Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable
Chapter 7: Hanayo Wants to Swap (Part 3)
Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
It's happening! T-These girls really attacked my house!
After spending an amazing night with Rin and Honoka, the time to fight is finally here! I… This is bad! Honoka and I are still mastering our Stands, while these two are experienced with their powers!
But it's our freedom at stake too! If we can't win, Rin won't be safe, and they'll force us to join them… our careers as Idols will end as we're forced to become gangsters! I can't… no… we can't lose! It's like Honoka-chan keeps saying… we have to fight on!
Miano Homura, like all children, was completely dependent on her mother ever since she was little.
She had grown up without a father, leaving only the one who had birthed her to raise her. But the young Miano had never truly known a parent's love. Even in her earliest memories her mother was mean and loud. She had heard other girls were sung lullabies to go to bed, but Miano only remembered her mother watching TV loudly as she tried to sleep on the couch of the motel room as her mother lied in the only bed.
Most children's parents worked normal jobs, she learned. But when she asked her mother what her job was, she pulled on her ears and told her to never ask once more, that it was her fault she had to work such a job. All she knew from the murmurs of those around her was that her mother did "grown-up things" with men for money, and she was teased mercilessly for it. Truth be told, she doubted the other children knew what it was, either.
Pleasantries were never exchanged when either arrived home. Miano's mother taught her how to make TV dinners, but that was it. Miano's young life was an extraordinarily lonely one, but without the companionship of others, it was normalcy to her. Until she met her.
"OK then! Besties forever!"
It was also Miano's first time seeing wealth, that elegant Lolita dress that Akeno wore. It was further complimented by Akeno's large house, far larger than anything she was used to.
"Do you like it?"
"Y-you live in a place like this!?"
"Of course! Didn't you hear me before? My papa's a powerful yakuza! We get anything we want, anytime we want! Especially me!" Akeno beamed with pride. "So, because you're my bestest friend, now you can get anything you want too!"
Miano didn't complain. The caretakers of her new foster home also didn't seem to care much for Miano's wellbeing, only caring that she made it home at night or informed them if she would sleep over at Akeno's house. And so Akeno's house practically became her's, where she spent large amounts of time, and also around other children. The children of the well-off and other yakuza were almost always present, always clamoring for Akeno's attention… and often jealous of how Miano alone would always remain by her side, no matter how much their parents wanted them to gain her favor.
The games played would be of Akeno's choosing. As would be their positions and roles. But always was Miano besides her and given authority over the other children… and only Miano alone would be allowed to play the only event that Akeno truly cared for; tea parties. When the other children were sent home, the two alone would prepare tea.
But tea was always preparing din the Miyabashi household for all the child guests, by the Miyabashi family's servants. But the tea Akeno served Miano during a tea party was personally prepared by her. The tea was always terrible when prepared by her, nothing compared to the masterful servants, but not once did Miano complain. It was just her and Akeno, drinking in absolute silence with only stale pocky, long-exposed to the air to compliment the amateur tea. It was a silent game where neither ever talked, with Princess Akeno quietly eating and drinking with Knight Miano.
And then one day, the question was finally asked.
"Why did you ask me to be your bestest friend, Akeno-chan?"
"When was the last time you asked for good tea, good cake, or only called me by my last name?"
Akeno stuck her tongue out and pulled down on her eyes, as if the answer should have been obvious to Miano.
"Maybe it's only because I have this nice house and 'cuz I met you after your mom died… but you never ask me for anything! All the other kids always ask me for stuff, alwaaaaaaaays! But you don't! I even make this nasty tea and give bad pocky… that's why I like you! 'Cuz… you don't feel entitled to my friendship. Maybe it's just 'cuz I'm bribing you with this nice house… but you're the only person I feel like won't ever ask me for more stuff! So… You're my bestest friend!"
It was the first time Miano smiled during a tea party. At the time, she did not tell Akeno she didn't care for any of that, nothing whatsoever. She didn't care that she was essentially offered a deal that anyone would take after the death of family. It was simply being in Akeno's presence she yearned for, and nothing else. Miano had once heard that people who were bound together forever and ever in marriage had an invisible red string connecting them.
As a young child, Miano believed anything was possible, even that such a string could connect two girls forever. Even things like romance and why people married were not known to her, but Miano knew that so long as she could be by Princess Akeno's side forever she would be satisfied. "I want to show you my gratitude! Now that it's time for me to go home…?"
