The training field of Riot Force 6 lay scarred, a testament to the relentless gauntlet match that had just concluded. Fuji, Renjou, and Kai sprawled on the parched earth, their bodies screaming in protest. The air hung thick with the metallic tang of sweat and the dust kicked up by their fierce combat.
"…Damn… you two are strong…" Fuji wheezed, his chest heaving.
"I don't know what the hell you were thinking, Fuji… your idea for a gauntlet match was utterly insane," Renjou grumbled, his voice strained, yet laced with a hint of grudging respect.
"Crap… I can't move at all…" Kai groaned, his limbs heavy as lead.
"Seriously, what possessed you to suggest this, out of the blue?" Renjou demanded, turning his weary gaze towards Fuji.
"…A bond…" Fuji murmured, his eyes fixed on the cloudless sky.
"A bond?" Renjou and Kai echoed, their voices laced with confusion.
"Yes. After Commander Yagami formed our team, Forward Phantom, I realized we needed to forge a deeper connection, a bond of mutual trust and support. Like the Oath of the Peach Garden from the Three Kingdoms." Fuji pushed himself into a sitting position, his muscles protesting with every movement.
"You mean, like Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei?" Renjou asked, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
"Exactly. I see you two as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, strong and unwavering, and Commander Yagami chose me as the leader, making me Liu Bei. I believe this is why she handpicked us for Riot Force 6. As brothers." Fuji's voice held a quiet conviction.
A slow smile spread across Renjou's face. "You know what? I like your idea, Leader." He sat up, his weariness momentarily forgotten.
"As brothers, huh? Well, that doesn't sound half bad, Leader," Kai agreed, mirroring Renjou's movement.
As if on cue, their intelligence devices chimed in unison.
"A close relationship," Greyturkin, Fuji's device, stated.
"A trust and support," Ripple Beat, Renjou's device, added.
"As brothers," Soul Edge, Kai's device, concluded.
"Yes, let's make this a memory. Even though this field has no sakura to bloom yet," Fuji said, a wistful smile playing on his lips.
Fuji rose, his movements deliberate, and drove his weapon into the earth beneath a gnarled tree. Renjou and Kai followed suit, placing their weapons alongside his. They gripped the hilts, and with a shared effort, they pulled them upwards, the weapons meeting in a symbolic union against the vast sky.
The scene dissolved, and Fuji found himself jolted awake. The digital clock on his bedside table read 03:30 AM. It was his usual routine, the quiet hours before dawn dedicated to his culinary craft.
He moved with practiced efficiency, retrieving vegetables, meat, fish, and a pre-prepared dough from the pantry. The kitchen, bathed in the soft glow of the overhead light, became his sanctuary. He started by simmering bones and herbs for a rich stock base, the fragrant aroma filling the air. He chopped vegetables with rhythmic precision, filleted fish with a deft hand, and kneaded dough for freshly baked bread. For Fuji, the kitchen was not a chore, but a playground, a canvas for his culinary artistry.
"It's done. Right on time," he murmured, removing his apron.
"Good morning, Brother Fuji," Sein greeted him as she and the other Sisters entered the kitchen.
"Ah, good morning, Sisters. Could you please take these meals to the hall? Breakfast is ready." Fuji smiled warmly.
"Yes, Brother Fuji," the Sisters replied, their voices filled with admiration.
"You're early as usual, Brother Fuji. I'm impressed you can manage all this alone," Schach remarked, entering the kitchen.
"The kitchen is my playground, Sister Schach. My parents ran a Chinese restaurant on Earth, and I started learning to cook when I was five," Fuji explained, his eyes twinkling.
His routine as a Brother at Saint Church was a source of profound satisfaction. He felt he had finally found his true calling. The other Brothers and Sisters respected and admired his gentle nature and unwavering dedication. At noon, Fuji prepared tea and cakes for Knight Carim and Sister Schach.
"Knight Carim, Sister Schach, I've brought the tea," he announced, entering the office.
"Ah, thank you, Brother Fuji. I'm sorry to trouble you at noon," Carim said.
"It's no trouble at all, Knight Carim. Today's tea is black tea, and I've made a roll cake," Fuji said, setting the tray on the table.
"You know, with your skills, you could open your own restaurant someday," Schach suggested.
