Only one more left~

Exciting isn't it~?

Let's play, Guess-Who-Ends-Up-Alive-In-The End, shall we?

Please read and review as always.

Note: prepare to stay a bit longer than usual.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock...

The clock kept on counting down the seconds, resonating its peaceful rhythm throughout the bedroom and out into the whole house.

As the clicking sounds continued their steady pulse, the limp form underneath the bed sheets began to pull further and further out her slumber.

Once awake, the girl's (Hiyori, the name lazing it's way to her mind) eyelids fluttered open and ever so slowly, she pushed off the pillows and blankets wrapped around her until she was sitting up right.

Rubbing her eyes of sleep, she blinked them fully for the first time that day. Like every morning she looked over to the device emitting the ticks and tocks to see the time.

12:30. 12:30 when? Day or...?

Night... the girl knew when she got up to peek out the window. The sky was pitch black, with no sign of any stars like back at home. This was... weird. Why had she woken up so late? Didn't her parents always make sure she went to bed early so she would have a good night's sleep? She pinched herself to make sure she was indeed awake. Ow, yes she was.

Wait, the girl started to remember as she turned on the lamp on the night side table, that's right, my parents aren't here. This is my sister's house.

Where is my sister...? The girl wondered as she crept over to the mirror hanging on the wall. Blegh, her hair was a total mess, she observed as she opened a drawer for a hairbrush, probably Tsubomi's. She began with slow strokes down her hair, yet let her thoughts speed up a bit.

Let's see, I last saw her yesterday when she dropped us off at the shopping center. We were waiting for her to come pick us up, until...

vans-

snow-

struggling-

crying-

terror-

despair-

Konoha?

The hairbrush dropped out of Hiyori's hand suddenly, and for a short, terrifying moment she couldn't suck in any breaths. It took at least a minute and a half to get her lungs unfrozen and her breathing back to a stable pattern. She touched her lips, her wrists, and any other area that would have been hurt from the impact the most.

... I remember now, that... all of that had just been a nightmare? It definitely had to be. That must be why I woke up so late, because it was so scary...

That was all it was right? A dream and nothing more. Hiyori bent down to pick up the hairbrush, knowing all too well that her arm was shaking. So really, there's no need to be so freaked. It's immature after all. Hibiya would laugh at you.

Hibiya. She locked her gaze on the bedroom door and tried to imagine him right on the other side, laughing that snarky laugh of his.

But still, her forehead creased in worry, I have to be sure.

She set the hairbrush gently back on the dresser, forgetting any thoughts of trying to go back to sleep and quietly crept out of her room to search, switching on the hall lights.

Ayaka wasn't in her room. Not too unusual, Hiyori sighed sadly. She must be at the hospital late again.

Konoha wasn't either. He must be with her. She couldn't help but feel guilty at the resulting smile on her face, even if the dark, mysterious, heroic version of him from the dream hadn't been real.

It was the last bedroom she had to check which she prayed wasn't empty as well. Gripping the doorknob of her nephews' borrowed bedroom tenaciously, Hiyori pushed it open and hoped with everything inside her that she would see his rising, breathing form under the covers.

To her most ultimate dismay, she found herself staring at tossed over sheets and an empty spot right in the middle of the bed just as she had dreaded. Turning on her heel quickly, panic rose in her chest as she dashed for the stairs to the lower floor.

Maybe he had a nightmare too and he just went down for a glass of milk or something? Her brain tried to rationalize her fear with other possibilities yet it did absolutely nothing to slow her whirlwind steps down the stairs.

Something did, however, something that didn't just slow her down but caused her feet to halt in their tracks just before she reached the living room floor.

With dilated eyes, Hiyori stared down the wide open front door with a terrible understanding. The bone-chilling air blew into her face from the light snowfall just outside of the door, freezing the stressful sweat drops falling down her face.

After a few more eternity-filled seconds of silent staring, Hiyori willed her stiff legs to move. The cold wind only whisked around her stronger with every step she took.

