"Back here, huh..." Hannah couldn't help but sigh when she arrived at the place she called home.

Being honest to herself, she wasn't all that happy to be back, but she wanted to spend time with her brother after so long. And she needed a break. A long, long break from everything that happened.

Upon reaching her doorstep, she took in a deep breath and knocked. She could hear shuffling from the other side and hurried steps. When the door opened, a shorter brunette appeared before her eyes.

Teal eyes widened. "Nee-chan!"

"Hey, Wataru." A smile escaped her when her brother jumped up to hug her. "I'm back."

"You are! You really are!" Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes. "When I saw that video of that LBX that protected Muraku-senpai... I... I-I just knew that was you! A-A-And I was right, because... because then it switched to you in a control pod, and... and... and..."

She gave an apologetic smile and patted his head. "You must've been so worried. I'm sorry. But I'm fine, see?"

"I... I guess so..."

"Then, will you let me in?"

"Huh?" He blinked twice before he realized what she meant. Jumping back, he bowed. "Sorry! You must be exhausted, but I―"

"Calm down, Wataru." She chuckled. "And don't apologize. I'm glad that you care so much about me."

The boy grinned in response and led her in. As she unpacked all her belongings in her room, he explained that their parents were away on a business trip. That was fine by her. She didn't feel like seeing them at the moment.

She wasn't on the best terms with her parents. She had been living with her grandparents in Country A for as long as she could remember. It was only when they had passed that she first met her parents and her brother, but only the latter would pay her any mind.

Well, she had already given up trying to find out why a long time ago. By now, she had accepted things as it is, and will simply just care for the one who cared about her.

Pulling out the final item from her bag, she froze. Right... I've been so preoccupied with my own thoughts that I forgot... "Wataru."

"What is it, nee-chan?" He was by her side at once.

"A certain someone gave us a present." She handed him the little box.

He opened it eagerly. His wide eyes went from curious to shocked. "This is... N-No way...! Muraku-senpai's...!"

"He wanted us to have it." She explained. "Since Magna Orthus has its own weapon, he doesn't have much use for the Belial Edge. He said he trusts that we'll take care of it for him."

"Muraku-senpai... trusts us..." His eyes were sparkling. He took out the small blade so carefully she would've thought it was made of glass. "I won't let you down, Muraku-senpai!" He shouted to the ceiling. "I'll do my best and become a player strong enough to truly deserve this gift from you!"

Can't you see that you already do? Hannah shook her head with a sigh. "Go ahead and try it out with your Odin in your room. I'd love to watch, but right now, I think I need to lay down for a little while."

"Okay! Rest well, nee-chan. I'll wake you up when it's time for dinner."

"Thanks."

