"We should go," my father says softly, putting a hand on my mother's shoulder. "We should let Mizuki's friends say their goodbyes to her."
"I'm still so upset," Mom sobs, hugging me tighter. "I still can't believe this has happened. But…" She sighs. "I don't want to prevent your friends from visiting you, Mizuki dear. Just know that I'll be trying my hardest to make sure that something like this - someone in District 2 going into the Games against their will - never happens again."
"Looks like I'm still stuck being a tribute, though," I say bitterly.
"I know, and I'm so sorry," Mom says, releasing me and standing up. "But all we can do is our best from here on out."
"Okay," I say, nodding as I blow my nose with a tissue and look at my family one last time. "I promise I'll do my best."
"Let's go," Kazue says, uncharacteristically quiet. "I don't want to stay here and make everything feel worse than it already does."
It takes a few more hugs and goodbyes, but soon, my family is out of the room. I wipe away more tears as my friends - Gaia, Carlos, and Taiga - come in. Diana follows them, and I feel warm. If she's here to visit me before I go into the Games, that must mean she isn't too mad at me. My friends sit in the seats around me.
"Man, this sucks," Taiga laments. "I'll miss you a lot, Mizuki."
"I can't believe Athena didn't volunteer," Carlos mutters, sighing. "This has never happened before."
"I tried to volunteer in your place, I really did," Diana says. "But so did a lot of other people, and Honoria didn't let any of us volunteer, which really sucks."
"No matter what has happened and will happen, you'll try your best, right Mizuki?" Gaia asks.
"Right," I say, nodding. "I promised my family that, and I promise that to you all as well. Thanks for coming, everyone."
The five of us talk quietly until a Peacekeeper opens the door and tells us that we have five more minutes left. We say our final goodbyes to each other, and my friends leave. I flop down onto a sofa and sigh.
I realize that Diana didn't mention our conflict. Either she's forgotten about it or she's just keeping quiet about her desire to be in the Games in order to spare my feelings. I guess I'll never know the answer to that question unless I come home.
Unless I come home… that will require winning the Hunger Games when I'm a barely-trained thirteen-year-old. I don't think the reality of being in the Games has sunk in yet, but there's no time to cry now because the Peacekeepers are here to guide me and Vitya to the train that will take us to the Capitol. On the way to the train, Vitya smiles and waves confidently while I just try to keep a brave face. The noise and camera flashes are overwhelming, and I wish I was home reading from my science books, but I know that things are only going to get harder from here on out. I take a deep breath as I board the train and the train doors close behind Vitya and me. Goodbye, District 2.
Vitya turns to me as the train starts moving. "Well, that sucked," he says. He looks like he has no idea what to do now, and I don't blame him. I'm sure he expected to be here with Athena instead of me.
"Yeah," I say, wringing my hands together. My first instinct is to keep my distance from my District Partner because I have no idea what he thinks of me. But then I remember my family and friends' sound advice to get on Vitya's good side, so I add, "I'm Mizuki. I've had some training in the main Academy so I've seen you around, but not much because I'm usually in Center D. You must be good, though, to become the chosen volunteer."
"Only the best," Vitya says with a cocky grin. Then his face falls and he looks down. "Hey, listen, I think neither of us really know what we're doing right now so what say we team up? Have each other's backs, at least for a while."
"Really?" I say, perking up. This is going better than I expected.
"A little District loyalty never hurts, right?" Vitya says with a shrug. "Of course, we'll ask Honoria, Julia, and Valor what they think we should do, but I think they'd agree that if I helped you out District 2 would have higher chances of winning."
"I'm definitely in," I say, holding out a hand for Vitya to shake. "For District 2?"
"For District 2," Vitya says, shaking my hand.
A/N: Chapter Question: How long do you think Mizuki and Vitya will have their pact?
I never expected to take this long to write this story, but slow updates are better than no updates. I hope I can come out with the next update soon.