(A/n):{Speaking in real time during flashback}

[PROGRESS]

"Kai threatened me...to strike Sou in the head..." Nao confesses. 

Everyone looks at Kai but he doesn't say a word. 

Nao continues. "After the body collection announcement, I ran with the box to the cafeteria, where... Suddenly, Kai pulled me by the hand and pushed me into the kitchen."

[FLASHBACK]

"Remain quiet... If you hide here, you won't be found." Kai assures Nao. She starts nodding her head frantically. "O...Okay..."

{Nao: Kai protected me.}

Kai pulls away and rubs his chin. "It's quite admirable of you to stand up to the kidnappers, miss Nao." Nao panics. "Please!! Don't tell anyone about this!!"

{Nao: Once Kai knew the situation, he made me a proposal.}

"Well then, miss Nao, would you indulge a request of mine?" He asks. "W...What kind of request...?" Nao stutters.

{???: That is enough.}

[FLASHBACK END]

Kai straightens up with his neutral expression. Sou groans. "Don't be a wet blanket. We were just getting to the good part." Kai ignores him and keeps his focus on Nao. "I am astonished you would tell such a lie, miss Nao." She points to him. "I...It's not a lie!!" Sou tilts his head. "Kai... You deny threatening her?" He asks. Kai nods. "Indeed. If she had been threatened, she would surely tell all at the start. For miss Nao has no reason to defend me. It is quite different from when Alice stood up for miss Reko."

...why is it so hard to tell what's true when it comes to these people?

Nao keeps pointing at Kai. "Awful... You're awful, Kai...!"

[BALANCE BATTLE]

Kai keeps his usual expression on. "Miss Nao, you are attempting to drag in as many others as you can." Nao is sweating. "You're wrong!!" Kai shakes his head. "I cannot entertain these lies." Nao keeps her gaze on him, even if she's scared. "I couldn't open the kitchen!" 

I speak up. "That's true! None of us could have done that without the key!"

"Exactly. And neither could I. In fact, the kitchen key was beyond the iron bars on the second floor, yes?" He looks to me for confirmation and I nod. "I did not go to the second floor. How do you explain the key's presence there?"

"Could the door have been picked open?" He proposes. "The key was thrown from 1F to 2F!" Nao says.

Sara thinks about the options before speaking up. "That's it! There were iron bars just up the stairs from the first floor! The key was thrown through the gaps!" Kai tilts his head. "Is that so? I understand... However, supposing I guided miss Nao to the kitchen, do you believe I could threaten her?"

"I would need a weakness to threaten with." He says. "It's strange to protect me out of goodwill!" Nao points out.

I shake my head. "Not true, Kai! If you had the knife, you could have easily threatened Nao!" I explain. "Then let us suppose I could indeed. Why would I have miss Nao attack Sou?" Kai asks.

"There is no point in using miss Nao." Kai says. Nao tries to think of a rebuttal. "He must have had it out for Sou..."

Sara shakes her head. "There wasn't anything deep enough for resentment. Which meant he had an objective not tied to Sou!" Kai gazes intently at her. "Hmm. If you insist that's the case, what objective could I have had?"

Kai rubs his chin in thought. "To steal something perhaps?" Nao brainstorms. "To destroy our trust in our allies?" She guesses.

Suddenly I get an eureka moment and slam my hands on the desk in shock. "That's it! Kai wanted to steal the laptop Sou found!"

[BALANCE BROKEN]

Kai stays quiet. "I remember now... Kai said he'd defend me on the condition that he received the laptop." Nao says in realization. "Y'oughta remember the important part first!!'" Q-taro shouts. Reko slams a fist on her desk. "She lost herself enough to knock a dude out! 'Course her memory's gonna be fuzzy!!" Nao presses her hands together and looks down. "I-I'm sorry... But...now I remember it clearly..."

[FLASHBACK]

"...Do you understand, miss Nao?"

Kai has Nao pinned against the wall in the kitchen. He's holding a knife right in front of her and Nao's clutching onto the yellow box like her life depends on it.

