Drip. Drip.
Freshly showered and clad in a borrowed yukata, Maki stepped onto the balcony where Takakai sat deep in thought.
Bathed in moonlight, his pensive profile struck her as unexpectedly... handsome. A far cry from the lecherous fool who'd nearly mauled Chika in the hallway.
Why can't he always be like this?
Relieved he hadn't pounced the moment she emerged, Maki approached.
"What's on your mind?"
"The universe spans billions of light-years, yet we're trapped on this speck of dust," Takakai mused, gaze fixed on the stars. "Pathetic, isn't it?"
"...Since when did you become a philosopher?"
"I've always had depth. Just because I write trashy articles doesn't mean I lack refinement."
"Refinement? Really?" Maki's voice turned icy. "The same man who groped Fujiwara in public?"
"Admiring beauty is the pinnacle of sophistication. Want a demonstration?"
"...You're incorrigible. Without the [Sacrifice Game], someone like you would've been stabbed to death by now."
A beat of silence.
"Probably," Takakai conceded. "No supernatural powers, no encounters with you all... just a mundane life, forgotten by history."
Maki pressed further: "But now you have it all—power, status, us. Do you... gratitude toward the game?"
Another pause.
"Gratitude?" Takakai exhaled slowly. "For the agony? The deaths? No. But..."
His voice softened.
"...I am grateful it led me to you. To all of you. Without that... I'd still be drowning in boredom."
Maki's chest tightened.
He's baring his heart. To me. Only me.
Yet the warmth in her stomach soured at his plural pronoun.
"Did you... tell Fujiwara the same thing?" she muttered, unable to mask her pout.
Takakai actually pondered this.
"...No. These words are yours alone."
"Liar."
"Truth. You were the first to see the real me. That makes you special."
Special.
The word sent a jolt through her.
Idiot. You think sweet talk absolves you? That I don't see through your playboy tactics?
Yet her traitorous lips curled upward as she leaned against him.
"...I don't know what to do with you. But I'm already in too deep."
She felt his breath hitch—the predator in him stirring beneath the surface.
Good. Let him squirm.
"Takakai," she whispered, interlacing their fingers.
"Yeah?"
"Let's change the subject."
"To what?"
Her next words dripped with mischief:
"—The 12 Opening Rules of [Fujika Academy]. One-fourth of a dungeon, yet twelve hints? There must be critical clues hidden there."
Record scratch.
Takakai's romantic momentum evaporated.
Oh, you little—
He'd get her back for this whiplash later.
"...Discussing work on vacation? Cruel." He sighed. "But fine. You've memorized them, I assume?"
"Obviously," Maki preened. "Eight are from its [Crimson Moon] phase—four are lethal traps. The remaining four appeared after its downgrade to [Dusk Night], with one fake. Some are confirmed, but others..."
Her brow furrowed.
Fujika Academy's 12 Opening Rules
Crimson Moon Phase - Version 1:
Everyone has a side unknown to others
(Confirmed true by clearers; details restricted by rule-force)
Choosing lies may be better than choosing truth
(Unverified; no related intel found)
People still await a truly fair judgment
(Unverified)
Bad children are more popular than good ones
(Confirmed false; believing this leads to fatal danger)
Crimson Moon Phase - Version 2:
Only game winners leave alive
(Clearers cannot confirm due to rule-force restrictions)
Masks cannot be easily removed once worn
(Unverified)
Hidden things remain in unseen places
(Unverified)
Those who dig up secrets must pay the price
(Confirmed true; widely considered obvious - all deep investigations in any dungeon invite danger)
Dusk Night Phase:
Audience members need not care about truth
(Unverified)
Those who cannot hold firm to their stance are unwanted
(Unverified)
Fanatic faith perfectly matches idols
(Unverified)
All Alice wants is friends~
(Confirmed true; details restricted by rule-force)
Compared to previous dungeons' mere four hints, these twelve were overwhelming. Yet due to [School Horror Tales]' unique ability to affect players even outside its boundaries, most rules remained speculative.
"Have you... noticed anything?" Maki asked eagerly.
"There's definitely at least one hidden area, likely underground," Takakai replied calmly. "Many unverified hints probably correlate to it. Perfect clears require engaging with these, while mere survival runs might not."
"That's the same conclusion every forum theorist reached!" Maki's brow furrowed in dissatisfaction.
"Fine, fine. But I came here to relax, not analyze horror rules. Let's change topics." Takakai sighed, turning fully toward her.
"Such as?"
"That's for you to decide."
"Me?"
Maki blinked as Takakai's gaze locked onto hers—dark brown meeting violet.
Her pulse quickened.