╰┈➤ ❝ [BORDERLAND] ❞
┏━━━ ━━━┓
Spoilers: Season 1 Episode 1
Fever by Dua Lipa playing...
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
┗━━━ ━━━┛
TROUBLE is what's coming when it comes to the two men you came looking for.
That's how it always is.
You don't know where everyone went, it all sounded like a prank to you or some kind of sick joke at first if it weren't for the fact that no one has heard of you. Sure, you had some acquaintances here and there but thanks it was profession-wise, you didn't end up having a deeper connection after that.
You feared that perhaps it'll all come around in the same cycle you wanted to break out for so long.
You were just on your way to the station - to the place you first called home, Tokyo. When you got to get the nostalgic feeling of the place you're going to, it scared you until you spotted a couple of fireworks - it sparked red, green, and yellow - and you didn't think anything big of it despite feeling uneasy with the sight of those fireworks.
'Why are there fireworks? It's not even New Year's...' you thought to yourself, watching the popping loud confetti-like explosions through the window of the train.
You felt uneasy, perhaps tense is what you'd like to call it and it's not just because you were scared of loud noises, but because it reminded you of the holiday you left everything behind you. New Years.
You surely did take the whole meaning of 'New Year, New Me' to its extent.
Nipping on your bottom lip, you felt your throat dry - it's probably because of your rapid heartbeat when you noticed that you were nearing Tokyo and that's when you messaged your old friends.
Y/N: I'm back [Sent now]
When you look back up from your phone, the people who were a little close to you disappeared out of the blue, the chattering of old people on the seats was gone, and the train was all empty except for you. You look around, blinking slowly to make sure it wasn't one of your false realities before looking back at your phone.
"No signal..."
Your eyes wandered over the corner of your phone, confused as to why it's suddenly low in battery and the signal is off. You hum to yourself, you made sure your phone was fully charged just a while ago.
"What's going on...?" You whispered to yourself, tucking your phone into your pocket and taking a step backward. There was a man behind you talking on his phone about some business plans just a while ago, where is he now?
Feeling your throat dry, you look back and forth after confirming that this is just not from the creation of your head. Your hand makes its way to your pocket, holding the pills you brought with you.
But you didn't open the bottle yet, only holding them for assurance - right now, you have to explore this somewhat lonesome world.
And even though it was still noon, you were startled by how the whole place dimmed, it was as if it made the atmosphere darker, you even consider yourself lucky that it wasn't evening yet, if it was, you would probably cry in the darkness - this is not your false reality. It is reality.
You don't like the dark.
If this was all in your head in the first place, someone as recognizable as Suguru would be popping out of nowhere but until now, you are still left with the silent ambiance.
You tried calling out to anyone, just anyone even if it had to be the people you hated to see the most, you just didn't want to be alone right now. You roamed around the train and kept checking behind you just to see nothing but litter - paper flyers laid on the ground, and cans of sodas were crushed and scattered.
And it was getting dangerously terrifying for you as you reminded yourself of the time, meaning that your only source of light would soon be gone. Immediately, you made your way out of the train safely but felt so unsafe with how lonely you are mostly whenever you look back - you can only get tunnel vision of dimness..
There were times when you imagined being alone in a world that is so free for you to live in, and as much as it made you happy being so free and privileged, you had no one in the end and you can tell you would go insane by then. So seeing yourself in the scene made you unable to be happy, you were terrified - you can feel your palms getting sweaty.
But sadly for you, the world was never on your side as time is unstoppable.
-------------------
NIGHT CAME and you were still wandering around Tokyo clutching your arms together as your eyes flicker to any movement you see or any sounds you hear. You hated being alone - not even birds or cats can be seen in this strange lonely world. Just the feeling of the crawling sensation that you're gonna be taken at any moment is just awful but then again, you always considered yourself as paranoid according to your therapist at the least.
And you didn't want to go back to thinking of the past just yet - so maybe you can get to explore your new self soon - if that was even possible.
Do you think this world can change you?
Before you can even fall deeper into your thoughts once again - it's just a big habit of yours - you suddenly heard laughter. The laughter made your skin hairs active. And if you're correct, it's coming from two men. The laughter seemed to be near you and you were startled by it, though you kept your guard.
As you're slowly walking to the source of the hysterical laughter, you think to yourself if those two men happen to be your best friends but you had to shake that thought again. 'They can never be friends.'
If anyone would be glad to be in a world like this, it would definitely be the two men you think.
'Niragi hates him.'
"Woohoo!" You hear which is followed by another celebratory laugh. Finally, you get to see the source of the laughter and you feel yourself tearing up just knowing you aren't alone as you see three men, two of them standing up while the other one - who is blonde - was sitting down, looking at the two with so much concern plastered on his face.
