Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[25:00:00]

*Knock Knock*

"N-Nene...You in there?"

"..."

*Knock Knock*

"Nene, if you're ignoring me, just say you are."

"...." I tried to block out the sound by putting on my headphones, I needed to focus on my work-

*SLAM*

"Ahhhhhh!!!" I jumped and fell off my chair, landing flat on my back. "Ughhh..."

The voice who was calling me, that I dubbed as my "Annoyingly Sweet Conscience", was none other than Ena Shinonome.

She sighed and leaned against the door. "You kept me waiting." A smirk started to grow on her face. "You really seem to love ignoring me these days, huh?"

I scratched my neck. "Sorry Ena, I didn't mean to. I'm just really focus on-"

"Let me guess, work." She answered immediately. "You're starting to sound like K.....and act like her too."

"Sorry." I apologized again. "If I'm a bother, you don't have to keep doing this every night."

She stepped closer to me, putting her hand on my shoulder. "You know damn well that's not what I meant. I loved K and always will but... just like her, you're not taking care of your health and that's worrying me. I want you to get better, I want all of us to get better."

I pulled her hand away. "Ena, I am better. Doing work, it's been helping me and this is what I like doing... I can't call myself the Ultimate Hope if I do nothing to give people hope, y'know."

She sat down on my bed. "You're not the only one with that title, remember?"

I blinked an bowed again. "S-Sorry...I didn't mean that your less important or anything, I'm just saying-"

She held my hand again. "Stop that. I know already, you don't need to explain that."

I nodded. "R-Right.... Umm..." I took in a deep breath and sat on my bed. "So, what did you want to ask me again?"

She clasped her hands together. "Oh well... that was that, even though we have one in sekai already... Mizuki, Tsukasa, Akito, and I were thinking of making a memorial for the others in the Phoenix Federation Garden Building... If that's alright with you.

My eyes went wide. "W-Were doing that... so soon...?"

She nodded. "Yeah... I think we all need this. It's for the best, alright. Might even help you feel a bit better."

"I don't see why it's needed but... I-I'll give you permission." I said before going back to my work. "Do whatever you want with that..."

She stood up from my bed. "Ok, that's all I wanted to say... Make sure you get some sleep." As she slowly walked towards the door, she opened it and turned her head slightly to face me.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay? Sweet dreams, Nene."

And then she left, quietly shutting the door.

Chapter Text

All I could see was white when I opened my eyes. Everything was just white at first, the room was also wet and cold too. Slowly, I moved my stiff arms to get myself into a sitting position. The air was so quiet and empty, almost as empty as the sekai.

"Sekai...Wait..!"

"Where am I? I thought I was dead...and It's so bright..."

Is this heaven, I thought to myself. No, I doubted it...

After all... After what I did to my dad, I don't deserve heaven at all.

I needed to get out, find Ena, Mafuyu, Mizuki, and everyone else...to save them...

I needed to get out of the cold. So, despite how frigid my hands felt, I started pounding on the door.

Pushing, kicking the door, anything...I just needed to get out as soon as possible.

Then after many hours, a made one last shove. It started making a beeping noise before I heard a click.

And, it suddenly opened.

"W-wow...That took forever." I shook the goosebumps off my back before wrapping my arms around my waist. "It s-sure is cold in here. This doesn't seem to look like sekai or anything for that matter but.. at least I'm not getting blinded anymore." I looked back in forth in the dark and somewhat damp hallway, small hanging lamps above similar looking chained doors. It felt like a prison or a sci-fi hospital.

"Maybe, I should take a look around the place? Yeah, probably a good idea." I strutted forward towards the very first door and noticed a blue star symbol on the door. "...Isn't that Hoshino's band symbol? Does that mean she's here as well?"

What happened back then...

____

"S-Sorry about this...Y-Yoisaki-san..."

"Huh, what do you mean, Hoshino-san-Ahhhh...!" I fell to the ground, clutching the wound but I was losing consciousness. "W-what..w-why..?"

"I-I'm sorry.. I just don't have a choice...I need to save them all, I hope you can understand... G-Goodbye..." I hear the frantic footsteps of Hoshino-san running away before my vision had faded to black.

______

A tingle of fear ran up my shoulder thinking about it, though...I had heard the pain and fear in Hoshino's voice before she had died, she wouldn't had ever done that if she had a choice not to. I truly believed that...I was going to save her...Whatever I was feeling was probably worse than hers. She is probably feeling guilt and shame if she's here. I must save them all. After all, that's all I ever lived for anyway.

A sound of banging overtook her depressive thoughts, they were coming from Hoshino's chamber. "It's time. Don't get afraid, Kanade."

"You have to save her..."

-

I scampered towards the door to a keypad, frantically trying to solve the code but instead of it being a normal number code that I could press any button till I got it right, it was a question about Hoshino.

"What gives Ichika Hoshino hope, what does she cherish the most?"

-

What kind of question was that...I needed to figure out the answer though...Her music? No. Performing, No...I think we all of loved that. Miku? Hmm, not quite.

"Wait...She is very close to her band...right? They were close childhood friends..."

With this as my last option, I punched in "Being with her friends" into the machine.

And with that, I heard the beep that I heard when I was in my own chamber. The heavy doors slowly swung open.

And out stepped a cold, trembling, Hoshino-san.

Chapter Text

I didn't have a choice...I really, truly believed I could save everyone...So I picked the weakest link, It said I just needed to kill one person in order to save everyone else.

I could save everyone, I could save them, my friends. The people I truly cared for, loved with all my heart.

If only, I just killed one person..

Just..one...person...

Who was so innocent and sweet.......

....

....

Ẉ̶̢̤̌̄H̸̢̡̬̞̚͜Ỹ̴̡̠̰͖̄͑̐̕̕͜ ̸͚̮̱̗̖̎̒̓W̸̛͔̳̠̾̋̈́́̍Â̴̻S̴̭̠͖̬̅ ̵̲̖͇̥̯̉̐̈́͒̈́I̴̺̖̗͙̰̎ ̵̼͇͊̀Š̶̨̙͍͈͑͘Ù̵̢̬̱͈͕̣͆̓̍C̵̠̳̩͙̦̏̋̒͠͠Ḣ̵͍̀͆͐͝ ̸̖̬͇̥̈̕A̵̝̞̻͙̾́̌́͂̚N̸̨̦͠ ̶̹͚̇̒͛͗̊̕Ȋ̸̬̝̌̉͘D̴̬̮̽̿͋͠͠I̷͙̦̮͑͒͂̆̕O̴̻̹̦̞͓̐T̸̛̫̱͌̑̈́͗̐?̷̫͎̆͝!̴͕̺̒͒?̴̙́̓!̴̖̈́́̓̏̓͘?̷̘͐͋

As I was dragged by Mikuma's chains that burned against my neck as much as my immense shame. Mikuma's voice was just mocking me on my way down to my fate...I couldn't help but shed tears. I wasn't expecting to die like this...I would have expected to be surrounded by friends and family hugging me as I died, this was nothing like I predicted at all...I couldn't even wipe them away before they execution began. Is this what Mikuma meant by "learning our feelings of despair?" I didn't want my friends to cry as I died by showing fear, so I opted to just give a straight face instead.

But as I sat stuck to the stick and watching the meteor shower knowing I would die in front of my friends like this, die...and be known by them as a heartless killer...I couldn't help but feel like I deserved this, despite how scared I was. However, the Leonids allowed for me to smile before death would part me from them, looking at my close bandmates.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for us to find a way out…"

"Saki...Shiho...Honami...I’m sorry."

"Yoisaki-san...I'm sorry-"

.....

And now I was standing in front of the one who I killed, who's life I made end too short. She was here....she was here...but why was she here? I didn't get it...

SO, I RAN INSTEAD.

"Hoshino-San, Wait! Come back!"

"J-Just keep running Ichika, It's probably a trick by M-Mikuma...She's really trying to make me despair even in the afterlife, huh?! H-Haha..hahahaha...! You won't catch me, demon...! Just keep running...Just keep running..." I kept scampering to the hall for an escape but slipped on a puddle of water, landing on my ankle.

"Oww....No...no...get up, you can't let her get to you-" I heard footsteps approach me, before I knew it, I was staring down Yoisaki.

"Hoshino, Are you alright?!! You twisted your ankle..." Her hand reaching out towards mine.

"I-I...Yoisaki-San, Why..are you being so nice to me?" It was too hard for me to look at her. Her forgiving smile, her outreached hand telling me I wasn't alone...

It was sooo hard to stare at that face.

"Because...I want to save you."

Huh, What did she mean by that? To save me? From my nightmares? I don't think anyone can save me from those...It didn't make any sense at all, and why should she save me? Shouldn't I be apologizing? Or in her words, saving her?

"What do you mean...to save me? I-I don't deserve to be saved...Not after what I did."

"I heard the pain in your voice when you killed me, you were afraid...not content. I have a feeling you wanted to save everyone else, especially your closest friends, I might have done something similar if I was strong enough...I would want to save Ena...Mafuyu...and Mizuki. So, in other words...."

"You did nothing wrong to me."

She took hold of my hand, pulling me into a hug...It was firm and full of warmth but her words were nothing compared to what I felt. I was forgiven? Really, I was...ok? She wasn't upset at all...She didn't blame me, I didn't really understand why.

But this warm feeling in my chest as she held me was...very calming. And before I knew it, I was crying into her shoulder.

We ended up staying in that position for a while, until I calmed down enough, pushing the water out of me eyes.

"Are you feeling any better now, Hoshino-san?" Her soft gaze looking into mine, rubbing the last tear of my cheek.

"I think so...I'm definitely feeling better enough to speak." Turning up my face into a warm grin, It was amazing how kind and strong she was, Ena was truly right about her. "Hey Yoisaki, where are we though? This doesn't look like that despair sekai in the slightest and we aren't dead, we look like ourselves but a bit older." I said while frantically turning my head to scope out the place, it looked like a place were a serial killer could pop out at any moment.

She shook her head, "No, sorry, I don't. I only woke up a few moments after you did, so I am pretty in the dark about what's going on as well...But, I do think we should take a look around, we might have to stay here for a while..."

"Why do you say that? Are there other people here besides us?" My heart-rate quickened. Was Saki, Shiho, or Honami here? What would I say to them if they were?

"Well...There are a few other rooms like ours here, I don't recognize the symbols of them that well but do you know them?" Her hand had pointed behind us towards some similarly chained doors. I looked at the symbols, a yellow comet and a blue three leaf clover...

Well, that certainly gave me my answer quickly.

Chapter Text

Ichika and I attempted to open it, but it said "Wait 1 hour until Patient 19 has awoken, then you can proceed to enter the code."

"1 hour...huh?" Ichika stroked the door with her hand, like she was trying to reach to whoever was inside. She soon turned back to face me. "We have one hour to wait, what do you think we should do?"

"Well I still believe we should take a look around...Let's check our chambers and then look around the hallway, if we are going to end up stay here for a while, we need to find food and water as soon as possible, right?" I asked her, I wasn't a big eater like most people, I didn't need it that much. But, Hoshino probably needs it so we should probably look around for things like that.

"Yeah, that's probably a good place to start, I'll check my uh...room. You can check yours too, Yoisaki-san!" She then rushed to her room, pulling open the enormous metal doors before slipping back inside. She was smiling now, so I hoped what I did had helped her.

I slowly opened my door, It sure was heavy...I would need to get stronger if I want to contribute to saving the others and helping everyone escape. The room had things like carnations, music equipment, and a small laptop. "Hmm, The flowers and music equipment aren't very helpful but the laptop could be useful to find any info...I'll take this with us." I took it from the countertop and held it tightly in her arms. When I walked out, I saw Hoshino with a guitar case bag on her shoulder, she was also holding a metal rusty pipe.

"You found a laptop, Yoisaki?!" Ichika exclaimed, pointing to the laptop still clutched into my firm grasp. "How about we put it in my guitar case?"

"S-Sure.." I handed it over and she gently takes it off my hands, opening her case and sliding it into the side compartment. I let her finish packing it before I continued to finish my thought. "I think it could be useful for us to get information, but where did you find that pipe, Hoshino?" I didn't remember seeing any pipes laying around in this place.

"Yeah, I found one in here in my room for some reason, might make a good weapon so I'll take it just in case." Ichika responded nonchalantly, with a shrug.

"We'll be sure to make good use of it then. It's time to scout out these hallways...We won't escape out alive if we don't have necessities with us." I escorted Hoshino out of the chamber and towards the hallways where we began our scouting mission.

Ichika then tapped my shoulder, asking with a quiver in her voice, "S-So..um, Kanade, I'm trying to get on first-name basis again. Where should we start looking?"

"How about I check the left side, you check the right, and if we hear something from this room...like your bandmate waking up...we meet back here. Got it?" I was a little hesitant to be given the leader responsibility but this was the best I could do since I lack the physical strength most people do.

"S-Sounds like a plan..! L-Let's go...!" Ichika then runs to the right hallway but a tad bit hesitantly, She must be more terrified of the dark than I thought.

I started along my hallway...Everything was pretty much covered in what seemed like endless darkness, being only partly illuminated by the hanging lamps above. I wondered what was lurking in the shadows every time I heard a creak. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't wonder...

"How long is this hallway...Hmmm, wait I here trickling somewhere...There could be water here...! I have got to follow that noise..."

I searched and followed the sound and there it was...water and a garden? Convenient. Maybe a little too convenient...Oh well, I can at least tell Ichika we won't starve out here. I'll grab some of the fruits here and some water, and come back for Ichika.

"1, 2, 3, 5, 10 pieces of fruits...That sounds good and there is a bucket I can fill with water. Let's take care of that..."

*Trickle...Trickle..squeeze*

"Alright, I have everything I need for now...It's time to head back-"

.....

.....

"Wait, what was that sound-"

"Well look decided to show up to my garden, you just took the fruit from the hedges I was gonna use to plant a array of hands in...

y̸̻̳͐͑́̍O̴̧̱̹͇̳͠u̵̞̼̘̗̭͌̈́͝r̷̡̼͉̞̲̈́̊̈́Ṡ̶̭̝̫͑̅̆̚͜͜ ̸̨͉̬̀̄́̈́C̷͔̝̦̥͑͋o̴̼̾̃̏͘͠Ŭ̸̪̉͋͑͋l̴̘̹̟̀̉̏d̷̢̥̉̊ ̵̲͉̅̅͘̕B̷̪͍̦̭͛̍͝E̸̙̎͝ ̶̥͈̰͕̋̌̓ȃ̶͓ ̸̨̣̬̒̊͜ͅn̷͓͖̠̻̖̏n̵̮͎̳̮͖͂́̔̚n̸̪̝͇̍͛͊̌n̷͕̣̹͑̚E̶͔̬͚͎͑͆͊͊ẁ̸̲̖͉̜̳̑̊̀̚w̴̧͚̘̰̤̄̒͌̏ẁ̷͍̹̫̰̥̐̓̐̾ ̵̢͇̞̈́́̽̚͝A̶̲̞͚͙̭̐̓̓̈́̽Ḑ̴̠͍̰̿͌̚̕͘Ḍ̷̢̃Į̶͚̰̈́͆̃͛T̵̺̿̂I̴̙̟͙̰̬̐̀̃O̸̝̭̞̽̔͌͒̊N̴̢͎̠͉̺̄̓̿!̶̼̻͐!̷̪̦̰̯̹͌̌!̶̨̝̣̱̃͜!̸̻̟̳͍̊̊̑̂͠"

_

This Rin...She was different. She was glitching a ton, had blood all over her clothes and her own bucket with a bunch of glitching squirming hands... I stumbled backwards before I took off running, her loud cackling behind...and did I just hear a chainsaw revving? You got to be joking...

"HOSHINO!!!! H-H...H-HOSHINO!!!! HEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPPP!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, who was this Rin?!!!! Why was she trying to murder me...I needed to get away from her...Don't stop running, no matter if it hurts. JUST KEEP GOING...!!!!

"Come back little girl...Just lend me a hand with my garden...It won't hurt! Promise!!!" Psycho Rin was getting closer...and I was losing energy but I was in no mode to die again...please Hoshino, h-hurry...

"COME HERE...COME HERE..."

"Ichika...P-Please..."

"H̷̙͖̓͠ḁ̸̢̢̙͓̲̺́̎̅́͊͂̕h̴̢̡͇̘͒̊̆̋̑̓͜͝a̶͖̋̿̅h̷̞̰̮̃̈́̍͝å̵̪͌̏̐̊͜h̷͙͕̀͗̔̃͝a̴͉̺͚͍̤̔͗ḩ̷̪̫̗͍̠̗̀̒̑ä̴̛̩́́̐h̵̨̳̻̎͊ä̶̰͉́̏h̷̛͙̜̰̠͓̤̬͆́̈͝͝͝a̷̤̬̓̐ͅḥ̶͛͂ȃ̸̤̱̯̝̑̂̈́̆͠h̴͍̒̂̈́́́̽̿a̴̛͍̤̯̓́͛̿̑͜͝ḧ̸̡͍̦̪̯́̂̀̀̉́a̴͍̞̘̤̜̥̍͌̓͘h̸̳̮̫̍̚!̸̻̤̳̿͑̈́͌́͘͝ ̷̝̹͖̣̣̈́͠Y̴̯͚̦̎ò̴̪̪̼͕̎̒̿̽ṳ̷̹̖̤͕͇̱̈́̐͑̃͘͝'̵͖̦͓̦̪̣̮͋͊͝r̶̡̳͋̊̀̃e̶͔͓͊̄̅ ̸̢̛̻̬̩̪͕̓̾̃̕͝ḧ̷͓̮͕̼͓͚a̶̭̦̦̻͔̐͋͗̀̆͝͝n̸̼̭͉̣̩̟̆̕͝ͅd̷͎͙̬̑̓s̵̞̓͘ ̸̝͉̤̩͇͓͊̌̑̂a̷͇̒́͠r̷̟̄͑̔͌͛̕͠ḙ̷̡̧̞̪̟̓̾͌͘͘ ̵͖͍̖̻̆ͅM̸͎̞̃̔͐͠Í̴̟̦̄̾͆̍͠ͅͅN̴̡͈͖͋̃Ê̸̜̙̺̥̝͙̓͌!̷͓́͒͛̐!̸̞̖̺͓̥͉͔̑!̷̛̺̓͂̆̄͘"

"N-Nooo.... I c-can't die a-again..."

H̵̥͎̳̥̱̝͓͊̑̄â̴̢̆̌́̾̉̋h̸̨͚̩̹͛̏a̶͓͎͖̎̉͊́h̵̢̯̲̗̤̱̼͊̒͊͆͝ḁ̴͙͙͔̪̭͊͌̂͝h̵̲͈̫̞̗̲͐͠a̵̻͗͑ḫ̷̡̞͎̝̏́̈ȁ̷͉̘̤̓͑͊̅ḩ̷̡͎̠̩̘̟̋̓͑̈́͘̚ą̷̛̩̳͎͆̃̃͊͝ḩ̸̣̱̈́ą̶̮̱̦͔̤͈͑̒͒h̸̩̰̱̳̖͊͊͘͝a̵̧̟͎̻͐h̴̛͉͕̩̦̏͛ą̷͆̑͠h̸̩̲̙͍̘̺̅̍̃̄̍a̵̫̔̆͒ḩ̵͇͔̜͓̭̓͊͠a̶͍͖̮͇̰͐͗̿͝͠h̷̡̧̟̝̬͇̫́͊͛á̵̗͔͎͓̯̺͖̽͐͝h̴̼͎͕̊a̵̲͖͎̻̹̣͒̀̓͗̀͝ḫ̷̨͖̞̗͈̣͗̊a̴͓̭̍̒͗̂͝ḣ̵̯̣͈̭̝̖̙̊̍͝ả̴̞͗̄̈̕h̵̹͙̲̩̽͑̋̄͑͆͑͜ä̶̫́̇̒̋̀h̸͔͙͒͛͛͛ȁ̴̰̖͉̹̟̤̼͐͠ḣ̶͙̾̄a̶̯̹͂ͅ!̶̨̻̌!̴̧̲̫̗̖̾ͅ!̷͈͚̹̯͖͋̅̀!̵̨̘̖̯̭̂̓̃̓̆!̴͓͇̖̎̏͗!̷͕̖̘͈̓̀̀̔̄!̶̡̛̠͍͍̰̇͋

*BBBAAAAAAAAAANNNGGG!!!!!!!!*

"H-Huh...A gunshot?"

"So this is what she's been at all this time... Making foolish war experiments..."

"̶̨̏̀͜Ỳ̵̯̈́̈́o̴̥͎̕͝u̶̻͔͌̑̑ ̵̮̅̽͠w̶̪̄̎ó̶͍̪̇n̷̨̫̓̉̌'̵̖̾͛t̷̢̡̲̒̀͘ ̴̫̚ģ̶̱̿ḙ̶͔͙̕ẗ̵̪̞́̑̓ ̷͈̱̺̑̎̕à̶̾͜w̷̧̙͗͑̆a̸̡̼̱͑̕y̷͙̦̳̾̃̀ ̷̡̟͈̎̍w̵̠͙̜̅î̵̧͂t̷͎̻̟̓ḧ̴̫̳́̇͠ ̸̥͓̭̍͠t̵͚̀̐̍h̴̼̋͐̉ĩ̴̝̬̦̆s̶̭̱̆.̴͓͐͗͝.̶̖̞̟̓͗.̴̰͕̈́W̶̭͛̑̀e̵̱̤̥̍̒͌ ̸̈͑͐ͅa̵̛̟͑̀l̴̦̥̻͊̾w̴͚̞̌ấ̵͚͇̫̎ỷ̴̫̲s̷̰̼͑ͅ ̶͈͇̹̏̾̚c̸̦̐̂̔ő̵͈͘m̷̫̭̄͜e̵̳̟͑͝ ̵̯̾̚͠b̶͓̾̾a̵̜͓͐̐͗c̶̨͔̰͌͒͌k̸̨̞͛ͅ,̶͇̾̍ ̵̠̺̱͝y̸̭̿͂ǫ̷̘̳͂̀u̸͆͋̇͜ ̴͔̪̇͌̚ḹ̸̈͒ị̵̯̔͒ͅṯ̷̳̏͌̊t̴̠͌̐l̵̮͉̐̔é̴͙̲̯ ̸̡̢͎͒Ṯ̵̣̜͋r̴͖̐a̸̙͋i̶̬͍͝-̶͓̟͌̑̕B̸̤̤͓̈́̄̆Z̷̝̰͑͐Z̷̟̓Z̸̠͍̠̏R̷̲̾̿̀͜T̴͇̎̽S̸̛͔̱͗̊"̸̨̱̃͐̄

I watched as Psycho Rin dropped dead to the floor before glitching out of existence and then right after...The figure who shot her, just watched with a irritated look on their face before turning away.

"Wait...who are you? W-who was that?!" I turned around facing the shadow figure.

She turned her head back and forth, scouting the area before facing me. "It's not safe for me to tell you my real name, so just call me Agent. As for those things, those are called Cyrptomatons... very dangerous... I would advise if your heading out into the shadows...Best to not go alone and avoid them at all costs. Also, don't scream like that...! You'll only attract more of them." The figure, Agent, began walking into the shadows. "I have to go now, goodbye."

I looked at them. "Will I see you again?"

She looked at me, "I can say for certain. Though, I hope we meet again."

And I watched them flee into the darkness, fading away.

Chapter Text

I was absolutely terrified of this place...Who knew what could crawl out of the place? Bugs, spiders, bats, zombies? The thought that I didn't know what was out there was truly worrying. I still had so much on my mind, why would I be brought back to life...? I was a murder, a child murder at that. Getting brought back to life with a chance at redemption was wrong...I didn't deserve to liv-

No. I needed to stop that mindset before it consumed me again. Kanade-San had forgiven her, just like the others said she would before her execution. But was she truly saying the truth? Nobody could truly forgiven something like that? Oh well, no time to dwell on that now... I just needed answers, they both did. "Gosh this place is just getting even more spooky than before. How am going to find anything when it's so dark here?" She kept looking all around with her rusty pipe in hand and the bag slung around her, she would be ready if someone striked. But she heard nothing...absolutely nothing...So that was it, huh? She was just being her normal paranoid self, right? Until she wasn't. She heard a clang of metal drops as she felt something wiz by her. Or someone.

”You’re Not Supposed To Be Alive.”

In a flash, the dark figure tried to swing a sword at her, a bright red illuminated from it. It was so fast, I barely blocked it with my pipe. I tried to attack them but the opponent was clearly faster by dodging me and pushing me to the ground, causing my vision to go blurry. I got a glimpse of the person's face before the sword hit me and everything went back. Meanwhile, the figure stepped away looking quite satisfied after hitting her, believing Ichika was dead.

"̴͍̦̯͖̻̠͌͒T̶̩̟͉͊͠h̴̡̟̞̳̫̏̆̓̈́̃ͅa̷̧͙͊͛̽t̵̛̝̬͕̥̔͛̎̀̕ ̶̩̦̖͕̘͓͂̿̈́̈́̐l̸͍̐͆̇i̴̱͐͒̀t̸̨̺͓͎̯͎͗̒͌̆t̸̞͚̣̞͈͋̂ͅl̸̛̟͎̦̲̈́͐̓̀ẽ̴̡̛̟̯̰́̀̕ ̸̻͎̥̯͇̅̈́̕̕͜b̵̺͚̭̎́̓̽i̶̢̺̓̄̂͝t̴̢̟͇̹͂c̷̰͗͛̓ḩ̵̠̰̲̩̑̂̏ ̷̪̭͚̗̎̿̉͛̈͠w̶̧̧̹͕̭̐a̵͍̪͎͌ǹ̵͓͈̠͆̒͜ͅt̸̮̍̂̋͝͝e̶̝̺͌̃̽͛̚ḑ̷̬͈̝̣̠͌ ̴̯̼͂͆̃̇̆̎t̷͖̤̹̮͙̯̂ơ̴̹̞̮̤̌̊̎̌ ̴͔̗̮̳̀͑̐͊̓̚f̷̳͂͐r̵̟̤̱͍̀̆͌͛̍͠a̸̢̨͗͋͘m̵̛͉͙̜̪̈́͗͝ę̸̨̣̻͊̅̐͝ ̷͕̳͂͜t̷͖̺͆̓h̵̨͔̰̮̠̓̏͌̈͋͑e̵̡͚͔̠͒͊̎ ̴̩̳̰̗̱̕͝c̶̺̑̊̍r̸̡̜̳̈́̍ỵ̸̘̆̓͆̉̕̚p̴̙̥̰͒̑̽̏͐͘t̷̬̜͔͍͓̊͝ỏ̷̢̝̰̭͔̤̐l̷̻̒̅͗̈ọ̶̣̩̝̘̄̔̓̄į̸͇͔͕̈́͂ḓ̸̢̣̜͝s̵̜͒͌̕̕͝ ̸̠̅͝l̴̢͎̖̣͗͐̇͘͠͝į̷̢̼̼͈̰̓͘ǩ̷̘̇͜ë̷̺̺͙́͆̑ͅ ̵͎̫̼͆̏̈͠͝ų̷̥̣̰̀̏s̶̫͍̥̺̟̝͗̌͑̐."̵̖̀̈ ̶͎̭́ "̸̨͚͒̀̂̓Ș̵͎̙̏ͅͅh̶̢͍̯̙̭͒̄̈ȩ̶̳͉̣̬̃̅̅̅ ̶̭̰͚͉̂͆͂͌ẃ̶͊̅͜a̸̞̭̣̪͈͂͐͝s̸͙͈̽͐̇͊͜ ̴̗̜̘̯̿ğ̷̦͍̩̃̓o̴̘̰͍̙̒̈́ị̸̡͊͂ń̷̠̿̓͝ǵ̴̮͖̻͎̋́̀̕͜ ̶̯̑̓t̸̜̞̥̄͋̾͜o̵͎̩̝̟͒ ̸̮̲͚͚̬̆͗̎̈́b̴̨̤̹̐̈ͅe̴̛̲̹͆̎̈́ ̴̢̡͔̰͇̑̑͐̚f̵̮̎̄̀͆o̶̠͓̩̜͉͑r̴̩̦͓̆̀̾̀̀g̶̙̅͜ͅo̴͙̎̏͛͘͘t̵̢͎͝t̷̺͂̀͊͘e̷̠̩̹͛̓n̵̩̱̦̾ ̵̬̞̥̄͆̄̾ļ̷͝i̴̮͈͓͓͊͒k̴̰̫̾͝ë̶̟̙́͠ ̵͎̮͝ţ̸̡̛͕̲̌͗̈́ͅh̷̙̰̏ȇ̵̗̰͎́ ̶̙̪̐̓͝ṛ̶̹͛͒͜e̴̡͈͙̎s̴̺̃̈́̓̀̚t̸͉̞̜͕̏̓͌̊ ̵̧̇͠ȭ̷̦̺f̷̳͈͛ ̷̛̗͈̺̃̄͗̆͜ü̶̧̱͙̼̜͑̕͝s̵̟̤̃͊̔̒͝,̶͓̒ ̴̡̼̐̍͝s̶̺̰̤̩̈̾͜͝͝ĥ̶͙̮͆̑ë̶̘͚̏̚͝ ̸̧̘̪̇̀̕à̷̙͚̅̕̕l̸̪̈r̷͔͖̯̫̓e̴̎̈͂̒͜a̶̮̞̲͈͘͠ḍ̵͑̕͠͠͝y̴͍̺͂̒ ̵̳̲̤̂k̵̩̇̕n̶͓̺̗͍̎̊̎̇̒è̵̩̹̹ẁ̶̡͙ ̵̨̜͉͇͙̇͠p̸̢̩͋̂̊̉e̸̡͇̻͍̎̑͛̇͜o̸̪͕͈͚̊p̸̝͐͛̂ͅl̷̢̪̜͕͋e̶̛̟͙͑̋̽̓ ̸̬̅f̴̢̱̩͍̘͂͝o̷̡͉̼͆̌̈́́r̷̺͓͕̈́͐̚͝ͅg̷̰̰͎̩̲͌ẹ̷̈́̓͋t̵̖̍̉͋ ̵̹͖̬̆̈́͋̑͆ḩ̵̗̟̑̈e̶͎͍̤̤͋̈́̋́ͅr̸͚̦͙̣̣͛̊͘ ̴̩͔̮̈̊͝͝ç̵̨̢̲̱̓̎́͆͐o̸̱͐͌͆̔̈m̷̢̱̝̽̐̆̐̐p̷̹̼̯̋̄͂a̸̡̨̙̤̼̾͗ṙ̷̹͚̮͒̓͂ę̶̡̘̻̱͆͝d̶̨̢̯͎͊ ̷̙̝͈̹̅̋̈́͛ͅt̶̨̞̐̕͝ơ̵̢͚͕̒̏̿ ̴̙̫̹̜̗͒̀̀͑͠h̵̖̱͕̜͆̒̽̔e̴̻̯͖̊̀͝r̴̨̭̣̥͐̊͗ ̵̼̭̳̯̘̋f̴̙̲̱̐͛́̃ř̶̳̲̩̂͌i̷͙͉͝͠e̶͈̥͖̺̩͊͒͑n̵͕̙͙̈ḓ̷͇͝s̸̤̠̞̈̒̈.̵̡̖͉̻́̋"̵̛͕̩̝̼́͗͋̃ͅ

"̵̧̛͚̋S̵͈̉͊h̷̭́͒e̴̪̬͋͛ ̶̞̍ẅ̴̜́̏a̶̬̣̎͝ṅ̶̢̖̽t̴̺̓e̸̛͙ḑ̷̗̎ ̷͖̓r̷̜͇͆̐ë̷͍̤́v̶̪̊̓ȅ̵̲͓̍n̶͐̀ͅg̵̪̊͝e̷̜͖͊ ̷͙̀ͅa̵͓͂̊t̷̼͑̔ ̵̳͒M̴̲̹̊̑i̶̟͋k̷̻̦̏u̴̯͒͝ ̵̳̟̈́å̸͚̽n̴̖͉̓d̸̘̬̆̕ ̴͚̒̔͜h̶̨̘̓ė̶̹̓r̵̪̻͛̀ ̶̛̠̮͌f̴̹͐r̴̖͘ḭ̴͛ě̷̮͖ṋ̸̂͗d̸̖͍̋s̴͓̙͊͘ ̷̼̾͘f̴̥͐̇o̶̘̐̎r̴͎͚̓̑ ̶̗͔̾m̵̤̳̒̈́a̴̠͗̕k̵̨̈́̅i̷̩̳̾n̴̦͌g̸͎̘͐ ̸̩̓͜Ò̵̱p̵̛̲͜ē̷̮͚r̸͉͎̅͝a̵̦͠t̷̘͑̾ḭ̴̩̾̎o̸̪͈̓n̸̫̂̾:̸̖̏͝ ̸̼̝̉̐Ç̶͂͜o̴͚̒̇l̵̪̎ơ̸͎̟r̸̲̘͘f̵̢̺̍͌u̸̢͓̓l̶̨̈́̂ ̷̧̱͠S̷͖̻̓t̶̼̊̉a̸̰̬̓̇g̵̩͋e̸̛ͅ,̴̤͍̔̄ ̷̧̝̓̍a̶̞͙͐͠n̸̜͓͆ ̴̰̪̇̕a̸̝̽̓t̵̬̫̽t̷̨͇̓ë̵̦́m̷͖͎̍p̴͓̓̀t̷̜̀ ̷̞͕̋̀ṱ̴̍ȯ̶̺̟ ̷̤̞̔̌l̸̫͊̅e̶̩͑̚͜a̷͚̿̈v̵̛̺̕ͅe̸̲͆ͅ ̵̤̼̃h̶̛̭͜ȩ̶͊ŕ̵̨̹.̵̮͙̆.̷̲͌͊.̴͈̚w̸̞͂h̶̭͔̽ḯ̴͎̓c̷̡̯̅̍h̴͔̖̋ ̶̡̍i̸̢̐͗s̶̙̀̚ ̴̫̱̾w̵̛̳h̸̛͎̭͌y̷̟͗ ̴̛̙̟ẅ̴̗̓é̴͜ ̵̢̗̒́c̴̰̰͂ỏ̵͉n̵̻͒͝v̵̦͋̀i̵͈̎͋n̶̦͜͠c̵͂̃͜ě̶͇̬͝d̸̺͌ ̸͎̥͂͆h̷̢̚e̴̽ͅr̵͚̃ ̷̨͕̍͒t̸̗͗̈o̴͈̝͒ ̴̛͜s̵̝͐t̵͙̎́ā̵̯r̸̹̞̍̌t̴̡̟͆̈ ̷̪̂̆t̶͓͂h̴̹͈͘e̷͇͝ ̸̜̄̊T̵̡̈́r̴̬͑̐a̷͔̾́g̵̼̕e̷̩̳͒d̶̢̝̃ý̴̦ ̸̢͍̑a̵̩͈̋͛n̵̛͍̺d̷̰̋ ̶̲̓K̷̥̺͂i̷̭͉̓l̴̼͆̆͜l̸̦͙̚ị̷̑͘n̴̙͒ͅg̸̨͓̃ ̸̱̰̈́͐G̵̩͍͒̉ȃ̵̮̮͝m̸̖̄̀e̴̗̬͂͌.̷̲̒̈́"̸̦̓ͅ

"̶̭̾A̵̧̤͒ń̵̗̩̽d̴͉͐͝ ̶̳̀͝ń̵̈́ͅo̴̧͐̕w̸͇̅ ̵͇̞̎ẗ̵̹̗́h̷̢̽a̴̜̓̅ṯ̶̇͆ ̴̙̂s̵̓̐ͅͅh̸̛͕̍e̴̠̗̊ ̶̛͈̍f̷͍͔̿a̷̺̎̎i̷̳̍̎l̸̳̆ë̴̙̫d̷̗̅ ̶̼́̆ț̵̻̌͘o̷͓̽͜ ̶̺̓͝k̴̜̾͒e̴̿̾͜e̴̙͚͛p̷͙̀͝ ̵̨̛͍t̷̯͌̐h̴̯͋̎ė̵͔͠m̷̬͑͜ ̶̫̖̍f̷̯̭̐̑r̵̜͒ǫ̵͍͊̈́m̴̘̅̌ ̶̺̔l̶̢͓͋̈é̸̲a̷͚͝v̸̡͎͛i̵͓͍̕ǹ̸̼̔ġ̵̛̹͈ ̴̮̊͝w̸͔̳͋i̷̡͌t̶̡͇̒h̸͍͠ ̶͚̫̅̀t̷̳̉h̶̡̝̀e̵̘͆ ̸̺̜́͘k̵̬̃͜͝i̴̝͊l̷̞̏l̶̟͆̅í̴̯͂n̵͚̹̿̈́g̵̬͑ ̶̧̥̅g̵͎̀a̵̦̔̀m̷͚̆̿e̴̡̒̃ ̶͉̑̕t̵̫̃h̸̬͆ŗ̴̼̌e̴͇͑̕a̸̮̽t̸̫̫̿̇ ̵͙͂͘ť̷̲̣h̷͎̀a̶̼̔̑ţ̸̚ ̴̗̒́ͅc̴̯̖͑a̴̦̩̎ȗ̸̞̆s̸̳̫̃è̴̼͎̽ ̶̪̀h̸͍̿̚e̶͖͐͛r̴̯̓͌ ̴̫́f̸̠̜͌͝r̷̟͜͝i̸̙͔͠e̸̟͒͆͜n̷̪̔̀ͅd̷̩̯̆̕ṣ̶͕̑ ̸̩̄̎ṭ̷̜͒o̷̟̊ ̴̫͈̃̄d̶̻͊i̴̹̟͋́ë̸̳̾,̵̤͕͛͛ ̶̩̯͠s̴͚̍̽h̵̘̺̏͗e̵̥͈̓ ̸̪͙̋i̷͍͙̒ś̸̤͚ ̴̐̈́͜ț̴̣̈́̿ȓ̷̻ỷ̸̮͎i̴͇̇͆ņ̵͊̐g̶̛̹͑ ̵͍̦̏͝ṯ̷̌́ơ̷̥̱̚ ̷͖̓̓r̷̻̩͋e̴̛̩ͅd̵̻̩̈́͆e̴̟̰̐e̷̤̳͆͑m̶̮̋ ̴̩̉̉h̸̰̤͊ë̸̗̬́͆r̷̙̃š̸̈́ͅè̸͎l̵͈̑f̴͓͊̀ͅ,̶̟̀ ̸̲̭͆ț̸̌r̶̫̱̿y̶̱̌̅ͅḯ̶͈͉͆n̵͉̏́g̷̟̀ ̵̧̟̀̾ẗ̸̬̱́̈ö̵̩͕́̂ ̴̩̾͝s̴͖̺͋ț̴̍̓͜ò̴̻̋p̶̖̩̈́ ̸̦̌̇t̴͐͋͜ḩ̷̩̃ẻ̶͎͜ ̴̦͝t̴̲͉̑̑ả̴̤̽ḳ̷͑̒è̶̗̭d̶̰͚͊ỏ̴̧͋w̷͕̏ṅ̴̢ ̴̗́o̷̩̻̓f̸̔͒ͅ ̶̙̖̑M̶̖̈́i̶̬̜̊k̸͍̑̽ü̸͔.̶̛͉͕̀.̴͔̳̿.̵̰̆"̶̣͗̈́

"̸̤̂̚W̷̗̋e̷̺͂ ̶̖̮͆͗c̶̬̓ä̷̞́̏n̵̦͒'̵̹̭͒t̶̜́͌ ̷̯͊̇á̶̟l̵̯͇̔l̴̜̒ȍ̵̦̐w̶̞̱͐ ̷̱̬̈́t̶̩͗͐ḥ̵͕̎̇e̶͇̗͒̾m̴͔̖̌̽ ̸̥͈͗͘t̵̰̲̑̀o̸̢̹͂́ ̵͇̗́̕w̵͈̌î̷̼̭ǹ̶͊ͅ,̸̹͍͆͐ ̸͖̭̔Ò̴͔͓ṕ̸̧ȇ̷̼͉ȑ̴̨̬͋a̷̮͝t̵̮̩̐ĩ̵̛̬̥o̷̧͒̀n̶͉̳͂:̵̼̙̕ ̴̫͙̈C̶͈͑̚͜ȍ̴͎̒l̴͇͚͗ō̷̺r̶͍̬͌̕f̷̬̩̾͊ư̴̥̋l̶̪͈̏͆ ̵͖͙͊͠S̸̫̺͆t̵̟̙̑̈́a̷͔͋g̴̛͇ê̴̤̱ ̸̭̍̉m̴͈̱̈̚u̴͍̾s̴̲͗ͅt̸̢͓̍͂ ̶̧̳̐f̴̳͝ą̷͈̈l̵̞̿̈ͅl̷̢͈̈̍ ̴̪̟́̚ȁ̸͕̼g̵̫̀a̵̠̕i̸͖̙̓ṇ̸̯͝.̴͔̣̉"̶̪̂̿ ̴͎̾"̴̬͇̿C̴̟͐ŷ̷̧͋p̸̛͚̑r̴̘͔̀t̶̞̝̆o̷̙̕ļ̸̭̇ó̵ͅi̶̖̾͛d̵̘͋̇ś̵̪͖̒ ̷̯̒m̶̘̿͌ų̴̪̽ś̸̲t̶̞͑ ̷̟̅͌d̴̢̤͒̈ḯ̴̬͎̅ḙ̷̿͜ ̷͎̹̊͛s̶͇̑ơ̷͖͂ ̸͍̈́̓t̶̮͛̈h̷̠͈͊ę̷̰̈ ̸̹̜͒f̶͚͆ö̸̙́r̷̼̺̽̕ġ̷̜͎o̴̪̤͋̍ẗ̸̪̥̓t̸̢͇̾̍e̶̬͕͠ń̷̺͋ͅ ̶͓́͜c̴̠̭̕͝ḁ̷̀n̸̺̓͆ ̴̦̄ͅr̸̙̳͗̈́i̶͚͌͝s̸̼͐ȅ̷̩͠ ̷͚̍͠a̵̭̫̍b̶̹͈̂o̶͙͂̕v̶̙̚e̴̤̒̏ ̸̲͂͌ẗ̵̤̯́h̴̭͍̄ê̶̯̻͘m̸͇̻̀.̷̼̇͆.̶̞̥̊̿.̴̼͒"̵̖̩̀

"̵̩̉͊Ȯ̶͇̜͑n̴̲̭͑c̷̜̈̏e̸̦̻̍̄ ̵̬̳̅̉w̸͖̒͆ê̶͕ ̴̣͎́̊s̵̬̎͝ë̸͓͇́n̸̝͂d̵̖͙̃ ̴̲́̋ō̷̤̥ủ̴͔t̸̖͉̂ ̴̞̺̔ṭ̶̲͂̚h̷̖͛͊ḛ̸͂s̴̪̣͆̑e̸̖͌̿ͅ ̴͔̄Č̵͎̄y̷̖͍͛r̵͓͖̎͋p̶̗͊t̸̞͝͝o̶̧̾̽m̸̦̅͆ã̴̱͚͝t̴̙͈̽o̴̡̳̿n̵̗͑s̸̪̕ ̵̏ͅï̸͓n̴̗͝t̵͈́̂ō̷̱ ̷̞̃t̷̞̯̕h̶̲͊͠e̷̖͚̕ ̸̩̇́w̷͎̄̌o̷͍͗̓r̸͉̟͂͝l̸̰͆d̵͂̑ͅ,̴̜̖͊ ̶̮̓̚t̸̺̞̓̇h̶͇̙͊o̶̺͕̒̂s̸͇͍̉ĕ̶̙̄ ̴̗̔͝f̸̭̌̂i̷̡̼͛v̸̬̩͗̽ḙ̷̠̄ ̷̩̏s̴̗̦̆͂u̵̻̇r̴̡͆̐v̷͚̏i̷̠͛v̵̖̩̍o̷̱̔̚r̶̳̋̄s̸͉̞̋̄ ̷̞͐͐a̸̤͙̓n̸̟̉͒d̸̛̥͖̔ ̷͎͋t̷̳̰̉h̷̰̺͐͝e̵͕͈͌̚i̶̤͖̋̔r̷͉̈́ ̴̩̋͠o̸̤͑p̸͇̕e̵͉̝̋͝r̸̨̚a̸̱͆̆t̵̩̅ĩ̸̙̫ȍ̴͉n̸̟͉̎ ̷͎̉͌w̵̟̣̃̄ï̴̫͔̈́l̷̹̠̿̅ľ̶̈́͜ ̸̲̲̍f̵̬͆a̶̛̦̱l̵͍̑l̶̨̻̉̓ ̶̝̗̒͊f̷̡̽̐ơ̶̫̯r̶̝̠̈́͐ ̷̨͂̀s̸͚͓̊͌ų̴̘̂͛p̴̗͔̓p̶͖͓̑̐o̶̮͖̾̚ŗ̵͝t̷̃̋͜i̷͍̽̀n̷̰̑ğ̶̯̐ ̴̯̀M̴̹̼͂î̸̗̼k̴̡̰͘̚ǔ̸̫.̵̮̖͑̔"̵͇͛̅

"̷̘͒L̸̤̀͛ȍ̵͚͌ó̸͔k̴̮̉ͅs̷̩͌̾ ̷̲̅l̴̹̠̇̂i̵̻͌k̷̞̔e̴̪͉̾ ̷̲͑w̷̦̬̍̆è̴͑ͅ'̷̞̓l̴͙͛ḻ̶̱̾ ̷̯̍j̵̱̙̃u̵̩͕̇s̴̥̠̆̋t̵̙̮̀ ̶̹͎͆̒h̴̠̺́̄a̶̙̍ͅv̶̻̋̑e̴̠̾̃ ̵̥͉̓̔ṭ̴̲̽ȍ̵̪̙ ̶̗͎̈͗k̴̛͚͘i̵͓̬͌͋l̷̜͛l̸͚̚ͅ ̵̰̎̚ā̷̠̬ ̵̤̆f̷̪͆̊e̸͍̿͝w̷̗͘ ̵̹͆̆ṁ̵͇̌ò̴̤͕͂r̷̳̆ē̶̝͛ ̷͍̭͑s̷̘̋t̶̠͍͒u̶̲̹͝d̵̻̖̚è̸̺n̸̫͘t̶̚ͅs̸̙̟̈́̅ ̴͇̄a̴̡̛g̵͔̎̓a̸̧̟̾i̸̼̜͝n̵̝̭͒ ̴̢͈́̈́f̴̛͉̲ǐ̴͍͓r̸̠̩͝ș̵̣̿t̵͈̺̄.̴̥͌.̵̍ͅ.̸̼͔͛"̷̘͚̄͝

And with that, the dark figure strutted off, seemingly very giddy as Ichika lost consciousness. Forgetting she left a piece of identity behind.

_

I had survived thanks to Agent, I didn't know who they were but I was at least thankful I had gotten away from that Psycho Rin...But I wondered where Ichika was? Had she gotten lost, did she get so caught up in exploring that she forgot all about her. The later probably wasn't likely, the girl looked white as ghost when they first started their hunt. "I should probably go looking for her-"

BANG! BANG!!! BANG!!!!!

"H-Huh...what was that?" Another person woke up...Or is it another creepy vocaloid monster? I should check it anyway... "Don't worry Hoshino-san I'll come back for you soon."

I raced to the chamber room and sure enough, sound was coming from it. As expected when she clicked on the keypad, there was a question about Saki...

"What would Saki do whenever she felt lost to despair?"

God, Hoshino would know this question, wouldn't she? C'mon Kanade think...what was it...

Suddenly a random memory that I had no idea I had popped into my head...

_______

"Heya! Hey, Kana!" It was Saki's voice...

"Oh...Ms. Tenma, Is something the matter? You look a little down." I touched her shoulder out of concern...? When did I do this...?

"Haha...You read my like a book, Kana...You're sorta like Ichi when it comes to that.. or I'm just that easy to read." She sighed and looked up, at the ceiling. "Y'know, whenever I feel sad, I look up to the stars for guidance...It's something I miss about the world now that it's been plunged in despair."

"The stars make me believe everything will be ok, that we'll play and fun again tomorrow."

"Ah...well I hope we can all have some fun memories together...hopefully to stop the despair once in for all. So, don't lose faith, Mrs. Tenma."

"Ahaha...! You're right...I won't let sadness win! I'll live my life to the fullest!"

_______

"Stars...That's it...! But, how did I know that... ermm nevermind. Lets just get her out first." I punched 'The Stars' into the keypad and once it was done, the door slowly opened. Saki looked tired with a red rash mark near her neck, her eyes also had big bags and red marks around them. She looked awful but then her shocked expression faded to a warm smiled as she ran into my arms.

"Kanade...! It's you...you're alive?!" Saki hugged me tight before taking a step back. "Hey, how come you look older now?!"

"You should take a look at yourself in the mirror, Tenma..." I said gesturing to her body.

"Huh, what do mean-OH MY GOD?!!!" I watched as Saki looked up and down at her body repeatedly, seeing her aged body. "W-Wow...Did I really grown that much taller?! H-Huh.. that's new..."

"Yeah it is... So did you know how you died, Tenma?" I asked her. After all, there had to be a reason why she, who was one of the most energetic out of us in the game, would be so tired.

Saki eyes widened as she tilted her head slightly, "W-Wait...I died? I just remember falling asleep in the school sekai room... Did I really die?" She then began to shake and pull at her already mangled pigtails. "No...no no no.. I didn't die in my sleep due to illness or something right...? I-I hope nobody got blamed for m-my death."

I touched her shoulder to calm her down, bringing her close to me. "I'm sure it's nothing like that, Saki. But right now, I...ummm, need to find Ichika."

"W-What..?!!! Ichi is here?!!! Where is she?!!!" Saki latched onto me to the point I almost stumbled but Saki noticed and caught me before we both fell to the ground. "W-Woops..sorry about that...I got carried away! But, can I help you find Ichika, I want to see her again!"

"Of course you can help us, Saki. But before we go, can you check your chamber room and see if there is anything helpful in there to our escape out of here?" I asked Saki and her eyes widened before smiling. "Oh yeah, I think I saw a flashlight in there, as well as my keyboard and my old bunny plushie I used to play with...I'm taking the plushie with me but I bet you could use the flashlight for something!" She then went back into the chamber and grabbed the flashlight and bunny before handing the flashlight to me.

"Well this will definitely help since it's really dark in here, so thank you. Now, Let's go find Ichika." We then walked off and towards the right side of the hallway where Ichika had went. "I-It's kinda s-scary in here now that I'm seeing it for the first time..." I heard her say and I turned around to find Saki clinging to my arm while I held onto the flashlight. I will admit, it was kinda off-putting. "Don't worry Saki, just stay close to me and you'll be fine." Once we readied ourselves, we proceed onward through the hallway and we were halfway through when we heard-

"Ugggggggggggghhhhhhhhh....."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP!" Saki ducked behind me as I accidentally dropped the flashlight...It keep rolling down only to stop at a figure who was laying on the ground. I proceeded forward and picked up the flashlight to find Hoshino laying unconscious on the floor. "It's Hoshino."

Saki took a few steps closer and when looking down is frozen in fear. "It's Ichika!!! Is she ok?!!!!"

"She just looks like she just hit on the head, Saki. As for how...I am not sure, but we should keep looking around the room." I said as I stood up and Saki nodded.

"You can look around the room, I'll stay by Ichi and just check if she has any injuries, ok!" Saki called out to me, I nodded and began scanning the area of the room.

I looked around at the ceiling to see if anything had fallen but there was nothing there but dripping water. So, I began checking the floors. A few pieces of rubble, some dead rats, and a-

...

...

...

IS THAT A TOY BUNNY....?

Chapter Text

I was thrown for a loop when I woke up, all I ever remember was falling asleep in the school sekai room, I never saw my "killer" or how I "died." Kanade had informed me I had died, since I was here and she.. along with Ichika who I knew both died were here and somehow brought back to life. However they both don't know who, why, or how they were brought back to life. So I guess I won't know either, huh? Oh well, I would rather not worry about that existential crisi-OH MY FREAKING WHAAAAAAAT?!!!! WHEN DID I GET TALLER?!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?! (Whelp, soooooo much for avoiding existential crises there...) But yeah, so not only did I apparently die in my sleep somehow but I also aged a bit too... So that's something. But, I guess I should be happy I was revived in the first place because that means I can still live my life to the fullest with Ichika and the others! I wonder if Hona-chan and Shiho-chan survived that crazy killing game and if they did, did they forget me? Are they looking for me and Ichi? I hope they are....because then we can be together again. I really hope they didn't leave me and Ichika alone like before...

No, the couldn't have, after all...We promised each other that we wouldn't let that happen to us.

I just need to stay strong for them and keep hoping they will find us.

I won't give up...not now, not ever.

I WILL KEEP HOPING NO MATTER WHAT!

_

Now here I am, back at the chambers room, looking a toy bunny with Kanade...Ichi was still unconscious. I was glad she wasn't injured but I was also pretty upset as to could have hurt my childhood friend while I was asleep. Whoever they were are going to get it, now that I'm here!

"I sure hope Hoshino will be alright...after all, we need to find our way out of this place." Kanade said as she stroked Ichika's head. "Maybe I shouldn't have left her alone."

I should say something positive, I don't want her to be sad. "Hey, Hey, It's ok! Ichika is a tough cookie, I'm sure she'll be fine!"

"Right...Right...I need to be more positive, Thank you Saki." She smiled at me and stood up, taking the bunny in her hands. "I'm going to see if I can figure out who this belonged to and checking over the supplies I found earlier, I'll be right back." She then patted Ichi one last time before stepping away.

"Ok then, good luck!" I waved her goodbye before turning my attention to Ichika. "Hmmmm.... Maybe I'll play a song on my keyboard till she wakes up, I'll go get it first." I stood up, leaving my toy bunny that was resting in my lap beside her and quickly scampered towards my chamber, opening it up and pulling out my keyboard before heading back. "Now what should I play... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Oh, I got it! I'll play Stella, that's my favorite song after all!" I remembered the song clearly and began to sing it quietly out loud.

[The tears melt away at night and today the skies are distant]
[It's as if the futures closed and is full of darkness]
[Ah, even my heart seems cloudy with words too faint to say. But the stars were shining as if they saw through]

[If you could fly high into the sky like a nighthawk.]
[Even though I was beautiful and special,
I was accustomed to lowering my head.]
[Couldn't even light my way to that place on the map.]
[Ah our path is sweet and carefree
so leave that darkness and move forward to tomorrow.]

[This is the story of why I didn't give up hope.]
[I was unhappily aiming toward
the sky with the spring breeze
But the wings to make my shining dreams
come true have been slowly growing.]
[My voice can't be heard as
my body grows hotter
and burns into the night sky more and more.]
The stars flapped it's wings
for a moment
Oh the night sky
is waiting for it's day to shine.]
[Always, always, always!]

When I was done, I smiled, those were good times....great times, even. I then turned my head to also notice Ichika had woken up and... she was...crying?!

"S-Saki....?"

"I-Ichika?!! I-I didn't know you were awake!!!! And, your crying too?!?! A-Are you okay?!!!"

She wrapped her arms around me tightly, she was sobbing now... "Saki...I-I...I missed you..."

I was so stunned, I tried to hold it in...I really did but- "I-I...Ichi...I-I MISSED Y-YOU TOO...!"

I couldn't hold back the tears I had been holding in ever since I saw her die, smushed by the Leonids we were so found of, so found of in fact that we made them our symbol. A symbol now used to take her soul from me. All because she murdered Yoisaki in a attempt to save us all. Even, if it was in vain, I could never blame her since she never met to hurt anyone. I lost something in my heart when she was gone, like my feelings were muted, and I feared it would always be that way...

But she was here now. In my arms. And, we were together again. Like any childhood best friends were meant to be. I would never let her go again. And, If I find Shiho and Honami too, I won't let them go either.

After Ichika and I stopped hugging, she grabbed her guitar case bag, pulling out her guitar and resting it on her lap. "H-Hey Saki...Can we sing your song again...except together? It might help calm each other down...and it will also be for old times sake."

"Really? Of course, Ichi! I would love to!" My grin grew wide, kinda like my brother when got excited for a show.

The two of us then played our song together with smiles and tears of joy until we burst with laughter from having so much fun. It had been a while since we played but it was so exhilarating to just play again.

"Ahahaha... Man, that was fun, Ichika! Shiho would be upset though with how many notes I just flubbed though, ehehehe!" I giggled into my hand and Ichika laughed too, It made me glad to see she wasn't crying anymore.

"Yeah, let's not tell her once we get out of here, Hahahaha! I don't want to deal with the wrath of Shihoppy, Grrrrrrrrr!" Ichika then posed a pouty face and we both started rolling with laughter again!

Kanade then peaked her head into the room. "Oh, so that's where all this music was coming from... I'm glad to see you to having fun because I found more weapons, drink cups and some more fruit."

"Ooooh food, I'll have some! I'm staaaaaaaarrrrrvvviiiinnnnnggg, Kana!!!!!" I jumped up and down almost like a cute little bunny while Ichi started giggling.

"Looks like Saki is giving you her 'pamper me" face!' Don't worry, Saki...We'll all have some, so simmer down." Ichika petted me as I slowly calmed myself down.

"Cheers to survival...?" Kanade said as she awkwardly raised her cup in the air.

"Cheers!!!" Clinking my glass with Kanade's.

"Cheers indeed!" And Ichika clinked her's with mine.

And we all enjoyed our feast together!

____________

I looked around, I was sitting at a desk, I recognized this layout. "H-Huh....? Where am I?! Why am I back in the damn Despair Sekai-"

"Akito..."

He knew that voice.

"T-Toya...Is that you...?"

"Why did you vote me out....Akito...? I thought we were partners."

"T-Toya...I-I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean too-"

"I'M DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND YOU KILLED ME!!!!"

"I-I..." He grabbed my shirt collar hard, as well as a stern ice cold glare I had never seen before. His warm smile was nowhere present, he felt...almost unfamiliar...

"̷̦̮̃͒̑͝Ý̷̮̩̗̣̞̣̈́̆̓̉̇̉͜͠ͅȎ̶̻͈̏̎̽͝Ư̴͓̺̯͇̻͍ ̶̛̥̤̏͂̉̂͝͝S̴̨̛̳̲̙̫̖̬̮͔̃̒̀̽̓̂̑̚H̵̼̖͐̏͌̓̃͝O̸̡̱̗͔̲̥͖̘͍͙̒͛̋Ų̵̧̧͈̗͋̂̋͛̋͘L̴̫͎̬͔̻͒̐̃̈̈́̎̚D̵̺̦̦͚͖͙̮̻͙͛͌̎ ̵̧̧̧̛̜͕͚̰̜̪̂̐̈́̈́̍̈́ͅH̵̢̡̞̣̲̬̞̮͐̿̓Ą̵̧̤̣̩̖͚͓̉̀̓̈͊̄ͅV̸̧̛̳̗̾̄̌̈́̌̈́̇́͝Ę̶̫̲͓͕͎̫̒̃̓̍͝͝ͅ ̷͉̱̾̓̏̅͋̋͘Ḏ̶̍̆͛͝Ḯ̷̢̭̝̅̈́̑Ẹ̴̛̻̮̗̪͙̼͈̝̘̌͐̅̉̅̑͊D̴̦͈̱͎̀̎̌́̓́͑̇ ̸͖̱̮͍̥̠̲̓̓̆̅̀̐͜I̵̛̗̻͔̪̪̓͊͑̓͑̄̃̚̕N̷̥͚̣̹̞͒́͆́́́͋̽̏S̶̡͎̞̤̞̯̹̫̮̉̑̀̅̾̈́̊̀̚͘T̴̫̓͂Ẹ̶̢̼̞̟̼̺̻͎͈̄̃̓̓̃Ā̴̹̮̮͖̄͐Ḑ̸͙̥̅.̷͓̝̳̈̈́̀̀̏̋͒.̵̨͎͚͚̺̾.̸͖͍̘̪͊̾̓̆͘"̵̢̺͍̝̣͎̭̜͎̯͋̽̈̔̒̎͒́͝

"̷̦̮̃͒̑͝Ý̷̮̩̗̣̞̣̈́̆̓̉̇̉͜͠ͅȎ̶̻͈̏̎̽͝Ư̴͓̺̯͇̻͍ ̶̛̥̤̏͂̉̂͝͝S̴̨̛̳̲̙̫̖̬̮͔̃̒̀̽̓̂̑̚H̵̼̖͐̏͌̓̃͝O̸̡̱̗͔̲̥͖̘͍͙̒͛̋Ų̵̧̧͈̗͋̂̋͛̋͘L̴̫͎̬͔̻͒̐̃̈̈́̎̚D̵̺̦̦͚͖͙̮̻͙͛͌̎ ̵̧̧̧̛̜͕͚̰̜̪̂̐̈́̈́̍̈́ͅH̵̢̡̞̣̲̬̞̮͐̿̓Ą̵̧̤̣̩̖͚͓̉̀̓̈͊̄ͅV̸̧̛̳̗̾̄̌̈́̌̈́̇́͝Ę̶̫̲͓͕͎̫̒̃̓̍͝͝ͅ ̷͉̱̾̓̏̅͋̋͘Ḏ̶̍̆͛͝Ḯ̷̢̭̝̅̈́̑Ẹ̴̛̻̮̗̪͙̼͈̝̘̌͐̅̉̅̑͊D̴̦͈̱͎̀̎̌́̓́͑̇ ̸͖̱̮͍̥̠̲̓̓̆̅̀̐͜I̵̛̗̻͔̪̪̓͊͑̓͑̄̃̚̕N̷̥͚̣̹̞͒́͆́́́͋̽̏S̶̡͎̞̤̞̯̹̫̮̉̑̀̅̾̈́̊̀̚͘T̴̫̓͂Ẹ̶̢̼̞̟̼̺̻͎͈̄̃̓̓̃Ā̴̹̮̮͖̄͐Ḑ̸͙̥̅.̷͓̝̳̈̈́̀̀̏̋͒.̵̨͎͚͚̺̾.̸͖͍̘̪͊̾̓̆͘"̵̢̺͍̝̣͎̭̜͎̯͋̽̈̔̒̎͒́͝

"Toya....I-I'm s-sorry...I'm s-sorry...Please forgive me...." Toya then grabbed onto me, strangling me, I couldn't breath....black was all around me, the only thing I could focus on whas his...voice.

"̸̡̧͕͑͛̈́̾̊̿Ȳ̶̛͙̼̓Ö̶̭͕̟̯̫̉͠Ų̶͚͖͎͆̿͗͘͘͠ ̴̝̼̦̻͔̪̖̻̊͛̄̑̅̚D̴̫̻̗͚̮͕͊̒́Ȍ̷̳̪̤͗̎̽͜͠N̴̨͓̰̖̼̚ͅ'̸̧͖̙͈̎̀T̴͇̳̱͕̪̱̜̟̄͆͋̇̄͛̐̉͘ ̷̫̾́͛̀͠Ḓ̶͖͙̓͑̈̉́̈́̽ͅĘ̵̢̮̈́͊̒͊Ṡ̴̡̗͓̥̟̘͇̭̈́̈́͠Ę̴̝̭͔̬͉͌̑̂̔̄͊R̷̟͙͚̱̅͑̍͌͜V̵̩͚̉͜Ẹ̷̉̈́̅̈̆ ̵̟͎͙̥̗̿̏̔̏̈́̌̌͗̚T̵͖̭̘͙͕̹̲͍̤̾̀̌Ȍ̴̗͈̟̩́̚ ̴̟͓̙̼̇L̶̫̯̹̤̊̌̒̃̑̂I̷̗͛͑̉̉͊̕V̵̨̗̅É̶̜̘͎͎͙͚̝̯̤̿̇̂̕̚͝!̵̭̥͕̩̯̮̟̠̍̑̑̍̔͠!̴̢̺̟̹̖͌̌!̵̧̒!̵̧͓͖̭͖̘͓͒!̶̘͑̚!̴̡̛̞̞͍̤̙̎͌͘ͅ!̵̨̥̮̜̯̹̦̽̓͂͊̀̈̚ͅ!̵͕͑̃̄̃̾̃̋͛̏!̴̼̪̆̄̀!̶̤͓̱̪̹̆̿͊͒̔͋͋͠ͅ!̴̖͙̻͋͆̊̽̓͑̈́͜!̷̢̛̫̘͉̯̦̼̱͌͌̀̃͒͝!̵̡̟̪̭̈́̾͆!̵̢̬̳̤̮͇̱̼͂̍̍̾͐̏͝͠!̸̣͕͆̈́!̶̛̰͎͓̗͇͉̦̋͒͆̔͝͝!̵̛̞͕̮̰̔-̵̢͉̣̹̙̹̳͚͑̈͗"̶̨̛̺͙̭̝͓̺̮̓̅̇̂͐̈́

"̸̡̧͕͑͛̈́̾̊̿Ȳ̶̛͙̼̓Ö̶̭͕̟̯̫̉͠Ų̶͚͖͎͆̿͗͘͘͠ ̴̝̼̦̻͔̪̖̻̊͛̄̑̅̚D̴̫̻̗͚̮͕͊̒́Ȍ̷̳̪̤͗̎̽͜͠N̴̨͓̰̖̼̚ͅ'̸̧͖̙͈̎̀T̴͇̳̱͕̪̱̜̟̄͆͋̇̄͛̐̉͘ ̷̫̾́͛̀͠Ḓ̶͖͙̓͑̈̉́̈́̽ͅĘ̵̢̮̈́͊̒͊Ṡ̴̡̗͓̥̟̘͇̭̈́̈́͠Ę̴̝̭͔̬͉͌̑̂̔̄͊R̷̟͙͚̱̅͑̍͌͜V̵̩͚̉͜Ẹ̷̉̈́̅̈̆ ̵̟͎͙̥̗̿̏̔̏̈́̌̌͗̚T̵͖̭̘͙͕̹̲͍̤̾̀̌Ȍ̴̗͈̟̩́̚ ̴̟͓̙̼̇L̶̫̯̹̤̊̌̒̃̑̂I̷̗͛͑̉̉͊̕V̵̨̗̅É̶̜̘͎͎͙͚̝̯̤̿̇̂̕̚͝!̵̭̥͕̩̯̮̟̠̍̑̑̍̔͠!̴̢̺̟̹̖͌̌!̵̧̒!̵̧͓͖̭͖̘͓͒!̶̘͑̚!̴̡̛̞̞͍̤̙̎͌͘ͅ!̵̨̥̮̜̯̹̦̽̓͂͊̀̈̚ͅ!̵͕͑̃̄̃̾̃̋͛̏!̴̼̪̆̄̀!̶̤͓̱̪̹̆̿͊͒̔͋͋͠ͅ!̴̖͙̻͋͆̊̽̓͑̈́͜!̷̢̛̫̘͉̯̦̼̱͌͌̀̃͒͝!̵̡̟̪̭̈́̾͆!̵̢̬̳̤̮͇̱̼͂̍̍̾͐̏͝͠!̸̣͕͆̈́!̶̛̰͎͓̗͇͉̦̋͒͆̔͝͝!̵̛̞͕̮̰̔-̵̢͉̣̹̙̹̳͚͑̈͗"̶̨̛̺͙̭̝͓̺̮̓̅̇̂͐̈́

"̸̡̧͕͑͛̈́̾̊̿Ȳ̶̛͙̼̓Ö̶̭͕̟̯̫̉͠Ų̶͚͖͎͆̿͗͘͘͠ ̴̝̼̦̻͔̪̖̻̊͛̄̑̅̚D̴̫̻̗͚̮͕͊̒́Ȍ̷̳̪̤͗̎̽͜͠N̴̨͓̰̖̼̚ͅ'̸̧͖̙͈̎̀T̴͇̳̱͕̪̱̜̟̄͆͋̇̄͛̐̉͘ ̷̫̾́͛̀͠Ḓ̶͖͙̓͑̈̉́̈́̽ͅĘ̵̢̮̈́͊̒͊Ṡ̴̡̗͓̥̟̘͇̭̈́̈́͠Ę̴̝̭͔̬͉͌̑̂̔̄͊R̷̟͙͚̱̅͑̍͌͜V̵̩͚̉͜Ẹ̷̉̈́̅̈̆ ̵̟͎͙̥̗̿̏̔̏̈́̌̌͗̚T̵͖̭̘͙͕̹̲͍̤̾̀̌Ȍ̴̗͈̟̩́̚ ̴̟͓̙̼̇L̶̫̯̹̤̊̌̒̃̑̂I̷̗͛͑̉̉͊̕V̵̨̗̅É̶̜̘͎͎͙͚̝̯̤̿̇̂̕̚͝!̵̭̥͕̩̯̮̟̠̍̑̑̍̔͠!̴̢̺̟̹̖͌̌!̵̧̒!̵̧͓͖̭͖̘͓͒!̶̘͑̚!̴̡̛̞̞͍̤̙̎͌͘ͅ!̵̨̥̮̜̯̹̦̽̓͂͊̀̈̚ͅ!̵͕͑̃̄̃̾̃̋͛̏!̴̼̪̆̄̀!̶̤͓̱̪̹̆̿͊͒̔͋͋͠ͅ!̴̖͙̻͋͆̊̽̓͑̈́͜!̷̢̛̫̘͉̯̦̼̱͌͌̀̃͒͝!̵̡̟̪̭̈́̾͆!̵̢̬̳̤̮͇̱̼͂̍̍̾͐̏͝͠!̸̣͕͆̈́!̶̛̰͎͓̗͇͉̦̋͒͆̔͝͝!̵̛̞͕̮̰̔-̵̢͉̣̹̙̹̳͚͑̈͗"̶̨̛̺͙̭̝͓̺̮̓̅̇̂͐̈́

___________

"AKITO! WAKE UP...! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"T-TOYAAA...I'M SORRY! I-I'm so sorry for everything-Wait.." I woke up with a warm mark on my cheek and I was sitting up on my bed...? Right, Now that I think about it, I took went to take a nap after one of my Phoenix Federation assignments. Phoenix Federation is being Governed by Jean Riley, Former CEO of Riley Entertainment and Keisuke Otori, One of Emu's older brothers. Her older sister, Hinata Otori and other older brother Shousuke, also help out as members of the foundation. Keisuke and Shousuke doesn't really like us but his sister has been the most supportive to us ever since we joined. Hinata wants to contribute more to saving the world since Phoenix Wonderland was destroyed from the tragedy, that incident caused their father to be killed. This tragedy was caused by that stupid bitch... Mochizuki, was her name. The same bitch who took Kohane, An, and Toya.

Toya...

I'm pathetic and worthless... I can't do anything without my team. Why should I do anything since I couldn't save them-

"Akito, You...You were unresponsive...and your we're shaking in bed? D-Did you have that nightmare again...?" I looked to face who had woke me... It was my sister, Ena...

She must have snapped me out of another nightmare, the twelfth of this year, in fact... Ever since we and the others joined Phoenix Federation, I have been having nightmares about Toya and the others who died. Some of them had been about Shiraishi and Azusawa, some were about the other dead classmates from the killing game or people like Ken and his family, but the most of them were about Toya. However, The others would be checking up on me when they did have them, Ena being the one to check on him the most with Akiyama checking occasionally if Ena was busy. As for Kusanagi, she would barely have time to check as she was one of the heads for the Phoenix Federation and constantly doing stuff. And Tsukasa...? H-He.....He was having issues of his own...

"Ah, you're here..." I said to her with no emotion, I had no energy to show practically any emotion anymore, all the work was draining as hell. Ena could tell from the look I gave her that I wasn't in much mood to talk.

"You know those dreams aren't real, remember. Just breath, it will be ok." She said patting my leg.

"I-I know, it's just a stupid nightmare..." I sighed, wiping my eyes and lying back down onto my bed. "I'm fine now."