"Eh?" Was all Akeno asked, blinking. Usually Miano would simply walk home without even saying goodbye, as they had become accustomed to. And so, Knight Miano copied something she had seen in a children's anime about knights and princesses. She got down on one knee, taking the Princess' hand and pressing her lips against it, her eyes close.
"Until next time, Princess!"
"… Until next time… my Knight!"
And so, the two would also develop a way of shaking hands to signify both hello and farewell, both once expressionless things to them. Miano would raise her right hand and Akeno her left, their middle fingers touching. There were no words said, but now for the first time they had a way of both greeting and saying farewell at last.
Then, it was Akeno's turn to experience death.
A yakuza was a gangster after all. And eventually, her father paid the price for his crimes. All Miano could do was hug the crying Akeno as they stood at the funeral home, virtually alone, with only several others uncomfortably standing there. No other children would ever visit the Miyabashi household, and no wealthy men would ever grace it with their presence either. And with her mother running away shortly after, Akeno was about to lose everything.
"It's not fair! Itsnotitsnotitsnotitsnot!" She sobbed, crying into Miano's shoulder. 'How painful it must have been,' Miano could not have but wonder. Miano had grown up with nothing, so the process of having nothing again did not bother her. But Akeno grew up with everything, only to lose it…
"It's gonna be OK…"
"How!? How can this possibly be OK!?" The disgraced girl demanded, snot running down her face, only to see Miano's then-gentle smile.
"Because I will be the Knight that will always keep the Princess safe, no matter what life throws at her!"
Perhaps it was simple luck, perhaps the power of a red string, but Akeno would end up in the same foster home as Miano, their bond still unbreakable and true.
When the two were only fourteen, they made their bond forever sealed, going to a shady tattoo parlor that asked no questions and cared not for age, asking for the simplest tattoos he had performed in years;
On their respective arms, from the tips of their middle fingers to right below the front of their elbows, hidden from most, a single swerving red line on both their arms.
I got soft, Miano mused, glaring at the immobilized Hanayo. Akeno was right, I let juvie change me… I forgot, above all else…!
And with that, she stomped on Hanayo's back, earning a yell. I am a Knight in service to the Princess! If the Princess yearns for the castle, then I'll fight so she obtains her castle!
"Aré, aré, aré… You're so weak, you're probably not even worth keeping as lackeys!"
"Great! Then go! The door is riiiiiight over there!" Honoka them remembered they had barricaded the door. "… The window you came out of is riiiight over there!"
"Holy shit, you're stupid."
"H-Hey!"
Hanayo groaned as she remained immobilized. Even though「Union of the Snake」remained tied tight around「Momoiro Clover's」legs she too was immobilized, and even her Stand tugging with all it's might to free itself was not enough.
"Give it up, loser. 「Union of the Snake's」grip is like nothing you can imagine! As you can see, my Stand lacks its offensive power beyond the ability to lower temperature, but…"
"When combined with「Good Girl Gone Bad」its invincible! Even veteran Stand users have fallen before us! That cop bastard was the one exception," Akeno said bitterly. "But that ability caught us off guard. Again, kudos to icing him," Honoka frowned, trying to not think about the memory. "Miano… Just keep that one pinned down for now, alright? Let me fight this orange-haired girl and you keep her at bay!"
"Yes, Akeno!" Miano chuckled as Hanayo tried to crawl, stomping on her back.
"H-Hanayo-chan!" Honoka tried to rush over only for the opposing Stand to throw a punch at「All Star,」forcing Honoka to instead defend.
"Oh nononono! You're fighting me, so don't take your eyes off me!" Akeno taunted, Honoka glaring in response.
"What's the point of this, anyway? Getting power and stuff like that…" Honoka looked into Akeno's eyes, and Akeno looked back; both were filled with a determination to win at any cost, in order to fulfill their dreams. Deep down both knew that whoever lost would have their dreams stolen from them… the princess yearning for a castle for herself and her knight, and the idol who wanted to make people happy with her singing and dancing.
One destiny would come to an end, and Honoka understood now Akeno's drive without an explanation. She did not need to hear words, the feelings communicated between their looks told Honoka that she too had a dream.
