[Full Armor, Corruption, Brainwashing, Tokusatsu Themes]
"Well. It seems like Hel is holding out on me. Not that I blame her. If I was her, I would be suspicious about my true intentions. Especially given Minerva's disappearance."
The soft sound of geta sandals echoed out through a deep, dark locale. Only partly illuminated by the soft flame at the end of the kiseru that the woman was currently carrying. Descending further and further into the darkness, until she was met by another source of light...
A black pane of energy, with that girl's face surging across it. A precaution to ensure that nobody would dare get close to what was hidden within...
"As cautious as ever, Hel. Not that it matters much against me." The woman said, quietly twirling her kiseru as she closed a single eye...
And took a single, powerful step forward. Slamming the pointed end of her kiseru against the pane, shattering it in an instant. She didn't like to use this much power, as she had minions for this. But in a case like this, she had to pull out the stops. Smuggling one of her Geisha into Hel's domain would result in the girl losing far too much....
Kazutora, on the other hand, was able to endure. If only because of how little she truly felt she had to lose. She could always rebuild, even if she was infested by the deadly vibes and energies around her...
"...Energy Signature detected. Activating..."
An artificial voice spoke up, as another light lit up within the darkness. Light that spread from the eyes that were now pouring towards Kazutora, more and more of the figure's body being illuminated by the dim dark purple energies. More and more of that armored figure's serpentine nature became clear, despite the darkness that it was hidden within...
Kazutora brought her kiseru up to her lips as she blew a bit of smoke at the figure, softly smiling at the power already brimming within. "It's been too long. Don't you think so?"
The illuminated figure, which seemed like a suit of serpent-themed armor and snake-like tubes wrapped around its limbs pouring out from its chest, quietly hummed for a few seconds. Right up until the moment it seemed to recognize what was standing in front of it...
"Lady... Kazutora? Where's Lady Minerva? Is she safe? Why did you come here? Mistress Hel told me that I shouldn't be let out ever again, so why did you let me out?"
Despite the imposing nature of the armor, the artificial voice sounded more curious than anything else. Which just prompted a soft chuckle from Kazutora in turn.
"Let me counter your questions with one of my own. Why weren't you by Minerva's side when she left? I thought you had sworn an oath of allegiance the moment that she managed to overpower you and wear you like her own armor." The Oyabun said, taking a single step closer. "Not only that, but Hel would shut away something as powerful as you? She really has lost her touch, hasn't she? Abandoning one of her greatest assets, the mighty Hel Jormungandr, and retreating into the comfort of darkness without any ambition in her heart."
A pause hung in the air, before Hel Jormungandr began to speak. "Lady Minerva asked me to stay. She didn't want me to get involved when I had already been through that much. And Mistress Hel followed up on that command, telling me to stay here so that I wouldn't be put to evil use. Both of them just want to make sure I don't get into trouble..." The living armor said, a great deal of respect leaking from her words...
"How caring. Yet at the same time, this cannot continue. If you waste away any longer, both Minerva and your little Hel will end up disappearing." Kazutora said, turning away from the armor. "I need you to cause a small bit of trouble for me, Jormungandr. My daughter-"
"Ah! How is your daughter, Lady Kazutora? I only saw her when she was barely the size of my arm, but she was adorable back then! I would love to see her again!" Hel Jormungandr cut in, her eye sockets lighting up with keen interest. That's right, this living armor was present during Agatha's early years...
What a wonderful set of circumstances. "Then I suggest that you go look for her, Jormungandr. I'm certain that you will find that she's grown up to be a capable young woman. One that I would like you to-"
She didn't even get to finish before Hel Jormungandr had taken off. Breaking through the ceiling above as she flew out of the darkness she was previously trapped within, renewed vigor in her body...
Leaving the Oyabun to simply chuckle and draw a bit of smoke from her kiseru, closing her eyes as she moved another pawn into play.
"If you can handle the World Serpent, Agatha... Then we might actually stand a chance."
Yet again, the villainous matron descended into the moral darkness. For the sake of grooming the power she believed was necessary...
Even as she felt a certain pair of eyes watching her back...
---
"You won't get rid of me that easily... You think just because you swore a promise that you'll be able to keep them all safe..? Get real!"
Saki's eyes flew open, sweat running down her face. The nightmare had come again. Not the one based on that horrible event all those years ago... No, this one was... This one was all her.
"I'm no nightmare! Face reality! We cannot-"
The voice vanished. Or at least died down enough for Saki to think straight, despite the pain running through her. And she... She knew why the pain was going away...
A single glance down towards her side, and she'd find her hand still locked with Mikai's. A situation that brought her as much pain as it brought her relief. Especially since she never would've imagined that it would come to this...
The blue-haired girl quietly sighed as she lifted herself out from the covers. Making sure not to make much of a sound as she did so, as it was far, far too early in the morning for her to be awake. The sun hadn't even started peeking up over the horizon, and here she was. Sneaking out of bed. All while she could feel pain throbbing through her.
It didn't help that she wasn't in her own home. After she had promised to Mikai that she would try and do better, the short girl had invited her to her current home. The home she shared with Hiro. And since Hiro was usually out on really long missions, due to her own self-destructive nature... It allowed her to end up sleeping in the same bed as Mikai, whose presence could help calm her.
A single glance down at the sleeping girl, who had already caused her half of the covers to end up halfway spilled onto the floor, brought a soft smile to Saki's lips. Partly because of how funny it looked... And partly because she couldn't help but imagine the kind of jealous pout that Saeko would show her again. She had said she wasn't jealous over the fact that she was sleeping with her girlfriend, since she also wanted Saki to get better... But it was very clear by the way she pouted that she was very jealous about the whole ordeal.
"She could be yours. Both of them could be. If you had just carried out your justice. Don't you understand that this is all your fault for not being good enough?!"
Her voice echoed through Saki's head once again, causing her to lose balance and end up on one knee. It was like she was being laser focused by the weight of her own guilt, as well as the heat of the sun squarely focusing on her. Trying to burn her away for her insolence...
But... But she wouldn't give up. Despite how much it hurt. Despite her own complex trying to talk her out of this path. As stubborn as that complex was, Saki was just as stubborn... And she'd prove it...
Slowly but surely, she worked her way down into the kitchen. She'd get a small drink, and then... Then right back upstairs to sleep...
"Up again? Gosh, never thought I'd have that in common with somebody that wasn't Hiro-senpai."
