A day passed.

Then another.

And another.

Three days and Joe was still asleep. You understood why. The shock from losing someone so close to him must've put his mind through so much, and essentially needed a factory reset.

But three days was a long time.

You felt guilty for Sara's death. You knew there was nothing you could've done to save her, yet you still felt somehow responsible.

It should've been anyone but her. It should've been Sou, or Kai, or Keiji, or Q-Taro, or... or...

Or you.

Anyone but Sara.

Because she was so bright. She was so bright. If Joe was the moon then Sara was the sun. The opposite could be argued, but it seemed like Sara was the sun in the current situation.

Now that she couldn't be here to shine, Joe no longer glowed.

You didn't know Joe very well. That didn't stop you from keeping an eye on him. For three days, you waited in his bedroom. You tried to sleep but you saw her every time you closed your eyes. You heard her. You could feel what she felt and taste the blood in your mouth, the smell of sweat rolling down your face and the ache in your throat from crying and screaming.

Sleeping would never be as peaceful as it once was ever again.

For someone who had been asleep for three days, you wondered how Joe was faring. You tried calling out to him every once in a while. Nothing ever happened.

You wondered if he had died every once in a while.

But he was still breathing.

It was almost like he was in a coma.

You wondered if this Death Game would be able to continue while Joe was in a coma. Selfishly, you hoped it wouldn't. You didn't want to deal with any of it, and you certainly didn't want to do it by yourself. Before, you were completely guided by Joe and Sara. If Joe didn't wake up, you'd have to lead yourself, or find someone else to lead you.

And you knew that was selfish of you to think, but humans are born to be selfish. No one would survive, otherwise.

No one would survive .

Coming from a place of pity, you hoped it would continue so Joe wouldn't have to deal with anything else. He'd already lost his best friend. If he woke up, everyone would turn back to him for assistance. They'd expect this seventeen-year-old boy to lead a group of primarily adults through a Death Game as if he had any fucking idea what he was supposed to be doing. He had enough pressure on him as it was.

You knew that some people worried about you. You hadn't left Joe's room much. Just about once or twice a day to grab something to eat, but at this point in the third day, you hadn't left the room at all. You weren't feeling hungry.

At least, you weren't, until you started thinking about eating.

You looked over at Joe. Still asleep, of course.

You wouldn't be long. You'd say there was a...0.9% chance of him waking up while you were gone.

The fact that there was any chance at all made you hesitant, but you'd done this before. You'd be quick.

So you stood up and quietly left the bedroom, closing the door behind you.

You sighed, letting your shoulders slump.

The food was stored in the clinic. Why did your kidnappers store food in the same place they stored probably dangerous chemicals? You didn't know. Why did you store your medication in the same area you left your toothbrush?

An uneven analogy, but the author doesn't know how to make a point and sound smart. You walked through the hallway, into the main room, and to the clinic. In the main room, Gin was sitting with Reko and Nao. They were all silent as you walked by. You wondered if they'd even noticed that you'd entered the room until you heard Gin whispering something about you to Reko.

"They haven't said anything..." He said to her.

"They'll speak when they want to, kid. Trust me."

You grabbed a few items before leaving the clinic and making your way back to Joe's bedroom.

Approaching the door, you heard something crash, then the sound of glass shattering, and you felt your heart seize. You mentally swore at yourself for the 0.9% chance of him waking up being what happened. Maybe you should go buy a lottery ticket.

You shoved the bedroom door open to see Joe standing in front of the giant mirror next to the bed, which had shattered. His hand was bleeding, and he was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating.

"...Joe?" You called out. His head snapped to face you, and his expression made it seem as if he'd just seen a ghost. His bottom lip was trembling and there were tears in his dull eyes. Despite all that sleep, he had dark circles under his eyes.

"...Y/N." His voice cracked. He sniffed. He shook his hand slightly due to the pain finally settling in. Then he began crying. "I can't... do this." He crumpled to the floor and began sobbing. Carefully, you walked over to him, sitting down on the floor in front of him. "I... I saw her. She was... in the mirror." Joe said.

