CHAPTER THREE,
episode one

"The time limit for this room is two minutes."

The voice echoed through the space from their phones, Rika's hand tightening around the device in her grasp, knuckles paling against the dark casing. Her eyes scanned the room: carpeted walls that muffled sound, tiled floors that reflected the fluorescent lights above, and two doors standing opposite of each other.

Each door bore a poster-one with a bright-eyed, smiling girl with the word LIVE, and the other with a black-and-red skeleton with the bold letters DIE.

The choices were laid out before them, as absolute as the words themselves. Her mind raced, but it was like hitting a wall over and over again. A blank page. No clues. No answers. Just the cold and unrelenting countdown on her phone's screen.

"Is this really a game?" Chota's voice broke the heavy silence, a grin tugging at his lips despite the confusing situation. He tapped the screen of his phone, holding it up like a camera, turning it sideways.

"This is kinda starting to get a little exciting," he added, and to Rika's disbelief, he started recording.

"I'm sure this must be some kind of event," Chota said, his tone laced with a forced optimism that didn't quite reach his eyes. She should have expected this much. Always the optimistic one. Forever looking on the bright side. Rika both admired and envied him for it.

A shoulder bumped gently against her side, and she turned to see the teenage girl next to her. The fear in her expression was unmistakable, wide eyes flicking nervously between the two doors. "I want to go home," the girl whispered, her voice trembling as she glanced towards Rika.

Rika hesitated, then reluctantly raised her hand to pat the girl's back. The gesture felt awkward, to say the least. "I'm sure this will be over before we know it," she said, voice flat, the reassurance hollow even to her own ears. But hey, at least she tried. That had to count for something.

Karube, standing nearby, gave his sister a curious look, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed. It wasn't like her to be gentle, let alone comforting.

"Yeah!" Chota chimed in, swinging his phone around to capture the rare moment. "It'll be fine. You're with us. And Rika's an investigator!"

Rika sighed, glancing sideways at him. "Investigative journalist, Chota." she corrected, her tone even duller now. Whatever gentleness she had mustered quickly disappeared.

"Same thing," Chota shrugged, grinning. He was never the one to be phased by her mood swings. "Let's just win the game, get the prize, and go home."

Rika stepped away from the group, tuning out the rest of their chatter as she approached the LIVE door. Placing her hand against the handle, she turned it slightly to test if it was locked. It wasn't. She didn't open it, though. Instead, her eyes fell to the poster.

The bright-eyed girl stared back at her, frozen in a cheerful grin that felt unsettlingly out of place in the empty room. Her fingers traced the edges of the poster, brows furrowing as she searched for something-anything-that might offer a clue.

Behind her, Karube and Arisu studied the DIE door. The skeletal figure on its poster loomed large, the black and reds adding a sinister touch to the already ominous word. It was safe to assume that nobody wanted to choose that one.

"Arisu, which do you think it is?" Karube asked, his voice calm and laced with curiosity.

Arisu puffed his lips, leaning back and crossing his arms before walking over to stand beside Rika. He squinted at the LIVE poster as if hoping it might offer him an answer. He quickly came to the conclusion that the posters would not give them anything except something to look at.

Rika glanced at him briefly, thoughts turning to his love of games. Day in, day out- he was always playing. If he wasn't with her brother or Chota, he was staring at a screen with a controller in hand. So, she thought, if anyone could figure this out, it was Arisu. Games were his world-his escape.

"Well... if it's a choice between life and death," Chota began, wandering over with his phone still recording, "I wouldn't choose the skeleton."

"Maybe they want you to think that," Rika said softly as she looked back at the boys, her fingers tapping idly against the back of the phone she held.

Arisu nodded, focus shifting from the poster to the neatly dressed woman standing nearby. She hadn't talked since they entered the room. "What if we choose the wrong door?" he asked curiously.

Shibuki didn't meet his gaze. Instead, she clutched the strap of her purse, avoiding his stare. "The answer is LIVE," she said, her tone insistent. "Open the door that says LIVE."

Rika's eyes narrowed as she studied the woman. Her entire demeanor had shifted since they left the elevator. Gone was the calm, composed confidence. In its place was something frantic and fearful, a barely concealed desperation etched into every line of her face. She was scared.

"If you believe that's the answer," Rika said, stepping back from the door and gesturing toward it with a sweeping motion, "why don't you open it?"

Arisu chimed in, his voice skeptical. "Yeah. How do you know?"

Shibuki continued to avoid their eyes, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Because obviously it's the LIVE door!" she snapped, though her voice wavered.

Rika tilted her head, unconvinced. "I don't buy it," she muttered, turning away from the woman and crossing the room to the DIE door. She stopped a few inches away, crossing her arms as she leaned in to examine the poster.

The skeleton stared back at her, hollow and empty, its bony hand reaching toward her as if daring her to make the wrong choice.

"Do you guys smell something?" Chota's voice cut through the tense silence, his nose wrinkling as he sniffed the air loudly.

Rika turned toward him. "What, did you fart? Again?"

Chota narrowed his eyes at her, but she caught the slight tug of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"Good one," Karube muttered, nudging her elbow gently as if to applaud her rare attempt at a joke.

Rika actually chuckled-briefly. But then her gaze dropped to the floor, and the laughter died as quickly as it had come.

Her eyes locked on the vent beneath her foot. Hot, acrid smoke was pouring out in waves, curling around her legs and burning at the soles of her shoes. The sudden realization sent her stepping back, the rubber of her Vans sticking slightly to the tiles.

"There's a fire," she announced, the words sharp as she slapped her brother's arm to get his attention. Karube's gaze dropped to the floor, his eyes hardening as he took in the growing smoke.

