New Eden’s weekly “Young Women’s Self-Defense” courses were well under way. Even if this week was a bit lighter on the attendance side. Four girls exited the gym, passing a fifth who was heading towards it. The girls seemed in a bittersweet mood, conversing lightly about how much they would miss this place, all things considered, but with the confidence of no longer needing it. One, in particular, seemed chipper enough to express coming by to visit, after some time had passed. 

The small, blonde girl entered soon after, and in the middle of the boxing ring, Yui Arashi was training with her most promising protege, Seia Yamano. Hanako watched, only snapped out of her little distracted trance by the woman she recognized at the desk, acting as a receptionist.

Alice: Hey, Hanako. Here for training? 

Hanako: I… suppose I am, yes. In all my time coming in and out of this place, um… I suppose I never actually noticed how this… program of Yui’s works, ehe…

Alice: Well, technically, Yui has this form she’d like people who sign up to fill in, but… Honestly, I’m not sure if there’s anything she can still teach you.

Hanako: Ah, um… that one-to-five deal? I’d heard about that, but… honestly, if asked, I’d probably stand here for an hour debating on where I stand… Th-three, I think? On a good day?

Alice: I might leave it up to the instructor then. Give you a little personalized training program. (she smiles)

Hanako: Ah, um… th-thank you, Alice. (With a polite little bow, Hanako makes her way into the main room, observing Seia’s training with Yui more closely)

Seia: (She gives her staff a swing, practicing using the back end of it) … When I swing it like this, it seems like I should move my hands up. Should I move them or keep them where they are? 

Yui: Depends. What’re ya tryin’ to hit? And how hard? Thing about staves, in my experience, is momentum and intent matter a lot, and your hands kinda… adjust? So long as you don’t drop it or leave yourself open too much, the rest doesn’t matter. …Buuut I’m self-taught and a punk with natural fighting instinct groomed for it, so, uh… “technique” isn’t really my forte.

Seia: (Deadpan, joking) But I thought you were the Forte. 

Yui: Oh my god…

Seia: (She laughs cheerily. She tries a few more practice swings, seemingly settling on her method) Momentum and intent, hmm. I guess I can understand that. 

Yui: That’s the basics. Rigid stuff gets people killed out there. It’s the practical side that matters most. Does it keep you alive and your enemy dead? Then it’s correct. …S’long as you’re not hurting yourself in the process, I mean.

Seia: Hmm, going by feel, huh… I guess there’s no “Guang Bo” style of staff fighting to be learned. 

Yui: …Is that some sorta food? Anyway, your form is fine enough for what we need. 

Hanako: Um…

Yui: Yo, Hanako! Didja come by to train, by chance?

Hanako: Actually, um… yes, I did.

Yui: Whoa, that’s a shock. Usually you come by to chat and have some kinda cover. Well, hop in the ring, then! Ah, don’t worry about the form, by the way, I know you. You probably place yourself at about a three, but you’re definitely stronger than that.

Hanako: Eh? …I-I don’t know why I’m surprised…

As Hanako hops into the ring, Seia exits, staying close enough to observe. Yui and Hanako go over some basics, with Hanako showing more unease at how much Yui is able to read. But at the same time, as they spar and go over Hanako’s form and technique, she’s surprised at herself for how much she’s able to follow Yui’s lessons. Despite being rated so highly— and knowing what that has meant for other confident Puellae in the past— Hanako finds herself able to keep pace. And after a while, a proper contest, free from magic, yet Hanako is still able to keep up for a long while before Yui inevitably takes her victory. But Hanako notices that at no point did Yui make any serious contact in any of her attacks, and even the decisive victory shot stopped short of actually coming into contact with her.

Hanako: I-I… what—

Yui: Damn, man. I kept expectin’ ya to tap out way sooner. Almost had to get actually serious! Haha!

Hanako: I… expected this regiment to be much more… intense, if I’m being honest.

