DGA Season 1 Aftermath: Saki

The first of quite a few OVA chapters outlining the aftermath of the Season One finale of DGA for the other characters. This one focuses on Saki. Canon.
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“Don't worry... I'll be back soon, I promise!”

“What do you mean?” Saki asks. “Ryoji, please don't leave me! Please! RYOOOOOJIIIIII!”

She screams out in terror, as Ryoji fades away into nothing, and the world around her crumbles. As the group find themselves in the courtyard outside the dorms, Saki drops to he knees, reaching her hand out to the empty air in front of her. “Ryoji...” she mutters mournfully.

“Where did he go?!” Akemi exclaims with shock. “He was just here a second ago! He was just here... we we're going home! Why didn't he come with us? Why didn't he...?”

Hiro moves to comfort the babbling Akemi, as Saki remains still, a sharp ringing sound piercing through her head. No... he can't be gone... they defeated The Crone, the battle was over... they were all going home together... she was going to make him dinner to celebrate... how did this happen?

The Class are back home, where they belong. This should be a joyous moment, a time where they can feel safe once again... but that's not the case. The scene is one of complete pandemonium.

“How come he didn't travel with us?” Nanami asks, her eyes wide with fear. “He... he was fine! Where's Ryoji?”

Ken winces as he grabs the back of his head and tugs at his hair in frustration. “Dammit... I don't understand...”

“Alice!” Chihiro calls out. “Alice, where are you?”

The others look around to see no sign of the young girl. “Where's Alice?” Hiro wonders, still holding on to a distraught Akemi. “I could have sworn she travelled with the rest of us. Is she missing too?”

“Of course... that explains it,” Akio mutters. “It has something to do with the demons...”

Soon, heads in the group begin to turn to one girl... a girl who has chosen to remain silent during this time.

Sayeka stands solemnly, her arms folded with her hands covered by her sleeves, her eyes shut closed.

“You...” Rei mutters with disdain. “You knew, didn't you? You knew this would happen, and you let it happen anyway, didn't you?!”

Ken does his best effort to calm everyone down. “Let's not start throwing blame, Rei! Sayeka had no idea-”

“Of course she did!” Rei exclaims. “She can see the future! She even gave up her real eyesight in order to see it better! You're telling me she had no idea? Don't be an idiot, Ken!”

“If Sayeka knew this would happen, don't you think she would have-”

“I knew...” Sayeka cuts Ken off as he tries to defend her. “I saw this outcome.”

“You... you did?” Nanami mumbles.

Sayeka nods. “Yes... I did.”

“I'm going to kill you!” Rei yells in fury, as she charges at Sayeka, only to be held back by Akira. “You monster! You saw this, and you just let it happen?! You're dead!”

Sayeka shuts her eyes tighter in reply.

“Sayeka... why didn't you tell anyone?” Ken asks.

Sayeka lets out a deep breath. “This was the best outcome I could foresee. Any other option would have resulted in mass death among the group. Say what you will... I stand by my decision.”

As Rei struggles in Akira's grip, Ken lets out a sigh. “Someone bring Sayeka inside before things get worse, please.”

Hikaru nods as she takes Sayeka by the arm, guiding her safely inside the dorm building.

“This doesn't make you safe, monster!” Rei screams out at Sayeka. “Who are you to decide what's best? It wasn't your right to sacrifice him!”

“Sayeka...” Chihrio mutters. “Did you really know that would happen to Ryoji?”

Sayeka nods as she is taken away, as Chihiro runs into position behind her. “And what about my aunt? Did you know she'd disappear too? Sayeka!”

Sayeka remains silent as she is taken inside. Chihiro clenches her fist in anger as she stares deeply into the back of Sayeka's head.

“Hey...” Nariko says, placing a hand on Chihiro's shoulder. “If you don't feel comfortable bunking with her tonight... you can stay with me and Nanami.”

Chihiro pauses, then nods. “Thank you... how kind.”

