Vol. 3

Ch.7

I'm Still Here With My Silent Voice

Alu wandered around the city, not too far, but well, she didn't really know where she planned to go. She had the phone she had been given in her pocket, but it felt more like a metal rock or something, reminding her that she did owe them for their hospitality. Well, that man more than anything. Alu didn't mind Elise. She had enjoyed spending time with her yesterday, and it oddly helped her clear her head.

Right, okay…I need to locate that boy, Ryou. Ranpo said he had been the one trying to catch me before… If I can remember where I found those thugs from the other day, I can possibly try to trace them at least to someone who may know something about how to get in touch…Alu turned down a particular street but she grimaced. She had actually no idea where she was. She remembered things based on visuals, but there were certain parts of this city that just looked like it was rinse and repeat—like most cities.

She at least wasn't hungry for once. She had eaten since before leaving and she actually felt satiated which was a nice change. Maybe that's why she was in a good mood? She looked at her phone, and realized she had actual data on it. "Oh…" she face palmed. "I could have been using a map app this whole time…" she felt like an idiot.

"So this is where you are," a bemused familiar man's voice said, chipper from behind her. Alu nearly dropped her phone. Head swiveling, her eyes widened.

Leaning casually against a light pole, sand-colored trench coat rustling in the late-morning chill, as suave faced as ever, smirking at her, hands in his pockets, was Dazai.

"Oh, it's you," Alu said, surprised.

"Hey, we haven't spoken in a while and that's the greeting I get? Geez, way to make a guy feel special," Dazai complained, pouting.

Alu raised her eyebrows. "Uh, what sort of reception did you expect?" She found herself asking, amused.

"Oh you know," Dazai hugged himself, raising his voice, "I missed you so much~" and he looked like he was over-dramatically embracing himself.

Alu's right eye twitched, comically. This guy was getting up there to Dr. Perv levels real quick. "You and this other guy I met really have a lot in common," she grimaced, rolling her eyes, shaking her head. "You know I'm not interested in you like that," she added.

Dazai pouted again. "What? My charms aren't working? You must be broken," he joked. "Just kidding, I know you're my little sister~"

Alu felt a small twist in her heart. "Oh…I was just kidding about that," she said, frowning at him. "I wanted to mess with that Kunikida guy…seemed funny at the time," she scratched her head, smiling smally, recalling that blonde. He was funny, that was for sure. Her smile faltered a little, as she felt depressed again about her current situation with the agency.

Dazai, who had been observing her face literally tell her entire story of what she was feeling inside for the last moment or so, just tilted his head, trotting over to her. "Well, it's a good joke but no reason it can't be true as well?" He said, cheerfully. He grinned at her. "I don't care about 'family' or whatever, but considering you're homeless and broke, I could do worse in terms of a little sister," he joked.

Alu's vein twitched. "I'm not happy about my situation!" She swatted at his arm, pouting. "And what do you mean, you could do worse?" She smacked his arm with a huff, rolling her eyes. "You're such a jerk."

Dazai just straight up laughed.

Alu watched him. He had a nice laugh. She felt like she could honestly just be herself around him. It was a nice feeling. And as flirtatious as he made himself out to be, she had a feeling he actually was a guy of boundaries. Hopefully. Well, nothing her fist couldn't fix if he wasn't, l.o.l…

"So what are you doing, wandering around?" Dazai asked, just smiling at her. Alu sensed an edge of aloof concern. Huh, was he worried about her? Or just nosing around? Well, it didn't matter either way to her. It was good to see him again, despite his annoying behavior. She had the faintest smile on her lips.

"Oh," Alu blinked with a huff, her smile being replaced with a frown as she reminded herself she was technically working. "I'm tryin' to gather information on Ryou, from before. There's more to him and whatever group he and Ms. Austen belongs to, that I'm trying to gather intel' on," She sighed again, deeply. She was going to do a lot of sighing as she explained, she could tell.

"What?" Dazai asked, amused. "It seems you're the type to overload yourself," he added.

"Thanks Dr. Pill, if I want your input, I'll ask for it," Alu growled, making a pun on being annoying and a doctor at the same time using the word "pill" which was a clever synonym for what he was being in this case which was annoying, turning her nose up. Her eyes flickered but she finished explaining, "…apparently he was the one who organized my capture. But I think there's more to it than that and although Ranpo thinks he's just out to use me, I don't actually think that is all there is to the story."

