"What should we do now? Should we put the scalpel back?"
Yukino asked gravely.
"We're still within the safe period, so let's keep exploring for now. As for the scalpel, we'll hold on to it and put it back when night falls."
The scalpel was the only weapon the three of them had at the moment. No one could predict whether something unexpected might happen later, so it was only sensible to keep a weapon for self-defense.
"Um..." Tuanzi spoke up. "Yamauchi-kun is coming over."
Since Tuanzi was standing by the doorframe, Yamauchi Haruki could see her as soon as he turned around after stepping outside. That was how he knew where the three of them were.
"So what if he comes? At least he hasn't gone wandering off."
Bai Yuze had asked Tuanzi to keep watch for two reasons: to stop Yamauchi from eavesdropping, and to make sure he could find them after reading the rules. After all, Yamauchi had a proven talent for getting into trouble.
"Oi! Yuigahama-chan, why'd you all come over here?"
In response to Yamauchi's question, Tuanzi bluffed without batting an eye.
"Ahaha, we were... arranging our rooms for the night! Yeah! That's right! Our rooms!"
Yamauchi didn't notice anything odd about what Tuanzi said. His mind was already filled with thoughts of sharing a room.
"Heh heh, a room for the night... Heh heh..."
Yamauchi began scheming. They were in a dangerous instance, so they obviously wouldn't be staying alone. That meant he could spend the night in the same room as a girl...
He could pretend the floor was too hard, then lie down on the bed and "accidentally" get a little handsy. That'd be perfectly normal, right? And if things progressed naturally after that, that'd be normal too, right?
"Heh heh! Who am I rooming with?"
Yamauchi Haruki could barely contain his impatience. Whether it was the fiery, voluptuous Yuigahama Yui or the beautiful, aloof girl with long black hair, they were both his type.
The long-haired girl was a little flat, but that was a bonus in Yamauchi's book!
"Of course, you're rooming with me."
A pair of hands pulled Yamauchi inside. He then saw Bai Yuze's "kindly" face and swallowed nervously.
"Um... Can I switch roommates?"
Yamauchi wasn't keen on the idea. This was worlds apart from the scene he'd imagined. He wasn't into men, and even if he were, with Bai Yuze's strength, he'd probably be the one on the bottom...
That was absolutely, absolutely unacceptable to Yamauchi Haruki!
"Uh... If you really want a different roommate, that can be arranged..."
Bai Yuze gave him an odd look. At that, the lightless look in Yamauchi's eyes suddenly brightened!
"Really? Then I have one more little request... I... Can I sleep on the bed?"
Even Yamauchi Haruki knew he was pushing his luck, but opportunities had to be seized. If he claimed the bed first, he'd have the upper hand.
Then he could act like a gentleman and let the other person sleep comfortably in the bed. No one could resist his charm, right?!
"As long as you don't mind, you can even cuddle up with it while you sleep. Though it might make a bit of noise at night, so you'd better put up with it."
"I love a bit of noise! The noisier, the better!"
"Fine. Then you can sleep with the person on the bed. Want to try it out first?"
Bai Yuze pointed behind him. He was standing in just the right spot to block Yamauchi's view, so Yamauchi hadn't noticed the corpse lying on the bed.
"The person on the bed? Oh. Huh? Ah!"
Yamauchi finally saw the corpse on the bed and the blood splattered across the wall. Then his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Wow, I thought this kid had a pretty strong stomach. Turns out he was just forcing himself to hold it together!"
Bai Yuze scoffed, but Yukino looked puzzled.
"If he was scared, why not just say so? Why force himself to keep it together?"
Tuanzi was the first to answer Yukino's question.
"Because he doesn't want to embarrass himself in front of someone he cares about. Like a boy trying not to cry in front of his mom and dad."
"So he thinks of me as his mom?"
Yukino offered a different interpretation, leaving Tuanzi speechless.
"Then by that logic, I'm his dad?"
Bai Yuze joked, too. He'd woken Yamauchi Haruki up so he could see a little more of the world. Did that count as giving him a new lease on life? By that reasoning, he was practically Yamauchi Haruki's adoptive father!
Bai Yuze didn't notice Yukino's ears slowly turning red. She cleared her throat a few times.
"Would you please stop being so full of yourself, Mr. Perverted Kidnapper? Otherwise, I'll have to give you the honorary title of 'Shameless.'"
"Uh... 'Shameless' doesn't sound like much of a compliment. I'll take it as one anyway!"
When trouble arose, Bai Yuze had learned to play dumb. Even if he understood what Yukino meant, he'd pretend he didn't.
"Ahaha, let's get back to searching for clues. It's one in the afternoon outside, but the clock has already reached four!"
Tuanzi's words brought the two of them back to the present, and Bai Yuze immediately laid out their plan.
"You two keep looking for clues in 103. I'll take the scalpel and check 105 alone. Keep an eye on the time, and come get me when the clock reaches six thirty."
"Okay! I'll get going, then!"
With that, Tuanzi ran toward 103, as if deliberately giving the two of them some space.
The air fell silent.
"Um... Aren't you going over there first?"
Bai Yuze answered Yukino's question.
"I'll deal with this guy before I go. You should go help Tuanzi first."
Yukino still didn't move. Bai Yuze looked at her, puzzled, and then she spoke softly.
"Do you force yourself to keep it together too?"
The question caught him completely off guard. Bai Yuze thought for a moment before answering seriously.
"I guess so. Everyone does, after all."
After hearing his answer, the girl fell silent for a while. Then the face that had left its mark on the boy's heart appeared before him.
"If you run into any difficulties, you can tell me. I'll face them with you."
The girl's gentle words and expression left the boy stunned. He knew Yukino's personality well enough to understand what she meant by those words.
As if she'd realized she'd been a little too forward, Yukino cleared her throat a few times and added,
"Of course, Yuigahama will help you too. We'll all be right behind you..."
After she finished speaking, Yukino ran out. Bai Yuze could only smile as he watched her go.
"What a contrary, troubled girl!"
He paused, then added,
"She's pretty cute, though."
Before you continue