Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable
Chapter 5: Hanayo Wants to Swap (Part 1)
Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Things are coming back to normal! No Stand attacks, no fighting, nothing! My peaceful highschool days have finally returned to me!
But... it can't stay like that forever, can it? No... as much as I'm happy to have normalcy return, something is just around the corner... w-wait, you mean it's not my turn this time!?
"Hanayo, you're falling behind!"
The rainy season was fast approaching, and Umi was determined to get as much good practice as they could before it could fully kick-in. While the girls of μ's often left for home exhausted, nobody could deny the additional practice wasn't doing it's thing. Of course, it was still hard…
"S-sorry…"
Umi frowned at the sight. In her eyes, Hanayo was the one making the least improvement. Rin with her athleticism was quickly able to catch up to the second years' levels, and while Maki struggled at first she was getting used to μ's' workout regimen. Hanayo was also making some progress, but slower than her fellow first years. "Koizumi-san, I know this is hard at first, but it's important to keep up. Do you think you can go any faster? Just a little bit…"
"I-I-I-I think I can!" Hanayo declared, looking in the second year's eyes. "I-I mean, I'm pretty sure I can… I mean, I will! I…"
"Umiiiiiiiiiiiiiii… Can we take a break? I'm getting so sweaty!"
Umi glared at Honoka's direction, giving a sigh of frustration. "It's only been 35 minutes, Honoka!"
"But it's hooooooooooot… I'm all sweaty, it's groooooooooooooss…" Honoka complained, giving an exaggerated moan.
"Honoka…"
"Is there really any harm in taking our break a little early? If we don't I might diiiiiiiiie…" Honoka even summoned「All Star,」having it make an exaggerated pose to show her distress. "Umiiii…"
"Ugh… Fine! Everyone, take fifteen!"
Mari sighed, walking next to Hanayo. "I swear. Do you think they're even taking this seriously anymore?"
Hanayo jolted up in surprise, not expecting the red-headed girl to talk to her. "O-Oh! Well… everyone is, you know… I-It is kind of hot…"
"Huh? Hanayo, you're mumbling…"
"S-sorry… I just um… Honoka might be…"
Maki sighed, standing up. "Nevermind. Talk to you later, alright?"
Hanayo tried to say something, her mouth open as the other girl walked off.
"… Right…"
Hanayo looked down and didn't say much else, just listening to the conversations around her.
"Honoka-chan, did you hear? Yanigihori was seen walking by the school the other day…"
"E-eh!? Really!? I thought your mom expelled her and Suzuki!?"
"No, no… they were suspended because they went to juvie, but they're allowed back at the school now, but I don't think they've come to class since they've been let out. She came close, but she didn't walk into the school itself…"
"Yanigihori? Who's that?"
And so, the rest of μ's continued their conversation, with only Hanayo sitting alone and by herself as she remembered that conversation with her mother back in 3rd grade, that had been troubling her nonstop since she became a School Idol.
"Your mom did something like these dancing idols a long time ago too, you know?"
Hanayo wished it was her mother here instead of her, truth be told.
"Umi-senpai is such a bully, nya!"
Hanayo didn't say much as she walked home with Rin, as she usually did. The practice had been long and hard, but that was usual for μ's' practices under Umi. But the unusually hot day didn't do them any favors, and almost every girl was going home drenched in sweat. "It's so much fun, but she just works us for so long, nya! Wouldn't you agree, Kayochin? … Kayochin?" It took Rin snapping her finger by Hanayo's face to get her attention, resulting in a small jump a bit. "Gotcha!"
"S-s-sorry!" Hanayo exclaimed, earning a giggle from Rin. "W-what were you saying?"
"Oh forget about it nya! I'm more concerned about you, now!" And sure enough, Rin's smile did begin to fade. "Kayochin… you're not usually like this," Rin asked with a frown. "Are you OK?" Not even any more 'nyas' to lighten the mood.
"I'm just… I don't know if
I'm cut out for this anymore." She didn't mean to blurt it out like that, but here she was.
"E-eh!? But Kayochin, this is your dream, nya!" Rin's concern intensified as she reached for her friend's shoulder.
"… I don't know anymore," Hanayo admitted, not even able to face Rin as she went on. "I just… I think I lost all my confidence again," she admitted, sighing. "I don't… I don't want to be a weak link," she confessed. "I don't want to drag μ's down, when everyone else is so much better at this than me…"
"That's not true!" Hanayo was surprised by Rin's determination at this, the other girl stepping forward. "Hanayo's the farthest thing from a weak link!"
"Rin-chan…"
"Hanayo… is stronger than anyone else I've ever met! Even though she's so shy, she's trying her best to be a School Idol, and I don't think she should quit!" Rin was getting quite emotional at this point. "And… I want her to know that I'll help her, no matter what!"