Her thoughts sped up their leisure pace and began to run wild. What was he thinking? Isn't he smarter than this? It's the middle of the night! And it's freezing! Extremely freezing! Where could he have even gone? Sure, we had plans to go to the park like usual but we go in the afternoon! Hibiya-kun wouldn't be this dumb.

Right?

Hiyori felt the questions and confusions festering in her mind muffle themselves out as she reached for her coat on the rack, then her boots, and finally her red scarf.

Slipping her garments on, she steadily stepped forward until she was peering face to face at the calm, yet sinister-looking darkness just on the other side of the door, the icy wind blowing blizzards at her face, and yet not one snowflake flew inside of the house.

With a cold and determined heart, Hiyori ducked head first into the cold, ominous outside world as if the freeze itself was beckoning her to explore it. The door to her forever absent sister's house closed with a foreboding click.

What a terrible night it is outside.

The trek to the nearby park was one Hiyori was pretty familiar with; she and Hibiya had been going to it at least once a day for the past few weeks. It was one of the quieter parts of the city, with more open spaces and fresher air to remind them of their rural home. However, just because the route was well known didn't make it an enjoyable walk, or even the slightest bit comforting. She had only ever walked this way during the day when everything was illuminated and you could actually see the white-gleaming snow around you.

It was a completely different story during the night when you couldn't see anything but darkness, the glowing street lamps helping sure, but they were so far apart from each other that it wasn't long before you left the light and traversed into the shadows once again.

It wasn't the darkness that scared Hiyori though (she had long moved past that childish fear), it was what could be hiding in them, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Thieves, murderers, and worst of them all, kidnappers. Hiyori felt shudders crawl over her skin, and not from the frost whipping around her for once.

Thankfully, however (the most grateful Hiyori had ever been), she didn't see a single mugger, killer, nor any abductors as she switched from the roads to a bridge overlooking the city, it's brighter lights easing her jittery nerves slightly. She could see cars driving around the streets (no vans, thank god) but no other people walking about, despite it being a city full of humans.

Hn.

Were those traffic lights and stop signs always there? And those telephone poles too, she glimpsed at up at them, all stacked together in an awkward, unfamiliar design. Bathed in the mellow light from the lamps and the blinking lights from the buildings, they really did look ominous. She whipped her head behind her and almost skidded to a stop at the sound of a crow's cry, it's shadowy form wavering through the snow on top of one of the bright red stop signs.

Turning back uneasily, Hiyori decided to pick up her pace and get to the park sooner, her forehead furrowing as she jogged carefully down steps of the snowy bridge.

Why did everything... feel so weird? The suffocating, abnormal windchill, the hazy silence all around, the flickering darkness...

It was almost as if her surroundings weren't even real, that the structures around her blurred away the moment she walked past, that her imprints on the snow vanished even before the snow could logically fill them back up.

Feeling more and more unsteady Hiyori's legs almost slipped on an odd-placed patch of ice. After composing herself again, she bit her tongue in hopes of forcing her apprehension to bite itself away. She had to find Hibiya, nothing else mattered enough to think about right now. With a steeled resolve Hiyori pushed forward, the gates to the park just coming into view.

"Hibiya-kun?" She called the instant she reached the gates, the street lights were even fewer here so she had to really strain her eyes while scanning the silhouetted structures of the playground they usually went to. "Hibiya-kun!"

"Asahina?" Hearing a faint call coming from the playground slide, Hiyori didn't need to hear it twice to start sprinting over.

Coming closer she could definitely confirm that the small silhouette of a boy on top of the slide was indeed Hibiya. A thousand sighs flooded out of her chest as she climbed on top with him. "I, I finally found you..." She breathed in brokenly, wiping away the snow before she sat down.

"I can see that," Hibiya deadpanned like normal. "The question is; why did you follow me out here in the first place?"

