Hamuko yawned while stretching her body. She shook away the dizziness that always happened to her when she just awoke, and took a look at her phone. It's almost seven o'clock in the morning. The alarm clock was just ringing. She shut it down quickly. Looking down to her hand, she found the velvet key rested on her palm.

So that's not a dream. Once again journey…the old man Igor did mention this to her. Something rang a bell in her mind, but still clueless. Judging from what he told her, she was not the first time there. She had been there A LOT. And more of that, Igor mentioned about the other person…who might that be?

Knock! Knock!

Someone knocked the door. "Hamuko, are you done inside?"

"Yes, just a few minutes!" Haruka sure was early. Hamuko quickly went to take a quick bath and changed to her uniform.

"I'm coming! Let's go!"

Yuko and Rio went to school ahead as they needed to take care of something in their club. Saori greeted the girls and went together with them. Now that Hamuko only found Saori was actually a year older than her due to some of the reason. No wonder the girl appeared to be mature than other girls her age.

On the way they walked to the station, Hamuko saw something else other than people. Or…she should say they're people too, but something was wrong with their appearances. They're people with Apathy Syndrome. The Lost she had it in her mind.

They stood at the corner side everywhere in the city. They're easily spotted with their blank and lifeless features. Like the gossip girl told her yesterday, Haruka was truly similar with them. But Hamuko wouldn't consider they're the same.

Haruka was lifeless like her world was emotionless. She did tell her she doesn't know what feeling was. Hamuko doubted she must be gone through a lot in her life. With life out of someone could listen and teach her, that's she ended up with.

And those Apathy Syndrome…Hamuko had a feeling she knew what was the cause. There must be something to do with the Dark Hour. The people with this disease were more like a lively corpse that walked around the city. Even doctor couldn't find out the cause of this Apathy Syndrome. They finally considered this was something to do with the stress, but Hamuko knew that's not true.

Shadow was the cause of everything. The creatures only appeared during Dark Hour. The people that claimed to have Apathy Syndrome were those pity souls that got preyed by them.

But now come with another question…when did I know this? There seem no one realize about this. She stole a glance at Saori and Haruka beside her.

Today in class, Hamuko still couldn't fight away the boredom to listen to the lecture. Minato was the same, on his MP3 all the time. That Junpei…he was half sleep now with mouth opened. Hamuko tried her best to stay sober.

After school, Junpei invited them to have fun again (he never learn, didn't he?), and Haruka was having her part-time job, she would pass. Hamuko and Minato was having the same opinion to go back early for today, so the capped boy went for Kenji that was same class with them.

Hamuko separated with Minato when they reached their dorm. Minato seemed to have something in his mind. He was about to tell Hamuko, but hesitated before he could and finally he spoke nothing. Since he didn't want to tell her, Hamuko just let it be, though she was curious. She decided to stay in dorm before Dark Hour approached.

Dark Hour

Hamuko shoved aside the curtain in her room, revealing the green light shining from outside. She was attempted to have a sleep and just ignored the bad feeling that kept haunting her the whole day however, it seemed like she just couldn't let it go.

Something is definitely going to happen…the moon was full today. It should be beautiful if it's in a normal hour, but definitely not in the Dark Hour. It's even eerier and creepier in its full moon shaped. The atmosphere around sent chill down to her spine caused her to circle her body with arms.

Suddenly, her eyes caught a figure in front of the dorm. She leaned over to see clearly. Despite the figure, it seemed to be surrounding with a bunch of crawling creatures. Her eyes widened as she found who's the figure was.

"Haruka!" What is she doing out there in the time like this!? No, that's no time for this!

Haruka stood there and stared at the shadows blankly, watching them getting closer to her. Her lips curved into a smile-a smile that Hamuko would mistake her if she was the Haruka she knew-a ferocious smile that not supposed to hang on her face.

