It's already late at night. I've been spending time in the hospital today right after patrol is over. My mom is in critical condition so I want to be by her side. She stabilised a bit so I take the chance to go home to refresh and pack an overnight bag just in case I have to stay longer.

I walk up the stairs to my flat. It's really dark. The light on the stairway is broken and hasn't been fixed for awhile. I rely on my instinct to not trip on the steps. That's weird, I hear echo of my footsteps. This isn't a covered stairway, there isn't usually any echo. Maybe because it's quiet so I'm hearing things.

I quicken my pace. I'm starting to feel a little uneasy.

I feel relieved when I get to my door. I quickly open it and get in. When I try to close the door it doesn't work. I try again. I push the faulty door a little harder but now it actually goes against me.

I turn on the light and gasp to see a person standing at the door. I know him. He's my father's debt collector. He's also the person who put Mom into her current condition.

I remember well that day I came home to find him rummaging our house looking for anything valuable to take while Mom lay on the ground unconcious.

"Tell your mom I will come back in six months and she better has that money or I'll take more than this!" He pocketed Mom's jewelry and some cash she kept in the house.

Mom never regained conciousness since.

I clench my teeth. This is my chance for revenge. Part of me wants to take him on and kill him to revenge Mom. I'm certainly capable of that now. But the other part of me reminds me that my sentai skills are not for this. I'm a warrior of love, not of revenge. He's a civilian and I'm not allowed to kill him no matter what the reason is.

"Where's your mom?" He demands. He obviously has no idea what he had done to her.

"What do you want?"

"I've been coming around for days and she was never home. Has she run away like your father?"

"What do you want?" I repeat.

He laughs an evil laugh. "Money of course!"

I really want to stuff my fist down his sorry throat. "How much?"

"Ten millions."

I sneer. "You must be kidding me. Do we look like we have ten millions?"

"Well young lady, you better have it because your time is up."

"I have...let's see..." I look through my wallet. "Five hundreds. Here. Take it." I throw the notes towards him.

The guy laughs again. "Well well well, looks like you have some guts."

He comes towards me and with one hand he lifts me up by my jacket. "Where. Is. Your. Mom."

"You're messing up with the wrong person," I warn him.

"Hahahah! What are you going to do huh little girl?"

"Call me that again," I challenge him.

"Li-TTT-LEEE GGG-I-RRLLL!" He mocks.

I kick him in the nuts sending him crying on the floor. That's a basic self defense skill. Not a sentai one.

"How dare you!" He looks mad. Uh-oh.

He launches himself towards me but I'm prepared. We battle for awhile. Gee, he's quite strong. I under-estimated him. He produces a knife and puts it on my neck causing me to freeze on the spot. Shit. He's got weapon.

"Killing you will not do me any good. So you come with me. Maybe your mother or even your father will finally turn up with that money."

He proceeds to tie my hands behind my back with a rope. I pretend to be scared and comply. It works. He puts away his knife.

When he's done, he drags me by my arm to the door. I may not have my hands, but I still have my legs and this is still my territory. I hook a chair nearby with my leg and thanks to the precision I learnt from all that training Akama put me through, I send it flying and it lands right on his head.

He's so surprised he lets my arm go to protect himself. While he's on the floor, I use my elbow to hit him right on the ribs. I hear cracking sound as he groans in pain. I think I may have broken a couple there.

I manage to free myself from the rope, another skill taught by Akama, and I drag the severely injured big man out the door.

"Scram and never come back again!" I then slam the door close. Then I remember something. I open the door again. The guy is cursing me as he tries to get up. I throw several hundreds yen to him for good measure. "Use the money to take youself to the hospital!" Then I slam the door back close. I lock it, double check it's locked, push a big table in front of it.

I then flop on the floor. My whole body suddenly shakes so bad I can't stand up anymore. Now that he's gone, I suddenly realise what could have happened. Had I not been a trained warrior, he would have taken me away and who knows what he'd do to me. I wouldn't be able to defend myself and nobody would come to my aid. My mother is unconcious and my father...I don't even know where he is.

I suddenly feel so alone. And to be honest, terrified.

I sob for a good couple of minutes. What am I going to do? Did I scare that guy enough or did I just make him madder? Will he come back to seek revenge? Where am I supposed to get that much money to pay him back?

