2987/An Ocean Aria: Finale

An Ocean Aria: Finale
Date of Scene:	20 March 2026
Location:	KFC - Karaage Fried Chicken
Synopsis:	Coco's illness catches up to her, and her friends are left to fight the Black Beauty Sisters. Can things change, when Aqua Regina manifests in extremis?
Cast of Characters:	Coco Delrieu, Madoka Kaname, Mamoru Chiba, Cho Konishi, Amanda Faust, Sugata Shindo, Rihito Amagi
Tinyplot:	An Ocean Aria

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Coco Delrieu has posed:
Elsewhere in the Labyrinth, the winged bell familiars had started multiplying, filling the space closer to the portal, slowing down the advance of any potential mahou trying to make their way through the Labyrinth to find the cause of the dark energy leaking outside of the portal to Kamiko's Labyrinth still open on the side of the KFC. Despite the obstacle, they will still be able to make their way to the fight's location just in time for the Black Beauty Sisters to reform themselves fully and the darkness oppressing and twisting the Labyrinth for the Black Beauty Sisters' ends to intensify as a result.

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Coco grits her teeth as she looks up at the newly reformed Black Beauty Sisters, struggling to see them clearly through the blurry haze covering her vision. Even so, the distinct coloured figures standing in the place of the shadows are unmistakable.

She tries to keep her grip tight on her E-Pitch, but the shivers have now gotten so intense that she isn't sure if she can even sing, much less hold onto it. The yellow idol tries to get back to her feet through the headache, but she feels her forehead pulse, and she holds still when she feels her legs refuse to muster any strength.

Coco tries to take deep breaths, but they come quick and unsteady instead, and she starts coughing, feeling a salty taste rise in her mouth. There is a weird feeling of weightlessness that starts coming over her, and her arms and legs both become numb.

Panic forms in her mind, and she tries looking at her friends. She doesn't understand, but... her gaze lingers on them for a brief moment longer, trying to fight through the blurriness. Her thoughts halt, and she feels more and more of that saltiness rise up in her throat. Humidity soon overtakes her, and her fingers twitch faintly.

An apologetic expression forms on her face, and for a split second she has returned to her mermaid form. From one moment to the next, there is nothing more of her, only a thin layer of seafoam dropping to the ground of the Labyrinth with a faint splash.

Both the Orange Pearl and the Yellow Pearl fall down to the ground, hitting each other with a clink, and the Yellow Pearl shines, a last sign of life before it goes dim.

Rihito looks down with an impassible expression, his thoughts racing faster than he can catch up with them, snippets of the last days, of their dates, and all the school events.

His jaw tightens when he hears the Black Beauty Sisters speak again. "She really did just...Holy heck! The South Pacific is in need of new rulers now." They start grinning at each other.

Rihito's eyes darken. This is all their fault. They almost killed him. They forced Coco's hand. They kept forcing her to...

He really hates harsh decisions.

He gently picks up the Yellow Pearl, holding it to himself, looking at Hope Concept, Ginga Kingu and Puella Red. Rihito is aware it's not that simple, but... He can't help uttering a request. "I know I can't help, but do not let them get away scot-free. Please."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Hope Concept's Wake Labyrinth is a total wreck.

    It used to be idyllic, peaceful, serene aside from the excitable and childish fairy and her sisters who make this place their second home. Right now, between the combat and the corruption, the Labyrinth is a landscape of craters, candy that looks rotten despite the fact that candy isn't supposed to rot, and shards of bell-shaped Familiars that have fallen in combat.

    Hope Concept had to flee, or rather... she had to be carried away by Homura after she took a solid hit earlier in the fight, and is currently hiding with her concerned girlfriend behind a still solid wall of gingerbread. Madoka is still in the fight, however. In fact, many Madokas are, as in a whole ghostly army of ghostly Hope Blossoms are here, one each for every time the pinkette had to face her own death.

    As Coco turns into a mermaid, a couple of them turn their heads to check on her. When she turns into seafoam, there is silence and shock. A mournful pall falls over the crowd. Most of them remain silent. One of them speaks up, speaking with a level of sternness that is almost uncharacteristic of her, "The first one who tells Lydian about this will answer to me."

    Of course, they can't spare the Chara this truth forever, but right now only Kamiko knows the heartbreaking truth. Kamiko, who was once Gretchen, and who is now one part of the savior of Puella Magi, has seen her share of suffering and loss. It's not a new burden for her, though familiarity makes it no less heavy.

    One of the Madokas close to Rihito says, "We probably don't have to say this, but keep watch over those pearls." Then she looks at the yellow pearl, and silently promises that she'll show kindness and friendship to the next mermaid to be born from it.

    Then, in anger, the crowd turns their glares towards the Black Beauty Sisters. In unison they lay their accusation at the water demons' feet. "You took away one of the first magical friends we ever had." Then one after another, they reform their branch bows and their glowing pink arrows. "Whoever rules in her place... it will not be you."

    Behind the wall, the wounded Hope Concept is in denial as Homura grits her teeth while holding Hope tight. There has to be a way to fix this right? Surely there's something she can do... Her mind races as she searches for a solution, forgetting about her own wounds. She can't stay out of the fight any longer. Aware of Rihito's request, the goddess commands her Labyrinth. "Don't. Let. Them. Leave."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
He's just in time after fighting his way through familiars again-- they just keep multiplying, he should never have let himself get separated from the others. Tuxedo Mask bursts back onto the scene just in time...

...to see exactly how too-late he is. It's like a kick to the stomach to see Coco looking apologetic as she dies. As she dies. Maybe-- no. No, there's nothing even left to heal. Mamoru's hands are shaking as he goes over to where Rihito and the crowd of Madokas surround the seafoam, tattered and belated, to lean and put a hand on Rihito's shoulder. "They won't get away at all," he murmurs in agreement, then straightens up to look quick at the shape of the Labyrinth they're in, and it's wretched, and there are a lot of Madokas, and he doesn't understand how she works.

He doesn't have to understand to be able to help, though. Not this time. If he could heal Double Trouble he can heal a goddess, maybe. He certainly can't heal seafoam, but he couldn't have stopped it either--

Mamoru rips his focus back to the present.

Coming around the gingerbread wall, Tuxedo Kamen crouches next to Madoka and Homura, and holds out his hand. "Let me fix you," he says urgently. "I'm not... I'm not Usa, I can't bring her back. But I can help you, and you can waste them." His glowing hand is an invitation.

