Chapter Text
Hoshino stared, dumbfounded by what Tesk said, 'How does she know?' Hoshino thought to herself in a panic as the grip on her shield slip, letting it fall on the sand filled road with a *Thud*, exposing her fully to the others as her shotgun remained low.
The others behind Tesk simply tilted their heads in curiosity, their gazes turning to their strongest fighter for but a moment before focusing back to Hoshino, who was still bewildered by the sudden events as Tesk waited patiently, her weapon resting on her chest as her finger itched on the trigger.
Hoshino took a shuddering breath as she examined the helmeted girl, the one who knew her past, before her. 'I..I don't know her.' She concluded in frustration and guilt as she shuffled through her memories, only to recall that she knew little to know one, only President Yume and some of the staff from before.
"You don't need to know me, Vice-President, or should I say former Vice-President." Tesk called out, noticing Hoshino's gaze and shot a jab, as the pink haired former VP squinted her eyes, irritation flaring behind her heterochromic pupils, before smoldering as she signed in vexation at being called a position she once had "Fine, I won't fight." Hoshino finally answered, prompting the others to lower their weapons as they stayed in position, with Tesk nodding her head at that before she pulled the strap on her weapon and placed it behind her.
Knowing the others aren't a threat anymore, Hoshino slowly lowered her shotgun, before strapping it on her shoulder as she quickly picked up her shield, folding it and placing it behind her. While Hoshino was busy with her equipment, Tesk raised a hand, a gesture visible to all, as the girls dispersed to either returning to rest or to sweep the perimeter.
Hoshino noticed the noise and movement as she finished, her head turning to the sole figure still standing on-front of her. Tesk gazed Hoshino with controlled indifference as she crossed her arms and waited for Hoshino to finish "What do you want?" Hoshino inquired with suspicion as the two held a tense stare off, the black visor of Tesk's helmet against the orange and blue eyes of Hoshino.
The stare off continued for a few long moments as the awake girls, who were on guard duty, watched on with anticipation, whispering to each other as Tesk broke off first, lowering her head as her shoulder raised and dropped, before lifting her head and turning around, her steps echoing in the empty street as she returned to the building they were resting, and were Walter was being treated.
Hoshino looked on in confusion, hesitation plaguing her mind as she stared at Tesk's back. 'Should I follow her, or leave?' She asks herself as Tesk suddenly stopped, gaining her attention as the girl glanced back at Hoshino, gesturing her head to follow before continuing and disappearing inside the building.
Hoshino looked at the lit door way with uncertainty 'Is it an ambush? Blackmail? Or is she showing me something?' A multitude of scenarios playing in her head as her distrust for adults and students, bare a select few, came to light. Yet, a voice in the back of her head told her to go inside, beckoning her to follow the girl as Hoshino faltered, the voice, similar to the one she lost, the one who was always in trouble every time with a smile on her face. Hoshino signed in acceptance as she reluctantly walked to the building, slowly approaching it as the orange light inside illuminated her the more she got closer, until she was in-front of the doorway.
Taking a steadying breath, Hoshino exhaled deeply as she muttered "Hope you're right, Yume." Before heading inside, her footsteps careful and quiet as Hoshino was on full alert, her head on a swivel as she checked every corner, every possible angle were she could get ambushed. "We won't fight you here, not with Walter Sensei nearby." Tesk suddenly stated as a hand was placed on Hoshino's shoulder, making her jump and evade to the side, her hand automatically going to her weapons-
Hoshino froze in place as her mind caught up to what she was doing, raising her head and saw as Tesk looked at her, a gaze of disappointment going through her visor, as her outstretched hand returned, examining it for a moment, to her front before crossing them, again. "I guess being in a desert for a year or two does things to people." Tesk commented dryly as Hoshino blushed lightly in embarrassment at her action, returning her hands to her front as she stiffly rose up from her crouched stance.
Tesk continued her pointed stare as Hoshino raised a hand to her flushed face and cleared her throat "*Ahem* Sorry about that, this Old man hasn't had a good sleep for a while." As she revealed a sheepish smile toward Tesk, who prompted to tilt her head in confusion 'The hells wrong with how she's talking? She wasn't like this the time I knew her, also, old man?' She thought with a raised brow, before dismissing the thought as she shook her head 'That's for later.' She decided to herself as she let her crossed arms fall to her side before stating "Then we can ask Walter Sensei if you can stay here for the night."
