms lightly, "particular circumstances, but Ayamine is right to some degree. We don't know what happened, and you assuming that Shirogane-kun was in the wrong solely based on your own ties with the 1st Lieutenant is a mistake. Not only because of the issues that causes in the squad, but think about your own career. UN soldiers cannot take sides, they must stay neutral."

"Tsukuyomi did nothing wrong, I am certain of it. Believe me when I say this, she wouldn't break her honor by causing such an accident."

"But we don't know that, do we?" Ayamine asks, I glare at her in silence. "The honor code says you can't act on emotion, right?"

"Yes, it does. So, it is clear Takeru was the one-"

"And what are you doing now?"

"Kei-san, please stop," Yoroi asks as she frowns for a second, Ayamine simply shrugs.

"She does have a point, Mitsurugi almost fell to Ayamine's taunts," Sakaki notes, tapping her glasses.

"…Only due to her foul wordplay," I say, looking away.

"And, as Ayamine said, what if that's what made Shirogane-kun react badly?"

"Well… but Tsukuyomi wouldn't-"

"That's what you shouldn't do," she shrugs, again drawing circles on the air later. "Even how you spoke up at the hangar, you should know how risky that is. The same goes for your taunts, Ayamine." She nods back, despite how her eyes are fixated away from Sakaki. "In any case, let's believe in what Shirogane-kun has shown himself to be, that this truly was nothing but an accident with no one as the culprit, and wait for whatever we're told about this. And of course, no arguing. As soon as we leave this room, we're going to have a multitude of eyes on us after all."

And whose fault that is? Had he simply surrendered, nothing would have happened. While perhaps there is a chance of him truly not being, well, a spy, I do not believe Tsukuyomi could have fallen to insults or reckless aggression. And perhaps… I can understand how could he have been angered, considering what he told me during the CCSE, and all that he has shown in his features when talking of his blade or that woman. But then, what could Tsukuyomi have said that would cause you to react so?

"Alright, are you two calm again?" Sakaki asks, I nod back while Ayamine shrugs once more. "Well, let's hope the Instructor doesn't demand an explanation for the screams. Come on, let's go," and turning around, she goes to the door.

Tamase hurries to tie her boots, Ayamine quickly walks past me without even looking my way, and Yoroi slowly follows. As we exit, the Instructor was standing in front of the door, silently gazing at us. Her chin raised, eyes narrowed, simply holding her gaze resembles standing bare amidst a storm, enduring the pouring rain.

"…You had a little chat in there, looks like," she says, looking at me, then at Ayamine. Both brows gradually come down as she stands upright, "Mitsurugi, Ayamine, five laps before you go to the PX."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Now, as you know, you have lectures on the afternoon in the usual classroom. Considering what has happened, you may have an extra hour of rest. I expect you all to be present at 1500 hours."

"Understood!"

"That is all, you're dismissed."

"Salute!" Sakaki orders as usual, and so we do.

Yet, as I turn to leave, the Instructor waves a hand towards me, "You stay here, I have something to speak with you."

"Yes, ma'am."

The others seem to stare for a moment, before I nod their way and all of them start walking towards the PX, save for Ayamine who I suppose will have to go to the track field. Turning back to face her, the Instructor stood as before, scanning my face in the silence of the hallway.

And the seconds pass, her expression remaining immutable as a mountain under hail. Not lifting her stare from my eyes, not parting the thin line her lips have become, it makes me gulp, feel it going down to my stomach, a slow tension on my back, a minute quiver on my ankles.

Placing a hand on her chin, she leans just slightly forward, "Mitsurugi, where are we?"

"Huh?"

"Where are we? What is this building we're in right now?"

"…Yokohama Base, a UN-affiliated military complex stationed in lands once lost to the BETA."

"That's right. This is a base that belongs to the UN's military. You are here as a cadet, being trained under the UN's logo." Her eyes narrow further, as if focusing all her attention, all her volleys upon mine own eyes. "And if I followed the UN code to the letter, you would have to be sent to be Shirogane's new roommate in the detention barracks."

"What? But I haven't done anything to deserve such a thing."

Slowly, a hand raises to my eyes. Slower, she moves her fingers up. "Instigation of discord and unrest in your squadron, repeated declarations in favor of an external party, and your prior disobedience in the hangar by speaking against Cpt Isumi's orders, to defend an external party as well."

