"Ohhh, that feels good…" Tsuki groaned.

Fumi rubbed Tsukiko's shoulders, trying to tend to her pains.

"Jeez, you're still recovering?" Haruka sighed.

"Yeah… It was pretty rough." Tsuki lowered her head.

"Don't worry, I'll be here with you everyday." Fumi wrapped her arms around Tsukiko.

"Yeah, it takes a while to recover from a bad fight. It takes a lot out of you." Shizuka remarked.

The group met again in Aurelia's shop, like usual. In the days after the collapse of the Shakudos, it had become their hangout. Aurelia and Claudia were more than happy to have them. It quickly became their second home.

They all sat around at what was once a fabric working table. Aurelia sat at another table. She was making another article of clothing for someone they'd probably meet someday.

"You didn't complain when I was in the hospital." Sylvie scolded Haru.

"You got it way, way worse than Tsuki did!" Haru rolled her eyes.

"I'll be okay in a couple of days." Tsuki scratched her head. "It doesn't hurt that much anymore."

"And then, after you're done recovering" Fumi nudged her.

"Heh, yeah." Tsuki chuckled.

"Man, I don't need to know that." Haru looked away.

"What about you and Kaz?" Tsuki fired back.

"What about us?" Haruka shouted.

Kaz grabbed Haruka's arm. "Yeah, yeah, that's enough, both of you."

"There is no time to fight." Aurelia approached them.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Haruka pointed at her.

Aurelia wore the same black dress she'd worn a week ago during her walk with Tsukiko.

"Damn, lookin' good!" Shizuka gave her a thumbs up.

"See, Tsukiko?" Aurelia smiled at her.

Tsukiko sighed.

"Whoa, I just realized something!" Sylvie spoke up.

"What?"

"Everyone's here!" Sylvie exclaimed.

"Except Flowers." Haruka shook her head.

"And Etsuko." Shizuka added.

"Where are they, anyway?" Tsuki asked.

"They're back at the warehouse, defending the fort, doing… leader stuff. I'm taking a much needed vacation." Sylvie relaxed her body.

"That's good."

"Hey!" A voice shouted from below. "Aren't you guys forgetting someone?"

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"Huh?" Tsuki looked around.

Lily marched into the room with a stomp. "No one invited me!"

"Hey, Lily!" Tsuki tried to kneel down, but it was too painful.

"You okay?" Lily asked.

"Just a little sore." Tsuki frowned.

"Get well soon!" Lily ran forward and hugged her legs.

"Aww." Tsuki smiled and patted her head.

"Hey, Tsuki." Shizuka tapped her on the shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk? Alone? In a little bit." Shizuka kept it brief.

--

"What is it, Shizuka?" Tsuki broke away from the group.

"How are you feeling?" Shizuka asked.

"Alright. Still stings, but--"

"No, emotionally." Shizuka shook her head.

"…I'm okay." Tsuki scratched her arm.

"What happened at the station?"

"Nothing, really."

"What happened?" Shizuka insisted.

"He… said he saw me as a challenge. He apologized about Fumi too…"

"Not satisfied?"

"I'm satisfied, just… not sure how to take it." Tsuki looked around.

"Happens a lot in life. You get used to it." Shizuka frowned.

"I can imagine."

They both paused to think.

"How do you feel about being a Knight?" Shizuka asked.

"It feels right." Tsuki bowed slightly.

"That's good." Shizuka placed her hand on Tsuki's shoulder.

"Plus, I really like the jacket." Tsuki chuckled.

"Yeah, it looks good on you."

"Can I say something weird?" Tsuki asked.

"Sure."

"Thank you for everything." Tsuki bowed.

Shizuka shook her head. "The hell did I do?"

"I feel like I have to thank everybody for supporting me through all this." Tsuki smiled.

"Nah, it's a mutual thing. Friendship is a two way street, y'know?"

"I guess."

"Just be grateful that you have people worth fighting for." Shizuka smiled too.

"People worth fighting for?"

"When I met you and I saw Haruka in her jacket again, I remembered a lesson Aurelia told me a long time ago. She told me what the strongest people have something to protect. When I realized that I wanted to fight for you and your sister, I felt strong again. It was like the spark I had all those years ago came back. Thanks for that." Shizuka sniffed.

"You okay?" Tsuki leaned in.

"Yeah, yeah." Shizuka hid her face.

"I wanna fight for you too."

"What about Fumiko?"

"Well, I wanna fight for everybody. Before this. it was just me and Fumi against everybody. These guys just met me, but they all stuck by my side, so I wanna pay 'em back for that." Tsuki turned back at the group.

"Yeah, but saying you fight for her is so much more romantic, isn't it? She'll love hearing that at dinner." Shizuka chuckled.

"I thought you said Knights fight for the city, and for justice." Tsuki scratched her head.

"As a Knight, yes, I think you should do that. As your aunt, I think you could tell a white lie to get her into the bedroom." Shizuka whispered.

Tsuki went red. "C'mon, it's not like that."

"I'm just kidding, relax." Shizuka laughed. "It's good to know you're keeping that jacket."

"Yeah. It feels good to know I'll be fighting with you guys again real soon." Tsuki smiled.

"Take your time, Haruka and I've got this covered. Once a Knight, always a Knight."

"C'mon, I don't wanna end up spending my birthday inside." Tsuki chuckled.

"Alright, alright… Gimme a call when you're feeling better. You've still got my number, right?"

"Yeah, will do."

"It might not end up being as exciting as fighting the Shakudos, but that's the work of a Knight."

"I can handle it."

"That's what I like to hear."