"C'est ne pas possible. How did that girl take Gungnir from Maria?" Jeanne said, stunned as she watched the scene unfold.
Nastassja narrowed her eyes at the screen, while Ver pushed up his glasses.
"Well, things just got more interesting." He said.
"That's not fair!" Kirika shouted, waving her arms at Rui. "You can't use Maria's Gear against us?"
"Since when were there rules to this crap?" Rui said, getting into a stance. "If there were rules, I'd have broken them. And since there aren't any rules to break, I'll settle on you two."
Shirabe said nothing, as she readied herself. The others simply watched from the sidelines, unable to support the teams.
"Bring up Rui-kun's sync rate!" Genjuro ordered.
"Searching… got it!" Sakuya said.
"What percent is it at?"
"30 percent… no, 35… 40…" Aoi said.
"Her sync rate is increasing at an alarming rate!" Sakuya said.
Genjuro frowned, before looking back at the screen.
"Take this, dess!" Kirika shouted, before slashing her scythe and sending mini blades at Rui. Shirabe followed it up by launching several mini saw blades as well. Rui rolled underneath the projectiles, barely dodging them. Springing up, she threw several punches that Kirika blocked with her scythe handle. But the strikes managed to push her back several feet, throwing her off balance. The shockwaves from the attacks had knocked Shirabe away.
Rui held out her arms, before twisting her foot to ignite it in flames. She ran forward, before jumping and delivering a flaming kick at Kirika that caused a fiery explosion.
"Dess!" Kirika was knocked off her feet, and was sent rolling. There were several charred marks on her armor.
"Kiri-chan!" Shirabe called.
Rui turned around in time to kick away a giant saw blade.
Gamma Style: Friction Blades
Rui kept taking steps back as she dodged the two saws that Shirabe kept trying to aim at her.
They both aimed down, attempting to slice Rui into three pieces, but the girl brought up her wrist gauntlets, causing sparks to fly. She grit her teeth, as her eyes started to glow a faint red.
"You think… you're tough?!"
Rui pushed forward with her arms, knocking the blades upwards. As they came downwards again, Rui's leg started crackling with electricity. Right before they could cut her to shreds, she did a roundhouse kick, and the electricity arced through Shirabe's Gear and into her body.
"Aaah!" Shirabe cried out.
"I'm not done with you!" Rui yelled.
"90 percent… 95 percent… 100 percent!" Sakuya reported.
"So Rui-kun's sync rate has reached maximum." Genjuro said.
"N-No…" Aoi said, quietly. "105 percent…"
"What?!"
"110 percent… 115 percent… 120 percent…"
"Impossible!" Genjuro shouted, looking back at the screen. "Ryoko… just what did you leave behind?"
The electricity stopped as Shirabe fell to her knees, breathing heavily. She looked up at Rui slowly walking towards her. Raising a hand, she attempted to fire more sawblades, but in a sudden burst of speed, Rui grabbed her wrist.
"I don't think so."
"Let go!"
"Oh, I will."
Electricity started to crackle on her foot once more, as she lifted Shirabe up and threw her onto the floor, before stomping on her. Shirabe screamed as the electricity started to shoot through her body again.
"Shirabe!" Kirika cried out.
"How does it feel?!" Rui yelled. "HOW DOES IT FUCKING FEEL?!"
"Rui, stop!"
Maia tried to run forward, but the electricity was increasing to a dangerous level, shooting out randomly and making it impossible to approach her without getting a deadly shock.
"What the hell?!" Chris said, as she, Hibiki and Shuri landed on the submarine.
"Something's wrong." Shuri said. "I've never seen Rui-san act like this!"
With a roar, Rui lifted up her foot, as it lit up in flames. Shirabe had been rendered almost unconscious from the amount of pain, and she closed her eyes as she braced herself.
"Oneesan!" Hibiki shouted. "No!"
Kirika swung her scythe and fired more mini blades. Rui didn't dodge them as they broke apart upon hitting her armor, with one leaving a small cut on her cheek. She was almost completely unfazed, before she brought her foot down.
"190 percent… 195 percent… 200 percent!"
