For a long while, there was nothing but silence.
I don't remember how too clearly. One moment, I was walking somewhere. To a place I had already forgotten. The next moment, here I was.
Alone, resting in a cold, silent place.
I laid, unsure if I was even conscious at all. After all, it all felt like a dream - or perhaps a nightmare.
I decided...I was too tired to open my eyes. Maybe I was scared, but I just couldn't find the will to move my body.
And for a while, that's how I remained. Laying, in an unknown place.
But that unnerving tranquility did not last for much longer.
"Hey...are you alright?"
My body twitched slightly as I felt someone poke my cheek.
"Guess I should wait for a bit for you to wake up, huh?"
I slowly decided to open my eyes, looking around to find myself in an unfamiliar setting.
Darkness. Darkness all around, with dim and dusty lanterns lighting the area just barely. I was laying on what felt like dirt, with the floors and ceilings being held up by planks of wood.
"Oh, you're up! Gee, I'm sorry for bothering you and your nap, but-"
I sat up slowly, turning to look at the person who was speaking to me.
"Hello, hello!" The person, a girl wearing a white beanie over her lavender hair, parted by twin-tails, smiled at me. She wore an outfit that I could only describe as being filled to the brim with sparkle and flair. "I'm glad that I found you. This whole place has been super scary, and there's no sign of anyone else around."
I brushed my clothes as I took a look around, trying to piece together what this place was.
"Hey, so, since you're awake now…" The girl tilted her head to the side. "Do you know what this place is? Do you know how you, or I, got here?"
I didn't respond to her. Instead, I rose to my feet and frowned. I couldn't remember how I arrived here, nor even what I was doing before.
"You're not one for much words, huh?" The girl sighed and crossed her arms behind her back. She stepped forwards, swaying her body in a playful manner. "Can I atleast know your name?"
I frowned at her and looked away, preparing to walk around and explore.
"My name's Tsubomi!" She stepped in front of me. "Tsubomi Nono! C'mon, I don't bite." She smiled.
I sighed, trying to step away. Don't talk to her, my mind was telling me. Just move it. Get out of here.
"A name. It wouldn't hurt." She stepped in front of me again. "Please?"
I sighed and adjusted my tie, figuring that if this would satisfy her, it wouldn't hurt. "Erito. Erito Hajimoto."
"Wow...what a cool name!" She smiled. "So, Erito, do you think it's okay if I tag along?"
Although I didn't respond verbally, I motioned for her to follow me.
The thing was, though...I didn't know where we were going at all. I was aimlessly walking to find some place, some way to navigate myself. However, I figured any walking was better than standing put and hoping to be rescued from...wherever this place was.
"Hey, Erito…" Tsubomi spoke up as she looked around. "Where do you think we are? Some kind of cave?"
"Indeed." I simply nodded.
"Well, then all we have to do is go towards the light!" She pointed upwards with a smile. "We find cracks in the dirt where the sunlight slips through, right?"
I nodded again. "Possibly. However, that plan is flawed. Firstly, if it's dark outside, there wouldn't be sunlight to slip through the cracks."
"Then...we just wait for the sun to rise." Tsubomi tilted her head and smiled sheepishly. "Right?"
"Our location also impacts this." I paused to examine the area. "How deep we are underground."
"We can't be in too deep, though." Tsubomi looked to the side. "Because...I can breathe just fine."
"Ah, right." I closed my eyes. "...The abundance of fresh air is incredibly...peculiar."
"Huh, huh? Fresh air?" She blinked. "But that can't be right. Fresh air, down in a cave?"
I then continued to walk. "Again, perhaps we might be close to the surface."
Tsubomi trailed behind me, looking around curiously. "Hmm...maybe we could try digging up?"
"It would be bad to cause the ceiling to collapse upon us." I shook my head.
Tsubomi sighed. "Then, I'm out of ideas. I'm sorry, Erito."
"It's fine." I replied, simply. There was no use in dwelling on it. We just had to keep moving onwards.
And, onwards we went. Step, step, step. There didn't seem to be any end to this cave. Nor did there seem to be any end to our aimless walking.
Atleast, not until...
Click, click, click, click.
"What's that clicking sound?" Tsubomi asked, glancing around.
I paused for a moment to carefully listen to our surroundings. "It sounds like…some sort of machine."
"Well, where is it?" Tsubomi moved her hands into the shapes of binoculars. "The machine, I mean. It sounds so close to us, but…"
Just then, the dirt from under our feet was suddenly swept away. We found ourselves to be situated in a minecart of some kind, one that suddenly began to roll forwards down the track.
"E-Eep!" The girl ducked into the minecart while tightly pulling her beanie down to her head. "That was the machine, I think!"
I also ducked into the minecart, pressing my back against the wall. Even though I would normally want to see where I was going, something about this cart told me I needed to keep my hands and feet and all other body parts inside the vehicle at all times.
The minecart would swerve violently often, causing me to feel slightly sick to my stomach. Then came the hill, where the cart began to fly downwards.
It was like a roller coaster.
I hated roller coasters.
When the ride finally stopped and the dust was cleared...we ended up in a situation neither of us would ever be prepared for.
…
You already know what I'm going to say, don't you?
Miss Tsubomi, she was...my closest compatriot. Sounds odd, doesn't it? I just spent a good five minutes telling you about how she annoyed me at first.
And yet…
She always stayed by my side. Time and time again, she would walk besides me with her arms behind her back, flashing me a grin warmer than the sunlight the both of us missed dearly.
"Hello, hello, Erito!" She would always be waiting in front of my door every morning. "Let's get back to our mystery solving to end the game!"
Tsubomi would ask me about myself often. She respected me, telling me that people like myself were making the world a better place by studying new sciences that would help evolve humanity.
"Waah...Erito, you're so smart." She would sheepishly smile while holding her hands behind her back, swaying her body lightly. "I bet you'll find the next big thing, y'know? A breakthrough in your studies!"
Yes, my title at the time was Super-Highschool-Level. But, I was no real psychologist. It was what I was studying for, what I was passionate to become. And yet, in her eyes, it was like I already had accomplished so much.
"I hope that I'll be able to make an impact on the world, too." She would smile and nod. "So let's both do our part!"
I would solve murder cases in our game alongside our other classmates. She felt like she couldn't provide anything, that all she could do was sing and dance.
"That trial's done…" Tsubomi would gulp, looking to the side. "Hey, hey...now is when the game really ends this time, right? We can't keep going on like this...I wish I could help, but...I'm not very smart."
She wanted to support me. She wanted to push me to even greater heights. Heights that she thought she could never achieve. She was the Super-Highschool-Level Pop Idol. What could she do in a killing game?
"Well, even if I can't help with my mind, I'll help with my heart!" She would smile and clap. "Let's do it, then! The end of the killing game, it's bound to come as long as we stay determined!"
I don't know how to explain it. Something about her, it sparked feelings within me that I've never experienced at the time. I wanted to protect her. Yes, truly. The girl who I said annoyed me, I changed my mind.
"Come on, come on Erito! We've got more sleuthing to do!" She'd wink. "We'll find the truth any time now, I know it!"
