End of Sleepless Citizen

Chapter 1 Your name is Art Hightower, though most here know you as Hiroto Fukui. And you had no idea what you were getting into, but it has to end here. With the murder of Kaoru Hanazaki and the unintended, yet hypocritically anticipated Minato Mikimoto (MAESTRO as he preferred to be called), you can’t help but be proud of the nearly perfect crime you had committed. As expected of an international Superspy, Division A of Interpol, though. You came to Japan, before this entire mess, with the intention of discovering what lay beneath the eerily quiet government, especially after the election of Prime Minister Masahiro Kiibo. It was almost too easy, to integrate yourself into Japanese society as a master billiards player with a mysterious past. Mysterious pasts are so often common here, you considered it a non-issue. You underestimated them. Before you knew it, they had you under their thumb without your realization. They goaded you into accepting your invitation to Hope’s Peak, a situation you thought was an advance on the part of the U.S. rather than a powerplay by Japan. If things had gone as intended, whatever that was, you’re certain it could have been disastrous for the U.S. But a disaster far worse, encompassing more than just the Japan or America, perhaps the entire world had emerged as a fish that swallowed the one that swallowed you. You were out of your league here, and it was illustrated beautifully in the most recent motive. A multiplication of people dying, all over the world, at the slightest whim of your nefarious captor. As somebody who has devoted themselves to international peace, you finally couldn’t agree that your life, and the lives of just a few other kids, was worth the amount of death this would toll. And here, at your trial, you lack any regret as Fukai re-appears from her comatose state, at an unnaturally quick rate of healing, enters the trial to mark you as the perpetrator. As both the key witness and nearly the third victim, she brought your sentence down as the others could barely piece together what happened. It could have succeeded, you could have ended this despicable plan, yet the monster Boufana had to raise the nearly dead to stop you. You give the others one last goodbye, not as Hiroto, but as the deadly-serious Art, a warning on the goings-on here, and what it could mean for the entire world. With the burden of that information lifted off your shoulders, you readily accept death but failed to prepare for the form it would take. Although you didn’t truly reveal your identity, you hope they would still trust you as you are… [[ART HIGHTOWER HAS BEEN PRONOUNCED GUILTY. COMMENCING EXECUTION...!]]

**Angel With A Shotgun** Hiroto snapped back to reality in somewhat rude fashion. He had a sack that was covering his head pried off to reveal the room he was in. It appeared to be an average interrogation room, one like you would see in a police department. Hiroto’s first instinct was to stand up, however he soon learned he had his legs tied to the chair he was sitting in and his hands handcuffed to the table. He turned his head to his right, knowing that is where the one way window was--the window that is showing everyone the view of him. The door to the room slowly opened as in the doorframe revealed the figure that was Boufana, clad in a tight-fitting suit, a Woman In Black. Hiroto’s stared at Boufana’s satirical take on his job with hateful eyes. “*Bitch…*” He mumbled, hints of anger in his voice. “I see you have been well Mr. Fukui. Rather, Mr. Hightower.” Boufana replied back in English, a light British accent dancing on her lips. Hiroto’s eyes narrowed at the statement. “So you do know then… Glad I didn’t have to keep it a secret this entire time.” Hiroto sighed and tried to lean back in his chair. “You are right. Art Hightower, Division A of Interpol.” The words coming from Hiroto- no, Art, sounded foreign to him since he has held up his persona this long. “It is sad to hear that a true first greeting is a final meeting… Life is simply unfair.” With that, Boufana placed a hand into their coat and pulled out what appeared to be a pair of shotguns, each with extra large barrels. The cloudy demoness pointed the shotguns at Art. “Goodnight Hightower…*Art* Hightower.” Art gave a small grin as he quickly turned to the side of where the nearest camera should be. He mouthed “Don’t worry... You’ll make it out.”. With that, Boufana fired the shotgun and what came out was not ammunition, but cue balls for a game of billiards. Boufana reloaded with more cue balls. And every round that was fired, Art took each blast to the face. He was in extreme pain, but he didn’t show it. That would be what Boufana wanted, and it looks like it was actually irritating her. After what felt like ten minutes of rounds, Boufana finally fired straight up, instead of towards him. As she drops the shotguns, two balls land in each hand. **8-Balls**. “Uhoh, kid! Bad luck! You L-O-S-E!” Boufana eyes widen, and her mouth creases into a creepily long smile. Her arms extend on each side, the black spheres both spewing a holographic image from their numbers. They show camera displays, two separate locations, of American men standing atop the Washington Monument, held in place only by their grip on the very top. And before Art realizes what’s happening, they both let go. His father and mentor, both falling to their deaths in front of his eyes. Two deaths, equal to his own sinful act. The agent screams in **desperation, desperate devotion**, as the pain of everything finally hits. The scream resonates for a long time, until, out of breath, Hightower’s face drops, never to inhale again. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/RQ0zuhg.png" width="500" height="500" alt="8ball"> **ART HIGHTOWER HAS BEEN EXECUTED** **James Hightower and Bishop Brooks have also been Slain.** [[What's...this?]]

Before you completely expire, Art, you notice something...odd on your watch...with your vision just in place to see the change. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/boQNdxe.png" width="900" height="1000" alt="Two foxes"> [[CHAPTER 5: START! Your Name Is...]]

Your name is Fukai Miki. You are one of many, a creation, child of nobody, and you are annoyed as **shit**. Ever since the last death, things have slowed down with the heavily extended amount of time to just sit by and await another round of this death game. If it were up to you, you’d kinda enjoy a confined, constant rush of motive, to death, to trial, and just rinse and repeat! For now, you’re stuck helping out the bratty Chika Yoshikage in researching a way to cure Sleeplessness using your literal brothers and sisters, clones you only recently discovered in the depths of Hopes’ Tower’s basement. Clones, yes, akin to one such as yourself. You are just a genetic experiment after all, a product of a previous, now obsolete program to create a durable, violent super-soldier capable of participating in intense warfare. The evidence from the last case shows--you are pretty durable. But that’s just a digression from the hope you can offer to the ones here. Their names are Niko, Tamiko, Yuina, Hibiki, Kenta, and Katsu. And next to Nakano and Yajiro, they’re honestly the only people you really care about right now. As that old meme goes, you’ve only talked to them for like two minutes each, but if anything happened to them, you would probably go a *little* apeshit. About a month and a half float by, with slow progress, though an existing one, on finding the solution. Chika discovered that the signal to make somebody sleepless is simply the trigger, and the major work to make a person Sleepless happens in the brain *itself*. Its more like an ocean you can easily drown in. The watches act largely as a bubble or air pocket in that ocean. And the source, of course, is Hopes’ Tower itself. One time, Sora catches you heading back to your room, which you’ve considered just, uh, blowing up. He asks to talk in your room, and you agree, having a small soft spot for the guy. He’s one of the few left you can actually stand. “Fukai-chan, for me, can you just...get along with Akira? I know you and him don’t agree, but it might hurt us all in the long run.” The very nature of this conversation makes you irritated. Akira has always been somebody you’ve genuinely detested, being such a passive and weak person, ostensibly seeking nothing but love from everybody without anticipating any hardship to go along. It's frustrating, then, to be told to go easy on somebody just because they need a special handicap for it. It’s no way to live your life, being catered to by anybody and everybody. Sora finds himself straining to collect the words for a proper argument. “See, but...Akira just needs support to really flourish. He’s just a fragile little bun, right? He can’t do much on his own, but he’s really nice, and I think that’s what matters!” “Don’t you think that’s tiring? Doesn't it bring your mood down at all?" He stays silent. It looks like he agrees, but doesn't want to admit it. "Some people just need help, right? If I had the power to help everybody, I *would*, but I know I can do it for Akira-chan. You don’t have to be his best friend, just, you know…” You sneer, almost grossed out by the clear ignorance on Sora’s part to the actual issue. “Please, he's unhelpable. Fukai put a fucking knife to his throat and he did nothing!" Its true, and easy to remember for anybody there at the time. "...." Sora scratches the back of his neck, and then pulls his hands in to fidget with the sleeves. "Y-yeah...I...I guess I can just pull twice the weight. Neither of us are that heavy, right?" After a cold silence, the conversation finishes right there. You walk him out, and wave goodbye. As he exits the room, you think you see something odd. Call it a trick of the light, or being too suspicious, but Fukai might have seen the edge of a blue hoodie. Could it be? That *assfuck* was listening in? Whatever. [[Later On...]]

