Chapter 25

Day 6 <C> Private Meeting with Yuri Yanagi – Yuri Yanagi’s Room Yuri embraces me tight as soon as I enter her room. I’m sure she’s burying her face in my chest because she doesn’t want me to see her expression. I caught a glimpse of it as she ran up to me. It was hollow. “……I didn’t want to die,” she says this in an empty voice, her face still pressed against me. “No matter what, I didn’t want to die. That’s why, so I…” I wrap my arms around her hunched back, not wanting her to say any more. “U-uuuuuuuu…” She’s crying. Yanagi is crying. Yeah—could I be any more selfish? Even now, when I need to show support to Yuri, all I can think about is Yanagi. It’s just that she forced me into this situation so many times back then, listening to the sobs of a girl crying in my arms— —and so that emotion I had no choice but to experience is playing tricks on me. It’s as if those feelings I once held for Nana Yanagi are back. Aw, those tears are soaking into her school uniform. What a waste. I wish I could drink them. “……” I hate myself for entertaining such thoughts. What the hell am I thinking? Didn’t I tell myself over and over that I would never do such a thing again? No one else would ever allow me to do anything remotely like that. I can’t repeat that failed love. I’m done—I’ll never become codependent on someone who doesn’t even care for me again. But… “I love you,” she says, her face still against my chest. “I love you. I love you, Kazuki. That’s why…I never wanted someone like him to do that to me.” “—Oh.” After “Nana Yanagi” disappeared, there was something I turned over and over in my mind, each and every day. What if she had said she loved me? If so, things would most likely have turned out completely different. I knew it was a cowardly fantasy, an attempt to explain away my crime against her. But even though I understood that, I still wanted to know. I still wanted to know her hypothetical answer. “……I love you……” Yanagi says she loves me. If I don’t betray her here, then I’m sure she’ll accept me. And if that would lead to a happy outcome, then would I— —finally be free of that part of my past? “…I’m sorry to be so sudden.” She finally looks up at me. Her eyes are red from the tears, but they are no longer empty. They contain a firm resolve. She steps away from me and sits on the bed. I sit next to her. On this bed, Koudai Kamiuchi took Yuri and— Before I can think any further, she puts her right hand on mine. I take her hand and squeeze it. “…I…don’t want that to happen to me again…ever.” “…I know.” Her suffering is so apparent to me it hurts. “…I— I’m going to say something horrible now. But please…don’t hate me for it.” “I could never hate you.” She speaks quietly, as if she’s truly worried I’ll hate her for what she’s about to say. “Help me.” “—That’s something horrible…?” She whispers, “I want you to make helping me your top priority. Do you get what I mean?” I’m still confused, so she keeps going, her eyes downcast. “You’re the Revolutionary, aren’t you?” …Oh, so that’s what she means. “Are you telling me to kill Koudai Kamiuchi?” Yuri goes quiet as I put it outright. “But killing him is—” “I know!” Yuri cuts me off with a yell. I’m startled by this uncharacteristically loud outburst from her, and she lowers her eyes awkwardly. “I know… If there’s any other way, I want to try it. Killing him seems like an awful solution. But is there any way around it? Is there any other way to prevent that from happening to me again—to allow us all to survive? Or are you saying you still think there’s some way to persuade him?” “That’s…” I can’t say it. Even I know there’s no getting through to him at this point. But is that really enough to warrant a subjective decision to end his life? …There’s no way. No matter how hard I may find it to forgive him, how many reasons I can list to justify killing him, how much everyone says it’s the right thing to do, my life would change the instant I killed him. And then, my normal life would be gone, never to return. So I can’t do it. I can’t do it, but— “Don’t betray me.” I… I thought I was waiting for this chance for so long. I thought I was waiting all this time for the chance to fix the past. The truth is that I already knew. I knew the reason Nana Yanagi behaved that way wasn’t just because she wanted me to comfort her after her troubles with Toji. She was truly hopeless as a person, but even she was at least aware that there was something twisted about the love she had for Toji. She wanted to do things over and have a proper relationship with someone else, I believe. Unable to do anything about her feelings for Toji on her own, she had me lick up her tears. She stole my heart exactly according to her plans. I think her methods were wrong. But that doesn’t mean her feelings were false. I knew what she wanted to do. I knew, and I pretended I didn’t. After all, Toji was my best friend, and Yanagi was his girlfriend. That’s why I couldn’t even acknowledge I had feelings for her. It was impossible for me to do what Yanagi hoped I would. That doesn’t change the fact that I knew how she felt, though. It doesn’t change that I knew this yet still decided to ignore it. It doesn’t change that I abandoned her. And so, in the end, the sin rests with me. Yanagi closes her eyes, puffy from crying, and turns her lips toward me. Nana Yanagi used to make a face like this. I can’t pretend like I don’t notice any longer. I have to respond to Yanagi’s feelings. I take her shoulders in my hands. Her delicate frame jumps slightly. I close my eyes, bring my lips close to hers, and— —No. I open my eyes, not moving any closer. The word was so sudden, and I’m not sure where it came from. I don’t know why I thought this way, either. Still, that curt voice sounded exactly like hers. Maria. ……That’s irresponsible of you, Maria. If it were you, what would you do? I can curse her all I want in my mind, but that won’t change the outcome. I can no longer do what Yanagi wishes. Yanagi is still waiting for our lips to touch. After some confusion, I kiss her on the cheek. She opens her eyes, seemingly satisfied with just that. The kiss on her cheek tasted of tears. Still, I wonder why? Despite the taste, they do nothing to quench the thirst in my throat. Day 6 <C> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room The situation progresses, though I still have yet to decide on a course of action. IROHA SHINDO HAS BEEN EXECUTED FOR FAILURE TO OBEY THE TIMETABLE. •Iroha Shindo, compulsorily executed for failure to return to her room by 5:40. Died via decapitation. Day 6 <D> The Common Area