"Well, that's a plot twist," Dazai remarked, amused. He cleared his throat quickly, from the look Alu shot him. "I'm just sayin'," he chuckled. "You want to help everyone, but you need to balance your own tasks at hand too…"

"Well, that's great advice coming from you," Alu found herself snarkily replying. Oh no, not again. She was doing it again. She grimaced. Why did she have to bite off the heads of people who were nice to her?

"Ah, you mean because I'm someone who only helps myself?" Dazai asked cheerfully, unphased it appeared by her comment.

"No," Alu grimaced. "That's…not…I'm sorry…" she rubbed her face. Why was it so easy to apologize to this guy but so hard when it came to Ranpo? Ugh.

Dazai quieted. He patted her head. Alu looked at him, irritated. "Hey, could you maybe not pet me like some animal," she swatted his hand off her messed up hair.

He chuckled. "You know, you can talk to me," he said finally, smiling at her. "Something is clearly up with you."

Alu grimaced. "That obvious," she let her shoulders sag and she just put her phone back into her pocket.

"Of course, as your Aniki, it's my job to know everything that is going on with you, down to your bra size and the color of your—" Alu punched him in the side. Dazai went down comically, wheezing.

"You're such a pervy moron!" She fumed, face turning red. "Jeez! Do you just say the first thing you think and assume it's endearing?"

Dazai groaned, rubbing his side, and giggling. "Yeah, usually," he admitted, wheezing, but in a good mood despite her punch. She hadn't actually hit him hard. It was a weak punch—but he had noted that it was unsteady and her fist had been trembling. She was upset about something, and he was going to do his best to find out how to help. He was a master of interrogation after all. Not that he'd ever use those methods on this girl. Ah, but her punch was smarting in his side. Maybe she could help him with an interrogation sometime….

Alu just stomped away, leaving him to die, or better, perish. Dazai, comically hopped back up to his feet and trotted after her like a puppy. "Look, the truth is, I'm kind of doing this on my own so either you're gonna help me or you're going to just leave me alone," she said with a huff, slowing down at the railing. She stopped on a bridge overlooking the bay. The Fair grounds were in the complete opposite direction. This bridge had a nice view and for a moment, she just wanted to look at it, and not the annoying man following her.

"Okay, I'll help, I'll help," he said with a giggle, trotting after her. He paused where she stopped, and he quieted momentarily. She was staring out at the water, but her expression was sad. His eyes flickered. Toning down his more clownish behavior, he really did want to know what was up. He had been gone for a few days since the Armed Detective Agency and The Division of Unusual Powers had last encountered each other back in the factory.

He had been laying low, since he kinda did get caught up in all the commotion. Chief Taneda had told him to lay low for a few years and he'd already bungled that up in the first few days with the stuff he got involved with concerning this girl—not that he regretted it. After everything this girl had done—he felt like he just wasn't doing enough.

Still, he had been wandering around, keeping his head down, and then with a random stroke of luck, ran into her again today.

"Hey, Dazai?" Alu said, not looking at him. She folded her arms over the railing, and rested her chin in her arms, gazing out, forlornly.

"Mm?" Dazai gazed at her, leaning with his elbows against the rail, facing the opposite direction she was. But he did turn his head to look at her.

She was quiet. It was hard to know what she was thinking. Or even feeling since she seemed to be at war over something internally. "Nevermind," Alu sighed, straightening up.

That's right, Alu didn't want to drag this guy into anything dangerous. What was she thinking?

Dazai looked disappointed. He didn't know whether he should pry though.

Alu didn't pull out the phone. She still felt bad about kinda having one to begin with. She mostly just wanted to figure out how she was going to get that boy to reach out to her. She didn't know if she could ask Dazai for help. He may be nice to her, but she didn't know much about him or his past. And, it wasn't her business really to get involved with his own personal stuff. Odasaku too, she was debating on not telling him anything else since if Odasaku got wind—then that would mean so would the agency.

"Hey, whatever it is…you can just tell me," Dazai finally said, the suspense actually killing him internally. It was a rare internalized moment for the suicide aficionado to not want to actually die yet.

"I know I can," Alu said, subdued, and she just hid her face in her arms. "But, I don't even know what I'm doing and if I say that, you'll just laugh at me, right?"

Dazai quieted. He pursed his lips. It depended on the mood and tone of the situation. Of course, he'd tease her if the timing was right. But she sounded lost. And he knew that feeling too well, himself. "No, I won't," he said, with a sigh. "But, you know, you can't go tracking down that boy by yourself. Is there a reason you're not getting aid from Odasaku or the A.D.A.?"

