AN: A small idea that I decided to include as a bit of a treat.

Take it as you will.

-!-

The sphere of light that signified Saint-Germain's ultimate sacrifice faded away in motes of golden sparkles, raining down on the group gathered within the crater. Despite being at the ready to face Fudou's underlings, the wielders could not help but gape at the sight, and Maria lifted her hand, watching as a single twinkle fluttered down into her palm. It vanished a moment later, and she could not help but stare in awe.

"It's like...it's life itself…" She murmured.

No one else made any sound, as if sharing that very same thought. Even Fudou's men were paralyzed by the view, involuntarily lowering their guns slightly and looking up at the glow.

However, out of everyone gathered there, only two people did not bother to stare up at the remnants of the divine power and Saint-Germain's life. Tsubasa and Fudou's gazes remained locked on each other, each one eyeing the other cautiously and with eyes narrowed.

As much as she wanted to turn around, Tsubasa knew she couldn't. It would be too risky to let Fudou do as he wants while everyone marvels around them. Besides, she already knew what the outcome was; there was no need to see it for herself.

For a Sentinel's duty was to protect the people, even at the cost of her own life.

"Are you satisfied now, Tsubasa?" The elder bit out. "We have lost a perfectly useful tool for nothing. It is by your own hands that our nation will once again be forced back to the bottom."

She could not help but let out a snicker at his words. "Then perhaps it should stay that way," She answered. "Maybe Japan is not ready for that burden just yet."

A few of the men beside Fudou heard their conversation, and shook themselves out of their stupor. Signaling each other, they recomposed themselves and once again aimed their weapons at the girls in the crater. Maria and Chris responded by doing the same, standing back to back as they kept theirs eyes locked on as many of the agents as they could see. Kirika and Shirabe stiffened, covering their charges with their entire bodies. While Hibiki was down for the count and unconscious, Miku tried to struggle and push Kirika off of her.

"Everyone, please-!"

No one bothered to respond to her, too focused on their tasks to acknowledge her now. The girls had sworn to protect them both, and that's what they'll do.

With the tension back up, Tsubasa mentally prepared herself for what was to come. "What will you do now, Kazanari Fudou," She questioned in a low, ominous voice. "The divine power is gone. Those girls are ordinary, weak girls now; there is nothing for you to find here anymore."

"That matters little," He replied coldly. "We will find another way to bring forth the divine power. When that time comes, they will be required. They will be kept in my custody until that moment."

Tsubasa's eyes widened. This man...how far was he willing to go? Was there nothing sacred in his eyes?

No, she remembered. Nothing was sacred, not even the bonds of marriage. She was his direct offspring, born from the union between himself and her late mother, despite the fact that her mother was already married to Yatsuhiro.

To Fudou, nothing was more important than his goal, his ambition. He would toss aside his own family should it be required, and he would do so without a single shred of regret.

And the more she thought about it, the more Tsubasa realized that there would be no use talking to this man.

For the only thing he truly understood...was his own desire.

She had not moved a single inch from her previous position, the sharp edge of Kanade's spear still digging slightly into his neck. The small cut was still bleeding, yet he made no move to acknowledge it. He simply didn't care.

The white light vanished, restoring the darkness of the night; and together with it, the palpable bloodlust in the air. The confrontation resumed, and all knew that now it was going to come to an end, one way or another.

He had already stated that killing him would matter little, that it would be meaningless to do so.

Yet...Tsubasa could only think otherwise. She could only think that he was the root of the problem, that once he is gone, they'll finally be able to relax.

But it couldn't be that easy. If she decided to kill him here now...she, as well as her comrades, would not live to see tomorrow. They would not live to see those happy days they so cherished.

"I see…" She murmured, her mind raging. There was no way out of this situation. Genjuro was held back by relations, so he couldn't come help them. They couldn't wait until morning, because that would be meaningless. If she withdrew, he'd take Hibiki and Miku. If she killed him, they would go down with him.

The silence was maddening. No one said anything, and the only sound audible were Miku's struggles as she tried to push Shirabe off of her.

Tsubasa waited, somehow hoping he'd just back off on his own.

She waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Until she could wait no more.

