MASANORI: I’m so pissed off to say this, but this is actually pretty good.

SHUJI: You don’t have to be mad about if if you don’t want to.

Once again, the duty of making breakfast for everyone has fallen on me--although, this time it’s decidedly lunch time. I don’t mind too much; it gives me something to do. It also results in me spending time with...interesting people.

KYO: He just likes being mad about stuff. I’m getting used to it.

MASANORI: Shut up, cunt.

KYO: See?

SHUJI: Hey, apologize. Or you’re not gonna get any of my cooking again.

MASANORI: ...Fine. I’m sorry, Katayama-san, for my rudeness.

How can someone apologize in such an even voice and look so petulant? He’s like a little kid.

SHUJI: Hey, Nishimuraya-san. Are you an only child?

MASANORI: [Wary and confused.] No. Why are you asking?

SHUJI: I don’t know, you just remind me of a little brother type sometimes. How many siblings do you have?

MASANORI: ...One. A little sister.

SHUJI: Is she cute?

MASANORI: The cutest. She’s eight this year.

KYO: Technically I’m not sure we know what year it is.

MASANORI: Oh shut the fuck up.

SHUJI : Do you act this mean to your sister?

MASANORI: What? Of course not. She’s family. She’s not a stranger who’s out to get me, like you jerks.

KYO: What makes you think we’re out to get you?

MASANORI: Oh, cut the psychological crap, will you? We’re in a Murder! Mansion! You’re all gonna fucking kill me and I know it.

It’s hard to imagine him being nice to anyone, even family, but it’s good to know he has a heart somewhere underneath all that anger and unpleasantness. Now if I could just get it to...show, a little.

SHUJI: I’m not out to get you, dude.

MASANORI: Sounds like something someone who’s out to get me would say.

KYO: He has a point.

MASANORI: Agreeing with people won’t get them to like you, fucker.

KYO: Mm, that’s where you’re wrong. Not surprising you don’t have many friends, honestly, with an attitude like that.

SHUJI: Do you wear that mask because you’re scared of people?

He glares at me.

SHUJI: I’m not asking to be mean or anything. I’m trying to get to know you. Is that so bad?

MASANORI: Sometimes! People! Are! Ugly!

With that, he storms out of the room, carrying his bowl of cream of wheat with him. Huh. I guess I pushed too far.

It left just Kyo and I sitting at the large dining room table, making chitchat. Eventually, Kyo got up to take their dishes into the kitchen, and took mine as well. They’re a lot more down to earth than you would expect from the heir to trillions of yen. The friendly wink as they departed made it clear they knew they were doing me a favor, but I didn’t mind. After all, I’d made breakfast.

I left to the sitting room, and started up the fire again. Aika had kindly left her lighter on the mantle above the fireplace for me to use.

On second thought, it seems like someone might’ve stolen it from her and put it there for me. Aika doesn’t really seem like the kindly or helpful type, after all.

Once the fire is started, I’m left at loose ends. It turns out, without internet, there’s not a lot to do in a fancy mansion. The tension of ‘will one of us turn out to be a murderer’ doesn’t help, naturally, but I am pretty much a champ at putting stressful things out of my head.

As long as I have a distraction.

Which I currently do not.

What I decide to do is take a shower. I’ve been avoiding the fancy hotel bedrooms since we got here, except to go to the bathroom and to go to sleep, because of the whole sound-proof thing. As a result it’s been a few days since I showered, which I’m pretty used to out of necessity. Still, I don’t want to smell bad.

The bathroom in the bedroom suite provided is...amazing. It’s so big. It’s bigger than the entire bedroom I had when I lived with my parents.

If I close my eyes and pretend that everything is okay, this shower is the best thing that’s ever happened in recent recollection. Though, since I can’t remember any of high school, it could have been beat out by something in that gap. Which...isn’t a very pleasant thought.

I squeeze my eyes tighter, and try to let the hot water relax me.

It works! A little.

