We Find Comfort In The Apricity

Measure 73: You're Out

The participants were gathered right outside the building, Ava and Neptune stood in front of them and by now the sun had already completely set.

"Where's the key?"

"...We lost it." -Haven

"Eh? That's fine I guess. As you all know already, there was quite a few that were injured. So I'll take any questions you have now to calm your mind."

"What happened to Ginro?" -Kinro asked almost immediately after Ava finished talking. This whole time she had a delicate smile and never fathomed a tear.

"Your co-partner, Number 11, had inhaled arsenic gas when he opened the chamber where my peridot gem was located. For now he'll experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, anemia, and jaundice as well in his skin and eyes. If he manages to survive those symptoms he'll move onto kidney failure. In order to save him, we'll need to move quickly through The Games."

"I don't understand what The Games have to do with saving Ginro?" -Kinro

"I'll let you know when we near the end. If you make it of course. I'll take care of everything and I can assure you your co-partner will not die under my watch. So focus on The Games, and aim to finish them as quickly as possible if you'd like to save him."

It was quiet but then Senku burst out laughing, rupturing the silence in the air. "You put the arsenic gas in there didn't you? It's just arsenic minerals combined with acid, you got yourself a dangerous gas. You had to made sure once we found it that it'd be impossible to get it to you alone."

"Mhm, I did. As a result, you've all grown quite close to each other. And now you know exactly who is on your side and who isn't." She turned to Kai and smiled a little more.

"And if I may say, I want to congratulate you all in completing this phase. Everything went according to plan."

"Um!! What about Mar? What happened to Mar?" -Suika

"Number 17 will be alright too, she suffered a mild head injury. And once again I know her life is not in a critical position, I can assure you she will not die."

"W-What about Ona?" -Kohaku asked quietly. She sat on the ground clutching her twisted ankle and trying her best not to cry.

"I've understood that you pulled her down by accident right Number 13? Well lucky for you, the floor here is not solid concrete it's slightly softer than so. Although she did fracture a few bones, her light will not give out either. I'll be sure to save her, it's just going to take a while for her bones to heal."

It fell quiet again.

"...You hurt everyone on purpose. You were having fun weren't you?" -Ryusui

"I'll admit I was, Number 2."

"Everyone was hurt, and you were having the time of your life?! Some people might die and you're acting as if we had just taken a walk in the park?! Are you insane?! What the hell is your problem?! And everyone else too! Why isn't anyone saying anything to her?? Are we simply going to stand by and watch her crack each and every one of our bones?!" -Ryusui

"Number 2, you've always had the option to leave. There won't be any consequences, you may leave if you'd like. So why didn't you? Why didn't anyone? It's pathetic that I have to voice this out to you, my star student Number 18 already knows what these Games are meant to do. The first phase was testing your endurance while teaching you that asking questions is completely fine and should not be feared. This second phase we tested your reasoning skills in a scary situation, while teaching you to work together, look for the smallest details, and appreciate the lives you take for granted. I don't mind being called a monster Number 2. But if you have no idea what is going on, I feel sad for you. You have all of this knowledge in front of you, yet you can't see it. Leave if you want, I have no need for weak minded people anyway. I've cared for everyone in this island for almost two autumns now. I built this town from the bottom, and I will protect everyone. So I will say it one more time, your friends won't die. There's no need to panic and act irrational."