Over the course of the night, Manami helped the others extinguish the fires, and she herself went down to the slums to present her pocket watch to assure the civilians that the military was on the scene and that they were safe.
It seemed to be enough, because the villagers became hospitable and offered her anything she needed. She accepted some food to bring back to the others and went to a merchant to buy some fabrics. After that, she climbed back up to the top of the hill, where Ed and the others were conjuring up a plan for the Promised Day.
Manami let them know that she was stepping away to take a bath, and she walked away to find a pond nearby. She proceeded to strip and wash her jeans while soaking in the water, scrubbing the grime and blood off of her body while her pants dried. After she finished bathing, Manami used alchemy to extract the dye out of her wet hair. She then transmuted the fabrics she purchased into her familiar clothing— a blue tank top and black jacket that hemmed off at the rib cage.
On her way back, she stopped by the dome to stare up at it for a few moments. When she turned to walk away, she noticed something on the ground. It was one of her fans, particularly the one that Pride broke. It laid there, splintered into two separate pieces.
Manami managed to fix it with alchemy before returning to where everyone else was gathered around a fire, not too far from the dome. There were more people here now… and her eyes widened at the sight of Doctor Marcoh, the other two chimera men from Briggs, and Scar.
"You guys are here, too?" She asked, making herself known and everyone looked over to her.
"No more disguise?" Ed was the one to ask.
"I figured it'd be best to be myself on such an important day." Manami shrugged, before her eyes fell on Heinkel.
He was really banged up… his whole arm was in bandages, in a makeshift sling.
"... Mr. Heinkel, do you still have your lenses?" She asked quietly, holding up the frames she had borrowed for all this time.
"..." Heinkel let out a grunt that sounded like a chuckle as he reached in his pocket with his free hand. "At a time like this?"
"I said I'd return them. I like to keep my word." Manami smiled softly as she popped out the fake glass lenses she had been using, and then used alchemy to put the original lenses back in.
"Good as new." She went to hand the spectacles back to him.
"Thanks…"
"I must be going." Fu spoke, going to bow his head. "There's a lot to be done."
"He's going to Central, to check things out." Ed explained to Manami as Fu walked off. "He's the only one who can keep tabs on things and not be recognized."
"Smart." Manami nodded in approval and crossed her arms. "But… what are we doing?"
After Ed filled Manami in on the plan, everyone split up to try to get some rest...
But Manami couldn't sleep at all. She eventually gave up and instead went to sit by the fire, staring at it as millions of thoughts rushed through her mind.
Though one thought kept coming up, and as time went on, it only made her more anxious.
"You should be sleeping." She heard a grunt behind her, and she looked over to see Ed plop down beside her.
"Yeah, you too." She mumbled, going to look back at the fire.
"Fair." Ed sighed through his nose. "... you okay?"
"I don't know." That was the most honest of an answer Manami could come up with. "I was expecting this to go down differently, I guess."
"Me too." Ed nodded in agreement.
They grew quiet, staring at the fire in silence for a few more moments.
"... hey…" Ed spoke up. "... I've been meaning to talk to you about something for a while, but… I don't know, I never found a good time…"
Manami lifted her gaze from the fire to look over at him.
"It's kind of hard to believe… it hasn't even been a year since you came back." He said to her.
"..." Manami folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them as she did the math in her head. "... seven months."
"Geez… it feels like it's been a lifetime." Ed admitted with a weak chuckle.
"Yeah… a lot's happened." Manami chuckled as well.
"... I wanted to ask you…" Ed's face became serious. "What do you plan to do? When it's all over?"
Manami's lips pursed when she understood where he was going with this.
"... I wanted to go home." She answered quietly.
"..." Ed smiled softly to himself, then looked up to the sky. "I was hoping you'd say that."
"..?" Manami looked over to him again.
"I've had a lot of time to think on things…" Ed said, keeping his eyes upward. "And I've decided that I forgive you."
Manami's eyes went wide.
"I've been meaning to tell you for a while…" Ed lowered his head to look back at the fire. "Really, I should've told you the night before we got to Resembool. But…"
Manami let out a weak chuckle. "You're not the best at talking about feelings and emotions?"
Ed waved his hand dismissively.
