[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/zhp2XL5.png[/img]
[h3][color=#990000][b]"Shuuko is here too. Were you expecting a fancy banner?"[/b][/color][/h3][/center]
[hr]
	Hotaru did not want to let Kiyo go. Her heart had been thundering in her chest. Her limbs felt as though butterflies swarmed through them, leaving behind shivering trails that stole away their strength. Hairs stood on end across her whole body and her breath shook with her body as she tried to calm herself down along with two others. Indeed, just like Kiyo's voice, the soothing hum of her other selves barely penetrated the fog of her emotions, unable to seize control from her in this state. They were worried, they were angry at the light girls along with themselves and they swore never to repeat this mistake as Shatterscape. Well, at least Sylvia did. Ember, as usual, went on to plan for the future.

	[color=#D8CD9F][b]"I... I'm sorry, Kiyo. I should have teleported back to you after I was done instead of... instead of chasing that stupid frog girl! She... you weren't hurt, were you?"[/b][/color] Hotaru's embrace loosened as she lifted her left gauntlet, using one of its sharp fingers to trace a delicate pattern on Kiyo's face. The careful touch would not even irritate her partner's skin despite it's ability to rend apart metal at a glance and surely, the other girl could feel the deep consideration behind each feather-weight movement.

	[color=teal][b]"It is our fault if you were,"[/b][/color] spoke Sylvia, borrowing Hotaru's lips to convey her feelings, her usual, even voice reduced to an whip-like whisper.  She did not take away any part of her friend's body for her own use, but her feelings remained clear in her words. [color=teal][b]"I am also sorry,"[/b][/color] Only Ember remained silent, lost in her thoughts.

	Kiyo remained perfectly still, only her eyes moving here and there as she checked the goings-on of Hibusa town, still not looking at her partner. [color=#990000][b]"Scrapes and bruises, already healed minutes ago,"[/b][/color] she replied dismissively. [color=#990000][b]"It was my reckless decision to pursue the new girl so far that brings us here, Sister. If I had died, I would accept nothing less than the lion's share of the blame. It was a golden opportunity—a fresh light girl that doesn't yet fear dark girls..!"[/b][/color] she couldn't help but smile for a moment before it all came back. She sighed. [color=#990000][b]"Such a waste. That girl was [i]ripe.[/i] Nonsuch on the other hand, is still a sourpuss. I'll have to leave her to her navel-gazing for a while longer."[/b][/color] Raising up dark girls... [i]how absurd,[/i] she thought, but also... so [i]very curious.[/i] She giggled out loud, feeling a kind of childish excitement as she wondered if this secret the two of them shared was even possible.

	At any rate, it seemed Evil Eye was unharmed, and still very much her usual, weird self.

	Sylvia let out a sigh of relief while Hotaru's hand remained on Kiyo's cheeks for just a few more seconds. Her expression softened as she heard that the mistake did not cost her gravely, a tiny smile adorning her face when Sylvia gave back full control.

	[color=#D8CD9F][b]"I... we are sorry. Again."[/b][/color] Hotaru spoke for all of Shatterscape, for Shuuko. [color=#D8CD9F][b]"I thought we could get rid of the frog girl. Everyone agreed."[/b][/color] She averted her eyes as she spoke, hand dropping beside herself along with her shoulders while her fingers slid against each other, fidgeting with the subtle noise of metal sliding against metal. In her head, she went over the events of the night - not only did they not kill many Miseria, they failed to do anything with the light girls. What a miserable failure.

	[color=#D8CD9F][b]"And please live, Kiyo."[/b][/color] Still unable to face Evil Eye, she dared not to raise her voice or to make a demand. [color=#D8CD9F][b]"Your life isn't worth it. I have twelve. Use mine if you have to."[/b][/color] The words were sincere even if Hotaru avoided her partner's gaze; Shatterscape's copies could be destroyed over and over again until no more remained. She would only die if even the last one were destroyed. Therefore, her life was worth less than Kiyo's, or at least such was her logic.

