Sorry for the wait! I had writer's block and I was also working on other fics to keep me busy. ATM I'm active in Disney's Twisted Wonderland fandom and writing an OC fic too. Because of that, I won't be getting back to this fic as often. It's not a hiatus, but more of me putting this to the side and occasionally working on it for a change of pace.

I actually kind of miss writing Fire Force, though it's been a while so the second half of this chapter might be rushed than it should. I need to brush up on everything. Recent manga chapters are getting convoluted...

...

Upon first glance, Iris saw a flower.

A beautiful bright red flower of five petals magnificently burning with vivid light under the grace of the rays of sun. They were alluring to the blonde. She wanted to grasp the delicate flower between her fingers and admire it close up.

A little girl branded a dazzling wide smile as she twirled with a pair of watering cans sprinkling the flower beds and vegetables patches to their healthy green color. Every time she was assigned to water the gardens, the plants would look alive and perk up with attention.

Iris recalled the mirthful dance of the young nun. Like her name suggested, she was always so bright and expressive. Her emotions never betrayed her. At times she was happy, times when she was mad, and times when she was sad. Each emotion conveyed a shade of red, such as a saturated passionate red, a desaturated sulky red, or a soft calming red.

One of the child nun's favorite things to do was to sleep on the verdant green grass, bathing under the perfectly sunny skies and surrendering her whole being to mother nature.

A young Iris would discover the girl laying on the hill and quietly approach the still body to peer above her sleeping visage. She was in awe. How could someone around her age look so beautiful yet so precious enough to be fragile and cripple by a mere touch?

Iris had felt the need to protect her. She had done so much for the Holy Sol Temple and the other sisters. Everyone loved her and her ability to brighten up their days. She can be a little hyper over the simple things, but she was compassionate and joyful no matter the trifling times the world had in store.

Iris wanted to treasure that person in this world that lives in fear of flames for a little longer than time had given.

She reached for the flower.

"Sister?"

Light blue eyes blinked. Instead of a flower, her gloved hand caressed smooth, glossy red locks rich in color and shine. They were warm to the touch. Iris feels the gentle heat radiating from under her palm like a candle flame protecting her from the cold and the darkness.

Kasai eyed the nun in polite confusion. She doesn't know why Iris is suddenly running a hand through her hair, but she didn't shrug her off as it was harmless.

She tilted her head back to look over her shoulder from her desk. "Do you need something?"

Iris gasped. She retracted her hand off her head almost as though it was on fire and bowed. "I'm sorry!"

"It's no big deal," Kasai assures the apologetic girl. She really didn't mind; the gesture just somewhat startled her, especially since it came from the soft-spoken Iris.

Kasai rubbed the spot where Iris had touched and gingerly scratched it. Iris seems out of it ever since they met Company 5, which was only just yesterday. She doesn't have a solid idea, but she does have an inkling it could be related to the brief eye contact made with Hibana. They seemed to recognize each other from that interaction alone.

"Is something wrong?" The redhead asked.

Iris paused. Was she hesitating?

"Nothing, really. I just thought we can have a little chat over tea. I'd like to get to know you more." Iris said and clapped her palms together.

Kasai watched her reaction. She was avoiding direct eye contact by closing her eyes. Before, Kasai caught glimpses of sadness and conflicted. Yet she was smiling like nothing is troubling her. They say eyes are the windows to your soul, and Kasai believes in that.

Kasai was silent. She then nodded. "Okay, sure. I need a break from so many things that happened the past few days. But not today, of course."

She was referring to the meeting the 8th will be having on the rooftop to discuss about yesterday's incident with the 5th. Kasai could assume a few things they'll be pointing out with how fishy the company is.

They relocated from the office to the rooftop. Today is a pleasant sunny day.

Kasai stretched her arms and back, grunting from the stiff tension finally loosening up after a few hours sitting and doing paperwork. Nice weather it is today.

"After that little dustup with the 5th yesterday, you probably know this, but that bunch is fishy. We're going to investigate them, and it may come to blows." Obi said.

Shinra observed the man. "Captain Obi, that's no longer physical training—it's something physical-training adjacent."

