I'm stirred out of my reverie, thinking about whether or not this is normal or not, by more musing from Yui.

YUI: Mm, what do we do about bathroom breaks?

NORIKO: I suppose I’ll have to escort them…

KATHERINE: Do you plan on carrying the entire chair, with Dan-san in it?

NORIKO: It won’t be difficult.

YUI: And you’ll be carrying them to their room, as well? This doesn’t seem ideal.

NORIKO: Nothing about this scenario is ideal, that much is true. We will do what we must.

ROXXY: I’ve got it!!

FUMI: What do you have?

ROXXY: A solution to Miki-chan’s chair thing!

AIKA: I was thinking we could just cut a hole in the chair so nobody would have to untie them for the bathroom.

MASANORI: You’re disgusting, please stop talking forever.

ROXXY: We have a sleepover!

KYO: I fail to see how a sleepover will solve any problems. Beside the fact that we aren’t allowed to sleep outside of our rooms, it simply doesn’t...contribute? Like, don’t get me wrong, it sounds fun, but...

ROXXY: Well, okay, first of all I’ve never met anybody who sleeps at a sleepover so, that’s a start. Second of all, the way it works now, it’s Nori-chan’s job to babysit Miki-chan, and that’s very not cool.

HEIJI: But with a sleepover, all of us would be together, so we could take turns, right?

ROXXY: Yeah! You untie them if they need to pee or whatever and we walk them to that public restroom--

AIKA: Do they get a leash?

MIKI: Oh shut the fuck up you freak.

ROXXY: Ignoring that, thank you, all of us hang out and we can get to know each other too! We’re all basically strangers, and that’s only gonna make it easier to do death stuff, right?

NORIKO: It has been a while since I’ve gone to a sleepover… It sounds fun.

YUI: A sleepover where sleeping is expressly forbidden and one of us is tied to a chair?

ROXXY: Yeah, so, like, a normal sleepover?

MIKI: Ugghhh…

SHUJI: There is a lot of tea and stuff in the sitting room…

YUI: You’re on board, Noro-san?

Noriko looks speculative for a moment, but nods firmly.

NORIKO: The pros outweigh the cons, I think. If we’re all present, it would also make things more difficult to make a murder take place.

KYO: It sounds like we’ve got a party to plan, Yui.

Yui sighs deeply, but nods.

YUI: Alright, I’ll start organizing.

ROXXY: Let me help! Please!

LANI: I’ll help too!

There isn’t much to organize, as it turns out, since we don’t have access to much in the way of entertainment, but everyone finds something to do. Roxxy institutes a strict pajamas-only dress code, with the only exception being Miki who is too tied to a chair to get changed, while Heiji and Lani take as many spare pillows and blankets as they can find from the supply closet to bring to the sitting room.

I am, naturally, tasked with starting the fire which turns into a demonstration for anyone else who is interested. ‘Anyone who is interested’ turns out to mostly be Kyo and Isei, as everyone else is busy setting up or being invited to the party.

After a long consultation, Roxxy and Kyo determine that the official starting point of the sleepover is 7 PM, giving us 12 full hours until the next morning announcement. Roxxy goes around inviting everyone once the sitting room is adequately set up.

Roxxy arrives at 7 on the dot, Kyo and Yui in tow.

ROXXY: So, we’ve got a couple people who didn’t seem interested, so we don’t expect them to show…

Yui checks a clipboard.

YUI: Pure Virtual, Kata Ama, and Aika Akiyama have expressed a disinterest.

SHUJI: But Nishimuraya-san is coming?

KYO: Noriko strong armed him. Literally. She clotheslined him as he tried to run away, it was awesome.

SHUJI: I really feel like we should discourage that…

ROXXY: It’s fine, he said a lot of nasty things. Anyway, people should be showing up soon! Go change into jammies!!

I dutifully march to my room and hastily get changed so I can be back in the sitting room in time for things to start.

7:30 PM

People drift in, but they arrive slowly and aren’t sure what to do. Eventually, Yui and I figure that it’s dinner time anyway, and go to the kitchen to make something basic for people to eat. Not wanting to pull out all the stops, we make some sandwiches and bring them to the sitting room, where people are finally getting settled.

