DISCLAIMER: Images, dialogue and plot all belong to the author of haikyuu at 3am which you can find here: http://03xlimit.tumblr.com/

Chapter 5: Nona Hora

How to fall again...and again...and again...and again...

[SOME TRIGGER WARNINGS IN THIS]

Daichi stared at 3am for a moment before dashing down the stairs as fast as he could without making the stitch in his side worse.

"No...It's happening again...No...No..." 3am muttered, their hands trembling as they looked up at Daichi fearfully.

"3am? 3am, is that really you?" Daichi called, jogging down the last few stairs and running to the Dream Catcher's side.

"Please go away - I don't want you to see me like this...I can't hurt you again, Limit..." 3am said, turning away from Daichi.

"3am? What are you talking about? You've never hurt me..." Daichi replied, reaching for the Dream Catcher. Urgency crept into his voice as he continued speaking. "There's something happening right now - I don't understand but we need to get you help. 12am is -"

Just as Daichi's fingers brushed against 3am's cloak, his wrist was grabbed. 3am spun around, a sadistic look on their face as they squeezed Daichi's wrist tighter. A cracking sound emitted from 3am as they pulled Daichi towards them, their other hand snaking around Daichi's back.

Daichi blinked in horror, 3am gasping as they regained control of their mind. 

"Run away...Please... I-I can't control...myself..." 3am muttered, a coughing fit racking their body.

"3am! There's nowhere else for me to go! Your watch is in danger! You're-" Daichi exclaimed desperately as 3am grabbed him by the shoulders. "3am?!"

"No! Limit! Please...!" 3am shouted, tears streaming out of their hazel eyes, groaning when the nightmare took over. 

(Time Master A/N: ...they tried to warn you, Limit...)

"3am?! What are you doing?!" Daichi shouted as 3am neared, their arrows trapping Daichi in their cage. "3am! Stop! This isn't you!"

3am didn't say anything, a silvery mist leaving their mouth and entering Daichi's. 

"...3am..." Daichi started to say before words invading his mind, his mind emptying in horror.

'I'm alone'

'Medicine will make you better'

'Why can't I do anything I love'

'No, Daichi. Take your medicine'

'Only average'

'I'm scared'

[Tik tik tok]

A younger Daichi was sitting on the sofa, engrossed in reading a magazine about ghost sightings.

"Daichi, put that away. You know your father doesn't like it when you read these things."  His mother said, taking the book away.

"I'm sorry, Momma." Daichi muttered.

[]

Daichi was now standing at the door of his dark bedroom, his mother standing infront of him, blocking the doorway. The paranormal magazines lay in a trash can, ripped into unrecognisable shreds.

"I told you to stop reading those paranormal magazines. They're not normal." His mother said, looking down at Daichi with disgust.

"I'm sorry, Momma." He whimpered, looking up at his mother.

"Why can't you just act like the other children at school?" His mother asked, slamming the door and leaving Daichi in the silent room.

[]

"Momma, I won't read those things anymore...Can I come out now? It's dark and I'm hungry..." Daichi sniffled. "Momma, I promise I'll be good."

[...I see your grades are improving...]

"Make sure you study for the upcoming tests, Daichi." His mother said, placing her hands on his shoulders as he sat infront of a pile of notes.

"Yes, mother." Daichi replied, his face blank.

"Make sure you're always the best, Daichi." His mother said.

"Yes, mother." Daichi replied, emotionless.

Daichi was walking down the school halls, paranormal magazines sticking out of his bag. Other kids snatched them out of his bag, laughing. Daichi's face turned red in embarrassment as he continued walking.

[...Daichi...What is this?]

"I told you to stop reading these and you disobeyed me! You need to focus on becoming a doctor!" His mother shouted, slamming down the paranormal magazine infront of his test results, the 73/100 poking out the side. 

"Yes, mother." Daichi said, his voice trembling slightly.

"You say 'yes, mother' but you still act disgraceful!" His mother shouted, Daichi trembling in fear as tears appearing in the corners of his eyes. "Why the hell were you born if you can't even do this correctly? Do you even understand what I'm saying to you? Stop crying. You look foolish."

