Because Love Won't Lose

02/12/2024 6:20 pm

Chapter 2 - There's No Sunrise or Sunset "Clusmily Chasing / Dream of Paranoia - Theme of Chapter 2 and Arwest Meinster" (Kinoko Teikoku - You outside my window) "I don't get it. You say you shouldn't do useless things, yet here you are indulging yourself uselessly." This is a story of a robot who began to doubt others.

"I always believed that if I did good things, then others would return them to me.

Karma, and the cycle of good had to exist.

Yet tomorrow came, and I still wasn't able to see the sun.

I realized then, that nobody would smile for me.

So I walked forward to a tomorrow with no happiness or sorrow.
It was a future that I couldn't comprehend.

There's No Sunrise or Sunset.

I've spent all this time loving others,
but in truth, I was the one who wanted to be loved the most."
- A poem by Polaris de Camp

(edited)

07/12/2024 4:03 pm

* Note: This chapter features an insert song.
It's optional whether or not you want to listen to it while reading.
If you're reading this online from the imgur version rather than from the server, the imgur album should have the link to the song attached. Scroll down to the bottom of the image and click on the link as soon as you see the blue text.

Frontispiece: 
人殺し / Hitogoroshi / Murderer

---------------------------- + Zone Backstreets, ??? Household + -------------------- (edited)

07/12/2024 4:15 pm

It can be said that in the Zone Backstreets, there is no sunrise or sunset.

Due to its polluted nature, strange things have happened to its skies.
Many experimental or disgraced scientists work on experimental projects in the Backstreets. For in the Backstreets, no eyes will reach you but the Underworld's. Who rarely judge.
Thus, the skies are often clear. Yet they almost never change.
Which poorly reflects what happens in the ground. Where looking at it from the sky, you might describe it as a total mess.
Buildings of all different shapes and sizes, yet all undeniably "poor."
Apartments, condos. Some rundown, some clearly a money laundering scheme, and the few which look just fine.
Alleyways upon alleyways that lead into houses which spiral into other houses. Some shanties are even stacked on top of each other.
It's not uncommon for multiple families to be living together, as some houses look like they've even been merged with one another.
This is because it's lawless in the Backstreets.

It's trivial to get a permit, or even to forge one. Both are of equal difficulty: which is next to none.
It's easy to build something with the advent of robots. Especially if one is a Seventh.
Thus, anything can exist in the Backstreets.
It can be said that it is a canvas for everyone. An open canvas for even the ugly to paint on.
Anything and everything will exist here. That is the Rule of the Backstreets.

So what happens when those things come into conflict?

(edited)

- The sight of what looks to be just a large Japanese style house on the hill is what would happen.
About the house itself- it's large. With many interconnected rooms and even a large yard. Sliding doors and traditional mats.
It's even on top of an artificially made hill, overlooking many vast and diverse buildings below it. But such is expected for the Backstreets.
No.
It is what surrounds it that makes it a true disaster.

Just below it, bodies on the floor.
Of Sevenths and humans alike. Bleeding either in blood, or the wisps of Furyoku flying out of a Seventh's body.
Splattered on the streets. Splattered on the walls. Alongside bullet holes and scorch marks.
Some buildings were damaged. Some were destroyed. But all have seen the scars...
... Of what was clearly a brutal "war."

Surrounding the Japanese style house were many people.
Many trying to climb the walls, guarded by an EM Wave Projection wall that shocked intruders and of course a normal stone wall.
Some men in suits were even readying bombs.

- One of them was able to get in.
An injured woman, her arm casted up entirely.
Her suit bloodied, but she was dressed similarly to the other aggressive people outside. Of course, because she had blood, it meant she was human.
A phone in hand, she stumbled into the front door...

"... Gh...!!!"

And collapsed.

Of course, this person is Noei Maeda's homeroom teacher. Takane Watcher.

"...!!!!!"

At the front door was a terrified young boy who almost shrieked.
- Elka Brinker. The delinquent of Class 1-B.
He was stained in blood, but he was not injured.
In fact.
The long hallways and vast rooms of this Japanese style house looked no different to the outside.
There was blood stained in its carpets and walls too. And out of a sliding door-

A pale, lifeless hand.
The boy stumbled back. Terrified.

"Ahh... Ahhh...!!!!"

Elka knew Takane.

- So why was he so afraid?

"H-Hey! Hey, calm down! I-I... I ain't with them anymore!"

Takane stumbled in.
She was also afraid, but not to the same level as Elka was.
Where he was practically about to pass on to the next life.
Takane tried to raise herself, holding onto the wall...

"And... Haaah... No one's gonna come in either. Trust me. Please..." The last word of hers came out like a sad whisper. "It's... It's going to be alright now. Because-" An orange phantom.

Almost like the grim reaper.
Standing at the end of the hall, all the lights were off.
No electricity was being used in the house itself because all of it was being used to power the defenses.
- Which meant, if there was any other light, it would be immediately visible.
So they both noticed it.
An orange glow coming from two irises at the end of the hall.

- They were also able to hear it.
The safety of a gun being pulled.

Standing at the end of the hall was Noei Maeda.
Stained in the most blood of them all.

"... Don't try to fool a Seventh's vision, Ms. Watcher. It's on your phone. The Buster Call."

". . ."

- Freeze.
Takane stopped.

Located on her phone... She was ready to make direct calls-
- To names of three Mafioso members.

"Jurian Dojima."
"Sumi Kawaguchi."
And... "Hibiki Kidori."

Two of them were Big Brothers of their respective family.
And the lest... The Chairman of the entire Kidori Alliance. The nastiest Yakuza in all of the Backstreets.
For her to be ready- her thumb even unconsciously itching to call it...

"I...!!! I can explain, Noei!" Out of sheer fear and self preservation, she shouted. "I was going to misdirect them! Make you believe that I kidnapped you, and brought you elsewhere! That's why..."

"Is that why, then?"

Noei's orange irises flashed.
- Eyes of Add.

"Is that why Elka has the Paranoia Syringe?"

- The Seventh spoke without life.
Without heart or mind. As if she was reciting lines from a half-baked script.

"...!!!!!!! How did you..."

"So you were trying to hide it." Step.

"A-Aaaaah!!!!!"

Elka jumped back.
As he reached into his jacket's pockets.
A strange syringe. One meant to work on both humans and Sevenths with its strange needle.
Containing a strange, oddly pink- a vibrant one, liquid.
A dense one at that.

- At this, Takane's pupils shrunk.
She shook her head.
As terror began to fill her too.
Perhaps it was the combination of seeing that syringe and the appearance of Noei that brought her to the edge.

"E-Elka...?! W-Why... No, how did you get that?! Why were you bringing it here!? Just what the hell is going on?!"

"I see. I believed it was a coordinated effort at first."

- The safety trigger has been pulled.
Lifting up her hand, a bulky silver pistol was in her hand.
And Noei took aim.

"But you both were trying to take me out... In different ways. I knew it. You were all the culprits. You're all sons of bitches."

"W-WAIT-!"

"NOEI, STOP-!"

- Bang.
A Seventh cannot miss against a stationary target.
A bullet through the head, already splattering Takane's blood against the doors.
It would normally take a moment for a standing body who was just shot to fall to the ground.
But to Noei, that was too long.

Bang. Bang. Bang.
Three more shots. This time aimed to Takane's legs. Even though she was already dead.
Because she wanted to see her in a state of absolute defeat.
A corpse so ruined, it could only be described as "the dead."
She wanted nothing less than that.

". . ."

- Hover.
Her arm, as if it were a cold machine just being pulled, aimed to Elka.

"Ngh......."

- Seeing Takane be shot, already...
Already after the first, his heart sunk to depths he never would have imagined.
But even so, his body had to move.
In front of him, the orange reaper.
Behind him, a rioting crowd about to break in.

"Hhh... Auuuuh... Ahh... GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

So he roared.
To whom he was roaring to, he had no idea.
But all of them knew that there was an "audience" to this tragedy. So perhaps his soul roared to the audience watching.
Clenching his fists, he held tightly onto the Paranoia Syringe...
And ran straight out of the house.

Lower.
Noei's hands simply lowered down. As she was already automatically refilling the clip of her gun.
She spoke without a second thought.

"A coward until the end, Elka. You have no sympathies coming from me."

A full about face. Sparing no time.
Her eyes already directed to the stairs.
She spoke as she walked to it.

"A liar until the end, Takane. You have no sympathies coming from me."

Step. Step.
- On the second floor.
Blood, too.

"A mook until the end, Aimone. You have no sympathies coming from me."

- A ladder to the roof.
Once she arrived to the roof...
Noei looked all around. Just below her and beyond the gates were many people.
It was as if you took everyone in multiple neighborhoods and gathered them to the hill.
Some, even unarmed men, were fighting the men in suits. Of course, some were slaughtered.
But the moment Noei arrived ontop of the roof...

... All of them stopped.

". . ."

But her gaze was only cast to the people below her momentarily.
For her full focus went to the one in front of her.

Standing at the edge of the roof was a single Seventh.
A Seventh with a clearly tailored and custom made outfit. From top to bottom.
The hat, too, had a lot of special details and care put into it.
Yet it is with that same clothing that she opposes the orange reaper.
Her gaze was readied on the ladder to the roof. Ready for Noei to enter whenever.

She didn't move. She only let her blank expression say it all.
Noei stepped and met her- just two meters away.

"..."

Despite the fact that she didn't want to speak...
She ended up being the one to break the ice.

"So you never found out where the bomb was."

"..." One solemn nod.

The confrontation between the two of them...
... It could be described as nothing but sad.
Where neither of them wanted to say anything more than what they need to.
But they had to say more. They had to say more, otherwise...

Their last confrontation would be in pure silence.

"Thousands of people are going to die. Hundreds are here, and the shockwave will retroactively disrupt the unstable Backstreets. Many may die in the wake of their unsteady and poorly made buildings falling down on them. I see it as a fitting death for their hubris. But I never thought you would've. I thought you were a Hero. -The Greatest Robot in the World."

"I... I don't know if I want to be a hero for these people anymore."

07/12/2024 5:13 pm

She looked down.
The men were chanting.
All sorts of things.

"KILL HER! KILL ARWEST!" "THAT'S THE QUEEN OF PARANOIA! KILL HER!" "DESTROY HER!" "SAVE US, NOEI!" "KILL ARWEST!" "BEAT HER TO THE GROUND!" "SAVE US, PLEASE! SAVIOR!" "TURN HER INTO NOTHING!"

All sorts of chants...

All turned towards the villain.

"I'm the culprit." She put two fingers to her head. "Don't cry for me."

As she lowered her hands. One of her Armaments released from her arm.
A handle of a saber. As a beam extended from it.
She readied it, holding it in one hand.

"... But now you finally get it. There's no point in being a hero for these people."

"..."

Within the hundreds of cries and shouts-

Noei was able to hear a single, familiar, shout.

It was of Doctor Etsuji's. "- STOP!"

A single, powerful word, echoed through him.
But it wasn't strong enough.
Noei heard it, but it wasn't powerful enough.

The crowd eventually became nothing to her.
- Slowly, she raised her hand...

"Yeah. It's just as you said. It's pointless."

"As I said. Don't say useless things. ... But, if I may. Let's indulge-" - BANG!

Arwest clearly wasn't done speaking yet.
Noei was close to her, so she could read her heart like that.
So it was precisely because of that that she chose to shoot her now. Noei knew...
That Arwest would choose to monologue out of some twisted sentimentality.
The shot was straight in the heart... With a bullet that crystallized itself into black, splitting itself into several shards that shot deep into her circuitry and cables.

What she was holding- while it could be used to kill humans...
... Was an Anti-Seventh Gun.
Arwest had no time to put up her Furyoku aura, so...

"It's over."

- Fall.
The purple Seventh immediately collapsed onto her knees.
Just like Takane, she fell. Like a puppet with its strings cut.
No light came from her eyes anymore. No twitch would come.
- Not even a simple memory would remain.

". . ."

At her death-
There were mixed sounds.
For one. The sounds of slaughter and gunfire began to continue. This time, they got louder.
The men in suits began to fight harder.
Yet the innocents cheered on. For Noei. Despite their slaughter.

Noei picked up Arwest's body, carrying her like a princess.
As she walked. Out of the gates. Through the chaos.
Not a single soul dared to touch her- not even the men in suits that came to dispose of her.
Where she was going to was far away.

The outskirts of the city. Since the Backstreets were at the edge of Steel City, this was feasible for her.
She just needed to get far.
She would not turn around.
Even when she was at the front gates and the gazes of the mafioso and the crowd she rallied were staring at her, she did not turn around.
Even when she was at the ruined streets, still fresh off of war, she did not turn around.
Even when she passed bus stop after bus stop, the sun slowly falling...
Noei did not turn around.

It was only when...
A massive explosion, coming from that Japanese household, erupted...
That she finally turned.
And it happened when she reached the end of the backstreets.

"...!"

07/12/2024 5:32 pm

...
As Arwest suggested-
The sound of the unsteady and poorly made shanties... Even some normal buildings too, began to shatter and collapse.
It was just like what Noei witnessed in the V District 2 months ago. When the Silver Nephilim ascended to the heavens.

With that..
Noei finally decided to lay Arwest down.
At the edge of Steel City, with the only thing ahead being vast plains... Rocky crags...
And a giant steel gate in the distance-

It was like she had finally escaped that city.
So she laid down the body of the one that hated it the most.

"Sleep tight, Arwest. ... The Queen of Paranoia."

It was only then when Noei put her body down...
That she noticed-

Something sticking out of Arwest's pocket.

"...?"

With nothing else better to do, she took it out.
It was a disc. A CD.
Noei recognized these types of objects well.

"... A Tempo? From Arwest?"

As she held it up. To her, this "Tempo" was nothing more than a dead angle, but...
Engraved on it was the word "REWIND."
- A Tempo she didn't recognize.
Alongside a note attached to it.

"..."

The handwriting was too clean to be a human's, so it's a Seventh's.
No doubt, Arwest's own writing.
Noei read the note.

"If you are reading this, then I, Arwest Meinster, am likely dead.
These are my notes, in the vain hope that whoever uses this Tempo will remember.

I am not the culprit.

I do not know who the culprit is, or how many "culprits" there are.
Regardless, there are two things I believe to be absolute truths.
- The ratting of us to the Mafia was intentional.
- The war incited between the Kidori Alliance and the Melaragno Group was unintentional.
However, stating of these truths will only increase the Paranoia among us even further.
So I will stay these words to myself and hope that it should never get to the point where this note is read by another.
However, as you are reading this, we have likely hit the worst possible outcome.

If the culprit is reading this, then good job. You outplayed me.
If you are not the culprit...

... Please. Uncover the truth.
That is my last wish."

07/12/2024 5:43 pm

- Of course, what that disc did was stated directly on it.

Rewind.

Noei's Craving was something else.

But as if syncing up with the Tempo itself...
There was nothing Noei wanted more-

Than to go back.
To do it all over again.
To see everyone again.

And to prevent the disaster from unfolding.

In the Krypt District, its edge is where the prestigious Sapphire High is.
A very tall school with orb-like and dome-like shapes for its important rooms, including its classrooms. Huge hallways which spiral upwards and said domes feeling like floating bubbles.
And behind it, the vast Usui Forest. One of the many untouched zones of wilderness in Steel City.
Thus, Sapphire High has become somewhat of a notable landmark for the Krpyt District.
- A district that is in no shortages of landmarks. It has Shiori's concert hall, Neuron itself, the Cyber Trade Center, the Information Tower, ShioriLand, the famous Seventh Crossing...
But even those not involved with the local culture visit just to see Sapphire High's unique structure. You'd never even guess it was a school.
And even if you're not there for the school, there's the massive Usui Forest behind it.

And even if you're not there for either...
... You're there for the school festivals. Which happen right behind the school.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAALRIGHT, EVERYOOOOONE!!!!!!"

A massive post-midterms festival was being held.
Complete with stands, booths, a concert that just finished up front, games to play...
And of course- as the staff in the front are announcing at the stage...

"It's time for the Main Event of today! The Sapphire Games! I'm sure you've all been preparing and dying to see the results of today! So let's get straight to it! Everyoooone!!! Prepare the Games!"

... With Takane Watcher of Class 1-B being the host...
A single announcement is all it took for dozens of robots carrying equipment to begin preparing and clearing out the middle of the festival.

Since robots run the brunt of hard work nowadays...
The School Festivals of Sapphire High usually come after midterms or long stretches of tests. In this case, it was the former.
Now it serves to be a reward for the students for working so hard.
But not just that. The parents and friends of the students from other schools were also invited, with entry being free.
Thus, the Sapphire High Festivals are always filled to the brim with all sorts of people.

In the corner of the festival, Elka and two others were watching the robots go at it.
Since Sapphire High was government funded, its robots were state of the art. They were floating in and coming out of the walls of the school.
While most robots in cheaper or more middle class areas are still using wheels to navigate or legs.
Elka chewed on his cotton candy as he watched what could only be described as an arena being set up.

"Whew... Still so damn impressive every time I see the arena be made. Robots are seriously good at building."

Standing next to the delinquent was of course Noei.
Who was also eating cotton candy herself, though a bit slower.
Because after all, this was the first time she's ever eaten cotton candy. She was savoring every moment of it.
Trying new foods was something she valued a lot, so Noei spent every moment cherishing it.
She almost forgot to respond, as a few seconds were spent in silence.

"... Are you interested in building, Elka?" Noei said, looking over to him while the two ate in silence.

"Used to be. Wanted to be a carpenter when I was young!" Elka said, looking at the robots effortlessly making an arena with slopes, cover, climable spots... "But then I found out that robots took that spot. Of manual hard labor and stuff. Now, the only role us humans have in buildin' shit is like... Programming and schematics. Stuff I ain't good at." Elka shook his head.

And...
... Since many students brought their parents to this very festival-
- It's no wonder that Etsuji Maeda, who was practically Noei's father, was present.
He wasn't eating anything and had his focus put onto the robots.
But that statement from Elka got him to chime in.

"Ah... Elka, right? Is that something you're against?"

"Meh. Not really. I ain't gonna be all Robo-Racist and go "ohhh they took the place of hard labor!" and stuff like that." Elka said, raising up his hand. His hand was facing the school. "I hear before robots were invented, crazy cool arenas like these weren't able to be built. And there WERE no massive school festivals. Seems to me they just improved stuff, even IF we lost a few jobs in the process!" Elka began to jab the air, shadowboxing. As he spoke. "Sides, my dream NOW is to become a Pro Boxer! That's the sort of role NO robot can take, cause there's always gonna be a market for seeing two dudes go at it!"

"Huh... That's surprisingly well educated of you."

Etsuji slowly smiled. He was reassured that Noei had a good friend.
Especially because...

"When she told me you were a Delinquent, I thought you'd be like..."

Etsuji nodded ahead.
Where he saw 4 men in typical delinquent wear crouched over and scheming. With bats in hand.

"Those guys. People who're up to no good and bully because they don't have anything better to do. Or they're just insecure."

"Yeah, see, that's the difference between them and I!" Elka pumped his fist up. "Those're my former mooks. Remember 'em, Noei?" Elka said, nodding over to her.

"Of course!" Enthusiastically, Noei pointed. "It was back when you and them tried to mess me up. Then Seren saved me!"

- For a brief moment, a wistful look passed Noei.
One that only Elka saw. But she quickly returned to her normal look.

"I don't think I could forget that. It's the first time I ever met the two of you, after all... And you two were my first friends!"

". . . "

It was then...
That Etsuji's neck hovered to Elka.
His body didn't change. Only his neck did.

"Wait. What did she say you tried to do?"

...
Elka knows full well the wrath of a father.
So sweat immediately began to roll down the side of his face.
He swallowed, as the delinquent fully turned to Etsuji.

".............. It was nothing."

"Besides, we're super friends now!"

Noei said, raising up Elka's hand cheerfully.
Such a childish motion... It would get most people embarrassed or annoyed.
But Elka took Noei's hand and raised it higher.

"So what he did in the past doesn't matter!"

"Exactly!!!"

Elka pointed to his former mooks.
As he exclaimed. Even gathering a few eyes towards him.

"They were delinquents because they're insecure and need to do big shit in order not FEEL like shit. But me? I know I'm the shit." Elka said, pointing his thumb to his chin. "So I'm fine living how I like. Doing whatever I want, whenever I want. That includes hanging out with you. But apparently, they think hanging out with a Seventh is lame. Makes 'em feel like shit." The boy stuffed his hands in his pockets, smirking as he looked back at them. "Maybe me meetin' you did more than just give me a friend. Cause it exposed who they really are." (edited)

"His language could use some improvement...
But this boy has a good head on his shoulders."
Etsuji commented in his own mind as he stepped back.
Simply smiling as he watched Noei and Elka share each other's enthusiasms.
What was passing through him right now was an unknown emotion. Pride for another person was certainly a part of it.
But there was something deeper, more primal...

... Giving Etsuji a sense of unease that he couldn't look away from.

"..." (edited)

"U-Um..." Noei scratched her chin, as she began to ask... "I've uh, I'm not sure how to say this... But did you..."

... Her question however, was interrupted.
It's not like that interruption was bad luck anyways.

Even if she wasn't interrupted, there was no way for her to have finished her statement.
At this point in time, Noei could not say what she's been meaning to ask Elka.

"- OKAY, THE ARENA'S DONE! HAVE A LOOK AT IT!"

What was up ahead... Was like a mix of an obstacle course and an arena.
Places for cover. Towers with climbing spots... Even some high tech springs which launched people upwards, also coating them in an aura that allows them to fall slowly.
But such a place, with the need for climbing spots, barricades, covers, hiding spots...
What it was, was of course-

"THIS HERE'S THE ARENA FOR THE 18TH ANNUAL SAPPHIRE GAMES! The city's BIGGEST Waterfight Battle Royale!!!!!!"

The arena was easily as big as half a football field. Or the size of a medium sized court.
It was enough for dozens of people to fit in.
Holograms were displayed above the arena to show a more closer look at the arena.

"We took the criticism from last year about there being too little cover, so we made the arena a big tighter and more claustrophobic this time! More room for ambushes! More room for intense narrow shootouts! Most of all, quicker eliminations! So let's enjoy this season and have a blast!!!!!!"

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Everyone was cheering.
After all, the Waterfight Battle Royale was the highlight of the Sapphire High Festival.
Plus, it only ever happened in the post midterm festivals.

"WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Also, Noei cheered.
She had no idea what the point of cheering was, but since everyone was doing it, she did as well.

"..."

Etsuji remained silent.
He didn't even cover his ears at the uproar.
His eyes were merely fixated on the arena.

"This looks SUUUUPER fun!!!!!!"

Noei said, her eyes filled with stars once more.
With her arms bobbing up and down, she said,

"Can we play?! Can we play!?!?!?"

"HELL YEAH WE WILL!!!!!"

Elka shouted.
But then he cleared his throat.

"I-I mean. We can. But, yeah, errr- there's gonna be a bit of an... Issue." Point. He pointed back to the stage where the host, Takane, was announcing.

"YOU GOT ONE HOUR TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE GAMES START! Which also means ONE HOUR OF SIGN UPS! As per usual, sign up in teams of four. Not any less, not anymore! If y'ain't got four, time to buddy up and meet new friends!"

Takane pointed upwards to a large hologram.
- There were also many holograms magnifying her image, so it was a hologram inside of a hologram.

"In case this is your first time, here's the rules! Ya' go in, shoot. You get an armor with 4 points. One at your head, body, legs (shooting just one counts) and your back. All four are hit, and yer' out. And you get one water gun and one bomb. It can be anything from the classic machine guns, the rifles, the Water Katanas, the gatlings... Oh- and if you're weird, we straight up just got buckets too. And if you're wondering why this ain't paintball-" - Takane did a stylish pose. "- IT'S CAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS, BABY!!!!!"

"Four..."

Noei counted with her fingers.
As she frowned.

"Oh. There are only three of us. ... If Marika and Seren were here, then..."

Her voice trailed off right after that.
- It's been a month. And the sorrow has still not left her.
For how could it?

"Ah..."

Etsuji noticed Noei's sorrow...
Then he decided to play up his reaction.

"W-Well! Sorry to say Noei, but I really can't play!" Etsuji said, waving his hands around. "You know me! I'm old! I can't move around as well anymore!"

". . . B-But.........."

Luckily...
Etsuji's reaction got Noei's sorrow to turn into a more unserious sadness.
The symbol of a teardrop formed in both her irises as she looked at Etsuji.
Pleading like a cat.

"Come on, old man!" Elka said, lightly kicking Etsuji's shin. "You're the head o' Neuron, right? Means you spend all day at your computer! You gotta get some exercise, man!"

"V-Vice Chairman, but still..."

Etsuji watched as both the kids were pleading him...
As his shoulders fell.

"Haaaah... Fine. I will say though. It might be unfair for my opponents."

Readjusting his glasses... Light shone off of it.
As he flashed a dastardly grin.

"I have experience with a sniper rifle. Good experience."

"Woaaaaah!!!" Noei flapped her arms around after that. "I didn't know you could be cool, Doctor Etsuji! I thought you'd be lame forever, but that was actually menacing!"

"Lame forever- GHAKACAJGK?!"

It took him a bit to process that statement.
As soon as he did though...
All of his years caught up to him, and he fell to the ground. His hands on his chest. Almost like he's about to be loaded into a coffin.

"Woaho!!! Didn't know you could be so brutal to your own Pa' like that, damn!"

Elka said, softly bumping Noei's shoulder.
- Until he remembered that she was a Seventh, so he could do so more enthusiastically.

"Brutal?" Tiiilt. Her head slightly moved to the side. "I was just stating the truth of what I thought."

"- AAAAAAAAAGHHH!!!"

"D-Damn, girl, he's already dead!!!!"

"But, hmmmmmm..."

Noei stepped back, poking her chin.
As the gears were quite literally turning in her head.

"I don't know anyone who could be our fourth... And I also don't have any other friend aside from you, Elka... Maybe you could ask that Okino guy you used to talk to a lot?"

"W-Well..." Elka stepped back, scratching his hair. "Knowing priss kid, he's probably already got a team. And another thing- I think something's going on in his household. He ain't talk much to me anymore, and he ain't as lively as he used to be." Elka exhales. "Only time he does is when he says I shouldn't be hanging out with you as much."

"O-Oh..."

Noei looked down with a clearly guilty look.
Where even a dense person would notice how guilty she looked.
Noei wore her emotions on her sleeves. It was no exaggeration to call her one of the most expressive Sevenths.

"Hey, Noei, no worries." Elka pat Noei on the shoulder. "I made my choice by choosing to be with you anyways. Not like I don't value him, but he's going through some shit. So I'm giving him some space."

"Still..."

Etsuji scratched his chin.
As he looked straight ahead. There were a sea of people grouping up...
Some already heading into the arena to familiarize themselves and practice...

"Perhaps you can take your instructor's advice? Now might be the time to meet new friends."

"Might be our only option, but..." Elka scratched his chin. "There's like, a thousand friggin' dudes here. How do we manage that?"

"....."

Noei thought for a second...
As she looked to Etsuji with a smile.

"Ah! Doctor Etsuji! Authorize my Factor! I've got an idea!" (edited)

"..."

- Etsuji never liked authorizing Noei's Factor.
It was permanently unlocked, which means she could still do so at will.
But most Sevenths still ask their Doctors if they can authorize it anyways. 
Seeing the smile on Noei's face... Etsuji adjusted his glasses with his two fingers.

"If I'm gonna do it... I might as well look cool."
He thrusted his palm forward vigorously.

"Acknowledged. Fly, Noei!" (edited)

"Haaaah..."

Mimicking an exhale...
A brief, thin, aura of white surrounded her like a calm blanket.
As she hunched her back over... That aura began to control itself.
Expanding and taking shape into clear wings. Wings of black... And white.
The left wing being white. The right wing being black.

The wings of Rebirth and Destruction, Seren Astoria's Armament.
The last living memory Noei has of Seren.
Flap. Noei took flight at such high speeds- it caused many people to look at her.
She flew high. To where she was now overlooking the entire Sapphire High Festival.

"Let's see, let's see..."

Her eyes began to scan the festival. To find anyone who was alone.
After all, she just needed to find a single person who was alone and looked like they needed grouping.
But everyone- even the shy nerdy types were grouping up with another.

"... Ah!"

However. Although she did find someone who was alone...
Noei divebombed and flew down to them for a different reason.

"Oh no!"

The person Noei flew to...
Was one of her classmates, deeper in the woods of the forest.
- Coincidentally, it was also the same place she first met (and was bullied by) Elka. In which she was saved by Seren.
More importantly, she was holding a water gun. A machine gun type, and...
Her knee was scraped.

"Agh... Gah..."

With a large rock behind her, it's clear that she wasn't looking where she was going and tripped. Hard.
Upon seeing Noei descend and dive down like a bird...

"...!!! E-Eeep!" The girl tried to get up- scared. Then she fell again. "A-Ah! Y-You're...!!!"

"H-Hey! Pharma, right? From my Class!"

Laaand.
Noei rolled onto the ground, dispersing all of the speed she got from her divebomb.
Her wings curled, but they did not vanish. 
Noei took a step in front of Pharma- noticing how she was backing off.

"Hey, don't worry. It's alright. Just don't move, I don't wanna miss."

Noei's white wing curled and bended.
Scooping up Pharma.

"...!!! A-Ah!"

As the pain from her leg was too much...
The only thing she could let out was a squeal. She was too surprised.

"..."

Noei closed her eyes...
As the white aura from the white wing began to surround Pharma too.
It went to her leg. The painful scrape that Pharma had slowly began to heal.
Not just that. But the part of her pants that had a hole in it was now also repairing as well.
The wings of Rebirth had healed Noei's classmate completely. As she put her down.

"That takes a whole lot of energy from me, but it's not like I was gonna use it for anything else today, hehe..." Noei said, scratching the back of her hair.

"You... You healed me."

Pharma looked at her leg...
As she then looked back at Noei.

"Ah!"

For some reason, she was still scared.
She hid behind a tree.

"W-Why?! Why did you heal me?!"

"Huh?"

Noei was a bit confused at why Pharma was scared.
She thought at first it was her wings. They WERE the same as Seren's after all.
She turned off her Factor, as they dissipated into nothing but glowing dust that spread in the air.
Noei decided not to step forward, poking her chin.

"Ummm... I saw you injured, so I decided to come here to heal you."

"Well, that's..."

Blink blink.
It took Pharma a few consecutive blinks to realize she had nothing to say to that.
Crossing her arms, she looked away.

"... To be expected! You are but a mere Seventh, after all! A Seventh is still a robot, and it follows the laws of robotics for them to help humans! Hm!" Still acting standoffish, Pharma stuck out her chest.

"Umm..."

And Noei was confused by this.
Not even Elka is this harsh.

"I thought Ms. Watcher taught us that Sevenths don't follow the laws of robotics..."

"O-Oh crap, she did?" Pharma's arms fell. "Since when?"

"One week ago. I seem to recall you were also sleeping in class then! Would you like to share notes with me?"

Noei said, smiling.
As something slid out of her wrist.

"Contained here is a document that I made in my head of all the notes of Ms. Watcher's classes!" A USB.

"Man, that'd be REAL helpful..."

Pharma stared at the USB in a trance for a second.
Forgetting to close her mouth.
Then she snapped back into reality.

"Wait, no!"

Pointing her water gun at Noei...
... Which got no reaction out of her, Pharma returned to her usual harshness.

"Another question, before I blast you so hard you'll have no choice but to run! Why... Why the heck are you being so nice to me?! Oh- wait! Do you not have any friends and you want ME to join you for the Waterfight?"

"Ohhh... ... I didn't think of that, actually! Good idea!"

Noei said, smiling.
A literal lightbulb went off in her irises. As she pumped her fist up.

"Hey, hey, Pharma! Join our team! We just need one more person!"

Then Pharma's shoulders heaved down. "........ You mean to say you haven't thought of that earlier?"

"Yuh-huh!" Nod nod.

". . . . . . ."

Pharma lowered her head.
As she covered her eyes with her hat.
She was mumbling to herself loudly.

("Damn it...!!! This girl- I mean, this Seventh's actually really nice! I swore days ago that she was here to take our role!!! For this school is meant to be for humans only! But she's nicer than most of the humans here!")

Noei raised up a hand. "Um... Sevenths have enhanced hearing. If you want to hide what you're saying to me, it might be better to either be farther or to just think..." She said with a v-shaped frown.

"Oh, thanks."

Pharma replied without thinking.

Then she jumped back, while mumbling loudly.

("SO NICE!!! Like what the heck?!?!?! Who says that?!?!?!") `

Coughing loudly, she turned around.
As she ended up taking Noei's advice and just thinking.
"Damn it... I really didn't want to have to team up with a Seventh. I wanted to team up with a buncha losers and win solo, but...!!!

I...

I could REALLY use a friend!"

Skiiid. Pharma did a full turn and stepped in front of Noei.

 
"... Seventh.
I will join you under ONE condition."

Pharma lowered her voice to try and sound cool.``

"Oooh! Cool!!!" And at this... Of course, Noei was easily impressed.

"Oh crap, it actually worked."
Pharma put her hands behind her back...
As she cleared her throat again.

"W-Well. ... I will make it straightforward. I want to win. If you plan on entering the Waterfight just to have fun, or to do your best... Then is that really fighting!? I lost the last one embarrassingly. All because of that misconception that by just going in, it'd be enough... No!" Pharma thrusted her fist to the sky. "There has to be more than that! There has to be drive! There has to be an evil level of willpower to win, no matter the cost!" - It was clear that she took the Waterfight very seriously. "If you fight with any less than that, I will not join you!"

"Ohhh..."

For a moment...
Noei was starstruck.
Then-

She responded by also thrusting her fist to the sky.

"I totally get it!!!!!" While also echoing Pharma's tone.

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! Wait, what, really?"

Nod nod.
Noei put her fist down...
As she spoke with the same enthusiasm she always did.
But her words were coated with something else.

"If you're not going into something as serious as this with your 100%... Then it's like saying you're not giving yourself up to the situation- or to the fight. It means you didn't really care for the fight in the first place. So you can afford to space out, and that stuff. To treat it like just another day... B-But that's what I feel like." Noei said, shaking the air in front of her. "That's how I felt in my last fight, so, um! Yeah! I get it! It's like how you also lost the last Waterfight!"

Regret.
That was the poison that coated her every word.

Pharma at first was stunned.
As her hand hovered in front of her for a moment. Taken aback.
A single thought passed her.
"I... I never imagined a Seventh could sound so depressed. What the heck...?"
Again, Pharma shook her head to recover.
Before she put her hand in front of her fully.

"... Then that settles it. You get me, and I get you. And we're bagging this Waterfight."

Noei reached forward...
With a bright grin, she tightly shook Pharma's hand.

"Then you're on! We'll win this Waterfight together! By the way, is now a good time to mention that this is my first time?"

07/12/2024 10:08 pm

-------------------------- + Later In The Day + ------------------------------

Within the arena itself...
Using the allotted time to practice, everyone was going at it.
And of course, for the ones that didn't have time to participate- this would be their only time to play.
So the arena was sufficiently busy. But it was also big enough to support this business.
Within the arena itself were also circular pads- small pools of water. These chokepoints are where one can refill.
And moving targets were all around those areas, as the organizers knew that people would practice most near the refill points.

Noei's weapon of choice... Was a light gatling gun. A minigun, essentially.
Finding it similar to the Gehenna Drill, which she's used to, 
She was firing alongside targets that floated upwards... All the while strafing at surprising speeds.

"...! Etsuji! How's my aim!"

Noei said...
As one shot even bounced off the target and splashed water on her.

"... I do not think that was a good sign!"

Just as Etsuji suggested...
He was using a sniper rifle watergun as his main choice of weapon.
As he was testing out its capabilities. He noted how rather than shooting a singular bullet of water...
It was shooting a trail of water. As evidenced by the trail of water it left on the ground.
Etsuji lowered his sniper rifle, as he looked at Noei and the targets she shot.

"Miniguns aren't really known for their accuracy or precision! All thing considered, you're doing a pretty good job! Keep it up, and we'll win for sure!"

What Elka was using was so undeniably him.
It isn't an official type, but rather something only people like Elka can do.
In his hands were two machine gun type water guns. 
As he was able to handle both, aim with both...
And through a particularly dense part of covers and obstacles, even roll through them.
He rolled four times in quick succession, making it through a chokepoint...
As he fired straight ahead with his guns.

"Bam!"

Shooting a target at the end...
Which another person was going for.

"Sorry about that, Pharma! But it looks like I got here first!"

As Pharma was practicing on her own with it earlier...
She was practicing with a simple machine gun type water gun.
One with very high accuracy, but its shots of water were small.
Lowering her gun... At first she was mad. Then she was a bit shocked.

"I... ... You? Apologizing?"

"Errr... Yeah?" Elka stood up, putting his two guns in his holster. "Ain't nothin' lame about apologizing to your friends." He said, walking up to Pharma with a fist bump.

"W-Wait! Friends?!?! A heathen like you, calling me a friend?!"

She stepped back.
As Pharma was trying to understand what was going on.
Clearly, things were moving too fast for her.

Elka stopped his advance.
As he lowered his fist, confused.

"Noei's got a good eye for people. And she wanted you to join us, right? Means she trusts you. So I trust you. By the way, no clue what the heck the word heathen means."

"It's..."

If Pharma were a Seventh, a loading icon would be seen in her eyes.
She once again shook her head to try to regain her senses.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. I just didn't expect you to be so open." (edited)

"Well, for as much as I admire honesty, I can't really say I was always like that."

Elka lowered his gaze...
As he started to take steps forward. Turning a corner, he went back to where Noei was practicing- near the Refill Pool...
As he watched her with a slow smile.

"I-I got them all! I-In one single gatling gun burst, I got them all!!!!!"

Despite it only being training...
Noei lifted up her water minigun with both her arms.
As she was cheering right in front of Etsuji, a big smile on her face.
It was only training. But it looked like it meant the world to her.

Elka looked back at Pharma with a grin. "But Noei really has a way of opening up people."

Pharma's response to that...
As if she was trying to defend herself, she asked.

"Even though she's a Seventh?"

To that...
Elka instantly lowered an eyebrow. It wasn't in frustration or anger.
He just simply didn't understand what the question had to do with Noei. Or his friendship with her.

"What's that got to do with anything?"

Surprisingly...
Pharma seemed to have a response.

"It's just that... Well, err... Sevenths..."

But.
It was interrupted by the entrance of someone new. No one interrupted the two of them.
Rather- someone interrupted Noei.

It was just a single clap.
In an arena filled with the splashes of water, teams crying out chants and war cries as they practice...
A clap shouldn't be something that should draw attention to in such a busy place.
But if a clap were to draw the attention of dozens of people all practicing and training with heated minds...
Then the person clapping would have to be one with innate authority.

A quick glance to him.
Everyone in the general area but Noei looked to whoever did the clap. Even those not a part of Noei's team.
The only one who didn't look was Noei. 
With a boy, a boy from Class 1-B, standing in front of Noei and Etsuji with a frustrated look...
And then, a point- 
- His intent was clear.

"Seventh. Why are you participating in a competition meant for humans?" (edited)

"You're..."

Noei only looked when Etsuji looked.
She was the last one to look at the new person. While everyone else in the area was already looking.
Etsuji however, was the first one to act. As he stepped in front of Noei out of pure instinct.

"..."

His gaze wasn't casted to Okino himself, but...
Someone of his team. Right behind the boy itself.
Though he was silent, his gaze wasn't uneasy. In fact, he even gave the man he was looking a familiar look of friendliness.
He just chose not to speak to let Okino and Noei talk.

"...?"

Noei was confused. First at Okino, then at Etsuji's instinctual protection.
She lowered her minigun.

"Oh... Wait... Is this competition not allowed for Sevenths?"

As for a moment-

She stared at her hand made of steel.
Tightly gripping it in slight regret.

As if to answer Noei's statement...
A seemingly tired Takane had ran into the arena and to the inbetween of the two groups.

"H-Hold up, you two!"

While panting... It looks like she ran to the arena.
Taking a moment to breathe. As the host of the event pulled up a finger.

"Okino! Do I gotta repeat myself again!? There are no rules that say a Seventh can't join the Festival! And you weren't there at the time, buuuut we also got a Seventh in the 16th annual Sapphire Games. This ain't an uncommon occurence."

"I see."

Okino however...
Did not deter.
Putting his finger up to the side of his ear, he smirked.

"Then, if you remember a single participant in the sea of dozens... That Seventh must have been special. Could it be that they won the Games?" (edited)

"Gh-"

For a moment, Takane flinched.
Readjusting her tie, she uneasily met Okino in the eyes.

"... And what of it?"

A silent chuckle escaped him, where he mimicked the motions of one but audibly did not laugh.
A few steps ahead were taken to make sure he was past Takane...
... And right in front of Noei, to challenge her directly.
His voice was raised, as he was well aware that people were watching this happen.

"What I'm saying is that a Seventh has no right to be in a competition like this. Especially... The Greatest Robot in the World, or so the media calls you." He pulled his hand down. "Sevenths have enhanced power, senses and speed beyond us humans. Essentially, if you intend to compete in this game... You're encroaching on the territory of the humans."

This was something...
... No one could refute. Not even Noei or Etsuji could say anything at this.
For a moment, the arena got a bit more quieter.
This declaration and confrontation had somehow calmed down and stunned an arena filled with individuals training and having fun while doing it.
This attribute that Okino possessed...
- The ability to dominate others...

It was almost overwhelming for Noei.

"I..."

Even so, she tried to speak.
- But.

08/12/2024 1:22 pm

The people did first.
As many others spectating in the area near them...
Began to splash water towards Noei with their waterguns.

"We saw the railgun stuff on the news! You being here would be unfair!!!" "You went to space! No one wants to fight against Superman!" "If you participate, it'll be obvious who'll win!" "Go away, Seventh! This is a game for humans!!!" "You're a hero!!! You're too much for everyone here, so get out!"

... As some of the crowd around them started to aim at Noei.
Expressing- individually- their own sentiments against Noei.
Creating an oppressive air around them. A suffocating one.

At that...
Etsuji nearly panicked.
As he let out a few of his words to the people all around them.

"H-Hey! You do know that for Sevenths to utilize their awesome power, they need their Factor to be authorized, correct? Noei doesn't have it authorized! Though her senses may be a bit improved, she's playing on even playing field!"

And...
Even Elka swam through the crowd and decided to take the side of Noei.
As the delinquent raised up his water guns against the crowd.

"Shut the hell up, all of you! And you, Okino!" - Point. "You're a part of 1-B! You should know that Noei's just average in terms of like- grades and PE performance and shit! The hell is this all about?!"

"I..."

At this...
Noei's face contorted to an expression of pure confusion. She wasn't sure what to look at.
The people she knew were protecting her.
Yet many people she didn't know were shooting water aggressively at her.
As she was quite literally turning all around to see the crowd that surrounded her.

"I just... I only..."

At this...
One of Okino's teammates approached silently.
- It was someone Noei and Etsuji knew well.
The silver haired Officer known as the "Seventh Ripper." Someone who assisted greatly in their counterattack against the Silver Nephilim.
Mazda Fuji, and...

("... Hey. Sorry about the theatrics my little brother's causing, Doctor Etsuji.") He whispered. ("I can't really say I support it, but... He's got a big vendetta against Sevenths.") ... Okino's big brother approached.

Etsuji exhaled.
As he pinched his nose.

("I get it... So I don't blame the kid. In fact, I was even dreading meeting him for this reason alone.") Etsuji said, waving to Mazda silently. The two seemed to be good friends.

("Why...?")

Noei asked.
As she was slightly afraid. Shaking ever so slightly.

("Why IS he so against Sevenths?")

Mazda crossed his arms. ("For a reason that's pretty simple. Our Dad was a brilliant scientist who wanted to work on unlocking human potential. We're all capable of harnessing Furyoku like you do, but he wanted to find a way to turn that into science. However, when the first Seventh was invented... His research was dropped into the wayside and he went bankrupt.")

With a lamentful look...
He noticed that Okino was getting a degree of pride while looking at everyone else.

("For a while, our family was broke, until i joined the Ministry of Defense and started earning for all of us. And... I don't exactly think Sevenths are to blame here. My father refused to adapt his science, even though he could've easily course corrected. But Okino doesn't see it that way.")

("Tch... I've heard the same sort of story come from tons of people.") Elka said, lowering his waterguns. ("The goons I used to have also complained about Sevenths being better in fights, which means they can't brawl as much on the streets. And I'm like.") Elka spun a finger around his head. ("Are ya' stupid?! Doing that shit lands you in the hospital!")

("But... ... That story happens to a lot of people.")

Noei said, as she slowly lowered her head.
She had come to her own conclusions to things.
- That Sevenths were causing harm to people. She had caused harm to people without even realizing it.
Even if other people didn't see it that way, there were people who did.
"Maybe that's why Seren..."

Tightly, Noei grit her teeth. She stood and weathered all the shouts from everyone around her.

Loudly...
Okino made his final declaration once they finished whispering.
With a point.

"Mazda. If you are done talking to them, then I suggest we get back to training. There's no point in conversing with future dropouts. For if this team participates, nobody will be happy about it."

At that statement, Mazda began to split from the group.
Leaving just Noei's group in the middle of everyone...
Noei tried to speak.

"That's..."

No words...

... Were able to escape from her at this very moment.
Because at this point in time, Noei was not enough.

Much to everyone's surprise...
The one who spoke wasn't Noei or any of her groupmates.
But the host- Takane Watcher- had clawed her way to the middle of everyone.
Even stepping in front of Noei.

As she pointed her finger to the sky.
She looked exhausted from having to run. Probably to chase after Okino's group.
As she shouted, to everyone...

"SO WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT, HUH?!"

"?!"

"...!"

"Oh?" (edited)

"Huh...?!"

... It was much louder and more brutish than Okino.
Takane did not carry the same sort of authority he had.

But what she did have... Was passion.

"Aiiiight, I do not give a flying fu- crap if this is against school guidelines or whatever. A lotta shi- stuff like this tends to happen cuz' the faculty's got a guide against picking sides and interfering with school fights, buuuuut..."

With an exaggerated motion of disgust...
Takane leaned her entire back down.
As she pointed at Okino.

"Oh my god, shuuuuuuuuuut uuuuuuuuuup!!! So what if they've got an advantage!? There's like- 4 of you and 1 of 'er! In a game where it's a battle royale! We got like, 25 teams last time! And in case you can't do math cause Robots do it for you nowadays, that's a flippin' a hundred people. Watch!"

- An unbelievably fast draw from her pocket.
She pulled up a pistol type water gun and shot a blast to Noei.

"Wah!"

Noei recoiled.
It was the first time she was splashed in the face, after all.

"Bam! Direct shot like that, and her head point is eliminated! Now imagine if like, 80 of you are coming at 'er. Ain't she the one with the disadvantage?! Not the advantage!? Ain't nothing hearing a little better than us can do if your ass- I mean, if your bum has 40 dudes chasing you down!"

Point.
This time she pointed her watergun up to the skies.

(edited)

With the entrance of Takane...
A member of Okino's team stepped forward.
A man dressed in ragged clothing. One you'd see in the backstreets rather than the glory and light of the Krypt District.
With his hands in his pockets, he mirrored the same cocky look as Takane.

"... Hey. Isn't this sort of interference against the rules of what you faculty are capable of? I doubt the staff will be so happy about you choosing a side like this..."

"You think I care?! This is clear bullying!"

With a slight aggression...
Her arm also curled like a snake to point at Demos.

"Look at 'er! Look at Noei! She's just a kid!"

The look on her face at this moment...
It was undeniably bashful and embarrassed.
- But something else took it over.

Awe.
Awe that she held towards Takane.

"So I don't give a crap about whatever beef you guys are doing. Noei's participating. And that's final. She's already signed up, so the only thing that'll stop 'er is if she drops out."

Takane exhaled.
As she began to walk away. Into the crowd...
That slowly dispersed because of her.

Out of everyone...
She was the most effective in defending Noei.

Okino...
Even until the end, did not directly address Noei.
As he simply looked at his 3 other teammates... Saying just one line.

"Let's go. We have better things to do." As he and his group began to walk off.

"..."

For a moment...
Noei was there. With her own thoughts.
- But she also thought faster than most people. Such was true of most Sevenths.

That is, until...
Etsuji stood next to Noei, whispering.

("Noei. I know you must be thinking about a lot, but... ... Authorize your Factor. Use Eyes of Add- and look at the fourth of the boy's teammates. The one who didn't speak.") As his voice almost seemed urgent.

"...?"

Noei was confused at first- but her body acted before her mind did.
Her Factor was Authorized. She activated Eyes of Add, looking at the one who didn't speak.
It looked to be a girl, but...

"...!!!!!!!!"

- They were a Seventh.
The person Noei was looking at had insides of steels, cables and wiring.
Rather than that of a human's body. And yet...
They were a part of Okino's team.
But what got that reaction out of Noei wasn't this realization.

...
It was the fact that the girl had turned her head to look at Noei.
Even stopping for a brief moment so the two could lock eyes.
- It was a moment that lasted less than a second.
But the moment they met eyes, it was as if everything froze. Everything was in a blur where only the two of them existed.
Every fiber of their being at this moment was dedicated towards looking at each other, even if only from a distance.
They almost forget to move. They both did.
- Or in other words, just by looking at each other, they forgot that they were even alive for a moment.

In that single moment...
Because they were both Sevenths, countless things ran through both of their minds.
Sevenths can't feel nausea. But should their programming be overwhelmed by too many things, then they can feel something that is similar to that.
And that right now is what Noei was going through.

Ragged clothes. Clearly a girl from a poor environment.
Purple hair that almost seemed faded. A Seventh's appearance can appear anemic if they've spent several days with low energy.
Just by seeing the eyes of this person, meeting them... Noei's head was filled with thousands of instructions.
But what?
- If one were to look at the program directly, then translate it to human words, it would be...

"I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something."  "I have to do something." 

Her mind was being haunted by that single thought.
Dragged on- her arm reaching forward robotically.
She has to. She has to do it.
Her entire Being has dictated that she has to do this something.
- But what?
Her neck felt itchy. It was as if there were foreign things inhabiting her body forcing her to do something.
What was that something?

She tried to recall it. Reaching into the deepest parts of her memory. Every drive. Every bit of energy.
There were only two words...
That she could reach from deep within.

"Kill her."

"...!" (edited)

"N-Noei!"

It was only the sound of a slightly frantic Pharma that got Noei to snap back to reality.
- Ah. That's right. They were surrounded by people, but...
There was now barely around around Noei. In fact, it was as if the event never happened at all.
Takane's diffusion was so successful that people just went back to training.

Pharma, who was in the crowd earlier, now had returned to the group.
And with a bashful look, she looked to the side.

"S-Sorry... I... I should've stood by your side in that moment. People were bullying you, and..."

"Ah..."

- "I can speak again."
She was lost in that moment for so long that it was like she forgot how it was like to be alive.
Looking at Pharma, a gentle smile formed on her face.

"... It's alright. I was really scared with all those people around me. So I can't imagine how it could've been for you..."

"Hey, don't sweat it, Pharma." Elka said, putting his hands in his pockets. His waterguns were in their holsters. "Takes real balls of steel to be able to withstand that much bullying. And Noei's got that in spades." Elka said, bumping her shoulder with his knuckle. "Right?"

"Err..."

Unsure of how to react...
Noei just acted as she usually did.

"Yeah, I think I do!"

As she pumped her fist up.
Though it lacked her usual enthusiasm.
A moment of silence passed, as Noei finally went and turned to Etsuji.

"Um... ... Doctor Etsuji. That person that was with Okino was a Seventh. How'd you know?"

"- Wait, what?!"

"Huh?!"

"It's something I picked up from working on them for so long. Some Sevenths look so close to humans that you can't tell the difference."

Etsuji said, scratching his forehead.
He looked at the direction in which Okino's team was formerly in.

"Sevenths of course- don't need to breathe. So that's the only way someone can tell if they're a human or a Seventh. I noticed that girl wasn't breathing, so..." He covered his mouth. "... I was just a little confused. Why did that boy go all this way to bully you if he has a Seventh of his own...?"

It was at this...
That Elka had a realization.
He gripped his fist, which he did a lot. But it was so tight that the fabric of his sleeves were threatening to rip.
Through bated anger, he said...

"... Oh my god. Okino was planning to cheat."

"Cheat?"

Being the most confused out of everyone...
Noei looked at Elka.

"I can't deny that since yer' a Seventh, you have a huge target painted on your back. And I also can't lie that your senses do give you an edge." Elka stared to the sky. "But what if you could eliminate that weakness? Like let's say- sneak you in without anyone knowing that you're a Seventh... ... That. That's what Okino's doing. That motherfucker REALLY wants to win, huh?!"

Skiiiiiiiiiid.
He turned to face everyone by turning on his heel.
As he drew his two guns.

"This is no longer Team Noei. Now... It's Team Elka. Because I've gotta win. I've gotta show that bastard his proper place! You got that?! Noei!? Pharma?! Old man!?"

"W-Woah! No idea where all of this drive to win came from... ... But sure!"

Pharma raised up her gun.
As she also mirrored Elka's drive.

"I'm NOT dropping out pathetically like last time! Soon, all of Sapphire High will know my TERROR!!!"

"Kids these days have so much energy..."

Etsuji took in a deep breath...
As he also raised his sniper rifle to the sky.

"But if this is what Noei wants, then I'll gladly fight to the bitter end!"

". . ."

... Noei wasn't particularly too enthusiastic about defeating Okino.
She just wanted to play the game and win. To put her all into it.
Who she fought didn't matter but...

"... Wait."
If it meant meeting that purple haired Seventh again...
... Noei raised up her minigun.

"Yeah! Let's fight on!"

11/12/2024 1:58 pm

-------------------- + Later On, The Waterfight + --------------------------

11/12/2024 2:31 pm

Within the arena that could easily hold a hundred people...
... A hundred people were gathered. Exactly a hundred.
25 teams, all with 4 people. A huge space, but one that also feels cramped.
Many chokepoints. Barricades. Barriers. Bridges. Even a few towers here and there.
Refill points with tons of huge space, but also elevated platforms and places to cover.
Each team was brought to a random part of the huge arena. 
The festival, which was once so loud, had been brought to a crippling anticipation.
Much more for the teams within it.

Then-
The announcer.

"Alright everyone!"

... It wasn't Takane.
Shocking and jarring everyone at first, a totally boring and unremarkable voice went through the mic.
Versus Takane, who had riled everyone up before. Even riling up Etsuji, who was an old man.
Nevertheless, all that anticipation was cut with a knife.
As everyone, especially the participants... All looked to the direction of the speakers.

"As per usual, here are the rules. No rough-housing, no cheating. You have four points on your back, legs, head and body. You can check the wrist device on the suit you've been given for the health for each part- and there's no healing." ... The fact that the voice of the person speaking was so monotonous lowered everyone's spirits a little.

But as if it were a stroke of luck, the gods themselves, or simply just bribery...
For everyone participating- their spirits were brought back.
At the center of the arena was an unlimited refill point. On top of an elevated hill-like structure.
Before the match even began...

... The most favored to win, Okino Fuji, raised up their rifle type watergun to the sky...
Shooting a trail of water to the sky. Which everyone could see, as it reflected off of the sun.
This was an obvious declaration.

"I will win."
He announced to all other 24 teams.
Rising everyone's spirits once more.

". . ."

Everyone was already equipped with the suits they needed for fighting.
They were lightweight suits and didn't get in the way of moving. Like mock combat armaments for the military.
Also, colored too. Noei's was orange.
Holding her water minigun in hand, Noei stared at the declaration.

Team Elka was very unluckily in the southwest corner of the Arena.
There was nothing of note near them. No vantage points, towers or refill points near them.
Which means that if they wanted to get anywhere, they would need to fight battles of attrition where they need to watch their ammo closely.

"I'm keeping my Factor off for this, but I did use Eyes of Add when I first entered here. The purple one is the only Seventh here... So no one else is cheating if you're wondering, Elka." Noei said, speaking a lot calmer than usual as she looked to Elka.

"Good. More than anythin', I hate cheaters. Of all types."

Elka gripped his two machine gun types in his hands.
Technically it isn't legal to wield two of the same weapon, but the staff of the Sapphire Games Waterfight thought it was so cool that they just let him do it anyways.
Already striking a pose, Elka glared onwards.

"Does our location mean that the strategy we decided on won't work though, gramps?" (edited)

Etsuji shook his head.
The grip on the sniper rifle type water gun that he had was steady.
Unlike the others, even Noei, who had some degree of anxiety in them... Etsuji seemed to contain no fear at all.

"No. It just means we'll need to be a lot carefuler with our bomb usage."

Strapped to the belts of their suits were 2 waterbombs. There are 3 types: Normal Bombs, Delayed Bombs and Burst Bombs which explode on impact. However, they chose to run a unique setup.
Elka, Etsuji and Pharma were all running Burst Bombs...
While Noei had a Delay Bomb, which had a larger radius of explosion, but took longer to burst.

They only have 2, but certain Refill Spots could replenish them.

"U-Um, I was just thinking..."

Pharma had a standard usual machine gun watergun.
As she was the most tense out of all of them.
Looking at Etsuji, she asked,

"Our plan is kinda... Crazy good. How did you think of our gameplan, Grandpa Etsuji?" It was clear that she was a little concerned. (edited)

"I really don't know why all these kids are calling me gramps... I'm not THAT old, am I?"
Etsuji thought to himself before he turned to Pharma and Elka.

"I served in the Whitebell War and fought in the Sergian Jungles for 3 years with my trusty sniper rifle." Etsuji said, raising up his sniper rifle above his shoulder. "So you COULD say that I have a little bit of experience." (edited)

"Wha- you're a Veteran?!"

"Woah- shit! Really?!" (edited)

"I don't know what that is, but everyone else is impressed! So I should be too!" Noei said, mimicking their expressions. (edited)

"Hold the phone!"

Pharma said, putting both of her hands in front of her.
Her panic subsided, replaced with almost a sense of pride.

"A-Ain't this kind of cheating our end too?! Cause you're like- a veteran! A-And this is a waterfight!"

It would be the equivalent to taking an adult to a children's game of basketball.
However, there was a simple reason why this was not the case.

"Well... A lot of people participated in the Whitebell War. Down to ordinary store clerks to rich CEOs due to how desperate we were. Steel City's population is only 250 million... Versus Whitebell's 1.2 billion people. We had to conscript everyone, or face the destruction of our nation."

Etsuji exhaled.
- He didn't like mentioning the war, but... He did also like teaching.
So remembering the war versus educating the kids of the future... The bad taste he had for the war neutered for this very moment.

"A lot of parents helping their kids are likely veterans too. Not to mention- we have some active soldiers right now." Etsuji gestured to Okino's team in the middle. "Noei. You remember Mazda, right?" (edited)

Noei looked...

As she saw Mazda, with a standard close-range type machine gun type.
He was keeping close watch of the entire area in front of him.
Almost like it was his domain. And anyone that entered it would be shot.
Though he was apologetic and calm to Etsuji earlier... His face had totally changed.
To that of a fierce, silver, tiger.
It's a look that she's seen before.

"Mm. I remember the way he fought. He didn't fight for very long, but his aim was really good." Noei said, nodding. "The people in the Ministry of Defense are really strong..."

... As she remembers.
She didn't even stand a chance against Seren. Whereas they cornered her, even if she did get the upper hand.

Not once... Did Noei ever consider herself "winning" against Seren.
So she had massive respect for those who stood up against her.

"Guh- you didn't tell me that we had Ministry of Defense people here too?! What the heck, Noei?!"

Pharma said, shirking down even more.
She crouched down, practically cowering.
Until...

... Elka was the one to step forward.
They had tuned out the monotonous announcer, wondering where Takane went.
But they were able to catch that he was about to announce that the games were about to start.
Spinning his two guns, he announced.

"Don't worry about it, Pharma! We've got a solid plan and some strong teammates. I'd say... That what's ahead of us is just a barrier. Something we can get over. So you can either splat right in front of it, or jump up with us!"

"I..." Pharma unconsciously picked herself up.

"Just believe in the plan. We've got your back, okay?" Etsuji said, patting Pharma on the head. "We'll win this... For Noei!"

And... Once the announcer finished their spiel-
- The music that signaled the battle had begun to play. It was a song from Shiori Hashimoto, the first Seventh.
Even though the announcer was monotone... Just by hearing Her voice again- everyone's spirits began to light up.
Though to Noei, a Seventh- and one with a unique background at that...
... Shiori's songs meant something else to her.

". . ."

So for a moment, her arms felt heavy. Her head dejected, looking to the ground.
Until.

"LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" An unexpected shout from her and a charge forward.

"...?"

Even Elka was caught off guard by this sudden burst of energy.
However... He caught up.
As soon as he heard the sounds of other war cries, bombs and the sound of water splashing all around...

"HELL YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

He matched Noei's war cry.
As he started dashing forward.

11/12/2024 3:09 pm

- Their plan was surprisingly simple, but with lots of nuance in each step.
Their goal was something that they decided on early.
Take down Okino's group as soon as possible... And intentionally paint a huge target on their back.
In fact, their entire plan involved around painting targets on their back.
Just as expected, they were the ones to come across a group first.
A group of four. Two with machine guns, one with a bucket, and the other with an umbrella-type which acted as a shotgun and shield.
With the arena being a 4-way crossing with elevated platforms and stairs near them. Almost like houses.

Etsuji's plan revolves around three easily replicable conditions. As long as 2 of them were fulfilled, then they could achieve the plan.
1. The enemy group first sees Noei.
2. Pharma and Elka are out of sight when the engagement begins.
3. Noei or Elka at least have one bomb.

As Noei dashed forward...
She saw the group alongside Elka, bunched up together.
Of course, since she was the aggressor...
She made an abrupt stop behind some cover, peeking out of it. While revving up her minigun faced towards the enemy.

"...!"

Noei made the first move and had an advantage of only a few seconds.
- But that was enough.

11/12/2024 3:12 pm

The umbrella-shotgun wielder dashed forward. "Oh no!"

As they pulled out their umbrella. Expanding into a huge shield...
Simultaneously shooting a shot.

"Don't worry, Takahashi! I got this!"

The one wielding the bucket announced.
As they sloshed the bucket upwards, the water not being a projectile that shot forward...
But one that rained downwards, as it's flung from above. Therefore, the cover Noei would be using wouldn't be enough.

As soon as he fired the shot though...
... His suit announced. As he flinched back.

《"HEAD 0%. BACK 0%. TWO POINTS LEFT."》 "...!!!" (edited)

On top of a vantage point...
Etsuji was being guarded by Pharma. With his sniper rifle in hand.
Already having picked out the most deadly target. Having fired two shots to the bucket wielder.

"Jackpot."

And as soon as Etsuji shot...
Rather than dashing back- as if he were insane...

"Hehe...!!!" Elka dashed straight to the umbrella-shotgun wielder!

11/12/2024 3:15 pm

The team was already panicking.
They weren't expecting a sniper. The two machine gun wielders looked at Elka approaching...
And out of sheer menace, they did not fire.

"He's running to us?! Is he crazy?!" "Takahashi's got his umbrella pointed! He's just bluffing, maybe he's new, and...!!!" - Boom.

As soon as Elka got close... The umbrella-shotgun was about to fire.
But Elka had done an insanely fast manuever- something he could only do due to his dexterity.
One.
He rolled to the side right before the umbrella-shotgun man fired.
Two... He had lobbed over one of his bombs right above the shotgun wielder.

It landed, and...

11/12/2024 3:19 pm

... First. "!"

The umbrella of the umbrella-shotgun was blown away, now leaving only the shotgun part.
Then.

《"BODY 0%. LEGS 0%. ELIMINATED."》- The bucket wielder was eliminated. 《"BODY 0%. THREE POINTS REMAINING."》- Then all the other ones had their body poins eliminated.

Elka dodge rolled to the side.
Now at their flank, at another part of the 4-way crossing...
He smirked and aimed both machine guns at once.
His hands on the trigger.

"Looks like your little shield is gone."

However. Where he dodge rolled to...
Was a place with no cover at all.

11/12/2024 3:22 pm

So seeing this... "Ghhh! Takahashi might be eliminated, but he just made himself a walking target!"

One of the machine gun wielders shouted.
Pointing their guns, they all readied and aimed themselves at Elka.

"Worry about the sniper later! We can take this guy right now and get to cover!" All ready to fire, until... "- Ahhhh!!!" The shotgun guy shouted. 《"LEGS 0%. BACK 0%. ONE POINT REMAINING."》As two of his points were barraged with water.

Exposing herself fully...
Noei unleashed her fully revved up minigun and almost eliminated one person.
Of course, her intention wasn't to finish them off fully. In fact, the minigun can't rev enough to eliminate a team in one full burst.
Only the full gatling gun water gun could, a heavier variant.
But there's a reason she chose the lighterweight version.

- That is, that she can hold it with one hand.

"Gotcha!"

11/12/2024 3:27 pm

The shotgun guy, out of fear...
Began to run.

"They've got us pincered! This is a pincer maneuver! Let's just find cover! We can't take 'em like this!"

And so they also ran too. The two machine gun guys fired brief shots at Elka, but all of them were dodged. Only brief bits hit Elka for minor damage.
That was because they tried to run and shoot instead of focusing solely on running.
There were 3 points that were caught. One, where Noei was. Two, where Elka was. And three... Where the sniper fired from.

In desperation, they probably also forgot that this pincer attack was designed so that the team they were attacking...
... Would have no choice but to exit to one area.
They dashed to the only exit they could. And what they found...

"...!!!! When did they-" ... Was a Delayed Bomb that was just recently thrown. About to go off.

"Hehe..."

As soon as they began to show signs of running...
Noei had thrown her Delayed Bomb to the ONLY possible direction they could've escaped from...
And laid a trap from all 4 directions.
A total pincer that prevented any angle of escape.

11/12/2024 3:31 pm

So of course, when the three registered the bomb... "...!!! THEY GOT US GOOD!" "THIS EARLY?!" "HOW?!?!?!?"

... They despaired.
- BOOM!!!
A big burst of water engulfed the three of them.
Their suits also announced the same thing.

《"ALL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKEN OUT. ELIMINATED."》

Once the water began to clear...
The group of four fell to their knees. All similarly despairing.

"So early into the game..." "N-No... This was supposed to be our big breakout..." "Dad, how did we lose...?!" "I have no idea..."

Although this was a game... It was one of high intensity.
So the losses, whole dramatic, are fueled by a true love for competition.

(edited)

"HELL YEAAAAAAAH!!!"

While there would be loss on one side...
There would be victory on another.
Seeing the tactic go off... Elka jumped.

