DISCLAIMER
This is a work of fan fiction using characters from various known fandoms. I do not own any of the listed fandoms below, or any of the related characters. Hi! I'm Baby Bear and its original characters are the only fictional work I own. This story is only for entertainment. I am not making any profit from this story and you're not too smart if you think otherwise. All rights of the fandoms belong to their respective owners.
Don't judge a book by its title, let alone its cover or first sentence. Many would still consider this a harem fanfiction since I am fond of making characters suffer. And no other group of characters suffer the most than Harem Kings and Queens. Mwahahaha! Just kidding. I just like comedy and drama.
So, if you're not into that, now you don't have to waste your time. I will meet trolls in my comment or review sections with extreme prejudice. We love thy neighbor here, people. Regardless of race, religion, gender, AND likes/dislikes.
WARNING: I will add more fandoms to the story in future chapters. This is a mass crossover, after all.
If you want to find out what other fandoms are in here, READ THE STORY. Don't judge a book by its title, let alone its cover or first sentence.
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Clouds formed amongst darkness as lightning struck several clouds.
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KINGDOM HEARTS
Re:Infinity χ
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Book χ
Link to All
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A young man with midnight blue hair awakened somewhat as he drifted in a weird abyss, his gakuran rippling in the wind current flowing higher.
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"I've been having these weird thoughts lately."
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having
weird
weird
real
or not?
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"Like, is any of this for real or not?"
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🎵 Simple And Clean (Planitb Remix) 🎵
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As he sank farther into the abyss, the boy's heart pounded and his eyes closed. The empty emptiness turned into water, and bubbles formed as he descended. Twenty other individuals of various ages soon joined him. As all XX descended, their fall became sinking as the empty emptiness changed into water, and bubbles appeared in the wake of the children's drop. When they approached a barrier, the boy's midnight blue eyes fluttered wide with a flash.
The boy now stood in the center of a lavish garden he didn't recognize. He looked over at a beautiful fountain where a beautiful young woman stood. She was shorter than Yukinari, with eyes the color of lovely garnet gemstones and a mark shaped like three red dots rested on her forehead. Her long, sakura-colored hair styled into a half-up, half-down look. Two sections tied in double tails and secured with dark ribbons, while the rest hung down her waist.
The boy shielded his eyes as the wind whipped at him. Soon, he found himself in some city streets as stars twinkled in the night sky. He whirled around to see a buxom young girl with flatter who walked towards him slowly before she stopped. She had neck-length hair the color of cafe royale with bangs and a small triangle-like hair clip on the left side. She smiled and extended her hand, beckoning.
The boy's eyes widen as he stares into the girl's large and cat-like eyes. When he offers his hand, he finds himself in a room with another young woman. One with spinel violet hair pulled back in an off-center ponytail on her left side, held with a white ribbon. The boy looked into the sad pantone eyes of the beauty and placed a hand on his heart. The room became black, where the boy stood, holding an orb of light.
He dropped it slowly from his palm, and it descended into the darkness. It flew up, then floated above a deserted crossroad, splitting into five platforms, each with a painting of a sleeping woman. One held a blade that resembled half a scissor; another carried a massive scythe; third cast magic; fourth had her gun drawn; and the final one stood proud with a powerful sword in hand. The five platforms fly past a curved white, gold, and powder blue key-shaped weapon. They attach themselves onto the hilt of the blade, becoming a star-shaped keychain.
Cross to a figure in a torn black coat turned to robes, who was drawing in an enormous book. The spiral stairs became reality, and the boy led twenty-one other people up, passing dark creatures with glowing yellow eyes. But soon, only a third of the group was actually following him upward while the other two-thirds descended the stairs. As the figure was drawing, XXII entered the room. On her pad was a drawing of the XXII inside a capsule.
The boy looked down, and a capsule blasted up and enveloped him and his group. He looked helplessly sad at the figure who fell back, falling through the floor as if it was water. The boy soon fell through the water himself before slowly waking up and landing on hard ground. He looked around warily but saw nothing.
He stepped forward and covered his face as hundreds of birds flew out of a bright light, revealing a platform with the Lux star adorned on it.
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🎵 Simple And Clean (Planitb Remix) end 🎵
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At a dark ocean beach, the same blue-haired young man opened his sleepy eyes and sat up. He looked around and then rose to his feet to walk in the direction on his right. The sand felt cold beneath his feet, similar to the feeling of emptiness some must feel in life. That cold, vacant feeling of loneliness and isolation. The feel of the sun and moon gone as darkness consumes all around you.
As your breath escapes through your lungs, the sensation of your own breath fading into a whisper. The constant dread of facing repercussions for every action you make. Being powerless in a world filled with monsters is what it felt like. The boy frowned and began walking along the shoreline towards what seemed like nowhere. Waves crashing against the beach and sand blowing about.
Finally, when it seemed like he was going nowhere, he came upon someone. An enigmatic person wrapped in black leather robes and ankle-length coats, with bits of their coat floating about them like wings. When the Stranger heard the boy's footsteps, they turned toward him, the drawstrings of the torn robes jingling silently. From beneath the hood, only her sharp, gem-like, light blue eyes were visible while the rest of her face remained concealed.
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You've made it.
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I don't receive visitors very often.
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The boy pursed his lips tightly as he flinched a bit, almost like a bird fluttering about.
