Shadows Beneath Our Feet

It all happened too quickly. She should have been able to react in time. She should have been quick enough. But that did not happen. Miyabi wishes it had, but it did not. The mission was supposed to be simple. She would go in the hollow with Harumasa, Yanagi, and Soukaku; then they would all be out. Things just never go the way they would want.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Pierre Mercier and Bret Ashworth had been the ones to go to Section 6's office to give them a mission briefing. Miyabi would have preferred it if it had been someone else to deliver the message to them, but it was not like there was anything she could do to change that.

"Ms. Hoshimi, are you paying attention to anything I am saying?" Mercier growls.

Miyabi glances his way. "No. I was not."

"Just because you are a void hunter does not mean you can ignore us!" Mercier shouts.

"Okay. Repeat what you said then." Miyabi stares at him. She hears Yanagi and Harumasa sigh behind her.

"You really know how to wear down a person's patience." Ashworth grumbles.

"I do not know what you mean." Miyabi says.

"It's fine. You two do not need to repeat it." Yanagi interrupts. "Asaba and I were paying attention, so we have more than enough information now."

"You were?" Miyabi tilts her head.

"A new hollow has formed near Hollow Zero. The hollow activity there is peculiar, and it seems like there could be a potentially dangerous ethereal in there." Harumasa explains. He glances towards Ashworth and Mercier. "And the H.S.O. president requested that Section 6 investigate it. If there is a dangerous ethereal, we are to take it down before it can grow more powerful. In doing so, we can hopefully keep the hollow from expanding. If we cannot contain it, there is a risk that it will breach into Hollow Zero and feed the already dangerous hollow. We may be forced to deal with more dangerous ethereals if that were to happen."

"Is that it?" Miyabi asks.

"I got all of it, didn't I?" Harumasa smiles as he looks at Ashworth and Mercier.

"Yes, that is correct. I am glad to see you paid attention to that executive officer Asaba Harumasa." Mercer sighs.

"Good job, Harumasa." Miyabi gives him a thumbs up.

"That was a lot to keep up with... my head hurts thinking about it..." Soukaku groans.

"At least someone is doing their job..." Ashworth mutters.

"So we just need to destroy the hollow. Understood." Miyabi nods.

"That's- Ugh... never mind." Ashworth rubs his forehead. "I don't think we can get it through your head..."

"What do you mean?" Miyabi asks.

"You are not just destroying the hollow! You need to destroy the dangerous ethereal too! And if possible, gather information!" Mercier growls.

"So we are eradicating the evil?" Miyabi inquires. "That is what I said already."

"You!" Ashworth glares.

"Chief... Why does it feel like you are doing this on purpose?" Harumasa sighs.

"We will make sure chief understands all of it before we leave." Yanagi sighs.

"Can we have the papers now?" Soukaku holds out her hands.

"Here." Mercier hands over the documents. "Make sure you all follow the safety procedures. You do not know what you are dealing with in there."

"Are you perhaps, concerned?~" Harumasa says teasingly.

"Yes. I am, Asaba." Mercier says.

"I never expected that out of you." Harumasa hums.

"Whether you believe us or not, we have acknowledged that you still have your place in Section 6." Ashworth says.

"You have proved yourself more than capable after your impromptu rescue mission for Miss Hoshimi here." Mercier adds.

"I could have made it out." Miyabi huffs.

"No you could not!" Harumasa and Yanagi say together.

"Miyabi is wrong!" Soukaku pouts.

"You all worry too much." Miyabi crosses her arms. "I could have made it."

"You broke your leg." Harumasa groans.

"I could have hopped." Miyabi frowns.

"No! No you could not! Why is it so hard for you to accept that you needed help that day?" Harumasa scolds her. "And you said thank you when I helped you!"

"I decided to change my mind. Being stuck in the hospital had been boring. I wanted to train." Miyabi pouts.

"Chief... you know that wasn't possible..." Yanagi sighs.

"Why?" Miyabi asks.

"Because Miyabi was hurt!" Soukaku points out.

Seeing as Section 6 was definitely occupied, Mercier and Ashworth were left to stand there awkwardly.

"Ashworth, lets leave before we get dragged into this..." Mercier mutters, heading for the door.

"They can handle it..." Ashworth nods in agreement and rushes out of the office.

------------------

"This hollow looks a lot bigger than what the documents said..." Yanagi frowns.

"Isn't that a bad thing, Nagi?" Soukaku asks with concern.

"It is. We will have to begin immediately." Yanagi says.

"I hope it doesn't take too long, I don't want to do overtime..." Harumasa groans.

"It will not be so bad. We will be together." Miyabi says. She stares up at the hollow, watching the orb as it fluctuates slightly.

The fox thiren could understand the concerns with this hollow. It was too close to Hollow Zero for comfort, and she was sure that it could contain fissures that led into the other hollow. That meant they would need to be extra careful as to not be separated. It would be a disaster if any of them were left in Hollow Zero alone, but she knew she would be able to handle it on her own. Miyabi was more concerned about her teammates being stuck alone.

Soukaku was still young and wasn't the quickest in battle. She would need someone to cover for her while she swung that heavy weapon of hers around. She had weak spots that needed to be covered.

Yanagi may be smart, but she wouldn't be able to last in battle alone for too long. Miyabi remembers finding out from the proxies that sometimes Yanagi loses her vision temporarily. That would be a bad thing if the woman was left alone.

Harumasa was quick, but there was only so much he could do in close quarters. He was better off fighting from a distance where he could easily see his opponents coming. With only half of his vision, he needed more distance to be able to react quick enough.

Miyabi acknowledged her teammates' weaknesses, and she would think of ways to protect all of them. She could just destroy all the ethereals before any harm could come to be.

"Chief? Are you ready to go?" Yanagi asks her.

"Yes. Lets get moving." Miyabi nods.

"Let me grab some extra supplies first." Yanagi says, walking off.

"I'll come too!" Soukaku runs after her.

"Are you alright?" Harumasa asks, stopping by her side.

Miyabi glances his way. "I am fine. Do not look so worried."

"You were just spacing out. I thought something could be wrong..." Harumasa sighs.

"You worry too much like Yanagi." Miyabi frowns.

"Is that really a bad thing?" Harumasa scoffs.

"No. But you need to worry less, you will get wrinkly. I keep telling Yanagi that, but she won't listen." Miyabi says.

"Maybe you should stop telling her that..." Harumasa sighs.

Miyabi does not understand why he would say that, but she chooses not to acknowledge it. Her hand rests on her blade, itching to dive into the hollow already and fight some ethereals. She was bored just waiting here, so she takes a step forward. A hand on her shoulder stops her from moving further.

"Miyabi, you need to wait. Don't go rushing in without us. The last time you did that, you landed yourself in trouble." Harumasa frowns.

"I am bored waiting." Miyabi huffs, grabbing his hand.

The sharpshooter does not seem to mind, but he still lets out a sigh. "I know. I am too, but Tsukishiro will be mad if we leave without her."

"She should be coming back soon, but she is taking too long." Miyabi looks over to the supplies tent. She takes a subtle step closer to the hollow to test how far she was allowed to go.

"You know how she is. She wants to be through! We have to make sure we have everything we need. That's something we can always rely on her for." Harumasa says, gently tugging her back.

"Yanagi is too worried." Miyabi says with a roll of her eyes.

"Let's not do this again..." Harumasa sighs.

"That means I win this argument." Miyabi hums. She stands on her tiptoes and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. "I did win, right?"

Harumasa does not respond to her, so she takes the silence as a yes.

Miyabi returns her gaze to the hollow. It really was peculiar that another one would form here, yet she did not seem to mind it. Having hollows randomly appear around New Eridu was a normal occurrence for everyone now. Everyone had just gotten used to it happening, and everyone had ways to prepare for when the disasters would strike.

Miyabi would be the blade that cut through them, and she would be the one to protect everyone. That was a promise she made to herself.

"Miyabi, you trust all of us right?" Harumasa says suddenly.

Miyabi returns her gaze to him. "Why are you asking this suddenly?"

"You said you could have handled things on your own. It makes me feel like you don't trust us." Harumasa answers.

"I trust all of you. I just want to make sure you are all safe." Miyabi explains. "I do not want to lose any of you."

"I know. I don't want to lose any of you either." Harumasa says.

"I will make sure that won't happen." Miyabi reassures him.

"Then let us protect you too." Harumasa says.

Miyabi frowns and turns away from him, not giving him an answer. She could understand his concern, but she wasn't going to allow for another scenario where she would need to be rescued. She needed to prevent that.

Harumasa sighs. "Alright... whatever you want then, but I am not changing my mind."

"Is everything alright?" Yanagi asks as she returns.

"We got the things!" Soukaku says cheerfully. "I picked them!"

"Amazing job, little Soukaku!" Harumasa pats the oni on the head.

"She did an excellent job." Yanagi smiles.

As Yanagi and Soukaku rejoin them, Miyabi listens carefully to her Deputy Chief's explanations. She takes her share of supplies and secures the bag around her waist.

"Section 6, lets begin the operation. Investigate the hollow and destroy any ethereals in our path. We will make quick work of this." Miyabi says before diving right in.

------------------

Running through the hollow had been just as easy as Miyabi had thought. She led her team through it as she slashed her way through every ethereal in her path. After each strike, she would sheath Tailless. Then she would strike again. She kept repeating each step as she cut through her enemies. As long as she kept doing this, she could keep the demon from within it from trying to break free. Once she reaches a clearing, she sheaths the blade and waits for her team to catch up.

"It looks like we handled most of them already." Yanagi says.

"Does that mean we are finished yet?" Soukaku asks.

"There are still signs that there is a big one somewhere here." Harumasa points out.

"Aw..." Soukaku whines.

"I would like to fight it." Miyabi hums.

"Of course you would want to..." Harumasa groans.

"Chief, we should head back to the exit. I think it would be a good time to take a break." Yanagi says.

"We have only been in here for a few minutes." Miyabi frowns.

"Yes, but you need rest. You only recovered from your injuries a few weeks ago." Yanagi frowns. She glances at Harumasa now. "And Asaba too of course."

"It wasn't that bad... But at least I did get to take some sick leave!" Harumasa laughs.

"Broken ribs are no laughing matter. You could have pierced one of your lungs." Yanagi scolds.

"But that didn't happen." Harumasa hums. "Besides! We all had to battle Chief Miyabi to keep her in bed while her leg healed."

"Don't remind me of that..." Yanagi rubs her temples.

"It's not my fault, Miyabi is stubborn." Harumasa scoffs.

Miyabi huffs. "I wanted to train. I did not need to stay in the hospital bed."

"Part of me doubts you know what's best for yourself..." Yanagi sighs.

Before Miyabi could retort, Soukaku runs over to them. Miyabi hadn't realized Soukaku had run off until that point, but she still turns to acknowledge the little oni.

"Nagi! Miyabi! Harumasa! I saw a big ethereal over that way!" The oni points somewhere behind her.

Miyabi quickly runs off before Yanagi could stop her. If there was a big ethereal, then she would handle it quickly. She trusted her teammates to be able to catch up to her. She let her feet carry her to an area that was almost hidden by downed buildings. She carefully hops through a gap in the rubble and out into a courtyard where a giant ethereal meandered about.

It stood an all fours, each foot lined with sharp claws. Its core was hidden inside of its gapping maw. It had a pair of jagged, flightless wings on its back. The thing that caught her eye the most was its sharp tail that swung around, crushing smaller ethereals around it.

Miyabi prepares to pull Tailless from its sheath, her foot kicks up some rubble and the ethereal turns her way. With a loud roar, it lunges forward.

Miyabi jumps out of its path, cutting into its side with Tailless. Her frostfire licks at the ethereal and it roars again, swinging its claws at her. She quickly blocks it with her blade, pushing away from it before striking again.

Electricity buzzes through the air, indicating that Yanagi had caught up now. "Chief! Don't go running off like that!"

"Yanagi." Miyabi acknowledges as she sheaths Tailless quickly. "We need to beat it quickly."

"You really need more patience... We could have lost you." Yanagi sighs.

"But you didn't." Miyabi dashes forward, becoming a streak of frostfire. She swings her blade in an arc, cutting through one of the ethereal's wings. Then she swings her blade again to block its swinging tail.

An arrow flies past her, striking the ethereal in the side. She gives Harumasa a nod of acknowledgement before continuing her assault against the ethereal. This time, the ethereal seemed to evade her attacks as if it knew what she was doing.

"Not good..." Miyabi mutters.

"Chief, what's wrong?" Yanagi asks.

"The ethereal seems to be adapting to our attacks." Miyabi says as Soukaku swings past her, blocking the ethereal's claws.

"It is learning?" Yanagi frowns. "Then we will need to take care of it quickly."

Miyabi nods in agreement, her grip on Tailless never faltered. "Section 6, battle formation. We will finish the training of taking down ethereals quickly. Let us commence."

Miyabi dashes forward without waiting. She knows Yanagi has followed when she hears the clap of thunder. The two of them weave past the ethereal's claws, Soukaku swings her banner and sweeps up a frosty breeze. The ethereal swings its tail to push the oni away, but it is blocked by a calculated swing of Yanagi's naginata.

An arrow from Dormant Tide causes the ethereal to stagger for a moment, and Miyabi uses that as an opportunity to take another swing at its side. She couldn't get close enough to reach its core just yet, so she jumps back once more. Another arrow flies and Miyabi moves forward once more, striking at the ethereal's back.

The ethereal suddenly rolls over, and Miyabi is pulled back by someone before she could get crushed.

"You alright, Miyabi?" Harumasa asks to her side.

"I am fine. Thank you." Miyabi acknowledges. She glares at the ethereal as she sheaths Tailless.

"What is the plan, Chief?" Yanagi joins both of them.

"And don't say to hit it until it goes down." Harumasa adds.

Miyabi frowns, her ears twitching. The ethereal does not move from its spot as it watches them.

"What are your orders, Chief?" Yanagi asks.

"We will need to distract it." Miyabi answers. "Harumasa, do you think you can get it to turn its back to us?"

"I can try, but I can't guarantee anything." Harumasa sighs before running off.

"Soukaku, when its back is turned, hit it as hard as possible. Yanagi and I will follow after." Miyabi continues.

"Okay Miyabi!" Soukaku says cheerfully. She holds her banner tightly in her hands, staring at the ethereal with a determined gaze.

The ethereal begins moving slowly like a predator on the hunt, but Miyabi refuses to be the one hunted. She will make sure the ethereal is the prey and she is the hunter. She keeps her gaze on it as it slowly moves, never turning its head away from them. Then it pauses, moving into a position as if it was preparing to pounce.

The buzz of electricity pierces through the air as an electrified arrow hits the ethereal in the back of the head. It rears back with a roar and turns in the direction the arrow came from. Then it leaps forward. Miyabi hears the sound of its claws meeting blades echo through the area, and some tension leaves her knowing that Harumasa was safe.

"I got this!" Soukaku dashes forward, spinning around with her banner as she goes. A draft of powerful icy wind hits the ethereal's legs as she gets closer.

Yanagi quickly follows, using Time Weaver to quicken her movements. She becomes a blur of lightning, striking the ethereal many times. She pauses for a moment. "Chief, now!"

Miyabi nods and unsheathes Tailless. She rushes forward, unleashing powerful slashes against the ethereal. Each strike cuts into it, and she soon slashes her blade through its core.

The ethereal roars with each strike before it collapses. It does not make an attempt to move as it looks to be fading away now.

"Yay! We did it!" Soukaku cheers as she skips forward.

"Good job, Section 6." Miyabi hums.

"That ethereal put up a big fight." Yanagi sighs.

"But it also stopped too! That was weird." Soukaku says.

"Can we clock out now? I'm tired..." Harumasa groans.

Yanagi shakes her head. "Not yet, we still have documents to fill out."

"Can't we do that tomorrow?" Harumasa mutters.

"No we cannot." Yanagi scowls.

"Yanagi can handle it. It is too boring for me." Miyabi huffs. "I want to fight more ethereals."

"Chief... you cannot always be fighting things." Yanagi pushes her glasses up.

"But I want to be." Miyabi sheaths Tailless and begins heading for the exit. She can hear footsteps behind her, and she knows that her team is following her. She hums as she glances around, searching for any signs of another ethereal.

She looks back when she realizes one set of footsteps had stopped. "Harumasa, is something wrong?"

Yanagi and Soukaku also stop, looking at their teammate curiously.

"I thought you of all people would want to get out of here quickly." Yanagi teases. "You do hate overtime after all, Asaba."

"Something about this doesn't feel right." Harumasa mutters as he glances around.

"You are probably imagining things." Miyabi huffs, turning back around. She continues walking.

"We killed the ethereal!" Soukaku says loudly before skipping after Miyabi.

"Come on, Asaba. Lets head out of here and then you can take a break sooner." Yanagi follows after. She pauses for a moment. "You aren't getting any flare ups, are you?"

Harumasa scoffs. "I'd tell you if I was! And I wouldn't be working right now if I had one!"

"It is good to see that you are just fine then." Yanagi hums.

"But don't you all think the ethereal was killed too easily?" Harumasa inquires.

"Hm? I don't understand what you mean." Miyabi mutters.

Harumasa falls silent for a few moments, then he sighs. The sound of footsteps is enough to indicate that he had started to follow them again, and Miyabi lets herself relax.

Soukaku skips besides her, kicking some of the loose rubble away. Then the area shakes and Yanagi is instantly in front of the little oni. Miyabi's hand shoots to Tailless as she scans her surroundings.

"Miyabi! Look out!" She hears Harumasa shout.

Then suddenly she is being pushed aside, and she crashes to the ground with a gasp. It all happened too quickly, far too quickly for her liking. She should have been able to react in time. She should have been quick enough. But that did not happen no matter how much she wanted it to. Miyabi wishes it had, but it did not.

She couldn't move as she looks up. She hears Yanagi scream something, but she doesn't respond. Soukaku tugs at her arms, but she couldn't stand up. Time seemed to slow before her as she stared up at the monstrous reformed ethereal standing in front of her with the tip of its now barbed tail piercing through Harumasa's stomach.

Notes:

Alrightie! Here we go folks! Here is another multi-chapter fic for this series. Not everything can be sunshine and rainbows forever.

Chapter 2 Chapter Text

Harumasa gasps weakly as he uses Dormant Tide to keep himself from falling over, but there was not much he could do seeing as the sharp tip of the ethereal's tail was sticking out of his stomach. He bites his lips as he tries to muffle the pained whimper that desperately wants to slip out, but he knows it is useless. His eyes flicker to the rest of his team as his vision blurs. Soukaku had a devastated look on her face; Yanagi kept looking from the ethereal to him; and Miyabi was sprawled on the ground from when he had shoved her.

None of them dared to move as the ethereal towers over them, and neither did the ethereal. It was as if it was waiting for them to make the first move. It shouldn't have been there still. The core in its gapping maw was slashed, it should have been destroyed with no chances of returning. Yet it still stood before them.

"A false core..." Yanagi mutters, voicing the realization that dawned on all of them.

Harumasa whimpers when the ethereal's tail twitches slightly. In seconds, he sees Miyabi hop back to her feet. Her hands move to Tailless, and then the ethereal growls. It roughly yanks back its tail, tearing through flesh. If he hadn't had his feet planted firmly against the ground, Harumasa was sure that he would have been thrown against some nearby rubble. But perhaps that was better than the excruciating pain he felt now. He gasps weakly before a violent cough escapes from his throat, and he nearly chokes on the blood that floods his mouth. He hears Soukaku screaming his name. Then he tips forward and blacks out.

------------------

"HARUMASA!" Soukaku screams to her side as Dormant Tide clatters to the floor.

Yanagi moves without thinking, catching Harumasa in her arms before he could hit the ground. She feels it as blood soaks into her clothes. Her mind races as she tries to think of a way to fix this.

"If only Time Weaver could reverse time..." she finds herself thinking.

She futilely presses her hands against the wound on his back, trying to stop the bleeding. "Please work. Please let this work."

"Harumasa! Wake up!" Soukaku is by her side, pressing her jacket against the wound on Harumasa's stomach as she sobs.

"Chief!" Yanagi shouts, but Miyabi does not respond.

"Chief!" She tries again. "We need to go!"

Still, Miyabi does not respond. Instead, she unsheathes Tailless with a scream and charges at the ethereal. The fire accompanied her was a devastating red. It was nothing like the blue fire Yanagi was familiar with.

"Miyabi! Chief Miyabi!" Yanagi shouts. "We need to go!"

But Miyabi does not hear her as she clashes with the ethereal, delivering devastating blow after devastating blow on the ethereal. She cuts through it like it is nothing, slashing and slashing at it as it tries to bat her away.

"Nagi! What do we do?!" Soukaku sobs besides Yanagi.

Yanagi grits her teeth. She needed Miyabi's command, but the Section 6 Chief was too occupied with fighting the ethereal. She wanted to run in and help her, but she also wanted to make sure Harumasa survived. If she chose to linger any longer, she knew that the risk of Harumasa bleeding out would only skyrocket.

"Nagi!" Soukaky desperately sobs. "Please! I don't want Harumasa to die!"

Her heart breaks. So she makes her decision.

She takes Soukaku's now bloody jacket and Harumasa's that had been wrapped around his waist, and she ties them around the gapping wound tightly to hopefully slow the bleeding just a little bit. Then she carefully scoops Harumasa up in her arms as she slowly stands up. Yanagi tenses when she hears the sharpshooter whimper.

"Harumasa?" She tentatively asks, a spark of hope grips at her heart.

But she receives no answer, and her anxiety rises as her fear skyrockets.

"Nagi?" Soukaku looks at her curiously.

"Soukaku, we are leaving now." Yanagi says as calmly as possible. She carefully gathers up Dormant Tide, separating it into separate blades and stores them in their sheaths.

"But what about Miyabi?! She is still fighting the ethereal!" Soukaku frantically glances back to the Void Hunter's battle with the ethereal.

"Miyabi will catch up." Yanagi says, but even she does not sound sure of it.

"But we can't leave Miyabi!" Soukaku says worried.

"I know, but she will understand. We need to get Harumasa to a hospital quickly." Yanagi says sternly. She loathed the idea of leaving without Miyabi knowing, but did she really have a choice now?

Soukaku hesitates, glancing to Miyabi once more. She looked like she wanted to protest as tears form at the corners of her eyes.

"Soukaku, I will need your help. Harumasa needs your help. You will need to fight any ethereals that come our way, okay? Can you do that for me?" Yanagi asks.

"Yes! I will!" Soukaku nods vigorously, wiping away her tears.

"Good. Now lets go." Yanagi takes off running. "Soukaku, make sure to call for help too."

"Okay! Nagi!" Soukaku follows at her heels.

Yanagi keeps her focus on the path ahead, navigating it for the smoothest and quickest route for the exit as she tries to avoid jostling Harumasa too much.

"This is Soukaku from Section 6! We are leaving the hollow!" She hears Soukaku say into the comms, a far cry from the oni's usual tone. "We request medical team to by um..."

"On stand by." Yanagi whispers.

"On stand by for when we exit!" Soukaku pauses. "Um... We have a..."

"Critical injury. And we will need a transport to the hospital." Yanagi supplies.

"A critical injury and we will need a transport to the hospital!" Soukaku says. The oni glances back to her, silently asking if she did good.

"You did amazing, Soukaku." Yanagi smiles.

Soukaku beams for a moment before a worried look crosses her face. "Will Harumasa be okay?"

"I don't know, Soukaku..." Yanagi says quietly. She wishes she could say something differently, but she really did not know. "I don't know..."

------------------

Miyabi sheathes her blade as the ethereal lets out one final roar. She had slashed through it again and again until she found its true core hidden in its chest. The ethereal had not been able to keep up with her and could not avoid any of her blows. It made things easier for her and she had been able to destroy it quickly.

She had won against it, and she felt a sense of pride. She checks her carrot data and sighs with relief, it seemed like the ether activity in the hollow was being to drop now. That meant she had successfully destroyed the main source of ether activity in the hollow. It was a mission accomplished.

The Void Hunter takes a deep breath and surveys her surroundings. She was alone. It was in that moment that she realized the rest of her team was gone.

"Did they already leave?" She mutters to herself.

She hopes that they had. She squeezes her eyes shut as she remembers all of the blood. All of the blood Harumasa lost when the ethereal stabbed its tail through him. She should have been able to prevent that. Miyabi thinks that if she had just listened to him and double checked if the ethereal was still alive, none of this would have happened.

She begins heading for the exit, pressing a finger to her comm. "This is Section 6 Executive. I am heading out of the hollow now."