"Isn't this nice, Arisu?" The man who is the smallest among them asks accompanied by laughter he can't seem to stop as the other man opens up his arms to embrace the smaller one into a hug. The blonde man then stood up and spoke,
"Stop it, you guys" It was given to you that the three deeply know each other with bare limits of their physical contact and just the way the blonde man acted, it was also given to you that they might have got into this place just recently since his reaction is just the same as yours. Weary.
The blonde man then places his arm around the middle one which you assumed is Arisu as he exclaims the blonde's name, "Karube!"
You continue to observe the three men and let your feet lead the way which is to them. You were ever hesitant to ask a question, but with the fear of being alone given to you, you can't risk the company.
"E-Excuse me..?" You mumble softly, slowly tiptoeing you're way to them. Now you're comfortable with the idea that you're not in your head - your brain can't comprehend in making up random people. This is the world, just not your world.
"Huh?" The smaller man hums and turns to you just to have his smile removed from his face and replace it with a confused look, "Oh! Hello!" His two other friends, Arisu and Karube, also turn to look at you.
You gulp and start pinching the hem of your clothes out of nervousness as you ask, "I-I'm sorry for interrupting you but do you happen to know where everyone went? Or... what's going on? I was on the train before this."
"Ah! No... but before all this happened, fireworks appeared. That's all. Are you new in the City?"
You shake your head, "No... This is where my hometown is but I changed places and came back just today..."
"Well then, I'm Chota." The man introduced himself with a welcoming smile, "you seem scared."
"I don't like being alone... so I was glad to find you if that doesn't seem weird.."
"Not at all." Chota says. You look at the two other men and see them just stare at you. You bow down and introduce yourself, "I'm L/N."
"Oh, sorry for staring, L/N." The blonde man apologizes and he's right. The stares coming from Chota's friends did startle you, you weren't used to being brought attention unless it was coming from Suguru so it kind of flustered you. "I just thought we would be alone as well. I'm Karube."
"Arisu." The man in the middle introduces himself as well and you give a smile back with a little nod. Just then the building right behind the three men, illuminating the whole road along with your faces the bright light the screen shows, catching all of your attention. There, on the bright screen reads,
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
Welcome, players.
The game will commence in a moment.
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"Game?" Karube asks aloud and just right in, the screen changes,
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
This way to the game arena
➪➪➪
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
Seeing the direction the arrows were pointing to, you and Arisu looked and there you saw another light source coming from not so far. "Over there." Arisu points out,
"There are lights... I thought the power went out?" You say followed by Karube. Now that you think of it, how did the screen light up?
"Is someone there?" He looks to the three of you with a shaky breath, just as skeptical as you three, "Let's go."
-------------------
[ GM Building ]
STARING at the building right ahead of you. 'This is a game arena?' You ask yourself and look at the three new acquaintances you met and see they're just as eager to know answers just as you are, though you can't help yourself but notice that they are way wearier than you are. You all headed to the building with you trailing behind Karube.
╔ ╗
The game is up ahead
➪➪
╚ ╝
The two taller men look at each other to give a nod and you look at Chota with a concerned look. Even though you felt that something bad will happen, you had people to be there with and that was enough to convince you that you should follow.
If you didn't, you'd be selfish again.
Chota notices your unsettled look and mumbles, "it'll be fine. We'll finish this game." He smiles after which calms you down thankfully. You give a smile back and nod to him. That didn't change the fact you were both weary though.
Looking out the corner, you peeked behind Chota and see that they were all looking at a table full of phones where a paper read:
╔ ╗
One per person
╚ ╝
You all headed to the table and as Arisu stepped in, your eyes instantly caught the lasers that scanned him and a sound of a 'ding' was heard but it went unnoticed by them, not you. As they were examining the phones, you can't help but look at the lasers. The more you look at it, the more visible it gets.
"Hey, what are you looking at?" Karube asks,
"Hm? Oh, sorry... I just noticed that there were lasers when we came in. It's like it scanned us... Maybe we shouldn't get out of there..." You share your insights and Arisu looks your way, now seeing the visible barrier he failed to notice before.
"Right..." He whispers and looks back to the table and says, "U-Um.. h-here!" He stumbles his words, taking a phone from the table and handing it to you. You smile at him,
"Thank you."
You all look down at your phone of choice - well, it's Arisu's choice but that didn't matter - and the phone turned on quite surprisingly. 'My phone doesn't work, how come this does? What makes this special?'
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
Face recognition in progress. Please wait a moment. . .
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
'Maybe we can use it?' You ask yourself and just then, your hope has been crushed as there is no signal given from the top left. You sigh.
