An awkward silence descended upon both sides of the doorway.
Takakai stood frozen. Miko instinctively hid behind him, bewildered. Kumami's face twisted with unvoiced commentary.
As for the "Hitori Gotou" at the door... no, this absolutely wasn't the real Bocchi. While the original had her own brand of humor, this wasn't it. Upon closer inspection, subtle artificiality marred her features—like a manufactured imitation.
Takakai struggled to articulate the uncanny feeling, settling for internal observation.
But the pressing questions were:
How did she get here?
Why did she carry Shijo Maki and Chika's Blessing signatures?
Three signatures actually, overlapping in some bizarre fusion. Some supernatural amalgamation? No—this girl's aura felt... not entirely human. A construct created by an Obsession perhaps?
Before he could analyze further, the girl's triumphant expression collapsed into abject humiliation, cycled through stunned disbelief and relieved calm, before snapping back to her original cocky grin. In seconds, her face became a living pie chart of emotions.
After this bewildering performance, she entered properly. Simultaneously, Takakai felt his mental link with Maki stabilize—though the connection crackled with interference, as if bridging vast distances.
[Shijo Maki]: Kai-kun! Are you alright? We enlisted Gotou-san's help! She used her Obsession to create an avatar that can interact with the scenario! Right now, Fujiwara-san and I are remotely controlling it together with Gotou-san. What's your status?
Hearing Maki's anxious voice nearly brought tears to Takakai's eyes.
[Takakai]: I'm fine. Situation manageable. How did you manage this?
[Shijo Maki]: Thank goodness! Ah, Fujiwara-san wants to know—wait, hasn't she established a link with you yet? Um... she's asking if you've made moves on that black-haired, golden-eyed girl...
[Takakai]: No no, definitely not yet. Please rest assured.
[Shijo Maki]: Somehow that doesn't feel reassuring, but I'm just glad you're safe.
The brief exchange confirmed both Maki and Chika could perceive his surroundings through this artificial girl.
Hmm? Is Bocchi here too?
Probably not much to say since we're not close.
Knowing this was Maki and Chika's solution to assist him moved Takakai deeply. While he struggled through Fujisaka Academy, they'd found a way to fight alongside him—far exceeding his expectations.
About three hours since this loop began... so they devised a method to intervene in a Crimson Moon scenario within three hours of my disappearance?
Must be thanks to Bocchi's prior involvement with [School Horror Stories]. I nearly died to "Lady Gui Qu Lai Xi" last loop.
This also confirms Bocchi's guitar is indeed a Crimson Moon core Obsession—one of Yoruyama High's three cores.
If I'd survived three and a half hours in previous loops, their assistance would've arrived... though against Alice's illusions, would it have mattered without specific countermeasures?
These thoughts flashed through his mind in seconds.
"Don't worry Miko, she's an ally. We should relocate—staying risks detection."
Addressing Miko's earlier unease, Takakai explained while suggesting they move.
The group swiftly navigated to a small fourth-floor room in the outpatient building. Higher floors saw little use—dust coated the third floor, while the fourth remained partially constructed, webbed with cobwebs. The neglect made it ideal for hiding.
This time, "Hitori One" refrained from bizarre antics, trailing them with palpable gloom.
Much more Bocchi-like, if impolite to say.
"An Obsession construct, right?" Kumami studied the pink-haired girl with sudden realization.
"...Y-yes... um... not very successful though..."
The girl's demeanor oscillated between bravado and crippling anxiety like rapid-onset bipolar disorder.
Kumami sighed wistfully.
"So your group succeeded after all. Meanwhile mine... well, never mind."
Meanwhile, Takakai continued his psychic interrogation:
[Takakai]: Exactly how did you enter this scenario?
[Shijo Maki]: Gotou-san possesses one of Yoruyama High's core Obsessions. It allows creating humanoid avatars for remote control. Fujiwara-san and I added our blood as conduits to share senses and follow you in.
[Shijo Maki]: Her Obsession is incredibly powerful. According to Aoyama-san, at full strength it could theoretically insert fabricated people into historical records—altering reality itself. The cost would be prohibitive though. This time, Gotou-san substituted one of the people trapped here with this avatar.
Takakai could only marvel at the terrifying potential of Crimson Moon core Obsessions. The ability to create nonexistent people and overwrite reality's records—such power was frightening.
Yet... why was the execution so bizarre?
He glanced back at the pink-haired girl now inexplicably doing moonwalking motions down the hallway.
[Takakai]: Truly impressive abilities. Though... quite unique in presentation.
[Shijo Maki]: Ah... Gotou-san says she modeled the personality after her understanding of socially adept people... Anyway, the important thing is she can control this construct through her Obsession, while Fujiwara-san and I can communicate with you through it. The construct itself isn't truly human—more like a logic-driven machine, though Gotou-san's design is... special...
Maki's diplomatic phrasing was palpable.
Takakai turned again to see the girl had donned sunglasses and switched to silent tap-dancing.
[Takakai]: In terms of shock value, Gotou-san certainly has a gift. By the way, can she hear our mental communication?
[Shijo Maki]: Um... about that... She's using another Obsession to maintain our psychic link while protecting our minds from contamination. So unless we encrypt further... yes, she can hear everything.
[Takakai]: ...Did she hear what I just said?
[Shijo Maki]: She did.
[Takakai]: I see. My apologies—no offense intended, just surprised by the... creativity...
[Shijo Maki]: No need to explain. She's already crawled inside a cardboard box.
Despite the absurdity, this unexpected reinforcement lightened the team's atmosphere.
Yet Takakai's attention returned to Miko—still guarding some unspoken secret.
If communication barriers truly existed...
[Takakai]: Maki, could Gotou-san extend this mental link to Kumami-san and Miko?