After school, Yuuto was hanging around the gymnasium again in the hope of getting a quick talk with Udou. It was the day before the alumni versus the current basketball team game and Kotarou was extremely preoccupied in worrying about Tatsuki. Koshimi found Yuuto peeking into the gym and staring at Udou, waiting for a moment to speak with him.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, peeking into the gym.
"Urushiyama. I know you think you're clever, but really. I'll listen to you—just say whatever it is you want to say."
Koshimi snickered quietly as Yuuto had a mini heart attack. Udou hadn't turned around at all.
"Just…come here for a second," Yuuto requested. He tugged Koshimi to his side as he turned his back to the wall beside the door.
Udou made his way causally out of the gym and closed the door. He took one look at Koshimi and frowned.
"What happened to you?"
"Fell down a bunch of stairs."
"Whatever floats your boat?"
Koshimi scowled and looked away from him as Yuuto cleared his throat for attention.
"You know about Tatsuki's…issues, right? He's been pretty bad lately. And he's getting a new power that's nothing like his old one. He's avoiding Kotarou, Koshimi, and me. I don't know what we're supposed to do. Look. Could you just talk to him or something?"
Udou looked at Koshimi.
"Ah, I get it."
"Shut up," she muttered, looking back at him," Will you talk to him?"
"I can't do anything for him right now."
Yuuto got irritated.
"What? Why not? I think something in him snapped, Udou! It's not like I can ask around about how to deal with a broken psychic. You're always acting like you know everything, so come on! Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm your ally. Really. Shi, you know that."
The two teenagers stared at him for a moment before Yuuto turned and stomped off.
"Fine. Just forget it, all right? You're such a damn hypocrite!"
Udou's face grew increasingly serious, making Koshimi tilt her head in concern.
"Urushiyama. I know where you're coming from. But it's not my call. This is something you boys have to do for yourselves. There's really a limit to what we can help you with."
Yuuto kept walking, causing Koshimi to run after him, leaving Udou in the hallway watching them go.
-"We"? Who else is he talking about? Argh, this is getting us nowhere!-
-So what's the plan?-
-It's pretty funny that you're letting me run the show.-
Koshimi followed Yuuto to his motorcycle.
"I've given up on Tatsuki, Yuuto. I'm tired. He doesn't want my help. I'll help if I have to for Kotarou's sake and even for your sanity, but I'm burnt out."
Yuuto sighed and got on his bike.
"I'm willing to bet Koutari was behind that accident. He probably sabotages Tatsuki's bike, the psychotic bastard. If Tatsuki knew that…it would explain why he's trying to get back at Koutari. I've gotta stop this. The only way I can think of is by getting Koutari to confess and then calling the cops."
Koshimi turned in the direction of the Oohira house.
"Good luck, Yuuto. I have a feeling Kazuma's not going to let you get him arrested. The fact that he's been out of school for the past few days and Yuna's been so depressed that she isn't speaking to anyone, especially me, means something is up. Be careful?"
Yuuto's eyes softened as he saw her walking toward home.
"Need a ride?"
"That's okay. It'd be hard to ride and hold on with one arm."
That night, the Oohira residence got an unexpected visit from some cops. Kotarou, who opened the door, was pretty alarmed. Koshimi came over for moral support as the officers spoke with them.
"Um…can I help you, Officers?" Kotarou asked, nervously.
"I hope so. You're in the same class as your cousin, Tatsuki, right? Has he been having any sort of…trouble with anyone lately? Inside our outside of school."
Koshimi looked over at Kotarou who couldn't decide if Tatsuki's fight with Kazuma the day before had been of any importance.
"Er, no. No one in particular."
"Hm. All right."
"Um, Sir? Tatsuki hasn't, like…broken the law, has he?"
"No, not at all. Sorry to bother you."
They left after that. Kotarou made to go back upstairs, but the phone started ringing. As he went to answer it, Koshimi slipped outside. The officers were about to get in their car when they saw Koshimi walking toward them.
"Kazuma Koutari. He moved to Tokyo recently and he's originally from Wakayama. He and Tatsuki have had a strained relationship. If you're looking for anyone else, I have no idea, but he's the best I can give you."
One of the officers smiled at her and nodded.