"I'm sorry, mother." Daichi muttered, bowing his head so that his mother wouldn't see his tears.

[]

Daichi and his mother sat in the doctor's office, the doctor himself and his mother having a conversation as if Daichi wasn't there.

"What is the last option, doctor?" His mother asked.

"I wanted to avoid it, but since nothing else seems to working, I would like to recommend these pills..." The doctor handed his mother a small pill bottle. "...But there may be some negative side effects..."

"Whatever helps him at school, he should be fine. You have embarrassed me long enough, Daichi." His mother handed him the pill bottle. "You have embarrassed me long enough, Daichi. Take those pills and make me proud for once."

"Yes, mother." Daichi said, staring at the pill bottle in his hand blankly.

[...I just...feel sleepy all the time now...]

Daichi's eyes snapped open with a gasp, a figure standing over him. The person had silver hair, a mole next to their left eye. They had a cheery expression and was wearing a strange outfit consisting of clear glasses, black pants, boots and gloves, a silver halo around their head and a turtleneck shirt with the numbers 03 on it.

"Hey there! You should wake up. This place is not good for Limits like you." The person exclaimed. "Thanks for stopping by though!"

"What is this place and why can't I stay?" Daichi asked, sitting up.

"Look, I've seen Limits who rely on Dream Catchers for happiness far to much - so listen - " The person said, kneeling next to Daichi. "Limit, no matter how sad you feel, please don't rely on others to give you your happiness. Not even me. It's too dangerous.

(Time Master A/N: ...tfw when you randomly wake up and there's a cute person giving advice on how to live your life??)

[]

Daichi was staring the whiteboard with a blank expression, not bothering to write anything down. When he returned home, he stared at the bottle of pills before deciding to take them again.

[]

"Huh...Welcome back...?" The person said, looking down at him with a surprised expression. "Limits don't usually come back."

"3am, is that your Limit?! It's cute! Just like you said!" A teen with orange hair exclaimed, appearing at '3am's right shoulder.

"9am!" 3am shouted, their face turning bright red.

"Ohoho, did you think you could hide a limit from us, 3am?" Another person with rooster-like hair said from 3am's left, a smirk on their face as they poked 3am in the shoulder. They then walked over to Daichi, the smirk still plastered on their face. "Sooo, buddy. What nightmare did you meet 3am in?"

Daichi just looked at him in confusion before the other person popped up next to him. 

"Woah! How did you get back here?! That never happens!" The orange exclaimed, Daichi musing that they seemed like an energetic ball of excitement and light. "What is your time period like?? How are Limits where you live?"

"9am! 12am! Stop!" 3am chided. "You're disturbing it-"

"Actually, there is a lot about my time period...." Daichi said, a small smile on his face.

[...I live in a country called Japan...I go to school...]

"Daichi, what is wrong with you?" His mother exclaimed when she saw the 49/100 on his test paper. "Aren't you taking your pills?!"

"Yes, mother." Daichi said.

"But your grades -" His mother started to say before Daichi cut her off.

"I will work harder, mother."

[]

Daichi was sitting with other Dream Catchers around him, telling them about his life. A freckled Dream Catcher waved from behind a short one with a strand of bleach blonde hair. One was staring off into the distance with an unimpressed look on their face while one nodded politely from beside him. They all had numbers on their shirts and from what Daichi could tell from their conversations, those were their names. That mean the Dream Catcher with the blonde streak of hair was 4pm, the freckled one was 9pm, the one with their hair in a man bun was 3pm, the shaved haired one was 5pm and the blonde that wasn't paying attention was 10pm.

"Wow, you must really like us to keep coming back here!" 4pm exclaimed, a childish grin on their face. "I can't help but think your family misses you though."

5pm was grumbling in the corner, muttering things about how they didn't trust Daichi.

"I...I'm not really sure if I have a family..." Daichi mumbled, scratching the side of his neck. "They probably don't even notice I'm not with them right now..."

"That's okay, Limit! We gotcha! We can be your family now!" 5pm exclaimed, pushing 4pm away and onto 9pm.