"Please retrieve the laptop from Sou in the hidden room." His eyes look like the ones of a dead fish as he says this. "I-I can't...! If he sees me, he'll call for Sara and (F/n)!" Nao barely manages to get the words out. "Then you may borrow my frying pan. Approach from behind... Understand?" 

Nao keeps shaking and Kai backs up, knife still raised. He hands the frying pan to her free hand. "Do not worry. Your strength is such that even a forceful whack with this will not kill." Kai assures her.

Nao's gaze keeps shifting between Kai, the knife, the frying pan in her hand and the box in the other. "...But..." Kai takes out the kitchen key from his pocket and shows it to Nao. "If you refuse, I will hand this key to someone else." Nao's eyes widen as she stares at the key in his hand. "...That's...!" Kai takes a step closer again. "Please, miss Nao. I am not the only one who will be in trouble if I do not get that laptop." His expression shows a bit of sadness.

"Miss Sara...will be as well."

[FLASHBACK END]

"Sara...!?" Joe yells out in surprise. Nao looks up at Kai. "But... That was all a lie, wasn't it... Kai didn't keep his promise!! Kai...must be the one who took the professor away!!" She points at him accusingly. Kai stayed silent. 

"Might not...necessarily be a lie, actually." 

Everyone's eyes go to Sou who's casually checking out his nails with a barely visible smirk. "Huh!?" Sara makes a confused noise and I cross my arms. "What have you got in store for us now?" I say annoyed.

I wish he'd just shut his trap already.

Sou looks at Sara. "The laptop is password-locked. Considering that, why do you think Kai would be so serious about taking it?" Sara plays with her bangs. "Because...he had a way to bypass it." She suggests. Sou looks like he didn't expect that answer. "Could that be done with some special device...? Well, there's nothing like that here, so." Sou chuckles before continuing. "It's actually a much more laughable reason... The password was easily guessable."

My eyes widen to the point I'm worried if they'll fall out my skull.

"Wait! So you know the password!?" I yell. Sou nods. "Of course!" Sara leans on the desk, exasperated. "Wha!? Didn't you say you couldn't see anything!?" She asks. Sou shrugs. "Yeah, but that was a lie." I slam my fists on my desk. "You piece of shit!!" Sou laughs, clearly amused by me. I keep snarling at him as he continues.

"See, the password... Was "chidouin"."

My anger turns to surprise. "It's Chidouin!?" Q-taro yells in disbelief. "What a...bizzare...lie..." Sara mumbles. I hold her hand as Sou continues speaking with his head on his hands. "Sorry to say, but it's true. I tried typing in everyone's names... And my last attempt...was trustworthy miss Sara's last name, Chidouin... Imagine my shock." He gazes innocently at Sara and she glares. "I...! I've never seen that laptop in my life!" Sou rolls his eyes. "Of course, I know this isn't your laptop, miss Sara."

He's acting like a little bitch.

*Inhale*

Lord...gimme the strength to not falcon punch this man out of existence.

Sara's stretches her arms out, confused. "Then...!!" Sou cuts her off with a grin. "It's Kai's... Isn't it?" He turns to him. Kai is being very careful about his actions, I can tell. "...You...read the emails?" He asks. Keiji cuts in. "So...you admit it." Sou sighs and rubs his head. "I wanted to read them all. If only miss Nao hadn't whacked me...urgh..." Keiji raises an eyebrow. "Well now, what did they say...?" He asks. Sou smiles. "I remember them well..."

Now this shit can't be fully trusted. 

I'm prepared to take this with a grain of salt.

"Among the mails on Kai's laptop was one saying "As planned, 17 people have been secured." I was able to read four emails. All of them sent from Kai to some other person... Though all the addresses were different. Nonsense addresses that seemed like codes... I'm guessing that was a security measure to hide who they were being sent to. I'll recount them starting from the oldest, okay?" He explains.

Alright, here we go.

---------------

[1st Email]

As planned, 17 people have been secured. Just in case, is there no error in the date of the Death Game?

