Interlude: Much in common - Because you were so nice to me!

OST Played: Cavern of Remembrance

During the two hours of rest for Tsukasa and Kei before planning to return to Otonokizaka, Alito stood upon the Valkyrie's plane balcony while viewing the windy skies with a soft smile upon her face.

"Didn't I tell you that you have what it takes?"

"You're still a good person, I believe in you!"

"You proved to me that humans are capable of using their own heart to manifest their powers; it's the user that corrupts, and not the power in the end of the day."

"We knew that you will make a decision to serve the people whom you believed in, whom you loved, whom you have treasured, and even the innocents living through the Earth, so that's why we decided to put our heads together and show you how much we care for you too!"

"We're behind you, Guardian!"

"You are better than you think you are; you have helped us, now we shall help you! YOU ARE NEVER ALONE, ALITO!"

"You are still a good person...Alito Gnade...on behalf of all the souls you have let free...we thank you!"

"Still thinking about how surreal your redemption is?"

Alito heard a familiar clarity upon the caller, turned around, and saw Jeanne walking towards her, wearing a smile upon her face.

"Miss Jeanne!" Alito replied in surprise.

"Was wondering where you're at since it's almost time for you to bring them back to Otonokizaka; looking upon the skies for reflection, I suppose?"

Alito smiled softly in return as she nodded and turned around; her delicate hands softly caressing the rails.

"Two things...in fact." Alito nodded softly. "One in being a relief that Tsukasa and Kei are back after a year of me assuming that their disappearance might just be a mystery forever..."

"Tell me about that relief part – you bet I was just as relieved when I found out that Cereza was still alive – although she had her memories lost at that point." Jeanne simpered. "But what about the second thing?"

Alito gave a small smile as she gave a small nod.

"It's just...surreal; I was thinking about how lucky I am..." Alito simpered. "Lucky to meet a lot of friends who really care for me...that I only didn't recognise them because of my guilt only makes me angry and hateful to myself, but now...now it serves as a lesson in the past that I will learn and accept it within..."

She continued, "And even if I will have to lose people whom I loved in the future – be it by natural means or whatnot – I will always tell myself that I would have the strength to accept the pain, cope with it, and know that there would be people, no matter where they are, who cares for me!"

"I hate to say 'I told you so', but I would mostly make it an exception in your case!" Jeanne chuckled.

Athena Alito blushed softly as she faced Jeanne; her soft blue eyes glanced upon the future Umbran Queen and smiled shyly.

"And secondly...no matter what...there is a spark whom I need to thank; the spark who makes me think back on all the good memories; make me realise that I'm not alone, and one who makes me understand that I could have been a lot more worse." Alito nodded.

Jeanne laughed in amusement.

"Let me guess...me?" the white hair witch wondered.

Alito's eyes widened upon realising Jeanne's brilliant deduction, but sighed softly and nodded gently as she gave a smile.

Not the cutesy smile, no.

It was a smile of a woman.

"In the end of the day, you free me; become my spark to which I can earn my redemption...I know you're probably going to say that my efforts are what brought me here – that my courage to accept my mistakes caused my awakening and my redemption - and even the reclamation of friendship with the ones whom I believe in, but...but something has to spark that determination." Alito nodded as she gazed upon Jeanne's eyes. "You."

The Maiden of Wind, however, gasped as soon as Jeanne placed a finger upon the former's lips while wearing a amusing smile upon her face.

"Now, now...I know what you really mean." Jeanne winked.

Alito smiled and sighed softly as she shook her head.

Jeanne nodded softly and smiled; she could – after all – empathize why Alito felt that way, no matter how huge those emotions were.

"I know that you and her are close..." Alito continued. "And yet I figured that I need to address how I'm feeling...because you were nice to me."

"You have other friends...why me?" Jeanne wondered in amusement.

"You are able to spare me, allow me to understand that I'm not irredeemable or as bad as I thought myself out to be ; you basically encouraged me to find 'my true self'." Alito shook her head softly. "And like you said back in the hospital, we have a lot in common..."

Alito sighed once more, "Is it wrong for me to think like this?"

