Aichi...

- Could this be…? Void presence? – said Aichi, trembling at the monster's stare. His eyes were colder that polar ice. But somehow, the bluenette couldn't stop gazing the abyss in the strawberry monster's eyes; and, just as Nietzsche said once, if you stare at the abyss long enough, the abyss stares back to you. Aichi felt an overwhelming loneliness and fear, as everything around him was fading away. In 30 seconds, he was in a dark and empty space. The "room" was cold and silent. Sadness and fear soon became Aichi's only emotions.

- This feeling… no, I don't want it… not again… Kai-kun, Kourin-san, everyone… don't let me alone… come back…- Aichi began to cry in the abyss.

- … chi… Aichi… close your eyes… you'll be here soon~- a voice singed. Purple eyes were staring at him. It creped the hell out of Aichi; but somehow comforted him, too.

- Look back – another voice said. It came from a really old radio. The voice was from a mature man, a voice like Jim Cumming in Splatterhouse's remake.

- Aichi~… your eyes…-

- Turn back right now-

- Close them~-

- Walk away, child

- AICHI~

Aichi began to walk into the abyss. Ignoring the singing voice, he walked into the darkness; he couldn't stop, his only desire was to be left alone, forget everything, and become one with the darkness. It was it, the same feeling. Now he was sure; it was Void… the darkness was taking control once again; but now he was completely alone. Nothing mattered anymore. He was alone; he always has been. Now and forever… only emptiness was inside his heart. No friends, no relatives, no Kai-kun nor Kourin-san…

- STOP STARING AT THE MONSTER'S EYES; ITS DESTROYING YOUR MIND FROM THE INSIDE- Ren yelled at him. All of a sudden, Aichi was back in the floating wasteland. Kai and Kourin were holding his hands, facing him. Emi was hugging him.

- G-guys… I-I… I felt so alone…- Aichi cried, hugging them. The group hugged him back. Aichi's heart was slowly warming again; he was not alone anymore… but, what was that space?

-Uh, guys… - Emi said. The monster was over them, mouth open. They covered their heads in panic, but the power of a huge gunshot sent him flying a few meters above them. Haruko and Card-kun had smoke coming of their guns. For once, their pose was a serious (and badass) one.

- Outlaw Blast. When Hardstyle and another Outlaw are in the Arena, the attack has the value of their combined attack power x2. It's an ensured damage point- stated Ren.

- How did you…? – asked Aichi.

- It's written here- Emi pointed at Haruko's card's abilities and stuff. She was also a G2.

The monster stood up; half of the strawberry was blasted off. It roared in anger; so strong it made the ground shake. In a second, the floating wasteland began to transform again. The monster used it as a distraction, and jumped over Aichi. Card-kun repelled it with an Emi-like kick in the face; it didn't fall, but he was away from Aichi, and now focusing in the Outlaw. Haruko stood beside Card-kun; both were smiling fearless of the monster's gaze.

- Pfft, we have seen stares darker than that, you sweet delicious fuck – smiled Haruko. Card-kun smiled back and licked his lips, just like a jap-cartoon psycho (?).

The monster rushed towards them, partially hitting Card-kun's body (he always has sucked at dodging); he almost falls to the infinite abyss. Haruko couldn't use the Blast; the fellow Outlaw was too far; and the monster ran full speed at the Unit. In an all-or-nothing attempt to save him, Aichi threw a pebble to the strawberry's head. The monster stopped his way to Card-kun just in front of him, but applied again Void's Gaze to him.

- NO, YOU'RE NOT- Haruko raided the monster in lead (just like she did with Ren), but it didn't seem to be enough. It had to be done with Card-kun.

The monster rushed in a blink of an eye in front of Aichi. The mutant strawberry transformed the ground around the shota, cornering him to the wall the monster just created; it smirked at him.

- Ai… chi…- said the thing, with a deep and glitchy voice; but, exactly the one in the old radio from the abyss. – You… can't run… from… us-

- AICHI- yelled Kourin, pushing the shota away from the monster's incoming bash. Aichi saw everything in slow motion; Kourin tearful sight, and her brave smile… was the last thing he saw of her.

The monster's attack blasted the entire wall; surrounding himself with dust and debris. His hand was covered in blood. For a moment, everything stopped; every sound, every movement, every breath… Aichi's eyes were full of tears. Kourin just… have she just…?

