Part 14: Super High-school Level Update #12

It seems some people went away, and some are still here. We'll let Maizono wait just a little while longer while we see what they have to say.



Naegi-chi! That video was a sham, ‘right? That’s all it was, ‘right?
I want to think so... but...

-chi is one of a number of honorifics that are used as part of pet names or nicknames. You usually use them only with someone you're pretty close to.



W...what are you saying?!



Stop saying such nonsense, ‘right? Hahahaha......



Uhhhh....



Ishimaru-kun, what did you see in your video?



T...that’s...!



I... I’m sorry...! Before I can speak, I must prepare my soul!



Everyone became... restless... didn’t they?
I don’t think we can get them to calm down...



Why... does such a video exist...? I don’t understand...
Can he do such a thing... because he is a murderer...?



Yamada-kun, what did you see in your video?



Hey hey hey.



Isn’t it good manners to reveal your hand before asking others?
I’m...
Hey, why are you blocking your ears?
If I don’t listen I don’t have to reveal mine! That’s the art of See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil!

I think he got it wrong...



Oogami-san, what did you see in your video?
......



It was a video of my family.
But it is not my nature to tremble at such things.
If we can be beaten by force, death is an outcome we will accept. That is the way of my clan.



But... I never imagined my family could be defeated so easily... How... did he manage such a thing...?



Kirigiri-san, what did you see in your video?



......



There is no need to tell you.

I think this was the first time we've seen Kirigiri lose her cool, even if it was just for a second. Anyway, let's finally go see where Maizono ran off to.



Maizono-san... where did you go?
She couldn’t have gone far. I should search for her here in the school area.

There aren't any hints on the map as to her whereabouts this time, so let's walk around and search for her.





Maizono-chan... where did she disappear to...?
It was a very well-made video, wasn’t it? I almost thought... it was the real thing...



...it’s a fake, ...isn’t it? It must be... a fake...
I want to think so, but...

What if it’s real?

The entrance hall is nearby. Maybe she's trying to get out?







I won’t tell you!
Eh...?



I won’t...! Never! I’m saying I won’t tell!



You were trying to act all innocent and get me to confess what I saw, didn’t you? I won’t fall into that trap!
Shit...! Where did he get his hand on such footage!?

She's not here. Maybe she thought the gym is a good place to hide?







Hey, Naegi. Aren’t you curious? About the others’ DVDs...
I can’t say that I’m not...



Right? I knew it!
So... do you feel like telling about yours?



...Who knows? We’ll see how things go...

I don’t think she wants to talk about it...

She's not here either. Maybe she returned to her room? Let's go search the dorm area.



Celes-san... what did you see in your video?



Oh my...



Do you really want to hear?

That smile... is a little scary...



There are many things in this world that are best not asked about, don’t you think?



Oowada-kun, what did you see in your video?



H...huh!?
I...it wasn’t anything important...!



I mean, there’s no way it wasn’t a fake video the culprit made...!
That’s all there is to it! Do you understand, Naegi?!

She's nowhere around and not answering her door, either. There's one more place I can think of...









She was in the corner of an empty classroom.
She sat in a chair, her hands crossed on top of her lap. She stared blankly towards the floor.
She didn’t look like she was about to cry, or like she was angry. No...
...she had no expression at all.
I couldn’t find anything resembling an expression on her face.
It was as if a mask was stripped off her head...

M...maizono-san... Are you alright?
Yeah... I’m fine......
...How can anyone be fine in this situation...?!
What... did we do to deserve this...?
Why do... such a horrible thing...?



Let me out of here! I want to get out of here right now!!
Maizono-san! Calm down!

As she started to move violently, I grasped both her shoulders.



...!!
I get how you feel... I’m not sure what happened to my own family...
But... it’s exactly in times like this that we must remain calm!
Disrupting our sense of judgment... that’s exactly what the culprit wants...
That video... most chances are that it’s a fake!
I mean, if what’s on it is true...



If what’s on it is true... the police must be in an uproar right now...
...isn’t that right?



......
So... just try to calm down?
We must... calm down...

I felt like I was saying those words to my own inner self.
I aimed them at the images of that video, still playing on loop in the back of my mind.
Calm down.
Calm down......