Alu twitched. Dazai's oddly serious tone was comforting. So this immature guy was capable of reading the situation after all…she was grateful for that at least. She wanted to believe he was on her side, but she was afraid to get too just grit her teeth and she turned her head away from him. "I don't want to rely on them, that's all," she said, stiffly. I don't want to rely on you either…only to hurt you again by failing to meet your expectations.

Dazai was quiet. "May I ask, why?"

Alu was quiet before she finally spoke after what felt like was forever but had in fact had been a minute or so. "You recall…what happened don't you?"

Dazai's heart clenched. Even without her expounding he knew exactly what she was talking about. When Odasaku had taken a bullet, he yelled at Alu to fix it and then just walked away. He replayed that moment on repeat—and drinking heavily at bars hadn't helped it go to the recesses of his mind either. He still felt so damn guilty for that. "No words I can say will make up for how I treated you in that moment," he said, his voice oddly somber. "Even though I wish I had the right words to say…sometimes…there aren't any that exist at all."

Alu chuckled weakly. "I don't hold that against you," she said, and she weakly punched his arm again, playfully. "You don't have to apologize. You were reacting like a normal person."

Dazai grit his teeth. There was that smile again. She was so quick to forgive others for how they treated her, but she couldn't even seem to forgive herself for whatever she was suffering through. Dazai found that it really bothered him. He huffed, actually a little frustrated. "So, why'd you bring it up?" He found himself asking and he grimaced at the slight tense edge of his tone.

Alu caught it too, and she just kept smiling at him. To be honest, Alu hadn't thought too hard about her fight with Dazai. Weirdly, fights with him just felt normal? Or rather, that they would just come to pass. And besides, normal people would be upset if she didn't magically fix the situation at hand. Dazai didn't need to feel bad. That's how she felt, anyway. But the reason Alu brought it up had to do with Ranpo.

"The truth is, I got into a fight myself…with one of the agency members…" she confessed, looking at Dazai. "I said something really hurtful… and like you just pointed out, it's true. I don't have any words—more like I just can't find the right ones. I can't get what I said or how his face looked…after …when I made him cry…to stop replaying in my mind…"

Dazai pursed his lips wondering what she had said to make a grown man like Ranpo Edogawa cry. Huh, sounds like they just got into a fight like a couple of kids….

Alu looked away, her eyes a bit wet. She wiped her arm against her face, trying to quickly dry out any watery resistance. "It's really hard…for me to say 'sorry' but only when it's him and I don't know why…so yeah. We had a fight because I wanted to prove that there was more to Ryou than Ranpo apparently thinks there is," she sighed, resting her chin in her hand, looking at the water again. "I get he's a genius, but he really lacks tact sometimes," she complained.

Dazai let her talk, letting her get this off her chest. When she quieted again, he tilted his head at her, curious. "Is that all?" He asked, blinking.

Alu looked at him. "Yes?"

"Huh, thought there'd be more," he scratched his head.

Alu kicked him in the shin. "Sorry I didn't have a novel prepared," she grumped.

Dazai allowed the kicking, since well, he deserved it. This girl was oddly violent towards him. It would be cute if it didn't hurt so much. "I'm just surprised," he said, rubbing his poor shin. "You're saying you're doing this research on this kid all on your own because you and Ranpo had a disagreement?"

Alu shook her head. "It…wasn't exactly that. Not completely, anyways," she added.

"There's more?" Dazai tried not to sound comically amused. This girl really could be a normal kid sometimes, constantly worrying and stressing about little fights. Then again, she was someone who really did care about how she treated others.

"I insulted his family, Dazai," Alu said, and her voice trembled. "I asked him if he even knew how his parents meant to raise him…even though they had been dead since he was a kid… because I just wanted to be childish…I wanted to win the argument even if it meant bringing up something painful…I was being a brat…and because of that, I really…I had no right…to use his parents against him like that….and there are no words…to take back what I said in that moment…I would never use rewrite to cover up my own immature mistakes….that's not how I would use my own ability….so….so I am living with this, but it's hard….it's hard and I can't stop thinking about it."

Dazai jolted.

She had tears rolling down her face. When had those started!? Now he did feel like an ass.

"Hey, now, I'm sure you didn't mean to," he said, offering her his sleeve to wipe her eyes on. She wiped her own eyes though, shaking her head.