Everything is proceeding smoothly.

[2nd Email]

I feel a deep affection for miss Sara as well. I will certainly protect her.

I am prepared to offer myself up for the Chidouins.

[3rd Email]

It's about time.

If any harm comes to Sara Chidouin, I will stand against even you as an enemy.

[4th Email]

Miss Sara is looking forward to the games. Surely her friend will also take part.

----------------

"...And that's what they said." Sou grins. 

"Death Game... You gotta be shittin' me! Clearly he's talkin' about this!!" Reko points out. Q-taro turns to Kai. "K...Kai! This's gotta be wrong, right!? You can't be with the kidnappers, yeah!?" Alice crosses his arms on the desk. "Well now... Were the aproned scoundrel and Sara Chidouin acquainted?" Sara starts mumbling. "I wouldn't say "acquainted"...!"

Now ain't THAT the truth!

Nao speaks up. "Um... You don't think the "friend" is...Joe!?" Joe looks at her confused. "Eh? M...Me?" Sou nods. "I inferred that much myself. It's a fact that Kai knew about this Death Game. He's with the kidnappers... And more terrifying yet... Miss Sara, miss (F/n) and Joe are with them too."

OH NO HE DIDN'T

I slam my hands down. "Bitch, excuse me!?!?" Joe's fists also make contact with the desk. "Yeah! How dare you say that!? If we were with the kidnappers, obviously we wouldn't do that dangerous trial!! We can't even trust the contents of those emails to start with! What if Sou is just making it up as he goes!?" I nod. "Exactly! He's already lied to us so many times!!" I point out.

 Sou still had a casual smile on. "Huh... So you won't admit it." I'm sure both Joe and I looked appalled. "Obviously!" We say. Joe continues. "We nearly died in the First Trial, too!"

THERE YOU GO MAN! LOVE YA JOE!

"Exactly! We even had the keys to prove it!" I point out. "Y...Yes, that's right! Something that terrifying... There's no point in doing it yourself, is there...?" Nao agrees. "Did you really do the trial...? You can't prove it, can you? Those keys could have just been given to you. That's not proof." Sou points out. 

Shit, he's right. 

Kai places his ladle under his chin. "You cannot prove yourself, either... Though if we had the laptop here, your lies would be exposed as well." Sou tugs on his scarf. "Even after your threat was exposed, you're still staying stubborn, eh?"

What is this guy's deal!? He's acting like he's enjoying this!

"For arguments sake, I might accept Kai's the bad guy, but I can't get those three bein' our enemies!" Reko exclaims. 

"Eh...?" Sou raises an eyebrow. 

"Back in Russian Roulette, it was Sara, (F/n) and Joe bein' there that got us through safe!!" Q-taro points out. 

Gin jumps up. "Big sis Sara and big sis (F/n) got me out of the cage, meow!! You look weak, but you're real cheeky, woof!!" 

Sou raises his hands in a bad attempt to calm everyone. "H-Hold on a second... That isn't what..." 

Keiji cuts in. "Just makin' sure here... But you didn't read the emails wrong, did you?" He asks.

Everyone's coming to our defense!!

I feel a smile grow on my face as I look to Sou.

"...H...Huh? Err... H-How strange... What's the matter, everybody...? Think calmly now... L-Look, Kai and Nao's actions were proven! Nao hit me... Made a big bump, even... Doubting me now...it's illogical! This is...just weird... W-Why does everybody believe miss Sara and miss (F/n)...?" 

He looks desperate. 

Alice speaks up. "...Hmph, how pitiful... It seems the difference in trust between you is the difference between heaven and earth."

That's right! This bitch has no support!

Sou stretches out his arms in disbelief. "...What the hell...!? Open your eyes, everybody!! I'm... I'm telling you what's right...!!"

I look to Sara for permission to take this guy down together. 

She smiles and nods. 

I smirk.

"Sou, you're a liar. Actions and behavior are what build trust. No one will believe the words of a liar." Sara looks to me so I can say my piece. 

