End of game spoilers~~

"Fuyuhiko?"

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu had always been a light-sleeper. It had come to the point where footsteps could wake him up. Constant probing at his right shoulder caused him to sit up, rub his eyes, and wipe off a spider that had tip-toed over his left hand, which was splayed out against the cool glass of the pod.

"Hey, Sonia..." he muttered after a moment. "D'ya need somethin'...?"

His speech and words were slurred to the point that Sonia, if she had not been looking at him, might have mistaken his voice for Kazuichi's. Sleep deprivation is clearly taking his toll on him, she noted, pinning a loose blonde strand behind her ear.

"Don't you think it is time for some rest?" she asked, cocking her head. "Your shift ended almost two hours back, and Akane was supposed to take it up for you, but she had fallen asleep on the couch. I had let her be."

He almost seemed like he was about to object. Standing up from his chair, Fuyuhiko stumbled towards the door, his right leg and left arm having fallen asleep.

(Sleep doesn't help unless it's your soul that's tired)

The scrap of the chair was rather loud, and the Ultimate Princess winced. "My apologizes..." she whispered to those in comatose. Lifting the chair to move it, she paused, then set it back down.

(You found parts of me I didn't know existed, and in you, I found a love I no longer believed was real)

Peko's presence was alive.

(But the most beautiful things in life are not just things, they're the people, and the places, the memories and the pictures. They're the feelings and moments and smile and laughter)

It's been a long time since Sonia had felt it, but it was there. Her legs, instead of shaky under the weight of almost crying, stood tall. Letting go of the chair, Sonia straightened and stared at the pod that held Peko Pekoyama.

(I'm wearing the smile you gave me)

She wasn't as intimidating with her eyes closed- her hair was out of her braids, the white ribbons instead being tied around her wrists.

(I knew I loved you when 'home' went from being a place to being a person)

"Fuyuhiko is waiting," she said to the comatose swordswoman. "We all are. But I believe that he wishes to see you the most. As much as I want to see Gundam, or Akane Nekomaru, I would be delighted if you woke. If any of us woke."

(Because I could watch you for a single minute, and found a thousand things I love about you)

Sonia released a heavy, thick sigh, pressing her pale hand to the surface of the glass. "He loves you, you know," she said softly. "More then anything. Peko, please come back to him. For him."

(I swear I couldn't love you more then I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow)

Several moments of pure silence passed. It was like everything had gone quiet- the hum of the machines, Sonia's breathing, everything had stilled before Sonia's very eyes until Peko's eyelids fluttered.

(I fell in love with the way you touched me with your heart, not your hands)

At first, Sonia thought it was an illusion. But when slivers of red began to peek out from under her pale eyelids, she pressed one hand to her chest and left the other resting on the pod.

(You're my favorite place to go when my mind searches for peace)

"Peko," she said hoarsely, her mouth going dry. Peko was waking. That means everyone else had an even chance, even Nekomaru and Nagito.

(People say you only truly fall in love once- that's a lie. Every time I see you, I fall in love all over again)

Her hands, frantic, found the button under sharp edge of the pod. It was small, but as her fingers roamed around trying to find it, they brushed the button. Taking her guess in what it was, Sonia applied pressure to whatever her fingers were touching.

(I like it when you smile, but I love it when I'm the reason)

It was like a heart beating as the top of the pod flipped open, and the large gasp that came from the person occupying it told the Ultimate princess that she really was awake. Breathing the oxygen that was in this building, not the machine-supplied oxygen.

(You're safe with me, I promise. Look me in the eyes, hold me a little tighter, and smile. Because I'm not going anywhere without you by my side)

Peko's first movements were stiff, robotic- as she rose out of her pod, hunched over, blinking absently, Sonia held her breath.

(Every time I laugh, I hope you're watching, hoping that you will fall for my smile just like I had for yours)

Slowly, the Ultimate Swordwoman cocked her head towards her, and those glassy red irises focused then unfocused. Peko's glasses were with Fuyuhiko, so she doubted Peko could actually identify her.

(We were given two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, but one heart. Why? Because we were supposed to find the other)

Her hand strayed to where the drawstring bag of the bamboo sword usually was, but her hands grasped empty air, and Peko lowered it back to the area in the pod.

(If only you knew how much those little moments with you mattered to me)

"... Young Master...?"