"Anyway… I know Al and Winry want you to come home, too."
"..." Manami turned her head to look back at the fire. "Well, it seems like we're all on the same page."
"Then it's settled." Ed declared. "When this is over, you'll come home with Al and I."
Manami smiled softly to herself.
"Sounds like a plan."
The sun rose and the Promised Day was here. Everyone was making their last minute preparations before Lan Fan saw smoke rising in the distant city.
"There's smoke rising." Lan Fan announced, and everyone looked up to her. "And I'm pretty sure I hear an alarm…"
"The Colonel is on the move, no doubt." Ed mused.
"We should get going soon." Manami crossed her arms. "It's more likely that we'll get into that underground lair and destroy it with all that chaos and confusion."
"I agree." Hohenheim spoke. "I have a counter ready, if he activates the nationwide transmutation… but it would be ideal if we stop it from happening at all."
Hohenheim looked out to the distance.
"He's a bigger threat, but… he's still a tiny creature in a flask. We just have to break his container… and free the souls of Xerxes."
"..." Ed turned to walk away, motioning with his head to Manami for her to follow him.
"We should say our goodbyes to Al, now."
"Be quick." Hohenheim warned them.
Manami followed Ed until the giant dome was in view. She stopped to stare up at it, wondering how Al was doing inside.
She couldn't imagine. It had to be pitch black in there… in the short time she was in that dark cave, she was on the brink of panic. But Al…
"He'll be alright." Ed assured her.
Manami figured that her expression must have given her away.
"... I know." She gave him a nod.
Ed went to walk ahead of her. "I'll go first."
Manami watched quietly as he walked to the dome. She made sure to stay behind so that Ed's conversation with Al would be private. After a few minutes, she saw Ed tap his closed fist against the giant rock.
That was the closest they could get to sending each other off.
"He's all yours, but I'd be quick." Ed said after he approached Manami, but was eyeing the group looking at them from behind.
Manami's lips curled as she followed his glance. "I know…"
And with that, she walked past him to approach the giant dome.
"Hey…" Manami said quietly... so quietly that, if Al wasn't paying attention, he wouldn't have heard her.
"Hey…" He replied, sounding just a quiet. "You doing okay?"
"... yeah…" Manami lied, her eyes narrowing.
She didn't want to go… she had been thinking the whole night, and she decided… she needed to tell him. Tell him how she really felt.
"Al, I…" She hesitated for a second. "Before we go... I need to tell you something. It's important."
Al glanced up to where her voice came from, feeling the equivalent of a knot forming in a stomach. He got an idea of what it could be, but he didn't know for sure… maybe he was just fantasizing that she would say something like that…
Nonetheless, it felt wrong to let her continue.
"Manami… listen…" He started. "Don't take this the wrong way, but… I don't think now is the time..."
"..?" Manami stood there, frozen in shock.
Did he know? Was this rejection?
"And this isn't because I don't want to hear it. In fact, it's quite the opposite…" Al started to explain. "But… it feels wrong. Not just with Pride here, listening, but..." He paused again.
"Manami... are you wanting to tell me now, because…" It hurt him to say it. "Because you're scared that you won't be able to later..?"
The brunette flinched, and though he couldn't see her expression... her silence answered his question.
"... Manami, I need you to listen to me." He said, sounding a little more stern now. "You are such a skilled fighter. You have an alchemical talent that nobody else in this entire country has. We have a greater chance of saving everyone with you fighting. If there's someone who has to be in here… between you, my brother, and myself… I prefer that it's me."
"But—"
"I know you're scared." Al cut her off. "But… you are also amazing, Manami. P—"
He almost said perfect.
"P-Phenomenal…" He said instead. "And you are at your most phenomenal when you're confident. You have to look at this not as 'what if,' but 'I will.' Not just for me, but for everyone. You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in all of us. More than you ever have before."
Manami could feel the tears well up in her eyes, and she sniffled quietly as she went to wipe them with the back of her hand.
Al heard her sniffle, and his heart broke.
"... please don't cry…" He said quietly. "I have all the faith that you all will come back alive. And when you do… then we can talk. Somewhere where it's just the two of us..."
"..." Manami closed her teary eyes and rested her forehead against the cold rock.
