Note: The following story takes place after the ending of Little Busters Refrain. It is told in Riki and Rin's POV. This is aimed to be a continuation of the series in my own vision. Everything that happens in this will be significant. Enjoy.

"A dreamless sleep can't be cured"

Months ago, I nearly lost everything. I remember the heat, the tears, and most importantly…I remember the blood. That's right…Months ago I came close to dying.

Even though I had recently overcome my weakness through the help of Kyousuke, I had risked all that he had done for me. All the countless days spent in a transient world that never should have existed nearly went to waste.

But now, days after Kyousuke's triumphant return from a coma, everything was finally back to normal. Or at least, I wanted to think that. Relationships with my friends had become strained, nearly to the point of breaking.

Sure, days were going by again and the combined actions of Rin and I were regarding as a miracle. Miracle. That's what they called it. But can something that went against the ways of fate truly be called a miracle?

That question bugged me. I guess I had slipped into a state of self wallow. Part of me wished that Rin and I hadn't saved everyone; that we had left them to die as fate dictated. I distanced myself. Once again, I let fear rule my life.

On September 27th, I became the Riki Naoe that suffered from a chronic disease: Narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy…A disease I acquired by witnessing the deaths of my parents. I would constantly fall into a dreamless sleep; never knowing whether or not if I would wake up and my precious world would be the same.

September 27th…The date sounded so familiar, and yet I couldn't recall why.

"Hey Riki~!" My crazy, purple haired friend Haruka Saigusa called out my name in the same childish manner she always did.

I didn't respond, but I did look at her. Normally, I would have responded with a "hey Saigusa" but failed to let the words escape my mouth this time. I just simply blankly stared at her.

"Aw…No change…? Riki! Hey Riki! If you don't say something then Rin will start crying again! Kyousuke won't like that!" She started to pull on my sleeve, as if she was trying to guide me away from my seat.

No…That wasn't right. It was more like she was trying to separate me from myself. Like she was trying to bring me back to the same me I had been only a few days ago. My hollowed out self pushed her hand away, ignoring her efforts. I had a feeling something was going on, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Before I realized it, I had grabbed her hand and started crying myself. I wanted to cry. I wanted to wail out, and blame the world for something. To my luck, Saigusa took a seat on the top of my desk. She patted my head as if I were a dog.

"Riki...?" Saigusa gingerly touched my cheek, "What's going on? Why are you crying…?"

I opened my mouth to answer her, but no words escaped my parted lips. I closed my mouth again, and looked down. With my hand I wiped away my tears. I hated myself. No…I hated today. I couldn't recall why, but I did.

"Hey Ri-" Beside me now appeared Masato Inohara, a childhood friend of mine, "Hey Saigusa…What's wrong with Riki?"

His tone, ticked me off for some reason. Or I guessed it was his tone. Something he had done had caused me to slam my hand against my desktop and stand up suddenly. I could tell by the surprise on both of their faces, that I had done something out of anger.

"Calm down Riki…" Masato reached out for my shoulder.

"YOU DON'T GET IT! NONE OF YOU DO!" The words weren't me. They came from somewhere deep down, and from something I never knew existed. I started running and pushed him aside using my shoulder.

"Riki?" Not even the voice of Rin Natsume, my girlfriend for a few months now, stopped me. All it did was force more tears from me.

I glanced back, despite my anger. Then I noticed she stood there, tears streaming down her face. In her hand was a piece of paper, but by now I couldn't read it. It hurt. All of it, hurt.

Hours passed before I calmed down. I heard bushes rustle from somewhere behind me, so I looked back. Hiding there was a guy I looked up to: Kyousuke Nastume. He was the older brother of Rin, so I suspected he was there since I made his little sis cry.

"Go away…I feel bad about that…I'll apologize tomorrow," I called out to him.

"That's not it. Well…Yeah…I am a bit disappointed. You didn't make her cry intentionally," Kyousuke walked over to me, both hands in his pockets, "I'm here because you haven't been yourself lately. And I want to know why."

"Why..?" I looked at my hands, "I wish I knew that myself. Does she hate me…?"

"Rin? Hate you?" He laughed at me, and then he began to pat my back, "Come on. Don't forget that she's the same girl who risked her own life to help you save everyone. She'd do anything for you. Here…She wanted to give you this but you ignored her."

I took the piece of paper and read over it:

Dear Riki,

I wish you'd talk to me. I'm worried about you. But I know you don't want to because you probably want to protect me from something…So I won't push. Say Riki…Once you finally talk to me I want to ask you for help with something.

Always waiting,

Rin

Suddenly I couldn't hold it in anymore. I just started to wail. My screams weren't aimed at anything. I just let it go. I felt like it was my way of letting the world remember me, to remember that I was there and that I was in pain. I lowered my voice after I felt an arm be wrapped around me.

"There there…Come on Riki…You shouldn't cry," Kyousuke whispered in my ear, "You're ruining your good looks."