She kept trying to smile, to bury her feelings. Something about her sweet, bouncy, sparkly self was hiding something beneath the surface, and nobody else was able to pick up on it. It started to crack free the further we made it through the game. By the third murder, it was blatantly apparent to me that she was forcing herself to keep positive.
"...Don't worry about me, Erito. Maybe I'm just off to a bad start today. I'll be springing back to my feet before you know it!" She would reassure me. "C'mon, you know we all gotta stay positive! That means me, too."
You can never really find the right words to explain how you fall for someone. I fell for her, slowly and surely. When she would take my hand, I would hold hers. When she would surprise me from behind, I would smile. It was like she put a spell on me with her music and sparkle.
Music? That's right. I told you, she was a pop idol. Part of a group of girls who would sing and dance. She wanted to spread smiles all over the world, she told me. To make the world just a little bit brighter. Ridiculous, you'd think. But...there was more to it.
"Erito, there's...something that I need to tell you. See, I...gosh, I'm really bad at formalities. But, this really is important. If you and I are going to, well…" Her voice trailed off. "Then there should be no secrets, m'kay?"
…
No. I'm not going to tell you what she said next. It was her secret. One that she trusted me to keep.
I still remember that day, where the two of us sat down together by a waterfall in the caves. She took my hands and told me her secret. I told her it didn't matter to me, that I loved her for everything she was all the same. Yes, I loved her. Perhaps because we were teenagers. You always have a first love, don't you?
And yet, even though I loved her, look at how I ended the game.
"Don't worry about me, Erito...I have nothing waiting for me out there." She would hold me close as her body would shake. "I'm...nothing. Nobody is waiting for me. But you, you have a family to go to. You have to escape, you have to make it back to them. Please...end this poor girl's suffering."
I killed her.
"Erito, you…!"
I killed them. All of them.
All I could see were faces. Faces of people. People who I called my friends. Faces and voices that would be forever etched into my memory.
"N-No, no! It wasn't supposed to end like this…!" Rindou shrieked, pulling her hair.
"W-Why?! Erito, this can't be true! This isn't you!" Katiaka desperately clasped her hands over her mouth.
"There's no way... there's no way you would kill her, Erito!" Takumi tugged on his tie, pointing at me with his eyes lit ablaze.
People that I once called my friends…
I was the one who got them killed. All of them.
And what did I get? What did I get for all the suffering? This prize, this tainted prize I grasped with their blood splattered all over my clothes.
…
It wasn't worth it. It was just. More. Suffering.
And that's nobody's business. Nobody's, but mine.
And I…
I refuse to relive my worst memories.
...
I know, I know. What was the point in hyping you up if that was all I was willing to share. I can tell, just by looking at you, you want to know more. So, so much more. Maybe it's because your memories are still a tad bit on the scrambled side?
Fear not. Erito is still asleep, so we have more time to talk. I suppose now I'll move on to sharing...his story.
It technically still is the story of Erito Hajimoto, after all. Can't be mad at me for that, can you?
…
Ah, you know what? While we still have time to kill, let me share some other stories with you. I have quite a few. It would be good to catch you up on these utmost important details.
Stories about your master. After all, as his bodyguard, you should know who it is you are protecting. Right?
Well, then listen up. You'll want to hear these ones, Ramón Loarte.
"Wah...none of Tobi's business?!" The lab assistant frowned, slightly. "Tobi is Master Erito's number one! Why does Tobi not get to know?"
"Because, you lab cat…" I calmly put a stack of papers into a drawer in my desk. "That's how it is."
"Master Erito does not need a bodyguard!" Tobi stomped on the ground. "I am more than enough!"
I glared in Tobi's direction as I shut the drawer to my desk. "You wouldn't survive a single chapter in a killing game, Tobi. Let alone protect Master Erito from being killed."
"Oh, and some 'rando' is supposed to do better than I can?" Tobi sourly looked to the side. "I've been helping since around day one, ya know? Gimme more credit!"
"No." I stood up, calmly adjusting my tie. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go."
"Nuh-uh!" Tobi crossed his arms. "Not until ya' give me a clear answer!"
"Make me." I walked past him without any effort.
The lab assistant scrambled after me, fuming. "Listen here, pal! There's no way any of those guys would make for a good bodyguard! Even if Master Erito were to handpick them himself!"
"What makes you so sure?" I asked him, not looking in his direction. After all, I had places to go. Not conversations to hold. Especially not with that dolt.
"Because!" Tobi began to respond. "Because-"
"Quiet. We will continue this later." I opened the door to the grand hall, walking inside to waste no time. Tobi did not follow me inside.
Master Erito was already there, waiting.
"You were almost late." He looked over in my direction. "Was there trouble?"
"None at all." I smiled, reassuringly. "Come on. We've delayed this long enough already."
Erito looked over the crowd of people. "This is quite the turn-up. I have already read over each application, but something about seeing them all in person really puts this into perspective."
"Do you know who you're looking for?" I tilted my head, wondering about it.
Erito smiled at me. "Why do you think I'm here, now?"
Answering a question with another question. I think I rubbed off on him.
"If you'll excuse me…" Erito nodded. "The king of the elites would like to choose his knight."
I chuckled, lightly. "Then let's get right to it." I motioned to the long line of candidates which had been patiently waiting for what seemed like quite some time. Erito must've already instructed them to organize themselves into this line.
"Yes…" Erito nodded, calmly. "Let's begin."
We began to walk down the line of Faceless members. Each one took off their mask and made eye contact with Erito. When Erito would walk away, they would put their mask back on.
There was never a time anyone spoke. Not the candidates, not myself, nor even Master Erito.
As quickly as a new face was introduced to me, it was gone from my memories. This was the nature of the Faceless, after all. Anonymity was a key aspect to the program.
We continued to walk. Walk, pause, walk, pause, walk. My mind went on autopilot. I was beginning to expect, as we were soon more than halfway down the line, that none of the candidates would suffice.
Step, wait, step, wait, step, wait.
Wait.
Wait.
…
I turned around, noticing how Master Erito was waiting, examining someone for far longer compared to the rest.
It was a boy. A boy with bright orange hair and golden eyes. That was the most I could note from him taking off his mask.
They looked at each other in the eyes in a rather intensive manner. It was different. I don't recall the other candidates maintaining eye contact with Master Erito like this.
"What is your name?" Master Erito asked, calmly.
"Ramón. Ramón Loarte." The boy replied, firmly.
Master Erito continued to examine the boy. "Ramón Loarte…"
There was a short silence.
"...You're the one." Master Erito nodded.
I was quite dumbfounded, to say the least. "M-Master, pardon me, but...all you've done was stare at each other and ask for his name. How could you be so sure?"
He didn't turn to me as he responded, "I just know. I would've expected you of all people to notice it."
I glanced to the side. "Yikes…" I then stood besides him. "Well...if this is what you have decided, then so be it."
There was a silence that followed. Perhaps, it may have been an uncomfortable one.
"Ramón Loarte…" Erito nodded. "Your talent...what is it?"
Eh, why was he asking? The talent's listed in the file, after all...
Ramón closed his eyes. It was clear the topic discomforted him to some degree. "Mafioso."
Erito seemed to be incredibly pleased. "You're perfect. I knew you were."
"In that case, we will begin the preparations immediately." I began to walk away. "Come along, now."
