As soon as we're outside the room Sara stops walking and just takes deep breaths while hugging herself. 

Joe walks in front of her and places his hands on her shoulders while I stand to his left and look at Sara with a worry. "Sara..." Joe tries to talk seriously and we're both thrown off when she looks him in the eye. "...I'm okay now." He raises an eyebrow at her. "For real?" He asks. "Sara you can talk to us." I say her and rub her back. "...Really. I am." She looks at the both of us. 

She definitely seems calmer now that she's out of that room and not with Kai.

I'm not dumb. I know she figured something out about Kai. She's been looking at him like she recognizes him this whole time. I just want her to feel comfortable telling Joe and me.

Sara manages a smile. "In exchange... If I say any complaints... You two better come help me right away." I smirk and salute her. "You got it, boss." Joe lets out a chuckle. "...So you're energetic enough to boss people around. Fine, complain anytime!" He ruffles her hair and she rolls her eyes with a smile.

Welp, puzzle time. I guess.

Sara walks over to the dart board with Joe and me. "Oh! You can play darts here! Darts and billiards are cool, aren't they!?" Joe asks. "I mean my aim game is wack but they're cool. Also, didn't you see that board on the way in?" I ask with a raised eyebrow. He scratches his cheek. "I may or may not have been lost in thought while the guys and I walked through here. MAY HAVE!" He points out to me and I face palm. "C'mon, you're smiling." Joe grins. "I am and I won't deny it, ya doof." I laugh.

"Hey, guys." Sara interrupts us and waves the revolver in front of her. "Wait...did you just stick a dart in the gun?" I ask. "Yeah." She simply said. "Okay...give it a go on the board then." I shrug. She smirks and aims at the board while closing an eye. She fires and hits the center.

"Congratulations! Congratulations! A fantastic bullseye!"

The music and over the top voice from the machine were so loud I legitimately covered my ears while Joe and Sara winced at the sudden volume change.

"For hitting the bullseye, you get a wonderful gift! Please look into the hole!"

With that, I uncover my ears and Sara walks over to the hole to get her 'gift'.  Joe and I followed to see what she'd get. She reaches down and nonchalantly pulls out a leg. My eyes widen a bit before I remember we're looking for this stuff but Joe freaks out. "Yahh! That's fr...freakin' nothing! I'm not freaked at all!" He tries to play it off badly.

Poor guy

I pat him on the head like a dog and smile as he looks at me. "Sure, buddy. Whatever you say." He pouts and I grin. "Sheesh... All these incomprehensible setups. It's just a fake leg, huh? I'll hold onto it. It's heavy, right?" Joe offers. 

Just as he's about to grab the leg from Sara I snatch it away. "Yoink! I'll be taking this! Count that as a favor for taking the thing that totally did not freak you out." I wink and do the finger guns at him. He pouts again as just stares at me. When he does that it makes my cocky demeanor drop. 

Damnit Joe, why do you have to be so stinking cute?

"Look you can carry the other body parts if you so wish. Whatever. I'm just trying to let you have a choice since you seem to get freaked out by these and I don't want you to force yourself." I cross my arms and explain. He smiles at me before walking over and ruffling my hair." Thanks, (N/n). I appreciate you caring for me. The next doll parts I can handle though...I think..." He shrugs. I roll my eyes with a smile. "Sure, big guy. You got this." I pat him on the arm and look back to Sara to see her smiling at us.

I think she's enjoying the fact that Joe and I are getting along so well.

As soon as we're back in the smoking area hallway the last person I expect to see was there. 

"...Sara...(F/n)..." Kanna mumbles out. 

"Kanna!" Sara and I shout out cheerfully. 

She's finally up! 

"H-Hey, is it okay for you to be up?" Joe stutters out. "...I...I..." Kanna can barely get any words out. I frown. "Sweetie, do you want to say something?" I ask her. She nods meekly. "I just...really wanted to ask you both...about my sister..." She manages to say. "What is it, Kanna?" I ask gently. 

She looks at both Sara and I. "Please...give me an answer..."

I can already feel that this will not end well.

"Back then...could Kanna have...actually saved her sister...?" She asks in a shaky voice.

...