Cho Konishi has posed:
pose was... well, okay, she was a memorable magical girl. But she wasn't the most *active* magical girl. Between her studies, the fact she was often doing stuff on the student council, she tended to be more a... behind the scenes kind of girl.

But Coco? Coco was her best friend, the one she cared for the most. The one managed to share a dorm room with her without kicking her out despite it meant sharing a dorm room with Wuwu of all people.

Girl was a saint. And if you said a mermaid couldn't be an angel, then you didn't know her. When there was trouble, she often arrived late, but she tried to arrive. This time, she and Wuwu did arrive, dive into the strange, wild world of Black Beauty Labyrinth, her staff swirling as she'd bashed, leaped, dove and tossed bits of hair, her clones wildly scattering as they fought through and--

And she... saw... Coco. Turn to a mermaid.

Turn to foam.

Turn... to a pearl.

"W-what... what?" Cure Wukong asked.

For once... Wuwu, riding on her back, was utterly silent. Staring at the little matching pearls.

"Wuwu... she... she can't be... she..."

"She's... not immortal... kid..." Wuwu said softly.

"But we..."

"It just made her more durable, remember?" Wuwu said. "Nothing lasts... forever..."

"But... but..." Cure Wukong said, staring. Get... away?

GET AWAY?! Cure Wukong let out a SCREAM that was almost primal, before she tore out chunks of her hair, scattering them as clones of herself appeared throughout the labyrinth...

All of them turning their eyes on the sisters. It wasn't often that the clones and Wukong could agree on something... But... Coco...? Coco was one of them... She screamed and she ran at them...

Only for Wuwu to snag her by her ankle and yank her right back, as the clones went forward alone. "Easy, kiddo, that's not how you're supposed to do things," Wuwu warned.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy manages to stabilize her flight just in time to see Coco give that apologetic look, and then become a mermaid and then seafoam and pearl.

    Coco is gone.

    What?! How does that even work? Is that what she was sick with?!

    Coco is gone.

    She sacrificed herself for Rihito. But she had to because of the Black Beauty Sisters.

    Coco is gone.

The singing girl turns and looks at Amy and the other mahou, in the hotel reception full of thralls. "I'm Yellow Pearl Voice."

    Coco is gone.

Sitting at a table outside after fighting Cho's Akuma, Coco looks away in the distance, roughly to where the sea would be. "You know how summing up all colours gives white light, right! Underwater we have pure white merfolk that are unaligned with any of the seven kingdoms. They can choose their allegiance as they mentally mature, and their bodies change around too, settling down into a body that suits them once they are old enough."

    Coco is gone.

On top of a building after fighting the Labyrinthless Witch. Coco kneels down to where Amy's collapsed to her knees in shock after her revelation, and looks at Amy straight in the eyes. "Don't you feel better now that you have realised?" she smiles. "Congratulations, Amy", she says, and gives the girl a hug.

    Coco is gone.

In front of the gate in which Cho and other friends are stealing power for Coco, Amy realizes, too late, that if she lets Nene past, her friends will be trapped there forever, and so she doesn't dodge, and the spear goes through her, and she's sure she's about to die.

    now Coco is gone.

In Gaito's palace, Aqua Regina looks sad and resigned at Amy's remarks, but Coco looks at her angrily and is about to say her piece, too.

    but Coco is gone.

    So many memories. Fighting monsters. Fighting Seriss Nyx. Coco has been by her side since literally day 3, of these past 2½ years. They fought once, but they've helped eachother whenever they could and she couldn't imagine a world without her, and Coco was about to graduate school, and

    and Coco is gone.

    Rihito pleads for vengeance, and some part of Amy kicks herself for not doubling down moments ago and seeing how far a soul gem's magic could go, amplified by Coco's song.

    Amy hates that part, a little bit; Coco is much more than a power-boosting song! She's a friend... and the Black Beauty Sisters cannot be allowed to rule her kingdom and hurt more people.

    The slowing effect has stopped, at least. Amy lands. She pulls her grief seed from its belt pouch and presses it against her left vambrace, where a recess forms for it to slot into next to her soul gem.

    The world is wrong. It doesn't have Coco in it, and the Black Beauty Sisters are able to affect other people and harm them.

    She can, perhaps, fix one of these things.

    Red eyes glare at the sisters, seeming to glow. "You heard the Goddess. You're never hurting anyone again."

    The grief seed draws off the bit of darkness that accumulated during the fight, but now the whole soul gem is a little bit clouded.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
To say that the situation is bad would be an insulting understatement, and yet: it truly is, bad. The Sisters call upon their power and duplicates defend them from the attacks that fall upon them, another power to add to their disposal, and Ginga Kingu is trying to run the mental calculations - he'll have to call upon Samekh's power, he'll be able to summon at most two more King's Pillars and it will be stronger in the armor, Tuxedo Kamen was chased away but he'll be back, Amy has a limited amount of power, Akemi-san is with Hope Concept's (true?) body -

And then there's the sound of gasping breaths, somehow loud in the lull of battle, and he sees that Yellow Pearl Voice looks her sickest yet, coughing violently, and the calculations shift, thinking on if they can get her out of here, this is still Hope Concept's territory, she must be able to make an exit -

Yellow Pearl Voice becomes a mermaid. And then she becomes so much seafoam, vanishing in an unfelt wind, nothing but a yellow pearl left behind.

In spite of himself, Ginga Kingu freezes, his eyes widening in startled horror, before he forces himself into motion, summoning Diamante to his hand, the sword blazing with power.

"APPRIVOISE!"

The ghostly black armor returns, intimidating and vicious, and with it, a tiny robot in a pale blue-white bubble.

<<Devour them already,>> Samekh demands in grave tones unfit for his miniature size. <<Consume these pretenders, and show them a king's power.>>

"Don't tempt me," Ginga Kingu Samekh states flatly. He looks back at Rihito.

"Get out of here. They want to eat magic, and that Pearl has more of it than you alone can defend."

And then he launches himself directly at the Black Beauty Sisters, flying for them at full speed, sword no longer at the ready but in use, striking with full force.

He doubts he'll kill them this way, but he'll certainly plague them to give Rihito time to move.

