NAOMI

I froze, but I shoved Ayumi's hand away. I needed to speak to Seiko one more time. "Seiko..." I started towards her, but Ayumi grabbed my arm. "Naomi! She'll kill you!" she screeched, but I didn't listen. Instead, I stared at Seiko's emotionless face. She smiled slightly, and I had a wide grin on my face, but tears were threatening to leak out. "Seiko..." I whispered. "Naomi!" she squealed happily, and we both cried out in joy.

But then her smile wavered, and half of her blue body turned red. She mournfully reached out for me, and I intertwined our fingers, the tears coming faster. "Seiko... what's wrong?" I murmured. "It isn't you that's upsetting me, Naomi," Seiko assured me, her face gentle. "Sachiko is ordering me to kill, and I must use my last bit of sinless energy to get away, and hopefully get away forever." She offered me a somber smile, and I gripped her hand tighter. "No, please, Seiko! I want to see you! Please!" I begged, clasping her hand in between my two.

"Remember the sleepover, Naomi?" Seiko asked, her face hopeful. "How could I ever forget?" I whispered. Seiko suddenly blinked, and she tore away, scanning me up and down. "I need to go," she explained quickly, but before she evaporated into the scenery, she glanced at me again. "You look good without a shirt on, Naomi," she teased. Then, she vanished. My knees buckled, and I gave in, sinking to the ground. Ayumi sat next to me, and I glanced at her regretfully.

"It is not your fault, Nakashima," she said firmly before one word slipped out of my mouth. I peered at her. "But it is. I could've saved her, but instead, I let her disappear forever. I'm such a rude, thoughtless brat," I complain, sniffling. She put an arm around me, and I didn't protest as I sat there, sobbing in the middle of who-knows-where in Heavenly Host, while Ayumi was patting me on the shoulder and murmuring encouraging things.

"Naomi... we won't remember any of this when we go back. If we go back," she added. "The city will be busy repairing itself from Sachiko's violence, but you will not recall of any times with Seiko, Mrs. Mochida will claim she has been childless forever, no Mayu, no Morishige, no Yoshiki... not even any traces of Sachiko, Naho, or anybody." Her eyes watered when she pronounced Mochida, Naho, and even Yoshiki.

I wrapped my arms around her, embracing her. "We'll be alright," I murmured, but then Ayumi says something else. Something I will never forget.

Only.

One.

Of.

Us.

Will.

Leave.

Alive.