As I was about to go and look for more attractions, Sara suddenly grabbed me by the elbow. I tilted my head. "What is it?"

Sara's eyes trailed off in the direction of the monitor room. Once she finally got a hold of herself, she looked back at me. "I'm worried about Nao... Can we go check on her please?"

Oh right... The AI of Mishima...

I nod in approval. "Yeah... I wanna make sure she's okay too." With that we headed over in the direction of the Monitor Room.

Once we got to the doorway, Sara nd I noticed that Nao was talking to the proffesor Mishima AI just as we thought. "Nao..." I heard Sara whisper her name.

"So then...proffesor... While you were gone..." It sounded like Nao was going to start telling the AI a story.

I really hope that she'll be okay... I kind of understand what she's going through. 

I mean, I may have only met all these people about a day ago but it's still very difficult for me!

I wish I could talk to Kai and Joe again, they seemed like great people...

Well, at least Nao has some time to grieve.

I turned my attention back to the conversation happening in the room. The Mishima AI is smiling gently at Nao and listening to her speak.

Once she finishes, it nods in acknowledgement. 

"Is that so... It's been nothing but hardship, then... However... Even amid such circumstances, you've made wonderful friends, miss Nao."

Nao's eyes widened. "F...Friends...?"

The AI smiled once more. 

"Indeed! Age and the length of your association are of no relevence. They are wonderful people who help each other. I understand that clearly hearing you speak." 

Suddenly it turned serious. 

"Please treasure your friends, miss Nao."

"...Okay..." Nao rubbed her elbow and chewed on her bottom lip. "I've always been...getting saved by them..."

She took a deep breath and stood straight once more. "So from now on... I want to be useful to Reko, (F/n), Sara and everyone..." 

Nao sighed and looked at the Mishima AI once more. "That's why... I'm...going now, proffesor."

The AI adjusted it's digital glasses. 

"Yes, please come by any time. I'll be right here." 

Nao shook her head and took a step back. "...No...I won't...come here anymore..."

The AI looked taken aback for the longest time before it smiled gently at her. 

"Miss Nao... You truly have grown strong, haven't you?" 

It chuckled and gave a respectable bow. 

"I'm honored to have had you as my student. Goodbye, miss Nao."

With a flicker, the monitor switched off.

...

*Sniffle*

Next thing I knew, Nao let her forehead rest against the monitor as bitter tears begun to stream down her face.

"I...I'm...not strong...at all... I wanted you watching over me, always... Proffesor..."

I felt my heart breaking for her even more than it already was...

Nao...

She's trying her best to move forward.

...

I hope I'll be able to help her on her journey and to be of some comfort to her.

After finishing that thought, I felt a tug on my arm. I looked over at Sara. "Let's go... She needs to have this moment alone." With that, Sara lead the way back to the common room like area.

...Are her eyes glossy right now or is it just me?

Sigh... Best not to ask. She also needs her space.

I just want to be of help to everyone.

With that thought in mind, I followed Sara.

[Day 1 Noon]

As soon as we walked back, we noticed a commotion going on.

Are Ranger and Q-taro arguing? And why is Keiji there too?

Q-taro got right up to Ranger's face with a snarl. "Quit wit' the stupid jokes, you!!"

Ranger snickered. "The biggest joke around here's your name!"

The burly man clenched his fists in rage. "Dammit...!! You gotta be screwin' with me!!"

I stepped up to the three with Sara in tow. "Okay, what the hell is going on here? Did Ranger mess with you or something?"

Q-taro turned to me. "(F/n)...! This Ranger guy just said we can't go back to the first and second floors!"

The asshole in question took out the smug cardboard face. "I mean, you cleared 'em already, right?"

I narrowed my eyebrows at him. "That's true but we may still need to go down there!"

Sara nodded feverishly. "Yeah! Kai's laptop is still down there!"

Ranger just rolled his eyes and arched his back in over dramatic exasperation. "Who caaares? We'll just confiscate that thing!"

Q-taro clenched his teeth. "Dammit! It was unmistakably a clue...!" He then glared at Ranger and took a step back. "That laptop's the one thing I ain't gonna hand over to ya...!!"

With those words, he ran off to probably the stairs everyone took to get to this floor. Meanwhile Ranger just skipped away without a care in the world.

Keiji sighed and rubbed his neck. "...Sheesh. Bet Q-taro wants to find the truth about Kai."

I scratch my cheek. "He did seem really broken up about his death, especially during the Main Game..."

The blond hummed in thought. "What a troublesome guy...leaving mystery after mystery."

"I wonder if Kai was a good person after all..." Sara suddenly blurted out.

