Honoka's Bizarre Adventure: μ's Is Unbreakable
Chapter 23: Yanigihori's Last Stand -Senkou Resolution- (Part 4)
Previously on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
This is Honoka reporting in! Takamaki was defeated again… everything has been building up to this. Now, it's just me and Yanigihori. I need to hold her off, at least for a little bit… I won't give up! I won't lose no matter what! As a Stand user and as an Idol… I will stand proud for my beliefs and come out on top!
Yanigihori's dreams and ambitions were burning up, while Honoka's were burning more brightly than ever before.
I am a 'School Idol.'
I am a 'Stand user.'
When everything began, Honoka was a girl who didn't even know how to sing and dance. But she was determined to save her school, and became an Idol to fulfill that dream. The school was still in danger of closing down, and the safety of her friends too were at risk…
But at least by now, Honoka had found her truest resolution: as both a School Idol and a Stand user. Her conflicts with Eli and defying the Student Council President and her conflicts against Yanigihori and the Arrow Hunters had been what had solidified her existence as a fighter.
Losing simply was no longer an option, not at the end of this road!
"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO-"
"LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'RE MADE OUT OF, KOUSAKA!"
"FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOO!"
「All Star」 and 「Red Flag's」 fists collided in the air. 「Red Flag」had assumed it's normal shape, a normal humanoid Stand; its flag held between its teeth. 「All Star's」 own physical strength was tremendous, but it was pushed perfectly back by 「Red Flag's」 own power.
… No, rather, Honoka had been pushed back. She figured that Yanigihori's Stand had to have been powerful; but admittingly, she was somewhat used to her Stand being the physically most powerful in direct confrontations. Honoka realized quickly that this would not be a fight she could win through sheer might alone.
"Don't disappoint me, Kousaka. You have no idea what kind of hell awaits you if you do," Yanigihori taunted, her Stand taking the flag in its hands and swinging at 「All Star.」 Honoka's Stand blocked the blow with a cross-guard with its arms, but 「Red Flag」 still pushed the other Stand back.
There's 20 minutes before help arrives… can I actually end this in 20 minutes? Honoka thought to herself. Despite it all, I want to… I want to try to beat her on my own if I can. But if not… I need to hold out for 20 minutes!
"I won't fall in a fight like this. I have never fallen," Yanigihori claimed. "No matter what collapses and burns around me, I must stand proud!"
"Then I'll stand proud too! For the sake of my dream and everyone I love!" Honoka rushed forward, 「All Star」 beginning its next assault. "I can't lose to you for the same reason you can't lose to me!"
"But only one of us can hold true to that!" Yanigihori yelled, 「Red Flag」 blocking against 「All Star's」 attempted punch to the side of its head. "'For a new Japan!'"
"'For my friends and for my school!' Because this world of strength you wish to create through the arrow… is something incompatible with that! I believe in gentleness! I believe in people! Maybe this is a world filled with pain and hurt, but I won't accept it's a world that can be changed to be 'ruled by strength!' μ's cannot exist in a world like that!" Honoka had to pause as 「Red Flag」 successfully punched 「All Star」 in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her for a moment; before her Stand grabbed the other's left arm, and assaulting it with a headbutt. Both girls winced in pain as they felt the attack, but it would get worse as a punch to the chest sent her back.
"Such overtly naïve sentiment… no matter how much I may respect you; it pisses me off!" Yanigihori yelled, her Stand stepping backwards. Her Stand held its flag in its mouth, changing into a new shape. The Stand had turned from a humanoid figure into that of a serpent with the red flag held in its mouth.
"「Red Flag – Speed Mode!」"
It was certainly an appropriate name, Honoka quickly learned. The Stand shot forward at a speed that the less experienced Stand user could not properly react to, wrapping around her Stand and squeezing it tight. And as it did, Honoka felt her own body constrict, screaming in pain at the immense pressure surrounding her and threatening to shatter her bones if not stopped. 「All Star」 forced vibrations around its body to try to shake the snake-like Stand off her, and while it worked to help loosen 「Red Flag,」 it still took a great deal of physical effort on 「All Star's」 part to help force off the Stand. And as she tried, 「Red Flag」 bashed its flag upon 「All Star's」 head, a gash now forming on the user's head.
"This kind of 'fighting spirit' born from 'the desire to not die' and 'the desire to protect everyone…' It's truly something formidable, but clearly, it cannot compare to my Stand's own strength. My own fighting spirit… How could it, when I've spent years building it up! More, more, more! Give me more, Kousaka! I need to see more of your fighting spirit! More of your Stand!" Yanigihori yelled, her Stand bashing the flagpole against 「All Star」 yet again! With one hand free 「All Star」 was able to get one arm free, and grabbed the flag pole…
But it was quickly forced to discard the flag.
Honoka felt nauseous and great pain for a split second. What was that? She had felt it when 「All Star」 had blocked 「Red Flag.」 I didn't feel that when it's hit me with that flag, but when I consciously grabbed for it! Something…!
Unspeakable anger. Unspeakable sorrow. A burning desire to forcibly change the world around her; those emotions quickly invaded Honoka during the time she held the flag, but her concentration was broken by the Stand squeezing once again as her guard was down, forcing Honoka to vibrate the air around her at a much more intensive rate to shake it off. "K-kinda not your style, Yanigihori!"
"In this last fight, I won't hold anything back! Not if it means reaching for my dream and victory!" Yanigihori declared. "Even a dirty tactic like this that I would normally deplore! The same reason I planned Koizumi to be kidnapped! You're bearing witness to all of me, Kousaka Honoka! Not just my fighting spirit and my pride… but this is also my desperation and fear! There's nothing I want more than to defeat you and claim my victory!"
