"KAKYOIIIIIIIIIIN! ! ! !"
Almost everyone screamed in horror and panic upon seeing Kakyoin, designated Cherry Boy of the bodyguard team Rianima, fell on the ground after he shielded Sakura from a fatal blow by Linkin Park using Hierophant Green. As a result, the Stand's stomach burst open, spewing out green fluid and bits of white flesh. In spite of what he'd done, Xero screamed in horror too before he hastily made his exit, leaving no traces of himself, sparing Hierophant Green as it disappeared back to its user. Since any damage done to a Stand reflects back to their users, it isn't hard to think Kakyoin received the same wound Hierophant Green have, hinted by his hand hovering near his stomach weakly before he collapses.
Kakyoin laid on the ground on his front, his arms sitting in front of his buried head and twitching ever so slightly to indicate the excruciating pain he's feeling. Stutters and groans escape from his lips, making them aware of how much pain he's feeling. "U-Ugh… Ahhh…"
It didn't take long for those closest to him to spring into action and move to him to provide aid ASAP, all desperate to prevent his incoming death, or in other words, his 「second」 death.
"Quick! We must tend to him 「immediately」!" Bucciarati commanded, kneeling beside Kakyoin's lying form together with Avdol and Junko. Yugiri, Gyro and Narancia took the other side while the rest crouched or kneeled before Kakyoin.
Following his command, Gyro carefully flips Kakyoin's body around so he's facing up, or at least he would be if he didn't closed his eyes and clenching his teeth uncomfortably. Remembering seeing the part where Linkin Park punched through Hierophant Green, he unbuttons the lower part of Kakyoin's top and spreads it open.
"Kyaaaahhhhh!"
More screaming escaped from Ai, Junko, and Lily's mouth, the latter two even covering their mouth with both their hands in shock, when they see a fist-sizedhole on Kakyoin's waist. Saki, Yugiri, Avdol, Bruno, Narancia and Rai let out shocked gasps or choking sounds while Johnny, Gyro and Kotaro looked at his big wound in aghast silence.
However, none of them are more upset than Sakura herself. After she remained lying on the ground processing her relief over nearly contending with her second death but delayed alarm on Kakyoin taking the attack meant for her, she's the last one to converge toward Kakyoin. She is feeling guilty for causing Kakyoin to protect her from Linkin Park's attack while putting himself at risk, even though she cannot do anything once Linkin Park pushed her to the ground to stop her escape. Whether she acknowledges that or not as she scampered to his convulsing body last, all she's focused on is being at his side and hoping, dearly hoping, her very first friend she made after learning she's revived as a zombie eight months ago hasn't- mustn't die.
"Let me through! Please let me through!"
With that thought motivating her, Sakura forces her way through the gathered group, muttering a quick apology to Gyro and Yugiri when she lets herself in between them so she's crouching besides Kakyoin.
Like everyone's reactions, Sakura gasps in shock and disgust on seeing a big hole on Kakyoin's waist, her hands clamping her mouth shut as small tears appear in the corners of her wide eyes. While no blood and guts came out from the wound thankfully enough, that doesn't mean it isn't painful for him considering he's wincing and grunting pitifully and her eyes are spared from such a sight. He must be enduring a lot of pain as he tries hanging on to his second leash on life as a zombie.
Everyone doesn't want to see him die, that was very obvious, but none of them felt that way more so than Sakura herself. Kakyoin was her first friend before they learned they are zombies and she was sure he felt the same way too.
"Kakyoin…? Kakyoin, c-can you… hear me?" She called out to him, feeling her throat choking her words as she takes his hand, which felt somehow colder than they normally were due to being living corpses and putting it between her hands that felt a little warmer than his hand.
Everyone's breathing hitched upon hearing Kakyoin grunting weakly, lulling his head a little. However, he didn't open his eyes to see his friends surrounding him though hearing Sakura's voice lets him deduce she's the one holding his hand and sounded very worried for his ebbing life. "S-Sa…kura…?"
Glad to hear he's still hanging on, everyone quickly considered their options. Their main concern is the gaping wound on his waist, which must be inflicting him high amount of agony. They have to close the wound shut if Kakyoin has a chance of surviving.
"The bag! Where's the bag guys!?" Gyro shouted, whipping his head to the gathered zombies and maintaining a steady mind as his doctoral instincts took over.
Everyone is puzzled of his request until Johnny immediately recognize his intentions. Conveniently holding the bag he and Gyro brought along before they left for the Mt. Tenzan, he promptly passes it to him. "Here Gyro!"
Muttering a thank you to Johnny, Gyro puts his hands inside the bag, rummaging through essential objects the two Spin users needed to aid them in case they need to use their abilities. His action invites curious stares to him, which Junko cannot help but ask, "Gyro-san, what are you searching in that bag?"
"A medicinal string that can mend an injury if I stitch it up! It's called Zombie Horse!" Gyro answered her, preoccupied at the moment in fetching the thread capable of healing fatigue and rejuvenating the big hole and a needle. "The Zombie Horse string can heal Kakyoin's wound! While I'm searching, someone needs to cover his wound!"
"I can do that!" Bucciarati brings out Sticky Fingers with the intent of inserting zippers around Kakyoin's waist to close shut his wound for a moment. "Sticky Fingers will cover his wound until you found the medicine Gyro!"
"Please hurry!" Sakura pleaded, believing she's feeling Kakyoin's hand starting to get limp. "He's… He's not looking too good!"
"Nnnggghhh…" He groaned in anguish to emphasize her words, telling them they need to act fast if he must live through this.
These prompts Bucciarati to commence the process and Gyro to increase the speed of his search, asking something about why did it became hard for him to find the string medicine. By the time Gyro found what he's searching much to his delight, Sticky Fingers is going to touch the wound with a finger and put a zipper on it.
It was in that moment someone else not within their group speaks up.
"Stand aside everyone! Please, let me 「heal」him!"
Recognizing her voice, having forgotten she was present the whole time they scampered at Kakyoin's side to treat his wound and stop him from dying, Franchouchou, Rianima and their eccentric resurrector turn their attention to Emi standing near them with a pleading look, holding out her right hand forward with her brows furrowed and mouth frowning. Her two pets, Hartzler and Lynn, aren't left out as they stand beside her feet, sharing their master's feelings albeit subtly. The woman is looking at Kakyoin with a very concerned expression along with a hint of guilt within her purple eyes. From her expression and the way she's seemingly focused on Kakyoin, her concern for someone's well-being is pretty commendable yet it strikes them as odd that this woman they barely knew a month ago or first met her few minutes ago is showing so much concern to Kakyoin. Maybe it's because her inaction led Xero to break free from her grasps and attempted to kill Sakura only for Kakyoin to take the blow, causing her regret for letting this happen in the first place.
Some of them are a little angry at for failing to stop Xero, especially since they understand a little the possible relationship between her and Xero after she expressed recognition of their enemy but they don't have it in them to fault her entirely. It was all on Xero for daring to going back over his words of killing Sakura.
As for what Emi said, they are perplexed over her proclamation of healing Kakyoin. "Huh? What did ya say? You said you want tooooo… heal him?" Saki questioned with narrowed eyes. "How are you gonna do that?"
"No time for questions, miss Saki!" Emi exclaimed. "Please step aside and let me heal his wound using 「Bring Me to Life」, immediately!"
Much to her impatience and, they didn't stirred from their position as they looked at her in surprise when she mentioned her Stand in the same sentence. It… It has the ability to heal too? Learning that info brings hope for Avdol, Narancia, Junko and Sakura, seemingly believing her instantly.
"Waitwaitwait what? You're going to heal him using… your 「Stand」?" Lily inquired.
"Enough stalling!" She exclaimed again, moving through Bucciarati and Junko to kneel before his lying form, putting her lower legs underneath her, assuming a graceful kneeling posture contrasting her raising voice. "Kakyoin's 「soul」 is starting to 「leave」 his body! I need to heal his wound and soul now!"
Surprised of her little outburst or the fact she raised her voice (but not to angry levels), everyone moves away from Kakyoin except Sakura, leaving Emi, Hartzler and Lynn to attend to Kakyoin. Noticing Sakura didn't leave her post, they told her to step away from Kakyoin but she didn't budge. Aware he was her first friend she met as a zombie and believing she's distressed on seeing him so weak, they decide to let her be. Emi stared briefly to her eyes, which she stared back in suspicion, wondering if she's going to shoo her away too.
