Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable
Chapter 26: The Girl in the Alley
Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Hey! This is Nico here, and we're in a pretty weird situation! After a training session in which we of μ's bonded and abandoned the barrier between senpai and kouhai, me, Honoka, and Rin wanted to get some ramen… and ended up in this weird alleyway with some girl! This has to be a Stand attack, right!? For some reason I feel like things are about to get a lot worse…
"Would you like me to show you the way?"
A girl wearing pink stood before the School Idols, a dog next to her.
Nothing about this was a normal situation. The girls of μ's were used to abnormal situations, but even then, this was freakier than usual. They could accept the idea of a Stand attack, but they did not expect to be dragged into… another place.
Whatever this place was, it was not the streets of Tokyo, that was for sure. Maybe it's a Bounded Stand like Nozomi's? Maybe she turned the entire alleyway into her Stand? Nico reasoned, trying to remain on-guard. Come on, give us a break! We didn't fight Yanigihori just to end up doing this stuff again!
"Nico!"
"「Circus!」" Nico yelled, her Stand's prehensile whip wrapping around the girl.
"W-what!? Hey, what is this!? … This thing next to you!?"
"So, you can see my Stand, can you!?" Nico yelled. "So, this is the result of your Stand! Call it off!"
"N-Nico-san, wait!" Rin yelled. "She offered to show us how to get out of here! Why would she if it was her Stand!?"
"Yeah, Nico!" Honoka also objective. "Let's not jump to the conclusions, we might need her help!"
"Are you two serious!? She can see my Stand, isn't that enough? … Fine, whatever! 「Circus,」let go of her!"
"Are you serious!? Well… I'll follow your lead, but I'll tie her up again if she tries anything!"「Circus」yelled, reluctantly letting go of the mysterious girl.
"That's… that can't be human, right? … Shh, Arnold, relax," the girl said, reaching down to pet the growling dog.
"Aha! So, you can see my Stand, can't you!?" Nico demanded. "So, this place is your Stand, and you were offering us a way out because you know how your own Stand operates, of course!" Nico reasoned. The other two had to admit, it was a reasonable deduction.
"A Stand… is that what you call that 'power?'" The girl asked with a blink. "Like those other girls… you also have a power that surpasses what normal people can do?"
That got a few confused blinks. "Do you think she means Yanigihori's girls?" Rin asked, whispering to Honoka.
"I mean, probably! Or some other stray Stand user… listen, let me take over for now, you two!"
"Why you!?" Nico asked.
"You're too aggressive! And Rin-chan, I love you, but you can get really excited and get off-topic!"
"Hey! That is a completely true assessment and I accept that!"
Honoka looked at the two, ultimately receiving a nod before she approached the girl with a smile. "… Mhm, yeah. That right there… is a Stand. And they say only Stand users can see other Stand users… so wouldn't that make you the master of this Stand? Ms… ummm…"
"Reimi. Sugimoto Reimi… this is my dog, Arnold," the girl, Reimi said, Arnold giving a non-hostile bark now. "No… this isn't a 'Stand' or anything. It's just my alley," Reimi asked. "It's always been like this…"
"That's BS! This can't be Tokyo's streets!" Nico challenged, earning a glare from Honoka.
"Hey, I said to let me take care of this one!"
"… Tokyo? We're in Tokyo? … I thought I didn't recognize those school outfits, or those other girls! To think we're in Tokyo… that explains a few things, though," Reimi rationalized, bringing a hand to her chin. "… For you see, these are not the streets of Tokyo, but rather the town of Morioh."
"Morioh?" Honoka asked, blinking. "I… don't know what that is?"
"Oh, I know Morioh! It's a quiet little town in S City's suburbs! My grandparents live there, nya!" Rin said. Nico just nodded along, seemingly familiar with the city as well.
"I've lived here in Morioh my whole life… to think this alleyway moved to Tokyo! So, that's where he lurks now…! It makes sense! The number of victims, even in Morioh he couldn't hide it!" Reimi said with a frown.
"He…?"
"…" Reimi closed her eyes, before looking at the group again. "Like I said… this is not a Stand. These are streets in Morioh… this 'Stand' isn't something I have. But! What I can do is tell you how to be able to leave this alleyway," Reimi instructed. "Listen… 'I am not your enemy.' No matter what you believe, please believe in that! I have no intention of hurting anyone… and if you do not listen to me, you will never leave this alleyway," that earned a few gulps from the School Idols, but they didn't objective. "Then follow me… but first!" The girl smiled, taking out some pocky. "Anyone want some?"
"Er… no thanks!" Honoka said with a nervous smile. Some pocky sounds great though…
"Oh, I want some!"
"Rin, no!" Nico scolded, earning a whine. "Not until we know for sure what her deal is!"
"Well… can you please just take the end of it?" Reimi asked, and Honoka nodded, holding the end of the pocky stick.
"Honoka! Be careful, just in case it's a trick…"
"If I feel anything weird, I'll let you know," Honoka declared; loudly too, to make sure Reimi heard. And with that… Reimi snapped the pocky.
