Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Don't they realize that we're tired, too?" Haruna complained as she carried a sleepy Kurumi on her back.

"You did agree to give her the piggyback ride, Haruna," Miyu reminded the other girl. Miiko was riding on her back.

"Yes, well, that's beside the point!" Haruna looked away, blushing embarrassedly. What Miyu said may have been true, but Haruna was too nice for her own good, and she knew it. Even though all of them were exhausted after their most recent performance, Kurumi and Miiko somehow suckered piggyback rides out of Haruna and Miyu.

In times like this, Haruna couldn't help but feel like a tired parent trying to look after her wayward children. She supposed that made Miyu her partner in all this, helping her "raise" said wayward children. The thought was actually kind of cute and only made Haruna blush harder. Although, if they thought she was too nice of a parent, Miyu was way "worse" in that regard. It was enough to coax a small smile out of the DJ.

Before long, though, Haruna needed to pause. They should've been back at the hotel by now, but they were still roaming the city streets. It was already confusing enough, but since it was nighttime, that made getting their bearings even harder!

"Kurumi, wake up, please. I need you to slide off my back for a moment," Haruna shook the other girl awake.

"Huh? Wuh? Are we back yet?" she yawned.

"No, but I need to check our map to make sure we're going in the right direction," Haruna said. After a few more seconds, Kurumi shook herself awake and slid off Haruna's back. At the same time, Miiko did the same with Miyu. They took a pit stop at a nearby gas station, using the lights to help them see the map better. And if they really couldn't figure it out, they could always go inside and ask for help.

"You girls lost?" There was a man at one of the gas pumps and he noticed the four of them puzzling over the map in confusion.

"Yes! Do you know how to get back to the hotel?" Haruna led the way over to him, handing him the map. After a couple seconds of inspection, he nodded, gesturing perpendicular to the way they were currently walking. Good thing they hadn't gone farther!

"Care for a ride back?" he asked, gesturing to his car. It was a sleek, black, sports-looking car.

"Oooh!" Kurumi and Miiko's eyes went wide with excitement. They were sure such a fancy car must be able to go really fast!

"Thank you for such generosity, sir!" Miyu curtseyed at the same time, and the man flashed her a smile. Haruna suddenly felt her stomach twist.

Nothing had gone wrong so far, and the stranger gave no indication of being untrustworthy, but…Maybe it was paranoia, maybe it was a sixth sense, either way, Haruna wasn't letting any of them get in that car. Her hands shot out and she grabbed Kurumi and Miiko's hands, tugging them back before they could approach the vehicle.

"Oww! Hey, Chairman, what gives?!" they complained, but Haruna only shook her head severely before gesturing with her head for Miyu to get behind her. It was such an intense and alarming change in temperament that Miyu didn't dare think to disobey.

"Actually, sir, we would prefer to walk," Haruna spoke with as much politeness as she could muster.

"What? No we don't!" Miiko cried.

"C'mon, Chairman, we're tiiiired!" Kurumi agreed, both of them tugging on Haruna's arms. They really were like her wayward children, weren't they? But that meant, right now, Haruna was about to become a very overprotective parent. She shook her head again, stern and resolute.

"Aww, come on, listen to your friends, I'm not gonna bite!" the man tried to sound friendly. Haruna spent the next couple minutes trying to steer her way out of the situation, but the man was persistent, trying to refute every argument or reason she sent his way. Now she was really on guard. As polite as the man was being, the fact that he didn't want to take "no" for an answer was a huge red flag. Even Kurumi and Miiko weren't protesting anymore. It seemed as though the tension in the air was finally getting to them as well. For once, Haruna was grateful for it. They only held her hands a little bit tighter, but they didn't try to pull away anymore.

"Just…Please give us our map back and we'll be on our way, sir," Haruna continued, straining to sound relaxed and disinterested.

"Well, what if I don't want to?" Oh. That wasn't good. Haruna felt Kurumi and Miiko both grip her hands tighter, but she let go, pushing them farther behind her and spreading her arms just slightly, as if trying to shield them and Miyu. She felt Miyu grab her arm from behind.