- KOURIN-SAAAAAAAAAAAAAN- Aichi screamed with all the air in his lungs. The monster stared at him once again. The same eyes that gave him the same dark feeling than Void… but Aichi stood up, and walked towards the wall; ignoring the monster, ignoring everyone screaming to him "stay back". The only thing in Aichi's mind was Kourin; the only thing in his ears, besides the beep from the blast noise, was her voice. His only thought was "she's alive, she's alive". She can't be… she can't be dead. She must be alive; just heavily injured, right? Just some time in the hospital and problem solved, right? It had to be it… IT MUST HAVE TO BE IT.

The monster took Aichi's head in his hand, the hand with the blood of his straight crush. The shota wasn't fighting back. He just wanted it to be a nightmare, the worst of nightmares ever possible. But it wasn't… as Aichi blamed himself eternally for Kourin's gruesome death, found himself again into the Gaze's domains. In front of a huge fall, he threw himself into the abyss.

INSIDE THE GAZE

- Aichi- Kai, for some strange reason, was inside the Gaze, grabbing his hand. One second; a single second later and his beloved friend would have fallen into darkness.

- Kai-kun… let me go. There's no use for me to stay here, by your side. People around me only get hurt…

- Aichi, I-

- I'll say it once again. Let. Me. Fall…

- I-it was nobody's fault. Please, Aichi, don't do this… don't leave me alone…

- So it's just about you and your happiness, then?

- It's not like that and you know it.

- Kai-kun… I just want to know a last thing…

- W-whatever you want. I'll tell you whatever you want. Just don't jump, Aichi… please, don't jump- Kai was already tearing.

- That time at the park… I told from the depths of my heart that I loved you; but your answer was a straight "no", remember?

- I-I'm sorry, Aichi, I should… you know, say it more gently, o-or…

- Did you mean it? You really don't feel the same way as I do?

Kai kept himself in silence for a moment. That answer, that single answer, if mistaken, would make his friend lost into darkness. "Just this time, Toshiki Kai… don't lie to yourself, tell him… he will be gone forever if you don't do it… come on, talk! SAY SOMETHING"

Kai said nothing… he just stood there, staring at the ground, completely lost for words. Aichi looked at him with that empty sight; if he had nothing to say, why was he here, wasting his time?

- That's what I expected… good-bye, Kai-kun- Aichi punched Kai in the face, making him leave his hand, and jumped backwards… The brunette, in a desperate move, grabbed his friend's leg.

- AICHI… I… I…

- Why is so hard, Kai-kun… why is so hard to be happy to me? Where's it, my little piece of heaven…? I did my best but I can't find it… where's it? – Aichi began to cry. It was totally not his crybaby one; it seemed truly born from pain… was that room made from Aichi's pain? Something deep inside Kai's mind gave him strength and made him pull the shota to the ground. Exhausted, he rested on the ground. Aichi was sobbing.

- Aichi, I lied…

- What do you mean? – Without them noticing, the "dark room" began to disappear.

- That time, about your confession… I lied… I have no idea how to say it, I'm no good with emotions, you know? But… since you came back to my life again everything's so… full of hope… and, pink and fluffy thoughts about the time we spent. Aichi, you made me change for good… you even went as far as to fight a Reversed me… I'm so thankful for every time you looked after me that I… I think that…

- So… that means you also…- Aichi kept silent for a while… and smiled. – Say it, Kai-kun-

- I-if you deducted it, t-then there's no need of…

- I wanna hear it from you.

- Aichi, don't-

- Say~ it, Kai-kun~

- AICHI

- Say it! - Aichi jumped over him, making Kai blush even more. – "I love you too, Aichi"; say it!

- NO

- SAY IT, GODDAMMIT- Aichi suddenly pissed off because of Kai stubbornness; his face changed to a completely different art style.

- ALRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT- Kai pissed off as well.

- FINEEEEEEEEEEE

- Okay… *deep breath* I-I… I l-love…- Kai was about to explode due to massive embarrassment. – I… I…. uh… I-I lo…- Okay; now Kai totally reached an inhuman shade of red on his blush (mom, what am I doing with this story?).

- That's enough… I'm satisfied of your blushed face- said Aichi, kissing Kai's forehead.

- Aichi…

As the two of them stood up (glowing red, of course), the room was no longer there. Instead, an old train station, ripped off from a Western film's set, was in front of the guys. A steam train was there. As the brunette and the shota looked at each other, they stepped in.
Aichi asked a woman sitting in front of them what was the train's destination. The woman smiled at the boys.