The tension was so much different than when she was fighting Fuhai Yoshikawa and「Blue Slide Park.」Her family was in no-danger, nor was the rest of μ's in all honesty. Honoka could have easily surrendered herself, and so could Hanayo… or even vice versa. But whoever did so would have their dreams robbed.
It was like a Flash Resolution to Honoka, and she stepped forward, as did Akeno. It was Akeno who struck first, her Stand's fists returning to normal and letting out a flurry of punches. Eh? I thought it'd be stronger…「Good Girl Gone Bad's」punches were much weaker than Fuhai's blows, much to Honoka's surprise. Her firsts went back to normal though… Something's wrong! But Honoka could not figuring it out until it was too late. In the midst of the rapid punches she noticed「Good Girl Gone Bad's」right first turn into titanium, smashing into Honoka's guard;「All Star」barely stood it's ground against the massive blow. But then the Stand rose its fist, smashing downwards and breaking「All Star's」guard completely… while also delivering a fair amount of pain to Honoka, before slamming the titanium fist into her Stand's side. "Ugh-!"
"Aré, aré, aré… get it now? Well too bad if you don't!" The Stand rushed past Honoka's, heading straight for the user itself. "There's not always a need to focus on fighting the Stand itself… knock out the user and you're good as gold, baby! Miano! Having fun?"
"Oh, you know it~" Miano sung out as she continued stepping on Hanayo's face, the disgraced girl trying to look away. "Oh, come on, don't look so glum! You're about to be part of something much greater than some shitty idol band… you'll probably even end up rich in the end! Sure, we're kicking your ass now, but once we achieve our dreams there'll be enough money to go around to who makes us happy. So, what's the big deal?"
"… U… Unit…"
"Excuse me?"
Hanayo glared up at her, even with a foot on her face. "Idols… don't have bands like that, with live instrumentals… we have idol units! The focus is on singing and dancing!"
Miano glared, stomping once more on Hanayo's back. "You bitch… stop acting like you have any pride! Dream-ruiner at birth… you and me are people without pride, don't you get it!?" The declaration was enough to make Akeno look over, her expression concerned. "We give our everything to others and find worth in it… you didn't make μ's, did you!? So, stop acting like it's your own pride! Strength borrowed from others still belongs to others!"
"Miano…"
"You're wrong…" Hanayo declared. "Strenght… m-maybe it does originate from Honoka-chan and everyone else… but it's become mine, too! The light of μ's… belongs to all of it's members! And that's… including me and Rin-chan! That's why we can't lose, Honoka!"
"Hanayo…!"
"Rin's light will be taken too… and Maki's! And Kotori's! Umi's! All of us… our dreams can't end here, Honoka-chan! Please… I don't want to lose! I want to fight! We don't need to be saved… we can fight by ourselves!"
Honoka smiled then faced Akeno, ready to fight once more. Miano glared, raising her foot and ready to bring it down. OK… Let's try this! "「Momoiro Clover!」Swap!" And with a wave of its hands, Hanayo's position swapped with a flower pot, Miano's foot stomped on the flower pot, earning a glare from the other girl. "You…!"
"I have it figured out, how to do this now! Honoka, I'll be right back, OK!"
"Got it!" With a wave of her Stand's hands Hanayo disappeared, replaced by a sleeping bag, having swapped positions with something in her bedroom.
"S-Shit! Where'd she go!?"
"Not far… just stay here with me! I'll protect you, we don't know what she's planning!" Akeno demanded, focusing on Honoka once more. The castle… will belong to both of us! Princess and Knight!
Honoka and her Stand charged forward, a barrage of punches being fired. Once more though, 「Good Girl Gone Bad's」titanium arms absorbed all the blows. I need to figure this out… there needs to be a weak point! Honoka thought. It's always the hands that transform first, then it travels down… so if I hit the body, I think I'll be able to damage her! But it's hard while she's on-guard… She thought back to Fuhai's words. Like Fuhai, Akeno had clearly had a lifetime of fighting to back her up. While watching capoeira videos and her own dance experience had made Honoka more agile, it didn't help her when she needed to go on the offense. Can「All Star's」vibration powers make a difference here? I don't want to use the disintegration attack, I don't want to kill her or anything…
"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO!"
"Give it up! Don't you get it!? 「Good Girl Gone Bad」can't be hurt! I won't let you get a single blow in on me! Just surrender!"