Yui: Er, well… I may have lightened up after, uh, everything… but I still push people when I know they can take it. Y’know, that pace we were just at? That’s a fair bit ahead of the last time you an’ I fought.

Hanako: Eh?! But… but I wasn’t going all out this time, either!

Yui: I know! Crazy, right? (Her tone drops a bit more serious, though still not as intense as the last time they spoke) That’s how far you’ve come, Hanako. The results of being pushed so hard that when you stop and think about it, you finally catch up to yourself. You fought Moonlover and won. Hell, you’re not even relying on your old trick of letting your Soul Gem corrupt to get more powerful.

Hanako: Ah, um… Kiwa-chan taught me that one. When I was in Tokyo, I was training with Yasu and Kiwa-chan. I learned how to fight, but also how to hone my magic more efficiently. Yasu was… a very harsh teacher in the beginning, as well. I guess I should not be so surprised, after all…

Yui: That’s a confidence thing, Hanako. I’mma be honest with you, I think I could still kick your ass, if push came to shove, but I’d have to work a lot harder to do it nowadays. …Seia could still take you, though. Easily.

Seia: Hey, don’t sign me up for any weird fights. I’m still just me. st me.

Yui: S’up to you two, really.

Hanako: …So anyone coming in for training can spar…? With anyone…?

Yui: Well yeah, if all sides agree to it. If someone says no, an’ someone tries to fight anyway, I’ll step in.

Hanako: I… see.

Yui: Aoi handles the healing part. And the clinic is open every single day. But training? That’s the other half of it. I want girls to get stronger, as organically as possible. People like Mei, who had weird weapons and powers? The kind that get screwed on contract or wishing and get stuck? Those are my favorites. Helpin’ Puellae stand up and fight on their own is the long term goal, with Aoi’s power as a safety net, especially for emergencies.

Hanako: (The casual mention of Mei causes Hanako to flinch, but when Yui seems fine enough speaking about her, Hanako relaxes) So… it really is like a new Garden of Eden, but for Puellae Magi…

Yui: Exactly! See, you get it. C’mon, let’s get a form filled out, just in case. I got a spare in the office. {Seia, make sure no one else comes near my office for a bit, but since you’re kinda my second-in-command, I don’t mind if you listen in once the coast is clear. Door’s unlocked.}

Seia: {Oh, roger. I’ll come over when I can.} 

For the third time this year, Hanako follows Yui into her office, watching the owner take a casual seat at her desk. Hanako is nervous, but the tension seems to evaporate once Yui relaxes in her chair. A stark contrast to their last couple encounters.

Yui: …I’ll be honest, I’m kinda glad you showed up. After the last time we talked, I had it on my mind.

Hanako: …There was something I needed to ask. As you know, I… have been meeting with and spending time with Kotori down in the Dreamscape. We talk of many things, but most notably is a… misread prophecy of sorts. Involving the Conductors.

Yui: The Cadenza and Aria, and how when both make their presence known, the world “as we know it” isn’t meant to last. Right?

Hanako: (She shouldn’t be surprised. Shouldn’t.) …R-Right. Well, that led me— both of us, really— to believe that meant to echo Anisa Nobunaga’s own prophetic vision for an “end of the world” scenario, in the Balancers’ arrival to Mitakihara. …But, this “Aria” never showed up during that time, correct? Which means one of two things—

Yui: Three. Either the Aria was already there, just not named, or the Crow of Fujiwara’s prophecy meant another end of the world disaster, or it was outright wrong. But since you’re here, I know which side you believe in.

Hanako: …And I am unshakeable in that belief. I’ll be direct. (She takes a breath and stares Yui in the eyes with a look of pure determination) …I wish to join the Conductors. 

Yui: (She shrugs) Don’t see why not. You and yours, the Newspaper Club, they kinda already help us out, and vice-versa when things get hectic. If you wanna fill the role of “Aria” then it’s whatever. …You could also help me figure out exactly what that means, while you’re at it.

