Much to his surprise, he woke up fairly early, judging by Mondo still asleep and no sounds of knocking on his door. Maybe the medicine was wearing off, or he was building a tolerance for it. Either way, no way was he about to fall back asleep, so he got out of bed and slowly trudged into the bathroom, brushing his teeth and wincing at how heavy he felt physically. Much like before, he silently told himself he brushed his teeth, he could get dressed, he could go eat breakfast. He did get dressed, picking a green shirt with a cartoon character on it, grey sweatpants, and his usual slippers and headed to the cafeteria, surprised to see Hiyoko there.

She had her hair down and wore a long carnation dress that resembled a kimono, staring down at her tray. Hajime looked around and finally sat in front of her, making her give him a dirty look.

"What? You gonna make fun of me? Gonna tell me I wasn't actually sick last night?" She stabbed.

"No, I...I just thought you'd want company," Hajime responded, suddenly feeling dumbfounded.

"Because you feel sorry for me! You'll never replace Big Sister Mahiru in my heart!"

"I don't want to!" He held out his hands. "I just want to give you company,"

"Hmph," Hiyoko stirred her oatmeal around in her bowl as the others walked in and avoided her, sitting in other areas. Hajime just sighed and stared at his own food, finally stomaching a few bites of the pancakes he got and a few sips of milk. His arm felt heavy, but it was progress. Progress was important. He subtly kept an eye on Hiyoko, wondering if she'd break down again, but she ate her breakfast without trouble and walked off to the Goals Group area. Hajime put his own tray up and followed her, just sitting where-ever.

As expected, he wrote down the same two goals and hoped Ishimaru wouldn't call on him.

"I have to make new goals now," Hiyoko pouted.

"Well, I managed to play a game of basketball with everyone yesterday," Nagito spoke up.

"Wonderful news! Did you win?" Ishimaru praised.

"Not really. There weren't any teams or anything, we mainly tried to make baskets. But it was still fun,"

"You get better by the day!"

Nagito caught Hajime's eye at that and smiled in a way Hajime decided he didn't like at all.

"Oranges! I had some!" Chihiro smiled. "I tried to stick a straw through one but the straw got bent...all of my silverware gets bent..."

"Good job! It's rewarding to eat our favourite things, isn't it?" Ishimaru said.

"I like oranges. And fruit. They're nice," Chihiro said instead, glancing down at his whiteboard.

"I'm really tryin', but I got real sick last night. I didn't hurl like I did the other night, but it still wasn't fun. I know my therapist says it's okay but still," Akane sighed.

"So what's your current goal?" Ishimaru pressed.

"To understand that my issues come from food security," She recited.

"Food security? But you have an eating disorder," Hajime said in confusion. "You don't starve yourself,"

"No, I don't," Akane stared at him levelly.

He was even more confused and tried to press the issue, only to hear Ishimaru loudly clearing his throat.

"This is not a group therapy session, this is just for sharing goals, so I have to ask you two to refrain and continue this talk on a later date!" He scolded.

"Yes Sir!" Akane nodded in agreement, while Hajime just nodded.

"Whatever," He'd have to ask Akane about her situation later though, hopefully during exercise hour if they weren't separated again. He was just way too curious about what exactly her issue was. If she had food security issues, then why did she puke everything up? Was it some sort of trauma he didn't know about?

So many questions.

Once they were dismissed for gaming hour, Hajime tried to make note of where everyone was. Everyone seemed to be there aside from Mahiru, obviously. He saw Hiyoko sitting by herself, pouting, in one of the chairs, and briefly thought about going over there before Taeko and Junko pulled him away into another direction.

"Play with us!" Junko asked cutely, smiling.

"Yet another moodswing," Hajime predicted, making her nod.

"Yuppity-yup!" She giggled. "Don't tell the others, but we're gonna play a card game!"

"A card game?" He asked in slight interest as they took their seats. Taeko slipped something out from the front of her robe and Hajime briefly recalled Mondo saying on his first day that she was banned from card games. Because she had a gambling addiction.

Oh no.

"Let us take bets, shall we? The winner gets the nail set I hid under my bed this week," Taeko smiled slyly.

"Where do you get this stuff?" Hajime asked instead as he was handed his cards.

"I know some people,"

"As do I!" Junko rearranged the cards in her hand.

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask," Hajime directed at her, trying to ignore Taeko as she started drawing more cards. "What's Komaeda-san's deal? He's always staring at me and I don't remember what mental disorder he has,"

"I don't blame ya! His is a mouthful! It just means he acts out for attention so if you start getting a lot of people paying attention to you, he'll start doing crazy things to get focus back on him," She stared at her deck.

That...was troubling.

"Let us start this game! I am already predicting I shall win, so that nail set is mine! Throw some money into it too? You're getting out soon, you could very easily supply me with the funds I need if I win," Taeko continued to smile at Hajime.

