'She must not trust me,'Sara thought upon meeting Hiyori; this solemn, middle-school aged girl who had provided only a surname to address her by.'Guess I can't blame her…'
When Joe ditched her to investigate with Keiji, ('Typical,' she thought. 'I ought to punch him.')she hadn't entirely expected Hiyori to even agree to investigate with her. The girl stared, wide-eyed, for a moment spanning a blink, before she agreed.
Hiyori ran when confronted by the bars at the door to the Russian Roulette room. Even then, Sara couldn't quite blame her; she was only a girl, after all. She must have been terrified.
So when Sara saw the results on her voting tablet, right before Mishima - that kindly old man who, despite his sinister appearance, was likely to pitch a fly out the window before smashing it against his desk - fell dead right before their eyes, she felt a horrible, piercing shock pulse straight through her core.
'Sara - one vote; Joe - one vote; Keiji - one vote;Hiyori - zero votes; Q-taro - one vote; Shin - one vote; Reko - one vote;Nao - zero votes; Kai - one vote; Gin - one vote; Mishima - three votes.'
Suddenly, Hiyori didn't seem as innocent as Sara had thought.
Throat dry, and aching from the sight of Mishima's remains, Sara resolved to question her.
'I've started jumping at shadows, haven't I?'Sara wondered, stomach tied in knots.'She was probably just scared.'
The glare of the lamp burned Kanna's eyes from her position in the darkest corner of the hidden room; her stomach churning as she retched and heaved, doubled over.
She spat, clearing her mouth of the bile, staring down at the chunky pile of mush she knew to be there, despite her inability to see it; cloaked in the darkness.
No one's going to help you, Kanna. Can you even help yourself?
'... I can. Sister, Hiyori… There's no going back, is there?'Kanna panted, throwing herself into the door, hands slick with sweat, slipping off of the knob.'I killed him… My vote. I made that choice, didn't I? To save myself… I've proved… I'm willing to sacrifice other people.'
("It would be an awful shame, I think," he said, gaze boring into the hollow-eyed girl, "to let your sister's selflessness become pointless.")
"Sara," she croaked, spotting the girl as she made for the cafeteria, gaze distant and troubled. "Over here…"
'Her and one other.'Kanna steeled herself.'I need… to establish my credibility.'
Reko answered her prayers, catching notice of her whisper before even Sara could. "Huh…? Who's over there!?"
"Quiet!" Kanna hissed through gritted teeth. "I don't want too many people to know about this. Come over here…"
"Hiyori…?" Sara probed. "That's you, right? What… are you doing over there?"
"Just come, please? And keep quiet."
"Hey, you think we can trust her? I don't see the harm, myself," Reko whispered to Sara. "She's just a kid, right?"
Sara nodded, striding over to the secret room.'I hope this isn't a bad idea. At least she's not likely to harm me yet.'Kanna swallowed, allowing them in.'Right…?'
Sara hummed, taking a quick glance around. "It's awfully dark… What have you been doing in here, Hiyori? Did you just find this?"
"That's not important," Kanna waved her off. "What I wanted to show you is this." She sat herself in the chair before the desk, edging the laptop towards the two.
"Hey," Reko blinked. "You don't think that this could belong to the kidnappers, right!? Good fuckin' find, kid!"
"I… can't confirm that," Kanna lied. "There's no power cord, so I have to be careful with the battery." At least that was the truth: Kanna had already run down enough battery with her initial investigation.'I ought to make this quick…'
That's the way, Kanna. Mix the truth and the lie so finely that it dilutes.
"Well, quick, open it up!" Reko urged. "Who gives a shit about the battery!? We can get revenge for Mishima!" She sobered, teeth grinding. "You shoulda seen Nao… It was like a scene from a damned horror movie…"
"L-Let's not jump the gun, Reko…" Kanna winced, sliding herself away from the punk. "It's password protected; there's nothing I can glean from it right now."
'Of course, Kanna's already figured out the password… but it'd be dumb to let them know that. Not with Sara here.'
"Shit…" Reko sighed. "I don't suppose you got any idea, Sara? I was all fired up, too."
Sara hummed, brow furrowing in thought. "The… name of the organization that brought us here, maybe?"
Kanna's eyes narrowed. "And I don't suppose you would know the name of this 'organization,' now, would you?"
"Jeez… N-No need to get snarky…" Sara wilted.
"Sorry, Sara," Kanna sighed. "I'm annoyed, too…"
"Don't suppose we could just find a piece of paper with the password on it?" asked Reko, pushing a hand through her wild tresses of hair.
"That… would be an incredibly obvious trap."
"Right, right…"
Kanna hummed. "I think… that this laptop just might be a hint."
"What do you mean?" asked Sara.
"What K- I mean is… that there's likely information on here that wouldn't matter to our captors, but could be a goldmine for us!" And it was a goldmine: Kanna knew who to target, as heavy as the thought settled in her chest.
But you've already made that leap, Kanna. No sense getting cold feet now.
"So, if we run out of battery," she continued, "we'd miss out on it. If it doesn't matter to the captors either way… I figure we should, er, hoist them with their own leotard? Something like that…"
"It's petard," Sara corrected, grinning.
Kanna blushed. "That, too! You know what I meant! If we can solve this riddle, maybe they'll have left something we can escape with!" Kanna plastered on a smile. "Sara, Reko… Leave it to me. I'll see if I can figure out the password on my own!"
"Alright," Sara nodded. "Work hard, Hiyori."
"Hey…" Reko started, brow furrowed. "Sara… are you sure we should leave the kid here?"
"... What do you mean, Reko?" Kanna asked, tone flat and heart pounding in her chest.
"It's just… leaving a kid alone here don't sit right with me in the first place… and…" Reko grit her teeth, expression conflicted. "I hate ta say it, but… I can't stop thinking about those results! Ever since I saw them, I've been losing my mind over it!"
"Results?" Sara echoed. "You don't mean…?"
"What else would I be talking about!?" Reko whirled on Kanna, who flinched back in horror. "Hiyori…! Did you… vote for Mishima!?"
Kanna's heart contorted in her chest, sending daggers of guilt slicing down through her insides. She remembered the way the old man had screamed as his blood evaporated from the inside of his neck, the way he had pushed his student to the ground in one last bid to protect her.
She remembered how she had misjudged him.
Yet, if Kanna wavered here, then she would die.
She shoved down the urge to prostrate herself before the women, begging for their forgiveness, their mercy, their understanding.
(The blade flashed in the low light as it plunged into Kanna's throat.)
"No," she said. "I'm afraid of him; the one that I voted for. That's why… I think I might've accidentally covered for him…"
"... And who did you vote for, Hiyori?"
'Kanna's… not strong enough to face it. Just how I couldn't face you, Sister.'
"... Kai."
Kanna sat in that dark room for a long time, afterward.
Her brain buzzed with thoughts too disseminated and ephemeral to truly be considered thoughts. Just idle activity to keep her mind occupied, her neurons firing. She sat in front of the laptop, too frazzled to open it back up. She'd just waste the battery, anyway.
'I've… really done it, now,'she thought.'Sara… would never vote for her best friend. But Kai? Even if they're in cahoots, then at least Reko will suspect him, now. I don't suppose she has much of a tolerance for shady men…'
( )
Outside the facility, there was still one thing Kanna needed to do. Nothing else mattered.
At that moment, there was still one thing Kanna needed to do. She hadn't worked up the courage to do it.
Still hesitating, even after you've made your first moves? How wretched.
Sara burst through the door, nearly sending Kanna sprawling to the floor in terror. "G-Gah!"
"Hiyori! Have you seen Nao or Gin come through here!?"
"N-No…!?" Kanna gasped, throwing an arm over the back of her chair to balance herself. "No, I haven't seen anyone! Why…?"
"Dammit…!" Sara scowled. "Let somebody know if you do, alright? Nao's… in a bad way. She's done something reckless, and we need to find her before our kidnappers do!"
"W-Well," Kanna pushed past the sharp shot of guilt. "I don't suppose that Ka- I would be much help… I'll keep an eye out, though…"
"Right!" Sara nodded sharply, pushing herself back out the door.
'Sara's going to kill me with a heart attack sooner than a knife,'Kanna thought deliriously.'... That's not funny.'
She sighed, looking over the files one more time. She needed to be certain.
The lamp flickered off. Kanna blinked.
The door creaked open.
