I was not having a great day. Scratch that, I'm having one of my worst days so far; I met my father again after two years without him giving any sign of life, until I stumble on him while doing grocery, then run away. With a bit of coercion, I decided to see him, to talk… I had to listen through, basically all his bullshit as to why he left us and didn't call us. All this while containing my visible anger that he clearly failed to notice.

He said the reason as to why he abandoned us was because he couldn't take the situation anymore… 'Then what about us? Does he think we stay and endure it because it was a common thing to go through with?'

And now he dares say words like 'starting over' because he has been out of our lives long enough to forget what happened. 'Don't fuck with me! It's only because he caught me live in a period of crisis as well as randomly meeting him at a convenience store that he thought about me lately at all!

If I had stuck with rock instead of paper, I would not even have come close to him at Tsukuba.

Miku was right, she shouldn't have meddled with something that was not concerning her and left me ignoring him as initially wanted.

To think that I thought he was kind and cool in my memories, what a way for the universe to fuck with me. I may really think I'm cursed more than necessary.

And as if it was not enough, the moment I exit the Ils Bale café, which the asshole actually made me pay for the bill with barely any shame, I received a call from HQ for an upcoming mission. Seriously, I'm the one making effort, paying for the bad experience, both figuratively and literally, and I'm not even allowed to catch a break.

I still joined Kirika-chan and Shirabe-chan for the emergency mission. And everything goes to hell right away, I was unable to hit the damn autoscorer, Micha I think her name is, one single time. The Alca-Noise around her unnerving me more than anything, and as if not enough, I got knocked out by the same kind of attack that actually cost me my Gungnir the first time I fought her.

But that was still not enough, noooo… I have now to deal with the two kouhais throwing blame to each other as salt on the injuries for the failed mission. For fuck's sake! I just woke up, give me a break!

"Okay, first of all, shut up!" I snap at both girls, breaking their argument over… whatever it was.

I know shouldn't be snapping at them, those two girls are not the reason why I'm angry, only an insignificant part of my adding problems and bad mood.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, clenching my eyes shut for a moment. The silence, obviously caused by my outburst for seemingly no reason doing wonders already.

I take a deep breath while ordering my thought the best I can. "Sorry about that," I apologize first before turning to Miku, needing to distract her to escape her questions that would only infuriate me more. "Ne, Miku? Could you take some drinks at the vending machine please, orange juice for me? Wants anything, girls?" I was met by silence, the ZABABA blades still in stunned shock. I turn back to my childhood friend. "Orange juice for me then, thanks."

She wanted to say something, she really wanted to but, she also knows that from my outburst earlier at the ZABABA-combi, I could really well snap at her for asking if I'm okay, which is visible that I'm not.

Miku ultimately leaves, giving me a concerned look while I keep the usual fake smile that she can see through two times out of three.

Once the door slides shut, I release another sigh before locking eyes with my two kouhais, wondering how Chris-chan would have dealt with this situation. Well, it doesn't matter, I'm not her and she is not me, and I also remember her being pissed at the reckless behavior those two seem to like throwing themselves into.

"So, what the deal with you two?" God, I somehow sound like Chris-chan when she would ask me that exact question.

I cross my arms as well as put one leg over the other, showing that I'm in no hurry at all, Elfnein would probably be against me getting up anyway, so I remain seated on the edge of the bed. At this point, I'm hoping for two things to happen; them talking about, and hopefully stirring things away from their issues, or plainly for them to walk away and leaving me in peace with the knowledge of having to mend bridges together later… or not.

Unfortunately, the two remain silent, looking away from the other and me in the process. 'I nor have the time or the will to play this game and give them the option of bothering me with their presence while recovering,' I thought, switching my approach.

"Something obviously happened between you two after I got knocked out, so you can either spill it or go on about the rest of the day, preferably away from me. Then you could let all that negativity between you affects your next performance in battle while endangering you even more in the process… Well, that is if Shishō lets you fight at all after it is reported. The last thing we need is any more reckless behavior after what I pulled today." I say, my gaze not leaving them any doubt that I meant every word.

After a moment of silent Kirika is the first one to speak. "It's Shirabe's fault!" she exclaims.

I lift an eyebrow at the direct accusation, unable to ask more detail as Shirabe follows right away. "No, it's Kirika's fault for being too reckless."

I felt a growing headache while listening to the back of forth between the two, shifting the blame on the other as the two describe the behavior of the others and how upset they are about it.

"In the end, Kira-chan is thinking of me as a burden-"

"Okay, I get the gist of it," I interrupt their meaningless argument, having already gathered the problem. "You two are basically pulling another Frontier incident quarrel," I say, earning two confused looks.

I point a finger at the blond-haired girl. "You want to protect Shirabe-chan from getting hurt." I then switch my aim for the black-haired one. "And you want Kirika-chan to stop acting recklessly and on her own."

The two nod at me in unison, allowing me to congratulate myself internally to be spot on, on their issue.

"Well, that's dumb, and the two are being stupid to the point it's a miracle you didn't get yourself killed earlier," I declare to their mutual shock.

I prevent any retort from them by following. "I will try to put it simply for you. You care for the other, there is no doubt about it and absolutely nothing wrong about it. But caring and trusting are two different things, and you obviously lack the latter, especially you, Kirika-chan."

"That's not true, I trust Shirabe!"

"And I trust Kiri-chan!"

I lift an eyebrow at them in incredulity. "Want to remind me what you are fighting over?"

"I just don't want Shirabe to get hurt, what is wrong with that?" she exclaims.

"Nothing," I answer to her surprise. "We are fighting to protect others, after all. Though I didn't know that Shirabe was so weak to need constant protection while fighting."

I let the information sink in, observing mostly Kirika-chan in wait for a retort, only to receive none and allowing me to continue. "You are being overprotective of her, and Shirabe sees it as her, being treated as a burden by you instead of a partner."

"That's not what I want I meant…" the scythe wielder mutters.

"But that how she feels it…" I say, shaking my head. "One is unable to understand that the other's actions are made with her in mind… While the second is unable to believe that the other doesn't need to be constantly protected and can hold her own. And the result of such behavior from this lack of mutual trust is a rather unsightly fight… Which in the long term could lead to your death… Albeit we don't forbid you to ever fight at all before it could happen.

A heavy silence overcomes the room, only breaking by the door sliding open, revealing Miku with the orange juice I requested and apple juice, probably for herself.

"So, what should we do?" the black-haired ask, her head hanging down alongside her dearest friend.

"Get over it," I tell them bluntly. "The two of you once fought me, briefly but, you were supporting each other in order to protect Dr. Ver from me. That's really all you have to do, neither of you are made of glass that would break after taking one hit. Your first fight against Micha shows that you are capable of that, even if she beats you in the end. So, stop trying to prove your worth to the other and fight together instead of against each other, the enemy doesn't need that kind of advantage.

I take the drink handed by Miku, pulling to the tab to open it before taking the first gulp, relishing in the rich taste of the fruit. "If I wasn't stuck here to recover, I would have left a long time ago, but I can't. Though, the two of you are considered in perfect health. So, you can leave, think about what I said, and especially not get yourself killed in the next fight if the Autoscorers decide you two are perfect targets."

It took a moment for them to understand the sublines that they are bothering me, and I didn't want them in my sight before scurrying out the med bay, soon followed by Elfnein, obviously having something to add to my spiel.

I relish in the renewed silence of the now peaceful room, enjoying the cold beverage, before remembering my manners. "Thanks for the drink, Miku."

It took a moment for my childhood friend to react. "You're welcome, Hibiki."