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Ui grits his teeth as they march across campus, the wind cutting at their faces. Indigo dusk darkens the campus, turning the lake a deep black. Hairu holds onto him.

"I can't believe they were sitting on information like this," Ui gripes.

"Well, they didn't have proof," Kirishima says quietly, tightening her coat around her.

"So?" Ui stares incredulously at her. "They still should have—"

"What? Spread rumors?" Kirishima demands.

"You just don't want to admit your boyfriend fucked up," says Ui. Hairu winces.

Kirishima's eyes flash, and it strangely strikes Ui like relief. "Tell me, Ui Koori, Mr. Priss, do you have no things in your life you look back on and think if only about?"

Ui gulps. He still can't bring himself to accept this. "If something had happened—"

"Something might have happened," interrupts Takizawa, balling his fists. He's practically sprinting. "To Akira. And I—"

"We'll—" Kirishima starts.

"What does she even matter to you?" Takizawa snaps. "Are you just coming along because you want to atone for what you did to her father?"

Hairu groans. Ui bites his lip.

"You're one to talk," retorts Kirishima, fire sizzling in her tone, fire that reminds Ui of the person he's heard rumors about, the person who shouted at Mado, who told him off and it was all true in the end, wasn't it? What Kirishima said to him. It was all fucking true in the end.

But did it matter? Could truth itself erode the guilt clearly etched on Kirishima's face?

Evidently not. Ui gulps.

They all fall silent as the science building looms up ahead. Hairu narrows her eyes. "I'm the one who works in his lab. We should split up. Takizawa, you and Kirishima should take the first and second floors, and the basement. Koori, you and I the third and fourth floors. Kanou's lab's on the third floor." She pulls out her phone.

"Good idea," Ui says, catching on. He dials Takizawa. "Stay on the line."

Kirishima and Takizawa look at each other with mistrust, eyebrows swooped down and lips turned in scowls. But they have no choice. They all want to make sure Akira's okay.

We're dealing with a mass murderer here. Ui shivers as the door creaks open. Who wanted to assassinate Tsuneyoshi. Ui can't necessarily fault him there. If he'd done to Hairu what he did to Rize, Ui would want to kill him with his own hands.

But how far is it okay to take the pursuit of truth, and justice?

Kirishima and Takizawa dart down the hallway. Hairu pulls Ui up the stairs, tiptoeing fast. Ui's heart hammers inside his chest. He doesn't want to risk Hairu. But she's the one pulling him.

What if a bomb goes off? What if she loses her head? Ui shudders at the thought. I don't want to be a hero if it means I lose Hairu.

And he understands how so many people—Sasaki, Arima, and all the jerks who knew about Tsuneyoshi—did nothing. They stood to lose precious things. And yet… Ui steps forward again and again. He clutches Hairu's hand so tightly he's afraid he'll hurt her.

Hairu draws to a stop outside the lab. The lights are off. She swipes her ID, and the door buzzes to let them in.

Ui shoves his way in in front of her. She scowls at him. He flicks on the light. Kanou's office is unlocked, and the light on, but nobody there.

Hairu's gaze latches onto a hood at the end. She lets out a shriek.

"Quiet!" Ui yelps, flapping his hands. And then he catches sight of the same object, just lying on the hood, and he can't breathe, air cuts at his windpipe, rude and cold and rough. "That's a—"

"A bomb," Hairu whispers. She grabs her phone and snaps a photo. "I'm sending this to Arima and telling him to take it to the cops."

"Did you hear that?" Ui barks into his phone.

"Yeah," wheezes Takizawa. "No sign of her on the first floor—we're headed to the basement."

Akira gives up after screaming and kicking the door to this basement closet for God knows how long. It's probably only ten minutes, but panic shoots through her. Kanou marched her down the stairs and locked her in a janitor's closet.

Akira gropes through the dark, straining to listen to see if anyone, anyone, might be coming. But all she hears is the whirs of machines.

Her hands close around something round and narrow. A broom handle. Akira grabs it and slams it against the door. Again and again and again. Sweat beads the back of her neck. Forget the concert. She has no idea if Kanou was diffusing or putting the finishing touches on a bomb. But there's no way he plans to let her live. He killed all of those people. Urie Mikito. Yoshimura Kuzen. Shinohara—it's all on him.

And Tsuneyoshi. Akira grits her teeth. Dad, Daddy, did you know that when you didn't turn him in, it might end up costing me my life?

She doesn't want to die. She loves Seidou. He loves her. She wants to kiss him again. She wants to wake up with him next to her, feel him roll over and jab her awake with his knobby knees as he sleeps like an eggbeater. He sees her. He doesn't see Mado's daughter. He sees her, Akira.

