Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable
Chapter 18: Fur Omine (Part 2)
Leah Kurosawa: Pretty much none of these girls are N Girls from SIF. While I'm aware of N Girls, and I might have some ideas for the future, for the time being all characters that didn't appear in the show are OCs!
Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
H-Honoka here! Things are getting really spicy now! Maki got her Stand -I'm not supposed to know that yet but I'm in charge of this recap- and our first training session with Eli was a complete disaster! I never expected Maki and Fumiko would become friends, but I'm really happy they hit it off… but Fumiko's a Stand user talking with the enemy!? And worse than that, Yanigihori is in my home!? What the heck is going on here!?
"Y… Yanigihori Jori…!"
"Kousaka Honoka," was all Yanigihori said at first, before bowing down to her enemy.
Eh!? What's she doing!?
"You have a lovely home. You have my gratitude for being allowed to enter," the bowing girl said, before facing Honoka's mother and doing the same. "Place of business or not, it is my privilege and my honor."
"O-Oh, um, thank you so much!" Mrs. Kousaka said with a smile, returning the bow to be polite, and shooting a look at her elder daughter which caused her to do the same. "Please, there's no need to be so formal; Homura is an old business, but at the end everyone is welcome here…"
"All the more reason to show my gratitude," Yanigihori said, before facing Honoka. "Kousaka-san, can we speak in your room? I'd prefer speaking with you privately; about the Idol Study Club, anyways," Yanigihori said, the true meaning of what she meant realized only to Honoka.
"Yeah… mom, let me and Yanigihori-san talk for a while on our own, OK?" She asked, her mother nodding. She was a bit confused by the situation: but not so much she intervened, much to Honoka's relief.
And so Yanigihori trailed quietly behind her, as the two made their way to the chabudai in Honoka's room: Honoka wasting no time kneeling on one of the cushions, blinking as she saw Yanigihori kneel on the bare floor. "Er… I-I can get you a cushion—"
"I'm already intruding in your home, I couldn't ask for more," Yanigihori said, her face and tone serious. "It is the least an uninvited guest can do."
"I mean… you bought stuff from us, right? So I can't say you're that unwelcome, you're putting food on my table technically…"
Yanigihori chuckled. "I suppose that's one way to think of it. I wasn't lying what I said back there; I love sweets, you see. Tokyo Bananas are my favorite; I haven't had any that good in quite a while."
Honoka beamed with pride. "I'm glad you liked them! You know, I love those a lot too! I actually don't like bean paste so some of our big-ticket items I don't eat a lot, so I love getting a few of those when I can!"
Yanighihori smiled. "You should be proud to be the daughter of such a skilled candy maker. I would hope that should you or your kin inherit this store that it would be in good hands."
"Oh, I totally intend on inheriting this place one day; I hope I'll make yummy Tokyo Bananas for years to come!" It earned a laugh from both Idol and delinquent, and for a few seconds it was like the heavy tension of the air was lifted.
"… Of course, I doubt I will be returning here; assuming this conversation goes as I expect it to be," Yanigihori said, her tone serious once more, and Honoka's laughter receding as well. "Kousaka Honoka… Stand user and leader of μ's, which consists almost entirely of Stand users."
"I never thought it'd be like this," Honoka said, looking down. "I became a School Idol to save the school… I saw those girls from UTX, A-RISE perform, and it moved something in me. The passion, the talent… I thought if we could harness it, we could save Otonokizaka," Honoka admitted. "But even Eli thinks we're amateurs dancing, and the deadline is so close now… It makes me so nervous. And the fights with your girls…"
"I apologize for Wakaki," Yanigihori said. "I'm sure you realized, but by then she had gone rogue. Nonetheless she once fought under my banner, so I apologize."
"And what about Kobayashi?" Honoka asked, her tone serious as she narrowed her eyes. "Do you apologize for her as well?" She kept Akeno and Miano's names under the wraps; while their attack had bee unprovoked, they had proven themselves friends and allies to μ's now.
"Never," Yanigihori replied. "When an 'enemy' appears… I 'crush them.' That has always been my philosophy. If you hadn't become comrade-in-arms with them, I would have sent Miyabashi and Homura after the lot of you as well," she explained, not even attempting to sugar-coat her intentions. "To fight under my banner or to oppose me… I do not accept things like 'neutrality.' Kobayashi extended that offer when battling Yazawa, Koizumi, and Minami; and it was rejected then, and so she responded as I expected."
"… So then, why have you come here?" Honoka asked. "Did you come here to challenge me personally? Do you intend to fight me?" She asked, her expression now a glare as「All Star」appeared. "Because don't think I'm a pushover, either."
"No. I wanted to learn more about you, to ask questions," Yanigihori replied, not summoning her own Stand. "I was extraordinarily hasty in this affair. I wish to learn things now…"
"Learn things… about me? About μ's?"
"Yes. Your resolve and your strength… if I had done the wrong thing… I came here to learn those things for myself," Yanigihori said. "I wish to learn, rather than conquer. Of course, if you do not wish to answer my questions, I will take my leave without incident."
"I… I guess, I'll answer…"
"Your resolve… from the bottom of your heart, that is all you have desired, to save the school?" Yanigihori asked. "To become a Stand user, to survive that arrow piercing you requires a 'fighting spirit…' A spirit you and your friends clearly possess, proving yourself stronger than my girls… The majority of my group are indeed the kind of delinquents you see in anime and manga. Kobayashi wasn't, but even then, her「Worker Bees」was a powerful swarming Stand whose power shocked even me. I never thought it could be defeated… and yet the strength of your girls surpassed anything I could have imagined. Where does it come from? This 'fighting spirit' from you girls, who have lived lives without physical hardship and fighting… where is it from, Kousaka Honoka?"
Honoka went quiet. It was never something she had really thought of before; where had this power grown from? She was an average, if dumb girl. Sure, her life wasn't completely perfect; but she had grown up in a life without serious strife or conflict. She recalled when she was little her parents had begun fighting and some discussion of a divorce had begun, but they had pulled it together and were still happily married.
And yet, she wielded「All Star.」She wielded the power that surpassed Fuhai Yoshikawa's own powerful Stand; and it just dawned for the first time on her that this power had saved Eli's life from his as well. The combined might of Akeno and Miano, and ultimately triumphing over Wakaki with the help of her allies; an overwhelmingly powerful enemy she was confident would have defeated her if alone. Where had this incredible power from within come from?
"… Because, I want to save the school."
"… Is that truly it, Kousaka Honoka?"
"Well, to be specific, it's more like there's 'nothing I won't do' to save it," Honoka said. "Even though all these fights are technically unrelated to it… I think I'd be willing to fight you and your girls to keep Otonokizaka open, if that's what it takes. But… no. There has to be more, deep within. I can't accept that's all it was. And… you know, when I was first pierced by the arrow, I couldn't manifest it until a little later that day. When Yoshikawa attacked my home… seeing my dad bleeding, saying he'd kill my mom. When he first attacked me, it was the worst physical pain I've ever felt; I used to say that about my periods, but now it can't compare. And for a second, I was ready to die. I made peace with it. 'I did everything I could. I did everything I can.' And the thought of dying didn't seem scary and I completely accepted it…"
"…"
"But I didn't want to die. Something triggered inside me. An overwhelming desire to fight. Sure, to protect myself and my life, but more than that! I wanted to protect my family, especially my little sister who could only hide in her room terrified out of her mind; and I thought about all my precious friends in μ's and even Otonokizaka. I wanted to see all my friends again! And I wanted to save the school! Otonokizaka was there… but it was on the back of my mind! 'Otonokizaka can't be saved without μ's, and μ's will disband if I die' was the least pressing matter, so it couldn't have been that!" Honoka's eyes were wide as she finally thought about all these things for the first time. "… What drives my fighting spirit… is that more than anything, I want to protect everyone! I love being an Idol, I love singing and dancing even though I'm still new to it! I want… I want to 'protect everything dear to me,' and I think that's what everyone else feels," Honoka said, looking Yanigihori right in the eyes. "That… that is our fighting spirit. I'm sure of it."
