[Sanpaku Captain’s Quarters]

As Saku wakes up after his dream of meeting his best friend, he flutters his eyes open, staring at the white painted ceiling.

He tries to get up, but there is pressure pushing on both his shoulders but also his pelvis and legs.

He swivels his head to look around and sees topless Laban asleep pressing on one of his shoulder, Itsuka fully clothed asleep on the other, Xaaydagaay fully clothed, laying across his pelvis, and Friend’s head resting on his Master’s feet.

Saku takes a deep annoyed sigh.

Saku: "Can I get up, please?"

All three girls and Friend slowly wake up, and look around.

Itsuka wearing her right pajamas blushes and quickly steps out of the bed.

Itsuka: "Saku!

I-I-I’m sorry! Laban and Xaaydagaay both snuck in while you were passed out and I didn’t trust her not to-

Oh I’m so freaking embarrassed..."

After Xaaydagaay and Friend get up, freeing his legs, Laban is the last to leave her unwelcomed intrusion to someone else’s personal space.

Pretending to still be asleep, the ex- Don of Roronora City tries to snuggle up closer but Saku gets his arm free and gets up from the comfort of the warm bed, leaving Laban slightly annoyed while also trying to fully wake up.

On the other side of the room, Katsu is alone in his bed, except...

He slowly sits up from sleeping and leans back against the headboard. Looking over, the Izanagi Captain sees Itsuka trying to explain herself to her Izanami Captain.

As well as Laban putting a shirt on, Xaaydagaay doing a slight pee dance, and Friend panting, sitting like a good boy.

Shelly: "Did you sleep well Katsu?"

Katsu turns his head quickly and notices Shelly getting up from the floor.

Katsu: "Shelly?!

Where-?

When did you get in here?"

Shelly wearing her pajamas pants and a clean white tee gets up from the ground and dusts herself off.

Shelly: "Well, a- after our talk last night through Seiõr, Itsuka and I both heard Laban sneaking in here last night.

You two were completely passed out and we couldn’t wake you up.

J-Just to make sure she didn’t do anything to Saku or you..."

Katsu smiles at the blushing young woman, remembering their talk the night before.

{8 Hours Earlier}

Laying in their individual rooms, Katsu is wide awake, face up and his Anjell Eye is activated to 2nd Stage.

Shelly is leaning up against the wall sitting on the floor and has her Mach 1 SanguineSoulSeiõrShield activated.

Before the Yang Vessel says anything to his purpose through their minds, Katsu has a stern look on his face.

He looks over at Saku with Friend and Xaaydagaay already in their pin positions on the physically exhausted and passed out Yin Vessel.

Katsu’s eyes narrow but suddenly...

Shelly(whispers telepathy): *Katsu!

Katsuuuu!*

The two adopted siblings start talking telepathically once again to each other but unlike over Roronora Lake, they are speaking through the walls due to the ability of Katsu’s special symbiote.

Katsu(telepathy): *Hey Shell!

Don’t worry, you don’t have to whisper in when we communicate this way.

Nobody can hear us right now.*

Shelly(telepathy): *O-Oh, really?*

Katsu(telepathy): *Mhm.

So what’s up?

You- you wanted to talk about something?*

There is a moment of silence in the feed between them, so long of a pause in fact that Katsu is about to ask her again but...

Shelly(telepathy): *K-...Katsu, I’m sorry I doubted you earlier when Laban tried framing you.

With both her and Saku saying you’re a bad guy and secretly being evil it got to me.

But now I know they’re just thugs who can’t be completely trusted.*

Katsu smile, knowing he’s fully regained the trust of Takamagahara’s Ace.

Katsu(telepathy): *Thanks Shelly, that means a lot.

Really.

Having you tell me this is reassuring and brings me peace.

It hurts when you don’t trust me, do you remember when I first got this alien symbiote?*

Shelly remembers...

[Flashback]

Inside the hideout from Nephilim after their exile from the Sister Mountians.

Shelly feels Katsu’s ’switch flip’ but for the first time since her mother’s death, Shelly is silent in fear when Katsu raises his head.

His IceEye, that he had just acquired not 24 hours prior is already at 2nd Stage.

As if he was oblivious to it, Katsu’s switched self continues.

