yuki yuna4

Chapter 4 - Even a starving hawk will not eat grass

Chapter 4 - Even a starving hawk will not eat grass

In the large bath located in the training facility, Mebuki was being kindly embraced by Aya. There were no other people there.

Although Aya's body was much smaller, she was patting Mebuki's head as one would when calming a child.

"Ah... Aya-chan?" - Mebuki was puzzled, but Aya didn't stop.

"Mebuki-senpai, you always have such a hard time..." - Aya's voice expressed notes of compassion and sorrow.

A white table. A white chair. A white ceramic teapot with a matching cup.

Miroku Yumiko was enjoying some black tea in the seaside park near the Gold Tower.

"Elegant teatime graced by the sight of the sea... A pastime truly befitting of a heiress of the Miroku family", - said Yumiko with delight.

After the lunch was over, she would always enjoy some teatime until the afternoon training. For Yumiko, it was a precious time of refreshment for her mind and body.

Feeling the autumn breeze blowing from the sea towards her, she pressed the cup to her lips. The sweetness and richness of the milk tea made from Assam leaves unraveled inside her mouth.

"It almost feels like the wind is calling out to me..."

"Pfft!"

An explosive laugh shook Yumiko's euphoric bliss away. When she turned around, she saw Suzume, desperately trying to hold back her laughter, and Mebuki, with a slight look of amazement on her face.

"The wind!... Is ca-calling out! Pfftheehee, hah..."

"Wh-what is it, Suzume-san!? What might you be finding odd about my graceful enjoyment of an elegant teatime!?"

"Miroku-san... I don't think there were ever tables or chairs like this at the seaside park", - Mebuki pointed her fingers at the ones Yumiko was using.

"Those are my belongings. For a refined pastime, an appropriate interior is of utmost importance".

"Did you really bring them out here yourself?"

"Naturally", - Yumiko immediately nodded to Mebuki's question, as if that was a matter of course.

Mebuki imagined the sight of Yumiko carrying in the table and chair from her own room at the Gold Tower here for the sake of her teatime. Carrying both of them by herself, she probably had to try her best to bring them here. It might have been autumn already, but the lingering heat was still harsh, she must've been dripping with sweat, and all alone. It was a surreal scene, far removed from the concepts of nobility and elegance.

"Pfft!" - Suzume burst out laughing again, perhaps having imagined the same as well.

"I shall ask again, what do you find odd about this!?" - unable to understand the reason behind Suzume's laughter, Yumiko was turning beet red.

"Anyway, Miroku-san. They called in a meeting", - Mebuki cut the talking off and got to the important matters. That merciless way of interrupting a conversation was another manifestation of Mebuki's overly serious personality and lack of communication skills.

"A meeting? For what purpose?"

"They'll tell us once all of the sentinels are assembled on the viewing platform. Anyway, just come there please".

Yumiko let out a small sigh.

"It is a shame that my elegant teatime has to be interrupted, but it cannot be helped. Oh, and Mebuki-san, Suzume-san. Would you object to assisting me with getting the chair and table back? Carrying them alone is quite an ordeal".

"It sure must be..."

Mebuki was amazed, but the meeting probably wouldn't start until everyone was assembled, so tidying up as soon as possible and heading to the viewing platform was probably for the best. Thinking like that, Mebuki agreed to assist. Mebuki and Yumiko carried the table together, while Suzume carried the chair, since she'd probably feel awkward if she was the only one empty-handed.

Mebuki could not understand the thoughts of Yumiko, who behaved and acted as a daughter of an esteemed family in all things. In the first place, the Miroku family wasn't even anywhere as much of an "esteemed family" as Yumiko claimed.

Mebuki, along with those two and the rest of the sentinels started assembling at the viewing platform. After all 32 of them were there, the mask-wearing priestess made her appearance. She stood in front of the sentinels and started indifferently speaking.

"All of you did a great job during the missions outside of the wall until now. Thanks to your efforts, the investigation concerning the land and blazing flames outside has been finished"

To become accepted as a Hero, Mebuki has been fulfilling her duties as a sentinel perfectly. However, the words "because of your efforts" didn't quite make her feel appreciated by the Taisha. They only made her feel impatience and irritation...

