RABBIT 8: Balance

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…"

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.