Rei's got Kirishima pinned to the floor, strangling him. While Kirishima's in obvious discomfort, Rei seems to phase out a bit and asks Kirishima angrily how it feels to be the one dying. Just when it seems that Rei is really going to follow through and choke Kirishima to death, some guys playing catch outside accidentally break a window. The sound of breaking glass brings Rei back to himself, and he lets go of Kirishima. Rather than being frightened after this incident, however, Kirishima begins to laugh. He knows that Rei almost lost control and killed him, and is happy that he's found someone with a personality so similar to his own. He smiles at Rei, telling him that he's always thought that everyone in the world would either reproach/blame him, or look down on him, but that he and Rei have just found something in common. Kira, returning to the art room, overhears Kirishima's comments from behind the door.

At home that day, Kira is watching tv and thinking about what she heard Kirishima tell Rei. She feels that Rei is moving further and further from her, and doesn't know what to do about it. Suddenly she gets a phone call from one of her mother's coworkers, telling her that her mother has fainted at work and has been sent to the hospital!

At the hospital, it turns out that Kira's mother has fainted due to fatigue/overwork. Kira remembers how her mother told her to relax and concentrate on studies, because she would be able to support them both and let Kira continue getting an education. She begins to cry.

Tatsuya meets up with Rei at school, and asks him how everything's going. Just then Kirishima walks by, and greets Rei, calling him by his first name rather than "senpai" as he's supposed to (since he's a couple years younger). This shocks Tatsuya, but Rei doesn't really react. Tatsuya starts wondering what's going on between Kirishima and Rei, but then realizes how weird that would be and apologizes. Rei, watching Tatsuya, comments that when he sees Tatsuya he always rediscovers what it is to be truly normal, and admires Tatsuya for being able to be friends with a person like himself. Just then Harumi comes with the news that Kira's mother has fainted and is in the hospital.

Kira's leaving the hospital--her mother has awoken and seems to be getting better. Outside she comes upon Rei, who was sitting on a planter waiting for her. She invites Rei home with her, and he gazes wonderingly at the interior of her house (never been there before). Kira tells him her mother's overworked herself in order to support Kira and let her have a college education. She says that though they're still examining, her mother seems also to have some liver problems.

Rei ends up staying at Kira's to see some old pictures, etc. The album has some watercolor smudges on it from Kira's paints. Rei comments that her room smells like the art room at school, and like Sei's room used to smell. He says that while he used to not be able to take this smell, now it just gives him a peaceful, nostalgic feeling...and that people really do change over time. He's about to leave when he realizes how late it's gotten, but Kira begins to cry, since she's really been afraid of being alone for the past few days while her mother's been in the hospital. Rei decides to stay with Kira until she falls asleep, and calls his employer to take the day off. Before she sleeps, Kira tells Rei she likes him. He holds her hand until she falls asleep.
Kira seems to recall that nearing daybreak, she heard the sounds of a motorcycle exhaust, and feels that if only she could forget everything, and ride off with him, everything would be all right...

Next day at school, Kirishima meets Rei in the hallway and asks after Kira's mother.
Rei: Could you stop bothering me like this?
Kirishima: Do you really hate me that much? [pause] Or are you afraid of me?
Rei [stops]: I think...I'm afraid, probably? But...I'm not really afraid of you as a person. I think the thing I'm probably afraid of is...losing something precious because of you. Right now, I have things that I want to protect, [image of Kira] people that I don't want to lose. You could say this is weak , and that's all right, because I don't have to make people think I'm a strong person...nor do I want to be a strong person.

At Kirishima's home, he pulls out a picture of Rei from his desk and pins it up on the wall. He recalls what Rei said, and disgustedly says that those statements weren't the type of thing that Rei should be saying and that Kira (he takes out a picture of Kira) is having a bad influence on Rei. He decides it's time to "take care" of things.

In the cafeteria, Harumi and Kira are having a talk. Kira says she's decided not to go to college anymore, because she doesn't want to add to her mother's burdens. She wants to go find a job as soon as she graduates, even though her personality isn't really the extroverted kind. Harumi suddenly comes up with this excellent (well, she thinks it's excellent) idea of Kira and Rei getting married, so Kira can let Rei take care of her. She also says that Kira's suited to be a good wife. Just then Tatsuya calls Harumi away, and Kira's left alone at the table. Kirishima pops out of nowhere (he has this freaky habit of doing that) and, darting another scary look at Kira, says that their way of thinking is so simple and happy that he's envious. Kira chases Kirishima out into the hall, and says that she thinks he's mistaken about Rei. She says that he's right in that Rei does have this side to his personality (I don't know how to describe it...fierce? rushed? excitable? eh.) but that he's got other aspects to his personality that have warmth and kindness and other good qualities. She doesn't understand why Kirishima has to ignore these other sides of Rei, and Kirishima just smiles eerily and replies that he's just not interested in a mature, gentle Rei.