"Aren't you in trouble because of gambling?" He asked instead, making her narrow her eyes.

"I do not understand why everyone says it is an issue. Gambling is fun, it is my whole life! So what if I stopped attending school to continue my virtual slots...I kept winning, did I not? My parents are fools and just want to inconvenience me because they do not understand me. I could have stopped when I wanted!" Taeko sighed. "And here I am kept from my beloved cards and slots and whatnot...but not anymore,"

Hajime just swallowed and listened to the girls explain the game, putting in his cards and drawing when necessary. He snuck a peek over at Yukizome who was gently tying a bow up into Hiyoko's hair.

"I won!" Taeko laughed. "Let us play another match,"

"If ya say so," Junko sighed, bored already.

"And just what are you three doing?" A cold voice reached them.

"Togami-kun!"

Hajime glanced up to see Byakuya standing there in a silver jacket and white pants, looking fancy somehow, arms crossed in front of his chest, glaring down at them.

"What is it? Are you going against your strict orders, Yasuhiro?" He continued, glaring at Taeko in particular.

"We're playing Go Fish," She all but snapped, staring at her deck.

"I highly doubt that you are. Let me see those cards,"

"No! Mind your own business!" She held her cards protectively against her chest.

"If you do not show me, I will report you,"

"Who made you the boss?" Junko cut in. "Stop being such a tightwad!"

"Everyone here, aside from Hinata I suppose, knows that Yasuhiro is not allowed to play cards and if we see her doing so, to report it,"

"But what does that gotta do with you?"

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted her," Byakuya said simply.

"I was not gambling. I was simply playing a fun game. What do you have against some intellectual enrichment?" Taeko spoke slowly.

"Because that is not what you were doing,"

"Fuck off!" Taeko finally yelled. "You wanna see my cards? Then see 'em!" She stood up and threw them at Byakuya, shoving one of them into his face. They all clattered to the floor. "I just wanted to play cards and you're harassing me!"

"What's going on?" Yukizome asked sternly, finally walking over.

"Our resident tightwads are having a fight," Junko laughed.

"I wasn't asking you,"

"I just wanted to play a game of cards!" Taeko tried to calm herself down.

"I think she was trying to gamble," Byakuya adjusted his glasses.

"Was she?" Yukizome asked him instead. He looked from her, to Taeko, to Byakuya, to Junko, and finally back to Yukizome.

"Well, she was trying to get money out of me if she won," He finally answered.

"Jerk," Taeko mumbled under her breath.

"I see. Miss Yasuhiro, pick up these cards and return to your room, and if you keep giving anyone trouble about it, you will be sedated," Yukizome scolded. Taeko said nothing and stooped down, giving both Byakuya and Hajime dirty looks as she did so.

"I was just telling the truth," Hajime sighed.

"Yeah, people don't like it when you do that here," Junko played with a strand of her hair. "Well, the staff do, but patients, not so much,"

"Are there any staff here with...issues like us?" He spoke lowly as Taeko stood up and angrily handed the deck of cards back to Yukizome.

"Thank you!" She smiled, but Taeko just glared as she was escorted out of the room by Kirigiri.

"Well Tsumiki-san and Mitarai-sensei both have anxiety, and I've heard Ishimaru-sensei is OCD like hell. Not sure on the others though," Junko answered.

"Isn't it, like, bad for them to work in a place like this? Wouldn't it trigger them?" Hajime continued.

"Nah. Kirigiri-san says it's good for them, it helps them build better connections with us because we know what we're all going through,"

Hajime just sighed and sat back in his seat, letting Junko walk around and finally come back with a random board-game. He played it numbly, sighing again when it was time for therapy. No, he could get through this. He could. He had been there for four days and made little progress. He needed something to show for himself.

So, he took his seat in front of Kirigiri again, who nodded at him.

"Halfway point, how do you feel?" She asked.

"Bad. I've done nothing of worth but floated around, basically. I can't eat, I can't sleep without medicine, and I feel I just barely participate in all of the group activities," He threw up his hands.

"And what do you want to do?"

"Anything! I want to eat like a normal person does, for once!" He quickly changed his words. "I mean, everyone else is able to eat without problems. I want to be like that instead of just eating a few bites to survive the day,"

Kirigiri nodded again. "What do you think will help you achieve that?"

"Not having medicine," He answered instantly. It was a risky choice, but one he was willing to make if needed. "I want to try sleeping without taking my medicine at least tonight. If it's really making me feel nauseous and have little appetite, I want it gone,"

"It may take a few days of adjustment,"

"I'm ready,"

"We'll make note of that then," She wrote it down.