Coco Delrieu has posed:
Rihito nods, and picks up the Orange Pearl too. Coco, she would want Seira to be cared for, and she is already entangled with one enemy. He is not letting another one steal the young mermaid's only reprieve.

There are so many Hope Concepts, and he is not sure if talking to any specific one makes a difference, but he keeps his gaze on the one addressing him. "I will be careful."

Mimi laughs. "Someone thinks they are tough. Maybe you can feel it? The dark feelings that gave Gaito his strength? If you really think you can defeat us, bring it on."

Sheshe places a hand on Mimi's shoulder. "Now, let him grieve. We have much better things to be doing here."

Sure, he is holding the two Pearls, but there is a group of now very furious mahou to deal with, and they still have finishing taking over this Labyrinth on their to-do list.

The presence of so many Hope Concepts is troublesome, but... She can only have so much stamina.

"We will see about that. You are welcome to join our new kingdom after we are done here", they say scornfully to Hope Concept.And then there are more clones joining in, of a magical girl they faintly recognise. They are pretty sure they met, sometime.

"The Pinkette Clone Party is that way", Sheshe remarks harshly, pointing to the exit of the Labyrinth. And if they really want to stay... Fine, they will make sure every single one of them will know the consequences.

Mimi laughs at the other anglerfish demon's remarks, and doubles down when she hears Ginga Kingu urge Rihito to get out of there. "Did you forget? We have an army at our disposal. No Pearl is going anywhere."

As she says that, the many Familiars fly closer, enough to serve as a reminder, but not enough to lose sight of the portal.

Rihito closes his hand so hard his nails start digging into his palm. Ginga Kingu is right, but... There is nowhere for him to go.

The Black Beauty Sisters join hands, and blue and red energy mix in a deep dark violet forming a large sphere of energy above their heads that vibrates and then explodes, releasing as many trombones as there are clones, and even their own facsimiles are reabsorbed and turned into more and more of them.

Baroque that shuts out the light
Become a beautiful noise.
Whispers of the black trap
Sleep forever in the cradle.

Slowly, awakening...
Shadow of the heart within.
Adorn crimson roses,
Freeze the pearls.
Now... together, let's unite our wishes.
Surrender yourself to the great darkness.

Heart-stealing Baroque
Embraced by the waves of negativity,
The world you once believed in
Vanishes in an instant, soundlessly.

Slowly, it draws near...
Let us celebrate the time of the final coda.

With an icy smile,
Turn the pearls to ash.

Ah... my friend,
If the light of hope exists,
It will bleed into an homage called despair.

With the vicious song, the darkness intensifies, and becomes bright enough to be visible as a thin mist. The trombones suck in all this air, and then release it in violent blasts aimed towards the many Hope Concepts and the Cure Wukongs.

It's taking the bulk of their power to maintain, and when Ginga Kingu comes for them, Sheshe has barely the time to reinforce and throw herself against Kingu, sacrificing her side to his blade. No way she is letting him hurt Mimi.

Despite emerging cracks, the protection holds, but there is a flare of anger in Sheshe's eyes at the power in the technique. "Is this all?", she adds with a twisted grin, and immediately tries punching him directly in the face.

Suddenly, there is a presence across the mahoujin's minds, and very briefly, everyone fighting the Black Beauty Sisters will be able to hear it speak, with an impression of a gentle embrace.

Your unyielding spirit is reinvigorating. Please, lend me your strength.

A white radiance cuts through the dark, and the flow of a pure dress shimmers in existence alongside its owner, the goddess of the seas, Aqua Regina.

Coco Delrieu has posed:
She looks at the Yellow Pearl sadly, and stays briefly still. When she starts speaking, she still hasn't averted her eyes. "Thank you, children of light, for accompanying Coco this far. I am sure you gave her much solace in her journey."

She looks down at the Black Beauty Sisters, her expression unchanged. "Black Beauty Sisters, Sheshe and Mimi. Why do you insist on twisting love? Your fight is pointless, and deep inside you know that. You are never going to get what you really seek."

Sheshe and Mimi look at each other, and both grip their mics harder. Are they really being given a lecture? "Now you come, Aqua Regina? Did you crawl out just because you lost one of your Mermaid Princesses?", Sheshe speaks harshly, showing the sea goddess a twisted smile.

Aqua Regina looks at them pityingly: those sea-blue eyes still hold no animosity, and give her attention to the mahoujin. "Children of light, the benevolent power within yourselves can do a lot more than you believe." She raises her winged scepter, and it starts shining, lightening the dark atmosphere of the Labyrinth.

Aqua Regina smiles serenely, and continues. "The power of your love can go beyond the boundaries of life and death, and I ask you to please aid me. There is still a way to have gentle Coco back. Millennia ago, I went through a similar trial, and I was saved by the gods of the Ancients. I ask you that you focus on the memories of your friendship, on your present feelings for her, and on your hope for the future, that they may all converge together and recall her to us."

"You are doing what?" both Black Beauty Sisters ask coldly. "You are too late! If you wanted to save her, you should have come earlier!" They are not letting some faded goddess deprive them of their happy ending!

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Resting in Homura's arms, Hope Concept looks up at Mamoru with a sad smile. "I wish I could bring her back, too. It's too far out of my wheelhouse. The mermaids have their own goddess though. Maybe..."

    She is, of course, going through the 'bargaining' stage of grief. Miracles are miracles largely because you cannot rely upon them. Madoka knows that as much as anyone else, especially as a concept. Seeing his invitation, Hope reaches out with her hand and touches Mamoru's.

    Homura hesitates for a moment. The secret of her powers is one that she has kept to herself for a very long time, and with the singular exception of Madoka she has shared that truth with no one. It's the kind of thing that is most effective when kept unknown, even from allies who might one day let something slip or decide to not be allies anymore. It's the kind of thing that should only ever be revealed in an emergency, and once it's know it cannot be unknown outside of a reset of the timeline.

    Yet this is an emergency. So while still holding Madoka, she reaches out to touch Mamoru's hand. Her shield clicks and turns like clockwork and for the three of them alone the colors of the Labyrinth get a little more muted.

    Suddenly, Tuxedo Mask has all the time he needs.

    On the outside, whatever happens in that timefrozen moment happens in the blink of an eye, and Hope Concept does not yet leave her hiding place. The Blossoms are still formed up and ready to fight the evil sisters. Some of them notice Cure Wukong's clones and offer them fistbumps before their assault begins. They fight furiously in a way that might seem reckless, because in truth they know that Kamiko would throw this whole world away and several others like it if it means making the real world just a little brighter.

