Hey guys here's Chapter 4 - before it starts I just want to say thank you to everyone's who is following this story and for the reviews I've gotten so far, and even to any readers who simply enjoy this story so far. I've really been finding this story a good way to unwind and I've kept a pretty decent schedule when writing for this so that's good. I hope you guys like this one - it's starting to become it's own 'thing' from this chapter on I think - and hopefully it will continue to develop as it goes on. Enjoy!

Chapter 4 - Fiction sleeps, reality awakens

He spluttered as emerged from the dimly lit pod he was lying in. His body was soaked which only added to his disorientation. To add insult to injury his head began to throb which always impeded his deductive abilities, so he simply stared forwards for a moment, taking in the dull sounds of machinery lined up all around him.

In a second he was surrounded by what appeared to be a cluster of doctors. Various hands reached out toward him, checking his body over and barraging him with questions like 'how are you feeling?' and 'is there any pain in (insert body part here)?' This repeated for a small while until the two doctors that were on his side supporting him helped him into a wheelchair that had been prepared for him.

It seemed that his responses were adequate, despite the fact that his body weak, as he was asked no further questions as he was wheeled off to be washed and changed into less wet clothes.

As this went on, his mind was focused on one thing in particular - his two friends that he had exited the simulation with. He was told they would be reunited soon. His mind was muddled, but he could clearly remember that he wasn't alone. He was told that his full memory would return to him shortly. Until then he felt lost and confused. Memories were returning to him at a steady pace. It was hard to put the whole picture together when you lack pieces of the puzzle.

'Mr Otonashii' the doctors had called him. That felt familiar but wrong. Clean and dry, he was wheeled into a small white room where myriad tests were conducted on him to fully make sure that he was as okay as he had said. After this, he was taken to 'see his friends'. While he waited, one of the nurses that was assigned to him offered him food and water. He wasn't hungry, but his throat was dry to the point where speaking was painful. He requested more water and drank his fill.

After he had finished drinking, he heard a nearby door open, and the familiar sound of a wheelchair filled the air. He turned his head slightly, getting a view of the two girls that had entered.

They looked as grim as he felt. Yushiro(?) took a small amount of solace in this - feeling like he wasn't alone in how he was feeling. However, feelings of relief to be reunited with his friends, as well as worry for their well-being dominated. He couldn't remember their names at the moment, but to see that they were alive and somewhat well was consolation enough.

The two girls were placed facing him, the nurses that had handled them excusing themselves, telling them that they would be outside if they needed anything. When the door closed behind them, the silence in the room was palpable.

Finally he looked up at his companions. For the life of him he couldn't recall their faces from his memory. Just blurs. A short girl with red hair on his left. They made eye contact. A pause.

'Himiko...Yumeno...magician...' he recalled. So far that was all that came to him. His memories of the simulation were the furthest out of reach in his mind. It felt like it was taking double the time and effort to recall those memories than it took to remember who he was before all of this.

A name, a talent, and a sense of camaraderie was the only affinity he could feel with the short girl at the moment.

His gaze lingered for a moment, though he couldn't help his gaze from being focused on the other girl.

"M-Maki...?" His slightly hoarse voice held more than just confusion. It also held fear - which did not go unnoticed by the red-eyed girl. Many of the memories of her in Yushiro's mind had her holding dangerous weapons, giving looks that could kill and asking people if they wanted to die.

She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. Himiko(?) looked at Yushiro, and then at Maki(?). His reaction had clearly served to amplify her confusion over her current situation. Shuichi felt bad adding to her distress, but Yushiro couldn't help but tremble as the assassin's name left his lips.

"Shuichi." Maki spoke, almost pleadingly. Why, he wasn't sure. Pleading him to remember her maybe? Yushiro had a feeling that there was more to this girl than what he currently remembered from the simulation, and felt slightly bad that he couldn't recall.

The came she called him made him pause. 'Shuichi'. 'Shuichi Saihara'. Detective. Him? The name was familiar. So that was his name inside the simulation.

Sparks of memories fluttered deep in his mind. He recoiled slightly at the process, something Maki mistook for a flinch at her presence.

"Nyeh?" Himiko coughed. "I mean - are you okay Shuichi? You seem afraid of Maki-roll"

Yushiro and Maki's attention moved from eachother to the smaller girl. He got the feeling that her memories of Maki were coming back to her faster than his were.

"A-ah, yeah. Sorry. I can't remember much at the moment. Only fragments." Yushiro spluttered. Maki seemed to relax slightly at his explanation.