I’m sure if we all work together, we can find a way to escape.
Or maybe help will get here before we manage to do that!
But... what if there is no way out and help doesn’t come...?
If that time comes...
I promise I will get you out of here! By whatever means possible, I will find a way!



And then, my words were interrupted.
For just a second, I couldn’t understand what was happening to my body...







Maizono...san...?
Please... save me...

Her voice... was trembling.

Why... is it all happening?
Killing... being killed... I can’t bear it anymore!!
Maizono...san...
............

Maizono-san lifted her head from my chest...
...and turned her teary eyes towards me.



Can I really believe... what you’re saying?
eh...?
That you are going to get me out of here...
By any means possible... you’ll find a way...
O...of course...!
You’re the only one I can trust, Naegi-kun. So... please...
Whatever happens... please always be my friend...
Eh...
That goes without saying...!
Whatever happens... we’re friends! I mean, you’re...
My assistant, aren’t you...?



.........
...Naegi-kun, thank you.
What you said... makes me feel like I can get through this...
If we’re together... I can make it through this.



I am your assistant, after all.

And then, the smile I got so used to returned to her face.
It still seemed a little unnatural, though.
Still, it was so much better than before.





...It’s hard, isn’t it?!



Kyaa!!



Naegi-kun... It’s hard, isn’t it!
What are you saying?!



I think you know what I’m talking about...
Your determination!
...Just go away!



I don’t wanna...!! Let me join! Let me join!
So answer my question! That video from before...!



Huhh... huhh... it’s coming...
It’s coming out...! My pure white...



Cotton filling!
My fluffy cotton filling!!

I aimed at monobear, and punched with all my strength.



And then missed with all my strength.
And then fell down with all my strength. And hit my back with all my strength.

...Ow!!

A...are you okay!?



If you didn’t miss me, you would have been in violation of the rules, you know.



But you’re slow slow slow slow slow slow slow!!
As slow as the time it takes to eat a 10000 yen dinner course!!
You are weak in fastness and speed and sprinting and passion and courage and fearlessness and annoyance and everything else---!



......



What was he rambling about... just now?
He was just... trying to annoy us.
Let’s go back... for now...
Yeah.

And so, after Monobear ruined what started to feel like it was taking a turn for better,
I went back to the dormitory area together with Maizono-san.



Maizono-san, I think you should go rest a little. The color of your face still doesn’t look good...
I’m sorry... for being such trouble for you...
I think you’re right. I’ll go rest.

She gave me a little bow and disappeared inside her room.

After letting everyone know she was alright,
I decided to go back to my own room for a while.
I needed to calm my mind a little, still in a mess from being shown that video.



Honestly.
What was up with that...?
We have nothing but problems...
But what is... the most important problem?
The way out of here?
The video we were shown?
Monobear?
The culprit’s goals...?
Or maybe... it’s ourselves...?
............
I want to get out of here...
There’s no way I can kill anyone...
Is everyone else... the same way...?
............
That’s the most important problem.....
.........



.........
.........

*Ding-dong*

...huh?



I opened my eyes and looked at the clock that hang on the wall.

It’s almost 10... I fell asleep...

It will soon be Night Time. So why...
...is someone at the door?







I’m sorry, bothering you at this time...
Maizono-san!?





Maizono-san... Why are you here at this hour...?

And then I noticed.
Her body was... shaking all over.

Is something... wrong...?
I’m sorry... Something strange just happened.

Something strange

Eh? Something strange...?
A little while ago... I was lying down in my room...
And suddenly... my door started shaking...

She said that in a voice that sounded as if it was squeezed out of her lungs.
A voice that made me impulsively nervous.

It sounded like... someone was trying to force the door to open.
The door was locked, so whoever it was couldn’t open it, but...
...But that shaking slowly became more forceful...
I was so afraid, I just lied there without moving...
A...and what happend then!?
After a while it stopped.
When some time had passed, I carefully opened the door to check...
...But there was no one there.
So... someone tried to get into your room...?
But... who would do such a thing?
It’s not like I suspect anyone... but I’m a little worried...
What would I do if something like that happened again in the middle of the night...?
I...it’s fine... We’re not allowed to go outside during Night Time...
But... that was just a promise between us. What if someone breaks it...?
In that case...
How about you stay in my room tonight? You won’t be afraid if you’re here, right?
Eh...!?
The rules only say we must sleep in the private rooms.
It doesn’t say anything about whose private room you’re allowed to sleep in.



