Time never waits.

It delivers all equally to the same end.

You, who wish to safeguard the future,

however limited it may be...

You will be given one year;

go forth without falter,

with your heart as your guide...

Chapter I: A New Beginning

4/6/09

The new Anehazuru passenger train isn't as crowded as I had imagined it would be. It's pretty quiet so I comfort myself with the music of my MP3 on soft volume. I can feel how I wiggle back and forth on my seat as the train glides over the tracks. The sound is rhythmic and soothing, surprising me. I thought the sound would annoy me yet it doesn't. I hear a faint static sound so I pause my music and listen, overhearing the muffled voice of the train conductor on the speakers, voicing a message that makes me a little uncomfortable.

"Due to a malfunction in the switching system, today's rail schedule has been greatly altered. We apologize to any customers who were in a hurry. The next stop is Iwatodai..."

I'll admit that I feel a little relieved that I'll be late to my destination because I'm feeling really nervous. I'm moving to a new home yet again. I'll have to go to a new school, meet new people, live in a new city and restart my life all over. I wish I could just stay in one place forever, without worrying about time or pain. I close my eyes and fall asleep for a few minutes, the train's sounds having lulled me to sleep. I awake when I hear the conductor calling out the stop "Iwatodai" and gather my things quickly so I can get off. I hear the train announcer as I'm stepping off the train and glancing around, searching for the exit out of the station. I remove my headphones but let them hang around my neck as I turn the MP3 off, considering I probably won't use them now.

"This is the final train bound for Tatsumi Port Island. Please take care to board before our departure."

I know that I've arrived late and notice a clock that reads it's almost midnight. 'Wow, it's pretty late', I think to myself as I lightly chew on my lower lip, a force of habit when I'm nervous or pondering my thoughts. I hope the weather isn't bad so I can walk home. The clock strikes midnight and the atmosphere around me changes drastically as soon as I step outside the station. The wind howls and I feel like I'm all alone. I shake the feeling off and start jogging a little, glancing around and stopping mid-step as I spot something... Unnerving. I notice coffin-like objects lining the deserted city and no one is in sight. There doesn't seem to be any electricity in the city either, considering the fact all the lights are off. There seems to be pools of blood all around while some of it oozes down buildings and drips down benches and lampposts. My only source of light is the eerily gigantic moon in the sky and I'm starting to get a bad feeling in my gut.

I begin to sprint towards my destination, praying I don't fall or run into some thugs. My heart starts racing as I'm running though it's mostly due to the fear I'm experiencing. This place... Everything makes me so scared and uncomfortable right now. I exhale a heavy sigh once I'm standing in front of Gekkoukan High School's Iwatodai dorm. This is the place that was mentioned in my admission pamphlet I believe. I inhale a deep breath and walk up the steps slowly then attempt to push the door open, shocked to see it creak open. I gently push it open and step inside, shutting the door quietly behind me, afraid I may disturb someone at this hour. I haven't even been inside for more than ten seconds when I hear a boy's voice say "Welcome" so softly that it makes the hair on my skin stand on end. I can't help but jolt a little and spin around, blinking as I spot a boy with what appears to be faded black hair and beautiful light blue eyes with... Indigo pupils? He's wearing some sort of... Black and white striped suit that looks like pijamas or a prison uniform. He speak to me again, his voice emphasizing the word "long" amidst his sentence.

"You're late. I've been waiting a loooong time." He slowly slides a piece of paper towards me and smiled a little while I just stare at it blankly. "If you want to proceed, then please sign here. It's a contract."

A contract...? Why is he asking me to sign a contract...? I'm still a little panicked over whatever it was I just saw on my way here so I'm a little too hesitant, prompting the boy to speak up again.

"There's no need to be scared. It only binds you to accepting full responsibility for your actions."

What... What does that even mean? I glance at the paper on the counter and see there's a single sentence written on it: "I chooseth this fate of mine own free will." Below that is a blank for me to sign my name so I pick up the pen and bite my lower lip gently before I sign my name as swiftly as I can manage. I stare at my name and read it over to myself, ensuring I signed the paper: Hitomi Hoshiko. As soon as I'm done, he speaks up again with his soft voice, making me unsure of whether or not that's really his voice or if he's putting on an act.

"...Very well. Time is something no one can escape. It delivers us all to the same end. Wishing won't make it go away. And so it begins..."

The words leave his lips and he vanished into the darkness with the contract, making me feel like he's a figment of my imagination. It wouldn't be the first time I thought I've seen someone or something out of the ordinary. Today seems like logic is being defied all around me and it's freaking me out. A girl's voice rings out, startling me even more to the point that I almost trip over my own feet. She sounded... Scared.

"...Who's there?!"

I don't hear footsteps but I turn around anyway, feeling like a pair of eyes are locked on me. I see a girl who looks around my age, her expression is one of shock. She stares at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. Is there something on my face...? Am I laying on the floor? Wait... Did I fall?

"How can you be... But it's...! Don't tell me..."

Her voice gets serious at the last three words and I notice a gleam. It seems she's holding something that looks like... A gun?! I take a tiny step back, trying to not move much. I'm afraid she's going to shoot me point blank. Does she think I'm an intruder or something? How did she even get a gun?!

"Wait!"

Another girl shouts from the darkness and I feel my heart stop for a split second before starting back up. The first girl lets out a soft gasp, like she's been startled by the other girl as well. The darkness is obliterated as soon as the lights go on, making me squint a little from the sudden brightness of the room. I was getting accustomed to the dark since it's all I've seen since I got here.

"The lights..." The girl in pink whispers softly as she blinked.

"I didn't think you'd arrive so late. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students who live in this dorm." The second female states in a soft yet authoritative voice. She gives me the feeling that she's an important social figure.

