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The guilt continues to eat at Hitsugi with each passing day even if Chitaru shows no resentment or anger towards her. It was a miracle in itself that they had both survived, and that Myoujo Academy even bothered sending them to the hospital instead of letting what little remained of their lives slip away right there on that bloody stage.
Hitsugi got her wish, but her survival means Chitaru didn't get hers. Speaking even a single sentence is a strenuous effort for her, so Hitsugi fills the daylight with her own words, pouring her heart out when she was unable to before as Angel Trumpet. She tells Chitaru everything— about her childhood, about her training, about her previous hopes and new wishes, even about the cold pleasure she used to find from taking the lives of others. When she talks about her old ways as an assassin, Hitsugi can't bear to imagine what Chitaru is thinking (Chitaru, constantly silent like this, her solemn gaze focused outside most of the time) but the warm hand on top of hers never pulls away.
Hitsugi finds a small flame of hope in that warmth and continues speaking even when Chitaru does not, struggling to find the right words that describe all her feelings and grief.
"I'll quit being an assassin," Hitsugi's voice cracks. She wants nothing more than Chitaru to look at her and smile like she used to. "I'm fine with anything, and I'll change... I just want to be with Chitaru. I want us to be together... so..."
Chitaru still doesn't look away from the window, but her fingers intertwine with Hitsugi's and they both know they can find that happy ending that wasn't meant for them.
---
Immortality is a curse that Suzu has come to accept. Well, it's not true immortality. She suspects her body will eventually break on its own after all these decades, even if it's still full of youth and softness, but there's still a lot of time left.
The present isn't intended for looking back at all her regrets and sorrows. Suzu resigns to quietly living amongst the general population, no longer devoting her life to searching for that cure she could only dream of. What else, then? What else is there for someone like her? Well...
"Sh-Shutou-san...?" Kouko is doubled over, barely managing to speak let alone breathe, exhausted from running from her pursuers. Underestimating the organization she had been a part of was a careless error on her part. So was forgetting to reload her ammunition.
"Hello, Kouko-chan," Suzu says too casually, standing over two bodies with a bloody knife in one hand. "A girl of your age shouldn't be running around this late at night."
Kouko grits her teeth and drops her empty gun, leaning on her knees. Careless. Careless careless careless stupid. She was only lucky that Suzu happened to be in the area. What incredible odds for the two of them to meet again like this.
A hand gently rests on her shoulder. Kouko looks up, eyes bleary. Suzu slightly tilts her head, and smiles.
"It's dangerous to go alone. Would you be opposed to some company, Kouko-chan?"
---
"An inmate from Tokyo Detention House is attempting to contact you. Do you accept this call?"
Shiena hesitantly accepts.
"Heeeeey, Shiena-chan! I missed youuuu~! How're you doing, huh? Huh? Just sit tight and wait for me, I'll be released from this place soon and I'll come find you!"
Shiena hangs up.
---
Cooking and baking aren't nearly as exciting as the rush of battles, but Sumireko enjoys the tranquility of her manor's kitchen nonetheless. Mahiru does too, even if her hands tremble near hot things and she measures ingredients incorrectly now and then. Whenever she makes those mistakes Sumireko worries that Mahiru will shrink away and give up, but for whatever odd reason, being expelled from Black Class had done wonders for Mahiru's self-confidence. Apparently.
The first time Sumireko noticed the change was at sunset. Or rather, she noticed the lack of change.
"Ah, Mahiru?" They're sitting together at a small table by the floor to ceiling window, waiting for their cake to finish baking. Sumireko sets down her cup of tea and looks across at her guest with a puzzled look. The sun is balanced on the horizon. It'll be gone altogether in only a few minutes, but there are no cackles or aggressive remarks coming from the other girl. Mahiru, still Mahiru, smiles shyly and stares down at her lap, blushing.
"It's... okay. I'm okay on my own now, I think, so..."
Very little in this world surprises or fazes Sumireko anymore, but this is different. For a few seconds she's unsure what to say (does she congratulate her? Does she grieve for Shinya?) but she eventually settles with a smile.
"I see. I'm happy for you, Mahiru."
A timer dings. The cake they prepared together is ready.
---
The inner parts of the city are dusty and crowded, thick with the odors of human life and refuse. Isuke wants to gag and turn right around and head right back to the higher-end neighborhoods where she lives, but she continues on, her pocket weighed down by her knife. Just because she lost that stupid game doesn't mean she'll walk around unarmed, least of all quit her profession.
Isuke really, really hates this. It's noisy and dirty from all the construction and a few of the workers double-take when they see a girl walking around like she owns the place. They disgust her (everything about this disgusts her) but she's not leaving until she gets what she came here for. Just a little longer.
She finds Haruki stretched out on a tarp, taking a nap. Isuke immediately kicks her in the side and Haruki jerks awake with a startled grunt.
"Idiot. Do you have any idea how long it took for Isuke to find you? Or how much trouble Isuke went through? ♥"
"I-Isuke-sama?! What're you doing here?! This area is for workers only, and—"
She plants her foot on Haruki's chest. Haruki squawks and flails, fully awake now but struggling to comprehend what's going on.
"Ahh, I'm so mad right now~! You're coming with me."
"Wha- but my shift starts soon—"
Haruki doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence.