Super Hero Time!

Rui: Symphogear X2!

Kyoko: Nothing, but the Truth!

Rui: So you're fighting Yukiko's shadow, huh? Good luck.

Kyoko: The Holy Sword Durandal? How interesting.

Rui & Kyoko: Super Hero Time, start!

Miku Kohinata woke up, only to see that Hibiki wasn't by her side. Looking down over the side of the bed, she saw that Rui was gone too. Wondering where they were, she saw a note at the head of the bed and picked it up.

"Eh?"

Reading it, she saw that Hibiki said she was skipping school to train today. It also had a crudely drawn version of herself apologizing, while dragging Rui by the shirt collar.

"What are they doing?" She wondered.

"Heyah! Hah! Hut! Hah!"

The backyard of the Kazanari residence was quite active. Hibiki was punching at the sandbag at a steady rhythm. Genjuro and Rui were overlooking her.

"You're doing it wrong." Genjuro criticized.

Stopping the punches, Hibiki looked at Genjuro.

"Your fists should fly like hammers smashing the thunder of the bolt that has struck you." He advised.

"That makes no sense." Rui said.

"I didn't understand a word of that!" Hibiki agreed. "But I'll give it a shot!"

Drawing her fist back, Hibiki felt her blood pump. With a shout, she shot her fist forward, launching the punching bag into the small pond, complete with the branch it was attached to.

Rui's eyes looked like they would pop out of her head, while Hibiki smiled at her growth.

"Good. Now let's put these to work." Genjuro said, holding up two hand targets.

"Actually, I got a better idea, Commander. Can you pass those to me?" Rui asked.

Genjuro gave Rui the hand targets, and to his surprise, the girl slid them onto her shoes. Bouncing a bit, Rui turned to Hibiki.

"Alright Hibiki, I'm gonna kick at you, and you gotta punch them away. Ready?" She said, getting into a stance.

"Wait wait wait, what?!"

"Go!"

"Waaaaaah!"

In a mansion far off the grid, a young girl was sitting on a chair. She had long white hair and kind, innocent eyes. Holding a yellow plush tight to her chest, she was watching a tv show. It was about a world of superheroes, with the greatest one being a tall muscular man with a smile to match. The man was getting old however, and was teaching a teenager in green to be his new successor.

She was interrupted as she heard screams from the other room, along with the crackle of electricity. She hugged the plushie tighter and tried not to let the tears fall.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Don't worry, it'll be fine." She repeated to herself. "I trust onee-san's judgement. Don't worry, it'll be fine..."

She couldn't stop the tears however, as the screams continued.

Sighing in exhaustion, Hibiki fell down onto the couch in the base.

"This morning was too hard..."

"There's a champion in the making!" Genjuro encouraged, sitting down across from her.

"Only if she would be more motivated." Rui muttered under her breath, also taking a seat.

Aoi gave them water, and Rui sweat-dropped as Hibiki drank half of the bottle in one gulp. Though now that she was re-hydrated, she had another question to ask Genjuro and the others.

"I feel bad for saying this, since I was the one who decided to do it in the first place, but aren't there other ways to fight the Noise?" She asked. "Why do you have to rely on a high school girl for help? Maybe other countries know something."

"Officially, there's no solution." Genjuro said. "Even in Japan, anything related to Symphogear is classified."

"Really? But I kinda went out there in broad daylight..." Hibiki said.

"Keeping word from spreading is part of our job." Aoi said.

"But that sometimes involves stepping on a few toes, so by now most cabinet members and ministers dislike us." Fujitaka added from his monitor. "They don't even call us the second branch of the Disaster Relief Squad anymore. Just the Disaster Squad."

"What, did the government's upper echelons swore you guys to secrecy, like most tv shows or something?" Rui asked.

"Accurate, but we can't keep up." Aoi confirmed.

"I'm pretty sure they want to use the Symphogear as a diplomatic ace up their sleeve." Fujitaka said.

"The EU and the US are just waiting for a good opportunity." Aoi added. "The development of Symphogear is based on theory and technology that was born from a field that didn't even exist in science before. They must be grinding her teeth."

"So basically everyone is having a lot of issues." Hibiki pieced together.

"Sounds normal to me." Rui said. "By the way, where's the nympho?"

"R-Rui-san." Sakuya said. "That's kinda-"

"Am I wrong?"

"She's away on official business." Genjuro answered, ignoring Rui's comment.

"Official?" Hibiki asked.

"A government big shot summoned her." Genjuro said. "She's doing her job by reporting to the minister in charge with regards to the security of HQ and all the other defense mechanisms."

"This is all so complicated." Hibiki said, confused.

"The people who never want to take responsibility are the ones who make the rules complicated." Genjuro said. "At least Defense Minister Hiroki is a better man than that. Though I will say this, Ryoko is late."

Genjuro looked at his watch while elsewhere, Ryoko sneezed on her drive back.

Maia was still sitting by her sister's hospital bed. Ever since what happened, she had refused to go anywhere until her sister woke up. She barely noticed the doctors all around her.

