---CHAPTER VI: Password (Part 4)---

"______!! W-What happened??" Canada asked me worriedly.

England went beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "L-Love, you look so pale. What's wrong..??"

I spoke up weakly, "I'm...alright...But..." I looked to the side to look for Japan. I saw him looking like in a worse condition than I am. I pointed at the slim man before speaking up once more. "Is...Is J-Japan alright?" Their eyes turned to the Japanese man as I gathered my strength to get up.

Italy looked at his friend. "Japan!? Japan, are you okay?"

Japan suddenly lurched towards Italy and grabbed both of the Italian's shoulders.

"Italy!!"

Italy squealed at his friend's sudden action. "Ow! Wh-what's the matter?"

As I took a step to go and comfort Japan, I felt my knees give up on me once more. I staggered and almost fell down again. Good thing Russia was kind enough to catch me before I fell.

"Hold on, you are not 'alright'. You can't even hold yourself up. Just hold on to my arm for support in the meantime. Don't push yourself, da?" He told me, his voice progressively soothing and turning into a caring tone.

China looked at me and Japan in total concern. "Aiyah. Wh-What's happening to these two??"

Canada walked over to Japan. "Japan! Do you remember what we said about the clocks?!"

After hearing this, Japan started to slowly calm down. "Oh...I-I'm sorry. I'm fine. I remember."

China furrowed his brows. "You get a lot more memories than the rest of us, and they are more intense, too."

Germany turned to me as I was clinging on to Russia to stand up. "_____? Will you be okay..?"

I let go of Russia's arm. I was able to stand up on my own again...well, a little. I walked a few steps forward.

I was looking down, I don't know how to answer Germany's question...

England suddenly lifts my chin.

"You're....I'm sorry but...____, are you...crying..?" He asked me.

My hands shot up to my cheeks. I felt the warm tears flowing down. Why...? I slowly knelt down again.

England then handed me a handkerchief. After that, he looked at Japan and I.

"You two... Do you need to rest a little?" He asked us.

Japan shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I was just confused."

After a short moment, I wiped away my tears using the handkerchief and stood up.

I gave them a small, grateful smile. "I-I'm fine. Thanks... just...a bit uneasy on this whole situation..."

"I see. Well..everyone else seem..fine." Japan said as he checked on the others.

Germany shrugged. "Nothing happened to me. To tell the truth, I haven't got any confusing memories or anything like that even once so far.

I haven't been confused at all.... Maybe I've just been exempted?"

"I'm...exempted, too? I only have one memory of how I got here.." I told them.

Canada gave a soft chuckle. "Ahaha, I'm so jealous! In my case, it was so-so. I remembered running from the Thing with Italy, and coming here with America..."

China nodded in agreement. "Me, too. But once I calmed down, I realised that was nonsense! And then I forgot about it right away!"

"When we go through it again, it's a feeling similar to waking up from a dream.

When we wake up, we have trouble separating dream from reality, but as soon as we calm down, our good judgement comes back. The first thing to do is calm down." England explained.

Japan suddenly shifted nervously and spoke up slowly.

"Um...Didn't you... see any rooms other than the ones we've been in so far?"

Russia shook his head. "Nope. I've got many memories, but they've all been of rooms we've been in so far."

"Did something happen to make you worry?" Italy asked in a concerned tone.

"...No." Japan replied flatly.

"(When we break the clocks, we get false memories that make us confused and less capable of discernment.)

(There is no question about it. It's only because I'm confused...Yes, that has to be it.)" Japan thought to himself.

"Okay, are your watches all right? Then let's go to the basement." England said as he gestured towards the door.

Japan kept on pondering on what happened. "(It's like seeing many movies and being shown so many things that you end up not knowing what is real.)

(But if by any chance that room does exist, that means Italy will...)"

I picked up my bag, but Canada offered to carry it for me, so I watched Italy and Japan converse as the Canadian adjusted my bag to fit him.

"Japan?" Italy asked.

"Italy." He replied.

Italy tilted his head to the side. "Yeah? What's wrong?"

"Are you...

Are you hurt somewhere?"

The Italian tensed up after hearing his friend's question.

"......No, I'm not hurt at all."

Japan closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I see. I'm sorry for asking such a strange question."

After that, Italy went ahead and left the room.

"I know this isn't really important, but I just wish I could rest somewhere without having to worry..." China told us.

Canada agreed as he took a deep breath. "Indeed. I'm so fatigued,I just wish I could lie down for a bit."

Japan kept on thinking. "(We have to be careful...)

(We thought we were being deceived by those memories, but... maybe...)"

They could be....a message from someone?