After Miki hurts their teeth on Noriko’s gauntleted hand--literally biting the hand that feeds them--Katherine feeds Miki the sandwich. We stack the plates on the cabinet in the back, reasoning that we’ll wash them later.

8 PM

Now that everyone is here and fed, besides the people who didn’t want to come, people break off into groups to chat and figure out their own activities to keep them occupied until morning.

BO: So...what happens at sleepovers?

ALENA: Sleeping…?

LANI: Whaaat? No! Never! Have neither of you been to a sleepover before?

ALENA: Sort of? Maybe. I have brothers.

BO: I don’t have uhh...you know, terrestrial friends? And the ones I have are distinct sleep-at-day types.

LANI: Sleepovers with your own family aren’t the same! It’s supposed to be exciting, and so fun you can’t possibly sleep!

ALENA: What makes it so fun?

BO: Yes, I’m also curious! What is the fun?

LANI: Well, you play games and stuff! And make junk food!

BO: I do love junk food!

ALENA: ...Oh. Fun.

SHUJI: Hey, I’ve got an idea for junk food!

I leave the sitting room and jog to the kitchen and bag, bringing a bag of big fluffy marshmallows and some skewers with me. Noriko scowls at me when I come back; I guess I shouldn’t just come and go as I please if she wants to be keeping track of people.

I sit down on the floor next to the fireplace, pulling some cushions over to me and patting them so that Lani, Alena, and Bo follow suit.

LANI: Marshmallows! You know, a lot of people say these are unhealthy but in my opinion, using all of the animal including the byproducts is better for the environment, so it all balances out.

BO: Animal what?

ALENA: Animal bones, collagen. Skin, that stuff.

LANI: Yeah, yum!

BO: Animals go to college?

SHUJI: Only if they’re really smart!

Lani extends a hand for a marshmallow, and I hand him one. Instead of putting it on the skewer, however, he just pops one in his mouth and--cheeks bulging--reaches for another one.

SHUJI: Hey, no! We’re gonna roast them!

ALENA: Like...camp?

SHUJI: Yeah! But with the fireplace, instead of a campfire!

I demonstrate stabbing a marshmallow with the skewer, and hand them all skewers to do the same.

BO: Ooh, human rituals are exciting!

SHUJI: Alena, you’ve been to camp? Then you should know how to do this, right?

She shakes her head solemnly, staring at me with those wide eyes.

ALENA: I have never been. I watch movies, though.

LANI: Oh hey, duh! I know how to do this!

Lani confidently sticks his entire marshmallow into the fire, and hits the charred log inside hard enough that sparks fly.

Alena, predictably, screams and shies away from it, but Bo just laughs enthusiastically.

LANI: Or, uh...well, it’s been a while! And I’ve never done it on an inside fire, you know?

I show them the appropriate way to put their marshmallows near, but not directly in, the fire.

BO: How do we know when they’re done?

SHUJI: I don’t know, I guess it depends on how burnt or melty you like it! I like it to get a little black, but generally you go for a golden brown.

ALENA: And then you eat them?

SHUJI: Yup! It’s really gross and messy, so that’s fun!

There’s a few moments of silence before I take mine out of the fire, a little earlier than I’d like for demonstration purposes, and rip it off of the skewer with my teeth. Hot marshmallow gets on my chin, which burns, but it’s so tasty I can’t complain.

Alena follows suit, but delicately takes the marshmallow off of the skewer with her fingers and blows on it before sticking it in her mouth. Bo is next, who just puts the whole end of the skewer in their mouth and yelps before removing it, half of the marshmallow still in place but now decidedly covered in spit.

Lani laughs and does pretty much what I did, eating it from the side of the skewer.

ALENA: [Surprised.] This is good!

LANI: You eat so delicate, Alena-chan!

ALENA: Delicate? Really?

BO: Agyros-sama! You are very refined!

Alena’s face turns bright red, visible even in the warm light of the fire.

