The inside of the mall still had everything intact although it looked like the place had been ransacked. The floors were covered in trash and there were two stories connected by two broken escalators that Keijiro began to climb.

"Why the second floor?" Fujitaka asked.

"Better view."

Michael walked off to a clothing store to find a shirt and Keijiro spotted a small mattress shop. He looked back at Fujitaka who just stood there like a lost puppy.

"Help me carry these over," Keijiro said and grabbed two mattresses while Fujitaka grabbed another.

Keijiro dragged them over to a space near the large windows that showed most of Japan. The sun was starting to sink from the sky and he could actually see red force fields surrounding certain areas and buildings. He figured those must be current games taking place which meant there are more people here than he thought.

Fujitaka shook his head at the sight and sat his mattress down. "This isn't right. We're going to be forced to play these games until we eventually run out of luck."

"Think that way if you want to but I plan on surviving." Keijiro checked his gun and saw that he only had two bullets left. "Just great."

Fujitaka tilted his head and observed the guy's demeanor. "Are you not scared?"

"It's only natural to be scared. But it is kind of fun."

"What?!" Fujitaka pointed at him. "Don't say that! Remember all those people who died last game? How can that be seen as fun?"

"Well, I didn't die so all's well that ends well."

Fujitaka frowned. "You shouldn't think like that."

Keijiro just shrugged as Michael walked back over to them wearing a navy tank top.

"I guess we have three days to rest before we have to play again," Michael said with his hands on his hips, "I guess all we can do is prepare ourselves."

"Or we can find a way out of this place," Fujitaka suggested.

Keijiro pat the boy's head. "Oh Fuji, so naive. What do you want us to do? Hike until we leave Japan?"

"That could work."

"It'll take too long," Michael said, "besides who knows what'll happen if we try to leave. We might get lasered like that girl..."

Fujitaka hugged himself. "But Keijiro is right. I'm useless so how can I possibly survive another game? I only did this time because of you two."

Michael glared at Keijiro. "This is your doing, you know."

"I made him self aware." Keijiro looked over at Fujitaka. "I can teach you how to shoot if it makes you feel better?"

Fujitaka held his hands together and blinked with starry eyes. "Really?"

"Later," Keijiro said, "first, we need to stock up right now because who knows how long we'll be staying in this mall." He gestured to himself. "I'll go back to the gun shop I purchased mine from and see if they have any bullets or at least any working weapons we can use to defend ourselves."

Keijiro pointed to Michael. "Look for food that's actually edible, clothes, and any bags we can put our stuff in."

"Why do I get the most tasks?" Michael asked.

"Are you complaining?"

"Nah."

Keijiro pointed to Fujitaka next. "Fuji, go look for anything medical related like medicine or bandage wraps." He looked down at his arm that had been scratched by the pelican back at the zoo. "I should probably take care of this before it gets infected."

Fujitaka saluted then took off first.

"I know we kind of have to play these games to survive but we do need to find a way home," Michael said.

Keijiro huffed. "I know but aren't we already in Japan? Maybe we're in a coma."

"In a coma together?"

"Yeah."

Michael pursed his lips. "I wonder if our families are looking for us." His face turned pale. "What if they're trapped here as well?"

"I hope not. I guess it's a good thing I left Biscuit with auntie. At least she has someone to love and feed her." Keijiro waved Michael away. "Now go do your job."

Michael laughed a little but looked concerned. "Are you sure you'll be fine on your own out there?"

Keijiro stared at him. "It's literally down the street, I'm not going on a life long journey."

"Just be careful," Michael said and went to go search for the materials.

Keijiro sighed, and absent mindedly touched his cross necklace. To others, especially Fujitaka, he may come off as nonchalant about their situation but the truth is, he was actually terrified. He wasn't lying about the fun part but the possibility of dying takes that fun away. Still, he wasn't going to show any sign of fear because people will only use that to their advantage.

Keijiro descended down the escalator back to the first floor of the mall before leaving the building entirely. It was beginning to get dark and the area looked completely different from when it did when the sun was out. He mustered up the courage pushing the thought of monsters jumping out to get him out of his mind and made his way to the gun shop.

When Keijiro finally arrived after the fairly short walk he saw that there were a few guns missing from the inside but that was to be expected.

Zap!

Keijiro froze from the familiar sound and held his chest realizing that the laser hadn't come down on him. He turned around to see that the lasers weren't even anywhere close to him. In the distance, multiple red lines zapped down towards a tall singular building.

