A/N: This was originally going to go up on February first, but I decided to post a little early. Why, you may ask?

BECAUSE SYMPHOGEAR XDU IS HAVING A COLLAB WITH SUPER SENTAI, THAT'S WHY!

So to celebrate, enjoy an early chapter, folks.

"You know, I'm pretty surprised that you survived the old man's training." Rui admitted, giving Shuri a water bottle.

The two were in Sector Two's training room. It had been quite a while since Tsubasa's concert had wrapped up. Shuri had been subjected to Genjuro's harsh training methods, but to everyone's surprise, the girl took them in stride. She had gotten significantly stronger within a short amount of time. Right now, while her strength had increased quite tremendously, her skills at hand to hand were yet to be tuned out. Genjuro had given her the basics and was supposed to train her further today, though he was busy out on some sort of business.

So the task eventually came to her. At first, Rui was a bit reluctant, but Shuri had found out Chris had been seen helping Hibiki during a Noise attack. Hearing that her sister truly was helping strengthened her resolve, and Rui agreed to help train her. After doing some light exercises, Rui had Shuri attempt to strike her. Of course, she managed to block all the hits, giving Shuri pointers on how to go on the offensive. Taking a quick water break, Rui moved on to teaching Shuri self-defense.

"Alright, Shuri. Try punching me." Rui said, standing up.

"Um… okay." Shuri said. "Let's go!"

She threw a punch at Rui's chest, but the blonde-haired teen caught it.

"When you catch the punch, you grab the wrist with the free hand." Rui instructed. "And then…"

Rui twisted Shuri's arm behind her back, pinning it into a locked position.

"Owowow! I can't move!" Shuri cried out, struggling to break free.

"Like that, the pain can distract your opponent, preventing them from thinking clearly." Rui said, letting go of Shuri, letting the girl rub her sore arm.

"That hurt…"

"I guess I can go for teaching a technique that's not as painful." Rui said. "Alright, how about this."

Rui got behind Shuri and wrapped her arms tightly around her.

"So like this, your arms are stuck." Rui said. "However, this isn't a really good tactic, so don't use it. Instead, try figuring out how to easily break free."

"How?"

"You still have your legs." Rui said. "You can try stomping on my foot, or kicking backwards at the leg. Or, since your head is still free, you can-"

CRACK

The door to the training room opened and Maia walked on in.

"Yo, Rui, Shuri." She said. "The Commander is back and wants us for a meeting-"

Maia's eyes widened as she saw Rui out cold on the floor, a steady stream of blood trickling from her nose as Shuri stood over her, apologizing over and over again.

The screen of the main meeting room lit up, as Hibiki and Tsubasa's faces appeared.

"Yes. Tsubasa speaking."

"Hibiki here-! Ah, Oneesan! What happened to your nose?!"

Rui had two rolled up tissues stuffed into her nose, as well as a bit of an annoyed expression. "Training accident. Turns out, you're not the only one with a hard head, Hibiki."

Shuri just blushed as Maia tried her best not to laugh. Genjuro cleared his throat.

"Anyways, we've got a lead." He said, before looking around and noticing someone was missing. "What about Ryoko?"

"She hasn't reported in." Aoi said. "We haven't been able to contact her since this morning."

"I see…" Genjuro said.

"Maybe she's drunk and out cold in a ditch." Rui suggested, causing most of the others to sweatdrop.

"Ryoko-san will be alright!" Hibiki said. "If something happens, she'll just go all "Bang! Boom!" like when she protected me!"

"Sakurai-san has no combat training. I doubt she'd be able to do anything like that." Tsubasa said.

"I dunno, the lady can tank Rui's hooks pretty well." Maia chipped in.

"But like, don't the Commander and Ryoko-san have those crazy superhuman abilities?" Hibiki asked, remembering what had happened.

Before anyone could say anything else, an audio only call came in, which HQ picked up.

"I finally got through!" Came the voice of a familiar scientist. "Sorry! I overslept, then my communicator started acting up."

Maia felt a grip around her arm, and looked down to see Shuri holding onto it. Normally she'd blush or be playful in this situation, but she saw Shuri's eyes. She seemed to be… scared?

Genjuro narrowed his eyes. "Are you alright? No problems on your side, Ryoko?"

"Well, I overslept and I missed the garbage collection, but-"

"No one wants to hear your sob story about how you didn't put out the used condoms." Rui said, causing the others to sweatdrop again.

"Ouch. But anyways, did something happen?"

"Well, at least we know you're okay, Ryoko-san!" Hibiki said.

"Then that's okay." Genjuro said. "There is something I want to ask you about."

"My, aren't we in a hurry? What is it?" Ryoko's voice asked.