"It's started…"

"Haruka!" She lifted her head immediately she heard the familiar voice mixed with worry and anxious and saw Hamuko opened the door rashly, only for her.

"Hamuko…?"

I have to do something…I have to protect Haruka!

I need power…I need you!

-Thou art thee, and thee art thou…call my name, master…-

"EURYDICE!"

Blue light illuminated from down her legs and engulfed her body. A figure with chestnut hair and a heart shaped lyre attached appeared in front of Hamuko.

"Go, Agi!"

Eurydice cast fire skill and took down the enemies in front, managed to create a route for them. Hamuko immediately grabbed the poker face girl and ran.

Crawling sound and growling voice chasing them from behind. Hamuko gritted her teeth with that. Those creatures was chasing behind them. What a pain!

"…Where are you going to run?"

"Dunno! Just run!" Hamuko of course knew that. The enemies was all around and currently just behind them. She knew she couldn't keep running like this forever. But she had no weapon, only Eurydice with her. Was she able to stay safe within an hour?

Suddenly a strong beat from her heart made her almost tripped. She realized her heartbeat was getting faster, not because of the race with the shadows, but other thing. She looked around, failed to find anything.

"…Hamuko?"

"Nothing!"

She shouldn't think of other thing for now. You have a bunch of enemies waiting for you Hamuko! Stay calm! Shook off the feeling just now, she forced her mind to concentrate on current problem.

Normally shadow stayed in the tower that aloof not far from here, in the direction of her school. So why the hell they're all here now? Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong.

"There!" Hamuko took a quick turn as they reached a corner. The next moment she regret for her decision. Something huge was blocking their way. She looked behind her and found the shadows were surrounding them as well. There's no possible escape route she could find now. "Don't leave me."

"…Hamuko, something is in front." Haruka pointed ahead of them. Hamuko saw that too. It's huge but she couldn't see anything due to the darkness.

"I know…what is that anyway?"

"…Magician."

"What?" Was it spoken by Haruka? The voice was so timid like some ghost's talking. Hamuko shiver by the thought.

The huge figure took a step forward. Hamuko stepped back a little everytime the figure moved forward. Under the dim green light, Hamuko finally be able to see the figure.

It was a giant shadow about two times…even three times bigger than other shadows around. Its body was made up by legs and hands with swords with them; one of the hands was holding a mask. Hamuko dragged Haruka closer.

She bit her lips. Can I beat this thing? No matter how, I have to…!

Iwatodai Strip Mall

"Takeba, you're getting closer with the target. Stay alert and be careful."

"Yes senpai." Yukari Takeba gulped after cut off the line with Mitsuru Kirijo, the only heir of Kirijo Group.

Back in the dorm, Mitsuru detected something out of ordinary, a giant shadow she never detected before. They divided the group into two, having Junpei stayed with Mitsuru, Akihiko and Yukari went after the target. On the way here, they were distracted by the bunch of shadows. Akihiko had her went ahead since Yukari still couldn't summon hers, he alone handled the enemies. And this was why she ended up being alone in this place.

"…Why all this!?" Yukari groaned as she saw the shadows in front. She stopped and hid. "Senpai, I found a bunch of shadows." She opened the line to reach to Mitsuru.

"The target was exactly there…wait Takeba! Something is not right…" Mitsuru sounded uncertain now. "I detected two human over there."

"What? Then what should I do?"

"Don't risk. You still can't summon yours." Mitsuru stated bluntly. "Akihiko is on the way."

"Y-Yes…" Yukari was fidget with herself. She was always being such useless in the time like this. She could do this better…no just waited for others! Yet her legs were numbed like just stuck inside the ground.

"Hamuko!"

Hamuko clutched her head in great grieve, knelt down on the ground in front of the giant shadow. She was totally opened for attack. Haruka looked around and stayed sharp. With the pain with her, Hamuko failed to aware Haruka shook her head to the giant shadow.