As Ken begins to work to calm down the chaos, the others begin to pool inside... all except for Saki. She hasn't moved a muscle. All the panic, the accusations, the in-fighting among the group... it was all just background noise to her. She couldn't focus... none of this was real. It couldn't be... it's all just a dream. That's all it is. Ryoji couldn't actually have disappeared like that. This... this is just the darkworld messing with her head, isn't it? She's going to close her eyes, and when she opens them... Ryoji will be standing right in front of her, a smirk on his face, and spouting some sarcastic line to make her blush. Yes... that's it. Saki shuts her eyes tight... hoping and praying that she's right. She holds them tight for a full ten minutes before working up the courage to let one peek open.

To her horror, there's nothing but empty space before her. No Ryoji... no smirk... no blush. Nothing.

Ken returns to the outside of the building, as he hunkers down over Saki and places a hand on her shoulder. “Hey... I think you should come inside, Saki. It's not right to be stay out here like this... it's about to rain.”

Saki thought it was raining already. The concrete ground beneath her face has already been stained with wet droplets of water. She takes a deep breath as her hands wrap tight around the hilt of her lance. “Ryoji...” she mutters. “I'll... I'll get you back. I promise...”

Saki rises to her feet, determined, inadvertently shoving Ken out of the way as she does. She holds he lance up to the sky, pointing at the first star in sight. “You hear that, Ryoji? You can't run and hide for long, you delinquent! I'll catch you, just like I always do! There's no escape!”

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The next day, Principal Wei declared to the school that Ryoji Shida of Class 2 had been killed in action, while Alice Maddox of Class 1 was declared as missing. A memorial service was organised in Ryoji's name the day after that, in which Saki was expected to give a speech. She felt sick to her stomach... that her grandfather would expect her to give a eulogy for man who isn't dead... a young man he hated... it wasn't right. As she stands at that podium, her lips inches away from the microphone, gazing out at the young Class 1 students she was about to lie to... her attention shifts towards her grandfather, who was sitting in the front row. It felt like Wei was trying his best to conceal a smile. He can't hide how happy he is in this moment.

Saki takes a deep breath as she looks away from the principal and addresses the crowd. “For those of you who never had to chance to meet Ryoji Shida, he was...”

She pauses as she looks down at the hastily scribbled notes she had written. It outlines Ryoji's worth to the school, his wealth of personality, how beloved he was by staff and students alike. She realises that the speech she had prepared isn't right... it isn't true. She can't inform the younger students of the true details of what happened to Ryoji lest she cause a panic... but that doesn't mean she has to lie about who Ryoji was.

“Ryoji Shida... was a menace. A delinquent. He had no respect for this school or the people who ran it. He was constantly defying authority at every turn. He was a rude, crass braggart who thought far too highly of himself, and he would aggressively butt heads with anyone who stood in the way of his various attempts at breaking the rules. I should know... I butt heads with him the most. When he first came to this school, we immediately conflicted. I caught him trying to steal, and I beat him up. From then, every time we interacted, an argument broke out. We yelled, we screamed, we insulted each-other, poked fun at the other... we hated each-other with a passion you could only imagine. He was the most obnoxious, laziest, worst student I had ever seen in my life... but there was so much more to him than that. Ryoji was a free man... he refused to be chained down by anyone, and nothing stood in his way. To many, this would be due to selfishness... but Ryoji was the most caring, compassionate person you could meet... he only buried it deep under several layers of insufferable smarm. I learned that through my many, many arguments with him.”

Saki smiles as she looks out at the floor beneath her, at the exact spot in the auditorium that Ryoji asked for her hand during the school dance. “When I think of my time with Ryoji... I think of us as two incomplete pieces of a puzzle. We were so different... but we came together and complimented each-other perfectly. We completed each-other, fill that empty part in the other's heart... I loved him. I wanted to marry him, have children with him, live the rest of my life with him... but those are days that will never come.”

As the tears begin to fall freely from her face, Saki takes the effort to remind herself that the last part isn't true. It isn't true... she can get him back...

“Ryoji Shida was so many things,” Saki concludes. “But no-one can deny the intense good within him. I ask that you all keep him in your thoughts. Thank you.”

Saki steps away from the podium and makes her way outside in order to compose herself. As she does, she hears a booming low voice speak from behind her.

“You didn't use the speech I wrote.”

Wei's shadow looms over Saki. She doesn't turn around to face him, instead crossing her arms and shaking her head. “That speech was all lies... there was no way I could use it.”

Wei huffs. “I'm wondering when you decided to become so difficult, Saki.”

