☆Alice
We were all sitting as the train rumbled along. About ten minutes had passed since our departure; it would still take a while before we reached the other side of the lake. I sat by the window, with Jin across from me and Joshua beside me. My gaze was fixed outside, on the water. It was clear and calm, but beneath that surface it was surely crawling with hybrids.
Erik was seated between Joshua and Oomochi-san. The latter was boasting about his exploits as a paladin of justice, though Erik didn't seem all that interested. On the other side, Hans and Jin were chatting about "circus magic" and all that nonsense. Gideon sat hunched over, his head in his hands, staring at the floor.
"Cheer up, everyone! We'll be on the other side soon, and then straight to the pillar!" Oomochi-san declared with his usual enthusiasm.
We were still some minutes from arrival when a sudden explosion tore through one of the rear cars of the train. The shockwave rattled us all—I was thrown to the floor. Joshua helped me up, but we were all visibly shaken.
Erik stood. "We should check it out. Someone might've gotten on board without us noticing."
"No!" Oomochi-san barked, standing as well. For the first time, his expression turned serious. "You all stay here. It's a police officer's duty to be on the front line. I'll go."
"You can't go alone," I protested. "We don't even know who our enemy is—what if they're too strong for you to handle by yourself? I don't… I don't want to see anyone else die…"
My mind flashed to Gideon's girl—the one who'd drowned, a toothpick stabbed through her eye before being coldly shot. "I saw that shrine maiden girl die… torn apart by hybrids while she was drowning… I never want to see something like that again…" I didn't want Gideon to know that I'd witnessed the death of the woman he loved.
"Don't worry," Oomochi-san said. "I'm not planning to die back there. I'll just take a look and come right back. Stay ready." He stood and headed toward the rear cars.
"Wait!" Erik reached out, placing a small fly on Oomochi-san's neck. "This way, I can track your position. If you're in danger, we'll come to you."
"If it starts buzzing in my ear…" He tried to make a joke, but no one laughed. "Ahem… Anyway, thank you. Now that you're calmer, I'll go see what happened."
And so, the six of us stayed behind, waiting.
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"I can see through the fly's eyes," Erik said. "The last car… it's gone. There's a massive hole right in the middle of the bridge. I'm afraid this might be the train's last ride."
"Anyone still on board?" Jin asked, his voice tight.
"Wait… Oomochi-san's fighting a blonde girl. She's got a rose in her hair. She…" Erik hesitated. "She struck Oomochi-san in the neck… and killed the fly… with her bare hands."
I shot to my feet, heart pounding. If she hit Oomochi-san in the neck, the odds of him surviving were really low. All I could do was hope he had activated his ability in time.
"We have to save him!"
I didn't wait for anyone else. I sprinted toward the rear cars. I was almost at the second car when the girl Erik had described climbed in through a window.
"Y-y-you… k-k-killed…" My words stumbled out, trembling. I didn't know her power, but just being near her made my stomach twist. "Oomochi-san…"
"Why worry so much about someone you don't even know?" she said, a cold, cruel smile curling her lips.
"Oomochi-san… he was disgusting, yes, but he was responsible. Why did you do it?"
"Save your sermon. That cop would sell his own mother for the right price," she replied.
I lunged at her, fist swinging, but she moved with impossible speed, dodging effortlessly. My hand slammed into one of the train doors, sending it flying off like paper.
"Alice!" Joshua yelled, reaching me first, followed closely by the others. "Stay away from her!"
"Do you really think your numbers scare me?" she said. "Finding so many competitors in one place? That's luck. I could have blown you all up at once with a bomb—but that's not fun. I prefer to take you down one by one. That's where the real thrill is."
"Who the hell are you?" Gideon growled, raising his axe.
"I abandoned my real name long ago. The one I used for the lottery was a lie. Now, I am simply… the Huntress!"
Without warning, she launched herself into our midst, palm open, unarmed. None of us knew her power. We all stepped back instinctively, retreating past the second car—everyone except Gideon, trapped in the first, face-to-face with the Huntress.