The crowd slowly began to disperse as the pair followed behind me. We then entered another hallway before stepping into an elevator.
"...So, Ramón." I turned to the brand new bodyguard. "How are you feeling? Excited? You'll be standing side by side with The Master Erito!"
Ramón turned to look at me. "This is all happening pretty fast...I'm not sure how to feel."
"Feel excited! You've just made it to the top!" I gave him words of encouragement.
He didn't seem to be so sure. Instead, he moved to put his mask back on.
"No." Master Erito turned to him. "You will no longer be needing that mask. Keep it off from now on."
"Ah…?" Ramón seemed to be confused. "Keep my mask off?"
"Yes." Erito narrowed his eyes. "My bodyguard isn't just another Faceless in the crowd."
Ramón lowered the mask. "I see…"
The elevator stopped once we had arrived at our destination. I walked the group over to a vacant, locked room. "Here you are. Right down the hall from your master."
I opened the door using a key and turned on the lights, stepping inside. Master Erito and Ramón walked into the room behind me. The former nodded in approval while the latter looked around in awe.
"Exquisite, isn't it?" I nodded pridefully, handing the bodyguard the room key. "This is your new home away from home, Ramón! Oh, and don't worry. We'll get your stuff brought up here."
"It's…" He looked around. "More than I could ever afford."
"Shall we have a housewarming party?" I held my hands behind my back with a smile.
"If it is alright, Erito..." Master Erito turned to me. "I'd like to stay here with Ramón, just the two of us."
"Eh?" I crossed my arms. "What for?"
He turned to Ramón and nodded. "We need some time to properly get used to each other. After all...as my bodyguard, he will have to constantly stay by my side. Not to mention…" He grinned in a manner that both felt casual, and yet sinister. "He'll have to get to know his master, the king of the elites."
"Right you are, Master Erito." I gave him some finger guns as I headed out from the room. "See you around."
With that, I closed the door behind me.
"This is dumb." Tobi muttered while rolling his eyes. "All they did was stare. How does that qualify you to do anything? Let alone be a bodyguard."
"L-Lab cat?" I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Where did you come from?"
"I followed you." He frowned and placed his hands to his hips. "And ya know what? I think...this is a whole buncha bologna!"
I sighed as I began to walk away. "Please, enlighten me."
"Nyah, I disapprove of this Ramón guy!" Tobi shook his head as he followed behind me. "I mean, we're talking about a mafioso! That's completely inappropriate for a bodyguard! I mean, sure he has the know-how for fighting. But-"
I rolled my eyes at the lab cat. "This is Master Erito's choice."
"Well, he…" Tobi didn't want to outright say he was wrong. After all, he was the top of the entire organization. "He needs to tell me why a mafioso can do a better job at guarding him than, ohhh I dunno...an actual Elite Level Bodyguard?!"
"That orange kid's got something about him." I shrugged, simply. "Dunno what." I then smiled, slyly. "Don't tell me you're jealous."
"J-Jealous?! Absurd!" Tobi stomped a foot onto the ground. "I want to make sure my master is safe in the killing game!"
"Again, this wasn't your choice to make." I reminded the lab cat as I began to walk away, back to my office.
"Yeah, but... where's the tests?! The qualifications?!" Tobi trailed behind me, persistent as always.
"He is talented in being a mafioso. Isn't that enough for you?" I rolled my eyes at Tobi.
"Uh, no?!" Tobi frowned. "There has to be something more to this. Master Erito is a very calculated thinker!"
"Maybe this is his very calculation." I shrugged, nonchalantly. "In any case, I have more pressing matters to see right now."
Tobi grumbled and walked away, down the hall. It seems like he had enough for now. "You and your matters…"
Once Tobi was gone, I headed back to my office room and turned to the computer.
There has to be something more to this.
That lab cat's right about that, at the very least. As for what that something is…
…
I need to know.
I decided to take a listen to the recordings of the room. Surprised? Yes, the rooms are all bugged. But why?
We can't risk traitors hindering with our operation, now can we?
Listening in, I closed my eyes to think carefully about their conversation.
"I've read yours, Ramón Loarte. I've read every candidate's file before what occured today."
"So you were going to pick me from the start?"
"You were on my mind, as were a few others. However, the intensity in your eyes when I saw you in person. That was what I was looking for. Someone who can stare right back at me, without fear."
"Is that really all it?"
"Well, the other thing was...your level of dedication."
"Ah?"
"You know why you're here, Ramón Loarte. You joined our cause to give your family security. You are someone who lives to protect. I think that makes you perfect, does it not?"
"...Maybe so."
"That and your level of expertise from the mafia...you were the correct choice. I know it."
I clicked off the audio as I folded my hands and pondered about this. "Ramón Loarte…" I then decided to do a quick search to pull up a copy of his file for myself to read.
What an interesting boy you are.
This is why Master Erito chose you, isn't it? Hmm…
How intriguing.
Knock knock.
I set the file down and closed it before looking up towards the door. "Come in."
In walked a fellow Faceless member. Clad in their mask and suit uniform, there was no way to identify them. That was the nature of the anonymity of our program. I did mention that before, didn't I?
To those without a face, we simply call them Erito. After all...everyone is an Erito here, in one way or another.
"Good evening, Erito." I smiled at them. "How may I assist you?"
"I've come with a report on another scouting, Erito." The person handed a file to me. "This one's promising."
I took the file and opened it up, scanning over the pages. "...Otomaeda."
"Yes." The person nodded to me.
I stood up from my seat, putting away the file of Ramón into one of my drawers before heading towards the door. "Thank you for this."
"You're welcome, Erito." The person followed behind me. "I will let you know when there is another report."
I smiled as I stepped out from my office, holding the door open for them. "I'm confident you will, Erito."
With that, we parted ways as I began to head towards the elevator. Stepping inside, I swiped my ID card for authorization and headed to the ground floor.
When the doors opened, I walked down the long hallway to my destination. And boy, do I mean long. Football field length, even.
Opening the set of double doors, I stood before…
…
That's right. The caskets of my...friends.
"Hey, Takumi. She's related to you, right?" I opened the file again and examined the contents in further detail. "Neizami...some kind of artist. I wonder if you ever knew about her. She's your niece, you know?" I chuckled, awkwardly. "What a funny story. Your niece, my nephew, both in the same killing game. Maybe something interesting will happen? Or perhaps, nothing at all…" I then closed the file.
There was no response, obviously.
"Soooo, how's the cryogenic preservation treating you?" I looked to the side. "Must be pretty cold. I mean, that's the point."
Again, no response.
I sighed and shook my head, walking past the others right to Tsubomi's. I unclipped the white rose from my shirt pocket and placed it on top of her casket. By now, it was littered in white roses. I always give her one when I visit.
"I promise, this is for the better." I reassured her. "I'm going to create a world where nobody will suffer as you did. You, or the others. Without suffering, without the selfishness of humankind, we can finally evolve into the best people we can be. And that all starts…" I glanced to the side. "Well, when this bad boy gets out of the atmosphere. Let me tell you, it's really damn hard to hide a whole giant space laboratory cruiser that you stole from the government. But, soon, we'll be ready for takeoff. Just give me one more year, I promise."
She did not reply to me.
"I'm doing this...for you." I turned back to her and smiled. "And everyone, okay? Don't worry about me, Bonnie."
