I meander down the hallways to find the lounge, where I haven’t been yet. I really missed out on a lot of exploration yesterday, I guess. Whatever, I caught up on sleep, I’m fine.

MASANORI: Well, if I’m gonna be brutally honest here--

NORIKO: Don’t.

AIKA: I think we should let him speak. Honestly, I could write a paper on him.

MASANORI: Oh you think I’m your fucking lab rat?

AIKA: Lab rats are quieter. But do go on.

PV: SO WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A KNIGHT?

MASANORI: Jesus Christ why are you shouting?

AIKA: They’re ignoring you.

NORIKO: Thrilling, honestly. I get to do what I love and represent what matters to me every single day. It’s my entire identity.

PV : That’s really interesting. I find, as an artist, I draw lines between aspects of my identity to keep my art pure and separate from the capitalistic trappings of my everyday life. Is life as a performer so different?

NORIKO: There are lines to be drawn, as you said, but honestly I don’t think they’re so much walls between aspects of myself so much as sticks in the sand. I don’t bring my insecurities or fears to the jousting grounds, naturally.

AIKA: Splitting yourself like that can be really dangerous in a crisis, you know. Think if I attacked you with a knife right now; which you would you be? What if you split entirely?

MASANORI: What the fuck are you guys even talking about?!

SHUJI: Wow, this sounds like a really deep conversation.

MASANORI: Oh, our fucking hero is here. Got any pithy advice for us? Gonna tell us it’ll all be okay?

SHUJI: I guess I can if you want me to. I was gonna try to get that fire started.

PV: The surfer must have sent you.

NORIKO: Ah, I don’t suppose you plan on calling The Fey? I’m afraid that didn’t work last time.

SHUJI: Nah, I know how to start a fire. I heard Akiyama-san has a lighter?

AIKA: And you just believed what you were told?

SHUJI: ...Mhm?

AIKA: You’re in luck, nobody lied to you...this time…

SHUJI: Yeah, lucky me. Can I see it real quick?

PV: It is a little chilly in here.

MASANORI: That’s why he’s trying to start a fire, dumbass.

AIKA: You’d better be careful or someone’s gonna push Nishimuraya into the fire. Would that make the one who pushes him culpable, or the one who lit the fire? Here, you can have the lighter for now.

SHUJI: ….thanks…

Yeah, this group is a little less fun to hang out with than the last group. True, Katherine and Miki were a combination fire-cracker wet blanket duo, but at least Miki seems to be watching out for people in their...weird, aggressive way. Aika just makes me uncomfortable.

After a few minutes and some picking at the wood to try to make kindling, the fire is going swimmingly. I turn around proudly to see if anyone noticed, but it seems like they’ve already gotten back to...whatever it was they were doing in here before I arrived.

AIKA: I wonder why you fixate on figures of strength as inspiration, Noro-san. Is it because you feel small? Weak? Helpless? Was there a figure of strength in your childhood who rescued poor little Noriko Noro from big baddies?

NORIKO: I don’t fixate on figures of strength. I use my own strength to stand for those who have none, like our friend Nishimuraya-san here.

MASANORI: I’m not your goddamn friend!

PV: What about you? What makes you want to peel people’s brains apart and look at what’s inside? I bet you’re so caught up in other people’s problems you can’t even see yourself as the shallow bitch you are. No offense.

AIKA: Interesting that you should say something so plainly rude and tack on a ‘no-offense’ as if that’s a curative. You weren’t raised around other children, were you?

MASANORI: I hate all of you. Stop talking.

PV: Children are those who see art the purest, for its colors and light and sound and nothing else. They seek no deeper meaning and are ultimately satisfied with their worlds. I surround myself in those with childlike views to expunge the horrors of adult wants and allow myself to be clear and cleansing with my art.

MASANORI: I just want you to know that vaporwave isn’t fucking art.

AIKA: You avoided my question.

PV: You avoided being a decent human being with respect for social boundaries.

NORIKO: Enough!

SHUJI: Hey! The fire’s going! Yay!