"It has face recognition." Chota exclaims,
"Can we use these phones...?" Karube asks,
"There's no signal," You and Arisu say together, "we can't make calls with this..." You inform. Just then the phone's screens changed once again, where it showed your timers and a robotic voice makes an announcement,
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
00:01:59
Please wait for the game to commence.
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"Two minutes until registration closes." The voice says that you would just love to call Siri in easier terms. "There are currently three participants," Siri continues.
"What's this?" Arisu asks. You think to yourself as you send a look to Arisu, hoping that he'd catch your drift, 'What makes you think asking a bunch of clueless people will give you an answer?'
"I'm sorry?" Arisu blinks at you with shocked and doe eyes that showed that he was innocent and dumbfounded - and from the facial reaction, your face turned red and you avoided eye contact with him,
"I'm sorry, did I say that out loud? I'm sorry, I get really frustrated when I'm confused..."
"A game." A voice of a woman answers just ahead of all of you which catches all of your attention,
"Okay... Maybe asking is the right thing to do..." You mumble and Chota nudges your side for you to shut your inner thoughts out and Karube gives you a stern look.
"Hey." Karube looks back to the woman with the formal attire, "Do you know where everyone went?"
The woman then saunters with her chin up to the four of you without giving Karube's question - well everyone's question- an answer. She isn't even looking at him. She continues to look at the phone and look at its screen. You couldn't help but raise a brow at her.
"Why is she being so dramatic...?" You whisper to Arisu and Chota nudges your side again, widening his eyes at you as a warning for you to shut your mouth.
"Shut it." Karube whispers back and looks back at watching the woman walk in the invisible barrier without any hint of her being scared, it would've made you confused and scared at the same time if it weren't for the fact she's being so dramatic.
Though you were still nervous around her. If she knows about the place, she has an advantage over you all. And you noticed that.
'But if the game she's talking about is true, then there has to be a winner..' and you assume that the woman is aiming for that victory.
She made her way to Chota and unexpectedly grabbed his ID from his shirt pocket while all of you watched her throw it to the barrier where it lasered the ID down, startling all of you in one second.
'So I'm right...' You thought but that didn't get rid of the shakiness of your body that matched with everyone. You made eye contact with Karube.
"What was that just now?" Karube loudly asks, obviously from being startled.
"Laser..." Chota mumbles and steps closer to you.
"Once you cross the borderline, you can never return." The woman says, "you have no choice but to participate in the game." She adds in.
"You're right. It is best not to go any further..." Karube says and ruffles your hair, "Thanks." He says and looks behind to watch the suspicious woman grab one of the phones.
"Stick with us, alright?" He softly says and you nod.
"I'm so relieved!" Another voice coming from a rather young woman is heard and as your attention is caught, she comes walking in and you and the guys try to stop her,
"Don't come in!" You ordered but were ignored by the younger woman as she passed through until she heard a 'ding.'
"My condolences." The formal woman says, just giving you much of a harder time to think she's nice. The phones of each participant, including you, then suddenly ring out, grabbing all of your attention.
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
Registration is now closed.
The game will now commence.
"Game, 'Dead or Alive.' Difficulty: Three of Clubs."
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"Clubs?" Chota asks,
"What does that mean...?" He looks to you and Arisu in hopes of getting anything.
"Rule: Select the correct door within the stipulated time." Siri explains and continues to explain, "Clear condition: Leave the building within the time limits." And just with that blind explanation to almost everything, the elevator behind you all opened which the formal woman entered with no other thought.
"Hey." You call out and point to the somewhat blueprint of the building beside the elevator, catching the three guys' attention.
"The rule is to leave the building within the time limits so maybe this can be of use..." You say, earning a proud smile from Karube and another ruffle on the head.
"That'll be good to remember."
"Does anyone have muscle memory?" You ask and look at the three guys just to see Chota and Karube already looking at Arisu. The suspicious woman who you want to call 'blazer' - because of her formal attire - interrupts you as she noticed none of you following her lead,
"You'll die if you waste your time."
The younger woman whom you can tell is a student follows blazer to the elevator. And you were to follow as well to lead your acquaintances if it weren't for Karube clutching your shirt to stay behind first,
"There's no time." Karube initiates.
-------------------
JUST AS THE ELEVATOR OPENS, Siri speaks out as well, "The time limit for this room is two minutes." Giving you all a sense of pressure. And there comes the door that shows,
'Dead or Alive'
One door is designed with a skull, obviously telling that it's the death door, and the other is designed with some kind of anime poster on it, obviously telling that it's the white door.
"Is this really a game?" Chota asks with an unbelievable look as he sneers like this is some sort of joke. "This is actually kind of starting to get a little exciting." He says with a smile as he starts to video the whole thing.
