CHAPTER 8
RABBIT 8: Balance
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Daikubara: “...They’re taking too long.”
Konsako Akihi: “Give them a chance…”
The atmosphere inside the lobby was cold to the touch. Ishimasu-san tended to Daikubara-san’s wound, which required rebandaging quite often. Konsako-san sat against a wall, keeping his leg straight, while Kuro-san stood next to the exit, waiting for anything.
Ishimasu Kanana: “I’m sure they’re fine…”
Konsako Akihi: “Mm, yeah…”
Though the two tried convincing themselves, being in a position where they couldn’t act, Daikubara-san wasn’t so ignorant. He stood, pushing Ishimasu-san away from his tender wound, and began heading for the door.
Ishimasu Kanana: “D-Daikubara-san? Where are you going?”
Daikubara: “Where do you think?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Idiot! You can’t go out there, not with that cut!”
Daikubara: “We haven’t got time to waste here. This won’t be getting any better just by laying around and waiting.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “No, I’m pretty sure you’re wrong…”
Konsako Akihi: “Wait a while longer, Daikubara-san… we need to trust in them. I’m certain they’ll return–”
Daikubara: “Oi, Kuro. Open it.”
Kuro held the keycard, directly next to the card reader. But, he wouldn’t move.
Daikubara: “...Open it.”
Kuro: “No.”
Daikubara: “Excuse me?”
Kuro: “I’m not opening it.”
Daikubara: “Uhuh? You wanna tell me why?”
Daikubara-san closed in on Kuro-san.
Daikubara: “Those idiots are riskin’ their lives out there, and you’re keeping me from helping them. You understand that?”
Kuro: “There’s no benefit in you leaving now. Wait.”
Daikubara: “It’s probably already been two hours. They ain’t coming back.”
Kuro: “Ninety-six minutes.”
Daikubara: “Huh?”
Kuro: “We wait for another twenty-four, and if they don’t return, two of us leave.”
Kuro: “That’s the plan, isn’t it?”
Daikubara: “Who cares about the plan? We’re wasting time, so open the damn door!”
Kuro: “No.”
Daikubara: “Fine, bastard…”
Daikubara-san grabbed Kuro-san by the collar of his shirt, but before he could even reach into his pockets, Kuro-san dug his left index finger directly into Daikubara-san’s open wound, then swept straight under his feet, sending him to the ground. Daikubara-san attempted to grab at him again, but Kuro-san simply moved out of the way, before booting him in the stomach, forcing him to cough outwards.
Daikubara: “GH- YOU–”
Ishimasu Kanana: “DAIKUBARA-SAN!”
Konsako Akihi: “Kuro-san, that’s enough!”
He returned his now bloodied finger, wiping it against the bottom of his gakuran, before leaning back against the blocked window.
Kuro: “Twenty-three minutes. Then, I’ll open it.”
Daikubara: “...Tsk.”
Ishimasu-san immediately tended to the reeling wound, wrapping it in even more cloth than before.
Ishimasu Kanana: “...”
Daikubara: “That’s enough, kid… you’re gonna squeeze my arm off if you keep it up.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “It’s your fault, idiot… you can’t fight your friends…”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Daikubara: “That bastard isn’t my friend, nor anyone’s. He’s just here for himself, like the rest of us…”
Ishimasu Kanana: “You can’t just say that about anybody… some of us are different than that…”
Daikubara: “...Sorry.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “...Ah. Daikubara-san, this logo on your jacket…”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Are you from Saitama prefecture?”
Daikubara: “Uhuh… how’d you figure?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “I know this logo… I saw it in town once, I think…”
Daikubara: “You from around there?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Mm. Hidaka district.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “What kinda place did you work at?”
Daikubara: “...Take one guess.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Hehe. I think my uncle likes your place. He’s really into cars.”
Daikubara: “Is he now?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Did you like working there?”
Daikubara: “It was alright. Didn’t have much else going for me, ended up workin’ there since I was twice your age.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Woah… just how old are you, Daikubara-san?”
Daikubara: “Watch your mouth.”
Daikubara: “...Thirty-three.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “GAN!!!”
Daikubara: “...Don’t look so shocked.”
Ishimasu-san was an expert in changing the subject, redirecting the atmosphere and easing the nerves. In just a short exchange, she had successfully lowered Daikubara-san’s guard, and removed his attention from a situation he couldn’t change. I doubt it was intentional, either. She was simply a kind soul.