"Thirty seconds remaining," the voice from the phones warned.

The smoke thickened rapidly, filling the room and clawing at their lungs. Rika coughed, the sharp, acrid taste stinging her throat as she raised her hoodie to cover her nose and mouth.

"Try not to breathe it in!" she shouted, voice muffled by the fabric.

The teenage girl scrambled to copy her, pulling the collar of her sweater over her face as her wide eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape. But there was none. Just the two doors and an impossible choice.

"The answer is LIVE!" Shibuki yelled, her voice rising in desperation as she used her elbow to shield her nose and mouth. "Hurry up and open the door!"

"Open it yourself!" Karube snapped back, his voice coming out in harsh waves as he moved to stay close to Rika. His eyes darted between the doors, the growing panic around him affecting his own nerves. It wasn't making him scared, only angry.

"What will happen if the time is up?" Chota asked, coughing between words as he held his phone steady, still recording.

Rika didn't answer. She couldn't. Her thoughts were a swirling mess, the rising heat and suffocating smoke seeping into her bones, making her doubt. Her fingers curled tightly around the fabric of her hoodie, pulling it closer to her face.

She once again stepped closer to the DIE door, gaze fixed on the poster of the skeleton. It loomed over her, empty eyes boring into her as though it was mocking her hesitation. This had to be the one. It couldn't be as easy as simply choosing LIVE, right?

But doubt gnawed at her.

"I can't stand it anymore!"

The younger girl's voice cracked as she yelled through the fabric of her sweater. Her small frame trembled in the corner, fear bubbling over until it erupted in a desperate outburst. Without waiting for a reply, she stormed toward the LIVE door, steps frantic.

"Wait!" Rika shouted, voice sharp and panicked.

But the girl didn't stop.

With a harsh swing, she yanked the door open, stepping into the next room.

For a brief moment, everything was silent.

Then, the sharp hum came.

It cut through the air like a blade, followed by the searing red laser from before. The beam shot cleanly through the girl's head, her body jerking violently before collapsing to the tiled floor on the other side.

The door swung shut behind her with a cold finality, as if nothing had even happened. Rika's hand froze on the handle of the DIE door, her breath catching painfully in her throat. Her heart slammed against her ribcage, each beat a deafening thud in her ears.

"Did she... die?" Chota's voice shook as he lowered the phone in his grasp, his wide eyes fixed on the door the girl had disappeared through. His body seemed to lock in place, paralyzed by the shock.

Karube didn't speak.

Arisu's lips parted as if to say something, but no words came.

Shibuki, now standing behind them, averted her eyes entirely.

"Five seconds remaining."

The countdown snapped Rika out of her daze, her instincts taking over as her hand curled tightly around the cool metal handle of the door. Without hesitation, she shoved it open and stumbled into the next room.

The rush of clean, smoke-free air hit her like a wave, making her knees buckle as she fell forward onto the tiled floor. Her hoodie slipped from her face, and she coughed heavily, her lungs desperate to expel the acrid smoke.

The office clerk followed immediately, her heels clacking loudly as she ran inside.

Karube was next, darting toward his sister without a second thought. His strong hands gripped her shoulders as he knelt beside her, his gaze frantic as he checked her over.

Behind him, Arisu grabbed a stunned and trembling Chota, practically shoving him into the room.

"Move!" Arisu shouted, his voice strained as he stumbled in after him.

Rika forced herself to turn, her palms slapping against the cold floor for balance. Through the open door, she saw the thick black smoke filling the previous room, choking everything in its path. Then came the flames.

They roared to life, consuming the space. The intense heat radiated outward, the glow of the fire casting flickering shadows across the walls as it grew closer.

"Karube!" Rika shouted hoarsely, her voice thick with smoke as her brother stepped forward. Without hesitation, he grabbed the door and slammed it shut, cutting off the inferno before it could spill into their room.

The group collapsed into silence, the only sounds being their heavy breathing and the faint ringing in their ears.

Rika's chest heaved as she pressed a shaky hand against the floor, her mind racing to process what had just happened. Her gaze flicked to the door they had just escaped through, now sealed tight.

"The time limit for this room is one minute and fifty seconds."

Rika froze, the words sinking in like a weight on her chest. It was getting shorter?

She heaved, her lungs burning as she pushed herself to her feet. The acrid remnants of smoke clung to her throat, making her cough violently, each breath a struggle. Karube was by her side in an instant, his hand steady against her elbow as she wobbled slightly. She felt his grip tighten, even as her hands trembled uncontrollably. Her eyes stung, the lingering effects of the smoke leaving them watery and bloodshot.

"She really died," Karube murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze was fixed on the floor, his expression a mix of shock and horror. "What the hell is this?"

Rika didn't answer. She couldn't.

Her legs felt weak as she staggered to the wall, leaning against the cold surface. Her breaths came in short, shallow gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to pull herself together.

Nearby, Arisu's voice broke through.

"You were the one who killed that girl," he said sharply as he moved toward the woman in the white blouse. His tone was laced with accusation, his dark eyes narrowing as they bore into her.

Shibuki snapped her head toward him, her expression hardening. "But we survived, didn't we?"

Arisu's jaw clenched, his fists trembling at his sides. "Because of Rika!" he shot back, his voice rising. He turned to glance at her, his eyes flickering with both gratitude and frustration. "She opened the door."

Rika leaned her head back against the wall, her gaze shifting briefly to meet his. She didn't respond, her mind too clouded with exhaustion and dread to process the exchange.

