Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: µ's Is Unbreakable

by Miyu Shinohara

In the school year of 2013, it was announced Otonokizaka would close. Determined to keep their beloved school open, three schoolgirls form a School Idol group in the hopes of keeping their school open. But when an arrow awakens latent Stand abilities in Tokyo, Honoka and her friends will find themselves in a much more bizarre adventure. (LGBT themes, including a trans character.)

15. The Red Arrow (Part 3)

Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable

Chapter 15: The Red Arrow (Part 3)

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Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!

This is Honoka! Umi and Rin both awakened Stand powers, and with their new power we were able to force Wakaki to the ground! But just when it seemed like everything was going well, we learned something horrible… this 'Red Arrow' contained a Stand within it, and now Wakaki's true Stand has been revealed. Something really weird is going on, even for Stands, as we can't reach her… what's going on!?

---

"Goddammit, get back here, you bitch!" Akeno screamed, sprinting off after Wakaki with the other girls. Yet despite the girls going at full speed, Wakaki was able to simply walk back into Yoshida Stadium casually.

"Do you think this might be an illusion?" Hanayo asked, running alongside Akeno and facing the delinquent. "This isn't making sense… w-we're running! How can we not catch up to her when she's just walking? This Stand power… Let's try this…" She reached for another coin, one of her last ones, having「Momoiro Clover」throw it hard in her direction. "Swap!" She yelled out, swapping her location with the coin, bringing her extremely close to Wakaki's position, yet the flurry of punches she launched fell just outside her range.

"Goddamn…" Akeno swore, glaring at her former ally, who just turned around and smirked. "Oh, is this fucking funny to you?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact! It's like watching a bunch of sick dogs that need to be put down trying to catch up to an alpha…" She even stuck her tongue out at them and pulled down at an eye. "Honestly, you're all so slow!"

"Love Arrow… Shoot!" Umi paused to ready her bow and formed another arrow, aiming for Wakaki's head, no longer caring if it would make her a murderer, but it only took a very small turn of her head to dodge.

"See? Super slow! Come on, come on! I don't show my Stand off to everyone, you know? Make it worth my while!"

"Get the fuck over here and I'll make it worth your goddamn while, you cunt!" Akeno yelled, her fists clenched. "You turned me into a murderer- the moment I get my hands on you you're gonna be seeing how worth your while it was!"

But Wakaki shook her head. "You're making such a bigger deal about this than you should, you know that?"

"I killed someone because of you! How is that not a big deal!?"

"You had no problem killing the bird, right? If it hadn't turned back into a human, you wouldn't have cared… you were willing to kill the animal, so why is a human so different? Everything eventually dies, so what's the difference between humans and birds beyond the ability to fly? It's only a big deal if you want to make it a big deal! Maybe if you were a normal person who had used your hand it might be different because of the fingerprints… but you used your Stand! You're free from the consequences… so what's your problem?" She asked, looking at the Red Arrow in her hands. "None of you realize how wonderful it truly is to have these powers… it was wasted on you all!"

But it was Honoka who instead replied. "You know, for all this crap you talk about how a Stand reflects you, you really don't deserve such a cool, heroic looking Stand!"

"Oh?" Wakaki was amused by the train of thought. "What makes you say that?"

"It looks like some kind of 'knight' from the European stories… weren't knights supposed to be chivalrous and kind!? How is that a reflection of your soul!?"

Wakaki's grin widened. "You really believe that crap? 'Knights in shining armor and chivalry…' give me a break! A knight was 'pseudo-nobility,' men trained to be warriors since they were young boys, spending their entire lives being taught to fight and kill! Warriors who cared more for winning fights than honor! Sure, they said they were chivalrous… but what really matters is winning fights and glory! You dumbasses believe what history is fed to you as long as it's all dressed up! Hey, Kousaka, how much do you actually know about World War 2?"

"…"

"They just kinda gloss over it as much as they can in your classes, right? The Rape of Nanking, Unit 731 and other war crimes, how much of that stuff did you actually learn? Or maybe you got a teacher that tried to make it look honorable and to venerate the noble past? There's nothing people can't do to dress up the past as something noble; the only thing that matters is victory in this world! Whatcha got to say to that, Kousaka!?" Wakaki challenged, and for a few moments, Honoka did seem to go quiet and even stop… before running towards her once more.

"Yeah, I'm not really smart… I don't know a lot about history and those kinds of things, I really don't… but! If nothing else, this much I know; the 'hypocrisy of yesterday' is no excuse to 'commit evil today!'" Honoka replied. As she gave that response Wakaki stopped running in front of a concession stand inside Yoshida Stadium, the other girls keeping their distance but nonetheless surrounding her.

"A pretty honest and interesting answer… especially for a dumbass like you. I like it," Wakaki replied, 「Thunder Road」taking a defensive stance next to her. "The outcome won't change, but I was expecting silence from you… or some spiel about how it doesn't matter. I like it…"

The offense quickly began. Umi raised her Stand, another arrow quickly materializing and letting it fly, but once more Wakaki dodged without too much effort. Rin's extremely agile Stand quickly sprinted forward in an attempt to scratch her, but Wakaki dodged the tackle and had「Thunder Road」kick the robotic cat Stand hard enough to send it into a wall, and Hanayo ran towards Rin side as she kneeled over in pain.

"Are you OK, Rin!?"

"Yeah… just… g-gotta get used to that 'sharing damage and pain' thing," Rin admitted, wincing in pain as she got back up. "It's like an invisible fist just knocked the wind out of me… but I'm fine, honest!"

"Akeno-san!"

"Right! Alright, let's kick some ass!" Akeno yelled, rushing forward with Honoka with their close-range Stands and quickly closed the distance. "Hold still, you cunt!" She yelled, as two Stand rushes were launched at an extremely close range. "Oh… you've got to be kidding!"

「Thunder Road」also respond with a flurry of punches. Despite the speed of the two Stands assaulting her, it seemed one fist was enough to counter both Honoka's and Akeno's attacks, fists colliding in the air and keeping Wakaki safe. Is this an illusion like Hanayo suggested? Akeno thought to herself. No… this is too real to be an illusion! This power… what kind of power is this!?

The train of thought was ended by Wakaki finding openings in Honoka's and Akeno's attacks, quickly sending punches to their stomachs and forcing them to back off. Umi took a deep breath, trying to remain calm as she observed the situation. The thought was racing towards her mind as well, and throughout all of Wakaki's opponents:

We need to figure out her Stand's power before we keep attacking!

But there was something Umi, observant as ever, started to notice before everyone else. While she was still cool and in control of the fight, she noticed that Wakaki was starting to pant a bit, as opposed to before when she just seemed as casual as possible. Whatever she's doing… is it taxing on her? Maybe she's using stamina to maintain this power? Umi brought a hand to her chin, trying to figure it out. I'm confident… whatever she's doing… it must be 'costing' something to maintain! Stamina, perhaps?"

"That all you got?" Wakaki asked. While she did seem slightly more tired, clearly it was not so severe she felt she could fight no longer. "… Jesus, it's cold in here…" She said with a frown, hugging her arms together. "Ugh… wait a second, no, it's not cold in here… y-you!"

"Me."

The quiet Miano smirked as she was kneeling in the distance, 「Union of the Snake」staring at Wakaki with all of its heads. "It really ain't that good in such a close-range battle… but you can feel your body temperature lowering now, don't you?" She couldn't do it as quickly as to Rin due to her having a Stand, but it was starting to take effect.

Is that the reason why? Umi thought. Was it only because of Miano's attack that Wakaki seemed to finally become uncomfortable? She hadn't noticed the attack… and as much as she hated to admit it, if that was the only reason why, she didn't feel particularly satisfied.

"Never did care much for you," Wakaki said with a glare. "All quiet and shit… I heard once you had a sadistic side to you, but clearly I was misinformed," Hanayo stayed quiet at that, remembering at how Miano had cruelly taunted her when they had attacked her house. Although back then, she remembered, Miano completely despised her and wanted her to suffer. This time, she seemed more determined than anything, just wanting to defeat the wicked girl that was once her ally.

"I borrow so much strength from Akeno and everyone else around me… I used to think that was weak," Miano said. "I thought I was somebody with absolutely no pride whatsoever beyond being Akeno's knight! That all my pride was her pride, that all my strength was her strength, and from the rest of the Hunters… but honestly, I think I understand things a bit better now," she went on, the others listening carefully. "My pride and my strength are my own… I don't need to kick somebody when they're down and twist the knife to feel my own strength! Even though I'm borrowing power and confidence from Akeno, Hanayo, and everyone else… the 'me' that you heard about is gone!"

"Miano…" Akeno couldn't help but smile at it, as did Hanayo.

"Even if I can't beat you, I'll do my damned hardest to try!" She yelled. Wakaki glared, before sprinting in her direction. Wakaki's body still hurt terribly from her beating earlier and she still thought she might've had some broken ribs, but she ignored and pushed through the pain to reach Miano. Hanayo and Rin got in the way but they were no match for Wakaki as she blitzed through them, her Stand giving a brutal punch to Miano's head, sending her flying back several feet and her Stand immediately disabled.