DANGER. DANGER. DANGER.
Right before impact, the flames and electricity stopped. Rui staggered backwards before collapsing on the ground, wincing as she gripped her chest. "Wh-wha-? Nnn-gak!"
She spat up blood, staining the metal she was laying on. Smoke seeped through the cracks in the armor, before it fell off her and shattered. Rui was left shaking on the ground. The Gungnir relic was ejected out of Kagutsuchi, and clattered onto the submarine. It started to roll away, but Rui managed to grab it, hands trembling from the stress. She stared at it, stunned at what she had done.
Kirika quickly rushed over, before snatching the relic from Rui's twitching hands. She picked up Shirabe, before grabbing the hanging rope with Maria.
"Got to go, dess!"
The rope started rising up towards the ship.
"Wait!"
Rui tried to get up and give chase, but her body failed her as she collapsed again. Hibiki and Shuri quickly went to check up on her, while Chris created a large crossbow-like sniper rifle, and aimed it at the retreating ship.
RED HOT BLAZE
"Give back Solomon's Cane!"
But just before she could fire, the ship disappeared.
"What?!"
"We lost them." Sakuya reported.
"Complete cloaking capabilities…" Genjuro said. "Is this, too, the product of heretical technology?"
He shook his head, now wasn't the time.
"Get Rui-kun immediate medical attention!" He shouted. "And look through any notes Ryoko had left behind, and see if there's anything about Kagutsuchi!"
Nastassja flew the ship, looking at the relic that was nearby.
I acquired stealth technology while analyzing the capabilities of the Shénshòujìng. She thought. Even if our advantage is great, it is also a fleeting, fragile thing.
She coughed into her hand, and saw there was a bit of blood.
"I must hurry." She said. "Our advantage is not the only thing which is fleeting and fragile."
"Mom."
Nastassja turned to see Jeanne standing there.
"I can fly the ship for a bit." She said. "You can rest."
"Thank you, Jeanne." She said, wheeling away from the controls.
"Don't thank me yet." Jeanne said. "I think Kirika is about to kill Ver."
True to Jeanne's words, Ver was knocked into a wall and slid down.
"This is your damn fault!" Kirika said, grabbing him by the collar. "If they take control of the base, where are we supposed to hide until we execute our plan?!"
"Stop it." Maria said. "Berating him now won't change anything."
"Worthless dessing creep." Kirika said, letting him go.
"You surprised me." Ver said, fixing his coat. "Don't I even get a chance to apologize?"
"Fortunately, we were able to protect our treasure." Nastassja said, as the screen came on. "However, now that they've taken control of our base, we have nothing to feed the Nephilim. This is a huge problem."
"It's calm now, but who knows when it'll get hungry again and run wild." Shirabe said, though her voice was a bit shaken.
"We may no longer have a food source, but we haven't lost all our options yet." Ver said, standing back up.
While he looked at the relics around Kirika and Shirabe's necks, Maria turned to Shirabe.
"Shirabe, are you alright?"
"...I'm fine." She said. "My gear managed to stop most of the damage."
"But still-"
"I said I was fine." She said. "...I need to be alone."
She left the room, as Kirika tightened her fist. I wasn't able to do anything to help Shirabe… I'm such a terrible friend…
Back on the submarine, the girls waited on the external hull. Rui had been taken inside, and they were waiting to hear the results.
The door suddenly opened, as Genjuro climbed out. "Girls, are you all right?!"
"We're fine." Maia said. "How's Rui?"
"She'll need only a bit of rest." Genjuro said. "Thankfully, she was forced out of the transformation before any considerable damage was done."
"Commander, what was that transformation?" Shuri asked.
"We're still trying to figure it out." Genjuro said. "We have the general idea from Ryoko's notes, but we need a bit more time. But the analysis should be done when Rui-kun is up and about."
"Shisho…" Hibiki said. "When we fought Ryoko-san, I felt that, even though we didn't agree on many things, we still managed to reach a level of understanding. But now..."
"If they don't understand, just keep beating on them until they do!" Genjuro said. "You of all people must know that there are things stronger than words!"
