8/7 Fri, Iwatodai Dormitory, Kazuki/Fuuka's room, Morning

My eyes were starting to open up a little… I felt something on my head.

"What the hell…?" I took the object that was lying on my head. …A rag? Was I running a fever?

I looked towards the floor. "Why is the Futon rolled out?" I got out of bed and I began to walk for the door…

*Door opening* "Kazuki-kun, you're awake!" "Of course I am. But why am I in our room?" "You don't remember?" "Remember what?" I felt like I knew what she was talking about, but at the same time, I didn't.

"Kazuki-kun... you don't need to know." "Fuuka, what happened last night? Fuuka…!" I grab a hold of her hand… "What happened?" "…" "Fuuka, please, tell me." It got quiet real quick. I was getting some sort of feeling in my chest.

"That 'thing' took control again." "…!" I felt my heart skip a beat when she just said. That 'thing' took the wheel again.

"Fuuka, did I hurt you!?" "No, but… You crushed Minako's fingers." I felt another beat skip in my heart. Why did he do that, why does he want to do that!?

I went out the door without saying another word. On my way out, I saw Minako...

"Hey, Mina—" "Get away from me!" I felt the icy demand she hurled my way. I looked down at the floor, trying to figure out how to say sorry to her.

"Kazuki-kun, it's-" "Don't come near me…" I was afraid of what I was capable of now. I didn't want to hurt Fuuka, so I did the only thing I knew what to do - being alone.

I walked out of the dorm by myself to be by myself…

Gekkoukan high, Roof, Morning

Everyone on the team was avoiding me again. I would know because I saw Junpei on my way here and he ignored me. This is like the time I threatened to hurt them if Fuuka joined the team.

"This sucks! Why the hell does this keep happening!? …Why me!?" I began to try and get that 'things' attention. "Oi, do you hear me!? Answer me, you bastard! Just what are you…!?" Nothing, no response. "Why don't you answer now, huh!?" "Kazuki, calm yourself." "Huh?"

I saw M.G. leaning between the doorway. Why is she even her, and how did she know I was here? "What is it, you gonna tell me how I should suck it up and pretend as if that 'thing' taking over never happened!" "No, I wasn't, but now I'm just going to tell you that you have no reason to raise your voice at me!" "…" "You calmed down?" "Yeah, sorry." "It's alright."

M.G. went over to the fence and leaned on it. "You're feeling terrible, aren't you?" "…Like shit." I couldn't shake the feeling I was feeling all day. "M.G." "Yes." "Why is this happening to me?" "…" "You know something I don't, do you?" "…" "Tell me, please! I just want the straight truth for once from you!…"

M.G. wasn't saying anything…

"...There is a shadow inside you." "What!?" "A shadow, there is one inside you." "What does that mean?" "…The shadow lies dormant in your soul." "That makes no sense! I thought shadows were monsters!?" "Here's the thing: shadows aren't just monsters, but the lower part of the human psyche." "Really? How do you know this?" "…From my old leader."

I was still confused by what she told me. More importantly… "So what, I'm a monster? Some sort of freak!?" I was shaking at the mere thought of me actually being a freak of this world.

"Kazuki, why are you concerned about this?" "Why not, I'm not normal! But what does it matter, you don't really care, right?" "Kazuki, wait…!"

I was moving towards the door… "Kazuki!" M.G. grabbed my shoulder… "Let go." "Make me." "Fine!"

I tried to elbow her, but she blocked it. She then bent my arm, straight, then, she kicked the back of mine. "ARRGH!" She then jumped in the air and grabbed a hold of both sided of my neck with her legs, and she flipped me to my back while she turned her body in midair. *Thud* "AGGHH!" "You wanted to fight me, right! Well, here you go!"

She let's go of my arm and she got off from the ground. "This was a waste of my time. I'm going…" She opened the door leading off the roof. "Kazuki, learn how to open up to people more, or else you'll end up all alone..." With that being said, she closed the door behind herself. Leaving me all alone on the roof…

"Shit!"

Iwatodai dormitory, Roof, evening

I came to the roof to find Kazuki all by himself… Thinking back on what I said earlier; it was too harsh. ...Even for me…

"Kazuki." "Oh, hey…" He was lying down on the floor, twisting his hair. "Are you okay." "Yeah, just fine." I went over to him and I sat next to him, but three feet away.