There are two hemp sacks on the table in the common area. Their contents are the same as mine, except for the color of the wristwatches, which are black and orange. They’re the ones Daiya and Iroha wore. Koudai Kamiuchi snatches up the four days’ worth of rations, two from each sack, as if it was the most natural thing to do. Despite what I’m seeing, it still hasn’t sunk in with me that Iroha is dead. What happened? Noitan lets us know when time is up, so how could she have made a mistake like that? “It’s gotta be suicide,” says Koudai Kamiuchi. “She couldn’t take the heat, so she stayed put and got executed on purpose is my guess. Probably felt she’d rather be dead than let me get my hands on her. Man, Maricchi and now her. So many rude people here.” Iroha committed suicide? Something about it doesn’t sit right with me. We only spent a few days together, but I just can’t imagine her choosing that option. As for Yuri, it apparently has yet to sink in, as she dazedly picks up the orange watch and stares at it. Maria is watching her with a questioning glimmer in her eyes. “Yanagi.” Maria calls her name Yuri still seems stupefied when she turns to Maria, who continues: “Aren’t you sad?” At that, a hint of emotion creeps into Yuri’s expression for the first time. Her eyes grow moist, and she crouches down on the spot, covering her face. “……” Maria shakes her head and looks away, as if she can’t stand the sight of her. “That’s so nice of you to let her know when it’s her cue to cry.” “…Hmph.” Maria makes no attempt to hide her loathing, snorting angrily at Koudai Kamiuchi. “Cold as ice… By the way, Hoshino.” Koudai Kamiuchi shifts his gaze toward me. “You’re the Revolutionary, right? If you want to, you can kill me during the next time block. Which is why I’m gonna have to ask you to die during this one, but…” Thud. He stabs a knife into the table. “You wanna try to stop me? Go ahead. Well, I do have a knife, and you’re empty-handed. Hey, actually, I’m game if you all want to try to take me on at once.” “…Three on one?” “Go for it, if you think you can beat me that way.” …It’s no good. For all Maria’s skill in the martial arts, she still isn’t that gifted physically. Maybe if we had time to come up with a plan it would be worth it, but as we stand now, I can’t imagine a violent confrontation with an armed Koudai Kamiuchi would end well for us. “In other words, big shot, you’re as good as dead.” Koudai Kamiuchi pulls out the knife stuck in the table. He then turns the point toward me and grins. “—Well, thought I’d try saying it anyway.” I’m not sure what he’s getting at, and confusion overtakes me. My face must look funny, because Koudai Kamiuchi starts cackling. “I was thinking, and I realized that crushing you like this is just boring, you know? So how about we spice things up a bit, eh?” I have no clue what he’s talking about. I don’t care at all about winning or losing or boredom or whatever. “Let’s make a bet.” He carries on without a care for the scowl on my face. “As you know, during the upcoming <E> time block, you can use your Assassinate command, right? The way I figure, you aren’t going to Assassinate me, regardless. So that’s what I’m betting on.” “……?” “Look, if you Assassinate me, naturally, I’m gonna die, okay? And then, obviously, I lose, see? On the other hand, if that time passes, and you don’t use Assassinate, then we’ll call that a win for me. That’s all I’m getting at here.” “…That doesn’t make any sense. What the hell type of bet is that? There’s nothing in it for you. Do you want me to Assassinate you?” “Not at all. I thought I just laid it out for you. Crushing victories like this are a drag.” “That’s what I’m saying doesn’t make sense.” “Oh… Well, lemme see. Do you understand how it can feel good to take a risk just for the sake of it?” All I can do is frown. “I know it’ll never happen, but let’s say I compete in the World Cup, okay? I shoot on the goal and score a point. My team wins. Even though I might be a real scumbag normally, this is enough for me to become a huge star and have all that completely ignored. On the flip side, if I screw up and allow the other team to score on us and Japan loses, I’ll be so despised I might as well be an actual criminal.” That’s definitely a high-risk, high-return competition. Almost exactly like gambling. “You’re the type who avoids games like that, aren’t you? Because you’re afraid of having everyone hate you. Well, I’m the complete opposite. My adrenaline would be flowing. I’d love to give it a go.” …Yes, I think I’m beginning to see it now. But— “…Betting your life is…crazy,” I say. “Well, it may be a bit over the top, yeah.” “First off, what are you hoping to gain by wagering your life?” “Don’t we have some prizes right here?” “Huh?” No one explained anything at all about prizes to me. “I knew those prizes from the moment I saw them. I get the feeling I even mentioned it, too.” I remember the very first thing he said. I also recall seeing it several times on my device. I’m pretty sure it was— “Yo… Hey, do I spy three pretty girls? Lucky me!” “…You can’t be serious.” “I’ve already had a taste of one. ” None of us would ever hope for Kingdom Royale to begin. That’s what I had thought. I firmly believed that was the right approach. That was a mistake, though. Koudai Kamiuchi has been having a blast with this from the get-go. “I can’t figure you out. There’s no consistency to your behavior. What exactly are you trying to do here?” “That’s what they’re always saying to me.” Koudai Kamiuchi answers Maria’s question with an enormous grin. “They say ‘What do you want to do?’ or ‘Set some goals for yourself’ or ‘Take things more seriously,’ but they should all just mind their own business. Who gives a crap about that? I’ve got more skills than all the people trying to lecture me anyway. I wish those incompetent schlubs would spare me their inferiority complex BS.” “I see. So you’re a true-blue idiot,” Maria cuts in. “Watch your mouth.” She becomes quiet at the sudden cold change in his tone. “Okay, let’s get back to our little bet, Hoshino. So we’re both putting lives on the line, got it? As for the prizes, I decided to level the playing field a bit even though I already had this game in the bag, so you don’t mind if I’m the only one who gets them, right?” As if he would let me refuse. “All you gotta worry about is putting on a good show.” I know he didn’t have anything good planned. But even then— “You just need to let me watch Yuri kill you.” —what he says goes leagues beyond what I had imagined. “……What do you mean?” “Exactly what I said. I win the