"MIANO!" Akeno yelled, starting to run over. "I'm going to kill you, Wakaki!"

"That's the spirit!" Wakaki cheered out, heading over to the downed girl, not noticing her reaching into pocket. "Dumbass… know your- FUCK!" The yell came enough of a surprise that even Akeno stopped, before looking at her fallen friend.

"Holy shit… nice one, Miano!" She said, almost laughing, earning a grin from Miano.

"Still a gangster, you bitch," she swore, a pocketknife now in her thigh. Wakaki kicked Miano away before tearing it out, throwing it aside.

"O-ow… dammit…" Up until now, Wakaki's main blessing had been neither of her arms nor were her legs seriously injured. She winced in pain as she applied pressure on it. Running would be extraordinarily painful and probably break her focus. With her power she could still limp away and probably stay ahead, but she took another deep breath. I need to head to the break room… Dammit, I relied too much on「Thunder Road!」I shouldn't have used it so much at 'maximum efficiency!' "Dammit, this is getting hard now…" She glared at the approaching Stand users, before limping off as fast as she could.

"Miano! Miano! Miano, are you OK!?" Akeno asked, rushing over and picking her up. "That was your head… y-you're still with us, right!?"

"Yeah… I just… that hurt…" Miano said with a sigh, as she was cradled in Akeno's arms. "I really wanted to look cool, too…"

"Dumbass, you're already cool," Akeno said with a small smile, wiping some blood from Miano's mouth. "You always have strength and pride… never forget that, alright?"

"I learned it because of them," she said, smiling at Hanayo's and Honoka's direction, arming smiles from the two. "When I'm with you, I think I can do anything, now…" She rose a hand containing her red string of fate, and Akeno pressed her red string against her's.

"That's so cute, nya!" Rin said. Despite Miano having attacked her earlier, she couldn't pretend her heart didn't flutter at the sight. "You're just like Kayochin!"

"E-eh!?" Hanayo said with a small blush, earning a laugh from Miano.

"I really admire her a lot, almost as much as Akeno," Miano admitted with a smile. "… S-she's getting away…"

"Wait," Umi said, noticing the others rise. "Before we go after her… we need to talk about this ability! This ability is extremely powerful… we shouldn't just chase after her. We should at least try to figure out what her Stand is doing before we pursue!"

"She could be getting away though!" Akeno said.

"But we can't fight her without a plan!" Honoka replied back. "Even if we're wrong… we should at least have a theory!" Once again Umi was impressed by Honoka's aptitude at battle strategy, for how bad her academics was. Perhaps this, along with being an Idol, were truly her fortes? "Let's see… what do you girls think?"

"Hmmm… maybe… maybe her power is like, just so super strong it just pushes us back automatically! Like Dragon Ball or something, maybe it's like… a 'ki barrier' or something! The 'ki' keeps pushing us away! I just hope it can't go super or something…" The group fell silent before Honoka gasped.

"That. Is. Genius!"

Everyone groaned.

"I said maybe it was an illusion… but it's too real to be an illusion," Hanayo said. "This can't be a trick or anything… whatever is happening, it's real. We can all agree on that, right?" Everyone nodded, although Rin and Honoka couldn't help but be just a little miffed their theory had been shot down. "Maybe it's not unreasonable we're being pushed back?"

"I don't think it's that," Akeno said. "What gets to me is how she moves… the way she dodges super-fast attacks is unnatural. It wasn't her Stand dodging, it was herself. The Stand's power extends to her physical body. She has supernatural reflexes… maybe that's it? Maybe the Stand's power is her reflexes?"

"I don't think so," the injured Miano said. "It feels even stronger than that… I think… maybe her Stand's power is it won't let us 'reach' her?"

"Reach her?" Umi asked.

"I don't know how to put it… but I'm thinking maybe her real Stand has a power that prevents attacks and anything she doesn't want to 'reach' her physically. She couldn't stop「Union of the Snake」because it wasn't a physical assault, so it could 'reach' her. That's my theory… physical attacks won't 'reach' her as long as it's active. You?"

"I… I think it's even more than that…" Umi admitted. "But I… I don't have any other suggestions. I guess for now, that our attacks can't physically reach her is acceptable."

"Aw man… but that makes it super hard if we can't punch her!" Honoka said. "Maybe… maybe we can catch her off guard? Why don't we try a sneak attack?"

Umi nodded. "That sounds like the best plan."

"I'm gonna stay with Miano a bit, make sure she's OK," Akeno said. "We'll catch up to you guys later, OK?"

"… The time…"

"What about the time, Umi?" Honoka asked, as she noticed the other second year looking at her phone. Umi had taken out her cell phone to text an update to Nico, but she noticed something.

"It's... 6:25."

"And?" Rin asked, blinking. "What's that go to do with anything?"

"Doesn't it feel like… I don't know, it should be later?" Umi asked, as Hanayo tapped her foot to think.

"Maybe… Like it should be 6:35ish almost, you know?" Hanayo said. "Maybe close to 6:40? I don't know… but we've been fighting for what, over half an hour now, right? I just kinda lost track of the time…"

"Yeah… You're probably right," Umi said, looking at her phone. But while she said that, something in her heart, not「Sleepy Storm,」disagreed.

No… No, I'm sure of it! This time can't be right… it should definitely at least be another twenty minutes later! She thought, a rising dread in her heart.

What is「Thunder Road」doing!?

---

Wakaki groaned as she kept limping on, making her way to the infirmary of Yoshida Stadium. She recalled her Stand, taking a deep breath. "Sloppy, Wakaki, sloppy," she scolded herself. If it hadn't been for her injures she probably would have kept this up a while longer, but she was starting to get tired. If nothing else though, she was getting good observation of their Stands like this… but she shook her head. It was time to start fighting seriously, now.

She went through the cupboards, wincing as she applied medical alcohol to the cut, before wrapping it. "Note to self: if nothing else, murder Miano later," she thought out loud, before heading over a refrigerator, grinning as she reached inside. "Theeere you are~" She said, reaching for some IV fluid in a bag, opening it and gulping it down. It tasted like shit, but in the end, she took what she could get. She then looked for some illegal painkillers, immediately taking two pills washed down with some Gatorade left on a counter. That'll do it… Almost immediately she started feeling better. The vitamins, glucose, and electrolytes had an almost immediate effect, and she knew in a few minutes the painkillers would really kick in, until she could go to a hospital.

She thought of immediately rejoining the battle, but instead took out her phone to make a call. "Come on, come on…"

She smirked as a masculine voice was on the other line.

"What is it, Wakaki?"

"Yamazaki-sama," she began, taking a seat. "I'll make the update brief. A lot of shit happened really quickly."

"Speak."

"The 'Pink and Black' Stand appeared again, and created a new Stand user. I was unable to intercept the arrow, however. More importantly though, 'another girl' manifested a Stand without being pierced by the arrow."

"Unfortunate. We will have to speak about that later. I somehow doubt that is all for now, however. Give me the name of this 'natural Stand user.'"

"Sonoda Umi. More than that, that Tsuji Aya woman was with the Idols and helped protect them," she explained. She decided to omit the loss of her eye for now, reaching up to touch the now smooth flesh where he eye once was. "I was overwhelmed and forced to stop using the Red Arrow. I have now revealed my 'real Stand' and I am now fighting with「Thunder Road.」"

"That is surprising, coming from you," Yoshida Yamazaki replied, tapping a finger on his desk in Nagasaki. "The fact this is a brief call… even with「Thunder Road」you still have not won?"

"I was observing their Stands in combat to get better battlefield data…" The girl sighed. "I used my Stand at full power too much and then I was stabbed in the leg. I've already been to the infirmary, though. I'll be ready to rejoin the fight soon."

"Remember, Wakaki… I do not mind if you kill them, but they seem to be giving you trouble… while your foul-mouth and tendency to get cocky irritates me, it would be nothing compared to valuable allies, willing or not, being killed on a whim. The mission given to you by Kira to infiltrate that group was a valuable one, I might have ordered you to do it myself had I thought of it. It is those with strong wills who have the potential to claw new futures into history."

"I'm going to start fighting seriously," she said. "If they die, then they die."

"I will trust your judgment regardless. Go now, child, and stand proud and valiantly against your enemies. I eagerly await your safe return to Nagasaki, so that we may discuss all we have learned." And with that he hung up, and Wakaki put her phone away.

"Poetic asshole," she said, smirking as she felt she could apply more pressure on her leg. "Alright… Let's do this, Wakaki."

She walked out into the hallways, ready to track down her enemies once more, but could have sworn she heard footsteps. Her Stand was out once more, but she looked around, unable to track down her enemy. A sneak attack? She thought, but there wasn't any place except a trash can to hide behind. But the footsteps got louder, and she kept trying to find the location. Not behind, not in front but…

Her eyes widened. "Above!?"

As she looked up there was a crash as the roof above her was destroyed… and there was a Cyan Stand, coming down with a kick. "「Thunder Road!」" she yelled. The attack was too late for her Stand to activate its power, successfully hitting her head as it bounced back. "Y-you…"

"Me," the Cyan Stand said. "It's been a while, hasn't it? So this is also your Stand?"