"Rin…!"
"Just like… just like…" Hanayo blinked, eyes widening as she watched a tear fall from Rin's eye, followed by a smile. "… Just like Hanayo helped me, back then!"
"Don't you dare hurt her, no matter what! I won't let you! She's as normal as any of you!"
"Rin… that was… d-different, y-you're stronger than me for being yourself after that…!"
"If it wasn't for Kayochin, I might have never continued! Kayochin always helped me, so I want to help her, like back then!" Rin declared, before suddenly embracing her friend. "No matter what happens, I'm always gonna support her! No matter what it takes!"
Hanayo let out a weak smile, giving her oldest and dearest friend a hug. It's more than that, she wanted to admit. The conversation with her mother ran deeply in her mind, and she wanted to confess it to Rin. Tell her! Tell her what happened!
"… Ok, Rin. I… I'll be fine, thank you!"
Coward.
If there was ever a time Hanayo didn't want to be alone, it was this weekend. It was her parent's anniversary however, and they had wanted to take a weekend away in Hawaii. She had assured her parents she was ready to be on her own, but she had wished it could have been any other weekend. Her phone out, Hanayo looked at her mother's number in the phone, fingering hovering over the dial button before flipping it shut.
Hanayo didn't want to bother Rin either, no matter her assurance. Her problems were her own, like everyone else's. She thought back to that horrifying, terrible incident with the arrow, at how Honoka lied so close to her with that injury with the arrow still in her neck. About how Honoka's blood splashed on her, and how she wanted to vomit at the sight but could do nothing to help her friend and new mentor. And then Honoka had to fight a horrible battle all by herself, without any of μ's by her side. So Hanayo should deal with this by herself, shouldn't she?
She wasn't in physical danger like Honoka was. She'd fight her own battle, this time with herself. She could have called Rin over, but she didn't want to bother her. If Honoka and Rin could overcome the trials in their lives, then there was no need to bother them with hers. She could handle it on her own, and if not?
Well, there was no need for the weakest link to bother the rest of the chain with her problems. She could just snap off and leave the rest of the chain strong, if necessary.
She heated up her leftover rice and meat, sitting down in front of the computer and watching idol videos, as she did almost every night. But tonight, the happiness and determination she was usually filled with was absent. μ's, A-RISE, LOVE⭐PARADE; it might as well have just been white noise filling the room.
With a sigh, she got up and closed her laptop, deciding it would be best to go to bed early. But before she did, she inspected her old glasses case, gathering dust on the shelf. And she opened that case, inspecting the old glasses inside, holding them up.
"… If I… wasn't an Idol…"
Wouldn't the weakest link be replaced? She just wanted to swap places with anyone else.
In Hanayo's dreams, she was a five-year-old girl. She watched TV giggling and smiling, watching the idol group μ's on TV, dancing and singing. Rin-chan was her favorite of the five girls! Maybe when she grew up, she'd be a super famous first year Idol too!
"Baby! I'm home!" The small Hanayo gasped, desperately trying to change the channel to cartoons, but dropped the remote. Her mom giggles as she walked into the room, setting her purse down and sitting on the couch. "How cute!"
"Mamaaaaa! I-I was just changing the channel!"
Mrs. Koizumi smiled as she picked up her little girl, setting her on her lap as they watched the girls of Otonokizaka preform on TV.
"Like that, Hanayo-chan really looks like an idol, huh?" Her mother teased, playing with her hair, Hanayo's worried disposition disappearing.
"Yeah! Hanayo likes idols lots and lots! Do you like idols too, mama?"
Her mother laughed. At that question she looked down at her daughter, eyes hidden by the bangs of her hair, suddenly longer. "Of course, didn't you know? Your mom did something like these dancing idols a long time ago too you know?"
Hanayo went quiet, before opening her mouth.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?"
Mrs. Koizumi laughed. "Yes. I was a gifted singer since I was little, so when I was in highschool, I was enchanted by the Idol craze… I wanted to become one myself," Hanayo was amazed; her mom was an idol! Her mom was one of those sparkly, beautiful, twirly idols! The mom who made her miso soup and rice every morning was an Idol! "I was a School Idol for… a year, I believe?"
"W-w-w-w-w-w-what happened!? Why did mama stop being an Idol!?"
Mrs. Koizumi sighed and smiled. "When I was 17, I met a wonderful man, handsome and charming… your papa!"
"P-papa!?"
"Yes… you see, I fell in love with your papa at first sight, and the feeling was mutual. And, well, we had unprotected sex in highschool. You were the result of that, Hanayo-chan," something felt very wrong. Something in her mind knew that her mother had never said that… it wasn't until Hanayo was older she would understand what it really was to be a teenage parent, as her parents had been. But she said nothing as she continued, "And so I put an end to my dream in order to raise you, and to marry your father."