Yes.
Indeed, her dreams and ambitions had been shattered by μ's. She knew that there was next to no way with things the way they were she could create the nation of her dreams. A month ago, she would have been sure in her victory, but now, her broken dreams were being laid before her.
But she still loved to fight. And she still had her pride.
And deep inside, there was a voice in Yanigihori's head screaming for victory. It was a voice that denied the logic and reality of the situation around her, screaming for her to rise as a warrior and crush everything before her. It was a voice she had always known, and always followed above all.
"I wouldn't lose no matter what… but if you're going to 'abandon an honorable fight,' as I bet, you'd want to describe it as, then I'm sure as hell not going to lose to you now!"
"Don't you dare pretend to understand my feelings as a warrior, Kousaka!" Yanigihori screamed, trying to tighten around her once more. But her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the opposing Stand reach for the flagpole once more. "Stop… stop that! Even you must feel it inside, if you grasp that flagpole, this integral part of my Stand…!"
Honoka roared in agony as she did so. She did not even know exactly what the opposing Stand's properties, why doing this filled her with so much agony, but even though she did not let go. "It doesn't matter… I just absolutely won't lose to you right now, Yanigihori!" And as 「All Star」 attempted to wrestle the flag out of the snake's mouth, 「Red Flag」 was forced to loosen around her, focusing on attempting to pull it back.
Crush her.
Destroy her.
A world for Idols!
A world for you and your friends!
Grind her down into the dust! Ruin her ruin her ruin her RUINHERRUINHERCRUSHHERDESTROYHERANNIHILATEHERCAHNGETHEWORLDCAHNGETHEWORLDCHANGETHEWORLDDESTROYFIGHTDESTROYHER—
"Buzz off! My thoughts and emotions are my own! On my own, with my own beliefs, I will…"
As thoughts began to invade Honoka's head she pushed through, nearly succeeding in ripping the flag from her opponent's mouth. And once the Stand was no longer wrapped around its body at all, a Jackhammer Punch from 「All Star」 sent the delinquent boss's Stand flying. In this form, Honoka saw that it's speed and constricting strength came with the price of severely reduced defense, and the Stand practically flew through the air as it was launched into its user, sending her falling to the ground. "Kousaka…!"
"FAITO DAYO!"
But Yanigihori of course got up… and with a smile on her face. "More. More. I want more- Kousaka, give me more…!"
"… What do you even want, Yanigihori?" Honoka asked, frowning. "Your 'dream of a new Japan?' The simple desire to 'fight me as a warrior?' 'Something you haven't told me yet?' One second you're talking about wanting to hold onto your pride and defeat me, but it seems like you don't fully care about that… it's like you're changing your desires every other second."
"…"
"Do you… even know what you want, Yanigihori?"
"I want to fight you. I want to fulfill my dream and make a new country. You need to believe that's true," Yanigihori said. "But even if my dream is gone, if I can't reach it, I need to fight you. I need to understand you as a warrior! I need to understand you as a Stand user! Kousaka Honoka…!"
"Yanigihori Jori…"
"I want to understand you, Kousaka Honoka. Between all of these desires and dreams, and my own bloodlust in battle… I've never fought anyone that can match me. Ever. Not even once. I want it… You can't understand this. I've lived my entire life with my strength and nothing else…"
Yanigihori closed her eyes. "Kousaka…"
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever heard of muscular dystrophy."
"Muscular… what now?"
"I-It's a disease that Yanigihori-san has… It's a degeneration of her muscles."
In the monitor room of the warehouse, μ's spoke with the captive Kobayashi. While Eli was still unconscious and Nozomi too injured to fight, the girls spoke with Kobayashi to try to gain more insight into this entire conflict.
The distressed bug girl was tied to a chair, frowning as she was surrounded by hostile enemies. But, it wasn't all sorrow.
"Are you OK, Kayochin!?"
"Y-yeah! I promise I'm alright now! What about you, though!? It looks like you took some damage from Yanigihori…"
"Don't worry about it, nya! It'll take a lot more than that to keep this cat down!"
Hanayo was safe, and Rin couldn't look happier. She hugged her dearest and best friend, glad that she was safe. Meanwhile, Kotori with her healing capabilities tried to attend to as many of her allies as she could. "Fumiko-chan, how does that feel?" Kotori asked Fumiko, who smiled and gave a thumbs up.
However, Nozomi was more focused on Kobayashi, as was Yanigihori's former allies.
"I… don't know what that is," Miano admitted. "Some kind of disease, though, I'm gonna guess."
"Yeah… it's a fatal one," Nozomi said with a frown. "It's the decay of your muscles… you usually don't live past your early 20s with it, depending on when you get it…"
"God…" Akeno said with a frown. "Just wasting away like that… and Yanigihori of all people is like that?"
"When she obtained her Stand, it went into remission. She wasted no time trying to regain the strength she had lost," Kobayashi explained what she had learned. As the final battle approached, Yanigihori had seen it fit to share more information with those still loyal to her… although by this point, Kobayashi was the only remaining ally who didn't know that.
"Well, that's good! Then she'll live, right?" Akeno asked with a smile.
"I mean, ideally, but…" Kobyashi held her head low, her glasses shifting as she did. "She's convinced it won't be in remission forever. She thinks it'll come back, and she'll die. That she's living on borrowed time," a pause fell upon those listening. Nico, who had not been participating in the conversation until then took a step forward. "I don't know a lot, but it didn't manifest when she was younger… something about different types, I don't know. But she said she was about fourteen when it started messing with her…"
"So, her dreams and all that stuff…" Akeno began, eyes widening.
