----- G7

Hiroki sat at his desk, staring at Kamon's unartstic version of the island map, trying to figure out where people would be going. His face displayed only cold determination, none of the tears like his other classmates. No more crying... Boys don't cry… No more crying. Ever again.

Most of his classmates were now trying to come to terms with the fact that they only had a 1 in 42 chance of going home (though from the screams they had heard, it seemed like their chances had just been unfortunately improved)

Hiroki however, knew already that his grave would be here. Only one could survive. One, not three. Not six. Not forty two. Without the whole class surviving, he would never get over the survival guilt. Without all his friends surviving, he would never be able to get over what happened on the island. And without Chigusa and Kotohiki surviving too, there would be no point in being alive.

Only one could survive. If it was him, then everyone else would have to be dead, therefore he'd barely be alive himself.

So he couldn't win.

But he was going to make sure that he got to see Chigusa and Kotohiki first. As long as they were both alive, he had a point. A purpose.

"Boys #11: Hiroki Sugimura!"

Hiroki rose in a controlled and swift movement, walking to the front of the classroom calmly, and taking his bag from the guard at the front of the classroom politely. He even bowed in thanks before turning to look at Chigusa on last time. She was staring at him intently, her face set to it's normal icy demeanour. As he began to leave, not taking his eves of her, her lips parted slightly, and she let out a sob that was barely audible.

Hiroki turned and entered the corridor. Hirono had previously yelled into the classroom that no one was waiting outside. He gazed around. It seemed to be true, though he couldn't see outside. If there had been moonlight, a cloud must have blocked it, as the exit from the building was dark and shadowy.

He bent down to open his bag, to search for a weapon immediately. He wasn't intending to kill, but he might need one for defence. Though no one save maybe Kazuo could compare to him when it came to martial arts, everyone had a weapon now. It would be unwise to underestimate them.

He dipped his hand into the bag, and felt a small, roughly palm-sized object that was cool and metallic.

He withdrew it slowly. It was just a blank lump of metal. Raising an eyebrow, he turned it over, revealing that the other side had a screen. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was something.

Staring at it curiously, he noticed a lot of red dots displayed on the electronic screen. Most were clumped in a group and...

Hiroki smiled as he realised what it was. It was some sort of a tracker. There were all of his classmates still in the classroom, one dot for each, and there was him and...

He gazed up. There was a dot directly in front of him.

Someone was outside.

But who? It could be Hirono for all he knew, waiting to get a first kill. He hoped not Already, some friendly faces had been let out. There was Kuninobu, Utsumi... Kayoko. Let it be Kayoko...

He moved forward confidentially, preparing for either a confrontation or reunion.

Then, the cloud that had been blocking the moon began to drift on again. Slowly, the landscape regained the dim light it had been dipped in before.

Hiroki gasped. Not a student waiting for a confrontation, but a body.

"Kayoko..."

Oh God...

Hiroki stared down. There was now no point trying not to cry. She was dead... she was...

Someone had killed Kayoko...

"Kayoko… no…"

Hiroki was walking along the bank by himself. Takako had been away that day, and while it was a lonely walk home without her, it was nice to be able to appreciate the natural beauty of the area fully. The evening sun cast a warm glaze over the trees and the river as he walked along in calm silence.

He turned with mild interest to his left as he heard someone walking past him.

With surprise, he realised it was Kayoko. She was walking in front of him now. He could feel himself blushing. Get a grip Hiroki!

She sniffed, and then reached into her pocket to grab out a handkerchief. As she did so, a few notes fell out from her pocket onto the ground. Hiroki instinctively picked them up and called out.

"Hey, you dropped..."

She turned around, and gazed at him as if he were threatening her with a knife.

"Your... money..." Hiroki said, coughing.

She gazed down at his hand. "Oh..." she said, forcing a nervoussmile, and gently taking the notes from his hand.

She looked around on the ground where they stood. "Erm... is that everything?"

Hiroki felt the lump in his throat rise. He desperately wanted to tell her now…

Hiroki bit his lip. "Erm... yeah. That's everything."

She giggled. "Thanks!" and turned to walk away.

Hiroki sighed. I'll... just tell her later. Yeah. Later.

But now there would be no later.

Hiroki had missed his chance. Like sand slipping through fingers… the chance was… gone…

"Kayoko... I'm so sorry..." he whispered.

Takako... she's still alive, you have to stay strong for Takako...

Hiroki stared down at Kayoko's body. It was too late. He hadn't told her, and that was that. There wasn't anything he could do anymore. He had to be strong for Chigusa. He had to...

It was the only thing he could do.

You need to get over it…

He stood up, and wiped away his tears with a clean movement. Taking one last look down at Kayoko, he whispered "Goodbye... I'm sorry that... I couldn't be there for you. You will not be forgotten."

