“New Eden”. A sign that had hung for a third of the year now in a quiet, early April sky. Tacky, perhaps, but Kiwako Kobayashi found amusement in the name. Doubly so, given the gym’s secondary purpose. A stolen, manmade paradise, even with the facade of an angel in the basement. Fallen angel, Kiwako reminded herself, again to her amusement. 

The last time Kiwako crossed this threshold, she was promptly tossed all but out of it. She hadn’t tried again in months, but today felt different. Knowing that Yui had calmed down significantly, Kiwako decided to try her luck. She still wanted to talk to Yui about many, many things. The two never found the right foot to clear the air. Today felt right. Or so Kiwako thought.

Kiwako: Yui-chaaaan~! I’m hooooome~!

Yuzuki: (She stands beside the ring, in the midst of a routine of practice swings with her katana. She stops mid-swing, eyes wide) Uh, sorry, she’s not here right now… 

Kiwako: Eh? That’s disappointing… but oh well! So how’s it going, Yuzu-chan? It isn’t Sunday, but I guess no one else is here yet this morning.

Yuzuki: Yeah… I decided to come here for my katana practice for once. It’s only been me and, um, my teacher all this time. I thought maybe it’d be fun to be a little social about it. 

Kiwako: So I’m guessing things calmed down with Yui? I mean, I’m unbanned now ‘cause I said so, but I was hoping to see her. Lily-chan too, but then again, she actually goes to school…

Yuzuki: Yeah, things are better for her now, I think. I’m sure if you stick around for a bit, she’ll be by. Sasaki-san, too. 

Kiwako: Mm, think I might! I just wish I had a cake or something for Lily-chan, given her promotion. Oh! Maybe Ueno-chan can make us a cake! We can have a little “Conductor coming out” party!

Yuzuki: … Conductor coming out? What? 

Kiwako: Well, Hanako’s doing special super training under Yui now, right? So that kinda makes her a Conductor now!

Yuzuki: Oh. Let’s hope a Yui-brand Conductor and not those scheming-old-men-brand Conductor. 

Kiwako: I trust Lily-chan! She makes her own path, but she doesn’t stray from it, no matter what! And her heart is calm now, so combine that with Yui-chan’s style of training, and I think she’ll be alright! (Positively beaming)

Yuzuki: Oh yeah, g-great. That seems to be going okay… even that blind girl she picked up is doing alright. 

Kiwako: Seia-chan, right? I heard her power is scary.

Yuzuki: Scary? I haven’t really seen it… maybe today I will. I guess I can set out a bit later from my dorm and still be on time. 

Kiwako: Hm? Does Yui do secret secret training on not-Sundays now? That’s news to me!

Yuzuki: Heck, not that I know about. I think Yamano-san comes by sometimes just for normal exercise and stuff specific to navigating her blindness, but that’s not Yui special training or anything. 

Kiwako: Ah, that makes sense. She wouldn’t be Yui’s right hand for no reason after all. Yui-chan’s kinda picky, especially after the attempted Balancing. So Seia-chan must be something special, blindness and all. She probably won’t take my offer of Venefica in Puella training…

Yuzuki: I don’t really know her. Maybe. She seems mellow and at peace so I dunno if her Witch side gets much time of day. 

Kiwako: (Swaying a bit) Y’knoooow, my offer still stands for you, Yuzu-chan. If you ever wanna learn a different way of fighting, or feel your power is lacking~

Yuzuki: … Well of course it’s lacking. I just don’t feel like going part Witch would be a safe or good way for me to fix that… 

Kiwako: It’s not going part Witch! It’s just letting them near the surface, that’s all! But you’re right, it can be dangerous. But if you wanna get stronger, why not train with Yui-chan?

Yuzuki: I guess that’s what I’m doing here. It feels weird though. Technically I’ve been a Puella longer, and I probably know more about wielding a katana at least…

Kiwako: Mm, I wouldn’t think of it like that. Yui-chan has been fighting far longer, right? Even though she hasn’t been a Puella as long. Fighting is in her blood!

Yuzuki: Well… yeah, I guess… underground ring fighting isn’t really the same as taking on a Witch or Puella though… 

Kiwako: Of course! But it did instill an instinct for fighting into her at an early age. Her upbringing and family history didn’t help, either. So when she became a Puella, she flowed with it a lot better. But you’re not one for fighting to begin with, right?

Yuzuki: No… I guess not. I mean, my Puella form doesn’t even come with any weapons, so… 

Kiwako: Then Yui-chan’s training is perfect! She took Mei, who had a megaphone and made her into her right hand! Seia-chan is blind, but she seems to be doing just fine! What’s the harm in asking for that kinda training?

Yuzuki: I don’t think even Yui can make their powers do something they don’t already do. 

Kiwako: No, but she has this way of taking something that doesn’t seem like it’d work and making it work! Turning weakness into strength, or so I heard when my friends saw those girls from Biei!

Yuzuki: (She shakes her head with a shrug) Yeah… I’ve already stretched my little shield bubbles pretty far taking advantage of air pressure and different properties… don’t know how much blood is left in the stone to squeeze. 

Kiwako: Maybe! But you never know unless you try, right?

Yuzuki: Maybe… I could always get some advice on my unique… (Hesitates, then decides not to mention it) Situation, I guess.

Kiwako: Just keep it in mind! (She looks around, then lets her voice drop to a more natural sounding tone) …All of us who make wishes on the Incubators are messed up in some form or another, Yuzuki. It’s about making the best out of the situations we find ourselves in. Kyubey, he… he sets us up to fail on purpose. Lies of omission, outright lies, schemes, tricks, you name it. The trick is learning to live with it. That’s when we really shine as magical girls. Don’t tell Yui I said this, but she has a knack for finding what makes us shine. (After clearing her throat, her tone returns to the usual, chipper mask) Just keep in mind what I told you, okay, Yuzu-chan?

Yuzuki: … H-how old were you again, Kiwako-san?

Kiwako: Eleven! Now your next question is probably gonna be how long I’ve been eleven~

Yuzuki: N-no, I just… that’s a lot of life to experience so young. 

Kiwako: Mmm, tell me about it. But it’s not all that bad, now that I’m not a Witch anymore!

Yuzuki: (Yuzuki lowers the sword in her hand until the tip hits the floor) C-can you even fix being a Witch…? 

Kiwako: Mhm! Well, it happened once, anyway! Cece-chan helped me back then. Anyway… (She turns to a punching bag, dramatically winding up her fist. She throws a punch, only for the bag to rebound and knock her flat on her back) Bwap—! …I-I’m okay!