-Kazuki-

As the author sat in the dull dining room, door closed off from the rest of the building, he let out a small sigh. Around him were his fellow survivors, along with their former teacher. Kazuki should've been used to being in a killing game, but he was just as terrified as before. This wasn't Michio anymore, this was Chou, and he had no idea what she could be capable of.

"So you're telling me that all six of you have a fatal weakness?" Mitsuo asked in disbelief.

Toki nodded. "Yes. We're still naturally recovering our memories, and whenever we recover a memory we black out. There's no way to control it." She explained. "Normally, I wouldn't even worry about being killed, but if someone catches me at the right time there's nothing I could do."

"This really is a problem..." Mitsuo muttered, before looking around at everyone. "Only you know about this, right?"

"Hoshiko and Uyeda know too, but no one else." Katashi replied. "Satchiko already remembers everything though, so it doesn't effect her."

"This makes things difficult..." Mitsuo sighed. "I want you all to be safe, so I'd suggest not letting yourself be alone."

"I'm okay with that." Willow said, shuffling closer to Mai.

"I know you all might not remember much of me, but..." Mitsuo adjusted his glasses. "I do hope that you all get out of here alive. Even if it means sacrificing myself, I don't want to lose any more of my students."

"I-I don't know if that's possible..." Satchiko muttered, staring at the floor. "Rage... she's fuelled by rage... I can tell. Chou doesn't want j-just despair like Michio... she wants revenge."

"Revenge for what?" Kazuki asked, now curious. Does she know something we don't?

"I dunno..." Satchiko replied with a small shake of her head. "B-but I wanna find out...."

"Let's focus on surviving first, then I'll help you find out the motive." Katashi said.

Toki gave a small nod. "Yes, survival and protecting each other. None of you are going to die on my watch, I swear it."

~*~

"Kazuki!" The author stopped in his tracks, and turned around to face Aimi. Her gaze was hard as usual, but this time even more serious.

"Yes...?" Kazuki asked hesitantly, hoping he hadn't done anything to make her mad.

Aimi spoke briskly. "Come here, there's something we need to talk about."

Kazuki didn't bother to ask any questions as he approached her. She went to the end of the hallway, and seeing that no one was around, she stopped.

"Look, Kazuki..." Aimi started, looking down at the floor. "The chances of us both surviving this don't look great, so in case one of us dies, there are some things I have to say."

Kazuki wasn't surprised by how straightforward she was. Since they had met in middle school, she was always blunt when getting her opinion across. What surprised him was the depressed undertone in her voice.

Before Kazuki responded, Aimi continued. "I forgive you... for back then. I was a bit too stubborn about that, and I know it wasn't your fault that girl forced herself on you. I shouldn't have ended things before properly talking about it, and I'm sorry."

Kazuki was shocked. Aimi was the last person to own up to her mistakes, so he couldn't help but feel touched that she did. "Aimi... it's alright, that was a long time ago, don't worry about it. I'd probably do the same thing if it was reversed...."

"You wouldn't, that's the thing!" Aimi exclaimed, "You're idiotically trusting! Someone has to go as far as murder to piss you off, and that's why I fell in love with you!"

Aimi was quiet for a moment, her cheeks growing pink. "Anyways, that's it, I just needed to say it. Don't think anything of it." She crossed her arms, flipping some of her dark hair out of her face.

But Kazuki did think something of it, and before he could even process what he was doing, his lips had pressed against his ex girlfriend's.

Aimi wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and pulling him closer. They stayed like that for a while, until the freckled girl pulled away.

"Kazuki... I do still have feelings for you, but..." Aimi paused for a moment. "We can't do this- not here, not now, not until we escape. Being in a relationship again will only distract us, so we have to focus on getting out first."

Hesitantly, Kazuki nodded. "Yeah, you're right... sorry, that was-" Aimi held up a finger to shush him.

"Don't you dare apologize for that kiss. I needed that."