"Haruna!" she whispered, but Haruna maintained her firm posture. The man mirrored the gesture. Coming from him, though, it was a lot scarier. He was, after all, an adult male that towered over all of them. Haruna felt her stomach twist again, and her heart started to pound.

I wonder…how long can I hold him off? If I tell the others to run, right now…how much time will I be able to buy them? It was a terrifying thought and it only made Haruna's heart beat even faster, but time and options were running out. Haruna even took a step back, forcing the other three back as well, but then the man took a step forward. Not good.

Haruna wasn't a fighter, she didn't have any training, but as the band's chaperone, as well as the tallest and most responsible, sensible member, what choice did she have? And even more, she was their friend, their guide and guard. She simply had to protect them, at any cost.

"Haruna, please!" Miyu whispered again, squeezing Haruna's arm even tighter. It was as if she'd read Haruna's thoughts. She felt Kurumi and Miiko clutch at her skirts, terrified because of, and for, her. Haruna did her best to remain the stalwart bodyguard. This wasn't how she thought she'd spend tonight, but as far as she was concerned, anything less on her part was unacceptable.

"I t-t-told you, s-s-sir!" she stuttered, trying her best to keep a brave face. "We'll be walking home. Keep the map if you must, I'm sure the hotel has plenty more!" What ensued was a silent stare down, as if the man was daring them to try to leave. Haruna did her best to hold his gaze, even though she was shaking. She knew the others behind her were shaking as well. This was not good. But until she could think of something…

The stare down seemed to last forever, but all at once, the man tensed up, then looked away. He looked back at Haruna, then away again, and this pattern repeated a few more times before he finally, suddenly, turned away in defeat, walking off with a scoff.

"Ungrateful little bi—!" he muttered angrily to himself. He slid into his car, slammed the door shut, then flipped them off as he drove away. Haruna and the others were in so much shock that they barely even registered it, just amazed that he'd given up so quickly and quietly. She let out the breath she didn't even know she was holding, and as her arms lowered, she heard the others behind her sigh in relief as well. They were all still shaking.

"Oh, Haruna!" Miyu sounded close to tears as she embraced her friend.

"Chairman!" So did Miiko and Kurumi, joining the group hug. Truth be told, Haruna felt like she was about to cry, too.

"Are you four all right?" A new voice caused them to whip around in alarm. Again, instinctively, Haruna pushed the others behind her, although this time, Miyu tried to stand beside her. She couldn't stand the thought of Haruna having to protect them alone again.

"Woah, woah! Sorry, sorry! Forgive me! Please, I didn't mean to scare you." The moment they realized who they were looking at, all their terror immediately evaporated into relief, and for a second time, all four of them felt seconds away from tears.

"Dalia!" And so it was.

As Dalia would later explain, in her car, which the quartet was all too happy to climb into this time, she'd been out buying red solo cups and ice. Rika, of course, demanded an afterparty for their concert, but in her forgetful excitement, although she remembered the alcohol, she didn't remember anything else. That left Dalia to make a quick grocery run, and it was just dumb luck that she happened to check out right at the time Lyrical Lily ran into the stranger at the gas pump.

"I hate to think what might've happened if you'd come even a little bit sooner or later," she muttered grimly, holding the steering wheel in a death grip, eyes cold and blazing. Her teeth were clenched as well. Although the girls didn't know it, as the man sped off, she'd quickly memorized his license plate number and reported it to the cops. Even though he hadn't technically done anything illegal, Dalia still wanted eyes on him, in case he ever tried anything like that ever again. She wouldn't put it past him, sad as that was to say.

It was then that Haruna realized why he'd given up the fight so quickly. It wasn't that she managed to scare him off, but Dalia. Haruna felt a little embarrassed by this, but she could definitely see why. Even though Dalia was scowling at the road ahead, Haruna still felt a nervous energy rising up from the pit of her stomach as she looked at Dalia's intense gaze through the rearview mirror. She could imagine how frightening Dalia must've looked when she was scaring off the man.

