Day 1 <A> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room I wake up with a start in unfamiliar surroundings, my eyes falling upon a naked light bulb and a bare concrete ceiling. “…What is this room?” Why am I here all of a sudden? I can feel myself about to lose it, so I review what I can remember of what happened. I’m sure I was sleeping on my bottom bunk. I don’t remember moving from there. I don’t remember leaving or meeting anyone, either. I survey the room, I check the contents of the hemp sack, and then the rules of the killing game are explained to me by a green bear—Noitan—that appears with a “Good_morning.” This is the work of a Box. That’s why Maria is here. Day 1 <B> The Common Area The view changes instantly. First off, it’s white. Unnaturally so, like a newly built hospital without doctors or nurses or patients. I spot him, the closest one to me. “…Daiya.” “Long time no see, Kazu.” Daiya, who had disappeared without a trace, greets me with perfect ease, as if we were just bumping into each other in the classroom for the first time in a while after summer break came to an end. Even though I’m still unsure how to react, Daiya continues on. “You should thank me, Kazu. I stopped things from getting violent.” Daiya jabs his thumb at a girl with midlength hair. “This girl was gonna push you down and threaten you with a knife.” “What…?!” Eyes wide, I look at her. That green bear had said we would be killing one another, so does this mean it’s about to get started…? “Hold on there, Oomine. He’s going to get the wrong idea if you put it that way,” the girl counters. I’ve heard her voice somewhere before. “Wrong idea? Nothing I said was incorrect.” “Shut up. The only thing that isn’t mistaken here is your obvious bad intentions. I only did it because I thought it was a necessary measure.” I realize I’ve actually heard her voice often, through a microphone. Right, she’s the student council president. “A necessary measure, huh? Fine, but if you keep doing stuff like that, you’re just going to invite extra mistrust and put yourself at a disadvantage, you know? If you’re scared, you should just try trembling like you’re supposed to.” The president seems a bit surprised by Daiya’s words. “…Yeah, well. Putting on a strong front is a bad habit of mine.” Is she saying she’s worried despite acting so levelheaded…? Uh, she has to be joking, right? “If you want to learn to express your fear naturally, take a look at that girl clinging to you and follow her example.” The shoulders of the girl with black hair next to the president jump so hard I almost feel bad for her. The president pats the girl’s hair as if to reassure her it’ll be okay. …Her face really is pure white. Nothing’s even happened; isn’t she a little too terrified? But—there is something kinda cute about her. I realize thinking along those lines is unwise, and I may not be as nervous as I should be, but I can’t fight this protective urge welling up within me, like the way you’d react to seeing a small animal. It’s an appeal Maria doesn’t have. “Kazuki.” “—Urk!” Th-that’s right. I knew she’d be here, but I got careless. “What was that weird yelp for?” “I-it’s nothing, Maria.” I escape her suspicious gaze by turning my face. “Whatever… You do know what kind of situation we’re in, though? I’m shocked you aren’t more on edge from how abnormal this all is…” “S-sorry.” “This isn’t the time or place to fall for a girl.” “……” Guess she really did catch me staring at the black-haired girl. As I stand there quietly refusing to meet her gaze, Maria removes one of her loafers and presses the sole against the side of my face. That hurts, you know. Plus, it’s dirty. Shoe still pressed to my face, Maria whispers in my ear: “You know there’s a Box at work here, right…?” …Yeah, she’s right. This situation can’t be anything other than a Box. That means this is Daiya’s handiwork. Still, I’m acting like I’ve never even heard of a Box before. “Yo… Hey, do I spy three pretty girls? Lucky me!” There are six chairs, and the sixth player arrives. Now all the participants in the killing game Noitan described are here. The brown-haired student, who was the last to join us and still seems somewhat unsure of how things are unfolding, suggests we introduce ourselves, and we promptly do. The boy with brown hair is Koudai Kamiuchi. The girl who was apparently going to pull a knife on me is Iroha Shindo, our student council president. And the black-haired girl is— “—Yuri Yanagi.” The name alone is enough to make my thoughts pause in their tracks. “……Huh? Uh, ah, did I say something strange?” “I-it’s nothing. I just— I have a friend with the same last name is all.” She looks dubiously at me as I wave my hands frantically, then asks, “A friend?” “U-um…” I try to remember that person— “—Ah.” Unexpectedly, something resurfaces in my mind. Namely, what Daiya said to me in the cafeteria. “It’s because you want to keep seeking. Hmph, even if I accept what you’re saying for the sake of argument, that still brings up another question. Why have you become like that?” I get it now. The one I couldn’t see through the fog back then— “……My classmate from when I was in middle school.” Nana Yanagi. As her name leaps back into my mind unbidden, I shake my head furiously. I don’t want to remember her. I once hoped she would remain forgotten. Yanagi, the first girl I fell in love with. “A classmate? Well, maybe you feel some connection with me because of that, then?” Yanagi—no, that’s a bit confusing, so Yuri—says this with her head inclined to one side. “Huh? Oh y-yeah… It’d be nice if we hit it off right away.” Yuri smiles charmingly… She really is too cute. “What’re you in such good spirits for, Kazuki?” My shoulders tense up, and I turn around, only to see Maria giving me a reproachful look. “I-I’m not in good spirits.” “No, you definitely are. You have that happy expression guys get when they talk to a pretty girl. You look all weak and sappy.” “You’re a pretty girl, too.” “……Are you trying to flatter me? I hope you don’t think that’ll work on me.” As we go on like this for a bit, Yuri eventually steps in. “U-um…I’m not that pretty, you know…?” “That’s not true. I think you’re really beautiful.” “O-oh…” Yuri has turned bright red. As I gaze into her face, unable to understand why, I feel a sudden impact on the back of my head. “O-ow!” Turning around, I see Kamiuchi staring at his own fist. “???” “Uh, I saw you and got super-PO’d, so I guess I just kinda did it without thinking. My bad.” As I stand there holding my head, still clueless as to what’s going on, Maria sighs. “Who’d have thought it’d take a natural-born skirt-chaser to ease the tension.” “…That’s mean.” “Whatever. It’ll be easier for us all to talk this way. Let’s get down to business.” And with that, Maria pins Daiya with a hard stare. “What’s the meaning of all this, Daiya Oomine?” The somewhat relaxed atmosphere disperses. All of our attention turns to Daiya when he’s singled out. Instead of being taken aback at the suspicion, he flashes a brazen grin. “……Huh?” Yuri gasps, apparently not completely following the situation. “Is this…something Oomine did…?” “What I’m about to say might sound bizarre, but will you try to believe it?” Yuri is still blinking at Maria’s words. The president speaks up in her place. “Aw… Sorry, Otonashi, but we’ll decide for ourselves what we want to believe. Don’t try to force anything on us.” “Fair enough. But I still have to say it. This is the kind of subject you have to ask people to believe before bringing it up.” The president pouts, then nods as if to say, I see. “Okay, I guess I’ll start by explaining just what a Box is. Now, here’s the thing about Boxes—” With the introduction, Maria begins describing Boxes