"You can stay by his side," Emi must have inferred her intentions and relationship to Kakyoin, so she says this. "Please do not interfere the healing process I am going to do."
"Alright. Just please don't let him die!" Sakura pleaded, her lower lip twitching in worry.
Nodding to her, Emi looks at Kakyoin's struggling face with a saddened look before she turn to the gaping wound. Steeling her facial features, she puts her hands over the gaping wound and closes her eyes.
スゥゥゥゥゥ…
After taking a deep breath, looking serene with her eyes closed and posture relaxed, Emi snaps her eyes open and shouted with much vigor before everyone's eyes. "HAAAAH!"
バン!
A bright blue flame erupted beneath her palms, covering Kakyoin's entire waist, most importantly his stomach wound. Combined with her vigorous shout and a mini-shockwave that emanated from the burst of flickering fire, her audience was left stunned at the extraordinary sight happening before them. However, that is soon replaced with alarmed expressions when they remember the effect her Stand did to Xero few minutes ago.
"She's… using fire to…!" Lily gasps alarmingly, her heart popping out from her chest as it beats in accordance to her rising fear. "AAHHHH! W-What are you doing Emi-san!? You're… You're burning Kakyoin-san with your Stand!"
"I thought you said you are healing his injury!" Avdol cannot contain himself as he move to stop Emi from seemingly burning Kakyoin. However, he was stopped by Hartzler scratching the air threateningly, arching his back and hissing with a menacing expression, while Lynn taps her beak, her irises shrinking for a sinister effect after she spread her wings defensively, preventing him and anyone from interrupting her.
"You bitch… Did you lie to us!?" Saki accused her, prepared to attack Emi and her pets, regardless if she's feeling bad of hurting animals. "You better stop right this instant, or else-!"
"Everyone, STOP!"
Sakura shouted at them with a glaring look, halting their movements. They looked at her in confusion and consternation, wondering why she isn't panicking on seeing Kakyoin getting burned by Emi after she supposedly lied.
"S-Sakura?" Ai looked at her in bewilderment.
"Don't panic guys!" she pleaded, returning her eyes to Kakyoin and Emi, who is seemingly unbothered of them. "Emi is 「doing」 her job. Look at the wound!"
Following her words, they peeked at Kakyoin's injury hesitatingly, moving beside Sakura and Emi so they properly see the latter's work.
…
…
"Ah!"
The outgoing members gasped upon witnessing Emi's blue flames are not actually burning Kakyoin from the inside out. Due to the high amount of fire expelled from her palms filling the hole entirely, they are unsure yet if Kakyoin is being treated. However, taking a look to Kakyoin's face shows he's not suffering in pain anymore, as his expression becomes relaxed and his labored breathing slowly but surely calming down. Lastly, he's letting out deep calming breaths as his chest rises and lowers normally.
Since he's not screaming in pain as fire fills his wounded stomach, they realize now Kakyoin is not in danger of dying and Emi is really healing him somehow using Bring Me to Life, bringing them much relief their friend/co-worker is safe. They felt embarrassed for overreacting under the assumption Emi is burning Kakyoin.
Kotaro, however, feels a little irritated they were nearly sent into panic until Sakura told them. "You coulda told us before we lose our heads from overreacting, Sakura! Or stopped Emi from burning him alive if she's not healing him at all! ! !" The girl rolls her eyes in response, not bothering to come up with a response while the rest turned to glare at him to silence him.
Sensing they are not planning to interrupt the healing process, Hartzler and Lynn relax their stance but they didn't stop looking at them vigilantly in case they are still planning to stop their master. Franchouchou and Rianima didn't notice or paid them attention as they wait hopefully and anxiously as Emi continues healing Kakyoin, the flame that filled his wound shrinking during the process, producing a mellow sound and dazzling glow from the calm blue fire.
A minute and a half has passed when the fire dissipates and Emi lifts her hands off Kakyoin's stomach, revealing the wound is gone and the body part is restored to its former state without any sign of his injury remaining. "There… Kakyoin's injury is gone. He is not in danger of dying, everyone." She lets out with a relieved sigh.
Looking at Kakyoin's waist as they digest Emi's alleviating words, Franchouchou and Rianima are astonished to see Emi has successfully mended his stomach using Bring Me to Life, after only learning it has the ability to heal an injury or wound a minute ago. If there's still doubt Emi must be bluffing somehow, then Kakyoin's mended stomach should dispel it.
"A-Are… Are you sure Emi-san?" Sakura looked at her with hopeful eyes, still grasping his hand. "Is Kakyoin… okay now?"
Emi sincerely nods with a small smile. "Yes he is. Kakyoin has recovered, so he is okay now. Not only have I healed his body injury, but his 「soul」 too, which was about to 「depart」 from his body when I reached out to him in time. If I was few seconds late, I would be too late…"
The zombies and Kotaro are relieved again to hear it straight from her mouth Kakyoin is saved, feeling grateful for her aid.
"…However," she suddenly added, stopping their moments of relief as they turn back to her when they see she has more to say or there is a catch. "Because his soul was greatly damaged and came close to departing his body, the 「healing process」, while successful in treating his injury and restoring his stomach, was only successful in pulling his soul back to his body and partially recovered," she looks down in a saddened look, aware she will regret what she'll say to them. "It is for that reason that Kakyoin is… 「comatose」."
!
Her statement that Kakyoin was put in a coma in spite of the woman mending his body and soul in time isn't received well by everyone.
"W-WHAT!? Kakyoin is… COMATOSE!?" Kotaro shouted, unable to believe her. Emi only gives him a nod in response, visibly displeased.
"S-So he's… he's not waking up soon?" After laying his hand on his stomach once his shirt is buttoned back to cover it, Sakura looked at Kakyoin, noticing his face is calm but unresponsive, not reacting to her squishing his hand as if it would wake him up. The zombies also noticed this and also don't believe her until Gyro went to check on him to see if he's really unconscious.
"…No good. He's not waking up," sighed Gyro. "I'm not very acquainted with someone being comatose yet, but I can plainly see that my attempts to wake him isn't stirring him up. He's… really in a 「coma」."
Protests and disbelief emerge out of their mouths as they worry over his well-being again. Kakyoin should be okay now thanks to Emi healing him using her Stand but to hear he got in a coma because his soul was damaged almost beyond repair? They are not liking the outcome for sure.
"Yes… It is true Kakyoin went into a deep sleep. With his soul needing to patch by itself, it is unlikely he will wake up soon…" Emi started again, lowering everyone's moods if witnessing his near death experience earlier hadn't done it well.
"…But he will not stay in coma for long!"
"Huh?" They looked again to her in surprise.
"Please do not despair, all of you," assured Emi, producing a gentle smile and look directed to each zombies and one human. "As I said, his 「soul」is repairing by itself after I healed his body with 「Bring Me to Life」. My Stand's 「energy」 was inserted in his body during the process as residual energy, so it is flowing throughout his body as I speak, coating his soul to ensure his total recovery until he wakes up once he is sufficiently healed. Soon, Kakyoin will be by your sides again, of which until then, I shall make sure his soul properly recovers."
Listening to her reassuring words, everyone's trepidation over the chances of Kakyoin waking up diminishes upon learning he won't be stuck in a coma for too long. So they'll have to contend with his comatose state, checking him up and patiently waiting for his return to the waking world, huh? Well they can work with that.
Despite her reassurance however, there are still doubts regarding Kakyoin's coma and questions on how effective Bring Me to Life is when utilizing its healing ability, which Emi implied it also heals someone's soul. "Can your Stand wake Kakyoin up? If you can heal someone's injury or soul, you could jolt them awake just by using your Stand," Mamezuku asked.
"Unfortunately, Bring Me to Life cannot do that," Emi replied, standing up straight to meet his eyes. "Its healing ability only mends one's soul to repair their wounds. Even if they are fully healed, they do not wake up immediately when they were fallen into deep sleep. In short, I have no control over if I can wake them up or put to sleep. All I can do is wait for their recovery. I apologize if you do not find my answer satisfactory."
"…It's fine, don't worry," he assured. "Hearing Kakyoin is safe is enough for us to know he didn't die."
"Like you said before, if you didn't shooed us away with the intent of curing him, Kakyoin will be dead again," Ai reminded with a small grin, eyeing the comatose teen with sympathy. She next sighed before saying, "We wished this didn't have to happen…"
"Yuuurrrhhhh" Tae seems to concur, even making a head gesture similar to a nod.
