A-8: Intertwined fate I: Crossed Friendships
Prerequisite: Unlock A-6 + Unlock A-7
Requirement: Own Hikari (Fantasia) + Own Tairitsu (Sonata) + Play Solitary Dream (With EX score only, FTR Difficulty only) + PM all songs in Eternal Core (PST Difficulty only)
Alternate Requirement:PM PRAGMATISM - RESURRECTION- (BYD difficulty only) with Hikari (Level 30)


Meeting Alexandar's stepsister. Her first impression of her was completely the opposite of him. Very flawed. She seemed to be the one who is trying to become perfect as well. She supposed she could let that slide. Everyone wants to be perfect and ideal, even if they eventually fail. It is their right to try. As for Hikari, she didn't mind Sophia. Her stepbrother once described about her. Charming, like him. However, she realizes that his assessment of her was incorrect. She is nothing like him. But nothing bad about her. Really. Perhaps they have different opinions about her.

Hikari dresses in white, dressed flowers around her skirt with a white seifuku. As of Sophia, she wears her black dress with a dark beret with a purple rabbit doll attached to the beret. Thinking about it, this reminded Sophia of how she had a perfect life before that part of her is gone for a moment when she looked at Hikari.

When Alexandar leaves the two alone, the two girls wanted to know each other. This first meeting has gone way too far. They have learnt more than what they have expected. From introduction to how they met Alexandar. Then came talking about Alexandar to their experiences with Alexandar. Finally, they talked about themselves: Sophia's 'perfect' daily lives and Hikari's loner life.

They are opposite to each other but same to each other. Their lives changed when they met Alexandar. While they have gotten over their pasts, they have not gotten over their consequences. For Sophia, it is her obsession of perfection. For Hikari, her lack of faith in humanity except for him.

Each day flows by, Sophia felt a sense of connection to Hikari. This connection is different compared to him. It's not perfect, unlike Alexandar. However, it is very strange. One that she wanted to accept it as her own, but her instinct told her to resist it for reasons unknown to her.

Wanting to know about Hikari, to understand her, she asked Alexandar. Regrettably, he refused. As much as he would like to talk about her, he doesn't sound confident to share this with her. From his expression…

He is sensitive about Hikari.

Is he the overprotective brother?

"Let's leave it alone for now" She thought.

Another day, Sophia and Hikari met again. This time, without Alexandar. Oddly enough, they both have some sort of musical interest they wish to perform. They laughed, because it is funny to know that they have both influenced by him, his wonderous and majestic music with piano.

(Background Music: Inkari-usi by DIA)

Strangely enough, they spent their time in the library to learn how to play musical instruments. Why? To create their own identity in the face of music. This was an unsaid reason for both. Musical instruments each hold a different emotions and expressions. They borrowed several musical books and then marched towards their music room to try.

Hikari prefers a mix of violin and harp for not only peaceful tones, but for symphony while for Sophia, she seeks a greater challenge, not to master musical instruments themselves but to master in crafting in even the most complex music.

Regardless, they tried every instrument they had. Until they have decided their favourite instrument. While Hikari sticks with the Violin while Sophia goes with Guitar. Such an odd combination, how would they ever pull that off should they decide to make a duet? Hikari is optimistic with this while Sophia takes this difficulty as a challenge. Maybe she can become a perfect musician with her. The perfect duo. Little did she knew that Hikari shares the same sentiment as well as days came by.

Days came by, Hikari and Sophia performed well. Who knew to their surprise that they could sync well, despite the odd combinations that they have picked up?

A Music Talent show was heard. Passionate, Hikari wanted to try it out. Sophia had her doubts but Hikari has convinced her to try her best. After all, they pulled off a miracle while trying out.

Hours became days that spent for them for the competition

They practiced
They rehearsed
And they correct any mistakes

On the day of the talent competition, they were someone who proved to be a great challenge: that being Shirabe, a crimson girl who is popular for rock music. Her signature songs, carmine:scythe and Scarlet Cage, managed to pull an impossible. How does this individual gain such a mastery over the guitar at such a young age? Her skill may even rival Alexandar's piano skills. Alone, Hikari and Sophia are no match for her. However, …

Even with such a tough competition, Hikari remained positive. Undeterred. Sophia agreed with Hikari. Their music cannot lose to anyone.

