Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

[I wonder what Raye and Hibiki are doing right now. Speaking of which, I just saw that Hibiki's condition is worth studying. Raye probably wouldn't dissect Hibiki, right? No, that's unlikely...]

Sitting on the sofa, the black-haired girl's thoughts began to wander aimlessly.

"What?! Yi's condition has worsened again?!"

Suddenly, just as Kohinata Miku was about to immerse herself in her thoughts, Genjuro Kazanari, who was on the phone, exclaimed in surprise.

[Tsubasa, that entertainer, I remember she was also Hibiki's partner...]

Kohinata Miku thought to herself, her attention drawn to it.

"Okay, yes, I understand. I will make time to visit her."

Before Kohinata Miku could think any further, Genjuro Kazanari hung up the phone with a change in expression, looking exasperated.

"What happened to Miss Yi? I remember she's recuperating in the hospital right now?"

Kohinata Miku asked, somewhat concerned.

"Tsubasa... It's like this, Tsubasa and Tachibana were comrades who fought together before, and now that Tachibana has been captured, she's become unable to focus on recovering after learning this news."

"Just now, the nurse who was taking care of Yi called me for the third time, telling me that because Yi was pushing herself too hard, her wound, which had been healing somewhat, reopened and her condition worsened."

When Kohinata Miku, Genjuro Kazanari briefly told her about the message he had just received.

"Tsubasa... does she care about Hibiki that much?"

Upon hearing Genjuro Kazanari's answer, Kohinata Miku asked.

"Ah, perhaps it's because Tachibana's disappearance as her comrade reminded her of Kanade, who also lost her two years ago."

Genjuro Kazanari thought to himself.

"Miss Kanade... By the way, is there any chance that Miss Kanade will wake up?"

Kohinata Miku remembered what she had seen in the report: the songstress whom Hibiki Tachibana also admired, who was still in a cryogenic chamber recuperating because of her battle with Raye.

"Currently, we don't know. We are working hard on treatment technology, but we haven't made a breakthrough yet. Recently, we have been considering transferring the cryotherapy unit to the United States to see if we can revive Zou with the help of United States medical technology."

"Genjuro Kazanari said."

"I see. I hope Miss Kanade can wake up."

Kohinata Miku.

"Well, anyway, for this reason, I'll need to find some time to talk to Yi later."

"It's getting late. Kohinata, you just said you were leaving, so let me see you off first."

At this moment, Genjuro Kazanari glanced at the time and, remembering that he would need to find an opportunity to counsel Tsubasa Kazanari on her psychological issues later, decided to stop their casual conversation and focus on his work so he could find time to visit her.

"... Um, Mr. Kazanari, could I help you with this?"

However, just as Genjuro Kazanari was about to do this, Kohinata Miku, after a brief moment of thought, made this suggestion to him.

"Help? What do you mean?"

Genjuro Kazanari didn't understand for a moment.

"Miss Tsubasa is troubled by Hibiki's matter. I think I can talk to her about it and see if I can help her calm down and focus on her recovery."

Kohinata Miku briefly explained her plans.

"Let's talk... I mean, Kohinata, are you planning to visit Tsubasa?"

Genjuro Kazanari asked.

"Yes, that's it. Let me try. I hope I can do my part in Hibiki's situation. If Miss Tsubasa can recover faster, Hibiki can be rescued sooner."

Kohinata Miku nodded and said this.

"That makes sense. Alright, since you want to try, Kohinata, I'll Kohinata you the Tsubasa ward."

After considering Kohinata Miku's suggestion, Genjuro Kazanari felt it was acceptable and agreed to her request.

"Yes, thank you. I'm also looking forward to having a good chat with Ms. Tsubasa, who is protecting Hibiki."

Kohinata Miku said with a smile.

P. S. Good evening.

Chapter 111 The First Meeting

A sermon is taking place in a hospital next to the Lydian Academy.

"Miss Kazanari, your body needs rest right now. Please don't do anything that would cause us trouble."

In the clean and tidy ward, a nurse in white said this to Tsubasa Kazanari, who was lying on the hospital bed, with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

She understood the other person's anxiety, but the other person's repeated lack of cooperation with the treatment did put immense pressure on medical staff like herself who were treating the other person.

"Yes, I understand, I won't do it again."

Faced with the reprimand from the medical staff, Tsubasa Kazanari responded dejectedly.

"I hope Miss Kazanari truly understands that this is the third time this has happened. If you continue like this, we really cannot guarantee your health."

The nurse said wearily, and after confirming that Tsubasa Kazanari had no intention of leaving, she left the ward directly.

Pata

As the sound of the door closing and then disappearing filled the single hospital room where only Tsubasa Kazanari present, a sense of tranquility enveloped the room.

[... In the end, did I still fail to accomplish anything?]

The tranquil environment fosters drowsiness and contemplation, and in this solitude, the quiet Tsubasa Kazanari evokes the latter.

What should I do?

Lying down on the flat bed, feeling the weakness spreading from his toes to his neck, Tsubasa Kazanari thought to himself.

Once again, I failed to protect my comrade. Because of her, I lost another comrade I could have fought alongside.

Thoughts like these have echoed in Tsubasa Kazanari's mind ever since she learned that Hibiki Tachibana hadn't been able to return.

[The things I should have protected, the comrades I should have fought alongside—I missed them all again. I had already honed myself into a sword, so why did it still turn out like this...?]

The blue-haired girl's heart was filled with a melancholy blue, and her eyes were filled with self-blame and helplessness.

[If I were stronger, if I were more diligent, would things have been different? Would Kanade and Tachibana have been spared the sacrifice if I had tried harder?]

Thinking this, the image of that energetic, flaxen-haired girl from yesterday seemed to appear before Tsubasa Kazanari's eyes.