"No, I did mean to because I selfishly knew it would hurt," Alu said, sniffling. "I really hurt him, and I don't know what to do…I miss them…D-Dazai…. I miss the Armed Detective Agency…but I really hurt him…I hurt Ranpo…and I don't know…how to make it up to him," she held her face in her hands, letting the tears out now. Despite trying to create a carefully structured dam, she had failed to contain all the leaks of her guilt. "What should I do, Dazai? I hate feeling like this. I don't know why I have to pick a fight with the people that are trying to care about me. I'm afraid, Dazai. I'm afraid that if I get too close to anyone, I'll only fail to meet their expectations and be thrown away. I hate feeling anything at all. I hate it. I hate having emotions. I wish I could be cool and calculating like you. Maybe then it wouldn't hurt so much that it's hard to breathe. I keep telling myself that my emotions are what keep the darkness in myself back but I don't want to feel anymore—"

Dazai embraced her tightly, letting her face hide in his chest. His breath hitched in his throat. He couldn't stand having her talk about herself like that. Be like him? That wasn't even funny. That was really depressing, coming from her.

Alu let out a small noise of surprise, tensing. She wasn't used to hugs. But Dazai just hugged her. He was quiet and his demeanor was serious. He wasn't trying to pull anything. "It's okay…" he said softly. "you don't have to hold back when it's me." His voice was calm, but his chest just hurt, like a knife had been wrenched right through his heart.

Alu didn't know why, but that made her feel like it was actually okay to let it go.

She just finally broke down and cried like a little kid.

Everything she'd tried to bottle up just felt like it was rushing out now into Dazai's trench coat. But she couldn't stop it. She hated herself. She hated that she had to feel anything. She hated that she'd hurt Ranpo, hurt the agency. She hated that she was burdening Dazai with her weak self. She just clung to him, because his arms felt like they were safe. They weren't judging her. They weren't angry with her. She felt like she belonged there, oddly enough.

Dazai wasn't good with tears. Like, at all.

But he was used to women clinging to him and giving him their usual sob story about their cheating husbands or boyfriends or god knows what they would complain and cry about. But with this girl, it was the first time that Dazai didn't find the tears of a girl, grating and annoying. He had a feeling she had a tendency to bottle it all up inside and that this fight with the agency had been her breaking point. Maybe the fight did need to happen for her to know it was okay to cry but it wasn't Dazai's place to determine that. But she was relying on him—she was showing this vulnerable side of herself, and he wanted to protect that. Why was it that she seemed only able to cry when it had to do with how she felt she had hurt others? He wanted her to be able to be a little selfish. She deserved to be selfish.

She deserved to cry for herself for a change.

As someone who prefered to numb his feelings himself, why did it hurt to hear her talk that way about herself?

He hugged her, just letting her cry, wishing he had the right words to express this. But he didn't. So he just stayed helplessly silent. He let his body do the talking. He had no words to share. The fact she had opened up to him at all about her problems was honestly enough to make Dazai tear up a little. She was struggling with so much and he had nothing he could do about it. He grit his teeth. If it was Odasaku, he'd know what to say. Odasaku was a good man. A better man that Dazai even pretended to hope to be.

Some friend for her he was proving himself even capable of becoming.

~*~ —X—

Mori stood with Elise, staring down President Fukuzawa and his faithful little lap dog, with the detective hat. "If that's all," Mori said with a sneer, "I do have work to do."

Ranpo huffed. "President, there's nothing more to be said, let's go back."

President Fukuzawa grit his teeth. "I just want to know that she's okay," he said, pained.

Ranpo tapped his glasses to his own face, slipping them on. Opening his eyes fully, in seconds, he had analyzed Mori and Elise. When he was finished, he looked to Fukuzawa.

"She is," he said, and he had some relief in his voice as well. "It would appear that she spent the night with them and mostly spent that time with his ability, not him."

Fukuzawa let out what he felt was a large balloon of pent up oxygen. "Oh, it could be worse," he agreed.

"Could be worse?" Elise growled. "Ooh, I can't stand the way you talk like I'm not even here!" She stamped her foot, glaring at Fukuzawa and Ranpo. "You think you're better than me!"

Ranpo glanced at her. "Well, yes." He was so frank that Mori twitched.

"Don't speak to my precious Elise-Chan like that," he said, actually angry.

Fukuzawa scoffed. "Your disgusting ability doesn't have feelings, stop pretending," he glared at Mori. "Instead of worrying about it, why don't you actually consider the feelings of the real children in your clutches that you constantly manipulate." His disdain was thick.

