Just as progress was being made, Noboru nearly jumped out of his seat as the door slammed open, and a familiar looking man collapsed onto the wood. Unaware of what was going on, Noboru just watched the stone encroach upon the man's body until he was entirely swallowed by it, frozen in shock as he slowly recognized him. That was...Kuremi's Grandpa, wasn't it? This was terrible...was he somehow dipped in tar or something? No, that was just the attempts to rationalize the impossible going on. As far as he knew, no disease that made someone turn to stone existed. 

Turning to Kuremi, he bit his lower lip, knowing he had to do something...anything. Before he could say anything though, Maggie suddenly bolted. Reaching out to try and stop her, Noboru called: [color=FFEFD5][b]"H-Hey wait, what's wrong? We should call an ambulance-"[/b][/color] he said before he saw a hail of arrows pass by the door after Maggie. He had no idea if she was okay or not for a moment, and in the next few seconds he would see a stone soldier rush to the door he was at. Letting out a surprised yell, Noboru fell back and crawled towards the desks, grabbing one by the leg and regaining his footing before charging the stone soldier...now soldiers blocking the door and breaking the door apart. As the door broke, Noboru jammed the desk into the open doorway.

Feeling that he'd slowed them for a moment, Noboru quickly found himself incorrect as the soldier simply grabbed the desk and crumpled it in their hand like it was nothing. Shakily stepping back as that line of pitiful defense was broken through, Noboru finally got a good look at the stone soldier advancing towards him. As it raised its sword, Noboru was frozen in fearful shock, asking out loud: [color=FFEFD5][b]"M-Mom...?"[/b][/color] before the blade came down. 

Seconds turned to minutes in Noboru's mind, as he felt tears begin to trickle down his face. [color=FFEFD5][i]"Not Mom...please no, I can't...T-This is all a bad dream. This is just a nightmare. Don't make me...D-Don't make her..."[/i][/color] he thought, mind on the verge of breaking. [b]"Then, don't fight. Just defend,"[/b] a voice whispered to his mind. Then, suddenly, his thoughts cleared, and in one swift motion, his hand met the stone set to drive into his chest. As if he were a master of it, he caught her sword deftly between the palms of his hands, a faint shimmer visible to him, as if something was guiding his hands. 

[color=FFEFD5][b]"OPEN YOUR EYES! MOM, ITS ME!"[/b][/color] he said, forced to sit up with one knee as he pushed back against the stone soldier resembling his mother. Shoving her back, Noboru looked to Aoi, Kuremi, and Rebecca, and shouted: [color=FFEFD5][b]"FIND A WAY OUT! JUMP OUT THE WINDOW IF YOU HAVE TO!"[/b][/color] before another strike, this one aimed at his side, was blocked by a chair that he picked up. More soldiers were pouring in, and, worst of all, he doubted Kuremi would be in any state to move after seeing her grandfather like that...and thinking of how he was going to attack them like this if he got up.