The silence after Daichi's death was suffocating. His scream still echoed in their ears, followed by that sickening crunch in the darkness below.
No one moved. No one breathed.
Then Aya screamed. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her head, sobs breaking out of her chest. "H-He's gone… Daichi's really gone… we just let him…"
Riku staggered back against the wall, his face pale. "No… no, this can't be real. This can't…" He slammed his fists against the wall, again and again, until blood smeared across his knuckles.
Haruto stood frozen, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. His lips moved soundlessly before the words finally came. "…We killed him."
In the center of it all sat Arata, silent. His body trembled just enough to look convincing, his breath quick and shallow. Aya noticed him first. She rushed forward, grabbing his arm.
"It's not your fault!" she cried, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "They… they tried to blame you, but you didn't do anything wrong! You survived, Arata… you survived."
Arata's eyes lowered, his expression hidden in shadow. "…Y-Yeah. We… survived." His voice was fragile, quivering.
But inside, his thoughts whispered with icy calm.
Daichi was always loud, reckless. Easy to turn the spotlight onto him. The first sacrifice was inevitable. Now the real game begins.
Riku turned suddenly, pointing at Arata with shaking hands.
"You." His voice was hoarse. "You knew things you shouldn't have. You called out Daichi. You… you smiled when he fell."
Aya gasped. "Riku, stop it! Don't blame him for everything!"
But Haruto's gaze lingered on Arata, sharp behind his trembling glasses. "…Riku's right. You knew secrets you shouldn't have. How long have you been… watching us?"
Arata flinched, shrinking back. "I-I didn't! I just guessed, I swear! I don't know anything!" His voice cracked, eyes wide with fear.
Aya hugged him tighter, glaring at the others. "You're just looking for someone to blame! Can't you see he's scared out of his mind?!"
Her warmth pressed against him, shielding him. Arata let his body shake in her arms, but behind the mask of fear, his lips curved ever so slightly.
Perfect. Protect me more. The more you shield me, the more they'll distrust you too.
The spotlight above flickered. The distorted voice echoed again, calm and merciless.
> "Congratulations, participants. Four remain. But remember — survival is not free. To leave this place, you must complete the next game. Rest while you can. Round two begins at dawn."
The lights snapped off. Total darkness consumed them.
Aya clung to Arata, trembling. Riku slid down against the wall, staring blankly ahead. Haruto sat cross-legged, silent, calculating.
And Arata, hidden in shadow, finally let his trembling stop. His back straightened, his hands steady. His expression was no longer timid.
His eyes glimmered, sharp and predatory.
They think they've seen the worst. They haven't even glimpsed the beginning.
When the lights returned, the group looked broken. Riku's eyes were bloodshot, Haruto's hair disheveled, Aya's cheeks stained with tears. Only Arata looked the same — small, quiet, ghostlike.
On the wall, new words appeared in glowing crimson.
> GAME TWO: THE BALANCE BOARD
A test of sacrifice and survival.
A timer ticked down from 10 minutes.
The group exchanged terrified looks.
Aya squeezed Arata's hand. "We'll survive together… right?"
Arata lowered his head, his voice soft. "Of course."
But inside, he whispered to himself:
And I'll make sure it's not me who falls.