Miyabi waits for a few moments. Then a voice comes through.

"Chief Hoshimi Miyabi, the rest of your team already exited. Where are you?" Ashworth's voice echoes.

"I defeated the main ethereal. I am heading out now. Tell me what their status is." Miyabi commands as she runs.

Ashworth is quiet for a few moments. "Asaba Harumasa is in critical condition and has been rushed to the hospital. Soukaku is accompanying him. Miss Tsukishiro is out here waiting for you."

"I see..." Miyabi says quietly.

"I won't ask you how what happened, but you should hurry." Ashworth says.

"I will be there shortly." Miyabi breaks off into a sprint, slashing through the ethereals in her path.

The number was dwindling, and she could see that the hollow was shrinking now. That made her feel relieved just a bit, but worry weighed heavily on her mind. She did not know if Harumasa would make it, and she wouldn't be there if he breathed his last. She was too far away and it felt like the distance between them would only keep growing now.

"I will be there soon, just hold on please."

Miyabi could feel fear gripping at her heart. She had never felt this way before, except... Except when her mother had died. She had been afraid because she knew she was going to lose her mother that day. It was the last time she would ever see her that wasn't a picture or the gravestone. That was the same fear she was feeling now.

She had come to realize that she did not know if she would see Harumasa again, and that frightened her. While she was busy fighting that ethereal, he could have already been long gone and she wouldn't have known. She wouldn't know until Yanagi told her something, and she could only pray that it would be good news.

But would this be the last time she spoke to Harumasa? Would it be the last time she would hear his voice? Would it be the last time she would see him smile? Would it be the last time she held his hand? Miyabi did not want that, she did not want any of it. She wanted to be able to see him again, hear his voice again, see his smile again, and laugh with him.

So she quickens her pace, hoping to get out as quickly as possible.

------------------

When Miyabi had burst out of the hollow, Yanagi had been quick to usher her into a car. Both of them ignored Ashworth's shouts as they pull away from the site. The pink haired woman immediately sped off to the hospital once they were on the open road.

"Yanagi, don't we still have the reports to fill out?" Miyabi asks.

"We can do those another day, the president will understand." Yanagi answers.

"It is a first that you would say that..." Miyabi mutters. "Are you worried?"

Yanagi takes a deep breath and speaks in a shaky voice. "I am. Chief... Miyabi, you didn't see it. You didn't see how much blood there was."

Miyabi falls silent and listens.

"There was so much of it. I don't know if he would be able to survive it..." Yanagi's voice grows quieter.

"He will survive." Miyabi says firmly.

"How can you be so sure, Miyabi?" Yanagi asks.

"Harumasa is strong. He will survive." Miyabi repeats. She couldn't say that she believed it, but she realizes she was saying it more to reassure herself.

Yanagi is silent. Then she nods. "You're right, he is strong. He will make it."

Miyabi hums, looking out the window. It felt like the drive was takin too long despite the fact that Yanagi was definitely driving over the speed limit now. It felt like the hospital was too far away and that they were only getting farther and farther away. She wished that they would just get there already.

And get there, they did.

Yanagi swerves into a parking spot quickly, and they both leap out of the car in a hurry. Yanagi pauses for a short moment to lock it before sprinting for the hospital doors with Miyabi running ahead of her. The lady at the front desk directs them on where to go and they race down the hall, carefully dodging the doctors and nurses to reach their destination.

Soukaku sits on a chair outside of the operation room, sniffling as she wipes her tears with a box of tissues.

"Soukaku!" Yanagi shouts.

The little oni immediately bolts to her feet and throws herself against them. "Nagi! Miyabi!"

"Are you alright?" Yanagi gently asks.

"I'm okay." Soukaku sniffles. Her gaze moves to the operation room. "But Harumasa..."

"He will be alright." Miyabi reassures her.

"Are you sure?" Soukaku whimpers.

"Yes. He will be alright." Miyabi nods, staring at the doors.

Yanagi ushers both of them back over to the chairs and has them sit down. She says something that Miyabi is not paying attention to and vanishes down the hall. Soukaku grabs Miyabi's arm, and the fox thiren responds by gently wrapping her arms around the oni. But Miyabi keeps her gaze on the doors while Soukaku sobs against her shoulder.

The hospital buzz made her sensitive ears ring. Miyabi could see doctors and nurses rushing around the halls. Everything seemed to jumble together and made it difficult to make out what they were saying. She cannot figure out what she needs to focus on to be able to understand what was going on. She could see the doctors and nurses were frantic and panicked, and she needs to know why.

One of the doctors said something about blood pressure. Another is saying something about heart rate.

Miyabi does not understand anything that is being said because she is no doctor. Yanagi taps her on the shoulder and hands her a water bottle. She takes it but does not try to open it, staring at the doors ahead. Soukaku detaches herself from Miyabi's side and clings to Yanagi now. None of them say anything.

Miyabi thinks she would prefer this silence over having any of them try to make small talk, but the silence was growing to be unbearable. She just wanted the good news that Harumasa would be okay. She strains her ears and listens to her surroundings. Soukaku's light snores reach her ears and she makes her decision.

Miyabi keeps her gaze on the doors as she speaks. "Yanagi."

"Hm?" Yanagi looks her way.

"Did you find out anything from the doctors?" Miyabi inquires.

"The doctors had said the surgery will be complicated given Harumasa's health risks." Yanagi says quietly. "And that is coupled with the fact that he could potentially bleed out as well... They also cannot use too much anesthetics without risking him going into cardiac arrest. The worst that could happen is that his heart stops completely..."

Miyabi furrows her eyebrows. "The chances are low?"

"Yes... it is a low chance that he will make it." Yanagi whispers.

"That's wrong." Miyabi barely keeps herself from raising her voice.

"Chief..." Yanagi looks at her sadly.

"Harumasa will make it, he has to." Miyabi says. She refuses to let herself cry. "He will make it, then we can all go to Port Elpis together and enjoy the sea breeze."

Yanagi sighs and looks away, taking a sip from her own water bottle.

Miyabi doesn't mind the silence. She doesn't need anyone to deny her hopes. She just wants to keep believing that everything will be alright because that was the best thing that could happen.

She closes her eyes and imagines it. Any second now, the main doctor would come out of that room and give them the good news: the surgery was successful and Harumasa would be okay. Then they could all go visit him and talk about how happy they were that he was still there with them. She could see it so clearly.

After that, they would all go back to their homes and return to visit until Harumasa was well enough to leave. Then they could all go to Port Elpis together and fight the seagulls that tried to take their fries. Miyabi wanted to do that. She thinks it would be a great way to train.

The sound of footsteps running past her jerks her out of her thoughts.

"Yanagi, what is going on?" She asks as she watches the doctor enter the operation room, her heart pounds in her chest.

"Something is wrong." Yanagi says and does not elaborate further.

"What is wrong?!" Miyabi demands.

"I think it is Harumasa." Yanagi answers tentatively.

Miyabi bolts out of her seat and tries to reach the door, but hands hold her back. She turns and glares, but Yanagi and Soukaku hold her firmly.

"Chief, you can't go in there." Yanagi reasons.

"But you said that something is wrong with Harumasa!" Miyabi almost growls.

"Miyabi, please!" Soukaku whines.

"You have to let the doctors do their job, Miyabi. I know you are worried, I am too." Yanagi pleads. "But there is nothing we can do to help right now! Please just sit back down."

"I don't want to lose him, Yanagi." Miyabi says.

"I know." Yanagi whispers.

"I promised to keep him safe." Miyabi continues.

"I know..." Yanagi says quietly.

"I want him to be okay..." Miyabi whispers. She sounded like the young girl she had always been, not the strong void hunter everyone relied on.

"We all do." Yanagi wraps her arms around the fox thiren. Soukaku quickly joins the embrace. "But all we can do now is wait and hope for the best outcome."

"It will be okay." Soukaku whispers. "Harumasa is strong. Miyabi said so."

Miyabi knows she had said that, and she knows Soukaku believed her. But now? Now she couldn't believe her own words, not as she stared at those doors and the blinking red light that shone above it.

"Harumasa, please stay with us. Don't go."

------------------

He felt a cool breeze when he woke up, but he did not wake up where he had expected to. He expected to wake up in a hospital bed, not a flower field.

"How did I get here?" He mutters to himself.

The last thing he remembered was fighting that ethereal. Its tail had stabbed through his stomach, leaving a gapping wound. He knows he had passed out at some point from the pain, but he was sure that he would have been taken away from the hollow. Yanagi, Soukaku, and Miyabi would have made sure of it.

He doesn't know what he should do now. Should he wait for one of them to come find him? He doesn't even know if they know where he is, so that wasn't an option. That meant his only other option was to wander around and get a good look at his surroundings then. So he carefully gets to his feet.

But after wandering for what felt like hours, all he could find was an endless stretch of flowers.

"Alright. I am getting nowhere with this." He grumbles to himself.

"Ah. You must be the young man that won over my little Miyabi's heart." A woman's voice comes from behind him.

"Huh?!" Harumasa jumps and whirls around, hands reaching for Dormant Tide but finding nothing. Before him stands a fox thiren woman. "W-What? Who are you?"

"Oh! I should have introduced myself earlier. I am Hoshim Mitsuki, Miyabi's mother. But you may just call me Mitsuki." The woman says.

"Miyabi's mother? Wait... doesn't that mean I am dead?!" Harumasa feels a sense of dread wash over him.

"Relax. Lets try some relaxed breathing training." Mitsuki says, gently clasping his hands in hers. "Take a deep breath and exhale. Can you do that for me?"

No, he does not think he can, but he still does as she asks.

"Good! Are you feeling better now?" Mitsuki smiles.

"A little bit..." Harumasa mutters.

"Good! And to answer your question, you are not completely dead. I am just borrowing you for a little while." Mitsuki says cheekily.

Did he really just hear that right? "...huh?"

"I just thought I should get to know you a little, then I will return you to where you were. But I will warn you, it will hurt." The fox thiren hums.

"You are really different than Miyabi..." He mutters. "And I think I understand where she gets her absurd training ideas from now..."

"Awww!~ My little Miyabi has been sharing trainings with you? That is sweet of her!" Mitsuki smiles brightly.

"She skips meetings sometimes, but she is someone I can rely on." Harumasa says.

"But enough about my Miyabi right now!" Mitsuki grabs his hand and tugs him along. "I want to learn about you!"

"Huh? Um... I don't think there is very much to learn about me..." Harumasa mutters.

Mitsuki taps the tip of his nose with her finger. "Nonsense! There is plenty to know! Like how you two had your first date together by sneaking away to Port Elpis's lighthouse!"

"If you already know about it, why are you asking?" Harumasa inquires.

"I would like to hear it from you of course!" Mitsuki smiles brightly.

It was strange to him to be speaking to Miyabi's mother like this. While he wouldn't mind it normally, he did wonder how his friends could be feeling in the moment. If he was here now, wasn't he dead there?

"Try not to think about it too much, dear." Mitsuki says as if reading his mind. "Not much time has passed in the realm of the living as here. You won't be dead for too long there."

"Alright, if you are so sure." Harumasa sighs.

"I could talk to her for a little..." He thinks.

"To be honest with you, I don't know when I first fell for Miyabi." He begins. "But I think she is amazing person and I would like to spend more time with her in the future."

Chapter 3 Chapter Text

The sound of doors opening causes her to bolt to her feet, stirring Yanagi and Soukaku awake in the process. She would have slept like her teammates, but she was restless. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now. She had waited too long for anyone to tell her anything about Harumasa's condition. She needed to know if he would survive.

The doctor does not seem to be heading her way. Instead, he seems to intend on walking right past her.

"That won't do..."

Miyabi quickly crosses the hall to the doctor, shaking off the exhaustion in her limbs.

"Doctor. Wait a moment." Miyabi calls out.

"Miss Hoshimi!" The doctor startles.

"Tell me what his condition is." Miyabi demands. "I need to know how Harumasa is doing."

"I uh..." The doctor stammers.

"Chief, you can't just make demands like that!" Yanagi joins her side.

"I need to know if he is alright." Miyabi says.

"And the doctors are trying to do their job." Yanagi sighs.

"We are trying to stabilize him." The doctor mutters, "But given his health condition, the surgery is putting a lot off stress on his body. There are only so much anesthetics we can use without risking stopping his heart entirely. It is a miracle he is still holding on."

"Then he will be alright, won't he?" Miyabi asks.

"I cannot be certain." The doctor answers. He sighs and shakes his head. "If you will excuse me, I need to contact his personal doctor."

Miyabi watches as the man turns to leave, only for the doors to be flung open again.

"Doctor Takahashi!" A nurse shouts from the doorway. "We need you back in here! His heart stopped!"

The doctor curses and quickly returns to the room. "We will have to attempt resuscitation."

Doctor Takahashi makes sure to shut the door before anyone else could follow him. Miyabi stops outside the door, placing her hand against the cold metal. Her heart races in her chest as she listens to the sounds on the other side.

She could hear the doctors and nurses speaking to one another frantically. She could hear the heart monitor as it flatlined. She could hear every sound as the medical team on the other side of the door moved around trying to bring life back into Harumasa.

"Harumasa, don't go." Miyabi whispers. "You promised that you wouldn't leave me."

Yanagi's hand brushes against hers and the taller woman gently pulls her away from the door.

Miyabi doesn't want to move, so she fights Yanagi's attempt to drag her back to the seat. Her gaze never leaves the door.

"Please come back, Harumasa. I can't lose you too..."

------------------

"It makes me happy that you love my Miyabi that much." Mitsuki smiles brightly. She keeps a gentle grip on Harumasa's hand as she guides him through the flower field.

"You think so?" Harumasa mutters.

"Of course!" She says. She glances towards him with a tilt of her head. "Do you have some doubts about this?"

"It is just that I would have expected you or Souichirou to disapprove..." Harumasa says quietly.

"Ah." Mitsuki sighs and shakes her head. "I know Souichirou can be scary sometimes, but he means well. The questions he had asked you were only because he wanted to make sure Miyabi wouldn't get hurt. He had done some research on you before meeting you, but he wanted to hear it all from you himself."

"I kind of figured that out..." He huffs.

"Oh? You already did?" The fox thiren questions.

"The way he spoke made me realize he already knew everything, and I doubt he is the only person who would try to do research on me ahead of time. People would want to make sure I am not hiding things." Harumasa shrugs.

"But Miyabi never asked questions." Mitsuki hums.

"She had said she wanted to respect my privacy and that I should only tell her if I was comfortable with it. I appreciate her for that." Harumasa explains.

"Good good! That means she cares!" Mitsuki smiles. "Now tell me some more things, I would like some clarifications! Have you two gone on any dates? Do you meet up often? Have you two kissed yet? Are you considering getting married? Will-"

"This is a lot of questions..." Harumasa sighs. "Can you please slow down?"

"Oh! I'm sorry about that. I am just excited to speak to the one Miyabi loves so much!" Mitsuki squeals.

"Haha... I can tell..." Harumasa sighs.

"Well? Will you answer my questions then?" Mitsuki asks.

"Alright, but one at a time, okay?" Harumasa laughs.

"Thank you!" The fox thiren cheers. She taps her chin. "Then have you two gone on any dates?"

"Um... well we did sneak out of work together a few times to go to the lighthouse at Port Elpis." He says quietly.

"Port Elpis?" Mitsuki questions.

"It's a port area I like to visit. The sea breeze there is nice. I like feeling the wind." He answers. "The view from the lighthouse is breathtaking. It's fun being there."

"It sounds like a lovely place." Mitsuki hums.

"It is. Sometimes I go there on my own and go fishing. It's a nice activity to relax." Harumasa smiles.

"You must have enjoyed doing that." Mitsuki says.

"Well I like trying different things." The sharpshooter says. Then he falls silent for a few moments. "I never had a chance to have a normal childhood growing up, so there are many things I haven't gotten to experience before. Miyabi has been trying to show me some things, and our other friends too. They are considerate for that."

"That is sweet of them, don't you think?" Mitsuki muses.

"It is. I like it a lot. I wish I could repay all of them somehow..." Harumasa whispers. He stops walking and glances back with a frown.

Mitsuki gives him a curious look. "Is something the matter?"

"I thought I heard someone calling for me." He turns back to her. "Am I just imagining things?"

Mitsuki taps her chin and smiles softly. "You aren't imagining things, dear. Close your eyes and listen closely. I am sure you will recognize who it is."

Harumasa follows her instructions and waits.

"Harumasa! Please wake up! I still want to share snacks with you!" That was definitely Soukaku.

"Asaba, you need to wake up. We are waiting for you." That was Yanagi.

"Harumasa, please come back. I can't lose you. I want to spend more time with you." That was Miyabi.

"Do you know who they are?" Mitsuki asks.

"Yes. Soukaku, Tsukishiro, and Miyabi. They are waiting." Harumasa answers.

"Then it looks like we will need to cut our time here short. As much as I would love to talk more, it would be best for you to return." Mitsuki sighs.

Harumasa nods. He was also concerned that staying wherever this was would not be a good idea. Would staying to long make it so he would actually be dead? But Mitsuki had told him that he wasn't completely dead yet.

"Is something on your mind?" Mitsuki asks.

"I was just worried that I might really be dead..." Harumasa mutters.

"Don't worry, you aren't." Mitsuki pulls him forward.

"How can you be so sure?" He asks tentatively.

"You still have warmth to you, that means you are alive." Mitsuki answers.

"But can you really tell?" Harumasa questions as he walks behind her, with only their hands keeping them close.

"Of course I can." Mitsuki pauses, she gives him a gentle smile before continuing on the path ahead of her. "And you still have a connection to the living world, so you will be able to return. Your time is not up yet, and I know that my Miyabi will make sure that time does not arrive soon."

"She did promise that..." The sharpshooter whispers. "She said she would destroy all the hollows before I could become an ethereal... It's a naïve thought, but I want to believe that it is possible. I want to believe that I would be able to live longer."

Mitsuki hums but doesn't say anything. She continues walking as if she was looking for something. Then suddenly she stops walking and turns to him, motioning for him to walk closer. Harumasa had stopped for a moment, confused on what could have caught the fox thiren' attention. But he still moves forward and stops by her side. As he looks around, he notices that the flower field seemed to have stopped here. He peeks over the edge and only sees an endless white expanse.

He does not understand what this could mean, so he turns to face her. "Mistuki, what is-"

Then suddenly he is falling.

He could see Mitsuki looking down at him with a gently smile on her face. "Tell my little Miyabi that I love her and that I will always be proud of her. And also tell her..."

------------------

"Chief, you can't stand there." Yanagi pleads, trying to pull her away.

But Miyabi did not want to budge from her spot, and she did not have to.

"Harumasa!" Soukaku suddenly pushes past her, throwing the doors open and going into the room. "Please wake up! I still want to share snacks with you!"

Miyabi takes Yanagi's moment of shock to walk in next. She quickly catches up to the little oni.

Yanagi lets out a defeated sigh and follows after. "Asaba, you need to wake up. We are waiting for you."

Ignoring the shocked doctors and nurses, Miyabi carefully takes Harumasa's hand in her own. "Harumasa, please come back. I can't lose you. I want to spend more time with you."

She holds her breath and waits, but the monitor continues to flatline. "Please, Harumasa. You can't give up."

A beep sounds through the room, then another. Miyabi's eyes lock onto the monitor as she sees the line spike. She feels the hand she holds twitch and her heart skips a beat. "Harumasa!"

Yanagi places a hand on her shoulder, motioning her to back away. Miyabi sighs and reluctantly pulls away, letting the doctors and nurses return to their work. She heads for the doors, Soukaku and Yanagi walk ahead of her. In the doorway, Miyabi pauses and glances back. She feels the tension leave her shoulders as she watches for a moment longer. Then she turns away.

"I am glad I could reach you."

------------------

Miyabi returned to the hospital a few days later. She would have returned sooner if work had not gotten in the way. The H.S.O. president had requested Section 6 to submit their mission reports about the recent hollow before the end of the week. When they had finished the report, they had been called in for another hollow emergency.

The young Void Hunter finished the job as quickly as possible and then rushed to the hospital. She had not bothered changing her clothes before heading out. All that mattered was that she would reach her destination.

The woman at the front desk greeted her and directed her to the right room. Miyabi walked down the halls as if she was familiar with the place until she reached her location. She knocks on the door to the room and waits a few moments before pushing it open.

A soft smile crosses her face as her eyes land on the figure laying on the bed. She crosses the threshold in a few strides and seats herself besides the bed, waiting. Then those familiar eyes open and meet hers.

"Hey Miyabi." Harumasa whispers as he lays on his side.

"How are you feeling?" Miyabi asks.

Harumasa's face scrunches up. "Sore... and tired. I can't lay on my back without it hurting... But I will be fine."

"The ethereal stabbed its tail straight through you, so that is expected." Miyabi says.

"I know. I felt it..." Harumasa mutters, burying his face against his pillow.

"I fed the Demon yesterday. She was not happy to see me, but she still ate her food." Miyabi huffs. She disliked the cat, but she couldn't leave Yumi to starve. That would make Harumasa upset.

"That's good to hear." Harumasa says quietly.

"Are you sure you are really alright?" Miyabi asks.

Harumasa closes his eyes. "Everything hurts... I know my right eye will never be able to see again. Everything is still dark there..."

"The doctors had said the ether corruption would prevent you from seeing out of that eye again. Why would you think otherwise?" Miyabi asks. She wasn't trying to be mean about it, but she did wonder.

"I just hoped there would be a chance..." Harumasa says quietly. "It is difficult like this..."

"Harumasa... I thought you were already used to it." Miyabi frowns.

"I am. Sort of..." Harumasa mutters.

"That means you are not used to it." Miyabi shakes her head then pauses. "Did your vision get worse?"

Harumasa lets out a long sigh. "Everything is a bit blurry right now, but hopefully it will get better with some rest."

"The doctors had mentioned there was some ether corruption with this. It would have been hard for you to avoid given the fact that the ethereal had stabbed you through the stomach with its tail." Miyabi says.

"I know! You don't have to say it..." Harumasa groans.

"But even if your eyesight does not improve, I would not replace you." Miyabi states confidently.

"Really, now?~" Harumasa laughs quietly, opening his eyes just a little.

Miyabi nods. "Because I trust you."

"I am happy to hear that." Harumasa manages a small smile.

"And the proxies said that they know someone who could help you with this." Miyabi continues.

"The proxies sure know a lot of people." The bedridden sharpshooter laughs, but it doesn't take long for the laughs to turn into a violent coughing fit. He curls into himself as his breaths come out in pained wheezes.

"Harumasa! Are you alright?!" Miyabi bolts to her feet.

"I... I'm fine." Harumasa wheezes out. "Just... need a... moment."

"I can get the doctor." Miyabi begins to head for the door, but a hand grabs her sleeve.

"Don't go." Harumasa's voice is barely above a whisper.

"Harumasa, you need help." Miyabi says sternly.

"Please just stay." Harumasa pleads. His eyes, focus on her face. "It will pass."

"Alright." Miyabi sighs and sits back in her seat. She slowly reaches out and runs her fingers through his hair. And she waits.

Harumasa closes his eyes once more. Gradually, his breathing evens out and he opens his eyes again. He sighs quietly.

"Are you feeling better now?" Miyabi glances to the clock. Five minutes. She quickly returns her gaze to him before he notices.

"I feel a little better. Sorry for worrying you..." Harumasa mutters.

"It is not your fault. This is not something you can control easily." Miyabi reassures, gently holding his hand. She glances towards the door. "Would you like me to get a doctor now? Or would you prefer it if I did not?"

"Hmm... I think it would fine to get the doctor now..." Harumasa says quietly. "They usually come to check on me around now to make sure my wounds are healing properly."

Miyabi hears a knock on the door before it opens, but she keeps her gaze on Harumasa. "Do you want me to step out?"

"No, I think I would like it if you stayed." Harumasa whispers.

"Then I will stay." She gives his hand a squeeze as the doctor approaches the bedside.

Miyabi does not say anything while the doctors speak to Harumasa. She only sort of listened to the things they said. The doctors had said the wound wasn't infected luckily, but Harumasa would need more rest.

At some point, the doctors had Harumasa sit up so they could properly change his bandages. And during that time, Miyabi got a good look at the gapping wounds. She grimaces as she glances over it breaks her gaze. It looked like it had been painful, and she was sure that it had been. She doesn't want to imagine what that felt like.

She feels a gentle squeeze on her hand and she returns it. Miyabi meets Harumasa's gaze and she feels a question burning into her.

