Archive of Our Own

In the aftermath of what they're now calling the "Lunar Attack" incident, it takes a while for everything to settle down.

For Harumi, she wouldn't have believed the news at all if she hadn't been able see the moon in the sky with her own eyes.

There's also the fact of the matter that encounters with mysterious, ethereal monsters that can turn humans into carbon dust with a mere touch are commonplace nowadays. So Harumi supposes that the extraordinary is starting to become ordinary, and nothing can really surprise her anymore.

What a world.

A lot of news outlets are quoting press releases from various astronomical agencies, who are repeatedly assuring everyone that any stray Lunar debris pieces are still safely in orbit and would not be colliding with the Earth anytime soon.

…

Well.

Harumi will have to take their word for it.

The moon actually looks very small in the sky, but knowing how far away and how large the moon is, and knowing that something had the power to cause this kind of damage, that is deeply unsettling.

But anyway.

Harumi tries to not concern herself with any of that.

More importantly.

More importantly…

Hibiki.

She's worried.

Did her daughter make it out of the Noise attack alive? Tokyo was hit pretty hard, after all. Buildings from all across the city are in rubble, and the roads are cracked and damaged.

And Lydian Academy…

Harumi's stomach sinks when she sees the first news chopper photos.

Lydian Academy is completely totalled. Nothing is left. Not even remains of the school buildings. It's just a charred crater now.

She keeps checking the news outlets, desperately searching for any signs that her daughter is alive.

None of the phone numbers she tries are responding. The landlines and cell towers in Tokyo must have been really hit hard by the Noise attack this time.

Since Harumi is the one panicking, it seems that her old mother, Hibiki's grandmother, has taken on the more relaxed, calm figure in this situation.

But Harumi knows that even deep down, her mother is also deeply worried about Hibiki's safety.

And then…

Finally.

Finally, at 6am the next morning (Harumi hadn't gotten a wink of sleep), she gets a phone call from a government phone number.

Her heart sinks when she sees the number. It isn't Hibiki's number. It isn't from the school's area code.

Would this be a report of a dead body? A call to the deceased's family?

Harumi's stomach churns in her gut.

And then, after hesitating for only a brief moment, she picks up the phone with one quick movement. "Hello?" she says.

"Mom!" comes an excited, albeit somewhat high-strung voice from the other end. "Mom, are you okay? Did you see what happened to the moon?"

Harumi stumbles, dizzy with relief. That's her daughter's voice.

"Hibiki!" says Harumi, shouting into the phone. "I'm the one who should be asking you that! Are you hurt anywhere? Is everything all right? How about Miku, is she hurt?"

"I'm fine!" says Hibiki. "Miku's fine, too."

Harumi lets out a big sigh of relief. She stumbles over to a chair and collapses into it. "Where are you now?" she asks.

"I'm at the Special Disaster Response Team Division 2 base," says Hibiki.

Harumi blinks. She doesn't know where that is. "Oh," she says.

"Maaaan, our school was completely destroyed," says Hibiki, sounding way more upbeat than she has any right being. Harumi does notice a strain to the cheerfulness, though. Her daughter's probably forcing herself. Harumi can tell. "Along with all our dorm buildings too."

"Are you coming home?" asks Harumi.

"Um. Well." Hibiki laughs. "I mean, they're probably not going to be able to continue school for a while. It's almost summer break anyway. Might as well start the break a bit early, right?"

"Do you need a ride home?" asks Harumi.

"No, no," says Hibiki. "Ogawa-san—Er, someone here at the base can drive us."

"Make sure to thank them," says Harumi. "Is Miku coming with you?"

"Oh. Yeah, most likely," says Hibiki.

Harumi breathes a sigh of relief.

She's happy her daughter managed to find happiness in Tokyo, away from the abusive environment with the bullying at school here, but…

Tokyo has been a genuine hotspot for Noise attacks recently, for some reason.

Harumi will feel much less anxious when Hibiki is home and safe.

…

Or, that's what she thought.

When her daughter mentioned someone driving her home, she imagined some sort of nondescript driver person. Someone not too important in the grand scheme of things, since Harumi imagines the government has more important things to do than drive home a couple of ordinary high school students.

But when her daughter arrives, the person accompanying her is… not what you'd expect an ordinary government worker to look like.

He's a super bulky guy with wild red hair, and a pink tie.

"Hello there!" says the man, smiling, stepping out of the car before anyone else. He holds up an id card. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kazanari Genjuuoru, head of the Division 2 of the Special Disaster Response Team."

"Head?" repeats Harumi, stunned. She squints, looking more closely at the id card. It… looks legitimate, at the very least. "I didn't know here was a second division."

