12:27 PM
"What do you want to talk to us about so suddenly, Johann-kun?" Miyu asks.
"To sum it up, you two are being recruited to join the student council and assist us in confronting the killer," I reply.
After our meeting, we were tasked with gathering more members for the operation. Haruki and I set out with the intention of recruiting people we knew.
"Huh?" Miyu's eyes widen in shock.
"I understand that the council has lost members. But why us, specifically? Aren't there more qualified students for this task?" Manabu asks while Miyu remains in shock.
"I completely agree. I also believe I'm not particularly suited for this. However, we're unable to be selective about our allies, and you two are the only ones I know to recommend for the roles."
"I see. What about Shoucchi? Are you going to recruit him too?"
"I've decided not to recommend Shou for reasons I'd prefer not to disclose."
Both Miyu and Manabu had kept my position in the game a secret, unlike Shou, who attempted to rat me out to the student council at the first opportunity.
"So? Now that I've clarified things, will you cooperate with us?" I repeat the question.
"Yes, of course. It would be an honor to help Kaichou in this battle. You can count on me," Miyu responds with determination.
The mere involvement of Mikoto is enough for some students to agree without hesitation, as was the case with Miyu. Her spell seems to remain potent, even after her dethroning.
"I suppose I don't have much choice. If you're asking, Jocchi, I can't refuse. I'll help as much as possible," Manabu says, shrugging.
"Very well, my role here is done. Now Haruki can provide more details about our approach."
With the new recruits in place, I hand the conversation over to Haruki. He begins by explaining the basic rules we must follow to maintain internal order before moving on to more sensitive topics, such as the assassin's identity.
"Essentially, that's what I needed to inform you about. I believe you're now up to speed. Any questions?" Haruki concludes his explanation.
Miyu raises her hand.
You're only two people here—there's no need to ask permission to speak.
"Please, go ahead," Haruki says.
"W-When do we start?" Miyu asks, trying to convey some confidence.
She is only trying, as her nervousness is evident.
"I'm glad you're eager. We plan to meet with the new recruits in the council room right after lunch. If you'd like, Johann-san can take you there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to meet Natsuki-chan to discuss other potential candidates," he says with a friendly smile.
Haruki finishes speaking, stands, and politely bids farewell to his interlocutors.
I think I'll finish my lunch and talk to Mikoto. I must address the possibility that she isn't serious about serving as a martyr.
I turn to leave, but Manabu interrupts me.
"Jocchi!"
"What is it?" I ask him.
"I'm glad you asked for our help."
12:43 PM
We finish lunch and head to the meeting point—the student council room. Upon entering, we find Mikoto already waiting, along with several lower-ranking members awaiting her instructions.
There are more people here than I expected. This is a good sign, as it means we have a better chance against Ailiss. However, I'd hoped to speak privately with Mikoto before the meeting, but I'll have to wait until it ends.
We wait for Haruki and Natsuki to arrive, and with everyone present, the meeting begins.
Naturally, as the student council president and leader of this resistance, Mikoto is the first to speak.
"Well, I believe you are all aware of the main topic of this discussion. To summarize and refresh your memories... We must neutralize the person responsible for all the deaths we have witnessed in recent days. This will not be an easy task for two reasons. First, as you know, she is equipped with firearms, which creates significant complications in a direct confrontation. Second, we cannot kill her. In addition to being a murderer, she is also one of the three players. Therefore, if she is killed, the one who causes her death will share the same fate."
Reinforcing the rule that killing a player results in mutual death causes visible discomfort among the students. Presumably, this would be a significant source of hesitation.
"Due to this property of the game, we cannot simply attack with the intent to kill. Unless we have a volunteer willing to kill her and face the consequences, the plan remains to disarm her and capture her alive," Mikoto continues.
Everyone remains silent. Mikoto pauses momentarily, observing the students' insecure reactions before continuing.
"If I may ask, I would like to confirm something before establishing anything. Is anyone here willing to sacrifice their life and volunteer to kill her?"
Silence.
She likely anticipated this. No heroes are in this room; we're not protagonists in an epic tale of bravery. The truth is, we are all terrified.
Not to mention the unanswered question of what to do after capturing her. Do we simply wait for the game to end? Both she and I would face the consequences... unless she is also planning... no, she couldn't be.
Realizing that no one would take on the role of martyr, Mikoto looks down briefly before continuing.
"Very well. Since no one has volunteered, we will proceed with the original plan. We are just high school students; we lack the intellectual resources and time to devise an elaborate plan. Our strategy must be concise and straightforward. It consists of a direct assault on Ailiss, but there is one detail that provides a degree of safety. Initially, I will act as bait, and you will strike to disarm her."
Are you really going through with this?
Mikoto's proposal disturbs me greatly. Why did she decide something so vital on her own? Aren't we allies?
"Doesn't this sound a bit dangerous, Kaichou?" a student asks.