"She probably thinks this is her last chance," Nozomi said.
"You have no idea how much Yanigihori takes pride in her strength," Kobayashi said. "There can't be a worse hell than that. Knowing her own muscles are just gonna waste away while she's conscious of it… getting a Stand must have been like the ultimate miracle for her. And her disease going away, if only just a little bit."
"That's…" Even Nico, who had felt no sympathy for her enemies frowned. "That's terrible… but that doesn't mean we can just let her win! You girls started this, and we're ending it!" She declared; her determination still resolute.
"I-I-I know that! I'm just trying to explain it a bit more since you were asking about her!" Kobayashi complained. "A-and these ropes are too tight! You should loosen them a bit if you want me to talk more!"
"Fat chance! Those bugs come out of you, right!? So, we're not gonna let that happen!" Nico said.
"It's good we know a bit more about Yanigihori," Nozomi said.
"Why?"
"… Hm?"
Nico narrowed her eyes at Nozomi. "Why does it matter if we know more about her!? She's our enemy!" Her yelling had gotten the attention of the room. "It sucks, yeah, but that doesn't change the fact our lives became hell because of her! Even if we didn't know this, I'd want to kick her ass! So why the hell are we trying to understand Yanigihori in a time like this!? We should be more focused on rushing in there and kicking her ass before the REAL threatening allies wake up again!"
"H-hey! Screw you!" Kobayashi said… only to back down when Nico glared. "Imsorryillbehave."
"Isn't it obvious, Niccochi?"
"No! It's not! It's really not! And it's REALLY starting to piss me off! We should be asking her more useful questions right now!" Nico yelled, frustrated.
"… It's because we're Idols."
Hanayo was the one who spoke up, chiming in on the conversation. "So even if she's our enemy… isn't it important for us to understand who we're up again? Because… 'an Idol is somebody who connects with others,'" Hanayo said. "Honoka-san… definitely would feel that way. Because our songs can connect with others, in the same way the fists of our Stands can!"
"…" Nico went quiet.
"… It's no good, despite everything, I wanna sing to her, nya…" Rin admitted. "Despite everything, knowing that, it makes me wanna sing a song just for her… All of you too, if you'd listen," Rin said.
They were School Idols, and despite being new to all of this, there was a genuine desire to connect with others through their songs and voices. Could Yanigihori have possibly abandoned… all of this, if she had heard a song, once-upon-a-time?
All of μ's knew that the answer was no, of course not. But if nothing else, perhaps their words could have brought her some measure of peace. Even if they would fight as Stand users, if their song could heal even just a little pain in her heart…
"I must go."
Eli stood after Kotori had fully healed her. "How long has it been…?"
"About ten minutes," Nozomi said. "If anything, we're good on time. She thought it'd be about twenty."
"I'm going alone."
Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. "Are you serious!? We ought all go together!" Rin yelled. "She's super strong! I'm worried about Honoka! For all we know she's already lost and Yanigihori is coming over here!"
"You're gonna pay for unplugging the security feed later, you know that?" Nico told Kobayashi.
"I-I-I should go too! 「Momoiro Clover」 is really strong too, you know!" Hanayo said. "And now that I'm not off-guard, I-I can probably make a difference in that fight!"
"Elichi…" Nozomi frowned. "This is unwise."
"… I want to go alone."
Eli admitted it. "To where Kousaka and Yanigihori are fighting…"
Eli was not a School Idol. To her, School Idols were all amateurs. No matter how great they danced, even A-RISE were like amateurs to her. And she knew she had been unnecessarily rough and harsh on them, but everything about them pissed her off.
I don't need anybody.
Not even me, Elichi?
Eli remembered the terror of when she had first met Wakaki, and when she vowed to become somebody who would protect others. A hero of some kind, no matter what pain came with it. But then these School Idols of all people were what showed up. The ones who were fighting the enemies that she had been preparing to defeat…
Eli had abandoned her smiles.
She was struggling to save the school, while also fighting stray Stand users for the good of Tokyo.
Honoka, however, was doing the same without even once abandoning her smile or resolve.
Idols are people who connect…? Eli thought. Even though μ's were like amateurs who pissed her off, never once did they slow down even when she impeded them or treated them with disrespect. No matter how angry or despaired they might have grown…
And although I'm sure we'll fight again one day, I'm sure of it…
After that, we'll be friends!
"Let me fight by her alone. All of you," Eli glared at the gathered students. "Nozomi… do you think she'll reject it?"
"… No. She had wanted to fight Yanigihori alone… because she wanted to understand her better. For a little bit, she wanted to see how well she could fight against Yanigihori on her own. Something more than just pride… she wanted to understand her own warrior spirit, I think. In twenty minutes, we'll all fight no matter what, but…"
"I need to fight alongside her. Just for a little bit."
Eli's own fight against Yanigihori was pathetic as far as she was concerned. Something in her was still lacking. Why? She was strong! She was a powerful Stand user! So why… why was there something still missing inside of her?
Something that Kousaka Honoka probably did not lack? Was her motivation not just? Were her desires to protect others mistaken?
"Let me… fight alongside her for a little bit, without any of you. It'll still take me a few minutes to get there… you can all converge as you had desired. Just please…"
Eli needed to understand something.
"… We will be there soon."
It was Nico who spoke those words. "You only have a few minutes before we bring this to an end… so if you want to understand something, do it now."
The rest of the Idols and delinquents said nothing. They knew this wasn't a good idea of course. But in this crazy adventure, all logic had long-since been thrown out the window. This was just part of it.
"「Dancing on the Ceiling.」"
Eli was racing towards the battle.
"Will she be alright…?" Umi asked with a frown.
