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Admittedly, you can tell it's quality suffered. Blitz had been kind of busy these days, and probably don't even have much time touching computer.

Still hopefully people still interested with this fic. Grammar editor application still open woo!

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Infinite Stratos

-Sacred Twins-

Co-written with Blitz1/2

Disclaimer:

Izuru Yumizuru & Okiura

TBS, 8-BIT, MF Bunko

And everyone else!

V2 Chapter 6: Symphony of Destruction and Rebirth Part 2

~YUZU POV~

Nohonhon sure was fired up for this.

Meanwhile, I'm still uncertain whether I deserve to stand here, with Madoka Orimura aside me. Pitch black armor clamps itself around her curves perfectly, and her machine whines as she begins to walk toward the catapult.

"Yuzu-san."

As I raise my head, Madoka hand me an exquisitely designed rifle, it was much slender than average I.S. rifle, and yet weight as much if not more, perhaps it's because the thick barrel shroud, or rather, the barrel itself due to it's inc

redible thickness and length. It doesn't have visible magazine too.

"This weapon is-"

"Tanegashima." Madoka-san smiles, "That's what the factory called it."

Tanegashima is the name of Matchlock used during the warring states era, named after certain Japanese island. The mass deployment of this primitive firearm singlehandedly changed the warfare tactic in Japan, and is the key to various victories in major battles.

Perhaps it's called that way because it was supposed to be a trump card.

"The recoil is quite excessive, so don't attempt to fire it one handed despite its small size. Unfortunately, it's also single-shot weapon, but it could fire once every second despite that, just careful with the heat management."

The barrel shroud clacks open as I register it to my database, revealing heatsink lined within its inner surface. Its firepower figure is… unbelievable.

"In this fight, I'll be struck to the role of all rounder. That's why… Yuzu-san… let's go all out."

It cannot be helped… despite my outstandingly high marksmanship score, my piloting skill was nowhere else as good.

If all I need to do is point and shoot, that's what I'm going to do.

"I promise I will."

That's why, Raphael, please protect me. So I can protect Madoka-san.

As the g-force subsidized, I find myself standing in the vast arena. I feel seriously out of place, I neither have the talent nor the drive they posses. I don't even sure I want to do this, even so…

I won't back down.

100 meter ahead of us, the image of green and blue machines appear out of thin air. There shouldn't be any flicker in the biosensor… must be an improper adjustment.

*BEEP* *BOOP* *BEEP*

"[Yuzurin, you're out of sync!]" Honne warned me, "[Calm down, let the endorphin do its work for you.]"

That's right.

There's this little phrase about being drunk with power.

That could be applied to I.S. pilot in general. As I.S. stimulate the pilot to release Endorphin, which in turn bring a sense of euphoria to the pilot. It's a double edged sword, it could make them fearless and excited, but the same time, it could make them panic.

As for me, it's pretty clear that I'm not supposed to be here.

*CLANG!*

In the blink of an eye, Kurogane Nishiki clash with the green Raphael, piloted by Shizune. Shizune's blade tonfa meet Madoka-san's katana, opening the match with a deadly game of strength.

"Using a Raphael for strictly melee combat, just how reckless can you be?" Madoka-san taunted her immediately as they separate, Shizune-san however remains calm and collected.

Amazingly, Shizune managed to literally stand still on the air. A testament of her skill as a pilot.

The influx of earth magnetic field and gravity means a floating I.S. will never be static, and yet, Shizune managed to keep the altitude constant all the way to millimeter margins.

"Unfortunately, Uchigane has poor handling at high speed, as can be proven by that very prototype you use." The spirited fighter twirls her tonfas into offensive stance. "Are you telling me that machine is just for show?"

*BA-TOOM* *BA-TOOM*

Madoka-san whip her usual battle rifle out of thin air and begins firing, but Shizune deflect all the shot easily before pulling back a little.

"Fufu, are we going to psych each other like this? But I'd rather we fight each other in equal terms."

Like that, Kurogane and green Raphael circle around the arena, neither of them managed to score direct hit. Whenever Shizune charge ahead, Madoka-san deflects it, and vice versa.

Cecilia still float high in the arena, watching. Looks like she's waiting for me to take action…

But why… I can lift the gun Madoka-san had trusted to me? Why my hand is shaking like this?

Am I going to be just a decoration? A burden?

~CECILIA POV~

I wonder where her usual spirits go.