Lunch was a relatively quiet affair, and Hajime as usual just grabbed whatever and sat next to Makoto and Chihiro, who both greeted him nicely.

"Yeah," Hajime nodded and stared down at his food. He had no desire to eat and then looked at the two in front of him, who were both eating normally. Well, Makoto was. Chihiro had started staring intensely at his green bowl, a vacant expression on his face.

"How have you been? You're here for a week, right? Halfway point!" Makoto smiled.

"Yeah," Hajime just nodded again. "I have no idea what to think...I still feel exactly the same as I did when I first came here,"

"You're just adjusting. Some people take a while," Makoto reassured him. "I think you've made a lot of progress,"

"Thanks," He sighed and looked at Makoto's clothes; a green jersey, green gym shorts, and he bet four-leaf-clover socks again. "What's with the green?"

"It's my lucky colour!" Makoto smiled. "As long as I wear green, I'll have a good day!"

He stared back down at his food and drank some of his water before Yukizome arrived to tell everyone it was time for exercise hour, which Hajime stood up and stretched for. He headed outside and found several people already there and looked around to see who was doing what.

"Let's play baseball, I think we have enough people for it," Nagito suggested.

"No way, you need like five people in the outfield alone," Junko shook her head.

"There's twelve of us here, we could do it,"

"I don't wanna do sports! I just wanna jump-rope!" Hiyoko threw up her hands happily.

"I wouldn't mind tennis," Taeko suggested yet again. "I would need doubles though,"

Hajime eventually threw his hands up, knowing they wouldn't be able to come to a decision, and wandered off, looking for Akane specifically. He had to talk to her specifically. Strangely enough, he found her at the playground, keeping an eye on a girl as she climbed up a ladder.

"You and kids?" He asked in surprise, making Akane grin.

"Yup! I love 'em! I have a lot of little siblings back home so little kids grow on me, you know?" She looked back at the girl and clapped. "Good job climbing!"

"Okay, how do you have an eating disorder? Do you throw up after you eat?" Hajime asked bluntly. "Sweat it out? If you have food security issues, why do you do it?"

"What?" Akane crossed her arms under her chest. "You think I got bulimia?" She sat down on one of the large swings and started swinging back and forth, and Hajime sat down too but didn't swing. "No I don't have bulimia. Geezh Hinata-kun, I thought you were a smart guy!"

"I am! There's just anorexia and bulimia, right?"

"Nope," She continued to swing. "Growing up, food was always scarce. You got what you got, basically. I started going to school, things got a bit better, but then I started eating all of the time. I was afraid of the food goin' missing, you know?! Just because it's there today don't mean it'll be there tomorrow! So I binged every chance I got when there was enough in the house. I love eatin' and all so I figured there was no problem but I guess one of my teachers got sneaky and signed me up here. Don't even know how they knew but whatever. Now I gotta learn to take it easy and stop going into survival mode as my therapist calls it. But it's cool because I can still eat whatever I want!"

"So...not bulimia," Hajime finished.

"Binge-eating-disorder. My therapist says it's when someone eats a huge amount of food in a short amount of time and doesn't puke on purpose. And other stuff. She's the smart one, not me, but I guess there's books on it you could read if you wanna,"

"Geezh..."

"Like I said, I love eatin'. The food here is the greatest I've ever eaten! When I leave here, I'll be missing the food the most. It's great!"

Hajime swung a bit slowly, keeping his feet off the ground as he mulled over what he was just told. Another eating disorder than anorexia and bulimia? Health classes never used the words, of course, but it was an open secret a lot of girls starved themselves to the point of being skeletons, and a few other girls puked or sweat or did other things to remove their excess food. This was...he had no idea what to think of it. Who would eat so much food? Why? Well, he supposed Akane just told him her reason why, but still.

The last thing he ever expected to be while staying at a mental hospital was schooled on the nature of various eating disorders, and yet here he was.

"Yahoo!" Akane suddenly cheered, leaping right off her swing and landing in the grass, tumbling for a bit before she landed. "That was fun!"

"Miss Owari!" Nidai hurried over. "While I admire courage and spunk in my patients, I have to say that was dangerous!"

"And? I'm fine!"

"You could've sprained something or hit somebody!"

"But I didn't," She stood up. "I wanna do it again!" She rushed right back to her swing and stood on top, holding onto the chains.

"Absolutely not!" Nidai ran after her.

Hajime felt something bubble up in his chest, letting a small chuckle escape from his lips. Akane looked over at him with a grin.

"Was that a laugh I heard? I think you're finally starting to love us!" She jumped from her swing again and landed on her feet, swaying a bit. Hiyoko gave her a dirty look.

"Stupid oaf! You almost knocked me over!" She cried.

