00:43:08.

Very slowly, the Daibutsu descended toward the Gantz players with ground-crushing steps, and to make matters worse, the smaller statues were also closing in quicker than expected. Kurono gritted his teeth, put off by the timing since he hadn't planned on getting ambushed. No time to be a hero this time. Kurono looked at his team spread out, seemingly just waiting for the inevitable to happen. Damn, it's like they've already accepted their fate. Kurono looked at Sei and shared her concern, though in slightly different ways. The teen ran toward her and shook her out of her fear for a moment. Sei looked at Kurono, and he smiled. "Don't worry, we can make it, I promise. We're not going to die."

Sei blinked for a moment, staring at Kurono with what looked to be growing awe, and nodded. "Okay, if you say so, I believe you, Kei."

Kurono reached for her hand and said, "After the mission is over, what say we go for a drive together somewhere?"

Sei gasped a little. "You want to – go out with me?"

Kurono nodded. "Well, sure. You just got your license too, right?"

Sei's eyes widened in shock. I could have sworn I never told him that.

Before Sei could answer, a voice interrupted them. "Hey! Boner boy, when you've quite finished thinking about your dick, you want to explain how the fuck we kill that thing?" Nishi bared his teeth just a little and then cocked his head to the side with a click of his tongue. "Oh, and let's not forget the group of deadly statues that want to rip us all to shreds!"

Kurono looked at Nishi and could tell the boy was worried, except Nishi would never admit it. After spending some time with him, Kurono had gotten to know the tones in Nishi's voice that gave away what he was feeling at the time. Kurono couldn't help but slightly chuckle at the sarcasm Nishi tried to use when covering up his anguish, almost as if he were comfortable enough around Kurono to let that show through despite his attempts. No one else is going to die.

"Kei! They're getting too close, we can't avoid them much longer," Kato explained.

Kurono looked at his team. Damn, when did I become the fucking leader? Just because I know I can foretell the near future. That's fine and all, but once this mission's over, I'm just back to plain old kick-ass me with one less ability. Kurono shook his head. Can't think about that now. If I have to be the leader right now in making sure we survive, then I'll have to deal with it.

"Kurono! What do we do?" Kishimoto asked as she stepped back, raising her weapon.

Ryota wrapped his arms around Kayo tightly. "Grandma, I wanna go home."

Kayo looked at her grandson with concern, and then a determined expression replaced it as she regarded the statues carefully.

"Say something already!" Hojo shouted.

Kurono frowned. Fuck, this is too much pressure. Gimme a break.

Nishi huffed in frustration because he hated to be the one to take over the situation; it might come across like he cared, but since Kurono had undoubtedly closed up, and Nishi would rather not get killed by a bunch of statues or crushed by a fucking Daibutsu, he had no choice.

"Kishimoto once told me that everyone has a role to play; Kato's job was to protect and help people, and mine was to defeat the aliens, and while I think that's yours too, I also think you're a strategist; you have a natural survival instinct, and your knowledge about Gantz is your strongest point; the only thing you have to do is share that."

Nishi grimaced at the thought of helping them decide, but they were running out of time. He looked at the device attached to the wrist of his suit. Quite literally. "Kei, you said it yourself back in the room that I would be better off on the roof acting like a sniper, right?"

Kurono blinked, surprise etched on his face for a moment. Was Nishi actually coming up with a plan for them? Kurono nodded. "And you know how to defeat that Daibutsu, don't you?"

All Kurono could do was nod.

"I'll take care of these things. You and the rest of the idiots handle the big one. As much as it annoys me to think that thing has more points, I only have one point to go, so I guess it doesn't matter now."

Kurono gaped at Nishi, unable to utter a word. Holy shit.

Nishi rolled his eyes at Kurono's lack of response; he knew why the older teen was speechless but didn't have time to defend his actions. Before Nishi ran off toward the roof, Kurono called out to him, but Nishi quickly said, "Don't bother, your gratitude isn't accepted, I just refuse to die before I get a chance to use my points. Just make sure you don't either. I would advise using the others as a distraction for you to take it out." Nishi then disappeared to prevent the statues from following him.

Kurono frowned at the last of Nishi's words.

"As much as it sucks acting like bait, the kid makes a good point," Tetsuo explained as he and the rest moved toward Kurono.

Kurono looked at his team. "I can't just let you risk your lives like that. I already have enough pressure on me."

