The Summer festival was in full swing, as the girls were all enjoying themselves. Hibiki and Miku were catching fish, Elfnein was cheering Chris on at the pop gun stand, while Kirika and Shirabe were eating all the delicacies they could.

Rui was the only one that wasn't dressed in a yukata (it's too much of a hassle for her). It was a good thing too, since she ended up drawing the short straw, and was now the one carrying everyone's bags. She sat down on the bench next to Shuri, who was absentmindedly rubbing her hands.

"Something wrong?" Rui asked.

"Well it's… it's about Maia." Shuri said.

"You wish she was here?" Rui guessed.

"N-No, it's not that." Shuri's face turned red, before whispering. "Before Maia left with the others… I kissed her."

"You did what?! In front of the others?!" Rui nearly yelled.

"J-Just on the cheek!" Shuri said. "But after doing that, now I'm worried. We won't see her again for a long time, and… I'm not sure how she feels…"

Unbeknownst to the two, Maia was sitting in the middle of Tsubasa's messy room, still frozen, and still processing the kiss as Maria reprimanded Tsubasa for the mess.

"Listen, Shuri." Rui said, sitting up. "Maia's like an open book. I already know she sees you as special."

"So then…?"

"When the time is right, just ask her directly." Rui suggested. "It'll work out."

"...shouldn't you take the same advice regarding Oneesama?" Shuri asked.

"I-I'm not the focus here." Rui reminded her, turning a bit red herself.

"Um… Oneesan?" Hibiki walked up. "I uh… ran out of money. Can you…?"

"Oh God no…" Rui paled, already hearing the cries of her wallet.

As Hibiki begged her sister, Shuri was deep in thought on how she felt about Maia.

"Well, I've had just about enough to eat!" Hibiki said, hands on her stomach. Kirika did the same motion, letting out a happy dess.

"You two ate too much." Miku said. "Don't complain to me if you get a stomach ache."

"Can I complain to you about them killing my wallet?" Rui asked, opening the empty purse as a moth flew out.

"It's fine, dess!" Kirika smiled. "If we eat some desserts, we'll be able to complete our Gourmet Tour Map: Side Story Edition?"

"Gourmet Tour Map?" Elfnein repeated.

Shuri raised a brow. "What's that?"

"I don't really understand either." Shirabe said, slightly shuffling out of view.

"Yes! Shameful pasts exist to be rewritten!" Kirika crossed her arms and huffed, looking away. "Don't go poking into my stomach, the food is guilty here!"

The others were all just confused. Chris and Rui just shared a look that said "the fuck?"

The fireworks show started, and the entire group looked in awe at the display. It was quite the magical moment… until Hibiki suddenly started to choke.

"Hibiki-san?!" Elfnein shouted in concern.

"What's wrong?!" Miku asked.

"A thitadia thew inthew my mouf! (A cicada flew into my mouth!)" She choked out.

"That's what you get for standing there like an idiot with your mouth hanging open!" Chris chided.

"Not this time! Keep your mouth open!" Rui stuck her fingers in Hibiki's mouth to try and fish out the cicada. "Ow! Stop struggling, you bit me!"

"Has this happened before?" Shuri asked.

"Multiple times, actually." Miku said.

"You're not swallowing another one! Not if I can help it!" Rui shouted, as Hibiki was practically screaming.

"I think we've finally completed the Gourmet Tour Map." Shirabe noted.

"A tragic ending nobody wanted…" Kirika added, as Hibiki gulped.

"Son of a bitch, you swallowed another one!" Rui yelled.

"Stop it… it hurts… STOP!"

Chris sat bolt upright, shaking all over. She took several deep breaths, remembering that she was at home, safe. It was several hours since she and Shuri came home from the festival.

She looked at her arms. While it was dark, she could have sworn that the scars on them were glowing, as if they were fresh again.

She couldn't go back to sleep now. Putting a hand on her face, she briefly wondered if the food from the stands weren't as fresh as they seemed.

Walking down the hall, she could hear Shuri's soft breaths as she slept peacefully. She couldn't be selfish and wake her up. She knew Shuri wouldn't mind, but she didn't want to bother. But she didn't have anyone to talk to.

...unless...

He's no longer human. His soul. He lost his human soul.

"I won't lose my way anymore. If I lose my way… people die. So if fighting's a sin...then I'll take it upon myself!"

5-5-5 Standing By

"Henshin!"

Complete!

The rain on the dorm window briefly gleamed red from the lights on the TV. Rui smiled as she saw Faiz transform. No matter how many times she saw that scene, it was always as awesome to see as the first time. Justiφ's kicking in only made it all the better.

Hibiki and Miku were snoozing away on the top bunk behind her. While they had gone to sleep a little earlier, Rui decided to watch some classic Toku out of sheer boredom (The two can actually sleep through anything, but Rui kept the volume low enough as a courtesy). There wasn't anything to do tomorrow, so she didn't have to sleep early or anything. She didn't really care that it was almost 2 in the morning. For some reason, the time she'd normally sleep was the time she was motivated to actually do things.

Just as she watched Faiz fight the Orphnochs, she heard several knocks on the door. Sighing, she paused the video before getting up to answer it.

"Who's here at this hour…?" She muttered, before opening the door. Once she did, she was met with a wet hug. "Gah! What the-?!"

She recognized the silver silky hair.

"Chris?"

The girl separated from the hug, and Rui saw that she was a dripping and soaking mess. She wasn't even wearing a jacket.

"You're gonna catch a cold-"

Rui stopped, as she looked closer at Chris's face. Her eyes were red, and the rain had failed to hide her tear tracks.

Chris sat on the bathroom floor, hugging her legs to her chest. Rui sat in the tub, watching her. Chris had yet to say anything, and the steam was starting to fade.

