RABBIT 6: Gathering

Our anxieties were met with an immediate answer. After only two minutes, the first person arrived; Michifuku-san.

Michifuku: "Kobayashi-san, Daikubara-san… Kuro-san, you're all alive!"

Michifuku: "What a relief… sorry for running out on you guys like that."

Daikubara: "It's fine. If you hadn't warned us, we'd all be bits and pieces lined up against the wall right now."

Michifuku: "Good point…"

A few more minutes passed before the next person arrived. A young boy, around my age, with messy dark hair covering the center of his forehead. He seemed far too relaxed for our current situation.

Boy: "Ah, there's a lot of you already…"

Kobayashi Amano: "Are you injured?"

Boy: "No, I'm good."

Kobayashi Amano: "You have a few bruises on your left arm–"

Boy: "They're just bruises, um… Kobayashi-san, I take it?"

Kobayashi Amano: "Yes… and your name?"

Tatesada Hakaru: "Tatesada Hakaru, nice to meet you."

Several minutes passed before the final person arrived - rather, the final group. Multiple pairs of footsteps could be heard from the left staircase. A small girl ran from around the corner towards the group, wiping sweat from her brow. She had tanned skin, likely from sun exposure, thick black hair, and bright overalls.

Small Girl: "Oh, there's a lot of you…"

Tatesada Hakaru: "Deja vu?"

Daikubara: "Kid…"

Small Girl: "Ah– Daiku-san!"

Small Girl: "What happened to you?!"

Daikubara: "I fought a rabbit. Nothing to worry yourself over."

This must be the girl Daikubara-san was referring to earlier. It seems she's uninjured.

Ishimasu Kanana: "I'm Ishimasu Kanana! If you struggle to remember my first name, just think of the yellow fruit in English!"

The rest of her group had arrived. They left the darkness covering them, unveiling their faces.

Konsako-san, and a tall man carrying him by his shoulder.

Michifuku: "KONSAKO-SAN!"

Konsako Akihi: "Ah, Michifuku-san, you're all safe… I'm relieved…"

Michifuku: "We're the ones who should be saying that, you dummy…"

Konsako Akihi: "Kobayashi-san… I'm back."

Kobayashi Amano: "…Yeah."

The relief I felt was an unnatural amount - something I hadn't felt in a very long time. I was glad. Though, that brief joy ended once I surveyed Konsako-san's injuries.

Kobayashi Amano: "Y-Your leg–"

Konsako Akihi: "Don't worry, it's just broken."

Konsako-san's right leg was wrapped in bedsheets, with the leg of a chair acting as a splinter.

Konsako Akihi: "I'd be in a worse state if it wasn't for Itogaya-san."

He was likely referring to the man lending his shoulder for Konsako-san to lean on as they walked. He was the same height, if not an inch smaller than Daikubara-san, and was fitted with a dark suit, with the top unbuttoned, revealing his upper torso. He wore thin glasses, resting upon his strong nose. His hair was styled back, with a chunk sprung out against his face. He seemed extremely exhausted, with black eyebags found under his eyes.

Itogaya: "He'll recover. How's this one?"

Daikubara: "I'm fine. Just a nick."

Kobayashi Amano: "He was stabbed. The wound's quite deep."

Itogaya: "I see. Konsako-san, can I sit you here?"

Konsako Akihi: "Sure."

Itogaya-san, along with the help of Tatesada-san, helped lower Konsako-san to the floor. He then walked towards Daikubara-san, inspecting his wound.

Itogaya: "Mm. It's certainly deep. Disinfectant will be necessary, but I doubt we'll be lucky enough to find any rubbing alcohol on this floor, nevermind the entire complex."

Itogaya: "Is anyone else injured?"

Kobayashi Amano: "The rest of us are fine…"

Itogaya: "Then, it's only the eight of us gathered here? No one else is coming?"

Kobayashi Amano: "We've confirmed two bodies… as for the other two, we're certain they're dead as well."

Itogaya: "Which floors?"

Kobayashi Amano: "The twelfth and ninth, both in apartments. As for the confirmed deceased, there's one in the twelfth floor's hallway, and another in the seventh's."

Itogaya: "And the rabbit is outside that door currently?"

