The crowded streets of Tokyo were as busy as ever. Groups of people formed large, roaming walls, blocking people from passing. It was common to be stuck behind someone walking slowly in the more busy times of the day.

It was an hour or two past noon, so the sun was still high above. Spring had arrived, making the days longer. Wind blew through the street, kicking up dust and paper scraps.

Tsuki kept a hand in her pocket, making sure no thieves grabbed her things again. It wasn't as common as people liked to pretend it was, but she couldn't be too careful. She tried to forget about it, to focus on her still upset companion.

Haruka seemed to be calming down, as Tsukiko had hoped. She clung to the Third Knight for comfort, standing a bit closer than usual. Despite their past differences, the two of them had grown close once more.

"It's been a while since I've walked around out here." Haruka admitted. "...it's nice to get some fresh air."

"You've spent too much time inside." Tsuki smiled. "I probably would've gone crazy. I can't even think if I'm not walking around town."

"Y'know, I've thought about what it's like out there in the country. I'd visit, but I'd never move there. I'm too used to the noise here." Haruka sighed.

"How about Sapporo?" Tsuki suggested.

"Cold." Haruka only spoke one word. "...maybe it'd be fun."

"Hmm." Tsuki was a bit disappointed by Haru's weak answer.

"Wanna grab a bite to eat?" Haruka asked.

"Oh yeah, crap. I forgot." Tsukiko reached into her jacket, producing the wad of bills Haruka'd handed her earlier.

"Nah, keep it." Haru shook her head. "It's a little spending money, from me to you."

"Haru..."

"I don't need it." Haruka shook her head. "Take Fumi somewhere nice for me, okay?"

Tsuki took a second to reply. "Will do."

"There you go." Haruka put an arm around Tsukiko. "Lighten up."

"Weren't you just--" Tsukiko started.

"Do as I say, not as I do."

"Fine." Tsuki groaned.

Haruka shoved Tsukiko to the side. Her hands forced the Third Knight into a small restaurant. She hadn't even taken time to look at the sign, she simply forced her way in.

--

Tsukiko's eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark interior. Little tables were strewn around. The walls were a dull, dark brown. The floor was some sort of tile, with a messy gray texture with little shiny bits. At the far end was a man in a white shirt waving at them.

"Oh, Haruka!" The man called out. "You want the usual?"

"Yeah, yeah, and something for my sister here." Haruka nudged her.

"Alright, alright, have a seat!" The man motioned for them to sit at the stools in front of him.

There were other customers, but they kept to themselves. A few of them glanced up at them, but they didn't react much. They seemed much more interested in their meals.

Tsukiko climbed onto a stiff, uncomfortable stool awkwardly, but Haruka seemed to jump up with glee. The surface in front of them was a stainless steel table that extended out of the counter. Between them and the chef was a pane of glass.

Behind the glass were several griddles. Slabs of meat sizzled away. Another man hacked up pieces of beef, pork and other assorted meats.

The man who had greeted them earlier handed Haruka a black bowl. Thin cuts of seasoned beef filled the bowl, with only a few grains of rice at the very bottom. Haruka began tearing into her meal. Her sharp teeth ripped and tore through the meat as if it were nothing.

Tsuki didn't know what to say. She could only watch.

Haruka ignored her sister's glare. The taste of beef made her deaf, blind, and dumb. Her eyes seemed to glow a ravenous, dangerous red. She had the face of a wild animal, shredding its prey with razor sharp fangs.

"Here, have this." The man handed something to Tsukiko.

It was a plate of meat skewers. The pieces of steak were large and thick. The skewers were heavy as she lifted one. It was impressive that the sticks could support the weight.

Carefully, she bit off a piece and started chewing. It was incredibly juicy, and just a bit chewy. The steak practically melted in her mouth. Just as she finished her first bite, she went to the next one.

"Like it?" The man asked.

"Yeah." Tsuki spoke as she ate.

"Yep, that used to be Haruka's favorite." The man laughed. "Nowadays, she's a beef bowl gal."

"Is she a regular?"

"Mhmm." The man nodded. "Known her for years."

"Huh, how come I've never heard of this place?" Tsuki took another bite.

"I dunno. She talks about you a lot. Tsukiko, right?" The man asked.

"Yeah." Tsuki nodded.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your food. Come back anytime, Tsukiko. Lemme know if you want anything cooked up, I'm glad to help out the Knights." The man turned back to his grill.

"So, how's Fumi been treating you?" Haruka asked.

Tsuki took a minute to answer. "Fine?"

"She treating you right?" Haruka turned.

"Of course. She... always does." Tsuki made an awkward face. "What? Something up?"

"No, no... I can worry, can't I?" Haruka moved some hair out of her face.

"You don't have to worry. Fumi and I are good." Tsuki smirked. "How's Kaz?"

Haruka chuckled. "Kaz's a busy man. Always got his eyes on a case. Always has time for me too."