"FAITO DAYOOOOOOOO!"
Both of「All Star's」fists connected into「Good Girl Gone Bad's」titanium arms, before vibrating at maximum intensity. "W… what!?" Akeno's eyes widened as her Stand leaned in, ultimately being pushed back by the jackhammer-like attack. Holy shit! I'm… its stronger than I thought! Now it was her turn to go on the defensive. It pushed back the Stand, sliding on the floor. "Shit!"
"A-Akeno! Let me-"
"No! Don't' call back your Stand! Let me deal with this!" Akeno demanded, glaring at Honoka. "Well aren't you just full of surprises?"
Honoka grinned. "You got no idea!" And「All Star」jumped back, fists raised. "I get what your Stand does… but ya still don't fully understand mine, do you!?"
"Dammit…"
"Again… just leave us alone, we want nothing to do with you!"
Akeno chuckled. "You don't get it, do you? You're part of something bigger than yourselves now! This world of Stands… You're a part of it no matter or what! The Arrow Hunters already know there are Stand users in Otonokizaka… the most beating us will do is keep your fragile peace for only a few days!"
"Then I'll treasure those few peaceful days, until the next time I must fight!"
「Good Girl Gone Bad」rushed forward and delivered two powerful punches, both easily dodged by「All Star.」Those attacks were slow… wait a second… the titanium fists…! A realization washed over Honoka! They must be heavy, heavy enough it can't deal out a bunch of quick punches! So… Honoka waited for Akeno's next attack, watching her Stand raise both it's fists in the air to bring them down. Using dance-like dodging「All Star」dodged to the side. "Alright now… let's call this…"
Honoka grinned. "「All Star's」Jackhammer Punch!" She yelled out as the Stand's fist collided into「Good Girl Gone Bad's」side, the rapid vibrations drilling into her side as Akeno screamed, forcing her Stand back. "I can't believe I called that lame!"
"Akeno!"
"Ugh… T-The fuck… did you just yell out?"
Honoka grinned. "If I'm gonna get into lots of fights now… Why not be cool with it!? After all, I'm an Idol! Now, Umi would've given it a cooler name, but still!"
"Is this a joke to you!?"
"Of course not! This is my dream, we're talking about here!"
"Goddamn you…"
The tirade almost continued, had it not been for the sleeping bag to once more replace with Hanayo, a bag in her hand. "I-I'm back! S-Sorry, it took me time to find- Ow!" Almost immediately Miano stomped on her once more, grinning.
"Welcome back, first year!"
"A-at least let me finish!"
"D-Did you get something to help out! I'm kind of in a stalemate here…"
"Yeah, watch this! I can't… move as long as this thing is around my Stand, right?" She looked back at「Union of the Snake」still constricted around「Momiro Clover. 」Hanayo opened a bag of marbles, tossing them at the direction of her Stand. "Honoka! Charge her! Just… please believe in me and charge forward!"
"Oi, THAT'S what you left your friend to do!?" Miano said with a laugh. "That's… wait…" Miano's eyes widened. Her power is swapping… so… Oh no!
"「Momoiro Clover,」swap!"
"Akeno! Look out!" But before she could react Hanayo swapped places with one of the marbles… and with her travelled her Stand, right next to「Good Girl Gone Bad.」
"The hell!?" Akeno exclaimed. But before she could react「Momoiro Clover」launched a Stand rush, the blows connecting to「Good Girl Gone Bad's」legs over and over again, the damage reflected on the user. In a panic, Akeno had her Stand focused on trying to shake off「Momoiro Clover…」only to leave itself wide open to「All Star!
"AKENO!"
"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Akeno could do nothing as her Stand was pelted with punches, the blows appearing all throughout the user's torsos as well, before ultimately sending both flying into a wall.
"AKENOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" In a panic Miano withdrew her Stand, finally freeing Hanayo and her Stand.
"Hanayo-chan! You OK!"
"Y-yeah… my legs are kind of asleep though, I-I can't get up! But my Stand can!" 「Momoiro Clover」and「All Star」stood proudly, side-by-side as Miano rushed over to her fallen friend.
"Akeno! Akeno! A-Are you OK!?" Her smile returned when Akeno began to Stand, relieved as could be. "Oh, thank God!"