"If you guys keep spacing out, you'll die too," the woman repeated her words from earlier, voice cold. Refusing to own up to her own error. She crossed her arms, posture rigid as she stared down Arisu.

Karube's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he took a step toward her.

"Go ahead, hit me!" the woman taunted as her chin tilted upward.

"Enough," Rika muttered hoarsely, pressing her palm against her forehead, willing herself to focus. "We don't have time for this."

Her brother hesitated, his glare lingering on Shibuki before he turned back to his sister. He gave her a slight nod, though his body remained tense, hands still curled into fists. Anger was his first bestfriend, it was easy for him to let it take over.

Arisu exhaled sharply as he stepped back from the woman. His gaze shifted toward Rika, softening slightly as he caught sight of her leaning against the wall.

Rika felt Chota shift beside her, his hunched figure slumping lower as his phone dangled loosely from his hand. The usual energy in his expression was gone, replaced by a look of pure exhaustion.

"We have to keep moving," Rika said, steadying her body as she straightened herself against the wall. Her eyes flicked toward the timer on her phone, the numbers ticking down with each second.

1:20.

"Which door do we choose now?" Chota asked weakly, his voice breaking through the thick tension.

Rika's gaze shifted around the room. It was barren, an exact copy of the other with two doors-another LIVE and DIE. The cycle was repeating, forcing them to make the same impossible choice.

Arisu pressed a hand to his forehead, his other hand gripped the phone tightly, the timer, yet again, dwindling with each second that passed.

"Since the last one was DIE, the next one should be LIVE," he said.

Karube stepped closer to him, nodding. "Yeah. It can't be DIE twice in a row. That wouldn't make sense."

Arisu met his friend's gaze, his brows furrowing. "But it's hard to choose DIE."

"Maybe that's the point," Rika interjected with a sigh, voice butting into their conversation. She reached up to tie her hair into a tight ponytail, her fingers moving quickly despite their slight tremble. Sweat clung to her features, her hand swiping across her damp forehead.

"There has to be some sort of logic behind which door to choose," she continued, though her tone lacked its usual confidence.

Shibuki, still standing between Karube and Arisu, spoke up suddenly. "I'm sure this is a game for us to choose a sacrifice within the time limit."

Rika's sharp glare snapped toward her, her expression darkening at the implication.

"Are you offering?" she retorted, her voice laced with anger fueled sarcasm. She was starting to sound like her brother. Or rather, their father.

The woman's eyes narrowed, a glare of her own matching Rika's. "There's probably no meaning to the doors," she argued. "What's important is who's going to open it. They're telling us to choose one person within the time limit."

Arisu's jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to the timer on his phone before returning to the woman. "You sacrificed that girl," he said, "Why don't you open the door next?"

Shibuki stiffened, her lips curling into a sneer. "I believe if I were to survive, it would be for the good of all mankind."

A dry laugh escaped Rika's lips, "Good of all mankind?" she echoed, "You're kidding, right?"

She stepped forward, jerking the name tag from the woman's purse, dangling it in front of her face. "You're a clerk. The world will continue to spin even if you're not there to file papers." She finished, dropping the tag to the tiled floors below.

She could see it in the woman's face-the disbelief and anger. What Shibuki had said was a flimsy excuse, a desperate attempt to avoid accountability, and it was painfully obvious.

"What a joke! Don't you feel bad talking about that?" Karube asked, nodding his head toward the door they'd come through as he kicked the name tag across the room.

A sudden retching sound drew Rika's attention to the floor. She turned to see Chota hunched over, his shoulders shaking as he vomited onto the tiles.

"Hey," Rika spoke, her harsh tone softening slightly as she knelt to her knees beside him. She slid her phone into the pocket of her hoodie, freeing her hand to press gently against his back.

He heaved again, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as tears welled in his reddened eyes.

"Come on," she ushered, her voice as steady as she could manage. Her other hand curled around his elbow, helping him sit up straighter. "Just try to breathe."

Chota sniffled, his wide eyes meeting hers briefly before darting away. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no words came.

"Don't worry about it," she said quietly, patting his back reassuringly. It wasn't much, but it was all she could offer in the moment.

"One minute remaining,"

"No one's going to open the doors at this rate." Arisu muttered, his tone heavy with frustration as he glanced back down at the timer. The screen stared back at him, offering no solutions-only the relentless countdown.

"Everyone's going to die from the fire when the time is up!" Karube shouted, voice cracking with frustration. He spun on his heel, running a hand through his hair as a string of curses spilled from his lips.

Rika straightened slowly, her hand still steady on Chota's back. Her gaze flicked to the others, each of them trapped in the same suffocating panic.

"Then why don't you open it?" Shibuki snapped as she turned to Arisu.

He stiffened, his eyes darting toward her.

"Why ask someone else to open it?" she continued, her words relentless. "Do it yourself! You want to make someone else do it just as much as I do!"

And then the smoke began to rise again, curling across the floor and licking at their legs.

Rika moved quickly, her arm wrapping tighter around Chota as she pulled him to his feet. He stumbled, his balance unsteady, and she coughed hard, the acrid smoke clawing at her lungs yet again as she waved it away with her free hand.

"I'll open it," Arisu said suddenly. He coughed into his sleeve as he pushed forward, eyes locked on the doors ahead.

"Arisu!" Karube called out, tone sharp with warning. His voice was hoarse, likely from the smoke, but the urgency in it was clearer than the room they stood in.

Arisu didn't stop. His gaze darted between the two doors, and after a pause, he turned sharply toward the DIE door. Rika watched, heart pounding in her chest.

"Stop, Arisu! Don't be provoked by her!" Karube yelled, taking a step toward his friend.