"Keep them busy. Don't kill them," she called to someone behind us. Then, a massive shockwave slammed into us, throwing us all to the ground.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I wish our adventure could have lasted longer, but… it looks like this is where we part."
It was Oomochi-san, standing behind us, sword in hand. A thin line of blood ran down his neck—but it wasn't deep.
"I get it," Erik said, realization flashing in his eyes. "You let yourself get hit on purpose… to destroy my fly and make us think you were dead."
"Exactly. The Huntress could have gone easier on me, but I won't complain," Oomochi-san replied, his voice calm, almost teasing.
He swung his sword at Erik—but Erik dodged instantly. Joshua fired his rifle straight at Oomochi-san's chest, but the bullet glanced harmlessly off. Not even close; his ability was too strong!
With a second, precise swing, Oomochi-san smashed Joshua's rifle aside, sending it flying out of the train.
Hans hurled one of his knives at the enemy's head, but it bounced off his skin harmlessly. Then Oomochi-san advanced toward us, step by deliberate step.
"I've already planted the Huntress' second bomb on this car. This train is about to go boom!" he shouted, a grim laugh mixing with the edge of the danger in his voice.
The chain linking the cars was loosening. I dove to the floor, clutching it with all my strength. Only I had the power to keep the two cars together.
But I was slipping!
Just as I felt myself about to be thrown over the edge, Joshua and Jin grabbed my legs, anchoring me.
"Don't even think about looking—or I'll kill you!"
"We're all about to die anyway!" Jin shouted, while Shu, Erik, and Hans were facing Oomochi-san.
On the other side, I saw Gideon trying to strike the Huntress with his axe, but she was too fast, too agile. The only good news was that Gideon left no openings—she couldn't get close to him.
"My ability is Slash! One strike is enough to cut anything!" Gideon warned. "Get off the train now, or you won't get another chance!"
"I don't need to." The Huntress advanced, but Gideon pushed her back with a swing of his axe; her face came dangerously close to the blade.
I glanced back. Maybe Shu's flames could heat up Oomochi-san's armor and burn him, but that would take time. That old bastard had years of experience—he could handle all of us alone. Only Erik's insects seemed to be working; they crawled inside his uniform, attacking even his face. Even if their bites had no real effect, they were enough to distract him.
Joshua and Jin helped me back onto the second car. After this, I swore I'd punish them for spiyng under my skirt! I pulled the chain as hard as I could, slowing the train and drawing it closer to us.
"The bomb could go off at any moment! I'll try to bring the car closer—you all have to cross now. I can't hold the chain much longer!"
Erik was the first to leap across; he landed just a short distance from where Gideon and the Huntress were dueling.
Joshua positioned me near the wall of the car so I could hold on with one hand while gripping the chain with the other. Meanwhile, Jin was using his double to distract Oomochi-san, allowing Shu and Hans to move away, and then he jumped.
I turned to Hans, Shu, and Joshua. "Quick! Jump! I can't resist anymore!"
"Don't worry about me, I can handle myself!" Hans called. I understood his plan—he would use his ability to return to the first car. While Oomochi-san was kept busy by Jin's double and Erik's insects, Shu jumped.
And then—my hand gave out! I was no longer holding the chain!
Luckily, Erik grabbed him before he fell. Next was Joshua. Erik helped him too.
The car was moving too far from the train. For Hans and me, there was no way to jump now. Oomochi-san fought his way forward, sword swinging; Jin's double lay bleeding on the ground. He shoved Hans aside, grabbed me by the neck, and slammed me onto the floor.
"I'm sorry, miss. I know this isn't the way of an honorable officer like me, but if you all die here, no one will ever know."
Before the two cars drifted too far apart, Oomochi-san jumped, gripping where the door had once been. Even for someone so strong and agile, jumping onto a speeding train couldn't have been easy.
"Hans, we need to cross, quick! The bomb—" I started, but Hans pushed me overboard before I could finish. I found myself upside down, legs flailing, with Hans behind me. I reached for Joshua—he caught my hands and pulled me down.
