Disclaimer: I do not own Kagerou Project/Mekakucity Actors!

Rating: T for teen. I finally said it.

Pairings: Hibiya/Kagerou. Hibiya-centric & Kagerou-centric.

This chapter is over 6000 words, but it's the last chapter, so please bear with it! Thank you everyone for your reviews, views, faves, all that stuff! Thanks for your kindness and I hoped this ending was satisfying enough. Thank you again and ! I'm really happy!

Kagerou stood silently, unmoving. He was alone, in this instance. Not as if he was always surrounded by others, but one would think at this time, Kuroha or Azami would be there with him.

They weren't.

After all, it wasn't as if it was a momentous occasion. How many times, did the world need to be reset? How many times did they reset the world, living in this infernal limbo of pain and suffering? This happened so often, it wasn't even an event anymore.

It was a chore.

Unlike the rest of the world, Kagerou and his inhuman companions would remain unaffected. They would never forget anything that ever happened. They would exist as if nothing had changed.

For the most part, everyone else would forget. Lives would be renewed, deaths would be reversed. However, those bearers of the snakes were slightly different. Their memories never disappeared completely, and the memories they lost would return at some point. Whether it be a dream, a vision- or if they already had the information somehow instilled in their brains.

The Blindfold Gang lives perpetually, and they remain a gang at any cost. But it was as the saying goes; nothing happens the same way twice.

Nothing.

The crimson haze would face this little task alone. He would reverse the clock, erase the dimension, all to simply suffer and exist (or non-exist) again and again.

Repetitive, cyclic motions and lives would repeat and cycle.

Again, and again, and again.

What did existence really matter, then?

What did anything matter?

He shouldn't waste time, however. Having a near existential crisis right before he changed existence wasn't a smart move. At this rate, the world should have reset already, and he should skulk on as he had always done.

Yet, that didn't happen. His thoughts were preoccupied with his short, somewhat-domestic life with Hibiya over the past few weeks. Kagerou remembered the little things; Kido's iPod, Seto's hamster, Kano's magazines. Mary and her stupid paper flowers, Momo with her record albums. Ene and Shintaro, their dumb expressions as they fought constantly; Konoha's blank stare.

Hibiya.

Hibiya.

Hibiya.

He couldn't get that damned kid out of his head. And for what reason? Yes, the boy had painted the haze into a corner of self-awareness and doubt...he had caused the greatest misery he had ever felt.

The greatest pleasure he's ever had.

The heat haze knew, better than anyone, how peculiar humanity was. Their ephemeral and meaningless lives were always laughable, but as of late Kagerou was starting to see something else within them.

Something desirable.

But, those desires would soon fade, that feeling of wonder and thoughtfulness would be replaced with a repulsive distaste. Those sickeningly sweet moments he's had would taste bitter as he recited them in his mouth.

Yes, nothing could stop the monstrosity and negativity within him, to ruin and taint whatever hope-filled thoughts he dared to have. Should he even encounter Hibiya again in the next timeline, it wouldn't be the same.

He wouldn't even remember.

"How pointless," Kagerou mumbles, raising his pale arm forward, "to think I even cared about this place to begin with..."

A flurry of flames and fire and darkness erupted in the middle of the sorry playground, with a large transparent clock looming overhead. The ghost smiled, clenching his fist as amber waves of destruction pulsated from the mess.

"I won't make that same mistake again."

Shiro had accompanied Hibiya for a short period of time. As he ran wildly through the streets, she would disappear and reappear at different points, as a means of navigation and reassurance.

Why, oh why was he so far away from that damned playground?

More importantly, why didn't Shiro just transport him there? It would save him time, which in this case, is something most crucial and important.

His hurried steps halted to a stop, however, as beads of sweat and perspiration multiplied. As he got closer and closer to the destination, he felt something ominous and heavy.

Something hot.

As if this section of the city was eaten away by disparity and humidity, and a black smog was thickening in the air. The Amamiya could see it, feel it form. This awful and distasteful murk filling the area, darkening his sight and his heart.

What's going on?

He looked for Shiro, and barely made out her bright person, even in this fog. Without hesitation, he shouted:

"What's happening?"

"The timeline. It's being reset; the way Kagerou is going at it, though, things seem more volatile than ever..." As if to gauge the situation, Shiro felt the air for its strange and unbecoming properties. The thick smog of red and black broke way for her pale touch, as if repelled by her very presence. (As it was.) A quiet sigh and nod was given, as if something was confirmed because of this.

