Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 3, Part 7

▶First Day {A} [Kazuki Hoshino]'s room

The first thing that entered my sight was the blank concrete ceiling and the naked light bulb hanging from it. I jumped up, surprised by this unfamiliar place.

"...What room is this?"

Why am I suddenly at such a place?

Suppressing my rising confusion, I tried searching through my memory to remember how I'd arrived here.

I'm supposed to have slept in the lower bunk, as always. I can't remember having moved after that. Neither do I remember having changed the place, nor having met anyone.

I checked the room, I checked the contents of the jute bag, and was told that this was a killer-game by a green bear --- Noitan --- who suddenly appeared saying «Good - morning».

This was the deed of a 'box'.

Therefore, Maria was here.

▶First Day {B} Big room

The scenery changed at once.

First, everything became white. It was an unnatural white that made me almost feel like I was in a freshly built, empty hospital without any doctors, nurses or patients.

I looked at the person who was standing closest to me.

"...Daiya"

"It's been a while, Kazu."

Daiya, who had been missing, greeted me completely naturally as if we had just met at school after the summer holidays.

He continued speaking without caring that I was completely confused,

"Be grateful, Kazu! I just saved you."

"Saved me?"

Daiya pointed his thumb at a girl with semi-long hair.

"That girl was about to push you down and threaten you with a knife!"

"Eh...!"

I widened my eyes and looked at her. The green bear might have said that we were going to fight to the death, but it had already begun...?

"Hey, Oomine-kun. If you phrase it like that, it will cause a misunderstanding!"

She objected. It was a voice I had already heard somewhere.

"Misunderstanding? But I did not say a single incorrect thing?"

"Shut up. It's clear that you bear ill will. I just concluded this was a necessary measure to take."

I remembered that I had often heard this voice over school's broadcasting system. So she had to be the student council president.

"Oh, a necessary measure? I don't really care, but if you go through with that, you'll just make the others distrust you and put yourself at a disadvantage, you know? If you're scared, then you should just be honest with yourself and tremble!"

Kaichou seemed lightly surprised by Daiya's words.

"...oh well. Pretending to be tough seems to be my bad habit."

She's scared while still looking this composed...? Um, that's a joke, right?

"In case you need an example of how to naturally express fear, have a look, that girl that's clinging to you is a good one!"

Upon hearing that, the black-haired girl next to Kaichou cringed so hard she was almost pitiful. Kaichou gently stroked her head while saying "Don't worry."

...she's really wax-pale. Isn't she a bit too scared, considering nothing has happened yet?

But---that might be rather cute.

I realized that thinking like that in itself was imprudent and that I might lack a sense of danger, but my protective instinct welled up as if I were watching a little animal.

That was a charm Maria lacked...

"Kazuki."

"---ugh!"

R-Right. I should have known that Maria was there; I was careless.

"What was this strange cry supposed to mean?"

"N-Nothing, Maria."

I turned my face away to escape Maria's suspicious gaze.

"Mh, whatever... do you realize the situation we're in? I'm amazed that you can be so much at ease..."

"S-Sorry."

"It's not the time to be infatuated with girls."

"......"

So she had noticed that I was just a bit charmed by the black-haired one after all.

When I kept silent while averting my face, Maria took off one of her loafers and pressed its sole against my face. Um, it hurt and it was rather unpleasant altogether.

With the shoe sole pressed against my face, Maria whispered into my ear,

"You realize that this is the deed of a 'box', right...?"

...aah, right.

This situation was only possible with a 'box'. Which means that this was the deed of Daiya.

And yet he was acting as if he didn't know of this 'box'.

"'Morning. ...Oh, there are a whole three hotties! Lucky me!"

The sixth person arrived, making the number of people and chairs equal.

With that, the players that would «kill each other», as Noitan had said, had gathered.

I had still trouble following the conversation, but as proposed by the brown-haired male student, who had arrived last, we decided to introduce ourselves first.

The brown-haired guy was Koudai Kamiuchi. The girl who had been about to press her knife against my neck was the student council president Iroha Shindou. And finally, the black-haired girl was---

"---I'm Yuuri Yanagi."