And then—the bomb exploded!
I fell to the ground, on top of Joshua. The reversal was gone!
I turned to look for Hans—but he had vanished into the wall of flames engulfing the second car, which had torn another hole into the bridge. The train's tail plunged into the water.
"Haaaaaans!" He had sacrificed himself… to save me…
I fell to the ground near the edge of the train.
"Oops, one's dead. The Huntress is going to be mad! Ahahaha!" Oomochi-san laughed as he got back on his feet. He pointed his sword at my neck, but I was too exhausted to react.
"Don't touch her!" Joshua shouted, unleashing a bolt of lightning at him. His eyes blazed with rage. The intense electric shock coursed through Oomochi-san's armor—I could only imagine it reaching his organs. He screamed in pain, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. When he fell to his knees, I noticed he was still breathing.
He stretched out a hand toward me. "Miss… have mercy on this poor officer… it wasn't my fault… the Huntress forced me…"
All I felt for him in that moment was hatred—but I didn't strike him. Shu's fireball hit him square in the chest, hurling him off the train.
I leaned over and watched him fall into the water, never to resurface. His ability probably made his body far too heavy; he must have drowned under the weight of his own armor.
"I'm… sorry," I whispered to Erik. "Hans died because of me."
"Don't cry. It wasn't your fault," he replied. "It was his choice…" He turned away, clenching his teeth. Even if he didn't show it, I could sense his pain. "That idiot…"
"We need to help Gideon!" Jin shouted, pointing at the two still fighting.
I got back on my feet and ran—faster than anyone else—but not fast enough. The Huntress raised her hand toward me, and a deafening boom erupted in my ears, as if the world itself was exploding. I looked at my friends; they too were on the ground, hands pressed to their ears.
"She didn't blow anything up—her power manipulates sound!" Gideon yelled. I could hear him only by a miracle, ears still ringing.
He shouldn't have done that… To warn us about the Huntress' power, Gideon had left himself open. She deflected his axe with her left hand and pressed her right hand to his chest, near his heart. Then she pulled away, and Gideon fell.
"What did you do to him?!"
Ignoring the pain in my ears, I charged at her. This time, she couldn't move—her shoulders were pinned against the wall. I struck with all my strength, my right fist aimed at her, but she smiled and countered with her open palm.
My punch collided with her hand, but no matter how hard I hit, I couldn't break through the barrier formed by the sound waves she generated. I saw her left hand move toward my chest—I understood her intention. She wanted to manipulate my heartbeat with sound waves, just like she did with Gideon.
Before she could, I slid my fist along her palm until I reached her exposed chest. I struck her hard, leaving a look of shock on her face. The force of the impact sent the Huntress crashing into the train wall, breaking through it, and plunging into the water.
But I didn't reach her body… She had surely used sound waves to dampen my strength, creating a barrier between us.
"Alice, are you okay?" Shu asked immediately. The others rushed over, bombarding me with questions—but I couldn't hear them.
Someone grabbed my hand. It was Gideon.
"Mi... Mia... Please... Save... Mia..."
Those were his last words. His eyes stayed fixed on me but were already fading. Life had abandoned him…
"I didn't even get to tell him…"
I broke down, and Joshua hugged me.
"Alice… cry…"
"I don't want to!" But tears were already streaming down my face.
"After everything that just happened, you have every right to," he said gently.
"We owe you our lives," Shu added. "Without you, we'd still be trapped on the other side of the train."
"And you were the only one who could strike the Huntress. Our powers would never have reached her," Erik concluded.
"We're all here because of you, Alice. Now, let us protect you," Joshua said, helping me to my feet.
"The Huntress… I don't think I killed her…"
"She fell into the water anyway. I doubt she'll survive with all those hybrids in there."
I knew they were all trying to comfort me; the Huntress could have easily killed all those hybrids.
"Stay strong, Alice. Shiori is waiting for us at the pillar. We can't leave her behind."
Gripping Joshua's hand, I stood up and wiped my tears.