"Only fate will determine that," Nozomi said. "And what of you two? You are her closest friends. Will you not race after her too?"
"No… her wishes… will be respected," Kotori said. "We will see what happens there… in less than ten minutes, no matter what!"
All logic and sense no longer existed for the remainder of this conflict.
Jori's father was a low-ranking yakuza.
The abnormally large Jori Yanigihori had been in countless fights her whole life. Her father owned a small business, Yanigihori's Booze and Food, which put some extra money on the table. When she was young, she recalled that the yakuza would very frequently visit for just those two things.
Like most of her friends, she was poor. There was no glamour in the yakuza life for the Yanigihori family, and they knew this. Her father did busywork and many crimes for little pay or reward.
"It's just a gang."
That's how Jori understood it. There were lots of manga and anime that made the yakuza look cool and badass. She knew that once upon a time, long ago, the yakuza were born of people looking out for one-another. For their own.
This was just a gang of organized crime. Loyalty and honor were touted, but Jori did not believe it. If they were truly all friends and comrades, her father would be better. She didn't care about her own living conditions; but her father worked had to eke out a living.
Jori declared that if she had followers, she would not do such a thing.
Jori was not somebody who used or manipulated others, no. Her pride refused such a thing, even as a child.
If somebody did dirty work for her, she would be willing to do dirty work for them.
If someone took a punch for her, she would personally return it tenfold unto the enemy.
Yanigihori Jori had an unshakable sense of honor and pride. One day she would create a delinquent gang, she knew that. And she would give unto them all they deserved. She would fight and die for them, as surely as they would fight and die for her.
Her red flag in her heart was something meant to change the world around her.
At the time, it was a small thing. She didn't have grand ambitions or dreams. She just knew there was no way she wouldn't be a delinquent in high school, and she wanted to create a comrade with others that the yakuza and those who lied and cheated their ways into power lacked.
Around the time she was fourteen, she had begun growing weaker. The diagnosis was something devastating beyond words to her. But still, Emi and Hijiri stood by her. It progressed very slowly and she exercised as much as she could. Sheer force of will, she figured.
Perhaps through sheer force of will she could stop the decay of her body.
When she had turned fifteen though, things started changing. For the first time in fifteen years, she received a birthday gift from her parents. It's not that they didn't love her; they were just so dirt poor that usually her mom cooking something special was all she could afford. But that year, she received a DVD player.
"I hope you like it. I got some DVDs for you too."
"I… thanks, father," Jori was stunned by this. "… Is it because I'm going to be wheelchair and bed bound?"
"…"
"Dad…"
Her father gave a weak smile. "I want you to be comfortable, got it? And happy. That's all."
"How do we afford it…?"
"I did some extra work. Don't worry about it."
A few days later her father went missing one night and came back the next day, bloody and beaten. "S-sorry… thought they'd let me make a call before, at least."
"Father…!"
Jori's eyes widened seeing two digits of his right pinkie missing. "… W-why…?"
"Hey, I needed a little extra cash, so…"
Jori's eyes widened at that moment.
"You stole… you stole…!"
"Yeesh… a bit of an overreacting for just a little cash, you know? I asked for lots of extra work in advance… Eh, it ain't my thumb… Like I said. The boss is a real sonuvabitch."
He smiled at her and his wife, who sobbed as she embraced him. "Work might be slow. My old 'friends' won't be coming back anymore, I think."
Jori despised it all.
The fake sense of unity and honor and pride.
How people cheated their way into power.
Those who were left in the bottom of society and strength.
That her own magnificent strength was going to rot away before her eyes while those worms lived.
She screamed and cried as she hugged her father with her mother.
Two years later she was beginning to feel the full effects of her condition. She accepted her time was coming. She had few regrets beyond not being able to destroy the yakuza in revenge. But…
Something amazing happened to Jori, that night, with an arrow.
An amazing power was born inside her, and her condition seemingly disappeared for the time being.
"My dreams."
"My ambitions."
"My desire…! A new Japan! Without any of this weakness polluting it!"
Yanigihori Jori was ecstatic.
"With this power, I can change the world."
Her red flag was raised proudly in her soul, as she sought to leave behind a world without the weaknesses she hated so much.
And more importantly; a place where her friends and family would be happy to live in once she was gone.
"Kousaka… Honoka…"
"Yanigihori…!"
"I need to crush you. I have to crush you," Yanigihori said. "But also, I want you to defeat me. But also, I want to reach my dreams. But also, I want you to crush my dreams," the girl finally admitted. "I want to create a new Japan. I want my friends and family to be happy. That can't happen if you defeat me. But also, I want to understand defeat in combat for the first time in my life," Yanigihori went on. "Do you finally understand it now, Kousaka Honoka? My heart and soul… are filled with contradictory desires. And it yearns for all of them sincerely."
"You don't know what you want…" Honoka said. "And this fight will help you understand it once and for all. That's fine…! I'm a School Idol! I'll do whatever I can to reach you, Yanigihori!" The fight was ready to resume after a brief respite. "If you have no idea what you want, then I'll kick your ass to clear your head so you finally understand!"
Throughout Japan, those who followed the Otonokizaka Idol Study Club was listening to their newest uploaded song, a solo by Honoka and written by her.
It sounds like a shounen song lmao
reaaaally not what an idol sounds like? but i like it!
it seems rly personal to her? fukkin' badass
"Let's go… Yanigihori! No more holding back!"
"「Red Flag – Assault Mode!」"
Yanigihori's Stand assumed its four-armed form, its muscles increasing exponentially. Honoka figured this form emphasized strength the most, and was probably durable too, but probably could not move as fast as the others.
Doing things firmly,
The me today…
I'll throw my weak heart into the night sky.