"It was just like Gramps said! Wasn't exactly to the plan perfectly, but it was flexible enough for us to adapt!"

Their plan was simple. Pincer the enemy team, and lead them to a point where they only have one escape point.
Then with Noei's sure-kill delay bomb, eliminate them off.
Elka began to dash forward.

"C'mon Noei, let's go and meet up with the others!"

"..."

Noei looked to the people who lost for a moment, unsure of if she should even say anything.
She almost spoke.

"S-S..."

"... Sorry."
But she felt like it wasn't right. Then she dashed ahead.
Noei went to the Refill Point ahead. Due to eliminating a full team, they were the only ones there.

Still keeping watch, the full group rendezvoused.

"... That was incredible, everyone!"

Pharma said, as she ran back with Etsuji.
She refilled, suggesting they got into a few skirmishes on the way back.
Still with her gun in the pool of water, she looked at the rest of her group in awe.

"I-I mean, my vision isn't exactly the strongest. But I was able to observe all of you and your teamwork was impeccable!"

"Really?"

The full group was refilling their ammo.
In addition, it was a larger Refill Spot. So there were also bombs.
- Though due to the rules, they were only allowed to take the same bomb type they walked in with.
Noei just looked at Elka.

"I just did what the plan was about. Pincer them, and just worry about the part you've been assigned with. Though..." Noei looked down, smiling slowly. "I don't really know how teamwork is like. This is the first time I've fought with other people."

"And it's fun, ain't it?!"

Elka said, patting Noei's shoulder while refilling his two guns.
Flexing a single arm, he said,

"The feeling of complete trust in one another... That they'll pull through no matter what! I live for this typa' action!"

"Teamwork, huh..."

Noei looked down.

"Complete trust..."
Her reflection was seen in the clear pool of water.
Though of course, due to reflecting the sky... Noei's reflection was a little blue.
"... I wonder what that's like."
Her grip on her minigun slowly loosened.

"I-I just feel a bit bad. I'm nowhere near as good as you two, to be honest..."

Pharma said, scratching the back of her hair.
- In training, she performed the worst out of the four of them.
Being the most nervous and least accurate.

"It feels like our plan would be more solid if I was just a bit stronger."

"... That's not the case, Pharma."

Etsuji spoke, having finished refilling his ammo.
He readied his sniper rifle and looked to a tower near them.
His plan was to fire a few warning shots from that tower as if to signal "don't approach this spot."
But in actuality, they'd abdicate the refill spot to hunt down Okino's team. To essentially secure a location they could come back to later.

Etsuji was about to embark to that tower.

"Although our plan might seem solid... It has one fatal weakness. That is- -It will crumble under ambushes and assassins."

"...?" Noei looked at Etsuji, curious. "Assassins?"

Being confident in being able to clear up Noei's confusions, Elka usually was the one to speak up when Noei was confused.

"Well, the reason why our plan worked so well is that the whole group was together, right? Then we could constrict their movements." Elka raised up a finger. "What would happen if one of 'em was behind us the whole time? And could take us out without us noticin'- like Etsuji."

"Oooh..."

Noei looked at Pharma.
As she nodded up and down.

"That's why you're there! To protect against those assassin guys!"

Etsuji confidently nodded, glad to see Noei understand so quickly.
The old man pat Pharma on the head.

"So in a sense... You're the most important team member we have. You cover our one weakspot."

At this...

... Pharma began to shake profusely.

"I-I... I did NOT consider that! I lost very early on last year!!!" As she shook her head shyly, the pressure getting to her. "W-Why did you entrust me with such a BIG role?!"

"Huh..."

Though Elka and Etsuji were a bit shocked at her sudden meekness...
Noei wasn't. She was only a little bit confused.
She tilted her head.

"... I thought you said there has to be willpower, Pharma? That we had to go into this with our 100%."

"I..." Then she calmed down a little. "... I'm just worried if MY 100%'s not gonna be enough."

"..."

Beam.
Noei shot Pharma with a beaming smile.
One that almost seemed to have light in it of itself.

"Don't worry! I'm worrying about the same thing! Doesn't mean I'm not gonna do it anymore though. I'm worrying about it, but I'm still gonna fight. So you should too!" After that, Noei gave Pharma a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Oh..."

That light seemed to warm Pharma a little.
Her shaking didn't stop. But it was now accompanied with steps forward.
Pharma was the only one not looking and alert in case anyone entered in. This though reignited her drive.

"... I can only promise to try!"

"C'mon, Pharma?! Where's your drive?!" Elka said, raising up a gun. "We went in 'ere wanting to win, and you get cold feet?!"

It isn't unnatural for a girl her age to go back on her words once the action kicks in.
In fact, even for adults, that sort of thing is natural.
So she needed this pep talk.

"I-It's just..."

Pulling up her wrist, the suit had a holographic indicator of not just your suit's health...
But also the remaining teams.

"TEAMS REMAINING: 17"

"It's only been a few minutes, and, er... What's 25 minus 17?"

"8!" Noei said, cheerfully raising up her hands too.

"8! 8 teams were eliminated!!! So many are out in such a short time, and..." (edited)

- Noei's suit announced. 《"HEAD 0%. THREE POINTS REMAINING."》 As her head was shot with a trail of water. "...!!!!!!!!! Everyone!" She was the one to first catch who shot her.

As located in mid-range...
Peeking through cover, was Okino. With his rifle water gun in hand.
Having landed a clear headshot against Noei.

"..." There was nothing on his face but a sweet, almost twisted, level of satisfaction.

"...!"

"Already!?"

"Bwuh?!"

All of them registered Okino at the same time.
This was not good. They had registered their team first.
Therefore Etsuji's plan wouldn't work. Their pincer movement relied on them being the ones to attack first.

At this...
Etsuji also aimed his sniper rifle. But this was a bluff.
He muttered.

("Everyone! As soon as I fire, run! We're going to shake their team off! Only Okino revealed himself! That must means the others are in hiding near us! We're the ones who've been pincered!") (edited)

("Understood!")

("Alright!")

("W-Waaaah!!!")

Okino readied to fire again.
As he advanced a bit closer, strafing to another cover.
But...

... Etsuji knew something was off.

("... First rule of sniping. When you're spotted and after you've landed a good hit- Move.")

Etsuji glared.
There were multiple spots they could run to. But their team was likely doing a similar tactic.
They've likely predicted that they should escape. And likely, all spots were covered.
There was the area to the west. Which lead to a wall.
To the north. Which led to more narrow cover spots.
The East. A wide open area which led to the Unlimited Refill Point- or in other words, the center. Also the spawn point of Okino's team. Likely the worst area.
And the south. Where Okino was shooting from. Also a valid tactic to charge straight through him.

Four points, four team members.

". . ."

... And Okino, despite sniping Noei...
Was manning a spot instead of moving it.
Which means he plans on engaging in close range or mid range combat. Ready to hold down his station.
"But a rifle type gun can't do that very well against four people. Which either means he has a bomb in wait, or another person guarding him. Just like Pharma."

If it was the latter...
Then there was a chance. That they could escape to an unmanned avenue.
It was likely that Okino's team had plans for all 4 possible ways of escaping. But it was also likely there was a "worst possible outcome" among the four.
Depending on what Okino means by standing his guard, then that means there are TWO possible "worst possible outcomes" for Okino's team... But only one of those possibilities are correct.

"..."

Of course, next to her Doctor...
When faced with a situation she didn't understand, now she had someone reliable to ask.

("Doctor Etsuji. I've been hit. What should we do?")

(". . .")

"Should I send Pharma forward? Someone so easily panicky could also get Okino overconfident. Especially someone like him. He could choose to reveal his cards early.
But at the same time, the type of person Okino is... Also implies that he'd stay calm and not get cocky. It's another gamble."

Everything... Down to what they should do, where they escaped from...
A realization flashed in Etsuji's head.

"It's all 50/50.
They've engineered a situation where everything is a 50/50 chance.
... Mazda's good."
He clicked his tongue at the realization.

("If you're getting senile on the spot, I've got a suggestion. We rush the hell out of Okino. He ain't moving for whatever reason. That definitely means he has a trap lying in wait, but I think...") Elka looked to the other avenues they could escape from. ("... It might be the LEAST nasty trap out of everythin' their team's got prepared. Besides. I wanna mess that dude up really bad.")

At Elka's suggestion...
A realization flashed in Etsuji's head.

("That's it!") Etsuji readied to dart and dash. ("We do exactly that. Except Elka- no matter what you do, do NOT fire at Okino! Instead... Dash past him with your rolls!")

("That's kind of hard to do... But sure!")

- Sprint!
Elka made the first charge.
As all four rushed Okino at once!

"!" - Dash.

"O-Okay, I'm off!" - Dart.

And... Sprint.
All four made their charge at once, lead by Elka.
Noei didn't rev her gun, as it took time. But all of them aimed.

"Approaching ahead like a bull... That's exactly what I expected of you, ELKA!!!"

Okino shouted. Though this fell on deaf ears as the distance between them was too great.
Okino aimed... But what he didn't aim was his gun.
His arm simply looked like it was raising it, when in his belt...

... Was a Normal Bomb, which he already was ready to throw into the air once they got close.
He was ready to take out their entire team.
They couldn't see Okino clearly, but Noei could make out his expression (and hear him too).

(edited)

At this... "... Doctor Etsuji! Elka! This is definitely a trap! Do we still keep going?!"

"I'm sure! Because I have reason to trust Elka's drive!"

They made it to a close range distance.
To where they were in earshot. And most importantly...
In explosive firing range.
- Etsuji took aim at the same time Noei did.

Noei began to rev her minigun...
Which only took a full second. It was quicker compared to the usual gatling guns.

"W-Waaaaaaah!!!"

Pharma began to fire all over.
She had an accurate gun, but her aim was... Not so accurate.

And Okino...
Quickly lowered his gun, throwing up his bomb.
Before the first shot from Pharma was even fired. As he smirked.

"It's over. This won't eliminate all of you, but it'll basically put you on death's door!"

... He said that.
He said that, even while comprehending something that happened next to him.

- Roll.
With quick, speedy rolls... Elka had dashed past Okino.
And made it behind him.

". . ." And with a quick burst of his guns- "HAAAAA!!!"

"... Kehehehe..." 《"BACK 0%. LEGS 0%. TWO POINTS REMAINING."》

The burst from Elka had demolished two points that were hard to hit.
And yet.

As if he has already won, he was still laughing.

Due to Noei's enhanced vision...
... She noticed it first.

A streak of purple.

"- ELKA! WATCH OUT!!!"

"Wha-"

Sliding in from a corner...
Was the purple haired Seventh.
In her hands was a rocket-launcher type water gun. Looking like a cross between a shotgun and a rocket launcher.
Raise. One single shot was fired, streaming like a trail too...

... But also erupting like a bomb. 
That bomb shot Elka.

"- GUAAAAAAHH!!!"

Engulfing his entire front.
His suit announced.

《"BODY 0%. LEGS 0%. HEAD 0%. ONE POINTS REMAINING."》 But he stood strong. "... There's still my back!" He looked back...

11/12/2024 4:42 pm

《"BODY 0%. TWO POINTS REMAINING."》Noei's suit had announced its second point of damage. 《"BODY 0%. THREE POINTS REMAINING."》And the suits of Pharma and Etsuji had announced damage of their own.

"-!"

"Tch!"

"W-WAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

What Elka was looking at was not the devastation of his team.
It was in Okino's action. 
As he was taking aim at Noei. Which meant...

Elka could keep pushing forward.
He stared the purple Seventh in the eyes, as she was strafing to another corner to avoid sight.
So he charged.

"I still have MY BACK...!!! You're not taking out my team that easily!!!"

If he turned his attention to Okino, then he would be eliminated. Because he would need to expose his back or the side of his back in order to shoot him.
Which, against a rocket launcher type water gun, meant devastation.
Not to mention, there wasn't much he could shoot. He already took out Okino's back and legs. He could take out his head though and put him on death's door, but that was something Etsuji or Pharma could do.
So he would choose to place his trust in those 3... And eliminate the person he saw in front of him.

- However.
This was easily the worst possible move he could have taken.

"...!!!!"

- Leap.
Wielding a melee-type water "gun" that was like a windshield wiper...
The ragged teammate of Okino's team leaped from a vantage point...
And slashed Elka's back.

"... Brinker. If this were a real fight, you should be ashamed. Scars on a warrior's back are the biggest shame of them all."

"...!!!!!!!!!!"

Elka fell to his knees as soon as he felt water splash on his back.
As...

《"BACK 0%. ELIMINATED."》 "N-No...!!!"

He looked back, not even questioning how this man knew his last name.
Not to him. Nor his attacker.
As soon as he registered that he was eliminated...
He looked to his team.

"...!"

"No..."

"!?"

As Mazda was behind them.
In close-range, too, his machine gun pointed at the group.
His shooting speed easily outmached Pharma's gun, which focused more on range and accuracy.
Which meant even if he was against 3- this was his best range.

"You were probably thinking that we set you up to a true 50/50 mixup, huh, Doctor Etsuji...?" He taunted. "But this is how I like to do things. Go all in. None of us were manning the other exits at all. We just pinned our hopes onto this one outcome instead of trying to cover all of them."

Etsuji's hand faltered.
One gunner in close range with a gun that could easily take out all of them.
3 people in front of them. One of them with a rifle-type, and another with a rocket launcher that could take them out.
Their position also wasn't the best either. They were in a narrow corridor, with cover of course- but one that they couldn't make use of fully due to being in the entrance of the corridor.
This also means the Burst Bombs they chose to use wouldn't be effective. The cover would blow it up. Neither would Noei's Delayed Bombs due to needing set up.

It was just as Mazda suggested.
They went all in... And were punished for being so predictable.

"Damn it...!!!" (edited)

"Gh..."

Noei grit her teeth.
Her minigun was fully revved. She aimed it at Mazda, but...
As a Seventh, she also has instinctual knowledge of contraptions, machines and the likes.
She could tell at a glance that their firerate was equal, even if hers was a bit superior.

The one thing she was confident with the minigun was its range.
That's how her first ambush and pincer worked. She was at a position where she could hit without being hit.
Now, she had lost that position.
So the only thing left she could do was try.

"Seventh."

And even in the midst of all of this...
Okino still looked at Noei with disdain.

"I told you it wouldn't be fun for all of us. So why didn't you drop out? Now you have to suffer a humiliating defeat. Not just you, but your whole team."

"Screw you...!!!"

... Eliminated people are told to leave the arena straight away.
But Elka stood up and decided to say one last thing to Okino.

"You're the one cheating... And you've even beaten us like this! Can't you drop your hatred for Sevenths already?!"

"I can't, old friend."

Elka shrugged...
As he met Noei in the eyes.

"Not until I show it that Sevenths aren't welcome with humans."

. . .
This would've prompted a heavy silence. Okino had just admitted his prejudice in front of everyone.
Even to Doctor Etsuji, who supposedly created them all.
No one moved or spoke for a while.

So no one expected the most meek one out of all of them to be the one to move.
- As if she never lost energy at all...
She made a mad dash to Okino, the ragged man and the purple Seventh.

"- ELKAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" For one simple reason. "What did you say about us being beaten?! Now... Now you're the one getting cold feet!"

"?!"

"P-Pharma, wait!"

"Huh?!"

"... Stupid."

Okino took aim, salty that his speech was interrupted.

- To him, this seemed nothing like a move brought only out of desperation.
For what could she do... Against the three of them?

11/12/2024 5:04 pm

It was because of Pharma...

... That Team Elka was able to make a counterattack from zero.

The purple Seventh aimed with her rocket launcher.
Direct hits from it would eliminate the enemy entirely. And she was planning on doing just that...
... Until.

"...!" She saw what Pharma was about to do. "- Everyone, move!"

Deciding against a sure kill, she darted backwards.
She comprehended it before anyonee else could.

"- Heh!"

But as if they ignored the purple Seventh...
Okino fired against Pharma.

Water gathered to Demos's melee windshield wiper.
As he swung it, unleashing it like an Iaido strike.
A slice of water flying to Pharma.

"Looks like I have to put another kid to bedtime!" They completely ignored the purple haired Seventh, opting to get rid of the obvious target in front of them.

But that's the thing.

She made herself an obvious target on purpose.
To abuse a mechanic she didn't even know of.
She took a Burst Bomb in her hand.

"TASTE... MY FURY!!!!!!!!!!" And ran up to Okino, punching him point blank with that Burst Bomb. (edited)

"...!!!!!!!!!" 《"ALL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKEN OUT. ELIMINATED."》

Okino slid back after the massive burst of water.
- As for a second, he considered becoming delusional after hearing what his suit said.

"Wh... What?!" His jaw fell flat.

As...
Both his rifle shot and the slash from the ragged man connected for sure.
But all it did...

《"HEAD 0%. LEGS 0%. ONE POINT REMAINING."》

... Was to eliminate two of her points.

With an impassioned fury, she aimed her machine gun at the ragged man.
While announcing to Elka.

"Elka...! I carried on your will! As long as they can't get your back, you can charge on endlessly!!!!!!"

"...!"

"Shit man. Wasn't even intending on that, but that IS a strat, huh...?
But for Pharma to get the courage to pull off such a scary tactic..."
Elka grinned.
As he watched an Okino who also fell to his knees.

Since he knew he couldn't stay in the arena any longer and risk disqualification...
He chose to spoke no more.

"Heh!"

Only giving Okino a thumbs down as he stood up and rose above the man.
He walked out with confidence, walking to one of the exits.

As their team's counterattack would begin here.

"...!"

At the same time as all of this was going on...
Another battle began as soon as Okino's elimination was heard.
The one between Mazda, Etsuji and Noei.
Mazda knew he had to make it to Pharma as soon as possible. She was dangerously close to becoming an unpredictable element in the battle, so he had to nip that in the bud as soon as possible.
Knowing the firerate of his gun was more or less equal, he opted for a trade.

"Ha!" As he unleashed his machine gun while pushing forward, covering both Etsuji and Noei in a spray.

"...! My turn, now!"

Noei was surprised at seeing Pharma go out with such courage.
But as soon as she heard Mazda pull on his trigger... She aimed and decided to do a contest of firepower between the two.
As she aimed. Both she and Mazda fired against each other.

- Statistically, Noei knew she had less of a chance at winning this. Mazda's was greater at a close range and she was better at mid range.

《"LEGS 0%. ONE POINT REMAINING."》Her suit announced. "Gh...!!!" But Noei still kept firing, even though she heard no such thing coming from Mazda's own.

《"LEGS 0%. TWO POINTS REMAINING."》

Etsuji's also announced the same thing, since he was also caught in the crossfire.
... However. Because Mazda was attacking from the opening of the corridor...
Etsuji now had an opportunity... To throw a bomb.

As he lobbed a Burst Bomb.

(edited)

"Huff."

Of course... Against a trained soldier, this wouldn't work. One who was still active no less.
So Mazda simply dashed to the side. Only sustaining minor splash damage from the bomb erupting.
It was in what lied after which was important.

"...?! Doctor Etsuji?!"

As Doctor Etsuji now slid out of the corridor... And met Mazda in the Refill Point.
Where it was wider with less cover.
As he did, he shouted to Noei...

"... Noei! Support Pharma! I've got this!"

"O... Okay!"

Noei was caught off guard at first by Etsuji's sudden action.
But choosing to not question it further, she charged ahead... And met Pharma side to side.
Both with only their back remaining. Facing off against two opponents at full health.

Though, Pharma ran forward. Not even acknowledging Noei. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Of course...
Blinded by rage, Pharma charged ahead while firing down the corridor.
Though, due to the range of her gun... And due to being a machine gun-type...
The purple Seventh and the ragged man dashed out. Into a more open area just past the corridor.

Without even thinking, Pharma arrived to the middle of the open area.
It had a lot of vantage points. Places to climb, raised platforms with slopes and stairs leading to it...
It was a place for all sorts of improvisation.

"...!" Pharma noticed a Normal Bomb lobbed to her back. "Ah!" As she was able to dive out of the way, hitting the floor face first. "Oof!"

"...!"

With Pharma on the ground, and Noei having just arrived...
She looked at where the bomb was thrown from, her enhanced senses being able to make it clearly.

"Heh... Not even a roll. Just as expected from a kid."

As the ragged man had thrown it.
On top of an elevated platform. He readied his windshield wiper in hand, about to jump down...
... Until he saw Noei.

"... Tch."

A click of his tongue.
As he dashed behind cover. Dashing from cover to cover...

Alongside a purple shadow. Both of them also jumping and dashing between all barricades and covers in an attempt to confuse Noei and Pharma.
While also briefly shooting slashes and firing rocket launcher shots.

"Pharma!"

Noei dashed and held out her body in front of Pharma.
Of course, since only her back remained, she could do so without consequence.

"N-Noei!"

Pharma got up...
... And as soon as she got up, a water slash approached her.

"A-Ahh!!!" She flinched, as it hit her front. "They're circling us!!!" - A blast from the side.

"Gh!"

Which forced Noei and Pharma to dive out the way.
But the issue is... They both dodged in opposite directions.
Leaving their back exposed to the myraids of covers behind them. The circle from which they were being shot at.

"It's just like with Seren...!!!"
Noei recalls a similar situation. One which she wasn't able to get out of.
That was because... She chose to stay in the circle.

This time, she wouldn't play by their games.

"..."

She knows that the two are going in a circle. With a Delayed Bomb in hand...
It was like Noei imagined an angle in her head. One with two rays, pointing outwards in parallel directions.
So she made a gamble.

"They're circling me, so..."

- One Delayed Bomb was shot to one ray. That ray was pointing to the ground in between the covers.
And the other ray of the angle... She dashed to. It was also in between the covers. 
Revving up her minigun...

(edited)

"...!!! Crap!"

Just as Noei expected.
In between the two rays, the enemy was caught! 
Noei had done a pincer all by herself!

"YAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"

So she unloaded a full burst from her minigun.
At the perfect range...  It was like the pain she accumulated in this moment unleashed all at once.
With the bomb and her burst unloading at the same time.
Leading to total and absolute destruction.

《"ALL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKEN OUT. ELIMINATED."》 "!!!!!"

The simultaneous burst froze the ragged looking man.
As his arms fell flat. But his knees did not fall...
... Instead, He clapped.
With his eyes closed, and a grin... He accepted his loss quickly.

"... That's the Greatest Robot in the World for ya', huh? Glad I got to see them in person... And to see what they're capable of."

Noei lowered her gun...
As she looked at the ragged man in the eyes.

"That's what they call me in the news, but... ... I don't really think I've done anything to warrant that."

With his hands stuffed in his pockets...
He exhaled and began to leave.
- Noei had a strange sort of sensation. What a human would describe as a "gut feeling."
But she felt like this wasn't the last she'd see of this man.

"I think that's the point. And it's why they gave you that ridiculous title."

One thing was for sure. As he began to walk away...
Noei was sure she did not understand this man at all. Not one bit.

However...
This brief moment of silence was now undercut.
As there was a second person circling them. Not just one.
Sliiide.
Rocket launcher aimed. The purple streak revealed itself and had a straight shot to Noei.

"..."

As she moved in before Noei could even comprehend it.

- Fast. Even for a Seventh's standards.

"!!!!!"

Noei threw up her minigun in defense.
Aware that a direct hit would get rid of all of her Points...
- As she also had the rules of the game memorized in her head. A Seventh has perfect memory.
But even so, she had nothing to do against it. She moved and reacted too late.
And her gun wasn't revved.

So of course, the only one that could act... Did.
And she did so without knowledge of how launchers worked.
Pharma saw this unfold, dashed in the middle of the shot, and...

Took it point blank.

"...!!!" 《"DIRECT HIT. BACK 0%. ELIMINATED."》

Not expecting this rule... Her pupils shrunk.
And all the adrenaline Pharma had accumulated returned to nothing as soon as she heard the word "eliminated."
Just like the others, she also fell to not just her knees... But her hands too.

"N-No...!!! I-I'm... Out?!"

"Pharma!"

Noei was about to rush to Pharma as she fell, but...
She opted not to. As the purple Seventh was staying completely still.
- She didn't want to move in her range. To get any closer.
She figured that her optimal range was the close range. While Noei specialized in the mid range.
So she backed off...

"You saved me... ..."

Her mouth wavered.
But she spoke this time around.

"You were carrying Elka's drive to win, too... ... That means..." Noei lowered her eyebrows. "I have to carry yours too."

"..."

The purple Seventh did not change her expression.
But she still kept her rocket launcher aimed at Noei, even if she was out of range.
Her legs were ready to move at any time.

"Noei..."

... Pharma was a little bit stupid, so she didn't realize it.
But this was something Noei was unfamiliar with.
- Carrying the will of another.
So all she did was give Noei a thumbs up and a cheer.

"... Yeah! Kick her ass!"

As she picked herself up, running to the exit as per the rules.
- Something she couldn't have possibly known too...

... Is that she was already shouldering the will of 2 other people that fell before her.
Noei has never known what it was. But she's been doing it.
Until Pharma showed her what that looked like.

Now with just the two of them...
Noei and the purple Seventh could both hear that the sounds of fighting elsewhere were dying down.
Likely, they were one of the last groups remaining. 
Noei had no idea the games were this short, but it's what happens when you basically arm a bunch of kids with "explosives." They go nuts with it and forget to account for each other.

Now, as two Sevenths stood against each other...

- They both Authorized their Factors.

"Since you're a Seventh... ... I don't have to worry about going all out, don't I?" (edited)

"..."

No comment.
The purple Seventh Authorized at the same time Noei did.
White auras surrounded both of them.
- Yet. Noei's was like mist.
The purple Seventh's was more like smog.

Now able to hold her launcher with one hand...
She burst and dashed in, firing. It was a step like a flash.

"...!!! Fast!"

Noei weaved to the side...
But her side got splashed. Including a bit of her back.
She revved, and...

"!!!"

As soon as she finished revving...
The purple Seventh slipped and bobbed to Noei's flank.
Getting even closer while firing another blast. While her slide also made sure she'd slide into cover RIGHT after she fired.
It was a dash of perfect coordination and speed.

"Oh no!"

Jump.
Noei jumped back, but... She had an idea.
She was carrying the will of Elka. So she threw her minigun...

... Rolled, then caught it mid flight with her enhanced speed.
This was something she could only do due to her Factor authorized. Rolling also meant she dodged a direct hit. Now having caught her minigun...

"... Eyes of Add!"

She at first considered looking normally. But activating her X-Ray vision, she saw exactly where the purple Seventh was hiding. 
As she was darting from cover to cover, getting closer. To her preferred range, while Noei was in hers already. She didn't want to give up her position and this range...
But there were two issues.

1. The purple Seventh is faster than her. She can easily catch up if Noei ran.
2. This is a battle of intervals.
Both of them... Have the exact same intervals for attacking.
Noei needs one second to charge. And the purple Seventh had to take one second between each shot.

With a minor caveat.
Noei actually needed to shoot after she finished revving.
Which meant... The purple Seventh was slightly faster.
- This wasn't the first time Noei had to deal with someone faster than her though. So she already had a plan.

(edited)

The third shot came soon after.
The problem is with speedy people, at least to Noei, is that their ranges and timing of striking is wildly unpredictable.
Noei can see just how fast the purple Seventh is. And the issue is, she also knows how fast she is.
Sometimes, she'll dash and skip a cover due to her speed. Other times, she'll take it slow.
- But the purple Seventh hasn't figured out that Noei has X-Ray vision yet. She hasn't fully comprehend Eyes of Add's capabilities just yet.

Stepping off the ground multiple times in one second, everyone- even those far away could hear a huge burst of speed.
The purple Seventh's movement was once again like a purple blur.
There was one issue. Noei's seen faster.

"...!!!!! No... Way!"

So she spoke. For the first time. Her voice was a lot harsher than Noei expected.
The purple Seventh was caught off guard by something insane.

"Grrrrrrrrr...!!!!!!!!!!"

On one hand, Noei was revving her minigun.
And on the other hand... A Delayed Bomb was in it, ticking down. And ready to burst.
The craziest part about all of it to the purple Seventh was Noei's trajectory.
She was charging, and about to meet, the purple Seventh head on.
Even though the close-range is where the purple Seventh wants to be. 

Noei only did so because she saw Pharma do the "bomb-in-hand" tactic before. And she wanted to carry on Pharma's will.
So the answer to the issue of speed... Was to find a way to act before the purple Seventh did.

("She already acted before me!") The purple Seventh's trigger finger twitched. ("Were it a melee weapon, I could've easily met her speed and surpassed it with technique. The problem is, I'm limited by this gun...")

And she chose not to fire.
Noei's charge is greater than the shot that this gun could do. So she darted...
And slipped past Noei- the two of them crossing each other.

"...!"

Sliiide.
The two of them slid past each other and stopped abruptly.
Both of them stopping at the same time.

With the Delayed Bomb about to explode, she tossed it!
Of course, she wasn't expecting it to hit. Nor did she even expect to be able to hit the purple Seventh while moving.
But her gun was revved. And her eyes, ready.
She had to at least try something out.

- Weave.
The purple Seventh slid and dropped to the ground.
As she slid forward, she totally dodged the bomb. Then, rising...

The two of them thought the same thing at the same time.
"There's only enough water left in here..."

"... For one more burst!"

So another stand-off occurred.
- One that was odd for both of them.
Neither of them have experienced so much tension in their lives... That their arms were shaking while holding their weapons.

Neither of them spoke.
But both of them have never felt more exhilarated than in this moment. For both of them, it was as if this game finally clicked in their heads.
Like they finally understood how it was supposed to be played.

". . ."

So what would follow soon after was something they both predicted.
A stand-off like this between two Sevenths could only happen for one reason.

- Anticipation.
Therefore, it would be rewarded with an explosive amount of action.

For them, it was literal. Noei had only seen it once.
The flash step that the purple Seventh did. 
She saw it once, and she already intuited that it could be replicated. It wasn't like with Seren's speed, where it was built in her.
Kicking off from the ground several times in a second due to a Seventh's enhanced abilities as a result of her Factor...

... She too became an orange blur. But it wasn't shot towards the purple Seventh.
Rather... Its trajectory was sent straight to the Refill Pool, where the encounter first began.
At supersonic speeds, her dash was enough to send the wind following her in a huge burst.

But as if the purple Seventh predicted this movement, and also believed it to be something she should do as well...
She did the same. A flash step.
But hers was slightly delayed, as she was waiting for Noei. There was one thing that she had though.
Mastery over the technique.

Barriers and covers were in the way to it, as they just came from a narrow corridor.
Noei was weaving past all of them, but...
... What the purple Seventh did was to run on the wall.
The moment she crossed Noei, though...

Noei fired.
This wasn't a result of her programming and senses combined.
This was a pre-mediated notion off of a "gut feeling" of "this Seventh is faster than me."
She wasn't so cocky as to believe that just because she was able to copy the purple Seventh's technique, she could outspeed her. In fact, this was out of a deep sweltering respect for her enemy.

Her minigun was already firing... The moment the purple Seventh got into sight.
Which meant one thing.

《"HEAD 0%. BODY 0%. TWO POINTS REMAINING."》 "... Nice job."

She spoke and only registered that her suit was damaged when she made it to the Refill Pool.
But because due to her superior movmenet, she made it first. Noei was still speeding there, though the time it would take was likely only a second.
However. This second is all most Sevenths need.

"...!"

It's empty.
The Refill Spot was empty... As she realized.
Mazda was there, and the one named Doctor Etsuji never returned. Which could only mean one thing.
They fought. And of course, made heavy use of the Refill Spot.

("So it was a miscalculation from the Greatest Robot in the World.")

She muttered that title with disdain.

As she readied her launcher confidently.

"Too bad. But I take this round." (edited)

11/12/2024 8:37 pm

This confidence was crushed in a second.
By the sound of beeping.

The sound of a Delayed Bomb.

As Noei was lunging from the narrow corridor...
... This should've been trivial for the purple Seventh. She was coming from a predictable trajectory.
A literal straight line. 
- Surprisingly, the rocket launcher's range is short. Which is why she had to wait for Noei to emerge.
But she lamented not choosing a longer range model when she saw Noei appear.

"GRRRRRRRRRRR...!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

With a dark determination fueled behind her movements...
Her hand was doing the exact same thing it did last time.
She was holding her 2nd Delayed Bomb in her hands, ready to blow it up point blank right in front of the purple Seventh.

One might think that it will end the same way it did last time. With the purple Seventh choosing not to commit.
But there is a reason why they are more sure of themselves now.

That is, their positions were actually swapped.
Previously, Noei was the offensive. Having charged in. And the purple Seventh was the one reacting, being the one to see Noei charge.
Now, it was the inverse. The purple Seventh was in a position where they could attack first, and Noei was the one who reacted to that position.

- Which meant...

("... This weapon...!!!")

- Click.
The trigger of the water rocket launcher was pulled.
As an explosive burst of water was shot forward.

("Won't hold me back anymore!")

What neither of them were expecting...
... Was a spark.

- While Sevenths are immune to water and aren't really hurt by it...
Too much water can cause a drain in their energy. So they still try to avoid it.
Noei sparked mid charge... And she stopped.
Her original intent was to outspeed the purple Seventh's blast and hit them point blank like Pharma did, but that didn't seem to be happening.
Neither of them expected for Noei to stop though.

"Ugh-"

- So out of sheer dumb luck...

... Her bomb flew forward, carrying Noei's halted momentum.
As did the purple Seventh's blast. The result-

Both connected at the same time.

(edited)

"- Guh!" 《"DIRECT HIT. ALL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY TAKEN OUT. ELIMINATED."》

"- Waugh!" 《"DIRECT HIT. BACK 0%. ELIMINATED."》

11/12/2024 8:56 pm

Which meant something very obvious.
No one won.

They both lost.

- But at the same time, anyone would be hard pressed to call it a loss.
As when one has given their all, given their 100% into everything...
... The results don't matter.

You can't truly lose if you give it your everything.

Just outside the arena was the usual festival.
Though it was still manned and busy...
Most people had turned their attention towards the arena. Either watching up close on elevated spectator stands, or watching the floating holograms projecting the battle royale from above. With a score tracker too.
Alongside a leaderboard. Apparently there were only 7 teams left.
Everyone's eyes were on the arena right now and this was no understatement.

So when someone walks out of the arena, it's as if they escape the gaze of everyone.
Noei walked out of the arena from the nearest exit- located on the 4 axises of the arena.
As she stumbled and walked out. She wasn't really sad, it was moreso just...

"Oh man."
The realization hit her subconsciously, then real time.
"I know defeat. I know it well. But for Pharma and Elka..."
Her gaze raised when she saw Pharma and Elka on a long bench watching the game.
- For some reason, a single hologram out of the 4 projected kept replaying her match.

". . ."

Though that didn't matter for now. What did matter was...
... Facing them.

For the first time in a while, though this was a common occurrence- it just hasn't happened in a while...
Noei did not understand the gazes of both Pharma and Elka.
As they both looked up at Noei.

"Hey..."

... Elka would even greet most people cheerfully and brashly.
But this time, he abstained from doing so. Seeming a bit winded.

So did Pharma.
Noei couldn't even tell if she looked sad and defeated.
She was just looking at Noei.

- Noei then, made a guess. She's gotten a lot more comfortable with making assumptions after Seren's death.

"I, er..." Noei raised up a finger. "I know I lost, and I promised..."

- Again. Like many times before...
She found herself unable to speak.

Even moreso when something totally crazy happened.
She spent a while gathering words, only to be stunned.
Then she was stunned even further...

... When Doctor Etsuji appeared.

"Maaaan, we were so close! 5th place is still flashy, but we could've gone even higher!"

"Wha-"

"Fifth?!?!?!"

"Eh-"

- Located near the holograms projecting the games from all sorts of angles...
Was a holographic leaderboard. Noei thought quick.
Okino's team was the 8th team eliminated.
And Elka's was the 5th team eliminated.

Which meant.
Not only did Doctor Etsuji beat Mazda, a professional officer of the Ministry of Defense...
... But he also survived long enough, or even fought long enough, to be the fifth team eliminated.
Only one question passed through Noei. And it came through like the sound of a paper shredder.

"How????????????"

Bashfully, Etsuji rubbed his back.
As he even scratched his neck out of sheer embarrassment. Mixed in with that was pride, though.

"W-Well! I don't know how to put this in a nicer way, but you're quite the energetic Seventh, Noei! Keeping up with you over the past month has been an exercise in all things mental and physical. Therefore you've made me much stronger as a result! The me from a month ago would've been gassed. But I feel like I'm in the prime of my youth!"

Etsuji said, giving a thumbs up.
He was still winded, evidenced by his heavy breaths.
But he wasn't on the verge of collapse, unlike the Etsuji of one month ago.

"Gramps... You're incredible."

Elka said in pure shock and awe.
But getting up from the bench...
Elka gripped his fist.

"... We may have lost, but damn. We... Were all friggin' incredible."

"Y-Yeah..."

As if all the anxieties she had were washed away... Alongside the adrenaline...
Pharma stood up. As she held her fist forward.

"We lost. I can't deny that. But we also did our best! Our very bestest!" She was too tired to keep up her usual false courage and pride, so Pharma even sounded a bit childish. "U-Um... Fistbump, everyone?"

"Hell yeaaaaaaah!"

Elka returned to his usual enthusiasm.
As he bumped his fist forward.
It's obvious Elka's returned to his usual self.

"Pharma, you were brave as hell! Etsuji, you lasted way longer than I expected you to AND did all the planning! Noei- you stole the show! Tons of people stopped fighting just to LOOK AT YOU!" A quick point to a hologram. "They're even showing you fight right now, even though it's long over!" One of the holograms... Was dedicated just to replaying the entire Noei fight against the purple Seventh.

"Mm! You should stand proud, Noei!"

Etsuji also thrust his fist into the circle.
As three of them were sharing a fist bump.

"You fought intensely and bravely. Even if we lost, if you give it your all, then that means you can't lose. After all, love won't-"

- Pause.
Etsuji... And the others also paused when they saw someone approaching them.

It was only Noei who didn't notice, because she was too lost in her own thoughts.
So much so that she didn't even notice the presence of someone approaching her back.
- It was a member of Okino's team. The purple Seventh.
Even Mazda held an air of superiority towards them. So the last thing any of them expected was for someone to approach Noei.
They were all stunned.

A double stun happened when the purple Seventh pat Noei's back.
A triple stun happened when they spoke.

"Nice job. You're good."

Four words.
Four words, and yet Noei could feel the exhaustion behind her voice.
Her voice was already harsher than she expected, for such a light and almost ghost-like appearance.
Yet with each of those words carried behind a fatigue not brought on by any singular moment, but a built up pain.

"a"

Stuffing her hands in her pants's pockets...
It was there that Noei was reminded of how raggedy her clothes were.
Sevenths don't sweat, so they can actually get away with wearing the same clothes every day.
But it looked like the purple Seventh was wearing those clothes for months- even years. No one ever bothering to give them new ones.
They were worn beyond belief.

She walked away, leaving just her back as the final sight.
- And Noei was afraid of that.

"Did that..."

"... Just happen?" While Elka and Pharma were caught up in the awe that someone from Okino's team actually congratulated them...

... Noei was taken with feelings.
She was burdened with unnecessary feelings and didn't know how to release them.
She lamented at this moment that she was unable to speak as much as she used to.

- But if it was for her...
... Then she would speak, no matter what.
Shove. Noei almost stepped past and broke away from everyone, putting them aside for this one person.
As she shouted just a simple question.

"- Wait!!! Your... Name!"

She had no reason to turn around.
No reason to stop. The purple Seventh had every reason in the world to keep moving forward.
No reason to...

"..."

"Arwest."

She spoke in her normal speaking tone.
It was a communication only possible to Sevenths. As she spoke in a distance that would be considered out of earshot to humans.
So only Noei heard it.

Afterwards, she began to walk away. Continuing her usual walk away...
With no sign of stopping.

Finally.
Noei had a name for this Seventh.
A Seventh that brought life back into her life.

"..."

Noei didn't know why she was reaching out to Arwest.
She never even did the same with Seren. She...

She felt like she was back to her old self.
The old self that understood nothing. Now, though...
It was herself she didn't understand.
Those near her, even Pharma who is a little dense, understood that something must have happened during their fight.
That Noei is in a state of turmoil.

So she did something rare as a result of that. She turned over to Doctor Etsuji and asked.

"Um... Doctor Etsuji. Do you know that Seventh?"

"Haaah..."

He exhaled.
As he was disappointed with himself.

"Sorry to say, but even though I am the head of Neuron... Some creations of Sevenths have slipped under my watch. A Seventh can only be created in Neuron. But there are some Neuron scientists who can get authorization for secret projects- including ones involving Sevenths. Ones that even the Chairman can only know the general details of. That is one of them." Etsuji crossed his arms. "They're a Seventh I wasn't around to see the birth of. Nor do I know their details. Though they appear to be an older model."

"Oh..."

For the first time... Noei was actually disappointed in Etsuji.
A real disappointment. As she was sure he knew everything- or at least, knew everything that Noei could ask for.
Her gaze fell down.

"... I... I wanted to ask for a rematch. It was really fun. Fighting against her."

"Ah..."

... Surprisingly-

Elka got it.
He moved to the side of Noei and pat her shoulders.

"... I get it. Back in the boxing gym I go to, I feel the same way about some folks. It looks like you really went all out against that girl." Jab jab. Elka threw a 1-2 punch. "I'm a straight inboxer, with no dirty tricks and raw willpower. And a lotta the people I spar against use a lot of dirty tricks. Like they don't get my style. And they see me as just a scapegoat to test out their cool new Sunday punches on. But." As he followed it up with an uppercut. "There comes a time where I fight someone who just gets it. They get what my boxing is all about and respond with their own, fully! Then after the spar's over... It's like man! I gotta go with them again! They're the only one... Who get it."

"I... Huh."

- Noei paused for a moment.
As she returned to look at Elka with a pure smile.

"That's how I feel about her too. I didn't really get why it was so exciting to win. I just knew it was, cuz' of Pharma and you, but... I really wanted to beat her. S-Sorry I can't understand or word out why, though."

"Thas' alright too. It's fine to just be."

Elka said with a thumbs up.

Noei didn't understand what Elka meant.
But to her, those statements...
They truly felt magical. Impossible. Like a faraway dream.

"Um..."

Pharma wasn't used to things getting so heavy.
Unknowing of how she should handle things...
She took Elka's side, as she looked at Noei.

"How about we go get ourselves some water or a smoothie? I-I know Sevenths don't have to drink and all, but we do!!! And we definitely deserve a good one!" She tried to lighten the mood, only to realize... "... Wait, I don't have nearly enough allowance to buy a smoothie."

"Well, considering I AM an earning adult..."

Etsuji reached into his pocket...
As he pulled out a credit card that almost seemed to flash like a star.
So did his smile. Uncharacteristically confident.

"... I'd say we DO deserve a good one."

"AWWW YEAAAAAAAH!!!" Elka's enthusiasm shot even higher than it did usually.

"Ooooh!!!" At the notion of smoothies, Pharma also lit up in excitement.

But Noei...
It seemed to be a pattern throughout the day.
But she just couldn't share in their delights, no matter what. As something was always plaguing her mind, no matter what.

"..."

This time though, as if inspired by the image of Arwest's back...
She acted on it.

"Doctor Etsuji!" Urgently, she turned over to him. "Um- if it's no bother, can I authorize my Factor? There's something I need to go check."

"All of a sudden?"

Etsuji said, adjusting his glasses.
As he could sense the urgency behind Noei. So much so that she even forgot to emote with her pupils.
Noei usually did so.

"Why, what're you looking for?"

Usually, he just let Noei act every time she looked determined. This time around, Etsuji was confused on where that urgency came from.

"Ms. Watcher."

Noei tapped the side of her head, activating her Factor...
As her irises flashed orange, indicating activation of Eyes of Add.

"I can't see her anywhere here."

"...? A 3rd Seventh's in the area. Weird. Can't make out who they are from here though, just their insides...
But that doesn't matter to me right now."

Shaking her head, Noei mimicked Pharma to regain focus.

"She disappeared all of a sudden so I was wondering if something happened to her..."

"Ah, yeah... I actually wanna know that too." Taking a more serious tone, Elka lowered his head. "Like if she got injured or somethin'. That'd suck, cause her classes are ones I don't sleep in or skip. ... Bet you can't relate, huh?" Playfully, Elka elbowed Pharma's shoulder.

As she lowered her eyebrows.
Making up a clearly fake excuse through her anger.

"Hey! I just... I just have sleeping problems, y'know?! A great Mage such as I am needs to catch their breath every once and a while!"

Every once and a while means every class or so, according to Pharma's actions.
Brushing her hair aside, she nodded.

"B-But yeah, Ms. Watcher is really nice. Find her for us too!"

"Understood. I'm off!"

Pure silver wings of black and white extended from her back.
Even though the thrusters were faster, Noei had a twisted attachment to the wings she copied from Seren.
Her wings flapped, and she flew upwards. Just like before, Noei got a good look of the entire festival.
But just like before...

... She activated Eyes of Add.

"..." And Ms. Watcher was nowhere to be seen. "Not in the school, so maybe..."

Noei looked in front of her.
To the massive metropolis of Steel City and the Krypt District in front of her.
Noei thought that she flew high... But there were still skyscrapers that towered over her.
Still so many buildings of different shapes and sizes, yet all magnificient in their own right.
She should be used to this sight. But...
Seeing it from the sky- for a moment, she stopped.

("Seren... ... Is this what you saw?")

...
Her voice faltered as she prevented herself from continuing the statement any further. Noei didn't fly up to reflect, she flew up to find Ms. Watcher.

("... Maybe she's in the city, but I don't know if Eyes of Add can analyze the entire district.")

Noei hovered forward a bit, activating Eyes of Add again...
Luckily...

"...!!!"

She found Ms. Watcher. All humans when scanned bring up their IDs if they have valid ones. Noei didn't know how databases owrked, so she wasn't aware of how sketchy her having access to all of this is.

Nonetheless, she swooped down. She was walking down an ordinary street, getting to what seems to be a bus stop.
As she said while descending.

"Ms. Watcher!!!"

Noei only saw Ms. Watcher's back...
But as soon as Takane turned around, she saw that her eyes were a little red.
Not only that, but her shoulders were heaved down more. And she was carrying a briefcase.
With Eyes of Add, Noei was able to see that it contained a whole lot of paperwork.
She looked exhausted. That exhaustion was replaced with shock once she saw Noei fly, to which Takane tried her best to look presentable.

Of course, she failed.

"N-Noei!? Woah- crap, forgot you could fly. Also- what the heck are you doing here?!"

"That's what I wanted to ask you! You left all of a sudden in the festival, and the announcer who replaced you was totally boring!"

Noei landed...
As she instinctually shook her head up and down.

"Oh, oh! I got 5th place by the way! Me and the others fought really hard!"

She said, pumping her fists up and down in excitement.
Noei almost forgot to show concern.

"Ahaha..."

A laughter came out of her that was somewhere inbetween genuine and forced.
Because Takane really didn't know.

"Did you and your friends have fun?" She asked, but her liveliness was replaced with an air of exhuastion.

Noei noticed it...
But she also had no idea how to act to these types of people.

"Um... Yeah, I had tons of fun!" Noei said, giving a thumbs up.

Takane exhaled...
She wasn't sure why Noei had a pause, but now...
Now she no longer has to care.

Even so, it weighed on her.

"Well, uh, first things first... You can drop calling me Ms. Watcher. Just Takane will be fine, but-" - She bonked her head. "Gah, why am I saying that? It's not like you'll ever see me again..."

If Noei had a human heart, it would've skipped a beat.
The equivalent for that for a Seventh is all of their processing to halt for a moment.
So quite literally, her irises greyed out.

"What?"

"I... I got fired, Noei. Fired from my job."

"A-Ah. I see."

... The Noei of a month ago was still young and naive and didn't know many things.
But now that Noei has been in this world for a bit longer... She knows the weight of what it means to be fired.
Even if this was the first time she encountered this word, she's also no longer dumb enough to not see the exhaustion on Takane's face.

- But Noei was still Noei.
As she flapped her arms around wildly.

"W-Wait! Why?!"

"I... I've been on thin ice for a while."

Because she had no one else to tell it to...
Takane sat down on a bench. One that wasn't there before, but many Patrol Robots offer service to those who look tired.
So if someone even looks remotely tired, a Patrol Robot would go up to a person and offer them a seat. Even a cup of water in some cases, though none was given here.
- That is, of course, only in the upper class areas like the Krypt District.
She put her hands together.

"For the longest time, I was getting grilled for the staff and headmaster for how I taught classes. Said I relied too much on telling stories of my own. Said I used the most advanced rooms like the auditorium with the holograms we went to a lot too much. Other classes could've used 'em... But for what? Nobody knows this tech like I do."

Takane instinctually reached for her pocket, looking for something that wasn't there.
A lighter. And a pack of cigarettes.

"And that caught up to me today. Made me host of this year's Sapphire Festival, and I had to do it right... Otherwise they'd kick me out of the school on the spot. Shitty work culture, but I'm used to getting fired."

"I... I didn't know that."

Of course she didn't. Noei had no way of knowing.
But it was an unintentional big step for her.
- She was getting more comfortable with the fact that she didn't know a lot.

Also sitting down, Noei put her hands on her knees.
As she couldn't meet Takane in the eyes.

"Was... Was it because you stood up for me? If you didn't, would you have kept your job?"

"Let's be real, this was a matter of when. Not a matter of if. I'm just glad I got fired over something I don't regret." Takane crossed her arms. "But y'know, Noei. Don't get all down. This is something I'm used to." Takane said, patting her back.

"N-No. You can't say that."

And assertively, she spoke.
As she finally looked at Takane in the eyes.

"E-Even if you're not dead, it means I can't see you anymore. Or hear your crazy stories! Or listen to your lessons! Homeroom's also going to be boring without you!" Her hands curled up. "Neither will Elka, Pharma or even Okino...! They're not gonna see you again!"

For a moment, Takane faltered.
As she looked to the sky.

"... This is a hard thing to say, especially since I know you just lost Seren. Don't think I didn't see how she looked at you, even if I didn't see what you did after class. But... That's life. People come and go. You never know when someone you love is just gonna disappear right in front of your eyes, or before you even know it. See every car in front of you." Takane pointed to the traffic in front of her. "What if one person just... Slipped up?" She lowered her hand.

"I... People would die."

Noei said.
As she looked to a truck right in front of her.

"Nothing but the law is stopping that truck from crashing to the side of this street. ... I wouldn't die, but..."

Noei watched the countless people passing them by.
From man to robot to Seventh.

"Maybe everyone else here would."

"Life's sort of fragile like that."

It was in moments like these that Takane really wished that she went to the convenience store before getting fired to get some cigarettes.

"... Yeah. It's really hard." Noei looked down.

Takane wasn't expecting a statement like that from someone she saw as so upbeat.
So she was taken aback. Even so, she wasn't expecting a response like that...
But in a strange way, she was sort of glad.

"That's how my jobs are like too. I've never been able to keep a stable job for a while. I dunno if it's just cause I suck, or the work culture in Steel City can go eat a... Can go drive off to hell, but man." Takane still chose to watch her language a little, even if she was tired. "It's either something happens, the management wants to beef with me, or the job's just crazy strict. Maybe all 3 of them at once. Hell, I'd be LUCKY to have the reason for losing my job to be just company lay offs. That rarely happens to me nowadays. But I need money in order to live, y'know? ... And so does she."

She intended to mutter the last statement, but Takane was so defeated to the point where she couldn't even speak quieter.

"She...?"

"M-My sister." Takane adjusted her tie. "I don't want to make this any more dour than it already is, but ya' caught me." She raised up her arms, as her neck fell. "But I've got a sister, y'see. Her name is Rinko. And she's sick- like, REALLY sick. Not even the doctors here can figure out what she has. ..."

- For a moment...
All fatigue from Takane vanished as she spoke about her sister.
Where this power was coming from was obvious. But not to Noei.

"So in order to find out what she has... I've been earning and earning. To finally make sure she can walk on her own two legs."

". . ."

So Noei, as per usual...
... Responded with that power with one of her own. Just like she did with Seren.
Mimic. Mirror. Even if she's not sure of what she has to do...
She has to return something. Not just because she's a Seventh.
In fact, that only amplified her desire to return something.

Before she even knew the "how..." 
Noei stood up and looked Takane in the eyes.

"What if..."

- She gripped her fist.

She had no idea how to do it on her own.
And yet. Perhaps because of the water fight...
"... Maybe... Maybe Doctor Etsuji has an answer."
She began to trust Doctor Etsuji for real.

"What if I gave you a job, Takane?"

12/12/2024 1:56 am

2-1: CONCLUDE

Chapter 2-2: 買い物 / Kaimono / Shopping

15/12/2024 1:27 pm

EXTRA:
Power Bio: Noei Maeda (Early) - The Abaddon Duelist

TYPE: Basic Type Seventh. PROFILER: Noei Maeda is the final project of former chairman, now current vice chairman, of Neuron. Etsuji Maeda awakened Noei with the intent of living a normal life. However, when she was involved in the Silver Nephilim Incident, Noei awakened her Factor: revealing her true nature as a Seventh made for fighting. Many mysteries surround her. Just why are her Armaments so powerful? Why was she built as a fighter Seventh, yet Etsuji chose to make her live as a normal person? More importantly: What was she really made for? BEING: ????????? Unknown. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be affecting her a lot. Which is rare. Sevenths are defined almost entirely by their Beings. Unless her Being is... EQUIPMENT:

Melee Armament: Gehenna Drill: A drill arm capable of piercing the heavens. Spins faster the longer it's out for. When attacking objects or other energy, it can convert that energy into a shield or grow larger. A very good hyper-offensive Armament, but provides Noei with little defense compared to other Armaments.
Ranged Armament: Belial Buster: An old-model energy buster that's phased out nowadays in favor of just equipping Sevenths with guns directly. Can either shoot rapid fire, or charge up for one big blast. Charge shots consume and nullify weaker energies, making it perfect for dueling and one on one combat.
Extra Armament: Eyes of Add: Full name is Eyes of Abaddon. X-Ray vision eyes which scope is roughly a whole district, though the more Noei tries to scan the more energy she uses up. When scanning Sevenths, Noei can read all their Armaments and Being if given enough time. When scanning humans, it also shows Noei their government documents if applicable. Why does she have access to something so important and confidential, though...?

CRAVING AND FACTOR: "I want to understand everyone!"

Yetzirah: Built to Last: Sun Type Circulation, one of the rarest types of Circulation abilities. Allows her to scan and permanently copy a single Armament from a Seventh. This can only be done so under two requirements. One: she understands and reaches out to the Seventh. Two: she lasts in battle long enough against the Seventh. Technically gives Noei limitless potential. FACTOR UNLEASH: N/A. Can develop it later on though. PARAMETERS:

Power: B (Above average, could probably destroy a district) Speed: B (Above average, outspeeds most land vehicles) Stamina: C (Average, 3-5 fights in a row will render her defunct) Durability: C (Average, can take a few blasts and bombs before going down) Precision: C (Average, can miss a few times) Potential: Ex (Immeasurable) Magic: E (Some potential, but hasn't tapped into it) Factor Unleash: F (Hasn't been developed)

THEME:
* Main characters will have themes in their Power Bios.

"Morning when the Day Breaks - Noei (Early) Battle Theme" (Rengoku Teien -見えない何かに怯える夜 Super Short) Art by @Milk_tensei (edited)

Typically, the front office of Neuron is stacked full.
Not just with people. Not just with robots. But with the very concept of work itself.
Every corner is busy. Every person is typing. Every robot is either reading documents, transporting them or "eating" them. (Ether likes it when his robots are a tad bit silly looking.)
In the final floor of Neuron, the main office where all the higherups are managing bills can be said to be the second busiest place in the world. Right behind the main office of the Ministry of Defense.
Every single patent, bill and document relating to every tech in the world is here.
Every person in the office are approving and disapproving requests to use, invent and ban technologies in certain era. Every business, from small to big, if they want to make use of Steel City's advanced technology...
... All of it has to pass through this little office first, one that overlooks all of the Krypt District.

Which is why it's such an event, a monumental one even...
That the Chairman, the head of it all, has stopped working to focus on one thing.
That one thing being...

The reading of a certain resume.

". . ."

With a scrunched up look, he stared at the resume in front of him for a while.
As he lowered it with a sigh.

"Yeah, I don't think this is gonna work, Noei. This Takane of yours can't land a job here."

"Whaaaaaaaat?!"

The resume the Chairman Ether was holding was of course... Takane's job register.
Noei had made a reaction so loud it could almost be heard outside of the room.
She put her hands on Ether's desk, shaking the table...

"Wait-"

Then she saw a stack of papers fall down once she did. She slid over to catch it, putting it back.
Wordlessly, she bowed as an apology...

... Then Noei instantly shifted back to a distressed look.

"N-Not even as a janitor or a cafeteria guy?! T-Takane says she's fine with doing any job as long as it pays well and she can rank up!!!" (edited)

"Hey, hey, don't get mad."

Ether said, raising up a hand.
As he exhaled.

"Doctor Etsuji ain't here, so I don't know exactly how he treats you or how I should sugarcoat this, but..." For a moment, he looked to his right. "... Arisa, how do I explain this?" To the only other person working at his desk.

Arisa- one of the other people who was there for Noei's awakening looked at Ether. With a clearly irritated look.
She was the Chairman's assistant. For both Ether and Etsuji before him.
Even while looking away from the computer she was working at... Her hands were typing away at it like a machine. One would even say she looks more robotic than the Seventh standing in front of the desk at this very moment.

"... Er. You do realize that right now, I'm not undergoing this pointless sidequest you're on, yeah? And I also don't even have the faintest clue of what you're doing right now, hmm?" With a sassy and angered look, she lowered an eyebrow.

"Well..."

Ether scratched his chin.
As the sass and anger of Arisa flew straight over his head.

"... You have a point there. But it's like- I'm basically trying to tell a kid that Santa doesn't exist. How should I word it to Noei?"

"Santa isn't real?!"

"See- like that!"

Ether said, slightly panicked.
Pinching his nose, he slouched down in his seat.

"I'm terrible at talking to kids, so I have NO idea how to explain that this friend of Noei's has a criminal record!"

"Takane's a criminal!?" ... Ether found it quite endearing that both reactions sounded the exact same.

Pause.
Ether then realized that he blurted out the exact thing he wanted to sugarcoat.
Suffice to say, he was stunned.

"Ohhh, so that's what's going on here."

Arisa paused...
A realization came after the pause.

"Also, wow, you aren't kidding. You suck at this. Let me handle this, babygirl."

Arisa moved over and pat Ether on the back. Causing a near instinctual getup from Ether, as the two switched seats.
Noei did not know or understand why Arisa called Ether babygirl.
Rolling up the resume, Arisa gave it a quick look... Then she exhaled, looking at Noei.

"Well, there's a difference between a criminal record and a criminal. So to make you feel better, Takane's NOT a criminal."

"Ohhhh..."

Noei poked her chin.
Her shoulders heaved down in relief.

"I was afraid that another friend I knew turned out to do bad things while I wasn't looking... But I'm glad that's not the case. Does record mean they did bad things before in the past...?"

"Yeah. Of course, seeing as they're out in the open, this Takane Watcher's stopped doing that. Ever since Ether's gotten into position as Chairman, those with even the slightest criminal record dated within the past 20 years can't get in." Arisa crossed her legs, shrugging. "To be honest, I think it's a bit too strict. It's a HUGE time frame. But he has his reasons."

"Good reasons, Arisa!"

Ether said, looking back at her.
As for once, the man seemed like he had a spine.

"The last thing Neuron needs after the Whitebell war is a SECOND Renji! We are NOT having a second Renji, we'd go bankrupt instantly. Or the lawsuits would kill us. Or both." He shivered. "The worst part is, the 3rd option would be the most likely..."

"I just think you're being too paranoid!"

Arisa said with a thick cross of her arms.
Huffing out a huge amount of air, it was as if the image of him in her head was still very clear.
The memories, still present.

"Renji Tenma was a one in a billion scientist. A man of his caliber, his talent and skill... And also his depth of vision. No one like that's gonna come for a while."

Equal reverence and fear was held in her voice.
A sort of respect that Ether's tone did not share.

"...?" Noei wondered. "Renji Tenma...?" - Subconsciously, that name slipped out of her mouth. (edited)

The room quieted for a bit.
Though the room was busy, it was also small enough to where any conversation in the room could be heard.
No matter how quiet you were being or no matter how far away people were for each other.
His name held that much power.

"... He's a bit of a sore topic for Doctor Etsuji. Seeing as Renji Tenma was his first student. But he... He was a brilliant scientist who finally cracked the code to making Sevenths as sentient as humans. In fact." The man adjusted his glasses. "The processes, machines and things he produced are incredibly hard to reverse engineer. Only Etsuji's smart enough to even have a chance of deciphering it, and he says he only understands about "half the processes." We just reuse whatever the things he made alongside the code without understanding how it's made or what he did. Alongside Etsuji, you could say he was the father of Sevenths."

... A half-truth.
Or a truth that omits the full story.

(edited)

"... Father..."

Subconsciously again.

She muttered.

"Every First Generation Seventh was made and overseered by him. It was only in the Second Generation, about 10 or so years ago, when Sevenths started being made by other Scientists... Because we needed to produce Sevenths for war."

First Generation Sevenths are the original batches.
Second Generation Sevenths were made for the Whitebell War.
And Third Generation Sevenths involve all Sevenths post war.
With there being generations... There would of course be differences and gaps. One which Arisa voiced out.

"... We hate to admit it, but the First Generation Sevenths are still the most effective. The ones that weren't scrapped or defeated during the war... Possess the most human-like traits, the strongest Factors and the best Armaments. Nothing else that was created after matches. -Except for the Silver Nephilim. The sole outlier. She was clearly a Third Generation Seventh, but..."

Her voice trailed off.
As everyone knew it. Her power output, her rage...
It was too strong. Too human-like. 

It was too much like Renji's work.

"Um..."

Noei raised up a finger.
As she didn't quite understand the depth that this Renji person had.
- But deep down, she felt it more than anyone else in the room.
Being the only Seventh here...

She alone carried on Renji's will.

"If this Renji guy was so good, then where is he now?"

"... He was a criminal. That's why." Ether put his hands down on the table. "Someday, during the war... He went mad. We don't know what happened, but he went insane all of a sudden on a certain date. October 12, ten years ago."

Ether moved over to his desk...
Taking up a projector device, aiming it at the sole window of the office.
It projected the same view as the one outside, but... Now with a second Dome in place of where a construction site was.

"Over there, Old Neuron was located. Our old site. In just one day-"

- A swarm.
From the ground. Dropped from camoflauged ships in the sky.
Sevenths. Robots. All made for war. All armed with weaponry.
All began to attack Neuron.

"- Neuron was swarmed."

"...!!!"

What terrified Noei wasn't the level of destruction.
It wasn't that she was used to it. In fact, Seren's destructive potential was greater than hers.
It's that all the Sevenths were like her, Marika and Winter.
They didn't have great destructive potential or the insane energies that Seren had.
In fact. They were just using their Armaments.
But just one was causing buildings to collapse. Multiple, the streets and guards around them were devastated.

This was something Noei could do.
For a moment, she saw herself in the position of the many destroyers.
Ether noticed the sour look on Noei's face and stopped for a second.

"... This was in the middle of the heat of the war. Old Neuron was ravaged, and leading all the Sevenths..."

Zoom. The camera zoomed to the largest airship, a zeppelin and boat-like fusion, floating above Old Neuron.
There was a man with blonde hair and a military outfit, alongside a strange helmet standing at the deck at one. But due to its distance, his exact features were hard to make out.

"... It's hard to see, but that was Renji Tenma. We knew he was leading this command, but not why... The only reason we were able to come back from this huge defeat-" - The camera panned.

To the other side of the sky.
From one sky... Zeppelins of mass destruction encroached.
And from the other side-
The one who protected the end.

A blue, twin-tailed Seventh.
One wearing a black uniform. Slightly damaged and sparking too- she just came from battle.
Noei remarked that her flight and appearance was similar to her own when she was flying to space. And perhaps, even the situation too.
Similar to Noei, her four limbs have turned into thrusters. As she was flying straight to the danger.
Electricity sparked around her. But this was not the spark of a Seventh low on energy.
This blue electricity... Was hers to command.

"Factor Authorized. A world at my behest, controlled at the palm of my hand. The Master of War saunters onto the stage once more. Yetzirah - The World is Mine."

She dropped all at once...
Landing onto the streets, releasing a shockwave of electricity.
Said shockwave seemed to engulf and encompass all. The entire Dome, all the Airships and every thing made of steel and metal.
All of it stopped with just that effortless burst from the blue Seventh.

(edited)

Everyone watching the recording...
Despite it being a tragedy, they smiled upon seeing her enter.
For one reason alone.

"- Was because of Shiori Hashimoto. The Queen of Sevenths, and the first one ever made. A true hero."

The word hero...
... Noei felt like now she finally understood what it meant.

"With the strongest recorded Factor ever. Capable of controlling and embodying electricity. Nowadays, all things are made and powered by electricity. Effectively, Shiori controls the world with her ability. If she so wanted to, she could choose to control the city. And we'd be unable to resist her."

"..."

The recording shut off after that.
Arisa held a conflicted look that Noei wasn't able to see.
As everyone was staring at the projection. Even stopping their valuable work to watch the hero.

"This was the last time we ever saw her. The Disappearance of Shiori Hashimoto followed after. ... The leading theory is that Renji deployed a Seventh that could resist her Factor, and subdued her. But that's just a theory. Many believe she's still out there..." ... But it was clear by the pessimistic look on her face that she didn't believe that at all. "But that's who Renji is. A genius, who turned mad all in one day... And turned on us."

"Arisa disagrees with it, but this is why I can't take risks with criminals or those with a recent past." Ether adjusted his glasses. "People like those tend to be the unstable sort. The sort to do anything for money, ideals and the like."

Noei hated it, but...
She got the same impression from Takane too.
Implying to her, that Ether thought Takane was dangerous.

"We're lucky that Shiori, Lukia and Kairen somehow traveled ALLL the way from Sergit to here at a moment's notice. Otherwise, Neuron would've been gone. Permanently. Some people might call it anxious. I call it cautious."

After that statement...
The mood in the room calmed down.
As Arisa let out a tired exhale.

"And I'm a part of the group that calls it anxious. ... Sorry for the long side tangent, but that's why we can't get Takane a job. Even if it were up to me though, seeing the resume... She's a bit too much of a risk to have at work. I know she's your friend. But there's a reason why this resume has a lot of jobs here, but not one that she's been in for over a year."