    Aqua Regina's voice is heard, and Hope Concept is close enough to hear it. So... where the goddess of Puella could do nothing, perhaps the goddess of the Mermaid Princesses will have better luck. If Aqua Regina believes she can fix this, then Hope will believe in that too.

    One of the Blossom clones turns towards the mermaid goddess and asks, "Do alternate reality memories count?" Another one next to her says, "Probably best to stick to memories we share with this timeline."

    While many of the Blossom Army do battle, Hope Concept thinks back. Coco was always there to protect her when she had no powers. She was there when the Train Witch exploded, and the blast would have killed the magic-less pinkette if not for Coco and her Live Stage. She decided to keep the wound from that day, as a reminder of what it meant to be powerless, but that wound healed over time.

    Concept remembers sitting in a booth across from her, getting her fortune told. Madoka doesn't remember the reading, but she remembers being curious about Coco's mystique.

    She also remembers the time at the zoo, when Coco first revealed her secret identity to her. At the time Madoka was grateful for her help yet again, because her little brother was with them at the time and she didn't want him getting caught up in bad things, too.

    Kamiko's memories also float in. Back when she was Gretchen, she remembers Coco being considerate enough to warn her before she sang. She remembers all the times that the mermaid princess had been kind, sweet, and even generous.

    It made them happy, the few times they could really pay her back. Giving her a karaoke machine back when Coco lost her powers, so that she could enjoy singing even if she was confined to the Outers' bathtub. Then of course, there was the fighting. Both with them helping Coco with all of her enemies, and Coco helping everyone else with theirs. Truly, the yellow mermaid was a ray of sunshine that Hope Concept didn't want to forget.

Cho Konishi has posed:
Cure Wukong was angry, vicious and... not getting anywhere, as Wuwu, for once, was not letting her go. For once. "Let me go! I'll kill them!"

"Easy, Wukong," Wuwu said. "That's not how you do things."

"S-she's gone," Cure Wukong said. "It doesn't matter how I--"

"It's not how Wukong does things, either," Wuwu said. "Would that be how she'd want you going out there?" As the clones were fighting, getting poofed left and right, turning to little puffs of pink hair, Cure Wukong clenched her fists, tears welled up in her eyes.

But... but Coco... Her roommate. She could remember the little otter parades. The little monkey, chara and otter poker games (I'll give you a hint who won, it wasn't the kings). Coco's elaborate plans for getting couples together. Her singing, even when magic wasn't involved. The way she always had a happy, kind word for everyone. When Cho first got her mermaid sticker and they got to swim together... When Cho shared her history with her, about her wish, how she was... entirely okay with it, how they even made plans about... even after the fade... how they'd always be friends, no matter what. How she wanted to even join her kingdom...

Then... Aqua Regina's voice echoed in her head and she looked up. "W-what?" Cure Wukong asked. A way to... bring her back? To save her? She wiped her eyes. "Y-yes! P-please! B-bring her back! B-bring our friend back!" Cure Wukong pleaded with the goddess.

"H-hey! Wukong doesn't beg godde--" Wuwu started, but Cure Wukong elbowed him in the face, knocking him back into the nearby wall.

"Please! W-whatever we have to do!" she begged, clasping her hands together... and focusing on those memories. On all of those happy, wonderful memories.

As her clones battled, punching, fist bumping with the Doka Clones (Clone game recognize clone game), this one time recognizing that, yes, they WILL work for the common goal. As Cure Wukong focused on her friend. "Bring her back. Please... please bring her back... Please..."

Amanda Faust has posed:
> You're welcome to join our new kingdom...
    Amy doesn't realize the sisters aren't talking to all of them. Amy laughs bitterly, "If I lose here, I'm not joining your kingdom. I guess you'll just get another Witch to absorb."

    They sing their song of darkness, of the heart's ending, of negativity and endings. They sing,

Ah... my friend,
If the light of hope exists,
It will bleed into an homage called despair.

    And the Puella Magi can't help but laugh. "We'll see about that! If it does, then you're going to see exactly what it takes. You have an army? I have a soul. And if you want to win, you'll have to make every piece of it burn to despair! You're about to realize what you're asking for!"

    It's not a very mahou attitude. She's focusing on her anger and on puffing up and being the bigger monster, so she doesn't have to focus on her grief. But it's her power and her soul to burn -- and if the Black Beauty Sisters can't be stopped, none of it will matter anyway, and if they can... then hopefully she won't run out of magic.

    The Puella Magi spreads her arms. Minimissiles conjure over her shoulders. And then several times more conjure. And then several times more.

    Blackness surges and roils in the top of her soul gem, and starts bleeding off into the grief seed next to it.

    The missiles launch towards the familiars, matching them for numbers.

    And then, something unexpected reminds Amy why she should have been holding onto hope -- because these things happen. Aqua Regina appears, and says there's a way to bring Coco back, and Amy believes her.

    The memories of Coco that just ran through her head, she focuses on them again, and on how she kind of misses how close they used to be and isn't sure how to heal that slight distance Gaito's (seeming) death brought, and on imagining Coco, singing and laughing, crying and fighting, at her and her friends' side, once more.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Madoka taking Mamoru's hand is a relief to both of them, and he immediately floods her with warm power that takes the pain away while he works. She can feel that he's not really... present, that he's doing the thing where he's kind of dissociating in order to keep functioning in an overwhelming situation.

Then both Madoka and Homura can feel that, and can feel his sheer startlement at the world freezing and desaturating, a clench of 'what now' fear in his heart that flares before he comes to understand that this is what Homura does. Not teleportation. Suddenly a lot of fights make more sense. He... wow, wow, just wow what a power, WOW. His eyes are wide blue behind his mask as he looks at Homura, but then he shakes his head swiftly and gets back to work.

And then there's the sweet voice of Coco's mother, a magical goddess-queen with an aura so comforting-- half because she's Coco's and half because Endymion has memories of two mothers that remind him of this aura-- that the numbness of grief shivers and breaks because she makes it feel safe to, she explains that it's necessary to, that he should let others see his feelings... Tuxedo Kamen remembers Coco fiercely, letting go his reservations, chunking right back in with his horrible paralyzing shocky emotional soup at seeing a friend die in front of him.

