Pastel*Rangers

Chapter 58 - Genius Next Door's Reawakening

"Sis! I'm home!" Hina shouts as she enters her house. She runs over to Sayo's room and opens the door, only to find it empty.

"Oh, Hina. Sayo said she's staying over at a friend's house."

"Thanks, mom!" Hina returns to her room and lays on her bed.

"Sis..."

Hina thinks about her fight with Sayo. Sayo had told her that she was worried she'd get hurt being a magical girl. But, if she didn't want Hina to get hurt, why would she attack her? Hina grabs her phone and messages the Pastel*Palettes group chat.

Hina: Hey Maya, any word from Lynn?

Maya: Nope. Not yet.

Eve: Is Hikawa-senpai not at home?

Hina: She hasn't come home yet. Mom said she told her she'd be at a friend's house.

Maya: Despite being possessed, she still had control over her actions. She probably told your parents that so they wouldn't worry.

Chisato: Hina, I know you're worried, but please don't do anything reckless.

Hina: I won't. Don't worry.

Hina puts her phone down and stares at the ceiling. She couldn't just sit and do nothing. But she couldn't go out without some sort of plan. Hina stares at the ceiling while in deep thought.

"That's it!" Hina says to herself. She stands up and rushes out of her room. She runs out of the house, telling her parents that she's joining Sayo. 

"Transform!"

Hina runs faster than normal, feeling colder and colder as she gets closer to her destination. She does not even need to stop to focus, trusting her gut feeling is correct.

"I made it!" Hina arrives at a house and undoes her transformation. She feels the temperature drop even more, so she hides behind a bush.

A few minutes later, Hina looks up from behind the bush to see Sayo arriving. Hina steps out from behind the bush and walks up to Sayo.

"Sis!"

"Hina..."

"Sis. You don't have to do this."

"I know."

"So why are you doing this?"

"I..." A dark miasma begins to emanate from Sayo. "I don't know..."

"Sis. Let me Purify you. I can't stand to see you like this."

"Hina. I can't let you do that. Not until I make sure you stop doing dangerous things like this."

"Is that why you're going after Chisato?"

"I... Don't know." Sayo's miasma gets stronger. It begins to swirl around her arms.

"I'm sorry, sis." Hina raises her arms and transforms. Sayo's miasma solidifies into a sword and a shield.

"No holding back."

Sayo rushes forward and swings her sword. Hina blocks with her spear. Sayo pushes forward with her shield in an attempt to knock Hina off her balance, but Hina uses a foot to push back, using the shield's momentum to do a backwards flip away from Sayo.

"Grr..." Sayo growls and changes to a bow. She fires off three arrows, two of which Hina dodges, and the third which she deflects with her spear. The third arrow explodes into smoke just above her.

Hina looks up in time to see Sayo jump slash from above. Hina raises her spear to block. Sayo holds her sword on Hina's spear, adding more and more force, until Hina can no longer stand.