Arisa slid the resume back to Noei.
She did so slowly... As her expression deduced that she wouldn't be stopping or giving up.

However.

What Noei suggested afterwards...
It was just a simple declaration.
But it finally got Ether and Arisa to respect Noei a little.

"Okay. Plan B then. Can I start a business?"

"Eh?"

"Wha-"

Noei put her hand down. A look of determination passed her.
One that they saw before, but from a distance.
Noei's eyes... Were the same as when she was shot from that railgun. Only now, Ether and Arisa could see it up close.

They only thought two words to describe it.
"She's powerful."

"Takane's doing it for her sister. A sister who's sick. She's not just doing this for herself! And... We like her! Me, Elka and Pharma- my other friends! And the whole school does too! She was so sad when she got fired. And judging by her look, she's been sad every time she's been fired!" Noei raised up her fists. Pleading. "So I'll give her a job! One she can stay in! And I know that this office is what approves and does that type of stuff. ... So please!"

...
Just like before...

Ether was the only one who was able to accept Noei's resolve fully.

"... Do you already know what sort of business you're gonna open up?"

"Yup!" Nod nod. "An atelier! I want to make clothes!"

- He couldn't let himself be shocked by Noei.
Even if he was impressed. Because he was the Chairman of Neuron, he had to stay steadfast.

"Are you prepared to take on all sorts of dull math, statistics, negotiations and all that jazz? Marketing, production, rennovations..."

"I'm a Seventh! I've got a computer inside of me that can handle that sort of stuff!" Noei said, poking her head. "My grades in school are at the second top of the class, behind Okino Fuji, and that's with my Factor off- restricting most of my abilities. I can do it!" She knew what was going on. Ether was testing her resolve.

"Does..." Arisa spoke up next, uneasily. "Does Doctor Etsuji know?"

Finally...
Noei paused. Her resolve not wavering, but pausing for a moment.
She shook her head wordlessly.

Arisa raised her voice. "Well-"

But whatever words were about to come out of her...
They were all rendered useless by Ether's next statement.

"- Nah, that's a good thing. Noei's meant to be like a normal human. And all kids gotta leave the nest someday. Which means... Noei's finally becoming her own person. So yeah. I'll let you handle a business and I'll even help you start one." He stated confidently, with a slight grin on his face. "You're ready. I can tell!" (edited)

"Ohh...!!!"

Noei smiled... Stars forming in her irises.
But she shook her head like Pharma and regained composure.
As she bowed in front of Ether.

"T-Thank you very much!"

"W-Wait!"

Arisa stepped in front of Ether.
As she held out her hands, pleading.

"I know we also run startup businesses and approvals and that sort of jazz, but do you know how long it takes to even get one?! Even if you are gonna help out, Noei's also still in school. She doesn't even have a diploma. With restrictions so tight-"

"- Who said that she was starting a business HERE? There are other places where you can start up businesses... With wayyy lighter restrictions."

Smirk.
Ether knew full well what he was suggesting... And the sort of reaction it would provoke from Arisa.

First, it was shock.
Then, anger.
Then, those two swelled and swirled together. To a sort of angered confusion like one would get against a madman.

- Renji Tenma was a brilliant scientist.
Etsuji Maeda was that scientist's teacher... But more over than that, he was a visionary: as evidenced by Noei. A Dreamer who could make those Dreams come true.
As chairman, Ether needed to be some level of insane.
His insanity came in the form... Of an unflinching kindness and respect for resolve.

"Y-You're crazy...!" Arisa stepped back, knowing full well Ether was serious. "You're practically sending Noei to work in the most lawless and most dangerous place in all of Steel City! What do you think Doctor Etsuji is gonna say?!"

"Look what happened after Noei fought the most dangerous Seventh in recent history."

Ether said, patting Noei on the head.
To which she had a brief smile from it.

"When faced with conflict, there are two types of people. People who soar and gain wings, and people who are unable to fly. It's clear as day that Noei is the former. And damn do I want to see those wings fully fly. Even if he ain't gonna budge, I'll argue till Etsuji gets sleep deprived. I've GOTTA see how Noei will grow, no matter what."

And it seems a keyword got Arisa to back down.
As she sat back down, not defeated or reluctant... But understanding.
That word was "grow."

"... Just don't make the old man pop a vein."

She looked away right after, out the window.
Arisa realized it too.

She was afraid of Noei's limitless potential to grow.
Because growing wasn't just linear.
There were millions of paths she could take. As an assistant to Neuron's Chairman, she's seen many Sevenths.
But this was the first time in a while that Arisa couldn't predict where one was going.

"Ah..."

Noei pointed at her chin, a little confused.
Even though she was still a little emotionally dense, for Ether who was usually so jovial and upbeat...
This sort of weight was something she never expected from him. So she was caught off guard.

"... W-Wait. Where exactly am I gonna open up my business...?"

Ether adjusted his glasses with one finger.
With a sly look, he begun to speak in a showman-like cadence.

"Well, the place we're gonna go to..."

15/12/2024 4:27 pm

------------------------------- + Zone Backstreets + -----------------------

"... Is my hometown, the Zone Backstreets!"

"Ohhh! I've been here before!"

"- Guhaugh!?"

Ether fell onto the ground as soon as the wonderful showcase he was about to show Noei... Also fell like him.
His setup was ruined.

"C-Chairman Ether?! You fell, just like Doctor Etsuji! Are you two perhaps related?!"

A shocked Noei blurted out all at once, looking worriedly to Ether on the side.
Her thoughts came flowing out all at once.

"Ugh... Don't say that ever again please, I feel like I got a heart attack just from the implications at that."

Ether's reservations against Etsuji aside...
He stood up and looked in front of him.

After setting up this grand reveal, dashed away by the fact that Noei has been to the Backstreets before... He got in his car (a surprisingly modest, middle-end car) with Arisa and drove off.
All while multitasking the setup for what would become Noei's new business.
Even though his car was mid-end, due to being in Neuron, he did customize it to have an autodrive feature so he can work while he drives.

Ether took a moment to look in front of him.
- Because of his unique circumstances, he saw things other people were unable to see in the Backstreets. But judging by the look of awe Noei had, he was confident that she saw it too.
The Krypt District was right behind them, as they were at the entrance of the District. The border.
Though they're called Districts, each District is a lot closer to a city. Steel City is more like 5 cities bunched into one.
So, this District where every building was unique... Truly unique...
No color being the same as the last. All their shapes and sizes being different, with even their level of wellness being different.
To some, it's nothing more than a backstreet.
But those who can see It...

"I know it's nothing like the Krypt District. Or the V District, which you've been in before. But this place is beautiful in its own right, isn't it?"

"I... I can't quite describe it. Some places and alleyways I can see from here are filled with trash. Others, trash... But with grafitti. Some are clean. Some buildings look like they're about to collapse, while some look like mansions from the V District. It's a mishmash of so many things, I don't even know where to start."

Noei slowly smiled.
She recalled the uniform V District, where every corner of that city down to the smallest street was so elegantly designed and well planned.
The District before her seemed like the embodiment of chaos. A hotpot with every ingredient stuffed into it.
If she considered the V District beautiful, then shouldn't its opposite be ugly?
That's what Noei thought.

But she found it hard to consider this district ugly.

"But I like it. Plus, one of my friends lives here! Winter's her name, and she's an officer!" (edited)

Arisa let out an exhale. Because Ether failed at his grand reveal...
He wordlessly slouched back into the driver's seat of his car.
Arisa got in as well. It made no sound as it started up, as it was electric.
Most cars in Steel City are electric.
The car began to move deeper into the Backstreets.

"... I still have no idea how you convinced Doctor Etsuji." Looking outside... Arisa was the only one who didn't share Noei and Ether's wonder. "One, although Zone's just called Zone and the Backstreets is just a colloquial name... It IS called the Backstreets for a reason, you know? Two, this place is crawling with gangsters and mafia. Three, haven't you seen the news?! No- you definitely have, overseeing it is a part of your damn job! There's been a rise in criminal Seventh activity, especially with the Dark Slasher, and the hotspot for it all is IN THIS DISTRICT!!!"

Ignoring all of the things Arisa listed...
... Ether looked back at Arisa and grinned.

"Oh, I didn't convince Doctor Etsuji. I just sent him the details of what I'd be doing and told him if he had any objections, he should meet us where Noei's store's gonna be." Two reactions followed.

"Ohhh! Cool! I already have a store! I heard from Takane it was really hard to start up a business anywhere that wasn't here, so I'm glad her story is true!"

"ARE YOU INSANE, ETHER?!?!?!" Two very different reactions.

"I might be!" Ether said chuckling. "But whether you're the Chairman of Neuron, Lead of the Ministry of Defense, Head of the Culture Department... You've got to be wicked in at least one aspect to rule this insane hodgepodge of a city."

He stated with no vileness or hatred in his heart.
It was simply a fact... And one that was evident from the Zone Backstreet's appearance alone.
It was a miracle that each day went by. 

- For one event could collapse it all. A single action of a single person could spell its demise.

"Either way, I've geared myself up for the lecture of a lifetime. Besides, I got one of my best friends helping out with Noei. You remember Junie?"

"Ohhh!!! Junie! Yeah, she's great-"

- Pause.
Arisa realized that she was falling for one of Ether's classic tricks.

"... Okay, just because you've got her helping this business out, doesn't make things any better!"

"She agreed to help."

"STILL!!!!!"

"... These two are strange."
Noei finds everyone strange to a degree.
But she also doesn't quite get their relationship. No matter how many times she tried to run it through her head...
Noei did not understand these two.
They looked like they were arguing one second, then they would get along really well the next, then they would share a moment of silence in mutual understanding...

It was unlike anything she's ever seen before. Much like many things.
So...

"Um... ... I've been wondering for a while, but what exaclty is the relationship between you two? Do you like each other? Or do you dislike each other?"

"Huh."

That was a question that Ether wasn't expecting...
But he bounced back from being confused quickly.

"Well, it's simple. It can be described in just two words, even." Ether looked at Arisa with a nod, passing the question off to her.

"Me and Ether..."

A nod in return.
As Arisa looked at Noei from the front seat with a grin.

"We're friends."

"... That is, at least on the surface."

What was going on between them was something prohibited in Neuron, so they didn't want to set a bad example.
But it was simpler than two words even. It was one word.

Love.

Arisa and Ether were dating.

15/12/2024 5:44 pm

----------------------- + Zone Backstreets, Zone 5 + ---------------------------

"Aaaand here we are!"

Since the area was pretty deep into the Backstreets, though near a bus station- so Noei could reasonably get to school pretty easily, if she chose to continue education...
They arrived in Zone 5. While going there, Ether lectured Noei about the various zones.
Zone has 5 zones, each of course being a number.
1 was the criminal underbelly of Steel City, aka a "do not approach under any circumstance" area.
2 had the most chain businesses, also being the closest to the Krypt District- being its landlocked neighbor. It's sort of seen as a middle-class area.
3 is where Ether grew up. Known as the "market place", second-hand markets thrive there alongside local mechanics and engineers. He said that fights tended to happen a lot there.
4 is sort of a typical slum, the only place deserving of the name "backstreets" in Ether's opinion. Of course, Arisa believes the WHOLE place deserves it.
And Zone 5... Where Ether thought it would be best for Noei to set up shop. Known as the Artisan's Zone... All sorts of indie, slow fashion and local one-of-a-kind stores open up.
From electrical stores, to fashion, to restaurant- Ether considers it the heart of Steel City's culture.

Where they stopped at was the front of a hill.
A hill that overlooked in its front, another Untouched Wildlife zone. Common across Steel City. A dense forest was ahead of them.
And in its back, it overlooked a more residential area of Zone 5. But still with a few local stores here and there- mostly electrical and tech-related.
On top of the hill... Robots were already handling production and building. Cheaper ones. Unlike the ones in Krypt District which mostly floated- most of the robots had tank-like or car-like wheels. Extending their own body to build and building temporary structures to get around.
Rather than just constructing it from scratch.

"Your new store AND your new home."

"Ooooh!!! Cool!"

Noei said, stars filling her eyes.
Unable to contain her excitement for any longer, her whole body was practically bouncing up and down.

"I didn't know that I was also getting a house! I've only been in Winter's, but I always felt like it was kind of sad just sleeping in Doctor Etsuji's lab every day...."

Noei said, looking sad for a little bit...
Then she pointed.

"Wow, and it looks to be even bigger than Winter's!" Seeing her house again brought her smile back.

"W-Wait."

Noei's statement snapped her out of the prejudice she had for the Zone Backstreets.
She was mostly silent before that, just looking at the surroundings around her.

"You didn't like staying in the lab?"

"Yuh-huh!" Nod nod.

Arisa wasn't frustrated. But she could sound frustrated.
In truth, she was just flabbergasted.

"... And why didn't you tell us this BEFORE?"

"Cause nobody asked!" She said with a grin.

". . ."

"Shit, now I'm realizing why Ether REAAAALLY wants Noei to grow as her own person. She kinda needs this."
Her entire body almost seemed to fail at the suggestion that Ether MAY have been on the right track for once.

"Because of the speeds of the robots working... You can expect this place to be done in the afternoon." Ether said, coughing. "Fully furnishing will take a bit longer than that though. And actually getting your business opened might take a few days. Even then, it's still gonna be under my name. I'm gonna have to work out a few things to get you in charge, but I'll be here for the first few days." He clapped his hands together. "Oh, and in case you get stumped, get in a lawsuit, or get bankrupt..."

As he slipped out something from his pocket. A strange USB-like device that was as large as a graphics card for a PC, or a small pizza box.

"I've got a Module for Business Sevenths that I can just inject in you. Then, you'll be as good as every other business out there!" (edited)

"Module?" Noei said, tilting her head.

Ether was surprised that Noei's never heard of them before.
Then he remembered why Noei was awakened.

"Basically, they're add-ons for a Seventh. Most of them either add information or extra abilities, such as an add-on to their Factor or Armaments." He nodded up and down. "Etsuji, when he awakened you, intentionally made you have NO Modules. To learn what's in the Modules on your own two legs." With a lively motion, he tapped his legs to insinuate Doctor Etsuji's goal. "As most Sevenths are given Modules right off the bat to fill their goal. Though I dunno if he's gonna allow it or not..."

As if he was arriving on a cue though...
A rich looking car arrived. One that arrived on its own constructed flying road, made by EM Wave Projections.
As it parked right in front of the hill. Ether looked at it with anticipation... While Arisa groaned.
- Having seen the car before, Noei also knew.

Out of it came Doctor Etsuji...
... With luggage.

"Heyyy! Ether, Noei, Arisa! It's rare that all 4 of us are in the same area at once. Anyways, I'm here to-" - Look. "The house's not done yet?"

"................ YOU'RE OKAY WITH THIS?!"

The shout of Arisa almost caused the birds in the nearby forest to fly up.
As Etsuji adjusted his glasses with two fingers, smiling brightly.
It was like flowers could be seen right behind him as he did.

"Yep!" Though the quickly faded with the second adjust. "At first, I had multiple problems. Firstly, this is where most of the mafia gather. Secondly, this is where most gangsters gather. Third, those two tend to overlap a lot and get into gang fights. Fourth, I don't even know if Noei could handle a business let alone an atelier. I've certainly never seen her make even a single article of clothing before. Fifth, all of the above would put her in immense danger."

With every problem raised, he also raised a finger of his own.
The danger that oozed off of him at this very moment was exactly what Arisa and Ether were dreading facing.

("With that much problems, you'd think he wasn't accepting of it...") Arisa said, whispering over to Ether.

"However. Those are only short term problems. I came to realize it after a talk with..." He hung on his words for a bit. "... A trusted confidant."

And he seemed to grumble shortly after saying those words.
A rare motion occurred. Etsuji's hands went into his pockets.
He even sighed.

"That it would help Noei in the long run if she had this. After all, this is a decision you came to yourself, no?"

"Yeah!!!!!"

Noei said, her eyes sparkling. They all turned to the constructed house soon after.
As they watched the house be constructed...
They all thought the same thing.

Nobody has any idea onw hat Noei is going to make or become.
But they all want to see it happen.
It was a house under construction, which they've all seen a lot. It's happening everywhere in Steel City. Especially due to post-war recovery efforts.
But this single house seeme to hold more potential than any other.

15/12/2024 6:32 pm

2-2: CONCLUDE

Chapter 2-3: 銀 / Gin / Silver

15/12/2024 6:47 pm

One day had passed. Because of the advent of robots, making almost everything much easier...
That meant that building had completed. But not just that.
It was lightly furnished too. Though of course, signs of it being recently made were obvious.
It had barely any decorations and lacked the humanistic touch which could only be seen from houses that have been used for a while.
However, that would come in due time.
From the outset, the place was already impressive enough. Its location is striking, but the house itself is also striking.
It's a large, Japanese-style, house. Sliding doors, interconnected rooms that branch off from one another... Almost like if you put multiple small houses together.
All with a large stone wall around it, alongside a security system which prevented people from intruding or stealing. Ether said this was a NECESSITY.
It even had a large yard and a shed. Most of the inactive worker robots stayed in the shed.

Separated into two main areas... The east, and entrance of it, had mostly stuff for the Atelier.
The west of it, and the second floor, had rooms for Noei alongside a few other people who requested lodging once she announced she was opening up a store.
It was a pretty vast house. Just its largeness alone was enough to be impressive.

Not to mention it had people in it too. Volunteers- part-time workers.
And they were exactly who one would expect to work here.

Five people were in the main living room.
Which was also connected to the kitchen, at that. Of course...
Noei was the one the house was made for. And the one the business was made for.
So it stands that she would be in the room as well.

Giving a classic peace sign, she stood in front of a line of 4.

"So everyone's here then! We can begin the atelier-ing and the cloth-ing! Yeaaaaahhhh!!!"

The next was obvious.
Etsuji already was planning on moving in before it was even built.
And it's how the place is called the Maeda Household rather than Noei's House or anything like that. Because it became their family residence.
Adjusting his tie, Etsuji nodded.

"I guess we can, hm? More over..." Etsuji looked to his left. "Are these... Also your only friends, Noei?"

To his left...
One Etsuji believed would pretty much walk with Noei until she died was here.
Elka Brinker. The delinquent who seemed to be Noei's best friend.
A smug grin appeared on his face as he didn't register Etsuji's statement.
He elbowed the person to his left.

"Maaaan. Although I feel like the most I can do is logistics... This type of work is literally a dream come true for you, yeah?"

To Elka's own left...
Was Pharma. Pharma Diethel. Another one of Noei's friends.
Judging by the fact that Etsuji, two days ago, literally teamed up with these two...
He was inclined to believe that these two were Noei's only friends.
Pharma adjusted her hat while talking.

"Yeah!!! Dad's always talking me about how I should get a part time job already and all that jazz. And now... Not only do I have one, I have one that suits me!" She pointed to her hat. Her jacket. And her pants. "See?! All of these are custom designed! By me!!! I've been waiting for an opportunity like this, and it came to me served on a silver platter!!!" To say she was eager may be an understatement.

Noei looked at Pharma with a comforting smile.
As she gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll be counting on you for teaching me how to make clothes and stuff, so... Yeah!!!"

Pharma, Elka and Etsuji were part-timers.
While Noei, Takane (who hadn't shown up yet), and the 5th person in the room were full timers.

Of course, that fifth person...

Was someone that everyone but Etsuji has never met.
And even to Etsuji, she was more of an acquaintance than a friend.
She was someone who demanded a certain type of attention. A presence that could only be described as "dominating..."
Also dressed in a military-like manner. Though that sort of fashion wasn't uncommon around the Zone Backstreets. There's no such thing as "common" or "uncommon" in those areas anyways.
It was almost like a land of fantasy. One would think that this woman was hardstrung and serious
Yet her voice...

"... This everyone? Damn. More than I expected. Cool. Aaanyways, there might be some bumps in the road.... Well, more than some bumps. We've got to teach you guys logistics, marketing, finance, HR, robot management, documentations, analyzing market trends and the economy... But I think we'll be alright."

... Was as calm as water.
The woman gave a thumbs up right after.

(edited)

"U-Um, Scary Eyepatch Lady-"

A glare like a thrown knife was shot. "Jun. It's just Jun."

"- Eeeeep!"

Elka was stunned too. But for a different reason. ("... Shit, she's cool!")

Then he slapped himself to regain focus.
He raised his hand like he was in class... Despite the fact that he only does so with Takane, opting to just shout over everyone instead to respond in class.

"A-Ahem. Don't mean to be rude or anything like that, or offensive, or demeaning, or... Ya' get the point. But that sounds like a lot."

"Not to worry." Another chill thumbs up. "Firstly, you and hat girl are part-timers. Means you'll mostly just be manning logistics and shifting. Don't think you're gonna do any management. Next, I handle most of that stuff. I think most of mangement's also gonna fall on me, seeing as I'm a full-timer with experience and- well... Had nothing better to do till Eths contacted me."

With a nickname used, Noei could instantly tell she was close to Ether.
She wondered if she should give everyone else nicknames.

"Another thing too. I got teaching experience. You probably haven't heard of it, but I used teach a highschool for Mages and Shamans. It's called Lucid Institute. Though I left cause... Some people called me to come back here."

"Oooh!" Pharma nodded. "So you're a teacher too...? And you seem cool, like Takane! U-Um..." She lowered her hat and bowed. Clear anxiety was in her. "I'm Pharma Diethel! It's my dream to work in a clothing atelier like this, so..."

As Pharma's voice hung...
Elka also introduced himself, tipping his hat down too.
Though his was more sloppy than Pharma. It was obvious he was just mimicking what she did, perhaps in a mocking sort of way.

"My name's Elka. Nice to meetcha, Jun. And I guess... Good to be working with you? Man. Surreal to actually have a part time job. Now I can finally pay for my boxing gym with my own money 'stead of mooching off Dad."

Noei waved right after.
Cheerfully, she said,

"I'm Noei Maeda! And-"

- That, of course, was interrupted by Jun. "Yeah, yeah. Greatest Robot in the World. You're all the rage in the news lately." Scratch scratch. She rubbed her chin. "Honestly, I don't get it. You just seem like... An ordinary Seventh than me. Kinda underwhelming to be honest, after I've seen you in all sorts of channels... ... Thought a Hero would be more outstanding, is all I'm saying."

"..."

Etsuji cleared his throat. "W-Well..." As he spoke up rather shyly. "... Noei was never meant to have that title. I awakened her with the purpose of being a normal girl. It was only because she... She was there that she chose to intervene with the Silver Nephilim situation."

"Huh...?"

Jun raised an eyebrow, looking to Noei.
Jun was wondering why Etsuji seemed to not just be hesitating... But also withholding information...
But she put that thought away for now and put her attention square on the Seventh.

"Is that so?"

". . ." Noei looked down. "I feel bad every time I look at the news. Cause they just mention Seren as a villain. She... She was my best friend."

"Noei..."

Elka, having met Seren- being friends with her...
He looked at her with a frown.

"Seeing her lash out destructively like that- it wasn't like her." Noei gripped her fists. "Because I understood her, I thought I could save her. But...!!!"

Tighter and tighter. Pulling them upwards.
Gritted teeth.
A heavy conscience.

Guilt.

"I-I couldn't even land a single hit in the end...!"

"... Was this out of want, or necessity?"

"... Sorry. I can't answer that right now. I don't know the answer myself."

Noei looked down.
As all of her anger collapsed at once.
- It was always like that for her. There were concepts she didn't understand.
She didn't understand the world. She didn't understand the others.

Noei was not enough. And she felt that at this very moment.
That she was nothing but potential... Potential which currently, could do nothing.

Noei didn't know, but Jun did. She wasn't there for it...
But she could tell from Noei's character. She was passive.
Whatever choice she made which led to her being branded a "Hero" was a reaction. A gut one.
A mixed look appeared on her face, as she turned her back on Noei.
Staring outside the window of the room. A small lake was in front of the living room window.

"You might not get it right now, but you were missing It... The Silver Nephilim- or Seren... ... Seems like you had a lot of love for her. But without It, love cannot be seen."

- None of them got that sentence.
But they were sure it contained years and years of weight. More over...
They were sure that whatever "It" was, it applied to Noei.

"What... What is that "It", Jun?"

It was like she was begging for a way.

An answer.
To what she did wrong with Seren.

"... Stick around me and you'll find out, kid."

Jun said, stepping forward.
As he faced everyone with a point of her finger.

"Cause you've convinced me. I was just doing this as a favor for Ether... But now I'm invested. Let me see if you really have It, Noei."

Noei had no idea why she seemed to be a magnet for people who want to see who she truly is, but she just accepted it.
Either way, she was sure that Jun was testing her the same way Ether was. The two seemed to be close friends, so she thought that their similarity was fitting.
Perhaps it was Ether's way of continuing her will with Noei. Entrusting Noei with someone who shared his ideals too.

However, those ideals...
Caused a slight grimace from Etsuji.
He thought to himself with that same look, carried on with all of his thoughts.

"Love, huh?"
Etsuji took a few steps back. "It is a strong force.

But because of love, you might see things that aren't there."
Staring outside...
He could only think of one person who embodied the part of love he disliked.

It was the very person who he unfortunately lost an argument with... And was convinced to go along with Noei's idea for.

- A projection of Renji Tenma.
The same one that confronted him all those nights before on the nature of Seren and Noei.
He had also come to confront Etsuji while he was driving to Noei, convincing Etsuji to go along with the idea.
- As initially, he was as furious as Arisa and Ether were thinking.
Watching it all unfold, with a smirk on the projection's face...
His eyes weren't on Etsuji though. They were on Noei.
Etsuji, at this moment... Didn't exist.

"... This is a new experience for you, Rei." The projection spoke to itself. "Let's see if it fills in what you're missing."

15/12/2024 7:55 pm

----------------------- + Later on in the day + -------------------------------

Now in the East of the Maeda Household...
It had 2 main areas. The waiting and shop area, and the actual Atelier itself. The workshop.
Because of modern advancements, robots and whatnot...
The work of most production-based jobs revolved around being like a commander.
Elka and Pharma, who were both gamers, thought it to be similar to that of a management game. Except of course, due to being a real job... Also being more technical. With lots of jargon, improvisation, decision-making... And whatnot.
Their main job was to manage the robots of course and do certain jobs that only a human or Seventh could do with a thinking mind.
Such as the management of resources. Directing those robots where to go. Emergencies. Managing spreadsheets and double-checking documentations. Logistics, helping with sorting... The sort of stuff that can't exist without human ingenuity.

Perhaps it was due to her being a Seventh...
... But everybody expected what Noei was about to say after the first batch of lessons.

"Huh! This is actually pretty simple!"

Elka scratched the back of his hair, as he looked at a board with a hologram floating above it.
For human workers, they each had that board: which outlined the stuff they could do and need to do.
Automatically sorting the work in that single hologram floating just above the board.
It also had basic controls for all the robots and had biometric scans to assure that people who steal it can't use it. Of course, due to this, Sevenths can't use it.
(Though it's not like they need to. They can just talk to the robots directly.)

Elka mostly just handled the logistics, manpower, carrying of supplies and routing of it...
As he lowered the board, looking at Noei with an exasperated look.

"Good for you... ... Cause man. I had no idea working a job would be so complicated."

"I think it is pretty simple, hehe! Or maybe it might just be my experience!"

In the corner of the workshop was Pharma.
Who, similar to Noei, had a look of comfortability.
She was on a set of computers hooked up to sewing machines, blueprint constructors and clothes makers.
All while she looked like she was having the time of her life.

"Wha- you're still going!?"

Elka said, surprised at how fast Pharma was working.
To check, he even got closer. As he doubted she was actually making stuff...
Then his arms fell.

"Most of these look REALLY good, holy crap..."

Just by seeing the concept art, blueprints and some of the finished clothing Pharma was making... Elka could tell that.
He rubbed his eyes several times.

"Ain't you like, bottom of the class?! I know you said you made all your clothes, but where'd all this proficiency come from?!"

Pharma's neck slowly creaked to Elka. "Since when did you start caring about class standing...?" She coughed soon after. "I can't explain that stuff at all, even if I'm not proud of it... Like- tests, lectures and all that are just so boring! I'd rather just do life stuff like this! Plus!" She moved over in her seat to look at Jun. "We get paid, yeah?!"

Jun was merely observing the four go at it.
Because of her usually hard to read expression, nobody could figure out whether or not she was proud or not.
- But it's only been a few hours, and Noei and Pharma have practically mastered the flow of how this Atelier should work. She was proud, it's just that her face has a hard time showing expression.
So even her shock, when Pharma called her, wasn't observed on her face.
She looked nonchalant when called.

"Huh...? Oh. Yeah. I mean, you guys are working here. Of course you get paid."

Objectively, the most efficient out of all of them was Etsuji. As expected, since he was the former Chairman of Neuron.
Though of course, he was even less of a part-timer than Elka and Pharma. Who would only come in every now and then.
Though as his main job was maintenance on all the Worker Robots, this would be fine.
He was able to instruct Noei on how to wrangle them all.
Taking a break in the corner of the Clothes Workshop by drinking some tea...
She chimed in after he heard what Pharma said.

"Hm... There are some people in this world who just can't do academics and theory at all. But the moment you make them learn something practical, they soar at it. I was once like this as a kid."

"Wha- really?!" Elka's reaction and pivot to him was almost kneejerk.

"E-Eeeh?!" Pharma looked over to Etsuji in shock.

"Oh cool!" While Noei was just happy to learn new stuff.

Etsuji smirked, as he recalled the past. "I used to be the bottom of my class back in my Alma Mater... No- even in gradeschool, I was like that." A wistful look passed him, as he lowered his tea to focus fully on telling his story. "But a kind teacher who sadly is dead right now did a test on me. The incentive was a bunch of candy, so I shot for it. I didn't know it at the time, but she gave me two tests with the same answers. They were both math tests." Raising up both hands, he looked at one as if it were a paper. "The first was just a bog-standard trigonometry test. But the next? Same coverage, yet all of the questions were word problems. Applied to real life context." He chuckled slowly. "... I got perfect on the second test. That teacher explained what she did, and... It invigorated my passion for teaching the future generations. I'd even go so far as to say it's why I'm in Neuron- and so interested in Sevenths."

Practically, he poured his whole heart and soul out in such a short time.
Nobody was able to respond for quite a bit, until...

"... Yeah, I get it!" Pharma said to Etsuji, with a brighter voice. "U-Um, it's a bit cheesy to say, but...!" With a shy look, she turned to Noei. "I-If this sort of thing works out, I uh... Would like to thank you! I've been looking for this sort of thing for a while!"

To not feel useless.
To not feel excluded.

As the "weird one" in class, she had been longing for this sort of experience for a while. She just didn't know that it would come from a Seventh.

But Noei, of course... She couldn't understand the full weight behind what Pharma said.
She simply smiled, knowing that Pharma was proud.
Even though she didn't know or understand why it felt like she did something big for Pharma.

"Oh... Okay!" Noei gave her a thumbs up. "Not really too sure what to say in this situation, so thank you too!!! For working here! W-Well, we haven't had our first day, but... I think we can do it!"

"I might not have this whole thing figured out..."

Looking at Noei and Pharma, Elka was able to smile too.
"... Just like the Waterfight, I'm gonna be the one lagging behind, huh?"
- Yet deep down, there was something gnawing at the back of his mind.

"Nah... I can't let that shit bother me. Dad's been telling me to get a job for a while, so I should be happy. Even if I can't pull my weight."
Something that Elka refused to acknowledge.
Just like he always does, he energetically pumped his fist up.

"... But as long as you two guys got it, then I don't have anythin' to worry about. Means I can catch up too!"

"There's just one thing I'm worried about."

Jun said, not even raising her voice...
But with how infrequently she spoke, she always garnered attention.
She tapped the side of her head.

"Noei. You said there was supposed to be one more person 'ere, yeah? One more person you sent the invite to, and said you made this whole thing for in the first place. ... It's already 5:00 PM. I don't think they're coming."

"Ah..."

Noei's hand lowered onto a counter.
As her mouth shuffled again and again- wanting to find things to say.
But she wasn't even sure of WHAT she should say in this moment.

"I... I started this whole thing for her. So she would get a job. Why...?" Because she was so, so confused. "Why would she not come?"

"..."

Of course, at these hard questions...
Nobody really knew how to respond.

"What if this person lied, then, huh? Or what if they were keeping information from you?"

"H-Huh?"

"Oi..."

Elka looked at Jun.
As he let out a big frown.

"Noei started this whole shtick to give our good teacher a job after she got fired! Don't piss on that and start makin' her doubt herself even more!"

Etsuji was surprised to see Elka burst up all of a sudden. Especially for Noei.
As if he was getting mad on her behalf.
Moving over to the boy, he spoke.

"Now, now, Elka... I don't think that's what Jun's doing. She's just trying to help Noei set her expectations straight."

Jun crossed her arms. "Did she tell you to do this or was this an idea of your own?"

"An... Idea of my own. She talked to me about getting fired from jobs a lot."

Noei wasn't able to meet Jun's gaze.
She casted them to the side.

"So I wanted to make a job she wouldn't be fired from."

"She ever tell you why she got fired a lot?"

"Kind... Kind of. She didn't go into the specifics."

Noei paced a bit forward.
All while Jun remained steadfast and still.
Even now, she wasn't sure of what to say fully. Just that she was being taught- like Etsuji and Takane do.
But her method was different.

"Then you should've doubted her." Jun sighed. "Heard from Ether- and I can see now... That you're a Seventh who's starting life from zero."

- Noei had never heard herself described like that.
It was always that she had a lot of potential.
But it never considered where she was now. None of it ever did.
It was always about what she'll become, rather than what she is.

"So learn this. This is important, especially in places like Zone 1 and Zone 4. Where there's scammers and mafioso abound. You gotta doubt people first before you can trust them."

"..."

Noei didn't respond to this, but...
She nodded and was finally able to look at Jun in the eyes.
The sign that she was still processing what she said...

"... Doubt..." Is that she muttered a keyword.

Afraid of things getting too silent...
Pharma uneasily spoke.

"U-Um. I-It's harsh, but it is kind of true! Mom tells me to never speak to stangers, for example!" She did a peace sign. "Oh, uh, we should probably do that too. Considering this is the Zone Backstreets and all. Never know when the next person you meet's gonna be a Gangster!"

"So. That person probably ain't coming." Jun said, stepping in front of Noei. "You still gonna continue this thing, or not?"

"I..." - Noei shook. "I will. Until she comes here, I'll keep this shop running. Then she can get a job and not get fired."

As Noei slowly raised up her fists...
She nodded up and down like a dog, repeating it over and over.

"I'll do it, everyone! We'll make lots of money a-and get big!"

As if she was trying to convince herself.

Because for the first time in this Seventh's life...
Doubt entered her mind.

Etsuji looked at his pocketwatch...
Despite being covered head to toe in technology, the antique pocketwatch was the only thing Etsuji had that was "old."
Even his glasses were Smart Glasses, containing all sorts of phone-like features.

"It's getting pretty late. I'm aware that Elka and Pharma now live here, but... We should clock in early so that we're all ready for opening day tomorrow. Agreed? Oh- and I'd like to have dinner early."

"Hell yeahh!!!"

Elka pumped up his fist, easily excited over that prospect.
But before he did...

"Noei!" He called out Noei. "Since you're our leader and all that, why don't you make a grand speech before we end off today?"

"E-Eh? Leader?" Noei said, confused.

Pharma nodded. "Yeah! Cause you're the reason all of us are here! So of course you're our leader! Plus, Jun's more like the cool mentor type."

"If it rouses up their spirits... Then I think it would be good for you to give a speech to cap off today." Etsuji said, with a thumbs up over to Noei.

Noei looked at everyone, unsure of what she was even supposed to do.
Yet she knew she had to say something.
So what came next was out of pure heart. Exactly what they all wanted.
- Even though Noei didn't know that was what they were looking for.

"O-Okay, um... That's all for today, everyone!!!" She mimicked someone she thought was cool in her speech. "Even though Takane's not here, we all did well in our jobs! Opening day's tomorrow, so let's just do what we always do! We'll earn money, and hopefully attract Takane here!"

Though she was thinking of what Seren would do- being a rockstar...
Her words were undoubtly hers.

18/12/2024 1:52 pm

The seed of doubt was placed within her.
Jun gave her a challenge.
And Maeda Atelier became a place...

Where the truth of Noei was unraveled.

The Zone Backstreets at night are a unique experience.
Steel City is the city of the future. Filled with electricity, technology and state of the art innovations.
Most parts of the city- from the Krypt District, to the V District often have nightlifes.
There will still be buildings shooting high up displaying ads, with their lights on and colored lights now turning on.
The sky, while too polluted to have stars, fills with its own colors. The colors of mankind.
Noei was used to these colors.
So seeing a sky that's a pure dark blue... With a few clouds in the air...
It was like she saw night for the first time.

"..."

While hanging up posters and advertisements along the streets nearby their house...
Noei spent a while staring at the sky.

"It's so pure."

As the two needed to attract people to their store, their day wasn't over just yet.
While everyone else in the Maeda Household was snoozing, there were these two.
Doing a boring job of just going around hanging posters. Of course to Noei, it wasn't boring.
She was able to explore the district for herself.
And for Jun-

- She got to observe the so-called Greatest Robot on Earth.

"What is?"

A point to the sky.
She slowly smiled.

"The sky. I've never seen it look like this before. It's kind of like space."

"... Huh?"

Her responses were short.
But she was surely listening.

"You talk like you've seen space before."

"I have. Haven't you seen the news? Every time I open up a channel nowadays, there's an instant replay of me being shot to space to confront Seren..."

Noei said, putting up another poster on the wall.
The last of a set.
Picking up a briefcase containing nothing but ads, signs and posters, they moved on to the next street.

"... It's kind of embarrassing. I got shot all the way to space, and I wasn't even able to bring Seren back."

"... Least you sound less bitter than before."

Jun had a feeling that earlier was the first time Noei's ever talked to someone else about this Seren.
Putting her hands in her pockets, she followed Noei.

"But man. You've seen space, but you haven't seen the night sky... Sevenths really are a weird bunch."

"Do you not like Sevenths?"

Noei said, looking back at Jun.
- A slight look of discomfort was in her expression.
She knows how vehemently people can hate Sevenths. And she was hoping for Jun to not be one of them.

Luckily, she discarded this notion fast.
But the fact that she even had that thought was proof that Jun's lesson of doubt was working.
She waved the air.

"Nah, nah, it's not that. You know how I'm best friends with Ether, yeah? We go all the way back to Highschool."

She stopped for a second in front of a vending machine.
Popping in a few bills, she got herself a can of Calpis. Which she drank while walking.

"Even though we were good study friends, I never really got his fascination with robots. Which got worse when he started getting uber fascinated with Sevenths. Met his girlfriend that way too- they hit it off over a shared passion for it. But I'm starting to get why now. You folk are kinda strange."

"Ah..." Noei lowered her head. "... To be honest, even though I'm once myself- I can tell there's a sort of difference between us. Sevenths, humans... And I."

Pause.

Noei looked at her hand.

"It might sound weird, but I don't feel like I fit in either of those categories."

"Cause that Etsuji guy raised you as a human, huh?" Jun stopped at the same time Noei did. "Don't know the Doctor well myself, but... He really does remind me of a dad."

"In both its best ways in its worst ways."
She moved forward after she stopped speaking, not intent on continuing that train of thought. Her usual speed even sped up.

Noei only gave a nod of agreement.
As per usual, there was too much she didn't know. So she also chose not to pursue further, because she already knew she was inadequate for this sort of talk.

"... Do you think it's bad, then? That I'm strange?" Noei though decided to pursue a different route.

"Well, I don't know how it's like in the Krypt District. But over 'ere in Zone, you can be whatever flavor of strange you want."

Jun looked forward to a street. One that seemed to lead to Zone 3.
Since Zone 5 was on the edge of Zone and near one of the massive gateways that led to Steel City's exit...
If you looked ahead, it would be tough to see the skyscrapers of the Krypt District. So sometimes, the whole world feels like it's just the Zone.
There was nothing but houses and strange shops as far as the eye could see. Strange houses, ones that bend and shape, one that's even a pirate ship, one that's just an entrance to the underground...

"There's a little motto that us who live in the Backstreets live by. For us who run businesses with even the slightest hope of wanting to either make it big, or move to another District... As long as you aren't hurting anybody, you gotta make it strange."

Jun took a moment to stare at somewhere else.
Noei would soon look at it and find out why Jun's stare was filled with a deep seated grudge in her eyes.

"But not everyone in the Backstreets remembers the first part." (edited)

"I guess that would explain why Ether's the way that he is. Out of all the humans I know, he's the weirdest..."

Noei said, muttering... Then she noticed Jun's gaze.
Not choosing to comment it, but instead look in the same direction as her...

"Ah-"

Her eyes were caught by Zone 1.
Zone 1's lights were still on. It almost looked like the Krypt District without the skyscrapers and "normal-sized" buildings.
(Though to her, she was more used to the skyscrapers than the suburbs. But her gut always had a feeling that buildings should not shoot that high.)
Most of all, tons of lights were coming from a single, golden building.
It's no sksycraper or sky piercing tower.
But it was still a flashy, wide building that was taller than all the other buildings before it. A giant admist a sea of people.
In a sense, Noei felt like that building was larger than anything she's ever seen before.

"... What's that?"

Her look of bitterness faded as soon as she looked at Noei.
Almost as if just the sight of it drives her made.

"That's the Jester's Casino. A place just as deep as hell and the underworld."

Leaning on the side of the wall while sipping some of her Calpis...
She looked down at Noei.

"I've told you that Zone 1's filled with tons of mafia, yeah? The bad guys. That's the manifestation of 'em- or at least one of the two groups. A place you should never go to, even if your life's hit rock bottom."

"A casino..." Noei accessed her memories, slightly unfamiliar with the word... "... Ah, I think I remember reading about it in the news once. It's a gambling place, right?" Noei said, curiously turning her full body to face Jun.

"Yeah. You go in there, gamble money over some rigged machines and games... It's a cesspool of depraved individuals who've lost it all, then go in to lose even more." She exhaled loudly. "Most casinos ain't like that. They're an ugly business for sure, but this one in particular sticks out for a sore thumb for being one big money laundering scheme. Cause it's owned by the Kidori Alliance. The nastiest Yakuza in the Backstreets." Lowering her calpis, she recalled. "In terms of mafia, there's two big ones. If you're not a part of either, you're just a gangster. 1. The Melaragno Clan. 2. The Kidori Alliance. The first is a Mafioso, the latter is a Yakuza. Search up online what the difference is. Even though the Melaragno Clan was here first... The Kidori Alliance is the way nastier of the two." (edited)

Noei nodded slowly. Absorbing the story.
She's heard that Zone 1 was dangerous and scary... But now she felt like she was finally going to learn why exactly she shouldn't approach it.

Jun crossed her arms. "The Melaragno Clan did mostly dealing of illegal substances and circulation of illegal tech. Though the mafia are a necessary evil... They did the sort of business that the Ministry of Defense, who are situated here, could crack down on. They had to be clever and avoid the sight of the Ministry of Defense. Making sure not to be too obvious with their movements."

Jun raised up her calpis, and her hand looked furious enough to crush it.
This was because...

"... The Kidori Alliance's main method though lies in extortion. They came in all of a sudden post-war and many of them were veterans of the war... Lashing out on the people 'ere." ... Even remembering her enemies made her mad. "They'd go up to businesses and run 'em dry with all sorts of threats. And for those that would comply? They'd find themselves in rock bottom. Then they'd go there." Jun pointed her knuckles over to the Jester's Casino. Scowling once more. "Best part is- when they were still new, they used a Dummy Corporation to seem like they didn't own the casino. But when the jig was up and people started finding out that the Kidori Alliance owned them... The casino got too big. Now it's an integral part of Zone 1."

"That's..."

Noei let out a huge frown. She could see just from its size alone.
Especially since she's never been to Zone 1 before, she can't imagine that area without the casino.
It just looks right in the area.

"That's horrible... So those Kidori Alliance guys extort people out of their money, only to extort them even more by bringing them into the casino..."

"Every scheme and plan they had led to three more schemes. They're a conniving group. ... Doesn't help that most of them are Sevenths too. Most of their Big Brothers, and the Boss herself are Sevenths."

Jun looked at Noei, expecting a sour look...
But Noei was still diligently absorbing what information she was learning. Much to her surprise.

"Don't take it against them, though. All Sevenths have their own path in life. Just so happens, that if they can't fulfill their purpose... They lash out like that. Become lawbreakers and evildoers."

"Lash out...?"

"... Just like Seren."
Seren lashed out because she was confused. Even wanting to kill her own mother...
The only other Sevenths she knew of were Marika and Winter. Who were happy to fulfill her role.
A bitter look appeared on her face, moreso than when she learned that Sevenths were the majority in the Kidori Alliance.
Because that meant there were others like her. Other people who lashed out destructively...

"... I guess I understand why you find Sevenths strange. All of us, except me, were born for a certain purpose. And we have a Being too." ... "And if we fail in our purpose and we fail in that Being..." ... Just like how Seren only embodied "destruction." "... You're cursed forever." (edited)

Just like how Seren saw the only way out being death. "... It's the same for us humans too. Except instead of purposes, you have dreams. A dream is like a curse. A purpose is like a curse."

Jun gave one last vehementful look at the casino before she started walking ahead.
They still had posters to put up.

"And that casino's like a graveyard for those who've lost those two."

Noei's seen nothing but people punished for their dreams and purposes.
Marika. Seren. Everyone at the Water Fight. Okino's family and his father who she's never met- but she's heard she was crushed too.
And even she notices it.

A solitude, a loneliness, that takes Etsuji from time to time.

She wondered then if the solution was to have no dreams or no purposes.
"Was that why Etsuji made me then?"
She wondered. A being with no purpose or dreams.
If it did nothing but hurt you, then not having it shouldn't hurt you.
...
Or so she thinks. She can't come to that conclusion yet.

Because without one, she feels hollow.
All too hollow.

"..." "Ah!" As if trying to shake herself off from this hollowness, she ran to Jun. "Wait, if the Kidori Alliance extort businesses..." Also forcing her mind and programming to come up with a conclusion. "... Does that mean they'll go for us next?"

"Don't worry about any mafia. I'd still suggest against going out- especially to Elka and Pharma, who can't defend themselves. Gangsters and even some Family Members from both the Mafioso and Yakuza still prowl."

Though Elka was a boxer, he was still 17.
(It's also worth nothing that Highschool begins late in the Cyber World.)
Jun was right to show concern for those two.

"But as for business, we're safe. It's more of a local thing, not something that's always been here- but I bet Ether chose this place to be your shop... ... Cause of the superhero here."

"Superhero...?"

She's heard her own self be called a hero a lot.
But she still has no idea what that's supposed to be. Noei was hoping to find some answers finally.

"Mm. They call them the Silver Bullet. A hooded figure who wields a rapid-fire gun that targets exclusively mafioso that prey on people. Especially Sevenths. There's theories that they're a Seventh themself too. Honestly, they sometimes do their job better than the Ministry of Defense." Jun said, a slow smile appearing on her face as she talked. "Got saved by their ass one time too, even though I didn't need it. They're extremely fast. Can pull all sorts of tricks like running on walls like a damn ninja. Best part is- they're super precise too. I've never seen 'em miss a shot- and everyone else who's had a run in with them says the same thing."

Reaching into her wallet... She pulled out a plastic case. One with a Silver Bullet inside.
An old one too. Noei figured this Silver Bullet's been here for a while.

"They're called that cause of the bullets they use, by the way. All of 'em... Silver. Sadly... No one knows who they really are."

Noei stopped for a second, as she watched Jun walk ahead.
She didn't stop because of awe or anything like that. That's usually why she stopped.
Rather, Noei was the one who stopped herself with a thought.
As that description was too familiar to her.

"Could it be...?"

18/12/2024 7:18 pm

------------------ + Maeda Atelier + ---------------------------

When it comes to the Atelier itself, it has 2 rooms.
One was the workshop style room that the employees of Maeda Atelier spent the whole morning to afternoon training in.
The other was the "waiting room." A large room with both clothes for sale and the counter for custom apparel or adjustments.
Maeda Atelier was both an indie clothing store AND a traditional atelier, where custom clothes can be requested and fitted. 
Aside from Elka who did just okay, it was a pure stroke of god-like luck that they got to a professional level within just a day of training.
Noei was already a genius at picking up things, and Pharma had a natural talent and inclination to this sort of thing.
Jun and Etsuji already had experience. 
But none of that...

None of that could have prepared them for this day.
As Elka was cowering behind in the workshop room's break corner, sipping some Energy Jelly from the nearby Lawsons.

"Pharma. Please tell me that when we open the door back to the waiting room, half the people there will be gone." With a dead look.

"W-Why are you asking me?!"

Pharma was doing the same thing except with a Monster (the drink).
She also looked dead, her fingers twitching.
From having typed away at the computer and the sewing machines for far, far too long.
She got up...

"... Check yourself!" And sat back down.

"Gh- fine. But if Jun or Noei calls for us and remembers that we've used up more of our break time than we should've... You owe me a smoothie!"

Elka got up...
And opened the door to the waiting room.

His jaw fell flat.

"There's EVEN MORE PEOPLE NOW?!"

18/12/2024 10:30 pm

If a room could be floded, this was it.
If a store could reach max capacity, this somehow breached it.
As pretty much every part of the atelier was crowded.
From the stands and racks showing clothes that Noei and Pharma brainstormed... (Due to Noei, there were enough clothes to open up that part of the store early instead of just being a normal atelier.)

It seems Noei's limitless potential for growth had extended to her store too. And no one- not even Jun- was able to account for this.
This of course, did not stop everyone from shopping anyways.
For one...

(edited)

... Even the Ministry of Defense was here.
Of course, being a friend of Noei meant that Winter would eventually show up.
And just as expected, she was in the corner with all the winter coats.

"So? How's this? You think this will make me look less intimidating to all the people we arrest?"

But that did not explain the appearance of their literal director.
Each head of Steel City's 3 major companies are awfully busy.
Which meant Lukia Sudou, Director of the Ministry of Defense, intentionally took time out of her day...

"... Forget about that! Look at these ties! They're so cute! The Greatest Robot in the World really knows her way around fashion!"

... To shop for clothes alongside Winter. The two entered together, but neither of them knew that the other was going.

In addition...

"Hm, hm! Many of these clothes are foreign! Western style! Reminds me of stuff from outside the Cyber World! The Greatest Robot in the World is really global!"

... The vice president of the Culture Department was also here.
Combining Etsuji, that meant all 3 major governments had major representatives in this single Atelier.
Reimu Jinguu was the vice president- and similar to Lukia, she was a Seventh.

"Trusted aide!" Though the person next to her wasn't really major... "I require you to use your height to pretend as if you were in the front line of the counter the whole time! I MUST speak to the Greatest Robot in the World myself to find out how she made these!"

... As they were just a random Seventh that Reimu Jinguu had picked up from the streets to act as her "trusted aide."
Despite seeming jolly, they also had no idea what was going on at all times.

"Erm... ... That sounds like a crime, Big Sister..." They also had a habit of calling everyone by familial terms.

Alongside the mystery green Seventh, who even Doctor Etsuji doesn't recognize...
There were also two more Sevenths that were drawing eyes from people.
Every Seventh was able to tell due to their instincts.
- That the two Sevenths wearing near monochrome clothing... Also looking at the monochrome clothing section were made of some next level hardware.
Though their personalities seemed pretty typical for Sevenths.

"Shauuuun! Shaun!"

One of them was waving up a bunch of hoodies. Very excitedly. She was nagging on in front of another Seventh who she seemed close to.

"You gotta try these on, pleaaase! I swear you'd look so good with them on!"

"G-Geez, aren't you carrying a lot?! There's no way you're planning on buying ALL of these... Doctor Rokuro didn't give us much money to begin with anyways." The less excitable and more controlled of the two mimicked an exhale to show their exasperation. "Let me see the price of these anyways. For how good they are- and seeing as that so-called Greatest Robot opened these up..." ... They looked at the price tag and their jaw fell. "Holy crap, this is surprisingly affordable!"

From the corner...
Jun was commenting, while keeping all the supplying robots running with a control board.
As she murmured,

("... Wait, why is the mafia hare? Is Noei's store seriously THAT popular to the point where she's attracting the literal mafia for leisure...?") As Jun's eyes were squared onto two specific people.

Though one couldn't tell, as they just blended in with the general populace...
Because of her history, Jun definitely could spot out two mafia members.
Not just that.
Bosses of their respective families.
One of them had put on a red coat, doing double finger guns to the person in front of him.

"So? How do I look? Think I'll get the mentally ill bad bitches with this coat? See, it's red cause I'm aimin' for the anemic ones. They say anemic girls tend to search for beef and iron... ... And baby, I got a lot of beef in me."

"That sucked."

A Seventh whose voice almost seemed glitched- neither male or female spoke.
As they raised up their hand, planting a palm to their face.

"That sucked, and we should be leaving. ... But the clothes here ARE really cute though." Just from a glance, Jun could tell they were only here cause of the one in the red coat.

("... They don't look like they're up to any trouble... Sure hope they don't recognize me, though.")

Jun skirted further to the corner to avoid their eyes.
Concealing her presence by even hiding behind a few objects.

And at the head of it all...
Manning the counter for custom requests- which had tons of people all lined up...
Was Noei.

Who had awakened a new side to herself.

"JUNNN!!! What the heck are you doing back there! It isn't break time yet! And Elka! Pharma!" Noei said with a point. "I'm a Seventh, so I literally have a computer going off on my head at all times! Get back to work, you're five minutes past break! I think Jun said that this type of work means you get a salary deduction!"

"Gh-"

("She's a tyrant...!")

"Y-YES, BOSS!"

Pharma gained a bunch of energy all at once as she did a salute.
Instantly going back to her station in the workshop.

18/12/2024 11:03 pm

Nonetheless,

It was their first day.
And they were already on a good track to break even.

Successful doesn't even begin to describe it.

Not expecting this amount of visitors...
The storefront part of the waiting room was nearly all out. Not even the supply had as much.
The workshop was still being cleaned up by the Clenaer Robots.
And in the waiting room- not even the break room in the workshop...
Every single sentient being had their legs touching the ground this very moment.
Some were flat on the ground. Some were just sitting down.
And Noei was plugged up to a charger.

"Guys...? Is it just me, or did me being the Greatest Robot in the World kinda backfire a bit on us...?"

Elka was flat on the ground.
He was resting his head on the only thing that didn't sell out.
A maid outfit.
To which, only one person bought it. (Sumi Kawaguchi, the boss of the Kawaguchi Family. This was met with insults and banter from Jurian.
They eventually had a fight outside the streets.)

Elka let out a huge sigh as he pressed his hand to his face.

"We earned so much money... BUT AT WHAT COST...?!"

"Our willpower."

Pharma had her back against the wall. Head tilted, and arms laying flat down. Palms upwards.
It was a pose that could only be taken by the truly haunted. Like a haunted animatronic, resting and biding its time.
No light could be seen in her eyes.
No twitching could be seen in her hands or legs.

"Oh my god, we have to go and do this the next day too." (edited)

Jun was in the corner, too...
Though she was the least tired of the four, she was also the one drinking.
With a bottle of whiskey, she chugged one down.

"Ah-." Before slamming it down. "Shit man, I don't think we can do this with just the four of us. I did not realize you were, like, THAT famous, Noei."

"Neither did I!" Noei said, shooting up. "But then again, I'm kind of everywhere on the news..."

Noei said while exhaling.
They decided to call it quits early, since it was near closing time. And they had a feeling no one would come to the store.

"... And I also have no idea where to get new employees. Y-You said it wasn't so easy, yeah? That we'd have to get trusted people for it..."

"Yeah. We have to do this thing called interviews, and-"

Jun froze.

She looked at her board.

"Guys, another person just entered the household. They're heading to the shop. We have ONE MORE CUSTOMER."

"Huh?!"

"Nooo......!!!!!!"

"Please, no more..."

"Listen..."

Jun raised up her bottle and sneakily hid it behind a potted plant.
She rose. Even if she was shaky.
And even if she was tipsy.
... Even if she was quite literally drinking on the job.

"At first, I was in it for Ether. Then, I was in it for Noei. Now. I'm in it for all of you. Throughout that entire barrage of customer after customer, most of 'em wanting to buy and customize an insane amount of stuff... Ya' never... Turned away... A single one." She limped over to the counter. "So I won't give up. Maybe you kids just rest."

"T-Thanks, Jun... I don't think I have one more in me. I think I'm just gonna focus on recharging-"

A purple haired Seventh wearing ragged clothing walked into the store.
She didn't spare any time looking around or taking in the sights.
- The Seventh that Noei recognized had walked in with a clear goal in mind, but...
The state of the store got her to pause for a second. She was practically forced to take it all in.

"..." Arwest re-entered Noei's life.

And Noei... "Hello! Welcome to Maeda Atelier! We advertised ourselves as both a clothing store and a custom atelier, but unfortunately, we sold out for the day. If you'd like to get your clothes customized, or custom clothing done, we still offer that!" Shot to the counter instantly, as if she didn't go through that tiring day.

("S-So fast!")

("I couldn't even see it with my own eyes!")

Step, step, step.
Noei for some reason felt like she should pay attention to each and every one of her steps.
Arwest eventually reached the counter...

"..." As she wasn't even entirely sure of what to say.

"Uh..." Noei adjusted her jacket. "Nice... Nice to meet you again?"

"I'm here for clothes."

"Y-Yeah. Cuz' you're in a clothes store."

"Yeah."

Because the two were preoccupied with each other...
Elka was able to do a full roll towards Pharma. Only Jun noticed this ridiculous motion.
As he whispered over to her.

("Dude. This is awkward as hell. Ain't that the Seventh Noei fought in the water fight?")

("Huh...?")

Pharma forced her arms to move, in spite of how tired they were.
As she rubbed her eyes. The realization came after.

("Oh my god- it is! I almost forgot! ... Wow, her clothes look even MORE ruined now! She really does need new clothes!")

After a while, Arwest spoke again. "... This is my first time in a clothes store." Arwest said, looking away. "So I have no idea where to go from here."

("So that's why it's so awkward?!")

"Ah, you don't know how things work too? I'm the same. This is also my first time in a clothes store." Noei said with a smile.

That, however...
Got Arwest to stop.

"... Huh?" Every single one of her movements stopped to process that single sentence. "You're not... Like- a Clothing Seventh? Or a Manager Seventh?"

Noei shook her head like a dog. "Nope! Dunno what I was built for even. Doesn't mean I can't make you some clothes!"

Noei took a step past the counter and went over to the Workshop door.
She opened it, while waving.

"I'll design you whatever you like! C'mon in!"

As she cheerfully went in.
Despite the lack of energy she had.

"You... You don't know?"

The door was open.
But Arwest did not follow in.

"Yeah. Is that so strange? ... N-No, wait, I forgot that's really strange for a Seventh. Oops." Noei said, awkwardly handing out a thumbs up. A habit she picked up from Etsuji. "So, um, yeah! The news calls me the Greatest Robot in the World, but I prefer Weirdest Robot in the World!"

This was not meant as a joke. She hasn't picked that up from anyone yet.
What would come off as a joke for most were her genuine, honest, feelings.

It was only because of that...
That Arwest stepped into the workshop.

"... I suppose I can agree with that too. I've been around for a while. And I can't name a single Seventh who doesn't know their purpose."

She stepped in, and it looked like she was fascinated by the workshop.
That's what Elka and Pharma thought, seeing her from a distance. 
But Arwest wasn't looking around the room at all. What she was fascinated with was solely Noei.

"Been around for a while? Wait- so you're like, ooooold?"

Noei said, starting up all the required machinery for custom clothing.
A blueprint sketcher, the sewing machine, the clothing crafter...

"Yeah. First Generation. I used to have a job in the past that involved me meeting a lot of Sevenths."

Arwest stood next to Noei.
Looking at each of the machines. She wasn't curious about them at all. Even though it was the first time she's ever seen it up close.

"So I can say for sure that again- I've never met a Seventh like you before."

"Not entirely sure on how to take that!" Noei said, grinning. "By the way, I'm Noei!" She said, offering a hand for a handshake, but...

"... Why did you introduce yourself? I already know your name. It's all over the news."

"O-Oh." Her arm fell down instead. "Sorry, I should've known that was unnecessary."

"If there was anything you should've asked me... ... It was on what sort of clothing I'm getting. Because I still don't know what I'm getting."

"Well, you never asked or requested anything..."

"... Ah. I didn't, didn't I...?"

For a moment, she just spent the next few seconds blinking.
With her same harsh and monotone voice, she responded with this:

"... I'm not sure."

Noei let out a small frown right after.
Her head lowered.

"Well that's a problem, cause that means I won't know what to make for you either... ... Oh! I know!" Noei said, beaming upwards. "What if I just make something that I think will look good on you?"

Another long session of rapid blinks.
This time between the two.
As the door was open, Jun, Elka and Pharma could feel the awkwardness.
- Though, to these two, it didn't feel awkward in the slightest. To them, it was simply just space.

"... Sure."

"Aaaalright!"

Noei clapped her hands together...
As she first began the designing process.
Then, she commanded a few Supply Robots to head over to the machines to supply them with the needed materials.
As she did this...

"You don't mind accessories, right? Cause I think you'd look nice with a hat."

"It doesn't bother me, but I also don't see the point..."

"Neither do I. But Pharma and Elka look more complete with it! Like- if they take their hats off, they just feel kinda... Weird. I get the same sort of feeling from them! Oh- uh, they're my friends, by the way."

Another sigh. "I know. I've met them already, and we Sevenths have perfect memory. Not to mention you could have just said "your friends" instead of their names to stop with the confusion..."

Mimicking the irritance of a human, Arwest pinched her nose.
But this seemed to be more of a habit that she eventually integrated into herself.
Noei just didn't know why Arwest was irritated.

Noei lowered her shoulders in embarrassment. "A-Ah, yeah, I could've, but... ... Nevermind."

She had something to say there.
But just like how she's always been, she chose not to say it. In fear.

"What are your friends like?"

"I don't have any."

"Oh."

"... Not everyone in the world is as lucky as you are, Noei." "Lucky." "Just... Get back to making those clothes. I came here to get some new clothes, not to have a conversation." (edited)

For some reason...
Just the notion of hearing that she's lucky-
It aggravated her. Giving her an irritating frustration which she couldn't understand fully.
She didn't even fully understand most emotions yet. Let alone anger.

"... Right."

So the most she could say was a passive aggressive word.
Then, she continued working on in silence...

Until the clothes were ready.
She silently gave them to Arwest. Directing her to the dressing room wordlessly.
Waiting without fidgeting, standing still like a statue...
... When Arwest came out-

"- Ooooh!!! I was right! You do look super cool! Like a total star!" - She forgot all about that grudge and went back to normal.

Now clad with a cleaner and more slick outfit... (With a hat!)
She didn't even look in the mirror.
All she did was examine her arms.

"... Thanks. I'm not sure if it suits me. But I like it. ... It's purple."

"I thought it would look good if it was purple cuz' your hair is purple!" Noei pointed to her shoes. "That's why Doctor Etsuji gave me these shoes!"

They were an almost obnoxious color of orange. Just like her hair.
But that color turned into something pleasant because of it.

"Yeah... I like that color."

Looking at the machine- it generated a price for the clothing.
So she just dropped it on the counter. The amount she needed.

"... Thanks."

Without speaking, she moved to the exit.
The moment she put her hand on the doorknob, though...

"W-Wait."

Another call out to her.

She didn't know why.
Noei couldn't understand why she wanted to be with her.
More than that,
she wanted to save her.
Was it just because she looked sad?
Was it just because, in some ways, Arwest reminded Noei of Seren?
Was Noei just hollow?

...
She voiced out her thoughts openly.

"Will... Will you come back another day?"

"..."

Elka and Pharma had a hard time reading Noei.
She was so genuine, but it was also tough to find out what was going on in her mind exactly.
Even so, there were a few times where she could be read.
This was one of those times.

Yearning.
They all felt Noei's yearning at this very moment.

("... Go get 'er, Noei. I'm rooting for ya'.")

Unfortunately... "No."

("PFF- what?!")

("Uh-oh.")

("Ooh man.")

"I came here to get new clothes. I have new clothes. There's no reason for me to come back anymore. Goodbye."

The door had a bell attached to it to signal new customers. It was customary for all local stores in the Zone Backstreets.
Its sound brought feelings of anticipation, fatigue and happiness before.
But now it only served to increase the hollow feeling inside Noei.
Arwest left the store without saying much else or doing anything else.

"Ah- ..."

Noei held out her hand once more.
Another sight of a back.
Another sight of someone that she, even if she didn't know why, wanted to be with... Leaving.

- Of course...
Since she's a Seventh...
She doesn't forget things so easily.

("... No. This time, I'm going to chase you.")

As there was another way Noei could meet her again...
And perhaps, talk to her for a bit longer.

14/01/2025 8:43 pm

---------------- + Maeda Atelier, near closing time + --------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/18/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Evening
WEATHER: Rainy, again

One month before the disaster.

"- Come again~! Maybe when it's sunnier!"

Standing just outside the gates of the Maeda Atelier...
The last few customers for the day were leaving. Though, of course, there weren't as many as when it opened...
Maeda Atelier was still seeing frequent and many visitors. Noei was waving off the last of them.
This closing moment should have been one of joy. And while a smile is still on Noei's face after another successful day...
It was still tiring. Which- the rain did not help with this at all.
The rain was a bit harder than it was the last night, so Noei had to carry an umbrella.

"Elka, how are you doing?"

Elka too, was carrying an umbrella. His was a little bit on the cheaper end.
Though to make up for it, he had a raincoat.
With his shoulders heaving down, he exhaled.

"Me and Pharma still go to school... So we weren't here the whole day. But man. I FEEL like I've been working the whole day." His face was wrought with nothing but exasperation.

"Ah..."

Unsure of how she should really respond...
Her motions mimicked Elka.

"S-Sorry. I know working here is really hard for a human. And we don't have much people either. Since Doctor Etsuji also has a job, and can't be here all the time..."

It was fulfilling. 
Noei also had her friends- Elka and Pharma by her side. With Jun as their advisor.
Yet she couldn't shake that for some reason, she felt lonely.
Logically, it didn't add up. She was with her friends. The only thing missing was Takane.
So why was there an air of loneliness right now? Even though she was right next to Elka?

("Maybe...") She thought that Takane was the answer. She started this store for her, but she wasn't here. "... U-Umm... You brought up school, yeah? You... You don't mind that I dropped out to work, Elka?"

- It was the first time Noei's ever felt conscious about how she felt in front others.
All brought upon by the collapsing vulnerabilities that have been piling up on her.

