For a couple of days, Naoki thought about what he should do, after all, the person for whom he subconsciously had the seeds of romantic feelings could be killed, on the one hand he felt like taking revenge, however, it should be Mei who should be entitled to it, not him.

On the other hand, Naoki had been poisoned by unknown people in March, which posed the threat that the situation could be connected to Misaki's death.

Naoki also noticed Ayato's strange behavior when the topic of conversation came down to Misaki Fujioka.

Ayato was becoming more nervous and seemingly terrorized which raised Naoki's suspicions, he saw no logical explanation for Ayato's behavior.

Ayato, on the other hand, had integrated very well into his new class, where the atmosphere since the curse had been lifted was considerably relaxed.

Only Mochizuki sometimes had black scenarios that the curse had returned, however, he did not take them seriously. Once Teshigawara noticed a pondering Mochizuki, he was not in the best of moods and seemed alienated from his group of friends.
-Hey Mochizuki, What are you thinking about so much?
Yuuya was startled by Teshigawara's sudden question.

- Ah because you know... it's just too calm somehow...

- Aren't you used to the chill?

- It's possible, the scary thing is that over time we have somehow gotten used to the death of our classmates, it's possible that this makes me feel that something bad is about to happen.

Kouichi joined the conversation and began to convince Yuuya that such scenarios are unlikely

- Nothing like that will happen, after all, there is no more extra with us right?

- If there was then the members of this class would still be dying.

Kouichi's head was pierced for a moment by thoughts that the curse might return.

"If that were the case then Misaki-san would have said long ago that there is a second extra in the class."

- You're right Sakakibara-kun. But what if...

Teshigawara's usual demeanor changed from cheerful to more sad.

- Each of us will have to live with this for the rest of our days...

However... we must live on... Yuuya, the curse will not return, or at least it should not.

After that there was an awkward silence for 3 minutes.

Ayato wanted to change the subject however he did not want to sound disrespectful to the victims of the curse.
During the duration of this silence, another thought crossed Kouichi's mind - "What if the curse has changed its target?"

This feeling was compounded by the fact that it was not stated in 1983.

So there was a possibility that the curse had shifted to another group.

Kouichi tried to deny this, however Ohba's suspicious suicide prevented him from doing so.

- Then maybe I'll go...

Kouichi went to look for Mei, he wanted to ask her if there was a possibility, Mei was nowhere to be found so he sighed and went back to class.

It turned out that Mei was in class, and rightfully so, they must have passed each other.

"Strange," he thought.

After the lesson, Kouichi approached Mei.

- Misaki-san, I have one question...

-Fine, ask.

-Is it possible that the curse can transmit?

- What do you mean?
- Well… As our class lifted her, could it have moved elsewhere?
- You think that Ohba's suicide was related to the curse?
-Kinda…
- In that case, one of the police officers must be an extra, or someone from his family, but I doubt it. I saw it when he questioned us about the Sakitani Kinenkan massacre. I knew that he will die. In that case, one of the police officers must be an extra, or someone from his family, but I doubt it. Besides, even if it can transfer, why did the curse in 1984 return to the 3-3 class?
Kouichi was relieved when Mei explained it to him.

- Thanks Misaki-san...

May I have a favor to ask?
Mei nodded
- If you saw or noticed the color of death on someone, could you tell me about it beforehand?
- Are you sure?
- Why are you asking me this?
- Suppose your grandparents die in the near future, would you want to live the rest of their days with the knowledge that they will die in a week?

It would not be, the same as before, especially as if it were to be a sudden death.

We will all die someday, and that moment could come at any time, however, we ignore it by focusing on life.
Kouichi thought for a moment, indeed it was a frightening thought, that if his grandparents were to die within a week they would see his grandson depressed by the vision of their impending death, instead of his usual demeanor.
- Well.. I guess you are right….. So, just forget about that…
Misaki considered for a moment whether to tell Kouichi and something he wanted to know about, however, she decided it was better if no one knew about it beforehand. She herself didn't even know what that meant.
Misaki looked at Ayato for a moment, thinking about what was coming.

After lessons, Naoki and Ayato were walking back to their homes together, they accidentally ran into a particular high school girl.

Naoki spotted her red hair and golden eyes.

As she walked away Ayato asked Naoki with a smile.

- Do you know her? You looked at her like she was your friend or something.

-No, not really.

-What do you mean?

-Nevermind.

Naoki left Ayato, and walked toward his house.

-W-wait Naoki!

We were supposed to meet after class with Teshigawara-kun and Sakakibara-kun.

-Tell them that I changed my plans.

-H-hey!

Naoki walked away turned into a side street, after exiting onto one of the larger streets he spotted her, and started following her.

Naoki knew that asking her if she happened to be who he thought she might be was not a good option, however, it would be worse if she found out she was being followed. He decided to pretend that she dropped a notebook, by dropping his own.

- Excuse me, may I ask a question?

- Yes?

- Your notebook fell out, your name was written on the cover. Ria Hironiwa I pressume?

- I don't recall dropping a notebook, but thanks.

Naoki took an object out of his pocket, Ria thought it was a notebook,

however, she spotted the knife. At the last moment she tilted it, saving herself from inevitable death. Ria was terrified, after he missed, Naoki tried to put the knife to her neck, however she began to grapple with him for her life. Naoki wasn't very athletic, so Ria could have a chance to overpower him, also she could scream for help or kick him, instead she asked.
-Why are you doing this.
-Nothing personal, at least for me. I'm sending a message to your father.
-You know, I can start screaming momentarily, besides, you are lucky that almost nobody is driving his car on this street or walking on the pavement, tell me exactly what you want, let's make a deal.
Naoki released her and hid his knife.
-I lied, it is personal, someone precious to me was killed on your father's orders so I wanted to take revenge on him by killing you, even though I don't have a right to do it.
Naoki was annoyed that he was forced to told a stranger about his motivation
-Ria snorted with sarcasm.

-Killing me the only thing you would do is a favor to my father. I'll tell you something, kill my brother – Kenshin Hironiwa instead, and in exchange I'll find who killed those person, so you could have your vendetta.

- I don't care about the contractor, I just want your father to suffer, just like her parents did.
- So, by killing my brother you could achieve that, so… deal?
-Naoki considered all the possible options he had at the moment, if he didn't agree Ria would probably start screaming for help, and even if he killed her he might not be able to escape in time.

-I don't think I have a choice, deal.

Both of them didn't trust each other, back in the distant past, The Hironiwa clan and the Muneyoshi clan were enemies for centuries, the reluctance survived even to the modern times, especially when both of this clans rebuild their influence after WWII.