Life La Life

by kilbymania

It was a year after the events of Kill la kill, and life has been swell for Ryūko, Satsuki and Mako who happened to have been transferred to the same high school. However a ghost from their past throws their lives into chaos while this spectre of said past begins their own new life leading to an unseen force who wish to enact the will of the late Ragyō Kiryūin begin their attack.

23. Chapter 23: Run like the wind

Clone Nui sat under her kokatsu table with a comfy sigh, sipping a brand of green tea suggested to her by Inumuta out of her favourite handless cup as she held it with both hands and her elbows resting on the table. She smiled with satisfaction as she thought about her last running session with Gamagōri, she got her best time yet.

True Nui popped up by her side floating in the air as always in this spectral form, "Well you seem in a good mood."

Clone Nui responded joyfully, "Of course I am, I feel like I actually have a chance now."

True Nui circled around to clone Nui's other side, lounging casually in the air, "Hmm you sure? the race is only two days away and that bobble head isn't any joke when it comes to speed."

Clone Nui responded with slightly less confidence in her voice, "well I know it isn't guaranteed but I think I can do pretty alright..."

True Nui replied looking at her doppelganger with a smug smile, "alright miiiiiight not cut it for Satsuki."

Clone Nui looked down at her tea contemplating this with a worried expression.

True Nui suddenly spoke up with a seeming epiphany, "Oh! I know! How about you let me run for you?"

Clone Nui looked surprised as she replied with "Huh?"

True Nui continued, her hand movements expressing her pride in her own ideas, "I could dress up like you, then run juuuuuust slow enough to make it look human, I win the race, and you take the credit!"

Clone Nui replied almost taking offence to the notion, "I can't do that! And besides wouldn't Inumuta be able to sniff you out?"

True Nui's response held an air of smug satisfaction, "I've been able to fool snooping computers before, and why exactly can't you do it?"

Clone Nui frowned as she stared down into her teacup, building herself up for an answer, "well... I told them I was doing this for my own self-improvement, if I did this then I would be lying about that."

True Nui pointed in clone Nui's direction as she replied with a sharpened gaze, "but you're already lying about that aren't you?" Clone Nui looked back at true Nui with silent shock, this look being enough of a response to make true Nui continue, "Oh come on, you may be more "human" but you're still me, I can see right through you, you're doing this because you don't want to disappoint Satsuki." Clone Nui remained silent, staring back at her teacup as true Nui floated in close to be the devil on clone Nui's shoulder as she continued, "You're doing this because you see yourself as a weight on their lives, you want to validate your own existence... don't you?" Clone Nui's grip on her cup tightened as true Nui continued "If you disappoint them, if you can't prove you have worth then what reason should they have to let you live after the pain you caused them?"

The tension held in the air for a moment before clone Nui's gaze softened as she turned to True Nui, "Yes you're right Nui... I'm just like you, desperate for a reason to exist."

True Nui's face changed to cold rage for a moment before she simmered down, "Ugh... fine suit yourself."

True Nui disappeared leaving Clone Nui to sit on her own staring down quietly into rippling surface of her green tea.

The last day before the race had arrived and clone Nui was up early running laps around the park with Gamagōri waiting close to the finishing line with a digital stopwatch. She stopped running just as she reached Gamagōri who pressed a button on the stopwatch with his thumb, stopping the count with a beep. Nui clasped her knees her back bent over as she tried to regain her breath.

Gamagōri frowned as he looked at the watch before speaking up to Nui, "What's wrong Nui? you're slower than you was in the last session."

Nui huffed as she tried to gather herself for a reply, "I'm sorry mister Gamagōri... It's just... a lot been on my mind..."

Gamagōri threw out an interested "hm?"

Nui stood upright before continuing, "well I..." Nui blushed for a moment looking down at the ground unveiling her embarrassment, Gamagōri blushing as well at the cuteness of Nui's expression. Nui continued shifting aside her emotions, "I'm scared of losing, of... disappointing everyone, disappointing Satsuki... I guess it's kinda taking a toll on me."

