Yumiko's body is heavy in my arms. It's not that she's fat or anything – far from it. She's just…big. Then again, maybe she's just big when compared to me. I look like a child standing next to her, and my head only comes up to her chest. Yumiko's always been a lot tougher than me too, so sure of herself. One of the top players on the softball team. So much better at everything than I am.

Sometimes I would wonder why Yumiko is my best friend. At the very beginning of our friendship, I thought that she hung around me because the comparison made her feel better about herself. After all, when your friend is inferior to you in every way, it's a constant self esteem boost. But I know that Yumiko likes me for me. After everything she's ever done for me…

Like that time she saved me from drowning. She dove right into the pool and pulled me to the side, gasping and choking and thrashing. Yumiko pulled up over the side, and leaned me over to spit up the water I'd inhaled. Some people chuckled to themselves at the sight of the girl freaking out in the shallow end of the pool. But Yumiko didn't laugh. She gave me my towel and bought me an ice cream, telling me it was my reward for passing my swimming lesson. I knew then, that Yumiko truly cared about me.

It hurts me more to see that she's in pain than my own. Moving around, I can feel the foreign objects inside my skin. But they're only causing me minor discomfort. It doesn't seem strange to me, the fact that I've been shot. It's almost like I knew this would happen. And maybe, a part of me did. So why did I come here? To die?

No, I wanted to be with Yumiko. I knew that calling for others to join us…I knew that she would die if she did it by herself. And then I'd be alone. So this was…my way of committing suicide? That doesn't sound like it could be too far from the truth. But a part of me…a part of me truly believed that some would show up…that Shuuya would show up.

I wish he would leave my thoughts. The image of him swimming inside my head is enough to make me blush and force my eyes to the ground out of habit. I know it's silly of me to hope for something to ever exist between us, especially with so many other girls trying to get his attention while I blend into the background. But a part of me secretly wished that he watched me like I watched him. Because unlike those other girls, I didn't fall for Shuuya because of his good looks. I've seen the way he acts toward people – I've seen the righteousness in his decisions, and I've heard him speak about the justice within. I love Shuuya because of his spirit, and I always dreamt that he'd see my kind heart and recognize that we were made for each other.

I guess dreams don't always come true. The Program sure seems to be crushing mine, and so is the person who decided Yumiko and I are expendable. But I don't want to see who it is. I don't want to acknowledge them at all. All that matters right now is that I'm with Yumiko, the only true friend I've ever had. And in my kneeling position in the growing puddle of blood, I hold Yumiko close, trying to shield her from the pain. Because for the first time in a very long while, Yumiko is relying on me for support, and I will give it to her.

It's strange that I'm not sad. The smile on my face is coming naturally. I don't have to force myself to keep it there. Yumiko's face swims before my eyes, my vision becoming foggy. Neither of us is going to last much longer, but that doesn't bother me as much as it did when we first entered The Program. The scary part's over. There are no more paranoid thoughts wondering where death will strike from. It has seized us, and Yumiko and I will go into the next world together.

I watch as Yumiko's eyes slowly drift over my left shoulder, and I realize that she's staring at our murderer. I want to tell her to look away, because it reminds me that we aren't alone – it reminds me that we don't have much time left. I cradle Yumiko in my scrawny, blood-soaked arms, doing my best to remember the many good memories we have, but it's too late; I'm too aware of the new presence behind me.

"Shuuya." The noise almost frightens me, because I had no idea that Yumiko was trying to speak. But the name registers inside my head, and the figure is once again in my thoughts. Yumiko is still staring at the person behind me, and for a second, I wonder who is standing here with us. I don't believe that it's Shuuya, but…what if it is? Could I have been completely wrong about him? No, I know that Shuuya believes in justice and doing what's right. But what if The Program has twisted him? What if this horrible game has changed him into…into a killer? I have to know. I need to know if Shuuya is still like I remember him, or if he's…

I begin to turn my head, moving slowly because I almost don't want to know the answer. But before I can see, an explosion erupts inside my head. The noise continues to echo inside my ears, and as it begins to fade, so does my sight. I fall forward, landing on top of Yumiko's body.

Please, Shuuya, don't let this game change you into something ugly. Stay the way I remember you, the way that I loved you. Don't let The Program win. Please…don't…die…