With that, I exited the room, carefully closing the doors behind me as I left.
…
Oh, sorry. I promised you that I would be sharing stories about your master. I went on a bit of a tangent there, didn't I? Oopsies.
Did I spy on you? Bah, you make it sound like I was committing a crime. It's my responsibility to ensure that we don't risk the safety of Master Erito.
Alright, alright. Back to the stories. This one's pretty important, so pay attention.
"Master. You're late." I crossed my arms as I tilted my head to the side. "That's not quite like you. What happened? Do we need to add caffeine to the formula?"
Master Erito rubbed his eyes as he frowned. "That drug needs more perfecting…"
"Bah. That's all you have to say to me?" I frowned. "You've just woken up. Come on, lighten up a little. We have practically a year to get the formula just right."
Erito sat up from the table, stretching lightly. He didn't say a word.
"Come oooon...you're not going to tell me anything about how it felt?" I leaned in. "You're not getting kidnapped again, you know."
"The news." He moved to hop off the table, though he staggered lightly.
"Huh?" I tilted my head again.
Erito slid down from the table, then trying to walk to the door. "Look, just...I need to see it."
"Alright…" I shrugged, calmly. "There's a television down the hall, room on the left."
He then wobbled out of the room. I trailed behind him, making sure he wouldn't collapse on the way there.
He needs to see it?
I wonder what's on his mind…
When we arrived at the room with the television, a rec room of sorts, he took a seat and quietly began to flip through channels. Once he found one on the news, he grew silent as he listened to it.
"Police investigators are speculating that this was an aggravated kidnapping."
Hmm...he wants to listen to his own case. I wonder why. Maybe to see if it's a job well done?
"Earlier this morning, the boy's attorney held a meeting with him over a recent arson incident. He was reportedly the last person to see him. Police have taken Royce Steveston into custody for questioning. It seems as though he is not a suspect in the crime at this time."
Erito quietly folded his arms. It was hard to tell how exactly he was feeling about this.
"His parents are due to make an appeal for his safe return home. There is quite a lot of anxiety in the air. This particular part of town has a relatively low crime rate. It seems as though the entire town is already dedicated to ensuring that the nineteen-year-old is found unharmed."
"They care…"
"Hmm?" I tilted my head. I thought that I heard Master Erito say something. Though...his face was as difficult to read as ever. Maybe it was just my imagination.
"If any of you have any information pertaining to Kozaki Daisuke's location, please contact the-"
Click.
Ah...he turned off the television.
"Are you alright, Master?" I asked him, confusedly.
"...I've seen enough." He stood up. For the first time, it seemed as though there was some kind of emotion I could read from him. One of...pain.
"We will be traveling to Massachusetts tomorrow morning." I nodded to him. "Get plenty of sleep tonight, alright?"
He didn't respond. Instead, he glanced back to the television. "I can't…"
"Hmm?" I blinked, confusedly. "Can't what?"
"Bring myself...to see the appeal." He bit his lip.
Hmm...interesting.
"Then just don't watch it." I shrugged with a smile. "Come on, Master. We have to stick to the schedule, and you need to be at your A-Game."
He closed his eyes and nodded. "Right. There's no turning back now." He then walked out of the room, frowning. "See you in the morning, Erito."
"Be seeing you, Master Erito." I waved to him as he left.
...
Before you ask, this whole kidnapping was his own idea, not mine. I've never, this whole time, made choices for him. Nor have I taken control of him. All of his choices - Kozaki's, Erito's - are his own.
All I ever did was plant a seed and nurtured it to grow.
…
When the next day arrived, Erito seemed to be even more distracted than before.
"Come on, now." I smiled at him as I motioned towards our car. "It'll be a nice road trip, and you'll have plenty of time to ponder over...whatever it is you're pondering."
He sighed and slipped into the shotgun seat of the car, turning to look out the window.
I slipped in the driver's seat and buckled up. "Hey, sport. You might be a mastermind, but you still need to follow road safety laws. Now, buckle up."
He buckled up without a word.
"Thanks, champ." I smiled as I turned the keys of the ignition.
It wasn't long before we were on the highway. Driving past farms, and farms, and...more farms. Did you know there's a lot of farms you pass by on long highway trips?
"Oh, look, some cows! You like those, don't you?" I smiled at Erito in a friendly manner. "You know, back when you were little, you loved to point out whenever we would pass by a farm with cows. You remember that, right?"
He didn't respond.
"Hmm…" I then took a moment to think. "Oh, I know. What's a road trip without music? Here, let me play one of my CDs for you." I then pressed a button to play Disc 3.
"Guess who's back? It's Rock N' Rolla Rondy!"
Erito audibly groaned in response. "Do you mind? I'm trying to concentrate here."
"Bah." I turned the music off before it even had the chance to properly start. "Lighten up, will you?"
"Who are we going to pick up from Massachusetts?" He turned to look at me, ignoring my comment.
"Who?" I pointed to the back seat with my thumb as I continued to drive. "File's somewhere there. Try to reach for it."
He sighed in annoyance before reaching into the back seat and picking up the file. When he opened it up, his demeanor changed. "Kamiyaki…?"
"By the way you said her name, sounds like you knew her." I chuckled, looking forward as I continued to drive. Well, it would be bad if I wasn't continuing to drive. I am the driver, after all.
Erito quietly read through the file before closing it. "This girl...I do know her."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow to him.
"Because our schools competed against each other a few times." He turned to look back out the window. "...She was nice to me."
"Ouuuch…" I looked forwards again. "It's a bit too late to change the cast list, Master." I decided not to mention the fact that we did in fact choose Kamiyaki precisely because she knew Erito - or, should I say, Kozaki.
"I'm not saying to change it. I'm saying that she was nice to me. That's all." He huffed in response.
"And that's all you're going to tell me?" I let out a disappointed sigh.
Erito turned to look at me. "When I would sit alone, sometimes she would come and sit next to me when she wasn't performing. We talked small talk. Never got that personal with each other."
"So she's a friend?" I tilted my head.
"...An acquaintance, I suppose. You'd have to ask Kozaki." Erito once again turned to look out the window.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that. Gonna have to shake up some memories, so that she won't recognize you, and you won't recognize her." I calmly replied, then taking an exit to get onto another highway.
Erito turned to look back to me again. "You talk as if Kozaki and I are the same.
"Aren't you?" I turned back to him, raising an eyebrow.
"No." He replied, once again looking out the window.
I had some doubts about that.
The rest of the trip was silent. Well, minus the traffic jams and the bad drivers. I swear, there was some New Jersey guy who slid across two lanes to take an exit.
What I got from this was that Erito and Kozaki both hated road trips.
No, not even just that. Traveling in general seemed to make them irritated. Whether it be by car or by plane, they seemed to always become easily irritable.
It didn't help that these err, pick-ups of our candidates took several months until we were finished.
By the time we were done, he seemed to be at his worst. All business, no banter.
That is, until he would get to see them all in person. For a check-up, just before they were due for their Customization. I came with my clipboards and papers, while Master came with his bodyguard, Ramón.
When we first entered the room where we were keeping the candidates in suspended animation, his demeanor changed. It was softer, more uncertain.