bet, and naturally, we all get to head into tomorrow’s <C> block unharmed. I get to have more Private Meetings, aka playtime, with my dear Yuri here. Then, she and I will work together to Murder you.” “What’re you talking about? Don’t you know Yuri is the Prince?” “She’s the King,” Koudai Kamiuchi says plainly. “Huh? But that’s—” I stop short. Yuri looks up at me, her face a sickly white. “…Yuri…?” “I-it’s not what you think… Kazuki, it’s not!” Why? Why is she trying to explain herself before I’ve even said anything? “Here, let me lay it out for you. Yuri lied about her Class. She and the president switched classes for the big reveal.” “…Why?” “To survive, why else?” Yuri’s white face is all I need to know he’s telling the truth. “If she’s so scared of dying that she’s willing to pull a stunt like that, then I know she’ll cave to my threats. It’ll be easy to get her to use Murder.” “……I won’t do it.” Yuri’s voice is a whisper. “You won’t use Murder? Heh-heh, sure you will, sweetheart.” “…D-don’t mock me. I don’t want that to happen to Kazuki, and I can’t do it. How can you be so confident that I will…?” “Because you’re the type of girl who offers up her body in exchange for her life, aren’t you, Yuri?” She stops speaking and tenses up. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you’ll kill to stay alive.” “That’s not—” “Hey, how about I tell the others what you said when you were begging for your life?” Yuri’s eyes widen. “Any pure-hearted boy who heard the things coming out of your mouth wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.” “……Stop.” “You’re really something. Not an ounce of pride in you. I gotta admit, I’m an underclassman with fantasies about girls, and even I was shocked.” “St… Stop, stop, stop……!! Don’t say any more!!” Yuri starts sobbing immediately. “You cry at the drop of a hat… Don’t worry. I was just kidding.” That doesn’t stop her tears, of course. Koudai Kamiuchi spreads his hands in disbelief. “Anyway, whether you trust her is your choice, but I wouldn’t if I were you.” I glance over at Yuri as she continues to cry. I feel bad for her, but if she might Murder me, I can’t help but wonder. She did devise a scheme to lie about her Class, after all. I’m sure she won’t be able to resist if he dangles the death threat in front of her. That’s how badly Yuri doesn’t want to die. “That’s all for the bet. Participation is mandatory. It’s not like you have anything to lose, right?” Having smugly brought the discussion to a close, he puts his arm around my shoulders in a friendly gesture and pulls me toward him, like he’s about to kill me. What the…? The moment I think this, he shoves something into the pocket of my pants. When I look at him, he presses his pointer finger to his lips. Since he has his arm around my shoulder, Yuri and Maria didn’t see. Completing his objective, he steps away from me. I stick my hand into my pocket. I feel something crinkly. Paper…? Maybe it has a message he didn’t want the other two to know about…? “Kazuki.” I quickly pull my hand out of my pocket. Maria continues without paying any particular attention to the action. “I’m sure it’s okay, but I’ll just say it anyway.” She looks me square in the eye, then says, “Don’t kill anyone.” …I knew it. That’s what I thought she’d say. No matter the circumstances, no matter who we’re dealing with, Maria will never hope for a resolution due to someone’s death. “……I don’t want to, but what am I supposed to do? I’m not worried about myself. But if I die, then you and Yuri will be…” “And you want to sacrifice yourself for us? Surely you understand. If you use Assassinate, let alone kill someone, you’ll never escape the clutches of the Game of Indolence for the rest of your life.” I should understand this. The moment I kill Koudai Kamiuchi, I’ll never be able to return to any semblance of normality. Still— “Please don’t betray me.” Yuri is still sobbing. As I watch her in this state, the words I said so long ago play through my mind like a refrain. “I can’t see you anymore.” I’ll never do anything like that again. I will never make a mistake like that ever again. That’s why I have to do something, or else Yuri— “You don’t need to worry about saving us, Kazuki.” It’s like her words pierce straight through my heart, and I lower my eyes. “You don’t need to sacrifice yourself for that. All you need to worry about is protecting your own life.” “…But if I lose the bet, then I’ll be killed.” “Don’t worry.” Maria says it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. “I will protect you.” Day 6 <E> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room Before I even read the note, I already knew whatever was on it wouldn’t be good. Kill Yuri, and you’re home free! I didn’t expect it to be this horrible, though. Yuri is a Class opposed to mine, the Revolutionary. The same goes for Koudai Kamiuchi as the Knight. On the other hand, the Revolutionary and the Knight can coexist. As far as the game goes, there’s no reason for me to kill Koudai Kamiuchi. So what’s he up to? Maybe he figures giving me this note will get me to Assassinate Yuri, and that’s why he made this bet with me? I wish he would quit belittling me. I crumple the note into a ball and toss it on the table. I then turn my attention to the monitor. PLEASE CHOOSE A TARGET TO ASSASSINATE. I recall how on the first day, I never would have been able to make such a choice. But now— I don’t know. I have no idea what I should do. But the one thing I can be sure of is that if I don’t do something, I won’t be able to save anyone. …So should I actually kill Koudai Kamiuchi? That would equate to giving in to the Box. To losing. And then—to never being able to have a normal life ever again. But maybe that’s how it should be? If I can save Yanagi, then maybe the normal life I’m so obsessed with doesn’t matter. That’s right. That would make it as if my transgression never happened. If I can redo my relationship with Yanagi, then I— I…am fine with abandoning normality. I extend my hand toward the monitor. Sorry, Koudai Kamiuchi, but I win the bet. I’m going to save Yanagi. That’s what I want. That’s justice in my mind. It’s okay, right, Maria? This outcome is okay, right? I ask the Maria within me, hoping she’ll provide me with the answer I want to hear. Unfortunately, what she says is— “I will protect you.” —the same thing she said just a little while ago. “……Oh.” The contradiction stops my hand as it reaches for the screen. It’s true; why would Maria say something like that…? Could I be overlooking something…? Ah, I get it. Now that I think about it, what was the