Respite

[December 4th, 18:30 JST]

Tokyo Prefecture – Kaiser Hotel Private Dining Room

Seven days had passed since the joint raid carried out by the JSDF and the entirety of the Aria Corps against multiple Cantus Null compounds across Japan.

The first half of the week was spent under medical observation. Wounds were treated, fractures stabilized, and those hit hardest — Mika and Misaki among other injured Divas from various teams — were placed under extended rest orders. Reports of injuries had come in from units deployed nationwide, but for most teams, recovery followed standard procedures.

For Tempesta Unit, it did not work that way.

What followed instead was a steady cycle of evaluations: physical clearance, consultation sessions, and resonance stability checks meant to confirm that the aftermath of the operation had truly settled. The scrutiny was thorough and unrelenting.

Only after the process concluded did the Foundation issue a stand-down, specifically for Team 02.

No deployments. No live operations. A full week allocated to recovery and reconditioning, with their original assignments redistributed among other Aria Corps units.

Reina acknowledged the notice without comment. She knew her team needed time to recalibrate after what had transpired during the raid. Most of her week was spent in closed-door meetings alongside Takeshi, the other team leaders, Director Kurogane, and Foundation researchers, while the rest of Tempesta Unit remained on standby.

On the evening of the seventh day, Takeshi instructed them to change into their casual wear and follow him.

The drive to the hotel wasn’t long. It sat near the edge of the city, removed just enough from the usual traffic and noise. He led them through the lobby and into a restaurant tucked within the hotel itself.

The space had been closed to the public for the night. A private dining room was reserved under the Foundation’s name, its table already set beneath warm, muted lighting.

As they took their seats, Takeshi signaled the waiter to begin serving. No one spoke. Most of the girls kept their gaze lowered, uncertain where to begin.

Yuzuriha reached into her shirt pocket and took out a small bottle. She shook a few pink, star-shaped pills into her palm and swallowed them quickly. The thin white ring woven into her pastel hair caught the light as she lowered her hand — bright against an expression that didn’t quite match.

Reina noticed.

The waiter finished setting the dishes and withdrew, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The sound echoed in the atmosphere for a while.

Misaki shifted in her seat, brushing her fingers through the side-swept bang that had been covering one eye. When her hand lowered, both violet-grey eyes were visible as she looked toward Reina.

“Mika-chan. Misaki-chan,” Reina said calmly. “How are your injuries now? Has the rest been enough?”

Misaki gave a small nod. “Almost fully recovered. Nana-chan kept visiting these past few days. Otherwise, I’d have gone crazy being stuck in bed with Mika-san.”

Mika let out a short, humorless laugh before turning to Reina.

“Senpai... I read the preliminary report. Inside the building—was it really that much worse than outside?”

Emi’s shoulders tightened. Across the table, Yuzuriha glanced at Momoko. The look on Momoko’s face made it clear that a week hadn’t been nearly enough to put those memories to rest.

Reina didn’t answer right away. Her gaze shifted briefly to Takeshi.

He nodded, took a quiet sip of his drink, and spoke.

Voice softer than usual.

“Our raid was the only one that resulted in JSDF casualties,” he said. “The other teams encountered CODA controlled by the device and some armed human resistance. Rifles, submachine guns. Injuries, yes—but no fatalities.”

Mika looked down, letting the words cool whatever had been building behind her eyes.

Emiko spoke next, her small voice was steady.

“Th-Then... the Divas we fought. Were they really Divas? Who were they?”

Reina’s hand tightened briefly around her glass. The image of the terminal screen — the document she hadn’t been able to forget — flickered through her mind.

“They...” Takeshi hesitated, then continued. “For now, the Foundation classifies them as Pseudo-Divas.”

Nana frowned. “Pseudo?”

“They could use Ars Aria,” Takeshi said. “But they weren’t Divas... at least not properly. They had no natural synchrony with their D-Mics. The devices were forcing resonance onto them. A song that was never meant to exist.”

Reina continued quietly, her voice even but firm.

“They were being used. By people they trusted. They couldn’t stop singing... even if they wanted to.”