"Wh-Who are you…?" asked the boy. The woman turned her head away as she looked to the moon on the horizon.
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I'm what remains.
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Who I was before…
no longer matters.
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What is of importance
is what I will become.
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After a few beats of silence, the woman turned to the boy again.
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What about you?
What are you going to be…
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Yukinari?
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Yukinari Sasaki's eyes were wide as he stared for many beats of quiet before lowering his brows and looking down.
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Yukinari gently opened his sleepy eyes as he returned to a morning view of his bedroom. He rubbed his eyes a bit and sat up in bed as he looked around. The blue-haired teenager yawned and moved to lie down again when he noticed he wasn't alone, and he jerked upright. The young man exclaimed and took a few deep breaths before turning to face the pink-haired girl who was beaming at him. She was a teenager like him, with waist-length pink hair styled two-sided up, ruby-colored eyes, and three red spots on her forehead: her Star Mark.
"Time to start another day, Yukinari!" The girl chirped to him.
"Miharu…" he smiled back. Miharu Sena Kanaka stumbled into his world from her home of Seiren, a strange world populated primarily by women. She lives with Yukinari now, questioning her friends about whether something is edible or her misconceptions about Earth. Miharu's also the only woman who can touch Yukinari without provoking his allergic reaction.
"It's breakfast time, and I prepared steamed rice and miso soup with corbicula, an omelet, and dried horse mackerel today!" Miharu declared. "I hope you're hungry, Yukinari. You'll forget about your nightmare once you eat like always." Yukinari's eyes went wide before he looked down with them furrowed. Miharu's smile fell to a small, skewed frown as Yukinari looked towards his balcony sliding doors. "Huh, Yukinari…?"
"I wouldn't really call it a bad dream, but…" Yukinari paused, staring down at his fist, which he pressed to his heart. "What was that place? So bizarre…"
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🎵 Lazy Afternoons 🎵
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A small Japanese city appears upside down in a lovely water fountain being larger than everything else in the center. Right side up, a bizarre yet beautiful cliff looms gloriously over a city with a massive Blue Tree on top. With a blue glow, the name of the world appears:
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Mizuno Town
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Yukinari was a little small for his age, and short, distinctive midnight blue hair framed his round 'baby face'. His eyes were slightly round, with irises the same color as his hair, which was watery and extremely wide. On each cheek, he had freckles in hexagon patterns resembling snowflakes. He had set his book bag on his swivel chair at his desk as he buttoned up the jacket of his school uniform with a heavy sigh as he looked out his bedroom window. He muttered to himself, "I can't believe it's already the first day of summer…"
A while ago, Yukinari found himself in the mystic world of Seiren and made friends with Miharu and other Seiren girls. Yukinari overcame his gynophobia, after going on a few adventures. Almost everyone celebrated his newfound condition with a newfound sense of joy. Then, Hijiri Kanata and Yukina abducted Miharu, the ruthless leaders of the SMB's Special Forces Division. After some time, Yukinari and his friends arrived at the headquarters on Seiren to fight off Hijiri and her forces.
Yukina faced a case of androphobia because of her slight build and Star Markings covering her body, which caused her to feel no one in Seiren could ever love her. However, Yukinari accepted her and told her she could because he was the same way before he met Miharu. After being shown this kindness, Yukina fell in love with Yukinari and released Miharu. The morning after, Miharu discovered Yukina in his bed, causing the poor boy to become allergic again.
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🎵 Lazy Afternoons end 🎵
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"Yukinari!" The girls called from downstairs. The Sasaki Family Home must have become some kind of popular hangout at some point because now everyone gathered in the house.
"Yeah! I'll be right down!" Yukinari returned their summons. Yukinari prepared to grab his book bag before he noticed the new picture frame Miharu bought him.
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🎵 Treasured Memories 🎵
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Yukinari smiles at the image of all of him alongside all the friends he had made. On the picture's right side, from back to front, were Fukuyama, Lilica, Kirie, and Lisa. Much to Kirie's irritation in the image, Fukuyama was wearing Miharu's present to him. What was that present is best left to the imagination.
Miharu's present to the chief maid Lilica was a new broom with a red bow on it. Kirie was wearing the red t-shirt, with the kanji for 'Yaoshichi' (八志地) written on the front, that Miharu bought for her as a present. In her arms, Lisa was hugging her gift from Miharu that was… Well, no one knew what it was supposed to be. No one didn't even knew which side was the top and which was the bottom.
Moving over to the right side of the picture, also from back to front, was Maharu, Hayate, Koyomi, Kosame, Tomoka, and Ebi. The last being a rare and magical creature that was adopted as the house pet. Hayate wore his usual, standard dark green suit, however, with the ridiculous, bright green tie with pink spots that Miharu gifted him. Koyomi held her present from Miharu - a yunomi with the kanji '腸' (Chō, "Guts"') - in both of her hands. Kosame concealed a slightly muscular build under her uniform that matched Hayate's.
Except for the comical, over-sized, orange bowtie Miharu gave her. According to Miharu, she thought Ebi looked like shrimp when they first met. That probably explained Tomoka and Ebi's present - a plush shrimp with a smaller one upon its head. Finally, there was Miharu who was standing next to Yukinari in the center between both groups of their friends. Yukinari formed a small smile as he gazed at the picture fondly.
He reached out to grab his book bag from the chair.
