apathetic [wec]

[8 - punt the robot like it's monokuma at those cons]

The second they fell into the Sludgebot, [Name] felt their mind grow clearer. The massive headache they had since the beginning of the game lessened just a bit, although its effects still lingered.

However, they didn't focus on that. What they did notice was the familiar group of people inside the very machine they fell into, all looking at them with various expressions. However, no one chose to say anything.

"....." [Name] took another look around the small group, deadpanning internally.

"...Well, that was anticlimactic." They muttered, rubbing their sore back from the fall.

The first one to move was Pochi, who scooted over from his spot to make space for them. Once they decided to move next to him, he pat them on their shoulder.

"You did good, [Name]."

They nodded in response, leaning slightly into the touch. They stayed like that for a brief second until he let go and went back to his game console.

"How come you got eliminated, [Name]?" Pai spoke up, tilting her head.

[Name] took a few moments to respond, still slightly dazed. "...I eliminated myself."

"Huh?" Kansai sounded bewildered. "You chose to get taken out?"

"...Yeah."

No one knew how to respond to their blunt response, until another yell came from the top of the machine. Everyone glanced upwards, before the tallest of the group fell down into the middle of their circle just as [Name] had.

"Agh..." Aniki rubbed his head, then looked around, blinking. "Wait—what?"

"Aniki!" Pai rushed over and gave him a quick hug, then helped pull him to his feet.

Tattsun brought a hand to his chin. "If Aniki's here, then that means..."

"...Reycho won the game." Jennu finished, tapping a fist on her palm.

"Does that mean...he'll leave us here?" Mowchan whimpered, slumping against the wall of the machine. "He doesn't know we're actually alive..."

"No, I'm sure he'll come back." Pochi insisted, looking up from his console. "Reycho will get us out of here."

"Of course," Nyoro agreed, nodding. "He wouldn't give up on us like that."

"We can only hope so..." Chuko sighed, bringing her knees to her chest.

They all waited, the sounds of mechanical clicking and gears turning filling the silence. It seemed unlikely that there was any hope, until muffled talking was heard from outside.

"Does anyone else hear that?" Jennu asked.

Aniki pushed his way past the people blocking the sounds and turned his face to the side, trying to listen. "...It sounds like Pielope. I think she's panicking."

A few members of the group stood up and tried to listen with Aniki, putting an ear to the wall as he did.

Kansai's eyes widened. "You're right, she is!"

"Has Reycho found a loophole somehow?!" Chuko gasped, standing up.