Obi was balancing his entire being with one foot off a large rubber cushion ball while holding balls of weights and luggage on his arms and waist. In his hands were weights and two pairs of dumbbells teetering on the top of the plates as well as a pyramid of paper cups atop those. To top it off, a dainty pink flower was perched above the double five kilogram blocks stacked above his head. It's ridiculous, honestly.

By Obi's cue, Hinawa reports. "Our primary objective is to put Infernals to rest, and to keep the public safe. However, we must keep in mind the 8th's hidden objective to investigate suspicious crew members and find the means to oppose them, as well. Like Captain Obi said..."

Kasai was staring at the text bubbles on Hinawa's cap that read "Setsuko in the Wall". What the hell does that even mean? That's even worse than fricking "head spa".

Arthur had his grip on his sword hilt as he assumed stance toward two sparrows perched innocently on the metal skeleton of a tank. "Damn you, griffin! Attack my castle again, will you? I'll tarnish Excalibur with your blood!"

"You really are an idiot." Shinra stated.

Kasai slightly tilt her head back. Someone please help this lost cause.

"Say what you want, but please don't take down that adorable griffin. You'll be arrested for violating the wildlife protection laws." Maki warned.

Despite that, the stubborn blond slowly sneaks to the sparrows' direction as Shinra remarks, "You're pretty dangerous yourself, there, Maki-san."

"Then again, 90 percent of the time, Maki-san is cool, beautiful, and lovely. It's just a shame about the other 10 percent." Iris lowered her chin.

Maki slouched. "A shame...?"

Kasai was silent throughout the meeting. She wouldn't want to continue acting out of hand if she were them.

They stood rigid at the gun pointed at them. "Hey, you people, this is an important meeting. No idle chatter." Hinawa addressed.

"Lieutenant! Please don't point your gun at us, even as a joke!" Shinra held his hands up defensively from the intimidation. The girls as well as Obi who had abandoned his previous training on a mat stood by the sidelines, safe from Hinawa's gun.

"Do I look like the kind of man who jokes?"

Before Shinra knew it, the brunet shot his quadricep. He instantly fell to the floor and clutched the spot while twisting from the shock. Iris sends her Látom prayers.

"My leg! My... leg..." Shinra came to a stop as the shock had disappeared and registered no signs of serious damage. Only vague traces of the spot left by the bullet lingered on his jumpsuit. "There's nothing there."

Kasai remembered something Maki told her about Hinawa's flame ability. He can control the firepower behind the bullets and make it non-lethal as he wishes. So he was indeed using a real gun and a real bullet.

"Unlike Infernals, when you face a hostile second or third generation, there's no telling what they might do. We're going to start going up against them, too. Arthur, you're an idiot, so that goes double for you." Hinawa said to the blond who had swung air at the "griffins".

Once Arthur went on about being a "man who slays dragons", Shinra and Arthur were pulled in an intimidating hold with Hinawa's arms slung over their now hunched shoulders.

"Training starts now. I'm going to push the hell out of you."

With that, the boys including Kasai began their daily sparring sessions with Maki. Arthur was the first to go since, like Hinawa had said, is an "idiot" who was busy playing knight with a pair of birds to not even listen during the meeting.

Once Arthur's part had finished, Kasai eagerly goes up to Maki. "Maki-san, I've been thinking about what you told me the first time we sparred since then. I think I found the problem behind that."

"What would that be?" Maki asked.

Kasai clenched her gloved fist. In her seriousness, she said, "I need to be pissed off more."

Maki blinked dumbly. "Eh?"

Kasai continued, "You know how you said my flames are too 'soft'? Well, when I get really irritated or annoyed by some things, my flames tend to burn stronger with my emotions. So that's why I propose that for today, you try to say or do things that'll fuel my flames."

Maki held her hands up before her. "Even if you ask me that, I can't do something out of my league."

"Don't worry! You can just verbally harass me!"

"That's exactly why I can't do that!"

Kasai was oblivious to the visible discomfort Maki had as she insisted, "It's only a little experiment. No hard feelings! So think of the most evil thing you can say to me!"

Maki cried anime tears. "It's impossible, but..." She has to try at least once to get Kasai off her.

"You... You're... You're weak...?" Maki trailed off.

Kasai stared. "Sorry, I asked too much from you. I'll just think of something frustrating for myself and we'll spar normally."

