Silence. Then—suddenly—)*
GASP!
(Asahi's eyes snap open. His breath is ragged, his chest rising and falling too fast. Sweat drips down his forehead. His hands clench into fists against the cold, empty ground of the Dimensional Dream.)
Asahi:(panting, trying to regain control)
"Huh…"(His voice is hoarse.)
(He slowly pushes himself up. His head pounds like it's splitting apart. His vision flickers.)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, whispering to himself)
"That bastard…"
(Then—he hears a voice.)
FA:(calm, slightly amused, standing nearby)
"Oh, you came back."(Pauses, tilting his head slightly.)
"No… you're early. The cooldown isn't over yet."
(Asahi blinks. His head still throbs. He slowly turns toward FA, his left eye glowing faintly under the Dimensional Dream's eerie light.)
Asahi:(his voice is low, controlled, but there's a sharp edge to it.)
"His powers… they manipulate others."(Pauses.)
"He controls them by touching their foreheads."
(FA crosses his arms, nodding slightly, deep in thought.)
FA:"Mmm. That makes sense."
Asahi:(his jaw tightens)
"But how did he manipulate Anari?"(Thinking.)
(FA exhales, closing his eyes for a moment.)
FA:"I think… he manipulated her when she changed her dress in the dressing room."
(Asahi stiffens. His mind races, replaying the memory.)
Asahi:(whispering, to himself)
"Mmm… he might be right."
(But something still feels off. Then—another sharp pain pierces through his skull. His hands clutch his head. His breathing hitches.)
Asahi:(gritting his teeth, voice strained)
"Why… does my head hurt?"
(FA's eyes narrow. He steps forward, looking at Asahi closely.)
FA:(his voice shifting slightly—concerned, but unreadable.)
"Looks like you used his powers."
Asahi:(calm, but coldly certain)
"Yes."
(FA watches him carefully. Something is wrong. He can feel it, but he doesn't say it out loud yet.)
FA:(casually, but there's a slight hesitation in his voice.)
"Hey… have you experienced anything different? Like… hearing something?"
Asahi:(blinks, shaking his head slightly.)
"Huh? No…"
(FA's expression darkens for a split second—but he quickly covers it with a forced smirk.)
FA:(shrugging slightly)
"Mmm. Okay. Forget it."
(Asahi stares at him for a moment, sensing something unspoken. But he lets it go… for now.)
Asahi:(exhales, crossing his arms.)
"By the way… how are we gonna defeat him?"
FA:(grinning slightly, leaning back on the empty air, as if thinking.)
"Mmm. Just loop again."
Asahi:(blinking, voice flat.)
"Huh?"
FA: *(grinning wider, playfully) *
"I can't say anything before seeing your memory, so I have to see it first."
(Asahi sighs, rubbing his forehead, feeling the lingering pain. He exhales, then nods.)
Asahi:(grinning slightly, but his voice is sharp, filled with danger.)
"Fine. This time… I'll just kill him."(Smiles darkly.)
(FA chuckles—but there's something off in his laughter. Something forced.)
FA:(grinning, but his eyes are serious.)
"Yeahhh…"(Thinking internally: Something must have happened. I can sense it.)
(Then—FA suddenly moves. He tosses something at Asahi.)
FA:"Here."
(Asahi instinctively catches it. A small, dark bottle. His fingers tighten around it.)
Asahi:(blinking, looking at it)
"Huh? What is this?"
FA:(smiling, but his tone shifts—quieter, heavier.)
"It'll be useful. Once you take it, you'll fall asleep in 10 to 30 seconds."
Asahi:(raising an eyebrow, flipping the bottle in his hands.)
"Huh… is it yours?"
(FA pauses. His smile fades slightly. His voice drops—softer, yet filled with something painful.)
FA:(quietly)
"A person made it…"(His gaze lowers.)
"…with regret. With tears. With pain. With acceptance."(He meets Asahi's eyes.)
"Just for you to use it."
(Asahi's breath catches. His fingers tighten around the bottle.)
Asahi:(whispers, voice unreadable)
"Thank you."
(FA closes his eyes. A brief silence. Then—)
SUDDENLY—PAIN.
(Asahi's entire body JOLTS. His head erupts with agony— a pain far worse than before. His knees buckle. His vision distorts.)
Asahi:(clutching his skull, screaming, voice breaking apart.)
"ARARARARARA!"
(His breathing accelerates. The pain isn't just physical. It's like something is FORCING ITS WAY INTO HIS MIND.)
FA:(his eyes WIDEN. His body tenses—)*
"SHIT!"
(FA rushes forward. But before he can reach Asahi—before he can stop whatever is happening—)
FA:(desperate, reaching out—)
"NO—"
FLASH!
ASAHI LOOPS.
(The world around him shatters. The Dimensional Dream collapses. Everything turns white. A piercing, unnatural sound fills the air. The last thing Asahi hears—)*
FA: *(his voice ECHOING in the void—filled with panic.)
"ASAHI!"