Haruna could picture it in her head, Dalia approaching from behind Lyrical Lily, standing stoic and tall, arms crossed and eyes flashing. Maybe she'd bared her teeth, maybe she'd made a threatening gesture. In any case, imagining someone so tall and muscular scowling down at them through the dark was certainly a frightening picture. And this was before the man would've realized, had he not backed down, that she had a black belt in martial arts! Her muscles weren't just for show, after all.

"Th-thank you, Dalia. Thank you for saving us," Miyu was the first to speak, voice hushed with awe and gratitude.

"You do not need to thank me," Dalia replied shortly. Even though they knew she wasn't mad at them, it was clear that her anger at the man was still so overwhelming that she was doing her best to keep her temper in check. That was saying something, considering how stoic she normally was. "Of course I wasn't going to let a creep like that lay a finger on any of you."

"Wow, Dalia, you're just like a superhero!" Miiko sounded a little starstruck too. That was finally enough to coax a smile from Dalia.

"No, I'm nothing of the sort," she said, shaking her head. "I was just doing what any good person would do. Of course we bandmates have to look out for one another." Even though she was from Merm4id and they were from Lyrical Lily, as far as she was concerned, they were still bandmates at heart, bound by music even if not by organization.

"Still, you were so cool, like wow!" Miiko said, the tension finally starting to fade away. Now Dalia gave them a soft laugh.

"Thank you, all of you," she said.

"It's us who should be thanking you," Haruna said softly, echoing Miyu's words from earlier. "If it weren't for you…"

"Let us not think of that right now," Dalia said gently. "Although I am more than happy to help you process it later, think nothing of it for now. You are safe, that's all that matters. Focus on that."

I just wish…Haruna gazed longingly at Dalia in the rearview mirror again. Dalia seemed to understand what that look meant right away.

"I hope you aren't blaming yourself for any of this, Haruna," she said, voice stern again.

"Hmm?" The other members of Lyrical Lily turned to their DJ, looks of surprise on their face.

"Huh? What?! I—! No! I—! Uhh…" Haruna had been called out.

"You did nothing wrong, Haruna. It was him who was to blame," Dalia continued, eyes flashing as she mentioned the man again. "You only did what you thought was right, and you did your best to guide and guard your bandmates through a time of crisis. You did well, and nobody could ask anything else of you. You kept your head, and you kept the safe. It was a job beautifully well done."

It was true, though, Haruna felt a little guilty. First, she got them lost, then, she nearly ran them right into stranger danger. What sort of leader did that? She'd let them down. Protecting them was only her way of making it up to them. Tears welled up in Haruna's eyes.

"But you're the one who alerted us to the danger!" Kurumi cried, recalling how quick she and Miiko were to try to get in the car. Even Miyu was far too trusting, blindsided by the man's earlier kindness. For once, Haruna's wariness paid off. If not for her suspicion, they may have all gotten into the car without a second thought. Who knew what may have happened next? It was enough to send chills down all their spines.

"So really, Haruna, thank you for saving us as well," Miyu said softly, reaching over to squeeze the other girl's hand affectionately.

"Yeah, you were pretty cool, Chairman, protecting us like that!" Kurumi agreed, bouncing up and down in her seat and taking Haruna's other hand.

"You're a superhero, too, Haruna!" Miiko agreed. "Your super-senses saved us! And you were so brave back there, shielding us like that!"

"They're right, Haruna," Dalia agreed, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror again. "You were ready to do anything and everything to get them out of harm's way. That's something you should be very proud of!" Especially since you aren't even trained in martial arts, Dalia thought. In Dalia's mind, Haruna was something of a kindred spirit to her because they were both their band's respective bodyguards. But as she'd noted, as far as she was concerned, Haruna's bravery that night outshined her own because Haruna had been prepared to go down swinging when she didn't even know how to! She didn't have a black belt to back her up the way Dalia did, but she still never faltered, standing her ground to the very end.