"Hm."

Of course, Elka was more observant than he'd like others to know.
So he caught onto this instantly.

"... What makes ya' ask that? It's common for people our age... No- common for people in Steel City."

Elka shook his head.
Even though a slight fog was making it hard to see, Elka still liked the view of Zone 5 from the hill they were on.

"You ever notice that even though there's a lot of homes, there ain't a lot of people at school? It's becomin' more and more common nowadays for guys like us to stop our education early to help out our families with work. Cause of taxes, bills and all that. Demands get higher and higher, and the only choice is for us to help in earnin' money too. Hell- I was almost in that position too. At home- well, before I moved in here... It was just me and my Pa'."

"You don't have a Mom?" Noei asked curiously, unaware of the weight behind that statement.

Elka hung on his words for a moment. "... Yeah. At some point, Ma' stopped liking Pa' and the work he did, and..." His hands lowered.

"Ah..."

Noei had a feeling she was stepping into a sour spot.
She just listened to the sounds of the rain, before...
Once again. Answering honestly.

"Well, it's okay! I don't have a mom either!"

"Heh..."

Noei got Elka to snap out of his unusual melancholy.
He decided that it wasn't like him, so...
He raised up the positivity in his voice. Even if it was forced.

"Yeah, I guess that's another thing we have in common! And you're doing fine without one! Means I can too."

The two of them were interrupted by something, though.
The unexpected sound of the gate behind them opening. Looking just behind them...
Jun had walked out, with an umbrella too. No raincoat, however.
Her face looked irritated, which got Elka to flinch.

"The hell are you two doing out here in the middle of all this rain? It's getting real strong. You're gonna get sick if you stand out here." (edited)

"Ah- yeah, that's right. Kinda spaced out for a bit there."

Elka said, scratching the back of his hair.
As he headed on in, but...
Noei wasn't going back with him.

"Noei?"

"Ah, uh... I was thinking of taking a walk. I'm a Seventh, so I don't have to worry about getting sick!" She tapped her umbrella. "And I have this to protect me, so it's alright!"

"A walk? You've gotta be kidding."

The seriousness in Jun's voice caused Elka to halt.
As she sounded surprisingly urgent.

"Haven't you been reading the news at all? It's dangerous out here. Even with the Silver Bullet roaming."

"News...?"

Noei tilted her head, now being the one who was caught off guard.
Especially because she noticed Elka also realizing what Jun meant.

"Get inside the house. I'll tell you."

Jun said, waving to the two.

After entering the living room through the veranda of the house...
Jun put her umbrella into the umbrella dryer as she sat down.
She opened up her phone. No holograms were projected- as she was on the poorer side and didn't have access to the high tech phones.
So she just had to show Elka and Noei the news the old way.
As she showed it-

She read her observations and the article's name.

"A new era of heinous crimes has started. And they're all aimed towards Sevenths."

"...!"

The images...
Noei has known terror. Noei has known fear.
But never has she felt fear mixed with a gutteral level of disgust.
She saw corpses. Seventh Corpses.
All of them... Disgusting in different ways.

Some Sevenths were hung on powerlines. Hung by their wires, torn out of their guts.
Some were torn out, now hanging like scarecrows.
Other Sevenths were laid on the ground, dismantled cleanly- like a factory machine did it.
Some had been crushed, with only the bare minimum of their bodies recognizable.
Lastly- the last category.
Some Sevenths were cut into 17 pieces. All in random patterns.

According to the article, the first victim-
- Was Marika.
A Nurse type Seventh... Who was one of Noei's first friends.

"Wha..."

Noei knew that image well. Winter showed her the same one.
So to be haunted, with the same image twice-
It was like deja vu to her.

Even though nothing had changed, she felt like everything was changing in this moment.
Jun read off the article and her own thoughts once more.

"... The Ministry of Defense don't know if this is a connected set of murders, or a bunch of people just started killing Sevenths for the hell of it. Apparently- it's mass paranoia. From the Silver Nephilim's destruction. That's the leading theory right now." Jun said, crossing her arms. "So even though you haven't done anything wrong- could be dangerous to take a walk outside." (edited)

"This is horrible..."

Elka was disgusted by the images he saw on the article.
As he put his hands on his knees. Looking to Noei...
He shook his head.

"Y-Yeah, I'll back up Jun on this. Don't think I'd like to see you like that." Elka awkwardly scratched his back. "And uh, me and Pharma brought game consoles and whatnot! We can play some games if you're bored."

"But... ... There was something I wanted to check outside."

"...?"

"Eh?"

It was just a simple statement.
In Noei's usual tone.

But it was filled with unusual heaviness.

"The Silver Bullet. I want to meet them."

For a moment...
Jun was stunned. The innocent words Noei just said didn't match with the intensity of her voice.
So...

"Ahahaha! So THAT'S what's got you so antsy!" She laughed it off. Even slapping her leg to insinuate this laughter. "Maybe I shouldn't have talked about 'em at all. Listen- I said that nobody's met 'em for a reason. They're not the type of person you just walk up and meet, you know." (edited)

Noei's eyebrows lowered. She felt like she was being tested...
But unlike when Ether does it or when Takane does it, she didn't feel happy.

"You said that she helps people who are attacked by the mafia. I'll just get attacked by the mafia, then." Noei declared with no hesitation at all.

"- Wha..." Which caught Elka so off guard that he also couldn't react properly.

"Come on, Noei..."

Jun said, even patting her on the head. Uncharacteristic of her...
... Because Jun was underestimating Noei heavily.

"Just because someone sounds admirable and cool- doesn't mean that you should meet them. There's a saying- "never meet your heroes", that they say a lot."

Jun stood up as she looked out of a window.
The rain had gotten even harsher.

"You don't know what sort of person the Silver Bullet is. All we know is that they save lots of people. ... And that's not enough of a reason to want to meet them in such dangerous conditions. I'm not letting you out of this house. End of story."

"- Well..."

Noei stood up...
She knew she had to go outside. But Jun wasn't letting her.
She knew this wasn't a case like with Etsuji. She couldn't straightforwardly convince Jun.
What she did to convince Etsuji to unlock her factor wouldn't work here.
Willpower alone wouldn't cut it.

And unlike Etsuji, Noei had a feeling Jun was more steadfast than Etsuji.

"..." So for a moment, all she did was look at Jun.

- Fortunately, though.

An offer displayed itself on a silver platter.
Pharma slid open the doors from the Atelier room to the living room.
With clear exhaustion on her face... She looked to the three in the room.

"Um, guys? I don't know how to word this. But we, uh... We have a situation."

The first one to step forward was Jun.
Crossing her arms, she spoke.

"I would ask you to explain, but considering how you worded it..." She went in to the store proper, raising her voice as she exited the eyesight of the three. "It's probably better if I look for myself- -Oh shit, this is VERY much a situation!"

"Eh??? It can't be that bad, can it?"

Elka said, rubbing his eyes.
He walked over to the store itself. Nothing was in the Workshop, so he went to the storefront, and...
His voice almost raised to a shriek.

"Ohhhhh shit!"

It was a situation that no one in Maeda Atelier was prepared for.
Not Noei. Not Elka. Not Pharma.
Not even Jun. Who trained them all in the first place.
Because there was clearly another kid- appearance-wise, maybe a bit younger than Elka...
The four found her in the changing room, where she was huddled up- hands and legs curled up.
As the girl innocently looked to the four...

And beamed a wide smile.

"Ohhh!!! You guys are still here! I thought the store closed already!" (edited)

"- Shit!"

"- Oh man."

"- Eh???"

"- See what I mean?!"

The young blue haired girl tilted her head.
- That motion caused Noei to squint a little.

"...? What's with the funny reaction?" (edited)

This promptly got Jun to clear her throat. "Excuse us for one second. Be a good girl and let the adults talk."

"But only one of you is a-"

Sliiiiiiide.
Jun slid the curtains of the changing room...
As she paced a few steps away, causing Elka, Noei and Pharma to follow in an exaggerated sort of motion too.
Jun inhaled and exhaled. Breathed deeply. Pulled her hands up to her nose to breathe...
And put them down.

"Okay. We have a missing child. What do we do?"

"Call the cops?"

"You think the Ministry of Defense is gonna care about a case as small as this?" Her response was almost instant.

"... That's true. Back when I was in my edgy phase, I used to get into alllll sorts of streetfights. I wasn't arrested. Ever."

Elka said, putting his hands in his pockets...
As he looked to Pharma.

"What?"

Who had now stepped back to the wall of the shop.
She was shivering too.

"... I had no idea I was friends with such a gangster! P-Please don't hurt me!" (edited)

"Oh come on, I thought you knew I was the sickest Delinquent in the school!"

"Sickest cuz' you keep cutting classes in the infirmary?"

"... Now listen 'ere..."

Noei innocently raised her hand like she was in class. "Question." Everyone looked at her once she spoke. "Is it dangerous for a child to be out in the streets?"

"Oh my god, yes!"

"Ooooh. Okay. Well, if you say it's dangerous, then it is!" Noei said, nodding up and down. "Then I guess it's double dangerous for them to be out alone cause they're a child and a Seventh."

"- They're a what?!"

"Huh?!"

"Ah-"

Blink blink.
Jun hadn't noticed the slight robotic parts on her "skin."
As well as the slight robotic creaking when she moved her neck. Jun had just assumed it was Noei.

"- .................... Okay. Let me revise the situation. We have a missing Seventh. Holy shit, what do we do."

"U-Um..."

Next it was Pharma's turn for her to sheepishly raise her hand.
She blinked several times in succession.

"I know about the heinous crimes, but- if we like... Um... Looked for their home and walked with her, wouldn't we be okay? Cause there's multiple of us. I don't think the serial killer would attack us if we're many."

"It's not just the heinous crimes on Sevenths we have to worry about."

Jun said, exhaling.
As she pinched her nose.

"There's also the case of the mafia. They would ABSOLUTELY jump us, even if we're in a group. For one, I'm the only adult here. Secondly, Noei's also the only one here who can fight. That's three non-combatants, one Seventh and one me." Jun said, knocking on the back of Noei's head. It produced metallic echoes.

Elka didn't raise his hand... Because he never does while reciting.
He leaned back after bantering a bit with Pharma, a little less tense.

"Hm. We've got tons of rooms here, don't we? Why don't we go escort her in the morning? My dad always says that if things look sketchy, I should hide in the crowds. And there's tons of commuters in Zone, so we'll definitely stand out less..." Elka then looked at Noei. "... Maybe."

Jun also looked at Noei.

So did Pharma. Though she spaced out while Elka was talking and was just looking because everyone else was.

Which surprisingly, didn't unnerve her.
She was used to the stares of others. Especially after working day after day...
Where she was as much of an attraction of the store as much as the clothes she was selling.
Noei gave a thumbs up.

"Sounds good to me!"

"Alright. Go tell 'em."

"You're not?"

"Wha-"

First Noei's resolve at meeting the Silver Bullet caught her off guard.
Now, Noei unexpectedly clapped back.
So Jun showed a rare bashful side.

"I-I'm not good at talking to kids."

"They're a Seventh, though. Most Sevenths don't mature like normal humans do, according to Doctor Etsuji."

Noei stated as a matter of fact.

Though, being the only Seventh in the room right now, she stood as a stark exception to that statement.

(edited)

"Okay, but they LOOK LIKE one."

"... But that doesn't mean they're a kid, though."

Noei wasn't trying to be smart for the sake of it.
Elka and Pharma knew that Noei was just like this. When she was confused and comfortable, she'd ask questions. Lots of them.

"I just don't wanna do it. Someone else gotta."

"Okay! I got it!"

Noei moved back to the changing room...
As she opened the curtains to the place where the blue haired Seventh was.
She gave a friendly wave to her.

"Hello! Do you want to stay in an actual room for the night instead of here?"

What came after...
Was a gasp so loud, that all the others heard it.
Even though she was in the changing rooms rather than the store proper.
Followed by a similar excited shout.

"I GET TO HAVE MY OWN ROOM?!?!?!?! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEEEEEEEEEEST!"

14/01/2025 11:06 pm

---------------------- + Maeda Household + ----------------------------

The Maeda Household was basically one step removed from a mansion.
It was somewhere in between "Really big house" and "mansion", so it had a lot of rooms to spare.
This is because Noei was predicting that others who would work with her would also like to move in.
And also, other potential friends that she may have along the way.
So she was lucky that there was a spare room for this Seventh...

"... So this is what a mattress feels like!!! So fluffy!!! Yay!!!"

Who was bouncing on the mattress.
Even though her room was barren, only having the bare essentials to live- even less so, since she's a Seventh...
A drawer, a bed, a cabinet and a charging station. That's all that was in the room.
Despite that, the blue haired Seventh looked like she was having the time of her life.

"Er..."

Jun raised and twitched her finger.
Everyone but Noei was offput by her excitement, especially due to it being night. And especially since they just got off of a shift.

"You... You, uh..."

"Polly! My name's Polly!"

She said, stopping her bouncing for a second to bow in front of them.
Jun was surprised with how elegant it was. It was almost like a maid's curtsy, though slightly less refined.

"Right. Polly. You do know that you're just staying here for a night until we can escort you home, yeah?"

"Wha-" Her face practically sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

("Ooh man.")

("Uh-oh. T-That look on her face is like mine when I get whiny!")

"- No!!!"

Picking up a pillow...
She tossed it to Jun with great force.
Despite the speed it was travelling at, Jun caught it... And tossed it right back.
Which landed perfectly behind Polly.

"Don't wanna go home."

"Okay!" Noei responded first. "Guess this is where you live now."

Which got a gut reaction out of Elka.
A chain reaction was being set up here, and it started with Polly.

"- Oi! Wait! That isn't how this works!"

"Wait, it isn't?! I just told my Dad if I could stay here, and he said yeah- Oh, right, we need to ask her owner first."

Pharma's habit of speaking before thinking...
Set the next reaction in the chain.

Jun raised her voice slightly, reeling her head back. "Ooooh my god, guys, let me handle this." Then, the next.

"I thought you said you weren't good at talking to kids."

Noei innocently asked...
... Setting off the next chain...

As Polly whined in the same tone.
Flailing her arms around.

"I'm not a kid!!! I'm Polly! And I'm a Seventh!"

Which set off Pharma. Who once again spoke without thinking. "You kinda are acting like me, though. Me when I was a kid." The realization sunk in a bit later than her last statement. "- Ah, wait." And she covered her mouth with both her hands. "I didn't say that."

"Oh come on, man!"

Elka had sensed that they entered a chain of sorts.
So he vainly shouted, hoping it would end the chain...
Though. He hadn't noticed that it had ended naturally.

(edited)

"Pff... Hahahahahahaha!!!"

Because the entire chain...
Had gotten Polly to laugh. It was a childish uproar.
One that forced everyone to stare... At just how genuine it was.

They'd never heard a Seventh laugh so... Honestly.

"You guys... You guys are really funny!"

"Ah... ... Thanks?"

"Eh?"

"Hm?" Noei tilted her head. "I wasn't trying to be."

Polly shook the air.
As she sat upright in the mattress she was given.

"No, no, it's just... I've heard of this thing called friends before. But I've never seen it before. Now I see... That having friends must be really fun!"

- Such a sad, sorrowful, statement...
Said with a complete smile on her face...
Even the naive Noei recognized how messed up that statement was.
So they spent a moment just staring at her... Not knowing of what to even say to a statement like that.

So they were lucky...
That they had Noei with them.

"- Yeah. It's really fun. You get to share all sorts of things like laughter. Jokes. Music. Banter. It's..." Noei hesitated to continue. "... Really fun to have friends."

This next part though, she didn't hesitate.
Noei walked to Polly and lifted up both her hands.

"Ummm, I dunno what to do about your home situation, though. But we can be friends if you want! You can come back to the store, and we can keep talking- if you're not allowed to live here!"

"Uuu... But they only let me out occasionally. Most of the time I'm just staring at a wall, unable to leave my room. My owners make me do that a lot while I wait." Polly put her hands down on her lap. "Even now, I'm sure they're looking for me. But I bet they'd never guess that I'm here!" Polly said, raising up a finger innocently...

And that statement got the three in the back to start throwing wild glances at each other. ("Okay, thsi sounds suspicious as hell. Pharma, what do we do???")

("D-DOES IT LOOK LIKE I KNOW WHAT TO DO?! ASK JUN!!!!!")

Pharma was one centimeter away from going full panic mode.
Jun said it out loud. Their suspicions.

("... This Seventh... It's a reach, but- I bet they're tied to the Mafia. Shit.")

("H-Huh?! Wait, like... How?!")

Pharma had a feeling that Polly was suspicious, but...
Not in that way. She was just expecting a more wholesome mystery.

Jun put her hands to her chin.
As she sighed.

("The mafia, especially the Kidori Alliance... Like to exploit Sevenths with special abilities. They prey on either owners of Sevenths who're nearly bankrupt and need help... Or owners of Sevenths who can be disposed of quietly, without anyone noticing their disappearance. ... I'll confirm it.") Jun looked at Polly, lowering a single eyebrow. "Oi. Polly. Your home. That your only home, or have you had other homes before?"

Polly nodded. "Yeah! Though my new owners say I can't go back to my old one."

Jun looked back, with an almost smug grin.
Which she felt bad for having, considering the gravity of the situation.

("See? I know my shit.")

("Oh man...")

Elka raised up his palm to his forehead.
He was at a loss for what to do. He did not sign up for getting potentially involved with the mafia.

("This was like, the ONE thing my dad told me to never do. He was always like, do NOT mess with the mafia.")

("W-Wuh... Wuhhh... Whaaaat...?") Pharma was now about to enter complete panic attack mode...

"... Owner?"

Until Noei asked one of her usual innocent questions.

- It was such an obvious question.
Which got Jun, Elka, Pharma... And even Polly to pause.
Because it was like she questioned a fundamental part of life.

"Huh?"

Pharma was confused by the question...
And spoke.

"You didn't know? All Sevenths are owned by people. Polly's prolly just talking about whoever owns her. Is it a person, or an organization?"

"A person!" Polly responded cheerfully.

"Sevenths are..."

... It shouldn't have affected her.
But it did.
For a moment, all Noei did was just stare blankly at this truth.
- All the signs were there.
The purpose of Sevenths like Winter and Marika. How all Sevenths have a type and a purpose.
And of course, they were still related to robots. Manufactured existences.
Noei herself remembers when she was awakened. In a lab. And she's heard about how other Sevenths were created too.
Their existence... Had a clear purpose. Even her awakening had a purpose.

But it felt wrong.
It felt deeply wrong, down in her soul, that Sevenths were owned.
Like objects. Like possessions.

Like tools.

That Noei, too, was owned.

"..." She didn't continue. Only Elka noticed the clear turmoil on her face.

"..."

Elka though wasn't a mind reader. He was just good with emotions.
His guess is that it was settling in- the reality of Polly's situation.
Guesses aside, he had to act.
So he took a step next to Noei... And put his hand on her shoulder.

"Ah... ... Thank you."

"..."

Jun was finally get over the fact that the Seventh looked to be around Elka and Pharma's age.
As she registered- if she was a Seventh, she was able to understand harder to explain concepts.
Especially because of how she figured out friendship.

"Well. Owners of Sevenths are especially wealthy or powerful people. Let me make this straightforward- -If they go looking for you, and they find that you're here... They might sue us, y'know?"

"Ah-"

Her face practically deflated...
As she let out a pout.

"... You're right. Aww man. That means I have to go home... Thank you though, smart human!" Though she quickly bursted up with a thumbs up.

"Hah. Alright then." Jun looked at Noei, sighing with disappointment. "Looks like we're gonna be going outside after all. Elka, grab your raincoat. Pharma, you're staying- get some rest. And Polly... We're taking you home."

14/01/2025 11:52 pm

2-3: CONCLUDE

Chapter 2-4: 罪 / Tsumi / Sin

26/01/2025 4:00 pm

-------------------------- + ??? + ---------------------------------- (edited)

"- That doesn't make any sense, though. Why are you telling me to stop pursuing this just because I haven't been here for as long as everyone else...?!"

The scene going on was something Noei had only heard of.
An argument. A true one, unfolding between all circles...

"Like I said, Noei. You're paying too much attention to a minor detail. What Arwest said was just that- that being around her is dangerous."

"I'm pretty sure there was a reason Winter and Lukia told you not to stay with her, right? I-I mean, it's just as my Dad said. You don't stick around criminals, or else-"

"- Or else what?! I... I just want to see her again. To see if she's okay. Why... Why are you all getting in the way of that?"

"Um, N-Noei, even Elka's shivering a bit. Maybe you should just..."

"- Shut up! I don't want to be hearing ANYTHING from you, Pharma! Especially..."

A steel sound.
Her arm moved up robotically, the action already preprogrammed into.
Almost like a guillotine, she raised it in front of Pharma...

"Because you're the one who ratted out ▅▅▅▅▅-"

- ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅.
Then, the memory ended there.

26/01/2025 4:09 pm

------------------- + Maeda Household + ------------------------- (edited)

"- ?!?!"

Startled awake...
A Seventh normally boots up instantly.
Even though it takes time for one to boot up and fully kick in their systems, for any mechanical device or construction...
Sevenths were so optimized and well built that the time it took for them to fully initialize was only a few seconds long. At the most, 5 seconds.
However, for one to shoot up so suddenly... It would be strange. Because Noei right now isn't in a state of urgency.
In fact, just by doing a quick look around herself... She saw that she was just in her barely furnished room, plugged up to a Charging Station.
All she was doing was sleeping. And yet...

"Ah..."

"... Hehe. Your morning face is funny, Noey."

... Her train of thought was interrupted by the fact that her cheek was poked.
Noei almost hadn't registered, that despite being in front of her, Polly was there.
She wondered how that could happen though.

"Noey?" Polly tilted her head, as Noei's face was still distressed.

26/01/2025 4:18 pm

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/19/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Drizzling

One month before the disaster.

"Um..."

So she unplugged herself from the Charging Station, closing an opening in her back- which was where her sockets for charging were, and also Module installing.
Dusting the dust that gathered on her body, she turned to Polly.

"I think... I think I had what humans call a dream. I saw something while I was turned off."

"...? A dream?"

And a reaction Noei didn't expect came across Polly.
She tilted her head while poking her chin, childishly.

"Ah, a dream..."

It took Noei a bit to respond.
She hadn't felt like what it was used to be on the other end of the dynamic.
... Yet despite the roles being reversed, Noei still felt like she was the naive and clueless one.
As she was struggling to even formulate a response.

"... Um... It's when you see images in your sleep. Elka tells me sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn't. They're weird, like humans are."

"Huuuuh..."

Polly rubbed her chin.
As she sat down, nodding up and down.

"Even though I'm a Seventh too, I didn't know that... There's a lot I don't know, actually! Cause my Owners only tell me what I need to know." The mention of the word "owner" got Noei to flinch again.

"Ehehe... The same kinda goes for me, too." Noei nodded. "Winter- a friend of mine, another Seventh... She tells me that most Sevenths are loaded with information right off the bat. Basic info about Steel City, how to live, how to talk to others..."

She lowered her hands down.
Noei wasn't sure if she should continue, because she once again saw that same curious look on Polly.
Noei wondered if what she was saying was even being processed by Polly.

"... It just makes me wonder- why I didn't have that information in me."

"Hmm... That is really strange."

Polly said, nodding up and down with her hand on her chin.
As she pointed to her chin.

"But stranger than that is that thing you can do."

"?" Noei paused. "What thing?"

"I can't do it, but you can."

Polly was being rather vague...
Because it was such a fundamental part of her existence-

"- In fact, most Sevenths can't." That saying just "it" is enough for her. "At least... The ones I've met."

"That's..."

Noei put her hand to her chest.
She had intuited at this point that Polly didn't have her answer.
Because right now, Polly was in the role Noei was usually in. The naive Seventh.
But that didn't change Noei from still being the one who constantly didn't know things.

So once again,
even in a state where her position was reversed-

She still, yet again, is the naive Seventh.

"... Haah."

She mimicked a tired exhale from Elka and Pharma, not knowing how else to express exasperation.
As Noei stood up.

"... We should get going. U-Um, I don't know what it means to get sued, but Jun makes it sound really bad."

"Awww, what?!"

Polly stood up as well.
Noei was heading out of her room, with Polly practically dragging herself to Noei.
It was like her instincts were fighting back against her programming.

"But you're so interesting! I don't want to go back just yet... All I do is stare at a ceiling and do what my Owners tell me to. I don't even have any Game Modules or PC Modules like the other Sevenths..."

"Interesting..."

Noei looked down...

- As she thought of that supernova again...
... And the purple haired Seventh. Arwest.

"... That's wrong. There are Sevenths who are much more interesting than I am."

By that point, Noei was already ready to open the door out of her room.
In other words, she was ready to drop the conversation entirely.
But she paused at just this statement.

"- And what makes you think you can say that?"

"..."

Without saying anything...
Noei opened the door out of her room.

26/01/2025 4:39 pm

---------------------------- + Zone 5 Streets + --------------------------

26/01/2025 4:56 pm

The Zone Backstreets, while being a walkable place...
Isn't really a place that supports lots of people in the same place at once.
Certain places, like the rare parks and stages do support gatherings and such.
But as Zone is a very individualistic type of place, supported by its very very lax rules in businesses and building... Even the main streets are a bit narrow.
That's because you'll rarely ever find a time where everyone's using the same streets at once.
People have their own lives and such, their own routes around the crazy Zone Backstreets.
It's a far cry from the usually busy districts of... Everywhere else in Steel City, basically.
People keep to themselves here.

Even Zone 5, arguably the most commercial of all the districts is like this.
If you're looking for something in specific, it's likely in some specialized side street or back alley.
Which again... Isn't designed for much people to be in.

So...

("Hey. Pharma. You ever notice how every time we're doing something with Noei, something ALWAYS happens?")

("I don't think we can classify this as just "something", Elka. This... This is crazy.")

... To have the streets practically be flooding with people, as if it was an extension of the Maeda Atelier...
It was very clear on how the streets of Zone 5...  Were ill-equipped to handle this many people at once.

"Umm..."

And just like before,

the cause of this uproar, this mass influx in people was the exact same.

"M-Maybe you can ask your questions one at a time?"

26/01/2025 5:02 pm

Now no longer limited by being in a single store...
Tons of people had gathered.
Reporters, ordinary folk, Sevenths, even some mafia and yakuza looking people were in the crowd.
Some had mics. The others had notebooks. Some knew what they were talking about, others just heard of her in a news article or too.
And all of them...
... Had wanted to know what the Greatest Robot in the World was like.

"So how was the Silver Nephilim like?! How did you beat her?!" "Noei Maeda!!! I hear the famous Doctor Etsuji made you despite being in semi-retirement?! Do you think you could tell us how???" "I heard you're the first Seventh to ever attend school. Can you tell us what it's like?" "Noei!!! Donations for our humble store, please!!!" "Noei Maeda! Who made your clothes, and why are they so good?!"

("... That would be me...")

". . ."

Jun was holding a suitcase.
That suitcase had Polly stuffed inside of it to avoid attention. Since it was basically almost guaranteed she was tied to the mafia, they wanted to avoid her being seen in broad daylight by whoever could potentially own her.
The worst case scenario was if the Kidori Alliance owned her. The Melaragno Clan wouldn't be as bad, but when Elka questioned on why that was the case, Jun wouldn't respond.
Regardless of it, there was another big barrier here. Which Jun stated directly.

("How the hell do we get Noei out of here. The fact that we have THIS many eyes trained on us at all times... We can't even keep Polly out of the briefcase for long, which means we don't know where she lives.")

("AND Noei looks like she's suffocating.") Elka said, raising up a finger, his eyebrow slightly lowering down. ("But man. This is a tough situation.") The delinquent stuffed his hands in his pockets, pouting. ("There's nowhere really to disappear to, since-")

- Bump.
Elka was pushed aside by someone trying to reach Noei. Though due to his toughness, he barely reacted and just kept talking.

("- There's people... Everywhere.")

("Errr... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if Noei really stresses herself out, then she might...") Pharma's voice anxiously trailed off. "- Eeep!" As she wasn't able to continue due to being bumped. She almost fell, but Elka caught her before that.

("... Might what? Either way- there's no way Noei will be that stressed. She does just fine at work. And what could she possibly do? Punch the crowd out of the way? Or maybe even-")

- ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
Noei's arms and legs transformed into thrusters...
And after she had enough...

Noei straight up just flew off. Leaving behind a huge smoke trail, trails in the sky.
Causing all the people around her to inhale and cough at the smoke.

". . ."

"That. Noei can do that."

Noei wasn't sure of where she was flying.
Nor did she even fully register that she was flying for a bit. Only the fact that she needed to get out of where she was, right now.

"Ah-" So the moment she realized she was in the air... "I did something really bad there..."

Noei's arms returned to normal, and she made a slow descent.
She was at least glad that she was away from the crowd.
Where she was landing was a narrow, dark, alleyway too. She was sure no one would follow here at this rate, so she could at least have a moment to herself...

"..."

That is, until-
- Noei realized that she was being followed.

"... Oh man."

It was only two people.
But before even using Eyes of Add- Noei could tell...
The only people who could chase after a flying Seventh, who's also flying as fast as a Plane...
Would be others with equal speed.
Which meant...

Other Sevenths.

"Hey girl. I mean they."

One of the Sevenths introduced himself, a man with a red coat.
He cracked his knuckles as he stepped on one end of the alleyway.
Noei had seen this Seventh before in her shop, but she never talked to him.

Neither did the other Seventh.
A person in between man and woman- both in voice and appearance.
Their face masculine, but with breasts of a woman.
They were also cracking their knuckles, crouching down in an almost snake-like stance.

"Thinking of going somewhere, Greatest Robot in the World? This a perfectly good moment to waste your time on me."

Noei has also seen this Seventh-

But the deadly thing was...
... Even with both of them introducing themselves like this,

Noei has no concept of a shakedown.

"Uhhh........"

But even so...
Noei had lived long enough to understand the concept of suspicion.
To her left was the jacketed man.
To her right was the Seventh with heterochromia.
For some reason, her instincts instinctually told her to get flying again. But she chose not to, just waving.

"If you're uh, here to ask questions about me, then I think I can answer some...? I still don't really get why lots of people are asking me stuff."

- Noei used Eyes of Add at the same time the jacketed Seventh started sauntering up to Noei.
It was at that time she realized just how dangerous these two were.
Eyes of Add, while scanning the insides and acting as X-Ray vision...
Also provides government documents.

Yet no documents from these two had been pulled.
The moment she realized that... The Seventh was already right in Noei's face.

"Your cluelessness is pretty funny, not gonna lie. Seems like our observations are correct. You really are just a cretin."

"- !"

Sevenths...
Usually can keep up with extremely fast things.
This is because of their advanced senses. They have very high reaction speeds due to being robotic in nature.
So for a Seventh to be unable to react to something...

That means it goes beyond anything a human can even fathom.
Noei hadn't noticed it, but the jacketed Seventh already had his arm extended outward directly to the side...
... And Furyoku was gathering to it. A black, mist-like, and sinister aura had already formed...
And was gathering tons of power.
His intent was clear.

He was going to attack Noei.

"Now sleep tight."

Swing.

Like a rising sword, that deadly arm swung at speeds Noei couldn't even react to- and she had dealt with Seren's deadly lasers...

"!?"

But at the last second- the arm redirected and deflected something.
He moved it snake-like, clearly reacting at the last minute. And so, whatever that something was shredded a bit of his arm. Exposing the metal layer of the Seventh's wrist. That something...

"... Are you kidding me?!"

It was a  bullet.
A silver one, at that.

Such bullets of such casing could only belong to one person.

"!?" Noei looked back.

So did the other Seventh.
The pupils of both the jacketed Seventh and the heterochromatic Seventh shrunk at the same time.
Before even fighting, their heads, hearts and programming calculated one thing.

"... Shit, we're fucked."

That was-

Holding a custom P90 in their hands was a hooded figure.
Smoke was still coming out of that P90.
The description accurate to what Jun said.
A hooded figure that clearly stood at the end of the hallway... Just like a hero.
Exactly as Noei imagined it.

"..." Wordlessly, they aimed their P90 at the heterochromatic Seventh, and...

"- Screw this! Hibiki doesn't pay me enough for this shit, I'm outta here!"

Dash.
With great speed, the other Seventh instantly dashed right past Noei and the jacketed Seventh.
Running far far away. It wasn't a run motivated by cowardice alone...
But it was cowardice mixed in with "strategic decisionmaking!"

At that... "Wha- oh come on!"

The jacketed Seventh looked back at first in anger and fear...
But in an instant, he swallowed it all up and faced the hooded vigilante.
His aura was blanketed fully in his black sinister aura...

"Ah, screw this! I know this is a bad matchup, but I gotta lock in!"

- Sprint.
Their dash forward wasn't like Sumi's coward-like run.
But he began to run almost like a beast. Even crouching down to use his arms to run like a devil.
He prowled, but...

The Silver Bullet was already ready beforehand.
They blasted and shot their P90 at full auto.
Tons of sprayed bullets were now heading the way of the jacketed Seventh...

But the Seventh already predicted this.
As soon as he heard a single shot fire from the P90...
The Seventh flipped into the air, and-

"Factor Authorized. Keep this mask held high. Fool everyone, even myself. Fool everything, even a mirror. Until nothing is left- this is what it means to kill something. Yetzirah - Roar."

Finally, the true strength of this Seventh was activated.
From his arms slid a red and white sword- one with a massive blade.
The Seventh's aura thickened- and he began to crash down on the Silver Bullet at speeds even Noei was having trouble keeping up with.

"Nightmare Edge!" (edited)

The speed the jacketed Seventh was travelling at was dangerous.
All of them could see that the reaction the Silver Bullet took was to take a huge step back to dodge.
However, the jacketed Seventh's speed meant that the Silver Bullet would probably be grazed and hurt.
And even if their dodge was pre-mediated, dodging regardless of what move the jacketed Seventh made...
The jacketed Seventh was still faster than the Silver Bullet. Thus, there was no way for them to regain the advantage in this state-

- Unless.

"..."

"!!!!!!!"

The jacketed Seventh only registered it when his fall was about halfway complete.
But the Silver Bullet... Had thrown a grenade at such a precise angle and speed...
Such that it was now where they used to be.

Which meant-

"- Annoying ass setplay!"

The jacketed Seventh's massive blade connected and cut in half the grenade...
Launching him back, dealing a direct blow.

"GAUUUUUUUGHH!!!"

"!!! Woah!"

Even Noei had to duck and cover.
The grenade was extremely powerful- as it not only blew the Seventh back...
But it also made holes in the walls of the two buildings next to them, as they were in an alleyway.
Noei looked back to assess the damage the jacketed Seventh took.

And it was a great amount of damage.
The Seventh had rolled back- hit a fire hydrant...
And when he stood up, a lot of his frontmost layer was blown off. Revealing a lot of his metal layer.
Even half of his face was wrecked.

"Gh..."

Some holes were even exposed, and he was sparking from them.

But even so.

"HRAAAAAAAGHHH!!!"

He still charged straight back into the alleyway.
His speed was immense, so he should've made it back, but-

- He didn't even get the chance to re-enter the alley.

Though the Silver Bullet wasn't as fast as the jacketed Seventh...
They seemed to be more precise. Capable of making quick decisions.
In their case-

They sprinted and ran on the wall. Right before the Seventh ran too.
Using their momentum from the wall run, they leaped from it...
And sprayed bullets at the jacketed Seventh in mid air, right as they were about to enter the alleyway.

"!!!!"

Because they were coming from such an unexpected angle, and the Silver Bullet had moved first...
The jacketed Seventh had no choice but to hold his massive blade up high to block the spray of bullets.
He seemed to be afraid of them. Intent on not letting a single one stop him.
He halted his momentum, turned around, and...

"... Ah."

The purpose of the Silver Bullet's jump...
Wasn't just to shoot at the Seventh at an odd angle.
It was to get behind them- and press their gun straight to the Seventh's back.

"... Jurian Dojima. Head of the Dojima Family. I promise not to take your life if you leave at this very moment, and never mess with Noei Maeda ever again. Understood?"

"..."

The Seventh named Jurian raised up his hands.
As he mimicked a human scoffing.

"Tch. You gonna take me to the Ministry of Defense now?"

"... No. We all know they aren't trustworthy. Relay the message over to Sumi Kawaguchi if you would. And if you try anything quick- right now... I have my eyes on Noei." Their finger itched closer to the trigger.

"......."

Jurian raised his leg...
And gave the Silver Bullet a soft shin kick.

"Fine."

They didn't budge at all...
And the so-called Head of the Dojima Family left.
Hands in his pockets, grouchily walking away with nothing but salt in his metallic body.

"..."

Noei...

... Stared.
All she did was stare at the sight that unfolded before her.
Her eyes glowing slightly, if only for a second.
What she wanted to say and do to the Silver Bullet...

She already decided long ago.

So...
Without saying anything, the Silver Bullet readied to jump.
Their objective and their sights were clearly set to the top of a building.

That is, until...

- Noei formed her Belial Buster.
Her arm transforming to the shape of a cannon.
As she fired a weak blast over to the Silver Bullet. Aimed straight for the head.

"Bang."

"!"

The Silver Bullet dodged, leaning backward to dodge a direct hit in the head...
While also side stepping.
That sort of movement-

- Caused the hood of the Silver Bullet to fall.

Revealing the one Noei had wanted to meet all this time.

So what she said was simple.
She had a feeling she would run or go away as fast as possible...
And even in case her words didn't work, Seren's Dark Silver Wings were prepared and ready to soar.
She was still confident that just these two words were enough though.

"- Found you."

"... Haaah. Guess I couldn't run away from you for that long, huh."

26/01/2025 8:45 pm

-------------------------- + Zone 5 Streets, Outskirts + ------------------------

The location is just outside a convenience store.
Sitting down in front of a few benches.
It's considered bad behavior to walk and eat or drink at the same time, so even in the Zone Backstreets there are a lot of benches and parks everywhere.
It's overlooking another part of the vast wilderness that Steel City chooses to protect.
This time- it was a massive lake as far as they eye can see. Only Noei's specs were good enough to be able to see the end of it.
What they were drinking was just canned coffee- Noei just got the same thing Arwest got.

But none of that mattered to Noei.
All that mattered was that they were finally in the same place, once again.
After two failed attempts.

"... So. Greatest Robot in the World." Arwest slowly drank some of her coffee. "... This can't possibly be about the water fight, can it?"

"Ah... ... Will you laugh at me if I say something stupid?"

Noei said, her hands cupped on her canned coffee.
She had never drank it before.

"No. A lot of Sevenths are dumb. You're no exception."

"..."

Noei gave Arwest a frown right after she said that.
Afterwards, she sipped some of the coffee...

"... Well, it's-" And her taste receptors activated. "- Guh?! What the heck is this?! It's so bitter!"

"Coffee. My favorite. Regardless of what shape or form it comes in." Arwest said, practically downing another gulp. "Not a fan?"

"Agh... I dunno..." Noei keeled over, lowering her head... "Well, it's a good thing us Sevenths don't really need to drink or eat. I-I mean, it energizes us, but actual charging is much more efficient and all..." Noei said, putting two fingers to her head.

"... You don't need to say that, Noei. Don't say useless things. That's my motto."

Arwest said.
But that got Noei to stop a little. To pause, once again, because she was thinking.

"... Now." Noticing this, Arwest decided to once again take ahold of the conversation. "Are you gonna say that stupid thing now, or what?"

"Ah, right, the reason why I wanted to talk to you in the first place... I forgot, so thanks for reminding me!" (edited)

"No you didn't."

That blunt response caused Noei to sit up out of shock. "Huh?"

Without changing her expression, she spoke. "Sevenths have perfect memory. ... In fact, this is my second time telling you this. So there should be no point."

"You know..." Noei exhaled. "You've been saying that a lot. That there's no point to things- and we shouldn't do useless things..."

Point.

Noei pointed to the now empty can of canned coffee.
"... When did she finish that? Geez, she must really like coffee..."

"Then what's that?" (edited)

"... Canned coffee."

Finally-

She looked irritated.
An expression other than the monotone, almost judgmental look, that she casted to the world.
To everyone.

"Well..."

Almost like a throw, a full reversal...
It was one sentence that got everything to shift.

"... Sevenths don't need to drink coffee."

Holding up her canned coffee...

She crushed it with pure force alone. Some coffee began to leak out.
Such a quick, unexpected, unnecessary, unpredictable...
Such a totally impulsive motion-

"...!!!"

Got a reaction of Arwest.
A new expression.

Distress.

(edited)

"... And if it was useless to you, then you wouldn't have reacted like that."

"... You're right."

Arwest put her hands together.
Her mechanical fingers tensed up at the empty cup of canned coffee she had...
Yet her eyes could not look away from the spilled coffee from the crushed can.

"... I don't need to drink this coffee anyways. I can recall the taste any time from the hundreds of times I've drank coffee." (edited)

"In other words, you were indulging yourself, yeah? You were doing what you liked."

Noei said, now being the one in control of the conversation.

It was something new to her. But it didn't feel wrong either, unlike talking to Polly.
Because now, she felt like she fully understood what was going on.
She knows what it's like to do something just because it's fun.
She knows what it's like...

To enjoy life.

And so, she thinks of Seren's song again.

"... Yeah."

To that...
Arwest could only nod.

"So... I don't get it. You say you shouldn't do useless things, yet here you are indulging yourself uselessly." Noei looked at the can of coffee. "Don't you think it's more fun that way? To say useless things. To do useless things."

She twirled her hands together.
Because what she believed in...

"A friend- no... My best friend once said this to me... "If you're good at something, then do it. If you're bad at something, then don't waste your time at it." I don't think that's right, exactly."

She wasn't used to defying what she believed in.
But right now, she knew that however Arwest was living-

- It was wrong.

(edited)

"... It's easy for you to say that. I heard you were born without a purpose."

Arwest slouched in her seat.
She didn't even want to spare the effort of sitting upright anymore... Nor did she want to look at Noei.

"... And what part of that sounds easy to you?" (edited)

"I wasn't lying when I said I had my eyes on you. You can live however you want. You have connections that just give you shit- like that house and all that."

Now both of her hands were on that empty can.
She peered into it as best as she possibly could.

"And you got famous from stopping just one Seventh who went bad... All because of that purposelessness. Don't you get it? Because you're so empty, you can fill it up with anything."

"I..."

... Noei's confidence didn't waver.
Even though the lead of the conversation shifted back to Arwest-

She was fine with this.
Because this was the one answer to her cluelessness... That she really wanted to know.

After all,
all Sevenths were born with a being.
She had known it ever since she first authorized her Factor against Seren.
What her Being was.

It was emptiness.

"... I guess I could. I just don't want to fill it up with sadness. Oh yeah- That's the reason I really wanted to talk to you."

Pause. "... Huh?"

"It's cause you looked really sad. But when we were fighting in that waterfight, you looked really happy. ... That's all there is to it, really. I wanted to see you like that again."

Noei said, rubbing her cheek.
It was the first time she's ever really been embarrassed.
And all she was doing was stating her true feelings without any sort of filter whatsoever.

"Ah..."

To such a pure remark like that...
What else could she do...

"Ahahaha... Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!" ... But laugh?

"Hey..."

Of course, a clear frown formed on Noei. Just like that.
Putting her hands down, she wondered if the drizzling rain was making it look like Arwest was crying.
Then if so, were these tears of joy? Or tears of sorrow?
Either way, she felt pretty insulted.

"You said you wouldn't laugh..."

"- Sorry... Sorry..."

It took her a moment to stop laughing.
In fact, she even uselessly held her stomach- mimicking a human.
Because...
At that moment, she believed it would help her stop.

"It was just... So surprising. Out of all the reasons you had... You could've wanted a rematch. You could've wanted to know who I am. You could've wanted what that feeling was when you first looked at me. You could've asked anything."

Her hand lowered...
And now, she finally looked at Noei with a smile.

"But you didn't."

"Yeah? Why would I need to? I just wanted to see you again. To talk to you a bit more."

"... Hah." Arwest rubbed her nose. "Then... Are you satisfied yet?"

Noei looked at the sky...
And they both noticed storm clouds nearing.
Standing up-

Logistically, she should be.
Even so...

"... Nope! Can you come over to the store some more? I'd like to talk to you more and more."

"... You're greedy. Hey-... Your name."

"? Don't you already know it? It's all over on the news."

Noei said, asking...
But unlike Arwest, she was just curious.

"Well... It's rude to not introduce yourself, even if you know their name." Arwest stepped past Noei. "Exceptions are like if you're a big shot celebrity and the likes. In which case, you are, I suppose. You have been on the news quite a lot..." And the two stood side by side, staring at opposite ways. "... So I guess there's no need."

"... Noei. My name is Noei."

Once again, Arwest chuckled to herself.
Defying what she said directly...

"... I'll come visit your store again, tomorrow. But if it's too busy... I'll just walk out. I don't like loud places."

Arwest began to walk away, back into Zone 5.
To Noei, she was all too used to this. Standing still, watching as someone becomes just a back walking away.
She wondered- she's seen this twice now.
And if Noei didn't choose to chase after Arwest... There would be a third time.

So what would she do then?
Confronted with the reality... That everyone-
- Etsuji. Elka. Jun. Pharma. Winter.
Everyone...

Everyone could become a back, just like that.
She chose on that moment...
To not move, until Arwest was completely out of sight.

"..."

Barely anyone was in the outskirts of Zone 5.
It was a residential area filled with mostly houses, shanties and small shops.
Not even shops worth mentioning. And with the drizzle, people would prefer to stay inside.
Not to mention that winds were picking up.
So Noei instantly noticed... When someone entered.

"Noei!!!"

- Three people were running to her.
She had almost forgotten about them while talking to Arwest.
The one ahead of them all was Elka, waving his hand.

"So that's where you were! C'mon- we gotta get back home! It's raining!"

"Ah... Oh! You're right!"

The rain was starting to pick up...
And Noei slowly ran back to him, Pharma and Jun. Jun was still carrying the briefcase, so it meant Polly was there.

"Let's go home! Don't want anyone to catch a cold and be unable to work tomorrow!"

26/01/2025 10:54 pm

...

"..."

Arwest stared at the rainy clouds above.
On the path back to her home, she remembered.
Although Sevenths have perfect memory- it's up to them to actively recall it.
So it's more like how a Computer has access to all files at once... But they still actively need to click on it to display it, for example.
In that moment, Arwest hadn't chosen to recall that painful, hurtful memory.

She recalled the pain she had now,

as well as the innocent joy she had back then.

Someone was stroking her hair, patting it.
Someone taller than her.
Someone, who she forcibly corrupted her own memories of...
Just so that she could not fully recall his face.

But she knew his name.
And the words that he said.

"... There's someone out there willing to cry for people like us. That's why we'll live strong. Someday, I'm sure. That there is someone out there... Who will cry for you."

". . . Nii-nii..."

...

"... Of course Noei would remind me of my Sin."
She put her hand to her head. Operated her own mind.
And when she tried to delete her memory of that scene-

Once again...
She couldn't.

She couldn't risk becoming empty.

26/01/2025 10:59 pm

------------------- + Placebo - Maeda Atelier + ------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/20/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon. Boring afternoon. Didn't even get any coffee.
WEATHER: Rainy, harsh winds. They suck ass. It's the type of winds where instead of a raincoat being convenient, it kind of sucks.

(edited)

... I really should have brought an umbrella.
Actually- with this wind... An umbrella wouldn't have helped at all.
Standing outside a huge stone wall, with some posters that look like they're at risk of blowing away any time soon...
Is Maeda Atelier.

I don't know why, but my friend Noei decided to open up a store.
Personally, I don't think it suits her.
I know she was awakened with the purpose of basically having no purpose...
But a store? Really?
She literally flew to space, but last I saw her- she was having the time of her life running this store...

"... Haaaah. I guess that's another reason on why I'll never get her." I looked to my left. "Boss. She's here, yeah?"

Standing next to me is the worst boss ever.
Lukia Sudou. Head of the Ministry of Defense.
And the very reason I'm saddled with all of this shit in the first place.

"Why are you the one asking the questions here? I'm the one who's here because you think Arwest is connected to the 52 case."

... And I swear.
She has a grudge against me. Because she's touted as the most effective Police Seventh.
Someone who can crack any case and manage all parts of the Defense of Steel City.
Even down to the military level.

But every time I work with her...
She becomes an idiot who asks questions like this:

"And shouldn't you be happy? You get to see that orange Seventh again."

Again with the blatant disrespect...
You literally failed to stop the Silver Nephilim. And guess who did? Noei.
So get off your high horse already before I forget to think before I speak.

"... It's not like I'm particularly elated to see Noei again. We're on the job here first and foremost."

I mimicked a human exhaling again.
No real point to it, but it gets the point across that I'm tired.

"There's even a chance that Noei- and her coworkers are infected too. In that case, we'd have to deal with a real thorny situation here." Raising up a hand, I smirked. "You might even have to throw hands for the first time in a while. No way you're setting up Runes in a tight space such as a house."

"Gh... Do you seriously want me to box again? I don't get why you're so infatuated with it." Lukia pinched her nose, looking down. "I was a Seventh made to use magic, so I use magic. No real point in me boxing, even if it did surprise those criminals that one time..."

Surprise is an understatement. She's crazy good at melee combat, so I dunno why she doesn't do it more often.
Stuffing her hand in her suit's pocket, she looked to the ground.

"Unless it's you that wants to be hit in the face, hmmmm~? Could always spar like we did in the old days." (edited)

"Yeah, but now we don't have Marika to fix us up." I exhaled once more.

"... You're seriously bringing her up again?"

"What?"

Almost in anger, I turn around.
That was uncalled for.

"That was a good time to mention her, you know."

Lukia stared up at the sky...
Waching as the rain fell down.

"I just..."

Or maybe she was looking past it. I dunno.
I don't actually know if she's capable of any serious navelgazing, though.

"I just don't like talking about dead people. That's all."

"... Even though our specialization lies in murder?"

"Put it this way, then. When we do cases like these- the 52 Case... We're not talking about the dead. We're walking all over their corpses."

...?
In a time like this... Why is Lukia so direct?

"That's what we're made for, Winter. Now let's go. If your hunch is correct, we have another corpse to walk on."

"... Yeah."

In my last investigation of the 52 Case...
I found a Paranoia Syringe within Seren's body. Something that can only be produced by Arwest Meinster- Queen of Paranoia.
Not to mention, the initial 52 Case threatened Noei with a bomb.
And I've been seeing Arwest visit Noei over and over.

So I thought to myself.
Could it be?

Is the Queen of Paranoia trying to kill Noei?
It could also be why the murders only started when Noei met Marika.
Perhaps whoever 52 is...

They are an enemy that exists to torment Noei.
And that person might be Arwest Meinster.

... Fitting.
Even now, she can't escape from her own Sin.

26/01/2025 11:19 pm

------------------ + Maeda Atelier + ------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/20/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon
WEATHER: Rainy, harsh winds

One month before the disaster.

For Arwest...
She was going through a lot of things right now.

Her eyes were at first brought to a flashy wide screen TV. Someone only a rich person could afford.
So, very out of place in the Zone Backstreets.
Then she saw someone playing a video game on it. A fighting game.
It was the one she remembered to be Elka. Not just that...
But there were tons of snacks, empty snack containers, cans and empty cans all around him.
Then. To her left. A bunch of random supplies in front of the entrance to the Maeda Atelier workshop.
Disorganized supplies at that.
To her right... The kitchen and dining room.
... She didn't have to go in it to see that it was a total mess.
To her left, in the other part of the living room...
A lot of disorganized music materials- from CDs, to speakers, to even guitars.

". . . What."

"Hey Arwest!!! So you did show up!" Said Noei, holding a guitar.

"Oh!"

Elka turned around...
As he let himself eat a combo to wave at Arwest.

"So you're the person Noei invited! Hey- I remember ya'! You're the other Seventh Noei fought at the waterfight? You two finally become friends?"

Sliiide.
Pharma slid out of the workshop...
Only to reveal herself being covered with dirt and clothing materials.

"Visitors?! Now?! But I'm not done with the new prototype model for the new clothes line!!!"

"Noei. What is this place?"

"It's my house!"

"No. No it isn't. This is a pigsty."

". . . Look..."

". . . Now listen 'ere..."

". . . Okay, look, you might be right, but..."

- Slam!
And before any of them could finish their sentences...
The person who was practically their guardian stormed out of her room, sliding the door with such great force...
As trash flew out of it. It was practically like a garbage dump.

"Oh my god, someone finally said it. This place is a mess."

"..."

Arwest's mouth contorted.
She recalled that this person's name was Jun and practically their caretaker.
Etsuji, Noei's owner (she presumed), hadn't shown up in a while... So it was pretty much her for the time being.
Not to mention... She was the only adult.
Arwest had many questions, but she was only able to croak out the most primal of all of them.

"How?" Her voice was like chalk scraping at a board.

"... Back in College... I'd always let my roommate, Ether, do all the housework. Do you want to see what happened to the dishes?"

"So you suck."

"Yeah."

"At housework."

"... Yeah."

- Snatch.
Zooming straight to where she assumed the Shed was...
She returned. With multiple rags, mops and sprays.
Her initial goal was to just talk to Noei...

But now-

She has a new goal.

"Noei. I'm going to teach everyone the Way of the House."

"!?"

"- Wait, what?"

"But we just got done learning how to manage the store!"

27/01/2025 12:29 am

None of them were aware...
Not even the two cops, who had gathered outside... 
No one was aware just how much of a brutal camp was awaiting for them.
What was ahead of them was neither hell or heaven.

It was a purgatory... Of a stricter regime than even military training camps.

"- First things first! You guys have all gone shopping before, correct?! I need you all to gather as much bags as possible! Plastic- cardboard- doesn't matter. Have a place for them. Then! Separate trash between flammable and non-flammable!"

Standing on top of a box...
Arwest had begun her regime.
The regime of Housework Mastery.

"Gah... Haah... Haah... There's too much shit!"

Elka said, carrying boxes and boxes of trash...
Not just his waste- but the entire house's waste.
Which inclued the Atelier.

"How do you... Expect me to carry this much?!"

"I don't." Arwest said, turning to Elka. "You carry bits and pieces one by one. Otherwise-"

- Point.
A pizza box fell out from the pile.

"- They fall out. Like that.

"Wha-... But that would take forever!"

"Exactly." Her voice struck at Elka like a well timed shot. "This is the art of... Satisfactory Trash Organization."

"???"

27/01/2025 12:42 am

Next up...
Was the laundry.
Arwest was even more mortified to see the laundry.
As the clothes were just dumped randomly. Some on the machines, some even on the floor itself.
It was a total mess.
But it didn't stop her. She had teachings to impart.

As the washing began...
The ironing finished- and the folding continued...

"W-Why do we have to get the folding exact?! All the tips are too specific! Like- why do all the sleeves have to be RIGHT below the collar?! Can't we just do it wherever?!" (edited)

Still standing on top of a box...
Arwest now had a megaphone from the Shed.
Despite the laundry room being relatively small... She was still using it.

"Wrong. The purpose of folding... Is the longevity of the clothing. You never know when the clothes you use will go bad. That's why, you want to keep them as pristine as possible. So that you can save on money."

"But it's so tedious! The exact same?! Every time???"

Pharma said, pressing her hands down on the clothes she was folding.
She was expecting to sway Arwest, but...

She just continued. "That is the art of... Delighted Folding."

27/01/2025 12:46 am

Right after that...
Was the dishes.
Which was basically going exactly as Arwest expected it to.

Noei lowered a plate...
As her arms were shaking.

"I... I can't do it. It just takes too long! And we have other things to do! AND we're 5 people living here! Sometimes 6!"

"Why? You're just checking the plates and whatnot to see if there's any dishwashing soap and grains left... ESPECIALLY for rice, it's important." Arwest pointed, standing behind the 4 doing the dishes. "Plates can deteriorate in quality FAST. And with rice, it's especially important to rinse it a 3rd time to make sure the grain doesn't stick."

Noei raised up her hand again...
As she held and stared into the plate.

"Since I'm a Seventh, it's easier for me to see the dirt and grains left on here, but..."

Arwest raised up her megaphone once more. "There is no but. This is the art... Of Grateful Washing."

27/01/2025 12:52 am

. . .
The training session was so brutal, it lasted until the evening.
It was hard to watch. Hard to witness for everyone involved.
... For Lukia and Winter, who had been watching the whole thing...
They decided to postpone their investigation to another day. They wouldn't stop, it's just...
It would be rude to kick someone when they're down.

Night fell.
And everyone, but Noei due to her being a Seventh...
Was drop dead tired.

However.

"Haaah... Haaah... Haaah..."

Elka was flat on his back.
But he knew. Everywhere he looked...
It was spotless. Even the corners, which Arwest claimed was hard to clean... Were clean.
It was just like they bought the house again for the first time, only with extra furniture.
Their hard work... Paid off.

"Guys... I don't know which is worse. Running the store, or doing Housework Mastery..."

Jun slowly rose.
She was flat on her back too, even finding it hard to slowly rise up.
Stretching her back, she looked at Elka.

"... Doesn't matter. We HAVE to both from now on."

"N-No..."

Unlike the others, Noei was flat on her chest instead of her back.
She tried to get up- but couldn't.
Reaching out her hand...

It was Arwest who picked Pharma back up, without saying anything. "... You have to. That's the art of Housework Mastery. This is a beautiful house, now that I see it clean. Many people would die for a house this nice. Aside from paying your bills, though... Did you really think you could just keep a house just with that? No." Arwest planted her fist onto her palm. "Just like with living, just like with working...! You have to fight for your house. That... That is the meaning of housework."

The only one who fully got it...
... Was Noei.

"I see. We really can't live by ourselves, huh...? That's why all your teachings revolved around thankfulness. In other words-"

Noei looked around...
Smiling.

"- We should be thankful that we have this house! That's why we do housework!"

"That's-"

- Again.
An unintentional pull of a memory.

... The face of a man he intentionally chose to protect.
With a scolding tone, her laying flat on a couch...

"That's no good! If you just bum around all day, then the Ishidas will kick you out! If you want to win your right to stay here... Then you should work as hard as I do! Besides... Isn't taking care of the house a way of saying thank you to them?"

... Arwest shook her head again.
She hadn't remembered those days in a while. And in such rapid fire too, also remembering those days yesterday...
Now she was really considering deleting it.
Even so-

- If she did, then she wouldn't understand...

"... Yeah. You understand, Noei." Just how important housework is.

"Still though..."

Jun lowered her head...
As she reluctantly met Arwest in the eyes.

"... There's more, isn't there? There's still some stuff Ether did that I don't know how to do. Like cooking. And the gardening." Jun said, pointing to the yard outside. "We're gonna need to work on that too."

"- Wait."

Then, suddenly...
Noei's sappy mood faded, now being replaced with a look...
... Of true despair.

"We... We have to do more of this?"

". . ."

Surprising everyone, though...
Elka leaned forward. And pointed his thumb to his chin.

"Bring it on."

"!?"

"!!!"

"... Huh?"

"Listen."

A confident grin adorned him...
As nobody could tell if he was talking out of his ass or being genuine.

"Right now, doing all of this work... Makes me feel like I'm slowly becoming more reliable. I only have my Dad at my old home. And he doesn't spend a lot of time at home cause of his... Work." His voice trailed off. "So I used to not spend a lot of time at our house cuz' it was always so dirty. Dad would always get pissed at me for cleaning, but he'd never teach me anything Now, though... I can finally make up for that mistake."

Regardless of whether or not he was lying or being true...
His smile...
His golden smile shone even brighter than some of Noei's.

Which inspried Pharma.
As she fully stood up, pumping her fist.

"Yeah...!!! Yeah!!! Bring on the lessons!!! I'll become a true Housework Master!!!"

"Ether... ... I'll prove you wrong. I can in fact, do the dishes!!!!!!" Jun also rose, inspired.

And once again...
Arwest cast an important looking gaze to Noei.

"... You're the leader, aren't you?"

"E-Eh?"

Unlike the others...
Elka's mood didn't rub off on her. Which was odd, because it did usually.

"The place is named after you. Don't let the delinquent looking person outdo you. Say a speech of your own."

"Ah..."

... "This again."
Knocking her own neck, where a human's throat would be...
Noei raised up her own fist.
And did as she did last time.

"That's all for today, everyone! Right now... We just learnt an important lesson! With our new friend, Arwest, we devoted ourselves to learning the Way of the House! Though we're not done, we learnt an important lesson here today... Be thankful, every day!"

It was something they would need.

As in the next day,

it would happen again.
The days that Noei had cherished so much, had so much fun with- just like before...
In a single day, it would all change.

27/01/2025 1:12 am

------------------ + Maeda Household + ------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/21/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Rainy

The beginning of the disaster.

(edited)

The second day of return.
Walking in through the shop entrance- before it has even opened, of course, they're on shift today, so Arwest won't be able to stick for long...
She was immediately delighted to see that rather than the house being a total mess, it looked like a proper home.
Yes, Noei was still in the corner of the room listening to CDs.
And in another side of the room, Elka was in fact still gaming.

". . . ...!!!!!!!!"

But Arwest saw one thing that proved that her efforts in training the Maeda Household worked out in the end.
That was, another corner of the room...

Without anyone asking...
Pharma was in the corner of the room with a wet rag, wiping up some dirt and dust.
She was the first to notice Arwest, waving.

"Oh!!! Arwest, right? Ehehe... You probably wanted to walk in seeing the place all cleaned, yeah? B-But, uh, sorry... We kind of did a bad job in our Thankful Mopping, and I only noticed it this morning. So I, the inquisitive one, set out to clean it!" Pharma stood up, proudly sticking out her finger in pride.

"No..."

Everyone else noticed Arwest by then.
And they all saw the look on her face.

If Sevenths could cry like humans-
- She would be crying right now.

"This is... The meaning of Housework Mastery. To do housework, even when nobody asks..."

"Ah...!!!"

Pharma was practically filled with stars in her eyes. Similar to Noei, who literally had stars in her irises.
Bobbing her arms up and down in excitement, she said,

"T-That means I properly absorbed the lesson, y-yeah?!"

"... Mm. You did."

Though it did take Arwest a bit to respond, as it took her a moment to comprehend how excited Pharma was.
It was a big difference to the defeat they all once shared after such a long day.
Even so...

... That energy didn't just appear in Pharma.
As Elka dashed over to Pharma, of course pausing his game first, then patting her on the back proudly.

"Hey, hey! That means we can really take care of the house, yeah?! Even though I wasn't really that good at it, at least you are!"

"I thought you did pretty good, though!"

Noei unplugged a cord connecting her to a CD player, skirting back to the group.
... Even if it was for Arwest, she did want to listen to her music for as long as possible.

It was very clear to Arwest that all of them shared the same energy.
It wasn't just one person showing gratitude. It was all of them- the three of them matching each other.
Such a sight...
It made her wistful for those days, once more. So she couldn't help but look away.
In fact, she even turned her own body away. Hands in pockets style, head down.

"... There's still more to learn. But seeing as you have work today, I probably won't even be able to get a lesson or two in before you're done..."

"So... Does that mean we can just talk?"

Noei said...
Sliding to Arwest's flank, leaning a bit in front of her. Her body bent slightly to achieve this.
She got closer than she expected to.

"Y'know- like I wanted to last time. You showed us your housework... Maybe I can show you my music?" Noei said, gesturing her hands over to the piles and piles of CDs that she has, as well as the few instruments. "We can sit down and listen to The Pillows together! Or Kinoko Teikoku!"

"Orrr..." Elka flashily pointed his thumb to his chin. "We could all play some video games going. Maybe play a fighting game-" - He remembered he was talking to a Seventh. "... Or Maria Party! You know, from Maria Sisters."

As he quickly recommended something luck-based so he wouldn't lose to someone with greater precision and reaction speed than even a supercomputer.

"If that's not your style, I'd like it if someone other than Noei gave me her opinion on the new line of clothes I'm thinking of!" Pharma said, smiling. "I already have 5 of the prototypes for our upcoming dresses ready!" - Arwest hadn't known Pharma for a while, but she had a feeling that she was a sort of workaholic.

"Ehhh? Wait, what do you mean, other than me?" Though a comment from Pharma got Noei to instead slide to Pharma's side.

Pharma was caught off guard by the sudden intrustion of Noei. She almost jumped.
Readjusting herself, she cleared her throat.

"W-Well... You get how just receiving opinions from one guy can be bad, yeah? We need a variety of opinions, just like how there are a variety of customers!"

"Ooooh. Okay. That makes sense."

"And you're a bit of a yes-man."

"Hey!" Noei's eyebrows lowered down so quickly that everyone could hear a rough mechanical scratching sound. "I can say no! Sometimes!"

"Wait."

Now it was Elka's turn to lean in.
Standing on one foot while leaning over to the side...

"Why don't you ask me?"

"You? What ABOUT you?"

". . . Now listen 'ere..." Elka slowly rolled his sleeves...

"- AHHHH!!!!! JUN, ELKA'S GONNA BEAT ME UP LIKE A DELINQUENT!!!!!!"

However.
As lost as Noei, Elka and Pharma were in their antics...
Only Noei and Elka were able to see it for a brief second.

A longing sorrow within Arwest.
Her face grouched up, only for a second. Looking almost like an animal about to cry.
But she cast it away quickly and just resumed her usual poker face. Arwest just continued watching the three joke around.
For a moment, Noei (and even Elka) figured that perhaps it was because she had never seen the warmth of friendship. The same as Polly before them...
But the real reason-

- Was in a pit of hell that none of them couldn't even hope to be privy to.

Speaking of,

"...?"

Almost to the point of crashing down...
Loudly, she arrived like a storm. The third Seventh currently in this household.
Polly. Who was still in the Maeda Household.
With a fascinated look in her eyes...

"Ooo! Ooo! Is this playfighting? Are we playfighting? Can I join?"

The three rapid fire questions were not what caught the four off guard.
But what caused the entire atmosphere of the house to shift...

"Oh! Arwest! Did you run away from home to play here too?"

"... Eh?"

"Huh?"

"Wait, what?"

Right now...
It wasn't an understatement at all to say that there was a gloomy shadow that fell under Arwest.
She normally looked detached, wistful and gloomy.
But this time, that shadow had been overwritten by another- much more looming and dreadful shadow.
Her finger twitched, much like a human.
None of them knew the context.

But they looked at Arwest, and almost saw her silently screaming in terror.

"P-Polly... ... Why... Why are you here?"

"To play!"

Polly dashed up to Arwest, poking her nose-

- And for a second, her face mimicked Noei's morning face. Dazed, shocked and even slightly terrified.
The trio had no idea who Polly was aside from her connections to the mafia. And Arwest, even less.
So for her to cause a single expression like that...