She grit her teeth as she spoke up loud enough for her comrades to hear. "I'm starting the countdown again! Be ready!"

And so, the threat of a gruesome bloodbath returned tenfold.

'Don't make me do this.'

"Five!"

Feet shuffled once again as both agents and Symphogear wielders prepared themselves for the madness.

"Four!"

'You can still stop this now!"

Adrenaline ran high, pumping rapidly in the veins of all participants. Sweat dripped down to the ground, their fingers on the triggers.

"Three!"

She couldn't let him do what he wanted with Hibiki and Miku. Whatever his plans were, she would never allow him to have them for as long as she lived.

But the cost...would be unimaginable.

"Two!"

'How can you simply stand there?'

He stared, his eyes unmoving. His calm, cold expression remained, meeting her gaze. Unfazed by her threats, and unmoved by her words, Kazanari Fudou would not back down.

She grit her teeth again, grasping the handle of her spear much tighter.

"One!"

'Everyone...I'm sorry.'

She hoped. She hoped that he would not make her do this.

But before she could reach the final number, he spoke up one last time.

"My ambition cannot be stopped."

Her blood grew cold, and her eyes widened. 'This man…'

She let out the breath she was holding.

And did not even bother reaching zero.

There was a flash of light, accompanied by the sound of a blade swishing through the air. It happened instantly, faster than the blink of an eye. One moment Tsubasa was with the spear against his throat, the next it was by her side, both of her hands gripping the handle tightly.

However, the sound that decided it all…

Was the sound of flesh being sliced.

Like a butcher carving into a pig's carcass with his knife, the meaty and disgusting sound that echoed in the crater shocked all those who heard it. Fudou's men were paralyzed once more, unable to believe what they had witnessed. Maria and Chris did not bother looking, but knew what that sound signified.

It was quiet, far too quiet.

And then, something hit the ground with a thud. It rolled, gravity pulling it closer to herself. It came to a rest right in front of her eyes, and she could only stare at it with widened eyes.

White hair and a white beard, together with long bushy eyebrows. His gaze unchanged even in his final moments, Fudou's calm and judging brown eyes bore into her, piercing deep into her being.

Even as a severed head, Fudou would forever stay the same.

The now headless corpse that used to be his body lost all strength, the central command of the brain no longer there to keep it standing. Pulled down by gravity, it fell to its knees all on its own, and then crumpled forward to crash onto the ground, dust being thrown into the air as it fell. Blood immediately began to pour from the sliced veins, pooling beneath the body in large amounts.

But Tsubasa did not dare to look at it. No, she was caught by the severed head's stare. Even as blood poured from the neck, his eyes remained unchanged, just looking at her.

Looking.

And looking.

And judging.

And sealing her fate, as if telling her that she would soon be joining him.

She already knew that. She knew that the moment she decided to pour strength into her arms and finish her swing. She knew that they were not going to get out of this alive.

But that was all dwarfed by the sheer desire to prevent a future tragedy, to avoid a repeat of what happened this night.

And if the cost was their lives...then that's what it was fated to be.

"Y-you-!"

One of the men turned on her immediately, raising his gun. She could see how his finger tightened on the trigger, nearly firing the shot.

She had only a second to shout, to let her comrades know what was about to occur.

Steeling herself for what was to come, Tsubasa screamed the singular command to her comrades in the crater, knowing it was all that was needed.

"NOW!"

At that moment, all hell broke loose.

Miku could only scream as the sound of gunfire filled her ears to the brim. Shirabe tightened her hold on her, covering her as much as she could with her own body as the insanely loud sound rang in her ears.

She felt like she was going deaf by the sheer volume.

It kept going, and going, and going, seemingly endless and eternal. She couldn't hear anything else, not even her own screaming as the gunshots continued. Little by little their frequency was reduced, yet they were still loud, still deafening, still filling her mind with nothing but terror.

She couldn't see, couldn't speak, couldn't hear. Her senses dulled by everything around her, Miku could only hope it would just end, that she wouldn't have to listen to this hellish blaring anymore.

She could only feel her internal self. She could feel her breaths quickening, her heart beating, and her fear rising. All external stimuli were blocked, disallowed, the gunfire having taken over what should have been a resounding victory.

