Asano eventually awoke from a long period of blackout by the girl he claimed to be annoying earlier, lightly tapping his face.

"Wakey-wakey! Oh, you ARE now awake. How glad I am! Because if you won't, I wouldn't know what to do without your leadership. And so far imagining people's reactions to your death had been so entertaining. Say, have you ever wondered whether your father would mourn over your funeral? It's such a nice topic to imagine about."

Asano's facial expression twitched from the awful pain in his right arm, trying to gain consciousness of his surroundings as well as trying to avoid the shattered window glass from cutting his skin.

After gaining consciousness, he realized that he was now still stuck in the fallen bus after the accident, though, he was grateful that he hadn't stopped breathing.

Roving his gaze to survey the surrounding, it appeared that almost everyone on the bus had vanished without a trace. The bus was completely damaged, broken window glass smeared everywhere along with messy blood blots, and was flipped aside to his side as he was lying there, still with the seatbelt wrapped around his arm.

Shifting his gaze at Arina, as though the awful surrounding hadn't scared her yet, and even worse, as if she thought they had arrived safely at the camping site, positively said:

"Don't worry! I promise you this will be a brilliant adventure. There isn't anything to be afraid of. As long as we make up our minds firmly that everything will be alright, they will. Of course, you must make it up FIRMLY in order for it to work."

Asano was caught off guard by her reckless thinking, and angrily yelled at her, "HAVE you been so reckless that you dare to call this an adventure!? Have you considered how much loss has been made!? Have you thought of how we can cope with this situation considering it getting out of hand!? THIS is a serious situation, Arina! I expect you to come out of your oh-so-dreamy land and face the reality!"

Asano wasn't aware that he had hurt her feelings, as Arina only wanted to stay positive so she could inspire him to not be so dreadful. But even though he discovered that he'd hurt her in any way, it wouldn't matter to him anyway.

"Oh, Asano-kun," she drew a long sigh, "To face the reality is indeed boring you know, I wouldn't have survived in this world if the only thing I know is the dreadful reality. You should try imagining better scenarios sometimes, Asano-kun! it'd help a lot in bearing under affliction, that's definitely for sure. Well, be careful now!"

Arina abruptly stopped him from trying to remove the seatbelt from his arm on his own. She carefully removed it, to which he was gritting his teeth, trying his best not to groan out of pain.

"Oh dear," she clicked her tongue, shaking her head in pity, "Your arm is broken. I suppose you're in very devastating pain right now. Don't worry — you can scream. I wouldn't make fun of you if you scream. You know, I once fell down from a tree branch and got my leg broken. Do you know what I did to get myself feel relief? Why, yes — screaming. I screamed all my pain out until my throat got all stuck up and sore and I could barely scream any longer. But it did help a lot, so don't hold back the urge to scream, Asano-kun. But why are we wired to scream though?"

Arina looked up at the sky. Curiosity was visible on her face.

While purposely annoying Asano to distract him from thinking about the pain, she deftly pulled him out of the crushed bus and laid him down beside the other injured students.

It was nothing like how Arina promised him to be — a brilliant adventure. It was more like a nightmare to him: four out of fifteen students on that bus died including the bus driver. Their corpses for some reason were piling up at one spot as though somebody had thrown them there.

The odd thing was that — Arina was the only one among the remaining eleven students to be in perfectly fine condition. There wasn't even a visible scratch on her skin, while others were all laying down getting treatment for their wounds. It appeared that she was the one who rescued them from the bus and took care of them all along. But was she supposed to be the one throwing the corpses mercilessly into a heap too?

"I gotta go burn them first, alright? You wouldn't want to experience the rotting smell. I'll return to you later."

Asano lay there petrified.

Was this usual airy-fairy girl for real? Had he mistaken her for anyone else? Just like how she often portrayed herself, he always thought she was a feeling girl, but in this scene that she was lightening a match and throwing it unfeelingly into the heap of corpses while smiling eerily— the corpses of the earlier people she talked to and handed out chocolates, he couldn't help but slightly shiver at the thought of her getting possessed by some demons. And quite disliked himself for falling into the pit of hallucinations.

Looking around, other awoke students also shared the same reaction as him and were unable to speak a word.

"Alright, Asano-kun, I'm back! Let's get your arm into treatment!" smiled Arina, stretching her fingers and sauntering back to Asano.

Her stretching her fingers wouldn't be that eerie if he didn't witness what horrible thing she just did.