I dry off, and peek in the massive closet available to me. There’s my clothes. Basically anything that would have been in my duffel, plus some fancy dress clothes. They’re a lot more colorful than typical men’s wear, which gives me mixed feelings, but I don’t plan on wearing them anyway.

I change into another sweater-jeans combo and head out of my room again.

When I open my door to face the mansion, Roxxy is standing in front of it, her fist raised as if to knock on the door and a surprised expression on her face.

ROXXY: Oh! Hi! Are you awake?

SHUJI: I think so? What’s up, Roxxy-chan.

ROXXY: First off, I love that we’re close enough to call each other by our given names. It’s super cute. Secondly, do you wanna hang out?

SHUJI: Sure, but what are we gonna do?

ROXXY: [Pouts.] That’s the problem. I’m bored to tears and I’m probably annoying Fumi-chan by hanging around her so often. But she’s so soft and sweet she wouldn’t say that so I’m stuck wandering around and like, I don’t think a murderer’s gonna come get me, but also what if he does? So I want company.

SHUJI: [Laughing.] Sounds like sound logic to me. How are you so sure I’m not a murderer?

ROXXY: Uh, you’re the champion of not-murder! You’re practically giving birth to people you’re so anti-murder. Plus Aika-chan said that you were doing all of that as a cover up for how murderous you are, and she’s a lying snake, so...you’re obviously squeaky clean! Duh!

SHUJI: I’m glad to have your vote of trust.

ROXXY: Yeah, no problem! So what should we do to pass the time?

SHUJI: I was actually wondering the same thing. I’m caught up on the missing memories thing, though, so maybe we could try to figure all that out?

ROXXY: The Fey did say something about invasive surgeries, right? I’m no medical expert--Doctor. That’s the word. I’m no doctor, but I’m not convinced we can fiddle around in our own brains.

SHUJI: Wow, did she say that specifically?

ROXXY: Yeah! I’ve got a super-duper memory for dialogue. It comes in handy.

SHUJI: I was hoping we could just try talking and see if anything jogs memories.

ROXXY: Oh, like personal exposition?

SHUJI: What?

ROXXY: Oh, nothing. We just need to get to know each other!

SHUJI: Wanna get a third wheel for safety, like Suzuki-san suggested?

ROXXY: [Shrugs.] If you want. I trust you not to kill, and I trust myself not to kill, so it’s no big deal. Wanna go to the foyer? I like those plants. They’re sooo cute!

SHUJI: Sure.

We head over to the foyer in relative silence--the clacking of Roxxy’s huge high heels breaking it up with each step. When we arrive in the foyer, Masanori is sitting at the uppermost step before the gate blocks his path, picking at one of the peace lilies.

Roxxy and I exchange a glance and mutually decide to ignore him, taking seats on the lower steps.

ROXXY: So what kind of stuff do you think would jog your memories?

SHUJI: Do you think we were friends before we graduated?

ROXXY: I’m friends with everybody, silly. But that’s a good question. For all we know, you could have been dating Nishi-chan up there and we wouldn’t know it.

SHUJI: I...doubt that was the case.

ROXXY: Why? Are you straight?

She asks it with an uncomfortable expression, as though she didn’t want to assume the worst about me.

SHUJI: What? No, of course not. Jesus, do I look straight?

ROXXY: [Horrified] No! Oh I didn’t mean to imply that!

SHUJI: All these patches on my jeans and you ask if I’m straight…

ROXXY: I’m sorry! I’m sorry! But then, why not Nishi-chan?

Besides the obvious issues with Masanori, I’m assuming she means...

SHUJI: I just don’t get the feeling I was dating anybody. What about you?

ROXXY: I almost definitely had a girlfriend. I hope it was--

She cuts herself off and looks at me, wide eyed, for just a moment.

ROXXY: Say, to change the subject entirely, what do you think of Fumi-chan? This has absolutely nothing to do with what we were just talking about.

Yeah...totally different subject, alright. She couldn’t be more obvious if she tried.