- Aren't you too young to be on this train, kids?

- Huh... excuse me, lady... - Kai took the word. - But, where does this train goes, exactly?

- Happiness, peace, paradise... call it whatever you want, kids. But we, people looking for a new life, away from a boring and unhappy life (mainly because of a bad marriage), call it "Nowhere".

- Nowhere?

- You'll understand when we get there...

OUTSIDE THE GAZE

- WHAT PART OF DON'T STARE AT HIM DID YOU GUYS NOT UNDERSTAND? - Card-kun and Haruko shot a Blast at the monster's eyes, making him fall. Aichi and Kai woke up; they were holding hands. Ren and Emi were taking pictures.

- This is our way to not succumb to the panic- Ren said as an excuse.

As they saw the duo preserving that embarrassing hand-holding, they combined a failed attack to break the assholes' phones, which ended in the no-homos /yeah, sure/ falling on their faces before even start the chasing.

- Emi, shall we upload them? - asked Ren, mischievously.

- Let mom choose the best ones.

- Yay!

Suddenly, a flying Card-kun almost impacted with them. Blood was coming out from his face and the wall had a crimson splat. He wasn't moving. Kai covered Aichi's eyes, because Card-kun was WAY more than dead; WAY MORE.

Aichi had enough, and again fainted in Kai's arms. (Seriously, how many times are you going to faint today, Aichi? It's totally not good for one's health)

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

- … but we… shall … that girl… how are we going to… he will have to understand that… to grow up...- Aichi couldn't hear quite well, he was too dizzy to understand what people was saying; moreover, he could barely see two feet away. He tried to look around, anyway. They were still on the Limbo-like place, but the air was no longer heavy, and the sky was light blue; like today's morning. A smoking figure was lying on the ground. Hoping it was the strawberry monster, he slept again.

Moments later, he could finally see and hear. The smoking thing seemed to be the strawberry monster. Haruko was in her nurse's costume again; she was checking him up.

- Ah, you woke up. That's good, kid! - Said her, patting his head. Aichi smiled sweetly at her.

- How bad I am? Do I have any kind of damage that will destroy every chance to have a normal and happy life alongside my dear ones, and will be damned to become a old geezer in an asylum for the rest of his life; being nasty at the personal and never have visits, and will be doomed to be alone, sad and angry at everyone for the rest of his life?

- No… not at all. Also, remember what happened?

- Uh… a monster was trying to kill us, right? Also, Kourin-san and Card-kun…- Aichi looked at the ground, sorrowful. – They died protecting me… right. I-it's my entire fault… if only I… if only was stronger, I…

- Uh, wrong again. Card-kun's alive; and, just try to look at your right. She looks pretty alive, does she?

Kourin was asleep besides him. Her forehead and right cheek were full of "Haruko's Special Bandages"; her breathing was calm and peaceful. Her white skin beautifully reflected the sunlight coming from the roofless hospital room, making her look like a muse. Her uniform was dirty because of the waste from the wasted wall the monster used to corner Aichi some faints ago.

- SHE WHA….? SH-SHE'S ALIVE, HARUKO-SAN? - Aichi tried to come closer to the blonde up to hug her, but he couldn't feel his legs… nor his arms or body. – Ah, I knew it; good bye, normal life…

- You fainted so many times it's obvious you won't be able to walk or move for a while. But, uh, yeah; the blonde girl seems to be alive. She answers to stimuli, and her vital signs seem to be normal and shit.

- Y-you're not kidding? - Aichi was so happy he was about to cry. Even with such a shounen-like epic hit, Kourin survived? She seemed to be tougher that she looked.

- Ah, Aichi, welcome back! – Kai was eating strawberry.

- AICHI, KAI-SAN ATE Y…- Emi yelled from the distance, waving her arms in order to get her brother's attention.

- SHHHHHHHHHHHH- Kai put a strawberry inside Emi's mouth. The loli stared at him with eyes full of hate. Not anger; hate. Pure hate; in fact, they were so dark and full of murdering hatred that the only person that could properly describe them would be Edgar Allan Poe; but, oh yeah, he's dead.

Card-kun had part of his head bandaged, and was talking with Ren; they seemed to be dialoging about some important stuff. Aichi stared at them with curious eyes.

