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Sou had easily gotten used to living locked up in some obscure place. At least, that's what he had convinced himself of. How could anyone at all calmly accept the fact that their lives hung in the balance every day? Their kidnappers could've wanted to kill each of them at any moment, and they would never know until it was too late.
Of course, he couldn't relax, not as long as he was in a damn killing game where every participant had a higher chance of survival than he did. 0.0% – isn't that ridiculous? But it's not like anyone else knows about it, so at least he's safe for the time being. Sou Hiyori definitely has nothing to worry about. He'll definitely get out of here alive.
Now that they have an idea of the main game, he needs to come up with the next strategy. At least something... (Will he really survive the second main game when no one believes him anymore?)
The persistent unfavorable thoughts clawed at his brain and Hiyori lowered his head, gripping the green hat he wore with hands. It would be much harder to act after he had revealed his gross self, he had undermined any trust he had built up over this little time. Sou must–
“Uh, can I come in? It's Kanna.”
Man wasn't surprised by girl's appearance at all. On the contrary, such meetings had become common for the green-hairs. But he didn't understand why Kanna kept showing up in his comfort zone, especially since she still seemed to be on good terms with Miss Sara. Was Sou really needed? Was it a trap he hadn't realized he was walking into? He relaxed around girl's innocuous facade, and the last thing he would see in his life would be green eyes burning with hatred, not unlike those slightly wary yet curious emeralds he knew, before Sou's heartbeat would be stopped forever by the slight sweep of an inexplicable knife.
“Of course, ” he said, trying to make himself sound nonchalant.
The silhouette of a short girl appeared in the doorway a couple of seconds later greeted him with an uncertain smile.
He must always keep a guard up.
Kanna has told him a lot about her past life. So, he learned that bucket was a kind of hat for her, she has pretty good grades in school, and what flavors of ice cream Kizuchi sisters liked. Kanna talked about her sister a lot. She was straightforward but soft, strong but kind. And she was always protective of Kanna. At least that's what the girl said. if Sou had a younger sister, would she act the same way towards him? Though he doesn't think he fits the role of a trustworthy big brother. Well, he'll never know, after all, he's an only child, no need to fill his head with such nonsense.
Sou never spoke about himself in response and Kanna never insisted. It was a silent understanding between them. Hiyori knew better than to reveal his essence in the midst of a killing game within the four walls of the private room they were allotted just for this phase. Was there even something he could tell Kanna? How cunning was Sou Hiyori? How weak and naive was Shin Tsukimi in his past life? He's sure the poor girl wouldn't want to listen a boring story of one failed man. It would be better for the space to be filled with stories of hurt knees on the playground and ice cream flavors.
They seem to be some sort of accomplices. If he thought about it a little more, he'd feel more disgusted with himself for using a child for his own survival. No, there was no time for moral dilemmas. Besides, Sou Hiyori would do anything to avoid being a pool of blood for unknown bastards to see. Anyone would do that if they were in his shoes, no one had the right to judge him.
He's doing everything right.
At this point, the important thing is to stay on course.
Kanna is not as stupid and indecisive as she may seem at first glance. That's something Sou became convinced of as more time passed on. Thanks to her they were even able to get to the content of the laptop, shit what the man had killed so much time fiddling with the password for. If everything went smoothly, they could get out of here... Just a little more preparations... They'll definitely get out of here.
Recent events had given off nothing more than a fog in the head for Sou. Failure. The main game will take place. What a ridiculous situation. A cruel mockery of the universe, nothing more. It was as if everything around him was screaming: “You can't hide from fate, it will catch up with you no matter how hard you work.” Those papers were undoubtedly true. He didn't stand a chance, he'd lost from the start.
Kanna...
He couldn't find the courage to look in her eyes, considering a terrible state she was in. Everyone was broken. Him included. How easy it was to shatter their newborn hope and all of the Sou's hard work in just a couple minutes.
“Don't betray me” – The distinct ringing in his head.
Shin remembered loudly issuing absurd statements that Sou was surprised by. How dare they vote for Kanna when the very real monster was right in front of them? He was so pathetic, begging Sara, of all people, to kill him. Just so the girl he knew so little of would have a chance for some unknown future. Sou wanted to laugh at how ridiculous Shin was. In reality, did that line exist? He could no longer tell who he was. Something had broken in the malice facade of man who had taken the name Sou Hiyori. It no longer mattered. Whoever the man in this body was, the only thing he cared about was protecting the little that had become so important, to give his life for it. And even that he couldn't do.
It was so terrible that life had been unfair and cruel to them.
What did two schoolgirls do to be killed in the bloody game of these kidnappers? What did he do to have a chance to move forward?
Kanna has expired.
He doesn't believe in an afterlife, but he hopes that from now two sisters have each other again.
Perhaps in another universe, none of this would have happened. Would he and Kanna have met under different circumstances? Not in a bloody, closed place soaked in distrust and death. Then maybe Kanna would have introduced him to her big sister, alive and well-being. The three of them would have gone for walks together, buying ice cream at the occasional store, discussing everything in the world. Would he be a sort of big brother to Kanna? Part of him hopes he was.
But he will never know.
Neither will Kanna.