Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

~
(Hyuse)

The group decided to take the time to cook something called 'brownies'. Yotaro was ecstatic, but declined teh offer to join them in favor of building a mountain of block with Ruka. Who snidely said his shooting should have been sharper on the field. He dared who to do better before walking out on her mid-snicker. He would wind up trapped in her baiting tone for hours again. He loathed her. Yet the familiarity of sparring with words reminded him of meetings at home. His time in council. He yearned for it as much as he wanted nothing to do with it. Such a juxtaposition irritated him. Yotaro had piqued his interest a bit when insisted on trying some 'brownie' when they finished, even if he refused to help make the cursed thing. Yep. He definitely saw all the markings of a royal now...

Surprisingly, it was the typically curious Yuma that seemed the most resistant. Despondent, slow to answer and slower to act with any sort of certainty. He stopped at least twice in the process of any task delegated to him in order to whisper weird questions or clarify things that seemed utterly redundant. Not to mention his passive concerns about the mess they were making in the space.

"Cooking is always a mess. We'll clean up when we're finished." Osamu insisted. For some reason, the captain's words weren't calming the other neighbor the way they usually did.

It wasn't until Chika, very poorly so most everyone else had to actively ignore them, snuck Yuma a spoonful of the dark brown batter to taste that he melted to the idea they were almost through executing.

The living room got rather lively for dinner. He had never felt so close to home for all the drama typically dormant members kicked up. Rindo, Jin, Ruka, and at the center of it all, surprisingly, was the typically silent Yuma. He seemed sharper and more withdrawn by the day. They all survived however, the branch was mostly in tact, and Tamakoma-2 stayed their previously planned course of winding down the evening with a movie. What was meant to be a celebratory act was instead a poorly placed bandage over the open sores reveled by the plates metaphorically smashed during the meal. Hyuse humored them. Yuma stuck around with his stupid, silly face. At some point, when the lights were off save the single screen the sofas centered around, the other neighbor shifted as though to secret away. Before he could pull away, Hyuse pulled him back. For a second, the screen's light set a scowl across his normally stony features. It could've been a trick of the light but...

The branch had quieted significantly by the time he was able to pull Yuma away. Yotaro was upstairs with Ruka for the night. The past few days without the kid around had been... A bit lonely for him. Not that Hyuse would ever admit as much, and the pair of royals invited him to accompany them a couple times, which was a few times more than anyone else other than Rindo or Cronin it seemed, to participate. Still, he was sort of ready for Ruka to be gone so he could get his small friend back. In the meantime, he settled for the company of a slightly less small... Person. Could he really call Yuma a friend? With his almost mercenary tendency and how his literal-ism gravitated him towards contract-speak, Hyuse doubted the other neighbor really considered anyone a friend.

Still, he was able to convince Yuma to leave the strange screen viewing upstairs to accompany him in the basement. They each sat at the wobbly stool in the office by the training rooms. Piles of scrap metal and assorted trion designs lay sprawled across the space. A mountain of disorganized chaos quantified by various building blocks of imitated life. In the midst of it all, to real life forms still and with boxes of juice he pulled from the small fridge nearby placed between them. He stabbed the straws he tore from the side through the square, as he'd often seen Yotaro do, when Yuma made no move for it. Hyuse ignored him and sucked on his applejuice. A few seconds later, Yuma slowly mirrored his motion though his eyes stayed distance. Fixed on what looked like the chunk of an Idra skull.

The other neighbor hadn't seemed right lately. Not out of character per-say, but he did not have an extensive reference to compare with. Not like his teammates of colleagues who did not seem concerned in the slightest as Yuma withdrew more and more. Hyuse wanted to call him out, sharply deride him as his mentor or guardian should be doing an move on with it. Yet, technically speaking, there was nothing to protest. In fact, Yuma's performance in their previous match had been even sharper than usual. Three kills against the top squads of B rank, for whatever Meeden's measly ranking systems were worth, one of who was Kageura himself. He did not think much of Yuma's tendency to spar with the likes of Murakami and Kageura until he heard the reverence with which they were spoken of around HQ, the like of Tachikawa, Kazam and Konami. While he'd only fought two of the three, after crossing blades with both Kageura and Murakami he was certain he would be able to fell none independently unless equipped in Lambyris. Even still, Jin had been in a normal trigger and he sparred Tachikawa regularly. Hyuse had to believe. All he had was confidence in himself and his skill, nice as Yotaro and Cronin might be. But Yuma was acting like he had nothing. All the while taking victory after victory in silence. Unless it was to endorse a point or plan Osamu made, Yuma did not speak up. The lack of substance in his stoic sparring partner from the other side was getting on his nerves. Hyuse wasn't concerned. He was annoyed. He wanted answers.

