Another chapter is here, and I hope you will enjoy it. Warning: viewer discretion is advised.
(This is a recap from the last episode)
Complete!
The chest plates of Faiz started to rise and recessed themselves into shoulder pads. The outlines of the Faiz suit flashed and turned from bright red to silver. Yuka, Saeko, J, and Shigehisa were shocked on this new power. J yelled and charged at Michael. Michael then pressed the red button on the Axel Watch.
Start Up!
Michael prepared himself on what he was going to do. Michael then speeded himself to the Orphnochs, literally. (Was that to fast for you? Let's replay that to see what just happened.)
In slow motion, Michael ran and kicked, Shigehisa, then used the gauntlet to punch Saeko, who blocked it, but felt the impact of the gauntlet, and then hit J in the chest, into a train.
3, 2, 1
Everything, to Michael, starts to resume to its normal motion.
Time Out!
J then collapsed on the ground, groaning. Michael then took out the Axel Memory from the Faiz phone.
Deformation!
The process from Faiz to Axel, starts to reverse, as Michael's Axel form, start to turn back into Faiz's regular form.
(time jump for recap)
"I can finally understand…why humans have things they love…it gives them a reason for something to fight for," J said, smiling, before collapsing, transforming back into the Crocodile Orphnoch. J then started to have blue flames come out of him, then turning into ash.
(cue Justiφs's by ISSA; same as the original except a switch in places: Michael in Takumi's place, Yuka in Mari's place, Kiba in Keitaro's place, Sawada in Kiba's place, Saeko in Yuka's place, and Takuma in Kaido's place. Kaido, Mari, Keitaro, Murakami, and Kaixa will also be included. Faiz's Axel Form is now added.)
(Created by Shotaro Ishinomori)
Hirogaru uchuu no naka Can you feel?
Chiisa na hoshi no hanashi wo shiyou
Tell me the truth shinjite 'ta mirai ga
Kuzure sarou to shite'ru
Kanashimi wo kurikaeshi (Written by Shoji Imai; Music by Kazunori Miyake)
Boku-ra wa doko e yuku no darou?
Ima hitori-hitori no mune no naka (Creature Designer by Tamotsu Shinohara)
Me wo samase The time to go
Tsuyoku aru tame ni (Produced by Jun Hikasa, Naomi Takebe and Takaai Ustunomiya)
Mata mamoru koto to tatakau koto
Dilemma wa owaranai... hashiri-tsuzukete mo (Directed by Naoki Tamura)
(The) end justiφ's the mean
Episode 25: Saeko's Past
Kikuchi Cleaners
It was near the afternoon, and Mari and Keitaro were just finishing washing their car, outside.
"Ah! Such a refreshing feeling!" Mari said, as she praised the summer weather.
"So true!" Keitaro agreed. "Plus, we've recovered from our colds! And Michael moved back in with us!"
"And the weather's beautiful!" Mari exclaimed, which made her accidently sprayed Keitaro.
"Ah! Mari-chan, that's cold!" Keitaro exclaimed.
"So, sorry, sorry!" Mari apologized. "By the way, where's Michael?"
Michael's Room
Mari opened the door to Michael's room. She and Keitaro saw that Michael was still asleep.
"Michael, how long are you going to sleep?" Mari complained.
"Salad... Fruit salad," Michael said in his sleep.
"For god's sake," Mari complained, as she grabbed an empty bowl from the counter. "Here you go, fresh fruit salad!"
"Thank you. Itadakimasu," Michael said in his sleep. Mari then shouted in his ear, which caused Michael to jump and wake up.
"Wake up. Wake up!" Mari said. "I'm sorry for being this, but customers never sleep. Plus, it's almost time for lunch!"
"What's on the menu today?" Keitaro said with enthusiasm, and Mari skipped out of the room.
"Curry!" Mari announced.
"Again?" Keitaro sighed in disappointment.
Later
"Are you sure you're alright…Osada-san?" Mari asked Yuka, as she, Michael, Keitaro, and Yuka, were debriefing the effects of the Kaixa gear on Yuka.
"Yeah. I feel different, but not as much. I was probably exhausted the first time I used Kaixa. But there's nothing to worry about. I'm alright. Really," Yuka explained, as she then smiled.
"But is your heart feeling like it's turning evil?" Mari asked. That question made Yuka uncomfortable, not wanting to tell Mari and Keitaro about her Orphnoch identity.
"I…don't think I am. I only become Kaixa to protect humans," Yuka replied, which made Mari signed in relief.
"That's good. With your sister…Michiko, I think it was…at the hospital…It would be best for you to help people not to suffer like her," Mari said. "I just wish I could save Sawada-kun."
"Who's Sawada?" Keitaro asked.
"Sawada Aki…classmate of Mari at the Ryūsei School…also an Orphnoch," Michael explained.