Kato laughed. "Well that doesn't sound like the Kei I know." Kato placed his hand on Kurono's shoulder. "If that's the only way we can beat it, I'm okay with it."

Kishimoto nodded. "Me too."

Sei smiled and held Kurono's hand. "If you're serious about that drive, then I guess we have no choice huh."

Hojo glanced at the dangerous foes. "Then we better get our asses moving before they start attacking!" Hojo then looked over at Sadako, trying to catch a glimpse of her face again, before turning to the approaching Daibutsu.

Kondo, Tomashino, and JJ exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. "Since we don't really understand what's going on, we'll stick with you guys," JJ explained. "After all, you guys seem to know what you're doing, and this isn't a normal situation."

Kondo pumped his fist. "Yeah, we got you. So don't worry so much."

Kayo turned to Rice, who was sat growling at the statues. "You'll look after my grandson, won't you boy?" she smiled.

Kurono frowned. "All right everyone, let's do it!"

00:36:45.

The team dodged the smaller statues and ran toward the Daibutsu, some with yells of determination. Kurono circled the Buddha while the others began to fire at its legs from the feet upwards. "Don't worry if you don't do much damage, the plan is to just distract it." Kurono looked up at the Daibutsu's forehead. I can do it, just like before, I'll kill it!

While the players' attention focused solely on the Buddha, the smaller statues honed in on Ryota and Rice. Ryota shook with fear, staring up into the angry eyes of two statues close to him. "Grandma!"

Kayo stopped firing her weapon and turned to her grandson. "Ryota!" Kayo ran in Ryota's direction, straying off from the team.

"Hey old lady, get back here," Tetsuo called.

Kayo reached out as she neared Ryota and Rice, but before she could act, one of the statues blew up just before its bat-like weapon hit them. Kayo stopped running and stared in slight shock before looking to the roof to see Nishi aiming his gun, and she smiled gratefully.

"One," Nishi muttered with a grin before scoping the other and pulling his trigger. "Two."

Ryota hugged the dog with tears streaming down his face.

Nishi turned to the sniper, who was frowning at him a few feet away, and grinned. "What, afraid of some competition? Do you think I'll show you up?" Nishi placed a hand in his pocket. "I bet that makes you mad."

Togo remained in his position and used his gun's scope to find the next target. "I hardly think a kid of your age could challenge me."

Nishi actually laughed. "Are you blind, I just took two of those things out in one hit each. And for your information, I was told by a real soldier of war that my sniping skills almost rivaled his own." Nishi chuckled. "Of course that's nothing compared to how much experience I have on you regarding these missions." Nishi frowned when he realized that Togo was ignoring him and had taken two statues down of his own.

"It's no use Kei, this is getting us nowhere!" Kato shouted. "We're gonna have to try something different!"

Kurono gritted his teeth. I know, dammit. But I haven't found my opening yet.

"That's four to your three," Nishi commented with a smirk, resting his gun over his shoulder. "You must be pissed," he laughed.

Togo narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to scope out another statue. "It's not quite over yet."

Nishi laughed again. "Even if you get the last one, the score will be even. Barely. And that's if you even kill the last one."

Togo glanced at Nishi and continued to search. "I'm not trying to win this competition, so your taunting has no effect."

Nishi expressed disappointment. "Tsk. If you say so."

"I'm just trying to take out the enemies."

"Whatever."

"By the way, your sniping skills are impressive, I guess credit should be given where it's due. But leaving yourself wide-open to attacks by standing up in view like that isn't the best thing to do."

Nishi gritted his teeth and curled his hand into a fist. "I didn't ask for a fucking commendation, nor do I want advice from the likes of you."

Togo raised an eyebrow at Nishi's outburst. "Are you really getting angry just because I praised you?"

Nishi narrowed his eyes. His anger didn't come from the praise itself but the meaning behind it. The praise from Togo indicated the help Nishi was reluctantly giving, which just added to the anger. Although Togo was probably unaware of it, it still frustrated Nishi to no end. Nishi turned his attention to the grounds below, toward the fight between the others and the Daibutsu. "Fuck off, you don't know what you're talking about."

Togo shrugged. "Suit yourself then."

00:32:23.

The Daibutsu's large foot flew through the air with force and headed straight for Kishimoto.

"Kishimoto!" Kato called and jumped to shove her to the ground, but as he turned to jump the other way, he felt the foot kick him upwards.

"Kato!" Kishimoto screamed when the Daibutsu's giant hand wrapped around Kato's body.