We began to check on each of the candidates individually. Just making sure they were healthy, and all. Of course, the spots for Master Erito and his bodyguard were empty for now.
As we continued to walk through the room, Erito paused. He stopped and turned to face one of them, staring at them in silence.
"Is that...Mikanne?" He asked, softly.
Understandably so, he seemed to be surprised. It was, after all, the first time he laid eyes on him so closely in person in years. Sure, there was that brief glance at him when we did our scouting, however...it just wasn't the same. Erito could stand here and observe him for as long as he wanted.
"Yes, Master." I walked over besides him, crossing my arms behind my back. "Indeed, this is Mikanne."
"It's been so long..." He closed his eyes. "I almost had completely forgotten what he looked like. His face, that is. I could hardly recognize him…"
I didn't reply. Mostly because I didn't care to.
"Mikanne…is that who you've mentioned before, Master?" Ramón asked, curiously.
"Yes." Erito nodded.
There was a short silence.
"Sorry. We're wasting time." I turned to walk away. "Master, you're due up first for the Customization process."
Erito turned to look at me. It seemed like there was a glimmer of hesitation, as though he wanted to continue to stand there, marvelling at his long lost friend. "You're right. I apologise."
"Come along, then." I motioned for the pair to follow me out of the room.
…
And guess what happened during Master's Customization. Go on, I'll give you three guesses.
What? You won't even guess once? Yeash, you're not fun. At least when you were Fraize, you had a sense of humor.
Well, I'll just tell you then. The Customization went very, very wrong. Kozaki kept trying to fight against the computer the whole time. Eventually the computer crashed while he was still inside, too! We had to delay the Customization processes for every single other candidate until it was fixed! Took a whole week, too.
Oh, you don't remember what Customization is either? I feel like at this point I should just ask you what you do remember.
Well, it's an invention of Master Erito's. A program in which the participant can build an identity for themselves of which they desire. The technology, which I helped with by the way, can select suggestions for you based on your own preferences. You can change your name, your hair color, your clothes, and so much more.
That's how you became Fraize, so you should definitely try to remember that now.
Alright, alright. Next story.
"I've been having these strange thoughts lately." Master Erito suddenly spoke as he closed his eyes, sitting in a chair facing the window. The window, one of many from his own personal office space.
"Strange thoughts?" I asked him, lowering my cup of coffee and setting it aside.
"Like…" He opened his eyes to look out the window. "Is this all, everything we've done...really what I want?"
"Eh?" I blinked. "Of course it is, Master. Why else would we have gotten this far?"
He turned to look back at me. "It's just...I find myself asking what I wanted to achieve in the first place."
"Well…" I pointed to him. "What did you want, when you started this?"
He turned away, quietly. "I wanted...to create a world without suffering. A world that isn't swallowed by the selfishness of people. A world where nobody has to feel...the way that I felt."
"Hmm…" I scratched my chin, nodding. "Alright. Then...what's the problem?"
He let out a sigh. "This whole Faceless thing. The world we've built, and our final project. I don't know if I can follow through with it."
I crossed my arms, thoughtfully. "Is that so?"
He sighed and shook his head. "I don't know...ever since the game started and we've been doing these experiments...I've been doubting myself."
I paused for a moment to process this. "You don't think that it's Kozaki making you feel this way, do you?"
"What?" He frowned. "Please. Kozaki is not even real. He's just an experimental persona I put on in the game. You know that."
"I think you're wrong, Erito." I shook my head. "I think you've made an incorrect judgement about how the experiment will impact you."
"Impact me?" He stood up. "This is absurd. I am in control here! These thoughts are of my own!"
"You say that." I calmly stood up. "But do you believe it?"
He paused, looking away.
"Master. I believe Kozaki is more than just a mask you can take off and put on at will. He has his own thoughts, desires, even fears." I began to walk towards the window. "Tell me something. What do you think about the other participants in the game?"
Erito was silent for a moment before he replied in a rather annoyed manner, as though the question was a waste of time. "I-I don't know, does it matter?"
"...It does." I turned back to him. "Because before, you didn't seem to care about any of them. Then, suddenly you seemed to care about Mikanne. Now you hesitate to answer me."
He did not respond.
"Kozaki is influencing your thoughts." I nodded, slowly. "These are his friends that he cares deeply for. Now they don't appear to be as meaningless as you once anticipated."
He frowned, though still without words.
"So my next question is...what are you going to do about this?" I asked, calmly.
Erito bitterly looked away. "I need to get rid of every trace of the experimental personality. I won't let him stop me from completing this project."
I chuckled. "Now, when are you going to stop calling it an experimental personality?"
"What?" He seemed to be surprised.
Crossing my arms, I nodded. "Kozaki...you are him. You were born as him. He always has been a part of your life. He's not a persona we slapped together in a computer and uploaded into your mind."
He held his right arm. "What are you getting at?"
"There, see?" I pointed to him. "You are holding your right arm! That's what he does!" I smiled. "That's what you do."
"Muscle memory…" He muttered. "Still, I don't get your point."
"Kozaki is a reconstruction." I walked over to get a sip of my coffee before continuing. "Based on his real memories from before he became you. In a way, you and Kozaki are two completely different people, despite the fact that you are physically the same person." I walked over to him and poked him on the nose. "From your hair to your freckles, to every other part of your body. You physically share the same brain. Regardless of all the technologies we used to create your unique artificial phenomena, I don't think it's impossible for the both of you to slip into each other."
"And?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
I took in another sip from my coffee. "And that's why you've been having, in your words, strange thoughts. They're your own thoughts, but they also aren't. It's really fascinating, isn't it?"
He let out a sigh.
"When I think about it...this whole time, you've been acting unlike yourself." I poked him on the forehead. "Are you sure you're not Kozaki right now? You haven't been exchanged yet in the cleaning procedure, but you are acting a lot like him."
He brushed my hand away and walked over to the window. "Forget it."
"Hey, hey. Brushing me off like that, that's what Kozaki would do." I teased him as I followed him over to the window.
"I am not Kozaki. I am Erito." He huffed, tugging on his lab coat. "He is just a fucking mask, is all."
"Now you're swearing." I crossed my arms behind my back. "Master...I think we need to increase your dosage during your cleaning."
Erito looked over to me. "Do whatever you want, just...get that thing out of my head!"
"Alright, alright...yeesh." I covered my ears. "You don't have to shout at me."
He then looked out the window. "If he's slipping into me, have I been slipping into him? I need to check the footage...I can't risk my identity being exposed."
"Here's a thought." I smiled with a wink. "How about...we kill him?"
"What?" Erito turned to me, surprised.
"Not literally." I reassured him. "Let's set up something that will have the others think he's died so you can be taken back here to continue operations without any disturbances."
Erito frowned in response. "But the rule of the game is if I am killed, it ends. Even if I am not really dead, they won't know that. What would we do then?"
I chuckled, looking out the window. "Simple. The game just continues exactly because you are still alive."
"...Then what?" Erito shook his head. "Let their numbers dwindle until there's only two survivors?"
"I dunno." I shrugged, casually. "That's for you to decide, Master."
"But…" He grew silent. It seemed as though he was feeling some sort of anxiety over this.
I was silent as well for a while before I began to laugh. "Do you really think I'd let the fate of your world rest upon a killing game?"