Jeanne smiled calmly as she placed her left arm on Alito's right and patted it softly.

"Can't really blame you for that. It's not wrong for you to feel that way; like how a cousin's sweet personality can captivate her nephew after all. You must have thought that me saving you from Chris's wrath after she abandoned you back in the first Battle of Otonokizaka is a huge sign of kindness from me...eh?" Jeanne chuckled. "That, and how you think that I'm the one who inspired your redemption to begin with."

"Think?" Alito wondered, puzzled at why . "But..."

"Alito." Jeanne replied calmly. "For as much advice that I can give, as much statements of encouragement I can implore upon you or whathaveyou, it matters fuck all if there's someone who failed to stand and make things happen!"

"But...without your encouragement...would that even happen?" Alito questioned.

"Hmm..." Jeanne mused on for a moment. "But neither will it matter if you don't have the initiative – the fire – to set it right! Remember, you called Chris out upon her injustice upon realising how Cereza and I are able to take alternatives when dealing with our sorrows after the Great Witch War 500 years ago; I knew that you weren't completely nuts – you were just misguided. Think, would any of this happen if you are just as unrepentant as Chris was?"

Alito mused on for a moment before coming to an epiphany with a gentle smile on her face.

"Maybe it's a cycle." Alito nodded.

"Cycle?" Jeanne wondered.

"A cycle of kindness – without your inspiration, I wouldn't have the spark – the courage needed - to stand up for my own morals. Through my determination, I redeemed myself, but those might not be possible without your intervention - it's like a paradox." Alito chuckled softly.

"A chicken and egg question, eh? Which is more important, your determination to get things done and execute it properly, or my advice that sends you to your calling?" Jeanne grinned.

"I guess in the end...both are equally as important as one another, don't you agree?" Alito simpered.

"Now that's a conclusion we can be satisfied with!" Jeanne chuckled.

Alito simpered as she looked back at the grey-filled skies with spots of sunlight slowly parting some fluffy clouds languidly.

"Yeah..." Athena Alito simpered, looking pleased with herself. "But...no matter what..."

Athena Alito then turned to face Jeanne while clasping her hands close to her diamond necklace upon her chest, sparkling with gratitude.

"I...feel that should say something, less I never get a chance to say it once the journey is over!"

"I say, fuck your fears – just admit your feelings, yeah?" Jeanne chuckled.

Alito chuckled wistfully, flail her hair sensually as the wind caressed the strands like a soft cushion upon a child's face, and gave a womanly smile once more.

"Remember...be honest with yourself..."

"Jeanne." Athena Alito took a deep breath.

Jeanne nodded in response.

This was it.

"Quia...amo te" ('I like you' in Latin)

Silence.

It would seem like only a minute had passed, but Alito could swear – internally – that time had stood still the moment she confessed her feelings.

After all...this was the Umbran Witch who helped her gained redemption; one who – if circumstances be taken into consideration – had been on the same boat as Alito herself!

Jeanne working with Loptr-Balder – albeit having no choice in that he was the only one capable of luring Bayonetta out from whatever hidey hole she might be since an angel-slaying gone wrong had both Umbran Witches separated for over centuries on end.

Alito working with Chris because of the former's assumption that she had failed the Fuschias – the family whom had ben providing her with the warmth of a second family, no less – after Chris broke down mentally since Muse's departure.

"I got to hand it to you, being able to be direct and honest with yourself showed that you have taken a step in the right direction, Alito." Jeanne replied with a smile. "And I see you as a great fighting partner, after all, we had a lot in common."

Alito nodded softly; she was waiting for 'that word'.

"But..."

There it was - 'that word'.

"But I'm already close to another person already, you know what I mean, yeah?" Jeanne nodded.

"So...I have to refuse."

Alito's heart – even if it was just for a moment – sank; a small sigh escaped from her mouth as she nodded softly.

"Yeah..." Alito nodded. "We all know who that was, aie?"

Alito gazed upon the skies once more, felt the gentle breeze caressed her hair and skin, and soon found herself...smiling.

Despite that sinking feeling, Alito soon realised that the hurt...was not that deep after all.

It was strange...yes, but she could not deny it – it was how she felt, after all.