"I am okay." She mouths.

After a while, the doctors finish bandaging the wounds and give Harumasa some medicine to take. They leave after telling him not to push himself too much. Then it is just Miyabi and Harumasa again.

Harumasa is laying on his side again. "Thanks for staying with me, Miyabi."

"You do not need to thank me. I wanted to keep you company." Miyabi shakes her head.

"I appreciate it. It's boring staying in the hospital for so long..." Harumasa grumbles.

"I feel the same. After I had to stay during my recovery, I understood why you dislike hospitals so much." Miyabi hums.

"I guess that opened your eyes." Harumasa chuckles softly. "I'd rather be outside feeling the wind on my skin, but I can barely walk too far without everything hurting right now... So I will just have to deal with this for now."

"I have always had my eyes open. Except when I am sleeping." Miyabi mutters.

"Miyabi... It's a figure of speech..." Harumasa sighs.

"Oh. I see then. I suppose my eyes have been opened then." Miyabi nods.

"Glad you are learning, Miyabi." Harumasa sighs and then he yawns.

Miyabi tilts her head, running her fingers through his hair. "Are you tired?"

"Yeah... I am..." Harumasa yawns.

"Then why don't you get some sleep?" Miyabi asks quietly.

"But you're still here..." Harumasa mutters.

"It is alright. If you are tired, then you should sleep." Miyabi pauses. "Actually, did you eat yet?"

"I ate before you had come here." Harumasa yawns.

"Oh. I did not see any plates, so I assumed you hadn't." Miyabi muses.

Harumasa laughs quietly. "The nurses must have already taken it away before you arrived."

"Probably." Miyabi hums. "Would you like me to stay while you rest?"

"Don't you have work you need to take care of?" Harumasa asks.

Miyabi huffs. "Work can wait. Yanagi will handle it."

"You didn't come here to avoid a meeting, did you?" The sharpshooter asks with a sigh.

"I came here after an assignment." Miyabi answers. "I am just avoiding the paperwork. There is a difference."

"Sounds like something you would do." Harumasa chuckles.

"You should rest now. No more talking." Miyabi hums, getting up from her seat.

"Oh wait." Harumasa opens his eyes.

"Hm?" Miyabi glances back.

"Your mother is strange, Miyabi..." Harumasa sighs.

Had she just heard that right? "Huh? What do you mean? How would you know that?"

"I died for a little, didn't I?" Harumasa questions.

"Yes. The doctors had said your heart stopped..." Miyabi's ears droop as she remembers that. "I thought we lost you..."

"Ugh... sorry about that... Your mother thought it would be funny to drag me to the afterlife for a little while..." Harumasa grumbles. "I thought I had died for real there. And all she said was that it would be fine!"

Miyabi sighs and rubs her forehead. "Mother..."

"Before I go to sleep, I should give you her message." Harumasa whispers.

"She had a message for me?" Miyabi sits back down. "What is it?"

"She wanted to tell you that she loves you and that she is proud of you." Harumasa says quietly. Then he takes a deep breath. "And she also wanted to say that she was sorry for leaving you that day. She had never wanted you to take the demon sword, but there was no other option. She regrets putting you through that."

Miyabi falls silent, staring at her lap. Then she closes her eyes and sighs. "I never blamed her for that. I knew that her promise of always being at my side would one day be broken. We never knew the disaster would happen, so we could not have prevented it."

"Are you alright?" Harumasa asks.

"I am. I think I feel better after hearing that. Thank you for telling me." Miyabi smiles slightly.

"I am relieved. I would have been worried if it made you feel worse..." Harumasa closes his eyes.

"You shouldn't. You already worry too much." Miyabi shakes her head.

"I do not!" Harumasa grumbles.

"I think you do." The fox thiren hums. "Go to sleep now. I will stay for a little while before I return to work. I just want to make sure you will be alright."

"Now you're worrying too much..." Harumasa mutters.

"I am not. You are just imaging it." Miyabi says. She pats him on the head and presses a kiss to his forehead. "Now sleep."

"Alright..." Harumasa yawns. "I'll see you the next time you come to visit."

Miyabi hums, gently running her fingers through his hair. She listens as his breathing calms and soon light snores reach her ears, but she does not leave her seat just yet. She decides that she could stay just for a little while longer.

After all, she does not know if this would be the last time she would see him.

"I don't want it to be. I want to see you for longer, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you let me have that, Harumasa? Will you stay by my side until the very end? Please grant me that wish."

Chapter 4 Chapter Text

Two week had passed before Harumasa was deemed well enough to leave the hospital. The doctors had told Miyabi to make sure he did not partake in any strenuous activities for a week to make sure he healed properly. Miyabi had followed their instructions and kept a close eye on Harumasa. She had even decided to stay at is apartment with him during the week.

Of course, she ended up fighting with Yumi during that time, but she always came out victorious. Miyabi was sure that the cat wouldn't try anything else now, but she realized that was a naïve thought when she woke up to the cat pouncing on her face. This was not a battle she would allow herself to lose, so she continued to combat the cat.

But when the week was over, Miyabi still kept a close eye on Harumasa.

"Miyabi, you don't have to stare so much." Harumasa says, glances in her direction from his desk.

"I am making sure you are safe." Miyabi narrows her eyes.

"It's really not necessary. I'm fine now! Stop worrying!" Harumasa huffs.

"Are you sure? How is your vision? Are you feeling any pain?" Miyabi asks.

"Miyabi..." Harumasa groans. "Tsukishiro, help me out here! Chief is being overbearing!"

"I am not! I am just concerned for your health and safety. That is different." Miyabi scowls.

"No it is not! It is the same thing!" Harumasa retorts.

"Is not." Miyabi crosses her arms.

"Miyabi, calm down. Asaba is fine. You do not need to hover so much." Yanagi pushes her glasses up.

"I am not hovering. My feet are on the ground." Miyabi's ears flick.

"Yeah! Miyabi's feet are on the ground!" Soukaku pipes up.

"That's... not what I meant..." Yanagi lets out an exasperated sigh.

"I don't understand." Miyabi frowns.

"Tsukishiro is saying that you don't need to watch me so closely. As I said, I am fine." Harumasa huffs.

Miyabi scowls and shakes her head. "I do not believe that. You have been staring at the papers on your desk for the past five minutes, and you have not written anything on them so far."

"Well it is hard to concentrate with you staring so much!" Harumasa pouts, glaring in her direction.

"I am making sure you are okay. Please answer my questions." Miyabi says.

"I don't want to! There is no need to!" Harumasa grumbles.

"Asaba, calm down." Yanagi says quickly.

"I am trying to... It's just a little difficult." Harumasa mutters.

"I want to make sure you are okay. That is all." Miyabi pouts.

"You really do not need to." Harumasa glares in her direction.

"Harumasa! Miyabi is only trying to help! She was very worried about you when you were in the hospital!" Soukaku speaks up.

Harumasa sighs and does not say anything, opting to bury his face in his hands.

"Please Harumasa! Miyabi cares about you! She would finish her work quickly so she could go check on you too!" Soukaku adds.

"Alright alright! I get it! She was worried, and I know that! But none of you have to worry now!" Harumasa says, raising his voice slightly. "I'm perfectly fine now! And I am not dying now, am I? You all can see that too! You really don't need to look at me like I'm going to fall apart at any second! That isn't going to happen!"

"Asaba, you do not need to get upset. We just care about you. Just take a deep breath and calm down." Yanagi says.

"Ugh... fine... But I'm serious." Harumasa grumbles.

"I know." Yanagi says reassuringly. "I don't doubt you."

Harumasa sighs pushes his chair back away from his desk and stands up. "I'm going to take a break now. Doing so much paperwork is making my eyes tired."

"Then I will-" Miyabi stands up as well.

"Alone. I am going alone." Harumasa quickly adds before leaving the office.

"Oh..." Miyabi sits back down, her ears drooping ever so slightly. "Did I make him upset?"

"Chief, it will be alright. Just give him some space. He will talk to you when he is ready to." Yanagi places a hand on the fox thiren's shoulder.

"Does he hate me now?" Miyabi asks.

Yanagi sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Miyabi... Asaba does not hate you. He just wants some space."

"In the movies, that usually means the couple wants to break up." Miyabi mutters.

"Please do not believe everything you see in the movies..." Yanagi groans. "The movies are not real."

"But what if it is true? What if it happens?" Miyabi asks.

"It isn't and it won't happen. Asaba likes you and he trusts you too. But you should understand that all of this is still something he is getting used to." Yanagi reassures.

"Yup! Nagi is right! Harumasa is Harumasa!" Soukaku agrees. She nods enthusiastically as she places a bag of snacks on Harumasa's desk along with a messy drawing. "He doesn't hate you! He really really trusts you!"

"Thank you, Yanagi and Soukaku. You are both very helpful." Miyabi hums.

She glances towards the door and sighs. She really hoped they were right. What would she do if Harumasa did hate her now? She doesn't know the answer to that, but Miyabi would not do anything to force him to change his mind. She could not possibly risk making things worse.

------------------

Harumasa hadn't intended on getting into an argument with Miyabi. Was that an argument? He wasn't so sure now that he thought of it. However, he felt like the void hunter was hovering a little too much ever since he left the hospital. He hadn't thought it was necessary for her to stay over at his apartment either.

He had been able to take care of himself before. It wasn't like he was incapable of doing that now!

"She just worries too much now... Does she think I am fragile or something? I'm not dying yet. Maybe later, but definitely not today." He sighs as he walks the long halls of the H.S.O. building. He pauses in his place when he hears footsteps approaching from behind and turns his head.

"Executive Officer Asaba Harumasa, I'm surprised you are already back in the office." Ashworth says.

"Why don't you just call me Asaba, Ashworth? There is no need for the full title when we all share it here." Harumasa says, turning to face him fully. He has a smile on his face as he does so.

"Alright. If that is what you want." Ashworth sighs. "But you didn't answer my question."

"That wasn't really a question, was it?" Harumasa hums.

"No, it wasn't. You are right about that." Ashworth shakes his head.

Harumasa scans the area. "You aren't with Mercier today."

"He had some other things he needed to handle." Ashworth shrugs.

"Oh." Was all Harumasa could think to say.

"Now why are you back in the office? Shouldn't you be at home resting? I heard you took a pretty nasty blow." Ashworth says.

Now this was a surprise to Harumasa. He would have thought that Ashworth would not be asking these questions. The last time he spoke to the man, he remembers hearing some doubt. But it all seemed like there was a change of heart now for whatever reason. Harumasa decides that it was better if he just didn't question what brought the change, but he would tease the man just a little.

"Oh?~ Are you concerned?~" Harumasa hums.

"If you are still recovering, you should not be pushing yourself." Ashworth frowns.

"Don't worry! I'm not doing that at all! Tsukishiro says I'm not cleared to do any on field work yet. So far, I have only been going over the overdue paperwork Chief Miyabi was supposed to complete!" Harumasa says with a sigh. "It is a lot more than I expected... I'm sure Chief Miyabi has more hidden than just the ones we found..."

Ashworth raises an eyebrow. "You're doing your chief's work? Shouldn't you be doing your own?"

"I already have." Harumasa waves his hand dismissively. "Since I haven't been going out into hollows, I haven't had to file any reports. But Tsukishiro asked me to help Chief Miyabi catch up on hers. There are still many financial documents we have to go through... I guess this is what happens when the Chief avoids meetings so much."

"I'm starting to realize your section is not as competent as people thought..." Ashworth mutters.

"Who knew! We're normal people too!" Harumasa laughs.

"I wouldn't call any of you normal... You are all beyond that." Ashworth says under his breath.

"Really? I'd say we are!" Harumasa smiles brightly.

"No, you really aren't..." Ashworth grumbles.

"Well I can't blame you for that." Harumasa shrugs. "Is that all you wanted to talk to me about? Or is there something more?"

"And you are going straight to the point. That's admirable of you." Ashworth says.

"Hey! I know when I should do my part! Now tell me, what did you want to say?" Harumasa rolls his eyes.

"The president wanted to see if your team would be willing to recruit new members too..." Ashworth sighs. "But I doubt any new recruits would be able to survive in that environment."

"New recruits? What for?" Harumasa asks.

"Another sharpshooter for Section 6." Ashworth answers.

"But they have me." Harumasa says plainly.

"Yes, you're their sharpshooter, but your vision has been damaged." The other executive officer says.

"Are we really doing this again?" Harumasa frowns.

"I am just the messenger!" Ashworth holds up his hands.

"Right right. Continue." Harumasa waves a hand.

"The president was afraid that your diminishing eyesight could cause issues for your team. Having a sharpshooter who can't see very well could be a detriment to everyone's safety. Seeing as Section 6 is still hailed as heroes of New Eridu, it would be bad if something terrible happened to any of you." Ashworth explains.

"Detriment? I am not holding them back at all if that is what he is trying to say." Harumasa takes a deep breath. "The president doesn't need to worry about a thing! I'm still able to hit my targets even without my eyesight."

"Your vision has gotten worse, hasn't it?" Ashworth inquires.

"Just a little bit. Things are still a little blurry, but you can blame ether corruption for that." Harumasa bites his lips. "Is that a problem?"

Ashworth sighs and shakes his head. "It isn't my problem to deal with."

"You sure sound concerned though. Are you having some doubts?" Harumasa questions.

"No. I am not. You have proven you are still capable despite this handicap, but you will still need to prove yourself to more people. Whatever happens, just keep continuing as you are. I'm sure you will still have your place in Section 6. I doubt your team would be willing to replace you anytime soon." Ashworth shakes his head.

"Well I am honored that you think that!~ Thank you!" Harumasa grins.

"Just make sure you are careful, and don't let your doubts consume you." Ashworth sighs, turning to leave. "Your team seems to really care about you. I think they would put up a fight if they were asked to replace you."

Harumasa does not respond and listens as footsteps walk away from him. There were no doubts in his mind. He knew that Section 6 would never replace him, Miyabi had said so herself.

"Yeah... I don't doubt it."

------------------

As much as she didn't want to, Miyabi ended up attending a meeting. To her, it was boring with not much to do. She had tuned out most of what was being said. Once the meeting was over, she had returned to Section 6's office.

"I'm back." She calls out as she steps through the doors. She glances around the office and finds Harumasa sitting at his desk. Soukaku and Yanagi were nowhere in sight.

"Welcome back, Miyabi." Harumasa says without looking up from the financial documents in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Miyabi wanted to ask, but instead she says: "Where are Yanagi and Soukaku?"

"An emergency came up with a hollow and they left to go solve it." Harumasa answers.

"Why didn't they wait for me?" Miyabi scowls.

"It wouldn't take long. They are looking for a missing person, so they should be back shortly." Harumasa hums.

"Oh. I see." Miyabi walks over to his desk, glancing at the papers.

Harumasa sighs, lifting his head and meeting her eyes. "Did you need something?"

"What is this one about?" Miyabi points at a document.

"That was our budget for an assignment we completed two months ago. You were supposed to submit it around that time." Harumasa answers,

"And this one?" Miyabi points to another one.

"That was a mission report that was due last month. It involves a case you had the proxies assist you for." Harumasa sighs. "You just have to sign it and submit it."

"What about this one?" Miyabi points to another document.

Harumasa squints his eyes. "A document requesting new supplies. That's not due until the end of the week, but we should submit that sooner rather than later. We used up a lot of medical supplies during the last assignment. It would be a good idea for us to restock on that soon... I think we should request some painkillers too."

"I don't need painkillers." Miyabi huffs.

"Well we can at least get some for Tsukishiro and Soukaku." Harumasa sighs.

"And what about you?" Miyabi asks.

"I have my own prescribed by my doctor." Harumasa answers.

Miyabi looks back at the stack of papers. "Were all of these mine?"

"Yes? Did you forget?" Harumasa gives her a questioning look.

"I did not forget. I thought Yanagi forgot I had to do them." Miyabi says.

"Tsukishiro would not forget about paperwork. She keeps reminding me to do mine! Why would she forget about yours?" Harumasa rubs his temples.

"You have a good point." Miyabi takes the stack of papers and walks to her own desk.

"Miyabi?! What are you doing?!" Harumasa startles.

"Doing my work. You can go home early if you want to." Miyabi says. She shifts through the documents and glares at them. "I don't understand this."

Harumasa sighs, pushing his seat over to the stairs that led up to Miyabi's desk. "I'll help you out with it. Otherwise you would be here all month on your own."

"Huh? It will not take that long." Miyabi frowns.

"No... It is going to take a long time if I leave you alone." Harumasa shakes his head. He moves his chair to the desk and sits down.

"If they were not so boring, I would be able to finish it quickly. These take too long." Miyabi huffs.

"I know that... Why do you think I hate it?" Harumasa groans.

"You like slacking off." Miyabi says bluntly.

"Hey! I can do work when I need to!" Harumasa huffs.

"Hmm... I will need to see that then." Miyabi hums.

"I'll prove it to you then by finishing some of these documents!" Harumasa says.

"But these look boring. I don't want to do any now..." Miyabi frowns.

"Why don't you just make this training?" Harumasa suggests as he takes some of the stack.

"Ah. I see. It will be training to complete the documents correctly and on time then." Miyabi nods.

"You can forget the on time part. Most of these are already overdue..." Harumasa grumbles.

"Oh..." Miyabi's ears droop. "Then I will do the training to complete the documents correctly. In the future, it will be the training to complete the documents correctly and on time."

"Yeah. I think that will work." Harumasa chuckles softly.

The two fall into a comfortable silence as they work on finishing the documents. Occasionally, Miyabi would glance towards Harumasa. She found her gaze lingering as she watched him read over the documents. It looked like he was squinting a lot, and Miyabi wondered if there was something strange on the papers. She takes a quick glance at the documents Harumasa has, but she could not see anything wrong with them. She wanted to ask him, but she decides against it.

"I'll wait for him to tell me on his own."

------------------

"Thank you for agreeing to do this, Tsukishiro!~" Harumasa smiles brightly.

"You really don't need to thank me, Asaba. But you need to tell Miyabi later, understood?" Yanagi sighs. She keeps her hands on the wheel as she steals a glance at him.

Harumasa sighs and stares out the window. "I know... and I will. Just not now."

"Asaba, you know that she is worried about you. She just wants to make sure you don't die." Yanagi says.

"Don't die soon you mean? I have always been destined to die young, Tsukishiro. There is no cure for Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome, at least not in my time." Harumasa mutters.

"You don't know that. Maybe a cure will be developed. The researchers can go off of what your master had completed. We could go to researchers within H.A.N.D. to complete it." Yanagi tries to reassure him. "You will be cured."

"I never thought you would be the kind to think so naively about this." Harumasa chuckles.

"I just want to believe there is a chance. We all want you to live a long life, Asaba." Yanagi says, reaching for his hand.

"But that might not be possible, you know that. All we have been doing is following a white lie because that is easier than facing reality. It is easier to tell Soukaku I would live to 100 than to tell her, or anyone, I will be dying soon." Harumasa says quietly.

"No. It is possible. Your master made a partial cure. If we can have it completed, then you will live longer." Yanagi says. "And don't try to argue against that. Just let us hold onto the hope that it is possible, even if the idea is naïve. We all just want to dream that we can have more time with you."

A small smile crosses Harumasa's face. "Alright. I'll humor you on that."

"Thank you, Asaba. But promise me you will try to speak with Miyabi." Yanagi whispers.

"I promise." Harumasa says quietly.

Yanagi hums in satisfaction. "Now let's talk about this. You said that your vision is still blurry?"

"Yes. It is... But I can sort of see if I squint." Harumasa answers.

"Is it the ether corruption or your illness causing this vision lost?" Yanagi inquires.

"To be honest, I don't know. It could be both... Combined, it may have caused some permanent damage. I don't know if it would actually improve." Harumasa says.

"It isn't easy to lose your vision." Yanagi sighs, "this must be terrifying for you."

"You would know, wouldn't you?" Harumasa hums.

"How could you tell?" Yanagi asks.

"Hmm... Well, I noticed you would sometimes just freeze up and not move for awhile. It wasn't hard to tell that you had lost your vision momentarily, but I thought you would get upset with me for pointing it out." Harumasa shrugs.

"Asaba..." Yanagi sighs. "I wouldn't have gotten upset with you."

"I was just being careful." Harumasa hums.

"Asaba, I'm your friend. I forgive you for your mistakes." Yanagi says. She pulls the car into the parking lot and quickly finds a spot.

Harumasa carefully steps out of the car and shuts the door, squinting his eyes as he tries to get a good look at his surroundings.

"Are you not familiar with this area, Asaba?" Yanagi asks.

"I haven't been here before." Harumasa answers.

"I'm sorry. I thought you had been to an eye doctor before for your right eye." Yanagi says.

"I had that checked by hospital staff, Tsukishiro. I didn't think I would need to go to an actual eye doctor after they said I was completely blind in that eye." Harumasa scoffs.

"It wouldn't have hurt for you to have it checked." Yanagi sighs and shakes her head. "But I suppose you can do that now then."

"I guess so..." Harumasa grumbles.

"Do you want some help?" Yanagi asks.

"It would be appreciated..." Harumasa sighs, holding out his hand.

Yanagi gently grasps his hand and leads him to the building. "Don't worry, Asaba. It will be alright."

"I hope so..." Harumasa says quietly.

"It will be. If not, we will find a way to work through this. Miyabi will help with that too." Yanagi reassures.

"I know, and thank you." Harumasa whispers.

"You're welcome, Asaba." Yanagi smiles.

Chapter 5 Chapter Text

It was just as he expected, his eyesight was not going to be improving. He knew he was being naïve, but he did not feel disappointed about the results either. Yet, he had still allowed himself to hope for something different. It was foolish of him to think like that. Harumasa had already accepted the news and decided that he would find a way to overcome it. The eye doctor had said that he could use some prescription glasses to see better for day to day tasks, but it was also possible that it would not work out. He had declined the idea, stating that he would probably break them with the kind of work he did.

But Yanagi insisted that he at least get a pair for reading. She said it would be needed for him to be able to do paperwork properly, and he conceded to that. She had helped him with filling out the papers for it, and she also promised to bring him in later to pick them up. But he made sure she did not pay for it, he had his own money after all. He could not owe her too much, not when she had taken him to this appointment.

While the eye doctor approved of a reading glasses prescription, the doctor had also said that Harumasa could be better off stopping his work in the hollows. As if he hadn't heard that one before! He already heard that from his own specialist doctor, and he certainly did not need an eye doctor telling him the same thing. He did not want to be reminded of his limited time every doctor appointment he had.

He was by no means going to stop his work in the hollows, but that was going to be a difficult task with his limited vision. Harumasa knows that other executive officers within the H.S.O. will be questioning whether or not he could stay in Section 6, so he needed to prove himself to them. He just did not know how to. But as he thinks of it more, he remembers what the proxies had said. He sends them a quick message about meeting that friend of theirs and waits for a response. As long as he got a response, he would be happy.

"Asaba, I'm sorry." Yanagi says, interrupting his thoughts.

"What are you sorry for, Tsukishiro? You haven't done anything wrong!" Harumasa half-turns to her.

"There is plenty to be sorry for." Yanagi frowns like she did not believe a single thing he had just said. "I thought this specialist doctor would be able to help you, but it doesn't look like that was possible..."

"Tsukishiro, it isn't easy to fix someone's eyesight once it is damaged. This isn't something you can blame yourself for." Harumasa sighs.

"I still wish I could do more to help. Maybe there is another doctor who can fix this." Yanagi says.

"I am going to have to stop you there. I've been to enough doctors." Harumasa huffs.

"Seeing one more will not hurt." Yanagi glances his way.

He shakes his head. "I don't think it is necessary. I already knew that there wouldn't be improvements."

"Asaba..." Yanagi frowns even more. "I'm sure we can find a solution to this."

"It's fine! We should return head home now. I think we could both use some rest." Harumasa says.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me tonight?" Yanagi asks.

"Tsukishiro, you're my friend and I trust you, but you already did enough for me today. Once you drop me off, you should return home to Soukaku. I still need to return home to look after my cat child." Harumasa hums.

"Harumasa." Yanagi says. "Whatever happens, please know that we will support you no matter what."

"I know, Yanagi. I'm grateful for that. I have already accepted this and I'll figure out something." Harumasa says.

"You shouldn't have to do it on your own. Take the day off tomorrow. You should get some more rest." Yanagi says.

"Oh?~ You're giving me the day off? How kind of you." Harumasa hums.

Yanagi sighs and does not say anything more. The rest of the car ride to Harumasa's apartment is quiet and he does not mind it at all. He waves goodbye to Yanagi before heading into his apartment. As soon as he reached the door, he felt like there was something off.