Erito looked over to me. "No. You wouldn't be so stupid."
"Strong word, you're using there." I crossed my arms behind my back.
"It is stupid." He frowned, glaring out the window. "Who do you take me for? Junko Enoshima?"
"Pfft-" I couldn't help but grin from his remark. "Forgive me, Master."
He continued to stare out the window in silence. As he did, I looked out through the glass as well. To the stars, to the future.
"Haiji."
I turned to look over to Master Erito. "What is it?"
He continued to look out of the glass window, into the deep cosmos. "What is it that you want?"
I turned to look out the window as well. "What I want?"
"I'd be a fool to think there isn't something you want to come out from this." He calmly responded. "I can tell, there's something out there. A goal that you have. What is it?"
I smiled. "Come on, sport. You know I'm doing all of this for you."
He shook his head. "I think...there is something else."
"Really?" I crossed my arms. "I think you're looking too much into it."
"...Perhaps." He closed his eyes and placed his hand onto the glass. "I sometimes wonder...what I want to come from all of this. I wonder if this is what I want. I wonder...if this is what you want. Have you been projecting your desires and your visions onto me? Do I mean nothing?" He turned to me. "Is my life just your pawn?"
Reassuringly, I patted him on the shoulder. "Of course not, Master. I am doing this for you. I'm creating this for you."
He turned to look away. "If this is all for me...then why-?"
Knock, knock.
We turned to face the door as it was opened.
"Ah. Ramón." Erito seemed to have brightened up. "I didn't expect you to come for at least another ten minutes."
"Apologies." Master's bodyguard bowed his head. "I was sent to fetch you, Master."
"Sent?" He stepped forwards. "From who?"
"Tobi." Ramón replied, simply.
Master Erito seemed to be relieved about being called away. "Alright." He turned to me. "Let's continue this another time."
"But of course, Master." I smiled at him before turning to look out the window again.
After pausing for just a moment, Erito began to walk with his bodyguard out of the room. After hearing the door shut, I let out a quiet sigh.
Our plan to kill him, it would be hard to pull off without having to manipulate the game. Luckily, we were getting close to revealing the next motive.
We discussed our plan in detail - myself, Erito, and his bodyguard. I figured the plan was straight forward. Reveal Master Erito's identity to that vigilante, have her 'kill' him, and then have his bodyguard come and kill the vigilante, then steal the information about Master Erito's identity so nobody else will be able to find it. He will also have to ensure that Master Erito will not be killed. Mikanne will need new creams soon, so giving him a few extra bottles might motivate him to share it.
We just have to play our cards right.
"...I don't know if I can go along with this plan." Ramón worriedly looked to the side. "It puts Master in danger, Mei could expose his identity to everyone, and...there's just so much risk involved."
"But you know all about risk." I casually smiled while sipping a fresh cup of coffee. "I mean, you're a mafioso."
He didn't seem to be too happy about that remark. "A calculated risk and just being reckless are two different things."
"Oh, come on. This plan is going to work." I reassured him. "So as long as everyone plays their part."
"You're literally rigging the game, and Mei is going to die for it." He seemed to be almost angry about that. "I wouldn't take this so lightly."
"You have to take it either way." I lowered my cup of coffee and pointed to him. "That is your role, Ramón Loarte. You follow commands, and you protect Master Erito. You don't make the rules, you follow them. Understand?"
He fell silent in response.
"Haiji, please." Erito raised a hand, slightly. "Don't speak to him that way. He is only asking out of interest to protect me. He is my bodyguard, after all."
That didn't account for him sounding angered over the game. Was...Master trying to cover for him?
How peculiar…
"Apologies." I adjusted my tie. "In any case, if all goes well, Master Erito will safely be brought back here while Ramón will be the grayed of the case. Consequently, he will not be punished."
"And how will you take into account our...masks?" Master Erito tilted his head. "After all, they don't know anything about this. They might even cause events to happen you could never predict."
"I have faith that it will work out." I smiled and nodded. "The answer might surprise you."
"Oh?" Master Erito curiously tilted his head.
"You'll see. When this all works out, you'll owe me...ten dollars." I winked. "In any case, it's time for you to return to the game."
"Alright…" Master Erito stood up, then turned to his bodyguard. "Let's be on our way."
Ramón stood up as well, nodding before heading out alongside his master.
As I watched them leave together, I noticed a certain behavior that they shared. One that only further gave me confidence in the move I was making.
The back of their hands touched, as though for some reason they wanted to hold hands but couldn't go through with it.
I wondered, were they unaware that in their other life...they were in love?
Or perhaps, maybe they did know, but couldn't acknowledge it out if...some kind of anxiety.
Interesting. Very, very interesting.
…
How did I know it was going to work out? Well...I may have cheated. You know, I cheated just a bit in every single case. Planted some seeds. But hey, I've never been caught! Impressive, right? Bah, it's not a big deal. Master owes me ten dollars, so it's all good.
Oh please, I didn't mind control anyone to do anything. Everyone acted on their own accord. And that includes you, Ramón. You shot and killed Mei that day.
Can't remember it though, can you?
…
Hello? Helloooo?
You spaced out there for a second.
Ah, right. That love stuff. Don't worry about it. Fraize is already dead. Kozaki will be soon enough. Then, it'll be all back to normal. Ramón and his Master Erito. The way that it should be.
…
We still have time to kill. Here, another story for you. It happened while you were in that trial for the fifth murder case, so it might be the first time you hear about this. I mean, disregarding the broken memories.
Listen to this...
I nodded in a satisfied manner as his body was brought into the room, fresh from the cleansing procedure.
It had worked. He was 'killed', then brought to the lab.
It was quite cute to see how the other participants surrounded him in some sort of friendship circle. Unfortunately, the power of friendship isn't enough to stop what we have set in motion.
But...little did I know that our little plan would have a wrench in it. One that neither of us thought to calculate for.
That wrench being that the cleansing process...failed.
It wasn't the first time it had failed, but something about this particular session…
Things ended up going into very unknown territory.
…
I wasn't quite sure what to do from that point. We couldn't just continue as planned...
"Wakey, wakey." I nudged him, gently.
When he finally opened his eyes, they were again those two different colors. More proof besides just words that something went awry in the cleansing procedure. I wasn't sure who exactly was upstairs in his mind.
"L-Let me go…" He tried to stand up, but wobbled. "My friends need me…"
I crossed my arms as I tilted my head. "Your friends?"
He ignored me as he stumbled towards the door.
I calmly walked over to him as I took him by the shoulder. "Master...come along. You've just been killed, you need to rest."
"Erito, I…" It didn't seem like he wanted to come with me.
"Come on, master." I patted him on the back. "Let's be on our way."
"But, the others…" He quietly whispered, as though he was fading away. He then remained silent again.
"Come along, now." I took him by the arm gently and walked him through the complex. "I know just the spot for you to rest before we get back to work."
We headed upstairs a few floors before arriving at the recreational floor. Not once did he try to escape from me. Honestly, it seemed like he couldn't even recognize who I was. That, or he was too dazed and confused to put up any form of a struggle.
I continued to wonder, who was he? Was he Kozaki? Was he Erito? Was he...somehow both of them together?
After our relatively short walk, I opened the door to what I believed to be just the perfect room for him.