Well that's out of the blue!

Keiji turned to her. "...Some aspects suggested it. His anger for the victims, and resistance against the kidnappers..." He looked at the ceiling in thought. "Was Kai acting for good or for evil? Just whose side was he on...?" 

The ginger girl got a solemn look on her face. "...And we ended up making Kai a victim without knowing anything about him..." 

...

We stayed silent for a while.

I rubbed my arm uncomfortably. "We tried to save hi-"

"We can make inferences." Keiji cut me off, probably for the better.

Sara tilted her head. "Infrerences...?"

The detective nodded. "Friend or foe... Let's consider the possibillities."

"Sounds good, let's do it." I say before turning my full attention to Keiji.

"First, Kai confessed to having some contact with the kidnappers. So one possibility is that Kai was with the baddies. Like a director of the Death Game, for instance."

I narrow my eyebrows in thought. "I don't really see that to be honest. Call it a gut feeling..."

I just don't see Kai is a full on villain. I can't explain why!

Sara nodded. "Besides, Kai drew the Sage card and died... In his last moments he said he entrusted (F/n) and me his  hopes. I can't imagine him as an enemy."

Keiji rubbed his chin before glancing at the girl. "Incidentally, Sara... You really didn't have any acquaintance with Kai?" 

"No..." Sara shook her head.

Keiji narrowed his eyes. "...Huh. Then how about this one? Something like...Kai betrayed the kidnappers."

Hmm... I can't say it's impossible...

Sara was quick to catch on. "And he was executed as an example...?"

The blond nodded. "He did sock Miley, after all."

I snort. "Yeah, I'd imagine hitting an accomplice would get you in some serious touble."

The other girl looked unconvinced. "Hmm... It's possible he earned their wrath, but..."

The detective was quick to back down on his theory. "Maybe that's not it."

I decide to but in. "How about this: Kai was our ally like we originally thought, he just had a way to communicate with the kidnappers. Maybe he was forced to cooperate in some way...?" I trail off, unsure.

Keiji seemed to agree with my theory. "He may have also done dealings and missions in the shadows."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Missions...? Like what?"

"You two remember the First Trial everyone took, right?" Keiji asked.

I nod. It was pretty hard to forget such a traumatic experience. 

Sara did the same. "Yes, that game where we were tied to beds and we had to find the key..."

I tilt my head. "Why do you ask?"

"It wasn't the same for everyobody." He answered. "Didn't Q-taro say so?"

I suddenly feel the memory surface in my brain. "Oh yeah, he did! His trial was to carry that box with Miley's head, right?"

Sara's face turned to a look of realization. "Ah...! Is that what you mean by missions?"

The detective nodded yes. "Yep. In short, Kai might have also been entrusted with a different mission. Like "ensnare the other participants"."

My eyes widened. "I never even thought of that!"

Sara seemsed just as flabbergasted. "No way...!"

Keiji continued. "In other words, he was being manipulated... Like a disposable pawn."

"Gah..." Sara was speechless.

I feel a wave a frustration wash over me. "Ugh, this fucking place! I mean, Jesus Christ..."

Keiji then surprised the both of us.

"...There's one more."

We look up at him in curiousity and wait for him to elaborate, which he does.

"A very slight possibility, but one your friendly policeman'd like to hope for."

"And that would be...?" I ask.

His face turned into a small smile. "The possibility we've got an ally on the side of the kidnappers."

Sara gasps and I almost feel as if the wind got knocked out of me. "What!?"

Keiji turned his attention to the side as he elaborated. "In other words, there's a traitor among 'em, trying to destroy the Death Game from the inside. That person was in contact with Kai, and had him assist with the plan."

He looked back to us. "Well, you two? Think that's...out of the question?"

I scatch my head. "No...that's definetly possible! God I hope that IS the case here... We might just find a way to get out of here yet!"

Sara looked like a million things were running through her head. "There are clearly some illogical aspects to that, but..."

Keiji shrugged. "Well, all that's just my hope, any how." He suddenly cracked a grin. "Could be interesting if Miley was related to this, though. Wahaha..."

Huh... Well who knows?

Sara suddenly seemed to get an idea. "Keiji. I was just thinking... There hasn't been a past case similar to this Death Game, has there...?"

He looked up in thought as he tried to remember. 

"...There has."

I snap up in attention. "Say what!?"

He placed his hand back to his neck. "It was decades ago, apparently... But I've read the files."

The detective began recalling the reports. 

