"So you're going to escape again?"

Katsuragi was staring right into my eyes as he asked.

"Yes?"

"Don't you feel bad for escaping all the time like some mouse? Is it fun to live your life as a coward who escapes every time you see danger?"

Is that supposed to be a provocation?

If it's a provocation then he succeeded. Right now I'm very angry. Is it because he called me a mouse? No. It's because of the last sentence.

If I was a coward I wouldn't have died that day while protecting some unknown kid. I dreamed of a quiet life all my life but nothing goes the way I want. I had no choice but to 'act' brave in order to fill my empty stomach.

"So what? What's wrong with running away from danger?"

I answered his question with a question. Just because that person escapes don't mean they're coward. It's called 'tactical retreat'.

"Don't you have any pride? I saw you running away from Riku and that annoying girl earlier. How long are you planning to run?"

So he saw me with those two. But I don't understand him. Is he pitying me? A person who tried to blackmail me of all people? That's worse than an insult.

"As far as I can, to a place none of you psychos can reach me. Can you let go of my hand now?"

As far as I can. Such as my original world or another country.

"Pfff-hahaha... you're so fun. I feel like I really am becoming a psycho now you mentioned it"

His serious expression suddenly changed into a bright one. A similar situation with Riku happened again. It seems like regardless of whatever I say, I end up becoming a laughingstock.

An annoying message appeared in front of me again. For a moment I hoped I discovered the hidden character but it feels different.

Because I was busy processing this new words I failed to notice Katsuragi slowly leaning towards me.

"Go back to the orphanage. You can watch something entertaining from there"

He whispered before let go of my wrist. Without losing any single second I ran to the opposite direction with all my might.

[System! What's the hidden route?]

Fortunately it was a free question. However running while reading this and looking at the map in my hand at the same time was difficult.

I was hopeful when I saw the notification first but now that I read the explanation it feels hopeless. If I choose the hidden route then both Saito and Katsuragi might become a yandere.

Imagine a battle between Saito, Katsuragi and Sakura?

This world will end.

The message shined dangerously. Seeing how serious Katsuragi was earlier I had no choice but to head towards the orphanage first.

There's not a single soul around here so it was really creepy. Nevertheless I have to get there before this stupid point reached ten. I've to buy enough time for Riku to find the second person with Asuka's information.

After hour of walking and running, I finally reached the old wooden house known as Asuka's old home, the orphanage. It looks more like a haunted house with those cracks all around the house.

However even if it looked like a haunted house it was way too quiet. Usually children run around this area and hug Asuka, /me/, every time I enter.

In the second route I came here few times before the welcoming ceremony. It was never this quiet.

'Again with the orphanage..'

I remembered Sakura's disappointed voice from earlier.

Is she planning to do something to them?

Without any hesitation I entered the orphanage. A noise of children crying and muffled screams can be heard from the second floor.

She really is doing something to them..

When I reached the place where the noise was coming from, I can clearly hear Sakura's voice inside it.

"Now that I prepared everything let's call our main character here~" she said in a mocking tone and my phone started to ring not long after that.

Since I have already been discovered I opened the door. A guys in suit as well as Sakura, who is sitting on some poor child's back who looked like around 13 or 14 years old all stared at me.

The other children were currently sitting on the floor surrounded by few guys with a guns. Ms. Ito and other two lady were protectively hugging the children from the gun.

"I missed you sooo much, Yoshino-chan.. do you know how hard it was for me to endure seeing you with that gloomy guy everyday? Then you were meeting with that sly bastard and started to lie to me. You weren't like that before so I reached a conclusion and a way to solve this problem!"

Sakura got up and started spinning around the room like she was dancing. She looked extremely happy as she continued to speak in her dramatic tone.

"It's all because you entered a place with many people! I become no longer interesting to you because you were meeting many new people right? That's why you wanted to make new friends. So if you only look at me will you be able to forget those bastards? How about quit school and.."

"Shut the f*ck up and leave the kids out of this. What the hell is wrong with you? Do you even have a brain in that pretty head of yours? How dare you lay a hand on innocent children?" I couldn't help but yell at her.

I couldn't handle the innocent small teary eyes looking at me hopefully. That's why I hate children.

They have to grow up in a bright environment to become a proper human being.

I too wanted a childhood like that. That's why seeing these brats experiencing things worse than me pisses me off. They're incapable of protecting themselves in situations like this so I always have to step in even though I have to save my ass as well.

"Ho, are you angry? But since they're in my hands I have one condition.."

I knew it. She's taking them as hostages.

"Be my doll. Just stay in my house and be pretty. I'll take really good care of you"

Her eyes looked like they weren't focusing on the present me but the future me she's imagining in her brainless head.

She walked towards me slowly step by step. However I couldn't back down here or I'll have to see the gruesome sight of children dying in front of me.

Even though they're just game characters..

Even though I died because of these pitiful things..

How can I leave them? Specially the ones without parents' protection? As an adult it's also part of my duty.

Damn, why am I so weak against children? They always bring me a bad luck.

Because I was deep in thoughts I didn't realize what Sakura was doing until I feel a sharp pain on my leg.

"Uaaaghhhh!! What did you.."

I couldn't help but scream in pain. My left leg that was finally healing from the car accident was stabbed, causing me to kneel down in front of this crazy girl who is holding a knife covered in my blood.

"You don't have to walk around since you're my doll. I don't think you need that mouth either because I don't like it when you talk with others.. well, I can just sew your mouth but I really didn't want to damage these beautiful legs... Anyway, guys please carry her to the car. We're going home now, Yoshino-chan"

Do I even have a choice?

Instead of seeing my mouth sewed up by this crazy bitch I decided to scream for help while my mouth is still open.

"Katsuragi!!! Help me!!"

_____