"All work and no play..." Tsuki smirked.

"We play, we play." Haruka turned a little red.

"What do you two do for kicks?" Tsuki prodded.

"I'd show you, but he doesn't like it when I bring a camcorder to bed." Haruka's grinned.

"Not like that." Tsuki shook her head.

"We eat out, we go drinkin'... Nothing too fancy, not yet." Haru admitted.

"Fumi and I went to a hot spring a few months ago." Tsuki nodded.

"Lucky. You both get to sit in the same bath." Haru complained. "We always have to go out far to find a good place."

"Sounds a little dangerous." Tsukiko spoke quietly.

"Dangerous how?"

"You could drive a man crazy doing stuff like that."

"That's the plan." Haruka winked.

"Work treating you well?"

"Like I said, I'm not much of a detective. You?"

"I'll... probably help Fumi with her family business." Tsuki took a bite from her skewer.

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"I can't see a girl like her working construction." Haruka hesitated.

"You'd be surprised. Fumi's a natural leader, she can definitely pull it off." Tsuki felt proud.

"Shizuka told me. She's been helping around at their job sites." Haruka played with her food.

"She's been hanging around at Aurelia's more lately." Tsuki chewed.

Haruka shoveled meat into her mouth. "It's good to see her out and about. Thanks for helpin' her out."

"She's family."

"No, seriously. You're the one that kept pullin' her out of her shell. I was just an enabler." Haruka sighed.

"You did your best." Tsukiko tried to cheer her sister up.

"I'm gonna do better for her from now on..."

"I guess I'm the only one without a job now, huh?" Tsuki felt embarrassed.

"You could always be a housewife." Haruka nudged.

"I don't know about that."

"Could be nice. Everyone's so damn busy. Even Lily." Haruka sounded a little sad.

"Isn't she a bit young to be working already?"

"It's mostly ownership transfer paperwork. Lots of red tape." Haruka sighed. "That and the weird stuff she's been doing with Aurelia."

"That's one way of putting it."

"It's Lily's choice, so I can't complain. I just wish she wouldn't work herself ragged all the time." Haruka frowned.

"Me too."

Haruka leaned over her plate and sighed. "I needed that protein."

"You alright?" Tsuki moved onto her second skewer.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Haruka nodded. "Gimme a skewer, Meat Man!"

The man behind the counter stabbed a few hunks of meat with a wooden stick and handed it over to her.

"If you keep eating like that, I'm gonna run out meat." The Meat Man joked.

"I'm not that bad am I?" Haruka spoke with her mouth full.

"You listenin' to yourself right now?" Tsuki sighed.

Haruka laughed a bit.

"Seriously, you're gonna choke." Tsuki turned to Haruka.

"I'm fine." Haruka's voice was muffled by meat.

"Alright, alright." Tsuki finished her second skewer.

"Get her some more meat." Haruka's muffled voice called out.

The chef behind the counter grabbed a few more wooden sticks. He chopped off pieces from what looked like a huge, sizzling steak. One by one, he ran the cubed chunks down the sticks and held them out to Tsukiko.

"Haru, I don't know if I can--"

"Eat it." Haruka glared.

Tsukiko slowly reached for her food. "Sorry."

"It's fine, just eat. You need more meat in your diet." Haruka finished eating.

"What for?"

"Protein." Haruka rolled her eyes. "Gotta build muscle, right?"

"Since when do you care about health?" Tsuki gave her a weird look.

"Just eat. You earned yourself a meal." Haruka growled.

"Thanks." Tsuki said.

"Get her something to drink too." Haruka tried to get someone's attention by waving her hand.

"You're really racking up a bill there, ehh?" The chef laughed.

"I can pay." Haruka repeated her hand gesture. "Now, get me a drink, alright?"

"You're so damn mean, Haruka." The chef faked a defeated sigh.

"I'll say please when I get my food for free, man." Haruka joked.

"Say whatever you want then." The chef turned away and grabbed a beer and handed it over to Haruka.

"Here, drink." Haruka handed the beer to Tsukiko.

"It's like, noon." Tsuki pushed the beer away.

"C'mon, you used to down scotch before school. Drink." Haruka insisted.

Tsukiko hesitated, but eventually took the drink. "What's up with you?"

"Ehh?"

"You're being all weird and nice."

Haruka sighed. "I wanna have a good time, y'know? Don't think about it too much."

Tsukiko went back to eating. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize, now you're making me feel guilty." Haruka shook her head.

"Right."

"That's better."

Meat juices ran down Tsukiko's cheek. She raised up her hand and wiped it away, but not before Haruka could get a good look.

"You're gonna choke." Haruka mocked her.

"Fuck off." Tsuki smiled.

"You almost done there?" Haruka watched her sister eat.

Tsukiko grabbed her beer and took one long sip, before putting it back down on the counter. "Yeah, I'm stuffed."