Genjuro's expression was completely serious as he said the next word. "Kadingir. What does that mean?"

"It's an ancient Sumerian word that refers to a divine existence." Ryoko said. "In a sense, it means a tower reaching for the heavens."

"So like the Tower of Babel from the Bible?" Rui asked, as a few people looked at her in surprise. "What? I look into stuff like this every now and then."

"If someone had built such a tower, wouldn't we have noticed it?" Genjuro asked.

"Well, when you put it that way…" Hibiki said, thinking carefully.

"I dunno." Rui said. "If stuff like the Symphogears exist, a quick assembly tower wouldn't be too difficult."

"Pfft. All we need to complete it is if they make the tower using panels and bottles." Maia joked, though the only person that got it was Rui.

"Regardless, we now have the enemy right where we want them." Genjuro said. "If we can simply gather more intelligence, our victory is assured. We will strike at the smallest gap in the enemy's defence with all that we have. We shall not miss our chance to land the finishing blow."

"Roger!" Hibiki and Tsubasa said, before leaving the call.

"I've got a few things to take care of here, then I'll head right over." Ryoko's voice said, before ending the call. Shuri let go of Maia, letting out a breath she had kept in.

"You okay?" Maia asked.

"Y-Yes…"

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Rui said, walking up.

"I...I'm fine." Shuri said.

"Hey." Maia smiled at Shuri. "You don't have to be scared. We're here for you, Shuri."

Shuri nodded, but didn't smile.

Everyone at Sector Two got to work, searching through every single file they had, as well as the vast amount of information the government would give them.

"I don't care how small or how unimportant it is, fine every piece of information you can about Kadingir!" Genjuro ordered.

Just as he said that, an alarm went off.

"What is it?!" Genjuro asked.

"We've detected three massive flying Noise!" Sakuya said, before a fourth blip appeared. "No, four!"

"Four? That's going to be an issue." Genjuro said, gritting his teeth.

Not even thirty minutes after they had finished the call earlier, Tsubasa appeared once more.

"This is Tsubasa."

"This is the most recent information we have regarding the movements of the Noise." Genjuro said, as Hibiki also came onto the call.

"Go on, Commander!" She said.

"The one that originally appeared in Area 41 is now passing through Area 33, heading towards Area 28." Genjuro said. "Likewise, the Noise in Areas 18 and 17 are now heading towards Area 24. Also…"

"Commander, this is…" Aoi said.

"The trajectories of all four Noise intersect at the Tokyo Sky Tower!" Sakuya said.

"The Tokyo Sky Tower?" Hibiki asked.

"If the Kadingir is a tower, then could it be the Sky Tower itself?" Sakuya suggested.

"The Tokyo Sky Tower serves as a central control node for our radio-based communication and video transmission." Genjuro said. "Hurry to the Tokyo Sky Tower!"

"Roger!" Tsubasa said.

Genjuro looked deep in thought, as Hibiki spoke up.

"The Sky Tower? But it's so far away…"

Wind picked up in Hibiki video call, as her expression changed to surprise. The sounds of a helicopter could be heard from her end.

"Overcoming hopeless situations is our job!" Genjuro proudly declared.

Shuri looked at the video feed of the Noise, and looked concerned.

"Will they… be able to do it?" Shuri asked. "It looks so dangerous…"

"Trust me, Shuri." Maia said with confidence. "It takes a lot to kill my sister. Those guys? They're nothing to her."

"And Hibiki's not gonna go down to them either." Rui said, a hint of pride in her voice.

Rui looked down. It was nice to see they were both so trusting in their sisters. If only she could feel the same way.

"Don't worry."

Shuri felt a large hand pat her on the head, and looked up to see Genjuro giving her a smile.

"She'll come as well." He said.

"Wait, who?" Maia asked.

"You mean Chris?" Rui said, remembering the girl that she helped with the two lost children weeks ago.

"How do you know?" Shuri asked.

Genjuro didn't say anything, as he pulled out a communicator and put it to his ear. "You're not busy, I hope?"

"I walk into the city and I see the Noise looming over like helicopters. No I'm not busy." A snarky voice rang out, one that Rui and Shuri recognized.

"That's already a perfect situation." Genjuro said. "Then would it be possible-"

"You want me to help? Hah." Chris said.

"Oneesama, please." Shuri spoke up. "Help them."

"Shuri?" The voice became softer. "You're-?"

"Hibiki-san and Tsubasa-san both have big sisters." Shuri said. "Big sisters like you! You understand, right?"

"I…"

"Man, I didn't expect you to be a wimp." Rui shot at through the communicator.