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🎵 Treasured Memories end 🎵
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The blue-haired teen was about to depart when he heard something falling on his bed. Yukinari turned around to find something that made him tilt his head. On his bed was a book with an outline of a heart-shaped symbol depicted on the back, with tips that curl inward at its top. He picked it up and took a long look at it before his eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. The spine of the book displayed an X that was stylized as 'χ', along with the title "Liber Future Praeteritum" by Yukinari Sasaki.
"Wh-What is this…? Wh-Why does it have my name on it…?" he asked himself. "Where did it even come fr-"
"Yukinari!" Yukinari came out of his thoughts as he heard Miharu call out to him again.
"C-Coming!" Yukinari called back to her. He quickly shoved the book into his bag and rushed out of his bedroom door. Whatever was up with this book would have to wait. Today was the first day of summer, and that meant he still had school.
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🎵 Lazy Afternoons 🎵
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Mizuno High School
Mizuno Town
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The class went to lunch, and Kirie Kojima, Lisa Fukuyama, and Miharu were talking as Yukinari sat alone, his expression showing a frown as he stared at his hands. With her father's support and Tomoka's glasses, Koyomi had finally enrolled in the academy and was standing with the girls. Yukinari blinked at his hands some more before a hand reached out for his hands. He looked up to see Miharu looking at him with large, 'puppy dog' red eyes over her small frown. She asked, "Yukinari…?" Yukinari glanced at her before turning away, his eyes still down-cast.
Kirie noticed this and put her hands on her hips. She was a slim young woman with a curvy and athletic body and chocolate brown hair that fell to her neck. The buxom beauty stared at her childhood friend with her big brown, cat-like eyes narrowed.
"What's up? You haven't been yourself all day," she said to him, putting her hand on his desk. The pink-haired girl to her left tilted her head to the side, staring at Yukinari.
"Does it have to do with that bizarre dream you said you had?" Miharu asked.
"Huh? A bizarre dream!?" Lisa asked, her hands covering her mouth as her lilac eyes gleamed with the water of her tears. The platinum blonde witch latched onto Yukinari's shoulders before rocking him. "Please tell us everything, Yukinari Dear!" Kirie placed herself in between Lisa and Yukinari. The poor blue-haired boy's eyes were spiraling as his jaw hung low.
His rash came out upon his pale blue forehead. Kirie turned to Fukuyama's younger sister and commanded, "Down, Lisa. Give Yukinari a chance to explain himself." The brunette turned to her childhood friend, her eyebrows knitted together. "Yukinari… Why are you so upset? Was this dream you had bad?"
Yukinari shook his head, his mind filled with questions he needed answers for.
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🎵 Lazy Afternoons end 🎵
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"No… It wasn't bad. It was just so… strange," he answered. "But I can't help but feel like it's connected to something I found this morning." He moved to his book bag and pulled out the book from before and handed it to Kirie. As the three girls moved closer together to look at it, Koyomi joined her purple, off-center side ponytail dangling from her left side a bit.
"Liber Futurorum Praeteritum…? What does that mean?" Koyomi asked, tilting her red-framed glasses out from in front of her eyes.
"It means 'The Book of the Future Past,'" said Lisa. Her eyes narrowed at the book, especially the author.
"It has your name on it. When did you write books, Yukinari?" Kirie giggled. "Guess you have some talent, huh?"
"That's the thing, Kirie," said Yukinari. "I never wrote that book."
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🎵 Dive into the Heart -Destati- 🎵
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"Oh, come on, Yukinari! You don't have to play dumb," she laughed. "Your name is literally on the cover."
"I know, and that's why I think it's connected to my dream." Yukinari wrinkled his brows and rested his thumb and index finger on his chin. "That's my handwriting and my signature, but I don't remember ever writing that book! Besides, all four of you have seen my room. You know I keep my important books on my bookshelf because I like to keep my room nice and tidy."
This gave three of the girls pause. Miharu looked up with her head slightly tilted, her index finger brought up to her lower lip. Kirie placed her hands on her hips again as she looked down. Koyomi kept her palm on her cheek as Kirie finally said, "I suppose you have a point, but still…"
"He has more than a point, Kirie. He's telling the truth."
"Huh?" Kirie turned Lisa who was still looking at the book Kirie placed back on the table. The Black Mage ran her hand across the book cover, her thumb tracing the wording on the spine.
"I can feel ancient magic radiating off this book," said Lisa. "As if this book has been around for thousands of centuries." Kirie's eyes widened before looking over at Yukinari.
"Yukinari, do you know what this book might be?" Kirie asked him.
Yukinari closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself down and gather his thoughts. He answered, "I don't. I haven't even opened it yet. All I know is that I now have a book with my handwriting, but I have never seen it before, nor recall writing in it." Miharu smiled… which was a problem to everyone around her sometimes. The pink-haired Seiren teen was what many called an airhead or, pun intended, a space cadet.
She was a really innocent young woman, and while she was not stupid, she was naïve, clueless, and had a habit of accidentally leaving mayhem in her wake.
"Well, why don't we just open the book! Maybe then we will understand how this happened!" Miharu suggested. At first, Yukinari hesitated because he didn't want to risk anything happening. However, Miharu was Miharu, so she opened the book before anyone could stop her. Everyone looked at the first page, but only Koyomi let out a gasp at what she saw. Miharu tilted her head and Kirie raised one of her eyebrows while Yukinari furrowed his and Lisa rested her thumb and index finger on chin.