"… I see," Yanigihori said, nodding and smiling. "A good enough reason to fight as any… nobler than most, actually. I'm happy to have such a worthy opponent…"
"And you, Yanigihori? Why are you fighting?" Honoka asked. "Why are you so hellbent on obtaining the arrow?"
And Yanigihori went quiet. "… Because I have a dream, I must fulfill no matter what, and I believe with all my heart the arrow's power will make that dream possible. It was a dream I never thought I could have ever achieved in the past, but now its finally in my grasp," Yanigihori explained. "I don't have much time to fulfill it, I believe, so I must set out as quickly as possible."
"Not much time…?"
"The clock has been paused, but I'm confident soon it will start up once more; and then the time I have to achieve my dream will dwindle once more," Yanigihori said, smiling once more; but Honoka could sense the bitterness and sadness within that smile. "That is why I must act, and why I must crush anyone in my way. Only when my dream is fulfilled will I be able to come to peace with it all…"
"Is there… no other way?"
"None that I believe. Only many Stand users by my side will help me achieve this dream, and with the arrow I will accomplish that goal. With the power of the arrow I will be able to 'remake Japan in my image,' and then at last my dream will be fulfilled," Yanigihori said. "Most of my followers also have a dream they believe in; and with the arrow, as their leader, I am bounded by honor to fulfill their dreams as well," Yanigihori said. "No matter what, I will make their dreams come true for helping my own dreams come true," she went on. "Or at the least, for the rest of my days, I will gladly become their slaves to make up for my failure."
"… You're not the bad person I thought you were, you're making this harder for me, especially if we have to fight… I don't… I don't want to fight you girls if I don't have to…"
"Then will you ally with us instead, Kousaka Honoka?" Yanigihori asked. "Would you and μ's be willing to ally with us, to help me make my dream come true; and in return make your own dreams come true with the power of the arrow? That is the other reason I came here today… I wanted to make 'one effort' to end this. A chance to put the past behind, and fight together as allies instead of enemies. Help us triumph over Ayase and Tojo, the 'Pink and Black Stand,' even Wakaki and obtain the arrow to make our dreams come true. That… that is my offer. But that's not what you're interested in, is it?"
Honoka paused, before shaking her head. "No… even before, if we hadn't been Idols when these powers awakened, I don't think I would've taken it. I don't think any of us would. Our dreams… I think we want to make them happen our own way. Our singing and dancing, and the power of our own Stands. I don't think we'd want to be part of an army. Maybe it would've worked at first… but eventually, it would've broken apart," Honoka said. "I don't… I think the arrow is too dangerous. If I had a choice in what to do with it… I think I'd destroy it. I don't want more people like Wakaki and Yoshikawa to have Stands so they can hurt and kill people… even if it meant conflicting withy our dream, Yanigihori-san," Honoka said, giving a small bow from her end of the table, still kneeling. "So… I apologize, but I have to decline your offer. I don't want to, but I have to."
"Good, I am happier with you staying with your resolve," Yanigihori said, returning the gesture. "I'm… happy we had this talk, if nothing else," the tall girl said as she got out, before reaching into a bag, reaching for her wallet and taking out some yen.
"E-eh?"
"I believe in always extending the maximum courtesy to the owners of any home or restaurant I go to. Being both your home and a business, you deserve everything you can get, even if its not a restaurant. In America you usually leave tips when you eat at a restaurant, I've always liked the idea of showing gratitude like this," Yanigihori said, leaving a little money on the table. "I trust you… I trust that you'll put the money 'in the register' when nobody's looking than stealing it," Honoka tried to think of something to say, to reject the money, but nothing came to mind. "Understand though, Kousaka Honoka… Otonokizaka, as we are both students, and your home out of courtesy, is my only neutral grounds I will extend to you," she explained. "The time for the final clashes between our group are coming… and make no mistake; you and I will battle," Honoka's enemy announced. "And when that happens, we will see who's dreams and ambitions are stronger and will reign supreme in the world. I'm looking forward to it, Kousaka-san. Don't let me down, OK? I want a good fight from you. The kind of fight I won't ever forget for the rest of my life."
"… Not only will I give you a good fight, Yanigihori…" Honoka began. "… But I promise you that I'll win, too!"
She stopped, before grinning. "I usually have a thing about making promises you don't know you can keep… but even if that one falls flat, I respect your guts regardless," she said. And then Yanigihori bowed towards Honoka once more, and then she left.
Honoka was left, stunned and silent. She thought of what to do next; pursue Yanigihori? Call μ's? Homework? Practice singing on her own? A million things ran through her mind, but then her mind went back to the lyrics she had been working on, the ones that she had shown her friends; the ones they were surprised at the quality of. Trying to ease her mind, she brought a pen to the paper. The lyrics she had written before remained unchanged, but… she couldn't help but feel new meaning in them, after this conversation with her enemy. And with that, she wrote down new lyrics that came to here, making sure to record them before the Flash Resolution had left her mind.
I wanted power, power to protect my dream.
We're still in time, let's rise up.
The power that can revive, a power that protects everyone
The lyrics were still far from complete, but nonetheless, Honoka wrote.
Still existing,
The me today,
Wants to become strong.
The me today can win.
I can seize tomorrow.
"We failed to resolve things peacefully."
Yanigihori spoke into her cell phone as she walked home, through the alleys of Kabukicho. The red-light district was well known to her, but still she avoided the busy hassle of the crowded streets; preferring the emptier and more dangerous alleyways. "It went as expected… I got the answers I needed, that's what really matters."
"I told you no good could come from meeting with the enemy, Yanigihori-sama," Takamaki said on the other line of the phone. "They can't possibly understand people like us, where we come from and why we have to do what we must. I will continue with my own mission…"
"No… I think they understand our drive and passion more than you can understand. And that's what makes them so dangerous. We can never underestimate them, even for a second… if we do, it's our downfall.
"Then I won't underestimate them, even if they're middle-class kids who don't have pasts like we do. I won't underestimate or hold back like Wakaki did, taunting everyone… I'll defeat the enemies who come before me precisely and as quickly as I can. All of them, if need be…"
"Your plan… is it just about ready to put into action? You met that other Stand user…"
"Its just my luck… I knew that Fumiko was friends with Kousaka, and I intended on luring her out first; but I never imagined this Nishikino girl would be her friend as well. We don't know if she's a Stand user or not, but at the least she can also be used to draw more out… not to mention, Nikaido is out of the loop; she doesn't know any other Stand users than me. This is our perfect opportunity…"
"Carry out your attack tomorrow," Yanigihori instructed. "Let's get this over with. Regardless, you'll be fighting multiple battles from this point on," she instructed. She noticed a rough-looking delinquent approaching.
