FILE 19 - Let's Go Birdwatching, Part 4
Previously on FILE 18, Aiya and Lobo got attacked by a mysterious bird and its Stand. However, Matsuda swiftly intervened. The bird was someone that both Matsuda and Aiya held dear; a lost friend of theirs.
11:23 AM, Jamiroquai Street
Matsuda Akiyama had just wrapped up his day at school and was driving down a familiar road when he decided to make an impromptu stop. Parking his car, he stepped out and headed toward the Blackpink Ice Cream Store. As he walked, he pulled out his phone, trying to recall the exact time Aizawa had mentioned for their meeting.
While scrolling through his messages, he spotted Aiya and Lobo up ahead, chatting and enjoying their ice cream. Matsuda quickened his pace to catch up with them, but something unusual caught his attention; a black kite soaring in the sky above. The sight stirred an uneasy feeling in his gut.
"This strange feeling… Could it be Shiro?" He wondered, trying to brush off the suspicion as nothing more than a passing bird.
Before Matsuda could react, Aiya was suddenly flung backward, her ice cream scattering across the ground. Alarmed, Matsuda sprinted toward her, his heart pounding. As he got closer, a black-furred, bipedal wolf manifested near Lobo. The wolf wasn't there to harm but to protect. Suddenly, its arms exploded, and Lobo let out a cry of pain, suffering the same damage. Just then, another Stand emerged; a humanoid figure with a feminine physique, its left palm radiating a fierce heat-like energy. Matsuda could conclude that it was Aiya's Stand.
"Dammit Matsuda! Get there faster!" He rushed himself, as the black kite continued its assault. Its Stand appeared for a brief moment. A huge predator machinery bird clashes with Aiya's Stand. The situation seemed dire, but acting swiftly, Matsuda manifested his Stand, a mechanical giant bat with turbines in its wings. The turbines roared to life as it dished out a sizable gust of wind to blow away the bird.
"AKIYAMA-SENSEI?!" Aiya is surprised, as she looks up to Matsuda.
The bird swooped in again, with Matsuda hesitating to attack it. However, as he looked at his students, he found a resolve within himself; to protect what he truly cared for, his students.
"Nightcrawler!" Matsuda yelled out, his Nightcrawler swooped in to face the previously huge machine bird of the black kite. Metal clashed together, as Aiya and Lobo looked in awe.
"ORAAAA!" Aiya shouted, as her Stand; Plastic Love charged forward, its left palm radiating intense, fiery energy. She sprinted toward the bird, determination clear on her face. But as she drew near, the bird let out an eerie, distorted screech. Suddenly, the energy in Plastic Love's hand detonated with a sharp crack, sending shockwaves through the air. Aiya stumbled, her hand bleeding from the explosion.
"Aiya!" Matsuda yelled, panic rising in his chest as he watched her falter. But despite the damage, Plastic Love's punch connected, striking the bird and sending it reeling backward.
"What…?" Matsuda muttered, bewildered. Despite the explosion, Plastic Love's hand was still functional, though damaged.
Aiya, clutching her injured hand, stood up straight as the atmosphere surrounding her changed. She gave a glance at the bird who was still flying back, "I get it now… Your power isn't just about raw force. It's manipulating sound, creating shockwaves that explode on impact!" ゴゴゴゴゴ
ゴゴゴゴゴ "However," Aiya continued as she struck a menacing pose, "your 'sound' can be easily defeated, now that I know how it works. My Stand, Plastic Love, is the perfect counter!" ゴゴゴゴゴ
The black kite, still in mid-flight from the punch, attempted to regain its footing. It used its ability to blast itself further into the sky, trying to escape the immediate threat. The small explosion propelled it upward, but it was still struggling from the previous impact.
"Sensei, I'm borrowing this!" Aiya called out, grabbing the mechanical bat, Nightcrawler, from Matsuda. The bat, now in her hands, shot upwards with newfound momentum as it joined the fray.