Kobayashi Amano: "Yes. We're certain it won't be able to get back inside."

Itogaya: "Then I'll take a look at the bodies myself and confirm."

Itogaya-san stood up, making his way to the staircase he came from.

Kuro: "I'll join you."

Itogaya: "There's no need–"

Kuro: "There's something I need to confirm, also."

Itogaya: "...Very well. Explain the situation to me on our way."

By the time Itogaya-san and Kuro-san were gone, I got everyone up to date with our current predicament.

Konsako Akihi: "You really managed to pull that off? That's impressive, Kobayashi-san…"

Konsako Akihi: "And Daikubara-san… you were going to sacrifice yourself–"

Daikubara: "Don't get ahead of yourself. I was just makin' sure those two got out, first. I had no intention in dyin'."

Konsako Akihi: "Even then, if it wasn't for your actions…"

Daikubara: "Keep quiet…"

Michifuku: "As for me, I hid on the second floor while waiting for something to happen… I wasn't sure what else to do. I wasn't even sure what that alarm meant…"

Konsako Akihi: "Don't worry about it, Michifuku-san. You did the right thing."

Kobayashi Amano: "What about you, Konsako-san? How did you escape the rabbit?"

Konsako Akihi: "Ah, that? It's not really too complicated, but… I owe my life to Itogaya-san, truly."

Konsako Akihi: "About five minutes after we separated, the rabbit finally caught up to me, around the sixth floor. It swung the bat right into my leg, and I fell."

Konsako Akihi: "I… really thought I was going to die. I couldn't even get up and continue running, not just because of the broken leg - but I was beyond exhausted…"

Konsako Akihi: "That's when the door I was leaning against opened, and I was dragged inside by my hoodie. The rabbit looked startled, and tried to get inside, but Ishimasu-san closed the door right in time."

Konsako Akihi: "It was one of those apartments we woke up in, so it could actually be locked. All it needed was a key."

Ishimasu Kanana: "Hehe, you're welcome! The apartment Itogaya-sensei woke up in wasn't solved, so the key still worked. Should be the same for your apartment, Kobayashi-san, since I didn't see you on the first floor earlier."

Kobayashi Amano: "Now that you mention it, there was an issue when trying to unlock my door…"

Ishimasu Kanana: "You guys are lucky Itogaya-sensei is with us. He's a doctor!"

Michifuku: "Eh? A doctor? I guess that would explain some things…"

Ishimasu Kanana: "He rescued me earlier too, before the rabbit could find me. I owe everything to him…"

Konsako Akihi: "No doubt about that…"

The only individual we hadn't assessed the situation of, Tatesada-san, was approached by Michifuku-san.

Michifuku: "What about you?"

Tatesada Hakaru: "Oh, me? Well, more or less the same as you… I just hid in my apartment and waited for things to calm down. I think I was on the third floor…"

Daikubara: "You're lucky. If you were on any floor above, that rabbit would've surprised you. The bastard started openin' the doors of the apartments, after all."

Tatesada Hakaru: "E-Eh? Seriously? Scary…"

Itogaya: "Four dead."

Kobayashi Amano: "Ah–"

Itogaya: "Just as you said… we failed to get to them in time. The boy on the twelfth floor, the girl in the apartment on the same floor…"

Itogaya: ""...And, the girl on the seventh floor. They were all roughly the same age.

Itogaya: "But the girl you spotted on the ninth floor… she couldn't have been older than ten. Likely the same age as Ishimasu-san."

Michifuku: "No way…"

Daikubara: "..."

Konsako Akihi: "Gh…"

Silence enveloped the cold hall. Even though we managed to keep eight alive, four strangers had met their end, including a child.

Tatesada Hakaru: "What's next, then? That rabbit's just outside the door, and if we wait any longer in here, we'll be too exhausted to put up any sort of fight…"

Tatesada Hakaru: "We have no drinkable water or consumable food either..."

Ishimasu Kanana: "W-We won't have to eat each other, right?!"

Daikubara: "Then we'll need to attack when we have the energy…"

Tatesada Hakaru: "No offense, but you're not in the shape to fight, and that guy over there only has one working leg!"

