I Will Always Be Behind You

"So, what should we do now? Should we put the scalpel back?"

Yukino asked with a grave expression.

"We're still within the safe period, so let's continue exploring for now. As for the scalpel, we'll keep it with us and put it back once night falls."

The scalpel was the only weapon the three of them had at the moment. No one could predict if any accidents would occur later, so keeping a defensive weapon was the right call.

"Um..." Tuanzi spoke up then. "Yamauchi Haruki is coming over."

Because Tuanzi was standing by the door frame, Yamauchi Haruki would see her the moment he turned his head after stepping out, which was why he knew exactly where the three of them were.

"Let him come. At least he isn't wandering around aimlessly."

Bai Yuze had two reasons for having Tuanzi guard the door: first, to prevent Yamauchi Haruki from eavesdropping, and second, to ensure Yamauchi Haruki could find them after reading the rules. After all, his talent for causing trouble was certainly noteworthy.

"Oi! Yuigahama-chan, how did you guys end up here?"

Faced with Yamauchi's question, Tuanzi bluffed without a hint of hesitation or a change in her complexion.

"Ahahaha, it's because we were... we were arranging the sleeping quarters! Yes! That's right! Sleeping quarters!"

Yamauchi didn't realize there was anything strange about Tuanzi's words; his mind was now completely filled with the mention of sleeping quarters.

"Hehehe, sleeping quarters... hehehe..."

Yamauchi began to scheme. They were in a dangerous dungeon, so for the sake of safety, they certainly wouldn't be sleeping alone. That meant he could spend the night in a room with the girls...

When the time came, he could just pretend the floor was too hard, lie on the bed, and "accidentally" make a few small moves—that would be perfectly normal, right? Everything falling into place naturally would be normal too, right?

"Hehehe! Who am I sharing a room with?"

Yamauchi Haruki couldn't wait. Whether it was the passionate and curvaceous Yuigahama Yui or the cold, beautiful, long-haired girl, both were his ideal types.

Although the long-haired girl was a bit flat, that didn't matter; to Yamauchi Haruki, that was actually a bonus!

"You're sharing a room with me, of course."

A pair of hands pulled Yamauchi Haruki into the room from the hallway, and then he saw Bai Yuze's "kind and benevolent" face. He couldn't help but gulp.

"Um... can I change roommates?"

Yamauchi Haruki was somewhat reluctant. This was worlds apart from the scene he had imagined. Not to mention that he didn't have any homosexual tendencies, even if he did, given Bai Yuze's strength, he would likely be the one on the bottom...

That was something Yamauchi Haruki absolutely! Absolutely! Could not tolerate!

"Uh... if you really want to change roommates, it's not impossible..."

Bai Yuze said with a strange expression, and upon hearing this, Yamauchi Haruki's previously dull eyes suddenly lit up with excitement!

"Really? Then I have one small request... which is... can I sleep on the bed?"

Even Yamauchi Haruki knew he was pushing his luck, but opportunities were meant to be seized. If he secured the bed first, he would secure the initiative.

When the time came, he would act like a gentleman, be considerate, and let the other person sleep soundly on the bed. No one could resist his charm, right?!

"As long as you don't mind, you can even cuddle it to sleep, though it might be a bit noisy at night. You'd better be prepared to endure it."

"Noisy is good! I love it when things are noisy!"

"Alright then, since that's the case, you can sleep with the person on the bed. Do you want to go up and experience it first?"

Bai Yuze pointed behind him. Because his positioning happened to block Yamauchi Haruki's view, Yamauchi hadn't seen the corpse lying on the bed.

"The person on the bed? Oh. Huh? Ah!"

Yamauchi finally saw the dead body lying on the bed and the blood splattered on the wall. His vision went black, and he fainted on the spot.

"Good grief, I thought this kid had a strong constitution. Turns out he was just putting on a brave face!"

Bai Yuze scoffed, but Yukino felt puzzled by this.

"If he's scared, why not just express it directly? Why force himself to endure it?"

Faced with Yukino's confusion, Tuanzi was the first to provide an answer.

"Because he doesn't want to lose face in front of people he cares about. It's just like a boy trying to hold back tears in front of his mom and dad."

"Does that mean he thinks of me as his mother?"

Yukino gave a unique answer, one that left Tuanzi speechless.

"Then by that logic, does that make me his dad?"

Bai Yuze joked as well. He woke Yamauchi Haruki up, allowing him to see a bit more of the world—didn't that count as a gift of rebirth? By that measure, he was practically Yamauchi Haruki's foster father!

Bai Yuze didn't notice Yukino's ears slowly turning red. She coughed lightly.

"Could the perverted kidnapper please not be so full of himself? Otherwise, you'll have to add the honorary title of 'shameless' to your name."

"Uh... 'shameless' doesn't sound like a compliment, does it? I'll just pretend you're praising me!"

When faced with trouble, play dumb first—this was a principle Bai Yuze had realized. Even if he understood the subtext of Yukino's words, he would pretend he didn't.

"Ahahaha, let's continue looking for clues. The time outside is one o'clock in the afternoon, but the clock already says it's four o'clock!"

Tuanzi's words pulled the two of them back to reality, and Bai Yuze immediately laid out a strategic plan.

"You two continue to look for clues in 103. I'll take the scalpel and check 105 alone. Keep an eye on the time, and when the clock hands reach six-thirty, come and remind me."

"Okay! Then I'll head over first!"

With that, Tuanzi ran toward 103, as if deliberately creating space for the two of them.

The air grew somewhat silent.

"Um... aren't you going over yet?"

Faced with Yukino's inquiry, Bai Yuze explained.

"I'll deal with this guy first before heading over. You go help Tuanzi first."

Yukino remained unmoved. Bai Yuze looked at her with some confusion, and then Yukino spoke softly.

"Do you also force yourself to hold on?"

This question was completely unexpected. Bai Yuze thought for a moment and answered with a serious expression.

"I suppose so. After all, everyone does that."

Upon receiving the answer, the young girl was silent for a while, and then the face etched into the boy's heart appeared.

"If you encounter any difficulties, you can tell me. I will share the burden with you."

The young girl's gentle words and gentle expression left the boy stunned. Knowing Yukino's personality well, he was very clear about what she meant by saying this.

Seeming to realize that her behavior was a bit improper, Yukino coughed lightly and added.

"Of course, Yuigahama will help you too. We will all be behind you..."

After Yukino finished speaking, she ran out. Seeing this, Bai Yuze just smiled.

"What a truly awkward, troubled girl!"

He paused, then added.

"She's actually quite cute."