Saki wasn't the only one currently occupying Hiro and Mikai's home. Hiro's subordinate, Natsuki, was staying there for the time being as well. Especially since there's no way that she was going to risk going back to Atlas Corp after everything that had happened, at least until they figured out if she would relapse into a Native. And even after all of this, she was still wearing that Bleu cosplay. Probably to make it easy to move around outside without people realizing who she really was.
"I apologize if I interrupte-" Saki bowed her head, gritting her teeth as the act of apologizing was causing the voice inside her mind to amp up its torture, with the girl very nearly collapsing onto her knees...
Nearly, because Natsuki was quick enough to come and catch her. Smiling at her as she carefully helped the girl back up onto her feet. "Careful now. I know the floor's probably nice and soft, but you still don't wanna end up hitting your head on it."
Saki narrowed her eyes slightly, pain still panging its way through her head as Natsuki held her. "I... I'm sorry. I should be..." She muttered, as she tried to break away slightly.
Only for the blonde to pull her closer. "Gosh, I don't wanna hear that. I hear that from Hiro-senpai, and it just makes my stomach turn. You probably think you can handle all of this on your own too, don't you?" Natsuki had seen this kind of self-depreciative self-sacrifice before. And she wasn't about to let it go on more than it needed to.
"Hah, what does she know? She's the reason why that PAWN woman started pushing herself! You could've saved her too, and then PAWN would've been less of a thorn!" The voice echoed through her head yet again, causing Saki to look away from Natsuki. "I... I need to..."
"Sure, and you need to make sure that everyone stays safe because the only one that needs to get hurt is you. Gosh, what's with you heroes? At least Mikai knows it's not about who gets hurt, but who stops the hurting." Natsuki said, as she helped Saki over to a couch. Smiling still, even after scolding her. "Here's what I think. And I want you to listen, because you're just as stubborn as Hiro-senpai."
Saki wanted to say something. But the combined pressure of Natsuki and the voice trying to force her to submit caused her to simply sit there, even as the older girl draped a blanket over her. A blanket that was... really nice and... soft...
"Your friends aren't just there to be protected. They want to protect you just as much. So let them help, and don't sweat it if they get hurt doing it. If you all make it through, then you can start whining together over how much it hurts. Better to whine after everything's said and done than to lose somebody and grieve. Don't you think that sounds a lot better?"
Natsuki's spiel almost fell on deaf ears, given the way that Saki was about to slip back to sleep. But it didn't really matter. She just wanted to get that off her chest. If the girl wanted to take it to heart, then that was her choice. Just like it was her choice to make sure that both she and Hiro-senpai ended up not throwing themselves to the wolves just to try and keep her safe.
As Saki's eyes closed, a thought slowly bubbled its way through the danger. A thought that she would have to touch on when she woke up...
Maybe... Maybe Mikai would like to... like to know more about all of this...
About why she was like this...
---
"She's really gone, huh? You'd think it'd be easy to keep track of a girl like her."
Qilin muttered as she looked at the empty capsule that was meant to contain Natsuki. She had seen Lumiel take the girl away, and she had picked up the activation of a PAWN some time later. After that, the trail went dead...
"No matter. One less body isn't important."
Seiryu muttered from her computer, turning her chair towards Qilin, Claws firmly grasping her armrests as she peered at the white-haired woman. "You, however, have something you've been slacking on. You should be going through the necessary checks."
"I know, I know." Qilin muttered, scratching the back of her head as she sighed. "You really think we need to make another one that's stronger than KING? Isn't Hiro doing enough already, especially with her infection?"
Seiryu shook her head. "She's still vulnerable. And KING might not hold much longer if she keeps on pushing herself. Huanglong is doing an adequate job at keeping the Darkness at bay, but what if he falters? If Hiro ends up corrupted, the Darkness as a whole might just try and strike when the iron's hot. And given the readings during her last time as a proverbial beast... We'd need to pull out all the stops just to contain her."
Indeed. Hiro was only stopped through the miraculous appearance of Yumeko's own Jõtaider form, and Mikai pushing herself to the limit. And sure, there were more fighters that were able to help... But several of those were disabled during the fight. Another countermeasure only made sense.
"Guess you're right." Qilin said, sighing a little more as she pulled away from that empty capsule. "Just let me know if you find her again. Gotta give Hiro something nice for once, don't you think so?"
Seiryu quietly nodded, turning back towards her computer as the white-haired woman left and shut the scientist away so she could focus. She had more tests to run. More data to compile...
"And here I thought you would tell her."
A dimly lit feather floated down by Seiryu's face. One of Suzaku's feathers. She wasn't even bothering to show up. Just communicating with her through the phoenix's feathers...
"Tell her what, Suzaku?" Seiryu replied, her tail suddenly shooting through the air as it tried to pierce through the feather. She needed silence. Not that nagging bird trying to make her do what she wanted.
Wicked laughter echoed through her ears, as she felt two hands firmly grabbing her shoulders. And not a second later, she could see Suzaku's smug expression reflected on the dimly lit computer screen.
"Tell her how you've been in secret talks with Hiro. Tell her how you've been supporting her and that subordinate. Ensuring that she remains safe, despite the clear orders you received to prepare all four for eventual PAWN usage. Now, it's your time to tell me something." Suzaku said, her wings slowly wrapping around the scientist. "Why are you going against our Emperor's grand design?"
"The design can wait. If we move too early, we risk the equilibrium breaking. On top of that, the Darkness found a backdoor into this room. I will not allow them to catch me off guard once again." Seiryu explained, spreading her own wings to force the redhead to back off. All while turning around to glare into her eyes. "Now. I believe we have an agreement, Suzaku."
"I know we do. But you have a duty to serve." Suzaku said, the wicked phoenix chuckling as she started to combust into flames. A mere mirage sent to bother her. "You are a Saint Beast, Seiryu. Your duty lies with the Emperor, Huanglong. Our dear Atlas. Don't forget that."
The flames flickered away, leaving Seiryu all alone. Barely lit up by the computer. A computer currently running analysis on the other three girls that were stuck in those tubes...
Of course she was a Saint Beast. But even so...
---
"Ah. That's another five plates. Did you never learn balance, Fen? I know you are a dog, and you are very well groomed and trained despite that, but you have absolutely no sense of balance."
"Of course I didn't learn balance! I was trained for combat, to hunt down prey! Not to carry plates that keep on swinging and swaying with every step I take!"
The light of dawn poured in through the windows of the Anemone Manor, lighting up an argument between two parts of the staff. One clearly more experienced than the other, with the other outright detesting her current state...
On one side was Tomoe Kotobuki. One of the Maids that was still assigned to Agatha's service, despite the fact that their young Lady going against their employer really should make them back off. And yet here she was. Still employed. Still serving just as she had done so many years in a row.