"Strange though..." Alito chuckled softly. "That feeling of rejection...wasn't as deep as I expected it to be; I just felt...relieved."

"You already know about my close relationship with Cereza beforehand; you just wanted to acknowledge your feelings – be honest with yourself – instead of running away, no matter the outcome." Jeanne replied calmly. "That might be why."

"Yeah...it must be that. From how the both of you are together since the days of yore; how you're loyal to her – to the Umbran Ways – how you even attempted to rescue her before she became the Left Eye for Jubelieus, and even how you would risk taking the blow from Gomorrah after a demon summoning gone wrong...the conclusion was a foregone one, that I admit." Athena Alito simpered wistfully; knowing well aware that Jeanne would reject her. "Still, admitting those feelings just makes me feel better...at least I got it out of my system, you know?"

"And that it's not the end of the world just because of a single rejection!" Jeanne chuckled. "Sides, we're always ready for another round of beating angels when the sun don't shine!"

"Besides, it's refreshing after seeing loads and loads of people flubbed up their feelings of confessions, stupidly misinterpreting confessions as a form of rejection, or just plain refusing to admit their own strong feelings that they felt because...reasons. I guess?" Jeanne shrugged and chuckled once more. "Then again, maybe I've been travelled to much into worlds where the main person just becomes as dense as a slice of fruitcake been squashed by my bike!"

Alito chuckled softly, "Maybe that's what happened when you have travelled too much, sometimes, weird stuff can happen beyond our comprehension."

"Still doesn't excuse their stupidity at times when their feelings are just right in front of them." Jeanne grinned.

She then nodded calmly and gave a small smile of confidence.

"But still, it's great to see you stand and take charge of your own feelings now." Jeanne continued. "I usually said 'Stand, so you shall fall' to my enemies as a subversion...but to you, I say - like I said to Cereza - 'Stand, so you shall rise and face your fears!'."

"So we're still..." Alito wondered.

"That's right – friends." Jeanne grinned as she extended her right hand. "Here's to us; I – on behalf of the Umbra – to you – on behalf of Humanity!" .

Alito simpered; a wave of relief and warmth awash over her despite the earlier rejection.

A sense of relief, in fact.

Like a floodgate opened, Alito realised that Jeanne might inspired her in the 'Redemption' part, but what she was doing now...

Expressing her feelings of gratitude and affection towards Jeanne, was of her own accord.

She was – after all – in charge of her own feelings.

A feeling that she was...

Alive.

As Kei, Tsukasa, and Alito were about to depart back towards Otonkizaka by virtue of Alito using her Athena Mode's light orbs to encase and carry them, Tsukasa took a glance upon Athena Alito just in time to see a rather warm...yet genuinely natural occurrence.

A natural, and surprisingly genuine...smile.

A smile that was just as bright as the bright aura she gave off during battle.

Flashback

"Jeanne...she inspired you, yeah?"

"Mmhmm..." Athena Alito simpered, blushing lightly upon the mention of the Umbran Queen-to be.

"Still, doesn't hurt to try, right? Besides, if you know you're gonna be rejected, what's stopping you, aie?"

"Kei..."

"Go, Alito, go! We believe in you!"

Alito mused on for a moment, simpered, and nodded as she flashed a bright smile.

Flashback end

"Alito?"

"Yes, Tsukasa?" Alito wondered.

"I know it's overdue, but..."

Both Tsukasa and Kei nodded towards each other and held Athena Alito's hands on both sides; their warm smiles upon their face brought forth tingles of happiness across their hearts.

"It's good to have you back, Alito-sempai!"

Such is the cycle of kindness...

No matter how tough the world becomes in the future, it's all a matter of perspective.

For as much cruelty there will be in this world ruled by 'Reality', there will be fragments of kindness shown by people worldwide.

For as much as there are people who are self-radicalised, there will be allies from places – be it high and low – who would unite against their enemies; inspire one another, and still believe in the good of Man.

The world is not beautiful, yes, but that – ironically – made it all the more so.

No matter how many times it might bear repeating...for that is the mantra of life.

Always...

Next episode: The Winds of Time!