A/n

Well, here's the second part of my Kagerou Days telling! I hope you enjoy!

12:23 P.M.

Sitting in the park usually calms me and makes me feel happy. So why don't I feel calm and happy? That dream I had, I promised myself I'd stop thinking about it. I can't pull myself away from thinking about it. Not to mention how the park feels. It's just like my dream I had last night. The rustling leaves, the sound of the fountains, the blistering hot sun, and Hiyori sitting next to me. They're all the same.

"Orchid!" Hiyori shouts, getting up to chase her cat. Wait, if she goes-

I grab her hand. She stops and looks at me.

"Maybe we should go home now." I suggest.

"But what about Orchid?" Hiyori asks.

"She'll be fine. Just, just come with me. Please." I beg. I don't know if she'll be fine, but I know that Hiyori must not chase Orchid, otherwise…

"Alright. Let's go home." Hiyori says.

The two of us leave the park and walk through the city streets. We'll be at the bus station in a few minutes if we hurry. If I can get Hiyori home, I think I might be home free. The city is crowded as usual, and the noise is deafening.

Up ahead, I can see the construction of some sort. It appears as though they're some sort of metal pole to build a skyscraper. The poles are being carried up by some sort of net. It looks like a delicate system. It looks as though it might break at any second. Maybe, if we hurry, the two of us could get to the station before that thing breaks.

Hiyori rushes ahead if me, striding incredibly fast. I run after her.

"Wait, you're going to fast!" I shout, trying to catch up to her. There's a loud snap, and I look up to see the frayed net swinging, and the poles falling.

I reach out, trying to stop Hiyori, but she's out of my reach. One of the poles falls and pierces her all the way through her body. I hear her scream, and the blood covers me and the building. I run to help her, but I see the person in black barring my way.

"This is the real deal!" He shouts, giving me the same pompous smile.

He shoves me to the ground. My vision begins failing again, and I know I'm about to fade in this heat again. I look at Hiyori, and notice something. She looks like she's… smiling.

Another clock stops abruptly. The blood smears it, just like the previous.

"Try again," says the person in black.

I wake up, gasping for air. I glance at my watch. The bright display reads 12:05 A.M., August 3rd. Was it another dream? I can't even tell what's real, and what's not anymore. All I know is that I need to save Hiyori. Otherwise, she'll die. I won't allow it to happen. I get up and run out the door. I have to make sure she stays safe. I'll do it now, and make sure that unbearable event doesn't repeat itself.

11:50 A.M.

I see Hiyori walking into the park. I run towards her. She notices me coming, and waves.

"Good morning!" She says. I grab her hand, and start running. I need to find her somewhere safe. Anywhere where she'll be out of harm's way, anyplace will work.

"Hibiya, what are you-?"

"No time, just hurry!" I shout, pulling her with me. I rush up a set of wooden stairs to an elevated wood platform. The two of us are gasping for breath, the incredible heat not helping the situation.

I look around, trying to find somewhere shady. Then I see him again. The person is black is there again. He's looking at me, a disapproving frown on his face.

"It's no use," he says.

No, it's not, it's not useless. He points behind me, and I hear a small gasp. I look back, and Hiyori is falling backwards to the stairs. I reach my arm out to save her, but it's too late. She's already falling down the stairs.

"No!" I shout as she falls, watching her body break as she falls down the stairs. I feel the familiar lightheadedness, and I know I'm about to pass out in this heat. The person in black is standing over me, smiling.

"Nice try, but it's not enough," says the person in black.

That's all I hear before I pass out in the unbearable sun.

Another clock stops and is bloodied by the person in black. He smiles at me.

"Men rise and men fall. Your friend had the misfortune of doing the latter."

12:05 A.M.

The same time slot again, just like it always is. I always wake up here. I'm going to try again. As many times as it takes, I'll try again. I can't let her die, not now, not ever. It wouldn't be fair to her. If I let her die, I would be a terrible person and friend! I'll have to sleep now, but I'll save her when the sun rises into the position of blazing heat.

This time though, I think I'll try a different plan.

12:11 P.M., at a public pool

I'm in my swimsuit and a white shirt.

"I didn't expect you to take me to a pool Hibiya. Why didn't we go to the park like usual?" Hiyori asks.

"I thought that a change of scenery might be nice." I say.

"Well, it is pretty nice. It's a shame that I couldn't bring Orchid along," she replies.

"You'll see her soon. Don't worry," I say. With my plan, I shouldn't have to worry. For today, I should enjoy the day.

The two of us go to the poolside, and Hiyori jumps in the water, her pink swimsuit shining in the light. There's a splash, and Hiyori resurfaces.

"Come on in! The water's great!" Hiyori shouts. I jump in and join her. The cool water flows over my skin, greatly reducing the sun's effect on me. Yeah, I really think this plan could work.

"I'm going off the diving board," Hiyori says.

"Alright, I'll watch you," I say, taking a seat on the pool's edge.

Hiyori ascends the ladder, and prepares to jump off. Just as she does, I see a flicker of black behind me. A small voice whispers in my ear.

"People, made of water, can also drown in it. Ironic, isn't it?"

I look at Hiyori as she jumps in the water. Could I have miscalculated? Well, when she comes back up to the surface, I'll take her home.

I wait. And I wait. And I wait some more. Something's wrong here. Something's gone horribly wrong. She should've come back up by now. I jump back into the pool and look in the deep end of the pool. Hiyori is floating silently, her foot stuck to the pool drain. I swim to her, free her foot, and push her up to the surface. Her body doesn't have any pulse when I try and find it. She's gone… And just when I thought I saved her.

I look up. The person in black is smiling at me again.

"A gallant effort. Too bad it wasn't enough."

I feel myself fading away again. Why does this keep happening to me…?

More blood on another clock.

"Sink or swim? It's all up to you," the person in black says, the same pompous smile of his spread across his face.