"The duty of the sentinels will now be moving from investigation to the next stage", - with those words, she showed the sentinels a plastic Petri dish. Inside the dish was a singular seed. And that seed was faintly glowing.

"You are to plant this in the soil outside the wall. After that, the miko will read a prayer. The seed will reac to her words, sprout, and start growing outside of the wall. If everything goes according to the theory, the place where it grows will return to being green".

"The miko's prayer?.. Wait, you're saying to take Ayaya outside the wall!?" - Suzume raised her voice.

In order to complete the mission the priestess just mentioned, Aya would have to leave the wall's borders along with the sentinels. A girl with no combat abilities at all would be thrown into a scorching world squirming with Stardust and Vertex-alikes.

"Correct. As a miko, Kokudo-san was brought to the Tower partially as preparation for this sort of duty", - said the priestess without any emotion.

Mebuki raised a voice of protest: "Wait a little, bringing her outside the wall would be too dangerous. In the first place, the world outside the wall is ablaze, there's no way a miko could handle that".

"No concern is needed. There is special miko equipment prepared, similar to your battle suits".

"But what about the Stardust and the Vertexes?"

"You sentinels will simply have to protect her".

The first time the sentinels, capable of combat, sortied outside the wall, several of them ended up with heavy injuries. The danger of bringing a miko, completely incapable of fighting, outside was immeasurable.

"Shouldn't you be able to? You, Kusunoki-san".

"..."

The priestess' question was purely rhetorical. No matter what Mebuki answered, there would be no change to the mission.

And so, without waiting for Mebuki to answer, she continued: "Kusunoki-san, we will be counting on you. Please take care of Kokudo-san".

Mebuki felt that the voice of the priestess carried no feelings at all.

"Planting a seed... Is our next task to revive plant life in the soil outside of the wall, perhaps?"

Yumiko's question was met with an answer in the same unchanging tone of voice.

"No, if you were to do that on such a small scale, no time in the world would be enough. There are not that many seeds. The places where you plant them will form a route... in other words, a bridgehead towards a certain place".

"It being?"

"A place called the Kinki region long ago, in the Christian Era. Once you're there, you are to establish an encampment. This will be your mission".

Those words made Mebuki bite her lip.

"...And after that, it will be the heroes' turn?"

"There is no need for you to know. This concludes the announcement. Please do your utmost to fulfil your task", - the priestess turned around and left the viewing platform.

She told them the orders and one-sidedly cut the conversation, as always. And, naturally, told them nothing of importance.

The sentinels' existence was made light of like that.

Their mission this time was making preparations for the heroes' battle... And thus, could not have been any more humiliating for Mebuki.

During the afternoon training, Mebuki was in a bad mood.

"Haaaah!"

Mebuki was using a wooden rifle and sparring with Shizuku. Not the calm Shizuku, but the belligerent Shizuku.

Mebuki drove away Shizuku's rifle swing with all her strength. Against such power, Shizuku, who had a light body, was sent flying. With a backflip, she regained her posture, but would have smashed straight into a wall if it wasn't for her quick reaction.

"Woah, that was close. The hell's up with Kusunoki today? She's way too into this". "

Without paying any attention to Shizuku, Mebuki called out a different sentinel.

"Next! Hurry it up!"

"Ah, yes!"

Startled by Mebuki's angry look, the girl took up a wooden rifle and readied herself. Being one of the officers, that girl has considerable combat abilities, but was sent flying all too easily by Mebuki.

"Eeeek... Mebu's kinda scary today. A wise man keeps away from danger, so I'll just quietly train by myself in a corner..."

Suzume sneakily headed towards the edge of the training grounds. But Mebuki didn't let her get away.

"Suzume!"

"Ye-yesh!" - Suzume let out a weird voice by accident.

"Come here! You can't do shield training on your own, right? I'll be your sparring partner".

"N-nono, thanks for your concern! The difference between me, number 32 and you, number 1 is too big, Mebu! I'll just ask a gunner type around number 30..."

"You won't get stronger by fighting weak opponents. Come here already!"

"Uuh, understood..."

Afraid that speaking up would make her even angrier, Suzume timidly approached Mebuki.

"Now, ready your shield".

"O-okay..." - the scared Suzume took up a wooden shield for training.