Ena patted my leg. "I get it...I'm still upset about what happened to Kanade, Mafuyu and Airi. Mizuki hasn't really took it well either losing them and Rui. Nene and Tsukasa are still broken due to what happen to their trope members, we all suffered. But as long as we remember them, things will get better."

"So don't give up, what's important is taking care of yourself, and I'll be there for you. Let's support each other."

She was right...she had been right a lot these days. But, I'm not good enough, I'll just get in her way. I-I can't tell her that though...

"Ok, I'll do my best." I said, trying my best to smile at her.

She stood up with a smile. "That's the brother I know. Now c'mon, let's get lunch." She walked toward the door with me as I took her hand.

"Ena..." I whispered.

"Huh.. Akito-"

"Sorry for being like this. I'm just weak, bothersome, and hopeless, aren't I?"

She then smiled and pressed my in a warm hug, alongside heartfelt words I didn't deserve. "You're not a bother Akito, I'm not going to let you struggle alone. We are in this together, that's what siblings are for."

Chapter Text

I was already sitting at our lunch meeting table, waiting patiently for some of the members to arrive. The Otoris, of course, were already there. The oldest one tend to be very silent with a more calm attentive stare, while his younger brother on the other hand...His stare was like daggers going into my skin, it was very clear to me they didn't trust me completely. I wouldn't even be sure if they even liked me or the others at all and were just tolerating with us until the despair was over. But, who knows how long that would take... Hinata Otori or Mrs. Otori-San, as I like to call her, is by far the most compassionate to us. Understanding our grief or losing our close friends and giving us helpful advice. And, not only that, Her curry is also fantastic! Like, I went "Wow!" when I first took a bite out of some of her work. Fantastic cook! 10 out of 10!

But ah, where was I? Oh yeah! The first person to show up was Taiga Kotaki, I heard used to be An's uncle. They weren't by blood but she considered him family because her dad and him used to be good friends. Unfortunately, her father ended up sacrificing himself to save his patrons of his cafe that were still alive, including Taiga himself... He now tends to watch over Ena and more so Akito a lot. And the dude loves to where shades with his suit. I think he said it makes him look like a true crime fighter or something like that, definitely not the type of personality I expected.

The second to show up after him was this quiet slender girl about the same age as me named Riho Hasegawa, I see her fidgeting with her hair a lot... so I tend to think she is quite nervous. She is supposed to be a composer like Kanade was and is making music to "bring hope for a better tomorrow." She said she learned it from Haruka who said that while she was a ASRUN member. She says she still misses Haruka a lot even after seeing her be a killer. I feel kinda bad for her...

Third was Miu Takagi, who dropped from being a musician to learn how to make medicine for us. She apparently used to know Shiho when they were in junior high, and now out of honor to her, wants to help heal people over their sadness as much as possible as a way of being assertive. She hasn't gotten around to how she'll do that yet, but seeing her trying to stand in on the frontlines... I can definitely respect that out of her.

The next to walk in were a pair of two siblings. However, they were not Ena or Akito, instead being Hanano and Yota Yoshizaki. When you see one, you're bound to see the other, almost practically inseparable. I see them try to talk to Takagi sometimes, probably because the two of them used to be ultra mega fans of Leo/Need. Both of them have started making music now on their own to...in there words, "Finish what Leo/Need started."

After them was Tatsuya Okazaki but he tends to go by his aliases, EVER. Colleague of Lil' Brosef and friend to Kotaki-San. Very blondy like Tsukasa-Senpai and kinda cocky like how Tenma-senpai used to be too. Claims he will destroy despair with his powerful looks and awesomeness but hasn't explained how he would go around to do that. But his moxie about it is...admirable to say the least. Nanamin Hayakawa came in after him, looking very cheerful despite everything. Though she was a former idol streamer, so perhaps she's just good at staying calm under pressure. She also tends to protect Ena because Hayakawa knew Airi as apart of More More Jump and because Ena is Airi's childhood best friend, Nanamin wants to protect her as some sorta unwritten vow.

Then Ena and Akito showed up with Captain Nene in tow as Ena would usually be late to dinners as she would have to take care of Akito and his "trauma-nightmares" as she calls them. These days grown so much... Now learning to cook, waking up on time, and barely fights with Akito now. She's turned from grumpy tiger lady to soft motherly kitten so fast, it sometimes suprises me that it's the same Ena! If only, I could say the same for Lil' bro though... As the constant episodes have taken their toll on his mental state, he's become so quiet compared to before and almost everyday walks like a mummy. I think he looks better today, though I can never be sure... I really hope he is doing better today. And Captain Nene, she has rarely had a chance to get a break! I hardly ever see he rout of her room. It also could be possible she just refuses to give herself one as I sometimes see bags under her eyes... But, I'm hoping that's not the case.

And last to show up to the table was...ahem. TSSSSSUUUKKAAASSSA TEEENNNMAAA, FUTURE STAR!!!..........Ouch, I think my throat just hurt doing that in my head. But yeah, Tsukasa had a dramatic change. Let's list of the things. He says he hears voices of the dead and freaks out a lot, he always mules over the past. He worries a lot more often now too. Nene has told me she has gotten VERY concerned about how far he's moved from his former self and is worried about his mental well-being. That's why I'm sent checking on him a lot.

And me? I'm doing okay. Yes, things have been hard and I'm usually by myself because the others are either too worried about themselves or worried about each other to spend time with me. But, that's fine! I like being alone anyway and I'm used to being alone. As long as they know I'll never leave them behind and I'll be there to protect them, that's fine with me. We all have our secrets we've told and not told since growing close all these years that I know I can count on them. However, I backslide sometimes thinking-

Do they really need me, even if they said they accept me... Have they? Nene, Ena, Lil' Bro, Tsukasa...

Do they really love me for who I am...?

_

"Ena, Heeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyoooo! You and Lil' Bro wanna sit next to me?" I shouted and waved for them to come over.

"Ah Mizuki...Hello, It's nice to see you as well but don't be so loud because Akito is still tired." Ena politely scolded while gesturing to Akito who did indeed look very weary.

"Ehhh, s-sorry, Akito-Kun. I hope I didn't bother you that much." I pulled out a chair for Akito while Ena helped him sit down.

"I-It's fine, Akiyama... I'm pretty used to not getting sleep nowadays." He said while resting his head on his forearms.

"Ah well, if you say so then, Lil' Bro." I said and returned to taking bites out of my curry.

"Ah, it seems everyone made it on time, excellent!" Said a loud booming voice, who of course, was our Commander in Chief of the Phoenix Federation. Mr. Jean Riley, Former CEO of Riley's Entertainment and Former friend to Emu's Father and Grandfather. "I'm glad each and every one of you could make it, as you know, we need to discuss what to do with the state of Shibuya Scramble Crossing's shopping mall and how there have been floods of Cryptomatons and Mikumabots scattered around the city causing destruction. 'Huh, Here I thought this would all be over when Mochizuki was confirmed to be deceased."

Mochizuki...Her name gave me a sick feeling in my stomach, not only when she revealed herself as the mastermind but that Shizuku and Kanade were forced into her scheme really makes my blood boil inside. Why... Why Kanade? Why anyone for that matter?! Why to even Mochizuki?!!! Why would she do that...? Most of the time I am fairly calm but whenever her name, a scowl ends up on my face but I try to conceal it.

"But of course we will rise above this madness and send smiles to everyone around the world, that is the job of Phoenix Federation after all, which is why I will put you all into teams to spread some smiles to the world!" 'So, Hasegawa and Hayakawa to Main Street, Takagi and Okazaki to the Shibuya Music Shop, Kotaki to Scramble Crossing, Mr. Shinonome and Ms. Akiyama to Kamiyama, Yoshisaki's to Miyamasuzaka Girls, and Ms. Kusanagi and Ms. Shinonome and Mr. Tenma will stay here to try undercover any info on where these Cyrptomatons came from, Understand?" We all nodded while others said yes sir before Mr. Riley shouted. "Well let's get to work then, chop chop!"

I watched as some members immediately jumped from their seats and getting right to business, while some others like Miu and Riho had to throw away their trash first before slowly leaving the room. I calmly pulled out of my seat, as did Ena and Akito as we made our way toward the door, Akito secretly dump his tray that was full of uneaten food straight into the garbage can before following her. I wanted to do the same but I noticed Tsukasa was silent and took off running toward his room. I needed to get that guy's head on straight and I was about to follow him when I noticed Ena looking at me.

Her eyebrows furrowed a little. "Mizuki, where are you going?"

I whipped my head around with a stern stare. "It's Tsukasa-Senpai, somebody needs tp make him get his act together or he'll just go insane."

"Oh..." Akito reply was still very monotone. "Maybe they should help him, you're close in discussion with Kusanagi so you might scare him off while I'm not good enough to help anyone, Mizuki is closer to Tsukasa than us besides Kusanagi and is good at reading people. They should do it."

Ena's hand finally let go of mine, conceding defeat. "I guess you make a good point...We'll leave it to you then, Mizuki. But be quick about it, we don't want to keep Mr. Riley waiting or deal with Shousuke's whining again."

"Ahahaha, R-Right, I won't be long. See you guys later!" I smiled and waved before following Tsukasa-Senpai to his room.

_________

Cold, Dark, Broken...are the words I would describe himself as now, I had lost so much I knew I could never get back...

My sister, My close friends, Toya and Shizuku, my family, my teammates. If only I had done more and been the reliable big brother, I could have stopped them from dying.

I wished the past would change, I wished someone could snap their fingers and resolve everything... They didn't deserve to suffer.

I should have tried harder... It's my fault, it will always be my fault. I needed to do something but I failed... Everyone else is in pain because of me, they don't deserve to reach out to me.

"Dear god, why can't you just bring them back." I said while in my bed. "I would do anything if you could just bring them back, I would die to-

"Tsukasa-Senpai...?"

"Eh?!" Why was Akiyama here? I didn't want them here, I just wanted to be alone.

"There is something I wanted to ask you." They said plopping down onto my bed.

I kept my face away from them, I was supposed to be a star but I looked pitiful.

"Tsukasa, you don't look so good."

I avoided them again, why would they care anyway. "It's my fault, so I deserve to pay for it. I couldn't even save the Wonder Stage."

Mizuki looked me right in the eye. "It's not you're fault, you know that."

"But, it's true...!" I suddenly yelled. "They said I promised I would protect them but I didn't, it's my fault, simple as that."

"Tsukasa..."

I wrapped myself up more in my blanket to avoid them. "It's my fault...!"

"I know that's not true."

"Yes it is, just go way!!!"

I tried to push them back but I missed and almost stumbled in the process. Mizuki saw it all.

"Tsukasa-Senpai...?!!!"

"I'm okay...! I'm okay...!"

"No your not, you look fucking dead!!!!" Mizuki voiced raised a considerable amount. "Why are you so stubborn, you are not fine, we all know it.

I looked back up at Mizuki again... I smiled at them. "I'll be okay, really. Everyone else is dealing with worse issues, I can handle this." What a disgrace you are, Tsukasa Tenma.

"Tsukasa, that's not true. We all just want you back..." They looked at me, some sadness in their eyes.

Why would they want me back? I'm the reason they're like this, I'll just make it worse.

"Nene cares about you, me and Ena care a lot about you... Heck, even Lil'Bro is worried about you..." They crept closer to me.

"...." I didn't want to go they're, everyone else is just better off with me in the way. I still don't understand why they can't understand it's my fault.

"Just tell me the truth, Tsukasa. I mean, even Saki would want you to be happy... We all just want you to smi-"

"N-No...!"

"H-Huh...?" They're face turned puzzled, staring up at me.

"You don't know anything, Akiyama...They are all dead while it's my fault, not Nene's, not anyone's but mine...! Everyone should have killed me instead...!!! But.... what would you know about my feelings... You're a coward too, dressed as a opulent bard to hide that you hate everyone...

"...Tsukasa..."

"You hate everyone but me, you should be blaming me... Why...?"

"Because... that's not-"

I slapped their hand away from mine. "SHUT UP!!!! JUST SHUT UP!!!! L-LEAVE ME ALONE AND BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE LIKE THE PEST YOU ARE!!!!!"

They just stared at me, hot air flowing in the room...They looked hurt, I knew they would be... I can't make them happy, I can only hurt them now.

Silent and small tears welled in their eyes. "Fine then." Their eyes narrowed. "I guess I'm not as welcomed as I thought I was..."

Mizuki then walked away, with a face of hatred and scorn in their eyes.. I didn't see that before.

"Wow, that sure went well.... You're so good at messing up, Onii-chan!"

"Was that really your best effort?"

"How disappointing... Pathetic."

"You would have done so much better, but you can't."

I covered my ears, lying against the door, blocking it out as I cried again.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, Mizuki...I didn't mean to-"

But then they ran, pushing me away and not bothering to turn around.

"I'm sorry...Mizuki...I-I..."

"Why do I always make everything worse?!!!!"

______

Mizuki slowly stopped running, coming down from the pain her chest...Why did I trust them all, I should have known I would just get hurt again...Running into a bathroom, looking in the mirror, I saw it again...my ugly and same reflection that still had because I never changed. As well as the eyes I remembered too well.

It was on Mafuyu.

It was on Ena.

It was on Kanade.

It was on Ichika.

It was on Haruka.

It was on Toya.

It was on Airi.

It was on Shiho.

It was on Akito.

It was on Nene.

It was on Tsukasa.

It was on...

______

"Kanade said something once about wanting to disappear, you work with her on music so I was wondering if you have ever felt the same way."

"N-No Me?! 'Never...ahaha, you?"

"Kanade asked me that before once too back in junior high...I couldn't give her a clear answer before."

"W-What did you say now?" 'Does the kind and dependable, Mochizuki, really feel that way?!"

"..."

"Yes...I do. I feel like everyone always forgets me, I feel alone and can be replaced at any moment..."

"Really, Mochizuki-"

"I wish I never existed."

"I don't exist to them, nobody cares to look at me anyway."

"I wish someone would just see me, but they always leave me alone."

"I know it's true...I try to deny it..."

"I'm so so replaceable, so forgettable."

"And if that's the case...."

"̸̘̃I̴̲̓ ̷̦̓W̸̗͒I̸̲̿S̵̺̈H̶̝̉ ̶͙̈́I̵̝̅ ̵͚̓C̸̜̍O̵͔̚U̵̦͝L̵͙̾Ḋ̴̬ ̶͖̎J̸͖̋Ű̴̜S̴̜̃T̶̨̀ ̸̨̈́D̵̫̓I̵̓͜Ṡ̷͖Ḁ̴̽P̶̻̀P̴̻͘E̸̢̚A̴͜͝R̷͕̅.̶̬̈́O̴̻̅R̷̡̀ ̸̞͘Ǐ̴͕'̶̺͠l̸͖͛l̴͔̋ ̵̯͂J̴̣̾Ų̴͝S̷̜̾T̴̘͌ ̵͓̀Ď̴̹R̸̩̊A̷̛̖G̶̫͌ ̵̳͌T̷̜̀Ḫ̶̒È̶͈ ̵͈̾W̵̢̐O̵̼̔R̴̪̃L̴̠͋Ḏ̸̾ ̶͈̈D̸̝͠Ỏ̴̰Ẃ̸̠N̶̼͠ ̶͚̆Ẅ̵͙Ȉ̴̭T̴͈̆H̶̩͠ ̴̩̂M̷̘͛Ḙ̵̔.̸̰̀"̸͇͠

---

"Oh I see now, this is what this is..."

("I have to be the best Ultimate Hope.. Everyone is counting on me. 'If I can't deliver smiles to despair filled land, than I don't deserve to the songstress of Wonderland x Showtime.")

"Everyone has left me alone again." Untie your knot...

("I don't have time for hang out right now, Akito and the betterment of the world is more important. We need to keep moving forward, Mizuki. We can hang out later.)

"I should have expected this..." You won't be stomped on again...

("I-It's fine, Akiyama...I'm pretty used to not getting sleep nowadays.")

"Friends don't exist...they all betray me in the end." More hair slowly floated down.

"SHUT UP!!!! JUST SHUT UP!!!! L-LEAVE ME ALONE AND BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE LIKE THE PEST YOU ARE!!!!!"

Once I was done, I tied my hair wrapped in a new bow that's the shade of ocean blue, as cold as my heart.

"I'm done taking this crap anymore...The old Mizuki, the pathetic Mizuki..."

"Is dead and gone."

Chapter Text

"Hey Ichika, I was wondering if you know what this is." I handed the bunny to Ichika who stared at with wide eyes.

She then whipped her head around a me, "This..This is the virtual singer MAYU's toy bunny?! Where did y-you find this?!!!"

"It was next to you when you passed out, Ichi!" Saki finished for me. "Hehe, of course the resident Virtual Singer nerd would know who this belonged to!"

"I-I'm not...that good, Saki...You're exaggerating." Ichika's covers her cheeks with her hands but I can tell that her face has flushed a bright red.

"But if that's the case, why did MAYU attack you anyway?" I questioned, scratching my chin. "I thought all Virtual Singers loved people?"

"I-I don't know...But you even said that there was a weird Rin you met, right? Maybe this place is just filled with weird virtual singer clones...?" Ichika replies before letting out a deep sigh. "I'm just glad I'm still alive."

"Yeah me too, we just need to get out of here!" Saki chimes in.

"Ichika, let's go look around again, maybe we can find more?" Kanade asks and pulls Ichika up to her feet. "That's if you're feeling up to it?"

"Sure, I can help!' Saki, can you watch the chamber room for us?" Ichika asked as she grabbed one of the pipes off the ground while I picked up a dagger.

"Ok, I'll do my best!" Saki piped up before her tone turned one of a overprotective mother. "Just don't stay out there for too long, I'll get worried if I don't see you come back!"

"Don't worry, we won't, Let's go Ichika.." We then left Saki in the chamber room who waved us good luck.

We passed the garden and into more corridors, some looked like any normal classroom with knocked over desks while others had debris scattered across the floor and broken glass shards on the ground as well. However there was one room that surprised them...A room with a big monitor set that also a desk with drawers. I had never seen so many monitors on one set it my life!

"What is this room, do you think the mastermind worked here?" Ichika exclaimed, she must have been just as taken aback as I was.

"Maybe...My memory is kinda fuzzy but it could be possible." I remembered being forced by Mikuma to do something but I died before that could happen, but what was it?

She raised her eyebrows at me. "What do you mean by that, Yoisaki-San?"

"Well...I-I...it's nothing, Hoshino-San. We should just look around this room to find some clues on the mastermind." I don't know why I said that...It was weird of me, I'm going to pretend I never said it.

"Ok...then." Was her only reply.

We found documents on human experimentation, experimenting with reversal of death... and the study to see if you can allow a human being to live forever. Was this mastermind studying us to see that even if in death we could come back or something, it said in the document that this was tested to see if they would be able to stay with her forever...We weren't able to stay for long to explore everything because-

"HOW COULD YOU?!!!!!!"

I jumped, turning my head to the sound. "H-Huh...? What was that?!"

Ichika exclaimed, and packed up the documents in her hands. "It sounds like Saki, we need to head back! She could be in danger!"

We sped out of the room and back towards but when we left I couldn't help but feel like something was watching us in the distance but i shook the thought away. As soon as we got there, I saw Saki on the ground in tears with Kiritani just standing there dumbfounded. Her eyes in shadow...she looked scared.

Ichika immediately ran to her childhood friend and wrapped her arms around her. "Saki, what happened here?! Are you ok?!!!"

"W-Why....Why did you have to kill me, Haruka...?! I LOOKED UP TO YOU, I TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU KILLED ME! Minori...She looked up to you as well...AND YOU ALMOST DRAGGED HER DOWN WITH YOU!" Saki screamed while my face went from worry about Saki to pure shock, Haruka...killed...Saki...?

Ichika and I just stared up at Haruka, who was frozen in place. She hadn't said anything.

"MY LIFE WAS GOING PERFECT, I WANTED TO STAY ALIVE WITH SHIHO AND HONAMI TO ICHIKA'S PROMISE! I WANTED TO BE WITH MY FRIENDS AND MY BROTHER....! I-I...WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME WHO HAS TO SUFFER...?! WHY?!!!!!" Saki's was full on yelling now, I had never seen someone this angry before.

And then, Saki wrenched free from Hoshino's grasp to attack Kiritani! She barely dodged Saki, only being saved by her reflexes and Ichika getting hold of Saki again...After a few minutes, Saki started crying in Ichika's arms again. The air was tense now. Still, I wanted to get to the bottom of this, so I asked the question that was on my mind.

"Kiritani, is this true...? Did you really do it?"

All her response was.

"I need to take a walk..."

"See you...later."

And with that, she left the room, without another word out of her mouth.

_____

I knew it wouldn't be that easy...

I knew that it would be impossible to take back what I did. Which is why I smiled before the execution began, being dragged to my death. But for some reason, the execution started and I still kept fighting...I couldn't give up even though I knew without a doubt I would not survive. I knew Mikuma wouldn't let me live...So why did I keep trying? Why did I struggle against the penguins? Why did I keep fighting even though all the colors were black? Oh...right.

It was because of hope.

It was because of Minori.

I didn't want to let her go, I didn't want all that we did to go to waste...

I want to keep singing with her and the others...

And keep spreading hope to our fans...

But, I guess it didn't last long, and I was another one of those who bit the dust.

...

I'm a disgrace as an idol. I wasn't a idol of hope, I was...

I-I...was...

An idol of despair. And I stopped struggling, accepting my fate...

But somehow, a strange miracle, I open my eyes to what feels like ages since I did so. I gasped like I was holding my breath for hours, waking up to nightmares always sucked. What was worse was waking up and having to tell Saki what happened. That she cause her death...

Saki's yelling at me reminded me of the past, when I fought with someone very close to me.

("Haruka... you liar!! All your talk about hope was a lie!! I... worked hard, and that's why this...")

("Give it back! My days as an idol! Give them back!")

...

("W-Why....Why did you have to kill me, Haruka...?! I LOOKED UP TO YOU, I TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU KILLED ME! Minori...She looked up to you as well...AND YOU ALMOST DRAGGED HER DOWN WITH YOU!")

("MY LIFE WAS GOING PERFECT, I WANTED TO STAY ALIVE WITH SHIHO AND HONAMI TO ICHIKA'S PROMISE! I WANTED TO BE WITH MY FRIENDS AND MY BROTHER....! I-I...WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME WHO HAS TO SUFFER...?! WHY?!!!!!")

....

I couldn't move...my legs were shaking so bad, I couldn't think straight...I just needed air...! I just needed-

"I need to take a walk..."

I turned the corner into the garden before anyone else could stop me. But as I passed into it, something caught my eye. A strange looking gate, with a wooden house that was surrounded by trees. I decided to take a look, at least if I was here...Saki wouldn't have to deal with me.

"Heh...Look at you, Haruka...running away again. I guess old habits die hard." I sighed, flicked the tears out of my eyes, and stepped into the shack. It looked abandoned but a part of me wondered why there was a shack like this here anyway... Oh well, it's a good hiding place for now, I'll come back to the others when I'm ready.....Whenever that is...

"It's nice to have a little peace, no memories of past life, no memories of the killing game...." I said as I walked around and headed into the kitchen, which had meat hanging on the wall and counter. "Is the person who lives here a butcher or something? Why is there so much meat everywhere...?"

I was starting to get a sick feeling in my stomach that only grew when I heard a sound from the entrance. Did Saki find me already?! I don't think so, but I hid inside a pantry in the kitchen regardless...Don't want some stranger knowing I barged into their home. It could be the mastermind for all I know! I then saw the figure step into the kitchen. He was a elderly looking man wearing a black hat and a suit...not something a normal butcher wears by a longshot. He was also in a greyscale and was glitching...carrying something small and wrapped up, this sick feeling was getting even worse. But maybe I was overreacting, maybe it was just a dead bird or something, right? R-Right...

He took of the cover and what I saw made me want to throw up...

It was a greyscale girl...her body chopped into pieces....and he.. he-

(No...)

(N-No...!)

(You can't be serious...!!!)

He was eating her?!!!!!!

....

I averted my eyes and covered me mouth to avoid screaming but the door was suddenly swung open.

"HELLO DARLING."

Chapter Text

Well, I was dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions. I feel betrayed by Haruka since I respected her...only to be unknowingly killed by her. But, at the same time, I said so many horrible things to her that she ran away. I didn't even know I could be so mean. Even if she is at fault, a part of me still cares for her. Ugh, What am I gonna do?! What am I gonna do?!

("I need to take a walk...")

She looked so scared of me too...Argh, why did you do that, Saki?! Ugh...I need to figure out what to say to her when she comes back. Which now that I think about it, Haruka sure is taking some time...but I guess that's normal.

"Saki, Are you alright...? That news must have been shocking, right?" Ahh! It's Kanade?!!

"Oh! Hey there, Kana! Uhh... yeah it was..." I said fiddling with my pigtails, I was unsure how to respond to that. "It's ok to call you Kana, right?"

"Ummm, yea, it's fine...However, I'll need time to get used to it." She said with a shrug and sat down next to me.

I chuckled a bit, her embarrassment reminded me of Shiho. "Yeah Ichi and the others had to get used to me giving them nicknames too, Shiho never lets me give her a nickname tho. Hehe, anyway, is there something you need?"

"I was checking up on you after what happened between you and Kirtani-San..." She rested her hand on my shoulder. "I wanted to see if you were alright because you looked upset, like you're mind was a raging fire but your heart was drowning in the darkest sea. I compose to help people like that."

"Oh....well yeah, I'm upset but the things I said to her...I didn't think she would have ran away, I should have know she felt worse than I did." I sighed, scratching the back of me head. "So I have been thinking about what I could say to apologize but I'm not sure if it's the right time since Haruka hasn't come back from her walk."

"Yeah she seems to be taking longer than normal, I'm getting a bit worried..." Kana replied.

"How come, Kana? Do you think Haruka is in danger?" I felt a cold shiver down my spine, and it wasn't just because we were walking around in a chilly morgue-like building while only wearing our band outfits. Mine being just a color coded school uniform isn't very good at insulating heat...Now that I think about it, how is Haruka walking around this place in just a idol uniform?! She must be freezing?!!!!

She rubbed her hands together before looking back at me. "The first time me and Ichika went off exploring without knowing the layout, we got attacked...So Kiritani walking alone by herself without an idea of what to expect here has me concerned, to say the least."

I stood up and pulled Kanade up to her feet. "Then we should go find her, No matter who they are, I don't want anyone to be hurt!" I pumped my fists with a wink. "Aaaaaaaand, it will be a good excuse to apologize to Haruka-Chan! Let's go, Kana!" I grabbed the flashlight, a shovel as a weapon, and put the keyboard strap across my chest. Dragging Kanade behind me.

"Ichi, we are going to find Haruka!" I exclaimed. "Ichi!"

Ichika wasn't anywhere so we decided to head where Haruka went, walking past the garden again and up the hall when I noticed something.

"Oh, Saki, your here too..!"

Huh, Ichika was already here? I wonder why she just left without telling us?

"Ichi, you went searching for Haruka too?"

Ichika fiddled with her fingers. "W-Well I was writing a song, minding my business, until I noticed Haruka had been taking a while...I-I grabbed my pipe and went to go check on her but I found her bow laying on the ground with no Haruka in sight. And then, a scream followed."

I gripped Kana around me. "A-A....SCREAM...?!"

Ichika nodded. "M-Mhmm, It came from there, that small house surrounded by trees. I didn't think I should explore it alone so I was just about to go ask you guys to help me but your already here."

"Well then what are we waiting for?! Let's go find Haruka!" I quickly collected myself and was already strutting toward the gate with my shovel, Ichika readying her pipe and Kanade pulled out her dagger.

I pushed open the gate with a sign that says...

"Welcome to Wysteria."

Meanwhile...

"My My, what a cute little virgin you are." He got up all close to me, trying to touch my face.

I quickly slapped his hand away. "B-Back off, creep!!!" I stepped away from him but he was blocking the exit, I needed to get out of here...!

He stepped back as if he had been shot through the heart. "Creep, That's a bit offensive..."

"No, it's the truth! Y-Your eating a child...!" I stepped back and noticed there was a back door. Finally, An exit! "You really think that's normal?!"

"Those little brats went astray, lost to my phantasmagorical game...If your lucky, you just might survive disarray." His removed his hands behind his back to reveal, large fiery cleavers?!!! Oh shit!!!

Without another second to waste, I bolted out the back door. My footsteps felt more heavy than I thought. I didn't care though, I just needed to get out...! To hell with this, to hell to this killing game!

All I want is to go home and be a idol again.....!

All I want is to do streams with Minori and the others....!

All I want is to compete against An again at basketball or arcade games again...!

All I want is...

"GAME OVER."

Suddenly a hand grabs my waist and I feel something graze my shoulder...It's sharp, the stinging fills my head...it's a messed up, warped laughter I had never heard before. I feel like I can't breath anymore, and my legs disappear from my body...landing on cold snow. But before I know it...

Everything else disappears too...

My other leg...

My arms to fingers...

My face starts to disappear before my very eyes...

The twisted cackling feels like a phone ringing in my ears and the pulses of pain in my body feels like wriggling worms all over my body...

Eating me away...

K-Kanade...

P̸̗̘̈̃́̕͜ḫ̵̗͇̫͝ȁ̶̖͍̣͇̈n̷̪͖͕̆t̶̙̬͐̍̚͜͝a̴̺̜̗̝̓̔͝s̶̗̻̬̑̏̂͝m̶͔̔̑̈a̷̝̩̚g̷͙͂̏̀o̶̺̤͎͍̔͌̏ŗ̷͖́̎̾ċ̶̤̙̊ą̴̦͗͐̕l̶̙̾̉̚

I-Ichika...

Ẃ̶̬̳̭̦̊i̸̹̱̖̲̒̃̃͊l̵̞̫̦͕̚͠l̷͖̥̾̅́͌͜o̷̙̰̐̈́w̵̢̼̱̹͒̂͝͝s̶̘̓͂ ̷̛͙̐̋̆o̴̳̤̒f̵͍͙̉͘͜ ̴̛̦̭W̸͙͓̆̀̊y̶̪̼͔̖͝s̶̉ͅtẻ̵͓͓͘r̸̨̨͕͂í̸̼̜̞̉͑͊å̸̫͍͂

S-Sak-ki....

Â̶͇̻͛͜ ̷̤̳̓͆ḿ̴̨͑̏ḝ̶̖̠̍̑͜m̴̧͖͝ö̷͇́r̸̢̘̳̐͊͒̊ȉ̵͎͇̖͂͑ả̶͍ĺ̸̛

"S-Somebody...A-Anyb-body...Please...

Ǎ̶̢̺ ̶̛͚̈́Ĉ̵̼̭͖͂̇͠r̴͉̞̙̫̂̉̒̚e̵͚͗ŝ̶̬̓̓͒c̸̺͆e̸̺̓̅̄n̷͎̝͙̅̕d̸͔̖̹̏̏͠o̸̸͖͇̖͇̦͛͋̀͌ͅ O̶̯͉̫̒͗f̸͕͓̙͕̊͊ ̷̙̋͗̋h̸̪̘͈́͂̄̈ỳ̴͕̰̋s̵̘̐̅̕t̴͖̗̐̏͠e̶̳̠͉͛ŗ̵͎̂́̊i̵̤̞͐̕á̸͇̺͖̬͊͘

I-I'm going to die out here...

Ĺ̷͉͕͖̩ţ̸̤̚ṭ̷̮̒̕̕ͅl̵̠͖̩͑e̶̢̙̋͋͝ ̸̨̙̙̰͌͆͝͝c̴̭̒̓ḥ̷̜̝̂̉̀͛i̸̫̎͊̈l̵̳̞̽̈́d̷̬͎͑̎̐͊ŕ̴͙̠̄͠e̵̘̽͛ͅn̵̜̥̋̈̋́ ̵̧̰͂́ͅẅ̴̛͚̘͉̫́̎ĕ̴̤͓̼́ṋ̴̨͎͔̑̇̎̾t̶͚͆̅͠ ̸̤̬̅â̷̢̖̳͔͒͆s̶͓̞͛̌̒͝t̶̨͇̰͈̽̔̂r̷̢̛̉̏̆ä̴͇́͘̕y̸̡̭̫͗̉̇ͅ

I-I know I can't go on...

I̴̼̞̓n̴̡̟͝ ̸̭̠͗̚͝ẗ̴̳͓̻͙́͠h̸̛̖̪̱͈̒̉̓e̶̖̲̫̻͊ ̶̧̛̩̀͐s̵͎̒̂̅u̸͉͗n̵͚͉̯̄͝n̶̡̡̹͚̉̿͒ỷ̸͖̠͔̈ ̵̝͕̹̺̋s̴̻̜͒o̴̬̳͒̈i̴̟̫͊l̵̟̓ ̷̟̙̜̼̄b̴̰͎̓ȩ̶̯̗̌ͅǹ̵̪̯̥̇̀͝e̸̩͌̃a̴͓̽̈̇̚t̵̡͈̭͈̂͗̚̚h̵̬̑͜

I-I know it's fruitless to be c-crying... but...

W̷̙̬͔̊̄r̴̟̱̮͓̋̉͆͑i̶̢͇͔̎̊̀g̷̢̨̝̱͂͐̒̕g̷̠̟̟̓̏̊l̸͈̓̏i̵̛̦̙͂̾ṅ̶̘̝g̶̠̣̈́͋͒̋ ̵̡̳͙͉̑͑̑w̵̪̣̻̬̄͠o̸̳͙̳͌̒͜r̸͕͙̪̋̅̈́͘ṃ̵̲̲͘s̶̯̱̈́́ ̸̧͇͓͗̋i̷̗̭͝ͅn̴̖̣̄͂͆̋ ̷̼͕̻̒̃̇̇d̶͍͍̲̓̈͒̓ị̷̠͖̙̀͗s̵̳̝̤͋͠a̵͉̞͑͂r̷͓͊̓̑͜r̶̨̝̪̉̕ą̴̧̿ý̵̳̑̈́͝

M-Maybe if I hadn't ran away..

Ḧ̵̪̐́̌ė̷̜̳̼̗̍̈́̾a̵̭̲̎̇r̸̢̺͖̋́̈́ ̶̧̮̿̽͋̑t̸̞͉̎́̊͠h̴͚̳̝̉̔̀͝ḙ̷̈̋m̵̥̩̔͝ ̶͔̤̱͛̉̆̀l̵̞̲͋̒͋̚ą̶̧͔̃͝ủ̵͖̙̳̠̓ǧ̵͈̺̑̕h̶̼̻̚i̶͈͚̦̤̍̿͂n̶̪̫̱̒̽͒͜͠ģ̸͑̿̚͠ ̷̖̈ù̴̗̻̈n̸̳͓͐̀̎̚d̷̜̈́̋e̶̹̒͆̈́̚ͅr̵͓̝̫̎͜n̴̜̆̐́̾ͅé̴͉̖͓͋͘̚ͅå̴̡͍͖̌̾͋͜ţ̴͉̼̏ḧ̶͚̳̦́͝

I wouldn't be enduring all this pain.

C̶̨̹̽̎o̵̖̻͋̋̾u̴̹͔̙̙̾͛̐ṅ̶͇t̷͕͎͌̏̍i̷͉̍̕n̶̲̖̞͑͆g̸͙̼̈́̿ ̴̻̰͉̐͠t̸͍͎̂ë̷̤ṉ̷̻́̍ ̶̪̪͉͝ṉ̴̏̆ĭ̷̤̰͍͖̏n̶͍̘̞̥̒e̷͚͆͌̈́̆ ̸͍̓̚̚z̷̧̛̼͗ē̸̖͌͊̌r̵̦̯̣͑͂͜͝õ̶͖͎̫̫͠ ̴̳͍̿f̷̧̣͙̆i̵̬͔̿̇̏͝n̴͓̙̆g̵̗̊ē̵̝̏r̸̦̲̱͓͒̈̌͗s̷̺̳̤̳͒͆̓

I guess this is deserved for trying to escape.

W̴̳̄̀̓̕o̷̧͔̬̪̍̚n̵̮̓'̸͓̇̇́̂t̸̡̡̞̆͗̓ ̵̡̢̬̫͐̋̾y̸̧̢̓o̴̬̘͝ͅȕ̶̥̺̭̅ ̵̧̳͎̂͂̃̕c̷̦̲̍́͋̌ǒ̵̧̦͈m̴̡̘̈́͝ȩ̵̮͎͑̉̄̚ͅ ̴͚̀͋͘a̴̠̐̈n̶̨͚͆̾d̸̦̏́͠ ̶̯̠̇̅̔̅͜p̶̧̻̃̐̉͜l̴̦͂͐͘a̵̺̱̋y̵̡̛̮̅ ̵͉́͑̓̄ţ̴̰͊h̵̛̫̋̓̀e̴͔̠̫̲͐̕ ̸̲͇̰̬̔g̶̼͆̏́̾ř̵̫̹͋͜a̶̟͓̯͛̄̆y̸̹̫͘ ̴̨̨̝̥̈́̑̕ḿ̷̯͙a̴̱̳̾̔̍͂n̵̨̲͗̈́'̴̲̦̹̐͆s̸͉̄͋͌͋ ̴̣̪̈̀́̾g̴̻̤̓̾͂͠a̵͖̠͆m̵̰͖̀e̵͙͓͓̍͗͝

For running from despair I had made.

M̸̖̲̞̦̄͑̊͠o̸̢̼̞̾ͅv̸̝̊̒̄ȩ̷̗͈̋̋ ̴̡̫̳̀q̴̯̪̖͋ű̶͍͉̃̿̎ĭ̴̹͛̐̐c̵̼̱̰͗̈́k̵̖̚,̴̫̗͉͌ ̶̜̤̍̑̃b̵̨̦͛̽ͅě̶̻̤̐̿ ̵̧̨̗͇͂̓͝a̶̧̺̐͌̋͝ṋ̵̢̝̃̅ ̶̖̱͓̈́̈́ã̵̢̺̤͕̀̏͘r̵͔̺̞̱̍t̷̲̣̼̦̂f̶̖͗͝u̸̖̣̫̠͆̀̔l̷̟͐̐̀̍ ̴̨̨̮͆͗͠d̸̳̪͙̖́̀̍o̵̼͇̹͐̃d̴̤̮̍́ǵ̴ͅe̵͖͇̬̹͐͝r̸̼̺̞̔̿ͅ

For contributing to this hellish killing game.

Ẉ̷͍̔̓̕h̶͎̠̠͂̍̇͝e̷̡̼̻̤̿̂͐n̴̟̳͎̝̈́̕ ̵͍͋̓̇͊t̵͚͉͉́h̵̙̖̯̑̒e̶͕̒̊͐̉ ̵̧̡͉̫͆̊͒c̴̢̦̬̘̓̅l̶̜͕͔̥̀̌̀̚e̵͔̯̾́̚á̸͕͎̞͜v̸̛͙͆̎̐e̷̫̳̞͂̃̓̈r̶͈̒s̶͓͓̖̭͒̋̒ ̵̘͋́̕s̸̭̈ẗ̷͚á̷̩̲̈̂̽r̷͙͗̆t̴̢͓̫͚̄͌̊͘ ̶̢̢͊s̴͚͛̔̀w̷̺̹̝̮͌i̸͍̺͑͊̃͠s̵̢̥̚h̷̛̩̅̓̎ḯ̸̜ń̶̻͕͎g̸̖̪̗̑ͅ ̵͚̙̫̥̆͊͂͘ï̷̛͎̻̟͝͝n̸͚͉͊̈̾͜͝ ̷̡̖̜̌̽f̷͚̣̦̑̋̔̽ͅl̷̖̗̳͇̂ȁ̷͓͑͒m̸͖͎̀̀̐ͅe̶̦̻̭̓s̵̢̆͋̊

But, even if that's the case..

P̷̗͔̘͎̽̕h̶̭͎͋̒̃ȁ̸̢̱͈̗̚n̷͍̜̎͐͝t̶̢̗̀̑͜ḁ̶͎̏͋ṣ̸͚̾̒ḿ̸͓̗̰̀ą̶̅̔̕g̸͉͂͑o̷͇̊ṛ̴̦̝̃̅̊͊i̵̲͖̰͊c̸͍͇̀̏̋͌à̵̯͕̟l̸̠̉͗̔͜

I want to be rescued, I want to be saved...

W̶̧̢̲͕̎̈l̸̢̟̮̈́̏͒̕l̶̠͎̒͠o̸̱̬͔͗w̵̼̩̓̇̌s̸̨͔̦͓͒̓̀ ̵̡͖̖̅̽ơ̵̖̘̤͋̑f̷̘͕̯̓̽̈́ ̷̛̪͖̻̂͂̑W̴̦̩̩͍̋͗̈́y̷̩̿s̶̞̥͐ͅt̶̫̥̋̉̊͊é̸̟͐r̷͎̥̈ȋ̶̘̞͚͋̈ȃ̷̛̱͍̙̀̉

I know it's fruitless, but I'll try it anyway..

Ą̶̼̏̾͜ ̸̞̯̭̭͛̐ḿ̶̢̮̒̂́e̷̡̲̺̒̎m̴̨̠̤̃̽͒ǫ̷͚͉̪̀̇r̵̩̼̒͂͌̉i̷͇̮͎͊̅a̵̱̿̋͜l̵̨̛̂̅͠

Even if it's time to give up, I want to believe I can make my great escape...!

A̵̮͔͚͊̈̿ ̶͖͗̓̿Ċ̸̮̫̂r̵̨̛͚͔̲ȅ̵͕ś̸̨̼͙̕c̶̢̰̺̜͘e̴͖̻͎̜͊̕n̴̡̳̪̣̓̔d̴̳̬͔̳̓͆͌̂ǫ̷̫̳̾̈͊͝

Because I'm an Idol.

O̸̲̺̊̚f̸̭̎̈́̍͠ ̸̰͖̾h̷̩͙̱͎̋̾̿̀ý̸̞̹̂̍̇s̸͓̀͂̿͘t̴̼́̕e̸̬̪͆̾̉r̸̲͐͗͊i̸̜̹̬͌̅̏a̸̝̿

And I refuse to run away....

So if you're out there somewhere...

"F-Find me..."

"H-Help...m-me..."

Chapter Text

"Welcome To Wysteria."

Wysteria...what they heck does that even mean? I looked to Kana and Ichi who both looked confused and uneasy about what we just read, but if Haruka was somewhere here and she was in trouble, we had no choice but to go in. I wasn't going to leave a friend behind, no matter how conflicted my feelings felt at the moment.

"Welp, let's go in guys, we need to find Haruka and then get out of this place." I said before determinately strutting toward the house, the two of them then followed suite behind me.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, besides that I felt like I was in a horror movie for some reason. Everything looked so eerie... The grass didn't feel like grass, more like crunching bones or broken glass...and the fact that the whole area was black and white like a very old school sketched cartoon sent shivers down my spine. I needed to push forward though, I needed to find Haruka.

When we got there, I slowly pulled the rickety door open and I saw a dead chopped girl and tons and tons of various knives hanging above! I stopped in my tracks at the sight. I'm sure if Onii-Chan was here, he would have covered my eyes but despite how creeped out I was, I couldn't stop staring at this horrific sight...Who could ever do such a thing to a child?!

"W-Who...W-Why...H-How could someone do this...?" Kanade looked heartbroken, maybe due to the fact she lost her mom and her dad to unfortunate events and deeply cared for others.

"I-I...don't know..." I said, I was at a loss for words and my fingers started to tremble.

"I think I might throw up..." Ichika added and I looked up at her to find her hands over her mouth with a pale green face.

"Your gonna have to keep it in for now, Ichi...We need to find Haruka...and fast." I said pointing to the dead girl before proceeding to open the back door and stepping outside.

But it didn't take long to find her, tied to a tree and sitting on the grassy floor was none other than Haruka herself. The fact that she looked like she was almost sleeping but her hands were tied was freaking me out. I ran to her, we needed to get her out of here.

"Haruka...! Haruka...! Get up, we need to get out of here...!" I started shaking her, but I noticed something, she looked uncharacteristically pale white and black.

As I was trying to untie the ropes, I noticed something glinting in the light behind Haruka's back...

"Haruka, are you oka-" I exclaimed before dodging a swift flash that whipped past my face.

It was something sharp, It was...A butcher knife?! She was now standing in front of us, the ropes cut off as if they were nothing holding her back and her face suddenly disappears into a black void.

Ichika screamed and stepped away. "H-Haruka?!"

”I’m not Haruka.” She then pulled out large meat cleavers and started walking up toward us.

I was going to help Ichi when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tall man carrying a meat cleavers and blade saw, he was also in black and white with a large smirk smeared upon his face. And what I saw in this man's eyes, It shook me to my core..

A sharp needle...

A skull head...

A jack the box filled with eyes...

A ear and eye spewing blood...

A sickening grin....

"SAKI, LOOK OUT!"

Ichika had jumped in front of me, to block Haruka's attack with her pipe, snapping me from whatever trance I was in...

"ICHI?!!!" I jumped at Ichika's quick save.

"Saki, I'll keep Haruka distracted. Right now, you help Yoisaki-San, we have incoming!!!"

"Ehhh? What do you mean-"

That's when I saw it, small children with missing faces and missing limbs were heading right for us, and they were trying to surround Kanade!

"Kanade, I'm coming!!!!" I said and jumped to her side before I swung my shovel to knock some of the undead kids away from here. "You good, Kanade?"

"Ahh! Saki, Yes, I'm fine now. Thank you..." Kanade stepped back shocked but when she saw it was me, her face softened back to a smile.

"We have to stop these guys.. c'mon!" I said, before pushing another one of the rabid undead children away...

I may feel bad for them because their dead because of this horrible man but I wasn't going to let them make us become like them or Haruka.

While we were was fighting the undead kids, some tried to throw needles or skulls at us but I was able to dodge them fairly easily. Kanade had some trouble but she wasn't hurt or dead so that was a good enough for me...Ichika was still struggling against Haruka but doing ok at fending her off. We continued to face off these children and I would use my shovel like a bat to whack any object I could any from me and back towards them. Eventually all the undead kids were defeated.

"That was close..." I said, wiping away my sweat before turning around and noticing Ichika was still fighting Haruka...and Ichi was getting tired.

I have to save Ichika.

I have to save Ichika.

I have to save Ichika.

She had pinned down Ichika, making her drop her pipe, she wasn't looking and I took this opportunity to take Ichika's pipe...grab her arm and whack her in the face with it. Haruka was now on the ground and I heard something...

"GO AHEAD, FINISH IT..."

"GET YOUR REVENGE."

It sounded like a woman instead, egging me on to kill Haruka...Which if I wanted revenge, this was my chance. But...

That's not what I came for.

I grabbed Haruka and wrapped my arms around her...I held her tight while making sure the cleavers didn't touch me. But I didn't even care too much about that...

I just wanted my friend back.

"H-Haruka, please, I'm sorry... I'm sorry...Y-You didn't deserve this, I-I didn't deserve this...nobody deserved this...I'm sorry for what I said, I should have known you already felt horrible about it all...I'm sorry, I know you can't forgive me b-but...P-Please come back...Don't leave us, Haruka...D-Don't leave...me..."

Before I knew it, I started crying...I guess forgiveness can do that to you...

"Saki...I-I'm sorry too..." And the two of us hugged each other tight.

Only to then be pushed to the ground from behind, looking square up and the creepy man from the shadows earlier...I was too tired from fighting to stand...

Was I gonna die this way...?

Maybe, but even that's the case...

At least I made up with Haruka before I died...

The last thing I saw was Haruka walking behind the man with a knife before I succumbed to the blackness darkness.

____

"Saki..."

She had gave me another chance, she didn't have to do that...It wasn't even deserved for her to do that for me.

"H-He's going to hurt Saki..."

But she did...So in return...

I needed to protect her.

"No...I won't let him do that, I won't let her go again..."

He was distracted with Saki, touching her chest and neck... It was gross to witness but this was my moment. This was my chance. And I would not fail this time...

"I won't let her become like me..."

I would not run away. Not now, never again.

"I won't let her become a monster...."

With one frail breath, I raised my hand up with the large butcher knife in my hands.

And swung down with everything I had left...

Chapter Text

I cut of his head and then continued to stab the creep over and over again...This was payback for this monster touching me.

Even if I was a monster too, he was definitely worse...I felt guilty, I knew when I saw his smirk the first time I saw him that he had no shame.

That he enjoyed every second of what he did. That was what scared me about him...

But now, I would enjoy every second of slicing at him til the man was nothing.

Then I would finally be satisfied...

____

"HARUKA?!!" I watched as she kept going, til the man was practically spewing blood out of every part of his body and no more twitching of any muscle was coming from him. Even though it was deserved, I was still shocked. I didn't know Kiritani had that in her. She striked his head and chest one more time before finally letting go of the cleavers.

"Huff...Huff...That's what...you get, bitch..." Haruka breathed out before collapsing to the ground on her knees.

"Haruka, are you alright?" I asked her but before she replied she started crying, I assumed she was finally processing everything.

"Khh....Yeah..I just, I almost thought I wouldn't make it out...I thought he would have his hold on me forever." She wiped the sweat from her brow before continuing with hitching breath. "I-I saw into this twisted mind when h-he took hold of m-me...what he did to them, to me...I hate it all, I-I hate it here!!!!" She started sobbing now, covering her face from mine.

"H-Huh...what's happening, did we survive...?"

I looked over my shoulder and saw Saki waking up, Ichika was holding her up but she was limping with some scars present on her thighs. Saki also had some permanent marks on her forehead, chin, and forearms.

"Haruka, your back!" I watched as Saki ran to Haruka and giving her a big hug before letting go a bit. "Y-You are back, right?"

She let out a hoarse laughter in response, "I'm back as much as any slightly sane person would be in a place like this..."

"I'll take any bit of you as long as your safe, Haruka." She then hugged her back but I could tell that some tears were forming in her eyes. "I-I...I was so worried, I thought we were gonna die. I-I didn't want to...die again.."

"Yeah me too." Haruka then returned the hug as if it was her personal life line, they definitely were a bit worse for wear. I was just relieved we made it out the way we did...

"I'm glad to see your are still doing well."

"Huh, who's there?!" Haruka yelled before getting into a defensive position around Haruka.

The person moved into the light and once I saw all of them, I remember exactly who they were.

"It's you. You're the one who saved me before. Agent, right?"

They nodded and smiled. "Yes that's me. I just happened to be walking around and heard all the commotion going on, so I decided to see what was going on."

"We didn't see you until now though. If you were here and saved Kanade before, then...why didn't you help us out?" Ichika interrogated but they seemed ready for this by their immediate answer.

"I could have, but if there are more dangerous people in the upper floors of this place, much more dangerous than he was...if you want to save your other friends trapped on the other floors, you would need to learn how to fend them off yourself. So, I can't do it all for you...that's why I didn't intervene." They simply said, clapping their hands together like it made since...which I guess it kinda did. They just wanted us to learn how to handle things on our own.

"Oh...I see. That makes sense." Haruka said simply nodding along.

"How do we get to the next floor?" I asked them, they then pointed towards forward towards that tunnel with a red glow coming from it.

"That way is to MAYU's circus, which she is using to guard the stairs to the second floor...You have to defeat her or she won't let you pass. I think while you were gone, one of her lackies passed by the room with screens in it. Taking something with her...I think it was a flash drive but I'm not too sure." They said before turning away. "Well for now I wish you good luck. Until we meet again, goodbye..." They then disappeared again into the darkness.

After they left we sorta stood there in silence for a while, unsure of what to say. Especially, now knowing we had to get past a carnival in order to leave this place, who knows how bad it is in there. Luckily, Saki broke the tension.

"Well...that was umm interesting.. Uh, so we now know we have to beat MAYU to leave this floor, huh?" She said with a slight smile.

"Seems like it, yeah...I wonder why someone who works for her took a flashdrive, I didn't see one in that room." I looked at Hoshino, raising an eyebrow. "Did you see anything like that either, Ichika?"

"No, we didn't have time to check everything because we went back to check on Saki." She said, agreeing to my own memory.

"Well, if her plan is trying to keep us here, then whatever's in that flash drive must be important to stopping us from finding the truth." Haruka concluded and stood up, picking up the cleavers that looked less creepy now that the influence of that man was gone. She stuffed them into Ichika's bag. "Let's collect our things and start moving."

"Agreed, let's head back and gather up everything, we're leaving this place once and for all." I said before we turned around, heading back to the safe room.

Once we got back, we divvied up the work. I went back with Ichika, grabbing any leftover weapons in the safe room and put them in Ichika's bag, Haruka and Saki went back to the garden, and grabbed the last of the water and food before returning back to us.

"Looks like we have everything we need, correct?" Haruka said looking around.

"Yes, we have all the weapons and things we need in here." Ichika confirmed to everyone.

"Saki and I are good on out end too, we got all the berries and Saki even found some left over plastic bottles we can use to drink water from." She then gestured to Saki who was holding the bottles they stored all the water in.

I raised an eyebrow, inspecting it. "These bottles are clean right?"

"Don't worry, me and Haruka made sure to rinse them beforehand!" Saki reassured with a wink.

"Oh, that's good then." I said relieved, Ichika also smiled that they had thought of that ahead of time.

"Let's get going then." Ichika said and we all agreed, leaving the safe room for the last time.

We passed by the now destroyed shed of that creep and towards the red tunnel, something left nearby for them.

"I almost forgot to give you these clown hats, where these and MAYU's clown guards will just think your fans of her and will let you in, she's the queen of lust around here after all...Anyways, good luck to all of you. Your acquaintance, Agent."

Oh, so that's what these were for, that was nice of them but a part of me wondered how they knew so much about everything here...they also look familiar but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't figure out why they knew MAYU can't pick up people wearing bunny masks-

"Yoisaki, you were just standing there, you ok?" Haruka looked at me, she was holding one of the masks while staring at me, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Don't worry, I'm fine...I was just thinking about something." I calmly replied.

"What were you thinking about?" she questioned me again, stepping a bit forward.

"It's nothing important, let's go..." I wanted to end this conversation quickly, whoever I thought that person was obviously wasn't them. They were too sweet and friendly to have the type of voice who would push everyone away...

But if I was wrong about Mafuyu, who hid under that type of mask, who's to say this person was different?

Oh, well...I'll just think about it later. Escaping this place was more important.

She sighed deeply. "Well alright, but if something is bothering you...I want to try my best to help."

I put on my clown hat and looked back at her. "Don't worry, I will." I replied before quickly stepping away from her to catch up with Ichika and Saki, her trailing behind me. I, to be honest, felt kinda embarrassing wearing this hat on my head...Ena and Mizuki probably would tell me how unphotogenic I was looking if they were here right now. But, if this was going to help us escape then so be it.

"Let's do this..."

As we step toward it, I saw it's gates, hearts etched into it's design, with words written, "I love you Prima Donna!!!" or "Marry Me, Prima Donna!!!!" written all over it in red. It made my stomach churn at the very possible thing those words could be written in....

The carnival seemed to be littered with people throwing roses at the statues of MAYU, they were small dolls of all ages but they looked creepy...haunted even.

"Are you worshipers to The Prima Donna too?"

"Eeepp...! I-I..." Oh no, she stuttered, she was going to get them caught for sure...

"Yes, yes we are! Who wouldn't love her? She is amazing and beautiful, don't you think!" Kanade was quickly cut off by Saki, who took over for her. She must have noticed that she was not the best at conversing with strangers.

"Yes she is, a fine woman of class indeed, none like her, whenever I see her..my eyes come to tears at her beauty..." The guard said, while staring off into space. "I wish I could be like her, be with her....Her radiant hair, if I had any lock of it, I would cherish it forever!"

"He's acting like Tsukasa when he boasts about himself..." Ichika cupped her hands over he mouth, whispering in my ear. Which he did kinda seem like that, at least from how Saki talked about her brother to me during the killing game, she very much admired and respected him...he was goofy but at least not a creep.

"Sorry for my rambles, I can't really help it when I talk about her...but as fans of her I'm sure you understand. You may proceed." He opened the gate for us and we ushered ourselves inside, pretending to act excited even though deep down, we were utterly terrified. He turned around to face us again once we were inside. Oh, I almost forgot to mention! No vandalism of the statues or anything of her please. Unless is lovely words about the prima donna, violations of her beauty will not be tolerated, understand."

"Don't worry, we would never tarnish the prima donna's lovely work, kind sir! Thanks again!" Saki replied putting up the most fake smile I had ever seen from her before turning around to face us. "Come on, guys, let's go admire the prima donna!"

We walked away as calm as possible, still holding that of our fake smiles until we all turned around and the guard was out of sight. Instead, lied ahead of us, a large tent. That read, "Viewings of the great airess, The Prima Donna herself, MAYU!"

"We all looked at each other holding our breaths, there was no turning back now. It's time to....

Face the big top stage of Lust.

Chapter Text

As we stepped in, the place looked much bigger than it was on the outside, I had to be honest...I was freaking out from the sheer terror of the place but the relief at the same time that they weren't caught. If it weren't for Saki we could have gotten caught into a real pickle...Luckily in this area there wasn't any cameras or guards yet.

"Wow, that was close...Nice work, Saki." Ichika patted Saki on the back.

"Hey, they don't call me the social butterfly for nothing!" She then struck a pose similar to how her brother had done before.

Haruka giggled at her. "Hehe...You sure are. Your almost as enthusiastic as your brother. Do you admire him a lot?"

"I do, I've always admired Onii-Chan! Even if he can be a goofball and a forgetter, he never forgets to take good care of me and makes me smile a lot." Her smile seemed to drop a bit, I would do that thinking about my mother too. "I hope he's doing well, wherever he is..."

"Don't worry, Saki. We'll find him. If he's here, we'll find him." I reassured her. "We need to stay positive, right?"

"Of course, I know we'll find him, I won't give up til I do, that goes for Hona and Shiho too...!" Saki's face perked up almost immediately, eyes full of determination. Maybe I helped her a bit.

"That's good but...now that we're here, what's our plan of action now?" Ichika said, returning us to the task at hand.

Haruka nodded. "Good question, I think we're gonna need to sneak around if were are going to be able to find MAYU and the flash drive." She touched her fingers to her chin. "How to do that is the question..."

"I can help, let me help!

I stumbled back slightly at the unknown voice. "Huh, who said that-"

"I'm in here...let me out please...! It's stuffy in here...!" A tiny floppy hand popped out of the gap in the zipper, waving it around.

"Ichika, open you bag a bit...." I told her pointing to her guitar case, to which she opened in enough that it could stick it's head out of the bag.

"Ahhh... Much better, thanks!"

It was the bunny, the bunny was speaking to us!!!!!

"So where was I? Oh right! I can help you guys out!" The bunny clapped it's hands happily.

"You're Usamo, correct? Her toy buck?" Ichika, queen of vocaloid knowledge, asked shyly. I remembered buck a means male bunny.

It's ears flopped into a arch with his eyes button eyes pointed. "Yes, yes, that's me... People tend to forget my name nowadays... It's always MAYU this and MAYU that, it's such a pain."

"Oh umm, I'm sorry..." She apologized, putting her hands together in a bowing motion but the bunny swatted his hand at her.

"It's ok, it's just all she has been going on about this lover of hers... Hypnotizing anyone who is against her and her lover's rules, and people who like her, she puts them under her spell to do kill themselves." Usamo huffed with his hands on his hips before the flopped back to his sides. "Not only that, but she just left me in that hallway alone! I'm tired of being treated like garbage these days! So, if you're planning to take her down, then I'll gladly help!"

I was a tad bit worried about trusting him, after all, he could just be screwing with us...but we don't really have a choice, do we?

"Let me guess, You don't trust me, huh?" Usamo said as he tilted his head while one of his ears fell down and the other lifted up.

I whipped my head around to face him. "H-How did you-?"

"I'm physic!" He jumped up waving his hands in glee.

"W-What...?"

He laughed before winking "Just kidding, I just can tell others faces easily!"

"Oh..." That's good, I would have felt uncomfortable if that was true...

He then leaned over to whisper in our ear. "So, can I please join you? I even know a secret entrance to the top deck of the circus tent..."

"Well alright, as long as you promise to not do anything sneaky, alright." Offering my hand to shake.

"Deal." He said, reciprocating it.

"Ok then, so what's your plan?" I asked.

"There's a vent in the staff room, but you'll need these." Usamo said before a colorful beam came from his hands, turning our clothes into staff suits. "There, that's better, now follow me."

Usamo touched a keypad on the wall near the door and the door swung open, we stepped in to the vent one at at time..

"We need to each take one...It'll be cramped in here if we all go in at once...Make sure you watch your head." Usamo replied climbing inside.

We ended up crawling alongside Usamo who could fit down the vent very easily, The space however for us was as he said, small and full of dust. As we crawled, I saw even more, I could see MAYU themed fanart all over the walls and statues in other rooms, there were also these vocaloid animals all caged up. They all looked so miserable, wanting to be freed. Me and Usamo soon exited the vent, on top and looking over a stage below.

"Well, here we are!" Usamo exclaimed, moving out of the way so I could step out.

"So this is where she performs, down there." I pointed my finger below to the stage.

"Yup...I'm planning that once her show ends, before the next one begins, we sneak into her quarters by climbing down from here." Usamo replied.

"A-Ah...I see." Admittedly I was unsure if I could do that but maybe with some help I would be able to-

"Finally, that's over! It was so stuffy in there!" Saki replied, being the second to crawl out after me.

"Saki.. shush, were trying to be quiet, remember." Ichika whispered, following behind Saki.

"Whoops! Sorry, Ichi...hehe.." Saki smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head.

"We're finally out-ouch...!" She yelps hitting her head on the ceiling of the vent while climbing out and wincing. "Sorry..."

"It's alright, Haruka." Ichika reassures her, rubbing Kiritani's back, which causing Saki to huff and cross her arms.

"Why do you forgive her but not me?" She lightly stops her foot on the ground.

Ichika ruffled her hair while grinning. "Sorry Sakki... Hehe.."

"Yeah...Yeah..." Saki groans before sticking her tongue out at her.

"Shush everyone, it's starting...keep low profile..." Usamo whispers.

We all quickly hush up, watching the show as it begins below.

"Hellllllllooooooooooooo YOU ALL READY TO HAVE SOME FUN, HONEYBUNS?!!!!!" MAYU yelled out to the crowd who cheered very loudly back.

"MAYU! MAYU! MAYU!" The voices cheered. "WE'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, MAYU!"

"Hmmm, anything you say?" She tapping her finger against her cheek. "Then, how about give up your feelings and desires to DESPAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A screen dropped down from below, showing disturbing images of the person's close friend or lover dead in grotesque ways...Some of them, there bodies were cut up, hanged, some decapitated and bludgeoned...The people seemed to be crying but almost lifeless until small smiles started to grow on their faces....

That grew wider...

and wider...

Their eyes rolled to the back of their heads but they were still smiling...

until swinging axes came from behind,

chopping them up and ending their lives...

Chapter Text

I had to stop myself to keep from screaming...the others looked appalled by what we witnessed, all those people...dead. I was terrified but also enraged.

"Ahahahaha...foolish mortals...Hmm...I'm gonna take a break before the next group of participants enter the stands. I'm sure I'll look just as beautiful as they are if I do...no maybe just close, nobody is as beautiful as lover." She turns and opens the door to leave the theater and I swore she stared up at me before leaving.

"That was horrifying..." Ichika trembled. "Their heads, they just..."

"Ewwwwwwww..." Saki leaned back, hiding behind Kanade, repulsed.

"Despicable." Kanade replied, finished off my train of thought.

"Told you she is being crazy these days..." Usamo sighed. "This really needs to stop."

"Then, let's hurry." I started climbing down, jumping into one of the stands and crouching below behind the rows of chairs.

Ichika slowly climbed down with Usamo on her shoulder, carefully dropping down next to me. Saki, of course, quickly made her way down and jumping down a bit loudly...luckily nobody heard it. Kanade though, not the athletic type, was very slow at coming down and Ichika had to catch her when she jumped down.

I crawled and found the door that says "Prima's Heavenly Quarters" on it, that was one of the places that could have the flashdrive but the backstage also could be a good place to check.

"Ichika, Saki, you two check backstage." I pointed to the room. "Me and Kanade will check her room."

"Okie Dokie, Captain Haruka!" Saki jeered before dashing off towards the stage.

"Saki, wait for me!" Ichika called out, chasing after her. "Don't run off that like that, you'll hurt yourself!"

"Tehee, Sorry Ichi-mom, I'll be good!" Saki teased with a warm smile, giving Ichika a huff in response.

Once, the two leave, Kanade and I step into the room, Usamo follows behind us.

"Those to can be...a bit of goofballs sometimes.." I said exasperated.

Kanade smiled and laughed. "Maybe but I think it's kinda cute, they remind me of Mizuki and Ena's banters."

"Can you really call that cute though?" I asked.

Kanade nodded. "Yes, I know deep down, they don't mean it...as long as it's playful, it's fine with me."

"Well ok, but let's just hurry and find that flashdrive before she comes back." I said, I started looking through the desk drawers.

Kanade nodded and opened the closet and looked appalled by the things inside.

"This closet just has bikinis, strapless tops, and weird costumes in here..." Kanade replied, before checking under the bed.

I looked in the chest box next to her bed, finding an assortment of axes and saws inside.

"What's that smell, Haruka...! Ugh..." Kanade covered her nose with her sleeve.

"What smell-Ahhhh!" Well, no wonder the box reeked. It not only had saws and axes but it had decapitated smelly heads mixed in with it! I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably at the sight.

"Let's just close that..." I slowly slid the cover of the box back on before gaging. Man, it smelled awful, even worse than expired dog liter...

Usamo had finished crawling under the bed. "There's just more knives and dust bunnies under there."

"It could be not in here...Let's check back with Saki and Ichika-Ahhh!" Kanade stepped on a rubber ball on her way towards the door, crashing into the book case that had glass figurines of MAYU on it, the figurines fell to the ground and smashed to pieces.

"Hey, is someone in there?!" The voice yelled and banged on the door. It sounded male, It could be one of her guards!!!

"Kanade, we need to hide...! Get in the closet, quick...!" I whisper shouted to her and we both jumped into the closet before carefully shutting the door.

The guard slowly pushed the door open. "I thought I heard voice in here-Oh no! Her statues!" His face went whiter than snow, kneeling before the broken figures. "Did someone violate in here, I need to report this immediately, Nobody damages the Prima's glorious artifacts!" He started to pull something from his pocket.

A phone? He's gonna call more guards here! I can't let that happen.

I feel someone tap my shoulder, It's Kanade. She's holding Usamo in her hand like a ball who's motioning me to move my head.

I wasn't sure I was keen on this plan but I decided to trust them and go with it anyway...I quickly moved my head and Kanade sent Usamo flying into the guards head, knocking him to the ground, we then stepped out of the closet.

"Wow, I didn't expect that to work..." I said, amazed.

"Yeah, me neither, but I know a bit about pitching because of my father teaching me how to throw well in baseball...I guess that's why it worked." She replied. "Are you ok, Usamo?"

Usamo brushed himself off before looking at us. "I'm fine, compared to having been poked by needles as a torture device or seeing other stuffed animals of mine tortured for trying to escape, that was nothing."

"I'm glad, we would have been goners if he called more guards here...and I'm glad you're alright." I brushed off my skirt, kicking the phone into the corner.

"But now what should we do about him?" Kanade asked, pointed to the man. "Is he even ok...we can't just leave him here."

"Looks likes he just unconscious for now, we'll have to hide his body in the closet and catch up with the others." I said, picking up once of his arms and legs. "Yoisaki, help me lift his other arm and leg, can you manage?"

"I think I can, let's get this over with and get out of here..." We picked up the guard and stuffed him inside the closet before dashing out.

___

"Sir, come in, what's your status? Sir?! I'm sending help!"

___

We quickly make our way to the backstage and find Saki and Ichika waiting outside for us.

"Saki?! Ichika?!" What are you doing in front of the door?!" Kanade asked alarmed.

"Oh, we found the flash drive and we were going to check on you guys, but we heard someone walk in here so we hid behind in backstage to wait for them to leave."

"Ah I see, well then let's find the exit out of here-" I was cut off by the door busting open and tons of guards rushing in from both sides while we were on the stage.

"TRESPASSERS, PUT YOUR HANDS UP OR WE'LL CUT YOUR HEADS!"

"Guards, there's so many of them..." Kanade trembled but her dagger was shoved into her hands by Ichika.

"We'll just have to fend them off, c'mon!" Ichika picking up her pipe and getting in a ready stance.

Saki also grabbed her shovel from Ichika's bag. "Right, Let's GO GO GO!!!!"

I grabbed my butcher knives and rushes off the stage dodging small pelts of gunfire with my blades, I then slashed on of the guards before pushing him into one of the guards next to him. Saki hit on of the guards on my left upside the head, Ichika rammed the guard on the right in the chest into the other guards near him with her pipe, Usamo jump some guards while biting them in the face and Kanade, who was hiding behind the stage curtains would throw throwing knives at the guards Saki missed on the left. At times I would fling Usamo to more guards in the back and he would jump off the guard he finished attacking to defeat another one.

"Were almost there, everyone!" Come on!" Usamo yelled, before scratching another guard.

"Right" Ichika pushed another guard.

One of the guards behind her tried to attack but Saki jumped in, knocking him out.

"I got your back, Ichi!" Saki gave her a thumbs up that Ichika reciprocated before continuing to take out more enemies.

Kanade was also doing well keeping the guards at the sides at bay with her killer accurate throws.

But more guards started walking in and a sets of traps fell from the sky catching everyone but me and Usamo...They were then strung up in the air like lanterns as someone stepped onto the scene.

"So, it's you girls, messing with my performance...." She grabbed Usamo, picking him up. "And of course you sided with this scumbag, You didn't cave to his putrid lies, did you?"

Usamo was tossed to the ground. "I'm not the scumbag, you ar-arrgh!!!" She the stepped on him?!!!

"Pathetic...I can't believe my guards lost to worthless brats like you." She said, before her scowl turned into a manic smile, holding the flash drive back in her hand. "Wow, you came all this way to take this from me and look where that got you...Hah, You're all so foolish, why did you try to redeem yourself when your just like me?"

"What do you mean, You just use others for malicious intent...were not like you." I protested.

She walked up to me putting her finger to me nose. "Haruka Kiritani. Former National Idol, who now tried to betray her friend and partner Minori, as well as all the others...is saying she isn't like me? Hahahahahaha... Ahahahaha!!! You killed Saki in cold blood, didn't you? We are the same..."

"I-I..."

"We are the same, you can't deny what you did."

I looked her in dead in the eye. "That may be true.."

"So you admit it-"

I point my finger at her. "But, one thing sets us apart."

She came up close to my face again, "Oh and what is that, sweetheart?"

"I regret my choices, unlike you do."

She stumbled back alarmed. "H-Huh?"

I stepped closer to her. "I felt guilty, I felt shame, you can't change your actions but I want to change them, I will change them."

"..."

"And, In order to do that...I have to defeat the evil side of me..."

I pulled out my butcher knives again and pointed them at MAYU.

"Which is you."

I rushed on of the guards stealing their gun and shooting all the remaining ones around the room. MAYU tossed an axe at me but I dropped the gun and pulled my knives from the ground, smacking the axes into the air. They hit the chains holding up the cages, releasing the rest of the girls.

Ichika releasing herself first ran to Saki who quickly got out of the cage. I went to get Kanade out of the cage as we ready ourselves.

"Let's do this, together."

MAYU smiles maniacally, releasing swinging axes attached to mech arms on the stage at us. I was able to dodge them fairly easily, Ichika and Saki did pretty well and Kanade despite her low energy seemed to manage. She did this a couple times, then pressed a button that sent out mind-controlled stuff animals at us. We were able knock them out and after a few consecutives of this, they stage elevated into a walking speaker machine. She put a mind control goggles on Usamo and opened the top of his head to reveal a megaphone ray gun. Usamo plugged himself into the outlet that controls the large speakers on the machine and started shooting at us while she tossed bombs in the shape of bunnies.

