The white, slightly worn out ceiling of the hospital stares back at Darling as she looks on with tired eyes, not a sound coming from her lips. She's exhausted, her face far from the usual cheer she radiated. (Her voice and cheer was what she used to lift her comrades— her family—up. Without it... ) Her expression crumples for the nth time that day. 

​

​

​

Tanuki looks on just behind the room's door with gritted teeth, his fists curled tightly. "Those bastards..." He quietly seethes to himself, "I'll make them pay." 

​

​

​

The familiar click-clack of footsteps echoes from behind him as he struggles to press down his anger and frustration; he doesn't need to turn around to know that it's Owner. 

​

​

"We're in the process of hunting them down."

Her voice rings out, steps pausing just a few feet before him. 

​

​

A growl from Tanuki.

"Well, find them faster! I swear, when I get my hands on them—"

​

​

"You will get your first bite."

Owner cuts him off, tone one of promise. "I understand your rage. But we have to secure the assailants first." 

​

​

"Until then..." She trails off, looking towards the ROON Leader's ward. The once cheerful leader, now unable to be the voice for ROONs any longer.

 "Darling is unable to use her glitch." 

 

​

​

Tanuki falls silent at her words, realizing what Owner is implying. An officer who cannot use their glitch... to help their community, to defend the people... An officer who lost their purpose is...

 

​

Owner cocks her head to the side, looking at him. 
"You're thinking the same as I." 

​

​

Tanuki's fists curl just a bit tighter. A truth he despises
"She isn't—"

Useless.

"But I can not—"

​

Tell her that she is.

​

"... It'll keep her safe. It'll allow her to recover." Owner spoke, placing a comforting hand on the other's shoulder. In which, Tanuki moves away swiftly. She takes no offense to it, keeping her hand to herself once more. "You know the drill. Especially for a leader. But also for your sister."

​

​

A quiet release of a sigh, frustrated, but knowing that the thought they share is the best for Darling; from Council Member Tanuki, what stands now in his place is a worried Big Brother.  "She'll hate me if she knew I wanted this." 

​

​

"Then, I can share the news for you," Owner says instead. "You should go home and take care of her. She will need a family member around her... 

​

...You only have each other, yes? 

 

Perhaps it's time to stop running away from your family." 

​

​

Tanuki opts to ignore the latter of what Owner said, instead asking:

"Do you have anyone in mind to take over?" 

​

​

An upward quirk of the lips.

​

"Yes," Owner hums.

 

​

"And I think you'll like them too."