Thrusts. Swings. Ripostes. Parries. With the Chinese sword replica in her grasp, Lanfen spent no more than five seconds catching her breath between her practiced swings on the matted floor of her apartment's dimly-lit practice room. Her battles against the Distortions - and her desired rematch with her sister's killer - required nothing less of Lanfen as cold sweat dotted her brown skin over the course of several hours. The rays of sunlight which shone through the room's lone window eventually began to dim. By the time Lanfen chose to even spare it her focused attention, the soft radiance that was peeking through the gaps of the window's closed curtains had already transitioned into moonlight.
Time to prepare dinner, she diligently reminded herself. Once Lanfen had stowed away her training equipment inside the room's wooden chest, she dismissed herself from the practice room with a polite bow in front of her parents, stepped out into the empty living room, and headed inside the kitchen to unsheathe a different sort of blade entirely.
Kitchen knives. Chicken. Ginger. Papaya. Referring to her father's memorized recipes, the Adaptor wasted no time taking out her pots, cutting boards, and a ladle so she could prepare some good, old-fashioned tinola soup. It was another childhood favourite of Lanfen. But with the presence of her new guest, the Adaptor partially grew worried about whether or not this classic Filipino soup would be able to satisfy Shinonome's taste buds. This was going to be her guest's first official meal outside of the S.O.N.G. submarine, to boot. After cleansing her hands and donning an apron on top of her tank top and sports shorts, Lanfen drew out her reliable knives and started cutting apart fresh meat.
Not too much salt. Not too little either. Wash the rice while the stew boils and then place it in the cooker before tending to the chicken in the boiling pot. Lanfen remembered all of the directions her father instructed her years ago as if her first culinary lessons initiated merely yesterday. Although the Adaptor wouldn't hesitate to claim that she was steadily approaching the level of expertise her father once stood on, Lanfen still could not help but contemplate about what he would actually end up saying about her skills. This was her first time cooking for someone else other than Kai, too. Lanfen rarely ever found the opportunity to have somebody aside from her little sister try out her home-cooking.
Executing the last memorized steps with combative precision, Lanfen eventually found herself staring down on a boiling pot of tinola soup with a prepared ladle in one hand. The broth had been cooked to a visual perfection, and while the rice itself was still in the midst of being done, Lanfen didn't mind giving the soup additional time to simmer. Just like she practiced, Lanfen scooped up some of the pot's contents into her ladle and brought it to her lips for a taste-check. The absence of any reaction from her senses promptly reminded Lanfen about the recent uselessness of her taste buds as she placed down the kitchen utensil and clicked her tongue at her forgetfulness.
"Dammit."
A faint noise from the living room subsequently caught her attention. Lanfen held her breath and listened in closely to recognize it as sound from the apartment's television. Even though several hours had gone by since her sudden outburst earlier on in the day, a part of Lanfen continued to chastise herself for idiotically lashing out on Shinonome. Considering how Lanfen had told her nothing about Kai's bedroom beforehand, Shinonome deserved nothing else outside of an apology. Lanfen's verbal thrust came out of her throat faster than she could think. Through a few swipe of her hands, Lanfen hung her untied apron on a rack and switched off the stove before hesitantly dragging herself out of the kitchen.
Slowly stepping through its open doorway, the Adaptor spotted Shinonome making herself comfortable at the living room's kotatsu table while her attention fixated itself on the television. A nature documentary was currently playing on the screen, providing Shinonome a detailed explanation of Borneo's lush forests along with the thriving wildlife which peacefully lived amongst the dense vegetation. Just like Lanfen expected of the woman, Shinonome appeared absolutely fascinated by what she was observing. Not a single sound escaped her the entire time she sat there.
Lanfen's trimmed fingernails dug into the palm of her sword-hand. Placing her other hand on the wooden door-frame she stood underneath, Lanfen audibly gulped before carefully speaking up, "Shinonome?" Her gentle call caused the silver-haired woman to look back at the Adaptor with a small tilt of her head. "Are... Are you alright?" Those words had never felt any harder to simply say than it did right there.
