A moment of silence had not been called. That moment had come and gone. Yet near silence hung all the same. She wouldn’t have wanted this, surely. To have people mourn her so. She would have loved, however, having all her friends and family around to show their respects. It would have made her feel appreciated, more likely than not, even if she felt she didn’t deserve such honors. Then again, Kotori Ito was not someone who celebrated or valued her life, painful as it was.

Diagnosed with an illness at the age of six, an illness so obscure that one could actually count its victims, Kotori knew only a life of everlasting pain and anguish. At twelve, she could take it no longer, and sought a way out through the Incubators. Even an information network as expansive as the Fujiwara Clan’s was not enough to find a cure, or even an effective treatment. In a twist of irony, not even the Incubators’ magic was enough to help ease the fledgling crow’s suffering.

Whether the Incubators were capable, or merely unwilling, was a question that kept Kenji Ito awake at night, even now.

Kotori had learned to live with it, even if it meant separating her body from her Soul Gem in order to find reprieve. Despite her setbacks, Kotori never once shirked in her work, or even thought of straying from her family’s path. Indeed, as she had put it in her final waking moments, she had fulfilled her Impossible Task. Her Task, of course, was to overcome her pain once and for all. Her last moments before her soul faded into dust were free from pain.

And this bittersweet knowledge of Kotori’s life and death made it impossible for any in attendance to this small service, held in secret in the forests outside Mitakihara, to really speak on Kotori’s behalf. Kenji was proud of his daughter, even if he had hoped beyond hope that by assigning her this Impossible Task that it would mean she would live without her pain, rather than find a noble death. Ayame’s eyes never closed, not even blinking, even as tears made vision impossible. Her closest remaining peers, her twin cousins, were behind her parents. Rio was inconsolable, having fallen to her knees, letting her bottled emotions finally spill free. Riko had long since closed her eyes, as if trying to will her denial into reality. She wasn’t ready to fill Kotori’s shoes, and yet, with the Balancers’ inescapable hold over Mitakihara, she knew she had her own Impossible Task to fulfill.

And behind them all, out of sight, yet still silently welcomed and embraced by the Fujiwara Clan, was Kotori’s most trusted friend, Aoi Hikarizaka. She covers her mouth with one hand, weeping quietly into a handkerchief. She is quiet and at the back of the clearing, but otherwise makes no attempt at hiding her grief. Since the loss of her dream, she’d lost her wings, the city had descended into chaos, her friends had abandoned her and only hesitantly came by to prolong their lives with her healing, and now this. It was, to her, just another step in a dying world coming to a close. With Kotori gone, she doubted it would be much longer.

From a distance, the woman formerly known as Shinobu Nagano solemnly witnesses the small-scale service. As the small group gathered to commemorate Kotori disperses, she approaches the girls’ parents to offer her condolences. Before she can reach Kenji and Ayame, however, she passes by Aoi. Aoi recoils at the sight of her.

Aoi: (hissing under her breath) Get. Out. 

Anisa: … I’m not here to antagonize you. Kenji and Ayame Ito are associates of mine. I would like to offer my condolences.

Aoi: (Having difficulty stopping her crying to speak) Assoc-c… g-garbage. Do they kn-know you tried to murder her barely a f-f… a few weeks ago? 

Anisa: Kotori attacked me, and I defended myself. Not once has the thought of killing her — or any of you for that matter — ever crossed my mind. (she sighs) You’re grieving, Hikarizaka. Now is… not the time to settle our disagreements. But unfortunately, time is not on our side.

Aoi: Disagreement? Y-you think I don’t know wh-what you did to Alice? And killed her sister a-and her boyfriend! 

Anisa: It would suit you to forgive others as everyone in town has forgiven you. My wicked desires were taken advantage of, and now I’ve been left to clear up the mess. I’m sure you can relate.

Aoi: Of course I haven’t been forgiven. Don’t you have any idea… (Aoi wipes her eyes, a fruitless effort with how wet her face is) G-great that you came to a funeral where people can’t kick up too much fuss. Got it all f-figured out as always, huh?

Anisa: I came here to offer my condolences to people who have been good to me. Nothing more, nothing less. The only scheme you can accuse me of is trying to do the best I can to help this city.

Aoi: (She scoffs) You must th-think I’m stupid. Get out. I don’t want to see you again, ever. (She turns away, still keeping Anisa in sight in the corner of her eye) 

Anisa: This isn’t about what you want. (she passes Aoi by, headed towards Kotori’s parents, before stopping in her tracks) I think I have an idea that might be worth trying out if we want to take the city back. But I’m going to need Niko Segawa’s help. If you know where she is, or know someone who does…Please, let me know. It’s the least you could do.

Aoi: … You want me to hand-deliver you your next victim? 

Anisa: I understand this is a sensitive matter for you, Hikarizaka. And I’m sorry I have to ask you like this. But I will find a way to offer what I have to you girls, no matter whether it’s with your help or without.

Aoi: I’m not th… throwing anyone to the wolves. You can’t trick me. 

Anisa: I will get in touch with Yui Arashi, then.

Aoi: (She sighs and shakes her head) Better than bothering anyone else here…