The silence after Haruto's death was suffocating. His body still twitched on the floor, blood pooling beneath him, the metallic stench filling the room.
Aya's sobs echoed against the crimson walls as she clung to Arata like a drowning woman. "It's just us now… we're the only ones left… please don't leave me… please…"
Arata's hand trembled as he stroked her hair, his voice breaking. "I… I won't. I swear."
The distorted voice slithered into the air.
> "Congratulations, players. You have survived six games. Only one remains. The final test of this level: The Bond."
The walls shifted, swallowing Haruto's corpse, erasing the blood. In its place, two chairs rose from the ground, facing each other. Between them sat a table with two knives and a single candle flickering weakly.
> "Sit. Look each other in the eyes. The rule is simple: only one may leave. You may choose to kill your partner, or sacrifice yourself. If neither chooses, both will die when the flame goes out."
The candle's flame flickered, small and fragile.
Aya's breath hitched. She turned to Arata, her eyes wild, her hands clutching his shirt. "No… no, I won't do it! I won't kill you, Arata! We'll find another way!"
Arata let his shoulders slump, eyes wide, fearful. "I-I can't kill you either… I'm too weak… we're trapped…"
He sat across from her, picking up the knife with shaking fingers, the timid boy mask wrapped tight. His eyes glistened with tears. "Aya… what do we do?"
Aya seized his trembling hands, her tears falling onto his skin. "Then I'll die for you. I can't let you go, but if one of us must… it has to be me."
Her voice cracked, trembling with devotion. "You're the only one who's ever stayed by my side. If I can't live with you, then at least let me die for you."
Arata's throat tightened. For a moment, even he felt the weight of her words.
But then… his mind sharpened.
Perfect. She's begging for the chain to tighten.
The timid mask slipped, just slightly. He leaned forward, brushing her cheek with his fingers, his voice velvet and poison.
"No, Aya. You've suffered enough. You tried to end it once, didn't you?"
Her eyes widened, trembling. "H-How do you…"
He smiled softly, tenderly. "Because I see you. The real you. I know your scars, even the ones you hide."
Her lips trembled. She collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest. "Arata… I… I love you."
The candle burned lower. 04:32… 04:31…
Arata stroked her back, whispering, "Then prove it. If you love me, live with me. Don't die for me. Survive with me."
She pulled back, her face streaked with tears, her hands shaking as they hovered over the knife. "Then… then you kill me. I'll forgive you. I'll still love you."
The words cracked the air like glass.
Arata's timid mask faltered completely for a heartbeat. His eyes gleamed sharp, calculating, inhuman. Then, as quickly as it came, the mask returned.
"I… I can't," he whispered. His hands trembled. His eyes watered. "I'm not strong enough…"
Aya's devotion hardened. She grabbed his hand, wrapped it around the knife, and pressed it to her chest. Her voice was steady now, eerie in its calm.
"Then I'll make you strong. Kill me, Arata. For us. For survival."
The candle sputtered. 02:10… 02:09…
Arata stared into her eyes. They were blazing with love, madness, and despair. For the first time, he wondered if she was more broken than even he was.
He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, whispering so soft only she could hear.
"…You asked for this."
The knife slid between her ribs before she could gasp. Her body stiffened, then slackened against him, her blood soaking his hands.
Her final breath carried a smile. "Thank you… Arata…"
The candle flickered once, then steadied.
> "Winner: Arata."
The walls dissolved. The table vanished. Aya's body was swallowed by the floor, leaving only Arata, sitting alone, drenched in her blood.
He sat in silence, his shoulders shaking, tears streaming down his cheeks. To anyone watching, he was a broken boy forced into murder.
But beneath the sobs, a smile curved his lips.
Chains are meant to bind. And broken chains leave nothing but freedom.