Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

"Is that so? What a terrifying ability."

Even though Genjuro Kazanari had evaluated her abilities as highly as possible and made what he believed to be the most correct decisions, aside from Hibiki Tachibana going berserk, every step they had taken seemed to have fallen within her plans. Even when faced with the unexpected incident of Hibiki Tachibana's rampage, she had still weakened their side to the greatest extent possible and may even have gathered some intelligence.

"Terrifying? I think it's just ordinary thinking. Set a goal, make a plan, abandon it when it can't be carried out, then switch to a compromise. That's a perfectly normal line of thought, isn't it...?"

Unlike Commander Kazanari's assessment, Raye herself did not think there was anything unusual about it. It was merely the basic approach she had used when dueling others in her previous life.

"...Then what exactly do you want? According to you, there should be no reason for you to remain here and talk with us."

Genjuro Kazanari's breathing grew slightly labored. The more he learned about Raye's abilities, the more he realized that they were frighteningly boundless.

By now, he had completely abandoned any intention of making an enemy of her, because he had no idea what else might be hidden beneath her effortless composure.

"Get one thing straight. I'm not chatting with you people. You were the ones who came over to talk to me. And I'm here because I have work of my own to do. Once I finish it, I'll leave on my own."

Facing Commander Kazanari's questioning, Raye answered indifferently.

Her plan against Second Division had essentially been completed when Tsubasa Kazanari performed Swan Song. She was only still here to retrieve the dozens of Airspace Components she had deployed for battle in order to unfold the Sky Striker Airspace.

"Of course, if you want to keep fighting, I can play with you a little longer. Most of my equipment has been used up, but I still have plenty of Noise. You can work up a proper sweat."

Raye added calmly.

However, despite what she said, Raye had no desire to fight anymore for various reasons.

There were three main reasons.

First, even if she used Noise to severely injure Second Division's personnel here, a country could easily assemble a new and stronger makeshift team without expending much effort. Compared to facing new enemies, familiar old friends were easier to deal with.

Second, even disregarding that factor, if she used Noise with Chris's cooperation to severely injure Second Division's members, Hibiki Tachibana was still a Symphogear user capable of using Swan Song. If the battle turned sufficiently unfavorable, there was no guarantee Hibiki would not use Swan Song after all the stimulation she had suffered today, leaving Raye with nothing to show for it.

Third, even if Raye got lucky, severely injured Second Division's members, and took Hibiki Tachibana away, she lacked the equipment needed for her return. With only Noise that practically announced her presence through loudspeakers and Chris, whose stealth capabilities were completely untrustworthy, the chances of her base being discovered on the way back would greatly increase.

And once the base was discovered, whether Japan deployed troops to surround and suppress it or used various long-range military weapons to bombard it, neither was something the still-incomplete defenses of the base could withstand.

Therefore, Raye had no intention of continuing her actions.

"Is that so? I understand. But before you leave, I will still watch you from here."

Returning to the present, although Raye claimed that she no longer harbored hostility, Genjuro Kazanari had no trust in her whatsoever. He did not relax his guard and continued to face her in a combat stance.

"If you want to watch, go ahead. As long as I'm somewhere with a signal, I can do my work."

Raye had nothing to say to that. She was not afraid if a fight broke out anyway, and keeping his attention on her would reduce his awareness of the surroundings, making it easier for her to retrieve the Airspace Units.

"However, since you've already discovered my concealment, there's no need for me to keep putting on an act here."

As she spoke, Raye operated the duplicate beside her in full view of the two men, reverting it into the form of Hornet Drones and putting it back through the portal.

Then, without the slightest sign of caution, she performed another operation and took out a computer desk, an ergonomic chair, a laptop, and a mouse from the portal.

"?"

For a moment, Genjuro Kazanari could not understand what Raye intended to do with those things.

"Don't be so surprised. I can directly control things through Sky Striker too, but it's troublesome and requires remembering far too much. It's more convenient to sort things out and control them with a computer. Isn't humanity's distinction from animals its skill at using tools?"

Seeing their bewildered expressions, Raye casually explained their harmless question while working.

Then, in front of the two of them, Raye found a flat spot and assembled the items. Next, she took out something resembling a data cable from somewhere and connected the laptop to the Sky Striker in her hand.

"That should do it. Hmm... as you can see, I'm going to work now. Are you still going to keep watching?"

After finishing everything, Raye clapped her hands and sat comfortably in the chair. As she pressed the laptop's power button, she spoke to the two watching her.

"Raye, you... Forget it."

Faced with her completely unfeigned relaxed attitude, Genjuro Kazanari understood that the initiative was entirely in her hands and that she did not take the current Second Division seriously at all. In the end, he gave up on this futile standoff.

"Looks like you understand the situation now. Still, having you two just stand there and watch me is rather irritating, so..."

