(Whisper) Wh-What do we do? I can hear Mio-san's footsteps! She's coming!
Momoka
(Whisper) Let's try the other side of the stage. Maybe the door there's still unlocked...
Kichisei
(Whisper) No, it's too far. She'll find us!
Kichisei
(Whisper) This is where we fell, isn't it? Can we go back the way we came?
Momoka
(Whisper) The vents—
Kichisei puts Sarasa on her back and was about to move, when they hear Mio's voice coming from center stage.
Mio
Don't bother. I can hear you.
Momoka
What do we do?!
Kichisei
It's all or nothing. I'll deal with her—
Suddenly, she hears the sound of knocking behind her.
???
Is it locked? I guess we'll have to do this the hard way.
???
Get out of the way!
A massive crash, and the locked door swings open, bringing in light from beyond.
The next instant, as though answering the call of the light coming in from the door, bright orbs of light float up from Sarasa's staff and go back to where they came from—
Hoshiguma
...Sarasa?
Sarasa
I thought I would get to sleep for a little longer...
Sarasa
There'll be no light here as long as I'm still asleep...
Sarasa yawns, and the spotlights above flicker.
Mio does not move from her position, so Sarasa begins walking towards the console.
Momoka follows hesitantly, but Mio remains in place.
Hoshiguma
Aren't you going to stop them?
Mio
No. Your blade is drawn.
Mio
My duty is not to deal with them.
Hoshiguma
I doubt your minions have what it takes to beat Kichisei and Sarasa.
White sword, black gloves, white hand, black sword, white tantou, black ethereal hand—
It is a dizzying exchange of black and white. Contrary to the impression she gives, the Liberi's swordplay is overwhelmingly aggressive, with only attacks, feints and more attacks, with not the slightest attention paid to defense.
The moves of the one-horned Oni, on the other hand, are almost staggeringly basic. Dodge, parry, backstep, sidestep.
Mio
Twelve.
Mio
You just blocked twelve attacks in quick succession.
Mio
Why don't you fight back? Are you still afraid of your sword?
Hoshiguma
If I was, it wouldn't have left its sheath to begin with.
Hoshiguma
You, on the other hand, look all polite and cultured, but your moves are pure aggression and ferocity. That's not Kinbee's style.
Mio
My sword has nothing to do with him.
Hoshiguma
Then why do you give your life for him?
Mio
Since when have I given my life for him?
Hoshiguma
Stop fooling yourself.
Mio
......
Hoshiguma takes a deliberate look around.
Kichisei is sending explosions everywhere with her grenades, while the stage equipment has turned into a giant monster under Sarasa's control.
With Momoka doing an impressive job of not getting caught, the trio is more than holding their own.
There is only one last thing to do in their battle plan...
Mio
The only thing I'm trying to protect is the Kinsekikai.
Hoshiguma
And Kinbee has to lead it?
Mio
The Kinsekikai needs to be a place where the dregs of society can survive, those who have nowhere else to go.
Hoshiguma thrusts. The attack is simple, but the flames upon the sword force Mio to leap backwards.
Hoshiguma
That's not what I wanted to hear.
Mio
Your flames are burning even fiercer.
Hoshiguma
Tell me. Why couldn't Tessai give you what you wanted?
Mio
Because Tessai couldn't protect himself. Mitsukue didn't need him, nor did it need a Mio working under Tessai.
Hoshiguma
You?
Mio
A silent, ragged orphan who only fights tooth and nail when someone steps on her is a subject of scorn.
Mio
An equally silent, well-dressed assistant who only draws her sword when the company's interests are compromised is the subject of admiration.
Hoshiguma
I thought you came from some noble martial family fallen on hard times.
Mio
Hah.
Mio
Tessai wanted to give dregs of society like us a home, and so he's dead.
Mio
Mifune knows we don't deserve a home, and so he lives on.
Hoshiguma
Is that how Mitsukue judges the Kinsekikai?
Mio
Always has.
Hoshiguma is almost completely engulfed in the azure flame.
The Liberi wonders if the flame will consume the Oni before it consumes her.
Mio
You are angry.
Mio
Were you angry like this too, twenty years ago?
Hoshiguma
Does that matter?
Mio
Mifune-san wants you to lose your reason, as you did twenty years ago. He believes it will turn you into a crazed beast, one that everyone will be eager to put down.
Mio
You know this is what he wants, and so you suppress yourself, which is why you didn't draw your sword the last time.
Hoshiguma
...Hmph.
Hoshiguma
Are you inviting me to give in to anger? Complete the mission your master assigned?
Mio
It's not what I want, but I would have no issue with it. It would be a shame, that's all.
Hoshiguma
Why?
Mio
A perfect opponent, who could never stand before me in perfect condition, forced to either suppress herself, or lose control entirely.
Mio
But that's all.
Mio
Take this.
Mio once again prepares to attack.
Three hands, three swords, a posture seemingly without form or order, but ready to pounce on any weakness—
???
Catch!
Mio
Who's there?!
Moriuchi
This is crazy heavy!
Moriuchi
You know how hard it was to get it out of Kinbee's room, even with all that chaos at the TV station?
Moriuchi
...Catch!
Moriuchi swings his entire body to throw Hannya in the direction of the standoff.
Mio's ethereal hand is the first to catch Hannya's handle, but Hoshiguma leaps and spins one hundred and eighty degrees like she is dancing, forcing the ethereal hand to loosen its grip, allowing her to take Hannya's handle.
Hoshiguma
Suppress, or lose control?
Hoshiguma
It won't happen. With or without Hannya.
Hoshiguma tightens her grip around the ribbon on her sword.
Hoshiguma
Hannya's an old friend, after all. Maybe you had a chance just now... but not any longer.