“How would you know?” Saki fires back. “You've never had time for me... your own granddaughter.”

“I'll have time for you when you're worthy of my time. Not when you're talking back to me and disrespecting your parents. And for what? Some delinquent? When are you going to grow up, Saki? Move past this silly rebellion of yours. Stop messing around with some common rabble. You're becoming a disgrace to your family.”

“The family IS the disgrace,” Saki mutters angrily. “The only boy I'll ever love is gone, and all you have to say is-”

“Don't be ridiculous,” Wei interrupts. “You don't love Shida. You're just a teenage girl going through a phase, and you latched on to a disrespectful runt in an attempt to prove something. You still want to become Principal of this school.”

Saki pauses. “Yes... I do.”

“Then clean up your act. You'll never be deserving of the title if you continue like this.”

Wei turns around to leave, as Saki speaks up once again. “You know Grandpa... my whole life I looked up to you, wanted to follow in your footsteps, make you proud... now, nothing scares me more than the thought of becoming like you.”

“Excuse me-”

“Because you're nothing more than a cruel, bitter old bastard!” Saki yells, swinging around to face him. Her words are filled with venom. “You don't care about me! You've never cared about anyone but yourself! I can't even count how many times you've ignored me, put me down, made me feel worthless! I was so caught up in idolizing you I could never see the hate and bile that lay underneath the surface! And then, something magical happened. Someone came along who showed me just how shackled I've been! Someone who opened my eye to your cruelty, and father's cruelty, and mother's cruelty! Ryoji was disrespectful, but he was far from common rabble! He was special, and for you to insult him like this... you're nothing short of a monster! I hate you!”

Wei glares at Saki, then leaves without uttering another word. Saki runs her hand through her hair and takes a deep breath, composing herself. She'll show him... she'll make him see. Ryoji is still alive, and she's going to find him.

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The next night, the Darkworld came out. It seems that the school has returned to it's regular schedule. Many are distraught to see the Darkworld again so soon, but this night is a cake-walk compared to the Endless Night. Saki was in charge of leading Class 2, as she always has been, but she's too distracted to focus. As soon as the arrive, Saki places Ken in charge, much to his shock, and runs off on her own. In her mind, nothing else matters right now. Class 3 can handle whatever guardian creature is in the area. Saki's mind is only on one thing, and that's finding Ryoji. He's here, he's been trapped in this world since the battle of Settan, and Saki is determined to get him out. She sprints throughout the area, cutting down any monster that dares to stand in her path, hoping to find him, to at least find some trace of Ryoji Shida... but there's nothing. Absolutely nothing she can find that would hint towards his whereabouts.

As the area's guardian is slain, and the group are returned back to the school, Saki lets out a guttural cry of anger. Damn... maybe if they had waited a while, stayed in there a little longer, then perhaps she could have...

“Hey, Saki...” Ken mumbles, approaching her. “Are you okay?”

Saki grips her lance tight, not turning her head to face him. “I'm fine. Why?”

“Saki, you haven't said a word to any of us in days.  When we arrived in the Darkworld you placed me in charge then ran off...” Ken sighs. “Look, I know you're still obviously distraught about what happened to Ryoji...”

“I'm not distraught,” Saki mutters, as she pushes past Ken and makes her way inside the dormitory. “I'm just determined. I'm going to find him. It's just a matter of time.”

“I hope so, but your recent behaviour just feels... unhealthy,” Ken replies.

Saki shakes her head. “Being focused on a task is unhealthy? That's news to me,” she answers as she opens the door to Ken's room.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Ken asks.

“There has to be something in here, something Ryoji's left behind. Something that might provide a clue to what happened...” she explains, as she begins to search through Ryoji's assorted items. She pulls several jackets out of his wardrobe, and begins to inspect them, before turning her attention to his desk drawer. As she opens the drawer, she notices a small black notebook sitting at the top. “What's this?” she asks, holding up the book, with Ryoji's jacket still in her other hand.

“It's Ryoji's journal,” Ken explains.

Ryoji kept a journal? That doesn't sound like something he would do... strange. “You knew about this?” Saki asks. “Why didn't you tell me? Maybe something he's written in here could tell us where he went!”