"But…aren't all Orphnochs evil?" Keitaro asked.
"No!" Yuka called out, which made the three turned to them. "No. There could be some with human hearts."
"I have to agree with Yuka," Mari spoke up. "I know I said that Orphnoch's couldn't have human hearts. But, after witnesses Nishida-kun struggling, and Sawada-kun revealed to be an Orphnoch…I have to agree with Michael's theory that he explained to Kusaka-kun."
Yuka turned to see Keitaro's hands were shaking, as he was looking at Michael.
Clover Bar
"I still can't believe that Mr. J was defeated," Murakami said, as he was debriefing last week's battle with Faiz. "Not only that, Sawada gave Faiz the Axel Watch.
"Did I mention that J attacked me, so he can protect that little girl?" Takuma asked.
"You did," Murakami confirmed. "Not only that...but you also mentioned that you overheard Sawada talking to Osada Yuka about Orphnoch secrets. How we came to be, to be more specific."
"Sawada sure likes cause mischief," Saeko commented.
"Fighting for his classmates…he sure is a idiot to think that just because he can attack humans…doesn't mean that he won't be a traitor," Murakami added. "Hanagata-san has caused a lot of trouble since he stole the belts. The belts made for the Orphnoch King."
"Murakami-san…isn't the Orphnoch King just a myth?" Takuma asked.
"Myths and legends always begin in truth. And there is truth on how the Lucky Clover is right now. There are three members left. With four members in total, you make a four leaf clover," Murakami said as he got up and walked to the waterfall. "I would like to add another member to replace J."
"I don't mind at all," Takuma agreed. "That is, of course, if there is someone who can match our strength."
"Of course. It will not do if they are not the cream of the crop like you," Murakami said.
Kiba's Apartment
Yuka was crying near the window, while the sun was setting.
"Did something happen?" Kiba asked, as Yuka turned to see Kiba watching her cry. Yuka wiped her tears away.
"It's nothing," Yuka lied. "I'll make some tea."
"Were you crying?" Kiba asked, which made Yuka stopped as she was running to make tea. "I know you've never lied before. I can tell that's why you're bad at it."
"You know Kikuchi-san…right?" Yuka asked.
"Not very well," Kiba replied.
"Well…I feel like he's angry at Michael. I think he saw me kiss Michael, on the cheek," Yuka said. "I just feel like he's mad at me for liking Michael. And…I don't want to make anyone mad."
"How about this…I call Sonada-san and have her bring Kikuchi-san?" Kiba requested.
"O…Okay," Yuka nodded.
City
Saeko was driving her car around, at night, just to clear her head. She can't stop thinking about Sawada mentioning her past.
"I've done my research on you. Even on your past."
"No one shall bring up my past," Saeko said to herself. But her thoughts were stopped, she saw Sawada, already transformed as the Spider Orphnoch, jumped in front of her car, which made Saeko stopped her car, and get out of it. "You annoying little insect. You've gotten on me and Murakami's nerves."
"I don't care. I'm just sharing the truth with other Orphnochs," Sawada said, as he reverted back to his human form.
"With traitors," Saeko said.
"You have a reputation for being the beauty of the Lucky Clover. Behind the beauty is a rotten apple from long ago," Sawada pointed out to Saeko.
"What did you just say?" Saeko asked as she transformed into the Lobster Orphnoch.
"Hanagata-san sees the best in people. He believes in his students. However…" Sawada said as his face faded white. "Hanagata-san would be disappointed if he saw you now."
Sawada then transformed into the Spider Orphnoch. Saeko then went to punch Sawada with her right gauntlet, but Sawada dodged it, grabbed her right arm, and slammed her to the car hood.
"Just because that even happened long ago…" Sawada said as he reverted back to his human form. "Doesn't mean that it has to be your goal for the rest of your life."
Sawada then walked away, leaving Saeko really angry.
Outdoor Restaurant
"I'm really happy for you Osada-san," Mari congratulated Yuka, after the latter told Mari about her and Michael's relationship. "But you also got Michael to change…with ice cream. I don't know how that works, but it's Michael. He needed some happiness."
"Sonada-san, did you noticed anything off about Kikuchi-san?" Kiba asked.
"Not really. He has been missing Keiko though. But besides that, no," Mari said. "Are you assuming that he's jealous? That would explain on why he's being so childish right now."
"I'm not being childish," Keitaro denied.
"Then why aren't you looking eye to eye with Osada-san," Mari pointed out. "Honestly, this isn't like you to get over jealous something so small."
"Mari-chan…she kissed Michael on the cheek," Keitaro pointed out, which made Yuka blush in embarrassment.
"How is that a big deal?" Mari asked. "You should be happy for Osada-san. Don't consider her to be a two-timer."
"A two-timer?" Kiba asked.
