................
When I opened my eyes, the moon was floating in the night sky. The pampas grass swayed with noise, and the scent of the grass reached my nostrils.
"Have you woken up, Yumeto-kun?"
I heard Yuna's voice. Yumeto lifted his upper body and straightened his back.
"Yeah. How many hours did I sleep?"
"About two hours. Fuka is still sleeping though."
Yuna saw Fuka sleeping next to her and she smiled.
"Everyone is tired"
"Is Yuna okay?"
"I'm fine. I can't sleep anyway."
"Even so, you'd better lie down. You need to get some rest."
"I know. Besides, I saw the flashlight just now."
"Huh? Where?"
"It was dark and I couldn't really see it, but I think it was a mountain trail. I saw two lights, so maybe two people. They try climbed to the top."
"I see. They still didn't come here."
Yumeto let out a sigh.
"If they just pass by, I think we'll be fine, but we should be careful."
"That's right. At the very least, it means that the two of them have entered the mountain."
"The problem is the purpose of entering the mountain. It's fine if they just ran away, but they might be thinking of killing other groups of the same sex."
"If everyone is running around and no one dies, then every 24 hours someone gets punished, right?"
Yumeto bit his lip at Yuna's question.
....That's the problem. Even if everyone is running around like this, someone will die every 24 hours. However...
"I don't think anyone gets punished at random."
"Does that mean someone kills someone else?"
"Yeah. My guess is that Souta-kun, Satoshi-kun, and Narumi-san wouldn't want to be randomly punished. If you kill someone every 24 hours, you can avoid random punishment, you need to do it like that"
"If you absolutely don't want to die, you should do it..."
"And I think that's what the king wants too. If there's a king among us, they might get punished at random, but they think it won't happen."
"That's how the king want us to fight and make us kill each other."
Yuna's voice darkened.
"I don't understand the king's thinking. If you want to kill us all, you can kill us right away in the king's game, but you still give orders that will make us suffer on purpose."
"I guess the king want us to make amends for the sin of letting Tomoki-kun die. They are trying to purify that sin by suffering and dying. But still I wonder if this king's game is just for their wanted."
"Wanted?"
"It may be a strategy to make you think so."
Yumeto took out a plastic bottle of water from his bag and drank it to moisten his dry lips.
"Like Fuka-san said before, there might be someone who is doing this because they wants to become immortal with the power of the Keldo virus."
"In that case, Narumi-san's group would be suspicious."
"Well, it seems that people who enjoy life want to become immortal."
"If only I could live normally, that would be fine..."
Yuna's face, which was illuminated by the moonlight, clouded over.
"Do you want to live a normal life? ...In today's Japan, that might be a precious thing."
"Because of the Keldo virus, more and more people are dying these day."
"Maybe it's the human fault."
"Human fault?"
"Yeah. The Keldo virus is being used as a tool by malicious people. It was the same in the Hokkaido incident, and I'm sure it will be the same this time."
For a few seconds, Yumeto was silent.
"Many countries have started researching the Keldo virus. I don't think it's just for the peaceful use of the Keldo virus. I'm sure there are countries that want to use it for war."
"War...…"
"If you infect the people of hostile countries with Keldo virus and manage them with Nano Queen, you won't be able to stand against them."
"Is there anyone out there who would think of such a thing?"
"Unfortunately, but I guess so. Countries are still fighting with each other somewhere in the world."
"I wonder if humans are creatures that want to fight each other...."
Yuna muttered in a dark voice.
"Even though we're classmates, we're fighting. There are people who are actively killing classmates because their lives are at stake. I wonder if something will change this time...."
"Maybe this order will be the same. No, someone might have been killed already."
"Who are they?"
"I don't know, but there is a possibility that the groups will fight each other this time. To be honest, it's hard to predict where and what kind of conflict will occur."
"Are we going to keep fighting until the six of us die? Is there any other way?"
"..... We have no choice but to find the king and have them lift the order."
The plastic bottle Yumeto was holding made a clanging sound.
"Killing the king does not lift this order. Ideally, we should capture the king. The question is who the king is."
"In the end, that's the question. Who's the king?"
"King..."
A deep wrinkle formed between Yumeto's eyebrows.
.....If this happens, there is no choice but to find the king. We can cooperate with other groups if we have solid evidence. Then, catch the King and have them lift the order.
"Let's find the king. That's the only way to save everyone..."
"Yumeto-kun!"