"I wanted to be the cool one to say that! You're so awesome, 5pm!" 4pm sobbed, crying comical tears as 9pm struggled to get out from under him.

(Time Master A/N: adopted at the speed of light)

"You are very lucky to have 3am as your Dream Catcher! They're the best!" 9pm said, throwing 4pm off them and standing up.

Daichi looked over to where 3am was talking to another Dream Catcher with a strange spiked hairdo, making them look like an owl. 3am noticed Daichi staring at them and waved at him with an angelic smile, making Daichi's face turn bright red and his heart beat faster.

[]

"So you all just make sure Limits are alright and are not having nightmares?" Daichi asked, trying to understand the concept of Dream Catchers. 3am nodded, smiling at Daichi. "And you have to do all of this before a 'countdown' starts? This really is an odd dream...?"

"Yeah, but Limit, you're interesting because you've come to many different worlds in Knowhere and you still don't have a countdown!" 9pm exclaimed, pointing at Daichi's shirt. "No Limit has ever been here without one...How strange..."

"What if it's actually an alien?!" 9am gasped from behind 9pm.

"Wait a minute...Am I supposed to have one? What?"  Daichi asked, confused.

"Nevermind." 9pm said, noticing 3am's forlorn expression.

"Maybe it's not attached to any of us...?" 9am suggested.

[]

"Limit, we're not sure if it is safe for you to come here anymore..." 3am said the next time Daichi arrived in Knowhere. 9am and 4am looked out from behind 3am with worried expressions as 3am continued explaining. "3pm, 4pm and 9pm...They're all gone..."

[]

"I've had enough of you! You should be grateful I let you live under this roof! Give me those damn pills!" Daichi's mother shouted as Daichi crouched in a corner, trembling.

"No, mother." Daichi whimpered, holding the bottle of pills close to his chest.

[]

Daichi was back in Knowhere, 3am sitting next to him.

"3am, why can't I stop crying? What is wrong with me?" Daichi asked, tears streaming out of his eyes as his body trembled and his breath came out in short gasps. "Why can't I do anything right?"

"Deep breaths, Limit. There's nothing wrong with you. You are struggling with an illness that is not physical." 3am reassured as they wrapped an arm around Daichi in a hug. "This is just one of the ways Limits release pain Dream Catchers cannot."

"I'm just good for nothing. I don't deserve-" Daichi said, rubbing his eyes.

3am frowned before pinching Daichi's cheek and pulling it.

"Negativity begone!" They exclaimed, letting go of Daichi's cheek a few moments later.

Daichi rubbed his sore cheek as 3am stood up, stretching their arms above their head.

"I've seen Limits with some of the purest hearts and most creative minds, but of all Limits I've ever had the honour of being with, you have a deeply sensitive heart like no other."  3am said, looking up at the starry sky of Knowhere. "You may not see it, but even though you are surrounded by those who do not have your best interests in mind, I sense something inside of you that is still fighting - your courage to still care after being broken down for so long is a feat no average Limit could take on. You're extraordinary Daichi-"

3am spun around quickly, panic in their brown eyes. The ticking of the clock in Knowhere went silent, leaving the two to stare at each other in disbelief.

"You...You know my name?" Daichi asked. Rustling was heard behind 3am as the Dream Catcher spun back around, alert.

"I don't think we're alone anymore, Limit. You have to leave." 3am said.

[Tik tik tok]

"Limit, there's something wrong happening in Knowhere." 3am said, coughing. Golden liquid dribbled out of their mouth, Daichi wiping it away. "Dream Catchers are turning into nightmares and the situation is getting worse."

"9am...What's happening to him? Is he actually turning into a nightmare? Is there a cure?" Daichi asked, patting 3am's back as they dissolved into another bout of coughs. 9am looked worriedly at 3am before glancing back at Daichi.

"There could be an answer in the Midnight Palace library, but it's too dangerous-" 9am said, their voice trembling.

"9am...If we don't do something, more Dream catchers could be consumed." Daichi said, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Hmmm...Then take this cloak, but be careful." 9am said, handing Daichi a cloak. "Only 4am is allowed in there...They'll be very angry if they see you..."