"Ugh… that combo usually works… We're not used to fighting more than one person, huh…"
"L-Let me do the rest! I'm your Knight, aren't I!? I can do it myself!"
"… No…"
"E-eh!?"
"Princess, Knight, who cares about that kind of crap…?" Miano blinked in conclusion as Akeno rose up. "We are… MIyabashi Akeno and Homura Miano! There's nothing we can't do! The castle is right there… I don't want you to be my servant though! We should both be Queens ruling over our castle!"
"Our… castle…"
The memories flashed back. They were thirteen and their delinquent journey had begun, both eating cheap burgers after a fight to take their mind off the pain.
"Miano-chan… remember when we used to have tea parties?"
"Yeah. Like when your tea always sucked?"
"Shut up, bitch! But yeah… you remember how we pretended we had a castle?"
"Yeah… what about it?"
"I wanna do it!" Akeno said, standing up.
"E-Eh!?"
"One day… we'll have a castle! Like one of those European ones, all big and stone… our perfect world! Nothing will ever hurt us again… you and me! Forever and ever… as ordained by the red string! How does it sound?"
"… I'd love it…"
She smiled gently, gentler than she had in a very long time.
"Forever and ever!"
Akeno glared at the two School Idols, stepping forward.
"Our dream has always been just that, a child's dream… But it's finally here! With the arrow we can make it happen! We can't give up… Miano! You and me… we're Queens now! As long as we can get the castle…"
"Akeno… That's not…"
"We can make it happen now! Let's do it… Miano! Let's show them our Stand union!"
"S-Stand union!?" Hanayo exclaimed, with Honoka gulping.
Miano didn't say much, having「Union of the Snake」slink over, having several of the snake heads wrap itself around「Good Girl Gone Bad's」right arm… and as the Stand turned its own arm into titanium, so did Miano's Stand.
"H… Holy crap!" Honoka exclaimed, taking a step back. "It's like a giant club now!"
"Behold! Our ultimate destructive power!"「Good Girl Gone Bad」charged forward, swinging down the massive titanium-encased Stand, the two girls dodging as the Koizumi's kitchen table was completely destroyed.
"H-How am I gonna explain that one to my parents!?"
"Hanayo! Bigger problems right now!"
"R-right! Sorry!"
Akeno charged forward once more, the massive club swinging horizontally. While Honoka dodged, Hanayo did not, and was sent flying several yards as a result. I-Its like being hit by a truck or something! Hanayo thought, forcing herself off the ground with a groan.
"Hanayo! I don't think either of us can block it… Just dodge!" Honoka bit her lip, though. "But at the same time, we can't get close with that attack… they really are a hell of a team!"
"Nothing can beat us, Miano! Nothing!" As Akeno laughed Miano frowned, taking a step back. The Princess she had once protected had been so corrupted by her power and the wickedness of the world around her… She seemed like a different person. "Miano! I'm going to make all your dreams come true! Just watch me!"
"My… dreams…?"
It was then the realization hit Miano; a realization made when she was little, but had forgotten in the chaos of this night. What in this world had she ever wanted more than simply to be by Miano's side? She never cared for a castle… and now, Akeno was fighting for her sake? For the Knight? And here she was, a Knight that had aided the Princess despite her wickedness… "Oh, Akeno…"
"Honoka… I have a plan. I don't know if it'll work…"
"Hanayo…"
"If it fails… we'll lose, and we can't be Idols anymore… but! I think… I think it'll work! I want to believe it will work…"
"… Even if it fails, Hanayo…"
"…"
"I will… keep being your friend, even if our dreams end now!" Hanayo perked up at that. "I kept a marble in my pocket… I need you to charge forward, get her to swing overhead! I need you… to block it for just a little!?"
"What!? I-It's gotta be over five hundred pounds!?"
"But your Stand has superhuman strength, right!? And mine too! I need… you to trust me, please! Let's show her… our Stand union!"
Honoka went quiet before nodding, both running now… Hanayo to the side, and Honoka head-on.
"Huh!? You wanna die!?"
「Good Girl Gone Bad」and「All Star」rushed forward.
Both Stands roared, the former raising the club that was once「Union of the Snake」and soon the two users roared as well, the club smashing down on「All Star.」Honoka realized that five hundred pounds was likely nowhere near what that thing weighed, and the pain in her arms was immense. Akeno glared, trying to push down as hard as she can. "What kinda pussy move is this!? Leaving your so-called friend… ha!"