"Hey… kinda late to be walking alone this time of the night, don't you agree?" The boy said, grinning. Short, greasy hair slicked back, a few missing teeth; she paid him no mind, trying to walk on. "Hey, come on… why don't I walk you home? We could make it a date!"
"The endgame is approaching, and with it our final battles with μ's. This is why its up to you and Shizuka to show how sharp our fangs truly are."
"Hey… hey! Bitch! I'm talking to you! I'm fucking talking to you!"
"Who's that?"
"Some nobody. Do you understand your orders, though? I think I'm going to have to hang up…"
"You fucking—!"
"Of course, Yanigihori-sama. Leave the rest to me…"
Yanigihori sighed, hanging up her phone and tossing it in her bag as she glanced at the man now charging, knife drawn. "Good grief…" Dodging would have been easy enough, but rather she grabbed the hand brandishing the knife, her grip like steel.
"What the fuck!? You're… let go! Yo-you're gonna crush my wrist!"
"I'm going to do worse than that," Yanigihori said, delivering a kick to the man's crotch. As he recoiled in shock and pain, he felt Yanigihori's left fist slam into his stomach; he had been in fights as long as he could remember, but without a doubt it was the single most devastating punch he had ever felt, the wind immediately knocked out of him. As if that wasn't enough, he soon found himself lifted off the ground, slammed on his back as Yanigihori lifted and slammed him down overhead.
"A… Agh…!"
"Get up…"
"S… I'm sorry…"
"You're sorry? You think that's enough to make me forgive you?" Yanigihori asked. "When you start a fight… only the challenged can decide when its over. The one who starts the fight has no say in that matter. And I'm the challenged… so you don't get the back out until I'm satisfied, got it?" She asked, grabbing him by the face. He struggled against the taller woman, but could do nothing to pry her off. She looked around, seeing a window of a vacant building, wasting no time smashing his head through it, not reacting to the scream that erupted a moment later. "It's one of my rules… If I was losing, I'd also have no right to tell you to stop. Truth be told; when a weakling begs for a beating to stop, it just makes me want to do it more."
"Stop! Please, oh God, please fucking STOP!"
"Good grief, you don't listen…" She sighed, finally letting go of him. He breathed hard as he brought his hands to his face, wincing at the glass embedded in it. "Oh, relax, its not fatal or anything… don't you know? Its unattractive for a man to beg like this."
"Y… you crazy-ass fucking bitch!"
"Its almost done, don't worry," She said, pulling him closer.
"Wait! I'm so-"
"Just shut up already."
With that her first collided into his forehead, smashing into what he personally imagined what being hit with a car must feel like. But it didn't end there; Yanigihori's body moved with the punch, slamming his head into the brick wall besides him, and immediately after he slumped to the ground unconscious, suffering both a concussion and a broken skull. "What a shame…" Yanigihori said, with a sigh.
"I don't even need to use my Stand on people like you… You better give me a fight worth remembering, Kousaka Honoka…"
"And that's what happened."
Honoka called for another early meeting for μ's to meet up to inform them of the situation. The girls listened quietly and closely in the Idol Study Club's room as they listened to Honoka recalling the bizarre encounter.
"So then… Yanigihori actually wanted us to join with her after all?" Umi asked. "To make this 'dream' of her's come true… if she needs an army of Stand users, it must be something major; and something to 'change Japan?'"
"Tch! I don't know what she was expecting… If Honoka had said yes, I'd quit this club! I don't wanna team up with the people whose creepy-ass bugs nearly, you know, ate me!" Both Kotori and Hanayo nodded at that.
"They're too dangerous! I wouldn't feel safe around them," Rin said, nodding in agreement. "Still though… I kinda wonder what her dream is now, you know? If you need that many Stand users…"
"It can't be good, that's what I think," Kotori said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"At least we know why they were so insistent now… She though if we wouldn't join with her, our ideals would clash one day. And it sounds like she's right… I think I'm starting to understand why Nozomi-senpai and the Student Council President oppose them so strongly now," Umi said. "Maybe they know what her 'dream' is, but even if they don't, they probably were aware of at least how strong her ambitions were earlier on. She's really dangerous… and she wants to fight Honoka too!"
"Even though we need to be in top shape for the Open House, I think we should all train a little more after practice too," Hanayo said. "To keep us all in top fighting shape!" This earned nods and agreements throughout the classroom, with Hanayo beaming in some pride that everyone agreed with her.
"I hope once we're done fighting the Arrow Hunters things can… mostly go back to normal," Umi said. "Truth be told, I'm kinda hoping we're done with this by the Open House… Nishikino-san, is something wrong?" Maki had opened her mouth a few times, but closed them every time, clearly wanting to say something. The rest of the girls had begun to notice something, but were too preoccupied on the current situation.
"I… Um… Err… I…"
"You can be honest with us, Maki-chan," Honoka said with a smile. "… If you don't feel comfortable, we can always talk about things later-"
"I have a Stand!"
She bolted upright, taking everyone by surprise. "I… I'm sorry I didn't tell you all, but yesterday I developed a Stand!" It earned a few gasps throughout the room, but not too much surprise. "I… Is this how you guys always react to this?"
"No! Just… erm… we thought that might've been the case, sine Wakaki and all…" Honoka began, and Maki narrowed her eyes.
"Wakaki and all?" Maki asked. "What are you… h-hey, did something happen you guys didn't talk to me about!?" Maki asked, as an uncomfortable silence fell across the room. "Tell me, or I'm leaving and never coming back!"
"Tsuji-san said… that 'Pink and Black' Stand attacked you with the arrow, but you didn't wake up from it or anything," Rin spoke. "It made us think you didn't have a Stand or something, and since you were recovering for a week, we didn't want to bother you with it."
"Y… you should have told me! What's wrong with you people!?" Maki demanded, her face red in anger as she slammed her hands on the table.
"We didn't want to make you worried or paranoid while you were recovering, not until you were sure you had a Stand!" Nico explained, 「Circus」materializing next to her and nodding. Maki gasped at the Stand's appearance, the first time she could see the Stand she had heard about.
"Yup, she can see me so there's no doubt about it; she's a Stand user,"「Circus」said, just nodding at Maki. "I hope its another Automatic Stand. They're the best kind, yet none of you have one!"
"Who cares what type it is!? I have one now, so… I… they're gonna stat attacking me too once they realize! You should've told me this stuff earlier so I could prepare!" Maki said. "Maybe it would've manifested sooner if I had realized it was with me!"
Nico was about to say something else, but Honoka shook her head at her. "No. Maki's right. It wasn't our place to keep a secret like this from her. We're sorry, Maki. It was a selfish choice to make on your behalf," Honoka said, more or less diffusing the situation. "But she's right, Maki… you should try to learn your Stand's capabilities! Can you meet with us on the rooftop today? I remember you said you might not able to make normal practice, but this is another matter…"
"I… I'm still grounded and stuff, so… Ugh, but I should…" That wasn't even the reason why, but whether or not the other girls believed it didn't seem to matter.
"Its unlikely Maki will be attacked," Umi reasoned. "If she lays her head low, she might be able to avoid all of the future conflict with Yanigihori's gang."
"That's right! Maki-chan… you don't have to fight if you don't want to!" Honoka said with a smile, and the rest smiled as well to reassure her. "Including Eli and Nozomi, there's already 8 of us; more than everyone in their entire group! So… You shouldn't have to force yourself to fight! Its… its really hard and dangerous!"