And it remained as such, on and on. How much time had passed since it began? A few seconds? A minute? An hour?

A day? A year? How much? She didn't know, and she didn't want to know.

But then, it ended. Coming to a stop as abruptly as it had began, the sound of gunfire died down to nothing. The only thing that remained was the overwhelming stench of gunpowder, the last of the echoes vanishing into the city's ruins.

Miku tried to calm herself. Slowly opening her eyes, her vision blurred momentarily before it focused once more. Her ears were ringing, making her unable to hear anything else.

She took note of her situation. Shirabe was still on top of her, covering her, and from the angle she was in Miku couldn't see anyone else in the crater.

Seeing that the twintailed wielder was her only way to understand what was happening, she spoke softly, barely hearing herself speaking. "S-Shirabe?"

There was no response. Did she simply not hear it? That could be it. Perhaps Shirabe was as dazed as herself, and so was taking a moment to recompose herself from the hell that had just ended.

So she repeated herself, hoping that her voice will wake the girl up. "Shirabe?"

No response.

Miku could only stare, fear filling her frame instantly. Shirabe's head was to the side, so she couldn't see her face, but there was one thing she now noticed that was out of place.

Namely, that Shirabe wasn't holding her down anymore. She was limp and unmoving, and Miku's breaths quickened once more at the implication.

'No...nononononono!'

She tried to feel Shirabe's chest rise and fall, but she couldn't. There was nothing there, a terrifying silence and lack of answer that almost made her lose her mind. Opting to try and release herself, Miku wiggled under Shirabe's weight, freeing her arms from where they had been locked under the Shul-Shagana wielder.

Carefully, she grabbed her by the arms, and with great effort moved her slightly out of the way, if only to see what was going on.

What met her sight was pure horror.

There was blood. She could see it, flowing down Shirabe's side freely and endlessly. Panicking instantly, Miku moved, freeing herself from her previous position under Shirabe. The still girl fell to the ground with a very soft thud, and Miku hurriedly turned to look at her comrade.

Her breath got caught in her throat, and she raised her hands to cover her mouth in dread.

Gunshot wounds littered Shirabe's back by the dozen. Having protected Miku with her life, Shirabe had been hit in the back purposefully by Fudou's agents, who aimed to take the wielders out. Her shirt was torn, and the holes in her back bled continuously.

Miku was no doctor, but she knew. She knew what this meant.

Shirabe couldn't be saved. She was...she had...and she was now…

She couldn't finish the thought, too terrified to acknowledge it. With the sight burned into her mind, Miku's gaze rose slowly, looking towards the rest of her friends.

And now, she wished she hadn't.

The first one she saw was Kirika. She, just like Shirabe, had protected Hibiki with her own body from the gunfire. And she, like Shirabe, had been hit multiple times in the back by carefully aimed shots, almost mirroring her partner in her injuries. The only real difference she noticed was the hole in the back of her neck, sealing her fate right in front of Miku's eyes.

And there was blood.

Her eyes drifted again, and the next one she saw was Maria. The older wielder, unlike her juniors, was on her back, having fallen at some point Miku hadn't noticed. In contrast to her juniors, it was Maria's stomach that was riddled with holes, and even her upper chest hadn't been spared the horrifying treatment. Miku's could barely make out that Maria's eyes were closed, and the gun she had been using was on the ground next to her hand, her grip having loosened once she had fallen.

And there was blood.

Next was Chris, and Miku felt herself nearly belching at the sight. Chris was also on her back on the ground, and she too was riddled with bullet holes in her stomach and upper chest. Almost exactly like Maria, the gun she had expertly wielded was on the ground by her side. But the most obvious difference was the singular, small, round, and bleeding hole right in the center of her forehead. Her eyes were still open, her mouth hanging loose as her life had been claimed in an instant.

And there was blood.

"A-a-a-ahhhh…"

Miku's lips quivered. Her eyes moved in all directions, trying to find anything, anyone, whatever it could be that could make this nightmare go away. None of Fudou's men had remained, as she could see none from her position from within the crater. Whether they had been killed or they had fled mattered not, because the only thing on her mind was some way to save her comrades.

But she knew it was impossible, that it was improbable.