"...In the mirror?"

"Yes!" His head tilted up to look you in the eyes. His face was blotchy and wet, and there was a bit of blood smeared on his face from where he'd accidentally wiped his face with his cut hand. "She was in the mirror. I saw... Sara... and I saw Kai and Mishima too, I think..." He cut himself off with more sobs.

His hands rested on your lap, almost trying to clutch at your clothes for some sort of assistance. Some kind of comfort. You held his hands in your own, being careful not to apply any pressure. "Hey..." You whispered. "Can I... Can we get your hand cleaned up? I'm worried... it might get infected."

Joe was silent for a moment. You wondered if he had heard your question over his labored sobs and heavy breathing. He pulled away from you and croaked out a quiet agreement, sniffing and wiping at his face with his clean hand. You both stood up and you took him to the bathroom that was built into the bedroom.

He sat down on the lid of the toilet and you pulled out some bandages, tweezers, and antiseptic. Then you heard a knock on the door. You sighed. "I'll get it. Stay here, please. Don't hurt yourself."

You opened the bedroom door to be greeted with Keiji's piss-ass hair.

"Yo... is everything good in here?"

"Joe's awake. Uhm... The mirror is shattered, but he's fine."

"And you?"

"I'm okay. Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to make sure you guys were all right. Also, everyone's worried about Joe, not just you. So I hope you'll be able to convince him to show his face to everyone else soon."

You stared at the man who was supposed to be a cop. Back to your earlier statement, all these adults expected a seventeen-year-old boy who had just lost his best friend to lead them through a Death Game.

It was honestly disgusting.

"Goodbye, Keiji." You said, closing the door slightly too harshly. Now feeling slightly sour, you took a moment to breathe before walking back into the bathroom to take care of Joe.

"Was that Keiji?" Joe asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"How'd you know?" You replied, starting to take care of his hand by pulling out scraps of glass from the mirror he'd shattered.

"I could hear the vibrations from his deep voice." You knew he had meant that as a joke, but his tone was so dead and empty that you wondered if it truly was. You looked at his face to see him staring at a wall with a distant look. He looked seconds away from falling asleep again.

"Don't fall asleep. You've already been asleep for three days. I've been watching over you."

"Three... days..." Joe repeated, almost in disbelief. "What did Keiji want?"

"...He wanted to make sure you were all right because he heard the glass shatter."

Joe hummed unamusedly in response.

You didn't know Joe very well. You didn't know anyone here very well. You didn't know how to start conversations or keep up small talk.

"Are you..."

"Hm?"

"Are you alright, now? Other... Other than your hand bleeding."

Joe went silent. "I think I'm still in shock."

"What... happened?"

"I don't know."

"...Right. I wouldn't expect you to..."

"What?"

"Not like that... Just... Everything's so confusing..." You bit your lip. "Sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude."

"It's... fine."

Another silence.

"Why did you wait for me to wake up?" He broke the silence this time.

You wondered the same thing. You were the first to volunteer to watch over him. Maybe it's because you felt it would be weird if an adult or one of the kids did it. Or maybe you felt like it was the least you could do to make up for Sara's death.

You blamed yourself even though you knew it wasn't your fault. And, selfishly, you used this as a way of atoning. Or, at least, you saw it as such, almost. But you also genuinely cared. You knew Joe more than you probably knew anyone else in this Death Game. Seeing him so broken made you feel... terrible. You wanted to make sure he was alright. You didn't want the first person he saw when he woke up to be one of those sorry-ass adults who only want him awake so he can lead them.

Fucking hypocrite.

But it was fine because it wasn't like you were the first person he saw either. It was Sara, Kai, and Mishima.

"I was worried," You said. "I was worried about you. I was worried you weren't going to wake up. I was worried that when you did, you'd be alone and confused. I was worried someone else would be watching over you and neglect you or... or something. I don't know. I'm not sure."

Joe shifted slightly. "Uhm... Thank... you."