"Wait a moment, I wasn't-"

"Silence, I am speaking," she reminds, before shaking her head and sighing again. "Look Mitsurugi, believe me when I tell you 1st Lt Suzumiya was right. This truly was nothing more than a chain of unfortunate events. If I hadn't been given some last minute orders, this wouldn't have happened." She then takes a step back, reverting to her usual stoic but neutral complexion. "I won't comment on your discussion, you're free to believe what you will. However, as much as you'd want to, you cannot openly take the side of the Royal Guard. You're UN now, and we cannot take any political position or say anything that might hint at that being the case."

"However, I was merely stating my opinion. I do not believe 1st Lt Tsukuyomi to be at fault."

"And I'm not reproaching your opinion. However, as your comrades asked you, why do you refuse the chance that Shirogane was angered as Ayamine caused you to be?"

…Because he might be a spy, an enemy to my people. Because he lied to me, because all he told me, all that he has shown himself to be would be nothing but a fabrication atop clouds. And I know Tsukuyomi wouldn't do anything to spur such aggression. And as much as I'd wish to believe he truly is who he claims, I cannot ignore the facts that lay before me. Wordplay means little in front of one's choices and actions, and today Takeru chose violence.

So I can only shrink my lips, press my hands and lower my gaze, for I have no answer to give.

"Do you still resent Shirogane for coming from abroad?" She asks, starting to cross her arms.

"No, I do not."

"Then, do you truly believe Shirogane used one of those charges against the guards?"

"…The state of his Gekishin should be proof enough. I know not what transpired, however I am a servant of this nation in my heart. Regardless of the uniform I am made to wear, I cannot simply accept that Takeru holds no responsibility for his actions. Even if he held no hostile intentions, now we shall be followed by further whispers and rumors. Thus, I am of the opinion that to forget that fact is a mistake, and that cadet Shirogane should apologize in public to the guards to vanquish all these rumors."

"And, why should he be the one to apologize?"

"Because he chose to use one of those aerial maneuvers, despite the risk they hold. He should have surrendered instead."

"So, even if he used defensively, to escape from the offense of his rival, he is still at fault?"

"That's assuming he-"

"Oh, and what you're doing is not assuming Shirogane is the sole reason behind this accident?" She asks, leaning forward with a frown.

"I am only…" disappointed. Tsukuyomi wouldn't have pressed her advantage, so the crash his machine had to suffer was due to Takeru's own actions. Even if he isn't a spy, I thought you'd be better than this, to resort to such aggression in front of Tsukuyomi when I myself found another way to face her minutes before you. Because, if neither are to blame, and Tsukuyomi's words caused you to become so upset… the only thing I can think of that would cause such a reaction on you-

"Mitsurugi," she pats my shoulder, expression stoic and firm as the mountain she always resembles, "you can believe in 1st Lt Tsukuyomi as much as you want, but using that to shift the blame onto a comrade is not right. If you… well, weren't you, if anyone else were to voice such opinions in defense of the IRG, they would eat a week in the detention barracks for breaking their oath."

"But I'm not taking a political position in the slightest. I am merely stating my opinion, and during a small debate because I was asked for it. I am not forcing my views on anyone, ma'am."

"Defending the IRG is taking their side, when you should be staying neutral since you know nothing of what transpired. All this accomplishes is either cause people to grow upset at you, and at the guards, or for them to take their side against Shirogane, one of your comrades." She sighs again, shorter and heavier this time, as she plays with her hair for a moment. "Do you remember what happened at the end of the CCSE, how you had no proof to defend your supposed injuries?" I nod, plucking my lips at the memory. "Well, this is the same. No one has proof to claim what has happened, not you, not me, not that trio of guards. So you should stay quiet and wait for the official resolution. And again, taking actions that could be interpreted as you taking a political position may either get you in the detention barracks, or kicked out of the army if you do so multiple times."

"…I understand, ma'am," I nod, barely moving my lips as they form a small circle, eyelids almost closing and avoiding her eyes.

"Do you? Acting in a way that may suggest you're discriminating Shirogane, or approaching the guards at any time, could be used as an excuse to punish you."

"Yes, I am aware."

"Then, can you explain why do you so vehemently refuse to accept that Shirogane may not deserve any blame?"

…

"Where is your answer, cadet?" Taking a step forward, raising her voice just slightly.

"I already gave you my answer, Instructor, ma'am."

Bringing a hand to her forehead, she shakes her head. Rubbing the space in between her brows, eyes squinting and making the redness under them become rugged, she then, once again, heaves a sigh. "You say that your actions are driven by your vision that you are a servant of the Empire?"

"Yes, ma'am. I know it might be problematic for me, yet I do see me as a servant of this land first and foremost."