- Oh, look at those bandages, pretty cool, aren't they? It may sound ridiculous, but my special skill is actually healing, and, as you probably guessed, those aren't normal bandages. They accelerate the reproduction rate of the cells, ending in a faster regeneration of the damaged tissue, and a replacement for obliterated structures, like a crushed skull; basic biology.

- B-but Card-kun's head was crushed against the wall!

- Yeah, I never understood how it works on such atmospheric damage; it just works- said Haruko, as she sat besides Aichi. -NOW, about what they're talking, my friend and the redhead are discussing why if we technically defeated the zone boss, we're still here. Now, Ren says it's because of Kourin and whatever keeps her asleep, while Card-kun states it's because the monster is not quite defeated; since this place changed a bit, it may be because of the monster stills alive.

- I see. Uh, how long have we been in here?

- TOKI WO TOMARE! (Time has stopped!)–said Haruko, standing with an overdramatic pose; which told Aichi she was back in her casual mode. -Time doesn't flow here; therefore, you don't feel any hunger, or thirst. But, all damage and shit you suffer here, may lead to a severe memory lost, or even permanent brain damage. That's where my bandages come to action; I only need to wrap her forehead in order to protect her memories, but with such a hit… she maybe won't be able to wake up again for a while.

- W-what do you mean? She's fine, right?

- Uh, not quite. She's like… you know, in a coma-like state. Her brain is recovering from the bash; if we force her to awake, every "glitch" without the proper self-repair may become permanent. So… until everything's okay, let her wake up on her own and don't fuck this up, okay?

- You're good at medicine, huh, Haruko-san?

- You just trust me, I didn't take this facade just for the cute uniform, y´know?; the asshole you call "Card-kun" was saved by my "Mother Cell Healing" more times than you can imagine. The guys always said "you're a born-caretaker"… a born-caretaker, huh? IN THE NAME OF THE PUREST CAST OF SHIT, I COULD HAVE CHOSEN CARETAKER INSTEAD OF HARDSTYLE, ABSOLUTE FUCKING FUCK. Oh well… the thing is, that your friend will eventually wake up; my Stand /shit I mean/ my Heal will fix her up as good as possible. The rest it's up to her.

As they talked, Ren clapped his hands, calling all of the presents (earning a bitch-slap by Kai); they knew the answer. Kourin's memories couldn't be found before (they did it while Aichi was asleep), so it couldn't be because of her trying to escape the Gaze, otherwise Haruko could tell if it was because of her link to the blonde via her Stand /shit I mean/ Heal ability. As for the monster, they needed Haruko and Aichi's skills to determinate if the monster was completely defeated. That is, for Haruko to check vital signals, and Aichi to sense if void's presence was inside the carcass.

Moments later, Haruko came up with the monster being in a state similar (but deeper) than Kourin's; as for Aichi, Void was pretty much gone, but still inside, and strong enough to keep them inside that plane. The monster had to be completely destroyed.

- So… another Raid would do it? – asked Card-kun.

- Let's find out! – Haruko, hands in her guns, was ready to bring an "all-mighty mother-fucking fire storm" upon the monster, smiling fearless.

- S-something… something's inside of it- Aichi said.

- Uh? – Ren looked at the shota. –Repeat it. All the party was looking at him.

- S-something is in-inside the monster- Aichi stared at the ground (too many people looking at him… I would do the same). – Void… only affect t-those who accept it; a-and a mindless thing like t-that… it h-has to be a human corrupted t-to the core!

- Well, that's gross…- Kai pointed, spitting his strawberry dessert far away. Emi threw up on Ren's shoes. Fortunately, the redhead was very happy for Aichi waking up, so he wasn't that mad at her.

All of a sudden; something began to move creepily and erratically on the monster's belly. Just like a chestburster from Alien franchise, but way more gross. Ren, Emi and Kai jumped away from the bulge in the monster's belly

- Shoot it…- Ren said, trembling. The redhead's voice made the –whatever- inside the monster move in an even creepier way.

- Shoot it… c'mon, shoot it! – Emi began to freak out; and unconsciously hid behind Ren's back.

The bulge then took the shape of a man with a mouth wide-open from its inside. It made really disgusting noise, like glitched regurgitating.

- SHOOT IT, SHOOT IT, SHOOT IT, SHOOT IT; SHOOT IIIIIT- Kai finally yelled using all of the air within his lungs.

In a blink of an eye, the two Outlaws raided the monster's bulge in lead, tearing every single piece of meat apart from the bone. It wasn't a pleasant view, and even so, Card-kun and Haruko didn't even blink.

