A/N: Given this is Kaede as Ayano, Kagepro fans know what's coming up, but if you're not familiar:

TW for Suicide (Attempt)

They've been walking home together for a few weeks now. So when Shuichi gets up to leave, and she doesn't, there's a split second of startled eye contact before he jerks his eyes away.

"You're not…?" He trails off, but she knows what he's trying to say. You're not coming?

"I have some things I need to take care of." She smiles. It's strained at the edges, but she hopes he doesn't notice.

Shuichi pulls the brim of his hat down, still carefully averting his eyes. His other hand is clenched around the rim of the desk.

Her smile saddens. It seems he's still afraid of meeting people's eyes. Not that she doesn't understand; she does. He's been hurt badly in the past by that hellish power of his.

She remembers the first time she stumbled on that secret. She was trying to make conversation—even though he always avoided her eyes because she was never one to give up—when he suddenly stiffened. She gets the shock of her life when he yanks his hat over his eyes and nearly slams his head into his desk.

"Don't look," he gasps when she tries to reach towards him. "Don't—Don't—"

There are people whispering around them. She shoots them a glare, then goes back to trying to get Shuichi to calm down. She catches a glimpse of neon pink, and Shuichi whimpers.

"No, please no, I don't want to hear…"

In the end, she had to take him out of the classroom, dragging him by the hand because he refused to look up. She led him to the music room and looped Clair de Lune on the piano until he calmed down.

They've done it a couple of times since then: her, playing the piano; him, watching and listening, later joined by Kaito and Maki talking him through breathing normally. He's never told her what exactly is happening on those days, why exactly he shuts down, but she can guess now. His power lets him see the truth, no matter how deeply it's hidden.

And truth is cruel sometimes.

She takes his hand. It's shaking, but it steadies a bit when she squeezes. "It's okay. Don't worry. You've been getting a lot stronger, you know?"

His eyes glaze over. "It's just walking home… It's stupid; I shouldn't be—"

"No, that's wrong!" The words tear out of her with the passion of a well-worn catchphrase. She flushes slightly at the volume, but continues. "Shuichi, everyone's afraid of different things. That doesn't make your feelings any less valid than someone else's. It's perfectly understandable what you're feeling."

Shuichi doesn't answer, still staring down at his desk.

She keeps talking, because there's no way she can leave him like this. "If you need to relax, just try to imagine a calm, soothing song… like Clair de Lune!"

Shuichi cracks a small smile. "It's always Clair de Lune with you."

"I can't help it! It's a good song—one of my favorites. And I have some great memories attached to it too." Memories of her friends smiling, hanging out together, and listening to her play. Memories that she cherishes. Memories that she would do anything to protect.

Shuichi sighs. "I still don't know…"

She nudges him. "Come on, Shuichi, we've been doing this for how long now? And you were able to do it every time."

"But you won't be there."

She flinches, then immediately tries to relax. "Maybe not," she admits, and it hurts. "But that doesn't mean you'll be alone, you know? You've got everyone supporting you. So if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, just think about us. Me, Maki, Kaito—all of us. We're your friends, and we wouldn't hesitate to help. You can always borrow our strength if you feel unsure or scared." She grins. "Besides, you're so smart and amazing… I know you can do it!"

A rosy pink blooms on his cheeks. Were it any other day, she would tease him about how easy it is to fluster him. "Alright," he mumbles. "I don't know if I can do it… but I'll try."

She beams and takes her hand away. "Good!" She rises and moves to leave, but she hesitates at the door. She… She can't just leave him like this. She can't just leave him like this. She has to say something. Even if she can't find the magic words to erase his doubt and bring him confidence, she has to at least try… "I believe in you, so you should definitely believe in yourself. Okay? Promise me… you'll believe in yourself?"

"I…" There's a silence. And then… "No, I will. I promise."

Slowly, she turns her head back. Shuichi is looking at her, meeting her eyes.

A swell of pride, affection, and gratitude rushes through her. It's easy to beam at him. "Then it's a promise! I'll be leaving everything up to you."

She barely waits for Shuichi's answering smile before spinning on her heel and speeding down the hall. Her smile dims as she moves away. She has something to do. She can't delay for too long.