"The… Age of Fairy Tales…?" asked Yukinari.
"Why does that sound so familiar…?" Lisa asked, closing her eyes as she tried to figure out how she knew where that name came from.
"How about you guys?" Yukinari watched as Miharu and Kirie either shrugged their shoulders or shook their heads.
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🎵 Dive into the Heart -Destati- end 🎵
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"I think I have…" The small group turned to Koyomi with questioning gazes. "M-My mother… she used to tell me a story…"
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🎵 Dearly Beloved 🎵
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Back on Seiren, when Koyomi was a little girl, she was kneeling next to a purple-haired woman sitting on a chair next to an open window. As she pet Koyomi's little head, the woman said, "People used to dwell in harmony, enveloped in the warmth of light. Everyone adored the light. Then people started fighting over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves."
"And in their hearts, darkness was born. The darkness engulfed the light and many people's hearts. It swallowed everything, and the world vanished. But little shards of light survived… in the hearts of children. Children restored the fallen world with these shards of light."
"This is the world we currently inhabit. The genuine light, however, rests deep within the darkness. That is why the worlds are still fragmented and separated from one another. Yet one day, a doorway to the deepest darkness will open. And the true light shall shine again."
She looked down at her daughter whose head rested in her lap. "So, Koyomi, listen well, my dear. There will always be a light to lead you even in the deepest darkness. If you believe in the light, the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart's power will shine through and push the darkness away."
"Do you understand, Koyomi?"
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🎵 Dearly Beloved end 🎵
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Back in the present, after Koyomi finished telling the story, her four friends sat in silence. They looked from the book to each other with puzzled expressions. Yukinari then sighed heavily and put both hands on his knees, his fingers tightened around the fabric of his pants. His body leaned forwards a tad bit. A troubled expression came into his face.
Lisa's closed hand descended into her palm as her eyes grew while her eyebrow rose and mouth fell open. She said, "Now I remember! I heard about that story, too! It was in this book that I found with my Study."
Miharu spoke up, "So… This book is about the past…? But how is it also about the future?"
"Not exactly, Miharu! The title must be referring to how our timeline must have rebooted somehow," giggled Kirie. "And the age of fairy tales must have something to do with that. But what does any of this have to do with Yukinari?"
"You know, Kirie, you're taking their story a bit too well," said Yukinari. "I would have thought that you, of all people, wouldn't take them seriously." Kirie answered him as her eyes fell flat with her frown.
"Miharu and Koyomi are two of seven people who come from another world that is only accessible through water-like wormholes." Kirie pointed at Miharu and Koyomi, the former tilting her head and the latter slightly flushed as she looked down. She then pointed at Lisa and continued, "And let's not forget about our dear Looney Lisa. Ya know, a literal witch with the terrifying power to summon demons from the netherworld. I'm pretty sure I have thrown any remaining sense of logic regarding what is 'possible' away a year ago."
"WHO YOU CALLING LOONEY!?" Lisa yelled at the tsundere brunette. "EXPLAIN WHY YOU SOMEHOW HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL ME LOONEY!? TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF, YOU TSUNDERE JERK!?" A vein popped on Kirie's forehead after that comment and growled at the Black Mage.
Yukinari stepped between the two of them and said, "C-Calm down, you two. There's no reason for us to fight." Unfortunately, déjà vu was a cruel mistress as Kirie and Lisa leveled their glares at him.
"AND NOBODY ASKED YOU TO BUT IN!" The two angry young women charged at the poor baby-faced boy.
"I was just trying to help!" Yukinari cried out. Just like that, Kirie and Lisa sent Yukinari flying through the window. As their breathing slowed back down, it didn't stop until it fell to a crawling stop, hitching in the back of their throats.
"Yukinari!" Koyomi and Miharu's cries for their friend made the eyes of Kirie and Lisa widen to the size of saucers. The two formerly angry women ran to the window with a bead of sweat, followed shortly behind by Koyomi and Miharu to the window. Outside in front of the school, Yukinari was unconscious, lying motionless on the ground. The shattered pieces of a broken glass surrounded him where he laid. At that moment, something in the air had changed, as if the world was ending.
Miharu gripped the classroom's broken window sill tightly as a growl escaped her through. She hissed, "Kirie, you and Lisa both love Yukinari just as much as I do." Quickly turning around to Kirie, Miharu made her flinch at the tearful glare that she was giving Kirie. "So, why do you continue to hurt him for no reason!? It is exactly the reason he hated girls for so long!"
"All of that work…! I don't like the idea of not being special to Yukinari, but I don't like the idea of him depending on me! It makes me feel awful, like I'm a horrible person…! But why should he be free to pursue a girl who would hurt him like this!" Miharu's tears grew heavy, flowing like the streams of a waterfall. "Why…? Why must you two be so heartless!?"
Saying her piece, Miharu ran out of the classroom, leaving Kirie and Lisa standing in place frozen. The black mage's brows lifted and her eyes widened.
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🎵 Musique pour la tristesse de Xion 🎵
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Kirie grounded her teeth hard as tears swelled under her eyes. She turned around and ran out of the classroom. What was her major malfunction!? Why couldn't she, for once, be nice to him? Why did she have to be so abusive!?