"Hanayo… I… I trust… you…!"
Hanayo had her Stand throw the marble towards「Good Girl Gone Bad,」her trap set. "SWAP!"
And with that, the battle had been won for μ's.
「Momoiro Clover」swapped with the marble, the marble falling to the floor behind Hanayo as her Stand stood before her.
"F… FUCK!"
"HONOKA! KEEP IT OFF ME!"
"FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
「All Star's」Jackhammer Punch vibrated at maximum capacity, enough to keep the club from crushing them, as「Momoiro Clover」delivered yet another devastating barrage of punches, a final punch on the opposing Stand's head sending her flying.
"H… How…"
"AKENOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"How did I lose… to some prissy idols…?" As she fell back she recalled her Stand, 「Union of the Snake」falling to the ground as a hunk of titanium before transforming back, Miano soon recalling her's as well. "I can't lose…!"
"Akeno, please! L-Let's just forget this! You two! If… if we retreat… will you let us go!?"
"… Yeah," Honoka said. "The police can't do much against Stand users so… promise you won't try attacking us again, and we'll let this go."
"See? Akeno? Let's just go back to the foster home… Let's forget this happened!" She started smiling again. "We don't even need to tell the boss about this, or Suzuki! We can just…" But Akeno slumped into the kitchen, Miano frowning once more. "Akeno…"
She stepped towards the Idols, who rose their guards but she shook her head. "Stay behind me…"
"Our castle… Miano's happiness…" Akeno exited the kitchen, brandishing a knife. "I won't… not for Miano…!"
She charged forward, both girls' Stands ready to defend. "I won't let you get in the way of her happiness! I'll win no matter what!"
"L-Look out, Honoka!"
But it was Miano who rushed forward.
"M… Miano!?" Akeno couldn't stop her charge, her knife grazing her side. "MIANO!" In horror she dropped her knife, kneeling down to look at the injury. "W-w-w-why did you do that!? Oh God… I hurt you! Ohnononono… Oh God!" Akeno was in tears now, before Miano slapped her. "O-Ow!"
"Dumbass… you just grazed me! Probably don't even need stiches…"
"D-Don't call me a dumbass, you stupid bitch!" She let out inbetween sobs. "The castle… our castle…"
"I don't care about the castle…" Miano said. "I never… cared about any of that, like how I never complained about the shitty tea and snacks… or that we never said hello or goodbye…"
"… Miano… I…"
Miano smiled, reaching for Akeno's left hand and pushing her right middle finger against her left middle finger. "We're binded forever, don't you know? As long as I'm besides you… anyplace we are is a castle…"
"… I…"
"I don't… think you two are super bad guys, like Yoshikawa," Honoka finally said. "I think you two are just… confused, I don't know. I don't… want to fight anymore. Please…"
"… We can have pride," Hanayo said to Miano. "Maybe the circumstances of our birth hurt our mothers… but… we can still have our pride in ourselves. So… Please don't think of yourself like that…"
The two girls stayed quiet, before Akeno finally picked herself up. "Let's get that wrapped up when we're home, OK?"
"Yeah…"
Then Akeno faced the other two. "I won't… tell our boss about this," she informed them. "But she already knows there's Stand users in your school… She's going to signal you out eventually. And when that happens? That's when the real fighting starts," Akeno warned. "All this was just because we bumped into eachother… by fate! After they find out though... you'll be targeted. Understood? The attacks will go from random to organized!"
"… Then I guess we better get as much practice in before we have to fight, huh, Hanayo?"
"Yeah…!"
The girls nodded, making their way to the windows. "Oh, also… just so you know, your friend is probably better by now. Go check up on her."
"R-Rin-chan! I'm coming, don't get out of bed!" Hanayo ran up to her room, ignoring the destruction downstairs to check on her friend. "Rin! Rin! Are you alright!"
"Mmm... Hanayooooo... I... I'm..." Rin's voice was quiet at first as she recovered, shaking her head. "I think... I'm gonna die, thinking..."
"W... what!?" Hanayo's eyes widened in horror. "N-no! But they said... they said!" She was ready to sprint down and resume the battle, before Rin hugged her.
