"Mmmmmmm..." I groan, leaning up.

(Oh... My head...)

(Serves you right!) Nur says.

"Oh, don't give me...huh?"

I look around. I'm...in the medical room of the Keisetsu.

"When did I...? Nevermind. You okay, Nur?"

(I'm not talking to you.)

"You're not very convincing."

(If our bodies were in the same plane, I would give you a falcon punch to the gut!)

"Still not very convincing. And what's a 'falcon punch'?"

(If you knew what you've just done, you'd willingly accept a dynamic entry to the face!)

"Can't you be straightforward with me for once?"

(...)

(Telling you everything will likely freak you out, which will only make things worse, but I can say that you'll be..."different" over the course of the next few months. Sorry to break it to you, but you're better off being alone for a while.)

"Over my dead body!"

(Let's hope it's only yours.)

I look down at my hand, then emit illusion rhime from it. Pure white illusion rhime. My rhime.

"I think you at least have some explaining to do." I say.

(...Fine. I am Nur, one of the Nine, and the stone in your chest is my vessel. And it's my duty to seek out the other Eight. Of course, that's impossible without someone to wield me. That's where you come in. You're my representative. Just help me find the others, and I'll take it from there.)

"That's still a little vague."

(Give me a break, will you!? A woman has a right to her privacy! You don't hear me asking personal questions, do you!?)

"OW! Easy with the volume! I get it!"

(What I wouldn't give to be in a woman's body instead of yours... You could at least look like a guy from "Free!")

"Hey! I didn't choose this!"

(I know! I know! But a girl can wish.)

"I have a right to my opinion, you know."

("From this point on, all your opinions will be rejected!") Nur says, imitating a guy.

"We picked up a weirdo."

I keep emitting rhime from my hand.

And, going unnoticed, a single flicker of darkness rhime appears in the middle of it...

Kon. Kon.

"Hope I'm not interrupting your comedy routine." Yamiso says, walking in.

"I think my conscience is an otaku."

...

"Fuck this, I'm out." Yamiso states, leaving.

"Hey, wait!" I yell. "You have something to say?"

"Not really. Just wanted to check on you. You've been out for four hours."

"...And Hunter-sama?"

"Kicked it."

I look to my hands, then Clarent at my waist. I clench my right hand into a fist, then bring it to my chest.

(Doryoko. Hisashi. I did it.)

!

"Wait! Did you say four hours!?"

"Yep."

...

"OH NO!!!" I yell...in an almost perfect Sigka impression.

"If you're feeling better, Hisao wants..."

"Not now!"

I jump out of bed and head for the window.

"Where the hell are you going!?"

"I have to get a few things, or I'm a dead man!"

I jump out the window, then sprint towards the market.

"Well, that escalated quickly." remarks Yamiso.

With my newfound illusion rhime speed, I manage to get everything I need in record time. The enhanced speed even helps me to prepare my "trump card" for Sueka. Although...it's a little embarrassing.

When finished, I head back towards the medical room and see Yamiso outside, pacing.

"That may not have... What the fuck are you carrying?"

"You'll see."

Yamiso sighs, then leads the way back to the main hall. Turning around the corner, I accidentally bump into a tall, thin man.

"Sorry there, k... HEY GUYS! Oren's up!" the man yells.

In that instant, everyone stops talking and gives me and the man a little room.

"Nice to see you on your feet!" he continues.

"And you are?"

"You don't recognize my voice?"

...

!!!

"TAMASHI!?!?!?" I yell.

"Surprise!" he says.

"B-b-b-b-b-but you're...!!!"

"So I lost a few pounds. Big deal. Fire tones do it all the time, especially when using their rhime. Don't worry, give me a few days and I'll have a 'sense of wellbeing' in no time."

"Ooooorrrrreeeennnn...."

A section of the people in the room all back away from a certain someone.

"Um...hey, sis." I say, frightened.

She walks towards me slowly, her vengeful aura matching her threatening expression.

"You've got some explaining..."

"Yes... Sorry about that display. But..."

"NO BUTS!"

She makes a jab at my face, but stops a centimeter away...

Then starts to cry and...TOO TIGHT!!!!

