Work Text:
To be privy to the creation of a Black Trigger was something else entirely. The situations that allowed for the motivation of making one were far and in between. So much so that seeing the actual creation or the devastating effects of a newly born one was something the vast majority had never seen; only heard of.
Councilor Viza, a Neighbor of many accomplishments, had managed to fortunately or unfortunately see two instances of a Black Trigger being made. Both cases on the battlefield, where desperation and spite had taken root and driven the opponent to the ultimate sacrifice. In both instances they had caused devastation in their wake. A completely new uncatalogued Black Trigger paired with a grief wrought trigger user was something else entirely. Then there was of course his most famed moment, one of the main reasons he wielded Organon at the moment. The day when he’d talked down an anguished yet fierce opponent from going through with the process.
He’d extended his hand out to this opposing side to stop a promising young man who’d barely touched adulthood from giving in to despair and hatred. Something that had proven just how fragile a mind state was needed to even be able to go through with the process. Even the smallest reassurance could stop an unfortunate decision like this, and that was also something incredible; powerful. Because all Neighbors knew the tales of terror regarding the losses to the wrath of a Black Trigger.
At the moment none of this was prevalent. Viza had an entirely different opponent in front of him, a far too young and determined Black Trigger holder. They were an excellent and unpredictable fighter, trying any and every combination and angle. Not to mention they very well understood the position they were in, always acknowledging their power and experience difference in their moves. It was obvious both were content to keep each other out of the main battle, whether it be through stalling or incapacitation.
It was quite interesting to see a Tropoi autonomous trion soldier as well, a truly rare sight. What an interesting opponent he’d gotten blessed with. Viza could almost feel bad for Rambanein who was undoubtedly wishing for some action after his defeat.
His opponent stood ready in front of him, apathy and calculation reflecting off of their expression. Viza had to wonder what about the thing he’d said had prompted such a long session of thought, not that he minded. All he needed to do was restrain this Black Trigger here.
The Autonomous trion soldier floats just behind him, but most surprisingly, the trion soldier flies away, leaving its owner behind after apparently sharing a discussion. Not to mention, even though they are good at masking their emotions, Viza catches concern and fear pass through for the briefest of moments.
Quite a decision to let a great asset of that magnitude leave, “Are you sure you wish to split up?”
Their voice cool and features passive they say, “You know, you make up the stupidest lies.”
Ah, sounds like the utilization of a side effect. Things continued to grow more riveting.
Kuga Yuma had fought in countless battles during his lifetimes, but he doubted all of them counted for even a quarter of what his opponent had on him. While it was obvious his opponent had every intention of removing him from helping Osamu, Kuga was also breaking out all the stops so he could keep this guy from hindering Osamu. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure Osamu and Chika survived this encounter whole.
His father’s Black Trigger would’ve been enough to simply stall this fight, but after what he’d learned, he feared for Osamu’s safety. From the bits Replica got from hacking into transmissions by the HQ, things had only continued to escalate. Kuga needed to be out there, to make sure Osamu didn’t run head first into his own death like he had the endearing but horrid habit of doing. And here’s to hoping Chika can inspire a self preservation instinct in him that always seemed to be so lacking.
Jin had told him the worst possible scenario was for Osamu to die, and personally, Kuga couldn’t agree more. There was nothing worse in his sights at the moment. He owed everything to Osamu, his determination and will was set ablaze all over again after witnessing the selfless drive of compassion that fueled Osamu no matter what. He was more than incredibly lucky to have met him instead of anyone else upon visiting Meeden.
Kuga’s attacks were noticeably more bold and aggressive, burning more trion then what Replica had suggested when he’d still been here. His anchors were still what was sustaining this fight though, especially after the speed he’d witnessed the other showcasing.
Now Replica was lying to him. It was an instant giveaway to what Replica was hiding from him. How had Osamu’s situation managed to devolve even more?
He knew his father would never approve of him forcing this even face off with an opponent far beyond his capabilities. In fact, it had killed him last time, or killed his father more accurately. Though one could argue he too was already dead, holding on to the last scraps of life.
At least what made things different was that in this case he had allies, someone he needed to be there for. He wasn’t going to charge in recklessly like Osamu, or well not entirely, but he couldn’t waste anymore time here.
It brings a small and amused smile to his face, oh boy, he’d started adapting the bad habits from his close friend. At least it really was for a good cause.
Osamu had reminded him what it was like to live again. The friends and experiences he’d made were all thanks to Osamu and his boundless compassion. He wouldn’t lose him now.
“Replica, how are Osamu and Chika?” He asks again, he needs the truth to decide his next course of action.
