Alice "Did you see the look on his face? He looks really tired, maybe I've been too rough during training?"
Ryuji "I wasn't helping, asking for help at the restaurant all week."
He says with an upset look.
Sugawara "I would've never asked him for help if I knew he was already so busy!"
He says with a concerned look. Shiori listens to them as she worries more.
That night, Shiori opens the door to Hikigaya's room and sticks her head in.
Shiori "Hiki..? You okay..? I wanted to give you some space today but I didn't see you come down for dinner so I wanted to bring you some."
She says softly as she steps into the room only to find his bed empty. Her eyes widen with shock as she looks around.
Shiori "Hikigaya?"
She puts down the plate of food and steps further into his room only to find the door to his patio open. She rushes outside and can't find him anywhere.
Shiori "Hikigaya! Where did you go?"
She begins to panic a bit as thoughts begin flooding her mind.
Shiori "Oh no, with everything that's been happening, what if he…"
She thinks back to a long time ago, an image of him standing on a ledge, contemplating a drastic decision. Her fear begins to rise.
Shiori "No, not again. I have to find him!"
She says with fear and anxiety in her voice as she extends her wings and dashes into the night sky. She first checks the same place her fears thought of, the small area the group carved their names into years ago, but he is nowhere. A sigh of relief leaves her lips but only for a moment as she flies away. She checks a park, rooftops, sidewalks but can't find him anywhere. She touches down, slightly out of breath as she leans on her knees.
Shiori "Where are you, Hikigaya?.."
She asks softly as tears begin to form in her eyes. She sobs for a moment before she opens her eyes wide, surprised by a feeling she gets in her chest. She looks up before dashing towards a bridge over a tunnel for trains to ride.
Shiori 'This feeling.. It has to be him!'
She thinks as she rushes in the direction only to see Hikigaya leaning on the railing overlooking the tracks. She panics and dashes faster, calling out his name.
Shiori "Hikigaya!"
She yells, causing him to look over with a tired look, getting shocked when he sees Shiori dashing his way, tackling him over and smashing into the ground with a thud.
Shiori "No Hiki! Don't! We can figure this out, just talk to me! I'm not the best girlfriend but I promise I'll try!"
She shouts as she latches onto Hikigaya tightly. He coughs a bit from the impact before looking at her confused.
Hikigaya "What are you talking about?"
Shiori "Jumping off! We can overcome this, just like last time! "
Hikigaya "Shiori, baby, it's okay. I wasn't going to jump."
He explains as she looks at him, surprised.
Shiori "You… you weren't?"
She asks between sniffles. Hikigaya smiles softly before rubbing her head.
Hikigaya "No. I know I've made some… dramatic choices in the past but.. things are better now, despite everything."
Shiori "Then why did you look so down earlier? And why did you leave without saying anything? Is it because I pushed you so hard? I'm so sorry, I won't do it again!"
She says, worried about what he'll say as he smiles at her, adjusting themselves so they are now sitting up.
Hikigaya "You didn't push me too hard. I love helping you. I literally have superpowers, I can handle a week with little sleep. I was just getting really overwhelmed and needed some time to myself. I didn't mean to make you worry."
He says, rubbing his hand on her cheek gently. She softly nuzzles into his hand a bit as her tears begin to dry.
Shiori "I promise, I'll make the others go easier on you so you'll have some more time to yourself."
Hikigaya "Yeah, I've been having a hard time saying no recently so.. I appreciate the support."
He says softly as they bump their heads together gently.
Hikigaya "I'm sorry for making you worry."
She shakes her head a bit.
Shiori "I like to worry about you."
She whispers as Hikigaya pulls her in for a gentle kiss as they sit on the ground. After a bit, they eventually make it back home and enter through Hikigaya's patio door.
Hikigaya "I'm glad the signing went well, not that I doubted it would."
He says as he closes the door behind them.
Hikigaya "I guess we should get some rest. I know I need some."
He says before stopping with a blush on his cheeks when he sees Shiori sitting on his bed, smiling passionately to him.
Shiori "Speaking of rest, I think you've earned this."
She says softly, patting her lap. Hikigaya slowly climbs onto his bed before laying his head down on her lap gently. As he sighs, letting his body relax, she strokes his head, rubbing his hair softly. Hikigaya closes his eyes and quickly drifts off to sleep as Shiori watches him with a warm smile and blush on her face, giving Hikigaya a well earned rest.
Hikigaya slumps a bit with an anxious sigh on a bench in the courtyard. He sweats with a worried look as Shiori rubs his back a bit.
