Reiko's eyes widened. Did she just hear that name right? She must've. Noru. N-O-R-U. And Courtney had said it as though Noru had never done anything wrong!

"Reiko, we're still going on our date tonight, correct?", Noru turned to the elf, smiling. Reiko found that she couldn't do anything except nod.

"Great! I'll see you at night!"

The purple haired boy ran off into the village, happy. But Reiko... She continued to be confused, and even worse now. Since when was Noru so... nice? And since when did she ever agree to go on a date with him?! He destroyed her village, slaughtered her family, and terrorized her friends!

... But her village is here... Her family is alive... But some of her friends are missing. Where did they go? Were they all her imagination?

"Reiko, make sure to tell me all about your date with Noru tonight, okay?! He's rather cute!", Courtney giggled. Aidan let himself fall onto the grass, groaning.

Sessu combed Reiko's hair, frowning. He moved his hand down to hers, entangling their fingers together.

Shin looked out of a nearby window, using the sunlight to tell time, "20 minutes. That's all we can give her before we must continue on our way. If she doesn't wake up by then... She might as well be trapped, for all we can know."

Sentinus elbowed Shin in the stomach, getting an "Oof!" from the man in red.

Sessu felt tears forming in his eyes as he massaged Reiko's palm.

Day had gone by fairly quickly. It was alreadynearing night time.

Reiko has her hair tied up, in a simple ponytail. She hadn't really gone to very extreme measures to dress up, but that really didn't matter. She paced back and forth infront of her door, waiting on Noru. She didn't exactly want to go on this 'date'... But she guessed she really had no choice, considering she already said yes.

"Reiko!"

The elf turned her head to the direction she heard her name be called. Noru stopped infront of her, bend over, gasping for breath. When he finally gained enough breath to speak, he stood up straight, lifting up a bouquet of flowers, and smiling sweetly at the elf.

"I picked these for you. I hope they're okay, I didn't have enough to buy them from the florist.", The boy looked to his feet, avoiding the blonde's shocked gaze.

She took them, smiling back at him. "Thanks, Noru," she mumbled. The two walked down the village streets, side by side.

Minutes passed, but no words were spoken. The reason forNoru's silence was unknown, but Reiko... She couldn't stop thinking about him. Sessu.

"... Noru, I have something to ask."

Reiko and Noru stopped in their tracks.

"Hmph. You're thinking about him."

10 minutes. 10 minutes had passed, and 10 minutes were left.

"Please, Reiko... Hurry.", Sessu muttered, tears finally falling from his eyes onto Reiko's face.

So someone did know who he was!

"Yes", Reiko mumbled, "But how did you...?"

"This is a dream. It's all a dream.", the purple haired boy said, a smirk planted on his face.

"It... is?", Reiko questioned, looking around. Noru laughed loudly, gaining Reiko's attention.

"Correct. Made to play with your mind.", Noru tapped on the side of his head with his finger. "And this...", he waved his arm, showing off the village, "... is how you could've lived. But, one idiotic desision you made, and you lost it all. What a shame," Noru combed a hand through his hair.

"What are you trying to say?!", Reiko yelled, earning another laugh from Noru.

"The only reason so many lives have been taken, and your friends have been forced to fight... Is because of you, Reiko Matimasha."