POV: Hoga Yasahiro.

Date: 26th Nov – Wednesday

Timeline: *the day after Yasahiro woke up*

"Sleeping on the couch isn't that comfortable," I mumbled as I got up from lying on top of the couch.

Even though I was dead for twelve hours, I still got sleepy when I came back home, it was like I didn't get a wink of sleep for the whole night.

I started heading toward the laboratory room, and opened the door, moved toward the table and opened one of my notebooks, started adding to my notes,

[Death Number: 1

Time Spent: UNKNOWN

Death way: car accident on way to hospital.

Location: car.

Death Number: 2

Time Spent: UNKNOWN

Death way: jumped from roof

Location: park near the hospital.

Death Number: 3

Time Spent: less than 30 minutes

Death way: killed by demon.

Location: Hisakawa Naoki's house.

Death Number: 4

Time Spent: 15 minutes exact.

Death way: experiment.

Location: Laboratory.

Death Number: 5

Time Spent: 12 hours and 15 minutes.

Death way: insides ripped, arm cut, eyes gouged, and head sliced.

Location: My room.]

Looking at charts it would seem that last time took longer since I was killed in a more violent way.

"But thinking that way, number 3 also was violent but it didn't take as much as 12 hours..." I mumbled scratching the back of my head annoyed by the fact that I didn't know why I took so much time.

Is being sliced the problem? If I get a part of my body cut, it seems like my body will need more time to heal?

"But when I read Hisakawa's thoughts, he seemed to have seen Izumi's head cut off but it didn't take him twelve hours either," I stressed by the unexplained result that I got.

Since there is not much I can do stressing about this, I'll just wait to get more entries.

"It's too early to decide and conclude anything anyway," I encouraged myself, "it looks like I'll have to die more to figure it out though," I said while going into deep thoughts mode.

But if it takes long like last time, people will start suspecting my absence.

"What if I die at night?" I questioned myself, and then shook my head and mumbled, "No, no, even if I look like I'm sleeping, I would need sleep even after reviving from death, so doing it at night will affect my sleep. It will affect my job and life..."

Should I quit my job and find time?

"Now that I think about it..." I said as I sat on one of the chairs in the laboratory, "I skipped a lot of days at work... that geezer will nag me a lot if he hears about it."

Cutting my thoughts was the ringing of my phone coming from the living room, I shifted my attention there and started heading toward the living room again, and took it from on top of the couch I was sleeping on as soon as I caught a glimpse of the caller name, I mumbled, "this timing... right after I thought of him too..."

I picked it up and answered, "what is it, grandpa?" his voice echoed through my ear yelled, "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME!?"

I moved the phone further away from my ear and responded annoyed by his extreme loud voice, "calm down, work just slipped off my mind," grandpa got silent for a while then asked me, "were you with Izumi?"

Why did he get serious all of a sudden?

"Well, yeah," I answered and then asked him back, "is something wrong about me being with him?" grandpa started laughing on the other side of the line and said in his usual tone, "of course no, I was just worried since he didn't come either!"

But from that he concluded that he was the reason for my absence? This is not the time to interrogate my own grandpa what the hell is wrong with me!? I should get straight to the problem!

"Listen, grandpa," I said returning the serious mood, "I have a favor to ask of you," grandpa asked in a surprised voice, "you!? Favor of me!? What is it!?"

"I want you to return to being president," I asked of him as soon as the words escaped my mouth, he answered immediately, "I refuse."

R-refuse!?

"Why? I mean it doesn't have to be me, right? You asked me on a whim to become president, so can't you just ask anyone else?" I angrily scolded him for rejecting my favor, "why do you want to quit?" he asked.

"Because I got a problem that I need to solve as soon as possible, and to do that I need time. Being president or having any job at all will delay my process," I explained annoyed by his attitude, he didn't answer right away and thought for a while before answering, "then I'll allow you to take time off till you figure it out."

...He didn't ask what it was ... I thought he would ask for sure.

Not that I'll tell him anything even if he did ask. But since he is giving me the time I need...

"Then let's do that for now," I said as I was about to hang up, I quickly told him, "by the way, Izumi will be taking time off as well." Grandpa started panicking on the other line, "wait, what!?" but I quietly hanged up.

Till we find the healer, I don't think Izumi will be going to work anyway.

"Being this considerate of other people...is so not like me..." I mumbled as I sat on the couch staring aimlessly in front of me.

That day, I even went inside...to save him? No, I knew he was immortal... Why ...Why did I go inside?

"Because of Nana and the kid that caused the fire," I answered myself.

Saving other people, unlike when I did it back when I was a doctor, felt different this time.

