Kazuha

"We're gonna have to run and carry her!"

You

"We don't have time to go through the trouble of picking her up again! We're going to hurt her!"

Kazuha

"Raiden's going to kill all three of us at once if we don't do something!"

You

"Oh my... Kazuha, just catch up with the others, I'll eventually find something out. I'll try talking with Raiden, then maybe-"

Kazuha

"She doesn't see you as her child anymore, Y/N. Talking to her is useless at this point."

.

.

.

Ei

"Y/N."

You

"Kazuha, you need to run."

Kazuha

"I'm not going anywhere."

kazuha is #baddie guys

Ei was standing just a few meters away from you, staring right into your eyes with her blade in her hand.

You

"Ei."

Ei

"Yes, Y/N?"

Kazuha

"...?"

You

"You can take me, but you are not going to take Kaedehara Kazuha or Beidou. And the two that are way ahead of us, Gorou and Kokomi, are going to be left alone."

Ei

"Dear, they need to serve their time in jail as they should."

You

"I'll serve their time for them."

Ei

"Are you sure? That's practically a life's stay in a cell. You don't want to live the rest of your life like that now, do you?"

You

"Well, if they're okay, then I'm fine with it."

Ei

"Wow... I have never seen the caring side of you. Ever. This is a first."

You

"Honestly, where did your caring side go?"

Kazuha

"Y/N, what are you doing?"

He whispered, being discreet.

You

"Just play along."

You whispered back.

Ei

"My caring side? No, I care for you, Y/N."

You

"Don't lie to me. I'm not only talking about me, you don't care for anyone else."

Ei

"Such as?..."

You

"Do you see yourself? Everyone at Wangshuu Inn is trapped under the debris after what you've done."

Ei

"..."

You

"Don't get me started on Kujuo Sara. She's been by your side for years and yet you didn't care when she was trapped with the rest of the people. She literally collapsed right beside you, and you didn't take any of your time to help her. Not once, from what I've seen."

Ei was left speechless.

She returned her gaze to the now-demolished Wangshuu Inn, then to you. She stared at it for a long time.

You took your time helping Kazuha up, and once he was up, you both carried Beidou as gently as you could without hurrying.

You

"You won't kill me."

You said, before departing with Beidou's left arm wrapped around you.

Kazuha

"... Don't you think we should start running?..."

You

"It's going to hurt Beidou."

Kazuha

"Raiden has all the opportunity to kill us right now."

You

"She has the opportunity, but I know she won't. If you're with me, she won't hurt you."

Ei

"I..."

You came to a halt and turned around.

You

"..."

Kazuha

"..."

Ei

"I cannot kill you. I apologize, Y/N."

You

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

And just like that, you were gone from Ei. For the long haul. You had no intention of turning around or even hugging her goodbye. All you did was keep moving forward, hoping for the best. Ei had no idea how long it took her to comprehend what she was doing.

.

.

.

-A FEW WEEKS LATER-

Beidou

"Over here, over here!"

Beidou yelled, running along the shore of the Inazuman water.

Gorou

"Beidou! You were told to rest!"

Beidou

"Ah whatever, I'm all better now!"

Kokomi

"Are you sure? The wound on your back still looks bad."

Beidou

"Oh, this?... It's just a scab, I'm fine."

You

"To me, Beidou looks healthy. I don't see a problem."

You were playing volleyball by the shoreline, and you had nothing to worry about. After everything, Ei stopped chasing you and didn't even send her troops out to get you. Not only were you no longer being pursued, but so were the rest of your friends. You were all now free.

Safe.

Kazuha grabbed your hand and dragged you into the water, basically pushing you in while you were completely dressed.

Kazuha

"Haha!"

You

*Gasp* "Kazuha, you did not!-"

You stood up, the weight of your soaked garments pulling you down. You grabbed Kazuha's waist from behind and threw him in with you before he could flee.

IM SO FUCKING TIRED OF KAZUHA AND HIS STUPID SLUTTY ASS WAIST.

okay anyways

Kazuha

"Get back here!"

You were laughing so hard that it was difficult for you to breathe. While the two of you were practically drowning each other in the shallow water, the other three merely stood there, concerned. They clearly saw a connection between you two. An extremely intimate connection.

Smiles and laughter vanished abruptly.

Ei was a bit further away from you, her feet in the sand. You and the others were stuck, unsure of what to do or say. You just exchanged unpleasant glances.

Ei's expression indicated that she was not looking forward to fighting or anything else. She had a concerned look on her face and a worn expression.

You

"..."

Ei

"I've come to apologize. And to return your personal items that were left in my home."

You

"Oh... Thanks."

Ei

"I did not get the chance to apologize to you back then. I'm sorry. Thank you though; I realize what is right now."

Ei approached you and handed you a box loaded to the brim with items that Ei had either spoiled you with or found in the wild that you found intriguing. Oh, how the memories returned to you.

You

"Ah, I remember these!..."

At the very top of the box was a pair of pants Ei had purchased for you, but they didn't fit. You thought it was funny.

You remembered trying them on and showing them to Ei, and you both laughed.

Ei

"I would also like to apologize to Kaedehara Kazuha and the rest of his group. I know an apology won't be enough, but it's the most I can do. I'm sorry."

You

"It's good you learned that you were in the wrong."

Ei

"... Mhm... Well, I'll get going now. I've got lots to catch up on. I'll see you around, Y/N?"

You

"Yeah. I'll see you around."

Part of you was happy that you could finally talk things out with Ei. You got the apologies you deserved, and you were no longer tense. It was a tremendous feeling of accomplishment.