NORIKO: You have my thanks, Saji-san. You three need to stop being so adversarial for the fun of all of it! Under different circumstances I’d let the two of you go at it; you deserve each other. But given that we’re in a situation out of our control that wants us to escalate to violence, you have to stop!

LANI: Hey all! Wow, a fire! Shuji, I’m awake now! Wanna hang out? Soga-kun’s here too!

SHUJI: I would do literally anything to politely leave this room.

LANI: You’re so funny! Come on, we’re gonna walk around. Someone made breakfast!

I leave the room as fast as I can without literally running. The heat of the fire didn’t do anything to diffuse the tension in the room. How can the most comfortable room in the world foster such angry people?

ISEI: Hey, Saji. You smell like fire.

SHUJI: Sharp nose, dude. Yeah, I just got it going so nobody would have to ask The Fey.

ISEI: Yeah, I’d ask as little from her as possible. I don’t know how much surveillance she’s actually doing with the cameras, or how much power she has over us, but I’m not a big fan of inviting her into our space.

LANI: Her space, isn’t it though?

SHUJI: Ugh.

LANI: You alright?

SHUJI: I just don’t like the idea of this being her space. You know what I mean? None of us are at home here, and even if we get used to it...ah, nevermind. I don’t like being negative.

ISEI: It’s not so bad, moving into someone else’s house. I moved in with my aunt when I was a kid and it felt like I’d never get used to it.

LANI: And I moved to Japan recently! Any home can be your home!

I want to make some sarcastic remark about Isei’s aunt asking him to murder his cousins or something, but I’m supposed to be the happy guy. Plus, it seems like it’s in poor taste.

SHUJI: Yeah. So you said you wanted to walk around?

ISEI: When I was looking around last night, when everyone was meeting, I got the feeling that there’s more to this place. I don’t know, I wanted more eyes on it.

LANI: I’ve got eyes!

ISEI: Take a look at this.

He leads us to the foyer where we met The Fey, and each other, and it is almost entirely unremarkable. Clean floors, plants along the steps…

SHUJI: Wait…

LANI: I don’t get it. It looks just like it did when we got here?

SHUJI: Exactly like when we got here. The chandelier is back up.

ISEI: And the floor is clean. Not even Akiyama-san’s ashes are on the floor.

LANI: What does that mean?

ISEI: I’m not sure.

SHUJI: It means somebody cleaned it, right? Either The Fey or other robots or… People.

LANI: Weren’t we talking about how whoever put us here’s gotta have money? Or connections? So this person could have a cleaning crew?

ISEI : You guys are brighter than I initially thought. Um. Sorry.

SHUJI : No, it’s okay. I’m not all that bright, so your assumptions were spot on.

LANI: Speak for yourself, I’m a genius.

SHUJI: And an especially bright one. Get it? Solar technician?

LANI: Oh, you’re hilarious! But what does the rich mastermind having a cleaning crew mean? Don’t most rich people have cleaners?

ISEI: I’m not sure. I just wanted to see if you two came to the same conclusions as I did. Makes it feel less like I’m jumping to conclusions here.

//The Fey enters, checking her clipboard casually.

SHUJI: Oh jeez…

THE FEY : [Startled] Huh, you’re already here? Did I already make the announcement? No...No I didn’t…

LANI: What are you doing here?

THE FEY: What are YOU doing here, brat? I didn’t call for you!

ISEI: Hey, you said we fucking live here, right? Well we’re allowed to walk around however the hell we want.

THE FEY: You have...a point. Not a very good one but it’s there. Whatever, shut up and listen.

It begins speaking into its headset, its voice broadcasting throughout the mansion.

THE FEY: Hey everybody! Get your sorry asses over to the foyer, I’ve got something I need to talk about with you. If you don’t come, you’ll regret it!!

Everyone begins filing into the foyer, a repeat performance from yesterday. I have a sick feeling in my stomach that whatever The Fey is gonna tell us, it isn’t going to be good.

Once everyone is gathered, they rise into the air, well above head-height I guess so that everybody can see them easily. They’re practically preening.

THE FEY: Good, good, you’re all here. Obedient little fuckers, aren’t you?