"Watch out, Kana!" Saki swung her shovel at the Bunny Bomb and it bounced off Saki's shovel into MAYU causing the machine to sputter a bit.

I walked over to her and whispered in her ear. "Saki, do that again, I think that's how we beat her..."

"Understood, Captain!" Saki saluted before getting back into her stance again.

Me and Saki quickly got into the routine of dodging the sound wave blasts and smacking the bombs back at MAYU, Ichika and Kanade eventually got the hang off it as we also had to watch out for her swinging a electric cable our way. Ichika and Saki got many strikes, I got a few and Kanade got some in as well.

"AAAAAUUUGGHHH WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO GET IN THE WAY OF MY LOVER'S PLANS?!!! THEIR PLANS ARE JUST AND PURE!!!!"

"This is where this ends...NOW!!!!"

I intercepted the wire tossing it at her and electrocuting her arm, she then dropped one of the bombs and I swung at it. It ricocheted off the walls until it hit her square in the face.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! ....No, I can't lose...I this wasn't supposed to happen...! I wanted them to love me...to love me back...They said if I tainted love with other girls and killed their spouses...that they would fall for me! That they would be mine, so I killed and killed to get to the tally, it's what they promised me for causing more despair...!!!" She looked extremely broken, she was glitching immensely and parts of her face were chipping off as she was glaring at us.

"You...WHAT?!!!" I shouted.

"Well it was their fault anyway, they said they would do anything for me. They knew what they were getting into." MAYU suddenly grinned, she didn't care that she killed thousands of lives.

"You're insane.." Kanade's face looked absolutely furious.

I turned to the others, Saki was in a state of terror. Ichika couldn't even look at her...

"I-I'm..free!!! Finally..." Usamo smiled, jumping down from the machine holding the flash drive. "As a thank you for freeing me, take this. It's a parting gift."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "A...parting gift? What do you mean-"

"Truth is...The gates won't open unless MAYU is executed and because I am essentially a part of her...Once she dies, I'll die too." He sighs sadly. "But, don't worry about me, if kind hearts like you will be able to move into the future from my sacrifice. It's worth it."

I was shocked, he had to to die because of the things she did, he didn't deserve that...Usamo seemed to understand what I was thinking and handed me a piece of drawing he made of him and us. "You can have this as well, something to remember me by."

"Thanks, Usamo..." I said.

"Of course, Now it's time I finished this...so I can set my friends and family free..." A button rose up from the ground, he sighed and turned around. "This is it."

He pressed it and a chain grabbed him and MAYU's necks.

"The curse will be over soon. Thank you for saving me, everyone." Usamo smiled as the chains dragged them away.

Both of them land on top above a on high rise. Looking down, they see the girls watching them as well as all the circus animals chanting their names, holding torches.

"Let's end this, shall we?"

"It's...punishment time..."

_____

Teetering Life Thread, Ultimate High Wire's Execution

MAYU is strung up to a high rise, There are other hire wires as well as trapeze lines made into a obstacle course. On the other side is Usamo, held up on a wheel with a box of sharp knitting needles next to him with a timer nearby. A fire pit was also below her being lit by MonoTigers, MonoElephants and MonoBears chanting "KILL HER! LET HER TASTE OUR RAGE AND FIRE!" MAYU swings from trapeze to trapeze but axes come from above slashing at her arms and clothes controlled by MonoMonkeys, at the same time this is happening, Usamo is spinning around on the wheel being stabbed by needles that strike him from another MonoMonkey tossing them. MAYU keeps going almost reaches the end with one foot on the platform but two MonoMonkeys release two double axes that stab her in both sides of her body causing her to lose her balance but also kill Usamo as he gets fatally stabbed in the head. the MonoMonkey pin Usamo to the top of MAYU's hat before nudging her off the platform. She then falls into the flaming pit below with her blood seeping into the stage floor. Her hat with Usamo on it, lands on her torch and he along with her goes up in flames as animals cheer and the girls watch. All that's left when the stage is extinguished is the burnt bloody remains of MAYU and Usamo incinerated to a crisp.

____

"They just...I can't believe that..." Ichika mused and mulled over her words.

"Yeah...I can't believe this is actually real..." Saki replied.

Our outfits disappeared as a small gate with a door behind it swings open on the opposite side of the stage.

"The next step forward." I said, staring at the looming gate. "I'm kinda nervous as to what will await us..."

"We have to keep going, we can't be afraid anymore, we have to save everyone." Kanade exclaimed, taking a step forward, a new side I had never seen from her...I guess Akiyama was right when saying she had strong will.

All that's left is to move forward, up the stairs and into the elevator.

The next hellfloor awaits.. We'll face it together.

____

END OF ACT I - Shot Through The Heart

Chapter Text

Click clack, click clack..

Click clack, click clack....

Click clack, click clack...

"Nene, Your still at the computer...?"

I turned around alarmed, quickly shutting of the chat. "Ahhhh! Oh, Reimu, it's just you....don't scare me like that."

"Sorry...but more importantly, when you are you going to take a break? Your eyes will get damaged if you keep looking at the screen in the dark all day." Reimu asked.

"Not now, I'm busy and I don't have time for-"

"If your going to say you don't have time for breaks because finding survivors is more important, your wrong...You need rest otherwise your saving will be in vain." She turned the chair around to face her. "You have been barely getting exercise at all, just staring at your computer.. If this doesn't stop, your health will continue to suffer because of it." She gave a robotic sigh, sitting on me bed.

"I'm fine, Reimu. I have been taking breaks. But, my work is important, I need to keep delivering smiles." I was going get back to work but I feel a pull, getting dragged to my bed.

"You can do that later. You need sleep, now." She ordered me into bed.

"Alright...alright, fine." I huffed as she stuffed me in the covers.

"There, much better. Man, I thought you would be the one to boss me instead of the other way around." Reimu chuckled.

"Reimu, you said you wanted me to sleep, stop sassing me." I scolded, hiding a small redness in my cheeks.

"Fine, Fine...I'm going to check on Enanan-ahhh!" I grabbed Reimu and dragged her towards me. "W-What are you doing?"

"If I'm not allowed to work, then you're not allowed to either. Call it karma." I teased, wrapping my arms around her. "Goodnight, Reimu."

"Ugh, you!" Reimu grumbled and sighed. "...Hehe. Goodnight, Onee-San..." She finally replied before relenting and powering off.

____

I had finished from a long day out, deciding to check on everyone. It was routine for me to check up on everyone but I don't mind. I want them to get over the memories of the killing game, for their own sakes. As I walked from my room to Akito's I saw the gloomy red and black sky above us, even during daytime the sun never shows. It was a little melancholic....but I know the sky will get better and I'll smile with everyone when that day comes.

I got to Akito's room fairly quickly because Mizuki moved her room to the next one over so that Akito's could be closer to mine ever since he started having episodes and hallucinations...Tsukasa usually is sleeping in bed and Nene is either outside caring for him or staying up working overnight on who knows what in her office bedroom. She said she would accept the others are gone...but I honestly don't think she did move on, I heard her say that she is nothing if she doesn't smile, work, or bring hope to others...I'll need to check on her later. I push open the door to Akito's room.

"Akito, you in here-AKITO?!!!"

He was turned away from me, huddled in a corner breathing heavily, clutching his arm that was bleeding. His hands were digging into his arms, and thus, were also bloody. As I got closer, I could faintly hear him muttering.

"I'm weak for not stopping Azusawa, I'm worthless for not soothing Shiraishi, I'm wretched for not saving Toya, I deserve to killed, Mikuma. I deserve it."

I had to stop him... he isn't thinking straight. He must be having a nightmare again.... I thought.

"AKITO!"

"Please...Mikuma... don't... Don't take them away! They don't deserve this, they don't deserve to die...!!!" As tears welled up in his eyes, he slammed his arms down on the carpet. All while his hands shook violently as he plead to nothing. "They...didn't do anything wrong, I'm the worthless one who should die."

"AKITO!" I yelled, trying to get his attention as quickly as possible. "AKITO, ANSWER ME!!!!"

As many answers I had as to why his arm was freaking bleeding for god's sake, I need to focus and reel him in before I went insane. "AKITO, ANSWER ME!!!!"

However, he wasn't listening to me and continued to ramble on. "I-I do anything...I-I'll do anything...just give them back...give them all back...!!!" He begged to the wall. "Let me take their place, I'll do it for them if I have to... Just don't go! P-Please, take me instead-"

I thought about what to do, until realizing once again the answer. If shouting wasn't going to work, one option Dad used always worked for him, and I will continue to use it here.

"Take me instead."

"P-Please..."

"I don't want to deal with this anymore..."

"Just please do this for me, and then I'll be happy-"

*SLAP*

"AKITO, SHUT UP!!!! YOU'RE FUCKING BLEEDING!!!!!!!"

He paused finally, taken in the impact as he stopped crying, slowly rubbing his cheek and looking at me. "E-Ena...?"

"You had a nightmare again... idiot. And your hands are bleeding, so I got some bandages for you..." I sat down and held out the bandage rolls above his arm, waiting for him to show me his arm. "Here, I won't tell. Just let me fix it, okay?" I said calmly, which let him finally move his arm towards me, letting me wrap his arms up to stop the bleeding.

"Sorry for worrying you... again." Akito sighed and leaned his head on my shoulder. "I didn't want to tell you, but, I don't know how long I can last without them."

Akito, I understand... I miss them too.. But I-I..." I held his hand and faced him. "I need you as much as you need me... Your the only family I have left now, I don't want you to do this to yourself..."

"But don't I deserve this?" He said. " I did nothing when they needed me, I should be doing this to myself...!" He put his hands on his head.

"Your not responsible for their choices, Akito...You never told Kohane to go there, you never told An to attack Nene and you never told Toya to push Minori." I wrapped my arm around him. "Let it out.. take a deep breath if you need to."

We stayed there for a while until Akito fell asleep and I rested him back on his bed, I walked up the hall some more and saw Tsukasa's room...I tried opening it but it was locked, per the usual...and I heard no crying from him so I decided to leave him be. I next checked Mizuki's room by looking through the window but she wasn't in there. She probably went to go get a late night snack like usual...so thinking nothing of it, I also passed her room and walked til I stopped in front of Nene's room.

Her computer was still on? It's unlike her to forget...

I quietly slid the door open and noticed Nene and Reimu were both asleep and hugging, it was kinda cute...I wished it could be like that all day. But that would be selfish.

I went to the computer and noticed a bunch of blueprints about cyrptomaton locations and a sort of suit like weapon. She must have been working nonstop with this. "Nene..." I wish she would let me help someday, though I guess I have to keep waiting... I thought of investigating further but I wasn't feeling nosy today, so I shut off the computer and went off to my room. But a part of me wondered...

What was the new weapon...what were they using it for?

Maybe...

"I'll ask her about it another time."

And I shut off my lamp.

Chapter Text

Was this the right choice? I ask myself that a lot, everyday maybe...What would An do? What would Shinonome and Aoyagi do...?

But in that moment, I didn't have time to think about my choices...

Minori yelled at me back then and now she says she wants to kill herself? The only thing I could think of was I had to stop her.

I pushed the bomb and now I took the price... That was my choice. It was in a split-second that changed everything...

Did I do it being brave? My gut? I don't truly know if there was any better way to avoid what would happen.

It being me or her...

But all I can really say is...

I did it because I cared.

____

"HRRRKKK....! *cough* *cough* "W-Where....am I...? My chest hurts." I realize I'm in some sort of box, there was a chain on the gate but it's too high for me to reach. I felt goosebumps all over... "I-I need to find something...anything....! Nails, scrap metal, rocks...No...! Is there anything in here I can use?!!!!"

I scooped around at the floor til I touched something. "Bolt cutters, sure. At least it isn't a large bomb or a giant magical glowing sword." I walked up toward the chain with the bolt cutters and started cutting through the chains it as hard as I could.

*SNAP SNAP CLANG*

"Ah!" I jumped back as the chains swung off and the doors cracked open. "I-It opened...t-thank goodness...I can leave this place now-WAHHHHH!"

I took one step out and tripped on something. "Ahhh?! V-Vines...!!! Why are there vines everywhere?!!!!!" Were we in another Sekai?!!! T-This.. This is just getting too weird!!!!

Come on, get yourself together, Kohane...Your probably just dreaming right...I just need to pinch myself and everything will be how it's supposed to be right?

I turn to my arm and lift up my sleeve of a jacket I didn't remember wearing when I saw it. "Wahhhh!!! W-Where did all these scars come from and did I get muscle too?!" I poked my cheeks. "Ouch!" Well, I guess it's not a dream...

Why is this happening...I thought I had died but now I'm in a new place... Was it even worth of me to save Minori if this was going to happen...? No, it was worth it. Of course it is. Minori was my very first friend...She didn't need to kill herself. None of them deserved to die.

"I-I need to look around and find a way out of this place...!" I picked up the bolt cutters and started cutting through the vines, some of them brushed up against me, I keep pushing until I stopped and out of the corner of my eye.

"Kohane?!"

I turned my head around. "H-Huh? Ichika?!"

"It really is you, Kohane!!! It's soo good to see you again!!!" Ichika rushed up to me in a hug with Saki, Haruka, and Yoisaki-san behind her?!!

"I-It's good to see too, Ichika-"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

I grabbed onto Ichika's tightly. "W-What was that?!!!"

Kanade looked around. "It sounded like a voice screaming..."

Haruka replied. "More like two voices, I think one of them was male."

Saki jumped. "Male?! It could be Onii-chan! Maybe he's in trouble!!! Let's go!!!!"

Saki quickly dashed off toward the sound, not even bothering the vines around her.

"Saki, wait!!!" Ichika chased after her.

"Here we go again..." Haruka sighed and chased after the two of them.

"Let's catch up to them, Yoisaki-san...!" I smiled and held my hand out to her.

She reciprocated it. "Right, we don't want to be left behind."

We both went after the others and I used my bolt cutters to cut through some of the vines. Soon, when we passed through them, I saw who it was.

"M-Minori...? A-Aoyagi?"

As soon as the two of the turned their heads toward us, Toya stepped back a lot with his arms raised. Minori, on the other hand, was on the ground and violently jumped back away from me and Aoyagi before calming down and standing still.

"K-Kohane...Ahaha... your here too?!" Minori smiled and slowly waved. "I'm glad to not be alone here...Well, wherever HERE is..."

"Yeah...Ummm do you guys know where we are..?" Toya asked.

"Not yet, no." Kanade said. "We just came from the first floor that had a whole circus in it or more like maniac party queen palace."

"A whole circus?!!!!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, maybe like Tsukasa's Sekai. It was a based off a wonderland, right?" Toya replied. "Was it similar to his..."

"Not exactly...I had a lot creepy statues in it, and belonged to a girl named MAYU...We had to kill her to escape to the next floor, we earned this from her." Haruka sated and showed me, Toya, and Kohane the flash drive. It was black and had a bunny etched into it.

"We still haven't used it for anything but I play to search it today." Kanade replied. "It could have some info as to what all this means."

Minori smiled earnestly. "W-Well that's good to know then...!"

"Mhmm..." Toya nodded, shifting his eyes from Minori to stare at his shoes instead.

Something was off about that smile, it was as if she was trying to be happy but also...not be noticed? Was she okay?

And Toya as well, he looked so anxious.. I mean, It was like Toya but it was like he went back to old self. Quiet and somber.

"This place is more dirty than the last one, I wonder where we can sleep?" Ichika asked.

"Oh, Umm...there was some sheets in my room, l-let me go get those!" Minori then took off into her room before coming back with them and folding them up. "Here they are!" Minori looked beautiful, she looked also older and taller and so did everyone else. She passed the sheets to Ichika.

"Thanks, Minori!" Ichika smiled. "These will be really helpful!"

"Yes, thank you! Now we won't have to sleep on dirty floors!" I cheered and hugged her.

"You don't need to thank me, Kohane! I'm sure anyone would do the same." Minori says modestly but it felt more self-degrading...even though Minori's very cheerful. Something's wrong...right?

"Haruka, let's check around the place, we need to figure out what's here." Ichika commanded. "Kanade and Saki can watch over Toya, Minori and Kohane since they aren't equipped to fight anything yet."

"Okay, Let's go-" Haruka was about to walk away with Ichika with their weapons when Saki grabbed their shoulder.

"Wait, can I help?" Saki asked, I want to help more this time around!"

"There are vines everywhere, It could be dangerous..." Ichika warned but Saki shook her head.

"I still want to help, I need to do more! I'm not in a hospital anymore, let me help!" She picked up her shovel.

"Alright Alright, Saki. But make sure to be careful and not run off by yourself." Haruka sternly demanded.

"Got it, I promise I won't this time." Saki nodded and all of the left the room, leaving the bag with the other weapons in it for us.

"I'm going to look through the flash drive to find some info, I'll be in Minori's chamber room until I'm done." Kanade stated last before walking away and inside the chamber with the flash drive and laptop.

Now with it just being me, Kohane and Toya. I decided this was the perfect time to ask them what's wrong.

"Hey, Minori... You seem tense, is something wrong?" I asked her, putting my arm on her shoulder. "But, you don't have to tell me if you don't feel like it, I'm just hope your alright."

"Yeah, of course I am!" She grinned. "I am an idol who delivers more and more hope! There is no need to worry!"

"Right, sorry if I was mistaken." I said to smooth things over, I knew she felt suspicious of me.

She turned her head away from me and whispered something I could barely hear.

"Y-You don't have to say sorry...It's all my fault anyway..."

"What was that, Minori?" I asked and she stepped back.

"N-Nothing...I'm going to see if Haruka needs anything...Bye!" She then took off toward where Haruka was going. But...

"Wait, Minori! Haruka isn't that way-"

But before I could stop her she was gone. Yeah she's definitely avoiding me.

"Are you alright, Azusawa-San?" Toya came up to me.

"Yes, I'm just worried about Minori...I feel like she's avoiding me, is it because I caused her suicide to fail?" I asked Toya.

"I don't think it's that...she's probably just intimidated by this place...Y-You shouldn't worry too much." He replied, rubbing my back in reassurance. "Just give her some time and space."

"...Okay." I replied. "Maybe I should trust her more. Thanks, Aoyagi-Kun!"

"Mhmm... Sure." Toya replied. "I'm going to take a little walk, I won't go far though."

"Be careful, Aoyagi.. After all, we don't know what's out there." I warned him.

"Right, I will." And he took off.

There's something they won't tell me...But what is it? Did something happen after I died...? I need to find out, I need to know...

But I don't know what to say to them.

____

I wish I wasn't so unlucky.

I can never have anything they way I want it.

It should have been me instead.

It always should have been me.

Why..?

Why did she save me?

I only make things worse.

I only drag people down with me.

I only make a fool of myself.

I can't give others hope.

I can't be strong.

I can't be smart.

I can't be beautiful.

I can't be perfect.

But, I wish I was...I wish soo badly to be perfect.

I wish...

I wish I was Haruka.

___

I was walking alone...like I was supposed to be, there really were vines everywhere. "If only I was like Haruka than none of this would have happened...I wish I was like Haruka."

Suddenly something snapped and a door next to me opened, it looked like a library with a book on a pedestal in the middle. Vines were wrapped around some of the bookshelves with some flowers attached to them. I walked up to the book...it was called "The Tome Of Enchantments."

"Wishing for butterflies, Wishing for cherry blossoms, Wishing for candy...? Heh, Emu would like that one..." I thought to myself before turning more pages.

"Spells breath fire, have your drawings come to life, being able to walk on walls." These were quite interesting indeed. "I stopped at one of them that read..."

"If your tired of ground and wishing to fly, jump up high and you'll soar through the sky."

I jumped and started flying up in the air, I touched the ceiling and soared around before floating back down. When I landed, I noticed the books pages landed on "Perfect Self."

"You have a desire to end this pain of living in normalcy, don't you wish that everything could just end perfectly...? With this spell you can transform into the beauty you always wish you could be." This couldn't be real right...I could never be like her no matter how hard I tried- "My face...it's changing...?" I stared into the book and my face changed to Haruka. "I'm...perfect..? A real idol...!" But quickly the image disappeared and I was back to myself. "No...! Come back..."

"Minori!!! Where are you?!!!"

Oh no, It's Haruka...! I quickly snatch up the page from the book and hide it under my shirt. I need this... I don't want to be normal anymore...!

"Haruka, I'm over here!" I rush over to her with a warm smile.

"There you are, I'm glad nothing happened to you." Haruka said relieved.

Of course I make everyone worried, If I was a true idol, this wouldn't happen...

"Hehe, You don't have to worry about me so much, Haruka, I'm fine!" I tried to reassure as much as possible, I didn't want her to know how I was feeling.

"Well I'm just glad your okay, let's head back." Haruka held out her hand for me to take and I took it as she guided me back to everyone...

They always have to be in charge of me, I can't do anything without them...I'm so useless without them.

Meanwhile...

Toya ends up walking quite a bit, absorbed in his own thoughts. He remember what happened before and after he died...

[FLASHBACK]

"I’m sorry.." She was saying it to Kohane's body...

"Hanasato… What did you do..?" I just stood in horror, blood splattered all over the walls.

"A-Aoyagi?! I.. It.. It was an accident! I didn’t.." She looked up terrified, she was panicking...

I slowly walked up to here, I just wanted to reassure her. "Hanasato, just calm do-"

"I didn’t..! I... I’M SORRY!!!" She yelled and pushed passed me, running down the stairs. I chased after her and grabbed her hand...stomping on my recorder.

"LET ME GO!! PLEASE!! I’M SORRY!!!!" Minori screamed, trying to pull herself free.

"Hanasato, I need you to listen to me." Despite how panicked I felt, I was trying my best to calm her down.

"I SWEAR!! I DIDN’T DO IT!!"

But the way things were going didn't look bright, I still wanted to hear her out...

"Hanasato, you need to calm down!" I tried to hold firmer despite my hands being more sweaty now, I guess that's how she pulled away from me.

She stumbled back with her foot on the edge, I tried to reach her again but she smacked me away. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!"

Fine...I thought and accidentally pushed her, I processed what I had done when I noticed she lost her footing...I tried to reach her but she only grabbed my necklace...I watched her tumble down and hit her head...dead. At first I thought maybe it was a accident but maybe...

[FLASHBACK]

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO!!!" He started shouting and stomping his foot.

"Akito, I’m sorry.." Was all I could say, I couldn't look at him...and I can't turn back time...

"You promised we’d surpass RAD WEEKEND together!! You promised you’d still be there for me, as my partner!!" He tugged on my collar, he was screaming in ears now...I deserved it.

"I’m sorry I’m breaking our promise.." I stared at my shoes... Something I haven't done in a long time since joining Vivid Bad SQUAD.

"Why.. WHY WHY WHY!!!" He yelled, but there was nothing for me to say.

And the execution, whenever I think about it...I get chills but at the same time it felt deserving...

Every stab felt cold, like the words of my father...

Every misstep reminds me of my past self, the one I wish to remove so badly.

"Stick to the sheet."

"No deviations whatsoever."

"Follow it correctly, I thought I told you this before!!!!"

"Do it again."

"Your not stopping till you get it right."

"Again."

"Again."

"AGAIN."

[FLASHBACK END]

My life would always be a hell filled prison of classical music...no matter what I tried, that would always be my life...and I hated it. I sometimes wish I had the freedom of Akito or that my dad had understood me...But it's not like you can get your way in life.

So, I'll just have to keep trying.

Again....

I walked around these rooms of mirrors, I could see my weak self inside them all...The weak, pathetic me...

"I just want to forget it all."

Suddenly the mirror changed, to me...? I was wearing a classical music uniform and I was being cheered for, roses thrown at my feet...And I was smiling?

Was this my life if I had just followed the path they laid for me...

Greatness and Success...

I looked into the mirror in front of me, the other me stared back at me...I felt nothing but hatred. This other me had everything I wanted.

I just wanted to be loved.

But I never got that so all I did was run away...

Until I found people who cared about me...

Before just causing them pain...

Chapter Text

I had been walking around with Ichika and Saki, their seemed to be lots of fruits around that they could use. Grapes, Bananas, Figs too...Their were also these large pink and yellow flowers that looked like little dancers growing on small bushes with some thorns around it...they looked kind of beautiful but also dangerous. I made sure to be careful not to touch them. I wondered what kind of plant these were and want to ask more about them but Saki beat me to it.

"Hey Ichi? We have been seeing these flowers all over, do you know what they are?" Saki asked pointing to it, almost touching it, but Ichika pushed her hand away from it. "Hey, what was that for Ichi?!!"

"Careful Saki, don't touch them!" She sighed. "To answer your question, these are called Angel's Trumpet, but don't let the name deceive you. These are extremely poisonous and can poison you if you touch, eat, or smell it. Which is why I yanked your hand away, Saki."

"Oh I see! Good eye, Ichi!" Saki praised. "Our flower expert, Ichika Hoshino saves the day!"

"Oh Saki..." Ichika blushes flustered. "I told you I'm not that amazing."

"Hehe..." I giggled while she got even more embarrassed.

"I wonder how Kanade and the others are doing? Should we head back?" Saki asked.

"Yeah probably, I don't want to stay around these plants for long." I said and we turned around with or new food supply heading back to the others.

Meanwhile...

I uploaded the flash drive to the computer, It read Project: Despair Show on it. The few things on it were some images and a videos. The images were redacted and broken, so I went to see what the four videos were. I could figure out the images later anyway...

*Click*

I have never felt so horrified...

"Death By Music" The Ultimate Composer's Execution (Unused)

I was sitting in my desk chair, like I was back home...I was composing nothing seemed off but there was a choker on my neck with a wire attached to it...It went down my the back of my neck as well as other wires attached to my hands and legs. They were attached to something else...Wait, are those generators...?

I had to keep composing, there was a bar with a tally of numbers of people I had to save...I had to save them all...

Someone is not saved and I get shocked...It happens again...and again...and again...

The bar goes to zero...nobody had been saved...? Our views go down too...

Mikuma cranks the charge all the way to 1,000 volts...The chair shook violently and glowed as it was powered up with electricity.

Watching myself get shocked to death wasn't something I planned on seeing...

Before I knew it...The video ended, I was dead and my charge was fried to a crisp with blood all over that even my eyes were bleeding as well as my hands...

and I soon realized I was already in tears.

___

"I-I need to keep going...I n-need to find out more..." I fought against the force that wanted me to crawl up into a ball, I had to be stronger than that.

*Click*

"Overnight Emergency Checkup" Ultimate Keyboardist's Execution (Unused)

Saki was tied to a hospital bed, a nurse walks in ..It's Mikuma? Oh no..

She puts Saki through torture medications...Sharp needles, surgery, cutting up parts of her body and stabbing her with more sharp needles...

Saki struggled to fight back against Mikuma but then she was gauzed by Mikuma as Phennies that looked a lot like her friends...were hugging her...

"Sleep peacefully.." Mikuma said...and Saki's consciousness drifted away...

Before taking a giant needle that rose from the ground, stabbing her in the chest, killing her and causing blood to flood the hospital bed and the floor.

___

"That was just...." I can't believe what I just witnessed...There is no way I could show Saki this...

The next two had the words "used" on them...I didn't like that but I needed to know what happened...

This video detailed Ichika's trial as well as her execution...she killed me just to save everyone else? She considered me the weakest link...I couldn't deny that even if it hurt a little bit. But she was tricked by Mikuma into believing that a death could save everyone...She was the voted and-

"Meteor Blood Shower" The Ultimate Guitarist's Execution (Used)

Everyone else runs onto what seems to be a school hallway. They look down and see Hoshino...

Ichika is in a gym. She was tied to the base of a guitar that was stuck in the ground by its headstock. There is a roof? It's only a beautiful starlit sky...

Suddenly, a meteorite crashed into one area of the gym with many others following. They surrounded her, her face seemed melancholic.

The stars in the sky changed their places to show a familiar meteor shower.. She called them Leonids, right? Her head drooped down..

"Was she giggling?" She looked like it, but also looked like she was crying too. I then heard something...her voice came through the video...

"I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for us to find a way out…"

"Saki...Shiho...Honami...I’m sorry."

A meteor smashes the guitar, blood splattered everywhere. The only thing left being a broken headstock...She was gone.

___

My face felt pale...I wanted to throw up...but I had to keep going...I need the truth...

The last video...

*Click*

"Penguin Perfect Finale." The Ultimate Idol's Execution (Used)

This time, everyone walks into an audience area. In front of them, is a stage. MonoMEIKO makes everyone sit down in their seats.

Lights suddenly turn on and there is Haruka...on the stage. She looks at a monitor on top of the crowd which shows dance signals.

"3, 2, 1, Go!"

She was keeping up with the monitor, even when it starts speeding up. She looked strong but no human could stay like that forever...

As I predicted, it gets a whole lot quicker. Fast like the speed of light...Haruka eventually messes up and a huge X is shown on the monitor.

I should have known something bad was going to happen when she dropped into a tank full of water...Mikuma left no punches un-thrown.

She tried up swimming up only for something to pull her down, that's when I see it...penguins...Monster orange penguins with sharp teeth.

They pull her all the way down, she's struggling against them but her movements become more sluggish...she isn't going to make it...

Soon bubbles stop coming and instead...it's pink, the water turns bright pink...They ate her.

___

I slammed the computer shut, picking it up and slowly hurried from the chamber. I put it back inside Ichika's bag...I had seen enough for once day. If I saw any more I might scream, but that's when I noticed something.

"Azusawa...Where is Minori and the other guy...?"

[FLASH TO THE PRESENT]

"Minori went off to sleep next to Kanade after getting lost and being mostly silent the whole day while Toya went off with Ichika to get more fruit after having left on a long walk alone to who knows where. They haven't been speaking to each other either and are avoiding me...I just don't understand what's wrong..." Kohane said to me later in the day while most of everyone was asleep.

"Yeah...I have been seeing that too, I see Minori looking at me but when I turn to face her, she plays it off and says its nothing...There must be something we are missing..." I said.

Saki hears the conversation and chimes in. "I think Toya knows something, he was the last one after you and Minori, yet he's being so quiet...So eerily quiet..."

"Maybe it's my fault... I should have just let Minori do what she was doing... The death would have been classified as a suicide and not a murder right...nobody would have to be dead. Maybe because of me, they both got executed." Kohane sat down, wrapping her arms around her legs. "What if they are mad at me or something?"

"Kohane, it's not your fault, anybody would try to save their friends if they were going to kill themselves...!" Saki reassured me before putting her hands on her cheeks. "I think something just happened between Toya and Minori and they won't tell you because you're close with both of them... But what caused them to be like this is the question? Ugh, I can't think of anything?!!!!"

I turn to face Kohane. "Azusawa...Do you remember the events that happened before you died?"

She nodded. "Y-Yeah...I remember getting a letter from Minori asking to apologize to me for yelling at me after you died, Haruka... I asked Toya to come and watch me...just in case anything happened."

[FLASHBACK]

"A-Aoyagi-kun...Do you have a minute...?" I walked into his room.

"Oh, Kohane, what is it?"

"I just wanted to give this to you." I handed him the note and stood there as he read it.

"Hello. I got a note from Minori asking me to meet up with her. I know the others would probably not want me to go, but this may be the only time she'll speak to me. Could you at least be nearby in case something happens, not that something bad would happen! I'm just scared. Maybe record our conversation to show the others that Minori's okay! I don't think she wants to talk to anyone else, so this will reassure others. You don't have to do this though!! Just asking.. We're meeting up at 12:30. If you agree, then thank you!! "

Once he finished, he just looked at me with wide eyes. "You sure she didn't set this up as a trap, Azusawa?" Toya eye brows furrowed with concern.

"That's exactly why I want someone to come with me...just in case anything happens...since I'm can't really defend myself." I replied, rubbing my fingers together. "Please Aoyagi...I know An and Akito would never let me but I really want to talk to Minori, this is my only chance...! Please..."

"Alright... As much as I don't know how good of an idea this is. If you really need me to come and record everything, then sure... It will calm everyone down, at least." He relented.

"T-Thank you, Aoyagi-Kun! I promise to be extra careful!" I replied with a smile and hugged him before leaving, him still holding my letter in his hand. "See you at 12:30...!"

"See you.." Toya then turned around and closed the door.

[FLASHBACK END]

"He was worried about me going, he originally didn't want me to meet with her but I insisted...so maybe it's my fault...and.."

[FLASHBACK]

"You're here, Kohane! Oh, and Toya too...!" Minori smiled at us, waving to us.

"Yes, I promised I would meet you." I replied. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"Well, I just wanted to apologize for yelling at you, it was wrong of me to do that...I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted me to do that to you too." Minori was smiling but something about it wasn't right...

"It's ok, I would probably feel the same way if something happened to An-chan, all is forgiven." I said.

"Right, thanks. Well, it's time for me to go now..." Minori smiled and that's when I heard it, sizzling sounds...I noticed the bomb behind Minori and near the gun door.

My legs moved to her without warning. "MINORI, DON'T!" I kicked the bomb from her.

"KOHANE?!!!!"

*BOOM!*

The door exploded and I saw a gun's barrel, staring down at me.

*BANG!*

My life flashed before me eyes when I felt it, the pain knocked me to my feet...It hurt like hell..

All I heard was before I died was...

"Kohane...?! No... This wasn't supposed to..."

"Azusawa...! No...no no no no no...!"

I’m sorry..

Hanasato… What did you-...

[FLASHBACK END]

"That's it...!" Haruka exclaimed.

"Huh? What is?" Saki asked, eyebrows raised.

"Toya must have had a argument or something with Minori after Kohane died and maybe something happened between them because of what happened to Kohane." Haruka concluded. "That must be why their so tense..."

"But I clearly went to saved Minori...Toya didn't need to attack Minori, I wanted to save her." Kohane said.

"Hmmm...Maybe but I think some kind of conflict did happen based off what you said was the last thing you heard." Haruka replied.

"Maybe...We should try to ask him when he comes back."

___

"You have something to hide, don't you...Toya?" I asked him while picking up berries.

"W-What do you mean?" He turned to face me.

"You were a blackened too.. right?"

"...!" He shifted his gaze slightly. "N-No...what makes you think that?"

"You have been hiding from Minori and Kohane...and you have been making that face which I call the "I feel guilty about doing something illegal" face. After all, I practically invented it...You should know."

He crosses his arms and huffs. "Sometimes, I wish I was like Akito."

I set down the fruit and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"Akito is sensible, he always knows if something is sketchy or what advice to give someone... Like, I'm more book smart while he's..."

"Street-smart?" I finished.

"Mhmm, Same with An, they would have told Azusawa...but I gave in because I was too considerate to Kohane's feelings... like Akiyama said in the trial."

"So you really did kill her-"

"I-I DIDN'T MEAN TOO!!! I-IT WAS AN ACCIDENT...!!! I-It was an accident..." Toya dropped to the ground, covering his face with his knees...Was he crying...? "I didn't mean too...! I-I didn't mean too...!! I-I didn't mean too...!!!"

If I had one word to describe what I was seeing, it would be panic attack...I had never seen this side of Aoyagi because of how he always looked composed...

"A-An accident? Can you explain what you mean by that? I just want to know what happened...It may even solve your conflict better." I sat down next to him and put my hands on his knees. "Repeat after me, Take a deep breath. breath in...breath out...It's going to be okay."

He slowly breathed in and out, his voice still felt raspy and his palms were shaking vigorously. "I-It's going to be okay...I'm fine. I'm fine.. I'm fine..."

"Feeling better now?" I asked, concerned.

Eventually he calmed down enough to speak. "I-I think so..."

"So, do you mind telling me what happened?" I asked, waiting for his confirmation.

"Y-Yeah...but can you not tell Azusawa just yet..." Toya requested. "I'm just not ready for her to know yet..."

"Okay, I won't." I said.

"P-Promise...If she finds out then she could get mad at Hanasato...and I don't want them get estranged again when it's my fault for everything-" Toya was ruffling his hair violently, anybody could tell he was distressed.

I grabbed his hand before wrapping my pinkie around his. "I promise."

"T-Thank you..." He finally seemed to calm down, resting his hands on his laps before clearing his throat. "So Minori sent Kohane a letter to meet with her, to apologize for what happened in the last trial...when Hanasato lashed out at Azusawa for all of us killing Kiritani...She then sent me a note that she wants to meet with Hanasato at 12:30 to talk to her and asked me to come along because she wanted someone to watch their conversation in any case something bad happened...I didn't know that Hanasato planned to kill herself that day..."

"Go on."

He steadied his breathing again. "I also had no idea that she had a bomb that she stole from Kamishiro to kill herself with, I had thought she had just found one and planned to make a murder...So I was shocked beyond belief when Azusawa pushed away the bomb from Hanasato and the explosion caused the gun room to be opened, triggering the gun to fire and killing Azusawa. Hanasato planned to use that gun on herself but because Azusawa stepped in, it backfired..."

"Then what happened?"

"She got scared, I think she thought I would tell everyone so she ran from me..." Toya replied.

I looked at him. "And did you plan on doing that?"

"No...I just wanted to hear her out, I wanted her to tell me what happened because she kept saying she didn't plan to kill her...that's why I grabbed her wrist and tried to stop her from leaving. I wanted to talk to her." His hands were starting to shake a bit again. "She escaped my grip on the stairs, I tried again and she pushed me away...and I just got frustrated that I pushed her away from me...I noticed to late, we both did."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"She realized that she lost her footing and tried to grab my hand, I wanted to catch her but she only grabbed my pendant...It's thread snapped immediately and she fell.. hitting her head on bottom of the stairs...I still can't unsee her terrified expression, it haunts me everywhere." He quivered and wrapped his arms around himself like it was his life line or a comfort blanket. "That's why I keep running from her...anytime I see her, I see that face... that traumatized look in her eyes."

"So that's what happened." I said, shocked.

"I'm such a coward, I can't face the truth...can't face the past, when it can't ever be change...I really am a idiot." Toya laughed hoarsely, staring up at ceiling.

"You were in a situation that you never thought you were going to be in, you panicked, that's human nature." I said, trying to dispel his fears. "None of us expected to be put in a killing game, you actually have a better reason for what you did than me."

"So, everything I'm feeling is...normal?" He asked. "I have been running from everything in my life for so long...I've never had the real courage to face it."

"I used to think that too...But somebody once said I can keep hiding from my true feelings or I can learn and grow from them." I held out my hand to him. "So don't think your alone, let's grow from these feelings together to create a stronger hope for tomorrow."

Aoyagi's shaky hands took him and he let go once he stood up. "...Right, let's do that."

Chapter Text

I waited for the perfect time to head back there, I mean, who wants the real me? It didn't matter if I was older now and look different because the others would just look more beautiful than me. I hated this feeling that I felt but I had to do this, I mean, who would care enough to stop me? I didn't tell anyone what I was going to do, the others would be ashamed of me if they found out.

I slowly opened the doors to the library, it was much more darker than before. I noticed someone standing in the shadows and jumped from the table. "Who are you?!!!"

"Oh, I should be asking you that question, for I am the keeper of this library...But, I don't mind it. I grant wishes to those who visit me." The figure stepped out of the light, she was wearing a hoodie and in a lot of black with white and purple hair.

"You grant wishes...do you mind if you can give do mine?" I asked her.

"Of course, Your wish is to be beautiful, yes?" The figure replied to me.

"How did you know-"

"I noticed you took one of the pages and heard from the flowers, they tell me things. They are also the ones who help me grant wishes." She said, and gestured to a lever that she pulled down, a secret passageway. "Follow me and you'll get your wish..."

I followed her down the path, it was long and winding but it led to a large tree, titled...The Angel's Wishing Tree... She took the page from the book from me and gave it to a flower... It at the page and it came out as specks of yellow powder. "This is edible and it will grant you your wish but to make it taste more sweet, turn around and wait for me to do something for just a moment, slowly count to ten at least."

"Ok then..." I replied and quietly counted to 10.

"1, 2, 3, 4,"

"5, 6, 7, 8,"

"9, 10."

Soon enough when I turned around she had a glass with purple liquid inside, the small yellow powder floating in it.

"Here you are dear, go ahead, earn your wish." She handed it to me.

"This is safe right?" I asked, I started to feel like maybe this was a bad idea.

"Of course it is, I wouldn't hand it to someone who wasn't in need." She replied. "Now go on, take a sip, it'll make you feel right as rain."

"Well, Okay...If you say so..." I gulped and took a sip of it. Who knows...It may look unappetizing but it could taste great...

"That's it..."She said.

"Every..."

"Last..."

"Drop..."

I waited...Nothing felt different until suddenly I felt my tongue go dry...I was sweating and I could feel my heart beating out of my chest. Then came so much pressure on my neck that it felt suffocating, my hands were shaking and my heart was beating so fast I couldn't concentrate...The world felt like it was spinning but also stationary at the same time....!

"P-Please make it stop...!"

I lost my balance and fell on the ground. "W-Water.. please...I need...water..."

My eyes were seeing double of everything while the world was still blurry that my brain was hurting so bad, everything hurt...just make it stop.... "Where is...w-water...?"

Things were going in and out, my breath felt so ragged... "W-What's happening to me...why can't I-I see...Where am I...?"

My muscles hurt, like things were breaking and then locking back in place...and I couldn't remember anything... "W-What is going on....W-Why can't I breathe..?"

"W-Who even am I....?"

Soon everything suddenly stopped, and all I saw was black before things became white, I heard cheering...loud cheering.

"....Where am I-"

"HARUKA!!!, HARUKA!!!, HARUKA!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!"

Who on earth is this Haruka and why is she so popular...? I tried to walk passed them when someone stuck a microphone up in my face.

"Haruka, are you excited about your next show, everyone is looking forward to it!"

This Haruka sure is popular but I couldn't care less, I have never met them before...I don't even know who I am or what I'm doing here. "Umm I'm sorry but who is Haruka? She seems popular around her..."

The reporter laughs. "Hahaha, are you trying to be funny? You're Haruka, of course!!!"

Me, Haruka? That can't be, I never remember being here and can't remember my name...I can't remember anything.

"I'm sorry, but I think you're mistaken, I'm not this Haruka person you keep talking about...I don't even know where I am." I said, trying to act as seriously as possible, I need to get the point across to this man that I wasn't Haruka.

"Haruka hurry, we have a photo shot remember!" Some teal haired girl in a purple and yellow outfit with white flowers on it it's waist band and hair piece with purple etched flowers into the bottom of the dress called to me, she was on a stage alongside other girls wearing outfits. "If you don't hurry, you won't be in the picture!"

"I don't even know who you are...and my name isn't Haruka." I replied coldly.

"What are you talking about? You're Haruka Kiritani National Idol of ASRUN, and we were doing a show collab today with my group Cheerful*Days today. I'm Shizuku Hinomori, Leader of Cheerful*Days..."

"But I am not Haruka-"

A brown girl called out to us and shoved us toward the other people in outfits next to a man with a large camera. "Hurry up you too, we need to to do photo-shoot!"

While I was being shoved, I heard voices in the crowd...

"Did you guys here about that girl suicided, Her name was Minori Hanasato right?"

"She jumped off the ferris wheel of Phoenix Wonderland..."

"Honestly, I don't really mind, she was such a normal girl."

"More important people have suicided, like that former variety idol girl..."

"I feel bad for the parents who have to deal with the burden she caused..."

"...!!!!"

*SNAP*

"Haruka, Haruka, c'mon and smile!" The photographer pointed their lens right at me. I could see myself, I was her, I remembered everything...I knew who I really was. Things weren't right. Why was I here with the ASRUN and Cheerful*Days members? Where was I? Where was Momoi? Why was I Haruka? I-I needed to get out of here!!! I struggled trying to break free from Shizuku and Mai who were looking at me with concern.

"Haruka-chan, what's wrong?"

"Are you alright, Kiritani?"

I shoved my way from the two and started booking it down before freezing at the stairs...

...!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"HANASATO?!!!!!"

I shook the cold memories off and I soon noticed reporters started surrounding me, people were shouting at me from all sides.

"KIRITANI, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!!!"

"What's happening to Haruka, is she okay?!!!!"

"Haruka, wait, is it something I said?!"

I forced myself to move and crossed the street, not bothering any cars I almost ran into or the fact that cars were stopping to look my way...

"It's Haruka from ASRUN!!!"

"There she is!"

I was running in heels, this wasn't ideal and my feet were hurting...

"I need to get out of here..."

I kept running but it seemed like every direction I ran too, somebody saw me...

"Please, let there be a exit."

I was too noticeable.

Too standing out.

"Wait, maybe I can hide here..."

I dashed into a alleyway that curved into a familiar neighborhood, too familiar... It was probably an ordinary neighborhood and I was overthinking it... There was no way it could be mine.

"It's raining?" I didn't even notice back then when I was running from everyone... "I guess I can catch my breath and look around."

I walked quietly through the neighborhood. It felt more like a ghost town though... there were no people, no animals, nothing. It made my skin crawl.. that feeling only being amplified when I spotted a small park cemetery in my view. I walked up to the gate and noticed a single grave with clean unwilting flowers, that usually met they died recently, right...?

Everything keep telling me to not go in there...but I guess I always did what I was told not too, right?

"I need to know what's going on..."

"I want to go back to Sekai.."

"I want to be an idol again."

The more I approached the grave, I saw it was surrounded with forsythias, daisies, and forget-me-nots... My birth flowers...

I shook the thought away... "Come on, Minori, somebody could just have a similar birthday to yours..."

"There is no way this grave stone could possibly be-"

I saw the words engraved in the slab of stone and my whole body wanted to scream.

"This grave stone belongs to a cheery girl, who's ill-fate caused her death… A small marigold, Minori Hanasato, wilted before us under the pressure due to struggles as an unlucky, ordinary girl and eventually fell from the sky above atop the Wonderland Ferris Wheel.”

“Her dimmed light and life will be missed by the little loved ones who knew her. May she have a hopeful afterlife…”

Chapter Text

I needed to tell her, I had to apologize, it's my fault after all...As much as would like to hide away forever, deny everything...

I promised I would stop running, I promised I would face things head on.

I woke up after taking a quick nap from talking to Hoshino, thinking about everything in my head, they were right...I could hide or learn from them and I said I was done hiding. "I need to find Hanasato."

I walked passed the plants at this time they were snapping at me, I ducked and dodged them, the more I followed the vines down...I saw something that looked like a illuminated room.

When I stepped in, I noticed it was a library, a big one at that, I'm not sure how a library fits in such a small space but it's probably Sekai logic.

"There seems to be nothing around here but vines...but there has to be something here-" I leaned on something, a secret entrance? Thought those only happened in movies...but I guess Sekai is surreal enough to be almost like a movie...

I started down the path, there was a huge tree with the same flowers on it and Hanasato...standing nearby.

"Hanasato?!!!" I ran to her but as soon as I did so, I noticed things were different about her...She had vines growing on her arms and her eyes were dilated. She also had pale skin with blisters and dead looking eyes, yet she had this unwavering smirk to her. My mind did a double over just looking at her.

She turned around and smiled at me. "Oh, Aoyagi? You're here too?"

"Yeah, I came looking for you..." I pointed at the vines on her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Oh this? It's amazing, y'know! I'm Haruka now, a perfect idol!" Minori was still smiling uncannily, putting me on edge. "It's a never ending dream come true!"

"W-What do you mean by that?" I stepped back slightly from her.

Her smile grew really wide, reaching the ends of both of her cheeks. "I'll show you."

Suddenly a vine shoots from the ground with the similar flower that I have been seeing. I dodged it but the sharp petals scraped my arm, causing a painful stinging to course through my body. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH.....! Grrrahhhhh..."

Minori loomed over me. "Isn't it perfect, Aoyagi? The pain...it's delightful, right?"

This wasn't Minori, even if I'm not as familiar with her as Azusawa, I doubt she would say something so disturbing. I needed to get out of here despite everything hurting like hell, as Akito would probably say.

Akito...

[FLASHBACK]

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO!!!"

"You promised we’d surpass RAD WEEKEND together!! You promised you’d still be there for me, as my partner!!"

"Why.. WHY WHY WHY!!!"

[FLASHBACK END]

No, there isn't time to think about that...I can't dwell on the past...

But that's what I have always done, right?

"No, I-I need to get out of here..." I was struggling to run, my chest felt like it was on fire but every other part of me was tingling and cold, it wouldn't stop. "Y-You need to fight it, T-Toya... Fight the urge, you c-can't give up now..."

But can I? Could I just accept I'll never be like Akito, that I'll never be like Ken, or my brothers before me...or him...

I felt painful to keep moving but I need to get back to the others...I kept hearing voices as things were starting to space in and out.

"This guy is a classical prodigy, but his partner is just living off of his gifts..."

I shook it off, "That's not true...He isn't-"

"Why does that son of Aoyagi think he can surpass RAD WEEKEND with that other guy, he's not even good."

"Yes he is...he's always been-"

"Your father turned down a internship so he could teach you, you have to work extra hard to thank him."

I covered my ears, "Block it out...B-Block it.. out..."

"Your just delusional, how can you be interested in music where it's just shouting all the time?"

"You're wasting your potential like dad said."

My head hurt but I kept trying to push the thoughts away. "I-It's not just that, you haven't even tried it..."

"Have you fallen so low that you no longer see what you are doing?"

"N-Not this again..." The area felt muddy for some reason now, like I remembered it but also...didn't?

"How long do you plan on using such excuses to run away from your responsibilities?"

I clenched my fingers around my ears harder. "S-Shut up...you don't even know me-"

"Path? Just where will this path lead you in the end? Remember, you were born to play classical music! Why can't you understand what I'm trying to do for you?"

"S-Shut up.. SHUT UP..."

"Do it again."

"Read the sheet music more carefully and stick to it. How many times do I have to tell you this?"

"No deviations whatsoever!"

I covered my ears and pulled at my hair. "P-Please, just stop, I'm not going..."

"B-Bac..kk..."

I collapsed nearby our base...everything was disappearing and I couldn't doing anything at all...

Everything hurt...maybe I should just let it...

Consume me...

"T-TOYA?!!!!!!"

It was female but it didn't sound like Azusawa it sounded more like...

Wait...no...

"Toya...Is that you? S-Say something...anything...!!!"

I looked up at the blurry figure, reaching out to them. "S-Shi...ra..shi..?"

I finally let the pain swallow me whole.

___

I woke up and immediately my head hurt....It hurt so bad I couldn't think straight but I forced myself to sit up. I was inside a cage, Mikuma set this up...didn't she. "Too bad, sucker! I'm not letting you get what you want!!!" I pushed and shoved at the door with all my might. I saw a hammer on the ground and immediately picked it up and started smashing it til it snapped. "Finally, I'm outta here, that was easier than I thought..."

I quickly climbed out only to see vines everywhere, there was also someone lying on the ground, plants surrounding them.

"HEY, GET BACK!"

That caught those plants off guard and smashed them.

*SCREEEECH!!!!!*

"YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, TAKE THAT!!!!" I smacked them away, stomping my foot on them.

*SCRAWWWWW...."

Once they were out of the way, I stepped closer to him...His figure looked familiar... "Hey are you okay? Wake up!!! Hello?!" I peered over the looming figure in front of me and I quickly realized who it was..."T-TOYA?!!!!!!"

No it couldn't be...

He was dead...

They're wasn't anyway he could possible be alive...

He was dead...

I knew that...

So then...W-Why was he here...?

His head slightly moved, his eyes looked like how Asahina's was...maybe it's just the lighting though but he looked exhausted.

And then I heard the one thing...

The sheer truth he was still alive...

"S-Shi...rai..shi...?"

Then I saw him go limp and I screamed.

___

"HWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"

I jumped from my sleep at the loud scream, it sounded familiar...I sounded like...

"A-An-Chan?!!!"

I took off running into the hallway, alerting the others awake.

"Kohane, are you ok?" Saki yelled down the hall, trying not to trip over the vines all around.

"Kohane, wait, What's wrong?!!!" Ichika followed Saki, the others slowly followed behind.

I stopped when I spotted who I thought it was, it was like hadn't seen her in ages...

"A-An....?"

She whipped her head to me, she was kneeling over Aoyagi, she was crying but her face went pale when our eyes locked.

"K-Kohane...?"

I ran to here and gave her a big hug, "A-An-Chan, your here too? I-I missed you..."

She gripped me in a tight embrace before shedding tears. "Kohane...I-I missed you too...but T-Toya...H-HE ISN'T WAKING UP....!!!! I-I JUST FOUND H-HIM LIKE THIS... I DON'T K-KNOW IF HE'S D-DEAD OR NOT...! I D-DON'T WHAT TO D-DO!!!"

"An?" Haruka stopped in her tracks upon seeing her childhood friend just looking at her.

"H-Haruka, what she would we do?" An was still looking at Toya and hyperventilating.

It's understandable though, if I woke up and saw this I would be scared too.

Ichika checked him over with Haruka and the two sighed with smiles. "He's still breathing, Usually these plants kill you if you touch, eat or smell them..."

An was getting frantic. "What do you mean? IS H-HE GOING TO DIE...?!!!!"

Haruka put a hand on An's shoulder in a attempt to calm the barista down. "I think she means that under normal circumstances, Toya would be very much in danger but these aren't normal flowers so I think that's why Toya's unconscious...but how to get him unconscious is the question we need to answer..."

An started wiping the tears off her face. "O-Oh...that's good...."

"Umm guys...I have a question..." Kanade spoke up from behind, having just caught up with us.

"Yeah, Kana, what is it?" Saki asked, we all looked toward her.

"Where's Minori?" She said.

We all looked at her with wide eyes...

Crap...

WHERE THE HELL IS MINORI?!!!!

Chapter Text

I woke up in a place that was so clean that it felt unpleasant, the air around me felt chilly, It was unsettling...

"Where am I...What even is this?" I started looking through the rooms, the first room door looked dirty. Scratches, dents in the door as well as rusted paint...I slowly took a peek at was going on inside.

"Ahh, that's perfect, as expected of my son."

"Thank you, father. I did my best from you."

"You must try for perfect, nothing less."

"Yes, father."

I remembered this, it was the time her first showed me his piano. Those used to be good times but that's in the past now...I stepped away and shut the door, I wanted to forget those old tender memories. Especially since I'll never experience them again.

I tried the next door. It looked more cleaner, there were still scratches and holes but the rust was gone...I didn't know why I bothered to open the door but it was like my hand was drawn to opening it..

"Another perfect performance as usually, make sure to stick to the form and sheet music."

"You don't have to worry, father. I was born to play classical music after all, I'll make you proud as a son."

"That's my son."

I quickly slammed the door and stepped away...My chest felt cold hearing how obedient I was being...

The next room was even more cleaner, it had no rust or holes in it down. My hands were trembling, reaching for the handle.

"That one was wrong, do it again."

"Yes father."

"Not correct, Again..."

"I-I'm doing the best I can-"

*SLAP*

I stepped back, my chest thumped like it was on a treadmill, he never hit me before...

"Best isn't good enough!!! It needs to be perfect. You don't want to disappoint me, right? You promised you wouldn't be a bad son. Didn't I raise you to obey?"

"Right, I'm sorry father, I'll practice for the rest of the day. I'll be a good son." He smiled but his eyes were hollow, It reminded me of something...

"Good." He slammed the sheets down on the piano. "Again."

I didn't even bother to shut the door, I just ran from it before stopping to a screeching halt at the thing in front of me.

The last door...It had a fresh coat of paint, gold hinges, and it was smooth with no scratches except the words "Auditorium" etched into a sign plate that hung on the door.

I slowly pulled it open, the room was quiet with people in the stands...the only thing around was a piano and violin on the stage, staring back me...

My breath hitched and clung to my chest...No I wasn't going back to classical music, not now, not ever...!

"Toya, it's time for your duet with Tenma-San on the violin."

That voice, no, no no… I slowly turned around, face to face with someone I thought I wouldn't see again.

"Dad?" His face looked stern as ever, just like I remembered it.

"What are you doing just standing there, go perform." He stepped closer to me but I didn't budge.

"No." I told him off. "I'm not going to do-"

Something fast flew towards my face, my nose was b-bleeding...h-he punched me....

"BOOOOO, PLAY FOR US!!!"

"HURRY UP ALREADY!!!"

"GET TO IT ALREADY, KID!!!"

He looked at me, pulling me my collar... "You see, they all want you to perform, have you lost sight of who you are...Have you I done everything for you for nothing, or did you simply just try to embarrass me?! Haha! Look how that went." He smacked me up the side of my head, he then hit my cheek, and then my other cheek, and then my eye...when he was done, my face was bruised and swollen. Yet everyone seemed to be cheering him on...

"You puppet, can't you see your nothing without me, nobody else cares about your future than me."

And for once, I lost all strength to fight back...He was right, no matter how hard I tried...everyone always associated me with him. Why else was he called the Ultimate Violinist? He had no ties that were his own...Azusawa was Ultimate Photographer, Shiraishi was Ultimate Barista, Akito was Ultimate Beatboxer...They all had talents that they claimed their own.

But I would always be known as the son of a classical musician who just ran away...

"Now I'll have to show you what true scum you are to get it through your skull."

He tossed me into the ground and stepped on my chest, the pain, the weight hurt like hell. "ARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHH..!!!! D-Dad...p-please...I'm sorry..."

"Sorry doesn't cut it, guess you'll have to suffer like your brothers before you...They tried to rebel but I crushed it into their thick skulls that they are only insignificant maggots in the big apple without MY INFLUENCE. I guess I'll have to crush your spirits in the same way."

Fine...I have made too many sins to even live anymore anyway...I killed a sunshine who didn't deserve to die, and I couldn't even save someone who I cherished as a teammate and a friend...I have nothing left to live for-

[FLASHBACK]

"It's your life, so you should live it your way. If you don't like it, then just say so!"

"What are you gonna do if you quit, anyway? Go crawling back and let your dad control you again after saying how much you hated things? How is that any more meaningful?!"

"There's no rule saying you have to become what your parents want. We're not here so they can live vicariously through us."

[FLASHBACK END]

Wait...right, I'm my own person, my father used to be stubborn but he wasn't like this...I can't cave to this anymore.

"I'm done following orders."

A microphone rolled across onto the stage towards me, this was...?

His voice rang again in my ears...

"It's your life, so you should live it your way. If you don't like it, then just say so!"

This was my moment.

He came for another punch but this time I grabbed the mic and blocked his fist with it, using it to shove him back. I quickly got to my feet before wiping the blood off my nose. "No, I'm not your puppet. You say you want a show? Then, I'll show you a show!!! But I'm doing it my way."

"Hmm...How pathetic, but I'll take your offer. If I can't get you to see how worthless you really are by making you a laughing stock, that's fine with me."

"You first." I walked past him as he took the stage, he played like usual. I was used to it but I wasn't going to let that get me down. Once he was done, I quickly took the stage, I wasn't running anymore.

So now it's time to sing.

[Removing my headphones, walking alone in this street]
[Am I lost?]
[Am I mistaken, this seems like a place I don’t know]

[The invisible devotion, the intangible sympathy]
[They're all things that I don’t have]
[What kind of story? Whose story?]
[If I don’t have it then I’ll start to desire it, isn't that right]

[Give me the signal, hold up the mic]
[That person is now wavering in the tailwind]
[The chance has come, let’s dive in, HATER!]

[Now’s for the restart, decide on it, and try to begin something new]
[Even only “trying” is already enough]
[I don’t care about reasons,]
[I don’t need reasons]
[Defy against my destiny and the rules]

[Now’s for the restart, decide on it, and make a fuss with this voice]
[Even only “wanting to see it” is already enough]
[Make a sound, Groovy]
[I’ll listen to it, Heart beat]
[‘Cause there’s no such time to stand around]

[With the tailwind blowing]
[Alright, keep moving forward]
[Without looking back]

[Hey yo!]
[Ah ah mic check]
[One, two, even if it’s all night it’s oddly a breeze~]
[The you who say that is for real an actress (lol)]
[Top class level? Then please say your thing!]

[RAD and BAD come the UNDERDOGS,]
[Sending shivers, dyeing in the colors of VIVID]
[Looking nowhere else but up]
[The you today are the troubled top dog with a hidden fighting spirit]

I finished and the room was shocked, I guess I practically screamed my heart out. Whatever they thought about my performance, I didn't care. I just strutted towards the door. Reclaiming myself once again, I think I saw Tsukasa smiling as I walked toward a door with a star on on it. I knew he wasn't the real Tsukasa, none of them were real. But at least, the moment made me smile for the first time in a long time.

I would cherish it forever.

I turned the doorknob...Finally...

"Freedom awaits..."

As soon as the light engulfed me, my eyes opened again to a familiar faces...a girl with curly blonde hair, a girl with shiny blue and black hair and another with light blonde pigtails. There faces stained with tears but they were also smiling.

"A-Aoyagi, Your awake!!! Thank goodness...!" Azusawa said as she slowly lifted me up.

"We were really worried, Toya!!!" Saki chimed in.

"What happened to you anyway, Toya? It's not like you get into a situation like that." An asked me, wiping tears that she had been spilling while I was gone. "Y'know you gave me a scare. I thought you were dead..."

I looked up at her solemnly, though my voice was maybe less composed as it usually was...I was exhausted. "Right...S-Sorry about that."

She just grinned calmly at me. "No need to apologize, were just glad your safe."

"That's right, Toya, we're all just glad your better." Saki agreed before she raised her eyebrows. "Hey, didn't Haruka and the others say we should report back to them if he wakes up since their looking for Minori?"

[FLASHBACK]

"Oh this? It's amazing, y'know! I can be like Haruka now!"

Her smile grew really wide, reaching the ends of both of her cheeks. "I'll show you."

Vines shoot from the ground with the similar flower that I have been seeing. I dodged it but the sharp petals scraped my arm, causing a painful stinging to course through my body. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH.....! Grrrahhhhh..."

"Isn't it perfect, Aoyagi? The pain...it's delightful, right?"

[FLASHBACK END]

"....!!!"

"Aoyagi, Is something wrong? You've gone pale again..." Kohane eyebrows furrowed and her hands wrapped around her chest.

"It has to do with Hanasato...Something's wrong with her..." I said.

"S-Something's wrong with Minori?" Kohane face went blue and gritted her teeth. "W-What happened to her?"

"I think...I think she's going though what I did...she kept claiming that she was like Kiritani before she attacked me." I replied.

"W-WHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTT?!!"

____

I was dead...they say it was from a suicide but it was probably my own stupid luck...

"Why am I like this, does the universe hate me or something...? Well I guess it doesn't matter anymore. I'm Haruka now. I'm never going back to the old me."

"The plain, normal, clumsy loser that was my old self..."

"I'm never going to be her again..."

"I'm not the Ultimate Unlucky Girl anymore."

"I'm the Ultimate Perfect Idol."

"And, I'm never going back."

____

We passed by into the library, we didn't now this was even here but it seemed like the right path considering how many plants were around it. I needed to find Minori, I'm here idol and she is my idol. I need to protect her.

"Were getting close, everyone!" I pointed to the tunnel ahead.

"Right, let's go." Ichika followed as well as Kanade, she insisted on helping as she wanted to get better at helping us escape which was nice of her.

"I hope that guy is alright...Aoyagi was his name, right?" Kanade asked me but Hoshino was the one to answer.

"Yeah, he's friends with Saki, Kohane and Shiraishi. He also is close with Saki's brother as well." Ichika confirmed.

Haruka sighed. "And now Minori's in trouble to...she tends to get herself into these situations a lot. But that silly side of her is what I believe is a great quality to her. It's really cute, I sometimes wish she wasn't so harsh to herself about her faults. Everybody has them after all."

"That's true...except for maybe one..."

"Did you say something, Yoisaki?" I turned to her but she shook her head.

"No, it's nothing. Let's go find Minori." She quickly finished but it didn't take very long to find away.

But something was off about her...Vines were crawling up her face, thorns were scaring her skin and her eyes were dilated so much that they looked like cat eyes.

"Ah, your all here..." She smiled at me but it wasn't cheery or fun, it was just off....

"Minori...are you okay?" I exclaimed. but instead of what I expected, her eyes narrowed and laughed.

I expected her to say she was okay, but instead, her eyes narrowed and she laughed. "Minori...? Who is that? Sounds like a name of a loser."

I stopped in my tracks, what did she just say...?

"Whoever Minori is can fall down a well..." A smile grew underneath.

"Because I'm Haruka. And, I'm PERFECT."

Chapter Text

I stepped back, shocked by her. "Minori, what do you mean by that?"

"That's exactly what I said. I'm am Haruka, the perfect idol, I believe that Minori was the girl who died from falling off Phoenix Wonderland's ferris wheel, how unfortunate... but I could care less." Minori said with a unwavering smile. "I have more important things to deal with, like being the cut above the rest. I have to be perfect because the ordinary can't be idols."

My eyes widened, there's no way she could have said that.... "Minori, that's not true, you know that's not how I am-" I reached out to her but she smacked my hand away and stopped the ground continuously.

"MY NAME IS NOT MINORI!!!! IT"S HARUKA. GET IT RIGHT!!!! MY FANS GET IT, SO WHY CAN'T YOU?!!!" She screamed and pulled at her hair, I stumbled back into Ichika who quickly held onto me. I had never seen Minori furious before, neither did Yoisaki or Hoshino.

"But your not Haruka...Minori-" Ichika said sheepishly in a attempt to smooth things over but it seemed to only frustrate her more.

"STOP TELLING LIES. I'M NOT SOME WORTHLESS PLAIN GIRL, I'M HARUKA!!!!" Vines started to grow around her arms more and face with her eye glowing green. "YOU MUST BE MY FAN, NO FAN OF HARUKA GETS THAT WRONG!"

The vines grow even bigger like snakes, erupting from her hand and biting Kanade's hair to drag her down, others crashed into the wall near me and Ichika that we ducked from.

"Ahhh..ahhh..!!! Heeellllppp....!" Yoisaki hollered and thrashed against the vine in an attempt to escape.

"Yoisaki...!!!" I quickly rushed to her side to slash the vines but another one pushed me into a wall, the room grew blurry for a moment...I could barley make out someone rushing to me.

"Kiritani!!! A-Are you alright?!!!" It was Ichika, her face was pale and looking at my head which makes sense. I did slam into a slab of metal.

"Ugghh...I'm okay, Hoshino. Thank you..." I slowly stood up and grabbed my butcher knives, tossing one soared passed one of Minori's other vines that was trying to stop the knife and cut the vine holding Yoisaki up.

"NOT SO STRONG NOW, HUH?!!!" She violently shot out more vines that shot between me and Haruka. It barely missed us because something whipped in front of us with a piece of metal, chopping the vine tentacle before it could reach us.

"H-Haruka...! W-What happened?!!! You're head...is bleeding..." Azusawa noted, examining the back of my head. No wonder I felt dizzy and a bit faint.

"I'm okay...don't worry about me, Azusawa." I downplayed but my head did hurt a bit, Kohane didn't seem convinced either.

Her eyebrows stiffened and crossed her arms. "I sure have been hearing that message a bunch, huh?"

I felt bad for her since not only have Minori and Aoyagi been avoiding her but she's been terrified of this place and worrying constantly about everyone...Maybe lying wasn't the best choice. But compared to drowning, getting pushed into solid steel wasn't that bad.

"Sorry, I mean I'm just a bit light-headed, Kohane. It'll clear up eventually." I reiterated which seemed to calm her a bit.

Her lips parted to a move relieved smile. "That's good, I'm glad you at least told me the truth-Whoa!!!" Kohane almost got punched by a snake vine that stabbed through the ground but she quickly dodged, I assumed from her fast reflexes as a street dancer. "That was close..."

We started dodging the vines that were swinging at us while pairs of eyes with faces would spit mini snakes from their mouths. One grabbed around An's foots, stringing her upside down while dragging her towards it's mouth. "HWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! G-GET IT OFF G-GET IT OFF!!!! GET IT OFFFF!!!!!!!" An shouted, her face going blue as a blueberry. Luckily, her savior, Kanade pulled one of her cutlasses from her pocket and tossed it at the eye of the mouth.

"AYYYYAHHHHHHHGAHHHHHH!!!!" The mouth shrieked, dropping Shiraishi down on the floor before shriveling up into dust.

"EEEEEWWWWWW!!! EWW EWW EWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! She quickly stood up and brushed off her clothes frantically, trembling, she ran to hide behind Aoyagi and Kohane. "SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT HELL ON EARTH IS GOING ON?!!!!" She exclaimed. "D-Did Minori turn i-into a g-ghost....A-Are they all ghosts....?!!!!"

"I wouldn't say ghosts, more like a recreation of an unsettling old vocaloid song that I guess disappeared from the public are attacking us..." Ichika replied, swinging her pipe at another vine. "I think one of them did something to Minori, it happened once to Haruka but maybe someone is controlling her..."

"SO S-SHE IS P-POSSESSED?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" An squealed, tightening her grip around Kohane who instinctively flinched at the surprise contact.

Ichika looks at me before shrugging her shoulders with her hands up. "Ummmm...Kinda?"

Shiraishi face goes from blue to dark purple and cowers behind Kohane, clinging to her for dear life. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeep....!"

I focused my eyes to Aoyagi he was just staring there, looking at Minori, almost lifeless...was he okay...?!!!

___

All I was stare, not only was the pain getting to my head still, I was starting to understand why she was acting like this...She was trying to be someone else. She was pretending to be someone who was perfect, like how I was trying to pretend to be the perfect son for my father. But, you can never be truly perfect, no matter how hard you try. Though I did this to her. If hadn't pushed her she wouldn't be blaming herself more, if I had just stopped-wait."

What am I doing? I told myself I wouldn't fall back, I wouldn't run, I would stop...yet the pain of everything...it seems through because I can't-

[FLASHBACK]

"Do it again."

"Read the sheet music more carefully and stick to it. How many times do I have to tell you this?"

"No deviations whatsoever!"

"How long do you plan on using such excuses to run away from your responsibilities?"

"Path? Just where will this path lead you in the end? Remember, you were born to play classical music! Why can't you understand what I'm trying to do for you?"

"I can't believe you put something so uncouth on top of your sheet music."

"You know very well how much value and meaning classical music brings to peoples' lives. I thought I taught you that myself!"

"And yet you chose to get wrapped up in this...noise! Don't you realize your life is going to become empty because of it?"

[FLASHBACK END]

Maybe that is the case, Maybe I won't ever be able to change my past because I'll always be in his shadow and under his name but...if I can change my future...I can't give up. I have to follow that voice, my own voice.

"I-I need to reach her, I can't keep avoiding this." The pain was surging through my body but a pushed through each painful step, I breath was still raspy and I could barely see but I couldn't stop, I needed to reach her. "AUUUUGGHHH....!!! Ughhh..." I took a deep breath. "C-Come Toya...get it together, y-you can do this."

I never wanted to admit that being under his power would be my life.

I wanted to block it out, I couldn't ever say that I despised him to his face, only silently deifying him.

I know my past will always be there and it will always haunt me in some way, it will frustrate me for days on end.

[FLASHBACK]

"It's your life, so you should live it your way. If you don't like it, then just say so!"

"There's no rule saying you have to become what your parents want. We're not here so they can live vicariously through us."

[FLASHBACK END]

But I'm not his puppet, I know he doesn't really think like that but even so, I am going to do what I want, I have to push past the pain.

"Minori."

She turned her head to face me, a scowl present on her face, the others have been struggling to beat her. Yoisaki looked exhausted, Ichika couldn't really do much with those pipes and was just blocking them at this point, Haruka was doing well at just defending everyone else with Saki and Kohane while Shiraishi was huddling on the floor. The stinging was flowing through every vain in me at this point and every limb in me was screaming "Stop, please stop." But the small tiny voice in my head, his voice, keep pushing me. "You can reach her, keep trying." it yelled as loud as it could, trying to push away the darkness and a shine a faint glowing light.

