The days had begun to blur together in the Maze. The trials, the constant fear, and the overwhelming weight of survival had taken their toll on the group. Takumi could feel it—the strain of leadership, the weight of the decisions that were no longer so clear-cut. And then there was the sense of unease, the discomfort that had been growing between him, Haruka, and Ryo.
It was something subtle at first—little glances, fleeting moments of silence. But it was there, and it was beginning to affect the group dynamic. Takumi couldn't ignore it, no matter how much he tried.
Haruka's eyes lingered on him more often now, her gaze not just filled with admiration, but something deeper—something she hadn't confessed yet. He could feel it in the way she spoke to him, in the small touches when she brushed past him. But there was something off about it, something that didn't quite fit.
"Takumi," Haruka's voice was soft, her words laced with hesitation. She had been avoiding him more, but now, in the silence of their new surroundings, it felt like she couldn't stay away any longer. "I need to talk to you."
Takumi turned toward her, his gaze flickering with curiosity. "What's going on, Haruka?"
She looked away, her fingers twisting nervously in her hands. The vulnerability in her posture was clear. "I... I've been thinking about us. About everything. And I can't shake this feeling that something's not right. About the Maze, about you and me…"
Takumi felt a pang in his chest. "You think the Maze is messing with us?"
Haruka shook her head, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment before dropping to the ground. "It's not just that. It's... it's you, Takumi. The way you lead, the way you've been acting. I don't know how to explain it, but... I feel like you're slipping away from us."
Takumi's heart raced. He had been so focused on surviving, on leading them out of the Maze, that he hadn't noticed the distance growing between him and Haruka. Was it because of the weight of the situation? Or something more?
Before he could respond, a voice interrupted them—Ryo's voice, cold and cutting.
"You two really should be careful," Ryo said, stepping forward from the shadows. There was something dark in his eyes, something unsettling that Takumi couldn't quite place. "The Maze... it doesn't just play with your body. It plays with your mind. Your emotions. Everything. And I've been watching."
Takumi frowned, his suspicion rising. "What do you mean, Ryo?"
Ryo's smirk was sharp. "I mean, don't be so naive. You're all falling for it. Every single one of you. And if you're not careful, it's going to destroy you."