Katsu: "...When you took that risk to catch this exact eye, yesterday before you did it, you pleaded with ME to not look at YOU differently if you ended up with this very same eye, alien, or whatever it is.

And I wouldn’t have!

I would’ve low-key been happy to have someone like you, protecting me. Someone who is so overpowered with both pure human skill AND alien supported powers. So why are you being a hypocrite right now?"

Shelly(stunned): "Ka- Kats-"

Still unaware that his eye stage has changed, her fear of Katsu hurts him deep down and he holds his chest over his heart while keeping eye contact with her.

At this point, not knowing about Seiõr, Shelly can only see the physical eye’s stage but can’t see that Katsu’s eye aura is pitch black but a faint streak of "shining silver" within.

She can also see his tears though.

Katsu: "Now that I think about it, I technically got this eye from you and overall, the pros outweigh the cons.

I still have one of my fathers green eyes and now when I see this eye, I’ll remember it’s technically a gift from you...

So Shelly, please.

Stop.

Stop looking at me like that. It hurts."

[END FLASHBACK]

Shelly(to herself): "Katsu..."

The blushing, beautiful Shelly takes a deep breath before taking a step forward in her relationship with the man she loves.

Shelly(telepathy): *Katsu...*

Katsu(telepathy): *Hm?"

Shelly(telepathy): "Katsu, do- do you love me?*

On his side of the wall, Katsu seemingly already knew she was as going to ask this random question, is not surprised nor fazed by her question.

Katsu(to himself): "I think this is it..."

There’s another short pause in the feed between them, so long of a moment in fact, this time Shelly is about to ask him if he’s still there but...

Katsu(telepathy): *Of course I do Shelly...

You’re the only one I truly have left in this world who I can completely trust to make me happy.

There’s nobody or anything I would trade for you.

You’re irreplaceable to me in every way, and I don’t want to live a second on this world without you.

I do love you Shell.

Of course I do.

I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t.*

Again, there is a pause.

On her side of the wall, Shelly’s Mach 1 SanguineSoulSeiõrShield has unintentionally risen to Mach 2, brightening up the room around her to reveal knocked out Laban and Princess Rebekah sharing a bed, asleep.

Itsuka is also asleep, alone in the only remaining bed in the converted hotel room and Shelly looks over at her, remembering the Big Sister’s words the night before the moment Katsu is referring to.

Itsuka’s Voice: "...all that should matter, is if both living organisms are happy together under the same roof at the end of the day.

If PipPip was my only friend until the day I died, I’d be content because it may be just a pet, but at least I wouldn’t be alone. And there’s a life that depends on me to make it’s life better."

Shelly(telepathy): *Thank you Katsu.

For everything since you took me into your home...*

Katsu(telepathy): *What do you mean? It was my parents decision to take you in that day.

All I did was try my hardest as a kid to fix you. It’s what anybody would do for the one’s they love.

Right?*

Shelly is blushing smiling while clenching her diary close to her chest.

She nods while speaking, even though her communication partner can’t see her doing so.

Shelly(telepathy): *Right.

...

Thank you for staying up with me to talk Katsu, I really thought I was going to lose you today.

I guess, when it comes down to it, you’re the reason I’m where I am today, Katsu.

Without you, I probably would have had to go to a mental institution or I would have died of malnutrition.

But because of you...

Because of your love, I’m still here to save Sanpaku and Takamagahara.

Just know, I will always fight for you, Katsu.

You will always be my King.

No matter what anybody says.*

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Shelly(thinking): *Katsu?*

Suddenly from her room the connecting door opens and the floor boards creak.

Both Itsuka’s eyes and Shelly’s vision move to the doorway leading between the two rooms and they see Laban tip toeing, into the Captain Quarters, while taking her shirt off...

The two girls also get up from their respective areas and quickly make their way for the door too.

Once inside, the half naked Laban has already crawled her way into bed with unconscious Saku.

Itsuka in silent frustration rushes over and carefully does the same in petty competitiveness.

Shelly looks over to Katsu’s bed and understands now, why he didn’t respond.

Her adopted brother is completely pooped from his day and he spent the very last of his energy to talk to Shelly.

She smile blushes and makes her way over.

She kisses him on the forehead and then sits on the floor, her back against the wall, and she falls asleep to the sound of Katsu’s soft breathing.