Ken shrugs. “I didn't think it was that important, and I'm not going to read through the guys dia-HEY!” he exclaims, as Saki immediately opens the book and starts flicking through it. “What are you doing, Saki? Isn't something like this going against your principles?”

“There's more important things at stake!” Saki yells, “Compromises have to be made! Now... let's see...”

The journal proves... disappointing. There's no hidden secrets or hints within... just a collection of random memories and his thoughts on others. It's likely he started to keep this once he learned of what the Archdemon would take from him. On any other day, learning all these thoughts of his would prove a thrill for Saki, but not when she was hoping for actual, vital information. As she continues to flick through the pages, she discovers the page entitled “Saki”. What the hell? It's only a sentence long, followed by a large blank space. Saki pouts in response to Ryoji's laziness as she reads what is apparently all Ryoji thought of her.

"Kind of a pain in the ass sometimes... but you love her."

Saki pauses, staring at the words written within the book. She slams it shut and tosses it back into the drawer, as a small smile develops on her face.

Ken opens his mouth to speak, wondering what the journal said, but quickly decides it's not for him to know.

“Oh Ryoji...” Saki gives a small laugh. “You're killing me.”

Stuck in her own world, ignoring Ken, Saki places Ryoji's green jacket up to her lips, as she falls back onto Ryoji's bed. She lies back and curls up with the jacket, tears beginning to flow as she embraces a remnant of what she's lost. Ken nods solemnly, exiting the room in order to give her some time alone. Saki hugs the Jacket close to her body as she closes her eyes, letting herself drift of into her dreams of the future. Two kids, a nice house, and an entire slew of slain demons behind her and her love.

The next morning, Saki puts on the jacket. It's huge on her, and she has to roll up the sleeves several times, but she finds it comfortable. She wear it every day after that, on the promise that she would return it when reunited with him.

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From that day on, Saki dedicated herself to two things. Finding Ryoji, and training herself to become stronger, strong enough that she can defeat whatever monstrous entity is keeping him trapped in that horrible place. As the weeks pass, Saki feels herself improving in ways she had never thought possible, and it was clear that the others were noticing how much of a leap she had taken in her combat capabilities. Saki had begun to push herself to the very limits of her abilities, then pushed herself even further. She soon realised that what she thought was her peak was merely a glass ceiling that she needed to smash through in order to reach her true power.

It was all very impressive, and Saki was beginning to get caught up in her power and the attention it was bringing... until the night she saw him. It was only a glimpse, and only from a distance, but Saki could recognise that hair anywhere. The figure she saw while exploring the Darkworld that night was definitely Ryoji... or at least something taking his appearance. She ran after him, but soon found herself stuck between five massive Seekers, gigantic Darkworlders with long gangly limbs and shining lights for eyes. A short while ago, this would have meant certain death for Saki... a single Seeker was all it took to kill Daisuke so long ago, during the first night Ryoji spent in there.

All it took was thirty seconds. Thirty seconds, and Saki had slaughtered them all. She didn't know whether this was the result of her training, or from her anger that Ryoji had just slipped through her grasps, but she had toppled five behemoths all on her own.

As she cleans up her lance after the encounter, she turns her head to notice a shaking Hoshi staring at her, fear in her eyes. Not fear for her life, not fear of the Seekers, but fear of Saki. She witnessed what Saki had just performed and now... now she's afraid of the head of class. “Hoshi... were you following me?” Saki asks. “You know how it works. Ken leads the rest of the class, as I do my own investigating. Why aren't you with them?”

“I-I'm sorry...” Hoshi mumbles. “I was just... I was just worried about you.”

“Worried about me?” Saki asks. “Come on, Hoshi. I can handle myse-”

“I know,” Hoshi interrupts. It may be the first time she's ever had the nerve to interrupt someone in her life. “I'm not worried about you getting hurt... it's just... I-I'm w-worried about you... mentally.”

Saki pauses, gripping her spear tight. “What are you talking about?”

“S-Saki...” Hoshi begins. “You haven't talked to us in a long time... you put Ken in charge and broke away from the rest of us... look at what you just did to these monsters. H-how did you even get this strong?”

“I focused more on training,” Saki exlains.

Hoshi shakes her head. “No, you've let yourself become... o-obsessed! F-filled with rage!” It's the most Saki's ever heard Hoshi raise her voice. “We... we all miss Ryoji. We all want him back, Saki... b-but I think you're starting to go down a dark path, and you need to look at yourself.”