"Arina!" Asano quickly yelled before she could touch him, "Are you crazy!? Why react so casually to someone's death? And why do you feel the need to burn them like that!?"

Confusion now smearing all across Arina's face.

"Oh, and why do you react like it's such a big deal?"

Asano's eyes wide opened in shock.

"Who are you?" he whispered, unable to believe this was the same girl he saw on the bus earlier.

"Oh, Asano-kun, you look like you're possessed today."

He should have been the one to say that.

Regaining his composure, Asano tried to sit up and face her eye to eye, while Arina was feeling anxious about his wounds.

"Those people," drawled Asano, slightly winced at the pain, and looked up to see Arina's usually cheerful face was now filled with guilt, as though she had realized that she may have done something wrong, "I suppose you should at least feel something about their deaths, right?"

"But — but," faltered Arina, as Asano saw nothing besides a child unable to comprehend what was going on, "It's just death!"

Asano furrowed his eyebrows, open-mouthed.

"Bu-Bu-But I don't understand," she said in a quivering voice. "Isn't it a normal thing because everyone will eventually pass away somehow? And why is burning corpses a bad thing? Their lovely souls are already up — up — up in the blissful heaven. I'd like to imagine them being very happy there. Oh, please tell me if there's something wrong with my mindset. I don't want to think or do something that is considered wrong by society."

This case added more to Asano's curiosity about the reality of the Orlas Union — where this mysterious girl grew up. So far he had found no information about them yet considered asking Arina wasn't a good idea as she would talk him to death with her endless, spiral thoughts and again lose track of what she was saying or even lie without him knowing. However, all that aside, this situation was the perfect pretext for him to make her confess the truth. He said calculatingly:

"No, death is perfectly normal. Your mindset is perfectly normal. I know that you have been separated from the rest of society considering where you came from. But don't worry, everywhere in the world all share the same view about death, and burning corpses is not a big deal either, we do that all the time. Pardon me, I might have been too exhausted after waking up from the accident," he faked a smile.

Arina double blinked and eventually, she lifted the corners of her lips, "Is that so? Oh, I'm so extremely glad that I've done nothing wrong."

'There! she had said it', Asano smirked triumphantly but quickly halted upon the reality of the Orlas Union.

For the rest of the arm treatment, he remained quiet while listening to Arina's blabbering about the details she had imagined about the dead students and the bus driver's new, happy life in heaven. And he was extremely irritated by how illogical it was to have gaming stations in heaven. But there was one thing for sure — that this girl didn't have bad intentions in her by any chance, which relieved him.

"And there — done!"

Arina happily clasped her hands together, admiring every bit of her perfect treatment. She had never practiced with a broken arm before as this was her first time, but it had turned out quite okay.

Asano was trying to get used to the triangular bandage that got its two ends tied tightly together above his collarbone. And he also acknowledged the fact that he only got his left arm in use for now.

"How did you get to practice these sorts of nursing things?" Asano asked, surprised to see how she managed to treat all the students' wounds. He also intended to ask her why she was the only one who was in fine condition, like what trick did she take? But he abruptly stopped before opening his mouth to ask another question on top of another. Somehow, he had slowly learned the way to talk to this girl.

"My dear father taught me all of it," beamed Arina, too good at lying that Asano had no doubt whatsoever. "I hurt myself once, and he taught me how to take care of my own wound. 'It's an essential life skill after all' was what he told me! I must agree too. Not only did my skill help me, but it also helped others around."

"And how are you the only one who isn't injured among us?"

"Well, I suppose it's due to my pure luck!" Arina clasped her hands gleefully, forgetting that she had mercilessly used the bus driver to sacrifice for her, "I have always been so lucky when it comes to this stuff *dreamy sigh* Anyway, see you later. I have to go look out for other students."

"I'll come with you," said Asano, trying to stand up and follow her.

"Oh, dear Asano-kun, just lay there and rest for a while."

"It'd be weird if I can do that in this situation," responded Asano sternly, as Arina flashed a bright smile at him and together they went to check on the others.

Miyake Fuyumi from class 2-D and Shirai Usagi from class 2-B were currently undergoing the worst injuries among the students: Miyake with both her legs completely broken and Shirai with her belly ripped by a big piece of glass punctured, torn right through.

Fortunately, with enough professional care from Arina, they were able to endure the pain and had lightened some hopes within them that they will be able to recover soon.

"Girls, how are you feeling now?"

"Oh, don't worry about us. Thanks to you that we are well now!" smiled Shirai gratefully to Arina, laying a hand on her stitched belly.