And that's all she's ever wanted. A sob rises in her throat. Please, God, Dad, I don't want to die here.

I'm scared.

She only said that to her father once, when thunder cracked above and Mom was gone. Daddy, I'm scared.

You've got no reason to be, Akira. I'm here.

But he's not.

But she is. Akira glances at the broom handle. She still can't fucking see. But her father used to take her to the gym with him. She used to work out with him.

I'm not letting your mistakes drown me, Dad. I'm breaking out of here. He wasn't all bad, and both versions of her father—her father himself, a complex person—filter down into her life, into this day, into this moment. Akira bites her lip. Blood, tangy, fills her mouth.

Here she goes. She slams the broom handle against the lock. It shudders. Again. Akira raises the broom. Blood roars in her skull. She slings it down. Again. Again. Again. She doesn't care if Kanou hears her now—she'll hit him if she has to, just like Mutsuki, just like Mustuki felt—

The lock clatters to the ground. Akira gulps. She kicks the door open, broom in hand.

"Akira!"

She whirls. Seidou runs towards her, dressed in a suit. Kirishima's behind him, babbling into a phone. "Kanou's got a bomb!" Akira screams.

"We know!" Seidou shouts, grabbing her. "Hairu and Ui are—oh God, you're okay, you're okay, I was so fucking scared, Akira—"

"He locked me in there—he threatened to dump HF on me—where is he?" gasps Akira. She clings to him, shaking. He presses his lips against hers, and she realizes that he's crying, face wet and sticky from tears.

"I didn't want to lose you," Seidou whispers. "I'm—I couldn't—I understand now—"

"Thank you," Akira ekes out. You came for me. He looks at the dented broom handle in her hands and smiles.

"Hey!" calls Ui's voice as he and Hairu skid into the basement.

"Akira!" shrieks Hairu. Akira blinks. She had no idea she mattered at all to the pink-haired girl.

"Hairu just sent the picture to Arima. We need to get the hell out of here, now—"

"No," says a voice. "You're not going anywhere."

"He killed my dad," Urie whispers. The words still don't sound real. They sound like a child's dream, like a line from a story, from a movie, by a hero or something, not a student like him, standing there trapped behind a stage and completely, completely helpless.

Mutsuki glances over at him. His face—green hair, tawny skin, soft eyes—blur. Urie's hands shake. He can barely breathe.

"Urie?" ventures Mutsuki.

"We're almost out of time," hisses Amon to Arima, jostling the crowd of performers. "We're going to have to begin, or else—"

"We can go," volunteers Itori, that weird drama professor. "Switch up the order a little bit. I'm sure you can come up with some excuse, Professor Amon." She winks, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder.

Amon gulps. He nods.

"How long is your skit?" Arima demands.

"Long enough," says Itori.

"Numbers!"

"It's a half hour, Kishou," Eto says, prying herself off the wall. Bored, she checks her nails.

A half hour. Urie grits his teeth. He slips out towards the back, away from Mutsuki.

Kanou killed my dad.

Urie had a class with him. He sat in that man's classroom, took notes on his words, took his tests and submitted his knowledge to be judged and graded by that murderous asshole. He slips towards the door. He pushes it open. Wind cuts at his face like a cold knife. He jogs, air scraping his throat.

Dad, why?

Kanou, why?

Even if he had a good reason. Urie could stab him. Poison him. If he hurt Akira—

"Urie Kuki!"

He turns. A leaf, blown helplessly through the wind, smacks him in the face. Urie bats it away.

Mutsuki struggles towards him, hair flying around his face. He tightens his coat around him. "Don't do that!"

"Huh?' Urie glares. He doesn't want to—he has to—

"Urie," interrupts another voice. Saiko, Hsiao clutching her hand. Aura Shinsanpei and Higemaru Touma, both ducking to brace themselves against the roaring wind.

"You heard them," Urie rasps. "He—killed my dad."

"And so what?" demands Hsiao. "You think you can take him down all by yourself? You work out, Urie, but I'm pretty sure I could still kick your ass."

"They don't even have proof," offers Higemaru.

"I don't care!" Urie screams. Mutsuki just looks at him, eyes wide. "Do you—do you have any idea what it's like to wake up knowing that your dad is dead and to go to sleep at night knowing his killer is out there? Do you have any idea what it's like to not have him around for all the milestones he promised—he promised to be around for?" Urie's voice cracks.

"When you graduate, we'll celebrate together," Dad promised. "We'll take a trip, just you and me."

Liar.

You ruined my dad, Kanou, Urie thinks. He clenches his fists. His chest aches.

