I threw myself on the bed after a hot shower in the middle of the night, then picked up my smartphone with both hands. I've been avoiding it for two whole days, but it keeps annoying me.

"Read the full story of the series of mysterious deaths that occurred across New Osaka last Saturday. We've provided a brief summary for you below."

*Tap* *Tap*

"A piece of the lower body that was suspected to belong to the country's boxing world rising star, Dio, was found floating in the waters of a remote archipelago west of the Harbor District. Dio is presumed dead from a shark attack while on vacation with his girlfriend on the island..."

*Tap* *Tap*

"Keiran, a teacher from High School X in Bless District, died due to falling from the roof of the school. It is found that one male and two female students can't stand the vulgar behaviour of their homeroom teacher, so they commit premeditated murder. The police and judges consider their actions as a form of self-protection… "

*Tap* *Tap*

"A tragic accident killed a man on the border of Plain District and East Luck District. His head was crushed, but detectives recognized the man's identity as a young loan shark by the name of Alan..."

*Tap*... *Tap*

"Eight ex-employees from six different private companies were found hanged at their respective residences. The six companies confirmed that their former employees had just been fired on the day they took their lives. The company could not provide further explanations regarding the reasons..."

There's a reason this digital media company compiles those articles of death cases in my city. Apart from making navigation easier for interested readers, the three cases have something in common: the discovery of a broken TickBit beside the corpse. The police could not find a common thread between all the cases. However, the other Estres and I can be the puzzle pieces to complete the mystery. But we can only shut our mouths and eyes.

I'm no longer surprised by the first three news stories because they did die in the game—in the Chronosseum. However, the eight former employees were definitely not dead; they only lost the game. This explains why this morning my TickBit gave a notification about the reduced number of Estres from 96 to 88.

I'm too naive. Even if their lives are saved, jobs, or whatever the consequences of losing, might be their actual 'life' in the real world for some people. They, that country… Really treat humans like toys…

I woke myself up to stare at the moon that was shining yellow.

Before I could think of anything, I was interrupted by the sound of my stomach. My stomach is growling because I'm not eating proper food. After returning from Mr Wayne's resting place, I stopped by Oasis just to buy some snacks. How could I still have the money to buy a heavy meal? It's the end of the month, moreover.

However, I remember the pamphlet slipped through the gap in my apartment door last night. Now it's already been split in two. I'm too emotional.

After I put the two pieces of torn together, this is what it says:

“Congratulations, [Grey] was chosen as a VIP Black Platinum member at random!

The benefit of being a VIP Black Platinum member is free meals all day, all year round!

You just have to show this pamphlet every time you wish to claim your benefit!

Note: Of course, we don't want to go bankrupt, so we have to limit it to 8000 yen in one day. Signed, the Flying Dutchman's restaurant!”

The Flying Dutchman apparently is a seafood restaurant that opened two months ago, located in the Plum Tree District. The government of the Chronosseum must be super-wealthy; they were able to live almost a hundred lives—which would be a waste because they would slowly kill us.

Is it a form of torture in the modern era?

I was reluctant to use it at first glance. But seeing my wallet and bank account contents, I couldn't help but take advantage of this reward. It's not good for my body if I continue to consume instant noodles all day round. At least, the reward this time was much more worthy than the premiere game. I hope my membership doesn't expire just because I tore up the flyer.

I looked back at the yellow shining moon. After the Chronesseum government gave us a 'reason' to keep fighting, they gave us a tantalizing 'reward' to keep winning. And immoral 'punishment' too.

That is, they 'motivated' Estre to continue participating in the game. Although the motivation is not really necessary, weren't we all forced to play in the end?

At least there is a two-way transaction here. A game aims to win; no wonder we get something we deserve after risking our lives; no wonder we suffer the punishment if we lose. And for them, the rich people, get a spectacle of entertainment.

But I'm sure there are other meanings and purposes beyond just being an entertainment spectacle for them. And I will find it.

We all Estres have sinned in the real world, and maybe this is a form of punishment for us. Whatever the reason, they gathered us, sinners, in a senseless arena of play and risked our lives. There must be something.

At least now I understand what the crow tamer meant by 'opportunity'. Seeing the look on Estre's face on the wide expanse above the lake, I was sure of one thing; it was an expression full of regret, meaning that the mistake they had made was not trivial to them. And if I put myself in them, I now understand that 'those who have it all' can help make amends or even give a new life to escape from mistakes. So there is no option except to go ahead and be victorious in this madness.

I could tell from the look on my partner's face. I remember the look on Farkas' face that was full of despair. I remember his passionate heart to follow the game. I remember his face softened a bit when he asked if the Chronosseum government could grant his request.

While I… Again, maybe, out of all of them, I'm the only one who hasn't found a reason to keep going. I remember how I looked here and there, confused about what my sin was.

I have to find the meaning of my presence in the Chronosseum. To be sure… I will try to protect the lives of those who are struggling and stop the killings. And I hope that some think like me; to find the reason the Chronosseum was founded, how they created such 'country', and then bring them down.