Shinonome's unconcealed, golden eye blinked in evident confusion. "What is there to worry about, Jiang?" She brought a pale-white hand to her cheek with a small smile. "Did something occur while I wasn't looking?"
"It's about-" Lanfen subsequently noticed the look that Shinonome was giving her. She soon closed her mouth shut and drew in a deep breath. From just a single glance into Shinonome's golden eyes, it became apparent that the silver-haired woman harboured no resentment for Lanfen's actions. It was all water under the bridge and there was no reason to resume fretting over it. Lanfen felt silly for worrying so much. Even so, it was something her own mind still continued to feel ashamed of. "Could you... come over here for a second?" Lanfen gently asked, "I'd like your opinion on tonight's dinner."
The mention of a home-cooked meal ignited a flash of curiosity within Shinonome's eyes. As the silver-haired woman slid out of the warm kotatsu table, Shinonome fixed her long, flowing skirt before she followed Lanfen through the kitchen entrance. The Adaptor made sure to point out any potential hazards inside the small kitchen while she escorted Shinonome over to the stove, scooped up a bit of the soup into a nearby ladle, and handed the utensil over to her golden-eyed guest. Lanfen subconsciously held her breath when Shinonome took a slow sip of tonight's dinner. Four seconds flew by. Shinonome quizzically tilted her head to one side and blinked.
"That's amazing." Her astonished words drew a quiet sigh of relief from Lanfen. "While I am by no means a picky-eater, your cooking is rather impressive, Jiang," Shinonome remarked, settling down the ladle on a nearby plate to present the Adaptor with an earnest smile. "I can tell that you've put a lot of effort into this."
Lanfen's parents probably would have expressed dire disappointment if Lanfen's cooking skills ever degenerated. Without her ability to even taste anything at the moment, Lanfen was undoubtedly going to rely on Shinonome just to confirm the outcomes of her culinary craft, let alone the simmering tinola right in front of them. If the Adaptor one day could not be relied upon to craft a hearty meal, her narrow skillset would only reveal Lanfen to be useful for little more than swinging around the Sword of Damocles. "The rice is still cooking, but it should be done in ten more minutes," Lanfen stated, absent-mindedly scratching a bandaged cheek with one finger.
There was a distinct flash of curiosity in those golden eyes again. Whenever Lanfen witnessed it, her mind would consistently find itself instantly mesmerized by Shinonome's shimmering eyes. Especially when they contrasted perfectly with Lanfen's own purple pupils. "Could I...?" Shinonome murmured, pressing the tips of her index fingers against one another. "Could I try and cook next time as well? It looks fun, and there's much I wish to learn, so..."
It wouldn't hurt to have an extra pair of hands in the kitchen, Lanfen reasoned, replying with the smallest of smiles, "Sure. Follow me." Taking the lead once again, Lanfen brought Shinonome out into the living room where the shelves were located. The Adaptor's hand then ran itself over the spines of multiple books until its fingertips brushed themselves against one large item in particular. Checking to confirm what it was, Lanfen brought out her father's old cookbook and held it towards Shinonome using both hands. "Even a beginner can use this to make something edible. Just follow the steps and you should do just fine."
The flickering astonishment in those golden pupils were almost overwhelming. Eagerly opening up the cookbook in her arms, the silver-haired woman softly smiled as she gingerly flipped through fading pages of dishes, stews, and other sorts of South-East Asian cuisines. Lanfen didn't mind being the designated cook of the apartment. But it felt strangely nice for her to see Shinonome picking up a craft which caught her attention. Especially if it made Shinonome even somewhat happier. Before Lanfen could mention another sliver of advice regarding her father's old cookbook, slight movement in the corner of her vision suddenly caught her attention. She then swung a narrowing gaze over to the television and noticed a news broadcast that was now playing on the screen.
A broadcast surrounding the upcoming memorial meant to honour those who were lost in the global attack.
