The Ones Within: Utaite Version

Chapter 3: Murasaki

"Where are you going, Soraru-san?", Mafumafu asked. "I'm going to look through the tower.", Soraru answered. "I can see that... but why are you walking towards the stairs to the 51st floor?", Mafumafu asked. "When I play mystery games it is best to know everything of your surroundings and observe everything. To do that I'll have to observe the 51st floor as well.", Soraru explained.

"What the actual heck is that?", Urata asked as he looked at the creature standing before them. It was a girl with long brown hair and red eyes. She was short but the thing making Urata question everything was the tanuki ears and tail.

"N-nice to meet you... I am Ueno Murasaki, pyon.", she introduced herself. (I don't know what a tanuki sounds like so if you know please inform me). "Pyon?", Amatsuki repeated confused.

"Doesn't that girl look like Amatsuki and Kashitaro?", Sakata asked and she did indeed look like a fusion of them.

"Never mind that, why the heck does she have tanuki ears and tail?!", Urata asked. "Don't shout like that! You'll scare her!", Amatsuki said hugging Murasaki protectively.

"It's alright... I know it's weird having a daughter with animal ears and tail.", Murasaki said sobbing while sitting on the floor.

"Now you've made her cry, Urata.", Amatsuki looked at him accusingly making Urata flinch slightly under the glare. He then sighed walking up to Murasaki and kneeled down so he could face her and put a hand on her head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry...

It's great that you are unique in your own way and I like tanuki so my daughter being isn't a problem either. So don't feel bad, ok?", Urata said patting her head and smiling gently at her making her smile again. "Woah... didn't think Urata could be this nice.", Kashitaro said. "Oi.". "I want Ura-san to be nice to me as well!", Sakata complained. "Shut up!", Urata ordered as a small blush of embarrassment creeped onto his face.

"Ah, the water feels so nice!", Shima sighed out relaxing. Senra nodded in agreement. "I agree...", Senra agreed but he stayed quieter than the last time they talked to each other.

They kept talking but instead of having a mutual conversation it felt like Shima was talking to a wall. "Are you alright, Senra? Is the heat getting to you? You can tell me your problems any time you need someone to talk to.", Shima said.

"...Shima, can I tell you something personal?", Senra asked him looking at his wrist. "Of course! You can trust me. We did many collabs together already and it's not like we've met for the first time.", Shima smiled at Senra who nodded.

"The truth is... I had a friend who was very important to me and... it's my fault his parents lost him.", Senra confessed.

"For some reason the counter suddenly changed.", Soraru noticed. "Eh? Did something happen to Amatsuki and the others?", Mafumafu asked. "It could be or...". "Or?", Mafumafu looked up at Soraru curiously.

"Nothing... anyway, after going through the whole town without finding any other person so we can conclude that there is no way we can get help from another person because the place is inhabited. But we should leave quickly before Retrodot finds us.", Soraru said turning away but as he did he felt someone's presence next to him.

"Unfortunately for you, I've already found you~", he whispered into his ear making Soraru widen his eyes and jump away like Mafumafu did. "Would you care to explain yourselves?", Retrodot asked them. "We just got lost.", Soraru made up a lie knowing it was obvious.

"Lost? Anyway, Soraru-sama. You wanted to see my face, right? Please look at it how much you want... sweet nightmare~", Soraru slowly fainted the last thing he heard was Mafumafu calling out his name multiple times.