When the door closed, she finally let herself collapse on her bed. She was beyond exhausted, but at least she didn't have to worry about the contents of her luggage or her brother's concern anymore. With one last sigh, she drifted off to dreamland.

~~~~~

It was a few weeks later that they got their first call from the school. When she answered the call, she was expecting Nikolai to tell all about what they've been doing, so it surprised her when Muraku's voice came instead.

"It's been a while. How are you doing?" He asked.

"Good." She replied when she snapped out of her thoughts. "We both are. Wataru keeps complaining about how boring school is here though."

She heard him laugh slightly. "I see. Kamui's renovations are going well. It would still take a few months before the Second World could be fully operational again, but..."

"The Second World? I thought it'll be turned into a regular diorama."

"That was the original plan, but when we spread out a survey to ask for what changes we wanted to make to the school, a majority of our friends wrote they wanted the Second World back. Of course, it would have nothing to do with wars or anything like that. Instead, it'll be as its name suggests. Another world."

"Huh... That does sound interesting."

"Right? And we're getting help from many big-name companies to make it work too. Without needing a person as hardware, that is."

"Big name companies... I assume you mean like Tiny Orbit and Cyber Lance?"

"And Kamiya Heavy Industries, the Neo International Cosmic Section from Country A, and just about any other company around the world who has even an inkling of a connection to LBXs. I think that Jin-san becoming a full-time teacher was a large part of it, and Ban-san's visit too."

"Yamano Ban-san..." She hummed in response. "That's amazing. That incident really brought the world together for us children, huh..."

There was a short pause before his reply came. "Yeah... Hannah."

"Hm?"

"I wanted to thank you."

Okay, that was random. "Sorry, what?"

"For saving me that time, with Itan Kyouji." He stated. "I never got to properly thank you for that. Even though it didn't turn out to be so dangerous, the fact that you still jumped in front of me and took on the attack to protect me... Admittedly, I've been restless because of it, so... Thank you."

Her mouth dropped. "N-No... It's really nothing..."

"It is something. At least, to me it is. But... I also want to ask, why did you do it?"

"'Why', huh..."

"You have Wataru to care for, and Nikolai to avenge... If I were in your shoes, I think I'd prioritize my own survival for their sake."

"...Yeah. That's the normal way of thinking, isn't it?" She pursed her lips as silence settled between them. It looks like he was patiently waiting for her response. "... Honestly, I... I don't know what happened. I just saw you about to be finished off and... It was like D. Knight moved on its own."

She bit her lip.

"Okay, that last part doesn't make sense. But that's just how it felt at the time..." She sighed, looking around her living room. The house was empty with her parents out shopping and her brother playing with his friends. "I think... I think, deep inside, I knew you were more important than me."

"'More important'? What do you mean?"

"It's not an exaggeration to say you're one of the most powerful LBX players in the school. Compared to you, I'm just a rookie. Sure, I have some battling experience, but not like you or the others. I guess that's the thought that drove me to do it. That we need you to survive until the end."

He was silent, so she took her chance to continue. "I know that it would've left Wataru devastated... but with how much he looks up to you, I'd say he'd be equally devastated if you were the one to become LOST, so that perspective doesn't really matter. Statistically speaking, you were a much more important―"

"You don't get to decide that."

She felt the whole room turn cold from his words alone. Her hand that was holding the phone was shaking. No one, not even Nikolai, not even her parents that rejected her, had ever spoken to her with such a tone.

She heard him take a deep breath and his voice returned to how it usually is. "You don't get to decide who's important and who isn't. No one does. Not even for yourself. Everyone has the same worth as everyone else. It just takes a slightly different perspective to see it."

"That's..." Not wrong, I suppose...

"And as for Wataru... Don't. Just don't."

"Don't...?"

"Don't say that it wouldn't matter to him which one of us died. You're his sister, and I'm his senior. Saying that sort of thing is like diminishing his respect for us both."

"But that's―"

"And I'm not saying that either of us are a better option than the other." He quickly cut in before she could say his words were contradicting. "What I'm saying is... If there was a way for us both to survive that, then why not choose that option?"

She couldn't respond. At the time, she didn't have time to think about it. Or maybe she did, but went for it anyway?

"Well, there's no point in thinking too hard about it anymore." He suddenly spoke again. "Everything worked out in the end, and everyone is alive and safe."

"Y-Yeah..."

"You're a good person, Hannah. That's... That's all I wanted to say."

Something inside her thumped loudly in her ears. Hearing that was a first for her. Actually, everything he's said in this call was a first for her. She had never been a sociable person, and she only had one friend all her life, Nikolai being too stubborn to leave her be in their elementary days.

When, and how, did she become someone worth caring so much about?

A smile made its way to her lips. "Thank you, Muraku-san. That means a lot."

"I'm glad I got to say it." There was a pause before his voice returned. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but something came up. Tell Wataru I said 'hi'."

"I will. And we'll look forward to your next call... if there would be a 'next call'...?"

He chuckled. "There will be. And not just from me, but Nikolai too. And maybe the others as well."

"Right. And we'll look forward to the mail when the school's been rebuilt. See you."

"Take care."

~~~~~

Months flew by slowly, almost painfully. The siblings had regular school to go to and regular homework to work on, a real downgrade from all the fun they had in the LBX school. The only bit of fun they have is when they're talking about LBXs.

Whether it's about his plays or her customization, they could go hours on end without getting tired.

Hannah had customized Wataru's LBX, Odin EX, so that it could use the Belial Edge easily. Brandishing the weapon proudly, Wataru did his best to keep up a win streak in the name of his senior.

Finally, after waiting so, so long, the mail came.

Two invitation letters to once again enroll in Kamui Daimon Comprehensive Academy.

The two exchanged smiles. They already know what they're answer would be.