Arina beamed brightly at her, "Oh, lovely Shirai-san, you're welcome. Remember to not scratch the wound, okay? Even though the temptation is at its peak from the itchiness, remember to hold yourself!"

She received a nod from Shirai and turned to Miyake, patting her shoulder.

"Stay strong! Call me if you girls need anything!"

"Call me too if you need anything," Asano barged in.

"Oh, definitely! Call Asano-kun too if you need anything but I warrant he wouldn't help much but would rather go look for me after all."

Asano angrily shot his livid gaze at Arina, as the girl blinked twice at him.

"Oh, Asano-kun," she gasped, "You must still be in so much pain."

The next students they visited were less visibly injured than Miyake and Shirai, as Arina did not occupy too much of her effort to treat them as how she did with those two and thanked god that they were still in a finer condition.

"Scram! I don't need your help! I can do it myself!" snapped Maeda Maki -- the earlier sulky girl from class C -- as Arina looked worried.

"Oh, Maeda-san, please -- please, let me treat your wound! It wouldn't hurt, I swear!"

"I'm not afraid it will hurt! I just don't want you to touch me, you evil bitch!"

'Evil bitch!?'

The treatment tools in Arina's grips fell out of her hands and resulted in a 'thud!' when they hit the ground, as she gasped in horror, altogether with rage. Nobody had ever called her 'evil' before, how dare she called her evil!?

Asano furrowed his eyebrows at her dramatic reaction.

"Right!? Like why did you even burn their corpses like that!? You wicked, unfeeling bitch!"

Asano abruptly interrupted her.

"I don't see any harm in that. Burning corpses would be the quickest way to deal with the situation considering nobody would have enough energy to dig and bury them. Now, Maeda-san, if you mind being touched by Arina then you ought to do it yourself."

"Serve you right for calling me an evil bitch!" said Arina, pulling one eye down, and sticking her tongue out childishly at Maeda -- who was also consumed with rage.

"Oh, yeah!? It should be lucky me that Asano-kun gave me permission to avoid being touched by you evil bitch!!"

"And mind your language, Maeda-san," Asano corrected her as he immediately pulled the now fuming Arina out of Maeda's sight to avoid any drama.

"Oh, Asano-kun! My feeling had been hurt terribly by that mean girl! NOBODY in my entire life up to this point had ever called me evil! Now just close your eyes and imagine you're doing a good favor, trying to help other people and they just straight up calling you evil! I'm sure you would be mad too, Asano-kun! And don't tell me that you won't, because that will certainly be a LIE!"

"I would certainly not react much to it," replied Asano honestly.

"LIAR!" cried Arina.

The cerulean sky had gradually shifted its hue to orange when Arina finally finished treating the wounds of the awoken students while the rest were still blackout including Mr. Inoue from the accident. Asano, being a great leader as he was, gathered them all together and announced:

"Everyone!" his voice loud and clear, "I don't need to know what caused such trouble leading to the current event! Even so, it's the best opportunity for us to remain strong! Especially during the darkest timeline. It happens once in a while: a test, a challenge to elect the most potential candidates for our career paths! We ought to unite, and rely on each other to prepare for the tough future ahead!"

A wild cheer and clappings from Arina, as she unintentionally drew all attention onto her.

"Now, cheer for Asano-kun too, shouldn't we?" returned Arina delightfully. "Or else he would be sad if what he gets is a dead crowd."

'Stop embarrassing me for once!' thought Asano fumingly, absent-mindedly pulling on a murderous stare, but quickly pulled his charming mask on again.

"I have a question, Asano-kun!" one raised his hand, as Asano gestured for him to speak.

"Should we move out of here or stay here and wait for help?"

"Ooh?! Of course we HAVE to keep moving!" Arina immediately jumped in. "Even more so if we still have the energy to keep up with it! Staying here, well, never expect yourself to be saved by others. It's an important key to survival! I'll be telling you all a very tragic tale of mine -- I once made a big mistake when I was trapped in a cave due to the winter--"

"Ridiculous! Look at us! We are injured! And look at you evil bitch, still in a healthy condition and blabbering about how WE still got enough energy to run around a dangerous forest with all kinds of lethal creatures in there! I wish that you bitch were the only one who got injured instead of us!" sneered Maeda, a hand on her hip as she flashed a derisive gaze at Arina.

"That's not a nice thing to tell Arina, Maeda-san. She helped us with our wounds," gibbered Kibe Hideki -- the tall guy that was exceptionally cringed by Arina's joke earlier -- and was quickly dominated by Maeda with merely her livid stare.