Maki was relieved that managed to work out. "Agreed..."

As Kasai tries to evade and land blows on Maki, she thinks of something that would incur her wrath to the point she would vent the emotion onto her foe without mercy.

It was simple, really.

Miyamoto... "Brother killer"... Kaen's transformation... What else could serve as the oil to her flames?

Kasai's eyes flared. Her punches gradually became fast. Maki's expression became more focused as she blocks and avoids each one. Her punches are too spread out. She must be thinking as long as she can land a hit then everything will work out. Her emotions are also not just amplifying her flames, but they also put a red curtain over her eyes. That kind of thinking is reckless.

Maki is being pushed back to the end of the rooftop. She decides to end the flurry of fists before she would arrive to the ledge.

The brunette grips both of Kasai's wrists and held them in place. Fists trembled in vain.

Maki somehow twirled behind her to pull her arms behind in a lock, inciting a grunt from Kasai. Maki voiced her words of advice to her ear before releasing the redhead.

Kasai chuckled sheepishly and rubbed a hand behind her head. She actually thought she made some progress by using her irritation as motivation. Maybe that works only on certain individuals. That didn't work out like she was expecting.

'Time to return to the basics, I guess...'

~Fire Force~

That night, Kasai was in her bedroom gripping a red rubber handball while writing on her journal. She was not in the mood to sleep at this late hour.

Kasai could not shake the image of Iris' strained smile off her. It's tough to watch someone pretend everything is all right with a smile. That means she does not have someone to depend on in times when she wants to vent or release whatever was shackling her mind.

Of course, Kasai is not quite close with her enough for the blonde to confide into. It makes sense, but Kasai had hoped she gives off the impression that she is someone Iris can talk to. Whether something trivial or significant, she would listen patiently throughout it all.

She had always done the same for Kaen, presenting herself as a trustworthy and reliable big sister for him to go to before anyone outside of the family. Shinra even trusted her well enough to confide to her about the actuality behind the tragedy of his family.

Kasai does not mind bearing the burdens of her allies. She hoped Iris understands that.

Now that that was said...

Iris was leaving the cathedral when she spotted Kasai in her Blue Stripe uniform for "formal" wear.

"Kasai-san..."

The redhead smiled and placed her hands on her hips in an affirmative stance. "I'll be your bodyguard, whether you like it or not." She was fine if Iris dislikes her for sticking her nose into her business. She's worried about her safety going to Company 5 alone. There was no shame in that.

Iris hesitated. Should she really involve someone in her personal affairs? Upon seeing her bright red locks flashing under her crimson hood, the sister relented. She smiles. "Thank you, Kasai-san."

They called a taxi (Kasai smoothly dodged the questions about why a sister and a soldier want a ride) and head south straight to Company 5's cathedral.

Once Kasai paid the driver and returned to Iris' side, she saw her gazing at the building. When she looks back to Kasai, a reassuring smile was sent her way. No words were needed.

Iris nods firmly before approaching the booth. A soldier stationed for the night looks at either of them.

"What's a sister and a Fire Soldier doing here at this hour?" He inquired.

"Would it be possible for us to see your captain?" Iris asked.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Please tell your captain that Iris is here."

The man casts a glance to Kasai standing behind the priestess to the side. "And are you supposed to be her bodyguard or something?"

"Of course." Kasai bowed her head, saying nothing more than that.

Iris glanced at her before saying to the man, "Please also tell your captain that...a 'bright flower' is here as well."

Now both soldiers look to the sister in confusion. The man mumbles whether that was a code name of sorts to himself before relaying the message to the 5th's complex. Meanwhile Kasai was staring at the girl with floating question marks above her head. Why did she refer her as such?

Iris did not meet Kasai's curious gaze. Before the latter could ask, the soldier gave them the okay and permitted them to pass through the gates. When they arrived to the complex entrance, another Fire Soldier was there to lead the pair to the captain's location.

However, along the way, Kasai was stopped by the soldier while Iris was to continue down the corridor.

"The captain wishes to speak to the sister alone. You're to be waiting in another room." He simply stated as per Hibana's orders.

Iris looks back to Kasai, worry wavering in her light blue eyes.

Kasai smiled in assurance before nodding to the man. "Understood."