I pulled away from him, "Thank you…Kyousuke. You always help me out when I need it…Even after you said I surpassed you. Sorry…"

"It's fine. Now then, if you don't know why you're not yourself…I'm going to go do some digging…Today is the peak of it, so I'm going to go for now," He stood and started to walk away, "Later."

I stood up now, and watched him walk away. But then it hit me. Narcolepsy. I was being forcefully dragged into a dreamless sleep for the first time in three months.

When I awoke again, I was in my dorm bed. I sat up and touched my head. Nothing explained it. Why was I having attacks again? Why was it possible for something that I went so long without a hint of, to suddenly hit me?

Then I heard the soft breathing of someone beside me. The light was dim, so I couldn't immediately make out who it was. But a part of me instantly knew who it was. Rin.

"Riki…" She whispered in her slumber.

I smiled, and patted her head, "Rin…Wake up."

She suddenly jumped, hitting her head on the top bunk. She rubbed her head, "Ow ow ow ow…"

"Rin! Are you okay?" I asked.

"Riki," She looked me in the eye now, her tone was serious suddenly, "You scared me."

"Sorry…Next time I'll let you sleep-"

"Not that you idiot!" She snapped angrily, and the tears began, "I was…You were…"

I sighed, "Oh yeah…I passed out…"

She wrapped her arms around me, "13 hours…That's the longest you've ever been asleep…I thought you were going to be asleep forever."

I held her tightly, and then I figured out why today had been so horrible. September 27th. It was never a good day. But each year that passed…I slowly forgot. But now…Seeing Rin cry and hold me tight while saying she was scared of losing me…I remembered completely.

It was the date of the accident that caused me to develop Narcolepsy. The date…That my parents died. I guess that I had subconsciously fallen into a depression. I hadn't noticed until that moment, the cruel behavior I had shown everyone.

"Rin…"

I felt a slap hit me, and it left me stunned for a moment. When I looked at the source, Rin was standing. And then she wrapped her arms around me again.

"Shut up…Let me hold you a little longer," She whispered.

I smiled despite the pain. The shy girl that used to hide behind me when around new people no longer existed. The girl that wasn't used to us being together, the one that tried her hardest to keep from running away at the mention of the word couple, had grown up to a girl who wasn't afraid to hug me. No…That wasn't it. I could feel her tremble. She just wanted to let me know that she had been worried.

"N-Now…" Rin pulled away and wiped her tears away, "Come with me."

"Why?"

"Just come," She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the bed.

The two of us walked to the cafeteria, but she let me go in first. I opened the door, expecting something as simple as Kyousuke sitting there. But to my surprise, oddly, I was greeted with a single shout: Welcome Back!

I felt as if I had gone away, and that everyone had waited for me to return. Everyone was there. Kyousuke, Masato, Kengo, Saigusa, Kud, Nishizono, Komari, and even Kurugaya. It felt good to see all of our group, the Little Busters, together for something.

"Party time~!" Saigusa sang.

"Welcome back boy," Kurugaya held a cool demeanor in her seat.

"Hey Riki!" Masato waved, "Good to see you back to normal."

Everyone greeted me as usual. I smiled again. Rin had surprised me already, but now I was being surprised by everyone else. It made me happy. It made me forget the date.

"Let me explain," Kyousuke stood up, "Riki. I discovered the reason you were acting strange. Today's the day your parents died. I told Rin, and she ran out looking for you. She found you lying on the ground and called for help. She didn't leave your side even when the nurse said you were asleep. She asked us to get a party ready for you when you woke up. This was all her idea."

"Rin…" I looked at her.

She blushed slightly, "I-It's no big deal…I just…I wanted to do something for you."

"All right. It's time for a Little Busters mission," Kyousuke cleared his throat, "Tomorrow morning, after classes, Riki and Rin will go on a scavenger hunt. They will be searching for items on a list that I'll drop off to Riki before classes. You will be facing challenges I will set up beforehand as well. So for now, let's enjoy our party welcoming Riki back."

Rin pulled on my sleeve, "Hey Riki…Are you really okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks for staying with me Rin. Let's enjoy the party. I'm starving!" I half lied. A part of me felt sick. I was in pain from not only the fall, but with the realization that my Narcolepsy was back. I didn't feel like eating. But I knew if I didn't, then I'd just needlessly worry Rin.

I casted a glance around at my friends, and then I closed my eyes. I just listened to the sounds of the people around me. The laughing was soothing. It was a good distraction. I felt like around them I didn't have to worry about suddenly falling asleep. But at the same time, I worried. I didn't want to worry Rin. Or anyone around me.

Something in me told me to enjoy these moments; that it wasn't going to last. I recalled the words I had feared: Living meant losing. But now…I was even more afraid now though…I was even more afraid of losing the friends I had. I had nearly lost them once, and it wasn't something I wanted to go through again.

The party was a blurry memory from that point on. I couldn't recall it. I hadn't passed out or anything, I just couldn't remember from exhaustion. The next day was going to be hard, and I knew that. So when I went to sleep, I texted Rin something before falling asleep. I didn't see the reply.

Rin…I don't think I can do this…