real reason behind Iroha’s death? It doesn’t seem right that she would give up on survival so easily. That’s why calling it suicide didn’t sit well with me. What if she was already on the verge of death when she was executed, though? Or what if it was already almost guaranteed she would die? I pull out my portable device and check the rules. If someone is targeted for Death by Sword, it’ll take effect at 5:55. Iroha died at 5:40. If she knew at that point she was going to get Death by Sword anyway, then… …wouldn’t she try to send some sort of message to us? …No, that doesn’t make sense. Iroha was the King after all. There’s no way she would target herself for Murder— No. I have it wrong. Iroha was the Prince. The King, the King who is capable of choosing who to Murder, was— —Yuri Yanagi. No, no, that can’t be it. Let’s not jump to conclusions here. The idea that was some message sent from Iroha because she was certain to die is nothing more than an idea I just came up with now. Still… I check something on my device. No doubt about it. Just before that time—Iroha was having a Private Meeting with Yuri. Iroha broke the schedule and was executed, because she didn’t return to her room by forty minutes after the hour. Because she didn’t return from Yuri’s room. In other words— —Yuri witnessed Iroha die right before her very eyes. “Aren’t you sad?” That’s what Maria said to Yuri as she was gazing at the orange watch. Then Yuri had started crying as if a dam had burst. As if she had remembered what she had to do. “No matter what, I didn’t want to die. That’s why, so I…” Because she didn’t want to die? Because she didn’t want to die. “I love you. I love you, Kazuki.” “……” I reach out for the tabletop and pick up the note I had balled up and tossed away. Kill Yuri and you’re home free! …Let’s say I kill Koudai Kamiuchi here. I’m the Revolutionary, Maria is the Double, and Yuri is the Prince, so of course the game isn’t going to end yet. So then what would she do? Yuri absolutely doesn’t want to die, so what would she do if things went down that path? Koudai Kamiuchi said it earlier. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you’ll kill to stay alive.” I try to control the almost painful racing of my heart. “Don’t kill anyone.” Why didn’t Maria say “Koudai Kamiuchi”? I scroll through the device again, fearful of what I’ll find. I play back Maria’s words from before. “I will protect you.” The recording doesn’t change, no matter how many times I play it. Maria knew. She wants to save everyone, no matter who they are, and that’s why she didn’t say this in front of Yuri while she was crying. “I will protect you all.” I already know why she didn’t say it. And that’s how I— Day 7 <B> The Common Area “I win.” I lost the bet with Koudai Kamiuchi. Day 7 <C> Private Meeting with Koudai Kamiuchi – Kazuki Hoshino’s Room I never imagined he would choose to have a Private Meeting with me. “I could tell from your face. You realized the truth and decided not to Assassinate me.” Even though his life had been at stake, Koudai Kamiuchi addresses me as jovially as ever. “…You were confident I would?” He grins. “No way! I told you, didn’t I? Taking risks gets me off.” I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand the way his mind works. “So maybe you’re thinking we should take out Yuri? …Or maybe not. If you were, you would’ve done it yesterday, I guess. Heh-heh, she really freaked when I told everyone she was thinking of killing you yesterday, didn’t she? …She was so cute.” “…Why?” “Huh?” “Why did you say it like that? You could’ve told me what she was up to in a way that was easier to understand.” Koudai Kamiuchi’s tone is light. “You know I can’t do that.” “So why?!” “Because I’m head over heels for her.” It sounds like another one of his dumb jokes. But his eyes tell me he isn’t lying. “…You realized she’s using you? You also realized she’s trying to kill you, right?” “Yeah.” “And you still say you’re in love?” “That’s what I said, isn’t it?” He’s crazy. No sane mind would think that way. “What’s with that face? She tried to do the same thing to you, didn’t she? You know how I feel, then.” “There’s no way I—” “Okay, then did you consider killing her, even just a little bit?” “…That’s…” My mouth closes of its own accord… No. That wasn’t because it was Yuri. I would never be able to kill anyone. …All the same, it’s true that I was a mere step away from killing Koudai Kamiuchi. And yet, I didn’t have even the slightest intention of doing the same to Yuri. Even after what’s come to light here, I still don’t have any desire to. “Sweet little Yuri has charmed us both despite her attempts to deceive us. We’re in the same boat, aren’t we? I totally get wanting to stay alive, so I can let her trickery slide… Well, guess that means I’m gonna keep getting played, even if I am onto her schemes. Phew… Gotta hand it to her, Yuri is the biggest powerhouse in this game.” We’re still being played. …He’s right. I suspect Koudai Kamiuchi is just cooking up another yarn to try to fool me. Or at least, that’s what I hope. So I ask another question out of a desire to crush this naive notion. “…How long have you and Yuri been working together?” “Since our Private Meeting on the first day. It was her idea for me to act so dangerous.” So it really was from the very beginning. Yuri had been searching for a way to survive since the start, when she was white as a sheet. “…And was it Yuri who instructed you to kill Daiya?” “Yep. The truth is, she really bought into the whole idea of Boxes and said that this would end if we knocked out Oomine. She seriously believed it.” “Boxes…?” Even though she kept saying she couldn’t believe… Ah, I see now. That was another part of her act to protect her from suspicion. “You remember how I was looking at my device right before that? What I was actually doing was reading back over my orders from her.” “Just how much did Yuri tell you to do?” “She told me what to generally say and do. All so that no one would suspect her. Not that she explained that to me, though.” Yuri had been happy and smiling up until Kamiuchi caused that incident. Even though she knew what would happen next. “…Maria.” “Huh?” “Why didn’t Maria say anything even though she knew you two were working together?” “Oh, you picked up on that, too?” Maria had a Private Meeting with Koudai Kamiuchi right before that. It’s possible he did something to keep her from speaking up. “Fact is, Maricchi got wise to us yesterday. Well, she wasn’t certain, more just suspicious. So during our Private Meeting, she started prying into how Yuri and I were