Rin had finally taken down the last of the Lesser Null. Her breathing heavy, her arms trembling as she lowered her weapon. The night had demanded more from her than she ever expected, from saving Aria from capture, to helping Kentaro against Velza, to now fending off yet another wave of Null. It was safe to say she was exhausted. Her muscles ached, her vision blurred at the edges, yet her heart carried a steady rhythm. At least things were going according to plan. As long as it held, Rin would waste no effort in seeing it through.

She sat down on the edge of a half-collapsed building, the stone beneath her still warm from the fires below. From this height, she had a clear view of the horizon. The sunrise had finally broken through, bathing the ruined city in pale orange light. The glow spilt over the rubble, softening the scars of the battle, if only for a moment. Rin's lips curled into a small, tired smile, and her eyes shimmered faintly as sweat rolled down her cheek.

"The day is over, and victory is ours," she whispered, her tone light, teasing, as if mocking her own fatigue. "Kentaro, darling… You really are something.... I'm glad I met you."

Her last remaining clone had survived the second wave of Null, but the body was starting to fracture. Light flickered across its skin, pink aura bleeding into the air.

The clone glanced at Rin and grinned with a warmth only she could understand.

"I hope I served you well, me."

Rin turned her head, returning that grin despite the tiredness weighing down her eyes.

"You did well, me. For that, I thank you… And you should thank her, too."

Her clone gave a little giggle, and just before dispersing into particles of light, it struck the same exaggerated pose she'd once been forced to do for that pink-haired girl.

Rin's face flushed instantly. "H-Hey! That was because I was forced to!"

But the words went unanswered. The clone was gone, dissolved into the morning air.

Silence settled. Rin turned back toward the city, her gaze locking onto the building that held Aria. Her tired smile vanished, replaced with sharp focus. Her eyes narrowed, her body stiffening as though readying for whatever came next.

"Now then… Let's see what you'll do, Kentaro."

The words had barely left her lips before a deep explosion rattled the base of the building. Smoke and fire erupted upward, shaking the entire skyline.

*

Reiden clicked his fingers.

The roof above gave way, stone and steel crashing down around him, yet none of it touched him. It was as though the rubble bent itself to his command. Out of the smoke, a rope dropped from the upper floor, landing neatly at his side.

"RUN, KENTARO!" Tenka's voice barked through the comms, sharp and urgent.

Kentaro blinked through the dust and chaos. He could barely see, Serica's shield holding the debris at bay. But she wasn't his concern. Nor was Yura, nor Shogo, nor Yumi; he knew they were all safe.

No, his heart was somewhere else.

"ARIA!" His scream tore through the collapsing chamber.

And she answered, a cry of pure desperation, her voice straining as she squirmed against the restraints. The explosion had destroyed the nullifying field that drained Alberline's power. The chair itself still ate away at her strength, but not enough to keep her bound. Light shimmered in front of her, swirling into shape, the gleam of white and gold forming into a guitar, the strap materialising neatly across her shoulders.

Her Sublimation.

The instant it touched her, her voice broke free. She drew a deep breath and screamed, not just a sound but raw Alberline power. The sonic wave shattered her restraints, snapping metal like paper. She tore the collar from her throat, her fingernails digging so hard that it ripped away in sparks.

And yet, Reiden was already at the rope. Calm. Effortless. Smiling faintly as it yanked him upward into the smoke. His words echoed in her mind like poison:

"Even if you escape, my plan will still be fulfilled. All I need… Is patience."

"ARIA!"

Her head snapped toward the sound. Through the dust, she saw him. Kentaro, charging forward, hand outstretched. The world slowed, every second drawn out. His face came closer, closer, his hands desperate for hers.

And then, contact.

He pulled her free just as a slab of the ceiling split loose, crashing where she had been an instant before. The two of them rolled across the ground, tumbling to the edge of the chamber. Kentaro's arms shielded her, his breath ragged against her cheek. His body was soaked with sweat, dirt, and blood, and yet his eyes were on her alone.

They stopped inches apart, her lips trembling, their foreheads nearly touching.

"You're… So stupid," Aria whispered, her voice breaking.

Kentaro grinned, unshaken even in the ruin around them. "What can I say? I promised to save you. If that makes me stupid, then I'll gladly be the biggest idiot alive."

Her cheeks burned, not from exhaustion but from the heat of his words, his closeness.

"Why? Why for me?"

Before she could process the thought, a sudden tug yanked at her collar.

