Reviews:
Caballero lector rojo: Me alegra que te haya gustado.
SoutaAmetsuchi: Yeah, this Shadow Rider is different from the others. You'll see later on.
Lord Ri The Husbu King: That's an interesting idea. They both have a score to settle, after all.
primenidus: Fair
Tenzalucard123: Bragi is their best chance to win right now. But it's up to them to convince him and get him prepared. Until Hajime can help.
Chapter 98
I'm Human Too
"Seriously..." Maria sighed, finally being able to rest after helping her family who were currently in hospital beds."You guys are too demanding. Is this how it feels like to be you, Jades?"
"It's not that bad." Jades said between bites, enjoying a sandwich."It's actually quite fulfilling."
"Thanks for the food, Maria." Shirabe smiled at the pinkette.
"Maria is the best-desu!"
Her fatigue seemed to dissipate at their praise.'I guess it is fulfilling, in a way.'
She shifted her gaze over to Raiden's bed, who was currently hiding under his covers."Raiden, you can come out."
"Don't wanna." Raiden drawled.
"Raiden..." Maria cooed, sitting on his bed."Elfnein-chan came by earlier to check on you."
"I can't see her, Maria." Raiden heaved a sigh."Not after what happened."
"I can't believe Raiden had his first kiss stolen by the enemy." Shirabe furrowed her brow."How disgraceful of her."
"We wanted to avenge him but she got us..." Kirika deflated.
"Is there a chance Elfnein-chan didn't see that happening?" Jades asked."I mean, if she didn't, we could just pretend it didn't happen."
"No, it's not right to lie like that." Raiden threw his cover off his body."I can't just pretend something didn't happen."
"Right..." Jades chuckled dryly, remembering his own secret he was keeping from them."That's true..."
"In either case, Elfnein-chan knows. That's why she came to see you. She seemed a little...flustered. And upset. But worried. I don't think she blames you."
"Is it that obvious that I like her?"
"Way too obvious," Maria said.
"You wear your heart on your sleeve sometimes," Shirabe added.
"Everyone knows-desu!" Kirika giggled.
"Yup." Jades nodded.
"Great..." Raiden blushed profusely, each statement feeling like someone adding weight to his shoulders."Man, this is terrible...I really wanted her to be my first kiss. I know it sounds selfish but...I really do like her. And I wanted to...say how I feel..."
"Well, just because Prelati stole your first kiss doesn't mean you can't tell her that." Maria rubbed his back soothingly."In fact, now is the best time to do it."
"I think it's important for him to know how he feels." Shirabe voiced her opinion."Since Raiden isn't the most sociable or emotional person. How do you feel about Elfnein-chan?"
"Like...in what way?"
"Romantically speaking."
"Honestly...I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's not like I ever felt this way before...But I guess I...just seeing her makes me happy and my heart flutters. When I met her it was like I met an angel that fell from the sky."
"You're not just saying that because she was half-naked, right?"
"OF COURSE NOT!"
"Let him continue." Maria sighed.
"And...Every time she smiles and feels accomplished in her work...I feel like it gives me at least 100 years of life. I want to protect that smile and protect her from the bad things of this world. To make sure she's happy. I want to just sit around with her and talk about things that are boring to others. I don't think we'd ever run out of things to say. And I just...well, I just want to hold her. And...I wanted to kiss her..."
"Yup. Sounds to me like you're in love." Maria nodded, bringing Raiden in for a hug."It's okay. It seems scary since you never felt that way before but it's not a bad experience."
"Yeah, Maria is right." Jades agreed."Prelati might have stolen your first kiss, but that doesn't mean you can't be with Elfnein and have many more kisses with her. How about the two of you sit down and sort your feelings?"
"I don't know...It just feels wrong after what happened...I should have fought Prelati more but my body betrayed me...I felt weaker and my knees were trembling. My legs felt like jello..."
"Your brain was probably overstressed. Too many emotions at once." Maria reasoned."Listen, give it some time. That way, both of you can sort out your feelings. I'll talk to Elfnein-chan and see what she thinks about you. Of course, I'll keep our conversations a secret. I'm your big sister, after all."
"Thank you, Maria-nee..."
Jades was about to say something when he felt his younger sisters glaring at him with contempt."What? You girls hungry?"
"So it's okay for Raiden and Andreas to have girlfriends but we can't have boyfriends-desu?!" Kirika pouted cutely."That's not fair!"
"It's different! You are girls!"
"How is that different?" Shirabe asked, petting their dog, Andreas, who was sleeping peacefully on her lap.
"Because...girls need to be careful when getting into relationships." Jades rubbed his temples."Look, it's just different, okay? You're my babies. I can't just hand you over to some guys."
'I'm not a fan of handing my brothers to women and you don't see me complaining.' Maria rolled her eyes.
As if destiny had heard him, the door swung open, and the blue-haired boy of the team entered with a grin, holding a basket of candy."Special delivery to my love, Kiri-chan."
"Speak of the devil..." Maria rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"Hamaguchi-kun!" Kirika beamed.
"You have some balls coming here, kid." Jades narrowed his eyes.
Andreas woke up from his slumber, growling at the newcomer. Shirabe and Raiden joined in on the staring.
"Ah...so all of you guys are here?" Hamaguchi chuckled nervously, feeling like he was a rabbit surrounded by predators."I just...I came to give her a get-well gift."
"For all of us...right?" Jades folded his arms.
"Y-yeah! Of course! Anything for Kirika's family!"
"How are you holding up, Hamaguchi-kun?" Maria asked sweetly, not holding the same level of hostility as the others.
"I'm alright. Well, beat up, but I'll live." He smiled back, glad to have an ally in the form of Maria."I, uh...I just came to see of Kirika-chan's doing. And ask her about our date."
"Oh, right. I did promise you a date."
"No. After what you did, you don't deserve that." Jades sat up from his bed, Andreas following him and baring his teeth at the teen.
"Jades, please." Maria sighed in exasperation.