Hajime swung himself slowly, watching Nidai run back over to Akane to scold her. That small bit of laughter...felt good. While he knew just laughing wasn't going to automatically make the depression go away, to laugh after such a long time of feeling gloomy...really did feel good. He picked his feet up and swung a little bit faster.

After their daily hour outside, Hajime looked around his room, shuffling through his bag.

"What are ya lookin' for?" Mondo asked curiously, standing in the doorway.

"Cards. Or any of the games I packed. Can I play with other people? I feel you're just going to take a nap again,"

"Nah, I feel fine today. And no, you can't. That's only for nighttime," Mondo answered. "What game were ya thinkin'?"

"Monopoly," Hajime deadpanned, sitting on the floor.

"Fuck no,"

He pulled out a set of cards. "Play Go Fish? You know how to play that?"

"Course I know how to play Go Fish, I ain't stupid! My brother and I...we used to play it sometimes," He swallowed heavily. "So yeah, let's play,"

Hajime got out his seven cards, shuffled some more, and then handed Mondo his own set. He looked at his and saw he already had some twos, so he'd go after those.

"Have any eights?" Mondo asked, and Hajime handed him his one green eight. "Any sixes?"

"Go Fish," Hajime rubbed his nose as Mondo did that. "So, why no nap today?"

"I don't sleep every day, you know!" Mondo stated. "I just tend to cuz I ain't much of a readin' guy or a talkin' guy. It's why I like ya. You respect my space,"

"Of course I do, I don't like people in my space either," Hajime looked at his deck. "Got any twos?"

"Go Fish," Mondo responded, and Hajime did so.

"Did you have any roommates before me?"

"Nah. I mean, one or two but they ain't worth talkin' about. They were kinda like you, only in for a week at the most so I didn't spend much time with them,"

"Well, I'm only here for a week and you're spending time with me,"

"Touché," Mondo grinned at that. "You're cooler than those other guys were,"

The two played their game for the remainder of the hour, Hajime eventually winning and putting his cards down.

"Guess I won,"

"I was so close," Mondo shook his head. "See ya at...whatever we end up doing,"

"Where are you going?" Hajime started picking up the cards.

"To therapy. I got a bunch more sessions because my therapist says I'm not coping properly or something. Whatever. Anything they say is bullshit anyway,"

Mondo left after that and Hajime neatly picked up the cards and wrapped them up again, slipping them into his bag and heading to discharge discussion, taking a random seat. He figured that's what was on the schedule for that day.

Everyone else walked in and took their seats, and Ishimaru walked in last, looking at Hajime.

"Mister Hinata! You are still our newest member, and also the next to be discharged! What are your plans?" He asked instantly.

"Uh...same as last time? Hope things will go back to normal?" He said, making Ishimaru nod.

"A good goal! Miss Saionji! You're going to be shortly after him, what are your plans?"

"I don't know..." Hiyoko pouted. "Big Sister Mahiru was the one person rooting for me and now I have nobody! It doesn't matter whether I leave or not, it won't be the same without her!"

"She promised to stay in contact with you, maybe you could find out her number or social media stuff and talk to her after you get discharged," Hajime surprised himself by speaking up. "I don't think she wanted your friendship to be meaningless,"

"So? She hasn't called me!"

"Not yet..." He sighed. "Maybe she's having a rough adjustment period too, she was here for several weeks or something. Give her a day,"

Hiyoko continued to pout and looked away from Hajime, though her stance noticeably relaxed slightly. If it kept her from freaking out like she did at dinner the previous night, it was for the best.

After more therapy with Kirigiri, Hajime went into the same sunny room he had art therapy in, instead finding all of the art stuff fully cleared out and instead replaced with colorful chairs and instruments of any imaginable kind. Near one of the windows was a woman who had her rainbow-dyed hair pulled into tight pigtails and then styled into horn-like structures, likely kept in place by copious amounts of hairspray. Her outfit consisted of a tye-dyed shirt, jelly and candy bracelets on both arms, a neon-yellow tulle skirt with colourful layers, neon green striped tights, black combat boots, and a black leather jacket. Around her neck were pink headphones.

"Oh no," Hajime said out-loud after he finished assessing her appearance, making her look over.

"Heya! You must be the new patient, huh? Good to meet ya! I am your music therapy person, Mioda-sensei!" She grinned. "Good to see a new face!"

"Isn't music therapy like...listening to music and playing a guitar?"

"It can be whatever you want it to be! Ibuki usually just lets her patients do whatever suits them, but today she'll be leading a sing-along thing if you wanna join!"

"Uhhhhh..."

She moved him out of the way and hurried over to the chairs, waving eagerly. "Hi everyone! Welcome to music therapy! This week, we're just gonna do whatever! Fun, right?!"

Hajime instantly decided she was in the same vein that Mitarai was in; absolutely hands-off with their patients, but where Mitarai clearly only did it out of nerves, Mioda did it because...peanuts.