"...Uncle, I get what you're telling her, but that sounds pretty messed up." Maia said, as Chris let out a chuckle.
"I didn't understand a word of that." Hibiki admitted, but pumped her fists. "But I'll give it a shot!"
Genjuro and Ogawa were in a meeting with the Vice-President of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Masahito Shibata. The latter was slurping down some noodles as Genjuro talked to him.
"So the terrorist organization who call themselves Finé was reorganized from a company of scientists formerly with the US Army?" He asked.
"The Federal Institute of Sacrists, to be exact." Shibata clarified. "They're scientists who defied their superiors and took the organization rogue."
"And the man who disappeared with Solomon's Cane and turned up again later, Dr. Ver, was also a member of the FIS."
"You see, according to some, the FIS has existed since before Japan made their relic research public."
"So this facility was founded by Finé herself when she conspired with the Americans?" Ogawa asked.
"That's how it started." Shibata said. "They probably have a good reason for taking on Finé's name."
He slurped up some more noodles, before speaking.
"This level of skill and precision isn't what you'd expect from a terrorist organization." He said, thoughtfully. "They may have planned all this from the start."
Genjuro frowned. Shibata had a point, but just what was the plan?
The day of the school festival had arrived. Stands and booths were set up, as the students, family and friends all enjoyed themselves. Hibiki was watching it all from on top of the stairs, while Rui leaned against the brick wall.
"Hibiki!" Miku said as she walked over.
"Miku? What's up?"
"Itaba and the others are about to start their performance!" Miku said. "That's what's up! Shuri-san is already there, saving our seats."
"Huh? It's already time?" Hibiki asked.
Miku took Hibiki's hand into her own. "Let's go! It'll be fun."
"Yeah! Thanks Miku!" She said. "Let's go, oneesan! ...oneesan?"
Hibiki looked over her shoulder. Rui was still brooding against the wall, deep in thought as she remembered what Genjuro had told her after she had woken up.
"Listen closely, Rui-kun." Genjuro said. "You two as well, Maia, Shuri-kun."
"What happened up there, that caused Rui to take on Tachibana's Gear?" Tsubasa asked.
"Wait, you're using her first name?" Maia asked.
"It's the only way to differentiate them, but now's not the time, neesama."
"Aw, I want Tsubasa-san to use my first name." Hibiki joked.
"Anyways, we looked into Ryoko's notes, and found that there was a separate feature of Kagutsuchi, Takemikazuchi and Okami." Genjuro said, pulling them up on a large screen in the base. "In the case of a Symphogear Wielder being unable to fight, you can insert the synchronized relic into the respective weapon, allowing you to don a variation of the Symphogear."
"Really?" Maia asked. "Huh, maybe Tsubasa should get hospitalized more often."
"Neesama!" Tsubasa chided, as Shuri kicked the back of Maia's leg.
"The difference is that due to the massive stores of phonic gain that the weapons house, there is no need for the user to sing. It's also significantly less balanced, focusing more on the specific function of the weapon over all else. However, there is a different issue altogether, that Ryoko was unable to figure out how to fix."
"What's that?" Chris asked.
"The sheer power of the relic, combined with the phonic gain stores, makes it very difficult to control." Genjuro said. "It is tied to the user's emotion."
"So oneesan went berserk because… she got really angry?" Hibiki asked.
"That is correct." Genjuro answered. "While it comes at a dramatic increase in strength, the user will lose all control to whatever emotion they're feeling, becoming a nigh-mindless berserker that would attack both friend and foe alike."
Hibiki and Tsubasa briefly shared a look, remembering what had happened with Hibiki back in their battle against Finé.
"The sync rate increases to unbelievable levels, and once it starts passing 200 percent, the user will start to take damage to their body." Genjuro said, grimly.
"...how close was I?" Rui asked.
"You just passed 200 percent before you were forced out of your transformation." Genjuro said. "Those small attacks from the enemy were just enough to disrupt your sync rate and force you out of your transformation once you passed 200 percent. Inadvertently, the enemy saved your life."
Rui ran a finger across the bandage on her face, which hid the small cut Kirika gave her.
