As he shouts, Hikigaya slowly turns to see Henry and Pastel standing with a scared look as a doctor approaches them. She says something to them before their tense bodies soften. Pastel's arms fall to her sides limply as Henry shakes. Hikigaya watches as his eyes grow wide with shock filling them. He steps back once before stepping again. He turns around sharply and takes off running down the hall. He rushes past his friends and out the front door. He runs until he stops in the bench area out front of the hospital. He stands as his eyes shake and he breathes heavily. He lifts his shaking hands and grabs his head tightly with both as he begins making noises, choking on the words. He crouches down and starts screaming as the tears roll down his face. The others rush out after him. Shiori falls down next to him with tears falling from her eyes.
Shiori "Hikigaya! Hikigaya, please!"
She shakes him for a moment before he turns and grabs her wrist, still screaming.
Hikigaya "No! I did this! I killed her! I did! I killed her, again!"
He shouts before Haru grabs him by the collar and pulls him back.
Haru "Hikigaya, stop! You know it's not your fault!"
He yells aggressively as Ryuji covers his face with his hand, sobbing with his back turned to them.
Hikigaya "I killed my sister and now I killed my best friend! I can't protect anyone!"
Haru "That's not what happened! I was right there too, I should've saved her! I should've done something!"
Hikigaya gets up with an angry look.
Hikigaya "What? You want me to say this is your fault?! Is that what you want?!"
He shouts before shoving Haru. Sugawara is shocked and shouts to them.
Sugawara "Guys! Stop! This isn't.."
He cries out as Haru grits his teeth before pushing Hikigaya back.
Haru "Go ahead! Tell me how pathetic I am!"
In anger, Hikigaya grabs Haru's collar and yanks him forward as they continue to argue. They get more and more aggressive as Sugawara cries out to them, falling to his knees and shutting his eyes.
Sugawara "Stop it, stop it, stop!"
He repeats. Shiori watches as her friends break down in front of her as tears pour down her cheeks. She cries as she slowly lowers her head, placing her hands over herself. As they yell and cry, Lucy walks towards them. Ignoring the arguing and crying, she slowly steps towards Shiori before crouching down and tapping her shoulder. Shiori looks up with pained eyes as Lucy looks at her with teary eyes but a look that tries to offer comfort.
Lucy "Shiori. It wasn't your fault."
She says softly as Shiori looks at her. The others finally stop for long enough to notice Lucy and Shiori on the ground. Shiori then breaks down and starts sobbing while latching onto Lucy. They hug each other tightly as they cry and sob into each other's embrace. Watching this, the others can't help but be flooded with the emotion of the event that just occurred and all begin to break down. Hikigaya falls to the ground as Haru starts sobbing. Unable to do anything to make their situation better, they simply cry in the bench area in front of the hospital where their lifelong friend just passed away.
News of Chizuru's unfortunate passing spreads quickly. Samuel sits at home in the arms of Ashley as Samuel cries out loud for her student. At school, Henry barrates Principal Ai for allowing her on such a trip and allowing this to happen. She accepts full responsibility for what happened and listens as Henry yells and shouts angrily before hanging up. Ai lowers her phone and places it back on her desk when her hand begins to tremble. Quietly, Ai holds her head in her hands over her face as she begins to sob. Days pass as each student, teacher, friend, family that Chizuru affected cries for her. Tsuki and Milo walk down the street holding hands when Tsuki's phone begins to ring so he answers with a smile. His smile slowly fades as he's told what happened. He hangs up and lowers his head a bit as Milo looks at him confused. Even he sheds tears hearing about his friend.
Days later, under the light of the moon and stars in the sky, Touma sits on a large log laying on the ground. He stares at the sky with a sad look on his face when Ryuji slowly makes his way towards him. He sits down next to Touma quietly as they sit in silence for a moment.
Ryuji "You okay, Touma?.."
He asks softly. Touma doesn't respond for a moment before Ryuji continues.
Ryuji "I just.. wanted to check on you. I know that.. you really loved her."
Touma still watches the sky as Ryuji speaks. Tears start to form in Ryuji's eyes as he looks down, sniffling as his feelings well up inside.
Ryuji "I'm just.. I guess I just wanted to see if you're okay.. Make sure you don't.. shut us out.."
Touma chuckles a bit, a soft smile spreading across his face as he looks down.
Touma "Chizuru did a lot for me. So much more than I'll be able to tell her now. But best of all, she gave me you guys."
He says looking at Ryuji. Ryuji is surprised by his words as Touma smiles and looks back to the sky.
Touma "I promised her the night before everything happened that I would never go back to being quiet. That I'll keep my head up and voice heard."
His eyes shine as Ryuji starts to cry at his words.
