"Seriously, I'm fine," Haruka sighed.

Far too often, Tsukiko had to sit in fear in this exact hospital. She cursed herself for letting something horrible happen. She was still shaking, not being able to calm herself down.

"I-I know, but--"

"Get out of here," Haruka looked out the window.

"What?" Tsuki looked at her.

"You don't need to be here," Haruka shook her head.

"What, I'm just supposed to leave you here?" Tsuki stood up.

"Yeah."

"...no."

"What do you mean, no?" Haruka looked her sister in the eye.

"I... almost lost you today--"

"You didn't!"

Tsukiko went silent.

Haruka sighed, "I get that you were scared, but you're gonna have to calm down."

"Stop telling me to calm down!" Tsuki snapped.

Haruka chuckled, "Listen to me for once."

"I can do whatever I want," Tsuki sat back down.

"You can, but I can also get really pissed off at you," Haruka countered.

"Tough shit," Tsuki spoke under her breath.

The room was cold, like usual. There was another sunset glowing through the glass wall at the far end of the hospital. This room showed more of the Tokyo skyline and the people down below were just as lively as usual.

"I feel bad for Aurelia," Haru stared at the ceiling.

"Why?"

"I ruined her jacket. I hope she can fix it or something. Maybe she has a replacement for it or something," Haruka thought aloud.

"Is that all you care about?" Tsuki felt a pit in her stomach.

"Of course not--"

Kazuo came bursting in through the front door. He had something under his arm, and tears in his eyes. He ignored everything in the room, moving in a beeline to Haruka's side.

"Hey, hey," Haruka tried to comfort him.

"I-I came as soon as I heard..."

"Aww..."

Kazuo's voice cracked, "Tell me you're okay."

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Haruka smiled. "Just my shoulder. I'll be outta here like... tomorrow."

Kazuo wiped his eyes, "I was worried sick about you."

Haruka reached up and put her hand on his face, "Don't worry about me so much, Kaz."

"I-I love you," his voice cracked again.

"I love you too," Haruka pulled him in and kissed him.

Kazuo pulled away after quite a long kiss, handing something over to her, "Here, take this."

He handed her a rather stereotypical bouquet of roses. It seemed a bit out of character for someone like him, but Haruka seemed to appreciate the gesture. She held them close to her chest.

"Roses?" Tsuki asked.

"Red roses, my favorite," Haruka chuckled. "Kinda wish they came in blue though."

Kazuo walked over and sat down next to Tsuki, just to be able to stay close to Haruka, "Rest, alright?"

"Jeez, lighten up. You're both being too damn serious," Haru sighed.

Kaz turned to Tsukiko, "You okay? You're shaking."

Tsuki shuddered, "I-I'll be okay, it's just--"

"I'll be okay!"

"It's not that!" Tsuki choked.

"Then what is it?"

"I let you get hurt."

"What?" Haruka glared.

"I just stood there and watched... It's like Fumiko all over again..."

"Fumiko?"

Kazuo put his hand on Tsuki's shoulder, "You can't just blame yourself for this."

"I-I don't wanna get people hurt anymore. Especially not my sister," Tsuki stood up.

"What're you talking about?" Haruka sighed.

"I'll... be going."

--

Tsuki ran out of the hospital room a few moments later. She took a path straight to Shizuka's home. Shizuka answered on the first knock and let her in almost immediately. Tsuki sat down in the room at the end of the hall as if it was her second home already.

"You okay?" Shizuka looked her in the eye.

"I'm fine."

"I heard about Haruka. Sorry I wasn't there," Shizuka lowered her head.

"Yeah..." Tsuki sighed.

"Is she gonna be alright?" Shizuka asked.

Tsuki frowned, "It was her shoulder. She says she'll be out of the hospital by tomorrow."

"Ouch. Yeah, that always sucks," Shizuka hissed.

"What do you mean?"

"I had a couple of bad scrapes back in the day," Shizuka chuckled.

Tsuki made her hand into a fist, "I felt so scared."

"...yeah, I get you."

"I feel so useless," Tsuki shook her head.

"Why?"

"I was there, and I didn't stop it."

"It... happens. Just be glad she's okay, alright?" Shizuka offered her hand.

Tsuki grabbed her hand, "I thought I was stronger. I just let it happen, just like with Fumiko."

Shizuka made a strange noise before talking, "I see..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, seriously, tell me," Tsuki demanded.

Shizuka leaned back on the floor, "You really do remind me of myself."

"Huh?"

"You're still green. You don't get it yet."

"Seriously?" Tsuki groaned.

"You're being too damn serious, Tsuki."

Tsuki turned red, "Maybe you're right."

"I am right. I've been doing this for something like twenty years now," Shizuka lectured her.

"It's just hard."

"I know it's hard. It's something I'm gonna have to beat into you so you don't let it make you fall. Don't do what I did," Shizuka reached over and took a sip from a bottle next to her computer.

"...why did you stop being a Knight anyway?" Tsuki asked.

"Did you ask Haruka first?"

Tsuki shrugged, "She said you just stopped all of a sudden."

"And what did she tell you when you asked her why she stopped being a Knight?" Shizuka rolled over.

"...nothing specific, really," Tsuki paused to think.

"It doesn't really matter why she and I retired--"

"Then tell me," Tsuki insisted.

Shizuka made a strange sound, "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Why?"

Shizuka chuckled, "Even I know to respect people's space, Tsuki."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. I get it," Shizuka sat back up. "Just... you'd understand why I wouldn't wanna talk about one of the lowest points in my life, right?"

Tsuki lowered her head, "I'm sorry."

"Just don't think about it, alright? I know this is rich, coming from me, but you should really try to move on."

"I can't. I can't just forget about what happened to Fumi, or what happened to Haruka."

"Then at least, try not to let it hold you down," Shizuka hugged Tsukiko.

Shizuka had a strange scent to her. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't a clean smell. For some reason, Tsuki felt that it was somewhat familiar.

"Easier said than done."

"Quit being so stubborn."

"I'm not being stubborn, I'm being--"

Shizuka scoffed, "Tell me. Tell me what you're being."

"I'm... mad. I'm mad at myself for being weak, okay?"

Shizuka hugged Tsukiko again, "You're not weak, okay?"

Tsuki struggled, "Then why couldn't I stop him?"

"It's okay to be scared sometimes, alright?"

Tsuki groaned, "How is anyone supposed to rely on me if I freeze whenever I see blood?"

"You're not a goddamn superhero, Tsuki," Shizuka looked up to look Tsuki in the eye. "You're not some jaded monster either. You're a person, a human."

Tsuki sighed, "What's with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just a couple weeks ago, you were all depressed and scared. Now you're all like this."

"...Maybe Haruka was right. Maybe I really did have to put on the jacket again," Shizuka smirked.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"I dunno. I feel better when I'm around you, so thanks for that," Tsuki hugged back.