"Kazuki!" Satchiko called, skipping over to me. "Do you wanna come with me, Kaiya, and Katashi to the arcade?"

"Sure... there's nothing better to do." I replied with a small smile.

It had been a few hours since the morning announcements, and things had calmed down a bit, though still tense. Everyone seemed to be nervous, as I was as well. Not at the thought of bad memories being triggered, I mean, of course my life wasn't perfect but nothing particularly tragic had happened to me in the past. I was more nervous about someone else breaking down, or lashing out.

As our small group walked towards the arcade, no one said much. That was until Kaiya let out a startled gasp. On the ground in front of us was a small cat brush, as seeing it, Kaiya fell to her knees. She grabbed it and held it close, her eyes watering with tears.

"M-Mr Snuggles..." She sniffled.

"Mr Snuggles?" I questioned, confused.

"He was such a g-good cat." Kaiya went on. "B-but, that car...."

I immediately understood. This was her bad memory, and it was most likely the death of one of her cats.

"Kaiya, are you okay?" Katashi asked, clear concern in his voice.

Kaiya nodded and stood up, adjusting her purple framed glasses. "Y-yeah... I-I'm alright, nothing to kill someone over." She rubbed her eyes and forced a small smile, slipping the brush into her pocket.

"Then let's keep going! The hope of video games will combat your despair!" Satchiko exclaimed, running ahead. She really was a strange one.

~*~

We arrived at the arcade not too long later, and I started looking around for a multiplayer game. Katashi and Kaiya had already found one, and were playing against each other.

I felt a slight tug on my sleeve, and looked to see Satchiko grinning at me. "Kazuki, c'mon, I found one!"

"Alright," I gave her a small smile, and let her lead me across the room.

Suddenly, she stopped, and not in front of a game. Instead, her eyes were wide as she stared straight ahead. Her grip on my sleeve tightened. I looked up to see what had startled her, and let out a small gasp.

It was what appeared to be a hunting knife, lodged into the wall. The handle had distinct scratches on it, and as soon as my eyes met it, images started flooding into my head. A dark room, struggling to get away, followed by a familiar maniacal laughter. I had heard that voice before.

"C'mon Kazuki, you aren't getting away so easily. It wouldn't be the same without you!" The voice that laughed said. I tried to get a glimpse of the person, but they were shrouded in shadows.

I felt a sharp pain enter my side, and at the same time, heard a girl shouting close by. Was that Satchiko...?

My vision was dotted with black as I cried out in pure agony. I had never experienced pain like this.

I stumbled back, coming to my senses. I saw the arcade come back into my vision. That memory wasn't real, it couldn't be. Nothing like that had ever happened to me, and I didn't even know Satchiko before coming here. And yet... it all felt so real.

Satchiko was breathing heavily beside me, her expression clear with horror. She was shaking. Looking to me with that same traumatized expression, she spoke.

"I know what he did to us."