Tanimoto-san always had been quite a stand-out person, despite being one of the more level headed girls in the clique. If one has to rank it by sanity level, I'd say she rank just below Shizune-san. And yet, unlike the straight-laced Shizune-san, Tanimoto-san is more than capable of going with the flow and acting carefree to go with the hyperactive Nohotoke and Aikawa-san.

She posses' fairly high grades in piloting skill, despite neither cadet representative nor teacher's favorite. Naturally, it's something to be proud of.

And yet, perhaps I just can't understand it. The feeling of being constantly overshadowed, unlike us, she never got a chance to be something more.

Shizune-san has no ambition; she had set her goal realistically and planned it since long time ago. Despite working hard, she didn't see catching up as something to be depressed about. Every man and woman has a place they belong, that's what she believed.

Shizune-san was more like a career mother trapped in high school girl's body.

I don't know Tanimoto-san enough to judge, but I'm seasoned enough to know that's the face of someone who detached herself from the battlefield, too occupied by her internal conflict to do anything else. She's too afraid to take action…

"Shizune-san please let me take over."

"Got it, this fight is boring anyway."

The green standard Rafael slowly rise until we're on the same altitude, then I roll aside and dash away, raising my Starlight rifle in the direction of Madoka-san, unleashing high energy beam toward her.

Unlike Ichika-san, she doesn't use the beam cutting trick, rather, she use sloped-dispersion technique with her solidly built shoulder shields. This trick was previously shown by Houki-san, but looks like it's just common technique for Uchigane line.

*BATOOM* *BATOOM* *WHEEEP* *WHEEP*

As her rifle roared in retaliation, I swiftly rolls and zigzagged around the bullets. Though it's a bit hard to counter her assault, I recognize this as suppression fire rather than Madoka-san's usual shooting technique, which is vector-based interception.

Realizing this, I turn of my main engines and simply pivot my body to dodge the extremely predictable bullet paths. I don't even need to use my veniers, just creative use of mass-shifting.

Fufufu, looks like the two of them need a wake-up call.

I unfold my skirt-mounted massdrivers and launch a pair of micro missiles towards the paralyzed pilot, however Madoka-san frantically unleash a barrage to destroy those missiles before they can make contact.

*BTOOOOOOOOOM* *BTOOOOOOOOOM*

The deafening explosion of HESH warhead echoes within the arena.

"Your aim is sloppy, Madoka-san." I cross my arms together and raise my chin, "Please stop playing around."

"Shut up and fight me!" Madoka-san yells.

I fired four more missiles, this time equipped with cluster munitions, and it seems that Madoka-san realize that she can't intercept them all, and so, she immediately fly ahead of the missile with Ignition boost and unleash different weapon.

*BOOM* *PATATATATATATATA*

The missiles split into a shower of hypervelocity slug, instantly accelerate themselves the moment they scatter. This advanced beehive warhead is impossible to intercept even to most professional pilot in the world. The only way to defeat it is to dodge at the last second.

But that's not the end of it, along with four beehive missile; I send two more missiles on ballistic course.

As the dust from the explosions subsidizes, I can see Madoka-san is holding a pair of small-caliber Gatling guns, the one type Ichika-san frequently uses. Her eyes, those were full of uncertainness. Her jaw hanging lose, and her breath is erratic.

And I manage to take out 50 point of her shield. Madoka-san fails to intercept more than half the slugs. But of course, the fact that she can intercept them at all is miraculous, despite her poor mental state.

This is not Madoka-san I know, the one who I always think as my one true rival in the entire class A. Right now, she's just ordinary girl trying to protect the one precious to her.

Right now, even the audience probably shaken up and confused.

"MADOKA-SAN!" I called out to her in the private communication channel, "I UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS, I REALLY DO! BUT THIS IS A TOURNAMENT WHERE EVERYONE NEED TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES!"

"I KNOW! EVEN SO…" Madoka-san yells, "YUZU-SAN CAN DO IT!"

*BWIIIIIIP*

I frantically dodge out of my way when a bullet whizz beside me, hitting the arena barrier with the explosive force of a bunker-buster missile. As the bullets move with the speed where solid things behave like a fluid, it instantly vaporizes into high pressure plasma and particle upon contact.

That projectile wasn't even THAT big, and yet it yielded so much energy it surpasses my Starlight Rifle in firepower. All of those explosive forces came from its density and velocity, not warhead.