"Do you think I can't do it?"
"Nothing like that! But… well, none of us want to fight as it is, Maki," Honoka explained. "These circumstances with the arrow roped us into it… But you have a choice! And we want you to know it's OK to choose not to fight!"
Indeed, the rest of μ's had not been given the option to not fight. Their Stands had been thrusted into their lives, and deep down they all yearned back for their peaceful days. Maki had however seemingly awakened hers' quietly: and Maki understood that it was not they did not think she could do it, but out of concern for her well-being, and to protect her chance at a peaceful life: something the girls of μ's knew that Maki would have to forfeit if she walked the path they did.
"… I… L… let me think on it, OK?" Maki didn't feel proud of being this way, so much more timid than the rest was in this moment when she had often been the loudest; but in the face of such a responsibility and power she didn't feel like she could make such an immediate decision.
"Take all the time you need, nya!" Rin encouraged, saluting to her. "We'll protect you, and beat up all the bad guys so don't you worry!"
"… Thanks," Maki said, before walking out, and making her way to class.
More than anything, she hated how weak she felt. Just like with Wakaki, she felt like she was once again under fate's control. In fact, so preoccupied was she with her own thoughts that she didn't even notice Nozomi walking away from the club room; far too close for comfort by a door that had been opened just a smidgen as they discussed important matters.
That day Maki was almost like a zombie, forcing herself to go through the day and her work, only half-paying attention. The revelation of her Stand and what to do next weighed on her more than anything and was far more important to her in this moment than virtually anything else; her homework, her career as a School Idol, even this fight with her father and lingering memories of Omine. She knew she would continue on as a School Idol, but would she also walk the path of a warrior like her friends as well? Like her friends said, there was hardly any shame in not wanting to fight like that.
But still, she couldn't help but feel like a bit of a coward as she walked away from Otonokizaka after school, not even attending dance practice. Some team player you're turning out to be, she thought bitterly to herself.
"Heeey! Maki-chan!"
But she was caught off guard as she heard a familiar voice calling out for her; Fumiko. "Ah, Ni- Fumiko-san?"
"Please, just Fumiko is more than enough! I don't think anyone's called me -san in forever…" Fumiko said with a reassuring smile. "Still grounded?"
"Yeah… it's a pain, I can't risk going to practice today," Maki half-lied. "At least tomorrow and the day after there's no chance he'll be home early, so I can go for sure," and she really did intend on making those practices: it was what would happen after practice she was unsure about. "No Shogi for you today?"
"Naaah, not today. I was actually gonna go to the mall with a new friend… when you're not grounded, why don't you hang out with us? We've been hanging out a lot of the past two weeks; and she's really curious about μ's! I think she'd like to meet you girls!" She encouraged, earning a smile from Maki.
"That… that could be fun," Maki said, her spirits lifted jut a bit. "When I have my phone back, ah… let's arrange it, OK?"
"Alrighty~! Well, I guess I'm gonna go meet up with her now then, see ya!" Fumiko said, waving and walking away from her junior, and Maki stayed quiet too. But despite the pleasantries, she could not forget that this girl was also a Stand user: did she make a mistake in not reporting that to Honoka and the rest? From a distance, she couldn't help but slightly trail behind her.
"You're new to this, aren't you?"
Maki nearly jumped and screamed at the voice behind her, looking up at the Third Year. "T-Tojo!"
"You're observing Nikaido too, aren't you?" Nozomi asked, still smiling. "I'll take it you witnessed her using her Stand… so that means you're one of us too, hmm?"
Maki blinked in shocked. She was trying to hide it, but Nozomi had deduced it that quickly? Would the rest of the Arrow Hunters do as well? "I… I'm scared for her. That's all…"
"Her new friend is one of the enemies," Nozomi said, Maki's eyes widening in shock. "I noticed her Stand before you did, so I've been trailing her for Elichi. I'm a bit more used to this stealth thing than you are, so they haven't noticed me once yet. I guess you want to tag along too?"
"W-wait? The President knows? She… she doesn't have a right to know that! Fumiko's just trying to live her own life!"
"Oh?" Maki asked, still smiling. "You're that concerned for someone you just met two days ago?"
"I… I just… I-I don't want her to get caught up in all this stuff, that's all!"
"So, then you should let me intervene, shouldn't you?" Nozomi knew Maki wasn't making any sense or points; she was just a scared girl panicking. "In truth, this is a good opportunity for me to observe Takamaki… Right now, the strength is that they don't know that I know about them. I'm confident Takamaki will set up a trap for μ's soon; but what she won't expect is for me to be her opponent instead of you girls," Nozomi explained.
"That's… that's not right! If she's going to set a trap, she's going to use Fumiko, won't she!?"
"Almost assuredly. She knows Honoka, who she probably hopes to defeat. She will probably try to make her fight her one-on-one by threatening Fumiko… and knowing Honoka, she'll probably rush in alone, and the trap will be sprung. When all's said and done however, I will call Eli. I'll fight her alone until she arrives; then our combination will defeat her and Fumiko will be safe… assuming Fumiko isn't already an enemy."
"Don't talk like that!" She didn't like it when μ's had acted like they had a right to withhold information from her, but she hated it even more when Nozomi spoke like this about Fumiko, and she grasped her shoulder. "It's not your place to decide who's an enemy or who isn't! And it's not your place to decide that Fumiko should fall into a trap! I don't have my phone, but it shouldn't be too late to get a hold of Honoka and tell her to contact Fumiko!"
"I will not do that," Nozomi said, her smile disappearing at the physical contact. "Elichi and I have our own way of doing things… if you are so insistent on doing things your own way, then do it. But if you want to start something with me, keep gripping me like that and see how far it gets you," she told her coldly, causing Maki to let go, starting to sweat. "You don't have your phone… and you have a Stand too… why don't you just come along with me?" Nozomi offered.
"I… I've never even used my Stand before! I barely know what it does!"
"Then it'll make little difference in the fight itself, just stay hidden. In a good scenario perhaps, you'll learn your Stand's capabilities and help me in the fight," Nozomi said. "If you do go to μ's, Honoka will likely overreact and possibly scare Fumiko… who might in turn confront Takamaki. Regardless, there is no truly 'good' outcome for this, the more you think about it; just ones less bad than others. I genuinely do not believe that she intends to physically harm Fumiko beyond knocking her unconscious perhaps. I want to turn her ambush against her…"
"Ngggh…"
"What do you want to do, Nishikino…?"
"It's like, really amazing, isn't it?"
Takamaki and Fumiko did not know they were in the abandoned building where Honoka had defeated Fuhai Yoshikawa, but even if she had known, Hiijiri Takamaki would likely not have cared. More than anything she cared about springing her trap, and defeating her group's enemies. And this was where she would make her own assault.
The seemingly-kogal gave a toothy grin to Fumiko, who grinned back in response. "Yeah! I really can't believe I have a power like this, you know?" Fumiko replied. "And to think I might such an awesome new friend right afterwards… it's like fortune's finally smiling on me!"
"I heard of an unwritten law of the universe; 'Stand users attract other Stand users,' like gravity pulling us down to earth… we call it a 'theory' when we like, know it to be a 'fact!'" Takamaki said, giggling.
"You know, you still haven't shown me yours!" Fumiko said, taking a look at the hole in the wall formed by Honoka, wondering how it had formed. "Like, you've seen mine a bunch of times, so why don't you show me yours?" Fumiko asked. "I bet it's really cool!"