I'm now too scared to go back to the hospital. I will wait until morning comes. It's safer if I stay in here. I just hope Mom will hang on until then.

I wanted to rest but I couldn't sleep. Every little sound makes me jump. I'm so relieved to see the sun. I quickly get up and get ready.

I pass by the hospital to check on Mom before going to the lab. I'll be late for patrol but so be it. I'll deal with Akama later.

Thankfully the nurse tells me Mom is out of the wood. I can relax for a little bit. She has stabilised and the doctor reckoned she will be fine for now.

I'm so relieved. I try not to get my hopes up but if she can pull through the critical time, maybe, just maybe, one day she will finally wake up.

Oh Mom. I kiss her forehead. "Please don't leave me. I don't have anyone else in this world. You don't have to be afraid of the debt collector anymore. I've scared him off for good," I tell her. Or so I hope.

I leave for the lab and is ready for Akama's lecture about being late.

I sneak into the booth and hopes that Akama thinks I've been here all along.

I see him at a distance and to my relieve he actually acknowledges me and gives me a little nod and believe it or not, a smile. It lifts up my spirit a little.

I observe some people around me as a way to stay awake. I keep yawning I'm afraid I'll fall asleep.

I see Aoyama flirting with some cute high school girls at the souvenir shop where he works today. He's all smiles while complimenting the girls. The girls blush and they end up buying some souvenirs. I can't help but laugh. He makes a good salesman.

"Psst!" I try to get his attention after his customers are gone.

"Yo!" He waves at me.

"Stop flirting with high school kids!" I tease him. "We're not here for pleasure."

He laughs and comes over. "You're just jealous because you're not as cute."

"What?" I pretend to be mad. "Are you saying I'm ugly?"

"Not ugly. Just a bit old. You look at least twenty-one."

I laugh. "Remember, you're not that young yourself."

He sticks his toungue out to me and strolls back to his position.

I shake my head and giggle to myself. Ah...he's funny.

Oh damn, the three blue lights are lighted. I certainly hope it's just someone breaking an ankle, and not a real Deathdark emergency because I don't feel too fit to fight today.

"Aoyama-sama, your lost child has been found. Aoyama-sama, please hurry, he's crying," I make my announcement before getting out of the booth to regroup. That would teach him for calling me old. Haha!

There's something about suspicious hole on the ground. We investigate the area. The soil is wet. It looks like someone is trying to plant something.

We disperse and look for anything suspicious. I find nothing and the others don't seem to find anything either.

We regroup to decide what to do next. I hope we can go back because my head is starting to spin a little and I'm feeling a bit warm in this suite.

Suddenly I struggle to breath. I notice something is strangling me! And looks like I'm not the only one!

What is this? Feels like a plant but it has such a strong grip. No doubt it's evil science. I feel like my energy being sucked, I keep trying to pull the thing away but it's no use. I can't breathe...I can't...

And then suddenly the thing dissapears. I feel a bit of relieve but when I try to take a deep breath my chest is in so much pain. I curl on the ground trying to make this pain go away.

"Pink! Are you okay?" Akama comes to my aid but I can't even reply him. This pain is too much I feel panic rising into my throat and I worry I will faint. I have to stay concious, I have to!

Akama helps me up and hands me over to Kuroda and tells him to look after me while he deals with whatever it was that attacked us.

"Stay with me, Miki! Stay with me!" Kuroda tries to talk to me. "Where do you hurt?"

"Take...the suit...off," I manage to tell him. I feel like I'm choking in this.

"No, you'll be more vulnerable that way. We're still at the enemy line. Come, let's take you back to the car."

He pretty much drags me to Cougar, our car. Blue jumps to the driver seat and Yellow on the back. "Let's retreat," Kuroda instructs.

Aoyama drives us away but the Mozu throws his creepy crawler plant on us again. Once again it tries to choke us. Akama comes from behind us and throws his rope onto the Mozu and it falls off the tree.

Using my last bit of energy that I don't even know I have, together with the others I summon Goggle sabre and throws it to the Mozu.

Arghhh! The pain! I must have collapsed at the battlefield because I wake up on a stretcher being wheeled into the lab.

Akama has his hand gripping my arm. "You're going to be okay Miki, you're going to be okay!"