The rest of the team gasped in horror. "Oh shit! It's got him!" Kondo shouted.

"No!" Kishimoto aimed her gun for the hand, but she hesitated for fear of accidentally hitting Kato. The rest of the team continued to fire upon its body, barely leaving enough damage to stop it.

Kurono crouched low. Now's my chance!

"It's gonna eat him!" Kondo shouted in terror.

"Not if I can help it!" Kurono yelled and used his suit to jump high into the air. "I'm gonna fucking kill you!" Kurono clenched his eyes shut, ready for the impact. However, the impact wasn't as expected when the Buddha used his other hand to swipe at Kurono. Kurono yelped and crashed through the low rooftop below and hit the steps with a thud.

"Kei!" Sei called and ran to Kurono, who was already trying to stand up. "Kei, are you alright?"

Kurono looked up at the Daibutsu still holding his friend tightly, causing Kato to cry out. "Kato!" Kurono grunted as he stood and then ran back to the alien.

"Kei, wait…" Sei tried to stop him for fear of watching him get hurt.

Kishimoto saw what Kurono had tried to do, and a determined expression crossed her features. "You're not taking him from me!" she cried and crouched low, her suit bulging with as much strength as she could muster.

Togo could see the struggle in his scope's view, and before he could take a shot at the hand that held Kato, Nishi told him to stop.

"Aren't you curious to see how this plays out?" Nishi asked with excitement behind his eyes, while Togo's widened in shock at his words.

"What the hell for?"

Nishi huffed. Clearly, he was the only one who'd see the thrills of these missions when possible. "That girl was always depending on others. This time around, she's been forced to take care of herself. I suspect it has something to do with her emotional promiscuity. It's taken the risk of someone else's life for her to finally do something rather than her own life, but whatever."

Togo frowned before continuing to watch the scene.

Kishimoto suddenly flew through the air, causing everyone to gasp. Kurono stopped and watched with a hand reaching out to her. "Kishimoto!"

Tetsuo gave a grunt of surprise. "Damn, that's one tough chick," he muttered and was instantly reminded of his wife. "Just like her."

Kishimoto flew into the Daibutsu's head before it could grab her, and everything fell into silence. Kato was released when the alien dropped him to hold its head in pain.

"Kato, are you okay?" Kurono asked as he quickly approached his friend.

Kato sat up slowly. "I think so." Kato gasped and looked up. "Kishimoto? Where is she? Kei, I saw her just a minute ago, I swear I did."

Kurono frowned and looked up at the stumbling Buddha. "She's inside that thing."

Kato's eyes widened, and he quickly stood up. "We have to help her!" Kato was about to run toward the alien, but Kurono grabbed his wrist. "What's the matter with you! We can't just let her die!"

Kurono gritted his teeth. "I know that! But if we start shooting, we might do more damage. I don't like it either, but she wanted to protect you, Kato. Kishimoto went inside on her own to help save you."

Kato gasped. "She – she got inside on purpose? You mean she wasn't eaten?"

Kurono realized why Kato was upset and smiled slightly. "No, it didn't eat her."

"Look!" Sei shouted, pointing up at the alien.

Everyone stared open-mouthed as the top half of the alien's body burst from the inside out, creating bloody holes in the chest, shoulder, and face before the head completely exploded, sending Kishimoto flying from the body.

"Holy shit!" Hojo shouted.

"Everyone watch yourself," Kurono warned when the alien began to topple forward. The Gantz team distanced themselves from the area, and the alien's remains fell to the ground with a crack.

00:29:09.

Nishi gave a slight grin. "Not bad." I bet Kei is pissed since he won't get the points for that alien this time.

Nishi heard Togo sigh with what was probably relief and inclined his head to look at him.

"We're still missing one statue," Togo said as he stood up.

Nishi shrugged. "It's probably caught on by now and trying to hide itself like a coward." Nishi huffed as though it annoyed him and made his way down from the roof, jumping from stump to stump until he was on ground level. Togo followed him shortly after.

Kato bent down with a show of concern. "Kishimoto?"

"Damn, is she even alive?" Kondo asked as the rest gathered to circle Kato and an unconscious Kishimoto.

"That was some tough Buddha," JJ commented.

"What a brave young girl," Kayo said as she hugged Ryota with her free hand.

Kurono suddenly smiled. "Kato, she's opening her eyes."