"He hasn't used that word since he went on that date with Osada-san. He was nervous about two-timing his pen pal," Mari explained.
"Pen pal?" Yuka asked. "It's funny I have a pen pal as well."
Yuka then stopped to look at Keitaro's cell on his neck strap, which made Yuka took out her phone. She knew this from the start and now knew why. They were the same phones, and she's been talking to the same person.
Driveway
A blonde man was fixing the engine for his car. As he slammed the trunk, entered the car, in the driver's seat, he turned the key, and the car started to rev up. The blonde man then opened the trunk, from the back of the car, put the toolbox in the trunk, and then slammed it. The blonde man then turned to see Saeko, who was behind him.
"Can I help you with something miss?" The blonde man asked.
"You're an Orphnoch, right? I'm in a bad mood right now," Saeko said as her face faded gray. "I need someone to punch."
Saeko then transformed into the Lobster Orphnoch.
"Hey…who are you?!" The blonde man asked, as his face faded light gray, and he transformed into the Eel Orphnoch.
Back to the Outdoor Restruant
"Um...Kikuchi-san..." Yuka said, but her setenece was cut off, when her pad, alerted, as did Mari's. Both of them took them out and saw the screen with Orphnoch Alert, on top, with a point that showed where the Orphnoch is at. "Orphnoch."
Driveway
The Eel Orphnoch charged at Saeko, who grabbed the Eel, and uppercut him, sending him flying to the trunk of his car. Saeko walks to the Eel Orphnoch, summoning her rapier in the process. Yuka arrived at the scene, stopping Side Basshar, and taking off her biker helmet, with the Kaixa gear already on her waist.
"Kageyama Saeko," Yuka said to herself, as she side-flipped the Kaixa phone open.
913
Standing By!
Henshin!
Complete!
Yuka became Kaixa, took out the Kaixa mission memory from the Kaixa phone, took out the blaygun, and inserted the memory into the blaygun.
Ready!
The blaygun generated a blade from the bottom. Yuka charged at Saeko and slashed her back. Saeko turned to see her enemy.
"Osada Yuka," Saeko growled, with her human form appearing in her shadow, then started to fight Yuka. Blades met blades. Yuka fired blasts from her blaygun to assist her in battle, but Saeko blocked the blasts with her gauntlets, as shields. The Eel Orphnoch then created slime from his hand and threw it at both Yuka and Saeko, having sparks coming out of both of their chests.
Michael, stopping Auto Vajin, had arrived, after getting the call from Mari about the Orphnoch.
555
Standing By!
Henshin!
(Insert The people with no name by m.c.A・T; TV Size)
Complete!
Michael jumped in front of the Eel Orphnoch and punched him, but the punch had Michael slid off of the Eel's body. Michael tried to punch the Eel again, but the punch slid off of the Eel's body. The Eel then threw his slime at Michael, and sparks came out of the metal chest. Michael knew it was time to takes things to the next level. Michael took out the Faiz mission memory, took out the digital camera, and inserted the memory in it.
Ready!
The digital camera became the gauntlet, and Michael grabbed the handled with his right hand. Michael took out the Axel mission memory, from the Axel Watch, on his right wrist, and inserted it into the Faiz phone, kind of like replacing a battery.
Complete!
The chest plates of Faiz started to rise and recessed themselves into shoulder pads. The outlines of the Faiz suit flashed and turned from bright red to silver. Michael then pressed the red button on the Axel Watch.
Start Up!
Michael gained super speed as the area around him became slow motion. Michael lifted the Eel Orphnoch from his feet, and kicked him in the back, before punching him with the gauntlet.
3, 2, 1
Everyone resumed in motion, and the Eel flew into a tunnel, and into the ground.
Time Out!
The Eel Orphnoch then got on his feet and retreated.
(End Insert Song)
Michael then took out the Axel Memory from the Faiz phone.
Deformation!
The process from Faiz to Axel, starts to reverse, as Michael's Axel form, start to turn back into Faiz's regular form. Michael then put the Axel mission memory back in the Axel Watch, before getting hit by a whip. Michael turned to see Takuma, already transformed into the Centipede Orphnoch.
"Do you have to assist in her fights?" Michael snapped, before Takuma hit him with his centipede-like whip, sending Michael flying next to Yuka. The fight continued on with Michael and Yuka vs. Takuma and Saeko.
A car then pulled up to the fight, and out came Murakami.
"Kageyama! Takuma! Stand down!" Murakami said. But Takuma and Saeko wouldn't listen, as they kept fighting Michael and Yuka. "Stop!"
Murakami then started to float from the ground, and created a giant blue energy ball from his hands, which made Michael, Yuka, Takuma, and Saeko to turn to Murakami. Murakami threw the fire ball at the four, which sent Yuka and Saeko into the water, which wasn't deep, had Michael fly onto the pavement, with the Faiz gear falling of his waist, and Takuma fall on the sidewalk, reverting back to his human form.