"I prefer to continue my parents' legacy, Sister. I don't know how to start a business from scratch," Fuji replied, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
"But Nanoha-san told me that you, Renjou, and Kai used to make midnight snacks at Riot Force 6 after midnight patrols," Carim said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Well… that… uuuuh…" Fuji stammered, his cheeks flushing.
He recalled those clandestine midnight gatherings in the mess hall, the quiet camaraderie shared over freshly made scallion pancakes. The thrill of creating something delicious in the dead of night, the shared laughter, the unspoken bond that had formed between them.
"Well… a lot happened back then, Knight Carim," Fuji said, laughing nervously.
"You were quite mischievous, Brother Fuji," Carim chuckled.
"Indeed," Schach added, a smile playing on her lips.
Meanwhile, in Midchilda City, Subaru and Teana met at a café. Teana was engrossed in her work, while Subaru watched her with a mixture of concern and amusement.
"Busy as usual, Tea. Even on Sunday, you're working," Subaru observed.
"I can't help it, Subaru. These reports won't finish themselves. Thanks to Lieutenant Archibald Enzo, my work has become a lot easier," Teana said.
"Archibald Enzo? The masked person?" Subaru asked.
"Yes, do you know him, Subaru?" Teana inquired.
"I met him during the Adamatron attack near TSAB HQ. Gin-nee and the others arrived, but the enemy was few. I saw him with Nanoha-san and Vita-san. He seemed quiet and mysterious," Subaru recalled.
"He is very mysterious, but he's not a bad person. I met him at TSAB HQ with Fate-san for information," Teana said.
"Have you seen him in battle?" Subaru asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I saw him sparring with Fate-san. His skills are as strong as hers. I heard he also sparred with Nanoha," Teana said.
"So he's very strong after all. I can't wait to see him in action," Subaru exclaimed.
"He's a busy person, Subaru. He's handling a lot of investigations these days, from the Adamatron attacks to the Imposter Kai and the Device Jumper incidents. But I still don't know who funds those device jumpers," Teana said, finishing her work.
Back at Saint Church, Fuji was preparing for the next day's breakfast. He noticed that the herb and spice supplies were running low and decided to go to the supermarket. Coincidentally, he ran into Renjou.
"It's been a while, Leader," Renjou said.
"It's not Leader, it's Brother Fuji," Fuji corrected gently.
"You never change. By the way, do you miss Kai?" Renjou asked.
"He's our brother, a bond we forged at Riot Force 6. Of course, I miss him. Do you, Renjou?" Fuji replied.
"Sometimes I miss him too. He was a dependable person on missions. So, how long has he been in a coma?" Renjou asked.
"It's six months now. I keep thinking about when we'll visit him," Fuji said.
"We're both busy. You're a Brother at Saint Church, and I'm a captain in Battalion 255. But we'll visit him someday," Renjou said.
"Yeah… you're right…" Fuji agreed.
"Well, I'm heading home now. Tomorrow's a busy day. See ya," Renjou said, departing.
The next noon, Sisters Schach and Brother Fuji met Verossa Accous and Admiral Chrono Harlaown.
"Good afternoon, Sister," Chrono and Verossa greeted.
"Good afternoon, Verossa, Admiral Chrono," Schach replied.
"Um, who is the Brother beside you?" Verossa asked.
"This is Yoshitaka Fuji, a former TSAB member who is now a Brother at Saint Church. Brother Fuji, this is Verossa Accous, Knight Carim's half-brother," Schach introduced them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Brother Fuji," Verossa said.
"The pleasure is mine, Verossa-san," Fuji replied.
"Yoshitaka Fuji… if I'm not mistaken, you worked under Commander Yagami at Riot Force 6, right?" Chrono surmised.
"That's correct, Admiral. I served as a special unit under Commander Yagami's command," Fuji confirmed.
"Forward Phantom?" Chrono recalled.
"Yes, that's right," Fuji replied.
"I knew it. Hayate told me she had formed another special force that operated solely under her command. It was called Forward Phantom, a special unit that worked behind the scenes, and it consisted of only three members," Chrono explained.
"That's correct, Chrono. Brother Fuji is the leader of Forward Phantom," Schach added.
"A-ah, we should continue inside. We shouldn't block the way," Fuji suggested, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the attention.
They made their way to Carim's office, where the atmosphere was warm and inviting. As they settled into their seats, Chrono's curiosity was piqued.