“I'm fine,” Saki fires back.

“No... you're covered in blood,” Hoshi replies. “Your training has involved you picking fights with the strongest monsters you can find, and trying to beat them on your own! D-don't you realise how easily you could have gotten yourself killed?”

Saki shrugs her shoulders. “I didn't get killed though, did I?” she replies, a slight smirk developing on her face. “Besides, if I'm covered in demon blood, then it means I'm doing a good job, right?”

Hoshi winces and shakes her head nervously. “Saki... it's not just demon's blood...” Hoshi pulls out a small hand mirror from her pocket, opening it up to reveal Saki's reflection to herself. Saki recoils in horror at the sight. Countless cuts, gashes, bruises... her face is horribly banged up. She must have focused so much on finding Ryoji and getting stronger and killing all these creatures... she found herself repressing the pain and effects and the various injuries that came with it.

“Oh my god...” Saki mutters in shock, placing her hand upon a large cut across her cheek before wincing in pain.

“Don't you see?” Hoshi replies in a concerned tone. “You're never going to find Ryoji if you keep on like this... you're going to get yourself killed. You're plenty strong... but you can't keep doing this by yourself!”

“But... but I need to find him!” Saki protest. “I have to save him! I have to-”

Before she can continue, she is mobbed by a tight hug from Hoshi. “Hoshi...” she mutters.

“We're going to help you, Saki...” Hoshi mumbles. “Ken, Rei... I-I'll help too... I know I'm not very useful... b-but I'll work to get stronger! I w-want to help...”

Saki pauses, reflecting on the progress she's made so far. She's been so stupid... trying to save Ryoji on her own... if she had just let the other's help, stop getting caught up in a personal vendetta, they may have found him by now. She hugs Hoshi back, squeezing her tight. “Thank you, Hoshi... thank you so much...”

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From that point on, Operation: Save Ryoji was a concentrated group effort. Saki had resumed her duties of leadership, but still kept Ken as a second-in-command. He had proven himself fit for the position time and time again. Over time, Saki realised that she wasn't the only one who had improved combat-wise. It seems everything that had happened during the Endless Night had proven the perfect motivation for just about everyone in class to boost their abilities in a big way. Even Rei managed to become even more capable than she was before, sparking much debate as to who would win in a fight between Saki and Rei.

Saki wasn't interested in those petty bets, however, when there was still work to do. Her interactions with Rei for the next few weeks were strictly professional... until one safe night, when Saki returned home late to the dorms. She was meeting with the members of Class 3, hoping to discuss whatever information they had during their scouts of the Darkworld. So far... they've come up short. Saki had returned back to the dormitory, dejected, as she hears the clinking of glass bottles. Curious, she follows the sound into the lounge area, as she finds Rei lying strewn out, her legs hanging wide open as she leans back against the foot of the couch, sitting on the ground. She's holding a green bottle of booze in her hand and judging by how she's dizzily swaying her head back and forth, it's safe to say it's not her first.

Saki shakes her head, disappointed. “Rei... what are you doing?” she asks. “Underage drinking? On school property? Do you know how much trouble you're going to get into for this?”

“Oh, because you're going to rat me out, aren't you Saki?” Rei mutters in an accusatory tone, a slight slur in her words. “Even after all that's happened, you've still got to be the goody-two-shoes rules lover, don't you?”

Saki sighs, as she takes a seat on the couch, hovering over the drunken Rei. “Clearly, something's bothering you...”

Rei looks up at Saki, and likely to not give Saki the satisfaction of looking down on her, raises herself onto the couch, so the two girls are at eye-level. “He was mine, you know...” Rei mumbles.

Saki tilts her head. “Excuse me?”

“Ryoji... he was mine before you swooped in. I was going to have such a great time with him before I... anyway, I don't know when it went wrong, but next thing I know I'm getting bashed in the face, and waking up to find you've taken him. You! The girl who was supposed to be his nemesis! Is... is that why you interfered with everything he did? Because you liked him? I bet it's why you didn't approve of me kissing him...”

Saki shakes her head. “Rei, you have it wrong. I wasn't ware of my feelings for Ryoji back then...”