"Haaaah!"

With overwhelming power, Mebuki thrust at Suzume's shield and pushed her away. It was a frightening blow that almost broke the shield.

"Eeeeeek!" - withstanding Mebuki's attack, Suzume went teary-eyed.

"Suzume, hold your shield properly! This isn't even comparable to the attacks of the Stardust!"

"Even if you say that! Gyah, I'm gonna die!"

After a while, not being able to withstand Mebuki's onslaught, Suzume had her shield flicked away.

"On our next mission we'll have to advance while protecting the miko. The protectors' role is crucial! Put more effort into it!"

"Mebu, you're scarier than the Vertexes..." - quietly blurted out Suzume.

"Did you say something?"

"N-no, nothing!" - glared at by Mebuki, Suzume started intensely shaking her head.

"Next one!"

Amongst the girls afraid of Mebuki's menacing look, one fearlessly stood up.

"In that case, I, Miroku Yumiko, shall serve as your opponent! In anticipation for our following duty, I shall take you, my rival, Mebuki-san down! Take thiiiiiiis!" - with a loud yell, she thrust the rifle in her hands at Mebuki.

"What kind of... anticipation!?"

What was there to anticipate? This time the sentinels would be made light of, just like always.

Mebuki dodged Yumiko's thrust and struck her back, unstable from overextending, with the rifle. Yumiko fell face-first onto the floor.

"Aguh!"

"Miroku-san, you put in way too much vigor and overextend all the time! That's why you constantly put yourself in unnecessary danger!"

After roaring out at Yumiko, Mebuki glanced around the other 30 of the sentinels gathered at the training grounds.

"All of you, you lack training! At this rate, on the next mission, or the one after that... Eventually, somebody might get grave injuries or even die! None of them will protect us! We have to protect ourselves on our own! This kind of weakness... Is exactly why none of you became heroes!" - Mebuki's irritation turned into words and flew out of her mouth.

"...Those words of yours are indeed correct, Mebuki-san... However, you certainly appear to be in an ill mood today" - grimacing from the pain of being hit in the back, Yumiko stood up.

"Miroku-san, do you think about nothing? Our next mission is... just being heralds for the heroes! Even though we faced so much danger in our investigation missions, and will face it in our upcoming ones... Our lives are at stake, but the tasks given to us are basically worthless! Miroku-san, do you not feel frustrated about that!?"

Does Yumiko think nothing about this humiliating mission? Does she, who constantly talks about earning achievements, accept being a mere herald for the heroes? How is she so positive!?

"...Naturally, I'm frustrated", - Yumiko's voice burned with quiet fury. She hasn't accepted the way the Taisha treated them. She merely held back the anger and displeasure.

"However, that simply means that is as much worth as the Taisha sees in us right now. Frustrated as I might be, no amount of tantrums or screaming will amount to anything. And so, our only choice is to earnestly do what we can do at the moment".

"But-" - Mebuki's objection was interrupted by Yumiko.

"And I think of no duty given to me as worthless. Investigation and establishment of a camp might indeed be dull tasks, but they are indispensable in a war. And besides, piling achievements on and on and on... Shall undoubtedly end up in a result. Someday, it shall be a duty of a hero, or one comparable to it. Which is to say, for us "worthless tasks" do not exist! All of them are of utmost importance!"

"!.." - Mebuki was dumbfounded by Yumiko's words.

"We have accomplished our investigation duties with naught a casualty among us. Having bested the expectations of the Taisha, who created the sentinel system with the premise of casualties, is nothing if not a great achievement. And if we achieve the same results far beyond their expectations in our encampment establishment mission, they shall surely be incapable of making light of us any more. What we are doing right now is, speaking in construction terms, making a foundation. As a daughter of a carpenter, surely you must understand the importance of that!?"

Mebuki was lost for words. The training grounds were silent. Mebuki, Suzume, a chatterbox, Shizuku, who was quick to pick fights - none of them could open their mouths.

Yumiko was considered by the rest to be a hothead who thought too little. But she was completely down to earth in her thoughts about the duty of a sentinel, and more earnest about it than anyone.

After several seconds, or perhaps several dozens of them, Mebuki broke the silence.