"S… she hit her!?" Honoka yelled out, Wakaki looking back as she saw μ's approach. "Her attack reached her! So… so we were wrong!?"

"God, this is annoying," Wakaki swore, before glaring at the veteran Cyan Stand. "Yeah, this is my real Stand. Like it?"

"Be careful! It has some weird power that makes it hard to hit it!" Honoka yelled, the Cyan Stand taking a fighting pose.

"You're completely surrounded. It's time for you to surrender. I have more than a few questions for you," it said in its autotuned voice, strings already emerging from its fingers.

"Loud and clear mom," she taunted. "I think it's time you all learned who your better is."

The other girls took a few steps forward, but the Cyan Stand turned its head to the girls. "Do not interfere. I will handle this one."

"That's what you said with Fuhai! I don't want to stay behind until you need help!" Honoka said, but Umi put a hand on her shoulder. "Umi!?"

"For now, let's observe," Umi said. "It may sound mean, but even if this girl is over her head… let's observe Wakaki's power. If she can't do it herself, then let's join in."

"I don't like that idea, Umi," Honoka said. "I don't like letting her fight alone…" She bit on her lip, remembering the incident with Yanigihori earlier. That's your Stand, isn't it? Eli-senpai… this is you, isn't it? The reflection of your soul?

"… I have to agree," Hanayo admitted. "I wouldn't agree if we knew what Wakaki is doing, but maybe this way we'll have a way to figure it out!"

"This sounds really cowardly…" Even Rin's Stand made a face to show its discontent- D: "But… I guess it's smart… but if she needs help we got ago in!"

Honoka just nodded, reluctantly agreeing. Umi took out her cell phone once more to look at the time, 6:37 PM. Let's see what happens…

The two girls stared one another down, not moving just yet. They observed one another and their Stands for a bit, slowly beginning a circling motion. "Playing the role of a hero of justice… what a childish dream," Wakaki taunted, cracking her fists. "That 'pink and black' Stand wasted its time on the lot of you. I can't say I'm too surprised though… this is what happens when you let newborn Stand users run around doing whatever they want! You always get greedy and short-sighted, and then you all start doing this trivial bullcrap!" Wakaki ranted, narrowing her eyes.

"As opposed to you, Wakaki?" the Cyan Stand asked, not letting its guard down.

"That's right. From the moment I gained my Stand… I was surrounded by my masters. Don't get me wrong… I enjoy using my Stand as I please, it's a perfect weapon! But there's a difference between 'leisure' and 'work…' and when that time comes, I know to answer to the hands that feed me, because I know… had they not guided me when I manifested this cool, amazing power, I'd be like the rest of these delinquents and like Yoshikawa, marching off to my slaughter!" She said with a grin. "If you care about school, you answer to things like 'the student council' and 'the principal' right? You can't defy them without punishment… Stand users should be the same. Everything should have an 'order' to it!"

"Then submit to the order that is my judgment!"

Wakaki grinned as the Cyan Stand sprinted forward, ten strings trailing behind it. It sprinted, jumping several yards into the air and even doing a summersault in the air, before bringing all ten down. Rather than dodge「Thunder Road」instead blocked, simply raising its arms to intercept the blow. 「Thunder Road」grabbed several of the sharp strings, Wakaki ignoring the pain in her hand as a cut formed and swinging the Cyan Stand into a nearby wall. Honoka was ready to run forward, but was still held back by Umi.

"Umi…!"

"Wait, Honoka…" Umi said, eyes narrowed as she watched the fight. "This is our only chance to observe her… we can't let it pass!"

Wakaki's Stand charged forward, its smug user behind it. "Just like the first time we met, isn't it?" Wakaki asked. "You may have been strong enough to take on Yanigihori, but you were both rookies… and I remember our first fight going a lot like this! You on the ground… what did I do again?" She brought a hand to her chin in mock thought. "Oh yeah. This was after I robbed that little gas station, right? You really wanted to avenge the clerk or something… did you think becoming a hero or something would make up for past failures? I can't stand people who live for the past!"

"You're right, I did fail back then," the Cyan Stand admitted, quickly jumping back onto its feet. "What you did back then was unforgivable… You talk about a higher purpose, but that… that was just wanton theft and murder! You did it for fun!"

"I already said it… leisure and work! And that, my friend, was just for fun~! But now it's time to work… it's not that hard to understand, is it?"

Due to its helmet it was impossible to make out the Cyan Stand's reaction, but she didn't react as「Thunder Road」got within punching range, or as it punched its stomach loud enough to earn a yelp from the Stand.

The Idols and Wakaki also could not see its reaction when「Thunder Road」had difficulty removing its fist from her stomach. "The hell!?" Wakaki yelled. But by the time「Thunder Road」got free the Cyan Stand launched a flurry of punches towards its stomach, sending it back several yards. Her Stand… it was 'sticky!' That wasn't something it could do last time; she must have discovered the power later! Dammit… that bitch can turn the surface of her Stand extremely 'sticky!' Even though I was able to rip it free, it took me a moment…! Wakaki kept on glaring. This is the worst kind of Stand to fight for someone like me… even if I get a good punch in it'll work against me!

"You seem concerned, Wakaki," the Cyan Stand said, once again trying to slash with its strings. This time Wakaki activated whatever power she had once more, sidestepping the blow. "I've matured since last time, you know."

"So, you have…" Wakaki said, trying to formulate a strategy. I can see how she beat Yanigihori, Suzuki, and Takamaki now, she thought bitterly. It was one thing that she could not overcome a group of powerful enemies working together, but a one-on-one loss like this would be a disgrace that if discovered could jeopardize her position. Remain calm… as long as you 'remain calm' and keep a cool head, a path to victory will appear!

Honoka didn't like the look on her face. After seeing this girl so cocky and taunting the entire while, this look of seriousness on Wakaki's face was enough to scare her. Completely serious, no more joking or cockiness. Looking around, she could see the unease on her friend's faces as well.

"More than anything, I am a 'knight,'" Wakaki said, as the Cyan Stand charged. "A ferocious knight who lives only for victory!"

The Cyan Stand leapt into the air, its strings ready to strike like whips. Rather than face it head-on Wakaki and her Stand jumped back. Seeing a nearby garbage can「Thunder Road」threw it as a projectile, serving as a minor distraction as Wakaki gained more distance. The Cyan Stand simply swatted it aside, Wakaki observed. Just like I thought, she can turn that 'stickiness' on and off… If I strike her she'll turn it on and I'll get stuck! Even if I can rip it away, during those few seconds she'll pummel me! For now, keeping my distance is probably the best course of action… Wakaki thought. But if I don't go on the offensive eventually, it doesn't matter! She'll win by default!

Her reflexes were normal, and as she looked at the stopwatch on her phone Umi's theory could not be proven. She frowned, looking back up at the fight. At this rate I'm sure that Stand will force that awful girl to come out into the open eventually… but! I really want to confirm it now! The sooner we know for sure what it does, the sooner we can properly fight her!

"Gooooooooooo Cyan Stand! Kick her butt to next week!" Honoka cheered, Rin standing behind her a moment later.

"She hurt Maki-chan, so kick her butt to next century, nya!"

The Cyan Stand charged again with another jump, this time flipping into the ceiling. Once its feet made contact with the ceiling it was as if it was adhered in place, the strings growing significantly longer before launching herself off. "Just surrender and this will be easier on yourself!"

"Fuck you, I'll never surrender!" Wakaki laughed, glaring daggers. "「Thunder Road!」" She yelled out, her Stand standing in front of her once more, and then it began. Despite the Cyan Stand's speed the enemy Stand and user was able to easily dodge it, gaining distance once more. At the sight Umi's eyes were glued to her phone entirely.

This is it! If I'm correct, then I'll be able to notice what's going right now!

Think, Wakaki, think! There needs to be a way around this! Wakaki was sweating. She hated being on the defense, and she hated she was fighting an enemy her Stand couldn't just execute almost immediately. As much as I hate it,「Thunder Road」probably isn't good for fighting this Stand! If I switch back to「Hawkwind」I can launch a ranged attack with its feathers, but that also requires leading everyone back outside, and that's where a Stand like that Sonoda girl's will excel! What can I… ah… ah!

Wakaki's wicked grin finally returned. What am I worrying for? The answer, the Red Arrow, is right here in my hand… I was overthinking this situation.

The Cyan Stand's strings quickly wrapped around the trashcan that was thrown at her, returning the favor and throwing it at high speeds. A distracting blow! If I'm correct… Wakaki threw the trash can aside, seeing her rush straight ahead. The strings she'll use as a whip to bind around me, then she'll want to pummel me… If I was this girl, what would I think? 'Next, the enemy will dodge to their left or right!' I'll bet! And then with the range of those strings, that's the point she'll get me! So instead…

The Cyan Stand was shocked to see「Thunder Road」head straight towards her. She won't even try to dodge!? Does she want to end this fight now!? It thought to herself, not ending its charge. No, she must be planning something! But this is the perfect time to end this battle… I just… I'll head straight on ahead!