"... Hey, wait, since you're here... Does that mean we're gonna make more of the Paranoia thingy?"

". . ."

Arwest reached up her hands...
And grabbed Noei on the shoulder.

"... Why? Why is she here?!"

"!"

Noei was too caught off guard to even respond.
So she spent a while just being shook.

"H-Hey!"

Elka stepped into interfere...
As he tried to force the two apart, but...

"- Gh!" He couldn't. They were both metal and way too heavy. "Arwest, let go of Noei!"

"A-Ah...!!!"

Seeing Elka act all of a sudden...
Pharma slid to Arwest's side and flapped her arms helpelssly.
Trying to catch her attention with body motions too.

"L-Listen, Polly just... Decided to stay here. We tried bringing her home, but... We later found out she sent us on basically a wild goose chase."

"Yup! Don't want to go home anymore."

Polly responded by cluelessly saying something dark again.
Causing the stomachs of both Pharma and Elka to sink...  And for the mechanical whirring inside Arwest and Noei to become audible.

"Don't have to force myself to make any more gems for my Owners. And Raoul doesn't punch me anymore so I cough up lapises for him! Did you also think the same, Arwest?" Polly said, poking her own chin curiously.

"W-Wait. Raoul...? Like THE Raoul Aveni?!"

Elka's jaw was on the verge of detaching itself.
It's lucky that Arwest has a weakness to idiots, so this ridiculous motion got Arwest to finally calm down.
The shadow of dread was still present within her, but she finally took a step back. Literally and mentally.

Arwest stuffed her hands in her pockets, where she was so tired to the point where she didn't even mimic a human to express her exasperation this go around.
She looked to Polly with just her head, her body turned to the trio of Noei, Elka and Pharma.

"Polly, the adults are gonna talk for a bit. You okay with that?"

"Kaaay~. Just play with me later, meep."

Polly said, waving with a cheerful, innocent, smile on her face.
... Noei was starting to realize why Jun saw her as a child, despite being a Seventh.
Especially because her outer layer looked more human-like than most Sevenths...
They were almost tricked into thinking she was just a child.

- However...
Noei, and even Arwest, knew that they had only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this Seventh.

Going over to the kitchen room...
All of them stopped.
... With Arwest remembering something about Polly's hearing- and a Seventh's hearing capabilities in general, they went to the Shed instead.
She was now looking more irritated than anything.
Making sure to lock the door, while keeping the windows open...

"... Haah... You did hear it right. Raoul Aveni of the Kidori Alliance... Is in fact her owner."

"That's-"

"- All sorts of messed up, man!"

"....... I get the feeling I'm supposed to be scared of this name, but as per usual, I really don't know..."

Noei said, raising up her hand.
She had almost forgotten that instinct for how long she had dropped out of class.
- Or rather, as a Seventh, she almost deemed it worthless.

"So who's Raoul?"

"... You fought the Silver Nephilim, correct?" Arwest said, putting her hands behind her back.

"Fought is kind of an understatement. It was more like... I got helplessly beaten down by her."

Noei looked down...
And only Pharma couldn't tell it.
The extreme guilt that she had. A guilt equal to the feeling one has... When carrying a mortal sin.
Or perhaps to Noei, they were interchangeable.

"... But if you mean if I saw her power- then I did."

"Noei..."

... Once again...
Elka put his hand on Noei's shoulder with a big frown.
That was all he could really offer.

"That's good. Can you imagine someone stronger than her, then?" (edited)

"I-..." It was like a needle was stabbed through her heart. "... No. No I can't. You mean to say...?"

"... There in the Zone Backstreets exists 4 people. Two Sevenths. Two humans. They're considered the 4 Gods of the Zone Backstreets due to their sheer power." Arwest crossed her arms. "I only really need to tell you about Raoul, but since you're living here- I'll tell you about all 4. The Crimson Dragon. Hibiki Kidori, Chairman of the Kidori Alliance. Known to be a terrifying and predatory businessman, capable of driving even bigwig companies to the pits of hell... Physically and monetarily. The Viscous Tiger. Scottei Amore, soldier of the Kidori Alliance. We're lucky that this one's disappeared off of the face of the Earth- she's a killer who makes the Heinous Crimes on Sevenths look tame. The Golden Turtle. Aimone Brink-" (edited)

"- UWAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"

For some reason...
Elka slid in front of Arwest, flailed his arms around...
And fell flat on his face.

What he just did was beyond idiotic. It completely took everyone out of the discussion.

"... Huh?"

"Elka, what the heck are you doing? Did ya' trip on a wrench?"

"... What."

Elka rose up slowly, supporting himself up by a bit...
As he coughed, putting on what was obviously a tough guy look.
He was failing at it pretty badly.

"A-All this talk about the 4 Gods is making me kinda scared, you know? I've been living here as a kid, and just thinking about them is giving me goosebumps... Y-You think we can just get to the point?"

Arwest gave Elka a side-eye... "... Right..." And continued onward. "Out of all of them, excluding what happens if Scottei hits her Ecstasy Mode..." Arwest coughed. Her expression suggests that she may have firsthand experience on what that's like. "Raoul Aveni, the Melting Phoenix, is the most dangerous on a day to day basis. He's a trained killer from birth, and one of the few humans who can keep up with Sevenths. And... He literally does not take no for an answer. As the head of the Aveni Family of the Kidori Alliance... This spells nothing but terror. Most of the scars that his men have... Are from his punishments, rather than other fights. His training is that brutal and unforgiving." Crossing her arms. "In other words, we just got ourselves involved with the worst possible family."

"I-, um... I have a question." Pharma slowly raised up her hand. "Sorry if this is a bit insensitive, but-" - She apologized, but Pharma wasted no time at all in asking... "How...? How do you know all this?"

"..."

Arwest unlocked the shed door and walked back out.
She chose not to answer Pharma, only choosing to go back to the main household.

"H-Hey! Wait up! I also wanted to know how Polly knows you- and how you know Polly!" Pharma gave chase soon after.

And Elka also jogged out. "Woah! Slow down! Can't you see Arwest doesn't wanna talk about this stuff?!"

"... Why did everyone run out?"

Noei wondered to herself, still processing the information she was given...
She ran, expecting things to slow down once they were in the main household...

But once they returned to the living room-
- They had only found that things escalated even further.

"...!!!"

What was going on right now...
... Due to the badges on their clothes- they knew immediately what was going on.
The police was here.
The Ministry of Defense was here.
Two Sevenths... Were standing in the middle of the living room-

"- Hey, Noei."

A brief pause. Winter looked elsewhere. Noei wasn't sure if she was looking at someone else, though, or if she just was too pained to make eye contact with Noei.

"... Sorry we had to be reunited like this."

- Two of them Noei recognized.
Winter and Lukia. An ordinary investigator of the force and its very own boss.
With Winter... Holding up Polly with one hand.

(edited)

"- Let go! I want to spend more time with everyone!!!"

Who was struggling as much as she possibly can to escape Winter's grasp.
But she couldn't. She was like a cat being picked up in the back of its head.

Standing next to Winter, with her arms crossed...
Even though she was famous due to being its head...
She still felt the need to show her badge, flashing it right in front of everyone.

"... Ministry of Defense here, just enforcing the law. Don't intervene. Oh- -And Queen of Paranoia. We need to take you for some questioning too."

"...! The cops?! Shit! Just what the hell is going on here?!"

"Wh-... T-The Head..." Pharma looked like she was ready to faint on the spot.

"..."

As per usual, when Noei didn't understand anything that was going on...
Her eyes darted all over, looking and scanning...
When she saw her.
Jun. Defeated and standing on the side, as if what's going on has nothing to do with her...

"... Jun..."

"..."

Looking at Noei directly...
She said only these words.

"I can't do anything about that. What's going on right now... Is just how things are. After all-"

- Step. Step. Step.
They were only three steps.
But a dominating presence filled and cloaked the entire room. The only one who didn't flinch was Polly, who was still struggling to escape Winter.
They didn't even see the man. They just heard his steps.

That person was... "... I'm here to take back my Seventh."

A harsh and tired tone.
A toned and built body, wearing a dirty collar. Tattoos could be seen all over his arms- not to mention the scars and burn marks on it.
He was a man who had very clearly seen tons of damage.
But more terrifying than that...
Was the silent rage on his face. Eyes that could make one go mad of fear if they stared at it for too long.
The crimson eyes of this fierce mafioso- clearly Raoul Aveni, looked at everyone in the room, one by one.

"... Surprised to see you here, Jun Sorimachi. And you as well, scum of the Meinster Family..."

He said, spitting.
The so-called Melting Phoenix formed an aura of flames and embers a bit- as he spat something.
A small piece of lava...

"...!"

Which almost landed on Arwest's foot.
She stepped back at the last second.

"... Queen of Paranoia."

Raoul slowly raised up his head.
As he looked at Jun.

"... These folks infected?"

"N-Not to my knowledge. No."

... The Jun that had looked over all of them this whole time...
For the first time ever-
- She not only looked scared...
But embarrased. Bashful.

(edited)

Lukia was unnerved at once...
But the Head quickly regained her composure. Standing up straight and mimicking a cough.

"... Don't worry, Raoul Aveni. We're taking her into custody this very moment."

"T-The Phoenix is here........"

Pharma fell to her knees.
She could no longer keep up with what was going on.

And Elka...
His right fist was gripped. And his left hand was trembling.
He wasn't sure of what to even do right now.

"..."

"Then. Shitty cops- pass me the Seventh."

"... Alright."

There was a hint of reluctance.
But all of that was swallowed up the moment Winter practically tossed Polly like an object over to Raoul.

"Ah- No..."

... And for the childlike Seventh, who even fooled them from time to time...
Now-
That Seventh, who was once filled with life, now totally looked like a machine.
Not even twitching slightly. It was like Raoul was holding a doll.
Just with the entrance of a single person...
She had become totally lifeless.

"... No good..."

"Hm."

Raoul took the Seventh without question.
As he prepared to walk out.

"... Shitty cops. Just make sure the Queen of Paranoia is released soon, you know. We don't need anyone else getting a hand on her and producing any Paranoia Syringes without authorization."

Not even paying any mind to the door- he jarred it open, causing it to break a little.
He was pissed. And he wasn't letting it show.

"Understood. Now- Arwest, I'm sure this isn't the first time you've been handcuffed before..." Lukia reached to her bag...

- And that sight again.
Arwest turned her back on not just Pharma and Elka... But Noei.
She walked over to Lukia, shrugging. Raoul had already left the interior of the Maeda Household by then, and...

"... Far from it. So how long is it gonna take this time for me in jail-"

"Damn it...!!! It's no good! It's no good at all!!!!!!!!" Authorizing her Factor...

"!"

"E-Ehhh?!"

"Uh-oh."

"This power again..."

"...! Holy shit!"

A huge amount of Furyoku bellowed out of her. Almost erupting like a geyser.
It was almost the same as when she was about to chase after Seren.
That pressure impressed everyone once more. Even wind force gathering around her and pushing everything away- blowing away furniture, CD, and what little dust remained in this clean house.
The moment she fully authorized her Factor...
Noei raced out.

With as much speed she could muster in running...
... And made it outside. She skidded and stopped as soon as she registered his back.
A rough raise upwards. Her arm shifted, transforming in shape...

"Belial Buster."

One arm raised, the buster. The other, supporting that buster's aim.
She trained her Buster... On the back of Raoul's head.

". . ." He didn't even need to look.

Though, Polly was.
As... A bit of life in her steel and mechanical eyes slowly turned.
Uselessly, she muttered.

"Noei...?"

". . ."

- The voices were starting to drown out in her head. "NOEI!!! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING!?"

"Noei?! Hey, snap out of it!"

"... Even though I tried not to..."

"Woah, sheesh, girl! Attempting murder in front of the literal Head?! You know that if you fire, we're gonna scrap you, yeah?!"

Right now...
The only thing that mattered was that man.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was her shot.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was seeing her shot travel through that man's head.
She didn't see her face, but he moved. His finger slowly raised...
And tapped the back of his head.

"Go right on ahead. Do it, clank. Kill me. Aim well, and shoot straight through my cranium. Do it."

"Ghhh...!!!"

Not only was Noei inhumanly mad...
She had just discovered that slurs existed against Sevenths. She didn't understand the concept of it, but it increased her rage all the same.
Her buster charged up. Everyone could see the lights on it lighting up, and the sound of its charging.

"Do it, Greatest Robot in the World! Kill a human! All for a goddamn clank that I hear you only spent two days with! Do it for this shallow thing you call friendship!"

"..."

"... Yes...

Right now... I have to.
I want this. I must.
I..."

2:51 pm

[2;35mI have to kill him. No matter what.[0m

2:53 pm

Her trained aim, her guaranteed shot... "..." She lowered it.

At the exact time as Elka putting his hand on Noei's shoulder. "... Don't."

It's a motion he's done so many times, he thought it to be useless.
He wasn't even sure if it was going to work. But even so-
Elka had to do something.

". . ."

Once again...
The man spat lava onto the ground, which melted a bit of the grass beneath them.

"Sevenths are so childish. Two days. You spent two days with this Seventh literally programmed to act like a damn kid, and you're willing to kill over her. ... You all have no sense of morals or love at all." He turned around, ready to leave, but... "... Ah. And the Kidori Alliance will be seeing you soon. Now that you've made a slight against us- keeping our Lapis Pawn... We now have reason to punish you."

He remembered just that.
And with that, his business was done. Any more than that, then Raoul would have gotten more pissed.

"W-Wait..."

Noei reached out...
Now without any killing intent. Now without any anger.
She reached out with only a pitiful sorrow.

"Polly, I-"

- And it was made even more pitiful...
By the fact that Noei didn't even get to finish her sentence.

"...!!!!!"

"- Stop talking. You're annoying."

- Shot.
Pointing just a single finger to Noei...
Superheated lava, to the form of it being beam-like, shot straight through Noei's lower stomach. Forming a huge hole, immolating everything inside of it.
Everyone but Lukia jumped at this- frightened at how fast the beam came. It even tore through and melted a wall of the Maeda Household.

"And don't forget this. Even if you did fire... Sevenths aren't the only beings in the world who can wield supernatural powers."

With that message-
The promise of return. The taking away of Polly.
And the literal hole left in Noei...
Now, he had finally done all of his business. Taking the doll-like Seventh in his hands...
The Melting Phoenix had scorched the Maeda Atelier with his presence and words alone. Leaving- making sure everyone on the scene had an empty soul.

(edited)

"- NOEI!!!!"

All of their first reactions were different.
Elka supported Noei as she was almost about to fall.
Despite her weight-

"- Agh...!!!" Elka supported Noei.

"I think I'm gonna..."

... Pharma's mental capacity hit her limit, and she fainted.
As expected of her.

Winter stared on.
... Not at the hole left in Noei, but at the yakuza who just left.
It wasn't clear what was going on in her mind. Her expression couldn't be read.
... Only Lukia could tell that she was probably having another long and hateful monologue.
So...

"... Hey, bitchass. Lend me 20,000 Yen." The only one who could do anything about Winter's state...

... Snapped her out of it. "Wha- no. Get it yourself." With that sentence alone... Winter and Lukia nodded to the only one who just stood there. "... Sorry. Noei. This situation right now is really grim, but... We have work to do as well. Queen of Paranoia. You're coming with us." (edited)

"..."

Unlike before...
Where she shrugged and walked slowly to them-
This time... She already had her arms up.
It looked like to them, she had already made her decision.

"... Noei. I'll be back."

But the decision that she made in her head... What she resolved to do after seeing the pained look on Noei...
It wasn't what anyone was expecting at all.

"..."

After that statement, the three of them left without another word.
Noei, now finally being able to stand...
Flinched greatly. She started to spark, due to the hole in her stomach. The rain didn't help either.

"- Guh..." Noei looked to Jun. "Jun..." Hoping for advice, but all she found...

... Was that she was just as unstable as everyone else.
Not even caring to look at the people around her.
Her own fist bleeding- the lack of care and regard to herself.
Doing something... That even Noei couldn't see the worth of.

"Damn it! Damn it! I quit the Mafia to avoid this sort of bullshit! Now we're definitely gonna get extorted and embroiled in some shit! Damn iiiiit!!!!!"

She was punching her hand over and over into the wall of the house...
... Fully giving into anger.

". . . Hgh..."

And so-

Struggling uselessly,
she let out a cry.

This time... It wasn't in space.
Everyone could hear her in this very moment.

"HGAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"

27/01/2025 3:09 pm

. . .

It was a familiar sight.
Though this time it was without Arisa... Noei had experienced this once before.
She went down the same route, with the same person driving too.
Only this time, his tone was different.
After repairs... Ether had driven Noei back from Neuron all the way to the Backstreets once more.

"... You know. Suddenly I'm really glad Etsuji's full time with investigating the Heinous Crimes against Sevenths. Who knows how mad he'd be if he saw you with that big hole in your stomach..."

"Ahahaha... ... Well, it's what I get for messing with the Yakuza, I guess... T-That's the one thing everyone told me not to do."

Her repairs took quite a bit.
Because of the nature of the lava attack she took, Noei wasn't just damaged... But she was totally missing parts. 
Which meant they had to produce new parts for Noei. Which was harder than expected.
Ether hadn't expected for Noei to be made of such old hardware. She was practically like a First Generation Seventh at that- and an old one. So some parts had to be replaced a bit.
It's enough parts to make her feel foreign in her own body. Noei gripped her hands several times... Still not used to how precise she got.

"... You're not mad?"

"Why would I be?"

Ether said, stopping at a stoplight.
Now, he could finally turn and face Noei.

"You were made to live and learn. And you're doing just that. Etsuji would be mad, but... ... Y'know. I don't exactly agree with how he treats you."

"... I've come to my own conclusions about that, as well. And the nature of Sevenths- or something like that." Noei put her hand to her hair. "... Sorry. Not really good with big words. But does... Does Doctor Etsuji see me as his owner?"

"Ah..."

Ether...
Even though it was green, he didn't go.
Cars aren't common in the Zone Backstreets anyways, so he wasn't stalling anyone.

"... It's more like... It's more like he sees himself as your dad, if I had to say. It sounds sweet, but it's got pros and cons. Just like if he treated you like a normal Seventh."

"... Um, Ether- the car..."

"Ah- yeah." Ether stepped lightly on the gas and drove forward. "... It might be just me, but you have an ability no other Seventh has. And one that's not built into you. You just proved it here."

Noei slightly tilted her head. This wasn't the first time she's heard it.
In fact... Now this makes it so that she's heard it from both a human and a Seventh.
The two sides, saying the same thing.

"I'd tell you what it is, but you're growing a lot by being here in Zone. I think it'd be better if you found the answer to it yourself."

"... Everyone says that to me nowadays too."

It didn't take too long for Noei to arrive back at Maeda Atelier.
Looking up the hill... Just as she predicted- it was still closed.
It couldn't really operate without her, anyways. Maeda Atelier is named after Noei, and she truly runs it well.
She got off the car, nodding to Ether.

"... Thanks." She responded, slightly downtrodden.

"... No, thank you." Ether readjusted his glasses. "For letting me drive you. Means we got to talk for a bit."

"?"

Of course, Ether so casually throwing back his thanks to Noei made her both surprised and confused.
Then she remembered...

"... Ah. Yeah. People find me interesting, for whatever reason. You do too?"

Ether nodded. "Mm. I heard the public attention is causing you a lot of stress, but don't worry. Just... ... Sevenths in general. I find them all interesting."

He had said it with such child-like curiosity and wonder...
That Noei thought to herself,
"Are all company heads a bit childish? Even Lukia seemed to be the most juvenile out of all of us- including Polly..."
Then she remembered.
"... Ah. Wait. I'm the head of Maeda Atelier. Nowhere near as big as Neuron or the Ministry of Defense, but it's something..."
She then bowed. Noei smiled and waved as she ran off back to the Maeda Household.

"... I'll be off, then! Drop by a few times when you're free!"

27/01/2025 4:05 pm

Entering Maeda Atelier...
Expectedly, it was empty. The shop had been closed for as long as Noei was under repairs, after all.
It was clean, though. She was glad that the others in the house hadn't forgotten Housework Mastery.
But what she didn't expect...
... Was that entering the living room- it was empty.
Not just that. But slight dust had gathered, suspecting it had been left alone for quite a bit.
Everyone's bags were gone too. The kitchen, unattended to. No one on the upper floor too.
For some reason...

... Nobody but Noei was in the Maeda Household.

". . ."

... When left alone...
Noei now has no means of asking other people questions to get answers.
Which means, the only answers she'll get come from her.
So... She already knew what to do. Now she was getting used to answering her own questions.

"... Eyes of Add."

Walking back to the Atelier storeroom...
She activated Eyes of Add. Scanning the camera footage of the security camera in it...

"..." ... And got the footage from it quickly.

27/01/2025 4:09 pm

The latest footage, well- interesting footage at that...
Was a strange sight.
Arwest, Elka and Pharma had gotten their bags... And left altogether.
- Though Pharma dashed back to do some housework before leaving.
That clumsy moment from her at least relieved Noei. The three of them were doing... Something...
Something that required them to bring bags and to leave silently- their mouths were barely moving, so they weren't talking.
But they were still them.

"Haaah... Glad Elka and Pharma didn't turn into a killer Seventh overnight..."

Noei stepped out...
And now overlooking most of Zone 5 due to being on a hill...
... She scanned the vast horizon.
Not for people. But for cameras.

"...!!!!!!"

All sorts of information flowed in her at once.
But for a Seventh, the pinnacle of technology... It was no problem at all.
What got her to be stunned though... Was the human side of her. The part that could feel.

"... Agh..."

The images that flowed through her head...
Sometimes, she would receive camera footage that was corrupted and taken out. And when it uncorrupted itself-

She saw it.
The Heinous Crimes against Sevenths.
Sevenths in horrible positions. Chopped, burnt, disfigured, made into art pieces, splattered onto the walls...

"... It really is dangerous outside..."

She shook her head, though... And sorted through the footage despite the disgust she had.

What she was looking for...

"... Got it. Zone 4. Likely the junkyard."

... Was the route the trio took- and where they were now.

Because she had a bad feeling that she had to see them, no matter what.

27/01/2025 4:14 pm

Her limbs turned to thrusters once more...

As she took flight for something that tested her beyond anything else.
More than running the store-
- And more than confronting Seren.

"..."

"I-I... I don't know if I want to faint again..."

"... Ah. Noei's here too."

Slowly...
Noei began to descend on a sight that she wasn't very comfortable with.
It was a junkyard- yes. In the slums part of Zone.
Even just getting here was rough for her. As she saw shanty after shanty, oppressed after oppressed and the poor as she flew.
Most of them were humans, so she wondered where the poor Sevenths were...
And they were here in this junkyard. 

Scrapped.
This junkyard was a graveyard for Sevenths.
She could see all types of Sevenths-

- Including what remained of the body of Marika. One of her first friends.

"...! Guys! What happened?! Why are we all here?!"

Though more than sorrow, she was worried and curious.
She landed behind the three of them, and...

"I didn't even get a message in the group chat! What are you guys... ... Doing ..." ...

27/01/2025 4:18 pm

There are only supposed to be bodies of Sevenths here.
So why...

Why was the body of the once invincible Melting Phoenix-
- Raoul Aveni...
In a duffel bag, riddled with bullet holes?

Why was there a human body?

Before Arwest even had the chance to say it...

... Just by seeing her-
A blue-haired, fairy-like existence.
A Seventh. Polly creeped up from behind a pile of Seventh corpses and junk.

"...! Ah! Noei! You're here too!" She already knew...

"... I killed him. I killed Raoul Aveni." What had unfolded.

"..."

Noei had nothing to say.
Nor anything to do. She didn't even flinch.
Everything she had... Was spent and allocated to understanding and processing these turn of events.

She had grown to know people who kill as evil.
That's what Winter told her- and that's what she believes.

But for the second time in her life,
someone she cherished dearly had taken the life of another.

"A-Aah......"

Ever the dunce...
Pharma raised up her hands and shook them in front of Noei.

"D-Don't get us mixed up in this, Noei! I-I didn't know about this until today! Elka was really mad at first, but he, uh... Calmed down. I think."

"... Yeah..." Elka lowered the brim of his hat. "Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing- The decision to kill Raoul was Arwest's alone."

"... Why? Why did you think... That killing another person would just solve your issues?"

"... Do you want to hear a story, then? Not just my story. But Polly's. A story about how we tried our very best to even exist."

"... Yeah. Go ahead."

Noei said. Her eyelids slowly drooping.
Not in boredom. But in disappointment.

And not just in her-

But herself.
"... Just like with Seren. I really don't know what to say to her, huh?"

"Arwest..."

Without thinking...
She had clung onto her arm.

"The two of us didn't share our pasts together- but they were similar enough. That's how we found each other."

Arwest raised up her hand... And circulated Furyoku.
A purple mist-like energy came flowing out of her.

"... The two of us are Sevenths who produce highly sought after material. In my case, it's this gas. In Polly's case, it's gemstones. We are a unique bunch- in that we are Sevenths made by Renji Tenma... And his nearly impossible to reverse engineer methods of creating Sevenths. In other words, we're one of a kind."

"...!"

To others, it appeared like she snapped awake at the mention of that name.
But Noei was always awake.
In fact...

Hearing his name, even briefly, had almost trapped her in a trance. Though she regained her focus soon enough.

"Yup! My Circulation makes magic rocks when I feel emotions. Apparently the Lapis I make is suuuper valuable. So Raoul used to hit me a lot so I could make lots of it."

Polly said...
... All with a detached smile.

Because he was dead now.

"In other words, we're objects. The two of us hovered from group to group. Sometimes we'd be in the hands of mad scientists. Next, terrorists. The common thing is that we'd be in the pits of hell itself... ... And we still are. Polly. Under the Kidori Alliance, serving the Aveni Family... And I. Under the Melaragno Clan, serving the Meinster Family." She looked down. "... So don't be surprised when I've killed people. Not just under them, but under every other person I've been under- I've killed and killed. I've been a part of shootouts. Bombings. Prison breaks. I'd have to break a person's kneecaps to extort information. Inject deadly computer viruses into a Seventh's mind to break them mentally and electronically from the inside. Do you know... Do you even know how long I've been living like this, Noei?!"

"I..."

- It was the mention of this...
That got Arwest to snap.

"It wasn't even just under those bad people too! Even when fighting for good- the whole country... Every Seventh ever was drafted to the Whitebell War."

The war.
Its memories, no matter how much she tried to avoid it, never left her.

"They told us that we'd be killing other robots."

- It was so much so...
That her own memories reflected in her irises. Something Sevenths can't usually do...
Unless they're in emotional turmoil.

"They told us- everyone... Neuron. The Ministry of Defense. Everyone! That we were just fighting robots!"

In a battlefield, a sandland with nothing but craters, smokes, Seventh corpses...
... And giant robots. 
Sevenths were humanoid robots. But they had faced against, and won, against giant robots. Machines and brutal artillery made entirely for war. Giant machines, strapped with weapons, some built-in and some wielding giant weapons.

"But...!!! When we looked inside the robots-"

Arwest's memory showed...

... Blood.
Coming out of the head of one of the giant robots.

It dawned on her on that moment-
They were never fighting robots.

They were fighting mechas.
Piloted by humans.

"..."

"We all realized then... That it was our fate to kill. As Sevenths. We have become death. The destroyer of humanity. All of us, every single one of us cursed existences." Her hands gripped so hard they were on the verge of breaking. "But now- Polly has no owner. Now- they'll never find out who killed Raoul. He's a nasty Yakuza, so of course tons of people would want him dead. Do you know what I just did...?!"

She did an unstable step forward.
Stretching her hands out, like a conductor or a performer.
To an audience... That she wanted to see clapping.

"I... Arwest Meinster, fought against my own fate... And won!" (edited)

"..."

This...

The depths of hurt that Arwest held... Noei had no idea how far it even went.
At least with Seren, she had an idea. A slight hint...
But even Noei could tell that there were omissions to Arwest's story.
Just being circulated from evil family to evil family, forced to do their bidding...

"... Then she would end up as mad as Seren was.

But that can't be the case.
Someone... Taught her Housework Mastery."
So with just that hint alone-

Noei took a single step forward.

"... Are you going to deny my resolve? The story I told you? Even after all that- You're going to look at me with those eyes?"

"I'm... ... I'm not going to oppose you. Just- Polly. Did Arwest tell you about this? About her plan to kill Raoul?"

"... No."

Polly shook her head.
Choosing not to speak, aside from that simple statement.

(edited)

"The only thing I want to ask you, is... ... Why? Why didn't you tell us?"

Just like always-
No matter what Noei seemed to do... No matter how many times she replayed their interactions over and over in her head...
She had a feeling that Noei would always continue to surprise her.
Despite that. Arwest came up with a response anyways.

"... What difference do you honestly think it would make?" Her tone was a clear mocking one, now moving her head in closer to taunt Noei.

"I..."

Noei had alwayus been subtly mocked.
Intentionally, unintentionally...
But it was the first time she'd ever been truly shaken. The first time that someone mocking her worked as intended.
As she stopped moving. Only glaring at Arwest.

"... You still... You still should've at least told us."

"What would change, then?"

Arwest put her hands in her pockets.
She stopped leaning, now intent on standing more straight than Noei.

"You don't know. You don't know how long I've been suffering like this. You don't know how long Polly has been under Raoul. In fact, before you met him- I'm sure you weren't aware of how nasty the Yakuza and Mafia are." Once again continuing her mocking motion, she raised up her palm. "And... This isn't related to you, Elka. Pharma. This is directed to just you, Noei."

"I... What are you talking about?"

"I know."

Arwest looked to Pharma.
Turning her whole body to do so. Meaning, she chose not to pay attention to Noei whatsoever in this questioning.

"... That last name of yours isn't just a common name. One of the winners of the War in 1999- the very war that formed this place... That man was your father, wasn't he?"

"- !!!!"

Pharma at first was about to react how she usually was...
But she calmed herself for once...
And faced Arwest.

"... I-I'm not surprised someone would know eventually..."

"And I know you too."

Then, she practically did a full spin to look at Elka.
Who was choosing to stay a bit detached from the group.
Unintentionally- her gaze caused him to freeze.

"That last name gives it away too. And the way you talked about your dad. Aimone Brinker, one of the 4 Gods- the Golden Turtle... He's your Dad, isn't he?"

". . ."

Elka stuffed his hands in his pockets.
His face- the face that usually belonged to such a simple man...
Contorted to something hard to read.

"... Yeah. And he's one of the most powerful, yet stupid, people in the underworld."

"... That's not all."

By pointing at and calling the two out...
Arwest finally found it ready to reach Noei.
- She was expecting her face to be distraught. But no.
She was still focused.

"... Those friends I remember you talking about while we cleaned. Mazda and Winter- people of the Ministry of Defense... ... I don't even need to bring up my past. You saw as they just stood there, watching Polly be taken away. Even calling me by my codename though. They know about their history. You have all these people that could've helped- but they didn't. I doubt you would be any different, Noei."

"..."

"This doesn't apply to just me too. It applies to Polly. Either of you could've done anything. Jun Sorimachi could've done something... Especially as a former member of the mafia, who knows its ins and outs." Arwest met Noei as she closed the distance. "So what the hell do you think you can even do?"

"... I..."

"I've known it for a while now. But when things matter the most- when you need to rely on other people more than anything..."

- A bitter taste of red and pink filled her mouth.
She grit her teeth in pain for a moment, before she continued to speak.
She didn't lose her cadence. A simple memory wouldn't allow her to falter.

"... That's when your friends vanish. You can't count on them for that, so if I told you guys... There's no point. It's even more useless than useless. I think you would know too. You fought the Silver Nephilim alone, remember?"

- Noei...


"Don't talk about her like you know her. I was her one and only."

... Was on the verge of snapping.
Even so.
Her voice was calmer than ever before. When faced with adversity...
... That's when the true Noei shines the most. So she spoke as she usually did.
Despite the fuming anger from the mention of Seren.

"But all that time we spent together... All that housework we did, the coffee we drank..."

"I'm not saying it's meaningless, Noei. I'm saying- that's all bonds are worth." Arwest scoffed. "Just for simple memories like that. But when it comes to problems like this- you can really only trust yourself."

"... I know, and I get it. It might sound meaningless to you." Noei tightly clenched her fists. "And it won't change much. But if I had awakened earlier- years earlier even...! If I was even around in that time! Then I would've saved you! I would've saved Polly! If I knew about Raoul, it wouldn't even take me 600- no, 300 seconds to kill him! I wouldn't have hesitated on that trigger like before! Not to mention... I wouldn't let you kill Raoul right now. I'd do it myself, and I still wish I did!"

Her cries... Her desperate struggles were almost like roars.
This...

Is the exact same strategy she used against Seren.
Noei is defined by the fact that she is well aware about how naive she is.
So she'll use everything. Talk as much as she can. Every bit of information- she will struggle and throw all of it... Until at least one of it lands.

With Noei's intensity rising...
Arwest's did too.

"Once again, you're claiming shit you can't back up! You're saying shit that sounds easy, but you have no idea how terrible things actually are until you're staring at it right in the eye!" She kicked some trash aside to vent her frustration. "To you, who reacted like that when you saw Raoul's dead body... You even called killing evil like a child- not even understanding it fully... That's right- your understanding of all of this is the exact same as a child. Do you really think you could have stomached it like I did?! The guilt you feel?! That terrible feeling of knowing you ended a person with their own hopes, dreams and even family?! Even a man as rotten as him- there must at least be someone crying for him out there! Especially as Seventh, who can remember each and every moment with perfect memory!? You'll have that feeling with you forever!"

"Then you do feel bad about it!"

Noei yelled back.
- Arwest had no reason to stop. But she did. She heard out Noei...
Even if she didn't entirely think that.

"You hated your past of killing! I have no idea what that past was like, nor the war- which everyone keeps talking about... But did you really think... Did you really think you could break that fate by killing another person?! You just did the exact same thing you said you did in the past, and I don't see the difference here!" Noei said, reluctantly and disgustedly now pointing at a body that was showing signs of decay. "This... No..."

Noei stepped back...
And spread her arms.

"You brought Elka, Pharma and Polly here for a reason. I don't know what it is- but I saw it on the cameras. They left with you. This isn't a confession, Arwest...! You're just like me, trying to atone for your sin!" (edited)

"I..."

Now this time...
Now it was Arwest who was hung up on her words.
A complete reversal.

"They wouldn't be here if you weren't planning on something! If all they were to you was just... The silly memories we had, then they wouldn't be here!!!"

Pointing with her arm...
She asked with all her might.

"So why did you bring them here, then?! Say it without all those layers of trash covering your intentions, this time! Just tell us why you really did it- what you really feel!"

"I..."

- Spark.
Sevenths can't cry.
Instead... When reaching emotional instability...
They tend to spark, even though they're not low on energy. In Arwest's case, it was a flicker.

"... To run. I did this to help with everyone's problems. The extortion. Jun's rising instability. Polly's captivity. And... My fate. ... And it's because I don't think you'd want us to be split up, Noei. More than anything. It was your wish that I wanted to see fulfilled. The wish that none of us would leave you."

Now casting her gaze to just her shoes...

She had nothing more to say.

"... I'm done. That's the truth of it. But everything I said- my past... My fate... They still stand. This was... The only way things could have ended up." (edited)

". . ." Noei extended her hand. "... Maeda Atelier is facing a really tough time right now. I didn't notice it it, cause of the hole in my stomach... But all of us really were going through something back then. Focusing on different problems. I... I shouldn't have let things get to this point. Where one of you did something so drastic because of these boiling worries..."

... Right now...
She had no idea why she was speaking as a leader.
But seeing everyone else either be silent, looking to her or opposing her...
It came naturally.

The instinct to take the charge.
Besides...
Ever since the water fight- she's been dealing with a burden of her own too.
So she's been keeping up the fact that she's had something bothering her... For very long.
Because of that-

She was able to notice how everyone was keeping something.

"But... It's okay. I mean it. And I'm not holding anything back either. You killed someone... But I'll still walk forward with you. I don't think we can say that this was the only way things could've ended up... If we don't say it all together." (edited)

"Noei..."

"T-That's kind of an insane thing to say, but..."

"What happened there was because you were alone. I... I don't know the depths of how long you've been alone for. But this time, I'm here. We're here! So that mistake you did, that mistake that we caused- -It's not going to happen again! Because!"

Pointing to the skies...
Noei's point seemed to pierce the heavens.
And the falling sunset seemed to shine only on her. As if she was the sole ray of light left in a pitch black world.

"We won't let each other get to that point. So we're going back. Back to Maeda Atelier. I know we all have tons of problems brewing in our heads right now. ... So let's talk to each other. And work it out."

"I... I still dunno what to think of the whole killing thing."

Elka walked to Noei's side...
And matched her smile with his own bright one.

"But I ain't turning my back on anyone ever. ... I've got a lot of worries, too. You already sussed it out- I'm worried about what my dad is gonna think about me being involved in this shit. ... Think I need someone smart like you to help me out with that." (edited)

"T-To be honest... With everything going on right now, I just feel a bit stupid on what my worries are. I... I haven't been doing well in school. Especially cause of how much I like designing and working here."

Pharma said, standing next to everyone.
As she hung her head.

"... That's why... My heart hasn't really fully been into this."

And stepping in front of all of them...
Was Polly.
As she gave a gentle smile- for some reason, poking Arwest's nose.

"- Come on. Let's go home."

"Hngh..."

... Earlier...
It was Noei who let out a piercing scream of defeat.
Now, with Arwest sparking- despite the fact that she wasn't low on energy...
The other Seventh had let out her own cry.

"GUAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

It was a cry...

... Of help.
The many, many years of solitude that she spent...

For the first time in forever,
she felt like there was a chance.

A chance that she would finally experience true warmth.

27/01/2025 10:08 pm

This should have been it.
This should have been the moment that the Maeda Household became as one.
This should have been when everything would turn out okay for them.

But it wasn't.

The seeds of doubt that were planted within Noei... Ones that were already growing...
Began to bare fruit.

02/02/2025 1:25 pm

------------------ + Maeda Household + ------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/27/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Afternoon
WEATHER: Slightly Cloudy

The continuation of that disaster.

- Tick, tock, tick, tock.
A while back, when the Maeda Household was first formed...
It was sparse with furniture. Around the weekend of their first week, Elka, Pharma and Jun ended up buying a lot of furniture.
Even Etsuji pitched in, though he started to get busy with work around that time.
They bought a lot of things on a whim. Things that didn't really mix. Which is how their shed and storage room in the Maeda Household are so filled.
They ended up just buying a lot of random things.
One such random thing was a grandfather clock they found annoying, now in the living room.

- Tick, tock, tick, tock.

". . ."

Sitting in the living room main table, the group of Noei, Elka, Pharma, Arwest and Polly were looking at a batch of documents.
This...
This was one of the many hurdles they had to face in actually communicating with each other.
The promise they made in that junkyard, in that confession, was to finally let out each other's worries.

But...
With the first secret revealed-

"- Arwest. I'm reading this right, yeah? ... Did... Did it say that 80% of our earnings go to Jun? Like- here on this paper?" - They were already stuck.

"... Yeah. Surprised you caught onto it, idiot."

Scrunched up all around the table, everybody but Polly had looks of tension.
Billing histories. Banking histories. Tracking where their money flows.
All of it was implying one thing.

Arwest lowered the batch of papers she was scanning through at high speeds and looked at Noei.

"Just about 80% of the earnings that you've been making... Have been going to Jun, instead of you three."

"That's..."

Noei's eyes were crunched, still scanning the papers laid out in the table for something else.
Anything that disproved it.
How this scene even happened in the first place...

Was because Jun hadn't been seen in the Maeda Household for days, according to Elka.
Not to menion, she hasn't shown up in any of the days while Noei was there.
It was like she completely vanished.

"..."

"Noei. Do you know what this means?" Noticing Noei's silence, Arwest pressed in.

Showing her growth though, her response was near instantaneous. "Yeah. We've been earning a lot for a slow Fashion brand, and we could even branch out into hiring normal employees instead of just relying on us three." Noei said, looking at Pharma and Elka. "With this sort of money, we could even open up shops elsewhere. Not to mention make investments, expansions and we'd be able to do some of the risky fashion ideas Pharma's thinking of."

Noei said, patting her back.

She had been running Maeda Atelier for days.
As a Seventh, and as someone who just naturally learns well... It was natural that she'd gain a sense for business too.

"Seeing all this money that was supposed to go to us..." Pharma lowered her head, almost like a sobbing cat. "I could've done all the cool fish-net and girl's fashion ideas I had. But Jun always said it was too risky, and we didn't have money to fall back on in case it failed... Damn it!!! My passion!!!!!"

Almost unseriously, Pharma flipped up a bunch of papers.
- But the others took it seriously. They were intimidated by it.

(edited)

One of them a bit more than the others.
As Elka creeped back, just by a bit.
"Holy shit, remind me to never get Pharma mad ever again!"

- He wasn't aware that her anger was mostly just played up.
Because he had assumed that his tense emotions, alongside the ones clear on Noei's face... Belonged to everyone.

In other words,
this one single reveal...

"... I don't want to be the one to say it. But there's a very high possibility that this Jun Sorimachi was using you three." Was the worst possible outcome.

"Ugh..."

"... You say that, but..."

The possibility was very real.
However.

The fact that they now had to doubt the very person who taught them how to run the store...
The person who was looking after all of them...
And the person who taught Noei how to doubt things in the first place...
The issue wasn't that the fact that doubt had entered the table at all.
It's that in this situation, Jun was easy to doubt.

- So those words were left unsaid because of it.
The promise they had made, shattered in an instant, all because of a missing person and a few bills.

Noei's guilt.
Pharma's unease.
Elka's father.
And... Arwest's own past.

All those four things, which had almost come out, had sealed themselves back in.
And none of them were willing to talk about it anymore.
- But, of course, there was still a chance.

"... But..."

"Noei. What do you know about Jun Sorimachi?"

"I..."

Noei put both her hands on the table.
She couldn't look at Arwest.

"... All I really know is that she helped me. She was Ether's college friend, and someone he trusts a lot. And that she used to be a teacher."

She knew the next words spelled defeat, but because they were true...
They had to come out.

"That's about it, really."

"... I did my own research on her in my own time." Arwest crossed her arms. "And what I found... Was something I expected. As a high ranking officer in the Meinster Family of the Melaragno Clan... ... Finding out that she used to be a high ranking officer was easy. The Salamander. She's even got a title- reserved only for those who perform extraordinarily well."

"...!!!"

The one who got the biggest reaction was Elka.
Who's hands slammed down on the table.

"Oi, oi, oi! You're saying Jun was a mafia member this whole time!? Or- well... Had history with 'em?! Is that why nobody was touching us this whole time? Not from either of the two mafia groups- not from any family?"

"If that were the case, then I wouldn't be scorning as I am now. That Jun person would have been a good person if she was protecting you from the shadows, even if she's doing it without telling you all. But..." Her arms lowered. As she met Elka directly. "There are no records of her having resigned or quitting. Though she is from the Brinker Family, which is one I don't work with often... ... It's highly likely that Jun was extorting all of you. Using all of you. And when things got dicey with the Kidori Alliance..."

Arwest looked outside to the direction of where the Zone 4 Junkyard was.
For a moment, her eyes turned regretful, then... She stared on, as iron willed as ever.

"... She ditched us all and left us like this."

"I-I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing..." Pharma said, exhaling. "I-I mean, now that she's gone, we have all our money, y-yeah? But- um... Jun was really nice. What if a nastier Yakuza or Mafioso like Raoul is the one extorting us instead?!" Shivering in her seat, she pulled up a blanket to cover herself. "What if they do the things I see in shows, like they'll cut off my pinky or something like that!!! Or waterboard Noei or Polly!"

"H-Hey, Pharma...! I don't think it's gonna get that bad!"

Elka said, trying to reassure Pharma...
But it was obvious he was shivering too. He was more scared than even Pharma.
As one who's grown up in the Zone Backstreets since birth, with a father who's one of the Four Gods of the Backstreets... The terror of either the Yakuza or Mafia is one Elka knows very, very well.

"Just calm down, okay? I'm sure Arwest and Noei can figure something out."

In a panic...
Her entire body jerked.

"A-And there's also the matter of her!!!" Pharma said, pointing over to Polly.

"Mm?"

Not fitting the tense mood at all...
Polly was just in the corner of the table, not even aligned with the other seats.
She was sucking on a lollipop, totally clueless.

"Hi, Pharma!"

At the mention of Polly...

... Both Arwest and Noei shot gazes towards Pharma.
Cruel looks.

"What're we gonna do if anyone sees her?! They'll know that we've killed Raoul! I know that we can just hide her and all that, but..."

Pharma was chewing on her nails now.
Her paranoia... Had reached its limit.

(edited)

"But what?"

And now, a dangerous trigger has been pulled.
Noei leaned forward.

"It'll be okay! I already went over this with Polly- whenever things look dicey, she'll just be hidden in a box!"

Polly nodded up and down. "Yeah! Noey bought me a New Nertendo 3DS, so I should be fine."

She gave a cheerful thumbs up right after.
But it wasn't able to dissolve the argument.

"I-I've seen it on shows and stuff, though! If the mafia really want you extorted, and they suspect you of something, they're gonna search the whole house!" Pharma said, putting both her hands down. "And we were the last people spotted to have housed Polly! I know you said Raoul has a lot of enemies... But if we can't hide her, don't you think we're suspect number one?!"

In a fit of rage...
Pharma had turned the unease about not just the situation right now...
But working in Maeda Atelier...
All of it was directed towards Arwest.

"..."

Arwest's face didn't change.
But Noei knew by this point that this didn't mean she wasn't affected.
It meant she was trying not to be affected by Pharma's words.

"That... That's just on television!" Noei turned to Pharma in haste. "There's no way they actually do that stuff-"

"- No, they do. I've done it before."

"- I've gotten MY house searched a fuck ton when the Kidori Alliance wanna pick fights with my dad."

"T-Then... When something like that's gonna happen, we'll hide her!!!" Noei said, slamming her hands down. "I can even take her elsewhere! I can fly!" Her hands shook. "You guys will just hold the fort, and... And..."

"... And what, Noei?" Pharma put her hands down. "I know we fought like hell in the water fight... But that was just a game. Do you really expect me to go all this way for you?! W-We're gonna have to be dealing with real Yakuza at this rate! Just like last time! And it didn't go well!"

Her paranoia boiled over and reached her voice.
The sheer resolve at which she yelled at... Had reached everyone. Even Polly, who was mostly detached from it all.
Her bangs drooped over, covering one eye.

"Hey... Noei... Why the hell are you going so far for Arwest, and not for us?"

"I-..."

"You've always been chasing her! Even flew away from us to go meet her that one time!!! And that whole speech you made in the junkyard was all about her!" Pharma put her hands on her heart. "What about me?! What about how I feel about all of this?! I was just a normal schoolgirl days back! And unlike that fraud- I haven't dropped out yet!"

Pharma insinuated both hands to Elka...
And this information...

"H-Hey, wait! What do you mean, fraud?!"

.. Was something they had never known before.
And in addition-

"- Wait, you promised not to tell anyone!" Was a secret too.

"Elka, you..."

Noei slowly turned over to Elka.
Her whole body turned. Not just her head.
Even though she hadn't been in school nearly as long...
Especially in Steel City, where education is more of a privilege than a right...
She knows how important it is to people.

"You... You didn't have to..."

"... No. It's fine. It was my choice to drop out and stick with you guys until the whole end."

Elka said, unable to keep his head up high...
But it was forced back up by Pharma's declaration.

"Noei..."

Polly put her hand on both Noei's and Elka's backs.
As with a big frown, she said,

"No sad face, okay?" However, her attempts to try and cheer up the two was interrupted by Pharma's own declaration. (edited)

"You guys... You guys are all crazy!"

Pharma said, standing up.
Due to the speed at which she stood up, her chair was forced back so hard it hit the wall.
Breathing heavily, she pointed.

"I... I... I..." The words within her struggled, until...

Heartlessly.
Without an expression that changed.
Arwest spoke.

"... If you hate it so much, you can quit."

"...!"

Not expecting Arwesst to be the one to speak...
Her head was snapped straight to her in shock.

"You-"

"- Yeah, I do. I quit."

"... Pharma!"

Now this time, Noei was the one to stand up in haste.
She wanted to reach Pharma. To stand directly in front of her.
But unlike with Arwest...
All she could do this time was to stand there. Was to call out her name.
That's all she was capable of saying.

". . . I'm gonna text my dad and say I'm moving back. I'm getting all my stuff from my room."

Pharma said, turning her back on Noei...
Though it was so close- her distance felt impossible to reach.
Farther than anyone else she had ever seen the back of before.
That was because...

Pharma's problem was with Noei directly.
It wasn't an issue that she just happened to get herself involved with.

So...
Unlike before, she didn't even bother to try and reach out.
More than anything, she felt betrayed.
Yes, her speech at the junkyard was for Arwest.
But it was for everyone too. She thought that they would know-

She would go as far for everyone.

But that accusation from Arwest came back up again.
"You fought the Silver Nephilim alone, remember?"

Even before she was shot to space to face Seren-
She waited. Until everyone in the Ministry of Defense had dealt with her.

"I..."

... Noei was fully intending on doing things on her own.
On hyperfocusing onto one person... And ignoring all the rest.
So the next words came naturally.

"I'm sorry."

"... Yeah... Goodbye."

It was a simple word.
But the seeds of doubt that had planted long ago finally bore fruit.
The hesitations that she had, the burden deep within Noei...
It crystallized into a question. A tangible question that she could now ask, rather than just a vague feeling.
A real fruit that she could bite off of. One that Noei was savoring whether she liked it or not.
That question...

"When will the others leave me too?"

So just like before-
- Pharma became a back that would get farther and farther away.

02/02/2025 2:33 pm

------------------ + Maeda Household + ------------------------

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/28/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Cloudy and Windy

The continuation of that disaster.

(edited)

- Cloooose.
The wide gates of the Maeda Household closed rather slowly.
Due to being so big, they took quite a while to close.
Which didn't help with the tense atmosphere of the three.
Technically four, but... Polly was inside a briefcase that Arwest was carrying.

Now with Pharma gone, the next day had a different challenge.
Their first challenge was to either find Jun, but most importantly, to find a way to get the money from Maeda Atelier flowing back to them.
But now they had been presented with a new challenge. Finding a new employee.
Pharma was a very special designer at that- perhaps even on a genius level, if Etsuji's words are to be considered.
So with recruitment posters in hand (made in a rush by Noei)...
The three of them stood in front of the gates.

"Um... Elka. I've heard that the streets have been unsafe as of recent... And I've seen some of the crimes myself. Are you still sure we should split up?"

"Huh?"

Though oddly enough, Elka was caught off guard.
He was staring off to the sky, thinking of something else. Which is rare for a bonehead like him.
He quickly pivoted and looked to Noei, giving a thumbs up.

"Oh- don't worry. Only thing I really gotta worry about is the mafia, and I've had a few run-ins with 'em before when I run errands for my dad. All I really need to do is say my last name, and they shit their pants! Really, what I'm worried about is you two. Cuz' of the Heinous Crimes against Sevenths..."

Elka said, with a deep frown.
He's never seen the murders in person. But with how his scowl looked, one would be convinced that he's seen many of them.

Arwest mimicked a human's tired exhale.
She gave Elka a side eye.

"You're looking awfully depressed, idiot. And you're also underestimating us. Two things that are off about you today."

Polly stuck her head out of the briefcase.
As she looked at Elka, both her eyebrows pointed downwards.

"Yeah! Arwest is super duper strong! No killer would do her in!"

"Ah, yeah, but..."

Elka scratched the back of his head.
He struggled to find words, for some reason.

"... Sorry. I just can't help but get worried."

"Ah..."

She didn't know the source of Elka's sudden worry, but...
The look on his face was very much real.
She stood in front of Elka and gave him a thumbs up.

"Don't worry. You saw me fought against Seren, yeah? I won't fall to some random killer. Especially when I'd like to meet who's doing all these murders too... So I'll be fine."

"Noei..."

For a moment, his face looked soft.
Then he shook his head and returned to his usual boneheaded look.
Where not a single thought seemed to be passing through his eyes.

"- Yeah, it's alright! Just promise we'll be back here by lunch, alright?!"

"Mm!"

"Of course."

"Well... If that's all, I'll be off! Let's have ourselves a good lunch- and hopefully with a new employee too!"

. . .

Noei had no idea...
About what lied in front of her.
The terror that lurked in this town in this very moment...
... Unveiled itself.

02/02/2025 4:05 pm

----------------------------- + Zone 5 Streets + -------------------------------

The fact that she felt like this morning was a bit stranger than the others was no coincidence.
Or at least, she came to that conclusion when she was walking the streets.
Zone is a walkable district, but... 
People aren't often seen, because they're either working or walking to work.
But that doesn't mean that there's a total absence of people and or cars.
In fact, Noei was in the hour when most people were commuting to work.
When going to the grocery sometimes with Elka and Jun... She would see people.
But there was nobody.

". . ."

Nobody in the streets.
Nobody in the alleyways.
They were in the houses- some could be seen through the windows, but...
As Noei walked, the few people she did see in the various houses of different designs... Closed the curtains like their life depended on it.
It was beyond eerie.

It was as if the entire world had gone against her.

- Evidenced...

"...!?" By the revving of motorcycles behind her.

"- Yo, so-called Greatest Robot."

It wasn't just one motorcycle.
When she looked behind her... She was convinced that she saw an entire gang of motorcycles.
It would be stronger in the night- but in this cloudy and windy day...
The glare of what felt like a hundred motorcycles in one cramped street glared down at her.
The people on it were a mix of both gangsters with improvised weaponry... And also suited men, with guns- some even having katanas and broadswords.
But most were humans.

- At the forefront of it all...
... Was a man who was already Circulating. A huge man, not in height, but in size.
And a clear warrior too. Yet his face wasn't like anything Noei's ever seen before.
For he looked like he was smiling. Enjoying himself at even the slightest hint that there might be a battle.
An aura of furyoku crackled around him. It was a lot like lightning, rather than Noei's own aura of mist.
A storm cloud gathering around him.
He cracked his knuckles together.

"I'll make this quick. Takes a long ass time for us to cordon off a section of the Backstreets, sooo... My name is Aimone Brinker. We've heard news that you're in the possession of Polly Walton, the Lapis Pawn."

"...!!!"

With the entrance of this man...
A million things flared up in her mind at once. She stood her guard, facing the man.
The first thing she did...

("Factor Authorized.")

Was to unleash her own limiters.
In response to the man already having an aura, she pulled up hers too.
It surrounded and swelled up around her- almost exploding like a bomb due to how much furyoku she had within her.

"... So you're Elka's dad."

"Oh?! So the rumors ARE true! You WERE housing my son!"

- A single step...
And lightning pulsed through the ground.
It reached all around him- though the lightning was controlled enough to not hit his allies...
But with that single step alone, every building around him... Had all their powers shut off.

"Gotta say. We haven't exchanged blows yet, but I'm already impressed with ya', Clank. Your aura's already up. And you had the guts to take such an important Seventh with you... ... So what'd you use her for, ay? You make any pretty gemstones with her? Sell 'em for lots of stuff? Heard you had a fashion store. You usin' the Lapis Pawn to make jewelry? Earrings?"

"Hngh...!!!"

And...
As the man approached- Noei already armed herself.
Her right arm began to transform...

"... I never used her. Not once."

"... So the other rumors are true. You're just a goody two shoes."

Putting his hands in his pockets...
... His aura calmed itself, as he looked down to Noei.
Right now, he was only about 10 paces away from her. In other words, in combat range.

"Won't say who it was, but someone tipped us on the fact that you were hidin' such an important figure. We were gonna go to your house directly, but it's good that I found ya' alone. If my son was with ya'... He'd get all sorts of furious, and it'd make it reaaaal hard to do the negotations on my end. So." He raised up his head. "Allow me to give you a teeny choice. Some might call it an ultimatum. Ya' give Polly Walton to us. Not only that, but I heard you also killed Raoul Aveni- so his body too. And we'll keep you safe. We'll even let you keep runnin' 'dat store if that's whatchu want. If you don't, then... Seventh Trafficking and kidnapping is a crime that's judged worse in court than if you do it to a human. You're going to be sent to the depths of hell if you don't give me that damn clank." (edited)

- "Wait...
Information got out that *I* killed Raoul?!
Not only that, but the information that Polly was with us...
If it got out, then...?!"

Noei formed her Belial Buster, her entire right arm changing to that of an arm cannon.
But she didn't aim it and train her deadly aim on Aimone just yet.
Instead... She looked behind her.

"... Damn it." And saw more people.

"- Well, well, well. Looks like you got to the little one first."

It was a voice she recognized.
Jurian Dojima- a Yakuza from the Kidori Alliance.
With his presence... Other Sevenths also emerged. Their entrance was different from the Melaragno Clan's.
Rather than appearing all in a single road...
Sevenths, gangsters and all sorts of crooks appeared. Most not carrying weapons- due to being Sevenths. They already have their Armaments deep within them.
They came from all over. Coming out of houses. Creeping out from alleyways. Their shadows unveiling themselves on top of buildings.
Their numbers were less, but they were spread apart.

Both of them... The Melaragno Clan... And the Kidori Alliance both looked like they owned their side of the city.
The Melaragno Clan to Noei's left.
The Kidori Alliance to Noei's right. 
Two sides...

"... Well. You killed Raoul Aveni and are keeping one of our precious Sevenths. Don't think I have to say anything more to that, do I?" That both wanted her dead. "So let's get the show started."

02/02/2025 5:45 pm

. . .

Aimone to the left.
Hands in his pockets, a silent glare.
But a grin that told a thousand words.

Noei in the middle.
Right arm turned into a buster. Left arm, supporting that buster.
Her gaze held no emotions in it. Only raw focus.

Jurian to the right.
His neck stretching to mimic a human, and so was his shoulder.
But those with a focused eye could see his own furyoku charging and gathering to his legs, highlights on those legs lighting up.

(edited)

02/02/2025 5:48 pm

In this stand off...
Of course-

The one who acted first...

Was the one who had lightning covering their very fighting spirit.
His leg stretched back in a single second.
Lightning screeched from his very body and split across him- just in preparing this attack alone...
Bolts came scorching out of him, splitting the roads to his side in half- and even a few houses.
All this uncontrollable lightning controlled into a single point.

"... Heaven's Javelin!"

It turned into a javelin of lightning.
Putting his whole body into it, Aimone threw the javelin with the force of his entire body.
So the javelin... Flew not just with the speed of lightning, but with the speed of Aimone's entire force.

"!!!!!!!"

As a Seventh though, that type of speed is comprehendible.
She pulled up her buster, charged...

"Hngh...!!!"

But whether or not her body could keep up with that speed was a different question entirely.
She fired a shot to the javelin. But it wasn't a fully charged shot- she didn't have enough reaction speed to charge it fully. It was only about 50% charged.
So, when her shot and the javelin clashed...!

"Ah-!"

The lightning javelin won. It was only merely weakened.
Noei threw her arms up to block, but...

"!!!!!!!! AUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHH!!!"

Immense pain passed through Noei's systems and circuitry.
- She understood in this single blow alone why Aimone was considered one of the four strongest in the Backstreets... And a human at that.
For a Seventh, controlled and powered by electricity, to face off someone who can control it...

Even a single hit is lethal.

". . ."

She flew back, her vision blurry.
But her body forced itself to act... As she sensed the tensing up of furyoku.

Predicting she would fly back to him...
Jurian's slender arm raised- and even bended and contorted its own shape, the metal layer of this Seventh revealing.
It raised overhead, over the shoulder. For a chopping right that would come like a guillotine.

"Haa...!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Noei didn't even see Jurian raised it. She could only see the finished stance.
However, that was enough for her to react.

"!!!!!!"

Noei registered this...
And flipped in mid air- twisting and turning her body so that now it faced Jurian.
Her buster barely charged, but...

"FIRE!"

Right before she made it to Jurian's striking range- she fired a buster shot.
Halting her momentum. And in addition, striking Julian at the same time.
But..

- Weave.
Jurian simply stepped, bobbed his head while lowering his spine slightly...
And closed the distance made by Noei shooting herself back a bit.

"Chopping Right."

- Slam.
Jurian's fist met Noei's head.

(edited)

"!!!!!! GUAGH!"

Being hit straight in the head...
Her neck jerked down- a few bolts flying out of it due to the sheer impact.
The impact sent her to the ground, cracking it. Losing her balance because...
The impact also caused her to bounce.

"These two...!!!
Such... Such power...!"

What's more- in her head being jerked down, then up due to bouncing upwards...
She could see that Aimone had covered himself in a lot of his aura...
And was now speeding to the two.

"GOD STRIDE!"

- No...
It was more like a single step had launched him towards the two like a speeding car.

"Ugh...!!!!!"

These two were moving too fast. Noei couldn't charge her buster to 100%.
Nor could she change Armaments.
She couldn't see Jurian, but she was sure that he would be continuing his assault.
And Aimone was coming at them like a car over the speed limit.
However. Just a bit of charging was enough for her to interrupt- and even shoot her in a certain direction...
So...!!!

"... I'll fly!"

She charged as much as she could...
And shot a blast to the ground that sent her flying upwards!
Dodging Aimone's charge!

Now in the air...

"!!! HAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

She could see the end result of Aimone's charge.
Aimone had failed in tackling Noei, but...
Instead. He had tackled Jurian.

Straight into the wall of a tall building- cracking the entire wall upon impact.
Rendering it a mess.

"- Koaugh!"

The Seventh hit the wall.
Because of the sheer force of impact...

"Damn... That hit like a truck..."

All he could do was react defensively...
... Not to mention, he was pinned.

Which meant...
Aimone could wail on the Seventh freely.
All of his electricity gathered to his free arm- forming a gauntlet.
As he started bashing Jurian over and over in the head- each punch cracking the building's walls even more and more...
Not to mention the ground, and the walls of the surrounding buildings due to the shockwaves from it.

"Men!" He shouted. "Don't let Noei escape! I'm just dealing with the other major threat here! The Dojima Family is OVER!"

Noei landed right as Aimone started beating down Jurian. "...!"

Noei remembered Jun's explanation of the two criminal groups in the Zone Backstreets.
She saw the Melaragno Clan members arm themselves, trying to go to Noei... Some others going to try and help Aimone.
But the Sevenths of the Kidori Alliance began interfering. Getting in their way.
Thus...

Total war broke out.
Molotovs flying. Bullets showering and breaking fences, windows and doors.
Bombs blowing up. Seventh's beam rifles tearing through entire buildings. Their abilities breaking the roads.
Shockwaves, moments of impact...

"T-This... This is horrible..."

"... But they're fighting each other."

Noei looked behind her.

02/02/2025 6:07 pm

She wouldn't exactly say there was a clear path...
But for every 5 Melaragno Clan Soldier, there was at least one Kidori Alliance Seventh keeping them occupied.
Some aimed pistols, assault rifles and shotguns at Noei...
Only to be interrupted by a Seventh flying in front of them, a beam rifle from them- and other sorts.
Either way- the ground wasn't safe. And Noei...

... Could fly. "!!!!!! I'm out of here! I have to go find Arwest, Polly and Elka! They're somewhere here for sure!"

For obvious reasons, Arwest and Polly were the priority.
Forming her thrusters on all her limbs- she soared upwards...
Reaching to the same height as the tallest building in the Backstreets- the Jester's Casino that loomed over the Backstreets.
Now that she was at the highest point...

"... Ugh, this is gonna suck with this many people around..." She readied to do what she always did. "... Eyes of Add!" Noei readied her scanning Armament, but... "Wha-"

The unexpected happened.
A coin imbued and coated with Furyoku flew straight to her eye... At speeds faster than a bullet.

"- Crap!"

Shooting her straight in her left eye...
Noei began to crash down- a major hit dealt to her.

She flew in unpredictable patterns, unable to control her descent due to the whiplash of the damage taken...
But it was far from where she originally was. Zone 5.

"... Ngh..."

Holding her left eye...
It was totally busted. Not just Eyes of Add.
But she could no longer see out of it. Her cameras were dead.
So it took her a bit, even for a Seventh... To notice the threat in front of her.

"- Oh shit, it actually worked. Damn. Color me surprised."

... Luckily for Noei, the aggressor was surprised too that what they did worked.
Facing Noei off was another member of the Kidori Alliance. Another one of the Sevenths that tried to ambush her the first time.
In their hands was an Armament- a rather bulky revolver, and a stack of quarters in her other hand.
They put away her Armament- the quarters evidently being a part of it, as they also went inside their arms...
As the Seventh introduced themselves.

"By the way, name's Sumi! Sumi Kawaguchi. You don't mind wasting a bit of your time with me, yeah? Orders were to capture you and all that, and..."

- Snap.
One of Sumi's eyes closed at the same time they snapped their fingers and activated...

"Factor Authorized. Win it big, or lose it all. Any result inbetween does not matter. Any result in between isn't entertaining. These two paths are the only option. Yetzirah - Sweet Rain." Their aura... Expanded from them, forming a translucent dome that roughly covered the entire street. "... I'm a pro at wasting time." (edited)

"So I can't fly, otherwise I'll be sniped in the air...?!
Maybe if I just move fast- but... I still need to use Eyes of Add to find them... I can get to a vantage point, maybe?!"

"..."

Her only working eye looked past Sumi...
And there was a rather tall building right behind Sumi. Which meant her goal was to get past Sumi.
But how...?

"Gh..."

Noei slowly stood up and grit her teeth. She decided to wait and see what Sumi was capable of...
Then after that, plan on how to slip past her. She couldn't underestimate anyone here- especially after seeing total war erupt in a matter of seconds.

"Other people... Everyone else...
They're just way stronger than I am."

Unluckily for Noei... "... Not gonna show your Armament?"

Sumi seemed to be doing the same thing.

From their hands... Something resembling the shape of a Saber extended from their hands, sliding out.
They gripped it tightly, holding it in reverse grip... As a beam came out of its hilt, only in one edge.
A black saber, with a red beam. Different from the usual design- everything about it was unorthodox.
Their lowered stance, and the fact that they are reverse gripping it. And the beam only being on one edge.

But what's more is...

"... Not gonna make the first move?" - They too, were also waiting for Noei to make the first move.

"..."

Noei remained silent...
But this time- she formed her buster.
No charging just yet. That was a sign of aggression, and could be seen and heard. Her buster would light up if that was the case.
However...

"... Wait...!!!"

Noei realized it too soon...
But Sumi said they would waste Noei's time for a reason.
As they were both Sevenths- they could hear it.
The sound of people rushing to their area.