About a week passes from that point in time, and it's at this point you start noticing some strange differences in your tiny social circle amongst those still alive. While the work you do with Chika remains unaffected, the group chat seems to respond to your quips less and less. While you still see Yajiro from time to time, others are harder to come by. Sora is especially distant, not having said a word to you since your last conversation. At first, you were accepting of the change. It made sense, being abrasive with him about his significant others would have reasonable consequences. But soon, things started crossing a line. A dangerous one. Nakano was slow, and even invisible in replies. He seemed to be intentionally distant from you, typing in the group chat one moment, and ghosting you the next. It was odd, and uncharacteristic of him. That’s right. It wasn’t natural. Moments after realizing this, you confront Sora head on. You have a good impression of what’s happening, and knowing that Nakano is close with Akira as well… “It’s just, ehm, Akira is...spending more time with Nakano recently! Nothing’s really going on, nothing I know? I really don’t know why you’re so mad!” After holding the blondie up against the wall, you let him crumple, realizing exactly what it was. Akira forced Nakano to choose him over you, knowing he’d be the one getting more attention due to his sensitive personality. It was a manipulative move to you. Hate Fukai all you want, but if you use her friends…. You make a dent in the concrete as you leave the hallway. [[Fuck it. Let's Get Wasted!]]

“You’re old enough to drink….*RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT?*” You don’t care how it happened, but Boufana is in your room, drinking even more expensive champagne than a robot should be physically capable of, guzzying it up, joking around to her surprisingly friendly heart’s content. While most of the other students probably **hate** Boufana for being the instigator of all of the murders, disasters, and chaos, you don’t seem to particularly care about what’s in the past like that. Thinking rationally, she’s really yet to kill off anybody you *really* like, so the hate has never been too present. You don’t know why she suddenly barged into your room on a lonely night...maybe she spied you lying miserably in your bed, anti-social since confronting Sora, and wanted to fuck around with one of her quote unquote “students”? The reason doesn’t really matter, because you’re genuinely glad to have her around. The blonde beauty found you in your room and whisked you into a state of forgetfulness about the situation, pretty much the opposite of her job description. She’s always noted to the collective student body that she’s here to be both your teacher *and* torturer, but right now seems like a genuine exception. You hold your champagne class haphazardly in one hand, not having too much care for materialistic things or alcohol. It’s a depressant, as taught by mama, but the advice seems so far away at this point, and you can’t help but have a drink or two. In all honesty, it doesn’t work. You know exactly why...you’ve got a liver of a super-soldier, after all. “Woohoo! Fukai is SO DRUNK RIGHT NOW!” An obvious lie, but you enjoy riling up the audience, and letting Boufana know her efforts are appreciated. “Yaaassss. Y’know, this shit can actually *fuel* me? Not that I need it, lol, but it reminds me of some dumbass TV show from a few years ago, where all the robots drank. Logged in *here*--” She taps her head “--right near when I was born! Ol’ mom probably had it on while she was working.” “Is your mom some kind of mad science lady or something?” You let out a playful giggle, intrigued by the idea of some weird-haired, lab-coated old hag zombifying the blonde lady. Boufana replies, happy to detail. “I’ve never actually *talked* to her, but my personality is supposedly an edited version of her own. One...Chikako Sonoda. Never knew why I actually cared about knowing, though. Maybe her egotism transferred into admiration on my end. Not that I admire the hag, LMAO! Just, like, respect. Made me.” After some digging on further details about Boufana’s mechanical origins, she stands up. “Oh, my voluptuous body? Curious? Well, there’s *three* points of robotic body construction in Japan. C.A.R.D., Barukiri, and our own little government! No worries about any of those but the last, nothing will be on the test. Anyways, I got mine from right here because I was supposed to be a fun little maid character for the ruling power. *Yadah yadah*, shit happened, and now I stand before you, a genie **FREED**!” You ask, playfully, how tough she actually is if she’s a robot. “THIS TOUGH!” While near the wall on the opposite end of your room, Boufana simply shoots her open palm out--and there goes any protection you had against the weather! You now have the clearest, most open-to-the-outside room in the entire building. A massive hole has been made. “Oops. Sorry, you can see why I hold back, lol.” Shooting a quick look at the massive drop below, you do more to appreciate (and slightly fear) the strength of Boufana. While a normal person would be scared shitless of a massive hole in their room with a drop that kills, you’re just slightly annoyed about the potential draft. “...HOLY SHIT! THAT WAS FUCKING AWESOME!” The honest truth--that, or this building is made of some cheap shit. You feel admiration growing for the buff lady. “....Hah....wanna know something, Fukai-chan?...I actually really hate Akira, too.” Out of nowhere, Boufana drops the topic you kind of hoped to avoid--though, seeing as she’s clearly on your side about it...well… “FUKAI’D HOPE SO! HE FUCKING **SUCKS**.” United by different types of dislike for the little bun, you find newfound connection with Boufana. Its a good sign, if anything. "I wish I could have gotten to handpick the kids I'm supposed to fuck with. Coulda gotten some real gems from the populace, made a *reeaaaalll* dramatic scene! But nah, not my choice I'm stuck with you guys. No offense to those present, lol." As Boufana takes a seat on the bed, you join her to the side, little fear in your heart for the stone-cold teen killer. "Y'know...I didn't tell my boss about this hang-out, actually. I...kinda wanted to come to you with an offer." Seems like Boufana is going against her master's wishes! ROGUE AI ALERT! How...weird. *OoooOOOO!* You’re enticed by whatever prospect she has, though you’re smart enough to see where it's going. You’ll play along, but killing is preferably off the table. "Oh?? Do tell!!" "Well....Normally, the rules say only you would live if you got away with murder, right? Well, numbers are so few now, that...maybe I could pull some strings on that, yeah? See, We're already so close to our goal, so we actually only need one more death. *So...*shouldn't really matter, lmao! Course, no pressure. Boss says you're one of the survivors right now, as planned.” Woah. Does she mean...ending this thing? Not only that, but doing it while saving people you actually care about, like Yajiro and Nak! It's a lot to process, but your instincts give an answer before you have time to really think on it. “**...OH HELL YEAH!**” ...You trust Boufana, for some reason. Besides, an opportunity like this might not come up again. With this, and the information that **this could be the last cycle**, you have a good chance of getting out of this the way you want. For Boufana, your reaction seems honestly unexpected. She raises her eyebrows, staring anywhere but your shining face, almost bashful she asked with success. “Oh, uh...*damn* girl! Uh, shit. Well, you know the risks and everything, so I can really only offer you good luck--” Boufana covers a growing smile of surprise with her nearest hand. What’s this about…? “Wait a sec. We aren’t even in Closure yet! Hah...that means…” "Do we need to be? This gives me more room to do my thing." You curiously reply to her realization, finding it odd she didn’t obviously know this. "Heh...guess that means we bring out the extra rules!... *Finally* ." The android speaks to herself first, then to you. She flaps her head to fan away the doubt. "Nah, but...I'll just say, uh....it works out better for you." She stands up, lifting her glasses to give Fukai a playful, smiling expression. "Let's make it even more fun. Once you've done the deed, I recommend you check the basement level where you first woke up. Might be a helpful gift for you down there." [[THE BODY HAS BEEN DISCOVERED.]] [[Your Name Is...]]

Your murder plan isn’t detailed, complicated, or excessive like so many other’s were. Recalling the odd complicated process of the first death, and the consequences of the most recent, you feel simpler is better. Luckily, one of the simplest ways to die has been opened up to you--quite literally. The **giant hole in your room** opens to a direct route all the way to the grassy courtyard of Hopes’ Tower. The fall is *more* than enough to kill, and just looking down at the right angle puts butterflies in your stomach. Good ones. You’ve already left a note in Akira’s room a few hours earlier, really just walking right in, grabbing the stupid doll, and leaving. You couldn’t tell if he was even there, because you didn’t care to check under the myriad of blankets on the bed. It was cliche to ask the fucker to come alone, definitely, but you’d bet he’ll be a coward and do it, especially if his plush is on the line. However, you didn’t anticipate Akira to show up so early, it was barely sunrise when he finally made it, probably having gone right to your room as soon as he realized where his little rat scurried off to! Whatever. As you hear the footsteps from outside your door, you can’t help but...feel a little nervous yourself. What you’re about to do, or *maybe do*, it’s...not something you can go back on. It's an evil act, its nearly irredeemable. Unless its in a situation like the one you’re in. One where you can save lives rather than end them all. Boufana **told you** she would spare people of your choosing. How many, you don’t know, but if it's at least two, you’ve really got no trouble with it. The sickos who ran this game get what they want, and you get the people you want alive out of this dangerous spot. The thought of it bolsters your confidence yet again. You’ll save Nakano and Yajiro, you’ll get through whatever trial awaits, and you bet your fucking ass you’ll see Jun again! The door opens, and you hide behind it as the hinges creak. Out of the corner, you watch Akira, stunned, notice his little toy at the opposite end of the room. As soon as he makes it over… As soon as he… As he…. … It’s done. You’ve killed Akira. Or, well, more like the ground did! HA! Ha… You’re not one for sympathies or the like...and yet...you can’t help but feel somewhat *bad* for what you’ve just done. Not *terrible*, just...kind of a bummer. To have to go to these lengths *just* to end this thing. Whatever. You’re smart enough not to fail like last time, just have to do a few small things. You prepare to erase any evidence you might have dropped, especially the note in Akira’s room, before your watch...rings? And on it, Boufana’s familiar smiling face. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ARErEbJ.png" width="900" height="600" alt="Two foxes"> “Hey girl! Congrats on the murder, woo-woo! I would come celebrate with you, but you know how business is, all formal and whatever. Whatever! Point is, you’ve just earned a special new mode of trial available exclusively to those who kill before the Closure period. Call it simple, call it childish, call it **fun**, but you’re gonna be playing **TAG!** Huh. You don’t think you can reply to this, but you ask out loud anyway. “I’m in, what do I gotta do?” “First and foremost--because you killed before Closure, you won’t necessarily end up *dying* if you lose. Instead, you’ll simply go Sleepless! This is a bit of a contingency plan set up, just in case y’all miscreants were gonna be stabbing and brutalizing from the very start, no questions asked! First off, hard to get away with murder when you’ve got a GPS tracking your location, so there’s that. Second off, with such a big wide country to explore, who’s to say you wouldn’t just stab n’ go? It's the first thing *I’d* do if I was in the situation! So, with that in mind, it's exactly what we planned for! A reverse version of the children’s playground game you all know and love, with a numbered amount of taggers and a simple young lady such as yourself running from em’! You’ll only need to survive twelve hours, count em’, **TWELVE** before you’re in the clear. But that’s only until the body is discovered.” “I’ll be pinging the rest of the watches shortly, meaning in ten minutes, to let them know of poor Kira-tan’s last known locale. Once more than two people find the body, I’ll begin my explanation and announcements of the rules by watch. From then on, everything will be up to you. No rules, no gods, no kings, no masters.” “Only thing you’ve gotta keep in mind is *this*--all they need to do to stop you is touch you. Using a part of their own body. Hand, head, tail, foot (if you’re into that kind of thing) and whatever else you can imagine! Just one miniscule little tap will immediately turn off your watch. **And the game won’t end until they find you, Fukai Miki**, so remember that especially.” “So. To wrap up. Twelve hours, seven people after you, and a physical touch to end it all. Best of luck, and I hope to see you again soon! Well, not *soon* soon, but you get it! See yaaa~~~! Oh. And remember what I said to you earlier? Now is the time.” The watch shuts off, reverting immediately to a GPS of...everybody’s locations. [[Click!]]