Fumiko was a kind-hearted girl. While there was an incredible determination within her soul to achieve her dreams: and enough will that even when the arrows' virus wracked her body, her desire to achieve in life was enough to overpower that virus and emerged victorious. However, she was also a very trusting girl, and somewhat naïve. Not once in the three weeks she had known Takamaki had she seen her Stand even once, and she had not thought ill of it.
She was dressed differently today, too. Every other time she had met Takamaki she was wearing casual clothes, often short-shorts and a simple t-shirt. But today she wore a black school uniform: with a long skirt extending down near her ankles. It reminded her of the outfits of delinquents she had seen dressed in manga a long time ago; but she tried to brush it off.
Had she been a bit more perspective, she might have been able to piece more of it together.
"Hmm.. well…" Takamaki tapped her foot, finger pressed on her chin. "Hmm… that's a pretty good question… What do you think the answer is?"
"Huh? Well… er… maybe you don't have much control over it or something? Maybe it looks lame or something? N-Not that it is, I'm sure! I mean… I guess its kinda hard to say! I do want to see it though, if that's ok!"
Takamaki grinned, setting down a school backpack, and taking out what looked like to be a small doll. Upon looking closer Fumiko could recognize it, it was one of those Russian matryoshka dolls. It was a little red doll, with a woman painted on it; she could not help but notice that the figure also had a purple-dyed streak like her friend, but otherwise looked like a traditional Russian matryoshka. "My Stand is a kind of Stand known as a 'Bound Stand,' you see," Takamaki began. "My Stand doesn't have its own appearance. I have to attach it to this matryoshka doll for its powers to activate. So, unlike yours, everyone, including non-Stand users can see it. As such I must be very careful and selective to where I use it, does that make sense?"
"Oh, of course! That totally makes sense, Takamaki-chan!"
"And so, I'll show you my totally cool power~" Takamaki cooed, a purple Stand aura growing around her, and onto the doll as well. As it did, the doll's appearance radically change, quickly and rapidly. It was soon nearly six feet tall, noticeably taller than its user; more than that it had taken on a much more intimidating look. The doll's body was now black with white katanas decorating the main body, and its face had gone from a gentle and sweet looking girl into an intimidating oni. "Tada! Pretty impressive, huh!"
"W-wow! I wouldn't want to mess with that," Fumiko complimented. "It… it looks kinda scary…"
"Because it is."
Takamaki's smile did not disappear as she said that, and for the first time, Fumiko felt intimidated. "My Stand is an incredibly offensive one, that also serves as a powerful defense. Only Yanigihori-sama and Suzuki-san can't beat it… you've heard of her, right? Yanigihori Jori? She goes to your school…"
"… The third year, Yanigihori? You know her? And… sama?" Fumiko took a step back. "I… uh… hey! I forgot, I ah… the Shogi Club at school, I gotta… um…"
The upper half of the matryoshka doll lifted itself, revealing a transparent orb inside it. Fumiko stared at the orb for a moment, gasping as something shot out of it, slicing the straps of her purse and causing it to fall to the floor. "Hey! What the hell are you doing!?"
"Fighting," Takamaki said, a longer, thinner sheer flying forward at fast speeds as Fumiko tried to reach for her purse, her hand hitting a solid object.
Its glass!? Fumiko quickly realized. Her Stand can create glass she can control! She thought to herself, noticing the sheet of glass seemingly floating in the air and preventing her from reaching her purse. As Fumiko had never fought, only using her Stand to scrounge for money or looking for things she had misplaced, the idea of a Stand battle was a foreign one to her, as was the idea of using her Stand offensively. "I- please don't hurt me-!"
"Don't hurt you? What the fuck did the arrow see in you?" Takamaki said as she continued to smile, the liquid glass quickly hovering over Fumiko and creating a figure, before dropping it and encasing her. "Surely there was something inside you, but I don't see it… how disappointing."
Fumiko flinched and covered her head as she thought she would be covered, but instead she found herself entombed inside a giant, glass matryoshka: also, with the angry visage of an oni. "H-hey! Let me out, Takamaki, this isn't funny!"
"Funny? I don't care about it being funny. I care about it working," up until then Takamaki had a playful grin, like an innocent schoolgirl. In that exact moment though, her smile immediately faded and was replaced with a stoic look, followed by a glare. She walked over, her Stand hovering and following her, shifting through her purse and reaching for her cellphone. "You're friends with Kousaka and Nishikino… so you have their numbers, right?"
"W-what's it to you!?" There were breathing holes in her glass prison, also allowing Takamaki to hear her. "What do you want With Honoka and Maki!?"
"I know you don't understand anything, but they're my enemies. They're Yanigihori's enemies, so I'm going to take them out. Not kill them, but cutting off their legs should eliminate their threat, I think," Takamaki said, earning a horrified gasp from Fumiko.
"I-Is this Idol stuff!? T-that's taking it way too far!"
"Its something larger than you can imagine, it has nothing to do with that Idol nonsense though. Blame your misfortune that you met me and showed me your Stand before Kousaka," Takamaki said, shifting through her phone contacts. And as Takamaki shifted through the other girl's contacts she was alerted by a high-pitched screech from her Stand, eyes widening as she looked behind her- seeing a tarot flying through the air stopped automatically by a sheet of glass. "Phew… that's another thing I like about this Stand, always watching over me like that…"
"Dammit. I was hoping we could end this with a sneak attack," Nozomi said with a sigh, walking in through the hole in the building, followed by Maki right after. "Hello, Takamaki-san. Its been a while, hasn't it?"
"Tojo… ah, Nishikino as well?" Takamaki commented, watching Maki walk in through the wall as well, who gasped at Fumiko's state.
"Fumiko! Are you OK!?" Maki yelled out, stepping out from her own hiding place.
"S-stay away! I don't know what's going on, but she wants to hurt you and Honoka!" Fumiko yelled, banging on her glass prison. "Go and get the police!"
"They won't get the police. They know the police have no place in our little world," Takamki said, brushing her bang from her face. She reached into her own bag, reaching for a surgical mask. Even though her opponents knew her face, she had pride in what she and her friends did: and so, she donned her own surgical mask, pictures of a grinning mouth with fangs on it, the delinquent truly looking the part. "After all, if I just call off my Stand, what evidence is there of a crime? The pigs get angry when you waste their time for no reason. And your Stand is useless inside a container like that…"
"Y… you're the worst! I thought you were my friend!" Fumiko fought back tears, banging on her glass prison.
"Unfortunate," Takamaki said, cracking her knuckles, her Stand facing her enemies once more. "It hardly matters now though. You just stay nice and quiet in there… Once I'm done with these two, Kousaka is next," Takamaki responded, adjusting her mask a little. "… Oh my, now this is a pleasant surprise," she replied, seeing Maki's summoned Stand. "Although I was hoping to draw you out to fight one-on-one, I'll accept this challenge.
"I see you're just as arrogant as your leader," Nozomi said, her purple Stand aura enveloping her. Nozomi had stopped to put on a belt earlier, and on that belt hung six deck boxes: the deck boxes opened on their own, causing more cards to float out of it. Cards representing the Tarot, about twenty in total, levitated around her in a defensive position. This wasn't about beating her, just holding her off. She had already texted Eli, and Eli texted back almost immediately. Elichi will be here in about thirty-five minutes, Nishikino-chan and I just have to keep her occupied until then…
"A Bound Stand as well…" Takamaki observed, as Maki simply had her Stand enter a defensive position, now regretting she had not seen μ's train their Stands at least once. But there was little room left to worry. Takamaki's Stand opened once more, the liquid glass inside it creating two glass spheres, shooting them at high speeds. "Glass Wrecking Ball."