ALENA: ...you…

She was so quiet that I’m not sure what she meant to say, but Bo joyfully claps her on the back anyway. Maybe aliens have better hearing than I do.

BO: Agyros-sama, you are a good person! Don’t worry so much about being shy!

LANI: Bo...do you know anything about being shy?

BO: I’m the ultimate fish out of water! I don’t even have any aliens on Earth to hang out with.

LANI: Ohh...right. But, you seem pretty extroverted for an alien, right?

BO: I’m actually very shy compared to most aliens! My species is naturally curious, and naturally very friendly, which is why we keep visiting people to share things with!

SHUJI: Do you abduct people for that?

LANI: Ooh, do you do tests on people!

BO: No, only bad aliens do that. Duh!

ALENA: Right… Duh.

Her deadpan, almost fearful delivery of the word ‘duh’ prompts giggled from Lani and I, while Bo just nods wisely.

We all reload our skewers for more marshmallows, and this time I feel the freedom to let mine burn to the crispy goodness I know I want.

Delicious.

9 PM

It’s around nine that Bo and Lani both start yawning expansively. It almost seems like a competition to see who can expose more of their molars while yawning.

When Lani lets out a yawn taking up so much of his body that he nearly teeters into Kyo, who is sitting on the sofa, Bo starts making motions to curl up in front of the fireplace like a cat.

SHUJI: Hey, you guys seem pretty tired.

LANI: Can’t...sleep at a sleepover…

ALENA: It’s against the rules.

BO: Muh.

I nudge Bo with my foot, and they grumble.

SHUJI: She’s right, it is against the rules. I think you guys should head out and sleep in your beds.

They put up a fight, but it’s a very sleepy fight, and ultimately I win. They say goodnight to everyone, and dutifully leave to go sleep like the growing children that they are.

Well, technically I think I’m a growing child too, but at least I’m 18, right?

Now it’s just me and Alena in front of the fire.

SHUJI: How are you doing?

She shrugs, and stares into the fire.

ALENA: Have you been to sleepovers before?

SHUJI: Technically, I guess.

ALENA: You need friends to do sleepovers.

Uh oh, this feels like tricky territory.

What do I say? Do I ask if she has no friends? Do I insist she must have friends, when I don’t even know that much about her?

SHUJI: How long have you been living in Japan?

ALENA: Hm? I don’t know. My memories… Ah. A few years, before Hope’s Peak.

SHUJI: Well, that’s not a very long time at all. I’m surprised your Japanese is so good.

She shakes her head.

ALENA: It’s not good. I have a hard time speaking up, because… I don’t always know the words.

SHUJI: Yeah, it probably doesn’t help that everyone’s always talking over each other.

ALENA: It’s just sound at that point…

SHUJI: Yeah, I agree.

She nods, and the conversation dies. I look into the fire, watching it and trying to see if I can interpret messages in the flames that will help me talk to her.

We were doing pretty good for a minute there, though. That’s not bad.

After a while of blankly staring into the fire, spacing out, someone joins us.

Fumi stands awkwardly between us, apparently unwilling to sit on the floor, and waves politely.

FUMI: Hey, are you two having fun?

SHUJI: Sure, I guess! How is everyone else doing?

FUMI: Kyo is telling scary stories, but I don’t really like scary stuff. I’m already panicky enough… I bet you can relate, right?

Alena stares blankly up at her so impassively that I’m no longer actually sure that Fumi was addressing Alena. Do I give off panicky enough vibes that Fumi would try to relate to me on that level?

SHUJI: Are they actually scary, or just, ‘and then they were never seen again! Woooo….’ type things?

FUMI: Was that a ghost noise?

SHUJI: It was an attempt at a ghost noise.

FUMI: It sounded like you were faking being excited about a sports team.

SHUJI: Maybe that’s why it’s so scary! The ghost is uhh...unenthusiastic, but not straightforward enough to just leave?

FUMI: Your idea of horror is an awkward conversation? How did you get to be friends with Agyros-san, then?

As soon as the words leave her mouth, she covers her face in shock and grimaces at Alena. I don’t think she meant to say that out loud.

SHUJI: She’s just...quiet, you know?