Hikigaya "I can't believe I wasn't able to get any studying in before the final…"
He groans as he drops his head in his hands.
Shiori "There, there."
Haru "Yeah, and that final was killer! There's no way you passed with no studying! Haha!"
He says with a laugh as Sugawara elbows him. He awkwardly stops as Hikigaya sighs more.
Shiori "Don't worry about it. You were smart enough to get into Iris High, right? There's no reason you're not smart enough to leave."
She says comforting him as he looks at her softly before sitting up, still worried.
Hikigaya "Even though you're a writer, your lack of delicacy with words is as strong as ever, but.. thanks."
He says with a soft look as she smiles a bit.
Suiyoubi "Don't worry Hiki, come the end of next week, I'm sure your name will be on the graduation board just like the rest of us."
She says kindly.
Lucy "If we're lucky, maybe he'll get held back."
She says playfully as Sugawara elbows her as well.
Hikigaya "I appreciate the concern…"
Sugawara "Well, look at it this way! If you failed, you can always drop out and work in my lab!"
He offers with an awkward smile.
Ryuji "Or my restaurant."
Touma "Or my mill."
They offer supportively.
Hikigaya "I appreciate it guys but don't worry. I've already got my future right here."
He says while nudging Shiori who smiles shyly. Hisana sighs happily.
Hisana "They're so cute."
Alice "Haha, yeah."
She looks at them with a serious look.
Alice "You guys have room for a third?"
Suiyoubi "Alice! You can't just ask that!"
Mormo "Now that would be a sight to see."
He says, popping up on her back before Kitaro grabs him by the face and punts him into the sky. Touma, Haru and Ryuji raise signs with three 10's on them, rating his kick as he smirks.
Lucy "Nice kick Kitaro. That pervy bear really gets on my nerves."
She says with an irritated tone. Haru suddenly gets an idea as a smile spreads across his face.
Haru "Hey guys. Do you remember that weird, like, stage area we found in the woods a long time ago?"
Suiyoubi, Alice, Touma, Kitaro and Hisana look confused as the others begin to remember.
Lucy "Oh yeah, I do remember Hikigaya dragging us out there to the middle of nowhere in the dark of night to a secluded spot. Looking back, maybe he was trying to get something else to happen."
She teases as Hikigaya rolls his eyes.
Hikigaya "Fullsky and I used to land there from time to time, that's it."
Shiori "What about it?"
Haru smirks.
Haru "We should totally go back there and carve the names of the others into the post too! Now would be the perfect time to solidify our friendship permanently!"
They are surprised for a moment before they smirk.
Ryuji "Sounds like a plan to me."
Alice "Getting to visit a spot Fullsky and Watchdog visited regularly?? Count me in!"
Hisana "Anything for you guys."
They say happily as Haru stands up.
Haru "It's settled! Let's all meet up tomorrow night! Hikigaya will guide the way!"
He says with a thumbs up as Hikigaya smirks and gives him a thumbs up back.
Hikigaya "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?"
Haru laughs with a big smile as the group smiles together.
Come the next night, the group gathers as planned in front of the trail leading to the area. Hikigaya gives them lights and begins to hike through the hills and trees. They all chat and talk excitedly until they eventually get to the clearing where the stage and seats lay just the way they always have.
Hikigaya "And here we are. The place where it all began."
Alice "This is where you guys all became friends?"
Shiori "Not exactly but, if I remember right, this was the first time we all hung out outside of school."
She says softly with a warm look as Alice admires her and admires the area. Haru and Lucy crouch in front of the post with their names carved in it and smile warmly.
Lucy "Still there."
Haru "I told you. Permanent."
He says as they smile at each other and stand up.
Lucy "Alright, come line up."
She says as the others whose names aren't signed yet line up. Shiori opens her hand as a liquid metal of sorts begins to pool from her hand into a ball floating above her palm. It quickly forms into a small knife that she hands off with a smile to Alice who waits eagerly.
Alice "That's so cool! You think I can do that one day??"
She asks as she takes the knife.
Hikigaya "Nope. I've tried. Shiori's just special like that."
He says with a smirk as Alice groans a bit.
Alice "Aw! I want to be just like her though!"
Shiori "You will in your own way. Now come on."
She says as they crouch down by the post. Alice happily signs her name into the post, jaggedy and rough but her all the same. Then Suiyoubi does the same but with much more delicacy. Touma follows then Kitaro and Hisana. Soon, the post is filled with their names going all up and down it.