Yuzuriha stiffened.

Her fingers curled around the stem of her glass for just a second before she forced them to relax. She didn’t look up.

The table fell silent.

Momoko took a sip of her orange juice, then asked, “What about the CODA control device? Did the Foundation figure anything out?”

Takeshi gave a bitter smile. “They’re still dismantling it. We recovered every unit we found, but there’s no guarantee there aren’t others we missed.”

“Do we know how it works?” Emi asked.

“Only in broad terms,” Takeshi replied. “It uses a unique frequency to awaken raw Novium, allowing CODA to be summoned and restrained simultaneously. The design draws on ancient runic principles from the lost civilization. Whoever built it knew exactly what they were copying—even if they didn’t fully understand it.”

Reina spoke again.

“I heard three bodies were discovered in the nearby forest.”

“Yes,” Takeshi said. “Autopsy reports indicate they were killed shortly after the raid concluded. But there’s something unusual.”

Mika looked up. “Unusual how?”

“Their deaths weren’t caused by CODA,” Takeshi answered. “Investigators also detected faint traces of Diva resonance at the site. After cross-checking, it didn’t match anything in our known database.”

No one asked the question that should have followed naturally.

After a moment, Takeshi straightened, his tone becoming more formal.

“The official report states that the JSDF conducted a raid on a cult compound. Casualties were sustained. The leader is in custody. That’s all that goes public.”

The girls nodded, heads lowered.

Takeshi glanced around the table, then exhaled and let his shoulders relax.

“Alright,” he said. “That’s enough for tonight. This isn’t a debrief.”

A few heads lifted.

“This dinner,” he added, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, “was Director Kurogane’s idea. A thank-you. And... excuse to get you out of the facility.”

Reina smiled faintly.

“We can’t stay buried in the past,” she said. “At least... we’re all here.”

She raised her cup.

“To making it back. And to those who didn’t.”

The others followed, offering quiet toasts, their smiles small but genuine.

Takeshi felt the tension ease. Just a little.

“You’ll be staying here for the next few days,” he said. “The Foundation’s arranged a gravure shoot for internal publication. Part of it will take place at the hotel’s indoor pool park during regular hours. After that, the rest of the facilities are reserved for you.”

Reina nodded. “Then let’s rest. Clear our heads. We’ll need to be ready when we’re called again.”

Yuzuriha straightened, her voice soft but eager as she leaned forward.

“Yuzu wants to stop more CODA... and help save people”

It came out slightly squeaked, earnest enough to draw a few surprised looks, and then faint smiles.

The weight in the room didn’t disappear. But it loosened.

Plates were lifted. Chopsticks moved. Conversation didn’t return right away. But eating did.

From his seat, Takeshi watched contently as the girls finally began their meal.

As the food slowly disappeared from their plates, conversation followed. Familiar laughter surfaced in small bursts. Nana and Misaki fell back into their usual bickering, Mika rolling her eyes at the noise while Momoko tried, unsuccessfully, to make her laugh.

At the other side of the table, Emiko and Yuzuriha in hushed excitement, trading bites from each other’s plates, while Reina found herself answering Emi’s questions between sips of tea. The atmosphere wasn’t loud or carefree. But for the first time in days, it felt... normal.

After their dinner, they returned to their assigned rooms. The air felt lighter, even if unspoken thoughts still lingered quietly in each of their hearts.

“Reminder,” Takeshi said before heading down the hall. “Tomorrow morning at ten. Gather in Reina’s room. Your swimsuits will be provided at the venue.”

Nana pushed the door open first, flicking on the lights as Mika and Misaki followed her inside.

“Wow...” Nana said, spinning once before dropping her bag onto the nearest bed. She flopped down with a satisfied sigh. “This is bigger than I thought.”

Misaki exhaled softly and set her things down near the window. The city lights stretched out in silence as she looked on.

Mika shrugged off her jacket and leaned against the wall, phone already in hand. She’d changed quickly, posture relaxed but distant, attention fixed on the screen.