Gamagōri took a moment to consider his answer before kneeling placing one of his gigantic hands-on Nui's tiny shoulder, Nui buckling under the weight before Gamagōri realised she was struggling to withstand it before loosening his grip. Gamagōri spoke calmly, each of his words oozed with sentimentality, "When I was back as the head of disciplinary committee, I would see a lot of kids that would feel that way, each one worried about their future and not being good enough for the academy. And well looking back on those days, I should of helped those kids, but the ideology of the academy was that we had to push these students to be the best, to be good enough to meet our expectations." Nui stared deeply at him as Gamagōri looked down at the ground in melancholic nostalgia, "I wish I could go back and helped those kids, told them what they needed to hear, that they can be good enough that other's expectations doesn't matter and what truly matters, is that you can prove to yourself that you are enough, I never even considered that those kids were doubting themselves, I just saw them as weak and moved on..." Gamagōri looked back up at Nui with a sombre smile, "That's why I'm here now to tell you that you don't have to prove anything to anyone, you said it yourself, you're doing this to improve your athletic skills right? well then that's all you need to focus on, and winning is just a part of that, and well even if you don't win, you can still be confident that you gave it your all." Nui's eye glowed as she looked at Gamagōri in surprise before he stood up and brushed down his knee, "now... you up for another lap!?" Gamagōri's sudden question sparked Nui into doing a playful salute before running off through the park, her face holding a smile as she ran with renewed determination.

True Nui had watched the exchange between clone Nui and Gamagōri. Now she lied back in the bed of her pocket reality, her arm on her forehead as she stared up at the ceiling in cold melancholy. She thought back to a time in her childhood. It was a session where she spent sewing within a cold steel room, Ragyō, sat across a matching table, watching the little Nui impatiently.

"Maman?" Nui looked up at Ragyō only to be met with Ragyō's cold stare.

"Don't stop sewing." Ragyō said sending Nui into a hurried frenzy looking back down at her textiles continuing to sew. Silenced prevailed for a moment before Ragyō spoke up, "What is it Nui?"

Nui answered cautiously as she continued to sew, the anxiety filling her face, "Well... I... I'm kinda scared..."

Ragyō responded with slight confusion, "Scared? what could you possibly be afraid of?"

The little Nui struggled to eke out her response, her sewing having slowed to a standstill before she looked up, her eyes met with the glare of Ragyō before she once again hurriedly continued to sew, "It's just... well I worry about... not being good enough..."

Ragyō replied with a disappointed sigh, Worrying the young Nui, "Nui, you should know this, such conduct is unbecoming of the grand couturier." Ragyō stood up from her steel seat before sitting on the table, her side to Nui. She looked down at the little girl and held a finger beneath her chin forcing Nui to look up at her, "doubts? insecurities? Such things are irrelevant to ones such as us, as these are the signs of wilting flowers, and what do we do with those?"

Nui spoke hesitantly once more as she stared into Ragyō's eyes, "We root them out..."

Ragyō smiled as her hand moved to stroke Nui's cheek, "Exactly, so there is no such thing as 'good enough' and 'not good enough', only the weak and the strong, and through that we know who deserves to live, and those that are vermin beneath our feet." Nui nodded as she stared up at Ragyō who then got off the table, speaking up to the little girl with irritation, "good, now finish up quickly dear, Maman has another meeting scheduled with the board members."

The memory ended leaving the present True Nui back staring aimlessly at the ceiling. She clenched her fist hard enough to leave marks in her hand with her nails as her lip quivered as her mind was filled with nothing but self-deprecation. "It seems I was a wilting flower after all Maman..."

The day arrives, students and parents flood the streets alike making their way to school for the annual sports day. Of course the usual three, Satsuki, Mako and Ryūko was strolling among the other students.

Ryūko looked around at the crowds of people all walking down the street with slight impressed surprise, "Damn, I knew sports day was popular, but not this popular..."

Satsuki replied with a bemused smirk, "Indeed, I think it's safe to assume from our own class' enthusiasm to contend that most of these people will be playing spectators to the sports."

