Ruiko was drifting. It was dark, she couldn't move, and every second seemed to throw her deeper into the void. It was uncomfortable, but it wasn't a bad sensation actually. She didn't feel much pain; rather, the deeper she went, the less her body hurt.

I'm dying.

But that realization didn't hold much significance for her. Sure she had some regrets, like not being able to say goodbye to her friends, but her hazy mind kept blanking out and Ruiko couldn't remember to whom she'd wanted to say farewell. A twinge of remorse flickered in her heart, but even as she tried to remember her body became lighter and lighter and the pain all but disappeared. Ruiko let go of her misgivings and gave in to the emptiness around her.

I guess this is it. She assumed it wasn't a bad way to go, especially since it didn't hurt that much.

But suddenly, a crackle of lightning flickered around her. It zapped her body, and Ruiko felt the pain in her chest and stomach grow. Her body felt heavier. The lightning came again, and Ruiko screamed. The pain was astounding. She wished she could drift away again, away from the pain, but every strike of lightning seemed to brutally drag her upwards, away from peace.

Dimly, she started hearing voices from far away.

Saten-san, wake up. Please, wake up. Don't die on me like this.

I couldn't protect you… I'm sorry. Wake up, and give me another chance.

Saten-san. We're all so worried for you. Won't you wake up for us?

But her scrambled consciousness couldn't understand what the voices were saying, or who was saying them. All she knew was that instead of the tranquility she had been in, something had gone terribly wrong, and everything had started burning.

Leave me alone.

Ruiko tried to sink into the darkness again, away from the excruciating pain, but another blast of electricity dragged her upward even more. Her body was so heavy, and her upper torso on fire. She tried to scream to leave her alone, but her tongue didn't work, and all that came out was a little gasp.
Fire everywhere. Burning her, devouring her essence.

Help.

.

Mikoto waited in desperation, her hands on Ruiko's exposed chests. Tears blurred her vision, but at Touma's count of thirty she let electricity flow into her friend's body, causing it to buckle and jump. Again. Still, there was no response from Ruiko, her heart still unmoving.

"Saten-san, wake up. Please wake up." Mikoto begged. "Don't die on me like this."

Beside her, Touma fervently pumped on Ruiko's chest, directly above her heart. "I couldn't protect you, I'm sorry… Wake up, and give me another chance." He muttered, tears still flooding from his red eyes.

On the other side of their prone friend sat Uiharu, who had regained consciousness after the fight. "Saten-san. We're all so worried for you. Won't you wake up for us?" She murmured gently, coaxingly.

Another thirty pumps, and Mikoto sent electricity coursing into Ruiko's body. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

And miraculously, Ruiko's heart started beating on its own, the girl letting out a small gasp. Mikoto stared in disbelief, unable to process that her rash, unlikely plan had actually worked. Touma and Uiharu were in shock as well, staring as blood started oozing once again from Ruiko's wounds.

Then, the faint sound of an ambulance siren reached their ears. It was enough to galvanize everyone into action.

"I'll direct the ambulance to the front of the warehouse." Uiharu stated, her eyes full of fervent hope and determination, and dashed outside. Touma and Mikoto carefully carried Ruiko outside. The sky was already dark, and the streetlights were on. The siren grew steadily larger, until an ambulance rounded the corner and raced toward their position, Uiharu trailing behind it.

The rest was a haze for Mikoto. Emergency staff swiftly brought Ruiko onto a stretcher and into the ambulance, a flurry of people and shouts and orders. It left as soon as it had arrived, carrying the fate of their friend. Four Anti-skill vans had also appeared, three of them for taking in the criminals, and the remaining one for Mikoto, Touma, Uiharu, and Kuroko. They were asked to receive a check up at the hospital, and then answer questions about the lawbreakers. Touma carried a still unconscious Kuroko into the back of the van. Uiharu stepped toward it as well, and then turned around gazing at Mikoto.

"Misaka-san. Let's go." The genuine warmth behind Uiharu's words brought a small smile to Mikoto's face.

I don't appreciate my friends enough. Mikoto thought. She took a step forward… and her knees buckled, and everything went dark.

.

Mikoto slowly came to in a hospital bed. She was immediately aware of a warm body pressing against her.

Kuroko?

The little girl was tucked against her, head against Mikoto's shoulder.

I see… I must have passed out from exhaustion.

"Did you sleep well?" A soft voice asked. Mikoto craned her neck to the side and saw Uiharu sitting beside her bed, giving Mikoto a gentle smile. Warm morning sunlight poured in from the window.

"Hai, I did, thank you." Mikoto replied, and stared at the ceiling.

I'm missing something. What is it…? Then memories of what had happened crashed into her head. Facing the power-suits and henchmen. Kuroko falling at her feet. The silenced Capacity Down. The moment of helplessness as Mikoto fell into the enemy trap. And lastly, Ruiko lying on the ground in a pool of blood, not breathing, after fighting a power-suit to save Mikoto from certain death.
Saten-san!

"Uiharu-san, is Saten-san okay?!" Mikoto all but yelled, hopeful yet terrified of the answer. Kuroko shifted beside her, still deep in slumber.

Uiharu looked down, avoiding Mikoto's eyes.

No… Please…

"The doctors worked on her all night." Mikoto nodded, scared to know more. "She actually came out of surgery an hour ago."

She's… alive.

Yet even as tremendous relief overwhelmed Mikoto, Uiharu continued in a sad voice.

"Saten-san is in a coma." What? "They don't know when she'll wake up, if ever."

In… a coma? Mikoto didn't know whether to scream in frustration or cry in relief. Her friend was alive, but unable to function. Mikoto gritted her teeth.

All because of me, and my carelessness. If I hadn't fallen for that dirty trick… She thought. Saten-san would still be…

"Misaka-san." A gentle voice brought her out of her self-blaming thoughts. Mikoto looked up.

"I heard what happened from Kamijou-san. And I want to tell you that Saten-san wouldn't want you to blame yourself. She did what any of us would have done for each other." Uiharu brushed a few tears from her eyes and continued. "Don't feel bad. Saten-san will wake up; she'll wake up for sure. And when she does, she wouldn't want to see you acting like this." Uiharu gently stroked Mikoto's hair.

And Mikoto felt all her emotions burst out of her. She started sobbing, crying tears of frustration and guilt and gratitude for her friends. Uiharu started crying as well, and the two friends found solace and comfort in each other.

Saten-san will wake up. Uiharu-san is right, I can't be like this when she does.

Mikoto felt better. She was still angry with herself, and scared, but she knew she had to be strong. For Uiharu, Kuroko, and Ruiko when she woke up.