You did nothing when you watch him video the dramatic atmosphere - in this, you did not have a good gut feeling about it. Staring longer at the two different designed doors, you wondered why it needed to be designed that way,
"I'm sure this is some kind of event." Chota boldly claims,
"I want to go home.." Student girl says and Chota replies,
"It'll be fine. You're with us! Let's win the game, get the prize, and go home."
"Um... I'm not sure if you remember the whole electricity going out and thousands of people disappearing after a blink, Chota..." You mumble back,
"It's more exciting to know that we're probably picked for this event."
'How envious I am to see your optimism..'
"One minute left." Siri announces.
"L/N. Arisu, which one do you think it is?" Karube asks. 'Why did he suddenly choose me to pick?' You think to yourself and look at Arisu who kept glancing between the death and live door with his doe eyes that are just as innocent as his expectations.
But for a paranoid person, the tension on your shoulders only stiffens. You can't handle the spotlight on you, what if you picked the wrong one, what happens then?
"If it's a choice between life and death, I wouldn't choose the skeleton." Chota explains with a smug grin that you fear will be the opposite not so soon, a lot of games would want people to think that they're good when they're not.
"It's a game... Puzzle Games aren't supposed to be this easy if we think that simple. It's like this is telling us to work together." You say and earn a look of realization from Arisu who turns his perspective to blazer.
"What if we choose the wrong door?"
"The answer is 'live'" She claims without even answering the question. You stare at her, feeling nostalgic for the way she's acting. You felt iffy around her for giving you that familiar feeling. And you can tell Karube was feeling the same way too when you two made the same nervous reaction when you look at each other.
You snap your eyes back over to the woman,"You've been avoiding our question, miss. He's asking what if we choose the wrong door, not the answer." You say.
Blazer sends a glare at you and proceeds to have a stare off with you until her eyes turned back to Arisu who was slowly sensing your walls and why it's necessary, "Open the door that says 'live,'" she says,
"And what if it's the wrong door..." You question, eyes just as fierce as hers but not as intense that it's persuasive.
"How do you know that?" Arisu asks, siding with your suspicious nature...
"Because obviously, it's the "Live" door!" She claims and just then, the room started to smell smoky which Chota notices first before you can tell. Now it's clear to you who she reminds you of, 'God, she's like a dollar rip off of Shuntaro or something.'
"Does anyone smell something?"
Karube looks down, "Look down!" He orders and you all follow just to see smoke appearing from the vent of the floor.
"Fire?"
"Thirty seconds remaining" Siri announces so calmly. If only you were Siri, calm and collected so you can process everything.
"The answer is 'live'! Hurry up and open the door!" Blazer persuades in a cry. Just then everything clicks in your head about the suspicious formal woman - come on, you've dealt with a person similar to her before, you know what the consequence will lead you to.
"If we waste our time, we die then so the same goes if we get the answer wrong! We'll die!" You exclaim in a loud voice as you start to close your nose with the collar of your shirt.
"Open the door!" Blazer forcefully cries,
"Open it yourself!" Karube orders back, covering up his nose with his arm just as you are but with your shirt instead. Karube kept your word about the consequences of getting the wrong answer and started to agree with your suspicion about Blazer and this game.
"We have no time. Hurry up!"
"What if we have no time?" Chota asks,
"We'll die!" You cough out your exclaim,
"Why do you think that's the answer?" Arisu asks back to blazer,
"Clearly, we can't choose to die, can we?" Blazer argues back,
"It's about the puzzle doors, not your choice whether or not you want to live!" You fire back
"Twenty seconds remaining" Siri announces once again which alerts the young student to choose her final decision,
"I can't stand it anymore!" She cries in her own palm and hurries to the live door just to sense a sharp piercing upon the core of her head once she steps a foot, automatically leaving her body cold and dead once her body drops to the floor.
"Ten seconds remaining"
"She did die..." Chota stutters and Karube stares at your figure once more. You look to the death door, apparently, you're not the only one who isn't frozen from the sudden death as blazer heads to the door that labels death and as she steps in, her body didn't suffer the same consequences as the poor student did.
You cough out and pull the closest person to you who is Arisu, "let's go! We wouldn't want to know what happens when the timer is out!"
"Five-" With that said from Siri, Karube naruto runs to the door blazer head, and you and Arisu head in. But as the three of you got in, you turn to see Chota not trailing behind you just as Karube did, you let go of Arisu and hurry as the timer started to take a very close call for the fire to burn anyone's body into ashes
"Chota!" You shout and forcefully push him to the door, barely getting both of you out of the fire hazard once the vents of the floor start booming with heavy fire. Instantly, Karube closes the door harshly as the fire was just threatening to go inside the safe door.