to everyone. They exist to grant wishes. They’re the reason why we’re involved in this situation. Three of us already know about them. And Daiya Oomine is the owner of the Game of Indolence. Everyone listens to the explanation earnestly. “…That all sounds really messed up.” The president has a stern look on her face, just as she had the whole time while she was listening to Maria. “So the Boxes themselves are really messed up, but the situation we’re in now is plenty crazy, too. It doesn’t even sound too far-fetched that such a thing could exist.” “So does that mean you believe us?” I ask. The president pouts again, as if it’s a habit of hers. “…No, I’m just saying I wouldn’t be too surprised if something like that existed. I mean, even I could cook up some ridiculous reasons for a ridiculous situation, you know?” “I see…,” I reply, crestfallen. The president scratches her head and continues on. “…But, well, I think if you were truly trying to deceive us, you would tell a more realistic lie. You answered all our questions straightaway, and you almost went out of your way to say some things that were fishy… Hmm, I’d say it’s about fifty-fifty for me… Hey, what do you think, Kamiuchi?” “I don’t think I can buy it.” Kamiuchi flat-out rejects our explanation. “It isn’t so much what they’re saying—more like it’s a little odd that the three of them are working together. They all knew one another before this, right?” “B-but we haven’t had any time to put our heads together and conspire on this…” I counter his argument feebly. “I hear ya. But you still knew each from before, so weren’t you just going along with what Maricchi was saying? Not to mention the worst-case scenario, where all three of you are behind this whole thing, you know?” “That’s not true!” “Hoshino, please don’t get so worked up. What I’m trying to say is, it’s not easy to trust the opinions of three people who seem to be in cahoots,” Kamiuchi says. The president agrees. “He’s got something there.” “How about you, Yuri?” “…Um, sorry, but…I just can’t make myself believe in the idea of these Boxes. I’m sorry.” She doesn’t speak haltingly because she lacks confidence in her own ideas, but more likely because she isn’t used to expressing negative opinions. “Hey, Yuri, you must’ve taken my side because you want to get in good with me, huh?” “Uh…? N-no, that’s not it…” “Hee-hee, it’s so cute how that little joke was enough to make you blush bright red!” The president butts in as if to protect Yuri, who is turning an even deeper shade of crimson. “Okay, okay, stop teasing Yuri.” “President, maybe you’re just jealous because the guys don’t make passes at you like they do Yuri here?” “It wouldn’t count if someone like you hit on me.” “Ouch! You’re so mean. You might be surprised, but I’ve got a lot of fans among the ladies.” The president sighs, as if to say she is through listening to him, and gets the conversation back on track. “Anyway, can we set the matter of the Boxes aside for now? Yuri, Kamiuchi, I’d also like to ask the two of you to not dismiss the possibility so easily and just keep the idea in the back of your minds. If you do, then maybe down the line when it’s time to decide whether to believe in them, you can be a bit more objective.” The two of them nod sincerely at her idea. Maria says, “I guess I can live with that,” although her dissatisfied expression contradicts her words. …Well, I feel the same way. It’s disappointing that we can’t get them to believe us about the Boxes, but on the other hand, there’s not much we can do about it. “…President, what can we do to persuade you of this…?” She replies to my timid query straightaway. “You have to prove with actions that you are trustworthy. If you do, even if we don’t buy into the idea of the Boxes, we’ll be likely to go along with your suggestions on how to get out of this mess.” Easier said than done. “Um, what exactly do we need to…?” My question is interrupted. “HeY_hey_hey. It_sounds_like_yOU_alL_are_taLKing_about_somethiNG_disturbing. BuT_I’ll_teLL_you_aBOut_someTHing_rEAL_thAT_blowS_that_out_of_the_wATEr.” “AnYWaY_I_wish_you_all_GOOd_luck. DoN’T_let_the_game_end_with_some_bORIng_outCOme_where_YoU_are_all_muMMIfied.” After he finishes explaining the rules of Kingdom Royale, Noitan vanishes. “Hey, Otonashi.” The president seems to have changed her demeanor somewhat after hearing such awful things. “If what you’re saying is true, there’s a way for us all to survive aside from completing Kingdom Royale, right?” “Yeah.” Maria’s firm assertion seems to resonate even more deeply with the president. …Maybe this could lead them to believe us even more quickly than expected. I mean, the president—and the others, too—they don’t want to take part in this killing game. If we keep fumbling along without a clue and time starts running out, someone will end up breaking. Then the game would begin. We need to act before that happens. That’s why, if we can establish another option for getting out of this, they’ll most likely jump at the chance. “Shall I tell you exactly what it is?” And Maria can tell them. “…Okay, I’ll bite. What do we need to do?” “If we can get Daiya to take out his Box, we will be free.” Everyone’s eyes turn to Daiya instantly at her words. Seeing our attitudes, he clicks his tongue in annoyance and makes sure it’s loud enough for us all to hear. “Hey, Daiya, aren’t you going respond to Maria?” Rejecting the president’s question, Daiya turns away and stays silent. “…To be honest, if you’re gonna call Oomine suspicious, I won’t object,” Kamiuchi says with a bit of a chill in his voice, as if he’s irritated. He then turns around and smiles at Yuri. “Of course, you’re on the same page as me, right, Yuri?” “Huh?!” Yuri’s eyes grow huge as she is suddenly dragged into the fray. “Th-that’s… I never…” She’s fumbling over her words, but judging by the way she keeps peeking over at Daiya, I’d have to say she agrees with Kamiuchi. The atmosphere of the situation is now completely to Daiya’s disadvantage. “Ugh…” He reacts to this whole affair with a deep sigh. “You idiots are all a bunch of puppets.” But not even his insults are enough to change the mood. “How about you try defending yourself before you start calling people idiots?” the president replies calmly. Daiya gives an icy laugh as if thoroughly disgusted. “…What? What’s with the unpleasant laughter?” she asks. “You believe others so readily—I was just thinking how easy it would be for all of you to get wiped out. And you say you’re all honor students? You’ve gotta be kidding me.” “Stop with the smoke and mirrors, Daiya. Hurry up and state your case.” “Sorry, but I’ll save that until after the Private Meetings.” “Huh? What sort of weak attitude is that? Aren’t you just buying time to come up with a good explanation?” “I can’t decide what stance to take, and there’s someone I want to confer with.” “Okay, but you’re overwhelmingly suspicious right now. Are you fine with that?” Daiya doesn’t say anything in response. Day 1 <C> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room YOUR CLASS IS THE REVOLUTIONARY. I stand in place for a moment, taking in the message. “……Huh?” I’m the Revolutionary? The Revolutionary, as in the most indisputably dangerous Class…? If Kingdom Royale starts, everyone is going to come after me straight off the bat, no doubt about it. No matter how you slice it, the Revolutionary and his ability to take lives independently are a hazard. …Wait, let’s try looking at it from another angle. If I’m the Revolutionary, then that means I won’t get hit with Assassinate. If you put it that way, I’m actually in a pretty safe position. And that’s not all. Since I’m the Revolutionary, the one most likely to kick Kingdom Royale into