"I'll just pretend things are normal."

He pushes the door open and his little furry pal latches onto his leg with a loud meow.

"Hello my beautiful cat child!" Harumasa smiles as he shuts the door. He scoops the cat up in his arms. "Did you miss me?"

"Mrrow!" Yumi rubs her head against his cheek.

He strolls into the kitchen and sets the cat down on the ground. "Lets get you some food now!"

Yumi meows in delight, running around his legs while he prepare the food.

"Settle down! It isn't going anywhere you greedy little furball!" Harumasa laughs.

"Mrow?" Yumi tilts her head and paws at his legs.

"Alright! Here you go!" He sets the bowl down.

Once the bowl is set down, the cat dives in and eats as if it was a gourmet meal.

"There you go." Harumasa smiles, gently scratching the cat behind the ears. "You're enjoying yourself aren't you?"

"Mrrow!" Yumi licks his hand before going back to her meal.

"Alright. Enough of that now." Harumasa stands up, glancing over his shoulders and narrowing his eyes. "Why don't you come out now? I know you are there. Don't you know that entering someone's home without permission is rude?"

------------------

When Miyabi returned to the office the next day, she spotted Yanagi sitting at her desk. Soukaku was also present, scribbling away on a sketchpad. But as her eyes landed on the empty desk, she frowns. That did not seem right at all. She walks over to the desk and checks under it. When she finds no one there, she walks around the desk a few times. Again, nothing.

"Harumasa isn't here." Miyabi says as she stops besides Yanagi's desk.

"I told him to take the day off." Yanagi says without looking up from her papers.

"Why?" Miyabi asks. That did not make sense to her. "You usually tell him to come into work."

"I know that is what I usually do." Yanagi sighs, looking up now.

"Then why did you tell him to take a break today?" Miyabi inquires.

"It looked like he still needed some rest after his hospital stay. He seemed a bit unfocused. As his superior, I chose the best course of action and had him stay home to rest more." Yanagi answers. She pushes her glasses up, staring Miyabi in the eyes.

"Tired? I do not think he looked that tired. I know that because I had stayed with him." Miyabi frowns.

"He was hiding it from you then. You know that he doesn't want you to worry too much." Yanagi counters.

"Mhm! Harumasa looked tired yesterday!" Soukaku adds.

"Go do your homework, Soukaku." Yanagi says without breaking her gaze with Miyabi.

"But I want to finish this drawing first!" Soukaku whines.

"Harumasa would not mind if you take awhile to do it." Yanagi says.

"Aw... okay..." Soukaku puts away her sketchpad and grabs some mathematics worksheets. "I'll finish it later then!"

"After I make sure you did the work correctly." Yanagi states.

"Okay Nagi!" Soukaku says enthusiastically.

Yanagi gives Miyabi a challenging look. "I made my decision already. Harumasa needs to get rest because he hasn't recovered fully yet."

"That is not true. He helped me with my paperwork yesterday, and he did not seem tired at all." Miyabi frowns.

"Yes, I am aware. I had asked him to." Yanagi sighs. She holds up some of the mentioned papers. "I am glad he did because these have been missing for weeks. I have no idea how you had so many of these hidden."

"I did not hide them. I misplaced them." Miyabi says.

"Right. Sure you did... But these were the papers Harumasa helped you with yesterday." Yanagi says.

"I thought I turned those in already when I left..." Miyabi mutters.

"Harumasa left them on my desk to review." Yanagi explains.

"Oh... I left before he had." Miyabi frowns.

Yanagi scans over one of the papers and then she rubs her temples. "Chief... you wrote this like a haiku..."

"What is wrong with that?" Miyabi asks.

"It is a finance report! How do you turn finances into a haiku?" Yanagi huffs.

"Finances are boring, so I decided to change it." Miyabi crosses her arms.

"And this hollow investigation report is completely wrong too! None of this happened!" Yanagi holds out another paper.

"That is what I remembered happened." Miyabi states.

"I understand that Harumasa would miss these mistakes you are making because of his eyesight, but that does not mean you can write whatever you want and get away with it. There are some things you shouldn't take advantage of, Chief." Yanagi frowns.

"Is something wrong with Harumasa's eyesight? I thought he was only blind in one eye." Miyabi inquires.

"Ah... he... didn't tell you that yet?" Yanagi's eyes go wide.

"No. He did not." Miyabi frowns.

"Ah... I wasn't supposed to tell you that then..." Yanagi mutters.

"Yanagi. Tell me what you know." Miyabi demands.

Yanagi sighs, hanging her head. "He said his vision is blurry, so I took him to see a doctor after work."

"That must be why he was squinting so much yesterday..." Miyabi says quietly.

"If I knew about that earlier, I would have taken him to the doctor sooner." Yanagi frowns.

"You wouldn't have known." Miyabi shakes her head. "And there is not much we can do to change this."

As much as Miyabi wanted to change what had happened, she knows that she couldn't. No matter how much she dreamed of a different outcome, it wouldn't change their reality. It wouldn't change the past because that had already long passed.

She turns and begins walking out the door, but she does not make it far before Yanagi grabs her by the shoulders.

"Chief, sit down and finish your work." Yanagi says.

"I want to go find Harumasa. I need to talk to him about this." Miyabi frowns.

"That can wait for when you are done with work." Yanagi reasons.

"But why? I can find him now." Miyabi huffs.

"You have a mandatory meeting you need to attend." Yanagi says.

"I hate meetings..." Miyabi grumbles, but she goes to her desk and sits down.

She glances towards Yanagi's desk, waiting for a moment the other woman would stop paying attention to her. Once that happened, Miyabi would sneak out and find Harumasa wherever he was now.

------------------

Harumasa had never been to Scout Outpost without the rest of his team before. This was a first for him, but he was glad no one was questioning why he was there. He turns in the direction of his companion. "So Miss Trigger, what did you want to come here for?"

"I thought it would be a good idea to do some target practice." Trigger answers.

"Really? We are doing that already? I'm surprised." Harumasa hums.

"I would like to understand what your abilities are currently." Trigger says, stepping closer to him. "I was surprised that you caught me so quickly yesterday. You knew I was there the moment you entered your apartment, didn't you?"

"Of course. As the scout of Section 6, I learned to be more aware of my surroundings. I knew someone was inside my apartment because I felt a small breeze from the door. You didn't shut it all the way." Harumasa explains.

"That's a mistake on my part then. As a snipper, I should not slip up like that." Trigger laughs.

"I can't really blame you. We all make mistakes." Harumasa shrugs.

"But we cannot afford to make mistakes on the battlefield. It could cost us the lives of our comrades." Trigger says.

"You're right about that... I don't want anything to happen to my team." Harumasa mutters. "But people are having some doubts about me due to the problem with my eyesight."

"And that is why the proxies put us in contact, isn't it?" Trigger asks.

"I would assume that is why. They said you would be able to help with this predicament." Harumasa says.

Trigger taps her chin. "They aren't wrong about that. I am the sniper of Obol Squad. But before I had joined them, I received an injury that impaired my vision. I have lost most of my vision."

"Yet you are still a sniper." Harumasa points out.

"I learned to adapt to it, and I can teach you to do the same." Trigger says. "I just hope you are able to keep up. It will be difficult."

"Do you doubt me? I am a fast learner, so I can pick up a few tricks pretty quickly." Harumasa smiles.

"I am glad to hear that you won't be shying away from this." Trigger hums. "But before we begin, I have a small request that you can deny."

"Hm? What is it?" Harumasa hums.

"Can I touch your face?" Trigger adds.

"H-Huh?! Now why would you want to do that?" Harumasa jumps slightly.

"I'd like to be able to "see" what you look like." Trigger explains. "Of course, you can deny it if you wish to."

Harumasa stops to consider it. It was an odd request, and he wasn't exactly comfortable with people touching him near his neck. But Trigger had said she wanted to touch his face, and it could be a brief thing. There was no harm in it, right?

"Sure. I don't mind." Harumasa says.

"The quick beating of your heart says otherwise." Trigger points out.

Harumasa sighs. "I'm just not used to having people touch me so close to my neck. There are some bad experiences with that..."

"Then would you prefer if I did not touch you?" Trigger asks.

"It's alright, you can do it. If it helps you get a better understanding of who I am, I don't mind." Harumasa says.

"Alright, then I will try not to make this last for too long." Trigger says.

Harumasa takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He could feel fingers gently brushing over his face for a few moments. Then those hands pull away.

"Alright. I remember what you look like now." Trigger says.

"Oh? That was all?" Harumasa hums.

"Yes. That was enough. You are younger than I expected." Trigger says.

"That is because I am young! At least to the standards of some people." Harumasa says.

"How old are you? If that is alright for me to ask, I mean." Trigger asks.

"I'm twenty five, nearing twenty six." Harumasa answers. He hated how soon it was. It was far too soon to him.

"You don't seem too happy about that." Trigger notices.

Harumasa tenses for a moment before relaxing just as quickly. "You can tell, can't you?"

"I can hear it in your heartbeat." Trigger answers. She pauses, placing a hand to her chest. "But if you do not wish to discuss this with me, you do not need to say anything. I don't want to pressure you."

"Thank you, Miss Trigger. I appreciate your sentiment." Harumasa smiles. He closes his eyes. "I am destined to have a short life. From the moment I was born, my lifespan was already decided on."

"Oh... I am sorry to hear that..." Trigger says quietly.

"How much did you know? I mean, how much did the proxies tell you about?" Harumasa asks.

"They had told me that you lived a hard life when you were a young kid. They also said I should respect your boundaries." Trigger answers.

Harumasa laughs. "The proxies really are reliable and kind, aren't they?"

"That is something I can agree with." Trigger hums in agreement.

"But enough talk now. Aren't we here for some target practice? That's what you wanted to bring me for, right?" Harumasa hums.

"Oh! That's right. I'd like to understand your fighting style more." Trigger says. "Can you explain it to me?"

"Sure thing!" Harumasa smiles brightly. "I fight using a bow, but the bow also functions as two swords."

"A weapon that is two in one? That is interesting. It sounds impressive." Trigger hums. "Were you trained in both? I did not know the H.S.O. would do that."

"The H.S.O. did not teach me that initially, my master did. When I was growing up, he taught me how to wield a bow and use a sword." Harumasa explains.

"So you had prior knowledge then. I am surprised you use a bow. Most people would use a gun nowadays." Trigger says.

"That's most people, and I am not most people." Harumasa scoffs.

"I can tell." Trigger chuckles. She motions for him to follow as she walks. "Tell me more while we walk to the training grounds."

"Alright. I'll try not to bore you." Harumasa hums.

------------------

Miyabi glances towards the clock as the member of Section 5 continues to speak. This meeting was dragging on for far too long and she wanted to leave now. The seconds ticked by and the hands of the clock moved even slower.

"And that is the end of my report." The Section 5 member says.

Miyabi is out the door as soon as she hears those words. She does not know if anyone tried to stop her, but she does not care if they did. She makes her way to the Section 6 office and steps in, finding Yanagi at her desk.

She reaches out and taps Yanagi on the shoulder, then she waits.

"Yes Miyabi?" Yanagi looks up at her.

"I am done with the meeting now." Miyabi says.

"I can see that." Yanagi says.

"Lets go look for Harumasa now." Miyabi continues.

Yanagi sighs. "Miyabi, you are not going to bother him right now."

"I want to check on him, and Soukaku does too." Miyabi says.

"Soukaku did not say that!" Yanagi frowns.

"Hmm..." Miyabi turns to the little oni. "Soukaku, do you want to check on Harumasa?"

"Yeah!" Soukaku pushes her seat out.

"See? Soukaku wants to go too." Miyabi says with a smug smile on her face.

Yanagi lets out a defeated sigh. "Alright, lets go find Harumasa then."

Yanagi made sure they had all clocked out before taking them to her car. She had said that Harumasa would not be at his apartment, but Miyabi did not understand how she would know that. However, she simply decided to trust Yanagi and let her drive to their destination. Miyabi spent the car trip playing some sort of hand clapping game with Soukaku.

Miyabi does not expect to see Yanagi pull into Scout Outpost. She peeks out the car window and frowns. "Why are we here? Were we called to check Hollow Zero for something? Did something come up?"

"We were not called here for anything." Yanagi says as she steps out of the car.

"Then why are we here?" Miyabi hops out, holding the door open for Soukaku.

"Harumasa sent me a message earlier to say they he had come here." Yanagi explains.

"He did not message me." Miyabi frowns.

"I asked him not to because you would have skipped the meeting." Yanagi says with a pointed glare.

"Uh huh! That sounds like what Miyabi would do!" Soukaku adds. "Miyabi does not like meetings!"

Miyabi pouts, but she felt some sense of relief. She felt some comfort in knowing that Harumasa wasn't trying to avoid her and that it was just Yanagi doing some unnecessary intervening.

"So he came here?" Miyabi questions.

"That is what his message said. He said the proxies had one of their friends come with him." Yanagi explains.

"The proxies know someone from the defense force?" Miyabi asks.

"They do. According to Harumasa's message, this friend is a sniper who has limited eyesight." Yanagi says.

"Ah... so that is the person the proxies mentioned." Miyabi mutters to herself.

The fox thiren remains silent as she follows Yanagi to the training ground in Scout Outpost. Soukaku skips along near them, greeting some soldiers as they go. Miyabi hardly pays attention to the people around them, but she still makes sure to give some kind of greeting as to not appear rude.

After some walking, she spots Harumasa with a woman with long blonde hair. It looked like they were both shooting at some targets. Miyabi would have gone closer if Yanagi had not grabbed her arm and stopped her. Miyabi huffs but listens to her, stopping to watch.

"You learn fast, Harumasa." The blonde haired woman says as she pats Harumasa on the back.

"That's because I had an amazing teacher like you, Miss Trigger!" Harumasa grins.

"I think you are giving me too much credit. You have a talent for this." Trigger shakes her head.

"No, I don't think so. Your explanation helped a lot." Harumasa says.

"The wind is just something you would have to account for as a sniper. Sometimes it can ruin your shot." Trigger says.

"I'm not afraid of the wind. I actually enjoy it!" Harumasa laughs.

Trigger laughs as well. "I would like to do this again with you if you are up to it."

"You know, I think I will take you up on that. Next time, we can see who hits the most targets!" Harumasa smiles.

"I think we will need to have someone keep watch for us if we do that." Trigger chuckles.

Miyabi frowns as she watches. She doesn't understand why she felt upset about this. There shouldn't be an issue since Trigger was just helping Harumasa. Miyabi was sure that the two of them were just friends who shared a similar experience.

"Chief, are you okay?" Yanagi asks, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Miyabi glances towards her. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Yanagi asks.

"I am." Miyabi turns as Soukaku runs over to give Harumasa a surprise hug. "I am fine. You don't need to worry."

Chapter 6 Chapter Text

It wasn't a surprise for him when Soukaku came out of nowhere. He had already heard her coming before she had tackled him into a comfortable hug. Harumasa had enough time to keep himself from falling over from the force of Soukaku's tackle.

"Harumasa!" Soukaku says cheerfully. "I missed you at work today! But Nagi said that you were taking a break."

"Did she now? Tsukishiro is kind, isn't she?" Harumasa smiles.

"Mhm! Nagi said that she wanted to make sure you rested!" Soukaku nods. Then she turns to Trigger, glancing at Harumasa for help. "Who is this little one?"

"Oh! Right! Soukaku does not know who Trigger is!" Harumasa pats the oni on the head. "Introduce yourself, Soukaku. Remember that is the polite thing to do?"

"Hello! I am Soukaku!" Soukaku smiles and waves.

"Hello Soukaku. You can call me Trigger." Trigger says.

"Okay Miss Trigger! Nice to meet you!" Soukaku smiles.

"It is nice to meet you too." Then Trigger turns towards Harumasa's general direction. "I did not know Tsukishiro was one of your teammate."

"I didn't think to mention it. Do you know her?" Harumasa asks.

"We had a small dispute, but we get along now. We share red bean buns together." Trigger answers.

"Oh... That makes sense, I think." Harumasa says.

"Do you think it is strange?" Trigger asks.

"Not at all! I'm glad Tsukishiro has another friend." Harumasa laughs.

"Yup! Nagi is also busy, so it is good she has friends!" Soukaku adds.

"How did you get here, little Soukaku?" Harumasa asks.

"Nagi and Miyabi! Nagi drove here and Miyabi wanted to look for you!" Soukaku explains.

"Am I in trouble?" Harumasa mutters.

"You aren't in any trouble." Yanagi says as she walks over.

"Hello Tsukishiro." Trigger says.

Yanagi nods in acknowledgement. "Hello Trigger. It is good to see you again. I hope Harumasa hasn't caused you too much trouble."

"It's been no trouble at all. Harumasa is a good student. He learned pretty quickly. I am impressed!" Trigger smiles.

"Well, Harumasa did pass at the top of his class from the academy." Yanagi says proudly. "He beat everyone there at both close combat weapons and ranged weapons."

"If he wasn't in the H.S.O., I would have asked him to join the Obol Squad." Trigger says jokingly.

"Harumasa is staying with Section 6." Miyabi says as she walks over.

Harumasa sighs, turning in Miyabi's direction. This was not good. He knew Miyabi was bad at understanding jokes, and he knew she was definitely misunderstanding this now.

"Oh! I was not being serious..." Trigger says, holding her face with one hand. "I am sorry for the misunderstanding."

"It was a joke? I do not understand. Why would you joke about something like that?" Miyabi huffs.

"I was only complimenting his skill..." Trigger says.

"Then you could have just said that." Miyabi's ears flick in annoyance.

"Time for some damage control..." Harumasa throws an arm around Miyabi's shoulders. "Hey there Chief Miyabi! Why don't you play nice with Miss Trigger? I'm not going to leave Section 6 no matter what! Miss Trigger here is just helping me with some training as the proxies had recommended she do!"

"Training? What kind of training?" Miyabi asks.

"It's so he can adapt to combat situations with his current eyesight." Trigger answers. She clears her throat, "And you can just call me Trigger, Harumasa. You do not need to add the Miss."

"Alright!~ If that is what you want, then I will do that!" Harumasa smiles.

"I could have helped with that training... You just needed to ask me." Miyabi pouts.

"Miyabi... I don't think this is something you would have been able to help with..." Harumasa sighs.

"I could try to." Miyabi says.

Yanagi sighs this time, grabbing Miyabi by the arm. "Come on, Chief. Lets go wait in the car."

"Huh? Why?" Miyabi frowns as Yanagi tugs her away.

"There is something I need to talk to you about." Yanagi says.

"Nagi and Miyabi are leaving..." Soukaku frowns.

"I guess it is time for me to leave too..." Harumasa sighs. "Sorry about that, Trigger."

"It's alright. I can tell that your friends really care about you. They only act the way they do because they are trying to look out for you." Trigger says.

"I meant sorry about Miyabi's behavior towards you..." Harumasa mutters.

Trigger giggles. "That's alright. I think she is still trying to understand her feelings concerning you. It isn't hard to tell from the sound of her heartbeat."

"Thanks for understanding. And thank you for helping me today." Harumasa says.

"It is not a problem. Go and catch up with your friends now. I'm sure they are worried about you." Trigger says.

"Alright then! See you around!" Harumasa takes Soukaku's hand.

"Bye bye Miss Trigger!" Soukaku shouts and waves enthusiastically.

"Goodbye Harumasa and Soukaku." Trigger waves back.

------------------

Miyabi does not know why, but Yanagi had scolded her once they had gotten to the car. She had only pointed out that the "joke" Trigger made was not a joke, what was wrong with that? It really wasn't funny, so why didn't anyone else think that? She did not think she did anything wrong by pointing that out.

And Miyabi did not understand why she couldn't say that she would have helped Harumasa with the training if he had just asked. Why did Yanagi say she was wrong for saying that? Miyabi thought that it would be fine since she was only looking out for Harumasa. She wasn't doing anything wrong, was she?

"Just make sure to behave yourself when Soukaku gets here with Harumasa." Yanagi gives her a pointed look.

"I am." Miyabi huffs, glaring out the window. She does not think this talk was necessary.

"You were not earlier. I know you want to help Harumasa, but he is right. You wouldn't be able to help him with his blindness." Yanagi says. She seems to be staring into Miyabi's soul.

"I could wear a blindfold." Miyabi mutters.

"That's... That's not going to work." Yanagi shakes her head.

"Why not?" Miyabi asks, looking at her now.

"Wearing a blindfold is not the same as having bad vision." Yanagi explains.

"But you cannot see if you are wearing a blindfold." Miyabi huffs.

Yanagi rubs her temples. "Miyabi, we should just let Trigger help him out with this. She understands what it is like, so she can help him adapt to it."

"But..." Miyabi frowns. "I want to help him."

"I know you want to help, but this is something you won't be able to help with." Yanagi says.

"But!" Miyabi tries to argue.

"No buts! Harumasa gets along with Trigger, and I think it is good for him to have found someone he gets along with." Yanagi says.

"He already gets along with us. Why are you acting like this is new?" Miyabi points out.

"I mean with someone that isn't us." Yanagi sighs.

"Oh... I did not think of it that way." Miyabi frowns.

Yanagi does not continue on the topic because the door to the car opens and Soukaku peeks in with a wave. Miyabi waves back to her.

"Nagi! Miyabi! We're here now!" Soukaku says happily.

"Take a seat. We will be heading out now." Yanagi says. She looks back once everyone is seated. "We can take you to your home, Harumasa."

"Oh no. You don't need to do that, Tsukishiro!" Harumasa shakes his head. "Just drop me off at the station!"

"Harumasa, I am not dropping you off at the station." Yanagi sighs. She frowns and gives him a disapproving look.

"Why not?" Harumasa huffs.

Yanagi opens her mouth to speak, but Miyabi beats her to it.

"We wanted to get noodles together first." Miyabi says.

Yanagi makes a surprised face and quickly composes herself. "That's right. Miyabi and I were discussing that before you two caught up. It was supposed to be a surprise."

"A surprise." Miyabi nods. "But I did not want to wait."

"Oh. That... sounds like a good idea. Lets go eat then!" Harumasa says with a smile.

"Yay! Food!" Soukaku cheers. "I'm hungry! Lets eat lots and lots of yummy food!"

"You can have plenty of it, Soukaku." Miyabi says, giving Yanagi a smug smile.

"Just eat as much as you want." Yanagi says, glaring in Miyabi's direction.

"I think it is nice that Yanagi offered to pay." Miyabi adds.

"I did not offer to pay." Yanagi frowns.

"I can pay for my own portion." Harumasa says at the same time.

Yanagi turns to him. "Asaba, are you sure?"

"I have enough money to do it, so why not!" Harumasa rolls his eyes.

"Alright..." Yanagi sighs.

"I could pay for you." Miyabi says.

"Nope! I'm not letting you do that, Miyabi!" Harumasa shakes his head.

"Why not?" Miyabi asks.

"Because I want to pay for it myself!" Harumasa says.

"Okay." Miyabi decides to let him win this time.

She turns her attention back to the window while Soukaku whispers something to Harumasa in the back seat. Miyabi wonders what they could be talking about, but she does not ask. She chooses to enjoy the silence of the car ride instead.

Part way through, Soukaku leans over the seat and pushes some buttons on the radio. When Yanagi asks her what she is doing, Soukaku only says that she wanted to listen to music. Miyabi does not argue against it and listens to the cheery tune that plays. She wonders why people like listening to this kind of stuff. Was it really that popular?

But it did not matter to her. Miyabi glances at the backseat and finds that Harumasa had fallen asleep. If she had been sitting closer to him, she would have drapped her jacket over him. Unfortunately she sat in the front row.

So Miyabi just let's herself enjoy the car ride back to Lumina Square. She hopes they would make it in time to buy some noodles to eat.

------------------

Section 6 had arrived at the noodle shop an hour before it closed. Luckily for them, they were the only ones there. They were able to enjoy a meal without being disturbed by their fans.

"Alright! I'll be off now!" Harumasa says as he jumps out of his seat.

Miyabi grabs his arm. "Wait."

"What is it, Miyabi?" Harumasa sighs.

"You can't walk home alone." Miyabi frowns.

"I'll take the metro to the station closest to my home!" Harumasa huffs.

"No. Let us take you home." Miyabi says.

"You just want to fight my cat, don't you?" Harumasa sighs.

"No. I am not going to fight the demon." Miyabi frowns.

"Asaba, it's late. I don't want you walking around on your own." Yanagi jumps in now.

