After that man threw the knife, he vanished without a trace.
Misaki: "Was that part of the game?"
Kaito: "It scared me… It felt too real. Should we keep going?"
Misaki: "Yes, I want to get out too."
Kaito: "So… how did you and Rin get separated?"
Misaki: "It's good she walked away. I have no idea what I would have done if I'd found her instead of you."
Kaito: "It's not like that. I just wanted to leave the haunted house with her, that's all."
Misaki: "Oh sure, as if you can hide your filthy intentions. What else did you do? Cover her eyes, huh?"
Kaito: "Haha…"
They walked through the dim corridor.
Misaki: "We entered this place, but as we walked in the darkness, something moved under our feet and changed our path."
Kaito: "Are you telling me a ghost story now?"
Misaki: "At least it's more believable than yours."
Kaito: "No, mine is the real one."
Misaki: "Oh, right—someone tracking another person's phone without their permission. Totally believable."
Suddenly, the ground shook.
Misaki (smiling): "Even the place is calling you a liar."
The walls on both sides began to close in.
Kaito: "The walls are closing in… is this really part of the game?"
Misaki: "I don't know, but we need to find a way out."
Kaito: "In movies, there's always a stone to stop the walls. Let's find it."
Kaito pressed his feet against the stones on the floor, searching.
Kaito: "Ah! One moved—found it!"
The walls started moving even faster.
Misaki: "Brilliant move, genius!"
Kaito: "Not the time for jokes—wait! Another stone!"
Before they could react, a rope dropped from above.
Kaito: "Don't doubt me again."
Misaki: "Climb, or your genius will kill us both!"
They climbed just as the walls closed.
Misaki: "We made it…"
Kaito: "Thanks to me. And also to the lovely rope."
Before she could reply, Kaito lost his grip and they fell.
Kaito: "I saw him… I saw the guy who threw the knife at us. He was holding the rope, grinning, with a knife in his hand."
Misaki: "It's just a game. Don't tell me it scared you."
Kaito: "If you'd seen him, your scream would have burst my eardrums."
Misaki: "If I'd seen him, I'd have let him take you and end my headache."
Kaito: "Feeling's mutual."
They pressed on.
Misaki: "We need to find Rin."
Kaito: "Exactly."
They searched, but instead found a dark narrow path. As they walked, they heard a voice behind them.
Stranger: "Ah, finally… people! This haunted house is huge. I got separated from my friends. Can I join—"
Before he could finish, a knife stabbed him. His body collapsed, and the figure turned toward them.
Misaki (horrified): "It's the same person who threw the knife at us… he really killed him!"
Kaito: "I don't know, but we need to move. Now!"
The narrow passage slowed them down, and the man was catching up. Then, suddenly, he vanished. They hurried forward until they finally reached an exit.
Misaki: "Where did he go?"
Kaito: "No idea… but I'm more worried about Rin."
Before he could say more—
Misaki: "Kaito, behind you!"
Kaito turned slowly, thinking: Is he really behind me? But then he realized Misaki's gaze wasn't on him—it was past him. He moved instinctively, wrapping his arms around her to shield her.
Mysterious voice: "Stop! You two turned this into some cheesy drama and ruined my experience."
Kaito recognized the voice.
Kaito: "Wait… you—"
Eri: "That's right. It's me, Eri. The one and only."
Misaki's eyes widened.
Misaki: "All of this was part of the show?"
Eri: "Yes. My father built this amusement park, and I created the haunted house. I wanted to make it scarier, but you two… made me bored instead."
Misaki: "You call that a game? It was more like a nightmare."
Kaito grabbed her arm.
Kaito: "Tell me, did you do anything to Rin?"
Eri: "Rin? You're that worried about her? No, she left the game before you two."
Kaito exhaled in relief and rushed off to find Rin. Misaki stayed behind with Eri, cracking her knuckles.
Misaki: "Good. Now we can talk… calmly."
---
Kaito ran through the park, thoughts racing: God, I just wanted to enjoy the amusement park with Rin… now I've dragged her into danger. Please let her be safe.
And then, as if answering his prayer, he saw her—standing with a small child.
Rin: "Oh, Kaito! Did you finish the haunted house?"
Kaito: "Yeah… but where were you? Everyone was worried!"
Rin: "I'm sorry. After I got out, I was thirsty, so I went to get some water. Then I found this boy—he seemed lost, so I decided to help him."
Kaito: "You should've called us."
Rin: "I lost my phone and couldn't find it."
Boy: "Are you her boyfriend?"
Kaito: "B-boyfriend? Why would you think that?"
Boy: "That worried look on your face—it's obvious."
Kaito: "…Yes. You could say I am—now and forever. I'll never leave her."
Kaito wasn't sure why he said it, but his heart, his voice, and every part of him felt the truth in it.
Boy: "Wow… he really loves you. Why's your face turning red?"
Rin: "I—I… what did you just say?"
Kaito: "Sorry… it just slipped out."
Rin: "It's fine… but what you said…"
Boy: "Uh, I hate to interrupt, but I need to find my parents—they'll be leaving soon."
Kaito: "Alright. Where did you see them last?"
Boy: "I don't remember. But maybe if we walk around the park, we'll find them."
Rin: "Then let's go."
Kaito: "I'll call the others and let them know. Let's go."
As they walked away, one thing was certain—Kaito now knew without a doubt: he loved Rin, and he would make sure that when the day of the train accident came… it would never happen.