Chris' injury was testament enough to that impossibility.

"A-ahhhhh…"

'Please, let all this be a bad dream…'

Her eyes blurred as tears began to form, flowing down her cheek in an instant.

"P-please...no…"

"M-Miku…"

A low, cool, and heaving voice suddenly rose up next to her, and she hurriedly turned to look at the source.

Her eyes widened as she noticed Tsubasa limp towards her, Kanade's spear dragging behind her and covered in blood. Blood Miku knew that was definitely not her own.

"T-Tsubasa!"

The blue haired idol was in a very bad state. One hand was raised to cover a wound in her stomach, but there were so many of them that Miku knew it was a useless endeavor. Her entire frame was matted with the red life fluid, and her hair was fluttering down around her, its previous beautiful style forever marred.

Tsubasa made a few more steps before the spear fell from her grip, and she too followed as she crumpled to her knees right in front of Miku. The black haired girl rushed to her friend, still panicking and hysterical, and caught her before she hit the ground.

Miku held the dying Tsubasa in her arms, helpless to save her. "T-Tsubasa! P-please, hold on!"

The sword wielder smiled weakly, the last of her strength fleeing her quickly. "Miku...I'm...glad...you're...not...hurt…"

"Please, don't speak! I'll get you some help, I promi-" Miku tried to argue, grabbing hold of Tsubasa's hand tightly. The sword wielder's grip was feeble and weak, barely able to return the gesture. Her eyes half closed, and her vision darkening, Tsubasa spoke up again softly.

"I'm...sorry…" She murmured. "I...couldn't...stop...him...I…"

"Please, Tsubasa! Please!"

"I couldn't...let him...take you…"

Miku was already crying, the tears dripping down onto the dying idol. "Tsubasa...please no…"

"Live...the...happy...days...we can't...be...there...with...you…"

No longer able to speak, Miku could only watch powerlessly as Tsubasa's gaze drifted slowly towards the sky.

"Ah...Kanade...I'm...coming…"

Her eyes closed for the final time.

The hand in Miku's grip went limp, and Tsubasa let out her last breath, passing away in Miku's arms.

"A-ahh…"

The sorrow was all consuming.

The sun rose on the morning of November 7th.

Yet, there was no joy to be found in the victory.

Miku's heartbroken cries echoed in the crater, the sheer grief swallowing her up from within. With the fallen bodies of her friends and comrades by her side, she could do nothing but wallow in pain as the rescue vehicles of S.O.N.G finally made their way towards her.

Victory had been achieved, but the price was too high.

And in the bridge of S.O.N.G, the infallible and steadfast Kazanari Genjuro crumpled to his knees, the cries of his subordinates filling his ears. He held on to the remains of his console with a weak grip, staring at the floor in agony.

'Ryouko-kun...Kanade-kun...I'm sorry…'

The dawn brought with it the start of a new day.

But all that could be found...was unending sorrow.

'I failed…'

And for the first time in many years, Genjuro shed tears of grief.

-!-

A few years later…

It was raining again. Somehow, by coincidence or by destiny, every time she made her way out here it rained. The beating sound of the drops hitting the ground had become a close companion after all this time.

It was strange, how a birthday could also be a memorial day.

She knelt down with a bouquet of flowers in hand, placing it gently over the grave before her. Normally, she'd take the opportunity to wash it, but it seemed the heavens decided to do that work for her.

She briefly glanced at the tombstone, vividly recalling the very first time she had come to this place all those years ago. That time, she placed the flowers on an empty grave, not knowing that it was simply a farce in order to throw off their scent from the world at large.

But now, it was different. The graves were not empty, and there was no masquerade to uphold. In a small graveyard on the roadside, six new graves joined the others within it, all of them buried on the very same day. Only one of those graves did not contain a body, for there was nothing left of its namesake when the dust had cleared.

Yes, here lay the fallen five Symphogear wielders, together with the alchemist that sacrificed herself for their sake.

And at the end of it all, only two remained alive.

Miku rose back to her feet, having finished placing the flowers on the last grave. Harumi, who had been holding an umbrella to protect her from the rain, placed her hand softly on Miku's shoulder, and the two stood in silence. They closed their eyes, giving prayers to the fallen. After a minute, they opened their eyes and made their way towards the entrance to the graveyard.

