22:49

The group of friends visited many people in these past minutes, and doesn't seem as they've finished either. They chat for a bit as they walk the hallway and decide where to go next. But after a while, N04H notices a door as it opens and one teacher leaves, looking behind. He seems to recognise him, being Mr. OSW4LD, and almost greets him from his location, but then he notices someone else with him.

He tells the group that he will remain a bit behind and lets them go forward without him, so that he can find out what's happening. He goes towards the teacher and greets him, as the teacher was standing in the door, talking to someone behind him.

[OSW4LD]-...Keep exercising, alright? No need to rush. We will see each other tomorrow as well after all.

[N04H]-Mr. OSW4LD! Greetings!

[OSW4LD]-Oh? Oh, Mr. N04H! You came to visit me, I assume?

[N04H]-Yeah! But my group and I couldn't find you earlier anywhere! How have you b... Huh?

And then, he looks at the person who was standing still in the room, a familiar face looking at him embarrassed.

[N04H]-...C0NNER? What are you doing here?

[C0NNER]-...

[OSW4LD]-Oh? You know Mr. C0NNER?

[N04H]-Y-Yeah! I work with him for some months now!

[OSW4LD]-Is that so? Very well then! I guess there is no need of me to do the introductions if that's the case.

[N04H]-Can I... ask why is he here though?

[OSW4LD]-Oh, nothing serious. Mr. C0NNER has come to me today to...

But before he could say a word, he looks at C0NNER who was looking at him ashamed, as if he was begging him to do something. So, he changes his mind immediately and says something else.

[OSW4LD]-...to pay me a visit as well. He is a... former student of mine. Just like you.

[N04H]-Oh... I-I didn't know that...

[OSW4LD]-Anyway... I'm really sorry, N04H, but I have to see one of my classes now. I will leave you both alone, alright? I wished we had more time to talk, but I have to take care of my students. I hope we will see each other later.

N04H nods respectfully at the teacher as he leaves them behind, but C0NNER still looks a bit unhappy.

[N04H]-So, C0NNER... You studied here as well? At the Central School?

[C0NNER]-...Hm? Oh, um... Yeah. Yes, I did.

[N04H]-I don't think I saw you in the school before though... You said you are 19 years old, right? I mean, it's a four or five years between us and all, and I probably was very young so I might not remember everything, but I swear I don't remember you around the school at all.

[C0NNER]-W-Well, I... didn't leave the class that much. Probably that's why.

[N04H]-Huh... Alright... So, you know Mr. OSW4LD for some time now?

[C0NNER]-Yeah... Something like that.

[N04H]-Was he your Class Master? Mine was Mr. EK0N. You know, the one who teaches survival rules? Like how to hide and stuff? So you had the one who teaches power tactics?

[C0NNER]-Mhm...

[N04H]-Whoaah, that's so cool!! You know some tricks that I might not know? I heard once that Mr. OSW4LD is teaching his own class something more than he teaches to the others because of the time they have as a bonus! Can you teach me some tricks of his??

[C0NNER]-...I-I don't think I remember any. Sorry, N04H.

[N04H]-You don't remember anything interesting from those eight years?

[C0NNER]-Yeah... Is... that a bad thing?

[N04H]-No, no. It's fine! I just had some hopes that I might learn something new. I heard that the tricks that Mr. OSW4LD teaches his class are cool.

[C0NNER]-I guess if I... remember... I can try and teach you something.

[N04H]-Really??

[C0NNER]-Y-Yeah. Why not... B-But now, I think it's the best you stay with LUK3. He did try to contact me a few minutes ago since he didn't see any of us at the base. I told him that I was still doing my business around the city, but I did think that you got back at the base already, not that you are here as well...

[N04H]-But I still want to stay with my old friends. We have some time left until all the others decide to leave and so...

[C0NNER]-*sigh* No worries. I was thinking of going back at the base now anyway. You can stay with them as much as you want. I will tell him where you are if you want.

[N04H]-O-Okay! I will be back soon, I promise!

[C0NNER]-Take your time. If anything, I think it isn't the worst for us to see LUK3 annoyed, don't you think?

[N04H]-Heheh... Yeah... Alright! Then I will go back to my group! See you at the base, C0NNER!

[C0NNER]-See you...

N04H runs kind of pleased towards his group who seems to have stopped and waited for him all this time. They seem to argue again, most likely putting the blame on him now as he seems to say an excuse or something.

But C0NNER remains behind, looking a bit at that group far away in the distance. Rather than seeing N04H with his friends, he sees another vision of the past: little him and his former friends. A burden that he carries till this very day, the blame being on him in his perspective, not specified why. If it wasn't for that day though, what would've happened to them? Were they the same as these kids that are in front of him? At least, there is something that remained even after all this suffering of his though. And that is...