motion, I can keep the game from starting. So I should assume I’m in relatively little danger, yeah. Telling myself this, I let out a deep breath and try to calm my racing heart. “HeY_hey_hEy_Kazuki_iT’S_tiME_for_the Private Meetings.” “Eep!” As usual, the mascot appears at the worst possible timing for my heart. I’m positive he’s doing it on purpose. I listen to Noitan’s explanation of the Private Meetings, and then, of course, I choose Maria. “…Daiya chose me?” Does that mean I’m the one Daiya wanted to confer with? ……At any rate, I’ll have time to speak with Maria before that. Day 1 <C> Private Meeting with Maria Otonashi – Maria Otonashi’s Room “We might’ve had a bit of unexpected luck there.” Maria says this out of nowhere. “…What’re you talking about?” “Telling them about Boxes.” “…Huh? Is there a situation where we wouldn’t be able to?” “There is. If we did it after we learned the rules of the game, the others would most likely think we were spreading disinformation in an attempt to win. We were able to talk about it because they would seriously consider the existence of Boxes in those circumstances.” She might just be right. “Thanks to that, we have a chance of victory. As time runs out, they’ll have no choice but to trust in us since we have the only plan for getting out of this. Oomine will probably be difficult as we saw earlier, but that’s just the way he is, so they won’t trust him.” I think that’s true. I feel bad about it, but when it comes down to trusting us or Daiya, probably no one would take his side. “…Maria.” “What is it?” “Is Daiya really the owner of the Box?” Maria furrows her brows. “In light of our situation, I don’t see any other possibility, do you?” “But you could also say it was Daiya who kept things from getting out of control by stopping the president. Thanks to that, we had a good environment for the president and the rest to hear us out about the Boxes. Do you really think he would have done that if he wanted Kingdom Royale to start?” “…What you say is true. But I’m guessing he probably wasn’t thinking that far ahead. Or maybe he wants us to think that so we’ll drop our guard or something.” “Hmm.” “You’re free to worry over whatever you want, but we know Daiya is the owner. Do you have any better evidence?” “…You’re right.” “Now that we’re in agreement there, let’s go over things. We need to get Daiya to bring out the Box. We have to convince him to do this. But he isn’t going to respond to our attempts easily.” I nod dutifully. Yeah, our real work has just begun. “We need to make time to get through to Daiya. To that end, we have to make sure Kingdom Royale never gets started, even if just by accident.” “How do we do that?” “Build a relationship of trust, as Shindo said. A good starting point would be to have those who actually have the ability to kill, particularly the Revolutionary, come forward and reveal themselves, but…” “Oh, I’m the Revolutionary.” “Really?!” “Y-yeah.” Maria’s enthusiasm throws me off a bit as I answer. “This is huge. It means there’s no chance the Revolutionary will be consumed by paranoia and commit an error. Then, if we wait for the right moment and have you reveal yourself, there won’t be any better way to win their trust.” …So it really is a good thing I’m the Revolutionary. “So what’s your Class, Maria?” “I’m the Double.” “…Oh.” According to the game, that makes us enemies. “Our chances are good. All that leaves… Yeah, the one possibility that bothers me is that Daiya might conspire with someone to use Magic behind the scenes.” “I have a Private Meeting with Daiya, so I’ll try asking him a few things then… Um, should I try driving the point home about not starting Kingdom Royale?” “…Yeah. But be very careful. One slipup, and he could deduce that you’re the Revolutionary.” Day 1 <C> Private Meeting with Daiya Oomine – Kazuki Hoshino’s Room “I have no intention of playing a crappy game like Kingdom Royale.” That’s the first thing Daiya says as he enters my room. “What’re you all goggle-eyed for?” “I…I mean—” Is it really possible Daiya, the owner, wouldn’t want to play his own game? “The look on your face says you don’t understand where I’m coming from.” He’s right on the money, so I can’t say anything. “The answer to that question is simple: I’m not the owner of this shitty Box. Forcing people into a game where they kill one another? Heh-heh… Sounds pretty unproductive to me. It has no reason to exist.” “…I…think the same…” “So is your insistence that I’m the creator of this Box some roundabout way of insulting me?” “Uh, no…” So maybe this is what Daiya is trying to say: He’s without a doubt an owner. But the Box that makes people play Kingdom Royale is not his. This Box has another owner. “That aside, what’s with this Box? I can’t sense any way of interfering with it. If it doesn’t have any loose ends, whoever made it must really know what they’re doing.” “Huh…?” “Come on, why are you so astonished? Think about it. Otonashi can detect Boxes, interfere with them, and knows about O because she’s an owner, right? I’m an owner now, too, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I can do all that.” “That’s true…” “What’s with that face? From where I stand, you’re the strange one since you know about O even though you’re supposed to forget completely about them.” “…But that’s—” “Yeah, it’s not possible. We’re owners, and it’s possible for us to do these things, since we can consciously make use of our special nature. But you’re not an owner, are you?” I don’t have anything to say to that. “…So what is it that makes Box owners different, exactly?” Daiya crosses his arms and thinks a moment before answering my question. “…This is just the way I see it, but from the moment a person comes into possession of a Box, they’re no longer human, because the Box allows them to surpass the limitations of humanity. When they step outside the bounds of these limitations, owners step outside the bounds of normal life. That’s what makes them special.” I frown as if I have no idea what he means, and Daiya continues his explanation. “Leaving your original standpoint allows you to perceive things you never could before. I don’t mean that we can see Boxes or O in the visual sense, but more that we are just aware of them. Like how you’ll spot a salon you’ve passed by many times, but only when you need to get your hair cut.” …I guess Daiya thought that would help me understand. “So why is it that you can perceive O?” he asks. “I don’t know.” My reply is a little apathetic. “…Hey, Kazu, you rejected it, but apparently, you did touch a Box once.” Not really wanting to answer fully, I simply give a tiny nod. “That’s because you truly felt that a wish-granting Box sounded like a bunch of nonsense. You knew there were no limitations. Back then, you took a step outside the norm—how does that sound?” “How does it sound…? So does that mean there’s no going back for anyone who has ever been an owner? Mogi doesn’t remember O at all.” “Yeah, I guess there is that. Mogi and Asami both got really lucky in that sense. They thought of their Boxes as something special. They didn’t notice the true nature of the Boxes. That’s why they could go back to how they once were, and why they couldn’t use their Boxes fully.” Daiya looks me over. “But I get the feeling you could master a Box. That’s why you ended up like this just by touching one.” “No way. I’m normal.” “No, I’m afraid you’re not. I said it before, but you’re floating in suspension. Away from normal life.” “You’re wrong.” “I’m not. On the contrary, you were abnormal even before you came into contact with a Box. You were, in essence, very close to the nature of an owner from the very beginning. No… Maybe less an owner and closer to O.” “—Stop