Chapter 7

Dream was filled with worry as another day passed with Piko still locked in her room. The faint echoes of her singing and the occasional sound of crying made his heart ache with concern. He felt helpless, unsure of what he could do to help her.

He would bring meals to her door, knocking gently and leaving the food there when she didn't respond. He would occasionally hear her move to take the food, the only indication that she was still there.

"Dream, I just need some time," she had told him, and he wanted to respect her wishes. But every hour that passed filled him with more worry. He had never seen Piko like this, so lost and broken.

On the third day, Dream decided to take a more direct approach. He stood outside her room, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door.

"Piko," he called softly. "Can I come in?"

"If you want to..."

Dream took a deep breath, turning the door handle and pushing the door open gently. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn and the only light coming from a small lamp on Piko's bedside table.

Piko was sitting on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She looked up as Dream entered, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Dream's heart ached at the sight of her.

"Piko," he began, his voice gentle. "I... I'm worried about you. You've been in here for days..."

Piko shrugged, looking back down at her knees. "I just... I need to think, Dream. I need to... to understand what happened."

Dream nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I understand, Piko. But... you don't have to do this alone. You can talk to me, okay? I... I want to help."

Piko didn't respond, but she didn't push him away either. It was a start, and for now, that was enough for Dream.

"I... I WANTED to do it.... I WANTED to fight. I WANTED to... to..." She couldn't finish.

Dream reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Piko..." He began, his voice breaking with emotion. "It's... It's okay. It's okay to have those feelings. It doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you... human."

Piko looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. "But I... I hurt them, Dream. I enjoyed it, and I hurt them."

Dream tightened his grip on her shoulder. "Piko, you were in a fight. You were defending yourself. It's... It's natural to feel a rush in those moments. It doesn't mean you're a monster."

Piko buried her face in her knees, her body shaking as she cried. Dream wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. He didn't have all the answers, but he could offer her the comfort she so desperately needed.

Dream's heart clenched painfully as he heard her words. "Piko... I..." He was at a loss for words. This was a burden too heavy for anyone to bear, let alone Piko. He tightened his hold on her, trying to offer what little comfort he could.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Piko," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't... I can't even begin to understand what you're going through. But please, remember you're not alone. I'm here for you... and we'll get through this, okay? Together."

He could still hear her soul pounding, and it broke his heart. But he wouldn't leave her side, not now. He would stay, and he would do whatever he could to help her through this.

She nodded. "And Dream? One more thing you should know..." She said.

"Of course, Piko," Dream responded, trying to put as much reassurance into his voice as possible. "What is it?"

"I... I died. Out there. I... I died."

Dream's heart stopped for a moment, the weight of her confession sinking in. She had died... Piko had experienced death and come back. That was no small thing, it was traumatic, life-altering.

"Oh, Piko..." He breathed out, his grip on her shoulder tightening. He didn't have any words of comfort for this, didn't know how to navigate the enormity of what she had experienced.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Piko," he choked out, his own eyes stinging with tears. "I can't imagine how... how terrifying that must've been."

He held her a bit closer, wishing he could take away her pain, her trauma. But all he could do was be there for her, provide a shoulder for her to lean on. "You're not alone, Piko. I'm here. We'll... We'll get through this together. You're not alone."

"I died... then before I knew it, I was back, and right before the arrow hit me... Like I... I'd been given another chance..."

Dream was silent for a moment, processing her words. A second chance... It was a concept that was difficult to grasp, and yet, it seemed to fit with what Piko had gone through.

"But why?" he asked softly, looking into her eyes. "Why do you think you were given another chance, Piko?"

She was quiet for a moment, her gaze distant as she thought. "I... I don't know, Dream," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But I feel like... like I need to do something with it. Like I need to make things right."

Dream nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "Then let's do that, Piko," he said, determination in his voice. "Let's find a way to make things right. Together."

After their talk, Piko went to her job. The day went by smoothly.

Dream watched her go, his heart heavy but hopeful. It was clear that Piko was dealing with a lot, but she wasn't backing down. She was facing her problems head on, and Dream couldn't help but admire her for that.

As the day went by, Dream couldn't help but worry about Piko. He knew she was strong, but she was also hurting. He hoped that being around people, being at her job, would help her in some way.

As the day turned into evening, Dream found himself pacing in the living room, waiting for Piko to come home. He hoped she was okay, hoped that the day had gone smoothly for her.

When she finally walked through the door, Dream let out a sigh of relief. "Piko," he greeted, rushing to her side. "How was your day?"

Dream watched her go, his heart heavy but hopeful. It was clear that Piko was dealing with a lot, but she wasn't backing down. She was facing her problems head on, and Dream couldn't help but admire her for that.

As the day went by, Dream couldn't help but worry about Piko. He knew she was strong, but she was also hurting. He hoped that being around people, being at her job, would help her in some way.