Kanna yawned, eyes bleary from the blue light of the computer.'Wish I still had my reading glasses…'
"Sara…?" she probed. "Or Reko? What do you need, this time?"
A doleful squeak escaped from the new presence.
Kanna's eyes widened. That wasn't a very "Sara" or "Reko" sound.
She whirled around.
There, trembling like a leaf, stood Nao Egokoro, (unknown) holding a frying pan.
"Wh-Wha-?"
"I'm sorry…!"
And pain exploded across the side of Kanna's head, sending sparks of agonizing electricity dribbling and dancing through her skull.
"Hiyori…? Hiyori!"
Warm arms lifted Kanna from the ground, paradoxically soft and strong.
"Can you hear me? Answer me! What happened to you…!?"
"B-Bucket Girl… Is she dead, meow…?"
"Don't worry, Gin," came a low, solid voice. "She's breathing. She'll be alright. I suspect that hat of hers negated a lot of damage." He hummed. "How about you check outside the room?"
"O-Okay…" Light, rapid footsteps pounded like drums in Kanna's ears.
"S-Sister…" Kanna croaked, pawing weakly at the arms. "I didn't want to… It wasn't…"
"Hiyori?"
Kanna's vision cleared. Sara was the one holding her up. Still dizzy, she struggled out of the older girl's grip, ice seizing her core. "A-Ah…"
Sara, not expecting the sudden resistance, jerked in surprise as Kanna clattered to the floor.
"See?" Keiji grinned. "She's up and kicking already."
Kanna's hearing rang for an indeterminable amount of time, her vision going black.'Am I about to… pass out again…? What… happened…?'
Stop being so weak.
Kanna pushed her hands against the floor, stumbling to her feet.
Sara was in front of her, kneeling down to look at a card underneath her desk.
Kanna checked her pockets, and ice water poured down the back of her sweater.
"Sara," she said, nearly tearing a hole in her scarf from the strength of her grip. "What are you looking at?"
"Hiyori!" Sara whirled around, leaving the card where it lay. "You're really awake!"
Kanna's head pulsed with pain. "C-Could you keep it down…? K- My head's throbbing…"
"You got whacked something nasty," said Keiji. "Didn't look like you were bleeding, though."
And to think you wanted to trust them. How much evidence does it take for you, Kanna?
"... The laptop," she gasped. "Tell me, that it's still-!"
A quick look at the desk proved her suspicions correct.
"I'm sorry, Hiyori…" Sara sighed. "Looks like it was stolen." She bit her lip. "I don't suppose you saw what was on it?"
"No," she lied. "Sorry, Sara… I tried my best."
"No sense blaming you," said Keiji. "Whoever stole the laptop… Well, it must've been inconvenient for you to have it." He hummed. "Somebody on the first floor…"
'The first floor? Did… the second floor open up again?'Kanna blinked.'What… has Kanna missed?'
Sara grunted, brow furrowed. "Not that I'm unconcerned, but… shouldn't we find Nao first?"
"Hold your horses, Sara," Keiji chuckled. "If you get restless… they'll all slip away."
Kanna giggled, trying to hide the bitterness of the sound. "... You're awfully intense, Mister Policeman."
He hummed, noncommittal. "We'll round everyone up." It seemed he was talking to Sara more than Kanna. "We should take the time to sort things out."
Sara frowned as Keiji strolled out of the room.'What's she thinking about, I wonder? She seems awfully close to Keiji.'
That's not good. The two highest ranking survivors, in cahoots?
Kanna tensed. "Hey, Sara…" she probed. "Were you… looking at something, when I was waking up?"
'Please. Give me a reason… to not think so poorly of you…'
"I don't know," Sara said. "What are you talking about?"
… Fine. Be that way, Sara.You'll regret it.
Kanna hummed. "I see."
Sara took Kanna with her. She supposed that made sense.
Your use has run out, Kanna. You'd better get to work.
"Oh, Miss Sara and company," Kai said, cocking his head.
Sara jerked in surprise, nearly stumbling over a cafeteria chair. "K-Kai…!"
'She seems tense,'thought Kanna.'Looks like… the plan worked.'
Kanna's throat felt funny; fuzzy and swollen.
"Yes, I am Kai." He frowned. "Is something the matter?"
"We were just talking about meeting up," Keiji cut in. "You mind coming with us?"
Kai hummed. "Come to think of it, Joe was just saying to gather in the bar."
"Huh."
Kai rolled his shoulders, leaving his chair. "The lights are restored, so at last I can move."
'Restored…?'Kanna blinked.'That's right… before I was attacked… The light flickered out. That… can't have been a coincidence.'
"Shall we all go together?"
She couldn't get a read on Kai. It was like everything he said had been carefully constructed to be as bland as possible, down to even his name.'And yet… he's my enemy.'
They moved to the bar; evidently, Kai was all they needed to collect.
Kanna jolted in surprise upon entering the room, containing the seven other captives…
… As well as a man in chains, bound by rope, wearing a prison uniform.
6.6% - Alice Yabusame… Murderer
'How is it…'Kanna's jaw clenched, sweat beading on her palms,'that a killer is less dangerous than most of the people in this room?'
Don't underestimate him. He's an obvious choice to vote out; that doesn't make him harmless.
'... And even this man… survived much more than me.'Kanna's tightly balled fists quivered violently at her sides.'Why me? That's not fair…'
A soft mitten rested on her shoulder, belonging to the strange boy in the animal-themed outfit.
"Don't worry, Bucket Girl," he (1.5%)whispered. "Big Sis Sara and the other guys're taking care of him, meow."
Kanna didn't want to pick through the soupy mess of emotions roiling in her stomach. She couldn't find the words for a response.
Awkwardly, Gin let go.
"Huh?" The prisoner's(Alice, most likely)eyes widened upon spotting Sara. "E-Eeee… EYAAAAGH!" He thrashed and writhed under his bonds. "Hurry, hurry! Somebody capture her!"
'Does he… know, as well?'Kanna stared.'Why… would he?'
"Wh-Wha's this alluva sudden!?" Q-taro balked.
"I know!" the man cried. "Yes, I do! This girl is bad news!"
"Please, calm down!" Kanna pleaded. "What are you trying to say!?"
Reko scowled beside her, gaze boring holes into the man. "And quit it with the weird tone, would ya?"
The man stared at her for a long moment, before calming. "... Hmph. Look at me, getting all disconcerted."
'That's right,'Kanna realized, staring at the two.'If this man is Alice Yabusame… Wouldn't he be related to Reko Yabusame?'
Why did he survive less often, I wonder? When Shin can't say the same?
'He's not… He can't be.'
Kanna flinched. No one noticed.
From the man, Gonbee Yamada's (another lie)explanation, he was under the assumption that Sara was a crazed gunwoman who had already killed nine people, judging from the Russian Roulette challenge.
'... He's not too far from the truth, really.'
Keiji had made Sara herself handle the interrogation. Kanna resisted a scowl at the thought. Just why was he so determined to control the girl? That's was he was doing, right?
He's only making her more dangerous. This game only has room for two winners, remember?
At any rate, "Gonbee" had only agreed not to impede their investigations, rather than provide them with any actual help.'At least,'Kanna figured, 'he has no reason to harm us. Kanna has more pressing concerns than him. Though, I suppose I'd be terrified if I didn't already know… who to truly fear.'
At least he was wearing a collar.
"I'm… not feeling well," Kanna said, the group having moved back to the room they had first met in, staring at the newly reappeared stairway to the second floor.
'They don't seem surprised. Kanna spent too long in that hidden room…'
"Hiyori?" Reko turned to her, eyes softer than the girl expected. "Right. Sara told me you got knocked on the head." She hissed. "Who the hell'd beat up a little kid…!?"
"Hey, I'll take care of her," Shin said, breaking his relative silence held throughout the interrogation. "Gin, you should rest up too, okay?"
"Are you sure, Shin?" Sara asked.
"Yeah. Not like I'd be much help up there, anyway," he chuckled, sounding bitter. "Least I can do is keep an eye out, y'know?"
"N-No way, woof!" Gin pushed Shin away, sending the man into a shocked stumble. "Big Sis Sara! Take me with you!" He shrunk back, confidence withering away. "I- I don't wanna just sit around, meow…"
"... You wanna find Nao too, don't you…?" Sara closed her eyes. "Okay. Come on, Gin."