"The time limit of this for this room" Siri announces as it shows the timer,
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
00:01:49
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"She really died.." Karube mouthed and once again made another sense of eye contact with you as every time he makes contact with you, it was a sign of thank you. He turns his attention back to blazer just as Arisu did,
"You were the one who killed that girl." He claims with such an unbelieving look. He steals a glance from you for a second and looks back to blazer,
"But we survived because of me, right?" She argued back and you can't help but bite the inner part of your cheek because of that, but luckily for you, Karube was your inner voice and a bold one at that.
"What?"
"If you guys keep spacing out, you'll die too. You're wasting every second of your chance to live right now." Blazer answers back with the same angry look Karube is giving her.
"Do we choose "Die" here, too?" Karube questioned and craned his neck to look at you, "L/N."
"I-I don't know! A puzzle game is a puzzle game, there isn't an answer until we have a piece to solve the puzzle. We need a clue!" You stammer, nervous and worried as you look around the room for any clues.
"I'm sure this game requires us to pick a sacrifice within the time limit." Blazer boldly exclaims and you can't help but shout at her right now,
"Did you make that up? Huh? Are you the gamemaster? If so, I can push you to that door right now!" You point at the white door, glaring at her who only glares at you back. "Don't make us think that it's easy to make a sacrifice of ourselves. You know you're a sacrifice too, I can just push you to that door in an instant."
"Sacrifice?" Arisu asks, not letting go of his eyes from blazer.
"There's probably no meaning to the doors."
"And there's probably no meaning to our lives as well." You argue back with such sarcasm which earned respect from both Arisu and Karube, only earning a worried look from blazer.
"What's important is who's going to open it. They're telling us to choose one person within the time limit." She explains.
"You sacrificed that girl just now, why don't you open the door next?" Arisu harshly gets back at blazer. Just like her, you didn't expect this sort of reaction from Arisu but it is indeed understandable, still, he has been so shy and quiet from how you see him even though you just met him hours ago.
"I believe if I were to survive, it'll be for the good of all mankind." Blazer exclaims.
"You're such a prideful little shit, you know that? This isn't some kind of presidency. This is a game where you either live or die, depending on your choice." You quarrel yet didn't find any more interest in continuing it as you took note of the time.
So you pulled both Arisu and Karube's shirts to face you, "Come on. Listen to me now, there's no worth listening to her. She doesn't know what she's doing, all she knows is causing a riot just so she can try to get one of us to follow her lead."
"One minute remaining"
"Everyone's going to die from the fire when the time is up!" Karube yells, obviously not fighting against you.
"Why ask someone to open it? Do it yourself!" Blazer persuades once again and you wish that you can just mute her from your ears as you try to find a clue.
"You did the same thing to that poor girl, you hypocrite." You yell back at her then look around the room again, trying to get your mind in one piece while Chota only stares at nowhere, obviously out of it.
'It's a puzzle game, there has to be some sort of puzzle piece about this.'
"Twenty seconds remaining"
Suddenly it all clicks, "I'll open the door." Arisu initiates and heads to the death door just to end up not opening it from fear of dying or from greed for living. Karube snarls and curses under his breath,
"He's got bad luck anyways..." He mumbles and heads to the live door,
"Don't open it! I got the clue!" Too late for you, the bold blonde has turned the knob and even went head first, you shut your eyes from fear of seeing another dead body mostly the body of who you are slowly starting to care for,
"Karube!" You and Arisu yelled out in a pained cry, fearing the worst.
But that didn't happen when Karube turned out fine, giving you all the chance of living once again. You rush to the safe room and smack his head, "could've thrown your shoe first before making a bold choice, you jackass!"
"Oh."
"Maybe we can do what she said." Karube insists, liking your idea which Arisu can't help but agree with as well. Maybe you really are getting their trust. Karube did sacrifice himself, not you.
"We can't risk that. This can be a trick though, puzzle games aren't easy as you think so maybe it won't hit the shoe. So will everyone fucking listen to me now and stop provoking this blazer head?" You click your tongue and glare at everyone. "No one wants to die, right?"
"The time limit for this room,"
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
00:01:39
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"No, no, no. We're taking turns, right Ms. Blazer?" Karube snarls and looks at blazer,
"Hey, that's my nickname for her." You mumble,
"You open the door next." Karube demands, looking ahead to Blazer and quickly standing up from his knees, dragging her to the live door as he states, "I'll choose the door to open," and pushes her to the door, earning a bang from the solid object.
"Wait-" Blazer pleads until she was cut off by a non-hesitating Karube,
"Open it!"
"K-Karube..." You whisper and was about to slowly stop him from what he's doing as you know it's not right killing someone as a sacrifice especially now that you finally got the clue. This was such a symbolic way to remember what you've had to see, watch, and do years ago. You didn't want to look back at it now.
