Click.
The door was locked.
Kaguya frowned, staring at the bedroom door.
After waking in this room, she had briefly surveyed her surroundings before attempting to leave—only to find herself trapped.
A single tug on the handle confirmed it: the door wouldn't budge. Worse, it felt fused to the frame, as if the entire wall had become indestructible.
If I can't open this, I'm stuck here.
A spike of panic shot through her. She even activated Heddal's Berserk Blessing, channeling monstrous strength into her limbs—but not a scratch appeared on the door or walls.
"Don't worry. We'll find a way."
Takakai's voice, steady and calm, came from beside her.
"Yeah, there's gotta be an exit somewhere!"
Yoshitaka chimed in.
Kaguya turned. Miyazawa Hana had tucked her notebook among the stuffed animals and was now humming, cradling one like a doll.
Seeing the four of them eased her anxiety slightly.
At least I'm not alone.
She took a breath, forcing herself to think.
If the door won't open… what about the windows?
She hadn't considered them before—her instincts had fixated on the door. But now, with no other options…
Approaching the rightmost window, Kaguya unlatched the lock.
It moved smoothly. No resistance.
Swoosh— Swoosh—
Rain drummed against the glass as she pushed the window open—
—and saw—
Swoosh—
Kaguya opened her eyes, sitting up in bed.
The door was locked.
"Don't worry. We'll find a way."
Takakai again.
Her gaze shifted to the window.
Unlocked. Opened.
Rain.
Then—
Eyes open. Bed.
I need to leave.
She stepped past Takakai, Yoshitaka, Miyazawa Hana—toward the door.
Maybe this time—
Takakai left the Nap Room door unlocked as he stepped out.
He took a seat on a nearby chair, observing the children.
Thirty-six of them.
He counted three times, then wrote [36] on his hand.
For some reason, he felt compelled to record things this way—as if his mind might erase them otherwise.
Which was absurd. His enhanced memory couldn't fail him.
Everything here made sense:
This was Shirasawa Elementary's Nap Room.
He'd entered this dungeon with Kaguya to rescue Hayasaka Ai.
Now, as the supervising teacher, his job was to ensure none of these children left during nap time.
No inconsistencies.
Yet unease gnawed at him.
This place should be dangerous. Kumai said it "feels safe"—which means the threat isn't death. It's perception.
So… is what I'm seeing real?
A faint scritching sound pulled him from his thoughts.
A little girl sat on her bed, crayon in hand, scribbling on paper.
Normally, he'd scold her for not sleeping.
But if "normal" was suspect, then—
"What are you drawing?"
He crouched beside her, peering at the paper.
Chaotic lines formed vague, disjointed shapes.
Yet…
I've seen this before.
"Teacher, don't you know?"
The girl blinked up at him.
"This is the Black Shadows. Everyone knows them!"
"They hide under beds, in closets, behind windows. They trick kids who aren't careful. They hurt them. Make them disappear. Only teachers can scare them away. Only teachers can save us."
"So how come you don't know? Are you… a fake teacher? Are you one of them?"
Her smile never wavered.
"I'm… a transfer. From Fujioka Middle School."
Takakai fabricated the lie smoothly.
"I'm unfamiliar with local folklore. Tell me more about these 'Black Shadows.' Why can teachers repel them?"
"That's a teacher secret! Kids don't know~"
She giggled, then pointed past him.
"Teacher, look! That boy's being tricked!"
Takakai turned.
A door stood ajar.
A boy—facing away yet somehow meeting his gaze—stood in the threshold.
A whisper of laughter.
Then the child bolted outside.
Takakai's muscles tensed—
—but he stopped himself.
Something was wrong.
He looked back at the Nap Room.
At the beds.
At the things lying on them.
Not children.
Not anymore.
Twisted scribbles. Warped outlines mimicking human forms.
1… 2… 3…
His count reached 35.
The 36th "child" sat upright on its bed.
The 37th stood beside it.
And the 38th—
—the one holding the drawing—
—leaned in close.
"Teacher… are you sure you're not a student too? Are you lying to us?"
Their voices overlapped, sweet and singsong.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Rain? No—
—knocking.
On the window.
Takakai opened his eyes.
Back in the small bedroom.
Alone.