I couldn't find her unfortunately, Hod told me that she left to go take a break and that I should talk to her tomorrow if I wished to tell her something. I nodded silently and left, stopped soon after by her soft voice.

Hod: Y/N, be careful, Gebura seemed to be in a bad mood. I don't want you to get hurt because of her temper.

Y/N: I won't, I promise.

...

...

With a new day starting, the first thing I do is run to the Disciplinary department, ready to face the Sephirah. My goal was clear and everything depended on my action, I couldn't allow to mess it up. Entering the main room, I stopped myself and took a deep breath, the stress getting to me.

Y/N's mind: Come on Y/N, you both know each other, shouldn't be that hard to talk with her.

Gebura: Y/N? What are you doing here?

Y/N: Eep!

I jumped in fear before turning around, seeing her standing right behind me with a tough expression. Calming myself, I looked into her eyes and spoke up.

Y/N: I want to apologize for yesterday, I simply felt like I was doing the right thing.

Gebura: What the hell are you talking about?

Y/N: I mean... Tiphereth and all that. Look, I just wanted to say that I didn't want to anger you, I just didn't want to see Tiphereth alone.

She frowned a bit. Crap, I was already failing to do my goal. She took a step closer and I could feel her murderous aura, she could pulverize me at any moment.

Gebura: You don't understand that you're not helping her by doing this. Don't you know what will happen?

Y/N: Yes... my memories will disappear. Even so-

Gebura: You'll only hurt her more if you keep insisting. You should have stopped instead of doing this.

Y/N: ...

The employees were starting to enter the department and saw the debate that we were both having. Of course, I didn't want to completely agree with her, I should be allowed to care for someone if I want to after all.

Y/N: Look, I'm sorry if it's pissing you off, I don't want to see her cry.

Gebura: She will once everything between you will be gone, you know that damn well!

Y/N: ...

Her sudden change of tone made me take a step back, my body warning me that I was starting to go too far. Seeing me back away from her, she sighed and placed a new cigarette in her mouth, the tip of it lit up.

Gebura: All I'm saying is that there's no point associating yourself with them, you're only harming them.

Y/N: Then... you're telling me to just give up and stop caring?

Gebura: The only reason why you're thinking about that is that you're emotions are pulling you like a puppet, we wouldn't have that discussion if it wasn't the case.

Y/N: What about the times we trained together, was that nothing to you? I entrusted you with my feelings of wanting to become stronger, did you discard those feelings simply for that reasoning?

I asked with lowered eyes, my left hand placed where my heart was. The suit still felt warm and gave me the courage to speak to her, it was supporting me like Alter Ego did numerous times, it was the same feeling.

Y/N: I...

Gebura: Unfortunately, I couldn't.

Y/N: H-Huh?

Gebura: I wish I could, still can't discard them. Seeing you persist even after many beatings, your will to improve until you could put a decent fight against me was like a mark in my memories.

She took the cigarette and tossed it in the bin, giving me an 'apologetic' gaze. I couldn't call it a definite one, mixed emotions were hidden behind that facade, some emotions that I didn't want to know.

Gebura: Your existence is a scar, a scar that I can no longer ignore.

Y/N: ...

I remained silent, knowing that she treated me like a scar of all things, it was the worst for me.

Y/N: I... see.

Gebura: At least let me finish. You're a scar that I do not want to lose, you are something that might soon vanish, something I cannot ignore.

Y/N: ...?

I might vanish? What was supposed to mean? Should I be scared? What was I supposed to do in this situation?

Y/N: So, you care in an apathetic kinda way, a burden.

Gebura: Wrong once again, would I go out of my way to tell you all of that if I didn't give a crap?

Y/N: ...

Gebura: I'm was once a Fixer, battles are everything for me, that's why I cherish the marks of my path. In that sense, you are also one, a mark of my path that was not created by hatred or combat but another mean.

Y/N: ...

I weakly smiled, it was comforting to hear her talk about me like that. Witnessing my smile, she did the same.

Gebura: Finally getting it? You always were slow on that type of things, I guess it never change.

Y/N: Say Gebura...

Intercom: Warning! Unknown entities detected inside the facility!

Gebura: Huh?

She raised an eyebrow.

Y/N: What was I like before? I really want to know.

I only have short memories of my previous times, it was too foggy for me to remember anything past a certain point and even the ones from the previous time was already breaking apart inside my mind, my brain was slowly rotting away.

Gebura: Not different from your present self, you wanted to become stronger to protect the ones who loved, at the cost of your life.

Y/N: Really?

I wouldn't go that far but I suppose it wouldn't be that impossible if I think about it.

