Still in fear, still running, but the school grounds gradually lose their shape around him. The buildings blur. The fences disappear.
Even the voices behind him begin fading into something distant and indistinct. Yet Ryoma keeps running, and somehow, the world changes.
The next step lands on wet asphalt. Rain pours from a dark sky. His school uniform is gone, replaced by a familiar training sweater already soaked through by the weather.
His legs are longer now, his body heavier. Somewhere along the way, he has become an adult again. Yet he is still running, still trying to get away from something. The fear remains exactly the same.
Water splashes beneath his shoes. The rain obscures everything beyond a short distance, turning the city into a collection of blurred lights and vague silhouettes.
By the time he reaches the edge of the road, he barely notices his surroundings anymore. Then a horn suddenly tears through the rain.
Hoooonk!!!