Turning to Hibiya, Shiro calls out, "It's Kagerou. His influence over this city is tremendous. For some reason, he's making this happen. We're close."

His heart sunk at the thought. Kagerou was nearby. This meant a few things; the end was near, for this universe and everyone in it, and the beginning for the next one was closing in.

It meant, everything Hibiya said and did from this point would have a gigantic effect. Any mistakes, any benefits that came from his decisions now would most likely affect his future tomorrow.

It meant, that in a few short moments, everything he knew and experienced with Kagerou would go to waste. He would forget, he would reset. His friends and the other members...they'd be the same.

No one would remember anything.

No one but Kagerou, Shiro, and anyone else like them.

Not a soul.

A deep gulp was taken, and Hibiya dared to take a step forward. However, upon noticing that the blue haze did not match his stride, he stopped to turn and look at her.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not going with you at this point."

"Why? Not that I suddenly care for you, but-"

Her face was solemn, and she answered bluntly. "My presence will influence Kagerou's feelings. If he sees me, he will rush straight away without a second thought. Only you can confront him, and tell him the things he needs to hear."

"So I can stop him from resetting the timeline?"

"No, you can't. Once someone decides they will do it, it can't be undone. If you remember any of this the next time you wake, I advise you ask Mary specifically about this."

"Mary? What does she know-"

"I won't go into details. The timeline will be reset, if you wanted to stop it, you should have done so hours ago. All you can do is confront him."

"And if he kills me?"

She blinks, unfazed by his question. "Then you die, but you'll be revived the next time."

"..."

"What?"

"Nothing, thanks for the pep talk."

"What pep talk?"

Hibiya realized, with each second he tried to weasel information out of her, the more time he lost against Kagerou. Instinctively, he gave up on his little information search, and used his legs to carry himself as far as he would go. A quick dash, in hopes of covering lost time in a short amount of time.

He gave a lasting look at Shiro Kagerou, and proceeded to keep running. Not without shouting:

"Shiro! You're a pretty closed book, aren't you?"

He figured she couldn't hear her, but a loud voice from behind called out;

"With someone like you around, I can't afford to be open!"

The almost-deterioration of the city seemed to grow increasingly. Without Shiro's bright figure to guide him, Hibiya was stumbling around in the dark. Like shadow and blood combined, this fiery smog enveloped everything. It scared him, to know that Kagerou was capable of something like this. Things of such monstrous properties...

No, he thought, no, I...I have to believe that there's something in Kagerou that wants to change. I have to believe, because I don't have anything left to do at this point.

Each step forward brought him closer, and closer. At one point, he felt as if he could call out Kagerou's name, and the heat haze would answer.

But he kept silent.

Suddenly, the thick (and almost unbreatheable) air thinned out, and the boy found himself gasping for air, clutching his chest as if this rush of oxygen was the most impressive thing he's felt.

Looking up, Hibiya saw it ; the monstrosity in question.

The playground sheltered a hot, sweltering mass of doom and destruction. A miasma of fire and hatred burned in the middle of the playground, emitting bloodied waves of heat and power.

There was a single clock ticking away, away, away at the top; it was transparent and familiar. (Hibiya saw hundreds of those on that day; on August 15th.)

This time, however, there was only one clock, but its hands kept moving. As long as they kept moving, he had a chance. He had a moment to spare with Kagerou.

Speaking of which, where was the heat haze? Of all times for him to be absent, this was perhaps the worst situation to do so.

"Kagerou!" Hibiya screamed, moving sluggishly around the premises, "Kagerou, it's me! Wait a goddamned moment and talk to me! Kagerou-"

"Oh, look what we have here! Someone left a book lying open!"

That taunting voice stung, as it was not filled with the humor and benevolence (could it be called that?) it was once filled with. Instead, it rang a familiar sense of dread and hatred, sadism and cruelty.

It was as if Hibiya was hearing Kagerou for the first time.

Turning around, the brunet was face to face with the blood-red spirit, who was smiling in such a manner that despite the heat enveloping them, Hibiya felt chills.

Oh, God.

He wasn't sure what made Kagerou relapse, so to speak, but he knew it was something vicious and hateful. Something powerful enough to shock him back into his previous self, into his old malevolence.

