[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MbfVrN0.jpg?1[/img]

Back. Back again.

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He remembered. The scorching pain of flames on his flesh. The grit of burned wound rubbing against itself while he fought. He remembered. Pain. But also, a stalemate. He didn't win. He hadn't expected it. Who in their right mind would guess that a magic flamethrower would fire at them. No one, that's who. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that he hadn't won that fight. It was. . . . frustrating. He was so sure in his victory, but it was not enough. 

An now, he found himself back on this street. Back with the same people as before. Back having the same conversation. Did he die again? He couldn't remember. The last thing he remembered was blacking out. He supposed it was likely he had died if that was the case. Hmmm. Then there was a decision to be made. His heart was grim, but his face was still impassive. His mind raced. What was he going to do. There was absolutely a safer option than the one he took last time. Maybe if he stayed at the clinic no one would try to kill him. Maybe Fritzi was really the cause of all of this. The paths were open before him. One led to an inferno. The others were still dark and unknown. He felt the phantom pain of the flames across his body. Fuck. It hurt. He never wanted to suffer through that kind of pain again.

It was then, that he was called over. Aerith. She clearly also remembered. She was trying to get things sorted out. Hiro hoped that she would be able to plan around the fact that his decision was already made. 

Hiro heard Chieko mention going with her group. That was probably a good option. Still, he smiled and patted her head before she turned and left.

[color=slategray]"It's good you've found a path that keeps you safe. Keep an eye out for your friends."[/color]

He watched her leave before turning to Aerith. His eyes were set and his gaze was firm.

[color=slategray]"This might sound strange, but I'm going with Fritzi again. I won't lose this time. It's something I have to face."[/color]

In one movement after that, he went over the Fritzi and informed her of his decision to come with her. For him it was once more, for her, it was the first time. Still, Hiro wanted to face that inferno again. He knew how this path would go, and he would face it.