edelweiss - &team

35

The five, to be honest, were aimlessly ambling around at this point. Since the little town they had been visiting from time to time had been cleared, in true Jo fashion, they were helping out confused, displaced townsfolk, while explaining that they were not celebrities and it wasn't their fault they were so dashing.

Yuma was hard at work, trying to locate Death's potential target, while also trying to penetrate the confines of the mysterious and surprisingly large. "I guess that's why it's a labyrinth," Yuma lamented to Maki, when the youngest took a break from soothing a wailing old woman, "It's so confusing. I keep hitting dead ends and the occasional moments I catch them, they're running from danger."

"But are they doing okay?" Maki pressed, asking the important questions here. Yuma pursed his lips, "Jo and Fuma are fine, I guess Riki has excellent stamina since he has the gall to taunt and laugh at Kyungmin while running. But Euijoo...I don't know if it's because he's so deep in the maze and I can't find him, but...I haven't gotten to see him once."

"That's worrying," Maki replied, distracted, as he noticed Yudai started to break off from the group.

"I think he sees something," Yixiang suddenly said as he ran up to them, Harua close behind, "Let's go."

And that was how they found themselves in another part of the city, after literally running for miles after a persistent Yudai. They decided that being on the rooftop was the best place to survey the city of low buildings, densely packed in a regular format. Yuma announced that he felt a familiar presence, so they were on high alert, looking out for anything out of the ordinary. While Yixiang and Harua were focused on suspicious characters, and Yuma was oddly fixated on a woman holding a chihuahua, Yudai's attention was fixed on one shadow. Lurking in an alley leading out to the street, was the tall, thin figure of a man. It would be unremarkable if not for the pale sheen of reflected light from a thin silver blade grasped tightly to his body. His hair was long, curling at his shoulder, half swept up in a handsome, messy style. A pair of black, thin rimmed glasses were pushed high up his nose bridge, dressed in a dark, fitting coat.

While most of their eyes passed over the seemingly unassuming man, Yudai's heart sank further the more he observed the man, down to his mannerisms and gestures.

"That guy...he's dressed like my character in my movie. Exactly like my character, even his hair," Yudai breathed out, pointing to guide his friends' gazes.

As they took in the man, Yixiang bit venomously, "So the killer is a fucking cosplayer?"

"No...my character is a killer. A psychopathic serial killer, that is," Yudai tried to explain, raking his hand through his hair furiously.

"What kind of bloody show are you doing -"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't fucking predict my character would come to life?"

"Shut up, do we kill him?" There was a pained look in Yuma's eyes, after all they were faced with a conflict of interest. The five immortals shared the same annoyance and concern.

"Let's just disable him, okay?"

After a collective agreement of nods, they returned their attention to the street, only to realise there were now an estimated dozen of similarly dressed men, differing by hair colours and maybe shirts, littered around and only clear to see from their high vantage point. It was momentarily amusing, like playing a finding game. But it was less funny when it appears that every single one of them shared a murderous intention, gripping a variety of weapons from kitchen knives to hammers.

"Wow, there sure are a lot of them," Maki commented.

"Is today 'National cosplay a serial killer' day?"

"Yudai, this is your fault!"

"I-"

"You're here," A soft, boyish voice interrupted them. When they all took in the figure seated diagonally above them, they were stumped. Yixiang scrunched his face up, more perplexed than anything, "What are you doing here?"

Minhyung shrugged, his fingers trembling slightly, "To witness this, I suppose." The immortal was perched on a ledge of the neighbouring flat, staring down at them, legs swinging, as though watching a play.

"So you're the last one," Yuma remarked casually, "We've reunited with everyone, hah."

"It's good to see you again," Another voice called out, appearing from the shadows of a dark alley below dramatically. Gaku stepped out with a forced, cheerful grin, "I really didn't want to see you guys ever again."

Minhyung scoffed, "You say that to everyone."

"Are you here to stop us?" Yudai asked casually. Gaku shook his head, "You have enough on your plate. We're here to spectate. Might as well, I'll be needed in the labyrinth soon."

"If we kill you before that, would that be an inconvenience?"

"It would, actually, but not as big of one if Death kills me."

"You should probably figure that out first, though," Minhyung cut in, pointing at the men, "Because only one of them is human. And the rest are our puppets. That is the message I bring for you."

With that, dodging bricks flung telekinetically by Yuma, Gaku and Minhyung both slipped away, Minhyung dropping off the ledge like it was nothing before joining Gaku as they sprinted off.

"Well, well," Yudai cracked his knuckles, deciding to simply focus on the humans, "Let's play the stupid game."