"Listen, Kazuki…" "Yeah?" "…I'm sorry." "For what?" "For saying what I said on the rooftop earlier this morning." "…But you were right." "Still, I—" "It's alright, I don't blame you…" He stood up and was starting to look at the sky…

"I'm sorry for what happened Rin. I didn't really want to hit you." "It's okay." I was looking at the sky too…

"When I was growing up, my life wasn't easy. I had people treat me like I was some sort of monster; I hated it so badly. …I thought deep down I really wasn't. Turns out I was wrong… Turns out I am a freak."

I listened to his story about what his life was like in Mikage-cho… It was not what I pictured his life to be like in is own hometown. "Now you know the whole story." "Such a tragedy…" "That's why I freaked out when you said I had a shadow in me; I thought I really was one." It makes sense now. "When I came to Port island, it felt like a dream. I was happy to be here with Fuuka, you, and everyone else in the team." "…Why me though?" "You're one of my friends." "Oh…" I never thought he saw me as a friend.

"Rin." "Yes?" "What do I do now that I know I have a shadow living inside me? It's okay if you don't know." "Did you honestly think I told you this so you wouldn't be able to do anything about this." "Huh?"

I stand up on my feet and I look at Kazuki… "There is something we could do to help you with your shadow problem." "Really!?" "Yes, but it will be quite dangerous. And it can even get you killed." Kazuki didn't say anything, he just sat there quietly.

"If that's the case, then yeah, I'll do it!" I had a smirk on my face. I knew he was up for the challenge...

"Alright, then we're gonna need Yamagishi for this." "Why?" "She's able to cross into people's souls. So wouldn't one say she's able to do the same for others?" "…Alright then, but let's do this after a certain day." "That would be…" "The summer festival." "That's fine."

I saw Kazuki put a hand towards me. "Mind giving me a hand up? My leg is kinda injured after our little fight." "Sure." I gave him a hand up and we made our way off the roof.

Iwatodai dormitory, Kazuki/Fuuka's room, evening

I was standing in front of my own room, nervous to even enter. "Come on, Kei. Just open the door and you're good..."

My hand was shaking when I put the key in the hole. When I opened the door, walked into the room to find Fuuka sitting on the bed and looking the manga series she's still reading.

"Kazuki-kun!" "Hey." She put the manga down on and jumped off the bed, just to run over to me and lunging herself at me. "Are you okay!?" "Yeah, I'm fine Fu-chan." She had me in a tight grip with her arms around me. I put my left arm around her and I patted her head with my right.

"Fuuka, I'm sorry about what happened this morning. I just—" "It's okay, I know you were going through a difficult time, and I should have been trying to help you more." "You did your best." "…Are you feeling better now?" "Yeah, I feel okay." "Good."

We stood out in the open, hugging.

"Do you wanna come in?" "Do you even need to ask?" She took me by the hand and led me into the room. We watched some movies before we went to sleep. While she was sleeping I connected my forehead to hers'. "The summer festival... I wonder what you'll look like in a Yukata?

8/16 Sun, Nagaki shrine, Evening

I was waiting at the shrine for the girls. (M.G. wanted to come along, too.)

"Kazuki-kun." "Speak of the devil…" I looked over at the entrance to find M.G. and Fuuka at the entrance of the shrine. I saw the girls in there Yukata; Fu-chan's was a teal colored one, and it also had sunflowers on it. The one M.G. had on all black with some purple flowers on it. She also had her signature mask hanging from the side of her head.

"Hello, Kazuki." "Sup ladies." "How do I look Kazuki-kun?" "…You look cute." "O-Oh, thank you." Fuuka was blushing. "Shall we get going? I like to see what this year's festival has to offer." "Mhh, let's go Kazuki-kun." "I hear you ladies, I hear ya."

All three of us went to the shrine. And while doing so, Aigis kept appearing out of nowhere and just kept attacking me. Nonetheless, Mitsu-chan told her to stand down and to behave like a normal person. But by the time they went over to a stand where you shot something with a game, Aigis was about to use her guns. Of course, Mitsu-chan stopped her from doing that. We all continued our night at the shrine.

"Yo, M.G., how did you get all those fish!?" "Gentle hands, and a calm nerve." "Huh, sounds like you." "It really does," Fuuka said, tilting her head to the side.

We went over to Takoyaki stand after putting all the fish back where they belong. "This is so good!" "It's kind of hot!" "Why don't you cool it down then," M.G. said while eating one Takoyaki ball one at a time. "Also, why are you two sharing?" "To save money." I just thought it was a good idea to share it.

After we all finished our Takoyaki, we went over to the raffle box; I won a Jack Frost doll.