Doing things firmly,
The me today won't flee, I can run into the darkness.
Honoka's heart and soul held no fear. Any form of hesitation she might have had was now completely destroyed. The stronger Stand stood across from her, and Honoka heard her own words in her head. A song formed by her experiences as a fighter.
Now, at last, the words were absolutely and undeniably integrated into her heart.
No matter what would happen, she would connect as both an Idol and a Stand user with those around her, with her words and her fists.
The other Stand advanced as well. Honoka's Stand rush began, but this time 「Red Flag」 caught it easily with two fists after placing its flag in its mouth, leaving her wide open. "Ugh-!" Honoka couldn't say more before the extra pair of fits collided into her Stand's stomach, sending both her and her Stand flying back.
"Come on, is that all!? Getting me excited for nothing, Kousaka!?"
"Heh… wouldn't dream of that, Yanigihori-san!"
Honoka and 「All Star」 approached once more, the Stand now brandishing the red flag. As they made it close, they tried to sweep at them, but Honoka dodged it. "Although it being THAT beefy is kind of a problem…"
"If this is all it took to defeat you- you're going to pay for wasting my time," Yanigihori said. "Come on! Think of something new!"
While regretting, we'll pass through this!
Don't quit, there's definitely a different path!
Honoka let out a yell as she advanced again. 「All Star's」 right fist began to vibrate as she charged forward. Such a simple attack… Yanigihori sought with disappointment, ready to block another one of Honoka's finisher.
"Actually, just kidding!"
Honoka stuck out her tongue as her Stand withdrew its punch after Yanigihori had been prepared to catch it, instead going for a sweep of「Red Flag's」 legs. But in its current state, it barely did anything. "Erk…" There's nothing that I can really break down around here that'll help out either! I got no choice; I need to go for Yanigihori herself! But she won't let me…
"This is 'myself' at my physical mightiest. What it lacks in speed, it's strength and durable is top-notch," Yanigihori explained. "Assault Mode is the ultimate manifestation of my desire to crush that which opposes my dream!"
"And I'll hand it to you- you're like an iron wall to move past!" Honoka complimented, as an idea began to form. A painful one, but an idea all the same! "Let's GO!"
Yanigihori was puzzled at the Stand charging forward again. "That won't work… like this, no Stand can possible beat mine in a direct assault! Can't you learn anything!?"
"Just take a look at my grades and you'll figure that out!"
"Faitofaitofaitofaitofaitofaitofaitofaitofaitofaito— "
"Enough of this! It's becoming clear I overestimated you, Kousaka!"
The Stand rush collided with the other Stand's fist, the two punching one another so fast that naked eyes would only see blurs as they perfectly countered each other.
And Yanigihori was starting to grow angry. "QUIT SCREWING AROUND! THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT!? FINE!" With two free hands 「Red Flag」 caught opposing fists, still holding the flag in one hand. With one hand a fist collided into the other Stand's stomach, damage reflecting onto the user, before whacking its head with the flagpole. "Then just screw off! Die! Diediediediediediedie- IF THIS IS ALL YOU'RE CAPABLE OF, JUST DIE!"
"… N… not yet…!"
Yanigihori had focused on pummeling the other Stand, and in that process, took her eyes off the user.
The Second Year student was charging up to her. What!? Yanigihori thought. She recalled remembering of the illusionary fire and stepping through it; but that was just an illusion! Honoka was taking actual, real damage from her assault! And yet…!
She fought through it!? Shit…!
「All Star」 vibrated its arms at maximum capacity to push off 「Red Flag.」 And while 「Red Flag」 was significantly stronger and should have been able to hold onto its enemy normally, the intense vibrations were too much and it was forced to let go. At a glance, it seemed like an almost silly power…
But it makes it so hard to hold onto it! It's virtually impossible to hold this fucking Stand down or restrain it!
And Honoka's Stand, with its own great speed, quickly made its way to its master's side. And Yanigihori realized what was coming next.
"FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOO!"
It wasn't a jackhammer punch, but「All Star's」 punch with superhuman strength collided with Yanigihori's stomach before her own Stand could return to her.
The light I once wanted to see, the light that dwells within my chest!
I realize that now is that time,
While feeling a burning awakening!
Light is pouring down!
The light that dwells within everyone
Why don't we believe in our smiles and advance?
It was one of the most devastating blows Yanigihori had ever taken in a fight.
… No. It was the strongest. She flew into a wall, and was left gasping for breath afterwards. Nobody had ever managed to attack her in this way. Absolutely nobody.
Looking up, she saw on the upper levels that Emi was observing the fight now.
Yeah, that's a concert she'll never forget, Emi observed, holding her side. There was no intention of interfering in this fight in any capacity. "Jori-chan…"
"F-fuck, that was- that was good—" Yanigihori looked at her injured rival. "Ahh…" Well, they were both injured now. "Y-you wanted a decisive end right there…"
"Honestly I was really hoping that'd happen," Honoka said. "Still not giving up, are ya…"
"My red flag… is my desires given form," Yanigihori stated. "The flagpole…"
Honoka's eyes widened. "… That flagpole is the real Stand!?"
"Changing its form as I need for the sake of my dreams… but, if it's not enough to stand on its own…!"
"Wh… J-Jori…!" Emi yelled down, causing Honoka to become aware of her presence. "W-wait, you're not gonna do that, right!? You told me and Hijiri…!"
"I need to fight… to win…!" Whatever was happening, it was enough to prompt Emi to summon 「Lucille.」
"Dammit, you idiot…!"
"Stay out of this!"
Honoka yelled at Emi. "Please… this fight doesn't involve you!"