"So…"

Chris looked up.

"You mind explaining to me why you ran over here, through the pouring rain at nearly 2 in the morning?"

Chris turned away. "You're gonna think it's stupid."

"My best friend is Maia Kazanari." Rui said. "I don't think I can find anything stupid now."

That brought a bit of a smile on Chris's face. Rui gently patted the edge of the tub, and Chris slowly moved over, sliding in and sitting next to her.

"Well…" Chris's face was as red as her relic. "I had a nightmare."

"Yeah?" Rui said, rubbing her hands together to lather the body wash.

"It's about… um…" Chris rubbed her arm.

"Take a deep breath." Rui said, as she gently washed Chris's back. "Take your time."

"You know… what happened to me after my parents died, right?"

Rui kept on washing Chris's back, briefly nodding.

"It really hurt… everything they did… but I kept on pushing through, for Shuri." Chris said.

"So I'm gonna guess this bad dream brought up some pent up trauma?" Rui asked.

Chris looked down at the faded scars on her arms and legs.

"But why did you come to me?" Rui asked, as she finished washing Chris's back. "I'm sure Shuri would be willing to talk to you."

"I didn't want to wake her up for my own selfish reasons, and I didn't want to worry her." Chris said. "You were the next person I could think of."

"So you let your sister sleep, but you're perfectly fine screwing with my sleep schedule?" Rui asked, as Chris blushed. "So… it's from these scars, huh?"

Chris yelped as Rui gently pulled her into a hug, causing the water to spill. She wondered what Rui was trying to do, until she felt fingers gently touch her neck, and trace over a scar.

"This one though… it's not like the others, right?" Rui asked.

"How do you-?"

"Tsubasa told me about how she had to do this to save you." Rui replied, gently pushing off her. "Not all your scars come from people you hate."

"But still-"

Rui gently lowered herself into the tub, until only her shoulders and head were poking above the water.

"Look through my hair."

Chris looked confused, but ran her fingers across Rui's hair, pushing through the soapy strands, unsure of why Rui was asking her to do this.

And then she saw it. A sharp red scar that went across the top of Rui's head, hidden by her light brown hair.

"Wh-wha?" Chris said. "Wait, is this-?"

"Yeah, that was from a few years ago." Rui said. "When people were harassing us after the concert, I got that from protecting Hibiki."

Chris remembered the story Rui had told, how Rui had been a fierce protector to her younger twin, at the cost of her own well-being. She remained silent, as Rui sat back up.

"I know scars are painful, but they're also proof." Rui said. "Proof that we'd do anything to protect the ones that we love."

"...I guess you're right."

Rui then felt a tug, as Chris pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thanks, Chunnigure." Chris said, softly smiling.

Rui chuckled. "Still calling me that, huh?"

"Sorry I have to borrow your pajamas." Chris apologized.

"Not a problem." Rui said, as the two walked out of the bathroom. "You can take my bed."

"You can't sleep on the couch!" Chris said. "That's unhealthy!"

"Then what do you propose?" Rui asked.

Chris blushed, briefly fidgeting. She looked up to see Hibiki and Miku sleeping together. "Well, if those two can do it…"

"Huh?"

"...we shouldn't wake them up, right?" Hibiki asked.

Hibiki and Miku woke up to see Rui and Chris sleeping together on the bottom bunk. Interestingly, the two fell asleep holding hands.

"They deserve this rest." Miku said. "Let's give them some time alone."

After getting dressed, the two quietly left the dorm. They slammed the door a little loud, disturbing Chris and causing her to stir. But she stopped when Rui put her other arm over her, and pulled her closer.

Chris had never felt this much warmth and safety before, and neither did Rui. It really was a nice feeling, as she smiled in her sleep.

And Rui felt the same way.

Sitting in a high-tech room was a man dressed in a black trench coat over a brown vest and white cravat. His hair was mostly gray, although part of it was jet black, bringing out his blue eyes.

"How is the production status, Starlit?" He asked.

A woman with blonde hair was tapping on a tablet, swiping here through several screens.

"The production is handling well. With luck, it should be ready within the next week or so." She said, lowering the tablet.

"But we've been waiting for so long." Said a girl with red hair tied to the side. "Are you sure this is going to work?"

"I have faith in Mr. Tesla, Forte." Said a girl with long white hair. Her left eye was gold, while her right eye was purple.

"Thank you, Lala." The man named Tesla let a small smile rest on his face. "I cannot thank you all enough for supporting me in achieving my dream…"

"This is something we all choose to do ourselves." Starlit told him, smiling in turn. "Your goals are one of a noble cause-"

Starlit winced, before putting a hand over her chest. Immediately, the others went over to her.

"Starlit, is your heart…?" Forte asked, eyes wide.

"I'm… I'm fine." Starlit tried to reassure Forte.

"I'll take you for your checkup." Lala said, taking Starlit's hand. "I'll make sure that you're okay."

"Thank you, Lala." Starlit gently ruffled the girl's hair as they left the room.

Tesla and Forte looked grim as the two went to the medbay. Forte looked up at Tesla. "How much longer will Starlit live?"

Tesla crossed his arms. "Even with the artificial hearts I supply, more of her body continues to slowly die. At most? A month, with how much the Elekleid puts a strain on her body."

"But we need Starlit…" Forte looked at the ground.

"There… might be a solution." Tesla said, looking back at the huge monitor on the wall.

On the screen were multiple videos; all playing footage of the Symphogear Adaptors fighting Noise and other threats.

His eyes settled on one; the wielder of Gungnir.

Hibiki Tachibana.

"One way or another… I'll create an ideal world."

A/N: So, remember what I said about AXZ being next?

I lied.

After a bit of a break, Symphogear X2 will enter its original arc; Lost Song.

See you all next time.