"Because... I was so worried and I missed Kayochin so much!" Rin declared, tightening the hug. "I could hear you... that was so scary, you fighting like that! Even though I couldn't see it... I was afraid and though, 'what if Kayochin died!?' I felt like I was gonna die of worry! Please... please don't..." Rin was starting to cry. "It felt like I was gonna die. I felt like my heart was gonna stop! Don't... don't..." Hanayo gave a sad smile, holding her friend tight. "It felt like..."
"Don't worry, Rin-chan..." Hanayo said, wiping her tears away. "I won't... ever die before you, OK?" Hanayo promised, her pinkie twirling with Rin's. "Its a promise, from now on."
"... You have to keep that promise, OK?"
"Of course," Hanayo assured. "You're my best friend, so any promise to you... is absolute!"
The two embraced with hugs and smiles, followed by cries of happiness and relief, as the delinquents faced Honoka once more, Akeno addressing Honoka.
"… Honoka. If we fight again, I hope it's against a common enemy and not each-other."
"Same to you… Akeno."
And so, the girls took off, Honoka sighing as she sat down in a chair. "… How is she gonna explain that to her parents?"
Well, one step at a time.
Stand: Good Girl Gone Bad
User: Akeno Miyabashi
Status: SURRENDERED
Stand: Union of the Snake
User: Miano Homura
Status: SURRENDERED
They had to use the same lie as before. Once they un-barricaded the entrances, the girls called the police. They had lied and said they had spent the night at Umi's house, with the other girl willing to cover for them. Normalcy returned once the Koizumis returned home from their anniversary.
"I'm sorry mama, all this happened while you were gone…
"Shhh…"Mrs. Koizumi smiled as she daughter lied on her in the couch, smiling as she played with her daughter's hair. "That must have been so scary to come home too… Never would have thought we'd need a house alarm, but we'll get one. God, I'm sorry, love…"
"Y-You did nothing though, mama!" Hanayo protested, frowning. "Just… Mmm…"
"… Hanayo, is something else bothering you…?"
"… Do you regret having me, mama?"
Mrs. Koizumi gasped in both shock and horror. "H… Hanayo! What on earth would make you think that!?"
Hanayo frowned. "… I was an unplanned pregnancy; you and papa were still in highschool…" Hanayo couldn't bring herself to look upwards at her mother. "Y… you were gonna be an idol! You were a dancing prodigy! But then. I… came and… r-ruined the dream, didn't I?" Hanayo's voice didn't seem distraught, simply… absolute. It horrified her mother, who pulled her into a deep hug.
"Don't… ever speak such foolishness ever again, Hanayo!"
"Mama…"
Mrs. Koizumi smiled. "Yeah, you weren't planned… but we kept you. That was our wish, our desire… and every day I'm so happy I did, love."
"…"
"We considered all our options… and decided all we wanted was you. We knew it'd be hard… we knew there'd be sacrifices too, but… Hanayo, you are our dream," she reassured, kissing her daughter's forehead. "And don't you ever think anything less, OK?"
"…"
"Hanayo… what is your dream?" Her mother asked, brushing some hair from her face.
"I want to be… the Idol that mama wasn't, so I can make her proud," but she stopped. "But also… I want to do it for myself too, for me and all my friends in μ's as well! I want to be an Idol because I love them… for myself too, now. And my friends. And you!"
And Mrs. Koizumi hugged her daughter. "Then do it with pride, OK?"
"Yeah… mama!"
The dream that night was good and peaceful.
"… Man, we lost so fucking bad the other night…"
Miano giggled as she lied on Akeno in the bed of their room. The only ones with rooms to themselves, and a single queen-sized bed.
"Yeah… I'm kinda glad we did, though," Miano admitted, snuggling into the other woman. "You were starting to scare me, ya know…"
"I'm sorry," Akeno said with a sigh. "Man, the boss and Suzuki really chewed us off for not reporting in that night… or the next day…"
"Even if they ask us too, I'm not gonna fight them again," Miano said. "It's an honor thing, ya know?"
"Yeah, yeah…" She stroked Miano's hair, smiling. "… You were right, you know…" She looked around their crappy room, without working heating (they had to have a mobile heater in the room) and faded paint throughout the room. "When I'm with you… even this dump is a castle I'm happy to live in."
Miano kept on smiling, Queen cuddling against the other Queen.
"... I'll never trade it for anything else."
Unbeknownst to the rest, there was a girl who often stayed home late at Otonokizaka.