"...Who's she?" The girl in pink inquires of Mitsuru as she glances at me then at her, almost as if she's expecting the answer to pop out of thin air.

It seems I'm in the right place but... It doesn't explain the gun in her hand or the hostility I sensed from the first girl. I have so many questions that I need answered but it seems I won't be given a chance to speak any time soon. I chew my lower lip a little for a few seconds as I glance at them every now and then while they speak.

"She's a transfer student. It was a last minute decision to assign her here. She'll eventually be moved to a room in the normal dorm."

A normal dorm? Huh, that's strange. I thought this was just a regular dorm. Maybe this is for special students with financial issues or academic prowess. Though that idea doesn't convince me one bit... I feel like there's too many strange things happening that are making questions arise yet they can not be answered. I blink and stop pondering my thoughts of the dorm as I hear the first girl speak up again. It seems she has quite a lot of questions too.

"...Is it okay for her to be here?"

What a strange question to ask while I'm standing right in front of her. Am I not welcomed here? Am I supposed to be living somewhere else...? Where would I even go? I don't have much money at all... I doubt I could afford to spend a night in a motel until I find somewhere else to live. I start to nervously chew on my lower lip as I glance at the female in pink then at Mitsuru, hoping they don't ask me to leave.

"I guess we'll see... This is Yukari Takeba. She'll be a junior this spring, just like you." Mitsuru states in a matter of fact tone of voice while gesturing to her with her right hand despite the fact they are side by side.

"...Hi, I'm Yukari." She mumbles softly and it seems she avoids eye contact with me.

Well, it seems I'll be allowed to stay here for some time, judging by Mitsuru's words. She introduces the girl in pink who I thought was going to shoot me so I clear my throat and speak softly, ensuring that I'm as polite as I can be. After all, first impressions last forever and I want to make sure I make a good one. I would hate to leave this place so soon.

"Nice to meet you."

The small sentence comes out a bit softer than I intended so I gulp, hoping I was heard though it may be very unlikely. I exhale a small breath when I hear Yukari respond in a hesitant tone, almost as if she's distracted.

"Uh, y-yeah... Nice to meet you, too..."

She stammered a little at the beginning and smiled after she was done speaking but I get the feeling it's a forced smile. It doesn't seem sincere, like she's just going through the mechanical motions of a greeting. I feel like she really doesn't want me to be here and I feel my hopes of staying slipping through my fingers. Maybe coming here was a mistake... Maybe I should just leave and see where I can sleep for the night. I turn my feet towards the door slightly, readying myself so I can bolt out of there as fast as I can. I freeze when I hear Mitsuru speaking and turn my head to stare at her in silence.

"It's getting late. You'll find your room on the third floor. Your things should already be there. I suggest you tuck in for the night."

The way she said "suggest" sounded like a command instead of a suggestion. It's like she WANTS me to sleep. I know it's past midnight but... It's not that late to to stay up longer. Though I feel a little unnerved to risk staying up awake and possibly end up in trouble with her. She doesn't seem like the type of girl who likes to be defied. I take a small step towards the stairs and nearly jump when I hear Yukari's suddenly cheery voice.

"Oh... I'll show you the way. Follow me."

First, she was scared and hostile towards me but now she's... Nice? That doesn't make me feel any better. I feel like she'll flip out and be hostile towards me again in a heartbeat. She starts to walk towards the stairs so I follow her, careful not to get too close to her. I remain five steps behind her the entire trip up the stairs and even when we're in the hallway of the third floor. I walk alongside the left wall, my eyes fixated on the carpet in front of my feet. I'm starting to feel tired since the adrenaline is finally subsiding. I notice a pair of feet in my path so I slowly glance up and spot Yukari standing in front of the last door on the left side of the hall. I stop walking and stare at her in silence before glancing at the door, wondering if this is my room.

"This is it... Pretty easy to remember, huh? ...Since it's right at the end of the hall. So, any questions?"

She's making an effort to be friendly, that much is obvious but I still feel like it's forced. I wonder about the boy and the contract... So I decide to inquire of the contract, hoping I didn't do something stupid like sign away my soul to the devil or something.

"I signed a contract..."

I lock my eyes on to hers as soon as I'm done speaking and notice a look of shock upon her complexion yet again. I'll take that as a cue that she has no idea what I'm talking about.

"Huh? What's this about a contract?" Her words confirm she truly has no idea what I'm talking about. She hesitates for a few seconds before she speaks up again. "Um... Can I ask you something? On your way here from the station, was everything okay?"

"Yeah." I lie quickly, knowing I can't possibly explain what exactly has happened to me since I stepped off the train. She'll probably think I'm crazy or something.

"I see... Never mind, then. Well, I'd better get going..." She mumbles a little cheerfully then turns to walk away. She freezes mid step and slowly turns to glance at me over her shoulder, her hands slowly clenching into small fists as she looks down, hesitating to speak yet again. "Um... I'm sure you still have other questions, but let's save them for later, okay? Good night." She smiles a little and then quickly turns around to make her way to the stairs. She walks down the stairs before I have a chance to respond, leaving me alone in the hallway.

I exhale a soft breath and turn the doorknob, making the door creak open as I step inside. I gently close the door behind myself and take a quick glance around the room. I notice a closet behind the door, a mini fridge, a sink and mirror, a desk, a television, a nightstand and a bed. It's pretty neat and cozy, having nearly everything except a toilet, shower and kitchen. It seems I won't have to leave my room much. I'm feeling pretty tired so I stumble towards the bed on the other side of the room, peeling back the covers and crawling into bed without changing my clothes. I rest my head upon my pillow and pass out immediately, giving in to the sleep that beckons me without struggle.