"Ah, to h*ll with it... I'm tired of being dragged around everywhere." Nishiki found the strength to lift himself off of us and stand up. His stance is clearly off and shows that he's unbalanced. But I didn't bother doing anything out of fear that I could somehow hurt him more than he already is. Touka did the same, most likely for the same reason.

"You're an idiot... You know that, right?" Touka says, holding Hinami's hand.

"Oh yeah? Then what does that make you? Thinking I'd die that easily..."

Well, you don't exactly scream 'I'm perfectly fine' either.

"Whatever, let's just..." My words trail off as I spot investigators in the distance. "Nishiki, we gotta go!"

"You know what you'll be doing to yourself if you bring me with you, right?! Just take Touka and Hinami! And don't even think about saying all that useless sappy crap!"

My mind froze at that moment but my body did what Nishiki said. I took hold of Touka and Hinami's hands and just ran, not even looking back.

"Hey, wait! You're just gonna leave him?!" Touka lets go of my hand but doesn't fall behind.

A familiar feeling overwhelms me. This time, unlike before, I don't try to ignore it. I just push through it. The only thing I ignore is Touka's words. It's like a soundproof sphere that prevents anything she says from reaching my ears. But she grabs my arm and the sphere shatters, allowing me to hear her next words.

"I know you hear me, Ryumi..." She says. "You can run all you want. I'm-"

"Touka...you're not leaving Hinami."

You remember what I said earlier, right? Besides, Hinami needs you.

"And...I don't think he'd want us to turn back." I add.

"Tch..." I know Touka has something to say. She's doing her best to hold back her words.

No one talks after that. We run farther and farther away in silence and no one attempts to break it. But we don't get comfortable. The tension still hangs in the air.

That is, until a weapon suddenly appears between us. Touka instantly jumps back with Hinami and I do the same but in the opposite direction. Turning around, I see the individual, a man, just as his feet touches the ground.

"I really thought I'd get you both with that one." He says. "Well, no matter. This is the end of the line...for all of you."