Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

Rubbing her temples, Raye ultimately decided to give Fine some face. After all, Fine was still her boss for now, so she could not be too harsh.

"All right, I understand. But putting that aside for now, Raye, do you have any thoughts about Chris?"

After Raye finished speaking, Fine, realizing she had made a fool of herself, shifted the topic back to Chris. After all, if Chris's psychological issues were not resolved, Fine's objective would be seriously delayed.

P.S. Yesterday, the physical fitness test completely wrecked me. I felt like I was dying after it. I'll do my best to write today.

Idol or Date, You Have No Choice

"I already said it. This isn't my area of expertise."

In response to Fine's words, Raye once again stated that her abilities were limited and that she could not shoulder such an important responsibility.

"I'm only asking you to offer some ideas. As for Chris's problem, I already have a plan in mind, but I'd still like to hear your thoughts."

Fine merely smiled as she spoke in response to Raye's refusal.

"...All right."

Seeing Fine insist like this, Raye could only give up on the idea of relaxing for a while and begin considering how to resolve the lack of String Gain.

"Then have Chris debut as an idol."

After thinking for a short while, Raye gave that answer.

It was a moderate but highly feasible solution.

First, the fact that concerts could increase String Gain had already been proven during the activation of the Bronze Serpent Armor. The String Gain had been so immense at the time that Raye had needed to suppress the armor's rampage before taking it away.

Second, making an idol famous was far simpler for Raye than resolving an adolescent girl's psychological problems. As long as they were willing to spend money on promotion, they could gather enough popularity in a short period of time.

Lastly, Raye knew that Chris herself possessed both the temperament and ability needed to become an idol. Although they were now practically strangers, the objective fact that Chris would not lose to anyone as an idol was something Raye acknowledged.

"An idol... Indeed, having Chris become an idol would be an excellent way to resolve the shortage in String Gain output."

Listening to Raye's explanation, Fine quickly realized the feasibility of her plan.

If they could hold a grand concert, perhaps they could not only make up for the losses of the past half month, but also push the plan forward by a considerable amount all at once.

"Right? So Chris should become an idol after all."

Raye nodded and said this. Although the plan might sound somewhat abstract, it was indeed a solution with extremely high stability and feasibility.

"What are you two talking about? Did either of you ask for my opinion? I hate singing more than anything! How could I possibly become an idol?!"

Just as Raye and Fine were about to reach an agreement, Chris, with bandages wrapped around her neck, suddenly rushed in from outside with a flushed face.

She had only just gone to change the medicine on her burn, and she had been wondering how to get along with the Raye who seemed so different now. Yet the moment she returned, she heard the two inside discussing how to make her become an idol.

"Hmm, is that so? Then it seems my information was outdated. I originally thought you still liked singing as you did before."

After reading what Chris said, Raye spoke thoughtfully.

"Y-Yeah, I hate singing the most. So how could someone like me become an idol who brings happiness to others through song? I'm not even happy when I sing myself."

Chris spoke as though she were trying to persuade Raye to give up on the idea, while also trying to persuade herself.

"It's fine, Chris. Even if you don't like singing, that doesn't affect your ability to become an idol."

Raye said this.

"Huh?"

Raye's sudden words caused Chris's mind to crash.

"Although your own resistance to singing may reduce the String Gain produced, as long as enough popularity can be gathered, you should still be able to obtain a considerable amount of String Gain simply by increasing the quantity."

"And no one ever said that being an idol meant you had to like singing. At the end of the day, being an idol is just a job. As long as the returns are sufficient, even dislike can be offset by the sense of accomplishment."

Ignoring Chris, whose mind had crashed, Raye continued analyzing the feasibility of Chris becoming an idol.

"I don't care. There's no way I'm becoming some idol. I'm striving toward the goal of 'ending every war in the world.' How could I possibly go play some idol game?"

Faced with Raye's analysis, Chris hurriedly stated her position. She was afraid that if she kept listening to Raye, she really would end up putting on a little dress and bouncing around on stage. No matter how she thought about it, that would be strange.

