Hotaru stood by the entrance, the bar's light illuminating only one half of her face. Her form was like a vague, black and violet silhouette but her voice dispelled any doubt of identity.

Hotaru spoke softly. "Tsuki."

"What're you doing here?" Tsuki had to force the words out.

"I've been looking all over for you!" Hotaru continued. "What happened?"

Fumi cut in, taking a step between the two of them. "Uh, who are you?"

Tsuki reached out and put a hand on Fumiko's shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Haven't you seen the news?" Tsuki kept firm.

"Yeah, but I don't believe any of it." Hotaru stared.

"Tsuki." Fumi made herself clear. "Who is she?"

"Oh, you're... Tsukiko's girlfriend, right?" Hotaru chose her words carefully. "I'm--"

"You're Mori Hotaru, Tsuki's contact in the Ministry of Justice." Shizuka explained for her. "Don't worry. She's not a cop."

"You were that girl waiting for Tsuki in the alley." Fumi remembered.

Hotaru instinctively defended herself. "Aurelia asked me to deliver something to her that day, said she'd be there. I would've been more upfront, but--"

Fumi immediately understood. "But The Knights don't like cops."

"I'm not a cop." Hotaru paused. "...I feel like I have to say that a lot these days."

Hotaru took a first step forward, the light revealing more of her face, but Tsuki's glare stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Hotaru." Tsukiko felt a lump in her throat. "Why were you looking for me?"

Hotaru took a glance at Fumi, then turned back to Tsukiko. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"And?" Tsuki pressed.

"That, and I wanna know what really happened between you and Masahiro."

"Why?" Tsuki continued.

"Because I don't think Ishikawa's telling the truth, and I can't go ask Masahiro myself, so I wanna hear it from you." Hotaru sputtered out.

"What difference would it even make?"

Hotaru sighed. "Tsuki."

"My side of the story doesn't matter." Tsuki glared. "I'm already a wanted criminal."

"If it doesn't matter, then just tell me." Hotaru pushed.

Something tugged on Tsuki's sleeve, and at first, she ignored it. She felt another tug and she finally turned around to look. Claudia was standing with a stern look on her face, shoving a note in Tsuki's face.

Asuka jumped. "Whoa, when'd she get here?"

"Aurelia needs to talk to you. All of you." Claudia's note read.

"What is it?" Hotaru narrowed her eyes.

"It's..." Tsuki paused. "Aurelia wants to see us."

"Is it important?" Asuka asked.

Claudia simply turned toward her.

"You don't really ignore a summons from Aurelia." Shizuka explained.

"Did it have to happen now?" Tsuki lamented.

Claudia stepped behind the bar, and pointed at the door leading to the backroom. Shizuka was the first to follow her.

"C'mon, let's not keep her waiting."

Asuka hesitated. "Right now?"

"Would you rather stand around out here?" Shizuka opened the door and stepped through.

"...I really didn't wanna have to do this again." Asuka took a deep breath.

Fumi, Asuka and Hotaru all looked at Tsukiko, all waiting for her to make her move. It took a second for her to take the first step, the stares all getting under her skin. She passed through the door first, then the rest followed just behind, Claudia closing it behind them.

The group found themselves in a wood shack, the floorboards creaking under their feet as they crammed in. It was dark, wherever they were, and a little cold. There was only one light hanging overhead, lighting the room in pure white light, but casting long shadows.

There was a window at the far side revealing a nighttime view of a rice field, dense and green. Telephone poles crossed the field and a single road cut through it, though it was so far that it appeared as just a narrow asphalt slice through the greenery.

Faceless wooden mannequins on metal pedestals stood at the edges of the room by the walls, each of them wearing and modeling ornate clothes, some antique, some modern. In the center of it all were three mannequins, each of them just bare wood.

Hotaru looked out the window, putting a hand to her temple. "That never gets any easier, does it?"

"It does." Shizuka replied. "Just don't overthink it."

"Looks like this is where Aurelia keeps all the good stuff." Fumiko looked around, marveling at it all. "These are probably all the clothes she can't just leave hanging around the shop."

"It's been ages since I've been here." Shizuka started walking around. "Doesn't look much different, though."

"You know where we are?" Fumi turned to her to ask.

Shizuka looked out the window. "Just a special little place to keep all the good stuff, like you said. About two hour's drive from Tokyo."

"Or a matter of seconds by door." Hotaru added.

"Wait, we're where, exactly?" Asuka pleaded.

"I just said don't overthink it." Shizuka repeated herself. "We're still in Japan, if that matters."

"...I guess it does." Asuka sighed. "I can't write a story about this..."

"Where is Aurelia anyway?" Fumi turned to Claudia.

Claudia looked back at her, then just smiled and shrugged.

Tsukiko was the first to step forward, pushing past the group and approaching the bare mannequins. Hotaru followed but kept her distance, as if her very presence could sully their form.

"These are probably for the three Knights' jackets." Hotaru said in a hushed tone.