Arisu reached the door, his hand hovering over the handle. His fingers trembled as they curled toward it, but he hesitated, the weight of the choice bearing down on him. Rika kept a firm grip on Chota, tugging him forward. At this point, she wasn't sure if it was to keep him steady or herself.

"I'll open the door, damn it!" Arisu yelled, but his voice cracked, and his hands shook.

"Thirty seconds remaining."

Fear overcame him. Arisu's shoulders slumped. His fingers slipped from the handle, and he sank to the floor, curling into himself in a ball of defeat.

"See?" Shibuki said, her voice cold. "You can't open it. Even you would've sacrificed that girl."

"Shut the hell up!" Karube's voice boomed as he ran a hand through his yellow hair once again, his movements full of frustration.

Then, with a deep breath, he stepped forward.

"I'll do it," he said, his tone steady despite the tremble in his shoulders. He moved toward the LIVE door, his resolve unshaken even as his body betrayed the fear he was feeling.

"Karube..." Rika's voice was softer now, but it cracked as it left her lips. A rare sound. Her chest tightened, and her heart pounded wildly as she stepped forward, pulling Chota along with her. "Daikichi, wait-"

"We'll take turns," he interrupted, refusing to meet her eyes. His hand reached out and gripped the handle firmly, his knuckles turning white. "If this is wrong, you'll know what to do."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut.

He turned his head slightly, his eyes locking on the woman in the white blouse. "You'll be next after me,"

"Ten seconds remaining."

With a final deep breath, Karube yanked the door open and stepped through. He stumbled slightly, his hand still gripping the handle as he crossed the threshold.

"Karube!" Arisu shouted, scrambling to his feet in a panic.

Rika froze, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for the hum, the laser-anything that would confirm her worst fear.

But there was nothing.

No hum. No laser.

Karube stood in the next room, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as he turned to face them.

He'd guessed correctly.

"Karube," Chota croaked, his voice breaking with relief as tears welled in his eyes. He surged forward, using his arm to push Rika along with him.

She stumbled slightly but didn't resist, her mind reeling as she followed them into the next room.

The last to enter was Shibuki, her steps frantic as she stumbled through the threshold. Flames consumed the previous room, casting an orange glow before she harshly slammed the door shut behind her.

Arisu fell to his stomach while Karube's knees hit the floor in a daze of shock. Rika let go of Chota, her adrenaline surging as she rushed to her brother's side. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling herself to the ground in the process.

Karube's arms rose weakly to return the rare embrace, his trembling hands resting on her back.

"The time limit for this room is one minute and forty seconds."

"I can't do this anymore," Chota sobbed, voice cracking as he pressed his back against the wall. His phone dangled limply in his shaking hands, the numbers on the screen taunting him.

Karube squeezed Rika's arms, his breathing uneven as he gently pulled back. Rising to his feet, he fixed his glare on Shibuki standing by the door she had closed. "We're taking turns. You open the door next," he said as he approached her.

The woman's eyes widened in fear, and she stumbled back a step. "What are you-"

Karube grabbed her wrist, cutting off her protest as he shoved her toward the LIVE door. Her body collided with it, hands slapping against the surface as she turned to face him, panic written across her face.

"Open it!" Karube roared, his voice slicing through the room with a tone of anger that made everyone freeze.

She shook her head violently. "No!"

Rika, still on her knees, let out a heavy sigh. Her body sagged as she pressed her palms to her face, rubbing her eyes as if it could erase the scene unfolding before her. The adrenaline coursing through her veins made her breaths come in sharp, ragged bursts. She leaned forward, her forehead pressing against the tiles as she tried to center herself. It was no use.

Karube scoffed, spinning away from the woman in frustration. His eyes landed on Arisu, who was sitting slumped on the floor, his sweat-drenched face pale and drawn into a frown.

"Do you have any ideas?" Karube asked.

"Ideas?" Arisu echoed, the word hollow as it left his lips.

"You always say there's a solution to every game, right?" Karube continued as he took a step toward Arisu, fists clenching at his sides. "You have to know what to do!"

"This isn't a game," Arisu whispered, voice barely audible.

Karube's jaw tightened, his frustration boiling over. "You've always solved puzzle games I couldn't even figure out. So do it!"

"This isn't a game, Karube!" Arisu shot back, his voice shaking with anger and fear. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand trembling as it gripped the phone. "It's all about luck here!"

"Think, Arisu!" Karube bellowed, dropping to his knees beside him. His face was inches from Arisu's now. "There might've been a hint somewhere. First, we went into this building-"

"Stop it already!" the woman yelled, her voice shrill as she interrupted him.

Rika's head snapped up, her glare fierce as she pushed herself to her feet. "Can you shut your fucking mouth for one second and let him speak?" she cursed, oddly feeling more like herself in this moment.

The woman froze under Rika's stare, her expression faltering as she backed down.

Karube took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he continued. "Then, the elevator took us-"

"I can't do this!" Arisu yelled suddenly, scrambling to his feet and taking a step away from the interrogation.

"Don't give up, Arisu!" Karube shouted, rising with him. "We can't reset!"

"It's impossible, I'm telling you!" Arisu yelled back, his voice breaking.

"I'm telling you to think!" Karube's voice was loud, stepping forward to face him. "I've been working my ass off while you were just playing games!"

Arisu's head snapped up, eyes blazing with anger. "What does that have to do with this? You only know how to beat people up! What makes you so big?"

Smoke began to rise, curling from the vents and pooling at their feet.

Karube's fist tightened, and before anyone could stop him, he swung. His fist connected with Arisu's jaw, sending the boy stumbling back to the floor.