"When I was a doctor, I knew what to do to help, and I knew how to handle the situation," I said out loud organizing my thoughts, "that was the first time, I rush in before thinking ahead..." I said as if blaming myself for not having clear thinking back then.

I got up and started heading toward the front door after wearing my shoes, "not like overthinking it is going to do anything," I mumbled as I headed outside.

POV: Isozaki Izumi.

Timeline: *the day after Yasahiro woke up*

A black room in which the darkness deepens, without a voice nor a light to light it up, the darkness continued to shine my way harshly scratching my skin.

Where am I?

A liquid started dripping from on top of me, drop by drop.

"R-Rain?" I mumbled as I wiped the liquid from on top of my head and looked upward.

The darkness lit up, showing legs swaying back and forth above my head.

My heart started beating faster, and my eyes widens as I pull my body backward.

No, no....no...

Drop by drop, blood kept pouring down from the place the legs swayed in, making a sound that echoed through the empty room to reach my shivering heart.

It's not him...It's not...him...It's not...

I started slapping myself, scolding, "wake up...wake up...please...wake up..."

But the dream didn't end, and the blood didn't stop from dripping, I crawled my body in and my tears dropped as loud as the blood.

Please... No more... I'm sorry...I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

"I'm sorry..." I said as I opened my eyes lying on top of my bed.

I get up glad that I woke up from that nightmare, but the tears refused to stop and continued overflowing.

I wiped them, only for more to come out.

I crawled myself in, and mumbled with my shivering voice, "why...why..."

As the tears dried on my cheek, I got up and pulled my tired body toward the bathroom sink and washed my face.

When was the last time I had that dream...?

"It's all that bastard's fault for showing me a room dyed red by his organs!" I yelled.

But not like I can get mad at him, since he died for me...

I let out a sigh and started heading toward the front door, "better go out before he comes and takes revenge..." I mumbled as I started sneaking out of my apartment.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked stopping my body as I nervously turn my head toward it, Yasahiro appeared.

"N-Nothing...haha..." I nervously laughed, "after seeing that bloody scene yesterday I couldn't sleep so I'm going to bring sleeping pills." I complained to him showing an annoyed expression.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Yasahiro complained with his poker face, "you try sleeping on a bed someone puked on before! I had to sleep on a couch!" he continued his complaining.

S-shit, I nearly forgot that I did that too...

"I guess we're even n-now," I said with a smile surfacing on top of my annoyed expression, "grandpa, called this morning," Yasahiro informed me.

Grandpa?... Ah, the chairman... About time, since we skipped so much days...

"Was he mad?" I asked worried for the answer to come, "probably? I don't know, anyway we don't have to go to work till we find the healer," he answered.

What the hell do you mean by you don't know!?! No, Izumi, you can't get mad at him, you owe him a lot.

"I s-see..." I answered hiding my anger, "by the way, we have no lead whatsoever right now, what should we do? Give up?" Yasahiro asked.

GIVE UP!?!?! NO FREAKING WAY! No, no, I got to stay calm.

"I-isn't it too early to g-give up?" I asked trying to be as polite as possible, he glared at me and looked me up and down and asked, "do you mean that, even though you are an idiot, you have a plan? Even though you are an idiot?"

This bastard, should I cause his death again!!!?

"It's not a plan, but I'm thinking of posting an announcement in the newspaper for them to see and come to us!" I proudly announced my plan, he looked at me and let out a sigh then said, "I should have known better..."

WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?!

"Y-You don't think it's a good idea?" I asked while raising my eyebrow, he nodded and explained, "why the hell would they show themselves to us because of an announcement, if it was me I would think it's a trap or something."

That's because it's you!

"T-then do you have a better idea?!" I yelled asking, he nodded again and said, "I told you already, 'let's give up' was my idea."

"You bastard! Do you have a death wish!?" I yelled glaring holes into him, he responded, "finally you are back to your usual self."

Huh?

"W-What do you mean?" I asked confused, "you have been holding back because of your guilt toward causing my death, no?" Yasahiro asked.

This jerk read my thoughts again!

"You don't have to feel any guilt toward me, you are not the one that caused my death," Yasahiro said as if to comfort me.

Is this guy trying to comfort me??

"But it is true that I was the reason," I opposed, he let out a sigh and said, "it wasn't you, it was a demon."

Is this jerk calling me a demon because I freaking killed him? Too much for thinking of him as a good guy!

"If you say so..." I answered glaring at him, he excitedly asked, "but I am curious about a thing! Before you fainted in the burning building you were calling someone's name, who might that be?"

I was? I don't really remember...

"Nana?" I guessed, he corrected me.

Ken...Ken?... d-does he mean...Kenta? Did I call out his name...?