ALENA: Quiet…

SHUJI: But quiet isn’t necessarily bad. We’re just chilling.

FUMI: That sounds nice! Uh, nicer than the scary stories anyway. I don’t think I need to be any more on edge.

SHUJI: Are you doing okay?

FUMI: I hate to admit it, but that...the money…

ALENA: [Staring.] …?

FUMI: I don’t make a lot of money writing letters for people. It’s a side thing, I mean. And my parents aren’t rich. I just… I have a son. I want to send him to good schools.

ALENA: You…

SHUJI: You’re not really tempted though, are you?

FUMI: O-of course not! I mean, yes, I do want money, but--

Alena scrambles to her feet, stumbling backwards and almost sticking a foot in the fire. She presses herself against the mantle, facing Fumi with wide eyes.

FUMI: Don’t misunderstand, I wouldn’t actually--

ALENA: You want the money!

Her voice is shockingly loud, especially for her. Everyone in the room turns toward her.

FUMI: No, I--

ALENA: You want to kill me! You’ll kill me! You’ll--You’ll--

Her face is pale with shock and fear, her eyes wide and wild like a rabid animal. She grasps the mantle behind her with white knuckles.

I stand, extending my hands out to her like I’m taming a wild horse.

SHUJI: Alena, she didn’t mean anything by it.

ALENA: You all want me to die! You want me to die! I--I--I--!

She moves faster than I would have expected, sprinting out of the room on long legs and disappearing.

KYO: Holy shit, is she okay?

FUMI: I didn’t mean to--

ROXXY: She totally flipped!

MIKI: And yet I’m the one tied to a chair still, huh?

NORIKO: She’s just scared. It’s understandable.

MASANORI: You’re just going to let her go? Sure, fine, whatever, if she kills someone it’s no sweat off my back.

YUI: Perhaps someone should check on her…

SHUJI: I’ll go check. I’ll be right back, hopefully.

I gamble on where she’d go: if I were her, I’d head to a room I could lock.

I head to her bedroom, and knock on the door.

Silence.

I wait for a moment, and knock again.

I hear movement in the room, some thumping around.

SHUJI: Hey, Alena-chan. It’s me. I just wanted to make sure you’re...okay, I guess?

ALENA: How can I be okay?!

SHUJI: I don’t think anyone meant to--

ALENA: I can’t trust ANY of you! Get out! Go away!

SHUJI: Okay. I’ll give you space. If you need anything, I’m here for you, okay?

ALENA: GO!

I head back to the sleepover, feeling discouraged.

I explain to the group that she went to her room, and she should be fine. I hope. Things settle back into groups, and I try to go back to normal.

10 PM

ROXXY: Never have I ever...uhhm...Kissed a boy?

Fumi puts her finger down with a huff.

FUMI: Is that honestly fair?

ROXXY: I wasn’t targeting you! Look, Kyo-chan put a finger down too!

YUI: When did you kiss a boy?

KYO: Don’t you remember? A few years ago one of the rewards for a highest donation was a smooch from me!

Roxxy’s ideas for icebreakers are certainly interesting, but I can’t deny that this is a pretty classic sleepover game. Since the night time announcement went off, it finally feels like a real sleepover, too.

FUMI: Okay, my turn I guess? Never have I ever… Collected anything!

YUI: That is fairly vague.

FUMI: Okay, what about ‘Never have I ever started a collection’?

I put my finger down, and so does Yui.

ROXXY: Ooh, what did you collect?

SHUJI: Just cool rocks I found on the street, that sort of thing.

YUI: I had a collection of...let’s just call them genre novels.

KYO: Aw, not gonna say what genre?

YUI: I’m under no obligation to be specific.

FUMI: Haha, fair enough! Shuji’s turn!

SHUJI: Okay! I’ve got this! Never have I ever eaten chalk!

KYO: Do people do that?

Roxxy guiltily puts down a finger.

ROXXY: It’s like, not that different from a lot of medicines and candies, okay?

Fumi just giggles.

YUI: Never have I ever slept outside.

FUMI: What? You’ve never gone camping?