"So wait, Shuri and I would be able to do this sort of thing too, right?" Maia asked. "So how about we give it a shot-?"
"Absolutely not." Tsubasa said immediately.
"Are you crazy?!" Chris yelled. "You saw what happened to the chuunigure! If you think I'm gonna subject Shuri to that, you're off your rocker!"
"I agree with them, Maia-san." Shuri said. "It's far too dangerous. Even if we were pushed to the point of it being a last-resort, I wouldn't want to risk attacking my allies."
"..."
Rui turned to leave.
"Oneesan?" Hibiki asked.
"I failed." Rui said. "We had an advantage over them. We had the Gungnir Relic! ...but my impulsiveness fucked it all over."
"Hey, partner, it's not-"
"It IS my fault, Maia!" Rui shouted, slamming her fist into the wall. "I'm the one that messed up… I wasn't good enough… I never was…"
"Anyone makes mistakes, Rui-kun." Genjuro reassured. "But only those with resolve can work towards making sure they won't happen again."
Rui let out a shaky breath, looking at her own hand. Choking Shirabe was still fresh in her mind.
"I almost went too far… I don't want that…" She quietly said to herself.
She quickly left the room afterwards. Hibiki stared at the closed doors her sister walked through.
"Oneesan…" Hibiki softly said.
"...esan? Oneesan?"
Rui looked up to see Hibiki and Miku looking at her.
"Oh, you need something?"
"We were about to go to the singing competition." Hibiki said.
"...you two go on without me." Rui said.
"Come on, Rui." Miku said. "We can go together."
"...Miku, let's go on ahead." Hibiki said.
"But Hibiki-"
"Oneesan has a lot on her mind right now." Hibiki said quietly. "Let's go."
Miku frowned, but complied. Hibiki briefly put her hand on her sister's, before the two left. Rui sighed, pushing herself off the wall before punching it with her fist. She was so deep in thought, she didn't hear someone sneak up on her from behind.
"Guess who?" A voice came, as hands covered Rui's eyes.
"I'm sensing a lot of stupidity." Rui snarked. "It can only be Maia."
"Oh come on, partner!" Maia said, pretending to be hurt. "That one stung!"
"Yeah, spare me the dramatics." Rui said, as she turned around. "What-?"
She saw that Maia had several shopping bags with her.
"What have you got there?" Rui asked.
"Well, I found out that there was a singing contest going on." Maia said. "So I decided, I could try it out, and dress the part too!"
"So you want me to be there and watch you sing?" Rui asked. "I mean, I guess I can-"
"Here's your stuff." Maia said, tossing a bag into her arms. "I asked Hibiki what sizes you were."
"...what?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I signed you up too." Maia said. "We're gonna sing together!"
…
…
…
"Yeah, screw that." Rui said, as she tossed the bag back to Maia and tried to walk off. She was stopped when Maia grabbed her by the back of her shirt.
"Nope!" Maia said, cheeky grin on her face. "You aren't slipping away that easily! We're gonna sing up on stage!"
"You're out of your damn mind!" Rui shouted.
"Come on now!" Maia said as she dragged Rui along. "Don't make me dress you when we get into the locker room!"
"Help! Help me!" Rui screamed at the passerby who tried to ignore the scene. "I'm being kidnapped by a crazy person! Someone call the cops!"
As Maia pulled Rui along to the theatre, two familiar faces poked their heads out from behind the corner.
"I don't know which one I should be scared of now." Shirabe said, fixing her 'disguise,' which was just a pair of glasses.
"Well, we'd better get going, dess!" Kirika said, having a pair of glasses herself.
"Hibiki-san! Miku-san! Over here!" Shuri called. "They're on stage!"
The two sat down next to her as they looked down at the stage. The three girls were in costume, though Kuriyo looked a little less enthusiastic by dressing up as a giant grasshopper.
"Next up are the freshman challengers! If they win, the student council will grant one request that is within their power!" The MC said, introducing the event. "But what will these girls wish for?"
"To establish an Anime Song Society, of course!" Yumi said into the mic. "That is how my glorious epic will begin!"