Gin clutched his plushie tighter. "Thanks, meow…"
Reko sighed as the two, along with Keiji, headed up the stairs. "Damn… I better keep searchin' for Nao. I'm startin' to really worry…" She nodded, turning towards Shin. "Thanks for watching her, man."
Kanna couldn't help but think it strange, how she headed towards the bar.
"Well," Shin started, smiling hesitantly down at her. "I don't suppose you're up for a game of I Spy…?"
Kanna hesitated.
"I spy with my little eye… something silver."
"... It's my hat again, isn't it?"
"Got it in one," Shin sighed, leaning his cheek against his hand.
This is a waste of time. You're about to die, Kanna. Do something about it, won't you?
"... I need a favor, Mister Shin," Kanna said, feeling something cold and slimy slither around her ribs. "Can you do something for me?"
"H-Huh?" He blinked. "I, uh, suppose… Depends on the favor, really."
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna ask you to lift anything."
"R-Rude…" He withered, tugging at his collar.
"If you wouldn't mind… Could you tell me what your card is?"
"H-Hwuh?" he balked. "How did you…?"
Kanna sniffled, lips curling downward. "Well… If you don't wanna tell me…"
"Urgh…" He winced. "It says Commoner on it. Why did you want to know?"
"... Well, because I'd like you to do something for me. Pretty please?" The words dribbled from her mouth like tar; her throat full to burst with pungent, vile slime.
Shin tensed. "What's that, Hiyori…?"
"I need you to back me up. I've got an interesting card, and I want you to be my second. I'm worried nobody will believe me if I say it myself…"
"Don't tell me… that you still have that card from the bar," Shin said, going very still. "You… should get rid of that. I've got a horrible feeling… that something awful will happen to whoever has that card."
"... Don't worry, Mister Shin. I've got everything taken care of."
She planted it: that card. The one that spelt certain death for its bearer.
Joe did exactly as she thought he would, leaning down to check the bar floor.
Step one.
Kanna walked in soon after.
She stumbled, hands landing conveniently upon Joe's pockets, sending him fumbling to the ground beneath her.
She apologized frantically as she swiped his card.
Step two.
Not all of them were fake, she thought as she excused herself.
'I really am… sorry, Joe.'
But Joe(Sara's best friend)couldn't leave any flowers on Sister's grave, couldn't make up for her cowardice.
Though, perhaps Joe would have had the guts to have visited her in the first place, should he have been the one to lose her.
Kanna awoke, not having realized she'd been asleep.
Her blood chilled at the sight of the feast spread out on the table before her; Miley's face stretched across a monitor above.
(It was a sick joke; the smell of finely roasted meats and vegetables wafting into her nostrils when she could only feel ill. How could she eat with the hands of a killer?)
They had an hour and a half: 70 minutes to decide on candidates, and 20 for a final decision.
Four roles, just as in the simulations they'd shown her: Commoner, Sage, Keymaster, and Sacrifice.
Kanna checked her pocket again, a stone settling in her stomach. It was still a Commoner.
Somehow, she didn't feel relieved.
(Somebody made a loud noise in a room Kanna couldn't see. It was the sound of a body clattering to the floor.)
Reko was the first to greet her, slapping a gloved hand onto her shoulder with a heavy sigh of relief. "You took a minute, kid…" She sniffed. "Was gettin' worried."
"I'm fine…" she dismissed, waving Reko off. Her eyes roved over the gathered crowd, all sweat and nerves. "Where's…?"
Shin wasn't there.
Has he bailed on you? Oh, that's not good.
"Wait…!" came his voice, heavy and ragged. He dashed into the grounds, doubling over on himself. "G-Gah… I-I'm here, I'm here…"
Sara sighed in relief. "G-Good… That's everyone, then…"
"Right." Shin knitted his shoulder, eyes darting about. "Keep your wits about you, Sara. I got a bad feeling…"
With that, the Candidate Vote began.
Kanna raised her hand, searching for Sara's attention: it was strange how these adults seemed to defer to this high school with hardly a thought. Enough to allow her to kick the discussion off.
"There's just one thing I'd like to say," Kanna started, palms glistening with sweat, covered by her sweater's overlong sleeves. "I'll make it quick, too. I don't want to waste anyone's time. I'm the Keymaster."
And Sara's eyes widened in confusion. Kanna's stomach sank like an ocean bound boulder. "I was unsure whether to say it," she barreled on, "but I'd rather not get anybody hurt."
"Really!?" Q-taro's eyes bulged grossly. "That's the truth, ain't it!?" He took a quick look around at everybody's faces. "Well, If nobody else is gonna claim it, then I'll believe ya!"
Sara flinched, eyes wide, and Kanna knew she would protest.
'A battle of trust between me and Sara… Do I stand… any chance?'
"Wait, please!" Sara burst. "That isn't right! Hiyori, why are you claiming to be the Keymaster!?"
"... Is there something you'd like to say, Sara?"
"There is! Everyone, I'm the Keymaster!"
Q-taro's eyes flickered between them, sweat sheening his brow. "Wh-What's all this…?"
"N-No way…" Reko choked. "Two Keymasters!? Th-That can't be right…!"
Kanna pulled her scarf over her mouth, desperate to hide her trembling. "Oh… So that's how it is, Sara."
"That's… my line, Hiyori," Sara replied, eyebrows nearly glued together.
"O-One of them's got to be lying, right?" asked Nao, nearly pulling her hair from the root. "There can't be two…!"
"Hey. Hey!" Keiji called over the chaos. "Settle down. After all, the role cards only become important in the final vote, right? Right now, our priority is to look for suspicious characters."
Sara agreed uneasily, staring at Hiyori in what she refused to believe was betrayal.
It was Sara's fault for being dumb enough to trust her at all.
Q-taro elected Gonbee as their first candidate and was just as quickly shot down. After all, they couldn't afford to vote for a single person, with the possibility of him being the Sacrifice or the Keymaster.
'That's the heart of the game,' Kanna knew.'To suspect as many people as you can. Trust… is a luxury.'
And even those who might live can't afford such a thing within the Game's bounds.
Gonbee surprised her with his own say: his candidate for voting being Sara, of all people. Kanna couldn't feel hope blossom in such blackened soil, but something resembling vindication bared its teeth within her.
His reasoning fell unfortunately flat, however. "Sara Chidouin! You possess all that can be called a weapon in this accursed place! You dictate the others through fear of death!"
How right he could have been, had he only referred to her words, rather than the empty revolver in her pocket.
Sara refuted him with ease, presenting an empty knife box from the kitchen.'Kanna never got a chance to investigate that room… Someone has a knife, then?'
Kanna figured it wasn't a worry at the moment, despite the shouts of worry ringing in her ears. If somebody wanted to kill them all while the game still ran, they had just as many opportunities as breaths left in their lungs.
"I've… resolved on an answer," Q-taro began, after a long period of silence. "Can't bear the quiet, no more. That's why I'm jus' gonna say it." He pulled in a deep breath, massive chest pushing outwards. "In all our searchin' and discussions… Who were our biggest burdens? Shin, Nao, Gin! I'm talking 'bout you!"
'Shin?'Kanna felt inexplicably defensive over that. Likely because he was so useful to her.'That's awfully harsh. Q-taro… isn't playing around.'
(Tsukimi. There's no chance. It has to be a coincidence, needs to.
Her brother never would have let her die.)
'Nao and Gin as well… Just what's his game? I'm surprised he isn't yelling at me, honestly. Maybe he's afraid of the Keymaster. Q-taro doesn't seem like a man to take unnecessary chances.'
His words enraged Reko, naturally, as the three in question panicked. "Are you shittin' me!? Gin and Nao are off the damn table, and Shin ain't a bad guy, neither! Why don't we pickyou,Mister Big Shot!"
"Then go ahead!" he cried, sending Reko stumbling over her words. "If that's whatcha think, then vote fer me! If I ain't no use, then take some damned responsibility and vote me out, Reko! That's what I mean by resolve!"
Reko wiped the sweat off her forehead, desperately glancing towards the named three. "C-C'mon… I can't defend you guys all by myself… Prove him wrong, dammit!"
Nao squeaked, stuttering, and Kanna couldn't help but pity her, ruthlessly as she tried to quash down such a feeling, the sort of over-emotional response which would spell her death. "I searched as best I could!" the woman cried, shaking hard enough to rock the podium she stood behind. "And I found things! Lots of things...!
She was the only one to break the silence; Shin and Gin robbed of any words to defend themselves.