At the point that the dust and shit made impossible to see at the monster, the shooting stopped. Smoke came out from the cannons; both of the Outlaws were panting (firing guns is actually pretty tiring, I tell you).

As the dust disappeared, the floating wasteland began to slowly pull itself together. The monster has been defeated.

Behind the dust, a panting shadow lurked outside, searching the light. It crawled to where the group was; shining purple eyes were on the silhouette's half-dead head. Haruko slowly began to come closer to the shadow with a painful expression on her face, as tears were rushing down her face. Aichi saw those eyes when inside the Gaze; he knew them, those creepy yet comforting eyes…

- M-M-Messiah? – She sobbed.

- Haruko, don't you tell me we just killed one of us…- Card-kun seemed shocked.

- Remember the macho guy in the picture?

- You can't be serious- Card-kun replied in panic; both Outlaws ran towards the lurking shadow. Ren and Ren only, seemed to understand what was going on, as he saw his Unit crying for her fellow comrade. The group's eyes were on the supposed Outlaw lying in the ground, bleeding to death. Haruko shed sorrowful tears for his comrade, crying his name, as his body rejected the Heal ability. Card-kun's head, in contact with the blood of his fallen friend, was unlocking every memory, every experience… too many things were happening in his head he was tearing without even notice.

As for the background, the room resembled what it looked before the "monster" attack. The room seemed old, like an abandoned place; traces of vegetation on the walls, cracks with some flowers coming out… that kind of place where you feel both Mankind and Nature's spirit in equal proportions.

- Hard… style… please, forgive me…- the man said.

- W-what are you talking about? – Haruko sobbed.

- That time… when I ate your bagels…

- YOU'RE JOKING IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS?

- But seriously… I never wanted it… this life for you… you deserved more than... being a filthy Gunslinger… I-I… never forgave myself… and now it's too late…

- No… no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO; IT'S NOT FUCKING LATE, YOU'RE NOT DYING AT ME, DON'T YOU DARE TO DIE ON ME. I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU IF YOU DIE

- H-Heh… who's the joker now…? Hey… I remember you, dude…- said Messiah to Card-kun.

- Don't say my name. Tell me anything you remember but my name.

- Don't let "IT" corrupt you… if you feel it… in your heart, K-KILL YOURSELF. Blow up your brains, b-before you turn into… a fruit monster… *ha-ha* now… please, end this…

- Because what you ever wanted was a peaceful and painless death, in the hands of another Outlaw, right? – pointed Card-kun.

- How did you-? – Haruko was surprised of him remembering Messiah's death wish.

- The blood… it's always blood in our lives, huh, guys?

- You're an awful comedian- Haruko sobbed, smiling.

As they tried to hold their crying, Messiah began to disappear in a glitchy mass; then, the guys understood it was time. Card-kun and Haruko pointed their guns at his friend's head and, closing their eyes, the loud sound of two gunshots echoed in the room.

THE HOSPITAL

They opened their eyes. They were outside the Limbo-like dimension, in Kai's room. Kourin and Aichi were lying in the same bed as Kai. The brunette's body was feeling like new, and breathing didn't hurt anymore. Emi was in a bed apart. Some minutes passed, Haruko was looking at the window, with empty eyes; Card-kun was sitting in Kai's bed, in his casual clothes, staring at the ground. The room soon was full of the hospital's voices, and the outside air. The breeze gently caressing Haruko's face relaxed her.

- I'll… catch up with you later, guys. I have to… y'know, do nurse stuff and so…- Haruko excused herself, as she walked away.

Aichi woke up, and Kai with him. Kourin, as Haruko stated, still sleeping; she had still the bandages on her forehead.

- Aichi… was it… a dream? – asked Kai, confused. Card-kun looked at him with cold but sorrowful eyes.

- I'd like to say so… but… it seems like people I meet have the bad habit to die when I'm around…- Card-kun voice trembled. Aichi stood up from the bed, and hugged him softly, giving Card-kun a warm feeling in his chest. As the 21-years guy hugged him back, he couldn't take it anymore, and for the longest time in 11 years… Card-kun cried his soul off.

PRESENT TIME

- SO! Here we are! – Aichi happily said clapping his hands.

- Uh, Aichi… it's a hospital- Naoki replied.

- Hey, isn't Kourin here? – Miwa pointed, smiling ear to ear as always.

- Yup! She was actually in a coma, y'know? – Aichi continued.