"… So… if I was never born… m-mama would have achieved her dreams?" She subconsciously knew that her mother upon being asked that question had hugged her tightly and kissed her, telling her that to raise Hanayo had been her dream and no mockery ever made her regret it."
"Of course, I would have."
"… Mama?"
The bangs parted, letting Hanayo see her mother's angry, hateful eyes, and realized she had been glaring at her the whole time. Figures around the room materialized, angry figures that Hanayo remembered being the women and men who had mocked her mother when she was so little. She had been too young to understand the venom and cruelty they threw at her mother when she was five, but in her dream, she could understand it well
"Slut."
"Whore."
"She had such a promising future!"
"If only she could have closed her legs!"
"They said she could have been a great singer and dancer, a legendary one. To think she gave that all up just to have sex!"
"A kid can't raise a kid."
"Poor thing. That child will probably grow up to be a slut like her mother."
Hanayo sniffled, holding onto her mother. "Mama… if mama hadn't had me… would mama have achieved her dreams?" Even as her mother glared daggers at her, she could bring herself to let go.
"Of course, worthless brat," Mrs. Koizumi spat out. "Because of you, I suffered so much…! If I had never had you, I never would have suffered so terribly! I want it back… I want my life back!" Hanayo gasped in horror as she wrapped her hands around her throat.
"M… Mama…!"
"Die… die! If you die, I can start over! I can be a famous Idol- just die! Die for your mother, so me and your dad can finally be happy!" Hanayo struggled as she could not breath, her tiny hands not enough to pry her grown mother's hands from her throat. Desperate she bit her mother's hand, eyes widening as she let go and let out an inhuman roar, like something out of a monster movie as the girl began to sprint towards the door, crying as she ran into the streets.
"Slut. Whore. Bitch. Cunt. Worthless. Failure," the adults outside glared daggers at the small girl, repeating the same terrible words at her time and again, the hateful judgments once aimed at her mother now aimed at her simply for her birth.
"Somebody save me! Please!" Hanayo yelled out, facing the adults with tears down her face. But they only repeated the same words again and again, the sins of the mother now the sins of the daughter. "SOMEBODY SAVE ME!"
Finally, a ray of hope can as she saw her heroes, μ's in the distance. "Save me! μ's! Please!"
But the five teenage girls only glared daggers at the small girl.
"Who is this brat?" Maki demanded, her look one of disgust.
"I thought we said no kids allowed at our concerts! Especially the kids of sluts!" Kotori snapped, actually kicking Hanayo once she got too close right in her gut.
"How unsightly…" Umi began. "Probably wants to be like us. Fat chance!"
"Tch… as a Stand user and a School Idol, I can't deal with shitty kids like this," Honoka spat. "How am I supposed to deal with kids who just stand there gawking at me when I'm injured!?"
Hanayo was sobbing looking around for her one confidant, the one person she can confide in… "Rin…!"
But Rin didn't even turn around to face her. She didn't even give her the slightest attention, not turning her head and saying just two words, two words that stung Hanayo far worse than anything else:
"Go die."
Hanayo yelled as her mother creeped behind her, her now monstrous form grabbing her and biting into her shoulder.
And with a scream, Hanayo bolted awake in the real world, gasping for breath and sweating bullets as she shook in her bed, tears soon falling down her face as she stared at her ceiling, trying to regain her composure.
But it was a school day, and so she had no choice but to force herself out of bed to make herself a quick breakfast in her kitchen, a meal without her mother's rice and miso soup. All she could do was force poptars down her throat as she wished to swap.
Swap her appearance, her place, her living situation, her anxiety even: she wanted to just swap places with anyone else. But that was not the answer, she knew in her heart. All she could do was force herself to meet reality head-on.
She just didn't think she'd last, was all.
Hanayo's mood was even more forlorn, to say the least. She was unusually quiet walking to school with Rin, with even Rin's eternally optimistic mood able to do little for her. She quietly headed into the hallways, unable to say much, until… it was someone else that approached them.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Koizumi Hanayo and Hoshizora Rin, right!?"
The first years were caught off guard as a third year barreled towards them, catching both off-guard. "W-what!?" Rin exclaimed, before both of them had another girl's hand in their's.
"Y-you two are part of the school idol group μ's, right!? I know you two haven't appeared in anything yet, but I heard a rumor! Is it true!?"
"Y-yeah!" Rin replied, starting to smile. "We're School Idols, nya!"
"Kyaaaaaaa! That's so amazing; I came back to school just because I heard Otonokizaka finally had School Idols!" She was a girl standing at roughly 5'3. The two first years saw her hair's natural hair color seemed to be brown with a back-length ponytail, but there was a long bang in front of her hair that had been dyed green. Green seemed to be her favorite color, judging from her painted nails, mascara, and even green lipstick. It almost felt like a strain to the first years to see, and as she stuck her tongue out at them, they could see a tongue stud as well.