On the other was Hel Fenrir. Or 'Fen', as she had come to be called. After being beaten by her Mistress' former enemy's successor, she had been brought back home. And she had been forcibly employed as a maid. She objected to it, but... Lady Agatha had told her that there was a good chance that her friends simply wouldn't take her back. All because she had lost. And she still had to pay her back for putting her through this whole 'test' business.
"Ara..." Tomoe sighed as she kneeled down and brushed part of her hair behind her ear. "We'll just have to take it slow and teach you. You might be an old dog, but we can definitely teach you new tricks. I believe that with all of my heart."
Fen glared at her 'senior' for once again emphasizing her nature. "Really don't like how you keep doing that." She muttered, swiftly backing away before Tomoe got the bright idea to pet her to make her calm down. "Just... Just help me pick all of this up." She muttered.
Compared to when she had first arrived, she had been a little domesticated. Helped by the fact that Bloom Val... Helped by the fact that Lady Agatha was a lot nicer than it initially seemed. Despite dragging her back here, she actually made arrangements for her to be treated just like any other maid. Even if she wasn't doing a good job yet. Far cry from how that woman would have treated her, that much was certain.
Tomoe smiled. "Actually, I think you're due for an explanation. Our dear Lady is up and about." She said, as a stream of heat started to pour across her face.
Fen could feel the shiver run down her back as she felt that very same heat. It was like life itself was trying to pour over her, causing her to slowly look over her shoulder, with several beads of sweat running down her head as she noticed Agatha standing behind her. "L-Lady Agath-"
*Bonk*
"Shut up. It's too early for you two to be arguing."
Agatha was not in the best mood. That much was evident by the way that she bonked both maids on the head. Not hard enough to cause any damage, barely even enough for the two of them to feel anything.
"...But... T-The plates?" Fen muttered, actually surprised that she didn't get yelled at or hurt more. Even if it did earn her another bonk on the head.
"They're not that important. We can buy new plates, even if they're not as pretty." Agatha muttered, yawning again as she reached down and handed one of the larger shards to the wolf maid. "Just clean up after yourself and be better. And don't make so much noise in the morning."
Fen nodded, with Tomoe smiling at the young lady actually showing herself to be incredibly inspiring when she wanted to be. Ah, what a wonderful thing to see...
"Quit smiling like that. It's creepy." Agatha muttered as she bonked Tomoe on the head too, who just kept on smiling even as her Lady passed by her. "...By the way, we're going to need snacks soon. I'm having friends over. I need to get more training done, so they'll be staying for dinner too."
That was all that the two got to hear about their Lady's plans for the day, before she headed towards the foyer to greet her friends. Both simply nodding and getting right back to their duties. Not that Agatha was too concerned with what they got up to. The maids were more than able to keep themselves autonomous. Even with somebody like Fen in their ranks. They had always been like machines in that way, and she didn't want to bother trying to understand that. Instead, she focused on what she could understand...
"Ahhh! Agatha! Ready for another PASSION-filled day!?"
And that was the friends that were already standing in the foyer, Agatha narrowing her eyes as she walked down the stairs leading to the trio gathered in her foyer. "Stop yelling, it's barely seven in the morning..." She muttered, before blinking slightly and noticing who had come by to visit. "...You actually showed up?"
It wasn't just Yuuki, loud as ever, that had bothered to stop by. Saeko and Yumeko had come too, with Saeko even wearing gym clothes already. Even if the sporty look really wasn't one that she could pull off very well. Yumeko just chose to wear the usual uniform, even though they didn't have school today...
"Of course we showed up. We want to help too." Yumeko smiled, before glancing slightly towards Saeko. "Even if I'm not sure Saeko'll be able to keep up while she can't really put up a good fight when she's not Spider."
"I'll try anyway!" Saeko cried out, trembling a bit as she very nearly fell over just from crying out like that. All while her body throbbed a little too much. "I-I need to protect you guys too. And I can't do that if I don't keep on trying my best."
The bespectacled girl let out a yelp as she got slapped on the back by her white-haired senpai. "That's the PASSION I've been waiting for, Saeko! Goo-" She was just about to congratulate her, before Saeko collapsed onto her knees and fell face-first onto the carpet...
Yumeko sighs as she kneeled down and patted Saeko on the head. "Don't push yourself too hard. I saw you working out all night, you still need to rest." She said, with Saeko letting out a brief whine as her girlfriend helped her lift her over her shoulder. "We'll be watching over you both, if you don't mind."
Agatha quietly planted the palm of her hand against her face. It was going to be a long day if they acted like this. "Fine. Whatever. As long as I can get my training in." She said, her gaze turning to Yuuki... And sighing more. "And don't you start giving them that look either."
"What look?" Yuuki said, before nervously chuckling as Agatha showed her the kind of look she was pulling off. The envious kinda look. "...Maybe my PASSION's been dulled a little, because I don't feel I'm putting in as much effort as you guys. Y'know? You've got those powers, and all I've got is what I was born with. Imagine the kind of PASSION I could pull off if I was powered like you guys!"
Agatha bonked Yuuki on the head too. This time hard enough to make the floor crack slightly, which made Yuuki stagger in turn. "I didn't want these powers, you know. Just make sure you put your own powers to good use, and be ready to back us up if we need help. We'll back you up in turn. Whatever happens after that is up to luck."
"Aha... Ahaha! Of course, my mistake, Agatha!" Yuuki laughed, the bonk and the quick reinforcement doing a lot to her PASSION-filled heart. "Very well. We have no time to waste! WE'RE STARTING! RIGHT NOW!"
The floor around her froze over, with Yumeko quickly sliding out of the way as Agatha started to let out a frustrated cry as she realized that she had actually turned Yuuki on instead of getting her over it. Damnit, just her luck.
"FINE! WE'LL JUST CUT STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, JUST LIKE I WANTED!" Agatha shouted, the powers of life inside her quickly whipping around her as she transformed into Bloom Valkyr like she had done a few weeks ago. All so she could match the freezing blizzard she was about to face.
The powers of life, still needing to be nurtured against the coming storm, versus the PASSION-filled Blizzard and the PASSIONATE flames that fueled that blizzard... She wasn't going to win, but she was going to fight as much as she could.
And then give Yuuki a piece of her mind for BEING SO GODDAMN LOUD IN THE MORNING!
--
"Love..."
Even a week later, Neoheim was still thinking about the emotion that she had witnessed in full. The love between a Sword and her Wielder... And the love between an Automaton and her Partner. Even if the latter love was nowhere near as powerful as the former. Yet.