"… Oh no! Looks like you're gonna get dumped by a girl soon… that's really unfortunate! Honoka, right?" Reimi said cheerfully.
"Eh…?"
"This is my specialty, pocky fortune telling! Depending on how the pocky breaks, I can read your fortune! I find it's a good way to help break tension in moments like these…"
"… Are you serious!? I don't even have a girlfriend, and now you're telling me I'm gonna get dumped when I get one!?" Honoka complained. "Weeeh, that's not fair!"
"Honoka never changes, does she?" Rin said, giggling a bit, and Nico chuckled as well.
"D-don't laugh at me!"
"Hmm…" Reimi inspected her pocky. "You're very selfless, I think… Your heart beats for others. It's an admirable trait, but also, you need to pay more attention to yourself and your own well-being. Nobody wants to date somebody that doesn't care about themselves," Reimi said, earning a serious look from Honoka.
My heart beats for others… that doesn't sound wrong, Honoka thought. Honoka had always been a hyper, impulsive girl. She thought of something then rushed head into it… but also, she tried to think of others. When she saw A-RISE perform, yes; part of her wanted to be a School Idol for herself, but more than anything she sincerely saw the key to saving Otonokizaka within it. And then she obtained「All Star」and with it new responsibility. When Yohai Fushikawa attacked, she thought only of her precious family and to defend them. When the Arrow Hunters threatened µ's, her thoughts become concerned with protecting her friends and their way of life and dreams.
Would I have been… that unhappy serving Yanigihori? Honoka thought. She had come to empathize and understand the other girl, and even agreed her ideals were not necessarily wrong. She would have preferred being a School Idol, but would Honoka have necessarily hated being Yanigihori's ally? More than anything, what she hated was the idea of her friend's freedoms stolen from them, and their path as Idols…
But if I was sincerely close friends with her… if my heart beats for Yanigihori and the others, would I have minded it at all? After all, I would have had a different dream, Honoka thought.
"It's good to care for yourself as much as others," Reimi warned. "Now, before we leave, I'd like to share with all you a story about this alleyway, of the neighborhood seemingly trapped within it…" Reimi said, walking towards one house. "A murder occurred in this house… it must have been about thirty years ago now," Reimi said.
"Is it really this important…?" Nico asked.
"Yes! You'll begin to understand more about this alleyway if you do!" Reimi insisted. "After the murder the house was abandoned… I've been able to sense it. Even though we are no longer in Morioh, nobody has lived in this house since," Reimi explained. "I heard the story from the elderly woman who lived next door. A girl lived in this house, and heard this 'drip, drip,' sound from her parent's room. She went to investigate it, and called out for her mama and papa, but there was no reply… but! The girl had her trusted dog with her, and held no fear!" Reimi began. Honoka and Rin both took gulps, clearly already squeamish, while Nico tried to put on a brave front… but the contortion in her face showed she was clearly uncomfortable.
"I-I used to want to get a dog, 'cuz I'm not allergic to them… was it a big one, nya?"
"Yup! A big ol' guard dog! Even in the dark, when she put her hand under the bed, the dog would lick her hand to comfort and assure her. She felt safe because that dog, Arnold, was with her. But after ten minutes of hearing the dripping she finally mustered the courage to inspect the dripping… And she found her beloved Arnold dead, hanging from the coat rack! The dripping she heard was the sound of his blood hitting the floor!"
"OH THAT'S TERRIBLE!" Rin yelled, hiding behind Nico.
"Not the dog!" Honoka yelled.
"H-honestly, you too need to get a grip!" Nico said, ignoring the shaking in her legs. "W-we're not even at the worst part of this story yet!"
"Indeed, she's right! And under her bed she heard a voice tell her… 'your hand is so soft, so beautiful, miss!'" At this, the girls of µ's were hurdled together. "And then she heard that voice say… 'I've already killed your parents!'" Reimi walked towards them. "And then… he killed that girl too!"
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!" all three students yelled, with Rin and Nico hiding behind Honoka.
"Y-you too, Nico!?" Honoka yelled.
"I-I-I-I only screamed because you two did! It startled me!" Nico tried to defend.
"I-Is that a real story, Reimi-chan!?" Rin asked.
"Hmm… is it? I just wanted to break the ice a bit more!"
At that point, Nico was angry. "Oh, screw you!" But Honoka and Rin sighed in relief.
"Oh man, that scared me half to death! … Hm?" Honoka noticed that the dog was no longer next to Reimi. Wait a second…
Honoka heard a sound that chilled her soul. Drip, drip, drip…
"Honoka-chan?" Rin asked.
"Reimi-chan, didn't you call your own dog Arnold…!?"
"Yes… that's my dog's name!"
Honoka looked towards the drip and saw that the dog, Arnold, had a huge gash across his neck, blood dripping onto the grass. It did not take long for the other two to notice it as well, before seeing the alleyway was starting to fill with a fog. "You… Reimi-chan!?"