They part ways. Kasai just hopes Hibana doesn't hurt Iris. She understands they have personal things to talk about, and that it's not in her place to meddle in the same room, but Kasai will stop the captain if she takes it too far.

Kasai was led to a dimly lit room where the sole white light shone upon a white table the size of a human.

This is...!

Suddenly the soldier who guided her had ambushed from behind by kicking behind her knees. Having lost feeling in her lower legs, Kasai collapsed to the floor. A pair of men hiding from the shadows from either side of the doorway appear to cover her hands before she could unleash her pyrokinesis to attack. Fire-resistant cloth bounds her either fists In front of her with a thick belt.

Before Kasai could protest, she was shoved inside the room where the three men drag her to the center of the room and quickly strapped her to the table with several belts. Is Company 5 full of people who know how tie others down?!

Her eyes squint under the glares of the spotlight shining on her restraints. Kasai squirms to no avail. "What's the meaning of this!"

"Welcome, Kasai Daigo. We've been expecting you, but never this soon and so easily. Perhaps you're more naive than we thought."

A hoarse man's voice croaked from the darkness. They reveal themselves before the girl. An old man so tiny, he had to step on a step ladder so he can look over the table. What really bugged the girl however is his head that's shaped like a cone. Is his brain shaped like one to fit inside that space, too?

Kasai glares. "Are you going to experiment me or something? I'm not an Infernal, you know. Has the captain stooped so low to test on humans now?"

"You're misunderstanding. We're very well aware you're not an Infernal. However, your younger brother is."

Kasai would have widened her eyes if it weren't for the blinding white light. Her voice was low as she spoke, "What do you know about Kaen?"

The old man smirks. Now he's got her attention. "We were very intrigued on that incident three years ago. A wee little boy just wee 10 years old, had fallen victim to Spontaneous Human Combustion. None of the records indicate anyone so youthful until Kaen Daigo. A shame he had to perish so young, and by the hands of his eldest sibling."

Kasai grits her teeth. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

"This is a fact, no? You awoke to your third generation powers the same day."

"Kaen is not dead! He's out there, I know it!" Kasai spat.

"On what basis?" Conehead asked.

She bit her lower lip, unable to meet his goggles for eyes. "I don't know...but I just have this feeling."

"And this 'feeling' is particularly why we're here." Conehead said. Kasai looks at him.

He continued, "Captain Hibana finds you a very interesting subject. She permitted me to extract data from you. It will be a little sting, but nothing torturous. You're human, after all."

Kasai's eyes narrowed. Is he implying the same can't be said for Infernals? Speaking of...

"What did you guys do to Setsuo Miyamoto?" She asked.

"What's this? Curious, are you?" A soldier on standby had rolled a cart beside the elder. Conehead slips on a pair of rubber gloves. "First, allow me to pluck a few samples from you."

Kasai tried tilting her head away but knew it was a vain attempt in her restrained state. When he pulled a hair strand from her, she bit back a wince. Guy is not delicate with his subjects.

Conehead admires the single strand burning brightly under the white beams of light. It was as though it was a wire set ablaze.

Kasai complains when he plucked a few more strands. He had defended himself by saying a single strand is likely to be lost and thus, a fair number of data available is needed. She could have at least done the job herself, not some old gnome with no manners.

When Conehead was satisfied, he had stored the hair in a sealed plastic bag and pocketed it before picking up a needle that dangerously glinted. "Now, a sample of blood..."

Kasai screamed, "Can we get to the part where you tell me about Setsuo Miyamoto before hell breaks loose?!"

Conehead paused. He was actually contemplating. "You're right, the blood can come later. The Infernal is much more important. Bring it in." He orders the soldiers.

What Conehead didn't realize was that Kasai referred to the 8th's arrival, not her supposed fear of needles (as if). What's taking them so long? She had left a note on her desk for anyone to read detailing her and Iris' whereabouts. They should be busting in Company 5 any moment now...

Flames enter the room.

Kasai stared at the Infernal. A white 5 branded his skull, and he had a makeshift cloak over his shoulders. For an Infernal to be in a confined setting with many people, he seems...tame.

Kasai squints at Conehead. "Did you make him your new toy or what?"