connected.” I suddenly remember a comment Maria made: “You’ve already had Private Meetings with Yanagi four times, correct?” “…No way…” Was Maria already suspicious of Yuri at that point? Did she have doubts about her actions even then, about how she was halfway forcing me to have Private Meetings with her? And regardless, I neglected Maria’s warning and had a Private Meeting with Yuri because I was still haunted by my past with Yanagi. Which means I invited this worst-case scenario upon us. “Don’t you think Maricchi is a bit too straightforward for her own good, though? You’d think she’d be aware that talking to me about Yuri would put her in danger.” I’m sure she does, but Maria doesn’t have any other method of attack. “Well, it didn’t seem like we could keep our secret anymore, and it was getting to be a pain anyway, so I decided to come clean. Oh, and as you guessed, I made her keep quiet.” “…How? Maria isn’t the easiest person to intimidate. She’s not the type to go along with threats, even if her life is at risk.” “Very true. Maricchi said she wouldn’t play along no matter what happened to her… Which is why I took you hostage.” “……Huh?” “Hey, it’s not like I planned to, okay? All I did was reveal to her the honest truth that I was going to kill you next. Then she proposed the idea herself. She said, ‘I’ll go along with what you say and keep the truth hidden as long as you let Kazuki live. In return, you can kill me.’ She’s as brave as they come.” Ah, I get it now. “I will protect you.” She meant exactly what she said. “I told her, ‘Gotcha.’ But I don’t have any intention of keeping my word. I mean, what’s the point? It’s not like Yuri is gonna let a Class opposed to hers like the Revolutionary live anyway.” …I’m sure Maria’s more than aware of that. She has to know that taking my place doesn’t solve anything. Even then, she can’t forsake me. That’s the strength of her pride. But— “She’s actually a bit stupid, Maricchi.” —Koudai Kamiuchi could never comprehend this. He’s about as far removed from that dignified strength as a person can get. “…Kamiuchi.” “What?” “Would you not have killed Daiya if Yuri didn’t order you to?” He answers right away. “No way.” It probably wasn’t a very difficult question for him. “All she did was give me a little push. I probably would’ve done something similar even if she didn’t give me the knife. I mean, come on, are we supposed to just let time run out?” He sounds like he’s having fun. “Can’t let all this entertainment go to waste.” Yeah, I understand now. Yuri’s behind-the-scenes manipulation and all that doesn’t really matter. All I know is that I can never forgive this person. Never. Watching me out of the corner of his eye now that I’ve gone quiet and clenched my fists, Koudai Kamiuchi begins digging around in his hemp sack. “I feel kinda bad for you here, so I’ll give you this.” He’s holding out a knife. “…What’re you trying to pull?” “Just a means of self-defense, so take it. As it happens, Yuri says she doesn’t intend to pick someone to Murder until your Private Meeting with her begins. If you take her out ASAP, you might get out of this alive, huh?” “…Are you serious?” “…Huh? Are you weirded out that I’m helping you? I just feel for you, man. Consider it a parting gift from me, as a fellow member of the Victims of Yuri Yanagi Society.” “That’s not what I’m talking about! I mean…you said you love Yuri, right?” He looks at me blankly, as if he hasn’t the slightest idea what I’m getting at. Oh, I see now. For him, he has nothing worth protecting. I can’t see anything that would form the core of his heart. That’s why his behavior seems inconsistent. He thinks nothing of just letting me know how he shut Maria up, or that Yuri is conspiring with him in secret. I’m done. I don’t feel like talking to him anymore. “…I don’t want it.” “Okay.” He tosses the knife on the table without the slightest hint of emotion. And that’s how our conversation ends. Koudai Kamiuchi sits down on my bed, pulls out his portable device, and begins fiddling with it as if he’s bored. I crouch on the floor as I would in gym class and press my face into my knees. I don’t want to talk to him, but I still need to confirm a few things. “Kamiuchi,” I ask without lifting my head, “are you going to kill Yuri after I die?” Yuri and Koudai Kamiuchi are the King and Knight respectively, so it’s impossible for them both to survive. If he wants to win the game, he’ll have to kill her. Koudai Kamiuchi answers, “Honestly, I don’t know.” He says it so easily, in the same nonchalant tone of voice. “Might as well leave that as part of the gamble, too, eh?” I lift my head and look at his face. He’s wearing his ever-present flippant expression. Not a thing about Koudai Kamiuchi has changed. He doesn’t feel an iota of guilt for murdering Daiya and Iroha. “…Hey, this is the first time I’ve ever said this to anyone, but there’s something I have to tell you,” I say. “Knock yourself out.” Taking a deep breath, I muster up all my loathing. “I hope Yuri kills you.” Day 7 <C> Private Meeting with Yuri Yanagi – Yuri Yanagi’s Room The Yuri I once knew is already gone. Her lovable expression has vanished from her pallid face, and now she just looks exhausted to the core. And her eyes have gone empty once again. They’re the same eyes I saw yesterday before she embraced me. At the time, I thought it was because she was hurt. But I was wrong. They were vacant because she was suppressing her emotions to continue the act. Now—I can’t possibly associate this girl with Nana Yanagi. …No, I probably will never be able to combine them into one, no matter what face she wears. I already knew from the time I kissed her on the cheek. When I realized her tears didn’t taste like Nana Yanagi’s, when my thirst wasn’t quenched, I knew. I simply stare at the girl in front of me. I watch her intently, as if to say I’ll never take my eyes off her, yet without any sort of emotion. This pale girl clutches her chest. Her breathing is ragged and strained. She has interpreted my unreadable gaze the way she wants to. That’s when I sense it. She’s aware of her sins. Seemingly dizzy, she wavers, staggers, then presses her hands to her mouth. The effort is in vain, though, as vomit spews from between the gaps in her hands. “Ungh, gurgh…” All I do is stand and watch her puke, not even trying to help. I want to hate her. I want to hate her. I want to hate her, the one who deceived me for so long and drove me to desperation. That would be the easiest way. Another way would be to recognize her as an enemy. I need to hate her. Despite this, by vomiting in