"This is match number 13," Ritsuko announced. "I feel bad for whoever is fighting." She adjusted her glasses and looked over to Leo and Makoto, still silently grieving, and then to Azusa, Iori, Lili, and Ami, grieving less silently. "I hope it isn't one of you guys."

"The next match will be Azusa Miura versus Wang Jinrei!"

"Seriously?!" Ritsuko sighed. "Of course this would happen. Azusa-san, be careful out there, OK?"

The older woman smiled pleasantly at her producer. "Yes, of course, Ritsuko-san. Thank you."

"Azusa-neechan!"

Azusa looked down and was bowled into by Ami, who was Ami today. She smiled. "Yes, Ami-chan?"

"Ami doesn't want you to die, so you have to win!" Ami declared.

"Of course," Azusa said pleasantly.

"Azusa?" the announcer called.

"Maa, they're waiting for me," Azusa trilled. "I'll be right back~"

"Azusa-neechan, that's a little cocky…"

Azusa giggled and patted her head, then went and gave Iori and Ritsuko a hug before going downstairs to the arena. She waved to Wang, a small old man with white hair and a beard. He tugged on his hat.

"You're hot," he said.

"Thank you," Azusa piped.

"It's a shame," Wang sighed. "I don't want to kill anyone…"

"Me neither," Azusa agreed.

"Unfortunately, I do not want to die either," Wang told her. "So~, I'll have to kill you."

Azusa blinked. "Please don't…"

Wang gave her no time to respond. Before the words were even out of her mouth, Azusa had been knocked against the wall. She let out a cry. Wang kicked her in the face. She stumbled and whimpered slightly.

"Azusa-san, do something!" Ritsuko cried. Dang it…this isn't good.

Makoto suddenly darted up to the glass. "Did you say…Azusa-san?!"

"Yeah, she's fighting!"

"No…!"

Wang attacked Azusa over and over, slamming his fist into her stomach, her face, or her neck. Azusa cried out in pain and fell to her knees.

"I hate this," Wang decided. "Are you alright?"

"No," Azusa answered. She smiled slightly. "But, I don't know how to fight, and you do, and I understand that I must die. Just please, Wang-san…" Azusa stood slowly and slid her hand on her cheek again, smiling wider. "Please make me die quickly."

Wang's eyes softened. "You want to die?"

"No," Azusa admitted, "but I must, so it's OK~."

"Azusa-san, no!" the whole group of idols screamed.

Azusa looked at them. "Wang-san, may I have some profound last words, please?"

Wang dipped his head and stepped away from her.

"Let's see…Ami-chan! You have always been so cute, and such a sense of humor you have! You can always put a smile on my face. Thank you. I love you."

Ami gave her a thumbs-up.

"Haruka-chan, you too have always been there with a smile and a pep-talk whenever I got upset," Azusa continued. "Thank you, and I love you!"

Haruka smiled past the tears in her eyes.

"Hibiki-chan~!" Azusa called.

"Present!" Hibiki responded.

"You're such a cute and funny girl. You have a determination and a fire in your eyes that has inspired me so much. You have no idea how happy I am that you're joined our team. Stay strong, Hibiki-chan. They need you to. Thank you, and I love you too."

Hibiki sniffled and grinned. "Yeah…course I will! Count on me, no problemo!" She tried not to let Azusa see her crying.

Azusa looked at Iori. "…Iori-chan."

Iori sniffled. "Y-yes…?"

"Iori-chan, it's OK to cry," Azusa said softly. "You don't have to be the strongest. You've always been there for me to help with my direction, or with anything else, and you've always been looking out for me. Thank you so much. I love you, Iori-chan."

"You love everyone!" Iori exclaimed, smiling slightly. She blushed. "It's…it's a stupid way to think!"

Azusa smiled. "And…Makoto-chan."

"No…" Makoto whispered.

"Makoto-chan, I wanted to thank you—"

"Thank me for what?!" Makoto snapped. "For letting Yayoi die? For bringing up this tournament in the first place? For leading Miki to her death? For leading you to your death?! D*mmit, Azusa-san, what the heck is there to thank me for?!" She wiped her eyes, trying to make her words come across as furious instead of regretful. Ritsuko looked at her sympathetically.

Poor kid…heck, poor all of us. Why dos she really think she's suffering the most?

