[Action]

[frequent_flyer]

[It was over.]

[After so many years of fighting, it was finally over. He'd said his painful goodbyes, managed not to cry, closed his eyes and...]

[...woke up on the sidewalk.]

[The campus was buzzing with activity, the students recently liberated from classes for lunch. The NPCs carefully walked around him as he lay on the ground, staring vacantly at the sky as he came to his senses. The fog over his mind cleared gradually, becoming aware of an unshakable sense of déjà vu descending upon him. The dark color of his jacket caught his peripheral vision, slowly sitting up in order to look down at himself. This uniform... he wasn't wearing this one a moment ago. In fact, he hadn't worn this particular uniform since...]

[Is this..?]

[He sat up sharply, as if jolted out of a deep sleep, scrutinizing the details of the uniform jacket he wore. It was the same one. There was no question.]

[...No way. That means..!?]

THE GAME RESETS!?

[His theatrical screaming could likely be heard from a great many places across the campus, drawing as much attention to himself as could be expected.]

Comments

[slave_of_suzumiya]

I'm Kyon. ... Hinata, huh?

(Yurippe's mentioned something about some "Hinata" guy before, right? And he says he's been here before...)

You wouldn't happen to know Yuri Nakamura, would you?

[frequent_flyer]

You know Yurippe!?

[That's a yes.]

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Well, yeah. She's the leader of the SSS after all.

[And he'll gesture at the SSS uniform he's wearing.]

[frequent_flyer]

[He was so busy having a breakdown, he didn't even realize. Finally, something familiar!]

Then you understand! Listen... [Sorry, Kyon, there's an arm around your shoulders and Hinata is taking you with him toward the main school building.]

I was here already, but I disappeared... or at least, I think I did. I just woke up on the sidewalk there.

But I saw Yurippe disappear before me... if she's here, then something went wrong, see?

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Well, when I first met her, Yurippe didn't actually have any memories of the SSS, although she regained them along the way.

[frequent_flyer]

[Suddenly, he felt really uneasy.]

...How long ago did you meet her?

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Hmm... It's probably getting close to a year now?

[frequent_flyer]

A... y-year...

[Hinata stopped walking, suddenly going very pale. He looked ill... a cold rock of dread had dropped into his stomach, his mouth drying out, he felt a little queasy...]

Did... she say how long she'd been here before that..?

[slave_of_suzumiya]

No, I don't think I've ever actually clarified how long she's been here...

[frequent_flyer]

...Yurippe... [The name was muttered under his breath, his voice laden with guilt, looking distantly down at the ground.]

[He quickly looked to Kyon, fresh determination lining his features.] Where is she now? The office?

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Uh, probably? I haven't gone up to the HQ today, so I wouldn't know.

[frequent_flyer]

Then I need to go talk to her..! [He's just about to sprint off toward the school, stopping himself short. He should probably gather some intelligence first...]

What changed while I was gone!? [Hinata, why would he know that. Thankfully, he seems to notice.] Er- What's happened since you've been here?

[slave_of_suzumiya]

A few things have happened, but nothing to really leave a lasting impression on this place...

[frequent_flyer]

[That doesn't seem to be the answer he's looking for, as he starts pulling at his hair in frustration.]

Nothing!? [It's not that he doesn't believe him, he just... wishes he had something to report wen he went groveling for forgiveness.]

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Well, I wouldn't say that "nothing" has happened, but nothing that didn't come and go like the breeze.

[frequent_flyer]

[That sounded like the afterlife alright... sometimes the days just bled together. He managed to be dead for years and not even really realize it.]

[Which reminded him... a year? He'd been gone for at least an entire year. That just... he couldn't accept that. How would he even face her?]

...I have to go find her. [He had a lot of apologizing to do.]

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Uh, sure... But how do you think she'll react with you just turning up like this?

[frequent_flyer]

...I don't know.

[And that was the scary part.]

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Yurippe is a dangerous person to deal with sometimes...

[frequent_flyer]

I don't mind that... [He managed a small smile, but it was obviously forced.] I just... If that's all true, I must have broken my promise to her.

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Hm...? Promise?

[frequent_flyer]

[Shit. He hadn't actually meant to let that slip. Although... he had a good feeling about Kyon, as he occasionally did with new acquaintances, so he didn't see the harm in telling him...]

I... promised I'd never let her be alone. [That being only part of it, of course. How did the promise get broken if she'd obviously been around all these people?]

[slave_of_suzumiya]

Well, the rest of us have been here in the meantime, so she hasn't exactly been alone?

[frequent_flyer]

I'm... glad. [Her suffering alone among the bland NPCs was what he sought to protect her from, so knowing there were other humans around put his mind somewhat at ease.]

[But not completely.] I just... I told her I would always be there.

[slave_of_suzumiya]

It's not like you left her on purpose or anything. I mean, she's plenty unreasonable, but I'm sure she'll understand that.