The morning sun cast a warm glow over the tranquil surroundings of the Tamakoma branch. Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as preparations for the arrival of two new members were underway. In the heart of the branch's main hall, Osamu and Yuma were tidying up the area and ensuring everything was in order for the incoming guests.
Yuma glanced up from his task, a hint of excitement dancing in his eyes. "I heard Chief Kido approved Hoshizora to join Border. He might be joining Tamakoma with his guard Kotori." he remarked, his voice filled with anticipation. Osamu paused, his brow furrowing. "Are you sure about that?" he questioned. "Chief Kido didn't seem too keen on the idea." Before Yuma could respond, the door to the main hall swung open, and Konami entered with her characteristic energy. She scanned the room, her gaze landing on Yuma and Osamu.
"Hey, what's got you two looking so serious?" she asked, a curious expression on her face. Yuma's excitement bubbled up again as he turned to Konami. "We were just talking about the new recruits," he explained eagerly. "Hoshizora might be joining us, along with his guard, Kotori." Konami's eyes lit up with interest at the mention of Kotori's name. "Another Sogetsu user, huh?" she mused aloud. "I wonder what she's like."
Karasuma, who had been lingering nearby, couldn't resist jumping into the conversation with a mischievous grin. "Oh, you know, probably a real tough cookie," he teased. Konami raised an eyebrow, looking to Karasuma for more information. "Really? How so?" she inquired. Karasuma chuckled, enjoying the opportunity to play a little prank. "Well, I heard she once took down a Trion Soldier single-handedly, using nothing but a paperclip and some chewing gum," he embellished, his expression deadpan.
Konami's eyes widened in surprise, her gullible nature getting the best of her. "Wow, really?" she exclaimed, falling for the joke hook, line, and sinker. Osamu stifled a laugh, shooting Karasuma a playful glare. "Don't listen to him, Konami. You know he's just messing with you," he interjected, trying to set the record straight. But the damage was done, and Konami couldn't help but wonder just how formidable their new recruit might be.
Karasuma chuckled at Konami's wide-eyed reaction, unable to contain his amusement. "Sorry, it was a lie," he admitted, his face straight. Konami's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized she'd fallen for Karasuma's prank. She playfully swatted him on the arm. "You got me good, Karasuma," she conceded, trying to save face despite the heat creeping into her cheeks.
As the laughter settled, the door to the main hall slid open, and Shiori Usami stepped in, her tablet in hand as she scanned the room. "Everything looks good here," she announced, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction.
Yotaro followed behind her, perched atop Rajinmaru, his expression cheerful as always. "Hey there, everyone! Ready for the new recruits?" he chimed in. Osamu nodded, a sense of anticipation building within him. "Yeah, we're just about finished here," he confirmed. Yuma flashed a thumbs-up. "All set and ready to go," he added. Konami joined in, a determined glint in her eye. "Let's give them a warm welcome," she suggested.
As the team stood ready, anticipation mounting, Konami's excitement bubbled over at the sight of the main door beginning to jiggle. "They're here!" she exclaimed. With a burst of sound and color, party poppers erupted as the door swung open, revealing not the expected new recruits, but rather Hyuse and Chika entering the hall. Confusion flashed across their faces at the unexpected welcome.
"What's all this for?" Hyuse inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity as he glanced around at the festive scene. Chika's expression mirrored Hyuse's confusion as she scanned the room, taking in the party poppers and cheerful atmosphere. "Yeah, we're already part of Tamakoma," she added.
Konami's excitement faltered slightly at the realization of her mistake, but she quickly recovered with a sheepish grin. "Oops, sorry about that!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Yuma chuckled at the mix-up, "Well, it's always a good time for a celebration, right?" he remarked with a grin.
Osamu nodded in agreement, trying to diffuse the situation with a light-hearted tone. "Exactly! Consider it a warm welcome back," he added, flashing a reassuring smile. As the team recovered from the mix-up, the sound of the main door opening drew their attention once again. This time, Renji stepped through, accompanied by Hoshizora, Kotori, and Director Rindo. The atmosphere shifted, excitement mingling with curiosity as the newcomers entered the hall.
Renji's expression was one of quiet confidence as he scanned the room, taking in the scene before him. "Ah, it seems we've arrived just in time," he remarked with a small smile, his gaze meeting each member of the team in turn. Hoshizora's demeanor was noticeably guarded as he entered. He maintained a composed facade, but there was a subtle tension in his stance. "Looks like we're in for quite the welcome," he observed, his tone neutral as he glanced around.
Kotori followed close behind, her expression showing a hint of nervousness beneath her outward composure. She offered a polite smile to the team, but her eyes darted around the room, taking in the unfamiliar faces and surroundings. "Thank you for having us," she said sincerely, her voice slightly softer than usual as she greeted the team. Director Rindo surveyed the group. "Ah look at this, this was a good setup for them guys." he remarked.