Jades marched up to Hamaguchi, the burly man towering over the young man."Did you forget you drugged us back in Okinawa?"
"Come on, that was a misunderstanding. I just wanted us to have fun-"
"You wanted to touch my sister." Jades grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him with one arm."Don't lie to me, kid."
"Jades-nii-chan, please calm down." Shirabe pleaded.
"Let him down-desu!"
Andreas jumped off the bed, barking at the two males.
"Where's your friend? The one you got the drugs from?" Jades narrowed his eyes dangerously, and Hamaguchi could swear Jades's hands were freezing cold."I'll go talk to him after I'm through with you."
Hamaguchi gasped, tears swelling up in his eyes. His arms hung limply from the sides, his gaze now glued to the ground.
"What's wrong?"
"Kotaro...my friend, the person who worked at the store and prepared the aphrodisiac...He died. He was one of Chiaki's victims." He muttered, his voice completely devoid of emotion."It happened when I thought I had defeated her when she was Femme. But then...I heard it...that infernal, horrible singing..."
Jades lowered the young man to the ground, listening intently.
"She killed...a lot of people in front of my eyes. I tried so hard to save them. I thought that since I had the power to protect, I could protect anyone I wanted." Hamaguchi met gaze with the silver-haired man."But that wasn't true. Just because you have power doesn't mean you can do anything in the world. I failed to save a lot of people who needed me. I wasn't strong enough. I understood how Hajime must have felt to a degree. And it's horrible. A terrible feeling. It feels like a void in my heart and the more people that died in front of me, the bigger the void became. I cry every night thinking about how many lives were lost that day. So many dreams are gone. Families were destroyed and separated. I...don't think that will ever leave me. But..."
He then looked over Jades's shoulder, staring directly at Kirika, who stared back with a sad expression on her face." I know that's how you guys feel too, right? To not be able to save everyone. To fight every day for a brighter tomorrow. While I was fighting, I was thinking of Kirika the whole time. I told myself "this is what she has to do daily, right? So if she can do it, then I have to do it as well." That kept me going. I stood up time and time again because I wanted to be like you. Compared to you, I'm just a stray bullet, Kirika. I wasn't trained from a young age nor was I even meant to have this power nor do I have some crazy genes in my blood. I'm just a regular guy mixed up in this whole thing."
Hamaguchi took a long, deep breath before continuing."That being said, I'm part of this now. And I want to help. For the sake of my family and Hajime and Setsuna. But also, for Kirika's sake. If it's okay with you, I want to protect her. Back when we were kids, all I could do was observe her from afar because I was too hung up on other things. But maybe...if I had reached out to her as well, just like Hajime...she wouldn't have been kidnapped and gone through what happened in FIS. Ah, but then she wouldn't have met any of you. Sorry...Anyway, I want to protect her and shoulder her pain as well. To make her happy and invite her to eat yummy things. And...so that she won't have to feel the same pain I felt. I want to help her carry her burdens and make her smile. Because her smile is contagious. One that was my greatest motivation during my darkest hour. So..." He bowed down on the ground, his forehead on the floor."Please, give me a chance, Jades-san, Maria-san, Shirabe-chan, and Raiden-kun. I know I started on the wrong foot, but please give me another chance to make your sister happy."
"Hamaguchi-kun..." Kirika was blushing, her heart melting upon hearing how he felt about her.
'You're making it sound like you're asking for our blessing in marrying her, dummy.' Maria adopted a small smile, walking over to the young man and squatting next to him."Honestly, I don't mind. Kirika is a big girl, so she can date anyone she wants. I know you're...a bit of a pervert and whatnot, but you're not a bad person. I know you wouldn't hurt her in any way. And you have a big heart. So I'm okay with you guys being together."
"I don't mind...I guess." Shirabe muttered, folding her arms under her chest."But don't call her Kiri-chan. Only I can do that."
"As long as you don't do anything weird to her, it's fine." Raiden huffed.
They all looked expectantly at Jades, who was rubbing his chin deep in thought."Raise your head, Hamaguchi."
Hamaguchi did as he was instructed and Jades placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair.
"Listen, kid. We lost a lot of people. Family. And...Honestly, I know I seem a little intense, but I worry about my family. The ones that I have left. And I want to protect them and make sure they have a future. So...that's why I can be a little too overbearing. I'll let you hang out with Kirika. But I don't think it's a good idea for you guys to date just yet. Go out and get to know each other. Of course, there will be a set of rules you have to follow."
"Rules...?"
"You'll see when it happens. Anyway, Kirika, what do you say? You wanna go out with him?"
"Yes..." Kirika meekly nodded."But...I told you I like to eat only delicious things, right? So I hope you have enough money-desu! Got that, Baby Shark?"
"Sounds good to me, Little Reaper." He winked at her.
"Also, not touching. No groping or anything inappropriate." Jades said with an authoritative tone."I want her back at 10 pm sharp. Otherwise..."
"R-right..." Hamaguchi chuckled sheepishly."Well, I should get going. I have to watch some movies Kazanari-san gave me. Apparently, it's for my training but we'll see."
"Hamaguchi-kun, wait!"
Hamaguchi stopped by the door, looking back at the girl he loved."Yeah?"
"I...I want to protect you too. I don't want you suffering alone again so I'll do my best to shoulder your pain too. Okay?" She said, giving him a heart-melting smile that nearly caused him to faint by the mere cuteness.
"R-right. Let's work hard together." Hamaguchi smiled back, causing her to blush heavily and hide under her covers.
"See? That's how you have to do it." Maria told Raiden, who sighed in dismay.
Hibiki hummed to herself a happy tune, carrying a tray of pasta they were serving in the cafeteria. Bragi's room was secluded, even more so than Elfnein's room, so it had been a bit since she had seen people around."I hope I'm not getting lost...HQ is bigger than it seems but-"
She paused, nearly dropping the tray in her hand when she turned around the corner, spotting the door to Bragi's lab. A sign she was all too familiar with welcomed her. But this time, she wasn't the target of it. On the door, there were several papers with writing on them, sticky notes, and even someone had drawn on the door itself with a market.