"Indeed. The girl who was murdered in that story… was me," Reimi said, her expression and tone serious, even as the other three girls' eyes widened in horror. "Arnold and I are not among the living- we are ghosts!"
"GHOSTS!?" the three yelled in unison once more.
"… B-being able to see my Stand… Stands are manifestations of our souls! So, she, who is only a soul without a body, could see my Stand without problem!" Nico began to realize as Reimi began to pet Arnold and scratch under his chin, as the ghost dog made his way to her. Instinctively all girls now had their Stands summoned, but did not make any motion to fight.
"You three have walked into the same place I was murdered thirty years ago. Or at least, an image, a reflection of it," Reimi said. "I am surprised we're no longer truly in Morioh… but it seems that my haunt and grudge followed my killer into his new home. Do you understand now? Sincerely, I don't know what a 'Stand' is. But this is a borderline between the living world and the afterlife!"
Flight or fight kicked in; and the girls chose flight, immediately sprinting off. "We need to get out of here as quickly as possible!" Honoka yelled, the other two agreeing. And they turned a corner… only to once again see the mailbox with dog poop near it.
And again, and again.
No matter how many times they turned, nothing changed! "Dammit! If only we had Kotori here,「Kaze ni Notte」could help us escape!" Nico yelled.
"I somehow doubt it would be that effective…" Honoka said, reaching for a coin in one of her pockets, before having「All Star」throw the coin at the sky. "Look!" Honoka yelled while pointing, the coin hitting an invisible ceiling. "The sky isn't real either! Kotori wouldn't be able to get us out of here with flight!"
"There's no point in running like that; there's only one way out of this place."
That drew the three's attention, as they faced Reimi and Arnold once more.
"How do we fight her!?" Rin asked.
"Isn't it obvious!?「Circus」had her wrapped up, which means that she can be harmed by Stand!"
"W-wait, don't be drastic!" Honoka reasoned. "If she's our only way out, if we beat her up, we might be trapped forever! Besides… who knows what a ghost can do!? Maybe she'll possess us if we try fighting her!"
"Geez- I'm trying to help you girls out!" Reimi yelled. "I know I said I had a grudge, but that was only against my killer! Stop treating me like a vengeful ghost who'll attack anyone! What have I done to you except explain what's going on here!? You're the ones who got scarred on your own!"
That got them to at least calm down, some guilt washing over Rin in particular. "Listen. I did not trap you here… you wandered into here, like some other girls a while ago. You have this strange power, what you call Stands. Didn't that girl with the pigtails say that they're some kind of manifestation of your souls? Perhaps that's how you entered here… perhaps those girls have Stands too."
"Rin, Nico… remind me to call Yanigihori after this," Honoka said, the other two nodding. "Reimi-chan… I'm sorry for how we've acted. You're really not our enemy, are you?"
"You three have been in lots of fights to have your trust be damaged like that, huh? But no, I promise I'm not your enemy," Reimi said. "I guess I'm a bounded spirit. I can't leave this place, although the living can. Basically, this is my haunt. I've spoken to many people who wandered in here these past thirty years, but almost all of them were regular people who simply never walked down here again… But until now, not one person has said they were from Tokyo! Granted, most were so scared they simply ran off. How long have I been in Tokyo… how many victims are from Tokyo and not Morioh? When did that man run off?"
"I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for that," Honoka replied.
"But… I have something I must say. I have never been able to talk to someone like this before. I need to inform you of something dire… a threat to Tokyo!" Reimi said. "I told you I'd tell you how to get out of here, and I will. But first, I need you to listen to what I have to say. I haven't led you astray yet, have I?" The School Idols nodded. "The truth is, my story is not yet complete," but this time the girls did not show visible fear, their expressions serious instead. "Before I could see my murderer's face, he attacked my back with a knife. It was dark and late, and I was trying to run away. That murder from thirty years ago… definitely has not been caught yet."
"S-seriously!?" Rin asked. "A sicko like that… was never caught by the police!?"
"No. And if my alleyway can be located in Tokyo… that means he's definitely in Tokyo too. I'm confidant of it! My grudge followed him from Morioh to Tokyo, whenever he relocated! That is why this alleyway can now be reached through Tokyo! It's my only explanation! If not, I genuinely do not have another answer," Reimi said. "A city not like the small and quiet Morioh… in this city of skyscrapers and business, definitely, that man now lives among you as a citizen."
"Are you asking us to capture him…?" Nico asked.
"No. But I am asking you, if you can inform someone who can, like the police—"
"Oi! Why the hell should we!?"
"N-Nico, please!" Rin tried to calm down the Third Year.
"I'm serious! We just finished protecting Tokyo from girls with the same power as us who were going to take over the country! Now you want us to help report some serial killer, someone whose name and face we don't even know!? The police might arrest us for trying to prank them! I haven't heard anything about an ongoing case for a murderer in Tokyo! I'm sorry you never received justice, that's terrible- but we're just highschoolers! Why is it our responsibility to help capture some murderer!? How do we even know that he's alive? It's been thirty years! If you want help moving on peacefully maybe Nozomi-chan can help you as a shrine maiden… But I think you're better off just cutting your ties to this world and moving on!"