Hoshino's sheepish look turned bewildered as she hastily and hesitantly asked "But... Isn't he.. Like.. Asleep?" And saw as Tesk ignored her question as she went past Hoshino and approached the stairwell, stating "Just follow me." Before going up and disappearing. Hoshino stared blankly for a second before taking a breath, as she raised a hand and massaged her eyes, and exhaled as she muttered "I did cause all this." In reflection as she, once again, reluctantly followed after, her cautious behavior now relaxed as she went up.
Hushed voices could be heard as Hoshino went up, voices of arguments, concern, and shushing could be heard clearer as she reached the second floor, her gaze turning to Tesk, who was outside the room, leaning on the wall as she had her arms crossed, listening to the others as she turned to Hoshino's approach. "They're arguing." Tesk stated, motioning to the room beside her as Hoshino nodded and replied "I noticed." Before approaching and stopping just beside Tesk, out of sight, as she leaned and asks in a whisper "But about what?"
Hoshino saw as Tesk's shoulder rose and fell, a moment of silence between them as the voices on the other side raised slightly in volume before Tesk replied in grim acceptance "...Medicine."
A look of inquiry and a tilt of the head was Hoshino's reply as Tesk caught the look and explained with a huff "We don't have the medicine to heal Walter Sensei." As she gestured with her hand on her arm "We have things for fevers and such, but not for his arm. We don't know what he needs, or if it would even work." Her voice was frustrated as she told Hoshino, who's eyes looked on in guilt and... Understanding? As she slowly and quietly passed Tesk and peeked inside the room.
A few girls conversed to each other with differentiating intensity as Hoshino's gaze ignored the group and laid upon the unconscious Handler in-front of her, laying on the sand filled floor while a bag rested underneath his head, a bead of sweat dripping as his breathing seemed rough. Her brows furrowed as her eyes turned to his bandaged right arm, a tinge of red visible on one spot as his hand lay motionless and pale.
Tesk did nothing but gaze at the peeking Hoshino's back as she voiced "I've only known him for a few hours, but he risked his life to return Ambriel back to us after she was left behind by her squad." Her hand going up and down her arm as she continued in a whisper "Even took a bullet as they arrived, He's been bleeding ever since."
"How did you bandaged it?" Hoshino inquired as she leaned back and turned to Tesk, leaning on the wall and listened intently as Tesk answered "Yūgure and Hinode were the ones who patched him up, after he instructed them how to, anyway." Prompting Hoshino to hum before asking "Did you see how they did it?" With a raised brow as she stared intently at Tesk's visor.
Tesk blanked at the question as the visual and loud grunt of the Handler in the train surfaced in her mind, causing her to vehemently answer "You don't want to know and I certainly don't want to remember." Lowering her head as she raised a hand to her visor, making a massaging gesture as her other hand rose and waved Hoshino off, causing the heterochromia eyed girl to look on in shock and surprise before signing in acceptance as she backed off.
The conversation went still as the others inside continued their discussion, leaving the two girls to their thoughts as they continued leaning on the cold and rough wall. Tesk tried thinking of solutions to their medicine problem, only to come up short as they had no funds, no rep, and no intel on what's still standing in the district, her hand gripping tightly on her shoulder as vexation from her inability to help in any meaningful way, other than fighting, ate at her.
Hoshino, meanwhile, had her thoughts circling the past, Walter's words echoing in her mind as memories from before the storms, before the fighting, and before the FTF began surfaced in her mind. A distant look in her eyes revealed her past as her vision tunneled and darkened, her hearing now ringing as another voice, the one she loved and missed, intermingled with the Handler's, mixing their tones and words as a headache started forming in her head, causing Hoshino to furrow her brows as she raised a hand to her head, a pained expression on her face as she recalled the past.
