âI meant it when I said I would protect you.â
         at first, rika doesnât hear the words. at first, rika tells herself sheâs imagining it. ( she probably still is. might be. but it doesnât matter anymore, does it ? ) her body shakes in the power of her tears, in the power of how tired she is and how much she just wants it all to just stop. she is weak and this inside of her is stronger. something claws from deep within -âââ looking up and seeing a form of herself, composed, ethereal, proud âââ- she feels something inside of her quake. this -ââ this is who i should be. this is who i can be. but this weak, sad part of her has to die off. like a shedding of a skin, rika knows that there is so much she has to let go of to become who she has to.
         she dries her tears. she doesnât stand because right now, she is lower than the other, and doesnât deserve to look at them eye to eye. instead, she kneels before the other, head falling to the ground, and breathes deep the smell of the rug underneath her. rika makes a promise to herself that soon, she will be the form before her. rika makes a promise to herself that soon, she will never bow to another again.
         â   you did. and i believe you. please, -â          please protect me. please, take over and          let all of this end -âââ !!!    â