The police officer person from before (who turned up to warn Rei about Kirishima that other time) turns up again at Rei's workplace (construction site). Rei asks him to stop following him around, and the police officer just apologizes and asks about Kirishima. Rei makes some comments about how the justice system is ineffectual, and asks the officer how long they're going to let things stand as they are before taking action concerning Kirishima. Since Kirishima hasn't actually "done" anything yet, the police can't do anything but sit and watch. Rei tells the officer that the case with Aoki was premeditated murder, and that Kirishima said so himself, with a really gleeful expression on his face, which made Rei truly believe that he (Kirishima) is crazy. The officer is really apologetic, but explains that even though the police are supposed to be protectors of the law, they're actually prisoners/constrained by the law themselves, and because of the law are rendered immobile. Rei remembers Kirishima making a comment about "using the law to his advantage" and asks what exactly the law is, anyway. The officer just says that there are people in the world who would commit murder, the worst thing a human being could do...and that the law says that the person who commits murder for $1000 has just as much a right to live as the person who was killed for $1000. (Then he and Rei go on to say a few other things similar to this which I'm really too lazy to try and explain...because I have this feeling that if I continue, things will just get less and less coherent.) Basically Rei says he's confused by a lot of this legal/illegal crap, but one thing he's come to realize is that having someone to protect is really a good thing. He says that before, he always thought the strongest person was always the one who didn't have anything, but that lately he's come to realize that having someone to protect is better.

Kira's gotten Harumi to come spend the night at her house, since her mother's still in the hospital. Kira is really thankful to have a friend like Harumi (and a friend in general, since before, she was always afraid of other people and having anything to do with others). The two of them are joking around about putting boyfriends before friends when Kira hears the sound of a motorcycle outside. (ultra-sensitive to this kind of sound now, aren't we? ^_- Harumi didn't even notice.) Rei's come over, and Kira goes out to meet him. She tells him that Harumi's agreed to come over and stay with her so he doesn't need to worry about her so much. Before he goes, Kira stops him.
Kira: Remember a little while ago, you said you felt you'd changed? I also feel like I've changed. Even though I can't really say where or how exactly I've changed...before, I always hated myself and wanted to be born over again someone else. But now, I like myself...this might sound strange coming from me, but it's because of you that I've changed. People change continually over the course of every day of life. I used to dread tomorrow coming, but now I've grown impatient wishing for tomorrow to come sooner...
Rei touches Kira's face before he leaves.

Harumi asks why Rei didn't stay longer. Kira replies that he's actually doing this for her own good, because he's afraid that if he stayed, the neighbors would talk about how once her mother was gone in the hospital Kira had strange guys over at all hours. Harumi's impressed that Rei would be mature enough to think of this point, and tells Kira that Rei's very thoughtful/sensitive. Kira agrees, saying that before, she'd once told Rei that she sensed colors in him, and that these colors were fiery and beautiful but had a touch of sorrow...but now the colors she senses on him are warmth/gentleness.

Kirishima has a picture of Kira on his desk. He stabs it with a knife.

Rei dreams about running up flights of stairs and opening a door just to see Sei jump off the protective wall of the roof. He wakes up sweating, startled.
Rei: It's already been 3 years....no, it's only been 3 years.

Rei goes to Kira's house. A neighbor lady sees him and tells him that Kira's mother is in the hospital, and that Kira has gone to see her. She also says that a cute short-haired girl was there looking for Kira earlier that day as well. Rei guesses it was Harumi, until the lady mentions that the girl had a bandage around her hand. He then realizes it must have been Kirishima (remember the cigarette burn Kirishima had on his palm?), and suddenly gets very anxious and asks the lady where the hospital is.