We exchange nervous glances, but nobody speaks. Even Miki is just silently fuming.

THE FEY: Then again, if you were truly obedient, you’d have some blood on your hands, wouldn’t you?

KYO: Well, in the rules it only says we’re meant to kill in order to leave. Maybe all of us are simply enjoying your hospitality, Fey, uh, sensei?

MIKI: Kiss ass…

MASANORI: Okay, that’s bullshit! I want out of here ASAP, I’m just not about to try to kill any of you fuckers and get killed back!

AIKA: You seem remarkably eager for murder, Nishimuraya-san.

THE FEY: Not eager enough! You’re all sitting around eating eggs, lighting fires, all la-tee-da! I’m sick of it! I’m through! It’s time to mix things up a bit!

ALENA: Mix…?

THE FEY: How do you insufferable children like money ?

KYO: Ha, well. I don’t mean to brag but it’s not exactly on a list of priority needs from me.

THE FEY: Literally nobody has ever cared what you have to say.

KYO: I...see…

THE FEY: The rest of you? You hunger for cash, don’t you? It could solve all your problems. It could make daddy love you.

ROXXY : [Frowning] ...

THE FEY : It could feed your family for the rest of their lives.

ALENA : [Frightened] …!

THE FEY : It could get debtors off your back.

MASANORI : [Angry] ...

THE FEY : Crucial gender affirming surgeries at your fingertips.

SHUJI: [Confused] ...

THE FEY : It could buy you a home.

MIKI: [Disgusted] ...

Everyone is quiet for a moment. I can’t speak for the rest of them, but I certainly spend a moment thinking of how many things in my life would be easier with lots of money. Most of my problems could be solved with money and money alone.

FUMI: [Pissed off.] If you think anyone here would kill for some petty cash, you’re...you’re stupider than you look!

THE FEY: Oh? Oh????

HEJI: Sis, don’t mess with it…

FUMI: I’m sick of all this fear-mongering! It’s a cruel thing to want another person to fear for their life, and I hate cruelty!

THE FEY: So what’s the truth, brats? Is sweet little Fumi-chan right? Or are those baser instincts ticking away in the back of your skull hungering for the money to ensure a happy and comfortable life going to win out?

MIKI: You’re saying if we kill each other, you’ll give us money?

THE FEY: In addition to the gift of never having to see Our Mansion of Plenty again.

AIKA: Except in your guilty nightmares, naturally.

THE FEY: Exactly!

KYO: Wait! How can you even prove that you’ve got the money to back up this ridiculous bribe?

THE FEY: Easy peasy. You’ll just have to check your lovely hotel rooms I’ve provided for you to see. You’d better kill each other quickly. Peace out, bitches.

With that, they leave us to stew in our mixed feelings once again. People whisper among themselves and we all gradually disperse, sticking in groups of threes and fours. Eventually I drift off too, walking to attempt to clear my thoughts.

With money...a permanent home…

But murder?

I couldn’t...but could someone else?

Ultimately I find myself in the laundry room, of all places, and climb atop a laundry machine to sit and think. Sitting on top of things that aren’t meant to be sat on is just a soothing experience, and one I hope to exploit.

BO: Hi there, stranger.

I look up. It’s Bo, that weird kid who keeps telling people they’re an alien. Despite the clear oddity there, they seem nice enough--definitely nicer than the other French person here. I try to smile, but I don’t know how well I do.

SHUJI: Hey. Moreau-san, right?

BO: None other! I mean. There are other Moreaus. Just not like me. Unless there’s clones? [Alarmed.] Uh, nevermind. What are you doing in here?

KATHERINE: Why are you doing laundry? Did you piss your pants or something?

SHUJI: What? No, I just wanted a place to sit and think. Sitting on top of stuff is nice.

KATHERINE: ...weird.

BO: Au contraire! Sitting on top of things gets you closer to the stars, no? I’ll climb up with you! Ueda-sama, join us!

KATHERINE: [shrug.] I guess so.