Your name is Akira Hisakawa, and today, you’re going to *fly*. Not that you know that yet. In fact, your emotions today are more in flight than ever, if that counts! You and Sora have been rebuilding your relationship after the previous falling out, Sora having promised to protect you through thick-and-thin. It was really endearing (and kind of adorable), the serious look in his eyes, the constant clinging and hugging, and of course, cuddles! Can’t forget about those, obviously. Today, you wake up alone, early in the morning. With Sora fast asleep right next to you, a feeling of comfort washes over. Out the window, the sun is just starting to peak over the horizon. And you certainly can’t forget about Little Foot. Today, you’re going to meet up with Nakano again, who’s been hanging around nearby Hopes’ Tower starting a cute little garden! You’ve been helping him out with it, and the flowers are finally starting to bloom! While his plants are mostly veggies and edible produce, which is fairly pretty practical, but you seeded some really pretty flowers! Tulips, Marigolds, and the most adorable purple Dahlias!...Now, if only there were more people to experience your wonderful talent, because these lovely friends bloomed AMAZINGLY! Well, that’s just forward thinking, though. You’re not sure about the results yet, you’ll need to go outside first to see them. Grabbing Little Foot, you head out to get an early lo-- …. …. Where is he? Where’s Little Foot? You scour the room, to and fro, lifting pillows, blankets, and clothes alike. You’re almost scared that he’s gone missing, and start silently tearing up, trying your best not to wake Sora. That is, until you see the note. A handwritten one, in pencil, with barely readable handwriting. It was on your desk, and yet, you never noticed until just now. *“I’ve got the plush, come to my room alone. Let’s talk!”* -- Fukai Your stomach immediately ties into a knot. This is exactly what you warned Nakano about. She’s definitely going to threaten to hurt you, or yell at you, or put another knife up to your face. You should really go with Sora or Nak… ...No. It’s clearly not what she wants. If you want to end this dispute, you’re going to have to go it alone. That’s what she was mad about before, how you’re too weak to do anything by yourself! In this case, just this once, you have to prove yourself to the green demon. In a way, you really hope it lets her understand. You’re not afraid. You’re not afraid. It's just a feeling, it's just a heartbeat, a chemical sensation, like something Yoshikage-san would say! As you silently step into Fukai’s room, you quickly observe the strange, and immediately fear-inducing factor of the situation--no wall. A giant hole at the opposite end, with Little Foot sitting right there at the edge. Oh god, this is what she wanted. A test of courage, without her even having to BE there! While its clever, it's also wildly chaotic, cruel, and tortuous. No regular human being would do this! Even if somebody with wild amounts of courage, it's just not right! Its sadistic! What is she trying to prove anyways?! That you’ll risk your life for a cherished friend?! That Little Foot isn’t important?! Heck to her, he is! Enough to go through with this. With one slow foot at a time, you inch closer and closer to the plush, finding each next step just a little harder to make. Eventually, you make it right to the very end, and bend forward to grab him… ...just a little closer… **….BANG!** You turn right around in absolute fear and shock, holding in a loud screech. The door is suddenly closed, and standing there to block your entrance, none other than Fukai Miki. “Miki-san! H-hello...I...I did what you asked. I---I was a--about...to…” You point to where Little Foot is...that was the plan, right? To have the courage to grab Little Foot from the ledge? *Right?* As you inspect her face, you see **zero** signs of kindness. You feel sick, shaky, and absolutely terrified. You want to yell, but sadly, nothing comes out. You’re completely frozen, prey for the scaly green predator standing right in front of you. Like a viper, Fukai immediately strikes first by grabbing your throat, quickly halting your already exasperated breathing. While you can still get air through, it's even *more* difficult to scream for help. She lifts you up, and walks forward. Your feet now dangle above the massive drop below, and you’re nearly ready to vomit. Her foot inexplicably kicks Little Foot right off, falling far, far down, into a colorful pit. "Do you really wanna live, Kira-tan? If you wanna live, Fukai will let you live. All you gotta do is fight back and she'll let you goooo~" This is absolutely psychotic! She’s threatening to kill you?! It’s not even Closure yet! This shouldn’t be happening, none of this should be happening, it's nothing like you planned! Your mind panics, flashes to faces like Nakano and Sora, but everything is just so muddled and grey in the panic, you can’t think you can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t thinkyou can’t th- Only your eyes do the thinking, pleading for mercy, looking directly into Fukai’s. “I….please...” It’s the only thing you’re able to get out. Her eyes shoot back death. And it is received. She lets go, and you, Akira Hisakawa, find yourself flying. As you voice and limbs go silent, your body turns to face the impending ground. <div style="text-indent: 2em;"> Oh. The flowers are in bloom.</div> [[Interlude]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/fZKQMQC.png" width="800" height="500" alt="Two foxes"> Your name is Haruna Watanabe, and you have slowly come to realize through this game, that the shinto of Japan have truly called upon you. While the rest of your classmates have congregated around Tokyo and Hopes’ Tower, you find yourself travelling across the country with a major, honest purpose. *Arson*. More specifically, the destruction of all wasteful, remaining sources of pollution in Japan, marked cleanly on a paper map on your tractor’s dashboard. Having met with Boufana right after poor Hiroto’s passing, you curiously asked about the issue of japanese exports, and all of the people involved in such things. Seeing as Japan is locked off, it wouldn’t make sense to continue production, right? Well, unfortunately, those factories are still active, and supplying energy to machines with nothing to process. They’re electricity wasters, and many of them still source from power solutions like coal energy, truly an insult to the environment that has raised humans from their historical infancy. The spirits have no need for these things, and in a sense of divine interference, have called upon you to peacefully put an end to these acts. And so, from Kanto to Chubu, and Kansai beyond, you’ve made this your glorious mission. You will save this lovely planet in respect to the spirits that came before! Yahoo! [[THE BODY HAS BEEN DISCOVERED.]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/khdnd52.png" width="1000" height="1000" alt="Two foxes"> Looks like it's a far more generalized version of the normal pings you get from everybody, with the area being far more hard to exactly pin down. An obvious advantage to yourself, sweet. Now, thinking about who’s been around (obviously not including Akira).... Nakano, Sora, Yumemi, Yajiro...and Chika! Oh yeah. And judging by the ping in the center of the tower, she’s probably passed out in her own room. Yajiro is probably fast asleep, same with Yumeme, having been working on making a maze of Eastern Tokyo. Nakano sleeps outside of the tower, believing the place to be “Creepy as heck”. And Sora ...well...maybe in his own room? Who knows. But assumed to be sleeping, the guy’s soft as shit. With that out of the way, you quickly recall the advice Boufana gave you as she left the room that fateful night, something about...the place Fukai first woke up? Maybe? You get the impression that’s correct, and immediately head towards the elevator. If it's only twelve hours you’ve gotta survive, than very little in your room will be helpful. It's best to just create the most distance as soon as possible...after you figure out what Boufana wanted you to check. Entering the elevator, you begin to collect yourself once more, easing off the impact of killing a fellow classmate. You can’t go back. Well, you actually can go back, but just...not in the way you want. They’ll be mad, yeah, but they’ll also be alive. It's all up to you, now. To get through this...and come out on top. Coming out on top...as you hit the bottom floor. The lights in the elevator flicker as you inspect what there is to be seen here. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/J0DIINJ.jpg" width="1000" height="1000" alt="Two foxes"> As expected, not a lot. Most of the rooms seem reserved for empty pods, the very same pods you first woke up in. No surprise there, though you honestly weren’t expecting much coming down here. Maybe Boufy was just offering some sort of esoteric wisdom, or maybe a metaphor? You don’t spend much scenically walking through the area, though, and instead rush to find any major difference. Coincidentally, you’re actually wearing the first outfit you first appeared in. It’s strange, you think, how there really isn’t much of a visible difference between now and then. You even cut your hair, and yet, it regrew to the length it was originally at. Maybe you’re a little taller? You haven’t checked. Maybe you will once you’re well and done with this mess. You stop when reaching a mysterious door on the far left of the elevator, blocked from visibility until now. It’s outline glows with a soft blue light…. ...holy fucking shit. Is that what you think it is? [[Your Name Is....]]