"That voice… it sounds like the idiot, but… no way…"

"Yes, it's me." Rui said with a smirk that she knew Chris couldn't see. "Or would you rather that I use the name I gave you when we met? Bitc-?"

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY WORDS LIKE THOSE AROUND SHURI!"

The others were taken a bit aback at the sudden outburst, while Shuri looked confused.

"What word?" She asked.

"Uh… don't think too hard about it." Maia said with a nervous smile.

Rui cleared her throat before speaking. "But anyways, sounds to me like you're running away from the problem. That doesn't seem like the girl I know."

"You've only met me for less than an hour."

"Yeah, but I already got a good read on you." Rui said. "So what? You gonna keep running?"

"Shut up."

"Oh what? Can't hear the truth?" Rui teased.

"It's not the truth because I'm already here… jerk!" Chris said, substituting the last word for something less crude.

The camera footage indeed showed several of the Noise that Hibiki and Tsubasa were fighting had been peppered with bullet holes. Sure enough, standing on the battlefield was Chris, already in her Symphogear Armor. Hibiki and Tsubasa just stared, surprised that she had shown up.

"This piece of crap wouldn't stop squealing like a stuck pig, so I figured this at least might shut it up!" She said, holding up the other communicator. "Don't get me wrong! It's not like I wanted to help you or anything!"

"You… do realize you could have just tossed the thing, right?" Rui said into the communicator. "Also, freaking tsundere."

"Zip it, jerk!"

"But you fit that to a "T" though!" Maia chimed in.

"Oh God, now I'm hearing a cheerful version of the blue-haired one." Chris groaned.

"I'm Maia, Tsubasa's big sis!" Maia said. "I'd say "nice to meet you," but I don't think it counts through the phone. Can't wait to talk to ya! Now, go kick some Noise butt! … Actually, do Noise even have butts...?"

"Sorry, the help's arrived a little late!" Genjuro spoke into the communicator to Hibiki and Tsubasa.

The footage was from a distance, but they could still see Chris blush at being found out. Hibiki was grinning from ear to ear, while Tsubasa looked unsure. "Help?" She repeated.

"Yes, it's the Symphogear user bearing the second relic, Ichaival." Genjuro said, introducing her like a pro fighter. "Chris Yukine!"

"Chris-chan~!" Hibiki yelled as she hugged the white-haired user. "Thank you so much-!"

The communicator cut off as it was knocked out of Chris's hand thanks to Hibiki's big hug, though they thankfully could still hear fairly well thanks to the video footage.

"I knew you'd join us sooner or later!" Hibiki said, still hugging her.

"Are you an idiot?! Are you even listening to me?!" Chris yelled, blushing as she struggled to push Hibiki off of her.

"We should concentrate on dealing with the Noise for now." Tsubasa said, walking up.

Chris finally broke from Hibiki's grip, before boasting. "I'll handle it myself! Just stay outta my way!"

Hibiki had a look of shock, while Tsubasa looked annoyed, almost offended, as Chris shot down dozens of Noise in the air.

"Let's leave the airborne Noise to her." Tsubasa suggested to Hibiki. "We'll handle the ones on the ground."

"Roger!" Hibiki said.

For a few moments, it seemed to be simple and easy. The girls were handling the Noise with ease, and it looked like the situation was under control. Until mid-battle, Tsubasa and Chris accidentally backed into one-another.

"What are you doing?!" Chris snapped. "Get out of the way!"

Tsubasa didn't get angry, but rather, spoke calmly. "Come to your senses. Do you wish to fight alone?"

Maia's eyes widened as she watched the live footage. This wasn't something that she had expected from Tsubasa.

"I'm always alone." Chris said. "Did I miss the part where we became best friends?"

"She… said the same thing to me when we first met." Rui said.

"Sorry, but oneesama doesn't open up easily." Shuri apologized.

"We may not have any reason to fight each other, but then, we don't have any reason not to fight, either!" Chris continued. "If it wasn't for the fact that my sister was with you guys, I would've gone at you again like before! You can't expect people to just-!"

Chris stopped, as Hibiki grasped her hand with her own.

"Yes we can!" Hibiki said. "We can settle our differences with anyone."

"Hey, Rui?" Maia asked, looking away from the screen. "What is she-?"

Rui smiled. "She's doing what she does best."

Hibiki used her other hand to grasp Tsubasa's as well.

"All this time, I've been wondering why I didn't have an Armed Gear. I always thought it sucked to be just half a fighter all the time." Hibiki confessed. "But not anymore. It's because I'm not holding any weapons that I can hold your hands like this instead. I can be friends with both of you!"

"Tachibana…" Tsubasa said, before sticking her sword into the ground and holding out her hand towards Chris.