"We won't give her to you," Elise said with a snarl, her eyes glinting. She was angry. Mori was frustrated too, but he realized she was going a bit rogue. He was bewildered. She genuinely felt possessive—and not his kind of possessive. He couldn't explain it. It was like Elise had actually taken a liking to that girl. A possessive liking of wanting her attention more and not wanting to have to share her with anyone. Oh dear, Elise really was childish sometimes. Mori found that to be absolutely precious. Oh yes, that girl would make so many different moods for his darling Elise far more interesting to observe.

However, Fukuzawa just put a hand on his sword's hilt. "Oh? So you would like me to cut you down? Is that your answer, Mori?" His cold tone made it clear he had no qualms and wouldn't hesitate. Ranpo just took a step back, wordlessly.

Mori sighed, with exasperation. As much as he loved a good duel, he didn't want to pick a fight right here. Besides, what if his darling Elise's dress got all dirty? "No, I'll pass. I don't want my darling Elise-chan's dress to get wrinkled," he said, waving a hand dismissively. Mori and the others heard the sounds of guns being cocked. Oh right, Mori did have bodyguards, how could they forget? About ten of them had now circled Fukuzawa and Ranpo. Mori however held up his gloved hand, "there will be no need, stand down," he said sharply.

Fukuzawa protectively stood near Ranpo. He would take all of the bullets before he let Ranpo even get a scratch.

The guards stood down, and Mori gestured for them to retreat to the building.

Elise continued to grit her teeth though. She was frustrated. But it wasn't actually because of the way they were treating her. She was used to this, but she couldn't even do anything to help Alu feel better! She was used to how everyone normally treated her. But what she couldn't stand, is that Alu was different. Alu didn't treat her like that. And yet, while that peculiar girl was trying so hard to make Elise feel better about herself, Elise found she couldn't do anything to turn the tables and do the same for her!

Elise was frustrated. She teared up, breathing hard, and gripping her dress in her fists, she just yelled at Ranpo. "Hey, stupid Detective Four-Eyes!"

Ranpo blinked, taking off his glasses and placing them in his pocket. "Let's go," he said to Fukuzawa, completely ignoring Elise.

Mori looked at his darling girl. She was having a breakdown. He honestly considered having her shut down for a bit to regroup. He actually really didn't want a shootout in front of his building. As amusing as it would be to scatter their remains, he knew this wasn't the time or the place. "Elise-Chan, perhaps we should go inside…why don't you calm down, my dear," he simpered.

"No!" Elise yelled, making fists by her side. "Not until that stupid Detective Four-Eyes listens to what I have to say!"

Fukuzawa and Ranpo had already started to walk away.

Elise grit her teeth.

She was tired of having what she wanted to say fall on deaf ears, whether it was by Rintaro or anyone else in this damn messed up world. Alu had told her that it was okay for her to have a voice too. It was okay…. Elise teared up, her face red from being so upset.

Mori's eyes flickered. His ability was having an emotional melt down and he could feel it. He could feel that she felt guilty that she couldn't do more for that girl. "We'll make her feel better," he tried to say but Elise shook her head.

"We don't even know what is wrong and she won't trust us to say just yet!" She said. She was in pain. "I just want to know what's wrong so we can fix it!"

She ran towards Ranpo.

Mori let out a noise of shock. "Elise-Chan! Stop!" He had to shut her down—but for some reason—he couldn't? She was so determined that it was overriding his command? Why? He didn't know. There was only one possible plausible explanation for why he couldn't reign in his ability at this moment.

Was this something he subconsciously felt he wanted to do as well?

Elise reached for Ranpo's shirt and Fukuzawa's eyes glinted like a hunter. He brought out his blade, striking Elise, squarely, shoving Ranpo out of the way. Ranpo yelped, falling back, as Fukuzawa sliced Elise's arm clean off. Instead of bleeding, it merely faded in blue light, leaving her with just a stump that glowed blue where the sword had sliced through. "Listen to me!" she yelled.

Ranpo's eyes flashed. Before President Fukuzawa could deliver one more blow, Ranpo held out his arms, blocking her from Fukuzawa's view. Fukuzawa's eyes flashed and he quickly swung his blade to narrowly avoid turning Ranpo into a paper confection decoration. "President! Wait!" He said sharply.

"Ranpo—she attacked you!" Fukuzawa said, on edge.

