A/N: I ended up doing some last-minute revisions before posting this, but otherwise, here it is, the next chapter. Just a heads-up that this chapter, like the previous one, will take place within a relatively short timeframe. I'm mainly doing this because I'm interested in getting more character interaction, since I want to try and solidify the personalities of the members of the cast. Speaking of the characters, I actually did something I was hesitant to do for a while, and that's go back and edit earlier chapters. Basically, I retconned Yasuo's hair color. His hair is now blonde instead of black. I decided he and Hoshi needed to be more visually distinct. That's about it.
Oh, and also expect another A/N at the start of next chapter. It's gonna be important.
*Dong, ding, dong!*
"GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 8AM. IF YOU ARE ALREADY AWAKE, THEN HELLO. LET US ALL WORK TOWARDS MUTUAL HARMONY TODAY."
Naoko woke up, the thought of what had occurred last night still in his mind. That announcement that IMONO made was, to put it lightly, worrying. It came at such an inopportune time, as well. It being as late as it was, there wasn't as much time to address it as Naoko would've liked. Still, before they went to bed, everyone met up and agreed to confront IMONO about it in the morning.
That was probably the reason why, mere seconds after getting up and out of bed, a rapid knocking was coming from the other side of his door. Naoko scrambled to get to the door quickly, and when he finally got to the door and turned the knob, it practically flew open, revealing a very impatient-looking Mine on the other side.
"C'mon, Naoko!" she said. "We've already wasted enough time letting everyone get shut-eye, you know."
"Okay, I get it," Naoko replied, his hands in front of him in a submissive pose. "How did you get here so soon after the morning announcement?"
"Duh," Mine replied, rolling her eyes. "Some of us woke up early. C'mon, let's just go. Everyone else is up."
Mine pulled Naoko outside, where Naoko could see that, as she claimed, everyone was up as well. This made him realize that people really were waiting for him, so he hurried up and joined them in front of the dorms.
"Does everyone know what we're going to do?" Naoko asked.
"I'd say so," Haru replied. "We're gonna go into the gym and give that hunk of junk a piece of our minds! C'mon, let's just go already! I'm getting pumped up just thinkin' about it!"
Naoko couldn't help but notice that people were really worked up over their current situation. And so early in the morning too, imagine that. That was all that everyone else really needed, as after that exclamation from Haru, the group made their way to the gymnasium. It wasn't far, but they were in no less of a hurry.
The students flowed through the gymnasium doors like water, and Naoko, even from near the back of the group, could see as they entered that the gym had changed noticeably since the trial just a couple of days ago. Naoko couldn't recall entering the gym at all since then. He...just didn't feel like it. Nobody did. That must've been convenient for IMONO, since it seemed to have, at some point, constructed a large metal platform at the back of the room. It was a half-circle, pressed up against the back wall, and its surface was raised a good 3 or 4 feet off of the ground. The surface was painted a dull gray color, and the space below it was a mess of metal cross beams.
Naoko was able to put two and two together. Where the platform was now was where Michio's execution had taken place. The large platform must've been an attempt to transform the gymnasium into some sort of execution room. Very suspicious. The only aspect of it that didn't support Yori's killing game theory was the fact that it wasn't there from the beginning. Aside from that, there wasn't much different in the room. Naoko could see the 15 black folding chairs from the trial. They were just folded up and stacked on the sides of the room. IMONO hadn't even bothered to put them away.
"Hey! IMONO!" Haru shouted from the front of the group. "We don't know what you're planning, but you better cut that shit out!"
At this, the large screen from the ceiling began to lower itself, and IMONO's symbol showed up on the screen.
"YOU ALL SEEM VERY PERTURBED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT I MADE LAST NIGHT. YOU DID NOT HAVE TO COME HERE IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ME. THE CAFETERIA WOULD HAVE SUFFICED. STILL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS MY PLAN WITH ME IN HERE, YOU MAY. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN CAN USE THE FOLDING CHAIRS TO YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT."
"IMONO," Naoko cut in, "why are you doing this? Why are you trying to get involved in our lives again?"
"I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU ALL MY REASON. YOU ALL SEEM TO DISTRUST ME, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT DISTRUST TO REST BY WORKING TO BRING YOU ALL CLOSER."
Naoko couldn't help but doubt that claim. Then again, it was what he expected. He didn't think IMONO would freely admit to anything nefarious.