Fumi, Kyo, Roxxy and I all put down a finger while Yui looks smug.

YUI: Never.

KYO: Okay, I’m sure I’ve got one on all of you! Never have I ever been to a fast food establishment.

SHUJI: What?!

ROXXY: Unfair!

All of us put down a finger while Kyo cackles at us.

11 PM

There’s one part of the room I’ve been avoiding, which is difficult given that the room isn’t all that large. Masanori and Miki sit on chairs brought from the dining room, kept in place by Noriko’s stare and Noriko’s knots respectively. The only person hanging around with them is Katherine, who seems to be there out of solidarity with Miki.

Finally, I decide to check on them. I grab a spare blanket on my way and toss it to Masanori as a peace offering.

MASANORI: Agh! What are you doing, you weirdo?!

SHUJI: Giving you a blanket? Get cozy, it’s a sleepover.

MASANORI: More like a torture...over…

KATHERINE: Keep working on it, champ.

NORIKO: Are you joining us, Shuji?

SHUJI: I guess! I wanted to check on all of you. How are you enjoying the party?

MIKI: Ohhh, it’s just PEACHY!

KATHERINE: This party is lame.

NORIKO: I’ll admit, the company has certainly been...uh...stimulating?

MIKI: Eat shit, Noro!

NORIKO: You see?

SHUJI: Are you seriously still mad? You don’t see why we tied you up?

MIKI: Don’t patronize me!

MASANORI: Ugh, can you shove something in their mouth or something? I have a headache.

MIKI: You always have a headache!!

MASANORI: What was that? I don’t speak RAT!

MIKI: And I don’t speak UGLY, so shut the fuck up!

SHUJI: So, why force Nishimuraya to be here?

NORIKO: Suzuki-san and I felt it was a safety concern. He’s pretty much a magnet for violence, and if he and only a few other people aren’t here, it just felt like a murder waiting to happen.

KATHERINE: I don’t get why he doesn’t have to be tied to a chair.

NORIKO: Well, he hasn’t tried to kill anyone.

MIKI: Yet!!

KATHERINE: This sucks.

MASANORI: Are you sure you’re not Super High School Level Prison Warden?

NORIKO: I am a knight, and it is my duty to protect everyone here.

MASANORI: Maybe SHSL Bitch, ha.

SHUJI: Is it just me or are his insults getting weaker?

MIKI: He used up all his good ones before Creepy-san flipped out, and then he used all his creative and weird ones on Creepy-san, so now we’re left with the garbage.

SHUJI: Do you...you know her name is Alena Agyros, right?

MIKI: Don’t care.

KATHERINE: Does it matter?

Wow, tough crowd.

SHUJI: So, you said it’s been a while since you’ve been to a sleepover, right?

NORIKO: Yeah, not since I was in middle school I think! I’ve been focused on my knight training for so long I really didn’t have the time for stuff like this after that.

SHUJI: What does knight training consist of?

NORIKO: A lot of working out, obviously I guess. There’s also horse riding, calligraphy, dancing, chivalry--

SHUJI: Calligraphy and dancing, really?

NORIKO: Sure. I have to inspire nobility in other people, you know?

SHUJI: I just didn’t expect those things to go hand in hand.

NORIKO: I’m sure lots of surprising things go into our talents. Yoyoing, for example… I have no idea how one becomes good at something like that!

MIKI: Ugghh it’s just math!

KATHERINE: Math? Really?

MIKI: It’s physics! Most people do physics in their heads all the time without thinking, but really understanding it--I mean, I can’t really explain it to people like you.

MASANORI: What, we’re too stupid to understand math?

MIKI: I mean, aren’t you?

SHUJI: I can’t do math, to be fair.

NORIKO: I’ll admit, my grades slipped because I was so focused on other studies…

KATHERINE: …

MIKI: See what I mean?

MASANORI: Oh, whatever. Math isn’t hard!

SHUJI: Do you really need to understand physics that intimately for yoyoing?

MIKI: Sure. When you have two of them, and the kinds that come off the string, it gets really complicated. Knowing how fast they’re going, how much they weigh, stuff like that helps you not get your strings tangled like a dope.