Bucciarati, Avdol, Johnny and Rai scan their surroundings after they remembered Xero vanishing in panic after he inadvertently stabbed Kakyoin through Hierophant Green. "Tch! Xero escaped under our sights," Johnny clicked his mouth in frustration. "We should've killed him earlier when he was down. We finally confronted him after eight months but now that he's gone, we will have to find him again!"
"I bet he's 「recuperating」 somewhere in Saga," guessed Narancia, rubbing the back of his neck before grabbing it and snapping his head side by side to make the bones pop. "He may have given us a slip for now and we may have to scour the entire prefecture to find him which is easier said than done, but no matter how far he runs and where he hides, we will catch him and make him pay for nearly killing Sakura and Kakyoin!"
"Yeah! His ass will be roasted once you guys got your hands on him!" Saki fervently agreed, which everyone murmured in agreement. The only one who didn't is Kotaro, but his silence doesn't mean he disagreed. Xero's presence will only endanger Saga so he needs to be stopped.
"No! Please do not 「kill」 him!"
However, Emi does not see eye to eye with them and instantly objects. Getting their attention back to her when she shouted, the woman straightens her posture and clears her throat before she pleads them to reconsider. "I beg you all! Do not think of killing him! He… He is someone very dear to me! He does not deserve to die by your hands, not when there is a chance for me to make up with him and my wrongdoing six years ago!"
Reminding them that Emi knew Xero, or Shino as she called him, some six years ago, everyone is curious and suspicious over their possible relationship that took place in that time. There is much they don't know about Xero and Emi in general other than their own Stands and motivations, and since she appears to possess info regarding Xero, maybe this is a right time for them to ask about not only him, but herself as well for she's a mysterious woman.
"…Why do you insist that we do not kill him Emi?" Avdol inquired. "Is there… something we don't know about him?"
"You're not saying that arbitrarily to protect him, right?" Gyro accused her, with Sakura, Saki, Ai, Lily, Avdol, Bruno, Narancia and Johnny sharing his suspicious glare directed at her. "You're not… gonna ignore what he did to us and what he'll do the next time we face him?"
"Kotaro instructed us to eliminate Xero to stop him from harming Saga after we defeated the enemy Stands he sent out to kill us," Bucciarati informed her with folded arms. "He may not have threatened Saga's population directly, but he sure did a good job threatening us, especially the girls. In our eyes, his sins must not be overlooked and he must be punished swiftly!"
"That's right!" Kotaro chimed in, putting his hands on his waist. "He isn't allowed to wander this prefecture I will save through Franchouchou if he continues in that path! I'm afraid we must 「decline」your request, Emi-san!"
The red and white woman stared at them being resolute in their duty to stop anything that jeopardizes Saga Prefecture and its inhabitants with a neutral look and does the same to each of the zombies eyeing her with curiosity, suspicion, and a little sympathy courtesy of Junko and Yugiri, lastly settling on Sakura. She is glaring hard on her, indicating she's disagreeing with her plea when he nearly killed Kakyoin.
"You have to understand…" She responded with an imploring look, wanting to make them change their minds even if it seems futile in her view. "Shino, he… he is in so much 「suffering」," she answered with a sigh, adopting an empathetic look directed over the comatose Kakyoin. "The 「blood」that is giving him life as a zombie…? It must be 「eliminated」 out of his body if there is any hope of him giving up the path he is dangerously treading on. And do not forget… I need to make up with what I have done to him six years ago," she lowered her head with closed eyes, putting her semi-clenched right hand to her as she tries not to let tears flow as a memory flashed in her mind, probably related to what she claimed to be some kind of misdeed she'd done to him.
Everyone looked among themselves, all pondering Emi's words that are full of remorse. Seeing the supposedly unflappable woman feeling so upset over her past mistakes and pleading them to abstain from killing Xero, of whom she knows him very well, doesn't sit right with them, at least to the sensitive members. Ai, Junko, Yugiri and Lily cannot help but stare at her with empathetic looks, idly noticing Hartzler and Lynn looking up to her in concern. Tae also appears to imitate them except her blank look returned. Even Sakura, Saki, Kotaro and Rianima didn't avert their pitying eyes off her in spite of them not reconsidering their decision.
Her face softening, Sakura slowly stands up on her feet, thinking if she should comforting her. "Emi-san…" She muttered softheartedly, her voice being loud enough for Emi to look up and face her, their purple and blue eyes meeting.
Their stare-off did not last long when Emi broke eye contact and turn to the unconscious Kakyoin, her remorseful face returning to being expressionless. Wordlessly, she moves up to his side and crouches down before putting her hand under his neck and knees then hoisting him up gently as to not aggravate his comatose state. This action drew curious stares from almost everyone, wondering why she's carrying Kakyoin.
"E-Emi-san? Why are you carrying Kakyoin?" Sakura asked her.
Assuming her neutral expression to her, Emi promptly answers her, and by proxy everyone's, question. "To ensure he 「fully」 recovers, I must take Kakyoin with me to my home. 「Bring Me to Life」 can help me 「peer」 into his soul to check if it is recovering well. As of now, his soul is trying to maintain its form, so my presence is 「required」 to help me stabilize it. I may not have control in making someone sleep or awake, but I might 「influence」 his recovering soul to speed up his unconscious state until he wakes up."
Their assured and hopeful reactions is exactly what she expected to see from them. "R-Really? Do you think… he might wake up sooner than we thought?" Sakura hoped, speaking for everyone.
"Affirmative," answered Emi. "I shall see to it Kakyoin is treated well under my watch. Now then, before we take our leave, I have one more question to the man who resurrected you fourteen as zombies."
"H-Huh? Oh!" Kotaro perked up, shaking his head fiercely to ward off feelings of fatigue and standing in attention. "What… What question is it, Emi-san? Speak!"
"…Is it alright if you can relinquish Kakyoin to me for only a few days?"
"Hmmm… Errr," Considering his options, Kotaro believes Emi can watch over Kakyoin because she healed him with her Stand, Bring Me to Life. Aside from her eerie appearance, she's a gracious woman who is understanding of their plight and willing to offer her services to them. He's plenty suspicious of her over what kind of relationship she has with Xero, which made her plea with them to don't kill him, which goes against his main mission to saving Saga, but since she healed Kakyoin even if he's in a coma, he believes he can trust her.
"I think… you already know my answer," replied Kotaro, wondering why she asked such an obvious question. Maybe she places someone else's feelings first before her own? If it is, he has no problem with it. "Me and my green-skinned minions will entrust Kakyoin-kun's safety in your hands, Emi-san. However! Don't think of doing something bad to him while he's away from us! If we found out you go back on your own word, shame on you! You'll answer to these undead guys brimming with psychic energy!" To emphasize his warning, Rianima and even Franchouchou glared ominously to her. They're entrusting the safety of their friend to someone they didn't know too well and Emi understands their view. "Oh and make sure his zombie form stays hidden from the public eye, a'ight!?"
"Very well. Again, all of you will not have to worry," assures Emi again. "I swear I will not bring harm to Kakyoin while he is under my protection. His well-being is important to you, as he is 「important」 to me"
"Good. Nice for us to reach an understanding. Now, you and your cute little pets can go."
"Please take good care of him," Sakura said to her last, now standing up after crouching down for too long.
Saying goodbye to them, Emi, Hartzler and Lynn takes their leave walking away from the bizarre group of zombies now down to thirteen members after one of them are left in the woman's hands. They may not seeing Kakyoin get taken away but they know it's for his own good and their own benefit, not to mention that it's only temporary. All they can hope is Kakyoin wakes up from his coma soon.
After the trio vanished afar in the horizon, Franchouchou and Rianima let out deep sighs, feeling tired so suddenly now that the entire fight has finished and letting their bodies relax. It didn't end with Xero defeated but they take solace in the fact they get to see another day.
"Sooo… What's next Shades? Do we get to go home?" Saki asked Kotaro with hands folded behind her head.
Much to their relief, the enigmatic necromancer slash producer has the same thought as them and spells out their next action. Through shouting.
"YES! GO HOOOOOME! ! ! ! !"
Days Until the Arpino Show: 9
The next day, in the mansion's rehearsing room, Franchouchou continue their dance practice after spending a week in Mt. Tenzan as Kotaro commanded. Though the rehearsal went off to a decent start, once again Sakura is not maintaining her pace with her groupmates as her pre-existing worries and anxiety, on top of what became of Kakyoin who's under the care of the strange woman named Emi, impedes her performance. She may finally get to practice together with her companions that she spent doing by herself alone during their retreat, but she's having a hard time memorizing the dance steps down.