As the day turned into evening, Dream found himself pacing in the living room, waiting for Piko to come home. He hoped she was okay, hoped that the day had gone smoothly for her.

When she finally walked through the door, Dream let out a sigh of relief. "Piko," he greeted, rushing to her side. "How was your day?"

"...It.... was.... Fine. Peachy." She said. And that was the first red flag.

Dream's worry spiked at her words. "Peachy" wasn't a part of Piko's normal vocabulary. Her tone was off as well, too casual and dismissive. She was hiding something.

"Piko..." Dream started, his voice laced with concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't have to pretend if you're not."

Dream wanted to help her, but he knew he could only do that if Piko was honest with him. He could only hope that she would let him in and share what was truly going on.

"I'm... fine. Just... thinking a lot." Piko said, starting to walk to her room.

Dream watched as Piko started to retreat to her room, a frown pulling at his lips. He could tell she was troubled, her behavior was unusual and her words were evasive.

"Piko, wait," Dream said, moving to follow her. "Talk to me, please. I can tell something's wrong. Let me help."

He stood at the threshold of her room, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to force her to talk, but he also couldn't bear to see her in pain. He hoped she would let him in, let him help carry the burden she was clearly struggling with.

"I'm. FINE." She said. That was another red flag. She'd never spoken in that tone before, and especially never to Dream.

Dream was taken aback by her tone, feeling an odd mix of worry and hurt. He had never heard her speak like that, especially not to him. He took a step back, his hands up in a placating gesture.

"Okay, Piko," He said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just, remember, okay? I'm here for you. When you're ready to talk... I'm here."

With that, he turned and walked away from her room, giving her the space she seemed to need. But his heart was heavy, concerned for Piko and what she was going through. He hoped she would come to him when she was ready.

Dream felt a pang of sadness as he watched Piko go about her morning routine. The vibrant, lively girl he knew was nowhere to be seen, replaced by this quiet, withdrawn version of her. It was as if she was going through the motions, her spirit completely absent.

"Piko..." he started, but hesitated. He wanted to reach out, to bring back the Piko he knew and loved. But he also didn't want to push her away further.

Finally, he decided to speak. "Piko," he said, his voice gentle. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here."

He watched as she left, his heart heavy. He could only hope that she would eventually let him in, let him help her through whatever she was going through.

This was how the next few days went for Piko: Wake up, pack things, put on armor, avoid talking as much as possible, work, and immediately go to sleep when home. One day, Dream knew that he had to stop her and find out what was wrong. So when she walked upstairs to her room, Dream got up, walked to her and said: "Piko, we need to talk," Dream said firmly, standing in her path. It was clear that something was deeply wrong and he couldn't just stand by anymore. "I can't just watch you fade away like this, you're not yourself. Whatever it is you're going through, we can face it together. But you have to let me in, Piko." He pleaded, his eyes filled with concern and a desperate need to help her.

"I'm Fine." Thats all she said after stopping. She didn't even face Dream.

"Piko, that's not true," Dream said, his voice soft but insistent. "I know you, and I can see that you're not fine. Please, let me help you."

He reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing his hand gently on her shoulder. "Piko, I care about you. I can't stand seeing you like this. Please, talk to me. Let me in."

She whirled around the moment Dream touched her and yelled "I'M FINE!" Dream saw her eyes were glowing red with DETERMINATION.

Startled, Dream withdrew his hand, taken aback by the intensity in her eyes. He had never seen her like this before, so filled with anger and frustration.

"Piko, I-" he started, but stopped himself. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I'm sorry if I'm pushing you, but I'm worried about you. I just want to help."

He paused for a moment, searching her face. The glow in her eyes was intimidating, but he refused to back down. "But I can't help if you won't let me," he said softly. "Please, Piko. Let me in. Let me help you."

"I'm. FINE." Piko marched up to her room and slammed the door. Sometimes in the day, that's all Dream could hear from her. 'I'm fine.'

Dream was left standing in the hallway, staring at the closed door. The sound of her words echoed in his head, a painful reminder of the distance between them.

"I'm fine."

But he knew she wasn't. The vibrant, lively girl he knew was slipping away, replaced by someone distant and closed off. It was heartbreaking, and Dream felt powerless to stop it.

But he wouldn't give up. He cared about Piko too much to just let her suffer alone. He would be there for her, no matter how long it took. He just hoped she would let him in before it was too late.

Panic surged in Dream's chest, his heart pounding as he watched the ambulance rush towards Piko's station. A sense of dread washed over him, his mind immediately jumping to the worst-case scenario.

"Piko," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Without a second thought, he began to run after the ambulance, his heart pounding in his chest. All thoughts of their recent disagreements were forgotten, replaced by a singular concern for Piko's well-being.

As he ran, he couldn't help but regret not pushing harder, not doing more to help Piko when she clearly needed it. He could only hope that it wasn't too late to make things right.