Kishimoto opened her eyes to a dozen pairs staring back at her, smiling, despite the fact she was covered in blood. "Kato?" Kishimoto looked at Kato and could see the tears forming in his eyes.

"Thank god you're okay," Kato said and wrapped his arms around her while some of their team cheered and congratulated her.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the game is quite finished yet," Nishi's smooth voice sounded from behind them as he walked through the pool of blood, followed closely by Togo.

The team turned to face them as Kato helped Kishimoto to her feet.

Tomashino and Kondo gasped. "You gotta be kidding me! There's no way there's more of em!"

Nishi frowned slightly with a tilt of his head. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Kondo and Tomashino stared blankly, not knowing how to answer given Nishi's sarcastic tone.

Kurono sighed. "Unfortunately, he's right. The timer is still going. There's more to defeat, but we're close." I haven't seen any sign of my teacher yet, so I guess my plan worked in that department. Nishi would probably be pissed at me, but he doesn't need to know.

Kurono approached his teacher once the rest of his class had left. "Hey, Miss Uehara?"

Uehara huffed and turned to Kurono with a hand on her hip. "Yes, what is it Kurono?"

Kurono gulped with a slight blush on his face when he remembered the words his teacher had spoken to him before on the mission he had with her.

"I knew you were fantasizing about me, and - I got off on how hard I got you."

Kurono shook his head. Focus, damn it. This is no time to be thinking about that right now. "Look, um, I know about your affair."

Uehara blinked for a moment and then frowned angrily. "How dare you insinuate such a thing! I don't know what you're talking about but-"

Kurono slapped his hands on her desk. "Don't be such a stupid bitch! You don't need some crazy-ass's husband to get off with. Get real. If I know about the affair, then that wife of his probably does too. You can't be too careful, so you're better off breaking it off now before something bad happens."

Kurono walked toward the door.

"Kurono, wait a minute." Kurono turned back. "How did you know about the affair?"

"It doesn't matter. The important thing is that you carry on teaching." Kurono grinned. "Who else is gonna accept my indecency's."

Kurono looked at the map on his controller. Looks like it's time to face the boss. Kurono's hand began to shake, and he placed his other hand over it. Can't choke now. Besides, it's not like we've lost that many people. Just the fat biker and the priest, and no one gives a fuck about them anyway. Kurono looked at Sei, Kishimoto, and the rest of the team. The ones still alive now are what matter. Kato, Kishimoto, Sei… if everyone else somehow dies… it wouldn't matter as long as they live. Kurono looked at Nishi. Yeah, him too, I guess. When did I start caring about him anyway? Whatever. Kurono noticed Nishi's lack of attention on them and was about to question him about it when he heard a noise.

00:27:02.

"Someone's down there," Tetsuo said and pointed across from them away from the steps that led back onto the open area. Everyone, including Nishi, turned their attention to where Tetsuo was pointing.

Kurono's eyes widened. "Oh shit, not those guys."

Kato looked at Kurono with a questionable gaze. "Who, Kei? Do you know them?"

Nishi noticed Kurono's hand curl into a fist, and his other tighten on his gun. Interesting.

"Oh yeh, I know them alright."

Nishi tilted his head toward him. "Care to elaborate?"

Kurono took a step forward. "It's those sick fucks who are responsible for killing a bunch of homeless people and for murdering most of my team before."

Nishi looked down at the two males, who indeed appeared to be approaching what looked to be a homeless man. Nishi was the only one who knew about Kurono's last mission before they shifted back in time. Those two were to join them on their next mission.

"On my last mission, I met a boy about my age, and compared to him, you're a fucking saint. But even after all the fucking shit he did, I still ended up trying to save him, because Kato and someone else I knew made me realize how important it is for us all to make it home. It's because we're all in this together, whether we like it or not; and even if we do all die, it's still better than dying alone while others just stand there and watch, right?"

Nishi narrowed his eyes, assuming it was those two, one, in particular, the younger one, he guessed, who Kurono was talking about that day. They'd be complete idiots to allow two people like that back into Gantz, knowing they had the opportunity to do something about it now. Nishi didn't care much for the people on his team, but he would not allow the two below to live long enough to become part of Gantz if their intention were to try and kill them all.

"Oh it's the beginning of a brand-new day, a day filled with hope!" The younger male started singing as he raised the bat he carried above his head.

"The hell! They're singing that song!" Tetsuo shouted while the rest stared in confusion and concern.

Nishi tightened his hold on his gun. What kind of mind-fuck is that? Why are they singing that fucking song!