Miharu was right, Yukinari had never been like other guys, especially in how he treated women and defended himself. She paused a beat or two as she looked at a mirror in the hallway. She was the one who threw Yukinari out of the window, letting her temper get the better of her as she always did. Maybe if she could control her emotions for once… maybe Yukinari would finally look at her the same way he looked at Miharu. A gentle hand fell on her shoulder and turned around to Koyomi who had followed her.
Koyomi's eyebrows furrowed over her small smile as she looked at Kirie like she wanted to hug her. Lisa was pouting from behind the SMB Agent. Kirie furrowed her brows and continued running through the halls, with her friendly rivals in tow.
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🎵 Musique pour la tristesse de Xion end 🎵
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Meanwhile, back on the P.E. Fields, Yukinari slowly opened his eyes and sat up just in time to turn as white as chalk. Trembled at the sight before him - the window to the girls' locker room. The same one Kazuharu Fukuyama would frame Yukinari for peeping through. Yukinari's whole body convulsed as he turned around like a corkscrew. For clarification, that was no ordinary locker room.
It was the window to the Girls' Struggle Club locker room. A group who now stood behind Yukinari, dressed in their bōgu with their Struggle Bats drawn. One of them said, "Well, well. What a surprise." Yukinari's brow wrinkled and his forehead turned light blue, with a single droplet of perspiration streaming down. He stammered madly as he shivered at the women towering over him.
"No, no, no, no, no! Th-This isn't what you think!" Yukinari cried. "It's not like that! No, it's not like that…" The Girls' Struggle Club ignored his pleas and continued to close in. "No, wait… Please don't hurt me!"
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🎵 Apprehension 🎵
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"Puny-nari, you peeping tom!" The Girls' Struggle Club began thrashing with their struggle bats as Yukinari curled up into a fetal position. Miharu, Kirie, Lisa, and Koyomi finally rushed out of the school building as fast as they could. But as soon as they arrived on the scene, they froze at what they saw. They saw Yukinari curled up on the floor, trembling as he clutched his hands into fists on his head. A futile attempt to protect himself from the current assault.
Yes, they were foam-based weapons, but that didn't mean struggle-bats hurt any less than shinai or wooden bats. Miharu covered her mouth with tears in her eyes before Kirie rushed over to the crowd. The buxom bruiser called, "Uh, excuse me! Will you stop beating him up!? I said stop it!" Before Kirie could jump in to stop them, the most annoyingly haughty and smug voice made himself known.
"Puny-nari had it coming!"
Kirie growled as she twirled around to face the arrogant and stupid speaker. Lisa sighed heavily as she delivered a half-lidded glare to the source of the brunette bruiser's fury. Sometimes, Lisa pondered if their mother did drugs. Koyomi whimpered and hid herself behind Miharu - the one person least qualified to protect her from the man poor Koyomi feared above all other men. Grinning smugly back at the four girls was none other than Lisa's older brother, Kazuharu Fukuyama.
The tall, pale-blonde tool of a man smirked at them with his own lilac eyes as three other girls practically hung off him. Fukuyama laughed, "Anyone who would peep at these lovely young ladies is an enemy to all womankind!"
"I said it before and I will say it again. You're one to talk!" Kirie roared. Unfortunately, this only received a chuckle from the heir of the Fukuyama family.
"Kirie, you truly need to work on your little attitude problem," he said. "You'll never catch a husband that way."
"Bite me!" Kirie barked. Lisa sighed as a hand rose to press against her forehead.
"Honestly, Big brother, I think it would be best if you shut up, please," the Black Mage begged. "Why do you also feel so threatened by my darling Yukinari? Aside from your androphobia, that is?" Lisa cringed at the sound of Fukuyama's maniacal laughter. If they made a new Batman film, he would play a perfect Joker with his laugh.
He pointed at his sister with a stomp of his foot and a frown on his face. Fukuyama yelled, "Now that's just cruel, Lisa! Our family is super rich, I'm practically six feet tall, and out of all the men at Mizuno High School, I am easily the most handsome! I am Kazuharu Fukuyama! How could poor little Puny-nari Sasaki… possibly intimidate me!"
Fukuyama gave a derisive sneer at the four girls as the Girls' Struggle club continued to beat Yukinari in the background. Yukinari cries for help went unheard as Miharu, Kirie, Lisa, and Koyomi continued their confrontation.
"Even better, I am by far the finest man on the planet!" Fukuyama continued bragging. He walked around the girls with his posse of three, separating the quartet from the Struggle Club. By extension, Yukinari. "Women should fall at my feet since I am the heir to the super-rich Fukuyama family, and as you four have seen, they typically do. I assure you Puny-nari is not an impediment to me. He's nothing more than a tiny insect that I can squish whenever I want!"
Fukuyama laughed maniacally until someone threw a right jab across his face, sending him crashing into a few members of the Struggle Club. However, Kirie was not the one who slugged him. Instead, she was busy picking her jaw off the floor alongside Miharu and Lisa as they looked wide-eyed at Koyomi's raised fist. The girls Fukuyama fell on helped to his feet with his trio of other girls as Koyomi stood awkwardly.
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🎵 Apprehension end 🎵
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"Y-You m-monstrous man! Wh-What's wrong with you?" Koyomi stuttered, shaking like a leaf. "D-D-Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners? Yukinari has many great things about him!" With girls of the Struggle no longer beating on him, Yukinari slowly looked up from his fetal position. Kirie to a stand on Koyomi's right side, glaring at Fukuyama.