SHUJI: I like her alright, but I don’t know her that well. Do you know what her talent is?

ROXXY: [Confidently.] Letter writer.

SHUJI: I meant more...what does she do? What does that mean?

ROXXY: Oh! Duh! I asked her that on day-one. She was professionally hired to write letters for people who couldn’t write them for themselves. Love letters, mostly. People who aren’t eloquent or don’t know how to express themselves would pay her to write their sweetest feelings! Isn’t that amazing?

SHUJI: Wow! That’s really cool! She must be super expressive, then.

ROXXY: I know, she’s incredible. She’s clumsy with words out loud, because she gets all blushy trying to talk about stuff, but she’s just soooo cute.

Well, at least I’m not the only one here who’s obviously not straight.

SHUJI: I bet you two were friends in high school, at least.

ROXXY: If we weren’t, then I’m almost glad for this fucked up murder situation, if it means we get to be friends now. Hey! That’s a positive way of looking at all this! It’s a whole new context for friendships to form!

SHUJI: You should write that down. In a letter maybe.

ROXXY: You mean...to Fumi-chan?

SHUJI: Why not? I think she’d appreciate the sentiment. You’d just need paper and a pen, so it’s easy as far as presents go.

MASANORI: There’s some stationary in the supply closet by the dorms.

ROXXY: Huh? What? Something helpful? Do you...care about that sort of thing, Nishi-chan?

MASANORI: What? No. I don’t care about any of that shit.

ROXXY: [Suspicious.] Are you secretly a softie who loves love notes?

MASANORI : I’d rather puke.

ROXXY: What do you care about, then?

She turns to face him, her face caught between irritation and genuine curiosity. He looks taken aback by the attention and the question in equal measure.

MASANORI: I don’t care about fuck all. Leave me alone.

ROXXY: Nuh-uh, we’ve got you trapped on the stairs, lover boy! Tell us what you care about or we’ll just think you’re a monster forever!

MASANORI: I told you! I don’t care about anything! I care about getting the fuck out of here!

SHUJI: ...He cares about his family. His little sister at least.

ROXXY: Well that’s easy! I care about my family too! My mom is the best in the world.

MASANORI: I care about my mom, I guess. But that doesn’t matter here!

SHUJI : Caring about stuff matters. The Fey is trying to get to us with stuff we care about, but if we’re open about it...I don’t know, I think we can’t hurt each other with it as much.

MASANORI : ...Fine. But I’m doing this only as a way to be defended from assholes like you. If you use this to stab me in the back you’re gonna regret it.

ROXXY: Yay! Oh, maybe you’re not so bad! Tell me about your mom and I’ll tell you about mine. That way it’s equal, right?

MASANORI : ...Deal. I just generally don’t trust pretty people further than I can throw ‘em, so don’t expect this to mean we’re friends.

ROXXY: Oh! I’m pretty! How far could you throw me?

MASANORI: Not very far.

ROXXY: Oh, you were saying you don’t trust me? But at least you said I was pretty! So, thank you! Why don’t you trust pretty people?

MASANORI: I said I’d talk about my mom. That’s it. Anything else and I’m jumping over you and breaking my neck on the stairs.

SHUJI: Let’s...avoid that.

ROXXY: My mom was a model before she had me, but she retired to focus on family. When I started trying to get into entertainment, all her friends from being a model were super helpful. She’s been my most loyal friend and coach, and some people say we look like sisters! What about yours?

MASANORI: My mom doesn’t look anything like me.

SHUJI: What’s she look like?

MASANORI: Well, she’s beautiful, for starters. She’s...nice, too. Cares too much about everyone. I have to be the way I am to protect her. She’d get taken advantage of by all the assholes in the world if I weren’t there.

ROXXY : Wow!! That’s so noble!

Is it really? Being nice has never seemed like a weakness to me…

MASANORI: No it’s not, so shove your fake praise!