Chota stepped forward, his arms wrapping around Karube from behind. "Stop it!" he cried, his voice cracking as he held him back.

"Hey!" Rika shouted at her brother, surging forward. She shoved him back with both hands, her palms pressing firmly against his chest. "Calm down, for fucks sake! Just give him a second!"

Karube stared at her, his breathing ragged, the fire in his eyes dimming slightly as her words sank in.

Rika turned to Arisu, who was still on the floor, holding his jaw with a wince. Her heart ached at the sight, but she swallowed the emotion, forcing herself to focus.

Arisu's eyes went wide-not from the sting of Karube's punch but from a sudden realization. "Wait..." he whispered, his voice barely audible as he pressed his hands against the tiles. Slowly, he pushed himself upright, hastily standing to his feet.

"What's the matter, Arisu?" Chota whispered cautiously.

"Shh!" Karube hushed, hand shooting up to silence him.

"Thirty seconds remaining."

Arisu stood fully now, swaying slightly before steadying himself. His breathing was uneven, but his stare was sharp, mind clearly working at a furious pace. He carefully brushed past Rika, moving to the center of the room.

"BMW 523d," he said, holding a hand in the air as if he were solving a complex math problem. "It was a BMW 523d."

"What?" Rika asked, stepping closer to him, her brows furrowing as she tried to piece together his train of thought.

The others followed, forming a loose circle around him.

"So?" Karube asked, taking his place by his sister. Chota lingered just behind him, looking nervously between Arisu and the doors that awaited their choice.

Arisu stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes fluttering closed as his lips moved silently, his mind working through a puzzle within. Then they snapped open.

"The answer is DIE." His voice was confident. He pointed to the door with the black-and-red skeleton.

"How do you know that?" Shibuki demanded sharply as her gaze darted between him and the doors.

"Seven seconds remaining."

The smoke thickened, rising around their bodies and filling the space. Rika's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Arisu. His confidence in the words he spoke was unwavering, and... she trusted him.

Without hesitation, she pushed past him and Shibuki, placing herself in front of the foreboding door.

"Rika, wait!" Karube started, voice echoing in the enclosed space as he instinctively lunged after her.

But his words didn't register.

Rika's hand curled around the cold metal handle of the DIE door. She sucked in a sharp breath and tugged it open, the hinges creaking loudly as the door swung inward. She stepped into the room, shoulders tense, body bracing for the hum, the sudden finality of death.

It never came.

The room was silent save for her panted breaths.

Then, a rush of movement.

Karube, Arisu, Chota, and Shibuki barreled through the door behind her, their combined weight shoving her forward as they stumbled into the space.

Karube yelled, his hand shooting out to steady his sister as Chota tripped over his own feet, narrowly avoiding a fall. Arisu hastily slammed the door shut behind them just as the previous room erupted in flames, the fire roaring to life behind the frame.

Rika coughed, lungs still burning from the smoke as she stumbled to the side, her back pressing against the wall. Her hands trembled as she wiped her forehead, her sweat-slicked hair clinging to her skin.

For a moment, no one spoke.

"The time limit for this room is one minute and thirty seconds."

Karube glanced down at the phone in his hand, jaw tightening as the timer ticked toward zero. His gaze shifted to Arisu, "Do you know which one it is now?"

Rika had slid down the wall, her tired eyes half-lidded, chest rising and falling steadily as she tried to conserve what little energy she had left.

Arisu turned sharply on his feet, his expression focused. "The length of a BMW 523d is four meters and ninety-four centimeters," he began, "There was one parked outside this building when we got here. The length of the building is equal to four of those cars. That means this building is approximately twenty meters in length."

He paced to the far corner of the room, aligning the soles of his shoes carefully with the tiles. "My feet are twenty-eight centimeters long."

Rika blinked slowly as she watched him. She was lost the second he started talking about centimeters and meters.

Arisu took three measured steps forward, eyes locked on the floor as he counted silently. When he stopped, he straightened and turned back toward the group, mind racing. "It should be around six meters. According to the evacuation map, the elevator is at the corner of the building. The shape of the building is square, and these rooms are all square-shaped too."

Karube's brow furrowed as he glanced at Rika, silently asking if she was following this. She shook her head faintly, but her eyes returned to Arisu, absorbing every word even if she didn't fully understand.

"Assuming that one side of the building is twenty meters," Arisu continued, "and the rooms are six square meters in size, there can only be three rooms on one side."

"Fifty seconds remaining."

Arisu's explanation hadn't lost its momentum, Rika's legs feeling heavy as she pushed herself up from the wall, forcing herself to stay alert despite the pounding in her head.

"Is there something I can write on?" Arisu asked suddenly, eyes raising to scan the small group.

Rika reached into the pockets of her hoodie, the items brushing against her fingers. Keychain. Pepper spray. Two phones. Wadded-up headphones. She sighed. She was honestly surprised none of it had fallen out yet, but still, nothing useful.

"Nothing," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Wait," Chota said, fumbling with his shirt pocket. He pulled out a pen, holding it up triumphantly. "Here!"

Shibuki stepped forward as she retrieved a small notepad from her purse. "Take this,"

Arisu knelt quickly, clicking the pen with an audible snap. He straightened the notepad against the floor, smoothing the paper with his palm before sketching furiously. The smoke was back, curling up from the vents and filling the room in heavy waves.

Rika pulled the sleeve of her hoodie over her mouth and nose. She stayed standing, but she didn't watch Arisu work-her mind couldn't handle trying to decode the scribbles he was mapping out. Instead, she focused on her surroundings, her legs shifting slightly as she swayed on unsteady feet.

