The morning sun filtered through the curtains of the Nakajima residence, casting long, golden streaks across the room as Subaru Nakajima stirred from her slumber. With a stretch and a yawn, she rose, her mind quickly shifting from the remnants of a dream to the reality of the day ahead. She made her way to the dining room, where the familiar, comforting clatter of silverware and the hum of conversation awaited her.
Her sister, Ginga, was already there, seated alongside their father, Genya, and the rest of the N2R members. It was a rare, peaceful moment of domestic normalcy. As they began their breakfast, the ambient noise of the room faded as everyone's attention turned to the television, which was broadcasting an urgent address from Duchamp Stellantis, the President of Midchilda.
The President's expression was grim, his eyes reflecting the weight of his office. "People of Midchilda," he began, his voice echoing with authority, "we are facing unprecedented levels of crime and terrorism. Our peaceful life is being eroded, and our safety has reached a critical, pinch-point situation. But I will not sleep until the peace and stability of Midchilda are restored. We have already deployed thousands of cameras across the city. We cannot rely solely on the TSAB or the Midchilda Police Department; we must take the initiative and fight back to secure our home".
Subaru watched the screen with a furrowed brow, moved by the President's resolve. "Even though he's as old as Father, he still cares deeply about Midchilda," she murmured, genuinely touched by his dedication.
Genya set his coffee mug down with a sharp *clack*, his expression hardening. "That's how politics works, Subaru," he said, his tone laced with cynical wisdom. "They offer sweet promises that are easy to swallow, but they often turn into empty lies once the cameras are off".
Ginga sighed, glancing at the headlines scrolling across the bottom of the screen. "It's not just talk, though. Since the Adamatron attacks, the infrastructure damage has been massive. Worse, intelligence reports indicate that many citizens have simply vanished—presumably coerced or kidnapped into joining their ranks".
Subaru leaned forward, her hands tightening around her glass. "But ever since Kaa-san took down that Imposter, the Adamatron has gone silent. It's unnerving. I can't help but feel they are just biding their time, planning something even worse".
"Regardless of their motives, you're going to be late for work if you don't hurry up, Subaru," Ginga interrupted, snapping her back to the present.
"Oh, crap!" Subaru scrambled, nearly knocking over her chair as she bolted to get her uniform. She didn't head toward the disaster prevention unit as usual; today, she had a different destination: TSAB Headquarters to meet with Nanoha and Vita.
Upon arriving at the HQ, the air was thick with the scent of ozone and polished metal. Nanoha was already waiting, clipboard in hand. She briefed Subaru on the disaster-prevention drills, but before they began, she took a moment to formally acknowledge Subaru's transition, reminding the new recruits that Subaru had served in the elite Riot Force 6 before dedicating herself to disaster prevention.
Under the watchful eyes of Nanoha and Vita, Subaru took charge of the training. She guided the cadets through advanced scenarios, her movements precise as she demonstrated the proper usage of her device, *Mach Caliber*. She emphasized the critical 'dos and don'ts' of rescue operations, teaching them how to safely extract victims trapped under heavy rubble or stabilize those with severe injuries.
As the training concluded, a wave of nostalgia washed over Subaru. She remembered those early days in Riot Force 6, when she was green and struggling, and Nanoha had been her mentor, standing by her side through every trial. It was a fleeting, bittersweet memory of a team that had long since disbanded, but one that still shaped who she was today.
Nanoha approached her afterward, mentioning that Kai would be an excellent instructor for future recruits, though he was currently buried under a mountain of paperwork in the HQ, far from the training field.
"Nanoha," Vita interjected, walking up with a smirk, "I heard Fuji is looking for your help with his apprentices for the upcoming DSAA tournament."
Nanoha nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yes, it's all set. When I visited the Saint Cradle with Hayate and Kai, Fuji mentioned that Renjou had agreed to help, even though he's planning to handle his training sessions in his usual... comedic fashion".
Subaru's eyes widened, curiosity piqued. "DSAA training? When are you going, Nanoha-san?".
"It starts during the summer holidays," Nanoha explained. "Fuji has already secured a private training site for us".
"Who's joining you?" Subaru pressed, her heart racing at the prospect of an adventure.
Nanoha ticked off the names on her fingers. "Fuji is leading, of course. Renjou is helping, but Fate is tied up with investigation duties alongside Teana, and Kai declined because he's swamped with priority tasks at HQ".