This is bad! Things have been super awkward since yesterday on the mountain! Sakura worriedly thought as she tries focusing on nailing the choreography and dance movements down matching the beat of the music in the background with her groupmates. Kakyoin's absence is instantly felt by everyone! But most importantly, our performance in Arpino is just right around the corner!
"Sakura."
At this rate, we'll be waaaay under-rehearsed!
"Sakura!"
"Huh?"
At the same time the music is paused, Sakura snaps out of her worried thoughts to look at Ai, who is calling her name out once she sees her dance steps are not matching well with her and the girls' pace. She pants from the force she exerted as she listens to the Heisei Idol's stern advice.
"You're still fast! Like I said before, you need to match our pace. This isn't a solo…" She turns back to the boombox to turn it on and restart the song from the beginning. "Let's try from the top."
"…It's not my fault we're out of sync."
"Huh?"
Facing Sakura again in surprise over her sharp, accusatory tone, who looks down with shaded eyes expressing her consternation that lingers even after they went home from a one-week retreat to Mt. Tenzan, Sakura lets out her lingering frustration so she's free from it, not that it may make her worry and anxiety for the approaching Arpino show better. "While you guys are goofing off out there," she looks up straight to her eyes and tells her and the rest of who she believes to be at fault. "I was actually practicing our dance!"
Having reminded them again in a succinct but harsh tone, Sakura takes her leave with an embittered look, not once thinking of looking to any of the girls as she walks out of the room. Naturally, her strident words didn't endear much to the girls, believing she got too unnecessarily rude.
"Well that was rude again," Saki exclaimed, looking at the door with a miffed face. "What gives?"
As everyone ponder over what Sakura ranted at them back in Mt. Tenzan and now, Yugiri has a contemplative look as she thinks back on the week-long retreat Kotaro put them in to for a, in his own words, 「special training regime」. Truth be told, the girls, and Rianima to a lesser extent, have achieved what Kotaro expected them to do before the Arpino concert, which is improving their sense of teamwork and diligence while surviving under a harsh environment, away from civilization. Obviously, the only one who didn't seem to improve is Sakura herself.
Now that she think about it, given Sakura's perceived stubbornness and belief Franchouchou is at fault for prioritizing looking for ways to survive in the wilderness and wasting valuable time that should've been for rehearsing, is the mountain retreat concocted by Kotaro geared towards Sakura herself in order to get her back in sync with her groupmates? Considering Sakura is being too fast for them to keep up the steady pace again, Yugiri is certain Kotaro created it revolving around Sakura.
But this is only speculation on her part. If she wants to be sure it is a fact, she has to go to the one person and have a talk with them, which is Kotaro himself. She knows what she will do later this night.
Kotaro has never felt so disappointed before even after everything he did to manage Franchouchou and make them become Saga's successful idol group that will bring Japan's and the world's eyes on the prefecture itself.
He's aware of how ridiculous the Zombie Land Saga project will sound like when he announced it to the awakened zombies (sans Tae) and what kind of outrageous stunts, plans or mishaps he and the zombie girls and boys will make in their journey to achieve stardom and popularity for the entire Saga. And let's not get to how he looks, and remains, a shady producer with a mysterious past that no one has ever pried out of his head even with the zombies' curiosity and prodding. He's not someone to be trusted with, especially when he revived fourteen of them without consent and their initial reluctance and apprehension over them getting resurrected and the validity and success of his ambitious project.
Despite the odds heavily stacked against them, through his confidence, connections and belief over the zombies' skills that their 「legendary」titles derived from, they have achieved moderate success in the span of eight months. Sure they still have a long way to go before they can definitely get Japan's attention first to the seemingly forgotten prefecture he was born and raised in, but for the sake of its survivability and future, Kotaro will do anything to boost Franchouchou's popularity and efficiency, no matter how bizarre his methods will and continue to be.
With all this in mind, Kotaro could only inwardly sigh over the perceived failure of his latest plan to improve Franchouchou's, particularly Sakura's, synergy with each other as they practice and eventually perform for an important big concert to break out of the first step to gain Saga's popularity and attention from the rest of Japan. Thanks to Number One's stubbornness and choosing to focus solely on practicing even in the snowy mountains, the 「special training regime」he created just for that purpose may have failed, making it the first time his ludicrous plan didn't succeed like he hoped. Of all the zombies he has his eyes on aside from perhaps Kakyoin, he sorely wants Sakura to be the best idol she can be. She failed to be an idol when death crashed into her without warning but with him reviving her back from the dead, she has the chance to achieve her dream she couldn't do regardless of her status as an undead.
Wanting to cool down for a bit, Kotaro visited a sushi restaurant and ordered his food that comes with sake. Or more specifically, he wanted to drink some sake to drown his… disappointment, not sorrow. Well, he was feeling sad to himself after Franchouchou and Rianima went home but without Kakyoin so the idiom still applies.
Just as he takes a sip from a cup of sake after pouring to it, the sound of the shoji sliding open is heard to his left, which didn't go unheard by the chef.
"Welcome to- Oh?" The chef stops his greeting to look in curiosity and slight awe to the beautiful and well-endowed woman taking her time to bow respectfully after closing the shoji for the chef and the restaurant's patrons looking at her too.
"Greetings gentlemen," greeted Yugiri.
Without turning to his left, Kotaro opens his mouth to ask her a question. "What do you want?"
"Well… I am a courtesan," Number Five steps forward to perform a dance she was used to doing back when she was alive, lightly swinging her arms around and elegantly moving her feet. She got herself doing it as a secondary reason for her visit to this restaurant, as well as wanting to reenact her previous occupation.
Kotaro scoffs a little, believing she's here solely to entertain the patrons with her courtesan dancing. "You're here to dance?"
Yugiri didn't mind his scoffing as she performs a slow twirl with a raised left hand and a smile. "…I'm also trained in geisha."
"Not what I asked."
Pouring another bit of sake on the cup he's holding, Yugiri proceeds to talk over the subject of his latest plan and the purpose behind it, specifically Sakura. She didn't stopped her dance since she wants to entertain the few customers. "You sent us to the mountains so Sakura-han would find some inner peace before the concert. Is that right?"
Listening to her, Kotaro sees no harm in hiding the purpose of the retreat to Yugiri because she figured it out. At least he can talk about it out in the open and not keep it to himself. Of course he's still disappointed to himself so his habit of embellishing his statements with elaborate words containing supposed deep meanings kicks in.
"The beauty of the group is that it makes up for the individual weaknesses, resulting in collective strength. But if Sakura can't see that, what's the 「point」…?"
He takes a full sip of sake as Yugiri offers her response. "Indeed sir. But couldn't you just tell her? In fact, you were attempting to stop Kakyoin-han from telling it to her, of which I believe he already knew your plan?"
"It's something she needs to learn by 「herself」." countered Kotaro.
Picking up the hidden feelings from his reply, Yugiri decides to speak out her suspicions regarding his possible relationship with Sakura. Turning to him, she says this, "You're 「different」 with Sakura-han around. She must be very 「dear」 to you."
"Tch. …I only care about saving Saga," Kotaro scoffed, thinking on trying to deny her claims but the courtesan isn't convinced that is his main answer, picking up a jug of sake and pouring it to his cup out of courtesy.
"And I have a soft spot for those who couldn't express themselves clearly."
"…Saga's depopulation problem is so exhausting," he started explaining one of the problems that hinders the growth of the prefecture's popularity. "Every time we climb one mountain, there's a taller one. And now… with this show, it's like we're lost on the wild. Listen, I'll be honest here. I think she can do it-"
パァン
"Gugh!"
Kotaro barely finished his sentence when Yugiri suddenly slaps his face hard. So hard in fact, that he perceived the slap in slow motion, amplifying the pain his left cheek suffered from the power of Yugiri's slap. Oh, and he screamed loudly and in agony, but it must be on his head.
"GOOOOUUUUUGGGHHHHHH! ! ! ! !"
Holding on to the table to prevent himself from falling down, Kotaro, clutching his left cheek, looks up to Yugiri's serious eyes looking down on him with a sheepish expression, wondering why did she slapped him. "Agh! W-Wha?"
"THAT'S ENOUGH FOOLISHNESS, KOTARO-HAN!" She exclaimed. "Mark my words! That brave girl can do 「anything」!"
"But… Yeah…" He meekly protested, his eyebrows wiggling due to the stinging pain. "T-That is what I just-"
"You should have more faith in her! Hmph!"