"Oh," the sound slipped from Kanna's lips. "Please don't get too mad at Mister Shin… I was distracting him so much, after all."
"H-Huh…?" He blinked, caught off-guard. Kanna stared at him, face carefully blank.
"Wh-Whazzat?" Q-taro turned to gawk at her.
"Mister Shin was planning to do all sorts of puzzles and investigations. I don't really understand that sort of thing myself, so he promised to keep me company…" She turned her worst begging eyes to the giant man, puffing out her lower lip for good measure. "Please don't get mad at him, okay…? He'll do better next time! I'll make sure of it!"
Q-taro grunted, and she knew she had won. "A-And you was fiddling with that computer, Sara said…" He groaned. "Fine! But I still want an explanation from you, Gin! What were you doin' this whole time!?"
(Sara stared at her. She could feel it, in the corner of her vision, the heat of her gaze burning into the side of her head.)
"Q-taro's right," Kanna said, facing fully away from Sara and her drilling eyes. "Gin, won't you make a statement?"
He's the least of a threat, after all.
Gin quivered silently, gripping his plushie as hard as a 12-year-old could. All that fell from his lips was pitiful mewling.
And to think, he still survived more than you.
Reko growled. "Gin's frightened 'cuz of you, ya mutant!"
"Ha! 'Mutant' implies that my capabilities are greater than an average man's!" Q-taro puffed out his chest. "Which they are!"
"Calm down, both of you!" Sara huffed. "Reko, if Gin won't talk, then please tell me… Is there anything he might have done that you can confirm?"
Reko blinked, humming in thought. "Ah, um… W-Wait! I remember! Gin said he found somethin' amazing in a room on the second floor!"
'The… second floor?'
(The shredding of paper, the whir reminding Kanna of her own mind as it buzzed and buzzed.)
Gin denied it when Reko begged for him to tell them. Q-taro growled in anger, bordering on a shout as he reprimanded the woman. Kanna didn't pay attention to any of their words.
'The second floor. Don't tell me he found…'
They're shredded. What could he do with those mittens?
More and more yelling, Q-taro, Reko, Gin, and Sara chief among the voices, blurred together in Kanna's ears.'I… feel like a part of the crowd, more than ever. This game, is it just a matter of waiting your turn to join the shouting match?'
"I was trying to put together the paper scraps from the shredder thingy on the second floor, meow," Gin confirmed Kanna's fears, sending a cold jolt of panic trailing down her spine. "But I noticed some hand-torn paper, too, meow…"
'Hand-torn…?'
(Through the tears streaking down her face, Kanna ripped the papers in half, scattering them through the air. She stared down at the clean rip through the middle of the four papers: 'Sara Chidouin… Murderer,' read two of them, fallen next to each other. Kanna giggled senselessly, delirious mirth flowing through her chest. She let one lie, stuffing the other into her pocket, and sent the other six pieces through the shredder.)
'That's right… I had forgotten. My very first… bid for survival. I didn't even… realize.'
"A-And there, woof," Gin continued, voice wobbling. "It said… that Big Sis Sara was a murderer…"
"... Huh?" Sara blinked.
"WH-WHAAAAAATT!?" screamed Joe, and the entire room devolved into chaos.
Sara disproved it, naturally. She couldn't let the room go on, thinking she was a killer.
(Kanna screamed, pleading with her. This version of herself was dumb enough to call her "sister," before the violence had begun. Sara's eyes remained dry as she took the blond man with her to the exit, his hand upon her shoulder, the rest of them drowning in a sea of blood.)
They accused Reko, as the murderer was Alice 'Yabusame.'
"W-Wait," Shin pleaded. "Reko's been nothing but good to us! We can't go accusing her of murder!"
"We're not accusingher," said Keiji. "But she knows who this Alice Yabusame is. Letting such a dangerous person roam around… Can't forget something like that."
"I-It's my brother, okay!? It's my brother's name!"
"Your brother," Kai quirked an eyebrow, "not your sister? Your excuses are becoming more and more illogical."
"Oh, can it, freak! I know what you did! Don't think I'll let you get off scot-free!"
"Wh-What I did…?"
"Tell the truth, Reko!" Q-taro roared. "Don't try an' distract us!"
"I ain't distracting no one!" Reko panted, sweat streaking her makeup. "D-Dammit, I- I…"
"WAAAAIIIITTT!"
'Ow… He's got some impressive lungs…'
"It's me! I'm Alice, okay!?" Gonbee cried.
Kanna sighed.
It occurred to her whilst the others were sorting out Alice's identity.
A flash of red. The last thing she had seen before someone had stolen the laptop from her, along with any evidence that wasn't her word.
The only people with red hair were Nao and Q-taro.
And Q-taro surely would have killed a weakling like you.
That left Nao, who was already under fire for her uselessness.
'But is it really right…? I… killed her mentor. The only person she could trust.'
Kanna's head throbbed.
She spoke in the ensuing silence of Alice's confession. "That's all good information… but we still have a lot to cover, don't we? Gin's cleared, but we didn't really touch on Nao like we should have, right? While we still have time… I'd like to hear it, Nao." Kanna schooled her expression into careful neutrality as the woman quailed. "What have you been doing?"
"M-Me…!? I- I've done nothing wrong!?"
"Strange response." Kanna blinked. "I haven't accused you of anything, after all."
"Hiyori…" Sara uttered, teeth touching her lip.
"C'mon, Sara. It's not like we have anymore questions about Alice, right?"
"... Okay," she sighed. "We'll do it your way, Hiyori."
Kanna smiled. "I'm glad to hear it." She turned to Nao. "I'd like to hear your justification, Miss Nao. Could you do that for me, please?"
Nao said nothing, staring doe-eyed at the girl.
Kanna cleared her throat. "Looking back… Don't you find Nao's actions strange?"
"Strange, huh…?" echoed Joe.
"As far as I've been told… she stole Mishima's head, putting it into Q-taro's box, before running off."
A length that you drove her to.
"... Just what were you doing during that time, Nao?" she finished.
"... When they said they were going to take the professor's body…" Nao swallowed. "I went into a panic... I took the box... and just sat and hid in the kitchen. I didn't even touch anything in the room…" Tears sprang to the corners of her eyes. "I know I troubled you all a lot… but I... didn't want to lose him...!"
"After everyone else, I inspected the kitchen, and found no signs of any trickery," Kai said. "Perhaps she truly was just hiding?"
'Except… about that time is when she attacked me. She grabbed Mishima's… head, then ran off with it.'Kanna took a shallow breath, sweat staining her skin.'But I don't remember seeing that box. Not at all.'
Sara frowned. "Did you really not touch anything?" she asked Nao.
Nao blinked. "Huh…?"
Sara pulled the same narrow knife case she had used to talk down Alice earlier from her pocket. "The kitchen was locked when we first woke up here… and after you left, Nao, we obtained this empty knife case. I'm sorry, but… you're the only one who could have taken the knife from it."
"I- I don't know anything about that!"
"Hold on for a sec," Joe interjected, arms raised in peace. "When and how did Nao unlock the kitchen, anyway?"
"... It was open," Nao admitted, eyes glued to the floor. "The kitchen door was unlocked when I found it! So… I ran in and locked it again…"
"Then somebody else went in first, meow!" Gin swallowed. "That's who took the knife, woof!"
'So after Mishima died, somebody unlocked the kitchen, taking that knife? Right afterwards, Nao locked herself in.'Kanna tugged her scarf over her mouth. "That's strange, isn't it? Something's awfully sketchy."
"I-It's not sketchy in the least! P-Please believe me, Hiyori!"
"Tell us, then. Don't leave anything out. What were you doing in the kitchen?"
"The whole time... I just sat and held the profess-" Nao's face twisted in agony. "Th-The box… I didn't move an inch!"
Keiji sighed. "So you're lying, huh, Nao?"
Nao reeled back, gawking at him.
'Keiji… 9.6%... I can't get a read on him. No matter how hard I try…'
"There was nothing in the box," he said. "Nothing at all."
Now, Kanna figured, was a decent enough time to reintroduce herself to the conversation. She had a fine line to draw; talk too much and risk drawing suspicion. Talk too little and be deemed a burden.
Her jaw ached from where Nao had beaten her.
"Maybe it's all an act," she said, stomach churning at the irony. "Nao… Maybe she's not as innocent as we believed."
"H-Hiyori…" Sara bit out, rubbing her shoulder.