You were quiet for a moment. "Of course."

~ * ~

Joe eventually decided to leave the bedroom, and you followed after him. He made a slow journey through the hallway, stopping just outside of the main room when you both heard someone singing.

"It's Reko. She's singing to Nao and Gin." Joe explained.

The two of you fell silent, staring at Reko who held Gin in her arms and leaned against Nao as she sang. You didn't recognize the song, but it was so soft, and the lyrics were so sad.

"Entranced?" You turned your head to see Alice standing behind you. Joe continued to stare at Reko. "It's so... melancholic. She's singing out of grief for those who've passed." He whispered.

"Tazuna," He called quietly, "What is your opinion on Reko?"

Joe turned his head to look up at Alice, thinking for a moment. "She... I haven't talked to her much, but she kind of scares me."

Alice looked over to you, waiting for a response. "I think... I don't know. I guess I'm also a bit frightened by her, but she seems to care a lot for the younger kids.

Alice stared at you with an empty expression for a moment. "She wasn't always like that." He said. "She used to be... So much different. She was harsh on everyone, but especially to those who were weaker than her. She thought they were... a waste of space." Alice didn't seem to be looking at you anymore. It was almost like he was looking through you. As if you weren't even there.

Joe turned to face Reko again, "I'm sure your murder case had somewhat of an influence on that change." He said.

Alice blinked, turning to glare at Joe, but more than anger, he just looked guilty. He either just got a wake-up call, or that thought had tormented him and that was the last thing he needed to hear.

"Joe!" Gin shouted, hopping out of Reko's lap and running towards him. Nao and Reko followed smiling at him.

"I'm so glad you're awake, Joe!" Nao said. "We were all so worried, but I think Y/N was the most worried. They wouldn't leave your side."

Joe smiled, letting out a breath.

"How are you feeling?"

Joe's smile twitched, "I'm fine. Just... exhausted. What's... What's been going on?"

"Absolutely nothing. We haven't seen Sue Miley since the Main Game, and the only people here are our little group of hostages."

"Have you guys tried looking for someone?"

"Of course we have, but there's no one here. We assumed that we had to wait until you woke up for anything to happen."

Joe sighed quietly, "Then let's... start looking."

"Are..." Joe turned to look at you, "Are you sure? You said you were exhausted. You don't want to rest?"

Joe looked at you with an expression you couldn't read. Something soft. "I think... I think I should wait to rest. I've been resting for three days. I'll... be fine."

~ * ~

Looking back, you were the only one who asked if he was ready to get back into action. And he didn't seem like he was ready, even though he said he was. He looked like if anyone else had asked if he was truly okay, or if someone suggested he rest a little longer, he would've given in. He looked so tired. As he walked around the third floor, he looked almost ready to collapse.

Everyone crowded him, expressing joy at his awakening, but not asking if he was ready for anything. Everyone assumed he was ready to get on with this Death Game. Ready to lead a group of adults and a few teenagers around as if he wasn't only seventeen.

Joe sighed tiredly when you entered the Monitor Room. "Are you sure you don't want to rest?" You asked him.

His eyes lit up, but only slightly, and very briefly. "I..." He whispered, "I don't think I can."

One of the monitors in the room lit up. It displayed a small, cropped, 8-bit version of Kazumi Mishima.

If you haven't been following along, Mishima is,

"Professor!" Nao shouted, racing over to the screen.

Mishima smiled. "Hello, Miss Nao. Are these your friends? It's very nice to meet you all."

"Meet us?" Keiji questioned. "Do you not remember us?"

"Were we ever acquainted?" Mishima thought for a moment. "Oh. I remember now. I'm an AI — an artificial intelligence. You all must've met the real Mishima."

Keiji walked behind the monitors, "The monitor has a picture of his face on it. They all have pictures, actually, of different people."

Joe twitched forward slightly. He wanted to see. You could only imagine that what — or rather, who — he wanted to see was Sara. He showed restraint. He bit his lip and balled his hand into a fist. He knew he shouldn't. He shouldn't because he'll either end up with a broken heart or grow an emotional attachment to an AI.

