Jumping down from the third-floor window of the outpatient building, landing in the greenery below.
Kumami was the first to leap down, landing soundlessly like a cat before cautiously surveying the surroundings and signaling the others to follow.
Takakai came next. Thanks to the enhanced bodily control granted by Herda's Blessing, he too landed without a sound. Turning around, he spread his arms just in time to catch the nervously trembling Miko, who had squeezed her eyes shut during the descent, before gently setting her down.
"Haa..."
He could feel the girl's slightly tense body—apparently, jumping from the third floor was still too thrilling for her. Of course, it might also be because her enhanced perception now revealed even more things that shouldn't be seen. But even if Takakai knew, there was little he could do to help, as he couldn't perceive those entities himself.
Finally, it was Hitori Gotou—or rather, "Hitori One." She opted for a Devil May Cry 5 V-style S-rank taunt: spinning three and a half times midair before landing in a kneeling pose, arms outstretched as if praising the sun.
There was no denying that Bocchi's self-modeled character was amusing, but Takakai suspected the real Hitori was one step closer to complete social annihilation. After all, this remotely controlled avatar was being piloted simultaneously by her, Maki, and Chika—meaning every embarrassing action performed by "Hitori One" would forever be witnessed by two observers. For someone as socially anxious as Bocchi, this was nothing short of a nightmare.
[This hospital... If I didn't know it was a scenario, I might mistake it for a perfectly normal place.]
Maki's voice echoed in Takakai's mind as he surveyed their surroundings. The thick cloud cover had partially dispersed, allowing sunlight to illuminate the hospital's facade. The greenery, dotted with flowers and shrubs, appeared almost picturesque, and the pathways were spotless. At first glance, it was deceptively ordinary.
Of course, that illusion only held for outsiders.
Anyone actually present would never harbor such delusions. Even without Miko's heightened perception, Takakai could acutely sense the hospital's inherent danger. The abnormality lurking beneath its normal surface was palpable enough to trigger instinctive unease. As long as that feeling persisted, he would never mistake this place's true nature.
[I'll take point. Avoid stepping on landscaping features—might trigger orderly rules.]
After this casual warning through the mental link, Kumami led the way forward.
It was already past 4:30 PM—all patients had been herded to the outdoor recreation area, leaving the hospital buildings eerily empty. No more watchers peered from the windows.
Yet caution remained paramount. Numerous orderlies and doctors hurried about, forcing the group to frequently pause, hide, or even backtrack to avoid detection.
The process proved more perilous than anticipated. These seemingly normal staff members exhibited an uncanny awareness—mid-conversation or stride, they would abruptly change direction, veering toward the group's hiding spots. Some even slid backward or sideways without moving their legs, defying physics. Without Kumami's Obsession to immobilize entities, Takakai was certain they'd be discovered within three minutes, no matter how well-hidden.
[Is this the "work assignment" rule in effect? These things are ridiculous.]
Having spent over half an hour stealthily navigating the greenery near the male ward's cafeteria, Takakai couldn't help but vent through the mental link.
[Their detection seems range-limited. At a distance, they only get vague impressions of presence. Could be worse—at least it's manageable, not some guaranteed-death hide-and-seek.]
Kumami's tone carried a hint of reminiscence.
[Oh? What's this "guaranteed-death hide-and-seek"? Care to share?]
While peeking through shrubbery, Takakai idly inquired. Beside him, Miko—clinging like a shadow—listened with equal curiosity.
[Midnight-grade scenario in a mansion. Basement full of flayed "artwork." We woke up forced to play hide-and-seek with the entity. Turned out every room had hidden cameras, and we'd been implanted with trackers upon arrival—our movements were known from the start.]
[The entity was apparently a sadist in life. Since victims never found the cameras/trackers, players would subconsciously ignore them even if seen, unless they had enhanced perception or specific Obsessions/Blessings. Half our team got eliminated before realizing what was happening.]
[Most casualties were players who'd coasted through Twilight-grade scenarios—ill-prepared and overconfident. I tried saving a few, but they wouldn't even listen...]
Crawling forward on her stomach, Kumami recounted the experience matter-of-factly.
Though she downplayed it, Takakai recognized the true peril of that scenario. An entity capable of bypassing most players' perception was terrifying enough—though still not on par with Alice's illusionary manipulations.
[So... Kai-kun and Kumami-san experience things like this every month?]
Miko's quiet awe resonated through the link. Lacking stealth experience, she mimicked Takakai's movements diligently. Fortunately, his own youthful misadventures had honed his infiltration skills, making it easy to guide the obedient novice.
[How did you ultimately clear that scenario, Kumami-san?]
After confirming the coast was clear, Takakai pressed onward while continuing the conversation.
[After two ambushes—which we survived thanks to Obsessions—we realized there was no logical pattern to the detections. So we assumed the entity could directly observe us, then rushed its lair. During the confrontation, we smashed a camera and seeing its fragments broke the cognitive block.]
Kumami's tone carried a hint of nostalgia for past glories.
It was then that Hitori's timid voice interrupted through the link:
[U-um, everyone... something's coming from behind.]
Not a patient, nor an orderly or doctor.
Advancing rapidly down the garden path was a white-uniformed figure—likely hospital administration, judging by the regulations Miko had retrieved earlier.
The entity moved with unnatural precision, gliding straight toward them without detouring around obstacles. In fact, Hitori realized with dawning horror, it wasn't walking at all—its legs remained motionless as it phased through shrubs and trees like a specter.
A sudden chill gripped Hitori as crimson stains materialized on her bedroom walls back in reality—the entity's influence was crossing dimensional boundaries.
Aoyama Nanami tapped the desk once, severing the intrusion and erasing the bloodstains.
But within the scenario, the white-clad figure had already closed half the distance in the blink of an eye.
[Run!]
Kumami's command rang through the link.
Takakai grabbed Miko's hand and broke into a sprint.
Meanwhile, Kumami activated her Blessing—prompting an orderly to suddenly hurl itself through a window and begin trampling the garden beds.
The pursuing entity paused momentarily as a dozen staff members materialized to restrain the "rogue" orderly.
Having expended a pre-placed personality fragment, Kumami didn't let her guard down, leading the group a safe distance before slowing.
Behind them, amidst the mindless violence, one orderly stood apart—its gaze fixed unerringly on the fleeing players.