She climbs up on another machine after Bo, so the three of us are like monkeys in a tree. If the tree were washing machines and the reason for climbing the tree was the fear of death. You know, normal monkey stuff I guess. Out of the corner of my eye I spot Alena, hovering near the doorway, but she doesn’t come in. I try to make eye contact, but she seems to be toying with a leaf again. I’ll leave her be.

SHUJI: I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to either of you much yet, have I?

KATHERINE: Besides the poisoning attempt.

SHUJI: ...right. Yeah. Besides that.

BO: You are a presence among humans, Saji-sama. You make yourself known.

SHUJI: Yeah I could say the same about you two…

KATHERINE: [Completely deadpan] What do you mean?

BO: Huh? I do? I thought my camouflage was working so perfectly!

SHUJI: I think it was working about as well as it could, but, you know…

BO: [Wide eyed] I know?

Uhhhhhh...

SHUJI: It’s hard to keep it up in such a stressful environment?

There’s a pause. I was absolutely bullshitting, but I don’t know how to tell someone like Bo that they’re just weird. Plus, who knows? Maybe they are an alien, who am I to judge? I just hope I didn’t hurt their feelings…

BO: Saji-sama. You are very wise.

SHUJI: I am? I mean, duh. I’m a genius.

KATHERINE: Humble, too.

SHUJI: [Nonplussed] Yup, master of humility. I’m the DJ Khaled of knowing my place.

KATHERINE: [Hiding a laugh] …

BO: So, who do you think is cutest in here?

SHUJI: What, like in this room?

BO: No, of all of us. Who do you like best?

Is this...are they really asking me who I have a crush on in the murder mansion? The murder mansion where we’re all being told to kill each other for cash? I must have misunderstood.

SHUJI: Are you asking me who I have a crush on?

BO: Yeah. Who is it? Who’s cutest?

SHUJI: I’m not sure this is really the most appropriate time to be talking about that. Plus, our memories are all trashed. I don’t know anyone well enough to know anything about feelings.

KATHERINE: Miki-chan is cute.

BO: I like「Pure Virtual」!

SHUJI: Seriously?

BO: They’re so cool! They say a bunch of stuff I don’t understand and I love that about them.

SHUJI : How old are you?

BO : Seventeen.

SHUJI : They might be a little old for you.

BO : Uh, well, I’m only seventeen in human years? That’s like…

They count on their fingers.

BO : I’m like 800, actually.

SHUJI : Then...wouldn’t you be a bit old for them?

BO : Hmm… Well, I can still be friends with someone younger than me… I can’t not be friends with someone with triangle hair, you know?

KATHERINE: Miki’s small and pink. It’s nice.

SHUJI: Now I’m genuinely curious. That’s all it takes?

KATHERINE: [Shrugs.] It can be. Why does it have to be complicated?

SHUJI: I don’t know, I guess I thought the murder mansion thing made things more complicated.

Another silent shrug from Katherine. I guess things are just all sorted out in her head. Am I the only one who’s all in a tizzy about what The Fey said? That idea is simultaneously a relief and a whole new problem. If nobody else wants to kill--that’s fantastic, obviously. But if I’m the only one affected by it...what does that say about me?

This train of thought is brought to screeching halt by the sound of a high pitched scream from another room. Before I can even process it, I’m on my feet and running toward the sound.

Since when do I run toward the sound of danger, anyway?

When I arrive in the dining room, it looks like I’m not the only one who ran to see what had happened. Heiji is sitting on the ground, with Fumi and Roxxy fluttering around him. Roxxy has a washcloth in her hand, presumably taken from the kitchen or one of the bathrooms, and is pressing it to his head with a panicked expression.

I have to push past everyone else to get more context on the situation. Miki is being tied to a chair by Noriko, who looks pretty passive about the whole thing. Nearby is a bunch of shattered ceramic on the floor.

ROXXY: I can’t believe that brat! I can’t believe money is enough to prompt this! Miki-san is going on my list of people it’s okay to slap!

FUMI: I hate to say it, but they’re getting close to my threshold too.

HEIJI: Really, gals, I’m fine. No harm done. It’d take more than a vase to bring ol’ Heiji down!

KATA: You have to realize that the attempt is bad enough to warrant action, right? You can’t be that dull.