I switch my attention back to the source of danger. Tanimoto-san held a strange-looking rifle, her eye dead set on the scope.

"Ho? Looks like she snap out of it." I heartily laugh as I return back to the side of Shizune-san, "What do you think?"

"One can be really sure." My tomboy friends smiles, and load a pair of extra attachment to her tonfas. "I think it's a good time to throw down the gloves."

~ICHIKA POV~

As I stand in the hangar, watching as the fight unveils outside… I can't help but feel tension crawling all over my skin; Tanimoto was paralyzed by her own fear and doubt.

Even so, when Tanimoto recover, I'm losing it being too excited.

And Madoka, she… she found a good friend, that's for sure. The sheer length she will travel through to protect her roommate and partner, rarely did I saw her being this emotionally charged.

Takatsuki move forward and try to flank both gunslingers, but instead of scattering, Madoka and Tanimoto fire their weapons in concert whilst moving away in a formation, Madoka use precision shot that can't easily be dodged like before while Tanimoto switch to canister ammo and fill the sky with deadly pellets of superdense metals using her long barreled smoothbore as impromptu shotgun.

This is incredible.

"Interesting." Iori-san raised his glasses, "When I rebuilt Kurogane, I designed it to be dedicated sniper and yet…"

Madoka and Takatsuki meet face to face, sword against Tonfa, knees and elbows, their booster roared to gain dominance, and Kurogane won. Throwing the green Raphael away, Madoka grin and pull out her rifle, but a salvo from Cecilia's particle cannon halt her attacks.

Takatsuki raised her tonfas and launched a grenade from each of them, as those grenades arc slowly like mortar rounds, Tanimoto intercept them with ease. But that's not the point, the flash from the explosion fill the monitor with nothing but white.

"Decoy?" Charles balks in amazement.

I.S. can react with such precision that even against the most dangerous radiation the shield will compensate and dim itself in the blink of an eye. And from the explosion, black smoke of metal dust will also float down slowly to interfere with radar and infrared until I.S. sensor can adjust.

But split second is all it needs, as Takatsuki appear behind Madoka and planted a spinning kick to her back, throwing the black machine to the arena barrier.

"[AAGGH!]"

"Holy shit." I blurt out.

But Tanimoto already stand beside unsuspecting Takatsuki and pull the trigger, the explosion and impact of the HVAP rounds send her spinning uncontrollably.

"HOLY SHIT!"

"Ichika your language." Charles tell me, but then, molten metal rains upon Tanimoto's Raphael and she crash down to the ground, courtesy of Cecilia's missiles. "Okay I take that back, Jesus! Are we SURE they're not professional?"

"This year's freshmen sure full of interesting people." Iori-san comments while munching a handful of popcorn from the bucket on his hand, "They're not quite the top of academy yet, but the average level far outstrips the students from previous year."

"Well that's true, even Ichika isn't really a cadet rep to begin with." Charles smiled, defeated. "Looks like I have to work harder."

"Ma, don't worry about it." I pat his shoulder, "I'm very sure you'll leave us in the dust in no time."

That's right, five minutes has passed since the fight begun, but BT barely lost a hundred shield points. The gap between us is certainly far higher than I understand from our previous duel.

"Alcott… looks like amongst the cadet rep, she's the one that trained the longest. Well, discounting the German girl" Iori-san looks at his datapad… wonder where he got these super secret information, but then again, he's Chifuyu-nee and Tabane-san's childhood friend. Their circles aren't exactly… ordinary.

"How long has Bodewig trained again?" I curiously asked, "I know Chifuyu-nee trained her in the year she left me here. But I'm very sure Laura's been there for so long. I think amongst everyone in our group, she's the strongest."

I can notice the subtle change in Charles' expression, though I heard from the girls that he had crush on Bodewig, it seems that there's something else between them that is well beyond that innocent attraction.

"Longer than you have lived in this world." Iori-san's expression turned dark as he turned off his datapad.

I dropped the canteen I was holding in shock, "What do you mean with that, Iori-san?"

~MADOKA POV~

Now that Yuzu-san had returned to her usual self, we managed to push back them. Still, I underestimated Cecilia too much, not only she had grown stronger since our duel back then, she's also able to tap into her true skill and experience as a cadet rep.

Yuzu-san and I keep our synchronous assault even with Shizune harassing us.

