Victoriano.
Ruben.
Ruvik.
He is an enemy.
A monster.
A parasite.
He made so many people suffer.
He has killed so many people.
He has done horrible experiments.
He created this world, this hell, the STEM.
I'm sure it's his fault I'm here.
After all, he gave me this appearance.
This 30-year-old woman with long black hair, violet eyes, wearing a red dress.
A woman who looks like Laura.
Despite my cyborg composites and the barbed wire all over my body.
Laura, his beautiful sister Laura.
His sister whom he loved deeply.
An obscene, criminal love.
But not anymore.
Now he says he loves me.
Ruvik declared his love for me.
He, who didn't know if his feelings for me were love or hate.
He chose Love.
What about me?
Between Love and Hate, what do I feel for Ruvik?
Not Love, that's for sure.
I can't love a monster like him.
I can feel pity for him.
After all, I've seen his memories.
The fire, his wounds, the pain of having lost Laura.
But I can't love him.
Even though I often blush at the sound of his voice.
Even though I feel as if I'm... attracted to him. In a way.
Hate? That's a grand word.
I will never let it consume me.
Hate leads to darkness and destruction.
It’s obvious.
If it's not Hate, nor Love, then what?
What do I feel for Ruvik? A simple friendship?
I don't think I'm his friend either.
And Ruvik is never going to accept that.
In his mind, there is only love and hate.
Either I love him or I hate him.
And no matter what I choose, according to him, I belong to him for eternity.
I don't want to be his.
I want to be free of STEM.
To find Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna.
To find my old life back.
Not always running from bloodthirsty creatures.
Not always hiding in places that change according to Ruvik's mood.
I can be in a house and, poof!, find myself in a sewer and then in a cemetery. Always full of monsters.
All this exhausts me and I would like to sleep. In a nice soft bed.
Here, Ruvik has granted my wish. There is a bed right in front of me.
This may be a trap, but I'm going to relax a little.
I deserve it.
I close my eyes and feel his fingers caressing my hair.
<Don't open your eyes, Hotaru. Let me help you relax.>
Ruvik.
He had to show up sooner or later.
He gently strokes my hair.
I feel the sleep taking me.
I want to sleep, but...
<Did you listen to me earlier, Ruvik?>
<Yes. I'm patient. You will choose soon. Love or Hate for me? I hope what will be Love. Hotaru. Beautiful Hotaru.>
I can't hear him, because I've gone to dreamland. Ruvik smiles. I am his, after all. It doesn't matter what I choose.