HEIJI: [Laughing.] Hey man, you’d be surprised.

KATA: ...must be the head injury.

LANI: Really? Dan-san attacked Heiji-kun with a vase??

NORIKO: It was a foolish and desperate attempt. It won’t happen again.

She tightens the rope around Miki like punctuation on her sentence.

NORIKO: Not while I’m around.

MASANORI: What kind of idiot would attack someone in front of people…

AIKA: An idiot who needs money, I would presume.

MASANORI: ...tch.

AIKA: Is that all you have to say? Is someone else sweating under the heat of a debtor’s collection crew?

MASANORI: Did I at any point say I wanted to hear anything out of your harpy witch mouth?

AIKA: I’m sure you want something from my harpy witch mouth.

MASANORI: I’m extremely gay and also I hate you more than I’ve hated anything in my life.

AIKA: Except for yourself, no?

MASANORI: ARRGH. Someone tell the little pink bitch to try to kill this goth slut next.

MIKI: I’m right here, you absolute cock. All of you can shut the hell up!

NORIKO: I’m not sure anyone truly wishes to follow the commands of a would-be murderer, Dan-san. I’d advise you keep your thoughts to yourself for a while.

FUMI: Enough joking about murder! All of you are terrible! My brother got attacked and you’re just chatting and sassing each other? Awful!

ROXXY: [Distressed.] All of us?

FUMI: Oh, uh, not you Roxxy-chan! You’ve been very kind and helpful!

KATA: I bet if she had a sticker she’d give it to you.

FUMI: I’m not an elementary school teac--

ROXXY: Jokes on you, Ama-chan, I love stickers.

KATA: All children do.

LANI: Anyone who hasn’t let themselves get bitter and horrible loves stickers…

KATA: I rest my case. Children.

SHUJI: Hey uh, I don’t know if this is weird but, should we be focusing on the murder attempt?

HEIJI: Seriously guys, it’s not a big deal. I’m fine!

ROXXY: Hei-chan you’re bleeding! You’re not fine!

HEIJI: I promise, I just got cut a little when the vase smashed.

FUMI: When the vase smashed on your HEAD!

HEIJI: Yeah, that vase. It’s not like Dan-san could ever actually kill me, alright? I’m tougher than that.

He stands up, as if to prove his point, and takes the washcloth off of his head. There’s some blood on it, but considering that it’s a scalp wound, it’s not too concerning.

LANI: [Looking ill.] …

SHUJI: Did you...fight back? How did they get tied to a chair?

HEIJI: Uh, with rope?

YUI: For that matter, where did the rope come from? I believe that those who weren’t present deserve to get a retelling of the situation.

KYO: Luckily for you all, I’m an excellent storyteller. Unless anybody else would like to volunteer?

MASANORI: The dipshit got hit by the angry rat baby. What else is there to tell?

ISEI: If you don’t mind, Katayama-san. I would like to hear the story.

KYO : Oh, I thought Nishimuraya-san’s story was pretty good. Are you sure?

ISEI: ...I’m sure.

KYO: Alrighty then. After the...announcement from The Fey, a group of us set to wandering. Yui-chan went to go find Noriko-chan, while I followed the lovely Kaimi siblings into the dining room. Miki-san was with us, naturally, as was Roxxy-chan. Heiji-kun and I were chatting about beaches we’ve visited, while Miki-san sat on their own. I’m not one to judge, but…

They sigh, looking down. When they look back up, they’re smiling as charming as ever.

KYO: Miki-san was distressed by the motive. They paced for a while, twitching and motioning to themself, while I tried to stay focused on Heiji-kun’s riveting tales of water-based triumph.

HEIJI: No worries, cousin. I can tell you again sometime.

KYO: [Winking.] I’d really enjoy that. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t think too much of Miki-san’s distress, as there were plenty of us in the room. When they grabbed the vase, I stood up to warn Heiji-kun, but Miki-san is faster than they look.

MIKI: Fuck. You.