Which was why she was currently still sticking around. And why she currently had a bag hanging off her arm. Hayato had sent her on an errand.
"If you're going to stay here and keep observing me or whatever, the least you could do is help out. Mom needs new soil, and I need a new can. You can get that for me, can't you?"
That was what he had said. But he never said she couldn't go out and explore a bit while she was doing so. She'd naturally return with what he wanted, it's just that she wanted to observe more. Different kinds of love, if she could...
"Eh? Y-You want to use me as a canvas? Kumi-Senpai, you can't just use rock as a canvas!"
"Sure I can. Besides, I want to make sure my makeup is the best it can be. Graduation's coming up not long after the student election, you know?"
"Wait, graduation's that soon? Why didn't Yu tell me anything about that? Aw, geez, I gotta look good for him too! Come on, Mumei-chan! Help us out a bit!"
"Uuhhh... I really don't think I should be a canvas like that, I'm still rocky and all that..."
Neo blinked a couple of times as she listened to a gathering of girls up ahead. Strange, what was this about a canvas? Was this like the art that the sword was interested in? Or like the art that Ero showed her? Strange, very strange...
The mechanical dragonoid stepped closer, rounding the corner to try and figure out what was happening, blinking several times as she saw the strange gathering. And thanks to what she had copied from prior fights, she was able to recognize the three girls...
Currently being strong armed into being a canvas... former Jõtaijin, Mumei-chan. The one trying to strongarm her the most, the leading Bear of the Ganguro Gang, Kumi Mirai. And the girl towering slightly over both of them while trying to help strongarm Mumei-chan into helping them, whose skin was still red from her monsterization, Azami Mizutani...
"Strange match." Neo muttered as she came closer. Perhaps they knew a little something about Love that she could learn.
Mumei-chan just barely managed to duck under her Senpai trying to force a bit of lipstick on those cute lips of hers, with her escape attempt causing her to bump straight into Neo's stomach... Leading part of her face to crack from the impact of rock against metal. "O-Ow... H-Huh? Saki-senpa... No, wait, you're really red, you can't be her..."
Neo blinked several times over as the girls' attention fell on her. "I am Neoheim. Daughter of Overlord Helheim." She explained, kneeling down to look closer into Mumei-chan's eyes. "I apologize for the impact. I was not prepared to end up hitting you. Could you tell me what you know about Love?"
The marble-hued dog girl stuttered in response to the sudden way everything about this conversation twisted and turned. How was she supposed to keep up? "A-Ahhh... Uuuhhhh... Uhm..."
"Love?" Kumi spoke up, smiling as she came over towards the girl that looked like the mirror image of the Student President but red. "Mumei-chan's not exactly the type you should ask, she's never really had somebody's eyes on her. Bless her adorable soul. Azami's not much better either, she couldn't spit it out to her Senpai even if he knew about it."
"W-What if he just turned it down and gave me that dull stare he always gives me?" Azami whined, sitting down instead of hovering over the others. "But, like, yeah, Love's... Love's really complicated. Don't you have somebody, Kumi-Senpai?"
"Anyway. You want to learn about Love? How about we give you a crash course... And you help us with a little something-something in exchange?" The Ganguro girl completely stepped around the subject of her own love, all while lifting Mumei-chan right back onto her feet and dusting off the crack on her head. "You hear that, Mumei-chan? You get to avoid being a canvas because the nice robot's signing up instead!"
"Not sure she'd be much better, she's already really red..." Mumei-chan muttered, before letting out a yelp as the Ganguro squeezed her tight enough for it to matter. Instead simply nervously laughing in response...
Neo did not understand much of what was going on. But it seemed like they were willing to help. It was worth trying it out. And after all was said and done, then she could try and see what Hayato thought.
If he liked it, then she knew that what she was doing was right.
---
"Thank you for coming with me on such short notice, Mikai. I'm sure you probably had things to do."
"That can wait. You asked me to help, and you asked me to come with you. Of course I'd do that for a friend."
Hearing Mikai call her a friend hurt. But at the same time, it made Saki smile. The voice in her head was screaming, but it was a lot easier to ignore while she held Mikai's hand. She soothed her... Ah...
Mikai, meanwhile, was both happy to be out and about with Saki since the girl had been staying home for the last week, trying to handle everything that was weighing down on her... But also happy because this was the first time that Saki invited her over. And she really didn't expect Saki to practically be living out in the woods. Kinda close to that Shrine that Yu was tending to, come to think of it!
"Yes... Yes, of course you'd think that. My mistake, Mikai." Saki said with a strained smile, as she slowly opened the door to the quaint little home in the middle of nowhere. All while taking a deep breath before speaking. "Grandfather. I've returned."
The inside of the home looked just as plain and quaint as the outside. Not much space, frankly. But more than enough space to live happily if that was what you were looking for. And in the living room sat an old man, currently taking a sip from his morning tea...
"Welcome home, Saki. And I see you brought a friend home. Welcome."
The old man turned towards his granddaughter, smiling softly. Even though he was missing an eye, covered up by an eyepatch. Even though his other eye was hidden behind his graying blonde bangs. Even though he looked like he had seen much better days. He was just happy to see her return...
"Hello, Mister!" Mikai smiled as she waved at the nice older man, grinning as she bowed her head slightly. "I'm Mikai Fushimi. Has Saki told you about me?" She asked, making sure to hold Saki's hand tightly. Just in case she needed more support...
Saki's Grandfather laughed. "Mister. Such a well-behaved girl. You can just call me Yuusha, Mikai." The old man introduced himself, before his smile curled into a slight grin. "As for what my Granddaughter's been saying about me... She's been saying a whole lot of things about you. That you're a shining spot in a dark world..."
"Grandfather."
Saki was blushing. As if she was embarrassed by the way that her Grandfather talked about her. Even though she had really only said a bunch of genuinely kind things about Mikai to him...
"There's nothing wrong with letting others know what you think of them, Saki. But I understand, it takes a lot of bravery too." Yuusha said, as he carefully sipped from his tea once again. "Mikai, have a seat. I'm sure that Saki needs to deal with something."
Mikai looked to Saki, who simply nodded. She could handle it. And she trusted her to, letting go of her. Even if she started to tremble the moment she let go of her.
"Excuse me." Saki muttered, as she slowly walked down the hall. There was a particular room she needed to be in...
While Saki got busy, Mikai took a seat by the kotatsu that Yuusha was currently sitting at. Letting her feet sink under it, and smiling as she felt the nice warmth... "You know, Yuusha... Saki never really told me about her family. She really never told me a lot about her home life, she just focused on doing what she could for others. And, uhm..."