"Koyomi's right! Yukinari is kind, sincere, and far more mature than someone who sits in the back of class acting like King Playboy!" Kirie yelled.
"Yukinari is honest, sweet, and he always tries his best!" Miharu joined them with Lisa. "Fukuyama, I don't understand why you or everyone else has to be so cruel to him!" As this went on, many students still in school started gathering outside to watch the commotion. Yukinari grimaced as he covered his head, tears threatening to come out. Still posing as a teacher, Miss Hijiri Kanata also came out of the school, watching from the side lines along with Yukina.
On the roof with Fukuyama's beautiful chief stewardess, Lilica Stacy, stood Mamoru Machida dressed as Mamo Ranger. Lisa's ever present bodyguards, Hayate and Kosame, joined them.
"Honestly, that is the problem," Fukuyama growled. He stood back on his feet full and dusted himself off. "If only I could focus on my dream of an all girl paradise on Earth! However, you still don't understand my worldwide appeal since it was Yukinari who, strangely, enchanted even you, Lisa! My own little sister! And the only reason you're all convinced you love him is because you feel sorry for him!"
Kirie growled, "What did you just say!? How dare you!? Didn't you hear a damn thing we said, you idiot?"
"Yes, yes, an incredibly sweet fairytale. Unless Puny-nari has grown stronger, he may hinder me from achieving my dream. My goal is to claim every beauty that presently lives with him and create my paradise." He turned his head to sneer down at the cowering smaller yourself man. "But, from the looks of things, that's not the case, is it, Kirie?"
Kirie glared at Fukuyama until Lisa stepped up.
"Maybe you're right." Lisa smirked and said, "But last I checked, he has someone who can manipulate water, an equally powerful dark mage, Miharu, Koyomi, and Kirie by his side. All of whom can kick your ass, Big Brother. He doesn't need muscles or magical abilities. And, besides, Yukinari is a lot stronger than he looks! I know Yukinari and there are many amazing things about him!"
"I must confess that he has grown stronger," said Fukuyama. "Puny-nari has gone through a lot, and he must have matured a great deal somewhere along the way." His cocky smile finally dropped into a deep frown. "But you're lying not only to me, but to yourselves, if you say he's strong enough. There is still something inside of him that holds him back from being any bit worthy of you. Something deep within that still keeps him weak that no one else can replace!"
Fukuyama brushed his hair back flamboyantly as he said, "Something I have in spades, and I'm not just talking about my narcissism! And that is why your love is just as superficial as you claim mine to be." Kirie and Lisa growled as Mahiru and Koyomi flinched, tears in their eyes. Yukinari shot out wide as a burst of strength suddenly drowned out his pain. As quickly as he could, the smaller boy stole a Struggle bat from a girl who rushed to Fukuyama.
His eyebrows furrowed and face contorted to an adorable frown, Yukinari bonked Fukuyama on the head with the blue-foam weapon.
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🎵 Ventus 🎵
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"Stop it already, Fukuyama!" Yukinari cried out. The eyes of everyone watching grew wide, especially a pair of green eyes that stood at the back of the Girls' Struggle Club. They narrowed as they noticed there were no tear marks on his face, despite the cut and bruises. Her girls were strong, after all. But if he was any bit the weak and puny crybaby they say, why was there no tears?
"What's your problem, you little freak?" Fukuyama asked, "Can't handle the truth." The blue-haired teen looked at the taller young man with furrowed eyebrows. He stood there, shaking, clutching the Struggle bat in his grip tightly as his eyes stared up with a frown upon his face.
Through gritted teeth, Yukinari whimpered, "Of course, I can handle the truth. I have no strength, yet I want everything. I know nothing, yet all I do is hope. There's nothing I can do, and my efforts are futile! But I'd rather deal with my incompetence than let you make my friends cry!"
Fukuyama returned a glare he received from the puny twerp before him. Struggling not to cry, shaking in his shoes. Fukuyama turned his nose to the air with a sneer.
"Hahaha! Such spirit! I truly can't deny that you got moxie," he said, before glaring at him. "However, it's meaningless if you have none for yourself!" The rich blonde tore the Struggle bat out of Yukinari's hands. "That is why you aren't worthy to stand at their side!" Fukuyama struck him across the face with the foam weapon.
"Just like everyone else, you believe the stereotype that preaches what it means to be a man!" Fukuyama whacks him again. "But look at me - the way I dress, the way I speak, the way I act! Is it fair to limit men based on outdated masculine stereotypes? What does it mean to 'Be a Real Man' these days? Shouldn't we all be honoring various notions of manhood?"
As he continued to beat him with the Struggle bat, he continued yelling at Yukinari, who struggled to return to his feat. Fukuyama yelled, "Oh, and don't forget about the girls that live with you! They all believe you're entitled to whatever they offer you just because you've suffered, but suffering isn't enough!" Yukinari noticed a Struggle bat, resembling a sword but with a small handle and a wide, crescent-shaped hand guard. He noticed the bat on his left, with a long handle and a blue star on top.
There was a plain Struggle bat with a golden handle and a blue blade of equal width. Yukinari growled slowly as his midnight blue eyes flashed silver.
"A man must be more than simply strong and intelligent; he must also be confident!" Fukuyama continued. "He must be worthy rather than merely deserving! But you've always been a bloody migraine!"