Touma "She helped me be better. I'm going to keep my promise, I think she would've wanted that."
He says with a smile as Ryuji sobs next to him under the night sky.
In Sugawara's home, Haru sits on the couch next to Sugawara. They sit in silence for a moment before Haru speaks.
Haru "Sugawara, do you think I'm pathetic?"
Sugawara "No. No baby, why would you ask that?"
He asks with a concerned look. Haru smiles sarcastically as tears form in his eyes.
Haru "Because I think I am."
Sugawara watches him with a sad look and unsure of what to say.
Haru "My whole life I've been so weak.. I watched as Hikigaya, Ryuji, Lucy even Shiori stood up to bad guys and protected the weak.. Protected me… And for once I thought maybe.. I could protect someone…"
His voice cracks and shakes as he speaks.
Haru "I guess not. It seems the only thing I'm good at is making people laugh, especially when I act like an idiot."
He says softly as Sugawara watches him with a caring and sad look.
Sugawara "Is that why you always try so hard to make the group happy? You think it's the only way you can help?"
Haru nods softly. Sugawara looks down a bit before leaning his head on Haru's shoulder.
Sugawara "I think having such a bright smile does more than enough to help people."
He says softly to his boyfriend. Haru's eyes grow wide a bit as his words remind him of Chizuru.
Chizuru "Stay bright, Haru."
He remembers her words from that Valentine's Day years ago. Tears well up in his eyes as he smiles softly, feeling her love and Sugawara's in the moment.
At Shiori and Hikigaya's house, Shiori sits on her bed as Hikigaya sits on the ground leaning against her bed. They both have tired, blank expressions on their faces as they sit in silence for a moment. Shiori looks worried before speaking.
Shiori "Hiki?.."
Hikigaya "Yeah?"
Shiori sweats a bit nervously.
Shiori "I was thinking, since everyone knows about our powers now, how long do you think it'll take for people to realize we are Fullsky and Watchdog?"
Hikigaya shrugs.
Hikigaya "I don't know."
Shiori "I'm just concerned about.. your mom. She never liked vigilantes and as far as she's concerned, they killed her daughter… What if.. she realizes it was us?.."
She asks, scared of what she might say. Hikigaya's eyes widen just a bit as he turns and looks at her.
Hikigaya "I… don't know."
He says, realizing she's right. Later that night, Shiori steps down the stairs, a slight limp in her walk from her injuries. She drinks some water when Asami steps in the room.
Asami "Shiori. We need to talk."
She says with a sharp look. Shiori looks at her, slightly nervous before nodding. Asami sits on the couch as Hikigaya and Shiori stand before her with worried looks.
Hikigaya "Mom, let me explain."
Asami "So you have powers? Both of you? And worse yet, you're vigilantes? Lawless fighters trying to protect the peace? Are you kidding me?"
She asks with a frustrated look on her face. Shiori looks down, disappointed as Hikigaya steps forward.
Hikigaya "It's not that simple. We didn't mean anyone any harm. We just wanted to protect people with our gifts."
Asami "You're children! That kind of a responsibility shouldn't be on your shoulders! Fighting super villains who kill and torture people? You could've been killed just like-"
She stops as she thinks about her daughter and Chizuru. Shiori and Hikigaya look away with pained looks as Asami stands up. She turns her attention towards Shiori.
Asami "You were there, right? That night at Fawn Tower?"
Shiori nods.
Asami "And with Chizuru. You were right there."
Tears start to form in her eyes as Asami walks to Shiori. Hikigaya gets a defensive look.
Hikigaya "No, mom, she didn't-"
Before he can finish, Asami steps towards Shiori who closes her eyes, waiting for punishment when suddenly she feels arms wrap around her. Her eyes open wide as she feels a warm embrace around her. Asami cries a little, holding Shiori.
Asami "You were right there for both of them.. I can only imagine what that must feel like.. That responsibility shouldn't be on your shoulders.."
She says softly as Shiori begins to cry, turning into Asami's embrace. Hikigaya sighs in relief realizing her mother is not angry but sad that Shiori was so close to saving her daughter but couldn't and now must live with that. Asami lets her go as Shiori sobs with her head lowered.
Asami "Such a kind girl shouldn't have to suffer so much pain."
She turns to look at Hikigaya as Shiori tries to wipe away her tears.
Asami "And such a caring boy shouldn't have had to lose his sister and friend."
Hikigaya's eyes tear up as he looks away.
Asami "My children, please keep your heads up. It isn't fair your lives have had to be so brutal but you must keep going."
She puts her hand on Shiori's shoulder before offering her hand to her son. Hikigaya pauses before taking it and accepting his mother's hug as Asami hugs them both.
Asami "Please.. Stay strong.."
She says softly as her children in her arms sob together.