Sara's POV

'Ugh... I had a weird dream... My jaw is sore... Because I was sleeping with the head on my desk... This late already...? I have to go home. Better hurry...'

I got up and gathered my stuff, running through the hall to the front of the school, trying to remember my dream.

~~~

"Heeeeeey..." a voice called from the shadows, making me jump. I haven't been known to be the scared kitten, but I've always had a nervous experience in dark places. I twisted around frantically, trying to find the source of the voice. I didn't recognize it, which had made me more curious to go to it then run from it. Finally, in front of me I noticed the outline of someone. The person was, as usual, taller than me, just like everyone in Sonobeno High. But he didn't look like he went to the school. What is he doing here? "Hiya. Just a random question, but do you know what a majority vote is?"

'What kind of question is that?' I thought to myself. 'Who are you? What are you doing on the school campus? Where am I? Why is it so dark?'

But the only thing that came out of my mouth was a scoff. "Obviously."

"Ahaha, no need to get mad. It's helpful to start conversations with an easy question."

'Huh. I might need to remember that to ask people if they put pineapples on pizza before walking up to them. It might actually be not too bad of an idea.' I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, looks like somebody's over there." The outline continued talking like it was absolutely normal to ask people if they knew about majority votes as a form of greeting. Looking over, I saw two people, a light blue male, and a bright red girl in a dress.

"I love majority votes! They represent the way democracy should be, following the will of the people! It's a method that minimizes conflict!" Mr. Blue said.

'So this is a dream after all.' I thought to myself, studying the monochromatic colored figures further.

"I hate majority votes! They're just a way to silence the minority! It only makes more darkness build in the shadows!" the supposed Ms. Red said.

"Sigh... sounds like they're having some tedious argument." the outline sighed next to me. I didn't feel comfortable enough for someone to be standing so close to me when they had all the space in the world. Even if it was in a dream. I sidestepped away from the person, not caring for being rude.

"Incidentally..." the voice continued. "Whose opinion do you support? Mr. Blue's or Ms. Red's?"

I thought about it. I remembered how last year for the end of the year we were told to decide amongst ourselves where we'd be going for our field trip. I've never cared for field trips, and neither did my friend whom I had the class with, but for some reason, the minority got furious when we found out we weren't going to a science museum.

"Ms. Red." I found myself siding with the minority.

No more than a second later, I heard a gunshot.

"Aww... he died." The figure's voice seemed fainter than before.

Looking down at myself, I've noticed I put my hands over my ears, shut my eyes, and fell to the floor so automatically I didn't realize I'd done the action. My heart picked up speed.

'Who... died?' I carefully looked up, not yet getting off the floor. Mr. Blue was now Mr. Grey, laying in a pool of his own blood. My eyes widened in shock as I opened my mouth to scream. I'd... killed someone because of a simple question. I'd killed him because of that fight at the stupid science museum that happened last year. I cautiously got up, careful not to look at the body as I turned to the figure next to me. He'd said it... so calmly. It's almost as he was smirking at my reaction.

'It's just a dream Sara. Calm down.'

"But good for you, your opinion had more supporters!" He said, grinning at me. "With that experience, your side's learned the terror of a majority vote."

I'd remembered myself a year ago, sitting with my friend. We'd both put our arms on our desks and rested our chins on our wrists, as if laying low in a battlefield. Now I would've been waiting for the people that chose to go to the history of the art museum to explode and die on the classroom floor.

"I hope Otaku takes out a nuclear gun right now or else this fight isn't gonna be worth it." my friend had even shouldered me to get my attention while rolling his eyes.

"Huh...? If that makes you happy, then don't you have to recognize the appeal of majority votes?" the outline of the figure pulled me to the present. "...Sure is complicated." he shrugged.

"...Hmm? What's with that look? If you'd known the other person would die wouldn't have voted?"

I realized I still had the look of shock and terror on my face, which I quickly wiped off.

"Sheesh... That won't get you anywhere, okay? It's what the game is all about..."

'What game? Am I being warned?' I thought 'It's still a dream.' I contered my thought immediately.

"...You don't look pleased, huh? Alright, if you insist, let's hold a vote. Your opinion versus mine." The figure stood over me, a sly grin still plastered on his face. It looked like he was enjoying this. "Okay then, let's go."

The bright red light lit on for a second, lighting up a face that looked covered with blood.