Puppies, everywhere. I thought this was brilliant. After all, I knew that Kozaki was a dog lover. Heck, even as Erito, he would come here in his free time to surround himself with these little bundles of joy.
He stepped inside, insecurely. "What is…?"
"Come on, Master." I smiled as I closed the door behind us. "Why don't you take some time off for yourself for now? You seem to be...very ill."
He quietly walked forward a few steps before kneeling. The various puppies in the room all bounced towards him, eagerly. "There's so many of them…"
I crossed my arms behind my back as I leaned against the wall. "But of course, and of many breeds as well. This is one of your favorite rooms to recharge in. Don't you remember?"
He continued to look at the puppies. Though, something about him seemed to be weary of them. He was hesitating to pet them, let alone show them any form of affection. For a dog lover like him, this was definitely off-putting.
Even Erito wouldn't have a reaction like that. This felt completely abnormal.
"Master, is everything alright?" I asked him, tilting my head.
"This is...this is all wrong." He slowly felt at his head. "I-I'm no Master…"
Some of the puppies were whining, trying to get his attention.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Shiro...he must miss me so much, if he's even still alive…" He then opened his eyes and gently scooped up a puppy that was the same breed of his beloved dog. "He used to look just like this. Like this, before that damn accident, before I hurt him…" He shut his eyes again. "What is wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you, Master." I knelt down to pet one of the puppies.
"N-No, no...you're lying." He bit his lip, shaking lightly. He had to be careful not to harm the poor pup by accident. If only he was as careful as this when it came to not hurting his friends.
"Lying?" I asked my dear nephew, tilting my head lightly. "And why do you say that?"
"All of this, everything…" He gently released the puppy. "I've always caused the people around me to hurt. Yet I, I want to stop…" He then held his head, clearly distressed. "Stop...suffering!"
Could this be Erito? Or perhaps, it's something else?
"Stop suffering?" I approached him. By this point the puppies were all moving away from the two of us. "We were going to create a world without suffering. That hasn't changed, Master. Why do you say it like it has?"
"That world, it can't exist if I'm part of it." He looked over to me, backing away. "I-I don't want to be part of this." He then felt his face. "I have to get rid of the suffering, but it follows me everywhere I go. To create a world without suffering - how can I want to create a world without suffering if the suffering is caused by me? N-No, no. I don't want to suffer anymore. I-"
From the way he spoke, he sounded like a mix between his two selves. It was almost like they were fighting for control, resulting in him spewing out incomprehensible gibberish.
Could it be because the exchange process failed?
"Slow down there, sport." I kneeled down, reaching over to him to stroke his hair. "Of course you can be a part of our new world. None of this would be possible without you." I then smiled, gently. "You're our leader, Master."
"N-No." He pushed my hand away before standing up. "I'm not."
I stood up as well. "Who are you then, Master?"
He paused for a moment, unsure of how to answer me.
"I'll tell you who you are." I leaned in. "You're Erito Hajimoto."
"N-No, that's wrong. All of this is wrong. You're wrong...I-I'm wrong…!" He shook his head, raising his voice.
"Eh? You're wrong?" I was confused by that remark.
He frantically looked around, as though he wanted to run away. To run away, like he always would as a child. But he couldn't. His body fought against his mind, and he dropped to his knees. He stayed quiet, feeling his head.
"Master Erito…" I crouched down to his level, lifting his chin lightly with my index finger to look at him in the eyes. "Who do you think you are?"
He shook his head in response. "I don't know anymore, I don't know who I am. Nothing makes sense to me..."
I slowly stood up, still looking at him. "If that's the case, then I suppose nobody knows who you are."
He quietly stood up, eyes dancing around insecurely.
"Perhaps this experiment has done more to your mind than you can handle." I frowned, nodding. "Master...we need to remove your reconstructed self as soon as possible. It's driving you mad."
"Remove…?" He asked, his voice shaking lightly.
"It will take some time, but I can do it for you." I pointed to him.
He slowly rose to his feet, looking around the room. The puppies were as far away from us as they could be. It was like we were monsters.
"I-I have to go…" He began to move towards the door. "My friends need me."
"Go?" I shook my head. "No, you're not going anywhere. With how you are now, you won't even make it far."
But he ignored me, continuing to head for the door. "I'm going."
I followed behind him. "If you're not going to your room to rest, you're not going anywhere."
"I have to get back to them, they need me…" He ignored me, now exiting the room.
I was not going to just stand there and watch him walk away wherever he wanted. I followed after him, grabbing his arm and frowning. "Enough. Let's get you to bed."
He didn't fight me as I walked him through the complex, back to his room. He laid down on his bed and curled into a fetal position.
"I don't know what has been causing all these recent failures." I crossed my arms, looking to the side. "But they're taking a toll on you. Master, you look like you're going to drop dead. It's not safe for you to return to the game."
"But, Erito…" He closed his eyes. "I have to go back."
"No, absolutely not." I shook my head, removing my lab coat to walk over and sit next to him on his bed. "You're out of the game now. The plan has worked. You never have to switch back to that pitiful personality ever again. Take a day or two off, Master."
He looked away. "Erito, the others... they need me…"
"They're going to be fine." I reassured him. "Are you worried about your bodyguard? We could pull some strings to remove him from the game." I was getting slightly desperate to try and appease Master Erito. If that was who he even was, at this point.
"I don't want them to die." He shook his head. "What good is my goal if my friends are dying for it?"
I went quiet to process that. It really did sound as if Erito and Kozaki somehow melted into each other.
"Look, I'm sorry, champ. But, it's not like we can just stop rolling the cameras. We need the world to keep its eyes on this game a bit longer. We need more time before our vision can come to fruition. The game cannot end yet."
"Make it end sooner." He sat up. "The killing game, end it. Make them all elites. Save…" His voice trailed off.
"You know I can't just do that. There are things that need to be finished first." I sighed and stood up. "I'll go think of something to bring Ramón back to you alright?"
Erito then quickly rose to his feet, shaking his head. He then dashed forwards and snatched my lab coat before leaving the room.
"What the-?" I quickly ran after him. "What are you doing, Master?!"
He continued to run down the hall, as though he were searching for some kind of escape.
I reached to grab him by the arm, squeezing it. "You are not to leave this place, Master."
"I'll leave to go wherever I want." He tugged his arm, trying to break free from my hold.
"No, you will not." I began to tug him along with me. "You're going to your room, and that's an order." I felt as though I was putting a disobedient child to bed.
Well, Kozaki was always disobedient.
Painfully disobedient.
"Let go of me, Erito!" He raised his voice.
I turned to look at him. To observe his face, his behavior. I was trying to piece together who he was. "No, Master. You must rest."
"If I don't leave, my friends will vote wrong!" He continued to struggle. "I have to go back!"
"What are you talking about?" I asked, shaking my head. "Forget about the game, Master! We went through all the trouble of bringing you here in a manner where no one will look for you!"
"No, you don't understand!" He was finally able to slip out from my grasp.
He then sprinted away.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?!" I began to chase after him. "You miserable child! Get back here this instance!"
But he never turned back. He ran and he ran and he ran. He kept spewing out nonsense, the same line over and over.
I have to go back!