Was it that one person that was on the roof with him? Earlier...

Snapping himself out of his thoughts, Hibiya stepped forward, eyes downcast. Shakily, he called out to the haze in front of him.

"What happened to you? How did you-"

"Remember?" Kagerou finished, snickering, "it was no thanks to you!"

"I know, I know! But do you blame me? Do you blame me if I decided to not be the one that caused...whatever the hell this is?" The boy motioned to the overall doom and gloom that surrounded them, suffocating the city with miserly murkiness.

"Oh, I don't just blame you! I hate you. You're so pathetic, you realize?" Kagerou laughed, walking circles around the human. "You were so content in living in complacency...you're so passive, it's disgusting! You should have kept to your instincts, kept to yourself when you realized, 'hey, maybe it's not such a good idea to get attached to someone like the heat haze!' What gave you such a change of heart? Was it my impeccable charm?"

Each bitter word snapped at Hibiya, cutting into him like a knife would. The tone, the inflection, the pain of it all...how could Kagerou so carelessly disregard the positivity they shared? How could he get so despicable so quickly?

Is he doing this on purpose, Hibiya wondered? Was this perhaps a way to make him suffer in the last few knowing moments he would have?

Think smart, Hibiya. Mess this up and you'll probably get stabbed in the next timeline, or something. Come on, come on, come on.

It was just so hard to focus in this mess. Everything warbled and fell out of focus, like static. Like unconsciousness.

No, Hibiya screamed mentally, no, it's happening too quickly. I gotta keep saying...something...

Unbeknownst to the human boy, tears began to form in the corner of his eyes. Doubt and melancholy swelled up within him. But, he had two requests (technically one) to save Kagerou, to give him new resolve for the next timeline.

He couldn't let her down.

The brunet slowly approached the haze, ignoring his taunts and laughs as he tried to focus on what he would say to him next.

"I know, I know, dammit! Don't try and take credit for it-I knew what it would mean to...to be nice to you. I should have left you alone, I should have just abandoned you and...and everything!" His voice was getting drowned in the noise of the miasma and the overall groans of the city, the ticking of the clock.

But he knew Kagerou would hear him.

"But I couldn't, Kagerou! I couldn't! And it's because I..."

The heat haze craned a brow, stepping forward with his arms crossed. "You what? What weakness of yours are you going to share with me that I haven't already known?"

"I...I had hope. I thought against my better judgement, I hoped you would be different, that things would be different. And weren't they? K-Kagerou, weren't they-"

Hibiya yelped, as one of the trees toppled over, nearly crushing him in the process. The red waves of heat and energy began to unearth the plants, and split the earth.

Hibiya barely paid attention, as he had to keep focus on Kagerou.

He had to keep going.

"W-We had fun, life was...okay, for the two of us...don't you remember...?"

"I never forget! I won't deteriorate like you humans! My existence never ends. I will outlive your pathetic mortality. I..." Kagerou giggled, "I'm almost God, and you ask me if I 'remember'? What I remembered, was all the insight to your motley crew."

Kagerou continued his rant, anger and passion felt aflame from merely speaking to his humane counterpart.

"I know all of you now. You, Konoha, the Queen. I remember everything. I know more than you could possible hope! I can, and I will, exploit all of you! Forever. Imagine, Hibiya, my resetting of the timelines over and over and over again. Imagine being stuck in the haze again, suffering repeatedly because I can. Because of your foolishness. Do you still value your humanity, Hibiya? Do you still have your hopes?"

Each tirade furthered his power, his monstrosity, his anger. The dark mass swelled with each statement of hate, regret, and agony. One of the waves hit Hibiya, making him fall to his knees and cough up blood.

This wasn't working, he thought, I'm going to die.

"I..."

"Oh, did you think we were friends, Hibiya? My weak and amnesiac self might have been your 'friend', but I am most certainly not. You're going to die, now. Die horribly and agonizing, and I will laugh at your corpse until it reanimates again."

Hibiya stared up at the crimson figure, who was shining brightly, more so than any fire he's ever seen.

More powerful than anyone he has ever seen.

Was that it, then? The end of his resolve, the end of his triumph? Had he failed Hiyori and Shiro, after all? His friends, himself...

"..."

"What? Have I turned you speechless?"

"...Haha, you're such an open book, you know."

"...What."

It wasn't even a question, but Kagerou was at a loss for words. Had Hibiya been hit in the head? What was his approach, here?

