Amamiya closed the cleaning kit, tucked it back into the corner behind the restroom door, and quietly slipped out of the women's bathroom.
He had just confirmed that there was still network connectivity in the game, allowing for communication between players. However, despite trying to send messages to others, no one had responded. It seemed like he was the only one who had found the "supply box" so far.
"Next target... Chika," Amamiya muttered to himself, preparing to head to the second floor across the way.
Suddenly, low, rhythmic music began echoing through the otherwise silent corridor.
"Hm?"
Amamiya instinctively hid in the shadows, silently watching the source of the sound.
Through the dim, deserted corridor, a small train slowly approached — the type usually found in malls for children to ride. But there were no children here, not in this empty mall at midnight, and the driver of the train wasn't a staff member either.
"A pumpkin head? That's definitely driving without a license," Amamiya couldn't help but think to himself.
Where's the traffic police when you need them?
The toy driving the train was a half-meter-tall doll with a classic Halloween pumpkin for a head. Faint red light seeped from its eyes and mouth, casting an eerie glow. The train's carriages were empty, except for a silly-looking penguin and goose doll riding behind.
Without a doubt, they were all just dolls. Each one barely a few dozen centimeters tall.
Amamiya pondered for a moment.
If I rushed out and kicked them, would I unlock the 'Kicking the Kindergarten' achievement?
As he stared, a notification appeared before his eyes:
[You've come up with a bold idea, but after careful thought, you decide to give up. After all, they're just children.]
[Upon closer inspection, you've discovered the rules of the train.]
[1: Don't block the path.]
[2: Don't board a stranger's train.]
[3: Politely decline the invitation, instead of running away.]
[4: Once you board, you can't get off.]
The toy train slowly passed by Amamiya. The pumpkin-headed doll driving it noticed him. Though its body remained still, its head swiveled to face him, and a cold, sharp voice echoed out:
"Human, care for a ride?"
Amamiya, with a serious expression, responded, "I don't have any money."
The pumpkin-headed creature hesitated, "It's okay. I won't charge you."
"That won't do," Amamiya said firmly. "Riding without paying is like dining for free. I'd lose my dignity!"
Before Pumpkin Head could respond, Amamiya continued, "By the way, do you have a driver's license?"
Pumpkin Head: "..."
"If not, you're driving illegally," Amamiya kindly pointed out. "You should really only be driving during the day, or something bad's going to happen."
"…"
A question mark slowly appeared above the pumpkin-headed figure's head. "Human, there's something seriously wrong with you."
The train continued leisurely on its way, and soon they had passed each other.
As the train disappeared into the distance, Amamiya shifted his attention back to finding Chika. To be cautious, he avoided the elevator, opting to take the fire escape up to the second floor.
"Something's off..."
Amamiya stopped suddenly, frowning as he raised his right hand. His pinky finger twitched uncontrollably, without any discernible pattern.
According to the plan, this gesture signaled only one thing...
Danger! Help!
Amamiya quickly reached the second floor. The corridor was dark and desolate, most of the shops locked tight. There was no sign of Chika anywhere.
Where could she be?
His mind raced as he approached a public restroom. Entering the women's restroom, he was greeted by the sight of a shark doll standing in front of the sink, struggling to bend down. The doll, styled like a cartoon shark, had a pointed snout that pressed awkwardly against the mirror, preventing it from bending over properly.
Amamiya paused, his gaze drawn to the strand of pink hair poking out from the top of the shark doll's head. He leaned in and whispered, "Chika?"
"Amamiya-kun!"
Chika's voice, full of surprise, echoed back. She turned toward him with excitement.
She can speak.
She looks excited.
Clearly, no mental issues.
In a bewildered tone, Amamiya asked, "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted some water," Chika explained quickly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I appeared inside a doll shop, and I was the only one there. I managed to escape, but when I touched the shark doll, my body started moving on its own, and before I knew it, I had it on. Now all I want is some water... If I don't drink something soon, I'm going to die!"
Amamiya walked up to her, ready to help remove the shark costume.
Unfortunately, it didn't budge.
The zipper on the back seemed to be held by an unseen force, resisting any attempts to open it.
A prompt appeared before Amamiya's eyes:
[This is a shark doll that longs for the sea but has never known what water feels like. You decide to fulfill its wish first, and then you will unexpectedly be able to remove it.]
Chika's eyes filled with desperation, her voice faint as she bent down toward the sink. "No, I can't... If I don't drink soon, I'm really going to die."
But the pointed nose of the shark costume made it impossible for her to reach the faucet.
Amamiya tried to bend the shark's nose, hoping to make it work, but to no avail. With no bottled water in his game inventory, his only option was to cup his hands under the faucet and bring the water to Chika.
But then—
'Thud!'
The shark's nose almost jabbed him in the eye.
Startled, Amamiya jerked back, causing the water in his hands to spill everywhere.
"What a waste!" Chika shuddered with frustration, but her eyes suddenly brightened as she thought of a solution. "Amamiya-kun, hurry and give me more water!"
"I'll go get a cup," Amamiya replied.
"It's too late..." Chika's eyes clouded over, as if she were a lost traveler in the desert, gasping for her final breath. "I need water now. By the time you find a cup, I'll already have died of thirst..."
Her face flushed red with sudden resolve, and she locked eyes with him. "Feed me water... mouth-to-mouth!"
Amamiya froze, shocked. "Do you even realize what you're saying?"
How thirsty does someone have to be to ask for water like that?
"What's the big deal?" Chika replied, her breathing growing ragged. "I accidentally drank your miso soup yesterday anyway. It's not like we're strangers! Now I feel like I've been wandering in a desert for three days and nights. I'm really dying here. I don't care who it is at this point, I'd drink from anyone!"
Wait, what other liquids is she talking about?
It's not like we're trying to survive in the wilderness!
"Hurry up!" Chika's body was trembling now, clearly at the end of her patience. "Feed me some water!"