I Fell in Love with Hope

Sam and Neo work on the first phase of their ultimate escape heist—getting Neo to walk on his own again. While they practice Neo’s standing, Neo convinces Sam to seek out Hikari, whom he avoids out of fear. When Sam finds her, he discovers that she has depression and she discusses the toll it takes on her physical and mental health. He jokes and brings back some of her joy, but recognizes that her pain runs deeper because her parents do not listen to her desire—they only hear the desires of who they want her to be. A text interrupts their conversation telling Hikari that C has been in an accident.

This chapter covers multiple days’ worth of events, exploring what the friend group experienced in the days leading up to their escape from the hospital.

Five Nights Until Escape

Sam and Hikari are in the library drawing and reading. Soon, they become bored, and she leads him on a chase through the stacks, where he gives her a watch he stole from Eric. She beams and says it’s the second-best gift she’s received—the first being Sam’s smile.