Chapter Text
"(Name)? (Name) can you hear me?"
Opening your eyes slightly, you're met with the worried face of your friend.
"...Joe? Where am I?"
His eyes widen, and Joe Tazuna pulls you into a bone-crushing hug.
"(Name)! We were so worried you wouldn't make it... How do you feel?"
Remembering what had happened before you passed out, you quickly sit up, clutching your side.
For some reason it doesn't hurt at all, and when you lift your top to inspect the damage you see there's no sign of you having gotten stabbed at all besides a thin scar on the side of your abdomen. There aren't even any holes or blood in the fabric, and a glance at a blushing Safalin confirms that you've been changed into a top identical to your original. Creepy, but not your main worry.
"I...I used my healing salve when you came in here... It... looks like it w-worked..."
Looking to the side again, you see Safalin standing in the corner of the room with her trademark wobbly frown.
"T-Thanks Safalin.." You turn back to Joe.
"Were you guys able to get to Reko in time? Where is she?"
An indistinguishable silence rings out in the office, and your eyes widen at the implication.
"Don't tell me..."
From behind your friend, another voice speaks up.
"No need to be so pessimistic, Mx (Name). Reko's alive and well enough." Sou gives you a rare smile from behind Joe, and you can't help mirroring his expression.
You did it. You saved Joe, and now Reko and Alice are both safe too.
"Her and Nao are still pretty shaken up though, so they'll definitely be glad to see you up and kicking tomorrow!"
You look back at Joe, nodding at his optimism. "Speaking of... How long exactly have I been out?" You get a closer look at Joe as he sits down on the couch next to you, noting the slight darkness under his eyes.
"Have you guys... Even gotten any sleep?" You tilt your head to look at Sou, who purses his lips without answering.
Joe has more than enough words for both of them though, and fills you in on everything you missed. Apparently Gashu decided he wouldn't start the next portion of the game until all the players were conscious, so everyone will have to meet in the medical office once they wake up for the explanation.
According to him you haven't been passed out for more than a few hours, but the stifled yawn Joe lets out is enough for you to decide it's time for both your allies to get some much-needed shut eye.
"Alright, you two. Let's all get our beauty sleep now."
You turn to Safalin in a silent question, and she nods shakily before waving the three of you off.
---
It only feels like a few minutes before you hear a soft knock at your door.
Getting up to turn on the lights, you frown slightly. Who could be trying to talk to you at this time? Not that you have any actual way of knowing how late it is, but the heaviness of your eyelids is enough confirmation for you that it's naptime.
Opening the door tentatively, you sigh in relief when you recognize Sou's unruly teal hair. You're surprised to see him without his beanie, but that's the thing you're least confused about as he invites himself in and settles onto your bed.
"So, we're just skipping the 'hello how are you, this is why i'm at your door' part of the conversation?"
You cross your arms after closing the door behind him, shooting a empty glare Sou's way.
The man in question ignores the jab, instead asking the question you least expected from him.
"Are... You okay?"
Seeing your confused expression, Sou runs a hand through his hair before trying again.
"What I mean is, are you alright like... mentally after that."
You continue to look in confusion at the teal-haired man on your bed, wondering where in the world Sou went and who replaced him.
"I- Well I saved Reko and Alice, so everything's fine anyways."
That doesn't seem to be the answer Sou was looking for, as his expression darkens slightly.
"If you had died, you wouldn't have been able to save anyone." You wince at the bluntness of his words, turning your head slightly.
"Well I survived, and the siblings did too."
Sou shakes his head, frowning as you sit down next to him. "Sou... Are *you* okay?"
The man exhales in exasperation, flopping backwards onto your bed.
"Doesn't matter. What matters is that you don't seem to value your life at all."
That... was absolutely not what you expected him to say.
"P...Pardon?"
Sou rolls onto his side, looking you in the eye despite you being higher than him.
"You do understand just because you died in your old world doesn't mean you don't belong in this one, right?"
You pause at Sou's words, caught off guard by his sudden seriousness.
"It's stupid to take a knife for someone you don't know."
You narrow your eyes at Sou, slightly offended by his words.
"I would do it for you too, y'know."
Sou looks up at you, an indiscernible expression on his pale face.