I nod and look to Sou. "Dude, you are the biggest liar I've ever met. There is no way in hell I'm letting you get away with this. The fact that you treat this whole situation like a game for your amusement makes me sick to my stomach. Also, manipulating children? You're just plain sadistic."

Sara joins in my next words.

"So would you please shut up?"

...

The silence from him is very satisfying as he lowers his head and covers his face with his scarf.

...

"...Enough..."

Sou pulls down his scarf to reveal the most psychopathic grin and insane eyes I've ever seen.

"Hahahahahahaha...!!"

He leans back as he laughs manically.

"Amazing, you two. You're prodigies at seizing people's hearts!"

He glances over everyone and grabs onto his beanie.

"Shameful, the rest of you. The riffraff."

"Don't you value your lives?"

"Don't you doubt when others are kind?"

"Do you not even have the brains to think for yourselves?"

"Death is just a matter of time for you. That's the way weaklings live!"

He leans back again.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha!!"

I feel my eyes start watering again from fear...

"W-What the hell happened to you...!?" Q-taro stutters. Sou finally calms down and narrows his eyes. "I've given up. On all you incompetents. Worthless...every one of you..." Gin runs over to me and hugs my waist. "The loner snapped, meow... I'm scared, woof..."

Oh that's it. This is where I draw the line. He is not about to scare my Gin!

I wipe my eyes and gently push Gin away as Sou looks at Sara and I. "I can't count on any of you anymore. Miss Sara, miss (F/n), let's talk it out ourselves. This is the fastest way. Hahaha..." I hold my fist like Alice does and snarl. "Bring it on, you rat!!" Gin runs back to his desk.

[PROGRESS]

[WAR OF WORDS]

Sara and I stare intensely at Sou.

Here we fucking go!

"Kai is with the kidnappers. He even asked the date of the Death Game via email. And both miss Sara and miss (F/n) are in on it." He begins.

I speak up. "Well where the hell's your proof that we're in on it, huh!?" I cross my arms.

"I think it can be inferred to from the emails..." He smirks.

Sara cuts Sou off. "So that's all it is! A conjecture!!" I nod. "Don't make up shit unless you got proof."

"...Hmph... I see." Sou begrudgingly says.

"All the emails were sent to a single person. According to the emails, Kai seemed to love miss Sara. I sense a strange devotion to the Chidouins, too." He continues.

I raise my hands up. "Hold on! You said those emails were sent to different email addresses! Ones like codes and such!"

Sou raises an eyebrow. "What about it?"

I look at him in disbelief. Sara takes over. "That means saying they all went to one person is just your own assumption!" She points to him.

"I'm pretty confident in it, myself... Though I suppose there's no proof. Well... I'm just claiming it, anyway." He admits.

"Likely someone from the Chidouins is involved in this. But to Kai, they're not as important as miss Sara. Aren't those four getting more and more dubious?" Sou motions to Joe, Kai, Sara and me.

Sara leans over the desk. "I understand how Kai is suspicious! Even suspicion of me is inevitable...but... Suspecting the four of us as a group isn't right! (F/n)'s not mentioned in any way, shape or form in the emails! I just met her here but you're suspecting her by association just like Joe! You're just presenting this in a manipulative way!"

Sou grimaces. "Geez... That's a sharp remark. Well, I'll say it like this for you." He says as if he's gonna dumb it down.

It pisses me off even more.

"I hadn't even imagined miss (F/n) or Joe would be involved too. "Her friend'll also take part in the games..." Scary stuff. After all, "miss Sara is looking forward to them"."

I cut in. "Wait! Like Sara said, Joe and I aren't even mentioned in the email! Why do you insist on also involving us?" I ask. "Exactly! Making a conjecture off of that is letting your assumptions go wild!" Sara adds.

Sou is steadily getting less cocky and more pissed off. "You two like personal attacks, huh? Ah, well... I guess I'll acknowledge it. That said, I'm not going to let you two escape."