"Let's go… We'll get out of here… I won't let anyone else die…"
"Alice, this time, let us handle it. I promise I won't die until I find my sister. I can't guarantee the same for the others," Shu said with a laugh.
"Shu… When we find your sister… you already know…" I smiled. "I'll pinch her squishy cheeks and rub myself against her like a kitten?"
I was still shaken by the deaths of Hans and Gideon; I tried not to show it, but my fear grew with every step. Erik hadn't spoken since we left the station. Shu and Jin whispered occasionally, but I couldn't hear—or even want to hear—them. All I wanted was to find Shiori-chi and escape this place as fast as possible.
Joshua led the line. He had lost his rifle, and now his only defense was his electric attacks.
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We kept walking until we reached a wide clearing. At the center lay a broad circle of stones, surrounded by a low wall and a dozen columns. Debris from what had once been a roof was scattered across the ground. Two large staircases flanked the area, leading to a higher point where the road continued toward the pillar.
"Let's stop here. It should be almost noon," Joshua said, surveying the area.
"This isn't a safe area. We're sitting ducks for the hybrids," Jin protested.
"We don't have a choice. We can't move on in this condition," Joshua replied, glancing at me as he spoke.
"I agree. A little rest is exactly what we need," Shu added. "Let's camp in that stone circle—it gives us a defensive advantage."
We decided to rest there, waiting for BeBe's noon announcement.
While the others talked, I approached Erik.
"I feel so guilty about what happened to Hans… I can't get it out of my head. The moment he threw me off the train, and… the next moment… he was gone… It's all my fault. If only I had died instead…"
Something struck my cheek. Even with tears still streaming down, I froze at the slap from Erik.
"Stupid. I already told you—it's not your fault," he said, looking at me with his one eye. "If you hadn't been there, holding the two train cars together at that moment, we'd all be dead. Hans chose to believe in you. He trusted you more than himself. He believed that you could get us out of here."
"But… I don't even know if there's a way out… I can only imagine there might be an elevator inside the pillar, but I don't even know if that's real… All of you are following me, thinking I know the way… but I don't!"
At that moment, I realized everyone was looking at me. I blushed with embarrassment. Me—the only girl among four boys—crying like a child. I covered my face and continued to weep.
"It's not just that," Shu said. "You gave me hope—not only to get out of here but also to see my little sister again."
"But I… I'm so scared… I try to be strong, but… I'm scared…"
"We all are. But it's your words that made us believe again," even that idiot Jin encouraged me.
"Words alone won't get us out of here."
"That's why we're heading to the pillar. We'll find Shiori-chan and Hikari, and then we'll escape and expose Minister Shisui, so no one else has to go through this hell."
When Joshua finished speaking, I lifted my face.
"Who was the one supposed to punch the Minister?"
"If you don't feel like it, I can," Shu laughed.
"Don't you dare…" I replied, smiling. "The one who'll punch him is me!"
We all burst into laughter—but it was interrupted by the chime of our bracelets. It was time for BeBe's announcement.
"Greetings, competitors! It's your beloved BeBe speaking! The clock has struck noon and backpacks with new supplies have already been dropped in the green zones!"
We were far from a green zone, so we'd have to make do with the little food we had.
"In a few minutes, you'll hear the names of those, alas, who are no longer with us. But first, here are the recommendations from our bettors!"
Once again, I had to listen to that man with the caterpillar avatar. I trembled, praying that neither Shiori-chi nor little Hikari's names would be among the dead.
"You're moving well, but too recklessly. Luck has favored you so far," the avatar said.
I didn't respond, staring silently. I just wanted this pointless interlude to end so we could hear the list of the deceased.
"One more thing: stop whining like a little girl. It annoys me! If you want to survive, you'll have to slowly get rid of your group—or they'll do it to you. Trust no one. Once only a few competitors remain, all your pretty words mean nothing."
"What do you know?!" I whispered, full of anger.
