The Dreary Hour

"Would you just calm down already?" Leo begged.

Makoto twitched on the bed, trying desperately to escape the metal cuffs that held her to the surface. "Just leave me alone, OK?! I KILLED my own best friend! I killed her! Would you like to live with that knowledge?! Just let me die already! LET ME JOIN HER!"

"Calm the he** down!" Leo ordered, jumping to her feet. Her eyes narrowed and she glared down at Makoto, who returned her gaze with a sorrowful stare. Leo frowned. "Come on, Makoto. I was there for you when Yayoi died and I'll be here for you now. You bounced back after all of that, remember? You can bounce back now."

"No I can't," Makoto muttered.

There was silence, aside from Makoto's grunts of annoyance when she found she couldn't break out of the cuffs. Leo sighed.

"Then I guess I'll just go," she decided. "Makoto…please try to calm down. Remember you still have friends who love you. Like me."

"It's not the same." Makoto looked away.

Leo nodded. "Whatever you say…but at least try."

"Get out!"

The older girl waited a few more seconds before leaving. Makoto was left alone again. She sniffled loudly and tears spilled from her eyes, the memory of Yukiho's corpse floating endlessly through her mind. She cried out in agony and wished with all her heart that she could just die already and end the physical and mental torture she was forced to endure.

It had been two days since the match no one had been expecting; the match that should have catapulted Makoto's spirits higher, but had instead drained them to an all-time low. The match that should have guaranteed Yukiho's safety, but had instead led to her death. Every idol left in the competition except for Iori had visited Makoto in her hospital room, trying their best to cheer her out of the madness and the depression that suffocated their once-cheery friend. Even Leo and Lili had paid her a visit. But it seemed that with every word of advice the girls offered, Makoto only got angrier and angrier until it seemed no one could help her.

The injuries she sustained from trying to kill herself were severe, and most of the doctors figured she wouldn't survive, especially without a will to live.

No one counted on Minase Iori.

The rich young miss entered Makoto's room about fifteen minutes after Leo had left to give Makoto time to calm down a little. She said nothing at first; she simply sat in the chair next to the bed and offered Makoto a simple nod.

"You're here to tell me to calm down, huh?" Makoto chuckled, her voice laced with contempt.

"I'm here to tell you that I'm sorry," Iori corrected. "I'm sorry that the others don't understand. I don't understand. I don't think any of us will ever understand your pain, Makoto."

Silence.

"Thanks," Makoto said quietly. "But it won't help. Now get me out of these cuffs, Iori…! I want to go—"

"I know," Iori cut in. "You want to go join her. To join them."

Makoto fell silent.

"So do I," Iori admitted. "I want to see Yayoi again. She's my best friend. Yukiho is yours."

"I killed my own best friend, Iori," Makoto whispered, staring up at the ceiling, tears in her eyes. "I killed her. She must hate me."

"I don't think so…"

"They all must hate me!"

Iori calmly shook her head. "I don't think any of them hate you," she soothed. "I wonder…if they were still alive, what do you think they'd say to you?"

"That they hate me?"

"No, I think it'd be more like…" Iori paused and pulled off her headband, letting her bangs fall looser. She shook her head around a bit and plastered an overly-cheery smile on her face. She perched on the bed.

Makoto raised an eyebrow. "What are you…?"

"Here's what Miki would say," Iori began. When she spoke again, it was in a ridiculously high-pitched voice that was apparently supposed to resemble Miki's. "Hi, Makoto-kun~! Miki is stupid, nano nano nano~! But Miki still wanted to tell you something because Miki is always so annoying and happy and loves onigiri, nano nano nano nano~! So anyways, Miki just wanted to say that Miki is stupid—Miki means, happy that Makoto-kun got into the finals, because she deserves to. Miki was always a weakling anyways. So don't blame yourself for Miki's death because she knew she was gonna die when she signed up. Just do your best for Miki's sake, nano nano nano Miki nano onigiri Miki nano nano nano~!"

Makoto cracked a small smile at Iori's horrible and yet extremely accurate portrayal of Miki. The Minase daughter smiled and thought about the next victim.

"Next is Yayoi." She pulled her hair into pigtails and tied it up with hair-bands she kept on her wrist. She plastered the brightest smile she could onto her face and took a deep breath. "…U-uun~! Makoto-san, I heard you were feeling bad so I wanted to come talk to you!" she cheered in a high, somewhat nasally voice. "Now, I know you blamed yourself for my death because you were supposed to protect me. But I don't blame you. Sure, I was terrified and I trusted you to look after me, but I knew that you probably wouldn't be able to save me. It's alright that you failed. I'm just really, really happy to know that you cared enough to try to help me. So stop blaming yourself, please, and make me even more proud by winning! If, that is, you can beat Iori-chan because she's the best!" Iori tossed one of her pigtails. "Makoto-san, high touch!"

Makoto smiled a little more. "I can't. I'm strapped to a bed."