At long last, the group reached the hotel. None of them had ever been so glad to see it. Dalia climbed out of the car first, grabbing the ice and red solo cups from the trunk. The rest of Lyrical Lily piled out after her.

"There you are, Dalia! We were wondering where you were!" Rika's voice was the first to greet them as they entered the lobby.

"Yeah, we were just about to send a search party/rescue team!" Marika joked, gesturing to herself, Rika, and Saori. It wasn't the most intimidating or skilled search party/rescue team, but Dalia was amused and appreciative, nonetheless. She was glad to see how many of them cared for one another so intensely that they would brave any danger to look out for one another. Speaking of…

Saori, the most serious and perceptive of Merm4id, was the first to notice Lyrical Lily, and how shaken they looked.

"What happened?" she demanded. As soon as the story was over, the other members of Merm4id all looked horrified and outraged.

"How horrible! How frightening!" Saori put her hands to her face, disgusted by what had nearly happened that night.

"Oh, you poor things!" Marika looked like she wanted to scoop up all of Lyrical Lily in a warm, tight, comforting hug and never let go.

By contrast, Rika looked furious. "Where's the bast—!?"

Saori and Dalia glared at Rika and cleared their throats loudly.

"Uhh, I mean, where's the bum who did this?!" She stood up, tightening her grip on the wine bottle she was carrying.

"Long gone by now, so you can stop with the senseless heroics," Dalia shook her head. As much as she appreciated Rika's support, not only was she being foolhardy, but the last thing any of them needed was more violence. Couldn't she see how tense Lyrical Lily still was? And here she was, acting as if she was about to go out and avenge them. It was a kind sentiment, but not exactly appropriate for the moment.

"Although, if it makes you feel any better, I managed to catch his license plate number and reported it to the police," Dalia continued.

"Good!" Rika sat back down again with an indignant huff. Her fist clenched around the wine bottle again. Oh how she longed to smash it over that creep's head! The nerve of him! Preying upon poor, innocent, young, Catholic schoolgirls! But Dalia's stern look and warning reminded Rika that now was not the time for this type of energy, no matter how well-meant it was.

"Well, you're safe here with us now! We won't let anybody hurt ya, mkay? We promise! We got your backs now, us girl gangs gotta stick together!" the leader of Merm4id declared, winking and flashing them a peace sign as she finally relinquished her death-grip on the wine bottle. That was enough to make Dalia's stern expression change back into an approving smile. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes, by the way, girls, if you ever need my help with anything else, feel free to give me a call!" she said, giving them her number.

"And me!" Rika offered.

"Me too!" Marika gave her number as well, and so did Saori. "Whether it's for help or fun, feel free to call any of us any time!"

"Thank you again, so much, you guys, you're too kind!" Haruna and Miyu curtseyed their gratitude over and over again.

"Ooh, I'm loving all this praise and flattery, you guys, keep it up!" Rika grinned, winking and giving them a thumbs up.

"Rika!" Dalia and Saori snapped.

"Ooops, sorry!" Rika grinned, but she didn't look sorry. While Dalia rolled her eyes and Saori slapped her forehead, Marika turned to the others.

"Pay her no mind," she teased, "Rika's a real jokester."

"No, don't worry, we don't mind, it helps lighten the mood!" Miyu said.

"See?! Finally! Someone who gets me!" Rika laughed, gesturing proudly to Miyu.

Kurumi and Miiko, meanwhile, seemed intrigued to hear that Rika was a fellow jokester…Haruna only sighed and shook her head with a tired smile. The idea of having to look after a third chaos-bringer was exhausting, but she was just so glad to be safe and sound again! The Merm4id girls really did do an excellent job at putting everyone at ease with their cheer and laughter. Even Saori, the most exasperated of the quartet, with whom Haruna most identified, did her part in comforting the younger band.