But what drew their attention was the style of her outfit. Her Otonokizaka outfit was undeniably dyed to be darker than most, and the length of her skirt almost reached the floor. There were peace symbol and heart pins all over her uniform: there was no doubt about it. This was the outfit of a delinquent!
"I loooooooooooove Idols!" The older girl exclaimed, much to their shock. "The singing, the dancing, the fashion, the style of it all, and how beloved they are! I still remember when A-RISE was just starting out! What's it like!? Do you hang out with your senpais after class!? What about that Honoka!? Oh! Can I take a selfie!?" But before they could react her smartphone was out, getting behind them and taking a photo with the very confused girls. "Kyaaaaaaaaaa! If you girls get famous this'll be a huge memorial picture! Oh! Do you at least have the lyrics of that START:DASH! song memorized?"
"Umm… uhh…"
"Can I maybe hear you-"
"Suzuki Emi!"
The first years were relieved at seeing Eli and Nozomi approach, both glaring their fellow third year.
"Oi… long time no see, girls! What's shakin'?"
"You and Yanigihori have been out of suspension for months, and this is your first time appearing in school. Why?"
"Eh!? What kind of question is that!? I'm a schoolgirl! I mean, I hate this shitty dump of a school and I'm glad they're gonna bulldoze it into hell, but it'll still be a drag if I don't at least have a highschool degree!" Emi defended, sticking her tongue at them once more.
"You know as well as I do if you cared about schools you would've started coming once you were out of juvenile detention, Suzuki," Eli spat, glaring daggers.
"Oi, oi, fine… I heard this school finally had School Idols. I just wanted to check it out, honest!" She kept up her grin. "I was so upset when Yazawa-san quit being an Idol… It was one of the only things I liked around here! Is she still doing that 'Nico Nico Ni' thing?"
"Let me deal with her," Nozomi said, advancing towards the third year. Eli nodded, walking off herself. "I doubt you came here just for that, Suzuki."
"Awww… Nozomi-chan why do we gotta be so hostile? I'm not making trouble right now, am I?" But Nozomi kept on glaring, and kept approaching. "Ahhh… not buying it, huh?"
She only grinned as the purpleish aura surrounded Nozomi, raising her hands up. "Relax, relax, I'm not gonna fight you…" But she did lean in, so that she could whisper to Nozomi. "My boss just wanted me to investigate a rumor. About a Ms. Kousaka, and Stand users in the school…"
"She is not one of us, Suzuki. If that's the only reason you came to school, you can go home," Nozomi lied, hoping that would be enough to throw her off.
"At the very least, there's you. My boss just wants me to look around, and investigate a bit! Come on, I won't start any fights… and also, to extend our offer once more."
"I am not going to join you. My answer will never change," Nozomi said, taking a step back.
"You know you can't stay neutral forever, right? Have you allied yourselves with the Cyan Stand's user, Tojo?" Now Emi's expression finally faltered, glaring at her fellow student. "Bitch, do you know who you're messing with? When we obtain the arrow, you're gonna wanna be on our side."
"Get out, Suzui. Get out, or I'll fight you."
The venom in Nozomi's words was unusual for her, enough to make even the seasoned delinquent back off.
"… Fiiiiiiine, be that way! Just remember… when someone obtains the arrow after defeating that shitty black and pink Stand, everything will change. So, remember where you stood when you were given this offer. If you ever change your mind, just stop by out warehouse and we'll gladly take you in~" Emi both taunted and teased, walking out as she put her headphones on. "I saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, hey, hey, hey START:DASH~! I swear, these girls have real potential!"
"… Honoka-chan…" Nozomi was very quiet as she watched the delinquent walk off. "How did they find out already…?"
"That was sooooooooo creepy earlier, nya!"
The rest of their school day had been uneventful, just the same boring old classes and μ's practice at the end of the day. The had spoken of the odd encounter, which was enough to make the second years react with alarm.
"She and Yanigihori fought a police officer, I heard!" Honoka told them. "And she was looking for μ's? That's so creepy!"
"Hoshizora-san, Koizumi-san.. keep an eye out for her, OK? She's part of a gang, with a sukeban on top. She can be really bad news. If she tries talking to you two again, let us know," Umi told them. "We don't want you to get wrapped up in something bad."
"Now that I have a Stand I bet I can beat her up if she tries anything weird!"
"Honoka, please!"
Rin shook her head at the thought. "If that weird Suzuki person comes by, I'll fight her off and protect Kayochin, don't you worry nya!"
"R-Rin, please! Umi-san said to stay out of trouble!"
