Harry ran. And ran. And ran.

The sound of his boots clinking against the marble flooring almost hypnotic in rythm had it mot been for the hot pain searing his chest.

He kept running.

Escaping the look of someone crumbling apart at the sight of him. But instead of feeling better, each step became heavier.

"Wait---"

Harry stopped running.

He looked around, confused as to why he was standing outside the garden gates.

Because this is where I always go to think...

He'd meant to head to Sarah Katayama's office. But his subconsciousness had another intention all together. He would've turned back, had he not layed eyes on the gate leading to the rest of the garden.

It feels so much longer ago...

Harry crinkled his brow as he stepped forward, tracing his fingers over the metal. Where her fingers had been, when he lightly touched them.

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"Are...you the one... Lady Katayama said I had to... to help?"

Harry couldn't help but scoff at that memory. What the girl had said at their first meeting. His small smile quickly turned into a frown.

" ..How can someone help a broken soul like me...?"

Taking a shaky breath he leaned his forehead against the gate. Silica was right. Everything she said was the truth.

"A leader turned into a spineless coward overnight. Tsk, what a sight."

But I'm also right. Such a person doesn't deserve to stand against the gate like this. Much less continue living here like nothing happened.

Sucking in air, Harry stepped away. Taking one last look at one of his favorite places to be, he turned on his heel to go.

Still.. what in the Four Nymphs am I even going to say to Lady Katayama?

He wished Katayama was Silica. So he could at least not feel bad leaving, even though it's the right choice. But he knew Lady Katayama wouldn't let him go so easily. Not after last night.

So he stayed standing between the garden and the three story building looming before him.

What am I going to do...

No.

What have I done...?

The strength in Harry's legs left him. He fell to his knees, the world spinning around him. Weird colors swirled around his vision, growing bigger and brighter.

What the---

What was going on? If he was going to faint he'd already do that by now.

But instead his air was cut off, and the world started morphing and reshaping with the colors.

What is this?!

"I'm... sorry..."

A tiny voice swirled around him, neither here nor there. It sounded familiar. Yet different. Like a distant memory being unlocked in his brain.

What... is... going... on...

Then... as the world slid away and a new being appeared before him, the colors and irregular feeling gone, Harry understood.