Michifuku: "If we don't do something now, we won't have the chance to later…"

Tatesada Hakaru: "B-But…"

Michifuku: "If you're too scared to fight, just let the rest of us fight for you."

Tatesada Hakaru: "Huh?"

Michifuku: "There's nothing wrong with being scared. But you can't let it influence your decisions too much. We'll fight and protect you."

Tatesada Hakaru: "..."

Kobayashi Amano: "I think before we do anything else, we need to confirm what's actually out there."

Konsako Akihi: "Mm… Kobayashi-san's right… Kuro-san, would you do the honors?"

Kuro: "..."

Kuro-san swiped the card reader, but was cautious when approaching the door. He positioned himself far enough to avoid a surprise attack, but close enough to get a good view of what was outside.

Kuro: "...It's dark, but it looks to be a small town."

Kuro: "I don't see the rabbit, either."

Kuro-san stepped back, the doors closing as he did. The cold air from outside had temporarily seeped in, with a slight breeze moving my hair.

Daikubara: "How about half of us leave now, and come back after figuring out just where the hell we are?"

Daikubara: "Saves us from slowing down the group with Konsako, and if something happens, then…"

Konsako Akihi: "I don't mind. I'd rather not be a burden, anyway."

Itogaya: "It isn't a bad idea. If we can at least assess our situation and surroundings, we should be able to make a decision going forward. Blindly moving as a group won't get us far."

Michifuku: "'Kay, but who's going?"

Itogaya: "The injured and child will stay, of course. That leaves one over."

Itogaya: "Then, out of the four of you, I think it would be best for you to stay behind."

Itogaya: "Kuro-kun, was it?"

Kuro: "...Is there a reason for that?"

Itogaya: "Both groups will require someone able for defense and offense, if required. Leaving two injured on their own isn't ideal, but with their wounds, they need to be resting for now."

Itogaya: "I'd like you to stay behind, only for a poor scenario."

Kuro: "...Fine."

Kuro-san clearly wasn't happy with Itogaya-san's choice, but compared to the other three options, it was obvious he was most fit to defend.

Itogaya: "Then, are you three fine accompanying me?"

Itogaya-san referred to Michifuku-san, Tatesada-san and myself - the only ones left available. We all silently nodded in agreement, though it was clear Tatesada-san was overcoming an abundance of nerves.

Itogaya: "I'd bring chair or table legs with you - anything to defend yourself."

Kobayashi Amano: "I'll bring the rabbit's bat."

Kuro: "...Before you leave, can I confirm something?"

Itogaya: "Mm?"

Kuro: "Does everyone in this room have a dragon token - or a token of any kind, from the apartment they woke in?"

Itogaya: "Ah… you asked me that same question earlier…"

Kuro: "I'm not certain what usage they'll have yet, but I think it'd be in our best interest if someone kept inventory of them."

Everyone in the room unveiled their token. We each had that of the dragon, and after confirming our dates of birth, we determined that we all belonged to the year of the dragon, as well. Kuro-san held onto five tokens, one belonging to him and four to the bodies in the apartment complex. The four of us preparing to leave gave him our tokens, in case we failed to return.

Itogaya: "Then, with that sorted, we should head out."

Michifuku: "Geez… I don't know if I'm prepared for this."

Tatesada Hakaru: "After all that talk earlier, I'd like to hope you were…"

Kobayashi Amano: "..."

The four of us left the apartment complex, stepping foot into the small, cold town linked outside. The doors shut with a dispiriting clunk, separating us from the stilted comfort of our four fellow participants. The keycard was left inside, in the clutch of Kuro-san's palm. If we failed to return, or worse, then at the very least the other four would be able to exit the apartment on their own.

The streets were empty, with the atmospheric, thick air brushing past our clothes. The wind silently moved, idle yet wistful. A wall separated the outside of the town, below a heavy metal fence layered with barbed wire. The buildings to our right were towering, but not nearly the size of the complex we had just departed. Newspapers and litter were scattered across the concrete ground, with sewer drains restlessly leaking sewage barely high enough to touch the soles of our shoes. It was a ghost town - had it been lived in before? And if so, what happened to those who used it as a home?

Those questions filled my mind, as I came to the conclusion we were entirely absent from life in this desolate town.