'DIE'
'KILL YOURSELF'
'MONSTER'
'IMHUMAN BRAT'
'MURDER'
'DEVIL SPAWN'
'YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE'
'EVERYONE HATES YOU, YOU SON OF THE DEVIL.'
'DISAPPEAR'
'NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE.'
'YOU'RE AN EYESORE.'
'ALL THE PEOPLE YOUR FATHER KILLED...WHY ARE YOU ALIVE?'
'YOUR LIFE IS MEANINGLESS.'
Hibiki couldn't help herself. She set the tray down and immediately began tearing the pieces of paper down, crumbling them to the ground. She took out her handkerchief from her pocket and began trying to wipe away the horrible words that were written by a market, but they wouldn't come off.
"Who could do something like this...?"
"Hibiki-dono?" Bragi was surprised to see her, holding a towel over his head. He then noticed her expression, then the pieces of paper on the floor."Shit...I knew I should have taken those down earlier..."
"Bragi-kun...what is this...?" Hibiki looked down at the papers and then back at him.
Bragi wrapped the towel around his shoulders, looking like a deer in front of headlights."Hibiki-dono, I-"
"How long?"
"Huh?"
"How long has this been going on? Who did this?"
"I...I don't know. I just-"
"Bragi-kun." She said, more firmly this time, cutting him off."Please. Talk to me. Who did this to you? And how long has it been going on?"
Bragi took a deep breath."The cat is out of the bag, I guess." He leaned against the wall, falling on his rear."Our colleagues. As for how long...I don't know remember. As far as I know, I guess. The first day on the job the whole door was covered by them."
"That long...? By the people we work with...?" Hibiki couldn't wrap her head around the matter."But...why? Why would they abuse you like this? It's not right! Have you talked to anyone about this?"
"Just Shirabe-dono. And even then, it happened by accident."
"But you should tell someone about this! Does Shishou know? That you're being abused?! Why haven't you said anything?!"
"Because this is what I deserve."
"What...?" Hibiki felt her heart sink to her stomach."You deserve this...?"
"Look at me, Hibiki-dono. I'm the son of the devil. The man who nearly brought the world to its knees. He killed so many people, ruined countless lives, and is the reason everyone is suffering. He caused everything. And I'm no better. I'm just as bad as he was. I deserve this treatment."
"No! No, you don't!" Hibiki sat down next to him, distressed at how lightly he was taking this whole thing."No one deserves this! What Bragard did is not your fault!"
"I was meant to be him. My sole purpose was to be the perfect body for him to take over. Other than that, am I meant for anything else? I was just an experiment created from his and Mama's DNA. Just a means to an end. And now that I don't have that purpose, I thought that maybe...if I worked hard enough, eventually, I would be accepted. Maybe I could have meant something. Be different from him. But as you saw...I'm not."
He ran a hair through his monochrome hair, chuckling."In the end, I'm not so different from the Second. I thought I was. That I could get away from the destiny he had planned out for me. But...I'm just like he is. I'm not perfect. I'm not the ultimate life form. I am not the strongest. I have no goal of my own. I'm a failure. Just garbage that he left behind and that people can just stare at and laugh all day long. I'm nothing. Worst of all, apparently he's still alive out there being used as an energy source for the Mirror World. He never paid for his crimes."
"Bullshit! What the hell do you know?! What the hell do YOU, Hibiki Tachibana, know about me?! Nothing! Absolutely fucking nothing! I'll tell you what I am...I'm a waste of space. A failure. A horrible person. A piece of shit human being that deserves to die."
Hibiki remembered Hajime's words, still clear as day, echoing in her mind. The boy in front of her reminded her of herself back then. Their situations were too similar. Both of them were blamed for things that weren't their fault. And he also had the same mindset as Hajime where he was blaming himself for everything and belittling his own life.
'But I'm not going to let him down too. I couldn't help Hajime but I will do my best to help Bragi-kun. No matter what.'
Hibiki grabbed his hand, causing him to tense up."Hibiki-dono?"
"I want to invite you over to dinner today. Miku is preparing something delicious and we're meeting in our room. They remodeled the dormitories so they're quite spacious now."
"Are..you sure it's okay to invite me? Miku-dono is your best friend so your time with her is special. I wouldn't want to impose."
"Nonsense! Miku will love to have you over!" Hibiki insisted, standing up and pulling him along.
"You won't take no for an answer, right?"
"Nope! You're coming with me and that's final!"
"Okay...What time?"
"Later tonight. Around 7."
"Got it. I know the way to Lydian." He nodded slowly, noticing the tray of food on the floor."Were you gonna eat that?"
"Oh, that's for you. Though I guess it's cold by now..." Hibiki hummed.
"I appreciate the sentiment. But really, I'm not hungry. I can go a long time without eating-"
A loud growl emanating from his stomach told the cream-haired girl all she needed to know. She giggled, much to his chagrin."You really are hungry! Let me go get you something new. Oh, no! That's right! There was no more food!"
"It's fine." Bragi shrugged, taking the tray, and immediately started to eat the pasta."It's good...I haven't eaten anything from the cafeteria in a while..."
"Is it because of what's been happening?"
Bragi sighed, sitting back down on the floor with Hibiki."Yes...I prefer to avoid going there because usually I get food thrown at me. And it would raise many eyebrows if others would see me covered in food."
"So not even Elfnein-chan knows?"
"Of course not. She's worried enough as it is. She doesn't need more on her plate. Neither does Tobias."
"But this is not okay, Bragi-kun. You shouldn't be taking this kind of abuse. It's not fine." Hibiki frowned."Have you just pretended to be okay? Have you been hurting inside but you hid it behind a smile?"