"But becoming an idol is a plan proposed precisely for your goal, Chris. Don't forget why we began discussing this matter."

"To obtain enough String Gain to activate the sacred relic, we need to increase your output. To increase your output, we proposed having you become an idol. And all of this is for the so-called shared goal between you and Fine."

Faced with Chris's words, Raye seriously corrected the contradiction in her reasoning.

"Ah, i-is that so?"

After Raye put it that way, and after seeing the calm, serious expression on her face, utterly devoid of any teasing intent and simply discussing the matter at hand, the previously resolute Chris could not help but wonder if she had overreacted.

"So... I should become an idol?"

After thinking for a moment, Chris spoke uncertainly.

"Yes. For your dream."

Raye earnestly confirmed it.

"All right, Raye, stop teasing the adorable Chris. Ah, no, I mean, your plan is good, but I have an even better one."

At that moment, Fine, who had been watching their exchange from the side, spoke in an unhurried tone.

"You? A better plan... Unbelievable."

Hearing Fine say that, Raye stopped persuading—fooling—Chris and prepared to listen to Fine's proposal, though she did not think Fine was likely to come up with anything useful.

"My plan is actually very simple. It doesn't require much funding, and it can be carried out alongside your plan, Raye. Most importantly, as long as we're lucky enough, Chris's condition can recover without taking too much time."

Fine spoke with a highly confident expression.

"There's such a method?"

The more Raye listened, the more impossible it sounded. But out of respect for Fine's expertise in heretical technology, she decided to hear her out first.

Please, Fine. As long as I don't have to become an idol, anything is fine.

Chris, who had finally recovered from the persuasion—fooling—thought this.

"Since Chris is uneasy because Raye differs from the Raye in her memories, then we only need to make Chris feel at ease to solve the problem."

Facing the two people waiting for her answer, Fine stood up from her seat, displaying her perfect figure before them as she continued.

"So, my plan is to have Chris deepen her understanding of Raye. Through relatively intimate daily interactions, you can reduce the unease in your heart. As for the specific format, I think taking a cue from modern high school girls going shopping would be good."

P.S. They are seriously discussing a solution here. This definitely isn't just messing around.

A Pleasant Collaboration

"?"

When I type a question mark, it doesn't mean I have a problem. It means I think you have a problem.

"Hmm... Fine, what basis do you have for proposing this idea, and how feasible do you think it is?"

However, out of basic trust that Fine was serious when discussing important matters, Raye thought for a moment before earnestly asking about the reasoning behind Fine's proposal.

"By the way, if you intend to brush this off with something like 'I was just joking,' then handle this matter by yourself."

But while asking, Raye also made that statement. If Fine could not convince her, she would truly turn around and leave immediately, refusing to concern herself with the matter any further.

"Oh... So even something like this failed to make you change in the slightest. It seems, Raye, that you really are incredibly rigid."

Seeing Raye's reaction, Fine's expression shifted slightly, and she gained a deeper understanding of just how rigid Raye was.

"..."

Raye felt that Fine was about to exhaust her patience.

"But since you asked for my reasons, naturally I have reasons of my own."

Just as Raye was reaching the limit of silently turning around and leaving, Fine began explaining why she had proposed the plan.

"First, I should explain that my plan does not conflict with yours, Raye. They can be carried out at the same time. Do you understand that?"

Fine said this, having no intention of denying Raye's plan.

"Indeed. Although the 'idol' plan would provide stable and considerable results in the end, it requires quite some time in the early stages to develop and get underway. There is no substantive conflict with your 'date' plan, Fine."

After thinking for a moment, Raye acknowledged Fine's view.

"Exactly. Beyond that, the time cost of the 'date' plan is only a bit of your rest time, Raye, and the resource cost is merely some insignificant entertainment spending."

"But the result it brings has a high chance of directly resolving Chris's problem, meaning there would be no need to wait for the popularity required for a concert to reach the target."