"It's okay," Ranpo said, and he smiled at Fukuzawa. "I trust you to get my back," he turned around, showing his back to Fukuzawa now, to face Mori's ability. "Speak," he said, eyes on her, though he seemed disinterested.

Elise grit her teeth, and she stumbled to her feet. "I can't help her! But you can!"

"Help her? With what?" Ranpo asked, frowning. He hadn't deduced that Alu was in any sort of trouble. There was no way he missed something.

"Help her to be happy again!" Elise said, tears forming in her eyes.

Fukuzawa glanced at Ranpo. He had no idea what was going on with Mori's ability but it was wigging him the hell out. He'd always been creeped out by this ability of Mori's to look like a normal child but knowing it really wasn't. Elise was a physical form of Mori's desire for little girls. This gross attraction exuding from her must be an extension of Mori's. Fukuzawa shuddered. Mori's preferences couldn't have changed due to meeting Alu, or could they have? That was very disturbing. Fukuzawa was going to neuter this man.

"I thought you didn't want to give her up to us," Ranpo said, tilting his head.

"I won't!" She stamped her foot, "but, you're a detective! It's your job to find out what's wrong right? She said she hurt someone yesterday—that she really cares about—so I want you to find that person! so that she can make up with them!"

Fukuzawa's eyes flickered. Ranpo was quiet as well. They both realized that Alu really was beating herself up over the fight yesterday even if she hadn't gone into detail with Elise and Mori.

"What makes you think I'll do it just because you asked me to?" Ranpo asked, pompously, tilting his head at Elise.

"I don't want to see her cry anymore!" Elise said, glaring at them.

"Why do you even care?" Ranpo found himself puzzled, genuinely curious.

Elise sniffled. "Because," Elise thought to how Alu smiled at her, talked to her, teased her—-it had only been for a day but she had given Elise something that no one else—not even Mori had ever given her. She felt like as long as she stuck close to that girl, she could actually feel something.

Something warm, like the sun.

She had wanted to be Elise's friend. Not Rintaro's. She didn't look at Elise and see something disgusting. She was too good of a person or maybe she was just really stupid. Still. Despite that, she made it so that Elise's voice for once, had been heard. Before that, Elise knew she had just been a silent voice.

For Elise, Alu was now something important to treasure. Was this what having a real friend was supposed to feel like? She grit her teeth, looking at Ranpo with her blue eyes full of tears. "Because she's my friend!"

Mori felt it again, right there, in his chest. A pain that was foreign and oddly familiar to him. What was this sensation? It hurt. He stepped back, clutching his chest. Was it because of Fukuzawa's ability activating when he cut Elise, "All Men Are Created Equal"? With that ability Fukuzawa had the power to limit other peoples' abilities by rendering them either useless or lowering their offensive advantage to something literally more 'equal' to the strength of their opponent. In Mori's case, Fukuzawa could take his ability and by cutting it down, render Mori with just his own strength. Some of his men ran over, worried about him but he waved them away. "It's fine, it's fine!" He panted. He couldn't show weakness. Whatever Elise was feeling, it was hitting Mori hard. But he grit his teeth, and he quickly moved to where Elise was. "Stay back!" He commanded his men.

Ranpo's expression was poker-faced. However he turned around on his heel. "Let's go president." He started to walk away. Fukuzawa, cutely followed, like the good overprotective father figure he was. It could be perceived as amusing to see a man of his age taking commands from someone much younger than him.

Elise panted hard as Mori rushed to her side, growling. He was going to make that damn Fukuzawa pay for hurting his precious Elise! "Elise-Chan! Are you alright?" He fretted over her but Elise just grew her arm back, though her dress was ruined now, missing a sleeve.

Elise shook, but she took a shaky breath, and she actually smiled at Mori. She looked emotionally drained, her eyes red from crying, and yet, her smile looked satisfied.

"Yes…Rintaro…I think I did it…" she said, weakly, leaning against Mori as he picked her up.

"Did what, my dear?" Mori asked, bewildered.

Elise smiled and it was the most genuine happy smile that Mori had ever seen her make. It wasn't his doing. He knew there was only one person that had managed this change in his own ability. This honestly made Mori a little weary. That girl was proving far more formidable than even he had anticipated. It was like her very presence was enough to change peoples' hearts—even though there were people that didn't have hearts to begin with.

Ranpo walked side by side with the president, but his expression was determined and firm.

Elise spoke, finally fading against Rintaro, to rest and recharge properly. "For the first time…I made my voice heard…"