『Nakamura Hina 』
What would her reaction be when one moment she was visiting a coffee shop and the next, the entirety of Tokyo had disappeared?
Hina was minding her business with her little brother within a cute coffee shop that she had found onlin...
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A week had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. The days bled into one another, each one a haze of recovery and introspection for Hina. Her wounds had mostly healed by now, leaving behind faint scars on her face and waist. They didn't hurt as much anymore, just a dull soreness that served as a reminder of the brutal game she'd survived. She figured the ache was more from inactivity than anything else—days spent lounging around the beach compound, avoiding the chaos rather than diving headfirst into the games.
Despite the stunning views and the carefree revelry that defined life at the beach, Hina found herself growing more restless by the day. She needed space, somewhere to think, to escape the constant pulse of bodies dancing and the laughter that never quite reached her. The beach was supposed to be an oasis, but for Hina, it was just a louder prison.
With that thought in mind, she wandered through the resort, searching for some sliver of peace. The lower levels of the basement had proven useless—just a series of storage rooms, locked doors, and forgotten corners that felt more claustrophobic than calming. The only constant sound was the faint hum of machinery, not exactly the escape she was hoping for.
Frustrated and out of options, Hina made her way back upstairs, climbing flight after flight of stairs in hopes of finding somewhere less suffocating. As she reached the ground level, she found herself locking eyes with a familiar white-haired figure.
Chishiya.
Their encounters had been sporadic since her arrival at the beach. Hina had chosen not to participate in any more games, feeling like she'd earned the right to rest. She'd stacked enough days on her visa to relax, at least for now, and instead focused on strategizing and theorizing. There had to be a way out of this nightmare, a way to get revenge on whoever had created this twisted version of reality. Winning games wasn't enough—she needed to understand the system itself.
And yet, even with all the planning and the quiet, Hina couldn't help but notice a subtle shift in Chishiya's behavior. He was still as enigmatic as ever, making snide remarks whenever the opportunity arose, but those moments were fewer now. The constant sarcasm had ebbed, replaced by something more measured. He wasn't quite as cold as before, though he still enjoyed silently mocking her whenever she fumbled or made a mistake, smirking or raising an eyebrow just to get under her skin. The change was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there.
She gave him a brief nod in acknowledgment, not really in the mood for whatever cryptic commentary he might have today. As she continued her ascent, she could feel his eyes lingering on her, but she pushed it out of her mind. She had more pressing concerns—like the dull pain in her ankle that flared with every step. The memory of nearly becoming a shark's dinner still lingered in her body, the strain on her ankle a persistent reminder of that close call. But she wasn't going to let it slow her down. Not today.
Reaching the upper floors, Hina found herself in unfamiliar territory. This part of the building was quieter, almost eerily so compared to the rest of the beach. The partygoers rarely ventured up here, and for good reason—it lacked the allure of the bars and the music below. But for Hina, this desolation was exactly what she needed. The corridors were lined with abandoned rooms, most of them left untouched since the games began. She approached a door that had the words 'rooftop' engraved in them.