utter disgrace, she pleads with me. “It hurts.” She pleads. “It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts.” “……” So what? Yuri’s the one who drove others to suffer. It serves her right if she’s in pain because of her actions. Maybe this show of misery here is just another part of her plan. Only an idiot would feel misguided sympathy for her here. Even so— “…Are you alright?” —I find myself addressing her gently and rubbing her on the back. “…I’m sorry.” Now that I think about it, she’s always apologizing. “I’m sorry.” After she offers the apology I’m so used to, she continues, “I’m still going to kill you, though.” I know that. I know she won’t give up her life so easily after she’s hurt herself so much to keep it. “…Yuri, maybe you should lie down?” I offer because she seems so miserable, and she complies meekly and goes to lie on the bed. But she still won’t let me see her face. Then she asks me a question. “…You aren’t going to fight back?” “No.” I’m surprised at how clearly I say it. I reply immediately, even though I hadn’t decided whether I would let her go until we met. But I’m fine with that. I’m positive the word that left my mouth so quickly is my answer. “…Then why did you decide to have a Private Meeting with me?” “Because there’s one thing I need to ask.” I tell her why I chose to meet with her and not Maria. “Please don’t kill Maria.” I can hear Yuri’s breath catch in her throat. “…Why do you think I would kill Otonashi? I’m the King, and she’s the Double. She’s a Class I don’t need to kill to survive the game.” “You tried to get Koudai Kamiuchi to kill me, right?” “……Yes.” “If I killed him then, the game still wouldn’t have ended. In fact, you wouldn’t have been able to ask him to get rid of me. Whichever of us was killed, in the end, you would’ve had to act directly. In that case, why would you go to the trouble of trying to convince me to kill him?” I hurl the accusation at Yuri as she lies there, quiet and motionless. “It’s because you think it’d be easy to kill someone like me, right?” Her head jerks a bit. “If you’re going to kill one of us with a knife, then it’s too great a risk to leave him alive. There’s pretty much no danger with me. That’s why you wanted me to live. Am I wrong?” Yuri remains silent for a time, she but responds in the end. “……You’re not wrong.” I’m actually a bit shocked that she admits it so readily. But I keep that feeling hidden. “Now, though, you’re stuck. You have no choice but to try to kill someone you don’t stand a chance against in a direct confrontation on your own, and with a knife, no less. What’re you going to do? How are you planning to increase your probability of survival?” “……” “…I already know what you’re going to say. To better your chances—you’re going to use Maria Otonashi.” Yuri curls herself into a ball on the bed. “I don’t know exactly how. As much as you’ve done, though, there’s no reason to expect you’ll go easy on her at this point. At the very worst, I’m sure you’ll even murder her if that’s what it takes to survive.” I bring my face close to hers and look her in the eyes. “That’s why I’m begging you.” For the second time, I make my request. “Don’t kill Maria.” I won’t let her look away. I must get her to promise me this, at least. Her eyes empty, she answers in a slightly tremulous tone. “…Promises are easy to make. I can just lie or something, so all I have to do is promise.” “……Huh?” “You’ll already be dead by the time I start planning how to use Otonashi, so you won’t be able to tell if I’m keeping my promise. So there’s no point saying that to me now, is there? Surely you already know by now that I lie when I have to.” She could’ve just made the promise and let things end here, but for some reason, she’s going out of her way to warn me. “…You’re not like Koudai Kamiuchi.” “Huh?” “You actually have some concept of guilt. That’s why I know you’ll cave under the threat I’m about to make.” Threat. Her eyes go wide at hearing that violent word from my lips. “If you kill Maria—I will destroy your life.” It’s true I won’t be there when Yuri breaks her promise. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to threaten her. All I need to do is set a trap that will spring if she fails to keep her word. “If you kill Maria, I’ll curse you and see to it that you continue to suffer. I’ll become a ghost haunting you, showering you with curses twenty-four hours a day, never allowing you to forget for even a moment that you are a murderer. I’ll make your life worthless and obliterate you completely.” At the force in my voice, Yuri’s face crumples into an expression somewhere between laughing and crying. “She’s important to you,” she whispers. “She’s that important to you.” Yes, this was good. She understood the purpose of what I was doing. “Yeah… That’s why I’ll never let you live it down if you kill her.” It’s a threat that works precisely because Yuri has a sense of wrongdoing. She knows that the instant she murders Maria, she herself will die of guilt. Yuri won’t kill Maria now. I step away from the bed and sit on the table. “…So why’d you decide to have a Private Meeting with me?” “……” “You chose me for a Private Meeting, too, didn’t you?” Yuri looks at me where I sit. “Yes… I did.” Her gaze moves to the ceiling. “There’s one last thing I want to speak with you about. I’m sure this might be difficult, but will you listen to all the horrible things I’ve done? …Well, but you’ve found out about most of it on your own.” “…Are you trying to repent?” “No. I would be much more comfortable keeping all of this hidden.” “Then why do this?” “Because it’ll help you.” I frown. “It’ll help me? What will?” “Learning how I created this situation, the details—it’ll help.” I don’t see the point. I’m gonna die soon, after all. It doesn’t matter whether anything helps me or not. Regardless, Yuri begins to speak, not answering my last question. “I was thinking of what I can do to survive from the moment I arrived in Kingdom Royale.” Her voice is shaking. Guess she was telling the truth when she said she’d rather not get into this. “I came up with ways to increase my chances, fearing for my life the whole time. Essentially, at that point I was thinking of how to win the killing game. The conclusion I reached was that I needed to make allies among the people here. “In particular, I wanted to get the Revolutionary and the Sorcerer on my side. I wanted to find out who had those two Classes. That’s why I planned to suggest we all reveal our Class. But unexpectedly, Oomine came along and proposed the idea for me.” “And you wanted to make allies of the