ROXXY : I’m not fake about anything, Nishi-chan! Please, let’s be friends. I’ll protect you the way you protect your mom! Since you’re so awful to everyone, you’re not gonna have any friends, but if I’m around being nice, then nobody will wanna hurt you!

MASANORI: God, you’re so fucking dumb.

Roxxy frowns slightly--not out of sadness or being insulted. She looks frustrated more than anything. She genuinely wants to help him, doesn’t she?

MASANORI: But fine. We can be “friends,” but only until we get out of here.

ROXXY: Yay! Can I tell people how nice you are?

MASANORI: Don’t lie.

ROXXY: Scout’s honor! I’m not a girl scout or anything but the concept still stands. I’ll just talk about how you’re not what meets the eye, and that’s just true for anyone, isn’t it? Like how Shu-chan looks ambiguously straight!

SHUJI: Hey!

ROXXY: I’m kidding!

MASANORI: [Hiding laughter with tears in his eyes] You guys are so stupid…

Ultimately, I don’t get any memories back from the conversation, but it’s rewarding nonetheless. Roxxy gets me to agree to introduce Masanori to people in a less aggressive context, to see if he can genuinely bond with more people in the mansion, and we part ways.

After dinner, I start to head to bed to sort out my thoughts for the evening as has become my habit when Alena tugs on my sleeve. I haven’t seen her since the sleepover, so I jump when I feel her.

ALENA: …

SHUJI: What’s up? Are you okay?

ALENA : …

She looks more freaked out than usual. Her wide eyes are...well, pretty wide, and she looks faintly sweaty.

SHUJI: Talk to me, please. Wanna come to my room?

ALENA: I’m...Yes. Your room.

I lead her to my room and let her sit in my desk chair. There isn’t a lot of other seating around, so I sit cross legged on my bed.

SHUJI: Are you scared?

Alena takes a breath as if to speak, and bursts into tears instead. Silent sobs wrack her body as she continues to stare at me, tears pouring down her face. It’s uncanny. This is the most uncomfortable I’ve ever been watching someone cry, and watching someone cry isn’t ever very comfortable.

SHUJI: I’m scared too.

ALENA: You are?

SHUJI: My family...I don’t have a lot of money. I’ve never been in a stable position and I know how much money can fix. It’s scary.

ALENA: Would you kill for it?

Her tears have slowed, and she’s staring at me with that creepy gaze. It’s intense.

SHUJI: No. I couldn’t. But it doesn’t stop being scary.

ALENA: I’m scared of being killed. I’m so scared. I...it’s like I can feel it. How badly people want to kill. Everyone needs money.

SHUJI: Kyo-san said they didn’t!

ALENA: …

SHUJI: Okay, you’re right. Almost everybody needs money. It’s super terrifying. But I don’t think anybody will kill.

ALENA: They will.

SHUJI: How can you know that? We all want to get out of here alive, don’t we?

ALENA: And people will kill to get out of here alive.

SHUJI: No one here is a murderer!

ALENA: Aika Akiyama, Masanori Nishimuraya, Miki Dan.

SHUJI: Is that...are those people you think could commit murder?

ALENA: Maybe Noriko Noro too. I haven’t decided about her yet. She’s strong.

SHUJI: What will it take for me to get you to believe that these people won’t hurt you?

ALENA: [Shrug.] Nothing. Everything. You can’t.

SHUJI: Will you at least let me try?

ALENA: … [Shrug.]

SHUJI: I can protect you.

Alena looks me up and down.

ALENA: You’re weak.

SHUJI: You’ve got a point, I am weak. But I also know that friends don’t kill friends. I can protect you by having people get to know you. Then they won’t want to kill you, even if they want to kill.

ALENA: ...friends? I can’t be friends.

SHUJI: You’re my friend. You’re Roxxy-chan’s friend. I bet you could be friends with lots of people.

ALENA: Who.

SHUJI: I had a really good conversation with Nishimuraya-san today. I think you two have more in common than you’d think.