"So. Why don't you like Ruka?"

"...Whose to say that is the case?"

"You; when you didn't deny it. Mister agnostic. Always playing indifferent; nothing neutral about friction." He studied the short neighbor. So small and scrawny yet with movements sharp and reflexive enough that he may push even Viza to have to stretch a bit more. Now those agile shoulders let off a lazy shrug as they sunk inwards.

"Cannot control how other people feel."

"Well I know she hates you. What I don't understand is why the feeling is mutual." Another shrug from small shoulders.

"Probably the same reason you dislike the Directors." Hyuse hated Yuma's deflections. Sound. Cutting. Straight to a sensitive core. This kid was born to dissect trion soldiers. Hyuse was careful to keep his composure as he continued to call out.

"Oh, I sincerely doubt that. Ruka never caged you up; made you a prisoner."

"Tamakoma branch isn't a cage." Yuma almost sounded defensive. Almost.

"Excuse me?"

"It is a refuge." The sudden sharpness of his tone dulled into his impassive lull as the other neighbor seemed to similarly simmer down under the force of his own self-imposed mental constraints.

"That's what it was always designed to be." The white-haired one insisted. Hyuse glared down at him.

"And how would you know that?" Hyuse ignored Yuma's ignorance of his current curiosity as he circled back to address a previous, probably more pressing, one.

"People like Ruka... People who flaunt power and demand respect while doing absolutely nothing to help- That sort of person... Is difficult to tolerate." Hyuse almost swore he heard Yuma grind his teeth together for a second; the depth of his frustrations such that he
seemed to be genuinely struggling to regulate his emotions. While he'd snapped at Yuma plenty of times, the same could not be said in the other direction. Based on how utterly indifferent he often appeared, Hyuse would have been willing to bet it wasn't possible for Yuma's body to produce the infliction required to communicate 'anger'. Now however... The tremor in his shoulders wasn't from some wavering mental place. At least, not in the way he had come to expect.

"So she reminds you of a couple cranky commanders. Hardly a reason to be so disrespectful to a princess."

"Did not take you for the royal supporting type. Do you not tend to turn your nose up to authority?"

"On Meeden, sure. What reason have I to care for the quabbles of such a measly, under-developed organization?"

"Must sting to have the holy land lose to an under-developed-"

"Shut up! We were- There were extenuating circumstances!" Hyuse growled back thinking of Jin's overly confident smirk. They way he stalled them out... Yuma had been pretty culpable too. A monster wrapped in black, accented by blood. His trigger had been unique. Even by Meeden standars. Why did Yuma bother with Border's boring triggers if he had a black one bare his fangs with. He had been two steps short of revealing classified intel. This kid was starting to slip past his guard. He narrowed his eyes. Was such a sly maneuver intentional or simply his strange mannerisms showing themselves again?

Hyuse truthfully did not care in the slightest for most of the people he was forced to interact with. But the other alleged neighbor was undeniably intriguing; especially considering how few others seemed to think so. Surely they sighted the strangeness in him too? Ruka had right away. And vocalized as much as indignantly as possible. He thought back to the tirade she unleashed on him her first night; after Yotaro was tucked away and Yuma had just creamed him in their training match. Ruka poked her head in, sank into a glare, then dragged him over for juice in the cluttered office next door to the training room.

'That guy is the worst! Did you see him at dinner?'

'I was also there, yes.'

'Who does not pray before a meal?!'

'It's not a tendency I trend towards.'

'Who does he think he is?!'

'Never claimed to be anything more than 'Yuma Kuga' to me; but he's incredibly experienced with triggers. I can't help but wonder what nation trained him on the other side.'

'Oh yeah? Is the prince of the Holy Land outclassed? By Tachikawa or even Kazama sure, but Yuma? Are you joking?'

'His style is beyond unorthodox or methodical. It's not a type I've been exposed to before and there' many a nation I've crossed paths with across my missions.'

'Well why not just ask?'

'Gee, why didn't I think of that?' She scoffed, shaking his head at her sarcasm. He rolled his eyes and continued.

'He won't answer.'

'So ignorant to others can be added to the list?'

'Is a list really necessary?'

'Who even let the little freak join up?!'

'The story as I heard it was Jin recruited Yuma by convincing Osamu and Chika to also join.'

'Ugh, that guy. Yotaro fawns over him but he gets under my skin. I think Yo just likes think back on the days Tamakoma-1 was in the rank wars. He's always been obsessed with watching those.'

'A favorite hobby it seems.'

'I'd prefer if Rindo would encourage him to talk up sports rather than trigger use.'

