A crystal clear sky threatened to break in the first April morning, clouds far on the horizon, yet unmistakable omens of oncoming storms. Under this sky, in an empty stone lot owned by one Yui Arashi in Mitakihara’s industrial district, two people stood. One taller woman in light blue, another, much shorter girl in red, both with hoods covering their heads. The younger of the two took a deep breath, speaking with far more softness and caution than the situation required.

Kiwako: So… you can see again?

Cecilia: …No, not entirely.

Kiwako: …Does it still hurt?

Cecilia: A dull ache, as before. …But nowhere near as bad as it was just one month ago.

Kiwako: Better or worse?

Cecilia: About the same. …Perhaps a little better.

Kiwako: …So can I talk about it, then?

Cecilia: (A soft, nearly inaudible sigh) …I suppose enough time has passed.

Kiwako: …You know, if you and Mei-chan hadn’t softened her up— I-I mean, if you hadn’t let her vent a bit first, then… I dunno how Shinju-chan would’ve fared. It might’ve been a waaay worse fight…

Cecilia: On that, I do agree. …

Kiwako: …But you still won’t go see her?

Cecilia: …The day of her fight with Shinju, I felt… something tearing at me, through our bond. …Yui took a direct attack without guarding or dodging from a girl who seems quite comfortable in the state of Magia, even now.

Kiwako: Shinju’s on The Path, then?

Cecilia: (She continues without answering her) …It wasn’t just Sabrina that shared in the damage Yui took. If she took it all, she would have likely died. …Perhaps not, on second thought. Yui Arashi is… tenacious, to a fault. But in directing that damage, Yui… released all of the emotions she held onto since the end of last year. To Sabrina, her Witch, and…

Kiwako: (Her eyes widen)

Cecilia: …Yes, and to me. But as intense as it was, it was… mercifully brief. Yui has not… forgiven me, per se, but she has… let it go. Still… that she thought to send a fraction of the pain of being hit full force from someone on The Path my way… (The Libretto shakes her head) …It means we aren’t… “there” yet. 

Kiwako: (She pauses, then nods without argument) …So our work, then. As a distraction.

Cecilia: (She pulls out a newspaper, the front page headline detailing yet another in the string of murders plaguing Mitakihara City) …Indeed. Apologies, Kiwa-chan, but I cannot give you the distraction that you crave so dearly.

Kiwako: …It’s fine. I knew… I knew I couldn’t run from this forever. (Kiwako casts a wistful gaze towards the ever-closing heavens) You’d think I’d have picked up on that, ever since… I started helping you with your own past. I guess I used up all my distraction karma, huh?

Cecilia: …If I can survive mine, Kiwa-chan, you can endure yours.

Kiwako: …I wonder.