Passing in the night

[srwu_mods]

Late at night, Noise were spotted by a highway near the Lydian Academy city. The Second Section did not inform Unity Group - UG had its own problems and was best left alone for the moment, and besides the attack was small. Small enough that the Section could easily handle it all by itself.

Which is why the sole group of fluorescent creatures is met by only a single warrior...

(Locked to Tsubasa only - or is it?)

Comments

[sakimori]

[Yeah, Tsubasa rushed out as soon as the alarm rang. Authorities are helping to block access to the highway a few miles away from where she stands.

With the usual chant, she summons her armor and Armed Gear. Her song echoes throughout the area - turning the Noise vulnerable. Now that she's alone, it's time to get to work.]

[srwu_mods]

Seeing the Relic user, the Noise jump! Some of them make a reckless charge, but for the rest it's not a lunge towards Tsubasa - they all form up into one featureless mass, which coalesces into a single, larger Noise.

Only that one leaps at Tsubasa.

[sakimori]

[The Symphogear user meets that charge with her own - deploying her leg blades to repel the attack as she maneuvers around it.

She's going to try to get into a better position to perform a harder hitting strike!]

[spearpunch]

[And she'll find that easier than she might've thought, because-]

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[From out of nowhere, Hibiki dives down at the Noise, kicking out awkwardly into its side!]

Tsubasa-san!

[In spite of all the tragedy, Tsubasa was still fighting for everyone, but she didn't have to do it alone!]

1/2

[sakimori]

[This gives Tsubasa a moment of pause. She definitely didn't expect Hibiki to be out here too.]

2/2

[sakimori]

[But she gets over that quickly, and rises into the air. Her sword transforms into its larger form and is swung to launch an Azure Flash - the blade wave meant to split the large Noise in twain!]

[spearpunch]

[She did it! She helped give Tsubasa an opening! And now shes got a front-row seat to seeing her idol go to town on the Noise! Neptune was right about not losing heart!]

[sakimori]

...

[Tsubasa touches down afterwards. However, she doesn't exactly share your glee from all this, Hibiki.]

[spearpunch]

[Maybe so. But Hibiki's not going to lose face now.]

Tsubasa-san... I know I'm new to this all still, and I might slow you down, but...

But please fight with me!

[sakimori]

...

...You're right.

[She turns around, but the look on her face doesn't quite match an agreement to that.

And before anything else happens, she raises her sword's point at Hibiki. That's not agreeing at all!]

You and I...should fight.

[spearpunch]

E-eh?

[But then it clicks. She takes a nervous step back.]

[sakimori]

...You heard me.

We should fight.

[That sword isn't being lowered, Hibiki.]

[spearpunch]

[Another step back.]

I-I didn't mean it like that, More like I wanted to fight beside you, n-not against you!

[sakimori]

I know full well.

[And yet she's still like that.]

[spearpunch]

Then... why?

1/2

[sakimori]

I cannot accept you.

Join forces and fight together? Hell will freeze over before I agree to that.

2/2

[sakimori]

Now, prepare your Armed Gear. It's the embodiment of your will to fight.

If you wish to claim Gungnir as your own, you should come to terms with what that entails.

[spearpunch]

Armed Gear?

I...

[She looks down at her hands, then back up to Tsubasa.]

I don't know what that is... nobody even said anything about that yet...

And I can't ready something if I don't know what it is or how to use it!

1/2

[sakimori]

...

[Tsubasa exhales and turns around. She appears to be walking away.]

Your determination is lacking...and you treat this like it's a funny little game. Even after you've seen what happened to the Unity Group...

[Her fists suddenly clench.]

...Someone like you...

2/2

[sakimori]

...Can never take Kanade's place!!

[Suddenly, she throws her katana into the air, and leaps up after it...!

The sword's size is magnified in the usual manner as it morphs into its building-sized form. Tsubasa dives and kicks it in the pommel - towards Hibiki!]

[srwu_npc]

"That's enough of that!"

Suddenly, a muscular figure interposes himself between Hibiki and the giant sword. Commander Kazanari throws a punch against the blade's tip!

"Hrrmph!"

Even though none of them touched, this caused a massive shockwave - which struggles against Tsubasa's attack, but eventually overcomes it and sends both the Relic user and her weapon flying back!

It also creates a huge crater on the pavement where Genjurou stood.

[sakimori]

[Tsubasa's eyes go wide as this happens. Formality is completely cast aside.]

...Uncle...?!

[And then she loses stability and falls onto the ground - both her armor and Armed Gear disappearing...]

[srwu_npc]

"Jeez Tsubasa, do you think you can just do anything you want?"

"I've spent a lot of money on those shoes." Genjurou looks down on his feet, the footwear destroyed in his display of power.

[sakimori]

...

[Tsubasa doesn't reply. She just sits there with her head lowered as buried irrigation pipes burst from the damage done to the road.

On top of everything now, she's also soaked. But she doesn't move from where she is.]

[spearpunch]

Tsubasa...

[Her own transformation goes away, leaving Hibiki standing there, looking at the other two. She cautiously approaches, not sure what to say or even do right now.]

[srwu_npc]

Commander Kazanari approaches as well, looking worried and maybe a little bit disappointed rather than angry.

"Think of all the movies I could've bought... Tsubasa? Are you crying?" He asks, surprised.

[sakimori]

I'm not crying...!

I am a warrior, and thus nothing but a sword. There's nothing that I feel...

[Whether that is true or not is difficult to confirm, because of all this water raining down.

And only now does she try to stand. But she's having trouble doing so.]

[spearpunch]

[She needs help and support, both literally and figurativly. It's practically by reflex that Hibiki goes to try to help her up.]

Tsubasa, I know I'm not any good right now, but I can still help! I want to try my best, and be worthy of taking Kanade's place!

[sakimori]

[Something about that last bit Hibiki said triggers something in Tsubasa. After being helped up, she takes a step back...]


...!

[And gives the other Symphogear user a slap in the face.

She says nothing afterwards, and leaves. But those who witness this, Hibiki especially, will notice that Tsubasa is actually crying. No, even worse, she started crying because of what was said...]