You could already see that happening with Nao. Joe must've realized the same thing.

"What are you all doing?!" A woman's voice shrieked. Looking away from Joe, you noticed that the monitor screen which had previously displayed Mishima's face was now showing a woman with green hair who looked to be crying hysterically, despite the lack of sobs. The few people who had gone around the monitors to check who all there were AIs for came back to look at the screaming woman.

All monitors changed to display her face on them. She whined and shook her head madly, "Who... Who started up the Mishima AI? Oh— Ranger!! It was you, wasn't it?!"

Among your group of hostages, there was not a single person who went by the name Ranger, so who was she talking to?

Well, of course, it was the man who'd been silently standing behind your group. "Aww, don't get mad." He said, causing your whole group to turn around and look at him. Taking a good look at everyone, he continued, "They all look pretty pleased, don't you think?"

"Who are you?" Joe asked. He was already taking back the role of leading this whole situation along.

The man held up somewhat of a mask over his face, but you could see his smile in the way the sides of his eyes creased. "I'm The Dress-Up Doll; Rio Ranger. I'll be helping you bastards out on this floor!"

Ranger wore an assortment of clashing colors and clothes. Besides a few of the previously mentioned masks, he wore items that seemed somehow familiar, but you couldn't place just where you'd seen them from, along with some other unfamiliar and unfashionable articles of clothing.

"What about Miley?" You asked.

"Oh, you're more into the ladies, huh? Safalin! Get out here — for they have so humbly requested a girl." He shouted sarcastically.

"I never said that..." You mumbled.

The woman on the monitor screen sniffed, "Ohhh... but I'm mad at you right now...!"

Ranger groaned, "Won't you stop? It's creepy when they all talk like that at once... Can ya just get over here?"

"C...Creepy..?! Waaa, you're so mean to me, Ranger! Boohoo..." She cried.

"Oh my—," Ranger sighed, "I'm just joshin', you're real cute. Now get over here."

From the door behind Ranger, Safalin entered. "Ooohhh, do you really think so?"

Ranger flinched, turning to face the woman with a look of shock, "That was damn fast. Mind introducing yourself?" He asked, brushing off her question.

She sniffed, "Oh... alright. I am the vice-floor master for this floor. My name is Tia Safalin, The Crying Doll."

"Great. Now, I'll explain the rules for this floor..." Ranger's voice trailed off as he began to stare at Joe. "What's that look for, huh?" Joe flinched. "My face scare ya?"

"It's just..." Joe stopped. You turned your head to look at him. He wanted to say something. He really wanted to say something but he didn't know if he should. Ranger leaned in, waiting for him to say something more.

If Joe had something he wanted to say, he decided against it, "Never mind..." He took half a step closer to you.

Ranger smirked, "Alright. Let's take a look behind these monitors, then." The rest of the group began moving forward while Joe stood there for a moment. You waited.

"Are you alright?" You asked.

Joe shuddered, "He's just... he's wearing something that belonged to Sara, so... I was gonna... call him out but I don't... think I should."

You turned back to where the Dress-Up Doll had walked over to, scanning his outfit.

The dog pin.

Back to Joe, you offered him a sympathetic look, but there wasn't much else you could do about the situation.

~ * ~

"Attractions?" Someone asked as the two of you entered the room everyone else was already in. Ranger was walking around passing out small pouches.

"Yes. You all will experience nine attractions that are set around this floor." Safalin explained through her sniffles, "Only 2 people can enter an attraction at a time, and once you've finished the attraction, you can't go through it again.

"You'll get clear chips for completing each attraction. If you don't obtain ten clear chips by the time limit, you will not make it to see the second Main Game."

Another. Another Main Game.

Hooray.

"Your time limit is three days." Ranger said. "We haven't, and won't, set up any tricks or traps, so you all can relax. Have fun, and good luck. May you all survive to the end of these three days."