"I wonder how long mine sat here before I got it." Tsuki stood before the mannequin furthest to the right of the three.

"Probably not too long." Hotaru answered without really knowing.

"I guess I'd better put it back for now." Tsuki turned around. "Asuka, can you hand me my jacket?"

"Oh." Asuka was clearly taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"It's like you said. Without it, I look like an ordinary office lady." Tsuki explained. "I can't really afford walking around with it right now. Not with all that going on outside."

"...right." Asuka reached for her bag. "Good idea."

Asuka pulled out the neatly folded white and red Knight's jacket and held it out in her hands. Before Tsuki could grab it, Hotaru's hand reached for the jacket, then stopped.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Hm?" Tsuki turned to Hotaru.

"Oh, uhh." Hotaru bowed her head. "...can I do it?"

"You want to?"

"Yeah."

"...be my guest." Tsuki stepped back.

Hotaru's hands moved slowly toward the jacket, gently pulling it from Tsukiko's grasp. She held it up high by the shoulders, letting it unfold back into its original shape, taking a good long look at it.

Slowly, Hotaru draped the jacket over one arm, then used her free hand to adjust the arms on the mannequin. The others turned to watch as Hotaru went around the wooden body and fitted the jacket onto it before returning it to a pleasing pose. One by one, she fastened each button on the jacket until the piece fit perfectly on the carved mannequin's body.

Asuka stepped past her, and placed the Knight's hat on the mannequin head and pulled it down. Hotaru lifted the hat's bill high, then took a single step back, her hands hovering over the mannequin a bit.

"I've never seen it like this." Tsuki spoke. "It... still feels weird to not have it on."

"I'd imagine." Hotaru replied.

"It's so clean." Asuka reached out to touch the fabric. "You must take real good care of this thing. Not a single stain."

Hotaru stopped her. "Hey, show a little respect."

"Aren't you even a slight bit curious what it's made of?" Asuka stared at it. "Despite everything, it's spotless."

"Is holding my jacket really that big a deal?" Tsukiko couldn't hold back from asking.

"Yeah." Hotaru said plainly.

"Why?"

"You're local legends. Everyone's run into the Knights at least once in their lives, everyone's got their own story involving at least one of you." Hotaru continued.

"I'm not that important." Tsuki countered. "I just get into fights."

"It's easy for you to say that, but if you heard the stories the folks back at the office tell..." Hotaru paused. "You're like a hero straight out of a comic book."

"Oh shut it." Tsuki cringed.

"C'mon, you're out there, stomping out gangs with your bare hands, putting criminals in their place." Hotaru smirked. "Handing out justice."

"It was never about any of that." Tsuki shook her head. "I just wanted to protect the people I love. It's not justice. That's someone else's job."

"Well, I'd say some things do need a Knight's touch." Hotaru crossed her arms.

"It's not like I go into things wanting to fight." Tsuki explained. "If I could resolve things peacefully, I would. Most of the time, I can't, so I start swinging."

"...I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. You're not a monster." Hotaru remarked. "You've just got this intense aura to you and all those old stories..."

"And I'm not some hero. I've got regrets, times where I've gone too far." Tsuki sighed. "Sometimes I don't even realize it. Someone else has to snap me out of it."

Tsuki looked away, but her eyes stopped at a mannequin in a black suit and tie. There was something about it that bothered her, but she couldn't put her finger on it, just a sense of unease deep inside that eventually forced her gaze away.

"That's the first time anyone's put their jacket back in a long time." Shizuka spoke directly into Tsuki's ear.

"Christ." Tsuki jumped. "Could you not sneak up on me like that?"

"Hehehehehe." Shizuka let out a weird laugh. "You should get your ears checked if you didn't hear me walkin' up."

Fumi stood just behind Shizuka. "It feels wrong, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." Shizuka nodded. "It should be worn proudly, not hiding away in some shack somewhere."

"If it helps me blend in, it doesn't hurt to put it back for now." Tsuki stared at it. "Besides, if I do get caught, I don't wanna give 'em the satisfaction of taking it."

"Don't start planning your own funeral already." Shizuka nudged her. "We're only just getting started."

"I know." Tsuki sighed.

"Like hell I'm letting them take you away from me." Fumi spoke up. "No matter what happens."

"Tsuki!" A voice called out.

Tsukiko turned around to see Haruka standing in the doorway, Claudia holding it open for her.

"Haru?" Tsuki stepped back.

By the time Tsuki'd opened her mouth to speak, Haruka had already marched halfway across the room toward her. She grabbed Tsuki by the collar with her left hand while her right tightened into a fist.

"What the hell did you do?" Haruka said through grit teeth interlocked like serrated blades.

"Haru, I--"

"Hey!" Hotaru stepped forward to defend Tsukiko.

Haruka hit Hotaru with the back of her hand, making her recoil. Her attention then turned back to Tsukiko, pulling back her arm to punch Tsuki in the face. Tsuki shut her eyes and braced herself for a strike that never came.