"Music therapy!" Hiyoko beamed. "Can I dance to stuff like last week?"

"You can do whatever you want! If you need structure, Ibuki will be doing some sing-alongs and playing instruments so just follow her..." She motioned over to the windows and sat on a large stool, taking an acoustic guitar out of its corner and strumming it slightly. "Who do we have this week..."

Hajime glanced around and saw Hiyoko and Taeko dancing, not together, but still dancing. Hiyoko had a small paper fan and was spinning around slowly, fanning herself with it, while Taeko was pretending to waltz with an invisible partner. A small radio was playing classical piano music. He looked around at his own group and found pretty much everyone else there, sitting or kneeling, aside from Makoto, who was awkwardly standing around.

"Pretty much everyone! That's great!" Mioda praised. "What song should we start with today?"

"Surprise us. You always let us pick so how about, this week, you choose for us?" Sakura suggested calmly.

"I agree, I don't know anything," Mondo shrugged.

"I'm already bored, when do we get to play instruments?!" Akane asked, pressing her fists together.

"Does your brain process nothing but loud noise?" Byakuya demanded. "Slow down for once in your mundane life,"

"Rich of you to complain about that in music therapy!" Junko laughed.

"D-Don't get on his case like that!" Touko scolded.

"Ibuki thinks she'll play a rock song! Sing along if you know the lyrics!" Mioda interrupted them, strumming the cords. "Hmmm..." She strummed some more and then started playing, humming the words along. Hajime racked his brain, but couldn't think of any part that sounded familiar to him. Much to his surprise, Makoto's face lit up.

"I know this song! My sister used to sing it all the time..." He smiled a bit. "She used to have this music player and this song was the first one she had downloaded onto it. When she had to get a new one after losing it, it was the first song on it again,"

"Your sister likes rock?" Mondo asked, making Makoto nod.

"Yeah, she doesn't like it as much as pop, but she's into a few girl rock groups,"

"Likewise, I also know it," Nagito didn't elaborate, just continued to listen, sitting on the floor.

"And how does this song make you feel?" Mioda continued to strum.

"Happy because it reminds me of my sister! I hope I get to see her again," Makoto exclaimed.

"I don't know...relaxed," Nagito shrugged. "I don't feel much when it comes to music,"

"That's valid too! Sometimes music just makes us feel relaxed because that's what it does!" Mioda said. She switched gears and started strumming and humming a different song, tapping her foot to the beat. Makoto and Nagito didn't show any recognition, but Chihiro clasped his hands together.

"It's a theme song! It's the theme song to my favourite cartoon as a kid!" He smiled.

"Right! How does that make you feel?" Mioda kept tapping her foot.

"Nostalgic...I wish they still aired it,"

"You've never had a friend as close as Big Sister Mahiru and I were, so shut up!" Hiyoko suddenly shouted, making Mioda pause in her strumming.

"I was merely making an observation that you seem to have moved on rather quickly. Perhaps you two weren't so close after all," Taeko tittered.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about me!" She pointed her fan at her.

"Oh no, trouble! Ibuki will be right back, until then, start playing with instruments!" She put her guitar on her seat and walked over to where the others were, making Hajime sigh.

"What instrument am I supposed to play? I don't know how to play anything," He asked.

"That's the fun part! You can just play whatever you want and not get judged!" Makoto smiled. "Just pick something!"

Hajime looked around at all of the different instruments on display and finally just picked some bongos, hitting one at random.

"Those are fun! Drums in general are though. I just love making noise!" Akane praised, hitting her own set of practice drums. Chihiro had an xylophone and was running the stick up and down it.

"We could form our own little band!" Junko pulled a guitar off the wall and slid it over her head, strumming to it and swaying her body in time. "We just need a frontman!"

Touko trembled a bit and got a small triangle, hitting it rapidly. She still remained in one corner, keeping to herself. Sakura got a binzasara while Nagito turned on the keyboard.

"I'll be the frontman!" He suggested, playing some chords on the piano.

"Wow, you know how to play!" Junko nodded in approval.

"I took lessons as a kid,"

"Okay Togami-kun, you join in! You could play the finger cymbals!"

"Absolutely not. I refuse to do something as childish as play music," He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Awww, come on! It'll be fun!" Junko coaxed.

"No,"

"Oowada-kun can play the finger cymbals!" Akane suggested, hitting the cymbal.

"Fuck no, I ain't doing that!" Mondo declined.