Subaru felt a jolt of excitement. "Nanoha-san! Please, let me come with you!".
Nanoha paused, looking at Subaru's hopeful expression. "Are you sure you can get the time off?"
"I'm absolutely sure!" Subaru insisted, her voice bubbling over with enthusiasm.
"Alright, then. I'll let Fuji-kun know you're coming. We'll head out on the first day of the summer holidays".
Meanwhile, in Battalion 255, the atmosphere was surreal. Renjou, a man notorious for his pathological avoidance of administrative labor, was hunched over his desk, his pen flying across pages of reports. His assistants, Shin and Kaguya, stood in the doorway, staring at him as if he had grown a second head.
"It's... it's incredibly unusual to see you like this, Ren-san," Shin stammered, pointing at the massive, shrinking pile of documents. "I didn't think this was even possible".
Renjou didn't look up, his brow furrowed in concentration. "In a few days, I'm taking leave to assist Fuji with his training camp. I need this all cleared before I can step foot out of this building".
"I remember now! The summer holiday!" Shin realized, his eyes narrowing. "Are you just trying to skip work?".
Renjou finally sat back, cracking his neck. "I have clearance from Commander Bright. It's not skipping; it's an official training assignment at Fuji's request".
Kaguya sighed wistfully, leaning against the doorframe. "I really envy you. I'd love a summer vacation".
Renjou shot her a lazy grin. "What are you talking about? You two are coming with me".
The room went dead silent. Shin's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?!".
"Yay! Summer camp!" Kaguya cheered, oblivious to Shin's shock.
"Hold on, Ren-san!" Shin protested, waving his arms. "You didn't discuss this with us! You can't just drag us along on a whim!".
"Of course I can," Renjou countered, already moving on to the next file. "You're my assistants. I'm not leaving you behind, and besides, I need the extra hands".
Shin groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ren-san, please don't tell me you want us to build another one of your 'ridiculous' obstacle courses."
"Don't worry," Renjou chuckled. "It's full of elementary school students this time. I'm not a monster".
Back at TSAB HQ, Kai—now known as Arc—pushed his chair back with a long, satisfied sigh. The final document was signed and filed. He rose, seeking a momentary reprieve from the claustrophobic office, and made his way to the mess hall. As he navigated the vending machine, he found himself face-to-face with Shamal.
"Good to see you, Arc," Shamal greeted, watching him take a drink. "I'm surprised to see you actually taking a break."
"I finished the backlog that piled up while I was away," Arc said, fixing his visor. "With the Adamatron silent, I figured now was as good a time as any to catch my breath".
Shamal leaned in, a knowing glint in her eyes. "I heard Fuji invited Nanoha and Renjou to his training camp for the DSAA tournament. Surely, you were invited, too?".
"I declined," Arc admitted. "I have too much to do, specifically hunting for the Adamatron's primary objective".
Shamal chuckled, teasing him. "I see. You know, it's quite impressive how popular you've become. Even the Commander of Battalion 454 has taken an interest in you—and she's Hayate's primary rival, no less".
Arc turned slightly pink, looking visibly uncomfortable. "Err, Shamal-san, please. Let's not bring that up. It's embarrassing enough as it is".
A few days later, the summer heat hung heavy over the landscape as Fuji waited outside his home. Subaru was the first to arrive, followed closely by Nanoha, who had spent the morning dropping Vivio off at the Saint Church to ensure she was properly cared for.
Fuji introduced his subordinates, but all eyes were on Allenby Rossi. She was a young, spirited girl with a heart as big as her determination to win the DSAA championship. She stood confidently alongside her intelligence device, 'Sinanju', which possessed the unique ability to shift into an 'Adult mode' when the Barrier Jacket was engaged.
The group piled into a van, with Fuji at the wheel, heading toward the mountainous region of Midchilda. They arrived at a sprawling mansion, a historic relic from the 1970s that belonged to the Renjou family. It was a facility far beyond a simple training camp, boasting a spa, sauna, massage rooms, a library, and a massive indoor gym.
Renjou greeted them at the gates, flanked by an exasperated-looking Shin and a beaming Kaguya.
"Ren-san! We meet again!" Subaru cheered, running up to him.
"Su-chan! I didn't expect to see you here!" Renjou replied, genuinely delighted.