She remembered the promise that she had made Tsubasa when they were little kids. She would always protect her, even though Tsubasa was the one that could use the power.

And then Kanade came along. She had been thankful that someone else could help her take care of Tsubasa when she wasn't there for her. But then came that fateful tragedy at the Zwei Wing concert. Tsubasa had become cold and distant, sometimes even to her.

Sometimes, Maia wondered if what had happened to Tsubasa was her fault. Was she a terrible sister? The question ate at her, making her feel miserable.

"Doctor, the patient is conscious!"

Maia's eyes widened as she saw the doctors start rushing around. Looking down at the bed, she saw that Tsubasa's eyes were open.

"Perform a full medical check, quick!" The head doctor ordered.

Tsubasa blinked and looked out the window, taking in the feeling. It was then that she saw her sister. The two couldn't speak yet, not until the check-up was done, but they could see.

And Tsubasa saw her normally cheerful sister crying her eyes out.

She didn't yell, no. These were all silent tears.

Tsubasa didn't know what it was that made her cry as well. Either from the talk she believed she had with Kanade, or from her twin sister's tears. Whatever it was, she didn't know how to feel about being alive.

Maia wiped the tears from her face. She heard a buzz from her phone, the first one in several days. She had hardly even paid attention to it.

Opening it, her eyes widened at the first notification from her Uncle.

Because it told her that Defense Minister Hiroki was dead.

"Sorry I took so long!" Ryoko said with a smile, walking into the base carrying a briefcase.

"Ryoko!" Genjuro said.

"What is it? Did you miss me so badly?" She asked.

"Don't count on it." Rui said, causing Ryoko to fake falter.

"Defense Minister Hiroki has been assassinated." Genjuro stated.

"What?! Really?" She said, running up.

"Multiple "revolutionary" groups have claimed responsibility, but we don't know anything with certainty yet." Genjuro said as the team pulled up scenes of the crime on screen. "We put every man on the investigation."

"We were so worried because we couldn't contact you either!" Hibiki added.

Ryoko pulled out her phone and tapped it a few times. "Oh dear, looks like it's broken!"

While Genjuro and Hibiki seemed relieved, Rui rolled her eyes.

"And the classified orders I received from the government are safe." Ryoko said, opening the briefcase and pulling out some sort of device. "Let's make sure that the mission is a success. It's what he would have wanted."

Everyone nodded and got to work. No one however, was aware of the small blood splatter on the edge of the briefcase.

"From the Noise appearing around Lydian Academy's high school, which is to say, the second branch of the Disaster Relief Squad, the government has concluded that their target is to seize Durandal, which lies inside Sacristy D, located on the lowest level of the facility: the Abyss."

Ryoko was explaining the orders she had received to the members of the facility, who were all seated before her. Genjuro stood nearby to help.

"Durandal..." Hibiki said.

"It is one of the few complete relics." Ryoko continued. "The EU handed it over to Japan for safekeeping and management, on the condition that Japan writes off some of Europe's defaulted loans should the EU economy collapse."

"And where would they have us transfer it?" Sakuya asked. "There's no place safer than here!"

"There's a special vault for relics deep under Parliament, which is often simply called the Ruins of Memory." Genjuro answered. "They feel it would be safer there. Since we're government employees, we have no way of refusing an order from the big fish."

"Durandal is scheduled for transport tomorrow at 5 AM." Ryoko said. "The particulars are on the chip here."

At those last words, everyone scrambled to their places, to get ready for the mission. Ryoko sent a machine to retrieve Durandal.

"Is that the Abyss?" Hibiki asked, looking at the screen.

"Mmhm. It's three times as long as Tokyo Sky Tower too." Ryoko added. "Making it almost 1800 meters down!"

Ryoko smiled, before turning to Hibiki. "Alright, you should go get some rest until the mission starts. That's when your job begins."

"Alright!" Hibiki said, running off.

"And me?" Rui asked.

"Nothing." Genjuro said. "It's best if you continue on with your normal schedule for the day."

"Got it." Rui said, turning around.

"But I'm surprised. I thought you would have insisted going to go with Hibiki. You're not worried about your sister?" Genjuro asked.

Rui stopped, but didn't turn to face him.

"Of course I'm worried, but I can't baby her my entire life." Rui said. "She's her own person."

Genjuro smiled, as Rui left. "That girl is going places."

"Hey, where were you two all day?" Miku asked once the two made it back to the dorm. "You can't just claim to have "training" and vanish!"

"You know I would vanish without even making an excuse, Miku." Rui said, laying down on the bottom bunk.

"...okay, that's fair for Rui, but what about you, Hibiki?"

"Well, you know, that was... I..." Hibiki stuttered.

"Give me a decent excuse!" Miku demanded.

"Sorry! I have to run!" Hibiki said, running out of the dorm again.

"...At least let me worry about you." Miku said, staring at the door.

"You should really keep your thoughts to yourself, you know?" Rui said, pulling out her Nintendo Switch.

Miku turned red as a firetruck as Rui chuckled and went back to her device. But before she could start playing any game, she got a text on her phone. It was from Maia, asking if they could meet up again at the base.