KYO: They viciously attacked Heiji, swinging the vase and bashing it into his head. He fell out of his chair, the poor thing. The vase shattered, probably because it’s not suited for melee combat, and before Miki-san could find another weapon, Roxxy-chan had grabbed them.

LANI: No way! You just grabbed them?

ROXXY: I didn’t know what to do! I just picked them up!

LANI: Off the ground?!

ROXXY: Well, yeah! They kick hard, F-Y-I everyone.

KYO: While Fumi-chan tended to her brother and Roxxy-chan retained the villain, I found Yui-chan and Noriko-chan. Noriko-chan was wise enough to stop by the supply closet and grab some rope, with which she incapacitated Miki-san further.

SHUJI: I thought I heard screaming, that’s why I came running. It didn’t sound like Heiji...

KYO: Ah, that was Dan-san. A battle cry, I suppose? I can’t say how effective it was, but it definitely startled me.

HEIJI: And then you all showed up and then I don’t know what happens!

NORIKO: What happens is we keep an eye on Dan-san.

KATHERINE: Is that really necessary?

I hadn’t even seen Katherine come in. Most of us are here now, with only Bo, Pure Virtual, and Alena missing. Somewhere in the back of my head, I hope that those two aren’t distressing Alena too much.

More importantly, I suppose, I hope that nobody is dying.

I shake my head to clear the thought from my head, and try to pay attention to the conversation.

YUI: They tried to kill someone. It’s necessary.

KATHERINE: Can you even call that a murder attempt? Like...if they’d tried to kill a baby it might have worked, but not Kaimi-kun. It’s like calling a temper tantrum a murder attempt.

MIKI: Hey!

KATHERINE: Sorry. I just don’t think they ever had a real chance of killing anyone, so it’s not worth punishing. [Shrugs.] Maybe that’s just me.

HEIJI: I’m actually with Ueda-san on this one. It’s not like they could do any harm.

MIKI: I’ll show you harm!

HEIJI: I’m tryna make sure you don’t spend the foreseeable future tied to a chair, kid. Try not to ruin it for me, right?

MIKI: I’ll make my own damn case! I don’t need some brawn-for-brains to help me do shit!

YUI: Alright. Dan-san, present your case. Why should we not contain your violent urges? Are there any reasons beyond you being too weak to actually hurt anybody?

MIKI: [Absolutely Enraged] …

YUI: [Smug] Well?

MIKI: You shut the fuck up too! Why should I have to defend myself to you?!

SHUJI: I mean...you did try to kill someone? With witnesses? I think that’s a pretty good reason for you to have to defend yourself.

MIKI: Eat a dick, Saji!

NORIKO: As it stands, they’ll remain tied to this chair.

KYO: Hey, what about the rule about sleeping in our rooms? I don’t wanna find out what punishment that Fey has in mind for us if we don’t follow along. It’s got murder on the brain and all.

NORIKO: You have a point…

SHUJI: What if someone escorts them to their room and then collects them in the morning?

AIKA: What’s to stop them from simply leaving the room once their guard is asleep?

YUI: Take their key. There’s no rule about stealing--which, honestly, is remiss on the part of our so-called Host--so it shouldn’t warrant punishment.

AIKA: Who would get punished for Dan-san’s sleep indiscretion, anyway? Would it be Dan-san themself, for technically violating the rule, or Noro-san for forcing them to? Perhaps Kaimi-kun could be held responsible, since it was their attack on him that lead to the chair incident?

KATA: You talk too much.

SHUJI: It’s obviously not gonna be Heiji-san that gets punished. Like, we can at least count that out. And we have a solution, so there’s no real point in discussing it?

AIKA: The semantics of the rules in this place could be quite literally life or death.

ROXXY: Can we tie her to a chair next? I hate everything she says.

Aika opens her mouth to speak.

ROXXY: No! Don’t say it! Ugh I already regret it!

Despite the fact that someone had made an attempt at killing someone else...things seem to fall back into expected patterns pretty fast. I feel like I should be more freaked out, but I guess Heiji is right...nothing really came of it, so it’s nothing to be too stressed about.

It can’t be normal, right?

To feel so little shock about attempted murder?

Maybe it hasn’t set in yet.