"Wait! Aiya!" Matsuda yelled out, but it was too late. His Nightcrawler is now up in the sky, along with Aiya. If he called it back now, Aiya would certainly fall to her death.
Without any other choices, he decided to communicate using his Stand as he aided for Lobo's arms.
11:30 AM, Sky
"Aiya... Do you hear me?" Nightcrawler spoke up, while Aiya was still trying to look for the bird, "I hear you, Sensei."
Stand Users can communicate through their Stands using telepathy. This ability allows the Stand to transmit messages directly into the user's mind, establishing a telepathic connection between Stand Users. Interestingly, non-Stand Users who have the potential to awaken a Stand can also hear these telepathic communications, as they possess an innate sensitivity that makes them receptive to such transmissions.
"It's too dangerous up here! As your teacher, I insist you come down immediately!" Matsuda's voice came through Nightcrawler, now strained and crackling
"I need to uncover why Sunset is here!" Aiya's voice cut through, "It couldn't have just disappeared without a reason..."
"I understand, Aiya." The bat's voice grew fainter and more distorted. "But sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried."
"But what if it returns to haunt us?" Aiya's tone was unwavering. "I have to find Sunset again and understand its motives."
However, Aiya sensed something. Nightcrawler blocked something with its wings. It was the attack from the bird's Stand.
"Agh!" The bat said, "Dammit! You are getting far away from my effective range... My Nightcrawler is gonna be gone if you keep this up..."
"Plastic Love!" Aiya's Stand manifested in a quick flash, as its hand began to hold out and radiate intense heat as she menacingly glared at the bird. "Turn on." ゴゴゴゴゴ
Aiya directed a concentrated blast of heat from her Stand's hand toward the direction opposite the bird. This wasn't just a simple application of heat; it was a calculated, explosive force.
When air is heated up, the molecules within it gain energy and move faster. This causes the substance to expand. This rapid expansion creates a high-pressure force that pushes against the surrounding air. In simple terms, the hot air pushes outward with a lot of force.
This principle is akin to how rocket engines work. Rockets expel high-speed exhaust gases to create thrust, propelling the rocket in the opposite direction.
"Aiya, what is going on?!" Nightcrawler's mechanical voice crackled through the air as the Stand was propelled alongside Aiya. She had executed a risky maneuver, using the force of her Stand's heat to catapult them both closer to the bird. As they closed in, Aiya noticed the bird preparing to unleash another attack. But then, to her surprise, its beak suddenly sparked and exploded, halting its attack mid-air.
"Sensei," Aiya murmured, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I'll handle this my way."
Without hesitation, she leaped off Nightcrawler, defying Matsuda's frantic shout, "Aizawa-chan! What are you doing?!"
In freefall, Aiya reached out, her Stand, Plastic Love, manifesting with swift precision. The Stand's left palm radiated a calming warmth as Aiya grasped the bird's talons in midair. The bird thrashed, but Aiya remained resolute, her voice soothing as she sent an aura of tranquility through the Stand's body.
"You've been straining yourself too much..." Aiya whispered as she felt the bird's resistance begin to wane, "The reason you went after our ice cream wasn't to attack; it was because you were hungry. But the ice cream got stuck in your mouth, didn't it? That's why you're lashing out."
With a gentle but firm grip, Aiya held onto the bird as they began their descent toward the ground. The wind rushed past her ears, but she felt a strange sense of peace as she closed her eyes, accepting the fall. "At least, I'm glad I'll be reunited with you, Sunset."
But just as they were about to hit the ground, Aiya felt a sudden upward pull. Her eyes snapped open to see Nightcrawler, Matsuda's Stand, swooping in at the last moment. The mechanical bat's turbines whirred, slowing their descent as it carefully cradled both Aiya and the bird in its massive wings.
Matsuda's voice crackled through Nightcrawler, filled with a mix of relief and admonishment. "You're too reckless, Aizawa-chan... But I'm glad you're safe."