Kira's on the roof of the hospital, thinking about the doctor's words. He's told her that in order for complete recovery, her mother has to rest for a long period of time. Kira sighs, and thinks that even if she doesn't go to college she'll still be able to draw. Kirishima turns up, saying pityingly that Kira has bad luck, since her mother has gotten sick at this time. He takes out a knife, and says, smiling, that it's all right, he'll make Kira comfortable (release her from discomfort?) in a short time. Kirishima says that he really didn't want to kill her, but that if he doesn't, Rei will become less and less interesting. He also says that he doesn't want to kill her himself, and would rather that Kira did it herself by jumping off the roof. He says that under the current circumstances, what with her mother in the hospital and her education looking so bleak, nobody would think it odd if Kira decided to commit suicide. He says that if he cuts her throat, it will take her at least 3 minutes to slowly and painfully bleed to death, but if Kira would jump off the roof, it all could be over in a matter of seconds. He says he's leaving it up to Kira to decide how she wants to die.
Kira tries to play for time, asking Kirishima why he's doing this to her, and why he wants to kill her. Kirishima, impatient, repeats that he doesn't *want* to kill her, but he will in order to get Rei back to the way he was three years ago when Sei died. He says that he doesn't want to kill another person, since he's already killed Aoki and there's that police officer on his back, and that he'll have to go to the mental ward again and have those boring times. He just wants Rei back to the way he was before. Kira claims that Rei won't change even if she's killed, and Kirishima laughs and says that this poses an interesting question--whether Rei will change or not--and that he wants to try killing her to see what Rei's reaction will be.

Rei speeds to the hospital and finds Kira's mother's room. Nobody's there, though, except the nurse/cleaning lady, who tells him that Kira's mother is being examined and that she doesn't know where Kira's gone to.

Kira tries to escape from Kirishima but to no avail. He decides to take matters into his own hands and kill her, telling her that he won't use the same methods he used on Aoki (stabbing) and strangling her instead. Kira, in desperation, tries to take his hands away from her neck, but only manages to loosen the bandage Kirishima has on his hand.

Rei happens to look out the window and sees an unravelled bandage floating down. He looks up and sees Kirishima and Kira struggling on the roof. He rushes to the elevator, but it's stopped on the fifth floor so he runs up the stairs.

Kira bites Kirishima's hand, and he loosens his grip. Kirishima wonders at her will to live, and asks whether she hasn't experienced enough pain in her life already. He tells her that he already spent a lot of money on researching her past, as he did to Rei, and asks her whether Rei "knows already." Kira, shocked, suddenly has memories of someone grabbing her arm and ripping her shirt. Crying, she's frozen sitting next to the roof railing. Kirishima comes close, and says that since such a thing happened to her, even her mother wouldn't wonder if she committed suicide. Kirishima gets out his knife and directs it to Kira's neck, saying he's changed his mind about killing her.

Rei reaches the roof and opens the door to find Kirishima about to stab Kira. The two of them stop and stare at Rei, and he uses the chance to knock Kirishima down. (Rei to the rescue!!! ya!!) Rei beats Kirishima up pretty badly, but Kira stops him from going further. She doesn't want any more hurting to go on. However, once Rei's stopped, Kirishima goes after his dropped knife and rushes towards them with it. Kira jumps in the way, and gets her sleeve slashed. Kirishima continues to rush Rei, but this time Rei not only blocks but wrests the knife away and goes after Kirishima with it. Kira jumps in the way before Rei can stab Kirishima, though, and tells Rei that he'll regret having killed Kirishima if he does it now, and that she doesn't want to see Rei blame himself and regret his actions. Before Rei and Kira leave, Kirishima laughs and tells Rei that the reason Rei hates him so much is because they're too similar.

Rei tells Kira not to go anywhere alone, and not to have anything to do with Kirishima. He's about to leave to talk to the police officer when Kira notices that his hand is shaking as he tries to put the key to his motorcycle. He tells her that he is like Kirishima in that he wanted to kill just because he hated Kirishima, and if Kira wasn't there with him, he would go back to the roof and stab and slash at Kirishima until he bled to death. Rei tells Kira he feels like he's going crazy...

Kira calls Kirishima to the art room to talk, despite being afraid of him. She tells him that though she's scared, she's also a little admiring of Kirishima and the way he wants to live. She says she can understand the idea of wanting to kill all the people she doesn't like, and that life would be so much more comfortable without these people existing. However, she says that if one were really to live this way, one would soon lose one's sense of self and all sense of purpose, and would just live a meaningless life. She tells Kirishima that she has a lot of trouble drawing Rei because she senses so many colors about him...but that it would be easy to draw Kirishima, because all she'd have to do is paint the whole thing black. She tells Kirishima that he doesn't have the ability to move anyone's heart, and that he's nothing at all like Rei.