Hamuko felt her vision became blurring, her sight couldn't focus anymore. Everything became a dim image. Within the blurred image, only two things became visible, that's Pharos and the figure Hamuko saw on Pharos's face yesterday.

Pharos spoke. "I've told you, I'll always be with you." He looked at the figure beside him. "Call his name…I'm sure you know that."

Her mouth started to move itself, her voice was trembling and she panted. "T-Thanatos…"

The next thing she felt was the pain tearing her skull opened. She screamed in grieve. A sharp stingy pain like it was breaking her skull into two. Under her legs with blue light illuminated, the coffin chained figure appeared.

Haruka gasped while she took a step back.

Thanatos growled, shaken the atmosphere around. It looked at the giant shadow before it charged toward it. It flew to it, slashed down its sword, tore the giant shadow into piece without given it any chance to react or attacked. The giant shadow turned into ashes not more than a minute.

Hamuko got up from the ground weakly. With the aching mind, she still able to keep herself up. "They're more, Thanatos." She gave Thanatos order to take down the shadows around. The shadows all squeaked, tried to escape but not under Thanatos's sword. After finished them off, Thanatos returned to Hamuko.

"Takeba!"

Yukari jumped up when Akihiko called her from behind. She was too occupied with the scene in front, left her back all opened. If shadow attacked her, she would definitely out.

"S-Senpai!" She let out a trembled sigh. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He only seemed exhausted. That's great. "By the way, what happened?"

"That's…" How should she explain the thing even she couldn't believe what was just done?

"…I saw it too Takeba. I'll explain to Akihiko later. Now we need to take care of the girls first." Mitsuru's announcement actually saved Yukari from the whole thing. She didn't want to recall such soul string thing again.

Hamuko collapsed immediately Thanatos returned to her. Haruka managed to grab before her head hit the ground.

"Hamuko…"

"You're…Kamijou Haruka?" Haruka lifted her head as her name mentioned. "I'm Yukari…is she alright?"

"You know her, Takeba?" The silver haired senior asked.

"Yeah…we're in the same class…"

"Don't worry. Let us take care of the girl." Akihiko offered. Haruka let him lifted Hamuko up without question or protest. Yukari invited her to go together with her…with an awkward smile on face.

Haruka didn't mind. She knew exactly why the brunette acted like this. She sighed in exhaustion for today extra incident. No matter how, it's over.

Instead of following Yukari back to the dorm, Haruka went to opposite direction to the back of the corner. She heard panting voice from there and the person quickly caught his pace before Haruka found out. By the time Haruka was there, the person had gone. But Haruka had seen it.

No one found the person, only Haruka.

It's all white. That's what she met when she opened her eyes.

Hamuko got up from her bed. She remembered she was having a dream in Velvet Room again. Igor seemed telling her something but she couldn't remember for now. That old man never told things in truth, so it's properly not that important.

Where am I? She looked around again, finally realized she was in the hospital. I must be collapsed after the incident. How about the Haruka?

Looked aside, she saw the water on the table. She stretched out to reach to it, but only felt weak. Letting out a sigh, she gave up on it.

Shifting her gaze to the white ceiling again, her mind started to work on the scene on that day which they was attacked by the giant shadow called Magician. Pharos showed up in the middle of fight, and the coffin chained figure she saw yesterday. Thanatos…Pharos told her to call its name, and she did it. But when and how did she know its name? She remembered she called it Death the first time she saw it, but why Thanatos? Were they the same? She saw it in the Compendium too. So it's that a persona too? Nevertheless, Thanatos was strong. She should feel reliable to it.

"Oh you're up!" The sound of door opening caught her back from her deep thought. Few peoples included Minato and Haruka was coming into the room. "Thank god…how are you feeling?"

The one that spoke was the brunette in pink uniform. She has light brown short hair. Behind her was Junpei.

"Yo Tsuki-tan!"

"I'm fine, and you're…?" Hamuko didn't think she know her.