The glass spheres were roughly 9 feet in diameter, just slightly larger than an average bowling ball. They shot out at high speed, Nozomi's eyes widening in response. "Nishikino! Try to dodge that!" She yelled, quickly dodging out of the way. In order to test its strength however she had several cards form a shield beside her, the cards barely standing against the attack and still being pushed back some. Bound Stands don't usually the highest attack power, but that was like one of Eli's punches at her strongest! And its probably capable of more! "Nishikino!"
Maki gasped and screamed. In a panic she had her Stand move in front of her, making a cross guard with its arms, but nonetheless being sent flying and landing on her back. "Ow!"
Takamaki chuckled as Nozomi glared. "Impressive, isn't it? At the cost of not being able to summon itself in public so freely, my Stand boasts both an incredible offense and defense. How strong are these cards you wield, I wonder?"
"Girls! If I can get out of here, I can help!" Fumiko yelled, banging on her prison.
Nozomi had some of her cards stack on one-another, sending them flying forward. The matryoshka Stand moved itself in front of it, creating a sheet of glass protecting itself from the blow. Controlling them with her mind the cards began to act like a piston, rapidly moving themselves back and forth at high speeds; against any normal enemy it was the same as being attacked by a Stand rush, but the glass was incredibly durable, taking several seconds just to crack alone. "Dammit…"
"Hmm… it's not weak, especially when compared to a human's punches, but it certainly isn't very strong… I'd wager if Yanigihori-sama, Ayase, or Kousaka were attacking they could've broken it. Of course, that's just a testament to how powerful this glass truly is. It's much, much stronger than bulletproof glass!" She replied, letting the glass fall to the ground and shatter. "It doesn't matter how strong any of you are though. As far as I'm concerned..."
"Nishikino! Look out! She's getting ready for a new attack!" She summoned her cards back to herself, a few more now floating around the two as well as she ran by her, the cards now defensively floating around her.
She's so cool… Even though they're just cards, she can switch tactics so quickly! Maki thought to herself.
"At absolute best, all of you are just a crack in my「Castle of Glass!」" Takamaki yelled, her「Castle of Glass」opening up once more, the liquid glass within it beginning its next attack. "Did you know that cut glass is one of the sharpest objects on the world? They've been used in science to make ultra-thin cuts," Takamaki explained. While they could not see it behind her mask, she grinned. "Glass Arrow Barrage!"
This time a continuous attack began. From the sphere of liquid glass, a constant rain of glass in the shape of arrows against Nozomi and Maki. They hid behind the cards, effectively pinned down. "Dammit," Nozomi cursed. Even with Eli on her way, she knew it'd be a little while before her fellow Third Year appeared. She didn't expect a Stand quite this versatile in its attacks, like herself. These glass arrows would skewer her and Maki in an instant if they came out. She knew Takamaki had no intent on murdering them, but was not above forcing them into an otherwise fatal situation. "Don't worry, I have this under controlled," Nozomi said. After 22 cards my offense begins to weaken as I have to divide the power among the cards. I'm still relatively good up to fifty… She let herself peak just a little between her card shield, seeing Takamaki and「Castle of Glass」walking towards them. Good… when she gets close enough, I'll sucker punch her side.
Meanwhile, Maki scowled in frustration. Her first fight, and she could barely do anything! She closed her eyes and tried to force back tears, trying to ignore how painful the situation was to her. She didn't want to have to fight, but in this situation, she didn't want to be so helpless either. Why… why am I still thinking about this now? Just like before, thoughts of her old friend before to Otonokizaka came to her.
"I don't get it. Why would you want to go to Otonokizaka? I don't even want to go to Otonokizaka!"
Omine giggled in response. "It's actually much closer to where I live, you know? I actually wish I could've gone to primary school in the area too. It's a way longer drive for me to get out here than it is for you, I am from Ogawa… You probably don't see me since you drive to school."
"Oh, right…"
Omine had a sad smile, putting her hand on Maki's chest. Maki couldn't help but blush, her eyes inadvertently drawn to Omine's much more developed bust, thinking she would tease her for it as she had in the past, but… "I've never had friends close to home, so I only see my friends at school. I was hoping maybe if I went to Otonoki, maybe I would experience having friends I could see outside of school."
Maki went deathly quiet at that. Maki could not help but wonder: how much envy did she have to see the kids of Otonokizaka go to festival and dances? How only was she to not e able to hang out with anyone after school, because they lived far away? And the friends in this incredibly competitive environment, sometimes even Maki had to keep an eye open for the snakes around them… "I'm sorry, Omine…" She felt especially bad she had never noticed this. "Where… where are you going to highschool, exactly?"
"I'm going to a prestigious all-girls school in Nagasaki with boarding, that famous private one made by the Yoshida Conglomerate."
"The one that offers internships to students who do well?"
"Yeah. My parents are executives, so they insisted on it. I tried to tell them I wanted to go to Otonokizaka, but they said no. 'You'll make lots more friend in a fancy school!' And 'nobody wants to go to a school you can just walk to anymore! Everyone wants to be in a school you need to go by train to catch…' Tehehe… between you and me, they've also talked to me a lot about the second youngest daughter that goes there, Yoshida Hibiki. She'll be a Second Year, and they've made it pretty clear they really want me to be her friend. Probably so they can move up the corporate ladder. I think that's the real reason I'm going."
Maki remembered her father telling her the reason she was to go to Otonokizaka was to build connections to the family, and in that moment, she realized that both she and her best friend were slaves to their parents' wishes.
"You know, its funny, Maki. I always wanted to talk to you about my family, even though it wasn't happy… it felt good getting that off my chest!"
The next day, when going home from school, Maki made up an excuse to get out of the car halfway between Kudan and Yasukuni, to meet up with Omine. She noticed for the first time a new skyscraper had been build. "These places change very fast, you know," Omine said. "If you don't return to these places often and soon, you get left behind."
Snapping back to reality, Maki gritted her teeth. If you don't keep up, you get left behind. That was the most important thing she remembered from that day, as she and Nozomi had to hide behind the card barrier from the onslaught of glass firing at them. The streets of Yasukani were full of old buildings from the Showa era, and after crossing the bridge to reach Shohei Akihabara she could immediately see the difference. From 20th to 21st century, that town had seemingly left behind.
Even in Maki's neighborhood she had seen it. The park in front of her lavish house had been replaced by fancy new buildings, a famous bookstore had closed shop, and many of the old cafes and restaurants were replaced by supermarkets and newer, fancier restaurants, that despite their great food lacked the soul those old places once had.
The world was constantly changing. Even her friends were changing, from just Idols to powerful Stand users. But like Yasukani, she was being left behind. Maki felt like she was being left behind by this crazy world, and all she could do was grit her teeth and bare it.
In frustration, her Stand punched the card barrier. Nozomi was about to scold her for attacking her, before a treble clef appeared on it. "Huh…?"
Music was playing from it. Soft piano music, a song that all three girls that could hear it knew. But in the heat of the moment, none could recall its name. A soft, gentle song, that could touch the soul itself. "What is this…?" Takamaki asked. "Are you playing something on your phone, now of all times?"
