Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Haruka: “Do we have everything we’re gonna need?”

Kan: “I believe so.”

Haruka: “Rations? How are we on rations?"

Haruka: “Remember, we’re not going to be able to get food here. Or water.”

Kan: “Regardless, if need be, we can simply pop back over for more rations, isn’t that right?”

Monomoko: “That is correct. You’ll be able to come and go from the plane as you please, with my assistance.”

Kan: “So it won’t be an issue.”

Seki: “I’m still not sure how good of an idea this is. I mean- we’re going to give them the lab? How are we supposed to work?”

Haruka: “We’re bringing everything we need.”

Seki: “But we’re not though. We need the lab.”

Kan: “Seki. What did we talk about?”

Seki: “I know, but- Dr. Kan, I’m not going to die for this project. Are we actually going to be able to come back? Whenever?”

Monomoko: “I assure you, you’ll be free to traverse back and forth.”

Seki: “Either way, the lab isn’t equipped to hold seventeen more students for another month. Its resident rooms are only meant for a couple days of residency.”

Kan: “I’m sure the students will find ways to make do. As long as we keep them fed and housed, the rest is up to them, is it not?”

Haruka: "Exactly."

Seki: “And here’s another question I have, why seventeen? The last session only had sixteen.”

Haruki: “Honestly, I couldn't decide between two students. So, Dr. Kan simply suggested to get them both.”

Kan: “Having even more participants will certainly makes this session much more entertaining.” 

Monomoko: “I’m Inclined to agree with Dr. Seki. Where should the extra student sleep. Most bathrooms are connected with a dorm room of a fellow student. What bathroom shall they use then?”

Seki: “Not to mention, some of the motives we picked out aren’t made for an uneven number of students.”

Haruka: “We’ll figure something out.”

Seki: “I-”

Haruka: “Seki. Enough.”

Seki: “...Can I at least call my wife before we go? She needs to know I’m not coming home tonight, she’s gonna be waiting.”

Haruka: “I’m sure she’ll figure it out. We need to get going. Monomoko.”

Monomoko: "Yes?"

Haruka: “Are you ready to pick up the next session?”

Monomoko: “I am.”

Haruka: “Alright. Let’s do the rundown.”

Kan: “Here you are, my dear.”

Haruka: “Right.”

Haruka: “Ouno Nanae, Ultimate Contortionist.”

Kan: “Oh my. That’s a fun talent.”

Seki: “Ah. So that’s what student fourteen was going on about.”

Monomoko: “My apologies for not putting a stop to that sooner. I was somewhat stunned.”

Haruka: “Ninomiya Youhei, Ultimate Violinist.”

Seki: “He certainly doesn’t look like a violinist.”

Kan: “I don’t know, I find it a rather interesting contrast. I like this one.”

Seki: “Right.”

Haruka: “Kumada Erina, Ultimate Dekochari Leader.”

Seki: “Dekochari? What, like the bikes?”

Kan: “How cute.”

Seki: “She kind of reminds me of student three.”

Haruka: “Ikeda Daiki, Ultimate Art Forger.”

Kan: “Ah- Come now, Ikeda. That’s hardly legal.”

Seki: “I mean, is it? As long as he doesn’t sell them, it’s probably legal, right?”

Kan: “I’m not sure about the semantics, quite honestly.”

Haruka: “Denden Misao, Ultimate Ice Sculptor.”

Kan: “Ah! Another ice one. I was disappointed I never got to use my punishment for student sixteen. Perhaps I’ll have another chance.”

Seki: “She’s pretty. That’s too bad.”

Haruka: “Tsukigata Hideyuki, Ultimate Dressage Rider.”

Seki: “Huh. Horses. My daughter would like this guy.”

Kan: “Perhaps you can introduce them if he makes it out alive.”

Seki: “I...don’t think I’m gonna do that.”

Haruka: “Yokoi Ruka, Ultimate Spelling Bee Champion."

Kan: “An English speaker. That’s rather fun.”

Seki: “She reminds me of student fourteen.”

Kan: “Boring, you mean.”

Seki: “Yeah, kinda.”

Kan: “Perhaps it’s deceptive. Student fourteen certainly turned out interesting.”

Haruka: “Yaitabashi Sou, Ultimate Terrarium Artist.”

Seki: “Huh.”

Kan: “I appreciate his style of dress.”

Seki: “Why is it always the ones with white hair that are super tiny?”

Kan: “Well in the case of student six, I’m rather sure that was just malnutrition.”

Haruka: “Maekawa Azusa, Ultimate Robot Fighting Champion.”

Kan: “Does she fight the robots herself, or does she create robots to fight other robots?”

Seki: “I mean, by the look of her, it could be either one.”

Kan: “My thoughts exactly.”

Haruka: “Hirose Shingo, Ultimate Surgeon.”

Seki: “I always thought the game would be more interesting with some kind of medic.”

Kan: “A fellow doctor. That’s nice.”

Seki: “At seventeen? I’m kinda skeptical.”

Haruka: “Ogura Noriko, Ultimate Itasha Painter.”

Seki: “Itasha? That’s kind of fun.”

Kan: “I’m sure she would have gotten along with students one and six.”

Seki: “I dunno, she looks more like eleven’s type.”

Haruka: “Shishikura Osamu, Ultimate Yukigassen Player.”

Kan: “That’s a bit of a funny talent to picture.”

Seki: “How’d we measure that one?”

Kan: *And look at that. White hair, short. You’re right.”

Seki: “It’s a weird pattern, right?”

Haruka: “Isoda Mion, Ultimate Utaite.”

Kan: “So that’s who we decided on for our Ultimate Utaite? Shame, I really was hoping for Ojima Tetsuya.”

Seki: “He’s too old. They’ve gotta be seventeen.”

Haruka: “Tei Atsushi, Ultimate Part Timer.”

Seki: “What does that even mean?”

Kan: “Is he no good at full time work then? Only part time?”

Seki: “How does that even work?”

Haruka: “Nishiguchi Mutsuko, Ultimate Pizza Chef.”

Seki: “So specific.”

Kan: “She looks rather friendly.”

Seki: “I dunno, she’s giving me student thirteen. I don’t mind that.”

Kan: “I rather liked student thirteen, actually.”

Haruka: “Akiba Taku, Ultimate Archer.”

Kan: “Lovely, another student who doesn’t find it pertinent to wear a shirt in our research environment.”

Seki: “Honestly. It’s a matter of professionalism. Do they go to school like this?”

Haruka: “Akihiko Shinji, Ultimate Street Artist.”

Seki: “Another artist?”

Kan: “Ah, I’ve seen his work when I visited Nagoya. Quite facinating.”

Seki: "I get the feeling he would’ve gotten along with student four. And would’ve given student twelve a heart attack if he saw the way he dressed.”

Kan: “Its flashy. I kinda like it.”

Haruka: “Got everything you need?”

Monomoko: “Yes, Dr. Yonekura. I’ll begin preparations right away. In the meantime, are you ready to depart?”

Haruka: “Well? Are we? I’m not hearing any complaints.”

Monomoko: “Very well. You may feel a slight tingling.”

Seki: “Tingling, or burning?”

Monomoko: “Unfortunately, that matter is somewhat subjective.”

Kan: “I’m eager to see the plane.”

Haruka: “Make sure you get the rest of the staff too.”

Monomoko: “Of course. Goodbye, Dr. Yonekura. I’ll be with you shortly.”

Haruka: “Mm. See you soon.”

Monomoko: “Until next time.”

Chapter Text

[Student 17B]

In a quiet apartment, one person sat alone, lost in thought. The small room smelled faintly of turpentine and old coffee, littered with brushes, crumpled sketches, and half-finished canvases leaning against the walls. A single dim lamp cast long shadows across the floor, creating an atmosphere of solitude. But that solitude did not last long. The front door clicked open, followed by the sound of worn shoes scraping against the floorboards.

Male Voice: “Oh, Shinji. Dude. You’re back early. Got done early with that client?”

Shinji: “Not at all. Fucker canceled at the very last minute… and took back his money.”

Male Voice: “Ah, that’s rough. I knew how excited you were to try out those new paints you just bought.”

Shinji: “Doesn’t matter. His house still would’ve looked atrocious. Even with my art, I couldn’t have fixed that mess.”

Male Voice: (chuckling) “Pfft! Was it really that bad?”

Shinji: “Horrible. I’m no builder, but whoever designed that house must’ve been half-blind. Crooked beams, uneven walls, not a single piece of symmetry. It was like a monument to bad taste.”

Shinji: “Besides, it gives me more time to finish that little painting under the bridge. You know, the one I’ve been sketching for weeks.”

Male Voice: “So that’s what you’ve been drawing on your paper all this time? The weird shapes and outlines?”

Shinji: “Exactly. It’s going to stretch across the whole underside, like a secret mural only a few people will ever notice. Pretty cool, right?”

Shinji pulled out his notebook and flipped it open, revealing page after page of rough, dark sketches—fragmented faces, jagged patterns, and symbols that seemed to pulse with hidden meaning.

Male Voice: “Incredible. That’s going to look amazing under the bridge. It’s like your own hidden gallery.”

Shinji: “And here’s the best part, glow-in-the-dark paint. Imagine it lighting up at night, its gonna look awesome!”

Male Voice: “That’s genius. People walking by at midnight won’t even know what hit them. It’ll be like discovering something forbidden.”

Shinji: “That’s the point. Art isn’t meant to be polite-it’s supposed to catch you off guard.”

Male Voice: “Anyway, I’m gonna get started on dinner. Are you planning to head back to that bridge tonight?”

Shinji: (smirking) “Obviously. I can’t leave it unfinished. It’s been calling to me all day.”

Male Voice: “Alright, but be careful, man. Don’t let the cops catch you. They don’t exactly appreciate your kind of… artistry.”

Shinji: “I’ll try not to. But if they do catch me—at least they’ll know I left something worth looking at. Later.”

[The Interview: Akihiko]

Click

Seki: “Thank you for your patience, Mr. Akihiko.”

Seki: “I know it must have been exhausting to wait around this long. Please, feel free to take any of the refreshments in front of you.”

Shinji: (flatly) “Let. Me. Out.”

Shinji: “This is fucking kidnapping. Don’t dress it up with tea and biscuits.”

Shinji: “Let me go home.”

Seki: “I’m afraid I can’t do that. All I need is to ask you a few questions. Then, you’ll be escorted back to your room. How does that sound?”

Shinji: “…Fine. But make it quick.”

Seki: “Nice to see you cooperating.”

Seki: “Now then, please state your full name and occupation for the record.”

Shinji: (reluctantly) “…Akihiko Shinji. I’m unemployed.”

Seki: “But you earn money by spraying on walls, correct?”