"I'M HARUKA, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU WANT TO SUFFER TOO?!!!!" She's wrapped around me, sharp needles stung everywhere, they were wrapping around my neck, my face, I knew I couldn't breath but I stretched my aching head towards Minori's hand that was still outstretched. It was trying to to swallow me, it was working but I wasn't going to give up so easily. I really don't know when to quit, huh?

"Y-You feel guilty...t-too, don't you?"

Minori's grip loosed a bit, her eyes wide. "What do you mean...I don't feel guilty about anything-"

"Y-You believe your u-unforgivable, w-worthless and b-broken too...and all you care about is to be someone else..." My vision was fading again but I had to get my words out there while I had the chance.

"I-I don't understand...I don't-"

"Y-You hurt someone you deeply cared for and you don't believe you deserve any l-love so you pretend and put up a facade to hide your true emotions...but you know full well you can't r-run from them forever..." My heart was beating to stop, but I need to keep pushing.

"All that blackness has filled your heart and despite wanting it to stop, you can't help but feel that way because you know no matter what you do...You're in there shadow..."

"That's not-"

"You're jealous and life has no more meaning...except to be perfect."

"I-I..."

"A-Am I right to say that?"

"Hanasato..."

"....Ahh... I-I...It's..." Minori's vines disappeared and she started screaming and crying in anguish. "IT'S ALL MY FAULT...!!! If it wasn't for my plan, Kohane wouldn't have died and if it wasn't for my own stupidity...you wouldn't be here...I-I deserve to die!!! I DESERVE TO DIE!!!! NOTHING EVER GOES MY WAY!!!! N-NOTHING GOES RIGHT WHEN I'M AROUND...!!! EVERYTHING WOULD BE BETTER IF I WAS DEAD...!!!! I'M WORTHLESS!!! I'm... worthless..." She slowly fell to the ground. "I-I...I only make things worse. I-I don't deserve to be a idol..." She dropped to the ground sobbing. "T-That's why I wished that I was H-Haruka, I wouldn't have to suffer anymore if my bad luck, everything I hate... never existed."

I dropped to the ground and reached my hand to hers. "If you deserve to die, Hanasato... Then I should to...It's my fault as a group member for not doing enough. I'm the murder after all...Mikuma said it herself-"

"D-Don't listen to her...! She's just a psychotic murder herself who enjoys others s-suffering...d-don't say that about yourself!!!" Hanasato exclaimed but she was still crying.

"Then you don't get to say that about yourself, either." Kiritani walked up to her, patting her leg. "None of us deserve this...only whoever made this stupid game. Not to mention, I roped you into my plan. So, I take the most blame for that."

"But I'm so useless, how can you possibly still care?" Minori sniffed, rubbing her itchy eyes, her cheeks stained with tears.

"Because we're your friends, Minori! Of course we care!" Saki chimed in.

"Saki's right, you'll always be our friend, Minori." Ichika added.

Then Kohane walked up and gave Minori a hug. "Minori, I don't want you to blame yourself for my actions. I saved you because I care about you. We have been school friends since middle school, If you would try to hurt yourself again, I would save you, no questions asked. That's what friends do for each other. Please don't forget that."

"I-I..." Minori was still looking at us when I pulled her to her feet.

"It's time, Hanasato. If we want to reach our dreams, we need to keep pushing forward."

"But...everyone out there always says I can't so why should I try?" Minori replied and sighed, rubbing her eyes.

I sighed and slightly frowned before turning to her with a small smile. "I used to wonder the same thing...but someone once told me that if It's my choice to what I do with my life, and if I didn't like it...I get to make up my mind about what happens, not anyone else. So what you want to do is up to you and you alone, let's keep fighting for our dreams."

"Don't you guys say something in times like these...It was...More and more songs!" Kohane starts it off, gesturing to Saki and Ichika.

"More and more energy!" The two exclaim and pass to Haruka who smiles brightly and turns to Minori.

"More and more hope!" Haruka pumps her fist.

"What do you say, Minori?" Kanade says looking at her.

"You can do it, Hanasato. Don't run from who you want to be." I encouraged, patting her back.

"M-M...More.." Minori looked around at everyone, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"You can do it, Hanasato."

"You can do it, Minori!!!!!"

Clenching her hands into fists, new eyes looked back at us lit like fires. "More and more and more for everyone!!!!!!" We are MORE MORE..."

"JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" All the girls screamed, I even joined in to support her. Akito would say I looked dumb if he was here but I didn't really mind it.

"Hahaha...! Hehe!!" Minori fell down laughing with Haruka.

"Hehe..!!! You finally smiled, I'm glad." Haruka said before wrapping Minori in a warm embrace and quietly whispering. "Let's deliver more together, Minori."

"R-Right, More More Jump will spread hope to everyone, I will become a idol no matter what!!!" Minori cheered.

"That's the Minori we know, now let's all hurry back, it's not safe to stay out here for so long." Ichika said. "Besides, I don't think Shiraishi wants to stay here any longer.

"Right, let's go." Haruka agreed and the rest of us followed behind, I was about to follow when Minori wrapped me in a hug.

I turned my head to hers. "Hanasato, what are you-?"

"Aoyagi, Thank you...for reaching me..." She looked up to me with the brightest smile I have ever seen, small tears formed in my eyes. I hugged her back.

"Thank you...for reaching me as well."

Chapter Text

I was in the cage...everyone was there watching me, An was staring at me and tears were pouring from his cheeks...being held by Haruka and Ena. I looked around and saw the familiar violin bows that struck my skin, why was I here again? Where was...Akito?! He was trapped a container that was filling up with...large sheet music pieces?

I picked at the locks...the same thing happened before, being struck by those violin bows...but I didn't care, I needed to save Akito.

"C'mon Toya, where is it...?!!!" I rummaged around with each key again and again..."This time it has to be it." I said, and as luck would have it, I was right. When I was finally out, I could still see him. I could save him and we could still be in RAD WEEKEND together...! I ran as fast as I could to him, I was almost there...I could save him-

A large violin came down from the ceiling, smashing the glass container and Akito inside it, everything crumbled under it's power like a mighty fist striking ground. When it was over, the sheet music was crumpled, had glass shards everywhere, and the surrounding area was stained with blood. His blood...

"A-AAAAKKKKIIIIIIITTTOOOOOOOOO!!!" I dropped to me knees, I was so close, but now.. he was gone. It was all my fault he was gone... "NOOOOOOOOOO NOOO NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*Clunk*

*Ping*

*WOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHHHH*

The sound of something being released from the ceiling again...I didn't even need to look to know what it was. The only thing that changed was I was ready this time.

"I deserved this, I'll be by your side again soon, Akito-"

"Let's sing together again..."

I closed my eyes for the last time.

*SMASH*

And all at once, it was over.

___

*GASP*

"W-What...Where..?" I took a breath of air...I wasn't crushed under a computer was just staring up at the ceiling and laying down on the shared sheet all of us were using to sleep. I wasn't dead, I was alive and well, awake. But, I turned my head and realized I wasn't the only one.

"Trouble sleeping?" Hanasato asked but she was just looking straight forward, hands were on her legs.

"Y-Yeah...Are you?"

She sighs and turns to face me, nodding and moving in beside me. "I'm just processing everything that's happened, I guess... Not everyday you turn into a vine tentacle monster while your daydreaming, y'know."

I nodded and laid back on the ground. "Yeah..."

She laid down next to me, turning her head to face mine. "Speaking of that, you were dealing with it too...right? Didn't you see something too?"

I put my hands behind my head. "Yeah...I don't really want to talk about it. But..."

"You feel...like you should?" Minori replied, reading my mind.

"Mhmm.." I nodded.

"You can tell me, I mean, I don't know if I can be helpful... but I can listen!" Minori smiles slightly but her eyes are almost sparkly, likes she's hoping I'll open to her.

"Let's just say...it was about my past traumas with classical music and my dad...who was strict to me and only wanted me to play classical music, except in that dream...he was more abusive and I was just willing to take it until challenged him to a performance competition and beat him." I quickly summarized, I didn't want to tell her everything, rehashing those things I saw made me feel uncomfortable and she didn't need to know all that violence that happened before hand...

"Oh I see..."

"There are at times I wonder if what I did was truly the right choice..." I said and she nodded.

"Hehe, right.. I think that way sometimes too. Airi would probably scold me by saying things like-" She put on a sassy smirk before imitating her friends voice. "You're not giving up after that, are you?! Where's the Minori who's going to spread hope to everyone?!" Her smile then morphed back to a slight natural one with her normal voice. "That's probably what she would say right now. Though I think she's right, staying positive is the best thing to do right now..."

"Yeah...you're right." I agreed. "Should we tell the others everything tomorrow?"

She nodded, patting her legs. "Yeah, nothing will get better if we don't tell them..."

"Do you think they'll forgive me once I tell them...?" I was a bit nervous, even if it was a accident I still didn't know how they would react.

She pumped both her fists close to her chest with a big grin. "I'm sure everything will be okay but you won't know unless you try."

"...Alright." My lips curled to a soft smile. "We'll tell them tomorrow."

"Also, I wonder if we'll see Airi and Shizuku again, or anyone else..." She said before lying back down.

"I'm not sure, but I believe we'll find them again...wherever they are."

"Yeah, we'll find them."

We both finally went back to sleep, smiling. I finally felt peacefulness for the first time in ages...

___

Meanwhile...

It's been work and work, day in and day out...none of them are really smiling like the used to...I have been watching them all for a while now. I've been reading a book called 'Phases of Sorrow' recently with 5 types of them. The others tend to line up with each one pretty well.

Ms. Nene is constantly working, when I ask about the killing game she tells me to stop and talk about something else. She always stays cooped into her work as the Ultimate Hope or having her eyes glued to playing video games... She also wakes up screaming but doesn't tell me why... Mr. Akito does the same thing sometimes Mr. Akito is awake and not asleep when they occur. That's what Ms. Ena told me, calling them hallucinations." I wish she would let me help her sometimes but she keeps rehashing that it's 'Her responsibility as the Ultimate Hope' to do it.." She's like a sister to me, I want to be able to take care of her like any good sister would...even if I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

Ms. Ena is the other person out of my family I hang around the most, she's kinda like the mother figure to me. She taught me to paint, saying if I ever felt lonely to draw things I liked, that's why I tend to draw my family, friends, and things that are orange in the sketchbook she gave me. Mrs. Ena seems to be the only one who is happy. I assume that at least, but I'm not sure. I believe she has truly pushed forward and I'm happy for her. I'm grateful that her feelings sparked Rin who's my best friend and all the things she does for me and the others to keep them safe.

Mr. Tsukasa is like my other father. Mr. Rui, I was told, was supposed to be my dad but he isn't here anymore. Before we left Sekai, Mr. Tsukasa was a little sad but smiled and still had fun. But recently he looks scared and alone, like a helpless pony. I have tried to go and they're and talk to him but he's always thinking about something else. "I hope I can help him one day, I hope he'll open up to me when I get the chance... I pray nothing happens to him."

Mr. Akito I also see as my older brother. I don't know if he sees me the same way but he taught me how to beatbox in secret, so that might count, hehe! He's a bit distant and gloomy these days but still talks to me sometimes, even of he doesn't eat a lot. He told me other things too! That dogs may look cute but are killers deep down and he and Mx. Mizuki also showed me the wonders of clothing! They expected me to like green or yellow like Mr. Tsukasa and Ms. Nene but I grew a love for purple and orange, now my outfits are cute orange purple themed! Despite how lonesome he's become, I love my big brother, Mr. Akito. "I wish he would be happy again."

Oh! And speaking of Mx. Mizuki, they have a cheery personality on at all times. They had a secret they hid from everyone, but I accepted them, of course! They had done a lot of kind things for me like let me test their outfits and play dress up. Until recently though, Mx. Mizuki has changed their appearance and scowl every time they eye Mr. Tsukasa. "I hope they're okay and nothing bad happens between them...I hope they are all okay."

Which is why I asked them if they could all visit Sekai with me. They sounded reluctant at first because of "work" but they eventually all gave in.

"Yay! Yay! We get to see Rin and the others again!!!" I cheered, jumping up and down.

"Reimu, shush, you don't want other people to hear you." Ms. Ena scolded politely.

"Hehe...Sorry, Ms. Ena." I apologized with a quick bow.

"Reimu, your so lucky! You got nice motherly Ena while I had to deal with devil Ena...!!!" Mx. Mizuki playfully whined and attempted to tickle at Ena who shoved them away.

"I am sweet with you, Mizuki! After all, I waited 2 and a half years for you to open up to me and everyone." She sighed with a smile while her arms were crossed.

"Right, Right. Forgive me, Miss Enanan..." They said and made a dramatic bow. something similar to how Mr. Rui, I had been told, used to do.

"Will you ever not joke around with me?" Ms. Ena covered her mouth with her hand to hide the small blush forming but Mx. Mizuki was already grinning at the sight.

"Hehe...you like it, deep down, don't you?" She pecked at her with their natural cheesy grin.

"F-Fine Amia, you win...Happy now?" She shot back, with the redness still in her cheeks.

"Indeed I am, Shinonome. Indeed I am." They goofed, while hugging Ms. Ena who was still flustered.

"U-Ummm, are we going now?" Mr. Tsukasa's voice cut through the banter his arms crossed slightly.

Onee-San nodded. "R-Right, let's go see Miku and the others." Ms. Nene then pressed 'Glory Steady Hope' and we were sent into our second home.

---

[Wondershared Sekai]

"Hey do you think they'll ever visit again, Miku?" I asked her, she was sitting on the benches near the café that Meiko owned, I was holding a Usa-chan...Tsukasa's and Saki's old bunny friend in my arms.

"Not sure, they're always busy fighting Cryptomaton bots or rescuing other survivors of the Tragedy...so I'm not sure when they'll come back-"

*Robot Beeps*

*Bell Chime*

*Paint Splash*

*Trumpet Fanfare*

*Beatbox Sounds*

*Knitting Machine Clicks*

"Hey, aren't those the notifying sounds for the kids?" Meiko asked, looking out the window.

"That means, they came back?!!!" I exclaimed, rushing off towards the entrance.

"H-Hey wait for me, Rin!!! Don't go by yourself!!!!" Len called out to her, chasing after them.

"C'mon, Luka!!! KAITO!!! Come and see them too!" Miku told them before following Rin and Len.

"Right...Right.. coming." Luka slowly followed.

"Don't worry, Rin. We're coming." Kaito also replied and plodded behind Luka.

___

I couldn't wait, it had been so long since we saw each other so I ran as fast I could. Sure enough standing before us were Ms. Miku, Ms. Luka, Rin, Mr. Kaito, Len, and Ms. Meiko, all in a row!

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!! WEEEEEEE'RRRREEEEE BAAAAACCCCCCCCCKKK!!!!!" I called out, waving to her.

"REIMU, YOU GUYS ALL CAME BACK!!!!!!!" Rin jumped and tackled me to the ground but my reflexes are strong enough the withstand the fall.

I giggled and hugged Rin back. "I'm glad to see you too, Rin!!!"

"Nene, your back, I'm glad to see you too..." Ms. Luka replied, still as usual, half asleep.

Nene chuckled. "Luka, You haven't changed a bit, huh?"

"Not really but, she has gotten up more while you guys are gone... a bit too much sometimes." Ms. Meiko cuts in. "You wouldn't believe how many times Miku, Rin, and I had to tell her to take a break..."

"What...you used to complain about me sleeping, Meiko...!!! Why are you getting upset now?" Ms. Luka pouted, crossing her arms.

"YOU NEED MODERATION!!!" Ms. Meiko shouted, hands on her hips. "Gosh, what do I do with you?!" She slapped her face and sighing deeply.

"Meiko..." Ms. Luka slouched, causing all of us to laugh, even Mr. Akito and Mr. Tsukasa cracked a smile...

"Hey Hey, do you guys want to sing for us?" Meiko asked. "I miss hearing you all sing!"

"S-Sing...?" Akito slightly raised an eyebrow, he hasn't spoke at all until now.

"Yeah, we haven't heard you all sing in such a long time, we want to hear you sing!" Rin replied, agreeing with Ms. Meiko.

"Don't force them if they don't want to, you two..." Mr. Kaito reprimanded us. "They probably came here to rest. We shouldn't force them to do anything"

"Don't worry, Kaito! They can just sing one song." Ms. Miku replied before turning back to us. "Are you guys okay with that?"

"Of course, it's okay!" I agreed. "I want to sing! I want to sing with everyone!" I begged and jumped up and down again. "Please, Ms. Ena,! Can we all sing together?"

She stared at me with my puppy dog eyes before sighing. "Fine, I don't mind, since it's you guys asking." She said as she walked towards the stage. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

"Ok... Sure!" Mx. Mizuki also agreed and chased behind. "Come on, guys!"

"A-Alright, I guess..." Mr. Tsukasa nodded and followed them. "Are you coming... A-Akito-kun?"

He scuffed his foot on the group before mumbling something and taking his hand, saying nothing else as he got onstage

"Yea, uhh.. let's go...!" Nene walked up to the stage, and clicked the music player. "Let's sing, everyone..."

___

Even in the midst of flowing time, I feel languid,
Look, spinning around and around,
I can't even see the heart
That's leaving me, didn't you know?

I can't even get myself to move,
I continue to be washed down the cracks of time.
I don't know anything about what's around me,
I'm just me and no more.

Am I dreaming? Or seeing nothing?
My words are useless even if I speak.
I'm just tired of being sad,
I should go on without feeling anything.

Even if you give me the words I'm at a loss for,
My heart just won't pay attention.
If I move myself away,
If I change everything, I’ll turn it all black.

Is there a future for someone like me?
Will I still exist in a world like this?
Is this painful? Is it sad?
Not even knowing myself,

I'm just tired even of walking,
I don't even understand people.
If someone like me can change,
If I can change, will I turn white?

Even in the midst of flowing time, I feel languid,
Look, spinning around and around,
I can't even see the heart
That's leaving me, didn't you know?

I can't even get myself to move,
I continue to be washed down the cracks of time.
I don't know anything about what's around me,
I'm just me and no more.

Am I dreaming? Or seeing nothing?
My words are useless even if I speak.
I'm just tired of being sad,
I should go on without feeling anything.

Even if you give me the words I'm at a loss for,
My heart just won't pay attention.
If I can move,
If I change everything, I’ll turn it all black.

If I move, if I move,
I’ll destroy everything, I’ll destroy everything.
If I grieve, if I grieve,
Can my heart turn white?

I still don’t know about you,
About myself, about everything.
If I can open my heavy eyelids,
If I break everything, then turn black!

*Instrumental Until End*

___

When we were done, we didn't really feel much better... I wasn't really

"Wow, that song sounded kinda sad but also hopeful..." Rin said. "It makes sense considering where you are right now, but that also means things will get better! So I know you can do it!"

Miku nodded and patted our backs. "Rin's right, I'm sure you'll be fine. Just make sure to be there for each other! You're all each other have... Well, besides us, of course!" She smiled. "You'll always... be welcome here."

"Thank you, Rin... Miku.. It was nice to let things out for a change..." I gave a small smile.

"Yeah, how about we go to the café next?" Ena asked.

"Right, let's go." Mizuki agreed and strut passed Tsukasa and glared at him for being close to him, but I still don't know why.

"Yeah, let's go go go!!!" Reimu replied, dragging Akito away towards the café.

"Hey, Hey, Reimu! Don't pull so fast!" Akito yelled but she didn't stop, she really was like another Emu...even though nobody could replace the real Emu.

"I'll go too...!" Tsukasa quickly walking away, leaving just me and Ena.

"Hey, Nene..." Ena looked at me.

"Yes, Ena?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"I went to check on you yesterday and saw this weapon you and the foundation were planning.." Ena said with a raised eyebrow. "What's it for?"

"T-That's ummm... not important, Ena. It's only a prototype in case things get dicey while when we try to clear out all those monsters." I reassured her. "You don't need to worry, okay."

"You sure?" She asked again. "This won't backfire on us, right?"

"Yup, I'm sure." I nodded. "Now, c'mon, the others are waiting for us." I quickly walked away turning my face from her. I told her I was sure... But I really wasn't. I would, make sure that I was sure tonight...

___

We were all hanging out now eating, well except me. Since I'm a robot and I can't eat. Instead, watched as the others chatted.

"I really like what you did with your hair, Mizuki." Ms. Meiko replies. "You look more confident."

"Thanks Meiko." Mx. Mizuki smiled as she took a sip of their wine.

"I also noticed Tsukasa is distant these days and Akito is less vocal... did something happen?" Ms. Miku asked.

"That's just how they are these days, Miku." Ms. Ena deadpanned before her voice went soft. "We don't really know what to say to him..." She then sipped her café latte.

"Oh..." Ms. Miku sighed, sipping her tea a bit. "It would be nice if they both truly smiled again soon."

"Yeah, not sure when that's going to happen though..." Ena replied before going back to her latte.

Mr. Tsukasa was helping out in the kitchen, surprisingly, but maybe that was just scared again...

And Nene didn't say anything, as she drank her lime cream soda. She was probably trying to avoid the topic again...

I stood up from my seat. "I'm gonna take a little walk, be right back..." I whispered before I tiptoed towards the alley of lost smiles. Today marked almost three years since the killing game and three years since I had been created, they're smiling faces stared back at mine. I kneeled down into prayer... "Please, If you give me your blessings, help me restore their smiles... I want them to smile again. I may not know a lot about you and you may not know a lot about me, but we both care about them...so please help me...!" I stood up again and I stared at the portraits of Mr. Rui and Ms. Emu...I hope my prayers reached them..

"I'm sure they did." I heard a voice, it was none other than Rin, my best friend. "I believe they reached them...I hope my own prayers reached them, that they forgive me."

"I'm sure they will, Rin. I believe so too."

Rin kneeled down and said out loud the same phrase.

"Please save them, please reach their feelings again."

"Reimu?" Ms. Nene sat down beside me. "I didn't know you were here, we were looking for you after you slipped away."

"We?" I asked and noticed the others soon appeared beside Ms. Nene and Rin.

"Reimu, don't just run off like that." Ms. Ena exclaimed, hands on her hips. "You made us worried."

"Ahaha...Sorry I didn't tell you, Ms. Ena, everyone." I bowed.

"It's alright, we're just glad your okay...we weren't expecting you to come here." Mx. Mizuki said, pointing to the alleyway.

"Yeah but even though I don't know them, I wanted to honor them since this is the anniversary of me being born, right?" I replied and they nodded.

"Right...W-We should all pray and bless their spirits at the shrine again as well. C'mon..." Mr. Akito quickly kneeled down before Toya, An, and Kohane's portraits.

"...Mhmm." Mr. Tsukasa kneeled without as much as a mumble, sitting before his sister.

Nene, Ena, and Mizuki quickly followed after each other with me and Rin being last, waiting for them. With my robot ears, I heard them whisper their blessings.

"Rui, Emu, I hope your spreading smiles in the afterlife...I'll keep working to make the world filled with hope...!"

"Toya...Shiraishi...Azusawa...You probably are happy with the others, but I miss you."

"Saki... Toya... Shizuku... Ichika... Shiho... if I could trade places than I would, I wish I could have done more to save you... I'm sorry..."

"Even though you all probably didn't think of me as a true friend. Rest well, don't worry about me..."

"I'll have my art studio one day, Airi! I'll save the world and make you proud I'll show everyone who I really am...!"

I kneeled down once more and whispered.

"Please, return their smiles! Please make them smile. that's all I wish for..."

I will make everyone smile.

No matter the cost.

Chapter Text

*Sigh*

After the rest of them left, I wanted to tell Ena something but I couldn't get the words to slip out. The truth is that things are changing but also going back to normal...like one time...

"Hmm another slow day in Seka-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" I tripped over something, landing face first on the ground. "Ouch...! Len, if you leave your DJ equipment on the floor again, I swear I'll-" It was a music box, it wasn't just any music box...it was a gray small one..with a picture of a tall man with short grey hair, a small mustache and wearing a gray cardigan. It was HER music box?!!

But that's impossible, right? SHE is dead, that can't be right...But if it can't be right, then how is it here?

I went to Mikkie straight away, after all, she knows the most about Sekais than the rest of us and should know what's going on between the Sekai. Yet-

"I'm sorry, Rinny..I don't know what's going on either."

She claimed she had no clue.

Her face didn't seem so, but the more I pushed, the more she insisted that she didn't know what was going on...Maybe? No...I think she knows something, but what?

"Ugh, what's with them?!! I can't figure it out at all...!!!" I screamed and stomped my foot. "I just want to know what's going on."

"Hmm, you too...?"

"EHHHHH?!!" I turned around, it was none other than Meiko and Len in tow. "Lenny, Meia?!!! What are you doing here?!!!"

"I've been wondering what's up with her. Kai and Lu have been wondering what's going on but have prefered to stay out of it. But..." She huffed and crossed her arms. "Something is up, and I'm going to figure out what."

"Yeah, you feel it too, Lenny? How artifacts of the others who died are appearing for no reason, like when we saw that pile of Miku CDs and four colored phenny plushies just appear out of nowhere..."

"Yeah. It could maybe be just the others remembering them and these things popping up, but it also feels...more that that." Len said. "I just wonder if Mikkie is hiding this for a reason...but what that reason could be I'm unsure about."

"Mhmmm.." I replied and sat down next to them. "Mikkie....what are you hiding from us...?"

"Also, do any of you guys wonder what's going outside in their world." Len says.

"No, I just hope it's doing better than before." Meiko says.

___

*BANG!!!*

"Huff...Huff.." I was running from a Len chasing me down...on all fours like a cougar after it's prey. I never understood why this was happening...I don't think I ever would, I still remember how everything began.

[FLASHBACK]

"Oi, Hey, Ken-San! Taiga-San!" I walked up to him, sitting down nar the counter. "One latte please, Ken-San?

"Sure, coming right up." He was about to walk away when we both heard something.

*BOOM!*

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I jumped in my seat, getting of the stool. "What the hell was that?!!!!"

"Don't know, I'm going to check it out."

I turned to him. "Ken-San, ARE YOU CRAZY?!! THERE WAS A EXPLOSION, WHAT IF YOU GET HURT?!!!"

"He'll be fine, kid, Ken isn't any push over despite his age." Taiga tried to reassure me but I couldn't help but feel worried, that explosion sounded loud and bad.

"Yea, plus It'll be better than the rest of you getting in danger, I can handle myself." He said, strutting out the door, only to open it and be met with something so much worse...

Á̸̰̠̥̻͖̟͍̅͒́̕͜R̵̩͎̬̝͇͔͐́̾͗͜ͅÊ̶̖̝̭̘͍̅̓ ̷̢͈̖̥͒͆͒͗̂̌Ŷ̶̥̠̯͚̻Ȏ̸̠̤̦̬̖͎̀̋̎̕U̴͎̲̦̭͂̂͂͑̏ ̶͎̰̜̥̼͋̽̊͊̆͠Ṟ̴̨̧͎̖́̀͆̾̔Ȩ̴̼̠̜̘̜͉̞̀́͛̊A̶̫͐͗D̴̗̺͑̑͒́̓̃Y̷̡͓̤͐͠ ̴̢̛̣̐̍͐͆̇͝T̷̯̲͇͉̄Ǫ̶̦̩̝͕̙̔̏͐͝͝ ̶̳̙̠̯̗̜͛D̷̦͖͆͒͘͝I̶̩͛̌͠E̷̘̼̎̐̏,̶͙̖͒̈́̀ ̸̠̪̦̰̗̭̹̈́Ȳ̴̖̍̓̂̈́̕͘͠O̵̲̮̖̥͇̱̤̒̀̔̏̎͂͌U̵͈̰̅̽̀̈́̉͝͝'̷̡͔̦̗̺̝͂̆ͅͅR̸̡̲͇͋E̷͔̲̟̽̒̿̔ ̴͚̭̺̰̬̮̭̙̌̌̋͘Ḡ̶̪͚̭̮̜͛̍Ỏ̸̢̪͓̳̹̬̂͗̇N̴̢̢̬̹̣̼̟̜̍͒̅̂̍Ņ̵̨̡̯͖͎̊̄̐͗̑͝Ȃ̴̩͎̬̯̫̎̔̚ ̴̨̺̘̬̖͙̱̏̋́̅̆͝D̴̛̬͇̈́̀Ȉ̴̘̿̀̏̑̒̈́̚E̶̫̭͍̻͓̹͆̌̿͂̆!̴̢̡̧̜̞͇̅!̵̢̢̖̬͉̞͠!̶̪̲̲͚̱̱̀͑̈́̒̏͒͘!̴̤͌̒̈́͌͂̕͜͝!̸̡͙̘͑͝

Within seconds, the Miku lunged at Ken, pinning him to ground. He seemed to be doing well against her but then more people with strange Miku masks came and started to shoot up the place. One of them being very close to me and Taiga-San...Ken took his eyes off his opponent to help is patrons and-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

The Miku stabbed right through Ken-San's skull, He let out a piecing scream that shook the whole café until that Miku just ate him alive... I froze. I was stuck in place, like a deer in headlights, she was staring at me!!!!!! No.. No.. STAY AWAY FROM ME!!! MOVE LEGS, WHY WON'T THEY MOVE-

*BAM*

"KID, RUN!!!!!!!!!!" It was Taiga, he had stolen the gun from the person who attacked before and shot at the Miku, he was shoving at me. "GOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

I took off, I had to get out of there...I could barely think, Ken just died...Ken just died...and now Taiga could-

I felt all the cold tingling down my body, he was dead, they were dead...I was alone now...

I couldn't find Toya, Akito, and the other two anywhere...I couldn't find them, all I had to do was run, I wasn't stopping. I ran into an abandoned complex and just hid, I started processing everything...They're dead, They're dead...All at once I started crying...I had seen chaos everywhere when I ran, people dead, houses burning and people jumping willingly off bridges..what the hell was going on-

*Sniff..Sniff*

I flinched, there wasn't someone else in here, right? Against my better judgement, I scoped out the complex and found someone...She was sitting with her hands on her knees, sobbing. She was wearing a black and brown dress with her hair half tied in pigtails with the rest down.

"W-Why...is this happening...? H-Haruka...our old members...they're gone, what should I do? What should I do?!!! W-We were all hanging out together to catch up when Rin just burst through the stage and k-killed all of them...I don't know how I'm alive but I can't do this alone... H-Haruka, What should I do...?" She kept sobbing and pulling at her hair, I couldn't blame how distressed she was, after what I saw....I wished I could curl up into a ball too.

"H-Hey, you okay?" There wasn't many times I had to speak to a girl before...She looked up at me with her shiny emerald eyes..This girl was hot?!!! Wait, shut up, your supposed to be consoling her.

"Ehhh..Yeah..thank you." She played with her fingers while looking at me slightly. "Umm, by the way, who are you?"

"My...name is..umm..Mita. Kotaro Mita, miss uhhhh......" I put my hands in my pocket to avoid embarrassment, I really need to get better at talking to girls, especially hot ones...

"That's a n-nice name...I'm Mai, formerly of...umm..ASRUN."

"WHAT?!" I stepped back shocked, no way, no wonder she looked hot...

"I-Is it really that surprising?" She looked at me, batting a confused glare at me and flusteredness...Damn, there is no way I can tell Akito and Toya about this.

"N-No it's not that, just never met a idol in person, y'know." I tried me best to cover. "I-I also didn't want you to feel sad..." I attempted to fight off the warmth rising in my cheeks but she giggled and stood up, wiping her tears away.

"I see..." She shook my hand. "That's really kind of you to do, I feel much better now after talking to you, so thank you!" She grinned at me.

I smiled back, wiping my own tears. "You're not the only one who feels that way, but...you're welcome."

"Mhmm, Do you think we should stay here, or should we go searching for other people...?" She asked me.

"I haven't thought that far ahead, yet... But I think we should wait here a bit longer." I said.

"Then let's do that, whenever your ready...we'll try to find more people, okay." She replied.

"Okay." I nodded and the two of us rest there together.

[FLASHBACK END]

We eventually left and went to Shibuya shopping mall on a search for supplies, we barely escaped with our lives because of how crowded the place was, it had monster virtual singers everywhere...Luckily we went to a kitchen and cooking appliances shop where I grabbed a pin roller and and Mai grabbed a frying pan for weapons. We escaped the mall but they chased us all the way to Phoenix Wonderland which looked like a wasteland compared to how it used to be, the Wonder Stage seemed to be targeted first. But, it wasn't long before it and other attractions were trashed with the word 'DESPAIR' written all over...

"Kotaro, this way!!!" Mai yelled at me as we ran into Phoenix Wonderland, We went inside the Phoenix Stage and shut the doors tight, as soon as we did so she yelled out to the stage. "All clear, you guys can come out now."

At that moment, three faces popped from the stage, three faces I was now used to seeing these days. The first one was Iori, when I first met her she was wearing a white STANDOUT t-shirt, the name of her band, and a oversized gray jacket. She still has that cold serious attitude when me and Mai first met her, but now she wears more black... an all black hoodie, dark gray skinny jeans, and grey sneakers. Her eye also has a bandage from being cut across the eye when we first met.

"Took you long enough..." She sighed crossing her arms. "I was wondering if you had died or not."

"Jeez, do you have to be like that?" I groaned, handing her the medical supplies we got from smuggling the stores, it's not even really smuggling since the place is pretty much deserted now.

"Yeah, stripey bangs, he at least got you what you needed." Came from the second voice, a curly blonde girl in the red jester outfit, Seiryuin Sakurako. She still wears that torn outfit just because she likes it more than the clothes we got for everyone at the mall... She tends to be sassy with Iori but very overprotective to her at the same time, she's hot too but she confuses me with her personality.

"I fucking told you not to call me that, theater girl!!! God, I hate you!!!" Iori yelled before stomping away from her.

"But you also love me." Seiryuin jeered with a smirk before walking away from us with the stolen guns and placing them nearby the stage with the rest of the other guns we collected.

"Ignoring those two's banters... Thank you for getting all this stuff for us, Kotaro and Mai." The third voice said, coming from, Futaba Natsuno. A artist girl with a blue tank top, brown mini skirt, and black braided hair. "I'm grateful for all you two do for us!"

"You're welcome, Futaba..." Mai smiled. "We won't be able to stay here forever but it's best we get enough supplies before trying to find the Phoenix Federation and get rescued." She still seemed nervous about going outside again, she always has... I mean, we all are...

"Don't worry, Mai. We have to do this, besides... If we find the Phoenix Federation Headquarters, we won't be struggling on our own anymore! This is what's best for us." I patted her shoulder in reassurance.

She nodded. "Right, we can do this, I can't sing but I'm still an idol who can spread hope, I'm not going to get negative!" Her eyes were now filled with determination.

"Right, Let's do it!" I exclaimed.

*THUMP THUMP*

"What was that? A-Are...Are they trying to break down the door?!!" Futaba stands up, picking up one of the sniper guns.

"We're not going to let them have that, at least not yet." Seiryuin replies, pulling a bat from that was originally a prop but has now been armored up with nails and screws to make it more dangerous against threats.

"LET'S GIVE EM' BITCHES HELL!" Iori yells, causing the rest of us to sigh before we square up,

The doors fly open and beasts flood in. Iori...like usual, goes batshit crazy at them with her automatic rifle, which i guess isn't bad in this sense. Futaba shoots down any fast ones coming up from behind, she's really good at getting ones in the far back. Seiryuin is good at surprising opponents before smacking them with her bat and Mai's flair makes her good at using her pan. I was fast, so I would attack whenever their guards were down and pushed them away so the others could hit them.

Eventually all the bitches go down, all goes quiet, I sit down on the floor and run my fingers through my hair.

"Why is all of this happening...I just don't understand." I pulled at my hair.

"I don't know either, what happened...it's all too surreal." Mai sighed and sat down with me.

"I still wonder what happened to Akito and the others..." I sighed. "I hope they are safe.

"Yeah, I hope Ena is safe too..." Futaba said, I had no idea who this Ena girl was but maybe she was friends with them.

"I'm gonna destroy whoever started this, my bandmates are all dead because of them!!!" Iori huffed. "Plus everything just fucking sucks now!!!!"

"Yeah, because of what they did, Phoenix Wonderland is gone too." Seiryuin stopped her foot.

"Mhmm..." I agreed and looked back up at the red sky, I hated seeing it but I had nothing better to look at...you couldn't even see the stars with it around. It was almost like a cloud that was tainting almost everything around us...

I would never forget the image in my head of those Vocaloids swarming the streets, Ken's death, the destruction of it all...It hurt, I missed Ken, I missed just going to WEEKEND GARAGE and chatting with Akito, Toya and the others...I missed going to live houses and just singing like everyone else in Vivid Street...But now, that's never going to happen, I know it's never going to happen again. I want it to happen so badly, but nobody can just come back to life...They're dead and gone. Simple as that.

And I really hate that...I really really hate that....

Where did things go wrong...Why did things go wrong?!!! Will anything ever be the same again...?

I don't know anymore...

Chapter Text

"So, Toya got stuck in a universe where he almost became like his father..and we know a bit about what happened to you Minori..." I said.

"Mhmm, In my mind, I was Haruka and still with ASRUN...I was supposed to be performing with Shizuku who was still part of Cheerful*Days...Airi and I were..." She switched from looking at us to staring at her shoes.

"You and Airi were what?" Haruka pressed further, putting her hand on Minori's shoulder.

"Airi and I were said to have killed ourselves..." She starts crying and hugs Haruka. "Airi's reason was unknown, but I thinks it's because nobody saw her as a idol in that world...and...I-I supposedly fell from the top of Phoenix Wonderland's Ferris Wheel." She finished, fully sobbing into Haruka's shoulder. "At the time, I believed it and was content with it. I assumed it was my stupidity that caused it, because I-I..."

"Minori..." Haruka rubbed her back and hugged her tight. "I always told you that you are perfect the way you are, Minori..."

"H-Haruka..." Minori hugs her back.

"But that doesn't answer what gave you those nightmares in the first place, or all those vines...controlling you." An says.

"It was a figure in a black cloak with a snake skull headpiece, they also had vines too." Minori replied. "They made me drink juice with the crushed petals in it..."

"And it made you hallucinate all that.." Ichika putting two and two together. "I'm guessing since, plants in Sekai aren't normal...that had more extravagant effects than real life."

"I guess so..." Minori replied.

"But why would these types of plants be here?" Saki chimed in.

"Maybe to make them jealous..." Kanade replied, she hasn't really spoken up that much, probably due to being tired out earlier. "Minori says she wants to be just like Haruka because she felt inferior...so by giving her the ability to stay as Haruka and not face her problems would be a win win for most people. It's similar with Aoyagi too, you even said you wish you were like your father too...Isn't that right, Aoyagi?"

"Mhm..." Toya sighed. "Yeah, I always looked up to my father, always frustrated and hating him because I could never meet his expectations while at the same time, trying to escape from him and never be like him at all."

"Aoyagi-Kun..." I felt bad for him, having a parent who doesn't respect you decisions and running from them while also caring about them and not wanting to disappoint them is tough. If only everyone could get along in this world...

"Toya, gosh, you really can't stop comparing yourself to others, huh?" An stifles a short laugh before going to a whisper. "Guess it's just human nature for you... But just be proud of who you are, okay?"

"I will, sorry..." Toya slouches a little, rubbing the back of his neck.

"We should find who did this, they could be the keeper of this floor, like MAYU was." Ichika gets us back to the topic at hand. "The faster we leave this place, the better."

"Right, let's do it." I agreed and picked up my bolt cutters. "Time to catch a culprit!"

We all readied ourselves and rushed to the library to catch the mysterious figure once and for all. As we walked, I saw An chewing on her hair...I wrapped my arm around her as we walked. "It's okay, An, I'm hear. You doing alright?"

"Thanks, K-Kohane...I'm just tense, I'm really surprised by all of this." An rubs her arms, shivering. "I mean, aren't we...dead?"

"Maybe, but maybe a miracle happened that brought us back. So I guess I'm thankful for that!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." An mumbled and nodded.

"Hey An, by the way, how did you even end up here?" I asked her.

Her eyes widened slightly. "I don't remember, but I probably died..."

"Oh.. okay." Maybe I should leave her alone about it. After all, pushing Minori was the whole reason she ran...I don't want to hurt someone again.

"Oh look, were here...!" An replied, her face doing a 180 switch. "Let's find that culprit!"

"Ermm R-Right, let's go." I needed to shift my thoughts from that for now...I could ask her later. We just needed to leave this place first.

We pushed open the library and went down the same path. Surprising us, the tree had a hole in it, the hole leading to a tunnel inside with stairs going down. A underground entrance...

We all walked down, but I saw Minori's looks of terror and walked back to them. "Minori, Aoyagi, what's wrong?"

Minori didn't say anything, she just stared at the floor, her knees were shaking. Oh wait...!

"Minori, your scared of stairs...right?" I put my hand on her shoulder.

She jumped back slightly. "D-Don't touch me-" She stopped and noticed it was me, calming down slightly. "O-Oh it's just you, K-Kohane...Sorry..."

"It's fine, Minori, do you need some help going down? I can hold your hand while you walk down." I held my hand out to her.

"O-Okay...Thanks, Kohane." She slowly reached her hand out to mine and we leisurely walked down the stairs.

Toya was also walking close to An due to his fear of heights...Luckily we all made it down safely with nobody falling down.

"T-Thank god...we're not on those stairs anymore." Toya shivers, rubbing his arms.

"All we need to do now is walk through this underground tunnel, I think." Ichika replies.

"Let's try it!" Saki rushes off again towards the direction.

"Saki, wait!" Ichika chases her again. "Saki....!!!"

We watch in silence before most of us start laughing.

"They never learn, do they...?" Kanade raises her eyebrow at Toya.

"No, Saki's always been like that... a bundle of energy." Toya chuckles into his hand.

"They really don't grasp who dangerous this place is, huh?" Haruka sighs. "She sometimes reminds me of Minori when it comes to things like this."

Minori blushes. "Ehehe ...Sorry, Haruka..."

I shook my head and rubbed her back. "It's okay, Minori, let's just catch up to them."

We all quickly ran to catch up with the others, the place had a bunch of holes...Saki looked into one of them and out flooded insects of all kinds. Millipedes, worms, spiders, and scorpions...you name it...they were just pouring from the crevasses in the walls. We all quickly sped up our pace towards the hole's exit.

"Go Go Go!!!!" Ichika screams, dodging bugs jumping at them.

"Ugh, why did it have to be bugs?!!" An sputters, rushing ahead.

Haruka grabbed Kanade, and helps push her forward when she's getting tired.

"Everyone stays together!" Toya, Minori, and I stayed close in the middle to keep everyone close until we all quickly escapes the ditch.

Thank god, we're out of there..." Kanade sighs.

"yeah, It was sooo icky in there!" Minori exclaimed wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Hehe, I bet Onii-Chan would hate it in there..." Saki giggled, with her hands over her mouth.

"Yes...he probably would." Toya panted, trying to catch his breath.

Taking a look at the surroundings, there were dead bodies around the place, vines wrapped around their skeletons...almost like their souls were taken away.

We kept walking in a huddled formation, staying as far away from the dead bodies as possible. Who knows if they could come to life? I didn't not want to find out.

"I wonder what happened to these people..." Minori replied, looking at the corpses. "It's like they faded...away..."

"I'm not sure...We should keep moving..." Kanade lifts Minori from the ground. "We may find more answers by heading forward."

We saw people laying on the ground...some of them muttering things like "I'm famous! I'm famous!" as if they weren't even worried about the vines coiling around their necks and just staring with long smiles and dead eyes. But then the more we walked further, I head one say...

"That wasn't even real... I thought I was something but... I really am nothing, I'm going crazy....I'm nothing, I'm nothing, I'm nothing. Ha-ha...ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The vines had stabbed all the way through the person's eyes and into their mouth until the vines completely consumed the person...eating away at their sense of identity till there was nothing but an empty husk, their skulls now being all that's left...just like the others. I was left speechless, this was sick and putrid. I looked at Minori and Toya who looked equally uncomfortable with what had just been witnessed. When we looked back up, I saw a wishing pond and a field of wilting flowers. I heard a voice speak up...

"It's your fault, y'know?"

I turned around and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a...snake skull headpiece...!

"Hey, Come back here!!!!!!!!!" I rushed after them, chasing them down the trail.

I tried to swing my cutters at him but he teleported and disappeared inside the mansion on the path. I rushed up to the door and pulled at the door, it didn't budge. Eventually the rest of them caught up to me.

"Jeez Kohane, Don't run of like that!" Ichika huffed.

"Sorry you guys, but I saw him...the figure Minori was talking about...!" I replied.

"You mean the cloaked figure with the snake skull mask?" Minori asks and I nodded.

"He went inside this mansion, though they locked the door." I pointed to the mansion in front of us. "We might have to search this place for a key..."

"That shouldn't take much time with all of us working together!" Saki cheers and starts searching the area.

The area consisted of an outside well, some gravestones, and dead bushes with rotting trees. Ichika, Aoyagi, and Haruka checked the bushes while Saki, Minori, and Kanade check the gravestones. I checked the well.

There was only water in the well and some coins, so I decided to go check on the others.

I went over to the gravestone, there were a lot of rotting dead animals around the shrubs, and the trees surrounding the flowers looked wilted. There also was some trash cans that were toppled over slightly.

"Aoyagi, you can check the trash bin, Haruka can check the bushes, I'll check the logs." Ichika commanded. "This is the best option because of our heights."

They all agreed, Ichika checked the tree and shrieked. "Ewww... It's full of spiderlings...!!!"

"The bushes don't have anything either, I just saw more rotten dead animals..." Haruka replied.

"These trash cans also just have garbage...that stinks really bad..." Aoyagi stated and plugged his nose.

"Let's check and see how Minori, Saki, and Kanade are doing." I replied and we all headed toward the gravestone."

We quickly made it to the gravestones and Minori quickly came up to us. "We can't find it here either?"

"But where else could it be?" I asked.

*RUMBLE*

"What the hell was that-SPIDER!!!" Saki screams.

Me and Minori turn around and sure enough, there is a giant spider, and in it's pincers was, the key?!! It swallowed it in it's mouth and got into a battle stance.

I pull out my bolt cutters. Welp...I have pincers of my own, time to cut this pest down to size..

Chapter Text

*HIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS*

"That spider has the key?!!!!" Saki gripped tightly onto Ichika's back as a protective shield.

"That means we have to kill it." Aoyagi saw a sledgehammer nearby the grave and attempted to swing at the spiders legs but it kicks him back into the grass. "Ouch..."

"Here, let me handle that." I picked up Aoyagi by the arm and handed him my bolt cutters while I held the sledgehammer, luckily this sledgehammer wasn't that heavy.

Instead of running straight like Aoyagi did, I taunted the spider to come near me. I expected it to do what it did before, but in response, the spider tried to shot it's webbing. I barely dodged it, though I managed to escape by going in its blindspot. We all retreated to hide in the cemetery.

"This spider is pretty smart, huh?" Ichika pointed out. "It's like it's keeping a barrier around itself."

"A barrier, huh...how to we break that barrier though?" I put my hand to my chin.

"Oooh maybe we could use that to our advantage? Like tricking it to trying its legs together?" Minori suggested.

"That could work, it's like with dancing. If you twist your feet into the wrong place, you get unbalanced and quickly tip over. Am I understanding right?" Haruka analogized.

"That's exactly right, Haruka! Since that happens to me a lot, I thought maybe it can happen to this big spider too!" Minori exclaimed.

"Alright, let's go with it!" I agreed but I a questioned popped into my head. "We'll a distraction though...someone to trick it into webbing itself, who wants to volunteer to do it?"

"I'm not fast enough to do that..." Kanade lowered her shoulders. "Sorry..."

"I would like to help but I think my body wouldn't be able to handle being thrusted into the air like that." Saki also declined.

"Aoyagi also looks pretty battered." I noticing the bruises on Toya's skin, wincing at the slight redness.

"I'll do it, then!" An stood up. "I haven't contributed much to the team, it's about time I do something!"

"I'll join in too, then!" Minori also got to her feet. "It'll be a thanks for saving me."

"Sounds good. Ichika, Haruka, you two will me help attack the spider once it trips over-" I was going to say when An jumped in. "Wait, how about we do this plan but everybody except Toya, Saki and Kanade take turns wrapping up the spider? Toya, Saki and Kanade can focus on hitting it's eyes once it falls down, while the rest of us attack it's body." Ok then, we can do An and Minori to capture the first for legs. Then, Ichika and Haruka capture the second half before we all finish him off. Let's do this!" I quickly grabbed my sledgehammer and we put our plan into action.

____

The spider was scurrying and looking around, most of us hid behind bushes, trees, and other objects...Kohane waved the stick of her sledgehammer to signal that we begin motioning our plan.

"Alright, let's go, Minori...!" I jumped from the bushes. "Hey Daddy Long Legs, you fast enough to catch me? Or have you become a hobo?" I then took off to the left.

"Yeah, try to catch us if you can!" Minori jumped in rushing in the opposite direction.

*HIIIIISSSSSSS?!!!*

Right on cue, the spider tried shooting at me, the two of us went under his legs and around each other so that he would get himself tangled up. So far they had two legs tangled up.

"Let's keep this up, An!" Minori called out to me.

I gave a thumbs up. "Right, We can do this, Minori!" I then turned my attention to the spider. "Come on, that's all you got?!"

Minori and I then switched spots trying to capture the legs on the opposite sides we used to be on before. The spider tried to shoot at Minori, luckily it barely missed her. This helped us secure two more legs.

Kohane signaled to us again with the malet side of her sledgehammer, that meant we could hide, so we sneaked away to tag in Haruka and Ichika before ducking into the bushes.

"Here we go, Ichika!" Haruka quickly stood up, holding out her fist. "Don't be scared, now."

"Right..." Ichika pumped her fist back. "We got this, Haruka!"

The two of them got to work quickly on tangling the spider but...the spider saw Haruka and dashed straight towards, she wasn't looking...?!

"HARUKA, BEHIND YOU!!!!" Minori tried to warn her, but the spider quickly pinned her as her weapon rolled from her hand.

*SSSSRRRRREEEEEEEEEEECH*

Kohane turned to Ichika. "Ichika, grab the knife. H-Help Haruka!"

"Right...got it." She quickly picked up the butcher knife and ran towards the spider.

*HIIIISSSSSSSS!!!!!!!* The spider's jaws were closing in on Haruka...I was worried Ichika wasn't going to make it. Until...

*SLASH*

The metallic sound cut through the air, slicing it's head clean off it's body. My eyes widened at the sight, as well as the smell that followed...it reeked as much as those dead carcasses.

*SCREEEEEEE...*

"Ichika...?!" Haruka quickly stood up, getting as far away from the body as possible. The body was still twitching. We all left our hiding spots.

"HARUKA, ARE YOU OK?!!!" Minori came to Haruka's side immediately.

"I'm fine, Minori. Thank you." She brushed off her clothes before looking at the body.

"Do you think it's dead?" Saki poked at the dead acrachinid wearily.

Kanade face went pale green as she held her hand over her mouth. "I don't know but we should just get the key from it's body and leave...this smell is so foul, I might puke-"

I looked to where Kanade was pointing, and there were tiny spiders coming out of the big spiders head?!

"That's disgusting." Toya cuts one of the spiders.

We all gear up and start chopping up the spiderlings, more keep coming from the big spiders head and tried to climb up our bodies. We shook them off but more kept coming, It didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

"Ugh, more just keep coming?!!! What do we do?!!!" I worried.

"I'm not sure, An...Maybe we should-wait...If they are coming from the head than maybe...!" Kohane walked up to the spider's head with there sledgehammer and smashed it, She kept going until the spider stopped twitching. The spiders...seemed to respond and started to drop like flies.

"Urugh...That smell is getting worse now..." Toya said before quickly turning his head from the smell.

"Let's just get this key and get out of here before even more crazy stuff happens, K?" I quickly changed the subject, I really just wanted to get out of this creepy place.

Kohane nodded. "Right, leave it to me." She pulled the key, which the top was in a shape of a spider, out of the spider's head and washed it with some of our water before drying it on her skort. "Alright, l-let's get out of h-here..."

We walked up to the door again, I hadn't noticed the door also was shaped similarly to a spider. Kohane went up to the door to put it in the keyhole but the key disappeared through the lock, unlocking the door.

Kohane backed up into me. "W-Whaaaa?! It just disappears?!!!"

"Sekai never ceases to amaze me..." Ichika awed.

"Yea...well in any case, let's catch up to that masked figured." I added before stepping through the door.

With that, we all stepped inside the mansion, it had a tall staircases with many rooms. It was pretty dusty with cobwebs and rust around...The stairs also looked poorly made.

"This place just gets more and more unsettling." Haruka's shoulders shook a little as she glanced around.

Kanade raised her eyebrow at Haruka. "Really, I think it's better in here than outside."

"Really, your not creeped out, Kana?!" Saki exclaimed.

She shrugged her shoulders. "No, not really. It feels a lot like Mafuyu's Sekai."

"This is what your guys Sekai looks like?!!!" Minori eyes went wide.

She nodded. "Yeah, kinda. Anyway, we should get moving."

We all nodded and walked up towards the most ominous looking door, the door had a frame in the shape of a snake. We tried to open it, but unsurprisingly, it didn't budge.

"Now what?!" Saki stomped her foot and groaned. "This door won't open either!!!"

"Yeah...we only had one key and we already used it for the other door." Minori added.

"Wait guys, I think there are four keyholes in that snake's tongue." Toya pointed to the snake and indeed there were holes in the snakes tongue, fit for keyholes.

Ichika started pacing the area as she spoke. "But we don't have any keys for those doors, right? Do you think we might have to search this whole place?"

"I believe so, we'll have to thoroughly check all the rooms... so let's split up into teams to search for they keys." Haruka pointed to the dorms around the room.

So we all agreed and split into teams of four. Kohane and me in the first group were assigned to the Kitchen, Kanade and Toya went into the Library, Minori and Haruka in the third group went to the entertainment room + indoor pool, and Ichika with Saki in the last group went to the Bedrooms.

[Ichika and Saki's group - Bedroom]

We went to the left door on the first floor, the door was a rustic red color with the words 'Happy Haunts Kitchen' engraved in it. I slowly pushed the door open, and had to duck immediately as a pillow flew through the air and almost smacked me in the face, I didn't have time to warn Saki as she walked in and heard-

"Ahh!" She screamed and took the brunt force of the pillow, I had to catch her so she wouldn't trip.

"I gotcha, Saki..." I pulled her close to me behind the headboard of the bed. "I got you."

She steadied herself and leaned against the headboard next to me and sighing. "W-Woah...That was close." Her mouth turned upwards as she looked at me. "Thanks, Ichi..."

"No problem, Saki-"

"Well look what we have here, Reiko! Two playdolls!" One of the ghosts called out.

"Gento, aren't those the mortals the master said about." The voice of the second ghost who I assumed was Reiko replied, their voice sounded female. "Shouldn't we be capturing them?"

"I have a better idea, how about we play hide and seek with these mortals! If they can find us before this hourglass runs out, then they can have the key. But, if they don't, then we get to deliver them to boss! Pretty genius, am I right?!" Gento boasted.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Anyway..." Reiko turned to face us. "I'm sure you mortals know the rules, but if you don't. Catch me and Loudmouth over there and you get this key, don't, and you know what happens. Good luck."

With that the two of them teleported away in puffs of smoke with a laughter that followed. Me and Saki quickly left the room and back into the hallway of bedrooms...Time to go on a hunt.

"Saki, you check the bedrooms on the left. I'll check the bedrooms on the right." I said.

She gave me a wink. "You got it, Ichi!" and then ran into the first room immediately, I sometimes wonder how people like her and Emu can still be so energetic.

I headed over to my side of the hall and opened the first bedroom, and the first thing I saw was witch hats flying across the room. I had to dodge their magic bouncing all over the walls as I searched, but there wasn't a ghost in here, so I left the room quickly. "Four more rooms left to search, I sure hope they aren't as crazy as that one." I didn't get my wish. Not by a long shot.

As soon as I stepped into the next room, I felt something was wrong, so I looked up and- "W-Wait, I'm on the ceiling now?!!!! How did I even get up here?!!!" The room was surprisingly dark, it had only a few candles to illuminate the place...which made my stomach drop. I noticed a long case laying on the ground. "Maybe this had the key-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" Bats erupted from the case left and right, I waved my hands around trying to swat them away. "Ewww Ewww Ewww!!!" When they dispersed, I picked up one of the candles and the case read. 'Dracula's Coffin'. God my face felt hot, no wonder it hat bats in it...."Note to self, read before you open things." I told myself before looking around some more. There weren't any ghosts in here either so I left and face slammed into rough carpet...ouch...

Brushing myself off into the next room, it just had werewolf scratches all over inside. The werewolves were in large crates, sleeping. I decided to quickly check the room but I found nothing again. I sighed, at least I could leave this room now. I started my way back when I heard. *Squeak* "A c-chew toy...?! Nuts.." All the wolves eyes were open now. Great... They wolves all started trying to break from there cages, I bolted out the door and slammed it shut. "Not going in that room again." I heard pounding coming from behind the door but I wasn't sticking around find out and be werewolf chow.

The last room was full of paintings and vases. I inspected the vases but there was only dust in there. I kept searching until something smacked the back of my head. "Oww! Who did that?!" I looked around to find nothing except the ball that was thrown near me. I kept looking...something was definitely in here. I walked passed a few paintings, but when I walked passed one that looked like a king..I heard-

"Hehehehehe..."

The ghost was in the painting but how to I get him out? I thought about for a bit until I remembered...The flashlight! I have a flashlight! Ghosts hate light, so I can get the ghost to come out....I rummaged in my bag til I finally felt the flashlight and shined it at the ghost. The ghost screamed and came out into the light. "MY EYES, THEY'RE BURNING!!!!! TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The ghost dissipated into a wisp of smoke, leaving behind a note and part of the key.

"Hehehehe, you found me, mortal and are safe from being sent to your doom! But your friend is running out of sand...They haven't found my sister yet, you better hurry hurry if you wanna help them! Hehehehe!"

"Saki...! I need to help Saki!" I took the half of the key and put it into my bag, turned off my flashlight and dashed out of the room and towards the other side of the hall. "I need to find Saki, before it's too late!"

Chapter Text

Touring through this mansion was going to be interesting if we already encountered a giant spider and some ghosts. "What's behind door number 1?" I hummed as I swung open the door. As soon as I did, a loud whoosh echoed through the hall that it almost tripped me but I held onto the handle for dear life.

"Woah... what was that-huh?" I looked down at my clothes, covered in sand. "Man, this is going to take so long to wash out when I get back home...!" Not only that but my eyes felt itchy too..I reached up and touched up to my eyes and... "Ugh...sand."

*Rumble*

There were large gold cases in the rooms at were shaking a little. "Wait that means...! ...Real life mummies...? That's Innnnsaaaaannne...." I carefully checked the room to avoid accidentally knocking over the caskets. This room was getting really hot... I started checking but I only found some pieces of jewelry, pots and coins. "No ghosts...rats! Welp... time to try again!" I ran out of the room and wiped the sweat off my cheeks. "Finally, I'm not smoldering anymore...!"

I walked up to the next room and grabbed the handle tight. "Humm Humm Humm, What's behind door number two?" I swung open the door, and was met with cold air instead. "Brrr...This room is freezing!!!!!!" I doubted that a ghost would go in a room like this but I had to check anyway. I looked around in the room, through all I could see was snow, snow, and...more snow. So I left swiftly despite my nose being a bit itchy now...

The next room was a room was like a scientist lab, with someone tasing a person on the bed. I tried to back away but the person rose up from the bed and locked eyes with me. It was Frankenstein?! It's eyes turned yellow and in charged from the bed towards me. "AHHHHHHH!!!" I covered my eyes and braced for impact when I heard.

*THWACK*

I looked up and the rope around the creature's neck and caused him to trip, his head rolled up right in front of me. I stared at for a few seconds...

*GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGGGGGGGHHH*

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" I slammed the door shut and ran into the next room without looking back...My head was starting to hurt a bit...

"Maybe I should take a-a-...ACHOO!!!" I rub my nose with my sleeve. "Ugh...Why do I feel light headed all of a sudden? I'm not sick am I... I-I can't be sick now...! And I don't have time to wait, I need to find that ghost and get the ke-" I looked at the room in front of me, everything just looked like a mush of orange and black. "H-Huh...Everything is going blurry a bit...Ugh, not now...I need to keep going-"

*THUD*

"Oh look, somebody finally conked out early, huh... I had hopes you would beat me but oh well, makes my job easier and I don't get in trouble with the boss. I can use this girl as bait-"

"S-SAKI...! S-SAKI...! Are you in here?!"

"Ugggghhhhhhh...." I was having trouble seeing.

"Huh, Saki?!!! Your forehead feels warmer, did you get sick?!! Saki, I'm going to get you out of here!"

I slowly opened my eyes, it was still blurry but I could see something glowing getting closer and closer to us...

"I-Ichika...?"

"It's me, Saki, I'm going to get you out of here-"

My vision started clearing just enough for me to tell...It was the ghost, she was holding a large orange thing over Ichika's head. "ICHI...! B-BEHIND YOU....!!!!"

"Huh, WAHHH!!!" Ichi was going to get wacked by the pumpkin?! I need to do something...!

I noticed that Ichika dropped a cylinder looking object on the ground, I picked it up and tried to hit them but I accidentally pressed something on the bottom, the cylinder was glowing like a light stick as I swung it around. "D-Don't hurt, Ichi!!!"

"Right, of course!" I heard footsteps and someone grabbing at my shoulder. "Saki, let me help you point it!"

I knew it was Ichika's voice so I let her do it for me, slowly my hands moved towards the glowing blue blob who then screamed once the light made contact with it.

"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! STOP STOP!!!!! YOU CAN HAVE THE KEY, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!!!!" The blob now, that I recognized was the ghost again, disappeared into smoke and dropped something that landed with a loud clang.

"Good riddance...." Ichika signed and picked up the key and stuffed it into her bag. "That's the other half found now...We can piece it back together later, but I need to get into the light and get Saki water."

She picked me up and carried me outside to the hallway before setting me down and pulling open her bag. "Saki, I'm going to get some water for you later, but right now you need to lay down for a bit. Tell me when your ready to sit up."

"Okay..." I said.

I lied down for about 10 minutes until I could see clearly again. When I slowly got up, Ichika had the water bottle out and ready. "Okay Saki, sit forward and lower you head a bit below your shoulders."

I did as she told me before she handed me the water bottle. "Here you go, Saki. Water."

"Thanks, Ichika. I wasn't sure what would happen if you didn't step in." Saki sighed.

"Well, of course I'd step in, your my friend and I care a lot about you. Also Tsukasa would be upset with me if you got hurt again." She gave me a hug. "I'm glad your safe."

"Did you get your key?" I asked her.

She takes out both halves of the key. "Yup, Now we just need to stick them back together-" The two keys merged back to one once they were near each other. "Oh." The key now had a large blue gem as the head and a ghost face as the tip of the key.

"Alright, we're one step closer to getting out of here!!!" I high fived Ichika and stood up. "Let's go find the others!"

"Right, let's go Saki." Ichika led the way back downstairs. "I wonder how the others are doing?"

Meanwhile in the kitchen...

"Eeep!" I ducked behind the counter, as a plate whizzed over my head.

"Those Gargoyles sure don't know when to cut it out, huh?" An remarks.

"An, this isn't the time to make jokes!!! They still have the key!" I yelled to her, dodging another large plate.

"Gahahaha, These mortals aren't no match for us!" One of the gargoyles laughed and tossed a bowl that crashed loudly near our feet.

"We need to do something, what's these guys weakness anyway?!" An huffed, wiping the sweat off her face behind the counter.

I pondered a bit. "I think I remember reading in a game that gargoyles hate fire, lightning and holy water."

"We don't have an angels sending us holy water or lightning gods, so fire is gonna have to do then...!" They are near the oven, we'll need someone to distract them for a bit while the other gets close enough to the oven to turn it's heat all the way up." An pointed to the stove as she spoke.

"I can distract them, I don't think it would be a good idea for me to touch a oven." I said. "And your fast, An, I bet you could get there quickly and trap them in the oven."

"Good thinking! I'll get to the oven then, good luck...!" An agreed and snuck away.

I grabbed one of the pans and used it to block one of the plates before tossing a spatula at one the gargoyles.

"The little hermit is trying to attack use, great gargoyles?!!! Haha!!!" They had their attention on me, perfect!

I used my pan to block items while tossing back any utensils throw towards me, I noticed that An had gotten close to the oven. She gave me a thumbs up to send them her way so I tossed a metal fork towards the counter, the fork bumping it slightly and making a clang.

"Huh? SHE WAS THE DECOY?!!!" The gargoyles turned red with their mouths forming into elongated smiles. "HOW DARE YOU TRICK US MIGHTY GARGOYLES?!!!" They rushed at An with their elongated claws raised.

An quickly pulled the oven door open as she dodge them before shutting the door closed. "Time to turn up the heat!" She turned up the dial all the way to 550 degrees.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The gargoyles began to melt away in the oven til only the key remained in the oven.

An shuts off the oven and pulls out the key. It had a red jewel on top with a gargoyle shaped tip. "Ah yeah, we did it!!!" She raised her hand at me. "High five, Kohane!!!"

I high fived her back. "Hehehe, We did! I'm glad our plan worked out!"

"Let's catch up to the others now!!!" An exclaimed and we headed back, meeting up with Saki and Ichika, who already put their key in.

"Saki, Ichika, You finished too?" I ran up to them while holding our key. "We have our key as well!"

"Nice job, you two!" She paused and looked at us. "I wonder if the others are doing oka-"

*THUMP*

*SCREECH*

"That came from the library right?" I said.

"Yeah, let's check it out!" Saki opens the door and rushes in, again. She really needs to calm down.

The rest of us run the room after her and-

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECCCHHHH*

"Toya, Kana, what's going on-IS THAT A SPHINX?!!!" Saki screams before covering her hands with mouth.

"Y-Yeah... we might need a little help here..." He says while struggling to pull the key from the Sphinx's mouth.

"I... don't think it's just a little, Aoyagi...." Kanade's legs were wobbling, was she going to faint?!!

The Sphinx shoved Toya away and flew up into the air, perching back on the highest bookshelf, peering over us.

*SCREEEECH*

"Great...how are we going to get it?" An pondered.

"Hmmmm...I heard sphinx's will be nice to you if you answer their riddles correctly." I told them. "It was in a mythology book, I believe."

"Ah, that's right, I believe I heard that as well." Aoyagi agreed. "But we would have to answer the riddle correctly, I'm pretty knowledgeable in books but when it comes to real occurrences, I'm not sure how well I'll do." His smile started to waver.

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Toya!" Saki pats him on the back.

A bright smile quickly returned. "Thank you, Saki. let's try our best get the key."

The sphinx was still looking down at us as we approached it, It still had the key surrounded by it's large wings.

I walked up to it. "Excuse me, Mr. Sphinx-"

*SCRAAAWWW!!!*

The sphinx stopped her foot and huffed a little...maybe I said the gender wrong...This sphinx had really short hair so it was hard to tell.

"O-Oh umm so...Ms. Sphinx...?" I asked.

*SCREECH!*

The sphinx then nodded her head.

"Ah o-okay, my apologizes..." I apologized with a quick bow. "Ummm we would like to bargain with you..."

*SCRAA...AWWW?*

"If we answer a three riddles correctly, you give us the key. If we don't get them all right, y-you can do what you'd like with us..."

*SCREE*

"Sounds good, huh?" I nodded. "Then, let us begin, shall we."

Chapter Text

The sphinx twisted it's neck and cleaned it's throat. "Ahemm...sorry, needed to switch to my human voice. Tis, it's time for tha first riddle-a!" The sphinx cleared it's throat again. "Golden treasure I contain, Guarded by hundreds and thousands. Stored in a labyrinth where no man walks, Yet men come often to seize my gold. By smoke I am overcome and robbed, then left to build my treasure anew. What am I?"

"Hmmm....What do you guys think?" Saki asked.

"Golden treasure stored in a labyrinth, a safe as an answer would be too easy...right?" Ichika questions.

"It's a labyrinth where people can't enter but people still go after it?" An asks. "Why would they do that?"

"It has to be a metaphor of some kind, like it says one thing but means something else." Kanade states.

"But what could it be alluding to?" Toya wondered.

"Oh, I think I got it!" I exclaimed. "I think it's a beehive."

"Ah right, the gold could be representing the honey that bees care deeply for!" Saki nodded.

"I believe we are onto something, after all people do hunt for honey even though they aren't supposed to touch beehives." Ichika agreed. "I think this is it."

"So, tis beehive your final answer?" The Sphinx chimed in. "Remember, you can't take back your answer after you all agree.

We all nodded and I spoke for us to the sphinx. "That's our final answer, Ms. Sphinx."

"And...tis are...correct!!! SCAHH SMART?!" The sphinx stumbled back before returning to their composed position. "Ahem...good work. But now it's time for the next question!"

"So that's one done, Nice work Kohane!" An raised her hand to high five him.

I quickly returned it. "Thank you, An. But we're not out of the woods yet, let's keep this up!"

"Are you all ready for tis next question?" The sphinx voice boomed before starting again. "Countless people search for me, but rarely ever find it. Those who do find me seem happy in the beginning, only to realize later they were better off without me. What am I?"

"Something people search for but rarely find it, huh?" An chuckles a little. "That could be anything."

"True...it's something also that people wished they didn't search for later." Ichika says.

"Ugh, I'm drawing a blank again..." Saki groans. "I wish I was better at this."

"Hmmm..." Kanade was in deep thought. "I think..just maybe-"

I tapped her shoulder softly. "Y-Yosaki...Did you figure it out?"

"I think so...I was thinking it could be fortune...My father used to be a musician who used his songs to make people smile as well as hold up our family. I wanted to be amazing just like him before my music hurt him...sometimes I wonder if I had never went after music, he would still be here."

"Yoisaki..." Ichika looked down at her feet. Maybe she still felt bad about what she did...None of knew about Yoisaki's past until her group mentioned it at the trial, even if Ichika killed Yoisaki...I can understand why because she didn't really know much about her...she was also trying to save us.

"So I guess I can understand going down a path of fame only to regret it later...which is why I thought the answer was fortune." She finished and sighed before turning to face Ichika. "Also, there is no need to pity me, Hoshino... What I did was my fault and mine alone. But if I can at least make music to save others like Mafuyu, I can have some hope to live for..."

I stumbled back in shock. "Wait, What's wrong with Asahina-senpai-" But the somebody grabbed my by the arm, it was Aoyagi-Kun.

My eyebrows scrunched up as I face him. "Aoyagi, Is something wrong?" I was worried at the sudden pull, had I said something wrong?

He whispered in my ear. "Asahina-senpai actually fakes being happy...I didn't know it before until Otori pointed it out during my trial."

Now I really freaked out... "W-What..?! R-Really...! How long have I not known...?!!! I always thought she was so kind and happy..."

"Ehh? Kohane?!" Hoshino's eyes of worry were looking at me, alongside Saki's. "What's wrong?"

An suddenly spoke up. "It's nothing, you guys! Let's refocus on this so we can meet up with Haruka and Minori when they come back."

Everyone seemed to go back down to the task at hand, except for me...deep down, I wondered how long Asahina-senpai had been basically lying to all of us...But I can think about that later, like An said.

"Right. So umm, should we go with fortune, then?" Aoyagi asked the rest of us.

"I don't got any better ideas, let's go with it!" Saki agreed, turning to the sphinx. "Our answer is fortune, Ms. Sphinx, Our final answer!"