Mako followed along blissfully enjoying the atmosphere of the scene. Suddenly however their walk was interrupted by the sight of Nui and Gamagōri jogging down the side of the street in track suits, shouting "One! Two!" over and over in unison with each other and their steps, Nui baring a strong look of determination on her face as she ran.

Ryūko looked even more surprise at this sight watching along with Mako as Nui and Gamagōri sped off up the street, "damn Nui really is taking this seriously huh..."

This comment of Ryūko's provoking a look of smug satisfaction from Satsuki, "yes she has."

This look causing Ryūko to show obvious irritation as she seemed to spin around to present Mako as her prized fighter, "Well Mako has been taking this super seriously as well! right Mako?!"

Mako looked confused for a moment throwing out a befuddled "huh?" before realising what she should say, "Oh yeah! I'm taking it suuuuuper seriously, just let me at em just leeet me at em!"

Ryūko kept looking at Satsuki with determination as she calmly notified Mako, "Mako this is a race not a fight."

Mako seemed to undergo another realisation as she replied, "Oh right... Yeah I'm gonna beat the heck out of them! In a race that is..."

Ryūko sighed "Never mind, lets walk ahead Mako, we need to talk strategy."

She began to push Mako along who was still rather confused but went along with it with an "Ok Ryūko!" the two made their way along the street, excusing their way past all the other passers-by's as Satsuki watched in calm bemusement.

Suddenly Satsuki's phone began to ring, causing her to quickly answer it with her usual eloquence.

"I see your intimidation tactic is working out well." It was Inumuta.

"Houka?" Satsuki answered back with slight surprise, "Where are you?"

Inumuta replied with a simple, "Look up." Satsuki did so with intrigue to see a white drone floating in the air, the buzzing of its rotary blades not quite audible to Satsuki from the distance. Inumuta spoke up as she looked at the drone, "As you know I have a preference to avoiding crowds."

Satsuki felt awkward about the situation but did her best to remain understanding, "I... I see..."

Inumuta responded again this time sounding more serious, "Everything is going along schedule, Nui is now at the school with Sanageyama completing her last athletic session."

Satsuki responded with the same professionality, "Excellent, after that the rest shall be up to Nui."

Inumuta replied with an air of scepticism, "Are you sure she will be able to do it Lady Satsuki? my data states she's only now reaching a level that contend with Mankanshoku, not to mention the large number of unknown variables such as the other students."

Satsuki replied with calm confidence, "Have faith Hōka, have faith..." Satsuki started walking once again moving her way towards the school, a slight smile unveiling the essence of joy on her face as the sports day was about to begin.

Satsuki re-joined Ryūko and Mako at the school entrance as a cacophony of noise rained out from the school grounds, the sounds being made up of people shouting and cheering amongst the crowd over presumably various sporting activities. Mako gave Satsuki a playful little wave as Ryūko stood looking at Satsuki with a confident smirk.

"Hey Satsuki! Can hear all that noise!? it's amazing!" Mako called out happily above the various sounds.

"Yeah, it seems like this year's sports day must be quite the spectacle indeed." Satsuki replied with her own brand of level-headed enthusiasm.

Ryūko cheerfully enjoyed the company as she listened along, suddenly however she heard a buzzing sound before being startled by the drone now hovering to her right, "What the hell?!" her surprise was interrupted by her phone going off as the drone continued to hover by her side.

She cautiously answered her phone to Houka's sly voice "Perhaps I could fit a speaker onto it..."

Ryūko responded with irritated familiarity, "oh it's you Inumuta."

Houka replied with calm bemusement, "Yes, hello Matoi, I trust you've remained a good sister to lady Satsuki, because if you haven't, I would know."

Ryūko seemed to take this with a level of awkward intimidation, "E-er right..."

Inumuta chimed in as if he remembered the reason why he called, the drone appearing to wobble in tandem with him speaking, "Oh also, the race is due to begin in about two and a half hours, I suggest you get Mako prepared within that time, oh and you're likely gonna be scolded since you are supposed to be taking part in the sports day activities "

Ryūko continued looking awkwardly at the drone as she groaned with annoyance, "tch... don't remind me, wish they wouldn't make that crap obligatory."