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🎵 Ventus end 🎵
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The stupidly rich young man swung once again only for Yukinari to roll out of the way and snatch up the Struggle Hammer. At that moment…
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Yukinari became calmer. (Defense +1)
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Yukinari quickly rolled to his feet and fell in a battle stance. In the back of the gasping Girls' Struggle Club, one individual's lips fell open before they closed to a thin line. Fukuyama growled at the boy outmaneuvered behind him, his amethyst eyes narrowed. The boy before him was shaking, he was so scared. Yet, Yukinari stood there with a teary-eyed glare as he quivered.
Here is the sad truth: Life is a hypocritical contradiction. By being unfair, life is fair, and by being cruel, life is kind. Equality lies in all beings being distinct and unique from one another. People shun things they don't comprehend if they are dissimilar, and Yukinari realized this at a young age. Fukuyama's frown melted away, replaced by a derisive sneer as he pointed his Struggle bat at Yukinari, the Struggle Club swooning at the sight.
However, before he could put the puny whelp back in his place, someone struck the arrogant rich boy in the blink of an eye. Slowly, Fukuyama fell unconscious face first behind a young girl in her early-mid teens. The finely textured blonde stood straight, coldly glaring at Yukinari with green eyes. The other members of the GSC rushed over to Fukuyama.
"Poor Fukuyama! Shushō, that was mean!"
"How could you do that to Fukuyama? He was protecting us from that puny little twerp!"
"Shushō -"
"Enough…" The GSC went silent at the tone of their club's Shushō (Captain). With their heads down, the girls' faces melted into a variety of subtle, flat frowns with closed eyes and bent eyebrows. Shushō stood up straight and said, "Thou shall cease your gushing over this man's appearance. It is all he has going for him and I shall not have my club members be disgracing themselves like this. Carelessness is the enemy! If you do not stop, I will see myself forced to cast you out from our ranks."
"You all will do laps for a month already for this incident. Do not force me to take harsher methods."
"Who even says 'thou' in this day and age…?" One member pouted only to flinch and bow her head when Shushō glared at her from the side. Shushō turned her attention to Yukinari who stood shaking, but on guard with his Struggle bat held defensively. The GSC Captain narrowed her eyes as she gently stabbed the head of her Struggle bat on the ground, as if she was using a cane. To all who saw her, it was an impression of boldness, heroism, and leadership.
"I ask you, are you the one they call Yukinari Sasaki?" Shushō asked, looking him up and down. "You're nothing like how I was expecting you, but I suppose that is to be expected from rumors. From what I can see, you are a man of guts and honor, and I respect that." In her hands, Shushō pointed her bat at Yukinari who flinched back.
"However, if I were to let you go, even if you are guiltless, my position as captain would be called into question." Shushō said, "I apologize, but as punishment, I challenge you to a duel. If you win, you will prove your innocence. If you lose… well, a beating from me should be enough punishment." The Struggle Club Captain leveled a glare at those who dared to laugh at her last line, making them flinch back and bow their heads in shame.
Yukinari's jaw dropped as Miharu and Koyomi sucked in a bit of air and Lisa and Yukina growled. Kirie practically turned red as her eyebrows scrunched down over a glare of grinding teeth. However, just as she was about to run up, Yukinari raised his arm out to block her. Eyes grew wide as they watched the 'class runt' quiver like a leaf in a storm. The grip on his Struggle Hammer grew stronger before he did something not in the school would have expected from him.
Instead of backing down, he fell into a battle stance, both hands pointing the foam weapon at the reigning champ of Struggle. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Shushō said, "You're shaking… Are you afraid?"
"O-Of course I'm afraid. Ever since I was smaller, g-girls were the ones who bullied the most," he said, his voice breaking with each bristle. "But, I'm tired of being afraid…" Yukinari looked at Shushō's eyes; his blue eyes were stretched large and wide, turning very watery as if he would cry. "But even th-though I know I'm going to lose, I'm done running!"
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🎵 Sinister Sundown 🎵
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Shushō smirked when she saw something glimmer in Yukinari's eyes. Courage was truly not the absence of fear, but acting despite fear. She turned to a girl and said, "Vice-Captain! I would like for you to be the referee for this Struggle bout."
"Huh!? Shushō, you can't be serious…" the young woman said before her words died. Her captain was giving her a firm frown that made her sigh. She walked over to Yukinari who flinched as she placed something in his hand, his allergy briefly flaring up again. Then, the referee walked a suitable distance in between both of them.
"Very well, as my captain has asked, I will referee this match on tournament rules," she announced. "Here's a refresher: both challengers have 100 Orbs on their person. Attack to take away your opponent's Orbs; land a hit, and your opponent will drop Orbs. However, if you are hit, you will lose Orbs." The referee glared at Yukinari.
"I hope that is simple enough for a pipsqueak like you to comprehend. The aim is to keep collecting Orbs. When this match is over, the one with the most Orbs is the winner." She gestured to Yukinari first. "This match will be between poor, little Puny-nari Sasaki - the class runt - versus the Captain of the Girl's Struggle Club: Pendragon Saber!"