Haru let out a long sigh. "Damnit. You're a goddamn idiot, Tsuki."

Tsuki broke free of Haruka's grasp.

"That's what happens when you run into things." Haruka spoke softly. "You end up doing things you regret."

"She didn't do anything." Asuka defended her.

"She didn't have to be there!" Haruka raised her voice. "And what would you know?"

"Haru, c'mon." Shizuka walked up to Haruka. "You said yourself you didn't wanna get involved."

"That was before my sister's face was on every goddamn channel." Haruka hissed. "That was before I had to start figuring out how I'm supposed to explain this to Lily!"

"Don't bring her into this." Shizuka scolded her.

"Who the hell else is gonna stop her?" Haruka started shouting. "You and Fumi've already decided everything's a-okay and Tsuki can go around making whatever mess she wants!"

"Haru--"

"What good are you gonna be in jail?" Haruka's saw teeth seemed ready to rip into her. "You can't protect shit in a cell."

"You don't think I know that?" Tsuki stared. "I already learned that they hard way, you don't have to rub it in my face."

Haru tried to maintain eye contact, but just couldn't. "What do you want me to say?"

"Nothing."

"Fuck you."

"You didn't have to say anything."

"Just because I said I didn't wanna get involved doesn't mean I can't worry about you!"

"Does being worried mean you'll punch me in the face?"

"To knock some fucking sense into you!"

Fumiko started laughing, laughing louder than any of them could speak. She was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. Everyone else turned to look at her. Haruka kept her angry expression, but part of it was breaking, confusion overtaking her.

"What's so funny?" Hotaru rubbed her cheek.

"What's with you two?" Fumi choked out between laughs. "You're saying all the same crap you always say!"

Shizuka narrowed her eyes. "Huh."

"Haru." Fumi's laughter faded into a smirk.

"Shut up already." Haruka turned to the mannequin with the Third Knight's jacket on it. "You forgot to empty your pockets."

Haru reached into the jacket and pulled out a bundle of cherry lollipops, removing one from its plastic wrapper and putting it into her mouth, offering another to Tsukiko, who obliged.

"It is good to see you can still settle your differences somewhat amicably." Aurelia's voice rang out.

The group turned to see her sitting on a chair in the corner, her face in a smile. At her side was another one of the mannequins, a dense brown cloth draped over it.

"Aurelia." Shizuka approached her. "What'd you need us for?"

"I wanted to show you something." Aurelia spoke.

The seamstress stood up and used both hands to pull the cloth off of the mannequin. Shizuka stopped in her tracks, going completely silent. Though Tsukiko couldn't see Shizuka's face from behind her, she could see the look on Aurelia's face light up.

"Oh." Shizuka froze. "What the fuck..."

"You okay?" Tsuki asked.

Tsukiko stood over Shizuka's shoulder, finally getting a good view of whatever it was she was looking at. It was a black coat with nothing but a few brass buttons down the middle and on the sleeves. Its design was remarkably plain, resembling a century old school uniform.

"H-How long have you been holding onto it?" Shizuka stuttered.

"A long time." Aurelia said softly.

"You can't--" Shizuka started choking up.

Tsukiko approached her aunt, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Shizuka didn't say anything as she brushed off Tsuki's hand and walked up to the mannequin. She stopped in front of it and put her hands on its shoulders.

"You fixed it." Shizuka's voice wavered. "You fixed it."

"I did." Aurelia smiled back at her.

"I musta been..." Shizuka sighed. "I was just a kid then."

"That's--" Hotaru didn't get to finish.

"My first jacket." Shizuka paused for a long time. "My grandma gave it to me, way back when. It was a gift for finishing my training. You weren't even born yet."

"Training?"

"Grandma taught me how to fight. Or she tried." Shizuka managed to smile through the tears. "But I ruined it."

"Your grandmother and I were good friends. We met when you tried to get it repaired at my shop." Aurelia got close to Shizuka. "You were crying then too."

"But you didn't fix it." Shizuka laughed a little, then raised her arm. "I got this instead."

"An improvement, no?" Aurelia joked.

Shizuka smiled, moving her lips like she was going to say something, but then stopped. Aurelia put her arms around Shizuka, who then pulled her in tight. Shizuka's tears stained the shoulder on the blonde's dress.

"Twenty years." Aurelia muttered. "It has been twenty years."

"I know." Shizuka's voice was muffled. "She'd be proud if she could see it."

"What happened to it?" Fumi asked.

Shizuka wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "It was one of my first fights. I went after a couple bullies at school and they beat me real bad and tore it up."

"...bullies." Tsuki repeated. "You were in junior high when you started, right?"

"Yeah." Shizuka nodded.

"You are much stronger now." Aurelia assured her.

"I'm not." Shizuka shook her head with a smile on her face. "I'm really not."

"Yes, you are." Aurelia asserted. "Shizuka."