A dream.
Or perhaps a memory?
Takakai found himself trapped in absolute darkness, crushed by unyielding stone.
As if he'd never left that claustrophobic hell. As if everything since had been a dying hallucination.
Drip—
Water echoed ahead.
He couldn't move.
Could barely breathe.
The dizziness intensified.
His body remained trapped in the lightless abyss, unable to advance or retreat.
Drip—
Something cold and viscous fell onto his cheek.
Foul-smelling.
Was this really just water?
Drip—
A second drop fell as Takakai looked upward—
—just in time for the third droplet of dark red fluid to strike his face.
The stench of decay filled his nostrils.
Muffled sobs echoed from above.
Only then did he realize:
He was wedged vertically in this narrow shaft.
And above him was—
"—gh!"
Takakai's eyes snapped open.
Residual pain lingered throughout his body.
I actually fell asleep?
Even now, oxygen deprivation made his vision swim.
Two minutes of massaging his temples later, the world regained focus—revealing Chika still curled against him, clinging like a koala.
"Ehehe...Paisley..."
She even nuzzled his chest in her sleep.
Seven hours. His waterproof phone confirmed the oversleep. Though his blessing detected no threats—Rick and Susan hadn't returned.
"Wake up."
He patted Chika's slightly chubby cheeks. Good texture—wait, why does this remind me of Maki's brea—
That comparison feels rude.
"Mm...morning? Eh? Eh?! Takakai-san?!"
Chika's startup sequence—from drowsiness to full alertness—took barely five seconds before she froze, realizing she'd essentially used Takakai as a human mattress all night.
"Frankly, anyone less durable would've lost circulation."
"S-sorry!"
Her frantic apology ended with a faceplant as sleep-weakened limbs betrayed her.
Takakai hauled her upright, joints popping from hours immobilized.
"Easier on the dramatics. Let's move."
[Maki, status?]
His telepathic message was terse.
The reply came instantly:
[In command center with Auntie. New anomaly replaced C1 after Auntie shed her [Researcher] identity—still three personnel total. Hypothesis: Only three [Researcher] slots exist, normally filled by entities. Players who assume the role displace them. Unknown what occurs if a fourth appears.]
Guilt prickled Takakai—especially after last night's impromptu cuddle session with another girl.
[Reached the [Plain] in rescue timeline. Security booths function as temporary safe zones outside guard-world. Found an escape method—hold tight.]
After verifying their explorer suits remained intact, they stepped into the flooded cavern.
Escape Plan:
Acquire 5 security uniforms
4 for core team (Takakai/Maki/Kaguya/Chika)
1 spare
1 researcher uniform for Chika to deliver outfits
Rescue Badge Gambit
Summoned rescuer (Former "Old Guo") would:
a) Wear security uniform with Takakai
b) Relieve guard duty via code phrase
c) Distract entities during escape by shouting "I'm human! Come get me!"
Morbid, but efficient.
The resurrected Old Guo—now just a duty-bound specter—seemed eager to fulfill its final mission.
Their clothing harvest proceeded smoothly until—
Squelch.
A bloated firefighter's hand clamped onto Takakai's ankle.
[Explorer...I'll...save you...]
Pus dripped from its mouth as it yanked backward.
Chika and the rescuer hauled forward—
—nearly bisecting Takakai before he severed the entity's wrist with a surgical blade.
The door slammed shut on its regenerating limb.
Thud—thud—
[Don't...give up...]
[We'll...rescue you...]
Each knock sent spikes of pain through Takakai's skull—
—as if he hung upside-down in some unseen space.
Then...
A new sound emerged.
Not from the door.