I asked avoiding his eye contact, Yasahiro answered.

There is no way this guy knew Kenta...

I said and started heading down the stairs, Yasahiro yelled from behind me, "why do you think so!?"

As I turned around glaring through him, I answered,

He quickly ran toward me and held my shoulders and squeezed while scolding me, "there is no way he died, why are you lying to me?"

Lying? ... what is he going on about? Why is he interested in Kenta anyway?

said in my defense, but he squeezed my shoulders harder, I complained "ouch, it hurt stop grabbing me."

He yelled in my face glaring at me, I yelled back pushing him away.

It hurts...

"Why are you lying!!!?" He yelled louder as he started shaking me by the shoulders, I complained as I swayed my fist in the air hitting his face.

As he fell on the floor, I said, "I told you to stop," He got up and swayed his fist toward my stomach, "I told you to tell me the truth!" He yelled.

"What truth, you bastard!?" I yelled as I kicked him behind his legs making him fall again on the floor, "acting like an idiot, won't help you!" he yelled as he pulled my leg making me fall backward hitting the floor, "you bastard!" I cursed as I swayed my fist toward him again.

"He died!" I yelled at him and swayed another punch toward him, "he died!" I yelled again, as I was hitting him again and again, I kept yelling the fact that I wanted to forget more than anything, "he died! Kenta died!"

"What are you two doing!?!" The landlady screamed as she saw us, and she headed toward us and started holding me back, "let go of me, this bastard need to be punched for him to believe me!" I yelled as I pushed myself toward him again, "stop this, what happened?" she yelled asking.

"What an idiot..." Yasahiro said as he fixed himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth, "do you think if you keep lying about it anything will be solved!?" he glared at me as he headed toward me and punched my stomach.

I started coughing as I felt my stomach rushing out, the landlady yelled at him as she let go of me, "Hoga! Stop this right now!"

"Why... Why would I lie about that!?" I yelled at him, as I moved my body and drilled my head in his stomach making him fall again on the floor, he started pulling my hair back, "how would I know what goes in an idiot's mind!?"

"Hoga! Isozaki! Stop this!" The landlady screamed at both of us, as two doors opened and from them rushed Shota and Hina, "Hoga-san! Izumi!?" Hina screamed as she saw us, "Don't interfere!" Yasahiro yelled at them as he pushed me down and started landing punches on my face while yelling, "stop it, stop lying straight to my face!"

"Izumi-san!" Shota yelled as he started heading toward Yasahiro, "this is between him and me, don't get in, brat!" I yelled as I kicked Yasahiro's stomach.

I got on top of him and started punching his face while yelling, "even I want it to be a lie! But it's the friggin' truth!"

"No good, pull them back from each other!" the landlady yelled at Shota.

Shota rushed behind me and pulled my hands back and apologized, "I'm sorry, Izumi-san, please stop this."

"How pathetic, not knowing what goes inside your own head," Yasahiro said as he glared into me and as he got into position to throw a punch at me, the landlady rushed behind him and held him back.

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up!?" I asked taken back by his hateful expression, I yelled at him, "if he really didn't die back then! I wouldn't be alive now! You self-centered bastard!"

"Then you should have died! Then I would have died in peace that day too!" He yelled at me while glaring at me.

"As much as I want to..." I mumbled as I looked toward his eyes, "he's dead now so there is nothing I can do about it!" I yelled focusing on his dark blue eyes that gleamed with anger.

"Why do you keep lying over and over!?! Is it that fun!?!" Yasahiro yelled at me, as he rushed at me pushing the landlady aside, "because of an idiot like you who doesn't even know what is going on around him," he said as he raised his fist before landing it on my face, "because of an idiot that doesn't know what is inside of him!" he continued to yell as he punched me again, "I had to discard the only thing I ever wanted! And you can't even tell me the truth!?"

"It's not my fault if you don't frigging believe the truth! If you want to die that bad, I'll help you!" I yelled as I pushed Shota and punched Yasahiro back.

"If you were able to kill me, I wouldn't be suffering in the first place!" He yelled as he thirsted his knee in my stomach, "why do I have to get this riled up by someone like you!" he continued.

I fell on my knees and started catching my breath, I looked toward him to see him glaring at me for turning him into an immortal person.

I noticed my nose bleeding, so I wiped it with my hand as I stood up and started heading out of the apartment building, "we're done, let's never meet again."

"Good luck killing people because of your ignorance," Yasahiro said as he stood up and started brushing off the dust.

I clenched my hand and yelled at him, "good luck finding a way to die, you bastard!" and left the apartment building.

On that day, the fists we threw against each other didn't hurt as much as the words we exchanged.

-End of Chapter 25-