Three. Two. One. Twenty four hours have officially passed since Kiwako met with High Priestess Caelum, her sworn enemy. The only person to ever betray Kiwako’s friendship, both emotionally and literally. Kiwako was on her trail, alongside the usual entourage. Without a word, she gives a look to the twins, who in turn, nod and walk in the opposite direction. Cecilia stays behind Kiwako by a length, and after several silent minutes, she clears her throat to break it, along with the tension.

Cecilia: …Not that I need to ask the obvious, but…

Kiwako: Be direct, Cece-chan. (Her voice was high again, like it usually was, but her tone was almost authoritative.)

Cecilia: It’s just… can you really find her like this, Kiwa-chan?

Kiwako: Of course! (She knelt down, looking at nothing out of the ordinary with a little nod) She’s in town. She won’t run away right now. She has an active game. …She played with us, you know. The Coven she formed. Card games for loose change, that sort of thing. Taught us a bunch of sleight of hand tricks. Then she killed them off and turned me into a Witch. 

Cecilia: …

Kiwako: I’m gonna find her. I’m gonna kill her. But she was my friend for a while, so I know how she thinks, just like I do all my friends. Including Lily-chan, Yuzu-chan, my Coven, the twins—

Cecilia: And me. …It’s my turn to tell you to “be direct” I suppose.

Kiwako: You took away the dramatic reveal! …But, yes. (Her tone lowers. It has lowered far too often over the last couple weeks.) …I know how you think. You’re gonna tell me to stop, or get help, that I can’t beat her on my own, that I can’t find her— something to talk me out of it. But you can’t, and you know that. 

Cecilia: We are at an impasse.

Kiwako: …Saaaaay, you know who’s really good at breaking impasses?

Cecilia: …She tolerated my presence at her oasis by necessity. She said hardly two words to me after returning, wounded as she was. I…

Kiwako: (She bounded back to her feet, wheeling on Cecilia and leaning up to place both hands on her friend’s cheeks.) Stop stop stop! If. Yui. Hated. You. She probably. Would’ve. Killed you. Okaaay? You’re not so weak that you can’t handle an awkward conversation or two for a while, while you plan out either how to stop me or track me, right?

Cecilia: …You’re too good at this.

Kiwako: I had a lot of time loops to practice with you. Like I said! I know how my friends think! …If you need another reason, then you’ll probably do more good at New Eden than with me.

Cecilia: …I don’t feel good about leaving you alone to hunt an elder Balancer.

Kiwako: The Birds are with me.

Cecilia: You just sent them away…

Kiwako: For reconnaissance! They’re info people. I’m a battleaxe people. You’re a worry people. Now go and worry with Yui-chan! (She kneels down at the same spot again, even if nothing is there. She only looks over her shoulder to confirm that Cecilia is no longer standing over it.) …It’s better if I’m the only one getting revenge right now, anyway. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt for my revenge. Not like yesterday. …I’ll find you, Caelum, and I’ll get even… or I won’t. But no one else is gonna die for it.