The moon in the sky glowed yellow; I was too fixated on the beauty of the night sky. Though my wrist also glowed a beautiful sapphire blue, I didn't notice it.

***

The next day, 17.30 at the Oasis.

*Bam!*

Farkas slammed his shopping bag a bit on this wobbly table, "Here, I bought a crab and a tuna steak for our dinner."

“You talkative old man! That's the free food from The Flying Dutchman! If it weren't too far, I'd stop by every day too." Sher grumbled as he brought us a large bottle of strawberry soda he had secretly taken while walking down the drink aisle. While I just prepare the cutlery.

It's Monday afternoon, two days after the three of us survived that second game. I'm so happy when we can gather here in front of this wobbly table again. How could I not be relieved after learning about the deaths of ten people? Even though I could find Farkas and Sher after the previous game ended, my heart wouldn't be content to search for traces of their existence in the real world.

"What is it? Are you gay? Stop touching my face!” Precisely; I wouldn't believe they were still 'alive' if I didn't touch their faces in real life. That's why I touched Farkas' face.

Farkas has indeed been able to accept all the conditions experienced ever since the first game. But Sher and I only understood after the crow tamer explained everything. This is our new routine; my new routine.

Oh, this is also my new routine; hanging out with them at this old wobbly table in Oasis. We agreed to continue to gather here and talk about that world. The three of us are in one team, after all. To be honest, I don't understand the function of this 'team' because it's been two games and we only played individually.

“Found something interesting?” I pointed to the shopping bag Farkas was carrying. The restaurant must have had a 'sponsor' who was the Chronosseum government. If not, how could they give Estre some daily meals for free? So I thought we might glean some information from that place. I haven't had time to confirm it directly to the seafood restaurant myself. It isn't easy because it's located across from my campus.

“… There isn't any information about who is benevolently providing these meals for us. I've investigated it through the manager, but they don't understand anything either. The 'sponsors' apparently designed and printed the pamphlet by themselves, then sent it to our addresses first. Only after that, they send the restaurant large sums of money through anonymous international accounts. As expected, they were cautious people. Well, as for this reward, I won't refuse." Farkas started stripping the crab doused in the spicy red chilli sauce.

“I see… There aren't any clues.” I said as I poured soda into three paper cups, “Then what about the customers? If Estres are granted membership, shouldn't it be easy to find them?”

"Not really. The restaurant was full of 'ordinary people', whether they used TickBit or not. You know this damn wrist device is currently booming. Well, I feel a lot of piercing stares every time I walk into the restaurant though, but it must be hard to identify exactly who Estre is in the crowd. I might track them from their reactions if I shouted at the cashier while using the membership benefits. But I don't want to risk my life. It seems those people also chose the packed restaurant for a reason.”

Well, if Farkas with his sharp instincts concluded that, what can be done.

“By the way, has your TickBit been emitting a whopping glow lately?” Crab claws protruded from Farkas' mouth.

"Ah right, that's what I wanted to ask as well!"

Sher was then busy fiddling with his TickBit. Farkas was the same. The crab claws sticking out of his mouth were swaying up and down when he was busy playing with his device. I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about and doing.

They both just glared at me in disbelief. After that, they rush to tinker with and treat TickBit, vying to show me something through the device. Freaks, they don't need my acknowledgement or anything from me.

“HEY SEE MY TICKBIT!” “MMMGMGMGGMHH!”

Sher and Farkas found what they were looking for and showed me their TickBit simultaneously, although I didn't understand what Farkas was saying because his mouth was full of crab meat.

Both emit bright rays; golden brown on Farkas', emerald green on Sher's. In the middle of Farkas' TickBit screen, I could see a logo or something, the head of a roaring grizzly bear. A different logo can be seen on Sher's; it's like a fist clenching and holding a lightning bolt.

“Um… How do you guys get that ray out?”

Farkas and Sher looked at each other. A bolt of competitive lightning flashed between their gazes. They're back to hard fiddling with their TickBit. Looks like they found it by accident earlier.

“BLRRBBRLBRGH!” “PRESS AND HOLD YOUR TICKBIT SCREEN WITH TWO FINGERS!”

I didn't understand what Sher was saying this time because soda filled his mouth. Foam came out of his nose. He choked.

I followed the directions of these two idiots. I press down on my TickBit screen with my right hand's index and middle fingers, then hold it for a second. Mine also emits a different coloured light and displays a different logo. This is a logo of an hourglass in sapphire blue.

I have absolutely no idea what these logos mean. Farkas and Sher also just shook their heads when I asked.

"It's not just this, is it?" Sher used his handkerchief to wipe his nose from the sweet soda, then looked at me shaking my head like an idiot, “You… Could it be that you don't know about it either?”

“What the hell did you do after returning to this world? Crying to your girlfriend?” Complained Farkas who is now fulfilling his hunger with the tuna steak.

I can't say no to both questions. I complain to Nora a lot, though I can't be completely honest with her. She doesn't need to know what I'm going through… It's better that way.