"Thank you, Miss."
She watched as they drove away. She slowly made her way back to the house. She wouldn't go chasing after Tatsuki anymore, but if she knew something she wasn't going to hide it anymore.
The next day was the Alumni Game. Koshimi stood up in the stands with Mio, Chiba, and Karen. Chiba, who was still Mio's friend, had somehow grown slightly fond of Kotarou, possibly because she couldn't stand the boy being depressed as it made making him miserable less fun. As the game was about to start, Yuuto came into the gym. Both Karen and Koshimi looked up in alarm. Even from up in the stands, it was obvious that Yuuto was sporting a black eye. Koshimi instantly headed for where Yuuto was while he spoke with Kotarou. Karen followed not to long afterwards. Koshimi reached the two just as Kotarou grabbed Yuuto's arm as he'd gone to turn away.
"Yuuto!"
Koshimi stopped beside Yuuto, who suddenly had tears streaming down his face. It shocked both her and Kotarou.
"K-Koutari. It wasn't Tatsuki's fault. The accident. It was…Koutari's."
Kotarou was completely confused.
"Kazuma's what? Fault? But how—"
Yuuto turned and shouted the rest at Kotarou. Koshimi just watched dumbfounded as the truth was told to the small blonde.
"Koutari cut the brake hose on Tatsuki's bike! Tatsuki knew that! Don't you get it?"
"Kazuma cut the…"
Kotarou suddenly remembered the night before the accident, how Tatsuki has been freaking out and checking things, and how Tatsuki had been trying to strangle Kazuma the other night. His mind was rejecting the thought though. He didn't want to believe Kazuma would do something like that.
"You're wrong, Yuuto. You have to be."
"Kotarou! Listen to me! Tatsuki and Koutari are trying to kill each other! They have the same power. It ruined their lives!"
"Yuuto!" Koshimi protested.
She felt that talking about their powers was too much too soon, but Yuuto kept on. He couldn't stop crying or talking.
"They're desperate and unstable and they've turned on each other! Goddammit! I promised not to tell you! It…It's because of you! I lose it when I touch you!"
Kotarou was visibly clamming up.
"Yuuto, you're not…making sense. What's wrong with you today?"
People from the basketball team were calling for him to come back inside for the game.
"Oh. Sorry. Look, I have to go."
"Kotarou!"
Koshimi put a hand over Yuuto's eye.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Koutari punched me after confessing he'd cut the brake hose."
The two suddenly noticed that Kotarou and stopped running and that Udou stood before him.
"It's easy to just close your eyes and move on with your life."
"Mr. Udou."
"He doesn't have that option, Kotarou. You're the only one who can save him."
Udou held his hand out to Kotarou. Koshimi could see Kotarou make the split second decision and took Udou's hand. The moment he did Kotarou could see all the pain, all the thoughts, all the hurt that Tatsuki had gone through. There were flashes of things that Tatsuki had been through and he could hear the thoughts Tatsuki had been hiding from him. There were even the times that Yuuto and Koshimi had spoken to him about opening up to Kotarou. It was such a shock the Kotarou pushed Udou away, tears welling up in his eyes.
-T-Tak-kun. That was Tak-kun. He hasn't changed at all. He's still kind, and gentle…he never stopped…protecting me.-
Kotarou let out a pained scream. Yuuto and Koshimi instantly made their way to his side. Koshimi knelt down as Yuuto tried to get his attention as the boy held his head in his hands on the ground.
"Kotarou! What's wrong? What's happening?"
-I'll kill him-
"Tatsuki, no! You can't!"
Koshimi looked up at Yuuto.
"He knows, Yuuto. He knows what Tatsuki's been through now."
Kotarou suddenly got up and took off running. Yuuto shouted after him as Koshimi got to her feet. Yuuto started screaming at Udou about what he had done, but Koshimi didn't listen. She looked around, unsure of what to do. This was the moment she had to choose. Did she give up on Tatsuki and trying to help him or did she go with them now that the truth was out there. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She stuck her hand in her pocket as she heard Yuuto run off to get his motorcycle. Pulling her cell phone out, she called someone she knew would help her.
"Hello?"
"Atsushi, are you anywhere near Konan High School? I need a ride."