"A fine specimen, isn't it. It would be a shame to destroy it when there are so many advantages to keeping it alive. I don't understand why the 8th wanted to eliminate it." Conehead shakes his head. "But I digress. What we want to learn, is how you fare before an Infernal."

Kasai was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Look at it very closely."

Kasai stares. "I don't get it-"

White hot pain throbs in her fists. She gasps from the jolt paralyzing her left scarred forearm. For a split second she saw Miyamoto's human face flickering. He was gazing down upon her with the same despicable expression of a murderer, probably the same face he had when he was still human.

Her eyes suddenly sees red. No. She's going crazy. The more she looks at him the more she wants to pummel his face to nothingness.

"Don't close your eyes!"

Her muscles twitched. Her fists grope air inside the resistant fabric. She has to deliver judgement... Miyamoto is right there. If only these restraints weren't in the way...

Kasai squirms violently enough to shake the table beneath her. Chains tied to her rattle. "Release me right now! I've had enough of this crap! Let me go let me go let me go!"

Conehead was calm as he watched her continue to move erratically. "The Adolla Burst... You must have some connection to it."

The sound of something exploding shook the complex, prompting sirens to blare and lights painting the room red.

Conehead looks up. "Ah, the 8th has invited themselves in. Perfect timing to test out the Infernal..." He mumbles something to himself before ordering the soldiers, "Extract the blood from the girl." "Sir!"

Kasai lifts her head to watch the old man leave with the Infernal. "Oi! We're not done here, Conehead!"

A soldier rolls up her right sleeve while another approaches her with a needle.

The redhead screams, "Help! I don't trust you guys with needles! At least bring in a doctor or anyone certified with needles!"

Kasai grits her teeth. Mustering the strength in her arms, she pulls on the chains until it shattered. Before a soldier could pin her down, she head butts one by the chin. The soldier bit his tongue and staggered to the floor while another was lunging his arm for her. Kasai drew herself backwards to avoid the hand before delivering an uppercut with her free hand. The soldier dropped the needle and fainted.

Kasai used her teeth to pull at the cloth and release the belt of one fist before using the same hand to remove the other. She pulled the chain cuffed to her feet and hops off the table to search for the key. Thankfully one of the two soldiers carried the key that opens all of her shackles.

She rubbed her sore wrists before exiting the experiment room. The sudden paralysis of her arm and hands have faded by then. While the matter is a mystery, she has to see how Iris is doing.

While Kasai retraces her route to where they had split up, she has yet to bump into any soldiers (they must have been employed to the entrance where the 8th is likely to be distracting them) and wounds up at a large hallway with painted angels for ceilings.

Kasai runs up to the door at the end where it stood above a flight of staircase. Three women whom Kasai had recognized as the voluptuous blonde triplets (something about Angels) were sprawled unconscious on the floor. Someone had already arrived to confront Hibana.

Kasai walks past them and enters.

"Sister Iris! Are you okay?" Kasai called out, announcing her presence.

Her green eyes blinked. She sees the priestess embracing Hibana on the floor while Shinra stood by the sidelines admiring the supposedly heartwarming sight she must have interrupted. Where did these pretty vibrant flowers come from, though?

Three pairs of eyes fall on the lone soldier.

This is awkward. "Uhh... Am I intruding?"

"Kasai/Kasai-san!"

Said girl approaches them while rubbing behind her head sheepishly. "I guess you took care of everything here, Shinra?"

"Yep. It all went out well." Shinra replied, despite looking beaten up worse off than the 5th's captain. "But what happened? Didn't you come with Sister?"

"That's..." Kasai glances to Hibana who had gotten a little dirty from her fight with the boy. The woman didn't meet her gaze.

The girl pursed her lips. "I was beating up a few guys here and there blocking the way. I think things have calmed down outside by now. Pretty flowers by the way," She remarked as she admired them. "Is this your pyrokinesis ability, Captain Hibana?"

Hibana's eyes narrowed. She nodded once. "They're irises."

"Just like Sister's name, huh. Are you two okay enough to stand?" She asked.

Iris bobbed her head and helps hoist the older woman up to her feet. Hibana was strong enough to walk on her own.

Kasai meets the latter's stare when she was at full height.