Hearing Yuna's tense screams, Yumeto understood his danger. He quickly twists his body and slumps to the ground in front of him. As he rolled over, his gaze shifted, and there stood Hisashi with a cutter knife in his hand. Hisashi expressionlessly swung the cutter knife down at Yumeto.
The palm of his hand that protected his head was torn open by the blade of the cutter knife.
"Kuh! Yuna-san stay with Fuka-san!"
Yumeto ran through the pampas grass with his face distorted in pain. He hears Hisashi's footsteps behind him as they come.
...Hisashi-kun can't kill Yuna-san and Fuka-san, who are of the opposite sex. I should be the only target. I will definitely escape this guy!
After passing through the pampas grass, a steep slope appeared in front of Yumeto. Yumeto slips through the trees and runs up the slope. Branches and leaves hit him in the face, but he didn't slow down.
Before he knew it, he could no longer hear footsteps behind him.
After a few minutes, Yumeto took a deep breath as he turned his back to the trunk of the konara oak tree. The leaves and branches rustle above his head.
From behind a tree, Yumeto confirmed the slope he had climbed. The moonlight is blocked by the surrounding branches and leaves, and the visibility is poor, but I can't feel the presence of people.
"Did I manage to escape..."
He exhales and wipes the sweat from his forehead.
....Hisashi-kun is targeting for other groups boys. In that case, Narumi-san and others in the same group might also target Yuna-san and others. I have to join them early.
If they had to meet up early, Yumeto started walking while holding his cuted hand with a handkerchief.
As he climbed the slope, his vision suddenly opened up. There is no ground a few meters ahead, and it is a steep cliff. Yumeto's bangs swayed in the wind blowing from below the cliff.
He takes a step, he steps forward, and peers down the cliff. Apparently, there is a river flowing under the cliff. The sound of rushing water can be heard.
"Is this a cliff? It was dangerous."
The sweat that was gushing out suddenly cools down. If he had escaped this far while being chased by Hisashi, he might have fallen down the cliff without noticing it.
"I have to contact Yuna-san and the others....."
Take his smartphone out of the pocket. Hisashi, who was right beside Yumeto, was revealed on the LCD screen with a faint glow.
"Hi...Hisashi-kun..."
Ignoring Yumeto's words, Hisashi swung down the cutter knife. The blade hits the smartphone Yumeto was holding and falls to his feet.
Yumeto quickly leaves Hisashi.
"I won't let you escape anymore."
Hisashi spread his hands to the left and right to block Yumeto's escape route.
"You thought you managed to get away, didn't you? That's naive, when I was a kid, I became a demon in a tag game, and there's never been a kid who I couldn't catch. When I get close, no one notices."
The moonlight reflected in Hisashi's eyes, making it shine slightly.
"If I hadn't noticed until the very end, I could have easily killed them..."
"Are you going to kill me?"
Saying that, Yumeto took a step back. The pebbles under his feet tumbled off the cliff behind him.
Hisashi shook his head without taking his eyes off Yumeto.
"That's the only way. This order will last until six people die. And even if we don't kill each other, every 24 hours someone will be punished at random."
"If we can find the king, we can do something about it. All we have to do is get the king to lift this order."
"How are you going to find the king?"
"Let's discuss it together. Right now we are divided into groups, so it is difficult for us to find the king. But if everyone talks and act together, we should surely find them."
"Do you think to? We're neither detectives nor police. I don't think we can find the king. Besides, it's impossible for everyone to cooperate. Takeshi is already dead."
"Takeshi-kun is dead?"
A hoarse voice escaped from Yumeto's mouth.
"W-why, Takeshi-kun?"
"I killed him."
Hisashi smiled with a pale face.
"Takeshi-kun was hiding in the gymnasium with Hinako-san. I used cutter knife from behind. Takeshi didn't notice me even though I was right behind him."
"....You killed your classmate like that?"
"Even I didn't kill Takeshi because I liked to do that, but it can't be helped. I know I'm not king, in that case, if I kill other classmates, there might be a king among them. After all, Souta and Satoshi are probably thinking the same thing."
Hisashi's eyes narrowed like needles.
"Yumeto-kun, to be honest, the chances of you being the king are low. But I can't say for certain that you're not the king. Then, I should kill you here."
"Are you going to kill everyone like this?"
"It's impossible for girls, though. For the time being, if I kill all the boys, I won't be killed by my classmates. Souta-kun and Satoshi-kun are dangerous opponents, but if I get serious, I can kill both of them easily, when I use my special skill."