"I want to hear what you have to say, more than anything…" Al said. "But… I want you to say it without any fear or doubt. Okay..?"
"..." And after a moment, Manami slowly lifted her head off the rock.
"... okay…"
She went to place her open hand on the rock. At the same time, Al did the same.
"... we'll be back."
"... I'll be waiting."
Manami turned around to see Ed a good distance away, his back facing her. She was appreciative that he respected their privacy. She slowly approached him and stood beside him, joining him in looking over the horizon.
"It's time. Are you ready?" He asked, turning his head to look at her.
Manami closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before looking back at him.
"Yeah. Let's go."
The groups split up, Manami going with Ed, Hohenheim, Darius, Zampano, Jerso, Lan Fan, and Scar. They went down to Central, stealthily hiding behind trees, bushes, and houses on the way. They tried to make it to the entrance Scar knew of, but...
"It's too guarded." Ed told them, peeking from behind a fence and watching several soldiers scattered around the alleyway.
"Now what?" Darius asked.
"We don't have enough men to fight our way through." Jerso added.
"..." Manami put a hand on her chin as she thought.
"Wait a second," She perked up. "Ed, didn't Al go underground from the Third Laboratory? To fight Lust?"
"Yeah!" Ed perked up as well over the realization.
"Wouldn't that be just as guarded?" Zampano asked.
"Maybe, but it's also possible it's less guarded than it is here…" Manami said to him.
Thankfully, Manami was right. Once the group found the Third Lab, there were only three guards at the front entrance.
"Three's a number I'm comfortable with." Darius went to crack his knuckles.
"Wait!" Ed hushed him. "I got a better idea… Manami, it's time we put our titles to good use!"
"Huh?" Manami blinked, watching as the blonde emerged from the bushes.
"Follow my lead!"
"What are you—"
"HELP!" Ed cried, running to the soldiers and pulling out his pocket watch to dangle. "I'm a State Alchemist!"
"What?!" The soldiers gasped at the sight of Ed.
"And Scar is trying to kill me!" He pointed to the bushes where Scar stood, looking baffled.
"H-He might've gotten my partner! She's a State Alchemist, too!"
Manami flinched, realizing she was now in the spotlight, and totally clueless on what to do.
"A-Agh! No!" She cried, quickly jumping into an act and she went to fall out of the bushes, pretending to crawl away from Scar.
"Help me!"
"Don't worry, miss!" The soldiers came running for her, just like Ed wanted. Once their backs were turned, he pounced and knocked all three soldiers out.
"..." Everyone emerged from the bushes and approached the front entrance as as Ed got the gate doors open.
"Next time, don't put me on the spot like that!" Manami barked, as everyone else went inside.
"What are you talking about? You did great!" Ed patted her shoulder before turning to follow the others, Manami at his heels.
The two made their way to the front of the group as they led everyone, barking their title at everyone who stood in their way. They were searching for the entrance that led underground more than paying attention to anything else.
"Aha! Found it!"
Everyone stopped to see Ed looking at a blank wall, but with closer inspection, there were transmutation marks on it.
It was closed up.
Ed clapped his hands and transmuted a door where the wall used to be, and threw it open to let everyone else inside. They went down a set of stairs, where they would go underground.
They walked until there was a fork, going left or right.
"Which way?" Manami asked.
"We should split up." Hohenheim suggested, pointing towards the right. "I'll take a team this way, and you two and Scar lead the other team."
"Why do I have to go with him?!" Ed barked, pointing to Scar.
"Because he can transmute when you and she can't." Hohenheim answered, gesturing with his head to Manami.
"I'll be fine on my own… but," His eyes fell on Lan Fan. "Just in case, I'll take a bodyguard."
"So, the rest of us will go with you, then." Darius looked to Manami, and she nodded.
"If any of you see the enemy, do everything in your power to stop it as quickly as possible." Hohenheim told them.
"Roger that." Jerso said, and everyone nodded in agreement before turning their separate ways.
After a moment of walking, Manami looked to Ed.
"Hey, Ed..? Are you sure that your dad…"
"He'll be fine." Ed answered her. "Just focus on what we're doing, now."
Manami nodded, and they continued forward.