Iori blinked and gave her a low touch instead. "Now, Azusa-san." She pulled her hair out of the pigtails and put her headband back in. She dropped her face in her hand and spoke in a breathy voice. "Oh, Makoto-chan, it's you~. Do you remember what I told you before I died? Well, I want you to remember that~. I really do love you because I'm stupid and love everyone, and I hope you feel better because I want you to."

Makoto actually chuckled this time. Iori grinned.

"Hibiki's turn!" She pulled her hair into a ponytail with her hair-ties. Then she beamed. "Heya, it's Hibki here! So, uh, since I'm actually Iori I'm not gonna speak in my usual dialect 'cause Iori doesn't know how. But yeah! I just wanted you to know that Miki, the stupid one, said hi 'cause she's stupid, and I'm really, really proud of you for making it this far! You're a good friend, Makoto. Don't kill yourself. That'd make me sad and stuff. So, yeah! Take care of Takane and my critters for me, 'kay? Oh yeah, and yourself. Take care of yourself too. Remember my last words."

Makoto nodded slowly. "You're pretty good at this, Iori."

"Naturally." Iori giggled. "…are you ready?"

"Why do I—"

"It's Yukiho next."

Makoto flinched. "…fine. Try it."

Iori pulled her hair out of the ponytail. She smiled shyly and spoke shakily. "U-um, h-hi, Makoto-chan. I-It's me, Yukiho. Um…I-I just wanted to l-let you know—"

"She doesn't stutter that much," Makoto interrupted, frowning. "Especially not around me."

"Do you want me to try to make you feel better?" Iori sighed. Makoto froze, then nodded slowly. "Then shut up. OK, where was I…? Oh, right!" She resumed her shaky, breathy voice. "A-anyways, I wanted to let you know that I'm not mad. I know that you were trying to protect me, and that you wanted so badly to take care of me. And I'm not mad at you. It was an accident." She paused. "M-Makoto-chan?"

Makoto had started crying again, but she was smiling. She sniffled. "P-please keep going," she pleaded to Iori. Iori frowned slightly, but she continued anyway.

"I…I know that you're really upset. I understand why. You feel like you've let me down. But, I really want you to try your best for me. I don't want you to die because you felt like you had to be with me. I'll be alright without you, and just remember…I'm watching over you, Makoto-chan. I-I always will be. You're never alone."

Makoto broke into sobs. Iori smiled sympathetically at her, and for the first time she felt something other than hatred and indifference towards the boyish idol.

"You see?" she cooed in her normal voice. "I…I don't think they're mad at you at all. They would want you to do your best. Of course, you'll never beat me, but you should try."

"Why are you doing this?" Makoto sobbed. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because you need me," Iori replied. "Makoto, I…I know we haven't gotten along in the past, because I'm better than you and you're jealous. But…I-I want to help you. I want you to recover…" She caught Makoto grinning at her and blushed, turning away to try and hide it. "I-I just want a good fight from you! That's all!"

"Iori…I let everyone down. I let you down when I allowed Yayoi to die. I'm sorry," Makoto said. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "But…no matter what, because of what you've done for me today, I want to protect you in that arena. In the final matches. Because no matter what, I can't let another person die here. So…" She chuckled. "This is going to sound really corny. Can I ask it?"

"Ask what?" Iori pressed.

"Will you let me be your prince?"

Iori blinked. "You're right, that was corny."

"Sorry…"

"But…I think it could work out. As long as you stay out of my way."

Makoto grinned. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea how glad I am that you did what you did. Somehow, it took a load off of me…it felt like the ones who have died were really here in the room with me," she breathed.

Iori looked over at a key on a table in the room—a key that was likely for the cuffs on Makoto's limbs. "…I'm going to un-cuff you, alright? Don't kill yourself when I do or I'll sue you."

"I won't."

"And when I do…maybe we can write letters or something to the girls who died," Iori suggested. "Do you think that might be fun?"

"You're feeling awfully sentimental today, huh?" Makoto prompted, a twinkle in her eye.

Iori blushed again. "I'm just…leave me alone!"

"Tsundere~"

"Sh-shut up, you!"

Huffing loudly, Iori grabbed the key from the table and unlocked the cuffs on Makoto's hands. The black-haired girl immediately flung her arms around Iori and hugged her close for a moment. Iori's blush deepened.

"G-get off, will you?"

"Thank you, Iori," Makoto trilled. "I really, really appreciate it. Thank you."

"…shut up and let go of me."

Makoto chuckled and released her. "Can you get my legs, please?"

"Sure."

When Makoto had been completely un-cuffed, Iori went outside and returned a few minutes later with paper and a couple pencils. For the rest of her time visiting with Makoto, the two of them wrote letters to the idols who had died. Iori felt herself looking forward to the final matches.

She knew that no matter what, she would fight alongside her new prince—even though in the end, she would be the sole winner. She is Minase Iori, after all.

And Makoto, late at night, finally pieced together what Yukiho's last words would have been:

"I forgive you."

XxXxX

Hey you,

When you died, some part of me was excited while another part was a little upset. I'll admit, even though you're annoying I looked forward to seeing you every day, if not only to taunt you or something. You're stupid and annoying and think you're so cool just because you're Miki, but…maybe that's why I'll miss you so much.