Konami's embarrassment from earlier melted away as she greeted the newcomers with a warm smile. "Welcome to Tamakoma!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm reignited by the arrival of their new teammates. Yuma's grin widened as he stepped forward and waved to Hoshizora, noticing the guardedness in his demeanor. "Great to have you aboard," he said enthusiastically.
Osamu nodded in agreement, extending a welcoming hand to Kotori, as he observed her nervousness. "We're looking forward to working with you both," he added. Renji nodded in agreement with Director Rindo's observation, acknowledging the effort put into welcoming their new members. "Indeed, it's always good to see the team coming together like this," he remarked.
Turning his attention to the teams, Renji began the introductions. "Allow me to formally introduce our newcomers," he announced. "This is Hoshizora Kurenai, and his guard, Kotori Minase. They'll be joining us here at Tamakoma." Hoshizora nodded in acknowledgment, his guarded demeanor softening slightly as he addressed the team. "Pleasure to meet you all," he said.
Kotori followed suit, offering a polite bow before addressing the team. "Thank you for welcoming us," she said sincerely, her nerves still evident in her voice despite her efforts to maintain composure. Renji continued with the introductions, gesturing to each member of the team in turn. "And you already know the rest of the teams," he added. "This is Kirie Konami, Kyosuke Karasuma, Yuma Kuga, Osamu Mikumo, and others. The one you walked in with is our Director Takumi Rindo. We're all here to work together and support each other as members of Tamakoma."
Konami's eyes sparkled with determination as she approached Hoshizora, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious newcomer. She sized him up, noting the blindfold that obscured his eyes, but her keen gaze held a hint of approval. With a nod of her head, she spoke with unwavering confidence. "I want you as my student," she declared. Hoshizora's brow furrowed in confusion at Konami's unexpected declaration. "Your student?" he echoed, taken aback by her proposition. "But why would you want a blind man as your student?"
Konami chuckled softly, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I know you're not blind," she confessed. "I did some research on you before you arrived. You can fight without your eyes right?" Hoshizora's confusion deepened at Konami's revelation, his guard momentarily slipping as he processed her words. "You... know?" he murmured, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Konami nodded, her gaze steady as she met Hoshizora's eyes. "I do," she affirmed. "And I believe there's more to you than meets the eye. I want to learn from you, Hoshizora. I want to understand your perspective and your abilities. Will you spar with me?"
The sudden challenge from Konami caught everyone off guard, their eyes widening in surprise as they processed her words. Yuma's eyebrows shot up in astonishment, while Osamu glanced between Konami and Hoshizora with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Renji's expression remained impassive, though a flicker of intrigue sparked in his eyes at the unexpected turn of events.
Hoshizora's gaze flickered between Konami and the rest of the team, his uncertainty palpable in the air. "Spar with you?" he echoed. "But why?" Konami's smile widened, a glint of excitement dancing in her eyes as she explained her reasoning. "Because I believe in your abilities, Hoshizora," she replied. "I want to see firsthand what you're capable of, and perhaps learn a thing or two in the process." Yuma couldn't help but grin at Konami's boldness. "That sounds like a challenge!" he exclaimed. "I'd love to see a match between you two!"
Osamu nodded in agreement, his curiosity piqued by the prospect of witnessing such an unexpected showdown. "Count me in too," he added. Renji regarded the scene before him with a thoughtful expression, weighing the implications of Konami's proposition. After a moment of consideration, he nodded in approval. "Very well," he said. "Let's use the training area for your spar. It'll be a good opportunity for everyone to see each other's capabilities."
"Hold on!" Usami's interruption halted the group, her concern evident as she addressed Hoshizora. "Before the spar, Zora, we need to discuss your Trigger setup," she began. Hoshizora, initially guarded, listened carefully. "I only have my modified Kogetsu and shield," he admitted. Usami's expression tightened at the revelation. "That's insufficient," she remarked.
"You need to optimize yourself." Hoshizora's reluctance was evident, but Renji's advice encouraged him. "You must be fully prepared," Renji advised. Hoshizora agreed to optimize his Trigger selection, preparing to face Konami at his best.
As they arrived at the training area, Usami immediately got to work, scanning Hoshizora's Trigger setup with a device in hand. Her brow furrowed as she reviewed the data, her expression growing increasingly perplexed. "Hmm... This is unexpected," she murmured, her eyes flicking between the readings on her device and Hoshizora.
After a moment of silence, Usami finally spoke up, her tone tinged with surprise. "I'm surprised Chief Kido issued you a B-Rank Trigger," she admitted, her voice carrying a note of astonishment. Hoshizora's gaze flicked to Usami, a hint of confusion in his eyes at her reaction. Director Rindo, standing nearby, nodded in agreement with Usami's assessment. "Indeed, it's unusual for a newcomer to receive such a high-level Trigger," he remarked, his tone thoughtful.