Shinji: (snapping) “It’s not just spraying, you idiot! I make art. I paint on walls, streets, clients’ houses, cars-anywhere that can hold a message. What I do gives the world a bit of color. It gives people something to think about. A statement.”

Seki: “And you’re aware that what you do is illegal, aren’t you?”

Shinji: “And what you people do isn’t?”

Seki: “…Touché. Moving on. Do you have any medical conditions we should be aware of?”

Shinji: “Why the hell do you wanna know? Why do you need all this information?”

Seki: (firmly) “Please answer the question, Mr. Akihiko.”

Shinji: “…Fine. I suffer from chronic migraines. Happy?”

Seki: “Very. I’ll inform Dr. Yonekura to add you to the medical supplies list.”

Shinji: “What? Who- who the hell is Yonekura-”

Seki: “What about phobias or allergies?”

Shinji: “Dunno.”

Seki: “…I’m sorry?”

Shinji: “I don’t know. I haven’t been to the doctor much.”

Seki: “But you knew you had chronic migraines?”

Shinji: “Yeah. That was from one of the last visits I ever made. Years ago.”

Seki: “And you don’t recall any phobias?”

Shinji: “No. I’m pretty sure I don’t have any.”

Seki: “Mm. Alright. Then I only have one more question.”

Seki: “...Do you blame yourself?”

Shinji: (frowning) “…Huh?”

Shinji:“For… what exactly?”

Seki: “Do you blame yourself for [̶R̴E̶D̵A̵C̵T̵E̸D̵]̸?”

…

Shinji: (trembling) “Sh…shut up…”

Shinji: “Shut up.”

Seki: “I believe we should end the recording here. Thank you for cooperating with me today, reluctantly or not."

Shinji: “Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up!"

Seki: “Argh!”

Seki: “Motherfucker! He stabbed me in the hand with his paintbrush!”

Seki: “I need a security officer and a medic in here! Now! Stat!”

Click

Chapter Text

[Waiting Room]

[Hallway / Waiting room 15:30]

Monomoko: “-room by exiting your bedroom, walking down the hallway, and taking your first right.”

Monomoko: “Then, take your next right, and continue down the hallway.”

Monomoko: “If you have questions, please hold them until all students have gathered.”

Monomoko: “This announcement will no longer repeat.”

Monomoko: “If any students fail to arrive in the waiting room, please take initiative and assist in guiding them there.”

Youhei: “Ngh...Nn, huh...?”

Youhei: “Where the hell am I...?”

Youhei: "H-Hello?"

Youhei: “God, this bed's fuckin' awful… What did the speaker say...?”

Youhei: “Down the hall and to the right...? Ah- Hey. You.”

Ruka: “Huh-?”

Youhei: “Sorry, uh- my head's being weird right now, do you know where the hell we are?”

Ruka: Well-...that's not reassuring.

Azusa: “Move.”

Taku: “Oh- Hey, there's actually people here.”

Youhei: "The hell?"

Ruka: “Come on, um- down the hall, take a right, then another right. Right?”

Youhei: "Uh- Right.”

Ruka: “Ruka, by the way.”

Youhei: “Ninomiya.”

Ruka: “Let's stick together, Ninomiya. I'm feeling a tiny bit frazzled right now.”

Youhei: “Yeah, um, me too, j-just-...sorry, what the hell is going on?

Ruka: “We'll find out when we get there, I'm sure.”

Sou: "Finally."

Shingo: “I was about to come back there and start dragging people out.”

Misao: “Is that everybody? Was there anyone behind you?”

Youhei: “Not that we saw. I dunno if people were still in their rooms though, uh-...who the hell are you guys?”

Daiki: “God, we're not doing this again, easy questions out of the way first - we don't know anything.”

Daiki: “Anything that you don't know, we don't know. See if you can follow that logic.”

Hideyuki: “Ah- Your hair!"

Youhei: “Huh-?”

Hideyuki: "I love it! So colourful! You're an authentic Japanese rebel!”

Hideyuki: “That's amazing!”

Youhei: "Uh, thanks man. Maybe keep your hands to yourself though?”

Erina: “He's saying you're annoying.”

Hideyuki: “Ah-! That's definitely something an authentic Japanese rebel would say!”

Hideyuki: “I’m so excited to meet an authentic Japanese rebel and a authentic Japanese goth person at the same time!”

Youhei: “Who?”

Shinji: “Didn't I tell you not to call me…whatever the hell you said earlier?”

Ruka: “Um-”

Azusa: “Hey! Whoever made that annoucement, we're here!”

Azusa: “Get down here already!”

Daiki: “You don't even know whether we're all here or not. You're just assuming those two are the last ones.”

Nanae: “Ah- Th-They're not! Sorry!”

Nanae: “I'm here, I'm here!”

Mion: “Is...that everyone?”

Daiki: “It better be.”

Misao: “Then...now what?”

Monomoko: “Lovely, it seems as though everyone has arrived.”

Misao: “Wh-!”

Daiki: “What?”

Taku: “Is that a fucking rabbit?”

Monomoko: “I did not mean to alarm you.

Monomoko: “I'm simply here to explain your situation and introduce myself, if that's alright.”

Monomoko: “You all seem to be rather curious about where you are, after all.”

Azusa: “It's a mental hospital. We're in a mental hospital. That's what's happening here.”

Taku: “Definitely explains a few things.”

Shinji: "It would explain that talking bunny…are we on drugs or some shit?”

Monomoko: “Welcome to the Kanagawa Futurist Technologies Institute.”

Monomoko: “This is a building in which many incredible discoveries have been made.”

Monomoko: “Going forward, you will be given the opportunity to become a part of those incredible discoveries.”

Azusa: “Not interested.”

Monomoko: “I'm afraid the opportunity is not optional.”

Monomoko: “Please allow me to explain the circumstances of your residence here.”

Shingo: “This isn't happening.”

Nanae: “B-...But I mean- We're all seeing this, right...?”

Shinji: “Huh. Then maybe we’re not all on drugs. Nevermind.”

Taku: “Someone grab it or something.”

Monomoko: “I would not recommend that.”

Monomoko: “You are currently standing in the top floor waiting room, also known as the resident lobby.”

Monomoko: “On this floor, you will find the dormitory wing, cafeteria, kitchen, lounge, rec room, storage room, medical bay, interview room, and several other spaces you may explore at your leisure.”

Monomoko: “I only ask that you please refrain from damaging or breaking the building in any way, as this is against school rules.”

Shingo: “School rules-?”

Monomoko: “Ah- Facility rules. My mistake.”

Noriko: “You better start explaining why we're here!”

Azusa: “Yeah, honestly.”

Monomoko: “I'd like to, if you'll please let me speak.”

Daiki: “Let it talk, I wanna hurry up and get out of here.”

Osamu: “This whole thing kinda feels like an escape room, huh?”

Shingo: “Shut up, everyone.”

Azusa: “Who put you in charge?”

Monomoko: “The only way to escape this building alive is to kill someone.”

Shingo: “...E-Excuse me?”

Osamu: “Wh-What?”

Nanae: “What?!”

Misao: “H-Hold on a minute!”

Monomoko: “The game you're here to play is one of life and death. Nobody is allowed to leave until somebody has won.”

Shingo: “Shut up. Nobody's doing that. How many of us did you take?”

Daiki: "Seventeen."

Shingo: “S-Seventeen?!”

Shingo: “You're never gonna get away with that!”

Shingo: “Seventeen people disappearing out of nowhere?!”

Monomoko: “To win, you must either kill one of your peers without being caught, or you must survive through five trials and reach the game's ending state.”

Mutsuko: “What does that even mean?!”

Mion: “Ending state?”

Shingo: “Can you both just shut up?!”

Mion: “...I barely even said anything.”

Osamu: “H-Hey, just breathe.”

Shingo: “Just let it explain!”

Mion: “He's freaking out.”

Youhei: “I'm kinda with him though.”

Monomoko: “If a student is found guilty of murder during a class trial, they too will meet with the fate of death.”

Ruka: "Um- Excuse me!”

Momoko: "Yes?"

Ruka: “What do you mean by class trial?”

Monomoko: “That will be made clear in time.”

Monomoko: “For now, don't concern yourself too hard with it.”

Ruka: “But-”

Taku: “I mean, I think I'm probably just gonna leave. Is there a front door or somethin'?”

Shnji: “We’re on the top floor. Idiot. If there was a front door, you would likely just fall to your death.”

Shingo: “Oh you're not keeping us here.”

Monomoko: “We're very happy to have you joining us here for our game.”

Shingo: “Hey!”

Monomoko: “Please, enjoy your stay, and explore the floor at your leisure.”

Shingo: “Enough! What are you-?!”

Sou: “...I-It's gone.”

Shingo: “Wh-...What the hell?”

Mutsuko: “Alright, enough standing around. I'm getting out of here.”

Daiki: "What?"

Mutsuko: “I'm gonna go find the door. There has to be a door, right? I'm gonna go find it.”

Sou: “Ah- Can I come with you?”

Mutsuko: "Yeah c'mon.”

Shingo: “This is ridiculous…”

Youhei: “I mean, she's not wrong. Gotta be a door somewhere.”

Youhei: "Bye."

Shingo: “W-Wait, we need to-”

Shingo: “Ngh-! Fine, everybody just go. Why not? Amazing.”

Misao: “Um- Doctor, why don't you come look for the door with me?”

Misao: “We can go together!”

Misao: “So you won't be nervous!”

Shingo: (sighs) “Great. Thank you. Sounds perfect.”

Misao: “Hey! Goth Guy! Come with us!”

Shinji: “..I have a name, y’know?”

Misao: “What do you wanna be called?”

Shinji: “...Akihiko is fine.”

Misao: “Akihiko…great! Lets go!”

[Memorial Grounds]

[Amnesia room 16:00]

Shingo: “What the hell?”

Misao: "Woah..."

Shingo: “I-...wh-what is this?”

Misao: “It looks kind of like a doctor's office.”

Shingo: "Kind of.”

Shingo: “Wh-Why are the lights so dim?”

Shingo: “Do they go any higher?”

Misao: “Hrmmmmm... nnnnope, it's not a dimmer switch, just a regular switch.”

Shingo: “This place is creepy.”

Misao: “Maybe we could open a curtain or something!”

Shingo: “Right, w-well-”

Shingo: “...w-wait, what?”

Shingo: “Why aren't there any windows?”

Misao: “Hm?”

Shingo: “Denden, Akihiko, have any you seen one window the entire time we've been walking around?”

Misao: “I... don't think so?”

Shingo: “I thought we were on the top floor.”

Shingo: Why the hell aren't there any windows?

Akihiko: “I’ve been wondering about that since I woke up in that dark room.”

Misao: “Dark room? Did you not woke up in the dorm rooms?”