"It will be fine!" Harumasa rolls his eyes. He thought they would understand by now that he was fine, but apparently not!

"You are too casual about your own safety." Yanagi frowns.

"Alright! Calm down! I'll let you drive me home." Harumasa sighs.

Harumasa doesn't know why he gave in to the request, but he had. He sits in the back of Yanagi's car with Soukaku once again while Yanagi and Miyabi are in the front. It didn't really matter to him since he knew he wouldn't be able to drive anyways.

But he already knew that he was perfectly capable of walking to the metro station to get home. It wasn't like there should be an issue with that! He was only doing this so that Miyabi and Yanagi would stop hovering so much.

"Asaba, are you listening?" Yanagi says.

"Huh? Did you say something, Tsukishiro?" Harumasa hums. When he closes his eyes, he could hear rain hitting the top of the car.

"I said I will go with you next week to pick up your prescriptions." Yanagi says.

"Ah... right. Those." Harumasa mutters. "But they are just for reading, right? I won't need those on the hollows."

Yanagi sighs. "I know, but I would have liked it if you got something for everyday use. If you did, then you could drive on your own! Or you could have an easier time getting around! You are too stubborn for your own good sometimes."

"And then you wouldn't need to do this training." Miyabi adds.

Harumasa groans. "Miyabi, I am not going to stop the training!"

"But you wouldn't need the training if you listened to Yanagi." Miyabi huffs.

"Quit nagging me!" Harumasa frowns. "I don't mind doing this! And Trigger has been really nice! I think I want to talk to her more and train too!"

"We could help you with that. What if you get hurt?" Miyabi says.

"We wouldn't want you to get hurt, Asaba. You know that we care about you, right?" Yanagi adds.

Harumasa huffs. He takes a deep breath to calm himself. "I know that! But can't you hover less?"

"Hover? We are not doing that. Our feet are on the ground." Miyabi says.

"That is not what he meant, Miyabi..." Yanagi sighs.

Soukaku taps Harumasa on the shoulder and places a cookie in his hand. She leans close to his ear and whispers. "For you!"

"Thank you, little Soukaku." Harumasa gives her a pat on the head and eats the sweet treat. It would have been broken poor Soukaku's heart if he had rejected the offering, and he certainly did not want to do that. He also knew that would likely incur Yanagi's wrath, and he wanted to avoid that.

"I think you do not need to go back for more training." Miyabi says, grabbing his attention again.

"I'm going to go whether you like it or not." Harumasa rolls his eyes.

"I don't want you to." Miyabi pouts. "Just do what Yanagi says and get glasses for everyday use."

"Nope! Don't want to!" Harumasa hums.

"Why? It would be easier for you." Miyabi says.

"Because those are expensive and I do hollow work! You see how many pairs Tsukishiro goes through!" Harumasa says.

"That is a good point..." Yanagi frowns. "But what are you using your money for, Asaba?"

Harumasa hums, tapping his chin. "I have been using it to make sure those kids that were rescued from Kirishima's sanitorium have stable lives."

"Oh. I didn't know you were doing that..." Yanagi says.

"I know what it is like growing up alone, so I want to make sure I can support them!" Harumasa smiles.

"Then let us support you." Yanagi says. "I would hate for you to be financially troubled."

"We can help you. With your health problems too." Miyabi adds.

"Why are you so stubborn about this? I can handle myself!" Harumasa huffs.

"I think you are the one being stubborn, Harumasa." Miyabi says.

"How am I being stubborn?!" Harumasa frowns, glaring in her general direction.

"You keep refusing to let us help you. We are only trying to look out for you." Miyabi says.

"Well we are teammates. We already all look out for each other during missions." Harumasa tenses.

"Miyabi." Yanagi warns, seeming to notice his discomfort.

"I want to be able to help you, Harumasa. You are someone important to me, and I enjoy spending everyday with you. I love you." Miyabi reaches out and grabs his hand. "I don't want you to die without me knowing... I was scared when you had almost died. I won't let that happen again. Next time, I will make sure you are far from the danger. Somewhere you won't get hurt."

Harumasa yanks his hand away and he hears Miyabi gasp. "Stop it."

"Harumasa?" Soukaku asks quietly, fear creeping into her voice.

Miyabi reaches out to him again. "Harumasa-"

"Stop treating me like I will break!" Harumasa shouts as he shifts away from her reach.

Yanagi pulls the car over to the side of the road and stops it. "Asaba-"

"No! Just... Just stop! You all keep acting like I am going to break! I'm not weak, I can handle myself. So stop acting like I am!" Harumasa growls.

"Harumasa, you came out of the hospital recently after you almost died. We are-" Miyabi frowns.

"Just being careful, I know. You keep saying that! And I don't need you to keep reminding me that I am dying! There are plenty of people who already do that, and I don't need all of you to do that too!" Harumasa opens the car door and steps out into the rain.

"Asaba!" Yanagi calls out.

"I'm not going into work tomorrow." Harumasa says.

"Alright, I understand that! But at least stay in the car! It's raining!" Yanagi says with concern in her voice.

"I'll be fine. My apartment isn't too far from here." Harumasa mutters.

"Harumasa!" Soukaku whines, sounding close to tears. "Don't go! Please don't be mad! We're sorry!"

"I'm not mad at you, little Soukaku." Harumasa reaches into the car and ruffles Soukaku's hair.

"Then stay!" Soukaku grabs his arm as she sobs.

Harumasa gently pries her hands away and steps out of reach. "I'm just going to take a little break, okay?"

"Harumasa..." Soukaku whimpers.

"Harumasa, come back here." Miyabi says. "Or I can come with you!"

"Chief, don't." Harumasa says sharply.

"But-" Miyabi tries.

"I need some time alone. Don't follow me, please." Harumasa walks away, heading in the direction he knew his apartment was located.

------------------

As Miyabi scrambles to climb out of the car, two pairs of arms grab her and drag her back in. She frowns as she looks at Yanagi and Soukaku. "Why did you stop me? I was going to follow Harumasa."

"Asaba is asking for some space, and we should respect that." Yanagi says.

"But I want to make sure he is safe. As his friends, we should look out for him." Miyabi frowns.

"No, Miyabi. We can't do that right now." Yanagi shakes her head.

"But aren't you worried?" Miyabi asks.

"I am just as worried about him, but we should respect his boundaries. If we don't, we would just end up pushing him away." Yanagi says.

"Uh huh... I don't want Harumasa to be angry with us..." Soukaku nods as she wipes away tears.

Miyabi huffs and leans back into her seat, looking out the window as Harumasa disappeared into the crowd.

"I know you care, Miyabi. I do too, but sometimes you have to let go." Yanagi says, pulling the car back onto the road. "And sometimes showing that we care is respecting the boundaries set. Harumasa wants us to give him space now, so we have to wait for him to reach out to us when he is ready to."

"But that can take forever." Miyabi frowns.

"Harumasa will talk to us! Miyabi just has to wait!" Soukaku says.

"That's right, Soukaku." Yanagi nods.

Miyabi glares out the window. "How do you know he will, Yanagi? What if Harumasa doesn't?"

"I don't know, but... I also don't want to lose him." Yanagi says.

"Then we should go after him now." Miyabi says, turning to face her. "You can-"

"We aren't going to his apartment, Miyabi." Yanagi gives her a disapproving look.

"But you said that you don't want to lose him, I don't either." Miyabi tilts her head in confusion.

"I thought about it after his outburst here..." Yanagi sighs and takes a sharp breath. "Asaba is our friend, and he trusted all of us. He trusted all of us to treat him like a normal person and not coddle him for his health problems. But we just pushed past that boundary, so that made him upset. If we go to his apartment now, we will only make him more upset. You don't want that, do you?"

Miyabi frowns. "I don't want that..."

"Then we will respect his boundaries, and we won't be the ones to reach out." Yanagi says. She places a hand on Miyabi's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. "Let's trust that he will reach out to us when he is ready to."

"And we will apologize too, right?" Soukaku asks.

"That's right, Soukaku. We will make sure we apologize." Yanagi confirms.

"And can we get a gift for him too?" Soukaku asks.

"Of course we can." Yanagi smiles.

Miyabi frowns, turning away. She did not really understand what Yanagi had meant, but she knows that she did not want to lose Harumasa. Was trying to help him really just pushing him away? She does not know for sure. But if Yanagi had said it, then it must be true!

But Miyabi worries that Harumasa would not want to talk to her anymore, she couldn't have that. If that happened, what was she supposed to tell her father? He had been happy and supportive of her relationship. If it all fell apart because of her mistakes, what would her father say?

Miyabi sighs, leaning against the window.

"Miaybi, is something wrong?" Yanagi asks.

"Do you think Harumasa hates me now?" Miyabi asks.

"I can't answer that, only he can." Yanagi says.

"I understand..." Miyabi mutters, but she doesn't really.

And that was what scared her.

Chapter 7 Chapter Text

By the time Harumasa had made it to his apartment, he had been soaking wet from the rain. Yumi had given him a baffled and disapproving meow upon seeing him. The little furball wouldn't stop screaming at the top of her lungs until he had taken a warm shower. Yumi sat there keeping watch the whole time.

He made sure to feed the fluffball before he climbed into bed to sleep, but he spent quite some time laying there. At some point, Yumi had joined him. The cat did not protest when Harumasa pulled her into his arms. With Yumi so close, he found himself drifting off to sleep in a matter of seconds.

When morning had come, Yumi woke him up by pawing his face.

"Morning Yumi..." Harumasa mutters.

"Mrow!" Yumi wiggles out of his grip and walks to her food bowl.

"Alright... I'm getting your food." He sighs, slowly getting out of bed.

Once the gremlin is fed, he sits back down on his bed and checks his phone notifications. He squints as he reads the screen. No one from Section 6 had messaged him about the night before, and he doesn't know if he should be relieved or not about that fact. He was a little happy that they were respecting his wish for some space, but at the same time he felt bad for yelling at them like that. Especially since Soukaku had begun to cry.

Harumasa lays back on his bed and sighs. "I am going to have to apologize for that aren't I? I'm sure that Tsukishiro will be mad at me for making Soukaku cry..."

Just as he was about to close his eyes, the sound of a notification rings through the room. He sits back up and checks his phone, finding a message from Trigger.

Trigger Hello Harumasa.

Trigger Are you available?

He thought it over for a few moments. It wasn't like there was anything he needed to do now. He already told Yanagi that he wasn't going into work. And since she hadn't protested it, he assumed that it was alright.

Trigger Wait. Do you have work today?

Harumasa Nope!~ No work today!~

Harumasa How can I help you?

Trigger I was wondering if you would like to meet up.

Trigger To train some more.

Harumasa Sure! I'd love to do that!

Harumasa Scout Outpost?

Trigger I will see you soon.

Harumasa Oh?

Harumasa I guess I'll see you soon then!

Trigger See you soon.

Harumasa sets down his phone and pauses. Was that really Trigger texting him? He wasn't really sure about how much she could see, but it would probably be rude of him to ask. All he needed to do was meet up with her and go about his day like normal. He would just pretend there were no problems he currently needed to deal with.

That would work out, wouldn't it? If it didn't, then he would just find a way to get through it like he always did. That was the only option he had now anyways. As much as he disliked confronting his own problems, that was something he needed to do. And he had already done that when he got angry with Yanagi, Miyabi, and Soukaku.

"They are probably upset with me for that..."

Yumi nudges his leg and meows.

"I'm fine, Yumi. You don't need to worry that fluffy little head of yours!~" Harumasa smiles.

He did not think it was possible, but Yumi gives him a look that definitely said she doubted him.

"I'll be heading out now, Yumi. Be a good kitty and try not to break too many things, okay?~" Harumasa says, heading for the door.

"Mrow!" Yumi meows but continues to stare up at him.

Harumasa has to nudge the cat back inside when he steps out of the apartment. He could hear Yumi making sounds of protests behind the shut door. He would find a way to make it up to the fluffball later. It would probably be in the form of some fancy cat food or a new cat toy. He does remember that Yumi had torn through most of her toys already, so a toy or two was probably the best option. He could probably get her a scratching post too so she would stop sharpening her claws on him.

"That's probably a good idea..."

He carefully listens to his surroundings as he makes his way to the metro station. All he needed to do was get off on the nearest station to Scout Outpost, then he could meet up with Trigger.

Or that was what he thought would happen.

A hand taps him on the shoulder, and Harumasa turns. "Hello Trigger. I didn't think I would run into you here."

"I thought I should pick you up." Trigger says. "Seeing as you probably cannot drive currently, I thought I should take that burden off your shoulders."

"Are you saying you can drive then?~" Harumasa hums.

"I won't be driving, but one of my friends will be. She is waiting nearby, come on." Trigger walks off.

"A friend? That sounds great! I'd love to meet her!" Harumasa follows after her.

"And you will meet her now." Trigger opens the door to a car. "Soldier 11, we're here."

Harumasa slips into the car and squints to see the person behind the wheel. He could make out white hair. "Huh... Hello."

"Hello. You must be the one Trigger mentioned." The woman with white hair looks back at him. "Forgive me, but I am not good with names."

"That's alright!~ I don't mind at all!" Harumasa says.

Soldier 11 stares at him in confusion before turning around and facing the road. "Alright. We are going now."

Harumasa sighs, closing his eyes. He hoped the car ride would be smooth. He really did not want to get car sick now.

As if she could hear his thoughts, Trigger turns to him. "Don't worry. Soldier 11 is a safe driver. You will be fine."

"Thanks." Harumasa smiles.

------------------

Miyabi had gone straight home after Harumasa had left them alone in the car that night. She wishes she could fix things now, but Yanagi had forbid her from acting on it. Yanagi had told her that they needed to respect Harumasa's wishes and give him space, and they would need to wait for Harumasa to reach out to them when he was ready to.

But how long was that going to take? How long would she need to wait? What if it never happened?

She doesn't think she would like that. It made her scared to think about. Miyabi could not imagine how things would be if Harumasa never returned to Section 6. He was and still is an important member of Section 6 no matter what issues he may have. He was always there to make sure they were safe in the Hollows. He kept them safe from afar. If he left Section 6, what would happen?

Miyabi didn't want him to leave. She wanted him to stay with her for the rest of their lives. She promised herself that she was going to find a way to cure him of Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome, even if he hated her now. She didn't want Harumasa to hate her, but she knows it was possible that he already did hate her. If she could, she would fix it quickly.

But as Yanagi had said to her, this is something that would take time. Miyabi just needed to be patient. This would be a good way for her to train her patience so that she could be a better friend, a better partner, for Harumasa.

Before heading into work, Miyabi decided to head to Lumina Square to buy some red bean buns for Yanagi and some snacks for Soukaku. She wanted to at least make it up to the two of them for the trouble from the day before. She remembers how distraught Soukaku looked when Harumasa left, and Miyabi knows that was her fault, not Harumasa's. She could at least comfort Soukaku and apologize to Yanagi.

As Miyabi exited the store, she saw Harumasa heading in the direction of the metro station. She was about to head towards him, but then she sees Trigger approaching him. Miyabi ducks behind one of the signs outside of the store and watches. She couldn't make out what they were saying to one another, but she does see the smile that crosses Harumasa's face and her heart aches.

Miyabi watches as Harumasa leaves with Trigger and she feels her heart clench. Then she remembers what Trigger had said the previous day.

"If he wasn't in the H.S.O., I would have asked him to join the Obol Squad."

Miyabi's ears droop as she thinks about it. Yanagi had explained to her that it was just a joke, but what if it actually happened? Miyabi knows that as the chief of Section 6 she could deny a transfer request if Harumasa put it in. But she also knows that if she did that, Harumasa could end up resenting her for trying to restrict him.

"I hope it does not come to that. Harumasa wouldn't leave us, would he?"

Miyabi takes a deep breath and makes her way to the H.A.N.D. building. She knows that Yanagi and Soukaku were likely waiting for her to get there now. She hopes they would accept the gifts she was going to bestow upon them.

She pushes the doors open to the Section 6 officer and is greeted by Yanagi and Soukaku. Miyabi strolls over to their desks and she hands them both her gifts. "Here. I want to apologize for the trouble I caused yesterday."

"Miyabi..." Yanagi sighs. "You shouldn't be apologizing to us."

"Yeah! Miyabi did not do anything to us!" Soukaku nods.

"But I hurt Harumasa..." Miyabi frowns.

"Then you should apologize to him." Yanagi says.

"I made him upset and Soukaku was upset about that." Miyabi points out.

"Because I was scared Harumasa wouldn't come back..." Soukaku fiddles with her fingers.

"I am afraid of that too..." Miyabi says quietly.

Yanagi sighs. "Miyabi. Soukaku. Harumasa isn't leaving. He just asked for some space and we are going to respect that."

"I know. I will wait until he is ready to talk." Miyabi says.

"Soukaku will wait too!" Soukaku says.

"Good. When he returns, we will make sure to welcome him back with open arms. And we will respect his wishes." Yanagi says.

Miyabi nods in agreement and walks over to her desk. She glares at the paperwork on her desk, willing it to complete itself. But alas, that did not happen. She huffs as she picks up a pen to begin her work. She would rather be in a hollow fighting ethereals than doing this.

Unfortunately she had no choice but to complete this paperwork. She glares down at a paper, recognizing it as a financial document. Harumasa had told her that the last time he helped her. She starts to write on it and remembers Yanagi had told her to fill it out normally and not like a haiku.

She hoped that Harumasa would return. Then she could sneak away with him to Port Elpis again. She would like to do that.

"Harumasa wouldn't leave us, I know he wouldn't. He will come back."

------------------

After only five papers, Miyabi had grown bored. She gets up from her seat and walks out the door before Yanagi could stop her. She walks past the executive officers that tried to stop her for a talk and leaves the building. She doesn't know where she was going, but she let her feet carry her far away from there.

Miyabi doesn't know how long she had been walking, but she finds herself in the alleyway across from the Coff Coffee in Lumina Square.

"Are you lost, little fox?~" A voice calls out to her from behind.

"Who goes there?" Miyabi's hand goes to Tailles and she turns around.

"There is no need to draw your blade!" The person says. "I was just checking on you.~"

"Oh. You're that rat thiren that works with Zhu Yuan." Miyabi says.

"That would be me. You can call me Jane." The rat thiren holds out her hand.

Miyabi stares at her hand for a few moments before reaching out and shaking her hand. "Hoshimi Miyabi."

"I already knew that, little fox.~" Jane smiles. "You do not have to tell me your name now."

"Introductions should be met in kind. That is what my mother taught me." Miyabi says.

"Your mother is wise then." Jane hums. Her eyes scan over Miyabi. "What are you doing out here? I thought Section 6 had work."

"I am taking a break, but I would say the same to you." Miyabi says.

Jane leans against a wall. "I am conducting work now. I just finished speaking with my target not too long ago."

"Oh. I see." Miyabi frowns.

"Is something troubling you, little fox?~" Jane asks.

Miyabi frowns. She doesn't know how Jane figured it out, nor does she know if she should share. It wasn't like Jane really understood what was going on within Section 6. Those were also some internal matters they needed to solve on their own.

But was it really just her problem?

"I am having some trouble with a friend." Miyabi says.

"Hm? Trouble? I would not have expected the Hoshimi Miyabi to have friend troubles." Jane hums.

"I have troubles like anyone else. You can ask Zhu Yuan if you do not believe me." Miyabi huffs.

"I don't need to ask her. I only need to ask you.~" Jane says. "Now what is your problem?"

Miyabi takes a deep breath. "It is with Harumasa."

"Your sharpshooter? Seth looks up to him quite a bit, but we aren't talking about Seth. What happened with Harumasa?" Jane inquires.

"Harumasa got angry with me." Miyabi says.

"Is there a reason for that?" Jane asks.

"I was trying to look out for him, but he did not like that." Miyabi frowns.

"Hmmm..." Jane taps her chin. "From what I know, he has an incurable illness right?"

"Yes, that is true." Miyabi nods.

"And how does he feel about that?" Jane asks.

"Harumasa said that he wanted us to treat him like normal. He does not want us to look at him like he is dying, but I wanted to make sure he was okay since he is recovering from a recent injury. I just wanted to make sure no harm came to him." Miyabi answers.

"You should take a step back." Jane says.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Miyabi asks in confusion.

"I think Harumasa may be seeing your actions as pity, and that you do not trust him to look after himself. If I were him, I would be upset too." Jane explains. She gently taps Miyabi's forehead. "You need to understand that."

"Is that how he feels?" Miyabi frowns.

"I cannot say because I am not him." Jane shrugs. "But I think you should listen to him when he chooses to reach out to you again. If you do not, then you are risking losing him completely. But don't rush it either, let him come to you."

"I will try." Miyabi says.

"Good. I am sure he would appreciate that. Now I should get going. See you around!~" Jane says as she leaves the alley.

Miyabi watches as Jane leaves and stares down at the ground. She hopes that it will work out. Until Harumasa was ready to speak with her, she would try to be as patient as possible.

------------------

The familiar gates of Scout Outpost come into view as the car slowly pulls to a stop. Harumasa would have said it was quiet if it weren't for a few of the H.I.A. investigators running around frantically.

"Huh? Did something happen?" Harumasa asks no one in particular.

"It looks like something may have happened within the hollow." Trigger says.

"Why don't we ask them then?" Harumasa suggests.

"Is it normal for an H.S.O. agent to involve themselves in things when they are on break?" Soldier 11 asks as she walks up behind the two.

"Nope! Not at all! But since I am here, it would probably be best to try and figure out what's going on." Harumasa says. "It is for the safety of New Eridu after all."

"Hm. It wouldn't hurt to ask then." Trigger hums.

Harumasa walks towards one of the H.I.A. agents who notices him right away. The young H.I.A. agent runs up to him within seconds.

"Someone from H.S.O. is already here? We just sent out the message not too long ago. Section 6 responds fast..." The young lady says.

"I'm sorry, what message?" Harumasa asks with a frown.

"Ah... you don't know?" The H.I.A. agent fidgets nervously.

"That's alright! Since I am here, I will help out!" Harumasa smiles. "Could you give me the details, Miss?"

"Tanaka Izumi at your service sir!" The H.I.A. agent says.

"Asaba Harumasa. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Tanaka!~" Harumasa says. He indicates to Trigger and Soldier 11. "And these two are with the defense force."

"Soldier 11 at your service." Soldier 11 says.

"Hello. I'm Trigger." Trigger waves.

"Oh wow... I never thought we would have this much help." Izumi mutters quietly.

"Miss Tanaka, could you tell us what happened?" Harumasa asks.

"O-Oh! Of course! Some of our researchers had entered the hollow, but we lost contact with them not too long ago. Following their disappearances, the ether levels within the hollow began to fluctuate. We are afraid that they may have already perished, but we arranged for a search and rescue." Izumi quickly explains.

"And you reached out to the H.S.O. for that?" Harumasa asks.

"Yes because Section 6 often does work in Hollow Zero, so we thought you would be the best ones to ask!" Izumi says. She glances around and then frowns. "Speaking of your section, why are you here without them Mister Asaba?"

"They will catch up, I'm their scout after all! I usually go in first and look for anything of note!" Harumasa says. He wasn't exactly lying about that, but he also doesn't know if the rest of Section 6 would show up.

"Oh! I see!" Izumu claps her hands together. "That makes sense. I will wait for them to arrive then! You should head over to Ray to for the preparation!"

"Alright! Thanks!" Harumasa says before he walks off.

Trigger and Soldier 11 follow after him.

"Harumasa, do you actually know if they will be coming?" Trigger asks.

"My team? I have no idea actually. I didn't contact them since I had last spoken to you yesterday." Harumasa admits.

"Then why did you say they would be here?" Trigger questions.

"If a message was sent to the H.S.O., then they would receive it. They will all head here sooner or later. They just won't know that I am already here." Harumasa shrugs.

"I do not mean to pry, but it sounds like you are hiding something Yellow Ribbon." Soldier 11 says.

Harumasa sighs. "And what if I am?"

"Then I will have to ask you for answers." Soldier 11 glares.

"Settle down you two." Trigger steps between them. "Let's not argue among ourselves."

"I will comply because you asked me to, Trigger." Soldier 11 mutters.

"As will I." Harumasa holds up his hands in surrender.

"Thank you." Triggee sighs. Then she turns towards Harumasa. "As for you, are you hiding something?"

"I got into an argument with my team after we had left Scout Outpost yesterday." Harumasa says.

"Was it because of what I had said? I had only been joking... I could apologize to them for you if that helps." Trigger says regretfully.

"It isn't your fault, Trigger. They all know it was a joke now, and that wasn't what we argued about." Harumasa says.

