It was silent for nearly the entire time Ao and Hatsuharu crossed the obstacles. Ao preferred it that way. They could proceed from building to building without being held back by any petty arguments they might have. Not only that, they even managed to surpass several teams, who could be seen struggling atop other buildings. Yes, this was efficient. 

But for some reason, Ao couldn’t help but be unsettled by his personality switch. Occasionally, she would look back, expecting Hatsuharu to return to the self she was familiar with. Yet she would only to be met with an unfeeling gaze. It bothered her too much. 

Whenever Ao chose a path, be it easy or difficult, Hatsuharu would follow like a shadow. He struggled but he never once asked for help. Once, when he slipped off some swinging steps, he just hung there for a moment, not putting any effort into trying to save himself. Then, calmly, he climbed back up and continued. Ao realised she didn’ like Hatsuharu like that. As much as she found his fuckboy side insufferable, she could bear with it. This, she could not.

While going through a net tunnel, Ao could see Cyberpunk and Bodyguard a distance away. Another team was in front of them, making their way across a rope ladder.

All of a sudden, Bodyguard –with Cyberpunk on his shoulders– leapt on the ladder, expertly manoeuvred past the team and made it to the end. Ao could see Cyberpunk mouth something, before Bodyguard tore apart the knots securing the ladder to the roof. The team fell. Their screams were muffled by the wind. 

“Who would’ve thought that kid was this dangerous. We better watch out for her, right?” Ao said out loud. In truth, she wasn’t horrified or taken aback by the scene. Cyberpunk had been rubbing her the wrong way for a while now and this was just the proof Ao was waiting for. On why she talked… Ao did it in hopes to get a reply out of Hatsuharu. He stayed silent.

Eventually, they arrived at the last building and was about to complete the stage. Or so they thought. The finish line, which was a large hemispherical structure, was right before their eyes. But when they approached the roof edge, there was no obstacle bridging the seven metres between them and the finish line. In other words, it was a dead end. 

“This is it.” Hatsuharu finally spoke, sighing. Ao knew that too. Four teams (including the one-man-team) were catching up to them, having gotten used to the heights and obstacles. On the hemisphere roof, Sei and his partner just entered an elevator, becoming the first team to finish, assuming no one else was faster. Close by, Cyberpunk and Bodyguard were on their last obstacle. If Ao and Hatsuharu turned back and took another path, too much precious time would be wasted. And if they tried to jump, it was as good as a one way ticket to losing. Either way, they wouldn’t make it. 

“We’re done.” Hatsuharu said. There was no fear in those words, only acceptance. And it irked Ao off to no end. There was a reason why she asked about the rope. 

Ao dug around rubble and trash that was piled on the roof, searching for something –anything– sturdy enough. Her fingers knocked against a large piece of metal. She pulled it out, examining it more closely. The iron rod was bent but solid. Perfect. She sifted through for similar metal pieces and managed to obtain two others. It was one less than she had hoped for, but she had to make do. There was no time. 

With all her might, Ao hammered the rods against a corner one by one until they each formed a crude hook. Then she untied the rope on her wrist and wrapped it tightly around the straight ends of the hooks. After a few slight adjustments, she tugged on the rope using her body weight. The make-shift grappling hook held firm. 

“You!” Ao ordered to Hatsuharu as she went over to the roof edge. “Hurry up, give me your end of the rope.”

Hatsuharu scowled but complied, albeit with too much force than necessary like a petty child. He threw the rope at her and she caught it. 

Taking a deep breath, Ao swung the grappling hook in a wide arc, then let it fly. It caught on the roof ledge. Then she bound the other end of the rope to a rusty pipe sticking out of the ground. It didn’t look too stable, but what choice did she have? Ao would rather die trying than sit on her ass waiting for her demise. 

Hatsuharu widened his eyes, amazed, but quickly hid it.

Ao went first. Seven metres wasn’t very far, so she guessed that the two of them could reach as the forth team if nothing went wrong. Steeling herself, Ao swung her legs over, hooking her ankles around the rope to get into a steady position. Then, she began to scoot, inch by inch.

Ao’s arms extended out in front of her until they burned, and only then would she grab onto the rope and pull herself forwards. More than ever, she was aware of the dizzying distance below her as the rope swayed from the wind and her weight. Her stomach churned. She was on the verge of throwing up. I’m going to die. I’m really going to die. Ao crawled on. 

Finally, her hand felt cool, solid concrete and Ao hauled herself onto the the roof. Collapsing in a heap, she spewed out saliva. She made it… She made it! But Ao stopped that sense of accomplishment from washing over her. It wasn’t over yet. There was still Hatsuharu. Behind her, Cyberpunk and Bodyguard went down into the building. 

Ao held onto the grappling hook and gestured to Hatsuharu. In one swift movement, he got onto the rope and started to make his way across. He moved fast, faster than her, and quickly neared the end in no time. Ao allowed a sigh of relief to escape her. 

Then it happened. A loud clang rang out. The metal pipe broke in half, the hook snapped off, and the make-shift bridge gave way. Ao blinked and Hatsuharu was falling. He’s falling. 

Without thinking, Ao lunged forwards, hand shooting out to catch the fraying rope. The force of the grab nearly threw her over but she anchored herself with her other hand, barely latching on to the ledge. She winced as friction grated the skin off her palm. 

Hatsuharu dangled in the air, the only thing keeping him from a second death being Ao’s iron grip on the rope. He gazed down, then at the roofs of other buildings.

“Grab my hand!” Ao gritted through clenched teeth. “I’ll pull you up!”

“The other teams are going to win.” 

“So what?”

“You’re going to lose if you don’t let me go.” Hatsuharu gave her a gentle smile. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. Really.”

The self-pity and insecurity seeping out of his voice, it annoyed her. It annoyed her so much. “It’s not just dying you dumbass, it’s torture! Do you want that? Do you seriously want that? Then why the fuck are you still holding onto the rope? You could’ve let go long ago but you’re still here!” Ao glowered at him in disgust. “Stop acting like you want to do something when you really don’t want to. What’s up with that? It’s pathetic.”

Her words stabbed Hatsuharu. “Y-you’ll make it without me.” He stammered. “It’s not against the rules.”

“It’s against my rules you dipshit. Jump off the roof later, I don’t care, but I’m not letting you die here.”

“Wh-why?”

“Just fucking grab it…” The rope slipped. Ao dove further to grab it and the fingernails on her other hand ripped off. She let out a hoarse cry. 

“Haru!”