"...You're right... It's just like you say, Miroku-san... I'm sorry, everyone. I was just venting out my anger at you", - Mebuki bowed her head to the rest of the sentinels and then turned around to Yumiko.

"Thank you very much, Miroku-san. Thanks to you, I'm finally back to my senses".

"There is no need for thanks. I am your senpai by a year, after all. Guiding the younger is thus, also a part of my duty".

"...Thank you... Oh, and sorry. I only now remembered you were one year older, Miroku-san".

"Wha- Mebuki-san!?"

That night, Mebuki was in the large bath in the training facility. Every room had a small shower stall installed, but there was also a large bath built for them to be able to wash off their sweat together. But since, not counting the time after training, most of the sentinels used their shower stalls, Mebuki was the only one at the bath.

(I was the worst today...)

During training, Mebuki lost all sense of composure. She might have felt anger and frustration, but that didn't mean she had the right to let them out at others.

When Mebuki's father got unreasonable requests from the Taisha or had to take responsibility for his colleagues' mistakes, he never vented out his anger at other people. He just silently finished his job.

(Compared to that... I'm so childish...)

Mebuki hated herself.

"Huh, Mebuki-senpai?"

Then Kokudo Aya entered the bath.

"It's unusual to see you at the bath, Mebuki-senpai", - with an innocent smile, Aya washed off her body. Then she entered the bath, and sat next to Mebuki.

"Aya-chan, do you use this bath often?"

"Yeah, using just the shower doesn't feel that pleasant. And it's huge, so when there aren't a lot of people, you can even swim. Like this!" - Aya started paddling her limbs.

"Aya-chan, you shouldn't swim in a bath".

"Ah, I'm sorry".

"Mebuki-senpai, you look down".

"Well... It's about the afternoon training".

"Ah... Suzume-senpai said you got into a fight with Miroku-senpai".

"That Suzume... What a blabbermouth", - Mebuki let out a bitter smile.

"You get along so well with Miroku-senpai, and then a fight... Wait, you argue all the time, and that's a proof of getting along..."

"We don't get along that well. Miroku-san just constantly hangs around me. And anyway, today wasn't a fight. I was the one completely in the wrong, and got reprimanded for that".

Aya's eyes went round.

"Mebuki-senpai getting scolded by Miroku-senpai... I can't even imagine that".

Mebuki told Aya about what happened in the training grounds. About her irritation about their new mission and how she let it out at the rest of the sentinels. About how Yumiko's words were completely right and made Mebuki disgusted with herself.

Aya silently hugged the sighing Mebuki. Although Aya's body was much smaller, she was patting Mebuki's head as one would when calming a child.

"Ah... Aya-chan?" - Mebuki was puzzled, but Aya kept holding her.

And then, as if she herself was in pain, Aya said with sadness: "Mebuki-senpai, you always have such a hard time..."

"A hard time..."

"I've heard most of what happened before you became a sentinel... before you ended up here. Mebuki-senpai, you always put all of yourself into things... So you end up with a lot of expectations, and when they don't come true... You end up hurting too much. If you had no expectations, if you'd just give up, you wouldn't be hurting. But since you're earnest, and don't give up, you're constantly hurting".

"...I'm..."

When she was a hero candidate, she expected to be a hero. And because of that, no matter how harsh the training was, she would follow it through. But when the priests called her, it was to inform her of her failure.

When she came to the Gold Tower, she again expected to become a hero. But instead, she became a sentinel - expendable, disposable.

And then she fulfilled her sentinel duty enough for 32 people, hoping to become closer to a hero. But, as she found out today, her new mission would be even more dangerous than ever, and just as much humiliating.

What Mebuki wanted was always in front of her. But despite looking close enough to grasp, it was too far out of her reach. It was a mirage that only existed to make Mebuki run towards it, to make her heart race.

"But even so, you won't give up, will you..."

"Of course... I'll never give up. If I do, my way of life until now... The lives of the other sentinels will end up just having been used and made fun of. I won't allow that..."

Hearing those words, Aya smiled.

"Mebuki-senpai, it's not just yourself. You can't allow the other sentinels to be made light of either, right?"

"I... don't know... But I can't forgive the Taisha for looking down on us sentinels as disposable and not treating us as people".