BRING IT ON BITCH

" "17 secured"... Add 3, and it matches the list in the bar. Taking the laptop tells the whole story, huh? After all this, do you still deny any relation to Kai?" He asks.

Sara nods. "Of course we will!! Isn't that all just a conjecture anyway!?"

Sou looks unamused. "What's that...?"

Sara points to him. "You provide some proof too, Sou! Proof those emails were there!!" I cut in. "There was never even a shred of evidence that Kai and I knew each other before all this! You really like making accusations without proof, huh?" I snarkily remark.

Sou glares at us. "Funny how you say that, after you guys stole it... So unfortunately... I don't have proof." 

I can tell it hurts him to say that.

G O O D

Sara takes a step back and crosses her arms. I do the same. "Then we're in the same situation! We're denying those emails!" She says and I nod.

Sou looks like he's been slapped.

[DISCUSSION END]

We refuted as much as we could...

Once Sou starts breathing heavily and leaning over the desk, I take that as my cue to cough and catch my breath as well. Sara does too.

We all need to calm down...

Sou starts coughing. "I'm exhausted... I feel kind of sick..." I muster up the strength to glare at him. "Oh boo-fucking-hoo..." I growl. He glares back.

...

Except for the breathing and occasional coughs from us, there's silence and suspicion in the air.

Everyone is just even more confused because of this argument...

Joe gets everyone's attention. "G-Get a grip everybody! Doubting Sara and (F/n) just isn't right!! You want us all to be killed off!?"

Huh...? ...Wait... Why would he say-?

My train of thought gets cut off by the rat who's turned to Joe. "...Hey, what do you think would be the worst for you? If a guy like me with no trust were a traitor...? No, that can't be it. It'd be if miss Sara was your enemy...right?" He asks with a smile and his dead eyes.

This green bastard...

"How fucking dare you...!" I growl. He ignores me again. Keiji looks taken aback while Joe turns red with rage. He points to him. "Now see here..."

"Yes, yes, your attention please~."

Everyone looks to Miley. She looks very comfortable in her throne and is acting like she's holding back a fit of laughter with a hand in front of her mouth. "Eheehee... Sorry to intrude while you're getting all fired up." She does jazz hands and smirks evilly.

"It's nearly time for the preliminary vote!" She announces.

"What!? Already!?" I ask, panic clear in my voice.

I completely forgot we had a time limit!!!

Sara also speaks up. "W-Wait! At a time like this...!?" Reko grips onto her head. "The hell do we do!? We've got no conclusions!!" Q-taro tightens his fists. "How we gonna make a vote without regrets!?"

SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!!!

I look to Sara in a panic and see she's holding her mouth as she leans over the desk. She looks distraught and conflicted. "Sara...!" Joe and I both yell. I wrap my arms around her.

I hear Sou snicker. "Be brave, everybody. Those feelings of not wanting to be betrayed are just getting in the way~." He finishes in a sing song voice. I snarl at him. "Fuck you, bitch!!" I go to lunge at him but Sara holds my hands that are around her to keep me in place.

Sou sees my hostile urges and laughs as he turns all theatrical. "Doubting those two...is a step forward!" Sara growls this time and her hands squeeze mine almost painfully. "Sou...!! You really are a...!!" He laughs again and bumps up the carefree attitude even more. "Ahaha... Come on, let's vote already. And now..."

He turns to us with a 'You're trash beneath my feet' look.

"It's your turn to die...miss Sara and miss (F/n)."

I feel a shiver run up my entire body before I glare at him like an angry dog. "I wouldn't be so sure, rat!"

Everyone touches the voting tablets. 

Sara and I pick ours up. We look at each other. "No question about our choice, right?" I ask in a duh voice. Sara nods.

[Vote for Sou?]
    [Yes] [No]
       ^
Die you filthy rat!

---------------------

[Author's Note]

Holy crap the preliminary vote is finally upon us.

CAN YOU FEEL THE STRESS YET!?!?

I hope I'm doing the game justice with this fic. i really do.

See y'all in the next chapter! <3

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 3721]