"Because-" it rumbled from the back of her throat "-because you're an idiot! You're usually not, so why did you come out here when it's so late?!" Tears of worry that she had forced herself not to shed were beginning to prick at her eyes as she smacked him on the shoulder slightly, partial because how dare he make her so scared, and the other just to make sure he was actually there.

Hibiya scooted in closer, enough that she could see his face a bit clearer. He wore an apologetic smile that looked quite unnatural on his face. "Sorry about that Asahina, I really am. It's just, I woke up early and then I found this little guy in my room." He moved his hands away a little bit to reveal a small mound of shiny black fur.

"Meow," it purred, blinking its golden-orbed eyes. Hiyori blinked back, mesmerized by the red pupils hidden inside.

"A cat? Ayaka-nee doesn't have one; how did it even get inside?"

"Beats me. I just followed it when it ran back outside." Hibiya stroked the cat's ears rather affectionately, the affection level he only saved for Konoha. "It led me here of all places. Weird. Anyway, you like cats don't you?"

"Of course!" She smiled for the first time that night. "They're my favorite animals after all. Come here kitty-kitty." She outstretched a hand to pet it.

Lazily staring at the inviting hand, the cat turned away from it and promptly sprung out of Hibiya's hands. "Woah!" They both exclaimed as the cat bounded off of the slide and into the street.

"Don't worry, I'll get it back for you," Hibiya was suddenly saying and sliding down as well before Hiyori could get two words in. Trepidation building back up she slid down herself, realizing that she couldn't see him anymore.

"Wait!" Hiyori shouted into the darkness before plunging into it. It was really starting to blizzard. "Hibiya-kun it's too dark! It's dangerous too! Where are you?"

No matter where she looked all she saw was black, the snow obscuring her vision even more until she was nearly blinded by the frost pummelling her eyes. Calling his name a few more times, Hiyori was about to surge forward in hopes of just bumping into him by chance until a bright, blinding white light sparked from the right side of the road.

Was that, a truck? And what was that shadow in front of it? She peered into the hot, glaring beacons further. Ever so slowly, her eyes widened until they could widen no more.

Hibiya...

"HIBIYA GET OUT OF THERE!" The scream ripped through her throat, arms flying out to pull him away from the illuminated metal demon speeding right towards him.

Frankly, it was silly to think that she would have gotten there in time. Stupid as well. Yet she tried to run, tried to get to him, only to slip on the icy pavement and fall on her knees with a painful skid, painful enough scrape off skin. Not that Hiyori noticed, her eyes glued to what was happening in front of her.

There truly was nothing she could do but watch as the nightmarish scene played out. Watch as the truck came closer, lighting up Hibiya's still, non-moving form more and more the closer it got.

Was it just her imagination, or did the glowing form of her best friend turn around to face her just now?

Was that his mouth moving to form words she wasn't able to hear?

Was that him smiling as if he would never be able to smile at her again?

Whether she had seen it or not didn't matter, none of it did really. Because right afterward the truck crashed into him, tossing him to the side like a pathetic little doll. Like that one time the Hibiya doll she actually did have at home had gotten a tear and it's fluffy insides had come spilling out. Took a day for her to fix it.

Except, of course, this Hibiya wasn't a doll that could be fixed with a simple thread and needle. This Hibiya was real. This was all real. Hiyori knew; she had heard it all: the smash of his skull, the ripping of his flesh, the thud of his body hitting the road and breaking into bits. The truck didn't even stop, whatever driver inside uncaring of the young boy they hadn't seen in time.

Willing legs that felt like jelly to support her weight again, Hiyori walked forward not caring if another truck came along. Crouching down in the snow, she felt around for his body. Only when her frostbitten hands brushed warm, wet, limp skin did she let her breathing return. It wasn't long before her chest was churning out dry sobs, her tears freezing down her cheeks as she cradled his lifeless body, getting blood all over her coat for sure.

Why had this happened... she didn't want this to happen...oh god why did this happen?!

Just like my nightmare, or an even scarier one...

Pinching herself a thousand times, she was undoubtedly awake. Tears gushing out faster, her voice cracked out of her chest until it became a full-blown wail.

