Inside Kiwako’s home, the loneliness of the girl was clear as day. Her furniture came from decades prior, never being replaced. Her sofa was torn in places, her table kept up by books and/or sugar packets. The stairs leading up to the bedrooms were in dire need of repair. Not that anyone beside Kiwako Kobayashi had seen any hint of a bedroom in twenty or thirty years. On the small, barely intact coffee table, plates of cookies and cups of tea. The dishes, at least, were maintained, though perhaps they were recent “acquisitions”. Cups and plates were easier to steal than chairs and couches, after all.

Around the table, Kiwako, Riko and Rio sat, with Rio buried in a plate of cookies. Kiwako was staring into an idly swirling cup of tea, and Riko had her eyes closed. She knew what Kiwako was going to say. Hanako was standing, leaning against the railing of the stairs leading up. Yuzuki was sitting attentively in an armchair in the corner.

Kiwako: I went in around halfway through December. (Kiwako’s voice was much lower, much more natural, though still fitting for a girl her size and the age she was when she made her wish.) You know how I act and am, Lily-chan. I bounce around, I flash some smile and manufactured ignorance, enough to get in the door. I went in because… because I didn’t like how things went with Yui and Cece. Yui wasn’t ready. I mentioned Mei, because I wanted to break the ice. I’ve never seen anyone that mad in my entire life. …Don’t give me that look, Lily, I poked the bear. I deserved it, and she didn’t do any permanent damage. I knew if I stayed on it, she would, though. So I tried a different tactic, and asked her about her soul reading. I asked if she could feel Kamihama from the time I was a Witch, and when my barrier fell. I wanted to see if she could read me enough to trust me. We came to the topic of Venefica in Puella, we talked about my Coven, and… more or less played a lot of mental chess. I thought I had enough of an in to get her to open up, or talk to Cece again, but I was wrong. Even fascinated and distracted, Yui’s soul is immovable. When she’s mad, she’s mad. …I suggested she reach out to you, Lily, but she shut herself back up. Told me I didn’t get it— which is what she told you, right? And I was to not come back until I did. …See, Lily? I tried to tell you when I came into your room that night, but I wasn’t banned. I just can’t go see Yui for a while. Not until her soul calms down.

Hanako: …Why didn’t you answer your phone? (Hanako had hesitated quite a while before asking, and her eyes were unfocused, staring through her plate of cookies) …I came out here because I was worried. I went to talk to Yui… but as you surmised, she said the same thing… that I didn’t “get it.”

Kiwako: I had some things here to take care of, Lily. Nothing serious, but I still have the mind of an eleven year old sometimes. …But you know what it is that Yui meant, right? What it is you “don’t get”?

Hanako: …Loss. I’ve… she said I never lost anyone. Ueno never stayed dead, and my friends stay by my side, without bringing up anything I’d done wrong before.

Kiwako: And you feel you haven’t learned, right? ‘Cause you went off to confront Yui without the full story? (When Hanako doesn’t answer, she continues.) …You didn’t fight her, though. You didn’t confront her as if she were the bad guy. You were skeptical of what you thought happened, based on my side of the story. Right? Based on what you told me in Tokyo, that’s a huge step up, isn’t it?

Hanako: …But here I am. I’m here, getting the story out of you instead of waiting by the phone. Here, defending my newest friend, rather than trusting in those who have been by my side, this whole time…

Kiwako: Right. But you’re here to get the story. You’re not taking sides. You’re not putting my needs over theirs. Maybe you missed like one day of school, but otherwise, you’re not doing anything to burden your friends back home, right? That’s character growth, Lily-chan.

Hanako: …

Kiwako: Right, Yuzu-chan? You’re psychology-adjacent, right? What’s your take, as an outside observer?

Yuzuki: I’m not just “psychology-adjacent,” it’s my major… Yui really is acting strangely, it’s not just either of you. Or maybe she always has, and I’ve just had my head down since I met her and didn’t notice. (She turns to Hanako) I don’t really know what’s going on with you and the other second years, but usually I’d say being forgiven by your friends is a good thing. You seem upset by it, though… 

Hanako: It’s… less that everyone forgave me, and more that my missteps with my friends have been… forgotten? It’s less that they forgave me, and more that no one seems to remember that I wasn’t great to them before the Balancers came to Mitakihara.

Yuzuki: … Do you want them to bring it up more, to prove they didn’t forget? I think it’s pretty normal for friends not to keep picking at old wounds. 