"I wish I could go to Otonokizaka with you."
Nozomi's and Takamaki's heads quickly turned to face their right, seeing a visage of a purple-haired girl with fair, shoulder-length hair, smiling at them. Maki did not hear or see it, but yet somewhere in her heart, she knew the figure was there. "Omine…?"
"H-hey! Who the fuck are you!?" Takamaki finally lost her cool, her attacks ending as「Castle of Glass」also turned around to face the new figure. Noticing the confusion, Fumiko attempted something within the glass barrier, but it went unnoticed by the others. "Shit! A civilian saw my Stand!? Get lost!" She yelled, 「Castle of Glass」launching smaller, marble-sized glass orbs at the new target, her eyes widening as it phased through her. "What!?"
Chance! Upon noticing Takmaki's concentration being broken and「Castle of Glass」also distracted, she quickly had some of the cards ram into Takamaki's side, causing the girl to gasp and forcing her off her feet. "Quickly! Follow me!" Nozomi instructed, Maki running as she sprinted alongside the older girl, the two racing towards Fumiko. "If we free her, its three on one!" She narrowed her eyes as Takamaki recovered, shooting several more of the smaller marble-like attacks at the two, Nozomi able to easily deflect the attacks with her cards. But she let the card with the treble cleff hover, the music radiating from the card. She could still see the figure repeating those words of wanting to go to Otonokizaka with Maki clearly, her words on repeat, but Takamaki looked confused as she looked in the figure's direction.
"Where did that girl go…? Was that part of Nishikino's Stand ability?"
"Nishikino… try to make this symbol go away," she instructed. Maki blinked a few times, trying to figure out what to do, before her Stand simply pressed on the treble cleff symbol on its hand, causing it to be fade: and the mirage of Omine did for her as well. "It creates music, and when we hear it…"
"W-what did I just do!? Omine… Omine wasn't really there, right?" Maki asked, but Nozomi didn't respond. "Hey!"
"Right now, we need to free her. I gravely underestimated the situation and her strength. We still have at least twenty minutes before Eli can arrive here, so we should focus on having 'numbers' to combat her「Castle of Glass.」" But much to everyone's surprise, especially Takamaki, she was able to push it down.
"What the hell?" Takamaki asked out loud. The Glass Prison technique's glass was fairly heavy due to being very thick, only a powerful Stand should have had the power to push it down! Unless… Dammit! Her Stand works like that too!?
"Are you OK!?" Maki asked, running over and hugging her, and Fumiko returned the hug and responded with a nod and a smile.
"Don't celebrate just yet, we're not done!" Nozomi yelled, noticing the barrage of marbles ending as Takamaki's Stand seemed to prepare a much larger attack.
"H… Holy hell!" Fumiko explained. It was as if Takamaki was charging up an attack. The liquid glass was taking time to properly form very large balls instead of immediately firing them: these new balls being formed seemed to have a diameter of roughly six feet, and she was forming several of them.
"I… I don't think all my cards can protect against it!" Nozomi yelled, trying to think of what to do. She had her Stand longer than everyone else; the skill Takamaki, still relatively new to having a Stand with these powers was impressive. That means Yanigihori too has probably grown much stronger since Elichi fought her…
"Imperial Glass Wrecking Ball!"
"This one… you leave it to me!" Fumiko said, raising her hands into the air. What looked like glowing rings on each of her fingers formed, and then those rings split into new figures of life. They looked like little fairies wearing the Otonokizaka school uniform, each physically resembling Fumiko in appearance with the exception of its faces, which only contained eyes, flying with butterfly wings. "Alright! Let's hear it for all the「Single Ladies!」 "
Two each quickly flew and landed on each girl's shoulder, effortlessly lifting them into the air to avoid Takamaki's Imperial Glass Wrecking Ball. "Whoah… f-fast, too! And I feel so light!" Maki complimented, earning a smile from Fumiko.
"「Single Ladies」can either 'increase or decrease the weight of something it touches' by half; and for each「Single Lady」touching something, it increases or decreases again, I can have about six of them affecting on one target!" She explained. "Before I thought it only worked when it was 'lifting something,' but a few days ago I learned if it pushes down on something it works as well, and by themselves they can lift nearly a hundred pounds… There's almost nothing in the world I think my「Single Ladies」can't lift!" She responded proudly. "I was gonna tell Takamaki about it later, but it kept slipping my mind… good for us, eh?"
"Drop me!" Nozomi instructed. "I promise I'll be fine, just drop me!"
"W-what!? Are you crazy!?" Fumiko responded.
"If she says drop her, then drop her, she has more experience with this than we do!" Maki said. Fumiko bit her lip and nodded, having her「Single Ladies」drop her. Almost immediately many more cards positioned themselves Nozomi, breaking her fall as she kneeled on one knee. With her psychic command the cards allowed her to glide through the air, almost as if it were a flying carpet. "That's… that's so cool…" Maki couldn't help but blurt out, earning a blush in embarrassment as Fumiko's「Single Ladies」carried them further away.
Takamaki gritted her teeth behind her mask, launching another Glass Arrow Barrage in an attempt to bring the other Stand down, but even with the decrease in power of Nozomi's Stand as she summoned so many cards the durability seemed to remain the same. "Damn you, Tojo…"
Nozomi glared, having her Stand swoop down in order to launch a ramming attack, crashing into「Castle of Glass」 in order to try to knock it towards her; but only the top part of the doll, already hovering in the air barely moved. Just like me, attacking the Stand will do nothing. Once Elichi arrives for sure the fight will turn to our favor… but, if the three of us can defeat her before she even arrives…
"I, Suzuki, and Yanigihori-sama have only had our Stands for a few months: but compared to the rest of our group, we've already practically mastered our Stands," Takamaki said. Anger flashed through her as she thought of Wakaki, who had lied to them about being a new Stand user just like Akeno, Miano, and Kobayashi. "I see you and Ayase are the same, are you not? This level of skill in just a few months…"
She went quiet for a few moments, a new possibility dawning on her as she thought of Wakaki as well. "Just a few months…"
"… At the very least, that's what Elichi thinks."
"You…"
She didn't have much time to react or follow on another question, as Nozomi nearly rammed into her, forcing her to create new glass to form to protect her. It was then Nozomi noticed something; by a string of 'liquid glass' the glass was still attached to the original orb of liquid glass within「Castle of Glass,」only lowering to the ground once Takamaki chose to drop her new shield. Now I see. She only controls the glass while it's still connected to the source, then it's just normal glass…
That realization came just as she saw a new attack, Takamaki had literally created several fists made out of glass, that seemed to shoot out of the Stand, before she realized they were actually all still attached to the strange liquid, allowing her to use them effectively as fist. The new, quick barrage of punches to her makeshift glider was enough to force her back and knock her off Stand, but her cards quickly reformed to break her fall.
"It really is a shame you didn't just join up with us. We could've been invincible with you and the Cyan Stand, or even just one of you," Takamaki said. "Even now, its not too late. If you chose to join us, I'm sure Yanigihori-sama will accept you…"
"And why would I join the losing side?" Nozomi taunted with a grin, a new card seemingly at random floating out of one of her deck boxes, and she smirked as she noticed what card it was. "Just as I predicted… this card predicted the future I already thought was inevitable."
"Hmmm?"