"Yuzu-san, we need to take out Cecilia's beam cannon, now!"

If Cecilia had access to her main weapon, we have no chance to win, only delaying the inevitable. These Bits are dangerous, but in the end, Cecilia's true strength lies on her marksmanship, surpassing even me and Bodewig in the class, perhaps even the entire student body.

The only reason she haven't take out us yet is because me and Yuzu made a great counter-sniper team. But even so, I can only shoot whenever I don't have to face Shizune.

Pillars of light rained upon Yuzu, forced her to raise her solid plates to conserve her shield energy. I take that back, those BiTs were dangerous! Took the chance again, Shizune deliver a heel-drop on her, but Yuzu skillfully shift her mass and booster to move backward while her stance remains unchanged, evading the deadly strike and immediately counter.

A single bullet blew through Shizune's defense and destroyed her left plate shield, staggered the melee specialist.

*WHOOSH* *ZIIIIIII*

"BACK JET STREAM?!" Cecilia express her shock, I take that chance to fire and managed to destroy her scope… again. That makes two! Two more bullets crash upon her energy shield despite her attempt to dodge. Oh yes, I'm back baby!

"Impressive, Yuzu-san!" But Cecilia fired her beam cannon and melts mine with its full power. "AH CRAP!"

"Sorry, since that day you humiliated me, I install a backup sensor on my rifle!" Cecilia smugly smiled, but of course she had that kind of precaution! The secondary sensor was much smaller, and mounted under the barrel.

"MADOKA-SAN!"

My empty hand didn't last for long, as Tanegashima spun midair when Yuzu threw it back to me.

My shield points almost depleted, but so is Cecilia's, I have to make this last shot counts.

Hypervelocity shell launched from its barrel, I saw everything in slow motion, and the fiery shell tore through Cecilia's beam cannon like paper. The ensuing explosion take out a good chunk of Cecilia's energy, and now both of us struck at 40 points.

However, before I know it, I am surrounded by Cecilia's BiTs and unable to move. Cecilia crossed her arms cockily; she definitely earned that arrogance this time.

I grinned in satisfaction, even though it's my defeat, this fight really worth it.

"YUZU!"

In reflex, Cecilia fired her BiTs and blasted me to the ground; however, Yuzu slipped under Shizune and fired a large-diameter missile launcher. The sky became red hot like a miniature sun just appearing out of nowhere, and even I can feel the backlash despite lying on the bottom of the arena.

Cecilia's smoking body tumble on the ground several times, though her absolute defense protected her from harm.

"Geez, Madoka-san so unfair!" she yelled as she recovered quickly, "But who could expect you of all people to sacrifice yourself."

"I lost to you, Cecilia. That's not something I can change!" I laughed, "It's up to our teammates, however, to decide which team is better overall."

However, deep down, I know Yuzu won't last against Shizune. And in less than a minute, Shizune manage to break through her defense and caught her on her back.

With a skillful execution, Shizune looped upward once and then boost down, wrestled Yuzu face first to the ground, resulted in meters-wide crater and creaking Raphael, my friend barely conscious.

Victory siren blared and Shizune raised her fist and shouted.

"Jeez, looks like I still have a lot to learn." Cecilia drop herself on her back like a petulant child, but her partner lift her up. "Say the MVP of the entire fight, if it's not for you I won't even last five minutes against them."

"It's that so? Then I, Cecilia Alcott, shall accept that praise, not that it's exaggeration or anything. Ohohoho."

Yeah right, whatever.

"Yuzu-san… that was a great fight." I offer my hand to my hard working partner, and she grasped it firmly.

"Mmmh." She stood up and her hair drop down loosely because her hair band snapped."Ah, I need a new hairtie."

"You look good like that. If only your boyfriend can see you now, he might even fell for you the second time." I teased her.

"I'm not sure of it; he'll probably be scared of me if he knows." Yuzu-san smirked wryly as she rubbed the dirt of her face, "But I'm going to tell him anyway."

That's right…

It would be best if someone can tell their lovers openly about themselves.

~LAURA POV~

"Great job there, Shizune." Shinonono pointed her fist forward, her eyes innocuously shine. "I'll make sure I'll not hold back myself."

"Osu, if you perform like a dumbass then I'll mock you for the rest of the year." Takatsuki, the short haired girl raised her own fist and tap it to Shinonono's own. "Break a leg, Houki!"