The red wielder seemed to hesitate, her hand shaking, but then she looked at Hibiki's smiling face, and Tsubasa's genuine expression. She reached out, but when Tsubasa grasped her hand, she almost sharply recoiled. "Is the idiocy contagious?"

"I guess so." Tsubasa admitted, causing Maia to laugh. "And it looks like you've got it too."

"...you've got to be kidding." Chris groaned, as Hibiki and Tsubasa laughed.

"I've said it once before, Rui." Maia said, looking at her friend. "You've got one hell of a little sister."

"She's someone to look up to." Shuri said. "I'd like to be like her."

Back on the field of action, the Symphogears had made a battle plan. Chris would charge up her energy to unleash an all out attack to obliterate the Noise. During that time, Hibiki and Tsubasa would defend her until she was ready. They were working together like a well-oiled machine now.

Chris was now singing a song that sounded much more hopeful. It wasn't the heavy metal that she normally sang. Almost… like new resolve.

"It's yours!" Hibiki and Tsubasa shouted to Chris.

Chris's Symphogear armor expanded to the maximum level. With huge gatling guns and even bigger missiles. It was as if she had an entire military's worth of firepower on her back, but knowing her, there was probably even more.

MEGA DETH QUARTET

The four missiles fired, as did several of the shells Chris fired from her waist. The projectiles opened up to reveal they had more projectiles within them, as they flew all over the air, obliterating every Noise in sight.

"She did it." Tsubasa said.

"Of course!" Chris said, prideful, as Hibiki smiled.

The girls regrouped as the last bits of Noise faded away.

"We did it!" Hibiki said, as she jumped onto Chris for another hug.

"Lay off, dumbass! What do you think you're doing!" Chris yelled, pushing Hibiki off her as the girls de-transformed.

"It's all thanks to you that we won, Chris-chan!" Hibiki said, hugging Chris, now in their civilian clothes.

"Cut it out already!" Chris said, pushing Hibiki off for the third time today while blushing. "Listen, I'm not your comrade or anything! I just want to settle things with Finé and make my new dream come true."

"Dream? You have a dream, Chris-chan?" Hibiki asked. "What is it? Tell me!"

Three times not being enough, Hibiki hugged Chris for the fourth time, naturally resulting in Chris shoving her off again. "Shut the hell up, moron! You're hopeless!"

Tsubasa sighed at the situation, while Hibiki laughed, before she heard her phone ring. She picked it up and put it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hibiki!" Miku's voice said, alarm in her voice. "It's the school! Lydian is under attack by the Noi-!"

The line went dead.

Shuri clung onto Maia's arm again, as the area shook. "Wh-What is that?! An earthquake?!"

"No, the Noise have surrounded the school!" Sakuya said, looking at the monitors.

Sure enough, a swarm as big as the first one had surrounded the area. The military had already been deployed, but they were barely able to hold them back.

"Damn it, not good!" Maia said. "Rui! Let's go!"

"What?!" The girl looked shocked. "Are you insane?!"

"The students left outside are going to die if they don't get in soon, they need help!"

"But if we die, who's going to help them?!" Rui shot back.

"Rui-kun. Maia." Genjuro held out something. The belt-like device from earlier, as well as the cube Maia had. "Ryoko had finished building them."

"Commander, I don't know how that's going to help." Rui said.

"The weapons come with a special artificial Phonic Gain system that will protect you from the Noise." He said. "However, it has a limit to how much it can take, before running out."

"How does it get restored?" Rui asked.

"By fighting alongside a Symphogear that it's most synchronized with." Genjuro said. "Rui-kun, yours is synchronized to Hibiki-kun's Gungnir, while Maia's weapon, Takemikazuchi is synchronized to Tsubasa's Ame-no-Habakiri."

"So, we just need to make it last until the girls get back?" Maia asked.

"Correct."

"Then let's go, Rui!" Maia said, taking the cube into her hand.

Rui looked at the belt, before taking it and placing it around her waist. "Yeah. Let's do this."

The two ran off to the elevator reaching the surface. Shuri looked at the blue pen in her hand. She looked up at Genjuro. "Is this…?"

He nodded. "It's just like theirs. Your weapon is synchronized to Chris's Ichaival."

She looked at the screen, watching the Noise tear through the military like paper. "Will Rui-san and Maia-san be okay…?"

Genjuro watched the footage, as he saw Rui and Maia exit the elevator.

"I know they will."

A/N: I've actually had this chapter finished a while ago, but refrained from posting thanks to the issues that have been going around in the world at the moment. That and I found that having a whole stock of chapters to post on a schedule helps me a lot.

Aside from that, Symphogear XDU is having a collaboration with Mashin Sentai Kiramager, and that's fucking awesome.

With that said, I'll see you all next time.