"Then you can be our singer!" Junko suggested, still strumming her guitar and swaying her hips around. Hajime just kept hitting his bongos, unsure of what the others were trying to do. Chihiro slid his stick along the colourful keys. Nagito and Junko were attempting to play a pop song, while Akane just clashed against her cymbal and Touko beat her triangle with all her might. Sakura kept the beat the best she could with her binzasara. It shouldn't have sounded nice or even coherent at all, and yet, despite everyone doing their own things, it did sound nice, to his ears at least. Everyone had their own rhythm they were playing to and they all had the same harmony. Hajime kept playing his bongos, trying to keep the beat of the others. Junko continued to sway her body to the tune, spinning around. Makoto still didn't have an instrument so instead he clapped his hands to encourage the others, getting into it. Hajime felt himself starting to smile a bit.

"Good job! You're all feeling the rhythm!" Mioda cheered, twirling back over.

"What about Saionji-san, is she okay?" Hajime asked instead, pausing in his music-playing.

"Hm? Oh they're both fine! Mioda made them solve their issues peacefully!"

Hajime doubted that, but when he looked over the two seemed to be dancing normally, so maybe there was truth to that. He shouldn't be so mean to Mioda, she was clearly trained and licensed to do her job, otherwise she wouldn't be there now would she?

"What did you all learn from making music together?" Mioda continued.

"We're good at it!" Akane offered.

"It's hard to get people to participate," Junko said.

"It's fun!" Chihiro stood up.

"That...because we were all playing together, we kept to the same beat and rhythm even though we were doing different things and playing different instruments," Hajime surprised himself by speaking, making Mioda nod.

"Yes! And how do you all feel?"

"Good," Nagito smiled. "For once, we put our differences aside and just focused on sounding good together,"

"Right!" Mioda continued to praise. "That's the beauty of music!" She clasped her hands together. "Sadly, it's time to go, so put your instruments up and Ibuki will see you next week!"

"Awww!" Chihiro pouted a bit, pushing the xylophone over to the drumset. Hajime just put his bongos up in the corner and stretched a bit, wondering how much longer until he could go back to bed. If he remembered correctly, there was still more therapy to go to, then dinner, then television, then showering and using the phones. Then he could go to bed.

He just walked to the group therapy room again, finding Tsumiki in there as usual. He took a random seat and watched everyone else file in, and Tsumiki smiled her usual nervous smile.

"H-Hello! Today, we're going to start a-another conversation similar to the one w-we had last time. Today, it's going to be on self-care. Sometimes, our mental states make it hard for us to care for ourselves. How do we break ourselves out of that funk? How do we still do what needs to be done even if we aren't feeling up to it?" She spoke up. "L-Let's start from the left of me,"

Sitting to Tsumiki's left was Byakuya, who just rolled his eyes.

"I do not need to worry about such things, I am not in the same state as the rest of you. I can get dressed, eat, and whatever else like a normal person," He scoffed. "I am mentally sound,"

"That ain't fair! Not everyone here is nuts, ya know!" Mondo shouted at him.

"Aren't they though? You cannot speak without shouting,"

"I'm workin' on my issues!" He beat his fist into his palm. "But you aren't!"

"How do you know what I am or am not doing?" Byakuya adjusted his glasses.

Tsumiki paled. "U-Um...well, that's good. Sometimes we can push through our mental state and do what needs to be done! W-Who's next?"

"Well...I'm like that too," Hiyoko pouted. "I can eat and shower and get dressed and whatever else. I guess...if I feel sick, then I don't because I could be sick, you know?! Why bother brushing my teeth if I'm gonna puke?"

"Your anxiety doesn't affect daily living though?" Sakura asked curiously. "Please forgive my intrusion. I read a lot of people with anxiety have trouble properly living their lives in certain scenarios,"

"Sometimes..." She blushed. "I mean I'm not a genuine whackjob like some other people here so I can take care of myself! My anxiety is just like...sometimes I can't go to the store, but that makes sense, you know? I know where I am and everything!"

"I brush my teeth," Chihiro offered. "I program a lot so sometimes I get super absorbed in what I'm doing and forget...but back home Mama usually reminded me to get off the computer and bathe or something. It was good for my health, you know?"

"B-But how about...when you're having an episode?" Tsumiki asked.

"I don't know..." Chihiro admitted. "Do people take care of me when I'm like that? I don't know,"

"Honestly this is bullshit to talk about. Most of us don't do that stuff when we're having episodes, that's like the whole point!" Mondo complained. "Sure, some of us are fine, but the rest of us aren't!"

"T-That doesn't mean you can't make an attempt," Tsumiki trembled.

"I agree. I take care of myself the way a normal person does," Taeko smiled. "Because I have no actual mental issue and can function as a human being,"

"Well, I think I do a good job! Even if the thought of sharing a bathroom kinda squicks me out..." Makoto laughed awkwardly. "I almost missed school a few times before because I'd just stand in the shower, making sure I was super clean!"