I just learned that they're actually roommates, so perhaps they shared bonds not unlike me and the rest of Schwarzer Hase. It's not my business

"My, my Houki-san, you won't congratulate me as today's MVP?" The blond bimbo that is Britain's cadet representative raised her chest. "C'mon, don't be shy."

"Only a retard can be caught off guard by thermobaric missile like that." Shinonono sneered in response, which made Alcott furious. "DON'T CALL ME RETARD!"

I always thought those brats threat all of this like a game. And I was right.

They treat it as a sport; they laugh their defeat as if it was nothing. A real battlefield will never be so forgiving.

"Disgusting." I scowled.

"Chill." The ponytailed girl beside me said, Shinonono's expression changed drastically as soon as her two friend disappear out of sight. Her eyes become sharp and tempered…

Which remind me of Instructor….

"No matter what you complain about, it is really just a game." She said coldly.

How could she even say that? Is this woman drunk?

"And that's why it's all wasteful." I snapped, "What's the point of military training if you're not going to use it?"

"And what you want to propose? Instigating war for the sake of proving your might?" She screamed in response, "THAT mindset is what caused white knight incident in the first place."

Even though I still disagree, I can't help but close my mouth.

As far as I remember, I always been raised for the sake of war, and the false peace surrounding the world made me want to puke. And yet, when I saw through this girl's eyes, all I can see is burning hatred.

Just like me who despise this complacency, she despises the incident that took everything she held precious. I don't understand that feeling, for me, I'm just as disposable as the girl next to me, and the other. As long as my death fulfill a purpose.

Or maybe I'm just lying to myself?

Given the chance, I would surely die if that's what it takes to save instructor. I don't know when I began to think like this. Perhaps I simply don't realize it until now, because until recently, I was so focused with the Twins that I don't notice.

And I hate it. Emotion is nothing but a baggage for a soldier. A soldier is a tool, nothing more nothing less; they have no need for emotion.

But Instructor told me that human emotion is a double edged sword, both strength and a weakness. She's strong, because of her love for her siblings.

Perhaps this hatred of mine can become strength as well? But it would just interfere with my logical train of thought. I'm… honestly confused.

"Perhaps you misunderstood, Bodewig." The girl sighed, and I can feel the tension disappear from the air surrounding her, "Even though it's a game, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take it seriously."

"You stole the words off my mouth." I told her coldly, "Don't get in my way."

"What? And you're going to fight them yourself?" she earnestly asked, which makes it all the more insulting. If it was a real mockery I'll ignore it, but her words show something that I hate the most.

Concern.

She and I, both of us were nothing but a pawn, a tool for people in the higher hierarchy. To express concern to fellow soldier will spell doom for the success of our mission.

But WHAT is my mission? To fight in this pointless mockery of war? I don't even know anymore…

"Your mission is to show a good fight." Instructor enter the hangar, her icy-cold eyes scanned thorough the room. "In the end, I.S. tournaments boil down to a dick-waving contest between countries and corporations. As long as you show your full strength, you've reached your full objective."

"Arrogance leads to failure, Alcott learned it the hard way and look how strong she is now."

"But Instructor…" I questioned her, "If I lose, wouldn't that be a black mark against my country? Wouldn't it be best if I can achieve overwhelming victory?"

"Ideally yes, but this world is too cruel for such concept. If that's the case, world war wouldn't result in millions of casualties in the opposing side, isn't that right, Bodewig?"

Overwhelming victory, it could be said that the only time it happens in recent times was the White Knight incidents. The sheer discrepancy of performance between an I.S. and conventional weapon is far too significant that numbers didn't make any difference.

On the other hand, a battle between I.S. is like war between peer opponents. Even if one possess greater advantage, it's just not possible for the winning party to come out unscathed. This is exactly what happens yesterday, though I able to fend off the arrogant seniors, that Chinese cadet rep was forced to be absent because her machine suffered too much damage.

Because she can't be arsed to leave me alone… what a fool.

"But pursuing an ideal is not bad either." Instructor smiled, "Without a defined goal, civilization won't advance. Just make sure you don't destroy yourself apart in the process."

I see.

In short, I just have to think how to win.

Even if I have to rely on this girl beside me…

Her I.S. finally adjusted to specification, its floating shields has been replaced by a pair of tower shields, and the skirt armor has been removed entirely, making the whole unit looks top-heavy just like my own.