"You made good time, Renjou-kun," Nanoha observed, glancing at the meticulously prepared training grounds. "I see you've managed to set up the field."
"Don't worry, Nanoha-chan," Renjou reassured her with a wave of his hand. "Since there are kids involved, I've kept things safe and sane this time".
Fuji raised an eyebrow, looking at Renjou with suspicion. "Wait, what exactly has Renjou been doing since becoming a Captain?"
"Oh, he usually builds the most absurd, trap-filled training courses in Battalion 255 just to amuse himself," Nanoha explained, causing Fuji to burst into laughter.
For the next two days, the group followed a rigorous but rewarding schedule. They began with light jogging and boulder climbing, navigating a path that Renjou and his assistants had meticulously scouted. The route eventually led them to a hidden mountain lake, a pristine oasis that left the children speechless with wonder.
"The water is safe for swimming," Renjou said. "A perfect way to wash off the forest dust."
"Wait, what about towels?" Subaru asked, suddenly realizing she'd forgotten hers.
"I've got them covered," Shin said, pulling a stack of towels from his bag.
"And if you forgot your swimsuit, we brought plenty of spares," Kaguya added, holding up a collection of swimsuits.
After a refreshing dip, the atmosphere turned competitive. They engaged in friendly sparring matches in the woods: Subaru against Allenby, Nanoha against the summoner Celica, Renjou against Noctis, and Fuji against the healer Audi. By sunset, they returned to the mansion, exhausted but satisfied, greeted by a lavish buffet dinner that Renjou's professional chefs had prepared, specifically tailored to accommodate Subaru's famously large appetite.
The second day brought a change in the weather, with the sky darkening to a charcoal gray. Rain began to pour, forcing the training indoors. Renjou led them to the mansion's massive gymnasium, which featured an arena perfectly designed for DSAA-style combat.
"It's a surprisingly standard arena," Nanoha noted, clearly impressed. "I never expected you to keep it so conventional, Renjou."
"It's for the kids' sake, Nanoha-chan," Renjou replied softly. "If I unleashed my usual schemes, someone would end up in the infirmary".
They spent the day in intense sparring sessions: Allenby utilized *Sinanju's* Adult mode against Subaru's *Mach Caliber*, while the others refined their techniques in the rain-protected arena.
The third day was the climax—the 4-on-4 mock battle. Renjou set up the stage with various obstacles, balancing the teams to ensure a fair contest. The Red Team consisted of Fuji, Subaru, Allenby, and Celica. The Blue Team was comprised of Nanoha, Renjou, Audi, and Noctis.
"Allenby, show Nanoha-san what you're capable of," Fuji commanded.
"Osu! I understand, Mentor!" Allenby declared, her spirit burning bright.
The battle was a whirlwind of motion. Allenby moved with incredible agility, her 'Sinanju' generating afterimages that made her nearly impossible to track. Nanoha, ever the observer, parried Allenby's strikes with ease, watching the girl's potential with pride. On the other side of the arena, Subaru and Renjou clashed, both relishing the chance to test their limits against one another.
The intensity escalated until Nanoha unleashed a Starlight Breaker, while Allenby countered with a technique of equal destructive power—the Sekiha Tenkyoken. The resulting explosion was deafening, forcing everyone in the arena to zero-life points simultaneously. It was a spectacular, albeit chaotic, draw.
"Everyone is down," Kaguya sighed, observing the monitors.
"Instructor Nanoha's spell is just too destructive," Shin added, shaking his head. "It's a draw, no doubt about it".
As the evening approached, the group gathered in the living room. The muscles of the younger trainees were cramped, but they were in high spirits.
"I truly enjoyed testing Allenby's skills," Nanoha said, smiling at Fuji. "She reminds me of Vivio back in the days of the Saint Cradle incident."
"I'm honored," Fuji replied. "But with the Adamatron threat still looming, I worry about her facing opponents who might use the forbidden 'Device Jumper' technology".
"We've all seen the devastation that tech causes," Nanoha said, her expression darkening. "But for now, there is peace. We need to focus on what we can control—training Allenby to be the best she can be".
"You're right," Fuji agreed, a renewed sense of purpose in his voice. "We'll do everything in our power to prepare her for the tournament".
The three-day camp had concluded, but the true test for Allenby and her team was just beginning. As the date of the DSAA tournament loomed, they knew the real fight—against both their rivals and those who would cheat the rules—lay ahead.
To be continue.