SHIT

FUCK

UMMMM

"I was so disoriented...so I didn't hear what everyone else said. But (F/n) and Gin...Sara and Joe...and Mishima and Nao... You all had the same trial, right?...Kanna... Could Kanna...have saved her?" She looks on the verge of tears.

I'm sweating so much right now. What am I supposed to tell her!? I can't take too long or she'll know I'm thinking about how to answer! C'mon, think (F/n), think you idiot! 

I look to Sara and she's also sweating. I see her open her mouth to give the poor girl an answer when-

"Oh my, miss Kanna. Reko and Nao were looking for you, you know?" 

Mishima walks into the hall and interrupts. "...Ah..." Is all Kanna says. "I heard you talking here so I came over." The professor explains. "Mr. Mishima... Please tell me...I..." Kanna gets cut off. "...You were unlucky, miss Kanna." He says. "Eh...?" She makes a surprised noise. "Because we only had one key, we... We had to remove the other restraints by force." Mishima lies.

Mishima, no... This is the wrong choice, I can feel it!

Kanna looks surprised. "...Luckily, miss Nao had myself, and miss Sara had Joe." Mishima looks to me. "And miss (F/n) is quiet strong for her age so that plus adrenaline made her able to free Gin who definitely had weaker restraints holding him down. Due to our having someone strong, and some mercy from the kidnappers, we barely managed to survive." Mishima tries explain my reason logically but it's VERY flimsy. Kanna looks at him in disbelief. "N...No...! That's a lie... It can't be..." Joe interrupts Kanna. "I...It's not a lie! This is the truth, Kanna!"

Joe! Not you too! I know you mean well you cinnamon roll but godamnit!

"I suppose it was a trial of...both assessing the situation, and of might. For you and your sister... It was a trial with hardly any chance of success by having you freed first..."  

Kanna is not having it. 

"I...I don't believe it! I won't! You're all trying to deceive me..." Sara grabs my hand and I look at her. She looks me in the eye before looking to Kanna.

"It's true, Kanna."

SARA GODAMNIT NOT YOU TOO!!!!

"S...Sara..." Kanna immediately backs down. She looks to me and I just give her a sad gaze.

I'll...let her interpret it however she wants...I can't lie to her. I just can't do it... Not about...THIS!

I squeeze Sara's hand as a signal to continue, even if it pains me to let them all lie to her. "E...Even if it sounds like a lie... It won't change the reality... We're all telling you...the truth..." Sara can barely choke the words out from her throat. It's obvious she doesn't want to do this either. Kanna stays silent and hugs herself tighter. Mishima lays a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Miss Kanna... You regret it, yes?" He asks. "I... Kanna... Killed her sister...! Her sister was frantically trying to help! But Kanna's an idiot... She didn't listen...!!" Kanna starts bawling her eyes out.

Jesus Christ, this poor girl...

Mishima kneeled down in front of Kanna with both hands on her shoulders. "What was your sister like...?" He asks. Kanna tries to calm down enough to answer him. "...Sister... My sister was...kind... Even when we fought...she'd never be cruel...! She was always thinking about Kanna...! Why...didn't she use the key for herself...!? She could have lived and been happy even if she wasn't strong enough to save Kanna...!" The girl cried out. 

"Was it not that your very existence gave your sister happiness?" Mishima asked.

Mishima... You son of a bitch... At least you're helping to calm her down... Pretty well, too...

Kanna looked visibly shocked at the question. "Miss Kanna, I can sense that you were loved, as if it were in the very air. Surely... Surely, you were raised with the utmost care, were you not? I'm sure she was a wonderful sister." Mishima smiled. "...Ah...Aah...sniff..." Kanna wiped her nose and eyes on her uniform sleeve. Mishima looked at Sara and me. "Miss Sara, miss (F/n), if either of you were her sister, what would you say to her?" He asks us. "Oh, um..." I looked at Sara and she nodded.

Alright, time to be big sisters...

Mishima gave us space and we kneeled down in front of Kanna. I put a hand on her shoulder and was the first to speak. "Kanna...you are the best little sister I could ever have hoped for. You are such a kind, fair and caring person. You made ME a better person by being by my side. You are simply too good for this world. I'll always be by your side. Hold me in your heart always, please." I say while holding my hand over where my heart would be.

Did I do good!? Please tell me I did good!

