You wake up in the back seat of a car.
Your face is pressed to one of the windows and you soon realize that the vehicle you're currently in is knocked over to the side. The smell of smoke suddenly makes itself all too apparent. As you try to move, you notice there are two other figures in the driving and and passenger's seat - a man and a woman - but they're lifeless; not moving. You vaguely look yourself over - your child-sized hands and legs, then your sweater and skirt. You're lucky enough to have nothing more than a scratch.
As you begin to crawl out of the vehicle, a woman's voice reaches your ears. She seems to be yelling something, but you fail to make sense of it. Once you're finally up on your feet, you realize you're
. And you're not alone.
standing - floating? - not that far away from you, and judging from the tire marks on the road, this thing was the reason the car crashed. Whether the creature attacked you, or whether your parents lost control while not wanting to drive into it - you have no idea. The other figure a little further away seems to be
. The voice you heard earlier belongs to her.
You can hardly make sense of what's happening as the two start - resume? - to fight with each other. You just stand there and watch, until the blonde notices you. You're not sure what happens next, but suddenly, you feel as if your head is about to explode.
The pain literally makes you fall to your knees and you pass out in the middle of the street.
See...? I'm not human.
I will bring death to this world until I am finally satiated.
Do not hesitate to kill me.
---
You're on the rooftop of a building, trying to catch your breath. You feel like you just ran a mile.
The sky is dark, the moon is full and huge, and you suddenly notice you're not alone here, either. There's a girl dressed in a pink sweater right beside you. ... But that's not all. Some... weird-shaped,
black things, that almost seem to consist of nothing more than several hands glued together, holding masks and long, double-edged knives are crawling their way up the building wall, and towards you. Their intentions definitely don't seem too friendly.
The girl beside you steps up as if to protect you from whatever is coming, but is evidently distressed by the situation more than you yourself are.
"Those monsters... we call them Shadows."
She reaches to a pouch placed on her thigh and pulls out what seems like a gun. But, surprisingly, she doesn't direct the weapon on the things that runs towards you. Instead, she presses the thing to her head, her breath hitching before she's clearly about to shoot. But the things-- the Shadows do something, you're not sure what it is, something swirls in front of you, and the girl hesitates. As she desperately tries to do it again, she's left flying to the side and stumbles down to the ground - and the gun she held in her hands ends up right under your feet.
Time seems to slow down as you stare at it. And there's suddenly a voice in your head - a kid's voice. A kid's voice that seems strangely familiar. ... The boy from the dreamscape?
"...go on."
You hesitate, but you reach down for the weapon and pick it up. You have the vision of the girl pressing it to her head from just a second ago stuck in your head, and for whatever reason... you have this weird feeling it's what's you're supposed to do. Your heartbeat and your pulse quickens and your hand is shaking as you slowly place the gun against your temple, but you do it anyway. Time seems completely still before you finally pull the trigger.
It doesn't hurt - not in the way you imagined it would, at least, nor does your vision go black. The weapon definitely wasn't loaded with any actual bullets, if the fact that you're still standing on your two feet is anything to go by. But something changes - in you? Around you? You feel a weird surge of energy as
something materializes before you.
An inhuman, metallic roar reaches your ears, and suddenly sharp pain flashes through your head. It hurts so bad that you can't stop yourself from screaming. Your hands shoot up to clench on the sides of your head despite yourself. And whatever it is that just appeared right in front of you... seems to be getting ripped apart from something on the inside.
Something even bigger comes out, with chains and coffins and a sword, and you have no idea what this thing is, but the way it roars and flies for to attack the Shadows before you makes it almost look like it just went berserk. The dark figures are being mercilessly cut and torn in half with inhuman strength. Unpleasant, wet noises rip through the air, and you just stand there, staring at it all. That... that thing seems to be on your side, and yet you feel terrified by what it's doing.
When the last limb of the still remaining Shadow gets squashed by that thing's hand, it lets out a loud, metallic roar, suddenly disappearing right before your eyes. For a moment, your vision goes dark.
---
Some things in this world cannot be changed.
You do not understand this yet.
---
You're in a
classroom, occupying one of the seats. For some reason, there's loud chatter among the students. As the teacher enters and starts to speak, the class tones down a bit. But it's not really the teacher that catches your attention.
"Alright everyone, today we have yet another transfer student... As you all know, this is our third. That makes it a hat trick." Ignoring the fact that the class doesn't seem very amused, the woman goes on. "...Please introduce yourself."
You should have no doubts to who the transfer student apparently is.
"My name is Ryoji Mochizuki. I would be grateful if you could show me the ropes."
You vaguely hear a bunch of girls whispering: "...hey, he's kinda cute", "I was thinking the same thing" and "not so loud..."
"...Nice to meet you." Ryoji speaks to the whole class again, but you have the weird feeling like he's looking in your direction specifically.
"Ryoji used to live overseas for a long time because of his parents' work, so he may not be used to all of our customs. Be sure to explain them to him." The teacher goes on, and the boy just nods to that.
"I'd be grateful."
"Now then, you need a seat. Let's see... That one's open. Second from the left, in the front."
This time, one of the other girls from the class speaks up. She wears that pink sweater you remember seeing back on the roof. There's no doubt it's her. "Um... Ms. Toriumi? Technically, that seat's taken..."