But Rin just grinned, flexing for her oldest friend. "What? Don't you think I can beat can deal with some bullies?" She teased, winking at Rin. "Oh, relax! I'm just joking around, Kayochin!" She wrapped an arm around her as they walked, which made Hanayo finally smile. "See? You can't stay a grump forever nya!" She teased, rubbing her cheek against Hanyo's.
"You… are good at putting me in a good mood," Hanayo admitted, smiling. "I'm really happy to you have around, Rin."
"Yaaaaaaaaay~!" Rin made a cat-like post on one knee, earning another grin. "See? If Kayochin is ever feeling down, I'll be there to make her all better nya!"
Hanayo chuckled as the two still continued their walk home. "Kayochin, what if I stayed at your house this weekend?" Rin offered. "Your parents are out of town, right? We can make it a two-day slumber party!"
"O-Oh! Well…" she thought of her nightmare, frowning. "Well… having you around really wouldn't be bad, truth be told…" She felt bad now, after having told herself she'd deal with her problems herself. But if she just kept… that stuff to herself, just having Rin wouldn't burden the other girl, right? "We'll make it a whole weekend slumber party!" Hanayo replied, Rin grinning from ear-to-ear. "I'll bring over lots of ramen, too! We can it all weekend nya!"
"I-I'd like to make some rice though! And-"
"Oi! Dickhead, don't you know anything about how a toll works!? Quit complaining!"
As they passed by an alleyway, the two girls couldn't help but overhear a commotion. "Kayochin… did you hear that?"
"Y-yeah… it sounds like someone… might be in trouble…!" Her eyes widened as she saw Rin enter the ally. "W-wait, Rin, don't go in there-!" But Rin didn't listen, tip-toeing further in as she spied on the situation. "Rin, this is dangerous! Let's just go!" She whispered, before seeing the sight before them.
A fellow first year from Otonokizaka had her back pressed to the wall, a rather short girl with glasses and short blond hair. Across from her stood two clearly older girls. The two immediately noticed similarities to Suzuki from earlier. While their outfits weren't Otonokizaka uniforms, they were clearly dyed to be darker and their skirts nearly reached the ground. The taller of the two had messy blond hair with a streak dyed red in the same spot Suzuki had, and the other with straight and long brown hair with a yellow streak. The two wore surgical masks, the one with the red streak having the venus symbol on it, and the other with a V.
"P-Please, I don't want any trouble," the first year began, on the verge of tears. "J-Just let me have my backpack and I promise I won't say anything- I'll never come in the alleyway again I swear! I-It was just my shortcut back home!"
"Aré, aré, aré, kid… you talk like we're monsters or something!" The red-streaked delinquent said, her voice very slightly muffled. "We're not asking for much! Just a toll! We know you couldn't have known, what with us just setting up this alleyway as our base but…" the taller delinquent chuckled. "If you break a law and you didn't know you had broken a low… you still gotta pay the penalty! That's why I went to juvie, you know!"
"I-I don't have a lot of money, though…! I-I can't pay some toll!"
"Oi, she's right," the yellow streaked delinquent said, holding up her wallet. "Just a few coins… not even enough to get a soda!"
"Jeez, you poor, kid? Nah… a backpack like this and the makeup you got ain't something a poor kid gets. What's your deal? … Oi! I asked you a question, dumbass!"
"I-I-I spent the last of my money on the makeup! A-And the backpack was a gift from my mama when I started my first year at Otonokizaka! Please, just let me go!"
"Aré, aré, aré… that just won't do, wouldn't you agree, Miano?"
Yellow streak (Miano, Rin noted) giggled in response to that. "Agreed! I mean… our mamas don't give us money or nice gifts! We got to earn our money… like, you know, taking it from people like you! So, what do you think, Akeno?"
Akeno tapped her foot, a hand on her chin. "I think if we sell the makeup, backpack, and books… we might get a decent amount of cash! Heh… maybe even enough to get on her good side, huh?"
"Or…. We can go out to karaoke!"
"Oh, I like that a lot better!"
"P-please don't! I promise… I can get you money next time!" The first year pleased. Rin scowled at the sight before her, Hanayo gently tugging on her shoulder in the hopes of getting her to go.
"It's so cute, ya know? The way she thinks she has a say in it~" Miano said with a giggle.
"Yeah! It's like holding a treat over a dog, but not letting him get it!" Akeno said, holding the backpack high in the air, laughing as the first year attempted to jump for it. "Hey, girl! If you reach it you can get it! How about it?" She took a few steps back, before slamming the backpack into the girl's face once she landed, Rin and Hanayo gasping in shock as the girl fell onto the hard pavement.
"O… ow…" The girl sniffled, holding her now bleeding head as she looked up in fear, adjusting her glasses. "I… I'm sorry…!"
"Oh, you're not sorry yet. Not until you pay us back the interest, ya know?" Akeno began.
"I-Interest!?"
"You've been loitering around here trying to get your toll back…" Akeno began.