"Avoid the most dangerous fights for now. Let them kill each other. Watch out for the Huntress, the Queen, the Cutthroat, the Butler, and the Soldier. Their abilities are top-tier and surprising them isn't easy. And don't forget the Servant… you've already seen her black holes; it's best to keep your distance."
I remembered the moment that girl killed her mistress. Her insane gaze sent shivers down my spine. I didn't want to face her—or even see her again.
"Time's almost up," the avatar continued. "My final advice: stop trying to reach your friend. She's not built to fight. She'll never survive this game. Focus on yourself."
"I promise I'll get out of here… That's what you want to hear, isn't it?"
"Exactly. When you're out, I'll meet you in person and congratulate you."
"When I'm out, you'd better have already turned into a butterfly and flown away—or I'll crush you with my own hands."
The caterpillar didn't respond. Its avatar vanished, replaced by BeBe's usual one.
"Good! Now for the announcements! In 21st place, Tsukima Mia, the Eagle. 20th place, Ichinose Saya, the Terrorist. 19th place, Kirisaki Juzo, the Prisoner. 18th place, Hans Stauss, the Juggler. 17th place, Oomochi Saru, the Policeman. 16th place, Gideon Apollion, the Gentleman. That's all for now from your beloved BeBe. If there's news during the game, we'll keep you informed. See you, and enjoy!"
The bracelet went dark, and I exhaled in relief. Shiori-chi and little Hikari were still alive. I only hoped they were on this side of the labyrinth; the train bridge now had two enormous gaps, making it impossible to cross here. Swimming wasn't an option—who knew how many hybrids lurked beneath the water...
No… it wasn't impossible. I had seen the Huntress fall into the water—but her name wasn't among the dead. Somehow, she must have survived. The announced names were all of people I had seen die, except Kirisaki Juzo—certainly a man.
I tried to stay positive, imagining Shiori-chi safe on this side of the bridge. She had surely boarded the train before me and was already close to the pillar…
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☆Shiori
As soon as we hit the ground, we ran straight up the stairs to get away from the water. Any hybrid could have leapt out and dragged us under at any moment.
Without giving Hikari-chan a chance to catch her breath, I grabbed her hand and pulled her along, running as fast as we could away from the station.
The explosions we'd seen meant there had been fights on the train—and maybe some people had died. I shouted at Hikari-chan to push with all her strength, and somehow, we made it ahead of the train.
She didn't even have a shred of strength left, but I couldn't let anyone catch us now.
We ran for at least 300 meters before turning into an alley and continuing on. After a few minutes, we finally reached a green zone. Just at that moment, a backpack fell from above.
"It must be noon," Hikari-chan said.
During our escape along the lake, we'd had to ditch our backpacks to move faster. The only thing I had kept was my stun gun.
We immediately grabbed the backpack!
Inside, there were only two sandwiches and a small but heavy hammer. I checked again but there was nothing else.
"Take it." I handed the hammer to Hikari-chan.
"Why are you giving it to me? I don't even know how to use it."
"I've already got my weapon. If you get attacked, use it to defend yourself. Aim for the head."
Hikari-chan nodded, hands trembling, and gripped the hammer. Then we each ate a sandwich.
At that exact moment, our bracelets activated, and BeBe appeared.
"Greetings, competitors! It's your beloved BeBe speaking! The clock has struck noon and backpacks with new supplies have already been dropped in the green zones! In a few minutes, you'll hear the names of those, alas, who are no longer with us. But first, here are the recommendations from our bettors!"
Tsukima-san… I hope she's still alive…
"Hey, Strategist, how's it going? Looks like you're having fun."
That slimy octopus again… I could almost feel it drooling behind me, and it made my skin crawl.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"I just wanted to compliment you. You've been clever. Using that little girl's ability to escape the Servant's black holes was brilliant. When will you get rid of her?"
I looked at Hikari-chan. She was talking to a duck-shaped avatar and hadn't noticed me staring.
"You don't need to worry. I'll use her as long as she's useful, and once she isn't… I'll get rid of her. You just watch."
I knew that's exactly what these disgusting people wanted to hear, hiding behind these stupid avatars.