"L/N." Arisu calls out beside you and puts a hand on your shoulder, ridding you of your flashbacks, "You said you got the clue, right? What is it? As you said, let's not waste time provoking someone else."
"The rule is about leaving the building right?" You ask, earning the attention of Karube who turns his head to you and Arisu, "There was an emergency exit right before we entered the elevator." You instruct.
"The blueprint..." Arisu whispers with his eyes slowly going wide, "someone! Does anyone have a piece of paper and a pen?!"
"So you do have muscle memory." You grin to yourself as Blazer and Chota give him each of what he needs, you were proud of the kid.
And once you two are proven right, Karube cheers as the next room is given, "If your reasoning works, we'll be able to survive!"
The teamwork between the muscle memory of Arisu accompanied with your observation - well, more of a paranoid skill - made great work as you continued getting answers right with the map of the blueprint Arisu drew. Chota was glad, now unfrozen from the very shocking and surely traumatizing events. Karube is now calmer and more collected, relieved that everyone is still alive. And Blazer stops herself from manipulating anyone else any further.
For now at least.
That is until the last room is given where only, "The time limit for this room,"
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
00:00:40
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
But as you look at the blueprint, it didn't match with the last room Arisu drew which worried everyone as soon as both of your faces turned pale until you both sparked a lightbulb together, recalling Chota's video.
"Chota!" You both called, looking at each other with a smile before you let him speak before you. And yes, your plan was just the same as his.
But that didn't answer everyone's happiness when Chota ended up being the last one to run. Starting from having so much delusional stamina to being frozen from the reality this world forced every one of you upon with no mercy and from running with the greed of survival.
It summed up why he would get tired. His nervousness was in the way. It harmed him physically as the urns of the fire quickly caught the taste of his clothes, piercing into his skin - and sad for you to say but the burning sensation made its way to your arm.
"The time limit for this room"
┌──────═━┈┈━═──────┐
00:00:10
└──────═━┈┈━═──────┘
"Ten seconds?!" Karube yells and takes off whatever you call it that he wears over his shirt. But that's not what's important. You won the game.
After finding out the horrible consequences of the reality of the world you're forced yet mysteriously put into, you all decided to keep Blazer who introduced herself as Shibuki later on. You originally didn't want to stick with her but because of Arisu's selflessness and generosity which follows after Chota's nice personality as well, you agreed.
Anyways, after the first game where Chota and you got burned around the exit of the arena, you all instantly looked for shelter which was not hard since there were abandoned buildings around you that had beds.
After you, Karube, and Shibuki head to the mall for any necessities and supplies to bring back to the hotel room, you all decide to stay for the shelter where Chota is being tended by Arisu.
And now you're in the mall, you took the chance to roam around the aiding areas of the mall such as clinics or the isle where aid kits are usually found so you can help Chota get better earlier.
"Hey." Karube calls out behind you. You follow his voice and give a glance at the blonde,
"Yes?"
"That. You know how to use it?" Karube asks with raised eyebrows as his eyes aim at the supplies laid in your basket which is full of aiding kits and anything you think will be helpful to secure the human body.
"Why would I pick these if I don't know how?"
"Getting smart with me, huh?" Karube asks with a smirk and leans back without removing that smug grin, "I recall you saying that you get snappy when you're frustrated. Are you now?"
You sigh, "It's just been a day and all of this shit is happening. Like we're keeping a manipulative woman who sacrificed an innocent student for her own selfish gain and then once we thought it was over, a man was brutally shot by... by the fucking gods up the sky!"
"And because of what?! Because of some stupid cards?! Our lives are dependent on some fucking stupid cards?! How does that even happen?" You complain with your voice slowly lashing out louder and louder the more you say words.
Just for a moment, you hear a voice calling out a name. A name you hate hearing in this moment right now. 'Please not now, Chishiya.' You think to yourself, closing your eyes in frustration with your hand over your head.
Finally ridding his grin, he sighs and approaches you even closer. He puts a hand on your shoulder in an attempt to give some kind of comfort by saying that you're not alone, "we will live, okay? It's tough but we have each other now. Let's survive."
You breathe in deeply and let it out in one breath, looking back at the plastic full of aiding tools, "Anyways... this... um... I'm not a nurse or something but I have definitely learned a thing or two for a friend. That friend is... well... I guess we can say is his passion. And you know... I don't have the charm to get friends? So I learned and read, even watched some videos about anything that includes nursing."
"Wow... you've definitely made an extra effort for him. Do you like him or something?"
This question made you laugh quite louder than you expected, probably because it's the exact opposite, so far from what he asked, "I guess at that time I did, but don't take it as a way of a 'crush' or something. I was just very lonely and he looked lonely too, so I thought we would've been good friends."