The brown-eyed boy looked up, eyes spilling over tears, yet remaining unmoved otherwise.

He was smiling.

"You're such a...bad liar."

"Liar? When was I lying?"

"The entire time. Kagerou, I know you. You know I know you better now. You're not as...inhuman as you think you are."

"What makes you-what gives you the right to-"

"If you were such a monstrosity as you try to b...be." A cough, and another spatter of blood sprays across the concrete. He feels something cutting into him now, physically. "...If you were so awful, why are you crying...?"

Crying?

Kagerou blinked, and raised pale fingers to his eyes.

They were wet. They were spilling over in tears and regret. They were red and wide and confused.

When did I start...crying?

"I think you're trying to...spare your own feelings. Making this my fault you acted that way, but...Kagerou, if you were so inhuman you shouldn't have been able to feel anything you did. You shouldn't have been able to laugh, or cry, or say you're sorry. But you did. I know you d-" he coughs again, keeling over as his head pounds. No, he screams at himself, no, don't stop talking.

Looking up, through blurred eyes, Hibiya cries out:

"-did. You laughed with me, cried with me, got angry and said sorry with me! You didn't eat or drink with me, but you fell asleep and got tired and used an eye power...you're not...a total monster. And now you're just..."

"Shut up!" Kagerou screeches, setting an erupting ring of fire around them. His pale hands reached out, holding the sides of his head as if to steady it; as if it would fall off without support.

Where a heart should have been, lies a cesspool of emotions. Agony, guilty, apathy, sorrow, regret... all bundling within him, surging through him like a river through a forest.

When was the last time he cried like this?

The heat haze remembers, of course. He had cried before. He had sobbed over Hibiya, the first time the boy jumped in front of the truck that was meant for Hiyori. He spilled tears and screamed, as if the pain was personal.

Because it was.

Because he was not a void of negativity, god-like qualities as he claims.

He was not human, but he was not too far from such a label.

Perhaps he was in between.

Perhaps-

"No!" Kagerou screams, flames rising high above their heads, "No, you're wrong! I am not...I am nothing like you! You're not like me! I-"

Hibiya was barely conscious. Being so close to disaster was hurting him, in every way imaginable. But he had to finish this. He had to give the last signal.

The boy slowly, yet surely, rose to his feet. He gave out more words that stung and crushed Kagerou.

More, more, more.

"You...actually said you were sorry, one time. Or I saw you say it. You...apologized."

"..."

"After years and years of torturing me...you finally said...'sorry'." Hibiya sighed in lament, closing his eyes as more tears spilled. "You...finally apologized."

"No, no, no..."

"Could a...could a monster ever do that? Kage-"

"No, no, no...!"

The flames that encircled them grew stronger, hotter. Kagerou held his face in his hands, and that mysterious liquid known as 'tears' would not stop falling from his eyes.

Those things called 'emotions' didn't stop resonating in his chest.

How? How was this happening?

Impossible.

Hibiya took slow steps forward, unsure if the other even was aware of him at this point. A small smile was on Hibiya's face.

It was the first genuine smile, he's had in a long time.

It happened instantaneously, yet slowly. It was quick, but unmoving. Each step was like a lightning strike, or a slow stream of water. Hibiya ran towards Kagerou with his fleeting strength and life, set on one thing.

To save him.

His thin arms, bloodied and scratched, weak and wobbly, wrapped tightly around the ghost, forcing his corporeal body to take form (or was he already corporeal to begin with?). He squeezed as tightly and as affectionately as he could, before whispering;

"And I...forgive...you. I finally forgive...you. And myse...lf..."

The fire circle around them died down, and Kagerou gasped as he fell to his knees, taking the injured Hibiya down with him.

His body, barely alive and breathing, clung to him like static to sheets, and his tears fell down at a slower rate.

Hibiya was smiling.

Kagerou was crying.

The ghost found his figure shaking, his eyesight blurred by his own wretched emotions.

Without even thinking, Kagerou wrapped his arms around Hibiya, burying his face and warmth into the boy's shoulder.

"...I...get it, Hibiya."

"Hmm..." the boy mumbled, coughing quietly, "'bout time...but I knew you...'d...come 'roun-"

The Amamiya sighed deeply, and stopped speaking. He could not last for long. He said nothing aloud, but the reaffirming squeeze he gave to Kagerou said it all.