"Then what was it?" Trigger asks.

"Just some things concerning my health. I felt like they were being overbearing about things." Harumasa sighs. "I think they treat me like I am too delicate sometimes and I don't like that."

"Have you tried talking to them about it?" Trigger inquires.

"I did before, during my first near death experience, but that didn't really work out." Harumasa mutters.

"Ah... so things did not go as you wanted..." Trigger frowns. "I am sorry to hear that."

"It's fine. I decided to put some space between us for a little. Maybe that can help them understand things." Harumasa says.

"I hope it works out for you." Trigger says with a smile.

"Thanks, Trigger." Harumasa smiles. "But why don't we continue this talk another time? I think finding those missing researchers should be priority now."

"That sounds like a good idea." Trigger says.

"What about you, Soldier 11?" Harumasa hums.

"I have no objections." Soldier 11 says.

"Then let's go and find Ray!" Harumasa says.

Chapter 8 Chapter Text

Ray had not expected Section 6's sharpshooter to be the one who arrived first, but she still debriefed him on the current situation. Once that had been handled, she sent him on his way with his companions who were surprisingly not members of Section 6. She wondered if there was something strange going on, but she ultimately decided against asking him for the details.

As she was looking over the carrot data that had come in from those missing researchers, she heard footsteps enter her tent.

"Who is it?" Ray asks without looking up.

"Hoshimi Miyabi of Section 6. We are here to check up on the situation." A voice says.

Ray looks up, surprised. "So all of you came after all."

"What do you mean?" Miyabi asks, tilting her head.

"Asaba Harumasa was here..." Ray glances towards the clock, "fifteen minutes ago with two members of the defense squad. They already went into the hollow."

Miyabi frowns at those words but does not say anything. It was not hard to tell that she was displeased to hear that.

"We will follow after them then." Yanagi says.

"I won't stop you from doing that. As I told executive officer Harumasa, some researchers had entered the hollow, but we lost contact with them not too long ago. Following their disappearances, the ether levels within the hollow began to fluctuate. It is likely that they may have already perished, but there is no telling." Ray explains.

"Then we will go in there and look." Miyabi states.

"But is there something bothering all of you? You look uneasy." Ray asks.

"Harumasa is supposed to be taking a break. He was not supposed to be here." Miyabi answers. "I will have to speak to him about that."

"Oh..." Ray frowns. "Is there-"

"We will take some communicators and contact you once we catch up to them." Yanagi interrupts.

"Then I wish you all luck in there..." Ray sighs as she hands over the communicators.

"Thank you. We will make sure to bring back those researchers." Yanagi says.

"Try not to get yourselves injured this time." Ray says.

"Okay! Bye bye!" Soukaku waves as she leaves with Yanagi and Miyabi.

Ray could only offer a small wave as the Section 6 members walk straight to the hollow. She really hoped that this would not become more trouble than it needed to be. She thought it was odd that all of Section 6 had not arrived at the same time earlier, but she thinks she has some understanding now. If what Miyabi said was true, Harumasa wasn't supposed to be here.

"What are you doing here on your break?" Ray mutters to herself. "Is there something going on with Section 6 that no one knows about?"

But even if she wanted to figure it out, what right did she have to pry into it? Ray was just an outsider to whatever issues Section 6 may be having, but so were those Obol Squad members Harumasa had come with. At least that was what she thought, she did not know how involved any of them were with one another or what kind of relationships any of them had.

From the times Ray had worked with Section 6, she knew that they had a close relationship with one another. But now? She could tell there was something wrong. There was something that was going on with them that did not seem right. It wasn't hard to tell.

When she had asked Harumasa why he was there without the rest of his team, she saw his smile falter for a moment. Then he gave her the excuse that he was nearby and had headed over first. But who would be able to respond to a message within just a few minutes? No one would be that quick and Ray knew it. She could only assume that whatever reason Harumasa had to be at Scout Outpost had something to do with the Obol Squad members he was with.

"I hope you do not let your troubles tear you apart..." Ray mutters. "New Eridu still relies on Section 6 and needs all of you at your best."

------------------

"Behind you!" Harumasa shouts as he dashes past Soldier 11 and blocks the strike of a Tyrfing.

"Thank you, Blue Feather." Soldier 11 says with a nod. She cuts through several ethereals in her path.

They had been attacked by ethereals not too long after stepping into the hollow, but they were only small ethereals. It wasn't going to be hard to defeat them as long as they were careful and avoided all the attacks in a timely manner.

"That isn't what you called me last time..." Harumasa frowns, at least that was what he remembered.

"It isn't?" Soldier 11 asks. "It is what I remember."

"That's not... never mind..." Harumasa shakes his head. It was probably better not to argue about that.

"Looks like we cleared the ethereals in this area." Trigger says as she joins them.

"Did you find any signs of the missing researchers?" Harumasa asks.

Trigger shakes her head. "There were no signs of them."

"Then we will have to keep looking." Harumasa sighs.

"Do you think they are still alive, Blue Feather?" Soldier 11 asks suddenly.

"I can't be certain, but I am sure they have a chance still." Harumasa says.

"So you want to keep going?" Soldier 11 questions.

"Yup! I can't just leave when their lives are in danger." Harumasa smiles.

"Alright then. We will follow you." Trigger says.

Harumasa stays vigilant while they walk. He listens for any sounds of movement that could indicate that the researchers were nearby, but he cannot find anything that indicated that. It only meant that they would need to keep moving.

There were some small sounds of movement ahead, and he stops.

"Did you hear something?" Trigger asks.

"It sounds like there are some ethereals ahead." Harumasa answers.

Soldier 11 peeks ahead. "You're right. There are about ten of them."

"You're learning quickly, Harumasa. That's good." Trigger smiles.

"That's because I had you as a teacher!~" Harumasa smiles as well.

"Do you wish to fight the ethereals? Lets focus on that." Soldier 11 asks.

"I think we should. We can't leave them here since we would be going this way to leave later." Harumasa answers.

"Understood. Dispatching the ethereals." Soldier 11 nods before dashing out.

"Soldier 11! Don't dive in recklessly!" Trigger calls out, but she gets no response.

"Does she always rush in like that?" Harumasa sighs.

Trigger sighs as well. "Soldier 11 can be a little reckless sometimes."

"I can tell." Harumasa hums, unsheathing Dormant Blossom and Dark Tide. "Can I trust you to watch our backs, Trigger?"

"Of course." Trigger smiles. "Just make sure Soldier 11 doesn't get herself killed, please."

"Will do!" Harumasa winks before diving out. He quickly identifies some of their enemies as Tyrfings and Hatis. When the ethereals take notice of him, he weaves between their attacks as he slashes at their sides with Dormant Blossom and Dark Tide.

As he moves, he feels a shift in the wind and quickly clicks his blades back into a bow, firing an arrow at a Hati that tried to sneak up on Soldier 11. He doesn't have to see to know that the arrow hit it's mark, not when he could hear it. Dormant Tide comes apart once more to block a Tyrfing that tries to attack him, and he quickly slashes through it.

Harumasa could hear the gunfire from Trigger coming from somewhere above, and he could relax just a little knowing she was watching their backs. But there was no time to relax as long as he was still in the battlefield.

"Blue Feather! I have taken down the smaller ethereals!" Soldier 11 shouts.

"Great job! You're pretty good at this!" Harumasa says as he dispatches the last Hati. "Let's go back to finding those researchers now."

"Understood. We will continue the objective." Soldier 11 nods.

"I saw some movement north east of us. The researchers may be over there." Trigger's voice rings through their ear pieces.

"North East? That's farther from where they were supposed to be..." Harumasa frowns.

"It is possible they moved locations." Soldier 11 suggests.

"That's a possibility. But be on guard just in case. We don't know what we are dealing with." Harumasa says.

"Roger that." Soldier 11 nods.

"Would you like me to check ahead?" Trigger asks.

"No. I think it would be better for us to stick together right now." Harumasa says.

"Alright. I'll come and join you two." Trigger says.

Harumasa sighs and tries to think of why the researchers would be in a different location. The coordinates they had been given were in the north west, yet these researchers were in the north east. Had something chased them that way?

If there was another large ethereal, then they would need to be careful. Hollow Zero was unpredictable, and it was possibly for another dangerous ethereal outside of Nineveh to be hiding within it.

"Is something on your mind, Blue Feather?" Soldier 11 asks.

"I think we may be running into an ethereal far more powerful than the ones we have already faced. We may need my chief's help if that is the case." Harumasa answers. "But I hope I am mistaken."

"I'd say to trust your instinct." Trigger says as she approaches them. "You have a lot of experience traversing Hollow Zero, so I am sure you would be the first of us to notice if something is not right."

"That was with my vision intact, Trigger. It is a little more difficult with my current vision." Harumasa sighs.

"And I am sure it is something you will be able to adapt to." Trigger reassures him.

"Thank you. I am glad you think so. I think you are right." Harumasa says. "But lets not focus on that right now."

Being in Hollow Zero already came with enough risks, and he knew that. He also knew that they would need to find the researchers soon or they could fall to ether corruption. After all, he did not know what their ether aptitude was. Given the fact that this was Hollow Zero, they would have a moderate ether aptitude to allow them to enter it without facing ether corruption quickly.

"They may have at least 30 minutes left..." Harumasa mutters.

"Who?" Soldier 11 asks.

"The researchers, so we need to find them quickly. We also need to account for the amount of time we will need in order to get out of here, so maybe 10 minutes to grab them and then the rest to get out. That's assuming we don't have to fight any ethereals." Harumasa explains.

"Then lets hurry." Trigger says. "We are on a time limit after all."

Harumasa takes a deep breath and follows after Soldier 11 and Trigger as they walk ahead. "I hope we are not too late..."

------------------

Miyabi huffs in annoyance when she notices there were no ethereals on their path. "There is nothing to fight..."

"Chief..." Yanagi shakes her head.

"What? We are here to take out ethereals." Miyabi says.

"And we are trying to locate the missing researchers. Since there are no ethereals here, we can assume that Harumasa was already here." Yanagi explains.

"Ah..." Miyabi frowns. She did want to speak to Harumasa as soon as she could, but she also remembered that he wanted some space.

However, she was more frustrated with the fact that he had entered the hollow with members of the defense force. As far as Miyabi knew, it was likely the member from Obol Squad he was training with. She was starting to question whether or not it really had been a joke when Trigger said Harumasa could join Obol Squad. If it wasn't, she wouldn't allow it to happen.

As the chief of Section 6, she could easily deny a transfer request! It would be the one time she would make sure to complete a document on time because it was something she refused to allow to happen. Miyabi had made sure to specifically choose Harumasa for Section 6 and she was not about to lose him.

"I will not lose this battle." Miyabi mutters.

"Nagi... Miyabi is talking weird again." Soukaku says.

"Just ignore her, Soukaku." Yanagi sighs. "Let's continue, alright?"

"Okay Nagi!" Soukaku says enthusiastically. She skip ahead while Yanagi tugs Miyabi forward.

"Yanagi." Miyabi says suddenly.

"Yes Miyabi?" Yanagi hums without looking back.

"Do you think Harumasa would leave Section 6?" Miyabi asks.

Yanagi stumbles and quickly catches herself. "Chief! Why would you think that?!"

"Harumasa came here with people from Obol Squad and did not tell us." Miyabi says.

"That does not mean he will leave Section 6!" Yanagi frowns.

"Yeah! Nagi is right! Harumasa wouldn't leave!" Soukaku pouts.

"But... that lady from Obol Squad had said he could join Obol Squad." Miyabi says.

"Chief..." Yanagi rubs her forehead.

"Miss Trigger did not mean it!" Soukaku says. "She was just joking like Harumasa does!"

"How do we know it was really a joke?" Miyabi crosses her arms.

"She had said that it was." Yanagi says

Miyabi's ears twitch. "She could have lied about that. She could have said that just to make us feel better."

Miyabi knows she is making assumptions, but she couldn't help it. She wanted to believe in Harumasa, but she saw him speaking with Trigger earlier and he had looked happier. Happier than when he had been with them on a normal day. She was afraid that she was going to lose him.

That was why Miyabi had chosen to keep a close eye on him. She wanted to make sure he was safe, but then that just pushed him away. It clicks for her now, and she realizes that it would her fault if he chose to Section 6. What right would she have to stop him then?

"I don't want to lose him..." Miyabi says.

Yanagi sighs and keeps walking. "We can discuss this later."

"Okay..." Miyabi frowns.

"It will be okay, Miyabi! Harumasa is Harumasa!" Soukaku says. "He forgives us after awhile! But I want to make it up to him anyways! Because... Because Harumasa did not do anything wrong this time! So we should apologize when we can!"

"Good job, Soukaku." Yanagi smiles, patting her on the head.

Soukaku smiles brightly. "I'm growing up just like you said I would! Harumasa said I can understand things better if I grow up! And I am growing up!"

"That's right. You are growing up, Soukaku." Yanagi smiles.

"There are people heading this way." Miyabi interrupts.

She would have let them keep going if she hadn't seen some people heading their way. Miyabi quickly recognizes the HIA bangboo leading a group of people their way, and she meets them halfway. Yanagi and Soukaku are at her heels.

"The rest of Section 6! Thank goodness!" One of the people says.

"You must be the missing researchers." Miyabi hums.

"We are so glad you came." Another person says.

"I take that means you had a run in with our sharpshooter?" Yanagi says before Miyabi can speak.

"Yes! He directed us this way to leave!" One of the researchers nods. "He told us to exit first. Those members of Obol Squad are helping him take care of some high level ethereals."

"Head for the exit we will go assist him." Yanagi says before running off.

Miyabi follows right behind her. "Yanagi, will the researchers be okay?"

"The path is clear of ethereals. They will be alright." Yanagi says.

"We should hurry to help Harumasa!" Soukaku jumps in.

Miyabi frowns as she runs alongside them. She could hear the sounds of fighting ahead. As she looks up, she spots Trigger on top of one of the collapsed buildings. She could only assume that it was a sniper position up there. She scans the area for any signs of Harumasa and sees a quick flash of lightning farther away from her.

Her eyes focus on the Thantos that is zooming across the battle field, knocking back a woman with white hair. Miyabi quickly dives in and slashes at the ethereal, but it dashes out of her reach.

"It looks like Fox Ears, Pink Butterfly, and Blue Snow is here." The white haired woman says.

"Ah.. and you're giving them nicknames too..." Harumasa sighs.

"Soldier 11, please focus." Trigger shouts from her spot.

"Roger that." The white haired woman dives back out and slashes the Thantos as it zooms towards Soukaku.

"I will finish this." Miyabi says. "All of you step back."

"Chief! Don't be so reckless!" Yanagi shouts.

"I can handle it." Miyabi says, dashing out towards the ethereal.

------------------

It did not take long for Miyabi to destroy the ethereal. She finished it within seconds. She doesn't understand why the members of Obol Squad and Harumasa had struggled against it. She sheaths Tailless and walks over to her team. "The ethereal has been taken care of. How did you struggle against it?"

"There were four of them earlier. We took care of three of them before you had arrived." Trigger answers.

"In other words, we had it handled Fox Ears." Soldier 11 says.

"My name is Miyabi." Miyabi frowns.

"I'm sorry, she does that. She tends to give people random codenames." Trigger apologizes.

"Then call me Burning Blade." Miyabi says.

"Understood. You are Burning Blade." Soldier 11 nods.

"Huh? You are the first to do that..." Trigger mutters.

"That's Chief Miyabi for you. She must think it is cool!" Harumasa laughs.

"Of course she would..." Yanagi tubs her forehead. "As for you..."

"What is it, Tsukishiro?~" Harumasa hums.

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you were taking a break!" Yanagi gently scolds.

"Sorry! I heard there was trouble, so I decided to help!" Harumasa says.

Yanagi sighs. "You care too little about yourself, but... I cannot blame you for jumping into action. Had you not, those researchers likely wouldn't have made it. I am proud of you, Harumasa."

"Whoa! I never thought I would hear that from you." Harumasa mutters.

"Is Harumasa feeling better?!" Soukaku asks as she clings to his arm. "I miss you! I want to share some yummy desserts with you!"

"I am feeling a little better, but..." Harumasa smiles and it disappears just as fast. "I'd like a little more time before I return if that is alright."

Soukaku pouts before nodding. "I'm okay with it! As long as Harumasa comes back!"

"I promise I will, little Soukaku." Harumasa reaches out and ruffles her hair.

"I will remember that then!" Soukaku says proudly. Then she bounces off and talks to Trigger about something.

Miyabi had remained silent, listening the whole time. She doesn't know how she should be feeling. Harumasa was right here in front of her, but she heard him say that he wasn't returning yet. But then when would he return? Could it be days? Weeks? Months? She wouldn't know how long it was going to take because that was up to Harumasa.

But Miyabi didn't want to wait for too long, she was afraid that he would end up slipping away. Harumasa always had a tendency to slip away, just like the wind would do. It was something she could never fully grasp in her hands, and she could never hold onto it.

She takes a deep breath and walks over to Harumasa. "I am happy to see you here."

"Hello Chief Miyabi. I thought you would be coming." Harumasa says.

"I said that you could just call me Miyabi." Miyabi frowns.

"Chief, we are with other people right now. We have to remain professional.~" Harumasa hums.

Miyabi frowns as she listens. She did not like that Harumasa was not addressing her by her name. She thought that they already had an agreement to call each other by their names. If they were with trusted people, then they would address each other by their names. That was how it was supposed to be! This was not how things were supposed to go. Harumasa had promised her he would call her by her name.

"Uh... Chief? Is something wrong?" Harumasa mutters.

Miyabi frowns some more, staring up at him.

"Chief? Could you please say something? It's kind of scary to have you staring at me like that..." Harumasa says, taking a step back.

Miyabi's hand moves before she can register what had happened. She hears someone gasp.

"Did you just slap me?!" Harumasa cries out.

Miyabi blinks. Then she glances towards her raised hand and back towards Harumasa. Slowly she realizes what she had done. "I... I didn't mean to."

"Really?! Then why did you do that?!" Harumasa frowns.

"I don't know..." Miyabi looks down at the ground, and she really did not know. She had moved without thinking, and she regretted it. "I am sorry. I really didn't mean it. Please do not be upset with me."

Harumasa sucks in a breath. "I think we should spend some more time apart."

Miyabi feels her heart break. "But-"

"I need more time to think, Chief Hoshimi." Harumasa says.

Miyabi's heart drops, but she does not pursue him as he leaves with Trigger and Soldier 11. She sees Trigger look back at her with a concerned expression on her face, but Miyabi simply shakes her head and indicates for the sniper to go.

Even as Yanagi and Soukaku try to talk to her, Miyabi shrugs them away. She knows she made a terrible mistake now, and she decided that she would need to deal with the consequences of that mistake.

"I understand if you won't forgive me for that, Harumasa."

Chapter 9 Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

A week after that day, Harumasa had returned to the office. Miyabi had hoped they could talk, but Harumasa would always find an excuse to leave before she could. It was frustrating to her, but she never tried following him.

"Chief, staring at the papers is not going to make them finish faster." Yanagi says.

"These are boring. I would rather be fighting ethereals." Miyabi grumbles.

"You always say that..." Yanagi sighs and shakes her head.

"You let Harumasa go earlier." Miyabi huffs.

"That's because they had asked for him." Yanagi says.

"I could have gone with him." Miyabi frowns.

Yanagi stands from her desk. "Lets not argue about this right now... There is something else we should discuss."

"Something else?" Miyabi tilts her head.

"You slapped Harumasa. Why?" Yanagi crosses her arms.

"I don't want to talk about this." Miyabi huffs and turns her attention back to the papers.

"Miyabi, you need to say something to him. You can't just pretend that did not happen." Yanagi sighs.

"It is not my fault. Harumasa keeps avoiding me." Miyabi pouts. "And he only calls me Chief now. I don't like that."

"Miyabi..." Yanagi rubs her forehead.

"He promised me he would call me by my name, but he broke that promise. I got upset." Miyabi continues. She glares at the papers. "And he keeps spending time with Trigger. I am afraid that he may actually leave Section 6 and join Obol Squad like she had said."

"Harumasa wouldn't do that." Yanagi frowns.

"How do you know? You do not know what Harumasa would do." Miyabi questions.

"You don't know either Miyabi." Yanagi argues.

Miyabi frowns. She knew Yanagi was right about that. None of them knew what Harumasa would choose to do. She hated that she couldn't predict what he wanted to do either. It bothered her.

Miaybi pushes her chair out. "I am going for a walk."

"Just make sure you do not miss the meeting later." Yanagi sighs.

"I will attend..." Miyabi grumbles before walking out.

She strolls out of the office and walks down the halls of the H.A.N.D. building. Several executive officers try to stop her, but she ignores all of them and keeps walking. She had no time to stop and talk to any of them. She just wanted to take a walk to clear her thoughts. But since she was alone, it only made her thoughts louder. As a result, they had been harder to ignore.

"Not good..." Miyabi sighs and stops by a vending machine.

She pushes some of the buttons and frowns when she realizes she forgot to bring some money with her. It looked like she wasn't going to be getting a snack now then. She walks away, heading towards the front doors. But the sound of footsteps chasing after her causes her to stop.

"Miyabi!" Soukaku says cheerfully. "I bought the snacks you wanted!"

"Oh. Thank you." Miyabi takes the melon gummies. She opens the bag and offers some to Soukaku.

"Thank you, Miyabi! The proxy always says that food is best shared!" Soukaku smiles brightly.

"The proxy is always right about these kinds of things..." Miyabi mutters.

"Miyabi?" Soukaku tilts her head.

"Yes Soukaku?" Miyabi hums.

"Is Harumasa leaving Setion 6?" Soukaku asks quietly.

Miyabi tenses and turns to face the oni. "What makes you think that?"

"It's just that you two seem upset with one another... Nagi had said that when people argue, sometimes they leave." Soukaku says quietly.

"Yanagi does not know everything." Miyabi says.

"But you seem upset with Harumasa. Are you looking for someone new? I looked at the papers on your desk and some were for new people... Are you making Harumasa leave? I don't want Harumasa to leave..." Soukaku whimpers.

"Huh? But none of them were..." Miyabi frowns, then it clicks. "Yanagi must have told her that..."

"They weren't?" Soukaku tilts her head.

"Harumasa is not leaving." Miyabi says. "Do not worry about it."

"If Miyabi is still arguing with Harumasa, then you two should talk!" Soukaku declares.

"Soukaku, do not worry about it. You will understand when you are older." Miyabi frowns.

"No! I want it better now!" Soukaku pouts. "Harumasa is Soukaku's friend! Isn't he friends with Nagi and Miyabi too?"

Miyabi sighs and closes her eyes. "Yes. He is."

"I think Harumasa and Miyabi should talk..." Soukaku fiddles with her fingers.

"Not now, Soukaku." Miyabi frowns.

"No! I talked to Harumasa and he thinks this is his fault! Harumasa said feels bad for all of this." Soukaku says quietly.

Miyabi sighs and looks away. Was it her fault or was it Harumasa's? She doesn't know. "I will talk to him..."

"Good! I'm going to find more snacks now! Bye bye!" Soukaku says running off.

Miyabi's shoulders relax as she watches Soukaku leave. She wonders if Soukaku paid more attention than she realized. It looked like Yanagi may not have had any influence on Soukaku's actions this time. But she would never know if she didn't ask.

"I will have to ask Yanagi about this later."

------------------

Miyabi had attended the meeting just as Yanagi requested, but she hadn't really wanted to go. She only went because Yanagi pushed her to the room. She was just glad that it was over with. She returns to Section 6's office and stops outside the door. Yanagi and Soukaku would have gone home by now, so she did not have to worry about them being cornered again. At least that was what she hoped for.

She strains her ears to listen for any signs of another presence in the office, and she hears nothing. Miyabi sighs in relief and steps inside. The office was dark and quiet. It seemed like the office really was empty. As she looks around the office, her eyes land on her desk. She huffs in annoyance when she sees the stack of papers on her desk, probably left there by Yanagi.

"More boring work to do..." Miyabi mutters to herself. As she makes her way over, the lights switch on and the doors shut behind her. Her hands immediately grabs Tailless. "Who is there?!"

"It's just me, Chief." A familiar voice reaches her ears.

She turns and comes face to face with Harumasa. Miyabi looks over his face and sees he is wearing a pair of glasses. "Why do you have those?"

"Tsukishiro took me to get a pair, just for reading." Harumasa answers.

"Just for reading? I am surprised you are listening to what Yanagi asked you to do..." Miyabi mutters.

