Hotaru Tajiri
Clinging onto hope
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"Hotaru...he's...he's dead," Naomi said softly while on the verge of tears.

"No! He has a pulse! We can still save him!" I continued to push on Flamon's chest and breathe into his mouth, hoping against hope that he would come back to us. Finally he coughed and slowly opened his eyes.

"Is Rei okay?" he asked me weakly.

I had an urge to shake him and yell, "Don't scare us like that again!" Instead, I hugged him tightly and glanced at Rei. She was curled up in the rubble and crying. "Go talk to her, Flamon."

Flamon slowly nodded and carefully stumbled over to Rei. He said something inaudible to her but then she pushed him away. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" she screamed. She got to her feet and ran from us as fast as she could.

I stood up with every intent to run after her but Naomi grabbed my arm and shook her head. "No, Hotaru. She needs some time to think. We'll only make it worse." Then she gasped and started to cry. "That's what my parents said when Imani ran away."

"Flamon, please go after her," I pleaded. Flamon didn't hesitate as he sprinted in the direction that Rei headed. I rubbed my forehead and sniffed, trying to hold back tears. "What am I going to do?"