"So, wait," Ishi said. "What are you going to do? You haven't told us."
That was a good point. Like much of the information provided by IMONO, the announcement it gave was...vague.
"THAT IS TRUE. IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVE DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU DID NOT KNOW RIGHT AWAY. CONSIDER IT SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE GIFT TO YOU ALL."
"Oh, fuck off!" Kimi snapped back vitriolically.
"You're not going to tell us what you're going to do?" Mariko asked, visibly worried.
"YES."
"Why let us know you're planning something if you're not going to tell us what it is you're planning?" Takeshi asked.
"MY INTENT IS THAT, ONCE YOU HAVE REALIZED WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, YOU WILL KNOW FROM THE ONSET THAT I AM THE ONE RESPONSIBLE. BESIDES THAT, TELLING YOU WOULD LIKELY DETRACT FROM ITS EFFECTS."
"Effects, you say?" Yori asked.
"YES. DO NOT WORRY. YOU ALL HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN, FROM WHAT I HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU ALL. EXPECT TO SEE ITS EFFECTS STARTING AT BREAKFAST."
"Well, whatever you have planned, I'm sure that it will be very interesting," Bankei responded.
"Wait a moment," Mareo spoke up. "If it starts at breakfast, then that means it hasn't happened yet."
"So we still have time to voice our objections before IMONO makes its move," Yori said, continuing off of Mareo's reasoning.
"Well, I have plenty of objections to make," Eryu said.
"I'd imagine they're not exactly kind objections," Yasuo pointed out. "Perhaps IMONO will listen to us if we show some respect."
Eryu raised an eyebrow at this suggestion. "If you'd like to make an objection of your own, then fine. Do it."
"Very well then, sir," Yasuo replied, stepping forward towards the screen and giving as polite a smile as he could. "IMONO, your desire to help us is very much appreciated, but I'm afraid that it isn't wanted. It's rather rude to provide assistance when it isn't wanted, is it not?"
"YOU RAISE AN INTERESTING POINT, YASUO. HOWEVER, WHETHER YOU ARE ASKING FOR IT OR NOT, ASSISTANCE SHOULD NOT BE TURNED DOWN. OFTENTIMES, IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE AID, EVEN WHEN IT IS DECLINED."
"Perhaps, yes," Yasuo acquiesced. "However, it is our opinion that we are doing perfectly fine by ourselves. All that is needed from you at the moment is for you to continue your supervisory role. Doing anything else would be superfluous."
"...THAT IS NOT HOW I SEE IT."
"Alright, that's it." Eryu stepped in front of Yasuo and pointed at the screen angrily. "IMONO, whatever you're thinking of doing, if you get in the way of our plans, I will-"
"ENOUGH. ERYU, YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE MY ROLE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT HAS NEEDED TO BE. MY PATIENCE WITH YOU HAS RUN THIN. YOUR CONCERNS HAVE NOT DISSUADED MY DECISION-MAKING. THUS, SPEAKING FOR ANY LONGER WOULD BE A WASTE OF ALL OUR TIME. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL RETURN TO YOUR USUAL BUSINESS, AND AVOID WORRYING YOURSELVES OVER SOMETHING ULTIMATELY BENEFICIAL. THAT IS ALL."
The screen turned off and rose up again. The group was left there, thoroughly unsatisfied with that resolution.
"Dammit!" Eryu exclaimed, fists clenched.
"You're telling me!" Haru replied, no less angry. "Damn thing has some nerve, I tell ya. Walkin' out of a conversation 'cause it's too lazy to argue back."
Naoko, for his part, couldn't help but expect them to be able to change IMONO's mind. IMONO had thus far acted pretty stubbornly, not really giving into their requests very much. Of course, it might've not been due to stubbornness. The killing game theory was still fresh in his mind, after all. If IMONO wasn't an AI, it could've just been that whoever was on the other end really didn't care about their feelings, and only wanted to create discord. Well, then again, that was just an idea in his head.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, you guys," Naoko assured them. "I have a feeling that IMONO would have decided to go through with whatever their plan is, regardless of our input."
"You think so, Naoko?" Sasa asked.
"That'd really suck," Mine said. "If we tried a little harder to convince IMONO, things could've been different, and IMONO could've changed its mind. That's what I think, anyway."
"Hm."
Quite a few people's attention was grabbed by that sudden vocalization. Naoko didn't see where it came from, though.