"There was a battle for influence between major crime rings. At the time, the police were putting their all into exterminating these organizations. Those living in the shadows had it pretty rough, so crime rings started laying waste to their own. But if you're just gonna mutually destroy each other, it's better to join hands, they thought... And so they executed a plan to unify the crime rings into one monolith... In the ways of violence they're so adept at."

I interject. "Lemme guess, they organized a Death Game?"

He nodded. "Yes, they did. A mutual slaughter with rules... Scary stuff. The representatives had a grand battle, andd only one person survived. That survivor reigned at the top of criminal society. Think it was called the Hades Incident."

Sara tilted her head. "The Hades Incident..?"

Keiji happily answered her question. "Shot to the top of the criminal "underworld"... Hence, the Hades Incident. But ultimately, the organization collapsed afterward. Justice always prevails. The police do their job sometimes, right?" He chuckles.

"How relevant is it to this?" The ginger haired girl asked.

He thought about it for a second. "Not very, I think... Since the organization collapsed and all. Besides Sara, you got any connections to the criminal underworld?"

She looked taken aback. "Y-You can't be...!"

Keiji cut her off with a grin. "'Course not, right?" 

The poor girl looked so confused.

"It's not  good thing to go tying anything and everything together, Sara." He ruffled her hair affectionately. "More importantly, we better get moving. Ranger was mentioning that the rest of the attractions have opened up all around here."

Sara was currently busy trying to fix her hair so I asked instead. "Is that so? Where?"

Keiji shrugged. "He didn't mention. Think it'd be good to go and look for 'em?"

"I mean yeah, we've got to get 10 Clear Chips in 2 more days after all." I sigh.

The blond nods. "Tell me if I can help you guys with something. This policeman...will be your partner."

With an assuring smile, he walked off to do his own thing.

I turn to Sara. "You done fixing your hair yet?"

"Almost...there! Done!" She says a she puts the final strand in place.

I chuckle in amusement. "Wanna go look for those attractions then?"

The ginger haired girl nodded with a smile. "Yeah, lets's go. You can lead the way!"

"Alright!" With that we began making our way to the Monitor Room.

Inside there was a surprise waiting for us.

"(F/n)! Sara!" Kanna called out as we entered.

I narrow my eyes in worry. "Kanna? What is it?"

"H...Hey there..."

I look to the source of the voice.

Sou

He wobbled up to us while clutching his head.

"S-Sou...!" Sara exclaimed with widened eyes,

He rests his hand on Kanna's shoulder for support before speaking again. "I...I worried you two, huh... Kanna explained it to me... It's just one shock after another... I couldn't blame anyone for being paralyzed."

I'm more concerned about the fact that you might have Dissociative Identity Disorder, but yeah kinda.

I uncomfortably look from side to side. "Does your head still hurt really bad? You sure you don't have a concussion?"

His eyes widen before he catches himself and sahkes his head. "N-No I don't think so. Don't worry about me!"

I shrug. "If you say so. Just take it easy, alright?"

He nods awkwardly. "Yeah...I will."

Well that was really weird.

Just a couple hours ago I was ready to kill him and now bacuse of the way he's acting I'm trying to be nice.

Kanna seems happy though, if the big smile on her face isn't obvious enough.

She turns to both Sara and me. "Um... It looks like attractions have appeared in a few places."

Sara began playing with her sleeves. "Yeah... So we heard."

Sou pointed to 3 doors that weren't there before. "It looks like you can go to three more attractions from here, in fact."

The other high school girl was surprised, it didn't surprise me that much though. "Oh, good to know. Thanks you two!"

Kanna smiled. "You're welcome!" She then trailed off. "I wonder... Maybe some locations opened up other than the attractions."

Sou gestured to the living area with his thumb. "Let's search for a little longer, Kanna."

She nodded. "O-Okay..."

With that they walked out, Kanna supporting Sou's weight the whole way and him stumbling occasionally.

...

I turn to Sara. "You trust him?'

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I honestly don't know anymore... This got way more complicated than it needed to be."

"Agreed..." I laugh dryly. 

As we were about to head out, the Mishima AI spoke up.

"Ah, you two are...miss Sara and miss (F/n), wasn't it? Nao told me about the both of you." 

He smiled.

"She said you're both very brave and kind. She talked about (F/n) especially!"

I grinned. "Wow... Well that's flattering. I'll have to thank her later!"

Suddenly Sara smirked. "And Professor Mishima, you're a kind, cigar-loving teacher as well."

I burst out laughing. "PFFFT- hahahahaha!!"

The AI didn't seem to be in a laughing mood, however.

"C-C-Cigar...? A teacher should not smoke! Don't make such strange suggestions!"

The other girl raised an eyebrow. "Oh? But you really looked like you wanted to smoke!"