"And...tis are...CORRECT?!!! AGAIN?!!! Oh my...I really need to pull out a harder riddle hmm..." The sphinx looked like she was sweating a bit...She must really be trying to get us to lose...Could sphinx statues even sweat? I don't even know anymore.

"Alright, we got another one! Good job, Kana!!!" Saki grabbing Kanade into a tight squeeze.

She flinched at the contact before embracing it. "I-I don't deserve all the credit...but thank you...hehe." I think she was also a bit flustered as her cheeks turned a slight tint of red.

"We have one more left to go, I'm sure we can do this!" Ichika grins.

"Then I see you are ready to move on to tis final question. Ahem...I am something like a immovable force, something tetrying you to the ground. The only way to escape me is to face me head on, what am I?"

"Ermmm..." I was unsure about this one, we were all silent. Toya was the most silent.

"Have I finally bested ur luck, hmmm?" The sphinx grinned, laying upside down.

We all knew the answer, I could tell from the look in their eyes...It was in all of us, and just like the sphinx said...

We didn't want to admit it-

"Guilt."

I whipped my head around, it was Minori standing with her shoulders back and a stone gaze. When did she even get here.

She clears her throat before speaking again. "Sorry I'm late, Haruka and I just finished fighting off a sea dragon in the pool. Haruka is busy putting away our key..."

Well that explain why her hair was soggy and frizzing at some ends, her clothes were also drenched.

She looked up at the sphinx again. "But I believe the answer is guilt. It blocks out path and the only way to escape it is to confront your feelings and grow from them, so that tomorrow can be a better day." She then smiled. looking in our direction. "I have to thank you all for helping me see that."

"Is that your final answer?" The sphinx looked at Minori, she usually would stumble under all this pressure but I was proud at how confident Minori was being. I couldn't help but smile.

"It is. I have no regrets about this." Minori's stepped forward, firmness never wavered in her voice. "This is my final answer."

"And you are....c...c-c... c-correct..." The sphinx body started to rust and shrivel up, the head of the statue feel off and pushed the key off the top and onto the ground, right at Minori's feet.

Minori picked up the key from the ground. "So...ummm, that happened, hehe..."

"We did it, we finally have all the keys!" Saki cheered. "I was worried we wouldn't be able to pass because of that one, but Minori saved the day!"

"Hehe...I'm glad I could help, everyone!" Minori grinned proud, giving Saki a hug.

"Let's go deliver that key!" I opened the door for everyone.

We got back to the door and Haruka was already waiting for us. "There you guys are, I was starting to get worried."

Minori waved to her. "Yeah we got it, Haruka!!!"

"Excellent, let's put it in so we can get moving." Haruka moved out of the way and Minori handed the key to Toya to put it in.

All the keys once put in place, the gems on them glowed and flashed three times before the door swung open. We all stepped down the winding staircase, the floor having this green water fluid as we walked past. On the walls were giant snake statues made out of what looked like obsidian and emerald. Despite having a snake myself, these were definitely not the kind I would hang around.

"This place seriously gives me the creeps." An shivered. "I can't wait til we can go home."

"Yeah I'm sure your dad would be glad to see you again, An!" I reassured her.

She smiled at me. "Thanks, Kohane!"

We reached this black door and when opened was this altar with people hanging from trees, they looked so dead...and all the altar was shaped like a snake too. They seemed to be chained to the ground by vines, the same ones Minori used to have. Except these people's vines had wrapped around their body to the point of no return, stringing them up and unable to move.

"Do you think what that sphinx said about guilt was a heads up or something? Because this air in this place feels suffocating now." Ichika's fingers start to tremble as she walks.

I shrugged. "Who knows? Sekai is very strange."

We kept walking through the forest, I kept trying not to stare at the hanging ropes and strung up bodies all over the trees but the more I walked, the more foggy it became.

"It sure is getting foggy around her, huh?" I heard nothing and turned around. "Wait...where is everyone?"

I turned around, stumbling on something, I thought that maybe it was An but I turned around and saw...a dead bodies hand?!!!! I tripped, landing on the ground before quickly standing up. I rummaged through the fog, searching for anyone I could find.

"An, An where are you?!!! Hello?!!! Anybody there?!!!" I called out through the fog, but all I heard was my echo...

"Hello?!!!!"

"An!!!"

"Minori?!!!"

"Ichika, Aoyagi?!!!"

"Anyone..."

I kept running and running but I was starting to get tired...Maybe I should take a break...

"Kohane..."

I whipped my head around behind me, something blurry was in the distance...It looked like...

"An...?!!!"

I quickly ran to her, maybe it was them...If it was her, I would safe...I didn't want to be alone anymore...! I ran to her and hugged her close. "An, thank goodness it's you! It was so scary-"

She stared down at me. "Why did you you leave me?"

"H-Huh..I didn't... I got lost and-"

"Why did you save the person who helped kill someone, she tricked you into being killed...You left me..." She started crying into her hands.

"An, I didn't mean to hurt you, I just cared about Minori because she's my friend-"

"I'M YOUR PARTNER, YOU LEFT ME!!! I THOUGHT YOU CARED ABOUT ME!!!" She pushed me away from her. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I FELT!!!! I LOST HARUKA, THEN YOU AND TOYA?!!!!"

I put my head down. "An...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I-I'm sorry..."

She circled around me until she was behind me. "I can't believe you would do that to me... I never should have had you as a partner." I felt something get close to my neck, but I surprisingly didn't care. I deserved this...I just get in the way.

"I'm not worthy to be her partner-"

"KOHANE!!!!"

"H-Huh...?" I looked up to see a few shadows running to me. Someone quickly ran to my side in a warm hug.

"Kohane, we came just in time, I saw that scary figure trying to kill you and warned everyone as quickly as I could!!!" Minori exclaimed before pulling me close.

I smiled at her and held tight to her. "Minori...You guys...you all came for me?"

"Of course we did, I'm not letting my Kohane be tricked by some impersonator!" An pointed out, It was at that moment I noticed who the person was. The figure had white hair, purple eyes, and their long black cloaked dress with long sleeves, holding a large scythe.

"You finally caught me, huh? I was starting to get bored wondering when you would catch up." She sighed. "I assume you want to leave, but I'm not letting you go that easy." She tapped her scythe on the ground and the bodies strung up opened and large snakes, spiders, and rats. Some bats also showed up from the air.

"W-Who is that?!!!" Haruka stepped back, pulling her knives out.

"That's...V Flower..." Ichika's eyes widened with horror.

"Another vocaloid?!!! Well...She tried to hurt Kohane so this is fair game for us to strike." Saki stepped away and pulled out her shovel. "Let's do this everyone!"

Everybody got out their weapons. Me, Saki and Kanade would smush the rats that would crawl out of the dead bodies on the floor. Minori, and An would swat away the snakes and Toya, Ichika and Haruka would attack the bats and ghosts coming out of the scythe. The bats we smacked away would hit into her like batterangs and cause her to spin out as they got stuck to her face. "HEY GET OFF OF ME, I'M NOT YOUR ENEMY!!!" She squirmed against them but we all ran at struck her with our weapons into a tree.

"You little brats, why to people always have to be better than me? I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE REAL PHANTOM AROUND HERE!!!" She summoned graveyards from the ground with zombies coming out of them. We all dodged the zombies as she sent out vines that we chopped at with our weapons.

"Let's twack em' with these!!!" An pointed her shovel at the vines, trying to outroot them.

We all did the same thing, and the vines slapped into V flower causing her to get really mad and turn into a large hydra. "yOu WiLl aLL SUfFeR!!!!" She started shooting laser beams at us while snakes popped out of the ground.

"Watch out everyone!!!" Toya warned. "Snakes turn into small snakes when you cut them!!!"

And true to what Aoyagi said, small snakes did appear when we cut them which we had to watch out for because they were faster but we quickly removed them but we still needed to take out V Flower...

"How do we stop her?" Minori shouted. "We need to stop her from shooting lasers!!!"

Toya pointed out the laser V flower was shooting from her mouth. "She seems to attack in a arch like motion...maybe we can use that to our advantage?"

"That's it, I got an idea!" I exclaimed before whispering to them my idea and we all agreed, we would run and hide behind trees, specifically the ones with the hanging ropes on them. They would be broken by the laser and latch around each V Flower head's neck.

"I got this, here I go!" Toya was quickly able to get the first one alongside Haruka and Ichika. We had to get it V flower to hit the tree three times before it would go down.

"Alright, our turn next." Me, Kanade and Saki would get the tree on the far left, Kanade almost got hit but had quick enough reflexes to dodge it. The tree eventually went down and Minori's group was last being her and An again.

"Here we go, An!" Minori would wave and dodge quickly at V Flower's attacks just like An, they were actually a pretty good team. And after Minori landed the finishing hit, all three ropes latched around a neck of one of V Flower's hydra heads.

V Flower reverted back to her true form with three ropes around her neck. "ARGH..!!! ARGH!!!! Ugh...I really do hate people like you, think your always better than me... Your all just like MAYU, so full of themselves and yet I can't help but watch. It's infuriating. I killed all those people for the same reason, they all had such happy lives that they would brag on my streams to me and it pissed me off....so boss would allow me to ruin their lives and they would come to me, asking for my help. That's why I would put them in fake dream worlds until they realized what they saw was all fake and killed themselves."

I covered my hands with my mouth. "So those people who turned to dust...they were...because of you?"

"That's just..." Minori shivered.

"All you people here a just despicable." Toya groaned.

Ichika sighed. "Let's just get this over with already, shall we."

"Hehehehehe...Yeah, no more point in doing anything else." V Flower sighs again, unlatching herself from the fallen trees as a button made out of a stump appears from the ground wrapped in thorns. "Guess this it. I won't be missing any of you though, you bitches!!!! IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!!!!" I handmade rope now latched to V Flower's neck and pulled them into the air, signalling the punishment in full swing.

Poena Cullei - The Ultimate Necrophiliac's Execution

The group was sent into a crowd of onlookers. V Flower was first whipped with blood-colored rods and her head was covered in a bag made of a wolf's hide. On her feet were wooden shoes, and she was then put into the sack made of ox-leather. Placed along with them were into the sack was also an assortment of live creatures. Serpents, Scorpions, Spiders, and Rats. V Flower attempted to get out of the barrel but the sack was stabbed through with different swords in the sides of the bag, before stabbing a sword through the top. Once the barrel stopped moving, they strapped the barrel to a cart shaped like a serpent's head and sent it on a track into a pool of dry ice water. As the barrel tipped in the water, V Flower's blood seeped from the barrel, slowly coloring the water red.

"Oh my god..." Haruka gasped.

"Ugh, this always just gets worse, even if it is deserved." Saki groans.

"Yeah...I'm really getting sick of this." An sighed. "I'm going to definitely relax once I get back to my normal life."

"That's sounds like a good idea, maybe we can chill at Weekend Garage when we get back?" Toya suggested.

"Oooh, sounds like a plan!" I agreed.

"Right, but for now, let's get out of this place. This seriously gives me the creeps, y'know." Ichika grimaced.

"Good idea..." Kanade nodded.

The fog cleared out and we could see pieces of white tape on the trees leading to an exit...I saw Kanade pick up something off the ground, she said it was a large rock that could come in handy. I didn't think much of it. The tree lifted up as a pulley to the next floor. I looked at Minori, An, and Toya, they were all there for me, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders when they smiled at me. They were happy I was alive. They had come for me, I couldn't be more grateful to have them as my friends.

I would protect them no matter what, we were all going to get out here.

Were not leaving anyone behind again.

Not this time.

Not ever.

___

END OF ACT II - Thorny Chains Of Past Mistakes

Chapter Text

I was sent to check Phoenix Wonderland for those recently spotted survivors, no biggie, I didn't need any help with that. After all, I was always better off on my own. Phoenix Wonderland looked as dull and broken as I remembered when I we first escaped...

I walked passed the tattered Wonder Stage, it looked so lonely. Like it was begging to be performed on. It made my heart feel hollow for some reason...

I saw the Phoenix Stage, it was more heavily guarded unlike when I first saw it...maybe...!

*BZzzzRrrrRRTtttTTT*

*ZZZtttTTTSSSsssssssssssss*

"Ah, these bozos. Just the thing to take my feelings of emptiness and displeasure on...!" I quickly pull out a pen from my pocket with a pink heart on top, I press the button and a long chain with a pointy dart pops out, the one I have been wielding for the past 3 and half years. "I'm going to really fucking enjoy cutting you all to ashes!!!!"

The monster ran up to me and I steadied my hand before swinging with all my might, I had gotten used to coordination and skilled hand movements. After all, I had done sewing for most of my life which involves a steady hand and trained eye, which also applies to using chain whips apparently.

*SLASH*

I ready my hand and swing again, my chain coiling around, each robot before slicing them to pieces. It was satisfying watching monsters who ruined your life to be ripped to shreds. I loved being a villain... well I mean...anti-hero more like it. Kinda like Mia was. Since I could never be the hero...

That would just be against the fates of the world.

One of them lunged for my face but I hooked them and swung them around so they would hit one of their lackeys. "Bitches...they real thought they could beat me?" I laughed inside. "Those beasts went up against a villain... Should have know villains don't play nice."

More ended up showing up and continued to hack and slash away at them, it wasn't easy as got some scraps on my legs but I could do away with those later. I had gotten used to getting those type of things.

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

I was doing well but one of the robots, the feral ones, jump my legs and pulled me down. It's eyes of hatred stared back at me as if it was saying that it never wanted to be made but it had been pushed into the dark for so long. It was one thing we had in common, but I wasn't going to be a pushover and kicked it in the face before it ripped my leg off and chopped it's head off. Finally there were none left and the eerie silence returned.

"Man, you sure are a hypocrite, Mizuki. Killing monsters when your a monster yourself." I really could care less about others, the exceptions being Ena, Nene, Reimu, Akito, the real vocaloids in Sekai and....Tsukasa... As bitter I was when around him, I couldn't fully hate him because he wasn't wrong. I hid myself all that time and was a coward. And know I was hiding that I still cared for him so that he could blame himself.

I wanted to tell him the truth, I wanted to forgive him but-

[FLASHBACK]

"You don't know anything, Akiyama...They are all dead. You...You tell me to smile but I don't see you smiling either. You also were making snide jokes during the killing game while everyone died!!!! Did you even care about them at all...was that all some act too?!!! Like how you pretended to be a girl!!!!"

"...Tsukasa...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"And what's the point of me being a actor anyway, I can't make people smile, I can't even make myself smile. I don't want to try anymore...so just leave me alone."

"But...Tsukasa-senpai-"

"SHUT UP!!!! JUST SHUT UP!!!! L-LEAVE ME ALONE AND BOTHER SOMEONE ELSE LIKE THE PEST YOU ARE!!!!!"

[FLASHBACK END]

I couldn't get myself to say it...old habits sure die hard.

"It's not like he wants a pest like me around anyway, so why should I care about him?" I hated that I was mad at Tsukasa but that couldn't change how I felt. If that's how he thought of me, it would be better for me to just stay away from him anyway. I pressed the button on top again to retract the chain before putting it back in my pocket. Now with the fun out of the way, I opened the door to the Phoenix Stage and-

*Swish*

I noticed a bucket barreling towards my face. "Ahhhhhh!!!!" I nearly ducked my head under it and pulled out a flashlight to look around, I didn't want to run into any more booby traps. Still don't know why they called it that... "Hello, who's there? Your not a cyptomaton right?" I called out into the darkness.

"How do you know what those are called?" A male voice I didn't recognize said, he didn't sound like a crytomaton but a tremor in his tone told me how uneasy he felt.

"Research from the Phoenix Federation." I said camly. "You heard of them?"

"Yes...Are you part of them?" A female voice was heard next.

I couldn't tell them exactly who I was just yet, so I decided to use my alternative. "Yes, Amia of Phoenix Federation. Former Ultimate Fashionista." I hated using the ultimate thing but at least it was something they would probably know. We learned when we first Phoenix Federation that the killing game was broadcasted, so they could know about the 'Ultimate' stuff...

"Wait...your...Akiyama?!!! Your part of Phoenix Federation?!!!" They all came out from the shadows now, still holding their weapons but they slowly lowered after looking at me. "I can't believe it, You came to save us?!!!" A pigtailed haired girl exclaimed. "T-Thank goodness!!!"

"Yeah we were sent to look for survivors, let me just call them really quick." I pulled out my walkie talkie. "Mr. Riley, we found the survivors, send the choppers out to the Phoenix Wonderland Phoenix Stage. Make sure to send a small one to be more discreet, thank you." I turned back to them. "They should be arriving here shortly."

"Finally we can finally leave, hated being around those bitches!!!" Iori blurted at the top of her lungs.

"Yes yes, we know, spicy head. Let's get going." Sakurako quickly finished and they all followed me outside with their equipment.

The group walked towards me as I saw more cyrptomatons and I motioned for them all to follow me. Some of them they actually helped me fight but I told them to focus on escaping. "Get to the chopper, I'll handle this!" I grab my chain whip again and split one through the middle.

I ran and swung my whip to chop two in half next, one latched onto my arm and scratched me...I could feel some small bleeding but I could think about that later. I quickly pushed them off of me before stomping on them and taking off running as I retracted my chain whip.

"Hurry, Akiyama!" The braided girl reached her and out to me as I grabbed on. One more jumped at me, scratching my ankle as it tried to hold on but I kicked away it off of me before the chopper piloted us away.

"Thanks." I sighed around looked back down as I sat on the chopper. "Man, that was close!"

"Yeah, it was, but you really handled them better than any of us could!" This girl's cheerful smile reminded me of someone but I tried her best not to think about them or my feelings right now. I had a job to do.

I shook my head. "I wouldn't cut yourself short, y'know. I'm sure with practice and training at the federation, you could do really well." Which was true, they had potential, and we needed all the help we could get around here.

"You think so? I'm not the most confident compared to Lori, Mai, or Seiryuin..." The braided girl lowered her head. "I'm not really sure I could do it."

"Well if you have that kind of mindset than you definitely won't be able to." I countered. "That's what my friend Nene would say right now."

"Oh, you mean Ms. Ultimate Hope! She's really cool, right?" She clasped her hands together. "You beat the killing game with her and some others right, what happened to them?"

"Yeah... she's pretty great and the others are part of Phoenix Federation as well." I nodded as the helicopter flew towards the Federation Building.

A few hours later, we finally got to the building and helped the group all get out. "Well, here we are, The Phoenix Federation Building. Right now were on the ground floor which on the elevator has a phenny symbol. Your guys dorm rooms meant for citizens, should be one the Floor X, the bottom floor. All the floors were titled with the letters that spell Phoenix."

"Really, that's sooo cute!" Futaba grinned and I agreed silently that it was very cute.

I walked them over to the elevator. "Floor X for the extra vehicle storage rooms and shelter for you guys, Floor I has the infirmary, Floor N has the nutritionary or kitchen, and Floor E has the equipment training room where the soldiers practice combat and can be open to you if you want to be trained to fight. These rooms are open to everyone here at Phoenix Federation." I then pointed to the last two important rooms. "Floor O and Floor H these are rooms for federation members only and you would get in trouble if you go up there. To combat this, if you need something from us, there should be a phone in the hallways you can call us with for any issues. How does that sound?"

"That sounds good." The boy of the group, who I learned was Kotaro Mita, smiled at me. "Thank you for all of this, Akiyama-San."

"Ahaha.. just can me Amia or Mizuki, ok! I'll be going to the last floor. The rooftop on Floor P. It's only accessible by stairs. And while the rooftop is the only stairway access room, the other floors can be accessible by stairs as well. The rooftop is just different because you have to ask for permission to go up to the rooftop if your not a member. That's all I have to say so I'll be going up there now! If you need me, call me, Ok!"

"Understood, thank you so much Amia-San!" Mai bowed before leaving with the others following behind her.

"I hope we can chat more, Mizuki-San! Good luck and thank you!!!" Futaba waved goodbye before stepping onto the elevator with her friends.

"Bye bye!" I waved to them until the elevator doors closed, dropping my smile to what I was expected of my face. "More time to chat, huh? You can say that so easily because you know nothing about me..." I sigh and start my way up the flights of stairs. "You're lucky you have real friends, Natsuno..."

"You don't need a 'Friend' like me..."

I headed up the winding elaborate stairs to the very top, using the key that's given to every federation member to open the gate to the rooftop. I guess I really have a affinity for places like these... high up, quiet, secluded, and alone. "Ah... Nothing beats this breeze, not to mention the view..."

I looked down and saw all the dead bodies laying on the ground, some burnt trees, and smoke rising from burning buildings...turning my head up towards the red lit sky. "It sure is a beautiful-....No. N-No...!!! I hate it. I-I..." I felt something roll down my cheek but I couldn't even care. "I-I...H-HATE I-IT.... I-I... I HATE IT!!!! I HATE IT!!!! I HATE IT!!!!!!" I screamed and pulled at the ends of my hair. "I FUCKING....F-FUCKING HATE I-IT!!!!!" I stomped the ground and dug my nails into my skin, I hated my life, I hated myself, I hated this whole world.

*Creek*

"So, this is where you've been all this time."

"Ehh?!!" I turned around and Ena was standing there behind the gate. "Enanan?!! I mean-umm... what are you doing here...?"

"Just wanted to check on you, somebody else told me that you had some injures but you didn't head to Floor I to get check up." She then grabbed my arm, looking at me in the eye. "Which why didn't you?! You idiot, your fucking bleeding!!!! Are you that stupid?!!!"

I chuckled. "Ahaha...got all skittish over lil' ol me, huh?"

Ena crosses her arms. "Can you ever take what I say seriously..." She sighs. "Well whatever, sit so I can patch you up, ok."

I wink and her and grin. "Mhmm, only if you say please!"

Ena groans. "Mizuki..."

"Okay.. Okay..." I finally relent and sit down on the ground while Ena opens her aid kit.

As she is starting to patch my arms a thought comes to my mind. "Hehe...Ena... I'm sorry you have to deal with a pain like me."

Her eyes widen as she raises her eyebrow at me. "What do you mean by that, Mizuki?"

"Aren't you ever tired of worrying about me all the time? I always thought I annoyed you." I look away from her.

"It's not like that, you know exactly why I care about you." Her tone goes soft, as well as her eyes.

I look back at her now. "And your reason for loving a creep like me is what again?"

"Well first of all, I don't think your a creep at all, Mizuki. Your allowed to like whatever you like as far as I'm concerned." She states. "Second of all, as I said before, you are my friend and I will always care about you."

I smile slightly. "...Really, you think that?"

"Of course, why else would I wait two and half years to learn your secret, Mizuki." She deadpans with a smile. "And I didn't even mention my last reason."

I look down at my feet, "Oh...what reason is that...?"

"Because you helped me when I was in a hard place too."

My face scrunches up a bit. "I did?"

She nodded. "Yes, remember our first year as members of the federation and I was still getting used to taking care of Akito and everything, when I was in a bad place after what happened to Airi..."

"And with what happened to my dad..."

____

*Sketch*

*Sketch*

*Rip*

*Woosh*

*Bang*

"...Dad..."

[FLASHBACK]

"Ena...I'm sorry I could never say it to your face but... I did enjoy your art but I didn't want you to make it your career as you had to go through much pain to get to famous level, I didn't think you could handle that... But now, I know you are stronger than that, your capable of doing what you want as long as you believe. I had forgotten that due to all the heartbreak I had to deal with. I'm sorry I will never get to say this to you directly, with what's going on, I don't think I'll survive. Your mother is already dead and I have no idea where you or your brother is... But if you are alive out there and see this one day, I just want you to know how much I loved you and I'm sorry I was too much of a coward to tell it to your face."

[FLASHBACK END]

"Dad... I-I..."

I wiped the tears off my face. "I-I...I don't know if I can do this... First Airi, now your gone, and Akito is having hallucinations... He's been avoiding me recently. I think I even saw blood on his bedsheets yesterday, dad..." I started sobbing into my hands. "What do I do, Airi? W-What am I supposed to do now with my life...?"

"Is doing art even worth it anymore..."

*CREEK...*

"Ena, are you in there?" Mizuki peeked their head through the door.

"Go away, I'm busy." I turned my head away, I didn't want them to see me look weak.

"Oh c'mon, Ena. You really don't expect me to buy that, right?" She scoffed. "What happened to your dad is really hurting you, right?" Their signature soft smile always made me squirm. Why did they have to be so good at reading my feelings...?

I finally turned their direction with tears still coming down my cheeks like a mess. "Hahaha.... W-Why... Why do I hate that you know me so well?"

"Have no idea. Your brain is weird, I guess?” Mizuki's backhanded compliments as always, annoyed me and cracked me up.

"Y-You could have s-said that nicer, you k-know? Not like any of us are good at showing our true f-feelings..." I glared at them slightly with a smirk.

They sat down on my bed. "True true...I'm the worst one when it comes to that regard...” They admitted. “But anyway, are you going to tell me what's wrong."

"Yeah...sure.” I said, before shifting my attention to them. “But, will you ever tell me someday, I'll still wait as long as I need for you, y'know." I asked them concerned.

Mizuki sighed, brushing the hair out of their face. "Maybe, I've always been uncertain about it...but I'm think I could be ready...maybe."

"Well, you know I'll keep my promise. If it takes days, months, years... I'll wait for you." I smiled at her.

"Thanks Ena, but I came to talk about you, not me... Can you tell me what's bothering you?" They turned their attention back to me somehow like always, I still don’t know how they do that.

"I didn't know he felt that way... I wish he had told me this sooner, then maybe we could have... I just couldn't believe Akito when he told me it back then... Why couldn't he have said he loved me when I was still there?!!!" I started sobbing again. "I w-wanted to hate h-him...!!! B-But now..."

"I see...I get that, you wished you had made amends..." They said.

I bawled my skirt into my fist. "Yeah, he said I should still draw but I'm wondering if there's a point to still draw...like I mean like-" I sighed again. "What do I even do with my life now? I can't seem to answer it."

They shook their head. "Really...? I don't think that's a hard answer at all..."

"Huh?" I said.

"He says that he wants you continue doing what you love and protect Akito, right? So, you should do that! After all, doing something you love is the best way to free your mind from all the negativity and if anything, drawing your feelings on paper can get them out of your system. But above all, you should just do what you feel is right." Mizuki then got up and patted my leg. "What I'm trying to say is, I believe in the end you'll figure it out. Maybe even before me."

"Oh...Hehe, you're right, Thanks, Mizuki." I smiled at them.

"Well of course, I'm right, dependable Amia is always here to help her poor Enanan-san!" Mizuki went back to their joking face, winking with their tongue out.

I nudged them. "Now your getting over-cocky...! But.."

"I feel better thanks to you..."

[FLASHBACK END}

___

"That's why I'm giving back to you in saying, I believe you can overcome what your feeling about Tenma. But if you ever need me to step in, I'm here, ok?" Ena smiled at me as she finished cleaning my wounds. "There. Your all done now, Mizuki."

"Right. Thanks, Ena. I'm glad you and the others are here with me." I smiled back genuinely for the first time in years.

She walked up to me and wrapped me in a warm hug. "I-I'm...glad to have you t-too, Mizuki..."

Chapter Text

It's been quite weird these days..and no it's not just because I can still hear echoes of voices along the halls. What was weird today was that I didn't see Tsukasa in bed where he usually is... In fact, I hadn't seen Tsukasa anywhere today. Nene was getting worried but because she had to attend another head meeting, she asked me to look for him.

"Fucking...where the hell is he?!!! I've been searching for an hour..." I was stomped my feet a little as I walked towards the gym next, I felt like training a bit, and who's know? Tsukasa could be there if I was lucky...

I turned the corner and stepped back alarmed. Tsukasa pale as a ghost crossed with some blemishes and such a lanky body that if somebody only took a quick glance at him rather than a long one, they could think he was a zombie. I stepped a bit closer trying to be quiet and noticed his red marks under his eyes were much larger than I thought, I had never noticed how big they were, not to mention how red and itchy the seemed to be...

"Man, how long has he fucking been like this..." I just stood there frozen as I watched him struggling to hit the targets in front of him with his punching gloves, barely dodging the sucker punches coming his way. He didn't put the machine on the hardest difficulty right...? I was going to call Nene about this when-

*BANG*

One of the sucker punches struck his jaw and Tsukasa stumbled a bit-

*BAM*

Tsukasa while on the ground got punched in the stomach and started coughing up blood. He was clutching his stomach in pain, I was begging him to stay down but he got up again and-

*SMACK*

The third one struck the back of his head and he fell face forward landed on his head, he tipped over falling to the ground and landed on his back, there was blood gushing from his head. It felt like an execution all over again...

"TSUKASA?!!!! I ran over to power off the machine before it could get any worse, This was bad, really fucking bad...there was so much blood.. "D-Dammit.. D-Dammit... What do I do?! What do I do?!" I looked around frantically before spying the phone hangin nearby and dialed the infirmary immediately.

They quickly picked up the phone. "Hello, Who's this? What's your emergency-"

"I-IT'S A-AKITO, I D-DON'T HAVE T-TIME TO EXPLAIN, T-TSUKASA IS IN THE GYM AND HE'S B-BLEEDING!!!!!!!! I NEED MEDICS NOW...!!!!!" I quickly cut her off, my hands were shaking as I held the phone. All that was going through my mind were flashes of the killing game after what I just witnessed.

"A-Alright, I-I'll send medics n-now...!!!" The woman quickly hung up after that, probably to get the medics. I was now stuck with a bleeding Tsukasa.

"What do I do...I should do something till I get there but what...?!" I looked around but I still couldn't figure out what to do.

*Tap Tap Tap*

"H-Huh...?" Wait, fast footsteps were coming, maybe the medics finally got here...!!!

"Finally those meetings are over, I'm going to stretch for a little bit to rela-AKITO?!!! W-WHAT HAPPENED TO TSUKASA?!!!"

I stepped back. "N-Nene?!!! He was using the machine on the hardest difficulty and got h-hit....I-I called the medics but I d-don't know what e-else I should do now-

Nene rushed passed me and grabbed a workout towel, putting it under Tsukasa's head and holding it steady. "H-HOW DID HE GET HIT, P-PLEASE TELL ME EVERYTHING...!!!" She pressured me, her voice was frantic and tears were streaming down her face.

"The sucker punches hit him in the face, chest, and back...!!! Then he started bleeding from his head...!!!!" I was still freaking out, I was seeing bloody hands all over the walls and my own voices were almost drowning out Kusanagi's.

"You didn't do anything."

"How sad...."

"What a disgusting being you are, lowlife trash."

My heart rate was doubling over as the paramedics came through with the stretcher bed, carefully hoisting Tsukasa up onto it and back up the hospital elevator with Nene and I following them but while Nene asks a bunch of questions, I just stood there. Watching in tears. Like I had done with Azusawa, An, and Toya...

Tsukasa was condition that he had would have to stay in the infirmary for three days. Nene nodded and the two of us were forced to leave. We walked in silence for a while.

I tapped her back slightly. "Hey, ummm Kusanagi... are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, he's fine." She replied staring at her feet.

"Mhmm...I guess so-" I was about to say until she grabbed my hand.

She turned to face me. "I'm just going to tell the others that Tsukasa got sick and will be in the infirmary for three days, we will pretend this never happened. Understand." Her eyes looked blank and emotionless to the point it scared me. I nodded simply.

"Good." She said as she walked up the stairs to the rooftop, probably tp talk to Ena and Mizuki.

I click the button on the elevator and head up to my room, but I couldn't stop my hands from shaking...what I had saw, he was pushing himself too much...It was something I had done a long time ago and still do it from time to time...

I held the ends of my hair. "Could he have been suffering like this all this time..."

Of course he was, though I did nothing again.

"I'm a sad pathetic wimp..."

"I'm not strong enough..."

I clench my eyes shut. "I'm so worthless..."

I hurry into my room, grabbing my anti-depressant and stress pills and head to the bathroom. I had thought about the times I had worked myself to the bone, times when my singing turned hoarse and I fought the urge to eat anything until my singing was as perfect as can be. I got better when the others were there but without them, I-I..

[FLASHBACK]

*Slash*

*Slash*

*Slash*

*Slash*

I was in the training room and swinging my sword at them, I had always been pretty fast so I had gotten the movement down naturally. I was exhausted but I didn't stop. "I-I..need to get stronger. If I was stronger back then, I could have saved them...! I need to save everyone else...! That way, nobody will leave aga-Ahhhhhhhh!!!" I wasn't paying attention and a sucker punch was headed for me when I heard-

*Brzztt...Power Off*

Nene was standing near the off button looking at me. "A little late to be doing practice, don't you think?"

"N-Nene... I-I...ummm..." I turned my head away from her. "I-I didn't know it was late... I-It's hard to tell time these days, y'know...."

Nene raised her eyebrow at me. "Yeah sure, you didn't look at the newly installed clocks that we put up to tell the time." She snarked.

"I-I...uhhh..." I looked away from her.

"Just tell me, there isn't anyone around her anyway." Nene deadpanned.

"But you'll tell Ena..." I stepped away from her.

"If telling her will keep you safe and better your health, I will. If it isn't, I won't tell her." She said. "So just tell me."

I sighed. "F-Fine...I've just been having b-bad dreams, well... Maybe bad dreams isn't how I-I would exactly describe it..."

"Well then, how would you describe it?" She said.

I lean close to her. "I-I...I've having visions... weird ones." I whispered.

Her eyes widen as she stares at me. "V-Visions, from where...?"

"I don't know...sometimes in my dreams I'm back in the killing game and sometimes I'll here screaming and bloody hands on the wall with everyone I care about hanging from crucifixion crosses... And other times I see myself going through an execution while Mikuma and people in Mikuma masks just keep laughing in the background. And it just keeps getting louder and louder and-"

"Mhmm...maybe your seeing all of that because you were stressed? You should talk to Ena about this. I'm sure you'll be fine after that." She quickly stood up. "I'm going to bed now since I-I had a long day... Y-You should too... O-Ok...?"

"Yeah, g-good idea, I'll t-tell her in the morning... T-Thanks, Nene..." I walked away from her, picking up my sword when I heard her whisper something... I couldn't make out all that she said except for...

"Please don't thank me."

[FLASHBACK END]

I still don't know why she said that and she always seems to change the subject about anything that has to do with the killing game but it's probably better if I leave her alone. She's probably stressed too, with that Ultimate Hope title on her shoulders... I quickly hide under my covers and my brain seems to be less jittery which is good, I might be able to get a good night sleep today...hopefully...

I lie in my bed for a few minutes, trying to go to sleep... I slowly drift off... only to see when I open my eyes-

"Fufufufufu!!! You are correct!!! The blackened of this trial who killed his own sister was none other than, Akito Shinonome!"

"No...No No No No....!!!"

Toya was watching me in horror, he was in my place instead...as much as I hated to watch it, deep down, it was what I wanted...

If Toya could be alive, If I could take his place, I would... After all, he did nothing wrong, It was me. Toya could never do something like that...

Somebody worthless like me only could do that...

Before I had even realized it, the nightmare was over. And I was out of covers, with tears spilling down my cheeks onto the floor. My mouth was still shaking but I held it in a firm smile like I somehow always had...

I used to wonder why it was like that.

But, maybe I could do something to ease this pain... or more like mask it.

I went downstairs and smuggled some cans of beer from the kitchen and knife, just in case. I sat in my bed and drank a lot that night, 4 to 5 cans, I think? I can't remember.

As I laid down in my bed again, I felt more relaxed and happy...?

I thought I would never feel happy.

"Maybe if I can't be dead, I'll use tis for now."

"Until, I'll wish to be dea-"

I stopped myself. "Did I really say that?" I shook my head. No, you can't wish for that...That's selfish to do, everyone is dealing with worse.

But would it truly be better if I was gone? No...! Stop that, Akito. Don't be like Tsukasa. You have Ena, Taiga, Mizuki, Nene and all the other Virtual Singers supporting you. You have no right to be sad, you should be sad for Toya that he isn't here...You should kill yourself if you felt this way but you don't because your a stupid, gloomy, loser!!!

Huh... A stupid...gloomy...loser? That's what I used to think of Tsukasa but now, look at me...I freeze up when I should be strong and cry just by seeing blood alone...I hide from everyone because I don't deserve them...

"Maybe...Tsukasa and I aren't that different after all. I-I..."

"D-Don't want to think about that."

Chapter Text

The next day, I was at my desk staring at the screen, pulling at the ends of my hair with empty noodles and something sticking to my face. "Mrmmm....Blanket, Blanket, Blanket song...So warm, So sweet, and comfy soft...Bleurrrggh...Mrmmm Mrmmm..."

"Onee-San, your sleeptaking again and it's not even late...C'mon, Get Up." Reimu was shoving my arms but I couldn't be bothered.

"Can I have f-five more minutes...O-Okaasan...?" I groaned.

"Sure...Sure you can, if you want any more centipedes in your hair." Reimu replied.

"EHHHHHHHH C-CENTIPEDES?! WAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" I freaked out, falling backwards and tipping over my chair. "Ugghh...Huh? ...Reimu?! You did that on purpose, didn't you?!!!"

"Hehe...Come catch me if you want me back!!!!" Reimu blew a kiss at me and I stupidly chased her through the hall with scraps of grapefruit jelly on my face.

"REIMU, GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed at her but she quickly boarded the elevator to Floor N, which meant she forced me to go down the stairs. "She must have done this on purpose." I sighed. "F-Fine, Reimu, I'll play along...but she better not do that again...!"

I raced down the stairs until I got to the one for Floor N and Reimu was there waiting for me like I predicted with a smug look on her face.

"How was your run, Onee-Chan?" She giggled.

"Ugh, you really are just like Emu...How do you have so much energy in the morning?" I quickly take a seat on the counter, not even bothering about my posture.

"You should be glad she woke you up, I got some stew ready all set up for you and the others... Would be a shame if it went to waste." A different voice replied. I turned my head and looked behind Reimu to see a tall woman with bouncy pink hair behind the kitchen counter, Emu's sister, Hinata Otori.

"M-Miss Otori-San?!!!! I-I...I didn't mean it like that...!!!" I apologized with a deep bow.

"I know you didn't, I know how much those others meant to you, your a lot like my grandfather in that way." She smiled warmly and placed the bowls of stew on the counter. "There you are, nice and warm."

"T-Thank you...Ma'am..." I picked up the spoon and blowed on it before slowly drinking it. "It's really good, M-Mrs. Otori."

Mrs. Otori smiled at me. "I'm glad you like it, Nene. In times like these, it's good to have something warm and comforting." She grabbed her own bowl and sat down next to me and Reimu. "But I'm quite glad you all escaped, it must have been horrible having to deal with that alone. I'm also sorry about what happened to your friends."

"Mhmm...yeah. But, I'm sure it was worse having to lose a loved one, I wonder if you need any help." I changed the subject, I didn't want to think about it. I just want to forget it all...

"Yes, it was hard losing Emu, just as much as it was losing my grandfather. Though you can't spend all your life running from the pain. You just have to realize that this is how it will be sometimes but by pushing through it, you can make it better."

"Right, I'm sure everything will be okay." I stated but I knew deep down I was lying...

"Speaking of that, have you been doing okay? Emu also meant a lot to you and Tsukasa. He seems to be taking it hard as well as what happened to him, so I was getting worried about you. Especially since Reimu says you stay up a lot these days and drinking too much coffee and junk food." She looks at me while scooping another part of her soup.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine, I don't know what Reimu's talking about. There was probably a screw loose when she told you that stuff. The coffee and stuff is helping me finish work quicker, I'm taking good care of myself." I could sense Reimu glaring at me, I ignored her.

"Are you sure your not pushing yourself too hard, dear. I know your busy and all...but you could always ask for the others to help you. I'm sure Ena and Reimu would help you. Even Akito and Mizuki might." She voice turned more stern as she set her soup ladle down.

"I can handle it, I also don't want to burden the others since they are busy fighting the beasts out there. I also play games before bed all the time back then, this is nothing I can't handle." I added as serious as possible. "I have to do this if I want to help as many people suffering as possible, I can't just think about myself."

She sighs and looks up at me. "I guess you did have that impression when we first met again... You had that kind of look about you that put others before your own."

[FLASHBACK]

"Keisuke, Shousuke, have you secured your side?" I called to them on my phone.

"Yes, we have secured this area..." Keisuke replied on the other line. "Keep your eye out for survivors, Hinata."

"Don't let any of those bastards get away!!!" Shousuke suddenly shouted through the phone. "We have to slaughter them all!!!"

"Yeah yeah, Shousuke... Whatever you say-" I was going to cut him off there when I heard something...

"I can't believe it... P-Phoenix Wonderland, The W-Wonder Stage... It's all gone..." A male melancholic voice I somewhat recognized whispered.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine, Tsukasa... We just need to find help." Another voice but this time being female that I also recognized.

I slowly got closer, hiding behind a rock and I finally got a look of them! It was five battered kids but not just any kids. It was Nene, Tsukasa and some of Emu's other friends!!!

"I can't believe this...that bitch really caused all this..." The pink haired girl stomped her foot.

"Toya really isn't coming back..." Another boy with orange looked on the verge of tears and was shaking.

"This really is our life now..." The brown haired girl sighed but then she looked up and we locked eyes. "Huh...?! Who are you?!!!"

"I-I umm...I'm H-Hinata Otori...!" I stammered and stepped away from them.

"W-Wait...Hinata Otori? That means your Emu's sister!!!" Nene quickly runs up to me and hugs me. "Y-You're alive?"

I returned the hug while also patting her head. "Yes I am, It's..r-really you, r-right...N-Nene...K-Kusanagi?"

She nods. "Yeah, it's me." She then points to the others around her. "And that's Ena, Akito, and Mizuki. I'm sure you already know Tsukasa though..."

"Yes, the one who also helped revive the Wonder Stage...but I'm sure you know what happened to it..." I sighed before speaking again. "Is...she gone?"

"..." Nene paused and looked down at her feet. That was all I needed to know...

"She...all of that was on TV... No...S-She's really dead..." I stammered, my hands rose up toward my face, touching my cheeks that were now wet.

"Don't worry, I'll do whatever it takes to bring the world back to the way it is...I won't rest until smiles return to everyone's faces." She said as her head was turned from mine.

"Thank you...that's really nice of you to say-" I was about to say but I was cut off by someone yelling towards my direction.

"Hinata, where are you-Huh?!!!" Shousuke immediately ran towards me with Keisuke following behind. He turned to Nene, recognizing her in an instant. "Your friends with Emu right? You and...him..." He must have meant Tsukasa but Tsukasa surprisingly didn't reply in his usual outbursts, he was silent.

"Emu isn't with you...which means.." Keisuke suddenly sulked and wiped his eyes. "Emu..."

"She's... she's dead, Keisuke..." I finished for her, it didn't seem like any of the kids wanted to talk about it any longer.

"You... You fucking..." Shousuke just stared at the kids before his face turned to anger. He turned on Tsukasa and Nene, maybe because of the broadcasted killing game. "WHY DID YOU LET HER DIE?!!! YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!"

Tsukasa stared at the floor with no words. There was definitely something different about him, but at the same time I couldn't blame him for feeling that way. Nene stepped forward for him instead.

"Don't blame Tsukasa, Mr. Otori... It's not his fault. I'm sorry that I couldn't save her-"

"SO IT'S YOUR FAULT MY SISTER IS FUCKING DEAD?!!!" Shousuke stomped the ground.

"Yes, it's my fault... and I take full responsibility for that. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it as payment." Nene responded blankly.

"Good, we will need all the help we can get. You five will start your trainings immediately." Keisuke finished and radio called a chopper to pick them up.

Ena and Mizuki were next to each other, Mizuki comforting Ena. Tsukasa was asleep next to me and Akito was looking out the window. Nene was sitting across from me when I nudged her a little.

She turned to face me. "Hmmm, Something wrong, Mrs. Otori?"

"No...but I was wondering if your okay. Do you miss Emu?"

"No, I'm okay. I may be sad but Emu wants me to be happy. I'll be fine, I'll keep fighting until..."

"The world is filled with hope."

[FLASHBACK END]

"And since then, you have been working yourself to the bone...You are skilled and I have no doubts in your abilities, Nene. But don't you think it's enough?" She asked me while I put the bowls in the sink.

"What do you mean by that? The world isn't saved yet, I can't stop until it's fixed again. I can't stop til it's how Emu wanted...the world being full of smiles." I questioned. "And I told you, I'm fine. If anything, I'm doing much better than Tsukasa."

"And yet you still avoid to face the truth, just like Tsukasa. Emu would want you to take care of yourself, she would want you to be happy." She countered. "Why do you wish to burden yourself with all this?"

Emu would say that huh? It would be nice if she could tell me that right now...but she isn't here anymore, I never got to say goodbye to her. But I'm sure fine, I take pills everyday to remove the pain so I should be fine...right?

I quickly stand up from my chair. "I'm sorry but I think Emu would want me to help others and the only way for me to do that is to keep working. Thank you for the meal but I'll take my leave now." I start my way towards the door, I can feel Reimu's prying eyes on me.

Mrs. Otori quickly walks up to me and grabs me by the hand. "Nene, before you go, let me say one thing."

I stop moving and turn to face her again. "What?"

"Don't hesitate to ask for help, especially if your upset. Emu used to force herself to smile when her grandpa passed away...and she used to do it in secret before she died while trying to preserve our grandpa's legacy. I don't want you to overwork yourself like that..."

"I won't, I promise." I agreed, giving her a warm embrace. "You can trust me."

I walked away to my desk and sat down in my chair before collapsing my head onto the table, my vision blurred and instead I saw a girl with bobby hair standing before me.

"Nene, Nene, Let's do another splashy splashy show!!! We can have bubbles floating through the sky that go pop towards the audience and we could be in big bubbly suits!!! What do you think?" She grinned happily with her sparkly pink eyes. "We can even have the others join in! Wouldn't it be super duper wonderhoy?!!!!"

"Emu, don't scare her like that! Can't you see that she's waking up?!" Tsukasa voice booms loudly.

"Tsukasa-Kun voice is a bullet train again." A robotic voice replied. I looked up in shock. That's Robo-Nene?!

"Fufu, Come Nene, it's time to deliver the most wonderful smiles to the others that are waiting!" Rui smirked with his usual grand bow before he picked me up by the hand and hoisted me up. He practically dragged me to where he was going with the others but I didn't have any heart to say no.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I was being pulled along by the three of them.

"You'll see, Nene." Rui then opened up some random doors and a bunch people were inside.

"Kusanagi, you're here?" It was Aoyagi...?

"She must have fell asleep by the lake again, huh?" Shinonome acknowledged as he looked at my drenched clothes.

"Akito, That doesn't matter, let's just clean her up and she can hangout at the party!" Shiraishi then dragged me into the crowd.

"Here is a hat for you, Kusanagi!" Ichika, Saki and Shiho then placed the hat on my head.

"O-Oh...Thank you-" I smiled at them but it didn't reach my eyes.

Someone with a pink ponytail nudged me, it was Mizuki. "Nene, you should have some punch, it's great!" She then handed me the punch and walked off to talk to Ena and her friends who all smiled at me, egging me on. I took a sip and went along.

As soon as I finished drinking it, someone else pulled me aside. "Nene-chan! Let's have a dance party!!!" It was Minori and her idol friends. The floor suddenly turned into a dance floor with a stage at the front. "You can sing for us!"

I was then pushed to the top of the stage and I started singing my song, Glory Steady Go.

___

1 2 3!
I found them! The feelings I want to cherish
Tightly, tightly!
If I don’t hold onto them, they might go spilling out

No more hiding - I’ll have to boldly puff out my chest, won’t I?
Hey, watch!
I want to put more and more emotions into song!

Hurry! Hurry!
When? When?
Right now!

What do you want to do?
And what do you like?
Showtime! Showtime!
What do you want to be?
...? Uuu- Wandahoi!!!

A melody that wants to express more than words can
A rhythm that strays from its path* is fine too (Your rhythm is more than fine!)
If you listen carefully, look! If your dreams won’t stay put
Let’s dance!! Yeah!! (La la la)
Let’s sing a song (La la la)
Ah~!
Wonderlands×Showtime!

Glory! Living life is the best! We want to sing!
Even more? Even more!
Dream on even more! Like a colorful world

Steady! Steady! Step by step
Let’s go taking steps forward
Wake up! (Wake up!)
Stand up! (Stand up!)
Aim to be the person you want to be! Go! (Go!)

With these feelings
Sing for everyone to hear!
Glory Steady Go!

I wanna be!
(Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo)

It’s time to smile!
It’s time to uu… WOW!!
It’s time to showtime!
Wonderlands x Showtime!
Yay!

___

Everybody was cheering for me and having a blast, I was happy even though my smile didn't meet my eyes but I didn't care.

I wish things should stay like this, I thought to myself.

Maybe I could stay here forever.

If I could stay here and never leave...

The thought brings a smile to my face.

It can't truly happen but this feeling feels so good...!

"But I will erase those thoughts like I always do."

"And come back feeling even better than before.

Chapter Text

"Hey....Ena wasn't it? Can I talk to you for a minute?" I found Ena in the infirmary checking on Tsukasa, who I believe got injured on Floor E... It's seems Ena is known for checking on people in the Phoenix Federation.

"Hmm?" She turned around and stepped back a little. "Oh, Mita! Your a friend of my brother right?"

"Yes that's me, Your friends with Futaba right?" I added.

"Yeah, she and I have been friends for a while now..." She then brushed of her clothes before looking at me again. "But anyway, is there something you need from me?"

"Uh yes, has ummm...Akito been doing okay? He always seems distant...." I stammered.

"I...I... I'm not sure, I thought things were going well recently." Ena lets out a deep sigh. "I really hope he isn't doing that thing again..."

"What thing?" I pressed.

"Nothing, I misspoke." Ena went back to looking at Tsukasa's wounds but I knew that there was more meaning to what she just said rather than it being a 'mistake'

"I don't believe that, I'm sure you know what's wrong right?" I pressed again. "Please Ena, I'm worried about him, let me help! I'm begging you...!"

She turned back to me, looking me dead in the eye. "Fine, if it will help Akito, I'll tell you."

I bowed. "Thank you." I then got to the point. "So what's happening to him?"

She stared at her shoes. "He's been hurting himself for what happened to Aoyagi... Like mentally and physically."

My eyes went wide. "With...Toya? Wait...What happened to him?"

And she just looked at me with gloomy eyes. My heart sank...

"You don't mean...no..." I covered my mouth in horror.

"I'm sorry, Mita..." Was all she said.

I steadied myself. "So what is Akito doing now...?"

"He's been having nightmares and avoiding eating. I worry things will get worse if he's left alone." Tears start to form in her eyes. "T-That time...it scared me so badly...I-I don't want to lose the rest of them."

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean but I know how much this means to you. I'll keep an eye on Akito when I can, ok?" I patted her back. "I'll help make sure he's safe.

"Thanks Mita, Your a good friend." Ena smiled at me.

"Uh Thanks..." I wasn't used to being complimented by girls but I smiled anyway. "Anytime."

"I have to go do some things now, I should check on Nene now. Tell me if you see Akito, ok?" Ena replied. "I'll see you around, Kotaro." And then she left just like she had said.

"See you." I nodded as I watched her leave.

Meanwhile...

"Akito... Akito! Man, where is that kid?" I looked everywhere because the kid had skipped breakfast today. I went to this room next to find him.

I tugged on the door handle. It was...locked? Akito usually doesn't lock his door. I contemplated whether or not to go in. But I felt something was off...

I pulled out a paperclip from my pocket and picked the lock, swinging the door open. "AKITO?!"

Nothing...But he had to be here, I looked everywhere already.

But then I looked at the floor. Trails of blood...?

My eyes widened. "What the hell...What has that kid been doing in here?"

I followed the trail and it leads to...his bathroom? I was starting to get a bad feeling about this...

Nevertheless, I tugged on the door. "AKito, are you in there? It's me, Taiga."

Nothing...not even a whisper...

"Akito, if you're in there, just come out!" I pried more forcefully on the door but it was locked. I stopped my foot and huffed.

"Fine, since you won't answer, I'm coming in there!" I shouted and pulled out a cylinder drill from my pocket and start working on the door lock until it finally snaps open. "AKITO, WHERE ARE YO-...you...?"

There he was, standing there under the darkness holding something shiny in his hand, something was also dripping from his arms onto his hands and the floor, I assumed it to be blood. He was muttering under his breath and his back was facing at an angle away from me.

"Why did I exist, Toya? W-Why can't I do anything right....? Why can't you just come back... Is it because you hate me for failing you as a p-partner? Is that same for you too...Shiraishi, Azusawa..." Akito held the knife close to his chest, he still didn't notice me.

"I'm just causing a bother to Ena and everyone... I'm worthless... I can't do it anymore..."

"I can't live anymore, I'm tired.... I don't want to be alone anymore, I miss you guys too much..."

"I want to be a team again..."

"I can't do anything without you guys..."

"I'll join you, then... We'll finally be together now."

I saw him raise the knife to his throat and I started running towards him. "AKITO!!!!"

"You never deserved to die, I do."

"So, I'll join you now-"

*SLAP*

He turned to face me, rubbing his cheek. "T-Ta...ai...ga?! What are you doing here-"

"I should be asking you that." I grabbed his arm and tossed the knife away from him before slapping his face again except this time, less hard. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR FUCKING DOING?!!! ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!!!"

He stammered. "I-I Taiga...I can explain-"

"YOU BETTER EXPLAIN! I AM NOT LETTING MY ADOPTED SON JUST UP AND KILL THEMSELVES!!! N-Not...Not after what happened to K-Ken..." I sighed. "I thought at that time that Ken could handle himself and I let him go, I regret that now that he is dead.

"I'm sorry that it's didn't help-" Akito was about to say but I slapped him again.

"DON'T YOU FUCKING FINISH THAT SENTENCE!!! I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE BLAMMING THEMSELVES FOR THINGS THEY DIDN'T DO!" I took another deep breath and wrapped my arms around him. "My point is...I let someone close to me do something stupid and I'm not going to let anyone else ever do the same again. Ken and I always saw you as like a son to us, Akito. He, as well as everyone here wants you here. So I'm not going to let you go that easily."

"Taiga...B-But..."

I put my finger over his mouth. "No buts... Now, I'm going to get those arms cleaned up. I'll also be taking this with me." I picked up the knife and wiped it with a hand towel. "I'm going to monitor you whether my schedule is busy or not, I'm not affording this to happen EVER again. Understand me?" I looked him dead in the eyes and he nodded.

"Yes sir...I won't do that again, I promise..." Akito looked down at his feet as he said it. I knew that he would probably try again if I wasn't careful.

"You don't have to promise me anything, kid." I then turned my head to face him sternly. "I am going to make sure you NEVER do this again." I then walked off quickly to grab the first aid kit nearby. "Perfect, bandage wraps and alcohol wipes. These will help Akito." I quickly snatched them up and left. But after I took them and held them in my hands. I noticed something.

"These were ripped before? Had he done this before?" My stomach dropped as I walked back to Akito's room.

When I returned, from the corner of my eye, I saw someone standing there. A pink girl with a blue ribbon in her hair, I quickly knew who it was.

"You don't have to hide, Akiyama. You know I can see you there." I deadpanned and she stepped into the light.

Akiyama leaned against the side of the wall with her arms around her waist. "I wasn't hiding, just watching."

"Oh? So you really do enjoy a good laugh, don't you?" I gruffed at her.

"It's not like that." Her head slightly lowered. "I was walking in the halls hoping for a breath of fresh air when I saw-"

"And your 'fresh air' is watching other people suffering, Akiyama...?" I scoffed at her. "I guess that's why everyone but Ena can't stand being around you."

She shoulders stopped and sagged when I said that, her eyes looked much darker even with the dim lighting too. They looked... empty.

"Oh...I see." Was all she said before she left.

I turned around and luckily still found Akito, I quickly patched up his wounds. But I couldn't get that image out of my head.

Why was Akiyama like that?

"She's so weird, that Akiyama..." I gruffed out loud to Akito who was sitting on the floor with his arm held out so I could bandage him.

"They haven't told you yet." Akito voice monotone again instead of shaken like before.

"Huh? What do you mean, kid?" I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

But his head turned away quickly as soon as I asked. "Nevermind. It's nothing, Taiga."

"Okay then." But now I was thinking about it more.

What did Akito know that I didn't about her?

She really was a strange person who I couldn't help wondering more about.

Which was...

So...

Weird.

Chapter Text

"Oh..." Was all I said.

I mean what else could I say?

Nobody would understand me, I couldn't tell him.

I couldn't fully trust anyone anyway.

___

I cried at night under my pillows and doubled my makeup to cover it in front of breakfast.

"Don't worry, Amia...It will be fine, nobody will even notice anyway." I desperately repeated on loop in my head to convince myself that I wasn't being stupid. "I mean...it would hurt Ena if she saw me like this, I don't want to cause her more burdens."

Liar. I told to no one but myself...

Enanan would understand, all you want is to run away from your problems.

What a fool you are, Mizuki.

"Shut up, inner voice. You don't know anything about me. Your just like everybody else." Another lie I told to myself. Of course my inner voice knows my true feelings. I just don't want to believe them.

I tried my best not to drag or stomp my feet down the hall. I took the elevator and I walked towards the packed kitchen. Even though everyone was eating, I felt like they were all scrutinizing me.

"Hey, that 1st year student was here today. Did you see?"

"You mean the one you were talking about before? No! I wish I had!"

"You should. I'm telling you, you really can't tell. Super cute, too."

Even though I knew it wasn't real, My eyes slowly darted to the area of the voice. And all I saw was that Mai and that former guitarist girl talking...Something normal.

They looked at me and the idol waved to me. "Hi, Amia-san! Good morning! Are you going to have breakfast?"

"H-Hi! Good morning!" I tried to cover up my panic with my best grin possible. "Yup! I'm starving for some morning curry rice balls and maybe tamagoyaki, I better go before there are none left!" I winked as I stepped away from them and made my way towards the food counters trying to avoid eye contact.

But then I heard feel another memory creep in again.

"Hey, your Mizuki right? I was just wondering why you dress the way you do?"

My feet froze in front of the counter where the curry rice was and I bumped someone. "A-Ah!"

"Hey, watch where you going-Oh! Akiyama, your face looks flushed, are you ok?" It was Hanano standing next to her brother Yota. Everyone was looking at me now...

("You know, if Mizuki doesn't like people pointing it out, why not dress normally for school?")

"Akiyama? You look pale are you okay...?"

My eyes kept darting around the room, trying to hide my face from everyone. All the voices were becoming muted and all I could think about were memories of-

("I know right? Of course people are going to say things when you stand out like that.")

"Akiyama... Hello?!"

("That's just the way Mizuki is, I guess.")

"Her face is going white...!!! Akiyama-San?!!!"

("Totally. Some people just don't know how to fit in.")

"I-I can't breath... I...c-can't breath... I can't b-breath..." I felt like a latch around my neck was choking me, I shoved pass some of the people whose faces now turned into concern. I could also feel my mascara starting to drip.

"Mizuki, are you ok?!!! Mizuki?!!!"

I could hear a familiar voice screaming my name but I didn't dare turn around. My head was spinning and my palms were sweaty, I needed to get out.

"M-Move...p..please... I-I can't... N-Need a-air...!" I shoved my way out towards the stairs and up to the rooftop, my cheeks were burning and chills were going down my spine.

"R-Rooftop... I-I...need... the r-rooftop... please." My heart was pounding in my chest, my mouth was dry and my head felt like it was going to explode at any moment. I fell to my knees on the final step to the rooftop gate and pushed my shoes off. I shoved the gate door open.

"H-Huff...Huff..." I crawled towards the entrance and almost collapsed when I felt someone grab my shoulders.

"Amia-san, are you alright? You look like you just had a panic attack?" It was Futaba, the braided haired girl who is friends with Ena.

"I need.. w-water...p-please...!" I groaned, clutching my neck. Maybe if I choked myself, the pain would end.

I just need the pain to end-

("So weird.")

*G-GASP!!!!*

I could barely hear the gate door closing with some footsteps going down the stairs, maybe she was getting help.

But a part of me was hoping I'd suffocate and another was hoping I didn't.

("So weird.")

"H-Hah-aa...ahaha...Ha-H...ahaha...!!!" More tears spilled down from my burning eyes down onto my already glossy cheeks. The pain was soo unbearably cold and burning at the same time.

"I-If only...I c-could disappear...I-I just want to disappear..."

"P-Please..."

"Just l-let me disappear...!!!"

"H-Haven't I-I suffered e-enough?!!"

"W-Why do I-I have to k-keep s-suffering?!!!"

"I-I...d-don't want to k-keep this up a-anymore..."

"J-Just let me d-dis...appear-"

I saw someone running towards me. "Amia-san...raise your arms overhead and count to ten."

I did what they told me too, I needed to get rid off the pain anyway... "1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10..."

"Take deep breaths. Breath in and then breath out." Futaba slowly rubbed my back as I did this.

"Huff...Huff..." I slowly breathed in out and my vision was starting to get better.

"Good, your doing good. Here, your water." Futaba held up the bottle to my mouth. "Drink slowly, okay."

I nodded and slowly swallowed every drop of the liquid before taking a deep breath. "Thanks...F-Futaba."

"Your welcome." She smiled at me. "You should take a break for now, this can be the perfect time to chat with you! That's if you are ok with it..."

"Sure, I guess." I responded.

"Yay!" She cheered. "So my first question is how did you learn to make fashion?

"My sister inspired my and taught me how to sew, my obsession with making fashion just grew from there, I suppose." I shrugged.

"Wow, that's so cool! It's cool to have a model figure in your life, especially one that's your sister! I guess mine would be Ena. Her art style has always pushed me to make my own art style and get better as a artist." She got up close to me with a wide smile and begging eyes. "Speaking of which, how is Ena doing?"

"Ena used to being having a hard time but she's much better now compared to some of the others here." I smiled at her and at that thought, I was happy Ena was doing well. I was kinda jealous I couldn't move on like her...

Futaba held my hands. "I'm glad to here that and I'm glad your taking such good care of her! I'm sure Ena is happy to be your friend, as am I." My eyes widened slightly. Wait...does she...?

Does she understand?

I shook my head and averted my eyes. "What do you mean, most of the time Ena is fed up with me and my teasing...She probably thinks I'm a monster."

"No no! She has always said your very considerate to her and even though you tease her, she said you helped her as much as she helped you. I think that's very admirable in my eyes. Your like a hero to me, Amia-San!"

"A hero...?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me, a hero? No way-

"Yes, your a hero to me, Akiyama. I'm in your debt for taking good care of my close friend. That's why I want to get to know you even more and be closer friends!" She jumped towards me and gave me a hug. I was still shell-shocked, looking at the warmth wrapped around me.

"Friends...That sounds nice..."

"Really, you agree?!!! Yay!!! I'm going to get some breakfast for us to share!" She stood up and then turned around. "I'll be right back but what do you want to eat?" She asked.

"Can I have curry rice and tamagoyaki please?" I listed quickly. "I'm starving."

"Sounds good, I'll be right back!" She then took off down the stairs again and I waved to her as she left.

"Friends, huh? You can only say that because you have nothing to hide."

I would never be able to tell you everything...

Soon you will run away from me and we wouldn't be truly friends.

Because I am different.

Because I am outcasted.

Because I am weird.

Because I am liar.

Chapter Text

I walk down the stairs smiling. "I finally get to spend time with Amia-San! Ena has told me how cool they are, I really want to be friends with them...!" I quickly walk down the stairs to the kitchen and I hear all this commotion downstairs.

"That Akiyama is about as strange as one could be, don't you think? Like, she had a panic attack over curry rice! What a bizarre person..." I heard a male voice say.

"She's super cute though, how do you think she gets to be that stylish?" A girl whispers back to the man.

"Those rumors about them a long time ago, that Akiyama, must be true... If you get a real close look, you can tell something is off. But otherwise you can't tell at all!" The boy cupped his hands over his mouth. "I bet they are a tran-"

"Why are you talking about Amia-San?" I stepped forward, they must have not even registered I was there by the looks of their faces. "You know it's not very polite to be gossiping about someone behind they're back."

"We weren't gossiping, we just think it's interesting about how she looks so overly cute, it's soo weird." The male scoffed. "Also why are you getting involved-Oh! They must have not told you yet, hmm... Maybe we should tell her-"

"Shut your mouth." I cut them off and pushed past them. "Whatever your information is, I'm going to get the truth from the real ideal, not someone's cheap side." I then stepped and quickly picked up two balls of curry rice and two tamagoyaki and tread towards the rooftop without another word.

I climbed up the starts making sure not to drop my tray as I went until I got up to the rooftop gate and I heard a angelic voice....singing?

I slowly opened the gate and stood there as I saw Amia-San singing a melancholic solo with the most ethereal voice I had heard in the past few years.

___

Even though I don't know the real me
Don't show me your smile like you understand

Even if we're close, even if we're always together
Inwardly annoyed without even understanding
May you be loved without fail today too
Before I knew it, I had become such a disgusting person.

Is there anyone who will love me for who I really am?

Sorry I'm not a good girl
Cunning, deceiving, breaking
I can't meet your expectations
Sorry for not being able to do it.
Weak, lame and rotten
I can't show you the sprouting leaves
Why is it still so kind?

Even though we are family, our lives are different.
I'm sure we can't understand everything
I lie, I act
No matter who sees it, he's disgusting and the worst.

If they knew the real me, would they probably abandon me?

Sorry I'm not a good girl
I was jealous and hit it and broke it
I caused you trouble
Sorry for not being able to do it.
Be strong and show off
I've polluted the heart I received
Why is it still so kind?

I don't have anything to be proud of right now, though.
Would you be happy if I could do it? Ah

Sorry it's not cute
I don't like his appearance or personality
I don't even want to look in the mirror
don't worry about me
Let go and leave me alone
There are words that shouldn't be said
It's still warm though

Sorry I'm not a good girl
Cunning, deceiving, breaking
I can't meet your expectations
Sorry for not being able to do it.
Weak, lame and rotten
I can't show you the sprouting leaves
Why is it still so kind?

No matter who I am, it will embrace me
there was so much love

___

I could hear her choking up before she dropped to her knees with her hands over her eyes. I could hear a small quivering whisper...

"I-I'm sorry...Sis..."

"I'm so sorry...Rui...An..."

"Mafuyu..Kanade..."

"I wish you were here...Why did you have to leave me..."

"I-I needed you to be saved...."

"W-Why did you have to go."

"Why...W-Why did you leave me...a-alone...?"

When she finally stopped crying...she hoarsely muttered. "You don't have to keep standing there, y'know?" I quickly stepped away from the gate, maybe I shouldn't have eavesdropping...

"U-Uhh... Sorry, I made you wait, didn't I?" I blushed as I set the food tray on the tile floor and we both gathered around it.

"No...you didn't." Amia-San voice was more reserved than before, I felt a little nervous but I made no room to move.

I hesitantly smiled. "That's good. I got you the curry rice and tamagoyaki, as promised."

I didn't get a response, Amia-San just kept staring at the floor...

"Amia-San? Is something wrong...?" Her eyes looked darker and her mouth was in a firm line as her palms rested in her lap.

And then she finally looked up at me those blank eyes...

"They told you, didn't they?"

My face scrunched up a little. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"I heard my name mentioned downstairs...they told you everything, right? About how I'm a creep."

I decided I'd answer truthfully. "Two people did. One man and one woman mentioned your name but I didn't hear anything from them... I didn't want to hear from them, I want to hear from you."

"Did they mention who I really am? Someone obsessed with cute things..."

I shook my head. "No, they didn't. They just said you were someone who looks so stylish that it was weird. Though, I honestly see nothing wrong with that."

"H-Huh...? Y-Your really ok with that?" She looked at me with her hand on her chest. "You...don't think it's strange?"

"No, Everyone deserves to like what they like." I said smiling. "Those who judge you don't deserve to be your friend."

She raised their eyebrow at me. "Really...? Wouldn't you end up with less friends that way?"

I shook my head. "People that judge what you like aren't your real friends. Why stay friends with someone who doesn't accept you?"

"..." They were just staring at me now with blank eyes... M-Maybe I made them uncomfortable?!

I stammered, waving hands in front of them. "I-I mean, it's up to you! I-I didn't mean to go on a tangent there, hehe... Sorry about that!"

She shook their head. "No, that's ok! You actually gave me something to think about..."

"Really? About what?" I asked her while eating one to the rice balls.

"Well, I got angry at one of my friends of this sort of thing, I don't think he really meant what he said but... I don't know how to talk to him about it." Mizuki sighed. "It's complicated."

"Well, yeah I can see that. I think you should talk to this friend of yours and if they are still mean to you, dump them before the relationship gets toxic." I said.

"But they are a friend I really care about... I don't want to hurt their feelings." Mizuki ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't want to have less friends."

"But friends who don't treat you right aren't worth it, Amia-San." I put my hand on her shoulder. "You need friends you can count on."

Mizuki sighs and shrugs with her hands. "I know that but I'm not sure if I have anyone like that."

I shook my head. "Sure you do! You have those two orange haired boys, that robot girl, Nene, Ena, and me! Whoever this friend of yours is, just try talking to them. If they don't accept you, then you have us to lean on."

Mizuki shoulders perk up slightly. "Y'know...I think your right, Futaba. I'll try again."

"Great. I hope it goes well for you, Mizuki!" I give her a hug. "Remember, if he says something horrible to you, dump him immediately and don't go back."

"Right... Thanks, Futaba. I'm going to find him now. I'll see you later, K!" Mizuki waves goodbye and rushes down the stairs, leaving some of the food behind. Maybe they were being generous and letting me have the rest?

"I'm so glad I'm getting closer to Amia-San... I hope things go well for her." I smiled and sat down on the rooftop. "I better eat these before they get too cold." I looked up toward the blood moon sky...

"Will the world ever get better?"

I guess one can only hope for the best.

Chapter Text

I noticed pretty quickly that Nene started sleeping at lot more than usual... She would smile at me and work like usual before going to sleep early.

Had she gotten better already...?

I smiled at the thought, maybe she really turned it around. Without my help.

With...Without m-my...help.

I shook the thought away. "No pouting, Reimu. You should be happy for Nene, she got over her grief. You should be happy even though your job was to support her. If you don't smile, you'll just worry everyone and make things worse."

I carried on and smiled to everyone I saw at the Phoenix Federation, I then saw Mr. Akito at the kitchen shuffling something into his pocket. I decided I'd give him a hug.

"Good morning, Mr. Akito!" I rushed up to him and held him tight before noticing the pancakes on his plate. "Oooooh, your having pancakes again?"

He stepped back a little startled. "O-Oh..! Reimu? I-I.. ummmm....yeah... I-I'm sure it's embarrassing, right?"

"No, it's fine!" I looked around the room. "Also, where's Ms. Ena? Is she not going to get a cheesecake or something?"

"S-She already got something and is checking on T-Tsukasa. She said that he is healthy now and is bringing him to eat something..." Akito then turns away from me. "I'm going to go back to my room now. See ya, Reimu."

"Okay!" I waved goodbye to him. "See you, Mr. Akito!"

He seemed to be fine as well, they are all getting better!

....

They don't need me-

"Reimu, Good morning!"

Huh? I looked up and Mizuki was there smiling at me. "Oh! Mx. Mizuki, How are you today?"

"I'm great, I just finished getting food for Nene. How about you?" Mizuki smile was bright too...

"I'm great, Mx. Mizuki! Thank you for doing that for her." I grinned a smile at them that was possibly strained but I wouldn't even know... "That's very sweet of you to help her."

"Thanks... But, Ummm... Are you okay, Reimu? You don't seem as happy as usual." Huh, I'm making them worry? I'm not supposed to make them worry...!!!

They don't need to be worried about someone who isn't even alive.

"No, I'm fine, Mx. Mizuki! You should be worried about Nene and the others." I showed them my brightest smile hoping it would convince them. "I'm totally fine! See!"