Just by hearing that name, my thought process stopped.

"......Eh? Umm, d-did I say something weird?"

"N-Nevermind! It's just that I know someone with the same surname."

She looked at me in astonishment while I was shaking my hands frantically.

"Who is this acquaintance if I may ask?"

"E, err..."

I tried recalling that person---

"------Ah"

Suddenly, Daiya's words at the school cafeteria came to my mind again.

«Because you want to keep longing for something. Hmpf, even if I admitted that claim, another question remains. Why did you become like that?»

I see. Back then the person veiled by a haze was---

"......A classmate back in middle school."

«Nana Yanagi»

Having remembered her name, I shook my head desperately. I didn't want to remember her. She should have stayed forgotten.

«Yanagi-san», who was my first love.

"Oh, a classmate? Can you retain a little affinity for me, then?"

Yuuri-san---using Yanagi-san would be too confusing---tilted her head when asking that.

"Eh? Ah, uh, yeah... I hope we can get along well."

"Me too."

Yuuri-san smiled charmingly. Once more I couldn't help but notice how cute she was.

"What's with that cheery face, Kazuki?"

Hurriedly I turned around; Maria was staring at me with half-shut eyes.

"I-I'm not particularly making a cheery face-"

"Yes, you are. Your visage is telling me that you're happy talking to a beauty. What a stupid face..."

"B-But you're a beauty yourself, aren't you?"

"......what's with that flattery? Don't think I'd fall for that!"

At that point Yuuri-san interjected our exchange,

"U-Umm... I'm not a beauty, really..."

"That's not true. I think you're very pretty, you know?"

"I-I..."

Yuuri-san blushed like a peony. When I watched her face silently because I didn't understand the meaning behind that reaction, I suddenly felt an impact on the back of my head.

"O,Ouch!"

When I turned around there was Kamiuchi-kun watching his fist.

"???"

"No, it might have been unconsciously, but somehow I became hella irritated. Sorry!"

When I held my head, completely confused, Maria let out a sigh.

"Really now, that airheaded philanderer sure makes the tension drop."

"...how cruel."

"Well, anyway. That makes it easier to talk. I'll raise the main subject."

Saying so, Maria scowled at Daiya.

"What is this all supposed to be, Daiya Oomine?"

With those words, the calm air dispersed.

Everyone's gaze immediately shifted to Daiya who had been addressed. He did not show any confusion at being accused; no, rather he flashed a daring grin.

"......eh?"

Yuuri-san, who seemed to have trouble following us, unknowingly whispered.

"Oomine-san... has caused this...?"

"What I'm going to say may sound absurd, but will you believe me?"

This time Yuuri-san just blinked in surprise at Maria's words. Kaichou instead opened her mouth:

"Aah... Otonashi-san, sorry, but we'll decide on our own whether we believe you or not! You can't just force us by saying «believe me!»."

"You're right. But I had to ask for that. It's a topic that requires me to urge you to believe me in advance."

Kaichou pursed her lips and nodded, "I see."

"Let's see, right, I'll start with the explanation about what a 'box' is. Alright, 'boxes' are---"

With that preface, Maria began to explain the 'boxes'.

That a 'box' was a thing that granted 'wishes'. That they became embroiled in this situation because of that. That the three of us knew about the 'boxes'. Finally, that the 'owner' of this 'Game of Idleness' was Daiya Oomine.

They all listened to us earnestly.

"...that sure sounds absurd."

Kaichou frowned, as she had done all the time while listening to Maria.

"Well, this 'box'-thing may be absurd, but then again our situation is more than enough absurd as well. To an extent I happen to think that such a thing might really exist."

"So do you believe us?"

When I asked that Kaichou, apparently out of habit, pursed her lips again and said,

"...no, just 'might exist'. I mean, if absurd reasons were fine just because of an absurd situation, I could claim whatever I want, right?"

"I see..."

I hung my head, whereupon Kaichou scratched her head and continued,

"...well, but if you really tried to deceive us, you would have used a more realistic lie. Furthermore you answered all our questions without hesitation and you even mentioned doubtful aspects yourself. So I'd say... mhhh, fifty-fifty. ...what do you think, Kamiuchi-kun?"