It was a tough statement, but one she did not think was unfair. Despite everything, Honoka and Rin could not help but feel the same way to an extent: even though they felt more of a willingness to help.
"Tell me… do you know how many boys and girls have disappeared from Tokyo?" Reimi asked.
"What? No," Nico replied.
"Now, it's been thirty years, and I was always thinking of Morioh before, so maybe it's off… but if my calculations are correct, it must be at least eight times the national average. It might be lower if it's Tokyo though, I just assume more people naturally go missing in a big city like that."
The three's eyes shot open.
"Of course, there are many who must have gone missing on their own, but some are definitely being murdered by him in secret."
"Wait- the murders are still happening!?" Honoka asked.
"How do you know that!? Didn't you say you didn't see the murderer's face!?" Nico asked.
"Because the souls of the murdered fly above here!" Reimi said, earning shocked gasps from Rin and Honoka. "Every time he murders someone, their soul flies above here! And most of them carry the same wounds on their back as me!"
Reimi lowered her dress, showing the wounds engraved onto her back. Rin covered her mouth feeling queasy and dizzy. Nico let out a horrified gasp, taking a step back.
Honoka stood silently, eyes wide as she took in the horror calmly on the outside, but frayed on the inside.
A monster like this is living in Tokyo. Those wounds are so long and deep…
Just like Fushikawa Yohai. A monster disguised as a human lives inside this city I love.
"I cannot talk to them, but I see their souls fly above every time! I don't know when the murders stopped in Morioh, but at the least, he's been killing for thirty years, ever since I was killed! Its frightening, and it had wounded my pride… That when they would catch this murderer, it would be all my beloved Morioh would be remembered for throughout the entire nation! But I can take no peace or solace in the fact the killings are in Tokyo now! All it means is the same horror occurs now elsewhere! Families torn apart and lives ruined just because of one sick man's desires! Don't you understand!? This murderer must be stopped as soon as possible! Even now, I'm sure, he targets somebody… but I'm powerless to do a thing! If only I could trap him here forever… I would sacrifice any hope of any being able to move on and reunite with my family if it would keep others safe!"
"… Hey now, Reimi-chan…"
"Hmm…?" Reimi looked back, seeing it was Honoka that spoke.
"Didn't you just say that it's not good to not think about yourself? You've been suffering here for thirty years… no, I wouldn't let you suffer for all eternity just to contain him! You deserve your own happiness, Reimi! So please… tell me what you want!"
"Ahh…! It needs to be done! Who's going to be killed next!? If it isn't you, the living, who will restore Tokyo's peace, who will it be!?" Reimi had tears running down her face, before she took deep breaths. "… Yes. I am asking you to do this," Reimi admitted. "I don't want to saddle others with this burden… but did you not say you protected all of Tokyo? No, the entire country? You have experience with fighting with your 'Stands!' I want to believe the police will catch him… but I just can't anymore," Reimi asked. "I…"
Honoka dabbed away at Reimi's tears with a comforting smile: it was the first time in thirty years somebody had touched her tenderly. "Reimi-chan. I want to help you."
"I-I'll help too, nya!" But Nico stayed quiet.
"Can I ask you something…? Other girls came here too? That also seemed to have a power?" Honoka asked.
"Yes… they were all highschoolers, like you. I think they were all Third Years, but that's just a guess… they came here and said they also have a power, and one of them showed an apparition similar to your Stands… maybe that too was a Stand," Reimi asked. "They were all wearing all-white school uniforms, really nice-looking blazers with ties."
All white school uniforms, blazers and ties… UTX? Nico thought. Where A-RISE goes too…
"I asked them for help… and they said one day they would. They had told me though that they had another powerful enemy in their lives. Somebody else who they had to defeat… but they would come to my assistance after their own fight was done," Reimi said. "But there is no time! Even now, people are being murdered! They said they would not be able to help until most likely the school year's end! The last ghost I saw…!?"
As she spoke though, Arnold begam to howl. "Oh no! Look above!"
All four looked up in horror.
There it was. All of µ's could see it: a soul. It was a middle-aged woman screaming in agony, unable to notice those below her. And they could see it too, in her ripped dress: a mutilated back as well. There was nothing that could be done as she screamed and screamed… and broke apart into pieces.
Rin collapsed to her knees and vomited on the ground next to her, and Nico could not suppress her scream as she backed against a wall, her own Stand only looking up in horror. Honoka too stared in horror.
And rage.
To see such a thing filled her with utter rage.
"How terrible… another! He's killed another! There's been more lately, too! But this one was definitely a serial killing, because it was a woman with a wound on her back! If they don't, it's just a normal murder, but I'm sure they are all his!"