"「Thunder Road!」Maximum efficiency!" Wakaki, not stopping. "The power of a knight…! Is something that even the entirety of the world will bow down to and respect!"

"At the very least, it won't bow to you, Wakaki!" The Cyan Stand yelled, the prehensile strings of its right hand now reaching for「Thunder Road.」The strings of its left hand had disappeared, now instead balled into a fist. It was confident; if it was fast and strong enough, it could deliver a blow even her powerful enemy could not withstand. A quick, short, and brutal fight, just like the combat of the knights centuries ago!

But immediately, something was extremely wrong. Once more, Wakaki's and her Stand's reflexes were superhuman, dodging the Stand's attack with extreme ease. "Damn you!"

"Damn me all you want, I'm still the one who wins tonight," Wakaki said with a smirk, dodging a punch with just a slight turn of her head.

Why is she so close to me!? The Cyan Stand thought in horror, as her enemy no longer bother to stay a few meters behind her Stand. What's she doing!?

"I got a 'delivery' for you, prez!" Wakaki said with a laugh, now behind her. She rose the Red Arrow above her, her grin never fading as she pierced the Stand in front of her. "I wonder… how a special Stand like yours will react to this!"

"A… Ah…. Ahh…!"

It had been embedded into the Cyan Stand's back, and just a second later Wakaki pushed the button on her weapon, the red electricity shocking her enemy. "Hey, if it kills ya, Heaven's waitin' on down the tracks!"

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The scream was blood curling. Despite being autotuned anyone hearing it could hear the absolute agony in its voice; something was wrong, very wrong. A few seconds later feathers began sprouting on the back of the armor, taking effect.

"After all, you're quite the different 'kind' of Stand user, aren't ya? There's extremely few of you out there… Oh my, company!" Wakaki said with a chuckle and then a laugh, noticing her enemies approaching once more. She yanked the Red Arrow out of her target before running back a bit, her expression amused as she looked at her enemies. "Quite the show, wouldn't you agree? This is a stadium, it's only fair you get exciting memories here!"

"Are you alright!?" Hanayo asked the Cyan Stand, kneeling by her. The Stand was seemingly beginning to disappear, but punched the ground and retained its form.

"Huff… huff…" the Cyan Stand needed heavy breaths of air, and tried to stand up, but fell down to its feet. "That wasn't… the arrow…?"

"It's something else… it looks like the arrow, but it doesn't 'grand Stands' like the normal one! It transforms Stands into another, bird-like Stand! I guess she was trying to turn your Stand into that stand…" Hanayo explained, looking around. "Ahh… where are you? The user, I mean? You're an 'Automatic Stand' like Nico's, right?"

"Not… ugh…" The Cyan Stand rested on his hands and knees. This was the second defeat in a row in recent memory. I don't get it… I've been doing this longer than them, how are they faring so much better than I am? These girls… what gives them so much strength? I don't get it!

Umi raised her arrow, taking aim. "User… your will is strong, but still not fully developed,"「Sleepy Storm」said, straight into her mind. "Are you willing to accept any consequences that may follow fighting with an undeveloped will?"

"More than willing," she felt like she had seen enough to confirm her theory, but dammit, she still had to fight. "Girls… try to keep her still! I don't think she's using her power right now!"

"Let's gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Rin yelled, her robotic cat sprinting towards Wakaki, secreting poison. "This is for Maki and Akeno!" Not only was the Stand sprinting at high pace, but it was running in a zigzag as well.

That's the fastest Stand I've ever seen, and it has good range too! Even for a Close-range Stand! Wakaki observed, her Stand trying to kick Rin's and failing. "「Thunder Road!」" Her reflexes seemed to improve once more in that single instance, now landing another kick on Rin. That poisoning ability is actually pretty dangerous if I can't fly away… Wakaki noticed Honoka charging, 「All Star」ready to strike.

"You know, I've been working on a new ability. It's a bit dangerous so we haven't really been able to really practice it with everyone else… but I'm dying to use it on you!" Honoka yelled, her Stand's sprinting immediately stopping as it laid it's hand on the wall.

"Hmmm…?" Wakaki observed, seeing the wall quickly shake and vibrate, extending towards the ceiling. I see… because she's touching the wall, she can extend the range of its vibration to what its connected to?

"「All Star」makes itself or anything else it can touch vibrate… So!" The ceiling above Wakaki became unstable from the vibrations, collapsing on her. But against her Stand it was only a minor nuisance at worst. "Fuhai said it was an unremarkable Stand… so I'm trying to find new ways to use this power!"

"A worthy endeavor, but you could collapse the entire building and I'll still be fine!" Wakaki said, her Stand easily punching the falling debris and destroying it. "Come on… is that all? If that's all, then I'm losing interest. Why don't you just give up?"

"Nope!" Honoka yelled. "Even if you're stronger than me, and even if I can't completely keep up with you… I'm still gonna fight on!" She yelled, her Stand closing the distance for a barrage.

"This again? Well, if you insist!"

"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO FAITO DAYOOOOOO!"

"Take hold,「Thunder Road!」"

The two powerful Stands clashed in a barrage of fisticuffs, their punches colliding in the air, as expected. Honoka was surprised that Wakaki wasn't using whatever power it had before, before realizing that for the first time Wakaki was truly gauging her speed and power by having their Stands clashed. And it didn't take long for her to make her judgment:

"My Stand is both faster and stronger naturally…" Wakaki announced, brushing her blue hair streak from her face. "We just need a 'little' efficiency to close the edge!" And with that, the bizarre power worked once more; despite still punching at a blistering pace「All Star」didn't seem to be able to truly keep up with「Thunder Road」anymore, soon being forced to suffer a barrage of powerful punches to her stomach. But still, Honoka didn't fall. "Forcing yourself to stand? That's impr- eh!?"

「All Star」grabbed「Thunder Road」by its fists.

Honoka grinned.

"G-got you."

She… she wanted me to attack!? To grab me!? Shit! What is this!?

「All Star」fists began to vibrate, a vibration that then entered「Thunder Road,」spreading through its whole body… and as per the law of Stands, Wakaki's own body, from head-to-toe vibrated violently. "What the fuck is this!?"

"Payback!" Honoka yelled. With her body shaking at high pace Wakaki could not properly concentrate, temporarily disabling Wakaki's power as she focused on pushing the Stand off. As the Stand was off her own she felt it stop, but she now felt dizzy, wobbling as well.

"Oh God, I feel like hurling…" It was like being on the world's fastest roller coaster, and she needed a few moments to adjust. But those few moments were more than enough. "Crap!"

"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO FAITO DAYOOOOOO!"

This time Honoka got her attacks in, Wakaki finally not able to react properly in time to the new barrage of attacks, once again taking a devastating rush. That was enough to send her flying back, even her Stand disappearing for a few moments.

"Love Arrow… shoot!" Umi yelled out, her arrow flying through the air, towards the still airborne Wakaki.

"S-shit! 「Thunder Road!」" Wakaki yelled, her Stand materializing once more, dodging Umi's attacks by inches before her Stand destroyed it. I didn't… I didn't expect something like that! Wanting me to get close to her, feeling confident so she could grab me!"

"I should name that technique too, like the 'Jackhammer Punch…' That 'shaking' power. Doesn't do any physical harm, but I bet it could make you hurl after a while at least!" Honoka declared. "Umi, can you get another one ready? … Umi? Umi!" She yelled out, noticing Umi on her knees, rushing over. "H-hey, are you alright!"

"That one… that one actually… hurt a lot to fire…" Umi admitted, gasping for air, sweat pouring down her face. "An… an incomplete will… i-is this what my Stand meant?"

"W-what your Stand meant? Hey!" Honoka was worried, and Rin ran over as well, while Hanayo still remained by the side of the Cyan Stand and observed what was going on.

"It said… there could be 'terrible consquences' if I kept fighting like this… M-my lungs feel like they're on fire, and everything is aching…"「Sleepy Storm」disappeared, its user no longer able to manifest it. "M… my phone… I-I left my phone on the ground."

"Your phone!? That's not important right now!" Honoka said, Wakaki watching the affair from a safe distance.

So… 'anything it touches can vibrate' to varying degrees… and that Stand is fractured, incomplete! So she can only use it for so long before she can't maintain it anymore… At the very least, she won't be a problem for the time being. Everyone else is a problem though…

"J-Just bring me my phone!" Umi said. "I left the app running! It's important, please!"

"I… fine!" Honoka said, running to get the phone, and bringing it back. "Stopwatch…? What's so important about this?" Wakaki's eyes widened at hearing that though.

"No way… you actually figured it out, huh?" Wakaki smirked. "You'd be the first in a while… even when you can't fight, you managed to piece it together? Incomplete or not too, you basically forced a Stand to manifest from your fractured fighting spirit!"

Oh, Yamazaki is gonna love this! And Kira will probably shit his pants… how fun!

"Everyone! How long do you think it's been since the fight with Wakaki and the Cyan Stand began!? About how much time do you think has passed!? Please answer me!" Umi asked, looking around her.

