No...
No...
No...
It can't be. This isn't happening. It's not possible.
Time was frozen, the club members couldn't move, and there was a bullet in front of Keiichi's heart.
How? How did this happen? How did they miss this? How did she miss this?
It was just like earlier on in this world, with Satoko. Things were going great, but Rika forgot to pay attention to some things, to be on her guard... Satoko was taken away by her uncle again.
But...
But...
Keiichi showed her that fate could be broken, he helped her believe again. She had given up on everything but he held his hand out and helped her out of the deep hole she had fallen into. He gave her hope again. He broke the tragedies one by one.
Despite the fact that Satoko was taken and abused again, for the first time...they beat that fate. They crushed it. They all banded together, they all believed and they helped Satoko believe. They finally broke one of the worst, most dead end fates.
So...so...even though things are going completely downhill again...
They'll find a way to fix it and make it through again, right? Fate can be broken again, right? Even if the bullet is only centimeters from his heart...even if time were to resume and the bullet hit Keiichi...it won't, right? Even if it did, he'll survive, right?
Keiichi is incredible, after all! He can break any fate thrown at him! Not even a bullet to the heart would kill him!
Finally, Rika let out a mix between a sob and a scream.
This can't be happening! They were so close...why...why...?
They knew the culprit, they beat the Yamainu, they were going to get away! She wasn't going to die, no one was, this world was going to always be happy!
The only thing anybody could manage to move in this frozen time was their mouths and eyes. How useless. Nevertheless, Rika glared at who fired the bullet.
Takano.
''K-Kei-chan...can't you...when time moves again...can't you...dodge the bullet or...something?'' Mion questioned.
Her voice kept breaking and the desperation in her voice was audible.
''Yeah...yeah...that's right! If we keep thinking and trying, there has to be a way to make it so that Keiichi-san doesn't die! I am the master of traps, surely I can think of some trick at least!'' Satoko's voice.
Then, finally, Keiichi...laughed.
It was much too boisterous for the situation...
But, maybe that meant...he had thought of something? Yes, of course, that had to be it! Rika waited desperately for the sound of his voice again, unsure if even her heart had frozen at this point or not...
Then...
''Dummy...there's no way I can even dodge this...and Satoko, I know well how amazing you and your traps are. But I don't think there's any tricks or traps left up even your sleeve, nor anyone else's...I guess...I really am done for.''
Rika responded to this with another bloodcurdling yell, a completely defiant "no."
''You have to at least try to dodge it somehow! Keep thinking, everyone! Keep thinking, there has to be some way! You're Maebara Keiichi, you can't be giving up! You told me fate is something to decide for ourselves! If it's your fate to die, then cheat death! Because you can do it! Only you are capable of it! Maebara Keiichi!''
There was silence for a few more minutes, and then Rika began sobbing. Rena had tears rolling down her cheeks as well. Mion and Satoko were breaking down, too...
Keiichi laughed again, but it was all broken sounding, like too many pieces were missing. "I'm sorry...Rika-chan..." He couldn't bring himself to look her way anymore. His last mutter was "I've made you cry again..."
Despite his efforts, Rika heard.
She finally looked towards Hanyuu, standing there watching as always, that disgusting look on her face.
''Hanyuu, do something, you useless God! If you can stop time, then make it so Keiichi won't die too...move the bullet, something, anything, help us, please!''
''...''
''Don't give me the silent shit, answer me!''
Hanyuu closed her eyes tightly, whimpering "It's okay...you won't remember...it's okay..."
"Hanyuu-!" Rika was about to snap further into anger, until...
''Rika-chan...'' Keiichi's voice came again to soothe her. ''Rika-chan...it's alright...I'm sorry...''
Had Rika's shoulders been able to move, they would have drooped expediently...
''No...no...I'm the one who's sorry...this isn't your fault...you shouldn't be apologizing...I should have...been less cocky all the time...I constantly let down my guard...if I had stayed alert to make sure no one had a gun or was hidden or something...then...then...if I had continued to look out whilst believing, we wouldn't be in this mess...we would have broke fate again...''
''No, Rika-chan...it's not only your fault. I too could have been more careful.'' Rena said, smiling at her sadly. Mion and Satoko agreed with her.
''It's alright, everyone...it's alright...it's okay! Everything will be alright, even if I die. Everything will be okay. As long as you guys live. As soon as time starts again, forget about me and save yourselves, there's not much else to do...I'll die...but...but, it's okay...we came up just a little bit short, that's all...it's alright!''
Keiichi put up a strong, hopeful, brave act, even in times like this. But he was afraid. He didn't want to die. He was scared, thinking of the bullet going into his heart... But still, he laughed at how desperate everyone was, even himself.
He laughed loudly. ''It's not just you guys, we're all idiotic friends! If I hadn't rushed into everything...ha ha...ha...''
There was another long silence that concreted the hopelessness.
Finally...
''Hey...Hanyuu...'' Rika began. ''Can't you...keep time stopped forever...can't you do that at least?''
''Rika...''
''We can...stay like this forever...and no one has to die...we can talk about stupid things and...it can be almost like normal...we can be together...''
Even in her growing madness due to the situation, Rika still knew the idea was ridiculous...
''...I'm sorry, Rika...I'm so sorry...I can't...I wish I could, but this power can't last forever...I can hardly keep it up right now...''
Rika would have screamed that she was useless again, but she didn't see the point anymore. She just closed her eyes as more tears came. There was no use.
''It's alright, Rika-chan...Maebara Keiichi can never truly die! Fate hasn't even come close to winning yet. I piss on the word fate. Everything is great, don't give up, even now. Everything is going to be alright.''
Time flowed again.
A/N:
2018 update: Fixed a bunch of mistakes, reworded some stuff, added a few more sentences here and there... I'm pretty sure this was originally made as a vent, like most of my depressing stories... And I think another big reason I wrote it was just so I could have Keiichi say the sentence "I piss on the word fate." It's a pretty ridiculous line, but come on, it's so Keiichi.