The proof felt undeniable to those present. "Another soul, killed by him…" Tears flowed down Reimi's face, but Honoka did not wipe them away.
Anger was overtaking her horror. "… Reimi-chan… tell us how to leave, please."
"Honoka…" Reimi wiped away her own tears. Yes. The reality was probably dawning on these girls now. She would not judge them if they did not wish to help in any capacity- she understood the terror of this sight more than anyone else. One day he must die… it's OK, Honoka, Rin, Nico. Live your peaceful lives with fulfillment, like I could not! If this information perhaps can help you stay safe… then this encounter is the most meaningful I've ever had.
"I can't kick this guy's ass if I can't get out of here."
"Honoka…" Reimi looked at Honoka. Tears rolled down the orangette's face, but her face was also a glare at the sky.
"This guy…! People's lives aren't toys! No, I wouldn't have been happy fighting for Yanigihori! I wouldn't have been happy controlling other's destinies! Reimi! I will hunt this man down, no matter what!" Honoka declared. "This city… is where my family and friends live! My beloved sister and parents! My fellow Idols! People I don't even know! I won't let an evil like this infect the city I love so much! I won't let an evil like this live in the same city as Otonokizaka! Reimi… I understand what you meant; your pride damaged! My highschool, Otonokizaka High School is my pride, like you to Morioh… I love this school! A school I hope my sister will attend! A school where all my friends go to! I refuse… to let such unfathomable, disgusting evil live in the same place as it! I'll hunt it down, no matter what! And even if Otonokizaka was bulldozered tomorrow, I would fight to protect the peace of that place where my loved ones live! Reimi! I will absolutely help fight!"
From one fight into another, I won't turn down! I'll have to fight on!
"Honoka…" All three spoke it at the same time. Reimi's tone was filled with hope. Rin's with admiration. And Nico's with annoyance, but also begrudging respect.
"Thank you, Honoka-chan…! Now, it's time I fulfilled my promise, and told you how to leave this place!" Reimi said. "It's simpler than you thought… if you turn left at the mailbox, you'll be able to leave!" At this, the three girls smiled once again. "But there is a trick you must understand… no matter what, you must not look back!" The three had begun running, but stopped. "Once you turn and enter that alleyway, you will see the exit in about twenty yards. No matter what happens, you must not turn around!"
"And what if we do?" Nico asked.
"It's simply the rule for moving on from this world to the next… to look back is to forfeit your right to return to the world of the living. That is all. Even Arnold, a dog, understands that. Your souls will be pulled into the afterlife… you will die."
"Oh boy…" Rin said with a gulp.
"But don't worry! As long as you don't turn around, you'll be OK! It's that simple! I'll walk ahead to lead you," Reimi said, beginning the journey. "Please… press onwards."
It seemed simple enough, but the moment they walked past that mailbox, everything felt off.
"I-it felt like… something just shot between my legs and went behind me!" Rin said.
"S-same… don't look back, though!" Honoka said.
"Walk slowly and calmly! If you run, you'll risk tripping over! It'll get even stronger!" Reimi encouraged.
"Something is breathing on my neck…" Nico said, taking deep breaths. "I-It feels like I need to fight or I'm gonna be attacked!"
"Ignore it! It can't do anything to you like grab you unless you run!" Reimi said. "Something is always trying to make you turn around, but unless you start running or look back, it won't hurt you!"
"There's some warm liquid going down my neck, nya! T-this is so gross…!"
"You're almost there! Keep going on!" Reimi encouraged.
"I-I-I can't-! That's the exist-!" And with that, Rin began to sprint, now in a full panic.
"W-wait! It'll try to trip you now! But she's fast, maybe she can outspeed it…! The two of you, please try to calm down! Rin-san, please!"
Then, Rin heard that voice. Reimi's voice! "You're safe now. You got through it! You can turn around now…"
"I-I did it, nya! Come on, just run over here!" Rin encouraged with a big smile, turning back. "That was too scary!"
"NO! THAT WASN'T ME!" Reimi yelled, as Rin began to realize her mistake.
"A… ahhh…!"
"Dammit, Rin!" Nico yelled.
"Can't she just turn back!?" Honoka yelled.
"No, it's no use, they're already grabbing hold of her! If only she had waited a bit longer…!"
"They!?" Honoka yelled.
"Ahhh…!"
Countless arms were reaching towards Rin. The grabbed her arms and legs and head, and even ripped「Cat Scratch Fever」from her, denying her self defense. "Oh no! NononononoonononoNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"RIN-CHAN!" Honoka yelled, her own Stand forming. And in her own moment of panic, she had her Stand attack the arms… only to turn back in the process, the spectral arms grabbing her as well. "O-oh, shit-!"
"No! Not you too, Honoka! I'm sorry… I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Reimi pleaded, tears down her face.
"Good grief… you're lucky that I'm here!"
Nico took deep breaths, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a simple 100 yen coin. "Heh…「Circus,」you know what to do!"