From the corners of her water filled eyes, she saw the cat's reddish golden eyes staring at them blankly from the darkness.

It's mocking us, she knew as the snow, hail, and wind blasted around them in a circle, trapping them both in the dark, everlasting winter.

Tick.

Tock.

Hiyori blinked open bloodshot eyes, skin swimming with cold sweat, and kicked herself fully awake and sat straight up.

W-was that was part of the nightmare too...?

She stared at her clean, non-bloody hands wobbly. Breathing in and out she held her face between her palms and tried to get her shoulders to relax from their strain. It didn't work, and they only coiled tighter.

Pushing her quivering body off of the bed, she walked over to the window to see if it was finally morning, only to find herself staring at the same pitch blackness as the first time.

She cut her eyes to the tick-tocking clock. 12:30. Again.

...or maybe, a vision of the future?

With this new thought in mind, she ran out the door and down the hall. She no longer cared if the first two bedrooms were empty or not and went straight for Hibiya's room. It was exactly like the first time: he was gone.

Hiyori flew down the stairs to get her coat and boots and scarf on.

She knew where he was already, where she'd be able to see him.

Not stopping to think about her weird surroundings (or even what the hell was actually going on) this time, Hiyori speed-walked the entire way. Once at the park again (or was it the first time?) she dashed over to the slide and climbed it instantly. Hibiya was indeed there, and his dimly lit face looked at her in surprise.

"Asahina? Is that you?" Hearing his voice (he's alive) was heaven, even though it didn't lift any of her main anxiety. She sat down, wiping away the snow more hastily this time.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Thought so, only a dummy like you would follow me out here."

"You're the one you came out here in the first place." Any sound of liveliness was lost from her voice, and she didn't have the drive to return it.

She heard him rub the back of his neck. "You got me there, haha."

"Hn."

"Hey, what's wrong? You're usually not this quiet."

"It's nothing, really. I just had a weird dream before now. I think you were there too, and we were in this very park..."

"Oh," Hibiya mumbled, reaching behind him for a second. "I know what will cheer you up, though; I found this cat in my room when I woke up earlier. Take a look!"

Hiyori did look, the cat's golden, devilish red eyes looking back at her all too knowingly. She didn't reach out to pet it this time, instead reaching out to take Hibiya's hand.

"Let's go Hibiya-kun, this playground is boring anyway." She pulled him off of the slide, both watching the cat walk away from them. Good. "Uh sure, why not I guess."

They walked to the city, Hiyori pulling him the whole way. The extra lights splashed onto them and allowed the color of their clothes to finally show through. Hiyori felt more and more pleased; she could actually see him now.

This was going smoothly. Even the utter lack of people on the streets no longer fazed Hiyori, she just had to get Hibiya away from there, away from cars and vans and trucks, just away away away.

Looking back at how he was doing, hmm, he looked a bit unsettled. Maybe now would be an okay time to act cheerful again and lighten the mood. Hiyori let go of his hand for just a bit, ready to point out a store they had gone to before.

"Look over there Hibiya-kun! Do you remember when we bought some books from that store with Ayaka-nee?" When she got no response, she looked behind her back, feeling more than a little antsy. "Hibiya- Hibiya-kun!"

He was gone, missing from the space he had been standing right behind her in. How could he have gotten away from her so fast?! Familiar fearfulness seized her heart and she scanned the streets in a frenzy.

She couldn't see him, she couldn't see him! She couldn't- no wait, he was over on the other street. Beginning to hurry over there, a breath of relief almost escaped her until she saw Hibiya look up, following his gaze.

With unbelieving eyes, she watched in slow motion as several giant steel poles came falling down from the building above, right above of Hibiya. Not falling onto her knees this time, Hiyori yelled with everything she had for her legs to run faster and for him to just move out of the way dammit.

No luck. She never had any luck. Suddenly there were poles after poles piercing right through his little body, popping out of the other side with blood gushing through every wound and hole drilled into him. It oozed all over the surrounding ground, staining the pristine white snow with red, bright red.