His own memories of the mermaid princess percolate through his mind-- from their rocky start when she not only put up with Darien being rude and evil, but deliberately sought him out to ask him why, to try and understand. When he was Darien and Coco called him out in a tarot card reading-- he cringes now and forever at how he treated her gentleness and her kindness and quiet strength, never mind that he was full of dark energy.

He remembers hurting her again, in Hematite's final battle, shooting her right out of the sky when her purifying song interfered with him and with the ghost girl made of dark energy too much-- that one's a dull ache, up there with that one time he shot dark energy into a crowd Sailor Moon was in. He tries not to dwell. Happy things, instead.

He remembers being so grateful when she was willing to be friends with him after that-- he was a while getting his feet back under him, but she was also always such good friends with Usagi... he remembers her coming to every party, supporting every endeavour, being so generous and giving with her time and her resources and her love... he remembers Cora keeping guard next to him at Coco's order when he'd been turned into a doll. She always wanted everyone safe.

Even her last actions were trying to keep everyone safe.

Mamoru's blinking back unhelpful tears-- such a tumultuous relationship with saltwater this boy has! and he sets his jaw. Entrapta's bankrolling meeting... gods, the catacombs, a mermaid braving that for her friends, being far underground in caves of bones. And Coco coming with them to Crystal Tokyo-- her performance at the wedding-- and he realizes-- he has been an inadequate friend.

Oh his sharp bright gut-level hope for the future, that a miracle can happen, that the gods can make another goddess among them with their help, that he can have the time to try and make any of it up to her.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"And how much of your power does it take to keep growing that army?" Ginga Kingu Samekh asks, equal parts taunt and probe. The Sisters begin to sing, and perhaps it's an answer, because more of their weapons are spawning into existence, even taking the place of some of their clones -

The music that washes over them is beautiful, in a cruel and callous way, but it has none of the soul that Yellow Pearl Voice's trembling tones could magic, and none of them passion that Wako pours into every song, shapes into every syllable.

It didn't stop his attack, and the retaliation doesn't stop him from pressing forth - Sheshe's fist collides with the armor covering the Galactic King's face, causing it to briefly dispel before solidifying once more, and he switches his grip to a one handed one, so that he can grab at her wrist before she withdraw her fist, squeezing with all his strength as he shifts his weight in an effort to throw Sheshe over his shoulder. He'd managed to wound her, and he will make every effort to do far more, focusing on fighting Sheshe when the white radiance cuts through the darkness, and he slices Diamante out while the Sisters are distracted.

The request is simple, and difficult all at once, because Sugata has few fond memories of Coco - not for spite, but lack of interaction. Still, he remembers her bravery, when they fought together against Riventon's foolish student, and he remembers the warmth of her voice, the joy she expressed with every ounce of herself, at Radiant Heart Academy's one and only prom.

He thinks of Head, and his extended youth, and thinks, let her live at least as long as my boyfriend's shithead dad.

Not the most holy of prayers, but wasn't it the thought that counted?

Coco Delrieu has posed:
Rihito focuses too, on their many afternoons, the times they joked, the times at the Music club, each and every date, when she showed him her Kingdom, when she stayed behind to help Michal...

The goddess of the seas raises her scepter, and the flow of energy from the hopes and memories of everyone present starts to flow into the Yellow Pearl, surrounding it in rainbow hues.

"To my Princess of the Yellow Pearl, who took on a dire fate and never stopped believing in love, with a strong and gentle heart... You have done well."

Red, pink, blue, and white all form a multicoloured stream together, coating the Yellow Pearl in their energy. The magical energy gradually grows thinner, flowing inside the precious jewel, and the inert pearl sparks again with life. Inside, Coco's consciousness stirs confused, awakening to a familiar sensation of weightlessness and freshness.

She hears the sounds of waves, the touch of the sand under her hand, the whisper of the wind caressing her hair, on the small islet that first greeted her to life and first let her take her first swim.

Aqua Regina...? What has happened?

The last thing she remembered was the pain, and the Black Beauty Sisters' restoration, and... Was there anything else?

The goddess of the seas keeps speaking. "You have lived to the extent your strength would allow. You have seen much sorrow, hatred, love and friendship, and have sung many melodies..."

Was that what happened? And why did it feel like Aqua Regina was talking more at her than to her? She could feel her words brought the same reassuring warmth she'd always known, but the warmth wasn't just hers.

Memories and feelings that aren't hers flash in her mind. The times Rihito played for her, the times they laughed, the times she sang her love, the times they kissed.

She can feel Madoka's memories too. The time she did her best to keep the pinkette safe. The way Madoka made her happy, visiting her. How much she used that karaoke machine. And the times they got hurt and still fought, helping each other on the way to peace.

Cho's memories flow in: all those times they watched movies together, all the adventures they shared, the swims to the beach, the promises they gave each other.

The memories coming from Mamoru are full of both dark and light, but no less vivid: differences unknown and explained, distances closed, red, strong feelings of understanding.

A different kind of red from that of the Puella, but one that matured and grew in a path of discovery.

The joy reflected through Sugata's memory, her own, and the circumstances that united them in a common front reach through, a jolt of energy that completes the flow.

Aqua Regina opens her arms wide. "Can you hear them, Coco? The prayers spanning the past and the present for you."

She can hear them, voices at the edge of her mind, the affirmation of the friendships she has formed, of the people that have become dear to her. The sensation of weightlessness is gradually leaving her, and the islet she is on starts fading, replaced by a dark that feels pushy, distancing her from her birthplace.

Outside, the Yellow Pearl brightens, and floats away from Rihito's hands, and the sunny light expands in a white silhouette with Coco's distinct hair, bearing a winged scepter and with the addition of a flowing ribbon and extensions to her skirt. There is an impression of a tiara resting on her head, ornate with several white spheres.

"It is time for me to honor the generosity granted to me, and entrust the future of this world to someone else. Take up hands with these irreplaceable friends of yours, combine your strength and make your future!"

The warmth of everyone's feelings has become very intense right now, and she can feel things again. She can feel the same dark energy before she faded. She is holding something. A staff? It feels like a staff.

"Now, Yellow Pearl Voice Ocean Aria... Open your eyes!"

Coco Delrieu has posed:
She does, and she can see her friends again, and she sees them, and she can see Rihito. She smiles brightly, and then, she is hugged tightly by Rihito, his hands pressing her close as if to ascertain she is really here.