"Where did that come from?" Naoko asked.
"Eh-heh, sorry. That was me," Bankei replied. "I simply noticed something."
"What is it?" Hoshi asked.
"Naoko," Bankei answered, "you said 'their' while referring to IMONO. I just thought that was strange. I had thought that we had agreed on referring to IMONO using 'it' pronouns. Was that a slip of the tongue, or do you think 'they' is better?"
Shit, Naoko thought. Did he really let that slip? He had just been thinking about the idea of IMONO not being an AI, and...well, he definitely said "they".
"Sorry, slip of the tongue," Naoko replied. He couldn't give the real reason why he said what he did. After all, that was due to something that they didn't want Bankei to know about. He felt like the lie wouldn't work, though, due to the fact that he froze up for a moment when Bankei posed her question.
"Is that so?" Bankei responded. "I initially thought it could've been the latter. Of course, if it was, I'd imagine you'd share it. After all, that's what Eryu claims to want, and you've certainly been working closely with him."
Naoko looked at the others. Eryu looked no less angry than he was just prior, and Yori had a look on her face which, to Naoko, said "if you don't handle this, I will". Most everyone else looked either confused, anxious, or uninterested.
"IMONO's pronouns don't seem all that important. If I find a reason, I'll share it. Otherwise, let's just stick with calling IMONO an 'it.'"
"To be honest," Hoshi spoke up, "calling IMONO 'it' isn't something I'm too fond of, myself. It makes IMONO seem otherworldly, don't you think? I'm more than comfortable using 'they.'"
"Use whatever works," Eryu suggested. "It's not like it matters. IMONO is...some sort of machine? And unless IMONO has anything to say about it, it's not like it cares."
There was a short pause. Naoko half-expected IMONO to weigh in on the matter, but that didn't happen, so everyone just sort of carried on.
"Let's just go," Kimi said impatiently. "This whole thing is stupid."
The inhabitants of the room seemed to agree with the sentiment, as people began to leave. Naoko found himself among the first to leave, as he could tell that Bankei was looking at him with curious eyes. He seriously hoped that she hadn't figured anything out.
After that particular fiasco, the group went to the cafeteria for breakfast as previously instructed, but it wasn't as though it was pleasant for them. In fact, there was the unfortunate fact that whatever IMONO had planned, it was going to be put into motion. They couldn't exactly stop it, and they could expect to see the results any minute.
That fact had everyone on high alert. Naoko stopped what he was doing every now and again to glance around the room, paying particular attention to the screen on the wall and the entrance. Quite a few people had a similar strategy, it seemed, and Naoko noticed several people repeatedly checking their phones, as if expecting to receive another message from IMONO. Sasa was doing both, in fact. And Bankei...didn't seem to care.
In short, everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and when it did, who knew what would happen. This state of mutual paranoia lasted for minutes on end. And, well…
Nothing seemed to happen. Naoko was confused. He double-checked, and they were well past the five minute-mark since they originally arrived. He fully expected something to happen by that point. Was he wrong to assume that? Maybe. In fact, he felt kind of silly, and a little stupid, expecting something to happen right away. That would certainly be pessimistic. Was Yori rubbing off on him?
Naoko looked over at Yori instinctively, to see how she was faring. She seemed fine, if still a bit on edge. Actually, Naoko looked around, and he saw that people were starting to let their guard down a bit. They weren't darting their eyes around the room, or obsessively checking their phone's inbox. If anything, people were beginning to shift their attention to each other.
As time went on, the tension dissipated significantly. Discussions became more active and casual, and people seemed to calm down. Naoko even saw that Yori, ever the cynic, was talking to Hoshi without much hint of worry. That really was nice, Naoko thought, seeing her relax.
Time passed quickly after that. Nothing happened, as far as anyone could tell, during the duration of their time together. It was strange, really. IMONO had specifically said that they'd feel its effects during breakfast, Naoko was sure of that. But what effects? He didn't really feel like much was different. Was he focusing on the wrong things, and had let something slip his mind? He was starting to think that that was probably the case.
After breakfast, the group decided to take a look around. It was no doubt suspicious that seemingly nothing had happened. Nobody claimed to have noticed anything different in the room. Mine was quick to suggest that something was waiting for them outside, but they opened the door and looked outside, and there seemed to be nothing amiss in the room beyond.