"Whoa!" Kentaro yelped as Yura lifted him up like a scolded child, pouting as she dragged him by the scruff.

"Hey!" Aria cried, only to be hoisted by Serica, who wore a nearly identical pout.

"I know we had to save you, but seriously, don't just go jumping on Kentaro like that," Yura huffed, her face turning away.

"At least… Not in front of us," Serica added with an embarrassed glare.

Kentaro couldn't help it. A chuckle slipped out even as the rubble thundered behind them. Together, in a single-file rush, they sprinted from the chamber just as the ceiling fully collapsed.

The prison was buried. Their mission is complete.

"Phew!" Shogo collapsed into a squat, drenched in sweat.

Yumi flopped to the floor beside him, opening one eye long enough to shoot Aria a tired thumbs-up.

On the Vaelion, the comms roared with cheers.

Aria smiled faintly, but her attention drifted back to Kentaro, who now sat cross-legged on the floor, enduring a dual lecture from Yura and Serica, both wagging their fingers in his face.

"Don't just go throwing yourself at another girl, Kentaro!" Serica barked. "We understand sealing her powers and all that, but still!"

"Indeed," Yura added firmly. "Such behaviour in front of us is… Unsettling. You must consider our feelings as well."

Kentaro pressed his hands together, bowing his head. "I'm sorry!"

Aria expected scorn next, a cold look, a jab at her weakness. But instead, both girls turned… And smiled.

Serica launched herself without hesitation, arms wide, and crashed straight into Aria. The two of them toppled back onto the cracked floor with a sharp thud, but the real impact came a second later, when their chests slammed together.

Aria gasped, a startled little sound slipping from her throat as the warmth of Serica's body pressed full against her own. The sudden closeness made her entire frame jolt, the soft give of their busts flattening, then rebounding slightly, rubbing against each other with every breath. Serica, oblivious in her excitement, only hugged them tighter, squashing them together even more.

"Ah! W-wait, Serica!" Aria squeaked, her face burning crimson. She could feel every tiny shift, the bounce, the slide, the friction of fabric against fabric, as Serica squeezed her like she was never letting go. Her hands hovered awkwardly in the air, not sure whether to push back or… Sink into the embrace.

Kentaro's brain short-circuited at the sight, the accidental rhythm of two bodies moulded together, Serica's laughter vibrating warmly through Aria's chest. He swallowed hard, eyes darting anywhere but there, but the sound alone painted enough of a picture in his head to make his ears flame.

Yura crouched beside them, her smile warm, gentle. "I'm relieved for your safety. I hope that bastard didn't hurt you too badly."

Aria stared, confused. Suspicious. Waiting for the prank, the sneer, the laughter that would prove it was all a joke. But it never came. Only their warmth, their kindness… The same warmth Kentaro had shown her.

Kentaro approached last, his grin softer now. "We're truly happy you're here, Aria. With us."

And then, the weight broke her.

Everything she had endured as an Alberline, the torment of capture, the fear, the loneliness… All of it surged out at once. She collapsed into sobs, tears falling unchecked.

"Aria?!" Kentaro panicked instantly, kneeling beside her. "Are you hurt?!"

Serica shoved him back with a hand to his face, sliding him across the floor. "Please, Kentaro. This is a girl's moment. You'll have your time with her later."

Kentaro blinked, stunned, then laughed under his breath, watching as Serica and Yura comforted Aria while she wept, finally free. They weren't tears of despair. They were grateful.

He stood, moving to Shogo and Yumi. Both gave him tired but proud smiles.

"Well done," Yumi murmured.

Shogo gave him a thumbs-up.

But before anyone could truly relax, Tenka's voice cut in. Calm, steady, but firm.

"Listen. I know we're exhausted. But we can't rest here. We're still in enemy territory. Velza could return at any moment. Or worse."

Kentaro nodded grimly. "She's right."

"One last push," Yumi agreed, dragging Shogo up by the arm.

"Wha-five more minutes!" Shogo groaned.

Kentaro turned back to Aria, Serica, and Yura. Their moment had passed, but the fire in their eyes told him they were ready.

He nodded. They nodded back.

"Let's go," Tenka commanded. "We finish this outside. Reiden won't leave us a clear path; expect more soldiers. Stay sharp."

"YEAH!" Kentaro, Shogo, and Yumi roared in unison, charging ahead, while the girls followed close behind.

And so began the final push, the last stand of Aria's rescue mission.

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