After she's done admonishing him for apparently believing Sakura may become too uncertain to be a great idol, Yugiri leaves the restaurant with a huff, leaving the stunned patrons and the whimpering producer behind.
"That is what said I do…" Kotaro continued whimpering. "You didn't have to hurt me, right?"
I better tell Johnny to discipline Yugiri. She can't just be slap happy every time she thinks someone will say something negative when they're saying what they are really feeling… Owwww, her slaps really hurt… He reminded, his sheepishness transferring to his thoughts too.
Days Until the Arpino Show: 8
Haaaarrrrggghh! It just keeps getting more complicated! How can I make this right?
Sakura paces back and forth outside the shed, clutching her head with a very worried look over the concert seemingly approaching so fast she's liable to not keep up with the schedule, and at herself still unable to figure out how to better pace her dance movements and make them absolutely perfect.. She has cooled down from her irritation toward Franchouchou's slacking off from practice but she's not willing to join them for the time being out of spite over their decision to fool around in the mountains and wasting valuable time. Yesterday, she used the living room to rehearse by herself, which was occupied by Rianima (who are thinking about Kakyoin's coma and wishing for the best outcome to happen) until she asked them, rather sternly one might add, to excuse themselves. Even though she rehearsed for a whole night again, that didn't stop her increasing anxiety and she hasn't improve herself.
Ignoring the tweeting birds in the background, Sakura stops pacing to think about what she must do to truly get her act back in the game in time for the Arpino concert. I mean… No matter what, I want the concert to be 「great」! She earnestly hoped as her mind drifts back to the past concert she was likely an audience in that has Ai singing in the center as its leader. That concert took place in the same venue Franchouchou is due to perform in 8 days from now. That venue must have some connection to my「past」. And performing there could be 「huge」 for us! We have to do everything we can!
As much she's still irked by her bandmates' apparent temporary apathy to practicing during the mountain retreat, Sakura wanted more than anything else for the Arpino show to be perfect. Like she said in her thoughts, the possible connection to her past could trigger back more of her memories, perhaps the show itself being actually the final key to unlock the rest of her forgotten memories. She's been focused on improving her dancing because of that and wouldn't think of doing anything else other than practicing.
Wanting to see how the girls are doing in her absence, Sakura decides to enter the shed. Before she gets moving, a door opening is heard behind her, followed by multiple footsteps piling out.
"There you are, Sakura. What are you doing here outside? Weren't you supposed to be practicing by yourself?"
Stopping herself from walking, Sakura turns around to see her bodyguards standing in or near the doorway. Gyro, Bucciarati and Mamezuku stay under the doorway while Avdol, Narancia and Johnny have stepped out, the former speaking to her in curiosity and questioning tone.
While she isn't so mad at them like she was to her groupmates and they were only doing their jobs during the excursion, Sakura doesn't want to deal with them when her dancing skills are in crisis and her anxiety keeping her from sufficiently progressing. That said, judging from their curious expressions and Avdol's question, they must haven't see her in the living room when she went out near the shed so they look for her. Might as well say something to them to placate them.
"Oh, I took a little break to think about what I should really do for my rehearsal," she replied. "I was about to go to the training shed and check how the girls are doing." Poorly, I suppose.
Believing she's going back on her firm decision for only one day, Avdol next says this. "Are you joining with them again? You were… irritated at them for having wasted your time that should've been used for practicing for your big solo show."
"You have a change of mind or something?" Johnny added, stepping out of the doorway with Bruno and Rai. "Or are you so worried over the supposedly lack of progress on your and the girls' part that you decide to check on them?"
Sakura turns away from them in annoyance with a huff. "Well it's on them for putting me in this position. I know I'm in the right here," she starts walking to the shed and away from the guys. "And after we put a good show, I'm sure they'll understand. And maybe all of you too," as she finished talking to them, she entered through the door.
Staring to the door, Rianima are all in agreement that the real problem behind Franchouchou's rehearsing not getting the timing or pacing right is Sakura herself. They have figured out already the purpose on why Kotaro sent the girls to the mountains and must survive in the cold forest using anything within their surroundings and few tools they brought. They are sure the six girls have succeeded their objective with the pointed exception of Sakura, who had done nothing but practice and practice for the entirety of their stay in the mountains.
"…You're the one who didn't understand Sakura," muttered Narancia, taking steps forward to the shed. Turning around to face his teammates, he asks, "How long will Sakura keep this up, guys? It will be bad if this persists until up to the day their show arrives."
"She will soon," Mamezuku promptly answered. "Because she temporarily stopped practicing with the girls, this may be the right time for her to watch the girls go over their performance and realize how well they're actually doing unlike her."
Everyone looked at him over his analytical mind influencing his statement in interest, with Avdol, Johnny and Gyro quirking their eyebrows. "We almost forgot you're an over analytical type of person," stated Bruno. "Since that trait is ingrained in you, are you certain your analysis will come true soon?"
Peel Planter offers a shrug, indicating he's unsure and only speculating. "That depends. My previous analyses were wrong before, making me realize that sometimes, I can be wrong. However, I have a strong feeling it will happen," he walks forward, passing by Narancia in the direction of the shed. "We are going to check how the girls are doing, right everyone? Let's not stall more."
Silently agreeing with him, the zombie Stand Users entered the mansion shed. When they stepped in, they first notice Sakura going to the door, probably to enter the training room, but Ai's voice (muffled behind the wall divider that has a see-through glass so anyone can see the room's interior without entering) go in their ears, halting their movements.
"So everybody knows their positions now, right?"
"Yeah!" They next heard Saki, Junko, Yugiri and Lily's shout. Choosing to not enter right now, Sakura and Rianima move close to the glass to see how they are doing.
"Alright. The whole thing from the beginning…"
Peeking through the glass, the girls are seen standing in their positions staring at the wall mirrors for tracking their dance steps and choreography. Their right arms and hands are raised up, touching their heads while their left hands are placed on their hips or waists.
"Oh, we arrived on time," remarked a smiling Gyro. "We are about to watch their whole performance from the beginning. You guys bet they will do great once more?"
"We won't know until we see their entire routine," responded Avdol, folding his arms as he keeps an eye on Saki the most, smiling in faith over her dancing skills. "But I'm positive they will be better than before." He smiled.
Ignoring their small chat, Sakura sees her groupmates posing in sync in their positions, aligned so well. It's funny… I've never actually watched Franchouchou from the outside… She noted in slight amusement. She may have forgotten what it's like to watch and cheer for an idol group's performance ever since she was inducted to be an idol and has been performing on stage for eight months until this occasion.
After a pause, the music starts playing. As the girls move their hands away from their forehead and then back to touching it, the music increases in tempo and beat, reaching the middle of the intro. Without skipping a beat, the girls move their legs in rhythm and hop on their feet, swaying and raising their arms in unison with each other. Their good display of equally matching their choreography to the music's tempo and beat impresses Rianima, quickly noting their sense of harmony that wouldn't got this way if weren't for their hard work.
"Look at them go!" Narancia exclaimed, slightly bopping his head from the infectious song only muffled by the walls and window. "They are nearly perfectly synergized with the way they sway their bodies and letting the song guide them in a smooth flow! I have faith their big concert will be an astounding success!"
Everyone agreed with his sentiment, including the ones who have few doubts if they can be successful like Johnny and Mamezuku. The only ones who didn't voice their agreement or nodded is Sakura, who has her eyes really glued to her groupmates' rehearsal.
Wow! Their timing is so… 「perfect」!
Few minutes of rehearsing later…
"Let's talk about this part. Kinda feels like I'm standing in one place for too long."
When their round of practice is finished, Ai fetched the paper detailing the dance steps each girls should do and what position they must be in from their starting point to the rest of the performance. Sitting on the floor encircling the paper, Saki points out her part first, which she's planning to address it to her bandmates when she found out she's not satisfied with the position she was given.
Yugiri turns to the pensive leader crossing her arms, understanding where she's going at. Ai also discerned her problem, saying it out loud. "Oh, you must mean the bit where we're crossing each other?"
"Yeah exactly," Saki confirmed.
Putting a pen to her chin in thought, Ai tries to offer a solution to Saki's problem, lowering her pen to write it down on the paper after she asks Saki this. "Well… Arpino's a pretty 「big」place. Do you want to try spreading out further on the sides?" She pointed the pen to the paper and says, "Like in this part?"
Saki quickly agrees with her suggestion. "Ohhh! Good idea!"