"I have some trouble believing them."

Kamiuchi-kun denied right away.

"Much more than what they've said, it seems suspicious to me how they seem to cooperate. I mean, weren't they also acquainted from the start?"

"B-But we didn't have any time to arrange things beforehand...?"

I objected reflexively.

"Maybe. But isn't it possible that you could somehow match with Maricchi because you knew each other already? Also, at worst it's possible that the three of you are the wire-pullers, isn't it?"

"No way!"

"Hoshino-senpai, please don't get angry. I just want to say that we can't believe your story that readily as you seem to be operating together right from the start."

Kaichou apparently agreed, saying "You have a point."

"How about you, Yuuri?"

"......umm, I'm sorry, but... I can't get myself to believe that such 'boxes' exist. I'm sorry."

I guessed her hesitation didn't arise from a lack of confidence in her opinion, but rather from not being used to express disagreeing thoughts.

"Oh, Yuuri-chan, you matched with me because you want to appeal to me, right?!"

"Eh...? N-No..."

"Uhihi, turning bright red because of a mere joke, cute!"

Kaichou stepped in as if to protect Yuuri-san who had blushed even more.

"Fine, fine, don't flirt with Yuuri."

"Kaichou, are you jealous of Yuuri-chan because you're not being hit on yourself?"

"I don't even count it as 'being hit on' if it's done by someone like you."

"Uwa! How cruel! Actually, I have quite a lot of fans!"

Kaichou sighed, signifying that she'd had enough of that, and got back to the subject,

"For now, let's put the topic of the 'boxes' on hold, okay? Yuuri and Kamiuchi-kun, please keep that story in the back of your mind, instead of just dismissing it as absurd. By doing so, we'll be able to decide whether we believe it or not a bit more objectively at a later date."

The two of them nodded obediently.

Maria said, "Well, a solid outcome," but made a discontent, sour face, contrastive to her words.

...well, it's the same for me. On the one hand I feel discontent that they don't believe us, but on the other hand I can understand their doubt.

"...Kaichou, what can we do to make you believe us...?"

Kaichou replied immediately when I asked this nervously,

"Show us with your actions that you're trustworthy. We might still not believe you about those 'boxes', but if you do so, we will at least listen to your suggestions about how we can solve this situation."

But that was much easier said than done.

"Um, in specific, how can we---"

I was interrupted.

«Yaa yaa yaa - it seeMs - you are talking - about something troUbling. - BuT I will tell yOu aboUt - a reality so harsh - iT will - drive that aWay!»

«Okay thEn - I wiSh all oF you a - good fight! - Just dOn't end - the gAme by - doing somEthing - as bOring- as tuRninG - into muMmies everyone - okAy?»

Noitan disappeared after explaining the rules of [Kingdom Royale].

"Say, Otonashi-san,"

Kaichou's attitude had changed slightly due to this unsettling story.

"If you've been telling the truth, we can also survive [Kingdom Royale] through another way besides clearing it, right?"

"Yeah."

Kaichou took Maria's powerful declaration seriously.

---Maybe she will believe us quicker than we thought.

I mean, Kaichou ---no, the others as well--- don't want to participate in such a killer-game. If they keep wavering, the time limit will draw near and make someone lose his nerve. Which marks the start of the game. They want to take measures before that happens.

Therefore, if they're shown another solution, they will want to use it.

"Shall I tell you the specifics?"

And Maria is able to show them that other solution.

"...okay, I'll give it a try and listen. What should we do?"

"If we can get the 'box' out of Oomine, we will be released."

With that, everyone's gaze focused on Daiya all at once. Daiya clicked his tongue noticeably at our attitude.

"Say, Oomine-kun, won't you object against those claims of Otonashi-san?"

As if to repel her, Daiya turned his head away and kept silent.

"...In fact, I can only agree that Oomine-senpai's suspicious."

Kamiuchi-san said so with a slightly cold voice; Apparently he had become irritated. Then, he turned around and smiled at Yuuri-san.

