He wasn't sure how long it had been—honestly, he didn't even remember ever going to sleep—but after the flood of excitement and accomplishment from their victory, it was hard not to feel at peace with everything. Even now, in a state a half sleep, it was like he was still there celebrating with everyone, the words of Hibiki Seigou still ringing in his mind. But something seemed different, somehow. The voice was younger, and the words seemed to be shifting into something else. Instead of fading out like a dream might, they became clearer and less distant.
Suddenly, it clicked that he really was hearing another voice, and Kyousuke bolted upright, now completely awake. He listened quietly in the darkness, eyebrows slowly coming together in confusion. 'Change into beasts'...? The voice went mechanical, and mentioned something about a cure, but everything was difficult to comprehend, and held no meaning for him. What was going on? Where was he? He still couldn't make anything out in the darkness, but he didn't need to be able to see to tell that that this wasn't his room. He made a faint noise of frustration, before trying to feel his way to his feet.
The motion caused something to fall from the side of the bed, and he felt around for it, fingers coming into contact with something metallic. ... A flashlight? He clicked it on, and shone it around the room, but apart from confirming that he wasn't where he was supposed to be, there wasn't anything particularly interesting about the room. There was another bed, but it looked unused, and everything about the room seemed intended to be functional instead of inviting. He noticed that his clothes were different, too. They reminded him a bit of hospital clothes, but they were a different color than what he was familiar with, nor had he ever seen any with the almost mocking smiley face on his chest. He looked down at it in disdain. Was this supposed to be a joke?
Before he left, he checked the closet, and slipped on the pair of boots waiting there—they looked like they had a lot more support than the slippers that were laid out, and right now, he couldn't have cared less that he was indoors. He wouldn't be much longer, if he had any say about it. He stepped out into the hall, finding it was also completely dark, but instead of leaving immediately, he lingered in the doorway for a moment. There were a couple others there too, in the same clothes and also carrying flashlights, but instead of calling out to any of them, he simply watched. Nobody seemed to be moving together, but they all went in the same direction, with a sense purpose that he lacked. Unlike him, it seemed like they had some idea of where they were going.
With the hall now empty, and lacking any other leads, he decided the best thing he could do for now was silently trail after them and see where it lead him.
M???
Suddenly, it clicked that he really was hearing another voice, and Kyousuke bolted upright, now completely awake. He listened quietly in the darkness, eyebrows slowly coming together in confusion. 'Change into beasts'...? The voice went mechanical, and mentioned something about a cure, but everything was difficult to comprehend, and held no meaning for him. What was going on? Where was he? He still couldn't make anything out in the darkness, but he didn't need to be able to see to tell that that this wasn't his room. He made a faint noise of frustration, before trying to feel his way to his feet.
The motion caused something to fall from the side of the bed, and he felt around for it, fingers coming into contact with something metallic. ... A flashlight? He clicked it on, and shone it around the room, but apart from confirming that he wasn't where he was supposed to be, there wasn't anything particularly interesting about the room. There was another bed, but it looked unused, and everything about the room seemed intended to be functional instead of inviting. He noticed that his clothes were different, too. They reminded him a bit of hospital clothes, but they were a different color than what he was familiar with, nor had he ever seen any with the almost mocking smiley face on his chest. He looked down at it in disdain. Was this supposed to be a joke?
Before he left, he checked the closet, and slipped on the pair of boots waiting there—they looked like they had a lot more support than the slippers that were laid out, and right now, he couldn't have cared less that he was indoors. He wouldn't be much longer, if he had any say about it. He stepped out into the hall, finding it was also completely dark, but instead of leaving immediately, he lingered in the doorway for a moment. There were a couple others there too, in the same clothes and also carrying flashlights, but instead of calling out to any of them, he simply watched. Nobody seemed to be moving together, but they all went in the same direction, with a sense purpose that he lacked. Unlike him, it seemed like they had some idea of where they were going.
With the hall now empty, and lacking any other leads, he decided the best thing he could do for now was silently trail after them and see where it lead him.
[to here]