"So… will you promise me?" I put on the sweetest voice I could manage, the one I knew he liked. "If I make it out alive, can I become your personal maid?"
"Ahaha, of course! How could I say no, my little Shiori? You know I adore you!"
I had no idea who was hiding behind that avatar. At worst… an old pervert... The thought made me shiver.
"Thank you, Master!" I gave my brightest smile, then mustered the courage to ask the question that mattered most. "The way to the pillar is this way, right, Master?"
The octopus avatar spoke quietly. "I'm sorry, Shiori-chan. I can't tell you that. It's against the rules."
"Please, Master, I don't want to die here! I want to be your personal maid. You've done so much for me—you're the only person I can trust here. Please, give me a chance to repay you!"
"I can give you a hint… but only if you answer my question correctly."
"Of course, Master! I'll do whatever you want!"
"Good. I was hoping you'd say that." The avatar chuckled. "Tell me, what will you do when you find your friend Alice?"
"Alice is still alive?" I tried to hide my excitement behind a mask of disgust.
"Yes. She's still looking for you. She and her group have taken down some competitors and are heading to the pillar. The chances of you meeting are fairly high." He paused and repeated the question. "So… what will you do when you meet her?"
I held up my stun gun and showed it to him. "Once we're alone, I'll hit her with this and leave her to the hybrids."
"You really have no imagination… but I'll accept your answer. The path to the Pillar is correct, but three other competitors are setting up an ambush for the people who just arrived at the station. They'll be passing through soon. I advise you to stay hidden until they pass, then the way will be clear."
"Master, I don't know how to thank you enough for helping me so much. I can't wait to meet you in person."
I gave one last smile and the octopus hologram vanished, replaced instantly by BeBe's avatar.
"Alright, everyone! Here come the announcements! In 21st place, Tsukima Mia, the Eagle!"
My heart stopped and tears filled my eyes. Deep down, I had known—but I didn't want to believe it. Tsukima-san had been killed by the Terrorist, and I hadn't been able to do anything. I had just run away. I brought a hand to my chest and cried silently to myself.
Hikari-chan noticed and hugged me. She must have sensed I'd lost someone dear but she didn't ask anything.
The second name on the list was the one I most wanted to hear right now: Saya Ichinose, the Terrorist.
I didn't know who—or how—but I was immensely grateful to whoever had killed her. Even if it was a hybrid, I would've kissed them.
"Rest in peace, Tsukima-san. The one who killed you won't hurt anyone else."
Tears kept streaming down my face and Hikari-chan stroked my head.
BeBe announced more names I didn't know, until the last one sounded familiar: Gideon. Tsukima-san's boyfriend. He had been killed too. I couldn't save either of them. I felt utterly useless.
As BeBe's hologram disappeared, I hugged Hikari-chan tightly. Those bastards up there might think I was faking it but I would never betray a friend.
"Hikari-chan, we need to hide. I feel someone coming." I lied. I couldn't reveal that the slimy octopus had helped me in exchange for a promise I would never keep.
"What? I don't hear anything," she said, turning in every direction.
"If they pass through here, they'll notice the backpack is gone. We need to leave it where we found it, along with a weapon. Do you have anything with you?"
"Mmh," she said, rummaging through her pockets. "After losing my weapon, I picked up some stones. I don't know if they'll work."
"We'll use the stones. Put them in the backpack." If the Terrorist's weapon was a toothpick, stones would do just fine. I scanned the surroundings. I didn't know how soon the other competitors would arrive.
"Done! But there's no food. If they don't see anything to eat, they'll know someone passed through here."
"Give me the napkins the sandwiches were wrapped in. I'll scatter the crumbs along the path behind us."
I left the backpack where we had found it and took Hikari-chan's hands.
"Hurry! I don't know how much time we have!"
Her hands trembling, Hikari-chan handed me the napkins, and I scattered the crumbs along the path leading back to the station.
"Done. Let's hide behind that wall and wait."
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After ten minutes of waiting, Hikari-chan whispered in my ear.