Yuusha nodded slightly. "You two fought." He said, causing Mikai to very nearly jump from the shock of being peered straight through. "Don't worry. A fight lets two people understand each other. Even if it takes a while to hit that point." He said, sipping from his cup a little more... "What do you truly think of her, Mikai? What do you think of my dear Granddaughter?"
"Hmmm... You want me to be really honest?" Mikai asked, and the nice grandfather nodded. "She's really hard to deal with. She wants to protect everyone, but she tries to do it all on her own. And she keeps on trying to push us away and locking us down to try and protect us too. Like she thinks she has to do all of this all on her own. It's really frustrating."
Yuusha nodded and nodded, raising a single eyebrow. "You aren't finished, are you?"
"Nope." Mikai said, as she rested her head on her arms. Sighing contently from the nice warmth. Really counteracting the cold outside. "She's trying her hardest to do what she believes is right. And she's starting to realize that what she's been doing has been wrong all along. It's hurting her. It's hurting her real bad. And she actually asked for help too. And I trust she means that. So I want to help her too, even if she's been really hard to deal with." She said, smiling slightly. "She helped me back when I was a little lost. Helping out a friend when she really needs it? That's what a friend would do. And I do think we're good friends, even if we fought a lot."
The older man laughed and nodded in response to those honest words. "She always did try to keep secrets from me. I don't see why she should keep so true to our family name... But I'm glad that she has girls like you that want to keep her on the right path. And she's very brave to finally ask for help, after digging herself so deep." He said, resting his own head on the back of his hands. "Friends are what allow you to truly be as brave as you need to be. Because you can't afford to lose them. Though at the same time, that's exactly what's been weighing down my Granddaughter's heart."
"Eh?" Mikai blinked, before the gears clicked into place in her head. "Right, she mentioned... Wait, that's why she... Oh. Oh..." Her mind finally caught up to what Saki had said a week ago. "She... She lost everyone except for you?"
"Everyone. She had already lost her Grandmother just a few weeks prior. And on that fateful day... Her birthday, even..." For a moment, a pang of sadness... A pang of grief filled the old man's voice. "...It's no wonder that she's been hiding all of this within her. It's no wonder it's finally burst its way to the surface. But I'm glad that she has somebody like you in a time like this. If not, I'm not sure she would be able to handle herself."
That day... Mikai could immediately tell what that day was. The same day her life irrevocably changed. The Luna Descent... She had lost her emotions because of what happened there. And Saki... Saki lost her entire family except her Grandfather. No wonder...
"...You mind if I go check on her? I don't think she's doing anything bad when she's alone, it's just... You know." Mikai asked, even though she really shouldn't need to. She just wanted to help a friend.
"Best to be with her when you think she needs you." Yuusha said, lifting himself out from the kotatsu as he started walking towards the kitchen. "I'll have something sweet for both of you soon. A meal for a real pair of braves." He grinned. Even with his age, he could still whip up something real good for his Granddaughter and her friend.
Mikai nodded and quickly scurried down the hall. Just so she could reach her friend as fast as possible, even though she wasn't in any danger...
Once she made it to the room she thought was right, she carefully opened the door, and within...
"N-No... I won't... They... They wouldn't be... Happy with me..."
There she was. Saki, praying for her family. Struggling to deal with what weighed on her mind. Struggling to handle what was going on inside her. Yet she kept on trying. Even if she was failing, given the sweat rapidly running down her face...
Sweat that didn't stop, even as Mikai came over to hug her. "...M-Mikai... I..." She muttered, not sure how to properly explain it all to her. She had told her that her family died, but...
"It's okay. I think I get it." Mikai said, tightening her hug as she put her hands on the sides of Saki's own. "I'm not good with this whole prayer thing. But... I want to try and help. You don't mind, right?"
The pain on Saki's face was palpable. Yet so was the relief in that smile of hers. "I... I don't mind. Here, I'll show you..."
It was a strange way for the two to bond. But they had both been horribly affected by that fateful day. If sharing their experiences like this, even if they both had much to properly learn, would help ease their burdens...
Maybe, just maybe, it would help ease part of the pain one of them carried...
---
"This is not Love. And yet..."
Neoheim looked at herself in the mirror. She had asked the Ganguro girl to try and give her the kind of makeup that fit a girl like her... And she had now ended up with a thick layer of brown on her face, as well as white on top of that which formed the shape of two dragons reaching out from the edges of her face. It looked ridiculous...
Though perhaps not as ridiculous as the outfit she was currently wearing. She had gone through a lot of them, but the one she was wearing right now, the one with those long socks that ended in fluffy legwarmers, which kind of clashed against the big hoodie-like jacket which was primarily a tender shade of black with purple, green and red lines drawn across it...
It was a lot. And yet at the same time, she really liked it. Something that she hoped that Hayato would as well. Maybe Ero too, though there was a higher chance of her being upset about it. She was a very... particular kind of girl in that regard. Not that she understood most of that. She just liked what she was wearing.
Yet... While Neoheim was busy trying out this brand new look, a strange sensation started to pour down her back. It's like she could feel the presence of somebody like her. Another one of Father's progeny, or... A mechanical lifeform? She wasn't sure. Or maybe it was just this... Gut feeling that Hayato liked to complain about whenever he could feel something going wrong. She wasn't sure about that last one either, it felt like he was just complaining for the sake of complaining.
Neoheim pulled away the curtain that kept her within the changing room's area, blinking as she found the clothing store completely and utterly devastated. All while Mumei-chan was standing at the entrance, sword drawn as she faced off against another figure...
How had she missed... Oh. She had turned down the receiving volume. Strange, where was the Ganguro and the Oni..?
"N-Neo-chan! Don't get closer! This thing ate Kumi-Senpai and Azami-chan!" Mumei-chan cried out, gasping as she just barely managed to swerve around an arm that suddenly shot out towards her...
"I did not eat them." The figure said, her voice sounding like a metallic fusion between the taller Oni and the thick Ganguro Bear. "I made them wear me. There's a difference, you know."
"That's basically eating them!" Mumei-chan cried out, gasping as she was struck in the back by the same arm she had dodged. Knocking her straight towards the living armor, who started opening op...
Only to be blasted out of the way by a blast from Neoheim's fire, the mechanical girl's outfit dissolving into blue chains as her metallic and draconic frame spread out fully. "Refrain from hurting her. She is helping me learn what Love truly is."
