You examined the hallway in a disordered state as Professor Mishima quickly walked over to Nao, Sou, and Reko. Reko seemed to be a bit agitated and Nao looked like she was about to collapse. In the corner of the blue hallway, Kanna sat against the wall with a weary expression.
You and Gin softly walked up to the green-haired girl and crouched down in front of her. "Woof, bucket girl..?" Gin tilted his head in concern. "Kanna? Are you okay now..?" You curiously asked, taking a seat on the floor beside her. Kanna glanced down at the two of you and frowned. "U-Um... What's happening?" She quietly asked, hugging herself apprehensively. "Ermmm..." You furrowed your eyebrows, "I dunno honestly. I guess that's what we gotta figure out now!"
Gin hopped up, "I'll go ask, woof!" You and Kanna watched as the brown-haired boy rushed over to the group of adults and asked about the situation. You also watched as he went pale at Professor Mishima's response. Gin quickly ran back to you and Kanna with an anxious look. "Meow... B-Big sis Sara and the other guys are in trouble..." Gin stammered, cuddling his [Cat/Dog] plushie tightly.
"T-Trouble?!" Kanna quietly asked, hugging herself apprehensively. "What kind of trouble?!"
"Woof, nevermind that," Gin shook his head, motioning for the two of you to follow him back.
You and Kanna followed Gin as he carefully yet quickly ran across the hallway to where Sou, Mishima, Nao, and Reko were standing. Nao's eyes lit up in surprise to find the three of you looking up at them in curiosity. "O-Oh..! K-Kanna, you're awake!" Nao anxiously plastered on a fake smiled, "Y-You three should go s-sit... over there..." Professor Mishima shook his head, "No... they have a right to know exactly what's happening now. If we keep these kinds of things secret then who knows what could happen further along in the future."
"P-Professor M-Mishima..? What's going on..?" Kanna stuttered, stroking the pale blue bucket that rested atop of her head nervously. You nodded vigorously in agreement, "Mhm! Are miss Sara and the others okay!?"
"Aghh... Well, anything's possible right now. The two of us were looking around and we stepped into the blue room with the other guys. I stepped out for a second when all of a sudden everyone inside of the place got barricaded inside." Sou explained, "Right now, there's no way that we can break in. All we need to do is hope for the best." A look of worry crossed Kanna's face, "W-What?!" She sputtered. Kanna raced into the corridor that the game room occupied, and was quickly followed by Sou and Reko. Nao shot Professor Mishima a troubled look as she leaned against the wall to recollect herself. You frowned, glancing back and forth between Nao, Professor Mishima, and the blue corridor. There was just something so off-putting about seeing adults like this.
Reko and Sou eventually managed to convince Kanna to settle back into the main hall, where you and Gin had sat down and somehow persuaded Nao to let the two of you lean against her as a source of comfort in this despairful time. You, Gin, Kanna, and Nao rested on the floor while Reko, Sou, and Mishima either stood up or leaned against the wall. After maybe 20 minutes or so, Q-Taro and Keiji stepped out into the hall and were shortly followed in by Joe and Kai, leaving Sara to be the only person left to return. Kanna quickly sat up and hurried right back into the Game Room's corridor to look for Sara. Professor Mishima prepared to follow her once again with a troubled look outlining his aged appearance. "Hey!" Reko shouted at him, "Shout when you find her!"
Nao carefully stood up, removing you and Gin's clingy selves off of her. She looked down, softly petting the top of Gin's head and rubbing yours, "I'm relieved that everyone made it out... well, besides Sara... but! I'm not saying she didn't make it out! No, no! She's a strong girl, she probably handled that with ease! We just haven't seen her walk out yet! Yes! That's it! ...Erm, don't listen to what I'm saying you two..." Not really processing what she had said, you let out a muffled, 'Mhm.' sound in acknowledgment as she gently rubbed the top of your head.
Once Sara, Kanna, and Professor Mishima along with Reko returned, you followed Gin and Mishima back to the bar where you continued to stare at the wall and daydream, or otherwise just search for clues.
The door to the bar opened once again, and in came Joe and Sara. The pair of best friends walked up to the jammed cabinet and started to examine it. A confident smile set itself upon Joe's face, "Alright, let's open it up!" He smirked, setting his hands onto the sliding door and opening it. "Whew... That was one stiff door!" He chuckled, "Maybe there's some clue in there."
You walked over to the counter where Sara was busy running her hands through the darkness of the open cabinet. The teenager grabbed onto something and held it up for you and Joe to see. It was some sort of sharp metal object that you've never seen before.
