𝙻𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝙸𝚗 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜 | Chishiya Shuntaro x OC

𝟽| 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜

°⨳°·..·°⨳°⊹٭ The riddles. ٭⊹°⨳°·..·°⨳°
☆.' '. ☽¸.☆, Is this the place we lived in? ,☆.¸☽ .' '.☆

I wandered around the hotel, my curiosity driving me to ask people questions. The responses I received were as different as the people themselves. Some described this place as "heaven" or a "place to relax," which baffled me given the constant danger and the reality that people were dying here. Others claimed that this place was designed to eliminate the weak, ensuring that only the strong would remain in Japan. The range of thoughts and theories was overwhelming, each perspective adding another layer to the mystery of the Borderlands.

As I moved from person to person, I couldn't help but notice the stark differences in their attitudes and beliefs. Some seemed almost content, as if they had accepted their fate and found a way to thrive within these twisted games. Others were filled with fear and paranoia, their eyes darting around nervously as if expecting a threat to emerge at any moment.

I stopped by a group of people huddled together in the corner of the lobby. They were deep in conversation, their voices low and urgent. Intrigued, I approached them, hoping to gather more insights.

"Excuse me," I began, catching their attention. "I'm trying to understand more about this so called 'Borderlands'. Do you mind sharing your thoughts?"

One of the men, a tall guy with a kind appearance, looked me up and down before speaking.

"What's there to understand?" he said gruffly. "This place is a nightmare, plain and simple. You survive or you don't. That's it."

A woman beside him, with striking red hair and a fierce expression, chimed in. "It's not just about survival. It's about proving your worth. The weak get weeded out, and only the strongest remain. It's like natural selection on steroids."

I nodded, taking in their words. "But why? Who benefits from this?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

The red-haired woman shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe it's some twisted social experiment. Maybe someone up there gets a kick out of watching us struggle."

As I thanked them and walked away, their words echoed in my mind. A social experiment?Entertainment for some unseen audience? The theories were endless, and none of them brought me any closer to understanding the true purpose of the Borderlands.

Lost in thought, I found myself wandering into the hotel's courtyard. It was a rare moment of peace, the serene surroundings a stark contrast to the chaos and danger that lurked just beyond the hotel's walls. I sat down on a bench, allowing myself a moment to process everything I had learned.

My thoughts drifted to Chishiya and Kuina. They were the closest thing I had to allies in this place, and their support was invaluable. But even they had their own secrets, their own mysteries. Chishiya, in particular, intrigued me. His actions suggested a deeper understanding of the Borderlands, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he was letting on.

After walking up to them without words, I kept my gaze on the ground, my thoughts swirling with questions. "I just wonder... where do these lasers come from? How is it possible that they are everywhere? It doesn't make sense. And how come every electronic device stopped working? In this place, they had to use rainwater to generate electricity. When I came to this place, I came home, woke up around 1 am, and found out that no one is here. Nothing worked, and the food was moldy and—" I froze, a new thought striking me. "Wait, when did you guys come to this place? I mean, the Borderlands."

Chishiya and Kuina exchanged glances, both clearly taken aback by my sudden question.

"I arrived here about a week ago," Chishiya said, his voice steady. "I was on my way home from the hospital, and the next thing I knew, I was in the middle of Shibuya Crossing with no idea how I got here."