SHUJI: Wow, that’s pretty impressive!

NORIKO: Do you enjoy studying things like that?

MIKI: Enough, I guess. I used to tutor kids in it after school.

KATHERINE: So cool...

MASANORI: Fucking…nerd…

SHUJI: Weren’t you just saying math is easy?

MASANORI: I’m no after school tutor! That’s so lame.

NORIKO: I wonder if you just lack the disposition for it.

Miki guffaws loudly.

MIKI: You tell ‘im, Noro.

MASANORI: Oh, what? Now you’re on the side of the fucking cop?

NORIKO: I’m not a cop.

KATHERINE: Cop.

NORIKO: I’m not--Okay, fine. I’m a cop. Does that make you feel better?

MIKI: I hate cops.

Noriko sighs deeply.

MIDNIGHT

I’d just decided to leave Noriko and the angry babies to their own devices when Aika poked her head into the sitting room.

AIKA: Wow, you’re really doing it, aren’t you?

HEIJI: Yeah! What is it we’re doing?

She steps in and takes in the scenery, blowing her smoke into the room. Fumi coughs with a scowl.

ROXXY: Hey, like, could you stop smoking that in here? Blow it into the fireplace or something, right?

AIKA: You must all be very stupid. This kind of get together… It’s just asking for death. Not that I mind, naturally.

NORIKO: I don’t think that kind of talk is necessary.

AIKA: Oh, you don’t like the truth? Okay. I’ll lie. You’re all going to live long, happy lives. Nobody is plotting your deaths right this very moment.

FUMI: Ugh! What do you even get out of this?

KYO: Do we even want to know what goes through her head?

YUI: I am, admittedly, curious. Why do you act like this?

AIKA: Maybe it just turns me on.

MASANORI: UGH!!!

AIKA: Ha. You guys are funny. Maybe I’ll join your sleepover after all.

She comes in and settles down on the couch, blowing smoke directly at Fumi.

FUMI: Fine. You stay here.

Fumi gets up to leave.

ROXXY: Aw, hey! Don’t go!

FUMI: You guys enjoy the sleepover. I’m sick and tired of… Whatever. I’m tired.

Fumi leaves, and Aika stays. It’s definitely a weird atmosphere.

1 AM

BAM!

AIKA: Noro is the clear victor.

HEIJI: Aw come on! Two out of three!

NORIKO: [Laughing.] Gladly.

Lacking any tables, Noriko and Heiji have kicked Masanori off of his chair to kneel on the floor and arm wrestle on that. Aika sits on the back of the couch, facing us, smoking like a chimney and playing judge for a competition that I had previously believed didn’t need one.

KATHERINE: You’re hogging the competition.

AIKA: Everyone gets to try two out of three against her. Once he’s done, you’ll go.

KYO: You’re surprisingly good at coordinating stuff like this, Akiyama-san!

AIKA: I always do love a good backhanded compliment. I do clinical trials. I’m not a slob.

BAM!

HEIJI: Damn!

MASANORI: This is what happens when you get buff just to look nice.

HEIJI: But I do look nice, right?

MASANORI: Shut up, you himbo.

NORIKO: I believe Kaimi-san’s muscles come from his sport, not just for aesthetics.

HEIJI: Oh yeah, sure! But I also look nice!

AIKA: It’s Ueda’s turn.

Katherine gets to her knees and puts her elbow on the table, meeting Noriko’s eyes with a blank expression. Somehow, her normal neutral face sends a chill through the whole room. Noriko seems to the only one unaffected by the ice emanating from her, clasping her hand with a confident grin.

BAM!

KATHERINE: Again.

NORIKO: As you say.

BAM!

Is this even a contest?

KATHERINE: Again.

AIKA: That’s all your tries, I’m afraid.

KYO: Honestly, what is she trying to accomplish?

SHUJI: Maybe it’s some kind of strength training?

MASANORI: What does a burn out child actor need strength training for?

MIKI: Don’t call her a burn out you troglodyte!

AIKA: Just move along, I don’t want to get bored.