Daikubara: “...What age are you, kid?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Nine, I think. I might be ten now, but I was nine when I died.”
Daikubara: “You too, then…?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Duh! Everyone here died.”
Daikubara: “...What the hell did you have to go through to wind up here?”
Ishimasu Kanana: “...”
Ishimasu Kanana: “...Pancreatic cancer.”
The joyful and wide-smiled Ishimasu-san slouched against the wall, tucking her knees to her chest.
Ishimasu Kanana: “I got it when I was six. Everyone but me knew what was gonna happen, so it really surprised me when it did…”
Ishimasu Kanana: “It hurt lots… but what hurt more than that was knowing I was gonna leave everyone behind…”
Ishimasu Kanana: “‘Cus, unlike the pain… that feeling in my stomach is still there… that’s why I gotta get back…”
Daikubara: “...”
Daikubura-san found himself at a loss for words, requiring Konsako-san to find a way to bridge the gap now created.
Konsako Akihi: “You’re a good girl, Ishimasu-chan.”
Konsako Akihi: “You put up with all that pain and fear… and even now, you still wanna go back.”
Konsako Akihi: “You’re a really good girl.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “N-Not really, I just… I just–”
Before she had noticed, tears began streaming down her face, puddling on the marble floor. A soft, warm hand was placed on her head, telling her it was okay to cry.
Konsako Akihi: “You’ll meet them again, don’t worry. You’ve been such a good girl, so you have to be rewarded.”
Ishimasu Kanana: “Mm… mm…”
Kuro: “It’s almost time.”
Kuro-san, emotionlessly and abruptly, ended the tears falling from the young girl’s eyes.
Kuro: “Three minutes.”
Konsako Akihi: “...Okay, who’s going?”
Daikubara: “...”
I was breathless, covered head to toe in cold sweat. My palms were dirtied and bruised from the scraping and pounding, as I attempted to open the locked doors and shutters to the convenience store.
Mere minutes had passed, and no progress had been made.
Itogaya: “...Kobayashi-san, we need to leave.”
Kobayashi Amano: “Huh… What are you talking about? They’re still inside–”
Itogaya: “The capturer will be here soon. That trap was remote activated, as it operated once I rejected the store.”
Itogaya: “We need to leave before they arrive.”
Kobayashi Amano: “No… We can’t leave them…”
Itogaya: “Then, what is it you suggest we do?”
Kobayashi Amano: “...”
Itogaya-san approached me, towering over me in scale.
Itogaya: “Just what is it you hope to achieve?”
Itogaya: “Like before, risking everything in order to save others. Why?”
Kobayashi Amano: “...You’re one to talk. You went out of your way to save Ishimasu-san and Konsako-san…”
Itogaya: “I could sense the path forward with them alive. That’s the only reason why.”
Itogaya: “But right now, where we stand - no such path exists. There is no retrieving them.”
Itogaya: “What is your purpose, Kobayashi-san? To die in order to save others?”
Itogaya: “What is the point of that, in this game?”
Kobayashi Amano: “...I don’t know.“
Itogaya: “What? Speak up–”
Kobayashi Amano: “I said I don’t know.”
Kobayashi Amano: “I don’t know why, but I can’t let it end like this. It isn’t fair.”
Itogaya: “...Is there no possibility of convincing you otherwise?”
Kobayashi Amano: “...I doubt it.”
Itogaya: “...Despite seeming quite mature, you’re far more naive and stubborn.”
Itogaya: “I hope you can find a balance, Kobayashi-san. Because with the way you are now, you’re going to fall.”
Itogaya-san fixed his jacket, before leaving the store’s parking lot. Within seconds, he was out of my sight, leaving me completely alone.
Kobayashi Amano: “...Why am I like this?”
Kobayashi Amano: “He’s right… I have no reason to act this way, and yet…”
I couldn’t figure it out. I was here for a reason, so why lose everything to save them? I’ve done this before - countless times in my life. I can never figure out why, but it feels like this is what I have to do.
And so, I’ll do it.
Before I could pick myself back up, and confront the locked store once more, I heard a growl growing from the darkness behind me.
Kobayashi Amano: “...Itogaya-san–”
And in that same darkness, the sickly yellow eyes of a white fox, emanating from a black fog.
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BIND GAME