"As soon as we step out of that catapult, we're teammates." I told her, "Don't be half-assed, because I'll do the same."

"You're welcome." The girl waved her split ponytail and stepped into the catapult. "Let's not hinder each other; I promise I'll not get in your way."

Come to think, I think I understand what's in her mind. Just like me, she wanted to fight and defeat the hatred within her, so as to achieve the ultimate strength.

With that mindset, we might just able to work it out.

"That's acceptable." I stepped into the other catapult, and both of us finally able to take off. "I trust you."

"Thanks."

The small twitch on her lips, the crystalline eyes that hide small yet intense flame…

She really resembles Instructor. And that made me uneasy.

If my emotion will be a double edged sword, then it's crystal clear that I'm not ready to bear it. I put all the turmoil in my mind aside, and decide to fight this pointless mockery of war to fulfill my mission.

Because that's the purpose of my existence, nothing more, nothing less.

~CHIFUYU POV~

When I see them, I pretend not to feel anything. All I can show to people around me is nothing but ambivalence, as if.

And yet, when I saw those four, I can only feel pride.

My Student from Class 1-A, all of them were my most prized student. Ichika, Madoka, Takatsuki and Tanimoto. All of them are great example of people who don't waste their talents and potential.

As they returned to this hangar, Madoka and Ichika shared a high five. She and her teammate also exchanged the same gesture with all the pit crews.

That's right, these girls who worked behind

"Nohotoke, you're the one work the hardest in the pit right?"

"Iyaaa, embarrassing! I just like tinkering that's all." The childlike girl waved her oversized sleeves, "Without everyone I can't do it, Sensei. Give them some credit."

"Well, I'd give you all A for effort, that includes you, Orimura-imouto and Tanimoto." I said as I open the book and scratched the grade column with my pen. "However, just because you get a high grade, doesn't mean you can slack off in the future."

"HAI!" Everyone in vicinity answered.

"Orimura, Dunois, you can see how Alcott can improve so much in such a short time frame, make sure not to make your country ashamed." I told the two boys with clarity.

"HAI!" They answered.

"I have a high hopes for you all, make sure to leave other class in the dust!"

Ichika stepped forward into the first catapult and Dunois to the second catapult. Both of them looks very relaxed, and yet at the same time I can see they're determined to prove themselves.

As the only male amongst the student, they have special kind of burden to carry. Their pride as a man, and their pride as male I.S. pilot.

Once they stepped into these linear accelerators, they will turn into unrestrained beast.

"Orimura Ichika, ByakuShiki Ignition Type."

"Charles Dunois, Raphael Revive Custom ."

"TAKE-OFF!"

As I turn my head toward the monitor, the four students caught in a standoff. Their gaze locked upon each other, unblinking.

And Iori, as usual, pulled yet another bucket of popcorn in anticipation. That man seriously has zero tact when it comes to live demonstration, then again, perhaps that's not bad at all.

"You said Kurogane has been upgraded, but it seems to be extremely lackluster in comparison." I said matter of factly, hiding my emotion behind these words. Alas, Iori Senbei knew me too much to be fooled. Still, like usual, he decided not to pry.

"Well yeah, seems like its output are far more inferior than lab test had shown." Iori replied, "In the effort of increasing its stability, I reduce the inherent characteristic that made Madoka-san able to unleash her true potential. I'll make adjustment shortly after this tournament concludes."

"Understood, be sure to fill all the necessary paperwork."

Even though I said that I noticed something wrong.

Madoka's piloting skill haven't improved much in the last few weeks, Ichika had outstripped her far behind in that regard. Meanwhile, the rest of her classmates is catching up to her. Had Madoka actually training properly, even Takatsuki won't be able to deal with her at all, even with flawed machine such as Kurogane Nishiki.

Or maybe I'm just making an assumption, Takatsuki by no means weak. And Madoka was never a close combat specialist.

I will find out soon, when I see the recording from Kurogane's blackbox.

As for that man... Yoshi-no, Joshua O' Brien, I need to get him out of my mind.

Even if the body stay the same, the mind within is entirely different. Reality is not fiction, people who suffered memory loss will not magically recover outside of occasional miracle. Joshua O'Brien is not Yoshio Orimura. Yoshio Orimura died during White Knight Incident, along with his family.

Even so, why I can't let him go?

Silly Chifuyu, you're not Disney princess!