"Oh? And you fell for her? Then SCRAM! Get out of my sight!"

Apparently, Kibe was Maeda's humbly servant due to being financially supported by her family, as he frantically apologized to her.

"Maeda-san!" Arina drew a deep breath in, as she forcefully clasped her hands together. "Oh, Maeda-san! I'm so so SO sorry for acting inappropriately toward you earlier! I shouldn't have minded what nonsense things that came out of your mouth at all! I AM sorry now. I wasn't a bit earlier and was shameful of it because after I closed my eyes and imagined how you might have felt when you saw me burning their corpses -- I suppose it's a normal thing but you might not like it, or maybe I burned your friends WITHOUT knowing -- I totally understand why you decided to call me an evil-- well, I shouldn't say that word."

Arina smiled, but Maeda did not, while Asano facepalmed.

"Well now, it'd be nice if we could resolve the conflict between us," she extended her hand delightfully, as Maeda coldly smacked it away, "and be frie-e-e-ends...?"

Arina stood there in shock with her mouth forming an O, and seizing the awkward moment, Asano raised his voice to gather the students' attention once again.

"I have taken a stroll around to survey our environmental surroundings. I have tried to make phone calls too, but it was no use as this place has no signal whatsoever. I'm afraid we might have to settle down here for a while and wait for rescue, as we are surrounded by sheer rock walls that are impossible to climb and the other side is the forest, too dangerous to head in considering our injuries while we also have to take into account that carrying food, supplies and our heavily injured, unable to walk members with us is also a thing."

"No, Asano-kun. NO!" exclaimed Arina defiantly, completely forgetting about her earlier embarrassing moment. "We DON'T have time to sit and wait! What if we run out of food and supplies!? Together, we can carry Miyake-san and Shirai-san with us along with the supplies! I will do it if no one has enough energy to do so! Let me see -- we just need to find some kind of vehicle--"

"You listen to me, Arina," commanded Asano, to which Maeda laughed scornfully. "It wouldn't be hard for the school to notice and go find us. And considering the distance of hours between our location and the campsite, which is relatively close, it shouldn't take that much time."

"Asano-kun is right!" one said, a sense of hope starting to brighten their face as well as the others.

"As long as we still have Asano-kun with us, we will be alright!"

"We believe in your leadership, Asano-kun!"

"My oh my," murmured Arina, a hand on her forehead as she grew hopeless about the situation. When it was time to be optimistic, she will likely be the one to start it. But not in these circumstances. She'd rather have them happily whistling, skipping on their way out of the forest than this.

Just then, one called out that Mr. Inoue had awoken and the kids immediately ran toward and huddled around him, asking him questions such as:

"Inoue-sensei, do you know what happened?" as though they assumed that teachers must know everything in the world.

Hence why Mr. Inoue angrily snapped at them, "How am I supposed to know!? I did just woke up!!"

"May I take the chance to explain?" Asano raised his remaining working arm, catching the attention of everyone.

"Go ahead, Asano-kun."

"Please take a look at the bus tire," he redirected their attention toward it with his hand, "I believe a piece of metallic has fallen out from a truck and our bus, unfortunately, ran over it. If we were on a straight road, we could've stopped safely. However, it happened right during a hairpin turn, but we should at least be thankful that some of us still survive."

"And now we MUST get out of here, Inoue-sensei!" cried Arina, as she shoved others out of her way to stand in front of the teacher so he could see her. "Or else things will turn BA-A-A-A-AD!"

"Didn't I tell you to listen to me, Arina?" hissed Asano out of rage.

Returning his gloomy gaze using the most sparkling, wide puppy eyes ever, Arina intertwined her fingers together, "Oh, Asano-kun. You HAVE NO IDEA how dreadful the near future I sensed will be. Please -- pleaseee! Use your influence on the right things, Asano-kun! Trust me for once -- look, I hereby kneel down and beg for you to do the right thing, so please!!"

"So far I trust my sense more than yours," replied Asano arrogantly, and then he walked over to explain the current situation to Mr. Inoue, who looked quite convinced with his decision.

"Alright, then we will do as Asano-kun said then."

And it had officially put an end to Arina's beg.

That poor girl sighed in defeat and figured she would view his decision as another brilliant adventure then, even though it might turn out to be a disaster.

Little did everyone know, Arina wasn't wrong upon mentioning the dreadful near future that she sensed.