ALENA: [Disgusted.] …

SHUJI: Don’t make that face. He cares deeply about his mom, and is willing to do anything to protect his family. Sound familiar? Roxxy-chan and I are gonna be starting this whole crusade to get people to be friends with him, too.

ALENA: That sounds...difficult.

SHUJI: Yeah it’ll be a real hassle, but it’ll give me something to do. Will you come hang out with me and him? If he gets too nasty we can always leave, but I think it might be nice. We can hang out in the sitting room. I’ll make cocoa.

ALENA: ...fine. I don’t trust anyone yet. But fine.

SHUJI: Do you trust me?

ALENA: [Smiles weakly] Yes. We’re friends.

I lead Alena out of my room and into her own, where we say goodnight. As I start to go back to my room, Masanori walks by. I let him know the plan for meeting up with Alena around lunch the next day. He seems grouchy, but willing, and I take that as a good sign.

MIKI: It’s been like two weeks, I think I’ve learned my lesson.

NORIKO : It’s been two days.

KYO: And what lesson was that?

MIKI: Don’t...attack people…

We’re sitting in the dining room to chat, with Miki firmly tied to that chair. Who knew knights knew so much about knots?

I’ve already settled into something of a routine, as I imagine all kidnapping victims must do at some point. I wake up, I make breakfast for whoever wants it, I start up the fire (the supply of firewood never seems to dry up, which is nice), and I wander around finding people to talk to.

In a while, I’ll be meeting up with Masanori and Alena to try to find common ground in the group. I think I’ll try Masanori and Isei next, since Isei seems trustworthy.

KYO: Why do I get the feeling you didn’t actually learn not to attack people?

MIKI: Maybe it’s because I’m tied to a fucking chair and can’t appropriately express myself.

I’m content to sit back and watch this exchange play out as I drink my tea. I’m not the boss here, and I’m fine with that.

KATHERINE: I could watch them.

NORIKO: You mean to stand guard?

KATHERINE: Uh, sure. Whatever. Miki, can I keep you company so everybody trusts you don’t go off the rails?

MIKI: I’m about as on the rails as I can get right now, thanks.

KYO: Yeah, you’re literally tied to them.

NORIKO: If you agree to let Ueda-san keep you company, I’ll untie you.

Miki looks frustrated, but after glancing at Katherine, they nod stiffly. Noriko walks over and calmly unties the impregnable knots. Miki stands up and stretches their arms, exchanges a significant look with Katherine, and the two leave.

According to the clock on the wall, before long it’ll be time to meet up with Masanori and Alena.

SHUJI: I should probably get going soon. I made plans with Nishimuraya-san and Alena-chan.

KYO: [Raises an eyebrow.] That’s odd.

SHUJI: Is it? I know Nishimuraya is...well, let’s be plain, he’s a huge asshole. But I think if he gets used to being around people--

KYO: No, I know you’re all about trying to help people. It’s admirable. But making plans? What’s the point? You know I trust you implicitly, Saji-kun, but I feel like isolating any group of people is...I don’t know, dangerous?

SHUJI: Oh, um...it was my idea. I thought Alena-chan should have more time to prepare for having to interact with Nishimuraya-san, and he’d need some time to decompress after hanging out with Roxxy-chan.

KYO: Hmm. I guess that makes sense I just...I don’t know, maybe it’s paranoid of me to worry about that sort of thing. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

SHUJI: It will. Thanks for worrying, though. Someone’s gotta, right?

Kyo smiles at me, their warm eyes watching me perhaps a little more closely than usual. I don’t know if that’s a look of respect or...something else. For such an open person, they’re pretty hard to read.

//Masanori enters, looking tired.

MASANORI: Hey, Saji-san.

SHUJI: Oh hey dude. I was just talking about you. In a good, positive, non traitory way.

MASANORI: [Narrows eyes.] Well when you put it like that of course I’m gonna think you’re fucking lying.

SHUJI: Yeah I definitely should have seen that coming. I was just telling Katayama-san that I was about to leave to go meet up with you.

MASANORI: That’s why I’m here.

