Shiori Finally Asks! Hikigaya Hospitalized?

In the classroom, Hisana ties Kitaro's headpiece back on him.

Kitaro "Be honest, do I look stupid?"

Hisana "No, I think you look super cute."

She says happily. Kitaro blushes a bit and smiles at her when Shiori comes rushing out of the break room followed by Hikigaya.

Hikigaya "Shiori, wait!"

He calls to her before following her out of the class. Hisana and Kitaro look at them.

Hisana "There they go again. Should we go help them?"

Kitaro "No, I think this will be something they need to solve themselves."

Hisana looks at him, a bit surprised by his mature words and look. She blushes and smiles.

Hisana 'I love you Kitaro.'

In the halls, Hikigaya rushes through to try and catch Shiori but she moves more swiftly through the crowd.

Hikigaya 'What did I say? I only said I'd make it clear we aren't getting together or anything. Why would that upset her?'

He thinks to himself as he stops, losing sight of her. He pants a bit while looking around. He stops and closes his eyes for a moment, glowing a bit of a red color before opening his eyes sharply and looking at a classroom a little bit from him.

Hikigaya "There."

He walks into the empty, dark classroom and sees Shiori sitting in the window, staring out into the night. Hikigaya stands quietly for a moment as Shiori watches a few school staff prepare the scheduled fireworks.

Shiori "They're about to set the fireworks off. Want to see them?"

Hikigaya sweats a bit before speaking.

Hikigaya "Shiori, what's wrong? I really didn't mean to upset you, I just want to-"

Shiori "You really think that we would never be together?"

She asks, still looking out the window. Hikigaya sweats.

Hikigaya "Well, I mean, yeah. That way you and your crush can be together without worry."

He says softly. Outside, the fireworks are lit as they shoot out into the night sky. Everyone looks on as they fly up. Emiko and Kenzo look up while holding treats in one hand and holding each other's hands with the other. Tom throws a ball and knocks over a stack of bottles with a smile before turning around and looking at the fireworks. Milo and Tsuki work together as they perform a magic act. Riley sits on a throne in her class while two other classmates stand by her in fake knight armor. She looks out her window at the rising fireworks. Chizuru looks out the class window at them as Samuel and Ashley sit on a wall outside watching them shoot into the sky. In the empty classroom, Shiori turns and looks at Hikigaya. He is stunned a bit as tears roll down her face.

Shiori "Hikigaya. Have you ever thought that maybe my crush is you?"

She says with an upset look as a blinding bright light flashes in the sky. The fireworks burst and there is only silence for a moment. Hikigaya stands there with wide eyes as he stares at her. Time seems to stop before there is a loud boom from the fireworks. The sound snaps Hikigaya out of it as he blinks and looks at Shiori but is shocked when she is nowhere to be found. He looks around for a moment before stepping outside of the classroom.

Hikigaya "Shiori. Where did you go?"

He asks out loud before taking a step but he suddenly collapses to his knees. He struggles to breathe as he grips his side.

Hikigaya "What's… happening?.."

His nose starts to bleed as he coughs out some blood onto the ground. His vision blurs and he loses balance before falling onto his side and passing out.

Haru "Hikigaya! Shiori! Where'd you guys go?"

He shouts as he comes around the corner. He sweats and gets a worried look when he notices Hikigaya on the ground.

Haru "Woah! Hey, are you okay? Hikigaya! Hikigaya!"

He shouts while checking on him but he doesn't wake up.

Hikigaya lays in a hospital bed with his eyes closed and multiple monitors on his body. The doctor leaves the room as his mother, Hamasaki and Shiori wait outside. Asami gets up with a worried look.

Asami "What's wrong with him? What's happening to my boy?"

The doctor has a sad look.

Doctor "I'm sorry but we just can't find a cause for his condition. From the samples we took, it seems his body is deteriorating. His cells are being destroyed from the inside out, slowly but even so, that is deadly. If we can't find a cause soon, I'm afraid the damage will be beyond recovery."

Asami gets a horrified look as she sits down, holding her head in her hands.

Asami "First my little girl, now my Hikigaya?.."

She starts to cry as Hamasaki tries to comfort her.

Doctor "We gave him a medicine that'll put him in a state of optimum healing which will put him to sleep."

The doctor says before stepping away as Shiori gets a worried look.

Shiori 'Knowing him, he's trying all he can to regenerate whatever is happening to his body but it must be too much for him. And the last thing I said was…'

She thinks back to last night and gets an upset look.