"Of course! A task for a super Stand like myself, and her super Idol user…!"
"Reimi! As longa s you look forward it'll be OK, right!?"
"Y-yes, but I don't know how to save them!"
"That's fine! Because it doesn't matter how strong an enemy is, or something bullshit like powers being stronger than other powers… my Stand revolves on the theory of gravity!" Nico yelled, tossing the coin into the air. "And even a goddess would have to obey the law of gravity I decree! Behold! The Center of the Ring!" Nico yelled, as her Stand's whip made contact with the coin. "Reimi! Your attention is about to be forced… it's OK! The coin flies forward instead of back!"
"Huh…?"
As Center of the Ring took hold, all attention was drawn to it. Reimi and Arnold, who had been advancing towards the exit, found their heads tilting towards the coin, as did Rin and Honoka… and the ghostly hands as well, all reaching for the coin. "Five seconds will pass before the show ends! Let's GO!"
Nico grabbed Honoka's hand. Although Honoka had to look at the coin, she all the same ran as fast as her legs could take her, trusting Nico to help guide her. Rin was grabbed by「Circus」who then sprinted with her in-hand.
"So that's a Stand's power…!" Reimi said. "Even these ghosts are being affected!"
And sure enough, with Nico's distraction, the three made it out safely, piling into the street.
"T-that was too close… you saved us, Nicoooooooo!" Rin yelled, practically crying as she hugged Nico.
"W-whoah, hey! Don't wrinkle my uniform!"
"Thank you Nico-chaaaaaaaaaaan!" Honoka returned the same gesture, holding onto her as well, not caring if they made a scene in public.
"God… you two are hopeless," Nico said with a sigh, before smiling. "Be thankful that the most amazing Stand user of us all was with you tonight!" And with that, she looked behind her. "It looks like a normal alleyway now…"
"I will remain here."
Before long, Reimi and Arnold emerged. "I can stay right here at the exit of this alleyway… I have not left before," Reimi admitted. "It really isn't Morioh… at the least, I can stay here. I may return to the alleyway now and then… as long as you have the courage to face the alleyway again, you can enter and exit as you please as well. But I will try to stay out here as much as possible to talk," Reimi said. "Until that murderer is caught… when peace and pride return to Tokyo, I will remain here. I will stay here until that day, when I can finally go see my mama and papa."
Reimi was starting to fade physically. "If you have questions… please, talk to me whenever you need to."
She disappeared.
Stunned, all the students of Otonokizaka could do was organize an emergency meeting, asking them to meet up by a nearby convenience story.
Within an hour, everyone had shown up, and the story told.
"It… it really isn't just a Stand, is it? An actual ghost… Khorosho," Eli said with a frown. "A serial killer, ghosts…"
"It sounds like something out of a cheesy manga… then again, a lot of things about our lives sound out of a manga and not reality," Maki said. "We summon manifestations of our soul to punch things and fight for us. Ghosts don't really surprise me now… although I'll admit, it's kind of nice knowing for sure there's an afterlife now," Maki admitted.
"I know I work as a shrine maiden, but I'm not a priestess or anything like that… honestly, I just clean the shrine," Nozomi said. "My Stand is the only way I could help another like this."
"Honoka-chan…" Kotori squeezed Honoka's hand, and Umi, staying quiet, squeezed her other. "I'm glad you're OK. It sounds like you almost died."
"Right after we beat Yanigihori too," Hanayo was hugging Rin, who graciously returned the hug. "That's so unfair…"
"Honoka… what do you intend to do?" Eli asked.
"I meant what I told her… I want to pursue this killer. I want Tokyo to be safe!" Honoka said.
"I'm with Honoka-chan, nya! This is our city! It's not right someone gets to play god with the people's lives!" Rin declared. "You're all with us, right!? We have Stands! We gotta do something, nya!"
"Hell no."
All eyes were on Nico, whose eyes were narrowed. "I'm sorry, but I never agreed to help Reimi. I don't intend to."
"H-how can you say that, Nico!?" Rin asked, breaking out of the hug with a glare. "You saw that person die! How can you not want to avenge it!?"
"Because it has nothing to do with us!" Nico yelled. "Listen, I meant it- what happened sucks! It sucks it's still happening! But again- we're highschoolers! The Arrow Hunters were also highschool girls… it was practically like a gang war between us that just had superpowers! And we didn't go on the offense until the very end, we were defending ourselves! That bug girl literally had her Stand mostly eat my legs- I would've been crippled if it wasn't for Kotori!" Nico yelled. "This has nothing to do with us! It's one thing to fight in self-defense, but it's another to go out for something like this! And besides, how do we start!? Do we watch some shitty tv dramas and prepare to do amateur sleuthing!? We have literally no leads!"
That got the rest silent. "If we had something like that Pink and Black Stand that can track things down it'd be one story! Maybe to an extent「Ace of Spades'」divining might be able to give us some leads, but Nozomi-chan, do you feel confidant it can track him down!?"