"Most people don't," he says. "What we work on is top secret."

"Moooooooom!" shouts an excited, blur of motion.

Harumi sees her daughter running out of the car and only has a brief moment to prepare before Hibiki tackles her into a hug.

Harumi takes a moment to hold Hibiki tightly in her arms, grateful that she's still alive and well.

She glances up and notices Miku, her daughter's best and closest friend, standing a respectful distance back, smiling at the scene.

"Are we," says Hibiki, glancing at the tall red-haired guy (Genjuurou, was it?), "gonna talk to Mom about the thing?"

Genjuurou blinks. "Ah, yes, that would probably be best."

"Is… Is my daughter in trouble?" asks Harumi, suddenly apprehensive.

"No, no!" says Genjuurou, shaking his head. "Quite the opposite, in fact. But it might take a while to get through it all. You're not busy, I hope?"

Harumi shakes her head. "We were going to get started on lunch a bit later, but I have a bit of time to talk now."

"Excellent," says Genjuurou. He holds up a bag. "Apologies for intruding. Please accept this."

Oh, it's all sorts of delicious bakery snacks, from a trendy part of Tokyo.

"Ah." Harumi nods. "Thank you."

As wild and untamed this man may look, he is the picture-perfect example of politeness. He uses a rather respectful register of voice, he brought a house-warming present, and he takes his shoes off when entering their household, too. At least he knows how to make a good first impression.

(His feet are enormous. They don't have any slippers that fit very well, so he looks kind of comically out of place with only the front half of his foot tucked into a slipper.)

Hibiki darts ahead, jumping into her familiar slippers. "Grandmaaaaa!" she shouts gleefully.

Harumi just smiles wryly as Hibiki almost knocks the old lady off her feet with the enthusiasm of her hug. Despite everything that just happened, it looks like Hibiki is more cheerful and energetic than ever. Going to Lydian was a good decision after all, then.

Miku follows a respectful distance behind Genjuurou, taking her usual purple slippers.

It looks like the driver of the car (a more standard looking businessman wearing sunglasses and a black suit) is content to stay behind, in the car. The man shuts off the engine, and glances down, probably opting to idle his time with his phone or something.

Meanwhile, Harumi quickly gets the rest of them seated in the living room.

Genjuurou takes the couch across from them, while Hibiki and Miku take the seat to Harumi's side. Meanwhile Harumi's mother just takes her usual seat in the lounge chair off to the side.

The tea that Harumi started brewing earlier is all ready, so everyone at the table is served a piping hot cup of tea.

Once pleasantries and Genjuurou complimenting her tea brew are out of the way, Genjuurou gets down to business.

Hibiki looks slightly nervous, while Miku's expression is just… unreadable.

Inwardly, Harumi's thoughts swirl about in her mind. Genjuurou said Hibiki wasn't in trouble, but there's a rather serious look on his face. If Hibiki isn't in trouble, then why is this man here? Why would the head of an entire (secret?) government division bother with someone as normal as Hibiki?

"First of all," says Genjuurou, holding out a touchscreen device of some sort. "I'll need to ask you to sign this NDA."

"NDA?" repeats Harumi, befuddled.

"Apologies for the hassle," says Genjuurou, "but it's standard procedure."

"I had to sign one, too!" says Hibiki.

What.

Why does that concern Harumi.

Bewildered, Harumi does as she is asked.

What has her daughter gotten herself into?

"Now," says Genjuurou. "The specifics are confidential, but… your daughter has been rather instrumental to our safety operations these past several months."

Harumi blinks in surprise. "My daughter?

"Y-yeah!" says Hibiki, beaming. "I've been helping out!"

"How, exactly?" asks Harumi. "Is there any danger?"

"Uhhh," says Hibiki.

"As with anything with our operations," says Genjuurou, "there is some element of danger. But rest assured, we make every effort to ensure the safety of all of our team."

"The Special Response Team," says Harumi, drawing on the small bits of knowledge she's picked up from news articles, "deals with Noise attacks. Is my daughter close by when Noise attack? Those monsters that can slip through walls and turn people into dust?"

"Division 2 is more research oriented," says Genjuurou. "So we focus on finding new technologies for dealing with Noise."

Harumi feels slightly relieved. "So it's just research? My daughter isn't anywhere close to the Noise attacks?"

There's a brief pause.

"Well," says Genjuurou, scratching his head sheepishly. "Let me explain. While Division 1 focuses on engaging with the Noise during attacks with a goal of deflecting their movement and containing the damage, Division 2 focuses on deploying measures that we have to actually repel the Noise, using top-secret, state-of-the-art technologies." He pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts. "And, well…"

"Oh, come on, Genjuurou-san," says Miku, her voice slightly sharp. "Stop skirting around it. It's Hibiki's mother. If I know, then she deserves to know, too."