Seeing Genjuro Kazanari give up, Raye nodded. Then, as though she had remembered something, she reached into the still-open Multi-Task Warblade Mecha.

"These are folding chairs. Sit if you want. You can stand there if you insist, but it makes me uncomfortable to look at."

"Oh, come to think of it, your energy should be low after that fight. Want something to eat? I only have chocolate, cake, and things like that—snacks other people gave me. If you don't mind, you can help clear out my stock. I'll have to throw them away if I can't finish them."

Before Genjuro Kazanari could become wary because of Raye's words, the things she took out of the portal next nearly made him lose it. Coming from someone who had beaten them into this state, the behavior was truly difficult to put into words.

"Raye, you..."

"Genjuro!"

Just as Commander Kazanari was about to say something, Ryouko Sakurai came stumbling over from who knew where, wearing broken glasses and clothes covered in dust.

"Ryouko, what were you doing before? Why are you in such a miserable state?"

Seeing Ryouko Sakurai like this, Commander Kazanari temporarily diverted some of his attention and asked her with concern.

"Ahhh, don't even mention it. I ran into Noise while driving Hibiki over. Hibiki got out to chase the Noise, so I followed her. Then I suddenly ran into Raye, who tied me to my car. Just when I was finally about to break free, some explosion from who knows where flipped my car over. I struggled so hard to crawl out, and then I saw you here."

Ryouko Sakurai tearfully explained her miserable experience to Genjuro Kazanari.

"Is that so? It's good that you're all right, Ryouko."

Seeing that she still had the energy to act so theatrically, Commander Kazanari relaxed and said so.

"Well, I'm not seriously hurt, but I wouldn't say I'm fine either. With my glasses broken, everything is incredibly blurry right now. By the way, did you win the battle and decide to rest here? Oh, there are so many snacks and pastries too. Mmm, pretty good. They taste like American flavors."

After explaining her condition, the glasses-wearing Ryouko Sakurai noticed the small pile of snacks nearby. She casually sat on the table, naturally picked up a piece of chocolate, and put it into her mouth.

"Ryouko, we didn't achieve a complete victory. We lost completely."

Watching Ryouko Sakurai's carefree movements, Genjuro Kazanari's mouth twitched before he said that.

"Huh? You didn't win? Then why are there so many snacks here? Isn't this preparation for a celebration?"

Ryouko Sakurai looked confused. At the same time, she stuffed another piece of chocolate into her mouth and adjusted herself into a more comfortable position.

"Hey, eat your snacks if you want, but don't crush my mouse cable. And there are folding chairs over there. If you want to sit, sit on one of those. Don't sit on the table."

As Ryouko Sakurai shifted around, a girl's voice sounded from the side. In the next moment, feeling that the voice sounded familiar, Ryouko turned toward its source.

"R-R-R-Raye... Why is she here? And what is she doing?"

Seeing the platinum-haired girl in front of the computer, apparently doing something, Ryouko Sakurai sprang off the table like Tom Cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"I'll explain, Ryouko. It's a long story."

After the consecutive battles, his concern for Tsubasa's condition, and the current chaotic situation, Genjuro Kazanari looked exhausted as he pulled Ryouko Sakurai aside and began explaining what had happened.

At this point, after Genjuro Kazanari and Ryouko Sakurai left, the only one remaining was Hibiki Tachibana, the girl who was Raye's target. She still stood there blankly, as though she had nothing to do, seemingly lost in thought.

However, as Raye had said before, she was not prepared to capture Hibiki now. So even if Hibiki offered up her defenseless self, Raye had no interest in doing anything unnecessary to her.

"Hmm, I've recovered nearly half of them. At this rate, it shouldn't take long to finish. Hmm, speaking of which, this operation recorded quite a lot of valuable data. Once I analyze it, I should gain a deeper understanding of Swan Song. Maybe afterward I can try making countermeasure equipment specifically for Swan Song..."

Ignoring the motionless Hibiki Tachibana, Raye continued retrieving and inspecting the Airspace Components. Sky Striker Airspace was comfortable to use in battle, but preparing and deploying the components beforehand, then retrieving them afterward, was truly troublesome.

"..."

At that moment, Hibiki Tachibana, who had been standing silently by herself, raised her head. After seeming to consider something, she looked toward the Raye who was focused on her work.

"Why?"

Hibiki Tachibana sat in the folding chair Raye had placed before the desk, looked at Raye, and asked her question.

At a time like this, she probably came over to vent some emotions at me. After all, I did those things to the person she admired and to her companions.

Noticing Hibiki Tachibana's movement, Raye made that reasonable guess. She could not think of any reason Hibiki would not do so.

Well, whatever. If she wants to vent, let her vent. I'll keep doing what I need to do anyway. If it gets too annoying, I can always turn off the subtitles.

Thinking that, Raye diverted part of her attention, intending to see what Fusion Case One wanted to do.

