New Eden’s weekly “self-defense” course was proceeding as usual. Well, almost. In the middle of the ring, the two “rising stars” were spent, on their knees and panting quite heavily. Sweat coated their faces. But today, their mentor was equally winded. Yui stayed on her feet, dabbing her forehead with a fresh towel.

Yui: Okay… take five. 

Ayumi: (Grasping for a water bottle she left by the corner of the ring, under the turnbuckle, she quickly emptied its contents) …I-I can go on.

Yui: Not like that, you can’t. Take five. Get healed up if you need it. Seia, what about you? Need a healing break?

Seia: (She stands up, leaning on her staff. Her suit seems to do a good job of keeping her cool, but she still clutches at her collar, her breathing pained) The road to… good cardio… is a long one. I can’t tell about… my Soul Gem so I should go ahead and do it. 

Yui: Yeah… good call. Whew… (she mumbles) No way Aoi doesn’t give me shit for this one…

Seia: Her? I’ve never heard… her give anybody “shit” for much of anything… 

Yui: Heh… well… not in the traditional sense. Anyway, you two oughtta head down. I’ll catch up.

Seia: (Shadowy hands extending from her suit guide her out of the arena, where she turns around) Ayumi? You sure you don’t need to? 

Ayumi: I… I’m okay—

Yui: Go. You need healing.

Ayumi: (Ayumi looks at Yui with a look of defiance, but as Yui folds her arms, Ayumi relents, and alongside Seia, descend into the clinic for routine healing)

Aoi: (She was sitting at a desk, head in her hands, but stands up quickly on their arrival) O-oh. More healing?

Seia: Mm. This’ll be the first time in a long time for me. Sorry about that.

Aoi: N-no, it’s… (She shrugs) That’s my job. The other trainees were here not too long ago too… (She opens her wings, still broken as always, and already quite stained) 

Ayumi: A… Are you okay, Aoi? Your wings are, um… m-more than usual, I mean…

Aoi: It’s just what happens when I heal a lot. Come on. (After taking a look at their Soul Gems) You first, Ayumi. (Her wings start to glow, extending towards Ayumi with painful-looking spasms) Mmgh… feeling any better? 

Ayumi: Ah, yeah, um… a-are you okay, though?

Aoi: It’s nothing for you all to worry about. Come on, you too, Seia. 

Seia: (She steps forward) Is there something I’m missing?

Aoi: No… everything’s fine. (Her wings glow again, soaking up the grief inside Seia’s Gem)

Seia: Feels good like always. 

Aoi: Yes… (The effort stains the very last inch of her wings dark, and she puts her head in her hands) Ugh… oh, I thought this was gone already… 

Ayumi: A-Are you sure you’re alright?! You… you don’t look so good…

Aoi: (She shakes her head) It might be a good idea for you to leave. … Don’t mind if I start… acting strangely. It’ll just be for a few… 

Seia: Hm? Aoi? What’s going on? (She places a hand on Aoi’s shoulder) 

Aoi: (She starts to rise out of her chair, curling up into a ball as she drifts upward towards the ceiling. She turns over and lands on the ceiling) 

Seia: !? (She lets go as Aoi rises out of her reach) Wh-what are you doing? 

Ayumi: A-Aoi?! Aoi, s-snap out of it! I… I’ll go get Yui!

Aoi: (The light shines through her eyelids before she opens them, and she stands up on the ceiling) Ah! Such a long intermission! Too long!! 

Ayumi races up the stairs in a panic. A minute or so later, Yui descends the staircase, slightly more casually than the situation warrants.

Yui: …Oh, hey. Was wonderin’ when you’d pop out again. Can relate, really. A bit problematic, though. 

Aoi: (She blows a jet of dark gold flame at Yui, stopping an inch from her face) What took you so long to put my sweetling out of a job!? I thought I’d die for real watching her fret and mope her hour on the stage! 

Yui: (She doesn’t even flinch) Yeah, well… that job’s kind of important. She’s paying for your sins, y’know. So what brings you here? Or is she one of us in the “overworking herself” department?

Aoi: Sins!? Sins are for you to worry about, when your short, short life is over! But I will never die! Hahahaha!! 

Seia: (She warily backs away, aiming her staff at the voice on the ceiling) 

Aoi: It’s all thanks to your slave-driving, you slave-driver, you! 

Yui: Yo, you wanna take a number and wait in line for the “Yui sucks as a person” club? Kinda spreading yourself thin. Heard the newsletter’s a real doozy, though.