"Obviously you four can't partake in any alcohol, but…if you would like…perhaps you could stay with us for a little while more?" she was thinking back to her own little scare when she once thought there was an intruder on her balcony, trying to break in every night. Even though it ultimately turned out to be nothing more than a nest of mice, she hadn't felt safe until all of Merm4id was there with her. She was sure Lyrical Lily didn't want to be alone right now, and she was correct.

"Oh, really, would you allow us?" Haruna and Miyu both looked delighted beyond words. "You are ever so generous!"

"Oooh, yayyy! We get to go to a college party!" Kurumi sounded excited and she grabbed Miiko's hands, who nodded back enthusiastically.

"But no alcohol!" Haruna was quick to enter lecture mode again. She dreaded the day they became legally old enough to drink.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever Chairman, don't worry, we're not going to drink!" Kurumi waved her off. "We just want to have some fun!" So off they went to the Merm4id suite! It was time to PAR-TAY!

"Hey, wait a minute! Who are you calling Chairman?!" It was nice to see Lyrical Lily already starting to get back to normal.

The group of eight spent a wonderful hour laughing and chatting, letting all their fears from earlier melt away. As per usual, Kurumi and Miiko managed to play handful of pranks in that one hour and Haruna found herself again dreading the day they were old enough to legally drink.

"If you want to keep them off alcohol for a little while longer, just give it to them plain," Marika whispered to her, snickering. Even though Kurumi and Miiko genuinely had no interest in drinking, when Marika offered them the tiniest of sips, their curiosity got the best of them. They weren't in a hurry to grow up, but the idea of getting to do something forbidden certainly was enticing…

"OH! YUCK! GROSS!" Kurumi only took the smallest of sips, as Marika instructed, but it still came flying back out of her mouth a second later. Marika ducked out of the way just in time, she and Rika howling with laughter.

"Ohhh! It burns! It burns! It burns Miiko's tongue!" Miiko cried at the same time, both of them wiping at their mouths wildly, trying to rid them of the foul, overpowering taste.

Although the others didn't seem as thrilled that Marika had given Kurumi and Miiko alcohol, Haruna had to admit that it was somewhat satisfying watching Kurumi and Miiko get pranked. Before that day, the only alcohol any of them ever touched was communion wine, and it wasn't nearly as strong as whatever Merm4id was drinking tonight. That was why Marika only gave them the tiniest of sips, but that was all they needed.

"Miiko is never touching that stuff again!" Miiko declared as she came out of the bathroom, still wiping her tongue.

"I'll never get why adults like the stuff so much!" Kurumi agreed, doing the same thing as Miiko.

"Mission success," Marika smirked.

But after long enough, it was time for Lyrical Lily to go to bed.

"Shall I escort you back?" Dalia offered kindly.

"Oh, that won't be necessary!" Haruna smiled. She appreciated the offer, but she didn't want to become dependent on the other woman.

"Consider it a chance to keep the party going just a little longer!" Rika chimed in with a knowing smile. For once, Dalia turned around and actually gave her a smile of thanks and approval. It was a white lie, but exactly the one all of them wanted to hear it.

"Well, when you put it that way…" Kurumi grinned.

Although, as well as the night had gone so far (at least after returning to the hotel) it seemed as though fate had one last cruel trick to play on Lyrical Lily and Dalia. While searching for Lyrical Lily's suite, they got a little turned around somewhere along the way and wound up lost.

"Not again!" Kurumi despaired. But at least, this time, there would be no creepy guys as gas stations. Although they didn't have any maps either.

"Do not worry," Dalia spoke calmly and confidently. "We will find a way." Then she took the lead and the others were more than happy to follow.

We're so lucky to have her tonight, Haruna thought with a bashful smile. I hope to be just like her someday!

Eventually, they came across what looked like a lobby, but it wasn't the one they entered in at. Likewise, it was completely empty, even though the lamp on the front desk was still on.

"Helloooooo?" Kurumi sang, ringing the bell on the desk incessantly.

"Enough, Kurumi, no one's here!" Haruna finally snatched the bell off the desk, annoyed by all the ringing. No sooner had she said this, though, before the door into the lobby swung shut.

