Part 13: Takeshi - Second Day - Part 1

Just before the hatch was closed, she had suddenly started talking.


"Uh..."


"I'm leaving."


"Hey, where are you going?"


"There...is a place that I just realized I need to go to."


"Where? Treatment is more urgent than that."


"I don't need it."


"Tsugumi, that's irresponsible and selfish!"


"I can't stay cooped up in this cramped place... Well, I won't go off escaping alone, so just take it easy."


"That's not the point."


"........."


"To be blunt, I don't have the patience for you. Any of you."

Tsugumi ignored You and me and went off somewhere. Sora had reported to us that she was somewhere on the floor and safe... But it still bothered me a bit. But it was Tsugumi after all. I was sure she'd probably be back in a little while saying something else. That was what I thought, but nearly two hours had passed.

(I'll wait just a little bit longer.)

Even as I thought that, my eyelids got heavier and heavier.

(But still....even so...Today...really was...an eventful day...)

And then I fell away into slumber.




Track—Ersteboden




"I'm sleepy..."

The lack of sleep made the echo of the shoes scraping the ground seem louder than usual. As I walked down the emergency corridor, I stretched. You was next to me. Coco and the Kid trailed a little way behind us.


"And you slept so hard..."


"Yeah, but what time do you think it is right now?"


"5:30 a.m."


"That's right. So that means that I only slept four and a half hours."


"Not ONLY. You slept that much! I don't know how you could sleep like that given our situation..."


"It's because it is this kinda situation that we've gotta sleep. Our minds have to be sharp. We have to be ready for anything, right?"


"So your mind is sharp right now?"


"Well, I'm still a bit sleep deprived, so not all my pistons are firing... But I think I'm doing about as good as the next guy... Huh?"

The next thing I noticed, You was no longer next to me. I stopped and looked back.



I hurried after the three of them.


"And? How is sleeping beauty...?"

You spoke to me sarcastically once I'd caught up.


"I just told you. I'm not running at full power."


"*sigh*..."

You let out an exasperated sigh and shrugged her shoulders. She also arched an eyebrow as if annoyed.


"Takeshi... You know, I think you'd better take a look in the mirror."


"Huh? Mirror?"


"You'd...really better wash your face."



We had just been rousted from sleep by Sora and the four of us shuffled to the Control Room on the third floor, Dritte stock. We seemed to have passed through the decompression process without a hitch as no one had any complaints. Even Coco who had seemed to be having such a rough time was...


"Sunny, sunny, Sunday. Windy, windy, Wednesday. Pretty, pretty Pipi today."

[Pipi]: "Woof!"

Even the dog seemed in high spirits. They looked even happier than the day before.



You walking next to me had clammed up.

(I wonder what she is peeved about...?)

I slowed down my pace to walk with the kid.


"Hey, you got any idea what You's all miffed about?"


"Who knows?"

The kid answered grinning.


"Hey, what're you laughing about? Do you know something that I don't?"


"You sure you don't have any ideas what it could be?"


"If I did, I wouldn't be asking you. You told me to 'look in the mirror,' but..."


"Huh?"


"Huh?"


"That's no fun..."

The Kid kept glancing at my face and trying not to smile.

(My face...?)

I wiped the palm of my hand on my face. It looked like black ink was smeared there.


"What's this?"

I tried to wipe it off with my shirt collar. But it wouldn't come off.


"Ha, ha... Oh, there's a toilet over there."


"........."



I hurriedly washed my hands and then my face. The mirror in front of me was shattered into so many shards it was useless. But most of the black had come off of my hands, so I thought my face was probably alright.


"That girl..."

I said it disgustedly and hurried out of the bathroom.

Track—Klamauk




"Hey, you! What did you write on my face?"


"Huh?"


"While I was asleep you scribbled all over my face, didn't you?"


"Scribble?"

As she walked You gaped at my face.


"What is this guy talking about...? You're probably still asleep."


"Don't play dumb with me, You! You were just talking about a mirror."


"Oh, was I? A mirror?"


"You said it. I know you said it."


"Are you sure your ears aren't playing tricks on you? I'm pretty sure you are still half asleep."


"Then what's this?"

I showed her my shirt collar where I had wiped the ink.


"Hmmm, what...?"

You mumbled this so I stepped closer...


"Well..."

Suddenly she grabbed my hand and stared at my palm intently.


"Oh! This your palm has an interesting future for you."


"Palm reading? Is that what're into now?"


"Your palm tells me that your fate diverges into two distinctly different futures. It's kind of an all or nothing outcome. You will either acquire or lose everything..."


"........."


"One path will put you on the road to riches, a good job, an encounter with a beautiful woman and bless you with a strong home and offspring. And you will be as healthy as possible... You will live to a ripe old age that will make those around you jealous. HOWEVER! HOWEVER! If you take the other path...you will be in dire straits."


"D-dire...?"
We’re already trapped in an underwater theme park. I don’t know how much more dire things can get.


"Yes...but I can tell you no more. You should take a good look at the middle of your lifeline. Because that is where the answer can be found."
I’m calling bullshit. <>


"Hee, heee, heee..."

I looked down at the palm of my hand. My eyes traced a line down my lifeline. Wide-eyed, I scrutinized each wrinkle and line. But I didn't see an answer anywhere. There was still black ink in the creases of my hand.

Black ink...
Black ink...
Black ink!?

I remembered what I was angry about. Forget fortune telling!


"Y-you! You're trying to trick me... What? Hey"

The next thing I knew, You was no longer beside me. I stopped and looked back. I saw the Kid and Coco vanish into a small side corridor.


"Whoa! Geez! I don't believe these guys!"

I hurriedly chased after the three of them.

Track—Ersteboden



She was leaning against the wall, her arms folded and facing down.