'Why's that? You're the one who welcomed my company.' Hyuse snarked as he took a sip from his juice box.

'Don't make me regret it.' Ruka scowled at him as she leaned forwards and took a similar sip. The look turned pensive as she stared at the little bits and pieces of the wooden table visible throughout the mess of scraps and paper, a few plates, half a bottle of-

'I don't like that creep around my brother...'

'They hardly interact.'

'He still slinks around the same building.'

'Yuma's no harm. Not really.'

'Oh? Then why keep him around as an agent?'

'He's plenty capable of killing but his violence is relegated to violent confrontations; largely rank wars.'

'Like you then?'

'As if. I'm nothing like that creep.'

'Hee~ Even you think he's a freak.'

'Meaning?'

'You too have the same eyes?'

'Are you colorblind or-'

'They don't have light. You have no will to live, no purpose, nothing that's driving you. Cronin used to be that way for awhile; which is one of the reasons why he stayed with Tamakoma instead of coming with me. Your eyes shine sometimes, you have a goal you're keeping
in mind. But as far as your day to day life goes you're adrift at sea.'

Hyuse narrowed his eyes then as she leaned in close. Dull red held a mirthful sheen that made life seem to shine through her despite the relatively dull color contained within her gaze. He saw a tiny version of himself reflected in the sheer blackness of her pupil and feel air rush from his body for a fleeting moment.

'He's eyes are blank. They hold only death. I've played with dolls that had more presence than whatever he is. Not a single spark of life. I don't want to keep a corpse around.'

'Good thing you're leaving tomorrow then.'

'Just because I do not physically exert my power does not mean my words cannot be applied in the blink of an eye.'

'You mean to threaten me?'

'No. I want you to do me a favor and in return, I offer you a single request decreed by yours truly.'

'What's in it for you?'

'I want the walking corpse gone.'

'This is going too far.' He rose from his seat, reclaimed some distance from the increasingly cutting words she cast across the idea of his temporary teammate, and one of the only other neighbors in the building. She continued to study him coyly; an edge to the head she
rest upon her hand, elbowed tilted on to the tabletop in a way that, nauseatingly, reminded him or Mira. Suddenly the worst parts of his worst pushed forwards, long meetings with pompous power players, grueling dinners where the words were laced with venom and poison was always a possibility in the food, cruel words from supposed classmates, the constant barrage of snide comments from everyone: peasant, un-pure, devil, demon-soldier, pawn, orphan, cannon-fodder, faker.

'You don't have to decide now. Or use lethal means. But I am a princess after all. Do me a favor, my princess, and I'll return the gesture in kind. She stepped forwards then. Despite her modest attire, he felt lured in by her. Not that he was suddenly attracted to his friends sister, but that he was being pulled into her gravity via seduction. Or at least the attempt of it. He was not repulsed per say but he was far from charmed. The sparkle to her sneered lips took on a different sheen as she whispered a few inches from his face.

'I know how much you want to go home Lord adrift. Not much time to muck about with rank battles and posturing tests. House Erin calls you home.'

'You cannot possibly acquiesce me a ship!'

'Not necessarily though that would not be entirely out of the question.'

'But who says I'd have to take such drastic measures. You need only aid so far and the resources to find the rest of the way yourself, right?'

Pools of dried blood clung to his face as he studied her studying him. He had to take steadying breaths as he fought frantically for a thread of logic, a procedure broached by his master, a slight of hand form etiquette training, any sort of answer for this situation that steeped him in inexplicable frustration. The first simmerings of fury. She solved the strangeness for him as she slid back a step or two with a theatric hum. She drew a finger to her lips as she re-assessed him; faster than a second ago and far more dismissively. She had reached an unspoken verdict. He doubted the two of them had reached any sort of similar conclusion.

'Oh. I over-estimated you. Such a shame. To think, Yo actually spoke of you fondly.'

Her own eyes dulled slightly. She swiped her juice box off the table, crushed it from the force of her checking that she had sucked every drop from the cardboard container and tossing the whole device into the trash.

'That's an awfully vague contract. I send the creepy away and you would embezzle me out of Border's grasp?'

'Essentially. How much more cut and dry do you need me to be?'

'Why should I trust that you're even able to perform a thing? I've no reason to trust you're-'

'Do you doubt my abilities Lord Hyuse? My honesty? No? Then quit your traitorous mutterings and put the marvelous mind of yours to use. I'll hear your answer upon my next visit. Unless word of years deeds reaches me first of course. I'd like to think you're level-headed enough to think before you act however. May you never still in the Night.' Ruka swept herself away after stilling him with a few words. Arranged perfectly to stun him thusly. He had definitely underestimated her. Who taught her a parting phrase? Or was it a memory she had from her own time in council on the other side?

