Hey, hey, look at that! Another chapter by the next day! Hehe, though, this one isn't really that good as well. e.e *pats Dio-chan* It's okay, you did your best. Thanks, Cy-kun. qq

Quick note, most of the dialogue in this chapter is derived from the actual game itself. Of course, I didn't actually copy it word for word. e.e I shortened the sentences up a bit and added a couple of my own words. Sorry if the dialogue bores you. *sweats nervously*


[Best friends, best friends… Just like that day, eh?]

Hamuko sighed, staring out the window of the train. She had on her headphones, warning anyone to refrain from talking to her. She gazed down at the ocean sadly.

[So even if I do confess, nothing changes, right? It just slips from my fingers before I even get a proper grip on it. Damn it…]

The announcer sounded her stop, and she stood up to get to school, catching a glimpse of Minato from the corner of her eye. Minato nodded at her and walked over. The female paused her music and took off her headphones to listen to what her twin had to say.

"I heard you went out to talk to Junpei the other night," he spoke. "What happened?"

The girl looked at her brother with a quiet sadness, and said, "Nothing much. He wanted to stay friends. I'm okay with that, I guess." She shrugged, and Minato whispered an apology.

"If I hadn't hit him and called him useless, you two would still be together. I was wrong. I'm the one that ruins you, not them."

Hamuko smiled at him. "It's not your fault, Mina-kun. You've always been like that. You just wanted to make sure that I was in the right hands. And I love you for doing that." A faint smile lit up Minato's face, and Hamuko added, "Just make sure you treat Yukari-chan in the same way." A quiet blush appeared across his cheeks, causing the girl to laugh in a carefree manner. She was glad she was able to tease her brother in this way, even if he couldn't do the same.

The bell rang, sounding the end of the school day.

"Guess we'll have to continue another day," Ms Toriumi sighed. "Couldn't think of a way to end that lesson anyway…"

The students stood, most of them filing out of the classroom.

"I have cleaning duty today," Hamuko sighed loudly. Yukari and Minato looked over to Hamuko, laughing as she complained about her job. "Yukari-chan, you mind filling in for me? I'm so tiiired."

"Haha, no way!" Yukari giggled. "Maybe you shouldn't have stayed in Tartarus for so long!"

"Mina-kuuuun." Hamuko looked over at her twin, her eyes begging for help. The boy simply sighed and shook his head.

"Sorry," he apologized, "but I've got stuff to do, Sis." He walked over and simply patted her on the back. "Maybe Junpei will help out." He winked at her, and she smacked his hand. The boy yelped and jumped back, rubbing his hand.

At this, Mitsuru entered the classroom. She looked over at the siblings and walked over to them. Mitsuru spoke, "Arisato-san, I'd like to have a word with you." The twins looked up, surprised at the sudden request.

"Would you like the both of us, or just Muko-chan?" Minato looked at Mitsuru questionably, the elder nervously rubbing her arm.

"Just Hamuko would be fine. Please follow me to the Student Council room… There's something I'd like to discuss."

"O-okay then…" Hamuko looked over at Yukari as Mitsuru walked out of the classroom. The brunette shrugged, and Junpei, catching sight of this, gave the group a confused look. Opening the classroom door, Hamuko shouted back, "Hey, Junpei, you're up next on the cleaning list!"

"H-huh!?" Junpei panicked, "Wait, wait! That can't be right!" Hamuko closed the door behind her, snickering. "What kinda rule is that!?"

Hamuko walked into the Student Council room, and Mitsuru turned as she entered.

"Arisato-san…" Mitsuru sighed. "Do you remember the girl that was affiliated with Strega? Her name is Chidori if I remember correctly."

Hamuko nodded, "Why? What's wrong?"

Mitsuru looked over to the side and nervously rubbed her arm again. "There's a chance she might wake up today." Hamuko looked over in shock, and Mitsuru continued, "A few days after the incident, her body began to undergo Transmogrification. We're not sure as to why that is. In fact, we're still trying to figure this out. However, I wanted to talk about how you want to break the news to Iori. As you know, once a body goes into Transmogrification, their memories will fade."