"So this was a trap...?! I don't have it in me to face even a single Seventh- I'd get demolished!
But now I bet this person's calling their allies...!
Which means I have to make the first move. But their stance..."

It's clearly made for counterattacks. 
Noei doesn't know all too much about fighting, but Sevenths have an instinctual sense for these sorts of things.
If she moved first... Then she would surely be cut down by that saber.

"You realize it yet?" Sumi slowly grinned. "I DID actually mean it when I said I'd waste your time."

Their stance loosened up- but not out of cockiness...
They were challenging Noei to come straight at them. To force a desperate action.

"So what's it gonna be? You gonna charge at me recklessly, or hell- even try and wait it out till my cronies come? Gotta say- -I didn't expect the Seventh who defeated the Silver Nephilim to be as coward-like as me!"

"...! Ah, that's it!"

It's then Noei realized exactly what she should do.
- She remembered how Arwest dealt with Jurian and Sumi. So...
Rush.
Sprinting towards Sumi, Noei charged her buster...
To anyone, this would appear like a desperate action. That she was falling straight into Sumi's trap.

But she already had a plan.

"Come on, charging at me with a ranged weapon? I'm pretty incompetent, but I wouldn't do something THAT stupid..."

Now with Noei's stance exposed...
Sumi lunged ahead, low profiling their entire body.
Their aim was obvious, but their speed was like a bullet: meaning that even if Noei predicted this somehow, she'd struggle in defending against it.
It was a slash across Noei's gut. One that could potentially split her in half.
Combined with Sumi stretching out their body as long as possible, and swooping down as low as possible, a counterattack seemed unlikely.

But.

"...!!!!!!!! Holy shit!" That slash never connected.

Because as soon as Sumi moved...
... Noei formed a new Armament.

"... Wings of Terror!"

Seren's own Armament. One that she copied by fighting against her...!
Stretching across her back...
The same black wings of energy that had wrecked the V District appeared on Noei.
And already, they began to charge balls of uncontrollable energy along her wings.

Sumi's mistake was thinking the standoff would end if one of them moved...
... When in truth, the standoff was still going on even after they dashed at each other!

"- NOPE! NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE NOOOOOOOOOPE!"

As soon as Sumi's eyes registered the Silver Nephilim's wings...
They put their Armament away.
Their lunge forward had instead been turned into a slide, as Sumi slid past Noei...

Sumi announced after.

"Kawaguchi Secret Technique. RUN THE HELL AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!"

- Sprint.
Sumi ran as far as they eye can see with just the threat of Noei's wings.

". . . So both me and Arwest have gotten them to run now..." (edited)

02/02/2025 6:41 pm

Either way- Noei finally got a good look at the building in front of her...
At least, as much as she could with only a single eye working.
It seemed to be a bank.
She had no idea why it was the biggest building out of everything in Zone 5, but she figured that's just how things were.
It was nowhere near as big as the buildings she's seen in the Krypt District, but...
When put against everything else in Zone 5, it almost seemed like it owned all the other buildings.

(edited)

"... No time to waste. Gotta find Arwest, Polly and Elka!"

Noei crouched down...
As her wings flapped and soared.
Her intention was the top of the bank, so she could scan the entire area...
But yet again-

"- Are you kidding me?!"

- Noei was interrupted.
This time... A chain came flying out of a window.
It flew to her at high speeds, wrapped around her...  And pulled her into one of the top floors of the bank.

"Urgh!"

She crashed through not just the window glass, but the various tables and chairs...
Before the chain set her free.
Noei struglged to stand up this time around- as she was slightly sparking. Her Wings also vanished.

This time...
The next person that attacked him was also someone he knew.
- Someone who was at the waterfight.
The gruff, and scraggy, looking man who didn't speak much.
... In fact, Noei also started to have suspicions about that team the moment Arwest revealed herself as mafia.

"... Yo. Long time no see, Seventh. Demos Makneras of the Dojima Family. Just an ordinary soldier, but..."

Wrapped around his arms were chains.
Long chains- that seemed to extend and change shape at will.
Of course, he too, was circulating Furyoku. His aura looked a lot like blood.
That Furyoku lifted the chains up.
The floor they were in was an office. And every single table, chair, potted plant, dispenser- computer...
The chains lashed out wildly and struck like blades- cutting everything in half...

... Sending everything forward.

"... I'm pretty strong, if I do say so myself."

"Hngh!!!"

A huge amount of debris was sent to Noei.
She's seen this before- so she forms her drill.
She holds it forward, as the drill starts spinning- drilling through every debris.
But that wasn't the problem here.
The chains lashing out uncontrollably was causing a huge amount of wind force.
Noei... Was at risk of being blown out through the very window she was dragged into.

It didn't help that she was beginning to  spark. Which meant her energy was getting low.
So now she was taking everything just to stand and drill forward...

And of course...
The man named Demos changed up strategies once Noei got used to the wind and debris.
One of their chains which was wildly slashing everywhere...
Now shot to Noei from a curved and strange angle- making it hard to escape.

"And if I catch you... I can rise up the ranks of this cursed Yakuza. So do me a favor for humankind, alright?"

". . ."

This time though...
Noei did something new.

As a Seventh has perfect memory, seeing the war going on...
Facing strong opponent after strong opponent...
Noei was adapting.

And was slowly growing stronger the longer she fought for.
Her drill arm was still drilling the debris that was flying to her.
And her free arm...

"Belial... Buster."

Changed to the Belial Buster, now shooting at the chain that flew to her...
Deflecting it and shooting it back. 
Two of her Armaments... At the same time.

And-

"!!!!!!" - The third activated when her legs turned to thrusters, charging forward at Demos!

"Oh...?!"

Their left chain was deflected.
But their right chain, which was still rampaging... Stopped and stared at Noei like the eyes of a snake.
Clearly ready to strike as soon as she got close.

"... Sevenths might be faster than humans can react to, but...! These chains got a mind of their own! Think you can keep up?!"

"I can do more than just keep up!"

As she flew...
She charged her buster-

And that charge unleashed the moment she saw the right chain shoot at her.
A fully charged blast shot from Noei's buster, aimed in the same orientation as her thrusters, boosting and sending her forward.
And her drill...!

"You won't stop me!"

... Pierced through and made a hole through the wall!

Noei had completely escaped that room and Demos in one quick motion!

"...! Got it!"

Though- although her thrusters are fast...
They are hard to control, especially when supplemented by a full buster charge.
So she couldn't just curve and make it back to the bank as she intended to anyways...
... In addition, Demos was likely still there. She didn't want to risk going back with him still being there.
So she cut her thrusters...

"... Hngh!"

And braced herself.

Noei crashed straight through a building...
And formed a hole in another, landing inside a house.
Fortunately for her, there didn't seem to be anyone in it. It seemed to be a dirty house that only a single person was living in with sparse decorations...

"Ah... Haaah... Finally... No interruptions..."

Noei was exhausted. Sevenths don't need to breathe, but they still show their exhaustion similar to how humans do it when sparking.
Her back hunched down- as she moved to the corner of the room.
To where a charging cable was.

"Need to... Charge and rest..."

Opening up a lid in her back...

She sat down and began to charge herself.
"So it seems using multiple Armamanets at the same time is really taxing on my energy...
This place... What's going on right now..."
Even as she charged and sat down- she could still hear the gunfire.
The sound of buildings collapsing. Explosions. Cries.
Total war between the two factions were going on.

And the reason why it happened...

"..."

Noei would normally shut off while charging.
But in this position, she could only stare at her hand.

02/02/2025 7:15 pm

Her priority had changed to resting.
Her usage of the Wings of Terror against Sumi and the burst of using three Armaments at the same time had weathered her down.
So although Noei would like to find Arwest, Polly and Elka...
She was at risk of losing so much energy that she couldn't walk.

- And she hated it.
Noei didn't view this as a break at all, or her resting.
Or even her regaining energy. She was losing her spirit the longer she sat here.
She wanted to be with her friends. She wanted to save her friends.

Not herself.

- Luckily, or perhaps unluckily...
This rare moment of deep self reflection within Noei was interrupted.
Someone she had seen before... Had opened the door.

A damaged Jurian Dojima entered the room.
Mostly his head and chest had seen damage, the metal layer slightly exposed...
But he wasn't in terrible condition.

"... Oh, you're here." He casually said, as he opened the door to the house. "Knew my scent wouldn't fail me this time. So. You wanna roll over easily, or...?"

"!!! No...!!!!!!"

Seeing him return...
It was practically like a slap on the face that screamed, "you made no progress at all."
She was still on the backfoot. He was still here.

"... Ngh...!!!!!"

Even so-

She had to fight.
While still hunched up in the corner, charging... Noei formed her Belial Buster.
And trained it on Jurian.
The arena was bad for her. She's seen Jurian's strength and felt it first hand.
Even just a simple punch could blow apart the walls and furniture.
Noei doesn't have that sort of destructive power. At least, not with her fists. She'd need to charge up her buster in order to do that.

"... Try it..."

Noei bluffed.

Low on energy, still charging, in a disadvantageous situation...
What could she do? 
- Already, her eyes looked like they were about to give up hope.

"Man. Do you see yourself right now? Whatever..."

The Seventh authorized his factor in a flash.
His arm reeled back, being covered with black energy- not too dissimilar to Seren's own Wings of Terror...
The motion he was going to make was clear, but Noei didn't know if she could even react to it in time.
And yet,

like the maws of a beast,
not caring for whether or not Noei has thought it through or not...

It was a flash like thunder.
He swung like a beast swinging its own claws.
Yet, the jaws that try to rip Noei's head of...
... Is repelled by a green flash of light that tries to save her.

- Clang.
An ugly noise. The sound of two metals scraping straight past each other.
Or in other words, a parry.
The sound isn't one Noei likes, but...

It seemed beautiful at the time.

"- Hands off my student, dog."

The small lights that pierce the house through the windows of this poverty house stand still.
Standing in front of Noei is someone she once thought was completely ordinary, mundane- even. But still someone special.
Takane Watcher. Her homeroom teacher. Holding a katana that had just deflected Jurian's own arm.

Time had stopped.
The old and decaying house fell silent, as small as it was. 
And... A special memory began to form within Noei.

"... When did you...?!"

It seems everyone was frozen in that moment.
Around the time Noei began to register what was going on...
Jurian jumped back- bumping into the side of a table in the living room.
Noei was charging in the kitchen, being protected by Takane...

And a new battle had begun.

"... Doesn't matter. You single?"

"I'm taken by adventure, honey~."

Takane crouched down slightly...
As she sheathed her katana, keeping an Iaijutsu stance.
With her legs bent down with one stretched forward. Ready to cut anything that came straight to Noei.

"Either way, I'm Takane of the Brinker Family. Yuuup, just an ordinary soldier here~. Director's orders were to avoid conflict and just take Noei. But I'm sure she wouldn't mind it if I beat you, yeah?" (edited)

"Oh...?" Jurian lowered an eyebrow. "Color me impressed, then. Ain't every day you see a human you can Circulate, so..."

Lowering down one arm...
His aura manifested itself fully- crimson and black swirling around him in a frenzy.

'... Let's get this party started in style!"

"...!!!!!!!"

Noei slowly stood up. She was still charging, but...
Now she had finally gained the energy- and conscience- to ask questions.

"Ms... Ms. Takane?! You're a mafia guy too?! I feel like I shouldn't be surrpised, but I am!"

"Wha-" Takane's jaw fell flat. "W-Was I really that much of a shady person to you...?"

"Kind of- no, wait!" Noei shook her head. "M-More importantly... E-Even if I'm low on energy, we have to get out of here! This guy is... Strong! Too strong!"

"... And is that supposed to deter me? Noei. Let me teach you one more lesson, m'kay? As teacher to student. Do you know how humans can gain supernatural powers in this world?"

Now having gathered enough energy... "KIEEEEEEEEEEHH!!!!!"

Jurian lunged forward.
His entire body twisted and turned for what was coming up next.
A palm thrust. 
Furyoku gathered to his palm, and with his shoulder and arm inhumanly reaching out...
It was almost as if he had turned his entire arm into a spear.
One that- just with its Furyoku and presence alone...
Burnt some wood and concrete off of the kitchen counter nearby Jurian as he springed ahead.

"I told you before that your Being is what shapes your ability. The foundation for it. But do you know what molds it?"

"That's..." ... Noei didn't know.

"That thing- -Is a Craving."

Inhale.
Exhale.

"No place too far. No place too untouchable. No place can escape the emerald gaze of the guardian. Because a guardian protects all, without question. Yetzirah - Watcher's Gaze."

As soon as she had announced her ability...
Her own aura unleashed itself. Out of everyone...
Hers was the most different.
As it unleashed like green, streaking miles of electricity.
No hint of the usual mist-like aura could be seen that was present with everyone's auras. Only an almost primordial fury.

Then- covered in a green aura...
Takane teleported right in front of Jurian, mid charge...
Crouched down- she unleashed a rising Iaido slash with her katana!

"!!!!!"

Jurian recognized this sort of attack.
So he formed a cross guard- his metallic bodu jerking in order to block it.
But he couldn't control his furyoku to block the attack in time...
So his guard was blown right open- a huge cut wound forming across his arms, exposing the metal layer.

"Gah- !!! You're fast for a human!"

"Haaah..."

Now with that cut finished- she lowered her blade to chest level...
And with a twist of the blade- she thrusted it straight!
Aiming right for Jurian's neck and collar area!

"HA!"

"...!" Of course, though... As a Seventh- even his arms were as deadly as blades. "Like that'll work on me!"

Jurian stepped ahead.
He crouched slightly, parrying the katana upwards by lifting his arm up.
A circular movement pushed it to the diagonal side- where it couldn't do anything... And Takane's body was exposed.
Already, he stepped forward while doing this. His other arm readied itself.
Four pre-programmed movements in once.

The fifth movement came, a pivot of the hips...
With a gut blow that should land straight to Takane's gut due to the sheer speed of it.

"!?"

It's there that he noticed-
Three green silhouettes. Two next to him, and one on the counter.

"Ah...!"

Takane's body flashed green.
All the silhouettes disappeared... And the one she ended up appearing to was the one on the counter.
Her entire body ducked- as she hit Jurian with a sweep kick.
Sweep kicks with the entire body going down usually don't work, especially against a Seventh.
But with her being on the counter, out of sight from Jurian...!

"Take this!"

"- Ghhh!!!"

Jurian was forced to block again.
He formed the cross guard once more with both his hands...
Sliding back after taking a hit with the full body's force and the momentum of a drop with it.
His back hit the table of the living room again...

"... Shit. You're not bad."

Flip.
Noei jumped off of the counter and stood in front of Noei again.
She held her katana in a defensive stance. A plow guard.
Her sword was at hip level, pointed to a slight angle upwards.
A defensive one made for quick strikes and thrust... Or in other words, it was perfect for protecting Noei.

- In a stance alone, she had conveyed a message to Jurian.
"I know how to fight. Don't mess with me."
Unlike Jurian, who was grinning... Takane stayed focused.

"... A Craving is a desire so deep, that it messes with your head. You see the world differently to how it is. Effectively, it's the state of wanting something so bad, you become delusional. Take insane physical training or exposure to supernatural events, a Being that you at least understand, and understanding of your Craving... And anyone can Circulate. Just like me."

This lesson....
Although she was sure Takane was saying it just to show-off...

It had sparked a realization within her.
What was missing from how she fought.

Jurian's next words...
Elucidated that Takane had this drive that Noei didn't have.
As Jurian put his hands in his pockets.

"... You know. That's why I find humans so fun to fight. If a human can Circulate, then it's guaranteed they're messed up in the head a little! Us Sevenths are born with just the ability to Circulate right off the bat- as long as we can authorize our Factors. We don't go through the arduous process of finding yerself like you humans have to. Means you end up with some real coward Sevenths, like my good friend Sumi. But-"

- Jurian... Shifted stances.
To a more beast-like one, his arms laid out in front of him.

"- There's a reason why I don't find humans fun to fight too. And that is our fundamental differences." (edited)

"... Here he comes."

Takane's grip on her blade tensed itself...
As she readed three silhouettes once more.
Two appeared next to Julian's sides. One, on the counter again.
In the exact same position.

What Takane was expecting was an attack like the spear arm he did earlier.
In other words, she was going to strike quicker than his already god-like speed.
Using foresight to beat his already unstoppable speed.

But what Jurian did instead...
Was to step back.
Already, his other arm had prepared his motion. In fact, they both did.

He picked up the table.
And swung it like an axe to Takane.

"...!!! Shit, really?!"

All her silhouettes vanished- and she didn't teleport.
In fact, that swing had covered all her silhouettes.

Jurian had figured out Takane's ability quickly.
She can teleport, but... She needs to set up her spots ahead of time, and everyone can see it.
Which Takane mitigates by setting up multiple at the same time, forcing the opponent to guess her mixups.
However. Jurian's table swing had rendered all of her potential teleport spots unusable.

- And there is an obvious reason as to why she can't just teleport behind Jurian.

"Guh...!!!"

Raising her arm, she slashed the table in half.
But because she was in a defensive parry stance, it took her a bit to raise her sword.
Which meant...

"KIEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!!!"

Jurian had enough time to prepare his next move.
He counted on the table being cut in half. So he grabbed onto the leg of the table, ripped it out...
And now with even greater range than before, he thrusted it straight to Takane!

"Ugh-"

- Without the reaction time needed to teleport and attack Jurian...
Takane was forced to parry the spear normally.
She blocked it with a half-strike, sending the spear to the side. Then... A full swing was sent, using the momentum of the parry to swing to the other side...!

And...
... With sheer power by his side, Jurian stepped forward.
His knee lowered. His hand reached... For the counter.

"HAAAA!!!"

And with ease, he ripped out the top of the counter... Flipping it up and using it as a shield!
Takane's katana cut into the counter- but... Jurian himself wasn't touched at all.

As soon as the katana made contact, he took two steps closer in!
His free arm had dropped the table leg. It had already curled up into a fist.
Another body blow was coming. But now, Takane was in a much worse position- without any teleportation spots set up beforehand.

"I really wasn't planning on using it this early on, but...!!!"
One of Takane's hands... Let go of her blade.
And moved to her belt- to where her shirt was partially covering it.
What she was reaching for, a weapon that can be accessed through the belt...
What else could it be...

... Other than a gun?

"... Eat lead, Seventh!"

Takane roared. As she had unleashed from her holster what was clearly a custom Kahr MK Pistol.
A lightweight, almost tiny gun...
With devastating power and high precision. In a single second, Takane had fired three shots...
All of which perfectly went for the Seventh's chin area.

"...?! A gun?!"

Jurian was clearly caught off guard by this.
With his counter shield destroyed, and his table on the ground...
He had to resort to his cross guard again to block the bullets.
Enhancing his guard with Furyoku, he blocked all the bullets... And they barely made even dents in the Seventh's arms.
The bullets fell to the ground, rather than piercing through him.

"... But it looks like it wasn't enough. You really don't know how to use guns with Circulation, mmm? They barely had any Furyoku in them."

"Haaah... Haaah..."

"... One shot."
Takane looked exhausted, one hand holding the katana, the other her Kahr MK...
But both her shoulders were sagging down.
"I quite literally have only ONE shot at this. If I fumble, it's over."

However.
Not even Noei could tell this was a bluff.

"Well- I've always been more of a sword guy myself. Doesn't mean I can use both, though."

Now... Takane took a unique stance.
Sheathing her blade, but still having her hand close to it for an Iaido strike...
With her gun trained and aimed a bit, her arm contracted slightly back...

"Ho? Changing stance? This isn't a reset to neutral, you know that?"

- Dash!
Now not even caring for set up...
Nor the fact that Takane has greater reach not just with her sword, but her gun...!
Jurian's entire body swooped down and he charged like a beast! Both his hands readied themselves, curling outwards like claws.

Then, when he finally was right in Takane's face, he sprung up- almost like a frog.
One of his hands streamed forward, an open hand uppercut...!

"- This is your... End!"

While Jurian was approaching... "... I'm going to guess the fundamental differences between us you spoke about us... Were the fact that physically, all Sevenths can outclass even the strongest humans. And you're one built with physical power in mind."

... Takane remained unusually calm...
And even as he begun his spring up- she still spoke.

"Your reaction speeds are greater than we can ever fathom. You can think of strategies much faster than we do, and your feelings don't waver you as much. But... It's because of that, that you become so damn predictable."

- Aim.
Right as Jurian's hand was about to make contact with Takane's chin...
Takane's arm stretched out and fired at Jurian's head.

But of course, being a Seventh...
The Yakuza dodged this- a point blank shot, from a gun.
One of the fastest weapons in the world.
They stopped their hand- stepping to the side...
And now, their uppercut and the momentum to it... Transformed into a spring upwards, almost like a gazelle leaping at their foe.

But Jurian wasn't aiming for Takane.
The side he stepped to... Was the corner where Noei was in.

"... You think so?! That's not what I meant by our fundamental differences, jackass! It's that I'm fighting to hunt you... And you're fighting to protect someone!"

"...!!!!!!!"

As Noei was focused entirely on watching...
She hadn't predicted Jurian to start coming his way.
Jurian's knee was outstretched, and his arm was ready to do some sort of inbetween of a hook and an uppercut, a diagonal rising strike that would hit Noei for sure.
Since she was charging, she had fully surrendered herself. And since she wasn't at full energy, she couldn't fully react to the beast coming her way.

Yet-
Jurian wasn't able to reach Noei.

"...?!"

- Because a bullet...
Flew straight into his chest.
Causing his flight to Noei to be halted. He held his chest...
Because unlike the previous bullets, the one that had shot through him was loaded with powerful Furyoku.
And that's not all.
Its trajectory wasn't from behind at all. A Seventh has strong enough senses to sense even a sneak attack.
He did hear a gunshot, but the attack did not come from behind.

The bullet fired to his front, thus meeting him in his trajectory.
- Yet. There was no gunman in front of him...

Because the gunman... Was behind him.
Takane had shot... At the literal wall. But where she aimed her gun didn't matter, because the bullet...
- As evidenced by a floating green silhouette of a bullet right in front of Noei, something so small- thanks to the Kahr MK being a small gun- that nobody could reasonably notice it...!!!
Takane had teleported her bullet right after it fired.

"Seventh... ... Did you think the only thing I could teleport was myself?"

- Step.
Now with Jurian stunned, Takane dealt a powerful downward strike from over her shoulder!
Loaded with both the weight of herself, gravity, and Furyoku concentrated onto the blade.
It crashed down with the weight- and pride that her gambit had succeeded.

"- Hngh... GUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

The slash had taken Jurian entirely.
From the brief bits Takane and Noei were able to make out...
A huge hole was made in his left shoulder- to where the wiring layer of that Seventh was exposed.
But as Circulators carry supernatural power with them...
The slash sent Jurian rocketing out of the building... And straight through another one at that.
A huge amount of debris and smoke fell.

Even a human Circulator was capable of that much damage.

The smoke and rubble caused by Takane's slash showed no signs of clearing up.
Closing her eyes, Takane also sensed that wherever Jurian flew to- it wasn't that far, but... He would still be dazed after such an attack.

". . . Whew! Oh my god, I ACTUALLY got out of that situation! Whoo-wee!"

And so...
Her face returned to the usual cheery, and slightly sketchy, look that Noei had known it to be.
It was so sudden, that Noei couldn't even comment on it. Takane just continued to prattle on to herself.

"But maaaan, that ugly Seventh was really right... I'm no good in defense situations. My ability's really only good if I get to play uber offensively... And we're in SUCH a tight space too! Even if I wasn't defending Noei, it still would've been really tough... But hmm, now the Seventh knows a lot of my tricks. What should I do...?"

"U.... Um....."

Noei was too lost.
In fact, even getting to where she was... She was already terribly lost.
- Noticing that she at least had enough energy to keep running away- she unplugged herself from the charging cable.
As she made it to Takane uneasily.

"Ms... Ms. Takane..."

She had many questions.

But of course, what she wanted to know, is...

"A-Are you gonna run too? You pushed him back, but... He's definitely gonna get back up. Maybe we can run together! We can find my friends together, and your ability would help a lot!"

"Ah..."

Seeing Noei's sad eyes again...
She couldn't help herself. Takane reached out her hand and pat Noei on the head.
- In such a stressful situation...
It lightened up the load on Noei a little bit.

"... No. You go on ahead and find Elka, Arwest and the blue girl. If there's one less guy chasing you- especially someone this strong... I'll gladly hold them back."

"But...!!! You... You don't know if you're going to win or not! You don't know if you can beat him!"

Noei said, accusing Takane.
But it wasn't much of an accusation at all if that feeling was extremely obvious on Takane's eyes.

"... The odds don't change the fact that I want to win, Noei."

Putting her gun back in her holster...
The smoke caused by her slash was starting to clear.
The holes in the various houses she made, starting to become visible.
So Takane turned her back on Noei... And drew her sword once again.

"I want it so bad, I'll break the fuckin' Backstreets to achieve it. When it comes like that, the odds don't matter one bit. When it comes to that...!!! I'll do everything I can to make it a 100%. I'm on your side, Noei. And I will protect you."

"...!" Those words...

For the first time...
Noei was able to watch as someone's back got farther and farther away...
Without it hurting.

"I'll be back... ... After I teach this dog how to sit."

A green flash. Her aura covered her fully...
Marking that she had teleported away.

("... Why does she keep calling that Jurian person a dog...?")

Shaking her head...
Noei could think of one other place that was high enough for her to use Eyes of Add to scan the entire place.

"... I have to help my friends." That place was... (edited)

02/02/2025 10:28 pm

---------------------- + Near Maeda Atelier + ------------------------------

". . ."

The wind was howling.
It was windy in the morning, but she doesn't know whether or not the fighting scared her...
... Or if it really did get windier.
That still didn't change that things were eerie.
Noei expected to be fleeing more, evading more insane abilities, running away from gunfire...
But it was quiet near Maeda Atelier. Which should've been the first place they decided to look for in case Noei, or any of her friends for that matter, started hiding.
But there was nothing.
Just like when Noei had entered the streets for the first time in the day.

"... Okay. Come on out, then."

Once the hill overlooking Zone 5 was in sight, and thus, her shop...
She put her hands in her jacket's pocket. Expecting Aimone, since he did the same surprise last time...

- But the reason for this entrance was different.
It was pride.

What Noei heard...
It wasn't the roar of motorcycle engines nor the screeching of its tires.
Nor the sound of hundreds of guns loading their clips.
Or the appearance of Sevenths, all glaring at Noei with the intent to kill.
Casually walking out of an alleyway...

Was a twin-drilled Seventh in a business suit.
- A cheap one, at that.
Hands in pockets, with a lax look on her face.
One person.

One person was here to stop Noei.

"... Not going anywhere? Have a sn*ckers."

"..."

Noei stood her ground.
"... After all the running away- being yanked around by chains and lightning bolted in the chest...
Just one person is here?"
She almost felt a bit insulted.
But then again, she's been threatened by a lot more than just a single person before.

Quickly using Eyes of Add with her only remaining eye-
- Noei lamented the brief bits of insultedness she felt.
The person before her was a Seventh, that much was for sure.

But it was a Seventh...
... With biological parts. Organs. Even some flesh and muscles here and there.
And most importantly, a beating heart.
Still undeniably a Seventh- with a computer inside them and all, and all the components common to a Seventh.
But flesh was so expertly interwoven into their design, it was as if the organic organs they did have were just another circuit board for them.
Nothing like a cyborg at all. They were born this way.

"Wha..."

Her face fell in complete shock right after.
Neither of them have thrown a single attack yet.

But Noei was already terrified.

"What...?! What the hell are you?!" (edited)

"Ooooh~? You can tell just by looking at me? I'm impressed, since my outermost layer is metal~. Just like every other Seventh... But what makes me different is that I'm a Chimera. Don't forget that."

Finally taking her hands out of her pockets...
Her bad posture exaggerated even more, as she leaned ahead. Her arms spread wide.

"Name's Hibiki Kidori. You might've heard of me~. I'm kind of a big deal around the block. Some people call me the Crimson Dragon. But I prefer the Seventh codename I was given at birth. The King of Superbia." - Flash. (edited)

"!!!!!"

"- Scum."

"UGAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Noei couldn't even comprehend the attack that was sent her way.
One second... Hibiki was introducing herself. The next, she was right in front of Noei's face.
It wasn't like Takane's teleportation either. This was pure physicality.
All she saw was a purple flash. All she felt was an impact to her gut, then a shock throughout her entire body...

Then, she was sent hurdling through four entire buildings- until she was sent to another street entirely.

"... Already...?!"

Noei had spent so much time charging...
But in one attack... She was already sparking.
Noei struggled to stand up, especially due to rocks, rubble and debris being on them.

Walking through the holes of the four houses, which slowly began to crumble into nothing...
Hibiki had her hands in her pockets again.
- The Chairman of the Kidori Alliance. The one who stands at the apex of the Zone Backstreets.
She had personally taken it upon herself... To retrieve Noei.

"Hey, you. Since you're new around the block, lemme teach you a little rule I have, little one. When it comes to foes I think are weaker than me..." Hibiki finally made it to Noei and looked down on her while standing with a bad posture... "... I'll only use my legs. Can't dirty my hands on such weak foes like you, after all."

"...!!!"

Noei had never felt such rage in her life.
Most of her rage came from her acting in opposition to someone who endangered her friends.
But an insult, a taunt... She had never felt this way to one before.
So with even greater vigor than before-

She rose up. Her arm formed the Belial Buster.

"Don't you underestimate me...!!!"

Pumping even more Furyoku into it than usual- it charged to 100%...!!!
And she thrusted it straight in Hibiki's face, ready to fire, but...

"- No. I mean it. Just my legs..."

- Rise.
Without wind up at all, Hibiki's backfoot stretched and shot upwards...
Knocking Noei's buster arm up. Her leg kicked up and stood directly straight.

"!!!!!"

- Fire.
She had been so lost in her rage, that she fired a fully powered shot to the sky.

"No...!!!"

Having expended so much of her Furyoku for that shot...
She was winded after that shot. Meaning-

- She was open for attack.
Hibiki's attack was not done in isolation, but rather, it was a combination.
Immediately after followed an axe kick.

"White Fang."

"- GUH!!!!"

Which crushed her head.
A huge shockwave formed after the axe kick to her head.
The ground not only cracked... But formed an impact crater.

"Agh-"

Her head keeled down.

- And the combination wasn't done there.

"I really mean it when I say my legs are just enough. Watch- Million Stab." Then... A side kick was aimed to Noei's gut.

"- AUGH!"

Causing the already flinching Noei to recoil back even further.
Just one didn't connect, though.

As she kept dealing side kick after side kick...
Two, four, six, even eight...!
And the ninth one was not aimed at her body- but straight at her head, which her combination already caused her to lower...
Making her final side kick effortless.

"See?!"

"- GAUGH!!!"

The final kick was sent through fully.
The other ones focused more on speed than power. Noei had held up her arms to block the final one, having regained power...
But Hibiki predicted this and shifted to power rather than speed, which broke past her guard.
Noei flew through the street and hit the wall.

"Ngh..."

"No..."
Where she landed... She was sitting.
But it was at just an angle where she was looking directly at Maeda Atelier.
- Despite her pain. Despite her low energy... 
She slowly stood up.
"Gotta... Find Arwest..."

Backed up against the wall...
She aimed her buster once more.

"... Tch. You really have one pattern. Go on then. Fire."

Hibiki said, pointing at her neck.
- This was very obviously a trap. Hibiki was waiting for Noei to fire first.
She was in a situation just like this, but...
The constant taunts and the rage Noei was feeling had gotten her to forget all about that.

"Hngh... HRAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

So she fired.
Taking the time to charge to 100%, then pumping her Furyoku...
She aimed with both her arms-
And fired a shot that blew the building that her back was on to bits.
It wasn't even aimed at the building. The sheer force of the shot and its presence did just that.
It was a shot... Fired with the same intensity that had caused Seren to flee to space all those days ago.

- The reason why Noei favored her buster... Was because she trusted it.
It was the sign that she could reach Seren.
She authorized her factor because of that buster shot that she didn't even know she was capable of doing.
It impressed the Ministry of Defense. Her blast is strong.
It's supposed to be strong.

It's supposed to be something she can trust.

And yet-

With just a simple jumping roundhouse kick...
Hibiki had met the blast that had devastated Seren-
And blew it away, deflecting it high into the sky... As if it were nothing.
Hibiki didn't even look tired.
A huge blast far away- deeper into the Backstreets, a familiar explosion sound... Confirmed its landing.

All she did after that was dust her legs.

"... You're so slow. When are you gonna realize that you're hopelessly outmatched?"

"My... No..."

Noei fell down to her knees soon after...
Her words speak for herself.

"My buster shot... So... So, so easily... How...?!"

Step, step, step. "I didn't even activate my Yetzirah, you know. That was just raw training and skill. Nor did I show any of my Armaments."

Hibiki...
Kept the same relaxed and detached look the entire time.
All her strikes had barely any effort put into them.
Her movements- as she evidenced... Had little energy put into them.

For one simple reason.

"I'm strong. And you are weak. That's all there is to it."

"... Weak..."

Right now...
The depths of Noei's own self loathing had opened to swallow herself whole.
No longer able to support her own weight, even her upper body fell down.
She started to grovel.

"That's right.
I couldn't save Seren, even after that promise.
Everyone was all fighting- even Takane, who wasn't even sure if she could win...
And all I could do is run and get beaten up.

I...
I...!!!!"

- Yet.
As if preventing her from thinking any deeper,
someone had arrived.

- Arwest Meinster.
Her footsteps were very light, but due to how quiet and isolated the streets were...
Even those brisk steps could be heard.
Notably, her appearance... She still wore the same clothes as usual- the same ones Noei gifted to her.
But.
Her aura was already curled and controlled around her.
In her hands... An Armament was already there. A beam saber.
A hilt with a saber of light sticking out of it, directly straight.
Held in hip level, pointing down.

And her face-
- It was monotone, flat. She was trying her best to do a poker face.
But Arwest's attempt spoke a thousand words.

"... Let Noei go. That's all I'll be saying to you."

". . . Oh shit. It's you."

- For a moment, Hibiki's heart dropped.
She finally put her hands out of her pockets, opening them wide.
For a single moment, all the two did was stare at each other...
But even Noei could tell that a myriad of exchanges were going on with expression alone.
The moment something was finally clearly communicated, though...

"..."

Was when Hibiki's open hands clenched themselves-

And in a single moment, she showed even more of the same speed she had against Noei.
- No. It was faster.
Because now supporting her speed... Was red lightning on her body, and purple flames boosting her speed.

"... ARWEST...!!!!!!!!!!!"

She cried out- unlike the composed look she had earlier.
Hibiki's roar was almost like an animal.

And although Arwest's own voice was subdued... "Hibiki...!!!!!!!"

... Hers was terrifying in a quiet way.
Almost like an immutable blade. A silent weapon. A poisoned knife, or a venomous snake.
Her blade was held in the tail position. Hip level, pointing downwards...
Which is meant to create a deceptive stance where it looks like the wielder is open.
But in truth...

"HA!"

Just a simple swing, and their entire hip area is covered.
It's a defensive, space controlling stance.
Which is exactly what Arwest did, knowing that Hibiki would approach.
Pivoting and twisting her entire body, she threw out a pre-emptive rising diagonal slash to cover a wide area in front of her...!

- But what required a charge from Noei...
Was something Hibiki could do with just a twitch of her finger.

"!"

Registering the tail stance, she waited for Arwest to swing...
And right before coming in contact with the blade- jolt.
A huge amount of red electricity was released from her, stunning Hibiki and sending her back.
Effectively altering her trajectory.
And now that Arwest had committed to such a wide slash...

"Kehhh...!!!!!" ... Hibiki countered with a lightning fast roundhouse, aimed to Arwest's hip and lower gut.

Which would have connected first-
If Arwest hadn't prepared something beforehand.
As Hibiki didn't notice it, but her slash... Was a one-handed one.
Her free-hand was holding a second Armament. Her P90.
Which Noei had seen before.

- But it was doing something unique.
Its highlights were glowing. Furyoku was being gathered to it. It was humming, like an overheating engine.
It was charging... Like a buster.

"Now!"

And she fired. Coming from the P90 was not a bullet...!
But a massive, and straight, laser!

"- Tch!"

The reaction to this though...
Was only a click of her mechanical and biological teeth.
Her roundhouse changed trajectories- deflecting the buster shot as if she had always seen it coming.
The shot flew to a nearby house-

And the resulting explosion from it devastated the entire house.
Turning it into nothing. With the force from that blast shooting debris and shaking the ground- causing the 5 other houses nearby it to be destroyed too.
Such devastation...

"Now- you're wide open."

Neither of them looked at it. They continued the battle, as if nothing happened.

Hibiki lowered her leg...
But rather than lowering it to touch the ground, she lowered it to prepare a jump forward-
And the leg that previously went in for a kick now went in for a knee.

It was then...
That Noei had realized what was going on between them.

"Omega Knuckle."

Both Arwest's Armaments disappeared the moment Hibiki tensed up her leg.
As when she shot her knee...
Arwest dropped to the ground- forming a new Armament. A gauntlet.
This wouldn't dodge the knee. In fact, now it meant that she would be hit in the head with it.
That is, unless...

She had a shield.
Her arm dug to the ground- as her gauntlet pulled up a slab of earth to block the knee.

It was at this point-
- As Hibiki's knee stopped right before hitting the earth that was pulled up, instead...
The momentum being used for a wall kick off of the earth, jumping to the side...

Noei realized-

- These two were quite literally fighting on another plane of existence.
The moves they conducted- the moves that they are predicting from one another...
They had literally all planned it out since they even registered each other.
A chess game done entirely with pre-moves.
An untouchable domain, where the two had not only planned out their own moves- but planned out what the enemy's moves were... And their responses to it... And their counters to the responses...
Everything.

She had spent so long in this realization, that what shook her awake...
Was a massive shockwave.

"!" Caused by Hibiki's soaring 45-degree kick hitting Arwest's arm.

A clear block.
But of course, Arwest's arm suffered slight damage.
All those exchanges... All of those blows... 
Only for slight damage on Arwest's arm...

And for a shockwave to erupt as a result of their two energies clashing-
Leveling almost every building nearby them. Perhaps collapsing it entirely. Or just an upper floor. Or just causing bits and pieces of it to fall.
... The road they once stood on though was unrecognizable.

"..."

"I..."

Noei stood there, watching.
This was nothing like what she had seen before.
She knew that there was a gap between the strong and the weak.
But to be in such a position, to be witnessing this supersonic showdown...

It fully illustrated just how far she was behind everyone.

(edited)

"... Let us postpone this match for the moment, Hibiki."

Finally recognizing that the ground that they stood on looked unfamiliar...
She looked down to the ground.

"Any more than this, and you won't have a Backstreets to rule over."

"Keh. That would seem to be most advantageous to the both of us."

Hibiki flipped back.
Glaring.

"... I REALLY don't want to say it, but this kind of makes it a you win, you know that...? At least-"

- Then.
That lax look of hers returned full time.
A shit-eating grin formed quickly.

"- For now, that is. Now I've exposed your allegiances. Now I know that you've betrayed the Melaragno Clan and are helping some random shmuck who SOMEHOW got the jump on Raoul. Was he napping, or something?"

Noei has no idea how she came to this conclusion, or why she feels like it...
But she has a feeling that this total war had come to an end.
Arwest formed her beam saber Armament once again...
And without forming the beam- she pointed it at Hibiki.

"... I heard other Mafioso and Yakuza also claim that they heard this information last night. I just didn't expect a total war. And they also claim the same thing. That Noei killed Raoul. ... Do you know who was the first one to say it?"

"... Who knows, really. Cause I sure as hell don't know. You know me, I just reap the benefits of people who work waaay harder than me~."

Hibiki said with a casual shrug.
She stepped past Arwest.

"But, you know- -There's an easy way you can narrow down the suspects of who did it. Something only us Sevenths can do... Oh yeah."

Hibiki stopped...
And gazed into both Arwest and Noei's eyes.

"You two are dead. October 1. That's the longest I'm letting you live for."

The two of them watched as Hibiki turned around.
- It didn't really feel like much of a victory at all.
Hibiki... Just decided to pull away.
And that said nothing of the Melaragno Clan, who were still after Noei.

On Arwest's end...
She knew that exposing herself- and making herself an enemy out of Hibiki...
Would no doubt spell danger for herself.
She only said this-

"... Shitty Chimera." - With all the hatred in the world.

The two of them stood. Two friends, unable to say anything to each other...
In a pathway that hardly looked like a road anymore.
Near fallen buildings. It wasn't just their battle that was destructive.
But all of Zone 5... Noei looked all around.
She had incited total war by existing.
Smoke could be seen. Fires could be seen. Various degrees of ruined buildings.
Houses had been shattered. And for the ones near Seventh-related fights- vaporized.
The two criminal organizations went at each other with the intent to totally wipe each other out, but they had also wiped the very area they lived in out.
People were hurt, but she couldn't see it.

All of this destruction was caused-

All because Noei dared to exist.

". . ." (edited)

03/02/2025 12:15 am

So, for the sin of her existence,

how would she repent?
And how could she dare to move forward after a day like that?

03/02/2025 9:01 pm

Location-wise, the Ministry of Defense is an intimidating place.
A brutalist mixture of both police station and military headquarters... The entire place is much more like a base than it is a place.
Several buildings, wide and tall. All with barely any design clearly retrofitted to be for the entire purpose of "defense."
Without any people strolling around it. The only people that really can be seen going around it are other officers leaving, or soldiers training and patrolling.
Especially due to its thick gate all around it... It almost looks superimposed on the otherwise humble, if not slightly poor, Zone 1.
A normal person wouldn't want to be here. They wouldn't find it easy to be here.
- Especially on the outside hangar, where Mechas can be seen. Giant ones, resting, the size of entire buildings.
Memories of the war against Whitebell. The only place in all of Steel City where the technology of the enemy can be seen.

However, there is a sort of occasion that would bring people here.
That is, for a purpose that is in the title itself.
For defense. 
If the place is a military base... Then it surely has shelter.

That is exactly what Maeda Atelier was doing as of this very moment.
- Or at least, what remained of Maeda Atelier.
When the war had ended, the 3 of them- though Elka lagged behind a bit...
Sought out shelter in the Ministry of Defense.
The situation was dire.
The Kidori Alliance only stopped attacking Noei directly because they were ruining Zone 5.
However, that said nothing about the Melaragno Clan. They still were intent on hunting Noei in broad daylight with as much force as they could provide.
- A new problem had also been introduced.
The fact that the Kidori Alliance, due to Arwest's intervention, were also hunting Arwest down too.
Noei sat in the middle of an ordinary shelter, made for Earthquakes...
... Without her other eye. She was still damaged in some parts. After all, the Ministry of Defense isn't exactly known for cutting edge tech and scientists to repair a Seventh. One would go to Neuron for that.

"..."

She, alongside Arwest and Elka sat in the middle of a bunker in the morning, hearing the sounds of harsh rain...
... Just waiting for an official response from the higher ups on what they should do.

Elka had thick wrappings and was using crutches to walk.
His external body wasn't the one to receive that much damage... His legs would heal in a day or two.
But it was his lungs that did. Inhaling quite a lot of smoke, having to have run forever...
He was warned by the doctors in the Ministry of Defense that he may ruin his lungs permanently if he kept going like this. So he was advised to not do anything strenuous.

"Hey... ... I probably shouldn't be asking this, considering she isn't here... But where's Polly?"

Out of all of them, Arwest was the least injured.
Though she still had light damage on her outer layer, her metal layer wasn't hurt at all.
Perhaps it's a testament to her skill more than anything.
What did look worn out was her expression.
It couldn't even mask itself in her usual poker face.

This was the worst possible outcome. Everything.
And the damage from that showed clearly on Arwest's face.

"... She ran on her own. She wasn't taken. I don't know where she ran to. She just said it would be somewhere safe- with other people she trusted." Arwest looked at Noei...

And once Polly mentioned-
A lot of feelings passed her at once.
Guilt. Regret. Then fear. 
Which Noei herself found odd. She had no idea she was capable of feeling that much on her own.

... It's that moment which got Arwest to finally let out a smile.
Still a pained one, but a smile nonetheless.

"... She'll be alright, Noei. I've known Polly for a while. She's strong. And more clever than you might think."

"That's true, but..." Noei gripped her fist. "Right now... It's just the three of us. Even if Ms. Takane saved me-... She's not here right now. How..." Her voice practically came out like a frog's croak. "How many more people are we gonna lose?"

"Noei..."

Elka slowly raised his hand-
- And this time, even he struggled to put his hand on her shoulder.
Tightly, he gripped his fist too.
And slammed it against the wall, silently.

". . ."

The two Sevenths in the room could hear it due to their enhanced senses.
But two pairs of footsteps were approaching the shelter.
It meant that they would finally get answers on how to move forward from here.
Even so, Arwest decided to speak...

Because there was a concern that she had to voice out.

"... Noei. You recall what Hibiki said, yes? Before I went here... I did some investigations of my own. And had confirmed that whoever found out about Raoul's death... And us being the killers... Did so through hearsay. The Junkyard- down to the slightest speck of dust... Had not been altered at all.

"Wha-"

Her single pupil fell and shrunk.
The implications had set in fully, coming in all at once.
Then, the events of the war replayed in her head.

"- That means... All of that fighting, all of the hurt-"

"- One of us... ... Ratted me out to the mafia."

The three remained in silence soon after.
Then, the footsteps got loud enough for Elka to hear the two pairs of footsteps approach.
Finally... The metallic door of the shelter creaked open.
Letting in light, as the shelter itself was rather dimly lit.
The people who stood at the doorway were Winter and Lukia- two people Noei knew at this point.
Their faces... Mimicked the three of them. They weren't uplifting at all. In some parts, they even looked dire.

"... Hello, Noei. We once again meet under... Less than fortunate circumstances."

"Winter..."

Noei muttered.
She tried to meet her in the eyes- but she found herself unable to.

Next up, Lukia was the one who spoke.
Adjusting her gloves... She exhaled.

"Now would be the moment where we'd go "do you wanna start with the good news or the bad news", or something like that. But..." A cynical snicker escaped her. "... Sorry to say, but we've got nothing BUT bad news. You're in one hell of a thorny situation."

Arwest scoffed.
Looking to the side, she had a pained look.

"... I'm going to guess this is because we were keeping Polly under our roof for several days."

"You got that right." Lukia said, pinching her nose. "I seriously don't know what you folk were thinking, keeping a Seventh in your house who still had an owner, mind you... -Ah, there is something resembling good news." She raised up her finger. "We can't find any real evidence on the claim that Noei killed Raoul. To be honest, we were kiiiinda expecting him to bite the dust randomly one day due to the random grudges he kept piling up."

Talking about the death of a human like that...
All Lukia did was to shrug. She clearly showed no remorse or sympathy at all towards that man.
Considering how he treated Polly, Noei couldn't really show that dead man much either.

"Ah...!" In haste, Elka stood up. "So wait, does that mean-"

"- No."

Winter came in quickly.
With her hands in her coat's pockets, she delivered a swift rejection to Elka.

"... You guys are still in legal trouble. Even with a good lawyer, the mafia... They've got a foothold in the law. And they've got a deathwish against Noei. With BOTH the major groups working against you... Even if you stay in this shelter for god knows how long- they might still find a way to get you."

"But...!"

Innocently, Noei sat up.
With her arms raised up, she said,

"T-They're criminals! Can't you do something about that...?!"

Noticing Noei's hastiness, Arwest also stood up.
Extending her hand in front of Noei, which got her to stop entirely.

"... Save it, Noei. The Ministry of Defense is useless when it comes to organized crime groups. Because their shitty laws and the mafia's shitty practices make it so that they're technically skirting the line between legal and illegal."

But that explanation from Arwest only served to fire up Noei even more. "Even with all that destruction- all those places destroyed...?!"

Noei looked to Winter and Lukia...
And much to her dismay, they didn't speak. Not at all.
They only looked at her with eyes of pity.

Telling her that this was just how the world operated. This is just how those systems operated.
All those people... All that destruction...
It would go unpunished.

"I..."

Noei sat down,

and muttered,

"But that's so unfair..."

"... I hate to say it, but there's also more. Noei- -You're probably gonna be in this shelter alone."

"...?!"

"?"

"Huh?"

Lukia pointed to Elka. "First things first, you're a minor. We can't keep you here for long... ... So you should go back to whoever your guardian is, or your parents." Then, her hand went to Arwest. "Then- There's your thorny situation. You do realize... The more you stay here, the more we're gonna have to shelter you, yeah? That includes sheltering all your crimes, too. Including your sin."

"...!!!!!!!"

Everyone was expecting Elka to be the one to react the quickest.
But bursting up with a swell of uncontrollable emotions-
They boiled over all at once to a rise. And a step.
Arwest faced Lukia.

"Is... Is that what this is about?! That sin, from so long ago...?! The one I've been trying to repent for?!"

Winter crossed her arms.
With a disappointed look... She shook her head.

"I don't think continuing to work for criminal organizations after that counts as repentance, Arwest. What you did in the Whitebell War... No one but Cybil could forgive it- and she's a bit messed up in the head. More than all of us, even more than relatively speaking. So if that's the only person who forgives you..." Winter lowered her eyebrows. "... Then you should reconsider if you're a person worth protecting."

- It's here where Noei understood.
Arwest already told her past.
But to think that she was such a hated Seventh...

"- That's wrong!"

Arwest had roared.
Looking down at her feet, forcing these words to come out in anger...

"Noei... Noei does too."

"A... Arwest..."

But even such an emotion-filled outburst...
The two Sevenths only met it with the same cold bloodedness they had always exhibited.

"... I doubt it. Noei's a Seventh, albeit one that's not very remarkable. Surely... She would've noticed the Paranoia Syndrome, hm? Are you sure you're not being led on like with Keitaro?"

"You... You leave Nii-nii's name out of your mouth."

For a moment...
Arwest authorized her Factor, and an almost killing gaze reached Lukia.
A massive amount of Furyoku swirled around her in hatred, not even calming itself into an aura.
But upon looking at Noei...

". . ."

It dissipated.

And-

A look of horror filled her.

"... Arwest...?"

It was just a line she said in an emotional moment.
It shouldn't have been any more than that.
But for a Seventh who looked at the destruction caused by the war in such horror...

"I'd do it myself, and I still wish I did!"

"Gh... Hgh... Hgaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!"

Arwest...
Bolted it out of the shelter like her life depended on it.

"...! Arwest!!!"

Noei got up, readied to chase after her...
But the two Sevenths guarded the door.
Noei stopped in front of them, glaring.

"... Let me through."

"And let you go outside, where two mafia families are practically hunting you down?" Winter challenged Noei's glare with her own. "Do you wanna die that badly?"

To that...
Noei could only look to the side, gritting her teeth.
She backed down and went back to her seat without a second thought.

After that, Elka, who had remained silent until then...
Had stood up.
Unlike the other two, who rose so aggressively...
Elka's own rise only carried a soft defeat to it.

"I... I... I guess it's my turn to go, then."

He knew full well what he was saying.
With that sorry look on his face-

He knew that he was betraying Noei's trust.

"... I'll escort you back outside, just in case."

Winter said, patting Elka's shoulder...
And she left, without saying goodbye to Noei.

The one who did though...
Was Elka.

"- Noei. Let's meet again. I still have to see how cool you claimed Takane was, y'know?" He tried his best at a smile, before he was escorted out of the room by Winter.

Noei reached out her hand helplessly...
But unlike before, she didn't have it in her to sit up anymore.
She couldn't stand.
The fatigue hit her all at once. Not just from the war.

But the weight of the world had hit her all at once...
... And now she had nobody.

"..."

Though, not literally.
There was still one other person in the room.

"... You know Arwest, yes?" (edited)

"Haaahhh..."

Almost reluctant to do so, Lukia sat down against Noei.
She didn't even look her in the head too, the director of the Ministry of Defense choosing to look elsewhere.

"Know is sort of a strong word. Most First Generation and Second Generation Sevenths tend to at least know of each other. After all, we all fought in the Whitebell War together. Just so happens... That Arwest's a bit of an infamous case. She did something terrible during the war. Something we call a sin. I don't even want to mention it- but you could look it up in the case files here... It's not a pretty read, though."

Lukia's eyes cast downward.
She twiddled with her hands as she did.

"But there's also the matter of what she is."

"...?"

Noei looked up at Lukia...
But Lukia wouldn't even offer a single gaze back.

"Huh? Is there something special about her or something?"

"Most Sevenths are special in one way or another in their design. We're built for specific reasons, after all. But as she's a First Generation Seventh- our reasons for existence tend to be... Depraved. Made for no other reason than to push the boundary of ethics. Or made in the blind obsession of Renji Tenma at his worst..." Lukia put her hands in her pockets, looking down at the ground. "Arwest's Being... Is Paranoia. She was made to drive others insane slowly. Just by being around her... You'll go nuts. It makes them act out wildly. Even to the point of attempting murder. They'll resort to the most irrational of actions in the wake of that paranoia. All your doubts, insecurities are magnified by just being around her." She pointed at Noei, but she still found it hard to look at her. "This... Was the fate of many of her past families. The various people that owned her. She'd induce doubt in them by nearly existing. She'd make the people around her start to kill each other by exposing the flaws in their family or workplace relationships. That's why she's been drifting from place to place... Unable to find anyone that houses her. Because every place she goes to goes to shit. They just abandon her because of her existence."

"Paranoia..."

Noei could only repeat what she heard like a child.
She put her thumb to her mouth and bit it.
She had no idea Arwest's burden was even deeper than what she said in the junkyard.
That the hell she lived through was even worse than she had mentioned and imagined.

"The last case was particularly bad. Someone- the Ishida Family of Summoners... Took her in, even knowing of her status as the Queen of Paranoia."

Lukia leaned back in her seat, staring at the ceiling.
With her hands behind her head, she sighed.

"I don't know whether or not they were dumb or crazy. But they were also crooks, who no one would cry for. They gave Arwest the false promise that they could withstand her paranoia. They couldn't. And they all slaughtered each other just like her past families did."

The words Arwest had said before...
How one among them had ratted themselves out.
Her heart sunk even deeper. Even her current group couldn't escape the same fate that Arwest had been going through.
Arwest never won against her fate.
It bit back at her again, just when she had finally found someone to trust.

"... I'm sorry." She innocently muttered.

"You saying sorry for her? Don't waste your voice on someone that low. Some people- especially Sevenths are just born evil the moment they're released into the system."

Then finally, Lukia sat forward with poor posture.
She had been shifting positions and stances the entire time, while Noei hadn't even moved an inch.
Noei stood still, like a corpse.

"It'd be impossible to resist or even stop her Paranoia effect. It's embedded within her Being. And I don't think that there's an ability at all that can reach the insides of a Seventh to that level. It'd be like if you made a perfect copy of a Seventh's Armament." Forming a pair of black gloves with Sigils on it... "... They're a part of our souls, weapons that we can form at will. Ya' can't touch that so easily. So- it's impossible."

"I..."

"You can't save her."
That's the message she was getting from Lukia.
Not only that, but...

"So here's what you should do the next time ya' see her. This might sound rich, coming from the head of the Defense, but..."

Reaching for her pocket...
Lukia pulled out a rather bulky and high tech gun.
It almost looked like a gun straight from even the future of an advanced city. Beyond futuristic. Sleek, yet big.
It even had lights on it too.

"... This is an Anti-Seventh gun. Shoot a Seventh off guard with it, and its bullets will crystallize and destroy all of a Seventh's vital systems. They'll be dead in one hit. ... Arwest will probably try to go after you and your friends herself. She ain't immune to her own Paranoia too. So protect yourself with that."

Lukia stood up, putting her hands in her pockets...
... As she walked outside the shelter, without closing the door at all.
It was like Noei was an after thought to her.

(edited)

Noei held the gun in her hands.

- Arwest might be coming after her.
Jun used her and Maeda Atelier for money.
Someone ratted Arwest out to the mafia.
The war had gone on because of someone among them.

These facts were drilled into Noei's head...
... And for each rain drop she heard outside, the weight of the world hit her once more.

"I... I'm going outside."

03/02/2025 10:41 pm

---------------------- + Zone 1 Outskirts + ------------------------

03/02/2025 11:02 pm

...

The rain pours heavily on Noei.
Pouring far too heavily.
Her clothes were torn due to the battle. Now, they've even gotten wet.
And she still only has one eye.
Being near the Ministry of Defense, she is passed by many people. Cops. Soldiers. Ordinary folk.
All watching as she has her gaze to the ground, decaying and rotting with a dead look.
The rain is heavy, almost like a storm.
And yet Noei stood in the middle of it all without care.

Where she wanted to go... Was nowhere in particular.
It was just anywhere outside. Hence why she didn't go far.
The criteria was only that she just had to be outside. Then, she would stand.
It helped that it was raining, too. The rainy season had kicked in.
When a Seventh is exposed to rain for too long, they lose energy... And eventually start sparking.

However-
Eventually, rain stopped falling on her.

"...?"

"... Don't stand in the middle of the rain. Your clothes will get dirty."

Because an umbrella was held over Noei.
It took a while for Noei to even register that rain stopped falling on her.
And it took her even longer to register that Takane was standing there.
Noei only spoke when her single eye met Takane.

Normally...
Noei would be elated.
But the same look of defeat still remained on her.

"Ms. Takane... ..." She cast her gaze back to her shoes. "I'm already dirty because of the rain falling down. I've been standing here for a while."

"Yeah... ... I can tell that."

Takane also lowered her look...
But swallowing her fears- she looked at the destroyed Noei completely.

"You got anywhere to be? I don't see Elka, Pharma or even that new girl you were with anywhere."

"They're... They're gone. They left me. I don't have anywhere else to go anymore." Noei said, gripping her fists. "I don't even want to go back to Neuron. Doctor Etsuji and the others never really cared for me or talked to me in the same way as everyone back at home did. So..."

Losing what little energy she had left...
Noei stepped away- to a building...
And slumped down. Sitting. Sliding down the wall, barely putting any effort even into such an effortless act. She dragged herself to sit down.

"Just leave me alone."

"Hey... ... You've got the look of someone who wants to disappear, you know that. And that's a dangerous look to have in front of one of your friends."

Takane squatted down...
And even as Noei moved- even as she would be showered by the rain instead...
She still held her umbrella in front of Noei.

"... Please..."

"Friends..."
Noei almost swatted the umbrella away, but...
She didn't. She felt no need to. In fact, it would go against what she was trying to do.

Noei wanted to rot.
So she wouldn't move even an inch.

"Just... Just leave." (edited)

"No... Until ya' stand up and feel like talking... I ain't moving either."

It was at that point...
Noei stopped talking. Takane also stopped moving.
Though she was still breathing.
Her eyes slowly began to lose light- she was getting low on energy, after all.
But it was what she wanted.
She didn't even care for her sitting posture, where she was, anything. She just needed to stop moving.

So she did.
And eventually, to conserve on energy...
- She even stopped most of her thinking.
In this state, a Seventh would practically only be running off of their programming.
So time would flow much faster than usual.
But at the same time, for a heart of a Seventh, feel agonizingly slow.
The different aspects of their mind suggested different things. It still did not change the fact though, that this mode of theirs is a good way for them to kill time, really fast- though once their thinking is turned back on, they'll receive backlash all at once.

Which is why...

03/02/2025 11:20 pm

CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 9/30/115 of the Cyber Era
TIME: Morning
WEATHER: Slight Rain

The continuation of that disaster.

". . ."

Even when she powered back on.
Even when her thoughts slowly returned to herself.
Even as she was experiencing a dizziness and grogginess even worse than a human waking up from a nap...
Even as the rain still pounded on the ground...

It took her very, very long...

To comprehend this fact-

"... Haah..."

Sometimes taking heavy breaths.
Sometimes stretching- pacing around for a bit, but never straying too far...
For 24 hours,

Takane did not leave Noei even once.
Only to use the bathroom- which a public one was nearby.
She didn't change her dirty clothes.
She didn't even eat a snack.
Her muscles got tired. She would breathe heavily.
She had nothing to entertain herself with, either.

Takane stayed true to her word- as a human.
She stayed by the side of a rotting Seventh... Who showed no signs of responding.
Waiting diligently. Waiting in an almost insane matter.
Watching over her, without breaking her attention off of her.

"... I see light in your eyes again. Does that mean you're awake?" (edited)

"W..."

She wasn't sure whether to ask her "why" or "how."
Surprisingly, what ended up being forced out was...

"W-W... What?" Total confusion.

Takane nodded.
The rain was slowly letting up.

"It's because I said it myself. I promised to protect you. And that's what I've been doing... The past few days. You ever wonder how I know about who's working with you? Surprised you didn't call that out, but... I get the feeling you're more observant than you like to let people onto, Noei."

"I..."

Noei...
Her joints had become hard to move. Especially due to not being used for a full day.
She slowly rose.

"Protected...? You...?" As her bitterness caught up to her head. "... Even though you were also a mafioso."

"... I can't blame your disdain for people like me. Hell, I hate myself for it. I'm using blood money to pay for my sister's debt."

Takane put her hands in her pockets. 
She wanted to give into her wallowing badly- but...
There was something she desperately needed to convey to Noei.

"But after I found out you were opening shop in the literal nest of the mafia... I rejoined. And did whatever I could to make sure they wouldn't touch you. You'd be scoped out by both the criminal organizations every time you DARED to walk out of the house. I'd have to scrap with Sevenths, crooks, gangsters... Sometimes even in the midnight when you were all sleeping." Takane pinched her nose. "Most embarrassing one was when I had to talk down Aimone, my literal BOSS, on not visiting you and Elka. Talked out of my ass for like half an hour to a raging beast there. Not a memory I'd like to relive, that's for sure!"

"I..."

Noei at first doubted this.
But sorting through her memory-
There was a time she scanned the cameras of Zone 5 to find where Arwest, Elka and Pharma were going.
At the time, she was distracted by the images of the Heinous Crimes against Sevenths appearing in her head, but...
Sorting through what she saw again- she saw her. Takane.
In some camera shots, she would be fighting off other Mafioso and Yakuza, trying to distract and convince others...
Her claims were true.

"... Why, then? Not in the protecting me part... But why are you still here? There's nothing to protect. It's all over. I can't go back to my house. All my friends have left me. There's nowhere here to go."

"But... You're still here. You're still standing."

Takane had said, keeping her voice calm and firm.
It didn't waver. Not once. Not even for a syllable.

"That's reason enough on its own."

"So... What, then?! Why?!"

"I already gave you a reason. But if you want another one- -It's because you're my friend." That word...

"Takane, you..." Noei gripped her own fists. "Do you even believe your own words right now?!" And shouted straight at her.

Such vigor and anger rising up all at once...
And to direct it at her...
It got her to step back in shock. To falter, for the first time.

"H-Huh?"

"You asked me... You asked me to make lots of friends. All that time ago. You spoke about it like it was important, like it was where you wanted me to go." Noei said her next words through gritted teeth. "But then, when you were fired, you said that all things come and go! That anyone could just die, just like that!"

She made a step forward.
The puddles on the ground shook quite a bit when she made that furious step.

"So... I don't see the point anymore. Of having friends."

"..." Takane remained silent.

"Seren... Marika... Elka... Arwest... Pharma... Jun... Everyone."

Noei's hand raised up.
As she stared at her palm that was twitching.

"The closer you let someone to you, to your own life, the more it hurts when they leave you, betray you... Or die. If that's what's coming at the end of every friendship, then why bother!? Why even bother making them at all if it's going to leave me like this?!"

Noei didn't speak for a while after that.
So that's when Takane spoke.
And she still maintained her calm and measured voice.

"... So you prefer it that way, then? Slumped up against the wall, in the rain... Hell- if I weren't here, you'd even be sparking. The Sevenths I've met before in the past tell me that it feels like shit, even worse than period cramps. That's the sort of life you prefer?"

"It..." Noei bit her mechanical teeth. "It's one that I at least know will last."

"... So... In other words, you're scared. Scared of the hurt that comes with friendship. Scared of the pain that'll happen when the inevitable parting comes."

"... Yeah."

Finally, her limbs fell like a puppet with its strings cut.
She lost her willpower to shout at Takane.

"It's so scary, that... I can't move. I don't want to move. Nowhere. Not back, not forward..."

"... Haaaaaaaah."

Takane let out a loud breath...
Then straight after- her arm reached forward...
And pat Noei on the head slowly.

"- I'm sorry, Noei. I said back then what I thought about life. Its fragility and all that. But I didn't tell you what I thought of it really. I figured you could pick up the pieces, but... I forgot that even though I got fired from my job, I was still your teacher. So again, I'm sorry. That's my sin."

"... Huh?"

Finally...
Without even thinking,

Noei met Takane in the eyes.

"This is just what I think. ... No." Takane shook her head. "It's more than just what I think. It's what I practice."

She stepped back.
Takane was tempted to do her usual stance- hands in pockets, posture leaned forward...
But she said it herself. Takane is Noei's teacher.
So she stood as best as she could.

"Friendships, those fun times you had, everything... It will come and go. Even the relationships and bonds you think are the strongest of them all are going to break someday. It might seem like it'll protect you to just detach yourself from all that. That if you just run away from it, look away from it, keep everyone at arm's length and just detach yourself... That you'll be hurt less. All that's gonna do is hurt you even more, though. By bracing yourself, you're choosing to not fully involve yourself in your daily life... Your friends are never gonna get to be with the real you, the one that's fully paying attention." (edited)

'W... Why's that...?"

- Subconsciously.
Noei remembered why she calls her Ms. Takane now.
Because she could teach things that Noei couldn't even comprehend.

"What you should do, really... Is to fight like hell to keep those bonds." Takane gripped her fist. "Crawl. Run. Do whatever it takes. As long as you're still fighting. Be selfish. Be selfless, so those days feel like they last forever. Show appreciation. Show gratitude. Challenge yourself. Push yourself. Be present. Be listening. Be attentive. Even if it'll all go away sometime soon- you have the power to push that expiration date for as long as you damn can. Do whatever it takes to stay in touch. Do whatever it takes to guarantee you'll see them the next day. That's why... When you leave from a house, you say that you'll be back. You say that you're going, even if your Parents, Family members or whatever can hear it through the door opening. And that's why they say take care in response to you leaving, even though they know it's self preservation to want to stay well. We want these days to last forever. So we'll keep making sure that we can hold it for as long as possible!"

"B-But..."

- Step.
Another step ahead.

"They're still gonna go away."

"Of course it will, Noei. That's a part of life too. But when you did everything you could, lived all those happy days, said everything you said you could... There's gonna be no more "what if I did this?" or "what if I hung out with them more?" Nothing like that."