"Yeah. Stupid."
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"So, all of you have assembled."
You stand between Joe and Reko as Gashu begins his explanation. Everything he's saying you already know, so you tune out until he finishes his speech.
"Card data has already been distributed at random to the voting tablets you possess. All that remains is… the permission to access it."
Q-Taro crosses his arms, frowning at the lanky doll.
"Why’d ya hafta make it so roundabout?!"
"Very sharp indeed, Mr. Q-taro. Because this time, you are able to make trades. And forcibly, at that."
Keiji seems skeptical, holding his chin in his hand as he mulls over Gashu's words.
"We can trade our cards…?"
"Indeed. Now then, let me show you. Come forth, Ring-Up Box…!"
A phone booth rises up from the floor, and you try to mirror the confused and shocked expressions of those around you.
"You may trade cards by making a request at one of these Ring-Up Boxes, situated in each room. They are simple to use. Simply insert 50 tokens and grab the receiver."
Nao pales. "F-Fifty tokens?!"
"Of course, just like the Sub-Game, you cannot use your own tokens."
Q-Taro grumbles about the rule being stupid and you look over at Gin, the only player that didn't get any tokens.
You briefly wonder if you can give him some of yours, but are cut off from your thoughts when Gashu's voice rings out again.
"You have a time limit of approximately 3 hours. When all have returned to their bedrooms, that will signal the start of this trading phase."
The atmosphere in the room is tense, but Gashu's smile only widens.
"Do not wear such gloomy looks, everyone. Win, and survive. For you were all born to win."
You fight the urge to scoff. Not you. You aren't Sara Chidouin. You chance a look at Joe from the corner of you eye, to see him narrowing his eyes warily at the doll in front of him.
If only you could tell him..
"So then, please return to your rooms within 5 minutes. If you do not… You understand, don’t you?"
---
Commoner.
You stare blankly at the screen in front of you, knowing the role you've been granted won't last, not with the trading system that's been put in place.
You have 50 tokens, but the idea of forcefully trading a deadly card to one of your allies makes your throat burn.
"(Name)"
You turn your head to the door, immediately recognizing Keiji's voice.
"Hey... Keiji?"
"Yup, that's me. Could you open up?"
It's been a while since you've spoken to Keiji one on one, and although him coming to your door is part of the storyline, you still smile knowing even though you aren't Sara, he still thought of you.
"Hmmm... If you’re Keiji, you should know the password! Say it and maybe I'll let you in."
You can practically see the blonde's lazy smile from behind the door.
"...Now that’s a toughie. Guess this case is going unsolved."
Huffing out a laugh, you open the door to see Keiji leaning on the frame, the same lazy smile you expected on his face.
"Glad to see you haven't died, (Name). You saved Reko, y'know."
You bite back a smile, shaking your head at the blonde.
"Would've done it for anyone."
"That's not why i'm here, though... (Name), you're the sacrifice right?"
You roll your eyes at the blonde, backing up to sit on your bed.
"Nah."
Keiji leans on the wall after walking in to your room, looking closely at you.
"Hum.. That's good then. Well i'm the keymaster."
You raise an eyebrow on reflex, but Keiji takes that as you disbelieving him and crosses his arms.
"Not gonna trust me at my word though, are you… ‘Scuse me for a second."
The policeman walks past you and into the ring up box in your room, as you watch curiously.
-The first trade has just been performed.-
Looking down at your tablet, you hum at your card being changed into a keymaster as Keiji leaves the ring up box and sits next to you.
"Huh… So you were a Commoner."
You purse your lips at the blonde, frowning at his idiocy though you know why he did it.
"Your Keymaster… for my Commoner. Not a very fair trade, in my expert opinion."
"That proves it to you though, right? Your friendly policeman’s the Keym-"
You lightly punch Keiji in the arm, effectively cutting him off.
"That's stupid. I believed you anyways."
Keiji smiles lightly, avoiding your eyes as he speaks again.
"Just… wanted you to trust me 's all.
"We’ve only got 3 hours. No time to waste suspecting each other over roles. ‘Cause we’re… gonna make our escape."
Although you know the plan won't work, you can't exactly say so without seeming suspicious.
"You must have an idea. Tell me?"