Y/N: I guess I'm too soft for this place after all.

Gebura: You are but one thing for sure, you ain't a coward, you face death right in the face and attack it with your broken limbs.

Y/N: Is that why you care for me?

Gebura: Heh, coming back to that subject- Hey you! What the hell are you doing?!

She yelled at an office worker carrying some documents away, already sweating bullets the moment her voice reached him. He turned around and began to receive a lecture about not helping the others suppress the monsters roaming around the place right now.

???: Y/N!

Y/N: Huh?

I turned around and saw Daniel rushing inside the room, sweating as well. He took a moment to catch his breath and looked at me.

Daniel: We're having an emergency, Queen of Hatred is throwing a fit once more.

Y/N: *Sigh* Should have expected that, lead the way.

We both ran through the facility, went up a floor and began making our way inside the Training department, where the workers and agents were starting to fear for their lives, praying that they would be spared from her wrath.

Daniel: She's not responding to our communications, you're probably our only chance. Or else, we'll have to warn the facility for a suppression.

Y/N: ...

I walked inside the containment room, warning the others to prepare themselves for a suppression in case everything went wrong. I couldn't guarantee to calm her down so it was the appropriate procedure.

QoH: Nothing I do will change anything.... I am nothing in this world.

Y/N: M-Magical girl?

I called her, no response.

Y/N: Queen of Hatred?

QoH: It's too quiet... too quiet.

I kneeled beside her and touched the top of her glove, hoping for a reaction. Immediately, she grabbed my hand and I could feel her fingernails digging into my skin through the elegant gloves that she was wearing. Raising her head up, her glowing eyes in the darkness of her face gave me chills.

QoH: Is my role here worthless?

Y/N: ...Come on, don't be like that, your turn will arrive!

There was not much I could say, I don't know her personally, how am I supposed to know if her role was useful for people that I probably don't even know? However, a certain idea did form in my head.

...Knight of Despair... Queen of Hatred. It might be a long shot but they could be related to each other.

Y/N: Plus, you shouldn't say that when someone you know is here.

QoH: Someone... I know?

Y/N: ...

I took the emergency phone inside the containment unit and began to call the ones behind the response system.

Y/N: Queen of Hatred is becoming hysterical, has anyone received the Knight of Despair's blessing?

E.R.T: Yes but what is that supposed to do, an agent with the blessing cannot perform a work.

Y/N: I don't care, bring him to the Training team.

I ordered the one on the other side, hearing him sigh before telling me to wait a moment. I hung up and looked back at the girl on the ground, talking to herself. I gave her a small pat on the head in the meantime and tried my best to keep her inside the containment room until the agent arrived.

Y/N's mind: Going from talking to Gebura to that, not the worst but also not the best day I've had.

Finally, a guy arrived in front of the room and gave me a confused look, not understanding why he was asked to be here.

Y/N: I'm sure you can feel it now. If I'm correct, you should know that power right?

She glanced at the one on the other side of the door and her eyes widened.

QoH: I can feel... senpai's power, is she here too?

Y/N: That's what I'm talking about, you shouldn't be like that, what would she say if she saw you like that?

The truth is, she wouldn't say crap, the only thing she has ever done is cry but I don't need to tell her that.

QoH: You're right, I can't give up, not when senpai is here to assist me!

She stood up and rose a fist in the air, ready to fight at any moment. Meanwhile, I silently gave her a smile of relief before standing up next to her, not saying anything else.

Y/N: That also means you don't need a partner anymore since she's-

QoH: Of course not, we'll be invincible with the 3 of us together! We would be even more if my other senpai was here too but I can't be too greedy.

Y/N's mind: I feel like that was a bad pun.

Intercom: Warning! Unknown entities detected inside the facility!

Y/N: Speaking of that, why don't you go help the employees? You'll get your daily dose of exercise.

QoH: Yea, we need it!

Y/N: 'We'?

She grabbed my hand and pointed her staff upward, creating a blinding light around us. Once gone, we were in the middle of the action, the agents trying to get rid of a rather large pillar standing inside the main room.

Y/N: You could have told me instead of dragging me along.

QoH: Come on, it's been a while since the both of us worked together!

Y/N: *Sigh* Fine, let's do this.

I loaded the rifle with a magazine and aimed at the monolith, pressing the trigger once in place. Luckily, its tentacles were too short to reach me but the same couldn't be said to those going melee against the thing. Of course, they were assisted by people with ranged weapon, including me and Queen of Hatred so it was taken care of quickly.

QoH: There was nothing to fear!

Y/N: Thankfully.