"So, Fuji, what made you decide to leave the TSAB and become a Brother of Saint Church?" Chrono asked.
Fuji hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the window. "It's a long story, Admiral," he began. "After the JS incident… Imposter Kai… I felt… lost. After Riot Force 6 disbanded, I chose to transfer to The Saint Church."
"And you found what you were looking for here?" Verossa asked, his eyes filled with genuine interest.
"Yes," Fuji replied, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "I found a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, in serving others. It's a different kind of service than what I did in the TSAB, but it's just as fulfilling."
"I see," Chrono said, nodding thoughtfully. "You've found your own way, Fuji. That's admirable."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and Fuji found himself enjoying the company of these two distinguished individuals. As the afternoon wore on, Fuji excused himself to prepare tea for their guests. But suddenly, an urgent message interrupted their peaceful gathering.
"Knight Carim! Emergency! An attack near Saint Church!" a knight reported through the communication device.
"What?! The Adamatron?!" Carim exclaimed, and everyone was taken aback.
"Yes, they're attacking near Saint Church," the knight confirmed.
"Sister Carim, Brother Fuji, please move out! Verossa, Admiral Chrono, can you please evacuate the students at the school?" Carim instructed.
"Understood, let's go, Verossa," Chrono said, and he and Verossa quickly left the office.
"Let's go, Brother Fuji!" Schach said, and they both rushed out.
Outside Saint Church, Fuji and Schach changed into their barrier jackets. Fuji immediately erected a "Whirlwind Shield" barrier to protect Saint Church from the Adamatron attacks. They then headed towards the location of the attack. The attackers were the same—humanoid and flying droids—but the leader was different. It was a large, mute man wielding an iron axe. Schach instructed the knights to handle the flying droids and humanoid Adamatrons while she and Fuji dealt with the mute man.
Schach and Fuji took turns attacking the mute man, carefully coordinating their efforts. The mute man's attacks were incredibly powerful and destructive, but fortunately, Schach was able to evade them using her illusions. However, the mute man suddenly activated something—a Device Jumper, but far more powerful than those used by DSAA Athletes.
"I-is that?! A Device Jumper?!" Schach exclaimed, surprised.
"T-this feeling?! Sister Schach, please be careful! I feel like I recognize this aura!" Fuji warned.
The mute man's speed doubled, and his attacks became twice as powerful and destructive. Thanks to Schach's "Whirl Swift Dash" and Fuji's "Mirage Step" teleportation abilities, they were able to dodge the attacks. Unbeknownst to the mute man, Fuji had already activated his "Strategic Insight" spell.
"Master, enemy weakness has been spotted," Greyturkin, Fuji's device, reported.
"Good job, Greyturkin. Now I just need to hold him off. Sister Schach, please wait for my signal," Fuji instructed Schach.
"Understood, Brother Fuji. Tell me the location of his weakness when you're ready," Schach replied.
"Yes, let's go, Greyturkin!" Fuji said, steeling himself.
Fuji engaged the mute man in a head-on battle, waiting for the right moment for Schach to deliver the finishing blow. His device, Greyturkin, activated the "Phantom Soldier" spell to confuse the enemy, who wildly attacked Fuji without mercy, unable to distinguish the real Fuji from the illusions. The mute man eventually fell into Fuji's trap, ensnared by "Binding Winds," and Fuji cast a "Reinforcement" spell on Schach, enhancing her abilities to restrain the mute man's movements.
"NOW! SISTER SCHACH!" Fuji signaled.
"LEAVE IT TO ME! WINDENSCHAFT!" Schach commanded her intelligence device.
Windenschaft began to cartridge load, preparing to eliminate the mute man with Schach's "Gale Swift" technique. The attack struck the mute man's core in the brain area, where the Device Jumper was located.
The mute man collapsed, unconscious, and his body suddenly turned to ashes, including his intelligence device.
"He turned into ashes?!" Fuji exclaimed, surprised.
"Brother Fuji, we should report this to Knight Carim and Commander Yagami immediately," Schach urged.
"Yes, we must hurry," Fuji agreed.
Meanwhile, in a hidden location, Rito met with a mysterious individual. The individual handed her a case filled with money, and Rito gave him a batch of Device Jumpers.
"I hope we can work together again. It's been a pleasure doing business with you," Rito said with a sly smile.
(To be continued)