(Side Story) Arius's Suicide Seeker (3) EP.58

'What's wrong with her?'

Misaki's been acting weird since a while ago.

She suddenly came into my room stared at me, and frowned every time I cut my wrists. It was a reaction I couldn't imagine from the usual Misaki.

Could it be that she doesn't like me self-harming?

'...Nah, that can't be it.'

That's definitely not it.

These days, I've only been meeting with the eyeball monster, but there was a time when she and I tried to commit suicide together every day. There's no way she would dislike my self-harm.

'She even taught me this method of self-harm.'

She taught me in detail how to cut, and where the blood flows well, so there must be something else she doesn't like.

'...Ah, could it be that she's upset because I'm self-harming alone?'

Saori must have told her to restrain herself, so she might be upset that I'm having fun alone.

'Then I should help her.'

Bad things are more fun when done together. I smiled and approached Misaki, saying,

"Do you want to do it too, Misaki?"

"...What?"

"You've been staring at me, so I thought you were jealous that I was doing it alone."

"....That's."

"Come on~ I won't tell the leader~ Besides, look, I just found out recently, but if you stab here!"

Stab!

"...Huh, why isn't it going in? W-wait a moment."

The blade didn't go in as well as I thought, so I held the box cutter in reverse and stabbed it towards my wrist several times.

-Stab!

"...."

We haven't talked much lately.

-Stab!

To share our achievements like last time,

-Stab!

I happily carved new wounds on my arm.

....But,

"....Do it."

It seems I was the only one having fun.

"...Huh? What did you say?"

"...I said...do it."

"...Uh, I can't hear you, can you wait a moment? I think I'm almost done. Just one or two more times..."

"I said stop it!!!"

-Smack!!!

".....Huh?"

What? What happened?

My mind went blank for a moment at the sudden turn of events.

In front of me was Misaki with a flustered expression... and my cheek was stinging.

I was slapped.

When I thought about it, I couldn't help but be surprised.

'I got slapped? By Misaki?'

Basically, our squad often attacks each other. But that's only during training. Normally, we don't hit each other. Because we're family.

Sometimes Saori hits us, but that's like disciplining a disobedient child. A bit excessive, but still.

So, violence between us is rare. Especially between Misaki and me, who share the same thoughts.

'...Did I do something wrong?'

But she used violence. If so, then I must be at fault. She's not the type to suddenly slap someone.

'...But I don't think I did anything wrong...'

I was just sharing information like usual. Why did I get slapped?

"Um... Misaki?"

I couldn't think of a reason, so I called out to Misaki but,

"...Sorry."

she apologized in a small voice and ran out of the room.

"...What's wrong with her?"

Is she sick or something?

*

When I first saw Sora, I was wary of her.

She suddenly joined the squad, and she said she wasn't from here, so it was natural to be wary.

I'm sure the other members felt the same way.

But Sora, who came here, was a little different from what we thought.

To put it in a metaphor... she was like us when we were young.

She couldn't endure the harsh training and cried easily when hit.

Honestly, I was a little dumbfounded. Seeing as she couldn't endure this at her age, she must have lived in a better place than here, so why did she come here?

What was even more absurd was that she didn't stop resisting even after suffering such humiliation.

Just like Azusa in the past.

"Why are you resisting?"

So I asked. Why resist when this world is all for naught?

"...."

And Sora couldn't answer my question.

"....ha."

It was really unpleasant. I thought you... you who came from outside, not from here, could answer.

After that day when I felt nothing but disappointment, I ignored her for a while.

But not long after,

"...Ah, Misaki, right? Hello."

"...You."

Sora, whom I met again, had changed.

She stopped resisting training and stopped crying when hit.

She started following orders obediently and stayed still when everything was over.

Could that be why?

"Do you want to try too?"

Thinking that she finally looked presentable, I inadvertently made the offer.

...Never imagined that I would regret this thought in the future.

*

After the slapping incident, Misaki started avoiding me. I think she's still bothered by what happened that day... I want to make up with her.

I don't want to lose my suicide buddy here.

But she kept running away, not knowing how I felt, and our relationship showed no signs of returning, and only meaningless time passed.

And,

"Huh? Mika failed?"

A report came in that Mika had failed.

"That's unexpected... Honestly, I thought she would succeed."

If I had seen the original, I would know, but since I hadn't, I honestly thought she would succeed. I mean, Mika is as strong as a gorilla, right?

But apparently, she failed because of the betrayal of that Azusa girl and the existence of Schale's Sensei.

"...Azusa..."

A person who I only saw a few times after coming here before she left for Trinity. It's a bit unexpected that such a person would betray...

"It's not really my problem."

Whether she betrays me or not, whatever that Azusa girl does has nothing to do with me. What I'm more interested in is

"Sensei of Schale."

The protagonist of the Blue Archive game and a person who cannot be ignored.

Then...

"Can he kill me?"

"With that Adult's Card?"

After those days of hearing unexpected stories and chasing after Misaki,

"...Get ready, everyone."

Finally, that day arrived.