Her fingers dug into her sleeves as she adjusted the fabric around her face. The timer on their phones ticked on as Arisu's pen moved rapidly, the scratching sound loud against the tiles as the smoke thickened. The shapes he drew started to come together-a rough map of the building.

"Assuming that each room is square," Arisu said, pen moving rapidly across the notepad, "this floor should have nine rooms."

"It's just like a puzzle game," Chota muttered, his knees pressed against the cold tiles as he watched Arisu trace out the floor's layout.

Karube gave him a firm pat on the back, "It's Arisu's forte!"

The smoke continued to rise, curling around their ankles and creeping higher by the second. It was thicker now, more aggressive, clawing at their lungs. Or more so, Rika's.

She should have never started smoking.

So, she paced- heart hammering wildly in her chest. Her breath continued to come in shallow bursts, sleeve pulled tightly over her nose and mouth in a futile attempt to block the fumes.

"We started in this room," Arisu said, "The high school girl died in this room. This is the next room. Thanks to Karube, we moved forward. That means the door to the right cannot be accessed."

He tapped the paper, the pieces falling into place in his mind.

"Then Rika opened the door to this room-"

"Ten seconds remaining."

Arisu's voice grew louder, faster, as he pointed to the remaining options. "Through the process of elimination, these two rooms are a no-go."

He turned sharply, his eyes locking onto the DIE door.

"The answer is DIE!"

The group moved in unison, their crouched bodies springing to life like coiled springs. Arisu was the first to reach the door, his hand shooting out to grab the handle. Without hesitation, he yanked it open, the door creaking loudly on its hinges.

"Go, go, go!" Karube ordered, his voice piercing the smoke filled air as he motioned for the others to move.

Chota stumbled to his feet, rushing forward with Karube close behind him. Shibuki followed next, her heels clicking sharply against the tiles as she darted into the next room. Rika was last. Her legs and chest burned as she pushed forward, hand curling around the handle as she skidded through the threshold.

The heat from the approaching flames licked at her back, the air crackling with the roar of fire as it surged into the room they had just escaped.

With a grunt, she swung the door shut, slamming it hard enough to send a dull echo reverberating through the space. The flames flared just as the door clicked into place, she let out a series of rough coughs- leaning forward as her hands braced against her knees. Her lungs burned, each breath like swallowing shards of glass.

The relief was short-lived.

"The time limit for this room is one minute and twenty seconds."

Karube looked up at Arisu from where he sat sprawled out across the floor, chest rising and falling heavily. "If this works," he started, "we'll make it out."

Chota's face lit up with a tired but genuine smile for the first time in what felt like hours. "You're awesome, Arisu!"

Even Shibuki allowed herself a small grin, black hair clinging to her sweat-drenched face.

"This game isn't based on luck," Arisu said firmly, his hands steady as he marked their final move onto the sheet of paper. "We can clear it together!"

He straightened, holding the notepad in one hand as he gestured toward their next path. "According to this, the next door is DIE too."

Rika leaned against the door she had closed, feeling the searing warmth of the flames licking just beyond the barrier. "So technically," she muttered, glancing at Arisu with a faint smirk, "I was right from the beginning."

Karube let out a laugh, "One door was LIVE," he reminded her, pushing himself to his feet. He walked over and patted her shoulder with a small smile.

She rolled her eyes, but there was no bite to it-just the kind of exasperation that came from pure, unrelenting fatigue. Arisu stepped toward the DIE door, gripping the handle without hesitation. He gave it a sharp tug, the door creaking open to reveal the next room.

"Come on!" he called, stepping into the space without consequence. No laser, no sudden death.

This time, the smoke didn't even get a chance to make its entrance. Karube moved swiftly, grabbing hold of Rika's arm and pulling her into the space with the rest of the group. Shibuki was last, hastily closing the door shut behind them just in case the flames decided to come early.

Before Rika could fully catch her breath, she felt herself enveloped in an unexpected embrace.

The sweaty, exhausted bodies of the three boys wrapped around her in a tangled mess of limbs and laughter, celebrating their victory.

"Alright, alright, let go!" Rika grumbled halfheartedly, her hands pressing against their chests as she tried to wriggle free. But despite her protests, a smile crept across her face. She allowed herself to stay in the moment just a little longer, the hug eventually breaking apart.

"The time limit for this room is one minute and ten seconds."

Arisu's pen moved frantically across the small notepad, eyes darting between the page and the bright-eyed, smiling girl on the poster ahead. He paused, his gaze sharpening.

"It's LIVE," he announced with confidence, his voice cutting through the group's scattered breaths.

Rika sighed softly, leaning her head back against the wall. "Okay, maybe I wasn't right," she muttered under her breath, earning a faint chuckle from Karube.

Arisu didn't waste a second. He rushed forward, twisting the handle of the LIVE door with a quick motion before stepping inside.

The group followed close behind. Shibuki was the last to enter yet again, and with practiced precision, she slammed the door shut behind them, cutting off the previous room.

Before Rika could even orient herself, she found herself pulled into yet another tight embrace.

Karube's arm wrapped around her shoulders as Chota cheered, laughter bouncing off the carpeted walls. This time, she didn't bother protesting.

Karube and Chota broke away quickly, their voices overlapping as they laughed and celebrated their victory.

But the sound of Arisu's sudden silence was louder than any cheer.

Rika's smile faded as her gaze shifted to him. He stood in the center of the room, his posture tense, notepad dangling from his hand. His eyes were locked on the room, unmoving.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice quiet as she stepped toward him.

She grabbed his wrist, lifting the notepad from his grasp to study the drawing. Her eyes darted between the paper and the room around them, her mind racing to piece together the problem.