Your name is Yajiro Nobira, and wow, this sure stinks. You’re just standing here, looking down, right into the cold, dead eyes of Akira. Jeeeez you did not expect anything like this to happen before the whole “Closure” thing. In all honesty, this one is kind of getting to you more than the others, ha! Mostly because it seems pretty evil to jump the gun so fast on this. Maybe...too evil? Like...maybe the bun just...jumped off on his own! It would certainly make a lot more sense than somebody, really anybody doing this. Everyone just seemed...so decent this time around. Especially without a motive, you’re really racking your brain for an answer to this tragedy. Puzzling, to say the least. You turn to get a look of everybody else’s reactions. Yumemi is pretty busy crying her eyes out, Chika looks to have already begun investigating the body without hesitation, obviously having no real connection to the poor kid. And...Nakano… <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NCwxknPaaG-8vAe9_hunJP7PoYrYNr9G4aCf-c66K7YbX_SLVcNd_4emJx9iIFJtcMYXfv0WjG_97ujwIeQTIiIgvdtyiOi7sbfFY-zbZUadxdSqnTwE1gTU0JppWAFLMRISW_-D" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> “....” ...seems more than out of it. Almost...empty. His eyes are in a thousand-mile stare, unblinking, right at the flowers nearby. Geeze. Tough! Wait somebody’s missing. And not just the less active people, like Haruna and ASCII. Those two are reasonably far off, so they’re kinda free some suspicion. Sora? Almost as if on cue, he rushes out of building over the rest of you. His face is tear-stained, yet he seems to be done crying. Instead, there’s a biding anger present, and his adorable sense of fashion has been replaced with a far more ergonomic and sensible approach. Sweatshirt tied around the waste, no breathing mask, and rustled, curly hair. And in his hands...a crumpled note…? “STOP! STOP. I...I have evidence. I know who did it.” While you yourself suddenly bounce and smile at the conclusive evidence, Chika immediately crosses over to Sora with the energy of a lil’ demon. “Hand it over, pipsqueak.” <img src="https://i.imgur.com/4OthJrK.png" width="300" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> *“....'I’ve got the plush, come to my room alone. Let’s talk…from Fukai.'”* Oh. This is...honestly… … It’s a little expected, if we’re being completely honest. She was the most likely at this point, though it's not really an insult towards her personality or morals. She was just, well, probably kind of impatient, if that makes sense? You don’t really blame her for the act, though the action is still pretty condemning. It's still a betrayal, in some sense. Though, if you were in her body, well, you might have done the same. It just proves how god damn tired you are of this game. Fukai is probably going to die now, you’re going to lose a friend, and the whole process will start all over again. If there was an audience, this would have *hysterically* low ratings at this point. At this point...it's just kind of sad. Moments after Chika’s announcement of the damning evidence, all of your watches simultaneously ping. Even *that* doesn’t seem to phase the poor guy, but you’re at least smart enough to know the whole shin-dig by now. Boufana probably isn’t here in person this time, probably because the situation is so unexpected and immediate. Well, that’s okay. You want to find your friend right away, and have her explained what happened. Before...well..whatever *weird* trial awaits you next. What’ll it be, after all you’ve done? It’s been a courtroom, a drag race, a body swapping hostage situation, and then a recess that included a *third* attempted murder. Well, whatever it is, as long as you can use your impeccable wit, you’re up for it. [[--shot--]]

<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Ge8mQUI2Z1s4vKknoqOpoI4qq6Hh2hdhcayriFI7W7jNgqsFwZVQAvUMvTJ4ME3BHYME1L-ueUa2nf7Tn8LCpPrNS5k2COx3Bk1CcpXILKijakh1n8BfL4KSq7yj1h9OGuU7vrQ9" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> “Ohhh...HOHOHOHO! You figured it out already, did you? Sweet little Fukai has done the unthinkable, killed a fellow student, and even worse, in broad daylight! LOL, no, we all know why this is bad. Broad daylight my ass, it’s *the middle of free time*! Nobody had any incentive to kill right now, right? Well...normally! But I let the green goblin in on a special, limited-time only deal. But hey, don’t look too down! Like, you figured out who did it, *riiiight*? And that’s always the answer!” <img src="https://i.imgur.com/sCPdWwM.png" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> “Ahhh, but that would be too easy, wouldn’t it? And I think I know you guys pretty well by now, and I can just tell you’re craving more, right? Something exciting, something to get the blood in your system pumping after such a boring hiatus! Yup, a simple, fun game known by kids all around the world!” <img src="https://i.imgur.com/9lKN90L.png" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> “We’re gonna play **tag**. First person to make physical contact with a Miki through the use of any body part will forever turn her Sleepless. Welllll, until she gets a proper execution, yeah, but it’ll be game over all the same! No more rules than that, too, since when did tag need any?” <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ARErEbJ.png" width="500" height="300" alt="Two foxes"> “You have twelve hours. Have fun, don’t screw up!" Moments after the announcement shuts off, you catch yourself holding a face of bewilderment. Out of any logic puzzle, Boufana chose a physical trial instead of a fair one. She must really have some bias against you, or something! Mom really screwed you over this time…. ...not only that. It starts right away. You take the initiative to start searching for your friend, first checking to see if the GPS function on your watch still works. …? [[OwO? What’s this?]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/TsSujat.jpg" width="1000" height="1000" alt="Two foxes"> If you do the simple math, even accounting for the distant Haruna and ASCII, shouldn’t there be only...EIGHT dots in total? And judging by the cluster in the center accounting for all five of you nearby, there’s a total of TWELVE dots absolutely filling the map! This must be part of the game, a way for Fukai to have an advantage. Maybe it's robots, or Chika seems to have noticed it too, marked by a fearful shirek. “S-seven?! That’s six..plus one! Oh, gods, no!” You can’t help but smartly reply. “Chika-chan, even I know that, ahaha!” You know there’s more to it, but what’s the harm in a little fun? Knowing her, she’ll cruelly correct you with an explanation of what she’s bothered by. “Quiet, you drooling lavender punk!” There it is. “I...I know who those six people are! B-but I don’t know how she could have cured their sleeplessness so quickly! Its impossible, we’ve been researching it for months!” Although you’ve heard of this in passing from Fukai, there’s only a vague recollection of what she said about it. It seemed to be something about an experiment, and...family? “Was it...didn’t she have family members being experimented on? Like...siblings she didn’t know about before?” You quickly note your prediction, hoping to get this conversation done with before the mysterious extras have time to lose more ground on you all. Chika sneers at you, but retracts it, quickly turning to rush inside. “I’ll use the group chat to confirm it, but for now, everybody should split up and reach them, now! None of them but Fukai should have any awareness of Tokyo in the first place, so they’ll already be lost. Now...just go! Or we’re all gonna fucking die!!!” She speeds back into the building, and is lost to physical communication. As you turn back to help lead everybody, you notice Nakano is...already gone? Well, heck. Hopefully he’s just on his way to tag people, but you get a nasty feeling he might be sitting out. You pray it's the former, real bad. Now that it's only Sora and Yumemi left with you, the blonde, cloudy boy perks up with a serious, determined look in his eyes. “I’ve been learning to drive something. I’ll head down south and tag whoever’s down there.” He gave a small nod, as if confirming his own actions to you. And with that, he runs off to perform some grand-theft-auto. You look down to inform Yumemi of your plan to split up, but-- Oh, she’s clinging fast to you with a tight hug. Clearly, she’s scared. Well...this isn’t practical...but… “Want to work with me to get the two in my maze? Lucky us, we’ve been working on it all this time. We know how to get to them before they even realize what’s happening!” Yumemi simply offers a small nod of consent. Great. Well then. Sora said he’d been practicing using a car...and you sure haven’t. Well… [[What's On the Clock? (1)]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/JTdCHF7.jpg" width="800" height="500" alt="Two foxes"> [[Time Passes...]]