Lanfen's sword-hand ached at her side. She clenched it into a tight fist and glued her eyes to the television's screen. The Adaptor subsequently felt a gaze fall upon her. Looking back at Shinonome, Lanfen noticed how her companion was now staring at her with transparent concern. Slowly redirecting her golden eyes towards the television, Shinonome held the cookbook close to her chest, evidently uneased by the ongoing news broadcast.
"It this about the incident you mentioned?" Shinonome tentatively inquired, practically walking on proverbial eggshells.
Lanfen uttered no words and slowly nodded. It was the only answer the Adaptor could provide on the spot. In an attempt to try and distract herself, Lanfen tore her focus away from the television, only for her eyes to unwittingly settle themselves upon her family shrine. She could not know if Shinonome had ever gone out of her way to examine it in the past few hours. Lanfen chose to not find out while Kai's broken smartphone sat atop its glass table, clearly untouched as it laid beside a chessboard which was frozen in an ongoing match that had yet to end. While the living room's dim lights shone onto the two dust-covered items, Lanfen wondered if it was finally time to explain what had occurred in this city.
Her voice struggled to utter anything louder than a whisper. "A few days ago, the same monsters that attacked you appeared all over the world." Lanfen leaned on the living room's dining table with one hand on the backrest of a nearby chair. The rice-cooker which sat on top of the table still had yet to ring. "We managed to push them back. But a lot of people still ended up getting hurt." The mental image of the Distortion rifts tearing their way through Yamaku's skyline made Lanfen softly bite down on her lip. "There were others like me on that day. Fighting to save people. If it weren't for them..."
Shinonome settled down on a dining chair with a book still held closely to her chest. Noticing the distant expression that Lanfen unknowingly wore, she quietly spoke up, "The others you mentioned. The ones similar to you. Do you know them well?"
Lanfen honestly desired to say so. The circumstances surrounding her Armed Gear just didn't allow it. "No," Lanfen answered, aware of how useless she most likely was compared to the other Wielders on the night of the attack. "I only took up my powers when it happened. So, I barely know them, if I'm being honest." Straight-to-the-point and matter-of-fact. It was the only way Lanfen could convey her scrambled thoughts. Pushing herself off the dining table, Lanfen got down onto the floor and slid her legs underneath the kotatsu table to ease the tension in her shoulders. "They're nice people... but let's just say my job makes me think twice about getting to really know them. It's complicated business."
Shinonome wordlessly rested the book in her hands atop the kotatsu table before settling herself right next to Lanfen. Nothing understandably came out of Shinonome after Lanfen concluded her explanation with immediate silence. Shinonome held no memory of who she was and the world around her was evidently a library for the woman to peruse beyond the Bavarian Illuminati's chains. With nothing else said between the two, Lanfen and Shinonome watched as a scrolling list of names displayed itself on the screen. The listed casualties all occurred on Japanese soil. Even so, it went on for a timespan which felt like an eternity. They witnessed the faceless names who had all lost their lives in one dreadful evening and remained quiet out of unspoken respect for the departed.
Lanfen held her breath the entire time. She dreaded the moment where she would finally see Kai's own name appear on the list as if her little sister was barely anything other than a statistic. But while the Adaptor waited for that inevitable split-second with her fingernails digging deeply into the skin of her legs, Lanfen's ears began picking up a soft pitter-patter noise nearby. She initially assumed there was some sort of leak in their ceiling again, so when Lanfen turned her head in the direction of the noise's source, she was taken aback by the obvious trail of tears which were freely running down Shinonome's pale-white cheeks. The silver-haired woman did not even realize she was crying.
"Shinonome?" Lanfen's hush voice pulled her out of the visible trance she was in, prompting Shinonome to finally notice her own flowing teardrops with widened eyes.
"Huh? O-Oh dear." She brought her hands to her face and cleaned her cheeks using the sleeves of her sweater, clearly bewildered far more than Lanfen herself. "M-My apologies. I'm not even sure why I'm tearing up like this. I suppose... I just...?"
