KNIGHT'S PRIDE.

If only she could produce tears. Wrapping her arms back around the other girl, she gave her a tight little squeezeー as if worried that if held too lightly, she’d vanish into thin air. Indeed, this was real. They were together again…

“It’s okay, Nerua. I wasn’t here for very long after you left, and… I…ー” As if lost for words for a moment, carefully she reached up to delicately brush a few strands of hair back behind the knight’s ear… before leaning up to plant a gentle kiss upon her lips. Several pleasant moments pass before the android finally pulls away.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen to us here, but I am just so glad I get to see you again.” It wasn’t so often that she was so free with her emotions like now, but it was hard to blame her. She couldn’t help it. A quiet, happy giggle, glancing down to the Pokemon hugging her leg.

“I’ve missed you too, Bell~”

So she had left after she did as well..? So Miku got to be back with her friends, that’s great news..! She was happy to hear that the android wasn’t suffering. And they had also came back around at the same time.. Was it fate? She believed it so. As long as they were going to be together, nothing could go wrong. Nerua had her strength and her sword back. She could easily protect Miku if something were to happen to either of them, she didn’t mind it. Plus.. she also had Bell. The Pikachu was strong in her own way as well, and Nerua had no doubt in it’s abilities. 

“Nothing’s gonna take me away from you ever again.”

The knight had laughed when she noticed Bell hugging onto Miku’s leg, trying to join it on the hug.

“Come on, Bell.”

The Pikachu joyfully squealed and hopped back onto Miku’s shoulder, nuzzling her cheek and licking her gently. 

Unsurprisingly, Miku made sure to closely follow behind the electric mouse Pokemon, obviously eager to see her again. It seemed they weren’t housed in the same sector, but she was still relatively close. 

In due time, they’re close to the apartment complex in sector six. There’s quite a few people here, all on their merry way for their own business. Miku hastily began scanning the immediate vicinity, looking for any sight of her, until… finally…

Nerua. She sees her.

She raises her hand as she begins to move towards her, waving to try and get her attention, calling out to her all the while. “Nerua! I’m here!”

The lady knight blinked a few times to make sure she wasn’t just seeing the sight in front of her. When it was clear that she wasn’t, she had ran over to her. To Miku. Wrapping her arms around the person she cared deeply for and pulled her close to her, tears forming in her eyes. 

This was real. Miku was here with her again. She wasn’t just seeing things!

“I-I missed you so much. I’m so sorry for leaving!”

Even though she had NO CONTROL over when she could leave or how that system even worked. If she could, she would have taken Miku back along with her. Bell had hugged Miku’s leg, trying to join in as a little group hug. Nerua pressed a small kiss to her forehead, a small smile forming.

“Nerua!” In an instant, the android’s expression lit up, the widest smile painted across her face in a long while. “It’s me! W-Where are youー woah!”

The pikachu had caught her off guard, nearly causing her to drop her phone out of surprise. Her shock quickly turned to further elation, however. “Bell!” She giggled, petting her upon the head. God… it felt like everything was being returned to her!

“Is Nerua nearby?” She eagerly asked the Pikachu, “Can you lead me to her?”

The phone had dropped - Nerua could hear it. She knew if she called for Miku, the android wouldn’t be able to hear her. Bell had went to go find her, right..? She trusted that her Pikachu would lead her to her. So, Nerua had decided to stay right near her new apartment in sector six. She’d wait as long as needed - but hopefully it wasn’t too long!

“Pi-ka!” 

She didn’t like to think about it too much. Whenever she did, she would constantly tell herself that its something she should have expectedー that it was her fault for getting emotionally invested in an environment like this. The scientists took people back at random with little rhyme or reason, it seemed. She was just… unlucky.

And while being sent home herself had helped stave off the nagging longing feeling within her, being back in the city also brought back several reminders of her that was difficult to escape.

Her. Nerua.

“I hope she got home safely, at least…” She mumbled under her breath, idly navigating her smartphone to bring up her past text messages with Nerua. All she could do was hope for the best andー

… That was weird. All of her text messages with her were there, but… It was also showing her as an existing contact. Didn’t… didn’t people only show up as contacts if they were still in the city?

No way. She immediately hit the dial button, anxiously bringing the phone up to her ear. Ring… ring…ring…

Please pick up.

Being sent away was something she wished for - but at the same time, not. As she had made so many friends here. Including the Pikachu she had befriended a while back ( and had shocked her when she had returned! Like it was waiting for her.. She felt heartbroken the moment she had saw it’s face.) Wait a moment-! People.. of this city.. Miku. Oh-no. 

She had left Miku - someone she had loved and cared for all alone in a place like this! This dangerous place, she might add! How cruel she was to leave a beloved someone behind! She wasn’t fit to call herself a knight, she left the person she wanted to protect-!

Her phone suddenly ringing had snapped out of her thoughts. Who could be calling her around this hour..? Nerua’s eyes widen as she saw the name pop up. It was Miku! Nerua answered the call right away, trying hard to sound as if she wasn’t crying.

“M-Miku..? Is that really you..?” Her voice came out as a whisper. Her Pikachu’s ears had twitched. She could sense her around here! Hopping off her trainer’s shoulder, Bell had ran off in the direction of the vocaloid. It knew her scent well enough to know it was her! “Pi-pikachu!”