Uncertain [YTTD]

[24 - Troubling Hosts]

"Oh, there you are." Keiji said, spotting the high-schooler. "You weren't in the lobby."

"...Sorry about that." [Name] replied. "Just decided to come here on my own and wait for you guys instead."

"Well, okay then. You sure are indecisive." He commented, walking away to look around the Monitor Room.

"Tch..."

Confused, Sara pointed at one of the monitors on the right. "Is that one...on?"

As soon as she said that, the screen flickered on, showing a familiar face.

"Huh...?"

"My, my...what is this all of a sudden?" The Mishima on the screen asked.

"...Professor Mishima...?" Nao blinked rapidly.

"Ohh! Why, if it isn't miss Nao!"

"It's not...a video? You're talking to me...?" She stepped closer to the screen.

"Yes, I am looking into your eyes and talking with you, miss Nao."

"W-Wait, I'm confused." Reko put a hand to her head. "Mishima's still..."

"Are the people behind you your friends? It's nice to meet you. My name is Mishima."

"Nice to meet us...?" Keiji raised an eyebrow. He nodded, introducing himself to the group with a smile on his face.

"Is this a video call...?" Sara murmured.

"A video call? What could you mean...? Something is odd here...hmm..." Mishima paused. "Ahh...I see now. I've remembered. I am an AI program of Kazumi Mishima. An artificial intelligence."

"...An artificial intelligence...?!"

"Precisely. I am a replica made from copies of Kazumi Mishima's memories and emotions. Everyone, I suppose you met with the real Kazumi Mishima?"

[Name] nodded. "Yeah, he's—"

"Oh, so this is where you all were?" A voice spoke from the entrance of the room.

"Well, speak of the devil."

"P-Professor...!" Nao glanced from the screen to the professor, tugging on her hair. "Ahhh...what's going onnn???"

"Oh? Is that...?" The Mishima AI asked. "Well now...what a strange sensation. I'm meeting and speaking with myself...!"

Mishima chuckled as well, standing next to Nao. "Yes, this is very unusual, I agree."

"On the back of this monitor...there's a photo of Mishima's face." Keiji muttered. "If that's the truth...are all of these AIs of different people...?"

Sara's eyes seemed to widen at Keiji's words, quickly moving to the back of the monitors as well.

"Big sis Sara! What's the matter, meow?!" Gin asked with worried eyes.

The high-schooler did not respond, intently checking the backs of the monitors. [Name] stared at the girl, frowning.

"Joe's not gonna be there, Sara..."

"Sister...why aren't you here...? I...miss you too..." Kanna sniffled, wiping her eyes with her sleeves.

"AaaUUUaaahhh?! What are you doing?!" A voice screeched. Suddenly, the rest of the monitors switched on to show an upset woman on the monitor. "Ah, ooh, ahh...! Who was it?! Who went and started up the Mishima AI...?!"

"W...What the?!" Reko stepped back in shock.

"I get it...!" Her eyes lit up. "So then...Ranger...! It was you, wasn't it...?!"

"Hey, don't get mad!" Another unknown voice spoke. "Everybody seems pretty pleased, don'tcha think?"

The group turned around to find the source of the voice, eyes widening.

"Hey there! You bastards slept well?" He asked, covering his mouth with various expression cards.

"W-Who're you, meow?!"

"I'm the Dressup Doll, Rio Ranger!" He greeted. "I'm gonna support y'all on this floor! Best regaaards!"

"Err...what about Miley...?" Keiji asked.

"Ehh? You prefer the ladies, do ya? Sheesh." Ranger rolled his eyes, turning to the monitors. "C'mon over here, Safalin! For they have so humbly requested a girl!"

"Ah, ooh, sniff...but I'm angry at you right now..." She mumbled.

The Dressup Doll shivered. "Yeesh, it's creepy when they all talk to you at once!"

"C...Creepy...?! You're awful! Boohoohoohoo..."

"Just joshin'! You're real cute, so move it already!" He demanded, a wink on his face.

Soon enough, another person appeared from the shadows. "D-Do you meeean it?"

"NOW."

At his words, Safalin yelped and quickly shut off the monitors with her face on it. "Good to meet you, everyoneee...I am the Vice Floor Master, the Crying Doll, Tia Safalin..."

"Rearranger and Tears-are-fallin'...never understood why there's so many puns." [Name] muttered, getting a curious glance from Gin.

"Now this is perfect. Let's begin explaining the rules of Floor 3!" Ranger announced.

"T-The rules of Floor 3...?" Nao echoed, turning around to face the Floor Masters.

"Yep. You bastards are probably hyper on-edge after suspecting up a storm in the Main Game, right? And so! We thought of some wonderful festivities to let you reconcile before the next Main Game!"

"Wait! We're doin' one again?! A Main Game...?!" Reko shouted.

He snickered, bringing out a larger expression card to cover his face. "All depends on you assholes! Hahaha!"

Sara glared at Ranger, making him tilt his head.

"Whazza maaatter? My face scare you? C'mon, Sara Chidouin!"

"Shut up..."

"...Hmm?"

"Before your stupid explanation...take that off...!" Sara pointed at the clip in his hair with an icy glare. "That thing...you're wearing...! Isn't that...Joe's hairclip...?!"

Ranger's eyes crinkled, swirling with darkness. "...Ahah. Sure enough...you recognized this clip...? It feels good, y'know...feels like it's full of the dead's regrets. The regrets of Joe Tazuna...that bottomlessly cheerful, softhearted moron."

"Then...that skirt, too...it must be sister's...!" Kanna realized, her eyes tearing up.

"...Whewww." He glared. "You bastards got any right to condemn me?"

"...!!" The group went silent, staring at the doll with hostile looks.

"This topic's donezo! Now everybody come see what's past these monitors!" He headed towards a room connected to the Monitor Room. "We'll have a fun game...hahaha...!"

Silently, the group followed the Dressup Doll and the Vice Floor Master into the new room.