"I...I just hid, in general. I can't smile too much because...My smile is not pretty. It's full of arrogance and I feel like people think I'm belittling them." He continued eating, taking a few seconds to chew on his food before continuing."I appreciate your concern, Hibiki-dono. I do. But...as you saw, I nearly killed all of you. Everyone is right to call me a monster. I don't deserve to be alive. I have no reason to be alive. I just exist to exist. And that's okay. I made peace with it. So don't let it bother you either."
"No. I'm sorry, but I can't do that." Hibiki shook her head."I can't just abandon someone who clearly needs help. I don't care what others think. Your life is precious. You are precious. Everyone has a reason to live. So don't feel like you deserve to die. Because you don't. We all make mistakes from time to time. And...sometimes, things are just out of our control. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'd be happy to help. Everyone feels the same way too. Sure, some were a little upset about the meteor but you had good intentions. You just lost control of your emotions, that's all."
"Hibiki-dono, I-"
"Bragi-kun, you're not like Bragard. At all. And...to be honest, I think you're already way different than he was. You want to change. The fact that you want to be different and help others says a lot about you. You have a big heart. A big heart that yearns to give love and receive love. It must be tough growing up without your parents, right? I mean, you have the body of a 16-year-old but you're about 3 to 4 months old. So I guess it's pretty frustrating, right? I would know. My Dad...abandoned us. So I know how it feels like to not have a parent around. But he's making things better, one step at a time. Elfnein-chan is also doing her best for you, isn't she?"
"Yeah...she is." Bragi nodded, having finished his food."More than I could ask for. It was pretty scary when I first woke up. I was in that room and scientists came in and out. Then I saw her. She looked so familiar, for some reason. Felt familiar too. I know my Mama and her were once the same person but to be honest, I didn't see the difference. To me, she's my Mama too. But sometimes I wish I met my real Mama. Maybe she could have told me what I was supposed to do. How to do things. Or maybe I would have been pondering about my existence regardless."
"I'm sure Carol-chan would be proud if she were to see you now." Hibiki smiled reassuringly."You're pretty smart and knowledgeable about everything. But above all, you have passion. I have no doubt in my mind Carol-chan would feel proud of you."
"Thanks..." He hugged his knees.
"But you know...I meant what I said. You are special to all of us. You're a dear friend and a part of the team. You're not a monster. And please, never give up on living. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah..." He hid his face from her, tears glistening in his eyes."Of course, Hibiki-dono. I can do that."
"Also, promise me you'll talk to Shishou about what's going on."
"Ah, that's..."
"We can go together if you want." She offered."You don't have to feel embarrassed. I can be there since I'm also a witness. I want you to come out of your room more and join us when we're eating together. And that can't happen if you're constantly worried about being harassed."
Bragi stayed silent.
"You are perfect the way you are." Hibiki said, earning his attention."A person with flaws and insecurities, just like everyone else. But perfect in your own way. Never think otherwise."
"Thank you...Hibiki-dono...for not...hating me..." Bragi muttered, his eyes closed.
"I could never hate you, Bragi-kun. No one hates you. We're your friends." Hibiki said, scooting closer to engulf him in a comforting hug.
'It's hard to believe that this is the same prideful person I've known for all these months. I guess everyone has a vulnerable side, no matter how much they try to cover it up. Is that how Hajime felt as well? Hiding things to make others not worry about him? Just like how I did at one point?'
"Hibiki-dono...you guys need me, right? I heard what happened."
"Only if you want to. Yosuke-san says you're the best person for the job. Shadow Ryuki is strong and everyone got hurt...But if you don't want to, then-"
"It's fine. I don't mind being the second choice from time to time."
"No, it's not like that..."
"I know the Boy Wonder would have been the first choice. But it's fine. I'll help." Bragi pulled back from the hug, standing back on his feet."It's the least I can do. Until I find out what my purpose in life is, I'll help others in theirs. So...count me in."
"I'm glad you're okay with it." Hibiki beamed."Thank you, Bragi-kun."
"It's fine. And, uh...will there be anything spicy at dinner today? I...like spicy stuff."
"I'll make sure to let Miku know!" Hibiki winked, patting him on the head.
"I'm not a kid..." He blushed at the gesture.
'He really is like Hajime. I remember he used to say that all the time.' She chuckled, turning on her heels and taking the empty tray with her."Oh! And bring your tiara too!"
"My tiara? But-" Before he could ask why, she had already left.
'My tiara, huh? I don't even know why I wear that thing. I'm a prince, but...prince of what? A dead kingdom?'
Deciding not to dwell on his thoughts, he went back inside his lab to continue working on Zolda's weapon.
'You're out there, aren't you, Second? What will I do when I find you?'
"I'm worried about Bragi-chan." Elfnein set her tools down, taking a deep breath.
"I know. Me too." Tobias put the document he was reading away to listen to his creator."He's been relatively distant, hasn't he?"
"He has. Ever since he was..." Elfnein shook her head, trying not to think about the day she had to see her nephew's body without his head."I feel like his pride was shattered when he was defeated. My boy is struggling..."
"And he's taking the blame for it. After all, he nearly got everyone hurt due to that large-scale attack he was planning on using." Tobias continued."But, I guess I also understand him in other regards."
"What would that be?"
"Well, I think he's still trying to adjust to life itself." Tobias offered."He's about 3 months old, right? I was created a few months earlier than him and it took me a while to find my place in life. It's difficult since I was just created. Not grown up like my parents had intended for me. Even you were like that at some point, Elfnein. You wanted to stop Carol, even at the cost of your life."
"It took some time to adjust to a different life after that..." Elfnein nodded."My poor Bragi-chan...I could only imagine how he feels..."
"The way I understand it, children grow up and go through different phases in their lives. We didn't have a proper childhood. Bragi is the worst case since he was the same as us but he also thinks he was created with a specific objective in mind that just never came to occur. He sees himself as the copy of a copy. And I suppose that is affecting his stability. He's still growing mentally, but it's more difficult for him, even with our help. There are some things that he needs to figure out. I would know since I'm the closest thing to what he is."