"...You really do look like her." Was what Hibana muttered. Was it pointed to Kasai? Or was she just talking to herself?

Kasai's brows furrowed. Before she could ask, Hibana struts away and leads the others outside to check on the mess. She tried asking Iris herself who is the person she's referring to.

As they walk behind in the back of the group and cross the brightly lit hallway of intricate designs, the blonde whispered, "You remind both of us of a sister we grew up with. She had pretty red hair like you, and I think you two would get along if you were to meet."

Kasai wondered what would make her think that. "That so? What's her name?"

Iris giggled. "Get this: her name is..."

Time seemed to stop. A sharp pang suddenly pierced her brain as Kasai winced and held her head. Static noises gradually grow louder and overwhelm any other noise. Everything is fuzzy.

A smiling face was blurred. Who is it? A little girl? Someone she doesn't recognize...

"-sai-san? Kasai-san?"

Said redhead was reeled back to reality. A field of angels fluttering in the blue sky had swarmed her vision. It was then she registered a hand placed on her arm that she slowly lowers her chin to meet Iris' concerned expression. Now that Kasai has a close up, she can spot a tiny burn spot around the nose area that tarnished her fair skin. If only she was there to protect her like the bodyguard she had professed herself to be... The guilt fills her chest with shame.

"You've been staring into the ceiling without a word. Do you like the painting that much?" A hint of teasing is heard behind Iris' words. She had yet to suspect the remorse stirring in Kasai.

Kasai glanced back at the ceiling. Of course the artwork is beautiful, but not to the point of her wanting to stare at it for hours. She doesn't do that.

The Fire Soldier ran a hand down her face before rubbing her eyes. "I think that's just the fatigue catching up to me..." At least she hoped that was the case.

"Don't fall asleep while looking up; your neck will be sore." Iris lightly scolds her for thinking of dozing off in this setting.

Kasai quirked a lazy smile. "Yeah, my bad... C'mon, we can't keep Shinra and Captain Hibana waiting."

When they catch up to the others, everyone took in the unconscious men sprawled all over the 5th's grounds. Some muttered "The guy in glasses" under their breaths as they paled from the fresh memory. Wow. The 8th really did quite a number for such a small team, as Hibana remarked.

The three teens immediately knew from the description who was mostly responsible. Lieutenant Hinawa is a beast, if the men he had knocked out of commission said something about it.

"How am I going to explain this whole mess to the higher-ups, or to the gravel still sprawled our all over?" Hibana voices as she looks over her men.

"Captain Obi was apparently going to make it look like it was a joint nighttime training exercise." Shinra replied.

"But you charged in before that could happen, right? If you keep that up all the time, you're going to mess up sooner or later." Hibana said.

Iris clapped her palms together. "I just had a great idea! What if the 5th and the 8th all had a dinner party together?"

Kasai glanced upwards in thought. Barbecue sounds nice to have...

Shinra was skeptical. "Th-That might be a bit much."

"Indeed. That sounds pretty good."

Shinra looks to the pink-haired woman. "Huh?"

She explains, "Sometimes, when you're trying to game someone, the more ridiculous the method, the easier it is to succeed. I'll say that in order to test the 5th's fighting strength, I asked the 8th to play the bad guys and stage a surprise attack drill. Shinra, Kasai, I'd like to set this up, so round up the 8th's people for me."

The three 8th members stare at the 5th captain peculiarly.

"You sure are being cooperative, huh?" Shinra remarks.

Hibana twirls her long, wavy pale pink locks, shyly averting her gaze with a blush dusting her cheeks as she admits, "Well... I've taken a liking to you..."

"Huh?"

The trio didn't expect that. Kasai shuffled to Shinra, nudged him by the elbow, and whispered, "What did you do?"

"I don't know!" He whispered back. Knowing Shinra, he must have swooned the lady with his heroic speech and charms.

An amused grin lifts Kasai's lips. "A natural player, aren't you." On the dense side of course, she didn't voice aloud. "Keep working your way to be a hero and you'll have plenty of ladies swoon head over heels."

~Fire Force~

It was a nice day for barbecue. The gathering took place at a pier where they have a nice view of the ocean.

Standing by the ledge of the pier was Kasai savoring the kebabs made by Hinawa. She breathes in the cool salty ocean breeze before releasing a content sigh. Delicious cooking from the lieutenant as usual. This is great.