"No. It reads fortunes. With my Stand, I can divine fortunes by tapping into the threads of fate itself… It would not produce leads to who the killer is."
"Do you even have a plan, Honoka!?"
"I'll google missing persons- and then I can investigate around there!"
"Oh, you're so stupid sometimes!" Nico yelled, Honoka glaring as they got in eachother's faces.
"Better than a coward. What, you afraid this guy is gonna get you too!? Or you just happy you have a Stand, so this guy doesn't have a chance at killing you!?" Honoka yelled, losing her temper: and Nico glared back, her teeth bared.
"Call me a coward again, see what happens!" Nico yelled, shoving Honoka, who resisted the urge to shove back. "No! I just don't feel like getting involved in this shit that has nothing to do with us!" Nico said, starting to storm off. "I'm not coming to practice tomorrow! And if you call me a coward again- I'm done with µ's!" Nico said, not even looking back at her friends.
"… I wish to assist as well. I said I wanted to become justice once… I am embracing my humanity, but I still wish to keep this city safe," Eli said.
"And of course, I will go with Elichi's decision," Nozomi said.
"Kayochin…?" Rin asked.
"I… I-I… I-I-If Rin-chan will do this, then so will I…" But the fear and terror in her voice was notable. It alone gave Rin second thoughts, and the look on her face made that clear to everyone.
"I don't want Honoka to be in danger again…!" Kotori said.
"Have you even thought about yourself, Honoka?" Umi walked up to her, finally speaking up, her expression serious. "You were beaten to an inch of your life more than once…! Now you want to do it again!? And… for something that doesn't even involve you!? Not even self-defense!?"
There was a difference between her angry tone and Nico's callous one. Tears ran down Umi's face, and her lips quivered. "Honoka…! What if things go wrong for you…!?"
"Umi-chan…" Honoka frowned, looking at the ground. "I… I…"
"Obviously, we should not make this decision right away," Eli said. "Let's all think about it for a few days… Saturday, let's come with an idea. We are not obligated to do this… although some of us clearly want to."
The girls started to go their separate ways, leaving Honoka alone.
"I… Umi-chan, I promise…"
I want you to be safe and happy. Like Kotori and everyone else.
Both yearned for the other to be safe.
"That sounds… really rough, Honoka-chan."
Back at Homura, Honoka reached outside of her usual friend circle. Fumiko met her in her house, eating some mochi with her. Although not the closest of friends they had known eachother since childhood, and also possessed a Stand; Honoka yearned to keep talking with someone else on this matter. "I can't believe ghosts are real too… Did Yanigihori say anything?"
"I called her, yeah. She said nobody had any idea of what this was," Honoka said. "None of them knew about Reimi and the alleyway. They said they'd keep an eye out though…"
"Do you think you'll ask them for help properly?" Fumiko asked.
"I might… but we're not all close-knit friends or anything. I don't want to overstep my bounds," Honoka admitted. "But having more Stand users would help no matter what…"
"If nothing else, at least we're all aware of it," Fumiko said with a smile. "You didn't just save our school. You keep saving our lives too," Fumiko said. "If some weirdo tries talking to me, I'll use「Single Ladies」to get out of there!" If nothing else that made Honoka smile a bit. "See? That's the smile we all like to see on Kousaka Honoka!"
"Thanks, Fumiko-chan," Honoka asked. "God, it's been so hard to talk with everything going on… how's it going at home?"
Fumiko frowned. "Mom and dad are finalizing the divorce… Dad started living in an apartment. And…" Fumiko sighed. "My mom is… unhappy that I wanna go live with dad instead. I wanna finish packing soon."
"O-oh… I'm sorry, Fumiko," Honoka frowned. She had forgotten that outside of her world of Idols and Stands, there was other misfortunes still. It had been a long year for Fumiko on this end. "Would it help if I went to go pack?"
"Mmm… It'd be nice," Fumiko said with a little smile. "I'd like someone around… it's not that I don't love mom, I do! But- this is her fault! She was the one that wasn't faithful, and it's not fair I feel punished for wanting to be with my dad more!" She admitted. "Just… I don't want to live with her. It's not like I don't want to talk and love her…"
Honoka nodded. "OK… how about Saturday, I'll help you pack up then, OK?" Honoka asked, and Fumiko smiled again and nodded.
"See you at school, Honoka," Fumiko said, getting up and making her own way home. Honoka made her way to her room, plopping down on her bed. Everything got so complicated so quickly.
Idols. Stands. These things dominated all aspects of her life now. And now she was throwing a serial killer into the mix.
Maybe I should just sit it out, Honoka thought. She summoned her Stand next to her, looking up at the figure known as「All Star.」Wouldn't I be putting the rest in danger, too?
She thought to herself of these past few months.
Reimi-chan… I want to avenge you, but… I just..
Was it really fair to make µ's suffer more just for her own desire of justice?
With these thoughts plaguing her, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Meanwhile, in the Yoshida HQ in Tokyo, Yoshikage Kira was reviewing experiment notes. His secretary, Ms. Asuka stood next to him.