"Still, I don't feel okay just leaving him alone. I want to help him. He's really young. Despite appearances, even younger than me. I'm basically Carol in a way, so I should serve as a mother figure to him. But..."
"Even you have your problems to work out, Elfnein. It's not like neither of us understand fully how the world works. We're smart, just not street smart, as they say nowadays. There is not a proper book about parenting. The way I see it, that's when our friends come in to help, just as they've helped us. He's not alone. I have a feeling he wants to prove himself not only to those around him but to you as well."
"Me?"
"Yes. You are his parent, after all. His Mother, since Carol is not here for him. Takeru-san told me this before. But boys by nature don't want others to see them in their weak states. I think it's something like a pride thing. I'm not sure. But I think Bragi doesn't want to worry you. Maybe he thinks he can solve things himself. Or perhaps he just wants to test out his limits before asking for your help."
"That boy...knowing his personality, that's probably it." She sighed wearily."I just hope he reaches out when he's stuck."
"He'll be fine. Just give him time. After all, he is Carol's hope."
"I can't believe it..." Aoi gaped, her face contorted in disgust upon what Hibiki had told them."This was happening under our noses...?"
"I'm sure the others didn't tell us because they knew we would tell the Commander." Sakuya frowned, equally perturbed." And that would ruin their "fun.". How can they pick on a kid like him? Sure, he's a handful, but that's still a child they're harassing."
"I'll deal with it." Genjuro said, his face stonecold."And I'll make sure those people who took part in the bullying are fired and dealt with accordingly. We're supposed to be a team. We do not condone this type of behavior."
"Thanks, Shishou. I know Bragi-kun wouldn't have wanted me to be the one to tell you, but-"
"You did the right thing, Hibiki-kun." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, he wouldn't have said anything," Yosuke mumbled, but his voice was loud enough for them to hear.
"Yosuke-kun?"
"Based on what Tachibana said and Dienheim's destructive behavior...do you think he's the way he is because he sees it as a punishment?"
"What do you mean?"
"Take a look at his behavior on the battlefield. Rushing ahead and purposely taking damage for others." Yosuke elaborated."I used to think that he was doing it because he was too full of himself and trusted his healing factor too much, but what if he only did it as a way to punish himself?"
"Are you saying he purposely takes attacks that can harm him because that's his way of atoning?" Genjuro asked, receiving a nod.
"After what Tachibana said, it makes sense. I've reviewed the fights he was in and most of the attacks he's taken should have been able to be dodged by him. Hopefully, Tachibana's words can make him understand that he doesn't have to do that. No one is blaming him for what Brbagard did. He's not a monster nor is he unwanted."
"I invited him over to dinner at our dormitory." Hibiki chimed in."I didn't want him to be alone today."
"Good. It's best if we act now before things get out of hand. We don't want another repeat, do we?"
"Right. Now we know that if someone is struggling, we have to reach out to them." Yosuke muttered, clenching his fists."We should have done this before with Adachi, but if we can prevent others from feeling the same way, then that's plenty. I'll have to apologize to Adachi and Dienheim."
Hibiki pursed her lips, rubbing her arm as her mind trailed off to her boyfriend.
"Well, better go get ready." Genjuro got her attention as he ruffled her hair.
"Right. I have to tell Miku about him coming over." Hibiki smiled.
To her, this was a step in the right direction. She reached out to him and he accepted the help. Maybe when Hajime wakes up...she could help him by reaching out to him properly. And never make the same mistake again.
Later in the evening, Bragi stood outside of the door with the names of Hibiki and Miku embedded in it. He was dressed up in some black cargo pants, a white shirt, and black sneakers. Clothes that Jades had lent him since his wardrobe wasn't that big. He had put his tiara on at Hibiki's request. Not like it had much meaning anymore. Cagliostro was right. He was just boasting of being a prince of a long-gone kingdom. Was he even the prince, to begin with, since he was just a being created from the homunculus of the original Bragard's cells?
He shook his head. Now was not the time to be drowning in his thoughts. He was cordially invited to dinner by a friend who was kind enough to extend a helping hand, and another one who was more than kind to allow him to enter her home. He took a long, deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Coming!"
Bragi frowned. That was weird. He had expected either Hibiki or Miku to open the door. The voice didn't sound very familiar. Perhaps one of their friends?
His suspicions immediately disappeared when the door opened, revealing a short-haired girl eyeing him curiously. The girl was none other than Setsuna Adachi, younger sister to the Boy Wonder.
He silently gasped, not having expected to run into her of all people. He was about to turn back when she beamed at him.
"Bragi-san! It's been so long! I haven't seen you in a while!" She greeted in a friendly manner, surprising the hybrid.
"Oh...Right, it's been a few months, huh? I didn't know you'd be here, Setsuna...I thought you'd be visiting the Boy Wonder."
Setsuna tilted her head in confusion before she realized what he meant."Ah! You mean Hajime! I visited him earlier today and ran into Hibiki-onee-chan who invited me over too."
"Onee-chan? Oh, because she's your sister-in-law?"
"Yup! I love her so much! She's like a real sister to me! So wonderful!" The brunette gushed over Hibiki. Bragi chuckled internally.
'I guess Hibiki-dono has a big fan in her, huh?'
"Don't just stand there, come in!" She grabbed his hand, much to his shock.
In all honesty, he didn't know why the girl was so friendly to him. After all, he had read the report. He knew the Second killed her family in front of her. He had his face. So why wasn't she looking at him with contempt, as he deserved? He didn't want to make things awkward, more than they were, so he followed along without protesting.
"Hi, Bragi-kun!" Hibiki smiled, sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by books.
"Bragi-kun is here already?" Miku, who was wearing an apron as she prepared dinner, came into view."I'm so glad you came, Bragi-kun. How are you? I haven't seen you in a while."
"I'm fine, thank you for asking, Miku-dono." He nodded curtly at her."Thank you for having me over. Your kindness is appreciated."