"If I had to guess… seven? Eight minutes? I want to say 'eight minutes!'" Honoka asked.

"I-I'd have to say about that! 'Eight minutes or something'!" Rin said, nodding.

"'Seven minutes or so' sounds right… what's the point of this, Sonoda-san?" Hanayo asked.

"5:36… It was 5:36 when that fight began! Everyone, quickly! Look at your phones! Look at the time!"

Despite everything the girls all took out their phones, eyes widening as they looked at the time. "W… what the heck is this!? That can't be right!" Honoka was the first to reply, closing it and flipping it open once again.

"Is… Is my phone broken or something!?" Rin asked, having a similar reaction.

"This is… this is too abnormal, even for Stands!" Hanayo said, and the Cyan Stand looked over, gasping in horror.

"Y… you're kidding… Sonoda… a-are you thinking what I'm thinking!? This power!?"

"Congrats on figuring it out, girls! That's pretty impressive, all things considered!" Wakaki said, now on the offensive once more as「Thunder Road」charged towards them.

"I don't get it!" Honoka yelled. "Definitely more time has passed so… how can it only be 'two and a half' minutes!?'"

"I finally figured it out! Wakaki's power, 「Thunder Road's」power! Its not the ability to make attacks 'not reach' her! Its something more terrifying… Wakaki is…!"

Wakaki grinned.

"Its time!" Umi yelled. "She's slowing time!"

Thunder Road!

Time crawls to my leisurely pace!

And so Wakaki smirked, as once more, 「Thunder Road's」terrifying power worked. This is the ultimate power of the reflection of my soul, girls… time itself is slowing! She thought, suppressing a laugh.

"No way!" Honoka said, getting up and trying to attack… but at her speed, dodging the attack was child's play for the experienced enemies.

By increments of 10%, ending at 90%, time will slow for me, but only for me! Wakaki thought, satisfied. The lot of you can't even comprehend it! Only I can enjoy this slowed flow of time, the rest of you experience it in real time though! Unless you're looking at a clock or downloading something, you can't even really tell that time has slowed! All you can comprehend is that none of your attacks can reach me for some reason…

The grin she had was baring her teeth, now, as she was able to dodge both「All Star」and「Momoiro Clover」at point-blank range. You all are living in 'real time!' Whereas I exist in 'slowed time!' This enormous advantage is something that has never failed me! Of course, if I get a little cocky even it can't help me, but hey- with a power like this, who wouldn't from time-to-time? Even Rin's extremely fast Stand, with a time reduction of 70% was fairly easy to dodge. Ha… it feels like someone's reaching in my chest, gripping my lungs and heart as tight as they can, and it just keeps getting tighter… but you can't have something great without giving up something! I'm basically moving at double your speed like this!

「Thunder Road」punched the Stands of Honoka and Hanayo in the head, before turning its direction to Rin's Stand, now punching it instead of kicking it.

"And now, time returns to your own paces…" Wakaki said, calling off the ability as the girls recovered.

"T… That's so unfair…" Rin said, clutching her head. "H-How are we supposed to keep up with that!?"

"You can't, idiot! That's what makes it so spectacular!" Wakaki said, laughing. "Nobody outside of my employers have ever figured it out… I'm honestly impressed. You're the first opponents in a real battle I've ever had to discover「Thunder Road's」secrets!" Wakaki informed them, clapping. "So now you understand, right? Just how fucked you all are?" She asked, sticking her tongue out. "You've caught me off guard a few times… and that's all. Knowing「Thunder Road's」secret won't help you! If anything, it'll just drag you down into despair!"

"Damn you…" Rin said with a glare. "Stop making fun of us, dammit!"

"Why should I? It barely matters what you do!"

The Cyan Stand created new strings from its right fist, but Wakaki just kept on smirking as her Stand caught them. 30%. And with that she launched the Cyan Stand into a wall once more from the strings.

"I won't ever lose… not to you, or anyone else. I'm a bloodthirsty knight who only wants to win!" Wakaki said. "Honestly, the only real question is which one of you I should kill first… I think I'm gonna go pay Akeno and Miano a visit," she said, her enemies glaring at her and Stands summoned, but no longer attacking. "Yeah… you got it figured out, huh? Doesn't really matter what you do. So why bother fighting? In fact, I'll make you a promise! If you promise not to fight back, instead of making it painful as all hell to vent out losing my eye, I'll just snap your necks. How's that? It's my reward to you for figuring it out!" Wakaki said, even winking towards the group… well, considering her lack of a second eye, a blink. "Ugh… that bitch is gonna pay for that…"

Rin's Stand was the first to charge again, its nails secreting venom, earning an annoyed look from Wakaki and a kick towards the trash from earlier. "Jesus- how many times do I have to beat the shit out of your Stand in particular!?" She asked, launching Rin's Stand near the trash.

"Until I'm dead," Rin taunted, giving a defying smirk. But then, she noticed something weird around the trash can. "Eh…?" Something other than her Stand was moving?

With everyone so focused on Wakaki, she was the only one who hard a quiet meow. That wasn't my Stand! T-there's a cat in the trash or something!?

Something curious was happening, but only Rin was aware of it. "Everyone… everyone! Get back outside! Let's get Akeno and Miano and head back to the stadium!" She reached for her phone, quickly sending a text out, received by Honoka.

"What are you planning, you little bitch!?" Wakaki said, ready to charge, only for「All Star」to press its hands to the ground first.

"You chill out!" Honoka yelled, the vibrations making its way through the ground in front of her. Wakaki jumped back, but this was a misjudgment: all the ground around her was being destroyed by the vibrations. Before Wakaki slowed time however, Hanayo had her Stand throw her cellphone with all its might.

"SWAP!"

Wakaki swapped places with the cell phone, moving her far enough that even with time slowed she could not avoid the destroying floor. But she just smirked. "Alright. You all get a few minutes to regroup," she said, not concerned as she fell to the floor below her. "I'm gonna go grab a Gatorade then come back for you all, got it?"

The girls and the Cyan Stand wasted no time hurrying as fast they could, Umi wrapped around Honoka's shoulders.

"Slowing time… can we even beat that!?" Honoka asked.

"When I threw my phone before she noticed, she couldn't slow time enough to really react! So… I think we can!" Hanayo said. "'Sneak attacks' are the key! If we can attack her while time isn't slowed, I think we can win! Or even…" She gasped. "Maybe… maybe even if time is slowed, we can sneak attack! And if we keep a look at a timer or something, we can tell when she's slowed time!"

Rin was deep in thought. "Wait… on second thought, let's not go outside then!" She suggested. "If we need to rely on 'sneak attacks' then that wide-open field is the worst place to fight her! Even though we'll have more room to circle her, she'll notice us moving around!"

"Sneak attacks in combination with Koizumi's Stand will be the key," the Cyan Stand said. "Her Stand is now vital in beating her… but she won't be easily caught off guard like that yet again. That only worked since she was focusing on Rin… if anything, Kousaka and Koizumi will likely be her main targets now," it said, the two girls in particular gulping.

They ran back to Akeno and Miano, Miano now able to stand on her own. "Oi, are you guys alright?" Akeno yelled back. "Did you figure out what she was doing? … H-Holy shit, the Cyan Stand!"

"For the time being, I am reluctantly your ally," the Cyan Stand said. "The power of Wakaki's Stand is the ability to slow time. Our actions are slowed, but her's are unhindered. From our perspective however, it simply looks like inhuman reflexes. We can't process the slowed time at all without looking at something to record time…"

"Holy shit… really?" Miano asked. "That's… that's crazy! So that's why we couldn't hit her!? Because she was basically at superspeed!?"

"I hate this bitch more and more by the second," Akeno said. "Do we got a plan!"

"No matter how strong, she's only human… if we catch her off guard with a sneak attack, it doesn't matter how fast she is! That's what we think… as log as we can catch her off guard it doesn't matter if time is slowed to its minimum speed, we'll still hit her!" Honoka said. "I got another good rush on blows again back there… I think she's almost done. I don't think she can take another barrage like that!"

"But that also means she's going to be on her best guard now," Umi said. "Hanayo's swap ability is good… but we'll need all her attention off her when its being used. And Wakaki probably already knows that's our strategy…"

"Guys…" Rin said, looking up. "Something weird happened… when she kicked my Stand over to a garbage can, I swear I heard a cat meow! And it wasn't my Stand!" Rin said. "I think… I think my Stand did something, I swear!"

"… A cat? Did you hit your head or something?" Akeno asked. "This isn't the damn time to think about cats!"

"No, just… Somebody let me try something! Somebody please let me scratch you with my Stand!" Rin asked, her hands pressed together pleadingly, a gesture he Stand copied. "Please!"

"… Oh, fuck it," Akeno said, walking over, lifting her skirt. "Just do it!"

Rin's Stand scratched her, earning a wince from Akeno, and shortly after her fever-like symptoms. "W… D-Did you do that just to make me sick!?"