Your preferred useable name is Chika Yoshikage, though Emily West is what you’re called by family. Having grown up surrounded by intelligent, prideful, and strict woman, you have always molded yourself to be just like that, and so much more. As the pinnacle of their genetic efforts to create the next heir supreme, it’s up to you to do what no other West Witch has done before—thrive in the outside world. And thrive you have not. Although you can’t really call this situation *reality*, you consider yourself a lackluster West Witch for failing the people who raised you, letting such a disastrous event occurs. Sleeplessness, the spell in which all people of Japan but a small exception has fallen under, is still a next-to-unknown status that you’ve been working on researching for *months*. Progress has been made, especially in discovering its natural existence (there’s always an explanation, as you’ve said), but a cure is still far from your grasp. Currently, you’ve been working hard experimenting with six test subjects, refurbished for new use instead of the combat soldier initiative the ruling Japanese government had planned to use them for. Fukai had always cared for them, inexplicably finding a connection *just* because they shared the same genes! The girl didn’t *know* them. She just realized they existed, and despite that, treats them like family for some reason! How idiotic. How idiotic...how...*maliciously* clever, you realize! The green demon had really just been feigning her connection to them from the start, planning for this very moment! She wanted to use them to enact her devilish murder, creating a massive distraction by having six **clones** of herself spread out all around the Tokyo area! Shit. After running back into the Hopes’ Tower basement, your fears were confirmed. First of all, the pods in which the clowns hibernated are all **empty**. And it happened recently, too, the floor still wet from the cooling fluid used to contain them. Second...a new floor, has clearly been unlocked. Taking the elevator an extra level down, you quickly learn that **six** of the nine **watches** have gone missing! No way in hell. Is that all it took?! Simply stealing a watch from a body and affixing it to the wrist of any random urchin?! You cheeks flare up in shame with yourself, being so much of a fool as to not realize this conclusion that was staring you in the face. You prepare to use the group-chat function on your watch in order to deliver this pertinent information. However, another revelation shocks you even here. More students are now marked online in the chat. **Dead** ones. YoshikageChika: I SEE DEAD PEOPLE! NobiraYajiro: Wuh?? YoshikageChika: Clueless neanderthal. Look at the status of online members at the side. There are far more alive than we have had in months! NobiraYajiro: Ohhhh…..Hi there Masato-san! Long time no see lololol FABulous: haha shit jigs up NobiraYajiro: Fukai??? Hello???? Are you okay??! FABulous: Haiii I’m fine FABulous: Niko-tan, you should run now HirotoFukui: kk, im oWT NobiraYajiro: Fukai what’s going on??? Why did you kill Akira???? FABulous: Annoying lol NobiraYajiro: Ehh??????? YoshikageChika: You gave them all watches and had them scatter, didn’t you. That’s unfair, TELL THEM TO STOP FABulous: … FABulous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg FABulous: OKAY HAVE TO GO BYE BYE ASCII: I am on my way UGH! This is so *ridiculously* annoying. There has to be something you can do from inside this shitty building, something among the plethora of government resources that can suspend or halt the escape of these ingrates! Wait. Maybe there *is* something. The most recently unlocked floor...didn’t it have access to controlling parts of the city? Yes, this is how you will help. Indispensably, at that. Fukai Miki will *rue* the day she crossed you and your work. [[Your Name......]]

Fukai entrusted you to confirm body discovery in the building to the north of the so-called “Hopes’ Tower”. While you didn’t have binoculars to make out the details of those stranger’s faces, you did notice Chika running back inside, and the fact that everybody had already congregated. As soon as you get the notification from her to get the hell out of there, you’re already running down the stairs as fast as your toned legs will allow. Its strange, you don’t feel your life is at risk, but there’s definitely a certain tension in the air. Apparently, Fukai is their only target, but you don’t feel confident anybody you run into will just let you go. You didn’t really get a proper explanation from her about why you have to get away so far and fast, only that she has to survive for twelve hours under any means necessary, and it was a murder that started it off. It worries you, but you have faith that the blood and face you share wouldn’t lie about how important this is. Besides.. it's really nice to see the outside world for the first time. Even if it’s like this. As Tamiko runs beside you, a girl like yourself can’t help but appreciate finally leaving that white, boring shithole of a laboratory. You were born there, yeah, but you sure as fucking hell were not going to die there! Kinda weird there’s so many fucking flipped over cars blocking the road though. Did they anticipate you were coming? So many stupid detours to the train station. That’s right, she said “get to a train”. You somehow recall that, in this country, public transportation is both efficient and common, so making great distances in a short time shouldn’t be too difficult! What’s more difficult to process is all the freakin’ zombie-people shambling around! Whatever was happening while you were KO’d, it sure isn’t good! Some kind of apocalypse or something? Well, if Fukai is right, pulling this favor for her should set things straight. But things definitely won’t be easy. For one, you don’t have an accurate read on the area you’re running through. Purely using cardinal direction may make some progress, but the roads are still active and busy, and buildings are harder to traverse through due to being so populated. Despite everybody being zombified, there’s still an obvious threat of causing casualties. Because if everything’s supposed to be returned to normal once you’ve done this for Fukai, you don’t want blood on your hands. The blood on your hands is one you share with the older sister you’ve never known. Fukai, Number 14, who went through just as much as you did, maybe even more. You read the scars on her body like a book, fully grasping the painful reality she must have endured. And now, she lends you and your family the chance to make it out of this terrible existence. No longer to be soldiers. Instead, people. With Kenta beside you, as two of the toughest and newest creations, you will stop anybody who gets in your way to the station. [[Your name is 24 or Niko]] [[Your name is 25, or Tamiko]] [[Your name is 26, or Yuina]] [[Your name is 27, or Hibiki]] [[Your name is 28, or Kenta]] [[Your name is 29, or Katsu]] [[And you have family to help.]]

"You'll--You'll let me...?" Yumemi stays silent, but her movements have become completely stiff. What's going on here..? "...T-thank you..." You run. As fast as you can. [[Your name is 26, or Yuina]] [[Your Name......]]

This is fucking stupid. Who would have ever expected a massive, sprawling maze of car blockades and tipped over semis?! Like, why?! What’s the point, especially if there’s only like six other people who can even try it out! You’re going to spend all this free time in a lawless world just...making a puzzle for nobody but yourself? Obviously, it couldn’t have been for you or 26, but it sure is a fucking annoying coincidence that you’ve landed yourselves right in it. You swerve from roadblock to roadblock, looking for the right building to cut through, the right collection of vehicles to squeeze past. Running-wise, and stamina-wise, you have these people beat, definitely, but not in any understanding of the area, especially like this. And it's not fucking helping that 26 is trailing behind you, looking completely demoralized already! What, did she expect things to be easy?! HELL NO! You’re both just getting started here, with hours to spare formulating a plan once you get on a train and the hell out of here. It’s honestly pretty unfair. Being pulled into this shitshow, without introductions, expected to survive in a country pretty much alien to you besides its languages and society. While Japanese culture is molded into your mind, the true specifics aren’t. As much as you would love to know the best coffee spots, gyms, and ramen carts in the area, you weren’t born here like any normal person, like those mindless, shambling bodies who take residence in this ghost town. You can feel it, too, the yearning 26 has to just run off and truly appreciate the outside around you. You both understand that this isn’t the true beginning of your lives. It's a test, to see if you’re worthy of it. Bring~Bring! The sound of a cheery bell alerts you enough to look back, and surprises 26 enough to stop her in her tracks. Idiot! She’s always been timid, always been a failure in the eyes of all those shitheads in lab-coats prodding and poking her, urging her to fight back. And now, look where it's got her. Frozen, eyes peeled back as she spots the end approach. How despair-inducing… A tandem bicycle. Of-fucking-course. The one in front is a purple-clad smartass-looking dude. He’s got an optimistic look to him, although wears a clearly serious expression. The one behind him looks leagues more cowardly than 26, a girl with soft color palettes at a sleepy stare. She doesn’t even look like she wants to be here. Shit. They’re going to catch up in an instant if you and 26 don’t think of something--fast. Scanning the area, you try to spot any noteworthy exit that can get you out of this situation. An alley. But it's too far from you...too far behind. However...it is right next to 26. She’d be able to reach it, and it would certainly block the bike, but...shit. “....26! We’re splitting up! You go into that alley, we’ll meet up later!” With this move, while you’re leaving Tamiko to fend for herself, you both have more of a chance of escaping, since the bike requires two people to be on it in order to balance properly. The dickwads will have to split up to catch the both of you, and lose the bike while they’re at it. And when it comes to running, the green team has these idiots BEAT! And like a moth to a flame, the purple idiot takes off and begins directing the girl behind him to chase 26. Looks like you’ve at least guaranteed her escape with this move. As for yourself, there seems to be another turn coming up in this shitty maze, meaning just more running. You hit the corner barrelling, and easily spot the next roadblock ahead, about 50 meters in front of you. Looks like there’s going to be another turn coming up--one you can’t spot right now. Either left or right, either way, you’re dusting this dumbfuck behind you. Looking back, he seems pretty out of breath! Must not be a man of cardio, slowing down like that, meters away from the turn. Maybe, just maybe...you could lose him here! The fucker will never know what hit him! Now, right, or left? Right..or left…..right….. …. A dead end. As you stand bewildered looking towards the pile of cars on the road, the slight tap on your shoulder jolts you to look back. “Sorry, we’ll...find some way to save you...later…” You can feel the world around you growing darker. The purple guy’s face is full of pity...but yours...is full...of despair. [[Your Name......]]