it!!” I yell. I can never accept the idea that I resemble that disgusting being in any way. Daiya observes my exclamation. After a moment, he sighs. “Well, there’s not much point in talking about this now. All I wanted to do was get you to trust that I’m not the owner of this Box.” “…I…don’t think I can believe that anymore.” “Hey, don’t make up your mind so quickly. Say…would you believe me if I could stop Kingdom Royale in its tracks?” “…What do you mean?” “If Kingdom Royale is designed to make people kill and deceive one another, then all we have to do is lead it in a direction where that doesn’t happen. Do that, and the game doesn’t work anymore.” …It seems to be in line with our goal of keeping Kingdom Royale from starting…I guess? “Do you think the owner of this Box would want the game to stop running?” “No, I don’t think so… Uh, hold on. Do you have an actual plan for how to stop Kingdom Royale?” “Yeah.” That’s when Daiya says it. “Find the Revolutionary.” “……” I instinctively swallow. I fight down the urge to let my panic show on my face. That was close. He almost outed me as the Revolutionary. “Why will finding the Revolutionary stop the game?” I manage to ask the question naturally. Daiya replies, without the slightest hint of doubt toward me. “Because the game will never start if they don’t use Assassinate. If we can find the Revolutionary and threaten them so they can’t use Assassinate, then we’ve achieved our objective.” The word “threaten” scares me a bit, but I maintain my composure and raise another question. “How would we keep them from using that ability…?” “There are plenty of ways. For instance, we could say that if they kill anyone, we’ll out them as the Revolutionary. Once exposed, the Revolutionary has no chance of victory. No one’s dumb enough to kill someone for no reason.” “But let’s say we find the Revolutionary and prevent them from using Assassinate. Then what about Magic…? Wouldn’t it still be possible for the game to start if someone dies that way?” “There’s no worry of that.” Daiya denies it firmly. “Why?” “Because I’m the Sorcerer.” …Huh? Is he really okay with just revealing his Class to me like that? “R-really…? You aren’t just trying to fool me?” “Does it benefit me in this game to lie to you about being the Sorcerer here?” “That’s—” I think for a moment, but I can’t come up with anything. “All I want is to get out of this worthless Box. By necessity, I have to work with you and Otonashi to do that. That’s why I don’t mind telling you my Class.” “…Are you sure? We might be Classes that are opposed to each other…” “Do the Classes of this game matter to you? You know we can resolve all of this if we destroy the Box, after all.” …He might be right. “All I want is for you and Otonashi to realize I am not the owner of this Box… In light of that, I need to ask you something.” Daiya casually says his question: “You’re the Revolutionary, aren’t you?” My reaction allows Daiya to ascertain my Class beyond a shadow of a doubt. It seems he was already pretty certain who I was from my response when he said we need to find the Revolutionary. That’s how I ended up under Daiya’s control. But…I don’t think there’s any way around it. I’m positive none of the others would’ve been able to keep their Class hidden from him, either. Day 1 <D> The Common Area Daiya’s claim that he wants to stop Kingdom Royale from functioning could be true. “If you all don’t want to murder one another, then we should all come out in the open about our Classes.” That’s his proposal, after all. If we all tell one another our Classes, then no one can lie. Furthermore, the Class Daiya would reveal is the Sorcerer, one that’s capable of killing. “…Is that the conclusion you reached after consulting with Hoshino?” In the end, it’s the president who breaks the lengthy silence. “Yeah. I don’t feel like playing along with this game.” “That’s all well and good. But I wonder if that’s true? This is just an example, but—” “Let me just say this: I’ll assume that anyone who doesn’t go along with this plan intends on playing Kingdom Royale.” “You can’t just say that.” “Can’t I? I’m the only one who gets to decide how I judge things,” Daiya retorts. The president scowls. “B-but, Iroha, I was thinking of suggesting exactly the same idea,” Yuri says. “…Yeah, I kinda sensed that during our Private Meeting.” The president looks around at all of us, then asks, “Are we all fine with this? If you have any objections, speak up.” No one says a thing. I had thought Kamiuchi might object, since this is Daiya’s plan, but he doesn’t give a peep. Maybe because Yuri agrees with it. “Ugh… Seriously?” the president complains. “Well, guess I can’t very well go against it and be the odd one out…” “So you’re for revealing our Classes?” “Yeah, yeah.” Once the president gives up, Daiya hands us each a piece of notebook paper from his hemp sack. “Write down your Class on these. I only have one pen, so we’ll have to take turns. Make sure no one sees you while you’re writing so there won’t be any cheating. Once you’re done, put your paper facedown. Then, once I give the signal, we’ll all flip them over at the same time.” Daiya writes first, and then we all write our Classes as directed: Maria, followed by me, the president, Yuri, and Kamiuchi. There are now six pieces of paper facedown on the table. “All right, show ’em.” Everyone turns over their paper. I read the Class on each one. Maria is the Double. The president is the King. Yuri is the Prince. Kamiuchi is the Knight. And then Daiya—who I had thought might pull something—is the Sorcerer, just as he claimed. “…So Hoshino is the Revolutionary… Phew, that’s a bit of a relief. I don’t know what I would’ve done if it was Kamiuchi.” “Hang on there, President—what’s that supposed to mean?!” “Um, yeah. Exactly what I said.” Kamiuchi grimaces with a “Whoa!” “How about it, Your Presidency?” Daiya asks. “Seems like just the type of outcome to put you at ease, eh?” “…Yeah. Unless Hoshino is secretly some scheming bastard, then I guess I’m okay with it.” “…Hey, come on.” Daiya ignores my pouting and continues, “I also have one more proposal. I want to collect all the knives we were given. This won’t entirely prevent violence, but it’s still safer than the alternative.” “Don’t tell me you’re trying to hoard all the knives for yourself, Oomine?” Kamiuchi says. “In that case, I’m against it. It’s way too dangerous to leave all that power in your hands.” “Hmph, well then, how about we gather them all in someone else’s room?” The president cuts in. “How about Yuri’s or Hoshino’s rooms? They seem like the most valid choices. Anyway, I’m fine with either one, so how about you two work it out?” “Huh?” “Huh?” The two of us, who were just picked, exclaim at the same time and look at each other. “Oh, go ahead, Hoshino.” “Oh, it’s okay. Why don’t you do it, Yuri?” “I couldn’t…” “I couldn’t, either…” “I think you would keep the knives stored safe and sound, Hoshino, so…” “I’d feel safer if it was you, Yuri.” “But…” “You’d just be holding on to them.” “But it’d be the same if they were with you—” “Okay, okay, the knives go with Yuri.” The president stops our conversation with a clap of her hands, then settles the matter herself. “I-Iroha.” “Pipe down, it’s settled! Each of us will bring our knives tomorrow during <B>. Yuri will then collect them. How does that sound? Satisfied now, Oomine?” “Not yet.” The president lets out a breath at Daiya’s statement. “Okay, your imperial majesty, what shall we do next?” Daiya carries on, completely disregarding the president’s sarcasm. “We’ve stopped Kingdom Royale temporarily. But our objective isn’t just to stop it, but to escape it altogether. All we did now was reach a preliminary agreement. If