Misao: “Everyone else said they woke up in something that looks like a dorm room

Shinji: “I didn't. I woke up on a couch in some creepy dark room. It has no light or windows.”

Shinji: “I could only see anything because the door was spread wide open. And the light from outside illuminated the room I was in.”

Shingo: “...That still doesn't explain the missing windows.”

Misao: “Maybe they were worried about birds flying into them.”

Shingo: “That's not a thing, just-”

Shingo: “(groans)...okay, start looking through the cabinets.”

Misao: “Yes doctor!”

Shinji: “...you think there might be some ibuprofen or anything simillar around here?

Shingo: “It wouldn't suprise me.”

Shinji: “I might take some if we do find them.”

Shingo: “What? Why would you-”

Misao: “What are these?”

Shingo: “Hm-?”

Shingo: “What did you find?”

Misao: “They're pills, I think, but there's no name on them.”

Shingo: “...Completely unlabelled medication, that's always a good sign.”

Misao: “Do you know what they are?”

Shingo: “No idea, they look pretty generic... maybe we can find some documentation somewhere.”

Shingo: “Was there anything else in that cabinet?”

Misao: “Just a lot of those.”

Shingo: “Let me see.”

Shingo: “That's uh-...wow.”

Misao: Yeah, see? A lot.

Shinji: “I guess they didn't want us to run out?”

Shingo: “Keep looking around.”

Misao: “But shouldn't we figure out what those pills are?”

Shingo: “That's what we're trying to do.”

Shingo: “What the hell is all this?”

Misao: “Did you find something?”

Shingo: “There's-...this almost looks like a CPAP mask.”

Shingo: “What's this part?”

Misao: "I have no idea.”

Shingo: "Sorry, uh- that was rhetorical, I-I'm talking to myself.”

Misao: “Oh! That's fine! I'll talk to you too!”

Shingo: “I- Thanks, Denden.”

Misao: “It looks like something goes in here, right?”

Shingo: “That's where something screws in, which means... we're probably looking for some kind of tubing.”

Misao: “I can look for tubing!”

Shingo: “Uh- Good, you do that.”

Shingo: “I'm gonna keep looking for documentation.”

Shingo: “I wanna know what those pills are.”

Misao: “I'll keep an eye out for that too.”

Shinji: “I’m gonna look around elsewhere. If you find any Ibuprofen or something, let me know.”

Misao: “Okay!”

Shingo: “...Akihiko. Wait.”

Shinji: “Hm?”

Shingo: “When we’re done investigating..can I check you up?”

Shinji: “...I’m fine though.”

Shingo: “You say that. But I just wanna be sure you are.”

Shingo: “It would bother me forever if I knew someone was on some kind of pills without knowing what they have.”

Shinji: “Fine. Lets do it tomorrow though. If we don’t make it out before that.”

Shingo: “That okay. I’ll meet with you tomorrow morning then.”

Misao: “Bye Akihiko!”

Shnji: “See ya.”

[Leisure Time]

[Rec room 17:30]

Atsushi: "Hm?"

Atsushi: “What's this place?”

Atsushi: “Board games, pool table…”

Shinji: “Looks like a Rec room or something.”

Atsushi: (gasp) “Oh shit, we've got a TV.”

Atsushi: “Wonder if anything actually plays on it.”

 Shinji: “I doubt the Rabbit would let us watch the news or anything from the outside world.”

Monomoko: "Excuse me.”

Shinji: “Fuck-”

Atsushi: “Jesus fffffffuck-!”

Atsushi: “Don't sneak up on us like that!”

Monomoko: “I didn't- Ah-!”

Atsushi: “Okay, talk.”

Monomoko: “I'd recommend that you let go of me.”

Atsushi: “Not until you talk.”

Monomoko: “Mr. Atsushi, if you don't let go of me, I'll be forced to harm you.”

Shinji: “Hey, Dude, are you stupid or something? Let that rabbit go.”

Atsushi: “Let. Us. Leave.”

Monomoko: “This is your final warning.”

Shinji: "Seriously man, let go before you do something you regret!”

Atsushi: “Let go of my Shoulder!”

Monomoko: “Very well.”

Monomoko: “This is your first infraction, so I'll be somewhat forgiving.”

Atsushi: "Huh-?"

Monomoko: “Let go.”

Monomoko: “I warned you.”

...

Shinji: “Argh! Fucking hell!”

Atsushi: “Wh-What the hell was that?!”

Atsushi: “I- gh- f- fuck!”

Atsushi: “Augh- my eyes are- burning!”

Shinji: “You should have let go when I told you so you dumbass!”

Monomoko: “My apollogies. That was only meant to affect Mr. Atsushi. But that warning goes for everyone.”

Monomoko: “Do not make any further attempts to harm me.”

Atsushi: “Augh, just tell me why the hell I'm here!”

Atsushi: “Did I do something?! Did I- G-God, fuck, s-seriously, my eyes…”

Monomoko: “I'd recommend taking a seat until the pain subsides.”

Atsushi: “Ngh-”

Atsushi: "H-Hell…"

Atsushi: “...hell…”

Monomoko: “I'll leave you be. And Mr. Shinji.”

Shinji: “...Hm?”

Monomoko: “when you’re done investigating here, meet me in the hallway.”

Shinji: “What?...why me?”

Monomoko: “Because there is something i’d like to talk to you about.”

Monomoko: “I’ll see you then.”

Shinji: “Wait!-....shit.”

Ruka: Wh- Are you okay?!

Youhei: “The hell's happening in here?”

Atsushi: “Ngh- I'm fine, I'm fine.”

Atsushi: (inhales) “God- fuck!”

Ruka: “What happened?”

Atsushi: “The rabbit just-”

Shinji: “Pinky here had the great Idea to attack the rabbit.”

Shinji: “I don’t know what It did..but whatever it is, it made our eyes hurt.”

Atsushi: “Fuck!...”

Youhei: “Stop rubbing them, that's just gonna make it worse.”

Youhei: “What about you. You okay?”

Shinji: “...I think so. I don’t think I was hit as hard as that Idiot..”

Shinji: “...I’m gonna check the rest of this floor. You should stay with him until his eyes are getting better.”

Youhei: “Yeah…bye man.”

Ruka: “Sorry, um- what's your name?”

Atsushi: “Uh- T- T-Tei...Atsushi.”

Ruka: “Okay, hi Tei, I'm Ruka.”

Ruka: “We'll stay with you for a bit, okay?”

Ruka: “To make sure you're alright.”

Atsushi: “R-Right, right, thanks.”

[Outstanding]

[Hallway/Dormitory wing 17:40]

Shinji: “...Sixteen…”

Monomoko: “Hello.”

Shinji: “J-Jesus! Don’t sneak up like that!”

Monomoko: “My Apollogies. I am glad you came to talk though.”

Shinji: “...Whatever. what do you want?”

Monomoko: “As I said earlier. I wanted to talk you about something.”

Monomoko: “Have you looked around the dormitory wing?”

Shinji: “...Yeah. I counted sixteen rooms overall. Even though we’re seventeen…”

Monomoko: “You don’t have one.”

...

Shinji: “what?”

Monomoko: “We did not have the budget to make an extra private dorm room.”

Shinji: “Where the hell am I suppose to sleep at night?”

Monomoko: “You can always go to sleep in the calm room.”

Shinji: “What room?”

Monomoko: “The room you first woke up in.”

Shinji: “Ah…just great. Is that everything?”

Monomoko: “That is all.”

Monomoko: “You may go back to investigating. If you’d like.”

Monomoko: “However, I think the rest of your classmates are meeting up in the Waiting Room right now.”

Shinji: “Good to know…I guess.”

Monomoko: “Goodbye.”

[Route Review]

[Waiting Room 18:00]

Azusa: “Alright, everyone shut up, we're doing a review.”

Ruka: “Uh- Maybe we could try doing it a bit more politely-?”

Shingo: “Hey!”

Shingo: “Everyone shut up!”

Shingo: "Yokoi?"

Ruka: “Um- R-Right, well-!”

Ruka: “Let's go over everything we found, okay?”

Ruka: “Just so we're all on the same page.”

Youhei: “Who wants to start?”

Ruka: “Ah- Nononono, we're gonna go around the circle in order."

Ruka: “That way, everyone gets a turn to talk.”

Ruka: “We don't wanna miss anything.”

Ruka: “I'm gonna start, just to keep things organized.”

Youhei: “Alright, go for it.”

Ruka: “Okay, so... first, I went back to my dorm room to see if there was anything there that might be of interest.”

Ruka: “I talked to the rabbit for a bit while I was there too, There... wasn't too much to find, but um- it did mention that my desk was a workstation related to my talent, which... I'm not really sure what that means, but uh, there ya go!”

Taku: “What's your talent?”

Ruka: “I have no idea!”

Ruka: “But um- anyway! We also have joint bathrooms, so uh- everyone's shairing their bathroom with someone.”

Ruka: "I'm with Ogura!”

Noriko: “How fortuitous.”

Noriko: “You're incredibly lucky.”

Ruka: “Right, uh- I am!”

Ruka: “After that, I met up with Ninomiya in the waiting room, which is uh- where we are right now!”

Ruka: “We...honestly didn't find much.”

Ruka: “There's puzzles and stuff, but um- there's also an elevator.”

Ruka: “There was a shutter covering it before. We tried to see if we could go down to another floor, but ...all the other buttons require keys, and we don't have keys, so ...yeah.”

Taku: “We have our room keys, do those work?”

Ruka: “I don't think so, no.”

Ruka: “The keys we need are a bit smaller.”

Youhei: “We went looking for them, but we couldn't find anything.”

Youhei: “This place is honestly pretty fuckin' barren.”

Ruka: “But um-”

Ruka: “Yeah! That's all we really found, so... you! Your turn! Do you wanna start with your name?”

Mutsuko: “I guess?”

Mutsuko: “Uh- My name is Nishiguchi Mutsuko.”

Mutsuko: “Yaitabashi and I checked out the kitchen.”

Mutsuko: “It's pretty standard.”

Mutsuko: “Fridge, oven, dishwasher, that kinda stuff... there's a walk-in freezer too.”

Mutsuko: “There wasn't anything inside though. Like, no meat or anything. It's just empty.”

Sou: “The kitchen's connected directly to the cafeteria, in the back left corner.”

Sou: “It's actually pretty big for a kitchen.”

Mutsuko: “I'll give it that, at least.”

Mutsuko: “I dunno, I'm still not impressed.”

Ruka: “Great! So um- I take it you're Yaitabashi then?”

Sou: “Right, hi. Yaitabashi Sou.”

Sou: “I was with Nishiguchi, I don't really have anything to add that she hasn't already said.”