"Doesn't it look cute, Fu-chan?" I also love these dolls. "It does look cute…" I look over to M.G., who takes the Jack Frost doll from my hands. "…" She raised it to the sky and started looking at it intensely. "…" I think I see her blushing. "Hey, M.G., do you like cute things?" "Huh!?" She reflexively puts on her mask… "Kazuki, Yamagishi, I'm going to be keeping this. ...For tactical advantage purposes of course." "…I'm not sure about that," I stated confidently. "Yes, and that's the only reason I'm keeping it!" "Okay…whatever you say." M.G. held the Jack Frost doll to her chest.

It was starting to get late… "Hey, I think we should get back, now." "You're right, but first…" Fuuka pointed towards a photographer. "You wanna get a picture together?" "Mhh." "Alright then, let go get ours taken them."

We went over to the photographer for our picture.

"Whoa, it seems like a young man like yourself is a smooth operator." "Wh-What, no, it's not like that! She's my friend and she's my girlfriend!" "Oh, okay, you're the modest type." "Can we please get our picture?" "Sure, Sure…" I was blushing because of this photographer was messing with me.

"All right, I have the camera ready, so I'll go from four to zero for the picture." We nod our heads in agreement…

"Three, two, one…" *Smooch* "Huh!?" "Zero." *Camera flash* I looked at Fuuka after our picture was taken. "Why did you kiss me on the cheek out of nowhere?" "…To make it more memorable." "Oh…"

The photographer came up to us... "Here's your pic." "Oh…thanks." I grabbed the picture from the photographer. I saw Fuuka kissing me on the cheek in the picture, and M.G. was just holding the doll to her chest.

"You kids are adorable." "What!?" I was blushing like crazy. "W-What's your name?" "Why for?" "I want to know who's messing with me." "Fine, I guess I can tell you." The Photographer took her camera and tucked it into her bag. "I'm Maya Amano, it was nicely taken pictures for this festival, but I have to leave." "Okay, thank you Amano-san" "No problem." Maya waves goodbye as she descended the stairs of the shrine.

"I think we should go now." "Okay, Shizuka-chan." "Yeah, let's jet." We made our way out of the shrine. Tonight was a very fun night hanging out with Fuuka And Rin…

"Rin, tomorrow…" "I know, this will be a do-or-die time for you." "Yeah. …But I need you to tell Fuuka about it." "I will…" "What are you guys talking about?" Fuuka looked curiously at us. "I'll tell you about it when we get back to the dorm, Yamagishi." "Okay…"

We all made our way back to the dorm. Tomorrow will be a very important day. I need to get ready…!

8/17 Mom, The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour

I was sitting on the floor with my legs crossed, and with my sword on my lap. However, it's wrapped cloth and some scriptures on the cloth. She said that they would help my weapon come in with me; I have some doubts, but I don't have any better ideas, so it's better to just go with it.

"Kazuki-kun, are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "…Are you sure?" "Fu-chan, I'm sure. I need to be." "Good, you'll need to be prepared." "I am…"

Fuuka sat down in front of me with her knees on the floor, and her hands on my head.

"The link is ready." "Good." "Kazuki, remember, you need to get the shadow to accept you. And also be careful, the shadow will try to kill you while you're in there." "Okay, but how do I get the shadow to accept me?" "I don't know, you'll have to figure it out while you're in there." "Alright."

"Yamagishi, now." "O-Okay." My Vision was beginning to fade. "Kazuki-kun, come back to alive." "Gotcha!" "…And also…"

My vision went completely blank before she could say anything else. But it didn't mean I didn't hear what she said to me, and what I felt on my lips. "…I love you." Those words gave me more confidants that I'll win this…

8/17 Mon, The sea of Kazuki's soul, Dark Hour

I was sinking into my own soul, only to land on a building...

"So, what brings you out to these neck of the woods?" I look behind me to find 'him' behind me. "So, Kazuki, what the hell you doing here, you pussy!?" "I'm here to end this!" "*Chuckle* There's nothing to end because it never started to begin with!" "Then let me kick this thing off!" "Bring it then! I'm gonna enjoy this…!


I'm finally back, people! I finally finished editing all the chapters. Although I might have overlooked something, hopefully, nothing major So, I will be uploading new chapters of this like I usually would. And as for Reversed, I actually need to think about how I'm gonna do the rest of that story before uploading new chapters. With that being said, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and if you did please follow the story and leave what you thought of this chapter and the previous ones. So until the next; see ya...

P.S. I did change a lot of things in the last 28 chapters. Not just text, but new things, and some changes in important parts. So I recommend to go back and read the chapters if you like. (I don't want to say go read them now, but when you guys have time on your hands.) So again, until the next chapter; see ya...