Hurry, he thought, just reset it already.

The murky calamity that devoured the city began to fluctuate, and Kagerou's body outline glowed with a bright red power.

Those tears slowed down, as did his mind. A smile, an actual smile, appeared on the haze's face. As he pressed his face into Hibiya's shoulder, he thought of nothing in particular, and yet everything in particular.

Kido's apron. Seto's flowers. Kano's jokes. Mary's books. Momo's stuffed animals. Ene's sleeves. Shintaro's computer. Konoha's dinosaur.

Shiro's condescending glare. Azami's burning stare. Kuroha's stupid laugh.

Kenjirou, Ayaka, Ayano, Shion and Tsukihiko.

Hiyori's smile.

Hibiya's tears.

All of these, and more, filled and played through his mind like a tape on rewind. Beautiful, yet ephemeral images. His chest was burning, but it was light and lifted off from the weights that held it down.

One last hug was given to Hibiya, before Kagerou whispered, "Goodbye." and opened his eyes which were previously shut close. He saw the setting before them, the hellish scene of rebirth and destruction, and turned his gaze upwards towards the gigantic clock.

Tick, tock, tick, tock. Only seconds away from resetting this godforsaken world. Only seconds away from restarting, from renewing everything damaged.

Seconds away from the beginning, and the end. As the final seconds went down, and Kagerou began to see a bright light explode, he whispered;

"Let's change our fate, Hibiya."

The world changes all too easily.

Especially when one is equipped with the ability to alter reality. The timeline reset so simply, so fluidly, it was like nothing even happened.

The day just started over.

On the evening of August 13th, two beings stood on top of the tallest skyscraper in Mekaku City.

One was of a glimmering red, the other a shimmering blue.

Upon closer inspection, the red being was smiling, while the blue being was indifferent. No one spoke, until a solemn voice inquired;

"It's almost that day again."

"I know."

"How should we do it, this time?"

"Differently."

"How different?"

"What if we tried...that, instead? Just to see what would happen."

"You're stupid. But I don't mind a new approach."

"I know."

"You're so stupid."

"I know, I know."

"But you're less stupid than before, probably."

The red being paused, causing a break in what was their fluid conversation. After the sun set completely, leaving the city in a fading darkness, he answered;

"...Yeah."

August 15th.

Hibiya Amamiya and Hiyori Asahina were two country kids, visiting the city to study for their summer courses. (Although they had ulterior motives behind that, as well.) The two of them were laughing and talking, discussing how Hiyori's brother-in-law, Kenjirou Tateyama, was incredibly strange.

"His students are okay, though. That one guy was cute-"

"Haruka, was it?"

"Yeah. But could you believe it, though! The Momo Kisaragi is his student! She's so cool!"

"Didn't seem that cool to me," Hibiya muttered, watching a cat lazily stride by them.

"Are you kidding? She seems amazing! I can't believe we get to meet her-"

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah! Kenjirou said he'd arrange a meeting or something! How cool would it be if we became friends?"

"I don't know, cool, I guess?"

"You guess?"

Their banter continued on and on, until the two reached a crosswalk at the intersection. They had no plans on moving ahead so cluelessly, but the cat that was accompanying them mewled loudly, then proceeded to run straight into the street.

Hiyori yelped, and followed thoughtlessly after the cat, with Hibiya following close behind her in worry.

The three creatures were in the middle of the street, when a loud honk came from ahead. They turned their heads, and stared in awe of what they saw.

A truck. A large truck. Headed their way. The two kids were frozen in fear, unable to do anything to stop them.

Hibiya felt something push him from behind, (It felt like a warm hand, but he swore no one was around them at the time.) and as if he was a machine, turned on and quickly pulled Hiyori and himself out of the way.

"Aaah!" The Asahina yelped, clutching onto the Amamiya.

They crashed some feet away, and were witness to a calamity.

The truck crashed into a nearby lightpole, whose glass broke and scattered across the pavement. Hiyori and Hibiya screamed, and after having fallen onto the near curb of the sidewalk, sustained injuries despite not having been hit by the truck itself.

Any second later, we could have been killed! What luck...

Hibiya didn't notice a splash of red in the corner of his eye, because his sight became focused on Hiyori, who was crying and wincing in pain.

As the ambulance approached, the 'splash of red' disappeared, smiling behind him as he looked towards a blue figure standing on top of a building.