On the other side of the party, Hibana was indulging in feeding Shinra grilled meat while a soldier held the parasol above her. Shinra most likely went along for the meat and failed to see that he has the 5th captain almost wrapped around his finger. He just doesn't have the conscience to do that.

After witnessing Hibana kick the soldier's shin ("Gravel does not speak—does not even breathe without permission!") from the corner of her eye, Kasai continued chewing on a piece of tender meat. Women are truly maidens of love on the inside, and Hibana is no exception. The shift in character is scary when it comes to the target of her affections.

Speaking of, she should probably leave and get more kebabs after this one. Hibana would occasionally give the redhead a hostile glint of the eye, which only escalated into one of burning intent when the captain saw Shinra gazing at Kasai more so than the blue sea or Hibana.

Kasai genuinely doesn't understand why the dirty look Hibana is giving her. She and Shinra are friends from school and fellow colleagues in the same company. Of course, words are not enough to get Hibana off her back.

Tugging her red hoodie snugly over her head, she returns to the crowd of people, silently apologizing for ruining Hibana's moment (if that will make her boat float). No one likes a person who fails to read the mood, after all.

She was oblivious to a pair of eyes lingering on her retreating frame the whole time. Kasai had grabbed an extra kebab to give to Obi who had been a stickler to his captain duties, giving a humble speech no one bothered to listen aside from two of the 119 mascots (the reason for them being here is unknown but the more the merrier they say). Kasai sheepishly smiled as Obi finally stepped down from a makeshift platform box and tearfully bit on a piece, mumbling how tasty Hinawa's grilling skills are, unsurprisingly.

The teen would then approach where Maki was stationed with her own grill to see the young woman plead to the girl to stop Arthur from slicing her "will-o-wisps" in half. Unfortunately for Maki, Kasai was on Arthur's side because he was ordered by Hinawa to stop her from playing with fire. It was obvious whose side she should take.

Kasai was approached by a few soldiers when they heard of her reputation as "Valkyrie, the bright burning maiden" whose fists deliver judgement. They wanted to test her strength in an arm wrestle, to which she accepted. She was very confident, after all.

Using a crate to settle the match, a group surrounded them to spectate their new source of entertainment. The soldier who challenged her went down in an instant, much to his bewilderment. She wins every match in succession without breaking a sweat. Soon more challengers volunteered. All results came out with Kasai victorious.

Until Maki eagerly decided she wanted to try a round with Kasai that the latter formally declines with a 45 degree bow in less than a heartbeat, surprising everyone and her challengers. If Company 5 soldiers can't beat Kasai, then Maki is a separate entity. Actually, scratch that, Obi takes that spot. Those gorilla muscles ("Who are you calling a gorilla cyclops?!" Arthur was in Maki's arm reach and unfortunately got German-suplexed. Thankfully his head is dense that only a small bump formed.) are not for show.

Pink four-petal flower pupils lingered on Kasai.

"Hibana~! Come dance with me!" A sister sang, wielding paper folding fans and twirling as though fluttering with the wind.

There was once an adventurous spirit with hair as bold and passionate as fire. Tucked under her nun headwear was chest length hair resting on her right shoulder like the cascading red folds of rich red curtains. Traces of red fringes are swept to the right.

"I think a girl fights fiercely but with an alluring gracefulness. These fans are perfect for you!" She suddenly claimed.

A young Hibana looks at the bright-haired girl peculiarly. She thinks someone boasting of artistic talent as the girl would be better suited for fans than her. Refuting her stubborn nature would only make her stand her ground more firmly.

Hibana held the fan in her two hands pensively. "You think so?"

The girl bobbed her head. "Yep! Like they say, all roses have their thorns."

She hides the lower half of her face with the other pair of the fan, though her expression betrays the mischief behind her words.

"The better question is which rose among the rose garden has the most deadliest thorns."

Hibana looks on as Iris giggled watching Kasai try to calm Maki from pouncing on any other poor soldier who dares to mumble the dreaded words about her "gorilla-esque" appearance.

A frown settled on the woman's lips.

Why does Kasai bear an uncanny resemblance to their dead sister, Saika?

[Bright Flower]