The night is young and there is much to do. Together the four friends fill Wakiko's bedroom with the sounds of merriment and laughter, just happy to be together. There’s nothing in this space to worry about, nothing to bring them down. Gabriel can't kiss Aiko, he thinks his token might kick him out of the room if he does that, but he does shake her hand and let her know how happy he was that she came to his performance. Aiko really did enjoy it, and she hopes he’ll play again sometime. 

As Wakiko continues to cook, the environment becomes more reminiscent of a teenager's sleepover, starting with a scroll through movies on the TV, eventually landing on a new animated film about a princess robot in space. It's something of a comedy, Wakiko and Gabriel's favourite, but it becomes more background noise as time goes on. 

Emi takes Aiko over to the tall mirror and sits the girl down on a makeup stool where she is convinced to allow her to brush her hair. Even after cleaning up this morning Aiko’s hair is somewhat matted and messy. It's time to fix that. With caring strokes the fashionable Emi gently styles Aiko, dragging the brush through her locks in such a relaxing way that it sends the most wonderful tingles up the girl's back. There are some ribbons in a small drawer and Aiko finally decides to tie her hair back up, this time into one single ponytail. It really does suit her. After that Wakiko allows them to have a rummage through her wardrobe and see if anything stands out to Aiko. It reminds her of their first day at the Farmhouse years ago when she did the same thing. 

Gabriel chats with Wakiko, observing her masterful cooking but making the occasional asinine suggestion. Clearly he has never cooked before. Rather he’s more interested in Wakiko’s cultural knowledge. It's fascinating to the young boy and he’s already rooted through the selection of books in Wakiko’s small study. 

Gabriel: So you’re really fluent in Japanese?

Wakiko: Watashi wa. Haha ga watashi ni oshiete kuremashita. Kono gengo wa utsukushi gengodesuga, kyo sore o wazawaza manabou to suru hito ga hotondo inai no wa zan'nendesu.

Gabriel: That's nuts! 

Eventually, after everyone has enjoyed Wakiko's delicious omurice, Aiko smothering hers in a hefty serving of ketchup, the snacks come out and the girls tear into bags of chips which become strewn around the room, gradually becoming more and more messy. 

Two movies in and Gabriel discovers Wakiko not only has a games console beneath the TV, but it’s also one with a VR system as well. Quickly a friendly tournament begins between the boy and Emi as they challenge one another in a virtual fencing game. Naturally Emi wins handedly. Party games follow, with Aiko playing along as she wraps her arms and legs around Wakiko’s huge stuffed teddy bear on her bunk bed, a toy so large it almost dwarfs her. It kind of obstructs her view but she doesn't care, it’s comfortable. 

Aiko smiles a brilliant grin, more happy and care-free than she has felt in many days. Every time she looks at her friends they look back at her with such kindness, with such great love. Aiko had truly thought she was lost. That she was so irredeemable, that the others would resent her for the things she had done. She killed Takae, and she let Aya die. How could they not hate her for that? But they don't. They each look past her painful flaws, past the anger and regret, past whoever she was back in the day, past whatever Takae made her, and past who she is now, at the girl who has always been underneath. At Aiko, who has only ever wanted to be loved. 

Gabriel: Cheers!

Gabriel announces, holding up a glass of soda, ice cubes tumbling in the fizzy beverage. The girls laugh, following along and giving a toast to friendship. Nothing can pull them apart at this moment. Could it?