“Oh, she you just felt the need to ruin my happiness for... what?” Rei asks. “On a whim? We were only having fun! What gives you the right to take something like that away from me?!”

“Rei...” Saki mutters. “Ryoji was never yours, okay? He was never anyone's. He made his choice. Besides... I really doubt me and Ryoji are the reason you've decided to get drunk and make a fool of yourself.”

Rei sighs, placing down the glass as she leans back in the chair. “You're right... sorry, Saki. I didn't mean to go off on you like that... I don't really blame you for anything. I'm just... so frustrated. So angry.”

“With what?” Saki asks.

“With what?” Rei repeats. “With everything! This whole time, nothing has gone right! Everything is falling apart around me, I'm losing so much... and to top it all off my abilities... the abilities that I have to use in order to help people, to fight off those monsters... they're the reason I'm dying! No matter what I do, no matter what happens... I'm failing! Why does everything turn out so wrong?! Why does...”

Rei stops herself and takes a deep breath. Even while intoxicated, the stench of alcohol reeking from her breath, she's able to compose herself. “I'm sorry... I shouldn't be unloading onto you. You don't need to hear this, we're not that close... we aren't even friends.”

“Rei...” Saki mutters, in a concerned tone.

“Would you call me a friend, Saki?” Rei asks, desperate to know and answer.

Saki hesitates. “Oh... of course I would-”

“Don't lie!” Rei yells, probably waking up the whole dorm. “Be honest, are we friends?”

Saki pauses. “No... we're not. I don't like you very much, Rei.”

Rei smirks, as if learning this was some kind of victory to her. “I knew it,” she replies, falling back on herself and letting out a drunk giggle. “I knew you didn't like me!”

Saki leans closer towards Rei, desperate to defend herself. “Just because I don't like you now doesn't mean I can't learn to like you! We've gotten off on the wrong foot a lot, but I still think you're a good per-”

“Save it,” Rei laughs. “Spare me the self-righteous purity bullcrap. Face it, Saki. We're rivals... even ignoring Ryoji. You don't like me, and you've gotten on my nerves plenty... and everyone wants to see us fight? We should really give them what they want. Maybe if I beat you... I'll finally have something going for me.”

What a pathetic, pitiable line. Saki feels bad as she raises herself off the couch and looks over at Rei. She has no idea what it is that's made her like this. Perhaps it was neglectful of Saki not to track Rei's progress over the past month... for her mood to have declined to this level... it's sad. “I'll talk to you when you're sober, Rei. When you've got a clearer head.”

“No you won't, you'll avoid me like the plague,” Rei laughs. “You'll avoid me more than everyone avoids Sayeka!”

And perhaps it was the mention of her name. Perhaps it was the realisation that she hadn't confronted her at all yet, but Saki soon found herself knocking on Sayeka's door.

“Come in,” a meek voice from the other end calls out.


Saki takes a deep breath as she enters the room. Sayeka is sitting alone in the chair by her desk, a black lace night-gown worn over her yellow silk pajamas. “You'll have to say something,” Sayeka mentions. “I can't tell who you are by footsteps alone.”

“Couldn't you just predict that I'm coming in?” Saki mutters. She didn't intend for it to sound so aggressive, but it did.

Sayeka nods her head. “Ah, so it's Saki then. And yes, I could... had I been trying to see ahead to this point in time. I've been caught up in... other images.”

There is a long, uncomfortable pause between the two girls, before Sayeka speaks up. “Anyway, what do you want of me... haven't you heard the news, Saki? I'm the horrible villain that everyone must stay away from now.”

“Why didn't you tell us?” Saki asks. “Why didn't you tell him? Why didn't you tell anyone that this would happen?”

“Because if I told you, there was always the chance that it could change, and bring about one of the worse outcomes I had foreseen. I'm afraid this was the best possible way it could have worked out.”

“The best? This was the best outcome?” Saki bites her bottom lip in frustration.

Sayeka frowns. “Apologies, I must sound so callous when I put it like that. Best does not mean good, of course... but this was the only outcome that didn't result in several of us dead.”

“So instead, you let Ryoji be sacrificed?” Saki mutters. “Losing him, possibly forever, was the best possible outcome?”

“Saki... I'm so sorry... but yes. It was.”