"Sorry I went away, and thank you for getting me back. I am so happy to see you again."

She looks up at her sweet mother goddess, and her bright eyes of sunshine fill with comfort, and with the knowledge she will keep that promise entrusted to her.

Starting from the Black Beauty Sisters.

"Sheshe, Mimi. Your path ends here. You will no longer hurt anyone, and it is time for you to learn to accept more light than the one you hold for each other." She is under no illusion that it is going to be hard, but she is sure that they can be helped heal out of their own warped love.

"Pichi Pichi Voice, Live Start!"

Love and loss I truly know them well
To love the lost I would break through hell

All my love across an amber sky
Looking right at all the ways you shine
All I have is you, my everything
Our bond beyond seven seas
All my love across the darkest night
Waiting just ahead to be your guide
All I have is you, my everything
Our bond beyond seven seas
Our bond beyond seven seas
Our bond is every part of me
My pearl

Coco raises her new winged scepter, and her Pearl shines bright with white and yellow, reaching out to all of her friends. "Sea-Sky Harmony!" At her call, feathers, soft and luminescent, start to fall, and when the plumage touches the head of those she holds dear, a swell of energy courses through them, increasing the power of their abilities.

"No, we won't accept this!", Sheshe and Mimi resist staunchly, and her army of trombones, already reduced, spreads with clarinets and cymbals to fill in the blank spots.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Homura glances at Mamoru, and feels his emotions through the psychic bond. For the moment, she shares a few feelings of her own. Happy that he's here, grateful for his help. There's also a vague feeling of 'let's keep this between us, okay?', and a sense of trust in him that is probably a bit more than what makes sense in this timeline.

    When the healing hits a certain point, Hope Concept says, "That's enough. Homura-chan... save your magic. Mamo-kun, thank you." Then the goddess steps up, and despite the fact that she usually floats, this time she walks as she goes around the gingerbread wall. A part of her wants to show off a little, to assert that this is her world and she will not tolerate evil here any longer, but no. There are standards to which she feels a goddess must adhere. To act upon pain or anger, to lash out in fury or revenge... that's not suitable for someone like her. Not out of any desire to set a good example or live up to a mortal's idea of right and wrong, but simply because no one could really feel safe around a short-tempered goddess.

    At the same time, justice is a need which must be fulfilled.

    The ghost Blossom army fights against the trombones and clarinets and symbols with hearts filled by resolve and hope. They tear down the enemy even as they fall, they back each other up as well as the other allies. When one takes a blow, she vanishes in a wisp, and as their numbers drop the battlefield gets more thin.

    The once fluffy cotton candy ground has been mostly shorn away, revealing a crunchy chocolatey crust underneath. When a stray shot or instrument its the ground it sends cocoa shards and sprinkles into the air. The Kamiko inside her feels sad, but it's fine. She can always make a new Paradise.

    Hope Concept watches the battle unfold, then turns to Coco with a soft smile. "I'm glad you're back." Then she turns to Aqua Regina with sorrow in her eyes. "Thank you for everything."

    Then she turns to Sheshe and Mimi.

    "That's enough. You've done enough. I didn't want to be overly mean to you, even with all your cruel actions. I thought maybe, if given enough time, you two might settle out and realize that the best thing you could ever want in life is each other, and that power will never really sate you. But I can't let you have your way."

    She takes a deep breath in, and then lets it out. Her Labyrinth wavers, just for a moment. The shine around her is brighter, the stars in her dress twinkle just a bit more, and her hair billows behind her in a way that is subtly more graceful. She's not here merely to maintain Kamiko's Labyrinth or direct the troops. She is here In Power, as Hope Concept, bringing all of her magic to bear. Hope extends her arms to either side, palms up, closes her eyes, and starts to lift off the ground.

    The Labyrinth begins to shake as everything Hope has felt over the duration of this battle coalesces into one singular attack. Behind the Sisters a tear in reality opens, as if the sky itself is shattering. It widens further and further, revealing a black empty void behind them and a large, glowing pink sphere that shines like the Sun. As it descends upon them, Hope hesitates, then reaches for her locket. "Negative Heart: Lock On!" she calls out, aiming the heartshape beam at the Sisters's Live Stage. "OPEN HEART!" she shouts, and that massive sphere of pink fury is covered in a purifying pearlescent aura.

    If there's a chance to purify the darkness from them, she'll grant them that chance, but... well... if not? After today, she wont lose sleep if they go the way of Koan.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy focuses on her memories and thoughts and feelings about Coco, and

    A miracle occurs.

    "Coco!" Amy shouts, grinning.

    And although Sheshe and Mimi are still there, as Coco's song fills her heart, the Puella Magi just can't feel that same... desperate hate and need for revenge that she did moments ago.

    The Sisters still need to be dealt with; but now Amanda is filled with hope as her ears fill with song.

    She looks to the Sisters, "Nevermind. You'll see no more despair today... and hopefully, never again!" As feathers fall on her, words pop into her head, and she holds up an arm and shouts, with confident certainty:

    AURORA BLAZER!

    For a half-second, confusion runs through her head. Wait, that's not one of my attacks! Did I shout one of La Licorne's instead? But then she suddenly knows what to do -- perhaps being this close to a miracle has shown her the Will of the World, just for a moment.

    No actual launch tube appears; a beam of fiery orange energy fires up into the Labyrinth's sky from just above her forearm, to Amy's wide-eyed amazement and realization.

    A firey aurora spreads from where she shot, for a second or two, flowing and shimmering, and then,

    Tiny missiles start raining down from the sky for a second, two seconds, before the energy making the aurora is expended. Many of them do home in on the instruments Sheshe and Mimi are conjuring, but the bulk of them focus on the Sisters!

    Amy just kind of stares as all their attacks unfold on the villains, with an expression on her face that says 'wow holy shit I made it rain missiles with a beam there is so much I don't understand but magic is awesome!'

Cho Konishi has posed:
Cure Wukong stared as Aqua Regina made their dreams a reality. As Coco... was brought back to them. The tears in her eyes were slowly shifting from sadness to those of joy, as she felt her hope returning, her fists clenching and her body shaking. "C-coco..." she whispered.

And, sparring no time now that their friend was back... the clones *stopped* being serious and half of themstarted to good off. Cure Wukong was too happy to even care. Her friend was alive. The whiplash was enough that instead she just snapped her fingers and they all just poofed into little tufts of hair, as she swirled her staff back, and shrunk it down.