Shiori 'I have to figure out how to save him.'

She goes into his room and sits next to him. He opens his eyes a bit and smiles weakly.

Hikigaya "Hey, sorry for… causing so much trouble…"

Shiori shakes her head softly.

Shiori "It's not your fault."

Hikigaya looks away for a moment before looking back at her.

Hikigaya "Maybe it is…"

She looks at him confused.

Shiori "Do you know what's happening to you?"

Hikigaya "Back in the lab… the serum… Strife told me… lethal…"

He says between weak breaths before falling asleep because of the medicine. Shiori sweats a bit.

Shiori "The lab? The night I fought Frontier. The serum the Devil's Syndicate wanted! He must've gotten some in his body when we were trying to stop them."

Back then at the facility…

Something then catches his eye. He turns to see a glowing green vile, a single one, in a tube carrier. He goes over to it and picks it up in his right hand. He looks at it closely only to be confused as to what it actually could be.

Watchdog "It doesn't look like anything I've seen before… Is this what they're after?.."

Before he could look at it too long, there is a loud banging as bullets come flying towards him, destroying the vial and shooting through his hand at the same time. This causes the green liquid to spill all over his now heavily open wounded hand.

In the hospital…

Shiori "And Strife must've told him about its dangers. Why didn't you tell me sooner? Did you not realize? You can be so stupid sometimes…"

She says frustrated before blushing a bit.

Shiori "I will save you, Hikigaya. I promise. But first, I have to make a phone call."

She says while standing up and pulling out her phone. In an office, a phone rings on a desk. Chief then reaches over and grabs the phone. For a moment he is surprised to see the name 'Fullsky' on his phone but he answers.

Chief "Haven't heard from you for awhile. Thought you retired or something."

Shiori "Yeah, sorry about that. Listen, Watchdog isn't doing very well and I think it has to do with the serum the Devil's Syndicate was using. I need to know if you have any files on where it came from or who made it."

He pauses for a moment before answering.

Chief "Would a full sample of the stuff work?"

Shiori is surprised and a bit relieved.

Shiori "Yeah, actually. How did you get a hold of it?"

Chief "I stole a vile from one of those suits' vans while they contained everything. I wasn't about to let them take everything from my crime scene."

He says while picking up the vile from a drawer in his office.

Shiori "You have no idea how much that helps. When can you meet me to drop it off?"

Chief "I've got some time tonight."

Shiori "See you then."

Chief "Wait, how will you know where-"

He asks quickly before the call ends. He sweats as he looks at his phone before setting it down.

Chief "Those guys give me the creeps sometimes."

He says before looking at the vile. He pauses for a moment before getting a concerned look.

Later that night, Chief waits on the roof of the officer station with a hot cup of coffee. He turns around when he hears someone landing behind him.

Fullsky "I knew you'd be here. I could sense your soul."

Chief "Is that some new power you got?"

Fullsky "Something like that. Did you bring the serum?"

He sips his coffee while pulling out the vile and holding it out. Shiori smiles as she reaches for it but he suddenly swipes it back. She looks confused as he stares at her.

Chief "You know, you and Watchdog both are still unsanctioned vigilantes. By all rights, I should arrest both of you. You've only been free so far because I trust you guys but this is gonna take a lot more than trust."

Shiori gets a serious look as Chief speaks.

Chief "I can't guarantee your actions and if I think for a second that I may be putting my family or anyone else in danger, I have to listen to my gut. The bad guys wanted this badly. Now all of a sudden you want it. How do I know you're not working for them? How do I know you don't want it for some other sinister plan?"

Fullsky "Chief, Watchdog and I fought hard by your side to stop the Devil's Syndicate. He even lost his-... Watchdog lost a lot trying to do what's right. And now he might be dying and that serum is the key to it so I am going to get that vile no matter what."

She says with a frustrated but serious tone. Chief looks at her calmly before sighing and handing it over.

Chief "Fine. But if I come to regret this."

Fullsky "You won't. I promise."

She says with a warm smile while holding the vile. Chief smiles back a bit.

Chief "You guys do good. I may not always understand your intentions but from what I can tell, you help keep the peace. Even if it comes at my expense."

He says, sweating a bit while rubbing his head.

Fullsky "This means a lot to me, Chief. I'm sure you'll know if it worked or not."

She says as her wings pop out of her back.

Chief "It better. What other unsanctioned vigilantes will I find to help me?"

He says with a smile as she begins to float away into the night sky.

Shiori "Now to find a really big brain to make a cure."