Naptime
You sit down on the floor, making yourself comfortable. “If you want the book, you can come and take it. I will be right here.”
“Stubborn to the end, I see,” grimaces Kayano. “Very well. Let’s see how long you can last in there.” She turns around and approaches Kozaka, Shiba, Murano, Sawada and the maid in turn, whispering in their ear. Their expressions are grim after she has finished, and they begin to herd the ones who had been following you towards a corner, away from you. It looks like Uehara, Amanozaki and Sakimura will continue to be kept under guard.
***
After some time, everyone settles down, unable to maintain their heightened alertness despite the danger they think you pose. Perhaps they have become complacent from your inability to pass the barrier, or perhaps they do not think there would be anyone willing to help you get free anymore. Even Murano, who is supposed to be
paid for his watchfulness, has lost his concentration; he is muttering to himself alone, rubbing the mark on his forehead.
“Hey, Leader,” someone whispers. It’s Sawada – he has chosen to approach you while you thinks nobody is looking… though of course, you see Kayano monitoring him watchfully from her perch on the sofa. “Tell me something… if we want you to destroy that book, you’d do it, right?”
Of course not! Tell him that, Acchan!
“D-Destroy? Didn’t you want to safeguard it?”
“That’s just what Kayano told us to say… she said if we were upfront about our plan to destroy the book, the chances of you cooperating us would be even lower, right? She said that you would never give it up then. So, am I correct? You’d destroy it, right? We’d trust you then, even if you are a ghost. I mean, not all ghosts are bad, after all, right?
Right… yeah, of course it’s not right! The nerve of this guy, asking you to destroy your most faithful and loyal and bestest companion!
Ei seems to be rather offended, but you find yourself agreeing with her opinion, even if only partially. Without her help, you are not sure if you would have made it so far. The ghosts in Kaimei are proving to be a lot more brutal and deadly than they were back in Ikei. “You’re… asking a lot, Sawada-san. Besides, it’s not fair to ask me to destroy the book without telling me why.”
Sawada seems crestfallen when you do not reply in the affirmative. He begins to explain, “Well, the book has to be destroyed because it’s the-“
“Sawada-san, why are you telling him so much?” Kayano asks, looming over him.
Oh, here she is! Come on, Acchan, let me break the barrier and hug that old hag to death!
“Ah, uh, Kayano-san, just attempting to convince Shinoseki-san to cooperate with us.”
“Would he, now? Now that you’ve told him this, I am
certain he will not hand the book over. Is that not so, Shinoseki-san?”
You shrug. “Maybe if you told me why it should be destroyed.”
“Well, let’s see… what if I told you that it’s the thing that is keeping us trapped here?” she says conspiratorially.
You lying, stupid, cow-tittied-
“What proof do you have?”
Kayano merely smiles enigmatically and walks away, leaving you and Sawada behind.
“Sawada-san, what did she tell you?”
Sawada shakes his head. “I’m… sorry, I need to think about this.” He looks slightly perplexed, rubbing his chin as if something has slipped his mind and he is trying to remember it. As he walks off, leaving you alone yet again, you spot Amanozaki and Uehara conferring off to one side. Uehara raises her head and glances at you – your eyes meet for just a second before she continues talking to Amanozaki.
***
You continue waiting, and their guard has become even more relaxed. Some of them have even fallen asleep, draped over the couches and benches. Even so, it does not seem like anything can be done at the moment; touching the barrier, it is just as firm as it was before. You hunch over, the boredom overtaking you. Your eyelids begin to droop, and you nod off…
You catch yourself before your chin touches your chest. “I don’t have much time, do I?” you mutter, looking at the circle on the floor. Then, you glance at Kayano, who has continued to keep an eye on you like a hawk. “Kayano-san,” you whisper, throwing your voice so that she hears it most clearly. “Kayano-san, I have something to tell you.” You raise your hand and beckon at her amicably like a cat.
Her eyebrows arched, she walks over to you with a prideful strut. “What is it? Are you finally seeing reason?”
“I just wanted to praise you, Kayano-san,” you nod, speaking softly so that only she can hear. “It must not have been easy to create this barrier.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Shinoseki-san. That is rather besides the point, isn’t it? What is important is the grimoire-“
“The people at IAE believe that the soul can be read, that it is unseen energy which contains information, and of course, that it has its own wavelength and frequency. Attuning a barrier on such short notice, without any proper equipment… that is no easy task, Kayano-san. I am
sincerely impressed. They have taught you well.”
The smug smile freezes on her face. “Wh-What…”
What is going on?
“Or should I call you Rina-
sensei? You have been a rather successful triple-agent, haven’t you? I hope it paid well.”
At your words, her expression transforms into one of recognition, and then fear. Kayano’s knees give way and she falls to the floor, bringing her to your level. You lean forward, staring right into her eyes. “It can’t be you. No, this is impossible… y-you are supposed to be dead. Why are you…” she mumbles, her words tumbling out in a rapid cadence.
Wait.
“We are
all dead, Rina,” you say coldly, your smile melting away as you draw yourself up to your full height.
“No… no… he promised… I’m not supposed to be here!” she croaks hoarsely, still staring up at you in fright.
You let out a little laugh, causing her to shrink back. “He didn’t bring you here, but he will not lift a finger to save you either.” Giving her a scathing look, you continue, “Grandfather has abandoned you, you pathetic woman. There will be no escape for you.”
“That’s… that’s not true, if I can only…” Her brow furrows and her fists clench, as if deciding to fight for the book, but by now you can see through her act easily enough – part of the fear and hostility is genuine, but the rest is a façade, an attempt to keep you cautious long enough for her to run.
What are you going to do? I… I can...
The mental resistance seems to cause you to falter for a second. “Do
not interfere,” you hiss under your breath. A flash of intent tells you what is going to happen next. You are going to pass through the barrier, and then you are going to kill Kayano. She is tensed up, ready to flee, but you will not give her the chance to become some recurring thorn in your side. You are faster, stronger.
Out of the corner of your eye you see Uehara and Amanozaki heading your way.
***
A. You desperately increase your resistance, attempting to regain control of your body before you break free of the barrier.
B. You attempt to time your attempt so that you are free of the barrier, but before Kayano is killed.
C. You do not interfere. You will try to retake control after Kayano is dead.