"Fair enough. Then, what kind of servant are you, Mitsurugi?"

"…What?"

Gradually, her composed yet stern features turn tight, lips twist and eyes ignite again. "Are you merely upset after seeing someone close to you be accused of this accident? Or, perhaps, are you one of those who views all who don't follow your honor code of conduct as enemies?"

Feeling my own complexion growing rough, I lick my lips to halt the aggravations that almost blasted away from them when in front of Ayamine. Taking a deep breath, dousing the disquiet in my stomach and fists, I merely shake my head as I return her gaze. "I hoist my values close to my heart. The honor code has much worth for us soldiers, so I do expect others to at least follow its core teachings in certain ways. And, yes, perhaps I am… disappointed, slightly upset even, at this turn of events."

"Even if you do not yet know what transpired?"

"I have no confirmation, but neither do I have doubts. While the trio have acted shamefully, 1st Lt Tsukuyomi would never do so. And as a fellow servant of this Empire of ours, I cannot simply look with good eyes at what cadet Shirogane has done. Wordplay means little in front of the facts that are in front of us, in front of the actions Shirogane took instead of surrendering."

"So, you're one of those who would immediately scorn others for straying from your code, I see." She shakes her head, my palms again receive the pike of my nails as I force the silence. "Yet, you're now on the UN. And you swore to uphold the code of the oath you gave. Surely, you can see the issues that would arise if you continue to act in this way?"

"I believe all this friction has been caused by Shirogane's mistake, ma'am. You have nothing to concern yourself with, Instructor. I have no plans to break the oath I took when enlisting here." Nor do I plan to forsake my morals just because I wear another color.

"I see," she holds my gaze, nodding after a moment. "I do expect you to remain composed, even after Shirogane rejoins you all. I don't want a return to the days before the CCSE, are we clear?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good. Now, since we're on the subject…" she looks around, over her shoulder and behind me, and then takes a step closer as she inhales deeply, "I would like to confirm something with you. Mitsurugi, you said you're a servant first and foremost?" I nod immediately. She remains gazing at me, her lips contracting inwards as she grasps her chin. "Is that so. So, are you one of those who treats the honor code as gospel?Will you, if you allow the wording, despair after you perish?"

"…I have a duty and an obligation to dedicate my very being to my people, Instructor. While I do not treat my teachings as unbreakable facts, I do endeavor to practice the lessons imparted to me. Which is why, I cannot condone cadet Shirogane's outburst, justified or not."

Her expression remains neutral, watching me, so I cough and continue.

"He was who acted aggressively first, he fell to anger and emotion. I do not believe the guards would lie on this matter, and it is not a political view but a personal assessment. 1st Lt Tsukuyomi is not the kind of person who would drive a cadet to such a crash. Yet, Shirogane has shown that, at times, he chooses violence as his out regardless of the regret it leaves in him afterwards. Shirogane himself has endangered the UN's relation with the IRG with his choices, when it was time for action and not words, he acted in violence towards his opponent, or in a way that forced her to shoot him down hastily."

"And, could you now elaborate on how could your comrade be innocent?"

"Forgive me if I cannot find motives to defend him, but I expected more from Shirogane. And I am judging him as I would anyone else, especially considering Tamase suffered much from the unpleasantries hurled her way yet did not chose such aggression as the answer."

And again, for a moment she merely looks at me. Sighing heavily, a long exhalation which reaches me despite the distance, she ruffles her hair as she simply stares at me in silence.

"I see," she finally says, almost drowned when compared to her prior tone, That's enough, then. Go do your laps, and do not disclose anything to your… contacts. For your and their own good."

"Understood!" I salute her, standing in attention.

"Also, you'd be wise to not make such rash judgments, Mitsurugi. Sometimes, there is no one to blame for an accident. And looking for a scapegoat to pin the blame on is not a wise thing to do, much less to one of your comrades."

"I stand by my words, Instructor. If Shirogane truly is free of guilt, we shall know shortly. And if he is, I will hold nothing against him provided he can explain , I will endeavor not to let my personal opinions cause the squadron any further setbacks. My apologies for having taken your time, I'll be more tactful from now onward."

"Good. That's all, dismissed," she then waves a hand in the air, almost apathetically, then turns around and starts to leave, in that same slow fashion, as if suddenly out of energy.

"Instructor, if you'd allow me a final word?"

"What is it?" She turns around, brushing some hair aside.

"Regarding your question of what kind of servant I am…"

"Yes?"

