I hide my face in my hands as I hear my own voice on the television. You only need to look at me to see that is true. What was I thinking, honestly? Yusei pats the top of my head as he watches the news broadcast. I hear my phone buzzing on the coffee table. I've counted twenty-six so far. They play some of the clips from the interview that Yusei and I did after our little speeches. It relieves some of the tension in my body, since it was mostly Yusei talking. Not even about the Key to the City, most of the questions were about the WRGP.

"It's over now. You can look now." Crow laughs before he leaves for his work shift. I sigh, and pick up my phone off the coffee table. My phone buzzes in my hand as I go to look at it, bringing my message count to thirty. I start scrolling through my messages. Anako and Emiko tell me that I looked great, thanks to them. Shinji's been sending me many texts, asking me what I'm doing on the television. Takumi's shocked that I didn't tell him that I would be doing that. Kenta just sends me lots of question marks. Miguel tells me thanks with a thumbs up, also that my dress looked nice. Felix tells me that everyone he knows is freaking about those new anti-discriminatory bills for psychics and Satellites. My phone starts ringing, Kaoru's name shows up. Couldn't he have just call me?

"Hello," I answer.

"Hey- Yes, mom, I'm on the phone with her." A pause. "No, mom. I'm talking to her now. Mom-"

"How are you doing?" I hear Kaoru sigh over the phone. "Lemme guess why you're calling me."

"Geez, I wonder why." The sarcasm is clear in his voice. "Congrats on your little speech."

"Thank you." I nod. Yusei leans into me on the couch so he can hear what Kaoru is saying. "I'm guessing Kasumi wants to talk to me."

"Yeah, but I wanna talk to you first."

"Did you ask me first?" I chuckle, and I can practically hear Kaoru rolling his eyes. "But go ahead, I've got time."

"Thanks for doing that." Kaoru says. I hear shuffling in the background. "Anti-discriminatory bills for both psychics and Satellites. You're doing something good for a lot of people. I'm proud of you. I want you to know that."

"That means a lot." I smile. "I heard you're applying for Security."

"Yeah?" His voice suddenly sounds awkward. "I was hoping that I would tell you myself."

"Why didn't you? Crow found out before I did."

"I thought you would freak." Kaoru chuckles nervously. "Yusei told me that you did that to Crow." I turn to Yusei who avoids my gaze.

"That's fair."

"So, what do you think?"

"I agree with you." I hear Kaoru mutter a what under his breath. "I think joining Security is a great idea. We could actually make a difference in this City. Keep those kids off the streets, out of gangs, y'know? Not to mention that it's a secure job too. Since Crow joined, I know they can't not hire me because of my mark. That's why I'm going to apply for the next intake of officers."

There's silence on the other end. I hear some shuffling and banging noises in the background, so I know the call hasn't dropped.

"Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" He asks, his voice very quiet. "Did you bang your head or something?"

"Rude," I answer. "Put me onto Kasumi."

"Fine." I hear Kaoru scoff and his feet walking over the wooden floor of the sitting room.

"Yuuka, hi!" Kasumi's so loud that she's practically shouting down the phone. "I just saw the broadcast. I'm so proud of you baby!"

"Thank you, thank you." I chuckle.

"I managed to tape the broadcast. Emiko told me that it would be airing, so I got it in the end." She sighs happily.

"So you can show all of your friends."

"They already know, honey." She laughs. "They all watched the broadcast, they're very impressed."

"That's good, I guess."

"I really miss you, y'know? I barely see you nowadays. But you're too busy with your boyfriend to see your own mother."

"I'll come over sometime, I promise."

"Sure now." I can almost feel the judgement over the phone. "You said that the last time I told you that. You've basically moved in with him, why not make it official?"

"We're waiting for everyone else to move out." I laugh. We've been asked the same exact question before, and I always give the exact same answer. I was told to prepare for never moving in together. As much as Yusei likes Poppo Time, I think he'd rather his own place with me.

"Alright, alright." Kasumi sighs. "I suppose I'll let you go then. I'm sure everyone wants to get ahold of you."

"You're not wrong." I chuckle.

"Drop over sometime, okay?" She sounds rather sad. "I think the cat misses you too. She sits in front of your bedroom door at least twice a day."

"Really? I'll come over sometime this week then."

"That sounds good. I'll make you dinner, bring Yusei too. Kaoru can bring over his boyfriend."

"Okay, I'll tell him that."

"Bye, Yuuka."

"Bye." For some reason, I can't bring myself to call her mother. For years I said that I would never call her my mother because she didn't raise me, but lately, those intense feelings have gone away.

"Have you seen Jack, actually?" Yusei says, staring at the ladder going upstairs.

"No, why?"

"His D-Wheel's been gone since the party, and I don't think he's come back."

"Interesting." I nod. "If he's not back in a few hours, I'll text him. He might have gone home with Carly for all we know."

"Very true." Yusei shakes his head, slightly wide eyed.

"He's not on the asexual spectrum, but he's still valid cause at least he's not straight."

"What's being an allosexual like?"

"Honestly, no idea."

"Take a deep breath in, and close your eyes." Anako guides me through. "Focus on everything around you. Focus on your aura. Feel it moving through your body. Push it from your core, into your arms and down into your fingertips. Now, take a deep breath. Now, push your aura down into your legs and your feet."

There's a tingling sensation, more than there was before. I can feel the changes in my powers since the Ark Cradle fell. Since then, my powers have crashed a water tank, shrivelled up a bush, made the air go cold, made the power go out in Poppo Time several times, and broken a full glass of water. So, this training was very needed.

"So, I have a question." Emiko interrupts.