Genjuurou blinks, looking slightly surprised. Then, he lets out a sigh. "You're right." He turns to Harumi. "I apologize for not being direct." He tilts his head forward. "The fact of the matter is, your daughter has been directly involved in repelling Noise attacks these past several months."

That deep, churning feel of anxiety returns to Harumi's stomach. "Noise?" She turns to Hibiki. "What do you mean, repelling Noise?"

"It's really awesome!" says Hibiki. "See, they have a thing called Symphogear! And when I have it, it makes me immune to Noise! So I just—" She makes a punching motion. "Pow, pow! And then they crumble to dust!"

Harumi feels the blood drain from her face. "You're… punching Noise?"

"Yeah!" Hibiki smiles.

"You're… directly going up to monsters that can turn humans into dust with a single touch, these past several months??"

Hibiki's smile falters slightly. "Well, when you put it like that…"

Harumi turns sharply to Genjuurou. "Why are you having my teenage daughter doing all this?"

Genjuurou coughs. "Unfortunately, the Symphogear…" he glances sharply at Harumi, "which is to remain strictly confidential, I must note…" He coughs. "It is only wieldable by a select few. In the present state of things, there are only three people in the entire world who are capable of wielding one." He starts counting on his fingers. "My niece, Tsubasa. My… current ward, Chris. And your daughter, Hibiki."

Harumi doesn't know how she feels about that. Perhaps she should feel some pride that her daughter can do something only three people in the entire world can do. But right now, she just feels nothing but churning anxiety in her gut.

"H-hey Mom, it's really not that dangerous," says Hibiki. She makes a fist. "Once I'm transformed, I'm pretty much immune to Noise. They can touch me and surround me or whatever, it doesn't affect me at all!"

"The Symphogear emits energy at a specific wavelength that cancels out the Noise's destruction capability," says Genjuurou. "We are currently researching other ways of manifesting this effect, but for the time being, only Symphogear wielders are immune."

"In some ways, this is the safest I can be," says Hibiki, waving her arms. "During a Noise attack. I'm safer than anyone else."

"But you're still going directly right up to the danger," says Harumi, her face coming out a bit sharper than she intended. "And not running away."

Hibiki's smile falters. "I have this strength that only 2 other people in the whole world can do. If I can't use this power to help out, then what am I even alive for?"

Miku's expression twists, and she opens her mouth for a brief moment. But after hesitating, she grimaces, and then opts to just squeeze Hibiki's hand instead.

Hibiki… You're still thinking like that? Harumi swallows thickly. The concern incident still weighs heavily over them all.

"As Hibiki-kun's mother," says Genjuurou, "I will defer to your judgment."

"Hey!" shouts Hibiki in protest.

Miku just shakes her head and touches Hibiki's shoulder. "He's right," she says.

Genjuurou bows so deeply that his forehead touches his table. "But Noise attacks have continued getting worse, and thousands of people have died. Hibiki-kun has a unique ability that can fight Noise, and forestall some of that damage. I ask of you. If you are willing to. Please allow Hibiki-kun to lend us her powers."

Harumi lets out a deep sigh. Because when he phrases it like that, it's really not fair. "I wish you could've told me earlier," says Harumi. She glances at Hibiki. "Especially since this is been happening for several months now."

"Um," says Hibiki, sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I was under an NDA and I wasn't sure if that allowed me to tell you about it, and besides that I was kind of distracted, and there was that whole thing with Chris-chan, too…"

Miku turns to Harumi. "What Hibiki means is, she definitely should have told you about this much sooner, and she apologizes for not doing that."

Hibiki just looks slightly surprised and indignant about Miku's interjection, but she finally turns and says, "er… yeah."

"I also wish she told me earlier, too," says Miku, looking slightly miffed at the whole thing.

Harumi closes her eyes. Miku, always the level-headed one. But even she was kept in the dark, for a while. So it was like that.

It's hard for Harumi to imagine Hibiki keeping anything from Miku.

Genjuurou is still bowed forward, his forehead touching the table.

"Pick up your head, young man," says Harumi's mom.

"Mother?" says Harumi.

Her old mother turns to Harumi. "Hibiki's nearly a grown woman, now. I think we should leave it up to her. I, for one, am glad she's able find a purpose that gives her direction."

"Even if it puts her life in danger?" interjects Harumi.

Harumi's mom closes her eyes. "From what I hear, this… Symphogear, of yours, is quite the protection against Noise."