"Probably not," came a amused voice from behind Hiroki. "She was the first to die by the look of it. That's gotta be worth something I guess. Award for lameness!"

Hiroki whirled around angrily. "Mitsuko!"

Mitsuko grinned back at him. "Hello Sugimura. Fancy meeting you! Come here often?"

Run Hiroki! Just run!

Though he was shaking with anger, he turned and ran full speed away from the school. Forget them... Takako is all that matters now... just run!

Mitsuko sighed as he disappeared into the distance. "How rude."

Slowly she began to stride off. There was bound to be someone around... somewhere. Her weapon was pitiful, but she should be able to get some damage done. She grinned. You always do...

----- G6

Yoji looked around nervously. The three of them had stopped walking, having found a small clearing in the forest.

He had felt quite confident with the group when Kuninobu had been there, and more so when Kayoko joined. But now it was just Yukiko and Yumiko. Best friends. Plus him.

They don't want you here Yoji...

He was the odd one out. Just like everywhere else.

"Erm..." he said weakly. Yukiko didn't look up from where she was slouched on the floor.

Yumiko looked up with eyes only just brimming with tears.

Yoji shifted his weight from one foot to the other uneasily. "Maybe... I should go..."

"What?" Yumiko said, sounding outraged. "But... we need to stick together!"

"But..." Yoji began, glancing back in the direction they had just come from, his voice trailing away.

Yumiko sighed, knowing what he meant.

Yukiko slowly looked up. "We've already failed. What's the point?"

"Yukiko!" scolded Yumiko. "We can't give up now! If we give up, it'll only mean more deaths! We have to keep on trying! We arn't dead yet! There are loads of people in our class who wouldn't give into the game. We can still try and unite them!"

Yukiko looked into her friends eyes. "Kuronaga is still a human being. So is Mimura, Shuuya, Hiroki, Utsumi. Everyone's got a breaking point."

"What happened to your message of peace!" cried Yumiko. "As far as I remember, it was you who first said we should stick together!"

Yukiko smiled sarcastically. "I lost hope."

Yumiko stood tall defiantly. "I wouldn't believe that for a second! And even if you have, I haven't!"

Yukiko wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "You really think they won't turn on you?"

"Only one way to find out!"

"We already did. The answer is that they will."

Yumiko shook her head. "One setback and you're willing to just give up?"

"One setback?" screamed Yukiko. "Kotohiki is dead! I'd call that more than a setback! Our class is dying out there!"

"And you're just going to let Kuronaga and the other players continue having their rampage?"

"No! But..."

"Then we have to keep trying!" Yumiko cried. "We have to! What the hell else can we do?"

Yukiko didn't respond for a while. Her breathing was rapid and adrenaline was pumping through her at worrying speed.

Mimura... Shuuya... Utsumi... Hiroki... we can trust them?

How can we trust them now?

So this is it? I give up now? Do I die here

Yukiko looked up suddenly. Somewhere in her mind... she was finally beginning to realise.

Yukiko Kitano give up? Have you ever heard anything so absurd?

"That's... my thing." she said weakly.

Yumiko looked confused. "What do you mean, Yukiko?"

Yukiko smiled. "Mimura is good with computers, Shuuya is good at leading people, Hiroki has martial arts. Everyone has a strength. Yours is making everyone feel good about themselves. I just realised what mine is."

"What?" Yumiko asked, looking as if she wasn't really following.

"I don't give up." Yukiko said, rising to her feet, and reaching out her arms for a hug, which Yumiko returned. "Thanks for reminding me." she whispered into her friend's ear.

"Don't mention it." Yumiko said proudly. "You worked it out yourself."

Yukiko giggled, and picked up her bag. "We should get going."

Yumiko nodded. "Yeah. Where do you think we should go first?"

Yukiko shrugged. "I'm not sure, what do you think Yo---"

Yukiko's voice trailed away.

The two girls looked around in confusion. The gentle light cast through the trees was giving the whole place a hazy look as they gazed through the sea of vegetation. They were alone.

"Yoji?"

----- G7

Yoji was running back through the forest at as fast a speed as he could manage without running the danger of smacking into a tree.

Yoshimi... can't have left her...

I'm so sorry... for a moment...

I forgot how much I need you...

Angrily batting the leaves from in front of his face, he pushed on forward. Fucking leaves!

It couldn't be that far now, surely? Damn him for not being fitter! Damn it!

Then, he felt something slide just in front of his foot, tripping him over. He landed on the uneven ground hard, crying out more in annoyance than rage. Fucking tree roots! Why is everything going wrong today?

He was about to get up again and continue running, when he felt something metal slip around the side of his neck. He froze. What the fuck?

"I wouldn't get up to fast. Hell, I'll try not to cut anything but I can't make any promises, especially if you're going to be an ass about it."

Yoji's eyes widened in fear. He recognised that voice all too well...