"I've never been good at research, but for 3am...I'll try..." Daichi murmured to himself, flicking through the pages of a book. "There just has to be a cure somewhere..."

[]

"3am! I think I found something to help!" Daichi exclaimed, showing 3am the book.

3am didn't answer, they just slashed their claw-like hands across Daichi's body, almost killing him.

"No! 3am! Stop! You're killing it!" 9am shouted, trying to pull 3am away from Daichi's twitching form. The Dream Catcher was almost hysterical, their orange hair exploding in every direction as they glanced around in panic."12am! 4am! Somebody please help!"

"Hang in there, Limit. Let's try this again." An unknown voice cut into Daichi's hazy mind.

"It was you? No! What are you doing-" 3am's panicked voice was the last thing Daichi heard before his mind lost consciousness. 

[]

"Since you love those pills more than your own mother  - you can live by them yourself! I'm leaving, Daichi." His mother exclaimed, slamming the door to their house.

"Limit, your illness may not be physical, but you can still win against it! I know you can!" 3am's voice rang out.

[]

"I went back to the library-" Daichi said, showing 3am another book.

"You must stop, you've been here too many times, they will get you next-" 3am's warning was interrupted when they started coughing again, the golden liquid splattering on the floor.

"What are you talking about? You didn't give up on me - I'm not giving up on you." Daichi said, gripping 3am's hand tightly. "You're my friend and I'm not leaving you."

[]

"No! 3am! Stop! You're killing it!" 9am shouted, trying to pull 3am away from Daichi's twitching form. The Dream Catcher was almost hysterical, their orange hair exploding in every direction as they glanced around in panic."12am! 4am! Somebody please help!"

"How cute is this...It keeps coming back. Such a tenacious Limit...I like that. Let's give it another chance." The stranger's voice was what Daichi heard before 3am shouted in panic.

"No! Stop-"

[]

The books were piling up around Daichi and 3am as they continued to desperately find a cure.

"3am, I think I have a cure-" Daichi started to say before 3am wrapped their hands around Daichi's neck, choking him.

"STOP COMING BACK - They're going to get you next!" 3am shouted, their voice raspy as they squeezed Daichi's neck even tighter. "LIMIT, STOP COMING BACK!"

Daichi could see his vision starting to go dark as bones in his neck cracked under the pressure of 3am's claw-like hands.

"Stop - I don't under..." Daichi couldn't speak anymore, his voice wheezing.

"DON'T! COME! BACK!" 3am roared as blood pooled around Daichi's fallen form.

"No! 3am! Stop! You're killing it!" 9am shouted, trying to pull 3am away from Daichi's twitching form. The Dream Catcher was almost hysterical, their orange hair exploding in every direction as they glanced around in panic."12am! 4am! Somebody please help!"

"I...I killed him again...What have I...I killed him again!" 3am gasped, their hands trembling as Daichi's blood coated their fingers and splattered the front of their shirt. "I can't control myself - What's happening?"

"3am, you've made a mess again...please...we'll get it right this time..." An unknown voice said before the sound of bones cracking and blood splattering on the floor echoed in the empty space.

[]

3am was breathing silvery mist into Daichi's mouth when a hand pulled the Dream Catcher away from Daichi. He blinked, seeing hazy blue vines gently envelop 3am.

"Oh, what happened to you, 3am? You used to be so refreshing..." The newcomer muttered, pulling 3am towards them and inhaling golden mist from 3am's mouth. 3am went slack in their arms as the stranger placed a hand over 3am's eyes, closing them. "There, there. Rest for now."

Daichi was coughing, trying to regain his senses as he glanced around, looking for 3am. "3am, what did you-"

His eyes landed on the newcomer, who was waving at him with a grin.

"You're-"

"Why hello there, Limit." They said, smiling brightly. 

They had the number 23 on their shirt however their cloak was blue, different from 3am, 9am, 4am and 12am's gold cloaks. They had messy brown hair, making Daichi think that they were the playboy type if they were human. Blue vines wrapped around himself and 3am, who was unconscious in the stranger's arms. 

"I've heard a lot about you." They said, a hidden threat hidden in their words.

(Time Master A/N: ...and the clock finally strikes 11PM)