"The extra space give Junko more room to move too," noted Ai, earning a smiling look from the girl.
"That sounds great!" Junko approved.
"Heeeey!" Lily speaks up to state her own suggestion for their dance choreography. "If you want me to, I can switch positions with Tae-san!"
Ai looked back to the paper again and sees the problem over the girls' position after taking Saki and Lily's suggestion in mind. "Oh! I get it! Everyone moves around 「Sakura」! That sounds interesting! Let's do it!"
"I love it when the plan comes together!" Saki stated. "Let's make sure we got it down…!"
Listening to their discussion over the new positions they shall take and how it will benefit their current dance steps, Rianima is nodding to themselves in agreement over their suggestions. The one thing they are liking in seeing from them though is their open camaraderie and quick analysis pinpointing the problem and coming up with solutions that they can agree before it's too late. Coming from a team of seven Stand Users acting as bodyguards for a group of seven idols and had been through fights exercising their creative thinking and intellect, if there is any doubt in their minds that they barely improved at all, watching them discuss over how to tweak their choreography and listening and accepting anyone's suggestion with a nod should do it.
"I'm not sure if I can rate their dancing yet but…" Johnny interjected, rubbing his chin with his hand. "It sounds like they're coming along well."
"That's been obvious for many months Johnny," responded Bruno with an appreciative smile directed at the girls. "We are seeing the fruits of their labor and how far they will surely go as long as they continue supporting each other."
"Agreed," Rai nodded. "Even Tae is actually dancing well, closely imitating her bandmates with partial precision. I have to say, I'm impressed with her."
As Rianima continues their conversation (with Gyro and Avdol teasing Rai), Sakura stands by their side, leaning against the wall with her back and her head tilted down a little. She had watched their dance practice with keen eyes and listened next to her groupmates' discussion and tweaking everyone's positions revolving around her. She continues looking down to the floor in thought as she wonders how the girls have synergized so better now than before when they haven't got the time to rehearse for a week. These guys haven't been rehearsing at all. So how did they get so in 「sync」?
As if reacting by answering her question, her mind drifts back to the time Franchouchou and Rianima were in the mountains. She remembers Saki carrying tons of sticks and twigs over her head with a proud smile, Lily making a spark on the assembled wood using only two sticks, Yugiri cooking dozens of mushroom on a pot over the bonfire, Ai readying her bow to score a kill to an animal game, Junko reeling the fishing rod with as much strength she can muster with a determined look to catch the fish and Tae choosing to snooze on the snowy ground with Romero, producing a snot. Rianima gave them some assistance to ease their load, but all Sakura can focus on is the girls doing all of the above to survive in the cold, harsh environment with only few tools at their disposal.
It must be because they pulled together to make the best of those harsh conditions. Everyone… except 「me」.
Taking all these in leads Sakura to have an epiphany that the six girls have done without any of them bringing up… and plenty of regret over her actions in the last day of their excursion to the mountains.
Now learning the reason why Kotaro sent her and the girls in Mt. Tenzan and the purpose she neglected to know because of her selfishness over getting to remember her last vestiges of her lost memories, a determined look appeared on her face as she enters the room. Her movement didn't go unnoticed by Rianima as well her expression of regret and determination she showed before she entered.
"Sakura?" Narancia called out.
"Oh… Guess she finally figured out she was the problem," Mamezuku confidently said and reminded just as the Stand Users followed her to the room.
The girls have stood up and was about to get back in their positions when they hear the door opening and many pairs of footsteps setting foot in the room. They turn to see Sakura and Rianima standing there but their attention is aimed at her, who is holding her hands on her lap and staring at them with a remorseful look. "You're back," Saki declared in mild surprise.
Without reluctance in her steps, Sakura bowed deeply before them, having realized how wrong she was the whole time that she never saw it in her due to her selfishness and stubbornness preventing her from realizing. She looked up to face her groupmates and begins apologizing. "I'm sorry! I've been thinking, and I see now that I was being selfish and rude! Ever since I found out about the Arpino show, I-I've just been so worked up. I started obsessing over doing a great job and making everything perfect…'
As Franchouchou and Rianima remained quiet and listened to her, Sakura's hands gripped her puffy short tighter, indicating her great regret that influenced her to become temporarily perfectionist and rude as a result. "…But because of that, I didn't consider you 「guys」. I've 「forgotten」 about Franchouchou… About our team."
Listening to her apology and her reason behind the change in her behavior, Franchouchou now understands why she behaved that way over a week. No one didn't scold her harshly, thankfully acknowledging her sincere words. "…Yeah, that explains it," Saki starts putting it best. "I thought you were kinda hot in your own collar."
"You still haven't figured it out?"
A reply from their producer chimed in, making them and Rianima (who parted away to reveal him leaning against the door with crossed arms) turn to Kotaro.
"Kotaro-san?" Sakura uttered in curiosity and puzzlement.
"Think of Niji-no-Matsubara… A 「pine」 forest," he began, the location reminding the seven zombies who were there. "…Pine as in 「alpine」, and alpine as in the 「alps」!" He shifts his gaze slightly to Franchouchou before he finishes spouting his attempt of a metaphor, pointing his two fingers downward and moving them alternately to imitate a person going up a stairs or slope. "Hence the 「mountains」? Mountain climbing, except with your 「issues」?"
"…I have no idea what that means," admitted Sakura along with her bandmates. In spite of her confusion, her frown turns upright as she pumps both her fists with renewed determination and little peace since her issue has been resolved. "But I'll do my best sir!"
"I think I… understand Kotaro's metaphor. It's a little confusing to at first, but I believe hiking up a mountain surely fits to an idea on overcoming one's issue," Avdol opined, feeling his mouth smiling. "You six understand, right?" He asked his teammates, which they answered and nodded affirmatively. Narancia didn't at first until he understood and nodded lastly. "Oh! Yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Glad the Sakura they know has returned, Saki puts her hand on her shoulder with a proud smile. In response, Sakura turns to face her groupmates giving her each warm smiles, telling her without speaking that in spite of her having neglected helping them, blowing up to their faces once she had enough and generally becoming ill-mannered, they have no hard feelings to her. They also chuckled and giggled to emphasize they forgave her. "You guys…"
The same goes for Rianima when she faced them, who gave her encouraging smiles like the girls and some laughter and chuckles coming from Avdol, Narancia and Gyro. Witnessing her fellow zombie mates smiling brings a warm fuzzy feeling in her chest and Sakura would surely see this as a great proof of their bond and was returning their smile with her own…
But a certain zombie's absence cause Sakura's smile to turn back to a frown, the thought of him bringing her sadness, worry and regret over her being angry at him if only for a brief moment and the reminder he's under Emi Essence's care while comatose.
"Kakyoin…"
Without intending to, Sakura spoke out his name, her voice being audible enough for everyone to hear him. They were reminded of his absence too and are saddened in turn, with even Johnny, Rai and Tae are really missing him sticking with them at all times no matter their situation.
"…Ah! That's right!"
Seeing this is the right time to prod Kotaro about the secret conversation Kakyoin had with him, Sakura faces Kotaro with a firm expression and asks him about it. "Kotaro-san, if you would, please tell us what you discussed with Kakyoin that was related to us being sent in the mountains! We're still currently left in the dark!"
"While we did figure out the purpose behind our excursion to the mountains after we left," Bucciarati interjected, now facing Kotaro along with his squad mates and Franchouchou, "We would like it if you tell us now, signor Tatsumi. It was obvious you and Kakyoin have talked about something so… care to enlighten us?"
After being silent for a few seconds, Kotaro pushes himself off the door to fully face them, offering them a shrug. "Well the jig is up. Might as well expose mine and Kakyoin's private talk to all of you. Listen carefully! You won't get a second explanation from me after the first one!"
Kotaro finally tells the thirteen zombies of what he and Kakyoin discussed one day after seeing Sakura become determined to make the Arpino show perfect at the expense of her teammates and how Cherry Boy was involved in his plan from the start, all in teaching Franchouchou specifically Sakura, and to a lesser extent Rianima, on needing to rely on their companions and not letting themselves get carried away enough to ignore them.
"Aaaaaannd there you have it!" He exclaimed after he finished telling them. "In short, me and Kakyoin are the ones behind the idea of sending you zombies to the mountains to strengthen your spirits! Are y'all satisfied now that you know?"