"So, you staying around means you've racked up another toll! And we expect a payment at least as good as this one… Does that make sense?" Miano finished.
"I… I can't…"
"Oh, that's too bad…" Minao began, opening her wallet. "'Cuz there's your address right there… you don't want us to stop by your home, don't we?" The first year's eyes widened in fear. "Akeno, I think she's getting it now! Just how fucked she is!"
"Otonokizaka sucks like that… the girls that come from there are always pussies! Well, except for them, of course," Akeno mused, sighing. "Oh well… and if you try bailing out of it, we'll-"All three girls' conversation come to an abrupt end at the sound of a crash, however. Looking behind they saw that as she had attempted to back out, Hanyo had knocked a trash can over.
"O-Oh no…!"
"Hey… more Otonokizaka kids!" When the two looked over it was impossible to tell their expressions due to their masks, but clearly, they were amused. "You friends with this bitch?"
"N… no…" Hanayo said meekly, although Rin took a step forward and glared.
"No, but this is wrong!" Rin said. "You're robbing her! O-Only because it's two on one, I bet!" She defied, earning glares from the delinquents. "W… we'll call the police if you don't leave her alone, so just get lost!" Hanayo was silent as a mouse, her heart pounding as Rin took control of the situation.
"Akenoooo… I don't wanna go back to juvie so quickly, even the boss won't be able to help us there," Miano began to plead, looking at the taller girl. "Why don't we just take the makeup and go?"
"No, Miano-chan," Akeno's glare intensified, walking towards μ's first years. "I don't believe in letting first years telling me what to do. God, you became such a pussy over juvie!"
"H-hey! It was fucking rough in there, Akeno, and you know it!" Miano stomped her foot. "God, no need to be such a bitch!"
"It's about the principal of it! If we let fucking first years scare us off, how the fuck are we gonna call ourselves grown women with pride!?" She stormed over to the two first years, Hanayo hiding behind Rin. "Oi, kid! What's your fucking name!?"
"Hoshizora… Hoshizora Rin!"
"And you!?"
"Ahh… R… Hoshizora Rin!" Hanayo felt her heart in her throat.
"Oi, your kid doesn't seem to have the balls you do," Hanayo's eyes widened at that remark, noticing the immediate discomfort on Rin's face once she said that. However, Akeno didn't seem to pick up on it. "Listen. This has nothing to do with you, right? So fuck off and don't ever walk down this alleyway ever again. Sounds fair, right?"
"Or else what?"
"R-Rin!"
"S-seriously Akeno! We might be taking this too far!"
"Aré, shut up, Miano!" The taller delinquent snapped. "Why are you so concerned, anyways? With the power we got, we can do anything! As long as we don't piss off the boss…" Akeno chuckled. "It's like that Yoshikawa motherfucker said, we don't have to fear anything ever again, not even the law! So why should we… care about these little pissant brats?"
Rin only glared at the delinquent before her, staring eachother down, before thrusting her entire weight on her. "R-RIN-CHAN!"
"H-Hey! Fuck!"
"RUN! BOTH OF YOU!"
The other first year didn't need to be told twice. With Miano distracted she darted for her backpack, immediately sprinting off before Miano could catch up. "H-Hey! Fuck! Alright you bitches, now I'm pissed off too!" Miano declared, storming over. Meanwhile Akeno reached for Rin's hair, who then clawed her face as the two began to fight and Hanayo tried to pull her off.
"L-LET GO OF RIN!"
But before she could do more, something invisible constricted around her leg. Hanayo gasped as she crashed to the ground. "W-what!?"
"K-Kayochin! Oof-!" It was enough to distract Rin, and earn the girl a punch to her gut for all her efforts.
"I still don't think we should be so free with this stuff, Akeno…" Miano warned. "I don't want that 'Cyan Stand' to come after us… but for now? Fuck it, let's kick their asses!"
Cyan Stand? Hanayo and Rin thought in alarm. They remembered this from Honoka's story about the fight with Fuhai… that had to mean one thing, and one thing alone…! They're Stand users! The first years thought in horror. Hanayo struggled weakly, noticing she was constricted so tightly there were tentacle-like markings on her leg now, to the point bruising was starting to settle in.
"Whatever debt you want to pay… I'll pay it off!" Rin declared. "For that other girl, and Kayochin! I'm the one who wanted to fight you, so let her go!"
"Oh, fuck no," Akeno spat. "You stupid little assholes got yourself into quite the goddamn pickle, and you're BOTH gonna pay."
"It's like Akeno said, now this really is a pride thing," Miano said, just slightly releasing the constricting on Hanayo's legs. "I'd rather go back to juvenile detention than say some bitch got a fast one on me! So I think it's safe to say…" She nodded at Akeno, who nodded back. "We're gonna beat the shit out of both of you! Isn't that fun?"