She runs past an empty classroom and halts in her tracks. Wait. Is that—?

She peers in. Yes, it's Maki. Alone. What is she doing alone?

Her first instinct is to go in, but… she has something she needs to do. If she waits too long, she might hesitate, and she can't do that.

But this is Maki. This is her friend. This is important. What she has to do can wait a little longer.

She decisively steps in the classroom and raises her voice. "What are you doing here? Classes just ended, right?"

"I'm waiting." Maki is as curt as always, but there's something… off about it. A little more clipped, a little more snippy.

"For what?" she prods as gently as she can, which is… not much, admittedly.

"Teacher." Her eyes slide to the side. "Make-up work for… you know."

Her heart drops. "Oh." With everything going on, it… slipped her mind that Kaito is in the hospital. That he collapsed just yesterday, coughing blood.

Was it really just yesterday? It's too fast—too fast—allegro when it used to be moderato—

Maki is silent. They both are. Kaito's collapse and subsequent hospitalization hangs heavy in the air around them, like the plodding of elephant's feet or a dissonant note. Still, she can't just leave it like this, this awkward, stilted silence, not when—not when—

"Hey, are you okay?" she blurts out.

Maki shoots her a glare. It's familiar. As are her next words. "Do you want to die?"

She laughs them off. A little awkwardly this time, but—she's always been a little awkward with her, it's fine, it's fine. "Did something happen? I would've thought you'd be the first to rush to his side after school let out."

"No." But Maki is stiff. "I just think this is how I can best help him."

"Really?" She can't help the disbelief in her tone nor the raised eyebrow. "You and I both know the teacher can deliver his work to him; you don't have to sit here alone."

"There's no difference whether I wait here or at Kaito's side."

"But that's not what you really want, is it?" She forges on; she doesn't have time for tact. "If you want to see him, then you should see him."

"I don't."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't." Maki scowls. "He's just… a space-headed idiot."

"But you care about him, don't you?" She knows she does. Maki may seem cold on the surface, but she has a really kind and caring heart underneath. "I don't think it's good to deny yourself."

"It's for the better. He… wouldn't want to see me."

She tilts her head. "Hang on, that makes no sense at all. You two are always together—of course he'll want to see you!"

Maki narrows her eyes. "Really? I would think that he wouldn't want to be around someone who couldn't do a thing to help him."

She realizes it then. Of course, it's so obvious. Maki was there when he collapsed, wasn't she? "Maki… It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."

"I should've. He hasn't been well for a while now. I should've known it would catch up to him eventually."

"It's not your fault he's been… trying to make it seem less serious than it ended up being."

"But I was right there." Maki grits her teeth. "I was right there, and I couldn't do a thing."

She grabs her hands. "But you did do something, didn't you? From what I've heard, you were the first to react. You told the teacher to call an ambulance."

"It wasn't enough. Kaito's still…"

"That's no reason to blame yourself." She huffs a breath and goes for the final move. "Kaito wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

Maki winces. "But—"

"No buts! I mean, it's Kaito. Would he really want you to blame yourself?"

Maki glances away. "...No."

"See?" She steps back and smiles at her. "So there's no reason to hold back! You should go to him; he'd be happy to see you."

"I guess." Despite her words, Maki is smiling, and she seems more settled now.

Good. She wouldn't want to leave her friends avoiding each other for silly reasons.

Her smile turns into a smirk. She really shouldn't, but since she won't get another chance… "While you're at it, maybe you can finally confess to Kaito!"

"Kaede!" Maki snaps, but her face is red. "Do you want to die?"

She laughs. "Really! You never know what can happen, so you should tell him while you can." She backtracks. "Not that it's really my place… but all of us can sense your kind and caring heart." She pumps a fist. "So there's no need to worry! I believe everything will turn out fine."

Maki sighs and averts her eyes. "...You too."

She blinks. "Huh?"

Maki fiddles with her hair. "You're worried too, right? About him. But you don't have to. Kaito's strong, so he'll be fine."

Oh. Oh, Maki…

There's a lump in her throat. She swallows and forces it down. "Thanks." Her voice shakes. She clears her throat and tries again. "You really are kind, Maki." Thankfully, her voice is firmer this time.