Where two people were waiting; one man, standing with an umbrella in hand.

Together with a silent, chestnut haired girl in a wheelchair.

"It never gets easier, does it?" Akira asked Miku as she approached.

She shook her head. "No, it doesn't."

He gave her a melancholic smile in return. "Now then, shall we go back?"

This time, she nodded. "Yes."

Promptly, Miku took her place behind the wheelchair, taking hold of the handlebars and pushing towards the exit. Luckily for them, a ramp accessible to the disabled was constructed a few years back, making their ability to bring the wheelchair to the graveyard itself much, much easier. It was a bit roundabout, but all in all convenient.

The four slowly made their way down to the street, where their parked car waited for them. Stopping by the door, Miku opened it, prepared to do what she had done several times in the past. Akira had already tried to offer his help, but after so many times he realized it was impossible to get Miku to bend on the subject.

So he went straight towards the driver's seat, turning the car on so they could warm themselves up with the AC. With Harumi still holding an umbrella over her head, Miku reached over and lifted Hibiki from the wheelchair with both hands and softly placed her on the seat in the car, fastening the seatbelt. She then folded the wheelchair and headed together with Harumi to the trunk, stashing it there for later use and then headed back to enter the car.

She closed the door, basking in the warmer interior. She did get a bit wet, but it was nothing major. A bath later would take care of it.

The entire time, Hibiki remained silent.

No, that was wrong. The act of remaining silent gave the illusion that the person was doing so of their own will, that they chose not to speak.

In Hibiki's case, it was different.

For she could no longer speak. She could no longer move on her own, she could no longer act or express emotions on her own. She required help with basic human needs like eating, drinking, and going to the toilet. Everything had to be done for her, for she could no longer do so on her own.

And Miku could no blame her.

After all, she was there when it happened.

As Akira pressed on the gas to lead them home, Miku once found her mind drifting back to the days right after the end of the incident. She could never bring herself to forget them, as each and every moment she had spent awake was akin to being in a nightmare that she could not escape from. It took a very long time for her to finally accept the truth.

Hibiki however, had a much more difficult time.

After being rescued, Miku was glad to have discovered that Hibiki was uninjured from the gunfire, Kirika having kept her safe with her own body. The five wielders, all dead, were carried away into S.O.N.G headquarters in a feeble attempt to save their lives, but it was far too late to do anything for them. Having been without their Symphogears, they were just regular people, and so succumbed to their wounds in short order.

Miku remembered she hadn't slept that night. Nobody did, in fact, due to what had happened. Despite her own body screaming at her for rest, Miku simply could not sleep.

Because what happened a few days later was the highlight.

Hibiki woke up that day, with Miku and many others by her side. Disoriented and confused, she had kept on asking questions in her delirious state, and she had trouble understanding where she was or what she was doing.

They had explained it to her slowly, that she was now in safe hands. But then she asked where everyone was, and why she couldn't see them.

She was promptly given her answer.

What followed was one of the worst screams Miku had ever heard in her life. It was blood-curdling, spine-chilling, and horrifying. Miku had never before heard such a despaired sound leave Hibiki's throat, and she was sure her vocal cords would remain damaged and torn for a long time afterwards.

Hibiki screamed, and thrashed, and went into hysteria. She was inconsolable, and was unable to listen to anyone trying to comfort her or get her to calm down.

It was impossible. The knowledge of what she had done, together with the fact that her friends had died for her sake, was simply too much for a person like Hibiki to bear.

And just as quickly as it had started, it ended. As if she was a machine that was suddenly switched off, Hibiki went silent instantly and dropped back down to the bed, leaving the medical team perplexed as to what had happened.

A few days later, they gave their diagnosis.

Nothing was physically wrong with Hibiki, aside from her sore and damaged vocal cords.

So they could only give one answer to the mystery: Hibiki's mind had shut itself down from the grief, and no external stimuli were able to get any reactions from her. She was classified as being in a persistent vegetative state after a few weeks of failing to arouse her, despite her not having experienced any visible head trauma. No, it was a purely mental condition.

One, they figured, that she brought upon herself.