Then Sara took over and grabbed Kanna's other shoulder. "Kanna... You being there...let me be strong even in hard times when I found it so difficult. Your smile was always worth it. I'm sure...even if we're apart, I'll be there somewhere in your heart. So... Don't give in either...!"

What caused me to tear up myself was when Kanna looked at the both of us and mumbled "...Sis...ter... I miss you...sister..." 

I wiped Kanna's tear stained cheeks with my tissues before Mishima stepped up behind us and all attention was on him again. "Now, the time for blaming yourself has passed. Your sister is surely watching you from somewhere." Mishima assures her. "...Kanna..." Kanna suddenly gets a determined look on her face. "Kanna won't give in...!" This causes both me and Sara to grin.

Yes sweetie, be brave!

She wipes all the wetness from her face with my tissue before looking at Sara and me. "Because...her sister is watching...!" She says. 

Suddenly we hear some heavy footsteps. 

"Kanna!!" 

Everyone turns to see Reko come into the hall. "Reko..." Kanna mumbles out. Reko smiled at the girl before she shook her head and gave Mishima a very nasty glare. "Damnit, you nutty professor! What happened to "shout when you find her"!?" Mishima fixes his glasses. "Oh dear, it appears I'm being yelled at." He deadpans which causes a snort and a giggle from me.

How am I able to laugh in situations like these?

I rub the wetness from my face into my hoodie. "That's not it, Reko. See, um... Let's go and I'll explain, okay?" Kanna tries to stand up for Mishima. "...Hm? R-Really...? Sure, okay..." Reko nods. Kanna walks over to Reko and they start heading out for the main hall. Sara and I stand up from the ground. Mishima turns to us. "I will return to searching, myself." He fixes his tie and takes a deep breath.

I have to admit I'm mad that this dude lied to her and even more that Sara and Joe went along with it. Then again, I didn't stop it so I'm just as guilty as they are. 

I'm scared of what the reprocutions will be for lying to her...

"Professor Mishima...you're a good liar." Sara says with the most blank look I've ever seen. 

It could put Kai's to shame! 

Mishima looks down in shame. "Am I now?...What a hopeless adult I've become... It's thanks to you, (F/n) and Joe following along that I was able to make something of it." He says. Joe just keeps his hands on his hips, he looks ashamed as well. "Nah, I couldn't do a thing..." Joe says.

Mishima looks at Sara and me. "Miss Sara, miss (F/n). Do you both understand why miss Kanna came to talk to you?" I shake my head and Sara makes a confused noise. 

"It's surely because you both resemble parts of her sister. That is why she wanted to hear it from you." He explains. 

I covered my mouth in disbelief. "...We do...?" Sara asks aloud. "Miss Sara, miss (F/n)... Until we can leave here... Please take the role of miss Kanna's older sisters for her." Mishima pleads. 

Before we can respond he adds: "And Joe, her younger brother."

Oh my God Mishima!

Joe looks at him in disbelief and starts flailing his arms around. "C'mon, not the elder brother!?" He asks. I start giggling at his reaction. Sara and Mishima let out a laugh too. "Hahaha... Well then, another time..." He waves at us before heading back to wherever he was previously.  

As he leaves we all take a deep breath. "So...we're acting as siblings now, I guess..." I say out loud. "I wonder if I can do a thing like that..." Sara sighs. "I'm sure we'll do fine, you two! By the way (F/n), sorry that we put you in that awkward position where we forced you to lie..." Joe awkwardly rubbed his neck as he apologized. "It's fine, Joe. It turned out fine in the end."

I may say that but I don't think I believe it myself.

After a bit more conversation, we decided to go back to collecting doll parts and headed in the direction of the central hall.

---------------------

[Author's Note]

Sorry that this chapter is kinda short. 

All chapters will vary in length and I just personally thought that this moment with Kanna deserved it's own special chapter.

Who's on the Kanna protection squad??

Next chapter will be extra long and will hold our first death!

That's right! Next week Chapter: 1 Part: 1 will finally be finished!

Hope y'all can handle death!

...Also hope that I write death secenes well enough since this was the first time I ever wrote something like that...

Last thing, we're almost at 1,000 reads!? What!? Thank you guys so much!!! ;-;

Anyways that would be all!

I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

Welp, toodles~!

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 2535]