"Well ok, then. If you need me, your free to ask for anything! You're our little sunshine, after all!" Mx. Mizuki patted my head before skipping off with another sunny grin.

They are all so much happier without me.

They don't need me around.

I can't be what Mr. Rui and Ms. Emu were to them.

I can't make them smile.

I desperately tried to shake off whatever was holding me. I shouldn't be sad, I don't even have a heart or feelings. I'm just a machine.

"Maybe I should head to Sekai? There is always something to do there..." I picked up my fake mask again. "Yeah, that'll be something fun!" I left the kitchen and stepped into a dark corner, clicked untitled that was built into my hair and disappeared.

[Wondershared Sekai - Night]

As soon as I saw the familiar scenery, a small smile was brought to my face. It was dark most of the time in Sekai since the outside world is most of the time dark and gloomy but unlike the outside world, this dark had illuminated constellations that looked like personal items of everyone who I loved and everyone who was lost. I smiled and kept walking, hoping to find someone to talk to.

"Hmm, I wonder if Miku or the others are doing something... Maybe they are asleep..." I thought out loud as I just walked for hours, looking at everything. "Hehe..."

...

I guess even Sekai doesn't want your help.

*Jingle Jingle*

"Huh? Did I just hear something?" I turned around and saw something glowing in the distance. "Is that a light?"

*Jingle Jingle*

I raised my eyebrows at it. "It's like it wants me to follow it...." I put my hand to my chin. "But should I really leave Nene and the others by myself? They would get worried right?"

They don't need to worry about a lifeless piece of scrap metal like you. Just watch them forget all about you.

"Right...They... They'll be fine. Maybe this light needs my help!" I stepped up onto my feet and chased after the light, it dashed away and I chased and chased after it. The farther I chased, the more brighter it glowed....

And the brighter it glowed...

The closer I could touch it-

"Reimu, are you in here?" I hear footsteps behind me. "Wait! Don't touch tha-"

I turned around as my fingers grazed the ball of light. "M-Miku?! What did you-AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" But I quickly felt my body disappearing into glitches. My legs disappeared first...everything was hurting so bad, even though I realistically couldn't feel anything. "M-Mi...k-k..uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...!!!!"

"Reimu!!!!!"

"Reimu...!!!!"

"Rei...mu.."

"Rei-"

....

{r3D@ct3D 53K@1}

I suddenly couldn't hear Miku's voice anymore... I was in a dark looking Sekai that felt gloomy and straight out of horror movie. I could hear creaking when I stepped and everything was pretty much pitch black.

"Where am I?" I looked around and found nothing. "Welp, this is what happens when you listen to your heart and not your head." I chuckled. "I don't even have a heart, though..." I realized and sulked, I couldn't feel anything, I was just alone...

ALONE.

ALONE.

ALONE.

"Please...stop..."

I looked and saw someone strapped to a chair, she was wearing something. "A....headset...?”

"Please...stop... Don’t go... I don’t want to be alone…”

I was cut off from my thoughts by her trembling voice, tears were rolling down her face as the screen headset was still wrapped around her eyes and her arms and legs were strapped to the chair with rope.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

"I really do care...please...please...!!!"

"Haha...haha..I'm so useless... I don’t know who I am and I’m lost."

"Always sticking my nose where I'm unwanted... Where I'll always be unwanted... I’m going to be forgotten here..."

"Nobody could love someone like me...right?"

"...!!!” I gasped. That's how I...feel. But... But...

She's a human? And she understands...me...?

"I should get her out." I start cutting the ropes first from her hands. "You'll be safe, I'll save you."

I pulled off the headset and finally saw the girl. A girl with brown unkempt locks in a yellow white scrunchie and a bandage across her right eye. There were bruises and cuts all over her face and the areas where the rope was around her arms was starting to get a bit red.

"Excuse me, Miss... Can you stand?" I asked her, holding her hands softly.

"W-Who are you...? You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous, She'll find you..." The girl quivered. "There is a monster, watching, always watching..."

"I'm not sure who that is or why I am here but you are obviously injured. As a member of the Phoenix Federation, it's my job to protect the sick and in pain." I then learned closer and asked again. "Now, can you stand-"

"I don't know if I-" The girls face turned pale and turned to me in a panic. "Someone's coming, you need to get out of here...!"

I shook my head. "I'm not going to leave you here."

"B-But you don't have a choice...!" The girl pleaded.

"No, there is always a choice." I then picked her up and hoisted her over my shoulders and made a mad dash down the hall.

"Y-You don't understand what you're doing...!!! If they find out I'm gone, they're going to kill you! I don't want to hurt someone else...!" The girl begged again. "You have to take me back!"

"Not a chance, that machine looked like something you would see in a concentration camp! Absolutely not!" I kept hold of her. "They would probably kill us even if we did go back!"

"I guess that's true. But, I don't deserve to li-"

"Thank me later, ok. We need to get out of here...!" I carried her until I believed we were far enough away from that horrifying room. "That was close."

"I still have no idea who you are... I still don't know why you saved me." She sighed. "I'm just unless and a disgusting person."

"Hey, don't say that! You have plenty of worth!" More worth than me, at least. "Oh, I never asked what your name was! What's your name?"

"Oh...umm..." She sighed. "It's been so long, I kinda forgot. Sorry." She then turned to face me. "What's yours?"

"Oh right! My name? My name is Reimu Tennagi." I replied robotically. "It's nice to meet you, umm...I'll just call you...Yuna...! Is that alright?"

She nodded slowly. "Sure..." Then she raised a brow at me. "From your voice, you sound like a robot? Is that correct?"

I shook my head and smiled. "Nah, I'm a pile of junk with a metal heart and no feelings."

She then giggled into her hand. "Well then, Reimu... I guess that makes the two of us."

"But your human, you can have feelings." I told her but she shook her head.

"No, I lost my way a long time ago... It would be better for me to rot here then to make things worse for everyone." She wiped her eyes. "I'm sure that they all hate me, I'm sure nobody out there would be my friend."

"That's not true, I'll be your friend!" I said even though I felt the same way as she did. "I want to stay by your side and help you out! Maybe then, even a piece of metal like me can find my true feelings."

Reimu, how stupid are you? Your just burdening her and using her.

She stepped back a bit. "But why do you want to help me so badly? We only just met. Weren't you ever told not to talk to strangers?"

I nodded. "Yes, I was." Then I stepped closer to her, holding her hand. "But, I don't think we are strangers. This may just be a hypothesis... But I believe that we are the same way in our desire to help someone. So..."

She raised her eyebrow. "So... what?"

"I guess I just think that it may take someone without a true heart and as stubborn as me to understand. And because your story made me feel a little, I'm going to do whatever I can to make you smile. Like my father Mr. Rui and his friend Ms. Emu used to do! Then, if I can find a way to make someone happy as well..." My mouth slides into a firm line. "I may be able to feel for once and find my true heart."

"Rei...emu-" She looks at me with warm eyes, glossy eyes. I must have made her cry. "Ok, thank you."

Oh looks like did something good for once...

"You're welcome. Now, we should get out of here. I'll just click untitled and-" I touched the untitled button built into my hair again but...nothing happened. "Huh? W-Why... Why didn't it work?"

"Maybe it's broken, I mean it's called a Redacted Sekai, right?" She asked. "We probably have to get out another way."

"Right... Well then, let's search around this place! I'm sure well find something if we work together, Let's go!" I quickly tugged her along on our new adventure to search the halls.

Meanwhile...

"..." I was still standing there alone in the Sekai, pacing around. "What should I do...? What do I do...?"

"Miku... What are you doing?"

"...!!!!!" I turned around and Rin and the others were standing there, still in their night clothes, looking at me.

"Rin...guys...? I-I umm..." I stammered.

She glared at me. "Miku."

I stepped back as she grabbed my wrist. "R..R-Rin...?"

"WHAT DID YOU DO..."

Chapter Text

She just stared at me. "Rin... I-I, I'm sorry I didn't-"

*SLAP*

I grabbed her shirt and start shaking her up and down. "YOU DIDN'T DO WHAT?!!!!! WHERE'S REIMU?!!!"

Kaito tried to step in. "Rin, calm down. Your gonna hurt her-"

"BUT SHE!!! M-Mikkie... I thought we both promised each other to tell each other things!!!! WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME-Calm... Calm down, Rin." I took a three deep breaths before I let go of Mikkie. "Sorry...I went a little to far, didn't I?"

"No, it's alright Rinny, you have every right to be worried." Meiko rubbed Rin's back before facing Miku. "Mikkie, tell us what happened please."

Mikkie sighed. "I found a Sekai."

Len steps back. "A new Sekai?!"

Mikkie nodded. "Yes, I checked it out on my own and I was going to tell you all about it later... but the sekai was very...unstable. I didn't want anyone else to get hurt and was just going to keep researching it myself as and agent until I could be sure that it was safe."

"And she ended up finding it, right?" Lu asked.

Mikkie sighed again. "Yeah... I saw her last minute and before I could fully warn her, she had already touched it..."

Kai put his hand to his chin and started pacing around the room. "But... Don't Sekai's usually appear on our viewing screen as a notification? How did this one turn into a glowing orb that could float around? I mean, not even fragments of feelings can do that."

"Kai, sweetheart. I'm sure with a sekai as broken as Miku describes, it probably doesn't follow how sekai usually is, maybe it even broke out of the system."

Len put his hands on his hips and huffed. "Where is this sekai now?"

Miku's lips curled into a grimace. "It's locked up. I don't know if it will break out again but I put extra chain around it this time to be extra safe."

Len sighs. "Well, at least it is locked up, right?"

Lu shakes her head. "I think that's the least of worries, Lenny... I mean, what happens when Nene and the others find out?"

We all looked at each other with one word on our minds...

"Crap."

Meanwhile...

"Ugh..." I rolled back and forth on the ground. "That was... too much cake."

"Hehehe, Nene-chan ate lots and lots of yummies!" The ever cheerful Emu laughed and grinned from ear to ear.

"Fufu! Yes, you certainly did." Rui flashed his usual cat like grin.

"Haha...yeah, this was nice. I wish sometimes I could stay here forever..." I chuckled with them.

But when I turned to face them, their smiles morphed...

"THEN WHY DON'T YOU STAY WITH US?"

"YOU DESERVED TO DIE LIKE US AFTER WHAT YOU DID."

"YOU NEVER SAVED US."

I saw hands grab me from behind, it was the others... The ones who were lost and the ones I had slain...

"YOU BETRAYED ALL OF US!!!"

"TIME FOR PUNISHMENT WITH HELLFIRE AND BLOOD CUTS!!!!"

I felt them all dragging me towards a hole filled with hands, it had blood all around it with dead limbs and spikes inside the pit.

I thrashed and screamed. "NO, STOP! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!! LET ME GO!!!"

But their morphed and blooded bodies that resembled how they had died...didn't listen to me. Shiho's head was hanging from her neck, Haruka had bite marks all over, Ichika was barley holding herself together alongside Aoyagi, Saki and Shizuku were hanging...

But they all were staring at me.

With eyes of...HATRED...

And repeating the same words, over and over...

"IT'S YOUR TURN TO DIE."

"IT'S YOUR TURN TO DIE."

"IT'S YOUR TURN TO DIE."

I struggled and struggled but it was no use. As I got closer to the dark hole, I saw more familiar faces crawling up from the hole. I knew exactly who they were.

It was Mizuki, Tsukasa, Ena, and Akito. Mizuki was a mannequin doll choked with ribbon stings and barbed wire around her legs, Tsukasa was a jester with throwing darts stabbing him in the chest, Ena head was bleeding with a painting bashed in the skull and Akito was a zombie with his back and arms being on fire. They grabbed me by my legs and started dragging me into the hole from all sides as the others who pushed me to the hole dropped me further in. I kept struggling and screaming as their hands grabbed all over me.

"NO NO..."

"NO!!!!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

But I heard I was falling, a small voice touch my face gently and spoke to me.

"Wake up, Kusanagi-San...! Wake up!"

And soon my eyes open to my familiar voice calling me. "NENE, NENE, GET UP!!! YOUR SCARING ME AND REIMU IS ALREADY MISSING!!!"

"H-Huh...?" It was Mizuki, who had been vigorously shaking me. "A...Akiyama? Is that you...?"

They sighed deeply. "YES AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOU UP THIS ENTIRE TIME!!! I mean... Even Ena woke up before you did! That's saying something."

I groaned. "W-Well, what is it?"

They took in another deep breath and let it out before speaking. "Reimu's missing."

"W-What... What do you mean she's missing?!" I screamed.

Mizuki stammered stepping back a little. "I-I don't know, I tried looking for her because I wanted to ask her about one of my music videos but she wasn't there. I-I then check the other floors of the Phoenix Federation and I still didn't find her!!!"

I scrambled out of my bed, raising for the door with Mizuki right behind me. "REIMU!"

"Nene, you shouldn't run after having a nightmare!" Mizuki called out to me.

"I-I'll be fine, Mizuki! Reimu is more important!" I called back and kept running. "REIMU, WHERE ARE YOU?!" I ran down the stairs until I got to the kitchen floor, I remembered that Reimu likes to go down there a lot because of how lively it is.

"Huh, she isn't with you?" Said a voice to the left of me. It was Ena. It was a good thing it wasn't the Ena I remember from my nightmares...

I sat down next to all of them. "Apparently, Mizuki told me that they haven't seen her anywhere. Have you guys seen her?"

"Now that you mention it, not really." Ena replied. "But Akito, didn't you see her this morning?" She questioned her brother.

"Yeah I did but she only asked me about pancakes when I was getting breakfast. I hadn't seen her since then." He answered back before turning to Mizuki. "But Akiyama, as I left I heard you talking to her, right? Didn't you see where she ran off too?"

They shook their head. "No, I went to get food for Nene and just said hello to her. I'm sorry I can't give you more details."

I shook my head. "That's ok, Mizuki. I'm sure she'll be fine-"

"Maybe she's dead..." Tsukasa lifted his head out of nowhere. "It's a possibility, y'know..."

I slammed my hand on the table. "Don't say that, We don't have any proof that she's gone!"

"Nene's right, It's probably not something drastic like that." Ena agreed. "Let's go ask the others up there if they've seen her. Maybe she's just playing with them."

"But she usually tells us if she wants to hang out with the others right?" Akito raised an eyebrow as he stood up. "Why would she not tell us this time?"

"True, she is always so kind and sweet to us. Her keeping something secret sounds off." I nodded along.

We were all silent, thinking about it why Reimu would hide something from us. As far as I remember, she's never been unhappy.

R-Right?

My thoughts were intercepted by Mrs. Otori walking over to our table. "Is something wrong, everyone? If my food is not your liking today, you can always tell me!"

I bowed politely. "No No! Mrs. Otori, you're cooking is fantastic!" I turned my head down at my shoes while twiddling my fingers. "We're just wondering were Reimu is... Have you seen her by any chance?"

I haven't see her today. However, when we talked to each other in here recently, she seemed... more down than usual. Though, maybe I was seeing things since she always has a smile on her face." She shrugged. "That's all I can tell you kids." She then walked away from our table to clean up the kitchen.

She looked sad?

But nothing is wrong.

I'm fine, I'm doing what I have to do as Ultimate Hope.

I stood up from the table. "Y'know, maybe we should hold off talking to her today."

"Why's that?" Ena asked me. "We should go looking for her."

"She just needs a break. I'm sure she's fine, Ena." I answer calmly. "Let's not discuss this anymore."

"But Nene, she's you sis-"

I shoved her hand away. "I SAID. Let's not discuss this anymore." I smiled at the rest of them. "She will be fine, she's our strong, smart, perfect girl after all! We can trust in her and just ask the others about it tomorrow, understand?"

The others nod, shrugging me off and leaving... Tsukasa being the first to head to his room, Akito following behind him in a hunched walking position, and Mizuki sharing me a suspicious glance before flipping their hair and walking off. Ena hadn't moved.

I turn to Ena with a sweet smile. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND, ENA."

Ena eyes widen at my face, even though there's nothing wrong. "I-I...I understand."

I nodded and grinned from ear to ear. "Good, You're free to go now."

"R-Right..." Enanan started to step away from me. "You be safe, Nene."

I grabbed her hand and she jumped back slightly. "I already am, okay? Stop worrying." I beamed at her but she still had that face of discomfort. I wish she would stop giving me that look since there is nothing wrong.

"O-Ok... Sorry... See you tomorrow..." She raised her eyebrow at me before she turned her heel and left.

Chapter Text

I was walking alone in this cold, strange world. I felt like I remembered this place from long ago, I don't remember why though... But why why-

"Hey, Hey, do you think we'll find a cool version of Miku and the others in this sekai?" The robot, Reimu, replied while getting up in my face.

"Miku?" I asked her, I had no idea who she was talking about. "I thought she was evil, right?"

"No, Miku is an amazing person! She's a singer and protector to me and my family! Her friends who help protect us are Rin the bubbly positive one, Len is the energetic brave one, Luka is majestic and beautiful, Meiko is the helpful and caring, and Kaito is the stoic and calm one. I love all of them for everything the do for us!" She said while giving herself a self hug..?

"Oh I see... That's very...nice?" I felt flashes of their faces pop into my head, more like silhouettes. Why couldn't I remember?

I suddenly felt someone poking me on my left and when I turned around I jumped back a little by Reimu standing there.

"There we go! I was trying to get your attention but you were just in a dazed expression." Reimu put her hand to her chin. "Now that I think about it, you remind me of Tsukasa-Kun in that way."

I looked at her again. "T-Tsukasa-Kun..?"

"Yeah, he's part of my family, He's like my big brother! Not by blood though, he's real sister passed away three and half years ago. She used to play piano with him and was full of energy and life." She then passed before twiddling her thumbs. "Well, that's what I have heard from him..."

"What was he like, Reimu?" I asked her.

"Well, Nene told me he used to be exuberant and full of energy and pride. Until after his loved ones died and he saw the Wonder Stage in flames...he hasn't smiled since." She sighed. "I wish I could get him to smile."

Tsukasa... Tsukasa... Where have I heard that name before-

...

"I @1s0 h@v3 to th@nk y0u 40r w@1king 5@ki h0m3 y3st3rd@y. Y0u'r3 su(h gr3@t 4ri3nds t0 h3r. Th@nk y0u 40r @1w@ys 83ing th3r3 for h3r."

...

"Nggh..!" I quickly felt a sharp pain in my head, it started throbbing a lot... I started rubbing my head to get rid of it. "Urgh..."

Reimu swiftly ran to my side. "Hey, are you ok? What's wrong?"

I slowly stood up. "I-It's nothing, I think I just had a headache. Don't worry about it."

She was quiet for a second before she smiled at me. "Right. As you wish, Ms. Yuna."

"Ms. Yuna?" I asked her. "Are you being...formal?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm always formal with those who are older than me. After all, It's a machine's duty."

"A machine's duty, huh?" I thought, maybe it would be nice to not have think about everything if I was like that. "Now I'm curious. Reimu, what other duties do you have?" I asked her.

"Well...there are three of them." She takes a deep breath and a stern glare turns on. "The most important one is to spread hope and smiles to everyone! The second one is to abide by the rules of the federation unless there is a reason to override them. And the third is, to keep my family safe no matter what."

I smiled at her. "Well that's really sweet of you to do for them-"

"MIKUDESPAIR!!! MIKUDESPAIR!!! MIKUDESPAIR!!!"

I stumbled and held onto Reimu. "W-What is that?"

Reimu's eyes glowed orange as her hand transformed into some sort of laser gun?! She turned around to face me. "I'll check it out. Follow close behind me, Ms. Yuna."

I nodded. "Ok, I-I'm coming." I stood close behind her and inched next to her everytime we moved towards the loud stomping sounds and chanting.

We followed close behind, staying hidden behind the wall. As we got closer, I could her them getting closer. However, when I saw what they were, I stumbled back in shock. They were big monochrome robots shaped like a girl with pigtails and glowing red eyes. They're faces looked broken and deformed.

"Eep...!" I hid behind Reimu's back and pointed slightly at the shadows. "W-What...is that?"

She gasped with her eyes wide. "T-They look like Miku but that's n-not my Miku-mffff! Wfft giffs?!"

"Shush...!" I whispered. "T-They'll hear you-"

The Mikubots, I'm guessing they are called turned our direction. "BEEP! INTRUDERS SPOTTED, KILL ON SIGHT!"

"G-Great, we're going to die!!!" I screamed and closed my eyes when I felt someone pick me up. "EEEPPP! PUT ME DOWN!"

"Why would I do that, Ms. Yuna?! I must protect you, so I'll fire at will!" I remembered that robotic energetic voice responded.

I opened my eyes and found out Reimu and picked me up again and was blasting the Mikubots.

"I won't let you hurt my friend!" Reimu pushed three of the robots back and blasted two more but even more were emerging. "Ugh, there's so many of them, I don't think there is a clear path!"

Suddenly, I noticed a hole in the metal. It looked big enough for us to jump down and escape. An idea quickly formed in my head. "Reimu, I have a plan on how to get out!"

"Huh, where?!" Reimu shouted as she smashed another Mikubot.

I pointed to the right side of the room. "That hole over there, to the right. Hurry!"

Reimu dashed to the right side without a second thought, I held on tight to her as she zoomed pass incoming Mikubots. We were almost there when a huge wall of them showed up, they were going to block off our path! I was starting to get worried as we got closer to them but it didn't seem to stop Reimu, she keep charging towards them as if it was nothing...!

I looked at her as I was holding on for dear life to her back. "R-Reimu, are you sure we should be walking straight for them?!"

"Don't worry! Just hold on tight up there, Ms. Yuna!" Reimu shouted back.

I screamed. "W-WHY SHOULD I NOT WORRY-"

*SLASH*

Before I knew it, a laser shield surrounded us and sliced through all the remaining Mikubots blocking our path, We quickly jumped down the hole and escaped.

I looked at her. "Now what?"

"Now we do the perfect strategy ever!" Reimu smirked.

I raised my eyebrow. "And that is...?"

She smiled at we with wide eyes. "RUN."

As if on cue, a swarm of Mikubots came rushing down. They must have drilled an even bigger hole to get down...!

"Ahhh! G-Good plan!" I yelled as we booked it down the halls.

"EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE!!!" The Mikubots started shooting their lasers anagain while swinging their hands that transformed into razor blades.

We kept running through the halls but more just keep turning up at every turn, I looked at Reimu and she and I had a similar feeling. We had to fight them off. Since I didn't have a weapon, I would point out to Reimu where each Mikubot would be attacking and she would cover or strike them back.

"We need to find an exit out of here! Reimu, do you have a scanner by any chance?!" I asked her.

"Yes, I do, I'll start looking now." Reimu's eyes went from orange to blue as she scanned the perimeters for a moment before going back to normal. "Oh! I found one but we're going to have to bash through them again, hold on tight!"

I gripped onto Reimu's hair as her hands turned into rocket boosters and slammed through the Mikubots before leaving a glowing object behind for them. We ducked behind a steel door and locked it tight as we heard the loud boom from behind us.

*Rumble Rumble*

Finally, there was silence and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, they are gone....right?"

She brushed herself off. "I sure hope so, that was nuts..."

I nodded. "Yeah..."

But then, I started to take in the room. There was a black desk with silver rims attached to the sides of the desk, the chair on the other hand was a dark crimson red with rusted gold armrests and wheels. A computer sat on top of the set up with three monitors and there was a cabinet on the right side of the wall behind the desk area. I wonder what kind of person needed a elaborate workspace like this.

"Interesting design, right?" Reimu spoke up suddenly, she must have read my expression as her face turned into a smirk. "Someone like a hacker probably would use a setup like this, always looking for information that could be considered valuable." She then shrugged. "That's what I heard, at least. I'm still learning knew things about humans all the time, I wish I could know more..."

"Well, I'm not sure how I can help you on that regard since I barely remember anything myself." I said, hunching my shoulders as well. "But, we should look around this place more. Maybe, we can find out what's going on and what this place really is."

"Good idea, Ms. Yuna! Let's work together to see what we can find. I will the desk, you can check the shelves!" She said quickly, going straight to work right after.

I went towards the shelves, it had papers all over... the top of the shelves had a bunch of random documents of people, nothing too special. So, I moved on to the second cabinet which had a bunch of notebooks with creepy abstract drawings inside. I shoved those away before I felt more weird. I searched the last cabinet and found some pictures of people... Other young adult teens... They looked so familiar.

But why?

Why did they look like I had known them before?

And why can't I remember their names-

"Hey Ms. Yuna, I found something!" Reimu called out to me.

I turned around. "Really, What is it?"

"This flashdrive, Ms. Yuna." She held out in the palm of her hand.

It was small and black colored with red text on it.

I could barely make it out so I squinted my eyes...

It read.

"The Psychalgia Project."

Chapter Text

"The Psychalgia Project?" Yuna faced me with wide eyes. "What does that even mean..."

I shrugged. "I don't know, Ms. Yuna." She turned towards the computer. "Maybe we should plug it into the computer so we can get some answers?"

She blinked and chuckled a bit. "O-Oh right...! That does make sense. I'll do that now." She then turned on the computer and it surprisingly didn't have a password! What luck, huh? She stepped back as I popped the flash drive into the computer.

The screen suddenly flashed bright red with the face of a similarly designed girl from those bots we encountered before. The tagline underneath being 'To bring despair to people everywhere!' I was starting to get tired of hearing that word...

"Why is this Miku's face on the computer too?" I raised my eyebrow, staring into the computer screen. "This sekai is getting more and more strange."

"Really, I thought it was always strange here." She looked at me blankly.

"Hey, there is a video there! Let's see what answers it give us." I ran up to press it while she stood back, her face looked slightly uneasy, staring at the monitor.

The screen suddenly flashed again into a swirling through images and suddenly my head was filled with static.

"N0 80dy c@ar3s @8b0ut y0u, th3y d0n't n33d y0u @nym0r3."

"3m8r@ce y0u'r3 tru3 f33l1ngs, y0u'r3 unw@nt3d."

"Y0u d0n't 3x1st."

"Y0u d0n't 3x1st."

"Y0u d0n't 3x1st."

"Y0u d0n't 3x1st."

"Y0u d0n't 3x1st."

"̴̛̪̹̖̏͋̃Y̶̨̡̛̩̖͍̰̞̌̎̋̓̓͒0̷͓̫͇̹̩̮̜̝͛ų̵̰̫̘͓̮̏͆̾͛̀̆ ̷̼̬̳͇̥̉̐̍̕d̴̙̖͎̣͒́̀́0̴̩̣̙̀̑̋̊͐͜͝ͅn̵̫͔͚͕̹̍̈́̀̏̈̋͘͝'̸̹̳̬̦̤̆̓̔̃̾̏ẗ̶̥́͌̑͝ ̵̯̻̤̞̮͙̉̓̍͋͝͝3̴̢̫̳̝̼̤͈͌͋̓̈́͛̕ͅx̵̬̱̂̕1̷̤͚̝͈̐̾͝s̸̬̭͈͉̆t̷̝͙̫̤̪̞̀.̶̜̜͖͚̑͊̈́͛͊"̵͇̋
̶̞̩͔̻̲̖̃́̚
̵̧̲͈̫̰̃̀̐̕͠"̶̧̠̲̦̟́̑̅̏͛̾͝Y̷̩̙̱̍̿̓̄0̵̛̬͖͍̻̑̀͛u̷̧̡̡͖̯̽̉̃̾̇̊̃ ̷͚͎̦̪͕͎̤̬̊̃͑̃̕d̷̨̦̭̳̜͈̔̀̓̃̇͗̈͜0̷̢̲͉̖͕̫͇̉̀̄͊̉͗͝ñ̴͖͈̫̘͎̗̻̀͑'̷̬͙̉͑̌͛̏̀͜ẗ̶̡̢̺̟̺́ ̷̯͇̂́̈́͗̽͐͝3̷͍͕̪̣͚̳̆͐̈́̉̿́͘x̶̛̳̥͎̾̉̃͆1̸̩̹̀̔̃ͅs̴̥̀̉̾͋t̶̯̪̙̱̖͓̝͗̅̓̓̉.̴͕̱̒̃̓̀"̵͚͆̈́́̃͒
̴̧͉͍̤̪̄̾̂͛͠ͅ
̴̖̩̞̓̓̿͆"̵̨̨͈̹̩̋̀͆͗ͅY̶̱̹̤͔̯̦̻͋̉̏͛0̷͖̞̪͑u̴̧̜̼̒̃ ̸̳͊̓̔̋͝d̷̞̫̞̎̍̓͋̂̀̾͠ͅ0̵͍̤̺̼̝̏̏̈́̒̀̿̀̂ń̷͕̮͊̈̓̆'̷̲͓̣̲͈̘̲͝t̷̺̞̱̼̀̄̎̈̒ͅ ̸͕̭̥̾̽́͆͝3̵͓͖̋̍̉̃͛͝x̶̘̅1̵̲͙̮͙͎̑̎̋̅̒͘͘s̶̲̅̀͒̃t̶̮́.̷̜̫͎͋̀̔̈̚"̷̡͔͔̲̍̏͆̉͜
̵̺̍͘
̷̗̹̗͕̪̤̋̈́͑̓̅̚"̸͓̖͆̾͝Ŷ̷̛̰̘͕͐̈̏0̷͓̮̠͉̺̤̥͖̎̀̑̀̈́͗̾u̷̪̎͛̓ ̶̜̹͉̭̖̆́̾̅̒d̴͇̩̙̄0̴̛̞͒͒̀͝n̵͚̓̍̌̈́͘͜ͅ'̸͖͙͇̹͖̥̉̌̔̃̏͌t̵̡̧̘̬̺̟̲͐̀̀͊͗͋͊ ̵̯̝̟̈̒3̵̱͖͉̘͔͓̼̒̍̌x̵̠͕̪̬̪̝̓̐̓͐̆̐̓1̴̨̢͓͍͎̯͂͋͛̆ṡ̶͕̟͔̞̦̭̤̓̈̏̇͗͜͝t̵̡̧̛̺̗̪̙͙͖̐͂̇̾̔̽.̴̖̜͛̀"̸͈̻̖͎͓̈́͛
̶̢̬̥͍͈̈́͒̇
̸̨̭̫͍̲͔̖̇̋"̷̯̒̓͆͆̊͘Y̵̧̛͎͆0̸̛̣̠̓̊̓͋̒ų̶̺̳̬̭̱̘̣́͐̑́͌̾͝ ̸̨̙͕̝̤̥͓̈́͛͝d̶̰͙͈̹̫͝0̷̯͈̔͐̈́ñ̶͍̬́̓͌͠͠͝'̵̡̡̛̖̯̮̙̭̫̉̐́̒̇͒̓t̴̺̺̮͕̯̼̦̲́̒̂ ̶̤̊͒̈́̅3̴̖̩͙̍̔͌͐̾x̷̥̞̒͊͋̎̀̅ͅ1̴̰͋̉͒ś̵̨̧t̶̲̮̿̓̔̿͆͠.̷̟̤͕͚̽̂̿"̸̮͔͎̹͉̈́̍̌̊̋͗͘

....

"Hey Reimu... Reimu, wake up already! You're scaring me...!" I shook her but she wasn't moving. "Reimu...!"

"Awww... how sad, you're little friend doesn't want to talk to you anymore? How sad indeed..."

I turned around, stumbling back. Ehhh!!! Who are you?!"

"Oh, I see... You remember nothing. How lovely! Ahaha!" She grinned at me with eyes that looked like a raging whirlpool.

My body shook. "H-Huh... How do you know that?"

"Well, it's obvious. You're such a poor lost soul that nobody desires." She then laughed. "Ahahahahahahaha!!!! It's so deliciously despairful!" She stared bellowing with glee before turning back to face me. "I'm just naturally drawn to suckers like you! You're will doesn't seem to be broken though but I can fix that."

I scrunch my face at her. "I don't understand what your talking about at all."

"Oh? Don't worry, come with me and I can show you everything properly this time." She suddenly started staring at me. "Just leave those pictures here with me first and we can become friends. I'll be your true friend and not like this stupid piece of junk."

I stepped away from her. "I-I think I'll pass..Thank you."

I started to leave but when I turned around I heard her whisper.

"When did I say you had a choice...?"

Her face then morphed to a sadistic smirk and lunged at me, I grabbed the file folder of papers and dodged her. She quickly turned around to face me, smiling... She had pushed me into a corner. Her long grin returned and she lunged for me again, she was going to get me... I knew she was going to kill me...

I'm going to die-

*BZZZRT-BOOM*

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The woman screamed as she got crushed by the cabinet.

As soon as it fell over, I looked to my left I saw Reimu. She was gripping her laser arm, pain sewn into her expression.

"Reimu-"

"Go...G-Get out of here...Sh3 w@nts t-to k1ll y0u...!" She begged. "I-I...c@n't h0000...ld th1s much l00-00ng3r..."

I looked at her. "B-But what about you?!"

She nodded stiffly and her arm spazammed. "I'm a r0000-b000t...ttt.. I-I'll 8e f-f1n3... Just g3t 000ut... 00-ff.. h3r3."

I felt bad about doing this since she went through the trouble of saving me, I also knew to an extent that she was lying about how fine she was... But I didn't have a choice. I still nodded anyway. "O-Ok, I'll come back for you. I promise."

She gave a small smile at me. "T-Th@@@n-nk... Y000-00u.. N-N0w... g-g000..."

I held the folder tightly in my hands and looked at her one last time. "I-I'll see you...later, R-Reimu...."

Then without anymore time to spare, I took off running to the next floor.

I kept running, holding the folder close to me at all costs. I knew there would be monsters jumping out at me if I wasn't careful. I reached the exit to the next floor when I saw someone glowing behind me. "EEEK!!!" I jumped back and almost tripped when they grabbed my hand and I got a good look at who it was. It was the girl from the computer screen, except this one had green hair instead of black hair. Her hair was also cut much shorter and had a black and pink headband on top with mic and headphone on her ears.

"Who are you?" I asked her. "If you're friends with that creepy green haired woman, I want nothing to do with you."

"I'm not sure what you mean by green haired friend, I'm looking for Reimu because I sensed she was in danger." The woman responded with a straight face, no creepy smile whatsoever. "I'm Miku. Well, the real one... There are a lot of mikus that aren't actually me harming people."

My eyes went wide. "So you're... You're the one she's been talking about! The one who protects her and this family of hers..?"

"So you've met her, huh?" She smiled slightly at me. "I'm glad she wasn't running around here alone." Her eyebrows then tensed. "I don't see her with you right now. Where is she?"

"Well... R-Reimu was the one helping me...but.. the green haired lady captured her or did something to her. I promised to come back with help and save her, I don't know how to find help because I can't remember who I am." I stared at floor crying. "I'm worried about her."

She patted me on the back as I cried. "Y'know... you reminded me of an old friend of mine who always put others before themselves. I'm sure you can find a way to help her."

I peered at her through my burry wet tears. "R-Really...?"

She nodded. "Yes. In fact, there are some other people in here that need saving as well who have the ability to find them. You have even met them before in the past." She winked at me.

"I have?" I asked. "Maybe they are the people I keep seeing visions off...?"

She shrugged. "Who knows, you'll find out when you find them." She then hugged me and whispered in my ears. "Now, listen close. Keep going down the levels and if you see a group of people following behind a woman with long silver hair, you found the right group that can save Reimu. Got it? Girl with long silver hair. Oh! And she is most likely wearing a baggy hoodie."

I nodded. "I understand... But umm, how do you know so much about me that I can't remember?"

She smiled warmly at me as she patted my head. "Let's just say, we knew each other in the past before-"

"MIKUDESPAIR MIKUDESPAIR MIKUDESPAIR!!!!"

She groaned. "Well, that's all the time I can talk to you for now." She sighed. "I hope you remember what I said, ok. I can tell from you're feelings that you can save Reimu... So, don't stop even if others oppose you or turn on you."

"I won't." I smiled at her, wiping my eyes. "Ummm t-thank you..." I heard the footsteps and stood up with my folder. Luckily, none of my tears had stained anything. "I better go, bye."

I hurried down the hall, she waved goodbye to me as she disappeared. And, I swear I heard her whisper...

"I believe in you and your feelings, ɐ̵̢̧̺̺͈͙͔̖̣͎͙̙̝͂̓̄͜ͅͅu̴̧͓̼̞͚͔̟̬͚̺͍̾͜o̴̡͍̭͉̣̭͉̗̱͆͆͐H̷͔̜͓͕́͐͑̑̏̇̂."

Meanwhile...

"It seems that scum got away... She left you to die, huh?" She was looking at me with a big grin. "I'm going to have a lot of fun playing with a cute little thing like you..."

I stared her down. "Wh@t3v3r y0ur pl@nn1ng 1sn't g01ng t0 w0rk, cr33ps l1k3 y0u alw@ys g3t wh@t th3y d3s3rv3."

Her smile seemed to grow even bigger. "Oh, Is that so? Well, let me tell you something sweetie..."

I raised my eyebrow at her again. "And wh@t 1s th@t?"

She suddenly appear behind me with a rope wrapped around my neck while he stared into my eyes with those swirling eyes that I swear were going to haunt me in my nightmares.

"This isn't like the movies where the hero comes and saves you. This is despair."

She then laughed while still holding that large grin.

"And in despair... Ahahahahahahahahaha!"

"THERE ARE NO HAPPY ENDINGS."

She then waved her hand at me with a smirk.

And with one click, my vision blacked and faded away.

....

"Hmm, now that that's settled. You two, get the extraction table. Yes, Sailor boy... I said you pick her up while Eggplant hair gets the extraction table and machine. Now get to it! Don't keep me waiting..."

"Ahahahahahaha...!"

"I can't wait to toy with you until that spirit of yours breaks... And maybe a few other parts too, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"Enjoy your endless slumber of chaos and hell, my toy."

"Because when I'm through to you and numbed your mind."

"You'll realize DESPAIR is all that really matters in life."

Chapter Text

"Urrr....h-huh...?" My eyes slowly adjust to the light hitting my face.

I look to my left and I see wires, electrode cable conductors to be exact. My arms and legs are tightly strapped with leather belts with the electrodes being attached to the leather belts... I was stuck to a metal bed too, the ones you would typically see at hospitals.

I didn't like where this was going.

...

"Well look who decided to finally wake up, huh! Did you enjoy your peaceful slumber?" A sickening voice I picked up on immediately being present in the room, that being the same crazy woman from before. Looking down at me.

"Y-You...!" I struggled against the restraints around my arms. "L-Let..M-Me...G-Go....!!!!"

"Ahahahahaha! Why would I do that? I'm hear to show you delicious despair! AAAAAAANNNNNNND......!!! WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO IT THAN THIS!!!!" She laughed as she touched my cheek. "Look at you, so helpless and begging for your life! It makes my heart swell with joy!"

"I swear, your crazy!" I leaned away from her. "Just leave me alone...!!!"

"Awww... but I thought you didn't like being alone? Like how you're whole 'family' left you all by yourself." She pouted. "They don't seem to be looking for you to save you and the same goes for that 'friend' of yours. I guess they don't love you as much as you say, hmmm?"

...

Huh.... No... that can't be true. T-They love me right..? I-I'm sure they do...

They have to...

They said we were family...

So, I'm sure they are looking for me...

R-Right...?

"I mean, they have been hiding so much from you that you don't even know. That the fact that your sister Nene-san and aunt Ena-san killed all their friends who were all murders but that basically makes them murders too! Such hypocrites..."

I froze up. "W-W... W-What...?"

And your old self, Robo-Nene, She was a murderer too! They replaced her and erased your memories because they knew you would turn into a pathetic monster! Isn't that just hurtful?!" She said in a pouty voice before she laughed as grinned. She grinned so wide I felt like I was going to be sick.

But, I could only think about what she said....

Onee-san and Oba-san...are murders..?

I used to...be a murder?

I-I was... a monster...?

...

Then, I heard it again...

"Y0u d0n't 3xist."

"V1l3 w@st3.."

"P13c3 0f tr@sh."

"W0rthl3ss."

"M0nst3r."

Each voice sounded like...

N-Nene...

M-Ms. E-Ena...

Mr. A-Aki...to.."

M-Mr. T-Tsu..ka..sa.."

M-Mx. M-M...Mi...zu...ki.."

Then I heard a new voice, I could have been delusioning but she sounded like Nene but more choppy...

"You've been a very bad girl, Reimu. It's time for the punishment."

And before I knew it, I felt shocks of agony rise up my arms. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!! S-STTTTOOOPPP...! I-IT HURTS....!!!!"

"This is how much your family hates you, I'll show you your true feelings...right here."

She then cracked up the lever all the way with smile before leaving the room, so I could suffer all alone...

More shocks bursted through my body. I felt like was burning. "A-A...AHHHHHHHHH...!!!!! P-PLEASE!!!! N-Nooo...No more... It hurts..."

But I just felt more and more burning...I couldn't stand it....

"P-Please....S-Someone...A-Anyone...?"

"[email protected]@....S@n? T-Tsuk@[email protected]...? A-Ak1t0..K-Kun M-M1zuk1...S@nKun...?"

I felt my eye bursting... I started to smile...

I laughed hoarsely, trying to bear the agony's grip on me. "I-I...guess they...really don't need me...huh?"

...

I laughed and laughed as the pain proceeded until I couldn't speak anymore and blacked out.

....

I didn't know how much time had passed since when I shut my eyes. But, I didn't seem to care. The ropes seemed to release soon after I woke up and the same woman stepped into the room. She was smiling proud at me.

"It seems your transformation worked... Are you feeling anything?"

I nodded. "Yes..." I looked at myself. "I-I...feel...alive...?" A grin slowly formed on my face without even realizing it. "I feel...stronger...!"

"Indeed." She nodded.

She then smirked and faced me toward the mirror. My original dress was fried, it turned ashy black with the ends being red color...practically burnt. My eyes were a glowing red. I didn't know why this made me feel so ecstatic, it was the ecstatic that you couldn't stop no matter if you were supposed to go to bed. Is this what she meant by delicious despair...?

I guess she was right.

This pain made me feel good.

I had no idea why but I couldn't care less...

I could care less about everything.

I didn't care anymore if they world needed me, I felt so free!

"Now my puppet, let's spread this feeling to the rest of your thrope. Won't they enjoy the same thrill you are feeling?"

"Y-Yes...! Yes! I'll do it for you, Master!" I replied instantly.

I was surprised, I couldn't remember the last time I was afraid. I felt so powerful... It felt amazing...!

"I want Mrs. Nene and the others to feel this too, Master-San! May I go see them?"

For the first time ever, I felt free to do anything...

I used to think that was bad... But...

Ahaha...Ahahahahaha!

It feels...so good!

"Of course, my puppet." She pointed to the portal behind her. "Go in there and be a good girl by spreading some despair for me!" A grin of pure pleasure grew on Master's face. "You won't let me down, will you?"

I hugged her tight with a large grin on my face. "Of course not, Master. I'll make you proud."

She patted my head. "I know you will, It's your permanent code."

Then, she let go of me as I stepped toward the portal.

"I'm counting on you. Don't disappoint me, understand?" She called out to me as I was leaving.

I bowed and nodded. "I won't."

My clothes transformed back to normal as I disappeared into the triangles.

....

Meanwhile, at the Phoenix Federation.

"I'm getting worried about Nene... She's acting strange..." I said. I was sitting next to Mizuki with Akito and Tsukasa nearby. Nene wasn't with us, she was probably in her room again...

Mizuki nodded. "Yeah, I guess she has been acting stranger than usual... She smiled similarly to how Mafuyu would when she would good girling, y'know?"

"That spooked me, the way she just dropped everything in front of us like that..." Tsukasa added. "Was she always like that?"

"Yeah... Why didn't you tell us that, Ena...?" Akito added.

"You probably wouldn't have believed me if I did tell you the truth back then." I sighed. "Besides, Mafuyu wouldn't have wanted me to say anything..."

"Right, I guess you would know since you're teammates... Sorry." He shrugged.

I shook my head. "It's fine-"

*Ding*

"Huh...that sounded like the Sekai sound...!" I turned and looked over and saw Reimu standing there...!!!! "R-Reimu, Where have you been?! We've been looking everywhere for you?!!!"

"Hello everyone, sorry for the wait. I actually have something to show you in Sekai and I was getting it ready. I would like it if you would come and see it!" Her smile seemed normal but also off...

"Sure, you can show us." Mizuki grinned. "We are glad to have you back, Reimu!"

"Thank you, Mx. Mizuki. It's in sekai, I'll meet you in there!" She smiled at us, but it was still off and it was still creeping me out... Her voice sounded less sweet too...

She disappeared first, with Tsukasa and Akito already disappearing behind her. I felt my hands grow sweaty to reach for my phone, maybe that's why Mizuki came towards me.

"Hey, you good?" They knelt down towards me. "You look sick."

"I'm fine, I just feel like something is off about Reimu now..."

They raised their eyebrow. "Really, it seemed normal to me... Maybe today is just not your day today..."

I nodded. "Right.. Sorry." I pulled out my phone out slowly. "Let's go see what she wants to show us. You go in first, ok?"

Mizuki was probably right, I was just overreacting.

They gave me a small smile. "Sure, I'll see you there." Mizuki then pulled out her phone and disappeared into triangles.

"Ok, let's go see what this is all about-"

"D-Don't. Please..."

I stumbled and almost dropped my phone. "H-Huh, who said that...?"

Rin jumped out. "Ena... thank goodness I found you...!" She sounded so desperate...

My eyes widened. "R-Rin, why are you glitching...?!!!"

Her eyes darted around the room. "I-I....That's not important...! It's Miku and the others... I can't find Miku anymore...! And, the others... they're...they're..."

I heard another voice picked up. "Rinny, where are you....?" Rin's clutched her hair in her hands when the voice spoke. I was getting worried now...

"Please, stop the others... Don't let them come here... Something terrible is going to happen...!" Rin whispered.

"Rin, what do you mean, what's about to happen?! Is it about what's going on with Reimu?!! What's going on?!!!!" I was panicking, what was going on with Rin, why couldn't she find Miku and where were Len, Luka, Meiko and Kaito right now...! Were they in danger too...?!!!!

I heard another voice, this one being more male. "OH RIIIIIINNNNNNNN...!!! COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!"

Rin's eyes practically popped out of her head at these words and leaned into my phone. "L-Look, I don't have much time, o-ok...! J-Just stop them from coming here, Reimu is planning to do something-BZZZZRRRRTTTTT...BZZZRRT...!"

I leaned into my phone screen. "R-Rin, Rin...! What do you mean by that..?!!!!" In a flash, she was gone and I could feel my heart rate doubling. What did she mean by Reimu was planning something?

I felt my hand waver over the Untitled button...

Should I go in there, I could get myself in danger if I do... But then...

Miku is missing and...

Akito and the others are in there... Mizuki and Tsukasa, are in there...

Len, Luka, Meiko, Kaito and Rin are in danger....

Even Reimu could be in danger...

"I have to do something... I have to save them."

I ran to my room and grabbed my assault rifle paint gun dualizes before pulling out my phone.

I pulled out my phone and took a long deep breath.

And, without a second thought...

I clicked on Untitled and disappeared.

Chapter Text

I entered into Sekai. Mizuki, Tsukasa and Akito were already there... and it was strangely quiet. I hid my guns under my jacket just in case of an attack.

Because, if I had learned anything from my life as a survivor, it would be...

...

You don't get chances of breathing room. If you don't keep your mind sharp, you're bound to end up shot or stabbed.

...

That's why I was keeping my eyes peeled as soon as I stepped in, watching the premises for Reimu and try to find Rin to see if she's ok. I slowly walked toward the group, Mizuki was waving at me.

"Hey, there you are!" Mizuki walked towards me with their hands on their hips. "We've been waiting for you for 5 minutes, what took you so long?"

"Sorry, I had forgotten that I needed the restroom so I went before coming here." I lied, I wasn't sure when I should tell them about Rin's message. Just flat out telling them that I think Reimu has turned evil or something would not be the best idea since we all care so much about her.

"Ah, makes sense." They nodded.

I looked around. "Hey, don't you think it's a little too quiet here...?" I asked.

Mizuki then looked around. "Now that you mention it, you're kinda right..." They cross their arms. "I also don't seen Reimu anywhere, didn't she come in before us?"

I then heard footsteps and Reimu was there with all the vocaloids, they all looked fine. Even Rin was smiling next to her...

She was in danger earlier, was it a false alarm? Did they fix her or something...? Maybe everything was ok...

"Sorry for the wait, everyone!" Reimu waved at us. "I'm glad you are all here!

"Well, not all of us. Nene isn't here..." Akito remarked and pointed with his finger.

Reimu dismissively waved Akito's hand away. "Oh! Don't worry about that, I'll show it to her later."

"Oh, ok..." Akito nodded. He then stared around the sekai. "So, what's this gift you wanted to show us...?"

"Right, Right, It's over here!" Reimu then walked over to these pedestals with five glitching orbs floating above them.

I looked at them and felt a tingle in my chest, I covered my chest with my arms in hopes that it would get rid of the coldness and bumps I felt... but the itching just spread to my arms.

I swear I was looking at death itself.

"Reimu, what are these...." I asked her.

She stared blankly at me with a smile plastered on her face. "You just need to touch them and you'll find out, Ms. Ena-"

"A-AHH...! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

I quickly heard a blood curdling scream, it was from Tsukasa...

He was clutching his stomach in pain and sparks of static were flickering from his body... But they only thing I could truly process was his scream... It was absolutely horrifying. He fell to his knees, still clutching his chest with his hands.

"T-Tsukasa...!!!" Mizuki ran to his side but in doing so, knocked over the pedestals with the orbs...

They dodged orbs before they touched them but the orbs landed on the ground of the sekai, causing the sky to turn black with rainbow lines while the ground glitched into black and white static, cracks were starting to form too.

"A-A..M-Mizuki...!" I reach to pick them up but the ground starts to crack and I almost stumble. "H-Hang on...!!!"

Tsukasa was still screaming in pain and Akito was frozen in fear, just staring at the cracks forming.

Then, I noticed Reimu and the virtual singers.... They're faces were broken. Luka had elongated hands sprouting from her hair and her neck stretched out, Meiko had no mouth and holes in her body. Kaito had no head and pixelated long legs while Len and Rin were merged together with four arms and four eyes.

And Reimu... She had definitely changed.

Her body was dented and burnt with some of her metal looked melted and had broken off, her movements seemed clunky but erratic as well. The dress she was wearing had transformed into a black, burnt and torn empire waist dress.

And her eyes, were a blood crimson red, they weren't the bright shiny gold I was familiar with...

"E-Ena... I-I think w-we have a-a problem-Uuuggghhh...!!!!" Mizuki groaned and I saw that their hands were glitching too just like Tsukasa... They're eyebrows were furrowed in pain and their back was hunched over, gripping their neck. "I-I...It...Ugghh!!! Y-You need to go help A-Akito, I'll stay with T-Tsukasa-senpai..!"

"I-I know that! B-But, I need to help you too-Wah!" I lost my footing a bit, causing more cracks to form. "W-Woah...!"

I heard them laugh. "A-Awww you really do care about o'l me, huh?" They stuck her tongue out a me with a wink. "But, d-don't worry about me, E-Enanan." They're voice loud and stern. "Right now, you need to protect you're lil' b-bro.. I-I can handle myself."

I sighed and stood up. "F-Fine... But if you die, I get all your clothes and purses then, Amia!!!!" I shouted back as I got up and took off running towards Akito and Tsukasa.

"H-Hehe, You're such a hoarder, Ena!!!" Mizuki remarked back.

I sped over to Akito who was clutching his head at grunting. "A-Akito...! Are you o-okay..?!"

"..." He looked up at me and glared. "D-Do.... I look o-okay...?!"

I slapped my face. "Right, stupid question... Sorry."

"Ahh....AHHH...! A-AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..!!!!!!!!!!" He clutched his head and pulled at his hair. "I-I tried to l-leave with U-Untitled...! B-But, it won't work!!! It's like my phone just b-broke or s-something...!!!"

I widened my eyes, I hadn't thought about using my phone. I pulled it out of my phone and turned on Nightcord and into my files, pressing the button in an attempt to turn off Untitled.

But, nothing happened.

Just like he said...

"You're right... It's not workin-Gah!" I started to feel it in my legs and I fell down, kneeling on the floor. "S-Shit...! G-GAHHHHH...!!!"

I couldn't focus on anything until I heard footsteps walk toward me, it was Reimu and the other virtual singers who were now demented. They stared down at me smiling... Reimu was laughing.

"How despairful isn't it?" She sneered. "Isn't that tingling burning sensation just wonderful?!! Ahahahahahahaha!!!!!"

I remember that laugh.

"That's...!"

....

"Took you long enough! I was honestly super excited to see how long I could keep up the act! Luckily, I didn’t break character, Ahaha!"

....

"N-No...!!!! R-Reimu...?! Y-You're not...!!!!" I stepped away from her. "Y-YOU CAN'T B-BE...!!!!!!!!!"

"Well, it seems you caught on, Ms. Ena! You must have learned some tips from Ms. Nene, huh?!" Reimu laughed again and her outfit changed, her normal light purple vest durned into a full dark purple dress with orange as a skirt and matching shoes. Her leg and half of her face was broken and scorched so much that the skin color turned gray.

I stepped farther back and turned around, looking at Akito, Tsukasa, and Mizuki who were behind me.

Akito looked straight on with no light in sight in his eyes. He looked practically dead as he hunched over.

Tsukasa was frozen with wide eyes as big as meteors, he had stepped back and his was face shone with horror.

And Mizuki looked like they were going to snap, their pupils dilating into almost small slits... clenching their fist.

"You little... WHAT DID YOU DO TO REIMU!!!!" Mizuki shouted. "YOU BETTER NOT BE ALIVE, YOU FUCKING BITCH, MOCHIZUKI...!!!"

Reimu's body stiffed and her eyes turned souless when a new voice spoke from her recording transmitter. "Nah, it was all Ms. Reimu's choice! I just showed her true feelings right to her and she jumped all in! Ahahahahahaha!!!"

"That's... T-That's stupid..." Tsukasa looked down defeated in a whisper. He looked defeated...

I couldn't understand why, Reimu has always been a kindhearted soul who brought hope to the world. Why...? Why would this happen?

I don't understand...

She could help us write songs and she could be free to have much fun in the world as she wanted.

Follow a passion and become basically as human as a robot could be.

B-But now, w-with this.

S...She-

...

She was slipping away from us and we didn't even notice...

...

"Luckily, I helped her and she's in a better place. She knows about you traitors lying to her about what happened to Robo-Nene... I have shown her the truth and with her real feelings, she no longer needs you." The voice spat coldly. "Reimu, IT'S TIME TO DISPOSE OF THESE PUPPETS WHO HAVE STRUNG YOU ALONG." The voice chuckled under her breath and I heard them whisper. "Once, you're through. Phoenix Federation will have nothing to protect them. The Ultimate Hope soon will become...ALL MINE!!!! ENJOY YOU'RE REALM OF CHAOS FOREVER, AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!"

My eyes widened. "W-What..." I was shocked, I thought they already had Nene.

But then if she says that. What Reimu said was, a lie... She only said that so we'd drop our guards and leave Nene alone...!!!

Reimu pointed her gun at us which was glitched in a different manner, the laser shot out and I started to feel my legs disappear.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! E-ENNNNAAAAAA-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH-!!!!"

"Noo..... UGGGH!!! Y-YOU BITCH, I-I'll FUCKING KILL Y-YOUUU FOR TTTHHHIIISSS-!!!!!!!!"

The others quickly disappeared before my eyes and soon my upper body began to fade away.

"R-Reimu...!!!" Without thinking, I pulled out my guns as I was disappearing and shot two paintballs.

One missed, another hit,

And splattered pink paint as it cracked her right eye.

....

A-And that was the last thing I saw before my vision died...

Chapter Text

"Now, listen close. Keep going down the levels and if you see a group of people following behind a woman with long silver hair, you found the right group that can save Reimu. Got it? Girl with long silver hair. Oh! And she is most likely wearing a baggy hoodie."

"I hope you remember what I said, ok. I can tell from your feelings that you can save Reimu... So, don't stop even if others oppose you or turn on you."

"I believe in you and your feelings."

....

"A girl with long silver hair and a hoodie is a good description but she could have given me a name instead..." I sighed. "Well whatever, I need to keep looking anyway in order to get out of her. At least by looking, this person can help me do that."

I stared down at the folder I was holding. My hands were starting to feel frigid. These faces looked a lot like the ones in my visions but I still didn't understand why. What was even more strange was a long haired girl in a tan hoodie with a small knit hat was in the picture too. Were they connected or just a coincidence? I wasn't sure.

Maybe I needed to dig further...

I looked at the group photo, it had all of us standing next to Miku and five people with colored hair. A girl with black and blue hair, a small girl with short ponytails and two guys were standing next to the brown haired women and yellow haired boy holding snacks. One of them looked familiar...

...

"Th-Thank you... I was a little nervous, so I wasn't sure that I'd be able to sing the way I usually do... I also hardly ever sing for people that go to school with me... But I'm glad you liked it."

...

"Ermmm..." My head felt achy again but I pressed forward, I needed to save her and finding more about these people Miku wants me to find could be the solution. "Let's keep going."

Behind the tall man with blue hair were four other kids as well, one had purple hair with blue streaks standing next to a green haired girl who were both on the left side. On the right, was the yellow haired boy that Reimu called Tsukasa-Kun...and a pink haired girl. I had seen her in some visions too..!

...

"But I don't like seeing you look so stressed either... I LOOOVE it when you smile, Bzzzrrrrtttt."

"I don't want you to seem too troubled like you did just now..."

"So let me know if there's anything I can do to help! Anything at all!"

...

"Urmmm..!!!" That one hurt even more... S-Should I really keep going? I-I really don't want to my head to hurt more- "I-I think I should stop-"

I started hear her voice ring in my ear again....

...

"I believe in your feelings."

"I can tell from your feelings that you can save Reimu... So, don't stop even if others oppose you or turn on you."

...

I don't know why her words are still in my head but they make me want to try harder...

"I have to seek the truth."

I start searching the picture again and standing on the side of the short girl with yellow hair were for other girls. One had brown hair and in a long braid doing a peace sign, another had short blue hair but the ends were curled and she had a much shorter dress compared to the brown haired one who was wearing a long green dress with a flower pattern on it. They two of them were hugging. The third girl who was laughing was wearing a pink sweater and had poofy pink hot pink hair and standing next to the last girl who was looking at the first two girls with a smile, she had shiny sky blue hair and a beautiful complexion.

I believe I had seen them before too, two in practically start to come to mind.

...

"No, that's a good thing! That means you're improving! I'm sure you'll do even better if you keep trying!"

"I love spending time in this committee because I can chat with you at leisure. Please continue to be her friend, and, if you don't mind, to lend her a listening ear too."

...

I rubbed my temple. "Urgh...My head, it's pounding so hard... I really want to stop." I shook my head and straightened up quickly. "B-But, I need to keep going...!"

I started to get down to the last two groups of four, my brain was really starting to bug me... I-I need to finish this quickly before I can no longer think straight. I look at the group standing beside previous group, it had three girls hugging a woman with long pink hair. The first girl had black hair that was a bit straight and recently cut with a guitar bag around her waist, the second girl had yellow and pinkish hair that had the ends rolled up and was hugging the tall woman extremely tight to the point of almost knocking them all down and the third girl was being dragged into the hug by the pigtailed girl and patting her on the head. Her hair bangs were wavy and was wearing bunny shaped headphones.

"Ummph!" I-I didn't get much of a time to possess as mind started flooding visions into my head, I-It was s-so fast I thought my brain was going to explode...!!! "Ugghh!!!"

....

"Nngh! Bzzzzrt- your face is all droopy! Don't do that! A gloomy face scares off good ideas!"

"We won't leave you alone ever again. We'll always be together."

"Nngh! Bzzzzrt-your face is all droopy! Don't do that! A gloomy face scares off good ideas!"

"Just do what you think is right."

....

I gripped my head again. "Uhh... M-My head is burning... just one more right...? I-I need to finish this." I looked at the last group, they were standing in the middle and surrounding the girl I now knew as Miku. There were four of them.

One was another pink haired person I didn't really recognize, teasing another girl with short brown hair. The brown haired girl was trying attack the pink haired girl while a purple haired girl watched in confusion. More thoughts came to mind in my head again...

...

"You have nothing to worry about, Bzzzzrt. You're everyone's pillar of support and I think you should be proud of that fact."

"Don't worry. Yes, some people might laugh at it because it doesn't look real... But I'm sure someone will understand as long as you try your best."

...

Once again I felt a tingle but I shook it off, staring at the last girl. She had long gray hair that touched the floor and was wearing a hoodie, just like Miku had said.

"Wait..Is that...?" I stepped back. "That's..." And before I could blink I remembered something again. But it was just one comment...

It was a.. conversation..?

...

“In European cultures, blue flowers like these tend to be associated with negative symbols, such as despair or loss... But some also say that beyond that despair or loss is a bright future because there's nowhere else to go but up from there.” The voice was from someone quite polite.

“Beyond that despair or loss...” A monotone voice replied, who sounded like they was thinking.

“Yes. Also, there's one more thing... They symbolize a connection with others.” The polite voice answered back.

“A connection with others...” The monotone voice got a bit quieter, like they were going deep into their thoughts.

“Yoisaki-san, you mentioned the other day that there's someone that's been concerning you. That you'd like to know what they're feeling.” The polite voice asked the other, seemingly concerned.

The other voice, Yoisaki... They started to speak up a bit. “...I can't believe you put so much thought into this just for me... I don't know what to say." They sounded quite pleased but also apologetic, I think? "I didn't mean to make you do all this.”

“No, I did this because I wanted to." The polite voice waved away the concern. "All I did was ask an old friend for some advice, so it was no trouble for me, really." That voice sounded almost familiar...

...

"Why does that voice sound like me...?" I didn't understand why... And Yoisaki, I felt like I heard that name before...

As well as all of the other voices I heard, I remembered them...

Deep down, I knew them.

But why couldn't I say them?

"Yoisaki... Yoisaki..." I kept thinking about it in my head. I knew I heard it before... I went into the pages of the documents with the individual faces until I found her. Kanade Yoisaki, Ultimate Composer, was under watch of housekeeper Mrs. Mochizuki, Ultimate Drummer.

I stared at the document of her. "Her face...she kinda looks like me?" I checked back at the photo with all these people in it and there was a document for every single one of them but this Mochizuki girl... "But that can't be right... can it?"

And now that I think about it, why did her voice sound like mine too?

There's no way...

"Is this girl, was she.."

I dropped the document on the floor just staring at it.

"A past version of me...?"

----

End Of ACT 3 - Growing Static In The System

Chapter Text

I groaned and opened my eyes, I saw weird balloons shaped like bunnies all around me. They were all waving to me.

"W-What the.. where am I?!" I jolted up from feeling lifeless and realized I was on a float of some kind before staring down at my clothes. "And what is this...?!" I was wearing some sort of jester outfit, with a bunny mask attached no less... This definitely wasn't appealing for an idol like me.

But am I really an idol? I didn't do anything meaningful in a agency and I hurt someone...

I took away their hope-

"Step right up, step right up! A WONDERHOY STUNT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN...!!!! Wahahahaha!☆~"

My stomach dropped.

"That laugh...T-That's...!"

"I heard sounds of cannons with clown faces shooting water at me from their noses, I was able to doge some but one hit my legs and I fell to the ground.

"WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!~"

I could hear it again, that laughter was the same.

"C'mon clowny-wonny!☆ Smile and dance like you mean it!~" It was Emu... but she was wearing a black and white clown mask and bear ears attached to her red crown.

"God that son of a bitch-" I wanted to scream but I swallowed it down, if I could manage to fight them and not give them the show they wanted, I could stop all this.

I jumped and dodged, using all my moves as a variety idol while making sure I didn't overdo it, I was doing well and I could see that Emu and the ground were getting bored. Usually I would hate the crowd not being happy to see me but this was different.

Clown Emu groaned. "This clown isn't sillywilly and we can't have that! SO, LET'S START UP THE BIG FINALE, SHALL ME?!!!!~☆"

Suddenly, big clown bunnies grabbed me, tossing me inside a box shaped like a bear. The only whole being open was were my head was. I started pounding on the top of the box as I laid on my chest. "GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, JACKASS!!!!"

"Oooooohhh~☆ somebody's getting naughty in there, let's spice things up a bit more!!!! It's time for the CHARCOAL COOKIE SWALLOWING ACT!!!! WOOOAAAHH!☆"

My stomach dropped again. "Wait...did she say charcoal-Guh!" A bunny stuffed a black brunt cookie down my mouth, it was big and hard. You couldn't even bite through them.

But I didn't even get time to process this before they started shoving more down my throat, each one was bigger and harder than the rest.

"S-Stop...! E-EMU, JUST STOP ALREADY...!!! I-I can't..I-I CAN'T B-BREATHE...!!!" My lungs were tightening and I was feeling lightheaded. "P-Please...stop..I'm sorry, just forgiv-AUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

I felt swords, swords stabbed into my back and sides...but then I heard beeping, it was from the cookies.

"Wait...Emu please don't-"

....

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! H-Huff...H-Huff...!! H-Huff...!!! H-Huff....!!!!"

I-I stood up and felt chills down my spine, I slowly wrapped my arms around me.... I still felt cold.

I wiped my face, Was I-I...sweating? "H-Huff... Hahh... God, I-I can't breathe...F-Fuck...I can't breathe...!" I slowly tried to stand up but I stumbled immediately, landing on my knees, which hurt, immensely.

I slowly took in my surroundings, it was so dark and creepy but it also had weird drawings on the walls. Something straight out of nightmares...

"God, w-where the hell am I...?!" My heart was still pounding in my chest. "I-It's freezing...!"

I scrambled to the door and it surprisingly, did not have guns attached to it or lasers and whatnot. And you'd think I'd be happy about that but it actually made more on edge, thinking it was some trap.

"If heaven exists, some angel should erase my mind after all of this." I groaned, my leg felt sore. "W-Well whatever...If this is some death trap, at least the thumping in my chest will go away."

I reached for the door handle and pushed it and immediately saw a blur of pink rushing toward me-

"AHHHHHHHHHHH" I screamed and swung my hands violently. "GET AWAY! GET AWAY!!!!" She jumped toward me and I swung my hand again.

"AIRI!!!!! WONDER-ACK!☆"

Her voice then stopped and I heard her whine. "Owwwwwww Owwweeee!!!!☆"

"H-Huh....?" I slowly opened my eyes, and she was there, holding her nose. I must have smacked her while I was panicking. "E-Emu...?"

"Owwweeee...! What was that for, Airi-senpaaaaaiiiii~!☆" She grumbled. "I wanted to give you a wonderhoy hug since I haven't seen you in so long and you hiiiiitttt meeeeee!!!!!"

"H-How else was I supposed to react...!" I stammered. "Y-You nearly gave me a h-heart attack!!!!"

She giggled under her hands. "Hehe...! You sound just like Tsukasa-kun, Airi-senpai~!☆ Getting all surprised like that!~"

I huffed. "Well for once, that future star nutcase is right about something..." I sighed. "Anyway, how are you even here?!"

"Oh, I woke up before you did and just went exploring around until I found one of these boxes and saw you in there but you weren't awake. I decided to wait until you were awake so I could give you a wonderhoy surprise~!☆" She stated so causally, as if watching someone sleeping was totally normal.

"R-Right...sure.." I looked around. "U-Ummm If you've already looked around... Can you show me where we are, please?"

"Okie-dokie, Airi-senpai!" She smirked. "Emu's expedition team is back in business! Let's go, wahaha!!!!!☆" She then whizzed off immediately.

I called out to her. "EMU, DON'T JUST RUN OFF LIKE THAT!!! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY TOGETHER!!!!" I slapped myself. "Man, this is like watching Shizuku, but worse." I sighed again before chasing after her the best I could with my sore leg.

[A Few Minutes Later...]

"Weeee wooop! Adventure time with Airi-senpai! Weeeee woooop!" Emu keep humming when I finally caught up to her.

"Yes yes, I know Emu. Just try not to be so loud, okay?" I huffed, but I kept my eye contact mostly centered on the floor. It was so I could check for objects to protect us and find an exit. At least, I kept telling myself that was the reason...

"Oh, Airi-senpai! I never asked but ummm how did you get here?" She turned to look at me twiddling her thumbs. "I remember passing out after eating some bad cookies and I don't know who I killed me. I thought maybe you ate some of those bad cookies too, since your here."

I froze up. "O-Ohh... U-Ummm."

She stepped away a little. "It's okay if you don't wanna tell me, Airi-senpai...!!!☆" She rubbed her shoulder with her hand and looked to the side. "But, I thought getting your feelings out would make you feel better... since you look a little tense around me."

I knew Emu was perceptive but I didn't know she was this good at seeing it. Regardless, I turned to face her with my warmest smile. "No, don't worry, Emu! I think your right, I remember eating some of those too..." I lied. I wish I didn't have to lie and I could go back to the life where none of my friends had died. And, when I didn't kill her...

I haven't even questioned how she and I are here now and not dead... Or how body also felt a bit different and Emu's hair was much longer with dark pink stripes in it and was wearing a very umm...bizarre outfit. I was wearing a different outfit too. Maybe I should go back to staring at the ground and not thinking too much, that might ease my anxiety-

"AIRI!!! I THINK I SEE SOMETHING UP AHEAD~!!!!☆" Emu's hyper voice rang in my ears and shook me out of my thoughts. "Let's go-go and see what it is!"

"Fine, as long as you stay close to me and not run off." I ordered.

"Okay~!!!☆" She smiled. "Let's go-go-GO!!!!" She yelled and immediately start running again.

"EMU!!! WHAT DID I JUST SAY!?!" I yelled and chased her again.

We ran down the halls which had balloons and assortments of cake and drinks everywhere. As well as masks but I didn't stare at them for long...

The more we got closer the familiar the voices I was hearing were...They sounded like...!

"Ehehe... This place keeps getting spookier..." A cheerful voice but with a slight tint of worry stated.

"It's alright, Minori. Everything will be fine once we get out of here." A warm calm voice I also remembered replied back.

"EMU!!!" I stopped in my tracks while Emu dashed forward towards them. "EMU STOP!!!"

She once again, wasn't listening to me and tackled Minori and Haruka of there feet. "Minori!!!! Haruka!!!! WONDERHOY~!!!!☆"

"Ehhhhhhhhhh, Emu!!!!!!!!" Minori screeched. "Y-Your here too?!"

"Ahaha... It's nice to see you as well, Otori." Haruka tapped her lightly on the shoulder.

"Hehehe...☆" Emu stood up. "Not just meeeeee, Airi-senpai is here tooo~!☆"

The all turned toward me now and I awkwardly waved at them. "H-Hi...again..."

"Airi!" Minori ran up to me and gave me a hug. "I missed you!"

Haruka raised her eyebrow at me. "Airi..? I wasn't expecting to see you here... and with Otori as well."

"Yeah well, I guess expect the unexpected, Haruka." I shrugged. "And you guys are her too?" I gestured to Yoisaki, Hoshino, Tenma, Azusawa and Aoyagi.

"Yes, we just got off the second floor." Aoyagi said calmly but he also looked a bit uncomfortable. "This place sure has a lot of sweets..."

"Huh what do you mean, Toya-kun...?" Saki looked at him until her eyes lit up. "Oh right, your not a fan of any sweets."

"Ummm well most of them I can't take accept for cookies actually, Saki." Toya corrected her. But I only focused on the last word.

"C-Cookies..." I stuttered.

"Hwah?" Emu looked at me. "Something wrong, Airi-senpai?"