"My name is Yukari Takeba. I'm from 2-E, same class with Kamijou." The brunette introduced herself before continuing her talk. "Doctor said you are exhausted. They couldn't find anything wrong with you."

While Yukari talked to her, Haruka handed a cup of water to Hamuko. That's just exactly what she needed the most. Hamuko smiled satisfactory after her lips touched the warm water.

"How long did I sleep?"

"One whole week." Haruka stated calmly, but Hamuko was choked with that shock announcement.

"What!?"

"That's why you worried us…geez…" Yukari added.

"Hey Yuka-tan, Tsuki-tan will soon release from the hospital. So no worry!" Junpei patted her shoulder, ended up met the brunette's glare.

"How many times did I have to repeat? Don't call me that, Stupei!"

"Hey stop calling me that!"

"That's what I should say!"

Leaving the quarreling friends behind, Minato walked near to Hamuko, handed her something from his pocket.

Hamuko took it. "This is my…MP3 Player…?"

"I think you'll need it before release from the hospital. I have it charged full battery." Minato gave her a nod and light smile. He helped her to place on the earphone.

"T-Thank you…" She just wished her MP3 Player was here with her! She switched to her favorite song and started to enjoy it.

"Oh before I forget!" Yukari finished down Junpei by kicking the guy aside and said. "Once you're released from the hospital, can you both come to Iwatodai Dorm? There's something we need to talk about."

Minato shifted his gaze from Hamuko to Yukari, remained his calmness without broke into question. Hamuko and Haruka exchanged a gaze before answered her. They both already had a hint what she was talking about.

"Okay."

After the doctor done with the check up, Hamuko was able to release in evening. Yukari and Junpei went off ahead as they said they need to prepare something. So Minato, Haruka and Hamuko were left by themselves. The three of them went to grab some foods before heading home since someone's belly was dying from hunger. Hamuko suggested having ramen as she really missed it. Minato chuckled with her childish when came to ramen.

When they reached the girl's dorm, Minato handed back her belonging to Hamuko. And then he headed back to his dorm.

Everyone in the dorm was freaked out when they got to know she was sent to hospital. Haruka only told them Hamuko was too exhausted from a long trip and late arrival, and starting with school and stuff all in once. The first thing Hamuko met upon she stepped into the dorm was a warm hug from Rio and Yuko. Saori was behind them with almost crying face.

"You idiot! You should have let us know if you're tired from all of this! You worried us!"

"Rio, stop that!" Yuko protested for Hamuko. She turned to Hamuko with a big smile. "But she is true Hamuko!"

"Welcome back Hamuko-chan. I'm glad you're alright."

Seeing their worried face, Hamuko felt the warmth swelled in her heart. She sobbed, almost burst out into cry. "I-I'm sorry to worry you all! And I-I'm back!"

"No next time, you got it?" Rio swelled her cheek. Her funny and cute look made Hamuko chuckled. "Tell us if you're not feeling well."

Settled down her belonging in her room, Hamuko and Haruka went to Iwatodai Dorm like they had promised with Yukari. They were greeted by Yukari and Junpei outside the dorm.

"Come in!" Yukari invited them into the dorm.

There're three people gathered in the lounge. A red vest wearing and silver haired senior Akihiko Sanada, red head elegant senior Mitsuru Kirijo and the spectacle man Ikutsuki Shuji.

Hamuko felt something wrong when her eyes met the spectacle man. She frowned slightly, unknown to where this unpleasant feeling rose up from. She just felt…pissed.

"You must be the one Yukari and Junpei mentioned about." Ikutsuki stood up from the chair, politely stretched out his hand. Haruka bowed and held his hand while Hamuko barely looked at him, leaving his hand hanged on the air awkwardly.

"I'm Tsukikage Hamuko." She bowed to the seniors, but not Ikutsuki.

"Haruka nodded to them. "…Kamijou Haruka."