Saki shakes her head, before addressing Sayeka once more. “Do you have any visions of him? Can you tell me where he is?”

Sayeka lets out a sigh. “I cannot see where he is... and if I were to tell you about one of my visions, it would be likely to change the outcome. It's a double-edged sword in that way. I'm afraid that no matter what I see, I won't be able to give you any good news, Saki.”

“I understand...” Saki mutters.

Another long pause between the two, before Sayeka speaks up. “Saki... do you hate me? For what I did?”

What kind of question is that? A difficult one, clearly. Saki doesn't know exactly what kind of answer Sayeka is expecting... not even sure what kind of answer she's hoping for... but she has to be completely honest. If she can be honest with Rei, she can do the same here. “Yes, I do. I understand why you did what you did, Sayeka. I understand the rationale... and I know it doesn't make sense to hate you for it... it's not right to hate you for it, and I truly wish that I didn't... but I can't help it. I look at you and all I can feel is resentment. I look at myself and think that you could have prevented this, that you could have spared him his fate. Doesn't matter if that's true or not, I just feel it as an impulse. I'm sorry, Sayeka.”

Sayeka nods, a deep frown on her face. “It's okay. Thank you for your honesty.”

Saki sighs, guilty, as she makes her way to the door.

“Saki...” Sayeka mutters, causing Saki to turn her head. “Don't give up hope.”

“I won't...” Saki nods. “I won't.”

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“Oh, this is hopeless!” Chihiro exclaims.

It's the beginning of September. Summer had ended, not that any of the students had a break. The entire time was spent defending themselves against the Darkworld. And unfortunately for the students of Class 2, there was still no sign of Ryoji. However, the group had continued to press on, determined, as they continued the search, regardless of the lack of leads they had. While everyone had their own hardships to overcome, the last two months since the endless night have managed to make them all stronger, not just as individuals, but as a group.

Saki had gone through her own personal crises, trying to regain her strength after losing the single most important person in he life, finally standing up to her Grandfather, but almost losing herself to hate and anger as a result, having to accept some uncomfortable truths regarding how she felt of others, but also being able to take comfort knowing that there are people here to support her, to help her out, to watch her back.

Saki could remember a time very recently, when she had nobody to call a friend. Even when she had stepped into the role as leader of the class, it still took others a while to warm to her. Ryoji ended up becoming the one person she could confide in, against all odds, and soon she found herself experiencing something beyond even friendship for the first time. But through all this time she neglected something... while Ryoji remained the closest to her heart, Saki had managed to amass her fair share of true companions on her own. Perhaps some of Ryoji's magnetic charm had rubbed off on her. Whatever the reason, Saki takes a moment to look around. She sees Akemi leaning against her shoulder, as Nanami, Ken and Chihiro all stand by her as well. They all give warming smiles as she looks at them, causing Saki to smile in turn.

“It's not hopeless,” Saki laughs. “It might seem silly to turn to this... club, but who knows? They call themselves the Darkworld Investigation Group, and they claim their mission statement is to uncover all the hidden secrets of the Darkworld, so maybe they've found something that could help us out.”

“Darkworld Investigation Group?” Ken laughs. “What kind of name is that?”

“Darkworld Justice Division,” Saki smirks, causing Ken to scratch the back of his head.

“I retract my statement,” he mutters in a defeatist tone.

Saki laughs as she stares at the door of their clubroom. It's pretty unlikely that they have any useful information. After all, the club is made up of Class 1 students, who Wei seems determined to keep in the dark as much as possible. Still, this is a last resort for the group... a couple night prior, Saki was informed by Sayeka of a rather harrowing vision, and they need to get both Ryoji and Alice back as soon as possible in order to avoid said vision coming to fruition.

Saki raises her fist to knock on the door, but Akemi stops her. “No!” she exclaims. “We're trying to sell this adventure to them, so we have to make a dramatic entrance!”

Usually, Saki would be dead against the idea... but what the hell. Saki mutters quietly to herself before making her next move.

"Okay Kobashi... time to take that next step..."

Saki takes a deep breath before kicking the door open. She raises her hands in the air, making herself appear bigger as the loose sleeves of Ryoji's jacket fall down the length of her arms. She gives a confident nod as she addresses the kids in the room.

“Hey there. How would you guys like to save the world?”

THE END