Hanako: I… I mean it would likely be similar to your role with—

Yui: But I gotta stress something. There’s two types of Conductors. Normal folk like Alice who just wanna help people, and people like Mei, who wear the guise of those assholes that gave us our name. …I’m taking you into my Conductors. If you wanted to join Maestro’s vision, then you’d need to take it up with Mei down there. If all you want is to help out, then “Aria” is just a title to keep a little birdie’s visions in check, and either take that last storm as gospel, or help weather the next one. …So which is it? Which side are you lookin’ to join up with?

Hanako: I… don’t know.

Yui: (In another surprising move, Yui just leans back in her chair and nods) I like an honest answer. You think on it, with the weight off your shoulders that I actually appreciate the help. …Come by on Sundays, and I’ll put you through the same personal training I do for Seia. Oh, uh, but if you want that “second in command” title, you’re gonna have to fight her for it. And… uh… I’d put serious money on her, s’all I’m saying.

Hanako: N-No, I’m not out to replace anyone… I’m just taking my friend’s warning seriously, and meeting it head on. That’s all.

Yui: Cool. Then, yeah. Welcome aboard, provisionally, until you get your head on straight, yada yada.

Hanako: There was something else…

Yui: …The news, right? The murders?

Hanako: Y-Yes. Did you or anyone else here know anything about them…?

Yui: Wish I did, to be honest. It’s makin’ people afraid to go out, which is bad for business.

Seia: (A few light taps on the door and she pokes her head in) Hello. I heard somebody mention those murders we’re looking into? 

Yui: Yep. Hanako was curious if I knew anything. Truth be told, it’s been kinda quiet since I got my ass kicked. Biei girls went home, probably got as much outta this place as they needed to survive on their own. So we’re down to locals for now. …Aside from that weird American lady, anyway.

Hanako: …American lady?

Yui: Eh, just some weirdo. Looked homeless, but… well, she came in, checked all five boxes, then fought me without magic. Soon as the fight got heated, she backed off. I could barely land a hit, but she didn’t really fight back too hard, either. 

Seia: Oh! That reminds me, there was an American lady who came here looking for you while you were out. I was the only one here so I just told her to come back later. 

Yui: …Ten to one she was the same woman. Kinda weird, right? Sounded a bit dead inside, kinda? Spoke a lot of English at random?

Seia: Yes, if that’s what being “dead inside” sounds like. About this tall… (She raises her hand) And wearing a big long trench coat or something. 

Hanako: A-Amazing…!

Yui: I don’t let just anyone be my star pupil, Hanako. …But yeah, that’s her. Diana Caelum, her name was. Long ass hair, faded blonde, smells like cigarettes, and the biggest weirdo I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen some weirdos in my time… 

Seia: Oh, she left some payment or something. I think this goes to you, Owner-san. (She pulls the two American quarters out of a pouch in her pocket) If they’re American quarters like I think though, I don’t think they’re worth much. 

Yui: (She takes the quarters, studying them much more curiously than the situation warranted) …Huh. Anyway, thanks, Seia. So yeah, nothin’ about the murders, but an American woman paying for weird ass visits to Japanese gyms in American quarters.

Hanako: I… only ask because we… well, I think all of us are in agreement at this point that the killer is likely a Puella Magi, and not a civilian. 

Seia: If the killer is using a gun… usually I’d expect a lot more uproar if there was that much gunfire around town all the time. This isn’t America. 

Yui: But there’s only the wounds, no reports of actual gunfire… well, not every time. But those wounds are the same. …Yeah, I gotta agree with you lot. If it were just a person, they’d have been caught by now. Puella’d be more capable of duckin’ police, though. …Hanako, Seia. If you’re all chasin’ this bastard, be extra careful, okay?

Seia: (She raises her hand to her brow in a salute) Don’t know if I can be a lot of help with this one, but I’m here. 

Yui: You two, just be safe. But if you learn anything, keep in touch, yeah? I’ll do the same if I hear anything relevant.

Hanako: R… Right! (Hanako gives a little nod, then leaves the office)