Taro sank onto the grass, the mossy ground cool against his legs as he waited, his breath steadying after the last attempt. Kazuishi settled beside him, her movements unexpectedly graceful, folding her legs with a delicate poise that contrasted her usual sharpness—a feminine ease that softened the grove's stillness.
"Now then, my friend," Tamako began, her voice gentle but firm as she sat across from them, "could you tell me what exactly you heard from those voices? It might help me understand your inner problems."
Taro slowly averted his eyes, his jaw tightening, a flush of insecurity creeping up his neck as he shifted uncomfortably on the grass.
For a second, Tamako's mouth opened slightly, a flicker of realization crossing her calm face before she smiled, a hint of understanding softening her gaze. "I'm sorry—it was my mistake for asking something so personal."
"No, it's okay, really," Taro mumbled, forcing his shoulders to relax, though his gaze stayed low.
"I see… well then, friend," Tamako said, rising to her feet with a fluid motion, the butterfly attachment in her hair catching the twilight glow, "I think whatever you might be facing, the best way to handle it… is to directly confront them."
Taro stood too, his brow furrowing as he dusted moss from his knees. "Direct confrontation? Doesn't that seem a little unwise? I mean, I got a direct attack from it last time—my body hit the ground in less than a minute. I know everybody isn't perfect on their first try, but I doubt doing the same thing again will make that much difference."
"Oh, my friend, that is the way," Tamako insisted, her tone warm but resolute. "You just have to understand them, confront them, and assert dominance. For you, I think that's the only path."
Taro looked away, a flicker of frustration tightening his lips. "It's not that simple. Easier said than done."
Tamako stepped closer, gently taking his hands in hers, her touch light but grounding. "I'm well aware, my friend, but at least try—give it an attempt."
Taro's cheeks flushed a faint red, his eyes darting away as he stammered, "Fine, I'll try again, I guess."
Tamako's smile widened slightly, a quiet encouragement in her eyes.
[Later]
Taro sat again, legs crossed on the stone, his mind sharpened with determination, the cool surface steady beneath him. The grove's silence pressed in, the twilight casting long shadows across the moss.
"Don't forget what I said, Taro," Tamako reminded him, her voice a soft anchor.
Taro nodded, his face set with a serious look, eyes shutting tight. "Right—understand and confront."
But suddenly, a voice slithered into his mind, sharp and mocking. *You're going to understand us? Please, you can't even grasp that you're being used. Do you need to see the insides of your body laid out in a lab, chained up, to see that?*
Taro grunted, clenching his fists. "Shut up, shut up—that's not true! Nobody's trying to use me. You're just misleading me, trying to trick me. My friends aren't trying to use me… I won't fall for it!" His ring responded, glowing green, a faint surge of energy empowering him as a small smile broke through.
But the voices swelled louder, a relentless tide. "Oh, you think these people you met are your friends? What do you truly know about them? They only tell you what they want—lies, deceit. We'll tell you the truth: they're just liars who want to explore you, nothing more. Have you ever heard of scientists befriending the rat? Never. 'Cause it's not possible. You aren't a friend—you're a new book on a shelf to be read and… just like before… eventually thrown away again!"
Taro's resolve wavered, the information crashing over him like a wave. The voices grew louder with every word, his will buckling under the weight, and—*Boom!* The ring flared green, and a jolt electrified him from the inside out. *What was it? The backlash.*
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Taro screamed, his body convulsing as the shock intensified, the green aura sparking wildly around him.
"Oh no!" Tamako exclaimed, her calm breaking as she lunged forward.
Kazuishi acted fast, shoving Taro off the stone and catching him as he crumpled, her arms steady despite the sudden move. "This ring sure has its ups and downs," she muttered, her voice tight. "Let's just hope the price doesn't outweigh the value."
[Inside]
The room was quiet, empty save for a simple bed where Taro lay, bruised and bandaged, the air stale with the scent of herbs. He woke with a start, his body jerking upright. "Ahhhh, where am I?" he rasped, his voice hoarse, eyes darting around.
