Hirohoto Psychiatric Hospital.
This was the name Takakai learned after spending considerable time communicating with patients and orderlies.
A hospital established in the old district, located very close to the abandoned ruins of Fujika Middle School.
For some reason, the orderlies showed strong resistance to Takakai's inquiries, while the patients remained immersed in their frenzied worship of Alice's performances on TV. His attempts at gathering information were largely unsuccessful. He had to question many people before piecing together even fragmentary details, and he still hadn't found any posted rules or reference materials within the hospital.
Could it be like Fujika's surface layer, where the aberration's rules were deliberately hidden? Or worse—since no players have likely reached this place before, there might be no established rules at all. Would I have topioneer them myselfas the first explorer?
The possibility gave Takakai a headache.
He had thought overcoming Alice would bring some clarity, but instead, he'd just jumped from one pit into another—his fundamental situation unchanged.
Well, not entirely. At least I've been sitting in this rec room for over half an hour without any aberrations trying to kill me.
Trying to console himself, Takakai glanced toward the Core Obsession. Even during recreation time, the man remained tightly bound, guarded by orderlies who allowed no one near.
Takakai considered sneaking closer, but the moment he took a few steps in that direction, every patient and orderly in the room turned to stare at him. He had to pretend he was just wandering aimlessly and change direction. Only after a long while did the oppressive gazes finally fade.
No overt contact with the Core Obsession.
The moment I try, these "human" aberrations immediately reveal their true nature. It's bizarre—they maintain thisfacade of normalcy, but anything related to that man, Hirano Sousuke, causes their disguises toinstantly shatter.
Better not act recklessly for now.
Exercising caution, Takakai decided to observe first before making any moves.
He behaved like a model patient—staying quietly in the rec room, occasionally observing Hirano Sousuke's condition and checking on Miko's situation, avoiding any actions that might draw attention.
Throughout this time, the TV continuously played Alice's concerts and interviews. All patients and orderlies seemed entranced by her voice, as if intoxicated.
As for Takakai? Hearing Alice's voice only made him nauseous, fueling his desire to tear her apart limb from limb.
Eventually, orderlies opened the rec room doors, leading patients—including Takakai—down the hall.
Along the way, he finally spotted a hospital floor map.
Heading to themale cafeterianow?
The meal he received wasn't bad—seaweed salad, grilled fish, grated yam over rice, and pan-fried dumplings. Takakai hesitated, wondering if the food was safe, but with orderlies monitoring patients to ensure they ate, he reluctantly consumed it.
Tastes decent... but I feelslightly dizzy.Did they mix something into the food?
After lunch, patients were escorted back to their rooms. Due to his good behavior, Takakai was no longer strapped to the bed and could move freely within his room.
It was then that he finally found something resembling rules—a notice posted on the wall titled:
[Hirohoto Psychiatric Hospital Patient Management Regulations]
The contents were as follows:
[Rule 1: The hospital has a scientifically planned schedule. Patients must adhere to the daily routine to facilitate recovery.]
The schedule included:
6:30 AM – Wake up, wash up.
7:15 AM – Group calisthenics (outdoor or indoor).
7:45 AM – Breakfast (strict gender segregation).
8:30-9:00 AM – Daily check-ups (patients must remain in their rooms).
9:00-11:00 AM – Personal Adjustment Therapy. The hospital's "Idol Therapy"—using a "correct, healthy, perfect, absolute idol"—would provide comprehensive healing.
Three methods: Auditory Therapy, Visual Therapy, and Sensory Therapy.
11:00-11:50 AM – Recreation time (indoor/outdoor).
11:50 AM – Lunch.
1:00 PM – Nap time.
2:10-4:30 PM – Second Personal Adjustment Therapy session (different from the morning).
4:30-5:30 PM – Recreation time.
5:40 PM – Dinner.
6:30 PM – Group bathing.
7:10-9:30 PM – Third Personal Adjustment Therapy session.
10:00 PM – Free time in rooms.
10:30 PM – Lights out (mandatory).
This hospital micromanages every minute of the day.
And this "Idol Therapy"... Don't tell me it's justforcing Alice's performances down patients' throats?
Also, these rules feel more like aprison regimenthan a hospital's.
[Rule 2: Report any mental discomfort immediately using the call button. Do not press repeatedly—once is enough. Trust us; your health is our priority.]