I want to believe him but arghh! Make this pain go away!

I can hear people standing around me. They sound like they're arguing and I can hear Akane keeps calling me.

I'm too busy dealing with my own pain I can't listen to what they're talking about but I know they're talking about me.

"Don't talk like that, let her rest." I hear Aoyama says.

Then suddenly I hear everyone calling Akane. What's wrong with Akane? I try to get up but I can't. Everyone seems to be going after Akane.

"Hang in there, Miki." I hear Akama's voice. "Try to rest. I'll be right back." And then he too, leaves.

I must have fallen asleep. The pain is gone but I still feel weak.

I hear people talking in the next room.

"We're all okay, we all get the same attack, it doesn't make sense that she gets wounded so severely." I hear Kuroda's voice.

"It can't be the suit. It must be her," Kijima adds.

"Her vitals were really weak to begin with today," Makoto says.

"Was she sick?" Kijima asks.

"Pretty sure she was fine earlier," Aoyama replies. "She was playful this morning. So playful she announced to the whole world I have a child. Tsk."

"It is indeed strange," Akama concludes.

"It's my fault! It's all my fault. I chose the wrong person to be a warrior," Akane sobs. "What if she dies?"

The wrong person? Die?

"She's not going to die, Akane," Akama reassures her. "And there isn't a mistake."

"Kuroda-san has found that we indeed made a mistake in our analysis today which caused you to lose the battle. So it is quite likely that I made a mistake in my analysis when choosing Goggle Pink," she reasons.

"She's indeed quite young...," Kijima contemplates. "And looks fragile."

"If it's indeed a mistake, does it mean we have to find a new Goggle Pink?" Aoyama asks.

"That's not possible now," Kuroda replies

"But what if Miki is too weak to fight?" Kijima ponders.

My heart sinks. Is this true? Am I a mistake?

I feel so awful. I've taken them as my family but now they think I don't belong.

I had a crazy night, I'm not at my best fitness today but I guess that's not an excuse when it comes to fighting real evil. Evil will not wait for you to be fit.

Maybe they're right. Maybe I'm too weak for this.

I wipe my tears. I don't know what hurts more, knowing that I'm a failure or the realisation that the people I'd love to call family don't feel the same.

"There's no mistake." I hear Midori says. "Do you know why Professor Hongo chose children to operate the computer?"

Nobody says anything.

"He chose children not because you're good at computers, a lot of adults are good at computers. He chose children because you're the future. Children need to learn that science isn't for evil purpose. This way the human race will be saved. And Goggle V are chosen not because of their strength but because of their passion and their desire to use science to do good things and help people. Don't you see, the ratio of the children and adults are five to five. It's because each of you are Goggle V in training. Makoto, you'll be learning from Kuroda."

"So it's my responsibility to be a good example to you huh?" Kuroda says.

"That's right," Midori continues. "Only after failures that you can succeed. The most important thing is you help and protect each other. Learn from your mistake and grow more each day."

I slowly make my way to the door that separates the room I'm in and the main lab. I need to let them know that I'm fine. I've recovered. If they give me another chance, I will try harder.

I press the button and the door opens. I'm still unsteady, I nearly fall but I grab on to the nearest table.

"Onee-chan!" Akane instantly runs to me. She's teary. The poor girl. She must feel so guilty.

"Akane-chan!" I want to tell her that it's okay. I'm okay. But she keeps sobbing making me cry too.

Akama comes closer to us. He smiles as she looks at Akane. "Miki is great. There's nothing wrong with your choice."

Oh Akama. Out of all people, at the end, it is he who believes in me. I think I truly has done him an injustice. I can't believe I told him I hated him.

He then looks at the others. "We're a team. We should have a bond stronger than brothers."

"Let's try to do better!" I say feeling determined. I don't want to dissapoint him or Akane again. Next time I will look after myself first and foremost so I can make contribution and not become a burden to the team.

"We will also try to do better!" Tatsuya says on behalf of the children.

Akama nods at him. He then looks at me and smile. I nod back.

I open my eyes when I hear the door opens. I've been resting for the rest of the day trying to recover my strength. I get up when I see Akama comes in.

"Hey," I greet him.

He nods. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better."