Mumei-chan blinked several times as she quickly scurried over to Neoheim's side. She was nowhere near as strong as some of the heroes of this city, but she was still going to fight the best she could. Because that's what she wanted to do, fight alongside her friends! Even if... No, Neo-chan was definitely a friend now! Sure, they had just barely met, but she had met Mikai once and became good friends with her too! This was the beginning of a friendship, she wasn't going to go easy on it just because of that!
The armor staggered due to being struck by a powerful blast of fire. "...Love?" She asked, letting her glowing purple eyes meet Neoheim's blue eyes. "It looked more like they were making you try out different types of makeup. Almost like-" She paused, covering up her mouth before she let too much spill. "...I'm going to have to pull you two inside me as well. That's how I'll get her attention. Sorry."
"Sorry?" Mumei-chan couldn't believe what she was hearing. The enemy was... Sorry?
"Apologies accepted. But we will resist." Neoheim said, flicking her arm as it suddenly transformed into a hardlight blade made out of the same energy that powered her. "Mumei-chan. We will free both Kumi and Azami from this armor. Are you with me?"
"R-Right, yeah! I'll do my best-"
"Both of you. Don't interfere."
Before the two unlikely allies got truly amped up, a flash appeared before their eyes... And when they regained their vision, Jõtaider KING had appeared before them. Probably ran fast enough to catch up with the signature she detected.
"...Jõtaider." Neoheim said, shaking her head. "I will interfere. She took my friends." She would not stand down. Standing beside the one that her Father deigned as an enemy...
The armored enemy stared at the three in front of her. This was a problem. This wasn't the one she had tried to attract. Why didn't Lady Kazutora tell her about them? No matter. She had a reputation to uphold. She was Lady Minerva's armor! Mistress Hel's secret weapon!
"I'll take you all on. I am the World Serpent! Hel Jormungandr! I will swallow all, and make them part of me!" The living armor cried out, as she suddenly split open...
And two more copies of her stepped out of her opened body. The only difference between her and those two being their eyes and their size. One was bigger, which could only mean that Azami was wearing it. And the other had the devious eyes of Kumi... And a bit of the curves too...
Three on three... If this didn't lure her in, then what would!?
---
"Ahhh! Ahhhhhh! There it is! THERE IT IS! BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO BUSY TRYING TO PROVE THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE, YOUR FRIENDS ARE ON THEIR WAY INTO DANGER! BECAUSE OF Y O U!"
The voice screamed through Saki's mind, with the girl trembling even harder. She could feel a certain energy in the air. It was almost like when that first Hel arrived. Which meant... Which meant that Agatha and the others were in danger...
"No... I... I mustn't..." Saki's eyes were growing dimmer. All she could see was the sun that the voice was trying to burn her with. She was blinded by the heat. Blinded by everything. She... Could she really afford to just... Sit here and...
"Saki!"
Mikai's voice echoed through her ear, and the blue-haired girl tried to look towards her friend. It was hard to make Mikai out beyond the sun. The voice... The voice was winning... She... She had to..!
"Mikai... I... I want to... I want to help them..." Tears were streaming down Saki's cheeks. "But... But if I do... I... I..!" She knew that if she really gave into the voice, she would only make things worse.
"Trust in them, Saki. Trust in them, just like I trust in you! Just like you trust in me!" Mikai couldn't afford to go off and fight. Not when Saki needed her. Not when she had promised to help her. All she could do was try and help her with the problem in her heart...
Slowly. Slowly but surely. The voice was growing more and more distant. All thanks to Saki hugging Mikai with all her might. Hoping. Praying for the ones that she thought she needed to trust...
It was hard. It was really hard to do. But she needed to do it. She needed to accept that there was nothing she could do at the moment. She was far too emotionally vulnerable to help. But her friends... They could handle it.
She had to believe that. No matter how much the voice screamed at her that it wouldn't be enough. She had to hope.
Because... Because Mikai has placed her hopes in her... No. Not because of Mikai. Not just...
If she just leaned completely on Mikai, she wouldn't grow. She would hope for her friends to succeed... Because that's what a friend would do..!
As the two girls hugged it out, trying to help Saki with what she was going through, a single eye gazed in through the gap between the wall and the door...
"Trust is brave too, dear Saki..."
Though it pained him to watch his Granddaughter suffer like this... He couldn't do much either. All he could do was trust in the girl who Saki considered a friend...
Hoping from the bottom of his heart that it would all turn out alright...
---
"Why!? Why did it have to be today!? I just wanted to train and get things over with, but noooo, we just haaaave to have a problem on our hands!"
Agatha shouted as she threw herself over another rooftop, barely able to skid along the path of ice that Yuuki was making for her. She wasn't in good shape, but her powers were helping her. A crutch, sure, but she wasn't going to complain about it when she was in a hurry!
"You can make clouds to ride on..."
Saeko muttered as she quietly sat on a literal cloud of dreams, hitching a ride with Yumeko who had already turned into Jõtaider Dream. It was just as fluffy as the rumors implied too, how incredible...
"Please don't try and eat it." Dream said, with Saeko quietly blushing as she was just about to try and pluck a bit from it. "It doesn't taste like candy floss. It tastes like the dream it's made from. I don't want you to taste my dreams, Saeko. You'll get to experience them sometime, when we're all alone with Mikai. Alright?"
"A...Alright." Saeko muttered with a blush on her cheeks. It's not like she was going to be against that...
"QUIT FLIRTING WHEN WE'RE ABOUT TO GO FIGHT! AND AT LEAST INCLUDE MIKAI IN IT, SHE'S GOING TO BE JEALOUS WHEN SHE HEARS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING!" Agatha shouted mid-leap, her footing failing her as she was about to land...
Leaving her in Yuuki's handsome arms, prompting a blush from the blonde Magical Girl. "Sounds more like you're jealous of their PASSION, Agatha! Or do you want to be known as Bloom Valkyr while you're like this?" She laughed, teasing her about the whole ordeal.
"WHATEVER! DANGER, REMEMBER?!" Agatha shouted as she was let down, gritting her teeth slightly. "The presence's up ahead. It's probably another Hel like Fen. But it's... Thicker!" She paused, immediately glaring at Yuuki. "DON'T THINK IT."
Yuuki grinned in turn, before slamming her hand against the roof below. Giving them another icy ramp to launch off. "Just one more jump, and then-"
The ice shattered before she had the chance to finish, as an armored figure came flying towards the two girls. Prompting Yuuki to quickly throw herself to the side, with Agatha meeting the figure head on with all of her strength!
"ANOTHER!"