(They told me that to make her fall in love, I had to make her laugh. But every time she laughs, I'm the one to fall in love)

"Fuyuhiko's in his room, sleeping," Sonia explained hurriedly, striding closer and offering a hand to Peko.

(Before I met you, I never knew what it was like to look at someone and smile for no reason)

"... Sonia?" The girl asks, her eyes zeroing in on her hand, then her face.

(I can't get my mind off of you because my mind always know what my heart is thinking)

"Sonia!"

(You have me. Until every last star in the galaxy dies, you have me)

Both teenagers looked towards the doorway at the noise. Standing there was the outline of Kazuichi and Akane, the latter being the one who called her name.

(It's unbelievable meeting someone who understands even the dustiest corners of your soul)

"So I heard the alarm t- Peko!" Kazuichi gasps, his face betraying his shock and relief. "I'm gettin' Fuyuhiko, hang on...!"

(I fell in love with you because you loved me when I couldn't love myself)

Finally, Peko raised herself out of her pod, staring at the retreating back of the mechanic. "... who is he getting?" She asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

(I would find you in any lifetime)

"Who do ya think?" Akane replied, scratching at her cheek with a thumb.

(When I follow my heart, it leads me to you)

Peko just turned away, but Sonia caught the light that had sparked in her eyes, as if her heart had flipped on within.

(You don't just stop loving someone. You either always will, or you never did in the first place)

A clatter of footsteps. Kazuichi and Hajime skidded down the hall, but there was no sight of the yakuza on their heels.

(My heart will always be yours in the past, present, and the future)

"Where is he?" Akane demanded.

(When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew)

"Said it was a joke we're playin' on him or somethin'," Kazuichi grumbled, swiping a finger across his nose. "S'Not like we would, that's somethin' we don't joke 'bout."

(I wish I could turn back the clock so I could find you sooner and love you longer)

"Peko!" Hajime shouted, and everyone turned towards the swordswoman, who was already half-way down the hall, her grey-silvery hair flying behind her in untamed waves as she darted down the hall.

(A serious girl, when she finds someone who calms her spirit and quiets her busy thoughts, will love you fiercely)

"I'll stay here," the short comment from Akane seemed to do it, and the other three dashed after the running Pekoyama.

(You're pretty much my most favorite of all time in the history of forever)

It happened quickly as she seemed to brake, slamming the heel of her palm against the wall to steady herself.

(I can't even explain how good it feels to look up across the room and see you smiling at me)

"... Peko?"

(Your voice is my favorite sound, your laugh is my favorite beat, and you are my favorite everything)

Raw emotion clogged up Fuyuhiko's throat as he stared at the girl he had been waiting for. Four months, nothing. Eight months, nothing. Twelve, nothing. But here she stood, in front of him, eyes blinking.

(I just want to thank you for being my reason to look forward to the next day)

"Peko, say my name, please," he whispered, voice cracking as he took an uneven, wobbling step forward.

(Ever since I met you, no one else has been worth thinking about)

"Youn... no," Peko shook her head. "Fu.... Fuyu... hiko...?"

(If you love someone, you love them with their scars, their sadness, and their flaws)

Something seemed to shatter as a droplet of water spilled from Fuyuhiko's working eye. He was just standing there, speechless, his tooth digging into his lower lip, before a dam shattered.

(I love my eyes when you look into them, my name when you say it, my heart when you touch it, and my life when you're in it)

Fuyuhiko's movements were too quick to register, as he broke into a sprint, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her around. Among the other three, they exchanged smiles, almost doubtful that their next guess of what he was about to do was wrong.

(One universe, nine planets, two-hundred-and-four countries, eight-hundred-and-nine islands, seven seas, and I had the privilege of meeting you)

"Never leave me again," the words were a soft, broken exchange, breathless as they left Fuyuhiko's lips before he crushed his to hers, sliding a hand into a hair and the other cupping her cheek.

(I find pieces of you in every song I listen to)

Automatically, Peko tried to flinch away, but leaned into the warmth of his hand.

(If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes. Only then would you see how much you mean to me)

They were always there for one another.

(Seven billions smiles, and yours is my favorite)

The kiss lasted for several seconds, only when Peko had pulled away, giving the Ultimate Yakuza that smile that made his heart go wild, rattle against his ribcage, and light on fire.

(I wonder what goes on in your mind when you hear my name, because I smile and my heart does a little jump)

"Never," she breathed.

(I choose you. And I'll choose you, over and over, and over. Without a pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll keep choosing you)