"-use? Everything alright?" Red eyes roved into his field of vision. Eerie white pupils failed to reflect anything. A void of greed. All consuming. His words were ones of concern but his features failed to express any emotion at all. A doll. A puppet. Creepy. All that Ruka claimed. Despised. This kid had always gotten under his skin...

"I'm fine." He snarled.

"Just answer the question. What's the deal with you and Ruka? 'She's stuck up isn't a real answer. Not for someone like you."

"You've asked me this a dozen times in the past two days. What's with your sudden obsession?" The sharpness and precision with which Yuma was able to cut past his questions suddenly severed the cloak that had secreted his intention for such deflections away. All this time when he studied Yuma's chubby cheeks and measly size he saw visages of Yotaro. He distinctly remembered this heathen attacking one of the greatest swordsman in the neighborhood recklessly and with little repercussion. It wasn't that he underestimated Yuma so much as seeing his childish tendencies at the fore front of everything else was rather easy when his appearance combined with his stilted imitations at Meeden normalcy. As though either of them could fit in here.

"What's with your lack of answer? Why is everything always a fight with you? I wouldn't have to keep asking if you would answer a question for once!"

No way a brat like this was trained in court etiquette. Yuma had always been far too- He thought crude but that wasn't right, brazen perhaps but he always held himself with certainty and grace. Mundane. Every action Yuma made was in the name of subtly. Why? Who wouldn't want to be recognized? Honored? Hailed and revered for their strength? He thought the secret tactics most levered to achieve this was petty at best but even Hyuse would secretly admit a desire to be praised by his master.

Yuma studied him. Red eyes studied. He felt like he was being searched but he saw nothing. No cracks. No caves. No blind-spots. No visible points to shatter or shove or-

"People with power who can only put out pretty words leave piles of corpses with their policies No one deserves to die for someone else's pride." Yuma snuck away to wherever he hold up on base. He didn't much care for Ruka himself, but he was starting to share her suspicions. There were too many unanswered questions when it came to this kid.

~
(Ko)

Of course the night two of his best friends duke it out in the rank wars again he has defense duty. Ko couldn't watch the recordings fast enough. He was far from disappointed. For nearly the entire match Kage and Kuga had been at each others throats. Both only ever drew their double scorpions. Both utilized the unconventional angles and whip-like properties of mantis. Though Kage was still clearly the more proficient of the pair with that specific technique, Kuga's unorthodox tendency and bottomless creativity weilded him the win. Kage had expected the project scorpion to be thrown. Kuga had recently taken to the idea of extending his range in their sparring sessions. What neither Kage, nor Ko himself upon initial viewing, was prepared for was the sudden extension of the projectile clear through Kage's chest.

He was made to bail out in a matter of seconds.

From there, Kuga instantly moved to clean up Nasu squad. The rest of his team had eliminated the rest by that point. The fight between Nasu and Oji was interesting but he found himself re-watching the battle between attackers over and over and over-

Until the inevitable call came in. Kage.

"You seen it?"

"Yeah. Re-watching right now. You put up a good fight." A familiar snarl. Kage was on edge. He'd been doubtless re-watching the fight too. Kage never tended to watch the logs from the rank wars, but he also tended to dominate the battle field. His last fight against Tamakoma-2 had been trying for him as well. To be eliminated without putting a single point on the board? Even Ko couldn't come up wiht much to say. He let Kage vent about his spawn point and the excess of Amatori's trion but the man wore himself out in less than thirty seconds. After a few seconds of deflation, Kage swept himself up in a true tirade of contemplative venting. Kuga's fighting style. His moves were sharper. Sharper even then they had been just the day before. No one's skills could jump that much over night. How was he training? Or was he hiding his real strength from them...? Why? How much was he holding back/ What would it take for him to really push if Border's best attackers couldn't cut it?

Eventually, Kage wound himself down to agree he'd try sleeping. They both knew better. It was for that reason he didn't reach out until well past noon the next day. After his squad team meeting at Suzunari branch Ko went over to Kage's family restaurant. He wasn't much surprised to find Kitazoe was already present. He smiled knowingly as he slid into the booth across from the squad-mates.

"How're you feeling?"

"How you felt after Tachikawa chewed out for losing to an opponent you shoulda been able to beat." Kage replied to Ko, biting, honest, not looking up Zoe slid a soda his way.

"Thanks."

"The two of us have been talking and we think... Well- Is it possible Kuga has some moves he hasn't been using against you guys when sparring? I mean... Do the three of you really go all out whe you fight or...?" Zoe asked. The shift to battle tactics caught his captain's
attention. He pulled his mask down proper to respond.