Without question, Lanfen got up from the table and went over to the shelves to fetch an opened box of tissues. She handed it to Shinonome before grabbing the television's remote control. After taking one last look at the scrolling list of names, Lanfen switched off the appliance and settled the controller back down on the table with a hush sigh. There was no doubt that Shinonome came from a paranormal background. The implant on her heart physically proved it. The same could be said of her medical condition and how Shinonome was discovered alongside a pod which labelled her with the term 'discarded equipment'. But as Shinonome wiped away her running tears, Lanfen could not genuinely acknowledge her as anything less than a regular, kind-hearted woman.
Lanfen herself wasn't 'ordinary' either. She was a Symphogear-Wielder. A bulwark against the Distortions. The sword who hung above the heads of the other Symphogear-Wielders. Even so, for as long as they were in each other's presence, neither of them could really be considered any different from anybody else. That was how Lanfen hoped Shinonome felt around her, at least. Doing the bare minimum rarely ever satisfied Lanfen. In her point of view, a warm roof to stay under was the smallest thing she could give to a person like Shinonome.
Hearing a soft chime resound from the nearby rice-cooker, the Adaptor crouched down beside Shinonome and gestured towards the dining table. "I'll set up dinner now. Father always did say that a nice meal helps make you feel better. Just... give me a minute, alright?" The teary-eyed woman responded to her hush words with a soft smile. Lanfen returned it in kind with a momentary one of her own.
Although neither of the two held a single hint of Shinonome's past nor background, the current Shinonome was the one who really mattered to the Adaptor. And right now, the 'mundane' company she provided was a gift which Lanfen found to be more priceless than any paranormal weapon.
Ignoring the flashing advertisements that lined Shinjuku's bustling pedestrian walkways was more often than not an impossible feat. With just a glance around the red-light district of Kabukicho, Tsuchiya Kagero could see the countless pubs and snack bars which were left unharmed by the Distortions' attack purely due to good fortune. The freezing winds of December typically caused the average man to tighten his winter coat, but the S.O.N.G. agent could hardly be described as such. Brushing the accumulating snow off his black suit's shoulders, Kagero made his way out of the bustling crowds, and approached the doorstep of a particular building on his right. Hanging next to the entrance was the sign of a particular host-club: The Absolute Zero.
Kagero wished he could have returned here alongside Souji. Unfortunately, the field agent was not paying them a visit for any sort of leisure activities.
Tidying his blonde hair through a few brushing motions for good measure, Kagero headed past the front door of a small lobby and rode a waiting elevator up to the building's higher levels. Once he had stepped out of the compartment, the field agent stopped in the middle of a narrow corridor to be greeted by the nostalgic sight of the host-club's exquisite double-doors. Placed on the wall beside the entrance were multiple rows of photographs that showcased each of the club's handsome hosts who were available to be selected for today. There were a few notable faces whom Kagero hadn't seen the last time he chose to come here.
The double-doors swung open and Kagero reflexively stood to attention with his hands at his sides. Stepping out into the corridor was none other than the youngest of the three Ogawa brothers: Ogawa Suteinu. In contrast to Kagero's own dark and formal attire, Suteinu wore a personalized white suit with a low-cut shirt which granted a small glimpse of his well-shaped chest. While the man approached Kagero with a welcoming smile, Suteinu combed one hand through his fashionable hair, causing the dog-tags that hung around his slender neck to softly jingle alongside his earrings. The man's spiffy cologne could practically be smelled from a mile away.
"Well now, look who it is!" Suteinu exclaimed, wielding a voice which had charmed many a customer over the years. Lowering his head to submit a fabulous bow, Suteinu gestured Kagero over to the open double-doors behind him with a wink and an outstretched hand. "Have you arrived to take some time off from work? Or has my eldest brother's 'right-hand man' come to our doorstep for something else entirely?"