"You used me, and nearly got yourself killed! I thought we were going to stay together forever!"

"Hunter-sama didn't kill me, but your hug might! Uncle! Uncle!"

"Oh, sorry!"

She lets go and I catch my breath.

"Again, sorry, but Yamiso and I had limited options. We needed the headstart."

"I still say you made a rather reckless decision." Sigka cuts in.

"Honestly, I can't argue."

I turn back to Sueka.

"I knew how you'd feel, so I came up with an apology gift."

I remove the largest object from my back.

"This is embarrassing, but I thought you'd like it. A body pillow with me on it..."

Sueka suddenly grows cat ears and a cat tail.

"Stuffed with catnip."

She takes the pillow from me, hugs it tightly, and starts to roll on the ground with it, laughing giddily and rubbing against it. It would be cute, if it wasn't so awkward.

I turn back to Yamiso.

"I have a few other apology gifts as well."

I hand over a black shoulder plate, decorated with an image of a wolf howling at the moon, to Yamiso.

"Thanks for putting up with me."

...

I then take out my last gift. A box of popsicles.

"Anybody know where Crystal is?"

"So, you're the one who made her upset?" a familiar voice asks.

!

I turn to my left...

And see Mydrea-sama.

GA!

And she punches me on the cheek, causing Sueka to stop what she's doing and watch.

"You've got some nerve using someone like that!" she says.

"You're one to talk."

"What's that mean?"

"Have you forgotten what you'd done to me? To my family and home?"

"What are you talking about? We just met?"

"What do you...!?"

...

"I see..." I say.

The hydra's poison. Tarran's words. In the best case...

A loss of memory.

"I'm sorry." I say. "I mistook you for someone else."

(The thought of her getting off easy by forgetting... It's intolerable! And yet, what good would it do reminding her now?)

"Mydrea, that's enough." Yamiso says.

"Shut it, pervert!"

"Honestly, you could try being nice to him." I say.

"Why should I?" she demands.

!

(Time for some payback.)

"Yamiso agreed to help me if you went on a date with him. Paid for by yours truly, of course."

"And you think I would agree to that!?"

I walk over to her...

And whisper "nyaa" in her ear.

I've never seen anybody blush as red as her.

"How'd you!?"

"Surely you wouldn't mind if I..."

"OKAY! OKAY! I GET IT!"

She turns to Yamiso.

"Yamiso... Would you...go on...a d...date...with me?"

Yamiso flares up with excitement, then jumps towards her.

"Mydrea!!!!" he yells happily.

GA! BATAN!

Instinctively, Mydrea-sama punches him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!

And starts to stomp on him.

"Pervert! Pervert! Pervert! Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!!!"

"Oh yes! This is what I've been waiting for!!!!"

I've never seen Yamiso in such bliss. It's...kind of creepy.

"Well," I start, "you seem energetic for someone who hasn't eaten in weeks."

Ggguuuuuuu!!!!!

(That was one loud stomach growl.)

Mydrea-sama stops stepping on Yamiso and dashes towards the pile of food Tamashi has in front of him.

"Give me some of that!!" she yells, grabbing a bowl of ramen, wolfing it down.

"Hey!" Yamiso yells. "What about me?"

GA!

In that instant, Saiya-sama appears right above Yamiso, barely missing his head...

With her high heels.

"I can do it." she says emotionlessly.

GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!

Yamiso rolls on the floor in a panic, barely dodging every stomp. The stomp leaves a hole in the floor.

"This isn't what I meant!" he yells.

"Yes. Scream for me."

"How can you say that with a straight face!?"

"Don't worry. This will only hurt a lot."

Yamiso gets up and hides behind me. Saiya pulls out a whip and walks towards us.

"The pain will turn to pleasure soon enough." she says.

"Not when you do it!" Yamiso retorts.

"Man-whores don't talk back to their queens."

"I thought you were a masochist." I say.

"Not to the degree she thinks!"

She stops right in front me, then looks over my shoulder at Yamiso.

"Why can't you just accept our destiny?" she asks. "You're a masochist. I'm a sadist. So we're perfect for each other. You complete me."

"Yeah, but I choose life! And you aren't flat!"