"Nice one." Shiori complimented as Yumi waved to the crowd. "You aren't shaking at all!"
"Uuuuugh. Please, just let this be over with…!" Kuriyo groaned.
"Very well! It's time for their song!" The MC said. "They'll be performing the theme from the anime Lightning Detective Ban, titled "Lightning Detective Ban is at the Scene!""
"Lightning Detective Ban?" Shuri asked.
"Oh, that's an anime that she likes." Miku explained as the girls started singing.
"I think oneesan watched it a while back, because it was supposed to be a homage to an old Tokusatsu show." Hibiki put a hand on her chin. "I think it was called… Space Sheriff Gavan or something."
"Isn't that show 60 years old?" Miku asked.
"Oh, they're about to get to the chorus!"
But then a loud ringing of a bell could be heard, as the girls were struck out.
"Eeehhhhh?! We didn't even get to the chorus!" Yumi complained (though Kuriyo let out a breath of relief). "And the second verse will totally make you cry! Come on!"
The crowd let out some good natured laughs as Yumi dramatically fell to her knees. Hibiki laughed too while Miku smiled at her.
I want Hibiki to smile forever. She thought. Nothing suits her better.
"I wanted to hear the rest of the song…" Shuri pouted.
Kirika and Shirabe walked through the maze of booths, holding some fresh takoyaki.
"This is so much fun, dess!" Kirika said. "Everything here is so yummy!"
She was about to eat another one, before she saw Shirabe glaring at her.
"What's up, Shirabe?"
"Kiri-chan, our mission isn't to "totally enjoy the heck out of this school fair."" Shirabe said, as they walked behind a tree to talk in private.
"I know, dess!" Kirika said. "This is just another part of our investigation, dess!"
"Investigation?"
"Everyone's attracted to delicious food." She pulled out a map from her pocket. "So, working our way through this Gourmet Tour map of the campus is clearly the best way to narrow down our target's location!"
Shirabe blinked several times, before leaning forward and staring at Kirika with a pout.
"You don't need to worry about me." Kirika said, putting away the map, expression serious. "I never forget the duties I'm entrusted with, not even for a second."
She remembered what Ver had told them earlier.
"Our base was taken over, and with it we lost the food necessary for the growth of the relic fragments that would serve as its sustenance have fallen into the hands of the second branch." Ver reported. "However, we only had the few remaining fragments we reclaimed from our former facility. In other words; we would have had to refill our stock before long either way."
"And given that, I'm sure you've also considered how to solve this problem." Maria said.
"Problem? I've never really thought of it as such." Ver said. "We have relic fragments all over the place these days, after all."
"You don't mean to feed it our pendants?" Shirabe asked.
"No, of course not." Ver reassured, raising his hands. "Your Gears are too essential to our forces to give them up just like that."
Maria frowned. "Then I'll go and take the enemy's Symphogea-"
"No, I won't let you, dess!"
Maria raised a brow as she turned to face Kirika and Shirabe.
"Not a chance." Shirabe agreed, standing up. "Whenever you use your power, Finé's soul grows stronger. That means yours fades out more and more! I won't let that happen."
"You two…" Maria said, touched.
"Then what do we do?" Ver asked.
Kirika stood up. "We'll do it!"
"Oh? And after that poor showing against Rui Tachibana?" Ver asked.
Maria grit her teeth, while Shirabe put a hand over her stomach. Kirika, on the other hand, was unfettered.
"Protecting Maria is the reason we fight!" She said. "We'll do it so well that the Rui girl doesn't get a chance, dess!"
"I had a feeling you two would say that." Jeanne said, walking into the room. "So I made this for you."
She tossed Kirika a phone-like device that had a screen.
"That device will let you know if a Symphogear relic gets close." She said. "I've also made sure that it won't accidentally pick up either of yours."
"Wow, thanks, Jeanne!" Kirika said.
"Just don't forget it, alright?"
"...you forgot, didn't you?" Shirabe asked.
"Oops, dess." Kirika said, pulling out the device and pressing a few buttons. "Erm… how does it work… ah, I think we got a hit, dess!"
She saw a red beeping signal on the screen.