Hanako: N-No, nothing like that, just… I never felt like I really had to face the consequences of my actions, that’s all…

Yuzuki: (She leans in on her crossed legs, something her mother does) Is there something you can imagine happening that would make you feel like you’d done that? 

Hanako: …If they acknowledged it, now that I’m back in Mitakihara, and of much more sound mind than I was back then. …I feel the worst about how I treated Aoi. I pinned a lot of blame for my actions on her.

Yuzuki: Aoi… it’s just my personal opinion, but I don’t think she’s doing so well these days. Not because of you, either. 

Hanako: …All the more reason I want to make things right.

Yuzuki: She’s sort of my responsibility too, but I’ve never really been able to do anything to either help her or stop her… 

Hanako: Mm… well, maybe we should—

At that moment, Kiwako’s front door opened. Five heads turned to face it, gazing upon the visitor. The Birds exchanged nervous glances, Hanako’s eyes widened, Yuzuki kept her arms folded, and Kiwako went pale. Standing in the doorway, the unmistakable form of Cecilia Ambrosi, a light blue coat on her shoulders, and something that passed for casual clothing. Most noticeably, a sky blue eyepatch covering her left eye. Or where her left eye was.

Cecilia, in turn, stared at the group with an odd expression. She seemed to pause, as if processing far longer than a person should to see old faces. And after a moment, she seemed to snap herself out of this strange trance. Her gaze fell upon the Mitakihara visitors, her voice a little broken, as if hoarse from overuse.

Cecilia: …What are you doing here?

Yuzuki: (With a sigh) Appreciate the politeness, but you already know, don’t you? 

Cecilia: (Her eye narrows) …If Yui sent you, then just be direct. If you’ve come at her behest to accost me, then be quick about it.

Yuzuki: Of course not. I’m just here to check on Sasaki-san’s friend here. (Her gaze falls on the patch over Cecilia’s eye) D-did you get hurt during that fight with the Balancers? 

Cecilia: (Her eye widens) …You don’t know? You honestly don’t know?

Hanako: It’s the truth… I came because Kiwa-chan, um… I couldn’t reach her. She wasn’t answering her phone.

Cecilia: (She’s silent again, as if in a trance, which she shakes herself from.) …I can’t tell if you’re telling the truth or not—

Kiwako: Cece-chan, it’s true! I was occupied keeping watch over you, so I forgot to check my phone. Lily-chan got worried and came to visit, and Yuzu-chan came along with her, that’s all!

Cecilia: …

Yuzuki: Anyway, I’m sure not here on Yui’s orders. I’m not her pawn, even if she treats me like I am one. A not very useful one, either.   

Cecilia: …Just as well. Yui was never the type to take a pawn. (She winces, as if feeling immense pain behind her eyepatch) Ngh… no, Yui always was one to act directly.

Yuzuki: (She squints) Shouldn’t that have healed already? You’re a Puella. You’ve had enough time to shop for an eyepatch for it? 

Cecilia: …I guess some wounds just don’t heal. 

Yuzuki: If the Balancers have some way of permanently injuring people, is it the time to be all cryptic about it? 

Cecilia: Hm… (Cecilia stifled a dry chuckle) …It would not surprise me if Yui became a Balancer after all this.

Yuzuki: What’s that supposed to mean?

Cecilia: Gods above… you really are habitually left in the dark, aren’t you, Yuzuki? Then again, I wouldn’t think Yui would admit—

Yuzuki: (She grips the arm of her chair) Not by my habit, I’ll tell you that! And you still talking like a Conductor isn’t helping either! 

Cecilia: (Unfazed) I am a Conductor, Yuzuki.

Yuzuki: (She folds her arms) Well, you don’t gotta act like one when there’s not a need. 

Cecilia: And when, pray tell, is there not a need? To be who I really am?

Kiwako: Cece-chan, that’s not—

Yuzuki: When you need to give a straight answer to a question, that’s when. 

Cecilia: Do I really need to justify myself? You see the results of my actions on my face, Yuzuki.

Yuzuki: (She sighs and turns away) You know what, no, no. I left Mitakihara to get away from the weird riddles and mind games. You were probably the one who told Yui that my friend Toi came back to us, but she never bothered to pass it on to me. You probably knew that. 

Cecilia: You looked to get away, yet here you are… wherever it was you thought I was, or whatever you’re running from, or whoever you’re blaming your problems on… (She turns with a dismissive wave) …It’s none of my concern. (She leaves, slamming the door behind her)

Kiwako: Cece-chan, wait! …Damn it.