Hanayo tried to reach for her cell phone to text for help, but Akeno noticed and snatched it from her hand. "At least your friend had the balls to fight us," once again a look of pain seemed to watch over Rin at the expression. "It's a shame she has such a weak friend," and before Hanayo's eyes her smartphone was thrown on the ground, the older girl stepping on it. "Weaklings like you who can only call for help need to learn to stay home," she hissed, gripping Hanayo's face. "And suck on your mama's tits!"
"Akeno, we probably could have sold her phone…"
"Let Kayochin go!" Rin tried rushing over to help, but an invisible force prevented her. Something grabbed her (the Stand, Rin theorized) and threw her against the brick wall, pressing her against it by the shoulders. "L-Let go of me! Let go of her! Hanayoooooooo!"
"Christ, can't you fucking shut up?" Akeno said with a glare, her fist colliding with Rin's stomach.
"RIN!"
She chuckled as she slapped the young girl, before punching her stomach once more, Rin yelling out in pain. "If only you were a few years older and stronger… It would've been nice, fighting someone worthwhile from Otonokizaka!" She then brought her knee hard to Rin's own knee, then to her crotch, smirking behind her mask as she saw the girl scream in pain as she kept her knee there, before frowning. "… Hey… wait, are you…?"
Hanayo's rage was boiling in a way she had never felt. She felt so weak and helpless… like always! Rin and Maki are the reasons I was able to become a School Idol… she thought. Rin has always defended me, even if her problems are worse than mine! No matter what… It's always been everyone else that's been stronger than me!
She dragged herself, despite the strain on her legs. "W-whoah!" Miano's eyes widened. Even as she tightened the restraints, Hanayo continued to drag herself. I won't let you hurt her like this! I won't… it's always me who needs saving! It's always someone else who needs to save me! Rin is in trouble… I can't…!
She had to get Akeno's attention, and she thought of one way to do it. Hanayo was a very polite girl, who virtually never swore. One time she had repeated a bad word on TV and her mother scolded her so harshly she almost cried, and promised not to do it. But in her rage and frustration, Hanayo glared at Akeno, taking a deep breath.
"Get away from her you BITCH!"
The world seemed to go quiet, even Rin shocked at Hanayo's language. "… What did you just call me?" Akeno turned around slowly, glaring.
Hanayo had never felt so afraid in her life, but she did not falter. "M… My name is… Koizumi Hanayo! I-I am a first year of Otonokizaka High School, my favorite food is white rice, and there's nothing I love more than Idols!"
"What the fuck?"
"And… I am a member of the school idol group μ's! And I'm saying this to say… I-I'm not afraid of you knowing who I am!" She was terrified actually, but adrenaline had that effect. "And… I want to fight you, Akeno!"
"K-Kayochin! No!"
"Fight you… and leave her alone! I'm not some weakling who needs to go home… I-I won't let you do this to Rin! I refuse!"
Akeno went quiet, before turning to Miano. "Do it."
"E-eh!? But, Akeno-!"
"Let「Union of the Snake」go," she demanded, Miano sighing as she undid her Stand, Hanayo's legs finally freed. "Alright, you shitty brat. Get up and fight!"
"Hanayo, please run! I'll be fine!" Rin was in tears. "She's too strong! And they have Stands! Y-you need to get Honoka-chan!" Although that was perhaps the wrong thing to say, Akeno and Miano's eyes widening in alarm.
"H-Hold on! How did she know we have Stands!?" Miano exclaimed. "Are they users too!?"
"I don't think so, they would've used it by now, but… They didn't just say power or anything, they know what Stands are! Alright, girls. This changes everything. You're going to tell me-"
But she was caught off guard as Hanayo ran forward, slugging Akeno in the stomach with a running punch from Hanayo. She lacked upper body strength, but the force of the impact was more than enough to send her reeling, especially as Hanayo them slapped her as hard as she could. "Ugh! You-!"
Hanayo went for a kick to Akeno's shins, but that's where her luck ran out. Akeno grabbed her arm, before punching her back. "Heh… you didn't just run off. I guess you got just a little fighting spirit in you, huh? I respect that, you know…" She punched Hanayo's side, the younger girl reeling in pain with a yell.
"Hanayoooooooooooooo!"
"No matter how much I hate them, or think they're shitty brats… I respect a girl who fights when she has to! And you're trying to fight on behest of your friend… Koizumi Hanayo, Hoshizora Rin, make no mistake- you two have earned my respect…" And then she threw her to the ground. "But don't think that means I won't beat you two up!"
"I'll take… all of the beating…"
"Eh?"
Hanayo glared up at Akeno from the ground. "I'll take… Rin-chan's beating too! All of it… I'll do it for her!" Rin couldn't even say anything, simply crying at the hopeless situation.