[Damn it, damn it, why, why is it always like this? I can never protect the things I should be protecting. What reason do I have to call myself a sword?]

Hating his own weakness, Tsubasa Kazanari forced himself to sit up in bed.

She understood that her current approach was completely futile in the face of the current situation.

However, the thought that while she was complacent, someone else was suffering in her place made it impossible for her to stop herself from acting this way.

Takka-

"Miss Yi, what are you doing?"

Just as Tsubasa Kazanari, holding an IV stand in one hand and leaning on a cane in the other, wrapped in a hospital gown, was about to stand up, a black-haired girl opened the door to the ward and looked at her with some surprise.

"Ah, no, I just wanted to take a walk... Wait, who are you?"

Upon hearing the girl's voice, Tsubasa Kazanari reflexively assumed it was a medical worker, but she quickly realized that it might not be.

"Kohinata Miku, that's my name."

The black-haired girl introduced herself.

"Kohinata Miku, who? That name sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before. Oh right, I remember now, you're from Tachibana's..."

Listening to the girl's self-introduction, Tsubasa Kazanari thought hard for a moment before remembering that it was the name of the girl who was always chattering around him and that he mentioned most often.

"Yes, I'm Hibiki's friend. Because of some things, I learned about Hibiki's situation, and I've come to visit you, Tsubasa-san, who protected Hibiki."

Seeing that Tsubasa Kazanari recognized her, Kohinata Miku slightly raised the fruit basket in her hand as a gesture.

"A friend of Tachibana?"

Upon realizing Kohinata Miku identity, Tsubasa Kazanari's pupils dilated instantly.

[Are they here to interrogate me? Well, that makes sense. Compared to me, the people most heartbroken and worried about Tachibana being Tachibana away are her friends and family, like Kohinata. In other words, is she feeling as sad as I did when I lost Kanade?]

The next moment, a series of similar thoughts flooded Tsubasa Kazanari's mind.

"I'm so sorry. As Tachibana's senior, I failed to protect her properly, and now I'm in such a sorry state, making you see me in such a disgraceful state. I'm truly sorry."

Finally, Tsubasa Kazanari's myriad thoughts were expressed in these words.

"No, Miss Yi doesn't need to apologize. I've read the report, and Miss Yi has already done the best she could."

Looking at Tsubasa Kazanari, who was shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere, Kohinata Miku shook her head slightly and said calmly.

"No, there's no need to comfort me like that, Kohinata. I failed to defeat my nemesis, failed to shoulder my responsibilities, and failed to protect anything. I am a powerless sword."

However, the more indifferent Kohinata Miku appeared, the deeper Tsubasa Kazanari Tsubasa's guilt became, and her mood became increasingly depressed.

"Miss Tsubasa..."

After a while, looking at Tsubasa Kazanari's dejected appearance, Kohinata Miku couldn't help but have some thoughts come to mind.

[Miss Tsubasa's regret was genuine; her remorse for failing to protect Hibiki was very real and intense.]

Kohinata Miku realized that she could sense that what Tsubasa Kazanari did and the beliefs she held were not false.

[If it's Miss Yi, if she's like the person I saw, someone who would sacrifice her own life to protect others, then she should be someone I can trust.]

Having confirmed this premise, an idea, a way to ensure that Tsubasa Kazanari could properly recover, came to Kohinata Miku's mind.

"Miss Yi, may I ask you a question?"

Having finished thinking, Kohinata Miku looked at Tsubasa Kazanari, who was still wallowing in self-pity, and after organizing her thoughts, asked her this question.

"The question... ah, of course."

Attracted by Kohinata Miku's words, Tsubasa Kazanari immediately replied.

"That's right, I want to know, in Yi's eyes, what kind of person is Raye?"

Kohinata Miku asked her question, enunciating each word clearly.

"Raye... why do you ask that?"

Upon hearing Kohinata Miku's question, a very complex expression instantly appeared on Tsubasa Kazanari's face.

"It's like this. I've seen it before; Miss Yi, you've fought Raye the most times and are the closest to her. So, I'd like to know, in Miss Yi's eyes, what kind of person is Raye?"

Kohinata Miku gazed at her slightly older senior, her eyes calm and serene as she emphasized her question, then quietly awaited his reply.

P. S. Good morning.

Chapter 112 The Conversation That Unveils the Mystery (Part 2)

The girl's question seemed to stem from mere curiosity, but it caused Tsubasa Kazanari's previously smooth train of thought to falter slightly.

"... I have nothing to say about her opinion. As Nation's Defender, the only possibility for me and her, as an enemy, to meet is on the battlefield."

After hesitating for a moment, Tsubasa Kazanari's eyes hardened, and he spoke with a hint of impatience.

"Is that so."

[Although brief, Miss Tsubasa seemed to hesitate when answering.]

Kohinata Miku's expression remained unchanged, while her inner thoughts continued to race.

"So, to Miss Tsubasa, Miss Raye is an evil person whose existence is intolerable and whom she must fight against?"

Then, Kohinata Miku asked, as if to confirm something.

"Yes, that's right... and for me as a defender, and for me as a sword, that's enough."

This time, Tsubasa Kazanari did not hesitate at all, and emphasized loudly in a very strong tone, as if she had always been so certain that things should be this way.

"I see... If that's what Miss Tsubasa says, then she must be right."

Kohinata Miku nodded, saying this as she began to think.

[Miss Tsubasa is very emotional; she really hates Raye... at least on the surface.]

However, in certain situations, when people are emotionally agitated, there is another possibility: they may deliberately feign agitation to conceal their true thoughts.

Kohinata Miku was thinking, her gaze fixed on the present.