It had been three days since Kyoko died. To say Makoto was upset, was an understatement, to Aoi.
She hadn't let him leave his sight, not since they witnessed her lifeless body.
Aoi knew Kyoko would want the pair to move forward, to end the killing game and for them to live happily - but she was their best friend. They were grieving. They needed time.
Makoto was in love with Kyoko, and it wasn't until she was gone that he finally admitted it. But it was too late. Aoi had teased him for a long time about it, wondering when he would have the guts to ask her on a date, but he claimed they were only best friends.
Though now their lives were on the line in the killing game, they'd managed to keep away from Kyosuke. It was a mystery how they'd done it. They'd been lucky.
The pair now sat in an enclosed room, backs against the wall, staying quiet.
They hadn't spoken a word to eachother for a while, but Aoi still refused to leave Makoto's side.
Makoto surprisingly spoke up, "Aoi?" He asked. "Yeah Makoto?" Aoi replied. The two weren't even facing eachother properly as they spoke. "Why have you been following me like this?" He asked. The brunette girl took a deep breath, "Because you're my best friend. I don't want to see you do anything to yourself. I know you're grieving." She replied.
"But so are you. Don't you need alone time?" Makoto asked.
Aoi fell quiet, then so did Makoto.
"Aoi?" The brunette boy spoke up again, several minutes later. "Yes Makoto?" Aoi answered. "Do you.." His voice trailed off. "Do you think we'll get out of here, together?" He asked. Aoi fell quiet, trying to sort her words. She then shook her head in disbelief, as if she knew Makoto was thinking of a worse case scenario. Aoi then stood up.
"Of course we're going to get out of here silly!" She spat. "We're going to get out of here alive! And together!" Aoi added. "We're best friends - remember? We'll always stick together!" She got the rest of her argument out. Makoto was frozen for a moment. Aoi watched as tears began forming in his eyes.
"Why are you so worried? God, do you really think you can get rid of me that easily?" The brunette girl asked, laughing a little.
Makoto got up onto his feet and put his arms around Aoi, in a hug, and cried.
Aoi froze for a moment, shocked by this. They hadn't spoken much to each other at all since Kyoko had died, so this was definitely a surprise.
"I can get out of here and make as many friends as I can." Makoto began.
"But you.. you're the only best friend I have." He added. "I-i don't want to lose you too!" Makoto sobbed, crying on Aoi's shoulder.
Tears welled up in Aoi's eyes too. She put her arms around Makoto, hugging back, she cried on his shoulder.
The pair were hurting. They needed time to heal - but finding time in the midst of a killing game wasn't easy. They needed to escape, to end the killing game, and move on. Kyoko would have wanted them to.
"Aoi?" Makoto asked, stepping back from her. "Yeah Makoto?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Can you promise me something?" He asked, having an unsteady tone of voice. Aoi wiped her eyes, "Of course."
Makoto looked up at Aoi at last, "Can you promise me, that we'll leave this killing game together.. move on together and.. no matter what.. stay by eachother's side?" He asked.
"This is what Kyoko would have wanted." Makoto quietly said.
Aoi nodded, wiping a tear "I promise."