Mishima looked to be sweating digitally.

How does that even work??

"My original did...? Mmmmmgh... Perhaps our personalities differ..."

I catch my breath with one last giggle. "Whatever you say Professor, hehe!"

Sara suddenly turned serious. "Professor Mishima, err... You're an artificial intelligence, right?"

"Yes, it seems so. I have a memory telling me I am an AI... Perhaps if I didn't have that memory, I would thing things like "I'm trapped in a screen! Let me out! ...and so on."

He obviously seemed to move on from the topic and not make a big deal out of it.

"Please, ask me anything. I will answer as much as I remember."

Sara rubbed her chin in thought. "Do you know anything about the Death Game?"

"Come to think of it, I had just accepted it, but... You all are being made to play this Death Game, yes? This is...an outrageous situation. If only you had some useful information... Myself, I know nothing..."

Sara continued. "What about the kidnappers? That is, the people who made you? Do you know anything about them?"

"Hmm... I know nothing... I have absolutely no memories of that sort."

He frowned and looked down.

"...Apologies I could not be of more use."

I shake my head. "Nah, don't worry! It's not your fault at all! You can't pick what sorta info the kidnappers put in you."

He cracked a smile at that.

"Miss (F/n), you really are as kind as Nao says."

I grin. "Aww shucks! Thank you."

Sara smiles at the exchange. "Professor Mishima, how far back do your memories go?"

The AI hummed in thought. 

"I believe I remember becoming a teacher...miss Nao's graduation...and all the life I led..."

I tilt my head. "I'm guessing you don't have any memories that our Mishima made in this Death Game?"

"...Yes, that's true. I have none. I'd actually met with you all already, hadn't I? However, if it's a memory before my abduction, I believe I have it. And also...subconciously, I know that I am an AI, and should answer as many questions as I can."

He shrugged.

"Perhaps I am just programmed that way."

I nod. "Can you tell us something about Nao that we don't already know?"

"My dear student. She came to learn art from me even after graduating high school... She has greatly matured emotionally. The more you know of her past, the more it brings tears to your eyes..."

Sara looked down. "I think...that's related to the fact that you died, Professor Mishima."

He stayed silent for a moment.

"It appears...I have made miss Nao suffer greatly."

His eyebrows furrow.

"...I must let that happen no more..."

Suddenly the AI looks back to us.

"I have a request."

I tilt my head. "Yeah? What is it?"

"..."

He was about to speak but quickly cut himself off and shook his head.

"No, it's nothing. I still lack the courage to ask..."

"You sure?" I ask.

He nods.

"Yes, it's completely fine. Do you have any other questions?"

Sara speaks up. "I do. Can you tell us about the original Professor Mishima?"

The AI gets a solemn look on his face.

"He's died, hasn't he...? In such a situation as this, I should have protected miss Nao, yet..."

"...You became a victim to protect Nao." Sara bluntly said.

"Is that true...? No human wants to die... The survival instincts that kick in, in desperate situations...can at times result in demonic actions. I protected miss Nao. But even so, I do not know if it is right to commend myself..."

I decide to interject. " Professor, I honestly think that you were a good person. I could tell that you wanted to help us all escape for the short time I knew you." I say with a smile.

"I believe...I just did all I could."

His face turns serious.

"Miss Sara, miss (F/n), none of you can give up. Please live, and make it home."

I nod and press my hand to the screen. "I promise I will try to get us all out of here with everything I've got. These people are my friends as far as I'm concerned."

"(F/n)..." I hear Sara whisper from beside me.  

After a couple seconds she lets out a "Hm." and presses her hand to the screen as well.

I tilt my head. "Sara...?"

"If you're gonna make that kind of promise, then so am I. There's no way I'm letting you carry that burden alone."

"Sara... Thank you." I smile at her.

She smiles back. "Don't mention it."

"You two are amazing young ladies. You truly deserve to be the leaders of this group"

The AI presses his artificial hands to ours with a smile.

"Protect miss nao for me, please? She needs you. EVERYONE needs you."

We nod our heads. "Promise"

With that, we left the room in search of more attractions.

[Author's Note]

I  A M  F I N A L L Y  B A C K

Guys I am SO sorry for not updating in so long!!!

It was half me being lazy and half me working on a new book (shhh it's a secret~~~!)

I hope you guys can forgive me :(

I promise I'm back in full swing and more rested than ever!

Can't wait to make you guys cry and get emotional again ^^

Kidding! Kidding!

I love you all~~~ ❤️

Also look at this awesome new cover we got from the amazing Cute_Devil34 once again!! I appreciate you fam! 💕

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 3580]