Hajime realized he was next and tried to think of a good answer. Most days, even here, he hadn't really showered because he didn't feel much need to. He only had once purely because he had thrown up. He always changed his clothes though, and brushed his teeth a few times. What was the thing that kept him going through it all?

"I tell myself...if I can get up and do one thing, then I can do the next thing, and the next thing...it's a process. Like I got out of bed, so I can brush my teeth, so I can change my clothes, so I can eat breakfast..." He trailed off. "That's how I get through it,"

"T-That's wonderful! And so inspiring!" Tsumiki praised. "And he's right. Sometimes breaking things down into a process like that can be very helpful with everyday tasks,"

"I agree. Sometimes, giving yourself that small amount of motivation is enough," Sakura nodded.

"I dunno, I just kinda...do! Sometimes Yasuhiro-san threatens to kick me out of bed if I don't and that's a huge motivator!" Junko laughed.

"S-Sometimes, people close to us can be very motivating," Tsumiki nodded, choosing to ignore the remainder of that phrase.

After their group therapy session came dinner, and Hajime got whatever as usual and finally sat down in front of Byakuya, staring at him.

"What?" Byakuya demanded, also staring him down. "I do not have to entertain whatever whims you wish of me,"

"No, you don't," Hajime admitted. "I just thought you might want company,"

"I don't. Leave me alone," He carefully cut his meal of sushi into even smaller pieces, intricate and tiny.

"I feel bad for you. Having a life like yours must suck," He offered, making Byakuya pause and look up.

"What is your point? I do not want sympathy or to be coddled. Besides, who even told you?"

"Uh...a doctor,"

"They are not allowed to share information on other patients,"

"I can't just ask how you're doing?"

"No," Byakuya put his silverware down. "Stop acting as if you do not have ulterior motives. You want to get inside my head, you want to give me sympathy, you want something from me,"

"Maybe I just wanted to sit with you," Hajime snapped. "Not everything has an ulterior motive,"

To his surprise, Byakuya was silent after that. He picked his silverware back up and began eating, not saying anything. Hajime took a few bites too, mainly drinking his tea.

"Hey, you're getting through to our resident hardass! So fuckin' proud of ya!" Junko laughed, sticking out her tongue. Hajime assumed it was yet another moodswing of hers and wondered how many moods she had. "Fuckin' great! The rest of us couldn't!"

"Get your dirty mouth away from here and sit at the main table." Byakuya scoffed. "Would you prefer to get in trouble?"

"I won't get in trouble because I'm not even doing anything," Junko insisted. "I could be looking for a seat,"

"You are not,"

Junko slammed her tray down and took the seat next to him, smirking. "Yeah I am!"

Hajime looked around and still saw no staff, just like he had on his first day. He was still sure there were some around, just hidden, because again, no way was it a good idea to have so many people like this in one place without proper supervision.

Byakuya simply stood up and walked away, putting his food in the trash and going somewhere else. Junko sighed dramatically.

"Still a hardass,"

"You said he's paranoid, maybe you constantly butting into conversations isn't helping him," Hajime narrowed his eyes at her.

"And? Maybe he should totes get over himself. He's far from the most insane person here," She picked up her grapes and dropped them all onto her plate.

Hajime said nothing, he just stood up and put his tray away just as Yukizome came in to announce television hour. At least it was a chance to wind down.

He wandered into the usual lounge and sat down, making Akane walk over to him.

"You wanna pick our show tonight?" She asked eagerly, grinning.

"I'm sorry I assumed you had bulimia or anorexia. That was unfair of me," Hajime apologized instead as she sat down next to him.

"You think I'm mad at that? Nah. Honest mistake I guess," She shrugged. "It's not like ya know what I do during my talks,"

"No, but still,"

"What should we watch today?" Yukizome asked nicely.

"For the love of God not another animated movie! I'm so sick of those!" Hiyoko whined. "It's all we watch and I hate them!"

"We could watch sports!" Akane shouted. "Right Hinata-kun?!"

"I don't really care...leave me out of it," He just sighed.

"We are just going to end up settling on another animated movie," Taeko said. "A shame. I would not mind watching a movie, if it were a historical drama,"

"Can we listen to music like last time?" Hiyoko asked.

"I don't think it'd be a good idea to just listen to music all of the time," Makoto said.

"What about a game show? Everyone enjoys those," Nagito suggested, and Yukizome nodded.

"A wonderful idea, Mister Komaeda!" She turned the television on to an old game show, making a few of the patients groan.

"I am already bored," Taeko sighed. "I would have preferred music to this,"

"It's a rerun too," Mondo noticed.

"Can we watch sports after this?" Akane asked.

"I specifically picked an hour-long episode," Yukizome smiled an apologetic smile.

"Darn it!"

Hajime just leaned back in his seat, trying to get absorbed into the show. A few times he'd randomly look around the room and catch Nagito's eye, which would make the other male smile in a way Hajime decided he really didn't like.