~~~

"Whoa, it's gone completely dark." I muttered to myself when I got outside. Closing my eyes for a second, the face imprinted again, as if it was a tattoo on the back of my eyelids I was looking at. He had teal colored hair, or at least it looked like a cross shade of green and blue. There was a sort of hat on him, it was hard to tell the color because of the red light. He wore a big scarf that was wrapped around his neck. It looked red too. And the fact he was maniacally grinning at me like a psychopath wasn't making me feel any better. He wasn't covered with blood after all. I guess it was just the lighting.

Opening my eyes, I started heading toward the gate. But I stopped and stood stiff as I noticed an outline of a person walking over to it, more in a hurry than anything.

Someone's there...

My heart rate started to pick up again and my hands started sweating as the figure got closer. And the fact that I had a dream about the psychopathic-looking man didn't make the approach of this one make me feel any more calm.

"Whatcha doin', Sara?" I heard a familiar voice call me. I shut my eyes, ignoring the picture still imprinted on the back of my eyelids and let out an angry huff.

"Joe...!" I let out a sigh of relief and forced a smile. Jou Tazuna, or rather, Joe. My classmate at school. We often found ourselves together.

"You stuck around this late for clubs?! I was gonna wither up from waiting!" He grinned at me, standing in his usual stance of putting his hands on his hips. I'd tried telling him before that it was impossible for people to walk through in between classes since he covered half the hallway with his broad shoulders, but he just shook his head with a snort and said it was "a habit".

"Well, it's fine. Listen! There's something I wanna tell you!"

"Something to tell me?" I lifted an eyebrow, wondering what he had to say.

"My thanks!" He grinned again. Also, did I mention Joe is the happiest and most cheerful person you will ever meet? He's always smiling and sounding very enthusiastic, I wonder how he keeps it up.

"Thanks...? For what I wonder?" that question was more to myself than Joe. And I doubted he wanted to thank me because I kept him waiting because of falling asleep in class. He'd always insisted on walking me home, though I was perfectly content on walking to and from school myself.

"Oh, you know! You introduced us, right?! Me and Ryoko!" he flashed his million dollar smile and closed his eyes. I wondered if he had something imprinted on the back of his eyelids as well.

"Right..." I said, picturing the odd conversation again. Why does he want to talk about my friend all of a sudden?

"She's such a good girl! I'm moved." I didn't stop grinning but opened his eyes, as if I didn't understand what he was getting at. I haven't understood either, but I didn't really want to hear about it.

"Cute, huh?" I said instead, hoping the conversation would die out. I just wanted to run to the gate and head home so I could watch a movie with my mom. She would be waiting for me in the living room right about now.

"Adorable!" Joe nodded rapidly, having no intention of giving up. "And I saw her swallow a doner kebab whole today! She's a real glutton to boot!"

"A whole doner kebab..." I shook my head, not really registering what he was saying. 'Wait, when would Ryoko get a doner kebab on her hands and try to impress Joe?' A realization hit me. "Wait... you went on a date?!"

"Wahaha... Was on it 'til just a second ago!" He finally stopped grinning, proud I was able to solve the reason why he was so happy. I had a strange feeling when I imagined Joe and Ryoko sitting in a diner, calmly chatting. It was hard to imagine Joe going on a date in the first place to be honest. "I came back to school so I could brag about it to ya!"

'Why spend the time getting back here to brag about his date to me?' I suddenly felt selfish for thinking that he wanted to walk me home just because he was being polite. He probably did it because I was more of a talker than a listener. And Joe talked. A lot.

"You should've just gone home." I said, looking at the ground.