Two years ago, when Mebuki was a hero candidate, she did everything on her own. She was fine with only thinking about herself.

But having become a leader of a squad, she started paying attention to her surroundings... Something inside Mebuki started changing.

Aya patted her head. Despite being treated as a child by someone younger than her, Mebuki, oddly enough, didn't feel displeased.

"I'm looking at everyone, you see".

"..."

"How you do your best, Mebuki-senpai. How everyone risks their lives to complete their missions. I see all of that. Even if anyone else makes light of you all, I know how much you struggle".

The priests made light of them.

The Taisha viewed them as disposable.

This little girl was the only one who was close to them.

"You know, Mebuki-senpai, I'll be going outside the wall with everyone on your next mission".

"That's right... I won't forgive that either. What are the Taisha even thinking? To have a miko accompany us... They're well aware of how dangerous that is!"

Were not just the sentinels, but the mikos disposable as well for the Taisha? They were making light of all people.

"That's right, it's going to be a very dangerous duty... But I'm a little happy".

"Eh?"

"I always wait until you sentinels return. Return from your missions, wounded, worn-out... I might be a miko, but I have nothing to offer to you all. I couldn't even share your pain, nothing at all... I hated that. But now I'll be together with everyone, and I'll be a bit useful for the duty".

"...Aren't you scared?"

"I am... I calmed down now, but when I heard about it, I couldn't stop shaking... Once I'm outside, I might just end up frozen in one place and crying. But the sentinels have to endure that pain and fear all the time, right? Even if it's scary and terrible... I'm more happy about that than being a useless decoration that can do nothing else than wait".

"..."

Mikos have no combat ability. They don't have combat training either. So the fear and danger she would face in this mission would be even stronger than the ones for the sentinels.

But Aya endured that. With her small body, she frantically endured it, and even smiled at Mebuki and the rest.

"During this mission, I will be next to you all and see what you do. And then I'll tell Shinju-sama that you're working really, really hard, Mebuki-senpai. Our oracles are always one-sided, so I don't know if my words will reach... But I will tell it with all my strength. That you're working just as hard as the heroes".

"Aya-chan..."

"From my view, you're no different from the heroes, Mebuki-senpai. You're a hero as well".

"...Thanks".

Someone called her, a desperately struggling failure like that, a hero. Suzume did the same. And now someone else did that.

She felt happy, but at the same time ashamed of herself.

Aya, who should have been the most scared one by today's mission announcement, was bravely encouraging Mebuki. But what about herself? She shouldn't have lost her temper and lashed out at others.

Little by little, the amount of people who accepted Mebuki being no different from the heroes grew. So she should just keep repeating that - thought Mebuki. And then eventually, most people around her would accept Mebuki as a hero.

The deeds need to come first - the name will come later. That was Mebuki's intention in the first place. But she let herself lose her head in anger at the Taisha and forget that idea.

"I'm such an idiot... Throwing a tantrum like a complete child".

"And what's wrong with being a child? Mebuki-senpai, I think you're trying to be an adult way too soon. You're cute as a child too, Mebuki-senpai!" - Aya giggled, turning Mebuki's face red.

Mebuki cleared her throat.

"A-anyway. Sending a miko outside the barrier is a dangerous duty, but don't worry. We will definitely protect you. We won't let those monsters put even a scratch on you"

The next morning, when Mebuki headed out to the seaside park for her running routine, she stumbled upon Yumiko.

"Mebuki-san, is this not a wonderfully refreshing morning?"

"What are you even doing here..."

"I was just about to enjoy some splendid morning tea".

Today, Yumiko brought out a table and a chair to the park again and was sipping on some black tea. Her attire, however, was odd. Yumiko, for some reason, was wearing a tracksuit.

"Yeah, there's nothing "elegant" about doing that in your clothes..."

"The pheromones of grace flowing from the body of me, a heiress of the Miroku house, produce elegance no matter the attire. And thus, to prove that, I am enjoying some teatime in a tracksuit today".

"Where is that confidence coming from..." - Mebuki was dumbfounded.

"Well, that was a joke. The statement about my overflowing with elegance even while in a tracksuit was true, however".

"I hoped it would be one".