"Doesn't feel good… Doubting somebody like this." Kanna swallowed. "But what choice do we have?"
"I don't know," Joe muttered. "I feel like if I'd lost somebody the way Nao did… I'd just snap."
"Snap?" Sara prompted.
"M-Maybe. I can't really know, after all… but I feel like I'd be lookin' for the culprit. Sure, I'd know it's Miley's fault, but… you don't think logically when you're feelin' like that…"
'Don't think… logically…'
("H-Hey, you okay, kid? You should be more careful where you're walkin'! Lotta glass in here, after all…")
Do you want to die, Kanna? I thought you'd gotten over that. What was the point if you're just going to let Kugie down again?
"W-Watching the professor…" Nao couldn't bring herself to end the statement, it seemed. "I wasn't angry… It hurt too much for me to feel something like that… I couldn't even believe it: that something like that could… happen."
Joe grunted, brow furrowed. "M-Maybe I'm bein' a dick, here… but…" He straightened. "Nao, ain't that a bit weird…? It wasn't an accident, after all. There was somebody to blame right there! Somebody you respected like that… getting killed by one of us?" He tore his gaze away, features twisted with uncertainty. "You're saying you weren't angry at all…?"
"No…" Nao whispered. "Because… I know nobody voted with ill will… I can't believe… that anybody really wanted the professor dead."
Is that true, though? You don't even know yourself, Kanna. Pitiful: to kill somebody and not have the respect to mean it.
It was funny, Kanna thought, how quickly she had gotten used to these sorts of thoughts, how much death had become a part of her natural processes. "... Maybe…" The cold, slithering presence announced itself once more, filling Kanna's throat and stomach. "Nao didn't care about the professor at all."
"Wh-Wha…?"
"That's the only thing that makes sense to me. She didn't look for a culprit because Mishima's death didn't really matter."
"A-Awful…" Nao choked out, tears finally pouring from her eyes. "H-How awful can you be…!? Hiyori… What's the matter with you!?"
You can't trust anyone. Especially not those who seem weak. You only expect the knife from one who usually wields it, after all.
"Hey, Sara," Kanna said, turning to the older girl. "You don't suppose… that it was Mishima's collar Nao was after?"
Sara blinked. "What?"
"If Nao didn't care about Mishima, why would she take his head? If her aim was to collect his collar…"
And when the surrounding vultures turned to pounce on Nao, Kanna thought of the persistent throb on the side of her head, twinging every time she spun a lie.
The ice in her chest remained, yet no longer stung.
"Stop it!" Reko begged through the shouting. "I'm telling you, Nao's innocent! I heard everything!"
'... Nao wasn't my target anyway,'Kanna thought as Reko told of the professor's plot to secure his student's safety, at the cost of his own life.
And if she took some small solace in the fact that Mishima would have died no matter who she voted for, no one had to know.
Alice cleared his throat awkwardly. "So… Are we just going to ignore the missing head?"
"That's still a big mystery," Q-taro admitted, "but t'ain't nothing we can do 'bout it right now. At least Nao's innocent."
Joe hummed. "Maybe it got swapped out at some point?"
"Talking about it's pointless, woof," groaned Gin. "Can't we talk about the gorilla already?"
"You talking 'bout me!?" Q-taro barked.
Reko bit her lip. "Hmm… You okay ignoring it, Sara?"
"No… I'm still curious."
"... Looks like Sara's the only one of you with any sense," Kanna said, breathing having evened out into a shallow thrum. "None of you are going to get anything done like this. All of this discussion hasn't gotten us anywhere."
Joe tugged at his collar, averting his eyes. "B-But…"
"I mean, it's a wonderful thing that you can trust each other so much right after meeting. I really mean that," she continued. "You're forgetting something, though… Bad people always lie."
'Kanna's… a liar, too.'
Turnabout is fair play. If Sara gets to pretend, then so do you.
Reko stepped back, blinking in shock. "Y-You ain't talking 'bout Nao, right!?"
Kanna sighed. "Reko… I'm sorry to say it, but you're barking up the wrong pole. I couldn't remember it until just now, but… Nao's the one who knocked me out."
A beat of silence passed.
"WHAAAATT!?" Q-taro roared.
"Y-You're not joking, right…?" Shin gasped, eyes wide. "Nao really…!?"
Nao said nothing, unable to defend herself, shaking heavily.
("The best way to lie, Kanna… is to tell the truth.")
Sara tried to intervene. "H-Hey, Hiyori… stop-"
"Keep your mouth shut, Sara," Kanna bit, harsher than she had ever felt. "Nao… Won't you tell the truth? I'll spend the rest of our time arguing with you if I have to. Do you want to waste everybody's precious time like that?"
"I- I…" Nao sputtered, pausing for a long moment. She shut her eyes. "... I did… hit Hiyori…"
Joe choked. "Wh-What!? For real!?"
"Wha-!? You're joking, right, Nao!?" Reko pleaded. "Even if she don't trust us, Hiyori's just a kid!"
"... I didn't want to do it…" Nao whispered, quaking. "He made me…"
"Who did!?" Reko's eyes widened. "W-Wait… Mishima's… Don't tell me…!?"
"Who threatened you, Nao!?" Shin asked.
"... It was Kai."
It worked out better than Kanna could have imagined. If Kai was the one who threatened Nao, then nobody had any reason to believe he was innocent.
'Now's… not the time for any regret,'Kanna thought wearily as Nao and Kai argued, mediated by Sara.
The reason Kai had threatened her was to get his laptop back. Kanna thought he could have had the courtesy to do it himself.
'Though Kanna'd likely be dead if that was the case.'A sharp jolt of fear stabbed through her spine.
"'Please, Miss Nao,'" the woman herself recounted. "I am not the only one who will be in trouble if I do not get that laptop. Miss Sara... will be, as well.' That's exactly what he said!"
"S-Sara…!?" Joe gasped.
"That was all a lie, though, wasn't it!?" Nao yelled. "Kai… You're the one who took the professor from me, aren't you!?"
"... That's not so."
"Bullshit!" Reko roared. "I been waitin' to bring it up! Hiyori voted for you, dipshit! I bet you thought you were clever, huh? You probably threatened her, too!"
Kai blinked. "What…? I've never so much as had a conversation with the girl."
"... Enough with the lies, Kai." Kanna's head tilted forward, her hat obscuring her vision. It was easier to lie through its cover. "Mishima's not what matters right now. Aren't you curious why he was so desperate to get the laptop, despite it being password protected?"
"Maybe…" Sara started, sweat coating her brow. "He had some way to bypass it?"
"Ha, a special hacking device, or something of that nature?" Kanna grinned. "I've got a few password crackers of my own, back at home, but no. It's really pretty simple: the password was easy to guess."
"W-Wait… This ain't goin' how I thought it would…" Reko grimaced. "Hiyori… You're saying you guessed the password!?"
"Yep!"
"D-Didn't you say you couldn't see anything!?" Sara probed.
"I lied. Didn't see why I should tellyou."
"H-Huh…? What do you mean, 'me'?"
Kanna sniffed. "The password was Chidouin. You understand why that makes me hesitant to trust you, right?"
Sara gaped, at a loss for words.
"'Chidouin…'? Ain't that… Sara's surname…!?" Q-taro balked.
"S-Sara…" Shin swallowed. "Wh-What's… going on, here?"
"Sorry to say it, but it's true," Kanna frowned. "Even I'm a little hurt. For a moment, I really thought I could trust you, Sara. Way to prove me wrong. I tried everybody's names, too: yours was the only one to work."
"I-I've," Sara sputtered, face red, "I've never seen that laptop in my life!"
"Well, of course not." Kanna scowled. "It's not yours, after all."
"H-Huh…?"
"It's Kai's… isn't it?"
Kai stood very still, sweat slickening his slender face. "... You read my emails, didn't you?"
"I did. I'll recount them all right here, even. It was awfully shocking, after all." Kanna cleared her throat. "There were four emails, total. At least, that I could sort through. They were all sent to different junk email accounts; a security measure, I assume. One: 'As planned, 16 people have been secured. Just in case, is there no error in the date of the Death Game? Everything is proceeding smoothly.'Two:'I feel a deep affection for miss Sara as well. I will certainly protect her. I am prepared to offer myself up for the Chidouins.'"
Kanna didn't really feel present anymore as she continued to rattle off the emails, mouth operating on a proxy server separate from her mind. "Three:'It's about time. If any harm comes to Sara Chidouin, I will stand against even you as an enemy.'And four:'Miss Sara is looking forward to the games. Surely her friend will also take part.'"