"I want to confront him too," says Aura. "Deck him. For what he did to my aunt—she lost her legs, and it's all his—"

"Ew, shut up," says Hsiao.

"Stop it!" screams Saiko, clasping her hands over her ears. "Both of you—Urie—Kuki—what do you gain if you confront him?"

"What do I gain by just standing and waiting?" Urie screams. "I want to look him in the eyes—I want to ask him why—I need to—that bastard—"

"Urie." He looks up. Mutsuki moves towards him, arms stretched out. "Urie, please."

Saiko grabs him from behind, and Mutsuki from the front. "Nothing's going to change it," Mutsuki says, voice muffled. "He's dead."

"Stop it!" Urie shouts, struggling. He feels crushed. They're too warm. "I know—I know he's dead—why are you being so stupid?"

Mutsuki takes his cheeks in his hands. "He's dead, and we're here. Fuck Kanou. Fuck Saeki. You throwing everything away just to go and attack him—you'll just wind up in trouble, and I don't want that—I don't want to lose you. You would go to him, if you could, wouldn't you? If you knew, you would grab him." Mutsuki tightens his grip around Urie. "And you wouldn't let him go, because you wouldn't want to risk losing him." Mutsuki's voice catches. "I don't want him to hurt you. Not you, Kuki, not you, Shinsanpei."

Urie grits his teeth. "I—"

Mutsuki releases him. "Please don't go, Urie."

Shirazu.

Dad.

Mutsuki.

His head lurches forward, but rocks weigh his stomach down.

Urie looks at Mutsuki. And then he breaks away from Saiko and runs on, Aura on his heels.

"Fuck," says Hsiao. Saiko drops her face to her hands.

No. I'm not losing anyone again. Shirazu flashes in Mutsuki's mind. He takes off, racing after them.

"Mucchan!" Saiko calls, but Mutsuki still runs. Urie, get back here!

Please. Mutsuki gulps in air. He stumbles over a rock as he rounds a bend, tripping. "Ow!" His palms sting as he slams into the pavement. How am I going to play piano now?

"Aren't you supposed to be in the concert?" comes a voice, slithering from behind Mutsuki like a nightmare.

He springs to his feet, grasping the rock. "Stay away!" Why am I always chasing dreams that won't come back? Urie, I thought you were real. Urie, why?

Saeki holds his hands up. "I'm merely asking, Tooru." His eyes swipe Mutsuki up and down. "You look beautiful."

Mutsuki shakes. His stomach clenches. I—

Urie, if you just listened... Urie, I can't keep chasing and walk into nightmares. I love you, but why wasn't it enough?

"Fuck you!"

Mutsuki blinks. Urie runs out from around the bend. He pulls back his fist and sends it slamming over Saeki's face. "Get the fuck away from him!"

"Urie?" Mutsuki croaks. You came back?

Aura appears behind him, and Saiko, Hsiao, and Higemaru from the opposite side. They close in around the man, blocking Mutsuki from his view. Urie scrambles over to Mutsuki. His face crumples. "I'm sorry, Tooru—I—"

"Why did you go?" Mutsuki chokes out.

"I wanted—I got around the bend and I—" Urie sucks in his breath. He drops his head. "I'm always prioritizing myself—over you—and it's not fair." His forehead presses into Mutsuki's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I—you matter too."

Mutsuki gulps. You really do love me, don't you?

Why? I don't deserve it.

A smack echoes through the air. Mutsuki jumps. Urie whirls. Hsiao kicks Saeki across the path. "I know you," she seethes. "You—just like my father—"

"Go, Uribo, Mucchan," Saiko says, glaring at Saeki as he scrambles to his feet. He pulls out what must be mace, only for Hsiao to rip it out of his hands and spray it in his eyes. Mutsuki's jaw drops.

"Fuck you," says Hsiao, voice shaking.

Saeki howls. Hsiao tosses the can to the ground and turns around. "I have a concert to get to, and so does Mutsuki, thank you. Crawl back into the ditch you came from. You still have a job, but not for long. Karma will catch up with you, you prick."

"Don't look at him," Urie says. "You don't have to." He wraps Mutsuki in his arms, steering him away from the man, steering him back towards the concert hall.

"My phone just buzzed," says Higemaru, holding it up as they rush across campus. According to Mutsuki's watch, they have twenty minutes still. "Juuzou says Ui says they found Akira, but to call the police."

"Should we go?" demands Aura.

"Hey!" bellows a voice. Tokage charges at them. "You kids—"

This time, Mutsuki yanks himself away from Urie to glare at him. "I'm not listening to you, Tokage! We're not."

"You just assaulted a security guard!" shouts Tokage, kneeling on the ground by Saeki.

