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Jordan gasped as his eyes opened, his body lurching up without his permission. The only reason he stopped was the hands pressing against his shoulders.

"Easy, easy."

That voice, which should've been comforting, only left Jordan feeling sick now as he finally registered exactly what he was seeing.

Chiasa was pushing against his shoulders, keeping him steady, while Ren stood behind him, his hand soothing at Jordan's back as he whispered in his ear.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," Jordan burst out, tears already burning his eyes. No apologies in the world could make what he did right, not to them, not to Fuwari, Yoshi, Sayuri, Irusu and Nima who'd they now all left behind, and not to himself either. Jordan had promised himself when this 'game' started that he'd never give in, that he'd prove that stupid kid wrong, that'd he'd never—

"Stop apologizing," Chiasa cut in, her words slicing through his panicking thoughts as easily as her arrows flew through the air. "You were manipulated, I don't blame you."

"And you had no idea I was there," Ren added, still rubbing Jordan's back like he deserved to be comforted. "You didn't know, Jordan."

A finger poked his hand and Jordan turned only to see Michi sitting beside him through his teary eyes. He raised his hands, signing slowly so that he could understand even through the tears.

'Can I hug you?'

Jordan let out a teary sounding laugh before he nodded. Chiasa stepped back as he opened his arms and Michi launched himself into them, burying into his chest. The rule when they had all been in school had been that if Michi wants a hug, you give him a hug and your day automatically will be better.

Jordan supposed that applied to his death now too.

"Satou messed up," Rosamie stated, crossing her arms as she observed the paintings on the gallery walls surrounding them. "Anyone knows that exposing yourself as such a staunch enemy will end in your own doom."

"Do you think someone will kill her next?" Tori questioned, an unsure look on her face.

"If they do…I don't know how that trial will go," Robin admitted, rubbing his hands nervously.

"Whatever happens, we can still be there for them all at least," Chiasa insisted. Her eyes were just as intense as they always were, hardened from battle and life on the run. Jordan found himself mourning the innocence she had in those eyes while alive in the game before he quietly scolded himself. He didn't have a right to feel that way, not when he robbed Chiasa of her life.

"Stop feeling guilty," Ren scolded, lightly tapping Jordan's shoulder. "We'll be just fine, they're trying to get us out."

"They found us?" Jordan gasped, unable to stop himself. Michi nodded hurriedly against his chest, pulling back and signing so quickly that Jordan could barely keep up.

"They keep trying to reach out…but the others can't hear them," Robin explained, most likely translating for Michi. "But…they're here."

"Hopefully they get us out before anyone else dies," Tori said, though her expression gave away how unlikely she truly thought that was.

"Maria's still alive," Rosamie pointed out, pushing her glasses up. "As long as she's there, they have a good chance."

Jordan nodded in agreement. He'd seen Maria in the trials, even watched as she faced against him herself. She'd grown so much since that first trial and he could see her current self fighting to come out, to overcome the programming that was trapping them all in their high school years.

If anyone could figure this all out, he knew it was her.

Michi held his arms out once more and Jordan accepted the hug that was offered. He didn't deserve it, he didn't deserve any of this, but he would try to, at least.

If he could make up for what he had done, then maybe, just maybe, he would deserve to live and be himself again.

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