Kirishima is walking around a mall area. Some girls are meeting up, and one of them runs to catch up with the group. She accidentally steps on Kirishima's foot and doesn't notice. Kirishima stares at her, and then follows her and her friends to the top of an escalator, where he shoves the girl. She falls down the escalator, pushing down people in front of her and knocking down a whole line of people on the escalator. Kirishima smiles.

Kira hears the news on tv about a fifteen-year-old boy pushing a girl on an escalator and causing 10 people's injuries. Kirishima is being questioned by the police, and they ask him whether he knows about all the bystanders that he's injured just because he wasn't happy about the girl stepping on his foot and not apologizing. He begins to laugh, and replies that it was really funny to see all those people fall over, just like dominoes... The police officers all think Kirishima's got mental issues, and take him away. Before he goes, though, Kirishima stops and tells an officer (the one Rei knows, who asked Kirishima whether it's true that he planned to take Kira's life) to tell Kira that "even though Kirishima is very similar to Rei in ways of thinking, when it comes to his nature and his actions in real circumstances, he's actually a lot more like her, and is sorry he didn't have time to make her understand this." Meanwhile, Kira is sitting in front of her tv, recalling what Kirishima said ("does Rei know already?") and remembering someone pushing her down to the floor.

At school, everyone's talking about how Kirishima knocked some girl down an escalator. On the roof, Rei and Tatsuya are talking about it. Rei asks Tatsuya what he would do if somebody killed Harumi. Tatsuya replies that he'd definitely want to kill the person. He seems somewhat ashamed that he could think so violently, but Rei says it's a normal way to think. He says that if you hate someone, it's natural that you would want to kill them. What wouldn't be so normal is if you didn't have any feeling towards someone, but wanted to kill them anyway. He says he can understand what was going through Kirishima's head at the time, the feeling of interest and amusement at seeing these people fall like dominoes. He says that when you start feeling that people have a worth of zero, then you cease to think of them as people and just see them as things--and that killing ceases to be killing, but instead is just destruction of objects.

After a week, Kirishima's been expelled from school. He's in the mental ward of a hospital. Rei hasn't been to school for days, and Tatsuya wonders about it. Kira gets worried and goes to Rei's apartment. It seems that he's been a little out of sorts, and has forgotten what day it is. Kira tells Rei that he's nothing like Kirishima. Rei seems to think differently though, and recalls an incident from his childhood in LA. This really rotten little kid had always bullied Sei, and Rei had always beaten him up afterwards for it, but in turn the bully would just give it back to Sei. Sei begged Rei to stop trying to defend him and to leave the bully alone, because it would only make things worse for him. Rei, expressionless, went to his uncle's desk and pulled out a gun from the drawer. He rushed outside, knocked the bully off his bike, and pushed the gun into the bully's mouth. Rei remembers the incident and says that if his uncle hadn't taken out the cartridges the night before, he would have killed the kid that day. Kira asks whether there wasn't any other way to handle it, and Rei replied that at the time, killing him seemed to simplest solution--one shot, and then all the problems would be solved.

Rei asks Kira whether he's really so different from Kirishima. He says that he always had Sei by his side, and after Sei left, he had Kira. He says that through his life, Kirishima only had someone like Aoki by his side. Kira tells Rei to stop saying these kinds of things, and that she, Harumi, and Tatsuya all stay around him because they like him, because he's attractive... Rei tells her how afraid he is that someday, she's going to look at him the way his father or Sei looked at him--with fear, with hatred. He says that whenever they looked at him like that, he wouldn't be able to remember who or what he was...

Kira holds Rei and kisses him, telling him that she knows how he laughs, how he cries, and how gentle he really is...Rei kisses Kira in return, and they end up making out on his floor. Right when Rei is bending over her, though, Kira suddenly gets an image of Kirishima with the knife, saying "you even had *that* happen to you...even your mother wouldn't wonder if you committed suicide..." As Rei kisses her, she suddenly hears Kirishima saying "does Rei know already?" and sees shards of memories of someone pulling at her shirt, of her crying and covering her eyes...she cries out for Rei to stop, and not to touch her, and scratches his chest with her nails. Rei freezes midmotion, and stares at Kira, stunned. She backs away from him a little, eyes wide in shock, face flushed. She holds her head, and then falls forward, crying out.

End Volume 7.

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