Mahiru could see a door. It emanated light from beyond. She cast a distraught look at her classmates still in their sleep, muttering under her breath, "I'll see you all again soon... I'm not sure where we are, but for your sake... I promise this won't be our last meeting."

With her words that filled her with a sense of false security, she clasped her hand around the doorknob, biting down on her lip. She still had no clue as to what was going on, or where they were. But whatever it is, the young photographer was now getting ready to find out.

And then, she departed.

The sky was a blood red. A horrid sensation was filling Mahiru's entire body. All that she could feel was a feeling of utter dread spreading over her body and mind. She tried to advance on, but immediately, she realized that here legs were frozen in place. She was extremely doubtful of her capability to go on - if there was ever a time she wanted someone, especially Hiyoko, it would be right now.

She tried her hardest to get motion back in her legs, but it was to no avail. It was at times like this she remembered how her classmates would use their talents to their advantages - but Mahiru was just a silly photographer. She didn't think highly of her photos, which was definitely being quite detrimental to her situation at hand.

She wanted her mother. She was terrified beyond belief. Her mother had been ten times the photographer she ever was. Her mother would know what to do in this situation; if she could see Mahiru right now, she'd be embarrassed, Mahiru believed.

As Mahiru's legs were still stiffened, she heard a stampede of footsteps in the distance. It sounded like something was running on the bridge, presumably running after her.

Mahiru wanted to flee from the situation. She wanted to flee from the situation. She was almost positive that whatever lay on the other side of that bridge was most likely not coming to her with good intentions. She knew her awakening was a mistake. Why couldn't she have just stayed asleep? Were her classmates that were currently missing dead? Had they meet the same gruesome end that Mahiru was surely going to meet for trying to get answers?

She tried with all her might to get her legs to move. It was pointless, however. Her legs were failing her. She was shaking horribly, wriggling in anxiety. Her nerves were through the roof and the only thing that was stopping her from completely breaking down was her camera and the thoughts of all her friends smiling faces - she had give a few of them a hard time before, but in actuality, she did care for all of them individually, she just was not good at letting her emotions out. She did not want to seem vulnerable. She had been incredibly harsh on the boys, and she still felt terrible. She blamed her father for making her such a mess regarding boys, but when it all boiled down to it, she should have been nicer.

All she could hope for now was that the people making their way to her weren't looking for blood, because with the way her body was acting currently...

She wouldn't be able to prevent blood being spilled.

The footsteps edged closer. In the distance, eyes were staring at her. Just as her nerves were about to cave in on her, she could see the owner of one set of eyes become visible.

"Mahiru!" called out the young yakuza, Fuyuhiko kuzuryuu. He ran up to her and clasped his arms around her. This was certainly a first for the usually aggressive and hard-headed yakuza. The yakuza had now tightened his grip on her, more recognizable faces came out of the darkness.

Her missing classmates Hajime Hinata, Sonia Nevermind, Akane Owari and Souda Kazuichi appeared. All were looking in awe as the yakuza refused to let go of the photographer.

She had began scanning her classmates when she realized something was off with the boy who had described himself as 'hopelessly average'. Hajime's left eye was blood red, the same colour as the sky above. He bore a gigantic smile on his face, waving a hand out at her.

Her nerves had began subsiding, although a one Chiaki Nanami was still missing from the scene.

Even though her previously missing classmates had now appeared before her, this had not made her forget about her other classmates who were presumably still sleeping peacefully, not aware of how bad of a state Mahiru had just found herself in.

She had not even said hello to her other classmates when she yelled out, "What happened to the others?! Why won't Hiyoko wake up?!" She turned to stare at her classmates, who all now had began exchanging looks, Fuyuhiko now letting go of her, giving her some space back. All these scared and unnerving faces made Mahiru's fear for the worst rise.

"D-Don't tell me... is she...? T-That's impossible! She can't be dead!" She screamed, the tears now tripping her again. Her friendship with Hiyoko was so short lived; she had just barely gotten to know the Ultimate Dancer, but already felt a bond develop between the two.

Hajime placed a gentle hand on the flustered girl's shoulder. "Mahiru... she isn't dead. She's... in a coma... like you were."

Mahiru's eyes widened.

"W-What...?"