Inumuta finished off with "well take care now, I'm going to join Gamagōri and Sanageyama, well my drone is..." He phone had hung up after saying this with the drone proceeding to float upwards as Ryūko continued to look at it with the same mildly exasperated expression.

Satsuki approached Ryūko a loving expression on her face as she said softly, "Shall we go?"

Ryūko matched her expression with her own form of loving enthusiasm, "yeah! Don't wanna be late after all."

After Ryūko said this Mako suddenly jumped in-between the two girls, hooking her arms around their shoulders, "WOO HOO this is gonna be so fun! I bet they're gonna sell candy floss, Okonomiyaki, yakisoba noodles-"

Ryūko replied with a bemused expression as Mako continued to ramble about various foods "you realise this is a sports festival, right?" As the three girls made their way into the high school.

They passed through into the changing rooms instructed by their teacher to put on their uniforms after being reprimanded for being late. Soon they were out on the field which appeared flooded by people, the students in their athletics uniforms, the boys wearing blue track shorts accompanied by white T shirts, the girls of course being a mirror image of this except with their uniforms being red themed instead of blue. most of crowd were at the outer rim where the civilians watched the events taking place in their normal casual wear and cheering at the top of their lungs. The events shifted from tug o' war to long jump to football, Satsuki and Ryūko participating in these many activities, Ryūko almost taking off the enemy's goalie with a shot that tore the net off their goal, only to cause irritation from Satsuki who gave her a dressing down about forgetting to hold back Ryūko's life fiber induced strength. The two girls got increasingly competitive when they ended up on opposite teams of a volleyball match, Ryūko delving back into her classic demeanour from the Honnōji days while Satsuki played with calm intimidating precision.

While Ryūko and Satsuki played with impressive levels of competitive spirit whenever they played against one another, clone Nui was able to sit aside spectating the events while she reviewed the information from her last lesson with Uzu, she was allowed to do this since according to the teachers the 800m track race is the supposed highlight of the school's sports day and so all competitors are given the time to prepare for the race. She watched in awe as Ryūko and Satsuki played with fiery spirits but still smiled together no matter who claimed victory, her eye glimmering with a familiar sense of longing.

True Nui appeared by clone Nui's side watch as well in smug bemusement, "well they must be having a lot of fun huh..." Clone Nui didn't answer causing True Nui to float close to her ear and whisper suggestively, "you know... you're cute when you're jealous."

Clone Nui immediately jumped in her skin before turning to true Nui with a shocked expression, "W-WHAT?!"

True Nui busted into smug laughter, clone Nui now looking at her with irritation. True Nui attempted to contain her laughter to eke out a reply, "Oh relax Nui I'm just messing with you, and besides I'm not exactly wrong now am I?"

Before clone Nui could carry out a defence, Uzu suddenly sat down next to her exuding casual confidence, he was wearing a dark green T-shirt paired with light forest green shorts, he appeared to be holding a bottle of water half empty, "Yo you talking to yourself again?"

Nui jumped in her skin in surprise once again, it having become a habit she's been trying to get a handle of, "Mr Sanageyama!"

Uzu appeared slightly irritated, taking a swig of his water bottle before replying to Nui, "What's with the formalities? Just call me Uzu, by the way where's Mako?"

Nui tried to hide her embarrassment by hiding half her face in her notes, "Her family arrived with some lunch for her."

Uzu's mouth curved into a relaxed smile, "Oh so she's chowing down, is she? Don't expect that to give ya any edge, I don't know what's in those croquettes but damn they just give ya a boost." Nui didn't respond as she began reading through her notes provoking an interested stare from Uzu, "Heard Gamagōri gave ya some advice, honestly didn't expect that, he's changed a lot since the student disciplinary committee chair days, can't blame the guy for that though, the things we did back then were real fucked up even if they were to save humanity."

Nui then looked at Uzu empathetically, "well looking back at those times I'm sure anyone would try to change..." After saying this clone Nui looked to her left over her shoulder to see true Nui floating there who looked back before pouting and turning away, her see-through image fading away as she did.
Clone Nui then looked back at Uzu with a more relaxed expression, "well do you have any advice with your newfound wisdom?"

Uzu appeared to contemplate as he looked out at the students playing in the various sports games before answering tentatively, "Don't... lose?"

Nui raised her voice in surprised irritation, "Huh?! What kind of advice is that?!"

Uzu tapped Nui's forehead with his index finger, "Well you're doubting yourself right? That means you're losing in your head, you gotta win there first before you win in real life."

Nui's look was now rather bemused, "that's... decent if not as eloquent or heartfelt as Gamagōri's"

Uzu stood up stretching his arms out with a casual sigh, "well the more things change, the more they stay the same." He began walking away, giving a back turned wave to Nui, "Well the race is due to start soon, I look forward to seeing your competitive spirit, now I'm gonna go find Gamagōri wherever he is, probably furiously cheering on lady Satsuki..."

Nui watched Uzu walk away with a hopeful smile before standing up and looking at the ongoing sports activities readying herself for the challenge to come, "Time to run."

The announcement rang out. A monotone voice came blaring from several speakers positioned around the school areas, "Attention all spectators and students, the 800m races are about to begin, starting with the girl's race."

In sequence the many visitors and students littered around the field began to gather around the track area. Of course Ryūko and Satsuki stood close by the finish line where Nui, Mako and four other female students stood carrying out stretches preparing themselves for the race to come. The atmosphere around Ryūko and Satsuki held the heat of their rivalry, something that was clear to Nui and Mako, Nui turning to Mako who gave a wry smile and shrugged. Nui then looked at the other students competing in the race, one of the students was tanned with a slim physique and short brown hair. This girl drew Nui's attention the most due to the heavy amount of adoration the surrounding crowd seem to have for her as she simply waved back with an appreciative expression, she also appeared to have obtained the ire of the other girls competing. Nui wondered why this was the case but decided not to think about it and took her focus back onto the race. A teacher approached by the side of the finish line holding a starting gun. The students competing then lined up on the track in their own individual lanes attracting the attention of the surrounding spectators, including Ryūko and Satsuki who's gaze's were heavy with the weight of their expectations.

"Ready..." The teacher spoke, raising the tension within the scene.

"get set..." the teacher's next words caused the students to assume their readying positions, one leg behind the other ready to push themselves forward, their backs hunched over with their hands holding themselves up from the ground, Mako only doing this after realising the other students had already assumed their positions.

A moment of silenced arrived, even the spectators caught in the moment's intensity, watching eagerly within the mere seconds the race was due to begin.

A gun shot pierces the silence, and as soon as it did, the race began, the six girls was running at a medium speed. The spectators started roaring with cheer as the students sped their way around the track. Nui was in forth place to start off with, Mako was two places ahead of her, Nui's face was filled with determination, her mind suppressing the worry by telling herself that it was only the first out of two laps. Mako ran with an over-the-top fervour, while it wasn't pretty, it was effective as she not only kept pace with the student in-front of her, but was even gaining ground. Nui kept her pace at a minimalist rate with steady breathing, the instructions from Uzu constantly flooding her mind.

The first lap ended, causing the girls to start picking up the pace, and in a moment that filled Nui's heart with dread, the girl that was placed behind her, suddenly passed her. Nui's mind turned to panic as they began to approach the quarter way point. Nui wanted to look back at Satsuki but forced herself not to, her mind distraught at what she believed to be imminent failure. However Her mind thought back and words started to replace her panic;

"That's why I'm here now to tell you that you don't have to prove anything to anyone."

"you're losing in your head, you gotta win there first before you win in real life."