"Today I was planning to accompany you for your run, Mebuki-san. Thus the tracksuit".

"I don't mind, but... Will you be able to keep up?"

Every morning, Mebuki ran a considerable distance at a considerable speed. It would be hard for someone who only started to keep up with her.

But Yumiko didn't lose her confidence.

"I would ask you not to underestimate Miroku Yumiko".

And just as she stated, she kept up with Mebuki without fail. Her form and pacing made it obvious that Yumiko didn't just start running on a whim that day. She must have regularly trained and ran to build her stamina.

Yumiko was prone to mindlessly charge and end up in unnecessary danger, but her fundamental abilities were by no means low.

"You look much better than you did last night, Mebuki-san".

"Well, I kind of got over myself".

"That is splendid. There is a lot to think about in our position, but for now we must simply do what we are able to do".

"Yeah, that's right".

It was just as Yumiko said. In their position, they could only live as hard as they could. No amount of laments would change their unreasonable treatment

While keeping up a speed of more than 10 km/h, the two were talking.

"Incidentally, Mebuki-san, how much do you know about the Miroku family?"

"Honestly, basically nothing. Until I met you, I haven't even heard the name".

Since Mebuki's father worked with the Taisha, she had more information on it than an ordinary person. She was well aware of the Nogi family, who possessed massive influence in the Taisha, for example, but she couldn't remember the name Miroku ever appear in conversations. \Yumiko's response to those words was not anger, but rather a sad smile.

"Well, that is of no surprise. After all, the Miroku family has come to ruin now".

"That's right, Aya-chan mentioned how it "helped to save the world" back then. I missed most of that though..."

If it really was a house that did something as important as saving the world, it should have been more famous, recorded in textbooks and history books.

"Mebuki-san, are you aware of the stone pillars with the names of the great family that stood at the Great Bridge that collapsed two years ago?"

"Yeah, I know about that".

While it was outside her father's expertise, the Great Bridge was one of Shikoku's biggest structures, so he showed some interest in it as well.

"The Miroku family was one that would not have been out of place on one of those monuments, originally".

"That's..."

If Yumiko was telling the truth, then the Miroku family must have birthed one of the heroes into this world, or accomplished something of equal importance.

"Could it be that one of the past heroes was from the Miroku family then?"

"No, nothing of the sort. However... In the 72nd year of the Divine Era, it has protected Shikoku from the menace of a collapse".

The incident Yumiko was describing immediately surfaced in Mebuki's mind. The widespread terror attacks of DE 72 - a huge incident recorded in the history books.

However, the details of it were not written anywhere. "A cult that lost all sense of reason was planning a mass suicide involving all of Shikoku's citizens" was all that was knows about

Having found out about the Vertexes and the truth of the outside world, she realised that the unclear information must have been a result of Taisha's censorship. However, the Akamine family was said to be the one to suppress the cult...

"The Akamine family was not the only one to have played a pivotal role in the resolving of that incident. The ancestors of the Miroku family were of great importance as well. For that, the Miroku family was proclaimed to be the heroes of Shikoku on par with the Akamine family. However, as a hundred, two hundred years passed, the Miroku family fell into ruin for various reasons. These days it is omitted from the history books, and its influence is long gone".

"So that's how it was..."

"However, fell into ruin as it might have, I still have pride in my family name. I feel honoured to be a part of a house that has in the past saved the lives of many people. I feel proud to have the blood of my heroic ancestors flow through my veins. And I shall have none deny me that belief".

The Kusunoki family had history as a house of carpenters, but it wasn't exactly famous. And so Mebuki couldn't fully understand the pains and worries that concerned the rise and fall of distinguished families.

However, Yumiko's "And I shall have none deny me that belief" resounded deeply in her chest. For Mebuki felt the same. That she wasn't a failure, that she would become a hero no matter what... That belief, she would never allow anyone to deny. For it was her way of life.

"I shall build up my achievements in eyes of the Taisha and restore the Miroku family to its former glory, be certain of it. The duty of a sentinel might be dangerous, dull and humiliating, but for the sake of restoring my family's name, I mind not groveling and eating dirt".

Her face and tone made it clear - those were her genuine beliefs.