Try not to get fat on onigiri wherever you are, OK?

Minase Iori

Hey Miki!

It's Makoto here. I wish I could actually give you this letter. Do you know where they buried you? If it had been me, I would have buried you next to that cellphone accessories store you love. The one that's right next to that onigiri stand you love. Do you think they would let me bury a dead girl outside their store? Probably not.

So, I have a question for you. Are you in love with me? Because to me it always kinda seemed like you had a crush on me or something. I guess it doesn't matter now since you're dead. But anyway, it doesn't really bother me if you were. I'm used to it anyways. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Please forgive me.

See you soon,

Makoto~

Dear Yayoi,

Hi, Yayoi-chan. It's Iori. I miss you already. Do you think of me up there? I think of you all the time down here. I miss you like crazy. Did I already say that? Oh well. I love you, so…please take care of yourself and everyone else. Are they being kind to you? I hope so. You're not useless, by the way. I know you think you were. But you weren't. You aren't. I really, really love you, so so much. Remember me forever, OK? Because I will never, ever forget you.

Goodbye, my precious friend.

Love,

Minase Iori

Yayoi,

A lot of people say I'm a prince. I don't think I am. I let you die, after all. Do you think I'm a prince? Even though I let you down? I'm really sorry, Yayoi.

Iori says you aren't mad, that you're just happy I tried. Was she right? I sure hope so. I miss you. I'm so sorry I let you down like that. I hope you're comfortable, wherever you are. Oh yeah, and…if you were alive I'd give you a high touch. You give great high touches.

My sincerest apologies,

Makoto~

Dear Azusa-san,

You were always such a fantastic group member. I admired you a lot. You were always so sweet to us. Did it ever seem like I hated you? I never did. I'm just…like that. I'm bad at expressing my true feelings to people. Please forgive me for being a jerk. I hope you aren't getting lost up there.

Your Favorite Ryuuguu Komachi Partner,

Minase Iori

Hi Azusa-san,

Can I have your breasts since you don't need them anymore? Just kidding. Kinda.

Your last words to me were really touching. I've never forgotten them. I'm sorry for letting you down. I do that a lot, huh? Anyways, I've always thought of you like a big sister. It was really tough to watch you die. But I hope you'll always be watching over me like Yukiho is. I'll be looking out for you, too. Thanks.

My deepest gratitude…fancy words, huh?

Makoto~

Hibiki,

I never really cared much about you, but I do miss you a bit. I don't have much to say about you, except that you did really good in your match. You're a strong girl and I hope you're having fun.

Not much else to say,

Minase Iori

Yo Hibiki!

It's Makoto here. Are there animals up there? You know, like, dead animals? If there are, say hi to my pet gerbil for me. He died.

I hope you're enjoying yourself. I'm gonna miss you…heck, I already miss you! No more friendly competitions, huh? Oh well. I'll recover, I hope. Your last words to me were really sweet. I'm gonna miss ya, girl! Hopefully getting' without ya'll be no problemo~. Can't wait to see you again!

Talk to you later,

Makoto~

Hi Yukiho.

We never really spoke much, did we? Well, I think it's really sweet how you always made tea for me whenever I asked. Thank you for that. For the record, I've always kinda admired you. You're so sweet and kind. I wish I were like that. I hope there are no men or dogs up there. Wouldn't want you getting scared!

Sincerely,

Minase Iori

My dearest Yukiho,

My gosh, I wish I could see you again. Are you mad at me? You have every right to be. I can't believe I actually killed you like that. If you were here right now, I would hug you and never let go again. Would that be OK with you? I think it would be, right? I love you and you love me, after all. At least, I think you do. Anyways, I feel awful. I'm going to try my best to recover from killing you. Please don't be mad at me.

When you were dying, were you trying to say "I forgive you"? I read your lips. That's what I think you were trying to say. I'll always love you, Yukiho. Please don't ever forget me. I'll never forget you either.

Sleep well, my sweet Yukiho,

Your Makoto~

…hey, Makoto,

It's Iori. For some reason I wanted to write you this letter, even though I'm never going to give it to you. Thank you for offering to protect me. Truth is, I'm pretty scared. What if my guns run out of bullets? I'll be defenseless. You had better not let me down. I'm counting on you so please take care of me. Ugh, I sound like your girlfriend or something. Ew.

Anyway, thanks again. Please take care of yourself. Seeing you go insane like that is kind of frightening.

Seriously, keep me safe,

The Great Minase Iori

…dear Iori,

I got to thinking, maybe I should write you a letter to express my appreciation. Somehow, seeing you try so, so hard to cheer me up—like, you even pretended to be Miki—made me so happy. I'm so glad that you cared enough to try to help. No matter what, I will not let you die in that arena. I swear on my life I won't let you die. Please, then, promise you'll let me protect you. I can't save you from danger if you're constantly shoving me away.

Thank you for everything you did, Iori. You truly work wonders on a girl's heart. And her brain, for that matter…

Guess I'll call you Princess from now on,

Your Prince, Makoto.