"N-No! I don't… I don't know what happened!" It was like a second nature; Rin was able to end the attack on Akeno quickly. "I'm confident! My Stand did something else… a-and I think it was with the venom in its claws!"

"Now's not the time to fuck around with theories! If anyone's shitty enough to put a cat in a garbage, it's that Wakaki bitch! We need to focus on pummeling her!" Akeno yelled, putting pressure on her cut. "We got a good plan already! With Koizumi's Stand we can swap location with something she throws, right? We just gotta catch her off guard and use that to close the distance, its simple! I say the Cyan Stand or Honoka should be swapped close!" The other girls nodded at the idea, but Rin stood her ground. They were by the concession stand where the second phase of the battle had started earlier, and there was a nearby cash register. Hanayo walked over to it, looking around: to prepare for the opening there was already yen coins for the cash register, and she broke it open.

With this, I'll have lots of coins for swapping now! She thought with a smile, before turning over to Rin. "Rin…"

"If my Stand can do something else, it could be useful to us! I want… I want to be useful!" She yelled, her Stand jumping on the concession stand next to her. "Dammit, let me have a chance, too!" Rin yelled, her Stand angrily swiped at the cash register nearby.

And then, something happened.

Something made the other girls go quiet.

And something more or less made everyone, sans the Cyan Stand, have the same reaction:

"Holy shit!"

---

"So, this is where you intend on dying, eh?"

Wakaki was stoic as she stared down the united Stand users. They didn't go outside as initially declared, all grouped by the concession Stand. "Any other Stand user would shit their pants at seeing all of you… but I'm not any other Stand user," she said, crunching a now empty Gatorade bottle. "And you know, drinking that makes me feel a little better~!"

"We're not going to die here, Wakaki," Honoka said. "This is where we're going to win! We're making our stand against you, and everyone like you! I don't care who I have to fight… cops, delinquents, you! I want a Tokyo where my sister and my friends can live happily, free from people like you!"

"For the good of the people of Tokyo, together, we stand proud!" The Cyan Stand said.

"For tricking Akeno into killing an innocent person, hurting Maki, hurting Miano…" Rin was especially glaring. "I'm gonna help beat you to a pulp! And I'm going to keep singing, dancing, and fighting alongside μ's!"

"We won't ever lose to someone like you!" Hanayo yelled. "My mother didn't raise me to be a coward, and my days of wishing for others to save me are long over! I'm going to help… help save this city from people like you!"

"I'm not good with this wordy, heroic shit. I just really wanna beat the shit out of you," Akeno said, earning a laugh from Miano.

"Yeah, what she said," Miano said, even grasping Akeno's hand.

"You've underestimated us too many times, Wakaki. Even if you're on your top guard, we'll find a way to break through your defenses," Umi said. "We're going to win!"

Wakaki's grin never faded, 「Thunder Road」appearing once more. "What noble intentions… just like the idea of the knights of old! But an idea is just an idea, and reality is reality… so please, allow me to introduce you to the 'reality' of your situation! The 'reality' of your deaths!"

"Everyone, get ready!" Umi yelled, taking out her phone, turning on the timer app. "Time… time is already moving at a reduced pace!"

We'll start off with 30%!

Right off the bat, Miano stood in front of Hanayo, 「Union of the Snake」materializing on the floor. And the Cyan Stand took a defensive position by Umi. Figures, they're protecting the most important ones first!

Honoka, Rin, and Akeno took the first move. Honoka ran so their Stands could get closer, while Rin enjoyed her Stand's long range to run. I can go toe-to-toe with Akeno and Honoka, but that cat Stand is a serious problem… after a few minutes I'll be too weak from that flu to do anything but run off and come back when I'm out of its range!

This time she focused on Akeno first, charging towards her. "Come get some!" Akeno yelled, 「Good Girl Gone Bad's」titanium fists ready to go blow-to-blow with「Thunder Road.」The exchange was short and brief, with Wakaki's Stand rush easily overpowering her. But rather than simply taking the full beating, Akeno had her Stand's entire head and torso turn to titanium, essentially nullifying the blows before too much damage could be done.

"Didn't peg you for such a coward, Akeno," Wakaki said with a sneer, backing off. Now「All Star」and the cat Stand were approaching.

"Bite my ass, bitch!" Akeno yelled out.

50%! And yet again Wakaki prioritized the cat Stand, delivering yet another kick to hit it away. "I can't believe that actually stopped being fun," she mused, frowning as Rin's Stand yet again could not reach her. That left「All Star」coming. But rather than meet the Stand head-on she chose to dodge, delivering a few punch to「All Star's」side, earning a yell from Honoka. She cursed as she felt her body grow cold, knowing that「Union of the Snake」had begun attacking. I'll be fine for a few minutes… She thought, turning to her immediate enemies once more.

"Kousaka!" Akeno yelled, who nodded in return.

Oh, I see your strategy now, Wakaki thought. You want to distract me so that Hoshizora can attack, eh?

But she wouldn't let them. Now, dodging was her priority. 40% is good enough for now… Wakaki said. Between her body temperature cooling the experience was especially hellish on her body, but she soldiered on. But the combination with her poison would have been too much for her to withstand, she imagined. As it was, she was fighting while affected by a single, consistent attack now… a key to her victory was to avoid Rin's attacks at any cost!

"Guess she figured it out…" Honoka said, looking at Akeno, before facing Hanayo. "She figured it out, Hanayo!"

"Swap!" Hanayo yelled, recalling Akeno's location with the Cyan Stand, who took a fighting stance.

"You ready for this idea?" The Cyan Stand said, as Honoka nodded.

"Let's do iiiiiiiiiiiiit!" Honoka yelled. "Launch me, baby!"

"Wait, what!?" Wakaki yelled, as she watched the strings wrap around Honoka. "Y… oh, you're fucking kidding me!"

Ad the Cyan Stand launched Honoka, flying through the air with her Stand. Even with time reduced, it didn't change one fact: something very, very fast even when slowed down a little was still very fast! 70%! She thought to herself, getting enough distance. With「Union of the Snake's」temperature lowering it was highly uncomfortable, even more than usual, but it wasn't enough to stop her yet. "What kind of stupid plan is this!?"

"It's my stupid plan!" Honoka yelled. It didn't take long for Wakaki to realize her concentration had indeed been broken, and she had lost track of Rin's Stand. But even as her eyes darted around, she didn't see it approaching her. The other Stand users were starting to physically advance though. She felt some energy return to her as Miano's Stand was temporarily cancelled so she could run closer, the Stand's slow nature making it impractically for moving distances. It was time to start making lethal attacks, Wakaki rationalized. If she could one of them every 30 seconds or so, she'd be able to resolve this fight with plenty of energy yet!

"Kousaka!" Wakaki yelled, 「Thunder Road」rapidly closing the distance. "You were a worthy enemy, but I'm ending this now!"

"Swap!"

Wakaki's eyes widened as the Cyan Stand now stood in her attack path instead. "Hey. Missed me?" Wakaki was forced to gain distance once more, glaring. Rather than bothering with them she sprinted to her left, trying to gain distance from everyone else.

"I think she's gonna try circling!" Miano yelled, looking at her path. "Yeah… no doubt! She's coming for Hanayo now!"

Kill her first, then the rest will be easy, more or less, Wakaki reasoned. Her order priority was this: Koizumi, Hoshizora, Miano, Kousaka, Akeno, the Cyan Stand, then Sonoda. Then she could kill Aya and Nishikino with ease outside. The Red Arrow now had plenty of field data, and Yamazaki would be satisfied; so, what if a few possible contestants for the Greatest Concert were loss? That she defeated so many enemies, and that Red Arrow had proven such a valuable weapon after all was far more important to the Yoshidas, as far as she was concerned.

She might swap with someone else… If she does, I just gotta go for a kill! She thought to herself, ready to start bringing this to its endgame.

Hanayo had no fear as her opponent approached, yelling out the words Wakaki expected to hear: "Swap!"

Expecting Honoka or the Cyan Stand to be in her way, it was a genuine shock to see Rin standing in front of her instead. "Hoshizora, nya!"

So caught off-guard was Wakaki that Rin evaded the attack, grinning as her Stand materialized. Is she gonna attack「Thunder Road」and see if that can poison him!? I can't risk that! She attempted to punch the cat, but it jumped off her Stand's head instead.

Looking directly above her she noticed two coins flying through the air. Wait a second, there's no way that had time to reach me while time is slowed! She looked over her shoulder, seeing a grinning Honoka. "Y… you're kidding me…!"

Before they even swapped she threw those, when I was focusing on Koizumi!? Two of them… Are two of them gonna land right on top of me!? Its already by my head!

But instead, secreting poison from its claws, Rin's Stand scratched the coins.

Even with time slowed to 70%, with the coins being right in her face, she couldn't react to two things, big and furry right in her face. Let alone with then latched onto her face and shoulder with sharp claws, hissing and biting her.

"What the fuck!? What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck!?" Wakaki screamed, her concentration so broken she could no longer maintain slowed time. "Get it the fuck off me!"