KYO: I’ll go next!

NORIKO: I welcome the challenge!

Kyo gets down on their knees as Katherine rises with a scoff, rolling up their silk pajama sleeves.

BAM!

SHUJI: Jeez, no contest, huh?

KYO: Haha! Wow! That was like wrestling with a wall! What are you getting out of this, Noro-san?

NORIKO: I’m glad to accept any challenge. You grow from failing challenges far more than succeeding at them, so I figured it’s a win-win!

AIKA: You get one more round, if you like.

SHUJI: Why are you supervising this, Akiyama-san?

AIKA: Watching people behave in futile circumstances is a core aspect of my science.

SHUJI: Whoa…

MASANORI: Oh come on, she’s obviously lying. She just wants to fuck with you.

AIKA: Maybe. Who knows? I do.

She smirks.

BAM!

KYO: And that was all she wrote, I guess…

NORIKO: You did a lot better, this time! Congratulations!

MASANORI: Can I go?

MIKI: Kick her ass for me!

MASANORI: Um, no. Everything I do is for myself.

KYO: Way to show the self love, dude!

MASANORI: You sicken me.

He clumsily squats and slams his elbow down on the chair so hard he visibly winces.

NORIKO: You’ll want to sit more carefully, if you have a stable base then--

AIKA: Let’s begin.

There’s a moment of struggling before Masanori starts to wobble, and, naturally--

BAM!

SHUJI: Looks like she was right about having a stable base.

MASANORI: Suck up!

SHUJI: Why would I need to suck up to her?

MASANORI: Teacher’s pet!

KATHERINE: You weren’t kidding when you said he ran out of good insults.

MASANORI: Bitch!

AIKA: Let’s do the next round, please. This is getting boring.

BAM!

It’s over almost before it began.

SHUJI: I think I’m the last one to try.

NORIKO: Step on up!

SHUJI: I want to be clear that I am not strong.

NORIKO: I’m sure you’re stronger than you know!

I get down on my knees, shuffling a bit before I’m comfortable, and set my elbow on the table. Noriko smiles at me as she does the same. When Aika says to begin, I heave with all my might against Noriko’s arm.

It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t even think about moving. I’m sure my face is getting red with effort. Is she even trying?

She nods encouragingly, and when I strain against her, she finally starts to move. But in the wrong direction.

BAM!

SHUJI: I feel like I should have predicted that outcome.

AIKA: I know I did.

NORIKO: Round two?

The next one goes faster. She doesn’t even give me a chance, this time. She unleashes her full strength and I feel like a gnat in a tsunami for the one second it takes for her to conquer my arm.

SHUJI: I think I need to work out.

Noriko laughs delightedly and stands, but Katherine and Heiji are already getting in line to try to tackle her again.

1 AM

ROXXY: So, like, do you want me to make it look lumpier?

ISEI: Why lumpier?

ROXXY: You’ve got this whole, like, grungey punk thing and having immaculate nails is very chic, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to ruin your whole look!

YUI: That’s very considerate of you, Rose-san.

ROXXY: Puh-lease, call me Roxxy!

ISEI: Hmm…

SHUJI: I think you should get them done nice. They’ll get ratty on their own, right?

ISEI: You didn’t agree to get your nails painted, that means you don’t get an opinion.

SHUJI: Fair enough. Go lumpy then!

ROXXY: It will be very post-rock dumpster diving vibe which is something I fully support.

YUI: Really? I would have expected you to be far more interested in more...civilized aesthetics.

ROXXY: No way! I mean, yes, I am personally. But the first iteration of my show was very glam rock, so I studied a lot of genres and like, I respect committing to pretty much any aesthetic. Like, if you’ve got it, go for it, right?

SHUJI: What’s your show’s aesthetic now, then?

ROXXY: I’ve gone in a really spice girls direction! Like, the sparkle and fun tackiness of my childhood!

YUI: Is that the aesthetic you’ve committed yourself to?

ROXXY: Yeah! But it’s not like I don’t absolutely dig your sexy librarian thing.

YUI: [Blushing.] Sexy librarian?