Sure enough, Franchouchou and Rianima are pleased to have learned the purpose behind his scheme and that Kakyoin was involved. Some of them are a little annoyed that he didn't spell it out to them, mostly Sakura, before, though given his behavior, it is likely he won't disclose it unless he was forced to. That said, it was probably for the best Kotaro, and by proxy Kakyoin, didn't so Sakura snaps out of her anxiety to get her back in sync with her groupmates. Even if it didn't panned out like they hoped, Sakura managed to realize it in the end.
As for her, she's a little surprised that the entire mountain retreat idea was created because Kakyoin had listened to Kotaro's observation of her brewing problem, agreeing to his plan after much consideration so he can see her sort out and try to be a better member. He was always by her side, only leaving her one time and no more than that. She thought he has gotten too accustomed to being the idol group's bodyguard and was taking it so seriously, and while there's a grain of truth in it, she sees now he was monitoring her progress, or actually lack thereof, to ease herself up and never let perfectionism go over her head to impede her. She would've liked it if he thought of nudging her but because he mustn't let her know she was the problem at all, he didn't.
Then again, it's probably for the best she didn't found out when her anxiety was nearly filled up. She wouldn't like it if she found out. Still, Kakyoin should have nudged her in a favorable direction if he and Kotaro wanted her to improve.
"Having learnt Kakyoin's part in Kotaro-san's plan, I feel even more regretful because he's not here with us," Sakura sighed deeply, only understanding the purpose when he's absent. "He was anticipating me to not think too much of the Arpino show and let myself relax as I worked with you guys. When I yelled out that I'm going home, Kakyoin must be disappointed not only to me, but also to himself, that I learned nothing."
"…Well there's no changing what's done," replied Junko with this bit of wisdom. She next smiled as she next says this to cheer her up. "You may haven't realize soon you were the problem Sakura-san, but in the end, the chaos in your heart has abated. When Kakyoin-san comes back, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you return to the girl he recognizes."
Feeling sheepish all of a sudden, Sakura rubs the back of her head with a small grin. "Knowing him, I'm sure he will."
"He must have cared a lot about you that he agreed readily with Kotaro's plot," Johnny stated with folded arms. "Cared enough for your well-being that he protected you from Xero's fatal blow meant for you using Hierophant Green, even if he might get killed."
"That's the kind of person Kakyoin is," Avdol vouched for his attitude, having known what kind of person he is during the whole journey to Egypt. "Willing to protect and assist his friends to the best of his ability, even at the expense of his well-being, I assume."
"Now you're making us miss Kakyoin-san more!" complained Lily. "If not for that jerk Xero, he would have been with us now! Instead he's under Emi-san's care!"
"At least he's alive!" Narancia countered with this silver lining. "Comatose yeah, but alive nonetheless!"
"Alright, alright, that's enough pessimism for one day!" Kotaro exclaimed, clapping his hands loudly. "You stalling girls have a practice to get back to while these stationary guys have to keep watch over you all! Time waits for no one as the day of the Arpino waits around the corner, so get back to rehearsing and dancing, all of you!"
Knowing he's right and wanting to make their upcoming solo performance a success, Sakura stares at her fellow idols with a big smile. No more obsessing over getting their performance improbably perfect, and no more overshooting their paces! Their upcoming show won't be great and trigger the last bits of her memories if she's not practicing with her groupmates. She'll be a better teammate to them from now on and try not to be as selfish as possible.
She- no. They wouldn't have come this far if they haven't worked together.
"Okay! Let's work hard and make this the 「best」 show ever!"
"YEAH! ! ! !" She, Saki, Ai, Junko, Lily and Tae raised their fists in unison as they shouted determinedly. Watching them laughing and humming joyously, Rianima smiled at them, with Narancia and Gyro cannot help but letting out laughter of their Kakyoin is here, he would've smiled at the belated accomplishment of his plan to make Sakura back on sync with her teammates. Well, there's no time for pessimism like Kotaro said. All of them are worried for him even if he's barely alive, but they hope Kakyoin will pull through and return to them. Emi is very determined not to let him die under her watch. For now, they can only hope.
"…I'm glad it all worked out," Yugiri walked up to Kotaro to express her joy, feeling proud of her prediction Sakura will pull through.
"What do you mean?" Kotaro huffed, feeling a little annoyed of her smug tone and little sore from her unprovoked slap last night.
Everyone is so engrossed in the positive atmosphere that none of them, not even the astute observers like Bruno, Rai, Ai and Yugiri, noticed a very faint 「aura」 emanating around a joyful and widely smiling Sakura.
Days Until the Arpino Show: 7
It's another bright morning for the residents of the mansion. Franchouchou and Rianima roused up from their sleep, some earlier than the others, as they're looking forward for a great day in their undead lives. The girls will continue their rehearsal to make it the best dance show they'll ever have while their bodyguards are gearing up to attend them during their rehearsal and the others are planning to patrol the residential area to ensure the safety of the neighborhood and the girls. There is a chance their upcoming concert might not be perfect, but that's okay. What matters is Franchouchou doing their very best to make it great to establish their position as Saga's sole fantastic idol group. That way, Japan's population will have their eyes and ears directed at the prefecture like Kotaro wanted, thereby 'saving' Saga.
Having woken up first than the girls, Ai is walking near the mansion's genkan, still dressed in her night clothes and readying herself for another practice session once she studied and adjusted her and her groupmates positions. She was going to change out of her night clothes into her training outfit, which could qualify as her and the girls' second or casual day outfit, intending to go up the second floor to fetch her clothes when Sakura, having gotten dressed in her training outfit, rush past her in direction of the genkan.
"Good morning Ai-chan!" Sakura greeted her as she passed her by. "I'm going out running!"
Smiling at the sight of the cheerful girl, Ai gives out a common advice when going out the streets. "Keep an eye out for traffic!"
"Okay!" A reply from Sakura is the only indication she listened.
Starting today, Sakura Minamoto, stage name 「Number One」 of Franchouchou, is feeling reinvigorated after she sorted out her issues that afflicted her for a whole week, causing her to not synchronize well with the girls and making her rude when she believed she's the only who's keeping up the rehearsal and she thought they were neglecting it, not realizing it's the other way around. Feeling like herself again, she vows to become a better teammate and not let her personal goal get in the way of cooperating together to make the best dance number they ever made. For that impetus, she's eager and excited to begin rehearsing this morning and continuing until nighttime, not forgetting to take a rest between sessions to ease herself up.
For now though, she's going to warm up her body and mind before the girls begin this day's practice session as she picks up her shoes given by Kotaro many months ago off the shelf, placed between Junko's and Ai's shoes and above Avdol, Kakyoin (which is empty) and Narancia's respective footwear and putting them on.
There's one week left before our big solo concert! Sakura narrated in her mind, tapping her right shoe to make sure they are snug fit. I got all the songs and dances memorized! And I'm totally in 「sync」!"
Once she's finished putting on her shoes, Sakura opens the entrance door and venture out into the bright, sunny entrance gateway. She instinctively shielded her eyes with her right hand, but she doesn't feel disoriented from the rays of sunlight beaming down on her like she's alive. She knows not to let the blinding light impede her enthusiasm for this day.
Plus…! If I step onto that stage, maybe I'll remember something 「important」!Then I'll finally make peace with my past life! I know my future will be filled with thrills, happiness and excitement!
Pumping her fists with a nod, Sakura gets a head start running toward the open gate, glancing from her peripheral vision Romero napping beside the small steps. "Come on Romero!" She called out to the zombie dog, who replied with a bark and followed her.
With the delightful weather shining down on her, Sakura let it be her motivation to go morning jogging as she exclaims enthusiastically. "Here I gooooooooo-"
ドグシカァァーァァァ
Then unexpectedly, a truck rammed into her, in the same manner that claimed her life before.
If anyone was present, they would witness this accident from different camera angles, including the driver's view. Oh, and in slow motion too, one that clearly shows her head getting the brunt of the impact from the van's windshield, shattering it before launching away.
The truck skidded to a stop as Sakura falls to the ground with an awful crunch coming from her head. Lastly, her dull eyes bereft of glimmer stare blankly into the air, visible for the world to see.
"Oh god! Poor girl!" The driver of the truck gets out with a horrified expression, clearly having not expecting to crash into a teenager when he made a detour going through this street passing by the mansion. He was going to check the girl's condition, hoping she didn't passed away yet when he paled at the sight of a one-eyed ferocious mad dog glaring and growling at him with a mouth full of sharp teeth and drool dripping to the ground.