"Huh?!" the others jumped in fright and they were quick to race back to the door. It was locked!

"Oh, great, just when we thought this night couldn't get any worse!" Kurumi cried.

"Now Kurumi, let us at least try to stay positive!" Miyu said lightly, but it was clear she was a little freaked out too. They all gravitated towards Dalia, looking to the taller, older, stronger woman for protection. For a moment, she seemed ready, straightening up and entering a defensive stance as the other girls coalesced around her. Then Miiko spoke up.

"Hey! Is that a ghost?" She gestured to a far corner of the room where something cloudy was floating. It hadn't been there a second ago.

"Ghost?!" Dalia yelped, immediately jumping backward and entering a terrified, cowering position, backing up to the opposite corner of the room.

"Dalia?" Miyu looked at her in concern. "Are you all right?"

"I- I- I-…"

"She's afraid of ghosts!" Kurumi realized, then she burst out laughing. "Who'd have thought the mighty Dalia would—"

"Kurumi!" Haruna snapped. "Don't make fun of her! Everyone has something they're afraid of and it's rude to laugh about it!"

"Like you and snakes, Chairman?" Kurumi teased.

"I'm not falling for that this time, Kurumi!" Haruna snapped. "And who are you calling Chairman?!"

"Guys, shouldn't we be more focused on the ghost?" Miyu interrupted their quarrel.

"Gah! Don't say it, don't say it!" Dalia flinched again, somehow becoming even smaller. Snakes she could handle. Creeps she could handle. But ghosts? As Lyrical Lily would eventually realize, she was scared of them because they were an enemy she couldn't fight. All her black belt training went out the window against the supernatural, so of course she was terrified. But not Miiko.

While the others bickered and cowered amongst themselves, Miiko walked towards the cloudy mass on the far side of the room.

"Miiko! What are you doing?!" Dalia almost sounded beside herself, clutching her head in horror, but not daring to take a single step closer.

"Miiko is going to try talking to it to ask it if it can help us out!" Miiko replied cheerfully.

"How…? Is she…?" Dalia's eye twitched.

"Yeah she's always like this," Haruna sighed and shook her head, although she was also cowering beside Dalia.

"She's a horror fanatic," Miyu agreed curled up against Dalia's other side. Only Kurumi wasn't part of the little huddle, but she was also very much keeping her distance from the ghost. What if it was an angry or vengeful spirit and it gobbled them up?

That thought didn't seem to bother Miiko in the slightest as she walked right up to the pearly, cloudy, floating mass and started talking.

"Hello there, Mr. or Mrs. Ghost! Who are you?"

She received a ghostly moan in return.

"Oh, make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!" Dalia whimpered pathetically covering her ears. The sound alone chilled her to the bone. Miyu and Haruna also looked scared, clinging tighter to the other woman, although it was hard to say what scared them more, the ghost or a frightened Dalia.

"Do you happen to know how we can get out of here?" Miiko continued to ask the ghost. More ghastly, chilling moans. Dalia gave a moan of her own, shaking her head again, cowering even further into the corner and whimpering again.

"Hang on, let Miiko see if this ghost can help us! Miiko has always wanted to talk to a real live ghost, before!" Miiko turned around and flashed the others a reassuring smile. It didn't really help. Then she turned back around to address the ghost again. "Have you been here long? Do you work here?" She continued to chat it up as if it were merely another hotel guest, or a friend in the making.

The others could only watch, shaking their heads in amazement and fear.

"Ah! So you're the son of the man who built the hotel? Well, it sure is a lovely place!" Miiko grinned up at the ghost. "Oh, Miiko is sorry to hear that you're still stuck here, too. Do you know a way out? Is there some way we can help?"

"Miiko! You can't offer help to ghosts! You don't know if it's friendly or not!" Haruna cried. Beside her, Miyu was praying and crossing herself.