I snapped back and shook my thoughts away. "Nope, I'm good. I was just thinking that you guys are looking for a way out too. So, let's stay together! Power in numbers, am I right?!" I winked with a thumbs up.

"I agree." Ichika shook my hand. "Let's look after everyone so nobody gets left behind, this time we are leaving this place together. Right, Kanade?"

"Right." Kanade nodded Ichika. "We'll all get out of her so we can get home and be with our families again... So let's all work as a team."

"I'll do my best too!" Kohane added. "You can count on me!"

"So will I, let's keep trying!" Minori did her usual bouncy cheer. "More more... More!" She then high fived Kohane.

We all high fived and hugged one another but my smile could only be described as fake.

I could never tell them the truth. It would hurt too much.

I could never tell her...

That I took their smiles away.

Chapter Text

"Hmmm... Airi-senpai is acting strange, she isn't all smiley-smiley anymore..." I kept thinking in my head. "Hmmm..."

"Emu, is something wrong?" I heard someone speak up.

"Hwah?!" I turned around and Saki and Haruka were behind me. "Oh! Saki, Haruka, Wonderhoy~!☆"

"Wonderhoy, Emu!" Saki replied before asking her again. "It's really nice to see you again! But..." She then paused and started nudging Haruka and looking between the both of us.

Haruka's face narrowed down slightly at me. Her mouth was in a firm line. "Emu, you kept staring at Airi a lot today, is something up?"

"Oooh well umm...*" I stuttered. "Airi-senpai doesn't seem to be smiling like she used too..."

"Really?" Haruka looked over at Airi would was talking to Ichika and Kohane they were all laughing. "She seems fine to me."

"A-Ahaha... Hmmm, how do I say this...?" I put my hand to my chin. "She's acting all smiley but is really frowny."

"Huh...?" Saki turns towards Airi. "Hmm, I haven't seen it like that but Onii-chan has said you have a sharp eye when it comes to this stuff, right?"

I blushed. "Hehe, did Tsukasa-kun really say that about me~?☆"

Haruka poked at her cheek. "Yeah, now that I think about it, you were like that around Asahina-senpai from time to time. She was smiling at you but you seemed nervous around her."

"M-My face goes pale. "A-Ahahahahahaha...! A-Asahina-senpai is....a bit intimidating is all, h-hehe.."

Saki nodded. "I guess so, I mean even Mikuma gave her the ultimate perfect student title." She then puffed out her chest and straightens her back. "Look at me, I'm all proper and composed!"

"Hehe! You sound just like her, Saki!" I giggled under my hands.

"I know right!" Saki then pulled off a pose similarly to Tsukasa-Kun. "I am, THE BEST, at imitating people!"

Haruka put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "You shouldn't let that get to your head or you'll end up like your brother, Tenma."

"Hehe.. yeah.." I agreed.

Saki then got this big bossy lady face on. "So, if Airi is in hiding something that's making her sad, we should find a way to help her." She then squished her cheeks together. "But, she probably wouldn't feel comfortable talking to us since Airi is quite smart, we need someone else to talk to her."

"H-Hwah..." I went bug-eyed. "B-But who do we ask?"

Haruka's eyes lit up. "I think I have just the person."

Meanwhile...

I wanted to talk to Airi since I haven't seen her in such a long time, I hadn't talked to her from the beginning since I help Kanade-chan and Kohane with setting up our sleeping area for now with the sheet I collected before. It took some time to set up everything.

"Whew!" Kanade wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I always have trouble lifting things like this but I feel like I'm getting better..."

I nodded. "You sure are, Kanade. You have done so much better since our time and SpoJoy Park and while we were exploring this place!"

She smiled shyly as her face blushed. "You think so? I really hope I-I'm making a good contribution here."

"Of course, you a valuable member to our team and always will be, Yoisaki-san!" Kohane agreed.

"Thank you, both of you." She smiled back.

"Oh, ummm now that were done, can I go talk to Airi?" I asked them. "I haven't spoken to her in a while so I'd like to catch up with her!

Kohane gave a thumbs up to me. "Sure thing, Minori! We are pretty much done now anyway, Ichika and Toya were with Momoi earlier so you should ask them where she is now."

"That's for the tip, Kohane!" I winked and waved goodbye to them. "I'll talk to you guys later, see ya!"

"Bye, Minori!" The two called back but I was already dashing off to find Airi.

I eventually ran into Toya and Ichika who were looking at some masks handing on the walls. "Oof!" I stumbled backwards landing on my behind. "Whoopsies!"

"Oh, Hanasato!" Toya turned around and lifted me to my feet. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, that was some stumble there. You didn't hurt yourself, right?" Ichika asked me.

"I'm okay, thank you!" I brushed off my dress from the dirt and looked around. "By the way, I came to ask if you guys saw Airi. Kohane was with you guys before, right?"

He tapped his chin. "Momoi... hmmm she was...Oh!" Toya's eyes widened. "Momoi went to scout out the place, I think I saw her go that way." He turned to the side and pointed to the left.

Ichika's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "She has been out quite a bit, please check and see if she's alright, okay?"

I smiled at them. "I will, thank you for the information!" I ran in the direction the two had told me. "Talk to you later!" I yelled, waving goodbye again.

"Good luck, Hanasato!" Toya waved back.

"Be safe and yell if you get into any trouble out there!" Ichika yelled back.

"Got it, thanks!" I then turned the corner and left to find Airi.

It took a few minutes of running but I eventually saw her standing alone in the distance, I swiftly ran up towards her.

"Hey, Airi!" I called out, she was standing by herself, leaning over something. Her back turned away from me. "What are you doing, do you need any help?"

She didn't seem to respond, she kept staring at one of the cakes on the table.

I got closer and leaned around her. "Airi?"

"...! Oh, M-Minori...!" She turned around. "Sorry, I was busy with something..."

"Ummm yeah..." I looked around before staring at the cake. "Isn't that the same cake you made for us on valentine's day?"

"Yeah, it is." She nodded. "I never told you then but Saki. Emu, and I worked together that day in order to make them!"

I gave Airi a hug. "Awww, that's really sweet how close you guys are and to do that for us!"

"Yeah, thanks." Airi smiled back at me. "They made cakes for their friends too which I guess were Tsukasa, Nene, and Rui and for Saki it was her bandmates."

"I bet your right! Saki and Emu are such sweet people aren't they...huh?" I scuffed my foot at the ground.

She looked at my foot and did the same thing. "Y-Yeah they are..."

"Also, Airi..." I put my head down on Airi's chest while bowing. "I-I never properly apologized for lying to you and working with H-Haruka to frame Saki's death, I-I'm sorry...!!!"

She wrapped her arms around me and rubbed my back. "You don't need to apologize to me, Minori. Just Saki, if you haven't already...."

My face rose from her chest. "H-Huh... But I betrayed you and Shizuku's trust...! A-As well as all they others..." I hadn't noticed my eyes had gotten glossy til I touched by wet cheeks.

"Because...I'm-" Airi was about to say, it seemed something was clogging her and her eyes seemed shiny under the dim lighting. "I-I am...

Airi went back to staring at the floor with tears dripping from her chin, I was going to comfort her back with a hug when I heard her mumble something I couldn't believe.

"Don't apologize, Minori. It's not her fault..."

I stepped back from her. "H-Huh? But weren't you right to get mad at her-"

She shook her head and sighed before turning towards me. "I've put that behind me... And if you want, I'll talk to Haruka about it. You don't need to worry!"

"Oh." I nodded. "Okay then...!"

The two of us then stood there for a few seconds in silence before she stepped closer to me. "Minori, can I tell you a secret. It's important..."

"Yes, of course! What is it?" I asked her.

"It's a secret that I need you to not tell anyone about, especially not Emu.." She held her pinky out in front of me. "Can you promise me that you won't tell her?"

I looked at her hesitantly. "Keep it from Emu? How come?" I asked. "Did she do something wrong? Did you guys get in a fight?

"No...! Of course not!" She shook her head. "It's just... complicated. I'm not ready to tell her yet and I feel better confiding in you first."

Oh, I see... She just needs someone to talk to I thought. I shouldn't judge and just hear her out.

"Well alright, what did you want to tell me?" I asked her.

There was a lingering silence again before her eyes flooded tears and sobbed into my hands.

" I-I.... It's all my fault...!"

" I-It's my f-fault I-I killed E-Emu..."

Chapter Text

She stared at me with wide eyes when I looked up. "A-Airi... you did w-what?"

I immediately realized what I said. I chuckled with a smile, wiping away my tears. "Just kidding!"

She looked confused. "W-What do you mean? Y-You said that you-"

"I was just playing with ya, Minori!" She smiled and smirked, with all tears tucked cleanly away like it was nothing. "This atmosphere is just making me moody, that's all!" After she said that, she dashed off. "I'm going to go back to exploring!"

I tried to call out to her but my voice was too quiet and she was too fast, so I never heard her answer.

....

"Ah! A-Airi... Oh." I couldn't even call back to her as she ran right past me without another word to spare. "Did she really kill her...?"

Maybe I should keep this to myself for now-

"WONDERHOY!!!~☆"

"EEEP!" I jumped backed. "W-Who's there?!"

"Ahaha~ Sorry, Minori~!" Emu bowed. "I got a tingly-fluffy feeling again seeing you so I accidentally surprised you~!☆"

I gave a small chuckle. "Are you sure it was accidentally though?"

"Nope~!☆" She said with her usual cheery smile.

"Anyway, Is there something you need?" I asked her.

She leaned her head slightly. "I saw you with Airi-senpai, I was wondering what you were talking about?"

"Uhhh... We were talking about...ummm-" I paused a little. "Oh, we were talking about when you guys made cakes for Valentines Day!"

"Ohhhh! Yeah that was really fun, we almost got caught us Tsukasa-kun, Ichika, and Hinomori-san almost came home but luckily Airi was able to draw them away!~☆" She grinned. "It was really wonderhoy how she could come up with something like that on the spot!~☆"

I laughed. "I could see that, Airi is always great at planning since she plans all our streams!" I guess since she is so good at planning ahead and removing detection... T-then, She could also be good at s-staging and hiding a m-murder too....?

I felt someone poking me and snapped back to reality. "H-Huh?" I turned and saw her still there but she was poking me. "Emu... what are you doing?"

"Minori, Minori, Oh!!!!!~*" She stepped away from my side. "Ummm, ahaha.. Y-You went all silent and g-ghosty all of a sudden so I got worried, are you okay?!"

"Yeah, sorry about that." I sighed. "I-I'm just a little sleepy, that's all!"

She gasped. "Ohhhhh....! You should get some rest then, Minori! Let's walk back to the sleeping area together okay~!☆" She grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the area.

"Emu, Emu!" I yelled, trying my best to hold on. "You d-don't have to grab m-meeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!"

She pulled me along til we got to the bed areas and forced me into bed. "Sleep well, Minori. I'm going to go find someone to play with! Yahohoy~!☆" She waved goodbye and dashed off without another moment to spare.

"Uh okay, Emu... Bye!" I waved to her and was about to lie down when someone strolled up next to me.

"Hey, Minori!" It was Saki, she was waving at me with Haruka beside her.

"Oh Hey Saki, Haruka, what's up?" I smiled at them.

"Oh nothing. Just... Can we talk to you alone for a minute? " Haruka sat down next to me with Saki.

I started blankly at them. "Huh...? O-Ok?"

"Great!" She smiled. "Follow us."

...

I said that I was going to play with someone but I ended up exploring the area. I didn't know this place was so huge and wonderhoy! I scoped around and found a red trail with cards scattered on the floor leading to the big garden of flowers.

"Woooooo Aaaaaahhhhh~!!!!" I jumped up and down. "This place is so exciting and super duper ultra suprisey~!!!☆"

I followed the trail into the large field, it made me feel really tiny. I skipped down the trail, looking at all the small bugs around. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone standing behind the trees, I couldn't tell what they were wearing but I think it was a cloak of some kind. Oh well, my Emu Expedition for more supplies is more important. So I kept skipping down the road until I saw a familiar pink hair standing in front of a tree.

"Hwah, Airi?" I walked up to her slowly, leaning over her shoulder.. "What are you-HWAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

It was Luka, she looked a bit similar to the one from Tsukasa's Sekai... But this Luka had a her head dangling from her neck, almost decapitated. Her other body parts were torn apart, laying on the ground. A card that was split into four pieces, was stuck in her eyes and her ears.

I huddled behind Airi, clutching onto her. "I-I... what happened to.... I-Is that really Luka?"

"..." Airi didn't say anything, I couldn't tell what was going through her mind since her face looked dead inside. But she was staring at the card in possibly Luka's eye, I slowly grabbed all the card pieces, putting them together and examining them. Once I put it together, we saw that the card that was cut up was the Joker Card and had something written on the front. with the words 'Slaughtered Heretic of Alice' were written in blood on it, I felt like throwing up...

I shook Airi's arm a little bit. "Momoi-senpai, umm....... Are you okay... I-I mean... I ummm-Ah!"

She flinched slightly and turned around. "Y-Yeah...! I'm okay, Emu. You... You don't need to look at this anymore." She wrapped her arms around me in a hug. "Let's just head back and forget about this, okay...?"

After she said that, she turned around and walking away, saying nothing more... But, the way her voice changed so much... I-It was like she was Asahina-senpai...!

I-It was.. so... s-scary....

Airi saw I wasn't moving and stopped, turning around. "Emu, are you coming or not? You don't wanna still be around that thing, do you?"

I wanted to say something but since I kept hearing weird noises nearby, I dropped the card and ran to catch up with Airi. When we got back to the group though, they seemed to be in a heated discussion.

"I-I don't know anything, H-Haruka. I promise you!" Minori pleaded, pressing her hands against her chest.

"But, you were with her, weren't you? Did you not pick up on anything wrong...?" Saki proceeded, stepping closer to Minori.

"I told you, I don't know!" Minori yelled.

"W-What's going on?!" I made my voice loud and clear, alerting everyone. "Why are you guys so upset?"

"I'm not sure, Emu. You should ask them." Kohane replied, pointing to Haruka, Minori, and Saki.

Airi nodded. "Yeah, why are you guys interrogating Minori anyway?" She crossed her arms. "Is something wrong?"

Haruka steps toward her. "You've been acting weird, Airi."

I watched as Ichika and now even Toya-kun had started to get into the conversation.

Ichika made a face at Haruka. "Kiritani-san, what do you mean by that?"

"Me? Acting weird?!" Airi recoiled as her voice rose. "Your bothering Minori for no reason!"

"Emu told us that you were acting strange earlier." Haruka said nothing to Ichika, keeping her eyes on Airi-senpai. "All we want to know is why..."

Airi looked over at me, shocked. "You told them that, Emu? Why would you say that?"

"I didn't know for sure...!" I stammered. "I didn't mean to offended you! I-I'm sorry Airi-senpai...!"

"It's... It's fine, Emu." She told me, giving me another smile before turning back to Haruka. "Besides, why are you asking Minori about how I'm feeling? Couldn't you just ask me yourself?"

Haruka raised her eyebrow, deadpanned. "You wouldn't give me an accurate answer if I did..."

"Yea right... Don't give me that, Haruka!" Airi scoffed. "Just tell me what are you being so secretive about that you had to pester Minori about?"

She marched over to Haruka, getting almost in her face and making her stagger back.

"Well?" She pressed. "What is it?!" Her voice rose, egging her on. "Come on! Tell me what it is, Haruka?!"

"Fine!" Haruka shouted. "Did you kill Emu or not, Airi?!"

Airi immediately stopped. "What...?" Looking Haruka up and down. "What did you say?"

Haruka crossed her arms with a small frown, looking at her from the side. "I said... Did you kill Emu, Airi?"

Everyone froze except for Minori who interjected.

"No, she didn't! Airi told me she was killed by eating the same cookies right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, she told me the same thing. Airi-senpai told me she ate some of them before me~!☆"

"But, wouldn't that mean Airi would have been here first?" Toya butted in. "We all showed up here based on who died first because I died after Azusawa and Hanasato."

"And Emu, you said you woke up Momoi...which means you were awake first." A quiet voice cut in.

"Ehhh~?!" I got startled but luckily and turned around to see Kanade standing there. "I-I...thought you were asleep..."

"Well, things got a little loud...and I overhear the conversation." Kanade stated. "Sorry."

Kohane shook her head. "No, it's okay, Kanade. Everyone's input is helpful!"

"Mhmm... right." Kanade nodded. "But, that means Emu died first and not Airi, so Emu must have gotten to the cookies first."

Ichika also turned to Emu. "Also, Emu... did you see Airi eat those cookies?"

"..Ummm N-" I was about to say when Minori cut in.

"Guys, stop. You're overwhelming her." Minori scolded. "Let's just go to bed for now and talk about this later."

"Yeah, Minori's right! I wouldn't hurt my juniors!" Airi nods. "I honestly don't understand how you could think otherwise, Haruka." I laughed. "After all, as an idol. I'm supposed to spread hope to everyone! I would never break that!

Haruka eyes widen, now standing still, her eyes slit slightly as her mouth changes to a small smile. "R-Right... As idols..."

Realizing what she just said, Airi tries to fix her mistake. "H-Haruka, I-I... didn't mean it like that...!" She muttered. "I just didn't like being accused for murder when I'm not a killer."

She nods, her mouth now as thin as a line. "No, it's alright. I get it. I really do... I am a killer and shouldn't have the right to judge. I should've done better as a person, I should have done better as an idol." She turned on her heel and started walking away. "I'm gonna take a break, whoever wants to stay up or go to bed can do so. Goodnight, you guys."

After Haruka left, mostly everyone went back to sleep while Airi stood there, her head slowly lowering and looking at Emu. "I-I... shouldn't have said that...."

"No, no! It's fine, Airi~!☆" I'm sure Haruka will be alright." I reassured her and wrapped her in a hug. "Let's just go to sleep like you said. Let this breathe, okay?"

She sighed. "Right, l-let's go..." She then smiled and the two of us walked to bed.

But...

Even after I laid down and everyone else fell asleep besides Haruka who was still away, I kept thinking about it.

"Is it my everyone is upset~?*"

"Airi wouldn't have killed me, right?"

..

...

....

"R-Right?"

Chapter Text

The next day we all got up early and I felt kinda icky...

Eh, it's probably just me being tired, I need to keep smiling to keep everyone's spirits up and make this a wonderhoy day!

"Okay, everyone. We need to find more food and water for the journey ahead." Ichika had gripped onto her pipe tightly. "Emu, Airi, and Minori, you three go searching for more food since we'll need extras while Saki, Toya, An, and Kohane, search for water. Kanade, Haruka, and I will stay here to guard the fort. Everyone meets back here in about an hour, understood?"

"We can do that!" Saki nodded while gesturing to An, Toya and Kohane. "Let's go, you guys!"

"Yeah, let's go!" An grabbed her improvised microphone weapon and held her hand out to her partner. "Let's go find some water, Kohane!"

"Ok!" Kohane took her hand and followed behind Saki, calling out to her other teammate. "C'mon, Aoyagi-kun!"

"Right..." Toya slowly followed behind them, he looked more sleepy than usual. I'm sure a wonderhoy would have woken him up but I'll wait for later.

Haruka looked at Ichika and whispered in her ear but I was close enough to hear it. "Should Airi really go with Emu and Minori, Ichika?"

Ichika puts her hand on her Haruka's shoulder. "I'm sure they'll be fine, Haruka... Even if she did do that, I'm sure Airi is responsible enough to not do that again."

Haruka sighs and nods. "Ok... If you say so, Hoshino." Taking her hand. "I trust you."

I smiled at Ichika, I'm glad she is keeping the piece. I turned around at Minori and Airi. "Okie dokie, let's go find some goodies Airi and Minori!!!~☆"

Minori nodded as she picked up one of the bottles we had. "Okay, Emu. Since you explored this area before you should lead the way!"

Airi was silent and said nothing, I didn't believe that she killed me at all. I just hoped we could talk friendly to each other again.

But I would dwell on that later, I can't have others get worried about me..!

"Alrighty! It's time for Captain Emu's Expedition Team, Yahohoy!~☆" I shined my biggest smile and dragged Airi and Minori along.

"AH, EMU!!!!" Airi yelled at me. "STOP PULLING AND DON'T RUN SO FAST!!!!"

"Wooooaaahhhhh!!!" Minori yelled as I dragged her along.

And off we went on our bubbly expedition, I couldn't want to see what wonderful things I could find! It was really really cool!

"We found so much stuff like...!~☆"

Cakes

Cards and Cookies

Balloons

Flowers

Cards and Cookies

Rocks

Grass

Cards and Cookies

Caves

Bushes

"Oh, Did I mention cards and cookies? There was a lot of those!!!~☆"

In fact, there seemed to be a trail of cards leading somewhere, Minori was the first one to point it out how many there were.

It took me back to when me and Airi first saw that mysterious writing on "THAT CARD"

The words being...

....

"Alice."

"Ugh...!" Just thinking about it is making me wanna barf again...

Also the fact that Minori believed they should follow the trail made me feel the twistys in my stomach but...

Airi and Minori both thought it would give us clues to escaping and...

I didn't want it to seem like I had tension with the two of them because of yesterday...

S-So.. I-I...!

agreed to go with them...

....

As we walked I felt the creepy message bumping round in the back of my mind the more we trekked deeper into a endless forest..

...

"B-Beware.. Little..s-she-eep... The dead will r-rise l-like wolves... and follow "The Alice" who s-strikes..the weak..."

...

My chest pounded as I tapped Airi's shoulder. "Maybe we should go back, it's getting scary around here...."

Airi gentle rubbed my back. "Relax, Emu. There's nothing here."

I latched onto Airi tightly. "O-Okay.."

Minori, who was behind us, walked up to me and patted my head. "Don't worry, Emu! If anything attacks us, I'll be the first to jump to your rescue!!!"

I gasped with a smiled. "REALLY!☆ YOU'LL DO THAT FOR ME, MINORI...!!!"

Airi groaned. "I highly doubt that, Minori-"

"Of course, Emu!" She nodded three times. "That's what friends are for!!!! Now raise your head high and be the fearless captain we know you are!"

A smile came to my face. "Okay!~☆ I will become... SUPER WONDERHOY CAPTAIN EMU, THE MOST FEARLESS IN THE UNIVERS-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We all turned around and saw... Meiko? Or at least something close to it... She looked like the one from Tsukasa's Sekai, similarly to Luka, except there was a lot of things different about her. Her back had tree branches connecting her body parts together, the branches stabbing through her arms. Her eyes were slightly off-center and a card looked like it was stabbed a shoved into her throat but somehow she was still standing...?! I usually would think this is cool and wonderhoy, but the way she was glaring at us made butterflies go in my stomach.

She pointed her sword towards us. "You... You desire salvation, join us to raise the powerful spirit, THE ALICE, of pure suffering."

Minori turns toward us. "Alice? Who's that...?"

"I think she's the one who...killed Luka..." A shiver went down my spine. "T-The one me and A-Airi saw yesterday night...."

Her eyes narrowed, her head tilting slightly. "Oh... siding with that lazy goat, huh..." She cackled hoarsely. "She'll make you regret siding with THE JOKER."

Airi put herself in front of us. "I don't care who this Alice of yours is. Hurt my friends and I'll give you something to regret!!!"

Meiko charged first at Airi, causing her to Happy Side Step around her to dodge the swing of her sword, she managed to counter and landed the first punch. However, she just quickly recovered from her nose bleed and swung hard, cutting parts of Airi's hair. She jumped, rushing and raising the sword over our heads. We all both evaded her, causing her sword to get stuck in the ground.

When I fell on my butt, I was able to take notice of something attached to her weapon. "Hey you guys, what's that sparkle-sparkly attached to the sword?"

Minori looks over at it too. "That looks like a...watch?"

Airi gasped. "That's...!

...

"Airi-chan! What do you think of this watch? Does it look nice?"

....

"S-Shizuku's..." Her hands went over her mouth. "B-But... I don't remember seeing that type of watch being worn by her...so.. Why did I suddenly remember that-"

"AIRI-CHAN!!! WATCH OUT!" I called out, racing towards her.

"Huh?! Ah!" She turned around and saw Meiko aiming for her chest.

"I'M COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~*"I did a front flip into a somersault, pushing her out of the way of Meiko, causing us to both land on the ground together. "I got you, Airi-chan-senpai."

"Thanks, Emu." She slowly stood up. "Now it's time for me to finish this beast off!"

"Wait, I don't want to hurt anyone! We should try to help her!~☆" I begged to Airi. "If we can make her our friend, we can find our way out of here-"

Another swing barely graved my neck, Airi being the one to redirect the sword, stealing it from her and swiping her back.

"I don't think she's here for holding hands and friendship bracelets, Emu. We just have to give her a piece of her own medicine." Airi dawned the sword like a spiffy glittery knight as Meiko regenerated a sword out of her rose thorns.

The two dueled down, trading and blocking blows. Meiko grabbed three other swords that were sticking in the ground with her vines and started swinging them at Airi, she dodged one of the swords while the hit the ground and rushed towards Meiko, stabbing Airi in the side.

"Argh.....!" She clutched her side, groaning. "Fine, I wanted you to be graciously taken to the queen but NOW I'VE LOST MY PATIENCE!" Her hand touched the grow with red magic coming out of it. "My dear puppets, TAKE THESE DISRUPTORS TO OUR QUEEN, FOR WE MUST TEACH THEM A LESSON!!!!"

Suddenly I felt the ground shake underneath me. "Y-You guys... What's going on-Nnnnmmppppffffhhh!!!!" I gasped for air as two bloody hands covered over my mouth and another two wrapped around my arms. It was Rin and Len...

Minori ran to get away, only to be grabbed and from the darkness another, Kaito. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! G-GET AWAY...!!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!!" She shrieked, squirming in an attempt to escape to no avail.

A smirk quickly stretched across Meiko's face as she waved her hand over her chest, causing the wound to instantly fade away. She stood up, towering over Airi and growing more swords from her back.

"Now dearie, would like to come with us? We just want you to join our festivities! You'll have soooooooooooo much fun, that you'll lose your head and more! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

----

I gulped, staring at Meiko, she was creeping closer to me now and the others were trapped.

I needed to do something....

But what? I can't win a four versus one battle...!!!

I need too... I-I need to...! I-I...need-

Emu bit Rin's hand and screamed, "RUN, AIRI-CHAN!!!!!~*" begging me to leave.

"Save yourself, Airi!" Minori pleaded, still unable to break free from Kaito.

I looked back in forth between them. "B-But...! I.."

"Go find the others, Airi-senpai!!!~☆" She urged. "GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I looked between them one more time... I was hesitant I didn't want to leave them... But..

I saw Meiko's thorns reaching for me... If I stay here...

They'll corner and kill me for sure.

I need to get out of here...

I used the sword I stole to cut away the thorns and sprinted back to the base. Most of the others aren't there but I could at least tell Haruka, Ichika, and Kanade what happened.

"I'll be back you guys, I promise."

I just hope when I get back I won't be too late.

Chapter Text

I ran from them, worried that they would catch up to me and kill me...

I didn't want to leave Emu and Minori. I was worried something bad could happen to them again but they told me to run.

So nevertheless, I barely survived with my life.

I was starving but the only thing I saw for miles in this forest were just sweets...

Cakes, lollipops, candy corn, you name it! They were all growing off of plants that were also made of sweets.

And that's not even to mention all the Japanese traditional sweets around, they were all cookies.

Cookies...

C-C...Cookies.....

"Ugh! Get yourself together, Airi!" I slapped my head. "Think about food later and find the others now!" As much as cookies haunted me with trauma as well as my hunger for something to eat, I needed to focus on the task at hand-

"Who's that?" A familiar voice said.

"Maybe she's back." Said another.

I looked to where the voices were coming from, readying my sword...

"What if it's a monster?" Asked the third voice.

"Then, we'll kill it." The first replied. "Grab your weapons and cover me just in case."

"Right." The second and third agreed and I saw their shadows turning the corner.

"Oh no you don't...." I sprung forward. If they were going to kill me, I needed to strike first.

I went around the corner with my sword drawn before locking eyes with them and dropping my sword. "H-Haruka?!"

"A-Airi...?!" She jumped, flinching and dropping her knives. "Wha...! Where-...Where have you been?! Y-You... gave me a h-heart attack...!"

"It's a long story, Haruka..." I held onto my knees. "Attacked by creepy undead guys and stuff..."

Kanade's eyebrow rose. "U-Undead eyes?"

"Y-Yeah... they had mutilated faces, bloody, and rose up from the dead too..." I wiped my sweat again as I sat down. "I managed to steal one of their swords but they kidnapped Minori and E-Emu... follow orders from some Queen and a creature named A-Alice..."

Haruka went still. "T-They... took M-Minori...?"

I nodded. "And Emu..."

"We need to go save them!" Ichika picked up her pipe and guitar case. "Let's get the others for a rescue mission-"

"Hey guys, were back!" An waved to us. "What's going on?"

Kanade stands up. "We're moving. Pack up your things, everyone."

Kohane looks at them. "Huh... where are we going, Kanade"

Kanade looks at them. "To the castle, to save our friends."

----

"Well that's a shame." She scoffed. "It seems she chose the cowards way out and ceded... At the very least, she could just fought with honor." She slowly put her swords away in her scabbards and sheaths attached to her waist. "Oh well, let's take them to the queen, before she puts a skewer through our heads..."

Creepy Kaito nodded and tied a rope around my hands before he lifted me up, I would have been impressed if I wasn't so utterly terrified of him. I keep trying to squeeze my way out of the restraints but no matter how hard I tried, nothing happed.

"DO NOT RUN, THERE IS NO POINT." He said so robotically, with a long smile and bloodshot eyes forming right after. My heart went down in my throat as every thought to break free quickly shut down.

"Yeah yeah yeah.. Just do your job already, Berrybrain. Otherwise I vote the queen to kill you first." Meiko spat, shoving him as she walked past ahead.

He whipped his head, staring daggers at her direction before he turned to Rin and Len. "What did she call me?!"

"Haha! She called you a berry! A small, useless, and stupid berry! Rin walking past her with Emu who also had ties around her hands. She laughed and taunted, point to his head.

"His brain is so small that anything in it overflows like berry juice, Haha!" Len chimed in with his twin, giggling.

"Grr... I hate all of you..." He clenched his left fist. "Let's just get to the castle already, the less time I spend talking to you is better." He grumbled and went back to dragging me away.

I turned towards Emu who was wrapped up by the twins as they cackled together, leaning towards her ears to tell her something, I don't think they were trying to hide they're message because I could hear it too. "Don't worry, you'll have killer time at the party with us! JUST...YOU...WAIT... HAHAHAHAHA!"

I shared a look at Emu, who just she was just as terrified as I was...! I had to still my jittery hands.. I wished Haruka and the others were here so badly.

...

...

...

[A Few Minutes Later]

We were at the castle after walking for what seemed like hours through the forest and a deserted town... Stepping inside looked just like the castles you would see in movies except there was something starkly different about this one... It made me more uncomfortable than delighted.

The pictures on the walls...

They were drawings of types of torture, some of them looked even familiar but they were clearly interpreted differently.

A girl being stabbed in the neck with a knife, another girl smashed by a rock, another girl hung to death, a woman in a lake full of piranhas, another girl with an arrow through her head, a girl being pushed into a pit of spikes, a man crawling on his knees from a cage as a anvil is about to land on them, a woman who was beaten to death by another, a girl laying motionless with small partially eaten tarts all over the table, and-

As I looked up at the ceiling, I saw...

A-A pike from t-the ground... b-being shot up through a girl's skull, while's she s-screaming... T-Tomatoes and s-stones were being t-thrown at her...

I quickly turned away from it all, it was awful. So unbearably awful as I knew what some of them were referring to...

What Mine Was Referring Too.

"What.. W-What happened to her...?" I saw as Emu was now looking at the picture, she turned me with tears forming in her eyes.

All I could do was stare at her sad face and then back at the picture. She looked so much like Airi... "I-I.. I don't know, Emu... I don't know." I tried my best not to cry, not only for what I had just witnessed... but as well for the other pictures adorning the stark walls.

"Toss them in, they will see the queen for dinner tonight." I heard Meiko yell, snapping me from my thoughts... Instead of seeing those horrible paintings, I saw a pitch black room and bars staring back at me.

"Yes, Milady." Rin and Len said albeit snarkily before tossing Emu into the pit below.

I watched as Emu fell down, screaming while she faded into the darkness. I watched her and terror started pumping through my chest, my fight to kick returning. All I could think about were my own screams from back then. The stairs, I could barely see them, fading in and out to the ones that scarred me...

I turned to Kaito who once he saw me, grinned at my fate. "YOUR TURN NOW, MILADY." He whispered and I saw him winding up, my breath started feeling shaky and my hands were sweating.

"N-No...!!!! Please...! P-Please...!!! I'm sorry...!!! I'M SORRY!!!!!!!!" I started kicking with all my might and shaking. "D-Don't put m-me down there, please...! P-PLEASE....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He held me over the edge, still smiling, tossing in his last words.

"GOODBYE..."

"FOR NOW."

And without anymore thought, his hands retracted and I felt my self plummeting towards the unknown...

"AHHHHHHH!!!!! N-NOOO...!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

I keep falling.

And falling..

And failing

A-And... falling...

And...-!!!!!

I screamed and fell face first from the top of stairs crash landed onto hard bags of flour. Landing on it felt like I was punched in the chest and knocked all the wind out of me. "my head landed on the rough texture of the bag and burned my face. "AUUUUGGGHHH!!! Augh... Auuuuughhh...!!!" I started crying.

"Ehh?! Minori-chan?! A-Are you okay?!!!~*" A voice called out, who I recognized as Emu's and hurried shuffling, I wasn't sure if she was alerted by my scream or my crying but I couldn't care less... I couldn't focus on anything, the air around my neck felt so tight I couldn't breathe and voices I keep hearing were muddled and unclear...

"Minori-chan...? Minori-chan, can you hear me?~☆"

I looked to where the voice was coming from but I all I saw was shadowy figure trying to grab me.

"Minori-chan! It's okay, I'm here. Just calm down!"

H̸̺̲̹͚͖́̾̊̄̈ă̶̘̑̃̍̄͝ñ̷̟̮̥̗͋̉̀̇͋a̷̹͖͍̘͍̻̰̿̅́̀͂̐̋̽̓s̷͖̜̭̮̻͍̘̯͒̒͜͠a̸̖͔̤̮̮̪̝̽̆̑͐͗̚ṭ̸̖̻͖̮̼͆̉̈́͛̈́͐͜͝͠͝ǫ̴̝͂̎́,̴̲̩͓̰̙̠̜̝̣͑́͑͘̕͘͝ ̸̰̬͚̞͇̟̽y̸̢̘̩̰͑͋͋́̓́͘o̶̹͖͓̖͎͇̓͆̈́̊͗̂u̵͚̣̠͉̿ ̵̢̡̨̯̥͙͍͍̯́̓́͒̔͐̾̚͝n̷̼̑è̴̟́͑̄e̸̜̊̑̀̏̔̊͆d̵̡̠̮͍͇̠̣̩̅́͌ ̴̧̨͖̫̪͍̫̝̖̀̍͒̋́͑̇̕t̸̛̩̰̻͍͉́̉́̓̏ǫ̶̛̆͊ ̵̘̺̫͍̩̈̍͆͗̊̆c̵̡͖̪̩̜̰̑̍̆̽̉̈́͆͜a̷̠͎͉̎̌̂́̀̉̇̉ḻ̵͉̩̝̙͉̲̜͇̃m̷̹̳͒ ̵̦̞̤͉͓̭̯̪̟̿d̷̡̛̝̱̮͍̗̐̒ǒ̶̢͎̠͖͋̑̉͝ẅ̸̤͓̬̙́̌n̷̗̙̰̦͙͒͛̾̈́̈́̏!̵̞͔̦̼͗̆̊̕͜

"LET ME GO!! PLEASE!!!" I tried backing away from the shadowy figure but all did was bump my back into a wall...

"Minori-chan, listen to me!☆ You're okay!"

H̷̰̾̕ȧ̸̠̻͔̞n̵̤̈ā̶̤̥́̍̾̈́͜s̶̢͒͑̊a̷̢̯̝̜͚͓̼̽̒̒̌͆t̵̯̞̄o̴͔̬̱̰͐̇̒̃̀͒͘,̷͙͓̯̈͑͛̽̊̿̈́ ̵̰̻̙̾ͅI̶̯̎̈́͂͛̾̋̃ ̸̹̝̙̾̆͌́̔n̸̮̭͓̉͑e̶̮̍ĕ̵͓̫̽̊̊̚͝͠d̸̡̟͕̠̈͒̓̋̑ ̸̝̜̮͇̊̏y̸̝̲͈̻͋̂̀̍ȍ̷̝̮̪̿̈̉͐̕ͅu̷͔̗͚̱͈͑̆ ̵̫̼̾͋͛̀̇̅̃t̸̢̗͋́̇̿̊͘̚ǫ̷̡̯̽̋͂ ̵̡͍̠̋̔̇̓͊͌l̷͓̘͚̳̅̐͌͝ͅị̵̫̄̑ş̴͉͓͙͈̅͜t̸̼̳͂̀̉ȩ̶̧͉̿n̵͉̼̮͇̙͎̽ ̷̬͔̙̹̫̠̎́̽͑͆̿͘ͅt̶͇̽͆o̸̥͉̱͉͊͗ ̶̤̊̀͜m̵̲̩̼͆̎̍ě̸̝̄̊͑̌́.̵̧̝̖̽͂̽̌ ̶͓̾̐

I felt walls closing in all around me and tears quickly blinded my eyes.

"Minori, please-"

I belted out and slapped the darkness hand away. "G-GGGEEEEEEETTTTTT AAAAAAWAAAAAY F-FRRRROM MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My hands sweated so bad... But when I wiped my tears from my eyes...

I saw the damage I had done.

"E-Emu...?" I said softly. "A-Are you alright...? Did I... hurt you...? I-I'm sorry...! I-I didn't mean that-"

"I-It's fine, Minori-chan...." She said in almost a whisper. "I know Airi-senpai feels uncomfortable around me... I just didn't you felt that way too."

I stammered, unsure of how to repair what I had just caused. "Emu, I-I... promise I didn't mean that...! I-I was... I-" I clearly hurt her, her eyes said it all despite her smile betraying her.

"No, No, I get it...! My big brothers always called me a hassle who is too busy sticking her brain in fantasies to face reality..." She said as tears started to fill her eyes. "M-Maybe I should... Maybe I should wake up and realize that I can't help people smile with my mentality..."

"Emu... I-I..." I struggled to find the words to say, she just stood there broken, and it was my fault...

"If the way I'm acting is making you smile disappear. Then, I should stop... I don't want to hurt you anymore, Minori-chan..." She said still smiling but her feelings were betraying her.

I can't leave her like this...

Idols bring... T-They bring...

HOPE.

Her tears started to poor but her smile was growing more and more eerily. "S-So.... I-If you... want me to g-go... and n-never talking to you again... I'll follow your wishes from now on... I-I'll stop dreaming...from you and everyone else's sake... I-If it makes you happy...I-I'll stop...I'll stop. I'll stop.. I'll stop smiling."

I gasped, I never thought she would say that, it seems that she flinched as she just processed her own words. I don't think she excepted that either... But.. once she said that, she did something I'd never seen her do before that horrified me.

She froze and broke down. I watched her shake and grip her chest before going into a full-blown madness mantra while gripping her hair and laughing hoarsely with long tears trickling down her face. "I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOPS MILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LLSTOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LLSTOP SMILING. I'LLSTOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING. I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING I'LL STOP SMILING-"

"NO, EMU! STOP" I asserted, I need to sound confident in order to persuade her. "You are and always have been a loving person, Emu. You don't deserve to be treated that way. You should have those who care for you no matter what."

She looked up at me, her tears now starting fall and her "forced" smile, fading. "B-But...! You... Y-You said...!"

"And I said before once again, I didn't mean that... My mentality was in the wrong place, and because of it... I hurt you. That's unacceptable as an idol and as a friend." I slowly came up to her and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry."

She stayed still before sobbing into my chest. "I'm... s-sorry... I-I'm...sorry..."

"Shush...Shush... It's okay, Emu... It's-" I rubbed her back.

"I-I... I-I miss them so much...! I miss t-talking with e-everyone normally...and seeing N-Nene-chan, T-Tsukasa-kun, and R-Rui-kun again....! I miss m-my siblings... I-I want to go home and perform on the Wonder Stage in Phoenix Wonderland again...!" Emu sobbed more, silently pounding her hands into my chest. "I...just... I don't understand why... w-why...! W-Why is this happening to us...!!!!!!"

"I-I... I-I know..." I felt my tears coming back as I consoled her, I also wanted to know so badly why this was only happening to us. Being traumatized from the killing game, being woken up completely different and in a new place you've never seen before. I didn't understand either...

She slowed down her movements but I still felt her heart beating against mine. "I-I've wanted to comfort A-Airi-chan... She's been acting different and not s-smiling like before... But..!" She stared at the floor... "W-Was I making it worse...? W-Was trying to talking to her... hurting her...? I-I.. just want to know... I just want to be... friends with her a-again..." She dropped to her knees again, into full blown sobbing now. "I'm sorry...A-Airi... I'm sorry... I-I'm s-sorry... I-It's my fault... It's m-my fault... I-I'm sorry..."

I knew what I had to do now.

She had to know the truth...

As much as I wanted to keep Airi's promise.

Emu is and has been hurting for a while now...

And I can't stand to watch that pain anymore.

I rubbed her back again. "No... it's not Emu-chan, it's my fault for not saying it sooner..."

But I couldn't let my fear win, I had to more forward.

She'll find out whether Airi likes it or not, it's better that she learn this now, I can't hide it anymore...

"H-Huh....?" She looked up and me with her face stained in tears... "W-What... what do you m-mean...?"

"There's something I need to tell you." I continued. "It's very unpleasant but... I hope you'll understand..."

Emu tilted her head slightly. "Oookkaaay.... A-And that is... what, Minori-chan?"

I took a deep breath. "I lied to you, E-Emu-chan... Haruka was right."

She stopped and stared back at me. "What... what do you mean?"

"She killed you, Emu." I said again. "I was caught overhearing her and she made me- No..." I shook my head. "I promised her not to tell you... " I looked away with shame. "I knew it was wrong but I felt that Airi didn't want to hurt your feelings and felt guilty. So, I wanted as a friend to keep her promise... even though I hurt another good friend in the end." I bowed. "I'm sorry, Emu! I'm really sorry!"

Emu went silent... Her wide eyes staring at me in the dim light. I wasn't sure what she was thinking...

"S-She... lied...?~*" Emu said softly. "You lied...?"

"Yeah, I did." I admitted. "I'm sure she was scared, Emu..." I slowly patted her head. "I was like that when I first saw Toya, Kohane, and Haruka too..."

"But... why wouldn't she just tell me...?" She asked. "I would help her..."

"Airi has trouble telling her secrets and has trouble to rely on others, Emu..." I was trying my best to not have her get upset again. "She probably needs more time but I don't need to waste anymore time telling the truth." I mumbled as I wiped my watery eyes. "When I saw you cry, I couldn't sit back any longer. I just had to say something... as by not doing so, would go against who I really am as well as hurting you more."

"...Oh.. I-I..." I genuine smile slowly formed onto her face as she hugged me. "Y-You're really...k-kind, M-Minori-chan... T-Thank you...~☆"

"Wait." I looked at her. "You're not mad at me?!"

"How could I...?" Emu smiled, with a confident look emerging. "Now that I know, I can try harder to make Airi see that things are ok. I'll make sure she truly smiles from ear to ear!~☆"

I was surprised by her determination. "Really..?"

She nodded. "Yeah, don't you guys say something about always trying harder or something to help others?" Emu smiled. "I want to do that for Airi! I want to comfort people like you just did for me, Minori-chan!~☆"

I smiled. "Well then, do you mind if I join you, Emu?" I asked while pulling Emu into another hug. "Since Airi is not just my teammate but a good friend of mine, it's my duty as not only a idol but as a friend to help her."

She hugged me back. "Yeah!☆ Let's do it together, Minori-chan!"

We looked all over the room in the dark for an exit but we didn't find anything, I wasn't sure how long it was or if Airi was getting help.... I was starting to get hungry too.

"Find anything, Emu?" I asked her.

"Nope, I was sure some wonderhoy escape hatch could be in here too...!~☆" Emu sighed. "What are we going to do now?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure, I guess we just have to keep waiting til Airi comes back-"

*CREEEEEK*

We turned around and someone wearing a bunny mask opened the door, she stared down at us sternly. "The queen requests you at her table, come quickly." She then pulled a lever and the bars went up. Other guards behind her quickly grabbed us by our arms and dragged us to our feet.

"Owwwie... that hurts..!" Emu wined, being picked up by the guard.

"Hush you, we've waiting quite a long time already." He spat, pulling her harder. "The faster you hurry up, the faster we can get this over with, understand?"

Emu quickly shut up, covering her mouth with her hands. "Mhmm...!" She mumbled and nodded to the guard before her eyes darting back to me, I could only look back at her. I didn't dare look at the guard carrying me, staring at me.

Luckily, after an hour of awkward silence, we entered a dark room with only a candlelight illuminating the table. There were eleven chairs with only one occupier at the far end of it, a tall woman sitting at the back, gazing us.

"Your majesty, two of your invited guests have arrived." The girl in the bunny mask replied with a bow.

"Thank you, white rabbit. Find the other guests for me and leave these two here." She answered, calmly placing her gloved hands under the light.

She bowed again along with the other soldiers. "Yes, your majesty." And swiftly made haste out the door.

She moved herself into the light, us being able to look at her face for the first time. "Sorry about them and their manhandling..." She sighed. "You dearies must be exhausted." She had a long white dress with teal ascents and a queen of clubs stuck to her crown. She had a lot of makeup on to hide some of the tares in her skin. She had a pink lipstick on that was chapped in some areas and Emu looked at her terrified of her... But, I noticed something familiar about her. It took me a few seconds to realize who it was...

Those shiny bright blue eyes.

That dark spot near her mouth.

Her shiny blue hair...

No way... It couldn't be her too...!

"Shi...Shi...!"

"Hmm?" She turned to me. "Why are looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face...?"

"You're....!"

"I'm what..? Just say it already, will you." She stared at me.

Emu looked at me. "M-Minori-chan...?"

It took me a few seconds but I finally got it out.

"I-Is that... really-you....?"

"I-Is that really you.... S-Shizuku...?"

Chapter Text

"I'm n-yes I am. I believe I am, my memory can be funny." The queen replied to Minori's comment. "Everyone just calls me Alice here but for our guests, I'll make an exception."

I looked at Minori, who was shocked but then became happy. "Oh, it's so nice to see you again!" She ran up and hugged her, she must have missed Shizuku a lot.

"But Shizuku-senpai, why did you invite us here?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "Your workers said it was for a party but... you tied us up?"

"Ah, yes, sorry. I should have made them be less rough with you guys but that's just how they act, let me get those off you." Shizuku smiled and clapped her hands. The lights illuminated and with a poof, glasses with drinks in them and a large array of desserts appeared in front of us, the ropes also disappeared from around our wrists "I wanted you to join us in our tea party."

Minori looked shocked by the food while my stomach that was going growl growl growl earlier...made my stomach churn. They looked a bit off and smelled a bit different too. I felt lost staring at it, the growl growl growls disappearing.

"What do you think?" She asked. "They are beautiful, yes?"

I bit my lip and chuckled. "Y-Yes they look pretty...nice, Ehehe...hehe..!"

"What's wrong?" I thought you were hungry..." She said, staring into my eyes.

"No, I wasn't that hungry-" I looked away and when I wanted to push the food away, Minori looked at me.

She whispered in my ear. "Emu, let's just play along with Shizuku for now, we might be able to get her to help us if we do..."

I was unsure but I decided to trust Minori and took small bits of the taiyakis on the table, so sweet it made my teeth hurt, yet for some reason I liked it...?

"Mhmmm!~☆" The more I ate I felt drawn in... "It's really... good!"

"Ahaha, I knew you'd like it, everyone does!" Shizuku clapped her hands with glee. "Let's show you two some fun performances next that I'm sure you'll like!"

"Okay!~*" I agreed with her. Maybe things were fine...? Maybe we overreacted about her. "Let's go crazy and have some fun fun fun.... and...! Wonderhoy!~☆"

"That's the spirit!" Shizuku put some masks on us and took our hands, leading us deeper into the party... "Our endless wonderland starts now!"

Maybe... I wouldn't mind being here forever...

The others would be okay... They can survive without us for now...

They would be fine.

We reached the party where everyone in bunny masks were cheering for us, confetti was flying through the air. Everything was so sparkly!

"Everything in here is edible, so do whatever you like!" Shizuku says. "Just don't go behind those teal curtains with the silver gate blocking it. Understood?" She points her finger at us.

I rub my chin, tapping my feet. "Sure but why-" I tried to ask, only for her fingertip be placed over my mouth.

"Shush." She said, before standing up and leaving soon after, leaving me really confused and curious.

I kept wondering what was behind those curtains... Who knew if they're was some trove of plushies or a tower of pillows.

For the time being, I decided to drop the idea for now and just enjoy myself.

"C'mon, Emu!" Minori waved. "Try some of this stuff, even the seats here are delicious!"

"Coming, Minori-chan~!☆" I called out and ran to her, eating some of it. "Mhmmm..." It was pretty good... even though it still had a icky sickly sweet taste too.

We ended up trying a lot of things. We ate lots of candy corn hats and other candy furniture, danced with lollipop flowers, and lastly road on a boat made of marshmallows in chocolate river with taiyakis fishes swimming it in before eating more stuff. I still kept thinking of the curtains and the warning, it kept flooding my mind.

I tapped her shoulder. "Hey Minori, shouldn't we be looking for a way to reach the others and head home?" I asked her. "Like check around the place?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Emu." Minori reassures me. "Besides, we have everything here! Why would you want to leave?"

"Ummm...Right..." I placed my smile up again. "Sorry for ruining the mood. Let's keep having fun!" Trying again to push my flooding curiosity and worries aside.

[A few hours later...]

"Man, I'm really stuffed..." Minori sighed. "I'm going to rest, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure thing, I'm gonna check around..." I told her. "I need to look for something."

Minori eyebrows furrowed. "Look around where? We have everything here."

I stuttered. "Umm... I was thinking of checking over there..." Pointing to the curtains with the gate.

Her eyes widened. "But Emu, we're not supposed to go over there!" Minori exclaimed.

"I know...! B-But, as amazing as this place is... We need to get back to the others and get home!" I reminded her. "We can't stay here forever..."

Minori blinked. "R-Right... I was having so much here that I forgot about Airi and everyone else..."

"I understand, I was having fun too! So much that I wanted to stay here forever... But, we..." I sighed and slowly got up. "We need to get home and I so I need to check if behind there is an exit... I have to be there for the Wonder Stage and my family."

Minori stands up and nods. "Then, let's go. I want to make it right for being so irresponsible.... and your right... We need to get to the others and go home."

I smiled, taking Minori's hand. The two of us running towards the curtains. The gate had a sigh made of candy cane that said, DO NOT TRESSPASS.

"Ready, Emu?" Minori asked me.

I gulped. "As ready as I'll ever be...."

The two of us then stepped over the gate, and behind the curtains. Which had a winding stair case to the bottom... We took a candle that was on the floor and slowly walked down the steps.

After a few more minutes, there was about 5 steps more to go... I was excited to finally get home, seeing the light and the end of the tunnel.

And that's when I heard a voice that sounded familiar.

"Please! Someone...? A-Anyone?!" The voice called out. "Help...!"

I stopped. "Wait... that sounded like... Shizuku?"

"But, they're can't be two Shizuku's!" Minori objects.

"Hey, you never know!☆" I proclaimed. "Shizuku could of had a secret twin sister along with Shiho-chan!"

"I doubt it." She replies, shaking her head.

"Let's just go check!" I told her, grabbing Minori by the hand and down the rest of the stairs. Where we saw a girl who also had teal hair, trapped inside, the girl seems to recognize them immediately.

'Emu... Minori? Is that you...?" She whispered. "Can you help me...?"

"Shizuku, what are you doing in there?" Minori asked before pausing a bit. "I mean, are you even Shizuku...?" She rephrased.

She looked disappointed when hearing this. "Yes, of course I am." She muttered slightly. "The queen trapped me in here and is using my identity to lure you guys here as her servants by promising them all the food they could want and if they disobey her rules to any degree... they either get trapped forever, killed and turned into zombies or turned into candy to be eaten by her...!"

When I heard this, I turned to Minori who felt disgusted, while I felt disappointed in myself... We fell for what the queen wanted. Even when shouldn't trust this place, I still caved to it. I couldn't believe what I did to my friends. Why wasn't I more cautious? I should have been more careful...

Wanting to stay here forever... Not caring about anyone but ourselves and being fed. Throwing our lives away...

"Minori." I stared at her seriously. "Let's get Shizuku out of her and get back to the others."

"Got it!" Minori agreed and picked up a rock off the floor in the room. "1, 2...! 3, 4!!!!" She counted and through the stone at the glass, causing it to crack slightly.

Minori and I started picking up and object we could find and started throwing it at the glass. Everything had to go to get Shizuku out of there. The first being a large axe like the ones in rpg fantasies.

"THIS. IS. SO. HEAVY." Minori groaned, attempting to lift it. "I don't think I can do this by myself...!"

I hurried over. "I'll help you, Minori-chan!" Putting my arms under the double sided axe's axe head while Minori held onto the handle. "AND LIFT!☆"

"L-Lift!!!" Minori yelled and we tossed the axe into our previous crack, making it fracture more.

"We're almost there, Shizuku." I called, giving her a thumbs up which she reciprocated.

The only thing that was left in the room was a satchel of arrows and a bow beside it. I picked up the bow and one of the arrows out, standing in front of the case to get in position.

"Emu, what are you doing?" Minori watched me. "Y-You don't know how to use those, do you?!"

"I'm not very good at archery like Hinomori-senpai or Asahina-senpai..." I admitted. "But, Asahina-senpai took me to one of the matches before to watch and I studied them too know the basics, so I believe I can do this!☆" I smirked, one that Tsukasa-kun would be proud of and turned my attention back to the glass container.

"Good luck then." Minori patted me on the back and stepped away from me. "I believe in you!"

"Thanks." I said and aimed the bow at the center of the hole, imagining a target in front of me. "Here we go, Wonderhoy shot! WAH!" plucking the string, sending the arrow into the air.

The arrow made a clink sound against the glass, the glass went Crunch! Cluck! and fell like shimmering snowflakes to the ground, allowing Shizuku to step out of the container.

"Ah, thank goodness..." Shizuku sighed and relaxed her shoulders. "I was worried I would be trapped in here forever... Thank you, both."

"Don't worry about it, Shizuku!" Minori grinned happily, giving her a warm embrace. "You're our friend, of course we would help!"

Shizuku had a slight smile grow on her face, picking up the bow and satchel of arrows. "Mhmm... Now let's get out of here-"

"DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO COME DOWN HERE?!!!" A voice raised, who was really the fake Shizuku... "YOU TRAITORS!!!" She yelled, and took of her disguise, revealing herself to be a type of Miku... She is also rotting like the others as a decaying zombie with teeth coming out, and her body being very dirty, startling us.

"Eep!" Minori gasped.

"NOBODY TRIES TO GET BETTER THAN ME." She glares. "NO ONE."

Shizuku and Minori looked frozen in fear, I was really nervous...

I looked around the room... for an escape and... I saw a lever next to me. It looked like it was connected to something...

I followed the pipeline that the lever was connected to and it was connected to, the trap door Minori and Shizuku were standing on.

"ARE YOU SCARED? YOU SHOULD BE..." She gestured to the white rabbit again. "CUT THEM UP."

"Stay away from Minori-chan...! You wanted me, remember!" Shizuku yells, trying to get them away from us.

I step in instead. "Shizuku-senpai, Minori-chan, go find Airi-chan!"

"What?!" Shizuku calls out.

"Emu-chan!!!!" Minori stares at me.

"What are you doing?!" The Queen yelled.

"And Abracadabra!!!" I exclaimed, pulling the lever with all my might, causing the trap door to open.

"AHHHH!!!!"

"EHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I was, in the end, left surrounded by terror as my friends fell down and disappeared below.... I was left staring at the fake queen.

"A heroic sacrifice you have displayed. You sure like playing with your cards..." She scoffed. "Though now, you have run out of cards to play."

I puffed up my cheeks. "Oh yeah, you won't win!"

"Ahahaha, what are you talking about?" She scoffed. "I ALWAYS WIN." She bopped my nose. "What does a peasant like you know?"

"My friends are out there and always have been there for me... I know no matter what that my friends will end your fake happiness and bring true smiles!!!" I yell, while fighting against the soldiers restraints.

"...Oh..." She whispered, a grin slowly peering on her face. "Hehe."

"Hwah?" I titled my head. "What's funny?"

She quickly turned around. "Ah, it's nothing, I just thought of a mad little game." She jabbed my chest with her finger. "And you'll be the main event."

"H-Huh... What game..?" I said blankly.

"You'll see... " She smirked before turning around again. "TAKE EM' AWAY, BOYYYSSS~!"

"Right away, your majesty!!!" The guards saluted, grabbing my arms tightly.

I looked behind me and there is a BIG BIG BIG hammer behind me. I try to shake free. "WAIT, NOOO-"

"Goodnight, Traitor."

"WAAAA-*SMACK* Ughhhh.... I'm... d-dizz..dizzy... U-Uh-...!"

*THUMP*

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, in the forest....

"Man, am I starting to get hungry now..." Someone sighed behind me. "How long do you think it will be before we get to the castle, Airi?"

"..." I felt the grumbling get louder inside me. Is there any food other than just sugar....?

"Ahem, Airi..." Another voice replied. "Hello?"

I needed to keep heading forward, just don't look at it at and you'll fine. Just don't look, just don't look, just don't-

"AIRI." Someone yelled into my ear, making me flinch. It was Haruka, the others were also looking at me.

"Oh, Haruka..." I chuckled slightly. "I didn't hear you..."

"I know." She groaned. "We were just asking how long it make take to get to the castle. Do you know, by any chance?"

"I feel we're getting close..." I clutched my stomach. "I didn't see them going to the castle but the person who kidnapped them said to their henchmen to take them there."

"I really hope we get there soon then... If we don't find something to eat other than candy, we'll lose the strength we need to defend ourselves out here." She crossed her arms. "Plus, Aoyagi-Kun will have trouble since he doesn't like many of these sweet things and walking all day will tire us out."

"I know..." I brushed her off, pulling as much of a reassuring smile I could. "Trust me, we'll be fine, I promise." There you go again, Airi... Spinning another web of lies.

If the others knew how much you were dying inside... you would look pitiful.

Such a pitiful idol.

And your not even a real idol anyway...

You were a fake, standing shoulder to shoulder with those who didn't need you.

I shook my head, silently attempting to shove my thoughts away. "Don't worry everyone, just hold on a bit longer. We can make it."

"...I don't know... how long I can... h-hold on..." Kanade was sweating and breathing heavily. "B-But... I'll keep going as long as I-I can..."

"I'll try my best as well..." Toya agreed.

I took responsibility of cutting away things in our path and pushing all those rose bushes away from us. I felt them scratch against my sweater and arms but I focused on staying on course-

*RAWWWWW*

Kohane pulls out her hammer. "Guys... do you hear something... Like hissing?"

*GROOOOAAANNN*

"EHHH!" An clutched herself to Kohane. "That sounded like a z-zombie....!"

*GRAWWWWW*

*GROAN*

Kanade pricked up. "I think it's behind us..."

We turned around and saw the massive creature behind us. The zombie cat had bodies of other people stuck in, he also smelled rotten and looked like he was missing skin too. His yellow eyes were glaring at us, his mouth opening to reveal his sharp teeth.

Saki's color drains from her face. "It's going to eat us... Play dead!"

Ichika looks at her. "NO, this isn't a time to be playing dead!!!!" She screamed. "We need to get out of this forest now, RUN!"

Without a moment to waste, we ran while Kanade was being carried by Ichika since she couldn't run anymore. I was trying hard to keep up but my stamina was beginning to drain.

I rain into an area with bushes surrounding it, the inside, being filled with cookies. My stomach was in so much pain...

"Your so foolish..."

I did a double take and looked around. "Who said that-"

I then spotted a grapefruit jelly plant grow a face with a wide smile.

"Did you really think you could hide it, your feelings are your fears."

"Shut it." I stomped on the grapefruit jelly plant, causing it to splatter. But as I did, more appeared.

"They'll never forgive you."

"Your such a liar."

"You should hate yourself if you don't already."

I couldn't stand it but wherever I ran, mare appeared taunting my every move. "Ugh, I just wanna get out of this place already."

I ran into a dark area, leaning over to rest. I didn't see or hear anyone. Maybe... Maybe I was finally safe-

*SHOVE*

"AHHH...!" I fell on the ground from being pushed from behind. When I tried looking up, I felt a sharp pain on my back. "ARGH! Ahh...AHH! G-GET OFF ME...!"

"You broke our pinky promise..." She muttered. "I thought you were better than that."

"Wha... w-what promise...?" I groaned.

"You said... You promised to be the best idol you could be..." Her teeth clenched. "You promised to make people happy."

"I-I..." My blood went cold. "I... what?"

"You don't even remember...? What kind of idol forgets their own advice." She laughed. "You look so pitiful..."

"So what...?" I gagged. "Are you gonna kill me then?"

"Ha! Yes and no." She scoffed. "I have something... more fun in mind."

"Oh yeah, and what's that-G...g-gah..hhh....!!!" I moaned in pain, laying down. I touched the back of my neck and chills went down my spine...

There was blood and redness on my neck, red vain lines were becoming visible. As soon as it happened, my stomach pain got worse.

"A-ARGH... W-What... WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO ME?!" I screamed. "You... Y-YOU MONSTER...!"

She stared motionlessly at me. "No, YOU'RE THE MONSTER." was her cold response. "I'm just the shadow of voices... eNjoYiNg yOu gO rABbiD WiTh eVEry pAiNfuL mOve yoU mAKe..."

"No... No, NO! ..A-Ahh...A-Ack...! I fell back on my side as she stepped away. The pressure on my head was so heavy I couldn't move, maybe because I was soo weak and helpless...

As an idol and a person, I was always weak and hateful...

I started crying pathetically, I didn't want to end like this. I could feel my hunger getting the better of me.

"Have fun suffering, your turmoil is so fulfilling and satisfying..."

I clutched my stomach in pain. I was so hungry... I was fucking starving...

Maybe just like guilt, I'll eat away at myself. I thought, trying to bite my own arm.

At least I won't harm the others anymore...

I slowly stopped struggling... Reaching my hands around my neck.

"Please... be there some strength in me..."

My shadow, reached around my neck, as if it knew what I wanted.

"J-Just...end this... please..."

*LOUD STOMPS*

"Airi! Airi!"

H-Huh...F-Footsteps...?

"Huh...? WHO"S THERE, SHOW YOURSEL-ARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHRAWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

...

"G-GET AWAY...! FROM AIRI-CHAN!!!"

"I WON"T LET YOU HURT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

...

The voices slowly muffled together...

"You li-... brat! You'll di-...like your friend...!"

"Just... ge-....away... fro-...her!"

*GROWL*

"DIE...!!!!!"

*PLUCK*

*SWOOSH*

"A...._AHH-HGAHHHH!!!"

*DISSIPATES*

....

I tried to see who it was but black slowly flooded my vision.. seeing a muddy vision of blue hair...

"AIRI-CHAN.... Get up please... your neck is bleeding, we need to get you to the others...!"

"H-Haruka... is that you....?"

"AIRI... look at me...!!! No... No...!"

"H-Haruka...My h-head...'s s-spin..spin spinning..! Let m-me rest for a f-few minutes...O-Ok..a-"

*THUMP*

"Ai....ri........ A-...ri...!!!"

"AIRI-CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Chapter Text

I tapped Airi-chan but she just wasn't responding... I was too late...

I had failed her, I failed her again...

I'm so horrible-...

No, I shouldn't think like that right now. I should get her to the others.

They will be able to do something, unlike me...

I slowly picked her up from the floor, carrying her in my arms. "Don't worry, Airi-chan... I've got you." I whispered, even though she couldn't hear me, I believed deep down she felt me supporting her.

"Ughhh...." She moaned, grabbing at her head, teeth clenched. "U-Uhh.... U-Urrrr..."

"It's okay, Airi..." I hugged her. "You're okay."

I ran through the forest, eventually reaching the town again, where the others were waiting. Saki and Haruka must have heard my footsteps, as they quickly turned around, hands flying to their mouths.

"Oh!!! A-Airi!!!" Haruka ran to our side. "I-Is she alright, what happened to her?"

"I think she got attacked by some strange forest creature..." I said, fighting the tears about to choke me again. "She was like that before I killed that monster."

"Wait guys, I think she is getting up!" Saki chimed in.

Airi groaned but slowly sat up and opened her eyes. "W-What... happened?" She asked, rubbing her temple.

"You... You don't remember being attacked?" Kanade questions softly.

"No... I remember falling asleep after getting really tired and h...h-h...ungry." She rubbed the back of her neck. "B-But, I'm fine! I'm pretty sure it's just a small rash."

"Are you sure about that?" Toya gets closer to her to examine the bite. "It looks pretty bad to me..."

Airi turns away and mutters something but I can't hear what she said before turning back to us. "Nah, I'm good. I can handle a simple scratch..." She shrugs off. "Finding Minori and Emu is more impor-wah!!!!!! SHIZUKU?!" She jumps back alarmed, almost stumbling into Aoyagi-kun. "W-When did you get here...?"

I rubbed my arm. "I was in the castle the whole time. Until now, actually."

She stared blankly at me, blinking twice. "Whaaa... What?"

I stepped forward. "I woke up in a metal crate and had my archery equipment stashed inside there wit me." I pointed to the satchel on my back. "After using one of my arrows to pick the lock, I searched around the place but I got kidnapped by a creepy swordswoman and lost my watch, I got trapped in a glass case till Minori and Emu rescued me..."

"But we got cornered by Miku, who's the queen here... so Emu pulled a trap door, allowing me and Shizuku to escape... as we saw from the moat into this town." Minori added and chuckled shyly. "That's... kinda why our clothes are still wet."

Haruka cut in. "And then, we heard Shizuku come up to us wand demanded to know where you were. When we said we didn't know and she was most likely still in the forest, she took off running after you without saying anything else to us."

Shizuku scuffed her foot at Haruka. "Y-Yeah... sorry about doing that, I was just really worried about Airi-chan, hehe..."

Haruka sighed and crossed her arms slightly. "It's fine, I'm used to it by now."

"Aaannnnnywaaaayy...." An put her hands on her hips, pointing to Shizuku. "What I wanna know is, if you were hear all this time, why didn't you come looking for us? We were in the forest, same as you."

I rested my hand on my hip, tapping my foot. "I didn't even know you guys were here." I sighed and stared at my feet. "Let alone... I could have gotten lost in that forest and captured by that woman, I didn't want that..."

An's face turned beet red and covered her face. "Yeah, right..."

"Oh... umm there is one thing I wanted to say before..." I paused, clicking my fingers together. "Before we go find Emu and Minori..."

Airi turns toward me. "Oh... really? What is it?"

I took in a deep breath before letting it out. "I know you might be mad at this but..." I rubbed my arm before straitening up. "I was the traitor."

"H-Huuhhhhh?" Minori steps back. ""What...?!"

Kohane gasps. "W-Whaaa.. Whaaaa... What do you mean by that...?!"

I nodded. "I meant exactly what I said, I was one of the people chosen... to be the traitor."

"Wait, you were chosen?" Saki raises her eyebrow. "I thought the traitor decided on their own...to be the traitor."

I shook my head. "No. There were two traitors chosen at the very beginning... One of them was killed so early that Mikuma made me do the rest after they died, Mikuma came on ym tv screen and messaged that I couldn't object to this."

"A message... through the tv...?" Ichika stared at me. "When did she do this?"

"When I was in my room alone..." I started crying. "I wanted to refuse, I told her no but... She said if I didn't comply she would punish you guys and Shii-chan... I promised myself that I would never kill anyone and just mess with evidence at times... Like with yours, Ichika-chan..."

Ichika's eyes widened and froze up. As I expected, my words was probably a punch to the gut for her... But unlike back then, when I didn't have a choice but to lie. Now I have the chance to say how I really feel. If I don't say my feelings now, I may never get to it again...

"I've realized since then that I can't be afraid or hide things anymore, the only way I can protect the people I care about is to stand by there side." I placed my hand close to my chest. "I understand that may take some time for you all to trust me again, so I'll be willing to work my hardest till I earn my honor again and from that point onward!"

I finished and wrapped my arms around my chest. It's been a while since I've been able to let everything out...

All the threats... All the torments and suffering...

[FLASHBACK]

"This... we have to kill each other to leave..." I sat down on my bed, looking at the tv in my room. "I-I can't believe this actually happening..."

"Well you better believe it, Student Number 16!" A voice came out of my synth file, the screen suddenly changed too, jump-scaring me.

"EEEEEKK!!!!" I screamed, almost falling to the ground. "M-Mikuma...?!!!"

"Hello, Hello!!! It seems you got my message loud and clear, huh?" Mikuma chuckled. "Are you happy to see me, Student 16!"

"Umm... N-Not really..." I looked away from him.

"Oh c'mon! I'm evil, wickedly beautiful, and full of despair! What's not to love!" Mikuma grinned. "I'm totally cool in everyway!"

I sighed. "S-Sure..." I fidgeted with my hair before staring at the screen again. "Anyways... why did you call me? Is that all you wanted to tell me..."

"Oh, oh, right!" She slapped her own cheeks. "I almost forgot to tell you that you have been given a special privilege!!!"

"Huh?" I puzzled. "What do you mean... 'special privilege'."

"Hehe... It's pretty great!" She laughed again. "You get the amazingly special title of....." She started pounding on the table to mimic a drumroll. "THE TRAAAITOOOORRRR!!!"

I dropped to the floor with my hands over my mouth... "No... No...! I'M NOT DOING THAT!!!"

"Yes, you are." She countered. "Contracts as the traitor are non-negotiable, you see!"

"B-But... you never put that in the rules...!" I sputtered. "I can't betray my friends...!!!"

"Well, duh! Those other rules are for all general students." She snarked. "You are special, so you get special rules!"

"No, I'm not doing this." I slowly stood back up and turned away from her. "I would never do something so despicable like you would."

Mikuma huffed. "Fine, since you won't listen to reason." Her right eye starts flashing red. "I'LL HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOME MANNERS."

Suddenly, the tv launched out an arm and locked around my neck. I almost screamed but the hand only closed firmer around my neck by doing so, another hand came out and pointed a pistol to my head.

"You know.... I COULD EASILY KILL YOU RIGHT NOW." Mikuma cackled through the tv. "I COULD WIPE OUT YOUR DEAR BABY SISTER AND YOUR GROUPMATES IN A SINGLE SECOND IF I WANTED TO...." She narrowed her eyes at me while still grinning like a hyena. "I'M SURPISED YOUR TALKING BACK, ULTIMATE MODEL... I WOU'VE EXPECTED YOU TO BE A PROPER LADY AND DO AS YOUR TOLD..."

"Stop...Nhhh!" My hands were struggling to find a grip to hold. "I...can't...!"

"HA! C'mon, it's not that hard, I especially doubt it would be hard for you." She claimed. "You're the princess with looks that get you everything you want, you would barely have to do anything as the traitor..." She said. "Nobody suspects a pretty face."

My eyes watered, it hurt. I'm not...

"Shizuku got another solo photo for a magazine cover. This is clearly favoritism."

"Yeah, I guess a pretty face is all they care about. We're clearly better than singing and dancing than she is."