"Wait, it only tells me if they're close?" Kirika said. "Oh come on, dess! That doesn't help! Where's the Symphogear?"
"Right there, Kiri-chan!" Shirabe said, pointing.
Kirika looked behind the tree to see Tsubasa walking by. Shirabe was about to run out, but Kirika pulled her back.
"Are you nuts, dess?! We haven't prepared ourselves, and we have no plan!" Kirika said. "Let's just observe her for now, dess!"
They slowly walked behind her, ducking behind a pillar. Tsubasa stopped, before looking back. She could have sworn she had the feeling she was being followed, putting a hand on her chin.
"Besides, what can we do? We can't just steal it without her noticing!" Kirika added with a whisper.
"Then let's take it by force." Shirabe said, grabbing her pendant.
Tsubasa continued to walk, only for Chris to run out and bump right into her, causing both of them to fall down.
"Oww…!" Chris groaned, rubbing her head.
"Not again, Yukine." Tsubasa said, a little annoyed.
"At least the chunnigure wasn't with us." Chris pointed out.
"What are you in such a hurry for?" Tsubasa asked.
"I'm being pursued!" Chris said. "They're gradually closing on me!"
"So you noticed it as well?" Tsubasa said, completely serious. "For a while now, I've felt like I'm being watched."
"Our cover was blown?!" Kirika panic whispered.
"Found you, Yukine-san!" A girl said, running up with a few friends.
"Please!" A black-haired girl said. "It's almost time!"
"...if my sister or Rui were here, they would have had some choice words, Yukine." Tsubasa said, while Chris just groaned.
Several singers have come and gone by now. While some were quite decent, none of them had managed to enchant the crowd.
"And now, we have a special guest tonight!" The MC said enthusiastically. "Come on out!"
Out onto the stage with a wave walked Maia Kazanari, pulling an irritated Rui along with her.
"Eh, Maia-san?" Shuri said.
"Whoa!" Hibiki said. "Oneesan and Maia-san are going!"
"...what are they wearing?" Miku asked.
Maia's outfit consisted of a colorful shirt with an ankle length green vest, with baggy trousers rolled up to her knees, complete with her hair slicked and styled. Rui on the other hand, had a red dress shirt with a black vest and white tie, finishing the look with black pants and a fedora. Maia picked up the mic and grinned.
"Hello everyone!" Maia called out to the crowd, who were both clapping and laughing.
Shuri laughed into her hands at seeing her friends like this.
"You got this you two!" Hibiki shouted.
"Do your best!" Miku cheered.
"I'm sure you all know me by now, as the big sis of everyone's favorite idol of Lydian! So now you all get a special performance by the big sis herself!" Maia said. "With my best bud and partner, Rui Tachibana!"
"She dragged me out here!" Rui shouted into the mic. "I didn't want to do this!"
The crowd just laughed at that.
"I'm serious!"
"Anyways, start the music!" Maia said, pointing off to the side.
"Alright! They will be singing an insert song from the classic Tokusatsu show, Kamen Rider Double, titled "Finger on the Trigger"!"
(Insert 'Finger on the Trigger (Heisei Best RE-EDIT ver.)' by Renn Kiriyama and Masaki Suda)
The stylish rock track began to play as Maia tossed Rui a mic.
"Don't screw up, partner!" Maia said, dancing to the beat.
"Ah mou!" Rui cursed. "Guess I got to do this!"
Rui started off with some hard-sounding rapid fire verses.
Breeze!
Burn up Heats on
The hero's soul is overflowing this town
Freeze in the middle of this stopped-up world
A burning heart links these 2 Peaces
The generation catches a new wind
The nation is born before it rots away
Send out an attack, variegated Color
Because everything shines brilliantly!
Maia then sang a few lines with a softer voice.
The darkness is growing in this town
Hey moon, shine gold!
The two then went into sync, with Rui breaking away from the sync a few times for a few verses on her own.
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
Set your selfishness free!
(Wind is Browning! With your Feeling!)
Shut up the self-control that
Constantly works Shoot 'em up
(The Bullet is Running!)
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
As it is, just behave!