B..but... two of us sleeping together in one room...
Ah...!
I...I’m sorry! I didn’t realize!!
It’s the truth! I didn’t notice! I wasn’t trying anything dubious or anything!



Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I can’t stand the thought, but...



…...
Hey, if it’s alright with you, how about we... exchange rooms for one night?
Exchange... rooms...?
I...if that can calm you down, I don’t mind, but...
But... it’s one thing for you to be in my room...
Are you really okay with me going into yours?
I mean, it must be troublesome for you...



It’s alright with me. I trust you, Naegi-kun.
If you say so...

* Ding-dong-ding-dong *







Ehhh.... This is a school announcement. It is now 10pm.
Night Time begins now.
The cafeteria’s doors will be locked shortly. You are forbidden to enter it.
Well then, good night. I wish you all have pleasant dreams...



Oh, it's Night Time already...
So, if we’re exchanging room for the night, I should go to your room now...

...and I guess if we’re exchanging rooms, we must also exchange our keys...



That’s right. Let’s give each other our keys.
A...again!?



I can read minds.
.........
...aren’t you going to say it’s a joke?



Let’s... not make it a joke this time.

Something that felt like a smile returned to Maizono-san’s face.
Thank god... I think she calmed down a little.

So, let’s exchange our keys.



Yeah. Here you go.

After we gave each other our keys, I looked at Maizono-san’s face again...



This time... she had a worried expression.

...Naegi-kun, please be careful. Just to be safe, don’t open the door to anyone, okay?
Yeah, I understand.
And you too... if anyone comes by don’t open the door.



I will not open it even to you, Naegi-kun. If I do, there wouldn’t be any meaning to exchanging the rooms.
Oh, right! I should warn you, my shower room’s door gets stuck easily.
So if you want to open it...
Just twist the handle and then give the upper part a push.
If you do that, it opens easily.



But we don’t have any water during Night Time, do we?
Oh, right... I forgot.
I might want to use it after I wake up in the morning, though. ...Thank you.
I should be going, then.
I’ll see you tomorrow, Maizono-san...



Oh, I know I said it earlier...
Hm?



The thing about reading minds was just a joke. I really just have good intuitions.
Yeah, I know...
...Good night.
I’ll see you tomorrow...

I left the room with the image of Maizono-san smiling still in my head.



As I left the room, I quickly looked around the corridor.
The doors to the private rooms were all tightly closed, and there wasn’t even a trace of anyone outside.

Right, no one’s here...

I checked that no one was looking and slipped into Maizono-san’s room.



So that’s... Maizono-san’s room... It doesn’t look all that different from mine...

But it sure has... a nice smell...

You know the drill. When we see a new room in an adventure game, we look at stuff!



The bed itself is just the same as the one in the boys’ rooms but...
Just thinking about Maizono-san sleeping here makes my heart jump.



As expected, there’s a sewing set where there was a tool kit in my room.
Next to it... is an anatomical map of the human body...



As expected, the shower room in the girls’ room is locked.
I’d hesitate going in there even if it wasn’t...



It’s not polite looking in other people’s garbage, but I took a quick peek.
That’s...!?



There’s no doubt. It’s a DVD from the A/V room.
Now that I think about it, I never had a chance to ask Maizono-san what she saw in that video...
I guess I must wait until she feels ready to talk about it...



I feel like I’m betraying Maizono-san, going through her room like this...
I should probably just go to sleep.

I lied slowly on the bed, and a wonderful scent wrapped my entire body.
Maizono-san’s... scent...
I think... I’m going to have good dreams tonight...



Feeling just a little bit happy, I fell into sleep...


MONOBEAR THEATER



This is the inside of a spaceship. Everyone is on a trip through space.
Are you familiar with Noah’s Ark? That’s right. We left the Earth behind us and disappeared, flying away.
In here, we don’t have to fear weirdo neighbours, the police’s oppression, drunk driving and arsonists.
We don’t have to worry about exhaust gas or air pollution.
Of course, we also don’t have the anxiety of competitive entrance exams.
But even in this space of freedom, there are rules. Freedom exists only when supported by rules.
Should you say you want to return to that no-good, rotten Earth...
...Just follow the rules. Do you get what I mean?
Well then, let’s all serve the system together!