[C0NNER]-...I will make you all proud. I promise.

...that he didn't give up just yet.

23:37

The group seems to be finally leaving the school and meeting with everyone outside. Everyone is talking to each other and almost ready to leave, and N04H and his friends still seem to argue again.

[N04H]-I won't say it was THAT bad, M1LO!

[M1LO]-Yeah, yeah... Whatever...

[K4NE]-So are we coming later this night as well? Or do you guys have work to do at the military jobs?

[ANDR3]-Well, I don't know about them, but will you manage to not be late this time if we are going to come tonight as well?

[K4NE]-It was YOUR fault today that we were late, ANDR3! Don't you dare say a word! There is a better question! Will you manage to stay awake until then!?

[ANDR3]-Shut up!

[K4NE]-Oh, I should shut up, huh??

[M1LO]-Both of you should shut the hell up, god dammit!

[N04H]-Going together later this day isn't such a bad idea though. It's worth a try!

[M1LO]-If you say so... But it isn't something so special anyway. We will just go to one of the bars and get some drinks together like the last time.

[N04H]-Should we talk to the others then?

[K4NE]-I mean we still need some information on where we are suppose to go if so...

[N04H]-Alright then! Let's go and see!

And so they do. They go to a group nearby to ask around some questions, yet that group doesn't seem to know anything either. They are a bit disappointed, but before they could leave and ask the others, someone approaches them, which is one of the guys from that group.

[RY3]-Hey guys...

[M1LO]-Oh, hey, RY3! What's up?

[RY3]-Nothing much, but... can I talk with N04H? ...In private?

[K4NE]-Huh? Why?

[RY3]-It's just that... I want to speak to him a bit about a subject.

[N04H]-Okay! No worries! I will come back quickly, guys! Wait for me!

They leave alone to an area that doesn't seem to have anybody around. RY3 is kind of serious, even a bit scared too.

[N04H]-Okaaay... What do you want to tell me, RY3?

[RY3]-Okay... It will be a bit strange to ask, but I feel like you are the only person that I know to be aware of this information...

[N04H]-What is it?

[RY3]-You know... Seven Two... right?

[N04H]-Sev... Oh, right! Right! What about Him?

[RY3]-Do you know if he... ever stalked people or something like that in the past?

And when he asked that question, N04H got so confused quickly.

[N04H]-...What do you mean by that?

[RY3]-How can I explain this... Do you know that, a few days ago, our base worked to help out the South Base?

[N04H]-Right... You work for the North Base, right? But that happens almost every day now! My base is helping them as well! I even managed to go one time since one of the people there took me so I can learn a few things.

[RY3]-Okay, okay... I will go into more details then... More specifically, eight days ago, we were on a mission, alright?

[N04H]-Yeah! I believe I was present on that one too!

[RY3]-Well, that day, I believe that I saw someone far away... that looked like him... like Seven Two.

As he hears this, N04H gets in shock. This past month, nobody saw CHE5TER anywhere. Almost everyone believed that He was dead. Now, a new soldier claims that he saw Him all of a sudden?

[RY3]-...I was so scared, I didn't know what to do... He even looked at me and I did kind of recognise a bit from his face. But why was he there? Do you know if he wants something from me? I'm kind of afraid of him, you know? He is a crevaator, right? I mean, with those clothes and all...

[N04H]-...You are not lying? Are you sure it isn't a joke?

[RY3]-No! I'm not lying to you, N04H! I'm scared! I couldn't sleep that well in these past days 'cause I always thought about that mission! I even lied to my own Leader! You are the only person that I know to be aware of Seven Two! Please!! Tell me!! Did I do something that made him mad at me!? Why was he there?? From all the places in this world, he chose to come in the City of Above near my location?? Please!! Tell me what did I do to get that strange crevaator mad!!

N04H doesn't seem as he cares that much about the guy's worry. He was so happy he found something to tell the base now. He puts his hands on the guy's shoulders, squeezing them from his joy, yet the boy was still afraid.

[N04H]-RY3, you don't know how much I owe you now! I will treat you at the bar this night, no matter the price! Be sure to come, alright??

[RY3]-Wha... Hey! Wait! Don't leave! You didn't answer my question! N04H!!

N04H starts running towards his base, leaving everyone behind. He doesn't care if he will argue with his friends about this later. He is in a rush, and the first person he wants to talk about this is RY4N.

And so, minutes later, at the base, RY4N seems to stay with N04H, in the Great Leader's office, talking about what he just found out during his trip around the city. On the ruler's desk though, there is RY4N's communication device, untouched. Yet the device opens while they are talking, as a new message appears on the screen. It isn't clear who sent it though, but it's clear what it says.

"Meet me tomorrow morning around our old place. I will tell you everything you wish to know. But do me one favour..."

"...Come alone!"