As I ran to catch up to him, I saw him enter the elevator. He had tossed my laptop and ID card outside of it.
"Stop this!" I bolted towards the elevator. "You're going to ruin everything, Kozaki!"
The instant I reached the elevator, the doors shut. I could see the look in his eyes for just a second, the absolute terror he was feeling just before his body collapsed inside.
That damn, miserable child!
Angrily, I punched the door of the elevator. I then let out a sigh as I bent over to pick up my lab coat and ID.
That's it. I've had enough of your games. Go ahead. Go back to the others in the killing game. Have them realize you're alive, and make your own bodyguard the blackened for the sake of your idiocy!
I'm going to begin preparations now for the...special operation.
Oh, oh yes. It's very special indeed. The operation where it will vaporize that miserable reconstruction.
I've already killed before.
I just can't wait to kill you.
…
That's right. If it weren't for that, things may have gone in a much better direction for us. It was very, very hard to save you from that execution.
I could have just let you die. Maybe to teach that miserable child a lesson.
I didn't save you because you mean anything to me. I don't care about you at all.
I saved you because you dying there would have been the stupidest thing I would have ever had the displeasure of witnessing.
And also, so you could continue your role as Master's bodyguard. You truly are an incredibly talented individual.
So, thank me then. Thank me for saving your life. C'mon, I'm waiting.
…
Alright. I'll tell you just one more story. After that, we'll head out - whether or not Master wakes up.
I grumbled as I walked through the halls. That girl, she has fight. I'll give her credit for that.
But what an annoyance. A real pain in my ass, all thanks to my wonderful nephew.
My wonderful, incredible nephew who wouldn't stop struggling and wiggling and trying to escape as he was escorted through the halls to the room where the cleansing took place.
"Let me go, damn it!" He squirmed, trying to break free. "What are you going to do to her?!"
Her? Oh, that's right. Our uninvited guest…
"Fucking...don't ignore me, Uncle!" He shouted at me. "What will you do?!"
I rolled my eyes and shrugged, casually. "What else am I supposed to do with her, my dear nephew? She was trespassing. She could be killed for all I know."
"Y-You can't…" He seemed to be horrified by that.
"Hmm…" I then smiled. "You're right. Just killing her would be boring and anticlimactic! Instead…" I then crossed my arms behind my back. "She would make for a good hostage for a killing motive, wouldn't you agree?"
That only seemed to piss him off more.
"Yeesh…" I rubbed the back of my neck. "I just can't win with you, can I?" I then waved a hand, casually. "Just hurry up and turn back into Erito for me in the cleaning room."
The anger of his face shifted to an expression of complete confusion. Then, traces of fear began to appear. "W-What…? Turn back into…? I-I don't…"
I then stopped walking and turned around. It seems like he absolutely could not remember what happened after the recent failed exchange session. Interesting. Very, very interesting.
"Ooh, my bad. You were supposed to figure that out during the final trial." I then shrugged with a smile. "Spoilers?"
"W-Wait, I…" He stared at me in disbelief.
"That's right!" I pridefully nodded. "The mastermind of the killing game iiiiis…" I pointed at him with some finger guns. "You!"
He was completely silent. To be honest, it looked like he would drop dead any second.
"Iiiiis...you!" I pointed to him again.
Nope. Still nothing.
I sighed and moved my arms to my side. "What? No reaction?" I let out a disappointed sigh. "My expectations for you were low, and yet you still managed to let me down."
"I'm…" He looked to his hands. "Erito is...m-me?"
"Congratulations. You have at least two functioning brain cells." I walked towards the door to the cleaning room and opened it. "Come along."
His face was pale, and he put up no effort to resist against the two Faceless members who were escorting him. As he passed by, I could see the absolute horror in his eyes.
"Oh, by the way!" I called to the fellow Faceless members. "Can you remove that memory of me telling him, you know, that teensie detail about his true identity? Thanks!" I then shut the door.
From there, I headed back to my office.
I was playing my cards carefully. I had to push them to go to the puzzle room. Hopefully, using that girl as a hostage and that lab cat as a murder target will get the group the resolve to solve the puzzle.
And from there?
Well... there's only two ways the game will end. Either they will all die except for Master Erito, or Kozaki will be executed.
And by that, I mean he will be erased in front of everyone to see.
Just thinking about it made me feel delirious. Finally, after all this time, I can eradicate that personality so Master Erito will be my absolute, perfected disciple.
Consensually, of course. It was his idea to erase Kozaki's miserable existence.
I only just lead him in that direction of reasoning.
This Faceless organization, it's like my garden. I am the gardener who tends to each of the plants each day. I am the one who waters and feeds my most prized plant.
Erito Hajimoto is that very plant.
I watched that class trial with popcorn in hand. It was a miserable sight, watching Mikanne's desperation. He wanted so badly to save his childhood friend. Why? Because he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he failed. That's how I see it.
I wondered if for a moment, Kozaki was able to remember that I had told him he was Erito. He was so deadlocked in trying to convince his friends to vote for him.
It was a putrid, disgusting sight.
However, a sight that I expected to see.
What I did not expect, however, was for them all to tie the vote.
I didn't have anything prepared for that, I am ashamed to admit. Perhaps this was the fruit of their friendship, therefore it was something I could never understand.
I thought for a moment, I'd give them all a fake execution in order to swoop them down here. Show's over, ladies and gentlemen. No survivors in this killing game!
But the world would be pissed at me. I couldn't pull something like that.
Oh yeah, especially the Weise Vayrne fans. They're a loud, rowdy bunch. Even just imagining their reactions on social media made me shudder.
Though, they also were a bunch that wouldn't be able to do anything meaningful. All they could do was cry through their rage posts about how horribly the show ended.
Bah, I'm getting ahead of myself.
What ended up happening was not a surprise to me, however. My miserable nephew pulled off his glove to save his friends. He almost pulled it off way back during the trial of the first murder. Ever since then, I expected he would eventually snap and pull it off.
Well, he didn't snap, moreso perceived it as the only way out.
And then, what would happen?
Well...
...
You already know what ended up happening, because here we are now. Me, you, and Master Erito in a room.
We've spent enough time here, and Master Erito is still sound asleep. I suppose we should get a move-on, then.
Oh, a question? What is it?
Who are you? There's a few answers to that question. You're a bodyguard, a mafioso, a tour guide...lots of things.
…
What kind of question is that?
Please. Your name is Ramón Loarte. That's who you are. I told you, you created Fraize during your Customization. He was nothing more than a mask during the game. Just like Kozaki was.
...
Look, kid, I'd love to continue this chat with you, but I have things I need to do. If you'll please follow me, I need you to escort my dear nephew to our special guest room. Hmm...let's go with room A. After all, that girl must be feeling quite lonely. She could use a friend.
Actually...she knows who he is, right? I wonder how she'll react to this.
In any case, this will be quite the interaction to witness.
Come along, now.
…
Here we are. She's just as quiet as ever.
Well, no use in having any fanfare. Let me just drop in my nephew here…
Aaaand done.
What's with that look?
Hey, if you were me, you'd want to throw him to the floor rather violently as well.
I need to get going now, or I'll be late for my meeting. I'm counting on you to guard this cell for me until I get back.
Alright, Ramón...you're the boss now.
~ Chapter Seven, Start ~