However, perhaps because Raye had already done too many things that others did not expect today, what Hibiki Tachibana said and did next exceeded Raye's expectations.

"Why, Miss Raye? Why do you do things that make people suffer? Is there some reason we can't understand each other and communicate properly? Why do we have to fight each other and let things become like this?"

With tears in her eyes, Hibiki Tachibana questioned Raye with words full of emotion.

"...Huh?"

Looking at the words displayed on the screen in her right eye, Raye's brain briefly stopped working. Only afterward did she come back to herself and understand what Hibiki Tachibana had said.

Good night.

Conversation and Truth

Sometimes, Raye had to marvel at how humanity was a species rich in diversity. No matter what sort of personality someone possessed, they could find it somewhere among humanity's vast population.

The enemy responsible for their devastating losses stood right before her. Tsubasa's physical condition deeply worried her. Yet under such circumstances, the first thing she thought of was not curses or insults, but asking why her enemy fought.

She really does have quite a distinctive personality. Still, I don't dislike that sort of personality.

That was what Raye thought upon noticing Hibiki Tachibana's question.

"What exactly are you thinking? You're asking an enemy something like that. And even if you knew, what could you possibly do?"

Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Raye continued operating the computer as she casually asked Hibiki Tachibana back, despite the tears in Hibiki's eyes and the determination with which she looked at her.

"If we can understand each other, maybe we won't have to fight. Maybe painful things like what happened today won't happen again."

Hibiki Tachibana spoke loudly.

The wounds on her body hurt unbearably, while Tsubasa Kazanari's grave injuries tore at her heart.

The pain in both body and mind made her realize that this could not continue. She had to do something. Everyone in Second Division had suffered such a blow in order to protect her, and she could not allow herself to do nothing.

"So please, if we talk properly, maybe we won't have to create such painful things again."

Hibiki Tachibana spoke in a pleading tone. It was clear that she truly did not want to experience something like today again.

After all, the one who had been sacrificed this time was Miss Tsubasa, whom she admired. And with Miss Tsubasa severely injured now, if there was a next time, who would be sacrificed then?

"All right. Since you want to know so badly, I'll tell you. The reason I fight is simply because I was hired by a certain power. Since I accepted their payment, I have to provide proper service. That's perfectly normal, isn't it?"

Looking at the text displayed on the screen before her, Raye thought for a moment before indifferently revealing her reason for fighting.

"So if you, Hibiki Tachibana, want to do something, you shouldn't try to persuade me. You should persuade the power behind me. Once I no longer have an employer, I will no longer be your enemy."

Raye spoke unhurriedly.

"All right, I'm done speaking. What can you do now that you know this? As long as my employer remains, I still won't show mercy in the battles to come."

Raye continued, while also devoting part of her attention to Hibiki Tachibana's movements, curious how she would respond.

"No, that's not it."

Hibiki Tachibana shook her head, seemingly sensing that something in Raye's words was wrong.

"I don't know why, but I feel that Miss Raye isn't the kind of person who has to do such sad things just to survive."

"If that's true, then there must be another reason why Miss Raye does such things, why Miss Raye is willing to hurt others like this. Please tell me that reason, Miss Raye."

Perhaps the pain had helped Hibiki Tachibana mature somewhat. She was no longer deceived by Raye's superficial, perfunctory words, but continued asking questions in an attempt to understand the enemy before her more deeply.

"...Hmm. Hibiki Tachibana, you really have surprised me. Even startled me a little."

Hibiki Tachibana's questioning made Raye's movements pause. She had not expected the Hibiki Tachibana described in the intelligence as foolish and airheaded to make such a move now.

"Although I could still come up with other excuses to cover it up, forget it. You're right. I do have my own goal. Until I achieve it, I'll use every method I consider appropriate to bring myself closer to that goal."

Then Raye stopped dragging things out and said that, effectively acknowledging Hibiki Tachibana's claim.

"What exactly is it? If everyone thinks of a way together, maybe we can solve it. Then we won't have to keep fighting each other."

Hearing Raye's words, Hibiki Tachibana immediately spoke excitedly. She placed both hands on Raye's computer desk and stared intently at her.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you about that, Hibiki Tachibana."

Still operating the computer, Raye lightly stirred up Hibiki Tachibana's curiosity before giving an answer that cut off like a cliffhanger.

Raye's words shattered Hibiki Tachibana's illusory hopes and sent her falling back into cold reality.

"Ah, why?"

Hibiki Tachibana asked reflexively.

Honestly, she had lost track of how many times she had asked why today. But she could not help it. There were simply too many things about Raye that she did not understand.

"If I told you my purpose, Hibiki Tachibana, it would affect whether that purpose can become reality. So I have no intention of explaining it. You should understand. Everyone needs some secrets, don't they?"

Raye explained casually.

"Secrets, huh? So my attempt was completely useless? Even though I gathered the courage, in the end I still couldn't do anything."