'Hoshino! You should see this!' A vision of a city full of life 'Have you felt what its like to abandon your home just before a disaster?' Before turning to a sand filled ghost town. 'Thanks for saving me again, Hoshino.' A smile she always gave to her 'To lose the person you've admired.' The last time she's seen her with a smile like that was.... So long ago.
A feeling of emptiness filled Hoshino as she reflected on the voices in her head, the decisions and fights she's made after Her disappearance, the actions she and the others of the FTF did to try and recover this failing district 'So tell me, what bounds this land to the same fate my home came to an end on?' Walter's last question to her before his blackout, her mind focused on that sentence as she heard the voice of one of her juniors 'H-Hoshino-Senpai! Where did this enormous debt come from?!'
'Ahh~' Her own voice echoed in her mind 'I... Think that came from the past student council.' A lie she told in the moment, one that worsened as time went on, her heart aching as words of truth wouldn't come out. A hole she dug herself, one she can't get out of without telling the truth 'How would they react?' She asks herself as her mind conjured scenarios of various degree, from heartbreaking, mind-numbing, neutral, or a happy one. The last one she didn't know if it was even possible.
A sense of loss was what Hoshino felt as she delved deep in her mind, her hands turning into fists as her grip tightened, drawing blood as it oozed from her fingerless gloves 'What do I do? What should I say? How should I say it? Can I?' Unsure of herself, Hoshino spiraled down in hesitation, second guesses, and fear surfaced as her head felt like it was being crushed.
Panic started settling in as her breathing quicken, her heart pumping, pupils dilating as the world around her started fuzzing out, sounds became static as she could only hear her heart, the voices in her head, and her struggling breath. Heat could be felt throughout her body and mind as she felt vertigo and her stomach lurching, forcing her to place both hands on the wall behind her, keeping her balance and up-right as the world swam.
And as she felt her body weaken, the voices getting louder, and her mind slipping 'Ah... I'm going to fall.' Was her thought as she could barely see or feel her surroundings. "O-! Ho-ino!" A voice, Tesk's, called out from her side as she felt something go unto her stomach and straighten her up, a black visor appearing in-front of her as Tesk's muffled voice could be heard "Yo- kay?"
Hoshino couldn't reply as the headache continued and the world swam, though the voices seem to disappear. "I'l- ake- that - a no." Was Tesk's reply as Hoshino felt the girl move her arm to her sweating back and placed her arm on Tesk's shoulder, helping her off the wall as she guided Hoshino inside the room.
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"Oy! Hoshino!" Tesk whisper shouted in concern and to gain the pink haired girl's attention as she heard the sound of fabric being torn, only to be greeted by Hoshino's bleeding hands as a pained and loss expression filled her face, beads of sweat dripping down her body as she seemed a bit flushed on the face.
Getting off the wall they were leaning on, Tesk noticed Hoshino's hastened breathing as she saw her eyes, which had black bags under them, dilate after, then, her face paled as she suddenly placed both hands on the wall, splattering them with some blood as she fought to keep herself steady. Tesk looked on in surprise at the turn of events before widening her eyes as she quickly reached out, her arm sliding under her stomach as Hoshino suddenly dropped, forcing her to reposition in-front of Hoshino as she asks in alarm "You okay?" She felt the heat emanating from Hoshino, both because of her proximity, and because of her arm on Hoshino's stomach 'A fever.
Seeing and hearing no reply, Tesk replied "I'll take that as a no." Before moving her hand from Hoshino's stomach to her back and the other arm guiding Hoshino's to her shoulder as she supported the girl and walked inside the room. The conversation inside went quiet as all eyes turned to her, then to Hoshino, before raising a brow as one of the leaders asks in confusion "What the hell happened to her?"
Tesk walked and stopped in-front of the group of leaders as she replied "Seems like she has a fever, probably exhausted." Before adjusting her grip on Hoshino, who was now lucid as she muttered undiscernible words, and inquired "Can she take a night here? I'll take responsibility." Declaring her intentions as the group looked at each other for a moment before one stepped forward and said "If you will tak-"
"Well, she had that coming after what she did earlier." Another leader, one who was brash, rudely interrupted the other as she stepped forward and said her piece. *Pinch* "OW! What the hell!?" A pinch to the side and a shout of pain escaped the girl as she turned to the culprit with burning eyes "The hell was that for!?" As she massaged her side, an aching pain lingering as the other leader responded "That. Was for interrupting me." And turned to her and gave her a chilling smile, causing the others to take a step back as the brash leader dripped a sweat before stating "Ugh! Whatever! Do what you want!"