After their hour was up, Nevermind walked into the room, as regal as ever, and announced the schedule, which was the same as his second night there. He stood and walked over to the phone lounge, sitting down and eyeing the phone, willing for it to ring. Hiyoko and Nagito were also talking on their lines, energetic, while Sakura spoke quietly into her line. Byakuya and Taeko continued to sit there, looking in any other direction but the phone.

He wanted to talk to his parents for a while now, so this was the best chance, right?

He stole a glance at Nevermind, still standing guard by the door, then picked up the phone and slowly began dialing, putting it up to his ear and hearing it ring. And ring, and ring, and ring...

"Hello?" His mother's voice answered, and Hajime sat up a bit straighter.

"Uh, Mom? Hi?" He asked nervously.

"Hajime-chan? Is that you?"

"Yeah,"

"Oh, we didn't expect you to call us. You're only in there for three more days, right? So why bother...?"

"I just wanted to see how things were going," He looked around and saw Hiyoko hanging up her phone, then glanced back down at the table so he wouldn't be accused of staring or something.

"I'm really busy right now, did you have to call me at this hour?" She scolded.

"Yeah, it's the only time they'll let us use the phones," He frowned.

"You should try to convince them to change it. Most of us work later in the evening,"

"There's nothing I can do,"

"I have to go." She hung up the phone then, leading the dial-tone ringing in Hajime's ear before he slowly placed the phone back. He just sat there and stared at the phone for a few minutes before he walked over to Nevermind and asked to take a shower, which she nodded at and let Yukizome escort him to the living area.

He walked into his room and found Mondo in the bathroom, shaving, with Kirigiri keeping a close eye on him.

"It's been a while, I wanted to keep puttin' it off but..." Mondo explained. "It's just annoyin' to have someone, especially a chick, watch me do this,"

"There's worse things they could watch you do," Hajime offered, scoping out the scene in the hallway. Everyone else seemed to be in their rooms and doing their own things, such as Junko brushing her hair and Chihiro reading a book. He wouldn't bother them then.

He went back into his room and got out a pair of pajamas and looked around, finally throwing his hands up and starting to undress in his room, quickly slipping on his pajamas. At the very least, he had to brush his teeth. He nudged Mondo out of the way and did so, looking at himself in the mirror before he got into bed. Kirigiri watched him.

"Medicine?" She asked, her hand behind her back. Hajime thought about it. He needed to eat something, and if the medicine was holding him back from that goal...not to mention, he promised he'd at least try one night and go from there.

"No," He shook his head, and she nodded in understanding.

"Alright. Good night," She watched Mondo finish shaving, then stepped out of their room. Hajime covered himself up thoroughly in the blankets and laid flat on his back, closing his eyes and listening to the noise in the hallways, recognizing several voices talking to each other and footsteps running and walking past. He heard Mondo get into his own bed and groan slightly before he must've fallen asleep, snoring loudly. Hajime covered his ears with his pillow, groaning himself.

It was going to be a long night. He kept his eyes shut tightly and prayed for sleep to overtake him.

When Hajime woke, it was still dark and silent. No light poured out from under the door, Mondo snored away, and there was a radiance of warmth in his own bed. In a panic, he tried to sit up and felt a tight grip on him, pulling him close.

"Oowada-kun?" He whispered, knowing that was silly. Mondo was far bigger than him, this person felt thin and lithe in comparison. He rolled over and squinted, making out a white robe and messy pale hair. "What the hell?!" He shouted, thrashing around in bed and finally making the person let go of him, sitting up. "Get away from me!"

"I was having a pleasant sleep," Nagito sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Why'd you ruin it?"

"Because you disturbed mine! Get the hell out of my bed!"

"You were an awfully nice sleeping partner, you know,"

"Get out!" Hajime continued to shout, making the door to his room flood with light as Yukizome, Sakakura, and Munakata all stormed in, looking frazzled despite still wearing their uniforms.

"Mister Komaeda, this again?" Yukizome sighed sadly. "I thought you learned your lesson,"

"Patients aren't allowed to touch other patients," Munakata yanked Nagito out of bed by the collar of his robe, making him gasp slightly as he thrust him to his feet. "You're in trouble,"

"He's a super crazy person, you know!" Sakakura glared at Hajime, making him hold out his hands.

"I-I didn't do this!" He insisted. "I woke up and he was in my bed!"

"I know. You're not the first person he's done this with," Yukizome said. "Hence why you're not the one in trouble,"

"Come on," Munakata pushed Nagito along, and he managed to wave to Hajime before the three ushered him out of the room and closed the door. Hajime blinked a few times to properly process what had happened before laying back down in his bed.

He had no clue if not taking his medicine was a good or bad thing anymore.