Hiyori actually wished that the city lights weren't so awfully bright so she wouldn't have to see it; she was paralyzed to the point where she couldn't even shut her eyes to the gore.

Once all of the poles had fallen and had ran their way through him, he had been mangled so much that it was hard to imagine that such a crumpled over, bloody, pulsing mess had ever been her beloved Hibiya-kun. Hiyori sank to her knees and gripped her head in her hands painfully. What was the point of even running over to him, it wouldn't change such a horrible reality.

The screams of agony came easier to her than before, after all, he hadn't screamed once either time, so who else would cry in his place?

"HIBIYA!" Over and over again she ripped it out, no one hearing her at all. No one knowing what had happened to him. This is all my fault...

Sniffling into (and most definitely getting gross snot all over) her hands, she peeked out just a little in a miserable effort to see that just maybe, it hadn't happened. Please be a lie, please be a lie...

'It's not, this is the truth' her eyes confirmed for her. The same tears that had fallen after the truck were pouring down her cheeks now. Hiccuping sobs tumbled in her chest, her eyes focusing themselves and saw that something new had surfaced in her vision.

Zoning her irises just a few steps in front of her, it was the cat she realized. Laying on the ground and licking its paw apathetically, it's monster-like red/gold eyes flashed her a look that seemed to say 'what you see exactly what you're going to get.'

...Hiyori wished she had something to throw at the cat. Something really hard. Too bad it had already walked away before she had time to form a snowball.

The flurries began falling thicker as her vision hazed over, and her head filled with sadness. Did I really see Hibiya say something just before he got killed? Did he really smile at me before those poles fell from the sky and stabbed holes in him like fangs? Or was it just me? It was such a dark smile anyway...

Tick.

Tock.

Hiyori woke up from her dark sleep with a scream this time.

Once aware of where she was, she wasted absolutely no time at all.

She didn't check the clock, she knew what time it was.

She didn't check any of the rooms, she knew no one was in the house.

Shoving her jacket, boots, almost forgetting her scarf, Hiyori slammed the door behind her shut.

Third time's the charm.

Running as fast as she could with no breaks to her stride at all, she arrived at the park faster than both times before her. Continuing on to the slide immediately, there was no time to climb it. Instead, Hiyori reached up and felt around for Hibiya's hand, and seized it stiffly the moment she found it.

"A-Asahina?!" She heard him gasp. "What are you doing here-"

"We're going back to the house," she cut him off rather effectively. "Now."

"What? H-hey, wait! Asahina!" Hibiya yelped as he was all but yanked down the slide by her. "Don't you want to see this cute-"

"No, I hate cats," Hiyori affirmed sternly and tugged him along as she started running back the way she came. Fortunately, he only complained and resisted her small, yet fiercely squeezing hand for a few minutes, and soon was running across the roads and against the haunting snow in time with her.

Hope started to arise in Hiyori's heart, we're going to make it, as she saw the bridge over the city appear into view. Panting breaths forming into little clouds in front of her mouth, Hiyori ran even faster. "Come on, we'll be there soon Hibiya-kun! Just a little bit more-!"

Hearing Hibiya's grunting response, they climbed the stairs leading up to the bridge as if their lives depended on it. (Hibiya's did at least.)

Making to the top of the stairs and onto the bridge, Hiyori wanted to jump in triumph. Just a few more roads to take and they'd be safe. She would win against this dream. Hibiya would live.

Until...

"No.. h-how..." Hiyori breathed as her eyes almost busted themselves out of their sockets in shock. Right there under a lamppost on the bridge was the cat, drilling it's shiny, evil stare right into her hopeless black eyes.

No no no no no NO.

In that single second of horror, Hiyori's grip on Hibiya's hand eased up just a bit, and suddenly she wasn't holding his hand anymore. Swinging her petrified gaze behind her, Hiyori was frozen as she watched her still-running friend fail to control his momentum, slip on sloshed snow and fall down the other side of the bridge.