Revolutionary and the Sorcerer to…” “To kill the others.” She says it flat out… I get the feeling she’s almost boasting of her own faults. “But the Sorcerer turned out to be Oomine, and he wouldn’t work with me. I’m sure he probably saw through my performance, saying I could turn my tears on and off like a faucet. And then you were the Revolutionary. You aren’t the type of person who could easily kill someone even if I asked.” “So that’s why you allied with Kamiuchi, the Knight…? You really decided on him quickly, though. He said you were telling him what to do from pretty much the first day.” “I could tell right away that he, um…wanted me. I’m…very alert to that kind of thing. So I got him on my side and then had him do what he did to make the situation feel more dangerous.” “Why did you need to do that?” “To make everyone feel like something needed to be done quickly. When people think they’re in crisis, they start wanting to make plans. I built a foundation for everyone to want to reveal their Class.” I see it now… If everyone felt like the game of murder could never take place, there would be no need for any further actions. “I surmised that what Otonashi told us about Boxes was true. That’s why I had to kill Oomine.” “And so you had Koudai Kamiuchi do it, even though it took an extra bit of effort.” “Yes. However, Kingdom Royale didn’t end even after Oomine died. For that reason, I shifted my goals from killing the owner to winning the game. You know pretty much all the rest, right?” I nod. I’m almost certain I do… But I still have one question. “What about Iroha…? Was her death a dying message?” I can see that Yuri’s face is openly tense. Her look tells me Iroha’s death had some special meaning to Yuri. Though she spoke so smoothly of her own deeds, it seems this topic is difficult for her to discuss. Yuri bites her lip once, but she eventually speaks. “…I think it probably went as you imagine. We had targeted Iroha for Murder. When she learned this, she let herself die that way so that you and Otonashi would know about my scheming.” Her voice is faint—evidence of a conscious effort to fight down her emotions. I’m suddenly aware of something. The watch on her right wrist. Her original watch was beige. But—the one she has on now is orange. “Even in a game like this…I can’t beat…Iroha…” Silence overtakes her. I get the feeling Yuri won’t answer any other questions I may ask about Iroha. That’s why I decide to stop pursuing that topic. “I get how you manipulated behind the scenes… But I still don’t understand. How is what you told me just now supposed to help me?” The question prompts Yuri to get up from the bed and regard me with those empty eyes. “…Why do you think I believed in Boxes?” “Huh?” “Can I ask you to trust me about what I’m going to say next? …No, I’m sorry. It’s wrong of me to ask that of you after how much I’ve betrayed you.” She continues hesitantly, “But you asked, so I’m going to tell you. I have memories of what happened right before I came to this place, which none of the rest of you have.” “—!!” My eyes go wide at this unexpected revelation. “I received an explanation from the owner telling me we would be playing a game of murder called Kingdom Royale.” The owner…? Is she saying she knew the identity of the mastermind who made us play this Kingdom Royale all along? “…And this owner is…?” She tells me. “Oomine.” Daiya is the owner…? I swallow… No, this isn’t far from what I imagined. Rather, with a little thought, it makes sense. The reason she believed Maria’s explanation was that she knew Daiya was the owner. But— “But—the Box hasn’t been destroyed, even though Daiya is dead.” That’s right. If Daiya is the owner, then the Game of Indolence should be finished. “I thought it would end there, too. I think that’s how it was explained to me. However, as you know, it didn’t. That allowed me to figure out the answer right away.” She explains. “The Oomine who was here is not—‘Daiya Oomine.’” “…What’re you saying? Who is that Daiya, then?” “That’s…” Suddenly, she stops short. “…I’m sorry. I’m not going to say. If I do now, I’m afraid you won’t believe me. Just think about it. I won’t call it proof, but the Oomine here didn’t seem to be aware he was the owner of this Box, right?” “That’s probably…” If Daiya did know, he’d never let himself be killed in such a pitiful manner. However, undeniable as that fact, it still doesn’t make everything Yuri has been telling me the truth. I can’t determine how much of what she is saying is fact. “Yuri, I’m gonna die soon, aren’t I?” “Yes.” “Then when will I be able to believe the parts of your story that I can’t believe now?” It’s an unanswerable question, so maybe it’s a little mean. But she replies straightaway. “When your turn comes.” “My turn…? What do you mean ‘my turn’…?” She doesn’t respond. I’m sure that this, too, falls under her category of things I “can’t believe.” Could it be—that even if I die, even if Yuri wins, Kingdom Royale doesn’t end? Does it reset and start again? Just how long will it continue? Don’t tell me it’s…until the owner is satisfied…? “Are we gonna end up fighting each other again like this…?” Yuri averts her eyes after I say this. In place of an answer, she says, “…Kazuki, I have a single favor to ask of you, okay?” She looks as if she could break down into tears any moment. “Okay, I’ll listen.” “Thank you. Then make me a promise. Whether it’s the next time, the time after that, or even the final time, your turn will come without fail. When it does, I’m sure you and I will face each other again. And when we do—” She stands up. Swaying and tottering, she walks up to where I’m sitting on the table. “When— When we do—” Tears stream from her eyes. “—please kill me.” She clings to me. It isn’t so much a hug as it is just throwing herself limply over me. “You must, must kill me. If you don’t, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. No… I’m probably past that point already, but I’ll hate myself even more. So you have to kill me. To let me meet you again. Please. Please, please, please—” “—don’t betray me.” That’s when it dawns on me. Just maybe, I might be able to redo this all over again. Maybe there is a chance for me to survive. But despite that—I can’t save Yanagi. Watching her as she cries, I recall Nana Yanagi again. I had seen her and Yuri Yanagi as one and the same. If I fell in love with Yuri and saved her, then I might be able to change those events of the past. That’s what I had believed. That was never possible, though. They’re two completely different people, and even if I saved one, it wouldn’t mean I