The brash leader quickly and angerly retreated as she left the room, the others staring her back with exasperation or a sign at her attitude before turning back at the situation at hand. The interrupted leader turned back to Tesk, switching her chilling smile to one of warmth and understanding as she continued "As I was saying. If you will take responsibility for her actions and monitor her, then we have no qualms." Before turning her head around as the others nodded in agreement.
Tesk nodded in thanks as she continued her walked, passing the group, who was starting to leave, before kneeling down and placing Hoshino just a few paces parallel of Walter before taking an unused bag and laid it below Hoshino's head. Exhaling a breath, Tesk sat down and turned top Hoshino's side as she examined Hoshino's condition "Black bag under her eyes, harsh breathing, flushed face, and hot skin." Tesk listed each symptom, the last one from placing a hand on Hoshino's forearm, before retuning to her side.
"Probably because of exhaustion and lack of sleep." She muttered, to no one, her conclusion as her gaze turned to Walter, her focused chestnut eye softening as a depressing sign escaped her, "at least he isn't breathing as hard as before." She noted as Walter still looked flush, body probably still hot, but at least his breathing is fine and his expression isn't filled with pain as he looked relaxed.
"Wow! You have good eyes!" "!" Tesk jumped in surprise as she quickly turned to the side of the voice. Only to be face to face with a fair skinned face, silver-gray eyes that is filled with excitement, and long, straight, red hair that is tied to a ponytail which swiveled behind her. "God Damn It! Can you not, Yūgure!?" Tesk exclaimed in surprise and a voice too loud as she leaned back till her elbows hit the floor and quickly, and carefully, slid to the side to gain distance, her heart thumping hard in her chest .
A tilt of a head and a raised brow was Yūgure's answer as her smile disappeared and a look of confusion replaced it "Can I not what?" She repeated Tesk's words back at her as said girl took a steadying breath, her heart slowly calming down as she rose from her lean and straightened her back before raising a hand to her mouth and cleared her throat, replying "It's nothing, just surprised me, that's all."
Tesk felt embarrassed, both at being sneaked upon and by screaming too loud. She felt her face heat up slightly as she continued "Anyway, what brings you here?" As a way to change the subject and escape the embarrassing scene from her mind.
Yūgure hummed curiously at Tesk before crouching down Hoshino's side as she placed a hand on the girl's forehead, answering "I.. uh.. Was told to take care of Sensei." Before taking her hand off as she commented on the side "Wow she's hot." And turned her head back to Tesk as she asks back "Is this one sick too?" And pointed a finger at a flushed Hoshino.
Tesk simply signed at that as she nodded in affirmation and replied "Yeah, she suddenly looked unwell as we waited just outside, tried calling out to her, didn't reply. Then, she almost fell." Explaining the events that led them here as Yūgure nodded in understanding as she raised a hand to her chin and ruminated in her thoughts.
Seeing the medic deep in her own mind, Tesk stayed quiet as she let the girl think and turned her gaze to the two sick occupants in the room, a tired sign escaping her as she muttered "I have a feeling things will get hectic again once these two wake up." Causing Yūgure to turn away from her thoughts and to Tesk as she snickered at the comment, placing a hand to her mouth as she added "At least its better than being captured or worse."
Tesk simply bobbed her head side-to-side, replying "I suppose so." Before going quiet.
Seeing Tesk go quiet and knowing nothing to add to the conversation, Yūgure left it at that as she slowly stood up, catching Tesk's attention as she turned her head at the medic, her exposed brow raised as Yūgure told her "I'll get some medicine for Sensei and......" Before trailing off as her gaze swept over Hoshino.
Tesk caught the movement as she told Yūgure "Hoshino." Catching the medics attention as Tesk continued "Her name's Hoshino." And saw as a smile appeared on Yūgure's face as she nodded at that and replied "Right, Hoshino. I'll go get some for her as well, thanks for telling me." Before departing.
