He continues beating and cutting the students, laughing hysterically like a true psychopath. Witnessing this scene removes any doubt that Takashi is the one responsible for the events of the past few days. A person like him, especially with supernatural powers... there's no better target for a professional assassin. He's trash that needs to be removed from society—surely Ailiss's intended prey.
But there's something curious about all this. He likely chose this place because it's the least trafficked in the entire school. Ironically, this choice is what has allowed me to corner him and seal his fate. Now, I will finish Ailiss's job and end this game in one shot.
I slowly raise my aim toward Takashi, who remains distracted by his victims. My hands tremble slightly with nerves, but I manage to steady them enough to make the shot.
When I pull the trigger, it will be the end of me, but at the same time, it will end this whole charade.
Throughout my life, I've never longed for anything; I just wanted time to pass as quickly as possible. Ironically, now, at the hour of death, I finally have a desire. I want to save Ailiss. I want her to leave this reality and carry on with her life. To think we've known each other for such a short time, and yet I'm willing to go so far for her...
I sigh.
Now's not the time to hesitate. Just pull the trigger and finish it all.
At the exact moment, my right index finger moves to pull the trigger, something abruptly grabs my hand and forces my aim downward. My shot is interrupted.
What happened? Did I let my guard down and get caught by the enemy?
I see long blonde hair swaying in front of me. It quickly becomes clear that it's Ailiss and not a hidden enemy.
Why is she acting so strangely? Is there something wrong with the plan?
My first reflex is to ask her directly. In my shock, I don't think about the fact that Takashi might hear me.
Sensing I'm about to speak, she pins me against the wall with one hand. Just as my vocal cords are about to vibrate, her red eyes come close to mine, and she silences me with her lips.
What the hell, Ailiss?! What are you doing?! Let me go!
I'm not sure if I can call this my first kiss, as it's hard to classify such a violent action as romantic.
I can't reason about this.
My wrists are pressed against the wall so hard they genuinely hurt. Why is she stopping me from completing the mission she assigned to me? We might not get another chance to kill him.
With my wrists and face restrained, I try to use my legs to move somehow. However, she notices and immobilizes them as well, forcing one of her knees against me and leaving me completely trapped.
Ultimately, I'll never have another chance to be in this position with someone as stunning as Ailiss. I forget that the psychopath Takashi is just a few meters away. I forget we're in a life-or-death game. I forget my mission to kill him. I forget everything.
I never imagined that my first time, if there ever was one, would be like this. However, I can't complain at all. Despite all the unfortunate circumstances, it's with the girl I have feelings for. Feelings so strong that I've come to the brink of death for her. Even though this isn't romantic—far from it, it's violent—it's this wild side of hers that captivated me. So, it doesn't matter that she's hurting me; the simple fact that it's her is enough to satisfy me.
But amidst all these thoughts, I still feel something nostalgic. The sensation that we've known each other for a long time grows even stronger.
In a situation like this, where I can hardly move, I just give up. Seeing her red eyes piercing into mine, I relax my vision and completely surrender, letting her continue.
12:09 PM
A loud bang echoes through the storage facility. It doesn't come from Takashi, nor was it made by Ailiss or me. The sound seems to originate from the floor below. However, it's enough to alert Takashi and make him move.
As soon as the noise reaches our ears, Ailiss abruptly lets me go and pulls me by the collar behind a large box of school supplies in the corridor.
I only want to ask her about her actions, but I realize that will have to wait. We have more pressing matters to address.
"What was that noise?! Who's there?!" Takashi shouts.
She places a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. We remain quiet for a few seconds, hoping Takashi will return to what he was doing. However, he doesn't seem to be giving up so easily.
Ailiss peeks through a small gap. But in the end, there's no need to see to know he's just left his room and entered the corridor where we are; the sound of his approaching footsteps confirms it.
"I know someone's here. Show yourselves!" he exclaims as he moves in our direction.
Damn it. That noise gave us away. What could it have been?
Ailiss signals with her hand for me to stay hidden, indicating she plans to reveal herself.
Is she insane? What if he's armed? After what we've seen, we know he's crazy enough to shoot even a fellow player.
I grab her arms with both hands and shake my head.
She sighs and looks me in the eyes calmly. Without saying a word, I can understand what she's trying to convey: It'll be fine. Trust me.
Seeing that if he continues walking, he'll find us anyway, I follow her orders. Ailiss stands up calmly and faces him.
"You... what are you doing here?" Takashi murmurs.
He stands against the light, and I can see his shadow. From it, I can tell he left the bat in the room and is only holding the knife. This raises another question: Where is the machine gun he stole from Ailiss?
"Don't take another step, or I'll shoot without mercy," Ailiss declares, pointing the gun she took back from me.
For a moment, I consider stopping her; I don't want to see her in danger. But she's the last person I should worry about. She can handle herself much better than I can. As long as she doesn't kill him, everything will be fine.
"HAHAHAHAHA! You can't do anything to me; after all, I'm a player!" Takashi starts laughing hysterically, boasting.
Did he take some drugs to act like this? He seems like a completely different person. Or perhaps not... maybe this was always his true nature, only well hidden until now.
I take advantage of his focus on Ailiss to peek at what's happening and see him trembling incessantly.
Those tremors... it's probably just the effect of him controlling his urge to kill and torture even more.
"Shut up, filthy rat. You're too noisy," Ailiss responds in her somber voice.
"What are you doing? Didn't you hear what I said? I'm a player; you can't shoot me. Now, lower that gun and let me cut you into so many pieces you'll be unrecognizable," he says coldly. "On second thought, I've never dissected a foreigner before. I know! You'll be my Magnum opus!" he concludes with an animated, wide-eyed expression.
"Are you sure I can't shoot?" she stares at him brutally. "Something's been bothering me for a while. Despite your behavior matching the stereotype of a user, you don't seem to emit black magic."
"What are you talking about?! Listen to me! Lower that gun!" he yells, stepping back a few steps.
She's insinuating that he might not be the third player? Just a regular psychopath? If it's not Takashi, who else could it be?
"One of the three players must necessarily be the conjurer of the black magic, and unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be you. Tell me, you're not really a player, are you?" she exudes her superiority.
"I can't fail... no. I can't... or she'll kill me, she'll definitely kill me. I can't fail. I can't," he mutters under his breath, looking down.
He's broken. Without his defense, his brain is malfunctioning. Who will kill him?
"I'll kill you," Takashi says with a forced smile, his voice distorted.
Before he can act, a series of applause, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps, echoes through the corridor.
"That is enough, Tanaka-kun. We are done here," says a girl, clapping as she emerges from the shadows.
That voice. It can't be... Mikoto?! What are you doing here?
Mikoto appears, holding a large bag used for storing musical club instruments.
"Yukihara-san! I'm almost finished with the job. Just give me five more minutes, no, two minutes is enough for me to send her on a one-way trip to hell," Takashi persists, speaking in his altered voice.
Manabu and Shou weren't supposed to let anyone into the storage facility, especially you.
"Stop already. I cannot stand persistence. You have lost; she has you in her sights, and there is nothing you can do. She already knows you are not a player, and even if you were, she would shoot you in the legs to immobilize you."
If she knows what Takashi was doing here, then she's involved in all of this. It's not possible... Was I so blind about her?
Yes, it's been somewhat obvious all along. For some reason, my brain refused to believe Mikoto was intentionally involved in this and locked away the suspicion in my subconscious.
However, with this reality shock, there's no more denying it. Mikoto is our enemy and likely the mastermind behind the atrocities Takashi committed.