"I accept it…"
"E-eh!? Akeno, really!?"
Akeno picked up Hanayo by the hair, before punching her stomach again. "Yeah… these two kids are the real deal. If only they were gangsters like us, they'd be something special… Alright, Koizumi! I'm going to honor your request! Miano, do you have any objections!?"
"Eh… I guess not… God, you can get so weird Akeno…"
"Good…!" And with that she threw Hanayo to the ground again, this time stomping on her. "I hope I meet you two again… I want to see the kind of women you two can grow up to be, unafraid of even Stand users when you lack one! You were the kind of kids I would've loved to have in my old crew!"
"Even if… I'm shy and the weakest link of them all… I won't let other people suffer for me," she said. "I'll… don't need to be saved! I don't need to be saved, I don't need to be saved…!"
A determination unlike any Hanayo had ever felt was filling her up. Determination, the emotion capable of bringing even the smallest people into untold heights. The determination swelled in every ounce of her body, and also resonated something else inside of her: 'fighting spirit.' They were two sides of a coin, unable to exist without the other. For without a 'determination' to achieve something, there was nothing to fight for. The desire to protect Rin, and the willing to endure pain for it… was the same as Honoka willing to exhaust herself, to do anything for μ's and save her school. The determination had evolved into something more, and those prayers were answered.
Miano's eyes widened as she looked up at a rooftop, gasping. "AKENO! LOOK UP THERE! FUCK THAT KID, LOOK!"
"What is it!? I'm… That's…!"
Floating was the arrow from before, seemingly by itself in midair.
"The pink and black Stand! And the arrow!" Akeno screamed. "Do you see the user!?"
"N-No! Just the Stand! It's coming down-!"
"Forget the shrimps- capture the arrow at all cost! Then it's straight to the base!" Rin found herself freed as Akeno recalled her Stand, staring at something approaching. "Don't let it get away! This is our big shot- we can't let it get away!" While neither third year could see what was happening, Akeno was in deep focus as she had her Stand attack… and then by a seemingly invisible force they saw her recoil from several blows, eventually down to her feet. Whatever she was fighting, clearly Akeno was severely outmatched.
"「Union of the Snake!」" Miano attempted to use her Stand to bind down the target, glaring before she too was sent to the ground, groaning. "It's so strong, what the hell!?"
"Hanayo! This is our chance! Let's go…!"
Rin rushed over, limping and wincing as she tried to pick up Hanayo. "You did it, let's…!"
Rin gasped in horror as she saw the arrow pierce through Hanayo's eye, piercing her skull entirely. "HANAYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Now it was Rin's turn to be utterly helpless, much as Hanayo had been that day Honoka was attacked. "No…! Hanayo! Hanayo! Please, tell me you're OK, l-like Honoka!" Rin was openly crying now, leaning down to her friend, not even caring as the arrow moved by itself and was taken away. "Hanayo… I can't… I can't make it without you, please!"
I don't need to be saved… I… Rin is in trouble… this time… I will…!
Rin gasped as she saw Hanayo stand up, despite what should have been fatal wounds. "Kayochin…!"
"Shitty brats…" Akeno was beyond pissed, glaring daggers as she stomped forward, tearing off her mask to reveal her mouth in a scowl, the red lipstick seemingly intensifying it. "I'm gonna kill you two!"
She didn't even pay attention to the now green aura surrounding Hanayo, and the determined look on her face. I don't want to swap places anymore… mama wouldn't want me to swap places with someone else just because it was easier, and neither would Rin!
Swap… Akeno rushed forward, and the word simply came to her. And instinctively, in an instant, her physical position was swapped with that of Miano, the other delinquent taking the punch for her.
"W-what the fuck, Akeno!?" Miano swore out, on the ground. "H-hey, how did I even get over here…? Hey! She's over there!"
"Son of a…!" Akeno turned her rage towards Rin, who gasped in horror, raising her arms. But Hanayo saw a garbage can nearby, and the realization of what to do came to her like second nature.
"Swap."
In an instant Hanayo's location swapped with the trashcan, Akeno cursing as she punched the metal trashcan and got garbage over herself. "You bitches…!"
"AKENO! The situation has changed!" Miano pleaded, tugging on her shoulder. "We need to go! We can't just rush into this! Please, let's just go and think about what to do next!"
"Koizumi Hanayo…" Akeno glared before picking her friend up, the look on her face one of hatred. "Even though I respect your guts… I won't forget this! I'll get you back, you hear that!?" And the two took off, leaving the stunned and hurt first years behind.
"… Kayochin, did you…?"
"I…" the aura disappeared, leaving her in quite a daze. "… I think… we need to talk to Honoka-chan right away…"
Of course, they both knew it was going to get harder before it got easier.
Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Chapter 6: Hanayo Wants to Swap (Part 2)