Hibiki's consciousness vanished that day, and from then on Miku swore to take care of her until it returned.

A few years later, there was still no change in her state.

"Miku-chan, we're here."

Miku blinked, raising her head to look outside the window. She was so lost in thought she didn't notice they had arrived back at the house. Recomposing herself, she waited for Harumi to open the door for her, and together the two took the wheelchair out of the trunk. Miku unfolded it, secured it, and placed Hibiki on it. Akira then drove off to park the car while the two women headed towards the house. They had built a small ramp leading to the doorway to make it easier, and so they entered the Tachibana household together and with no difficulty.

"I'll go prepare the bath," Harumi said upon entering. "Take your time, okay?"

Miku nodded in response, pushing Hibiki towards the living room. She stopped by the couch, making sure to lower the brake so the wheelchair wouldn't roll away, and sat down as she waited.

Taking care of Hibiki was as difficult as it was heartbreaking. No matter what Miku tried, Hibiki simply wouldn't respond to anything. Her eyes were open but unseeing. She had lost a lot of weight and muscle mass, a stark difference to what she was just a few years ago. Her hair was longer, but Miku did her best to make sure it wasn't disheveled.

All in all, Hibiki looked healthy, if a bit thin. Her reflexes worked fine from what the doctors told her, as in the end there was indeed no brain damage.

But that made Miku all the more disheartened. It simply depended on Hibiki one day just waking up, and nobody knew when that day would come. So all she could do was simply wait, and take care of her until she did.

Her phone rang, and she quickly took it out of her pocket, staring at the screen to see who was calling.

'Tomosato Aoi'

'Oh right, she usually calls around this time.'

Clicking once, she answered. "Hello?"

"Miku-chan, good afternoon," The woman on the other end said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Miku answered sincerely. "We just came back from our regular visit."

"I see…" Aoi murmured, knowing what she was referring to. "Any changes?"

Miku shook her head even though Aoi couldn't see. "No, it's the same as ever."

Aoi sighed in sympathy, not at all surprised. Miku decided to change the subject. "How's work? Are you doing okay as the commander?"

"Yes. It's not easy, but we have some leeway, seeing as the Noise are gone and all. We're still looking for new wielders, and we've got a few candidates in mind, but all in all everything is fairly quiet on our front. It's not an easy job," The woman answered.

Miku sighed, remembering what took place at S.O.N.G at that time.

Following the end of the incident, it was clear as crystal to everyone involved that Genjuro did not take it well. Never had they seen him so despaired and distraught, and even though he managed to bring himself to take care of the bureaucracy, he was simply not the same afterwards.

And then one day, he resigned. Passing along his position as commander to his lieutenant Aoi, he left S.O.N.G and never returned, disappearing to somewhere unknown in the world where they could not find him.

"How about you?"

Miku took in a deep breath, and leaned back. "I'm...okay, I guess. Hibiki's mom forced me to take a bit of a break here and there, but I can't bring myself to."

"You want to be there in case she wakes up, I bet," Aoi said sadly. "Miku-chan, listen-"

"I'm not giving up," Miku said quickly. "I'm never going to. I'm not going to give permission to cut off her support. I'm going to take care of her until she gets better."

Aoi sighed over the phone, having heard these words many times in the past. "I really can't stop you, can I?"

"No, you can't. We're not part of S.O.N.G anymore either, so you can't force me either."

"Had no intention to," Aoi reassured her. "Just looking out for your wellbeing; both of yours. We'll help you for as long as you need our help; we won't give up on her either. This is what we promised Genjuro...and the girls as well."

Miku remembered that day. The day Aoi, who was sworn in as S.O.N.G's new commander, and how she vowed to keep the peace that the girls had sacrificed their lives to achieve. With Fudou out of the picture, the Kazanari household fell into the hands of his eldest son Yatsuhiro, who had quickly taken over its assets.

But that's where the Kazanari line would end. With Tsubasa dead, and the two remaining members having no spouses to make children with, the Kazanari bloodline was fated to end with Yatsuhiro and Genjuro.

Just like Tsubasa said it would.

