It was only trudging through the brambles with his heart even heavier than his legs did Tohru finally understand. He didn't get tired when he was close to his body, but once he strayed from the castle, he began to feel physical fatigue again. Not only that, but he also couldn't communicate anymore, even when feeling extreme emotions. Maybe the further he was from the thing, the weaker he was, but the same could be true for the thing. Maybe...

He had a little more power than he thought he did.

Iwaizumi looked up at the castle. He was hopeful, and scared, and he couldn't wait any longer. He might burst from all the emotions welling up inside him. He had to save Tohru.

Somehow.

There was a castle atop a huge cliff, which had to be climbed. If the entire group went together, then it'd take too long. Oikawa would know they were coming and leave. Yachi estimated that two could make it up in time. No more. Iwaizumi could have gone by himself, but it would be far too dangerous. Even he knew that. Obviously, he would have to go, and someone else would go with him. Someone with superior strength, good endurance, and nerves of steel. Hajime took a deep breath before speaking out.

"I- I want Kageyama-kun to come with me."

"Okay."

The answer surprised him, but it wasn't a bad one. 

"This will be dangerous. It's too late to turn back. If you're coming, you can't run away."

"I know."

"Okay."

"And drop the honorifics. We're closer than that by now."

"Yeah. Uh, thanks...Kageyama."

"Now let's go. I think it's gonna rain, and I don't think we can climb if it's pouring down."

Tohru made his way back to the castle. It was no use testing his theory if he couldn't see the results, he realized, and he much preferred trying to muster up the courage to talk to his former friends than tripping on vines and scraping himself while attempting to walk through thick and wild brambles. All the while, repeating a phrase to himself that he'd picked up ages ago. He told himself to keep hope.

"Stay live, Tohru. Stay live."

He wasn't sure how well it was working. But he had to try. Try to save them. Try to save Hajime. Try to stop them from saving him, so that he didn't have to watch them die. He couldn't watch them die. If they died...

It was at that moment that the biggest realization he'd had yet hit him.

I just won't.

I won't watch them die. All this time, I've been thinking there's no chance, but what if I had it wrong? Hajime and the others won't stop looking for me. They won't stop trying to save me. Unless. They can't save me if I don't need to be saved.

That night, back in the castle, Tohru formulated a plan. He stayed up through the entire night, until the sun peeked up over the sliver of horizon he could see through the castle window. Not that it mattered anyway, since he never ran out of energy. He was disconnected from his physical form. Kind of. As long as he was near it, he wouldn't get tired. It was a crucial step in the plan to recover his consciousness over his physical form.

Because if he couldn't run out of energy, that meant he couldn't die, either.