saved the other. The only reason I failed to notice this obvious fact, one that anyone could have figured out immediately, is that I didn’t want to. I wanted to be saved myself. But I understand: This Box was born to stave off someone’s boredom, and there’s nothing here that will save me. “Sorry, but I will betray you.” I say it plain and clear. After all, I’m sure—I will forget Yanagi once again. “Even when my turn arrives, I won’t kill you.” Yuri’s suffering may continue even after Kingdom Royale ends. But I’ve made my decision. I’m going to protect what matters, and this Box won’t beat me. Neither will my past with Nana Yanagi. Me as I am now… …Maria… …and my normal life—I will protect them all. …Huh, seems like things always work out that way for me. “I see…,” she whispers with her face still downcast, and she returns to the bed. She then turns her back to me, hiding her face from view. I address my question to her back. “…Can I ask you one thing, too?” “What is it?” “Are you confident you can beat Koudai Kamiuchi?” After this, she’ll have to face her final opponent, Koudai Kamiuchi. She has to kill him, and she should have no chance of winning against him in a fair knife fight. “……Of course I am,” she says, turning around. “……Oh.” I’m shocked. Her eyes aren’t empty anymore. The charming smile has returned to her face. Naturally, this is not an authentic expression. That’s why I’m so stunned. I mean, she can hide all that suffering so cleverly, completely fooling us all. “It might be different if it were Iroha or Otonashi, but you don’t seriously expect me to lose to a half-wit like him, do you?” Unlike Nana Yanagi, this girl used me without growing dependent on me, and she’s grinning as she gives me her caustic answer. “I will fool him, and then I will kill him.” “…I see.” I can’t help but smile, even though she had made a fool of me so many times. And then I remember: “I’m scared… So scared.” “No matter what, I didn’t want to die. That’s why, so I…” “Help me.” She certainly deceived me. However, she had lied to me as much as you might expect. Her fear, suffering, and desire to be saved were all genuine. And— “Kazuki.” —Yuri Yanagi is smiling as much as she did when I kissed her on the cheek. “I…loved you, Kazuki.” Day 7 <C> Private Meeting with Maria Otonashi – Kazuki Hoshino’s Room I tell Maria everything I know. No matter how hard this outcome may be for her to accept, she can’t do anything about it. Yuri has already chosen me as the target for Murder. Maria knows this can’t be changed. For that reason, we simply sit on my bed, our hands clasped together. As if trying to remember the shape of each other’s hands, we squeeze them over and over, intertwine our fingers, and just savor the sensation. For the last time, we feel each other’s touch. “Kazuki.” Maria says my name. “The truth is, I’ve been keeping something from you.” “…Huh?” “I don’t have the Misbegotten Happiness now.” Not sure why that’s significant, I simply look at her. “I can’t be certain, but I feel it may have simply lost its power temporarily. I’ve encountered something like this before; however, it’s possible this could be a characteristic of the Game of Indolence.” …Wouldn’t that be considered, y’know, pretty huge? “Why didn’t you tell me?” Maria looks down for a moment, then explains with our fingers interlinked. “I am a Box, not a human. I’ve explained to you often that I exist for others. Maria Otonashi… No, Aya Otonashi must exist this way. What supports me in this is the Misbegotten Happiness. Despite this, I can’t call upon it here. So what am I?” “You’re…Maria.” “…So this is how it is now?” Maria squeezes my hand so hard it hurts. “I can’t even protect you anymore?” “…Maria.” “Hmph, some Double I am. If only I could die in your place.” Maria’s bad habit is rearing its ugly head again. It’s that horrible tendency to put herself down so quickly. “…Stop. I would never want that.” “I know! I know that desire is purely my own selfishness!” she shouts. My eyes go wide at how blunt she is about it. “…What?” So she’s aware of it herself? Didn’t she honestly believe that all she did was to the benefit of others? “You let me know that several times during that week not so long ago. This is simply my own pride at work…” With that said, Maria fixes me with a stern gaze. “But still! I’m still a Box!” I can’t help but fall silent in the face of her intensity. She knows, but she still can’t change herself. The reason is the firm resolve within her. If that were to change, then I have no doubt she would no longer be able to remain who she is. “……Sorry for yelling.” Maria looks away awkwardly. “It’s just that it frustrates me. I can’t accept this outcome.” “…It’s okay, Maria. If what Yuri says is true, we will meet again.” “I don’t care. That doesn’t do anything to change the fact that the Kazuki here in front of me will be gone. Right now, I’ll lose you, and that’s certain.” “……Maria.” I find the idea of coming back to life hard to believe, too. “…Kazuki, as I just told you, I can’t say that I’m a Box as I am now. Which is why I can’t protect anyone. It’s possible all I’ll be able to do from here on out is watch Yanagi suffer. Within Kingdom Royale, I’m just a powerless girl,” Maria says. She reaches up and cradles my head against her chest. “That’s why, even if it’s just a little, I think it’s okay for me to express Maria Otonashi’s true feelings.” She whispers to me. “I’m sad.” Her lips brush against my ear. “I can’t stand the thought of you dying. It pains me. I hate it. It hurts. I want to be with you.” I suddenly remember when I knelt and extended my hand to her within that classroom of endless repetitions. “I may be powerless. I may be nothing more than an ordinary Maria Otonashi now. But—” Back then, though only for the briefest moment, she had been a mere powerless girl. And now, within the Game of Indolence, she is helpless again. “—But I still want to protect you, even if it means throwing away my life.” I can’t see the expression on her face as she says this. But I do know the answer I need to give. “I’m sorry.” I made this decision when I chose Maria instead of Yanagi, after all. “No matter how much it hurts, it’s not your job to protect me here.” I decided when I chose her, the one who made me who I am now. “When you don’t have your box, it’s my job to protect you.” I will defend Maria. And I will defend my normal life. I will defend the normal life that Maria doesn’t want. Day 7 <C> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room And then, I am run through by an invisible sword. •Kazuki Hoshino, dead via Death by Sword