"The time limit for this room is one minute."

Her stomach twisted.

She quickly realized what had stopped Arisu in his tracks. The layout was different. The doors weren't where they were supposed to be. A straight wall stood in front of them, throwing off the pattern they had been following, scrambling the plan Arisu had painstakingly constructed.

She felt his stare on her, panicked and searching for reassurance. Or for an answer that she could not give.

The laughter from the boys died down as they noticed the shift in the room's energy. Slowly, they made their way over, Chota peering over Rika's shoulder curiously while Shibuki claimed the space next to Arisu. Karube stood beside Rika.

"Since the right door is out of the question," Chota hummed, breaking the tense silence, "should we choose one on the outer wall?"

Without waiting for a response, he began moving toward the DIE door, Karube and Shibuki trailing behind him.

"Wait!" Arisu's voice rang out, loud and strained. His fingers tightened around the notepad as he glanced frantically at the wall ahead. "I might have missed something," he said.

"Fifty seconds remaining."

Rika watched as Arisu fell silent, his free hand rising to press against his forehead. He tugged at his hair, his eyes darting wildly between the notepad and the room around him. His thoughts were moving too fast, his mind caught in a spiral of overanalysis and self-doubt.

Her fingers, still curled around his wrist, gave a gentle squeeze. The gesture was small, but she hoped it would ground him, even for a moment. After all, none of them would be making it out without his brain intact.

"It's okay," she murmured, her voice low enough that only he could hear.

Arisu glanced at her briefly, his eyes flickering with a hint of gratitude. She could see the gears turning again.

Rika let go of his wrist and took a step back, giving him the space he needed to think. Her legs carried her across the room in slow, steady strides as she began pacing, her hands anxiously clenching into fists at her sides.

Her mind raced alongside his, though she knew her approach would never match his own. She analyzed the room around her, the smoke that slowly began to creep in from the vents.

"There's no time to waste-we'll die!" Shibuki yelled, her voice cracking as her wide eyes darted between the group and the rising smoke.

"You didn't even open a door!" Karube shot back.

"You were the one who pushed it onto me!" she snapped, her hands flying up in frustration.

"Give me a break!"

Rika took a deep breath, the tension that had briefly faded was back in full force, pressing down on her like the thick smoke.

"Chota!" Arisu shouted, cutting through the noise. "You took a video in the first room, right?"

Chota blinked, startled. "Yeah, but-"

"We don't have time for that!" Shibuki shrieked, her hands clutching the back of her neck as she paced anxiously.

Rika ignored it all.

"Twenty five seconds remaining."

Chota scrambled to pull out the registration phone, his hands fumbling slightly as he turned it to the side to play the video he had recorded earlier. The faint sound of the high school girl's voice filled the room, her words faint and distant in the recording.

Rika's eyes clamped shut as they watched, her jaw tightening at the reminder of the girl's fate. Death by laser or death by fire. Such great choices, she thought bitterly. Rika wrapped her arms around herself, the memory gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.

"There's no door!" Arisu suddenly shouted, pulling back from the phone with wide eyes.

"So what?" Shibuki retorted.

"Ten seconds remaining."

Rika opened her eyes, her sharp gaze flicking between them to gauge their reactions. Arisu's pen moved rapidly across the notepad, voice urgent as he pointed toward the LIVE poster. "This means the room where the girl died isn't square. There's another room behind that door!"

"Seven."

The group moved as one, their bodies surging forward in a desperate rush.

Karube was the first to reach the door, slamming his shoulder into it as he broke through. Shibuki followed close behind, Arisu darted after her, his grip tightening around the notepad as he slipped through the opening.

The heat was unbearable now, the fire roaring behind them like a living, breathing monster.

Rika had pushed off the wall, lungs burning as she ran, Vans skidding across the slick tiles. The smoke stung her eyes, tears blurring her vision as she moved toward the door. Chota was right behind her, his footsteps frantic. But as his shoe scraped against her heel, she stumbled forward, her balance giving way.

Her knees hit the floor with a sickening thud, the fire surging to life behind her, licking at the back of her legs with a searing heat that made her breath catch.

"Rika!"

A set of hands grabbed her under her arms, yanking her into the room with a force that left her breathless. She collapsed onto the tiles, coughing harshly as Chota stumbled in after her.

But the flames followed him, their searing heat catching the fabric of his pants.

A wailing scream tore from Chota's throat as he fell to the ground, his left leg engulfed in fire.

"Shut the door!" Arisu yelled, his voice breaking. The loudness of it made Rika realize it was him that pulled her into the room, his arms steadying her frame.

The door slammed shut with a heavy clang, cutting off the flames outside-but not before they left their mark.

"Hold still!" Karube ordered, voice firm but panicked as he yanked off his Hawaiian print button-up. He dropped to his knees beside Chota, using the fabric to smother the flames consuming his leg. The smell of burned fabric and flesh filled the room, making Rika's stomach churn.

Chota writhed on the floor, tears streaming down his face as he cried out in pain.

Rika's wide eyes stayed glued to the scene, breathing uneven as she tried to process what had just happened. She felt herself being pulled further back, Arisu's arms wrapping around her to move her away from the chaos.

Her knees throbbed, the backs of her legs burned, but the pain felt quite distant compared to the reality in front of her.

"The time limit for this room is ten seconds."

The voice was merciless, dragging them from one nightmare to the next without pause.

"Ten seconds?!" Karube shouted, voice cracking with anger and panic as he hastily pulled a sobbing Chota to his feet.

Shibuki darted toward the nearest door with the LIVE poster, her movements both frantic and desperate.