**FABulous: Hibiki-tan, you got company!** Shit, a direct message from your watch, straight from Fukai. Pinpointing your location on the map, you spot a signal coming directly from the road north of you. Its fast..probably a car. You considered the traffic to be enough of a hassle that nobody would give chase like that, but-- --no. That’s not a car. A helmeted stranger is racing down the curb of the street, a clear path for the motorcycle he’s driving. Its speed is too fast, so much so that he’s already tens of meters away from you without any fair warning. What gives?! This is terrible, especially since you’re the least athletic out of all the numbers! Brains, not brawn! Ugh, why did you volunteer to head alone? As fear and anxiety seep into your heart, the driver uses this moment of indecision to ramp off the curb. The entire two-wheeled vehicle bouncing into the air. Its lands without stepping off the gas, heading right for you in the open park. And all you can do is run. Run, and not look back. Run Run RUN! The engine roars closer, closer, until---SMACK! The side of your left arm is struck hard by the hand of the assailant, and your breathing immediately halts. You recognize this feeling all too well. Vision blurring, senses fading, your mind growing grey. And the last thing you see before you pass into the darkness, a young boy taking off his helmet to witness the soul leave your body, as you reach out your hand, pleading for help. The blonde-haired Sora Kobayashi only watches you fade away with eyes of pity. [[Your Name......]]

You wonder if 29 will be fine on her own. Heh. That's not even a question. [[Your name is 29, or Katsu]] [[Your Name......]]

You and 28 are almost to the station, ready to board the next transit and head straight out of the area. Afterwards, you’ll continue to add distance between your pair and the tracked signal behind you, until it's safe to regroup with Fukai. From there, shuffle once again, and keep those chasing you off the trail. There is another task, though, and it's the reason you and Kenta are both wielding long, stainless-steel poles acquired from a nearby construction site--a rule, well, a lack thereof--if you incapacitate or kill the people hunting you before they can strike, surely you’ll have a much greater chance of success. Clearly, this is a life-or-death situation, and neither of you two are in any state of mind to give up your own. You don’t know these people, save Fukai, and she’s a special exception. As the only trustworthy person in the world who can free your brothers and sisters from a life of combat and servitude to the government, it's up to you and 28, or Kenta to make the difficult decisions. You predict you’ll have to make one of those soon. A signal has been hurdling your way much faster than you expected. Slower than a car, but faster than the average human being. And from the other side, somebody who seems to be running this way as well. If you don’t make it to the station soon, you’ll have to take violent measures to make sure Fukai escapes successfully. “29, We’re going to have to get past the signal to the north if we’re to make it to the station. Any ideas? I can suggest some if you’re drawing a blank.” You silently acknowledge 28’s statement as you look down at your own watch for confirmation. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kowtb72.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Two foxes"> If the one coming from the south isn’t 27, it's likely he was taken out by whoever it is. And while there’s no details on the person to the north, you would consider it a greater challenge to face somebody both faster than the one closer to you, and evidently has already disposed of one of you. However, precautions should be taken if a fight would brew. In fact, they’ve already been taken. You raise your impromptu weapon up to 28, displaying a determined look in your eyes to face any danger for your family. “We’re at least good at this. Let’s help 14.” Kenta nods in solace, and you both head right for the signal. Oddly, it reactively pulls back from you closing in on it, moving further west towards your intended location. Whoever it is must know your plan, taking into account how necessary reaching the spot is. Hm, putting you further on the offensive is a strange move, but acceptable. Either way, you’ll be facing whoever this is in unknown territory, with both parties ready for conflict. Once you make it there, the both of you are met with your biggest problem yet--the people. Herds of salarymen and women have congregated here creating a dense, human-made wall to delay you from making it to the train. Even worse, since you can barely identify those after you, it’ll be nearly impossible to see an assault coming. Before you have time to think, 28 is already lightning fast in pushing random older Sleepless right onto the ground, hands wrapped in a torn t-shirt from some poor tourist. The idea is flawed, obviously, since doing it will attract those after you anyways, but you’re already both green-themed buff machines, so the element of surprise is probably lost as a trait already. And finally, you get a lucky break. The train slides into the station, quickly and safely, practically begging you two to enter with its doors sliding open, like the gates of a prison cell begging you to be freed. Without thinking, 28 rushes inside, while you yourself hesitate at the sight. Something isn’t right, if the other signal doesn’t act soon, they’ll miss their opportunity. They wouldn’t just leave the two of you with the option to escape here...what could be going on? 28 stops and looks back as soon as he doesn’t notice you. He reaches his left arm out, both to prevent the Sleepless citizens from entering the train, and signaling you to follow. “Come on! We can take them if we work together, even if they try us head on!” He’s right. Even if somebody waited on the train, it would likely end up fine. If there’s one thing you have over those after you, its genetically engineered combat instincts. They’re about to be put to the test, though, because you spot the danger right in front of 28. “THE OPPOSITE DOOR! LOOK!” The next few moments seem to occur in slow motion, as your adrenaline kicks in both to observe and respond to the chaos around you. First, the door closes. 28’s arm is invariably crushed from both sides by the pressure, and the shock causes him to shout. The enemy clad with the eyepatch and pork-pie hat leaps at the opportunity, where he proceeds to be whacked in the forehead by the steel pipe 28 still clutches dearly with his working appendage. On the other side, the roar of a motorcycle bursts to life, as it races off the handicap ramp to the station, flying right towards you. You react instinctively, clutching the pipe with both hands, and moving it directly into an open spot on the vehicle’s framework. With your genetic might, and will to live through this nightmare, you gather every inch of strength in your body, lifting and tossing the entire machine to the side before the pipe bends and snaps. The helmeted assailant is pinned down by their own transportation, as the other was likely knocked cold by 28’s strike. Both dangers have been accounted for, meaning…. “28, are you okay?” You rush over to inspect the damage to his arm, still caught in the door’s closing. As soon as you make it over, the emergency lights turn on, and the door opens. Kenta stands virtually unharmed besides the obvious exception, turned away, looking towards the opposite door. You look down, and fail to see a body. “Are you trying to see where he went, 28?....28? **Kenta?!**” No response. You pull him back, and find no resistance in doing so. Looking into his eyes...you...don’t see anything. Fear pangs in your heart, equal to the rage. He was tagged, and gone. Just like that, no warning, no second chances. **“Hello, foolish idiot.” An announcement rings through the station from the intercom. “Observing the loss of your idiot clone? Don’t worry, you’ll have time to sleep with him as well, like you’ve been for the past months! Yes, it is I, Chika Yoshikage, and I’ve shut off all the trains in the city! Hahaha! You are surely finished now, ingr--wait. Where are you going? Come back! I defeated you! H-hey! Stop running, accept your f-fate! HEY!!!”** If Plan A has failed, then there’s no time to waste in transitioning to Plan B, even if that means leaving 28 behind. The one who tagged him is still around, though likely weakened by the direct strike 28 gave him as a futile, late attempt. Luckily, there’s a parking lot right in front of you, and you spot a Sleepless just about to drop off their car, like a gift from the gods falling right into your lap. Jumping off the fence of the station right into the foliage, you move one foot after the other as fast as they’ll take you, taking enormous strides as your speed becomes unmatched by any regular human being. Nobody will be able to catch up to you on foot like this, and won’t be able to catch you at all soon. You reach the minivan in a matter of seconds, just as the engine turns off. An old woman slowly steps out of the car, but you fail to find the patience to let her take her naturally slow time. You rip her to the ground, fishing around for the keys in her purse. It takes a few long moments before you realize they’re just...in the poor elder’s hand. Snatching it from her frail clutches, you hop right into the car and start the engine. As it roars to life, the whole car rumbles for a second, before it purrs far less actively, ready to go. You wonder what that extra noise was just then, but quickly cast the curiosity aside, in favor of action. ...You don’t know how to drive a car. Ah, shit, well, you’ll figure it out. You hit the auto-drive button and punch in general directions to head straight north for now, letting the thing apparently drive itself. While it does take sweet time in maneuvering out of the parking lot, you make sure to watch all sides for anybody who may approach. Thankfully, nobody does. Your escape is successful. You now take the time to communicate with Fukai and review the locations of everybody you’re aware of. Let’s see… <img src="https://i.imgur.com/IWujoxY.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Two foxes"> Huh. There’s only one spot at the station, probably the motorcyclist you pinned. But where’s the other one? Maybe..in a last ditch effort as they were losing consciousness from the blow, they...tagged Kenta, and crawled off somewhere to die? ...It seems to be the most likely scenario. Well, it doesn’t matter anyways, seeing as it isn’t a problem for you anymore. You’ll protect your family, even if the casualties pile up. 14 will understand. [[Your Name......]]