Just as he plummeted into the dark depths bellow, Hibiya turned around for a split-second. Hiyori knew for sure now, as she had known the past two times; Hibiya really had been saying something to her just before he died. And just like that, he was gone again.

Staring blankly in front of her, Hiyori didn't walk over to the other side of the bridge to scream her anguish over the railings that were much too short. She didn't crumble into herself and weep for the cruel world to bring him back. What was the point? She wouldn't be able to see him down there, and he would be coming back soon anyway.

Rather, she turned away from where Hibiya had fallen and back to the where the cat was idly sitting. It was still there, so she thanked the terrible, painful, small world for at least allowing her one pleasure in a sea of sorrow.

Walking up to the cute little feline calmly, Hiyori smiled down at it sweetly as she kicked the stupid creature as hard as she could.

She didn't get to see if her foot actually connected with its useless face, if she had hurt it or maybe even sent it flying over the edge like how Hibiya had fallen (oh wouldn't that be nice.)

The cold had already swirled her back to sleep.

Tick.

Tock.

Heavily lidded eyes opened once again, and quickly shut themselves back up. There was no need to rush, so why not get a little extra rest?

After a while, the girl did indeed get up and proceed to get dressed. After trying on some of her niece's pretty purple dresses, she settled with her own pink dress over a black top. Might as well look her best for tonight.

Passing by her sister's room she greeted a happy "Hello Ayaka-nee!" and even a begrudging "Hey there Konoha," to the other room. Even if they were never there, it felt nice to say something to them. She simply walked past the last room without saying anything. She'd talk to him later anyway; he never left the playground before she came.

"Thanks for the food!" She unclasped her hands and dug into her cereal bowl and orange juice. It definitely wasn't time for breakfast, but it was always nice to have a midnight snack every now and then even if she never really felt hungry anymore. She had almost forgotten what food tasted like, would anyone believe?

Finishing her meal, she decided to walk around the entire house just for the fun of it. It was amazing really, no matter what mess she made and no matter what expensive vase she broke, it was all fixed and back in their places the next time she woke up. She didn't have to care about cleaning at all in this world! Perhaps it would be one of the only things she'd miss.

Enough stalling, her sense of self whispered in her ear. It's time to go. She rightly agreed and wrapped up her little impromptu tour. Bundling on her jacket, boots, and finally her bright red scarf, Hiyori took one last look at the house.

"It's been really fun. Thanks for everything sister, I love you," Hiyori whispered one last time, hoping that her words would somehow be heard when Ayaka finally did return to her house. Hiyori wouldn't be there to know. "Tell okaa-sama, otou-sama, and your kids that I love them too."

With nothing more to say, she stepped out and closed the front door. The windy snow danced around her more benevolently, playing with her scarf instead of whipping it back at her face like a weapon. It was almost as if it knew.

Hiyori, a young girl who maybe wasn't so ordinary anymore, smirked. Almost as if to say 'so be it' to the cold itself.

She began skipping to the park at a leisurely pace.

'I'm going to end this story once and for all right now, and you can't stop me.'

Sitting peacefully on top of the slide with crisscrossed legs, Hiyori smiled brightly during her conversation with Hibiya, who was stroking the blasted parasitic cat like always. She smiled anyway; it would do no good to be grumpy, especially now. She wanted him to know that everything was alright. Everything would be alright.

So she kept on laughing good-hearted laughs at the same jokes and stories she had been hearing for the past ten years. She never grew tired of them ever, even if she could predict them paragraphs before Hibiya said them. As long as she got to hear his voice, got to see him no matter what, it was fine by her. It was all she wanted, all she hoped for.

And on this specific night, she treasured every little word more than she ever had in any previous dream. She would need them to act as remembrances and strength for later. It was easier now, Hibiya had only gotten kinder and more affectionate as the dreams piled on.

...Hiyori wondered if he knew what had been happening all along.