"It's not LIVE-it's DIE!" Arisu yelled, his arm thrown around Rika's shoulders as he helped her stand. "Don't be tricked by the question!" he continued, gaze snapping to the correct door.

Without hesitation, Arisu swung the DIE door open, the hinges creaking loudly as he tugged Rika inside with him. "Come on!"

Her hand instinctively gripped his waist, holding on tightly as they stumbled into the new space. She tried to block out the pain that radiated from her calves, the searing burn making each step agonizing.

Behind her, Karube carried a tearful Chota into the space, Shibuki followed last, sprinting across the room just as flames surged behind her. The door slammed shut, sealing off the inferno at their backs.

For a moment, the group stood frozen, their breaths heavy and ragged.

Then Rika realized where they were.

They had emerged onto a fire escape. However mocking that may be. The grated metal path stretched out before them, the cool night air hitting their sweat-drenched faces like a lifeline.

But the group didn't hesitate to continue on. Their footsteps clanged against the metal stairs as they descended in a frantic rush, their lungs greedily taking in the crisp air. When they reached the bottom, Arisu guided Rika toward the nearby alleyway, his arm moved to her waist for support. The cold concrete of the ground was a jarring but welcome relief as he helped her sit, her legs trembling as she straightened them out.

She winced, face twisting in pain at the movement, but she forced herself to breathe through it.

"Game cleared. Congratulations."

Shibuki collapsed to her knees beside Rika, her body leaning against her for support. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her face. "It's all thanks to you guys," she murmured between gulps of air. "Thank you..."

Karube was kneeled a few feet away, his jaw tight as he stared back at her. He didn't respond, his expression unreadable as he turned his attention to Chota.

Chota sat slumped against the wall, face pale and his hands shaking as he examined his burned leg. The fabric of his pants was gone, replaced by the raw, bubbling skin beneath. Tears streaked down his face, his voice cracking as he sobbed. "This must be retribution..." he whispered, his shoulders shaking.

Rika leaned back against the rough brick wall, her chest heaving as she tried to steady herself. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving behind the full weight of her exhaustion and pain. She reached into her hoodie pocket, retrieving the registration phone. Its faint light illuminated the dark alleyway as she used the screen to inspect the back of her legs.

Her breath hitched slightly at the sight. The skin was red and swollen, the beginnings of blisters forming along the areas where the fire had made contact. It wasn't as bad as Chota's, but it was enough to make her stomach churn.

Arisu sat beside her, noticing the way her face twisted. "Let me see," he said, his voice quieter now, more tentative.

"It's okay," Rika replied, shaking her head, not wanting to cause anymore worry. "I'll manage."

He didn't push her, gaze shifting back toward the others as he reached out to squeeze her knee assuringly.

Shibuki rose to her feet, adjusting the strap of her purse as her gaze caught on a table at the end of the alleyway. She stopped in front of the table, her hand reaching out to retrieve whatever object laid upon its surface.

The others watched her silently, exhaustion etched into their features. Arisu, ever patient, leaned slightly to help Rika to her feet. Her legs trembled beneath her, but she steadied herself against him, her arm looping underneath his to hold onto his waist. Karube mirrored the gesture with Chota, slinging the younger boy's arm over his own as he helped him up.

Together, they made their way toward Shibuki. When they reached her, she turned to face them, a card held between her fingers. The design was unmistakable: Three of Clubs.

Rika's phone vibrated in her hand. Her shaking hands raised it up, lifting the screen toward her face as the voice from earlier broke the silence once again.

"To the survivors of the game, we will now supply you with a three-day visa."

That was what the number meant.

"Visa?" Arisu echoed, looking to Shibuki for clarity. His arm tightened slightly around Rika's waist, steadying her as much as himself.

Before anyone could answer, the sound of unsteady footsteps echoed from the mouth of the alleyway.

All eyes turned upward, spotting a man staggering toward them.

He looked older, his hunched frame weighed down by exhaustion and despair. His clothes were torn and bloodstained, his face pale, and his eyes... his eyes were empty, devoid of any trace of hope or life.

The man's gaze bore into them, his expression unreadable as he stumbled closer.

Rika felt Arisu's hand tighten around her waist, his fingers gripping the fabric of her hoodie as if preparing for the worst.

"I'm going..." the man croaked, "I'm dropping out of the game!"

The group stood frozen, their breaths caught in their throats as the man's voice rose.

"You guys... there's no end to this game," he continued, his words laced with bitterness and resignation. "No matter how much you clear... it never ends."

His chest heaved as he looked skyward, his empty eyes searching the starless expanse above them. "My Visa ends today," he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost serene. "Finally... this is the end."

With a trembling hand, he let the phone in his grasp fall to the ground, its screen clattering against the concrete.

And then it came-the hum.

The familiar, taunting sound of the red laser slicing through the air.

Rika's breath hitched as the beam pierced through the man's skull, his body crumpling to the ground in an instant. The dull thud of his collapse echoed through the alleyway, leaving behind a suffocating silence.

Shibuki exhaled softly, breaking the stillness. Her voice was calm, "When it's a new day, you'll die if your Visa expires by then," she explained, slipping her phone back into her purse. "Our Visas will end too."

Rika's gaze dropped to the phone in her hands. The glowing timer mocked her, its numbers counting down the days, hours, and minutes she had left.

"So we have three days," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, the realization pressing down on her like a lead weight.

Shibuki nodded in confirmation, "If you don't want to die," she said simply, "you'll have to keep playing the games."

There was no way out.

At least not yet.

-
9073

this is probably the longest chapter
that i have EVER written LMFAO