- How can you be that happy for your friend being in a coma, Blueberry? – asked Card-kun.

- Ah, didn't I tell you? She woke up! Just yesterday, AND HARUKO TOLD ME THE FIRST THING SHE DID WAS ASKING FOR ME "IN A WORRIED TONE", IF I WAS FINE. I'M JUST TOO HAPPY- Aichi intensified, breathing fast and bouncing, as Miwa and Card-kun smiled awkwardly at the duo, while Kai just headed to the hospital.

Having their adrenaline levels back to normal, Aichi and the guys followed Kai to Kourin's room. Aichi's heart was beating like crazy; even if she didn't talk to him yet, having Kourin to ask for his safety before anything was just enough for the bluenette to make his chest burn in happiness. Everything in his head was happy thoughts… and Happy by C2C.

As Miwa gently asked by Kourin's room, Naoki asked Aichi about how on Earth Kourin ended in a coma. The shota said "she'll show you in no time". Naoki shrugged, and waited patiently until they met "her"… whoever she is.

AT KOURIN'S ROOM

Looking serenely at the window, Kourin smiled at the blue sky, with a horizon adorned with some clouds, artistically displayed around it. She had a peaceful expression and a more mature air as well; she was smiling sweetly at the landscape before her.

- Pardon me- a girl entered the room. She had, among all her remarkable features, pink hair and a stern expression.

- Ah, Misaki! I'm glad you came- Kourin greeted.

- I needed to see by myself how messed up you were, but… it looks like you just woke from a nap… I can believe you have been in a coma for so long…- said the pink-head, sitting in her bed, smiling at her. – You look like a grown-up, now; like, more mature, wise and stuff…

- Yeah, Haruko-san told me so… Ah, you don't know her, don't you? Don't worry; my check up is in less than 15 minutes, so-

- IT'S… CHECK-UP, TIME! – A girl in her twenties kicked the door wide open; she seemed like a nurse… or like someone who stole the outfit from a real one, she thought.

- Uh… she's Haruko, right? – asked Misaki.

- Yeah, I… uh… what's your name? Misaki…-

- Tokura, Misaki Tokura, nice to meet you- said her, shaking the nurse's hand.

- So yeah, your friend is better than I thought; a few weeks and she'll be just fine- Haruko switched to her serious mode as she talked.

- I'm glad to hear so… shall I thank you?

- Nah, its fine. That's for what they pay me for; also I'm too a friend of her. We just met in… not the most standard of situations, but I really came to like her-

- LIKE HER? /I mean/ you're friends, right; just friends?

- Obvious crush spotted! – said Haruko picking Misaki's forehead.

- The fuck?! I just met you, stop blabbering shit about it! – said the pink-head, pissed off, as she smacked Haruko's hand away.

- Hmm… strong personality, huh? Maybe I'll come to like you in that way, Ms. Tokura…- said the nurse,

- SHUT UP

- Misaki, you big tsundere! How's it going? – Miwa appeared in the door, along with the rest of the group.

- I'll suppose that the broken door is because of Haruko-kun, right? – Kai entered the room

- Ah, Gay Toshiki, I see you came; did Aichi convince you to come?

- I-it didn't happen; I came here on my own free will- said the brunette, blushing slightly.

- KOURIN- Aichi yelled, pushing Kai away like a freaking balloon, running at the blonde and hugging her very tightly, as he cried his heart repeating "I'm sorry" from deep within. Both Misaki and Kai felt anchors falling in their heads, as the blonde motherly petted Aichi's hair.

- Kai~ what with that face? – Miwa made fun of his friend, who watched his /homo/crush sharing such quantity of love with Kourin and not him.

- You had him for an entire month and wasted it like the big retard you are, Toshiki- Card-kun pointed.

- You…- Kai charged a punch reserved for the Unit's face, but fast like a lightning, Haruko threw his medical notes which hit his head at its full.

- GUYS! Your friend just woke up, stop being such assholes and also get outta the room, its check up time!

Kai gave a hateful look at Card-kun, who smiled him back, making the brunette even angrier. Haruko and Naoki had a little bad time convincing Aichi to let go of Kourin, due to her check up, but the shota wouldn't listen. After almost 2 minutes of extreme pulling, Aichi wasted all of his energy, and the "I'm sorry" time ended.

Outside, Card-kun explained his story (or what he can remember of it) to Naoki and Miwa, as Misaki asked Kai why the hate at the "happy guy".