"Oh, Miiko can tell!" Miiko said confidently. "This isn't a vengeful spirit, just one that haunts the premise because he's so closely tied to it! Miiko knows all about ghost folklore, and not just from horror movies!" She turned back to the ghost once more, locked in serious conversation with it. For a few minutes, they only heard muttered replies from Miiko and the occasional, ghostly moan that would make Dalia tense up every time.

At last, though, the conversation seemed to reach a close.

"Deal!" Miiko cried.

"What did you just promise it?!" Haruna howled. Miyu started praying and crossing herself again, still shaking. Dalia looked a little sick.

"Well like Miiko said, it's not an evil or angry spirit, so she offered to help it out of this room if it would do the same for us!" Miiko said cheerfully.

"Miiko, you're insane!" Kurumi decided, but because she could see that this ghost wasn't actually a threat, she was the first one to stop feeling quite so scared. They all watched in awe as Miiko followed the ghost behind the front desk. She disappeared from view for about a minute, but they could hear her shuffling around back there. When she reemerged, she was holding a map.

"Well." Dalia blinked. "Alrighty then." At the same time, they hear the lobby door click open again.

"Thank goodness!" Miyu and Haruna both cried out, putting hands over their hearts.

"There we go! Thank you, Mr. Ghost!" Miiko smiled up at her new spectral friend, then she turned to address the others. "This map should help us find the way, so come on! Let's roll!" Then it was her turn to take the lead. The ghost floated after her.

"W-w-wait…We h-h-have to travel…with a ghost?!" Dalia, if it was even possible, looked even more scared.

"He won't stick around forever," Miiko promised. "But you can hold my hand, Dalia, if it would help!"

Dalia shook her head violently, knowing that holding Miiko's hand would put her right next to the ghost.

"Suit yourself," Miiko shrugged, then she exited the lobby with four girls and one ghost in tow. Since Dalia wasn't going to, Kurumi retook her spot beside Miiko. Dalia, meanwhile, stayed back with Haruna and Miyu.

"Y-you can h-hold my hand…if you want," Miyu said shyly. It was clear she wanted the comfort just as much as Dalia.

"I can hold your hand, too, Miyu!" Haruna said quickly, hoping she didn't sound too desperate. She kicked herself mentally, but when Miyu only gave her a knowing smile and reached out to her, she looked much happier. Dalia was also quick to take Miyu up on her offer.

"Thank you, Miyu, I feel much better now," she tried to steady her breathing as they slowly, carefully, treaded after Miiko, Kurumi, and the ghost.

"Me too," Miyu agreed, and Haruna nodded as well.

After long enough, the group made it back to familiar territory.

"We did it!" Miiko cried. She turned to thank her ghostly companion, but he was gone. "Huh? Mr. Ghost?" She sounded genuinely disappointed.

"W-wait, is- is- is he gone? Is he really, really gone?" Dalia sounded like she scarcely even dared hope…

"Yes, he's gone," Miiko hung her head sadly.

"Don't worry, Miiko, I'm sure there will be other times," Miyu tried to comfort her, although it felt awkward since she was also quite glad the ghost was finally gone. Her words seemed to work, though, and Miiko looked a bit happier.

"Maybe before we leave, I can come back here and sing for him!"

"Absolutely not!" Haruna cried, stepping forward for the first time since before the ghost visited them. "You will not be running around this hotel alone! What if you get lost again?!" And that was how everyone knew everything was finally back to normal.

"Chairman is back to her usual chairman-self!" Kurumi cried, snickering a little. She'd come to realize that, like Miiko said, the ghost was a friendly one. His worst "crime" was just being a prankster. Kurumi could relate. If anything, she also wanted to visit him again someday, if only to go out pranking with him. This would be Haruna's worst possible afterlife, being stuck with Kurumi as a prank-ghost for eternity.

"Who are you calling Chairman?!" she snapped back, but the others laughed, all of them feeling much better now.