Just then, Mitsuru's cell phone rang. She picked it up and had a brief conversation with the person on the other line. As she hung up, she sighed once again. "The hospital called. Chidori has just woken up. It seems impossible… Though she has been confirmed dead, Chidori has been brought back to life-"

Mitsuru's sentence was interrupted by the door creaking open. Junpei looked over in shock.

"W-wait," he stuttered. "Did I hear that right? T-this isn't just some sick joke right? Chidori's alive?"

Mitsuru responded, "Chidori is alive. She's being treated at the hospital as we speak."

"But, Junpei-kun," Hamuko looked at him sadly, "she's probably… she probably won't…"

Junpei darted out of the room, stumbling over the broom he had discarded onto the ground. Yukari yelled after him, but he ignored her, running down the stairs.

[Chidori's alive! Chidori's alive, and I…!]

Hamuko looked back at Mitsuru sadly, and Yukari entered the classroom. "Perhaps it's best that he found out this way," Mitsuru nodded.

Yukari glanced over at Hamuko questionably. "Found what out?" she asked.

Hamuko spoke up, "Chidori's… alive."

When the group reached the hospital, they saw Junpei outside the room, catching his breath. Hamuko looked over quietly, and Minato put a hand on her shoulder. Junpei finally opened the door and entered, along with Mitsuru and the twins. Yukari, Fuuka, and Aigis stayed right outside the door.

Junpei stared at Chidori in shock, unable to say anything. Chidori stared back questionably. Hamuko looked over at the two, forcing herself to let out a quiet smile. Minato held his sister's hand and gripped it tightly. Hamuko squeezed her twin's hand, shaking.

[She's alive, she's alive. Junpei will be happy. I should be happy. So… why can't I be happy? Am I really that selfish?]

The doctor explained that she had completely healed and there was no longer any danger of her dying in two years. Junpei knelt down next to Chidori's bed, sobbing. Chidori looked at him, asking what he was doing.

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized through his sobs. "I'm just so happy… It really is you… You're alive, Chidori."

The girl cocked her head to the side, and asked, "Who are you? How do you know me?"

Junpei looked up in shock. "Surely you…"

Hamuko spoke, "Junpei… she doesn't know who you are. She… she's lost all of her memories. Once a person undergoes Transmogrification…"

Mitsuru nodded, "Arisato-san is right. She lacks the potential."

"My name is Chidori Yoshino," Chidori said. "I apologize, but it seems I've forgotten everything from the past few years. Everything seemed very much like a dream."

"Junpei-kun…" Hamuko looked down at him apologetically, and he laughed.

"It's alright," he said. "It's better for her to forget about it. All those things about the Shadows and the Dark Hour… It's not a bad thing to wake up from a nightmare, you know?"

Chidori frowned. "Excuse me, don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say I was having a nightmare. In the end, I met a kind, warm person. I don't remember so clearly, but I wanted him to be happy."

Junpei laughed, his tears running down his cheeks. Hamuko smiled, and quietly dismissed herself from the room.

[Junpei's happy. He really is happy. I can be happy for him, right?]

The auburn sighed, walking past the girls. She sat down at a nearby bench, and Yukari sat down next to her. "Yukari-chan…" Hamuko's red eyes searched for Yukari's brown ones. Tears suddenly came out, and the girls pulled each other into a hug.

[Why can't I be happy? Why am I the one to suffer? Everything is slipping away from me again… Am I truly forbidden to feel happiness?]


I'm kinda sad about this chapter, since it wasn't so much as my own writing - this chapter was completely based off of what happened when Chidori woke up, complete with Hamuko's thoughts and feelings. That's why I was able to write it so quickly. *laughs nervously*

The series is going to be ending soon. As you know, the date is now 1/21/10... Which means Nyx will be coming in 10 days. Until then... look forward to the next chapter!

~theIdiosocracy, Dio-chan and Cy-kun