Ikutsuki chuckled dryly and let go his hand. He seemed to sense the displeased from Hamuko. "Um…well, take a seat."

They sat down on the sofa provided with Junpei and Yukari beside, Akihiko and Mitsuru opposite. Ikutsuki was sitting on the individual sofa.

"Okay, let's start our discussion." Mitsuru said. Before she could speak anything, Hamuko interrupted her.

"I know what you're going to say." Her words raised the seniors' brows. "I know who you guys are… Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad, SEES for short. And you're going to explain things about shadow and persona right?"

Junpei widened his eyes. "You know all this?"

"How do you know these?" Mitsuru shifted her position, asked while having her hands crossed.

"…I don't know, I just know." Like the feeling she had before, it seemed like something would come to her mind once the circumstance struck. She just knew, like they're buried in deep of her mind. "SEES, Tartarus, shadow…persona and a name called Nyx."

Hamuko failed to realize Haruka was clearly trembled when she mentioned Nyx. Haruka lowered her head with sadness written in her eyes. No one realized that since their gaze fixed on Hamuko alone.

"Nyx? What's that?" Junpei looked to Mitsuru and Akihiko. The seniors only shook their head in respond.

"Never heard about it." Yukari shrugged.

"Not me either." Akihiko stated.

Ikutsuki covered his mouth with his fingers lingering on his chin so no one would see his smile under it. Haruka secretly stole a glance on him, and then back to her usual poker face.

"…I only know the name. I can't remember what it was." Hamuko dropped her face.

She's having memories distraction…or this should consider as amnesia? But she could recall some of the things when the time was right, just like SEES, persona and stuff. Despite all this, she couldn't even remember who she was, and why she was here, such easy things.

Someone clapped, cleared the awkward atmosphere and had everyone turning their attentions to the person.

"Okay everyone. Let that aside. I'll have it under my research. Now get back to the topic."

"Y-Yeah, you're right chairman." Mitsuru cleared her throat. "Since you know us, I assume you might have known what we're going to ask you."

She took out a case and opened it, revealed a gun and a red band inside. Hamuko grabbed the gun and held it on her chest. It's felt so good to have it with her. It's something she lost long time ago, and also the one she treasured it for some reasons.

"You want me join, is that it?"

Yukari fixed her gaze on Mitsuru with mix feeling inside her eyes. Hamuko noticed that when she lifted her eyes. She saw worry in her eyes, as if like she was worrying if she would join them.

"Indeed." Mitsuru nodded firmly.

"Tsukikage, I think you know how to use it right?" Akihiko pointed his finger on his temper.

"Yes." Hamuko nodded.

"I-Is that mean…you will join us?" Junpei asked.

Yukari let out a sigh, but she still asked uncertainly. "Is it alright with you? You could have thought it before…"

"Never mind Yukari. I have no problem at all!" Hamuko gave her an okay sign. "But what about Haruka?"

Everyone stared at Haruka when her name mentioned. The poker face girl shifted uneasily to avoid the focus.

"Don't worry. I'll have her going through some body checking to see if she has the potential." The one speaking was Ikutsuki. Hamuko formed a visible frown and shot him a glare after she heard that.

"What body checking?"

"It's just the usual checking. No harm will do, Tsukikage." Ikutsuki quickly explained it to her.

Hamuko turned to Haruka to see if she was agreed with that. Haruka only nodded and told her not to worry.

"…Fine."

"And about your dorm assignment, I'll do some adjustment so you two will move here." Mitsuru added at last. "You may pack your things afterward."

Again? Thought about all the packing and unpacking stuff made Hamuko sweat dropped.

"I'm sorry Saori-san…" Hamuko kept bowing to the girl in front. Saori couldn't help but smiled bitterly.

"That's not your fault Hamuko-chan. Stop apologizing, will you?" She grabbed her shoulder stopping her from bowing again. "They got your dorm assignment wrong. We can't do anything to this. But I'm glad to have your as friend, Hamuko-chan."