At least she would. Right before the armor, which seemed to be launched towards her because it had taken an incredible hit, opened up with a clear intent to try and swallow her whole. Agatha's eyes widening as she was about to fall victim to this impromptu scheme...
If not for the ice shooting up from the roof below her feet, spiking the armor further into the air. All while Yuuki laughed, icy droplets dripped from her face. "Hah... We're fighting against something real interesting..! Something that wants to trap our PASSIONS!"
Dream followed up on Yuuki's quick thinking by launching an arrow from the bow on her arm, piercing straight through the armor and causing it to explode, forming another cloud of dreams in the process. "This isn't from the Darkness. But... I'm not sure that's much better." She muttered, as she turned her attention towards the battle up ahead...
An unfortunate sight to be greeted with. The street up ahead was completely covered in armored figures like the one that they had just launched, and in the middle of it all... In the middle of it all was an unlikely trio.
"That's... KING. Mumei-chan... And... Neoheim?" Saeko muttered. Why would those three be... No, not the time to worry about that. "They're up against a horde of them. What do we do?"
“We wait.” Dream said, throwing a glance towards the two capable allies. “We saw what happened with one of those. We want to make sure it’s safe to jump in. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee we won’t end up in armor. Whatever that might cause.”
While the four intended on waiting, the menace down below could feel them. Delightfully so, as she started laughing in response to the presence in the air.
“There she is… THERE SHE IS!” Hel Jormungandr laughed as she spun towards the girl on the roof. “LADY MINERVA’S DAUGHTER HAS ARRIVED!”
“Don’t forget you’re in the middle of a battle.”
KING’s fist was aimed straight at the armor’s head, narrowly missing the direct hit and the shockwave that followed didn’t toss the enemy either, as Hel Jormungandr managed to jump away before she was caught in it.
“You as well, Jõtaider!” Hel Jormungandr laughed as she grabbed one of the many copies of herself, the ones that didn’t have an individual inside of them already, and tossed them at KING. All while the armor threw itself open, so that it could try and capture the Jõtaider inside…
An act that failed due to the blast of flame that followed from Neoheim, the mechanical dragonoid starting to release steam from how heated it had gotten. “If this continues, then my reserves will run dry…”
And behind her was Mumei-chan, whose blade had long since broken. She could make another, but it would break just as quickly. She was tired. And it was only thanks to the other two that she was able to stay inside of this fight…
“We… We have to get to them, don’t we? If we team up with them, then we can beat her!” The marble gal cried out, as she stared up at the other girls… “..:Wait, that’s Saeko… Saeko! You can make webs, right!? Throw some down here!”
Saeko could hear Mumei-chan crying out to her, and even waving towards her. Yes, she could, but her powers were nowhere near that strong. “...Yumeko, protect-”
“Ooo, webs, you say? Don’t mind if I do!”
She didn’t get that far. Neither Yumeko nor Saeko were prepared for another armor to suddenly throw itself through their cloud, swallowing part of it whole… And Saeko with it, the living armor changing trajectory mid-flight while laughing all the way.
“SAEKO!” Dream shouted, as she tried to nail the flying armor with another one of her arrows…
Only for the armor to weave out of the way, using the brand new string it was able to use. It was like Saeko was dodging her, but the armor was wearing her, not the other way around..!
“DAMNIT!” Agatha shouted. All she needed was to get her hands on that armor, and she could probably rust it from how much life she was able to pump into it. But if the armor was going to snap around her, then-
A sharp sensation slammed around her arms, as two detached arms fitted their way around her. All while she could hear Hel Jormungandr’s voice pouring through her head. “Come on, Daughter of Lady Minerva! Wear me! We can be so much more-”
The voice stopped as the armor melted off her arms, harmlessly thankfully, courtesy of Yuuki’s flames covering her arms instead.
“Agatha. Your PASSION is needed down there.”
Agatha’s eyes turned back towards Yuuki, only to be met with a half-helmeted face. The living armor had gotten to her Senpai while she wasn’t looking. And the fires were being snuffed out faster than they could melt it.
“Damnit… DAMNIT!” Agatha shouted as she threw herself off the roof, with Dream quickly guiding her cloud over to catch her before she fell into the hordes of living armor below.
“Aha! Ahahaha! Yes! Yes! COME TO ME! WE ARE MADE FOR ONE ANOTHER!”
Hel Jormungandr was having the time of her life. The World Serpent endlessly expanding now that her power had been unleashed, rapidly spawning more and more of herself as her body occasionally opened to produce ten more in the blink of an eye…
Ten that were almost immediately shattered into tiny pieces thanks to quick thinking on the part of KING, whose Knight Blasters were starting to overheat from how fast she was firing. “The main body is too slippery, and the extra bodies just keep on growing in number…”
Neoheim didn’t like these odds either. But they still had a chance. All they needed was to push through that little bit further. That’s what Hayato would do. “Mumei-chan. I need you to get up there. To Dream. She can keep you safe.”
“R-Right-”
Mumei-chan wanted to do as she was told. ‘Wanted to’ being the keyword. But instead, a scream left her lips. All thanks to yet another armor grabbing hold of her, right when Neoheim wasn’t prepared for it…
“Just let me be worn. You will be a great world to wrap around…”
Those words repeated inside of Mumei-chan’s head as the armor swallowed her whole. Repeating over and over as her eyes gradually grew dim, and her body grew limp within the armor. Allowing the armor to puppeteer her like a bag of rocks…
Leaving the four allies to converge upon a single point, once Dream descended with Agatha in tow. Just what they needed too, given what the other versions of Hel Jormungandr was able to achieve moments later…
The skies above started to rain ice down, ice that burst into flames… Flames that were then caught by several separate strings, each being tossed to yet another version of Hel Jormungandr… The ones that were wearing Saeko and Yuuki were able to arm their other selves, and change the conditions in their favor…
“Unfortunate. We’re running out of options.” KING muttered. Even if she could take out plenty of them all by herself, there was a high chance they’d be replenished before long…
“I could call upon another version of Saeko. One who went through something like this. It would be like another dream. Like the version of myself I summoned.” Dream offered the option, though she also knew that the chance of getting a summon like that off wouldn’t even the odds in the slightest.
“WHY DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!” Agatha cried out, rightfully questioning why the only thing Dream had access to was bad end versions of her and her friends.
Though it also served to make something click within Neoheim’s mind. “If we controlled the armors, then… No, the chances of that working are minimal…”
And yet, she gazed at the three. The ones her Father were meant to fight against. The ones that had proven themselves to go against the odds.
“...Trust is a type of love…” She muttered, before turning to KING. “KING. Overload my systems. Our systems should not be fully compatible, so the energy you produce should overclock me beyond my independent maximum.”