Ruka: “Alright, then let's keep going!”

Ruka: "Your name?"

Azusa: “Maekawa.”

Azusa: “Snowman Kid and I went down the really long hallway off the side of the caf.”

Azusa: “There was pretty much nothing there, except like- I mean, there was some room that those two were already checking out, then a bathroom, then this weird room that didn't have any lights in it.”

Osamu: “Ah- Right.”

Osamu: “I-It locked from the outside, but you couldn't unlock it from the inside, which was...kind of weird.”

Osamu: “It just had a couch and a blanket, nothing else.”

Youhei: “Did anyone see any windows?”

Azusa: “Hey jackass. It's not your turn to talk.”

Youhei: “The hell? You let him talk.”

Azusa: “Cuz he was with me.”

Azusa: “He's right though, that room was creepy as hell.”

Shinji: “And it only locks from outside?”

Osumu: “Y-Yeah. Anyone could lock up whoever is in there”

Shinji: "Great…Just great.”

Azusa: “Why does that bother you so much?’”

Shinji: “Because that’s where i’m suppose to fucking sleep or something.”

Youhei: “What?”

Shinji: “I had a talk with the Rabbit. It told me about not having enough budget to make seventeen private dorm rooms. The calm room is the only other place I can sleep, apperantly.”

Ikeda: “Boo-hoo.”

Shingo: “That’s not happening.”

Shinji: “Excuse me?”

Shingo: “No one will sleep in the calm room. Its way too Dangerous.”

Shingo: “You’re sleeping in my room from now on.”

Shinji: “That’s not necessary. I’ll find another way-”

Shingo: “That wasn't a request. You will sleep in the dorms. Wether you like it or not.”

Shinji: “I-...thanks. i guess.”

Azusa: “Anyway, after that, we split up for a bit and I went off with pigtails and redhead.”

Azusa: “We found some kind of lounge room. It was just couches and a table.”

Erina: “Plus a coffee maker.”

Azusa: “Ugh, yeah, seriously.”

Azusa: “A pretty nice coffee maker too.”

Azusa: “But yeah. That's it.”

Taku: “So am I next?”

Ruka: “Yep! Go ahead!”

Taku: “Okay, uh, hi, my name is Akiba Taku.”

Taku: “I mostly just went up and down the halls cuz every room already had people searching in it, but uh... I was in the cafeteria for a bit.”

Taku: “Looked like a cafeteria.”

Taku: “That's pretty much all I've got to report.”

Ruka: “...I uh- I see! Thank you Akiba!”

Youhei: “Riveting stuff, man.”

Taku: “Thanks.”

Ruka: “Sorry, what's your name?”

Hideyuki: “Oh- Tsukigata!”

Hideyuki: “It's still Tsukigata, yes?”

Noriko: “Yes.”

Hideyuki: "Perfect!"

Hideyuki: Tsukigata.”

Ruka: “Nice to meet you, Tsukigata!”

Ruka: “What did you find?”

Hideyuki: “Her Most Powerful and Two-Dimensional Goddess of Beauty and Grace Miss Ogura and I found an outdoor space!”

Shingo: “What?”

Taku: “Who the hell's name did he just say?”

Noriko: “It was not an outdoor space!”

Noriko: “It was a little room with fake grass all over the floor. and walls painted to look like a sky.”

Noriko: “It was like someone tried to make an outdoor courtyard inside.”

Hideyuki: “Right!”

Hideyuki: “It was nice!”

Noriko: “It was super creepy!”

Noriko: “Normally, I'd much prefer a two-dimensional sky to a three-dimensional sky, as a tie to my origin realm.”

Noriko: “But this room was completely accursed.”

Ruka: “Well uh- accursed, right, we'll definitely look out for that!”

Ruka: “Thank you Tsukigata!”

Ruka: “And you?”

Shingo: “Hirose Shingo.”

Shingo: “I was with Denden and Akihiko, we found a room down the hall from the dormitories that was full of pills and miscellaneous medical equipment.”

Shingo: “We thought it was some kind of medbay, but when we went to the other end of the hall, we found an actual medbay. so now we have no idea what it is.”

Shingo: “My only request is that everyone just leave it alone for now.”

Shingo: “We want to figure out what it is before people start running around in there messing everything up.”

Shinji: “Did you find any Ibuprofen?”

Shingo: “We did. I’ll…bring a pack or two to my room.”

Shinji: “...Thanks.”

Ruka: “I think that's a request we can honour! Is that all?”

Shingo: “That's all.”

Misao: “I'm Denden, by the way!”

Misao: “The Denden he mentioned was me!”

Ruka: “Well uh- Nice to meet you, Denden!”

Ruka: “Do you have anything to add to what he found!”

Misao: “Not really, no.”

Misao: “I think Doctor Hirose did a very good job of explaining things!”

Ruka: "Right, well, in that case, let's keep going!”

Ruka: “Tei? Did you find anything?”

Atsushi: “Uh- Sort of, I checked out the cafeteria with Akiba.”

Atsushi: “He's right. there was pretty much nothing here.”

Atsushi: “After that though, I went down the hall, and there was this place that I'm pretty sure is a rec room or something. It had games and a pool table and stuff.”

Azusa: “Hell yeah.”

Atsushi: “The rabbit showed up while I was there, so I tried to get some answers out of it, and um-”

Atsushi: “...yeah, don't do that.”

Nanae: “Why not?”

Atsushi: “Because it said it was going to hurt me and then started burning my fucking eyes.”

Atsushi: “It was like it had thrown bleach in them or something. It didn't stop burning for a couple minutes.”

Shingo: “Are you alright now?”

Atsushi: “Yeah, I'm fine now, just-”

Atsushi: “...don't touch the rabbit.”

Shingo: “I wanna take a look at your eyes later, if that's okay.”

Atsushi: “That's um- That's fine, yeah.”

Ruka: “Okay, Goth boy, what’s your name?”

Shinji: “...Akihiko Shinji. Now that you know my name, you can stop calling me ‘Goth Boy’.”

Azusa: “Nah. I’ll still call you goth boy.” 

Shinji: “Shut up.”

Ruka: “Well- uh, Akihiko. What did you find.”

Shinji: “I was with Denden and Hirose. I don’t exactly have anything to add about the weird pills room.

Shinji: “After that, I split up with them and looked around.”

Shinji: “I met up with Tei and we checked out the Rec room. It had some board games and a TV with a…video game console? I think? I never got to take a good look at it. Because the Rabbit suddenly appeared.”

Shinji: “Then, as Yokoi and Youhei allready know, Tei had the brilliant Idea to attack the rabbit.”

Shinji: “I don’t know what exactly it did, but it seems like it was defending itself. Unfortunatly, I was in the crossfire because I touched Tei at that time. And whatever happened to him, happened to me too.”

Shingo: “Huh?!”

Shingo: “Why didn't you say anything sooner!”

Shinji: “Because I was fine afterwards!”

Shingo: “Are you though?”

Shinji: “I mean, they still sting a little. But its nothing I can’t manage.”

Shingo: “Jesus. Now I have an actual good reason to do a check up on you.”

Shinji: “...So that was basically everything I could see in the rec room. And you allready know about my talk with Monomoko. So…I have nothing else to add.”

Ruka: “Okay! What about you, um- sorry, name?”

Daiki: “Why do I have to tell you guys my name?”

Daiki: “We're leaving, right?”

Daiki: “Why do we need to get all buddy-buddy?”

Ruka: “Well we don't know how long we're gonna be in here.”

Ruka: “Besides, I need to call you something, right? So it might as well be your name.*

Daiki: “Fair.”

Daiki: “It's Ikeda, for the record.”

Daiki: “I was poking around in the medbay for a while, but after that I went off with Maekawa and the short girl.”

Daiki: “Found the lounge with them, nothing else to add.”

Daiki: “Didn't find any way out the entire time I was walking around, so I'm gonna go ahead and guess that elevator is our best bet.”

Ruka: “So we need to get the elevator working…”

Youhei: “How?”

Youhei: “We don't have keys.”

Atsushi: “Then we need to find keys.”

Azusa: “Why the hell would they just leave keys lying around?”

Osamu: “Could we try picking the locks?”

Osamu: “Would that work?”

Misao: “Ooh, good idea!”

Misao: “Maybe!”

Ruka: “We'll come back to that!”

Ruka: “Um- you, did you have anything to add?”

Osamu: “Oh- No, sorry, Maekawa already said everything I wanted to say.”

Osamu: “But uh- My name is Shishikura!”

Ruka: “Nice to meet you Shishikura!”

Ruka: “Who's up next?”

Nanae: “Oh, um, me!”

Nanae: “Hi.”

Nanae: “Ouno Nanae, I um- I explored the storage room, and I found this crowbar, so if anyone tries to attack me, I'm gonna hit them with it.”

Nanae: “I-It's very nice to meet you all, and I hope we can get along!”

Shingo: “We're going to let her carry around a crowbar?”

Daiki: “What, are you gonna be the guy who tries to take it away?”

Ruka: “I-I'm not sure we should be carrying weapons around!”

Nanae: “I-I'm not gonna hit anyone with it!”

Nanae: “I mean- unless they hit me first.”

Nanae: “Then I am.”

Youhei: “Pfft, I like her.”

Azusa: “I like her too.”

Nanae: “I like you both!”

Ruka: “Okay, okay, um- is that all you found, Ouno?”

Nanae: “Yep! That's all.”

Ruka: “Okay, then... Ogura. Did you have anything you wanted to add?”

Noriko: “Hidemi already covered everything we found.”

Noriko: “I'll pass.”

Ruka: “Thennnnn... Kumada!”

Erina: “Yeah, I'll pass too, Maekawa and Ikeda already said it all.”

Erina: “I think we've pretty much covered everything, haven't we?”

Mion: “Uh, I didn't talk.”

…

Mion: “Sorry, that got weirdly quiet.”

Ruka: “Oh uh- D-Don't worry about it! You're Isoda, right?”

Mion: “Right.”

Mion: “I didn't really find much at all though.”

Mion: “There's a room down the hall from the waiting room that's just a couple tables and chairs in it, nothing else.*

Mion: “The rabbit said it was the interview room or something...?”

Mion: “Yeah, I dunno. Sorry.”

Ruka: “No, that was helpful! Thank you!”

Youhei: “I don't really have anything else to add either, except that uh... my name's Ninomiya, I guess?”

Youhei: “And that's pretty much it.”

Youhei: “Ruka already talked about our investigation.”

Ruka: “And just to be clear, nobody found a way out?”

Ruka: “Nobody at all? Just the elevator?”

Erina: “Nothing.”

Osamu: “Nope.”

Azusa: “Yeah, no, nothing.”

Ruka: “Okay, then how about this?”

