Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 3, Part 8

▶First Day {D} Big room

Daiya might have been honest when he said that he wanted to stop [Kingdom Royale] from working.

"If you don't want a deadly feud to start, everyone should reveal their [class]."

He made that proposal after all. If we did the coming-out now, he couldn't lie. The [class] he would reveal was even the [Sorcerer], who had the ability to kill.

"...Is that the conclusion you came to after consulting Hoshino-kun?"

Kaichou was the one who broke the ongoing silence.

"Right. I don't plan to obey this game."

"That's good to hear, but I don't think it's a good idea, you know? Because, for example---"

"Just for your information: if someone doesn't follow my proposal, I will conclude that he has the will to participate in [Kingdom Royale]."

"Don't say such arbitrary things!"

"Arbitrary? But I think only I can decide on my own how I judge that?"

Kaichou frowned at his words.

"B-But, Iroha. To tell the truth, I planned to propose the same idea, you know?"

"...well, I got the impression you would during our [Secret Meeting]."

Kaichou looked at us once and asked,

"Are you alright with that? If you have objections, just voice them."

No one raised their voice. I had expected Kamiuchi-kun to object because it was Daiya's proposal, but apparently he kept quiet because Yuuri-san had agreed.

"Hah... for real? Well, I guess I can't be the only one against it as that would disturb the..."

"So we're going to announce our [classes], right?"

"Yeah, yeah."

When Kaichou had given up, Daiya handed us sheets of his memo book that had been in his jute bag, one each.

"Write your [class] on it. There's only one pen, so we'll do it one after another. Make sure to write it so the others can't see, so no one can cheat. If you're done, turn it around. We'll turn it over all at once when I give the sign."

Daiya wrote first, then Maria, me, Kaichou, Yuuri-san and Kamiuchi-kun followed his instruction and wrote as well. Six upside down memos were lying on the table.

"Okay, turn them around!"

Everyone turned their memo. I read the [classes] that were written on each.

Maria was «The Double».

Kaichou was the «King».

Yuuri-san was the «Prince».

Kamiuchi-kun was the «Knight».

And Daiya was--- I had expected he would use some trick, but he had written «Sorcerer» as he had proclaimed to me.

"...Hoshino-kun is the [Revolutionary], huh. ...Hah, I feel relieved now. I was already worried about what to do if it were Kamiuchi-kun."

"Hey Kaichou, what's that supposed to mean!"

"Aah, well, actually I mean it just like I said?"

Kamiuchi smiled bitterly, "Uhee..."

"How's that, Kaichou-sama? This outcome is quite reassuring for you, isn't it?"

"...Well, yeah. It's quite reassuring as long there's no such surprise like Hoshino-kun secretly being awfully wicked."

"...what's with that..."

I pursed my lips, but the comment was ignored by Daiya,

"Further, I have one more proposal. I'll collect the knives that were distributed to each of you. That won't prevent violence entirely, but it's much better than not doing it."

"Don't tell me you want to have all of the knives for yourself? If so, I'm against it. It's too dangerous if you're the only one with power while taking ours, Senpai."

"Hmpf, we just need to keep them in the room of someone other than me, then."

Kaichou interrupted him,

"Wouldn't Yuuri's or Hoshino-kun's room be the most appropriate places? Well, I don't care which one, so decide on it on your own, you two."

"Huh?" "Huh?"

We raised our voices simultaneously and exchanged glances when our names were suddenly called.

"Ah, please go ahead, Hoshino-san." "Ah, no, please, you go ahead, Yuuri-san." "I don't particularly want to..." "I don't, either." "I think that you would store the knives properly for us..." "I would be at ease if you did, Yuuri-san." "But..." "You just need to keep them, really." "But that's the same for---"

"Fine, fine, Yuuri it is."

Kaichou interrupted us while clapping her hands and decided on her own.

"I-Irohaa~"

"Be quiet, it's decided! Everyone, bring your knives for tomorrow's {B}-time. Yuuri will collect them. Okay? So, are you finally happy now?"

"Not yet."

Kaichou let out a sigh at his behavior.

"Fine, fine, so what's next, oh great Emperor?"