"Why would he hold back? And deny his team points when he's desperate for results?"

"Yeah, it's not just lately. I think Kuga's always been holding back. You can see it when he got angry at Ko in the last rank match where our squad's went up against Tamakoma-2." Zoe admitted.

"After Zoe messaged me I went back and checked. He was right." Ko said. Not quite upset but definitely morose. He was clearly trying to hold back but a slimy feeling was starting to spread across his skin regardless.

"About?"

"When I went for the double strike with whirlwind-"

"Sick attack by the way." Zoe stage whispered. Ko cracked a slight smile as he continued.

"Kuga's expression changed after I cut his arm off. That's when he used scorpion to kick escudo and knock me off-balance, preventing me from cutting down Hyuse."

"I knew he was holding back, but in the rank wars too?! That's insulting..."

"It didn't seem like he was holding back so much as he wasn't interest in going all out? His main focus didn't even seem to be points, it was just on us and our technique."

"Before our last rank war?" Zoe asked with a nervous sweat visible. Kage stayed far less collected at the thought.

"Hah?! You think the shrimp set a trap in our sparring match?!"

"Interesting... It would make sense... I definitely went into my first rank wars against him overconfident. And it would explain the projectile tricks..." Ko hummed as he reflected on all the times the batted blades. Of all the arches and copied moves and breakdowns his dreams
had provided on the young agents efficient fighting style.

"Oi, oi, oi, we were supposed to be fighting for fun! Some things are sacred; I don't want to have to think about points every time I cut someone up!"

"I don't think it's about that either..."

"You got a theory, Ko? 'Cause last I heard, he wanted to be on the away mission."

"Nothing yet... I really don't like to gossip about others." Kage sobered his temper. He had been there one too many nights after his side effect had shared with and caused his failing friendships. Kage had been the one he cried too and confided in before he was lucky enough to be helped through similar situations by his team.

"It's not like they rely on Kuga any less, just the opposite in fact. But by drawing all eyes on Hyuse, he now seems like the bigger target. Meanwhile Kuga keeps pulling the strings and supporting his allies. Suwa was right; Tamakoma-2 is all about traps..." Zoe mused ruefully into the silence set by the other two. Ko always appreciated his subtle discretion. If there was anyone he trusted to share secrets form his side effect with it'd be these two.

"And Tamakoma-1 isn't?!" Kage regained some of his vigor from Zoe's playful tone.

"Ko's never fought them before, remember."

"I have fought Konami once or twice though; she was too strong for me."

"Same here. I could only really take her down in team fights." Ko blinked in surprise. And this was who Kuga had been training with? No wonder the kid was such a menace... Still how did he manage as much? Kuga was three years their younger. Had only joined Border a
few months ago. Yet he fought with the best of Border's elite fighters with grace. Clearly had an excess of fighting experience.

Before anything else was exchanged, Kage's mother called from the kitchen. He snarled in response, but almost immediately was rising to help.

"We'll see him soon enough. We'll just ask him at our next training session. It's only a few days away."

"Do you still want me to bring Kuruma?"

"...Have him meet us at the restaurant. We can interrogate Kuga on the way." Kage seemed set on something. Ko took a sip on his drink as his mind wandered to what may yet be revealed by his dreams. He hoped to have a better grasp on his friend tomorrow. Much as he loathed the idea of questioning Kuga, too many things just didn't add up.

~
(Yuma)

He approached the Director while his assistant went to summon Ruka. Rindo was out at the moment. he had waited for the car to pull up. There would be no better chance.

"Director Shinoda?" Yuma hated this. Loathed this. Despised every aspect of this. To ask was to be vulnerable. To make a weakness known. To provide leverage. Even when he initially arrived in Mikado City, and was still being partially protected by Replica's patient presence, he was still hesitant to offer up any of his possible objectives. He offered spilling some secrets to Osamu; the similarities with his dad were simply too extreme. He let slip his cover story but this would be an actual inquisition. A serious request.
He swallowed. Had asking for things always been this hard? Had he ever really asked for anything or was it always others that some him struggling and offer assistance? If it was something that could hinder his ability to perform a mission he would approach anyone for clarification. He could come to understand situations and problems; to fulfill a mission, to accomplish a task, he was more than prepared to adapt and overcome challenges. This wasn't something to adapt to. It was a hole he wanted to be buried in. Yet he couldn't resist the urge to try and claw his way out and up the side. So here he stood; shaking the urge to tremble.

"Would you- Could you..."

"Yuma, if there's something I can help you with, all you have to do is ask." As if anything was ever that simple.