Ruka: “Let's search the entire building again, but everyone swaps rooms.”

Ruka: “A fresh set of eyes might help us!”

Shinji: "...Fuck no."

Youhei: “What? No way.”

Azusa: “Again?”

Daiki: “That's a giant waste of time.”

Taku: “Uh, yeah, I ain't doing that.”

Taku: “How about this? I'm gonna go down the hall and punch a hole in the wall.”

Ruka: “I- What?!”

Taku: “Yeah.”

Daiki: “We're on the top floor, dumbass.”

Shinji: “Seriously. This is a stupid Idea.”

Taku: “Still, might be able to get into a crawlspace or something.”

Taku: “It's a better idea than nothing.”

Nanae: “I- but we're not allowed to break stuff, right?”

Taku: “So? What's it gonna do?”

Hideyuki: “Burn your eyes, probably!”

Hideyuki: “Like with Tei! And Akihiko!”

Taku: “Pfft, whatever, it was only for a few minutes, right?”

Taku: “I'll put up with it. I want outta here.”

Ruka: “I really don't think this is such a good idea though…”

Taku: “Cool, well, anyone who does think it's a good idea can go come with me.”

Taku: “I'm gonna head out.”

Ruka: “Akiba!”

Taku: “Later!”

Ruka: “...I'm gonna go supervise him”

Youhei: “Em- Wait up.”

[Property Damage]

[Hallway 18:13]

Ruka: “Akiba, seriously, this is such a bad idea!”

Shinji: "The Worst Idea anyone had today.”

Taku: “It's just drywall, right?”

Taku: “So I should be able to just punch right through?”

Youhei: "I kinda wanna see this.”

Erina: “We should count the elevator buttons before he goes digging around in there like some...freaky rat person.”

Osamu: “I-I can go check them!”

Osamu: “I'll be fast!”

Ruka: “Yeah, um, go. Hurry.”

Monomoko: “Excuse me.”

Taku: “Great, here we go.”

Monomoko: “I feel the need to remind you that damaging school property is against facility rules.”

Taku: “Don't care.”

Monomoko: "I do not wish to enact punishment on you this early on in the game.”

Monomoko: “Please do not damage the wall.”

Taku: “I'm warning you right now, I'm tearing the thing down.”

Taku: “It's happening.”

Monomoko: “I'd highly advise against making an irresponsible choice.”

Monomoko: ‘This is your last warning.”

Ruka: “Akiba, seriously! We'll find another way out!”

Taku: “Here goes.”

Taku: “Bracing my eyes.”

Ruka: “Akiba!”

…

Taku: “It...didn't even…”

Youhei: “O-Oh shit, Akiba, your mouth is-”

Ruka: “You're bleeding!”

Taku: “Wh-What-?"

Erina: “His ears too.”

Taku: “I- H-Huh?"

Monomoko: “I would strongly advise against repeating that sort of behaviour in the future.”

Monomoko: “I am being lenient, because today is your first day in the facility.”

Monomoko: “In the future, this will not be the case.”

Monomoko: “And please, do not get into the crossfire again. Mr. Shinji.”

Erina: “What-”

Ruka: “Akihiko! Why is he bleeding too?!”

Shinji: “I…I must’ve gotten hit too when I tried to pull Akiba away…”

Youhei: “Dude. Maybe you should stop touching people when they’re about to break the rules.”

Erina: “Are you okay though?”

Shinji: “I’m...i'm a little dizzy…”

Shinji: “I’ll wash up in the bathroom and then go to Hirose's room…good night..”

Youhei: “Good night man…stay safe.”

Youhei: “...Akiba. What about you?”

Taku: “I...Wh-Wha-...”

Taku: “What the hell...?”

Ruka: “Are you okay?!”

Taku: “Y-Yeah, yeah, um-”

Taku: “I- Yeah, be right back!”

Youhei: “Akiba, wait.”

Ruka: “I-... Yeah, go, I'll catch up with you in a minute.”

Chapter Text

[Ocular Exam]

[Medical Bay 08:32]

Atsushi: “Uh- H-Hirose?”

Atsushi: “Denden said you wanted to talk to me?”

Atsushi: “Oh, you’re here too?”

Shinji: “Yo.”

Shingo: “Right, sorry for sending her to flag you down, I was just looking forrrrr... this.”

Shingo: “There we go.”

Atsushi: "I- Yeah?"

Shingo: “It's an ophthalmoscope.”

Shingo: “I just wanted to get a look at your eyes, if that's alright.”

Atsushi: “My...eyes?”

Shingo: “You said they were burning yesterday, right?”

Shingo: “After you grabbed the rabbit?”

Atsushi: “Um- yeah, for a little while.”

Shingo: “Well, I was hoping I could figure out why.”

Shingo: “Is that okay with you?”

Atsushi: “Er-... yeah, that's fine I guess. They feel fine now just so you know.”

Shingo: “That's good to hear, actually.”

Shingo: “Hopefully that means you won't be dealing with any lasting damage.”

Atsushi: “Hopefully.”

Shingo: “Could you grab a seat for me?”

Shingo: “Alright... follow my finger with your eyes please.”

Atsushi: “You're... not an eye doctor, right?”

Shingo: “Definitely not.”

Atsushi: So are you like... qualified for this?

Shingo: “If you'd like to run and grab someone more qualified, just let me know.”

Atsushi: (amused sigh) “Fair enough.”

Atsushi: “Oh yeah, Akihiko. Since you’re here..I was wondering something.”

Shinji: “Go on.”

Atsushi: “Why weren’t you at breakfast this morning?”

Shinji: “Oh, that’s your question? I simply overslept. Nothing to worry about.”

Shinji: “If you’re concerned about me not eating anything, i’ll grab some later. I’m just suppose to stay here and wait until “doctor” over here is done.”

Shingo: “Yeah...Either way, I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary.”

Shingo: “No damage, I mean. Not to you or Akihiko.”

Shingo: “I'm not really sure what it did to you.”

Atsushi: “Ninomiya and Yokoi said they weren't even red or anything. They just hurt.”

Shingo: “That's... definitely weird, then.”

Atsushi: “So what kind of doctor are you?”

Shingo: “I'm a general surgeon.”

Atsushi: “What?”

Shingo: “What do you mean what?”

Atsushi: “I-I mean like- how? How old are you?”

Shingo: “Seventeen.”

Atsushi: “Then how the hell are you a general surgeon?”

Atsushi: “Don't you need to go to med school for like... a-a decade or something?”

Shinji: “Is that even legal?”

Shinji: “It doesn't feel like its legal.”

Shingo: “Don't worry about it, it's not important.”

Shingo: “I'm qualified, I assure you.”

Atsushi: “Are you though?”

Shingo: "I am."

Shingo: “I have every qualification to be a general surgeon.”

Atsushi: “So like... a medical license...?”

Shingo: “I'm not seeing anything.”

Shingo: “Sorry for wasting your time.”

Shingo: “You can head off now.”

Shingo: “I'll let you know if I figure something out.”

Atsushi: “Uh-...right, well, thanks Hirose, take care.”

Shingo: “You too.”

Shinji: “...Can I go eat now?”

Shingo: “Oh, right. Go ahead.”

Shinji: "Cool."

[Alarm Bells]

[Hallway 10:40]

Shingo: (sighs) I don't even know what we're looking for anymore.

Misao: “But we're doing such a good job looking!”

Erina: “What?!”

Erina: “No we're not!”

Erina: “We're sucking!”

Erina: “We haven't found anything!”

Osamu: “Well, honestly.”

Osamu: “I'm kind of with Mr. Hirose.”

Osamu: “I'm not really sure what we're looking for.”

Erina: “We're looking for something we can use to escape!”

Osamu: “Well yeah, but like what?”

Shinji: “Keys or some shit?”

Shinji: “Anything that looks like it could be used at that elevator."

Shinji: “But I haven’t seen anything like that all morning. Or yesterday.”

Misao: “Is there anything we can do with the hole that Akiba punched in the wall?”

Erina: “No, it's way too small. Plus, it's just a stupid hole.”

Shingo: “What even happened with that?”

Erina: “He said he was gonna bust a giant hole in the wall and then climb through the crawlspace or something.”

Erina: “The rabbit showed up and told him not to do it, and then he did it anyway and started bleeding.”

Shingo: “I- W-Wait, what?

Shingo: “Did he hurt his hand or something?”

Erina: “Nah, it wasn't his hand at all.”

Erina: “It was his ears.”

Erina: “And his mouth.”

Erina: “He just started bleeding out of nowhere.”

Erina: “Akihiko too. Because he happened to be in the crossfire again.”

Shingo: “I-...What?!”

Shinji: “K-Kumada!”

Shingo: “Akihiko! Why didn't you say anything?!”

Shinji: “Because I was fine! It didn't actually hurt or anything!”

Shingo: (groans) “not this again. Just because it didn't hurt, doesn't mean that your body wasn't actually unharmed!”

Erina: “You did also told us you felt dizzy after you got hit.”

Shingo: “Dizzy? I- no, back to Akiba. His ears and mouth were bleeding?”

Erina: “Yeah.”

Shingo: “I- Gh- Okay, where is he?”

Erina: “I dunno, wherever? I-It's not like I have an Akiba tracker or something.”

Shingo: “I'm going to go find him.”

Shingo: “You’re coming with me. I need to check you up again.”

Shinji: “But you allready did a check up this morning.”

Shingo: “That was before I knew what else happened. Now I have to check your mouth and ears too.”

Shinji: “Just-..fine. But let go of my wrist. I can walk by myself.”

Shingo: “No. I wanna make sure you’re at arm's length”

Shingo: “You three keep- a-actually, no. Denden, come with us.”

Misao: “Yes Doctor!”

Erina: “Huh?”

Erina: “So what do you want us to do?”

Erina: “Hey!”

Erina: “Are we supposed to keep looking?!”

Erina: “Whatever, c'mon.”

Osamu: “He's uh- just a bit of a busybody, I think.”

Erina: “More like a tool.”

[Evening Meeting]

[Cafeteria 18:45]

Taku: “Gotta say, today was pretty damn riveting.”

Noriko: “Akiba Taku!”

Noriko: “Sarcasm is the language of the witless and pathetic!”

Noriko: “State yourself clearly!”

Taku: “...Uh, okay, today was fuckin' dumb.”

Noriko: “Thank you.”

Taku: “We didn't do jack shit.”

Shinji: “I wanted to do more, but someone insisted that I stay by his side the whole day.”

Shingo: “Its just to make sure nothing happens to you again.”

Shinji: “I don’t need to be fucking supervised 24/7!”

Taku: “Is this gonna be the plan every day?”

Taku: “Just sit around and do nothing and wait for the cops to show up?”

Taku: “What if they never come?”

