*Moments ago…*
Mashù sprinted through the shattered front doors, lungs burning. *I have to find the intercom. Everyone needs to know what's happening.*
The hallway beyond was barely recognizable — ceiling tiles hanging by threads, lockers torn open like cans. "If I remember right, it's down this way…" He slowed, taking in the wreckage properly for the first time. "Woah. This place is a wreck."
"Hey, Mashù." A familiar voice, rough with pain, called out from a side room. "Glad to see you're alright."
"Mr. G—" Mashù's stomach dropped at the sight of him, slumped against an overturned desk, one arm wrapped tight against his ribs. "What *happened?* You're badly wounded."
"Don't worry about me." Rafaeru waved him off, wincing. "Just help me get S.E.I.D back up and running."
"Okay."
"Hand me that tool over there."
Mashù grabbed it from the toolbox at his feet. "This one?"
"Yup." Rafaeru took it with a grunt, working at an exposed panel. "Okay — and that should—" A spark hissed up from the wiring. "Oh, no."
"What's wrong?"
"The A.S.P.C. is fried."
"What is that?"
"Artificial Spirit Power Conductor." Rafaeru rubbed his temple. "It's what powers S.E.I.D."
"Is there a — backup generator?"
"No dice." Rafaeru let out a breath that turned into a wince halfway through. "We'll have to power it with our own energy. Ahh… maybe I was wounded worse than I thought."
"I'll power it." Mashù was already rolling up his sleeves. "You sit and rest. What do I do?"
"Grab the green and blue cables—" Rafaeru hissed through his teeth. "Channel energy into them."
"Is this safe?" Mashù eyed the cables warily. "Will it explode?"
"Nah....It Shouldn't."
"*Shouldn't?*"
"I'm sixty-eight percent sure you'll be fine."
Mashù exhaled. "Okay. Sixty-eight is still a passing grade. I'll trust you on this." He gripped the cables, bracing himself.
"Good. Now channel a little more."
"Gotcha. **Haaaaa!!**"
"Good — now activating S.E.I.D—" Rafaeru's voice caught. "...What happened?"
*Boom.*
"Damn it." Rafaeru's shoulders sagged. "It didn't work."
A small, tinny voice crackled up from somewhere near the floor. "What didn't work?"
Rafaeru's head whipped toward the monitor. "S.E.I.D!!! It's so good to hear from you again—" He blinked. "Huh."
"I'm down here," the voice corrected.
A small mechanical unit, no bigger than a dinner plate, rolled out from beneath an overturned shelf.
"Oh." Rafaeru's mouth twitched into a smile despite everything. "How cute. At least you're back, buddy."
"Good to be back," S.E.I.D chirped. "And mobile."
"Yeah, nice and all," Mashù cut in, "but can you access the speakers and intercom?"
"Easy." A series of beeps and boops followed. "Okay, I'm in. Speak your message into my head mic."
Mashù took a steadying breath. "Okay. Ahem — **south guardians**—"
---
Far across the wreckage, the announcement crackled through a dozen broken speakers at once.
*"Is that Mashù?"*
Jeremi's head snapped up mid-motion. "*Shit—* **SHADOW STEP!!**"
"Hey—" I called after him, already too late. "Where are you going?"
Mashù's voice continued, steady despite everything. *"We've been attacked by the DSG, and they're after Aado's spirit. For lord knows what reason. We need everyone who can still fight to go help him."*
"Oh, no." Romaji's head turned toward Kamira, half his earlier guilt swallowed by new urgency. "Kam — we have to go help save Aado."
"I'm okay." Kamira was already moving, one hand pressed lightly over her ruined eye. "Let's go."
"Hold on use this rag as a eye patch." mashup said.
Elsewhere, Yoku nudged a half-conscious heap with his boot. "Huh. Shinkei, get up. No rest for the weary."
"*Ouch—*" Shinkei groaned, every muscle protesting at once. "My *everything* hurts."
"I'll stay here," Diane said, already moving toward the scattered civilians. "Make sure people get out safely."
"Thank you for your help, Diane." Yoku managed a tired nod.
"No problem. You two get going. Go save Mr. Aado."
"Yeah." Shinkei forced himself upright. "We will."
---
*Ms. Sutarion — can you handle it from here?*
"Yeah." Migan's voice was steady, though her eyes hadn't left the horizon. "But Anjero — be careful. I can sense Aado's energy fading. Fast. I don't know who he's fighting, but whoever it is might be stronger than anything we've seen."