Nozomi smirked, the card levitating in front of her turning to face Takamaki. "It is one of the lesser arcanas, the Suit of Swords. The Ten of Swords upright… symbolizing failure, collapse, and defeat."
"From where I'm standing, it sounds like you read your own fortune instead, Tojo!"
"No fortune teller worth her salt will read her own fortune, that's just silly… it's our duty to divine others!" Nozomi claimed. "The power to possess cards to use as my sword and shield, and the power to divine the destiny woven by fate with the power of the Tarot… that is my Stand, 「Ace of Spades.」" Nozomi said, wiping some sweat from her brow.
The two continued to clash, as Maki watched from the sidelines. "Dammit, we can't just watch, Fumiko," Maki thought, her fists balled. "We can't just… we can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"W-we should still call the police! This is way too messed up, Maki!" Fumiko explained. "And this person wants to hear you and Honoka!? This is to messed up, we need professional help!"
"It's like they said… they can't help us. Its… its been like this for μ's for a while, Fumiko!" Maki explained, earning a gasp. "Honoka, Nico, Hanayo, Rin, Kotori, Kotori and Umi too… they've been using their Stands to fight powerful enemies. They've been laying their lives on the line to protect themselves, and they did so no matter the odds! So I… If I have a Stand, I have to do the same!" Maki said, her resolve finalized. "It's ok if you stay out, but I can't! Because… because I'm a member of μ's, I can't run away from a fight like this!"
"… I… I'll get you closer," Fumiko said. "My Stand can't fight like this… but its pretty quick, so it can help you get there fast!"
"Thank you, Fumiko! Lets go!" Maki said, as two of the「Single Ladies」grabbed onto her shoulders, flying forward with speed and ease with her weight severely decreased. No matter what, I won't run away like a coward! I want to be someone that Omine and all my friends in μ's can respect! She thought to herself, landing only a few feet away from the two older girls.
"Got some balls, eh?"
"Idiot! Run off and let me handle this!" You know I just need to bide time! What are you doing!?
Maki glared, forming a fist with her Stand, and having it slam into the ground, a new treble clef symbol forming. "I think I'm beginning to understand how this works…" Now that she was in control, she thought of a song to play. It seemed a tad bit over-the-top, but it simply came to her mind in her fiery determination.
"The… the horse race song?" Takamaki asked, taking a step back just to be cautious. This time, she could hear more than just
"To be more precise… it is the final piece to the overture of the opera William Tell, March of the Swiss Soldiers," she said. And before either could react, the entire building seemed to be engulfed in flames… at least, to Nozomi and Takamaki. To Fumiko, far away she could not hear the music, she saw nothing.
Nozomi gasped. Surely, this was real fire!? She felt the heat immediately swell up; and when her hand went over a flame, she felt it burning her! But upon a closer inspection, even though she could feel the heat of the flames, smell the smoke, and feel fire crawl on her skin when touching it, her skin was not burned at all. "I see…"
"Kyaaaaaaaa!" However, Takamaki was seemingly engulfed in flames. While she was not burned at all, her instincts caused her to spring away and drop to the ground. "Glass Prison!" She screamed, the prison that once trapped Fumiko forming as quickly as possible and dropping, the flames disappearing. While she lacked any physical injuries, the pain had been searing and intense.
But it was not the lack of oxygen, but rather the now inability to hear the song that caused her torment to end. At will she had her Glass Prison shattered, gasping for air. She noticed the moment she stopped hearing the music the flames everywhere seemed to disappear, only to reappear a moment later. "You…"
Maki only glared.
We have a chance, Nozomi thought to herself, looking at Maki's Stand. Even before Elichi gets here… we can definitely win this!
"I'll teach you to mess with my friends…" Maki said, taking a step forward. "With the power of my symphony!"
Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Chapter 19: To Omine (Part 3)
Stand profile: Hiigiri Takamaki
Stand name: Castle of Glass
Namesake: Linkin Park song of the same name
Type: Bound Stand
Stand cry: None
Appearance/Personality: Due to being a Bound Stand, Castle of Glass does not have a form until it is bounded to a matryoshka doll, and it cannot be attached to any other kind of doll. Takamaki carries one personally painted by herself, which is a standard tiny matryoshka with a red body with an image of a woman dressed in a traditional Russian sarafan, with the figure itself looking similar to Takamaki, including having a dyed streak of hair. However, when imbued with Castle of Glass, it grows into a figure taller than her. Its color changes from black and white with images of swords and fists on its body, and its face turns from that from a traditional woman into an angry oni. When active the upper half of the doll floats, and in the center is a floating, transparent orb of liquid that never runs out from, which then solidifies into glass.
While it has no unique personality of its own, it is capable of seeing things with the eyes of its head, and often creates a high-pitched screech and automatically defends its user if it notices an attack the user does not. However, if it too is distracted, it will fail to notice a threat.
Abilities:
• Glass Creation: Castle of Glass' signature, powerful ability is its ability to create an infinite amount of glass. This glass is incredibly durable, much stronger than bulletproof glass and is almost impossible to destroy with anything less than physically powerful Stands. The liquid orb in its center creates glass and molding it, before hardening. Despite being a physical object from a Bound Stand that normal humans can interact with, due to this glass being from a Stand itself, it is capable of damaging other Stands as well. Furthermore, edges created by this glass are incredibly sharp, easily able to pierce human bodies.
It is important to note that Takamaki can only control the glass if its still connected to the orb, and if it separates it is no longer under her direct control. However, as they still retain their power, Takamaki compensates by having many ranged attacks that will travel upon being launched from the liquid glass orb that maintain their velocity and power.
Once glass is solidified, Takamaki cannot change its shape in any way. However, if it still connected to liquid glass, she can position it freely. When combined with the the fact this glass can be molded into almost any shape, it is an incredibly power and unpredictable Stand, with Takamaki able to quickly adapt to new situations with her mastery of this Stand.
If the Stand is recalled or the user is knocked out, all glass generated by this Stand will vanish into thin air.
Stats:
• Destructive Power: A
• Speed: B
• Range: B
• Precision: D
• Durability: A
• Development Potential: E
Stand profile: Fumiko Nikaido
Stand name: Single Ladies
Namesake: Beyonce song of the same name
Type: Stand Colony
Stand cry: None
Appearance/Personality: Single Ladies appears as a maximum of twenty small angel-like figures with butterfly wings wearing the Otonokizaka school uniform that greatly resembles its user, even her hair, except they only have eyes.
The Stand itself has no personality.
Abilities:
• Weight Manipulation: This Stand has the ability to decrease or increase the weight of an object it is touching by half. By having multiple Single Ladies on the same target (up to six), this effect stacks, effectively increasing or decreasing its weight by half every time. The Single Ladies themselves are physically strong in regards to their lifting strength, able to lift up to 100 pounds each naturally. However, they seem to lack true combat potential.
• Range: The Stand itself has a very long range, much like Worker Bees. This is the primary reason Fumiko uses this ability, having them scourge around Tokyo to gather up coins for her personal use. Fumiko prefers using it for this reason over combative abilities.
Stats:
• Destructive Power: E
• Speed: A
• Range: A
• Precision: A
• Durability: D
• Development Potential: C
RIP Chester Bennington
March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017
That took me a while, but I did it! I had a writer's block with this chapter, and I've been busy irl, so its been hard. But the chapter is out now, and I hope it was worth the wait! May ever road take you to a memory of Great Days!