"And this is the time to ask it." I sigh.

"I just want to know what Z-One was like." She speaks very slowly, as if she's unsure of my reaction. "I wanted to know if he died, because I wanted him to." I flinch slightly. "But Kaoru told me to ask you that instead."

"Well, he was just like anyone I suppose." I pick at the blades of grass underneath me. Anako managed to pick a secluded region of the park. It's not the best day weather-wise, so the park isn't full of people. It will stop people coming over and asking for a photo. "He was just a normal guy before everything happened. He was a lot like my Yusei, but that's to be expected. But, they're still different people. That's the one thing to take away, I guess."

"How does it feel when people say that Z-One deserved to die?" Emiko keeps prodding. She doesn't know the full story, neither does Anako. Kaoru told them the bare minimum to keep them satisfied. "I can't imagine that's easy."

"It's not easy, you're right." I exhale through my nose. "I remember the first time I heard someone say it, I ran off in a huff. Now, I just try to explain why you can't say that about him. He may have lost his way, but he was still human before everything happened. It wasn't a hatred of humanity or this City that led him to that. It was trauma, and a love of his City."

"That doesn't excuse what he did." Anako frowns.

"I know that, but it explains it."

"Also, why did you never tell me about Raiden?" Anako's eyes squint slightly. "Cause I ran into him after the party. Apparently, you said no when he asked you to set up a school for psychics with him."

"Yeah, and?"

"I mean, you should have said no, but, I thought you would have at least told me."

"Sorry about that." I scratch the back of my neck. "I assumed you would have ran into him, he was there from the beginning of the party if my memory serves me right."

"What are you going to do, now that Raiden's gone?" Anako tilts her head. "I mean, your entire life since you joined gangs has kinda been revolving around him, if you think about it."

"I have thought about it." I cringe slightly. "I'm just gonna get on with my life, since it's the only thing I can do."

"I suppose you're right." There's a glint in Anako's eyes, like there's been a confirmation of something. She glances down at her folded hands before looking back at me. "Are we going to continue?"

I suddenly come to the realisation that everyone around me is slowly figuring out what to do with their lives. Sure I had my career path chosen for me, but am I even going to like it? Meanwhile, I'm stuck here on a set path, picking up the pieces from another lifetime.

"I guess so."

"Hold my hand." I squirm in my place. Yusei grabs my hand and squeezes it. "I can't do this."

"Of course you can."

"But what if I get in there, the words alternate future come out of my mouth, and suddenly I'm in a straitjacket headed for an asylum?"

"That won't happen."

"You don't know that."

"Yuuka, this therapist is a psychic too. Psychics are her speciality. I'm sure she's heard equally unlikely things."

"Oh I doubt it."

"Even if that isn't true, just pretend that it is."

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything."

"Okay, honey."

Once Yusei and I reach the Daimon Area by foot, I lead him down the street to Dr. Nico Rodriguez's duplex, which he works out of. He's served as the local psychic doctor for as long as I've been a psychic. Apparently, his sister has recently qualified as a therapist. Nico uses his psychic powers to help him with his patients. His sister is supposed to be a psychic too. It must run in families now that I think about it.

We enter the upper level of the duplex, in the slightly fancier area of the Daimon Area. Due to what I imagine is a lack of money, he serves as his own receptionist. We stand for a few minutes in the hall, he walks out and practically gasps at the sight of me.

"Ah Yuuka, hello again. Long time no see. Do I have to clear my afternoon schedule for you?"

"Actually, no." I chuckle. "I told you, I put those days behind me. No more stab wounds, I promise."

"Well, thank our lucky stars." Nico bows his head slightly. "You won't have to worry your boyfriend anymore."

"He'll worry no matter what I do." I punch Yusei lightly in the arm, who just deadpans.

"Hmm, interesting." Nico's looking at me like he's using his powers.

"What do you see this time, doc?"

"The last two times we've seen each other, I felt someone in your head. But, they're not there anymore."

"Oh." Not there anymore. "Really?" Nico squints at me. "It's nothing."

"Alright, I don't remember you making an appointment." Nico moves towards the desk, stacked high with papers and an older-looking computer. "I'll see if I can fit you in-"

"I'm actually here to see your sister."

"Elena?" He raises an eyebrow at me, before looking at a different stack of papers. "I didn't remember seeing you in here either."

"I made the appointment the other day-"

"Hattori, Yuuka."

"Yep, that's me."

"You're going by Hattori now? Thought you were Sasaki, no?"

"Hattori's the name on my birth cert, it makes things less complicated."

"Suppose so," Nico nods. "Take a seat there, Yuuka. Yusei, you can sit here while she's in her appointment."

"Thank you." We say at roughly the same time, going into the small, empty waiting room.

"It's okay." Yusei takes my shaking hands. "I'm proud of you for getting this far."

"Thanks babe." I take a deep breath. "You're helping me a lot just by being here."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Yusei presses a kiss to my temple. I just kind of stare at his pretty face and smile.

"Hattori, Yuuka?" A rather pretty, tall woman with dark skin and hair walks into the room, holding a clipboard.

"Yes, that's me." I stand up from my seat.

"This way." She smiles at me, which calms me down a bit. Yusei gives me a thumbs up before I follow her from the room. "Take a seat." She gestures to a plush couch next to desk. I look around the room. Bookshelves filled with books, against pastel lilac walls.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Dr. Elena Rodriguez. It's very nice to meet you, Yuuka. I've heard a lot about you from my brother, Nico."

"And you too."

"Before we start our session proper, I'd like you to tell me a bit about yourself. Anything you think would be relevant, anything really."

"Where to start? That is the question."