"HEY!" Mydrea yells. Or rather, tries to yell, as she has food in her mouth.

"But you're the only darkness tone I know with the rare trait of..." Saiya-sama starts...

Before Yamiso covers her mouth.

"DON'T SAY IT!!!!"

...

In her muffled voice, Saiya-sama continues...

"I find it cute that you're bite size."

Enraged, Yamiso tries to ready a punch, but his arm gets caught in her whip. Tying him up, as he's dragged away.

"SAVE ME!!!!!!" he yells.

"Well, it's nice to see everyone energetic again!" Tamashi says between bites. "It's a great day to celebrate!"

"It's a good day to die..." Katsumi says, depressed. "Do you have any idea how much money all that damage costs to Wave Medicine and Pira Attis? We're flat broke! I'm done... Cashed in my chips... Ange Gardien will never go for this one..."

Katsumi complaining about money. Tamashi eating. Yamiso making a scene. Sueka on the ground, rubbing against the body pillow. Hiromu making a joke I don't hear and seeing Sigka react.

(This...feels like home. Pity I'm not a part of it.)

I head up to the roof and find Crystal, tossing and catching a small ice cube in her right hand.

"Hey, Cryst..!"

Ga!

And she flicks the ice cube straight into my face.

"Leave me alone..." she says.

"Still mad, huh?"

...

I walk over and sit down next to her, handing her the box of popsicles. She doesn't take it.

"I don't know if this will make you feel better, but take this as an apology gift."

Still silent. I sigh.

"Look, I know you're upset, and you have every right to be, but I was desperate."

"I don't want your excuses."

"...Sorry. I didn't know you'd take it this way. If I knew..."

"How could I not be upset!?"

I recoil in surprise.

"That's the first time any boy has ever told me something like that! Not only was it a complete lie, you got me into a fight with Sueka! Do you have any idea how hard it was to subdue her in ice!? And what would happen to her if you..."

She turns away.

The two of us remain silent, until I put my left hand on her right shoulder.

"It wasn't all a lie." I say.

"You're not good at lying, you know. And I know my own flaws. My only redeeming quality is my subtone. I'm lazy. I'm not the most social individual. I have the strongest defenses around, yet, so many times, I failed to save those I trust. I'm...useless, and don't deserve to be called the Keisetsu's second str..."

Ga!

I flick the same ice cube from before into her forehead.

"Hey! I'm speaking my mind here!" she yells. It's not often she's this riled up.

"It wasn't all a lie."

She pauses, then looks away again.

"I know my worth." she says, trying to hold back tears.

At that moment, I put down the popsicle box...and give her a hug.

"No, you don't."

"What?"

I let go, as I can tell she's getting uncomfortable. I sit down and clear my throat.

"While the whole 'romance' side of that act was exaggerated, my compliments weren't lies. You've been there for me ever since New Vegas. You've listened to me, comforted me, and and believed in me when almost nobody else did."

Crystal begins to blush, though she seems more surprised than anything.

"Don't say you're useless! You're kind, easy to talk to, and a good listener. You're a great role model, especially for your sister. Calm, patient, and slow to anger. Sueka shared with me that poem you told her. Your poetry is proof you aren't without other talents!"

She looks at me for a second, then looks away.

"Flattering," she says quietly, "but I've still got a disability that makes me..."

"Nobody's perfect." I interrupt. "Besides, if you're flawed, what does that make me or Sueka? You may have a unique...condition, but that doesn't stop you from being a good friend."

I grab the popsicle box and give it to her again.

"Honestly, in my eyes, you are a woman to strive for. And you shouldn't forget that. I envy the man you end up with, should you find someone worthy of your love."

Her face turns even redder than before. She grabs the box, hugs it against her chest, and turns around to not let me see her face.

"You're making this awkward." she says.

"At least I can talk to you like this. Sueka aside, I rarely get to talk with someone like this anymore. You're easy to speak with."

"HEY!" I hear Katsumi yell. "OREN! CC!"

"WE'RE UP HERE!!!" I yell.

"We're getting ready to go! Get down here!"

"Go? Go where?"

"To Wave Medicine!"