"And how reliable is that, huh?" asks Harumi. "Isn't this all experimental technology? What if it fails? And Hibiki is still only 15. That's a long way away from being a fully grown woman. She's still a child."

"Please, Mom?" Hibiki is starting to look a bit panicked. "I have this power, it would be a waste to not use it."

"It would be a waste," says Harumi, "if you died a senseless death while you were still young."

Miku lets out a sigh. "I'm sorry." She turns to Harumi. "I actually really agree with you, Mrs. Tachibana. On a lot of things. But despite all that, I think… I think I may have to back up Hibiki here."

Harumi blinks in shock. "Miku. You too?"

"I almost died," says Miku, a bit abruptly.

Harumi is at a loss for words for a moment.

"If… If Hibiki hadn't been there to save me," says Miku, "I would be dust right now." She stares at her hand. "The danger isn't going away. The Noise will still be around. As long as they are still around, nowhere is safe. And so Hibiki, with her Symphogear… it's the safest she can be, for the time being."

Harumi closes her eyes. If Miku is on board with this too…

Miku is supposed to be the more level-headed one.

"Of course," says Genjuurou, lifting up his head, "we don't need an immediate decision. Hibiki-kun is supposed to be in hiding right now, after all, so we ask that you keep her presence on the down low. We wish to avoid stirring trouble in the political waters for now. Feel free to take several days, weeks, however long you need to think it over and discuss it with your family."

"Political waters?" repeats Harumi.

Harumi's mom lets out a laugh. "Never thought the day would come where my granddaughter gets involved in politics, of all things."

Miku lets out a sigh. "I know," she says, shaking her head.

"Just think it over," says Genjuurou, his head tilted forward. "Is all I ask."

Harumi frowns, glancing sharply at her old mother. "We are not done talking about this," she says.

"Hmmm," the old lady says noncommittally.

There's a long, awkward silence.

Genjuurou chugs down the rest of his tea in one gulp, and then stands up. "With that," he says, "I will leave Hibiki in your hands." He hands a business card to Harumi. "Please contact me if you have any questions."

Harumi accepts the card with both hands. "Er, yes." She sees movement in her peripheral vision and turns to see her daughter and Miku also standing up.

"Where are you going?" Harumi asks her daughter.

"Er," says Hibiki, rubbing the back of her head. "We're going to see Miku's parents next, and y'know. I gotta be there, for moral support."

Harumi turns to Miku, not even bothering to hide the tone of exasperation leaking out of her voice. "Don't tell me you're fighting Noise too…"

"No, no!" says Miku, waving her hands rapidly. "I could never! I'm strictly on board as an advisory role." She rubs the back of her head sheepishly. "I kind of strong-armed my way in."

"Nonsense," says Genjuurou, crossing his arms. "Your feedback is, as always, very much appreciated. We're happy to have you on board."

Miku just tilts her head forward slightly.

"Anyway, I'll be right back after we're done talking to Miku's parents," says Hibiki, and then she chugs down the rest of her tea, too. She coughs. "Ack. Hot."

Miku reaches forward and grabs onto Hibiki's hand. "Come on," she says. "Let's go."

"We're talking about this later, okay?" Harumi says to her daughter.

Hibiki looks slightly apprehensive. "Okayy…" she says.

And with that, the three of them are out the door again.

Harumi buries her face in her hands.

Her daughter. Fighting Noise.

She's… She's really grateful that her daughter and her friend are alive. But.

Working for a secret division of the government?

Genjuurou-san seemed like a nice enough person, but appearances can be deceiving, of course. She's not sure she can trust anyone yet.

She glances uneasily at the phone over on the shelf. And now that they're dragging Miku's parents into this too…

She's half-expecting a call from the girl's parents later.

It's not that she's on bad terms with Miku's parents or anything. It's more that, well.

Harumi can already tell that their patience has been worn very thin from all of the concert incident troubles. She gets the vague feeling that they tolerate Miku's attachment to Hibiki more so than actually supporting it.

And this will be just adding more stress on top.

This is all too much.

Her old mother lets out a chuckle.

"You seem rather amused by all this," says Harumi, for some reason feeling slightly annoyed that her mother is taking this all too lightly.

"If this Symphogear really works as well as they say they do," says her mother, "maybe this isn't not too bad of a situation."

Harumi frowns.

"Miku has a good head on her shoulders," says her mother. "Since she's on board with this too, I'm sure everything must be fine."

Harumi closes her eyes. She still doesn't like it. She doesn't like it one bit. "I wonder if she'll be allowed to show us," she murmurs. "This… Symphogear of hers."

Her mother lets out a snort. "After they basically dragged away my granddaughter for life-threatening work, that's the very least they could do."