---CHAPTER V: Three Paths (Part 2)---

While Japan and the others distracted the monster, we all rushed out the door.

Canada, England and I rushed up the stairs. We were now in the hallway of the third floor. The two decided that we should take a short rest first. I offered them some biscuits which they gladly accepted.

While the two were busy munching on the biscuits, I turned away from them, pretending to fix my bag. But what I really did was waved my hand in front of me to check the menu screen.

It was a black screen with three options.

Play which group?

>Japan, Russia & China
>Germany & Italy
>England & Canada & _____

I decided to select Japan's group first to check up on them.

======

>Japan, Russia & China<

China took a quick look around the room. "Everyone has already escaped."

Japan nodded. "Yes, everyone except us."

"It's not often the three of us get to do something together~ This is going to be kinda fun!" Russia said cheerfully.

"I wish we would work together a little more harmoniously." Japan said.

China turned to Japan. "If you want the three of us to be all chummy and smiley, I have a sinking feeling..."

"I suppose you are right. A union like this would be more fitting." Japan agreed.

Russia looked at Japan and spoke, "Japan, can't you just beat the Thing with that amazing technique you used before?"

Japan shook his head. "Oh. Well, you see, when I was under the impression that this was America's doing, I got a little exasperated at him. It was the last straw, and that was the result.

Now that I know what is going on, I can no longer do it. My anger has completely faded away."

"When we go home, I'll treat you to your favourite Chinese dish. Until then, do your best!" China encouraged.

Japan's face suddenly lit up. "Oh! I look forward to it. Well, then, that will certainly motivate me to escape."

"I want to eat, too~ If we can get out of here alive, can I drop by your house? You won't mind, will you?" Russia asked China.

"If we can get out of here alive, I'll think about it." China said nervously.

"... Let's go!" Japan exclaimed.

The three then fought the Thing and after a tiring battle, the team won.

Onigiri was found!

------------------

"We won't lose a second time! But it's weird that it disappears like that... We can't tell whether we won or not." China said with a doubtful look.

"Well, at least it won't pollute the environment?" Japan said, unsure.

"Not quite~ Maybe this will never end and it'll keep appearing. It's getting really tiring..." Russia said, panting a little.

China approached Japan. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"No, your backup was perfect. Our opponent has also grown stronger compared with before. I would have had no chances had I fought alone. Thank you very much for your help." Japan said with a rare smile.

China snapped his fingers. "Oh! By the way, why were those clothes smeared with tomato?! I thought it was blood!"

"Well, you see, some time after I woke up this morning, we encountered that creature yet again... Italy had just been waking up and was quite surprised; he began yelling at it to get away and throwing at it to make it go away, but they ended up hitting me in the back instead. After we defeated it, the smell was really bothering me, so I threw it into the fireplace." Japan explained.

As the two were chatting, Russia went over to the drawers, looking for something.

"Oh, if I remember correctly, you had a change of clothes because you were staying at Germany's place the day before the meeting, right?" China asked.

Suddenly a loud noise was heard. They realised that it was Russia who was hitting something with his pipe.

"Ah."

Japan turned his head to Russia. "What is the matter, Russia?"

"Um, there was this clock that was moving like crazy... I'm sorry. The tick-tock was too loud, so I broke it with my pipe." Russia told him.

"A clock?" Japan said curiously.

He then rushed over to Russia's side.

Japan eyed the clock and cupped his chin. "A clock... Now that you mention it, we can't tell what time it is in this place. Our watches are all out of synchrony."

"They're really strange. Even though we came here ahead of Japan's group, they've been here longer. By the way... it's 11:42 on my watch." China said as he raised his wrist up to check his watch.

Japan did the same and had a surprised look on his face. "Oh!"

"I-it's 11:42 on mine, too! But it was 6:00 just a moment ago..." He said, confused.

Russia tilted his head. "Do you think maybe it's because I broke the clock?"

"That's possible. At least in this room the time is right. Maybe we can get the flow of time back to normal if we break the clocks." China suggested.

Japan nodded. "Then we'll break the clocks in every single room we get in. If we do that, maybe...

Maybe......we can help...France and...America...Right?" He said slowly.

Suddenly, the ringing of a cellphone was heard.

"Russia, it's your cell phone." China pointed.

Russia beamed childishly. "Amazing~ As soon as the time got right, the phone also began to work? Or not. The antenna isn't up.

Anyway, I'm going to answer it. And I'll make it so that the both of you can hear it, too.

... Who is it?"

No one spoke on the other side of the line, but a sound of a piano was heard.

After that, the call ended.

" ... Looks like it got cut off." Russia said.

"It's a bug!" China exclaimed.