Kagero ignored Suteinu's teasing tongue and calmly cleared his throat with one hand held in front of his face. "While it's certainly good to see you safe and sound, Suteinu, I am unfortunately here on official business." Kagero folded his hands behind his straightened back and took a subtle, curious peek past the host to gaze into the club's opened doorway. "As always, S.O.N.G. and I would appreciate it if you could grant us whatever information that you currently have available for us. Much of our own investigation teams already have their hands full dealing with recent global events."
Suteinu gave a playful combination of a pout and sigh. "Of course, of course. But let's not stress ourselves too much out here!" In one smooth motion, the host took Kagero by the arm and led them towards the nearby entrance. "I've saved the perfect non-alcoholic drink for your return, so I'll gladly divulge what I know if you wouldn't mind sharing a few lavish glasses between you and I." The S.O.N.G. agent could only hesitantly nod at the charming smile that Suteinu flashed him. "Excellent! Oh, I must say, your voice has certainly grown a lot deeper since the last time you dropped by. I'd ask if you're any interested in signing up as a host, but I think my eldest brother would end up paying me a visit with his silly, little sword in hand!"
"I certainly wouldn't doubt that," Kagero remarked with a small laugh before the pair stepped into the grandiose abode of the Absolute Zero. As their clean, leather shoes treaded upon the club's carpeted flooring, a smooth, jazzy tune swirled through the air, mixing with the constant chattering of customers who were all relaxing on the club's sparkling couches. Taking in the view of his glamorous surroundings through a cursory glance, it became clear to Kagero just how little the eccentric lounge had changed in spite of the recent global tragedy.
Compared to the other host-clubs Kagero once often frequented, the Absolute Zero was a brightly-lit establishment with decor which gave off the impression that one had stepped into a royal place. Many of the club's sharply-dressed hosts could be observed expertly tending to their customers utilizing a combination of bottled drinks, light snacks, and showers of flowery compliments for their swooning patrons. It appeared to Kagero that in the aftermath of the recent attack, many of these customers had walked through the Absolute Zero's entrance to release themselves from the pain which the tragedy inflicted upon them. It was a sentiment Kagero himself could easily sympathize with.
While the pair strolled by the club's numerous patrons, the field agent's attention directed itself towards the small stage that was set up in the center of the club's massive lounge. Standing atop it with a microphone in her hand was Morikawa, one of Kagero's old acquaintances from Clan Hida before he had transferred over to S.O.N.G. as its Commander's newest aide. The last time they saw one other was during the raid on the Illuminati hideout from over a week ago. While Morikawa was obviously too busy singing her heart out on the stage to notice him, it was a small pleasure for Kagero to see her enjoying a new life after Morikawa's retirement from service. The glittery dress she donned for the occasion clearly suited her more than Clan Hida's shadowy combat garbs.
Kagero and Suteinu eventually approached the club's bar counter and settled themselves on a pair of seats which were stationed far out of any patron's possible earshot. Through a snap of his fingers, Suteinu called over the bartender, summoning the handsome man to unveil a large, unfamiliar bottle from the counter's lower cupboards. Kagero subsequently watched on with honest amusement as the bartender popped it open with a cheer before pouring out the bottle's contents into a pair of tall, readied glasses. Once both items had been filled to the brim, the bartender placed the drinks within arm's reach of the two men and dismissed himself through a polite bow, letting him tend to a couple of handsome individuals who were now requesting his presence.
Suteinu grabbed the stem of his glass between two fingers and raised it in a modest toast. "To the blooming relationship between you and my dear eldest brother."
Kagero noticed a trio of familiar hosts who were pleasantly waving at him from the far end of the bar and hastily responded in kind. "Don't expect me to drink too much on a weekday, Suteinu," he playfully commented, looking back to the host with his own glass in his hand before gently clinking it against Suteinu's drink. "Again, while I am appreciative of the gesture, I will remind you that I still have tasks to accomplish by next sunrise." Bringing the edge of his glass to his lips, Kagero took a mouthful of the sparkling beverage and gulped down the sweet liquid. He then showed his following approval of its taste by giving a pleased nod.