- "What if I was able to save her?"
...
The sin that Noei had festering inside of her...

Was that she had worried that she didn't understand Seren enough to really save her.

"At the end of it, when it inevitably ends, you can just look back on those days... And be proud that you did it all. You can stand proud, knowing you did everything you could, to make something so temporary feel like it lasted forever. To conquer time itself, even if only for a little bit... Ain't that really cool, Noei?"

"It's... I can't... I can't do it, Takane. It's over. Elka, Arwest, Pharma, they're-"

"You're still here, Noei. So let's start over. Get your feet back up. And keep moving forward. Let's keep moving forward from nothing- ... No. From zero."

That word-

It shouldn't have meant anything special to her.
But deep down, in the back of her head...
She heard a voice.

No- two.

It was a far off memory that she had almost forgotten.

"... We shouldn't have been able to have this child."
"And yet here he is. Cradled in your big arms, our own little angel. Well- it's as much of a miracle that I was even able to give birth in the first place! Hahaha!!!"
"That's right... This child is a miracle of not just life itself, but our lives. But man... Did we really go so far as to not give him a name?"
"I got a good one. I've been thinking about it for a while."
"Oh? Let's hear it then. You rarely have good names, so..."
"Hey, shut up! I put a lot of thought into this one, so listen up!"
"I'm listening..."
"... Rei.

The character used to represent his name... Would be the one representing zero."
Quietly-
Noei muttered without thinking.

("Mother... Father...")

...
Noei finally walked. 
And stood in front of Takane, looking up at her fully- even with her single eye.
At that time... It had stopped raining.

"I... I think..."

Though, Noei couldn't find any words to say.

But her resolve was clear.

(edited)

"... Ya' don't need to say anything."

At that moment, Takane's stomach also grumbled.
It was a miracle that the rain stopped the same moment Noei had gathered her resolve once more.
But it was also a stroke of unlucky timing... That her stomach growled that loudly.

"I... I also don't think I need to say much of anything. Come on. Let's go home, Noei."

04/02/2025 12:06 am

Noei Maeda's first awakening was when she was literally awakened by Etsuji Maeda.

Her second Awakening however...
Would come here.

Where she awakened the resolve to fight tooth and nail for her daily life.

However-

The same could not be said for another Seventh.

- It was a memory that didn't happen that long ago, but it was one that felt like it was a long time ago.
In fact, it was the last family she was transferred ownership to.
It was at first an unofficial ownership.
Because she had been found directly underneath a pile of rubble. Her last attempt at trying to find a family literally ended with the family blowing themselves up with a bomb.
Fishing rubble out of that destroyed building, despite the one doing all the lifting just being an ordinary human...

Someone discarded by the very world itself,
had a hand reaching out to her.
An ordinary, human, hand.

"... Here. If you're wondering who I am- I'm not a part of the Ministry of Defense. I'm just a lowly crook who does crimes to survive alongside me an' my gang. You look to be a pretty strong Seventh. And I know about your Paranoia thingy- but I can take it. So... ... If you don't mind, I'd like to use you."

Arwest...
Found herself at the junkyard, recalling that man once more.
She stood near where she buried Raoul's body.
Due to her perfect memory, she could tell that it wasn't tampered at all. Confirming her doubts that someone among them leaked that they killed Raoul to either of the criminal groups.
She didn't know why she decided to recall that memory.
Arwest... Also didn't know why she decided to respond to it vocally.

("... You said that- but you taught me so many things. Housework... Friendship... Swordplay... Cooking... And- -How to cry.")

She had never fully lamented being hated by the world. Being fated to watch as other people were doomed just by being near her.
But that man needed a Seventh to survive.
So did all the people around him. For the first time in her life,

they celebrated her existence.

"..." Turning around... "... Don't think I wouldn't notice you. Got anything to say to me, Polly?"

The expression, even the stance, of the Lapis Pawn hadn't changed.
She still looked child-like.
She still had the same fairy-like grin.
But her intent in approaching Arwest right now... Had changed.
Therefore, everything that made her look unassuming... Now just made her look offputting more than anything.

"... No. To be honest, I was here just to watch what you would do next. On whether or not you'd repeat the same steps you did last time."

"Last time..."

"... She must be talking about with Keitaro and the others in that gang..."
Arwest almost gave into rage, but realizing who she was talking to...
The only thing she could offer was an exhale.

"... The Paranoia Syndrome has already been clearly affecting everyone. It did end up the same as every other attempt I've had at trying to live, if that's what you're wondering."

"That's... ... Not the "last time" I was referring to, Arwest."

Arwest could only afford to raise an eyebrow to that reply.
Either way, Polly continued speaking.

"I was just here to see what you would do next. Right now, you're even worse than hated. You're being hunted down. Not just by the Kidori Alliance- but I bet even the Melaragno Clan doesn't want a loose cannon like you around. And the Ministry of Defense would be more than happy to finally dispose of you. There's nowhere left to go, even in the underworld. And I doubt a group that slips through the cracks of the world would just magically appear before you... No?" Polly taunted Arwest, leaning forward cheerfully.

"That's right..." Arwest scoffed. "There's nowhere left for me to go. Not in this city... Not in this world."

"So, what ARE you going to do, hmmm? Did you bring yourself to this junkyard just to fit in with the other corpses here?" Polly said, smiling.

"... Even though you're not a child, saying something as grim as that with a voice like that..."

Arwest shook her head to stop her train of thought.
Then, she turned away from Polly.

"... Whatever. You've always been the hardest to read. Maybe you were even a part of their plan to bring me at my lowest point."

"Oh...?"

Polly stood upright.
As she followed Arwest, though still staying a bit detached and far from her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know whether or not Noei was a part of this plan. But the others, maybe it was due to the hell of housework I put them through- or just something fundamental... Like the Paranoia Syndrome... But they wanted me gone."

Arwest put her hand to her mouth-
And doubt...
It had already taken her over long ago.
These were conclusions that she already made to herself. She was just voicing them out.

"And this plan- this conclusion was a way to get rid of me. Maybe they just didn't like having a killer among them. Maybe their senses detected the Paranoia Syndrome, and wanted to get rid of me on a gut feeling basis alone. But... This had to have been intentional."

"Well, whatever floats your boat, I suppose." Polly stood upright, putting her hands behind her back. "That still doesn't answer my question though."

"..." Arwest turned her head back to Polly. "If I could... ... I would burn it all down. Not just them. Not just this district. Not just this underworld. But... This whole city. With my own two hands- -I'll show them a piece of the suffering that I've been holding in up till this point."

04/02/2025 12:46 am

At that announcement though...
A voice was heard in the junkyard.
But the frequency of that voice was something that caught their attention.
A voice in such a decrepit and terrible place would be enough to catch their attention. But that voice was in a normal tone. Not shouting or yelling, or with a slight raise of the voice at all.
So whoever spoke... Spoke with the knowledge that the only person could hear it was a Seventh.
Because they were outside of human earshot. Only hearable by a Seventh.

"I can arrange that, then. A way for you to get your revenge."

"...?!" Arwest looked...

And saw a man.
A man in a red vest with sunglasses.
How he was able to hear the two talking... It was because he was Circulating, his aura shrouded around him. His senses were enhanced.
His aura was a cosmic aura, almost looking like a nebula.
With his hands in his pockets...

He introduced himself.

"My name is Renji Tenma. The creator of all Sevenths. And I will give you an outlet for your rage."

04/02/2025 12:47 am

---------------------- + Zone 3, Takane's Apartment + ------------------

Eating what was called colloquially a "Stameshi..."
Which in truth, was just piles and piles of beef and rice made for people who like to over indulge in meat and protein...
Takane was eating lunch over in her apartment.
It was an ordinary apartment for someone just below the middle class. The apartment of someone who clearly works under minimum wage.
... Although Takane's salary wasn't THAT bad, so much money went to funding her sister's recovery that she forgets to spend for herself.
So her meals were often simple.

"Mmph! Mmph! Aaaah! And done~! That's a new record of the fastest Stameshi meal I've had at 3 minutes and 19 seconds!" ... Takane also had a habit of timing how fast she could finish Stameshis by having a timer right next to her.

"Wowww!!!"

Noei...
Very luckily, in just a single day, she was back to her usual self.
Sadly, she wasn't eating. Although she doesn't need to eat, so it's understandable.
Takane doesn't have much room in the fridge, and due to her financial situation, she has to use every scrap of food in the fridge that she can.

"But that timer is actually slightly buggy. It was at 3 minutes and 21 seconds. Maybe you should have used your phone timer instead, or me?"

"Geh- well..."

Takane looked at her phone...
As she sighed.

"... Shit, that's worse than my best friend's time."

"Just means you gotta keep trying harder, then!"

Noei stood up...
And looked outside the window.
The rough backstreets were shown, and they were pretty high up due to being in an apartment complex.
They had agreed that this would be the best place for Noei to hide... Because there was no other place.
She could go back to Neuron, but both of them felt like explaining what Noei got into would be a "headache and a half" according to Takane.
So Noei would stay in the Zone Backstreets until she somehow managed to fix things. Somehow.
She didn't know how. She just had to do it.

Noei let out an exhale.

"... The streets look safe. Should I go to try and find the others now?"

"... Now's definitely a good time, yeah."

Takane stood up.
Stretching her hand out, green energy and Furyoku flowed and sparked in front of her...
Before forming the shape of a katana. In which, her katana then teleported right in front of her.

"You're... Really gonna be alright, right? I'm still not exactly convinced we should be splitting up to look for this Arwest friend of yours..."

"Relax! It'll be fine! Cuz'..."

- Thwip.
Noei... Flipped up her hoodie.

"I've got a hood."

". . . Ah, whatever. I can teleport if things go south, anyways."

04/02/2025 1:05 am

----------------- + Zone 3 Streets + ------------------------

Of course, to avoid attracting attention...
Noei intentionally did not choose to fly.
This would attract attention from either of the criminal groups. Just by walking the streets...
She could feel things were more vigilant.
Zone 3, due to being a marketplace district, was more populated and filled with commuters than Zone 5.
So it was obvious for Noei to see that the people just trying to live their daily life were rushing anxiously.
Moving faster. Doing their business faster.
She could even see some mooks, gang members and mafioso patrolling the streets.
She wasn't sure if they were looking for her, or they were just protecting the people after the total war of Zone 5.

"... But it really feels suffocating now..."

Noei had sighed.
Periodically, she used Eyes of Add to scan the streets... But with just a single eye only, it made it hard.
She hadn't seen Arwest or anyone relating to Arwest even with Eyes of Add.

Taking a break right in front of an alleyway...

"Maybe I should be looking at Zone 5...? Or maybe I should look for the Melaragno Clan headquarters... Nah. She wouldn't go back. Hm..."

The other person to look for was Pharma. Elka, she could find out where he was just by finding out where Aimone lived.

However-
She hadn't considered the possibility of finding this person instead.

Noei at first thought that she found her.
When it was more like she found Noei.
From the alleyway Noei stopped in front of... Polly was there, grabbing Noei's wrist.
Looking up innocently at her... She spoke.

"Noei..."

"... Ah!!!!!!!"

Noei resisted the urge to scream.
But remembering how important it was to stay undercover...
She took Polly's invitation and went straight into the alleyway.
Once they were out of earshot- deep in the alleyway, even for Sevenths...
Noei could finally speak freely.

"Y-You're... You're okay!!! I mean, Arwest said you'd be okay, but seeing you right in front of me... It..." Remembering those rainy days- Noei fell to her knees to match Polly's height. "It... It almost doesn't feel real."

"Ah..."

Speaking more softly than usual...
Noei put her hands on Polly's shoulder, causing her to be disoriented a bit. In response, she put her hand on Noei's right.

"I'm also happy to see you okay. Well- aside from the eye! But... ... Could... Could you repeat what you said?"

"Mm? That it doesn't feel real? Or before that... Arwest said you'd be okay."

Noei said, a bit confused.
She pulled back after, the brunt of her relief being revealed in full.

"It's... That. I was just a bit surprised! You said that so confidently, without doubt at all."

Polly said with her usual childish smile.
- But even Noei could tell her mannerisms in speaking had changed...
Or rather, that she's actually like this.
Right now, Noei had a feeling she was seeing Polly's true face.

"Why would I? I..." Noei clenched where a human's heart would be. "I had a lot of doubt in me, at a time. But Arwest is my friend. I don't think I have reason to doubt her."

"...?"

And for a moment, the two fell silent.
Noei was waiting for a response from Polly... Who didn't know what to say at all.
For a moment, she was just lost.

"... And of the others? One of you had to have leaked the information to the Melaragno Clan."

"That..."

Noei had chosen to stop thinking about that.
She felt like if she pursued that thought any further... Then dangerous things now.
But as soon as she began thinking of it now, forced to by Polly...
Her response came naturally.

"Whoever ratted us out... I won't forgive them. Ever. And that means a lot, coming from me. But I still would trust them."

Those words...
Polly's pupils shrink.

"So..." She was caught extremely off guard. "Y-You... You remember, then?"

"- Remember..."

And then,
she knew.

"So Takane never showed up... I knew it. She was just trying to set me up and lie to me. All adults do that. She probably just thought it would be nice if I left school and started this, huh? Because that's what all adults do to me. They just choose my path for me."
"... Why the hell are you all trying to distance me from Arwest?! I just want to get closer to her, that's all! So what if I left you all in that moment?! It's because she keeps running! I have to chase her!"
"Arwest... I just want to know who you are. Why you're so sad. Why do you keep dodging the topic...? Please- just let me in already!"
"The... The Paranoia Syndrome? What's that?"
"That doesn't make any sense, though. Why are you telling me to stop pursuing this just because I haven't been here for as long as everyone else...?!"
"I knew it. You were all the culprits."
"Sleep tight, Arwest.

... The Queen of Paranoia."

She saw it.
Another time.
Another group.
Another her.
A vision... Of the past.

"... What?"

"You..."

Polly's eyes looked sad...
But she let out a subconscious, gentle, smile.
As she put her hand on Noei's head, who was experiencing deep turmoil at this moment.

"You do remember."

"T-That's right..."

What she saw...
It wasn't perfect. It was a hazy memory to her- like a dream of a human.
But it was still vivid enough to her to be more like a memory than a dream.

"I don't know what it was exactly. But it was real. Every part of me says that what's been loaded into my memory right now really happened. I-It was another past. I started up shop like usual, but Jun's words that I should start doubting everyone... As soon as I met Arwest, I... I started to doubt everyone. I noticed how much people like Pharma wanted me to be away from her and focus on them more- like she did now... And lashed out at them for it. And...!!!!! Instead of Arwest, I was the one who came to the conclusion that someone leaked the info...!!!"

All of this stress reached her head.
Noei put up her hands on the side of her head, horrified at her own memories.

"I-I... I thought they were conspiring to kill me. But in truth, they're just scared- like they are now...! And what I did to them-... I murdered them all myself."

Noei... Had a lot of questions right now.
Most of them were on Polly.
For one, her hazy memories of this past... Didn't include Polly at all.
And of course, the obvious question on how she knows about all of this.
All of it... Was washed away by this-

"- It's okay. You've already repented."

". . ." Noei's hands lowered. "... By not doubting anyone... But the end result was the same...!!! I killed everyone in that world where I doubted everyone. And by just remaining myself, I lost everyone still...! Just like with Seren...!"

The stress had reached her fully. Receiving all of this info at once...
And of course, her own insecurities were still present.

"- Noei. Right now, you should be able to notice... That in this world, Arwest is going through what you went through in the past." (edited)

"Ah-"

Stunning her out of her own self loathing...
Was that realization.
The doubt. The paranoia. The very reason why she ran out of the police room...
Right now... Arwest was going through a spiral she knew about.
One she experienced fully.

That's right,
Arwest had been asking the question,
"When will the others leave me too?"
Far, far before she even had the seeds of doubt planted within her.
And now, her flower of doubt was about ot germinate in the worst way possible.

"Noei... ... You're the only one who can. It's a bit selfish of me to ask this, and childish, but... Save Arwest Meinster. Please."

"... You didn't need to tell me that."

- The sin of this past world wasn't the only sin Noei was making up for.
The fact that she couldn't save Seren... Not knowing much about her, simply just being there instead of giving Seren a piece of herself too...
That sin of being passive is one she's atoning for too.
Because she's going to prove it now.

That she's the #1 expert on Arwest Meinster now.
Which means, she's the only one who can save her.

"I won't let go. No matter what. There won't be any should haves or would haves. Because I will definitely, no matter what, save you."

She had said those words before.
And now with the tools to properly fight...

They finally become admirable words, rather than words of desperation.

04/02/2025 2:12 am

2-6: CONCLUDE

Chapter 2-7: Final:
二人とも / Futaritomo / The Two of Them

04/02/2025 5:48 pm

--------------------------- + Zone 5 + ------------------------------------------

Regardless...

... After Noei's declaration, some preparations were made.
First things first. Noei got her eye back, but it was a hackjob and a rushed operation.
Her left eye could see, but it couldn't use Eyes of Add.
Secondly, Noei had to be charged. She was still low on energy after not only the total war incident in Zone 5... But also having been drenched under the rain for 24 full hours.
- There was a third preparation too, but its effects will only be seen later.
But those preparations mean Noei couldn' have gone as fast as she wanted to. Polly was also feeling urgent too, but her usual childish demeanor made it easy to overlook.
Now, though, as the sun began to fall and the skies began to redden...

Polly, Noei and Takane had arrived...
And the last disaster to befall Zone 5 in these days had already begun.

"...!!!!!!!!"

Polly skidded and stopped the moment the three had rushed into Zone 5.
She held her throat.

"I don't believe it... The Temporal Distortion levels are unbelievably high here. Did the Isotope Syringe really strengthen her that much...?!"

"Temporal Whatnow?!"

Takane stopped as soon as Polly did.
Caught off guard by what this Seventh said...
Her pupils shrunk. As she instinctively began to circulate.
Her aura swirled up slowly, like a thin blanket being wrapped around her. And her face stiffened.
It was like she was back in battle.

"... Noei. Authorize your Factor. Every single part of my body's screeching at me that something isn't right here."

"Wha- okay...!"

Noei said. Her aura came forth like usual, bursting almost like a geyser.
At the same time she did-

An explosion occured.

"!?" It wasn't far off too. It was in a house down the street they were in... "... What?!"

And the explosion was powerful, abrupt and sudden.
It wasn't like the improvised explosions she saw in the total war incident. Whatever bomb was used to blow up that house...
It was a powerful one.
At first, Noei thought the two criminal groups were somehow still fighting.
But looking on ahead...

She saw that they weren't. In fact, they were even working together.
Sevenths and humans alike rushing people from the houses out, evacuating...
Neither side fighting each other- and instead heading to something everyone could see anywhere from Zone 5.
Maeda Atelier. The hill. Which was covered by a thick, translucent, barrier of distorting energies. Almost like an aurora borealis localized entirely around Maeda Atelier.
This wasn't like the total war incident. Something totally different was happening here.

"My home... I... I'm going to guess that's where we need to go."

"Yeah... Right now, that's where Arwest's holed up. What's happening right now, is..."

Polly spoke, but...
A loud, piercing shout could be heard from deeper in the streets.

04/02/2025 6:12 pm

A man who could shout exceptionally loud was heard.
It came over to the northwest of where Noei was, straight ahead.
It could be heard even in spite of the chaos ongoing right now.

"H-HELP!!! THAT QUEEN OF PARANOIA PUT SMALL BOMBS ALL OVER MY HOUSE!"

"...!"

And immediately after hearing that...
Noei jumped up- her legs transforming to thrusters.

"Ms. Takane! Polly! Just give me a bit! Someone's in danger!"

"Ah- wait-"

Takane at first reached out her arms...
... But putting her hand on her katana's sheath, she slowly smiled.

"- No, go for it! I can teleport, but don't stray too far! Fly back to us as soon as you can!"

"I got it! I'm off!"

In a single second alone...
Noei boosted off, her thrusters shooting her to the direction of the shout.
Using her singular Eye of Add, she saw the man who shouted.
He was inside a house...

... With small bombs all over the furniture.

"...?!"

Bombs that small surprised her. They were the size of nuts, and stuck all over a piece of furniture.
For example, a Fine Chinese Vase had at least 10 all over.
A chair would have 30 of those small bombs.
Such highly advanced bombs... Noei had a feeling they were expensive and high tech.
All the Yakuza and Mafioso only used big bombs- improvised weaponry that they crafted on their own. The bombs she saw reminded her a lot of the machines she'd see in Neuron- compact, yet grand.

"... Can't hesitate. I... I am unstopping."

But even the sign of that didn't distract Noei.
Forming the Gehenna Drill in her right arm... She pierced through the house walls with her drill.
Noei landed directly in front of the screaming man.

"- AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Of course, the screaming man screamed even louder once Noei basically crashed through the doors.
Noei had expected the man to look like Elka, but he was surprisingly more scruff and everyman-looking like.
And much to her surprise again, he quickly calmed down.

"W-Wait... You're... You're not the Queen of Paranoia! You're the Seventh I saw on the news- the one they said was a hero!"

As the panicked man spoke...
With as much speed as she could- she used Eyes of Add...
And began to move to every piece of furniture that had small bombs on it.
Vases. Carpets. Chairs. Even pulling out the entire toilet.
Collecting all of them, melding them all together in a sort of ball, dashing around the house without stopping.

"... Yeah! I'm Noei Maeda! I just got here, so what's going on?!"

"S... Such speed! Holy crap! I've never seen a Seventh work this up close before!"

The man said, scratching the back of his hair.
Though his face looked like he was a bit older than Elka, his voice suggested he might've been around the same age range as him.

"But, uh...! A purple haired Seventh calling herself the Queen of Paranoia somehow broadcasted herself on a big TV! She said that she wants EVERY Yakuza and Mafia family here, to kill them, otherwise... She'll blow up the entire Zone Backstreets." The man said, his stomach dropping just thinking about it. "One by one, with each street, each house- until the final bomb drops at the end of this night... A-And it's crazy! Because it's actually happening!"

"Bombs, right...?!"

Noei had finally gathered all the furniture in the house in one ball.
Her legs transformed into thrusters once more...
As she flew as fast as she can- as high as she possibly could. In a few seconds, she speeded.
Even threatening to break into the mesosphere.
Once she reached a comfortable enough height...

"Hngh...!!!!!!!!"

Noei threw the ball of furniture as hard as she could.
Launching it very high. Then...

"Belial Buster."

Her right arm shifted shape, transformed...
And a weak, no charge, but extremely fast shot was sent straight to the ball.
As soon as it hit...

It blew up. Into a huge explosion.
The smoke that it formed almost looked like beautiful, yet dirty, fireworks.
Barely any debris or shrapnel was left from the small bombs.
Meaning... They are bombs that engulf and destroy, rather than fragment.
Extremely high powered bombs, for such small size...

"..."

Noei found it terrifying.
She descended slowly back into the red haired man's house...
As she spoke.

"... How, then? How did these bombs get all over your house?"

"That... That was so cool!"

Much to Noei's dismay, the man couldn't immediately answer Noei's question.
Shaking his head, his arms bobbed up and down.

"The news wasn't kidding! You really are a hero!" As soon as he began to answer Noei's question, though. "But, uh! I really don't know how the Queen of Paranoia is doing all of this, though! Cause the bombs just-"

04/02/2025 6:30 pm

- A shout.
Another loud shriek, just like the man's own yell just before.

"AAAAAAAAH!!! THEY'RE HERE TOO!" Coming from a nearby house, just across the street.

"...?!?!?!"

Noei's pupil activated Eyes of Add.
She confirmed that another house had small bombs all over its housing and furniture.
But... What was confusing was that they just appeared.
Due to its close proximity, she also saw that house on the way to the red haired man's house. And there were no bombs previously.
They had all just appeared within a second.

"Sorry! I'm off!"

Forming her thrusters again...
She drilled through the house of that person...
With her high speed as a Seventh that's Circulating, gathered every piece of furniture...
Then repeated the process of flying up and shooting down the ball of furniture, resulting in more dirty fireworks.
This time, now that she understood what to do, she executed it even faster.

"... They appeared, just so suddenly..."

But while she was doing this-
- Another house had erupted, blowing itself up... Alongside causing shockwaves that collapsed two other houses nearby.

"...!!!!!"

Noei couldn't tell the difference at first...
But a number of houses had already been blown up.
It's just- Zone 5 had looked ravaged already due to the total war...

... So if this continued, then there would be nothing left of the place Noei once called home.

"No..."

- That thought caused her to falter.

But she kept going. Flying down...
Once she noticed her.

(edited)

Moving at speeds so fast, a trail was following her...
Ones faster than anything she's seen before- even Seren's own speed, which she heard was supposed to be one of the best...
Arwest had mowed down an entire street filled with Mafioso and Yakuza rushing at her.
Her speed wasn't like Seren's speed. 
It was like time itself was speeding her up. She wasn't just moving fast- she wasn't making that much moves to begin with.
Seren's flight took effort. But one step from Arwest, and time would propel herself through multiple foes. 
Slicing off 5 chests off with her Beam Saber alone...
Then, mowing down 6 others with her P90 in the other hand...

What was going on was clearly a slaughter.

". . ."

- Thus...
The third preparation Noei took revealed itself her.
She took a deep breath. Sevenths don't need to breathe, but... The act of mimicking it slowed down her thinking and emotions.
What she did last time against Seren... Was to resort to talking straight away.
Immediately rejecting Seren and what she was doing, all because Noei wasn't okay with it.
All because she didn't understand Seren enough.

"... This time..."

The third preparation Noei took...

She swooped down to Arwest's slaughter...
Slamming down right in front of her.

"...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She did so right before she was about to slash another person.
At first...
She faltered.

"You..."

- But her eyes looked more than sad. They were lost.
Sadness had swirled in with rage... Just like with Seren.
Paranoia.
And that rage was about to take over.

"Get out of my way...!!!!!!!!"

One arm swung her Beam Saber.
Due to the nature of the Beam Saber she had, even if Noei had defenses from her Furyoku aura...
It would deal fatal damage if it so as much connected even slightly.
And she was swinging at close range, boosted by her new speed.

For Noei, it should have been impossible to dodge.

But she had changed.
... What Takane did before rushing in, in her apartment...
Was to teach Noei how to fight.

"... Gehenna Drill!"

Her left arm formed the Gehenna Drill.
Spinning, spiraling and gathering energy...

Noei had already formed it, expecting a slash.
The only thing that could beat such godspeed- no matter how fast one is moving...
Is an impenetrable defense. A defense that had already been ready beforehand. 
The Gehenna Drill parried the Beam Saber to the side... And Noei's own free hand...!!!

"Ghhhh...!!!!"

Reached out, twisting...
Into a jab to Arwest's face.

"!!!!!!!!"

Seeing this jab coming, Arwest raised up her free arm to block.
And as soon as they clashed...
The opposing force between two Sevenths at full power... Causes shockwaves upon impact.
A huge burst of kinetic force unleashed- blowing everything and everyone away.
This sort of clash... Noei had only seen other Sevenths do it.
But now she was the one who triggered it.

Arwest jumped back soon after. Maintaining distance- now 8 paces away from Noei.
She still held her sword with one hand, now aimed to the ground and on hip level.

"You... You came here to finish the job, didn't you?"

"Want you gone...?! What the hell are you talking about?!"

She wasn't planning on talking to Arwest until she got further into the battle.
But she had talked  first, so she ended up responding.
Noei... Took a stance.

Unlike before, where she would just ready her Belial Buster and fire...
Noei took a proper fighting stance. One that boxers use.
One arm held up to block her head, even to the point where her elbow was, her left.
And the other right arm had been lowered, to around chest level with the elbow blocking the gut.
She had received criticism from Takane on how she fought.
Her words were the following-

- "While I was watching you fight, I noticed...
You rely too much on your charge shots, believing they're the only thing that can do damage.
Listen up here, Noei. You save those sort of attacks that take a while when you've got your opponent where you want to.

You need to weaken them. Tire them out with weaker hits, then go in for the killing blow.
Or devise some sort of strategy that will let you fire that charge shot with no chance for them to dodge, and all the chances for you to not get hit or win in the end.
In boxing, you always gotta throw a few jabs in before you throw in your overheads, yeah? Same principle applies here.

So... Get used to the rhythm of a fight instead of being all forceful about it.
Either by using the weaker, uncharged, shots of yer' buster before going in for the charge...
Or... Ya' could get in there directly and use your strength as a Seventh up close."

Takane's words... Had inspired a shift in Noei's fighting style.
Thus, all the battle data she had collected. From every fight she's seen, every fight she's been in...
- And she saw many fights as a result of the total war.
They were finally being used by Noei.

"... I know the truth." Arwest's leg slid back... "And I should've known it from the start. You proved it here. You're a hero. You would've never accepted someone like me, a dirty, blood-stained killer!"

As she rushed forward.
What was coming was something Noei couldn't fully see. Her senses couldn't comprehend Arwest's speed at all.
Nor did she have a guess on what she was doing. There wasn't enough data in her from fights for that.

"What...!?"

But...
If her reach was greater- then that didn't matter.
Her left arm was her jabbing arm, so she formed the Gehenna Drill on it.
Extending its length... She stepped forward while twisting her body to the side.
And she threw a basic, quick, jab.

One that reached Arwest before her sword could.

"...!!!!!!"

Arwest threw out a rising slash.
This was to control the space in front of her, as rising slashes tend to come out fast but with weaker power. They immediately challenge the foe.
But in truth, Noei was challenging her first, having thought of the jab first.
The drill hit her head on- as it caused enough damage... To form cracks in her outer layer, exposing the steel layer.
One foot stepped back.

"I knew you were just leading me on. You, Elka, Pharma and Jun spoke too damn quietly! You didn't tell me anything- you were all trying to hide things from me! Elka's dad, Pharma's own apprehension... And your burden!"

Arwest stepped back... Out of fear.
Because Noei had undergone a transformation. Not just in fighting- but in mindset.
So she committed that fear into offense.

She leaped back, forming a new Armament.
She's shown her sword, P90 and Omega Knuckle so far... So a 4th means she's a Weapon Focused Seventh.
What was formed in her hands... Was a rocket propelled grenade- a high powered RPG.

"Now!"

One very useful for dealing with Sevenths.
While retreating and in mid air- she fired it to Noei.

"Yeah... ... We were doubting each other and on whether or not Maeda Atelier would even work. But...!!!"

Noei's right arm, which had been lowered...
About the same time she threw out her distance-making jab, guaranteed to reach first...
Her right arm had already transformed into the Belial Buster.
And had already charged.

The missile shot from the RPG would've been bad news. A direct hit means Noei would suffer fatal damage.
And her speed can't dodge the missile too- it too was accelerated.
There was only one place where it exploding was safe.

"... Charge Shot!"

Right in front of Arwest.
Noei shot a 50% powered shot as soon as Arwest even thought of shooting Noei.

"...!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Seeing the Charge Shot fly, it was going to hit the missile that was just fired less than a second ago.
So, thinking quick- her final 5th Armament revealed itself.
Two purple and pink tonfas. Crossing them together...
The missile blew up right in her face.

"- Guh!!!"

She blocked, but she still sustained damage. Especially because she flew back and hit the ground hard.
But her stand up was quick.
- That stand up also signified something to Noei.
Whatever speed boost Arwest was using... She doesn't have it anymore.

So in this advantage...
Noei capitalized off of it instantly- rushing to Arwest at full speed.
She readied her buster in her right arm, indicating her intent... But in truth, she was most focused on her jabbing arm, which had returned to normal.
The buster charging was doing so mostly to intimidate Arwest. She wasn't sure if she could actually get a shot in.

"I can promise this time. I know your full past now. I know what you've been through. The proof that you need that I will stand by your side until eternity- is right here!!!"

Once she landed, Arwest switched her purple tonfas to her Beam Saber. "What are you talking about...!? Weren't you the one who prattled on and on about friendship?! Your front of being united, that front of spreading doubt... You were trying to get me to this point to dispose of me! That's why one of you... Rat me out!"

Arwest held her arms in a low stance. This time, holding her Beam Saber with two hands.
She took the tail stance. This time, intending even more to slash before Noei.
Her slash would reach first.

(edited)

That is...
If Noei was going for a jab.

"... Armament, SWITCH!"

Preserving the charge of her Belial Buster-
At the same time she threw out her left jab... The Belial Buster unformed, then reformed quickly in her jabbing arm.
The jab that she threw out...

... Was actually a shot.
But.

Noei wasn't the only one capable of lying and deceiving others.
What rising slashes from a low stance are used for are mostly for quick, defensive options. Space control methods.
But they're also useful for deception. With the arms hidden, lowered... The actions taken with a sword swinging from below are more ambiguous than the ones coming from above.
As soon as her wrists curved upwards...
Arwest took a deep step forward, that knee dropping.
And that slash instead had transitioned into a thrust.
She not only made it in... But she low profiled and dodged the charged shot.
And stabbed Noei.

"...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Noei was stabbed straight where a human's heart should be.
There are more vital and better places to strike, but...
Where Arwest struck was less for damage-
More to send a message.

Even so.
Noei was still unstopping.

"Hngh...!!!!!"

Her lowered right arm struck-
As she mimicked something she's seen on TV before.
An uppercut. Her arm forced and jerked itself upwards. She had to get Arwest off as soon as possible.
If she moved her Beam Saber anywhere- she would be cut in half instantly. So she had to force her off as soon as possible, otherwise she would die.

And yet.
Arwest... Was not afraid of that arm at all.
Rather, she challenged it directly. She pulled out her Beam Saber...
And unexpectedly, even though Noei's arm moved first... Arwest's attack reached first.
She swung with a half-strike and sliced off Noei's right arm from the wrist.
But... Her attack would continue. It was only a half-strike. Her arms were already intending to move in... To decapitate Noei.

". . ."

"- Wha...!!!"

"... The uppercut was way faster on TV! What happened?!"
Having taken major damage... And with the risk of taking more- she formed Seren's Wings of Terror.
Black wings appeared from her back, and shrouded around her like a shield.
From the wings, blasts were also being charged up all around her.
This came in panic.

"... Tch!"

So obviously, Arwest was able to not just see it coming...
But to dodge it and counter. She flipped back...
And she switched her Armaments to her tonfas. Raising one high, and the other one lowered- mirroring Noei's stance...
Arwest charged forward, putting everything into speed, with her right tonfa raised perfectly horizontally.

"Toratakkan - Tiger Charge!"

She recognized the Wings of Terror from the news. So she was confident that her attack would beat out the Wings of Terror.

Noei forming the Wings of Terror was a bluff. This, Arwest didn't expect, but her attack would work regardless on if it was a bluff or not.
The wings dissipated into black fragments, then to nothing... As Noei looked at Arwest's rush.

"- She's coming!"

Right now, she taught to herself...
"If I used an uppercut like before... Then it would break through Arwest's guard, or even bypass it if I hook it through her guard.
But- what I threw out didn't have the speed or power I saw on TV...
Does that mean...?"

The thoughts she had in her head were confirmed...
By a shout.

"NOEI!"

A voice... That she dearly missed, even if it only had been 2 days.
Elka Brinker. Who had shouted from an alleyway, evidently only having just arrived.
Tired out of his breath... He still managed to shout this out.

"It's your posture! An uppercut is thrown with your knees bent... Arm reeled back, touching the hip... Then, as you throw your uppercut up, throw both your hips and knees up!!!"

From his experience as a boxer...
He had instantly noticed what was wrong with Noei's uppercut-
- And her reaction to it not working.

"...!!! I got it!"

Noei looked back...
And in her right hand, she formed the Gehenna Drill in place of her actual hand. In addition, she really needed the reach.
Arwest had already committed to her charge forward. And as soon as Arwest got close...
Noei's knees, hips and of course arm burst up.

"GHHHH...!!!!!!!!!!!"

"!!!!!"

Arwest was already too deep focusing her charge to notice Elka's shout.
Too focused. Too in the zone. Too devoted, even.
Too doubtful.
So she noticed Noei finally having reached proper uppercut form too late.

"... I'll make it!"

But stat-wise, in terms of just raw physicality and specs alone...
She could do something still. After all, her left arm was still lowered.
So, in response to seeing Noei's uppercut, before her right tonfa charged into Noei... Arwest had changed her technique mid-charge.
Her left tonfa burst up in a rising slash-like motion, intending to come out faster than Noei's uppecut...!

"You're mine!"

But.

Arwest wasn't sure if this was pre-mediated... Pre-determined... A fit of crazy instinct...
Or if it came by sheer coincidence.
Noei's advancing leg slightly inched forward...
And the uppercut, which had been aiming to her chin-
- Instead, went straight to where Arwest's solar plexus was.
Similar to a human... It's where a Seventh's Furyoku containers are usually located.

"HAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"

And Noei's uppercut had landed straight to that point.
A point exposed by Arwest's sudden decision to change where she swung.

"K-Kuaaaaagh!!!!!!"

At this...
The punch caused a shockwave, yes...
But it had sent her flying back. All the way to the end of the street- to an intersection.
Skidding and bouncing off the ground multiple times like a pebble hitting across a lake.
Being hit straight in the solar plexus... For a human, it knocks their winds out.
But for a Seventh, it can even temporarily disrupt the Circulation of their Furyoku.

Slowly, she rose. This time, her rise wasn't an instant or quick one.
And...
- She sparked once.
She wasn't in a state of sparking yet. But that spark was the proof of accumulated damage.
By the time she stood up... Arwest had noticed Elka now standing next to Noei.

"... So you came back... Just to defeat me." (edited)

"O-Oi..."

Elka had slid into place, but...
Noticing hostility- even if it was pointless...
The boy pulled up his own boxing stance. It was similar to Noei's, but his guard was slightly closer to him and less open.
He was a mere human. Not even a Circulator. But...
His stance showed little fear.

"... Noei, we're... We're here to make you stop you from making a big mistake, no?"

"Yeah..."

So finally, now that they were in a safe distance...
Noei stepped forward... And opened up her hand.
Offering it straight to Arwest.

"Please. I'm not gonna say anything more, but... We'll force our way by your side until you stop this."

Appearing in a flash of green...
A green silhouette appeared to Arwest's flank.
Which meant only a single person could arrive. Takane.
With her gun held in one hand, and her hand on the sheath of the katana on her belt...
Takane stared down Arwest.

"... Sup. I hear your name's Arwest Meinster, yeah? I recommend not resisting. No one's as serious about friendship as Noei Maeda is."

Upon noticing Takane... "...! M-Ms. Takane! So you can teleport! T-That's so cool!"

... A smile fitting for the boy appeared on his face.
An innocent and happy smile that could only belong to a truly happy Elka.
Seeing the face of the boy who held his emotions so tightly on his sleeve...

". . ."

Arwest's own aura...
Had gotten furious. It had gotten uncontrollably mad.
Her smog, poison-like aura, flowed even faster than usual...
And- a single raise of her arm to the side got everyone but Elka to react near instantly.
The words escaped her lips.

"... Factor Authorized. A realm of my own, an isolation that belongs to me alone. Deeper understanding, wiser than anyone else. But at a peak that nobody can reach. Yetzirah - Lost Heaven."

Everyone braced themselves...
Noei even readied the Gehenna Drill in her right hand, alongside her legs already morphing into thrusters...
But what appeared in her hand-

"Drop dead easy."

Defied all expectations. It was a disc.
That disc, made entirely out of Arwest's own Furyoku, slid across her arm-

- And the next second, she wasn't there.

(edited)

"Wha-"

"... Huh?"

"Shit- she can teleport like me?! Unless..." Takane crouched down slightly, five green silhouettes extending out from her, flying and floating to all directions... "... Ah...! She's running to Maeda Atelier! Let's go!" (edited)

"Ah... Understood, Ms. Takane!"

Noei said, nodding.
She went back over to where Arwest cut off her hand.
Picking up her severed right hand, she lamented it- if only for a second.
Though she can still form her Armaments, not having a hand to strike with was a disadvantage. She didn't know how she'd feel about entering a potential round two with Arwest with a disadvantage, but...
Her robotic ears twitched.

"...?"

- As...
Like a miracle,
a certain green haired and hatted person entered the street.

"... Noei! I-I'm glad you're here!"

Everyone turned... And saw Pharma running to them.
But it wasn't just the usual Pharma.
She had something on her wrist- almost like a block of metal, or a giant watch.

"...!!!!! Pharma- you're here!? Seriously!?"

"Huh... Last I heard, you ran away." Takane put one hand in her pocket, a gentle smile slowly forming on her face. "That mean you're here for the same reason the rest of us were?"

"Huff... Huff... Yeah. I heard from the news what was going on, rushed here straight away..."

Pharma arivved, gasping for air.
She had dropped her hands to her knees, not used to the cardio.
But... She looked up to face Noei.

"... And... A-As Arwest's friend, I can't let her do this. I wasn't even s-sure what I came here to do. I just... I just felt like I had to be here for my friend."

"..."

Noei slowly smiled...
As the weight she had, from watching her friends drop off one by one...
Just like before- they were appearing one by one.
She wasn't alone anymore. She had proof of that in the fact that they could finally all stand together like before.
The fear that she had... Was overcome by the steps she took to the future.
Noei still had legs. So she walked.

Now, she felt like she could answer that question from long ago as soon as Pharma showed up.
"Without It, Love cannot be seen."
Just by seeing Pharma appear, Noei had finally realized what "It" was.
Raising up her right arm to shake Pharma's own...

"- Ah."

She remembered.
She had no hand.

"O-Oh! You're hurt again! Umm..."

Pharma stepped back.
As she held up the arm with the wrist device on it.

"... I don't know why, but seeing that Raoul guy shoot a hole in you... And seeing the mafia appear got me really paranoid. I acted out in the worst possible ways, because I was afraid... And that's why I left. But when I was gone, it felt like... I finally had my senses back. In truth, I was... Worried for you, Noei. I just was scared of the damage you took. So I asked my dad to teach me some stuff. ... Oversoul. Fairy Weaver."

Holding out her hand...
- A strange blue flame was in her left hand. Then... Striking and slamming that flame into her wrist device...
A bright flash erupted. In that flash, the wrist device slowly began to change shape.
It transformed... Into a silver and gold gauntlet.

"...!"

"That's...!"

"...?! An Oversoul?! Here?!"

From the gauntlet's wrist, something shot out at high speeds.
A string, with a diamond at the end of that string.
Faster than a bullet, it flew... And started wrapping itself all around the Noei's hand.
The string weaved, moved and flew in all sorts of quick patterns.
But what it was doing... It was reconnecting Noei's severed hand with her arm.
The repair job was faster than most machines.

"It's not perfect. But I think it'll do."

"Huh...!!!"

Noei tightly gripped her new reconnected fist...
And although response times were a bit slower than usual, it didn't matter that much.
The only things that were missing were that it wasn't fully connected to her sensory systems, allowing her to feel things in the same magnitude as humans.
But in terms of fighting...

"It's fine. This is more than enough for now."

It was back in full capacity.
Noei pumped her fist up.

"Okay. ... First things first. We get Polly. There's lots of bad guys around, so it's dangerous for her to be out in the open. Then... We take back our home."

Finally-
- She had fully accepted her role as the leader of this group...
Because now, Noei wanted to fight to keep these people for as long as she possibly can.

(edited)

04/02/2025 9:01 pm

-------------------- + Maeda Atelier + ---------------------

On top of the hill...
Bodies- some injured, some dead...
Were falling down, rolling down and resting on the hill to Maeda Atelier.
Most of them were stabbed and slashed. Which meant Arwest had done them.
Others, however... Were scorched. Which was something Arwest wasn't able to do.
The only person who could have done that-

- Is the current gatekeeper of Maeda Atelier.
Jun Sorimachi of the Meinster Family.

". . . Not going to make any more moves? You shit your pants, former boss?"

But she wasn't standing in any sort of stalwart stance. Her stance looked desperate. Struggling to stand.
Because she was bleeding from all parts of her body. Blood trickled down from her shoulder, forehead, knuckles...
And bruises were all over her. Gun shots, slashes...
Yet she still stood.
She still had her stance ready... And she was still circulating Furyoku around her.
Her ability was obvious. It came in the forms of flames that had ignited her hands and legs like gauntlets and greaves.
Who she was facing off...?

Everyone.
Everyone in front of the hill.

Which also included the person she had been battling all this time.
The only one who refused to fall.
Aimone Brinker, head of the Brinker Family.
Jun had the high ground, where the man had almost been forced to the bottom of the hill.
He was wounded, but not as much as Jun.
... Not to mention, his men were still arriving onto the scene.
With lightning in the form of a javelin, he held it with both hands like a spear in a defensive position.

"... I'm just utterly fucking pissed. You have this much power- with a few more years in training or of experience... You could become as strong as the Four Gods. Not to mention, your operation to extort money frm Maeda Atelier was a success. So why the hell... Are you facing off against me now?!"

It wasn't just Aimone who had gotten in her way, though.
She was facing off against the very law. Lukia Sudou, director of the Ministry of Defense...
Was also on the hill. She was untouched, but it's clear she spent some energy trying to evade Jun, "The Salamander."
Her gloves were glowing brightly.

"... Mm. Nothing in your record suggests that you were close with Arwest. So why have you sided with her? Just let me blow up the damn building already."

"... IDIOTS!"

Jun's voice almost crackled like a volcano.
She had never been more upset in her whole life.
Facing off against the land of light and the dark underworld...
She only had this to say.

"I... I ain't doing this for the Queen of Paranoia. I'm doing this because I'm waiting for them to arrive. The only person who can fix this issue... The right way."

When she had announced that-

- They arrived into view. Slowly walking to the hill.

"Everyone! Burn these faces into your memory! These... These are the only real heroes of Steel City!" (edited)

To the rightmost.
A small, childish-looking Seventh... With a serious look.
One that didn't look out of place either.
Walking with her head focused forward, the level of resolve she possessed was almost supernatural.

To her left...
A blonde boy with a good physique, and a stylish cap.
His stance while walking forward, in addition to the brass knuckles he attached onto himself...
Suggested that he was a fighter, through and through.

To the leftmost.
A shy, almost unsure girl. She possessed the most frightened look of them all...
But her look downwards wasn't one of shame. It was a resolve to swallow that fear up and walk forward.
The most ordinary of them all, but... The glowing gauntlet on her right hand suggested that she was more than just a girl.

To her right.
A woman with a coat, a focused look that was both calm and concentrated.
Or in other words, someone with a lot of experience.
A person who stared at the evil in front of her and did not flinch.

And in the middle of them all...
Noei Maeda.

The so-called, dubbed by the media, Greatest Robot in the World...
Ready to stop another disaster,
with nothing but compassion in her eyes.

". . . Arwest... We're coming."

"You people..."

Lukia lowered her hand-
And for some reason, quite a lot of emotions passed through her.
The first one was disgust. The last one... Was acceptance.
Perhaps it's because these were the last people Lukia had expected to show up.

Especially that Noei. Who Lukia had seen at the literal lowest point of her life.
She had no idea how to take or proceed with this information...
But she knew that they would proceed.

"... I'll leave it to you, then."

So...
Lukia took a step back, and lowered her hands. Though of course, she didn't take off her gloves.

"Huh...?! These people?! My son, I get."

Aimone slowly turned over to Jun...
And formed a wicked smile on his face.

"But they're an incompetent bunch! All it took was one scary little action, and...!!!" With a sly grin- he looked towards the five. "My son ratted you out, all cause he was scared that more people might die!"

He had a feeling, especially due to working a long time in the mafia...
That there had been doubt in that group. That they didn't trust each other entirely.
So he was expecting a reaction out of them.

Yet all he got...

"...?!"

"..."

Were stone-cold glares.
Not at Elka, who had apparently been the one to rat them out.
But solely at Aimone. In fact, it wasn't even directly aimed at him. Their anger wasn't.
That phrase had hardly startled them at all.
No. Their focus still was on what lied past him.
Maeda Atelier. Where Arwest was.

The one that they had all come this way for.

"You..."

And more than the juggernaut, who had been guarding the door...
More than anything in the world-
- Those 5 faces of focus had scared him more than anything.

"You're all insane...!!!!"

"Hahahahaha..."

And slowly stepping foeward, indicating she was leaving her position as gatekeeper...
Jun slowly walked to Aimone. Her fists gripped, in an almost beast-like manner.

"Sure, they might've been clumsy in communicating to each other... And a bit too self-centered. But all of their worries... They kept cause they were afraid that they'd cause their daily life to end. I joined to deceive 'em. Agreed with my friend's crazy proposal cause I knew it'd make the family crazy money. But these people are way more loyal than any mafia group out there. So bring it on, Aimone. I'd rather see these guys leading than people like you or the Director."

"And you, the Salamander...!!!!!!!!!!"

His entire body convulsed uncontrollably. As his muscles bulged, lightning came out of him, scorching the ground in all directions.
With uncontrolled speed, he charged to Jun.
Flying like a thunderbolt himself.

"YOU'RE THE CRAZIEST OF THEM ALL!"

Jun took something out of her pocket...
As she wrapped it around her mouth. The reason why, was unknown.
But to Elka- the most empathetic of them all...

"...!!!!!!! JUN, DON'T!!!"

... Could see it in her eyes alone.

Jun's eyes reflected the look of someone who knew they were going to die.

(edited)

"This is my final lesson to you, Maeda Atelier. Right now... I'm going to show you what love looks like. Don't forget these flames."

This time, it wasn't just her hands and legs covered in flames.
They began to trail across her entire body, like a mane of a horse.
Engulfing her, self-destructively... But increasing her power output.
She charged to Aimone- and... As soon as the two clashed, they shot upwards.
Like a reverse lightning bolt. Two trails of lightning and flames...
Forming an explosive firework in the sky once they had reached the peak of their flight.

No-
It was more beautiful than any firework out there.

"!!!! JUN!!!"

"Wha- holy crap!"

"...!"

Noei at first crouched down.
From her back, the Wings of Terror began to spread...
And in addition, the Gehenna Drill was also forming on her left hand. But...

Polly had grasped Noei's arm with both of her arms.
Wrapping itself around them, she had looked at Noei with an almost sad look.

"... This is something she chose fully. Jun already crossed the point of no return. But we can still save Arwest."

Reluctantly... "...Jun... Thank you."

Noei lowered her arm. And reformed them back to normal.
Thus... The five of them continued their walk forward.
They weren't leaving Jun behind.

They were taking her flames with her until the end.
This was her way of helping,
her way of saying goodbye...

And in addition,
Jun's way of repenting.

Arriving at the gates...
... The entire house- the almost mansion-sized house...
They saw it from a distance, but it was surrounded by a giant barrier that covered it in a dome.
As they suspected...

"... Guh!"

... Elka was the first one to make it to the barrier, hitting it with a body blow...
But it didn't budge at all. The cosmic coloration and pattern of the barrier didn't even change or react.

"Damn...! How do we get past this?!"

"... While it would be funny for all of you to squirm around and try to flail at it uselessly... Because of Arwest's ability to stop time..."

At that mention, Takane's pupils expanded.
It was something she had been considering her to be able to do... But never put two and two together.
Which also explains how she was able to put in all those small bombs in houses within a single second. She stopped time to achieve it.

"I will get rid of this barrier right now. Factor Authorized. One more attempt is all it will take. Yetzirah - Shaman's Daughter."

Spreading her arm out, Polly's aura appeared around her.
It looked similar to Arwest's, being a blue smog-like aura.
As soon as she authorized her Factor... The barrier froze still.
Its patterns, which swirled and move, froze.

"There. You should be able to pass now." (edited)

"..."

Takane extended her hand through it...
And even shot a green silhouette through.

"This barrier's crazy strong, then... I couldn't sense through it like I usually can, meaning I couldn't even teleport through it. Right. It probably should be Noei who announces this, but is everyone ready?"

"- Ready."

"I-I'll do my best!"

"Y-Yeah!"

Polly nodded. "Mm... But to maintain this barrier being stopped- I'll need to be outside. What this is... Technically, I've never seen it before. But I know what it is." She faced everyone and explained. "This is a rare substance, similar to the gas emitted by Arwest and the gemstones I can make. Isotope Gas. It's kind of like steroids, but for Sevenths... And it can be molded into all sorts of things. Regardless, exposure to it, can strengthen a Seventh heavily. Arwest... Must've got it from someone. Someone important. Which is how she's able to conduct this district-level threat."

Putting her hand on the barrier, her hands passed through it.
Polly didn't look at the others for her next sentence.

"... Someone really important must have given it to her, along with the small bombs."

"..."

Noei stuck her hands through the barrier...
But she didn't feel any different. Nor stronger.
She supposed it wasn't working right now because of whatever Polly's ability did.
Either way, she used her Eye of Add...

"... I don't wanna say this, but... Speaking of small bombs, we have an issue."

"Eh...?"

"Uh-oh."

Rather than just reacting normally, Takane threw out a guess. "... She put small bombs all over the house, I'm guessing. Shit. And because they're so small, we can't find 'em so easily..."

Noei nodded. "Yeah. I'd list them all to you, but the house is... Huge. And there's too many pieces of..." - Pause. "... No. She taught us exactly how to deal with this. You guys still remember your Housework Mastery?"

"...!" With her eyes being filled with stars... Pharma nodded. "Oh... S-So we're splitting up then? I get it. I'd like for us to be together, but...! We dunno when those bombs are gonna detonate."

Elka at first grimaced, but...
It quickly turned into a determined grin.

"So we just gotta get all the pieces of furniture out here, ay? Don't think we can diffuse the bomb so easily."

"Which means, Noei... Since you're the only one who can dispose of the bombs easily- you're gonna have to stay outside. So it's up to the three of us." Takane said, pocketing her pistol in her holster. "Do you trust us?"

"... Without a doubt."

The moment on when they would leave had been decided without saying anything.
Noei shot her first to the sky-

"- NOW GET IN THERE!"

And announced what to do...
The three of them raced in. All splitting up.
Elka charged in through the door, bashing it with his shoulder.
Takane jumped and leaped through the window like an action movie hero.
And Pharma clumsily jumped up and began climbing to the second floor.

04/02/2025 10:06 pm

--------------------------- + Maeda Atelier Interior + ---------------------

Of course...
The most efficient one among them was the Circulator.
Arriving in the first floor, even though this was a house that she herself did not know... One that she had only seen from a distance...
She was able to sweep through it and clean it easily.
Green silhouettes extended everywhere- to every room, to the second floor, to every hall...
As Takane teleported rapidly from room to room. Carrying furniture after furniture, bomb after bomb, back to the front gates to Noei...

Of course-
This amount of rapid teleporting meant that she would be found out first.

". . ."

Her rapid teleports were stopped...
By the sound of a gun being fired at her while in the kitchen.

". . ."

In truth, Takane felt like she was the only one who fit the role of the one who was picked off first.
So she had intentionally made her own presence known so that the other two would be safer.
If there was even a chance that Takane could distract Arwest long enough for the two to have cleared out the entire building... She would take it.
Because Elka and Pharma were her students.

Arwest had figured this out, and taken the bait.
But only because... She was confident that she could take out Takane the fastest.
Of course, drawing her katana, Takane blocked the gunshot.

"... I don't think I ever got your relation to Noei."

"... I'm her teacher. Her only teacher, at that."

Putting her hand on her katana...
Takane expanded green silhouettes everywhere- 18 expanded from her, from everywhere. 
It encircled Arwest entirely.
Rather than defense, this type of ambiguous mixups and setplay is what Takane excels at.
She's no longer in a position where she can't make the most out of her ability.

However, there was a different problem she faced now.
"So she can stop time, huh...?
That's a direct counter to almost fuckin' anything. If I let her stop time once, it's over. So..."
Her body flashed green.

"I see."

As soon as it flashed green...
Robotically- Arwest fired her P90 in bursts.
Hovering, swatting to and jolting herself to fire... At all 18 silhouettes.
The movements her arm did were only possible for a Seventh. Once again, the fundamental difference between human and Seventh creeped up.
Her reaction speeds, base movement- everything was too fast for any human to keep up with. Even with Circulation bridging the gap.
So, Takane had no place to teleport to.

"So you're the sort of person that just teaches and preaches their ideals onto a person... Even if it's going to hurt them. The worst kind of person. I met many like you in the past who misled me."

"... That may be true. I said a lot of things to Noei... Things that I'm sure defined her a lot."

That would be...
... If Takane didn't have more than 18 places to teleport to.
When she fully flashed green, where she teleported was to none of the 18 silhouettes that appeared in the room...!
But instead, to one just outside the room!

"..."

This, of course, caught Arwest off guard...
But she remained steadfast. She still tightly held her P90.
Now, she actually had to keep track of all the silhouettes all around her.

Or- the easier way.

"Drop dead easy."

Throwing out one hand...
The same disc that allowed her to stop time appeared in her hand.

But as soon as that disc formed...
Takane had appeared in one of the 18 silhouettes.
It was one to Arwest's left flank, but it wasn't one near her.
In fact, it was at mid range. Near the drawers storing cooking equipment. She drew her pistol...
And unloaded its clip full speed at Arwest!

"... But she looked like she needed help. Why wouldn't I extend my hand, even if I had the possibility of hurting her?!"

However...
Either having planned the possibility of Polly telling the gang her ability...
Or this just being a strategy she chooses to do-
She rushed forward, using the disc enhanced with Furyoku not to stop time... But as a shield for the shots fired to her.
In her free hand, her Beam Saber formed- ready to thrust into Takane.

"!"

And...
Unleashing her own sword from her sheath, Takane was forced to make use of one-handed Iaido.
She drew her sword and parried the Beam Saber at the same time.
Because her sword was coated in Furyoku, it could clash with the Beam Saber- but a lot of its edge was melted off.
Her other hand, holding the gun, pointed forward, and...

"... Did ya' really not see this coming?"

Fired a bullet.
Takane... Had teleported bullets into the clip.
Effectively letting her reload without actually doing it.

However...
This is exactly what Arwest was planning.
She had used the fact that humans have an inherent instinct to survive, more than anything else...
To expose a moment where Takane would forget about the one thing she was planning against.
- Thrust.
Her sword of course went forward and was parried.
But her other hand... Thrusted the disc straight into her heart.

And-

"... As easily as that." (edited)

"...!!!!!!"

Takane was slowly falling to the ground...
As there was a huge hole in her stomach, caused by a piercing of a Beam Saber...
Which she didn't remember at all.
That confirmed Polly's statement. That she could stop time.
But...

"... I bet you can't do it for very long, huh...?!"

Takane said, through pained breaths...
And with a snap of her fingers-

"- You... You should've aimed for the head, if you wanted me gone!"

A green flash filled her. Teleporting her away.

And.

"...!"

A bullet... Flew to her.
It was the same bullet that Takane shot, but it didn't fly in the same trajectory it was shot at.
It should've been flying to her head. Which she was prepared to deflect- her Beam Saber already tensed up.
But instead, it flew to her knee. Piercing straight through, and forcing her to fall.

"Gh-...!"

Takane had put everything to this gambit.

She figured out the length of how fast Arwest could stop time...
By exploiting the fact that Sevenths have an inherent instinct to act most efficiently before anything else.
Which meant, if the bullet was still there by the time she fell- feeling it with her Circulation...
That meant the time Arwest can spend in stopped time likely only lasts about 1-5 seconds.

Takane spent everything and did everything just for a brief bit of time.
... Arwest had no choice but to respect that.
But. There were two more present in the house. Two more pests to get rid of.
So she moved forward-

And found the next already.

"... You?"

But who it was...
It was the last person Arwest was expecting to see next.
Because it was Pharma. The one she saw running away. The one who left the group in front of their own faces, announcing that she quit.
And...

"I... I really shouldn't be here. I've got a math problem set due tomorrow. Some art homework due 2 days from now. And... A History essay due 2 days ago."

... A normal schoolgirl should have no place in a battlefield like this.

But facing off against a friend...?
It was more than enough of a reason for here to be here.

"... Then. What do you think you can do?"

Arwest closed her Beam Saber's laser...
As she rushed forward, dashing at full speeds towards Arwest.
Intending to crush her spirit more than anything.

Yet.

"...?!"

"I can do what you told me to...! Housework Mastery - Thankful Mopping...!!!!!!!!!!"

It was a stupid, almost embarrassing, way to be stopped.
She hadn't noticed it because she was too concentrated on Pharma.
But the ground that she was on was recently wiped and mopped to be extremely wet.
She slipped... And almost fell on her back.
But she picked herself right up.

"... You...!!!!" And now ran to Pharma with a speed that far eclipsed what a normal human could do.

Pharma had ran to the nearest room. Arwest first thought this was out of fear.
She ran through a slightly open door, capable due to her smaller size.

"A-Aaaah!" The shriek of fear even supported this.

Arwest jerked the door open, filled with rage.
She hadn't believed that Pharma would dare to face her like this.
And in fact...

"...?!?!?" Pharma was still fully intent on facing Arwest like this.

"Housework Mastery - Satisfactory Trash Organization...!!!!!"

As soon as Arwest opened the door...
Because of the speed at which she tore it open, to the point where it was even going to break...
The trash bags stacked on top of the door began to fall on Arwest.

This is her way of fighting.
The only way Pharma knew. The life of an ordinary schoolgirl.

"Guh...!!!!!!"

Falling on top of her...
Arwest unleashed a wave of pure Furyoku to force the trash off of her.
When she got up, she saw that Pharma was forcing and throwing all of the furniture with bombs in them outside the window...
Which meant- Pharma had fully convinced herself that she had fallen.
Unfortunately, she fell just long enough for the final piece of furniture in the room to be thrown out.

"You're... You're wasting my time!!!"

"...!!!"

Pharma looked at Arwest.
Backed in the corner, with nothing in her hands- not even her Oversoul could help...
Against a superior being. A Seventh.
With no supernatural powers at all.
She knew that this was the end.

Even so,
she had the guts to speak.

"No... Housework... Is never a waste of time! Don't you remember?! This is my way... Of showing thanks to you!"

Those words-

Even though Arwest taking Pharma by the back of her head was intentional...
Even though she already premediated slamming her straight through the floor...
Even as her head bleeded, with her being knocked out in an instant...

Those words got Arwest to stop.
And she only fully comprehended them once she had sent Pharma's head through the floor of the house.
With a blow... That could kill most humans.

". . . I have to keep going. They set me up. The gratitude she speaks of is false. Everyone before has left me. These people are no exception. They just want to use me...!!! Like everyone else is!"

Looking at her hands...
She decided on a new method of attack.
An Armament formed. Her RPG. A massive one that was almost the size of her body.
But... On its side, were various grenades.
Taking one out from the side, it was an incendiary grenade...

And she tossed it on the floor- in the same room as where Pharma was.
When it blew up... 
... Fire slowly began to take Maeda Atelier.

And just as she said,
Arwest walked. There was one person left...
... However, it was taking a lot of time for her to find him. More than expected.
Where she hadn't expected to find him...

"... Ah." Was at the entrance to the house.

". . ."

- His body had burns in it.
In fact, parts of his body were still burning. Parts of his clothes were still on fire.
His arms looked tired.
What went on was obvious- especially since she didn't see Pharma's body on the way there.
Elka...
Had braved through a sea of flames, not only getting as much bombs out- but even Pharma out.
He already looked like he was on his last legs.

Yet his words said otherwise.

"... I couldn't find it. The last one."

"...? The last one...?" Arwest said, lowering an eyebrow...

"Don't play dumb with me. I heard you announce that you'd blow up the entire Backstreets...! You ain't the type to bluff like that. Since we've first met, you've never told us a single lie!" Elka said, raising up his fist with resolve. "So where is it?! Cause there's no way you were seriously gonna blow up this entire place with just small bombs... There's gotta be one super nuke that you're hiding somewhere, yeah?!"

Closing her eyes...
Arwest figured Elka to be a one dimensional oaf.
A coward, even.
But...

"... So what do you intend to do with that information?"

... She had gravely underestimated him.

And gave him that win.

Elka slowly smirked. "Nothin'. I don't have any powers, or this Circulation thing... And even Pharma's better than I am. She picked up Housework Mastery. She has a pivotal role in designing clothes, pumping them out like it's nobody's business... And I'm just me. But there is one thing I'm confident on. Shouting... Really... Really loudly."

- The sound of thrusters igniting...
Had confirmed that Noei was flying. Which means...
It was finally time for her to take center stage.

(edited)

"... Well played, idiot."

Stepping forward...
Arwest did a single hard chop to Elka's neck once she stepped past him.
Which knocked him out in an instant. Both Arwest's own technique and power rendered his knockout instant.
Disabling him, and severing his consciousness.

Which meant there was only one person left.

". . ."

Arwest listened to the embers before her.
The sound of wood being consumed by flames.
Elka's scar, also being taken by those flames- even his face was. Even if he was evacuated, he would leave with scars permanently on him.
In this moment, she felt a lot like the flames.

But it was as he said. There's still one more bomb left to protect.
Leaping off from the ground...
Arwest jumped onto the roof.

Where Noei was waiting for her.

04/02/2025 11:17 pm

In truth,
although Noei was fighting for friendship...
There was a bit of envy in there, on both sides.
And even a bit of hatred in there, on both sides.

The one in orange and the one in purple.

Both with differing wishes.
Both with differing tools. A buster and a saber.
Both with lives that they wished the other could live.

The Hero of Orange had spent her whole time being loved.
When in truth, she wanted to know what it was like to love another.

The Villain of Purple had spent her whole time loving others.
When in truth, she wanted to be the one who was loved.

A sin, where she failed to save the one she loved.
A sin, where everyone she loved died and failed to protect her.
They hated their own existences.

It was for that reason alone that they clashed.
It was disagreeing on their own selves that they clashed.
And...
It was the love they both shared for each other, that they clashed.
A burning rooftop, surrounded by friends and family. The cops. The Yakuza. The Mafia.
Once the two had arrived on the roof, everything stopped.

Right now, what was going on was...

... The affirmation of their existence.
- A true apology for those days, where only one would stand.

"... So that's the last bomb? It's not that much bigger than the others..."

Arwest stood in front of protecting a bomb that was roughly the size of a brick.
With her hands in her pockets, she nodded.

"... Mm. But it can level the entire district... All because of our actions here. That bomb is the EL278 Simon. Named after one of the best bomb smiths in the world." Arwest's arm covered her mouth as she spoke. "It's a bomb that works in tandem with Circulation. As it absorbs Furyoku in the ambient area, and grows stronger because of it. It's taken down entire forests, casinos and even mythical beasts in its homeland. So, if you fight me here, and we clash... If I win, it will make the resulting explosion even more powerful."

"That's if you win."

"... When did you get so confident?"

"Well... If I said it was because of you, would you laugh?"

"Last time you asked me that... I ended up laughing anyways. That's one promise I can't keep."

"So you are going to laugh at me. Hmph." Noei pouted.

