Clash of the Mind and Heart

Not too far from the last challenge, the group find themselves in a large pool area, with a large locked door. Kurosawa stands close by. "Ah, took you long enough. Here's one of your last challenges! Find the key to unlock the door, and you only got one last thing in your way!" Hiroshi cocks his head to the side in confusion. "I thought you said it was 10 challenges?" Kurosawa yawns, wholely disinterested.

 "They said something about budget constraints.. something about sports, I don't know I wasn't paying attention. Find the key, and you're good basically." They look over his shoulder and find the pool filled to the brim with keys. "I vote for a temporary truce. We made it here together, so might as well." Kazuki proposes. "At this point, might as well.." Emi responds. "We don't have the time to try every single key, right?" Aya asks.

 Kurosawa shakes his head. "Actually, you guys have less than 3 minutes left. So, can you figure it out? I'm curious!" Hiroshi and Haruka look stumped. "We can't just sit around and think, I'm gonna try a few of these keys!" Kazuki yells before scooping up a bunch of keys. "There has to be something distinct about those keys that makes it obvious.." Toshiko ponders. Haruka taps her foot in impatience. "This is hard.. I have a few ideas on how we could find it but.." Hiroshi turns over to Kurosawa. "Any rules on using our phones?" Kurosawa thinks for a second but shrugs. 

"Before, I would've said yeah. But now, go nuts. I can't say any more than that." Hiroshi smiles widely. "Then that's my theory confirmed." Haruka looks surprised, and then elated. "Ah, that's where you're going with this! You aren't the same person you were before.." Hiroshi cracks a sly smirk. "Well... Things have been going pretty fast. You aren't the same person you were before either, I've noticed quite a bit!" Haruka blushes a little. "Y-you think so?" Toshiko chuckles a bit. "I'd think so. You used to be super cold, but now I think you're pretty alright." Emi clears her throat extremely loudly. 

"Anyway. What was your idea, Hiroshi?" He shows them his phone. "Explaining thermal imaging isn't very easy, so I'll shorten it to some of the keys may have a hotter or colder temperature than the others. I suspect since they're in a pool, we're probably looking for a key with a warmer temperature.." Haruka nods diligently. "Which means if we can just scan a large number at once, we'll find it eventually!" Toshiko whips out his phone. "Then what're we waiting for? C'mon, we don't have much time left!" They each scan some piles with no luck. As they sift through piles of keys, they all turn up cold. Kazuki still fiddles with the door. 

"This is IMPOSSIBLE! How'd they expect anyone to solve this!" Kazuki shouts, tossing a key back. "Less than a minute left! Is this how it ends? I expect better.." Kurosawa shouts. Hiroshi hurriedly scans a bunch of keys, to no luck. "We're running out of time here, Hiroshi!" Toshiko exclaims. "I know, I know! I'm trying!" He retorts. Haruka scans near Kazuki, finding a warm signature. She immediately runs over and pushes Kazuki out of the way. 

 "Hey!? A guy can't brute force method his way to victory!?" He yells. She turns the key and the door clicks open. "I found it! We're out!" Haruka shouts. "Well, technically I found it but I'll give it to ya." Everyone opens the door, only to be greeted by a decently sized boulder. "Push this outta the way, and you're done! Not much time left." Kurosawa explains. Kazuki pushes against the rock, barely moving it an inch. "We.. do NOT give up! They wanna put more obstacles in our way?! They want to put us down?! Then SCREW THEM! ANYTHING THAT GETS IN MY WAY IS GOING DOWN!" Toshiko joins him. 

"

Yeah... Yeah! I'm sick and tired of feeling like this. I have things I can protect, things I care about above all else! THIS IS NOTHING!" Haruka steps back. "I'm just the smart one.. I can't help.." Emi and Hiroshi stand next to her. "You're more than that. I never really saw that until now. Smarts, strength, none of that matter now. I know the power of friendship is clichè, but if you aren't strong on your own then have people lift you up to fight with you!" Hiroshi exclaims.

 "I'm with you, every step of the way." Aya doesn't hesitate at the opportunity to help Kazuki and Toshiko. Along with her, the rest of them come together to push. "For years, my role only meant I could get power.. I never wanted power, I only just wanted to LIVE! Student Council President, Top of the Class, none of those matter anymore! I'm tired of keeping up a facade, I'LL LIVE HOW I WANT TO!" Haruka shouts. "Woah, now there's a fire! Now you're gettin' me fired up! EVERYONE, PUSH!" Kazuki screams. With a unified yell, the boulder budges just enough for them to pass by. In front of them, they spot the camp. 

Extremely weak, they can only manage to stumble. "I... need to win this..!" Emi exclaims. Aya sits down, exhausted. "Yeah, I'm good.. I don't really care.." As they all inch towards the finish line, Kazuki sprints forward and crosses in a sudden burst of energy. "And that's that! Another victory for Kazuki Tanaka!" He shouts before passing out from exhaustion. Emi stares at the ground, angry but content at the same time. The conflicting feelings confusing her entirely. Hiroshi and Toshiko sit next to each other. "Well, we wn.. but I still can't shake something." Hiroshi says. "What's up man?" Toshiko asks. 

"Well.. you and Emi aren't really in the best shape friendship wise. I know when we first got here, Kazuki told you to start opening up but it feels only like things stayed the same. Maybe you won't open up to us fully, and I honestly don't think I care, that's alright. But Emi has a reason to know. Maybe you should say something before it's way too late. If we go home before you do that.. then I think things are going to only get worse from here." Hiroshi explains. "I know that. But it's not easy. Wouldn't it be easier to just forget it all? If I can just.. outrun the sadness and replace it with happier times, isn't that just as good of a solution?" Toshiko replies. Hiroshi looks up, shaking his head. 

"I don't know much about this kind of thing but.. if I've been Kazuki's friend this long I've known one thing. If she's dear to you, don't ruin it. You can run, but how far do you think you'll get until you get tired? Whenever you get the chance to rest, it'll weigh on your mind! You can pretend to be out of your slump, but we'll know. Whatever fears you have, you NEED to face. It's better to try than to wonder what if." Hiroshi proclaims. "Damn, you're really starting to sound like Kazuki.." Toshiko responds. "Hey, c'mon. Are you gonna try or not?" Hiroshi asks. Toshiko takes a deep breath before exhaling and leaning back. 

"I get it.. I knew what I had to do for the start y'know. I just needed a push. Thanks, Hiro." Toshiko responds. They both stare up together, watching the clouds go by at the imminent night approaches. "Don't mention it." Hiroshi responds

Chapter 18 - The End.