"You must be present to be a member of this class, so as far as I'm concerned, that seat is available." The teacher explains in a huffy voice. "Life is nothing but a game of musical chairs. The rest of you should be careful, too."
The girl sighs to that. And then you notice - sitting in one of the school benches beside you is... the blond-haired woman you've seen on the bridge back then. She seems to be eyeing the transfer student rather intently, as he approaches her.
"Good morning. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name..."
"...You are dangerous." The blonde sounds weary.
"Dangerous?" Ryoji seems to have no idea what she's talking about. "I haven't even asked you out on a date yet..."
"A date...?" The girl goes silent, looking slightly confused.
"Aigis, what's wrong with you?" Your friend in the pink sweater asks.
And despite everything, Ryoji seems rather amused. "Haha. Rejected from the start. You're an interesting girl..."
The other girl just sighs again before the teacher speaks up. "Your teacher understands, Aigis... You haven't had very long to be the 'new student,' and already you have to share the spotlight." The teacher sighs herself this time. "I wish your classmates would pay attention to me for a change... Hey, are any of you even listening?"
---
Memories are ambiguous...
Old ones can be replaced with new ones, creating a new reality.
---
You pass the main exit of the school building. You can tell that it's autumn by the sight of all the colorful leaves decorating the trees and the street outside. And, well... you're not alone. But the two of you get assaulted pretty fast.
"Oh, Ryoji-kun. Are you going home?"
"Ah, Mikako-chan."
"Ooh, it's Ryoji. Hey, are you going somewhere?"
Before you even know it, Ryoji is surrounded by a swarm of girls.
"Sorry, ladies, but I've already got plans for today. Maybe next time..."
"Whaaat? When's 'next time' gonna be?"
"Tell you what, I'll make sure I see you in your dreams tonight."
The girl squeals at that comment, while Ryoji continues to charm his way through the throng of female students. "Ahaha, please! You're all so cute; I can't choose just one of you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I've already decided on my princess for today."
It's when you notice that he takes your hand. ... The glances you receive from all around are physically painful.
You hesitate a bit, but then ask: "Should I go?"
And Ryoji just smiles to that. "Oh no, a princess needs an escort..." Before he suddenly falls silent. "Sorry..."
"What's the matter...?" You ask again.
"It's just that... I'm sorry. I feel like I shouldn't be saying things like this to you." All of a sudden, the boy before you looks dejected. "I want to be more sincere with you... I wonder why..."
The grip on your hand tightens. The other girls leave, throwing a few dark looks your way.
"Oh... Sorry. Aigis-san's going to get angry again if she sees me holding your hand. But... I wonder why. For some reason, Aigis-san, too... I feel like I know her, and it's on the tip of my brain... I just can't remember it!" He's evidently troubled by the fact. "Oh... I shouldn't let myself get lost in thought while you're with me. Hey, can you show me around the city? I want to see all the places you like to go to."
---
Don't you want to end all your friends' pain and suffering?
---
It's Sunday, and yet, Ryoji's taking you to the school grounds... Together, you climb over the gates and quietly make your way to the rooftop.
"I wonder if we'll get in trouble if someone finds us." Your companion comments, but he sounds more amused than worried.
You smile back at him. "We'll just have to not be seen."
"... Haha, I see. You're an interesting person." Ryoji laughs gently, but then his smile falters a bit. "When I'm alone... I don't feel right." He starts, then pauses for a moment before he continues again. "I think... I'm scared. Thinking about you... it scares me. The fact that tomorrow will come... scares me... But I can't figure out why..." Before you know it, that cheerfulness of his seems to be gone completely. "Hey, Minako-chan... I-I... I'm..."
You're not sure what the whole hesitation is about, but there's only one answer you have to this. "You're Ryoji."
At which he perks up a bit, looking back at you. "Hearing my name from your lips makes it sound so wonderful. ...Thank you." A warm smile makes its way to his lips. "I... don't want to lose you. Because you're important to me... that's probably why I'm scared." Ryoji admits. "You're... the only one there is for me. The only one I want... So please, stay with me."
---
...It's up to you.
You're the only one who can make this decision.
---
You enter a room. ...Your room? Ryoji seems to be standing in a corner, but as soon as you come in, he turns to you. The air around you feels different than before. Carefully, Ryoji starts to speak.
"Hey. I didn't think I'd ever be in this room under circumstances like these. I had a good time, you know... Back then."
"Don't tell me you've all decided to let me live... You're all going to risk your lives on a battle you can't win. But, you're the only one here right now, so... I'll say this one more time."
"If you kill me, Tartarus, the Dark Hour, and your memories of the battles will all disappear. Tomorrow, you'll wake up a normal high-school student. You'll be able to live in peace until the moment of the Fall. But if you let me live, you'll spend every waking moment until that day in fear of your inevitable death. Nyx cannot be defeated... It's useless to fight her."
"...Are you still thinking? Or, have you already made up your mind?"
---
Now, this is your last chance.
Tell me your answer...
---
The last thing you get to see is yourself standing on what seems like the top of Tartarus - and a (perhaps) familiar
figure looking into the distance right beside you.
As soon as it turns to look your way, you leave the dreamscape.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