In hindsight, it really was strange. She constantly emphasised being a daughter of an esteemed family, liked to stand out and stand at the front. But she has not once raised a complaint about the behind-the-scenes duty of a sentinel. On the contrary, she was always proactive.

That was the resolve the girl named Miroku Yumiko carried. An undomitable determination to rise up the world. The worries Yumiko carried were, at their base, similar to Mebuki's. Yumiko, proudly carrying the blood of the world's saviours, was not evaluated by the others. Mebuki, proudly carrying the conviction she was suitable to be a hero, was not evaluated by the Taisha.

The deviation between their sense of self-worth and the worth given to them by others.

However, Miroku Yumiko faced that distress with resolution and determination. For that, she exerted great efforts. The fact she was able to keep up the pace with Mebuki, the strongest of all the sentinels, was proof of that. In terms of fundamental stamina she achieved by training, she was likely second only to Mebuki

"Miroku-san..."

"What is it?"

"I think I've started to like you, slightly."

"Hu-huuuuh!? Wh-wh-what might you be saying all of a sudden!?"

"Until now, I kind disliked you because you're reckless and get injured because of that, keep being nosy, and despite that still were number 20".

"Do you not think you might be too harsh!? ...Well, I do have a problem with communication, and it has been there for quite a while..."

"But after talking to you now, I understand. You're just like me, Miroku-san".

She was happy to find a person who shared her problems and beliefs.

For the first time, Mebuki saw Yumiko as not a member of the sentinels, but as another human.

"Miroku-san, let's both fulfil our hopes. My desire to become a hero, your desire to restore your family... Let's see them through".

"There is no need to even say that. That being so, however, I would first need to prove my superiority over you and take the seat of the commander from you. Ahaha! And this running fight shall be my victory as well!"

Yumiko suddenly raised her speed and ran ahead of Mebuki. She got slightly irritated. Mebuki kicked off, raising her pace, and caught up with Yumiko right away, eventually overtaking her, finishing the running course and returning to the Tower ahead of her.

And then, their new mission started.

Amidst the sentinels treading on the scorching land was Aya, wearing a different garb than usual. It was a special outfit called a Hagoromo, "Angel Raiment". It did not increase the physical abilities like the battle suit, nor did it allow her to fight. It did, however, possess the heat-blocking function that allowed her to withstand the conditions outside the barrier.

(...For some reason, it feels like the heat outside the barrier is stronger than ever this time. I wonder if it's just my imagination...)

Sweat was dripping from Mebuki's head. Was the battle suit malfunctioning? Or perhaps the heat really was more intense than usual?

Aya was also dripping with sweat, and breathed as if in pain.

"Aya-chan, are you okay?"

"Mebuki-senpai... Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine. It's nothing to complain about. You can't move as fast because of me, so the least I could do is suck it up".

Aya did her best to wring out a smile out of herself.

Unlike the sentinels, she, as a miko, only possessed the physical abilities of a normal girl. To match Aya, the sentinels were moving at a much slower speed than usual.

But for this mission, Aya's presence was indispensable. She was its very core.

"All of you have to do your duty in this awful place..."

"That's what we sentinels train for".

There was no wavering in Mebuki's voice. She faced this mission with a clear mind.

(It's all thanks to Aya-chan and Miroku-san...)

Since if she said that out loud, Yumiko would inevitably get full of herself, she decided to never speak her mind about that. However, that's what Mebuki felt.

Mebuki always did everything by herself. Her training as a hero candidate, her duty as a sentinel - all alone. Becoming the commander demanded teamwork from her, but Mebuki didn't think consider the rest to be her friends or comrades. They were nothing more than weapons with the power to accomplish her goal.

That's why she was always in solitude. Without relying on anyone, refusing anyone's support, she kept walking the road of life alone. Gritting her teeth. Dragging her feet. All alone. But now... "Because of her comrades". That's what she thought. Possibly for the first time in her life, she was relying on someone.

"Mebuki-senpai, have you heard the legend of Hagoromo?" - asked Aya while gripping the sleeves of her outfit.

"Hagoromo? No, haven't heard of that".

"It's a story about how a human stole an angel's raiment".

Dragging her feet, Aya started telling the story.