"What would you like to know in particular, Kagero?" Suteinu began, resting his chin in one hand while he donned a suave smile.
Drawing out a small napkin from his suit's inner pockets, Kagero wiped his mouth clean and lowered his tone. "I require information regarding the recent rumours that's been circulating across the world, Suteinu." Kagero emphasized the urgency of his request with a firm follow-up. "Particularly the rumours surrounding the murders of young adult women."
The host's fingers fiddled with the decorative dog-tags that hung from his neck. If Kagero's senses had not been sharpened through years of training, he wouldn't have noticed the way Suteinu's eyes examined their lively surroundings, subtly ensuring that no unwanted ears were prying into their progressing conversation. The joyous singing and catchy music which surrounded the two did not prompt the host to lower his guard down even one bit. "I didn't think S.O.N.G. would be looking into that. Colour me surprised," Suteinu said, leaning in closer to the field agent. "I've been making my own investigations myself. Thus far, I managed to figure out a couple key details you might want to hear."
Kagero placed his drink aside and listened on intently with a perfect poker face. "Go on."
Suteinu brought out a number of photographs from his pockets and slid them in front of the agent. Each image contained snapshots of cadavers that had been taken into numerous hospitals all over the globe. Judging by their respective timestamps, the first of these images had been taken as early as the opening hours of the worldwide massacre. "New York. Kowloon. Melbourne. All of them were carried out by a single gunshot to a chest. My sources have also received recent news of a similar murder within Kazamino City. But we've no idea whether this is being carried out by a group or a single individual. Still... I'm sure you'll find the evidence to be quite familiar."
Another photograph was placed before the field agent. It was an image of the bullet which had been apparently utilized in each and every one of the murder cases. A bullet that was marked with symbols which pertained to a certain shadow organization. "... The Bavarian Illuminati?" Kagero whispered with furrowed brows. Holding up the photograph in one hand, the blonde scowled at the bullet's unmistakable design motifs. "Even after everything we've done to wipe them out, they still intend to be a thorn in our side?"
"Tut tut, Kagero," Suteinu whispered, tapping the bar counter with one finger. "While the Illuminati is certainly a persistent cockroach who will not die out so quickly, do remember how easy it can be to undertake drastic operations beneath a false flag." The host soon pulled back the physical photographs and neatly packed it all together before sliding them into Kagero's suit in one swift motion. "I'm sure Clan Hida itself is quite familiar with such tactics." Punctuating his remark with a sly chuckle, Suteinu returned to his sparkling beverage and finished it completely in one go.
While Kagero never showed any appreciation towards verbal jabs that were aimed at Clan Hida, he could not deny the few unethical operations they had once carried out for the purpose of ensuring Japan's safety and security. "Fair enough." Kagero muttered in submission, pressing one hand against the photos in his pockets, simultaneously ensuring that the concealed kunais beside them were physically undisturbed by Suteinu's actions. "Is there anything else I should know about, Suteinu?"
The host's smile grew wider. Suteinu signaled the bartender to come over and refill Kagero's half-empty glass. "Although this will be completely hear-say, I'm sure that you and your companions will find this next tidbit to be quite interesting." He waited for Kagero's drink to be completely restored. After the bartender had departed from their end of the counter with an exquisite bow, Suteinu casted another examination of their busy surroundings and slowly parted his lips. "It's been five years since the Curse of Balal was lifted, hasn't it?"
Kagero went still in his seat and answered the host through a wordless nod. Even with his honed senses, Kagero suddenly struggled to perceive Suteinu's hush words.
"Ever since that day, I've been hearing growing whispers about a possible increase in potential Adaptors all over the world. And while this may explain the recent discovery of S.O.N.G.'s newest Symphogear-Wielder..." Suteinu hovered his lips next to Kagero's listening ear, absolutely preventing everyone else but the agent from catching the host's near-silent voice. "... I have a hunch that this subtle change is catching the attention of the so-called third-party who initially stole the SG-r04."