"Good. I'll take you home today."

"Oh. It's okay. I should be fine. I don't want to trouble you."

"You'll trouble me when something happens to you. You're still not one hundred percent."

I bit my lips. "Sorry," I mutter.

"For what?"

"For troubling you and everyone today."

Akama sighs. He sits at the edge of the bed. He looks at me and pats my hand. "It could have happened to anyone, you know."

Argh. Why is he so touchy? It makes me so nervous. The other guys are quite touchy sometimes, but usually playfully. Akama never was. Not to me at least.

Akama seems to be concentrated on my hand. He picks it up on his palm and brings it close to his face. What is he doing? This is so awkward.

"Um...Akama?"

"Yeah?" He says without looking up.

"Thank you for standing up for me today."

He doesn't reply but he rolls up the sleeve of my jacket. Then he gasps.

I look at my arm and immediately feel embarassed. I quickly cover it. It's all bruised. Must be from last night's fighting.

Akama doesn't give up. He takes my other hand and check that arm.

"Akama!" I protest but he isn't listening. He slides down my jacket's zip and in one swift movement I'm only in my singlet. I automatically cover my body with the blanket. "What are you doing?" I protest again.

Akama covers his mouth in horror. "Miki. Why are you so bruised?"

"Oh, it's nothing." I quickly put my jacket back on.

"No, Miki. This isn't right. Are those from today's attack?"

"I...I think so," I lie.

"That's strange. Those look like results of direct contact. You didn't get a direct attack today. Only strangulation."

"Probably from the fall," I reason. "They'll get better. Don't worry."

He sighs. "Come. I'll take you home so you can rest properly. We'll pass by the pharmacy to get some cream to treat those bruises."

"No, it's okay. Really. I can make my way home myself."

"Miki. It's not up for negotiation."

"You can just drop me at the subway station," I try to change his mind as I climb up on his motorbike.

"Do you have something to hide?" He suddenly asks.

"What?"

"I'm taking you to your door. And that's final. Now tell me where to go."

I sigh. Okay, he wins. I just hope he doesn't get a shock at the state of my house.

Akama said nothing when we arrived at my run down apartment building. He insisted on taking me up to my flat.

So here we are in front of my door but he shows no sign of going anywhere.

"Um...do you want to come in?" I have no choice but ask.

"Yes."

O...kay...

I frantically search my head for ideas on what to tell him why my house is in such a mess. I didn't bother tidying things up from my fight with the debt collector last night.

"Sorry for the mess." I quickly grab the upside down chair that I've thrown and put it back to its position. I straighten the table, pick up some trinkets that falls on the floor and throw away the rope used to tie my hand.

"Would you like a drink?" I ask although I'm not sure if I have anything to offer other than water.

"No, thanks. Why don't you take a shower and then I'll help you treat your bruises?"

"Ah...okay."

"Um...have a seat...anywhere you like."

Akama nods.

I dissapear into the bathroom and take a shower. Only now I realise how badly injured I am from last night's fight. No wonder I was so weak today.

"I think that's all." Akama is finally finished treating me. It's so embarassing because it requires him to examine my whole body. He's a total gentleman though. He made no awkward comments nor he tried to touch me more than necessary.

"Thank you." I quickly fix my clothes so I'm a bit more decent.

"Rest well. I'll come and pick you up first thing tomorrow morning."

"There's no need..."

"Miki." He gives me his stern voice.

"Okay," I reluctantly agree.

"Good night."

I'm so grateful he didn't ask anything about my parents because I wouldn't know what to say.

I'm hungry but there's no food in the house. It's already late and I'm still scared to be wondering around alone at night. I'll just bear it and eat tomorrow.

I take out my sleeping bed and lay it on the floor.

I'm so sore everywhere. I go to the kitchen to get some water. Akama left painkiller tablets so I'm going to take some so I can go to sleep.

"Delivery!" I hear someone shouting outside the door and then knock at my door. What delivery at this time of the night?

A thought comes into my mind. What if the debt collector sends someone to seek revenge?

I try to walk to the door as quietly as possible. I peek through the peephole. Looks like a food delivery guy.

"Delivery!" The guy shouts again. Jeez. Scared me a little there.

I don't want to open the door. I didn't order anything. What if he isn't really a delivery guy but it's a trick to get me to open the door?