the situation changes, that won’t hold true any longer.” “Yeah, I guess I can see that. So what, then? Does that mean you know something especially vital?” “I know a way to get us out of the game.” The president and the rest of us freeze at his retort. …Daiya, you can’t mea— “We just need to destroy the Box.” He really did it. He acknowledged the existence of Boxes in front of the others. Even though he is currently the prime suspect. “Boxes do indeed exist, as Maria Otonashi said. If you can’t believe that, then just think of the Box as an analogy for whatever forced us into this mess. At any rate, in order to accomplish our goal, we need to destroy this Box. And we can do this by killing the owner, or the one in possession of the Box.” “But didn’t Otonashi basically say you were the owner?” “…I’m going to retract that estimation for the time being.” Maria jumps into the conversation with a stern face. “This doesn’t change the fact that Oomine is my prime suspect. I’ve just concluded that a decision would be a little premature. I felt this during my Private Meeting just now, and the plan Oomine proposed will undoubtedly prevent any killing… That’s why I can’t be certain Oomine is the owner.” The president tilts her head in obvious puzzlement at Maria’s unexpected assistance. Neither I nor Maria is sure how much of what Daiya’s saying is sincere. We don’t know what his aims are for us. Still, there’s no mistaking the truth that Kingdom Royale is the work of a Box. If we can just get everyone to believe that, then the game will not start. And then, we can work as one and find a solution to— “Oh, give me a break.” My optimistic thoughts come to a screeching halt. Everyone focuses on Kamiuchi, the source of the outburst. “Why are you even seriously considering this, President? There’s no need to think about any of it.” “…Why is that?” Kamiuchi flashes a condescending smile at the president’s question, then bluntly replies: “I mean—the three of them are totally in cahoots, right?” I’m…chilled to the bone. There isn’t a trace of his usual flippancy on his face. Instead, it’s blank, with a hint of something hard and cold lurking underneath. “This is just a trap. None of us has any idea what type of person would be an owner, right? That’s why if we start searching for this owner, we’d have no choice but to follow these three in everything during our hunt. Do you know what that means?” Kamiuchi continues with a thin smile. “These guys—can set somebody up as the owner we have to kill.” What— What is he saying…? “We have no intention of killing the owner—” “—Shut up.” A single sentence. That’s all it takes to create an enormous impact. I’m instantly aware of something. This person is—different. From an unknown world. And his world—contains violence. Not one of us is able to open our mouth. The long silence is finally broken as Kamiuchi lets out a deep exhalation. He breathes several times, in-out, in-out, and he’s wearing his usual clownish expression. But it’s impossible to see it the same way as before. “You can’t believe all this Box crap, either, can you, Yuri?” Yuri gulps audibly. He’s forcing her to take his side. He won’t allow any dissenting opinions. “……I, um…” He’s trying to get Yuri to agree with him. By doing so, he can establish a false rationale for rejecting our ideas. That’s his aim. If Yuri agrees with him, we’re done for. But it’s no good. As weak willed as she is, Yuri isn’t capable of rejecting him the way he is now. With tears in her eyes, Yuri looks at me for a moment before averting her gaze. Then, with trembling lips, she whispers: “……No, I can’t believe it.” Yep, we’re screwed. Or so I thought. But then— “…But…” —she keeps speaking. “…at the very least, I think I can trust Hoshino. So the idea that he would be trying to trap us…is something I…can’t accept.” She can’t accept it. She said it clearly. She was trembling and scared, but she still managed to push Kamiuchi’s opinion to the side and defend me. Maybe because she had to summon so much bravery, Yuri ducks down on the spot, places her hands over her chest, and lets out a ragged breath. Kamiuchi regards her with wide eyes, probably because he never expected her to refute him. He then directs a piercing gaze toward me. I swallow hard, feeling exactly like a criminal about to be sentenced by a judge. “Well, I can also acknowledge that Hoshino here seems like an upstanding guy.” Only then does the hostility disappear from his features. …Did we ride it out…? Yuri raises her face and looks at me. Her tense face relaxes, and she smiles. That’s how, thanks to Yuri’s bravery, we were able to hold on to some hope of finding a resolution. Daiya, the president, Kamiuchi, and Maria all return to their own rooms. Just as I’m about to follow them through the door, Yuri grabs my hand. “What’s up?” I notice it as soon as the words leave my mouth. Her hand is shaking. “…I was…scared.” She murmurs this, not raising her head. “That guy…terrified me.” “Yeah… But…you really helped us all. Thank you.” I smile at Yuri to reassure her, but her face remains as frightened as before. “My Private Meeting.” “…Huh?” “I’m scared of my next Private Meeting…with that guy.” Yuri’s complexion is as white as it was when I first saw her. “I-it’ll be okay. Kamiuchi seems to like you, so I’m sure—” “—That’s why I’m scared!!” She looks up and raises her voice enough to startle me. She looks down again, embarrassed at her loud exclamation. “S-sorry for losing my composure.” “I-it’s okay…” What’s this all about? In the Private Meetings, we’re alone with the other person in our cell-like rooms. Kamiuchi has a thing for Yuri, so I can’t imagine he would kill her, but— “Oh…” The realization hits me. I know exactly what Yuri is so afraid of. I think she sees I’ve caught her meaning, because she grips me tight. “……I really meant it, you know?” “Huh?” “I didn’t say I could trust you earlier because I wanted Kamiuchi to back down. I said it because I meant it.” Her trembling grows even more intense. I’m getting worried, so I peer into her downturned face. “I’m scared… So scared.” Yuri is crying. What do I do? What am I supposed to do here? This isn’t the type of situation I can think my way through, so for the time being I just squeeze her shaky hand in reply. Yuri places her left hand over mine and grips me even tighter. “Oh…” Again. It’s happening again. I’m remembering, again. I remember Nana Yanagi even more vividly than I did when I heard Yuri’s name. In fact, how could I have forgotten her so completely? It hasn’t even been two years, but recently, her existence hadn’t crossed my mind at all. I had blocked her out of my thoughts like none of it had ever happened. Could it be that my wish to forget Nana Yanagi, the wish I had been praying for from the moment I betrayed her, had actually been granted? It had—by completely blotting it out with mundanity. “On the contrary, you were abnormal even before you came into contact with a Box.” That doesn’t matter. It has nothing to do with it. “…I’m sorry, Hoshino, I’m sorry… I’m going to say something selfish, but please forgive me. I trust you, of my own volition. That’s why I ask—” She says it. Yanagi says it. “That’s why I ask—please don’t betray me.” The tearful entreaty on her face…for some reason it resembles her, my first love. And then, the moment I think it, the words leave my mouth. “I won’t. I won’t betray your trust again, Yanagi.” Day 1 <E> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room Upon returning to my room, I reflect on my memories of her. Nana Yanagi. She was my classmate, the first girl I fell for, and—in a relationship with my best friend. She and Yuri share the same last name, and they are at once alike and completely