I sighed, glad that nobody died, even the office workers survived this ordeal by hiding under desks.

Y/N: Anyway, I have to go talk to someone, I'll see you later Magical girl.

QoH: Huh? Already? But we only began our work together.

Y/N: I mean, there's not much we can do at the moment, just find me if something happens.

I deviated the conversation, trying to exit this situation. Understanding that there was nothing else to do right now, she disappeared and I assumed she returned to her room but not before leaving a kiss on the cheek.

Daniel: *Whistle* Got yourself a girlfriend Y/N?

Y/N: I already have one!

Daniel: I know, I know! I'm just joking.

Y/N: *Sigh*

I returned to the Disciplinary department, where Gebura was ordering her employees to not flee from battles, that they should fight until they die.

Gebura: Y/N, you're back.

Y/N: A little problem with Queen of Hatred, not much. Anyway, I want to return to our previous conversation.

Gebura: Hm, I see.

She gave a sign to her employees to disperse and they did so, leaving the both of us alone. She kicked a chair beside me, telling me to sit down. I thanked her and followed her advice.

Gebura: So, what were we talking about?

Y/N: About why you care for me.

Gebura: Hm...

She glanced towards the ceiling for a short moment. Looking at her in that position felt strangely familiar to me for some unknown reason, like I've seen it before in the past.

Gebura: It's been a while since the both of us had a talk about that, the only time you talk to me is because of your work.

Y/N: ...

Gebura: The reason might sound stupid but it's the best I can give you at the moment.

Y/N: ?

She looked down, back in my direction with calm eyes.

Gebura: It would be Angela, I'm not a fan of her and seeing her constantly roam around you like a shadow leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth.

Y/N: You're not the only one.

Gebura: Be careful with your words.

She warned me, pointing the security camera looking at me. Glancing through the lense, I could almost feel Angela's gaze staring back at me, imagining her smug smile as well. That mental idea gave me a few goosebumps, forcing my eyes away from it.

Y/N: Well, I can't say much but she does scare me, I don't feel safe around her.

Gebura: Not like she has the employees' life as her priority, she would gladly kill them if it allowed the corporation to gain energy.

Y/N: ...

Isn't it the case right now though?

Y/N: Is that the only reason?

Gebura: No... but the other reason goes a long way back.

Y/N: Hm? How far?

Gebura: Very far, I barely remember, only coming back to me whenever I feel like killing something.

Y/N: What is it?

Gebura: During an important moment, you participated as one of the main reasons the corporation was saved, saving me also from a killing blow from an enemy.

Y/N: Woah, I did that?! That's sounds impossible.

Gebura: In your current state, it would be, you had a bigger advantage back in the day.

Y/N: ?

She pointed the hairpin that Queen of Hatred gave me.

Gebura: That's your advantage. Even if I hated it, those things protected you and allowed you to perform the impossible.

Intercom: Energy quota successfully reached! End of the current shift.

Y/N: Hm? That soon?

Gebura: Anyway, you saved the corporation and allowed me to deal the final blow to the opponent, that's all you need to know.

Y/N: I don't really know which opponent you're talking about but I'll believe you.

Gebura: You'll see her soon enough.

Y/N: ...Should I be scared?

Gebura: It's up to you to decide, your reactions always vary once meeting her.

She stood up and I followed her movement, the both of us looking at each other in silence before speaking.

Y/N: If what you said was true then I'm grateful to be able to assist you. Judging by your experience, it must have been a real challenge so I'm happy that my weak body could help you.

I said so with a smile.

Gebura: D-Don't say it like that! The circumstances were different, that's all.

She lightly blushed and walked away, making sure I don't see her flustered face more than I should. Seeing her behave like an awkward person caused me to laugh a little, a laugh that she heard in the distance.

...Her face turned even more red, a pleasant color to see on her cold face.

Y/N's mind: She can be cute when she stutters.

Alter Ego: Y/N, is something wrong?

A girl that I know too well asked me a question.

Y/N: You should have seen Gebura, her face was priceless.

Alter Ego: Really? Aw, I want to see it now.

She looked dejected while saying that, her head down. I placed my hand on top of her head and slowly moved it to look at me.

Y/N: It's fine, I'm sure we'll see it again.

Alter Ego: Uh... Y/N..?

Y/N: Hm?

Alter Ego: You're... a little too close.

Her face was bright red, covering her mouth with her left hand and her eyes averted to the floor once more. Realizing that I was indeed close, I took a step back but she grabbed my suit.

Alter Ego: I didn't say... that I don't like it. Could you stay beside me?

Y/N: Sure thing.

The both next to each other, we left the department with a smile on our faces.