Haruka grabbed the beer and drank the rest of it, before standing up. "Alright, let's get outta here."

The chef approached once more. "the bill?"

"Yeah, just don't say it out loud. I don't want her getting the wrong idea." Haruka laughed.

"What do you mean?" Tsuki asked.

Haruka slid the chef a bill and turned around. "My treat."

--

The Second Knight strutted around like a fool. It wasn't out of some sort of arrogance or disregard. It was the most relaxing way she could walk. She seemed to meander around and play with every step.

Tsukiko tried to stay focused, but Haruka's behavior rubbed off on her. Her face kept twisting up into a smile at her older sister's crude jokes and strange stories. Haruka kept jabbing and poking Tsuki like a strange animal she hadn't seen before.

Haruka's youth and vigor returned to her, healing her dull, tired eyes and stiff body. Tsukiko felt much the same way. They marched down the streets of Tokyo like they were in their own personal parade. The citizens around them turning their heads and watching them stroll down the block.

"Wanna go down to a club?" Haruka asked.

"Isn't it a bit early?" Tsukiko raised an eyebrow. "Besides, aren't we a bit--"

"C'mon, there's a nice hostess club down this street." Haruka pointed.

"Hostess?"

"What, I thought you liked chicks." Haru mocked her.

"Shouldn't we be doing stuff you like? Don't worry about me." Tsukiko tried to deflect the joke.

"Fine, you wanna go to a host club instead?" Haruka stopped.

"E-Either one's fine." Tsuki hid her face.

"That complicates things." Haruka started walking forward again.

"Huh? What's that mean?"

"Girls that go both ways are easy to please." Haruka scratched her head. "But now how am I supposed to decide? Flip a coin?"

Haru reached into her jacket and grabbed something. It was a big red lollipop in clear plastic wrap. She offered it to Tsukiko.

"Have you had that this whole time?" Tsuki grabbed it.

"Yeah, of course. It's cherry flavor. Thought you'd look cool with it." Haruka put her hand back into her jacket pocket.

"Cool?" Tsuki asked as she put the lollipop in her mouth.

"Yeah. It's like when a movie star has a gun and a cigar." Haru made even less sense.

Tsukiko pulled down the brim of her hat. "I have no idea what the hell you're talking about."

"You'll get it when you're older." Haruka shrugged. "So, where to now?"

"Weren't you gonna go to a host club?" Tsuki asked.

"I was just trying to get under your skin, Tsuki." Haruka smirked. "What, did you get all excited?"

Tsukiko groaned. "Goddamnit."

"I have money, but I'd rather waste it somewhere else, thanks." Haruka lowered her head. "Maybe another time, if you really--"

"Quit it already." Tsuki nudged her sister.

"I don't know what you and Fumi do to keep yourselves entertained!" Haruka's sharp teeth poked through a cruel smile. "Can you really blame me?"

The air grew warm with the falling sun. The blue sky above grew a little darker. Shadows grew longer, and blacker.

Students and workers filled the streets as the golden hour loomed closer. The promise of nightfall began to coax out barflies and adventurous youths. It was an awkward time, serving as the in-between for moments of more importance.

"I'll get used to it eventually, huh?" Tsuki muttered to herself.

"I remember when you used to get all red when I made fun of you like that."

"Hmm..."

"It's not that dumb teenage lovey dovey crap anymore." Haruka's toothy smile faded. "You're a real woman now, ehh?"

"Whatever you say, man." Tsuki chuckled.

Haruka stopped in her tracks. "Hey, what about a photo?"

"A photo?"

"Yeah, a photo. It's been a long time since we've taken a photo together. You're not still camera shy, are you?" Haruka reached into her pocket.

"I'm down." Tsuki approached.

Haruka put an arm around Tsukiko, before reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a smartphone with a brushed silver frame. A very old photo of Tsukiko and Haruka together appeared on the lock screen. The home screen was a strange photo of Kazuo, taken at an angle, probably spur of the moment.

The camera started up and they could see themselves on the screen like some sort of digital mirror. Haruka smiled up at the camera, and Tsukiko did the same. Haru squeezed herself closer, before finally taking a photo. Then she took another picture, and another, and another.

Finally, she pulled the phone back and began checking what she had actually captured. She held the phone close to her chest, as if it were something precious. Tsuki watched her sister hold one hand up to block the sun, squinting to look at the screen.

"So?" Tsuki asked.

"I'll send 'em to you in a minute." Haruka kept her eyes on the screen.

Tsuki paused for a moment, not sure whether to ask or not. "...how many photos of me do you even have?"

"Just a couple." Haruka tapped her phone a few more times before putting it away.

Tsukiko felt her phone vibrate. "Kinda weird, isn't it?"

"Do you want me to get rid of it?" Haruka countered.

"N-no."

Haruka laughed. "That's what I thought."