Forty-eight hours ago, the warehouses along Mitakihara’s pier were full of people, used as bargaining chips to 

keep the city locked down. Now, they were full of people, members of the JSDF fluttering about, trying to organize the reconstruction alongside civilian crews. A path had cleared from the main road to a helicopter, two soldiers escorting a young woman towards it. Behind her, a trusted friend.

Yasu: I still can’t believe you could pull these strings, Niko. Still, it’s gonna give my friends back home something to talk about. Believe me, I plan on making an entrance.

Niko: I-I may have done some… mild influencing on Shinju’s sister.

Yasu: Heh… I’m not gonna complain about it. …Thanks, though. Seriously. And I’m just glad we all made it out of that in one piece.

Niko: Not… all of us.

Yasu: …Right, yeah. Sorry… 

Niko: … Why can’t you just stay here? There’s no one left to give you a hard time.

Yasu: You and I both know that’s not true. Besides, I can’t just drop out of college or transfer here instantly. I got out, Niko. I started over. Not that I don’t miss you, but… you know.

Niko: Can’t you stay for a while longer then?

Yasu: It’s not like I can miss that much more school, you know. Besides, you have my number, and I have yours. We both know that if I stay much longer, I won’t want to leave. 

Niko: No, I need you to—(she frowns) Wait… (she holds out her hand, putting it on Yasu’s cheek) You’re one of us. I’m not letting you go.

Yasu: (She sighs, but doesn’t pull Niko’s hand away) Those girls Rui pulled into this mess, they won’t see it that way. Besides, this isn’t some movie where I can just throw my life away and move back, you know?

Niko: What if you could be… both there and here, with m—… with us?

Yasu: I can’t be in two places at once, Niko. I’m magical, but not that magical.

Niko: (her eyes briefly turn pink) But I am. 

Yasu: If you mean “your place” then if there’s no limit on the range, then I can hang out there. I’m guessing that’s what you meant, anyway? But physically, I have to go back to Tokyo, Niko.

Niko: (she flushes) Y-Yes, of course I mean “my place”… Why do you make it sound like something weird? A-And I know you have to physically go back to Tokyo! I was just— I-I mean, I think it’ll work…

Yasu: Then if it doesn’t work, I’ll at least call you once a week. Sound good?

Niko: (she mutters to herself) Ugh, I was gonna be like “see you tonight”, all mysterious-like…

Yasu: Sorry, sorry. Well, I’ll see you tonight, then! (She briefly hugs Niko before getting into the helicopter)

Niko: (she waves) … Stay safe, okay?

Yasu: You too! (The helicopter whirs to life and begins to hover off the ground)

Niko: (continuing her waving, she sees Yasu off with a melancholy smile)