“There’s been some struggling but Osamu has a plan in the works. There’s a chance.” Replica responds, before reminding him that this too was taking time away.
Now how was he going to make an Osamu inspired strategy actually work, instead of the usual result they had? To ingrain lack of experience into his assault without having it corrupt his honed skills. What was something no one could expect? The secondary half of his Black Trigger…unique to him. Hmm, risky.
“Yuma.” Replica interrupts before Kuga could fully settle with attempting to hit the one blind spot he hadn’t tried yet. He glances over to Replica, hopeful.
“We’re working on it, but Osamu has been notably injured.” Even with the monotone quality of Replica’s voice, Kuga can guess the underlying thoughts regarding the situation.
Kuga halts entirely, he wasn’t running out of time, he had run out of time. His opponent, ever confident, doesn’t seem to mind one bit that he’s decided to pause their fight even more.
“Can you..?” Kuga is going through a lot of his own thoughts at the moment. He couldn’t win fast enough, even if a miracle frontal assault managed to succeed, which it probably wouldn’t, he would still not be on time.
“I cannot.”
Kuga casts his gaze down to the broken up pavement. He felt helpless, there was no way he could lose Osamu after everything they’d been through together. He needed him.
Love is a wonderful thing. His father had told him at one point or another. Told him when he was too young to really understand it, so he’d nodded eagerly while trying to imagine it. Now he knew.
6 years he’d trained under his father and learned an assortment of combat related aspects. Including the factors needed to create a Black Trigger, a fascinating but similarly horrifying process. The pain of pouring everything you have into an inanimate object was something that scared him for weeks, only helped by Replica who’d offer him a distraction from his fears and nightmares. It had been dubbed the ultimate sacrifice for a reason.
His father had done it for him out of familial love, and now here Kuga was, ready to do it for the love he’d just recently discovered.
“Jin.”
“Ah, a little busy!”
“How far are you?”
“We’ve been drifting closer this whole time. I can almost see you sometimes.”
“I’ll head your way more. I need you to deliver something I’m leaving behind.”
Kuga couldn’t know if Jin had foreseen this or not, but right now that didn’t matter. He was backing out towards the direction of Osamu and Chika which intersected by Jin’s location.
Kuga isn’t surprised when his efforts are messed with. His opponent wouldn’t just let him leave.
Kuga turns to Replica’s clone, “Tell Osamu—“
“I will.”
Kuga nods with a more relieved smile than he’s feeling, face falling immediately afterwards. While he knows he’s got the will to see this through, his childhood fears of the process hadn’t completely disappeared. Not that all of this wasn’t terrifying enough to haunt a grown adult.
A few nights ago, Kuga had told Osamu in earnest that he would do anything for him. And while Osamu had hastily and panickingly told him not to do that, Kuga’s outlook hadn’t changed.
“Yuma-“
“I have to.” Kuga instantaneously replies, eyes burning like fire. He gives Replica an earnestly and painfully apologetic look, his imaginary stomach roiling with anxiety and toes tingling with anticipation. His trains of thought running too fast to catch anymore and growing more nonsensically stressed by the second.
“…” Replica’s clone seems to be processing, “You are the only one who decides that…”
Despite the situation, Kuga can almost imagine the big hypocrite that was Osamu, lecturing him for doing something this stupid. Well, Kuga had to keep him alive long enough to be able to have that lecture, even if he wouldn’t be here to hear it anymore.
Viza was content with simply waiting or chatting with his adversary. They kept up such lively chatter earlier, but that had all but disappeared now. His provocations with the news of the oncoming checkmate seems to have set the combatant off more than Viza could have hoped for.
Unfortunately, Viza is quick to pick up on the fact that it is in fact the opposite of good news. Everyone in the Neighborhood knew not to push their opponents too far, because there is always someone ready to sacrifice themselves for someone or something. Although very rarely for the latter.
He’d seen that look before, a different face and time, but it was the same to him, “Now hold on. There are other ways to go about this.” He’s completely serious, and his opponent looks up in something akin to surprise, grip on their trigger increasing.
“You’re one far too young to be making a decision like this.” Viza goes over the recent developments, somewhere among that was a factor that had changed everything for his adversary.
Cease everything now. He lets the invasion team know while he’s externally stalling for time by talking to the combatant about to end their life.
Viza? Hyrein sounds mildly concerned. No one else has anything to add, all waiting to see what has the elder so quick to act.
We’ve cornered a Meeden combatant. Viza relays with a somberness that fits the situation. He’s willing to bet that the cause is the harm inflicted on the carrier, as so far it’s the only notable casualty. That had its own complications though. He had to let Hyrein decide which course of action was better; to gamble or not to gamble.