"I told you how your father helped me right? If I can repay that debt-" Shinoda made the process far easier.

"Could you please schedule a meeting with Karasawa?"

"The PR Director? What's Tamakoma want with him?"

"There'd only be one person attending; the relation to Tamakoma branch is irrelevant."

"Oh... Sure, I can set something up, no problem. Why ask me and not Rindo, though?" He felt brown eyes studying him. Searching for something. If he wanted a reciprocal action he would need to spell as much out for the stupid neighbor of himself... He ignored the
question and bowed slightly.

"Thank you. After a time and date is provided please consider and 'debt' you've imagined absolved. You don't need to be overly nice or accommodating Director. Nothing was ever expected from Border." 'I know better by now...'

"...Of course. Yes, of course, consider it done. Is there anything else I can do for you, Yuma?" He vehemently shook his head, embarrassed to be asking as much already. And nervous about being let down once again. It wasn't as if things could slip further. If this worked, he may have more. And if he it failed, well, he'd already lost everything.

"No need."

"It's not about need, I mean, do you want-"

"Thank you, Shinoda. Some discretion would be appreciated. Please contact me directly with the rendezvous information."

"Rendezvous- Er- Yes, of course." Yuma nodded once. Terse. Declarative. Definitive. He moved to silently exit the room; mission accomplished.

"If there's anything else I can do for you Yuma, please just ask, alright?" He stilled, felt frustration simmer under fake skin. He was never afforded a position to be angry in the past. No matter the circumstances, emotions only ever made matters worse. It was one of his
parents' stricter rules. One he rigidly enforced in their absence. Yet he struggled to keep himself properly contained as Shinoda continued to flaunt his priorities in his face.

"Your debt has been absolved, Director. There is no further need to play at checking in. Sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's not an inconvenience, Yuma, what you requested is a simple favor; something I'd gladly do for any of my agents. But the guidance and wisdom your father provided meant so much more-"

"Now it means nothing. He's dead. There is no one for you to cash in that debt towards. Sorry for the lack of a conclusive ending but this is why decisive action is paramount. Had you wanted your debt properly settled, you should have done so before he crossed over. As the one who carries his remains, I absolve you of this sense of obligation. Please do not use that excuse to bind us any longer. You are a Director of Border HQ, a commanding officer. You need not bother yourself with the likes of subordinates so far beneath you unless they are performing poorly. Have the results produced by Tamakoma-2 been unsatisfactory?" The man's mouth floundered like a fish for a couple of seconds before Yuma turned away once more.

"If that answer changes, please be prompt with declaring your dissatisfaction and immediate action will be taken." With no more possible pacifying words to placate his father's former student with, Yuma dismissed himself. Shinoda said nothing as he withdrew. As expected.
He fought with Hyuse through lunch. Fought to fight tooth and nail in a way he rarely was allowed to save when he fought Border's top agents. Kageura, Murakami, Konami. His latest bout with Kageura in the rank wars had satisfied his itch for a challenge. but the recent bout of revelations had him wound tight. He felt like a spring loaded gun. One with the safety off. Fixed on a target. Trigger set to fire for so long the gun was almost certainly jammed. Useless potential energy that tapered out. Too tense. Tight. No where to go. Hyuse was adapting well to the Border triggers and his sword skills were top class. But that was why he felt easier to defeat. Textbook. Courtyard parries and feints. Hyuse likely studied fencing as part of his education as a royal He hated how he knew this. Hated how easy it was to draw up memories of the Holy Land. The flowing flags in the grand halls, the death parades promoted by the Great Houses as their religion rallied the people for war. The starving who laid dying on the streets on the desolate edges of the planet nation; doubtless premature signs of their God's decline.

Yuma despised his useless knowledge and the inquisitive streak his father helped pry from his depths almost as much as he hated the sense of lingering energy that pervaded. Was this how Chika felt? After their seventh set of ten round matches, Cronin cut them off. Hyuse was fuming, a slight blush and sweat were seen on his face as he thoughtlessly flicked his trigger off. Yuma felt the weight of Cronin's eyes as he copied the motion. Even if he was in flesh, there was no reason for him to be near as irritated as Hyuse who had lost far more matches than he won. The older neighbor recovered quickly and demanded food and company for his meal. He felt inclined to decline when his jacket was latched onto. Hyuse bodily tugged him into the hall until he was walking behind Hyuse without resistance.

"That lonely without Yotaro, huh?" He jabbed. He meant to say as much as a joke, to dissipate whatever tenseness kept Hyuse's shoulders tight as he stayed staring straight ahead despite his insistence on having Yuma join him, but the bitterness built up by Replica's absence added an unintended edge to his words. When all he got was a growl, Yuma tried harder to pull his teammate out of his head space and make up for overstepping. He had already been a bit too aggressive in battle, Hyuse's pride probably had him still upset by the unbalanced score, there was no reason for Yuma's words to carry a harshness with them as well. He took a deep breath and tried again to bridge the gap.