Maki slings her bag over her shoulder. "Want to come with me to visit Kaito?"

She shakes her head. Oh, there's the knot in her stomach again. "Sorry, but not today. I have something I need to do." She turns to go but pauses again. Maybe it's finally hitting her, but… suddenly, she doesn't want to leave it at that. "Hey. Take care of everyone for me?"

"Sure. If it makes you worry less." It's said flippantly while staring away from her, but Kaede grins. Maki really does care more than she lets on.

"Bye!" she calls, and she hurries off, this time for good. Down the hall, up the stairs. In front of the door, she hesitates. Her fingers drum the opening bars of Clair de Lune on her arm in a burst of nerves.

But no. No more stalling. This is what she has to do.

The door is unlocked. She eases it open and closes it behind her. The wind roars in her ears, louder than usual. Far above her, an expanse of sky stretches across the horizon, clouds drifting idly like a scene from a picture book. On a day like this, she could host a picnic—with piano music in the background and her friends gathered around her. Maybe Shuichi would lift his eyes from the ground, pointing out little details that she'd never even notice. Maybe Maki would hand out little snacks she brought, grumbling something about eating healthier or taking care of their bodies. Maybe Kaito would laugh boisterously, his voice clear and unrestrained by any sickness. Maybe they would talk, relax, and smile, and it would be like any good, normal day.

She doesn't want it to end. She doesn't want anything to hurt them. They've been through enough: Shuichi, Maki, Kaito—all of them. She doesn't want anything to ruin the peace they've found with each other. Sure, Shuichi still struggled to meet people's eyes, and Maki still held herself a little distantly, and Kaito still tried to brush off any pain or weakness… but it was good. They were happy. They could support each other through tough times. They could look to tomorrow and believe that they could make it better.

For their sakes—for their hope, for their happiness, for their smiles…

She would do anything.

She thinks back to the papers she found, tucked away in a forgotten corner of the Academy. The papers about neon pink eyes and supernatural abilities, about another world and its residents, about deaths and mysterious revivals on August 15.

Papers with the desperate scribbles of someone pleading for help. Papers with a warning, especially to those with neon pink eyes. Eyes like Shuichi's, those days he shuts down.

She isn't smart like Shuichi, Maki, or Kaito. She's sure she isn't seeing every implication like they would. All she's ever cared about is playing piano and making her friends smile. But she can't let something like this stand without doing anything to help. She can't let her friends get hurt without doing anything to stop it.

The question is how. If there were someone to blame, some villain to defeat, then she would take them down at once. But there isn't one. All she has is herself and her belief that things will get better as long as she tries to make it so.

In the end, with what she had read, this was all she could think of.

Her hand clenches the railing at the edge of the roof. She swings her legs over and just… sits there. Hanging over the edge. Her arms are shaking, but her fingers are locked in a vice grip.

She takes a deep breath to try and steady herself. It's August, so the air is warm and hazy. She takes another, drinking it in. Her chest is tight.

She mentally pries her fingers off the railing, one by one. Then, she does it physically, so only her palms are braced against the railing, her body teetering on the edge. Even then, she can't quite bring herself to lean forward.

She imagines herself in the music room. The keys are bowing under her touch. The opening bars of Clair de Lune are ringing out. Her friends—Shuichi, Maki, Kaito—are smiling, hanging out together, and listening to her play.

She opens her eyes. She does not cry.

The drop hangs below her.

This is to save everyone, she reminds herself.

She takes a deep breath—

Her body tips over the railing.

A/N: This actually got a little longer than I thought it would haha

I'm a little surprised no one's done this before. The Saimatsu dynamic is literally ShinAya guys

Not sure if I'll actually continue this? I do hope to, but I have a tendency to get sidetracked way too often. I do have ideas (because there's a few things that just fit so well, I mean, Kokichi is so obviously Kano and Maki and Kaito suit Takane and Haruka pretty well), but I'm not sure if I'll be able to flesh it out enough to write more fics on it. For now, have this oneshot with the possibility of other shorts in the series coming later :)

Also, I think it's a little obvious I don't really know how to write these guys, but I tried my best haha