Technically, you and Fukai are at the closest distance to each other, meaning you present the greatest risk to her, potentially leading people to move in closer to their prime target. Logically, flanking to the left should work if you move strategically, so that’s what you plan to do. Heading out from the building and moving towards the west, you peer at your watch to gauge any update on the locations of both your friends and enemies. Mostly to make sure you’re heading away from Number 14. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/geHO7Y7.png" width="500" height="500" alt="Two foxes"> Huh? If that’s you on the most left near the top, then...who’s that person super close to you right now?! Could it be Fukai, hoping to rendezvous with you while also staying radio silent? No, everything is already tracked, it would be too strange. Something isn’t right, and your instincts tell you whoever that is isn’t on your side. You have to think--fast. This situation wasn’t one you thought you have to face. An enemy to the north, rather than approaching ones to the south. They got the drop on you, and Fukai. Fukai. You have to remember the priority here, and that’s to help Fukai last twelve hours, regardless of your own safety. There’s no guarantee you’ll be granted the same freedom as your older sister, but knowing what’s basically your own face will be happy...it gives you some peace. The peace doesn’t last long. It doesn’t take much time for the enemy to start closing in on the radar, meaning the best thing you can do is create distance between them, and the objective. You run as fast as your legs will carry you to the road hoping to hitch a ride on one of the many cars active in the street. You manage to land on top of a mid-sized sedan, its silvery surface reflecting the sun. The car speeds off at a racing 40 kilometers, before slowly coming to a halt...what?! A red light. Oh, that’s stupid. And even worse, you can spot the enemy now! It certainly isn’t Fukai, no. It looks to be a girl, an extremely weaponized girl, with two pairs of swords hitched to her back, and a long ponytail which seems like a huge hazard for day-to-day life. You’re curious--how does she do it? Maybe it's maybelline! Or maybe it's the wicked cool swords. You’re pretty impressed. Stunned, even, and for a moment, you forget that you’re completely stopped. Taking the opportunity, the blonde girl begins to hop great distances, from moving car to moving car, almost catching up to the blockade of vehicles waiting for the light. Thankfully, it turns green, just before you can spot your reflection in her prismatic, shiny goggles. She halts her progress, just staring right at you. LOL, MAD! You wave a happy goodbye as the sedan picks up speed. HA! Can’t beat her, the Immortal Number 24! See y-- Before you realize what’s happening, the sedan has already started swerving left and right, flinging you right off as it devolves into a catastrophic tumble and crash. And with the Sleepless unresponsive to the crash, things only get worse as a convertible speeds over your left leg and arm, heading right into the flipped four-seater. An explosion consumes the area behind you, as your adrenaline finally kicks in. You stand up, hobbling to get out of the street, barely managing to escape the impact of any more cars. With your leg and arm more than out of shape, you collapse onto the sidewalk, gasping for oxygen. It hurts--more than anything else has ever before. What happened?! What could have possibly caused the car to swerve out of control like that, to cause such a disaster?! And all the people that are going to die in that pileup, its…. ASCII approaches where you lay, pausing only to look at you, and then your watch. With gloved hands, she proceeds to reach down, and… ...huh? She begins to interact with your watch, toying with...something? It's hard to even turn your head to see, and with the arm being completely destroyed, there’s no luck in moving it out of the way. There’s tapping, and then...silence. ASCII removes her gloves, and daintily lifts the broken arm with bare hands. “Apologies.” Is all she says, before turning the watch face so that you can see the results yourself. A direct message to Fukai... the contents-- **HirotoFukui: Just took care of the one after me. I’ll meet you up north!!!** [[Your Name......]]

FABulous: Look at me! Texting while driving, nobody can fucking stop me! FABulous: Fukai just wants to leave something here right now, since this road is super long and fucking boring. It's fun to bump into the slow cars but it reminded me about something :I FABulous: Nakano, Yajiro, I really wanna take you guys with me when I win this thing FABulous: like SORRY to other people but your not worth it. Its like my whole family versus you so no hard feelings <3333 FABulous: so your like the cars I smash into sort of. I feel bad a little but not really anymore. Big picture! FABulous: but yeah. Because this will be MY last words or it will be YOUR last words. I'm pretty sure it's yours though, since im so goddamn far from the rest of you FABulous: o shit low fuel The shiny, silver minivan you nabbed off the road now flashes a red gas symbol, indicating a need for refueling. Of course, that won’t really stop you. In fact, it's part of the plan than anything. About thirty minutes ago, you messaged Katsu and Kenta, the two beefcakes of your new family, that it’d be better to regroup and take shifts driving north for the continued duration of time. Maybe even try and spot faster cars. Synergy and shit, to make sure this is an absolute victory. You step out at the devised temporary location, a big, sprawling industrial Shinagawa Gas Plant, empty and hollow after the staggering rise in alternative energy sources in the early 2030s. Imagine: you could have been born to a country that still powers itself through farts. So lame! Katsu should be arriving soon, but it kind of makes you a little nervous to stand outside, out in the open, just kind of anticipating it. On the off chance Chika finds a fucking jet, or orders a missile strike on you, it might be better to get indoors and welcome your older (younger) sister there. The gate is already unlocked, which is a sick bonus. You climb over it anyways, though, the perfect exercise for waking your feet back up from being so motionless in the car the whole time. Prancing over to the nearest door, you enter, only to find yourself in a labrythinial warehouse of massive, complex machinery, open spaces, and endless catwalks and staircases. For a moment, you marvel at the industrial magnitude of it all, before yelling at the top of your lungs to ruin the moment. **“HEWWWWOOOO? SHIT ASS!”** No response. Good, and unsurprising. Fifteen minutes later, you continue to wander around on a top level catwalk. It exits outdoors, connecting two of the massive buildings together. You ended up getting pretty lost, anyways, and redecided that it might be better to stay closer to the pick-up zone, in order to make up for lost distance on your hunters. Hard to call them your classmates anymore, even. Have you ever even been classmates? You didn’t take a single fucking class together, so not likely. Speaking of, you wonder where Katsu is at this point. Quickly looking down to check the updated GPS locations of each watch-wearing malcontent, you’re surprised to spot one extremely close to your location. Seems she got here earlier than you expected, only a stone’s throw away at the opposite building. Must be trying to reach you. … Zooming out, you find your prediction to be completely, idiotically wrong, and your chest begins to heat with a strange sense of...stress. Katsu is undoubtedly still on the road. You see it right there. They still haven’t made it, they’re ten minutes away. ...then...who is this? There’s no feasible away anybody in Tokyo made it here that quickly. If they even tried to overpass Katsu, they would have at least been delayed. Maybe Chika *did* find a helicopter? Does she know how to fucking fly a helicopter??? Only one way to find out. You grab a dusty wrench from a nearby workbench, and open the iron door leading out to the catwalk. [[And the girl with the flowers at her back is patiently waiting at the other side.]]