"Hey! I listen to Tsukishiro sometimes! I am not that bad!" Harumasa scowls.

"You are too easy to tease." Miyabi rolls her eyes.

"Wait... you were teasing me?!" Harumasa asks.

"Why were you sitting in the dark?" Miyabi questions instead of answering him.

"I was waiting for you to come back." Harumasa says.

"Were you really?" Miyabi frowns. "Do not joke around with me."

"Geez... are you that unhappy to see me?" Harumasa sighs.

"I am not unhappy to see you." Miyabi frowns.

"Then why are you frowning so much?" Harumasa asks.

"Yanagi and Soukaku scolded me. Soukaku thought you were going to leave. Why would you let her believe that?" Miyabi huffs.

Harumasa takes in a sharp breath. "I wasn't trying to do anything to upset her..."

"Soukaku was afraid you were leaving Section 6." Miyabi says.

"But I'm not going anywhere." Harumasa frowns.

Then Miyabi decides to test him. "You spend more time with Trigger than us now, and I am starting to think you do not like being around us. If I need to, I will speak to the president about finding a new member. And I will need to tell my father too. He would be disappointed to hear it did not work out."

"A new member? Are you replacing me?" Harumasa's face falls, and he looks upset. It was almost like he was going to cry.

Miyabi did not like that look. She doesn't think that it suits Harumasa, but she doesn't say anything to try to comfort him. Instead, she keeps speaking. She knows she shouldn't, but she couldn't stop herself.

"If I have to." Miyabi says. Her heart clenches as the words fall from her mouth. "I have to think about the future of Section 6 and for the future of the people of New Eridu. They rely on us, and we cannot keep going like this."

"Tsukishiro had said the same thing..." Harumasa says quietly.

"Because she knows it is something we will need to consider for the future." Miyabi hums.

"But... but she had also said she would try to make sure I can stay." Harumasa mutters. "She knows it will be hard if I leave, and it will be something all of you will have to get used to. It is more work than any of you would want or need to deal with."

"In the end, it will be my choice. I will be the one to decide." Miyabi says, keeping her tone even. She shrives across the room and to her desk, shifting through the papers on her desk. She chances a glance towards Harumasa.

"Why? Would you really do that?" Harumasa asks as he clenches his fists.

She knows she needs to stop. She knows she shouldn't be playing with his feelings like this, but Miyabi needed to know how Harumasa really felt.

"If I see it fit to find a new member, I will." Miyabi averts her gaze, turning her eyes back to the papers on her desk. Why couldn't she bring herself to look at him? "We have to consider it for the future. If we do not, then-"

"So you would leave me too?" Harumasa whispers, barely audible.

"What?" Miyabi's heart clenches and her head snaps up. She could see his eyes shine with tears and she regrets her words instantly. "Harumasa!"

"I-It's my fault, isn't it?" Harumasa's voice breaks.

"No. You didn't do anything wrong." Miyabi is across the room in an instant. "I did not mean it."

But the tears are already flowing. Harumasa sniffles, wiping away some tears. "I'm sorry. I-"

"You do not need to apologize. It is my fault, please do not cry Harumasa." Miyabi grabs his hands in hers. "I am not looking for a new recruit. I was only joking! I just... I just wanted to know how you felt... When Soukaku said she was afraid that you would leave, I was too."

But that does nothing to stop Harumasa from crying.

Miyabi scrambles to find the right words to say, anything to make this better. "I'm sorry! Please, Harumasa! I am sorry! I did not mean to hurt you. I was wrong and I should have respected your wishes when you asked to be treated like normal. I am sorry."

"D-Do you really mean it?" Harumasa sniffles.

"Yes." Miyabi nods vigorously.

"You... aren't just saying it to make me feel better?" Harumasa asks.

"I am not. I mean it." Miyabi squeezes his hand. "I am really sorry. I made a mistake. I should not have pretended that I wanted to find a new recruit. That was wrong for me to do and I hurt you. Please forgive me."

"I... I forgive you. But I expect you to make it up to me." Harumasa says quietly, wrapping his arms around her.

"Huh?" Miyabi frowns. "Make it up how?"

"I don't know... I haven't thought of anything yet." Harumasa mutters.

"Oh. Then you can tell me when you have thought of it." Miyabi hums.

"I'll tell you when I think of something. And Miyabi? I'm sorry too." Harumasa says.

"Huh? Why are you sorry?" Miyabi frowns.

"For making you worry. You thought I was going to leave, didn't you?" Harumasa asks.

"I did..." Miyabi frowns.

Harumasa laughs quietly. "Trigger is only a friend, Miyabi. She was just trying to help by the proxies' recommendation."

"But you seemed very close to her... I felt jealous." Miyabi notes.

"Hoshimi Miyabi jealous? That's a first!~" Harumasa teases.

"Do not tease me..." Miyabi mutters.

"Sorry sorry!" Harumasa laughs.

"It is fine." Miyabi huffs. "But you do seem to be very close to Trigger."

"That is because we found some things in common with one another." Harumasa explains. "We're both sharpshooters and have poor vision. She has been helpful with getting me used to it."

"But what about those glasses?" Miyabi taps the glasses on his face. "If you have these, is the training needed?"

"Those are just for doing paperwork. Tsukishiro said I should stop squinting so much. Plus I don't want them to break. These are pretty expensive and I need to spend on money on some other things." Harumasa grumbles. "How does Tsukishiro do it?"

"Do they help?" Miyabi asks.

"Do what help?" Harumasa frowns.

"The glasses. Do they help you see better?" Miyabi inquires.

"Kind of? Things aren't as blurry, so I can read things better. But my vision is still a little bit blurry even with these on. Don't worry, I'll get used to it." Harumasa shrugs. He pulls away from her.

Miyabi finds herself missing his warmth now. "Oh... I will support you in any way then."

"I appreciate it.~" Harumasa hums. He walks towards the doors. "Well I'm going to go home now! My cat child is waiting for me!"

"See you tomorrow, Harumasa." Miyabi says.

"See you tomorrow, Miyabi!~" Harumasa waves before vanishing out the doors.

Miyabi smiles to herself as she watches him go. The weight that had been on her shoulders lift away and she feels relaxed.

"I am glad it is better now."

------------------

Miyabi had decided to go shopping before returning to her home. She wanted to get some snacks for everyone for the next day. Of course she needed to make sure they wouldn't go bad before she went into work the next day.

So she settles for getting juice.

As she stares at the various bottles of juice, she discovers that she has no idea what to get for everyone.

"Not good..." Miyabi grumbles.

"Miss Hoshimi?" A voice reaches her ears.

"Oh. It is you." Miyabi turns to see Trigger.

"I thought it was you." Trigger says. "You seem to be in a good mood today. I take the talk worked out?"

"The talk?" Miyabi tilts her head.

"He didn't talk to you? I thought I told him to..." Trigger frowns.

"Ah. You mean Harumasa? You told him to talk to me?" Miyabi asks.

"He seemed distraught after you had slapped him, so I spoke with him. He thought that you hated him." Trigger explains, "So I suggested that you two talk it out instead of just avoiding one another. Avoiding it would only make the distance between you two grow, and I am sure you two would regret it if you were to lose one another."

"I wouldn't want to lose him..." Miyabi frowns.

"That means you care about him. I'm glad." Trigger smiles.

"Why? You barely know him." Miyabi points out.

"Ah... well it isn't hard to tell that he cares about all of you." Trigger explains. "And he had spoken fondly of all of you."

"Harumasa is important to me, and I want to make sure he understands that." Miyabi says.

"That is a good place to start with. I am sure you will work through this together." Trigger says.

"Thank you." Miyabi hums. She turns back to the shelves. "But I need some help now."

"What is it?" Trigger asks.

"I am selecting juice for everyone. I think Yanagi would like mango juice, and Soukaku can get apple juice. But I do not know what Harumasa would want. He usually drinks very bitter coffee." Miyabi says.

"Hmmm... what about bitter melon juice?" Trigger suggests.

"Bitter melon juice?" Miyabi inquires.

"That's right. It is a bitter juice, and it is healthy too." Trigger hums.

"Healthy in what ways?" Miyabi asks.

"It can help clear heat and reduce inflammation. I think this could help with his health." Trigger answers.

"Ah! That is perfect then. It is bitter just as he wants, and it will be good for his health." Miyabi hums. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Just make sure you look out for him." Trigger smiles.

"I have been." Miyabi says. "Harumasa is special to me."

"That is good to hear. What you two have is something special you will want to hold onto." Trigger says. She walks away. "I have to go find my colleagues now. They should all be in here somewhere. I hope they are not getting more than necessary..."

"Good luck finding everyone. I hope you all can complete the training of buying the correct groceries together." Miyabi says.

Trigger laughs. "Thank you. And good luck to you too. I hope everything works out for you."

Miyabi watches Trigger vanish down one of the aisles before she grabs a bottle of bitter melon juice off the shelves. She looks over it for a few moments before setting it into her basket next to the mango juice and apple juice. Then she grabs herself a bottle of regular melon juice. "That should do it."

Notes:

This chapter is a little shorter, but it does get across the things I wanted for it. Final chapter after this.
Thanks for keeping up with this!~

Chapter 10 Chapter Text

Miyabi made sure to be the first one to get to the office the next day. She had gotten up extra early to buy some red bean buns for Yanagi, chocolate cake for Soukaku, and a strawberry cake for Harumasa. Of course she also made sure to get some fried dumplings, spicy pork chops, beef spicy hot dogs, and bangboo potato wedges because she knew that Yanagi would probably scold her for only getting snacks and desserts. She takes out the bottles of juice she had bought the day prior and places them on everyone's respective desks.

As she finishes setting up, the doors to the office doors open. Miyabi is pleased to see Yanagi, Soukaku, and Harumasa walk in together. "Good. You are all here."

"Miyabi? What is all this for?" Yanagi asks as she glances around the room.

"It is to show my appreciation for all of you and to apologize for all the trouble I caused." Miyabi answers.

"Whoa! Miyabi got lots of yummy food! Thank you Miyabi!" Soukaku says cheerfully as she skips over to the desk.

Miyabi smiles as she watches the little oni dig in. Then she turns to the other two. "You should eat before Soukaku finishes it all."

"Miyabi, you really didn't have to do this..." Harumasa sighs.

"Why? I felt bad for hurting you." Miyabi says.

"You already apologized to me yesterday, you don't have to again." Harumasa shakes his head.

"You two made up?" Yanagi inquires.

"Yes. We did." Miyabi nods vigorously. "But I wanted to apologize again."

"There is nothing to apologize for, stop insisting on it." Harumasa shakes his head.

"I made you cry yesterday, so I am apologizing for that." Miyabi says.

"You already apologized for that!" Harumasa huffs, a blush crossing his face. "Tsukishiro did not need to know about that!"

"Harumasa is crying?!" Soukaku cries out as she runs over. She tackles Harumasa in a hug. "It's okay! You don't need to cry!"

"I'm fine, Soukaku. Miyabi was only joking." Harumasa sighs, gently setting the oni on the ground.

"Oh... Miyabi jokes a lot doesn't she?" Soukaku tilts her head.

"Go back to eating, Soukaku." Yanagi says.

"But what about all of you? You need to eat too!" Soukaku pouts.

"And we will. You should eat first." Yanagi pats Soukaku on the head. Once the oni runs off, she turns her attention back to the other two. "I am glad you were able to make up. I would have been worried if you didn't."

"Tsukishiro, if you keep worrying like that, you'll get wrinkles." Harumasa shakes his head.

"And gray hair." Miyabi adds.

Yanagi sighs. "That's enough for me to know you are both back to normal. Good."

"It was nice to know that you care about me though, Tsukishiro. I'm touched, really!" Harumasa smiles.

"I care because you are my friend, Asaba. Just make sure you tell us right away if you think we are overstepping so we can avoid another incident." Yanagi hums.

"Yes. I agree with Yanagi. If you tell us, we will understand." Miyabi nods.

"Alright. I'll be sure to let you both know..." Harumasa sighs. "Let's go and join Soukaku now. I'm a bit hungry. I wasn't able to get breakfast before coming here... I know my cat child is angry at me for leaving without eating..."

"Your cat is a demon." Miyabi grumbles.

"Yumi is not a demon! She is a precious little princess!" Harumasa huffs.

"She is a demon." Miyabi frowns.

"Chief... please tell me you did not fight his cat again..." Yanagi groans.

"I have not fought his cat recently." Miyabi says.

"Don't fight the cat ever." Yanagi says before running over to stop Soukaku from eating some of the plastic decorations on the plate of fried dumplings.

Harumasa laughs. "Tsukishiro is the same as always."

"Yanagi is always there to help us." Miyabi says before tugging Harumasa to his desk. "Come. I got something special for you."

"Something special, just for me?" Harumasa asks.

"Yes. Just for you." Miyabi points to the bottle of bitter melon juice. "That."

"Bitter melon juice? How did you know I liked that?" Harumasa questions as he picks it up.

"You like it?" Miyabi tilts her head.

"Yeah. Sometimes I get it when I go to Port Elpis." Harumasa answers.

"Oh. Someone recommended it to me. They said that is is really healthy and can clear heat and reduce inflammation. I think you could drink more of this instead of having so much coffee." Miyabi says.

"Thank you, Miyabi." Harumasa smiles.

"You are welcome. Now let us commence the training of who can finish eating the quickest." Miyabi says.

"Wait! Hang on! Lets not do that! Tsukishiro is going to get mad if you end up choking on your food!" Harumasa quickly says.

"Oh... I forgot about that." Miyabi frowns, glancing towards where Yanagi was scolding Soukaku for trying to eat a plastic decoration. "Then let us do the training of enjoying a meal with friends."

"I think I like the sound of that one better." Harumasa laughs.

"Then let us start the training." Miyabi says as she begins to eat.

------------------

Once everyone had eaten their share, they had to finish the work they had piling up on their desks. Section 6's office was silent save for Soukaku's questions that would pop up every so often. Once her questions were answered, the oni would go back to working on the homework Yanagi had given her.

But after awhile, Soukaku had gotten bored of doing homework. So she loudly declared that she wanted to get some snacks before running out of the office. Yanagi chased after her with her wallet in hand, shouting about how Soukaku would need some money to buy the snacks first.

"Harumasa." Miyabi calls out. "I need help."

"Hm? What is it?" Harumasa yawns as he lifts his head from his desk.

"These documents. They are boring." Miyabi points at the papers on her desk.

"Miyabi... did you read over them?" Harumasa asks.

"No." Miyabi frowns.

"Then how do you know they are boring?" Harumasa questions as he pulls his chair over.

"Because they are always boring." Miyabi answers.

Harumasa sighs and puts on the pair of reading glasses. "This is a financial document. You just need to sign it here. Everything else was already filled out by Tsukishiro."

"What about this?" Miyabi points to another paper.

"That was a mission report from last week. You just need to sign it to verify that it was completed." Harumasa answers.

"And this one?" Miyabi points to another.

"Oh. Those are the medical expenses we had to use during my hospitalization..." Harumasa frowns. "You can just sign it and turn it in."

"During your hospitalization? Ah... when you were stabbed through the stomach." Miyabi says.

"Yeah... that." Harumasa grimaces.

Miyabi taps her chin. "I remember now that you said you spoke to my mother. How?"

"How? I don't know... she didn't explain how she did it. She just said she wanted to "borrow" me for a little and did not elaborate." Harumasa frowns.

"Mother..." Miyabi mutters. "I will have to talk to her later."

"How are you going to do that?" Harumasa asks.

"We can go visit her." Miyabi says.

"Oh. You mean her memorial." Harumasa says. "Wait... is it okay for me to be there too?!"

"Yes. Mother spoke with you, that means she will like to see you again." Miyabi hums. She looks at the clock. "We can go now. We will be back before Yanagi realizes we are goine."

"Are you only saying that because you want to skip the meeting that is happening in ten minutes?" Harumasa asks.

Miyabi's ears droop. "Do not be like Yanagi and remind me to go... it is going to be boring."

"Miyabi... when you skip the meetings, Tsukishiro goes." Harumasa sighs. "But they expect you because you are our chief."

"It is fine. I can skip this one too. Yanagi will handle it." Miyabi says.

"You know that there is only so much she can cover for you before she gets tired of it, right?" Harumasa frowns.

"I attended the one yesterday. I can skip this one." Miyabi says stubbornly.

"Alright, you win." Harumasa sighs. "Lets go visit your mother then, but I am sure Tsukishiro will know we are missing if she doesn't see you at the meeting."

"Then we will do the training of avoiding being caught by Yanagi." Miyabi says as she leads him out of the office.

"Tsukishiro is going to force me to do more work for this..." Harumasa complains, but he makes no effort to escape Miyabi's grasp.

"You will be fine. Stop complaining." Miyabi rolls her eyes. "It will only be more paperwork."

"Only?! She already makes me do a lot because you like hiding yours!" Harumasa pouts.

"I am doing the training of not completing any of the paperwork." Miyabi says.

Miyabi peeks into the halls, glancing around to see if anyone was there. She tugs Harumasa along as she runs off for the exit. She stops behind a corner when she hears Yanagi's voice and waits for the woman to pass before dashing off again.

"Miyabi, wasn't that just Tsukishiro?" Harumasa asks.

Miyabi glances back. "No. You are mistaken. It was not her."

"Are you sure?" Harumasa frowns.

"Yes. Lets go and visit my mother now. Then we can go to Port Elpis and do the training of defending french fries from seagulls." Miyabi says.

"You're really trying to avoid going to that meeting, aren't you?" Harumasa sighs.

Miyabi decides not to give him an answer for that. She did not think it would matter if she chose to continue to avoid going to meetings. After all, she needed to rebuild her streak for the training of never attending a meeting now. Perhaps she could find a way to convince Yanagi to let her continue the training without getting into trouble for it, but that was probably just some wishful thinking.

------------------

Unfortunately, all they had been able to do was visit Miyabi's mother. When the pair had gone to Port Elpis, Yanagi was there waiting for them. She had dragged them back to the office and lectured them the whole car ride back about how they needed to set a good example for Soukaku. According to her, sneaking off to avoid work was a bad example and would be teaching Soukaku the wrong things.

"I am surprised Yanagi found us." Miyabi huffs as she crosses her arms.

"She may have figured it out on her own." Harumasa shakes his head. "Look on the bright side, you missed the meeting like you wanted to."

"That is a good thing. At least the meeting was not important." Miyabi hums.

"Chief.." Yanagi frowns. "The meeting was about the upcoming banquet with some TOPS executives that we are all required to attend."

"Banquets are boring. I do not want to go." Miyabi huffs.

"You cannot skip it this time, Miyabi!" Yanagi scolds.

"Why? I do not see why we have to go." Miyabi says.

"It's to keep up appearances, Miyabi." Harumasa jumps in now. "We are the protectors of New Eridu, so they may want to make some deals with us."

"We do not make deals with corrupt people." Miyabi grumbles.

"We know Chief." Yanagi sighs.

"All evil must be eradicated. What is evil? That is for us to judge." Miyabi says.

"And we all follow that." Harumasa hums. "Don't worry too much. We won't be making any crazy deals with those TOPS executives. They aren't people we can trust so easily, not when some of them have made deals with the Exaltists."

Miyabi frowns. They still needed to track down where the Exaltists were hiding themselves, but that was far more difficult than she would have liked. It wasn't a simple thing that any of them could just solve overnight. The Exaltists had been around for far longer than any of them knew, and they only had so much information on them. there was still so much they did not know. But with the help of the proxies, they had gotten some more information.

"We will just have to find out what they know." Yanagi says.

"I doubt those TOPS executives will talk so easily." Harumasa points out.

"That is true, but we will find a way." Yanagi hums.

"Does Soukaku know?" Harumasa asks.

"She knows of the banquet, but I won't have her questioning any of them. We can let her just enjoy the food. I told her to let all of us handle the negotiations with TOPS." Yanagi says.

"Then that is what we will do." Miyabi says. "We will use this as an opportunity to learn more of their plans. Then we will wait in the shadows and find the right moment to strike."

"That's how we normally do things." Harumasa hums. "But let's try not to make enemies at the banquet. We don't want too much trouble coming our way."

"If we get trouble, we can deal with it." Miyabi huffs.

"Chief, please be on the best behavior. That goes for you as well, Asaba." Yanagi sighs.

"What? I am always on my best behavior!" Harumasa says.

"No, you are not." Yanagi frowns. "Don't go causing any trouble. I do not want to hear from anyone that you did anything, understood?"

"Alright alright! I'll be careful." Harumasa frowns.

"I'll have to ask you to wear those glasses as well, Asaba. The TOPS executives may be offended if it looks like you aren't paying attention to them." Yanagi adds.

"Ugh... what else are you going to demand I do?" Harumasa groans.

"Wear a nice suit and leave that headband of yours at home." Yanagi says.

"I can at least keep my choker on right?" Harumasa asks.

"You should be able to. I don't see why it would be a problem." Yanagi says.

"I think Harumasa will be fine with it. He looks good in anything." Miyabi suddenly says.

"Miyabi! You can't just say things like that!" Harumasa shouts as a blush crosses his face.

"Whu? I am speaking the truth. Is it wrong to do that?" Miyabi asks.

"No, but don't just say it so suddenly! It is embarassing!" Harumasa groans.

Miyabi smiles. "I will say it more then."

"Don't!" Harumasa covers his face with his hands.

"I think I will." Miyabi says.

"Chief, you need to make sure you wear something fancy too." Yanagi says.

"I will look for something later." Miyabi says. "When is the banquet?"

"In one month." Yanagi answers.

"Then I will get a new dress later." Miyabi says.

"You will not be doing the training if buying a new dress last minute! I forbid it!" Yanagi scolds.

"Hiw did you know I would say that?" Miyabi frowns.

"Miyabi, you are too predictable..." Harumasa shakes his head.

While Yanagi and Harumasa discuss the plans for the banquet, Miyabi watches them silently. She did not need to worry about things going badly if they planned everything for her. All she needed to do was make sure she attended.

Miyabi does, however, make one plan for herself.

"I will stay with Harumasa for the whole banquet."

And that was enough for her.

