Episode 3: An awkward time

[Kiyotaka POV]

As with the darkening, the room abruptly brightened.

However, there is an indescribably awkward atmosphere in the room. If I'm not mistaken, something along the lines of 'to get out of this room, you have to have sex' was written on the wall. The girls who were supposed to be huddled together have been distancing themselves away from me for some time. Can't really say I blame them.

''Hey, hey, Ayanokouji, what's going on? We need to have s-s-sex... oooh, that's not right. Is this a p-prank?"

''Calm down, Ichinose. I don't need you to blame me, it's not like I did anything."

Ichinose was, indeed, the first girl to approach me. For me, it was an accusation, but I was grateful. If the delicate silence was to continue, it would be preferable if she stated her thoughts openly.

That way I can dispel any misunderstandings that may arise.

''Uh, that's, uh, that's true, but...You know, if I'm supposed to have s-s-sex, Ayanokouji-kun is the only partner I have."

''I disagree. It doesn't necessarily mean that. It could be a metaphor or a riddle of some kind, or...'' I eyed the five girls in front of me ''It could be that the girls are OK with each other.''

''Oh, girl to girl... Ayanokouji-kun, I didn't know you had a yuri fetish, don't w-worry I won't j-judge!"

''...''

I said something logical, but Ichinose surprised me by seeming to overreact. She is a natural conversationist and can probably get along with anyone, but perhaps she is not good at these topics.

''Fufufu... Ayanokouji-kun is right, maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge. Sex can also mean from the same gender, and it is possible that the message was a prank or a trap. A new special exam, maybe?"

Sakayanagi remarked in a calm tone. It's good that she supports what I'm saying, but I'm flabbergasted that she, with her lovely petite looks, mentioned 'sex'. No, why am I getting upset?

''Right, let's all calm down here. We don't even know if that message is correct, and I don't think it's a good idea to panic over uncertain information. Also, don't blame Ayanokouji-kun. Whether this is a dream or not, it doesn't mean he did anything."

When Horikita said this to mend the situation, the awkward atmosphere seemed to soften somewhat. As might be expected of class D's puppet leader.

But as if to mock us, the room darkened again.

In the darkness, the letters emerged again.

'Definition of sex. The insertion of the penis into the vagina and ejaculation. Repeating this twice fulfills the conditions for escape.'

The letters disappeared and the room became as bright as it was before.

But everyone remains quiet and silence fills the room.

As the only boy in the room, it is very, or rather, maximally awkward. What the hell are those instructions? It's like they've completely blocked the escape route I've painfully told them to take.

''Ridiculous. It's a bad joke. Ryuuen you are behind this arent you! Are you watching us through a camera? I can already hear your kukuku. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ibuki said as if to spit at the invisible enemy with a grim expression on her face. To her, who seems to be a fiery person, 'sex' must feel like an unforgivable task to do. Suddenly, my eyes met Ibuki's, but she looked away in a hurry. I feel as if an imaginary wall has been formed between me and all the girls, not just her.

''Relax Ibuki, I doubt this is Ryuuen's doing. This is most likely a dream, so let's stay calm and avoid being distracted by the letters you just read. If you wait, you will soon awaken from your dream. Let's take our time and don't worry about it... Ayanokouji-kun as well."

Horikita instructed everyone to handle the crisis in the manner of a class D leader. I feel like she was also preventing the girls from directly blaming me for this predicament. However, when her eyes almost meet mine, she too hurriedly looks away. I sighed but made sure no one could hear me.

-

I lied and said I was tired and decided to leave the place.

I take a seat in the corner of the room, next to the bed. Following such a message, a bed in the corner of the room now seems to have more meaning. I shook off the bad thoughts that naturally came to me, and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes.

From my distance, I could hear the girls chatting. When some girls got together, they keep talking, but do they really have that much to say? From my position, the girl's soft voices sounded like the chirping of a bird.

I suddenly began feeling a little foggy-headed. My consciousness gradually dipped, as if I were dreaming even in my dreams.

-

''Hey, Kiyotaka. Are you okay? You're not sick, are you?"

When I opened my eyes to the sweet whispering voice, Kei was sitting right next to me. She was poking my cheeks and our shoulders were touching.

''Yeah, I'm up. I was just dozing off."

''Oh. It's been a long time and I thought maybe you weren't feeling well.''

''What, how long has it been?.... Hey, there's someone in bed."

Before I knew it, there was a petite girl lying on the bed with her back to us. This slender small body frame must be Sakayanagi's.

''It's Sakayanagi. She looked a bit tired, so I brought her to bed. She said she was fine, but she fell asleep right away.''

''I heard somewhere that she takes medical pills after meals. Hope it's nothing serious."

Looking aside, Horikita, Ibuki, and Ichinose still appeared to be discussing something. Like me, they were sitting in the opposite corner. Ichinose appears to be mostly talking, but there is a sense of fatigue in the air. It does appear that a long period of time has gone by.

-

''Hey, do you think we'll ever get out of here? Horikita says it's a dream, but is she right?"

Kei looks at me with an anxious expression. Because of the close proximity, I am somehow strangely conscious of it. That text on the wall is really starting to mess with my head, but I can't let myself be misled by a message like that.

''Not sure if this is a dream or not, but she's right. This can't possibly be real."

I dared to say it out loud.

''Ho, you sound super sure. But how can you tell?"

''Take a good look around this room. You see it's surrounded by empty white walls. There isn't even a window or a doorway; it's a sealed room if you will."

''Yeah, we're totally trapped.''

''Yes, it's funny how completely locked in we are. According to the Universal Building Code, modern buildings by law must be equipped with ventilation openings or something like that to prevent oxygen deficiency. But I don't see anything like that in this room. On the contrary, there is not even a lighting system, yet it's bright. In conclusion, this can't be real."

''Kiyotaka, you know a lot of things, don't you? You are also very persuasive. I see, so this place is a dream after all."

I said this half-heartedly not to convince her, but to myself. I am still in the process of figuring out how such a place like this can exist, and more importantly, how did I get here.

In spite of that, Kei seemed greatly impressed. She stared at me with sparkling eyes. Now that I think about it, unlike the rest of the girls who are keeping a clear distance from me, Kei is out here keeping me company.

Perhaps she's under the impression that sticking to me would be ideal in the long run, in getting out of this place. Or am I overthinking this? There is a chance that she's doing this to prevent me from feeling lonely or bored, out of genuine concern.

While being deep in thought, Kei started fidgeting next to me.

''H-Hey Kiyotaka can w-we t-talk.....''

''Fufufu, you two are having a fascinating conversation. Mind if I join?''

Before I knew it, Sakayanagi had raised herself up from the bed. She slowly gets off the white bed and comes towards us, her signature cane in hand.

''Oh, sorry. Did I wake you up?"

''It's all right Ayanokouji-Kun, I was worried about you too. Actually, I had a theory while listening to the conversation between you two. In fact, I can prove all of this isn't real.''

''R-Really...'' Kei seemed interested.

''As a matter of fact...'' Sakayanagi pointed her cane at me. ''I am certain Ayanokouji-Kun already knows what I'm talking about.''

She flashed me a confident smug grin.