"What's this thing?" You asked, tilting your head to study it. Joe shrugged, "Hmm, doesn't look familiar to me..."
"I think I saw this online once..." Sara answered, "It's a tool for cutting cigarettes to smoke them." Joe turned his head to look at his friend suspiciously, "...Why were you looking that up online? Don't smoke, Sara!" He scolded her, to which she deadpanned in response. The brown-haired teenager turned his attention back to the open cabinet, "...Oh! More importantly, there's something bigger in the back! Alright, what's this?" Joe reached out into the dark cupboard and pulled out...
An arm.
"Weeeaaagghh?!" Joe shrieked, causing him to accidentally drop the arm. Sara looked down at it skeptically, "Look's like this one's a doll limb too. Take it back, Joe." Joe hesitantly picked up the arm again, "Wh... Why are you so calm..." He reluctantly returned. Sara shrugged in response, softly grabbing his wrist and pulling him away from the cabinet.
❖ ❖ ❖
Though it felt like an eternity, the 12 of you had managed to find each missing doll limb, and had met up in a small room near the end of the cafeteria. The walls were painted a pastel pink color and two white shelves stood against them opposite of each other. At the back of the room, was a doll torso.
"Well now... we're finally doing it," Keiji spoke up, rubbing the back of his kneck in anticipation. Joe furrowed his eyebrows, "Hey, actually... Where have you been?" He asked with a questioning look. "Oh, just... found a hidden room," Sou answered with a smile. "Sou...! You're okay!" Sara gave out a sigh in relief. The beanie man chuckled, "That's my line! ...Good, so everyone's safe."
Had Keiji and Sou disappeared? You hadn't really notice before... Geez Y/N, you've gotta pay attention more!
"My heart is beating fast... What could possibly happen..?" Professor Mishima ominously asked, causing Kanna to uncomfortably shift.
"I got the door open just in case," Reko said.
"So our escape route's secured!" Q-Taro grinned.
Keiji glanced up towards the ceiling, "Well, onto the fateful moment... let's roll."
The policeman skillfully attached the parts to the doll torso placed there.
Right arm... Left arm... Right leg... Left leg... and finally... the head.
Dead silence ensued in the room. Everyone stared down at the porcelain lady in apprehension, but nothing happened.
Q-Taro looked around, "...Wait. You smell somethin'?"
"Huh?!" Nao followed his gaze.
"Hey... Is it just me, or is the room going white?!" Joe asked with a sense of rising panic in his voice.
Keiji covered his mouth immediately, "It's gas..!"
"P... Poison..!?" Sou coughed, "Not good... We need to leave the room..!"
Before anyone could escape, the gas engulfed your vision and the room was filled with white smoke in the blink of an eye. You tripped around, unable to see anything that stood in front of you. It was as if your vision had been stripped away from you just like that.
"It's not poison gas, everyone, so please relax."
An unrecognizable voice rang out around the room, and the white fog instantly dissipated. Standing in the middle of the floor, was a tall woman with long brown locks of hair and a dress that looked like it was formed out of fudge and other sugary resources. "Ahaha. Good day," She giggled menacingly.
"H-Huh?!" Joe gasped, "Y-You're... The doll!?"
"Heeheehee... Yes, I am the doll that you just rescued. Advanced, am I not?" She laughed, keeping her posture high and stiff.
"Haaaaah?! The hell's goin' on here?!" Reko furiously shouted, clenching her fists together as she glared at the brown-haired doll. "Ahaha. As it happens, I have revived to tell you what is happening, and support you through the trials in tribulations to come." She creepily grinned. Reko's glare intensified, "Stay away from me, you creepy-ass puppet!!" The doll continued to giggle, ignoring Reko's aggressive actions, "Ehehe. There's nothing to fear, you see? I will offer you all support..."
"Ah... oogh... oooh..." Nao stuttered, trembling. The doll rolled her eyes, "Ahaha... Sigh... Is there no one who can speak calmly here?" She complained, continuing to smile.
Sara stepped forward and took a deep breath, "I'll ask. Just what are you?" She calmly spoke. Keiji nodded along, "Tell the friendly policeman too. I'm not really following here..."
"Ehehe. Then we'll begin with my introduction... Heehee... My name is Sue Miley, the Laughing Doll. I am the doll who will guide you on this floor." She answered, giggling once again, "Ehee. My master has instructed me to guide you brave souls, who have already overcome several trials, to the Main Game."