"Please, let me- UWAAAAH!" Freaked out by the monstrous dog barking at him and not wanting to deal with him, the driver goes back to the truck and closes the door quickly. "I-I'll go get help, okay doggie?!" He said to him, who ran up to the door window and jumps at it to spray his drool over it but didn't get to do it thrice when the truck drives away, leaving Romero to bark madly moving far away. "BE RIIIIGHT BAAAAAAACK! ! ! !"
Once the truck is too far for the angry dog to continue barking at the driver, Romero strides to Sakura, whining sadly to the unmoving zombie with sad eye and sniffing her to determine if she's okay. He knows she's a zombie so she didn't die from getting her head struck by a truck but he's nevertheless worried for her well-being.
Recovering from her shock, Sakura adjusts her body so she's looking up before she rises so she's sitting. Not paying attention to the whining and sniffing Romero, Sakura, having a distant look in her eyes in spite of its gleam returning, stares at the trees showing signs of its leaves changing into red, yellow or orange color during autumn season. She maintain this gesture for three seconds until she turns right, noticing the street she and Romero are in, and then looks behind to see a brick wall bordering the mansion.
Returning her eyes forward, Sakura opens her mouth to speak with a face full of confusion, one that signify she's not herself…
"…「Where am I」? I don't…"
If that's not enough of a wake-up call for the lost girl, memories flashes before her very eyes, or more accurately, her life. It was so sudden and too much for her to process all of it that the shock causes her to fall back to the ground, closing her eyes with a desolate frown as she falls into a sleep. Since she was, moments ago, struck by a truck in her head, one wouldn't fault themselves from believing she died, even with the absence of blood leaking from her head wound.
"Arf! Arf! Arf, arf, arf!" Romero could only bark woefully to the unconscious Sakura, hoping his loud barks could wake her up. He already realized she felt different but because he's just a dog, there's nothing Romero can't do except bark and whine hopelessly to the zombie girl.
Unbeknownst to the two, there is actually one witness to the sordid accident happening before him just as he reaches out to Sakura once he saw her running out of the mansion gate. His eyes are full of shock, freezing him in one spot and only listening to Romero's mournful barks as he stared at the unconscious Sakura.
"…Aaahhhh… N-No, w-w-why did it...?"
No amount of shock in his system can compare to the slow realization of what transpired before his very eyes, one that he's horrifically familiar with. This… This shouldn't have happened. He really wished this didn't happened. He was only visiting Franchouchou and Rianima's home for his own reasons. Whatever the reason, he doesn't have an intention to fight them and was hoping for a peaceful visit to commence between him and the two zombie groups. Well, he expected to defend himself if they inevitably attack him on sight but that's the only extent he'll do.
Despite his intentions however, he was five meters away from meeting with Sakura when she got hit by a truck. The panicking driver and Romero didn't notice him before the former quickly left to get help and the latter checks up on Sakura to see if she's okay. As he can certainly see though, she's not. The driver thought he was responsible from ramming into Sakura without intending to, believing he didn't saw her coming out of the gate. However, he's not at fault for hurting Sakura, for there's only one person who distracted the driver thanks to his ability even if he doesn't have the intention.
ガンガン ガンガン
"Hnngh?!"
Noticing his raised left hand twitching unpleasantly to the point his fingers appear to be slightly contorting, Shino lowers it close to his face to see, much to his anxiety and horror, veins bulging and expanding to cover his hand from the inside unpleasantly. The sight of his veins becoming swollen and lengthened due to the high amount of blood he can feel is repulsive enough, but the excruciating sensation in his chest and entire left arm pushes his existing apprehension and barely suppression mental sanity close to his limit, on top of making him realize that no matter where he goes and his intentions may be…
Shino/Xero will always bring misfortune to anyone who is near him. The terrible event that inflicted upon Sakura is proof enough of that fact, one he wouldn't escape as long as he exists until he fulfilled his fate.
Enduring the pain in his heart and left arm, Romero's barking changes his attention back to Sakura unresponsive to the world around her. Closing his eyes quickly to ward off the unpleasant memory, Shino could only offer these words with heavy regret, knowing well she won't hear him and likely will never be.
"I'm so sorry… Sakura…"
Not wanting to stay here any longer, Shino enters through the rift, disappearing within the closing rift and leaving the whining Romero and unresponsive Sakura to the whims of the world around them.
To be continued
Stand Analysis:
Bring Me to Life (Stand Master: Emi Lea Essence)
Destructive Power: C
Speed: C
Range: A
Stamina: B
Precision: B
Developmental Potential: C
Integrated to her very soul and being, Bring Me to Life allows Emi to control the souls of every living beings. This can include humans, animals or even plants. Though the flora's souls are weaker compared to more cognizant beings, as long as there is a soul for Emi to control, there is nothing stopping her for applying soul energy for many uses beneficial to her.
One of the main application of Bring Me to Life is to let Emi conjure a pristine blue flame bearing similarities to hitodama light that has properties similar to normal fire. With it, she uses it for offense and can even control whether her fire act like a weight pinning her opponent down or burn them. Another application is to make her invisible, nearly unseen by everyone if she so chooses. This makes her appear as a ghost who came back to haunt the living, which considering she was the alleged ghost of Niji-no-Matsubara, that title is not unearned justifiably.
Other uses include healing injuries, sensing someone's presence and looking into one's eyes to examine their soul for great effect.
Huzzah! I am glaaaaaad to have finished this chapter and publish it before December starts!
As the chapter that ends the story's current arc, many interesting developments happened, few of which will influence the later chapters up to its conclusion, like Emi treating Kakyoin's wound in time thanks to Bring Me to Life but failing to stop him from falling unconscious, Emi deciding to look after the unconscious Kakyoin in her home ensure his recovery and awakening goes well, Sakura finally realizing the purpose behind Franchouchou and Rianima's trip to the mountains as well as she and the others learning Kotaro and Kakyoin's plan straight from the producer's mouth, making her promise to be better, and lastly, Sakura getting struck by a truck like it happened before she died, jolting her pre-mortem memories in a worst way possible...witnessed by a distraught Xero/Shino. Oh, and it appears Kotaro Tatsumi seems to know Sakura before since he, as Yugiri noted, behaves differently when around her, on top of the fact she doesn't have a legendary title and being ordinary compared to the other girls, which makes Kotaro including her in the group peculiar.
If you have watched the anime or suspected strongly, you already know the reason.
Of the important plot details you should pay attention to that will come into play in the later chapters, the second and last notes are the ones you should keep in mind because I have created a fanfic-exclusive minor but significant plot points tying those four characters together. I shall not say more lest I accidentally spoil it for you, but like I said, they will be important. Additionally, I am very nervous if the unknown plot points will be received favorably when I reveal it in the next and later chapters, but I am committed to seeing them happen for your curiosity and amusement. I am already happy and proud of the story I'm dedicated to writing until its conclusion and how it's being read by dozens of readers, I hope.
The next chapter will start a mini arc showing how Kakyoin is faring under Emi's care, Sakura undergoing a rough time that drains her passion for idol singing, and many other events happening in the three or four chapters worth of an arc. This will the best opportunity for me to properly introduce next the last character I belatedly added hailing from another work - the little girl shown in the end of the 29th chapter. I'm not sure if I can integrate her and certain elements from her original work in this story well since she was added late, but I hope you will like her inclusion nonetheless, bumping the number of works involved in this crossover just by one.
Here's a hint: It's from an indie game under the RPG Maker banner that has a remake and prequel released this year. Said original work was released back in 2016 under RPG Maker MV. In other words, it's a game with a cutesy anime art style like Zombie Land Saga, but contains horror imagery and disturbing content not unlike the ones found in JoJo.
Not enough of a hint for you? Well here's the game's synopsis: It's about an amnesiac little girl exploring a surreal but dangerous realm full of secrets that lurk in the shadows where dreams and reality intertwine. With only a small portable mirror in her hands as her company, she tries to piece together of who she is as she explores the corridors of the mansion. Her circumstances are sort of similar to Sakura except she's not trapped in a dangerous realm.
Alright, I think I said enough words to qualify for the author's note! It's time for me to end this chapter's notes! I'll see you all next chapter! Stay safe and healthy out there and have a good day/night!
Side note: I somewhat expected their inclusion, but Wonder of U and its user Toru is the final character for the second season pass of JoJo All-Star Battle R! Now there are equal numbers of JoJos and main villains of each Part as JoJolion's representation now includes Gappy and Toru! I was kinda expecting Rai to be included, but I'm happy a second Part 8 character is included at all. At least it ain't Joshu.