"Miiko," Dalia suddenly spoke up, still sounding a little uncertain and shy. She was looking down, holding one of her arms. Even though she only addressed Miiko, the others looked at her in surprise as well. They'd almost forgotten she was there, she'd been so quiet for the past few minutes. Miiko tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. "I just wanted to say that… I'm really impressed by what you did tonight."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Facing down the ghost, of course. You were absolutely fearless, a supernatural superhero…" Dalia shook her head in awe. She could learn a lot from these girls. Twice, she'd watched them stand up against something far bigger and scarier than them even though, unlike Dalia, they had no combat training. And even more embarrassing, at least against the ghost, Dalia had quailed. As soon as her own abilities were rendered moot, she panicked, even though Haruna and Miiko had both shown her tonight that one did not always need great physical skill to still be very brave.

She even said as much, commending all of them for their immense courage that night.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Dalia," Miyu said gently. "It's easy for Miiko to talk to ghosts because she loves them, and you still showed a lot of courage with that guy at the gas station because you had no idea if he was armed or not."

"Thank you, Miyu, I'd say your greatest strength is your immense kindness. You always know how to make others feel better, and sometimes you put them even before yourself, I can tell."

"Oh, well, thank you," Miyu looked down, blushing and giggling slightly.

"Hey, hey! What about me?" Kurumi asked.

"Kurumi!" Haruna chided, but Dalia only chuckled softly and shook her head.

"You were also quite brave with the ghost, and I know your sense of humor can often be the life and light of a party." Much like Rika… She and Miiko remind me of Rika and Marika so much…

"That is, when she isn't also being the bane of someone else's existence," Haruna muttered under her breath.

"I heard that, Chairman."

"Who are you calling—?!"

"In any case, it was an honor getting to be with you tonight," Dalia bowed politely to Lyrical Lily. Now they all looked flustered again.

"The pleasure was all ours!" Miyu stuttered, speaking for all of them as they were quick to bow back repeatedly. Oh, to be complimented by Dalia!

"I hope this isn't goodbye? At least not forever?" Dalia asked, smiling hopefully at them.

"Of course, absolutely!" Miyu nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, we'd totally be down to adventure with you again!" Kurumi agreed.

"Just no ghost next time," Dalia made a face and the others laughed quietly, but they could agree to those terms. "But don't forget, you can also call on me, or any of the rest of my team, if you ever need help with anything, all right? It won't be any trouble. We'd rather if you asked than if you didn't," she said, giving Haruna and Miyu a knowing look. They were definitely the type to not ask for help, be it out of pride or fear.

Dalia could understand that, Saori was the same way, but that was why she considered it so important to let the girls know that there were people out there who cared about them and would lend them a helping hand if it was necessary. They seemed to understand and they bowed again.

"Yes, Dalia, of course, thank you!" Miyu and Haruna said. The group exchanged a few more goodbyes and goodnights before finally parting ways.

"Oh, wait, Dalia! One more thing!" It was Miiko who called out to her before Dalia got very far.

"Hmm?"

"If you ever have any other, uhh…issues," she didn't want to say the word in case it spooked Dalia just at the mere mention. "Feel free to call the supernatural superhero! Miiko would be glad to help you just the same way you helped us!"

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks," Dalia chuckled again.

"Actually, would you want us to escort you back to your room?" Haruna offered.

"That would defeat the purpose of me escorting you to yours, would it not?" Dalia teased. Ah, that was right. The only reason any of this had happened was because Dalia was trying to help them find their room. "But I appreciate the offer, you girls really are so kind."

"Goodnight, Dalia! Sleep well!" they said, waving from the doorway as she walked back down the hall.

"Goodnight, and you as well!" she waved to them one last time before rounding the corner.

"I hope she doesn't have any nightmares," Miyu sighed sympathetically. It was a kind thing of her to worry about, but Dalia was already confident she wouldn't. It was a little unnerving to walk back to her room alone, but she kept telling herself that the ghost was gone, and even if it wasn't, she had friends she could call on, as well. That thought got her back to her room, and she knew it would carry her on through the night, too. It certainly had been an odd one, but if getting closer to Lyrical Lily was the end result, then Dalia was satisfied, and so were they.