He spotted Kazuishi, her poker face masking concern, and Tamako, her worry etched into her brow as she hovered nearby.
Taro grunted, slamming his hand against the wall, the impact sending a dull thud through the room. "Damn it, I lost again, didn't I?" He scratched his head, frustration boiling. "The second time—I lost so hard I fainted… I'm sorry, Tamako."
"Enough, please, Taro," Tamako said, her voice gentle but firm. "You've done your best… I'm sorry for not knowing you had that ring with you." She bowed her head slightly, her butterfly attachment trembling. "I should have taken more precautions."
Taro cut in quickly, waving a hand. "Please don't, Tamako—it was my fault for not telling you."
Tamako slowly raised her head, her worry lingering but softened by his words.
"I only wish I had a way to fight back against that overwhelming loudness," Taro muttered, staring at his bandaged hands. "Then I could surely beat them. But it's not like I can mute myself from my own mental thoughts and just fight them."
Suddenly, Kazuishi's eyes lit up, an idea sparking. "Wait, Taro—that might just be it. Have you ever tried, instead of muting, just clarifying?"
Taro raised a brow, confusion wrinkling his forehead. "What do you mean?"
"Take, for example, a television," Kazuishi explained, her tone steady. "You're watching your favorite show, but then your baby brother starts crying, loud as hell. What you're trying to do is crank the volume, but all that does is make more noise. If you clarify—add subtitles—it doesn't matter how loud he gets, you can still hear, effectively neutralizing the effect instead of fighting it."
A beat of silence hung in the air, then Taro's face broke into a wide smile. "Kazuishi, you're a frickin' genius!"
"Hmph," Kazuishi adjusted her glasses, a faint flush betraying her secret enjoyment of the praise.
Taro turned to Tamako, his grin infectious. "What do you think, Tamako?"
"It sounds pretty okay to me," Tamako said, nodding thoughtfully, "but it's not guaranteed… So I'd suggest taking the ring off."
"No," Taro said, his voice firm with newfound determination. "The reason I'm even doing this is mainly because of this ring. Sorry, but I just can't."
Tamako flinched slightly, taken aback, but then her smile returned, warmer this time. "I see—then I respect your decision, Taro."
Taro smiled back, the tension easing.
[Outside at Center Grove]
"Are you ready for this, Taro?" Tamako asked, her voice steady as they stood before the stone again.
Taro took a deep breath, the mossy air filling his lungs. "Born ready."
"Then I wish you good luck," Tamako said, stepping back with an encouraging nod.
Taro sat down on the stone again, legs crossed, his face more determined than before, eyes shutting with focus. The mental assault hit like a wave.
*If it isn't the Dremapols' favorite lab rat—back for more facts, eh?*
But Taro only said one sentence, his voice low but resolute: "I will no longer succumb to your lies."
"Lies? We do not tell lies. The only liar here is yourself—you keep lying to yourself that they're your friends. You're just using them as copium for the fact you had no friends in the real world. Pitiful."
"That's not true," Taro shot back, his voice gaining strength. "Sure, I might not have had real friends in the real world, but the ones I have here are more than enough and real to me. They cared, taught me, guided me as if they always knew me. Mexus, especially—who in their right mind would challenge the mighty council just for manipulation? Nobody—he believed in me when no one would. My friends here—everyone—they *aren't lying to me*!" His voice rose to a defiant scream, echoing through the grove.
Suddenly, the voices weakened, faltering as the ring glowed green. "Ugh, ugh—how can this be?"
"You guys are the real pathetic ones," Taro pressed, his grin widening, "thinking you can manipulate me with these cheap tricks. I'll never ever doubt my friends!" The ring's light grew brighter, a radiant green flare that pulsed with his resolve.
The voices made one final, desperate scream—"Ahhhhhhh!!!"—before fading into silence.
As the light dimmed, Taro opened his eyes, the grove calm around him, Tamako and Kazuishi unharmed and watching. "I did it… I did it, I won!" he exclaimed, his voice thick with triumph.
Tamako smiled, her voice a soft whisper. "Now you are truly… a true winner."