"This 'friend…'" Nao whispered. "You don't suppose that's… Joe, right?"
And so the seeds of doubt were planted. Kanna's plan, no matter how awful, would succeed.
She didn't feel very accomplished, an empty weight settling in her stomach even as she smiled, self-satisfied.
Whatever it takes.
Except Joe spoke up. "W-Wait…! Hiyori… She's not telling the truth! What if she's just making this up as she goes along!?"
"... You won't admit it? There's no point in lying now."
"You're right," Sara said, stabilizing herself against her podium. "So quit it with the lies… Hiyori."
"Wh-What…?"
"We nearly died in the First Trial!" Joe barked. "Why would we do something like that if we were the bad guys!?"
"Th-That's right…" Nao swallowed. "What's the point of doing something so terrifying if you could avoid it!?"
Kanna balked. "Th-They didn't! Haven't you been listening to a word K- I've said!?"
"And we're supposed to take you at your word?" asked Kai. "It's a war of conjecture, Hiyori. You can't prove any of your words without the laptop."
"That you stole from me!"
"It doesn't matter. It would only expose your lies."
"Y-You can't… possibly be serious…" Kanna panted, sweat streaking down her face, staining her clothes. "I'm not lying…!"
"L-Look, Hiyori…" Reko started hesitantly. "I can accept what you said about Kai, but…" She sighed. "You really must not trust us, huh? To where you wouldn't even give us your first name… but I can't accept Joe and Sara being bad guys! You must've gotten confused or something!"
Confused?
"Y-Yeah…" Q-taro wet his lips. "'N' back durin' Russian Roulette, we only got outta there 'cuz of Sara!"
"You never returned after running off, might I add," sniped Kai.
'This… Stop this…! Kanna didn't… do anything… wrong…'
"I don't wanna believe Bucket Girl's trying to hurt anybody," said Gin, eyebrows poking together. "But there's no way Big Sis Sara's a bad guy, either, woof!"
"Why… won't you listen to me…?" Kanna whimpered, the ice melting in her chest from the heat of her embarrassment.
"Just makin' sure, but…" Keiji grinned. "You did read the emails right, didn't you?"
"Wh-What… are you trying to say…?" Kanna choked out. "Kai… h-he killed Mishima! And Sara's just tricking the lot of you! They're the reason we're here, I'm telling you! Nao beat me over the head! A tiny little- little middle schooler!" she burst out, heaving in disbelief. "Y-You can't seriously…?"
She looked at them all; only Sara and Kai could hold her gaze.
"Sh-Shin…? C-Come on… Help me…"
"... I'm… sorry, Hiyori," he sighed, rubbing his shoulder awkwardly, "but I can't help but agree with Sara…"
'He… never backed Kanna up… when she said she was the Keymaster…'
"Hiyori…" Joe started, arms raised. "Just calm down, okay? We ain't gonna hold nothin' against ya, okay?"
'Kanna gets it.'
Everything felt perfectly clear, suddenly. Like she had been wearing a pair of sunglasses all her life, only for them to be smacked off of her face.
While Kanna had been fiddling with the laptop, crawling in the dirt and learning from the worms just to keep her pathetic life…
… Sara had been making her own moves; winning everybody's hearts.
The only thing Kanna had was her appearance; weak and naïve and mistrusting. She should have played into that, rather than make such a large offensive move.
"Hiyori," Sara began, eyes still shining with that awful sympathy. "I don't think… you were fully wrong."
Kanna stared.
"I don't have any connection to the kidnappers… but Kaiissuspicious. Maybe he is the one who voted for Mishima…"
Kanna's eye twitched.
"It's only thanks to you that became evident. You're smart, even if you've misplaced your reasoning." Sara smiled. "So please… won't you help us figure out what really happened?"
Kanna. Keep up appearances, won't you?
'... What's the matter with them? The only time they won't believe me… is when I tell the truth…?'
"Hiyori?"
"You… must think I'm some sort of idiot."
"Wh-Wha-?"
Kanna's teeth ground together, an ugly, gut-curling rage burning within her, melting the last of the ice which had seized her heart and mind. "I know just what you've done, Sara. You've turned them all into your slaves. Your little zombies, nodding along to every little thing you say." A cruel laugh ripped from her throat. "My parents, my teachers… They all say I'm a prodigy. But you've beaten me in every respect, haven't you? Coding, debugging, computer repair… none of that matters at all. You're the one with the true talent!" Kanna heaved, tears springing to her eyes as she snarled at Sara like a cornered animal.
"Sara! You're a true prodigy at stealing people's hearts!"
"Wh-What the hell…?" Reko stared, dumbfounded. "K-Kid…? Hiyori…? You… okay?"
"Shut up," Kanna snarled. "All of you. I don't want to hear your annoying voices anymore! Don't you have an ounce of autonomy!? Don't you care about yourselves at all!? You might as well let Gin lead you, for all the sense you've got!" Kanna slammed a fist into her podium, hat nearly flying off of her head. "You're all going to die. That's the horrible truth. And don't think I'll pity you! Because I tried to warn you! Weak, weak, weak! You're all so disgusting and weak!"
Kanna heaved, nearly retching from the sensation.'I've never… lost it, like that.'
You weren't wrong. The worst thing you did was blow your cover.
'Weak… Kanna's tired… of being weak.'
(
"Wh-What the hell's… gotten into this kid…?" choked Q-taro.
"H-Hiyori…?" Shin probed, eyes wide, as Kanna doubled over onto her podium, gasping for air.
"I've… given up," she spat. "Do what you want. Decide what you want. It doesn't matter. Worthless creatures like you… It doesn't matter what you say. You're destined to die, either way."
Kanna wasn't talking to any of her fellow captives.
"B-Bucket Girl's gone nuts…" Gin whimpered. "B-Big Sis Sara… Am I going to go crazy, too, meow…?"
"Shut up," Kanna managed. "Stop thinking that you matter. This is between Sara and I."
"H-Hiyori…" Sara steeled. "I'll prove you wrong. No matter what you say."
"Stop trying to intimidate me. Unless you're ready to kill me, I won't be afraid anymore." Kanna sneered. "Kai's with the kidnappers: that's a fact. He even mentioned the Death Game by name. You're in on it too, aren't you, Sara?"
"Hold on! You're wrong!" Sara shouted. "Where's your proof that I'm definitely with them!?"
Kanna rolled her eyes. "It's easy to infer, don't you think?'
"That's just conjecture! Show me some evidence, Hiyori!"
"... F-Fine. How about this? All the emails were sent to the same person, so-"
"Stop right there!" Sara shouted, sending Kanna into a flounder. "You said they were all sent to different addresses, didn't you!?"
"Wha-!? So what?"
"That means saying they all went to one person is just your own assumption!"
"... K- I guess I don't have solid proof… but I'm awful confident! Someone from your family was involved, for certain!" Kanna continued. "But I'd bet, to Kai, they're not as important as you. You, Kai, Joe… You're all working to kill us!"
"I understand how Kai is suspicious! Even suspicion of me is inevitable, but…" Sara huffed. "Suspecting the three of us as a group isn't right! You're just presenting this in a manipulative way!"
"M-Manipulative!? I'm not-!" Kanna growled. "It's obvious! You and Joe are-"
"Cut it out! Joe's not even mentioned by name! He's not my only friend, you know! You're just letting your fears run wild!"
"... I'mnotafraid of you. Don't think you can throw me off course. '16 people secured…' Just add three, and you've got enough to match the list in the bar! Taking the laptop by force spells Kai's guilt more clearly than words ever could! You can't seriously be denying any relation to him!?"
"I am, Hiyori! This is all baseless conjecture!"
"Y-You…"
"You keep throwing all these accusation at me, but you've got nothing to back it up! Give me proof that those emails were there!"
"Y-You! You stole it from me! My proof is gone!"
"So we're in the same situation! I'm denying those emails!"
Kanna's eyes widened, her mouth flopping up and down like a dying fish. "Y-You… You…"
"Is that all you can say, Hiyori?" Sara scowled. "Enough."
And Kanna saw ruby eyes boring down into her, melting the flesh from her bones. Her legs quivered.
How strong she must have grown, to not have collapsed in terror.
Yet, an air of suspicion still swirled through the air like smog, brought about by Kanna's own actions.