Just as Yūgure exited the room, she heard Tesk say behind her "You don't have to thank me, but you're welcome." Causing her to hum happily as she went down to search and retrieve the medicine needed for the two ill patients.
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"Greenfield, Care to tell us why you let the intruder stay near Sensei? Albeit she is sick." One leader inquired as they, sans the rude one, moved to the building that was adjacent to two streets (Walter's previous building before Hoshino's intrusion.) and rested inside.
As the girl in question, Greenfield, turned her gaze from the sky and to the others, her mind went back to the scene in question as she answered "Because there was someone in need, and you know it doesn't sit well with me to just ignore them, Cassidy." Causing the one who asked, Cassidy, to scoff at her words as she stayed quiet, her question answered as she continued her rest and closed her eyes.
Then, another one piped up "What's done is done. At least the girl is now in-debt to us for helping and not leaving her." Causing Greenfield to frown at how it was worded before replying "While you aren't wrong, Burne. Let's not burden the girl further and instead asks for Sensei's input once he wakes up." Before giving Burne a pointed look as the girl simply nodded at her words.
Greenfield signed at that as another voice sounded out "If. He wakes up." Causing the girl to turn in shock as the others looked on with raised brows "Freud!" Greenfield chastised the girl as she only received a shrug in turn as Freud continued "just saying. He doesn't look well of from what I saw."
The leaders, and the other girls who were also resting with them, stayed quiet at Freud's pessimistic comment as they processed it fully. "*Sign*" Greenfield signed in irritation, her patience running thin as the others turned their gaze to her as she replied "He'll make it, Freud. I Know he will." Her voice confident and without worry as Freud simply hummed at Greenfield in curiosity before dismissing it and said "If it makes you feel better."
Greenfield opened her mouth to add more- "Anyway, I'll go get some shut eye, god knows we'll be busy tomorrow." Freud suddenly interrupted as she took her bag, settled it beside her, and promptly laid down with her back turned to face her before resting. The others took her example as her last words echoed in their minds, causing them to start returning to their rest as sounds of fabric rustling and sand being swept echoed inside the building.
Then, all went quiet as the entire building's first floor went to sleep, leaving only their lit oil lamps, the moonlight, and Greenfield to her thoughts as she observed the entire floor. A tired sign escaped her as she sat up from her resting spot beside the window sill and headed outside. The pale light of the moon, the stars, and halos above greeted her eyes as a chilling wind hit the area.
Greenfield ignored the cold as her mind churned Freud and the others words about Sensei and the intruder, moving a few paces down the sidewalk, away from their buildings before stopping and looking back up to the beauty of the star filled sky, between it, the halos that had stood their since time immemorial giving her peace as she released a breath she didn't know she held.
She stood their in silence, basking herself in the cold night as she cleared her mind, the words of the others, the intruder's sudden entry, and Sensei's worsening condition left her mind for the moment as memories of a happier time surfaced, causing her to smile in reminisce as she muttered "Oh how I missed it all."
"Miss what?" A voice suddenly said behind her, causing her to jump and yelp "Hya!" In shock as Greenfield turned on her heels to look at owner of the voice "Lander?" Greenfield voiced in surprise as the last leader, the one who was rude to her and Tesk earlier, suddenly appeared before her.
"Yeah, it's me, what about it?" She replied with a deadpanned look as Greenfield rid herself of her shock before raising a hand to her mouth, clearing her throat, and gave Lander a relieved smile as she replied "It's nothing, just surprised me is all."
Lander hummed at that as she eyed Greenfield for a few more moments, causing said girl to tilt her head and raise a brow, before stopping and continued "If you say so. Anyway! What do you mean you miss something?" Closing the distance between them as Greenfield backed up at the sudden intrusion of her space as she held both hands up and conceded "Alright, alright! I'll tell you."
Causing Lander to smile in triumphant as Greenfield took a breath before adding "Promise me you won't tell a soul about this." Only to receive several nods of affirmation, to which she signed in exasperation as she started "Where do I start? Ah!"
"It was a cold and snowy day."