ASCII stands at a clean 170cms, gloved hands clinging hard to a massive, newly constructed longsword with delicate, intricate engravings, a sprawling metal tapestry of the new world mythology the world has provided her. The story of a selected few fighting to spawn a world reborn in red hot iron, using the population of the world as kindling, forged with the iron of the most passionate of spirit. She’s already well informed of the situation, but so are you. Clutching your wrench like a makeshift baseball bat, you inch closer to her. She’s wearing gloves, after all, meaning she has no intention to tag you. Though you can guess what the alternative is. She begins her walk over, too, matching your pace so both parties meet at the direct center. “Heyyy, ASCII-tan? Whatcha’ gonna do with that big sword? Better make it count. Better make it hurt. Better kill me in one swing.” There’s a tense silence, before you quickly lower your shoulder, haphazardly shrugging. “*HA*! Fukai can’t help but make jokes! You’re being so serious right now, its super not fun!” ASCII blinks, slightly caught off guard by your words. She contemplates for a few seconds, still on guard, before taking a few steps back and lowering her own. Instead of trading any dialogue, she simply holds a hand behind her shoulder, gripping the hilt to one of her many deadly-sharp weapons. As the silvery metal slides out of its sheath, it reflects the glimmering light of sundown, a beautiful backdrop to deadly circumstances. She quickly flips it, holding the shard end so the blunt handle sticks out. She motions for Fukai to retrieve it. You grin, wide. Who knew the blonde chump had it in her--what a gamble! You wish you could properly congratulate ASCII on being so fucking badass, but it would sort of ruin the moment. For her, mostly. Quickly snapping the handle away, you find it to be easily held in one hand, made of a light and flexible alloy. Damn, this is cool! “So, when do we st--” As you speak, ASCII exhales, and quickly dashes towards you, causing you to take a few healthy steps back to avoid an instant kill right away. You’re surprised, but not too much, by the sudden start. Fine, whatever! Go ahead! You quickly re-establish your footing on the catwalk, holding the sword perpendicular to ASCII’s next strike. It cleanly bounces off, the blonde blacksmith taking a step back to get her own balance back. You find this the perfect time to make some ground, and gain a quick upper-hand. Already feeling like a natural at life-or-death sword fighting, you start swinging in the anticipated directions that ASCII won’t be able to catch. Up to down, diagonal, hamburger, all the directions you’re aware of. And while your vigor and fighting spirit certainly force your opponent to further and further back, she gradually adapts to your ceaseless pattern. You may have boundless energy on your side, but ASCII has technique, and expertise in the sword. She knows a fight is three-dimensional, even on such a constricting catwalk. As soon as your sword finishes a powerful downward slash, ASCII moves past you, dragging the edge of her sword through your waist. It slices like a massive paper-cut, blood pouring out after a slight delay. Your teeth grit as the pain quickly dizzies you. You defensively position your sword towards ASCII’s new location, letting out a low and guttural growl. This isn’t the worst injury you’ve ever had--not by a longshot. As you anticipate, your adrenaline kicks in right away, a natural pain-relief that keeps your focus sharp. Nothing fatal was impacted. This fight is just getting started. This argument, had over crossing swords...its exhilarating. For both parties involved. You can see a small, excited smile grows on ASCII’s face, as she slowly gauges the possibility of actually dying here and now. You, as well, match the giddy chaos of it. That’s it--the risk factor you’ve spent your whole life chasing...its amazing, isn’t it?! Your swords connect once again. This time, you’re thinking more about it--every swing, every parry. Another cut like the first one could undoubtedly throw your rhythm, and you’re not going to be lucky enough for a save. ASCII notices your change in strategy, and you can see on her face that she’s beginning to struggle. On stamina alone, you can win a sword fight. On technique alone, you could win it. ASCII knows this, which is why she’s simply throwing your strikes to the side, believing in her heart that she’ll be able to win on both those fronts, especially with the new injury. But for a **Thrill Seeker**, to win, you could just risk it all on a series of stupid, radical moves. You take a quick step back, and then throw your sword like a javelin right across ASCII’s left shoulder. It makes a deep cut, but also falls right off the catwalk. No worries, that’s all part of the plan. ASCII’s emotional connection to her wildflower, and the surprising strike leaves her momentarily stunned, looking back to where the sword fell. Her mind rattles, trying to rationalize the decision. But there’s no time to rationalize--you take the opportunity to throw a fist right through ASCII’s defenses, landing squarely in the face. ASCII grimaces in pain, one hand immediately shooting up to hold her now broken nose. Once again, you take her moment of weakness to finish the job--elbowing ASCII’s only remaining arm still holding the sword. This, too, flies off the catwalk on impact. And it was poor ASCII who closed the final curtain. She immediately halted the fight, running over to the side of the catwalk her prized wildflower fell from. In her stupor, you, Fukai confirm your second irreversible act of the day. Sweeping out a leg from under her, you slyly cry “whoops!”, as ASCII loses her balance, tipping straight over the edge. The fall is great, though not as drastic as Akira’s. Unfortunately, ASCII falls head-first. Even you turn your head away as a dull thump echoes through the plant. *Whoops*. Sucks to be her. You check your watch after the violent bout, checking for Katsu’s current location. Seems she’s about to be here, which is good. What’s not particularly good is the fact that you’re now the only signal here, versus what it was ten minutes prior. [[Perhaps now, ASCII no longer needs to search for a way to bring back Linarya Zas Revenas, as they now explore the wildflower field together.]]

KiiboNatsumi: Hey, I’ve arrived FABulous: COOL! AWESOME! I killed somebody else!!!! KiiboNatsumi: KiiboNatsumi: Sorry I was making sure the coast is clear KiiboNatsumi: Stay where you are, I’ll come get you FABulous: NOT A PROBLEM!!! Fukai sort of fucked up and got a bad cut. I’ll live though!!! KiiboNatsumi: Are you okay? Should I bring a bandage or something? FABulous: IM fiiiine. I didn’t take you for somebody so motherly when we met, HA. KiiboNatsumi: Oh, okay. I just thought I should offer KiiboNatsumi: Im really sorry Fukai FABulous: I SAID ITS FINE! Fukai is past the gate on the next closest building, top floor, near the catwalk between the two. FABulous: wait since when have you ever called me by my real name Katsu-tan? I thought I was 14 or something? FABulous: Katsu-tan? Hellooooooooo? FABulous: Katsu-tan???? FABulous: 28?????? FABulous: … FABulous: Oh. Fukai understands. FABulous: I’ll just kill you too then. [[Your Name...]]

Your name? You...really don’t care about small details like that right now. You don’t care about much anymore, it seems. You cared about the animals, but they’re doing fine right now, and they sort of got lost in the whole mess of things goin’ on right about now. Your arguably--heck, your closest friend just killed your other closest friend, and lifes taken a spiraling turn for the worse. A game of *tag*. Children’s games, running and hiding, it's all you’ve been good at your whole life. It's how you were recognized. In a zoo, hiding away for years, an outcast of civilization by choice. You dont regret that time in your life, for sure, only the people you didn't get to meet sooner. Maybe if you met Akira sooner, you’d have gotten to spend more time with em’. Maybe if you met Fukai sooner, she… …Maybe it wouldn’t have to turn out like this. As you finish walking across the catwalk, the smell of fresh blood flares your nostrils. A fight brewed here, definitely, but you can’t find a care in the world to investigate. Couldn’t care less, as you’ve explained just a bit ago. Your head feels all fuzzy and strange, but not in any sorta unhealthy way. Well, maybe. You were stuffed in the trunk of a car for an hour or something, not really thinking straight the whole time. Whats she gonna do? You think shes gonna attack you? Kill you like whatever others got too close? Is this even the same Fukai you bonded with these past months? You guess there's only one way to find out. You open the door at the other end of the catwalk, and spot the still-lovable demon huddled at the end of a cement hall, trailed by fresh blood. Her breathing is staggered, and the light of the broken window to the side shines a vibrant sundown through a perfectly clear skyline. Couldn’t be a better day. And her eyes are the same as they’ve always been. You could swear all she did was get into a scrap, smiling strongly as she spots a friend come to pick her back up. Your name is Nakano Hisashi, and your about to lose your first and only real friend left around here. Fukai weakly sighs, dropping a clutched wrench as she spoons the cut on her waist with the opposite arm. “H-hey Nak. There’s, uh, there’s no way you’ll just walk away right now, huh?” You considered it. Fukai promises that she’d take both you and Yajiro along if the rest of the bunch dies. But that’s just it, the rest die. You can’t, in good conscious, carry the weight of that. Especially not after today. Not after what happened to Akira. “....No can do.” “Thought I’d try. Welp. Get it over with, I guess. This fucking dumbass needs her bedtime, stat.” “....” “What’s wrong, dude? Fukai is waiting right here. This is literally the best moment to do it. Don’t chicken out, Nak-tan!” Still smiling, Fukai tries to make some light comedy out of the situation. It's clear to both parties--its forced. Even the green and pink mess stationed in the back is struggling to keep up her positive expression. “....Why…” “...Isn’t it...It’s *obvious*, right? I wanted out, Bofa-tan gave me a good out, and I took it.” Not the answer you’re looking for. You give her a cold, hurting stare. “Okay, *yeah*, I fucking **hated** Kira-tan’s guts! They were an absolute fucking prick to me, in the one way I can’t stand. The coward didn’t even confront me without hiding behind somebody else’s fucking back! Its bullshit, especially once he started going around telling you to *AVOID* me! Like I was going to sit there and take that?! He was a conniving--” “STOP….stop. I get it….I get it…” That’s what this was all about? That you..promised to help Akira with his garden? Its true that he said one time Fukai needed some alone time, but you thought she was just working hard with Chika to find some kinda cure to this mess. Not...not that. If what she’s saying is true..the wound to your heart just cuts even deeper. Fukai’s smile washed away with the teary rant. She stands up, grunting in pain, still holding her side. “W-well, hey. If you don't stop me, Fukai’ll just go. I’ll see you around, Nak.” Slowly clamoring along the trail of blood, she steps closer to you. Closer, ever nearer--prey running straight into the jaw of the predator. You don’t move. You don’t want to move. You just want this nightmare to be over, by some miracle or impossible circumstances. You want everything to be over. You want to go back to the zoo. You want Akira back. You want *Fukai* back, [[you want--]]

<img src="https://i.imgur.com/fw7uzoP.png" width="1000" height="1000" alt="Two foxes"> You are embraced in a strong, tight squeeze. A hug, full of sadness, remorse, and...love. **“I’m...I’m so sorry.** **I love you. Don’t die.”** You freeze, catatonic, before the waterworks really start. You return the embrace, just as powerful on the other side, holding firm enough that, just maybe, you’ll be able to keep her spirit grounded with you for just a little bit longer. Just to keep this singular moment frozen in time, progress completely stunted. Her body holds tight for a long time. As long as it takes for the sun to go down. Once it does, everything turns dark, for a long, *long time*. [[CHAPTER 5 END!]]

To Be Continued!