"You don't understand…!"
"I can't give her that concert, this fight, if you interfere! Please!" At that, Emi lowered her weapon with grit teeth. "Stop her… then when she does this…!" The usually cool and playful Emi seemed to be fearful.
And then, Yanigihori grabbed her flagpole directly. The previous figure disappeared, Stand energy surrounding Yanigihori as she screamed. "You can't understand… any of this…! My… my… DETERMINATION!"
"Y-Yanigiohori-san!" Oh crap, did I speak too soon!? Honoka thought. A transformation was occurring before her…
Like Eli's Stand, it had become like an armor. It was bestial however, and Jori was now on all fours. It occurred to her that this was now a fight against Yanigihori directly, not just her Stand…
Yanigihori let out an inhuman roar. With her flag in hand, she charged forward on three limbs.
But even then, Honoka was determined to win. It was at a speed that caught Honoka off guard, and she was prepared to have 「All Star」 simply defend… But something wrapped itself around her waist, pulling her out of its way, her Stand pulled with her. "W-whoah, what!? ... Eli!?"
"Now's not the time to screw around!" Eli yelled. "There's no way we can fight that thing head-on without a plan! You proved you could beat Yanigihori regularly… so let's be smart about this, got it!?"
"…"
Honoka grinned.
"Yeah!"
Still existing,
The me today,
Wants to become strong, so as to stand by you!
"Do you get a plan, senpai!"
"Not a single one in hell! Do you have anything!?" The Cyan Stand user yelled, seeing the bestial and feral Yanigihori beginning to turn around. "There has to be something we can do… even with my armor, if I take enough blows, it'll do damage!"
"It's the flag… the red flag is the true Stand! What comes out is just an extension of energy given shape! That's how it shapeshifts!" Honoka explained. "We need to remove the flag from her… and the flag 'invades your mind' if you hold it!"
Still existing,
The me today can win, I can seize tomorrow!
"「Dancing on the Ceiling!」" Eli yelled, strings extending from her hands. She used them like whips, wrapping them around the flagpole, but could not rest the flag from her mouth; all it had done was succeed in slowing down Yanigihori for a brief moment. "If the two of us are working together…"
"If you can somehow managed to immobilize her, I bet I can remove the flag from her maw!" Honoka reasoned. "ELI!"
Eli's eyes widened as the beast charged forward at a blitzing speed, knocking her back before swiping with the flagpole. Before long, Eli was pinned to the ground. Yanigihori roared in her face, taking out the flag with one of her claws… And Eli realized in horror that Yanigihori intended to bite her head off.
But Honoka rushed over, and instead, Yanigihori's fangs clamped over 「All Star's」 arm instead. Honoka winced as her arm bled, but all the same had her Stand deliver a powerful punch to Yanigihori's head. And another. And at three punches, even the once-proud delinquent boss who had been reduced to a snarling beast was forced to let go. And Eli wasted no time using both her legs to try to push Yanigihori off. The idea had worked, for as Yanigihori had been pushed off, 「All Star」 responded with a vibrating punch that actually got some good distance between them. But not for a second did the beast relinquish her flag, her pride and joy. It was the last stand of the Arrow Hunters, and Yanigihori did not let go no matter what.
Even though I can't say it, I was happy!
That there existed someone who knew my loneliness!
"Kousaka… I want you to use a Stand rush when she comes near you, if this works out!"
"W-wait, what!?"
"Just trust me!" Eli yelled, her Stands wires wrapping itself around one of Yanigihori's legs, swinging her through the air.
"Oh- that works, yeah!" Honoka said with a grin as the screaming enemy was brought to her.
"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITO FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The combo had worked. The momentum of Yanigihori being tossed through the air had resulted into a harder collision with「All Star's」 Stand rush, the flurry of punches followed by an assault comparable to a jackhammer sending her flying. "Kousaka! How much damage did you do!?"
"I-Its hard to tell! At least some, but that Stand armor is really durable… I think I did some damage though!" Honoka yelled. Yanigihori made her way up on all fours however, her flag still in her mouth. Once again Yanigihori roared, racing forward on all fours. Eli had attempted to repeat her strategy but it failed, Yanigihori now dodging her wires.
"So, we can't just treat her like a mindless animal," Eli lamented. "Kousaka…!"
"She's so fast! Like that snake form… I guess this form must be the best of all worlds at the cost of her sanity!" Honoka yelled. "But I can't lose… I couldn't lose before, but especially not to something like this! No… something I can't connect to; I won't lose a fight like that!"
Yanigihori screamed.
"You're in pain, aren't you!? Then I'll kick your ass 'till there's no pain left! I will… beat that pain right out of you, Yanigihori!" As utterly nonsensical as that was, Honoka believed it and took a fighting stance along with her Stand. "Your dreams… surely cannot exist in something like this!" But if I don't think of a plan with Eli, it's not gonna matter 'cuz she'll kill us for sure!
"Kousaka, if we can't think of anything, we just need to hold out until the others arrive! At this point, it's just a few more minutes!" Eli yelled.
"No! We can do it! We can take her down like this, I know we can!" Honoka yelled. "I have… I have an idea…! Hey, prez! Can't you turn your strings into razor wire…? I have an idea! Create some dividing the room in half!"
"You idiot… Do you even have any idea what you're doing!?"
I wanted power!
Power to protect my dream
We're still in time, let's rise up!