SHUJI: Oh, you wanna walk together? Cool, we can go collect Alena-chan on our way.

MASANORI: No, you dipshit. Agyros-san cancelled. I knocked on her door to see if she was coming and she practically screamed at me.

SHUJI: Screamed…?

MASANORI: She’s so fucked up and paranoid about the murder thing she decided that our whole plan was suspicious. She called both of us murderers.

KYO: Well, it kindof is.

SHUJI: She must have gotten set off again.

MASANORI: I guess she’s assuming we were gonna team up and kill her or something. Bitch.

SHUJI: Hey. Don’t talk about her like that.

MASANORI: Yeah, whatever. I’ll behave. Don’t know why you’d wanna hang out with someone so off putting...but whatever.

SHUJI: Haha...yeah...why would I…

Kyo muffles a laugh.

MASANORI: Do you still wanna hang out?

I glance over at Kyo, who looks concerned. They look at me, but their expression doesn’t change.

SHUJI: The whole point was getting you to talk to new people...Why don’t you try being nice to someone?

KYO: Pure Virtual-san, Roxxy-chan, and the Kaimi siblings have been taking inventory of the supply room, if you’d like to help out.

MASANORI: Oh, and make me do all the work? You just wanna get rid of me!

SHUJI: Actually I think that’s a good idea. Plus, isn’t it smart to make sure you know anything that could be used against you?

MASANORI: Would they...accept me?

Was that...was that Masanori letting his guard down?

SHUJI: Roxxy-chan will vouch for you. Go on, be nice.

Masanori hesitates for a moment, and then leaves.

SHUJI: Do you think I should check on her?

Kyo hums for a bit.

KYO : How did that go the other night?

SHUJI : She screamed at me.

KYO : I think giving her space is probably the best thing. She’s behind a locked door, right? She’ll be safe.

SHUJI : Yeah…

KYO: Actually, I have a favor to ask you, Saji-kun.

SHUJI: Huh? What’s up?

KYO: Teach me to do laundry.

They stare at me, their gaze entirely level, their mouth curling slightly at the corners. It’s almost expectant, but not in the needy way most people look at me when they want something.

SHUJI: Oh, that’s all? Sure.

Kyo breaks into a wide smile and sighs in what seems to be relief. I didn’t expect so much tension from just asking for a basic lesson, but they look totally relaxed now that I’ve agreed. Maybe Kyo is just as weird as the rest of us in here. I guess you can’t hyper-specialize at something as a kid and teenager and not come out a little bit odd, right?

We leave the dining room together to find Yui, who has joined the group trying to write down everything in the supply room. It seems like a truly monumental task, since the writers themselves didn’t really feel like figuring out everything that went in there, but we steal her away to hang out while we do laundry. I spot Masanori and give him a nod, and I think he makes a face at me. It’s hard to tell with the mask.

The next stop is Kyo’s room, to gather their dirty laundry. Their room is almost identical to mine, but they’ve taken the time to decorate it a little. They’ve hung colorful scarves on the walls, covering the metal paneled window with something patterned and cute, and littered their entire desk with makeup and other grooming accessories.

Nothing strikes me as particularly odd, but reminds me that I should probably customize my living space a bit since I’ll be here for a while.

I shake my head vigorously. I refuse to get used to this place. We’re going to get rescued, or figure out a way to escape, and nobody’s gonna die! I repeat it in my head so I don’t forget. It’s important.

KYO: You alright?

They’re looking at me with one eyebrow raised, but their expression is mostly just concerned.

SHUJI: Oh, yeah. Just lost in thought. Say, where’d you get that mirror on your desk?

KYO: I hated the lighting in the bathroom, so I rifled through that supply closet until I found a standing mirror I could put on my desk! The lighting is tres natural in here, don’t you think?

YUI: That closet is really full of random things. I half wonder if there might be weapons or something else dangerous in there…

SHUJI: Is that why you were doing inventory?

YUI: That’s the spirit behind it, anyway.