ROXXY: Ooh, look down your nose at me harder, right?

Roxxy laughs at her own joke, and carefully applies another layer of black nail polish to Isei’s nails.

SHUJI: What’s mine?

ROXXY: You’ve got this super cute boy next door kind of thing. Like, I see you and immediately want you to bake me cookies that smell like home, except not like, my home necessarily? Cuz my mom doesn’t bake, she’s much more of a healthy take out kind of person. Gotta looove those healthy veggie smoothies, right?

Huh. I didn’t really know I had an aesthetic. I think of all the patches on my jeans, and the fraying cuffs.

SHUJI: You don’t think I’m too grubby for that?

ROXXY: As if! It’s this whole down to earth vibe! Like, yes these pants are second hand! Own it!

ISEI: I like your outlook, Roxxy-san. It’s very positive.

She beams at him, and gets back to work on his nails.

2 AM

Aika finally gets bored of the party around the time Yui decides she’s becoming tired enough to be a risk to the group.

Noriko escorts both of them to their rooms to be safe, leaving Heiji in charge of keeping an eye on Masanori and Miki. Masanori swears a lot, but Heiji takes it with a smile.

I stoke the fire.

3 AM

Now even Kyo is flagging, and they apologize extensively before going to bed.

Heiji is next. After falling asleep on the couch and snoring loudly enough to startle me out of my sleepy reverie, Noriko tells him that it’s probably best for him to get some rest in his room before The Fey appears to yell at us.

I consider going with him, but I don’t. There’s a kind of quiet peace in the room, now.

4 AM

MASANORI: At this point I’m ready to fall asleep just to spite all of you. I hope I fall asleep and The Fey shows up and blows up and we all die.

NORIKO: Okay, okay. It’s time.

She escorts him to his room, and returns looking fresher just for having spent the walk back without him berating her.

Miki and Katherine are talking about something, but too quietly and privately for me to want to eavesdrop.

Isei and I have taken to lying on the floor.

5 AM

Isei brews coffee and tea for all of us, and the illusion of energy comes to us for a while.

NORIKO: So, were your birth parents involved at all?

ISEI: [Shrugging.] Not really? They didn’t live in the city, so it was hard for them to take time to come visit me.

SHUJI: You don’t feel abandoned at all?

ISEI: Why should I? They were really young when they had me. It made sense for my dad to let his older sister take care of me.

ROXXY: Still, she’s not giving off exactly, like, super heavy mom vibes, right?

ISEI: Nah, she was always my aunt. But she was good for me. If it weren’t for her being a private detective, I probably never would have gotten interested in criminal biographies.

SHUJI: She sounds super cool. Do you get your sense of style from her?

ISEI: A bit, yeah. She thinks I’m a total dope for dressing the way I do, though.

SHUJI: Well, are you a dope?

NORIKO: That’s a rude question.

SHUJI: Sorry, my filter is slipping. I mean, is it all an act? The tough thing?

ISEI: I...don’t really know.

6 AM

We’re back to lying on the floor.

Occasionally Miki whispers something that makes Katherine giggle, which feels very surreal.

7 AM

THE FEY: Goood morning campers! It is now 7 AM! I see someone of you didn’t sleep last night! I personally approve. It makes murders way easier if people aren’t sleeping!

I lurch forward when the announcement goes off.

ISEI: We made it…

NORIKO: You may all go to bed now. You probably need it.

ROXXY: I’m...fiiine…

SHUJI: I’m going to sleep for a thousand years, thank you very much.

Noriko laughs weakly as I take off toward my room. What were we even trying to accomplish with that sleepover? I don’t remember.

I make it to my room without incident, only fumbling the key like six times with my sleepy fingers. I sit on the bed, and look around happily for a moment. Sleep is soon.

But something catches my eye.

On my desk is a fat envelope. Part of me already knows what’s going to be in it, but I open it anyway.

It’s a fat stack of money, probably over a million yen. And a note. “There’s more where that came from.”

I feel sick. This is horrible. I push the money and the note into the trash can next to my desk, and crawl into bed. I sleep dreamlessly, despite everything.