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MissA2910 on Chapter 1 Wed 26 Mar 2025 01:11PM UTC

So… This week I start to play ZZZ and I just fall in love with S6, in special Miyabi and Harumasa, and Wise :)) And I have an awful day and this chapter just make my smile for the first time, today :))

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 1 Wed 26 Mar 2025 03:56PM UTC
  
  I hope you enjoy the game! Section 6 is also my favorite among everyone. And I am glad you like this chapter so far. ♥
  This work is part of a series, and there are a lot of wonderful writers on this site you should check out too!
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💖
  
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2. 1. MissA2910 on Chapter 1 Fri 28 Mar 2025 12:37AM UTC
    
    I love it! I didn't expected to like it so much actually :)) Fun fact: I actually download the game, 'cause I see a tik tok with Harumasa and I fell in love with him immediately <3 Harumasa and Wise deserve the world :D
    Don't know why, but it feel much lighter as a game, then Genshin. I feel very burn out from Genshin lately, and ZZZ is a nice change. I usually don't play SF games, I'm more on the fantasy side, but ZZZ just have something that drag me to it :))
    Alright, enough yapping :D Sorry about that ':D
    I saw the series and I browsed it a little at work, when I catch a little time to do it :)) But I'm planning to read all of them completely <3 I really love your work and your stile of writing
    
    Last Edited Fri 28 Mar 2025 12:38AM UTC
    
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  2. 1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 1 Fri 28 Mar 2025 02:18AM UTC
      
      Yeah. ZZZ is actually pretty great! The story is amazing though not everyone would know that if they did not play the game. Harumasa sure is one of the popular characters of this game.
      I do agree that ZZZ is lighter as a game than Genshin. Genshin has been putting a lot of content lately and their quests seem to be getting longer and longer. ZZZ does have some shorter quests and also the option to skip cutscenes. I think the thing with ZZZ is that the characters draw people in because they are all pretty fun.
      Oh no need to apologize! I love the yapping!
      There is no rush to catch up. These fics will be available as long as I am here. I am glad you love it so far! It really makes me happy to hear! Thank you! 💖💗💕
      
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minsvga on Chapter 1 Thu 27 Mar 2025 04:44AM UTC

Im shaking sm, this is gonna be exciting!! I absolutely love your works, each one so goood 🥰 Cant wait to see how this turns out! Great job ❤️

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 1 Thu 27 Mar 2025 05:37PM UTC
  
  I am glad you are excited for this! It makes me happy to hear that people are enjoying it! I'll be working on more soon!
  Thank you for reading and commenting! ❤️
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 1 Fri 28 Mar 2025 04:05AM UTC

“Not everything can be sunshine and rainbows forever.”
You are testing us!
It seems to me that Miyabi has a little to much of an ego that can rival both Vegeta and Bakugo 🤣
While I think that’s a cute trait in her character I feel that this story is going to show her that she can’t just underestimate Ethereals and if she does then it will cost her something precious…like her love Harumasa! Wow I wasn’t expecting that to happen to him, kinda reminds me of Aliens with Bishop and the Alien Queen…but I doubt he will get torn in half (I hope)
But now Miyabi will have to deal with the fact that her arrogance will come back to haunt her and could this lead to doubt, to fear and than rage…I have a feeling the demon Tailess will be talking to Miyabi very soon.
Very good chapter! I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 1 Fri 28 Mar 2025 05:56AM UTC
  
  Hello there! I always love seeing your comments!
  Am I testing you? 😉
  Miyabi would have been fine with it if they did not bring it up in front of Ashworth and Mercier. She must defend her pride!
  Miyabi really did underestimate the Ethereal. She would have to realize that she is not all powerful like people think she is. She is still just a girl! Of course she is devastated to see Harumasa get injured like that, and definitely blames herself for it. That will definitely haunt her for sure. Of course Tailless wants freedom, but how much is Miyabi willing to give?
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💖
  
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klapertaart on Chapter 1 Sun 27 Apr 2025 11:06AM UTC

Waahh finally reading this fic again, already miss Ashworht and Mercier (∩´∀`∩)💕 their harsh personality is always the comedic relief for me XD
Oof the Hollow mission scene, i love their interactions here and how the battle is written, keep up your good work 🌟
"The ethereal begins moving slowly like a predator on the hunt, but Miyabi refuses to be the one hunted." EXACTLY slay Miya queen 🔥
Noooo Haru :"""((( wait is he gonna be okay? Lemme read chapter 2 :""
Welp chapter 1 really grasp the idea of how tough the situation that frontline fighter (such as HSO and HIA agents) has to face everyday - Hollow is a dangerous disaster - the situation of Section getting more dire the more I look into your stories(in a good way, it's a compliment😭) this series surely deserves its recognition

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 1 Sun 27 Apr 2025 05:14PM UTC
  
  Hello taart! 👋
  Ashworth and Mercier are always going to be around. They just need to get used to the weirdness of Section 6 which may not happen anytime soon.
  Another day, another hollow mission. Section 6 is always busy since New Eridu relies on them so much. I'm glad you think the battle was written well. I had a little trouble with that honestly.
  Miyabi will be the hunter no matter what. At least that is what she wants.
  Harumasa kind of put Miyabi's safety over his own here.
  Hollows are dangerous, and it is crazy how some people want to harness them for their own gain. People need to be wary of the hollows.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💖💗
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 2 Fri 28 Mar 2025 05:14AM UTC

Oh wow…Harumasa my dude you just keep on taking the hits! But it seems you are having a chat with Miyabi’s Mother in the…let’s call it the place before the the afterlife.
I do wonder what could happen between the two or how is Mitsuki talking to Harumasa so I’ll chalk it up to Hoshimi magic of the fact that there’s an ethereal connection between the pair. Either way I’m looking forward to what happens next.
As for Miyabi, perhaps arrogance isn’t completely the right word to describe Miyabi during the hospital scene but more like a defense mechanism to keep her from showing weakness and breaking into tears. Though I feel both Miyabi and Yanagi and Soukaku will have to be strong for Harumasa’s surgery.
Great chapter, I look forward to more!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 2 Fri 28 Mar 2025 06:04AM UTC
  
  Harumasa cannot catch a break. Miyabi's Mother is just borrowing him for a chat with some of her Hoshimi magic. She really just wants to talk and probably wouldn't get another chance if he isn't near death again. While Mitsuki has been keeping watch over Miyabi's life, she still wants the talk. She just has to hear it from Harumasa himself! And she definitely knows about his chances of becoming an ethereal and feels a connection there. She will have her talk for now.
  Miyabi doesn't want to show weakness, but she knows it is hard to do that. She knows she couldn't go in there, but she wanted to try anyways. She was lucky that Yanagi stopped her. Yanagi, Soukaku, and Miyabi will need to support one another for this.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💖
  
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Touch_Dom on Chapter 2 Fri 28 Mar 2025 02:34PM UTC

> "Good! And to answer your question, you are not completely dead. I am just borrowing you for a little while." Mitsuki says cheekily.
Don't worry everyone, he is only 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 dead. And as we all know, mostly dead means slightly alive

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 2 Sat 29 Mar 2025 01:12AM UTC
  
  It will be fine! Mitsuki knows what she is doing with Harumasa. He is just mostly dead right now. He will be fine!
  Miyabi probably is not seeing it that way though...
  Thank you for reading and commenting! ♥
  
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VerbalDepth on Chapter 2 Thu 03 Apr 2025 05:01AM UTC

I always feel so sad when I get to an end of a chapter! I just like this series soo much! Please continue this series it already has me hooked.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 2 Thu 03 Apr 2025 05:48AM UTC
  
  I am glad you love it so much! It makes me happy to hear that! Of course I will be continuing it. There is much more planned for it. 😉
  Thank you for reading and commenting! It is really appreciated! 💕🥰
  
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klapertaart on Chapter 2 Sun 27 Apr 2025 11:47AM UTC

🫢🫢🫢 gosh Harumasa's condition is heartbreaking, this man went through a lot since the start of this series 💔 please make him happy in the end 😭
and then Miyabi's reaction just add to the pain. The sight of Harumasa getting stabbed caused her PTSD to trigger and she went berserk just like when her mother died
You know what... the part where Harumasa met Miyabi's motherafter getting stabbed kinda surprised me because that's somehow similar with how my fic Mirror's new draft - sometimes Harumiya's fans thinking pattern aligning really scares me, in a good way - (chapter 9, imma go finish this story i promise :""") where Harumasa met Miyabi's mother is some kind of domain/realm (i assume the flower field is inspired from Limbo in Greek mythology?)
though I love your approach to her character and the setting and situation of the story are different and interesting because Mitsuki is described to preserve her motherly care even though Harumasa is not her own child, her telling him to take a breath is lovely.
Awww typical mother-in-law teasing their interaction is so cute 🥹 i wonder if her mother would tease her daughter about their first date?
Anyway chapter 2 is really successfully a huge shocker, nice one Kura (✪ω✪)/🌟 looking forward to chapter 3!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 2 Sun 27 Apr 2025 05:19PM UTC
  
  Hello again taart! 👋 Always a pleasure seeing your comments!
  Harumasa has really been through a lot. He will get his happiness in due time.
  Miyabi was having a flashback to her mother's death and could not take it. She decided destroying the ethereal right away was the thing she needed to do in the moment.
  Ooh!~ I'm interested in seeing how you are going to write that! I look forward to it! I do think lots of us think on the same wavelengths for fic ideas and writing. Harumasa meeting Miyabi's mother is a must! (don't worry about rushing to finish the story. It is still ongoing, so you can take your time.~) I would say the realm is like Limbo, yes. an endless flower field sounds like a pretty place to go after death.
  Mitsuki is motherly and kept that sense even in death. She has to dote on Miyabi's partner. She would definitely tease Miyabi if she ever gets the chance to.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💖💗💕
  
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Touch_Dom on Chapter 3 Fri 04 Apr 2025 12:05PM UTC

> "And the proxies said that they know someone who could help you with this." Miyabi continues.
Hm, Trigger?

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 3 Fri 04 Apr 2025 05:21PM UTC
  
  Yes. Trigger shall appear in the future~ 😉
  Thank you for reading and commenting! ❤️
  
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VerbalDepth on Chapter 3 Fri 04 Apr 2025 07:20PM UTC

Poor Harumasa, can't catch a break. Excited for the next chapter with Trigger I assume!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 3 Sat 05 Apr 2025 04:54AM UTC
  
  Maybe not next chapter, but Trigger will definitely have an appearance! 😉
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 🥰💕
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 3 Sun 06 Apr 2025 08:58PM UTC

Ohhh the proxies know someone to help Harumasa, I know it’s gonna be Trigger so very nice use of set up nd I look forward to the pay off!
Anyway, Miyabi is so in love with Harumasa that anything else in her way is nothing but an obstacle in her way! Luckily she had some common sense to use her sword…this time but I’m sure Yanagi would have stepped in to stop any serious blows.
Mitsuki Is a nice addition to the story and while her moment with Harumasa was short she seems to really approve of his relationship with her little Miyabi. I’m still gonna chalk this up as Hoshimi magic because Miyabi didn’t seem that surprised when Harumasa said that he met her Mother in the “afterlife” or I can blame this on Tailess because demon sword.
Either way I can see this type of situation happening in the game if that was the case.
Now that Harumasa is recovering, I wonder if Miyabi will be more…protective of Harumasa going forward and would that have a repercussions if Miyabi is being a bit more protective? Not that I would blame her but I feel like Miyabi has learned something with this experience and could take it the wrong way.
Basically I wonder if there will be more drama before these two ever get married (let’s hope for a happy marriage of course!)
Great job with this chapter and I am looking for to more as it seems we are not done yet.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 3 Mon 07 Apr 2025 06:20AM UTC
  
  The proxies will contact someone to help. Miyabi had asked them to actually because she realized she can't do much about this on her own.
  Miyabi would have just cut her way through if she could, but she knew her sword could not fix any of this. So she needed to wait things out even if she did not want to.
  Mitsuki is a supportive mother. She wants her little girl to be happy, and she must make sure that happens! She will continue watching over her for as long as possible. Miyabi did not exactly process the fact that Harumasa was actually serious until after hearing the words her mother had for her, but she doesn't know how to react to that. Hoshimi magic somehow made this meeting possible.
  Miyabi would definitely be more protective over him. She wants to make sure he is safe and does not want to have another near death experience with him again. She will be keeping a closer eye on him, but he is not going to be happy with that. He doesn't think it is necessary for Miyabi to be so over protective.
  There will definitely be some tensions between the two for a little while before things can go smoothly.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! I'll be doing more soon~ 💖
  
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Illnami on Chapter 3 Fri 11 Jul 2025 06:04AM UTC

…this seems happy but there’s still 7 chapters to go, so now I’m suspicious.
The author wouldn’t do anything to us to make us cry, right? RIGHT?!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 3 Sat 12 Jul 2025 08:04AM UTC
  
  Um. Yeah. I would never. I can totally be trusted.
  Thanks for reading and commenting. 💖💕💗
  
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2. 1. Illnami on Chapter 3 Sat 12 Jul 2025 04:04PM UTC
    
    I was right to be suspicious btw, but amazing story! Very good read
    
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  2. 1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 3 Sat 12 Jul 2025 05:16PM UTC
      
      Thank you! I'm glad you liked it 💗💕💖
      
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Spyper on Chapter 4 Thu 10 Apr 2025 04:00AM UTC

Dude just can't catch a break, first he goes half blind, then pierced in the stomach, now his vision is all blurry.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 4 Thu 10 Apr 2025 04:44AM UTC
  
  He is alive at least. Haru does know that his illness is progressing a bit, but he doesn't really want to admit it. He is just accepting of everything that is happening around him and to him! Probably too accepting though.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! ♥
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 4 Fri 11 Apr 2025 02:29AM UTC

Harumasa’s vision is starting to get blurry, that is not good for Section Six’s sharpshooter. So much so that even Yanagi noticed it and is trying to figure out if she can help her friend with this issue…hopefully there is something or someone (hint 😉) that can give him help.
Also Miyabi don’t worry I don’t like paperwork either, it’s a pain it the neck to do and I wish I could use a demon possessed sword to cut them all away. But with Harumasa’s help they can get the evil documents done and go home!
Also Yuki the cat, Miyabi will never like that cat 🤣
So here is a theory of mine when I played Harumasa’s agent story (also this has no connection to your story), I feel like that the serum he injected into himself may not have cured his EARS but pushed it back so he can live long then he expected. I figured that Haru can live long enough to date Miyabi, marry her, have kids with her but probably around 30-40 years old that is probably when the EARS will claim his life sadly.
I’m curious on what you think on my theory?
Another great chapter to read! I am looking forward to more :)

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 4 Fri 11 Apr 2025 03:31AM UTC
  
  Hello! Great to see your comment again! It is always a pleasure!
  Harumasa's vision is not doing great. At least he has Yanagi to help him with that. She doesn't know how much she can help though, but she does know that the proxies had offered some help too. If it comes to it, she will ask for their assistance.
  Paperwork sucks and is too boring for Miyabi! She likes fighting more. But at least Harumasa was there to help her finish it on time, but the majority is still very late. XD
  Yumi is still clashing with Miyabi.
  Yeah. The serum was incomplete, so Harumasa was not completely cured. I do think it is possible that he will have a longer lifespan, but he is not completely cure yet. Maybe there will be enough time for a cure to be made in his lifetime. Hopefully there will be. I think it could be possible.
  Thank you for reading and commenting!
  
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Spyper on Chapter 5 Mon 21 Apr 2025 12:51PM UTC

Still as sharp as ever. Even with eyesight issues, his awareness is still top notch.
Uh oh, Miyabi's jealous. I can't blame her for being jealous, it's no ballpark to top someone as perfect as Trigger, and the two have some good chemistry. Anyone would be jealous.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 5 Mon 21 Apr 2025 04:49PM UTC
  
  Harumasa is still aware of his surroundings at least. He isn't going to let his eyesight issues affect him too much.
  Trigger just wants to be friends, but Miyabi isn't sure about that. It's okay Miyabi, Harumasa likes you. He only sees Trigger as a friend.
  Thank you for reading and commenting!
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 5 Mon 21 Apr 2025 04:08PM UTC

And finally Trigger makes her appearance and I figured that with her limited eye sight she would be a perfect fit for Harumasa’s predicament with his eye sight. They seem to be on the same wavelength but that comes with the issue with one fox thiren and the seed of jealousy that will sprout.
I feel that Miyabi is somewhat of a child as she believes she can do whatever she wants and without Yanagi to reel her back to being a responsible adult then Section 6 could be in shambles. I wonder if it’s because Miyabi is from a powerful family that has caused her to be…let’s call it arrogance for now, that she feels like she doesn’t need to take things as seriously as Yanagi would want her to. Now I am not saying that Miyabi is not a caring soul, she does have compassion and cares for the people she wishes to protect from evil as well that the people that are close to her like her teammates, friends, her Father and the man she loves Harumasa.
But I sometimes wonder if her arrogance will come back with a vengeance that will make the public less trusting of her? There is also the potential that her over protective nature will cause a small rift between her and Harumasa because of her being in-love with him. Harumasa being casual with Trigger (a woman that Miyabi doesn’t know anythin about) could cause Miyabi to be a bit pushing and nosy because of jealousy.
Plus all that over caring could push Harumasa to a point where he might just explode from built up anger. Sure he could use humor to lighten the mood and dismiss it but you can only do that for so long as it builds up that a limit has to be hit. Even it’s Yanagi, Soukaku and/or Miyabi, sooner or later one of them (probably Miyabi) is gonna push that boundary that is gonna cause Harumasa to tell them off. Yes they care about him a lot especially in Miyabi’s case but Harumasa doesn’t want to be treated like he is made of glass, he wants to fight long side his teams and he wants Miyabi to treat him like an equal instead of a egg. That he hates to be reminded that he is not going to live long in this world no matter how much Miyabi doesn’t want that to be so.
Sooner or later I do hope Harumasa gets that point across to his teammates and I am sure Soukaku will not understand at first and Yanagi will be the first to understand that she needs to set boundaries but Miyabi…she will be the biggest obstacle of all of Harumasa’s build up especially if she intervenes with his training with Trigger.
Anyway this is a good chapter, I enjoyed reading the interactions with Harumasa and Trigger! Also how Miyabi is written in this chapter, always fun to read 🙂
I am looking forward to what happens in the next chapter, how will Harumasa improve with his combat skills I wonder…it’s so exciting to read 😁

Last Edited Mon 21 Apr 2025 04:11PM UTC

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 5 Mon 21 Apr 2025 05:03PM UTC
  
  Trigger is the best person who can help him in this situation. She has found a kindred spirit and now she is his friend. They are definitely going to see each other again later on to hang out more.
  Miyabi does not like the paperwork, therefore she wants to find a way to make it a little more fun. But that is not going to slide at all. Yanagi will have to fix all the paperwork now, so that is an extra workload. Someone save Yanagi. At least Miyabi attended the meeting, so that is one win for Yanagi. Miyabi will have to learn that she can't always have her way, and this could affect the public's perception of her if they see this side of her. Her father would still support her at least.
  Her protectiveness has been causing a rift. She pushes a little more than Harumasa wants, and he is putting a little distance between them. But he isn't making her leave entirely. He still accepts her a tiny bit. However, boundaries are starting to break and he does not like that. Harumasa easily got along with Trigger because she is respecting his boundaries and not pushing it too much.
  Harumasa is trying his hardest to be patient with Yanagi and Miyabi. He doesn't really have a problem with Soukaku since she is just doing her own thing and sharing snacks and drawings with him. Soukaku does know what is going on to some extent, and she is afraid of making him mad. So the snack and drawing offerings is her way of seeing if he is okay. But Yanagi and Miyabi? They want to make sure he is safe. Yanagi knows she was pushing it with the doctor appointment, but Harumasa did not lash out at her so she assumes it was fine. Miyabi is watching him closely, she would even do that when they have to do more hollow assignments. Things are not going to go smoothly forever, and the boundaries are being pushed. Harumasa is not handling so easily.
  He would get the point across to them, but it will take some work. Soukaku would be the easiest to take care of, the child just wants him to be happy. Yanagi will do her best to enforce the boundaries once she understands at least. But Miyabi is stubborn, so that will take some time.
  I'm glad you liked this chapter. It was fun to write their interactions.
  Thank you so much for reading and commenting! 💕
  
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MystroBlade on Chapter 5 Sat 31 May 2025 06:13PM UTC

Harumasa is gonna go blind to the point he'll maybe even be better without his eyesight, now that is something to flex! And id love to see maybe a feral Miyabi if someone comes through Section 6's doors to "temporarily" replace Harumasa
Random person: hey so I'm here to replace Harumasa-
Miyabi: I WILL ERADICATE ALL EVIL-

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 5 Sun 01 Jun 2025 07:10AM UTC
  
  Harumasa does believe he can still do well even without being able to see, and he has been able to do so before. So he is definitely going to be able to show off that he can still do plenty even without his eyesight. Miyabi will refuse any replacement people try to send. She already decided what she wanted for her team and she will not change her mind.
  Thank you for reading and commenting! 💗💕💖
  
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NotFanFicNet on Chapter 6 Tue 22 Apr 2025 03:51PM UTC

And just like that, the dam as burst and Harumasa finally let his real feeling be heard to the people he is closed to and rightly so! I think this is a good thing as not getting his feelings across could cause more damage to the Section 6 relationship then there needs to be, so much so that I was thinking what if Harumasa toyed with the idea to be apart of Obal Squad? Yes Trigger was just kidding but in the heat of the moment Harumasa could have thought more about it as a way to have Miyabi and Yanagi to hover less on him though if he did say that then I think Miyabi would have been more upset about that and there could have been more damage done by her (unintentionally of course).
But let’s be real, I don’t think Harumasa would never leave H.S.O., not because of the salary, pension and benefits alone but because of the bonds he formed with Miyabi, Yanagi and Soukaku and that he makes a difference fighting the Hollows to keep new Eridu safe.
But just for a moment, can you imagine what Harumasa would be like if he did join Obal Squad, what kind of universe would that be like 🤔
Anyway let’s talk about Yanagi for a moment, it looks to me that she is jumping back and fourth to help Harumasa but she is more observant to pick up when enough is enough and now respects Harumasa’s wishes to be treated like an equal.
Soukaku Is young and naive but it makes me wonder if keeping her in the dark will cause her to get the information wrong and lead to an outburst of her own. Soukaku Is growing up and sooner or later she’ll want to understand and help as best she can but that will only happen if Yanagi believes she can handle to the truth.
And then there is Miyabi, a woman who doesn’t understand metaphors, jokes, can take it the wrong way and believes she can do no wrong has finally understood that she might have done something wrong with Harumasa and she believes he hates her and that scares her. Probably more then an enemy that can’t be cut down by her sword (because Miyabi knows an enemy can be cut down by her sword) but this time her enemy are thoughts that have entered her mind and heart and I’m willing to bet that she doesn’t know how to defeat this enemy.
Though if she truly wishes to defeat this enemy then she must listen to Yanagi’s wisdom and give Harumasa the space he needs to cool down. Perhaps this is time for her to reflect on the situation and come to her own conclusion that maybe she can’t always be there to help Harumasa in the ways she thinks she can.
Perhaps Miyabi needs to talk to others about her feelings besides Yanagi like her Father, the Proxies or maybe even talking to Trigger.
I’m not sure how this will play out but Miyabi will have to wait for Harumasa to come to her and that wait is something she will truly hate. More then her hatred for the demon cat 🤔
Wow that was another lengthy comment, I hope you I haven’t rambled to much for you😅
Anyway you have made another great chapter! I am certainly awaiting the next chapter to be released and what will happen next!
Keep up the good work!

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 6 Tue 22 Apr 2025 06:31PM UTC
  
  Harumasa was trying to be patient with them. He thought if he waited long enough they would get it, but that obviously did not happen. It is frustrating for him though since he doesn't really want to confront his feelings, but he has to do that now. He knows he probably hurt them with his outburst, but he is upset with them (mostly Miyabi) for not respecting his wishes. He does feel bad for making Soukaku cry, but that is something that can easily be resolved. While Trigger had been joking about it, things probably would be different if Harumasa was with Obol Squad. He did not bring it up now since it didn't cross his mind in the moment.
  In a universe Harumasa had joined Obol Squad, things could be different. He might not have ever met Yanagi, Miyabi, or Soukaku in that case. He loves Section 6 even if they are a little overbearing about his health, and he would never want to leave them. They are the only family he has.
  Yanagi was unsure of how much she could push. She noticed his discomfort in some parts and pulled back a little, but she jumps back in to try and reassure him that she cares. But now she understands that doing that just upset Harumasa more, and she is reflecting on it.
  Soukaku may be young, but she has some understanding of what is going on. She knows Harumasa's health is a big deal. But to her, he will always be Harumasa. She is familiar with death, and she knows that can happen. But Soukaku is choosing to just live in the now with the time she has with Harumasa. Even if he is sick, she still loves him because he is important to her. She does not understand why Yanagi and Miyabi got upset though.
  Miyabi is trying to understand. The jokes and metaphors don't help very much because they make no sense to her whatsoever. She definitely did not like Trigger's joke and thinks it wasn't a joke despite what everyone else says. But she has realized that she did something wrong now with Harumasa's outburst. Miyabi never expected him to get angry at her for caring, but he did. Now she wonders if she had done too much and if this means he hates her. She does not want that to happen at all. This is not exactly something she can solve with her sword and she knows it now.
  Miyabi will do as Yanagi says and give him some space. She will end up talking to someone else about this though because she cannot only go off of Yanagi's advice. As much as she trusts Yanagi, this does not really help her understand as easily.
  I don't mind the lengthy comment! I love it! 🥰
  Thank you for reading and commenting!
  
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Spyper on Chapter 6 Tue 22 Apr 2025 07:09PM UTC

I can't blame Harumasa for acting the way he did. I'd be irritated too if everyone I loved treated me like a baby, whether or not they were just worried about my health. They all certainly need a bit of space between them.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 6 Tue 22 Apr 2025 11:55PM UTC
  
  The space will probably help all of them. Harumasa needs some time to think about things. Miyabi is going to have to do reflecting too, and Yanagi is making sure that will happen. They can hopefully make mends if things go well.
  Thank you for reading and commenting!
  
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Spyper on Chapter 7 Fri 25 Apr 2025 12:41AM UTC

I hope Miyabi and the others don't get the wrong impression when they arrive to Hollow Zero to see Harumasa with Obol Squad.
I like seeing Harumasa interacting more with Trigger and Soldier 11. I wonder if he'll ever notice that Harin looks a little bit like Anby, since he's met her.

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1. LapisAlatus on Chapter 7 Fri 25 Apr 2025 02:46AM UTC
  
  There are going to be misunderstandings and nothing will stop it.
  Harumasa has not noticed how similar Soldier 11 looks to Anby yet. He will figure it out later probably.
  Thank you for reading and commenting!
  
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