In some lake, an angel descended from the skies was taking a swim. A man saw her, stole her raiment and hid it. Having lost it, the angel couldn't return to heaven. She started living in the human world, married that man and had four children with him. However, eventually she found the hidden raiment, left her family and returned to heaven. The man and children were stricked with grief and kept crying...

"That's a pretty egoistic story".

"I think so as well. The man who stole the raiment was selfish, but so was the angel who left her children. But according to a different version, after returning to heaven, the angel, out of love for her grief-stricken children and husband, descended to them once a year. If she really loved them... Did she really want to return to heaven?"

Legends and mythos rarely mention the characters' thoughts. So it wasn't possible to know for certain what the angel thought.

However... Why did the Taisha give the miko's garb the name of a sacred object that allowed the owner to return to heaven? Mebuki felt ominousness about that.

"Gyaah! Save me, Mebuuu~! They're here! The Stardust are heeeere!" - screamed Suzume while clinging to Mebuki. The time for chatter was over.

"Protector team, deploy shields with Kokudo Aya as the center! Our mission is to deliver the miko to the destination point safely!"

Following her yell, the protector sentinels enlarged their shields and linked them together.

"Mebuu~! I'll defend against the Stardust! But if another huge one comes out, you've gotta protect me!"

She was begging for help as usual, but being able to say "I'll defend against the Stardust" now, perhaps Suzume has changed too, just like Mebuki.

"I shall fight outside the shields!"

"I'm gonna fight outside too! You okay with that, Kusunoki!?"

Yumiko and Shizuku were leaving the protection of the shields. Mebuki stopped feeling irritation about Yumiko's foolhardiness. She was desperately trying to achieve her dream, just like Mebuki.

Shizuku made true of her promise and properly listened to Mebuki's orders, requesting permission for her actions. She was as wild and rash as ever, but by no means did she do as it pleased her.

Mebuki thought...

(This team... These comrades are surprisingly not bad, huh.)

And so, Mebuki gave an order to the entire squad.

"Miroku-san and Shizuku, permission granted! Numbers 1 to 6, plus Miroku Yumiko and Yamabushi Shizuku, engage in combat with the Stardust outside! The rest of the gunner team, return fire from the inside! Let's fulfill our duty without a single casualty this time as well!"

The girls wielding rifles split into two groups: one left the shield wall and engaged in combat with the Stardust outside, while the other one pointed their muzzles out of the openings in the wall and started firing.

With the shields deployed, the sentinels and the miko steadily pushed onward.

Eventually, they reached the location where they were to plant the seed. This mission being their first of the sort, it was not that removed from the wall. Under cover of the protectors' shields, Aya took the seed out of the kagami, and dropped it on the ground. After that, she started the prayer.

"Oh gods of the land, let this day be one a tree root sprouteth. As sprouteth the root, so shall the earth make merry. If the earth be the wife, then the root be the husband. In kind heart..."

Accompanied by the dignified voice, the earth where the seed was dropped started sprouting with greenery. An unimaginable number of sprouts has risen from one mere seed and covered the earth. And not just inside the wall of shields, but even outside small sprouts kept appearing.

Mebuki, who was fighting outside, noticed the appearing plants as well. On the scorched land, where nothing should have possibly been able to grow, green life kept being born.

"Did it work!?.."

The plants kept growing in number. As if the infernal land has been extinguished, the parts enveloped in greenery no longer felt scorching hot.

The reddish earth was being overtaken by the greenery. The soil was coming back to life. A substantial patch of land was swarming with lush, verdant grass and flowers. It was a divine, breathtaking sight. The sentinels were captivated and let out a sigh.

That's why they didn't notice.

Their eyes captured by the beautiful greenery, they missed the appearance of a gigantic enemy and carelessly let it approach.

"Wooooooah!"

Shizuku’s small frame danced in the air. She was struck by a tail made out of countless globes and sent flying. In front of the sentinels was a gigantic monster with a tail that bore a horrendous needle at its end.

"...Scorpio!..Vertex!.." - Mebuki pronounced the name of that enemy. One of the twelve beings possessing a constellation name. The Taisha priests informed them that the Scorpio Vertex has dealt enormous damage to the heroes of the past.

The fragile hopes the sentinels bore were blotted out with despair in a blink of an eye...

(Chapter 4, end)