Daiya completely ignored Kaichou's sarcasm and continued,

"With that, [Kingdom Royale] stopped working for the time being. However, our goal isn't just to stop it, but to slip out from it. In the end it's just a temporary agreement. If the circumstances change, it won't hold anymore."

"Well, I guess so. So what do you suggest? Do you have some important information?"

"I know how to slip out of this game."

Not only Kaichou, but everyone of us tensed up.

...Daiya, don't tell me---

"We just need to destroy the 'box'."

Exactly as I had feared. Daiya admitted the existence of the 'boxes' in front of the others.

In a condition where he was the main suspect.

"The 'boxes' that Maria Otonashi mentioned certainly exist. If you fail to believe, just think of the 'box' as a metaphor of the thing that drove us into this situation. Anyways, in order to achieve our goal, we just need to destroy this 'box'. We are able to do so by killing its 'owner'."

"But didn't Otonashi-san say something along the lines of you being that 'owner'?"

"......I take that claim back for now."

Maria interrupted their talk with a frown.

"Oomine is the greatest suspect - that doesn't change. But I've come to the conclusion that it's still too early to rule out other possibilities. Firstly, that's how I felt during the [Secret Meeting], and secondly, Oomine's proposals do, without doubt, prevent anyone's death. ...Therefore, I can't say for sure whether he's the 'owner'."

Kaichou held her head without hiding the bewilderment from Maria's positive reply.

Neither Maria nor I knew whether Daiya was telling the truth or not. We didn't know what Daiya planned to do about us.

But it was certain that [Kingdom Royale] was the deed of a 'box'.

If only they believed that, I was sure [Kingdom Royale] would not start. Then, we could unite and head towards a solu---

"Please spare me!"

My optimistic thinking was halted abruptly.

Everyone's gaze focused on Kamiuchi who had spoken.

"Why are you considering it seriously, Kaichou? There's no need for that, really!"

"...why?"

Her question caused Kamiuchi-kun to flash a grin and declare,

"I mean --- those three are already completely conspiring together, aren't they?"

And then I --- grew stiff.

The usual looseness had disappeared from his face. Instead, there was a lack of expression, radiating cruelty.

"This is... a trap. Yeah, a trap. Of course we have no clue what kind of humans 'owners' are, right? That means that, if we searched for that 'owner' we'd have no other choice but to entirely listen to what those three say, and search based on that. Do you realize what that means?"

Kamiuchi-kun flashed a faint smile and said,

"They are able to --- make someone appear to be the 'owner' we are supposed to kill."

What---

What is he saying...?

"We have no plans to kill the 'owner'---"

"---Shut up!"

A single outcry.

Just that had an extreme impact.

I realized that instant; That person was --- different. He was living in another world than I did. And in his world --- violence existed.

No one was able to speak.

What broke the ongoing silence was the sound of Kamiuchi-kun's deep and long sigh. After breathing in and out several times, his expression had returned to the usual leisurely one.

But I wasn't calmed by that expression anymore, not like I was before.

"You can't believe that such 'boxes' exist either, right, Yuuri-chan?"

I heard the sound of Yuuri-san draw breath.

He was coercing her into agreeing. A denial wouldn't be accepted.

"......I..."

Gaining a false legitimacy for the sake of getting rid of us by making her nod.

That was his objective.

Therefore, it would be over once Yuuri-san nodded.

But for her it was impossible. It was impossible a timid girl like her could hold against him in his current state.

Yuuri-san stole a short peek at me with her teary eyes, but then she averted them right away.

With trembling lips she murmured,

"......yes, I can't believe it."

Aah, that's it...

Is what I thought, but---

"......But,"

She continued,

"I think we can at least trust Hoshino-san. Therefore, I can't... accept that he would want to lure us into a trap."

She couldn't accept it.

She clearly said so. She did so while trembling, while fearing him, but still she managed to persist against Kamiuchi-kun's opinion. She defended me.

She crouched down, her hands in front of her chest, her breathing fitful - apparently it was a reaction to mustering up all her courage.

Kamiuchi-kun seemed to be surprised by her rebuttal and gazed at her with wide eyes. Then he shot me a sharp glance. I gulped as I felt like a criminal about to be judged.

"Well, I have to admit that Hoshino-senpai looks good-natured to me as well."

And then, the enmity finally disappeared from his expression.

...did we make it...?