"We're having good results with the liquid evolution virus," she explained as Yoshikage looked at the document. "Lately, all who planned subjects have awoken Stands. All members of OTEMO-YAN, Lemon Milk, and Hello! Hello! Were able bond with the virus and become Stand users," Ms. Asuka said.
"That is fortunate. It's harder to cover up these kinds of deaths," Yoshikage said. "But I suppose it doesn't matter. We knew that it would almost definitely work on these children… the fact they agreed to try it out helps. Offer a child a superpower, of course they want it."
"By this rate… at least half of the School Idols all participating in the prototype Greatest Concert will be Stand users."
A pause filled the air.
"But there is nothing on other subjects, is there?"
Ms. Asuka frowned and shook her head. "The virus still kills them… when diluted into its liquid form, we have confirmation: as opposed to 'fighting spirit,' what the virus instead looks for is 'strong determination.' It does not need to necessarily be fighting, although on average the Stands are less powerful than ones born through arrow awakenings. But for these competitive girls determined to make it to the top, despite their age and even immature desires the virus bonds with them well," Ms. Asuka reported. "But on the common people, who are content going in the direction life simply points at them… it still tends to kill them immediately. And the superiors in Nagasaki are unhappy."
"I can't make magic happen," Yoshikage practically growled. "I'm responsible for this variant that bonds with almost anyone worth giving a damn about, and they still might send the assassins from Italy at me…!"
"We are working around the clock to improve it further," Ms. Asuka said.
Yoshikage got up and reached for his jacket. "I'm going home early," he said, not even looking at his loyal secretary any longer. "I'm so sorry, love, I was held up at the office again…" He spoke to the hand within his jacket with a sigh. "Tomorrow I'll make sure we get a good lunch, OK?"
Yoshikage Kira made his way to his home, the penthouse that existed at the top of the skyscraper. Yoshikage Kira had a life many would kill for. He held an executive position of a major zaibatsu and was the director of its most lucrative branch. His home was a penthouse that he owned completely free of charge. He was three times voted the most successful man in Tokyo, and had even met with the Prime Minister multiple times. And of course, he was wealthy beyond most normal men's dreams. It was a life many would yearn for.
But not Yoshikage Kira.
He did not wish to be considered Tokyo's most successful man… if he had to place, third or fourth would be good: but more than that he would've wished to be so unsuccessful he flew under the radar entirely. But yet, here he was.
Cursed with this position of luxury and success against his will. How happily he would trade it to any regular civilian and live a simple job, like that of a salaryman. But ever since his blunder as a child, this was the life thrust upon him. Thirty miserable years of success and luxury…
Thirty miserable years without peace of mind and calm serenity.
But soon, it could come to an end. As long as he produced the desired results, he could be free of his contracts… unless of course, assassins were sent to silence him. Was there no chance of Yoshikage Kira ever reclaiming a quiet life?
He did not despair. He would reclaim the life he yearned one day. He only had two obstacles… first was the lack of progress on the Stand-granting virus of the arrow. The second was this new group of School Idols…
µ's.
He had turned many School Idols into Stand users. It was all part of the Greatest Concert. The transformation of School Idols into Stand users, why it would be these seemingly normal girls, and the day that mankind would be forever changed by them.
But not these nine. These nine, awoken by a stray arrow.
And according to Wakaki, not only were they powerful Stand users, but they had strong hearts of justice and hope. Should they have learned of what Love Live! truly was… they would oppose it. Fight it. And Yoshikage would be forced to admit the situation in Tokyo had gotten far worse than anticipated.
He could request assassins of the Yoshidas to his beck and call. It would be easy. He could easily request twenty Stand-wielding assassins to destroy these girls, but in doing so he would risk his own neck exposed. His superiors already wanted him to perform a miracle; a failure like this would easily cost him his life.
"I'll deal with it myself."
He was done observing and done playing games with subordinates like Wakaki.
He hated this city of Tokyo. Loud and noisy, with far too many people. He yearned to return to his place of peace, of Morioh… to live out his life and killings there.
µ's was just another obstacle to that goal was all. But he would explode all obstacles in his way.
Despite the situation worsening, he was calm and collected. He knew his peace would return one day. Yoshikage Kira would live a quiet and peaceful life.
Reaching into a file, he pulled out nine photos. Shots of µ's videos of each of the girls, their names and addresses written on the back, as well as various other forms of information.
The problem simply needed to be nipped in the bud. And he would do it himself. He'd blow every single one of them to smithereens.
He glared at the photo of Kousaka Honoka in his hands, having an all-too familiar face hold the photo, before smirking.
"Destroy it,「Killer Queen.」"
Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Chapter 27: Kira Yoshikage's Successful Life (Part 1)
Wew! We're finally getting to this part~! Man, if I had written this regularly we would've been way past it... but we're getting there!
I hope you're all ready for things to get explosive! And I also hope every road takes to a memory of Great Days!