Her neutral expression remained on her face as always. She clearly still felt a need to belie her feelings. Yushiro felt that she wasn't able to trust him or Himiko fully yet, which he could understand, feeling the same himself.

He cleared his throat. "How are you both feeling?" Shuichi's voice, laden with concern unconsciously emitted from him.

Maki stayed silent, so Himiko took it upon herself to talk.

"Not sure...I can't tell who I am really. It's annoying." She tugged on her hat. "I don't even know if my name is Maho Aya or Himiko Yumeno." Yushiro could relate, and he was sure that Maki was feeling similarly.

Yushiro and Himiko looked at Maki expectantly for a response.

"Yeah. Me too." Short and curt. Somehow Yushiro felt that was in character for her.

"So..." Himiko started. "Have any theories? We don't really have anything to go off here." She yawned.

Shuichi's detective abilities took over. "Well, I noticed something when I was being removed from the pod I was in earlier. Back then I didn't think anything about it, but now it's prevalent. The other pods were empty - and considering this was all a simulation, it might not be farfetched to think that this means the others may be alive. The effects on their mental state after undergoing virtual deaths is something I can't comment on though - I only have a basic knowledge of psychology, and even then, this simulation is an unprecedented event."

He took on a thinking pose.

"We'll have to investigate more. Right now I don't have enough information to draw any conclusions - only hypotheses. It could turn out that they're not planning on letting us leave - in which case we'll have to re-assess our situation and potentially plan an escape. Though I have a feeling that we'll find out much more tomorrow."

"Detective's intuition?" Himiko coyly smiled.

Yushiro quietly chuckled. "Just a hunch."

"I hope everyone is okay." Himiko said quietly. "I think..." She added quieter.

A small silence settled over the group as they each tried to remember who exactly 'everyone' was, and what, if anything they each meant to them.

Yushiro spoke up to dispell the silence that was making him increasingly uncomfortable. "W-well for today I think we should go to sleep. We'll need to be well-rested for whatever goes on tomorrow. I think. Y-you guys don't have to listen to me, but...um..." He reached for his hat and pulled it over his eyes to avoid eye-contact.

Maki gave him a look. "Yeah, that would be for the best. Especially if we have to use force to break out tomorrow." Himiko nodded. Yushiro wasn't surprised that she expected to have to forcefully escape.

"Well, uh..."

"Goodnight". With that final word the three survivors went their separate ways towards their assigned rooms.

Yushiro grasped the door handle and took a single step in before he felt a tug at his sleeve.

"Hm?" He turned expecting to see Himiko - the shy act befitting her.

Maki tightly held his sleeve, eyes covered by her hair. Unable to see her eyes, Yushiro couldn't read her to ascertain her intentions. That, alongside the assassin's mere presence and proximity to him make Yushiro's heart race in fear. A feeling of dread settled in his stomach and he found his mouth dry and mind blank.

Just like before he was at someone's complete and utter mercy. He couldn't push down those old feelings of longing for death. Though Yushiro couldn't tell himself whether that was a good or bad thing. Conflicting thoughts fought with his old mindset.

'Don't be afraid, trust her' he unconsciously thought to himself. He took a deep breath to calm himself and the dark thoughts that naturally came to him.

"Shuichi." He had to strain himself to hear the words that were whispered by the assassin.

"...Maki...?"

"I...No. Nevermind."

"Wait." He grabbed her arm. He didn't know why. In one swift movement the girl had him up against the wall with the arm that grabbed her painfully pinned by the assassin.

"You wanna die? - Ah. I-I'm sorry. Reflexes." She released Yushiro with a look of shame.

He moved his arm in a circular motion to make sure he wasn't injured. He shook as he remembered he was used to being treated like that.

"...it's fine... goodnight." Maki looked almost disappointed with his response, but shook her head and walked away.

For some reason, he did a few sets of sit-ups and push-ups before he decided to sleep.

Yushiro Otonashii sleeps.

Shuichi Saihara wakes up.

Dun dun dun. The plot - it thickens. So I tried to make the real life name for Shuichi fitting, so the meaning of his name is 'meek boy who shouts' which is pretty fitting with the simulation personality of Shuichi. Same with choosing Himiko's real name. I may not give every character a name for their original selves, but I'm at least planning a few more. I was a bit unsure of creating these new names to begin with - I'm not really a fan of OC's in my stories so I didn't want it to seem like I was making a new character. I think in the end it turned out alright though, as I've tried to make the original name and personality of each character fit with them as a character. You'll see more of what I mean in future chapters. Hope you guys liked this one and review if you want to. Peace out!