A disturbance in the river marks Shinju’s arrival. The water in the river sloshes forward like a wave, driven by something moving at great speed below the surface. The water laps at the banks.

After a moment to check the surroundings, Shinju pulls herself up out of the river. She looks around hurriedly, then takes out her phone, still dry in a suit pocket. She quickly texts Niko to confirm which of the collection of shacks she’s in. 

Niko: (upon spotting Shinju from a distance, she raises her arm to wave and calls out) Ah, Shinju! Over here!

Shinju: Shh! (Despite her caution, Shinju hurries over to Niko and hugs her) 

Niko: (she briefly rests her head on Shinju’s shoulder, reciprocating the embrace) I-I dunno, now that you’re here, it might actually be better if we lured that woman back here. She has the Lantern… G-God knows what she’ll be able to do with it.

Shinju: (She takes off her Puella outfit’s kimono, draping it around Niko’s shoulders) Don’t worry about that. What’s important is you’re safe… 

Niko: T-Thank you… (she exhales, slowly) But we need to get that thing back. There’s people down in the Dreamscape that I’d rather stay there. Heck, one’s already tried to escape.

Shinju: Yeah, I’ll just bet she has. (She takes Niko by the shoulders) But you gotta be safe first, okay? There’s no point if something bad happens to you… 

Niko: (a bit startled by Shinju’s intense reaction, she flushes) I… I’m fine… I knew you were coming to save my butt.

Shinju: Yeah. From now on, though, I wanna be in on this stuff. 

Niko: I… didn’t mean to hide stuff from you. I just thought Tori ‘n Mei-Mei ‘n I had everything under control, and (she sighs) it’s not because you’re my girlfriend that you have to be my bodyguard all the time.

Shinju: Yeah, well, even if I don’t have to be… I wanna be.