different. In a word, she was a troublemaker. She would suddenly shave off her eyebrows with a razor during break, cover the whole classroom in the pink powder of a fire extinguisher—the list of strange things she did was endless. The other girls even started calling her “Ex-ko” behind her back. (The “Ex” was short for “Eccentric.”) I thought Yanagi was scary, and to be honest, I didn’t want to have anything to do with her. It would take a rare person to want to associate with a classmate who had bleached-blond hair, wore a decidedly unmodern long skirt that was too much for even the other bad girls, and smoked cigarettes in secret. But as it happened, I knew just such an oddball. Toji Kijima, my best friend. Toji was full of curiosity, and his eyes positively shone whenever he encountered something new. Yanagi’s eccentric behavior never failed to ignite that gleam. I think becoming interested in her was an extremely natural thing for Toji. At first, Yanagi rebuffed his advances. But I think the truth is she most likely wanted someone to pay attention to her. She accepted Toji, and they started dating. Almost as soon as they did, she revealed her true colors. The true colors—of a deeply lonely girl. She was dependent on Toji. The extent of her need was, in a word, horrible. She never left his side for even a moment and lashed out at any girls who approached Toji to make them keep their distance. Because Toji wanted her to, she changed her blond hair back to black, wore a normal-length skirt, and buried her cigarettes in the garden. Toji was everything to Yanagi. Since he was her world, she couldn’t bear it if he said or did anything she didn’t like. Even the most trivial remark or behavior hurt her terribly. On occasion, she would even cut her wrists. The only one who would listen to her at those painful times…was me. The phone calls I got from her always started with sobbing. She would often drag me off somewhere away from prying eyes during breaks at school, then unleash a flood of tears. At first, I was just trying to lend her an ear. But as time went on, she began to seek further comfort from me. She would get me to stroke her head, hold her, sleep beside her, even lick up the tears running down her cheeks. I remember her saying some really messed up things, like how the sight of my face as I guiltily lapped up her tears relaxed her. That’s right. In the end, she was dependent on me, too. Honestly, it was exhausting. I didn’t like the way she led me around by the nose, and at times, I even avoided her calls. And that wasn’t just me. I soon found out how sick of it Toji was, too. After countless talks of splitting up, the two of them finally called it quits for good. From that time onward, I had to deal with her each and every day. Most people will probably never know what another person’s tears taste like, but I licked up so many that I could hardly stand the salty flavor anymore. Even then, I knew I was the only one she had, so I put up with it. I still had my limits, though. The pent-up anger was beginning to make my stomach hurt. I lost my appetite. I grew irritable. Why was I stuck comforting her when we weren’t even lovers? That’s why, one day, I said something about it to her. “I can’t see you anymore.” She didn’t understand. In order to understand my own resolve, I gradually said harsher and harsher things. I can’t see you anymore, you’re nothing but trouble, think of someone else for a change, Toji dumped you because you don’t think about how other people feel, I can’t stand it anymore, quit stalking me, freaking Ex-ko— Then, the very same day I showered her with abuse—Yanagi and Toji disappeared. The classmates who knew them only while they were together came up with all sorts of stories, like maybe they’d eloped, but I knew that wasn’t possible. So why did they both vanish at the same time? There was only one answer. Succumbing to hopelessness after I stabbed her in the back, Yanagi called Toji to meet her. And then—she made it so he couldn’t come back. I blamed myself. It was my fault. It was all because I couldn’t support her enough. Because I shoved her away, even though I was the one person she could depend on. But what took over my heart even more than guilt was emptiness. Each day felt entirely void of meaning. Each day was as flavorless as a piece of gum that’s been chewed for three days straight. I found it was missing something. The world lacked flavor. It lacked that intense, salty flavor. You’re awful. How could you even consider disappearing from my life over a few words like that? Don’t you think you can keep depending on me? You— You’re so irresponsible, letting me experience that taste and then disappearing. Why…did it have to be Toji? If it were me, if you had me, I would have given you everything. I already pretty much had. Once I reached that point, when I finally realized that my heart had become hollow…I truly, finally understood. Yeah… What can I say? I…loved Nana Yanagi. By the time I realized that, she was already gone. She ran off with Toji, ran off with most of my heart, and vanished. But though I may have betrayed someone I love, hurt them, drove them into a corner, or killed them, my normal life persisted. I was alive, so I had to keep on living. I had to make a normal world without her in it. That’s why I had to forget her. I had to forget about Nana Yanagi. She was never the type who would have anything to do with me anyway. I had to seal her away, this eccentric symbol of abnormality. That’s how I was able to truly forget about her, to an almost incredible extent. Now that I think about it, when did I become so fixated on normality? CHOOSE THE TARGET YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASSASSINATE. This message appears on the monitor alongside pictures of all six players, including me. I can’t possibly make a choice like this. I don’t understand the Game of Indolence. I suspect it might not have any meaning behind it at all. I collapse on my bed. But what am I trying to do by saying this Box is meaningless? Am I trying to suggest that the normal life I would go back to does have meaning? That normal life built entirely around forgetting her? “……” I think about Yuri. No one needs to point it out—I’m aware that “Nana Yanagi” and “Yuri Yanagi” are beginning to overlap in my mind. If I can save Yuri without betraying her, maybe I can escape from the spell Nana has on me? I don’t know. I don’t know, but— —the moment Yuri’s face surfaces in my mind— —I taste someone’s tears in my parched throat. Day 6 <B> The Common Area We reach the sixth day without any major developments. As Daiya had planned, we revealed everyone’s Classes and even collected all the knives, bringing Kingdom Royale to a halt. Despite this, the other three remain on the fence about Boxes no matter how much we explain to them, so we’re stuck when it comes to identifying the owner… And the time limit is approaching fast. I head from my room to the common area. By this point, I’m completely used to the warping phenomenon that occurs when I go into a new room and don’t think anything of it. A room that is whiter than any naturally occurring shade. …But whatever. As long as I’m the Revolutionary and Daiya is the Sorcerer, Kingdom Royale will never start. “Kazuki.” As she spots me, Yuri marches swiftly up to me with a little grin on her face. “Huh? Did something good happen?” As I say this, Yuri mutters “Huh?” in a small voice and tilts her head, as if she wasn’t aware of what she was doing. Watching us from the corner of her eye, Iroha chimes in. “Yuri’s just happy to see you for the first time in a day. She’s really grown fond of you.” By her tone, it’s hard to tell whether she’s joking or serious. Yuri’s