ZZZ: Dawn of The Black Sun

"Aight, sit down and behave you pile of junk!" Koleda exclaimed the moment the group returned to the construction site. "All three of you, stay here and wait for Grace to come check you up. No running off into the Hollow again or we will bring you back here in parts!"

All three machine made their own version of salute at Koleda's command. Each one has parts of their body smashed with hammer, a reminder of what happened if they test the president's temper. Koleda nodded in satisfaction before turning to Belle and the others.

"Proxy, Cunning Hares, thank you for your help with retrieving these machines," Koleda said. "You will be greatly compensated for your troubles,"

As if on cue, Ben come rushing in, carrying a briefcase. He stood in front of the proxy and cunning hares, an almost sheepish look on his face. "Thank you for your help miss proxy, here, for your troubles," he handed Belle the briefcase.

"Aww... thanks you guys..." Belle took the briefcase. "Really, it's fine, it wasn't exactly a hard job either..." she grinned. "Ah, by the way..." she took out a card out of her pocket. "I uhh... I made you this Koleda, do you want it?"

Koleda took the card. "What's this?"

"It's the Random Play Video Store VIP membership card! With it, you will get priority access to all of our correction and 20% off on every purchase,"

An almost fond smile formed on Koleda's face. "I don't watch movie a lot though..." she muttered to herself.

"What better time to start then, hmm?" Belle grinned. "How about this, to celebrate our finished mission, we can head on over to a Starlight Knight Restaurant! Then, we can grab some movies at Random Play and visit Grace at the Hospital for a movie night, what do you say?"

Koleda's eyes widened. The mission, the hollow, the mention of his name, it made her forgot about her... "Grace..." she whispered to herself. "I... Yes, let's... go and look for a movie to watch with her..."

[LINE BREAK]

Billy is making a risky gamble. Nekomiya realized.

When everyone else is having discussion with Koleda regarding a commission, back in the Construction Site. He told everyone that he's going out to the Arcade with her as those discussion bores him. What they don't know is that he didn't go to the Arcade.

He took her to the Hospital to visit Grace.

"The Starlight Knights have arrived!!!" Billy announced his arrival with a grandiose, twirling into the room and stopped right in front of Grace's bed. He took out a parcel and presented it to her. "A moment of joy, from yours truly..."

"Oh, Billy!" Grace smiled. "Really didn't expect to see you here," the woman sat up. "I'm fine, really, just broke my arm. It happens every month," she said. "And you're Nekomiya right? Come in~ Thanks for visiting,"

Nekomiya took a double look at Grace. The woman looks healthy, with only a cast around his arm that suggest anything wrong. She sighed in relief, the machine she activated didn't kill her.

Billy sat on a chair next to Grace's bed. "Now then, allow us extend our apology," he bowed his head. "For sabotaging the carrot proxy data and for activating the corrupted machine in the construction site."

Nekomiya froze, turning to Billy with wide eyes. "Bi-Billy?!" she looked between him and Grace. "Wh-why!? What, wha? You!" she looked at Grace, expecting her to lash out at them.

Grace however simply sighed calmly. "I already knew, but thank you for telling me," she looked down. "It was... a very clean sabotage, I have to admit. If I was not the person who designed those machines, there's no way I can tell... If I were to die during that, no one would know,"

There was a moment of silence before Grace looked back at Billy. "Then... since you told me this, I'm guessing you're here to finish the job?"

Nekomiya froze. There's no way right? Billy would never do that right?

Billy shook his head. "Taking down an opponent? When they're in no condition to fight? The Starlight Knights would scorn me for even thinking of such!" he then gestured at Nekomiya. "I am simply here to give Nekomiya a chance to apologize, she was the one who activated the machine."

Though relieved, Nekomiya lowered her gaze, ears drooping. "I'm sorry... I... I didn't want to..." she muttered. "I'm glad you're okay,"

Grace's face softened, slowly turning that into of genuine curiosity. "Then, why are you telling me this?" she tilted her head. "Does Belle know?"

Billy nodded. "I did not tell her, but I do believe that she knows," he replied. "As for why I'm telling you this..." he looked down. "I wish to ask for your help, regarding... a dissonance of value that has struck one of my precious friends..."

"You underestimate how dangerous humans are..." Grace began. "You cannot control, debug, or re-program a human," she shook her head. "There's no saving her,"

Billy tensed a little. "Now, now, Miss Grace... It's too soon to give up!" he said encouragingly. "Please, work with me, just join us and..."

"Ahaha!" Grace chuckled softly. "Perhaps I should re word that," she looked down. "It's too late for me to do anything," she gazed back at Billy, eyes sparkling. "But you, you might be able to do something, you might be the one to save Belle..."

A feeling of foreboding came through Nekomiya. Why does this sound like a goodbye? She looks fine? Is the injury too much? What is going on!?

"Miss Grace?" Billy asked.

"Billy, can, I ask for hug?"

"Wh-what?"

Grace embraced Billy into a tight hug. Pressing her head against his shoulder. "You're a marvel of engineering, Billy," she whispered to him. "You're the embodiment of the Starlight Knight themselves," she tighten her grip on his body. "Please protect Koleda for me... My sweet pea still has a lot to learn, so much room to grow. Please make sure she become a good girl when she grow up..."

"Absolutely," Billy returned the hug. "Koleda will shine as brightly as the Starlight Knights..." his voice cracked. "And, and you can be there to see her,"

"No, I can't do this... I do love my machines, but I want to stay human till the very end..." Grace took a deep breath. "Tell sweet pea I love her,"

Billy let go of her. "I... Good bye Grace,"

"Goodbye Billy, Nekomiya,"

Billy turned around. "Come on Nekomiya, Koleda and the rest are waiting,"

Nekomiya looked back at Grace, she's fine, there's nothing wrong with her. But why does it feel like this would be the last time she sees her?

The answer came the moment she stepped out of the door. A certain blue haired girl stood near the doorway, carrying a parcel. "Oh hey! You guys here early," Belle said with a grin. "Had fun in the arcade?"

Nekomiya felt her blood ran cold, her mouth gaped open in fear.

"Oh, we didn't go to the arcade," Billy replied. "I was just clearing up a misunderstanding with Miss Grace about the whole problem with the commission," he chucked a little. "Ahaha! Though, now that I think about it, I do owe Nekomiya a few turns in the Snake War!"

Belle grinned a little. "Yeah, I've been listening," she sighed a little. "I'm so sad she didn't agree... she could've been a badass addition to the team," she waved around her parcel. "Well, I had a backup plan so..."

The blue haired girl smiled sweetly at the two.

"See you at the funeral?"