I fold my arms, my lips compact, press upon one another, and feel the void in my stomach and the vicegrip on my throat ease up as my voice flows from that pit. "I do believe that despair does not belong with the living. I know not what kind of preconceptions you hold, yet I believe it is a fine mindset to have. To never falter in one's actions is a praiseworthy quality, in my opinion."

As such, for one like me who aims to be a blade of my people, the protective shadow of Her Highness, to despair after I perish ensures every waking second is free of fear and dread. If I aim to be a sword which smites evil from its root, fortifying my mind with such resolve is required. And in any case, anyone who has to take arms against the BETA should endeavor to follow this teaching, to not fall to fear in one's final moments.

The Instructor's eyes narrow for a moment, yet she licks her lips and folds her arms, merely nodding in silence. "I see. It is admirable, if you can bring yourself to follow through that teaching. Just make sure you don't lose your way amidst the words of that code."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said, and nothing more."

"Are you… implying there is a mistake in this view?"

"No, not per se. But it's just as what happened in the changing room, Mitsurugi." Looking back at me, there is no roughness nor imposing tint in her glare. Her features are relaxed, composed yet without that thread of anger that always lurked just below the surface, barely visible but visible nonetheless. "You saw how those three acted in the hangar, and apparently they said some harmful words towards Tamase, right?" I nod, hanging my head. "So, you're free to follow your code so long as you're smart about it. But make sure you don't let it drive others away from you, starting with this issue with Shirogane. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am. However, may I ask why do you think so of that line? Did you have an unpleasant experience with a Royal Guard?"

A sudden frown, a retraction of her lower lip, and in the stillness of her eyes it was as if a shadow created ripples, lurking in the depths. She sighs, and shakes her head again. "Unpleasant doesn't even begin to describe it. All I'm saying is, do not let that code be the sole anchor of your life. I met others who had a code ingrained in their heads, and when that's all you fight for," her gaze falls, for the first time since I've met her, as her fists shake momentarily, "it doesn't take long until you either break or radicalize yourself."

"What… What do you speak of?" I do not understand. How could it be seen as a negative thing, to be brave in front of calamity, to keep one's own inner shadows at bay?

"Just try to not rely too much on any code, starting with not shunning out Shirogane from now on. Go do your laps, or you'll miss lunch in the PX," she orders, giving me a nod which signals she is done, and thus turns around and hurriedly walks away in the opposite direction.

And now, I am alone with the silence. Sighing, I turn around and make my way to the track field. Mulling on her words, on what happened in the hangar, before the battle… and all that transpired between the CCSE and now. Not shunning Takeru out… Yet, is there a way in which he didn't cause this accident? Or, perhaps, did Tsukuyomi truly make a miss?

…

That is, assuming he truly wasn't injured. He could be in pain at the moment, and here I am casting doubt on his person. And I cannot ask for immediate answers, and thanks to my prior miss I should not approach Tsukuyomi, lest I give reason to the Instructor to believe I am taking political actions. I would like to believe in you, yet… why did you refuse my handshake? Why did you end up crashing down in such a way? You truly haven't lied to me, right Takeru? You truly are not a spy, a faker, right? You merely grew upset, and you made mistake, it's true, but so long as you've been truthful there should be nothing you should fear. Ayamine is right to a degree, if Takeru properly apologizes and sees the error of his choice, then we shall support him through these whispers as we have been doing since our return from the island.

But, if he endow in violence towards Tsukuyomi, and he truly is who he says he is… And if you grew upset at one of Tsukuyomi's comment, and she was forced to shoot you down when in front of your eccentric patterns…

"Does that mean she spoke ill of that woman to you?"

I cannot reach any other conclusion. It is true, Takeru hasn't been particularly easy to anger. And even then, Ayamine spoke the truth. He didn't endow in such aggression when dueling her and Sakaki. So to push him even further into anger, all I can think of is Tsukuyomi unknowingly saying something Takeru took as an insult to the one who gave him the Minaru Kamui.

Well, I already knew he cherishes that person much. Yes, his expressions were always quite… radiant whenever recalling whoever she was. So, yes, it is understandable he would lose his temper if he believed Tsukuyomi to be insulting his…

…His what?

Light peers through the windows, filling the hallway as I walk through it. Shortly after, I reach the track field's area, seeing Ayamine running from my position.

Grabbing the bars that open the door, my hands merely remain on them without clearing the way. "…So you favor that person to such lengths, to grow so adusted when her name is insulted. For her to have told you of the handguard… Sigh."