[Rule 3: Cooperate fully with your treatment plan. It is tailored for you, but your compliance is essential. You will accept it. Everyone does.]
So the "therapy" is justbrainwashing patients into Alice worship?Is this place acult indoctrination center?
Takakai's unease grew.
The dizziness is worse now... but when I focus on it, it fades. Strange. And... is someone whispering?
The voice seemed to come from outside his door—no, maybe the next room over?
Ignoring it, Takakai kept reading.
[Rule 4: Orderlies ensure your safety and schedule adherence. Do not interfere with their work or make requests. They act strictly by protocol and may use any means to enforce compliance. For personal needs, contact your assigned doctor.]
Including cattle-prodding patients into incontinence?
Compared to aberrations' usual torture methods, this is almostrefreshingly mild.
[Rule 5: Strict gender segregation. Do not enter opposite-gender areas or communicate with those patients. If you see someone of the opposite gender in your zone, it is a hallucination —ignore it. If persistent, report to your doctor.]
[Rule 6: Do not memorize other patients' or staff's names. Personnel changes are frequent—new arrivals, discharged patients, rotating staff. If in a single room, ignore neighbor/doctor changes. If in a shared room, ignore roommate changes. Focus only on your treatment.]
So patients and staffshift unpredictably?
Is that the whispering getting louder?
*[Rule 7: Recreation activities include sports (jump rope, chess, ping-pong) or watching TV programs aligned with your therapy. Trust us. Trusther.]
*[Rule 8: Rooms have attached toilets. Nighttime bathroom breaks should not exceed 10 minutes. Night patrols check sleep status for health reports. Obey for your own good. Trust us. Trusther.Accept us. Accepther.]
The dizziness is... worse? But I can't focus on it now—
*[Rule 9: Do not leave designated areas during scheduled times. You are patients—you must follow orders to recover. Trust our management. Accept us. Accepther.]
*[Rule 10: Accept the treatment. Accept everything we provide. Accepther—the most adorable, sacred, perfect being. She will guide you to the right path, alongside all of us, alongsideher.]
*[Rule 11: Accept it all. She will redeem you. She is your idol, our idol, everything, all there is. Accepther, *and you will be healed. Eternally healed.**]
The words on the notice...
No—
That wasn't the notice.
The whispering had merged with his thoughts, rewriting the rules in his mind.
[Rule 12: Accept her.]
[Rule 13: Accept her.]
[Rule: Accept her.]
[Accept her.]
[Accept her accept her accept her accept her—]
[Alice Alice Alice Alice accept her Alice accept her accept her Alice Alice Alice accept her accept her Alice Alice Alice her soul her love her everything Alice accept her accept her she will heal you accept her she will heal everything Alice she is our idol Alice she is your idol our everything your everything all everything everything accept her accept her Alice Alice Alice accept her accept her heal everything accept everything idol all idols Alice Alice Alice accept her Alice—]
SHINK!
A blade flashed as Takakai whirled, stabbing the figure beside him—pinning it to the wall.
It had his face, his appearance—
But with an expression of fanatical devotion he would never wear.
The room was empty.
He had only stabbed the wall.
Gritting his teeth, Takakai crouched, clutching his head.
The notice—which in reality only contained Rule 1's schedule—fluttered to the floor. The rest had never existed.
"Haah..."
Takakai exhaled heavily.
That sensation—he couldn't mistake it.
While reading, a new persona had begun forming in his mind, attempting to replace him, to overwrite [Takakai].
"Was this hospital established after Fujika's ritual failed, continuing the experiments?"
Wobbling upright, Takakai wiped the nosebleed dripping down his face—
—and turned to see a filthy police officer standing behind him, staring blankly.
Their eyes met—
—and in the next blink, the man vanished.
Only then did Takakai realize:
While I was beingcorruptedby that notice, he wasstanding behind me the whole time.Probably with his gun aimed at my head.
Had Takakai's will wavered even slightly—had he succumbed to worshipping Alice—the officer would have pulled the trigger instantly, just like in Loop 3.
What a...distinctiveCore Obsession.
Then a chilling thought struck him:
IfIalmost fell, what about Miko?
That girl hasno defensesagainst this.
No more caution. It's time to act.
Decision made, Takakai retrieved the flesh mass and the two veteran player dolls from his watch.