As they landed safely on the ground, the bird, now calm in Aiya's arms, suddenly began to thrash again. Its eyes darted to Aiya's pocket, a glimmer of recognition sparking in its gaze. Aiya smiled, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a familiar snack; a brand she had often used to feed the bird in the past.
The moment the bird caught sight of the snack, it grew frantic, clawing at the air as it struggled to reach the bag. Aiya chuckled softly, holding the snack just out of its reach. "Yep, that's the Sunset I know." She said, her voice warm with nostalgia.
She slowly opened the bag, offering a piece of the treat to the bird. The bird eagerly snatched it from her hand, its agitation fading as it began to eat. Aiya watched with a gentle smile, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
Matsuda sighed heavily, the tension in his chest finally releasing as he watched Aiya carefully. His voice, though firm, was laced with concern. "You could have gotten yourself killed, Aiya… What were you thinking?"
Lobo, who had been silent until now, echoed the sentiment with a grave nod. His usually confident demeanor was overshadowed by the worry etched across his face. "You're lucky, Aiya. If things had gone differently, it could've been a disaster."
Stands are untouchable by normal human beings, existing on a plane of their own. It's only in rare and specific moments that this boundary is crossed, such as integrated Stands.
Matsuda's eyes softened as he took a step closer to Aiya, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "I know you're strong, but please… don't take risks like that again. "
Just as he finished speaking, a familiar presence caught Matsuda's attention. He turned slowly, and there, in Aiya's arms, was Shiro. The black kite had returned to its usual form, eyes filled with recognition as it met Matsuda's gaze.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Matsuda's breath caught in his throat, and a wave of emotion washed over him. He hadn't seen Shiro in what felt like an eternity, and now, here he was, back where he belonged.
"Shiro…" Matsuda's voice trembled, barely more than a whisper, as he took a tentative step forward. His hand extended, gently stroking the bird's feathers like he used to, a gesture that spoke of countless memories shared between them. The black kite, once fierce and untamed, now seemed calm and familiar in his presence, nuzzling into Matsuda's touch as if no time had passed.
Aiya, watching the tender exchange, couldn't help but smile softly. "Well, it seems like it is the Shiro you know… and my Sunset." She said, her voice tinged with warmth and a hint of melancholy.
Matsuda turned to her, his eyes reflecting a deep gratitude. "Aiya… You've done so much. If you want, you can keep him. You've earned that right."
But Aiya shook her head firmly, a determined look in her eyes. "No way, Sensei. You've been there for me when I needed it most. You deserve to have him back more than anyone… Besides, I've got enough on my plate as it is."
Matsuda looked at her, a mixture of pride and relief swelling within him. "Right…" he murmured, as he gently gathered the bird into his arms. The weight of the past seemed to lift, replaced by the comforting presence of Shiro perched on his arm once more.
Lobo, observing the scene with a thoughtful expression, chimed in, "Now then, what shall we call him?"
Matsuda glanced at Aiya, whose cheeks were flushed with a modest smile. "I believe we should go with Sunset." He suggested, "After all, it was Aiya who brought him back to us."
Aiya's blush deepened, and she quickly shook her head in protest. "Nuh-uh, Sensei! You did the most! You're the one who should name him."
"How about just keeping that name? It does sound cuter than Shiro." Matsuda chuckled.
Aiya's eyes sparkled with emotion as she nodded, her earlier resolve melting into a genuine smile. "Still Sunset, then."
As they stood there, the black kite perched calmly on Matsuda's arm, it felt like a moment of closure; a bridge between the past and the future, built on the bonds they had forged together
Stand Info:
『Stand Name』- Songbird
『Stand User』- Sunset
Stats:
Power - B | Speed - A | Range - D
Durability - C | Precision - D | Potential - B
Another chapter closes as Aiya forges another bond with the past. However, more will be awaiting her in the future.
TO BE CONTINUED IN
FILE 20 - Romance Sengen