	[color=#990000][b]"Enough apologies,"[/b][/color] Kiyo gently scolded. [color=#990000][b]"I'm your senior, I made the call. It's me who will get an earful from the boss, and rightfully so. I'll hear no more of it."[/b][/color] Slowly, she reached out to find Shuuko. Touching her chin, Kiyo turned it towards her, and directed her eyes to where she knew Shuuko's would be. This was the only time their eyes could meet directly—when the focus of Evil Eye's gaze was elsewhere. [color=#990000][b]"If you really want to split hairs, all magical girls are replaceable—what's the saying? There's a sucker born every minute?"[/b][/color] She chuckled. [color=#990000][b]"As you like it, then. I'll be more careful. It's not often that two people work so well together,"[/b][/color] she said, in what was, by Evil Eye's standards, a tender voice.

	A moment passed, and Evil Eye sighed. [color=#990000][b]"Looks like everyone else forgot about us, Sister. They're all deciding where to get food. Oros is already digging in,"[/b][/color] she said as she watched the rather passionate and extremely public display. [color=#990000][b]"It's been a while. Why don't we get something alone, to go? We can prank the other girls while we're at it,"[/b][/color] she said with a mischievous grin. [color=#990000][b]"We'll get whatever you want. I'll have the driver take us there."[/b][/color]

	It still stung a little, but the rest of the guilt, Shuuko would have to deal with on her own. Kiyo shut her down rightfully, going as far as to look into the other girl's eyes while her gaze did not pay attention, lest Shuuko be caught in the whirlwind of her magic. This gesture demanded nothing less than Shuuko having to face it with her own eyes, sincerity sparking in her gaze while she sealed away her emotions to deal with them later. Indeed while she sought out the other half of the duo, the rest of the Dark Girls chose to start livening up the atmosphere, especially Oros. Hopefully, their rulekeeper would break them in yet again.

	[color=red][b]"I really wish you girls weren't involved in this whole mess,"[/b][/color] spoke Ember as she surfaced, [color=red][b]"It's just wrong, isn't it? Just as it's wrong to pull a fast one on someone... but in this case, it might be deserving."[/b][/color] Dispelling her transformation, Ember's gauntlets along with her costume vanished into motes of light, leaving her with a few injuries on her mundane form. [color=red][b]"But if you're offering... Let's get something simple. It is my turn today."[/b][/color] A glint. A hint of a scheme in Ember's eyes that Kiyo likely knew well.

	[color=red][b]"Could we take a stop by my home? I'd like to enjoy the food without interruptions."[/b][/color]

	Finally, Evil Eye's gaze returned to the ambulance, but still she looked away from Shuuko. The paramedics had gotten off the floor and were giving treatment to their other patient. She supposed that was fine. Actually, weren't there two of them? She looked around and, sure enough, there he was sprawled out on the floor. He was dead, and also stank of alcohol. Kiyo shrugged, turning her attention to the privacy screen behind Shuuko's bed and tearing it aside. Barking a simple order at the helpless man, he would take a detour from the hospital to go to a drive-through instead.

	Within a few minutes, Kiyo and Shuuko were in possession of a bucket of fried chicken to share. [color=#990000][b]"Hold on to this for a bit,"[/b][/color] she said as she rummaged through medical supplies for some bandages, applying a couple of them to her face. She then hopped into the bed next to Shuuko, taking her phone out for a selfie and flipping the bird. Finally, she sent the picture to the group chat along with some text.

	[hider=some text][color=#990000][b]we lived bitches[/b][/color][/hider]

	And there they were, sharing a hospital bed, Shuuko holding a bucket of fried chicken while Kiyo flipped off the camera.

	[color=#990000][b]"That'll do,"[/b][/color] she snickered as she showed Shuuko the text. Then, she squinted. [color=#990000][b]"The fuck? When did I send this?"[/b][/color] She'd finally noticed the "changed my mind" text Nonsuch had sent. Before she could think about it much, however, there came an urgent noise like an alarm from the driver's cabin, and the ambulance abruptly stopped. [color=#990000][b]"Shit. Let's scram."[/b][/color]

	Evil Eye practically shoulder-tackled the paramedics and the ambulance door as the two escaped into the night, flying the rest of the way to Shuuko's home. That is, Evil Eye flew while carrying Shuuko. [color=#990000][b]"One of these days that bitch is gonna pay for trashing my bike. So annoying."[/b][/color] How she hated flying—but there were no trains left at this time of night, surely. Besides, they were already close.