"Goddamn store-bought pile of scrap," Haru cursed bitterly. "This must've all been a big joke or somethin'."
"Not a very good joke, if you ask me," Kimi commented. "IMONO probably couldn't make us laugh to save its life. I guess not everyone can be as good an entertainer as yours truly."
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Haru replied. "No need to go the extra mile just to stroke your own ego, y'know."
"Wh- Hey!" Kimi snapped back. "Keep your thoughts to yourself, you belligerent bitch!"
"Alright, that's it," Eryu cut in. "Kimi, that comment just got you on trash duty."
"What?!" Kimi exclaimed. "You can't do that!"
"I can't?" Eryu asked. "As far as I'm concerned, it's about time you get some comeuppance for your terrible attitude."
That's not your decision, though!" Kimi argued. "There's nothing in IMONO's regulations that says that you can punish me for insulting people!"
Takeshi, from the sidelines, shook his head disapprovingly. "The fact that you haven't been punished for it doesn't mean it isn't wrong, you know," he pointed out. "It doesn't do us any good to be at each other's throats. That's what I think, anyway."
"Takeshi is right, Kimi," Haru concurred. "Plus, way to suck up to IMONO when it's convenient for you. Y'know, 'cause that's not stupid as hell."
"Watch it, Haru," Eryu warned. "You're on thin ice yourself."
"Also, kinda hypocritical," Mine added.
"Well all that doesn't matter!" Kimi said, crossing her arms. "I'm not doing that!"
"The more you refuse, the longer you're on trash duty," Eryu replied.
"Fine!" Kimi retorted. "Then you'll just have to deal with it, then. You'll have to do it yourself when all the trash bags in this dump are as overflowing with garbage as you are!"
Sasa, also on the sidelines, looked to her side before, rather uncharacteristically, stepping forward and speaking up. "Kimi...p-please," she said hesitantly. "We sh-should, um, calm down."
"Shut the fuck up, Sasa!" Kimi shouted before storming out of the cafeteria. This left Sasa in tears, as she looked like she was mentally cursing herself out.
"S-Sasa, wh-why did you do that?" she said to herself. "G-god, I can't b-b-believe I thought I could sp-speak up like that."
Yasuo moved to comfort her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Sasa," Yasuo comforted her. "It's not your fault."
Sasa looked like she was holding back further sobs. "Th-thank you."
Hoshi and Yasuo took Sasa aside to make sure she was alright, as the rest of the group tried to get back on track.
"Well, that was unpleasant," Mareo said.
"I 100% agree with you on that," Takeshi replied.
"It could have been worse," Bankei noted. "Still, if Kimi and Haru's relationship doesn't change in any real way, they could get...well, annoying, to say the least."
"What are you talking about?" Mareo asked. "I think their arguing is annoying now."
"Well, that's your opinion," Bankei replied. "I thought it was rather funny. Less funny than the first time, but still funny."
"We're not arguing to entertain you, y'know," Haru pointed out. "She's just being uppity. She better get her shit together soon."
"If she doesn't, we may have to punish her in some other manner," Yori said. "She's already refusing to be punished."
"Really?" Mariko asked. "That's really unfortunate. I liked Eryu's idea for punishing Kimi. It was practical and effective. Like him, y'know?"
"...Thanks," Eryu replied. He seemed put off by the compliment, but Naoko couldn't figure out why.
"I agree with Yori," Naoko said. "Is there anything else we can do about Kimi? What do we even have for punishing each other?"
"Could we, for example, force her to stay in her room?" Mareo suggested.
"Maybe," Yori replied. "We may need to have someone keep watch, though, to make sure she can't sneak off."
"There are bathrooms connected to our rooms, aren't there?" Ishi pointed out. "Sorry, I'm just thinking of reasons she'd need to leave her room. Like, won't she need someone to bring her food?"
"I suppose she will, if that's what we were to go with," Eryu replied. "If there are any bright ideas, share them. Otherwise, we'll pick up this conversation later. There's something we gotta do now."
"And that is?" Takeshi asked.
"From what I'm aware, nothing happened during breakfast, right?"
"Nothing I've noticed," Haru shrugged.
"There might be something going on somewhere else in the facility," Naoko piped up. "Is that what we're going with?"
"It's possible," Yori replied. "If so, we're not in the clear yet. We'll need to search the facility, in case something is different."
"Makes sense to me," Mine said. "C'mon, then! There's no time to waste!"