"Of course you agree as well, right, Yuuri-chan?"

"Eh?!"

Being addressed out of the blue, Yuuri-san widened her eyes.

"U-Umm... well..."

She murmured vaguely, but judging from her peeks at Daiya, she seemed to be of the same opinion as Kamiuchi-kun.

The atmosphere in the room had turned entirely against Daiya.

"Hah..."

Daiya sighed deeply at this situation.

"Only idiots here that are easily led by the nose..."

But even that insult did not change the mood.

"How about objecting before you call others idiots?"

Kaichou replied calmly. Daiya seemed utterly amazed and raised a scornful laugh.

"...What? Why are you laughing?"

"I just thought about how easy it would be to annihilate you all as you seem to believe others readily. Are you guys really top students? That's not true, right?"

"Object already instead of speaking in riddles!"

"Sorry, but I'll wait to do that until the [Secret Meetings] are over."

"Hah? What are you saying? So you're asking us to give you time until you can figure out some good defense, right?"

"I don't know what stance I should take yet! I have someone I want to consult about that matter."

"I don't mind, but you really raise suspicion this way, okay?"

Daiya did not reply.

▶First Day {C} [Kazuki Hoshino]'s room

«Your [class] is [Revolutionary].»

I stood still for a while, looking at those letters.

"......eh?"

I am the [Revolutionary]? The most dangerous [class] for sure, [Revolutionary]...?

If [Kingdom Royale] starts, without a doubt I'm going to be aimed at first. Because it's obvious that I'm dangerous, being able to kill on my own.

...No, let's think the other way around.

That I'm the [Revolutionary] means that I won't be [assassinated]. Considering things that way, I might be surprisingly safe.

And that's not all. As I'm the [Revolutionary], who is the likeliest to start [Kingdom Royale], I'm able to prevent the start of the game.

Therefore, the situation instead became safer. Yeah.

I reassured myself like that and took a deep breath in order to calm down my racing heart.

«Ya ya ya - Kazuki-san - it's tIme - for - [Secret Meeting]!»

"HII!"

This mascot always managed to appear with terrible timing. I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was doing it on purpose.

After hearing the explanation about the [Secret Meetings] from Noitan, I naturally selected Maria.

[Iroha Shindou] -> [Koudai Kamiuchi] 15:40~16:10

[Yuuri Yanagi] -> [Iroha Shindou] 16:20~16:50

[Daiya Oomine] -> [Kazuki Hoshino] 15:40~16:10

[Kazuki Hoshino] -> [Maria Otonashi] 15:00~15:30

[Koudai Kamiuchi] -> [Yuuri Yanagi] 15:00~15:30

[Maria Otonashi] -> [Daiya Oomine] 16:20~16:50

"...Daiya chose me?"

Which means that I was the one Daiya wanted to consult?

......whatever, my meeting with Maria is earlier.

▶First Day {C} [Secret Meeting] with [Maria Otonashi], [Maria Otonashi]'s room

"We might have been luckier than we thought,"

Maria suddenly said.

"...how so?"

"Because we were able to tell them about the 'box'."

"...eh? Is there a situation where we wouldn't?"

"There is. If we told them after the explanation of the game, they would have thought that we were just trying to trick them in order to win. We could tell them only because they were still able to consider it properly."

That was certainly possible.

"Thanks to that, a chance of winning was born. When the time limit draws near, the others will have no choice but to believe us, as only we know a way to get everyone out of here. Oomine will probably offer resistance like now, but look at his personality. No one is going to believe him."

I think that is true. If I had to decide about who's right between us and Daiya, then sorry, but I wouldn't choose Daiya.

"...Maria."

"What?"

"Is Daiya really the 'owner' of this 'box'?"

Maria raised an eyebrow.

"Only he could be, considering the situation, or do you disagree?"

"But didn't Daiya prevent the situation from getting rough by stopping Kaichou? That way he gave us the opportunity to talk to them about the 'box' seriously. Would he really have done that if he planned to start [Kingdom Royale]?"

"...well, indeed. But I doubt he had thought that far. Or else that might have been a strategy to catch us off guard?"

