VIII (Aoi Kurashiki x Reader)

XI

His eyes fluttered open. "I'm alright..." Ace's voice came out weak and slurred. Slowly, he reached a hand into his pocket pulling out a syringe and a small vial. The vial was empty-it had only recently been emptied, a few drops still clung to the sides. The label taped to the surface read 'Soporil-Beta'. (Y/N) had no clue what type of medicine it was or what it was used for, but the name rang a bell.

June snatched the bottle out of his hand before anyone had a chance to speak. "Did you use this?"

"Yes..." He slurred, his eyes drooping. "It's just anesthetic. I'll be fine." Ace paused, forcing his head upwards. "I found it while I was searching the hospital rooms...figured it might be useful...later." He smiled. "I didn't think I'd be using it on myself."

June's voice came out in a whimper, her knees slipping out from under her. "Why did you do this?"

"Didn't I tell you?" He laughed slowly, his eyes closing. "I'd like to...take a nap. I really am tired..."

Obviously, that wasn't why he'd done it. Ace'd injected himself with anesthetic to forestall Junpei and June's attempts to bring him along. If he couldn't move, there was nothing they could do. If he injected himself, they'd be forced to leave him behind.

"No! Don't fall asleep!" June tightened her grasp on Ace's shoulders.

"Ah...you're warm." Ace laid his head against June's shoulder. "I think I'll...have a nice dream." His eyelids drooped further and further, almost as though he were dying.

"Ace! Ace!" She shook his shoulders, again and again, this time he didn't respond. Only the gentle rising and falling of his chest told them he was alive. Junpei joined June, lifting Ace onto the bed he'd been leaning against.

Junpei turned back around letting a moment of silence pass. "Enough of this screwin' around. Who's going through what door?" Santa looked to (Y/N) first. "You're first, Vi. What door?"

Still shaken, she said the first door that came to mind. "Eight. It's my number, so..."

"Got it. Seven?"

"I'll take Seven, sticking with the theme and all."

"All right, who's next?" Santa scanned the remaining people, eyes inevitably landing on Junpei.

Without a second's hesitation, Junpei answered. "I think I'm gonna take door seven."

"Alright, seven it is. That means June's gotta go through door eight."

June's face contorted as she popped up from the ground. "What?! Why?!" Junpei raised a brow.

Santa grimaced and muttered angrily to himself, but finally began to explain. "If the six of us are gonna keep going without leaving anyone behind, there are only three ways to do it." Santa laid out their three options. "Plan A; Go through seven with three, five, and eight and go through eight with four, six, and seven. Plan B; Go through seven with four, five, and seven and go through door eight with three, six, and eight. Lastly, Plan C; Go through seven with three, six, and seven and go through eight with four, five, and eight."

Santa looked to Junpei, then June, awaiting a response. "So you're saying three and four can never go together and neither can seven and eight?"

Santa nodded. From the corner of her eye (Y/N) watched as June teared up. "Oh no..." She muttered. "So you're saying we're not gonna see each other for a long time..."

(Y/N) understood the feeling of doubt within them both, if they split, they might never see each other again. None of them could predict the future, so the only choice they had was to trust their gut. (Y/N) looked at Santa, glad for once she was stuck with him.