"Boy, it really is cold isn't it?" Hibiya blew hot air onto his hands and folded into his jacket more. "Y'know I don't hate winter or anything, but I don't really like it either."

Hiyori's serene smile erred just a little. ""Same here. But I actually do hate winter. More than anything, I hate it."

"Huh?"

"Hehe, nothing!" she said, turning her upbeat energy back on full force.

Suddenly the little black cat began to stir in Hibiya's hands, seemingly having been bored to death from their pleasant chatter. As it jumped down from the slide and into the black nothingness, Hiyori felt a wave of severity wash over her. Right on schedule.

"Hey, little guy, where are you going?" Hibiya stood up and shouted after it. "Don't worry, I'll go and bring it back. Wait here Asahina!" Jumping off of the slide, he raced out into the street for the umpteenth time. The last time.

Hiyori didn't call after him to forget about it and come back like she had in her earlier dreams. Instead, she hugged her knees and sank her head down low in preparation for what she was about to do next.

Her voice was barely a whisper, "No, I'll go bring it back Hibiya," before she shot off of the slide and ran after him.

Fuelling as much power into her legs as she bolted through the snow, Hiyori would not fail. It had taken months worth of going through Hibiya's death via truck to prepare for this moment. She had accounted for everything: how many steps to take, how fast to run, where exactly his hand would be for her to grab.

...if this didn't work, she'd just stop trying and sleep forever in that miserable room. But she wouldn't stop trying because this plan would not fail.

Like clockwork, the headlights of the truck flickered into life from the darkness just when she knew they would. Her right hand itched, counting down the seconds before it would spring out and grab him.

This would be much easier if I could see him clearly. Hiyori allowed herself only a few spare thoughts. [I wish I could see through anything...]

There wasn't any more time for wishes, she had wasted too many nights wishing for the impossible already. Now was the time to make them come true. The clock counting down in her mind let out its final tock.

Hiyori was ready. Stamping her foot on the ground and stopping her run, her hand flung out, almost on its own accord, and grabbed at the correct space in front of it. Her calculation had been right, and she clamped down on Hibiya's hand with burning will. Using absolutely, positively every piece of strength her young body possessed, Hiyori yanked him back from the oncoming danger and flung him backward the way they had come from.

With a joy she hadn't truly felt in years, Hiyori eyes teared up with bliss as she watched her dearest friend fly backward and land on to the snow-covered roadside with a thud.

As Hibiya's own eyes realized what had happened and began tearing with sadness, his hand stretching out in the useless hope of meeting hers, Hiyori smiled despite it. Despite the truck being seconds away from smashing into her. Despite it all.

Heh. I'm sorry. Thanks for everything Hibiya. Don't forget me, don't forget what happened. See you. I really loved you.

Hiyori left the words unsaid, knowing from experience that he wouldn't be able to hear them. Although she did indeed have something she wanted to say aloud...

Looking away from Hibiya, where was it? That- ah there it was, that damn cat, off to the side under another streetlight looking strangely interested in what was going on for the first time in forever. Perfect.

"Serves you right!"

The stopped clock in her head smashed away completely.

Hiyori welcomed the collision.

Tick.

Tock...

Hibiya woke up with a frown on his face. He wondered if there had ever been a time when he hadn't, and had woken up with a smile instead.

He glanced at his phone, although he knew there was no other time that it could be.

Looks like it had just turned 12:30. The same night had repeated itself once again. What a surprise.

It wasn't surprising either when he realized that a cat had cradled up in his arms while he had been sleeping, the same little annoying cat as always. Nonetheless, he petted it, only a few tears spilling over from his eyes.

"Guess I failed this time too, huh," he muttered. The cat only purred back and looked at him with its strange sad eyes.

Better get up soon, he knew, and go out before she wakes up.

Hiyori always died more gruesomely if they stayed together in the house.

A few more droplets escaped from his tear ducts.

He wondered if any of this would ever truly end.

"..."

Surely, we'll escape from this nightmare sometime soon?

Won't we?