"When are they coming? Didn't you say you heard them?"
I didn't answer. I just hoped that slimy octopus hadn't lied to me. A few moments later, I realized he had been right.
The backpack we had left floated up into the air. It spun on its own and emptied itself. The stones clattered to the ground.
"Hey! There's only stones here! Jet-nii, we've been beaten to it!"
The voice came from the backpack but there was no one there. From the main street, two people appeared—a boy and a girl. They both looked about twenty years old.
The boy was tall and thin, with long, straight black hair. He wore shabby clothes and looked like a beggar.
The girl wore a blue wool hat and had long brown hair. Her face seemed familiar. I had seen her at the gathering near Saya; she must be her companion in this deadly game. She didn't look the slightest bit shaken by the Terrorist's death.
Then, out of nowhere, a little girl appeared. She couldn't have been older than thirteen. She was carrying the backpack.
"Look on the ground, Suzu-chan," the boy said to her. "There are crumbs. Looks like someone ate and ran off."
I prayed with all my heart that they'd follow the crumbs and head toward the station. I didn't want to run into them. I could never hurt a child—and, more importantly, that girl reminded me of the Terrorist.
"You're an idiot!" the girl exclaimed. She crouched down to inspect the crumbs. "The person who left these wasn't heading to the station."
I jumped. How could she know that?
"At this spot, there are many more crumbs." She pointed to where Hikari-chan and I had devoured our sandwiches. "This is where the sandwiches were eaten. Those crumbs are a distraction to lure us that way, while the person who ate ran in the opposite direction."
She followed a few tiny crumbs across the ground, her gaze landing on our hiding spot. I had no idea which of us had left those crumbs. I hadn't even noticed them—they must have stuck to us as we ate. Hikari-chan and I pressed ourselves against the wall, holding our breaths.
"Not very smart—left a clear trail behind," the girl said, pulling out a submachine gun and aiming it at our corner. I tried to inch back slowly, but Hikari-chan was frozen with fear.
The girl moved closer. I could hear her footsteps.
"We didn't come here to hunt a rat," the boy's voice said. "It's been at least fifteen minutes past noon. If he ran, he's got a serious head start. He could have taken any path."
"Jet-nii's right, Chika-nee! Let's stick to our original plan—attack the ones who just arrived at the station," the little girl said.
The girl called Chika hesitated for a moment, then relented. "Alright. Let's head to the station."
I heard her moving away from us. Then, suddenly, a burst from the submachine gun struck the wall. For a second, I thought I was dead. Hikari-chan flinched, but I held her tight, keeping her silent.
"Don't waste ammo," the boy called Jet said.
"I just wanted to see if someone was hiding around the corner, that's all. Ahaha!"
The three of them moved off. I watched them head toward the station while Hikari-chan let out a relieved sigh.
As soon as they were out of sight, we stepped out of our hiding spot and continued down the path toward the pillar.
"All clear! The road's free now!"
﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾⫘﴿﴾
PLAYER ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ ABILITY ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ STATUS
The Boxer ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Boxer⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive💚
The Strategist ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Reflection ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Cool Boy ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Electric Shock ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Seer ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Decoy⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Detective ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Fireball⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Idol ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Freeze⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Maiden ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Summon⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased ☠︎︎
The Soldier ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Unkown ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Thug ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Target⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased☠︎︎
The Thief ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Sight⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased☠︎︎
The Juggler ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Inversion⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased💚
The Tamer ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Swarm⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Gentleman ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Slash⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased💚
The Eagle ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Levitation⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased☠︎︎
The Pauper ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Unkown ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Model ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Invisible⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Lady ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Tornado⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased ☠︎︎
The Servant ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Black Hole⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Terrorist ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Tentacle⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased☠︎︎
The Cutthroat ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Unkown ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Policeman ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Armor⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Deceased💚
The Huntress ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Soundwave⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Queen ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Crows⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚
The Butler ⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Warp⋅⋆⛓⋅⋆ Alive 💚