At this point, I would prefer you turn out to be an enemy. If only to clearly dispel this pressure on the base of my neck, on my chest, to clear this awful taste in my mouth. If only, to truly be disappointed in you. To not have to measure up against whoever has your heart captive at the moment, whoever it was that caused you to decide to face off Tsukuyomi with all your might, when even I held doubt and fear in front of her strikes.

---

A/N: I decided to try and separate the would be chapter 70. Originally, this was going to be the starting PoV of chapter 70 but the word count was again shooting past 40k words so I split it up in three parts since I didn't felt like omitting anything from this one.

Now, a long optional note for the current chapter. This will turn into a long textwall about Meiya and some personal impressions of canon content, so feel free to skip it if you'd like.

Much like how the prior arc dealt with Tama's, Kei's and Chizuru's issues while stuff brew up, the following half of the Paranoia Arc after chapter 77will instead focus on the other two members of the team, Meiya and Mikoto. For Mikoto there is not much to say just yet, but I want to explain some things about the blue samurai.

If you recall, during her arc in Unlimited, Meiya was not punished for her actions which ended up with the crashed Fubuki after the eruption. We know from Mana's visit to Takeru while he was in the cell that Meiya was sent to a hospital, but, when he is freed from the punishment, Takeru is the only one getting released from the detention barracks.Everyone then comes to greet him as Marimo brings him to the barracks and later on in the PX the girls do say that they missed him as they idled the time. This implies that Meiya did not suffer the samerepercussionsfor her actions as Takeru, almost certainly due to her royal blood, and chances are she didn't receive more than a reprimand and he was made to bear the brunt of the blame, her being the twin of the Shogun and all.

And we know for a fact that Meiya doesn't change the stance she took during the eruption, in an equal situation she would put her ideals above common sense or reasoning. This is clearly shown in the next talk with Kyozuka-san, and it's just the way she is. And the only time when she doesn't, the only time we ever see BETAverse Meiya waver on her ideals is during the epilogue, where even if she isn't Takeru's lover she still gives him the pass for the migrant fleet instead of safeguarding her traditions by being the Empire's representative in the fleet.

In Alternative, the coup is one of her crowning character-defining moments and she remains as a guiding light throughout the rest of the story. But Meiya never grows, nor are her views put to the test. All the contrary, in my opinion the coup only strengthens her views. While in Extra, Meiya tries at one point to change herself to suit Takeru's life, when he says she could never understand what it is to have to make dinner from leftovers, and later on she tries to cook something for him, confronts him in the cave, and eventually does accept him in her route's ending as opposed to submitting to the imposition of the arranged marriage. Extra's Meiya does change and defies the rules she was raised to uphold, even if only a bit, by marrying Takeru and not become nothing but another Mitsurugi in charge of the group.

Alt!Meiya does not learn much from her interactions with Keru by comparison, she doesn't think twice when trying to impose her own code on Takeru when he was cracked after Marimo's death despite seeing how he was, nor does she face a character-defining choice as she does in Unlimited's epilogue. And while her confession in her last moments is impactful, part of me still believes those feelings were ignited more by causality and the memories Extra Meiya forgot than by genuine feelings born in Alt!Meiya. Otherwise, she'd have given him space after Marimo's death as she did right before the Chomp scene. Though, that just might be my own take on it.

So, the point of this wall of text is that I want to give Meiya a challenge. For any surviving readers from the very first rendition of this story, this is the main motive behind the ultra nationalistic themes set in Reversal and why Meiya has been quite obnoxious with her code. To have the twins have their precious honor code challenged and grow from it, or not. Meiya's ideals being put into question, having her do some introspection on her application of her moral code, and eventually acting on her final decision is what her mini-arc will be about leading up to Komoro.

After all, as a wise old woman once said, to believe in an ideal is to be willing to betray it. If you wish to understand the values of the code, then you need the contrast.

To put it simply, I'm taking inspiration from both Atris and the Handmaiden from Kotor 2 for Meiya's arc. Or at least, that's the idea. I know the story may come out as me bashing the Empire and Meiya, but I'm just using the nationalistic vibes Kouki set in Alternative and trying to put them into question so that the twins can face conflict and either accept or refuse the contrast.

There is a two-hour long video in YT that I always go back towhen writing these themes, called 'The Philosophy of Kreia', which I recommend for anyone who would want to put such a conflict in a story focused on the Imperial Royal Guard. The video does spoil the entiretyof Kotor 2, and I do recommend to play that GOAT of a game to experience its greatness firsthand instead as it has one of the characters that gives Yuuko a run for her money, in my humble opinion.

Well, this has been more than enough of my ramblings. Thanks for reading. Stay safe.

Zuoriel