"My Stand making people sick… I think that's a secondary effect, if anything," Rin began, grinning as she did a summersault away. "A result of the stuff getting into your blood! If you're alive and stuff it makes you really sick… but! When I was trying to attack you earlier, I realized that my Stand must have hit 'something' in the garbage you kicked it to with the attack meant with you! Something not alive became alive… it became…"

Wakaki screamed as her Stand ripped the beast from her face, throwing it angrily at the ground, before reaching for whatever was on her should, the animal clawing her hands and biting it. "What the fuck!"

The two orange tabbys were hissing.

"It 'turned into a cat!' That's how it works! My Stand… the venom from its claws can either 'make people sick' or 'turn objects into cats!' Gotcha good, didn't I!?" Rin said, sticking her tongue. "My one and only…「Cat Scratch Fever!」"

She screamed as she had her Stand rip the second cat from her shoulder, drawing blood as its nails dragged through her. "You're dead, do you understand me?"

"Maybe… but not today, and that's what matters, nya! Hey, what was that you said earlier about my life being hard enough with the 'tranny shit?' 'Cuz that may be true, but at the very least, I'm gonna get to help kick your butt! Hey also… think fast!"

Wakaki's eyes widened as she looked behind her, seeing Honoka once again fly through the air. "Banzaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

90%! Maximum efficiency! She thought in a panic, 「Thunder Road」barely slowing time down to its maximum… only to notice a searing pain in her legs a moment later. She had been so focused on the Honoka missile flying towards her, she had completely overlooked that「Cat Scratch Fever」had remained close by. And now its claws were in her legs, as were its poison. While the orange tabbys were rushing over, she kicked Rin's Stand for what felt like the fiftieth time and sprinted away, gasping for air. I can't… I can't… maintain it like this…! Wakaki gasped as「Thunder Road's」time manipulation was broken. If she hadn't been tired in any way she could've kept up maximum efficiency to sprint away until she was out of「Cat Scratch Fever's」range, but she simply could not do it anymore. No amount of painkillers, IV fluids, Gatorade, or whatever could change one fact:

She was tired. And she was injured. Now moreso than ever, almost immediately feeling the fever kick in. "This… This can't be… h-happening, not to me…!"

"From the beginning you were outmatched, Wakaki!" Umi yelled out. "There's no such thing as an 'invincible power!' Your Stand is extremely powerful, we probably wouldn't have won if we hadn't figured it out… but once we did?"

"Nothing could protect you from the fact you were outnumbered!" The Cyan Stand yelled, charging. And as she said that Wakaki felt a cold air over her, realizing Miano's own attack had started once more.

"I… I've fought… multiple opponents before…" Wakaki said quietly, to herself. "By myself… no matter what happens, I-I was always… the victorious knight…!"

Honoka landed.

"You… Kousaka… Honoka…"

"If it had been just me, I would be dead. You would have killed me. You're crazy strong, I'll give you that… absolutely none of us would have stood any chance alone," Honoka admitted. "But this is what makes us stronger! All of us, united, together as one! Without Umi, despite her just obtaining her Stand, we never would have figured out the secret of your Stand! The Cyan Stand helps too, helping me gain distance in a way that Hanayo can focus on other things! Rin created the ultimate distraction, and Miano helped attack you from a distance! Believe it or not, Akeno is the one who came up with this plan when we learned what Rin's power could do!"

"Not bad for a dropout, huh!?" Akeno said, grinning.

"Hanayo of course made it possible with he swapping… Personally, I actually feel like the least useful one here, although I got ya good with my vibration attack! But… at the least…"

Honoka was grinning, standing in front of her. It didn't take long for the Cyan Stand to get behind her, and even the cats, once 100 yen coins latched onto her Stand's legs to try to slow it down.

"T… Thund… Thunde… Thunder… f-forty percent… ugh…!"

"At the very least… I'm gonna pummel you into next week!"

Her Stand was surrounded by two sides, with Wakaki's only mercy being they did not want to kill her, directing the blows to her Stand instead.

"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO—"

"KHOROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—"

They actually beat me, was all Wakaki could think, taking countless blows. I… I actually lost… to them

"FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

「Thunder Road」disappeared.

Wakaki could no longer stand. A million thoughts raised through her mind, but for how wickedly rude and vile the teenage girl was, one sole, humble thought races through her mind in a volume that triumphed all:

Yamazaki… they're… they're really interesting…

She fell, face-first.

There was a pause.

And then, a cheer.

"We did it! We really beat her!" Hanayo said with a laugh, pulling Umi into a hug in her excitement. She flushed with embarrassment, but Umi returned the hug and laughed with her. Aken also pulled Miano into a tight hug, followed by Rin practically tacklehugging Honoka to the ground.

Their hardest battle had ended with a victory!

"I was so scared for you, back there," Akeno said. "Your head…"

"It still feels like shit…" Miano confessed, nuzzling into her. "I just thought about how terrible it would be to never see you again, so I hung in there…"

"… The castle…"

"Hmmm?"

"My castle is with you, wherever you are," Akeno said, smiling as she looked her in the eyes. "For a split second I thought I was gonna lose you, and I just thought, 'Oh God, what would I do without you?"

"… You would be fine…"

"Nah," Akeno said, taking her tattooed finger, pressing it against Miano. "We're binded together forever, remember? By a red string, ever since we were little kids… I'm terrified, the thought of losing you…"

"Akenoooo… y… you're gonna make me blush…"

But Akeno just kept on grinning. "What's wrong with that? Homura Miano…" She said, cupping her chin.

"Akeno…"

"When this is all over, no more bullshitting with our lives, alright? I want us to move forward," Miano's heart practically beat right out of her chest. "I don't even really care about Yanigihori, I think. I just want to be by your side. And… I dunno. Thinking you were gonna die- I can't just keep it to myself, you know?"

"… You're so stupid…" Miano said with a smile, moving closer. "But then again, we both are, right?"

"Stupid as can be… we make up half a normal person, I think. But that's what makes it fun, you know? We can be stupid together."

There was a pause as they broke from their hug, only to embrace once again, Akeno's lips pressing against Miano's. Umi turned as red as could be and turned away, while the rest of μ's just watched with gasps.

"… I love ya, Miano."

"I know, you idiot. I love you too."

"Dumbass."

"Bitch."

They laughed as they finally pulled away, turning to the rest. "… The fuck you looking at?" Akeno asked, her expression a glare, but with a blush.

"That was so cute, nya! I can't believe I got to see that… best Stand awakening ever!" Rin said with a laugh, as Honoka and Hanayo simply smiled on.

But the Cyan Stand was much less jovial, standing over the defeated Wakaki. "Its time you tell me everything you know," it said, a few feet away.

"… Just kill me, 'cuz I'll never talk," Wakaki speaking once more was enough to break the celebratory mood, all eyes on her once more. "See, this is the problem… ya'll know there's nothing you can ever do to prove any crime I've committed, but none of you are gonna kill me, will you? How about you, Akeno?"

Akeno narrowed her eyes. "I don't know about forever, but at least for today, I've had my fill of killing."

"Kyahahaha… you're all so fucking stupid… but… you actually beat me. Their knight…" Wakaki mused, groaning as she forced herself to sit up against a wall. "I'm never gonna go away… not until the day you're willing to kill me."

"Then maybe one day, that day will come," it was to everyone's shock that it was Honoka who declared it. "I already killed one man to protect my life and the world I love… I would have killed you if I had to. But for now, you can't fight," thoughts of the battle with Fuhai Yoshikawa raced back. "And you have information we could use, can you? So you're better alive than dead, for now anyways," Honoka said, the venom in her voice a shock to everyone, but enough to earn back Wakaki's grin.

"… You're the one… I want to meet he most again…" She admitted. "When all of you grow as Stand users… I want to meet you all again, but you're the one that really got my interest the most… you got it?"

"Tell us who you work for!" Honoka demanded. "Tell us who built this weapon, this 'Red Arrow!' What do you know about the 'Pink and Black' Stand awakening Stand users, and what do you know about Stands in general!? It's time… you owe us these answers…"

"… E-even like this…"

"Hmm?" Honoka asked, glaring.

"If just for a few seconds…"

Once more, 「Thunder Road's」visage graced the girls.

"E-even like that she can summon her Stand!?" Akeno yelled, bringing her own back out. 「All Star」rushed forward to deal a crushing blow, but it was too late.

"Just for a few seconds… maximum efficiency…" And within slowed time, at 90%, impossible for anyone to react, Wakaki brought the Red Arrow back into her Stand, screaming as a bright light enveloped the area. By the girls could see once more, it was「Hawkwind」standing instead, Wakaki on its back. And with the Arrow activated further, its size monstrous.

"S-shit!" Honoka yelled, jumping back. The Cyan Stand attempted to attack, but the wing swipe was simply too fast. From inside Yoshida Stadium the monstrous bird roared, flapping its wings repeatedly. Inside the small confined area, the gust of wind was much stronger than outside, sending her opponents flying back before the Stand charged outside.

"S-she can't get away!" Miano yelled, the girls racing after her. But even「Cat Scratch Fever」and the Cyan Stand couldn't keep up with her. Once outside the badly injured Wakaki looked near the initial entrance, seeing an unconscious Aya lying by Maki, smirking.