Yuuri-san raised her face and looked at me. She relaxed her tense face and sent me a smile.

Like that we managed to preserve the hope for a peaceful solution, thanks to Yuuri-san's courage.

Daiya, Kaichou, Kamiuchi-kun and Maria returned to their rooms. When I was about to go through the door as well, Yuuri-san grasped my hand.

"What's the matter?"

I noticed right when I asked that---Her hands were trembling.

"...I was frightened."

She whispered without raising her face.

"He was... very frightening."

"Yeah... Umm... You pretty much saved us, Yuuri-san. Thank you."

I tried to comfort her with a smile, but the fear didn't leave her expression.

"The [Secret Meeting]."

"...eh?"

"I'm frightened... of the next [Secret Meeting] with him."

Yuuri-san was wax-pale like the time we first met.

"Y-You don't have to worry! I mean, it seems Kamiuchi-kun likes you, so---"

"---that's why I'm frightened!!"

She raised her face and almost shouted before looking at the ground again almost immediately. Apparently she felt uncomfortable for her loud voice.

"S-Sorry, I didn't want to unsettle you."

"M-Mhm..."

What's the meaning of that?

[Secret Meeting] - it's about getting to be all alone with someone in that prison-like room. Since Kamiuchi-kun seems to like her, I don't think he would kill---

"Ah..."

Then I realized.

I realized what Yuuri-san was frightened of.

Seeming to have noticed that I guessed that, she grasped my hand tightly.

"......I'm serious, you know?"

"Eh?"

"I'm seriously thinking that we can trust you, I didn't just say it to calm Kamiuchi-san down."

Her trembling became even worse. Worrying about her, I looked at her downcast face.

"I'm scared... I'm scared...!"

She was crying.

Damn, what should I do?

As I judged that thinking about it wouldn't help, I returned the pressure of her trembling hand. Yuuri-san put her left hand on mine as well and grasped me strongly.

"Ah---"

Again

Yet again.

Again, I remembered.

I remembered «Nana Yanagi» more clearly than I had when I heard Yuuri-san's last name.

Rather, it seemed weird to me; how I could forget her so completely? Though it hadn't even been two years since, I hadn't been reminiscing about her very existence recently. I had forgotten her almost as if those events hadn't even happened.

Don't tell me the wish I bore ever since I betrayed her, «I want to forget Nana Yanagi», had been granted?

Right --- by painting her over with my everyday life.

«Even worse, this abnormality of yours was there even before you touched the 'box'.»

---That has nothing to do with it. Definitely not.

"...I'm sorry, Hoshino-san, I'm really sorry... I'm going to be selfish now, but please forgive me. I'm trusting you arbitrarily. Therefore---"

She spoke. Yanagi-san spoke,

"Therefore, please--- don't betray me."

Her teary face... reminded me of my first love for some reason.

And then, at the moment I thought they resembled, I said it.

"I won't betray you. I won't betray you anymore, «Yanagi-san»!"

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

When I had returned to my room I finally reminisced about her after a long time.

Nana Yanagi. She was my classmate, my first love and --- the girlfriend of my best friend.

While having the same last name, she was completely different from Yuuri-san. If I had to describe her in one word, she was a troublemaker. For example once she suddenly shaved off her eyebrows during break, or she made the classroom turn pink with a fire extinguisher - she had played countless numbers of these antics. The girls were secretly calling her «weirdo».

Naturally Yanagi-san was scary to me and honestly, I really didn't want to associate with her. I think there are almost no people that would want to associate with a classmate who has dyed her hair blonde, wears an anachronistically long skirt that would even put off other delinquents, and smokes secretly.

But there was one of those 'almost no people' close to me.

«Touji Kijima», my best friend.

Touji was a very curious person whose eyes always sparkled when he came upon something unknown. He always watched her eccentric endeavors with radiant eyes. Perhaps it was natural for Touji to be attracted to her.

Yanagi-san had been rejecting him when he had first started to approach her. But in truth, she had probably longed for someone that would care about her. Finally she accepted Touji and they became lovers.

And right when they became lovers, she showed her true nature.

That was --- the nature of being a lonely person.