"C-C'mon…" Joe pleaded, eyes wide. "Guys… You're not really doubtin' Sara, are you…? Are ya trying to die!?"
Kanna coughed. "What would be a worse betrayal…? A girl that barely anyone has talked to? That I'm sure nobody trusts? Or Sara, your dependable leader?"
"I dunno…" muttered Reko. "I'm feelin' pretty betrayed. Hiyori… were you even tellin' the truth? 'Bout voting for Kai?"
The man's eyes widened.
Kanna sighed, feeling like a drowned cat. "Does it matter…? Your suspicion… is probably all on me, huh?"
Silence was the only answer she needed.
Miley announced the end of their time with a laugh.
"Please, everyone," Sara pleaded. "Don't forget that I'm the Keymaster!"
"Right at the end, Sara?" Kanna scoffed. "That's slimy. I'm the real Keymaster, after all."
"I'm… not the slimy one, Hiyori."
Deep, ugly anger (the kind she had never known until she saw her precious Sister, face and limbs contorted in death, her blood staining Kanna's pretty jumper that Sister had been the one to pick out) swirling in her gut, Kanna pressed her finger down onto Sara's face.
"Hiyori… I don't know why you have such a problem with me… but I won't let you get your way!"
"... Enough of the empty words, Sara. I'm tired."
Joe - 2
Sara - 2
Shin - 2
Kai - 3
Hiyori - 3
And fear reunited with the rage inside of Kanna.
The Sage didn't step forward to confirm Sara as the true Keymaster. Kanna felt some small relief at that.
'Shin… Will you betray me again? Please…'
Stop mewling, would you?
Kanna swallowed.'Joe… is the last person we should vote for. I can't admit that. I need to make them hate Kai more than me. I really… shouldn't have snapped like that.'
The Sage, at least, was a safe vote. Kanna's priority was to expose that role.
"I-I've got nothing to say, really," Shin said when prompted. "S-Sorry, Sara… I've got a lot to think about, is all…"
"Nothing to say, huh, Shin?" Kanna pulled her scarf up to cover her scowl. "Well, I'll say it as many times as I have to. I'm the Keymaster."
"Ergh… 's this kid tellin' the truth…?" Q-taro groaned. "She can't be, right…?"
"Sh-She's obviously lying!" yelped Joe.
"Still," Reko sighed. "It's hard to look at a kid like that and condemn her, y'know! She's wearing a bucket as a hat, for Christ's sake!"
"It's not a bucket!"
"Hmm," Alice hummed. "Personally, I'm inclined to believe the girl. Your unshakable trust in Sara Chidouin is truly something else." He grinned. "Whoever tries to protect… E-Er, what's your name…?"
Kanna leered at him. "... Hiyori."
"I- I knew that! Hiyori… What?"
"Just Hiyori."
"... How annoying. Fine, if you won't give me your name, then I shall decide upon it! Whoever tries to protect Buckethead Hiyori will have my vote!"
"B-Buckethead…!?"
"Why… would the person who protects Bucket Weirdo have your vote, woof!?" Gin balked.
"Isn't it obvious? The Sage would be the one protecting the girl… and as the only role incapable of deceit…!"
"Then, they're a clear shot to save ourselves…" Sara surmised. "That's… awful. No wonder they aren't speaking up."
Q-taro grimaced. "Way I see it, it's gotta be Shin or Joe, right!?"
"Wh-What makes you say that?"
"... I dunno! Shit, this is hard when we don't got no information…"
"Hey man…" Joe coughed. "Who gives a damn about my role?"
Oh, he's pretending, isn't he?
'... Now that it's time for the final vote…'
Even a guy as carefree as Joe is willing to kill you to live, Kanna. I've told you time and time again.
"Joe, please…" Sara sighed. "Won't you be a little more forthcoming?"
"Me saying something now is just suspicious…" He brightened. "So I ain't gonna!"
"Big Bro Joe…" Gin said, clutching his plushie like a lifeline. "Why… won't you say your role, nya?"
"H-Huh?"
"B-Before… you said, 'are you trying to get killed?' when everybody was doubting Big Sis Sara, mreowr… Why… did you say that?"
Sweat poured down Joe's face in earnest. He kept his mouth shut.
'... He's a lot like me, really. Lying with the truth.
'... I'm sure he's terrified, right now, even though he doesn't have the Sage.'
"Joe…" Sara began, eyes wide. "You… won't say your role."
"H-Hwuh?"
"You corrected 'who cares?' to 'I won't say.' Wh-Why… would you not say, Joe?"
"... I get what you're trying to say," said Keiji.
"W-Wait," Sara backtracked. "I- I was just thinking out loud… It didn't mean anything…!"
"Joe's the Sage, everybody."
And in the ensuing chaos, Kanna grabbed Shin's arm and pulled, hard.
"H-Huh…?"
"While they're distracted… Mister Shin, doesn't that seem like too obvious of a mistake?"
"Wh-What are you saying…? Hiyori, I'm not sure I can-"
"Shut up and listen," she spat, the ice in her chest growing alongside the embers. Her gut churned. "If you were the Sacrifice, what would you do?"
"... C-Cast doubt onto myself, I su-" His eyes widened. "N-No… Joe's-!?"
"Not so loud," Kanna hissed. "You let me down, Mister Shin. Right now, I need you to stop doubting me, unless you want to die."
"Th-That's…"
"Do you want to die, Shin? Because I don't." Kanna's grip tightened. "I really… really don't. So listen to me."
"... Okay," he relented. "What do you need me to do…?"
"I need you to claim that you're the Sage."
"Wh-What!? B-But they'll-"
"Trust me. Please. You'll know when to do it."
"... O-Okay." He raised his hand, squeezing her own arm back. "Okay."
"... Than-" Kanna cut herself off, letting go of him.
Falling back into old habits would spell her doom.
"I'm the Sage. I did the divination!" Joe shouted, sweat pouring from his hairclips down to his sharp chin. "I'll tell you who the Keymaster is, but you'd better not vote for me!"
"I'm on board!" cried Q-taro. "Jus' settle this, already!"
"Alright! The Keymaster… is Sara, of course!"
Kanna sent the signal.
"... H-Hey!" Shin cried. "Don't go lying, Joe!"
"M-Mreowr!?" Gin reeled. "Hipster's finally talking to us!?"
"I- I never stopped…" Shin shook his head. "A-Anyway, the real Keymaster is Hiyori! Joe's lying!"
"Wh-What!?" Alice gawked. "This is, like, giving me a headache, man!"
'... Why did he start talking like the popular girls at school?'
"No, no, they're all wrong," interjected Kai. "I'm the Sage: Miss Sara's the Keymaster."
'Caught him. The second I cast more doubt upon Sara… he was there to shoot it down.'
"M-My head's spinning, woof!"
"Just a quick warning," Miley giggled. "You only have eight minutes left."
"Alright," Keiji called. "All of the candidates be silent. We'll talk this out amongst ourselves first." He rolled his neck. "I'm certain… that Shin's being used by Hiyori. She's a classic wolf in sheep's clothing, I figure."
"C-Crap… Maybe Beanie Guy's been pulling the strings…?" Reko wondered.
"H-Hey! What did I do!?"
"I really don't think that's the case, woof," Gin said. "He's all helpless, like an ingrown plant!"
"Th-Thanks…?" Shin blinked. "W-Wait, was that an insult!?"
Keiji sighed. "I just need a way to determine the roles. If I had that… It'd be over for any liars."
'9.6%. If it wasn't Sara… it was him. Keiji… should be my top priority.'Kanna swallowed.'Of course, that's only if I survive…'
"Gah…" Nao moaned. "We don't have any time left… I-If only there was some way to determine what was on the cards… but all I know is the Commoner…"
"'What's on the cards'…?" Keiji blinked. "That gives me an idea…"
"Three minutes…!" Miley sang.
"For certain… This is our last gamble," Keiji said.
'... What do you want, Keiji? Is it more than just survival?'
"Joe, I'll ask you first." Keiji nodded in the boy's direction. "Tell me… What's the design on the Keymaster card?"
Joe's eyes widened, his fingertips twitching at his sides.
"You should be able to answer, right?" Kanna said, scarf pulled up. "As the Sage… they would have shown you, right?"
Joe said nothing.
"... Hmm. Looks like you got him, Keiji. You want a treat?" Kanna pulled out a dog treat from her pocket. "I like to feed the neighborhood dogs from time to time…"
"Very funny. You been saving that one?"