"Yes, it is dangerous, and some of us will likely die in the process of neutralizing her. However, we have no other method. Given what she has already proven capable of, any attempt at dialogue would be futile. Therefore, everyone must be prepared for the risks we will face," Mikoto replies.
"If we succeed in capturing her, what do we do with her?" another student questions.
What's the point of capturing her if the game's rules still govern this dimension?
"Basically, we will seek a volunteer to kill her and thus end the game once and for all. If no one steps forward, we simply wait for the game to end. Except for the other two players—myself included—everyone will be safe."
Manabu and Miyu, knowing my position, look at me with concern. They seem to have connected the dots. Even if we manage to capture her, Mikoto and I are destined to die.
She interrupts my train of thought by continuing her response.
"However, you do not need to worry about this because I intend to kill her myself if no one volunteers. As a player, I will die anyway, so I have nothing to lose. In fact, I have everything to gain. In the end, I can even save one more life this way," she says with a bitter smile.
Though she doesn't meet my gaze during her speech as she usually does, it is obvious she is referring to me. It's the second time today she has surprised me.
It's clear to me that she doesn't want this. So why is she planning to save me? I imagine her life is far more valuable than mine. So why?
Mikoto, why are you subjecting yourself to this? Especially without even speaking to me beforehand. I can't understand her. But one thing is certain at this moment: there is no way I will let her do something so recklessly. She is my ally, and I'll save her, no matter the cost.
5:06 PM
We've had no opportunity to strike this afternoon. We don't even know where Ailiss is. Our hands are so tied that it's frustrating. We split into small groups and spent hours searching for her whereabouts.
However, we've made no progress. We've scoured most of the school grounds with no sign of her. This leads us to conclude that she has a hiding place and clearly doesn't intend to leave anytime soon.
It's as if she predicted we would try to attack her, just as the killer stayed a step ahead of the council in recent days. How can we even imagine defeating an enemy of this caliber?
Nevertheless, we've decided to remain vigilant, waiting for her to appear. Our group consists of approximately thirty people, divided into groups of three or four, to increase the likelihood of spotting her around the school.
Despite these unfavorable circumstances, my only concern is Mikoto. Since I was placed in a group with Manabu and Miyu, I haven't had the chance to speak with her about her declaration to kill Ailiss to end the game.
As nightfall approaches, continuing the search becomes increasingly unproductive and risky. Thus, we retreat to the block and postpone the search for Ailiss's hiding place until the following day. However, if we don't get results today, we certainly won't tomorrow if we continue with the same approach... meaning she will have to alter our method of locating Ailiss.
Currently, the other groups are merely reporting to Mikoto that they found nothing while I wait for everyone to leave the council room so I can speak with her alone.
She probably knows I have something to discuss in private, so why doesn't she end this debriefing already? I need to understand her reasoning, what drove her to make this decision, and perhaps change her mind. No—definitely change it. I can't let her proceed with this madness, no matter what.
My impatience, desperately wishing for something to disperse everyone, has its wish granted—unfortunately.
I hear the sound of a gunshot coming from the school courtyard.
In a surge of reflex, we can only conclude that this is Ailiss in action. Everyone immediately runs toward the nearest window. Obviously, this is not the scene I hoped for, and I can barely concentrate enough to speak with Mikoto under these circumstances.
"My God! Someone is down in the courtyard!" Natsuki exclaims, completely terrified.
Once again, the school is stained red. Acting impulsively, the crowd moves toward the courtyard, intending to help the bloodied student as quickly as possible.
"Wait! It could be a trap to lure us into her line of sight!" Haruki shouts.
Indeed, this fallen student proves that the courtyard is within her firing range. She likely used it to bait some unsuspecting individuals into the same spot, allowing her to take out multiple victims simultaneously.
"And we are just going to leave him lying there? Do you not realize that he will die this way?!" one of the students protests.
"Leave him? What do you plan to do when you get there? Even if we manage to bring him back here, we lack the medical resources to save him from a direct shot to the chest. The best you can achieve is multiplying the number of bodies on the ground," Mikoto replies coldly.
Gradually, the students seem to agree with both points. The spark of urgency fades, and they abandon the idea of rescuing him.
I turn my gaze back to the window and see Manabu and Miyu staring intently at the boy. Their expressions bring a certain discomfort—a premonition of anguish. It feels as though time is stretching indefinitely for me, prolonging the arrival of an unwanted realization.
And then, like a sudden, powerful punch to the stomach, the truth hits me abruptly.
"The boy lying there... it's Shoucchi!" Manabu exclaims, his eyes wide with shock.
After hearing Manabu's declaration, I can only hear Miyu's screams as she cries in horror.
"Shimizu-kun!" she shouts his name.
Shou? Is he dead? This has to be some kind of joke. It's still hard for my mind to process this information.
In an attempt to contradict this statement, I approach the window once more, scrutinizing the details of the blood-soaked guy.
With each detail my brain processes, it becomes harder to continue looking at him.
The haircut, the clothes. Identical.
There is no denying it anymore...
Shou has been murdered.