Azusa never stopped smiling. "Thank you for trying."

Makoto gazed at her. "Wha…?"

"Thank you for always trying to do what was best for me. For always protecting me, Makoto-chan. For protecting all of us. Because we all know you've always been there to help us when we needed you. Even if two of our idols still died, at least you tried your very best, and, Makoto-chan, never forget that that's all anyone can ever ask of you," Azusa finished. "I love you. Makoto-chan. We all do. So please, stop grieving, and don't feel sad when I'm gone. It's not your fault."

Ritsuko looked back at Makoto. A smile broke across her face for the first time in too long. She wiped her eyes again. Ritsuko grinned.

Classic Azusa-san, she thought. She always knows just what to say.

Azusa nodded and looked over at Ritsuko. "And of course, my lovely producer Ritsuko-san," she sighed. "I may miss you most of all~. Ritsuko-san, you've always been so kind to me and so caring, and you've been such a good friend to me. I don't know where I would be without you…but it would probably be somewhere in Europe~."

Ritsuko chuckled. Yes, that was classic Azusa too. She smiled.

"Thank you for always taking care of me. For taking care of all of us," Azusa said gratefully. "I love you very much, Ritsuko-san. And now, Takane-chan!"

At this point, even Wang was starting to get tears in his eyes. All of the idols were crying, even Ritsuko herself. All of them knew that these were Azusa's last words to them, individually, from her heart. In fact, Takane had taken out a notepad and written them all down.

"Takane-chan, I've always admired you," Azusa admitted. "You're such a beautiful woman, inside and out, and don't ever forget that. You take everything so calmly. It's an amazing trait, and I wish I could be as regal as you. Stay lovely, Takane-chan. Thank you, and I love you."

Yukiho stepped forward expectantly to receive her last words from Azusa. Azusa waved pleasantly to her.

Yukiho waved back, then collapsed into sobs. Haruka rubbed her back softly.

"Yukiho-chan," Azusa called to her. "Yukiho-chan, you are a beautiful girl. You've always had such a servant's heart, and you're always so kind to me. I cannot thank you enough for the countless times you've been there to make me tea, or bring me a horoscope, or even just sit with me and talk. I appreciate your friendship so very much! I love you, Yukiho-chan, and thank you."

Now Azusa turned to Wang. "I'm ready."

Wang smiled slightly. "Such profound words. You have me crying a bit…"

"Oh my, I'm sorry…"

"No, I'm sorry," Wang corrected. He directed Azusa to stand next to the wall. "I promise I will make it quick."

Azusa dipped her head. "Thank you." She looked at the idols, closed her eyes and smiled, and waved. "Goodbye, girls."

Slowly, Wang stretched his hand to the side of her face and slammed her head against the wall, smashing her skull. She screamed and her smile faltered, but she revived it and got on her knees. Wang slammed her head into the wall again, and again, and a third time, and then he stepped back. Azusa's body slumped forwards. Wang turned her onto her back. Her eyes were still closed and she was still smiling. Wang muttered something and leaned down to give her a kiss on her bloody cheek, then he stood, dipped his head, and walked out of the arena.

The announcer waited for a few moments before announcing that Wang had won. The audience cheered and the idols fell completely silent.

Ritsuko examined them. They were all smiling, even though they were all crying. Azusa had that effect. Even when she was dying, she was still able to make everyone smile. Ritsuko's own smile grew bigger.

"Well, that's all there is to it, huh?" she sighed. "You guys…I know you're going to miss her. We all will. But don't you ever forget what she said, OK? She loved us all very much, and I just know that wherever she is right now, she's really happy."

The idols nodded slowly.

Takane held up her notebook. "I wrote down her last words," she told them. "Come see me if you wish to re-read them."

Ritsuko sighed again and looked out at the arena. "And now…I guess we just…wait."

"Can…we have a group hug?" Yukiho asked. The others smiled and surrounded her, giving each other a huge group hug. There was a period of silence and stillness when they finished until Haruka stuck out her hand.

Ami put her hand on Haruka's. Hibiki followed soon after, then Ritsuko, then Iori, and then Makoto. Eventually, all remaining idols had their hands in the middle of a large circle. Haruka grinned.

"Alright, everyone! Let's do that thing, then!" she exclaimed. "765 Pro…"

"FIGHT-O!"