[Video, redone virus post]

[unknownrival]

[The video opens on Issei and Shirou, sitting in the lunch room at school.]

...Hey, Issei. Is there something strange going on at the temple?

Hm? What do you mean by something strange?

I don’t know. But is there anything that’s different?

...Let’s see. If you mean recently, there is an unfamiliar woman. But that’s it. My father and brother are as always.

[The video continues...]

[Issei will not be replying to this, as he is actually experiencing it.]

Comments

[aquaticrush]

*No. No, this can't be real, it shouldn't be, it's a virus, any minute now he's going to talk to her and tell her it's fake. Any minute. Retasu sits, shaking, by her computer for the next -- minutes, hours, she doesn't eat, she refreshes the page until four in the morning when she falls asleep crying and convincing herself that it was just a video and there must be some reason he isn't responding.

She doesn't respond to anything herself for days.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Issei!

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

[No. No, this wasn't possible. It must have been a virus, but could a virus actually kill someone--?!]

[Lancer didn't know, and that was why he was currently looking for his Master as fast as his high-ranked agility could carry him.]

[action]

[unknownrival]

[He won't be found anywhere in the temple. The school, on the other hand... will have him lying on the floor of the student council room in a pool of blood.]

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

[And that was where he went next, as soon as logic kicked in and he realized that was where he'd probably be.]

Master--Issei, don't--you can't-...You can't do this. I can't fail again, please--

Re: [action]

[unknownrival]

...D...iarmuid...?

[There's a little bit of life left in him.]

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

I'm...I'm here. I'm sorry, I can't--I am no magus, I have no healing abilities.

[action]

[unknownrival]

I'm just... glad you're here.

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

...It will be alright.

[Diarmuid sat down beside him, struggling to hold his composure.]

This...isn't real. So things will set themselves right once it is over and done with, as if nothing ever happened.

[action]

[unknownrival]

I hope so. ...I hope he's all right...

['He' being the other dead body in the room.]

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

...He's...fine.

[It was the first lie Diarmuid had ever told. But the fact that he would compromise even that about himself right now said a great deal more.]

That must hurt, doesn't it? Believe me, I know. You should- [His voice shook faintly, but Lancer forced himself to smile all the same.] -...get some rest. When you wake again, this will simply...all have been a nightmare. Nothing more.

[action]

[unknownrival]

Mm... goodnight, Diarmuid. [His breath was coming slowly when he closed his eyes, and after a few more seconds, it stopped coming entirely.]

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

...

[He was neither disappearing nor did he feel any indication he should. That much confirmed it--this was all just another virus, another sick game that would run its course before returning things to normal.]

[That was little more than cold comfort to the knight who'd failed again, the worthless Servant that could never protect anyone. All he could think to do now was stay by his Master's side and wait for this to run its course.]

[How pathetic.]

[heavenlyhome]

[this seems a familiar sight, somehow, for all the horror she feels. it's a terrible thing. she's lost him again. there are tears, and there is sobbing, and there is only so much she can handle. she locks herself in her room for the rest of the day, reading the last messages he had sent and remembering the time that had passed.]