Fine spoke like this. After spending so much time together, she knew exactly how to make Raye agree to a proposal.

"It is indeed a viable strategy, if not for one conflict that cannot be ignored."

After hearing Fine's explanation, Raye said this.

"Ah, what?"

Chris, already dizzy from the conversation between the two, reflexively chimed in.

"You should know that I will not permit anything threatening to come too close to me. Yet your proposed plan requires me to have a certain degree of contact with Chris Yukine, an individual with a relatively high threat level. How do you intend to resolve that?"

Ignoring Chris, whose mind could no longer keep up, Raye spoke calmly. At that moment, a faint red glow emanated from the blade at her waist.

This was a contradiction that could not be compromised. Raye deeply disliked anything that increased risks to her safety. Someone like her could never act as Fine had suggested.

"As for that, I already have a solution. Since you believe Chris's threat level is high, we merely need to reduce it to a level you can accept."

As she said that, Fine sat back down in the sofa chair, crossing her black-stockinged legs comfortably atop the table.

"You mean I should disassemble her into harmless, irreusable inorganic matter named Chris?"

Looking at the words displayed on her right-eye screen, marked with Fine's prefix, Raye thought for a moment before asking this question.

"Raye, that's a little too extreme. Of course not. The premise of this plan is that Chris's life must at least be guaranteed, so you absolutely cannot kill her."

Fine hurriedly stopped Raye's slightly unfriendly remarks toward Chris, causing Chris, who had been startled by the statement, to stop herself from trying to run away.

"Then how do you intend to resolve this? I will not allow a powerful Symphogear user to approach within a distance where I cannot immediately counterattack."

Raye asked. The red glow emitted by the Sky Striker at her waist seemed to intensify somewhat.

"As for the solution, how about each of us takes a step back? Raye, you remove Chris's threat while ensuring her safety and carry out my plan. In return, I will give you a condition you cannot refuse."

In response to Raye's firm words, Fine said this. Then, from some "storage" location on her open person, she took out a device and pressed several buttons on it.

"This is?!"

Seeing the words displayed on her right-eye screen, a subtle ripple appeared on Raye's calm face.

"You handed that information over to me just for something like this? What exactly are you plotting?"

What Fine had just sent her was the payment originally intended for their final cooperation. Handing those things over meant Fine was giving up her initiative in this collaboration.

But Raye could not understand why Fine would pay such a great price over a minor psychological issue affecting one of her subordinates. Could Chris secretly be Fine's illegitimate daughter?

"What? This is our final collaboration, after all. What's wrong with being a little generous? Besides, I believe you can handle everything for me without breaking the agreement, Raye. Isn't that right?"

With a smile Raye could not comprehend, Fine said this.

"..."

Raye silently looked at the woman before her, trying to discern her intentions from her face.

However, although she could vaguely sense that Fine had some sort of objective, she ultimately saw nothing due to insufficient information.

"Also, I'll hand over temporary usage rights to the Bronze Serpent Armor and the Staff of Solomon as well. Oh, right. Since you'll be carrying out my plan, I might as well hand Chris's command authority over to you too. As long as you help me accomplish my objective, that is. So, Raye, what do you think?"

Perhaps feeling that was still not enough, Fine casually added another weight to the scales.

"This... Fine, did you go somewhere for training? Why did you evolve from a client from hell into a client sent from heaven?"

Hearing Fine's conditions, Raye even felt they were unreal. Was this still the person who constantly caused trouble and messed with her whenever she carried out missions?

"Then there is only one answer. I have no reason to refuse. I agree to this plan."

Although she had no idea what had gotten into Fine today, gaining control over the operation was still a good thing.

She had had enough of being surrounded by allies because of poor communication. Having more work within her own sphere of control was far better than having to do her job properly while also watching out for her teammates' antics.

"Then, pleasant collaboration."

"All right, pleasant collaboration."

Afterward, the two shook hands, confirming that they had reached an agreement, while someone's opinion was simply ignored.

[Image: The ignored person]

A New Beginning