"I'll try."
"*Anjero!!*" Nanshi's voice cut through, breathless.
"Yeah?"
"I — I apparently have the ability to resurrect someone. If they died in the last hour."
My heart nearly stopped. "That's *great.* Do it!"
"The only problem—" Her face fell. "I can only use it once a year. And I'll be asleep for days after. That's what my spirit told me."
"...Damn it." I let out a long breath. "Well — it's your choice, then. You decide who comes back. I'll see you later, okay?" I glanced at Migan. "Watch after her."
"I will." Migan crouched beside the girl as I left. "Nanshi. It's your choice now."
"I know." Nanshi rose unsteadily to her feet, jaw set with a resolve well beyond her years. "I'm going to bring your sister back."
Tekai's head snapped up. "No." Her voice cracked. "Bring Suna back. He wouldn't be dead if it weren't for us."
"...Are you sure?"
"Just—" Tekai's hands curled into fists. "Leave me alone for a while."
"Okay." Nanshi closed her eyes, drawing in a breath that seemed too large for her small frame. "I hope this works. **LIFE GARDEN!!**"
"My goodness." Migan's voice was hushed with awe. "These Original Seven are something else entirely."
"Come on, Mr. Suna." Nanshi's hands trembled over the still form. "Come back to us."
Light bloomed outward from her palms, and flowers — real, impossible flowers — unfurled across the broken ground in a wave of color. Suna's body lifted slightly, wreathed in a soft rainbow glow, like sunlight caught in mist after rain.
Tekai watched, frozen, not fully understanding what was happening until it already was.
"...I'm sorry, Ichiji," she whispered.
A voice answered from somewhere far closer than it should have been. *It's okay, Tekai.*
Tekai's whole body went rigid. "*Ichiji?!* Where are you?"
*I'm in your head now.* The voice was gentle, achingly familiar. *Before you say anything else — I just wanted to thank you. For always being an older sister to me. Even though we're twins, I always needed your guidance. For everything.*
"Ichiji, please—" Tekai's voice broke completely. "Come back to me. I need you."
*No, you don't.* Something like warmth threaded through the words. *You'll be fine without me. And I'll always be here — in your conscience, steering you the right way.*
"B-but—" Tekai's breath hitched. "You were my only family."
*Now get up. Go on.* A faint, teasing laugh. *Oh — and make sure you marry Mashù. For the both of us, while you're at it.* The laughter softened into something quieter, more final. *I'll see you around. I love you.*
"I love you too, Ichiji."
Suna's eyes snapped open with a violent cough. "Cough — cough — I'm back alive. But how?"
"This little girl brought you back," Migan said softly.
Suna turned, staring at Nanshi like she'd hung the moon herself. "Nanshi. I am forever in your debt."
"Oh, please." Nanshi waved a small hand. "It's okay."
"No, child. I will become your personal servant for the rest of my life."
"*Eep—*" Nanshi shrank back. "Help me, Ms. Migan, he's being creepy."
"Suna, stop being weird." Migan sighed. "She understands your gratitude already."
"If you say so." Suna bowed low regardless. "M'lady — if you ever need me, simply call on me."
Off to one side, still frozen mid-lunge from the earlier fight, Space's muffled voice broke through the moment. "Did *everyone* forget about me?!"
"**TIME STOP!!**" Tekai's hand snapped up, and the air around Space crystallized instantly.
"Whoa." Migan blinked. "He's frozen mid-air."
"Which way did Anjero go?" Tekai's voice had gone cold, purposeful.
"Towards the school's HQ tower."
"Thanks." Tekai was already moving. "I'm coming for you."
"Why would you tell her where he's going?" Nanshi asked, alarmed.
Migan's expression didn't change. "If you hadn't noticed — she's changed sides."
---
*Two minutes later…*
*Gotta hurry there.*
"You're taking too long." Tekai's voice cut sharp through the rubble behind me. "Lead me to the tower."
I slowed despite myself. "Tekai? Are you okay?"
"Shut up. I'm only helping because I want revenge on my sister. That's all."
"...I'm sorry. About Ichi—"
"*Please.*" Her voice cracked like glass underfoot. "Don't speak her name."
"Okay." I pointed ahead, where the tower's shattered silhouette finally came into view. "It's up there."
*BOOM!!*
The whole structure shuddered, a fresh column of smoke and debris erupting from its upper floors.
"Whoa—" I broke into a run. "Crap. We gotta go. *Now.*"