face blushes a deep red. “I-Iroha! Quit talking about me like I’m some sort of puppy!” I imagine Yuri with a dog’s tail, wagging as she comes up to me. “Ha!” Oh man, that’s a great image! “Wh-why did you laugh just now, Kazuki?!” She puffs out her cheeks… I’ve got to find a way to pass off that laugh as something else. All the same—I really have grown used to talking to these two. Ever since the second day, we’ve all made an effort to actively talk to one another to build trust. I’ve had Private Meetings with everyone. Even Daiya has been cooperative, so the strategy has proven effective. At the very least, I can no longer imagine any one of us killing someone else. “…Kazuki, as punishment for laughing, you have to choose me…for a Private Meeting during <C>,” Yuri says for some reason, her puffed-out cheeks turning slightly red. “Fine, but how is that punishment?” “…Huh? …Um, w-well, it just is! …Probably!” Yuri says, flapping her arms with gusto. It’s kinda funny. “Huh?” Maria, who has been eyeing Yuri, comes over, scratching her head irritably. “…Huh? What’s up, Maria?” For whatever reason, Maria stays silent, unwilling to open her mouth. “…To put it this way…you’ve already had Private Meetings with Yanagi four times, correct?” “Huh?” “If you go again today, that’ll make it five. I wouldn’t be surprised if the others see that as you focusing on one person. Having Private Meetings with a specific person five times may endanger the sense of cooperation we’ve worked so hard to build among the six of us.” “…Um? So you’re saying I shouldn’t have a Private Meeting with Yuri; is that right?” “I’m not saying just with Yuri. I’m saying it’s dangerous to be perceived as favoring a specific person.” “…Aren’t you overthinking it a bit?” “You’ve only had Private Meetings with me three times.” I feel like I’m missing something… “Otonashi’s jealous. How cute,” Iroha says with an amused look on her face. “…Don’t get started with that stupid, baseless conjecture. I’m just warning Kazuki about his behavior.” “You’re really desperate.” “…You aren’t listening to me.” “Maria, are you jealous?” I ask. Thud! “O-ow!” She kicked me in the shin really hard! “Sigh…” Kamiuchi, who was watching this exchange and fiddling with his portable device, jumps in disgustedly. “Aw man, I’m so jealous here. I kinda just wish you’d curl up and die, Hoshino.” “Huh? What’s to be jealous of…? I just got kicked.” “…What’re you playing dumb for? Is that what they call the confidence of the victor?” When I tilt my head, Kamiuchi lets out a sigh and goes back to messing around with his device. Despite how it may seem, Kamiuchi and I have gotten pretty used to each other, too. I wasn’t sure how things would go the first time I saw that violent side of him, but in speaking with him, I’ve found him to be surprisingly easy to talk to. “Huh? Ah, I get it.” Kamiuchi sets his device on the table and stands up. “What’s up?” “Oh, I was just going back over some past statements and I reached a conclusion.” Kamiuchi walks over to where Daiya is sitting and pats him on the shoulder. Daiya scowls, as if he’s annoyed by the overly familiar treatment. This has been happening pretty reliably between these two the last few days. “Daiya. I’m gonna believe you, about the Box, I mean.” Startled, I ask, “Huh? Really, Kamiuchi?” “There’s no reason to lie, right? …I mean, at this point it doesn’t really matter whether I believe you. With us running short on time, I have to pick one or the other. There aren’t any other answers besides the Box, so I don’t really have any choice.” Now that he mentions it, Maria did say they wouldn’t have any choice but to trust us once time grew short. “So what was it we needed to do again? I’m pretty sure you said this situation would be fixed if we smash the Box. If that’s the case, let’s just do this.” With that, Kamiuchi lifts his button-down shirt. “Let’s kill Daiya here.” “—Huh?” But there wasn’t enough time. There wasn’t time for me to comprehend what he meant. Before I can even think, he brings down the — And he kills Daiya. “……Ah…” ……Huh? What is this…? Though I can explain what happened, my ability to understand it is far slower. Kamiuchi slashed Daiya’s neck open. Blood sprays from his neck, and he falls silent with his eyes still open. And then—he dies. I can tell that much. But while I can recognize the facts as facts, I cannot assign any meaning to them. That’s why I just stand there, dumbfounded. Kamiuchi’s shirt is now bright red, and his face is wet and crimson with the sticky spray of blood. In his hands is a knife, which he should not have. It’s one of the combat weapons we supposedly collected from everyone. “That’s funny,” Kamiuchi mutters as he plays with the knife he had concealed underneath his belt. “Wasn’t everything supposed to be fixed once the owner dies? And wasn’t the owner Daiya here?” He looks at Maria. “Hey, that was the story, right, Maricchi?” Maria is stunned, her eyes wide. Kamiuchi keeps talking, as if he was never really looking for a response to begin with. “Maybe it’s just that Daiya isn’t dead yet? Okay, let’s try this.” And with that— —he plunges the knife into Daiya’s neck again. Blood flows everywhere. The impact knocks Daiya’s body forward, and his head slams into the table with a loud bang. Red liquid spreads across the table. “Ah…” Yuri shrieks and falls on her backside. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!” Kamiuchi looks at her, and his cheeks soften in a smile. “Your scream is so cute, Yuri… But he sure looks dead to me. Guess that means all that stuff Maricchi said about Boxes in the beginning was either a mistake or BS, huh? Oh, I think I did choose to believe in Boxes, didn’t I? Guess I should just assume that Daiya here was a miss.” Kamiuchi says a “miss.” I don’t get what he means right away. But before long, I do. “Maricchi.” The murderer asks his question: “Who should I try next?” He’s asking who’ll be a “hit.” By chance, I notice the hand gripping the knife is shaking. At first, I think maybe it’s in fear of what he has just done. I understand once I see his face, though. His hand is shaking with excitement. Ahhh—what a mistake I had made. How did I ever expect to get along with a murderer like this? He’s just been waiting for the right time to unleash the violent nature he’s kept hidden away. Kingdom Royale is a game of killing and deception. We were unable to stop it. Daiya’s experiment was a failure, with the price being his life. Kingdom Royale started that very first day. “Why do you…still have a knife?” I ask as I stare at the knife with Daiya’s blood still dripping from it. “Is that really your first question? …Fine, I’ll humor you. Yuri gave me plenty of openings when I went to her room for a Private Meeting, so I took one. That’s all.” “…Huh? So it’s…my…fault…?” Yuri looks up and turns her wide eyes on Kamiuchi. The murderer smiles at Yuri, then speaks. “You gotta be more careful.” “Ah…” She’s rendered speechless, and her tears overflow. “So, Maricchi, who’s next? …Hey, she’s still frozen. Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit? Whatever, I still think your naïveté is damn adorable.” Kamiuchi gazes at the blood-soaked knife as he offers his meaningless compliment. “…I’ve decided,” he says, walking up to me. “Maybe I’ll go with Hoshino here, since he’s just making me green with envy. I want him dead anyway.” He picks me, in the same tone someone would choose their lunch from a menu. But in his eyes, there is genuine malicious intent. I lock up when I see the bloody knife in his hands. It’s the same weapon that killed Daiya. The murderer comes closer. “Wait.” Kamiuchi stops easily at Maria’s voice. “What is it, Maricchi?” She speaks to the boy with a lust for blood in his eyes. “I’m an owner.” Kamiuchi narrows his eyes at her words. “I’m saying you should kill me, not Kazuki.” He seems to have grasped her meaning. He smirks, seemingly by reflex. “Ha-ha, are you saying you want to take his place and save his life? You’re really something.” “I’m simply stating the truth,” Maria says, glaring at him. Kamiuchi quickly strides up to her, still holding the knife. Maria raises both of her hands, all but declaring she has no intention of fighting back. “M-Maria…” She smiles at me as I call out her name. Seeing the kindness in her face, I’m certain of something. Maria didn’t say that because she has some sort of plan. She really is just prepared to die in my place. “I’m impressed with you, Maricchi. I never thought I’d meet someone who honestly values the lives of others over their own. They say love’s one hell of a drug; maybe they’re onto something. This is true love if I’ve ever seen it.” Maria smiles icily. “Is that so? Well, I’m glad you’re impressed.” “Are you really okay with dying just to help Hoshino?” “Yeah.” Kamiuchi sighs at Maria’s direct, unhesitant response. “Well, damn. This love of yours is just too beautiful. Okay, fine. It’s not like I want to be the bad guy; I’m just trying get out of here as quick as I can. But I’m not gonna be some cheap-ass villain who just goes ‘If that’s how you want it, then die’ and slices you up. So I’m letting you both off the hook.” Koudai Kamiuchi runs his hands through Maria’s hair intimately as he continues: “You just have to sleep with me, Maricchi.” He presses the knife to her throat with his right hand. “……” Maria’s face twists with loathing. She glares at Koudai Kamiuchi, then slaps away the hand stroking her hair, even though she’s at knifepoint. “……Shut the hell up. I’d rather die than give my body over to you.” “Ooh, so mean. There are plenty of girls out there lining up to get with me, you know. So you aren’t going to accept the offer?” “Of course not!!” “All righty, then.” He gives up that easily—or so it seems. “I’ll take Yuri instead.” As if that would ever happen. He said it with a smile, but his eyes are cold and full of lust; realizing he isn’t joking in the slightest, Yuri turns as white as a sheet. “N-no—!!” “It doesn’t matter if you say no, Yuri, my dear. Maricchi turned me down. Oh, but I like you better anyway, so I’m totally cool with it.” “I—I could never do that…” “Okay, then I’ll kill both Maricchi and Hoshino.” All Yuri can do is blanch another shade whiter in the face of this inhuman statement. “If you don’t want to have the deaths of these two hanging over your head because you told me no, then you should just go along with it.” Yuri slowly turns back and looks at me. Tears stream from her eyes. She can’t speak, but her gaze tells me what she wants to say. “—Please don’t betray me.” …Yeah, I see it now. This is the situation Yuri was afraid of from day one. And I made a promise. I promised I wouldn’t betray Yanagi again. But even so, if I try to save Yuri now, then Maria will— “…Stop.” The one who speaks up in a small voice is Maria, not me. A grin spreads across Koudai Kamiuchi’s face as he hears this. “Hmm? If you’ve decided you want to play nice with me, then I guess that’s okay.” I’m sure she knew he would say this. Maria bites down hard on her lip, so hard that blood begins flowing from it. She looks away from me—and then says it clearly. “………Yeah, you’ll have to make do with me.” …What… …What are you saying, Maria? “Huh? Are you serious?” Koudai Kamiuchi’s eyes are huge. “……Heh…heh-heh, ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!” That resolve— She would rather die than do this, and yet Maria has the resolve to do it, all to save Yuri… Koudai Kamiuchi points at her and laughs. “Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Seriously? I can get why you’d do anything to save your lover boy Hoshino. But you’d really do that for someone like Yuri after only a few days with her? Ah-ha-ha, that is too funny!” “……What’s so funny about it?” “I mean, talk about culture shock! What the hell kinda values do you have? Putting others before yourself like that is just twisted, if you ask me! Do you really think there’s something beautiful in doing that?!” I’ll admit that I can’t really relate to Maria’s stance on this, either. She neglects her own needs to a fault and occasionally even scoffs at me for caring about her. I can’t really say her attitude is entirely about living for others. But… …even if that stance is a bit mistaken— —there is no way I can let someone like him mock it. “The suffering of others bothers you more than your own? Well then, I take back what I just said. I won’t let you take her place. I’m gonna have my way with Yuri no matter what you do.” “…What…are you saying, you bastard?! What’s the meaning in that?!” “It’s just more fun.” Even Maria is speechless. Koudai Kamiuchi laughs contemptuously at her shock. He’s toying with her. He’s decided her bravery is pathetic, and he’s entertaining himself by watching her. I can’t allow this to happen. I’ll never allow Koudai Kamiuchi to get away with demeaning Maria’s pride like this… I won’t allow it, but— I won’t allow it, but why—? “Ugh…uh…uuuuuuu…” The sound of Yuri’s sobs fills the room. Maria is being held at knifepoint. Why can’t I do anything about it? “You guys still don’t wanna die, right?” None of us respond, so Koudai Kamiuchi lays it out. “All right then, from now on, all of you are my slaves.” •Daiya Oomine, dead via slit carotid artery inflicted by Koudai Kamiuchi Day 6 <C> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room “ChoOSE_wHo_you_woULD_likE_to_haVe_a_Private_Meeting_wiTh.” Noitan speaks to me, but I feel to powerless to move. I couldn’t do anything. Maria and Yuri were both suffering, but I couldn’t even lift a finger to help them. Yuri has been forced to pick Koudai Kamiuchi as her choice for her Private Meeting. Even though she knows what’s going to happen to her, she has to pick him. I can only imagine the pain she must be going through… “—Damn!!” I bite down on my lip. I should have been cleverer about this. Even if I couldn’t do anything earlier, if I had only given more thought to how dangerous Koudai Kamiuchi was beforehand, none of this would have happened. Yeah, if I had just come up with some contingency when Yuri came crying to me because she was frightened of him, then things wouldn’t have come to this. This is what I get for underestimating Kingdom Royale and wasting our time. …Still, that doesn’t mean we’re finished yet. I’m about to press the button for YURI YANAGI when— “You’ve only had Private Meetings with me three times.” For some reason, Maria’s comment pops into my head. …Why would I remember her saying that now? That has nothing to do with this. The best option here is obviously to do what I can for Yuri in her time of suffering. I know Maria’s in danger, too. She’s also been coerced into choosing Koudai Kamiuchi. In her case, though, it isn’t for the same reasons as Yuri; it’s an attempt to prevent us from conferring with each other. His ultimate goal is to survive, so he’s trying to crush any chances we might have of conspiring and coming up with a plan to beat him. It’s possible he doesn’t even care about the owner anymore. Rather than finding and killing an owner we aren’t even sure exists, he’s instead focusing on winning Kingdom Royale. Koudai Kamiuchi is the Knight. In order to win, he needs to kill the King and the Prince. The King he needs dead is Iroha. The Prince is Yuri. Maria is still in a safer position than the two of them. There’s no denying she’s in danger, but the level of the threat is markedly different. That’s why— That’s why I choose—Yuri Yanagi.
Chapter 24
56 min read