'Man, was I wrong.' You think to yourself as you give out a sad chuckle,
"You got the boy though? I guess that's what's important." Karube teases, nudging his elbow to your side with that teasing look he usually shows his friends.
You sigh and nod with a smile that is obviously reminiscing the past you thought was fun, man did you wish you were still that blind and optimistic, you wouldn't be so depressed right now --
"Yeah, I did."
"You sound quite sad about it. Did he have another someone or something?" Karube asks, taking a sit on the wooden chair just close to him as he examines the whole room,
"You have quite a curious and talkative mind for someone who doesn't trust a stranger." You giggle and he gives a smile back,
"Correction, I don't trust strangers like blazer-head. Also, we met before the game and we were both clueless, she wasn't. So... it's different, you know?"
"Oh, so now you're stealing my creativity for nicknames?" You tease, giving the blonde a suggestive and teasing look who he laughed at. It was obvious you two were getting along with the time you two are taking, might as well be friends with your playmate.
If only you have met people like him before you got to meet yourself.
"I liked it much better than Shibuki, that's all."
"I'm glad we both have the same thought." You giggle,
"Great minds think alike."
"That's Arisu's job." You joke but suddenly take note of what you just said and covered your mouth, "Oh my god - I'm so-"
Karube cuts you off even before you can say your silly apology as he puts his hand up and waves it off with that smile that gives you the message that it was actually amusing and funny after all, "Don't worry, it was funny." He chuckles,
"Besides, I agree with you too. I think you two have great minds." He admits and finally stands up once he catches sight of Shibuki. He heaves a sigh, patting your shoulder, "Well then! Let's get going, hm?" Karube invites as he points his eyes to Shibuki and back to you, it repeats over and over again until you get the message.
You awed and laughed out loud, knowing the reason why your chat ended was because of Blazer, "yeah." You accept and he laughs softly, ruffling your hair,
"We don't want some bitch to hear!" Karube says, louder than it should've been, may I add which doesn't go unnoticed by Shibuki, obviously. The formal woman gives you two a snarl as you two give her a cocky look.
You actually feel bad for laughing at her and trying to leave her out, but really, you and Karube have the same motive, and that is to protect the ones you care for. And now, as a changed person - as a caring person like yourself, you cared for the three best friends who you just recently met a day ago.
Besides, how can you feel bad for someone killing a dumbfounded student? To you, you hate people who take advantage of someone who doesn't know what's happening in their surroundings.
You find it disgusting.
-------------------
JUST LIKE YESTERDAY, time goes by quickly and night has finally displayed itself onto the sky - the sky that you wished you could admire, but like the two best friends you had, you grew unexpected fear of what it can do to you.
'That poor man...'
Just saying those two words put together instantly reminded you of the instant laser that went straight through the core of the man's head that caused all of his nerves to limp. Fear. Fear is what you see in this world, fear is what feeds this world. You can just see it in the way how your new acquaintances share the same feelings you're feeling.
Right now, you're with the two capable men, Arisu and Karube who invited you to get to know you, and also to get you and his best friend closer as well. You three went out after you tended Chota's leg with the aid kits you use.
You still weren't an expert, so you assured them all that he can't be fully healed nor can't be sure that he will be okay earlier than expected because of your kind actions. But you're sure he will feel much at ease with the medicine you gave him, though you reminded them that it was still not as much as a professional can give.
"I think Chota needs to see a doctor." Karube mentions and you raise a brow,
"You think?" You snarl back, clearly worried for Chota as you continue to ignore your newly injured arm. "Where would we even get a doctor? Who knows how long we have to stay here." You slump your shoulders.
"Luckily for us -" Karube adds in and wraps an arm around your shoulder so comfortably, "she knows a thing or two about aiding."
"Yeah..." Arisu breathes out and gives a shy smile at you, "We're very lucky you know something or else Chota would've suffered even worse right now."
"But given his personality, he must've been enduring the pain." Karube shares and relaxes both of his arms on the railing of the very empty hallway of the building.
Silence erupted between you three as Karube went back to being serious. He was looking away from you two, giving in his deep thoughts.
"Arisu." Karube calls out, still holding his guard from looking at any of you two, "Let's join the game tomorrow night, just the two of us."
"What?" Arisu questions and you tilt your head in confusion as he leaves you out. Did he completely forget that you're with them?
"I'm sorry that I exist in this conversation too I guess." You mumble, rolling your eyes as you cross your arms together.
"You have an injured arm, L/N. And we still have three days left on our visas - it's better to get used to the game while we still have time to spare." Karube concludes and you step right in,
"We'll probably have to beat the next game with Chota's injured leg and... probably L/N's arm.. I don't think Chota's 'visa' will give him enough time." Karube sighs and gives you a look you can always push away.
You knew he didn't mean to leave you out in a bad way, and you can only tell that because you only know one man who gives you that look despite their cold saunter and that is Shuntaro.