This time working with Sher, Farkas answered each other to guide me to find the 'other weird thing'. TickBit is a smartwatch; can be used to play simple games, a means of communication via messaging and telephone, used to detect a heartbeat. Maybe it's because I don't use TickBit as a smartwatch that I missed that 'other weird thing'.

I, who have never used the message feature in TickBit, don't have to bother looking for the problematic message Sher refers to. The content of the message is a link that can only be opened via TickBit. Even though Farkas and Sher had known it beforehand, they decided to find out together. How cute.

The three of us pressed the link at the same time. We were directed to a form filling page. And this is what is written on mine.

[ESTRE'S DATA FORM]

No: 7

Team: 25

Name/Alias: (blank)

Profile Photo: [please take a full-body photo by pressing here!]

Punishment: your deepest darkest secret will be spilt all over the place*

*Penalties will only apply if this form is not filled in per the next game.

No, it's not a form... We only need to fill in one blank section and upload photos.

“You people who like to play God! Punishment here, kill there.” Farkas grumbled as he was satisfied with his dinner, and now he started to eat smoke.

“Oh… I thought it was something else… Welp, I'm a bit shy and not very good at taking selfies… But what can I do.” Sher pointed the front camera at his face and almost pressed the 'here' button.

"WAIT!" “*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*!!!”

My scream and smoke-filled cough from Farkas stopped Sher reckless actions while he just tilted his head.

"It's too bold to fill in the personal data carelessly."

"That's not all, Grey," Farkas was still coughing a little from choking on tobacco, "You guys remember what I said in that country yesterday?"

“About identity?”

“Yes, a hundred for you, Sherwyn! Here's another expensive tuna steak I bought! You have to glob it all because I paid it with my stamina!” Farkas shoved a tuna steak into Sher's mouth. Childish elder.

“Our real-world identity is very, very important. We should hide it as much as possible. It would be risky to play leisurely with our real faces in the Chronosseum. If that continues, it's only a matter of time before being targeted by Estre who tend to blackmail and take advantage of other Estres. Evil people do not hesitate to threaten in the real world for their sake in the Chronosseum. You must have realized that the individuals in the Chronosseum were not ordinary people; maybe not sane, right?”

Sher and I just gulped, imagining Gill's team with the big guy in the '70s face-hugging mask and maybe the other Estres with horrifying colours that haven't been striking yet.

'Threatening other Estre in the real world' didn't occur to me at all. I imagined what it would be like if I met a sadistic Estre who 'tortured' me in the real world and pressured me to 'lose' or 'die' in the game to follow. In other words, not only do we have to survive in the Chronosseum but in here as well, huh.

“Moreover, it seems like… The Estres are all from New Osaka. So the chances of meeting another Estre are increasing. But don't worry, for now, it looks like our identity is still safe. I'm sure the memory of our faces will be replaced by the riot that happened yesterday. Unless… Uh… Too flashy like that 'Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo~♪' … That damn sissy...”

Sher glared and lowered his chin, while I was not surprised anymore. Well, after reading the news last night, all of Estre likely came from the same city; New Osaka. I was astonished because Farkas held his head hard like he was trying to get a traumatic image out of his head.

Farkas shook his head quickly and resumed the conversation.

“That's why I came up with the idea so that our real-world identities wouldn't be exposed; so that we can buy food at the Flying Dutchman casually, play in that country without feeling anxious, and walk in our beloved city without worrying about our safety!”

Farkas then (again) slammed something on this wobbly table. It was another plastic bag he'd been hiding all along, filled with all sorts of party and festival masks.

"Ghahahahaha! Wouldn't it be fun if we turned the world into a masquerade ball?! It would feel like we're just playing a game at a party, ghaha… haha… Well, I stole the idea from that big hockey player, though…”

“Hmm... That's right, I get the same feeling as filling in data and doing character customization in online games, so I think it's better to have a completely different identity to hide real-life identity. What's more… There are no special rules on how to dress.”

“But… Seriously, you want us all to get tacky like this?” Sher was wearing one of the twinkling masks, and his appearance became odd because he was also wearing an Oasis hat; Farkas burst out laughing. He's like a mascot.

“Grrr… You also have to be responsible for what you buy, old man!” Sher's hand squeezed into the plastic bag, took the mask at random and put it forcefully on Farkas' face.

I couldn't help but laugh as the mask with chicken feathers stuck to Farkas' face. At the bottom, there is a beard, and on the top of his head are colourful feathers like an idiot.

“Y-Yeah, yeah, I understand! My taste is too whacky… Then, any other ideas?”

Sher placed her index finger and thumb on his chin and mumbled as his head was pointed downwards, “…Plum Tree District.”

Farkas and I looked at each other and froze. That's true. That's where the heart of New Osaka's life lies. Surely we can find masks or even costumes that fit our tastes easily.

Therefore, Sher and I hastily asked Manager Ruben to cut our shift today because the sun was starting to set. Nighttime is a great time to look for such flashy items. We didn't have much time until the next game, so we decided to jump right in.