Shortly after the fight between Raiden and Ketsuki, Atsume comes down onto the catwalk, carrying both of them.

  She lays them on the ground and Erika, whose tears have dried up by now, orders in a quiet tone: “Shurui-chan, please call some Space Force official to clean this up.”

  “Then we got paid the money by those officials. They wore pretentious suits and sunglasses even though no sunlight reaches down there. They also asked Atsume if she wanted to become a bounty hunter and then brought us back here because we couldn’t carry everything.”, Erika concludes reporting what happened to Raiden.

  They sit in the scrap yard under a parasol. Raiden is covered in bandages and patches.

  He asks: “Did she accept?”

  Erika replies: “Yeah.”, “Why didn’t they ask you?”, “I already am.”, “You’re a bounty hunter?! I thought you were a mechanic!”, “Makes it easier to travel. Remember what I told you about me?”, “And Ketsuki? Is he also a bounty hunter? Wait!”

  Erika wanted to answer but Raiden realizes something big: “He won, right? That would make him part of our group!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You need to consult him about whatever your question is now.”, Erika replies.

  “You don’t seem appalled at the thought of a murderer joining our team?”, Raiden is confused and Erika explains, “I know it might seem weird to many people but in an interspecies world, murder is less of a deal than in an isolated civilization. You don’t know his background except for ‘he seems to be from an assassin family’.”

  Raiden is a little shook: “But-! …I don’t wanna overstep some line here. It just seems like you shouldn’t.”, and then realizes another thing, “Wait, since you all are bounty hunters… that would make me the leader of a bounty hunter crew!”

  Erika asks: “Wasn’t that your hope at some point? You started talking like we’re already some sort of crew a while ago.”

  Raiden replies, feeling caught: “Ehe~ it definitely was. I just didn’t think my attempt at getting into all of your subconsciouses would work.”

  Erika giggles: “You thought that would invade our minds? Maybe it worked on Ketsuki but not on us girls.”

  Raiden pouts and Erika says: “You don’t need to try and manipulate us you dork. Don’t you see? We’re already making the ship ready for travel.”, “We… wait… wouldn’t that mean-?”, “Yup! We’re all a crew now and you can’t say no!”, Erika smiles.

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  Raiden stands up and looks at Atsume and Ketsuki now having a chat as they exit the ship. The sun shines brightly.

  “And where are you going?”, he asks.

  “To Svalin’s shop.”

  Raiden hesitates to ask: “Is there something to carry over?”

  “No, it’s empty already.”, Erika explains and leaves.

  Raiden’s worry fades quickly after realizing again: “I really did it, huh? I have a crew now!”

  Erika silently walks through the streets of Sarseia. The hustle and bustle is as prominent as ever. It seems like the city doesn’t know it yet but they all mourn. Two Erikas walk down the street and everyone turns around to look after one of them. One shows little emotion while the other slowly lumps forward, crying silently. They overlap, as they walk the same path at the exact same time. The crying Erika sweeps away the cloth to enter the shop filled with mechanical parts and tools and books. The other Erika just walks in as the cloth doesn’t hang there anymore. She looks around but the shelves are empty. The crying Erika looks around and can’t believe what she’s looking at before breaking out in more tears. The other Erika swoops over the shelves, through all the semi-transparent things, picking up a little dust with her fingers. Her expression stays the same. The crying Erika opens her eyes again and finds a little device she never saw before. She presses a little red button and it holographically displays a sound file.

  Before she knows, Svalin speaks to her: “Eri-chan…”

  She gets startled and pauses the recording. The other Erika starts smiling as she remembers this message. The crying Erika hesitates but then presses the button again.

  “If you hear this message, then I’m probably gone. But please don’t cry… at least for too long.”

  Both Erikas break out in tears, one sobbing while the other is smiling.

  “You know… I’ve always thought about you as my daughter. The moment destiny brought us together, you reminded me of my actual daughter, and I knew the universe had given me a second chance. I hope I was a good father to you. And I hope I was able to make you as happy, strong and independent as possible.”

  Both Erikas answer in different tones: “You were the best dad I could’ve ever wanted.”

  Suddenly, the two Erikas are shocked to feel one final hug from Svalin.

  They hug him back as if he were really there and he says: “I hope that, after I’m gone, you will one day keep traveling the galaxy… be it solo or with friends, I just hope you will be happy. …I love you, Eri-chan, and I will always be watching over you.”

  The illusion of Svalin fades and one Erika breaks down, crying her heart out on the floor, while the stands there with a few tears in her eyes.

  She looks up with a smile and says: “I promise, I will be happy.”

  Erika enters the ship and packs the device from Svalin into her backpack.

  Raiden comes to her and asks: “Hey! Are you okay? You were gone for quite a while.”

  Erika replies: “Oh I was just on a walk, to say goodbye to this city and everything. You know… time for me felt really wishy washy for me the past few days but I think I’m okay now.”

  She smiles and Raiden says with a bigger smile: “Alright then! Get ready for take-off! Even after a crash landing, the ‘Battery Bucket’ will take to the stars again and never give up!”

  He leaves and Erika thinks: “Look dad, I found a friend.”