Inescapable Despair (Song of Despair AU)

Chapter 2: Hope

It was early in the morning, and Kaiya was sitting with her girlfriend in the hotel restaurant eating breakfast. She was still shaken up by losing two of their classmates, and though she stayed optimistic, Kaiya could tell it was really affecting Satchiko as well.

"Hey, Satchi, you've been pretty quiet." Kaiya pointed out. "Are you okay?"

Satchiko quickly nodded. "Mhm! I mean, it's really really terrible what happened but... but we can get through this! We just have to stick together!"

"Right." Kaiya replied with a small smile. "You're gonna say we just have to hold onto hope, right?"

"How'd you know?" Satchiko tilted her head, and Kaiya just laughed a bit.

"I know you, silly."

Katashi entered the room and sat with the girls, looking pretty nervous. He didn't say anything, just staring down at the table.

"G'morining Katashi!" Satchiko exclaimed with a smile. "What's up?"

Katashi was quiet for a moment before responding. "Nothing... I'm just kinda worried, that's all..."

Kaiya nodded with a sympathetic look. "I think we all are..."

Suddenly, the pianist stood up. "I just remembered I have to check something... I'll be at the arcade." Before the girls could respond, he was already gone.

"Weird... I hope he's okay." Kaiya muttered with a small sigh.

Satchiko nodded, looking a little concerned as well. "Yeah, but I'm sure he'll be fine! We can check on him later."

After a little while, Momo came to sit with them as well, and more people filled out the room. Kaiya noticed at one table was Willow, Mai, Akio, and Ichiro, and at another was Jirou and Haru. It wasn't everyone, but most people.

"Where's Katashi?" Momo suddenly asked, tilting her head a bit. "He usually sits with us."

"He went to the arcade a little while ago." Satchiko stated, then stood up from her seat. "Let's go find him!"

"Okay." Momo responded, standing up as well, and Kaiya got up from her seat to join them. The three girls left the room, and then the building, walking down the street towards the second area.

Once there, Satchiko skipped ahead, and Kaiya couldn't help but find it adorable how excited she always got over the arcade. The strawberry blonde still waited for the others at the door, and they all walked in together.

Inside, it was eerily quiet, and Kaiya immediately felt nervous. She took a deep breath before walking further in, Satchiko and Momo at either side of her.

They fully entered the main room, and Kaiya let out a shocked, horrified gasp. Laying on the floor in front of them was Jikkō's corpse, covered in blood, which had also formed a puddle under her.

Not again!