"What kind of question is that? Of course not! I'm just trusting my gut!" Honoka said with a grin, charging forward once more, the beast doing the same. Yanigihori now held her flag so she could violently whack Honoka and her Stand with it, as well as freeing up her armored fangs. "Ordinarily I would never try this on another Stand, since damage reflects back to the user… but…!" Honoka let out a flurry of punches that did little good while also taking several hard blows (especially to the head!) from Yanigihori, before letting her bite down on her arm again! I have so much stuff I gotta lie about when I get home…
But in that moment, she was in Yanigihori's grip, right where she wanted. And with its remaining arm, 「All Star」 held onto its opponent's armor. "So, BREAKDOWN!"
The light of dawn illuminates us!
The power that can revive!
A power that protects everyone!
So I smiled close to you!
It was the first time she had done this kind of assault directly on another Stand. And everyone present learned it was extremely effective.
The vibrations inflicted onto the Stand earned a roar of pain as Honoka tried to break it down with a scream of her own. "YANIGIHORIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
She… she cracked the armor!? Emi's eyes went wide as dinner plates as she saw that there was cracks forming in 「Red Flag.」 Her berserk state can be injured!? There's an actual weakness!? The delinquent boss was sent flying backwards, screaming in pain as her armor had been damaged.
"G-get me over to your side!"
Eli had finished setting up her own trap. Seven of her available wires were now like a simultaneously sticky and sharp wire trap. An enraged enemy began her own charge; but Eli grabbed her with her remaining strings, using two to pull herself upwards and her final string to grab Honoka to safety. "Kousaka- this is it! This is it or nothing!"
"It will work… just do what comes naturally!"
Kousaka Honoka was sincerely happy she was a Stand user.
And she was sincerely happy to be a School Idol.
And now, she was grateful this horrible conflict would draw to a close and save those she loved. And then, hopefully, she would save Yanigihori too. "I take one side… and you take the other side…!"
"Understood…!"
Honoka was smiling as Yanigihori charged forward. And something about that puzzled the rampaging beast. . .Killmurderimmaincrushkillkilldestroymurderbloodslaughtermassacrekillkillkillkill— those were the only thoughts the once proud Yanigihori could hear when fighting at her greatest power! Yet her prey was smiling. Why? Didn't she know she would chew her up? That she'd rip off her limbs to eat her? That her red flag meant death to everything that opposed her? She should be all scared and running off!
… But. That smile. Killkillkillkillkill…Grah…? . .Screamscreamscream…
"Yanigihori-san… We're going to save you! It's time you understood our spirits properly!"
Even as a rampaging beast, what Honoka just yelled resonated somewhere within her. "K… Kou… sa… ka…"
A moment later, Yanigihori had been caught between the wires. And the two raced forward!
"Yanigihori… Kousaka… Please, allow me to understand the two of you!" Eli yelled.
"You will! You absolutely will! By the end of this… There will be no need for words!" Honoka declared.
The light I once wanted to see,
The light that dwells within my chest,
I realize that now is that time…
At last, Yanigihori was at Honoka's and Eli's mercy. At last, the end was almost here.
And with it came the time of understandings.
While feeling a burning awakening!
Light is pouring down, the light that dwells within everyone
Let's believe in our smiles and advance!
Both Honoka and Eli had chosen a side to unleash their assaults.
"FAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAIOTFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAITOFAIOT FAITO DAYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"KHOROSHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The blows were utterly unforgiving. In that moment the Otonokizaka students gave their absolute all, pouring all their energy into their Stands and assaulting Yanigihori's cracked form. The assault was so sudden and vicious to the girl tied up in the strings that she could do nothing to defend herself, the blows chipping away more and more of the Stand and doing damage directly to Yanigihori.
"Boss…" Emi said quietly, tears running down her face. "… I think this is what you wanted, from the beginning…" Despite it all, she smiled again."… We should go for sutadon, the three of us, once we're done here…"
Both Honoka and Eli grabbed the flagpole, both of their minds intruded by various thoughts. KILLKILLCAHNGETHEWORLDREVOLUTIONDESTORYENDKILLKILLCHANGETHEWORLDCAHNGEYOURWORLDFORYOURFRIENDSFORYOURFAM—
"We don't need you tell us what to think and feel!" Honoka yelled at these thoughts.
"We make our down decisions! We follow our own path! No one person can decide the future of an entire people and country!" Eli yelled. "Our own thoughts, our own lives…!"
"So, give her back to us…" Honoka began. "Give us back Yanigihori, you stupid Stand!"
Resisting the mental assault of the Stand… it was ripped away from Yanigihori, the 「Red Flag」 waving being forced to submit before the Otonokizaka students… and dispersing at last, and with it, Yanigihori's armor.
The light of dawn illuminates us!
The power that can revive!
A power that protects everyone
So I smiled close to you!
In that moment, the conflict between the Otonokizaka Idol Study Club "μ's" and the delinquent girl gang "Arrow Hunters" ended completely, with μ's decisive victory.
It was over. There was no denying it.
"Jori…!" Using her Stand, a small portal in space-time was opened so Emi could quickly rush to the boss's side. "Jori-chan…!"
"… Your… hearts…" Honoka and Eli were quiet as Yanigihori weakly spoke, not able to stand at this moment. "Are so… stupid and naïve… ha… j-just like mine…"
"At the end of the day…" Honoka began, but Eli finished it.
"We were all just fighting for what we believed in."
Eli was beginning to understand. "You, me, Kousaka… Honoka… we're all the same."
"We're all stupid, I think," Honoka admitted. "All three of us. And all of you in the Arrow Hunters, and μ's. None of us are evil except for Wakaki… Akeno and Miano just wanted their castle and dream. Kobayashi wanted her insect museum. And you two and Takamaki…"
"All we can do is fight for our ideals and our dreams," despite it all, Eli was smiling. "That's all this was. Not some epic fight between good and evil. Just 'people fighting for their dreams.' And the dream of Kousaka Honoka… is the 'dream to save the school as an Idol.'"