Shingo: “We spent the majority of the afternoon looking for something to pick the elevator button locks with.”

Shingo: “Nothing is working out so far.”

Shingo: “I'm not sure what you expect us to do.”

Shingo: “We can't walk through walls.”

Hideyuki: “Miss Ogura can!”

Noriko: “Without struggle.”

Taku: “Do it then.”

Noriko: “Kh... how is it you don't recall? This building is stifling my power levels.”

Shinji: (sarcastic) “Yeah. Surely that's the reason why.”

Daiki: “For the record, if what's-her-name is right about this place being a mental hospital, Ogura is actual evidence for that theory.”

Noriko: “You know nothing of my abilities!”

Daiki: “You know nothing about going outside for five minutes.”

Azusa: “Nah, I don't even think it's a mental hospital anymore.”

Azusa: “There's no doctors.”

Nanae: “Um- Doctor Hirose is a doctor though.”

Shingo: “I'm a surgeon.”

Mutsuko: “Doctors can still go to mental institutions.”

Shingo: “I- We're not- They just don't throw people into empty, unmanned mental institutions.”

Osamu: “It's not unmanned, the rabbit's in charge. Right?”

Atsushi: “Honestly with every hour I spend here I'm getting more and more convinced on that mental institution theory.”

Taku: "Hey, uhhh-...I have a question, actually?”

Azusa: “What's up?”

Taku: “What ever happened to Isoda??”

Taku: “I mean, like, I saw them yesterday, but they weren't at breakfast this morning.”

Taku: “I haven't actually seen them all day.”

Daiki: “Welp.”

Daiki: “One down I guess.”

Atsushi: “Wh- That's so insensitive.”

Azusa: “They ain't dead, God.”

Azusa: “You people jump to the worst case scenario so fast.”

Azusa: “Let's just go check their room.”

Erina: “I'll go.”

Erina: “Nishiguchi?”

Mutsuko: “Yeah, sure, whatever.”

Mutsuko: “We can take Yaitabashi too.”

Erina: “Bigger group the better, that way you can't kill me as soon as we turn the corner.”

Sou: “Er- Alright, I guess I'm coming too then.”

Mutsuko: “I could still totally kill you the second we turn the corner anyway, he wouldn't even-”

Sou: “Don't-...make a joke like that, it's completely tone-deaf.”

Mutsuko: “Well it's not like I'm actually gonna kill her or something.”

Misao: “Still, I-I think it would probably make everyone feel a lot safer if we stopped joking about killing people.”

Mutsuko: (sighs) “Fine, fine, whatever.”

Erina: “C'mon.”

Mutsuko: “Right.”

[Single Story]

[Waiting Room 22:45]

Youhei: “I'll keep a foot in the door.”

Ruka: “Right, don't let them close.”

Shingo: “It's baffling to me that you just assumed I would agree to this.”

Youhei: “I mean, if you wanna go back to your room and stay here forever, feel free.”

Recording: 階です。下にまいります。

Shinji: “And we’re absolutely sure this is the best plan we have?

Youhei: “You got a better one?”

Shinji: “...Fair enough.”

Sou: “Um- What do you want me to do when I get up there, exactly?”

Ruka: “A couple things!”

Ruka: “Number one, confirm we're on the top floor.”

Ruka: “Number two, see if there's anything up there that might make the elevator go down.”

Ruka: “We wanna see if we can move it without the keys.”

Erina: “Um- won't it be super dark up there?”

Erina: “How's he gonna see?”

Ruka: “Right, we tried to find a flashlight. We could only find this super tiny one in the medbay.”

Ruka: “It's not great, but it might do some good.”

Ruka: “Sorry Yaitabashi.”

Youhei: “Uh- You wanna take my plugs?”

Youhei: “They glow in the dark.”

Sou: “Um- Thank you, but I'll just take the flashlight.”

Sou: “I'm going up on Hirose's shoulders?”

Erina: “God, you're such a fuckin' perv, Hirose.”

Erina: “He's wearing a skirt and you're gonna hoist him up on your shoulders?”

Sou: “Er-”

Shingo: “Do I look like I give a damn what he's wearing?”

Shingo: “I'm just here to push him up.”

Shingo: “I'm not going to be ogling him.”

Shingo: “You're ridiculous.”

Sou: Besides, I... feel like Hirose's probably a bit more tasteful than that.”

Shingo: (sigh) “Let's just get this over with.”

Erina: “Uh- You sure you're gonna be all good up there?”

Sou: “I'll figure it out.”

Erina: “Right, um... good luck with that.”

Shingo: “Ngh-”

Youhei: “I thought you'd be a lot stronger, dude.”

Shingo: “I- I don't get out much.”

Sou: “Hold on, I'm just getting it open.”

Sou: “Okay... going up.”

Shingo: “C-Careful up there.”

Ruka: “You seeing anything up there Yaitabashi?”

Sou: “Um-... there's... cables, for starters, but we could have guessed that one.”

Ruka: “Are we on the top floor?”

Sou: “I-I think, yeah, just-... sorry, it's really dark up here.”

Erina: “Hey uh- maybe I could go up?”

Shingo: “What? With him?”

Erina: “Yeah, I mean- I'm not some kind of elevator mechanic or something, but I'm more of a mechanic than he is.”

Erina: “I might know what I'm looking at a bit better.”

Youhei: “I mean, they're both tiny, it's not like the weight's gonna be a problem.”

Shingo: “Come here.”

Shingo: “Gh- There we go-

Erina: “Gimme a hand.”

Sou: “Right.”

Sou: "Thank you.”

Erina: “You're good.”

Ruka: “Anything?”

Erina: “Ugh.”

Erina: “Well... we're definitely on the top floor, for starters.”

Erina: “There's not a ton of space up here.”

Erina: “It's dark as all hell too This flashlight isn’t helping at all.”

Ruka: “So the rabbit wasn't lying about that part.”

Youhei: “Why would it?”

Shingo: “What else do you see?”

Erina: “The mechanism looks kinda complicated.”

Erina: “We might be able to lower it up and down by just yankin' on the cable though, right?”

Erina: “Like a pulley or whatever?”

Shingo: “That would be incredibly unsafe.”

Youhei: “Do you see any other way to move it?”

Erina: “Uhhh...maybe?”

Erina: “There's some buttons and switches and shit.”

Ruka: “Be careful with them!

Erina: “They're not locked in or anything like the actual elevator buttons either.”

Shinji: “I don’t think its safe to pull them. Or press them.

Shinji: “...Hey. Hirose. Push me up too.”

Shingo: “What? No way.”

Shinji: “Relax. I just want to give them my flashlight.”

Shinji: “The one on my belt.”

Shinji: “It has a longer lasting battery and I think its probably better than the weird medbay one.”

Erina: “You mean that stupid thing on your belt was a flashlight and you didn't say anything this whole time?!”

Shinji: “I thought you were gonna be fine with one Ruka brought!”

Shingo: “...Hop on.”

Shingo: "Ngh- Careful!... Is there any way down at all?”

Shingo: “No way to get under the elevator?”

Sou: “Definitely not.”

Youhei: “Even if we could get it down to the next floor, the doors would still be closed, right?”

Youhei: “We'd be boned either way.”

Sou: “Maybe, but-”

Sou: (yelp)

Erina: (scream)

Ruka: “K-Kumada?!”

Ruka: “Yaitabashi?!”

Ruka: “Hirose?!”

Ruka: ‘Akihiko?!”

Ruka: “Hello?!”

Sou: W- W-We're... we're okay!

Shinji: “F-Fuck! A little help here?!”

Sou: “O-Oh! Hang on!

Sou: (groans) “I got you!”

Erina: (groans)

Sou: “H-Here, let me help you, a-are you alright?”

Erina: (groan) “Where's Hirose?”

Sou: “He's- Hirose, are you okay?”

Erina: “I don't think he's awake.”

Shinji: “Fuck…Hirose…”

Ruka: “I-I'm coming down!”

Youhei: “Wh- Ruka, don't! That's stupid!”

Sou: “Definitely don't come down!”

Erina: “Hold on, I'm gonna go down there and- ngh-”

Sou: “Are you sure you're alright?”

Erina: “Yeah, I-I just messed up my wrist a bit I think.”

Erina: “I'm okay.”

Erina: “Yaitabashi, Akihiko, Are you okay?”

Shinji: “My ankle stings a little…but beside that, I think I’m okay..Yaitabashi?”

Sou: “Yeah, I'm fine - where's the flashlight?”

Erina: “I have no idea, did you drop it?”

Sou: “Yeah, i-is it gone?”

Erina: “I'm definitely not seeing it.”

Sou: “Shit, shit, shit!”

Shinji: “Calm down..I still have mine.”

Sou: “Oh thank god!”

Erina: “Just- Stay right here, okay?”

Erina: “I wanna make sure Hirose's not dead.”

Sou: Oh God, please don't say that.

Shinji: “I-I’m coming too-”

Erina: “Don’t!”

Erina: “Just-...stay with Yaitabashi. You shouldn't put much weight on your ankle anyway.”

Erina: “Hirose?”

Erina: “Shit, Yaitabashi, his head's bleeding.”

Sou: “What?”

Sou: “Genuinely?”

Erina: “Yeah, i-it's not good.”

Sou: “Please be careful with him Kumada.”

Erina: “Hirose. Hey. Wake up, c'mon.”

Sou: “He's alive though?”

Erina: “I mean, he's definitely breathing.”

Shinji: (muttering) “...Thank god…”

Sou: "Wh- What even made the elevator drop?

Erina: “Hirose.”

Erina: “Wake up.”

Erina: “Hirose?”

Shingo: “Nnh…”

Erina: “D-Don't sit up yet, (grunt) fuck, how are we gonna get back up?”

Shingo: “What the hell...?”

Erina: “The elevator dropped.”

Shingo: “A- Am I... bleeding...?”

Erina: “Yeah, you hit your head, just- stay there.”

Shingo: “God, my neck... g-give me a minute.”

Sou: “Y-Yokoi?”

Sou: “Are you still there?”

Youhei: “She ran to get help, sit tight.”

Sou: “Sh- Should I stay up here?”

Erina: “Yeah, no, stay there. If you come down here, we have no way to get you back up there.”

Erina: “Hirose's out of commission.”

Shingo: “I'm fine, I'm-”

Erina: “Stay. God- Ninomiya!”

Erina: “You guys need to get us back up!”

Erina: “Hirose's hurt!”

Youhei: “How hurt?”

Erina: "His head is bleeding!"

Youhei: “We're gonna- Hold on, wait.”

Ruka: “Are you guys alright?!”

Taku: “What the hell happened?”

Misao: “D-Doctor?!”

Nanae: “Did they fall?!”

Atsushi: “Shit, we're never gonna get that thing back up.”