The younger male struck the man to the head, and a burst of blood sprayed across the path as the homeless man collapsed.

"Kei?" Kato stuttered. "Was that – was that the guy we died saving on the tracks?"

Kurono growled angrily and nodded. Shit, should I have done something to help this time?

Nishi suddenly laughed. "You were killed saving that pathetic idiot, and he died anyway!"

Kato turned to Nishi angrily. "It's not funny! He's just a poor homeless man!"

Nishi continued to laugh. "The humor is that you died pointlessly for someone who was going to die anyway."

Tetsuo clicked his tongue. "Damn, you're sick, kid."

Kurono narrowed his eyes, ignoring the arguments. "Not as sick as them, trust me."

The team's attention was now back on Kurono when they sensed his anger.

Furuta, Mika, Nozaki, Saito, and my teacher… they might still end up in Gantz, but I have a chance to make sure those two don't. Kurono's eyes widened. What am I saying? Can I really kill them like this? Do I have a right to?

Nishi huffed. "If you're that worried about them…" Nishi took the x-gun out of his holdall, waited for the weapon to lock on, and fired twice.

Kato tried to stop the teen by grabbing his arm but knew it was already too late.

Kishimoto covered her mouth as she and the rest of the team watched the heads of the two murderers explode two seconds apart from each other.

"Fucking Christ! You actually killed them!" Hojo shouted and turned to Nishi. "What the hell is wrong with you!"

Nishi shoved Kato away and glared at the team. "Who gives a shit, are you that hypocritical that you'd feel sorry for someone who just killed another just because they could? The way I see it, I most likely did us a favor by killing them." Nishi looked at Kurono, wondering why he bothered defending his actions when he really didn't care. "Right? Don't tell me you weren't about to do the same thing."

Kurono frowned at the bodies in relief rather than remorse. He looked at Nishi and nodded, causing the others to gasp.

"Kei, is that true?" Kato asked.

"I don't have time to explain it, but yeah, they're better off dying now than later." I just hope they're dead for good.

Kondo tilted his head. "If I'm reading this thing right, then I don't think we have a lot of time left."

Kurono shook his head and turned to Nishi and Togo. "It looks like you got all the small ones," he said.

"All but one," Togo explained since Nishi appeared to be distracted again. "We got seven of the eight, but we don't quite know where the other went. My apologies."

Kondo waved it off. "No need to say sorry, big guy. I mean, you got the rest, so it's no big deal if one goes AWOL, right?"

Kato frowned. "It is a big deal. The game doesn't stop until every alien is defeated."

"We will – complete the mission in time, right, Kurono?" Kishimoto asked.

Kurono nodded. "Don't worry, we'll get the rest in time."

"So what's the plan then?" Hojo asked, glancing to the side when he noticed Sadako stepping sheepishly beside him.

"The boss of this game is extremely tough, and it's gonna take a whole lot of us to kill that fuck. But since there's still a stray statue somewhere, someone has to… where the hell is Nishi?"

The team began to look around. "I dunno, he was here a minute ago, wasn't he?" Kato said.

Togo pointed to the right and said, "The kid went off in that direction and then somehow disappeared."

Kurono frowned for a moment as he regarded the area thoughtfully. Suddenly, his eyes widened when he realized where Togo was pointing. No way, he can't have gone there… Images of how Hojo, Sadako, and Kishimoto's bodies ended up the last time raced through his mind, and Kurono couldn't help but shudder. Nishi…

"Kei?"

Kurono became agitated and hastily said, "Listen, we don't have time to stand around. We'll have to split up. Three of you go find that stray statue, while the rest of us find the boss, and pray we get there in time." Before Nishi starts attacking it first.

Kishimoto and Kato exchanged concerned looks.

"I'll search for the statue," Togo offered.

"Me too," Hojo said. "Not that I don't wanna help take out the boss or anything, but I do know how to use the map." Hojo then turned to Sadako. "Wanna join me? I could use the help."

Sadako stared in surprise for a moment before nodding a reply shyly.

"Alright. The rest of you are with me, now let's do this!" Kurono shouted.

00:24:00.

Nishi stepped in front of the large sliding double doors, making sure his stealth mode was still active. "If that giant alien was only worth four points, who's to say those small ones were even worth anything at all." Nishi placed his hands on the doors with a slight grin. "But if I get the boss first, then my points are guaranteed. All I have to do is walk right up to it and shoot."