- The reason Kourin was in a coma and Aichi lack of sleep. He's both of them.

Misaki had a troubled expression, as he stared at the guy talking to his friends. If this was true… why Aichi seemed to be so friendly at him?

- It's just the metaphorical anchor, Kai. The same happened to me when I found out that Kourin had a crush on Aichi. I didn't talk to him for weeks, remember? – said the pink-head, patting the brunette's shoulder.

- I thought it was because of him breaking your controller, actually.

- I have a job, Kai; I can easily buy another. AND, I don't use all of my money just to buy cards- said Misaki, mocking the jobless Kai.

Kai smirked, accepting his "defeat" (he didn't know how to continue the dialogue).

- But seriously, this "Outlaws"… they're attracting some mysterious guys onto Aichi.

- AICHI, AICHI, IS IT TRUE? DID KOURIN WAKE UP? – Ren broke in through one of the big windows in the , and began to shake Aichi over and over.

- YEAH, AND THE FIRST THING SHE ASKED WAS FOR ME; SHE'S NOT MAD; MAN. SHE EVEN PLAYED WITH MY HAIR- Aichi began to bounce again. Ren joined the hyperactive party, bouncing and screaming like generic boy-band fangirls. Miwa and Naoki tried to calm down those two, as Card-kun smiled at them. Kai and Misaki stared at him.

- That smile… I don't like it.

- He's just having a déjà vu, you paranoid idiot- Misaki poked Kai's cheeks.

- How can you tell?

- Just look carefully; he's not really watching them, he's remembering someone else doing the same things they're doing.

- Whatever, those guys only mean trouble! – Kai said, standing up and leaving.

- You're too stubborn, Toshiki Kai- Card-kun said, watching him leave.

- Ah, didn't see you there- Misaki said. – So it's true, it's because of you that Kourin almost died?

- Technically she sacrificed herself in order to save Aichi from a zone boss; so…

- Ah… so it was because of Aichi? – The pink-head expression's changed, looking with some hate at Aichi.

- Because of the boss. It cornered him, Kourin pushed him away and that thing hit her so hard it left her in a coma.

- So she saved Aichi…- Misaki felt someone threw an albatross at her face.

- Hey… I'm pretty sure she would do the same if you were in Aichi's position. If you don't beat the monster first...

- Why you say so?

- You seem to be though.

- Yeah, I've been told so. And I am- said Misaki, friendly punching his arm.

- You and I will be good friends. Or, you won't hate me as much as Toshiki does…

- Nah, don't you worry. He's always like that at first- the pink-head smiled at him.

MEANWHILE

- Those goddamn Units…- Kai was full of anger. If it weren't because of them, Aichi would be completely safe. No, every single one of them would be safer without them. If just somehow they were gone… he wanted them to disappear. As soon as possible, by any means. Them and those things, he somehow felt that as long as they stay in Earth, things like that would keep happening. Kai needed it, a chance for having those Outlaw assholes leave, but... how in hell would he alone archieve it?

- Then is where I come in- a man stood before him. He was wearing a long, closed duster, a cowboy hat, grey jeans and boots. He seemed old, but, he was in shape. – I sense something inside of you that may help you to fulfill those desires. A delicious mix of hate and jealousy, am I wrong?

- D-don't come near me! – Kai began to feel scared. That old man, he was inside his head! He had to run, run to the guys' location, but his legs won't obey him. Anyone... please help...

- I don't know if you realized, but, anyone can hear you, Toshiki Kai…

Kai looked at his surroundings, and his breath began to escape from his lungs. Time… time has stopped again, just like before the monster…!

- Don't panic, I'm here to provide you with my support in your intentions; I also have my business with those two "Outlaws".

- W-who are you? – Kai asked, yet scared because of the time stop.

- My name his Rowland Winchester, Row, for friends. But everybody else from where I am, and you from now on… call me "Sheriff"...

END OF CHAPTER, YAY~

"OKAY, WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON? KAI, DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID."

Sorry for make you guys wait for so long for this one, rly! But the class period just started, and I'll be busy with school and shit, so next update may take a while. I'll try to write in my free time (hopefully I'll have a LOT, but surely my teachers will send tons of homework, so…)

AND, as always, THANKS FOR READING. 'TIL NEXT TIME *uses Stand's ability to teleport away* *yes, stills in love with JoJo* *JOJO REFERENCES FOR DAYS*