"It's just because I think you standing against me now is so funny. With those defiant eyes, ready to strike... ... I'll admit, I was surprised to see that you were able to fight. But you're still nothing compared to me, experience-wise."

"That's true. But we tied."

"...? Ah-"

- Yes...
The both of them were smiling.

Because in truth,
ever since the water fight...

The two of them had wanted to fight like this ever since.

And with that...
Noei took her stance. Her orthodox boxing stance, meant for high power and low guard...
While her dropped right arm already turned into the Gehenna Drill.
She was going into full offense straight away.
Noei smiled as her knees lowered.

"However, I don't think either of us are satisfied with just a tie. I want to know if I'm finally better than you. And for that, it's not enough that I get rid of that bomb. I have to make you lose, too."

"So just winning isn't enough for you...?!"

Arwest let out a wry grin...
Though she challenged Noei, she was thinking the same thing too.
There had to be one winner. And one loser.
Only one person should be left on this roof.

"You truly are greedy, Noei...!!!!!!"

She formed her Beam Saber right away. Now, not even in a defensive stance.
Arwest held hers in the wrath stance, a common longsword stance... For raw power and space control, at the cost of predictability.
It's done by raising the sword over the shoulder and behind the neck.
Arwest was giving herself up... Entirely to the battle.

- And so they both dashed to each other, darting with a single step.

(edited)

First things first.
The scenario, situation- even the environment hadn't changed that much.
But the roof was curved. This meant that Arwest had more of an advantage.
- Noei's 2 weapons versus Arwest's 5.
She had to deal with her arsenal, and the environment supporting her as well.

But even so- 
Fighting in conditions like these, fighting from nothing...
A counterattack from zero.
This is the type of scenario that Noei grows the strongest in!

"HAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Noei charged to Arwest...
Throwing a lightning fast combination to Arwest. Two jabs, then, a right with her Gehenna Drill.

(edited)

"...! You've gotten faster!"

Arwest was caught off guard by the speed of the jabs.
She was only able to block it with a slight raise of her arm.
However...

"... It's not good enough, though!"

As soon as Noei's right punch was thrown...
Arwest made a simple action. She tilted her sword slightly...
So now the punch was heading to her Beam Saber- which would surely incinerate her and her arm upon contact.

Except... "...!!!!!"

Noei was waiting for this.
Right before contact- her arm changed and morphed into the Belial Buster.
She rapid fired uncharged blasts, coming out like a machine gun... From point blank!

"... Using a buster close range like that?!"

- A few bullets hit her.
However, uncharged blasts are equivalent to jabs in terms of boxing. They don't do much damage.
So although they hit her, they practically just made dents. Arwest leaped to the side...
Then as Noei changed her aim- now she started deflecting shots with her saber.

"Who does that?!"

"Me, apparently! You said it long ago- I was pretty unique among Sevenths! Only reason why I hung back before was cuz' I didn't want to hurt people!"

Noei threw her buster arm back...
And now, at chest level, it began to charge. Her Gehenna Drill arm also returned to normal.
She was throwing out a threat- a taunt even.

"Oh...?! So the difference is- you actually want to hurt me. I'm so flattered to be your FIRST, then!!!"

However, rather than continuing with her Saber...
She decided on a new trick. A gauntlet appeared in her hands right after, Omega Knuckle as it was called.
Arwest slammed the ground, punching it...

"... DAIJINSAI - GAIA STRIKE!"

As she roared.
As soon as she punched the ground... The roof cracked.
And holes formed. But rather than the debris falling...
Tech and metal had surrounded the debris- upgrading it...
And they came flying towards Noei, forcing her to move.

"...! Heh... Again, would you laugh if you said I wanted you to be the first opponent I took seriously?!"

Noei jumped back...
And saw debris flying from her at all angles.
She was forced to unload her 25% Charge Shot at a mass of debris...
And for the rest, she started spraying rapid fire shots- blowing up each one flying to her.
And due to the speed and reaction time of a Seventh... This was possible.

"Yeah... I'd laugh."

- Leap.
Noei predicted it by now, but Arwest was jumping to her.
What she didn't expect though was her choice of weapon. She was wielding the two tonfas in her hands.

"In fact... It's the funniest thing in the world! Ahahahaha... AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" A maniacal laughter came out of her.

"You know what...?! I... I think it's pretty funny too!"

Noei's arm tensed up...
And seeing this again, she reacted the same way. She'd mix it up, though.
Noei's free arm lowered, and readied in advance.
For an uppercut. This time, aimed to Arwest's chin.
She threw it out as soon as she was in range, about to crash into her with that tackle, but...

"...?!"

Arwest this time successfully was able to block it.
Because her block wasn't the standard block.
She formed a cross block with her tonfas... Covering all but a vital weakpoint.
And unfortunately, an uppercut is one of the many types of attacks that the cross guard is made to handle.

"... Then I want to hear you laugh. You can do that, right, Noei?" Energy began to gather to her tonfas...

"Heh... Hehehehe..."

Noei lowered her head, snickered...
At the same time as her jump back.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!"

She laughed, too.
Of course, just a simple jump back wouldn't have been enough for her to dodge what came next...

"...?!"

As a massive amount of energy released from Arwest's tonfas. "Recoil Breakers - Launch."

The energy stored from Noei's punch- all the punching force, kinetic energy and potential energy...
Unleashed themselves twofold onto Noei.
Launching her back far, and dealing a huge blow to her.

"!!!!"

She flew back with such force...
That she almost fell off of the house.
Luckily, she grabbed onto the ledge just in time...

But that time was enough for Arwest to jump straight in.
Landing near the edge, Omega Knuckle was in her hand again...
As she punched the ground- causing the ledge to collapse.

"You laughed louder than I expected you to ever laugh. And what's wrong?! Are you afraid of the heights?! Can't get up from a simple ledge!?"

It broke off from the roof... And it began to fall.
At the same time as Noei beginning to fall, her free-hand formed the P90.
Whirring sounds indicated that it was now being charged.

But...
... Arwest's observation was correct. Noei could have easily gotten up the ledge.
She had instead chosen to wait and hang at the ledge for one simple reason.

"... Sorry. I don't get to laugh often, so I really was keeping it in. Besides- I think you're funnier than any joke that's tried to make ME laugh. Wings of Terror."

She was trying to hide the formation of a new Armament. A big one, that could easily be seen.
Wings of black formed on Noei's back, as she flapped and pivoted to Arwest's side. Practically flying to her flank.
And in addition... Their charge was already complete.
8 lasers, almost like a web of a spider, shot to Arwest.

(edited)

"!!!"

Those eight lasers...
They prevented her from dodging- and she's seen the lasers on TV. They're unblockable.
So one pierced through her gut. Another grazed the side of her arm.
Entire holes now existed in her body.
Not only that. They weren't fired at random.
They also fired to break the ledge she was standing on too, practically fully reversing their situation.
Now she was the one falling... And Noei had the high ground.

But while she was falling...

"... Hahaha... Well, I'm used to making people laugh, anyways." ... A disc formed in her hand- her Circulation ability. "Dust."

But it's here that she noticed- Arwest has different types of disk.
The one announced with "Drop Dead Easy" was of a golden coloring.
This one had a pink color. The moment she swiped it across her arm, though...

Things had once again, changed.

Because now Noei was back hanging on the ledge...
In fact, this was the very point she got onto the ledge. She hadn't even formed Wings of Terror yet.
And now Arwest was still readying the jump.

"... Come on, what?! You can just redo events?! That's lame!!! That's not even funny, that's just annoying!"

Arwest leaped...
And this time, she was jumping with her RPG.
She was likely going to fire from a distance having learnt her mistake.

"Well, some people find annoying funny. As I said- I'm used to making people laugh. Maybe you're just not my target audience."

But what surprised her... Was that Noei didn't seem to be changing her strategy.
She was still hanging on the ledge, waiting...

"... And you're a one-trick pony. Using the Silver Nephilim's wings, again?!"

This time, now that she observed Noei closely...
She could see that she was forming the wings again.
Judging by how Noei also responded to the tonfas with an uppercut... She figured that she was used to repetition.
A rookie mistake. A predictable mistake for Noei.

So without worry, she fired a rocket from the RPG.

"Yeah...!!! I'm flying again! I've only got one trick!"

However, Noei's Wings of Terror vanished quickly...
... Instead, replaced by her thrusters. Her legs boosted her forward-
As she weaved and dodged past the RPG.

"Drill Impact!"

The Gehenna Drill formed, as she spun it quickly...!
And struck through Arwest!

"!!!!"

The left side of her lower body...
Had been completely pierced through, blown off by the drill.
Even so- this would normally be painful for a Seventh.
A Seventh's systems tries to cut off as much pain as possible in moments like these... But there's only so much it can do.

Despite there being pain-
Arwest was smiling.
Because...

"... I knew you would come back to me."

"- GOAUGH!!!!"

... Noei had been stabbed again by the Beam Saber, which formed as soon as Arwest saw Noei hanging for a while.
She had no way of knowing that Noei would fly to her. It wasn't foresight or wisdom that told her this.
But trust.
Right now, Noei was feeling a taste of her own medicine. Where she was stabbed...
It was in the solar plexus. Where her Furyoku canister was.
The two of them fell to the ground, but... Noei fell to the knee.

Sevenths don't technically need what is in their solar plexus.
Furyoku is circulated throughout the entire body. The Furyoku canister just helps them circulate it well, sort of like a support system.
But when that support system is severed, it's like they have to do it manually again.

"Gh... A-As you said... One pattern."

They both landed from their jumps, their backs turned against each other...
But only Noei couldn't get up. Because of the disruption to her body. Arwest's attack was more fatal than Noei's own.

Which meant...
Arwest could dash to an undefended Noei-
And had her victory guaranteed.
She would deliver a slash with her Beam Saber that Noei could not dodge from.
Entering and preparing with the high guard, she held her blade over the head...

"- I've won."

And swung down like a lumberjack.
She chose this brutal attack for three reasons.
1. Noei has no way of blocking it, because she's using a Beam Saber.
2. Noei has no way of dodging it, not just because she's tired, but she can't see the attack.
3. Noei has no way of tanking the attack, because it will deal fatal damage no matter what because of Noei currently being downed.

All 3 of these conditions were fulfilled.
Blocking. Dodging. Tanking. All were rendered null and void. The only thing she couldn't really account for was a counter, but there was no way Noei could even do it.
So Arwest smiled the brightest there. Fully convinced of her victory.

Except-
What if one of the conditions was not as it seemed?

"Factor Authorized. With only two hands, I reach out to the world. What do I see before me? Is it a thousand hands reaching for my own? Or are they reaching it out to reject me? Yetzirah - Built to Last."

Noei's arm shifted after the announcement of her Factor Authorization.
Which signified her arm was changing to manifest an Armament.
But the Armament that she had manifested... Was neither of the 3 ones she's shown so far.
Noei manifested a 4th Armament.

- Shing.
A hilt with no blade.
Because its blade.. Was that of light. An orange light.
Noei had copied Arwest's own Beam Saber...

And blocked the downward strike of Arwest without looking at it.

"... A bit dumb to say you've won before you've actually done it, yeah?"

"- You...!!!!!!!!"

Arwest's arms... For a moment, they lost all power.
The realization hit her like a train.
But more than that... A Seventh's Armaments are a part of their identity.
That is why- aside from mass produced Armaments retrofitted for Sevenths with specialized purposes...
They are designed with their own unique Armaments.
For example, even though Noei and Arwest both have a buster and a saber- mass produced weapons...
They were customized, if only slightly.

So Arwest losing power, allowing Noei to not only get up...
But parry her strike- sending it to the side...
It was because a Seventh's pride was insulted.

"Come on! Now this is a real sword fight!" Which was further added on by the fact that Noei did not capitalize off of that parry, choosing to taunt Arwest instead.

". . . Ahahahahaha...!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!"

And once again...
An uproar of laughter from Arwest.

Which got Noei to frown. "Hey! I'm... I-I'm... really NOT that funny, am I...? You're just making yourself laugh! Don't insult me!!!" (edited)

"No, you really are funny! A real sword fight?! As is. You would hardly even be a speck of a dust to the Sword Saint, Allan."

Taking the ox stance, a power stance made for thrusting with the sword raised forward and aimed forward...
It was a good one to use for beginners alongside the tail stance, because it forced them to consider the enemy's guard and stance fully rather than just playing their own game.

"I'll show you how much of a rookie you are!"

"... Bring it! I've been watching you and fighting you the whole time! Dare I say... I've even learnt your moves!"

Noei rushed in, her guard low...
As the two readied to engage once more.

05/02/2025 12:29 am

. . .

- In front of a hospital ambulance.
With nurse robots and Doctor Sevenths caring for the two kids loaded inside of it...
Takane watched.

". . . Get 'er good, kid."

From the bottom of the hill...
Two Sevenths of the Ministry of Defense.

"They both... They both exceeded expectations. A Seventh can't fight for this long usually. We don't have the specs to be continuously fighting for that long." (edited)

One in a coat spoke.
Her expression was normally sour, too distant.
Beyond arm's length.
But it had softened by seeing the two fight.

"Even now, Sevenths are still continuing to surprise you... Aren't they, Director Lukia?"

Two leaders of the Yakuza...
A man in a red coat.

"... Holy shit. They're still at it."

Another of the Yakuza.
Their arms crossed, both scared and filled with awe.

"So... Remind me again which one you bet on to win?"

And...
Even people from Noei's past had arrived.
An old doctor, shouting with the life he still had left.

"NOEI!!!!! DON'T LOOOOOSE!!!!"

Alongside a couple from her past.
An everyman looking person with glasses spoke.

"G-Geez... Is this how Doctor Etsuji was like during his basketball phase...?"

As his girlfriend spoke.
A young woman with a nice hat.

"Judging by how he's shouting... I don't think it ever left him."

The entire Backstreets were seeing this.
Cameras were hovering around them, helicopters... Recording each and every strike, each and every step.
So it was being broadcasted on television.
But not just that. People had even gathered and ran to the occasion, just to watch it.
And not a single person thought of interfering.
Not even the crooks of the streets, nor the gangsters and the Yakuza.
It would be hard to believe... That just a few moments ago, there were many bombings and an attempt to destroy all of the Backstreets here.

Of course, everyone was cheering for Noei.
All but one person.
A little fairy-like girl that stood against the crowd...
Muttering a single name.

"... Arwest..."

The two of them were already sparking.
In fact... They were sparking since a long time ago. But even so-
They still kept going. 
No one knew where they got the energy to continue from.
No one.
Not Noei, not Arwest... Not even any of the spectators- and one of them was one of the inventors of Sevenths.

So they kept fighting.
Slash after slash.
Parry after parry.
Strike after strike.
The two were even at risk of looking like total mechanical androids- with how much of the Outer Layer they were breaking.
Yet even so- their emotions were still laid bare.

They were having fun.

"Hehehehehe... Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Hey- hey. We're past the bed time Doctor Etsuji set up for me in the lab, like I was a kid. Don't you think that's crazy?"

Weave, weave, weave.
Arwest thrusted. Noei used her own thrusters to dodge.
Then, she chased after it with her P90. Then, Noei quickly formed her saber to deflect the bullets.
The deflection was used to distract the RPG being formed in the other hand. Shoot.
But Noei had already formed her buster beforehand and shot it to the RPG.
This was intentional- Arwest dropped her rocket launcher and moved in with her tonfas...

Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Neither of them... Could gain the advantage.
They were in a perfect stalemate of countering each others counters... For what seemed like eternity.
Noei, at first, explosively improved with each strike.
But there eventually came a point... Where Arwest began improving too.
So they were locked in this dance. And neither of them wanted to get out.

"AHahahahaha...!!! That's crazy! So crazy! Just like us, if you think about it. He really locked you in, just like that...!? Imagine if that still happened to you now- you wouldn't be able to fight with me like this!"

"Haaaah!!! Do you think I'd be doing anything else at the moment?!"

The house they were in was totally ruined.
It looked like nothing more than a skeleton of a house rather than a house itself.
Every belonging in it either had small bombs, and thus was thrown out by Noei...
Or the flames from Arwest's bomb had consumed it...
Or, the shockwaves and earthquakes caused by their constant fighting.
Even so- it was almost like a miracle. The roof was still standing, even despite having holes, cracks, broken parts...
It was getting smaller bit by bit-

- So even if they didn't want it to end, the roof collapsing... Would mean it would end.
Which begged the question.

"- Hey...?! Do you even remember why we're fighting like this?!"

A Seventh...
... Has perfect memory. That's a fact.

"... Come to think of it...!!! I don't remember at all!"

But that doesn't mean they have equal access to all memories at the same time.
In this moment. In a moment like this only, possible only through these conditions induced only by insanity...
A Seventh, overwhelmed by emotions, can forget things.
The fight was so fun...
... That Arwest had temporarily forgotten everything but the fight.

"Hahaha... Doesn't that mean it's time?" - That question...

"Yeah..."

And for a single moment-
The shockwaves, the constant shaking...
It all stopped. Did that mean they reached an agreement, or...?

- Noei had the same orthodox boxing stance she had when she began this battle.

... No.
The battle was still ongoing.
- They had just decided to put more into their next strikes... Than all of their previous bouts.
In which,
they both had exerted 100% into each hit.

So now... They would use what went beyond 100% of their power.

Arwest had a different stance.
She had taken the plow guard stance, sword raised to mid-level, pointed up above the hip and put in front of her body.
Which meant that this exchange would not mimic any one that they've had before.
It was a more honest stance, compared to her other ones which relied on trickery, feints or space control.

"... Yeah... Since we forgot... ... What is it that you were going to do when you won again?"

"Ah... Good question."

Noei thought to herself...
And the response came quickly.

"... I'd force you to quit your job and join mine. We REALLY need an assistant manager."

"Tha... That simple?"

Arwest blinked several times.
She even rubbed her own eyes, dusting the dirt and dust off of it.

"There has to be more, no?"

"Mmm... Not really? The only thing I'd be worried about is that... Most of our main employees also move in, cause we're like a family. I wouldn't want to force you to move in..."

Noei said, looking down with a sad face.
She almost lamented not being able to do that, until...

"... Are you stupid? If you won, you'd be able to do whatever you want with me. You can make me move in. Kidnap me, even. Tie me up to a chair, seal my mouth, deprive me of sunlight..." Arwest spoke off of experience.

"Whaaaat?! Did your messed up past make you forget what move in means?! I..."

Noei wistfully stared at the moon.
It looked so beautiful to her. More than it did before.
She'd never be able to see it in the Krypt District- the buildings reached too high.

"I just want you to join us for breakfast... And lunch and dinner, if you're not eating out. Sure, it's pointless- as Sevenths don't need to eat. But food still tastes good. Even when we're not working, maybe you can hang out with me, listen to music... Play games with Elka, design and test clothes with Pharma... And we can keep talking too. Have silly conversatons. We can even have canned coffee together." Noei closed her eyes, imagining such a world. "... It's a lot, I know. But I bet yours would be really different!" (edited)

"No. It's the same."

"Geh-" Noei's chin fell in shock. "Does that mean if I lost I'd work for the mafia and kill people? Cause that would really suck."

"Just... Just the parts about living together. I wouldn't want to go back to the mafia. Ideally, if I win... There would be no mafia.*

Arwest's hands fell slightly...
As the mood turned dour.
The two of them were reminded of everything. Their perfect memory, finally kicking in.
Their reasons for being on this roof. The emotions they felt. The days they felt before.
And the Paranoia... That came with it.
- And yet.
All it had caused for them was a feeling that they wanted to stop. That it was time to just lie down, end the day... And begin the next one anew.
It made things more painful, but only in that way.
Their smiles still remained. They were just softer.

Again,
that did not change the fact that they had agreed on something.
There had to be a winner... And a loser.

"... I'm really glad you'd like to have me walk with you in that world, then. Let's finish things."

Noei stepped in.
She threw an overhead, a wild overhead, at the same time as her strike.
An advancing strike, the Gehenna Drill appearing on her right as she dashed forward. Already at max length.
Already with the intent to end things.
Back then, their moves came lightning fast.
Exchange after exchange.
But they both bet everything on their upcoming attacks. They felt slower than everything that came before.

(edited)

What Arwest did...
Was a signature of the sword.
A downward, diagonal strike.
Letting the force of gravity carry her... And the force of her entire body crashing down.
She had both force, structure and the laws of physics supporting her.
Predicting Noei's very speed from the millions of strikes she exchanged...
Arwest wondered why Noei struck first- as that effectively meant that she was resigning herself to be countered.

But by focusing entirely on a movement that she predicted...
It took her a moment to react to a movement she didn't predict.
Noei's leg... A single one turned into a thruster.
And shot her just on top of Arwest- boosting up and past her blade.

". . ."

Her swung overhead... Was actually used to mask the formation of her copied Beam Saber in her hands.
And now, she had raised it up... Ready to slam down and cut down Arwest with her descent, streaming past her.

- Except.

". . . Ah."

It was a move...
She could barely comprehend.

"Factor Unleash - Tsubame Gaeshi."

Now, Noei understood why Arwest favored the Beam Saber and always moved in with it.
It is... Without question, her main weapon.

Discerning the angle of Noei's flight.
Knowing her next move better than herself...
Arwest cut down Noei with her return stroke, her blade shooting straight up like a shooting star.
A strike that could cut even a fleeing swallow.

And so-

Winner and loser... Were definitively decided.

"... That was amazing."

And even then, Noei felt like calling it amazing was an understatement.
What she witnessed- she hadn't realized it...
But it was the peak of Eastern Swordsmanship. One of its most ultimate techniques.
The fact that her chest was cut clean open, wires, Furyoku and her innards spilling out...
She didn't even feel bitter, depressed or defeated.

She was just impressed.

"You... You really are impressive, Arwest."

"Haaah... Haah..."

Finally...
Arwest caught up to the fact that she was sparking.
And unbelievably low on energy.
Beam Sabers drain directly from the power source and Furyoku of Sevenths, so it's taxing to keep one up for so long.
The fact that she fights with it as her ace is a testament to the miracle that happened here on the roof.

But the miracle wouldn't keep going.
Because now there was a winner, and there was a loser. It was clean cut.
Noei wasn't even circulating anymore.
Slowly walking to Noei, forming her P90- which formed slower due to lacking energy...
She put it up against Noei's forehead.

". . ."

"Hey..."

...
Because they stopped fighting,
the two of them could properly process time again.

"... Why aren't you pulling the trigger?"

"I... I don't know."

Arwest...
Her hands did not shake. Her hands did not falter.
So there weren't any regrets. She genuinely meant it when she said she didn't know.

"I've put an end to my past owners and families who have mistreated me before myself. This will hardly be the first time I've killed someone... ... Because I really do hate this world. I hate Steel City and everything it stands for. Its past, its present and where it's going. I hate all of it."

"I understand."

Noei closed her mouth for a moment...
But decided that now would be when she spoke.

"You never lied to me once, y'know?" - Something that she too, picked up. "I... I could honestly tell you wanted that rematch as much as I did, back in the water fight... You kept trying to keep me away, but you really wanted to be with me. Maybe it hurts, because... I was together with you. I trusted you. Because I was by your side."

"You... You did stay by my side. Fighting against with me, enjoying ourselves together... No one rejected me training them for housework together. And even though Elka ratted me out... It was likely the Paranoia from me causing him to act that way. ... Even though those days, as short as they were, were so fun... ... No." Arwest shook her head. "I've put an end to all of my days... For the sin of my existence. No matter who it is. No matter if they're good or bad- it always ends like this."

Finally, she looked back...
To something they avoided touching.
The bomb, that was still counting down. The final bomb.
The fact that it was still ticking was even more of a sign that Arwest won.

"Except now... This is it. It's over. There won't be any more times I'll be misled. There won't be any sunrise, or sunset. I'll move forward... Alone."

"... Is that... Is that honestly... What you want?"

Noei reached up her hand weakly.
She couldn't Circulate anymore nor even summon an ounce of Furyoku, so this was it for her.
She couldn't make a counterattack even if she wanted to, so the movement she made was honest.
She put her hand on Arwest's cheek.

"Would you genuinely be okay with never fighting like this- not just with me, but with anyone... Ever again?"

". . . No. Even right now... I wish we could get back right up and do a few more exchanges and duels." Arwest's finger twitched on the trigger.

"Then... Believe me. Trust... Trust us. I don't care about your past. I don't care about your paranoia. Because I've already proven with this duel... That I can shoulder ALL of it!"

Noei had said.
Forcing the best smile she could possibly make in this moment.

- Yes...

... Noei had figured out here what she was missing with Seren.
It was the answer to the question Jun had asked.

Right now,
Noei was forcing Arwest to see "It."

". . . What if I told you- there was a way to deactivate that bomb? That is... A voice command. With a password. 3 words long. 3 attempts, too."

She got up...
Reaching over to the bomb, and dropping it hard on top of Noei's stomach.

"You get all of them wrong... Then it blows up. And we've fought for so long- this bomb might even level all of Steel City with the energy it's gathered. It's 3 words, and there are thousands of words in the English language. In fact, that makes billions of combinations with those 3 words. In fact, what if it isn't even in English at all? Though- that entire premise would be stupid. ... Here's something even more stupid." Closing her eyes... She attempted to scoff right after her next sentence. "What if I said those 3 words were the ones I've wanted to hear my whole life?"

After she finished that...
She pressed a button on the bomb.

"That easy, huh?"

- A loud resounding incorrect buzzer, almost comedically, played from the bomb.
Noei let out a deep frown, but...
It at least confirmed that what she was trying was true.

"Okay.
Here goes-"

"- I love you." (edited)

05/02/2025 1:40 am

. . .

The timer on the bomb...

Slowly faded.

"........."

Because the timer was a bright hue of red...
In the moonlight of a destroyed district...
Everyone could see it. Everyone was rejoicing.
The threat... The disaster...

This long day had finally, finally ended.
Though, of course, due to being far from everyone watching...
No one could hear the exchange between the two but them.

"... Instead of all of this..."

Arwest's voice stopped being harsh.
More than anything, she sounded like a sad and vulnerable child.

"What... What should I have done? The Paranoia effect also applies on me as well... All of this... Could it really have been avoided?"

"Of... Of course it can."

Noei said, raising her body up despite being in pain, lacking energy, having holes and damages all across her body...
She stood up, and embraced Arwest. Pulling her close with both her arms, hugging her by the shoulders.

"I said it back then, didn't I? That we should just... Talk to each other. Talk to each other about our worries, our burdens... If we're feeling sad, anxious, doubtful, nervous, anything- We should tell each other. It... It sounds really simple, now that I'm saying it out loud."

"Ha... Ahahahaha... Hahaha... Ha... Ha..."

And soon after that-
Her gaze slowly began to change.

The deep sadness that attracted Noei in the first place...
The ever present gloom around her-
Even the shape of her own aura, clearing up... Turning from smog to just mist...
Arwest had an important realization there.

"... You're right. It sounds so simple, but the two of us... We never really did much of it at all, didn't we? The most we did it... Was in this fight."

And so...
... As leader of Maeda Atelier.
As the Seventh people wouldn't stop talking about over and over...
As the orange Hero of the night- the one who saved the Zone Backstreets... And perhaps all of Steel City, for a second time...
Noei turned. But her announcement was only made for her friends.

It was one that she finally got used to saying.
The first time she said it, she was unsure.
And the second time she said it, it was premature.
Now, though...

"That's all for today, everyone! We prevented that disaster, and now we'll never doubt each other ever again! No matter what the Mafia, Yakuza, Ministry of Defense- or anyone in Steel City has to say, we'll overcome any barrier in our way together! If we stick by each other's sides, promise not to drift apart, keep our doubts from each other...! Then anyone can come at us... And we'll overcome them, no matter who they are!"

It was a promise made by a steel being,
that seemed more unbreakable than any will out there.

(edited)

05/02/2025 1:51 am

This is a story of a robot who began to doubt others.
In that doubt and pain, Noei Maeda learned what love and trust are in return...
... And walked out of it, knowing the true face of bonds.

Standing at a bus stop...
Two specific people were standing there, but they were not waiting.
Which appeared odd in this place.
Zone 3 was definitely the busiest and most crowded of all the areas in the Backstreets.
It's filled with more commuters, more people just exploring and hanging out than any other part.
Since it's known as the Market District...
All sorts of people shop, dine and buy all sorts of things here. It was a lively place that could only exist in a place like Steel City.
But to most, it would seem busy and hectic. Almost every store was populated.
And even the stores that seemed like holes in the wall or hidden gems... When someone walks in them, they'd find that they're actually well populated too.

So it stood out that two people were just... Standing there next to a bus stop...
Because the bus had just left.

"I am... Very, very surprised you let her go even after that scolding."

"Ugh..."

Those two people were Etsuji and Ether.
And one of them looked way more aggravated than the other.
Etsuji looked like he even popped a vein.

"I keep telling Noei to keep out of danger, but I just know it... She'll be involved in something big again. Every time I let her out of my sight, something REALLY big happens."

Looking to where Zone 5 was...
The damage dealt to it was so great, that construction robots and Sevenths are still trying to make amends.

"Sometimes I wonder why I don't just keep her back in the lab at Neuron. She was happy there, and she was still going to school and learning..."

At that...
Ether couldn't even hide his irritation.
But his usual expression being so jovial made it only look like slight irritation.

"She looked really happy when she left, though. And she's earning money. Her own way. I mean, have you SEEN the clothes she makes. This coat's from her."

Ether said, spreading out his new thermo coat.
Most thermo coats are obvious, but his just looks like a regular one.
Which shows her skill in designing clothes.

"Plus... She's got friends, too. Really reliable ones, who I think would wage a war on us if we tried to take her. Sure, she's not living life like a normal kid. Ain't she still living, though?"

"But her life... ... It's something only a Seventh like her could achieve." Etsuji gripped his fist. "I... I wanted her to live life as a human. To have normal friends. To not be working a job and owning a business, a really successful one at that, and all of that... That's a Seventh's life."

"... And that's Noei's life. Sometimes I wonder if you wanted to make a Seventh that's like a human, or just straight up a human." Ether crossed his arms. "... If you wanted all of that for her, then why didn't you just... I dunno. Not build her with all that awesome power?"

"That's..."

... Etsuji stopped speaking...
And he started to walk off.
Signaling that he wouldn't purse the conversation anymore.

"... There's a really good Xiao Long Bao restaurant near here. Let's go eat there."

05/02/2025 2:07 am

------------------ + Maeda Atelier + ------------------------

Arriving with her new bag of belongings... (All her old stuff burnt down.)
Takane had said that they would be starting from zero.
None of them had expected that to literally be the case, though. With their house and all their belongings (except Pharma) to be burnt down to nothing.
And... Of course, the house itself. And all of its clothes. And beta designs. And current designs.
And all of its data stored in its computers.
Now without Ether to fund them, due to the fact that they DID have bank accounts...
Noei moves to the new Maeda Atelier.

- For Noei, starting from zero was even more literal.
She sustained enough damage to warrant weeks worth of repairs.
Not to mention, she was loaded with old tech despite being a recently made Seventh.
So, a lot of her insides were modernized. Being made with brand new tech...
Her outside layer didn't change much.
But she's went through all sorts of upgrades since she last went to Maeda Atelier.

Stopping in front of the new branch...

"... Wow!"

It was much more fitting for what she was looking for.
A store on one building... Then connected to it, was another building. Rather than a mansion.
It was a simple house, with 2 floors too- but not as much rooms. There was still a shed.
It looked much more ordinary- generic even. But it was enough for them.
They didn't need anything more.
They didn't need the massive stone walls around it, the mansion-like size or the strange design... They just needed to be together.

So-

" - I'm home!!!"

Opening the door, it having scanned her data...
Noei walked into the living room.

And...
She had no doubt in mind that they would be there.

The first she noticed was Takane.
As she was closest to the door- also having recently arrived.
With her coat on the rack, recently been placed there.
Winter is starting to fall, so everyone's planning for the cold season.
With a can of canned coffee in her hand...

"...!!!! Noei!!!" Takane beamed up with her usual smile. "So you finally made it! Gotta say, you're even a bit later than I expected! Worked a few extra hours in my side gig cause of that. Glad my guess was right."

The next one to wave... Was Elka.
- He looked very different.
For one, scars had gathered over his entire body. The most notable one was the one that covered most of his left face.
Having been knocked out in the middle of the fire...
Not just that. But... Noei's memories say his eye color used to be grey.

- She wasn't aware that if a person's eye color turns from black or grey... To a colored one...
It's usually the sign of Circulation slowly awakening in a person.
Or in other words, supernatural abilities were slowly budding within Elka.

Elka stepped forward, wrapping his arm around Noei's neck.

"What took ya' so long?! Was that your first time using a bus or something?! Maybe we SHOULD look into seriously investin' into a car!" (edited)

"Ah... Ehehehe... It... It kinda is my first time using a bus. Doctor Etsuji said I shouldn't fly. He didn't provide a very good reason on why I shouldn't, though."

Noei stood upright...
Wrapping his arm around Elka's own neck.

"To be honest, he's so limiting! Makes me glad I can be with you guys instead. Well, I mean, this IS my house! So... I can be myself without having to worry about fitting into what he wants me to be!"

- Instantly...
She had shown that Noei was keeping to her promise.
She wouldn't hide her frustrations anymore.

The many times in the past Noei's gripes were repressed, put to the side- becoming a burden...
... Would now no longer happen.

"Uuuu... Kind of reminds me of my old owners."

Polly said, waving from the couch.
Takane and Elka had the loudest greetings...
So even her, who felt like she had greater energy than most kids, was drowned out. Those two were that enthusiastic to see her.
Polly had a sad face... That quite literally flipped right upside down to a cheerful one.
One that they were all used to.

... They still had many, many questions- especially Noei- on what Polly actually was, but now they could actually sit down and talk about it.

"I'm happy that you're now my owner, Noei! Even if you don't like the word... It's just on paper. So... I can't wait to experience this thing called family!"

And of course...

... Leaning on the wall, holding two canned coffee cans...
Was Arwest Meinster.
Her expression was always the scornful type. But...
The doom behind it had vanished.
She still looked gloomy on the surface, yes.
However, a deep despair that she carried like a coffin on her back wasn't there anymore.
In fact...

She even freely smiled to Noei without even realizing it.

"You're late. Your can got a bit cold. But I did save one for you. Hope you're fine with that."'

"Ah..."

Noei moved in front of Arwest...
And the two of them just stared at each other, though Noei did accept the can.
She sipped it a bit before speaking...

"... I like mine a bit on the cold side, anyways. I, uh... How do I say this without being rude? No- I'll just say it. I'm still surprised at how loose law enforcement is on Sevenths."

"Me too, man. The one time I'm fine with this city being a bit of a shithole. They just say that we've been reprogrammed, which- every Seventh knows we can overcome whatever's programmed in us by just repeating the opposite three times in a mirror... Then we just rot for a week, then we're out. I REALLY feel like I should be doing more to repent, but..."

Arwest looked outside...
And snow was beginning to fall on the streets.
Though that wasn't what she was looking at. It just caught her by surprise.
What she was looking at was the Maeda Atelier proper. Which was still being furnished.

"Being a wagie for a start up business... Is probably the punishment."

"Haaah... ... What I'd give for Pharma to not be in that coma right now."

Out of all of them, Pharma had it the worst.
Unlike Elka, she didn't have physical conditioning at all.
So she's been sent straight into a coma, with risk of there even being memory loss...
The mood became sour for a second across the whole room.

But as per usual, there was always an exception among them. Someone who couldn't read the room no matter what.

"... It... IT'S SNOWING!? I've never seen snow before, what the heck! This season is when most of the bad guys keep me locked up!!!"

Polly...
Rammed her head face first into a window.
Her eyes shooting to count each and every single piece of snow falling.

"Elka! Arwest! Noey! Snowball fight! Now!"

"Oh shit, for real?"

Elka rolled up his sleeves...
As he looked to Arwest.

"Time to show you what I've got, then. Noei got to duel you for a long time, so now it's my turn...! I'll show you that I'm more than just her boneheaded sidekick!"

"... Please. Even thinking about fighting me for that long? In fact- you'll lose. I'll pellet you so hard, you'll become a snowman."

It seems...
... While Noei had gone under repairs- Elka and Arwest had formed an unlikely close bond.
Which got Noei a bit to process. Her two favorite people were buddy buddy with each other now...
Which meant the best possible outcome had occured. Though...

"Wait... There's... There's still one member we have to say hi to."

05/02/2025 2:34 am

-------------------- + Zone Graveyard + -----------------------

Because the Zone Backstreets, like its namesake suggests, is the least prestigious area of all the Districts in Steel City...
It has the largest graveyard.
Where most ordinary people go when they die.
War veterans go to the Krypt District. Rich people go to the V District. Anything in between goes to the Higashi Suburbs.
But if you're just an ordinary person trying to live your life- then you'll end up in what feels like nothing but graves and graves for kilometers on end.
The 5 of them had gathered in front of a grave, holding flowers...

That read,
"JUN SORIMACHI
DATE OF BIRTH UNKNOWN - 10/01/115 CE
A salamander whose flames will inspire us until we pass, too."

Noei was the last one to lower her flowers.

". . ."

And the first one to speak...
... Was Takane.

"So, uh. I don't really know how to do this respecting the dead shtick. I-Is... Is now a good time to say like- in the brief moment I saw her, I was like... Damn. She's really hot. Or is that just my hopeless romantic side showing?"

"..."

Arwest looked directly at Takane...
With a very, very disapproving look.

"Have fun dealing with the consequences of that very obviously disrespectful statement to say right in front of a corpse."

"Oi, I know spirits are real, but we would've seen her ghost right about now if she DID pass away unhappily..."

Takane put her hands in her pockets, inching her neck closer to Arwest...
But what she really should have watched out for-

- Was a rather hard smack on the back. "Come on, Takane. This is a graveyard. I know your whole shtick is acting as a shining counterexample to us, but sheesh...!"

"O-Ow...!!! Owww...!!! Okay, okay! Point taken!"

Takane crouched down, rubbing her back...
As she didn't remember Elka being that strong.

"Hehe!!!"

Polly pointed to Takane's face as she was reeling back from the pain.
With her other arm flailing up and down, she spoke.

"Polly was coded with Shamanic Modules and programs. I can summon and divine her spirit from beyond the grave to see what she thinks of that comment."

"You have- what?????? Just what the heck kind of Seventh are you...?"

Her limbs began to fall, but...
She shot right back up.

"Wait- no! That's not my priority here! Do NOT summon her. Please. I would die. Like, she would actually kill me. ... But judging by how she taught you guys well, helped you survive... I guess I'd be fine getting beat up by someone like that."

As the uproar among all of them continued...
Noei was the only one who couldn't fully involve herself.
This wasn't like before, where she wasn't communicating and holding herself back from being true friends with the others...
But instead-
It took the group a while to notice she was walking up to someone near them. Someone else who was also mourning.

"U-Um... Sorry for the noise we're making. We're kind of a rowdy crowd, wherever we go... And that includes here. I know it doesn't excuse our behavior, but..."

The man Noei had walked to... "..."

He was a tall, well built, blonde man wearing shades.
Because of his shades, it was hard to really discern what he looked as he stared at that grave.
But because of his silence... Noei thought that he might have been mad at her.
She almost bowed, but...

"... It's alright. The fact that you can be so lively around even their body... It's probably what they would have wanted, if that person was important to you. They wouldn't want to hold you back with their death. They'd want you to soar because of it. I don't know who you're mourning, but if that's the type of reaction you and your group are getting after showing your respect... Then that's probably the best thing you could've done to appease her in the afterlife."

"Ah..."

"...
So even there, I was messing things up, Seren.
Sorry.

But I think now... I can finally move forward and be happy."
Noei looked at her palm...
And was about to be lost in her own navelgazing. But...
She was snapped out of it-

"We're sorry."

"I'm sorry, mister!"

"I-I'm so sorry!"

"I'm sorry- hey, wait, why are you pulling me down too?! I just wanted to bow!"

... By four people kowtowing in a ridiculous motion.
They were even aligned like a square.

"..."

"Good.
So the memory-erasing beam worked. Those two don't remember me at all.
Even while staring at me directly, they don't know who I am... My skills haven't rusted at all."

Turning his back on the group...
He was satisfied with what he saw.

The way the man was walking though...
It was almost as if he was trying to disappear from the world entirely.
His walk was simultaneously slow and hurried. A perfect in between of the two...
Making him look like nothing more than a mirage.

"..."

Unconsciously, just like with Arwest...
Her arm reached out to him. But it wasn't filled with the same longing that she had for Arwest.
Her arm moved on instinct alone.

"Where...
Where have I seen him before?"

- Sevenths have perfect memory.

"Come on guys, you can get now. Let's go home so we're not cursed by any evil spirits for making a ruckus."

Noei said, looking back at everyone..
And before she faced everyone- her turn caused her to see the name of the gravestone the man with shades was mourning.
It read...

"REI TENMA
01/01/80 CE - 11/23/95 CE
Beloved son, and dreamer for the future."

For some reason... Noei didn't know if it was because she just didn't like seeing dead people.
Or something about the name or the epitaph of the graveyard was uncanny to her...
But her heart had twisted, if only for a second.

"Yeah, yeah... Sides, I'm hungry for a snack anyways. Anyone want a... A.... a... a..."

Elka's voice trailed off slowly.
His eyes too, also slowly shrunk. They even looked like they were losing colors.

"... There's no way you forgot what you wanted mid-sentence. I know you're stupid, but not thaaaaa..." Arwest looked to the direction Elka was looking in. "Holy crap."

"?"

Once again, they had snapped Noei out of her thinking.
She turned her full body, looking even further ahead...

"- Oh my god." And the sight shocked her too.

There was someone...
Despite knowing little of, were absolutely sure would not be found dead at a graveyard.
Someone... Who they were sure wouldn't even be holding flowers, with a look of pure lament.
The Chairman of the nasty Kidori Alliance.
Owner of the Jester's Casino.
The wind blew, her hair being swept a bit to the side...
As she spoke, alongside the passing wind.

"I'm back, Jillian Salome. ... You might be disappointed in me, but this week was more of the same. So... I'll start as per usual with Monday." And she sat down in front of the grave.

". . . Arwest. Do you know...?"

"I've never met a Jillian in my life. Now let's get out of here."

05/02/2025 3:06 am

Chapter 2 - True End

15/02/2025 10:07 pm

Chapter 2 Placebo - Seabed

As a script written by demons has been torn to shreds,
the White Executioner saunters back into a world of paranoia.

(edited)

15/02/2025 10:36 pm

------------------- + Zone 4 Junkyard + -------------------

B-SIDE
CURRENT DAY: (M/D/Y) 10/05/115 of the Cyber Era. Honestly, after the shitstorm that was the Zone 5 Incident, I really wish I had it in me to take a leave.
TIME: Sunset. Not a big fan of this time of the day. It makes everything look piss orange, like you slapped a bad filter on everything.
WEATHER: Clear Skies. Least the rainy season's over. No need to worry about lugging around an umbrella, uselessly taking up a single hand.

"..."

What's happening right now...
... Is an intimate moment that I cannot intrude on.
Or, no. It's more like no one can intrude on a moment like this.

Someone, or an onlooker, might wonder what I'm doing in a junkyard. I'm a Seventh.
Junkyards like these, especially ones in the Backstreets... Are graveyards for a Seventh.
We don't have the rights to have proper graves or coffins or even burial services.
If one of us goes kaput, they'll just make another one like us. If a Doctor Seventh dies, they'll just take the data from that Doctor Seventh and build a newer and better one at Neuron.
That's why people shouldn't get so attached to Sevenths.
Ones missing arms, half their faces, scrapped for extra parts... We receive no respect here and this junkyard is proof of it.
If a Seventh's mourned, it's because they're a part of some rich family or something. But people will use the excuse that "oh, a Seventh got mourned, so you can't complain about you having no rights" just cause some rich Seventh got mourned.
Rarely, though...
Do you see the opposite.

That's what's unfolding right now.
A Seventh mourning a human.

Though, of course, they weren't alone.
There were two Sevenths and two humans.
The first one I see is a young boy, probably just a year under 18.
He's carrying the body bag. I don't know who's in that body bag.
But I can surmise that it contains Jun Sorimachi. Who I presume was their mentor in those trying times.
I'm told this one's name is Elka Brinker. To be honest, he looks mediocre. Average. A human that you'd just pass by and note nothing about.
... Yet he stands in front of all of them, like he's the one who's leading.

It's pathetic, really. Because even without knowing them much personally- I can tell that he's just an ordinary boy.
He slowly lowers the body bag down on the ocean in front of them.
- Another reason on why I consider this junkyard to be a graveyard is that it's right in front of the ocean. Apparently this junkyard used to be a beach, before the poverty of Zone 4 ruined it.
And the ocean... For most Sevenths who aren't equipped for sea travel- it'll lead to a quick death for them if they stay submerged for a while.

Dropping a Seventh in the ocean is a quick way to kill one.

The other human was one I didn't know personally.
All that I know is that she means a lot to Noei Maeda.
Judging from her stance alone, I can tell she's a sort of guiding figure. Hanging right behind everyone else.
... Personally, I've never felt good about a Seventh having a mentor.
Especially a human one at that.
It's obvious that if someone tries to guide a Seventh, they're just trying to shape those Sevenths into a personal lackey for their ideals.

I've seen it all too many times.
I don't think this woman is any different from the rest.

(edited)

As the boy named Elka lowered the body bag...
The one who seemed most hurt, oddly enough, was the person I came here for.
Arwest Meinster. The Witch of Paranoia.
One of the nastiest Sevenths out there. One that barely anyone likes.
We made an agreement that I'll talk about later when I get to her. Right now, it doesn't matter because she's doing something else at the moment.

I don't know why she looks so pained over whoever's in that body bag. Their body slowly floats awya.
But their very Being drives others insane. Just by being around her, paranoia will rise to the point where the worst doubts within people will be exposed.
She's no stranger to watching the people die around her.
- And especially due to her Sin... Arwest shouldn't be so pained over causing the death of another person. 

So her sour look only fills me with a sour look too.
It's not because of empathy, or anything like that.
I just don't think she deserves to hold that look.

Lastly...
... There's Noei Maeda. A person I cannot understand.
We've known each other for a good bit, but...

I don't get her.
I don't understand her.
I can't even begin to understand how she thinks, functions or even lives on a day to day basis.
I can't even attribute any adjectives or attributes to her. No labels and no titles suit her.
Especially because of her always distant, enigmatic, look.
... She always creeps me out every time she stares at me. She always has, ever since she was awakened.
So I'm glad she's not looking at me.

I see her lead the discussion among the 4. The 4 of them chat for a while.
Sharing all sorts of emotions.
- That's exactly what I don't get about her.

She'll be sad one second, then happy the next. Then laughing the next. Then serious the next.
And she'll bring out a similar wellspring of emotions from all the people around her. Even Arwest, another Seventh.
It's not even human-like. It's bizarre. It's strange. It's uncanny.

No beings are supposed to be filled with that much emotion.

"... That's all for today, everyone. We might be still battered, some of us still under repair, like me... But we'll keep moving forward in spite of what we've done and in spite of our pasts!"

I hear her announce something. I guess my hunch was right on how she was acting as a sort of leader among this group.
After that announcement, the 4 began to disperse.

- Which means I can start what I was really here for.
The continuation... Of my investigation.

(edited)

Step. Step. Step.
Hands in my coat... I make sure not to step on anything too disgusting.
Even the tiniest of parts from a Seventh- I won't step on. Even if it's a chip.
Unfortunately, it makes my walk to Arwest look a bit clumsy.
Everyone from the 4 went off in their own separate directions, but Arwest only feigned that she was leaving.
- Because we had decided beforehand... That today, she would start her penance.
Finally, I made it to Arwest, who was staring at the seabed seen underneath the waves.

"You sure took a while getting rid of that body. ... Was it anyone important?"

"You could say that. I didn't know them too well, personally, but... Their death caused a lot of shit to hit the fan."

Arwest had a warm look when she was with the group. One that, again, I feel like she doesn't deserve.
Though it returned to her usual cold and distant look once I approached.
Right now... What Arwest has agreed upon is to help me with our investigation.
- Media-wise, even though Sevenths can easily be pardoned if we just "reprogram" them to not do whatever crime they did...
Their perception will hit rock bottom for their entire life. So to soften the blow, Arwest is working with us for a while to lay low and to repent for the Zone 5 Incident.
... I still don't know why Lukia let her do this, though. If it were up to me, I'd just scrap a Seventh this risky and let it be.

I'd do it myself, even. 
But Arwest... Would be useful for a certain something.

The 52 Case.
Intentionally or unintentionally... She's connected to it.

"Well, whoever it was... It couldn't have been an excuse for the shit you caused to Zone 5."

I looked to the seabed as well.
I just didn't want to look her in the eyes. Hell- I don't even wanna be near her.
My inner emotional parameters detect that I'm being a lot more antsy and paranoid than usual. The bar's incrementing slowly.
... Again, just being near Arwest makes one paranoid. It's why nobody likes the Queen of Paranoia.

- Except, of course, Noei.
The one person I can't understand.

"How's the reprogramming going, by the way? You overcome it already?"

"Yeah. Many scientists, underground ones, ones from Neuron... And lately the ones from the Ministry of Defense have all tried patching out my "problematic" behavior. But, well..." Arwest shrugged. "This time, I got over it as soon as I walked out of the lab."

Sevenths, being robots, can be programmed.
We have built in functions and programs. But eventually, our lived experiences start programming ourselves.
We construct our conscious with our subconscious.
So long-lived Sevenths like me and Arwest eventually can resist even high level reprogramming. The Doctors in Neuron say it's willpower, but...
... I think that's bullshit. We don't have something as strong as willpower.

I'd say our resistance to any sort of reprogramming is just... Selfishness.

"You gonna take me back to your headquarters now for questioning? Or are you just gonna take my head apart and scan my data directly?"

"That would be easy, but because of YOUR incident, our staff's never been busier. So we'll have to do this the hard way."

Activating the ice generator Armament within me, I form a seat out of ice.
I sat down on it, exhaling.

"... By the way, don't try to lie. I don't have any Modules or abilities for lie detecting, but I've been in this business for a while."

"... It's fine. I came prepared."

Rolling up her sleeves, a part of her arm slides open.
Ah. She's inserted a Module in it...
Looking at it closer, it's a Mind Projection Module. The type that projects a Seventh's memories through holograms. Good. Makes this way easier.

"So start with the questions whenever. If you're looking for an excuse to get me arrested again, though, I've got plenty of things to confess to."

"Huh..." ... That's not like her. "... You sound like you're in a rush to meet the slammer. Past times you've been involved with the Ministry of Defense, you're always trying to worm yourself out. Doesn't help that Cybil always rigs shit so that you get out anyways."

She's another Seventh I fear I don't fully understand either.
I don't get how that peach haired Seventh can stand up for such a terrible Seventh. Much less act like their biggest fan...
But she's useful. I can't deny that.

"Don't tell me you seriously just feel bad about the Zone 5 Incident."

"... I do. Is that so hard to believe?" ...

"Considering your past? Yeah. It is."

A cynical snicker escaped her. "Then so be it. It looks like I have a lot to atone for."

... Atone...

Don't act like we're capable of doing that, either.
What the hell sort of false information is Noei feeding this hopeless Seventh?
The past few times she's been admitted to the Ministry of Defense, she'd always push the blame of her paranoia induced incidents on someone else.
Now, just because she's hanging out with Noei, does she think she has the ability to erase her past...?
Fuck that.
Sevenths weren't given perfect memory for nothing.

"... Did I touch a nerve, or something? You look pissed."

"- Tch. We don't have nerves."

Wagging her finger in front of me... It's clear she's taunting me. "I know. As I used to say in the past, don't say useless things. There's a time and place for pointless squabbles. And right now..." For a second- I almost felt a cold chill. "... I don't think either of us want to be here right now. Much less with each other."

With my hands put together...
I don't know if it's because of Arwest's Paranoia Syndrome, or my own internal feelings...
But I almost leaped forward to stab her with the Blade of Kairos.
... I exhale.

"Fine. I'll start with the questioning. I'm not looking for any incriminating evidence, unfortunately."

As much as I'd love to lock her up again, so that this Seventh never sees any sunrise or sunset, that's not why I brought her for questioning.
It's for something much more primal.

"You're here because I believe you're connected to a series of incidents. -Or in other words, the Heinous Crimes against Sevenths."

"... Oh?" Arwest lowered an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"I'll get there in a bit. For now, the questions."

For a second, my eyes flashed blue.
I paid close attention to even a milisecond of movement from Arwest.
Because this next question... If she reacts even slightly, then I will know.

"Does the number 52 mean anything to you?"

"Nope."

...

No reaction at all.
... Shit. I thought for sure she was connected to the 52 Case.
Injected within the Silver Nephilim was Arwest's own Paranoia Gas, which induced the Paranoia Syndrome.
Hence why they were acting out more than usual.
- I don't know if Arwest can affect herself with her own syndrome, but it would also explain the Zone 5 Incident... Well, part of it, at least.
That just makes things more complicated then.

Because she was made directly by Renji Tenma, being a First Generation Seventh... She has unique and esoteric abilities that can't be easily replicated.
All First Generation Sevenths have some hidden ace in the hole ability. I would know- I'm based off of one. And my Silver Eyes are only a mere fraction of what her Scarlet Gaze is capable of.
Which means...

With absolute guarantee, Arwest is the only Seventh capable of procuring the Paranoia Syndrome.

"... Alright then."

This makes things harder, because...
If she's involved with the 52 Case, that means she was used.
I put my hands together again, focusing.

"Name all the organizations you've worked for in the past 5 years."

"Starting from most recent to latest... Maeda Atelier, The Meinster Family, Ishida Crooks, The Flower Gang, The Brinker Family, the Melaragno Family, an unnamed Bomb Production group, an unnamed Terrorist family and if you count the brief moment I was used for a red light district- that's all of them."

... She wasn't kidding when she said she drifted around from place to place for a while.
But it's only natural.

No one would want such an unwanted Seventh.
And as weird as Noei is... I bet she'll float away from even that group too.
There's just no way Noei can handle her.

"In those 5 groups, it's obvious that they got you for the Paranoia Syndrome and the procuring of items like your Paranoia Syringes or gas." I tapped the side of my head. "Did any of the groups mass produce your Paranoia Syndrome? Or if not, were there potential samples of the Syndrome that you don't know the status of now?" (edited)

"No. Even in the most brutal of groups, like when I used to work directly under the Director of the Melaragno Clan... Every time I've produced the Paranoia Syndrome in usable form, such as in syringe form, they've always made sure I know exactly how much has been produced and exactly what they're going to use it for."

Her gaze lowered.
As for a moment, I almost thought she looked cooperative.

"... Are you trying to imply that there's been copies of my Syndrome running around without my knowledge?"

I mimicked a human's exhale to tell Arwest how tired I am.
Leaning back in my icy throne, I put my hands on my lap.

"Yeah, it sucks, but that's what's going on right now. I found your Paranoia Gas in a Card that can transmit the Syndrome. I know it's most commonly procured in the form of a syringe, but do you remember it ever being put in the form of a card?"

"- No. Never." Stress passed Arwest. "I'd ask if you're sure that was mine or not, but... There's no point when it comes with you."

...?
Is she trying to say she trusts me...?

"But that's... Well, it's more than concerning. I've never procured the Syndrome in a form of a card before."

"But it was definitely your Paranoia Syndrome located in that card. Only logical conclusion is that your memories got tampered."

I sit, cross legged.
I squinted straight at her.

"Show me your memories. They've likely been tampered with."

"... Before you pry around in my head, I want you to know that the procuring of the Paranoia Syndrome is a very intricate process. You have to wire me up to shit and whatnot."

Arwest raised up a hand, palm facing upwards.
There was that challenging look again.

"The only two places where I sat around long enough to be used like that... Is in Maeda Atelier and the Ministry of Defense. Of course, the latter is mostly because you, Lukia and Cybil keep trying to get me convicted for a random crime every month or so."

... Glad to see that Director Lukia also thinks she should be scrapped or behind bars permanently. I thought I was the only one who thought that way.

"... Are you telling me not to doubt Noei, then?"

"Yeah. I'll fight tooth and nail for her innocence. You get her involved in this shit, and I won't hesitate becoming an enemy of all of Steel City."

........
Easy for you to say.
You don't have anything else to lose aside from her.

"... Then, if you want privacy over your memories, any suspicions on your memories being tampered with then?" (edited)

"Actually..."

Arwest looked to the side and projected a memory.
It seemed to also be in this junkyard. She was with a Seventh... I didn't recognize. A blue haired one.
Well- didn't recognize isn't exactly it. It's just more like I have no idea who this is. I restrained her on Lukia's orders. I've seen her with Arwest and Noei. She was also there, cheering for Noei in that big rooftop showdown... But I don't even know their name.
I don't know their name, nor their title. Lukia said to just restrain them that one time I had to go in Maeda Atelier to arrest Arwest.
... Did they even fight in the Whitebell War?
But more concerning than that is...

"... You see it too, yeah?" (edited)

"What the hell."

"See, that's what I'm saying."

Arwest and that blue-haired Seventh...
They were clearly talking to someone. That much was sure.
- Except.
Whoever they were talking to... Also didn't exist.
A non-existent person was handing Arwest piles of equipment. The Small Bombs she used, the Simon Bomb, the rare barrier-type Isotope Gas she used...
Except. That person also didn't exist.

If I had to word it, it was like someone video edited her memory... And edited out that person entirely, but still kept their effects.

". . . I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking at here."

"Neither am I, to be honest. I've never seen memory corruption of this type before. Usually, if a Seventh's memory is altered... It's just outright corrupted."

Arwest stopped projecting the memory from her eyes.
I scrunched up my mechanical brows, scratching my hair.
- Arwest didn't need to continue. The way her memory was manipulated... It goes beyond anything we have right now technologically.
Why...?
Why did we have to come across a scientific advancement in a field of Sevenths...? I'm just trying to avenge the death of Marika here, how did I get involved in all of this...?

"... Forgive me for asking a question. But have you been investigating any shadow organizations as of late?"

I was caught off guard for a bit by Arwest taking the initiative, but I quickly regained my composure.
It might sound like a childish term...
But shadow organizations really are a real thing here.
Renji Tenma's faction during the war, when he turned himself against Steel City.
The CE Ward's strange Yggdrasil Faction.
And of course... The two mafioso groups. The Kidori Alliance and the Melaragno Clan.
Combined with the Ministry of Defense and Neuron...

Nobody really knows who runs Steel City.
All of these groups, even Neuron: who produces Sevenths... Have equal power.

So the fact that whoever 52 is insists that someone DOES in fact run it all...
... They're either sending me on a wild goose chase, or there's something I've been overlooking.

"... Just one. And it's one I'm not even sure exists. Likely... They're the one who gave you the equipment to carry out the Zone 5 Incident. And in addition- -They're likely the ones who caused the Silver Nephilim incident."

"..."

Arwest covered her mouth with her hand for a second...
She seemed to be thinking about something. Brainstorming.
Then she responded quickly.

"I'd ask for evidence, but I can already see the pattern between the two. Both incidents revolve around the exploitation of a Seventh that was about to hit rock bottom... And they gave them the tools to unleash their insecurities. Got a name for this group?"

"Only the name of one of its members- likely its leader. 52."

"52..."

Arwest went back to brainstorming.
She muttered,

"Only significant thing that I can think of that relates to 52... Are the number of cards in a blackjack deck."

...?
A gambling game...?
- Wait...

"... That might be a good enough clue to direct you on where to investigate next." (edited)

"...!!!!!!"

I look over behind me.
And we both can see it.
Even in a graveyard for Sevenths, in the slums of Steel City...
We can see it from here.
The behemoth of Zone 1. The titan that towers over all of Zone 1.
The Kidori Alliance's greatest asset... A giant golden casino that is a place worse than any hell.
- Those who get serious about gambling never leave.

It's the Kidori Alliance's Jester Casino.
A realm of its own.

"... I hesitate to thank you, but you DID just provide me with a pretty good clue. It doesn't mean I'm in your debt, though."

"I've got more information, by the way."

I turned back to face Arwest with a very clearly unamused look. "As I said. No matter what you say, I'll never be in your debt."

"I have a likely lead on which organization 52 belongs to."

"............................................"

"I hope you don't mind me setting you up like this." Arwest crossed her arms confidently. "It's just... ... If Noei gets in trouble again, which she likely will, knowing her... I need you and the Ministry of Defense to actually help out this time. Use your power for something worth fighting for, for once."

"- Tch."

We've never found anything worth fighting for... For years.
Not even in the Whitebell War were we filled with meaning.
Hell... Even the Queen of Sevenths didn't entirely believe we had meaning in that war.

It was said a long time ago that Shiori- the Queen of Sevenths- would mutter something quietly every time something went wrong during the war. 
I assumed she was questioning our existence, or something complex like that. I don't really get it. But she told me that our existence wasn't something to celebrate. Those words...

"We've been punished by having the tools to change the world right in front of us, but with no hands to hold out and reach out for it."

Not every Seventh who was in the war heard those words.
But for those who did... It defined us as much as her songs did.

So what if we're fighting without a reason?
It's alright for me and the Ministry of Defense to continue on like that, yeah?
It doesn't matter if we have a reason or not. Because we were built for this.
We were made to fulfill this role. So...

"... What's so special about Noei, anyways? Was she just nice to you, like Cybil was? Then did you end up becoming attached to her all because she showed you a little bit of affection?"

"Please... I don't think it's a secret that I didn't exactly buy Cybil's own optimism. I'm sure you don't, either." ... Well, it's just as she says. "However, Noei has something Cybil doesn't. ... After all... Without It, Love cannot be seen." (edited)

This "It..."
... I think I know what it is.
So in response, I could only give Arwest a doubtful frown.
In the first place, I don't think you need "It" to achieve Love.
And second of all...

I don't think we Sevenths even have "It."

"..."

"... She chose something as fragile as love to be her strength. Noei was beaten down over and over... Even before I met her because she had love. But because she had It, she still believed in love."

I saw Arwest hold what looked to be resolve.
- But there's no way it can be actual willpower. She's just faking it, like the rest of us Sevenths.

"And I... I want to live in the light alongside her now. I don't care if I'm hated by most Sevenths and humans. I got bricks and rocks thrown at me on the way here, people chanting against me... But it's okay. She loves me. I love her. Maeda Atelier accepts me. If there's even a single person cheering for me-"

-...
Stop smiling like that... It doesn't suit you.
... It's too blinding.

"- Then I think it's okay for me to smile with all my heart."

- How...?
How can a being, as pathetic, overlooked, and hated as you are still smile...?
Someone so uncared for, someone who can't change, someone who's very existence drives other people away...!!!

How can you accept yourself?!

"... Just tell me what the lead is."

I saw Arwest be taken aback for a second.
I don't know why. What was she so surprised by?
She looked like she was surprised by me. What's there to be shocked about?
I was keeping the same expression the whole time, right?

...

"It was something I came across in my investigation of Jun Sorimachi. A new shadow organization that... I never knew about before, but one that I felt dumb for not realizing never existed. The Anti-Seventh Faction. A group of underground people from all walks of life, from mafioso, to blue collar employee, to teacher, to student, to office worker to even Sevenths themselves.. They're a group that exists in order to put down Sevenths. Demean them. Antagonize them... Until we become nothing but tools." (edited)

"...!"

Then...
The rampage of the Silver Nephilim. Providing Arwest with those weapons.
- And if a third incident similar to this happens...

"It makes sense. A lot of people are wondering why Sevenths are practically all carrying bombs that we don't know about."

Every Seventh has powerful Armaments, a Being and a Factor that syncs with that Being.
We're like living nukes.
And yet, we were made with the purpose of coexistence.
It's why I've always hated our existences. Our mere existence is hypocritical.

"So if a faction is seeking to antagonize Sevenths... Then of course they'd try to make them go nuts like the Silver Nephilim did. They want to ruin the public opinion of Sevenths."

- Of course...
The wrench in that hole is Noei.
Because as those incidents were caused by Sevenths, a Seventh also stops it.
... So it seems Noei's been stopping the plans of this faction without them even realizing it.

"I found out that Jun Sorimachi was a part of that faction. Same with Aimone Brinker. But tracking them down has been exceptionally hard. They have tech that can conceal their identities- and the one time I was able to track their meeting spot, they were all wearing perception concealing hoodies... Shipped straight from Subterra."

- Which means they're big wigs.
Subterra doesn't allow imports or exports unless they're from the government directly.
Does that mean that this Anti-Seventh Faction... Has plants from the government?

Does that mean the Anti-Seventh Faction could potentially have my coworkers among their ranks?
And not just that- Neuron employees too? It could explain how they created the Silver Nephilim.

...

"... As much as I'd love to continue my investigation- The reason why I'm handing this off to you is because of something I've already stated. I want to live in the light with Noei." (edited)

"No. It's okay."

- I don't know what this feeling is.
But as someone with a Being of ice... It's wrong for me to say it, but I feel like there's a burning desire swelling up inside of me.
I should be deterred.
I'm reaching a point in my investigation where the stakes and scales are much higher than I can ever imagine.
Anyone I know could be in the Anti-Seventh Faction. And it's clear they have a plot.

Conspiracies like these-
I've always hated dealing with them.
Especially because they have a high risk of changing so much. Changing Steel City until it becomes something entirely new.
That would go against what I was made for. To keep the peace of Steel City.
And now, since I'm going at this alone, there's an extremely high chance... That I won't be able to deal with this.

But-

"I'd rather I handle this case on my own."

- Ah.

I know what this feeling is now, actually.

Revenge.

I step past Arwest...
And face my next destination. The Jester's Casino.

- Everything's clicking together.
The Heinous Crimes against Sevenths.
The Silver Nephilim Incident and the Zone 5 Incident.
As well as this new shadow organization, the Anti-Seventh Faction...

I don't know why.

But it frustrates me, this feeling...
... That Marika only died because she was a Seventh.
A totally wasteful death that could have happened to literally anyone else.
I don't know why, but...

To let her death be something as trivial and meaningless as that?
She died just because she just so happened to be a Seventh in the wrong place at the wrong time?
I won't accept it.
I never will.

And I'll break this organization myself.

"... You should break off from me, Winter. Unlike Noei, you don't seem to be resistant to my Paranoia Syndrome."

"Lucky her, then. Glad to see I wasn't the only one who noticed she seemed a lot more durable and resistant to things than most Sevenths."

But I don't care right now.

What I feel isn't doubt.
My mind's never been clearer than before.
52. The Anti-Seventh Organization. The Jester's Casino.

I'll show them why you should have never messed with my daily life.

"I'm off. While you live in the light, I'll fight the night until day breaks."

16/02/2025 2:11 am

Chapter 2 Placebo - End