"What you'll accept doesn't matter here," Cure Wukong yelled. "It's time for you to open your hearts, and listen to the princess!" Wait, was she even a princess still? ... Probably. At least a princess.

"72 earthly transformations purification!"

She once again started doing her little dance, posing in time to go with the movements, until she unleashed her great, pink beam of purrifying magical energy on the two! She.... might be a little sad if they... were gone for good... but mostly because she knew it would likely upset Coco.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru nods firmly to Homura before he does anything else; her secret is unquestioningly safe with him. He's not so dissimilar, in the important ways. Tuxedo Mask, back on his feet in front of the Queen, fending off attacks again this time with his cane, and in the process henshining up like Sugata, glimmering into his Prince Endymion form with a sparkling crackle of bright energy across his tuxedo, turning it into armor.

"Kingu!" calls the Prince in a delighted voice that's too happy for a battlefield, but how could he be anything but happy since Coco is alive again, and more powerful still, and oh she's back and she's singing and his heart sings along with her.

His cane's turned into his sword, and he flips it around so the blade is pointed down, and he hurries over to Sugata and unapologetically grabs that armored glove with his bare hand. His own hand holding the sword glows bright gold until the sword does, and he looks at Sugata (without a mask, the tears are visible, but we are professionals) and says, while jamming his glowing sword in the ground in front of him, between the two of them and the Sisters,

"Stellar Crash la Smoking Crater!"

Sugata Shindo has posed:
There is no moment where Sugata fears that this will not work, because the Ginga Kingu is certain it will. The gauntlet was thrown and they've risen to the occasion. There is no world where they would fail their ally (and for most of them, their friend) now.

For all that, he's not unmoved by the moment when it does work, when the pearl shines and Coco returns, not as she had been but flush with health and bright with power, surety as much as serenity in her eyes, in the firmness of her voice. There's something there, with the being who had restored her, called for them, but Ginga Kingu doesn't recognize it.

(It's parental love, and sacrifice. The first glimpse of something fading, going, offered for a child. Of course he doesn't recognize it.)

He launches a kick at Sheshe's smug face and flips backwards, rejoining the others, at the delighted call of his name, and thrusts gauntleted hand into the gauntleted hand reaching for him, feeling the power shine from them both, down into their swords.

Well, that will be one way to handle these two.

"Stellar Crash la Smoking Crater!"

Energy crackles from them, tearing through the ground in a visible trail, minute fissures erupting, gold-white-cyan light flashing through the ground of the Labyrinth, chocolate dust and cookie fragments flying, the path to the Sisters shaking, shaking -

And then swords of energy burst through the ground, an eruption, a crash of blades that tear and stab.

Energy, not metal, but with all their intent to end this fight, however that had to happen.

Coco Delrieu has posed:
There is a loud crack when the trombones keep appearing and filling in the sky and the land everywhere. The Black Beauty Sisters' merged magical energy keeps traversing every bit of the Labyrinth, fueling the orchestra directed by the water demons.

The Humpty Lock blasts through several of the dark sound waves, purifying them, and it is with that same impetus that it reaches the anglerfish duo. They grit their teeth as they try to bear with it, but more and more cracks form through their dark energy.

Purification from the 72 Earthly Transformation clashes against the red light keeping Sheshe and Mimi separated from the power of the Radiant Heart mahoujin. More dark energy pours in, and yet it fades completely, unable to be held together.

Puella Red's attack likewise turns to cinder the obstacles it meets, through, and dull thuds fill the air with each instrument struck and destroyed. Many times they are hit, and many times the Black Beauty Sisters coalesce their energy, powerless to stop the rain of fire that burns them.

And then the Black Beauty Sisters are struck by unending swords, cutting and cutting through their forms, and they are left with more bruises that they can count, with not even enough magical energy to light a lamp.

All the power stolen immediately flows out of the water demons, returning to where it should have always been, and Coco looks down at the Black Beauty Sisters, still in their humanlike forms. "What now then? Are we going to lose this form too?"

Coco looks at her friends and shakes her head. "You cannot hurt people anymore, so that's enough for me. Nobody is going to leave you as anglerfish anymore, but that doesn't mean you can do as you please. Are you able of improving, Sheshe and Mimi?" Coco looks at them seriously.

"You are going to be watched and made sure you won't cause trouble again, but what you do with your time is yours." She hopes they will be able to actually embrace betterment, but only time will tell.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Homura watches from behind the gingerbread barrier. She feels a little guilty that her girlfriend is doing the fighting for her, especially with Amy out here burning Soul Gem to help out, but the truth is that reserving her magic actually makes things safer in the long run. A part of her expects the Black Beauty Sisters to come back and fight them some day, and she's still reeling from the pain and loss of losing a friend. Even if the Mermaid Princess is back and healthier than ever, the adrenaline and the feelings haven't quite subsided for her.

    Still, she's called herself the friend of those who think rationally, and the enemy of those who pick stupid battles. So Homura's going to think rationally. It's okay to play the support role for now. It's not as if she did nothing.

    Hope Concept's feelings are a bit different. The anglerfish demons are defeated and essentially powerless, yet still alive. She doesn't like the fact that Coco turned to foam over their actions, and she has some questions to ask about Aqua Regina, but her sunshiney friend is alive and, speaking as the most aggrieved party, she has decided to spare them.

    Yet there is a condition.

    Hope Concept will honor her friend's choice, of course. There is no question about that. She does, however, reiterate. "If we catch you causing trouble again, we'll have to stop you. You're being given a chance to walk away. It's a chance that not everyone gets. I hope you don't squander it."

    Her golden eyes stare at the two of them for a bit. A gateway opens behind them, allowing them to leave. Hope resists Kamiko's desire to simply boot them out in the hopes that they will leave with dignity. Then the divine Chara Bearer floats over to Coco with a smile and offers her a hug. "Welcome back, Coco-chan! We were so worried. We thought you were gone forever."

Cho Konishi has posed:
Cure Wukong stared at the defeated, vanquished foes... they'd done it. The girls had been defeated and... Well. They weren't back to being harmless fish anymore, but they were also not trying to attack people anymore. And judging by the amount of firepower that had just been leveled against them? Hopefully they'd learned their lesson. If they were smart? They'd learn their lesson to NOT go about causing problems like that anymore.