Rio threw her an arm. "Yeah, we can meet in school!"

"Iwatodai Dorm isn't that far though. We can come out anytime we want." Yuko added.

Hamuko felt guilty to hide the reason she move put from the dorm. She couldn't let them know the whole thing and that made her felt shame.

"Thank you…I'm glad to know all of you too!"

"But I don't understand. Why Haruka-chan move out too?" Saori rested her face cheek on her palm, asked while looking at the others.

Hamuko sweat dropped. This was what she afraid the most! How should she explain this to them?

"That's because…" Oh come on Haruka…help me here!

"Because I want to stay with her."

Haruka cut into the conversation, saved Hamuko from explaining. Unlike Hamuko,she carried a small bag with her.

Saori chuckled after hearing that. "Well, this is the first time Haruka-chan wants to stay with someone else. It's good to hear."

"Yeah, she was so stubborn when she knew we're going to stay in the same dorm back then. " Rio revealed, making the poker face girl turned away her head. They laughed with her look. "It's a good news having Hamuko to be with her."

"I agree." Saori and Yuko nodded.

"Hey Haruka, you only got this thing?" Hamuko pointed at her small bag. Haruka took a glance on those seized bags on floor, slightly raising her brows.

"You still got this much things?" She remembered Hamuko threw some of her things on the second day.

"S-Shut up!" Her face reddened. Though she had threw many useless things, she still having this bunch of things with her. She almost spent the whole night just to pack them up!

They moved all their things to Iwatodai Dorm and asking Junpei for help. That capped boy was so willing since he got the time to show his kindness to the girl, though he was surprised by Hamuko. After getting their assigned room and put down the belonging, Yukari came in, telling Haruka that Ikutsuki was waiting for her outside.

"Shall we go then?" Ikutsuki asked.

Before Haruka responded, Hamuko grabbed Haruka on her arm.

"I need a minute, can I?"

"What is it?" Hamuko took quite a distance between Ikutsuki, avoided any chance he might hear her.

"Be careful of that guy."

"…Why?"

"J-Just listen to me, okay?" Hamuko couldn't tell her the reason because she had no idea with it. Could she tell her because she hated this guy?

"Okay…Hamuko, do you really want to join SEES?" Haruka looked at her straight to her eyes.

"Yes, I think this is what I should do." Hamuko nodded firmly. "Besides, after knowing all this, I can't simply treat it like nothing had happened."

Her answer seemed to fidget the poker face girl. She let out a sigh. "I see…I should go now."

"See you tonight!" Hamuko waved her goodbye with her usual bright smile.

Ikutsuki opened the door for Haruka. Haruka didn't get in immediately. Instead she looked back to Hamuko once again like she was checking something. Ikutsuki found her face was rather unusual, though she was already unusual enough; he still caught a hint of worry on her face.

"Don't worry. Like I said, it's just a usual body checking." He thought she was worrying about the test they would go through later.

"No…it's not like that…" She shook, looked away from Ikutsuki. Opposite her, she saw Minato was coming to her way. Without asking permission from the adult, she went straight to Minato. "Arisato-kun…"

Minato took off his earphone when Haruka approached him. He found something on the girl's face but just kept quiet.

"What is it?"

"May I ask you a question?" Minato nodded. "Will you ever regret the decision you made?"

Minato frowned with the question coming from her. Still, he answered without any hesitation.

"I'll never regret."

Haruko saw determination in his eyes. She lowered her head a little.

"…Thank you. I understand now. Please take care of Hamuko."

"…What do you mean by that?" Why talking like she would not be with her?Nnow she made him even confused.

"…I saw you that night." Instead of answering the question, she threw out something else that enough to shut the boy up. "This is just between us now. I don't know what you want to do, but until you decide to tell Hamuko, I'll pretend I know nothing."

She went off after leaving the boy in stunned. Minato grabbed her again to stop her.