"No need for all that formality, Bragi-kun. We know each other." She giggled waving her hand."Take a seat and relax. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Is there something I can help you with?" Bragi asked."I would want to help out if possible. It wouldn't feel right to just sit here while you do all the hard work."
"Mmmmm." The dark-haired girl hummed, her green eyes staring into his dichromatic ones."Well, you can help me chop some vegetables. I'm not so good with the knife and it would speed things up a bit."
"But Miku! He could help me with my homework!"
"Hibiki, the point of that homework is for you to learn, not for him to solve it for you," Miku replied sternly, guiding Bragi into the kitchen.
"I can help you, Hibiki-onee-chan!" Setsuna offered.
Miku offered Bragi a knife, and the boy got into position next to her as she prepared the beef she was going to put inside of a pot.
"You look a little thinner than I remember. Are you eating properly?" Miku asked, trying to start a conversation.
"More or less. I can go without eating for a while but I eat occasionally. Usually, I'm too busy with my work." He shrugged, starting to cut some carrots.
"That's no good, Bragi-kun." Miku chided him."You have to eat more. You're a homunculus and a human, but that doesn't mean you can just ignore your body's needs."
"I'll keep that in mind. Hibiki-dono and Auntie Elfnein keep telling me to eat more. Maybe I should listen to them."
"Then it's a good thing we're going to be making a lot of food today, huh?" She grinned at him."I hope you have room for everything I have prepared. Today I'm making my cooking comeback. I've been practicing in secret, so I hope it's to your guys' liking."
He chuckled, shaking his head."I'm looking forward to your cooking, Miku-dono. I'm grateful for the opportunity to try it out. I have complete knowledge of cooking and stuff, but I never prepared anything on my own. Have you always known how to cook?"
"I had to learn after we applied to Lydian together." Miku explained."We live on our own without our parents. So naturally, we had to learn how to cook. It was either that or the food at the cafeteria. And keep this between you and me, but that food is not very appealing."
"Heh. I feel bad for you, then. You should try the cooking in the cafeteria in HQ. It's to die for. Though I suppose it's not very healthy..."
"I suspected as much." Miku sighed."But I'm surprised you're not fat at all. On the contrary, you're quite muscular."
"I don't go out much, but I do have a pretty advanced metabolism." He explained."I can eat just about anything and burn it off with ease."
"Now you're making me jealous." She giggled."I wish it were that easy. I'm not sure if you know, but girls our age have to watch what we eat if we don't want to gain extra pounds."
"Well, Hibiki-dono does what she does out on the field. What about you, Miku-dono? How do you keep yourself fit? You have an athletic build, so I would dare to say you practice some kind of sport."
"Close. I was actually on the track team back then. But I quit when I transferred to Lydian. I do occasionally run to keep in shape, though. But like you, I'm mostly just indoors, practicing the piano."
"I see. You practice an instrument. A very complex one, might I add. That's quite remarkable, Miku-dono. Honestly, I never played any instruments. I know how to play them, but unlike you, I never really practiced them. It's just one of the many things implanted into me. So it feels pretentious to even play them."
"A natural genius, huh?" Miku mused, teasing him a little."I would like to hear you play the piano one day. Maybe you can give me some pointers."
"Ah...I doubt I can teach you much, honestly. Personally, I think it's much better to learn than-" He hissed, accidentally cutting himself with the knife. The wound was deep and he quickly grabbed a tissue to avoid spilling blood all over.
"Are you okay?!" Miku gasped, immediately stopping what she was doing to check his wound.
"No sweat. Just accidently cut myself. I never used a knife to cut vegetables before...I thought it was easy."
"I don't think it translates too well. Hamaguchi-kun thinks he can use swords because he knows how to use knives. Let me give you a band-aid. We have to treat that wound-"
"It's fine. Look." Bragi held out his finger, black dust swirling around the injury and completely fixing it as if nothing had happened."No problem. I can regenerate."
"Oh...right. Wow..." She marbled, examining his finger."No scar or anything. Hibiki told me about your healing factor but seeing it up close is...something else."
"Heheheh...Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's fine. I was just worried." She reassured him. The two of them went back to cooking, just talking about things that Miku liked since Bragi didn't have a very large portfolio of things he had done in life due to his short life.
"We definitely need to get you out more. You're welcome to tag along with us when we go to the mall or to watch a movie."
"I wouldn't want to impose..."
"It's fine." She dismissed his concern with a friendly smile."You're my friend. And I want you to come along."
"Sure thing. I'll be in your care."
The dish today was beef stew and Bragi helped Miku set the table for 5. The hybrid was confused as to who else could they have invited. His questions were answered when Miku let Chris through the door. She was carrying a tray full of cupcakes.
"Junior?" Chris rose a brow upon seeing the boy."I didn't know you were gonna come."
"Neither did I know you'd be here, Chris-dono." Bragi tensed up upon feeling her gaze on him. He knew she wasn't particularly happy about the stunt he did.
"Well, luckily for you, I made enough cupcakes for everyone."
Chris said, setting the cupcakes on the counter.
"I want to try them!" Setsuna cried out in excitement.
"Finish your food first. Dessert comes after." Chris told her."These should be better than the ones I made last time. I'm following Takeru's recipe, but I'm trying to not add too much sugar like he did."
"Aw, really? Okay...Hey, Bragi-san! Do you mind if I wear that tiara? It's so pretty! Like a princess!"
Bragi deadpanned at that comment but let it slide, giving the girl his tiara as Chris snickered.
"Wow...it's kind of heavy, huh? Isn't it plastic? Why isn't it a crown?"
"It's made from real metal. Made from the real crown the Second had. Normally, princes wear tiaras because the crown belongs to the king or queen. Since neither the First nor the Second were properly crowned, they remained as princes. And by extension, me too."
Setsuna blinked, cocking her head to the side, confused by what he meant by First and Second.
"He's an actual prince, believe it or not." Chris wagged her eyebrows at him, laughing at his flustered expression."I think it's adorable."