KING started to catch on to the plan. If Neoheim was Helheim’s progeny, then… “I might not have enough power… Dream, do you have another version of me available?”
“Not one with this kind of power. But…” Dream gazed at Agatha. “I can make a dream of one. And then…”
The Magical Girl lit up, as the power of life welled up in her arms. “RIGHT!”
It was an impromptu plan made out of an unlikely foursome, including ones that had never before worked together. But it was do or die!
Dream raised her hands to the air, and spread them as wings grew from her back. Wings that shed their spores, forming a cloud of dreams as they coalesced into a single mass…
A mass that Agatha stuck her arms into, screaming with everything she had as she imbued that dream with life. Slowly but surely turning that dream into a living copy of the oldest hero here, so that the power that they needed would be at their fingertips.
“DESPERADO!” Both versions of KING shouted as they slammed their hands onto Neoheim’s shoulders, their green energies pouring straight into the draconic mechanoid…
The energies were violently raging across her entire body, the green energies clashing against her own blue hues. All while more and more stretchy arms tried to come towards the four of them. If this didn’t work, then they would all be made to wear these living armors..!
Green and blue hues filled Neoheim’s eyes as she spread her wings once more, roaring to the heavens above as all of that energy was released at once..!
“NEO OVERLORD INFESTATION!”
Just as the arms converged upon Neoheim and touched her, the energies poured through them in turn. And in that split second, the armors all started to turn red. Just like her. Each and every single one of them rapidly and repeatedly turning into…
Another copy of Neoheim. Ones that were nowhere near as defined as the real deal, but definitely under her complete control…
Leaving Hel Jormungandr shocked as her world closed in on itself, as even she started to turn red. Not for long however, as she quickly shattered herself and reformed, the infestation vanishing as she simply regenerated…
“Thunderbolt.”
But it was that moment that KING had waited for. That split second of weakness. Jetting towards the armor leg first, slamming her into a wall and knocking any and all energy out of the living armor… while at the same time making that wall completely crumple…
A deep sigh of relief left Dream’s lips as she watched all of the Neoheims collapse, barring the actual one, as they bit by bit dissolved and revealed all the wearers underneath. “Impressive thinking. No wonder you were able to merge so quickly with Ero, Neoheim.”
“That too, is love.” Neoheim said, smiling slightly. “A jealous one that allowed me to learn. But love nonetheless.” She concluded, before letting her own energy steam out and returning her to her brand new attire. “Leave my regards with Mumei-chan and her friends. Learning from them was a fun time.”
Dream nodded, allowing Neoheim to depart. She was definitely not going to let Saeko live that one down…
“Hey.” Agatha said, approaching KING who was still standing far too close to Hel Jormungandr. “Don’t you try anything funny, Hiro. I remember what happened during that Near-Luna Descent stuff. Atlas Corp isn’t up to anything good.”
She was right. KING knew that. Which was why she let her body steam as she disengaged her transformation. “I was tasked with bringing her in for examination. You understand that I will be punished for failure?”
“They owe you for your service, don’t they? If they don’t, I’ll cover your ass. It’s the least I can do in exchange.” Agatha shot back, before coming closer to the living armor. “As for you… You know my Mom, huh?”
Hel Jormungandr nodded, so much so that her head fell off. Leaving her with a rolling head and an empty body. “Yeah! Yeah, I know Lady Minerva. I’ll tell you all you want to know, Agatha! I’ve been dying to meet you again!” She sounded so cheerful, despite just causing a lot of trouble…
“...I’ll hear it all back home.” Agatha said, picking up the helmet. Letting her gaze turn to Hiro. “Mind helping with the rest of that? We’ll figure something out when we’re back.” She didn’t need to do it. She really didn’t. But Hiro was important to Mikai… And yet another of the armored heroes that had protected the city. It only felt fair to try and broker some sort of deal despite the fact Hiro worked for a terribly suspicious company.
Hiro nodded and picked up the armor. “I’ll take payment in the form of your current stash of Jõtaider figurines.” She said, before rushing along with the armor in her arms. Not even allowing her to retort.
The pieces clicked together in Agatha’s head as she immediately began chasing after her. “YOU’RE THE ONE THAT BOUGHT OUT ALL THE FLAME LION FIGURES!? I’LL KILL YOU!” All bets were off after that. Oh, she was going to get it for ruining her chances at getting a cool figure of her favorite hero..!
Leaving Yumeko to simply sigh and laugh at what a mess today had been. Ah well… At least Mikai got the day off…
And better yet, no sign of the Darkness either…
---
"The... The feeling's... Gone..."
Saki panted. Face stained with dried tears. Trembling all over as she slowly opened her eyes. Her voice was gone for now too... Had... Had they won?
The first thing she saw when her eyes opened was that welcoming and supportive smile. Mikai's smile. All while she felt her hand rubbing against her back. Had... Had she been here the entire time..?
How long had she been... No, it wasn't important how long she had been there.
What mattered was that Mikai was there for her. And for that, Saki hugged her. Tightly. As the tears started to stream down once again.
Maybe she really could learn to trust, no matter how much her heart wanted her to stop...
---
"Well then. Seems like Jormungandr wasn't up to snuff. Very impressive ability though, imagine if I could replicate that with my Geisha..."
Kazutora muttered to herself, all while having watched the events unfold from the safety of her own home. Sighing sweetly to herself. Agatha was improving, and... Well, her friends were doing an adequate job as well. It meant that the lot of them were going to be more than a match...
And yet, she still needed to push her a little-
"KAZUTORA."
The wine that Kazutora was sipping from shattered thanks to the deadly voice that echoed around her. All while Hel herself manifested before her, fury like no other. Well then, she found out...
All that the Oyabun could do when faced with this kind of divine fury was simply chuckle...
And place her future hope in her daughter, even if the girl didn't want that hope...
---
"...What happened."
Hayato could not believe his eyes when Neoheim returned home. Sure, she had brought what he had asked for, but... Between the outfit and the makeup, he couldn't stop thinking about Ero having done a few things to her...
"Do you like it?" Neoheim asked, lifting her hands to do a pair of peace signs. "They said I would look cute like this. And if I look cute, then I will understand love more."
The green-haired young man simply stared at the mechanical girl, before shaking his head. "...I think it looks fine. Don't dress just to try and impress me though." He muttered, taking the soil and the can from the girl. So that he could go help his Mom and not focus on what he just saw.
Neoheim watched as he walked off. And quietly, she smiled.
Her efforts had paid off. Which meant...
Yes, so would that...