"One day soon… we're all gonna meet again, alright?" She yelled out, her Stand taking to the skies. "I'm keeping eyes on all of you! From afar… I'll be watching you all!"

Before long she was out of even Hanayo's range, taking to the skies.

"N-no!" Honoka yelled out, reaching for the sky. "Get back here! Right this instance! Get back here!"

But it was to no use. For while μ's and their allies had won this battle, this war was far from over.

---

STAND: Thunder Road/Hawkwind

USER: "Wakaki"

STATUS: ESCAPED

---

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Akeno punched a wall in frustration, not caring that it made her hands bleed. "Goddammit, I thought for sure she was done for! I can't believe… s-she still had just enough strength to summon her Stand!? What a load of shit!"

"At least for now, its over," Umi said. Rin and Hanayo had run over to the unconscious Aya and Maki, making sure they were still breathing.

"This was an absolute failure," Akeno said bitterly. "We didn't capture Wakaki, or the 'Pink and Black' Stand. We don't know who Wakaki is working for, and she probably has ways of keeping tabs on us, just like she said! And she knows how strong we all are now… don't ya get it? Wakaki's probably gonna get all patched up, knowing how to fight us and what to expect… and I bet she's gonna inform her bosses about us! Even though we kicked her ass, she has all the cards; what a load of horse shit!"

"I wouldn't say that," Miano said, holding her new girlfriend's hand. "We know what to expect from Wakaki now. Both her Stands, and that 'Red Arrow…' We need to report that to the boss, still," Miano said. "She didn't expect us to live… so the fact we know about the 'Red Arrow' and that it lets her have two Stands is something major."

"I guess… it doesn't change the fact she probably learned more about us than the other way around," Akeno mused. "But… we're alive, I guess. You girls learned a bunch of new stuff about each other, and now I got a girlfriend. That's something," she said, letting Miano nuzzle into her shoulder. "Kousaka…"

"Yeah?"

"We can't help you defeat our boss. Its… its dishonorable. We already stabbed her in the back once, we can't do it again," Akeno said. "But I'm making peace with you. I won't fight you or anyone allied to you… but in the same vain, despite everything that's happened, I can't help you fight them. I won't tell you my allies Stand's… but I can tell you this much," she said, looking her new friend(?) in the eyes. "At this point, only the three strongest are left. The two that's known the boss for years, way before any of us had Stands… the three strongest! The boss, and her two confidents!" She explained. "I will say… if you mange to beat Takamaki though, I bet she'll come for you personally. Get ready, alright?"

"Thank you, Akeno-chan…" Honoka said, with a smile. "You're nicer than you let on."

"H-hey! Don't call me -chan! Its friggin' girly!"

Honoka laughed, before noticing the Cyan Stand starting to walk off. "Hey, wait!"

The Cyan Stand stopped, facing Honoka. "I failed to achieve my objectives. I didn't defeat Wakaki, nor did I claim the arrow. I'm leaving, now."

"Its you, isn't it? Prez?" Honoka asked. "Ayase Eli, this is your Stand, right?" The Cyan Stand remained quiet, Umi and the delinquents facing her direction. "This is your Stand… it's a 'Long-range' Stand like Kotori's, or an 'Automatic' Stand like Nico's. Right now, you're probably miles away, remotely controlling your Stand, aren't you?"

"Hmph… it's a respectable deduction. Based on what you've seen, its natural to make that assumption," the Cyan Stand said, starting to glow. "I would have made the same deduction, but its much more than that. It does not matter though. I will carry all the burdens plaguing this city with this power, with this Stand. With this… I have become justice. I will enforce it on those who would hurt the innocent people of this town!""

"You're just human, Ayase-senpai! Please… don't fight alone, let us help you! No matter what kind of Stand you have… please, can we meet wherever you are? We should talk about being allies for real!" Honoka said, pleading.

"But I'm already here, Kousaka Honoka. And I'm not human. Not anymore!"

The Stand dematerialized entirely, leaving Eli Ayase standing before them.

"E-Eli… you…!?"

"My Stand is 'Wearable,'" Eli said. "I do not control it from any distance… my Stand materializes as armor, which grants me superhuman speed, power, and durability."

The air was heavy, and uncomfortable.

"I am justice."

---

Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!

Chapter 16: Elichika

---

Stand profile: Rin Hoshizora

Stand name: Cat Scratch Fever

Namesake: Ted Nugent song of the same name

Type: Short-range

Stand cry: None, although it does sometimes meow during combat

Appearance/Personality: Like its owner the Stand has a mischievous, playful personality, often sharing Rin's reactions to most things when she's excited, and a tendency to act like a cat (espeically knocking things over) when idle. It is a small Stand, standing at just a little over a foot and a half once it stood upright. It resembles a robotic cat, capable of standing on only its hind legs if it wants to, but usually stays on all fours. Its body is a yellow metal with a teal spot on its stomach, and a metal tail nearly as long as its body. Its arms look like black tubes, almost looking like they were made of plastic. Its head was shaped like a cat complete with cat ears, but it had no visible eyes, mouth, or nose. Its entire face seemed to be an LED screen, with two red dots glowing to signify the Stand as 'awake.' It can light up the dots of these LED screen to show its emotions.

Abilities:

• Nya! Can't Keep Up!: Even for Short-range Stands, Cat Scratch Fever is an incredibly quick and agile Stand, which in combined with its small body can make it extremely hard to keep up with. Combined with a significantly above-average range for a Stand of its kind (able to move nearly 100 feet away from its user) this makes it an extremely tricky Stand to successfully hit and keep up with. However, the user must still be able to see their Stand to properly use it. However, the Stand's durability is lacking as a result, and would be lucky to withstand a single Stand barrage without being taken out.

• This Kitty Has Claws!: The venom that comes out of Cat Scratch Fever's claws has two different uses. These effects differ widely depending on whether or not it infects a living target, or an inanimate one.

• Oh No! You Got Cat Scratch Fever!: The more direct method is to scratch a living being with its venom directly. When this is done it creates fever-like symptoms that increase in intensity the more time passes, eventually reaching a point virtually any opponent will have extreme difficulty fighting. The range of this poisoning effect is about 100 feet.

• Look Out! Scary Kitties!: The true use of this venom, however, seems to be when used in inanimate, non-living objects. These cats can be controlled with Rin's mind, and anything they see, hear, or smell, so can Rin. Having the same range of most of Rin's techniques, it is useful for short-reconnaissance and spying, however these cats do not seem to have any spectacular powers beyond being able to interact with Stands. They appear to be most useful in-battle as a distraction while Rin has her Stand attack.

Stats:

• Destructive Power: B

• Speed: A

• Range: A

• Precision: C

• Durability: E

• Development Potential: A

---

Stand profile: "Wakaki"

Stand name: Thunder Road

Namesake: Bruce Springsteen song of the same name

Type: Short-range

Stand cry: None, although Wakaki typically says "Take hold, Thunder Road!" Before it initiates a Stand rush, the Stand itself is silent.

Appearance/Personality: A Stand at roughly 6'0 in height, covered in a brilliant gold armor. It is a gold-plated armor to be specific, with a white cape flowing behind it as well: many who see it, including its user, compare its appearance to that of a knight from the Medieval Era. From its plated helmet there are two red eyes that glow, but the rest of its face is not visible.

Abilities:

• Time slow: The ultimate, defining power of Thunder Road is the power to slow time. When time is slowed, all beings in the world slows with it. Wakaki can control this in increments of 10%, with 10% being its 'weakest' and 90% at its 'strongest.' When time is slowed only Wakaki moves at her normal speed, while all others are severely slowed as a result. People typically do not understand that time has been slowed, as for they experience the phenomena in "real time" on their ends. From this perspective it gives the illusion of Wakaki having supernatural reflexes and agility, as they cannot see that she is slowing time without the use of a clock or timer, which does recognize this change. However, this is taxing on Wakaki to maintain and use, and after using it for extended periods of time (especially when at maximum power) it begins to rapidly drain her stamina, that also appears to dehydrate her. Drinking IV fluids and drinks heavy with electrolytes however, like Gatorade, seem to help her recover from this drain and allow her to maintain it longer.

Stats:

• Destructive Power: A

• Speed: A

• Range: C

• Precision: B

• Durability: A

• Development Potential: B

---

Hey, I did it. Fuck yeah!

Well, that took ANOTHER long wait. I hope it was worth it, though! I had a really rough semester, so once it was over, I took a bit of a break from my writing to just relax for a bit. And then when I was ready to jump back, I had some writers blocks during the writing of this story. But I really hope it worked out, it was really fun for me to write, and I hope you all enjoyed it! It took most of 2019 but the conflict with Wakaki has now come to its end... for now!

I really do love writing this a lot. The fact it has a recommendation on tv tropes makes me so happy, and I hope all future chapters continue to excite everyone as well! And before I forget; happy pride, everyone! To every LGBT person reading this, I hope you have an amazing June!

May every road take you a memory of Great Days!