Groaning, she got out of her bunk. "Sorry, but I forgot that I'm meeting up with a friend of mine." She lied. "I'll be back later."

"A-Alright."

Rui was about to open the door, before briefly turning around.

"Miku, Hibiki cares a lot about you."

With those words, Rui left, leaving Miku to wonder just what was truly going on.

Maia was waiting for Rui in the long wide halls. Rui noticed that Hibiki was talking to Ogawa. Rui looked at Maia, who's eyes were quite red, with large bags under her eyes.

"Jesus, you like like crap." Rui said. "You haven't been sleeping much, have you?"

"No. Not really. But I think I will tonight." Maia said.

"Why?"

Maia smiled. "Tsubasa finally woke up."

Rui widened her eyes. "So that's why you're so happy."

"Yeah. The thought of losing her-"

"Stop." Rui put a finger on Maia's lip. "Don't even think about that. Be glad that she's alive, and don't think of the alternative."

Maia looked a bit surprised at the advice Rui gave her. She shouldn't have been surprised, since Rui had almost lost Hibiki before. But nonetheless, she was thankful for it.

"And don't worry." Rui said, taking her finger back. "I plan to try and bury the hatchet with her."

"Thank you, Rui."

Night had passed quickly. Early in the morning, Rui had seen Hibiki and the others off on the transport mission. Right now, she was with Maia in a large empty room that had grid-like designs on the walls.

"So, why did you suddenly call me here?" Rui asked.

"Testing." Maia said, pulling out a briefcase. "This is the prototype for the weapon Ryoko made you."

Opening the case, Rui saw a large mechanical belt with buttons on it, and metal greaves with futuristic features.

"Put them on." Maia instructed, pulling out a remote.

Rui slipped on the belt and took off her shoes to put on the greaves. Despite the metal outer shell, the inside was quite soft and comfortable.

"Okay, now what?"

Maia pressed a button on the remote, causing a concrete pillar to rise from the ground.

"This is the training room." Maia explained. "Tsubasa usually spends hours here. Thanks to Ryoko, you can either battle hard light constructs of Noise that act just like them, or go the old fashioned route and smash up some stone. All the waste gets collected and reformed."

"So... what do you want me to do?" Rui asked.

"Those greaves will increase your striking power by an incredible amount." Maia said. "So try kicking that stone pillar."

Rui took up a stance, and got ready. But then noticed that Maia had her phone out.

"...are you recording?"

"Uh, yeah." She said, as if it was obvious. "For research."

Rui shrugged, but with a shout, she kicked the concrete pillar.

A few seconds later, she was on the ground, yelling out every curse word under the sun as she held her sore foot.

"You... forgot to turn it on. It's the green button." Maia said, trying her best not to laugh. The arm holding up the phone was very shaky.

"Delete that footage." Rui groaned through the pain.

Standing up, Rui looked down at her belt and pressed the green button. The greaves and belt lit up for a bit, before the light died down.

"Okay, round two." Rui said, grimacing. "Hyah!"

With a roundhouse kick, the stone pillar was completely pulverized. Rui's eyes widened as she looked at the greave. "Did I... did I just do that?"

"You sure did." Maia said clapping. "Now, try the other feature. Grind your heel against the ground. It should trigger the next mechanism."

Rui did as he said, feeling heat.

But then there was a huge explosion of smoke that covered both of them. When it faded away, Rui was left a coughing, soot covered mess. Maia had some as well, but it wasn't as crazy.

"...well, it looks like Ryoko has to fix that." Maia said, writing down some notes.

"Gee, ya think?" Rui said, as she hacked up some of the soot.

Maia's phone rang, with Rui hearing some smooth jazzy-pop as the ringtone.

"Yo, what's up? ... It happened as we expected, huh? ... Alright, got it."

Maia hung up. "Seems we'll have to end it here for today."

"What happened?" Rui asked, fruitlessly wiping the soot from her face.

"The transport was attacked by the user of the stolen Nehushtan Armor." Maia said. "Thankfully, Hibiki managed to fend them off, but there was a lot of property damage."

"Why?"

"She accidentally activated Durandal during the chaos." Maia said. "Hard to believe, but yeah."

"That idiot, always doing something reckless..." Rui groaned as she removed the belt and greaves. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine. But it seems that the transport idea has been abandoned and it'll be brought back to the base. So we'd better get ready to welcome them home." Maia said with a smile.

The two looked down at each other, taking in how they were both smoky messes.

"But maybe after a quick shower for the both of us." Maia said with a laugh.

Rui was grateful that the soot was hiding her own smile.

A/N: Yup. Say hello to the new intro for Symphogear X2, while Nothing but the Truth gets the outro. I decided that I'll be working on two at a time, to lessen the workload. This sadly means that Finding Heaven Through Corruption, my biggest story, will be on hiatus, but fear not, I don't plan on abandoning it anytime soon.

Now that I'm going to University, my free time will be much more limited. Apologies in advance, but that's just how life can be sometimes.

I'll see you all next time.