(Wind is Browning! What's you Seeking?)
The only one who can pull that trigger
Is just yourself, isn't it?
The crowd was entranced by the song, while Shuri was just as astounded.
"Wow, I didn't know that Rui-san was such a good singer." She said.
"Eh, oneesan always was good at singing." Hibiki said. "She just doesn't do it too much."
"And I remember that Maia-san was good at singing." Miku said, recalling the time they all went to karaoke together. "Just like Tsubasa-san."
Freak!
A reverberating gunshot Bang!
Fire what you've crammed in 2 Same
A chopped-up beat starts an uproar Trouble
The Mode shakes it up, punch it out Double
Tied together, the strongest Join
The storm devastates, the greatest Point
Little by little it crumbles down Stormy
One piled on another The Story!
Before something happens
Shine like you don't mind!
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
Expose your heart!
(Get the Memory! Fight the Scary!)
It's okay to regret occasionally
On a moonlit night Shoot 'em up
(The Bullet is Running!)
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
Enjoy the endless at the last minute!
(Be a Family! Don't miss your Funny!)
The time to pull that trigger
Yeah, it can't be any time but now
As the long instrumental played and the two were tapping to the beat, Miku noticed something.
"Rui-san has a lot more lines than Maia-san does." She realized.
"Eh?" Hibiki said. "Oh yeah, she does. Maybe she wanted to do less work than oneesan?"
"I don't think so." Shuri said. "Look at them."
Maia had a grin on her face as usual, but they looked at Rui, who was actually smiling as she danced to the beat.
"Rui-san is having fun."
"Hee hee." Hibiki said. "I bet that Maia-san purposely chose this song to help cheer oneesan up."
"That's just like her." Miku said, as the two started to sing again.
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
Set your selfishness free!
(Wind is Browning! With your Feeling!)
Shut up the self-control that
Constantly works Shoot 'em up
(The Bullet is Running!)
Move it down your finger!
Finger on the Trigger!
As it is, just behave!
(Wind is Browning! What's you Seeking?)
The only one who can pull that trigger
Is just yourself, isn't it?
The instrumentals kept on going, as the crowd stood up and clapped for the two. The cheering kept on going before Maia and Rui went back to back. As the song faded, they pointed at the crowd, before saying the line.
"Now, count up your sins!"
The crowd went wild as Rui fixed her fedora and Maia wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Thank you, thank you!" Maia said. "Since I'm not a student here, I'm actually not allowed to make a request. So good luck to the rest of the contestants!"
"If we weren't exempt from the rule, I'd have asked the student council to ban you from ever stepping foot onto school property again." Rui said into her mic as she walked off and the crowd laughed.
"Hah! Nice joke, partner! … It was a joke, right? RIGHT?" Maia asked, running off after her.
"They really make a good duo." Miku said.
"Maia-san really helped bring oneesan out of her shell." Hibiki said.
Shuri clapped, but pouted while she did so.
"...you're not jealous, are you, Shuri-san?" Miku said, a teasing smile on her face.
"No, why would I be jealous?" Shuri said, voice calm.
"Yeah, why would she be jealous, Miku?" Hibiki asked, dense to the subject, as usual.
"No reason." Miku said, as she turned back to the stage, silently laughing.
As the next contestants started to sing, Rui and Maia joined up with them after they had finished changing.
"You two were great up there." Miku said.
"Heh, thanks!" Maia said, rubbing the back of her head. "It was pretty nerve wracking though, not gonna lie."
"What are you talking about?" Shuri asked. "You were amazing."
"I barely did anything. Rui did all the heavy lifting." She chuckled, patting her friend on the back.
"Pull that stunt again and I'll kick your ass." Rui promised as she sat down.
"Pfft, you can try, partner." Maia said. "But you're ten years too early to challenge me!"
"You did sing really well though, oneesan." Hibiki said.
"I'll take the compliment." Rui said, leaning back in her chair.
"And now, it's time for the next challenger to make her appearance!" The MC said, pointing offstage.
A familiar white-haired girl was pushed onto the stage, as the girls gasped.
"Isn't that…?" Miku started.