Zap!
Zap!
Zap!
Zap!
Zap!
Zap!

It was still hard to believe something like this was happening to them in real life and Keijiro looked to the sky wondering who was controlling the lasers. He then stepped inside the shop and went behind the front counter looking for shotgun bullets. After some time he found two packs and grinned in triumph.

Keijiro returned to the mall after grabbing a small pistol that was also in the shop and climbed back up to the second floor. Michael and Fujitaka were done with their tasks and Keijiro could see the medical supplies, food, clothes and bags he had asked for. He then sat down the bullets and small pistol he gathered.

Fujitaka held up a bottle of rubbing alcohol. "Do you need help cleaning your wound?

"No, I can do it," Keijiro said, taking the bottle and a roll of bandages.

Michael was setting up a countertop burner he found in a kitchen appliance shop and was heating a bowl of soup over it.

"How is that even working?" Keijiro asked.

Michael shrugged. "Who knows." He pointed to a family size bag of chips. "It's also pretty surprising that some foods aren't spoiled yet."

Fujitaka took the chips and sat on the same mattress Keijiro was on. He opened the bag and held out one chip towards Keijiro who was busy wrapping the bandage around his arm after cleaning it with the antiseptic.

"Say ah." Fujitaka smiled.

Keijiro felt the urge to shoot something but instead opened his mouth and ate the chip. His eyes then widened and he coughed before turning back to Michael.

"Why did you get salt and vinegar?!"

Fujitaka ate one chip. "I think it tastes alright."

"Then you're insane."

Michael rolled his eyes. "I wasn't looking at flavors when trying to find something for us to eat."

Keijiro set down the bandages after he was done with them and admired the work he did on his arm. "Did they have anything cherry flavored?" he asked.

Michael blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Or at least anything spicy?" Keijiro continued, "I'm craving noodles."

Michael narrowed his eyes. "Well if you want to go exploring for something that fits your fancy then by all means, have at it."

Keijiro whispered to Fujitaka. "I think someone's cranky."

Fujitaka giggled while Michael finished up the soup before collapsing onto his own mattress.

"You're not going to eat?" Fujitaka asked.

"Maybe later," Michael said then winced, "I'm drained."

Keijiro nudged Fujitaka. "You eat first, Fuji."

Fujitaka smiled, gratefully, and began to eat his share from the bowl.

"This is our life now," Michael breathed out, staring up at the ceiling on his back, "the new norm."

"We should rest so we're ready for whatever happens tomorrow," Keijiro told him, "thankfully I found more bullets at the shop."

"That's good," Michael said, "but we have three day visas so let's take it easy."

"Take it easy?" Keijiro gazed out the window to see game venues still in play. "Tomorrow I think we should look for someone who can tell us more about this world."

"What more is there to know?" Michael said, "play the games and survive, that's all we need to do until we figure out what the reason for all of this is."

"But what about the cards?" Keijiro took out the six of clubs card he took at the end of their last game. "What do you suppose these mean?"

Michael obviously didn't have an answer to that and closed his eyes. "Fine, I guess you're right. I'm going to bed."

After Fujitaka ate almost half the soup, Keijiro ate a little then left the rest for Michael and laid on his mattress.

Keijiro rolled his head to the side when he felt another weight sit beside him and saw Fujitaka making himself comfortable.

Keijiro gestured to the third mattress. "There's a reason why I had us get three beds."

Fujitaka turned to look at the darker areas of the mall to the side of them. "It's kind of scary though."

"How old are you?"

Fujitaka fiddled with his fingers. "Eighteen."

"Get off my mattress, man."

"Well, how old are you?"

"Twenty three."

"You don't look like it," Fujitaka said, still making himself comfortable.

Keijiro stared at the guy. He was an only child and for some reason he saw Fujitaka as some sort of younger brother. Maybe that was why he could tolerate the guy for this long. Fujitaka may be eighteen but he looked like a child and sure sometimes acted like one.

Keijiro reached his hand out and ruffled Fujitaka's hair. "Alright Fuji, I'll adopt you."

Fujitaka tilted his head. "What—"

"You're our puppy now. Sometimes owners let their dogs sleep on their beds so I'll allow it this time."

Fujitaka blinked then moved to the third mattress. "I think I'll sleep on my own. I'm not scared anymore."

Keijiro laughed then laid back, trying to find some peace in his sleep. Maybe tomorrow they'll finally get some answers about what these games are for.