"Are you finally feeling settled Hyuse?"

"Settled? I'm not settling for anything; the sooner I get home the better."

"Well nothing wrong with being comfortable in the mean time."

"...It feels like a betrayal."

"Hm?" Yuma hummed softly; a gentle encouragement.

"My Master took me in, trained me, provided me a home and a place amongst the elite. I will forever be grateful. I feel indebted to him in a way; I'd do anything to protect him. So having to sleep away from his side, to be comfortable in a foreign land... Asking anyone to do
that by themselves is ridiculous. You're lucky Yuma; Border just accepted you right away."

"There will always be those in Border who despise us just for being from the other side. I wouldn't call my transfer period smooth exactly; I'm really only here because of Osamu and Jin's efforts in recruiting me."

"How so?"

"Jin invited me and made a space for Osamu and Chika. He and the Boss just wanted to because of a trigger, and maybe a sense of obligation-" 'to fulfill the debt they feel they owe Dad or his friend'

"-Regardless, becoming a bit useful beyond that would be nice."

"Is that why you let Tamakoma two lean all it's weight on you in battle?"

"What do you mean? The wires and lead bullets, the topography alteration and cannon shots, not to mention Osamu's careful planning, everyone on the team does their part."

"Fair enough, but the only reason any of that actually comes together is because of you. Your part is eighty five percent of the operation and Usami is at least ten of the rest. Chika's trion level is four percent and I'll admit, sometimes four eyes has decent tactics and
preparedness, he gets the remaining one percent."

"Those are some pretty skewed numbers."

"Half of the shots Amatori landed with lead bullet have been due to you repositioning the enemy and deliberately orchestrating situations to enable it. The same could be said for Osamu. While I don't deny Amatori's skill and accuracy, her strength is in her trion capacity."

"And what do you think Osamu's strength is?"

"Hard to say. He is undoubtedly your weakest link. To be honest, I don't understand why you're not captain instead of him."

"That's what he said when we formed the team..."

"What!? But you have more experience and skill than him in combat. I don't doubt you're just as shrewd a tactician as well." As though he felt the atmosphere growing too serious, Yuma slipped on his duck face. Hyuse grit his teeth at the guy's snakeskin demeanor. Just like Jin. Impartial about all the wrong things. And sticking his nose in where it had no business being.

"Oh? You think so? Those are the reasons Osamu listed too. You guys really do think alike."

"Stop brushing this off, Yuma. You not only earned almost every point single-handedly before I joined, you also move to support and enable your teammates far beyond their skill level. As clear as it is you're A rank material, it's clear the other two belong in C rank. I'd be willing to bet both got promoted prematurely. Osmau is a smooth operator in practical affairs; he likely arranged a political agreement to artificially bolster his points. As for Chika, I wouldn't be surprised if she was promoted solely to gain access to the bail out function as a safety measure. One of Meeden's most remarkable advancements would be wasted if not shared with exceptional users such as her." Yuma remained puffed up and hidden as Hyuse plowed on.

"Given your skill, you should be leading your own squad. Should you invest a bit of time scouting the right members, you'd already be in A rank. Everyone is rather open about that being where you belong. It's quite obvious. So why hold yourself back?"

"Joining Border to fight alongside my friends. That sounds like the most fun; fighting alongside allies. And they have dreams that are attainable; to them achieve their goals- That's just it, okay? Just having fun and helping out friends and getting Replica back."

"Replica? I've heard you say that word before."

"He's not here anymore. Let's go see what's for dinner."

"...I won't ask about the replica if you tell me why you're so short for your age. I don't mean to be rude; there's nothing wrong with it and if it's genetic I'll drop it but-

"It's not genetic. Actually used to be fairly tall for my age until age eleven or so. Haven't grown since then. That was when the hair and pupils turned white too, in case you were wondering."

"May I ask why?"

"...Maybe another time. If you tell me more about your home."

"Are you trying to trick me into divulging information to the enemy? You are a Border agent after all."

"So are you now."

"In name alone."

"Yet here you are, training, eating and sleeping at a Border base, spending all day everyday dedicated to tasks that benefit Border alone, operating under their rules, fighting with their triggers."

"Okay! Enough! So what! I'm technically a prisoner of war! If the meedenites are stupid enough to arm me, that's their own fault."

"Come on now. You said you'd take us where we need to go as a team. That's hard to do if you're talking down on us."