Ayumi: B-But… you’re not—

Yui: Oi. No, she’s not wrong. I’ve been cracking the whip pretty hard lately. So what do you need then, giant space witch ex machina?

Aoi: Ah! (She theatrically flourishes her arms, her chorus appearing to swirl around her and copy the gesture) Only… to live again upon the stage! Hmhmhm~ (She notices that one of the chorus has accidentally mirrored her pose, and she smacks it in the head) 

Yui: Oi! No need to hit the little thing just ‘cause it missed its cue! 

Aoi: Ahaha! What’s the use in a performer who can’t perform?!

Seia: Aoi… (Her grip tightens on her staff) I thought you said you could control this thing.

Aoi: Hmm?? (She turns to Seia, reaching down to tap her on the face) If my sweetling wasn’t being a thorn in my side, there would be so much more drama right now! More excitement! That foul shrew! Insult her at your peril! 

Yui: (Her eyes briefly swirl with a shimmering darkness, then flash with the surge of a storm before settling down) …Fun as that’d be, you couldn’t kick my ass last time. We all know how it went, and I’m not exactly rusting over here. No more drama for now, yeah? Now be a good little cryptid and gimme my friend back. ‘Kay?

Aoi: Ahahaha!! Where’s your sense of dramatic timing!? Mmmrngh… (Her eyes twitch as the light starts to fade) What fun would there be having the first act be the last one?? So! I’m afraid you have some more boring… exposition to wade through. My sweetling will botch it awfully, I’m sure! (She starts to sink down off the ceiling) ‘Til then… adieu! 

The chorus pelt her with little dark roses that disappear as they fall down, except for the one she struck, who stays curled up off to the side. Eyes closed, Aoi barely turns over in the air in time to sink back into her chair. She puts a hand to her forehead and shakes her head.

Aoi: Ugh. I’m sorry any of you had to see that… 

Yui: (She kneels down near Aoi’s chair, showing no reaction as the Chorus minus one disappears) You alright though?

Aoi: It’s just the same old thing… (The chorus member who was struck rushes to Aoi, burying its face in her chest and mewling softly. Hesitantly, Aoi puts her arms around it and pats its head) … There, there. Go on now. Shh. 

Yui: (She couldn’t help but show a little smile) …Need a Grief Seed? Or like… anything?

Aoi: No, I’m fine. I’m not— (The chorus member puts its little arms around Aoi’s neck and starts bawling into her shoulder) Shh sh sh. She’s gone now, okay?

Seia: (She dismisses her Puella form, leaning against a divider) I thought that thing was dead for good already. 

Aoi: Apparently not. I’m not happy about it either, trust me. 

Yui: …Much as it fascinates me, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t, I wouldn’t hesitate to act if it meant Aoi’s safety. Just so we’re clear about that. (She turns back to Aoi and gives a genuinely concerned look) But by that same token, don’t hesitate to come to me if you need anything, okay? And don’t gimme that “Oh I don’t deserve anything” crap again. You have needs. It’s my job to meet them. ‘Kay? (She turns her attention to the little Chorus member) …You too, yeah?

Aoi: I never said anything so dramatic. (She pats the chorus on the back and sighs) It seems like she’s always smacked them around, but they’ve only started crying about it now that I’ve usually been in charge. Who knows why… 

Yui: S’cause you’re the dominant personality, if I had to guess. Haven’t really sat down to read this situation out yet, heh. …So y’don’t need anything else?

Aoi: (She shakes her head slowly. The chorus floats away, seemingly calm. It floats over and pats Seia on the nose, in an apparent apology for its master rapping her there)

Seia: Oh, hello, little one. Thank you very much. 

(The chorus floats over to Ayumi, playfully bopping its head against the surface of her hammer) 

Ayumi: Ahh?! U-Um… I…

Yui: Yo, play along. These things are cool as hell.

Ayumi: R-Right! Um… (She tilts her hammer, the slowest, most gentle “swing” she can muster)

(Having received its bonk, the chorus holds out its small fist toward Yui) 

Yui gives the little chorus a fist bump— gently— and with a little grin, walks back upstairs. As she does, she slips quietly into her office, making sure the door is closed behind her. After a minute of hearing no sounds following or approaching, she reaches under her desk, setting a familiar object down on top of it. The Soul Lantern.

Yui: …Just a little longer now.