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The last time she had a training session so intense was before the USJ attack. Thirteen didn’t notice the time go by. Aizawa said she made huge progress, and he’s not the flattering kind. She feels light as a feather as she runs down the hill from the train station.
She stops by the combini. A poster announces the new album from “Loco-Loco Cute Pie Pr0ject !!” This is definitely a perfect day! Anan peruses the magazines for a while, looking for the best pictures and interviews, but she ends up taking all of them anyway. The food alleys take even more time… She’s in the mood for everything! When she settles for curry buns, an outrageous quantity of edamame, and chocolate cake, it’s already dark outside.
As Anan opens the door of the apartment, she starts to sing “I’m hoooo-”.
Tomoko is on her knees, on the kitchen floor. Her big hands cover her face, her whole body trembles with sobs. A muffled voice whimpers “You’re… you’re… here…”
Grocery bags fall from her hands, Anan rushes to Ragdoll, she collapses on the floor, with both hands she tries to grab her girlfriend’s hands.
Ragdoll, between too heavy breaths, tries to speak “where… you…? I d-don’t…”
“Oh my god, I didn’t check my phone, Tomochan, I’m so sorry!” Anan says rapidly, holding Tomoko’s hands.
“Can’t… I… Can’t…”
Anan gets up and rushes to the bedroom at lightspeed. From on top of the dresser, she grabs the small pouch with cute characters on it. As she runs back to Tomo, she’s already sorting out the appropriate pills.
It takes a few minutes for Tomoko to calm down enough to be able to swallow her pills and some water, then she also needs to breathe in a paper bag for a few minutes to stop hyperventilating. Anan has to help her with the water, because Tomoko’s hands keep shaking. She hasn't had such a violent crisis since the Summer Camp attack.
“I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry… I left the gym late, then I dawdled at the combini, I should have checked my phone!”
“It’s not your fault.” Ragdoll sits on the couch and attempts to dry her eyes, but new tears keep flowing down her cheeks.
“That’s not the point, I know how hard it is on you, I need to be more careful, I WILL be, I promise.” Thirteen paces through the living room again and again.
“This is not your responsibility, but mine. I simply need more time. I’m already better than when I was rescued at Kamino.”
For days after Kamino, Ragdoll was unresponsive. Recovery Girl couldn’t do anything to help. “Her brain needs to adjust.” The other Pussycats, Thirteen who was still recovering at the time, and a few heroes, had been visiting her as often as possible. The more she saw people around her, the more she “came back” to her usual self.
“The silence doesn’t scare me anymore.” She’s clenching her hands on her legs to keep them from shaking, “I can still be independent.”
“I’m not saying you’re not,” Anan’s voice softens.
“So don’t act like you being home an hour late is some sort of crime. I panicked, I had a panic attack, it’s a medical condition that could have happened for any other reason. I cannot just expect everyone to let me track them with their phones all the time, that would be awful.” Ragdoll’s big eyes now stare at Anan. They are still full of tears, but she looks resolute. “I’m moving on, Ana-chan.”