Nui's teeth clenched as she began to pick up the pace, her legs pumping with a high speed. She passed one student, then another... and then she even managed to catch up with Mako. As soon as she did, Mako noticed her increase in speed then began speeding up herself and soon they overtook the last student and was neck and neck as they passed the halfway point. The world disappeared from the minds of Nui and Mako as they furiously sprinted towards the finish line. They turned the corner and the ribbon representing the goal came into their sight line, their speed increasing as they went all out, Satsuki and Ryūko were astonished, going silent for a moment before becoming the loudest of the crowd cheering on their respective champions with a renewed vigour. Nui and Mako were now coming extremely close to the finish line, the cheers around them becoming the wind at their backs. They got closer and closer... the ribbon captivating their view, closer... the pounding of their feet filling their bodies with reverberations that carried them forward in the adrenaline, closer and closer and closer... they were inches away from the finish line, however... just before they hit the finish line both of them were passed by the tanned girl Nui had noticed from the start of the race. This student winning the race. The crowd erupted into even louder cheering along with furious applause, while Satsuki and Ryūko remained in stunned silence, the surprise revealing itself on their faces.

Ryūko was the first to speak up as she continued to stare with shock, "Who the hell is that?!"

Suddenly on Ryūko's left there was the buzzing of Inumuta's drone along with his voice emanating from a speaker now attached to the drone, "Her name is Aiko Nami, she's the schools rising star on the track, having won local competitions and is on the road towards entering the Olympics, her presence being in races having been enough to dissuade many students for signing up for said events."

Satsuki responded with irritation to this explanation, "This would have been information I would had liked to know before this."

Inumuta replied with level-headed confusion, "But lady Satsuki, you were the one to tell me to not delve into the information behind the other competing students, the information here was merely relayed to me by Uzu who gained it from just by talking to various spectators."

Satsuki merely responded with a melancholic, "I see..."

Ryūko spoke with a matching level of melancholy, turning back to the track, "So wait did we both lose?"

"perhaps, but I would say they both won." Gamagōri spoke as he seemingly appeared at Satsuki's right.

Ryūko and Satsuki now looked at Gamagōri, with Ryūko speaking up in her curiosity, "Oh yeah? how'd you figure that one out?"

Gamagōri replied with strong self assurance, "They achieved in sparking the flame of their competitive spirit." He then smiled as he gestured towards the track, "Look."

Nui was standing on the track, huffing heavily to catch her breath with her back bent over and her hands on her knees. She stood upright looking about struggling to hide her disappointment before uttering, "So I lost huh..."

Suddenly Mako in her boundless energy ran up giving Nui a hug while yelling "NUUUUUUUIIIII" She then held Nui's shoulders and looking to her eyes with her usual bright smile, "That was amazing!"

Nui's solemn shell was beginning to be broken by the warmth of Mako's kindness as she hesitantly replied, "R-really?"

Mako nodded cheerfully continuing to ooze her bright positivity, "Yeah! You were so fast! It was incredible!"

Nui's face changed to a smile as she tried to return Mako's kindness, "you were incredible too Mako." This response causing Mako to hug her once again.

Gamagōri, spoke with expressing his warm appreciation for Nui's and Mako's actions, "You see? victory of claiming first place on the finish line isn't nearly as valuable as the strength of those spirits that can burn bright enough to outshine their failings, they are truly champions."

Ryūko and Satsuki now smiled, Ryūko looking to the side trying to hide her blushes while Satsuki smiled with closed eyes in understanding, merely saying, "well said Gamagōri... well said..."

A few more sporting events took place, Uzu somehow managing to disguise as one of the competing students in the boy's race although he was quickly stopped when found out. And after a few more games, the tired students were relieved as the sports festival concluded.

Within a dark room, a man's voice rang out, the same voice that spoke to the operator after the first appearance of the servants of the thread, "I think we've waited long enough, it's time to get started with our next moves... Executioner."

A red spotlight illuminated a figure within the room, many of the features of this figure obscured by their shadow, "Yes sir?"

The voice spoke again, his tone was strong and authoritative, "You will be conducting the extraction mission, while the next hit operation will be undertaken by the reaper and the operator."

The executioner replied with a hint of annoyance, "Hmph you sure we should be giving that mission to the operator after his last failure?"

A smug smile could be heard in the man's voice, "Its fine, even if we fail... We have nothing to lose..."