Misao: “Doctor!”

Misao: “A-Are you okay?!”

Mutsuko: “Holy shit, no shot.”

Misao: “Doctor!”

Shingo: “I'm- Ugh.”

Shingo: “Can you tell her I'm fine...?”

Erina: “He's um- He's fine, Denden. Relax.”

Shingo: “I think I'm okay to sit up.”

Taku: “We're gonna get you outta there, okay?”

Osamu: “Are we though?”

Osamu: “How?”

Shinji: “Yeah..How?”

Taku: “We'll figure somethin' out.”

Azusa: “You guys might wanna get comfy though.”

Azusa: “You're probably gonna be there for a little while.”

Taku: “Yeah, for real.”

Misao: “Can we throw a rope down or something?”

Misao: “Like, a rope they can climb?”

Azusa: “Let's go see what we have.”

Ruka: “E-Everyone go look!”

Ruka: “Find something we can pull them up with.”

Taku: "On it."

Osamu: “Right!”

Shinji: “Fucking hell…My foot..”

Sou: “A-Are you Allright?”

Shinji: “Its…starting to hurt alot more than I expected..”

Sou: “O-Okay..uhm- N-Ninomiya, a-are you still there?”

Youhei: “Yup.”

Sou: “If you're going to leave, you need to remember to block the door, okay?”

Sou: ”Just- put a chair there or something.”

Sou: “Don't let it close.”

Youhei: “I ain't goin' anywhere anyway.”

Sou: “You're staying?”

Youhei: “Yeah, I'll stick around 'til we get you out.”

Youhei: “Is that okay?”

Sou: “I- Yes, thank you, that's actually a big relief.”

Shingo: “Kumada, are you okay?”

Erina: “I'm fine, just busted my wrist up a bit.”

Erina: “God, that scared the shit out of me.”

Shingo: “What happened?”

Sou: “It just dropped. We fell a whole floor down.”

Shingo: “God, my neck... ugh.”

Shingo: “I'm amazed that you three are alright.”

Shinji: (mumbling) “More or less…”

Shingo: “What?”

Shinji: “Nothing.”

Erina: “They better fuckin' find something up there, cuz I'm not dying in an elevator shaft.”

Sou: “Let's just-... they'll be back soon.”

Sou: “Let's just wait.”

Erina: “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Chapter Text

Supply Relay

[Elevator 01:12]

Erina: “God, I'm SICK of this!”

Erina: I'm BORED!”

Shingo: “It's been hours.”

Shinji: “How the fuck does it take that long to find a rope in this place?”

Sou: “Are you still feeling okay, Hirose?”

Shingo: “I've... felt better.”

Erina: “I'm going fuckin' crazy in here!”

Shingo: “Just sit down and relax.”

Erina: “I can't, I wanna leave.”

Sou: “I really have to pee.”

Youhei: “I can throw a bottle down.”

Erina: Wh- Eh- That's gross!

Shingo: “Kumada, we're gonna be down here all night, he's not even in the elevator with us.”

Erina: “Still…”

Taku: “Youhei, How's it goin'?”

Youhei: “Hey.”

Taku: “Brought you food.”

Youhei: “Shit, thanks man.”

Sou: “Hi Akiba.”

Taku: “Heeey!”

Taku: “Sorry, everyone's still workin' on you guys.”

Taku: “I'm just here to scope out the elevator.”

Taku: “I'm tryna see if I can just pull you guys up myself.”

Sou: “Wh-...You're kidding.”

Taku: “Nope.”

Shinji: “..Is this guy actually stupid?”

Taku: “I can still hear you!”

Shinji: “Good!”

Sou: “Akiba, it's a three-thousand pound elevator with four people in it.”

Taku: “I'm pretty strong though.”

Shinji: “Maybe, But you’re not Superman or some shit.”

Taku: “I’m not. I can try though.”

Sou: “Akiba.”

Youhei: “Taku, seriously.”

Youhei: “it's way too heavy, you're just gonna fall or something.”

Sou: “Y-You'd have to reach all the way out to the middle of the elevator shaft, you'd have no leverage.”

Taku: “So?”

Taku: “We can just chuck a board over the gap.”

Shingo: “Akiba, you wouldn't be able to pull it all the way up, the board would be in the way.”

Shingo: “Plus, it weighs a tonne.”

Taku: “You're overthinking it.”

Shingo: “You're severely underthinking it.”

Youhei: “Taku, can you hold the door?”

Youhei: “I gotta run and grab something.”

Taku: “Yeah, sure, whatever.”

Youhei: “Thanks, I'll be right back.”

Erina: “Are you seriously gonna piss in here?”

Sou: “What exactly do you want me to do?”

Shingo: “Is there anything else we need them to throw down here?”

Erina: “Food?”

Erina: “Water?”

Shingo: “Not bad ideas.”

Sou: “Hirose, is there anything they can throw down for you?”

Sou: “Like, for your head?”

Sou: “Or for Kumada's wrist?”

Sou: “Or for Akihiko’s ankle?”

Shingo: “Wait, Akihiko too?!”

Shinji: "Just Tell us what we need.”

Shingo: “...For Kumada, we could certainly use some tensor bandages. Same with Akihiko.”

Shingo: “I also need something to clean up my head wound with.”

Shingo: “They should be able to find all of it in the medbay.”

Sou: “Anything else?”

Shingo: “Not that I can think of.”

Youhei: “Should I just chuck this down?”

Sou: “Uh- Y-Yes, please.”

Youhei: “Heads up.”

Sou: “Ninomiya, we need a couple other things if that's okay?”

Youhei: “Shoot.”

Sou: “Hirose needs tensor bandages and things to clean his wound with.”

Youhei: “Like disinfectant or something?”

Shingo: “Antibiotic ointment.”

Shingo: “It's clearly labeled in the medbay.”

Shingo: “Check the labels.”

Shingo: “If it said antibiotic ointment, it's correct.”

Youhei: “Got it, be right back.”

Taku: “I think I can probably do it.”

Shingo: “Akiba, that's ridiculous.”

Taku: “I mean, I just gotta haul the thing up, right?”

Taku: “Can't be that hard, Ouno could help me, she's buff.”

Erina: “If you could get her to put the crowbar down long enough.”

Shingo: “Wouldn't it make more sense to just throw a rope down and pull that up?”

Taku: “Actually, can't we just hit the elevator button to make it go up?”

Erina: “Ninomiya tried, it's not working.”

Taku: “What, like it just won't come?”

Erina: “Yeah. Doesn't even light up.”

Shinji: "It's basically broken now.”

Taku: “Well that's dumb.”

Erina: “Yaitabashi!”

Erina: “Seriously?!”

Erina: “Gross!”

Sou: “Kumada, seriously, I'm not even in the elevator.”

Taku: “Yo, what?”

Taku: “He's pissing?”

Shingo: “You people are so immature it's unreal.”

Shinji: “Seriously…”

Taku: “Hey man, it's probably gonna be another few hours, more power to him.”

Shingo: “...Please just figure something out.”

Taku: “We will, we will.”

Taku: “Promise.”

Taku: “They're all having a big group meeting about it.”

Taku: “We'll figure it out in no time.”

Shingo: “I'm choosing to believe you.”

Taku: “Thanks man, thanks.”

[Dark Ascent]

[Elevator 01:45]

Erina: “...Okay, is that tight enough?”

Erina: “Too tight?”

Shingo: “It's perfect, thank you Kumada.”

Erina: “Erina's fine.”

Shinji: “Hey. Throw the bandages up.”

Erina: “Right, here.”

Shingo: “Yaitabashi, how are you holding up?”

Sou: “I'm okay, I'm okay.”

Shingo: “...Alright, I think we should see if we can get the elevator to go back up.”

Shingo: “We're sure the buttons don't work?”

Erina: “You need keys to use any of them.”

Shingo: “And there's no controls on top?”

Erina: “I saw a couple switches and buttons when I was up there, I can't think of anything they'd do aside from moving the elevator.”

Shingo: “Yaitabashi, can you find those?”

Sou: “Right, yeah, sure.”

Sou: “Um- Sorry, it's just really dark.”

Shingo: “Take your time.”

Erina: “They're opposite from the door, Yaitabashi.”

Shinji: “Hang on, let me shine the flashlight on them.”

Sou: “R-Right, thank you.”

Sou: “A-Ah! Okay, found them.”

Shingo: “What are you seeing?”

Sou: “There's-...a lot of them, actually. I'm counting ...ten buttons, ten switches.”

Sou: “A couple of those are flipped in different directions.”

Erina: “Should we just start hitting buttons?”

Shingo: "No."

Shingo: “Definitely not.”

Shingo: “What else can you see up there?”

Sou: “Um... there are a couple cables, a couple... beams ...I think this is a fan?”

Shingo: “You think?”

Sou: Yeah, i-it's... kind of hard to tell.

Shinji: “...We can switch if you want.”

Sou: “Its fine. Honestly. I just need to-”

Shinji: “Yaitabashi I know your blind.”

Shinji: “We can make things much easier for everyone.”

Shingo: “What?”

Sou: “I'm sorry I didn't say anything, just- the killing game and- I didn't want- I- I mean-”

Shingo: “Egh, You're blind?”

Sou: “I'm sorry.”

Shingo: I- wh- don't be, just- let's slow down for a minute.

Erina: “Wh- Wait a second, Akihiko How did you know that?!”

Erina: “Nishiguchi fucking snitched, Didn't she?! Oh when I get out of here!

Shinji: “nothing of the sort happened, Idiot!”

Shinji: “...I have a roommate who’s partially blind. I just picked up on the signs betwen the two of them.”

Sou: “Hirose, Akihiko, seriously, neither of you can tell anyone.”

Shingo: “I-”

Sou: “If people know, then I'm going to be a target. You need to promise me.”

Shinji: “I mean, I haven’t done that at all. But fine. I’ll promise…Hirose?”

Shingo:” ...So that's why Erina wanted to go up with you…”

Sou: “Hirose.”

Shingo: “Ah- Right, right, sorry, I promise.”

Shinji: “...You still want to do it?”

Sou: “I- I think I can do it..”

Shinji: “Alright. Just let me know when if you do want to switch.”

Shingo: “O-Okay, okay, um... any panels?”

Shingo: “Anything you can open?”

Sou: “I... think so.”

Sou: “There's something with a latch on it, at least.”

Shingo: “Open that.”

Sou: “Right.”

Sou: “Alright, um- ...wires.”

Erina: “Uh- Maybe don't touch those.”

Shingo: “How many?”

Shinji: “A lot. Even I can’t count them from here.”

Erina: “Don't touch the wires though.”

Sou: “I'm not going to.”

Shingo: “So can you not see at all?”