"I still wouldn't have joined if I wasn't a School Idol… but, yeah. I just want to be an Idol. I just want to sing and dance," Honoka admitted. "… And I'd like it, Yanigihori, Emi, all of you, if you made it to μ's' next concert!"
"… Ha… well… we're gonna disband now…" Yanigihori said weakly, with a smile. "But… I'll definitely go," Emi didn't say anything, but made a thumbs up with her right hand with a smile. "Let me fully see you in action. In your truest form that's even stronger than your fists… singing and dancing. Because…"
Yanigihori finally understood Honoka entirely. "Your fists fight to protect song and dance."
"Yeah, that's right."
Honoka smiled at everyone. "「All Star」 exists to protect the people I love and my ideals as well. And my ideals are 'to connect with others through song and dance.'"
Yanigihori smiled before passing out.
"I'll get Hijiri and Kobayashi. You're not gonna wanna be here when Hijiri comes too," Emi explained. "… um… girls?" Honoka's and Eli's smiles had disappeared, facing eachother. "Errr… what?"
"Really, Kousaka, now?"
"… Yeah," Honoka started to smile again. "Come on. Let's bring it all to a nice wrap! Remember what I said… after the next time we fight…"
Eli was smiling now too. And her Stand disappeared, and Honoka called off her own as well.
They calmly walked towards eachother, and punched one-another in the face. Emi chuckled at the sight, understanding what was happening.
It was different from all other fights they had been in, for neither called their Stands. After they had both punched eachother things got heated. Eli had grabbed Honoka's hair and pulled on it before stomping on her shin. Honoka let out a yell, before elbowing her chest to make her let go, followed by a punch to Eli's stomach. When Eli took a step back to take a gasp, hunched over a bit it was Honoka who grabbed her hair again before doing a leg swipe, and unlike Eli had managed to make her lose her footing. And as she was starting to fall, Honoka kneed her right between the eyes.
Indeed, this was the time of understandings. There was no hatred or anger in the fight, just a simple fact to them.
"After the next time we fight, we'll definitely be friends."
Eli pulled Honoka to the ground with her, Honoka falling on top of her. Unintentionally pinned under her Eli began to claw at her face with one hand while punching her side, and this action was enough to make Honoka try to get off her. But Eli tried to throw her to the side again, and in the chaos of the moment their positions were reversed. Eli wanted to take advantage of this by punching her while sitting on her chest, but Honoka caught one of her fists and bit down on her wrist, giving Eli a taste of the pain she had endured fighting Yanigihori. Caught off guard, Honoka pushed her senior off. Neither wished for the other to be able to get back up.
But Eli scrambled to get back up. Honoka gripped her ankle, but Eli kicked her off before getting back up. "Kousaka Honoka…"
"Ayase Eli…!"
They both gripped eachother by the shoulders with one hand, and once again, both punched the other in the face. And with that, both fell to the ground.
Between Yanigihori and all the other bullshit they had endured today, they were both completely done with fighting. And Emi smiled, happy to have seen such a passionate fight. Yanigihori was also pleased, drifting off into unconsciousness with a smile right afterwards.
"… Hey. Eli?"
"Yeah?"
Honoka smiled as she looks at the ceiling, before looking at Eli. "I'd like for you to join μ's."
"… Yeah," Eli said with a smile, looking back. "I'd like to join μ's too."
"Holy hell- hey, are you OK!?" The two beaten students looked up, seeing their allies were rushing back now. It was Maki who had yelled, as the rest of μ's and their former delinquent allies coming to look at them, although they also cautiously looked at Yanigihori's direction.
"Hey you guys won. We're fucked," Emi said with a smile. "You missed a good fight right at the end though."
Honoka smiled as Umi and Kotori helped her sit up, and the other Third Years helped Eli. "… Oh, um, yeah… hey, prez, I got something to tell you!" Honoka said with a smile as she looked at Nico. "Sorry, I kind of admitted a new member without you. That alright?"
"W-wait, Ayase…!?"
Despite it all, or perhaps because of it all, μ's smiled as they officially saw a new member had joined them, giving them a peace sign. They all finally understood; it's finally over. We won.
μ's could once again think and act as a School Idol unit, and in that moment, they were no longer Stand users fighting for their lives. Simply children who were happy to know somebody else was now officially their friend.
Overcome with the emotions of the terrible fighting ending and new bonds made, all of μ's cheered.
Next time on Honoka's Bizarre Adventure!
Chapter 24: LIVE & LIFE
Hey. It's been a long time, huh? As of this point, Honoka's Bizarre Adventure has gone over a year without updates.
From the bottom of my heart, for anyone who still reads this: I would like to give you my most sincere apologies for this. This story has been a passion project for years, and it already hurt that I only updated it once throughout 2020: and then to not update it at all throughout 2021, on a cliffhanger to boot...
It's just been hard, ya know? The pandemic, getting back to school, etc etc. And I'll admit, I fell out of Love Live! and JoJo for a while: Inuyasha/Yashahime and Fate have been my big fandoms for a while now (and I have a crossover for that too that i ALSO need to really get back to!) and it's been increasingly difficult to get back to this one...
I love this fic. I still love this fic. And even when I wasn't writing it, I thought of it! But it took so long for the muse to come back to me... after such a wait I would not be surprised if nobody was reading this anymore, and I apologize for that. But for those who are... I want to do more updates! I want to write more! So for those of you who stuck around for the ride, and are sticking around, I have three things to say!
Thank you for staying, and welcome back to the ride!
µ'sic Forever!
And may every road take you to a memory of GREAT DAYS!