"Honestly! They're such… amateurs!"
A third year with pigtails sat at the table, clicking through μ's page on the School Idol Festival website. These three new first years the group claiming to represent their school had gotten more popular…
… What a joke! She neered at reading it: μ's: Come on and join us.
"Honestly! Who do these girls think they're kidding!? I mean… sure they're cute, but they're nowhere near ready to call themselves idols!"
"An Idol Club…"
"And YOU are the head of the Idol Study Club of this school to boot! So, who needs a bunch of fakers like these girls, anyway!?" A figure said, hovering near the girl, scoffing. "They're just gonna embarrass Otonokizaka at this rate! And us!"
"U-Us!? How is a useless Stand like you going to get embarrassed!?"
"Don't be rude to me!? You're my user, even though you're a dumbass who doesn't deserve a Stand as amazing as me… you're still an Otonokizaka student! If you're embarrassed by these wannabe Idols, so am I! Nico, we can't let this happen!"
Nico brushed off that insult as she looked at the screen, grinning as her fingers hit the board.
You're not nearly good enough to call yourselves Idols! ( ' A ' )
Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Chapter 8: Nico Attacks! The Terrifying Center Of The Ring!
Stand profile: AKENO MIYABASHI
Stand Name: Good Girl Gone Bad (Rihanna album)
Type: Short-range
Stand Cry: None
Appearance/Personality: Purple Stand standing at roughly 5'7, noticeably about two inches taller than her user. A rather basic Stand, it lacks few defining features.
Abilities:
• Titanium transfiguration: GGGB's signature defining power is the ability to turn itself and anything it touches into titanium. When something or somebody is turned into steel, it becomes as hard as steel and immobile. In this state things are "preserved" as well, not requiring air, water, or food while in a steel state: but it can only stay steel as long as it remains within 15 feet of the Stand. While seemingly lackluster at a glance, Akeno has greatly mastered this ability to use it effectively, especially in combination with Union of the Snake. While the Stand itself can not move body parts freely that have been turned into steel, GGGB is known to transform its fists and the arms from the hand to the elbows into titanium in order to be able to absorb blows as well as give it's punches more powerful to compensate for its lackluster base strength. However, the transfiguration process must first begin with it's fists or feet.
Stats:
• Destructive Power: D (A when encased in titanium)
• Speed: B (D when encased in titanium, as the weight reduces it's speed)
• Range: D
• Precision: D
• Durability: A
• Development Potential: C
Stand profile: MIANO HOMURA
Stand Name: Union of the Snake (Duran Duran song)
Type: Short-range
Stand Cry: None
Appearance/Personality: Union of the Snake takes the appearance of a rat king, of 12 separate large snakes resembling black pythons with red heads, with mouths containing razor-sharp fangs. It tends to thrash about when summoned, hissing at Miano's enemies. The heads tend to fight one-another as well. They tend to nip at Miano's direction as well, but rarely actually bite her.
Abilities:
• Shared vision: Anything any of the 12 snakes that make up Union of the Snake makes up shares its vision with its user: anything they see, she sees as well.
• X-Ray vision: The heads of Union of the Snake can see through solid objects, often into the next floors.
• Reduction of heat: When Union of the Snake stares down a target, as long as Miano keeps at least three heads focused on it, she can have that target steadily drop in temperature: this is not limited to living beings (anything with a temperature works): if it drops to nothing or a low enough temperature this is fatal. However, Miano must keep consistent focus on a target in order to keep this up.
• Tight grip: The snakes of Union of the Snake can tie themselves extremely tightly around a target, easily able to constrict blood flow in limbs or choke out a target. If turned into steel by GGGB, it is virtually impossible to remove without incapacitating the user.
Stats:
• Destructive Power: D
• Speed: E
• Range: E
• Precision: C
• Durability: B
• Development Potential: D
Hey, one day off my deadline ain't bad, right? It's gonna be a rough couple of weeks, so while I'll still try to aim for Monday releases, keep in mind I might be a day off now and then for the rest of December. If I have NOT updated by Wednesday night, then that means school was too busy and I'll be compensating by putting the chapter up next Monday. Please bare with me: I'm a busy college student and it's finals time, and I have multiple final projects I need to turn on.
May every road take us to a memory of Great Days! Please leave a comment if you have anything to say!