For a moment, no one spoke but the low hum of the air conditioner, broken only by the faint tapping of Mika’s fingers against her phone.

Nana noticed.

Her cheeks puffed slightly as she changed into her sleepwear, then padded across the room. Mika barely had time to look up before Nana dropped down beside her, fingers darting toward her side.

“Mika-saaan~” Nana whined, laughing as she poked at her waist. “We’re supposed to be relaxing, remember?”

“H-Hey—!” Mika twisted away at first, startled, then gave in with a reluctant laugh of her own. Her phone slipped onto the bed as she reached back, returning the attack.

Their light laughter filled the room.

Misaki watched from her bed, a small smile tugging her lips. It was rare to hear Mika laugh like that. She lay back and stared at the ceiling, the sound pulling her thoughts somewhere quieter — back to memories she hadn’t revisited in a long time, when nights like this had been simpler.

Down the hall, the mood was different.

In another room, Emiko proudly showed off her new, bear-patterned pajamas. She did a small spin after changing into them, clearly pleased.

Yuzuriha laughed, clapping lightly, while Momoko leaned back against the bed and commented on how adorable she looked.

Before Emiko could reply, her phone rang. She picked it up from the mattress and glanced at the screen, her expression softening.

“M-Mom?” she said, answering quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Really.”

Her voice changed as she spoke. Still gentle but lighter.

Momoko watched for a moment, then looked down at her own phone.

“Ah... right,” she muttered. “Guess I should check in too.”

She gave them a small wave before slipping out, the door closing softly behind her.

Emiko turned toward the window as she talked, nodding along, smiling at things only she could hear. Yuzuriha sat back against the headboard, listening without meaning to.

She looked away.

Emiko ended the call with a bright, “Love you too,” and let out a small, relieved breath. When she turned back, she noticed Yuzuriha again.

“O-Oh—sorry,” Emiko said quickly. “My parents worry a lot.”

Yuzuriha shook her head, a faint smile forming. “It’s okay.”

There was a brief pause.

“...A-Are you close with your family?” Emiko asked, hesitant but sincere.

“Yuzu... only has a daddy,” she replied. “That’s all.”

Emiko nodded and moved to sit beside her. She hesitated for just a moment, then wrapped her arms around Yuzuriha.

Yuzuriha stiffened, then slowly relaxed, returning the embrace.

The door opened again. Momoko stepped back in with her phone still in hand.

“International calls are expensive...” she trailed off when she saw them. “Wow. That’s unfairly cute.”

She tossed her phone onto the bed and joined them, without warning, arms wrapping around both of them as she pushed them back onto the mattress.

Yuzuriha laughed — softly at first, then without restraint — and stayed there a little longer.

Elsewhere, another room lay quiet.

The lights were dim, curtains drawn just enough to let the city’s glow seep in. Reina paused by the window for a moment before settling onto the bed. Fatigue weighed on her face. The strain of holding her thoughts and emotions in check, the burden that came with being captain.

Emi was already there, sitting cross-legged in her pajamas, watching her with a familiar, gentle concern.

“Reina-chan,” Emi said softly.

Reina returned a faint smile before lying down, turning to face the wall. Silence settled between them.

Then Emi moved.

She crossed the room and sat beside the bed, hesitating just enough for Reina to notice. Her fingers brushed lightly against Reina’s sleeve — testing, asking — before she slipped closer and wrapped an arm around her waist, resting her forehead against Reina’s back.

Reina stiffened out of habit. Then she exhaled, and tension left her shoulders.

“... Let me take care of you,” Emi whispered. “Just like you’ve taken care of me before.”

Reina reached back, her hand finding Emi’s and threading their fingers together. She turned slowly, until they were facing each other, foreheads touching, arms resting naturally around each other’s waists.

“You don’t have to be strong right now,” Emi murmured.

Reina closed her eyes. “Emi...”

They stayed like that, breathing slowly, their rhythm syncing without effort. Emi’s hold tightened just a little. Reina didn’t pull away.

Sometime later, their breathing softened, even and unguarded, arms still wrapped around each other as sleep quietly claimed them both.