The moment Takakai's expression shifted, Kaguya snapped her head toward his line of sight.
Maki was half a beat slower but immediately gripped the grandfather clock, ready to rewind time.
"Don't. It won't work."
Takakai waved her off.
Rewinding was useless now.
The clock's power came from the apartment itself—and that thing was the apartment's core. No underling could override its master.
Would loading a save help?
Theoretically, save files took precedence—but this entity's power lay in "understanding."
Not the time.
For now, it just stood there, motionless.
As long as no one provoked it, they could buy time to analyze the new clues.
"Is it an unspeakable subject?" Kaguya asked coolly.
Takakai nodded.
"Here?"
He blinked—
And realized the figure had moved to the ceiling, its neck twisted backward as it stared down at him.
Another nod.
"Are you safe?"
Takakai considered it.
He'd seen it because he'd witnessed a critical scene. As long as he didn't verbalize what he knew, the equilibrium might hold.
"Don't ask. Don't mention. Don't think about it."
A drop of yellow-red pus seemed to land on his shoulder—
But when he looked, there was nothing.
He handed the 304 key and tape to Kaguya and Maki, summarizing his findings while omitting all child-related details.
Green, having already triggered one rewind, sat catatonic in the corner. Sun Dajun, too slow to follow, just nodded along.
"Sanchez's investigation runs deep… but I don't see how knowing the truth helps us leave," Kaguya murmured. "If anything, the more we learn, the harder escape becomes."
"True, but we're out of leads. Maybe 309 is a new angle—but the third floor's a mystery." Maki clapped her hands, steering the conversation toward next steps.
They agreed:
No nighttime exploration (too dangerous).
Rest first (Takakai and Maki were exhausted).
Tomorrow's focus: the third floor.
As dusk fell, the group dispersed to their rooms.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Maki lingered by 208's door, bandaged head tilted in concern.
"I'll manage."
Takakai grinned, forming a heart shape with his hands above his head.
"Ugh! Who's worried about you? Stop looking so pathetic—we've got work tomorrow!" She huffed, crossing her arms. "And quit that disgusting gesture! Men doing that is not cute!"
Classic tsundere.
Takakai chuckled as she slammed the door—
Then froze.
The figure stood at the hallway's end.
A blurred silhouette, small as a child, features indistinct.
Staring.
Ignore it.
Pretend it's not there.
That was the rule.
But—
Could everyone really have turned a blind eye?
To something so horrific, so close?
He swallowed the thought and entered 204.
Kaguya waited inside, holding a clock.
"Locks checked?"
"Yeah."
Sun Dajun had patched the hole in the door with a plank, blocking any peeping from the hallway.
As darkness crept in, Takakai slumped against the wall, exhaustion hitting him like a truck.
"May I ask you something?" Kaguya's voice cut through the silence.
"Shoot."
"Do you like Maki? Romantically?"
Record scratch.
What kind of question is this?!
Are we in a dating sim now?!
Takakai blinked.
But his answer was immediate:
"Of course. How could I not like someone that adorable?"
"My feelings for Maki are the 'I-want-to-marry-her-and-spoil-her-rotten' kind of love."
Dead serious.
Kaguya's icy composure cracked. "W-Wait, that seriously?!"
Absolutely.
Just like how I eternally love Lafey, Yukikaze, Amiya, Skadi, Saber, Rin, Illya, Jalter, Chino, Rem, Emilia, Nagisa, Mai, Kato, Eriri, Reimu, Kanna, Kuro, Kurumi, Mikoto…
…Huh, that list got long fast.
"Ahem. Just wishful thinking. Survival first," Takakai coughed.
"I see…" Kaguya fell into thoughtful silence.
The room settled into quiet—
BOOM!!!!
The entire floor shook.
Takakai slammed into the ground; Kaguya staggered against the wall.
Gunfire erupted in the hallway—
Rat-tat-tat-tat!!!
Footsteps sprinted past their door.
And then—
A wave of freezing, unnatural dread seeped through the apartment.