"And... erm... two glasses of coke." Yoji said, staring up at the board above the counter that displayed the different choices. "Yeah... that's it. You want anything else?"

Yoshimi shook her head. "Oh, that'll be fine thanks! I don't want to have too much, I haven't got that much money at the moment!"

Yoji smiled. "Hey, it'll be my little treat!"

Yoshimi smiled widely. "Oh, you're so sweet!" she cried loudly, before gripping him around the waist tightly.

"Erm... Yoshimi... I need to pay them and you're restricting my arms..." Yoji said uneasily.

Yoshimi leapt back. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

Yoji chuckled. "It's OK," he said as he handed over a few notes to the girl at the till. He picked up their tray of food and walked with Yoshimi over to a table seat.

Eagerly, he grabbed for the fries. "Man, I love these!" he said happily, as he started to munch on some enthusiastically.

Yoshimi reached out for her coke, and drank some slowly. Once she was done, she looked down at the burger. It was a surprise to her that Hirono and Mitsuko seemed to like the place so much, way too many unhealthy foods! Shyly, she took a bite into the burger as if she was worried someone was going to slap her for it.

"Yoji?" she asked quietly as she gulped down a small mouthful of the greasy food.

Yoji looked up, his mouth still full of fries. "Mmhmm?"

"This is... really nice, thanks." she said, blushing.

Yoji quickly gulped down his food. "Yeah, it is." He smiled.

"Oh!" Yoshimi exclaimed. "You have a bit of something left on your lip!"

"Huh?" Yoji said, licking his lips before wiping them with his hand. "Is it gone now?"

Yoshimi shook her head and sighed. "Let me get it for you."

They both leant forward, and Yoshimi gently stroked her finger across Yoji's bottom lip. Their eyes met, and they both giggled uneasily for a short while.

"You look... really pretty today." Yoji said, grinning. "Oh, not that you don't everyday!"

Yoshimi began to laugh. "It's OK Yoji, I know what you mean. And thanks..."

Yoji chuckled, and they both started to lean in, a little closer, their lips almost touching.

"Oh! My! God!"

They looked around in alarm just in time to see Hirono fly onto the seat next to Yoshimi, staring at her with intense importance. "Me and Mitsu just walked past Mitsuru in the street and you'll never guess what he was doing?"

Yoji coughed uneasily. Hirono looked up. "Oh hi Yoji!"

He waved back shyly as Yoshimi sat, staring down at her burger shyly.

"You gonna finish that?" Hirono said pointing at the burger. Yoshimi shook her head.

Grinning, Hirono reached out, and grabbed the burger, taking a large bite. "I fink he's up ta somfin!" she said, her loud voice muffled through the mouthful of food. "Hangin outsid sum gay bar donton! I fink vough vat he were wiv someone! Dunno who vow!"

Yoshimi smiled uneasily. "Erm, that's great Hiro!"

"Who's the extra?" Said an icy and chilling voice. Yoji looked up to see Mitsuko standing by their table, pointing at him. Hardcore Souma. The psycho...

He froze.

"This is Yoji!" Yoshimi said proudly. "Remember Mitsu, I told you about him?"

Mitsuko seemed to think for a while, before nodding. "Oh yeah. Well, does it talk?"

"Erm..." Yoji said slowly.

Mitsuko shrugged. "I guess that's something." and sat down in the vacant seat next to Yoji.

The rest of that meal, Yoji hadn't said a word, and Mitsuko hadn't acknowledged his presence since. He'd always assumed that any friend of Yoshimi's would be OK, and so he'd never worried himself about her, though she had always made him feel uneasy.

But she was here now.

And he was scared.

"Mitsuko?"

"Get up!" she ordered, and he did so, being very aware of the closeness of the metal to his jugular.

"What's going on Mitsuko?" he asked.

"You're coming with me."

"Why?" whimpered Yoji.

"Stop with the questions, you're boring me. And you don't want to find out what happens to you once I get bored of you." She said coldly. Entirely without emotion.

Yoji began to move forward as she instructed, with her following just behind, the sickle at arm's length still hooked around his now sore neck. Thankfully, Mitsuko wasn't giving him any hugely specific instructions on where to go, just vague ones. As long as he didn't make it obvious, he could probably get back to where Yumiko and Yukiko were. He needed help, and they were the first people since Yoshimi and Niida who had taken the time to actually talk to him like he was another person.

Please let them still be there...

----- G7

"Where did he go?" Yukiko asked in distress, her voice shaking.

"I don't know! I didn't see!" Yumiko said worriedly. "Where do you think he would have gone?"

Yukiko tried to think. "Well... he was really scared about Kotohiki... maybe he ran off further away from the school?"

Yumiko nodded. "Yeah... makes sense. He looked terrified a few minutes ago."

Grabbing their bags, the two girls began to set off towards the east as fast as they could.

Please let them still be there...