"Hisashi-kun..."
Yumeto's throat protrudes greatly as he feels a strong murderous intent. Hisashi approached Yumeto with a shuffling foot, still holding the cutter knife.
"You can't run behind me anymore. Yumeto"
"..... Are you going to kill me anyway?"
"Because it's easier to survive that way. I don't know who the king is, but if I kill the king, the next order won't reach me anymore."
"There's also the possibility that a girl will be king. Hisashi-kun is a boy, so you can't kill a girl, right?"
"I'll leave that to Narumi-san and the others. After I kill you, I can tell them where Yuna-san and the others are."
Hearing those words, Yumeto moved. Leaning forward, he runs along the cliff. From diagonally behind, Hisashi follows. I heard the sound of tearing the air behind me.
At that moment, Yumeto stepped on his legs and flew behind him from a squatting position. The back of Yumeto's head hits Hisashi's chest.
"Guu!"
Hisashi groans and falls to the ground, but he doesn't let go of Yumeto's body. From behind him, he wrapped his left arm around Yumeto's neck and raised the cutter knife in his right hand.
Yumeto's body moved when he saw the cutter knife blade reflecting the moonlight. He grabbed Hisashi's arm wrapped around his neck with both hands and rolled on the ground.
"Bah, you idiot!"
Yumeto and Hisashi's bodies lifted off the ground at the same time as Hisashi's panicked voice.
A gigantic boulder lying beneath the cliff entered Yumeto's sight. If he goes down like this, he will surely die.
Yumeto's eyes reflected Hisashi, who was falling ahead of him. Hisashi's face is distorted with fear, and his hands and feet are flapping.
Yumeto closed his eyelids tightly and prepared for his own death.
...I will die here. Fall off a cliff....
The images of Yuna and Fuka popped up in his mind. The two of them were in the white fog with frightened expressions. A black shadow appears behind them. That shadow attacked Yuna and Fuka. Their bodies are covered in blood and they collapse on the spot.
.....No! I will never die. I have to protect Yuna-san and Fuka-san!
Yumeto opened his eyes wide.
....Don't give up until the very end! I'm still alive.
Yumeto's body moved when he saw the flickering moon at the edge of his vision. As he straightened his legs, the tip of his right shoe hit the cliff.
"Kuaaaaaaa!"
Yumeto let out a scream and kicked a vertical cliff with his right foot. The falling angle becomes oblique, and the flickering moon approaches in front of him.
Guarding his head with his hands, Yumeto dived into the moon.
Along with the sound of impact, the water column rises.
A large amount of water flowed into his body through his mouth and nose.
Yumeto lifted his numb hand and lifted his face from the water. He reaches the river bank while spitting out water.
Lying on his back on the sandy ground, Yumeto continued to breathe heavily.
"I...I was saved..."
The moon floating in the night sky and vertical cliffs come into view.
"Did I fly from over there? Well, I'm still alive."
Yumeto used his numb arm to lift him up.
"That's right...What about Hisashi-kun?"
When I moved my gaze, I saw Hisashi lying on top of a huge rock. Hisashi's face was turned upside down and blood was streaming from his eyes to his forehead. If you look closely, Hisashi's right arm is missing from his elbow. It must have been blown off by the impact of falling off the cliff.
Yumeto staggered as he approached Hisashi. Hisashi was not breathing. His legs are also bent at an unusual angle, and the top of the rock is wet with his blood.
"Hisashi-kun... I guess I'm the one who killed you?"
"..."
Hisashi does not answer Yumeto's question.
"If you had cooperated with me, this might not have happened. No.... is this an excuse?"
....I killed Hisashi-kun. I tried to throw Hisashi-kun off the cliff with me. I knew that if I dropped him, he would die.....
"...Hisashi-kun. If it wasn't for the king's game, I think I could become friends with you. I'm really sorry that it doesn't happen."
Yumeto looked away from Hisashi and stared at the top of the cliff.
"By the way, I have to go back to get my smartphone. And I have to got in touch with Yuna and the others..."
Suddenly, Yumeto's body tilted. As it is, he falls sideways on the ground.
"Ah....."
Yumeto extended his left hand, keeping his cheek pressed to the ground. The river and forest in front of him were enveloped in something like white mist.
"Yuna-san...Fuka-san..."
Yumeto's consciousness faded as he called out their names.
....................