She was smiling, too.

August 16th

The two youths were ushered to a local hospital after citizens noticed the accident.

Despite glass cuts and bruises, they weren't seriously injured. Although Hibiya was allowed to leave, Hiyori was forced to stay an extra day due to 'other injuries'.

"Stupid!" Hiyori cries out, kicking her feet off the hospital bed. "I'm fine. I can't believe they're keeping me here!"

Hibiya sighed, sitting in the seat next to the bed, waiting patiently for Hiyori to calm down. "It's for your own good, you know..."

"But I'm fine. You heard them, I'm not even hurt-"

"Excuse me!"

The two of them looked up, and saw a nurse wheeling in someone on a wheelchair. "Another patient will be staying in this room, please keep your volume to a minimum, miss Asahina."

Hiyori's cheeks lit up, and she looked to the side out of embarrassment. "Hmph. Whatever."

Hibiya stared at the patient in question, and felt a spark of recognition, before calling out;

"Haruka? Kokonose, right? Kenjirou's student-"

"Oh!" Hiyori cheered up, smiling in Haruka's direction, "Oh, hi! It's-"

"Ah, hello!" Haruka smiled brightly, "It's Hiyori and Hibiya, right? We met a few days ago. You're Mr. Tateyama's relations!"

"That's right! Well, for me, anyways. What are you doing here?"

"Ah, I had an attack earlier, so I was rushed in here. I just hope I didn't worry anyone-"

"HARUKA! YOU HAD AN ATTACK?"

Haruka sighed, and lifted a hand to rub the back of his head, "I spoke too soon."

A girl with pigtails and a dark sneer entered the room, crossing her arms as she stared at Haruka. "Why didn't you tell me you'd been feeling bad over the last few days? You dummy, you should have said-"

"I just didn't want to worry you or Mr. Tateyama! I'm sorry..."

"Please, refrain from making noise," the nurse scolded Takane, "there's other patients here, too."

Takane glanced over, and looked slightly dumbstruck as she saw Hiyori and Hibiya. "Hey, you're teacher's sister in law, right? And you're that girl's friend-"

"Yeah," Hibiya muttered, in assent with Hiyori who answered more confidently, "And you're Kenjirou's students."

"Yeah," Takane answered, rubbing the back of her head, "sorry I got carried away."

"It's fine," Hiyori said sternly, "just keep it down. We almost died, you know."

Hibiya nodded, and thought long and hard about that moment. Something feels weird, he mentally mused, something feels missing.

Those thoughts disappeared, however, as the other three in the room brought him back to the conversation.

Life is strange.

Later that day, Hibiya began wandering about the hospital, after being 'sent away' by Hiyori.

"You should buy me flowers," she advised, "It would make me feel better."

Of course, he'd do anything for her, so he easily complied.

Upon entering the gift shop, he noticed a tall guy with bright eyes and a brighter smile, working the counter whilst speaking to someone who Hibiya assumed was his coworker.

His companion was a small girl, much smaller than him, with copious bundles of snowy white hair. She spoke quietly and nervously, but smiled and laughed every no and then. The duo were setting up a display of paper flowers, as well as real bouquets.

For some reason, Hibiya felt compelled to socialize with these strangers, and sheepishly approached them as he was buying some flowers for Hiyori.

Turns out, their names were Seto Kousuke and Mary Kozakura. They just started working here, and Seto works a lot of other jobs, as well.

"Buying flowers? I suggest this bunch...they're really pretty!" Seto advised, pointing at a bouquet of mixed irises and yellow roses.

"A-And if-if you buy a bouquet," Mary stumbled, breathing quickly to calm her obvious nervousness, "y-you get a free pack of paper flowers...!"

Needless to say, the boy ended up buying the iris-yellow rose bouquet, as well as receiving crafted flora; those that would seem real, if the sheen of the colored paper didn't give it away.

After reciting a thank you, (and somehow promising to meet them again) the Amamiya headed towards the exit.

There, he ran into two other people.

One was a taller, serious looking woman. Hibiya didn't realize she was even there until he bumped into her. Despite her serious expression, the brunet could sense some annoyance within her.

The other person was a shorter (yet taller than Hibiya) boy, with blond hair and bright, honey-colored eyes. They glinted with mischief and secretiveness, and his smile added more distrust to his visage.

Hibiya didn't like him very much.