KYO: Do we have to bring our own laundry sauce, or is it in the laundry place already?

YUI: Detergent.

SHUJI: No it’s definitely laundry sauce. I’m the laundry expert here, Yui-san, don’t forget.

I grin at her with the confidence that only somebody who’s just told a really mediocre joke can muster.

YUI: [Smiling shyly] Oh, I suppose I did forget.

KYO: Answer the question!

SHUJI: Do you have any laundry sauce in here?

KYO: ...No. I suppose I’d have to raid that closet again.

SHUJI: If you don’t have it, then we can assume it’s in the laundry room. C’mon, got your stuff?

Kyo makes an affirmative noise and hoists their laundry basket on their hip like a French peasant in the 1600s with a basket full of potatoes, or wheat, or whatever French peasants grow. They look firm and strong in their convictions, but the effect passes when they lock eyes with me and grin.

I gesture for the pair to follow me, and we make our way to the laundromat without incident. I demonstrate throwing clothes in the washer, dumping some ‘laundry sauce’ in with complete abandon, and pressing the ‘go’ button.

KYO: Well now I’m embarrassed.

SHUJI: Why’s that?

KYO: That was ridiculously easy. I didn’t need someone to teach me that.

SHUJI: Well there’s the hidden final step that’s actually rather time consuming.

KYO: [Eyes lit up.] Oh? Have I need for a teacher after all, perchance?

SHUJI: Yup, here’s how it goes.

I pull up a seat on one of the folding chairs stashed around the room, and snatch a magazine from the rack along the wall.

SHUJI: Now we have to wait for it to beep.

Kyo looks disappointed for a moment, but smiles cheerfully at me all the same. The two of them mimic my action, and we sit in a small triangle so we can chat as we wait.

The magazine isn’t recent. It isn’t even a good one, about celebrities or science or anything. It seems to be a bunch of pictures of The Fey, posing in various rooms in the Mansion. Apparently they can make kissy faces if they want to. I hate it.

All of the articles are about methods to kill someone. Apparently, people can bleed out in just a few minutes if they’re cut in the right place. It’s disgusting.

I toss the magazine to the side not a full minute after picking it up.

YUI: Something on your mind?

Saying ‘The Fey is annoying’ would be way too boring and predictable. Now my mind is so preoccupied with death… Ugh.

SHUJI: Have you ever had a near-death experience?

YUI: [Alarmed] What?

KYO: [Intensely amused] Now that’s a question! I should write that down for ice breakers to use at parties!

SHUJI: [Laughing awkwardly] Ha, well, have you?

YUI: I have, actually. It’s quite the story.

KYO: It was when we were in late elementary school, I think. We all--

SHUJI: Kyo-san, if you don’t mind, I think I’d like to hear Yui-san tell it. It’s her near death, right?

KYO: Oh...of course, naturally. Yui, take it away.

YUI: [Adjusting her glasses] Very well. It’s as Kyo says, when we were in late elementary school. There was a class trip to the beach, and I unfortunately did not know how to swim. Being a foolish and adventurous child, I did not let that stop me from playing in the waves.

KYO: Adventure isn’t foolish!

YUI: It is when you’re 11 years old and nearly drown, I would think.

KYO: It was that early adventurous nature that lead us to meet! It paid off, in a way.

YUI: That’s...true. Either way, I came very close to drowning. When people picture someone drowning, they picture someone with their arms flailing over their head, with screams and gasps. When you picture someone drowning, it’s obvious. It’s easy to fix. That’s not how people really drown.

KYO: I saw her in the water, mostly limp, bobbing in the waves. Everybody else was preparing to leave, and the teachers had their hands full of every other student who was whining and complaining or babbling excitedly--you know, how kids do.

YUI: There were multiple classes present on the trip, after all. I don’t blame them for not noticing me there. I was conscious, but only barely. I was so sure I would die, but I didn’t know what death meant. I had passed fear into...almost calmness. Kyo saved me.

SHUJI: What? Kyo did?