That should be impossible. Mira states, and by all means she should be right. They’ve not harmed Meeden’s people in general or their surroundings which would strike out someone desperate to defend their country. But this was a personal matter, Viza could see it.
I’m afraid there is no way around it. Only one thing was strong enough, in its own complicated and varied way to cause such a decision, Love has entered the Plainfield where the carrier is concerned.
I see. Hyrein acknowledges. This was certainly a problem for him. He had come close to capturing the golden baby bird, although with his inaction the carrier had scampered off some distance away, Viza have they gone through with it or can you contain it? How likely is the formation?
The gamble of risking the formation of a Black Trigger was a costly one, especially on away missions. Hyrein had never witnessed the desolation of one first hand, but his former foolish mentor had fallen to this very mistake, taking his whole expedition force down with him. He’d counted on luck and it had backfired instantly.
Your inaction has stunted the urgency, but I’m afraid I cannot stop them should you continue in your pursuit. Viza tells them while Mira looks to Hyrein for his judgement, floating and ready to intercept the carrier at a moment’s notice. They’ve shown high trion output, notable tactical prowess and what is mostly likely a side effect.
Hyrein has always been a cautious person, and with the likelihood of this whole invasion going south, he can’t in good conscience risk it all in the name of greed. What an egregious waste of time this all was. It was absolutely baffling how much power one person could have over an entire battle with one decision.
“Mira.”
“Yes Captain?”
“Go retrieve Councilor Viza.”
Mira is openly surprised by this, “We have the golden baby bird within our grasp Captain, I-I don’t understand…”
“Captain, I must agree.” Ranbanein’s input comes through next.
“The golden baby bird is useless to us if we do not get to return home.”
Mira seems conflicted, but she’s always been obedient and doesn’t question further.
“We leave Hyuse as we planned.” He adds before walking through a wormhole created by Mira.
A retreat is in order? Viza is pleasantly surprised by the choice, it was one that didn’t gamble with lives needlessly. A very difficult choice to settle for, considering it could all have ended up in vain easily. Adding to that, It inevitably meant sacrificing two of their own later on.
“Your compatriot is out of danger.” Viza informs the now much calmer Meeden combatant. It’s a relief to see they’re not on the brink anymore. He’d managed to keep them from going over the edge by guessing the source of grief quickly, a tinge of pride growing.
His opponent narrows their eyes in response but doesn’t say anything, trion body tense. They seemed so much like the last one, Viza couldn’t help but note.
Mira arrives a second later and the combatant backs up some distance away. She glances a look at them, disbelief visible in her features. Viza enters the wormhole a moment later, meeting the faces of everyone but Hyuse and Enedora.
“We have to leave Hyuse behind then?” He asks, glancing at Hyuse’s seat with a hint of regret.
“Without the golden baby bird, that was the plan.” Hyrein confirms with finality.
“A shame.”
—
Osamu’s had a few hours now to go over the large scale invasion battle. There were so many moving parts to it: the initial large numbers of trion soldiers, the unveiling of the Rabits and finally the disastrous introduction of the humanoid neighbors. It had all been successful in taking out a number of the Border agents and splitting them up.
Even the A-rankers were getting stretched thin and taken out. It was a lot of ups and downs for everyone, but probably not as much as it was for him. Since the battle had centered around him and Chika very quickly after her trion levels were revealed. He’d made a lot of mistakes in his escape, and without the invaluable help of Replica would’ve probably been killed much earlier. That’s where his understanding stopped.
After losing his trion body inside one of the many houses due to the enemy’s cubification attacks, he’d gotten swiftly impaled by the warp user. While Replica had posed a plan to intercept the away ship, Osamu knew that he was in no condition to escape anywhere fast. In fact, the only thing on his mind was the white flashes of pain and desperation for saving Chika. By all means, this should’ve been where the battle ended. Instead, the two Neighbors had stopped entirely, even letting him simply…leave. A painful limp away sure, but he’d managed to make it close enough to the warp to toss Replica in. He’d insisted he still needed to make them leave, so they couldn’t maintain a siege. Osamu hadn’t questioned it even for a minute, not even when Replica hadn’t been able to come back.
Now he was feeling the biting anguish of guilt that threatened to eat him whole. He couldn’t imagine how distraught Kuga must be, all because of his actions. He knew he deserved it, but it still hurt to imagine how angry Kuga must be at him, for losing Replica when he’d been entrusted to him by Kuga. Was there anything he could do for him? If only he’d just been strong enough.