Hoshizora remained silent, his mind racing as he processed Usami's words. The unexpected revelation left him with more questions than answers, but he knew he had to focus on the task at hand: optimizing his Trigger setup for the upcoming spar with Konami.
Usami turned her attention to Hoshizora, her expression now one of curiosity. "Before we optimize you, do you know what your Trion levels are?" she inquired. Hoshizora's brows furrowed slightly as he shook his head. "No, I'm not sure," he admitted. Usami glanced at Kotori, a silent question in her eyes.
Kotori hesitated for a moment before meeting Usami's gaze, her own expression shifting uneasily. "Actually, Hoshizora's Trion levels are close to Chika's," she replied nervously, averting her eyes. Usami's eyes widened in astonishment. "You're close to Chika's levels?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. Director Rindo stepped forward, his expression thoughtful as he considered the implications. "That's quite remarkable," he remarked, his tone reflecting both surprise and intrigue.
Konami's eyes widened in disbelief at Kotori's revelation, her usual confidence momentarily faltering. Karasuma, noticing Konami's reaction, turned to her with a furrowed brow. "Are you sure you still want to spar with Hoshizora?" he asked. Konami shook her head, a determined glint returning to her eyes. "Of course," she replied firmly. "If anything, this makes it even more interesting." Her conviction echoed through the room, reaffirming her commitment to the challenge ahead.
Usami turned her attention back to Hoshizora, her expression focused. "Now that we know your Trion levels, let's discuss how you'd like to approach this spar," she suggested. "Do you have a preferred fighting style or strategy?"
Hoshizora paused, considering his response carefully before replying, "I'd like to be an all-round fighter." Usami nodded, noting his preference. "Understood," she said, her fingers already tapping away at her tablet to make the necessary adjustments. "I'll optimize your Trigger setup to enhance your versatility in combat." Usami glanced up from her tablet, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Are there any specific Triggers you have in mind that you'd like to incorporate into your setup?" she asked Hoshizora, curious to hear his preferences.
Hoshizora nodded thoughtfully, considering Usami's question. "Yes, there are a couple I had in mind," he replied. "I'd like to incorporate Meteor, Bagworm, Escudo, and Scorpion into my setup." Usami nodded, taking note of Hoshizora's preferences. "Those are solid choices," she remarked. "With that combination, you'll have both offensive and defensive capabilities, along with stealth options. I'll get to work on optimizing your setup," she announced.
As Usami worked on optimizing Hoshizora's Trigger, the team engaged in idle conversation, eager to learn more about their new member. "So, Kotori," Karasuma began, breaking the silence, "what was Hoshizora like back at HQ?" Kotori's expression turned somber, "Well," she started hesitantly, "Hoshizora was... guarded. Understandably so, given the past couple of days."Yuma's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Past couple of days? What happened when we weren't there?"
"You know how some agents treat Neighbors at HQ? Well…it wasn't pleasant for him." Osamu's eyes widened in shock. "Border treated him poorly?" Kotori nodded sadly. "Yes, unfortunately. There were some who didn't treat him with the respect or dignity he deserved. They acted like he was less of a person." Renji's expression darkened at the revelation. "I see," he remarked quietly. "That must have been incredibly difficult for him."
Konami's jaw clenched in frustration as she pulled on her shirt sleeve. "That's unacceptable," she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger. "No one deserves to be treated like that." Yuma nodded in agreement. "Definitely. But it looks like he's found a better place here with us," he said optimistically.
As the conversation drew to a close, Usami looked up from her work, a satisfied expression on her face. She nodded to Hoshizora, indicating that his Trigger was now properly optimized. "Your Trigger is ready," she announced.
As Hoshizora expressed his gratitude towards Usami, he activated his Trigger. "Trigger On!" Hoshizora's Trion body materialized, maintaining his iconic blindfold that obscured his eyes. Clad in long sleeves that were slightly too big for him, along with shorts and boots, all in a striking black and white color scheme. Despite the simplicity of his attire, Hoshizora's Trion body bore the unmistakable mark of Tamakoma's insignia proudly displayed on his back.
As the commotion settled, Jin casually strolled into the room, his keen eyes scanning the scene before him with a calm demeanor. "What's all the excitement about?" he inquired. His gaze fell upon Hoshizora and Kotori, and he arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "Ah, new recruits, I presume?"
Renji, acknowledging Jin's observation, stepped forward and confirmed, "Yes, indeed. This is Hoshizora Kurenai and his guard, Kotori Minase. They'll be joining us here at Tamakoma." He gestured towards the newcomers, presenting them to Jin. Jin sized them up with a discerning gaze, his expression thoughtful as he assessed the newcomers. After a moment of consideration, he nodded his head in approval.
"Konami will be sparring with Hoshizora," Renji explained. However, Jin's attention then shifted to Konami, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Konami, this fight may not be in your favor," he stated. "My Side Effect says so."