She depended on Touji. But the level of that dependence was plainly abnormal. She would never leave his side and she would always menace other girls that approached him in order to ward them off. Because of Touji's wish, she dyed her hair back to its natural black color, she started wearing a normal skirt and she buried her cigarettes in the garden.

Touji was Yanagi-san's everything.

Therefore, she was already unable to endure it just when he, her everything, did not completely fulfill her expectations, even if it was just words or manner she didn't like. She got awfully hurt by the tiniest let-downs. Sometimes so badly, she would cut her own wrist.

The only one who could listen to her lamentations was me.

Her phone calls always started with her crying voice. She would often lead me to secluded places and cried.

At first, I only listened to what she had to say. But she gradually sought greater comfort from me. She made me stroke her head, she made me hug her, she made me sleep next to her and she made me drink her tears. I remember her saying something unreasonable like she would calm down when looking at my face while I was licking over her cheeks, though she had feelings of guilt towards Touji at those times.

Right, she also depended on me.

To be honest, it was tiresome. There were times when I didn't answer her phone calls as well because she was a bother.

Considering even I was like that, Touji found her tiresome in no time as well.

After several talks about separation, they finally split up for good.

From that day on she buzzed around me each and every day. While there surely are a lot of people that don't taste others' tears in their entire life, I tasted that saltiness to an extent that I got completely sick of it. But I endured it because I knew that I was the only one she could rely on.

But even I was at my limit. My stomach hurt because of my constant irritation. I lost my hunger. It made me sick - why did I have to keep comforting a girl that wasn't even my girlfriend?

Therefore, one day I told her,

"I can't stand your company anymore."

She didn't understand me.

I gradually used rougher words in order to make her understand my intent.

I can't stand your company anymore, you're a bother! You only think about yourself! Cut it out already! You were abandoned by Touji because you don't care about others! I don't want anymore, don't follow me around anymore, you weirdo---

And the day I insulted her like this----Yanagi-san and Touji disappeared.

The other classmates that only knew them as lovers arbitrarily called it elopement, but I knew that wasn't the case.

So why did those two disappear simultaneously?

That's obvious. Yanagi-san, who had despaired because of my betrayal, carried Touji off. And --- made sure he could never return.

I blamed myself. It was my fault. Because I failed to support her. Because I rejected her despite being the only one she could depend on.

But what occupied my heart even more than the feelings of guilt were feelings of emptiness.

Everything in my daily routine became virtually insipid. A daily routine as flavorless as a gum that has been chewed for three days. It was lacking. The world was lacking flavor.

It was lacking that strong saltiness.

That's cruel! I wouldn't have thought you would disappear from me just because of those words! I thought you would still continue to depend on me! Making me, making me taste such a flavor and then disappearing like that is just too irresponsible!

Why---was it Touji?

If it had been me, I would have given you everything. Though I had given you almost everything already.

After noticing the hollowness in my heart, I finally...really, finally realized.

---Aah... that was it.

I --- had loved Nana Yanagi.

But she wasn't here anymore. She took Touji with her, she took almost everything in my heart with her, and disappeared somewhere.

But even after betraying, hurting, cornering and killing my loved one, my everyday life continued. Because I was living, I had to keep on living. I had to keep on living in a world without her.

For that sake, I decided to forget her.

I decided to forget Nana Yanagi. She was not someone I should have accompanied to begin with. I wanted to seal her, who was almost something like the symbol of the abnormal due to her eccentricity.

And then, I really forgot her, surprisingly well.

Come to think of it, when did I start being particular about my everyday life?

«Please select a target for [Assassination]»

This message plus the photographs of six people, including myself, were shown on the monitor.

There was no way I would do such a thing.

I didn't understand this 'Game of Idleness'. Even the thought of it having no meaning at all went through my head.

I let myself fall on the bed.

But even if this 'box' has no meaning - so what? Does the everyday life I'm going to return to have a meaning?

This everyday life that only has the purpose of forgetting her?

"------"

Yuuri-san came to my mind.

I was aware that I was overlapping «Yuuri Yanagi» with «Nana Yanagi» without someone having to point it out to me.

If I manage to save Yuuri-san without betraying her, will I then be able to get free from «Nana»'s curse?

I don't know. I don't know, but---

The instant I imagined Yuuri-san's face,

---I felt the taste of someone's tears in my dry mouth.

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