"You can be so frustrating to deal with, just make up your mind already!"

"Evening Hyuse, I trust your training was fruitful?"

"Training sure, but Yuma is slippery as ever. He failed to divulge a single thing about himself."

"Never show anyone you're full hand; a pretty universally applicable rule if you ask me. Besides, I shared three whole facts about myself and you offered nothing but disdain in return. Poor negotiation skills. Close minded thinking like that is why you keep falling for my~
Ultimate Grasshopper!"

"Enough! That trigger is too over-powered in your grubby little hands! And you basically just offered a time frame with a vague allusion to some event. What made you stop growing and your hair and pupils turn white, anyway?"

"Breach of confidentiality lowers trust Hyuse; your negotiation grade keeps getting lower and lower. Not to mention my condition is still in effect. Tell me something about your life growing up. You can make up names or obscure military intel if you must just be honest about
your feelings and experiences. That's all I was asking for. Because to answer your question I have to do the same. Not something I'm comfortable with personally so let's just drop it."

"But surely plenty of people have asked. You're appearance is quite distinctive. Even on the other side; and I'm fully aware that I'm in the same category which is why I ask. Have you seriously just never told anyone about-" Words failing and frustrations rising, Hyuse gestured vaguely at Yuma's person. The boy's duck face nearly twitched, brows furrowed in the hint of a scowl before his blinking and bangs sent context out the window again."

"One person. One person ever asked about me to myself directly since it happened and with seemingly honest intentions. I thought I would never seen them again, and they deserved to know the truth as part of their inquiry pertained to another person of tangential importance to us mutually. Anyway, the first part didn't end up being the case so-"

"Who is it? Who knows?"

"I'm not sure who all 'know'. Osamu and the Boss for one thing though I never told them personally. As for the individual I told, I hardly talk to, or even see them, at all so it doesn't really matter."

"This person was able to coax such pertinent intel out of you, surely they are important."

"You're being overly presumptuous. Looking back, it was largely circumstantial."

"What's going on in here?"

Shiori asked as she stepped into the living room.

"A Yuma secret Hyuse is trying to learn; a secret that the Boss, Osamu, and a secret third party all know."

"What's this 'Yuma secret' Yotaro? How come Osamu knows and I don't, I'm your mentor Yuma!"

"Yes which means I train with you. Besides, you do not tell me about your problems. So I did not think-"

"Of course you didn't think idiot! I tell you about my problems all the time! Just the other day I told you how hard a text was to write. And how annoying Midorikawa was being around Futaba, you should tell him to cool it or he'll blow his chances. Or how Torimaru tried to trick
me that fake trigger nonsense, again!"

"It could be a real trigger."

"Hm..."

"Any..."

"Hm!!!"

"Day now."

"Enough you two. And the other two, are you done fighting yet?"

"We're not fighting."

"Whatever..."

"What?! But I wanted the secret behind why Yuma looks so weird!" Yuma blinked, used to such comments but not from his alleged allies. The rest of the branch members froze. He felt a cold weight start to entangle his falsified form as other's attention but not their eyes
shifted towards him. Like when he was being targeted on the field or tracked via enemy radar. A feeling without the weight of knowing. Too polite to stare yet worried all the same. He loathed it. After about five beats, Shiori broke the moment with a firm bop to the boy's helmeted head.

"That's not very nice Yotaro. Everyone looks... Unique in their own way." Somehow, that hit him harder that Yotaro's outright declaration. He knew he was short. He knew white hair was uncommon, especially for someone his age. White pupils are the rarer. He was
somewhat gangly too but with all his clothes being a bit baggy that wasn't a problem any of them should know of. All the same... From a teammate direct the half-lie stung. Hard. Like gravel in an open cut.
"You don't have to lie Shiori. The truth is familiar. It's fine."

"Yuma..." Normally he appreciated her decisiveness once she was able to comprehend a situation. But the pile of pity he perceived from her tone kept him from proceeding forward with his facade.

 

"Like I said earlier, I look strange too, there's nothing wrong with it. But there's a reason I am the way I am. I know you must be the same."

"And earlier it was said that when you open up to me about yourself and your experiences I will do the same. Frankly, it is no one's business but my own and if I could go back, to have not blabbed so no one knows; it clearly did nothing to help. Excuse me." Yuma left the room. There was a minor scuffle in the hall before a confused Osamu wandered in with Chika, and Reiji.

 

"What was Yuma in such a rush for?"

"Let's just leave that alone... How was your trip?"

"It was super fun! We-"

The voices faded as Yuma's body flit through space. He shoved his shoes on and took flight from the base. No one followed him. No one chased him. There would be no Bounds.

~