"How many cats have you killed? How many animals? How many people have you let Saeki attack?" Mutsuki yells. Urie's hand grips his shoulder.

"You're going down," Saiko says.

"Go to hell," says Aura. "Or come at us. I dare you."

"Please shut up," requests Higemaru.

"Let's get back," Urie says, grasping Mutsuki's hand.

"Fuck," says Seidou. He moves in front of Akira, but she pushes her way to stand by his side. Hairu clasps Ui's hand. Kirishima grabs a nearby mop, raising it. Ui's heart pounds. All he hears is blood rushing through his brain, his thoughts, feels Hairu against him, Hairu warm, the dust—

"You killed all those people," Hairu croaks out. "Why?"

"The meeting was supposed to end earlier than it did," Seidou says. "Right?"

Kanou pulls out a bottle. Ui gulps. That fucking acid. He's not risking that kind of agonizing death for any of them. And he's never felt so helpless. "Right," Kanou confirms.

"Don't you feel badly?" Hairu demands. Her voice shakes.

"No, Ihei, I don't," Kanou says, addressing her. "Tsuneyoshi is a monster."

"We all agree on that," says Seidou.

"Do you?" asks Kanou, stepping towards them. Ui refuses to back up. Hairu tightens her grip. The dim lighting sets the room in an eerie glow. Water drips from a pipe behind them. "Do you really? Do you think that publishing an article and getting him severed from his job will give his victims an ounce of satisfaction?" He looks directly at Hairu.

"I think so," Hairu ekes out. "I mean, at least his reputation is—"

"It can't fix anything," Kanou interrupts. "Look at Saeki. Look at Mutsuki. You think same public shaming can make up for all the lives Washuu's ruined?"

"He has not ruined Mutsuki's life," Hairu barks.

"He hurt him."

Hairu gulps. Ui grits his teeth. "So how are you any better? Killing innocent—"

"No one's innocent."

"What was your plan? To blow him up tonight with everyone inside the concert hall?" demands Akira. She clutches the broom handle.

"He's preventing the school from being all it could be," says Kanou. "And no. I planned to only end his life, and the board's, tonight."

"So that's your game? You don't give a fuck about the lives he hurt. You only care about the school?" Ui's voice rises. No wonder Hairu called Kanou a scumbag.

Kanou looks at him like he's a cockroach. "They're not mutually exclusive. A decent school needs healthy minds. Research needs funding, and no one wants to fund a school run by a predator."

"You're a monster," says Kirishima.

"Am I?" croons Kanou. "Then what are you? What is your beloved Kaneki?"

"Monsters who feel remorse," Akira interjects. "So, people."

A clapping sound echoes. Kanou spins.

"Enjoyed getting that on tape," exclaims Tsukiyama Shuu. Of all people. He saunters towards Kanou, dressed in a designer silk suit. "Mm. Prison. How do you think you'll be able to help people in prison? And think of the hideous uniforms!" He tosses a phone over his shoulder.

Karren von Rosewald catches it. She meets Ui's eyes and smirks, then turns back to Kanou. "You're a narcissist who's deluded himself into thinking he's acting for the greater good. You really just want what you want without a care for anyone else. What about their families?"

"What about Urie Kuki, or Suzuya Juuzou?" Seidou adds.

"I don't know who those are," says Karren, still glaring at Kanou. "But let me tell you, dickhead. Losing your family is the loneliest feeling. There's nothing that can justify it. You're just a psychopathic—"

A crack echoes. Kanou crumples to the ground. Ui blinks.

Standing behind Kanou is Kurona Yasuhisa, with a crowbar. "I can't say that didn't feel satisfying," she says.

"Kuro!" cries out Akira.

Hairu sags in relief.

"Acid didn't spill on him, too bad," remarks Tsukiyama. "Anyways. We called the police." Until they get here, how about we lock him in the broom closet? Without brooms, of course."

"You texted them," says Ui, realizing. He turns to Kirishima. He never thought he would be grateful to Tsukiyama Shuu. He wraps his arm around Hairu. She's okay. We're okay.

"You're no monster," Akira says. "Or maybe you were. But right now you helped save us."

Kirishima blinks. "I—suppose."

Karren and Kurona grab Kanou by his shoulders and legs, hauling him towards the closet. Ui catches a glimpse of Tsukiyama brushing his fingers against Karren's shoulders.

"Yes, we're dating," says Tsukiyama. "Who knew? You might actually have been useful for once, Ui Koori."

"The feeling of astonishment is mutual," Ui replies. Hairu snorts.

"You guys have like seven minutes until your concert," says Tsukiyama. "Let's take my golf cart. You didn't think I would walk here, did you?"

One more chapter :)