Guo.
Takakai recognized the chaos instantly.
The "veteran player" from the last loop—the one who'd accelerated the first day's events, forcing everyone into crisis mode. The man who'd died on the third floor, blown apart by the entity impersonating Kaguya.
This time, he'd survived to the second night.
And now—explosions, gunfire, a full-scale warzone in the hallway.
Is he trying to lure every damn anomaly to the second floor?!
CRACK—CRACK-CRACK!
The wall splintered.
Maki's shocked cry and Green's bloodcurdling scream echoed outside.
The door's been blown open.
Footsteps pounded toward them—dozens, maybe more.
THUD! THUD!
The entire floor shook as unseen forces clashed.
Just like the third floor last loop.
This door won't hold.
"Kaguya!"
No further words were needed.
Her fingers wrenched the clock's hands backward.
Click.
Takakai opened his eyes to dusk.
6:00 PM.
Kaguya, pale-faced, avoided looking at the clock—now undoubtedly twisted in her vision.
Takakai burst into the hallway—
And nearly collided with Guo, who gave him a disdainful glance before heading downstairs.
Something peeked from Guo's coat pocket.
A doll.
Its gaze locked onto Takakai.
One wrong word, and I'm dead.
The realization hit:
Guo had triggered the chaos to force a rewind—saving himself from whatever hell he'd stirred up.
Bastard.
"We were used," Kaguya said flatly when Takakai returned.
"Yeah."
Between Green's cowardice, Sun Dajun's limitations, the useless Maeda Miwa, the gullible Black guy, and now Guo—
The only reliable teammates were Kaguya and Maki.
Fuck this game.
That night, Takakai dreamed of a child weeping outside his door.
Muffled sobs, as if her mouth was sewn shut.
A door he didn't recognize.
Waiting.
Morning came.
The group reconvened in 206, where Sun Dajun cooked noodles.
"This time, Maki and I will explore the third floor. Takakai-san, you stay here."
Kaguya's tone brooked no argument.
"But I've been there before—"
"You're exhausted. And we need you to watch her."
Her eyes flicked to Maeda Miwa, now eerily subdued, muttering about "being useful."
The woman from 205—the room with two corpses.
"She's… suspicious," Takakai muttered.
"We have no choice. Only she and Maki can rewind now."
Kaguya's jaw tightened.
Maeda Miwa suddenly lunged forward, lifting her shirt—
"I'm really useful, see—"
Takakai recoiled, signaling Green to drag her away.
As he handed Kaguya the 304 key, he forced a grin:
"Be careful. You're this team's backbone."
"Tch. Flattery won't work on her," Maki huffed nearby.
Green, gripping Maeda Miwa's shoulder, leered at her exposed skin—
"Rest assured. A Shinomiya does not fall so easily."
Kaguya's lips quirked slightly as she reached for the key—
SPLURT!
Blood sprayed.
Maeda Miwa's blade flashed—
Severing Takakai's wrist.
Green gurgled, clutching his slit throat.
Kaguya blocked the second strike—
The knife pierced her palm, slashing her cheek.
THUD!
A kick sent her crashing backward.
Takakai tackled blindly, but Maeda Miwa twisted like a serpent, snatching the severed hand—
Key in grip.
Maki yanked the attached string—
Kaguya swept Maeda Miwa's legs—
"Ohhh, you are good. For rookies."
Maeda Miwa's voice dripped mockery as she sliced the cord, dodged Kaguya's punch, and flung a knife—
Shattering the clock's hands.
Her entire demeanor had shifted.
"You're like Guo—a veteran who hijacked this run," Takakai gasped, clutching his stump.
"Mmm~ The real Maeda Miwa's the fresh corpse in 205. I just… borrowed her spot."
She dissolved into sludge, laughing.
"Here's a gift: The original escape method was wearing a 'debt collector's' outfit and leaving through the first-floor door. But now? The 'collectors' are invisible. This place is solidifying—which means its core is finally touchable!"
Her voice echoed as her body melted away:
"Too bad you'll die before reaching it~"
No.
Not like this.
Takakai locked eyes with the blurred figure in the corner.
"Li Youcai. Xu Jiazhen."
He whispered the names—
And then, compelled by something older than fear, spoke the third:
"[Redacted]."
The apartment shudder.
Maeda Miwa's taunting cut off mid-laugh.
Somewhere, a door creaked open.
A door that should never be opened.