That was their new reality. Tokyo was still destroyed, and so Miku had to finish her education here in Chiba. S.O.N.G's staff remained, now with Aoi as its new leader, and they were now looking at the prospect of new wielders to use the relics of the fallen in their stead. Miku chose to stay with the Tachibanas to take care of Hibiki, putting aside her own life plans in the process.

And that's how the years passed. Different yet the same as always, except Hibiki was not there to liven up the mood.

Their friends, who had been a constant source of warmth and comfort, were nothing more than memories now, with very few things left behind to remind Miku of them. Only their relics remained, and those would eventually be passed down to their successors, whenever they may come.

Miku originally planned to sever relations with S.O.N.G entirely, but their continuous help with maintaining Hibiki's health was a godsend in a lot of ways. As a result, she found herself talking with a few of the staff regularly, even though she herself was not a part of it anymore. S.O.N.G owed them a debt of gratitude, and so would forever work to assist them in all of their endeavors, whether they be financial or otherwise.

"I know," Miku said to her. "I'll talk to you again some other time. Have a good evening, Aoi-san."

"You too, Miku-chan. See you."

At that, the call ended, and Miku put down the phone beside her on the couch. She sighed again, bringing a hand up to rub her temple to clear away the small headache that had formed. She tilted her head and looked at Hibiki, still and silent as a statue like always. She reached out, taking one of Hibiki's hands and putting it between her own.

"Hibiki…"

She hoped. She hoped that somehow her voice would be able to reach her. Yet, just like always, there was no response from the chestnut haired girl. She was simply not there, as her mind was absent.

An empty shell of what she once was, created from the overwhelming grief and pain of a thousand realities that piled on top of her at once. Hibiki was a distorted individual, and so her ability to bear certain regrets and burdens was twisted as well. She was never one that dealt with loss well, and so this time it was simply too much.

"Miku-chan, the bath is ready," Harumi said, walking into the living room. At some point Akira had entered as well, but she didn't bother listening. Hibiki's grandmother was not at home at the moment, probably taking care of something in the city. "Do you need help to bring her up?"

Miku shook her head. "No, I'm okay," She answered, and stood up, walking behind the wheelchair and turning it around to head to the stairs. As part of S.O.N.G's help, they installed one of those modern devices that connected to the wall that made it easier to bring Hibiki to the upper floors, where there was another, smaller wheelchair they used.

Just like always, Miku lifted Hibiki from the chair and placed her in the seat. She had done this so many times by now that she figured she had developed some nice muscles. At this point, she was probably stronger than Hibiki right now.

Yet, she could find no joy in it. All she could do was wait and hope, and pray that Hibiki would one day return to her.

-!-

Later that night, Miku tucked herself in. She had placed Hibiki in the bed a bit earlier as she readied herself for sleep. They had taken a bath that was as a chore as always, and had eaten dinner together that was an odd occurrence. Seeing as Hibiki could not physically swallow, she was fed with either gruel, or was given nutrition intravenously. Knowing when she needed to go to the toilet was also a difficult affair, but by now they understood the signs, and made it easier for themselves by having a bathroom built on the lower floor.

After a hectic evening that she was used to, Miku was finally able to bring herself to bed, exhausted as always after a day like this. Hibiki laid down on her back next to her, her eyes slightly open as she breathed slowly, unmoving and unresponsive.

It was always like this, and she was used to it. The first few weeks into this new routine, Miku had cried herself to sleep every single night, begging Hibiki to wake up, and telling her how much she loved her. Her prayer fell on deaf ears every time, and by now she was simply willing to wait, as long as she needed, and would remain strong until that day.

The night was cold, but Hibiki was as warm as always. Miku snuggled up to her as much as she could, maintaining as much contact with her as possible. This was definitely not what she had in mind when she had imagined her life in the future, but she couldn't complain.

Complaining wouldn't fix Hibiki, restore Tokyo and Lydian, or bring back her dead friends.

As night fell and she became sleepy, Miku mumbled one last thing to her silent companion.

"Good night, Hibiki."

She gave her a small peck on the cheek, and then laid her head on her pillow.

She closed her eyes and drifted off, dreaming of better times.

That night, unbeknownst to her, a soft whimpering could be heard in the room. A single tear rolled down a thin cheek before it ended, falling silent once more.

THE END