"Stop making fun of me, Chris-dono..." Bragi muttered."Honestly, I wasn't going to wear that ever again."
"Why not? It's really pretty! And if you're a prince, then you have to wear the tiara!"
"I...It's complicated." He sighed, leaning back on his chair and starting munching on his food. His eyes widened, slowly meeting gaze with Miku."This...is so delicious..."
"I added some spices to make it mildly spicy. Feel free to ask for seconds!" She offered a warm smile."Oh, my."
Bragi had devoured the whole plate clean in that one moment, looking like a lost child when he noticed them staring."Uh...more, please?"
"Pfft! Hahahahaha!" Chris broke into a fit of laughter."Boy, he's hungry as hell!"
"He eats more than me..." Hibiki marbled."And I thought I ate a lot."
"Well...when I go too long without eating, I get hungrier than usual. So..."
"It's okay." Miku reassured him."I made more than enough."
"Hey, save some for me too." Chris poked at his sides, causing him to squirm."Huh? Don't tell me you're ticklish."
"Long story."
The group started to eat together, and Bragi slowed down to taste the food. Miku wasn't lying. She had put just the right amount of spice to it for his likeness. It was...comfortable, to say the least. Sure, he had eaten with Elfnein and Tobias before, but most of the time he ate alone. Even when Maria, Takeru, or Jades would invite him to eat with the rest, he would decline. Now he knew what he had been missing. This sense of belonging...it was indescribable.
The Second tried to kill these people. End their happy memories.
He lowered his gaze to his food, already on his fourth serving, drowning out the sound of the girls conversing around him. It felt wrong to be here. His Father had tried to kill them. He ruined the Boy Wonder's life and Setsuna's life. He killed their family in front of them. What right did he have to be in the same room as them after everything?
Bragi felt sick to his stomach. He didn't deserve to be here. He didn't deserve their kindness. He didn't deserve-
"Junior!"
"Huh?"
"I'm asking you if you're gonna help us out," Chris repeated, looking at him with an annoyed expression after he had ignored her the first 2 times.
"Y-yeah. Of course, I am. You can count on me."
"Are you really okay to fight? I heard that...you know..." She pointed at her head, not wanting to go into details with Setsuna around.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's kind of weird to think this wasn't my original head, though."
"Trust me, I know how you feel." Hibiki giggled, flexing her arm."I lost my arm too when we fought the Nephilim."
"Huh? Really?"
"Okay, then we can count on you." Chris brought the conversation back on topic."Elfnein-chan says a lot of good things about you. I hope you don't disappoint us again."
"I learned my lesson, Chris-dono. I won't let your expectations go unanswered. Besides, I wouldn't mind beating around a version of the Boy Wonder."
"Why do you dislike Hajime-kun that much?" Miku asked, genuinely interested.
"I can't stand him. He's an obnoxious asshole, stuck up, irritating, and much more. Plus, I was programmed to dislike all Liangs."
"But you don't dislike me." Setsuna pointed out."And I'm half Liang. I don't think you dislike Wei-san either."
"I...that's different..."
"Is that why you didn't try to help him like you helped Hamaguchi?" Chris asked, a teasing smile on her face.
"I hate the guy but I wouldn't stoop so low to do that, Chris-dono."
"Relax. I'm just pulling your hair a bit."
"Whatever...I don't particularly enjoy being the second choice, since he's not around. Nonetheless, I will do my best."
'He's jealous.' Miku thought but decided to not voice her opinion. It was obvious now. He hated how everyone treated Hajime and thought they belittled him.'Maybe he wants people to rely on him too.'
"Bragi-kun, I wanted to get your input on something, seeing as you're an Alchemist and all," Hibiki said, earning his full attention.
"Go ahead."
"If you want something, do you need to be prepared to give something up in return? And is it reckless of me to think I can solve it all, somehow?"
"Ah...classic equivalent exchange rule." Bragi hummed."Well, normally that's what Alchemy means. Think about it like this. If you want to buy something new, like a new computer or something, you need to give up your money for it, right? But is it reckless to want to solve it all? I would say yeah, but then again, it's not like I'm one to talk. I would say the same thing myself. Reckless people are often the ones that make the biggest changes in the world. And sometimes, being reckless can lead to a better choice. A third option."
"I think it's okay for you guys to be reckless. If it means you can be happy, then just be as reckless as you normally are." Miku cut in, addressing the Rider and Symphogear."When you're reckless, you do it because you want to help those around you."
Hibiki and Bragi exchanged glances before chuckling.
"Maybe. But Hibiki-dono doesn't go around losing limbs in the process."
"I would if I could."
"It was an exaggeration. Don't take it so seriously..."
By the time they had finished eating and cleaning the dishes, it was around 10 pm and the trains had stopped running. Miku and Hibiki invited the others to sleep over for the night. Chris and Miku shared the bed on top while Hibiki and Setsuna slept on the bottom, at the request of the youngest girl who needed to be close to Hibiki for comfort. Bragi had opted to sleep on the couch since he didn't mind where he slept and wasn't about to take someone's comfort just for his own. Miku gave him plenty of blankets and pillows and even told him to keep the television on if he wanted to.
So she wasn't surprised when she woke up in the middle of the night and saw it on. But to her surprise, Bragi was leaning back on the couch, legs crossed as he watched a golf game.
"Bragi-kun? Can't sleep?" Miku asked, shivering at how cold the room was in her nightgown.
"Sorry if I disturbed your sleep, Miku-dono. I put this at low volume but I guess it wasn't low enough." He apologized, still wearing his clothes except his shoes.
"No, no. I just had to use the bathroom and wanted to get a glass of water." She yawned, walking over to the couch and sitting next to him. Bragi noticed her shivering and offered his blanket."That's okay..."
"It's yours. Plus, you're shaking. I'm good with the cold. And any other types of environments, for the most part."
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" Miku smiled, accepting the blanket and covering herself with it, enjoying the warmth."I didn't think you liked golf."