"Sorry," he grumbled, looking away from the both of them.

"Aw, it's fine! Isn't it fine, Kido? If it's not, the child will probably get scolded~"

"Cut it out, Kano." The girl named 'Kido' admonished. Looking back at the Amamiya, she gave a sort of apologetic smile.

"He's stupid sometimes."

"Hey, that's not nice!"

"Anyways, sorry to bother you-"

"-Hibiya," the boy answered, "My name's Hibiya. It's fair since I know your names now."

"What a polite kid! You should learn a thing or two from him, Kido!"

"I should?"

After those strange encounters, Hibiya furiously stalked off, hurrying back to Hiyori's room as soon as possible.

By some stroke of luck, he ran into someone else.

Momo Kisaragi herself. In the flesh. She looked down at him and smiled, reciting:

"That's my brother's friend in there," Momo explained, "I took my brother here since he doesn't know how to drive a car by himself. Also, I met your friend Hiyori! You two seem like good kids!"

For some reason, the brunet felt that he should respond to everything that this alleged celebrity said, by saying; "That's cool, cow lady. I hope your music is better than your actual speaking voice-"

Needless to say, she felt very insulted, and personally invited him and Hiyori to a concert to prove that her voice was good.

Hiyori was ecstatic.

As if things couldn't be more eventful, Hibiya met a person named Shintaro Kisaragi, who seemed very much like him personality-wise.

"Finally, someone normal..." Shintaro muttered, softening his hard glower.

Hiyori commented that Hibiya was a boring guy, and that she would pass out from boredom if he didn't start talking to her again.

It was weird.

August 17th

The day after, Hiyori was released from the hospital, and she and Hibiya spent the day with Momo Kisaragi. The two girls were gabbing away at something trivial in the eyes of Hibiya, but he didn't mind their gossip for once. Just by being in their presence, the Amamiya felt content.

They walked around most of the city, even stopping by the smaller, more suburban areas. There was a small playground that, despite the summer afternoon, was completely empty.

As Hibiya walked by, he noticed something strange. Or more specifically, someone.

Someone that looked almost exactly like him, save for the fact that the only color they displayed was red.

The brunet was confused, and noticed how the lookalike was smiling at him. He was smiling a real, genuine smile, pale lips curving upwards in benevolence.

Hibiya had no idea why, but a wave of familiarity washed over him. A thought of nostalgia overcame him. His lips wanted to form words he didn't know, but a new voice pulled him back to reality.

"Hey, Hibiya, what say you and Hiyori get backstage passes, too? That'd be cool, right?"

Looking over at the orange-haired girl, Hibiya answered quickly, "Yeah, sure."

He threw a glance back in the direction of the park, but wore a face more confused than the last.

The red-head was gone.

Days pass, and the summer lulls on with a complacent atmosphere. Somehow, somewhere, Hibiya befriends Momo, her brother, and nearly all the people he encountered at the hospital.

As if they were all meant to be friends, in the first place.

The thought of the red figure still lingers on his mind, but for a long time, he remained as a thought.

One fateful day, Hibiya decided to read the weather report, out of extreme boredom.

It read: Expect a heat haze from August 15th until the end of August.

He would have scrolled to the next page, but something clicked in him, and he took a double take suddenly.

Wait, what? he questioned mentally, What did it say?

Reading over the simple statement again, only several words stood out to him.

Heat haze. August 15th.

Heat haze. Heat haze. August 15th.

Brown eyes widen, and the boy stumbles back into whatever seat is behind him.

He remembers.

Mouth dry with anticipation, Hibiya thinks aloud; "K-Kagerou..."

"Yeah?"

The boy looked over, and saw an ethereal, ruby-red being appear in front of him. From the tips of his toes, to the top tufts of hair, this person was a near perfect mirror image of Hibiya.

He even wore a similar smile, bright expression lacing across his face.

Hibiya's initial bewilderment disappeared, and was replaced with excitement, happiness.

But, Hibiya was Hibiya, so he contained his giddiness with a simple greeting.

"...We got a lot to catch up on."

Kagerou laughed, but it was nothing like the laugh that Hibiya had always known.

It was the laugh of someone familiar.

It was the laugh of a friend.

"Took you long enough. Thought you were never gonna remember. You looked so confused, you know."

"Yeah, well." Hibiya stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets with a sigh.

"I'm an open book, after all."