"H-Hey… If anybody's getting a treat," Joe declared, "it's me!" He puffed out his chest. "The Keymaster's design is a picture of a key!"
Sara stayed silent. Kanna scoffed. "Well, Shin, it's your turn: tell them what you saw, okay?"
"... Um," he coughed, sweat dripping from his beanie. "I-It's actually a lock! Nice try, Joe!"
"That's right. Way to slip up right at the end, huh, Joe?"
Taunting the man you've killed with your own hands? I've taught you well!
Kanna's fists clenched at her sides.
"Both of you…" Sara said. "Cut it out. I've… figured it out."
'What…? Shin's a Commoner, and Joe's… the Sacrifice. That leaves…'
"Kai," Sara whispered, "please tell me the results of your divination."
Kai said nothing, jaw set, sweat pouring down his face.
"Aw, cut it out, Sara!" Joe yowled. "T-Talking to Kai's a big, fat waste of time! P-Please… Sara…!"
Kai remained still, the barest trembling in his cookware encumbered hands.
'My plan… worked.'
Kanna… didn't feel satisfied.
"Since the Sage can't lie about the results of the divination… and they only knowwhothe Keymaster is, rather than the design of their card…"
Sara stopped, sweat beading on her brow. Her jaw twitched and trembled, her eyes flickering all about.
Kanna - crushing the shrinking piece of her that called to give it all up, to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness, for life - let the ice within her stomach spread to her heart.
"Since Kai," she said, "couldn't name a design, he's the Sage."
Kai's jaw quivered as he glared at the girl; his long, beautiful locks of raven hair stuck to the back and sides of his sweat covered neck. "... Ha," he bit out; a bitter, defeated laugh. "... My fate has been… set, then."
Shin swallowed. "So… Kai was the Sage, huh?"
"Y-You…!" Q-taro growled. "You call yerself a man, lettin' dat nutty little girl call the shots fer you!?"
"H-Hey! I was only trying to help…!"
"Hey, Q-taro," Kanna coughed. "Don't you have any respect?"
"Wh-What!?"
"You're barrelling over Kai's last words, aren't you?"
Q-taro shut up, quivering with rage.
"When we came to the subject of designs... I realized I was in danger," Kai admitted, a shaky grin on his lips. "I thought I might play dumb... but it was clear I would be the most-voted due to my lack of trust... Yet… Yet I…" He shuddered. "I do not wish... to die…"
"Kai…" Q-taro softened, brow lowering.
"The Sacrifice… is surely Joe," Kai said.
(An innocent stumble; an embarrassed giggle; blood on her hands; a grave she never had the guts to visit.)
Kanna quivered. She jerked in horror as a hand came to rest upon her shoulder. "That's… what I had figured," sighed Shin, rubbing the cotton of her sweater between his fingers, eyes dim. "Somebody… had to get that horrible card, after all. For it to be a- a kid…"
"Hahaha…" Sara laughed tonelessly, eyes dark. "What the hell… are you even saying…?"
"I'm serious, Miss Sara," Kai swallowed. "Joe took actions which could be construed as that of the Sage! For that reason, I'm begging you… Vote for Hiyori!"
"Wh-What…!?" Reko choked. "I- I can't do that, man… She's- She's just-"
"She's dangerous!" Kai burst. "She voted for Mishima, and attempted to frame me! She knew me to be the least trustworthy and played upon that! Someone… who could take such actions, playing a game of this nature!? Her age… is irrelevant!" Kai clasped his frying pan against his chest, heaving. "Hiyori isn't her real name! Please, allow me to live! I have information which could aid in our escape!"
"Kai… You're raving like a lunatic," Kanna sneered. "Has the fear of death driven you insane?"
(0.0%. Not even the barest hint of a chance. Kanna Kizuchi: the perfect victim. Dead again and again and again; reunited with her beloved Sister.)
( )
"G-Guys… He's fulla shit…" Joe whispered, face whiter than the pristine blouse Kanna wore to school. "I'm the Sage… I'm tellin' you…"
"It's time to vote!" Miley sang. "So refrain from whispering to each other, would you?"
"Please," Kai begged, "don't kill me!"
Too late to go back. Too late to beg for forgiveness.
'Kanna will… make up for this. She swears.'The traitorous thought occurred as Kanna lowered her finger upon Kai's face.
What use is regret when your actions remain the same. You're such a quick study, Kanna.
Kanna… couldn't pretend anymore. That these thoughts were her old mentor whispering into her ear, corrupting her.
Kanna had done everything herself.
'In order to survive… I'll beat you at your own game, Sara. No matter what it costs.'
(Sister's favorite flowers were hyacinths. Kanna had been planning to buy some for her, before the river of fate had pulled her into its rapids, drowning her with fear and madness.)
Sara - 0
Shin - 1
Hiyori - 2
Joe - 3
Kai - 6
Kanna sighed. "Good… I'll admit it, that came a bit too close for my liking."
"Sh-Shit… Are you jus' banking on yer cute looks or what!?" Q-taro squawked. "Guess what? Ya didn't fool me!"
"Shit, man…" Reko groaned. "I couldn't bring myself to do it… Votin' for a kid, no matter how screwed up she is…"
Kai let out a shaky breath. "I- I understand… There was the distinct possibility… that voting for Hiyori would have killed us all."
"It's not like that," Kanna said. "It was a logical choice, more than anything.'We can't kill a kid!' wasn't really the reasoning behind your votes. Even somebody who hates me… couldn't vote for me." Kanna grinned. "Because I played by the rules. The ugly, vicious rules. Don't think I enjoyed any of that."
Nao whimpered. "I'm sorry, Kai… I'm sorry…"
Miley giggled. "Please, allow me to check your answers. First off, the Sage! You were right on, everyone! It was Kai Satou!"
Kai said nothing, glaring at the woman with more hatred than even Kanna was capable of.
"Next, the Keymaster! Oh, what a glorious battle to behold! But the inevitable victor… was Sara Chidouin!"
"Stop…" Sara choked out. "Stop talking…"
"And the Sacrifice! So close, yet so far…"
"STOP!"
"Jou Tazuna!"
"... Hahaha…" Joe rasped, more of a rattle than a laugh. "What do I say…? Sorry for… trickin' you guys…"
"D-Dumbass!" Q-taro scoffed. "What the hell d'ya gotta apologize fer!? D-Don't you feel bitter!? Y-You… Shouldn't ya hate us?"
"I dunno…" Joe chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "I just don't know… Even the one… who did this to me… I can't really hate her…"
Kanna's blood froze.
"I just can't see you as villains, no matter how hard I try. Maybe… that's why I bungled it all up. Even people like Hiyori or Alice… They must be good, deep down."
Alice blinked, clearly shocked. A pensive look overtook his features.
'... Kanna doesn't get it. Good…?'
"Ha…" Kanna spat. "You're delusional. There's… no such thing as a good guy, when we're talking about our lives. Even you… You were willing to kill all of us to escape with Sara. So don't- don't go pretending like we aren't the same."
"Hiyori…" Joe swallowed. "I think… you're right, a little. Everyone's… got a little bit of wickedness in 'em. Even me. But…!" Joe clenched his fists. "I can't imagine… that someone came here looking to hurt anybody! Even Mishima's death… can only be blamed on our kidnappers. So looking for villains… is just dumb."
(She had quaked with terror upon making her selection, pleading to her Sister and Hiyori and whatever deities were listening to guide her; to tell her she was making the right choice.)
"... Fine. I won't interrupt you anymore."
"Sara…" Joe smiled, shivering like a wet dog.
Sara only stared, quaking even worse.
"You voted for me, right…? Can't fool you, huh, Sara?" He chuckled. "Hiyori's right… I really did… want to escape with you."
"A-Ah…" Sara panted, sniffling. She grabbed Joe's hand like the last drops of water in a world of sand.
"Last... There's something I wanna say. Sure enough... It's hard for a guy and a girl to say this sorta stuff to each other, huh...?" Joe beamed, putting his free hand on top of hers. "I love ya, Sara! You're my best friend!"
Sara sobbed. The gesture looked painfully human on the face of a monster, Kanna thought.
'Am I really… numb? It's my fault that Joe's going to die…'
Yet, Kanna only felt empty. Like all of her crying had been finished, like the grieving was over.
( )
Kanna didn't stay to watch her victims die, dragging a dumbfounded Shin behind her.