Japan shook his head. "I've never heard of a "phone bug"... What we just heard was a piano."

"A piano... Anyway, we have nothing else to do here, so let's go back to England." Russia suggested.

"Indeed. If all goes well, Germany and Italy should also be able to join us there. Let's put everything in order here and hurry." Japan said.

--------

"Say, ______? Are you okay over there?" England asked.

I waved my hand again and the menu disappeared.

"O-Oh. I'm fine.." I told him nervously.

England looked like he was about to ask something else, but waved it off. "Okay.. By the way, thanks for the biscuits.. Uhm, I think we've had enough rest. Let's go check out the rooms." He then stood up and held his hand out to me. I reached for it and thanked him. Canada stood up as well and brushed off the crumbs on his clothes. After that, we entered the piano room.

=================

In the Piano room...

>England & Canada & _____<

"Okay, we'll examine this room before the others get here." England told us.

Canada nodded. "All right. Um, first, this piano...

It has these numbers, you see."

"I'm not sure what they're supposed to mean.Was there something we needed numbers for?" England asked.

"No." Canada replied.

England then walked over to the shelves and skimmed through the books. "Hmm...."

Canada, on the other hand, began pacing around the room to think. "Numbers... they must be a code for something. Something that uses numbers...

Numbers... puzzles... Security, too.So, security breach... but this house isn't that high-tech, so... a safe, or something..."

"Hey! The books in this room are nothing special, so wait here while I go to the room next door.

There were a lot of books there, so I'll leaf through them." England called out.

Canada turned to him and nodded. "Oh, okay. Just be careful."

England then leaves the room and heads for the other one across the hall. I wanted to check on the the other's progress, and I knew what was going to happen in this room next..so I needed to leave asap. I walked over to the deep-thinking Canadian.

"Uhm, Canada?"

Canada turned to face me. "Yes, ____?"

"I, uh, think I left something outside while I was fixing my bag. I'll just go check if it's still there." I told him, pointing at the door.

"Oh. That's alright. Be careful and return as soon as you can, okay?" He said.

I smiled. "I will. Thanks."

As I turned the knob, I remembered something. I turned to Canada and spoke, "Oh, and...Canada?"

Canada heard me and answered. "Yes?"

"You are the piano." I said, giggling a little.

"What..?" Canada was about to turn to face me, but I quickly dashed through the hall to avoid further questions.

--------------------

While I was out in the hallway, I peeked in the other room to check on England. He was reading some books and leaning on a shelf. I closed the door, unnoticed.

I decided to go up the stairs a little and sat on the steps.

Since, no one was there to see me, I waved my hand in front of me and opened a menu screen. I decided to check how Germany and Italy were doing.

---------------

> Germany & Italy<

"That guy was a little bigger than before, don't you think? Maybe we really should go back to help them..." Italy said with a sullen expression.

Germany frowned. "No, first we must accomplish the mission that was given to us. Japan can take care of himself. We have to fully understand this house so that we can also lighten his burden."

"Ve. All right. Besides, if we run into that thing, I'd rather run away." Italy said in a scared voice.

"Duly noted. Anyway, let's search these rooms once more and then...Hum... report to England." Germany said.

Italy then lightened up. "Okay! Let's do our best, Germany."

The two went down to the first floor. They then headed for the hallway by the Tatami rooms.

Used: Hallway Key.

Then they were suddenly chased by the monster, so they headed to the toilet. When the coast was clear, they decided to search somewhere else and saw the pantry room. They went inside and search for anything of interest. There, they saw a safe.

"It's a safe! Oh, but it's locked." Italy said sadly.

Germany inspected the safe. "If it weren't, there wouldn't be any point to it.It looks like it's a four-digit numeric combination...

We still have insufficient information. Let's investigate a little more."

"Too bad~" Italy said.

They then go back to the 1st floor hallway. In one of the closets, they found a piece of paper.

"Hmm~ Another piece of paper." Italy said.

"It's similar to the piece we found earlier. Here, let me take a look." Germany said as he reached for the paper.

"....It looks like the cross-section view of pasta or something like that!" Italy said in an oblivious manner.

Germany furrowed his eyebrows. "Why...?"

Italy tilted his head. "You think it's something else? Well, it doesn't look like a map, either. I wonder what it is..."

After a brief silence, a cellphone suddenly rung.

Germany jumped in surprise. "Moaargh!!"

Italy was scared by his friend's reaction. "Hiii!! Don't scare me like that, Germany!"

"S-sorry. That sound? Isn't it your cell phone?" Germany said.

"Eh? Oh, y-you're right. Why? Our phones get no signal here!" Italy said, confused.

Germany frowned. "How am I supposed to know?! Anyway, try answering it."