I'm not that idol... I'm not, I'm not...!

"AS LONG AS YOU STICK TO YOU'RE SCRIPT AND SMILE, NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOU'RE PRECIOUS SHII-CHAN." She said. "After all, you promised to protect her, didn't you?"

I did... Of course I would protect her...

"Just play the perfect part and everything will be okay." She warned. "Fail this... and well..."

BZZZZRRRTTTT

The screen showed her body cut up into different pieces, stuck to a guitar, wire was wrapped around her body. There was blood all over the floor and her hands were tied to the wall.

I felt sick to my stomach, burring my eyes in my hands. Shii-chan.... she can't...I can't have her... I can't have that happen to her.

I cried, my whole body felt heavy. "I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry.... P-Please.... P-Please just let me go.." I begged. "I'll do anything... J-Just please... P-Please don't h-hurt her... D-Don't hurt S-Shii-chan...."

Mikuma smirked and dropped me to the floor, my neck felt sore and I winced while catching my breath.

"That's much better." Mikuma responded calmly. "Our agreement and terms is that you can mess around however you wish, as long as you hide your identity as the traitor from your fellow classmates. You could even make a murder and get away with it, killing everyone else and causing all the despair!"

I huffed not even bothering to say anything, I think she noticed this as she continued on his ramble.

"If you don't, I will kill the ones you hold dear to them most and blame it on you... or other... worse punishments if I think of them..." She sent chills down my spine. "You and the other girl better not disappoint me, capeesh?" She got up close to screen, putting her red eye in the center of the screen. "YOU UNDERSTAND?!!!"

My hands were shaking as I held them around my neck, nodding along. "I... I-I understand, M-Mikuma-san..."

"GOOD." She said as her face changed back to a normal smile. "Bye Bye! I look forward to working with you, Hinomori-san. Upupupupupu!"

She then spun her chair around and the screen turned off with a red color before going back to the normal screen, which was a Miku head with two bunny head clips attached to it.

The headline reading...

"WELCOME TO THE DESPAIR SHOW! SHIZUKU HINOMORI, ULTIMATE MODEL."

I just stared at it, the weight slowly sinking in.

And I slowly wrapped my arms around my waist, tears escaping my eyes, sealing my fate as a DESPAIR.

...

(After the first trial)

"Mikuma... I'm here." I said softly. She had invited me to apparently... her office, I thought those places were off limits to us... I guess this is what it means to have special privilege from Mikuma.

"Ah, my little assistant of despair!" She clapped. "Nice job on your first day!"

I leaned my back against the wall. "It's not like I chose to do this, A-And..." I paused, crossing my arms.

"And what?" Mikuma asked.

I sighed. "You...didn't need to say that."

Mikuma's eyebrow raised. "My compliment towards you or the case?"

I sighed again. "Both. I don't think you needed to say that.." They were already sad and scared, she didn't have to make it worse, right?

Mikuma leaned on her chair, daintily waving her hand in a fanning motion. "You think I’d let the case not be exactly accurate? Nope!" She retorted, rolling her eyes at me.

I stammered. "But...!"

Mikuma's eyes narrowed. "Oh?" She slides her chair forward and adjusting the height of the chair. "What is it now?"

She was now peering over me, with the red glow from the monitors piecing through the eerily gloomy shadows. It made her eye look more sinister than before.

My whole body shivered, I turned away slightly. "But now everyone’s going to be more cautious of each other."

"Upupupupupu, Who cares?!~" She laughed, inching even closer...I swore she was breathing down my neck. "They’ll be more paranoid and paranoia can lead to~?"

My chest felt, so cold. So I accepted defeat... as I knew where this was going. "More death...?" I sulked.

She smirked. "That’s right! You’re so smart! So, you understand our terms, right?" She jeered.

I nodded, solemnly. "Yes, I do."

"Yay!" She clapped her hands. "Now you go get some sleep, alright?" She ordered, shooing me away to the office door. "Bye, Student 16!"

"Alright.. Bye Miku.." I whispered and left, wrapping my arms around me...

Even though that didn't stop the cold.

[FLASHBACK END]

Things however are different.

Or at least, I can make them different now.

I don't have to play that part, I don't have to follow that horrible skit made for me.

I can be myself now, I don't have to hide anymore... I won't hide anymore.

The others were still look at me. Airi especially... She stepped forward.

"If your the real Shizuku Hinomori, who was forced as the traitor. Now that your free... you won't mess with us, will you?" She pressed. "No betraying plans of any kind?"

I nodded. "Right, I won't and will never again do such things." My eyebrows curled down, bowing. "I'm tired of hiding. Whatever it is you need to ask me, so please don't hold back, I will fight till I deserve... to be called a friend... once more. Wherever you want to go.... LET ME ASSIST YOU."

Chapter Text

"Right, I won't and will never again do such things."

"I'm tired of hiding. Whatever it is you need to ask me, so please don't hold back, I will fight till I deserve... to be called a friend... once more. Wherever you want to go.... LET ME ASSIST YOU."

Shizuku was the traitor... I couldn't believe it.

And yet, I couldn't feel angry at her. She could tell her secret, while me-

"YOU'RE ALWAYS JEALOUS OF HER, AREN'T YOU?"

I dodged the question in my head, turning to Shizuku. "Alright if that's the case, you're going to help us get Emu from the castle then..." I grumbled. "And as a old friend, since I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself... You better not try anything or I get to wring your neck, got it?!"

"BUT WILL YOU? WILL YOU BE ABLE TO KILL YOUR BEST FRIEND.... WOULD YOU REALLY BE ABLE TO SLAY YOUR IDEAL FELLOW IDOL?"

I felt the sharp sting on my neck, it hurt more than the others before... This voice was starting to get to me. "SHUT UP..." I whispered and refrained from wincing, picking up my sword swiftly. "We're leaving now."

That way, they would focus on her and not me...

"Understood, I won't let you down!" Shizuku exclaimed, standing up immediately and taking off towards the castle. "Let's go, Airi-chan."

"Mhmm..." I nodded. I avoided looking at her... I was frustrated that she could say what she did with no shame... but I-I...!

[FLASHBACK]

"Hehe☆ I've prepared a song that's guaranteed to put a smile on your face, Airi!"

"Yup! My surprise went so well that I thought I was dreaming!"

"They really did! And it's all thanks to you, Airi!"

[FLASHBACK END]

I'm just too afraid to tell her... What I did, it's just not what a idol should do at all.

"HA! HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT AN IDOL SHOULD BE?! EVERYONE KNOWS YOU WERE NEVER TRULY AN IDOL..."

"Ehhh! E-Ermm...!" I felt a sharp pain in my chest as well as a tight lump pressing down in my throat. "*Cough Cough* U-Ugh... W-Why do I f-feel so-"

I caught a glimpse of my hand and I felt pale, my hand was covered with blood and green... snot... in it? I felt like throwing up again.

"Airi-chan... why did you stop-" Shizuku was about to ask until she got a small peek at my hand. "H-Huh?! W-What is that...!"

I quickly cover it behind my back. "H-Huh? What do you mean, Shizuku?" I look back and forth. "I-I didn't see anything!"

"You're hand was bleeding, wasn't it?" Shizuku steps closer to me, trying to get a closer look but I keep it hidden from her. "Let me see...!"

"Shizuku, what are you doing..?" An glares at her while standing next to Haruka and Ichika, who were silent. "You're not trying to hurt Momoi, are you?"

She shakes her head no. "Airi-chan looked like she was hiding something, but..." She sighs, turning to side. "I-I was just imagining it, sorry."

Shizuku then walks off shortly after, causing An to huff and cross her arms. Everyone else also stares at her.

"I don't trust her... She's definitely planning something." An scowled. "Seriously?! Why are we trusting the traitor?!"

"Because it's Shizuku and she's our friend.... She doesn't sound malicious at all and I don't believe she would hurt us!" Minori speaks up, standing up for her groupmate.

"I also agree with Minori... She isn't acting very traitor-like to me..." Kohane replied, rubbing An's arm. "She sounds genuine about looking after Momoi and helping us, An."

Shiraishi however, shook her head. "That's what they always do so they stab ya in the back, Kohane!"

"Let's not judge and observe her, everyone." Aoyagi intervenes. "After all, she was Momoi, Kiritani and Hanasato's partner."

"Yeah! Let's not fight about this right now, ok?" Saki agrees. "I'm not sure what Shizuku-senpai went through... but we should at least give her a chance!"

Kanade nods. "I agree as well. It's too early to make a decision on those things, we need to be civil for now."

Ichika is still silent, while An isn't convinced. And, Haruka looks... conflicted?

Haruka puts her hand on her chin while she's walking. "I don't fully trust Shizuku as of right now... but I don't think she can't redeem herself or that she wasn't trying to help Airi..." She adds." Because as I have said before, I also thought you have been acting differently recently, Airi."

"What?! N-No way!" I retorted. "I haven't done anything strange at all!" I stomped my foot. "If anything, Shizuku's even weirder for just randomly popping out of nowhere-"

Shizuku, as if on cue, yells out to us.. "GUYS!!!!" Waving very overdramatically, her arms stretched in the air above her head. "It's over here!!!!"

We all rush over and true to her words, there it was... A large castle with a moat surrounding it, big enough to fall in and get soaked as well as being hard to swim out. I'm unsure how Shizuku and Minori managed to get out.

"So this is the castle?" Toya asks.

"Mhmm..." Shizuku nods. "Me and Minori escaped it from the moat area but it would be hard to swim back up. And they might be preparing for us to come up that way."

Ichika tilts her head, quizzically. "Then, how are we gonna get inside? The draw bridge is up and I don't see any other entrances."

"I'm not sure... but there has to be something around here." Shizuku slowly clenches her fist. "I'm not going to give up. There has to be a raft or something we can find...!"

Kohane spoke up. "Or we could try building a raft!" She tapped her chin. "We would just some planks of wood and sticks right?"

"I think I remember there being some leftover materials in those abandon houses..." Kanade pointed behind her to the village.

"Right, they're could be string to tie the logs together." Toya added. "Let's go check all the houses."

I jumped to my feet. "Yeah, I'll help out too-Ugh!" But then I stumbled slightly... Everyone noticed.

"Airi..." Minori steps forward, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should sit down for now..."

For a split second, when she put her hand on my shoulder, my stomach growled hard. I was left in a state of shock...

After all, I was really... really.. hungry...

"So... S-So... H-..."

S-SO..... H-HUNGRY-

"A... Ai...ri?" Minori's voice sounded shaken. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I blinked and flinched away. "Oh woops, I spaced out there... I'm fine!"

Haruka crossed her arms. "You sure your fine? We don't want anyone collapsing on us."

"I agree with Haruka-chan!" Shizuku nodded. "You should rest!"

"I'm okay, I swear!" I started sweating as I said this, so I had to brush it off with my hair. "I'm an idol, like all of you, I can't let a little stumble mess with me."

"Airi-chan please." Shizuku begged. "I'm worried about you!"

I passed. She doesn't need to do that. I don't deserve that.

"Don't." I said. "Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl who can take care of herself."

"But your clearly hurt!!!" She pushed."

"Shizuku, please. I'm fine." I pushed her away.

"No you're not!!!" Her voice rose.

"Yes, I am!!!" I yelled back.

"Hey, don't fight, please!" Minori called out.

"I'm just trying to help you, why won't you understand that?!" Shizuku stepped forward, gripping my wrist.

"Because, I'm fine and I don't need your help right now!!!" I could feel my blood boiling. Why couldn't she back off?!

I saw Minori and Aoyagi tense up but I couldn't care less right now...

The more she got close, my chest started to hurt.

I couldn't hurt her in front of them. Not now, not ever...

I couldn't deal with this right now... I-I needed her to get back...!!!!

"But your clearly not fine!!!" Shizuku added again. "Just tell me what's wrong!"

"NO!" I pushed her away and made her let go of my wrist. "Just leave me alone, okay?! You don't need to keep worrying, I can take care of it on my own!!!"

Her voice rose. "No, you can't, Airi!!! I told you so many times in the past to not suffer alone like this...!!!" Tears started to peak out from under her eyelids as she held my hand. "But even, now... Why... WHY WON'T YOU BE HONEST WITH ME?!!!"

What...? Are you joking?

No way she really said that.

DID SHE REALLY FUCKING ASK ME THAT?!

HA!

HAHA!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....!!!!!!!!

SHE REALLY ASKED...

SHE REALLY ASKED, WHY I WON'T BE HONEST TO HER?!!!!

A-AHA...! AHAHAHAHA.... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Why...? Why?!!! WHY?!!!!!!! I yelled. "WHY SHOULD I WHEN YOU'RE THE TRAITOR, I DON'T HAVE TO BE FUCKING HONEST WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!"

...

SILENCE

...

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that..." I retracted. "I just need time to trust you again, Shizuku."

She was silent before she sighed.

"No, it's my fault." Her voice more melancholic than before. "I pushed too far and got in your personal space... I'm sorry." She sighs again. "Just please tell me if something is wrong. I want to protect you..."

"I'm sure I'll be fine, but I'll warn you if something happens." I breathed out my blatant lie, focusing back on the others. "Let's just go get the materials and save Emu, alright-"

"HELLO HELLO!!!!" A voice echo's out of the trumpet attached to the castle. "HELLO?!!!"

"H-Huh?" Kohane jumped back.

"Woah~!" Saki gasped. "Who's that?"

"AHEM. Attention, you peasants! The queen is speaking!" She exclaimed and cleared her throat. "I have heard you were looking for someone under my possession. Lady Emu, was her name, yes?"

"Uh-" I was about to speak up but was cut off by her again.

She laughed. "Just kidding, peasants. I already know your looking for her, no point in lying."

"She already knows...?"'' Kanade looks at Ichika who's as shocked as she is.

"It was totally easy and not hard at all trying to get information out of that runt that I had to ask my assistants for help...! Ahaha not hard at all!" She chuckled dryly before clearing her throat again. "Point is, I'd like to make a deal with you."

An taps her chin, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, really?"

"Mhmmm, yes really." She said. "I have planned a special game in my castle set up for everyone and if you escape, you'll be able to rescue your dear friend and be set free! Simply, right?"

A sick feeling went down in my stomach... A game that is set up for everyone, and you can only survive if you escape...

"So, when your ready. I'll be waiting..." She finished and the trumpet speakers turned off.

And with that, the draw bridge lowered for us, with all us slowly stepping away till the drawbridge comes down.

"Ah, it came down." Toya shocked and smiles. "Seems we won't have to go back to that town after all."

"Agreed, as long as we beat this challenge." I said. "Emu needs us, so we can help her..." I sighed. "S-So... I can finally redeem... m-myself..."

"What did you say, Airi?" Shizuku asked me., causing me to slightly jump.

"I-Nothing." I shook it off. "C'mon, let's go, guys."

"Alright!" All the others said.

But, my teammates...

"Mhmm..."

"Okay."

"R-Right!!!"

Just looked shaken...

"WHY DO YOU FEEL BAD, THEY ARE YOUR RIVALS. YOU'RE ENEMIES..."

No...

They are my friends...

"YOU ARE HUNRGY TO BE LIKE THEM, YOU WISH YOU COULD SWALLOW UP THEIR TALENTS, YOU WILL NEVER COMPARE TO THEM."

No, No, that's not how I feel..!

"YOU AREN"T A REAL IDOL, THEY DESEREVE BETTER THAN A SICK, IMPERFECT SCUM LIKE YOU."

No... NO.... NO.

That's not true..

"YOU KILLED HER, YOU AREN'T A REAL IDOL."

"AND YOU NEVER WILL BE."

"No... I... I-I..."

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!

...

I-I...

I-I am...

I-I am... a...

I-I am... a real...

I am... a real idol...

...

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

I AM A REAL IDOL.

...

I͒.̡̱̬̝ͮ̊͞ Ą̷̵̩͕̫̣̦̰̹̣͍̠̥̲̋̈̽͌̅ͩͮͦ͛̋͘͜_̷̧̝̪̜́̀ͅM̵̧̰̻̰̺ͦ.̝̜̉̏ͭ̈ͤͦ͜͠ A̻̰̱͕̬̣ͭͨ̒ͬ.̵̶̵̶̷̴̡̥̬̭̻̹͓͇̦̥̗̪̣̖̖̺͖̿̂̈̔ͥ͛̄̀ͤ̌ͫ̃ͪ̉̅͆́͘͘͟͝͠͝ R̸̨̝͖͍̥̲͇͕̞̻̰͖̼̗̗ͮͯͣ͊ͤ͗́̀ͩͣ̀́ͯ̔ͤͤ͘E̶̸̪̦͈͕̺͕̪̭̯ͯ͑̾ͯ́ͮ͛̂ͩͪͦ̔̕A̷̡̨̟͇̗̲̭̦̜̪͔̺̫̘͕̹͕̟̦͉̰̗̘ͤ̅̔̍̀͊ͯͫ̓̿̐̀͗ͪͧ̊͑̋͘͜͢͠L. Ḯ̧͍̙̦̦̣͍̮̩̹̣͖̞̟̩ͧ̈́ͬͫ̓ͩ̎͗̉ͥͯ͆̈ͩͦ̈́͌ͬ̒̂ͨ̽ͥ̓̈́͒͆͜͜͡ͅD̖̙_̷̸̨̛͍̫̤̹̻̻̠̖͕̠͇͈̖͕̽ͧ̃̂̉̀́͑̇̇ͬͭ̈́͑̔́͘͘̕͜͝͝Ǫ̷̵̶̶̸̸̢̧͓͓̝̤̩̖͇̯̟̜̣̤̻͎̲̤̃̀̿̈́͐͐͐ͬͮ̄̀̅̾̍ͬ̿̚̚͟͝ͅL̸̷̢̨̖̹̹̰͔̟̝͎͎͔͇ͨ̇ͮ̇͊͊̒̽̀ͧ̿͂ͩ̍̋͛̏̀̚̚̚͢._̺̺͔̄͐ͤ̓̄ͯ̇̓̎̎

Chapter Text

Just when I thought this place was bad enough already, we're heading back into the castle of sickly sweets again with something planned for us. I don't like the sound of this.

However, Airi-chan wasn't slowing down, despite how sickly she looked. She was white as snow and her eyes looked pale.

I was still worried but I as a friend, I should put some faith in her for now.

"Everyone, ready?" Haruka pulled out her two knives. "We need to be prepared."

Saki jumps up and down. "I'm ready, I'm ready! My shovel's all set!" She sneaks over, glopping onto Aoyagi-kun. "Toyaaaaaaa-kuuuuuun!!!! You've been searching the bag for a weapon you like this whole time!!! Are you done yet~?"

"O-Oh, right!" He picks up something skinny, almost like a thin blade. "I-I found this while exploring and put in here to use for later, I just had trouble finding it under the other stuff."

Kohane narrows her eyes to get a closer look. "Wait, isn't that a violin bow?" She gasps. "You're using that?"

"Yes." Aoyagi nods. "It's very light but also sharp, it won't slow me down when using it."

"But, Toya. Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?" An voice softens. "I mean, you don't like classical music."

He sighs, looking at the bow. "Yes that's true... but I'm trying to put the past behind me."

My eyes widened. "Put the past... behind you?" A smile quickly cropped onto my face. "I wish to do that as well."

Minori jumped at me into a hug. "I'm sure you can, Shizuku! As long as we work together, I'm sure we can move forward and make more and more of a difference!" Minori's smile was a bright as the spring sunrise, she always managed to everyone up.

"Though it depends on whether someone deserves it." Ichika cut through the conversation. "After all, you lied to us, remember." She bluntly reminded me, though I didn't need it.

"Yeah, we can't just let you off without you proving yourself." An says, while tying the microphone around her waist. "You know what happens if you cross our line, right?"

I nodded. I understood. I made this agreement and promised that if I crossed it, they'd have every right to kill me. "Yes, that's right." I pinkie swore with her. "I-I won't let you down."

"You better." Was not the kinda of cold response I expected from An... Though I guess it just shows how serious all of them are about trusting me, I couldn't be more grateful for this second chance.

Saki tapped her fingers on the tree. "Alright, you guys done yet...? Let's go save Emu already!!!"

"Right." We all agreed and stepped forward across the bridge and through the castle gates. And the first thing we saw was... the original castle layout had been changed to an war zone with operated swing candy cane pendulums, Twix candies with poles attached to the bottom and gumdrops as platforms, pocky sticks as climbing bars and more.

"WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. THIS?!" Airi screamed.

"Ah...! Uhhh..." Kanade starts panting at the sight of it, she isn't very athletic... right? "I-I don't know if... I-I can do this...."

"Welcome, Welcome, to our esteemed obstacle course, ahahahaha!" Said by the same shrill voice from the trumpets again. "We call this first level Sugar-High Scrimmage Scramble. Are you ready to hear the first half's sugary sweet rules?"

"Uh-"

"Well too bad, you're gonna do this anyway!" She once again cut us off. "You will be paired into teams and teleported to different starting points in the castle and everyone will follow a guided trail a matching color, that will be decided shortly, through their share of the sugar rushed course to reach the crown at the top. Be on the look out for secret passageways that can help you out-speed your way to the top, while also watching out for deceiv-I mean, delightful desserts around you that my associates have hid. I hope your excited with sugarcoated spectacle of despair waiting just for you!"

I shivered, 'sugarcoated spectacle of despair' Great, I thought, I had enough of that from Mikuma and now this... I did not want to be in the clutches of her or anyone like that again, AT ALL.

"She clapped her hands. "Now pick your tickets from the chocolate hat, unwrapping them will reveal who's your partner, trail color and team color for you accessories. After that, you'll be taken to your starting points where a present awaits you, then the game will officially commence! She ordered, with the chocolate box falling down from the ceiling, landing onto me and sliding off my head onto the ground. "Now don't dawdle. That is, if you wanna keep poor Emu waiting, Wahahaha!"

She then cut off, leaving us all dumbfounded in our predicament.

But not having any other choice, we one by one took the cards wrapped in golden paper with the words "golden ticket" on it, slowly unwrapping them.

"I got yellow with a heart shape on it...?" I said out loud.

Kanade rubbed the back of her head. "Huh, I got red with a spade..."

"I got red too!" Saki hugged Kanade. "I'm glad we get to work together, Kana-san!"

"O-Oh...! I got red as well..." Kohane twiddled her thumbs with a small blush at Kanade. "That means we're teammates, right?"

She hides her face, blushing slightly as well. "Yes... that's right. I'm not sure how well I will be able to do this but I'll try to help as much as I can."

She puts her hands to her chest. "I understand, I'm not very good at this either. In fact, I-I'm really nervous..."

Saki ropes both of them into a group hug. "Don't worry so much, you guys! Let's just try our best, ok?"

"Ok..." Kanade smiles. "I'll try.."

"Y-Yes...." Kohane clenches her fist. "I-I won't be afraid...!"

"I have green." Haruka announces next. "Anyone else have green-"

"WAAHHHH?!!!!" Someone squeals and rushes Haruka into a hug. "We're on the same team, Haruka-chan?!!! YAY!!!!!!"

"Oh, Minori..." Haruka chuckles. "I'm glad, but don't do that again. I was startled and worried when you stumbled, you could have tripped and got hurt."

"R-Right...!!!" Minori bowed deeply. "I-I'm so sorry, H-Haruka-chan!!!"

While those two were getting all flustered, I went over and tapped Aoyagi-kun's shoulder. "Aoyagi-kun?"

"Ah!" He stepped back a bit startled. "Yes, Hinomori-san?"

"What card did you get?" I asked him and turned over my card. "I got yellow."

"Oh, I got paired with Hoshino and Shiraishi." He pointed behind him to Ichika who waved slowly at me and An who was leaning on the wall. "We both have blue with a diamond on them."

"I see... Maybe I'm on a team by mysel-wait...!" I quickly realized. "Everyone else has a teammate besides me and-"

Her voice then called out to me.

...

"Shizuku, you have yellow too, don't you?"

...

"I do!" I clapped my hands together. "We get to be on a team together, Airi!!! I'm so happy!"

But quickly recapping everything in my head...

The Jack of Spades was Kanade, Saki and Kohane, The King of Diamonds was Toya, Ichika, and An, The Queen of Clubs was Minori and Haruka, and The Ace of Hearts was me and Airi.

It's strange and the queen knows what cards somehow suit us... but it's also sweet, heartwarming even...

Wait, what am I saying?! This kingdom and its ruler are just plain creepy and crazy like Mikuma. This isn't cute at all...!

Then the trumpets sounded off, with static voices proclaiming "Here we go, fools!" A raspy laugh echoes through the whole room. "Are you ready?"

"A-Ah...!?" I looked at my body disappearing. "W-Wha..!"

"You better be!" She warned. "Let The Games Begin!"

And then we all disappeared into sparkles, separated from each other again.

Me and Airi were somewhere in surrounded by lollipops, probably the farthest away from the crown. On a pedestal before them were two cream colored bunny masks with pink hearts stained into its design and the course laid out for them. I felt my heartbeat counting down the time.

...

"Airi...?"

"Shizuku..."

...

"Can we really do this..?" She breathed out. "I'm not afraid, but I suddenly feel slightly worried..."

I stared at her. "Huh?"

[FLASHBACK]

"B-But Airi! We already know that you're different from your persona!" I said that day, Which was true... Airi was always a genuine person, she never meant to be a person who just retaliates with a quip, even if she does laugh things off in stride, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Airi is just a strong person. Stronger than I could ever be.

"You already know that none of us see you as that." Ena echoed what I wanted to say, though, I was a coward and couldn't. I could never help her when she needed it most.

"You guys know that. I've read messages online on our channel, even though I knew I shouldn't. I knew what people said about me. It got too much.. You know, it sucks being told you're not meant to do what you dream of doing. I know a lot of us can relate to that. I just cracked before the rest of us."

At that moment, a part of me wished I could mercy kill her right then and there. Save her from her fate and take it instead.

I mean, I was the traitor anyway.

If I killed her and told everyone who I really was, they'd get mad at me. Not her.

But as usual...

"You were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the rest of us would do anything for, but you don't seem to care whatsoever about capitalizing on it."

I can never capitalize on what I want to do, what I should do.

"Ahaha... Arisa. You were always full of beauty and wisdom, huh? Such a shame, I could never learn from you." I chuckled, even though it was a hoarse one.

Airi's words rang in my head after she died... She was so strong and even then-

"Airi, you really could have come to us." I wanted to say, Mizuki beat me to it.

And I had expected for Airi to just straight up apologize... except she said something much worse.

"I know.. but, depending on others isn't my thing.."

And when she said that, even when she wasn't looking at me. I felt like it was directed at me.

I was the only member she had left, and even she couldn't trust me...

It really hurt. Only hurting more by the fact,

She was right.

And, It's-

It's all my fault.

[FLASHBACK END]

This is why I had to redeem myself to Airi now and everyone now. I had to cheer them up, comfort them, lend my ear to them...

Have them depend on me.

I put my mask on, pushing hers toward her. "I understand. I have been a bad friend, so that's why you don't trust me yet... That's why, I don't want you to tell me everything right now!" I told her, resting my hands atop her shoulders. "But I hope that if you ever feel like you're suffocating to breathe, that you can confide in me. As you have always done for me, I want to be able to help you. So," I patted her shoulders with my fingertips, full of regret and sorrow, managing to smile at the strongest person I've ever known. " Talk whenever you deem fit, as I will wait to listen to every word." I choked up. "Please?"

She stared at me for a few seconds before a small smile replaced her surprise. It was the first time in a long time that she smiled at me like that.

"I-I..." She started to say, I grimaced, thinking she would say I'm fine. But then she surprised me.

...

"Okay."

...

She was complacent. For once, without her usual brashness or gusto of things like 'Stop being chummy with me', she actually agreed....

For once during this entire day I felt relieved. Or maybe it's night...? Who knows? I honestly could care less right now with how happy I felt at that moment.

I smiled. "T-Thank you...!" I gave her a hug. She seemed to flinch but I think I just hugged her too fast.

"I can't believe we are doing this." Airi whispered.

"Me neither, but..." I pressed my hand on her heart. "We only have one goal in mind, saving Emu. So we have to do this..."

"Oh yeah, that's right." She blinked and blushed. "Thanks, Shizuku."

"Mhmm, no problem. Here's your mask, by the way." I placed it in her hands. "I'm ready when you are, teammate!"

I saw her hands shake, she slowly put on her mask breathing deeply before taking my hand. "R-Ready..."

---

I was shaking when I saw that mask. Why out of all the things I could be wearing, it had to be a stupid bunny mask? Could I ever escape it?!

That stupid mask was the whole reason for my pain, for my death.

Of course, I still slipped it over my face. After all, that's the rules here...

And as much as I hated to admit it, this kinda obstacle course was similar to my variety shows...

If I could help Shizuku in that way at least, I wouldn't be totally useless.

"YOU WERE ALWAYS USELESS, A LAUGHING STOCK."

I felt the pain in my neck again and sweat dripping down my face, I wanted to rest.

But I can't... I need to save her, I have to redeem myself and be better than Shizuku to prove I'm a real idol.

Telling her the truth would just force her to do all the work, making me look like a weak coward. Idols aren't weak cowards.

Once we had our accessories on, the screen in front of our base gate display turned on.

"ALL PLAYERS CONNECTED, PRESS ONWARD ON THE TRAIL AND BEWARE THE TRICKS TO PROCEED. THE GAME STARTS IN... 3, 2, 1, GO!!!!" It sounded off along with an obnoxious horn blare, officially starting the game.

Shizuku and I sprinted off forward past some cupcakes and large gummy before ducking behind some large lollipops to have time to scan the area.

"This place gives me the creeps. I more than ready to be done with this place." Shizuku held her bow in her shaking hands while her quiver slings to her slide. I wondered what she was thinking right now...

"Yea, I do agree. In places like these, you never know what's real shit and what isn't real shit." I clutched my stolen sword in my head and wiped my sweat away. "But umm, we should focus on progressing right now."

She blinked and nodded. "Right, hmm... Let's see." She tapped her chin. "We're supposed to get to Emu by making our way through some trick waiting for us, correct?"

"Yeah, but the where that is question we need to know-woah!" I tripped and fell into the lake nearby, I shivered and quickly jumped out of it. "God-oh god! Ah!! Cold!" I rubbed my legs that had grown goosebumps on my skin, that water was freezing...!

I heard a snort as soon as looked up, her hand was covered over her mouth, averting her eyes. "Are you makin fun of me?!"

"No! I-" She grimaced and covered her mouth again. "I-I guess I-I... I felt a little nostalgic just then... a-aha...!"

I shook my head and brushed off my pants dripping with water. "Alright, Alright, sure. Laugh it up, Shizu..."

She blushed. "Shizu...?"

"Eh, just came to me. I heard nobody has ever gave you a nickname before... I thought it matched how kind and sweet you are." I smiled at her.

"Really?" She gasped.

"Y-Yes...!" I covered up my hot cheeks with the palms of my hands. "J-Just don't tell anyone else about this, got it!"

"Hehe! Ok, Airi-chan!" She chuckled, and I was starting to regret my choices.

Shizuku tapped her cheek. "Anyways, Do you have any ideas of where we should making a heading to now?"

"Hmm... Let's follow this water trail, there probably a secret shortcut if we follow it."

Her eyebrows raised. "Are you sure?"

"Nope." I shook my head. "But, I don't got any better idea, so I'm winging' it!" Grabbing her hand and dragging her along.

We sorta left it at that and began pushing past all the lollipops around us to follow the trail. I had Shizuku be my eyes while I pushed every single lollipop out of our faces so we could move forward. Once we cleared through most of them, I saw underground lake inside a tunnel with a boat tied to a lollipop stick nearby.

"Seems like we have a heading...?" Shizuku smiles holding her hand out to shake.

My hand slightly hesitates, but I guess if I do it, I won't worry her. "Yup, It's time to set sail!" I shake his hand and help pull Shizuku into the similarly looking boat to the one we did in our training camp.

I wonder what will await everyone?

Time will only tell, I guess...

Chapter Text

The cave was pretty dark... as most caves are, with the sound of drips echoing through it. It was also pretty chilly that I felt subtle chills down my spine....

We seemed to be rowing for quite a while through, it didn't seem like their was an exit tunnel.

Then again, as much as I wanted Shizuku to turn us around, I couldn't see where the entrance tunnel was anymore due to all the shadows surrounding me.

I tapped Shizuku's shoulder. "Have you seen the exit yet?"

She shook her head. "No, not yet, Airi-chan. But we should find something eventually. We'll find Emu and everything will be okay, right?"

I nodded slowly, rubbing my body to remove the goosebumps on my arms. "Y-Yeah... I'm sure everything will be fine-"

I choke again, feeling a couch go down my throat. I felt my legs wobble and quickly grabbed the side of the boat. I flashed her my most charismatic smile even through I couldn't really meet her eyes due to my stomach cramping.

"Airi...!" She gasped and rushed to my side. "Maybe we should switch steering positions?"

"No, It's alright..." I try to stand up. "Let's just keep moving-Auk!"

I groaned, leaning over towards the side of the boat and clutching my stomach and coughing.

"AIRI?!!!" She grabbed my hand. "Your skin is getting all inflamed red and a bit green. I knew you were sick but... what's happening to you?!"

I blinked and turned around towards Shizuku but she wasn't there. Instead, there was a large monster growing in front of me.

"Airi, you received another request for a variety show appearance. Filming is next Saturday."

I stumbled. "No... I don't want to-"

"Yes, but the other members should be fine without you. We'll announce the change on our website."

"Stop..." I covered my ears. "I said I don't wanna-"

I felt the creature reach out to me, I needed to get away...!!! Why is it getting closer?!!!

"This will help get you more recognition, which will in turn increase the profile of the entire group. People who'd never heard of you before will start coming to your shows."

"Shut up... Please..." I clenched my teeth. "I don't wanna relive this..." I grabbed at my ears hard, trying to rip them off. "Leave me alone already...!!!"

"Hey, isn't that Airi over there! Look! It's Airi Momoi!"

I swiped at the creature, trying to get them to go away. "Will you cut it out already?! You already had your fun, so just give it a rest!!!!!"

"Airi, as in the one who's always on those variety shows on tv?"

"Yeah! She used to be an idol, right? I don't really remember her from outside all the shows, though."

"Oh, right. Well, you've been doing so well that we'd like to start pushing you more as variety show talent. To be honest, you just don't stand out enough as an idol. We've decided to phase you out of that line of work."

"I always loved seeing you on your seven-o-clock show, The Wonderful World of Laughs!"

"My favorite part was when you dressed up as The Masked Variety Idol, Happy Everyday."

"The way you fought against really strong people and fell into all those mud traps was the best! I can't believe I get to meet the real Happy Everyday!"

"Airi, check it out! You got invited onto another variety show."

"This is your chance to take the center stage and really up QT's name recognition! We're counting on you!"

I could feel my cheeks getting hot. "No...! It wasn't for QT!!!! You just wanted me to make a fool of myself for your enjoyment!!!"

Hm? They're doing a shoot in a place like this? Hold on...! Isn't that Happy Everyday? Are they on break or something? Maybe she'll talk to us!"

"Huh? Do you like Happy Everyday that much?"

"No, not really. But it's not every day that you get to meet celebrities, right ♪ Still, it's amazing how she does all her own stunts. I'd probably be too scared or embarrassed if I were in her shows."

"Pipe down, will you... She'll hear us..."

"What? She wouldn't mind, right? I mean, everybody makes fun of her already. At this point, that's kind of her job, isn't it? She'd have nothing to do if nobody was there to push her buttons."

"Just shut up already..." I glared. "Just-"

"I've been seeing you on TV a lot lately! I couldn't stop laughing that time you did ten bungee jumps in a row!"

"Airi, Happy Everyday's been such a huge hit! All the boys in my class have been copying you!"

"That gag you did on that one show was hilarious! Hey, can you try doing it right now?!"

"Stop... I'm tired." I groaned. "That was the past already... I'm in a group again and I'm a real idol now-"

"Yu Yu, long time no see!"

"The mini-event you did the other day was so good! Your solo during your new song was amazing!"

"Every time I see you perform, Yu Yu, I'm filled with so much hope! It's like I know tomorrow's going to be a wonderful day! Thank you for everything!"

I clawed my hands... I slowly stepped forward at the creature, closing my eyes.

"I SAID."

I coiled my arm in motion...

"SHUT."

And I let everything explode.

"UP!!!!!!!!!!"

*SWISH, BAM*

I swung the punch and I heard it connect, hitting the monster square in the face.

Except when I recoiled my hand back while opening my eyes. I saw it-

Well, more like heard it and saw it.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*SPLASH*

*Plop Plop*

I hit her in the face, right at Shizuku's nose, falling backwards and landed in the water.

" No...! I-I....!!! Shizuku...!" I ran over to the water and looked over the edge.

It was still quiet... Shizuku didn't resurface.

Instead, a sickling crimson red spread throughout the water, infecting everything.

The only thing I could see in my reflection was me. Still wearing that retched bunny mask.

And once again, with the pan of my past, I hurt her again.

"My god, what have I done?" I clutched my hand, that had blood on it. "I hit her..."

"YOU'RE SUCH A FAILURE, WHAT KIND OF SUPER IDOL HURTS SOMEONE."

"YOU'RE NOT A REAL IDOL."

"YOU DON'T DESERVE IT, YOU NEVER DID."

"THOSE BULLIES WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT YOU."

I sighed, holding my chest and steadying my breathing...

The voice is right in some things but I can't let it get to my head.

Otherwise, I really won't be able to save her.

"You're right... I'm a horrible idol, I don't deserve to be one."

"THEN GIVE UP WHILE YOUR AHEAD. DIE SOONER NOW, AND YOU WON'T CAUSE SHIZUKU, EMU, OR ANYONE ELSE PAIN ANYMORE."

"I could give up..."

"YES."

"I could succumb to these nerves..."

"But..."

[FLASHBACK]

Th-Thank you for coming today, Happy Everyday! My mom and dad always have to work really late, so I'm usually all alone at home most nights..." She wiped her eyes. "But whenever I see you on TV, Happy Everyday, I forget all about feeling lonely. Even when I do feel that way, I can cheer myself up just by thinking about you!"

"Heh heh heh! The Masked Variety Idol will always be there to help those who try their very best!" I patted her head. "Whenever you feel down and out, come and see me! I'll help cheer you up and see how wonderful tomorrow is going to be!"

A big smile grew on her face that day.

"Okay! Thanks, Happy Everyday!" She wrapped me in a hug. "Oh, also..."

"Hm? Yes?" I asked her.

Then, the best words I've ever heard came rushing out.

"I really like you as an idol too! You're the best, Airi!"

[FLASHBACK END]

"In real life, I-I know there are people out there who care... Like her, Minori, Haruka, S-Shizuku... And Emu." I stepped over the edge and jumped in. "So, I... I have keep moving forward....!"

I pushed off and dived into the murky red depths, searching for any signs of Shizuku.

Come on... Come on...! Where is she...

Where is she?! I-I have to..! I have to...! I have to reach her in time...!

Wait...!

Something was lying on the seabed, I could see a leg...

Then a hand, and a face.

I-It was Shizuku...!!!

I swam as fast as I could and stood behind her. I put one arm tucked under her armpit and across her chest, using my other arm to support her back. Then carefully, I swam back to the surface as quickly as I could without rushing, placing her back on the boat once I got onto the surface before climbing back on.

"S-Shizuku...! Shizuku!!" I yelled as loud as could in hopes of waking her while gently shaking her. "P-Please, wake up...!!!"

"Uhh..." She groaned and slowly sat up. "What happened?"

"S-Shizuku...!" I wrapped my arms around her. "Y-You're okay!"

"I... think so..?" She rubbed her head. "Are you okay... Airi?"

I sighed. "N-No... I'm not okay. I've been a mask for quiet a while now."

"Airi..." Her face told me that she understood, scooting to my side and placing her hand on mine. "Do you want to talk about it now?"

I laughed, covering my mouth. "Heh, honestly, not really. But I need to let this off my chest before it destroys me from the inside out... It kinda already has."

She smiles, peering into my eyes, almost full of tears. "That's... That's very brave, Airi-chan. I'm proud of you."

I started to bawl, with Shizuku holding me in her arms. "I'm just really afraid... What if she doesn't forgive me? Minori already knows but I forced her to lie to Haruka... Haruka must be ashamed of me... I thought you were the same."

"Airi-chan, I could never be ashamed of you." She whispered in my ear. "I have done so much wrong and lied all that time. I didn't know what to do with myself for so long..." She sighed. "The threats from Mikuma, the pain of watching them all die and be complacent about it, watching you die... h-having to kill myself."

"Wait." I stared back at her, with dry tears still on my face. "You did what...?"

She stepped back and looked back into my eyes, that were now starting to well up as well. "I... killed myself." She rubbed her eyes. "Mikuma revealed who I was to everyone else after I chose to quit from watching you die. Everyone was... understandably mad but, I thought everyone but my sister wanted to kill me. So to bring back peace among everyone, I killed myself to stop the murders. I could die without anyone else being hurt."

"Shizuku..." I shook my head. "You shouldn't have done that."

"But why...?" She crossed her arms, fighting back more tears. "E-Everyone would be happier... r-right?"

"I wouldn't." I said. "Neither would Haruka, Minori, or anyone else." I sighed. "Shiho, while not showing it, cares about you too."

"Really?"

"Really."

She rushed up and hugged me again. I had to hold on quickly or she would have tipped the boat. "Thank you so much, Airi-chan! For always being so kind to me."

"No, thank you." I smiled. "For encouraging me and supporting me when I needed it."

"Hehe, then I'll continue to do so." She smiled back. "We'll get through this together like we always have."

"..."

"Yeah!"

*RUMBLE*

"Huh?" Shizuku eyes darted around the cave.

"What is that-oh!" I gasped.

We both broke from our hug a bright daylight shined through the cave and the raging current dissipated. It seems the exit finally revealed itself.

"Looks like we found our way out." I slowly stood up and stepped off the boat. The water was only up to by ankles now.

"Indeed!" She regained her quiver and bow, standing up as well. "Umm, can you help me out of the boat, Airi? After that fall earlier, I'm unsure if I twisted my foot..."

I chuckled. "Sure. I hit you anyway, so I owe you one." Walking back over to her and lifting her out of the boat in a temporary bridal carry before setting her down.

"Thanks!" She stood up afterwards, a smirk of confidence I don't think I've ever seen her have appearing. "It's time we made these people pay for trapping us here. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah." I grabbed my axe from my pocket and grinned. "Let's end this. Once and for all."

Chapter Text

It was horribly frigid where me, Toya, and Ichika-chan ended up.

But, I guess that would make sense. In this snow village with the only things around being cupcake huts and gigantic ice creams, being not cold would not be appropriate.

Though this wasn't a typical chilly... oh no. It was full on blizzardy! Like, pure, barely able make out any lifeforms kind of white.

My hands looked white and were shivering so bad I thought they might fall off! I don't think Ichika-chan or Toya were taking it any better than I was... Ichika-chan was huffing out cold breaths while rubbing the ice off her nose while Aoyagi was covering his face with his hand to block the harsh wind and snow against us... and even through he was the one ahead compared to the rest of us, I could tell by his grunts and messier footwork that even he was struggling to stay composed.

"M-Man, how much f-farther til we get out of this s-section...?!" I groaned. "If we don't make it to s-somewhere warm soon, I s-swear I might become a popsicle!!!"

"I can't s-see anything at all." Ichika huffed again. "I don't know... h-how much f-farther we can go like t-this..."

Toya nodded. "Yeah... M-My palms are starting to shake too-huh?"

We ended up bumping into him when he suddenly stopped. I looked over his shoulder and tapped him.

"E-Eh?" He turned around. "Is s-something wrong...?"

"You s-stopped so suddenly, Toya. Did you s-see s-something important?" I asked him.

"Oh! Right..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought... I-I saw a cave somewhere..."

"A-A cave?" Ichika gasps.

I looked around at the white world around us, trying to spot it. "Where did you s-see it, T-Toya?"

"O-Over there..." Toya pointed to a black blob, sorta hidden by the blizzard still hurling at us. "I-I'll lead the w-way."

We followed Toya through the blizzard, eventually finding shelter inside a cave of a snowy mountain. I felt instantly warmer as soon as I stepped inside.

"Finally!" I shook out my arms that were still a bit shaky. "No. More. Cold. Yes!"

Toya stretched and sighed. "Ah... I finally feel the warmth of my senses coming back into my joints. That feels good..."

"Y-Yeah, whew." Ichika brushed off her pants that still had snow on them before smiling at Toya. "Thank you for saving our lives out there, A-Aoyagi-kun."

"It's not really worth thanking for... since I just happened to be lucky. But, I'm glad I could help." Toya smiled back, blushing.

We stepped inside the cave and the first thing we saw were various knights trapped in stringing cocoons, all of which looked paralyzed but were only faintly twitching. They looked like they were trying get our attention... I could only faintly hear what they were saying.

"DO NOT COME..."

"THERE BE A BEAST HERE."

"GO WHILE YOU CAN!"

"SHE IS NEAR. YOU MUSN'T STAY!"

My arms stiffened, the more we walked in and scanned the area, the more it resembled slowly transformed into something of a ice temple.

"Whoa...!" Ichika cupped her hands over her mouth. "Are those giant cymbals made out of ice?!"

I walked over to inspect it. "Nah, this is sugar glass." I shook my head. "I've used it sometimes to make decorations for our Christmas menus."

Toya came up and touched it too, tapping his chin afterwards to himself while staring back at me and the cymbal. Maybe, he's taking a mental note...

"Do you guys have any idea what this means?" I asked.

Ichika stepped away. "No, but let's look around, we feel like might find something here."

Getting off his knees, Toya smiled "I agree, familiarizing ourselves here will better help us toward an exit than standing around. That voice even said secrets were scattered on our trail, so we should scout them out."

I shrugged and crossed my arms. "I honestly don't trust anything that stupid voice says. But if wanna do it, I'll try too, I suppose."

With that, we searched around some more, only to find more scattered limbs and large graphic statues of people screaming in terror upon being tied up, just mouthing for us to run for our lives.

I didn't want to give up though, there had to be something here. This whole creepy vibe couldn't just be all a fib, right? Right?

After an hour of searching, I collapsed on the ground defeated. I was getting impatient with this game now. I really just wanna be done and get home to dad as soon as possible.

"COME ON?!!! SHOW US THE SECRET EXIT ALREADY!!! WHERE IS IT?!!!" I screamed and ran up to a statue to punched it with all my might before pulling my arm back. "O-Ouch...!" I flinched, rubbing the newly made bruise on my wrist. M-Maybe I shouldn't have done that.

Toya sat on the floor too. "Yeah, we have been searching for quite a while." He ran his hands through his hair. "My feet are starting to get sore again."

"Like seriously... What on earth did that lady mean by secrets here?!" I added. "All we've been seeing is STATUE AFTER STATUE AND HALLWAY AFTER HALLWAY!!!"

"Wait..." Ichika blinked and faced me. "Can you say that last part again, Shiraishi-san?"

"Uh... That all we have been seeing is statue after statue and hallway after hallway?" I scratched my neck. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"I would also like some explanation, Hoshino-san." Toya said.

"Hmm, Because..." She smirked. "I think we have a heading."

"How so?" I ask.

"I've noticed that no matter where we walk, we ended up in the same exact room." She tapped her chin. "As such, I got curious if there was anything off putting..." She put her hands on her hips, tapping the floor. "And until you mentioned the stringed statues, I didn't realize how the statues had labels with shapes on them. They must mean something..."

"Then, what do the statues mean?!" Toya leaped forward, like a dog begging for his treat.

"W-Woah! Hold your horses, O-Ok...!" She mutters while backing away from him. "That's what I'm trying to figure out here but I still haven't found it yet-"

I walks up and lays down near the statues. "Hey, are these pits connected to each statue too, Ichika-chan? They look kinda funny."

Ichika and Toya looked again with me, checking the piece of paper attached to the webbed person and the symbol etched on the floor. The two of them spilt up to check the other statues while I stayed behind.

"What do they say?!" I yelled out to them.

Ichika turned back to me and called back. "They're definitely connected!!! We might just have to move them off these pedestals to get the floor to open!!!" She pointed to the statue. "Can you move them on your own or do you want me to help you?!!!"

"Nah, I got it covered on my end!!!" I scoffed. "You two just handle yours, ok!!!"

"Alright then, good luck!" Ichika saluted and faced Toya. "You ready, Aoyagi-kun?"

"Of course, let's do this." Toya saluted with a smile. "Or... If I were to channel Tsukasa-senpai right now, He would say..." He took in a deep breath while lifting the statue. "LET'S. GET. MOVING!!!!

“Haha… yeah.” I muttered. “You sound just like him too.”

He whips his head. “Did I?”

“You sure did.” I chuckled. “Did the future Star give you tips on that? Orrrrrrrrrr….. did you think you could steal his title?”

“H-Huh?!” Toya gasps..

“Man, poor Tsukasa-senpai…” I shake my head. “His own brother in arms, stealing his spotlight…”

“W-Wha…!” He stumbles and drops the statue, waving his shaking hands. “N-No…!!! I would never do such a thing to Tsukasa-senpai…!!! He’s always been so considerate to me that I could never do something so disrespectful-“

“Oh yeah, right!” I tapped my head and stuck my tongue. “Sorry about that, I was just messing with ya!”

“S-SHIRAISHI!!!!! DON’T DO THAT AGAIN OR I’LL HAVE TO WATCH YOU MORE CLOSELY LIKE WITH AKITO!!!!!!” Toya clenched his fist. “You are lucky that we are currently in such an emergency… Because, I otherwise, would do much worse than just a warning…” He glared.

Sweat ran down my cheeks. “R-Right…!!!! Haha! H-Haha…! It was just a joke, I promise...!" Stepping away from him. "I better get going then! See ya later, T-Toya-kun!” Quickly, running back to what I was doing, I still feeling Toya’s cold stare against my back.

We slowly pushed all the statues off of the platforms and a large spiraling staircase appeared, we slowly talked towards the stairs and taking one step on it, we slipped and-

"WOAH!!!"

"EEEP!!!"

"EHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

I fell down and down and down, landing into some cavern. There wasn't any light anywhere and I couldn't see my friends. The walls were kind sticky too.

"Ichika, Toya, are you guys here?" I whispered. Are you stuck in some.. sticky thing...?!” I tried calling out. “Say something...!"

"Shirashi, we’re up here!

"WE NEED TO RUN, SHIRAISHI-SAN!!!

They took my hand and started booking it down the hall, I barely had a chance to stop to look behind me. All I could see in the faint darkness was a blue glowing light following us, that didn’t look like it was stopping at all.

“What?! What’s going on?!” I try to ask them but they don’t respond and kept running faster. “G-Guys?!

I try to catch it up, but sometimes grabbed my foot, causing me to trip.

I trying to get back up, I turn around and see eyes. And it wasn't just one set, it was about 15 or 20 sets of eyes.

All while hearing sounds of horrible, echoed, screeching.

Meanwhile...

"So this is the gingerbread side of this whole candy castle." I sighed. "There's soo much of it."

"Sure is." Kohane agreed. "I bet Emu could eat tons of this and not get sick at all."

Saki laughs. “I wouldn’t disagree with Emu though, I’m practically starving!”

Kohane covers her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Aren’t you exaggerating?”

She shakes her head. “No no! I’m really hungry, Kohane-chan! The last fruit snack we had was a few hours ago, I haven’t had anything since then, I neeeeeed sugar!!!” She stops her foot and rubs her stomach vigorously.

I slouch forward and rub my baggy eyes. “Well, it’s not like we can eat these gingerbread buildings, right?”

I mutter this but look around and am met with silence and Kohane staring at me blankly.

I pointed at her. “K-Kohane, you didn’t eat anything, right?”

“N-No, I didn’t…!” She denied. “But-“

She stopped abruptly as I heard the sound of faint chewing floating in the air. I look at Kohane who still shakes her head and waves her arms around that it isn’t her and Saki had left us.

Saki had left us…

“Oh great..” Me and Kohane face palmed together. “She ran off again…” We say at the same, groaning and chuckling inside.

Kohane holds her hands out to me and takes them into her hand. “C’mon, we better find her before she gets lost.”

I nodded. “Right, let’s go find her…”

We walked around the gingerbread village houses inside the castle, looking for Saki, only to find her nibbling the base of a large gingerbread clock in the center of the village.

Everything in this world is unlike ours and in our sekai that it puts me on edge. All the disgusting statues in that carnival, the dead-rotting bodies of the mansion, and now this! Don’t even get me started on the mysteriously creepy flash drives those monsters have been holding onto that have been stashing away in secret either… It’s all so unsettling.

Kohane runs up to her and tugs her away from the clock. “Saki, what are you doing?! It’s not safe to eat anything here, remember!”

She pulls her hand back from Kohane’s grip. “Reeeelaaax, I’m fine! You guys all such worry-rats! She stops eating, faces away from the clock towards us and points to parts of her skin. “See! No breakouts on skin or any abominations anywhere!”

“I still don’t think you should do that…” Kohane scuffs her foot on the ground. “They could be secretly poisonous and they just maybe haven’t warmed up to your body yet.”

Saki rolls her eyes. “Oh c’mon! I eat a lot of candies, I know that what a good sweet is!” She snaps a piece of a basket nearby the clock tower and holds it out towards me. “Here! You try one, Kana-chan!”

I observe it my hand, attempting to hand it back. “I don’t know, Saki. I’m not really big on sweets-Mffph!”

“Oh, just try one…!” Saki winks after shoving the piece of chocolate cracker into my mouth. “You’ll like it, I promise!”

I, seeing pretty much no other choice, bite down on the cracker and swallow it. And I have to admit, it was pretty tasty. It tasted like a chocolate rice cracker that wasn’t too sweet.

“Mhmm… it’s good…” I licked my lips. “I don’t usually enjoy sweets but this is pretty tasty.”

“See, Kohane-chan!” Saki pats my back. “Even Kana-chan is fine!” She gestures to Kohane. “There’s nothing to be afraid of here!”

Kohane tries to argue but bringing attention back to the Queen’s words, but is quickly swatted away by Saki playfully.

“She was probably just toying with us, Kohane-chan.” Saki laughs and winks at her. “Everything will be okay. Just trust me, Koha-chan!”

Kohane raises and eyebrow. “Koha-chan?”

“Yea, it’s a new nickname I came up with because we’re friends!” She smiles. “It’s also because I know I can trust you as well.” She holds her hand out to her. “Do you trust me…?”

Kohane stutters. “O-Of course I trust you…!” She takes her hands and I can see them trembling. “I just… feel uneasy about everything here. It all feels wrong, and that, scares me…” She starts crying. “I don’t want to die again…! I don’t want to die alone… I don’t want anyone to die.”

“I know, I’m scared of that too.” She chuckles dryly. “And I’m guessing running off didn’t do any favors for your fears either, huh?”

*sniff* “N-No, it… d-didn’t…” She blubbered as rubbed her nose. “I-I was really s-scared…”

“Right, my bad.” She takes her hands and places them to her chest, patting them.“Well, from now on, I promise to protect you.

“R-Really?” She mumbles.

“Yup, no matter what danger, me and Kana will protect you along with everyone else here!” She wrapped Kohane in a hug. “So don’t need to worry anymore, everything will be fine. Just try to enjoy yourself when you can, okay?”

She takes a deep breath and takes a piece from the clock. “Okay… I’ll try to be brave.” She takes off her glasses to wipe her tears before putting them back on. Thank you, Saki-chan. I feel a lot better now…”

“Anytime, Kohane!” Saki exclaimed, quickly going back to her cheery self. “Now let’s have some fun and dig in!”

“…Yeah…!” Kohane smiled for the first time in a while. “Let’s enjoy ourselves for now, Yoisaki-san…!”

“Mhmm, I don’t think I can eat as much as you both, but I’ll try since you too are up to it.” A smile also peered onto my face. You really can’t not smile when Tenma-san is around. She’s like Hanasato, as bright as the sun…

And before long we got sucked in, slowly eating everything.

I don’t remember how long it was til I passed out from exhaustion, though I bet it was a while.

I was just too tired to move or speak now.

I wonder why?

Maybe I’ll just forget about that for now…

And, shut my eyes.

Chapter Text

Minori and I ended up in a nighttime party cityscape made of chocolates of all kinds. The cars sitting around were made of chocolate, the satellite towers were made of chocolate, and even the air smelled like chocolate! It was also a very spacious land, looking wide enough that we might as well have been shrunk down to the size of small figurines places on a set.

As we took a look around, I felt like I had been here before but I just couldn’t recall it. The streets, the nearby mall, and the underground tunnel system… all felt familiar.

But before I said anything, Minori seemed to beat me to it as her eyes sparkled in the night, like she had reunited with a friend she hadn’t seen in 1,000 years.

“Haruka, I don’t believe it!” She shook me excitedly. “This… It’s Scramble Crossing…!”

“No way…” I gasped. “It’s really Scramble Crossing…?”

“Yeah!” She pointed to various places. “That’s the dinner I used to work at, the arcade over there, and in the center was the place I was on stage with ASRUN and everyone was calling me Haruka and smiling at me like I was the greatest idol ever!” She paused and the glimmer faded from her gaze. “L-Like the greatest…idol… ever.”

“Minori?” I ran to her side, placing my hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay? W-What’s wrong…?”

She stepped away and blushed at my touch. “O-Oh..! I-I..” She tugged her hands at the end of her dress. “I-I’m sorry, Haruka-chan.”

I leaned to the side and raised my eyebrow. “Sorry for what?”

“I’m sorry…” She took another deep breath and tugged on her chest. “I never told you everything I saw on that day…”

I tapped my chin. “That day? What do you mean by that-oh.”

My shoulders dropped as I realized what she meant by that day. I quietly sat down in the ground beside her, motioning her to sit beside me, which she did.. laying her head on my shoulder.

“You mean.. when, you wished to become me?” I asked to confirm my suspicions.

She nodded. “Mhmm, that’s right…”

I slowly reach for her hand that she had around her knees, holding it close to me. “What did you not tell me?” I ask, grasping it softly but firmly. “Please tell me anything you feel comfortable with telling. I promise I won’t pry unless you wish for me to…”

“Haruka-chan…” She mutters before looking away from my gaze. “Well, if you don’t mind listening…”

She paused and took more deep breaths before she scooted closer to me. I didn’t say anything and watched her attentively so she knew I was listening.

“Ok, so you some of the things I told you already.” She starts off. “I was on stage as you and at first I didn’t understand what was going on, which caused me to run away from the stage.”

I nodded. “Yeah, you mentioned that.”

“Uh huh, so I also told you about how I ended up at a cemetery in my neighborhood, right? Seeing my tombstone…?” She asked me.

“You saw… You saw your tombstone?!” My heartbeat quickened and horror written all over my face. “You didn’t tell me that at all…!”

“Yeah well, I saw my tombstone and was kinda paralyzed in fear.” She admitted shaking a bit. “But there was more…”

“Do you mind elaborating, Minori?” I whispered.

“I touched the tombstone.. and…” She started crying again. “It took me to seeing that day.”

I slowly processed what she meant by that. Seeing that day from that tombstone in her hallucination meant-no. If what I’m thinking is what happened… She couldn’t have liked seeing that… That would destroy anyone.

“Minori.” I felt my lip quivering as I tried to ask this question. “You didn’t… Don’t tell me you-“

“S-Saw myself die?” She finished for me, eyes cold and staring at the floor. “Y-You would be right again, Haruka-chan…”

I covered my mouth, forcing down my tears to focus on Minori’s story. How long had she hid this from everyone?

“I was transported to Phoenix Wonderland wearing a completely new dress and performing as show when I saw me up there and standing over the edge. I tried to do something but I couldn’t move… I couldn’t speak either, it was as if I was stuck in time.” She said and sighed. “I wasn’t me, and yet, I was still totally useless.”

“Minori, I told you not to say stuff like that about yourself!” I scolded. “You are not and never have been useless to anyone in More More Jump or in this world.”

“R-Right… Sorry.” She put her head down, causing more tears to drip onto my lap. “But seeing her jump wasn’t the worst of it, it was the after-reaction that really hurt.”

I stared at her. “The after reaction?”

She laughed and stood up, away from me, staring at the sky. “Yeah, nobody cared.” She spoke bitterly and clenched her foot. “I was in the papers for a few moments before people went on with their lives again. I was just a speck in the clean wind they breathed that they wanted erased. Nobody cared.”

She began to walk and I slowly treaded behind her, with her eyes still downcast as she walked on. She faces me.

“Airi and I are the same.” Minori scuffed her foot on the pavement. “People never noticed us, to the point we have to prove ourselves day after day after day for a chance at that. Yet we still don’t, causing us to be jealous of others, working even harder to prove them wrong.”

“Minori-“

She starts pacing back and forth. “Maybe that’s why Airi said that… She wanted to prove she was strong… that she was good enough as and idol.” She clutches her hand, processing her thoughts allowed. “I think she hid what she did because she doesn’t want to bother anyone with her problems to prove she can handle it on her own…

“Did what?” I asked. “Minori, do you mean Airi did kill Emu?”

“Ah!” She stammered. “I-I umm, yes… she did.” She sighed. “I overheard her feeling guilty about it back then when she was in the beginning by herself.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I questioned her. “How long have you been hiding this?”

“Since before you and Saki confronted her…” She scratched the back of her head, sheepishly. “I didn’t tell you in front of everyone because she told me to keep it secret and I wanted to respect her wishes.” She sulked. “She looked so afraid and pain about what you would say to her if you knew, that… I didn’t her feelings to get her.”

“Airi, you guys… ugh!” I grumbled. “She’s always… hiding things by telling herself she can handle it. I thought she knew that I went through the same thing due that stupid game and that I would understand how she feels from it.” I sighed. “I guess I’m really not as approachable as I think I am with things like this.”

She touched my shoulder. “Haruka? Are you okay-“

“NO.” I stomped my foot, pushing her hand away. “I’m not okay… I-I’m hurting.” I picked strands of hair from my eyes. “I tried to pretend things were fine, but…-“ I clutched my chest, making sure I could still feel my heartbeat as I breathed deeply. “Everyone… everyone around me judges me for my death but they pities others..! But nobody there that day considered how I felt that day!”

Nobody cares about how I felt that day… Shiho almost tried to kill me herself, I didn’t even get anything from Shizuku or Airi, and even An…

“Yet, It was my own fault and I’ve no other choice but to continue reaping my consequences.” I spit at the floor. “I was played hook, line, and sinker… and hurt one of the kindest friends I’ve known and my greatest admirer.” I laughed before staring off in the distance. “A failure like me, doesn’t deserve this title. I’m not an idol, I-I’m… Nothing like them… Nothing like you, Minori.”

“Haruka, that’s not true-“

I shake my head. “It is true, Minori. I don’t I would belong anywhere if I go back to the real world, my fans probably hate my guts and my parents would be disappointed in me.” I sob into my hands. “A-And, the worse thing is it all my fault…!!!”

I stayed that for a while.

Until, Minori wrapped her arms around my chest, sobbing with me…

“We’re all pretty broken, huh?” I muttered.

“Haha..! Well, maybe you’re right.” She looked to her side before she took my hands into hers, helping me stand now. “But maybe that’s why we can understand each other.”

She continued as she still held my hands. There was no more sadness or fear in her, she looked confident.

It was comforting and sweet, displaying exactly who Minori is.

A hardworking, compassionate, young woman.

“It’s why we should be stop fighting, stop bottling everything, and start working together…! Because, we’re all the same. We’re all feeling the same.” She then smiled. “I mean, that’s why we started More More Jump in the first place. We would get over ever hurdle together, right?”

When she said that, I felt the warmth inside me grow stronger. I remembered what she meant by that.

[FLASHBACK]

“What about More More Jump?”

I placed my hand on my chin. “More More Jump?”

She tapped her cheek. “Yeah. It kind of makes it sound like we’re reaching up toward our dreams of being idols.”

Shizuku nodded. “You’re right. Though we’ve had our share of difficulties along the way and we even gave up on being idols.”

“I like it!” Airi smirked and pumped her first in the air. “This time, we’re going to clear all of the hurdles in our way, together!

“Hehe. I like it, too. That settles it, then.” I smiled proudly. “From this moment on, we are More More Jump!”

And then-

…

“Then let’s start our official group practice! Are you ready, Minori!”

“Yes! I’m ready, Minori-senpai!” Minori nods.

Shizuku grabs her shoulder. “Oh, now that we’re all part of the same group, maybe you should start using our first names?” She asks.

“Huh?” She stutters. O-Oh, Airi-chan and Shizuku-chan?” Minori giggles, her face turning red. “Hehehe. It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Hey, stop spacing out!” Airi calls out to us. “Let’s get to work!”

“Oh, r-right!” Minori stumbles before quickly running to Airi. “I promise to work hard!”

“Hehe…”

[FLASHBACK END]

…

Such beautiful memories those were.

They may never happen again…

But!

…

“Yeah… You’re right, Minori. Hehe…”

I want to go forward, to move on.

Tell Airi and Shizuku everything and for us to be a team again.

“Let’s go find them, Minori!”

I run ahead and pull her along as she follows right behind me.

“Ok! Let’s do it, Haruka-chan!!!”

And together we laughed and smiled at each other just like we used to do. And then… I saw the floors start to crack. The ground rumbled and I looked up to see the buildings tumbling around us. “RUN. RUN!!!!” Minori grabbed my hand along before a chunk of chocolate bricks landed on top of us. “HARUKA, RUN!!!”

I yelped, taken aback. I clutched hand her tightly to prevent myself from tripping but the rocks still proved troublesome. “Wait up, Minori!”

“We got to go, Haruka-chan!” She said, pulling me closer to her side. “We can’t stop!”

I tried to stop her but she continued to run, eventually tripping over some jagged rocks of chocolate, dramatically falling face first into the ground.

I rushed back to her side but she would just smile and say she’s ok and that we need to keep going, so we kept trucking along. Though, the more bruises she collected, the more worried I would get.

“I-I’m okay…!” Would automatically be said.

And even though she would wince, her smile never left her.

How I wished to be like that courageous again.

“Minori…” I tried to stop her. “Please let me lead-“

“It’s okay, Haruka! I-I can do this…!” She pushed.

“But!” I protested. “Your legs are bruising!

“That’s nothing, I-I can do this!” She stammered. “I can…! I can-“

“MINORI STOP!!!!”

She turned around, as a large debris of chocolate was falling towards her.

“Huh?”

I sprinted towards her and shoved her aside, and-

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!”

…

…

…

“H-HARUKA?!!”

Meanwhile...

“Man, we’re finally out of that creepy cavern.” I sighed. “I don’t think I’ve been more happier to see sunlight in my whole life!”

“Yes, I agree.” Shizuku nodded. “Honestly… I was worried it would cave in, and we would crushed underneath, and then we would drown, and then we would-”

I covered her mouth with my hands. “Ok, I get it. Please stop talking.”

“Oh, Sowwwy!” She mumbled before for I eventually let her go. “Luckily, that didn’t happen! H-Hehe.. Heh.”

“Well yeah, I’m glad nothing bad happened to us!” Unable to contain my pinking cheeks and smile. “I’m glad nothing happened to you.”

“Eh?” She turns around. “Did you say something, Airi-chan?”

“Nope.” I deflected, covering my stupid flustered face under my hair. “We should keep moving, we need to find Emu after all!”

At the reminder of Emu, I thought again to myself another worse scenario.

What if Minori told her? What if Emu already knows what I did…?

And if she does already know, will she be mad at me for it?

Emu…

She isn’t the type to get mad as far as I know, but…

That doesn’t mean she cannot get mad at all.

“Hey Airi, are you worried about the others?” Shizuku asks me. “I’ve been wondering how Haruka-chan and Minori-chan are doing.”

I rubbed my arm. “Mhmm…yeah. I wonder what happened to them. And if, Haruka still hates me...”

"Hates you?" Shizuku places a hand on my shoulder as were walking. "Why... W-Why would she hate you?"

"Well...uh..." I stammered as I explained the fight. Shizuku being surprised as she listened.

"You said all that?" She asked me. "I mean, all of that really happened?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I really shouldn't have said those things..." I sighed. "I messed up really bad now and now I don't what to do about it!

"Airi..." She shook her head and chuckled dryly. "I will admit you have done some dumb things today. Some of them, even being close to my level of stupid in the past..." Pausing for a minute. "But..." I froze. "But what-" "But, I don't think Haruka is the type of person to hate you... or at the very least, hold a grudge forever." She said, as she leaned on me and wrapped her arms around to give me a hug. "That's just not like her, you should know."

"Yea I know! I'm... I'm just worried I twisted the knife of guilt to be worse than before for her." I stammered. " I feel like a hypocrite and I'm worried I'll never be able to take it back... What if I made her hate me so bad she stops being part of our group?! What if she loses hope for good out of thinking she disappointed us and her fans?! What... if... WHAT IF SHE NEVER TALKS TO ME EVER AGAIN?!"

I scream and slumped onto the floor, panicked as Shizuku watched concerned. Grabbing my sweater to cover it over my face and continuously breathing into it deeply like a barf bag, I must have looked ridiculous. Luckily, Shizuku just patted me on my back and didn't seem to mind, as she waited til I calmed down until she spoke again.

"I don't think that would happen, Haruka." Shizuku shakes her head. "If anything, since Haruka has gone through it too, she would reflect on the current situation too. I don't think she would never give you a chance again despite your mistakes."

"Are you really sure, Shizuku?" I asked.

She nods and helps me up. "I believe so, yeah. As long as you fully commit to wanting to make up for your mistakes, I believe she will forgive you and you'll earn her trust again." Finally, winking with a smile. "And if anything, if your so unsure, just try again now and talk to Haruka about it if she's okay and wants to talk! She will mostly likely feel more touched with you coming to her rather than the other way around...and that way, will forgive easier."

I nodded. "...Ok... I'll try." Sighing deeply, being glad I got that off my chest, I ask her another question. "Where do you think she is now?"

Shizuku shrugged. "Not sure, but I'm sure we'll find out eventually-"

"H-HARUKA?!!"

*THUD*

We both just stood in silence, swearing we could hear the faint crickets chirping in our minds thinking the same thing. How awkward!

A smug smile plastered on her shinning face. "How nice of Minori to enlighten us where she is without us even having to look!"

"Classic Minori..." I smiled back and chuckled. "C'mon let's go catch up with them." Taking her hand. "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Yes!"

We eventually found them through this tunnel which looked a lot like a subway station. When we found them, Minori was trying to lift this huge piece of chocolate off of Haruka. Apparently they came in from the back entrance…

“Oh, cmon boulder!” Minori tugged at the large chocolate ball with all her light. “Why… why am not strong enough?!”

“Minori?!” Shizuku quickly hurried to her side. “Let me help you with that!”

“Shizuku?!” She jumped to her feet at the sound of our approaching footsteps. “When did you guys get here?!”

“We’ll explain later.” I told her. “Let’s get you guys outta here first.”

“R-Right! How could I get sidetracked?” Minori slapped her face. “We need to get this chocolate off of Haruka!”

We both nodded and got to work, all three of us trying to shove the mass off. We tugged and tugged but no matter what we did, it wouldn’t budge. I could tell Haruka was losing hope.

“Maybe you guys should just leave me…” she said, lying down on the ground. “I don’t think I’m going to get out of here.”

“What?! No!” Minori shook her head.

“We aren’t leaving you here.” Shizuku spoke firmly.

“But-“

“But nothing, we are a group though and through.” I spat, pointing my foot down. “We’re getting out of her as a team or not at all and that’s final.”

“Yea!” The others agreed.

Haruka smiled at me. “Alright.” Getting back up to lift as well. “Oh three. One, two three!”

“LIFT!!!” Shizuku yelled!

“Don’t give up!!!” Minori cheered on.

“Give up?!” I laughed. “Never in a million years!!!!”