"No way!" Hibiki said, leaning forward.
"Huh?!" Rui said, sitting up.
"Well, today's full of surprises." Maia said.
"Oneesama?!" Shuri said, stunned.
"You're all seeing it right." Tsubasa said, sitting down and joining them. "And before you ask, neesama. I saw your performance with Rui."
Maia sat back down as they all watched Chris. The spotlight was on the girl, and it was clear that she was nervous.
"Chris-chan…" Hibiki said.
"Oneesama…"
(Insert 'Kyōshitsu Monochrome' by Ayahi Takagaki)
Chris's eyes darted offstage, at some girls who were encouraging her, before she looked around at the crowd. The music started to play as she spotted her friends.
"Is she gonna be able to do it…?" Maia muttered.
Seeing that Chris was looking at them, Rui gave a thumbs-up while Shuri gave a curt nod and smile. Inhaling once, Chris pulled up the microphone and began to sing.
I still don't know my true self yet
By myself, I don't understand
The others gasped in delighted surprise.
Someone reached out their hand to me
And I learned of a pain that's not quite pain
Rui let out a small fistpump as Shuri put her hands over her chest.
I was drawing a monochrome future
Still searching for my paints… but now
Why is it, why is it
It's changing colors, and slowly, the flowers
In full bloom resemble a rainbow
The after-school chime mixed with the blowing breeze
The comfort I'd never felt before still confuses me
Hey, the sky's so high
Look, my smile isn't… hidden anymore
"She's really doing it…" Maia said with a smile.
Why aren't the words "I'm fine"
Printed anywhere in this textbook?
"Oneesama…" Shuri said softly.
At that time, why was I fine?
I know now this isn't half a dream
"This song… it's wonderful." Miku said.
"Something to believe in", "Something important"
I've finally found it… that's why I'll go forward
With this sunshine, this warmth
This severity, this connection, everything, everything
To protect the place you gave to me
"It's different from Chris-chan's normal songs." Hibiki said. "It's so… nice…"
The uniform I longed for, the fashionable keychain on my bag
Thank you, everyone… for this time as an ordinary girl
Hey, if you're okay with me
Can we… become friends…?
"Yukine… you truly love to sing, don't you?" Tsubasa said.
It's fine if I smile, right?
You'll forgive me, right?
I'll try my own
Best effort, best effort
From my heart, from my heart
As it is now
It's fine if I sing, right?!
Rui was rendered speechless as the performance continued. Because, above this beautiful music...
The sunlight falls into the classroom, and it's such a dazzling light
Like snow melting, for some reason my overflowing tears won't stop
Like this, like this, I'm so warm…
My place to call home
...was Chris Yukine's smile. A smile of someone that was having fun.
My place to call home
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers as Chris bowed. Rui, Hibiki and Tsubasa stood up and clapped, while Maia was helping wipe away Shuri and Miku's tears, as the performance made them emotional.
Down on the stage, Chris looked around, smiling. Seeing her friends only made her smile more.
Yes… I'm sure this is the place… I can call home.
The cheering finally calmed down, as the MC began to speak again.
"A new Queen of the Stage has been crowned! Now, who'll be our next challenger? Feel free to jump in from the audience as well!"
"Pfft." Maia said, tossing away some of the tissues Shuri and Miku used. "I doubt anything can top that performance. You'd have to have a lot of nerve to challenge-"
"We'll do it, dess!"
The spotlight shone down on the crowd to reveal two familiar faces.
"Those girls?!" Chris said.
"We'd like to challenge…" Shirabe started.
"...the champion, dess!" Kirika finished.
A/N: I debated on what to do for when actual singing takes a front, but I decided to put the translated lyrics for the song. Makes things generally easier for everyone.
So yes, there's the explanation for the weapon system of the twins. Obviously, more will be expanded upon as the story continues.
And yes, I really wanted to have Rui and Maia sing a duo song at one point. I was heavily considering having them sing on one Zwei Wing's songs, but then I decided on Finger on the Trigger. Fits in with Rui's interests, and the partnership vibe she and Maia have.
And that wraps things up for this chapter. Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.