"Alright bragging complete!" Joe grinned. "Let's go home Sara!"

~~~

"And then Ryoko and I finally..." Joe still hasn't stopped talking. I wondered when he would run out of breath and quiet down, I wanted to think about my dream, in peace.

'How long even is this story anyway?' I sighed to myself.

"You listening?" Joe lightly shook my shoulder. "We made huge progress!"

'This guy's such a pain...' I found myself thinking, then immediately felt bad for even thinking that. Joe was a good friend, and he probably didn't have anyone to talk about his date. I wasn't much of a date expert, but I tried to sound like I was invested in the story.

"Did you kiss or what?" I haven't lifted my eyes off the gravel path the entire time, but looking up I noticed he made a disgusted face to cover up a possible blush.

"Ki...?! Don't be stupid!" he exclaimed. "Doing that on a first date... they call people like that monsters!"

'Well how was I supposed to know?' I returned to looking at the road ahead of me. Somehow I had even more difficulty picturing Joe kissing someone than going on a date. Well, at least now that he has a girlfriend hopefully he'll leave me alone.

"We held hands! Outrageous progress, right?!" he paused for a second, as if reconsidering something. "I mean... It was mostly that I fell in a ditch and she was helping me out, but...!"
"For how gaudy you look, you're awfully shy." I said through my teeth. But Joe heard me alright.

"Huh?! Gaudy this, ain't!" he acted like I'd hurt his feelings. "I'm hurt, man... that seriously gets to me... Dammit... Maybe I should go back to a crew cut like in middle school..."

'And now he's started moping...' I remembered Joe with a crew cut, and things I once thought were normal suddenly weren't. He really looked weird with a crew cut. Not that his hair looks any better now. It looks like he just woke up from an impossible nine hour sleep and just went to school without brushing his hair.

Looking at the night's sky, a thought crossed my mind. 'I've rarely walked home at this hour... It feels really dark.' Remembering the creepy dude from my dream, I shuddered. What would happen if I were to meet him out on the streets at this hour? Or worse... what if I saw... him. I swallowed, suddenly not liking the idea I decided to stay at school this late.

Joe seemed to read my mind. "What's up? Wanna hold hands?" Well, mostly.

Thinking back to the bloody man, I slowly reached out my hand toward Joe's. He gratefully took it. It was a bad idea because he started swinging our hands around back and forth.

"Your hands are cold." he said in a concerned voice. I didn't say anything. There isn't really a way to respond when someone talks about your hand temperature. We continued walking in silence. Finally, peace.

"Listen, but real talk. Wouldn't it help things if you got a boyfriend?" Joe suddenly asked. And now the peace was gone.

I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it immediately, like a fish gasping for air. I didn't want to discuss the topic.

"You can't sleep, right?" Joe lowered his voice. Not in a whispering way, but in a caring way. "'Cause of your stalker." He stopped swinging our hands back and forth and kept them as still as he could, as if afraid of disturbing me. Something clicked inside my brain. I opened my mouth again and looked him dead in the eyes.

"Is that... why you always go home with me?"

"D... Dummy... I just wanted to brag..." It was Joe's turn to look at the ground now, and I felt his hands start to sweat, like he'd been caught doing something. I didn't like the Tsundere vibes that phrase gave me.

"Thank you." I said. I tried to put my full apreciacion and sincerity in my voice. I suddenly realized what a good friend Joe was.

"For what, man?! Well, if you just feel like being grateful, I won't stop ya!" Joe seemed to pretend he didn't know what I was talking about. He started swinging our arms back and forth again.

'He's going to tear my arm off if he doesn't stop.' I thought to myself.

"Heehee..." I let out a small giggle instead.

It's not like Joe could say "oh yeah man, I care too much about you! I've got to walk you home to make you feel safer!" so I guess I knew why he couldn't confess.

"Alright, let's mosey along now." Joe said, with newfound confidence in his voice. "Your parents will be worried if you're late."

"Right..."

It was weird that Joe went on a date. It was even weirder that he walked home with me to protect me from my stalker, but why would he be thinking about my parents? This is just a weird day in general.

I looked up ahead of me, and in the approaching streetlight, I saw a shadow of a man that wasn't there before. My heart rate picked up again and my palms started to sweat. For Joe to not notice my nervousness, I pulled my hand away from his and pulled it to my chest.

"What? You could've just said I was cutting off your blood flow with my strong arms, why the sudden gesture?" Joe turned to me, a smile playing on his face. Well, maybe it was more of a yank than a pull.

I have to run... I wasn't listening to Joe anymore.

"Joe! Run!" I shouted, a little too loudly.

"Huh?" Joe looked around, finally noticing the person in the streetlight. And without question, the two of us took off to run to my house.

A/N: and then they DIED. That's right and if you're reading this when the story is finished/close to being done, don't worry. It's just a very... very long and boring funeral for Sara and Joe. The end. Good bye. Have a good day.

It's a Lolbit Show