Italy took out his phone and checked who was calling. "Ve... It's a number-withheld call...

C... ciao..."

Nothing was heard except a sound from a piano.

"... Uh?" Italy said as the line got cut off.

"What's wrong?" Germany asked.

Italy put his phone back in his pocket. "I'm not sure. I heard a sound and then the call was cut off."

"A sound?" Germany said, wanting an explanation.

Italy nodded. "The sound of a piano. It was only one note, though. I wonder what that was all about?"

Germany was still unsure of what happened. "The sound of a piano? Hm...We have this piece of paper now, so let's go back to England. Japan and the others will probably join us there if all goes well, too."

"Yeah. Let's go back to the piano room, then." Italy agreed.

----------------

Since the two groups' paths were done, I switched the screen to check up on how Canada was faring.

----------------

Piano Room...

Canada turned to the door, but I dashed out to the hall, so he went back to the thought he was pondering about.

"Um... What I was thinking about, again?" Canada said, tapping his fingers on the piano.

"First, the piano. God, America's always getting us into trouble.Why can't he be a little more considerate? I mean-" He stopped talking to himself when he heard the door suddenly open.

"Oh. _____ did you find what you were looking for? I haven't looked here yet. Also! I remember were told not to do anything alone, remember? So stay with me this time. We should also call England back here." He said.

Canada turned around and saw that it was actually Steve, that bloody gray monster.

"Whoa!!" He exclaimed in shock.

"Wh-wha-wha-wha--what?"

A menu appeared. It seems that I could choose his action. Well, this is interesting.

>Talk to it
>Stand still
>Pour maple syrup

Of course, I chose "Stand still."

The monster looks around the room.

Canada suddenly rambles in his thoughts. "Wh-wh-why did this have to happen just when I'm all alone?! Maybe the others were all killed? No, I can't think like that.

Wh-wh-wh-what am I going to do?

>Pretend to be a piano
>Faint
>Run like the wind!

H-huh? Is it even... seeing... me?

Canada then remembers what I told him.

" _____ said something about me being the piano, right? ...So...does that mean...I should pretend to be a piano?...What..."

He decided to do so and just stood still.

Fall over showily
Talk to it
Pretend to be a piano!!

>>Pretend to be a piano!!

Canada then closed his eyes and said the following words repeatedly. "I am a piano... I am a piano... I am a piano...I am a piano... I am a piano... I am a piano.. I am a piano... I am a piano... I am a piano...I am a piano... I am a piano... I am a piano.."

He suddenly gets too worked up and loses energy. "I... Eh...This... Dis.. I... Azz..."

I...I can't see anything

...Anything but the dark...

After that, Canada collapsed.

I suddenly waved the screen away. "Oh god, I gotta help Canada."

I went downstairs and rushed to the library England was in.

"E-England!! Help! It seems like Canada fainted!" I told him frantically.

The Briton dropped the book he was reading. "W-What? Where is he?"

"He's still in the piano room!" I told him.

"Okay. I'm going over there." England said as he rushed out the library.

I knew that Canada's not really in danger, so I didn't rush over there as panicked as England. I took the opportunity to reflect on some things. ...I think...maybe I should tell them what I know. Which one? Where should I start? Should I tell them everything? Maybe I should tell them about the rope ladder before the Thing gets to it? Yes...maybe I should... It's for the best...

I was about to leave the room, when I suddenly felt arms wrap around me.

I was shocked. "W-What the..." I couldn't turn my head to see who was...hugging me. I squirmed to get myself released.

The person behind me suddenly spoke, "Now now, poppet. Are you sure you want me to stop hugging you. It's very relaxing." The man started to giggle.

My eyes widened. ...He called me...."Poppet"...

No...

No way...

They're...they're not part of this!

"...Please...let me go..." I asked of him.

I suddenly shivered when he nuzzled his head on the crook of my neck.

"Who are you asking to let you go, poppet?" He asked playfully.

I bit my lip and prayed that I would be wrong. Though it'll be just like when I met Japan. But this...this is different... This guy's equally...if not..more..dangerous than the monsters here.

I began to open my mouth and spoke softly.

"Please...let me go...England."

He let me go and made me face him. I looked down. I didn't want to confirm my fears.

"I've watched you, poppet. I've also learned that in your world, I have a name of my own. A name I do not share with that grumpy man~" He told me cheerfully.

"............O-Ol.." I said under my breath.

"Come on now, poppet. Tell me~."

He then cupped my chin and made me look at him in the eyes.

I saw two blue orbs that had swirls of pink.

He smiled at me like a cheshire cat. I took a deep breath and spoke weakly,

"Oliver."