"I don't. Well, it's more appropriate to say I don't particularly like it. I don't really like a lot of things."
"Is it because you genuinely don't like them or because you haven't tried them?"
"Maybe the latter." He shrugged."I never really do much. Just stay in my lab all day."
"I know why." Miku gave him a sad look."Hibiki told me. She was just worried and told me."
"Oh...So you know about that..." Bragi sighed, averting his gaze.
"I don't know if you know...But Hibiki was once in a similar situation to yours."
"Huh? Hibiki-dono?"
"Yes...So you really don't know?" Miku asked."I'm surprised. I'd figured you'd be one of the most informed people of S.O.N.G."
"I don't like prying in people's files. But...what happened to her?"
"She survived the attack on the Zwei Wing concert nearly 3 years ago now. Because of that, people called her all sorts of obscenities. Every day. They harassed her at school and even followed her home and vandalized her house every day, issuing death threats to her family.. It was the reason why her dad left them."
"But that's horrible...How could anyone do that to such a sweet person like she is?"
"Some people are...heartless, I suppose." An image of Hazuki flashed in her mind momentarily."They accused her of all kinds of things. Or murder, of staging the whole thing just to get money for the government. It was bad. You said before I was a good person. But it wasn't always that way. Back in junior high, all I cared about was getting ahead of others. I was everyone as a rival and often ignored their feelings."
"I find that hard to believe. You, Miku-dono? But you're just as sweet and kind as Hibiki-dono."
"I suppose we all have our inner demons." She smiled before continuing."But Hibiki made me rethink my outlook on life. She had more reason to cry than everyone else and needed help the most. But she kept being reckless for other people's sakes. Kind of like you."
"But I brought this on myself. She was completely innocent."
"And yet, she wanted to spare you of how she felt." Miku said."That's why she reached out to you. Because she saw you in a similar position as she was before. I think she also regrets not having been able to help Hajime-kun. So I'm sure she wanted to help you no matter what. You feel the same way, right? You want to help other people too. That's why you dive in head first in fights and take damage for other people. To protect them. Because you care about those around you and you want them to be safe. I think that's incredible. And the right step toward becoming a better person."
"Even so...I don't know what to do, Miku-dono. Right now my goal is to help them defeat Shadow Ryuki but...what comes next? What am I going to do next? Or am I simply going to be dragged around by miscellaneous tasks? Miku-dono...what makes a human a person? Can people change? Or are they meant to be the same way from when they were born?"
"Those are some heavy questions." Miku giggled sheepishly."I'm not knowledgeable in philosophy so forgive me if my responses seem vague. I think people can change. Or I guess the better word is to adapt to their environments. Depending on where we are or the people that are around us as well as our life experiences, we become different people. A different version of ourselves. Like I told you, I used to be mean and competitive with those around me. But Hibiki changed me. It's okay if you don't have all the answers from the get-go. Learn them as you go. Explore the world around you and meet new people. It's those types of connections that shape your worldview. It's fine if you don't think you have a purpose. Who can say that humans need one purpose in particular? Find what you want to do, no matter how small it seems, and stick with it. Then you will find the answer."
"Miku-dono...you said you weren't good with this..." He couldn't help but praise her."But that was...some good advice."
"I have some experience. After all, Hibiki was in a similar situation to you."
The two of them stayed silent for a bit, staring at the television in front of them before Miku spoke up.
"Bragi-kun...I know that you blame yourself for what Bragard did. But it's not your fault. I'm sure Hibiki told you this."
"I can't help but, Miku-dono. When I was having dinner in front of Setsuna, I...It felt wrong. So wrong to be sitting with her. After what the Second did to her family...And yet...and yet..."
"She welcomed you with a smile." Miku shifted her attention to him.
"Why...?"
"Because she doesn't need to forgive you. She knows you're a good person deep inside. You look like your Father but you're nothing like him. No one believes that either. So please..." Miku grabbed his hand, causing him to look at him."Treat yourself better. Eat more and get out more. If you want, feel free to call me and I can take you out to explore. Don't let your thoughts overcome you. Because you don't deserve to be treated like a monster. You're not a monster."
"I don't want to be a monster..." Bragi muttered, tears swelling in his eyes."I don't want to be a monster, Miku-dono. I want to help others...I want to protect them. I want to...feel like I belong somewhere. That I'm not just a stain on the carpet. That I matter. That I'm a human too."
"And you do matter. You matter to everyone. You matter to me. So do me a favor and try not to be too reckless when you fight that copy of Hajime, okay?" Miku offered a warm smile that made his heart skip a beat as she hugged him."And then we can go do things together. I'll show you the world so you get to experience it. No more Mr. Shut-in, alright?"
"I'll be in your care. And don't worry, I don't plan on losing to the Boy Wonder's cheap copy."
"It's a promise then." She held out her pinky after pulling back from the hug.
"I'm not a kid..." Bragi deadpanned but obliged. Miku gave him one last smile before making her way back to her room, yawning.
"Miku-dono."
"Yes?"
"Next time I see Hazuki Kaburagi, I'm going to punch him in the face for you." He solemnly said.
"Oh..." Miku blinked, perplexed by the statement."Sure. Thank you."
With that, Miku waved him goodbye and went to her room, closing the door behind her.
Bragi touched his stomach, feeling as if something was crawling inside. For some reason, his heart was beating fast as if he had just run. He shook his head, deciding to use the bathroom before attempting to get some rest. He opened the door and turned on the light, glancing at the mirror. He noticed his cheeks were red for some reason.
"Just great...Leave it to me to get sick when entrusted with such an important mission." Bragi sighed, frowning."Wait a moment, I can't get sick. My immune system makes it impossible for me to get sick with common diseases. And my heart is still beating fast...I should probably talk to Auntie Elfnein tomorrow. Maybe she knows what to do."
The prince stepped closer to the window, staring into his eyes."Why the hell did I say that to her?"