"What about me? I know I have burned my arm but it's still my choice to participate! I didn't burn my mouth! This burn on my arm isn't even as bad as Chota's!" You argue, "I'm coming no matter what you two say. I have my own decision."
Karube sighs again and pinches the bridge of his nose, "Look. We are very lucky to know you, you are lucky that I now care. Can you even use your mind right now? You're injured! What if the game requires strength or something? Who knows?"
'Oh, you don't know what this arm has gone through.'
You grit your teeth together, "This arm will never slow me down. I'm not weak because of a burned arm, Karube. I can still handle it! It's not like it has been furnaced or something." You talk back and wave your arm that you injured, proving to the two you're completely fine. You're not really fine though, but you proved you're much better than Chota.
"And don't act like I don't have a motive myself..." Your voice starts to waver out as your eyes soften once your mind goes back to the two men you once again thought of.
"Really?" Arisu asks and looks to you,
"What the hell do you think I came back for?" Arisu only looks down, a little embarrassed as you furrow your brows at him.
"Yeah?" Karube responds with a raised eyebrow, scratching the back of his neck as a sign of him showing self-shame at the fact that he was indeed ignorant about your objective,
"Which made me think, what drove you out of Tokyo?"
"You see, I didn't make the best choices back in the real world. No one wanted me on their side and I was - I guess I was an outcast as cliche as it is. What else can I call it? But I had no one else." You shrug. You blink your eyes, feeling them get watery.
"Don't talk to her. If she hears something she doesn't like. She hurts them. Don't even dare look at her. You might annoy her." You hear one of your classmates talk quietly right behind you and yet you only hung your head low on your school desk.
"And... I was - um..." You gulp, " - desperate for that. My family wasn't present for half of my life, same goes for almost everyone - barely anyone has been present in my life... so I just tried to find people who are similar to me."
You shrug your shoulders, looking off to the empty road ahead of you, "I did find someone. But I was so desperate. Come on, a little girl needs a friend. -- You would ask for a friend too if you were me. Just one friend..." You say but ended up not being able to continue the simple sentence as your thoughts go back to the two men and how they did you so wrong.
"I guess that goal blinded me. At that moment, I felt so happy then - I finally had someone... they ended up being a such dick though. The first one used me to get what he wanted in an easier sense since I'd basically given him everything but he still kept pushing me away. I guess we can say he's very secretive and quiet... and the second one..."
'Suguru.'
"Is for next time." You finish, blinking your eyes.
"I didn't want to be reminded of the things that I've done for them, how I was basically living for the two guys and how no one wanted me. I know I needed help so I hid in Yokohoma." You felt that tightness in your chest that you had to bite your tongue.
Karube frowns but puts on a smile anyway to tell you that you'll be fine with them now. He pats your back, "Hey! Guess what? You and Arisu went through the same thing! Well... except for the two friends part but you two are outcasts as sad it is to say."
"But... why did you come back if you wanted to get away from them?" Arisu asks,
You chuckle sadly and bite your lip, "I never really thought that it was them who I was running away from. I mean I never really felt scared of them. I just didn't want to look back on what I had done and what my life was in here, and they are the only two who hold that."
"I felt so bad, I felt bad knowing they were also suffering in their own... and... and I just left them to themselves! It's bad enough that my own mind is against my own body, and I only left them alone to fight the same battle as I am."
"Guilt is what I had to fight against. It's my greatest weakness and I gave in I guess." You take a breath and finally look at Arisu who nods, smiling at you for comfort.
"So you're looking for them?" Karube asks, getting your point as he connected the dots.
You sigh, "Well, I don't want them to rot, they're just as pathetic as I am..."
"You remind me of myself." Karube smiles and wraps an arm around you, "Don't you agree, Arisu?"
-------------------
THE TWO SETTLED to bring you with them just as long as you stick to them as much as possible. You all followed the sign for the next game just like the last game. Same arrows and directions but leads to somewhere different.
It all led you to your next destinations shortly though.
[ Toei Sendagaya Apartment ]
The place you finally see your next chapter once your eyes roam around your playmates and landed on one certain man who wore the white jacket. He was so laid back, so calm in such a deadly situation. You wonder that it was either he knew something about the Borderland or he was new.
But you couldn't help but think that this hoodie was a little too familiar. Who cares? A white jacket is quite common.
You continue to examine your interesting playmate of yours until your eyes caught the earphones he has pulled off. Your eyes instantly looked down as you start thinking about how he can listen to music.
'A taser? Well, let's just hope he's not listening to 'bzz bzz.''
Fever - Is most likely about someone's feelings of attraction toward a person and you're not able to let go.
EDITING PHASE II COMPLETE