should your day have gotten better, you would have not been in this situation. see, you had been frustrated at your grade on a recent math test, leading to an aquarium visit to ease your stress. there were not much people there, which lifted your spirits, even in the slightest. the visit had been going well as you stared at the fish giddily swimming around the tanks, when you looked to your right and noticed the hallway seemed to go on for forever. you knew very well that it didn’t look like that before. your shoes faintly clacked as you walked towards the seemingly endless hallway, every door more familiar than before.

after what felt like forever of walking, your legs aching, you spotted a girl you knew all too well, Asa Mitaka and… a blond kid around your age next to her. three members of the Devil Hunting Club, including the head of it. the uniformed individuals greeted and questioned the pair as you stared at their backs, unsure of your next move. looking to your right, the same fish kept swimming, the same starfish lazily laying on the bottom of the tanks. you had only briefly glanced at the active tank, when you heard the familiar voice of your best friend, Hirofumi Yoshida.

your eyes darted to the group of high schoolers as Yoshida was suddenly behind them, nonchalantly greeting the startled teenagers. none seemed to have noticed you obviously standing behind them, as they frantically questioned Yoshida on his sudden appearance.

Yoshida’s presence lifted your hopes and panicked, so you approached the group, greeting them as they all yelped in unison at the appearance of a new person. they questioned you as they had done with Yoshida, as you answered their question beside Yoshida.

all of you knew all too well about your situation, the hallway being endless no matter how far you walked. Yoshida stayed by your side as you all sat down in a lounge and contemplated what to do. Yoshida’s gaze met your blank eyes as he quietly questioned with the same look on his face.

“so.. what now?”