“Yoo, Four-eyes. Good to see you’re feeling better.” Jin enters the room with a wave.
“Jin-san.” Osamu acknowledges, the feelings from his thoughts escaping into his voice. But with the others here, he’s reminded of the question on his mind before he’d gone off on a tangent, “What happened? With the battle I mean?”
Jin seems to go over a lot of things in his head, “I’m afraid you’ll have to be a bit more specific.”
Osamu looks down at his hands, “At the end. When things were at their worst, it all suddenly stopped .”
Osamu looks back at Jin questioningly who responds with a sigh, “I really think you should ask Yuma that.”
Osamu already knows he doesn’t like that answer, the delivery is too vague and macabre for that. What could Kuga have possibly done? He can’t think of anything that could warrant all that, but he does know that when it concerns Kuga, he would very much like to be involved.
“Jin-san.” Osamu steels his resolve, “ Please .”
A beat of silence, before it seems Jin acquiesces, “The invading Neighbor forces were forced to retreat under the threat of a new Black Trigger creation.”
Osamu goes over what Replica had told him about Black Triggers. They were incredibly rare due to the sacrifice that needed to be carried out to fuel the procedure. That’s how Kuga’s life was saved from death as well. He can also recall Kuga relaying a common story passed around by Neighbors, which invoked a great military defeat because the subsequent desperation they wrought came to haunt them in the form of Black Triggers. Still, it seemed absurd that the invasion would just leave because of one Black Trigger. Was it really that scary?
That brings up a new thought. Someone was willing to die for this victory. Who was the one who decided—
I really think you should ask Yuma about that.
Something springs to mind. Osamu, I would do anything for you, Kuga had always tended to come off as dramatic when he spoke so candidly, but Osamu hadn’t really taken the words to heart. Just figuring it was Kuga expressing his affection in his neighbor-esque way.
Kuga had watched his father give his life for him, feeling guilty all this time for it. How could Kuga do the exact same thing to him?
“You’ll have your chance soon enough, Four-Eyes.” Jin cuts into his thoughts, serious, “My side effect tells me so.”
Osamu nods mutely, too lost in thought to really understand. It felt incredibly ridiculous to feel any anger towards the situation, but rationality wasn’t what was driving him at the moment.
Jin lets him think and catch his thoughts, but lets him know how Border is doing after everything. The biggest loss being those 30 C-rankers who had gone missing. He absentmindedly wonders how Border will explain that to the families and the press. The organization was always under such fire.
Jin leaves after finishing and gives him a ‘good luck’ notion.
Osamu doesn’t get too much time to think before a familiar face walks through the door. Kuga looks privately hesitant but also relieved to see him.
A silence settles, starting conversations was always hard, and Kuga seems to genuinely be tongue tied over something.
“I’m sorry.” Osamu starts, figuring he should let Kuga get out his anger first before he inevitably loses the battle to his own.
“It hasn’t been very long yet, but it’s looking up for Replica. The people at Tamakoma say it’s very likely this clone would have disappeared if he was gone.” Kuga responds with a hopeful smile, holding up the smaller Replica fondly.
“But I—if only I was just a little stronger, this wouldn’t even be a concern. Replica would be..” Osamu clutches the blanket around him, refusing to meet Kuga’s eyes any longer.
“I told him to go to you; to protect you when I couldn’t. He did just that, and more. I couldn’t have asked for more from him. I don’t want you to feel guilty over something that you had no hand in.” Kuga admits easily, sounding so casual discussing what must’ve been such a loss to him, “And besides, he’s very likely alive, so just like we’ll save Chika’s friend and brother, we’ll go save him, right leader?”
Osamu stares but Kuga goes on with a grin, “Just more reason to get to A-rank.”
“Kuga…” Osamu is looking for the right way to express his concerns without cornering his friend, “You don’t have to…”
“I don’t blame you one bit, Osamu. I miss Replica of course, but I have the power to do something about that by looking forward instead of backwards.” Kuga pockets the small Replica and his multi-toned fiery red eyes pierce through Osamu, “Will you help me?”
“O-of course I will! What kind of question even is that.” Osamu scrambled to agree, even without Replica gone, he would’ve taken Kuga anywhere he could.
Kuga smiles gently, “Yeah you’re right. I know you will, that’s just the kind of person you are.”
They settle into something of a comfortable silence. Kuga still standing and staring out the window at something. Osamu sitting up in his bed, letting the other issue at hand settle into his mind. He’d wanted to have a discussion about this even before the invasion, but he’d never found the proper way to break through Kuga’s carefree attitude.
Osamu glares down at his thighs and can sense the weight of Kuga’s gaze on him, “There’s something else on your mind?”