She was with Coco, admittedly, when it came to that... her focus was on ony thing, and one thing only.

Her friend was okay. The battle was over... And now that the battle was over? She ran forward. And she jumped at Coco, and she practically (okay, entirely) tackled her, Cure Wukong style, hugging her tightly, practically bawling. "D-don't you EVER do that again!" she yelled, tears going down her cheeks. "Y-you s-scared me half t-to death!"

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Ginga Kingu breathes out, watching in satisfaction as the combined attack, along with the rest of the barrage, leaves them slumped and weak, chastened and defeated.

Out of respect for Coco, and respect for Takuto's never stated but probably thought, 'you can be nicer', he does not push for them to just be done with it and finish these two off. They have been defeated before and all it did was see them crawling back to cause trouble, but... Coco is their primary victim. If she wants to show supervised mercy, then supervised mercy it will be.

Diamante is sheathed, the blade sinking without wound into his chest, and Samekh's black armor dissipates into so much smoke as he reduces his power level, returning to his base henshin.

He offers no words to his enemies, merely a stoic glance that says it is not his will that sees them living.

Then he turns to Prince Endymion and inclines his head. "That was interesting - I'll have to see if I can manage an on the fly combination like that Wako, Takuto, or Chiyo "

Friendship acknowledged, he smiles at Yellow Pearl Voice Ocean Aria and congratulates her. "It's good to see you healthy again."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Coco's back, Amy shot a beam, the anglerfish sisters are purified but as humans instead of fish. A lot happens in a short time!

    Coco spares them. After everything. Amy wonders if this is kinda how Usagi felt, when Amy was so ready to forgive villains.

    But... Coco's the one they killed, and look at them, powerless and afraid of turning back into fish.

    Amy sighs. What was it she said?

You're never hurting anyone again.

    Well, that might be true this way, too, especially if as Coco says someone is watching them. Amy nods after Hope Concept's speech, "Stay away from Dark Energy, too."

    She turns to run over to Coco, although she does stop to glance between the portal and Hope Concept, who it's... weird to have physically present for once. "Dude," she quietly says, "You can't toss 'em out on the street. Someone's gotta take 'em in, somewhere."

    She presumes someone has a plan, but she'll escort them to the Pearl Pier or the school if it comes to it. She really hopes this doesn't end with them squatting in her dorm room, though...

    The redhead runs over to Coco to hug her. "Coco-chan! You're back! And healthy!" she smiles,

    And she releases Coco and looks for Aqua Regina, but she's gone. "Uhh... tell your Mom thanks for us, and...I'm sorry about before, I... well, I feel bad about how we last parted, and... maybe there's stuff I didn't understand. And I know she didn't do it for us, like, you're her daughter of course she helped save you, but I wanna say thanks anyway, for making it possible."

And she looks at the gathering of friends here, and smiles.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Prince Endymion stands there awkwardly for a moment, marking the status of the Sisters but not actually commenting on them until after Madoka and Cho have gone over to Coco, then glancing at Sugata for a moment. He crooks a smile. "I'm sure you could. I'm just really good at it."

Then the armored and caped boy crosses his arms. He finally says, "I'm telling Kunzite about you, and if you get hopped up on Dark Energy again, I'm letting him loose."

He takes an uncertain half-step over to Coco, but the two human girls have the hugging in hand, and he was-- he doesn't want Usagi to get Jealous of Coco, so 'when everyone else is hugging her' is probably the best time to also throw his hug in the pile, where its intent is obvious? BUT--

But he does not join the hug-party because honestly he doesn't want to risk-- no wait.

"I want to hug you and you're a very pretty goddess-queen, Coco-sama, and I might get us both in trouble," he teases gently-- but comes over to take a turn and hug the mermaid too, if she'll allow it. "I'm so happy you're back. I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful--" and then he drops his henshin down to the mask again. "I don't really feel like karaage anymore, though." He sighs. "We're expected back at the study session with buckets of chicken. You're welcome to join us! You're welcome to join us any time," Mamoru says earnestly, more easily earnest behind a mask, in some ways. "Karaage for everyone? I'll RPS anyone who wants to take the check from me."

Coco Delrieu has posed:
Who exactly does look over them is something Coco will have to talk about with at the very least Nikora, if not other Mermaid Princesses, but at very least, she is going to send them to her kingdom for now. Whether they stay there, or another person ends up taking care of them, they will have to see. She hopes they will be able to turn for the better, though.

Any other thoughts are interrupted by the group hug, and Coco gives a crystalline laugh, hugging her friends eagerly. "I am sorry for worrying you, I am so glad I can see you again", she says, relishing in the warmth of their presence. As far as second chances go, she didn't think she would get one either.

"I will try not to", Coco expresses sincerely when Cho shares her worries. "I didn't think anything like that was going to happen." And now she can look into a way for Rihito to be protected, even if she is not around.

She is feeling a lot better now that fever has passed, and much lighter in general. Hearing Mamoru call her goddess-queen makes her realise she really has changed. That power she instinctively used... Knowing what she does about Aqua Regina, it makes sense that was how it worked.

"Don't worry about it", Coco tells Amy. She has had the time to work out her feelings since then. "Aqua Regina has been doing her best, that's all." She has been doing so for a very long time, with what she now understands about her.

The thought of Karaage makes her look at the Black Beauty Sisters. She does want to take Mamoru up on his offer, but they should also be watched over. And it is probably too soon to have them socialise, for both parties.

She smiles at Mamoru's tease, and replies. "I like the new fashion, but I don't think I can bring this to a KFC. Just give me ten minutes, I will find someone to watch over them, and I will be right back", she confirms to him, and looks at the Black Beauty Sisters. "I will show you around. You have never really been there. Try not to worry anyone. Or we will talk about that too."

"Fine, Mermaid Princess, if you say so", Sheshe scoffs, and gets to her feet, taking Mimi's hands. "Let's go, Mimi." The blue-haired demon grumbles, and starts heading to the Yellow Dream Corridor Coco opens. "We were so close though."

Rihito comes over and gives her Seira's Pearl. "Don't forget this. I will stay here and handle things with Mamoru-san. See you soon", he says, and gives her a quick kiss.

Coco's eyes spark happily and she gives the kiss back, then waves and wink at her friends. "Be right back! Let's have fun."