Sou: “Usually I can see a bit out of my peripherals, but not when it's this dark.”

Erina: “Y’know, I realized that might’ve been the first time Akihiko had told us anyone about him or his life.”

Erina: “Like, I don’t even know what you do professionally. Or if you do anything Professionally.”

Shinji: “I mean…We’re gonna be here for a while. I think. So perhaps I should.”

Shingo: “It would definetly kill off some time.”

Shinji: “Right. So…I’m basically a Street artist who lives mostly alone.”

Shinji: "I have the blind roommate I mentioned, but he's at his grandparents home a lot. So it leaves me alone in our shared appartment most of the time."

Sou: “Street artist?”

Shinji: “I paint in public spaces. Mostly on streets, under bridges or in tunnels. Sometimes I even paint on houses. But only if I’m commissioned to do so.”

Shingo: “Isn’t that illegal?”

Shinji: “Maybe. But it's not like I actually care.”

Erina: “Okay. Back to the wires. You sure we can’t do anything with them?”

Sou: “...I don't think it's smart to start messing around with switches and wires up here either way.”

Sou: “I think we should just sit tight.”

Erina: “...I'm going to go stir crazy.”

Sou: “I'm sure it's not gonna be much longer.”

Erina: “Hey Ninomiya!”

Erina: “Any news?!”

Erina: “Is he still up there?”

Sou: “Ninomiya?”

Youhei: “Oh, uh, sorry. Kinda dozing off a bit.”

Sou: “Don't fall asleep while you're sitting that close to the shaft.”

Youhei: “My bad.”

Erina: “Guess we wait.”

Shingo: “Wonderful.”

[Bad Idea]

[Cafeteria – 1:55 PM]

Taku: “Yokoi? You in there?”

Atsushi: “…Akiba?”

Taku: “Tei. Yo. Have you seen Yokoi around here?”

Atsushi: “Not after our group meeting, no… Did you check if she was in her room?”

Taku: “…Oh.”

Atsushi: “So I’m gonna assume you haven’t.”

Atsushi: “Honestly, that would’ve been the first place I’d check.”

Taku: “Why are you here, man? All alone in this place?”

Atsushi: “I just… needed some time alone to think.”

Atsushi: “I would’ve gone to my dorm, but with everyone else constantly running in and out of rooms, getting blankets and sheets, I’d get annoyed very quickly.”

Atsushi: “And no one comes to the cafeteria. Because there is nothing that could help us get the group out. So, right now, this is the best place to be alone… and think.”

Taku: “Think about what?”

Atsushi: “How to get them-and the elevator-back up. In case the sheets rope idea doesn't work.”

Taku: “…I can still lift it up.”

Atsushi: “Akiba. Seriously. You can’t.”

Taku: “I’m pretty strong, though.”

Atsushi: “I-I can see that, okay? You’re strong. But that elevator weighs a tonne! Way more than you could possibly lift, even on your best day.”

Taku: “Then… what if we ask the rabbit?”

Taku: “It can teleport, right? Just let it teleport the others out. Then, with their weight gone, I can pull the elevator back up.”

Atsushi: “Akiba, are you fucking-”

Atsushi: (groans) “We cannot ask the rabbit for help. Don’t you get it? It can’t know what we’ve done to the elevator.”

Atsushi: “And you cannot lift that elevator. With them inside or without them. Stop clinging to that idea. It’ll only get you killed.”

Taku: “Okay. Fine. You’ve made your point.”

Taku: “...I’m gonna see if I can find Yokoi again. Later, Tei.”

Atsushi: “L-Later… Just… don’t do anything stupid, alright?”

Taku: “I won’t! Relax.”

[Update Relay]

[Elevator shaft 02:35]

Taku: “You guys still awake down there?”

Sou: “More or less, any updates?”

Taku: “Kinda?”

Taku: “So It looks like the new plan is that we're gonna tie a bunch of bedsheets together and pull you guys up one by one.”

Sou: “B-But the elevator would still be stuck down here.”

Taku: “Yeah.”

Sou: “I- We can't do that.”

Sou: “The elevator is our only way of getting between floors.”

Sou: “If we leave it down here, it'll block up the shaft forever.”

Sou: “That takes away our only potential escape route.”

Shinji: “Yeah, but like…”

Shinji: “I feel like our lives are probably a lot more important than a stupid elevator.”

Taku: “I dunno man, I didn't make the plan.”

Taku: "It's Ruka's thing.”

Shingo: “We'll have to find another way to bring the elevator up.”

Shingo: “Our health and safety has to take priority.”

Taku: “I can just pull it up.”

Taku: “Not that big of a deal.”

Shingo: “Again, i-it's incredibly heavy, so-”

Taku: “I got it, trust me.”

Taku: “Don't even worry about it.”

Shingo: (sigh)...Right, whatever you say Akiba.

Shinji: (whispering) “How is that guy this Dense?”

Sou: “No clue.”

Erina: “You still feeling okay?”

Shingo: “I'll be fine.”

Erina: “But are you fine now?”

Shingo: “Just-...don't worry about it.”

Sou: (sigh) “...Alright, thanks for letting us know. We'll sit tight.”

Taku: “Right.”

Taku: “I'll be back in a bit.”

Taku: “Probably with everyone else.”

Sou: “Thanks Akiba.”

Sou: “...I think we should revisit the switches and buttons.”

Erina: “Yaitabashi, if we drop the damn thing another floor, we'll probably die or something.”

Sou: “Then we just need to be careful.”

Erina: “We can come back for the elevator later. Let's just get out safe first.”

Sou: “I-...Fine.”

Button Test

[Elevator shaft 03:00]

Erina: “You're serious about this?”

Sou: “Yes.”

Sou: “Please.”

Erina: “...Yaitabashi, if we drop again, we could get seriously hurt.”

Sou: “We made it go down, right?”

Sou: “There has to be a way to make it go up.”

Shingo: “But we don't even know why it dropped in the first place.”

Sou: "Did anyone touch anything?"

...

Sou: "So it just dropped out of nowhere?"

Shingo: "Would there really be a drop button though?"

Shingo: That seems kind of absurd.

Shinji: “Could the Elevator simply have been malfuncted from the start?”

Sou: “No. Nothing about the elevator looked broken when I checked.”

Sou: “Kumada, you didn't press anything at all?”

…

Sou: “...You're kidding me.”

Erina: “Look, just-”

Sou: “I'm- I'm not mad.”

Sou: “I swear I'm not. Just-...what did you press?”

Erina: “I-I don't know, okay?!”

Erina: “I didn't think it was gonna drop the whole elevator!”

Erina: “It was one of the buttons!”

Sou: “And you have no idea which one?”

Erina: “...It was one of the ones on the left, I know that.”

Sou: “O- Okay, okay, just... let me find them.”

Sou: “Akihiko. A bit of light please?”

Shinji: “Right…here.”

Shingo: “Guys, Let's just wait.”

Sou: “Whether we wait or not, we're going to need to move the elevator eventually.”

Shingo: “Yes, but we don't need to start experimenting with buttons while there are four of us inside.”

Shingo: “It's not worth our lives.”

Sou: “I-...Kumada?”

Erina: “Um- Yeah?”

Sou: “You've seen the buttons.”

Sou: “Walk me through what to do.”

Erina: “...You're sure?”

Erina: “Akihiko is with you. He can help do.”

Shinji: “I have…honestly no Idea what any of the fucking buttons or switches do.”

Shinji: “I’m just the “Light guard”.”

Erina: “..Okay, um.. Yaitabashi, what can you see?”

Shingo: “This is genuinely ridiculous.”

Sou: “I-I-I'm sure, just- ...there's buttons, and there's switches.”

Sou: “Anything else?”

Erina: “Okay, um-... no, that's it.”

Erina: “There's ten buttons in a line, ten switches above those.”

Sou: “Right, and some of the switches are flipped.”

Erina: “Right, um... if the button I hit was on the left, then...maybe it was the second button? And that's why we're on floor two?”

Sou: “So I should hit the first button?”

Shingo: “You shouldn't be hitting any buttons!”

Erina: “Well- Okay, hold on, what position is the second switch in?”

Sou: “Um-...I-It's flipped.”

Erina: “Okay, what about the first switch?”

Sou: “That one's flipped too.”

Erina: “Then...maybe we should unflip it?”

Shingo: “We genuinely have no idea what we're doing.”

Sou: “Alright, unflipped.”

Erina: “Then-...try pressing it now.”

Shingo: “D- Don't!”

Sou: “It didn't do anything.”

Erina: “What?”

Erina: “Try flipping the switch and pressing it again.”

Sou: “Nothing.”

Erina: “Press a different one.”

Erina: “Not a far one. Just like... three.”

Sou: “Alright, Hold onto something.”

...

Sou: “Nothing.”

Erina: “They're not doing anything?”

Erina: “Are you doing it right?”

Sou: “Am I pressing a button right?”

Sou: “Is there another way to do it?”

Erina: “Well I mean like- you're on the right buttons?”

Sou: “Yes.”

Erina: “The ten?”

Sou: “Yes, Kumada.”

Sou: “There's no other buttons.”

Sou: “I'm not just hitting random spots on the roof.”

Erina: “Okay, okay, jeez.”

Shinji: “I…think the elevator is simply broken.”

Shinji: “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Sou: “I just-...You-...I- I'm just frustrated.”

Erina: “Yeah, um-... i-it's alright man, it's alright.”

Erina: “You wanna take a minute?”

Shinji: “She’s right. Just…sit down and calm down.”

Sou: “I feel useless right now.”

Erina: “You're not.”

Sou: “I know I'm not. I know. I- I'm capable, I- People don't need to treat me like I'm just bumbling around with no idea what I'm doing.”

Sou: “I'm capable, I just-”

Erina: “Yaitabashi.”

Erina: “...I'm sorry I said the thing about the buttons.”

Erina: “They're just not working, okay?”

Erina: “It has nothing to do with what you're capable of.”

Erina: “It'd be the same damn thing if I was the one up there pressing the buttons. Or Akihiko or Hirose.”

Erina: “Just breathe for a sec, alright?”

Erina: “Let's just wait for the rope.”

Sou: “...R- Right.”

Shinji: “To be honest with you, I think what you've been doing was pretty brave.”

Sou: “Huh?”

Shinji: “Despite knowing that your blindness is a little bit of a hindrance to you, you still agreed to help with the elevator.”

Shinji: “And even when I offered my help, you still wanted to do it yourself. Despite that.”

Shinji: “I don’t think I could've done that if I was in your shoes..”

Erina: “Is..that suppose to comfort him?”

Shinji: “I-I don’t know! i’m not good at this shit okay!”

Sou: “...I feel a little better now. Thanks, Akihiko.”

Shinji: “Wh-Whatever…”