"…Be careful of that guy." He sure was referring to Ikutsuki.

"…Hamuko said the same thing." She turned back to him. "I will, thanks."

Minato watched her got into Ikutsuki's car; felt rather disgusted by just looking at the spectacle guy. He wanted to punch his face, if there's possible. But then, he didn't know where this feeling came from.

Shook away those irritated feeling, he placed back his earphone, saw Hamuko waving her hand to him with Yukari and Junpei by her side.

"Over here, Arisato-kun!"

Haruka watched Minato walked to Hamuko from the side mirror as the car started to move.

"You make a lot of good friends here." Ikutsuki suddenly said.

"…I just know them through Hamuko." Haruka shifted her gaze to Ikutsuki.

"Is that so? Well, she is a bright girl after all."

"Yes…she is bright."

Hamuko was as bright as the sun. Hamuko was someone she could ever touch and reached. Just having Hamuko to be with her was enough to make her world painted with color. But still, Kamijou Haruka didn't deserve to have such a friend.

All she needed to do was completing her role in this world. She knew she was too powerless in this, so she needed help. And that could only come from…

"Ikutsuki-san, I need your help to do something. I'll reward you with what you desire the most…"

There's no way to turned back, because she had no choice.

"You finally back!" Once Haruka stepped into the dorm, she was greeted by Hamuko's bright smile again. Leaving Ikutsuki that was just coming in, Hamuko pulled Haruka to the corner ignored the guy."Did Ikutsuki do anything to you?"

"No…it's just a normal body checking."

They went back to lounge, taking their seat with everyone gathered there. Iwatodai Dorm was just the same like the girl's dorm, only bigger and fifth floor content and of course, more comfortable and relaxing.

"So how is the result, chairman?" Mitsuru asked.

"The result showed Kamijou is normal person. She is active during Dark Hour because she adapted it." Ikutsuki revealed.

Mitsuru clearly looked disappointed. "I see…" She hadn't realized she was being glared by Yukari the whole time she started to speak.

"But there's still chance she will get attack by shadow, right?" Akihiko asked. "Like that night."

"Yes. It's better to have her stay here."

"Don't worry Kami-tan! Junpei is here for you!" Junpei stood up from his seat, acting like a hero.

"Ignore him. I doubt his words." Yukari pushed him away, left his grumble aside without any concern. "But you can relax here. We'll do our best to keep you safe. We're friend after all!"

"Friend…?" Haruka lifted her head in surprised.

"Yes, we're friend!" Hamuko drew the three of them closer and threw them her arms. "But Haruka, you gotta remember I'm always your first friend you made here!"

Haruka barely could smile. Her eyes shifted from Hamuko to Yukari then to Junpei.

"I…I go back to my room first…" She bowed to leave. "Good night…"

"Good night!"

Leaving the laughter behind her, Haruka speeded her pace when she reached second floor, and almost ran back to her room, slammed it closed behind her.

She panted, slowly sat down on the floor. She clutched her hands tightly in front of her chest tried to ease the pain. Her eyes filled with water, it even made her clutched her fist tightly.

"What is this feeling…?" She never experienced this before. After she got to know this people called 'friend', she felt a part of her heart had broken into pieces; something was trying to grow from it.

It made her pain. It even suffered her more with Hamuko by her side. This was what she afraid the most. She had once thought she could overcome this but she was wrong. Emotion was not something she could control easily. Now she knew it.

"But I can't…" She took a deep breathe, fought back the tears that almost burst out. "I'm not belong to here…so I'm not betraying them…"

Time does not wait. Thee, who strive to protect the glow of the future to bring everything to an equal end…,

She needs to fulfill her role.

A/N: Okay, here the edited chapter 2. I corrected some of the mistakes here especially the giant shadow name. I messed up this in the first time. If you had read the previous one, I wrote 'Fool' instead of 'Magician'. But the correct one should be 'Magician'. I apologize for my mistake!