"In the end this will become our victory"

What a perfect call for them. They are crowned as the champion, barely surpassing Shirabe.
But of course, they thanked themselves for their teamwork and their efforts

(Music ends)

Aside from music, Sophia often visited Alexandar's house to hang out with him and Hikari. But one day, she looked for them everywhere, only to find a book. Curious, she read it:

Why, why and why?
What have I done?

Everyone hates me. No one believes me. Whatever they do to me seems to be acceptable by even my family members.
They ignore my pain as I cry for help.

Perhaps I should be a 'good girl'
If I am a 'good girl', maybe the tormentation will go away.

I am a 'good girl' and they still don't see it?
Am I still 'bad'?
I should try harder...

My family doesn't like me
I am a burden, born a demon
And that, I will be taken away by someone.

While this was obviously a diary, Sophia is shocked, this was impossible, Alexandar mistreating her? Alexandar is nothing bad. He treats her well. But regardless, she flipped to the next page.

The master does not like me, but I am to serve him forever.
I am to follow his orders for his sake
I am to be hurt for his sake
I am to sacrifice everything for his sake
That is my purpose

But... will it change what they think of me?

The master has hurt me again.
My body bleeds everywhere.
But I am still alive…
I no longer feel any pain.

This master has taught me one thing which explained everything
This world is cruel

A cruel world where no one is nice.
No one deserve this
No one is nice, this means no one is 'good', everyone is 'bad'
I tried to be 'good', but I am still 'bad'
But among the 'bad', I am the evil one
If the world really is that way
Then everyone can just die.

What the hell is Hikari thinking? Who is this 'master' that Hikari is talking about? She flipped the page again, this time, she has found what she was looking for.

Alexandar:

A boy saw me. He knows me. But he keeps looking at me.
What does he want with me?

At first, I ignored him. Another scum on the Earth who will find his way to disturb me.
But he kept following me. He keeps following me to no end.

Nightfall came, finally, he's gone.
But that does not end there.

The next day, he came yet again. He wants to talk to me. He wants to know about me.
But I refuse to talk to him. I want to cut him down for being such a disturbance. He is clearly setting up some trap to blame me yet again. To torment me yet again, like the others.
But he spoke a phase, one that I did not expect from him
"I will set you free."

I don't believe he will. Who wants me to be out of there? He tried to drag me away from my master. I slapped him and he disappears.

The day of happiness, so he described came…
The day when my master told me that I shall serve a new one, because he was impressed with a boy.
It was that boy again.
I no longer cared who I served. They are all the same to me.
He took me away, sent me to his home. He wants something from me.
I asked him, but he claims to be different from the others
I refuse to believe it.

From that day on, I slowly began to regret to push him away.
I was being cold, but he showed kindness.
A feeling that I have never experienced.
I always lived a world of suffering.
But he showed to me that the world isn't always like that.

My name, in truth, I never forgot it.
I want to erase it. I want to at least forget it.
But the curse is still there
However, he has given me a choice to just live a new life.
Another chance to live.
Today, "Pandora" dies. "Hikari" is born.

The diary ends here. So, it seems like this Hikari's past, more specifically, her "worst" life. This is what Alexandar was hiding from her.
If this is how Alexandar protects her, then she will do the same.
If this was how Hikari was back then, then this time, she will be there.
Not just Alexandar, but Sophia too will protect Hikari.

Such a protective friend that Hikari had. Too bad she never realized it.

To be concluded: A-9: Intertwined fate II: Bonds Broken


A/N:

1. While I was writing this, I realized that this chapter will be too long so I had to split this chapter into two. This chapter focuses on how Hikari and Sophia became close friends. However, things will change in the next chapter. The next chapter is the finale of this act. Afterwards, ... will you continue from here? :)

2. I really don't know much about music instruments that well. I want to have Sophia to pick music instruments that suit conflict music.

3. As for appearance-wise, I will keep the reasoning as to why I chose them to appear like this until the next chapter (A-9) is published. Although I have to admit that I wasn't being creative in that aspect... I didn't want to focus much on that.
Update (11/5/2021): With A-9 being published, I will now reveal:
Hikari wears a mix of Axium and Zero (though she wears mostly Zero) while Sophia wear's Fracture Hikari's Beret, Tenniel's Rabbit Doll and Axium (mostly Axium). This is to scream irony that will be mentioned in the next chapter. I should have given the Parasol to Hikari...