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THE STRUGGLE
RULES
1. Battle an opponent for control of 200 Orbs!
2. Whoever has the most at the end is the winner.
3. Attack the opponent to make them drop Orbs!
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Saber adopted a fighting stance as Yukinari, shakily, did the same. His frown was deep as looked upon the regal beauty before him and formed a bead of sweat as his body's shaking came to a halt. He didn't stand a chance against his first opponent ever. Any member of the Girls' Struggle Club would boast indisputable strength, however, even among them, Saber stood at the top. However, if he truly wanted things to change - to stop being afraid - he needed to muster all of his courage, right here and now.
The same courage he found when he went to save Miharu from Yukina and the SMB's Special Forces. A glimmer caught Saber's eyes as she watched her opponent; narrowing them after the blink-and-miss moment. The referee girl raised her hand and said, "Ready… Struggle!"
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INFORMATION
Fight Saber (? ? ?)
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To Be Continued…
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Storyteller: 🙋 Storyteller, here!
Bola8: Sup! Bola8, professional chaos gremlin, writer by trade and Connoisseur of Mayhem on the free hours. Nice to meet you all!
Storyteller: 😂 Haha! I finally did, folks! I completed the first chapter of Book χ! Haha Haha…!
Bola8 pretends Storyteller isn't having an Alastor of Hazbin Hotel worthy break in sanity.
Bola8: I swear Storyteller isn't having a meltdown. That's just the default creative process. (Pats the distressed author on the back) Don't worry, it gets worse.
Storyteller: ✊ This is a celebration for me because Book χ was supposed to be published before Book VI. But I suppose it's hard with Girls Bravo since it's an anime from 2005. I watched millions, but since there aren't a lot of fans for such obscurity, it is hard to refer to other sources. But while I'm disappointed that the fight had to be postponed, it might be for the best. After all, Sora's story in Kingdom Hearts I took two days and Roxas' was longer.
Bola8: You all saw this story has a lot of potential, so stay tuned and let's see where this goes, in the next chapter!
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Next Time: Episode II
Cavern of Remembrance
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Storyteller: 😏 I'd say the next episode is a tutorial or training montage. However, is it really training for Yukinari, or reminding his body of memories from a time forgotten. A Nobody once said, "… to find is to lose and to lose is to find."
Bola8: 😰 Oh crap, the cryptic lines have already started!
Storyteller: HA HA HA!
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See Ya Later, Storytellers!
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Book χ Reports
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YUKINARI SASAKI
A young man from Mizuno Town. Bullied by girls all of my life, I have an extreme case of gynophobia as an allergic reaction whenever I come to women. But with the help of my friends, I'm not as scared as before and I'm slowly learning to have more faith in myself.
… I've been having these weird thoughts lately, though.
I first went to Seiren in "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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Fun Fact: I personally like to pretend Yukinari was played by the legendary Brittney Karbowski.
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ROBED FIGURE
A mysterious figure whose identity is masked by a black coat torn into shredded robes.
She has been showing up in my dreams and reminds me of my mom… in both a comforting, yet unsettling way.
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MIHARU SENA KANAKA
A resident of Seiren who summoned me to Seiren and followed me back to Mizuno Town. She has a Star Mark on her forehead, which provides her with several powers. She has a heart of gold, an explorer's fascination, and we have a close friendship.
We met for the first time in "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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KIRIE KOJIMA
My childhood friend who takes care of me from time to time. She would be the stereotypical girl next door if she could control her temper. She has a high physical aptitude and great skill in martial arts.
She used to beat me up for my bad luck and mishaps. However, despite our often turbulent relationship, she still usually tries to help me and the beatings are almost a thing of the past.
She sent bad guys to heck in "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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KAZUHARU FUKUYAMA
Everyone calls him Fukuyama. While he is rich and powerful, he is an extreme womanizer and often chases after girls. Though I would never admit it aloud - partially due to how he has treated me - but I think we're becoming good friends. Almost.
He often appeared without warning in "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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LISA FUKUYAMA
A master of black magic and Fukuyama's slightly insane younger sister. Lisa is constantly accompanied by Hayate and Kosame, who cater to her every whim. She developed an infatuation with Yukinari after his appearance matches a description in her horoscope for her soul mate.
This leads to her often employing her magic to get closer to him — with predictably disastrous results.
She caused several issues throughout the series of "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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KOYOMI HARE NANAKA
A resident of Seiren with a fear of men in Mizuno Town. Her androphobia is only made worse by being one of Fukuyama's favorite targets. Koyomi told me I'm the only male other than her father that she trusts.
She's a member of the Space Management Bureau in "Girls Bravo" (2004 - 2005).
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YUKINA
The ruthless leader of the Space Management Bureau's Special Forces Division in Seiren. Much like Miharu and Koyomi, she too holds the power of the Star Marks. To be specific, Star Markings covered her body.
Because of this and her slight build, Yukina felt that no man would ever love her and developed an extreme case of androphobia, which parallels Yukinari's allergies to females. Her illness and anti-masculine prejudices caused Yukina to conclude that - if she could never know the warmth of a man's flesh - then no one in Seiren could either. But after I showed her kindness, Yukina became one of my friends.
She was a character exclusive to the anime adaptation of "Girls Bravo" (2005).
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SABER
Captain of Mizuno High's Girls Struggle Club.
Saber does her best to keep the club up to her own rigorous standards. However, this regal-looking beauty is a mystery who came out of nowhere. Is it possible she came from Seiren or is there something else…
She pulled the sword from the stone in "Fate/stay night" (2006).
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