So I ignore him. He knocks and shouts a couple more times before it goes all quiet. Then I notice a piece of paper slided under the door.

I carefully approach it and briefly skim it from a distance.

"Miki, I saw you have no food at home. Don't go out anymore. Dinner's on me. Eat well. Take care, Akama."

Akama? I bend down and pick up the piece of paper. It does look like his handwriting. Did he send a food delivery guy to me?

I open the door and the guy has left two containers of food at my door.

I read the letter again and smile. So thoughtful of him.

I went to bed with a full happy stomach last night and there was plenty leftovers for breakfast this morning. I reach for Akama's note that I keep under my pillow. While Kuroda makes me swoon, this guy gives me butterflies in my stomach. Akane was right. He may appear cold but he does have emotion.

I remember how he stood by Koji and how yesterday he stood by me. I have a newfound respect for him. He seems to be the type who will not abandon his friends at their weakest. Does that mean he considers me his friend now? I can't stop grinning at the thought. Ah Akama. You're not bad for a hot guy. Not bad at all.

"Morning!" I open the door for Akama. He looks so fresh this morning and he smells good too.

"How are you feeling?" He asks straightaway.

"Much better, thank you. And thanks for sending the food last night."

He just nods. He grabs my hand and rolls my sleeve to check on my bruises. Jeez. I wish he would ask first before he does that because it makes my heart jumps to unknown places and my cheeks as pink as my goggle suit.

He looks up to me as he fixes my sleeve. He immediately smiles when he sees my face. "Good to see some colour on you."

I think now I'm the colour of HIS goggle suit.

I quickly look away and pretend to look for my bag to give myself time to calm down.

"If you still don't feel well, you can rest today."

"No, we got to find that mozu. I want my revenge."

"Okay. Let's go then."

Definitely no time to rest. The kids informed us that there's a suspicious movement underground as if an earthquake is about to break out.

Thanks to Yellow's sharp hearing, we find the spot and turns out it is indeed Deathdark. Spider Mozu is growing a bomb underground. I use my ribbon to steal the detonator. Mozu and Mazurka aren't happy. They send Madaramen after us.

I'm so busy fighting off these stupid creatures I didn't realise something falling from above!

Gahhh this Mozu certainly likes me! It grabs me and strangles me. AHHHHH! I try to free myself but he's too strong! I kick and wriggle as hard as I can but it only makes his grip stronger.

I'm starting to doubt myself again. Am I really too weak?

"Red Rope!" I hear Akama yells and seconds later I fall to the ground. Arghh! The pain!

Akama immediately comes to my aid. He helps me up. "Can you hold on?" The other boys come soon after to regroup.

Before I can reply the mozu throw something else to us that once again strangling us. Akama manages to throw his sabre to the Mozu causing him to fall and as a result we're free.

Mazurka instructs the mozu to explode the bomb but we're faster. We catch the mozu with five ribbons, drag it towards us and launch ribbon spark on it. It's now significantly weakened.

"Can I?" I ask Akama for permission to knock the thing out.

"Go ahead."

I launch my best kick, multiple kicks actually, causing the mozu to roll on the ground in pain.

We easily finish him off with Goggle Vicory Five. Yosh!

Of course that's not the end. As we expected, the Kong is launched so we launch Goggle Robo.

They still haven't been able to make a Kong as powerful as our Robot. We win.

Hopefully Deathdark will retreat for awhile now.

"Are you hurt?" Akama quickly checks on me as soon as he gets out of his Jet.

I give him a thumb up and fly Caesar back to the stadium.

"We did it! Well done, team!" Akama looks extremely pleased.

"Great kick, Miki!" Kijima compliments me.

"Yeah!" Kuroda agrees. "That was one hell of a kick, Pink!"

"Miki kicks ass!" Aoyama whistles.

"We should celebrate!" Suddenly Tatsuya appears on the screen.

"You should all come on rides with us!" Haruo suggests.

We all look at Akama.

"Oh fine. We'll play!" He says finally.

Everyone cheers. Aoyama slaps Akama playfully. "That's our chief!"

I smile to myself. I'm happy that we manage to pull this out and I'm ecstatic that the team gave me another chance and I didn't dissapoint them.