“Yeah.” Osamu admits, taking a page from Kuga’s book and stating plainly, “I’m mad at you.”
Kuga looks genuinely taken aback but says nothing, waiting patiently for Osamu to finish.
“The Neighbor invaders had to leave because there was a threat of a Black Trigger.” Osamu settles for starting with the fact. Emotions already bubbling up at the situation being uttered out aloud. Kuga remains passive, but his mannerisms are more reserved now.
“ Yuma .” Said person looks to him, almost as if on command, “I can understand it to a degree, but that doesn’t mean I come anywhere near to agreeing with it. How could that be the conclusion you came to?”
Kuga shifts his weight, already radiating discomfort, “Yet you’re the one who would understand it because it’s the very same conclusion you arrive to when you’re faced with a similar dilemma.”
“It’s completely different! I may run into trouble but it’s never with the knowledge that I’ll definitely be killed, there’s always a chance for my survival. What you did was suicide. There was absolutely zero chance of your survival.” Osamu gestures to both of them periodically.
Please Osamu, give Yuma a purpose. Replica had asked him that just before Osamu had convinced Kuga to stay here on Earth with him. Osamu hadn’t wanted to see his new friend go, especially after learning that Kuga had lost his will to live. He’d seen the chance to help both Chika and Kuga in one goal, and he’d gone with it.
Now here they were, the same underlying concern Osamu had had then rising to the forefront, “I don’t want you to die Yuma. I don’t…” Osamu struggles to get past the awkwardness of admitting his genuine feelings, “You…Chika, you’re very important to me.”
Something passes through Kuga’s features, nearly imperceptible, “I don’t care how important I am to you if you’re not here to feel that way.”
The words aren’t meant to hurt, but some part of them does. Any anger Osamu was trying to spare cones out, “ Why Kuga?! Why would you make me face a reality that you would run away from yourself, by dying?!”
A silence stretches on, with Osamu starting to feel guilty for his outburst as he watches Kuga wrestle through different possible responses. His expression cycling through many unguarded phases of hurt.
Finally, Kuga starts, trying to force 4 years of introspection and anguish into his next words, “It’s not that I’m actively searching for a resolution. In fact, it had taken so long for me to do enough to stop feeling like I was going to majorly miss out when it came time.”
Another pause, “Then I met you. You showed me the world simply because you could, and it was enough. I’ve seen the world, the people, the possibilities. Or well, I’ve seen enough that I can be content even if I should fade right now. You’re enough, for me.”
Osamu opens his mouth but thinks better of it, instead Kuga continues, “My days may be numbered, but yours aren’t in contrast. Not the way mine are, and so it’s more logical to preserve yours.”
“This isn’t about efficiency or practicality Kuga, it’s purely about sentiment.” The wind from the outside blows in, “You’ve changed my world too you know…and I want you in it.”
Osamu reaches out his hand with a transparent expression, “Stay Kuga, live with everything you have. Give us both the opportunity to experience what’s to come together.”
Kuga hesitates in resting his palm against Osamu’s, glancing down at it in deep thought, “It’s never been that I don’t want more time with you. It’s just that—“ he trails off painfully.
Nothing more is said, and Kuga lets their hands fall flat against each other, trion on skin. It’s an important gesture: a promise, or closer to an attempt at one. It is also one that ends quickly, with Kuga withdrawing to stand at the foot of Osamu’s bed once more.
It’s with surprise that Kuga notes Osamu is crying, and he can’t help the small smile or the slightly teasing tone he has, “Don’t cry.”
“It’s just that my wounds hurt.”
—
“N-no I wouldn’t be worried..!” Chika counters, face awkward as she and him wait a farther distance away from Mikumo’s hospital room, “Friends have…disagreements sometimes.”
Midorikawa nods absentmindedly, not noticing the somber look of nostalgia creeping onto her soft features. They sit in silence, waiting for a sign that the two friends are done with their spat; Chika staring towards the door in thought and Midorikawa feeling as if his whole world had shifted.
He’d heard that Yuma would be here today, to see Mikumo’s recovery, and figuring he could visit both of them, Midorikawa had come to the hospital. Conveniently running into Amatori who was on her way to see the two as well. It was all fine until they heard arguing through the hospital door, Yuma uncharacteristically vulnerable sounding and Mikumo impassioned by ire.
Those he could at least rationale, this invasion had more than tested everyone’s fortitude after all. What really changed everything and was eating at him now was something Yuma had said:
My days may be numbered…
Had Midorikawa misunderstood, was Yuma simply being dramatic about the inevitably of death, or was he really dying ?