"Murakami-san…what was that for?" Takuma asked.
"Forgive me. I lost my temper," Murakami said, as he turned to Michael, unconscious. "This boy is familiar to me somehow. We should bring him in. No human can use the Faiz gear. We have to know if he's an Orphnoch or one of our experiments who escape."
"I'm not keen on the idea, but if it will get us answers on why this brat is able to use the Faiz gear freely…I won't judge you," Takuma said to Murakami.
"Very well," Murakami said. "Get him in the car. Take the Faiz gear with you."
Unknown Place
Yuka opened her eyes, and she saw darkness.
"Where am I?" Yuka asked. "Hello?"
But there were nothing but echos, until, the darkness cleared. Yuka finally saw where she was. It was at her old school, Sakurabayashi Girls' High School. Yuka saw a girl, that she felt like she knew, enter the school. Yuka felt an urge to follow her, so she did. Yuka followed the girl, entering her old school. Yuka then saw a group of girls, walking to the girl.
"Saeko…why were you looking at my boyfriend like that?" The middle girl asked. Yuka's eyes widen when she heard the girl's name.
"Kageyama…Saeko?" Yuka asked.
"I…wasn't," The young Saeko said, who appeared to be around 18.
"Don't play dumb. I knew you would come to my party without getting my invitation," The middle girl snapped at Saeko.
"He's technically not yours," Saeko pointed out.
"Excuse me!" The middle girl asked.
"Nothing…Midori-san," Saeko said.
"Face it…you have no reason to be in this world whatsoever. Why don't you leave it before something bad happens," Midori said as she smiled and skipped along with her group.
Yuka then saw a flash of light hit her eyes, and the next thing she knew, she was on the school roof, with Saeko on top of it. Saeko then took one step off the ledge, and she fell off the roof, which made Yuka trying to grab her, but she was too late. Saeko had already fell to her death.
Until, Saeko woke up with her eyes glowing white. Another flash of light hit Yuka's eyes, as she saw that she was in one of the classrooms. Saeko entered the classroom, with Midori annoyed.
"You never learn do you, bitch," Midori said as she pushed Saeko, who's face faded gray. "What the hell?!"
Saeko then transformed into the Lobster Orphnoch for the first time, which made the group of girls feared. Saeko then started to murder her classmates, which made Yuka had tears from her eyes, and covered her ears.
"Stop it! Stop it, Saeko!" Yuka cried in her head.
Driveway
Yuka's eyes opened, and she rose in shock, then stood up, from the water, as she turned to see Saeko. But her fear turned into sympathy for Saeko. With some skin exposed from her left ankle, Yuka knew why she saw Saeko's past. Without a second thought, Yuka grabbed Saeko's arms, using the human crutch method, and made her way across the fence, onto the driveway, and set Saeko down near the fence. Yuka then started to turn and walk away.
"You saw, didn't you?" Saeko asked, as she stood up towards Yuka. "If you think helping me will make me believe in your beliefs…you're mistaken."
"Are you sure it isn't too late to rejoin the humans?" Yuka asked. "I know what it's like to be unloved. Believe me, we're the same! Isn't that why you hit Michiko with you car…to help me feel your pain?!"
"You are very naïve. I have already abandoned my humanity. I don't need your pity," Saeko said as she put the Kaixa gear on her waist. Yuka's eyes widen, shocked to see the Kaixa gear stolen.
913
Standing By!
Henshin
Complete!
Saeko became Kaixa, and looked at herself.
"So, this how Smart Brain's third belt feels like?" Saeko said to herself.
"Saeko…please. Smart Brain…" Yuka tried to explained, but Saeko took out her blaygun, and fired it at Yuka, who quickly transformed into the Crane Orphnoch, to protect herself from the blasts, but fell due to the impact.
Ready!
The blaygun generated a yellow blade from the bottom, and Saeko walked to Yuka, and prepared to stab her.
"Saeko…please," Yuka begged. Saeko then did a stabbing motion towards Yuka.
To Be Continued
Well, I went very deep, didn't I? Forgive me, if I made people uncomfortable. Saeko's backstory, in my version, is parallel to Yuka's. I always felt the Orphnoch trio (Kiba, Yuka, and Kaido), and the three Lucky Clover members that get focused (Takuma, Saeko, and Kitazaki) are opposites from each other. Kiba, is a peacemaker, while Kitazaki loves to cause destruction. Yuka is a person who is shy and not very confident with herself, while Saeko is very rotten and over-confident. Kaido can be a jerk, be he's always honest, while Takuma fakes his his true self. That's just my opinion. Again, I hope I didn't make people uncomfortable.
Thank you for reading this episode, everyone, and make sure to leave a review. I like the feedback. I'll see guys, girls, and all in between, next time. Bye.