KYO: I noticed her in the water, and I didn’t even think about it. I’ve always been a strong swimmer, so I dove in and went after her.

YUI : The lifeguards at the beach were so embarrassed.

SHUJI: That’s incredible! You literally saved her life! No wonder you two are so close!

KYO: We’ve been best friends ever since! Her family’s pretty poor, so I was able to help out with her transition and stuff in middle school, buying clothes and what not. She’s the best person in the world to help, so it’s easy.

YUI: [Embarrassed] Don’t act as if you’re not in need of help yourself, Mx I Don’t Know How to Do Laundry.

KYO: I know how to now, don’t I? You just shove it all in there.

SHUJI: Couldn’t have put it better myself. What an apt pupil.

YUI: Don’t flatter them too much, they’ll believe you.

SHUJI: Haha, I’ll keep that in mind. But that really is amazing! Talk about friendship forged through fire! Or, uh, water. In this case.

KYO: It was a life changing event for the both of us, though I’d wager Yui got more out of it.

YUI: What’s a life compared to an entire career?

SHUJI: Are you saying that Kyo-san saving your life starting their career from saving you? I’m not sure I follow.

KYO: Well, because of--

SHUJI: Also a life is definitely more important than a career. Sorry for interrupting. Go on.

KYO: [Easy going] I’m with you on that, Shuji-kun. Yui’s life is more valuable than anything yet I’ve done. But I will go on, thank you! I got a lot of media attention for saving Yui’s life, and with some help from Yui and my parents, I tried to do something good with it. I threw my first charity dinner, open only to my classmates at the time, that same year. They paid for their entry, and the money they paid went toward better funding for lifeguards as well as swimming lessons for those without access to them.

SHUJI: That’s incredible! Both of you really affected each other’s lives to the point of shaping each other as people.

KYO: I’m grateful for Yui every single day. She’s very, very good at what she does.

YUI: And Kyo is too quick to downplay their own achievements. If they, personally, were not so good at party planning and execution, their charity galas would be meaningless. Nobody would care.

KYO: And I wouldn’t be able to do any of that without you keeping everything in line!

SHUJI: I’m super jealous of you two. I wish I had a best friend like that.

I feel a twinge, somewhere deep in my chest, but it’s not the kind of thing I can understand so I ignore it. There’s no hospital here anyway, so I probably won’t die.

KYO: I can’t say the circumstances are ideal, but I’m sure you’ll make really good friends here if you keep going the way you’re going.

YUI: You can count us among your friends, even if we haven’t changed your life quite yet, as well.

I’m genuinely taken aback. This is way nicer than I would’ve expected from anyone, especially given that I’ve only known the duo for a few days. And all of those days were in a murder mystery mansion where we’ve been told to kill each other for money.

I think of all the people I’ve met since waking up on the floor of the foyer, and I think of my relationship with all of them. All in all, for such an off the wall environment, I’ve made some serious forays into friendship in the short time I’ve known them.

I smile back at Yui and Kyo, hoping they can’t see the tears threatening to form in my eyes.

Not sure what to say to convey how grateful I am to have people like them considering themselves my friends, I open my mouth to try to say something stupid about it anyway.

Before I can say anything heartwarming or really dumb (either would have been acceptable, I think), Bo comes tottering into the room.

They look ashy and pale, from what I can see of their face, and hesitate for a long while before saying anything. Yui, Kyo and I stay silent, letting them speak their peace rather than interrupting whatever process they seem to be going through.

BO: Can you...please...come with me?

This isn’t like them at all. There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach, and it feels like the whole world loses focus a bit. I refuse to acknowledge it. I refuse to say what I’m thinking. I nod mutely and follow them.

KYO: Is, um, everything okay?

BO: I didn’t...I don’t…

They shake their head. Whatever the problem is, it doesn’t seem like they’re in a place to articulate it.

Bo leads us all to the sitting room, and any optimistic guesses as to what might have been going on drop like a lead curtain.

???: Bing bong! A body has been discovered!