"Hmmm."

"Well, although it's strange, Oomine himself told us that he's an 'owner' after all. Is there better proof than that?"

"...I guess you're right."

"As you seem to agree, let's order our thoughts. Our task is to get the 'box' out of Oomine. For that purpose, we have to persuade him. But there's no way he would readily accept."

I nodded quietly. Right, now came the main problem.

"We need time for persuading Oomine. And to guarantee that we get it, we have to make sure that [Kingdom Royale] doesn't start, no matter what."

"We need time for persuading Oomine. And to guarantee that we get it, we have to make sure that [Kingdom Royale] doesn't start, no matter what."

"So what should we do?"

"As Shindou said, we should establish a relationship of mutual trust. Therefore it would be best if the players who have the ability to kill revealed themselves, especially the [Revolutionary]..."

"Ah, that would be me."

"FOR REAL?!"

"Y-Yeah."

Maria's appeal made me wince a little.

"That is great. Because that means the [Revolutionary] won't possibly make the mistake of killing someone due to distrust. Furthermore, if we do a coming-out with appropriate timing, we can gain a lot of trust."

...so it really was advantageous that I became the [Revolutionary].

"By the way, what's your [class]?"

"I'm [The Double]."

"...I see."

We'd be enemies in the game...

"We have a great chance of winning. Then... right, what worries me is that Oomine might team up with someone secretly and make him use [Sorcery]..."

"I have a [Secret Meeting] with Daiya after this, so I'll ask him various things, then! ...Umm, I just have to remind him not to start [Kingdom Royale] if possible, right?"

"...Yeah. But be careful! You mustn't let him notice that you're the [Revolutionary]."

▶First Day {C} [Secret Meeting] with [Daiya Oomine], [Kazuki Hoshino]'s room

"I have no intention of playing this pathetic [Kingdom Royale]."

That was the first thing Daiya said to me upon entering my room.

"What's with those wide eyes?"

"N-No, I mean---"

Daiya himself, who is supposed to be the 'owner', doesn't want to start [Kingdom Royale] - isn't that unreasonable?

"Your face is telling me that you think that can't be."

As he guessed correctly, I kept quiet.

"The answer to your doubt is simple. It means that I'm not the 'owner' of such a fucking 'box'. A 'box' just for the purpose of making others play a killer-game? Kuku... just how nonsensical is this? There's no meaning to its existence."

"...I think so, too, but..."

"So you're insulting me indirectly by saying that I brought forth this 'box', right?"

"No, that's not..."

So basically, Daiya wanted to say:

He was an 'owner' all right. But that 'box' that made others play [Kingdom Royale] was not his.

There was another 'owner' of this 'box'.

"But still, what on earth is this 'box'? It doesn't seem to allow intervention of any kind. I can't find any gaps, so the 'owner' seems to have mastered it."

"Eh...?"

Why did Daiya make such a Maria-like remark...?

"Oi oi, why so surprised? Just think about it for once! Otonashi can sense and intervene in 'boxes' and knows 'O' because she's an 'owner', right? As I'm already an 'owner' myself, it wouldn't be strange if I had the same abilities."

"Indeed..."

"What's with that visage? For me, you are much more abnormal as you can remember 'O' although he's supposed to be entirely erased from your memory, you know?"

"...That's---"

"---not true, my ass. Because we are 'owners' and deliberately make use of its singularity, we are capable of such things. But you aren't an 'owner', are you?"

I couldn't retort.

"...in the first place, what is that 'singularity'?"

Daiya crossed his arms and answered while thinking.

"...this is only how it feels to me, but at the moment one obtains a 'box', one stops being human. That is because one crosses the bounds of mankind thanks to the 'box'. And with the bounds being removed, the 'owner' is also removed from everyone's everyday life.This is the singular nature of being an 'owner'."

After noticing my perplexed frown Daiya added,

"Because one moves up from one's original standpoint, one becomes able to «see» things one couldn't before! I don't mean you can visually see the 'boxes' or 'O's existence, it's just, you become able to notice them. Just like you don't find out about a hairdressing salon in the vicinity until you want to cut your hair, in spite of passing by it every day."

...Does Daiya really think he could convey his thoughts like that?

"So, why can you «see» 'O'?"

"How should I know!"

I answered a bit unnerved.

"...Kazu, although you returned it, it seems you have touched a 'box' once, right?"

Because it was a bother to reply properly, I just nodded slightly.

"By that you learned that such an absurd thing like a 'box that grants any 'wish really exists. You learned that there are no bounds. How about the thesis that you were a little bit removed at that moment?"

Daiya focused on me.

"But you would be able to master it. That's why you became like this just by touching a 'box'."

"I wouldn't be able! I am... normal."

"Oh no, you're not. As I said previously, you are floating. Aloof this everyday life."

"I'm not."

"You are. Even worse, this abnormality of yours was there even before you touched the 'box'. Your nature resembled us 'owners' from the start! No... rather than resembling us 'owners', you might resemble 'O'."

"---Cut it out!!"

I roared. I could absolutely not admit resembling such a disgusting being.

Daiya looked at me and sighed after a while.

"Well, this topic doesn't matter now indeed. Right, I was supposed to convince you that I'm not the 'owner' of this 'box'."

"...I don't think I can believe you anymore."

"Come on, don't jump to conclusions like that. Mh... would you believe me if I myself stopped [Kingdom Royale] from working?"

"...What do you mean?"

"If [Kingdom Royale] really is about «killing» and «deceiving» each other, then I just have to make sure that won't possibly happen! The game wouldn't work anymore, then."

...We don't want to start [Kingdom Royale], so our goals would overlap with his... I suppose?

"Do you think the 'owner' of this 'box' would wish for it to lose its function?"

"I don't think he would... Err, wait a sec! Does that mean you have a specific idea to stop [Kingdom Royale]?"

"Yeah."

Then, Daiya stated,

"Finding the [Revolutionary]."

"------"

I held my breath unknowingly.

I could somehow manage to prevent my disturbance from appearing on my face. That was dangerous. A tiny mistake and he would've noticed that I was the [Revolutionary].

"Why can you stop it by finding the [Revolutionary]?"

I was able to ask him naturally somehow. Daiya answered without seeming to be suspicious of my attitude,

"Because if I prevent him from executing [Assassination], the game won't start. So I just need to find the [Revolutionary] and threaten him so he won't be able to use [Assassination]. The goal would already be achieved then."

My heart jumped when I heard the word «threaten», but I pretended to be composed and asked,

"'Won't be able to,' you say - but how...?"

"There are several ways, aren't there? For example by telling him I'd reveal that he's the [Revolutionary] if he kills someone. He has no chance of winning anymore if his [class] gets revealed. And there is no fool that would kill for nothing."

"But even if, for argument's sake, you were able to find the [Revolutionary] and could prevent him from executing [Assassination], what about [Sorcery]...? Isn't it possible that someone dies because of that, which launches the game?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Daiya declared distinctly.

"Why?"

"Because I am the [Sorcerer]."

...eh? Is he really okay with telling me his [class] so readily?

"F-For real...? Or are you just trying to deceive me?"

"Do you think I would profit in the game by telling you such a lie?"

"Well---"

I thought for a short while, but nothing came to mind.

"I want to slip out of this worthless 'box'. For that sake, I have no other choice but to cooperate with you and Otonashi! That's why I don't hide my [class] from you."

"...Are you sure you won't regret it? Our [classes] might be opposing yours after all..."

"You guys know that this matter can be resolved by destroying the 'box', so do the [classes] of this game really matter to you?"

...that may be, indeed.

"I'm fine if you guys realize that I'm not the 'owner' of this 'box'! ...Based on that, let me ask---"

He asked me plainly,

"---You are the [Revolutionary], aren't you?"

Because of my reaction right then, Daiya could get confirmation of my [class]. Although it seemed he had been almost sure of that already due to the reaction I had shown to his words earlier.

So now I am under Daiya Oomine's control.

Well... can't be helped, I guess. Nobody would be able to keep his [class] secret from that guy.

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