Miko couldn't sleep.
She stared at the ceiling swallowed by darkness, slowly closing her eyes only to open them again moments later.
Lying in an unfamiliar dorm room, on an unfamiliar bed.
The girl tossed and turned as she recalled the day's events, unable to find peace no matter how she tried.
She could hear the steady breathing from the other three beds - the sounds of Ai, Kumami, and Nanami deep in slumber. Though she couldn't see them. The bathroom door was closed, cutting off the room's only light source from the window, plunging the dorm into true pitch blackness where one couldn't even see their own hand before their face.
But at least she could still hear the others breathing. That was some small comfort, enough to keep outright terror at bay. Though this self-reassurance did little to change the fact that sleep continued to elude her.
Miss Kumami and Miss Nanami...they were veteran players after all. Even facing something as dangerous as a Crimson Moon dungeon, they could remain calm and carry out their mission without panic, even sleeping soundly in this nightmare place. The thought made Miko's feelings complicated - she knew she couldn't do the same. Right now, peaceful sleep was impossible, especially after realizing the things she saw and heard were invisible to the others.
What if she closed her eyes only to open them and find those terrifying things standing over her?
Or would they hide just out of sight like during the day, waiting for her to let her guard down before revealing themselves?
No...no more thinking like this. Calm down. I need to distract myself from these thoughts. This is pointless. Yes, scaring myself like this is meaningless. What I need now is proper rest to prepare for tomorrow's exploration.
The girl silently lectured herself, trying to lull herself to sleep through sheer force of will.
Clearly, this method wasn't working. After lying awake for over half an hour, Miko felt more alert than ever.
Ugh...this isn't working at all...I can't sleep...
Frowning, the girl turned over in bed - then suddenly froze.
She needed to use the bathroom.
She'd deliberately drunk less water before bed to avoid this very situation, so why now of all times?
The breathing from the other beds remained slow and even - all three players were clearly deep asleep.
Should she wake one of them to accompany her?
Or go alone?
Miko hesitated, then decided to stay put.
Waking others to talk and move around after lights-out would violate the basic rule of ["No activities unrelated to sleep after lights out"]. And going alone meant passing through the bathroom area by herself, potentially encountering whatever fell past the window mentioned in the survival rules - not to mention whatever that thing in the school bathroom might do if it followed her. The thought made her shrink back under the covers.
If absolutely necessary, Kumami had brought adult diapers using a spatial Obsessional Item. Embarrassing, but better than risking the alternatives.
Having made up her mind, Miko resolved not to go near the bathroom no matter what.
Tap—
A faint footstep echoed in the distance.
The girl stiffened, turning her head toward the door and straining her ears.
Tap—
This time clearer. Definitely someone walking down the hallway outside.
From the sound's volume, they were still some distance away. But undoubtedly moving closer. If their target was the players...they'd pass Room 503 first (where Maki and Kaguya were), then her own Room 508, then finally Room 511 where Chika and Nanakawa Ren slept.
Her enhanced hearing wasn't picking up anything more detailed - no anomalous effects triggering. That suggested whatever was out there might not be a supernatural entity, but human?
Miko carefully considered this possibility, her heart pounding wildly as she debated what to do.
The breathing from the other beds remained undisturbed by the footsteps outside.
What should I do?
Miko had to admit she was starting to panic.
Without Takakai here, with the two veteran players dead asleep and the other rookie showing no signs of waking, she was left alone to face this uncertain threat. Her only defenses were: one life-saving blessing that could nullify a fatal attack and provide momentary safety if ambushed; one communication Obsessional Item from Kumami; and one Dusk-grade protective Item from the "Market." The girl felt increasingly flustered and helpless.
Calm down. I need to stay calm.
No immediate danger has appeared yet. Panicking now won't help, it'll only reduce my chances of survival.
Think. I need to think carefully about my current situation. Without being able to rely on others, what should I do?
Tap—
The footsteps grew closer.
Miko's hearing wasn't exceptional enough to pinpoint exactly where the steps were now or calculate precise distances.
Then—
Knock knock knock
A heavy, deliberate rapping on a dorm room door.
Is that thing knocking?
From the sound's distance...could it be knocking on Room 503's door?
Miko had shifted into a crouched position ready to spring from bed at any moment as she analyzed the situation.
Then—
Silence.
All sounds ceased. No more footsteps, no more knocking. Only her own breathing and heartbeat remained.
The girl stayed frozen in position, listening intently for several minutes, but heard nothing more.
What's happening now?
Completely confused, Miko hesitated.
Still afraid to move, she glanced toward where moonlight now faintly outlined the other three beds and their indistinct occupants.
Their steady breathing continued.
Miko felt some tension ease—
Then froze in realization.
Moonlight?
She turned toward the light's source.
The door connecting to the bathroom - which had definitely been closed - now stood wide open.
Pale moonlight filtered through thin curtains, illuminating the previously pitch-black room just enough to make out vague shapes.
When did that door open?
A deep unease settled over the girl as her gaze returned to the other beds.
The breathing continued just as steadily as before.
Eyes peered out from under the covers, staring unblinkingly.
Only...they didn't seem to be her roommates anymore. Even in the dim light, even through the blurred vision, when she met those staring eyes, when she glimpsed those pale faces watching her...she knew these couldn't be her teammates.
The dorm's breathing sounds remained perfectly rhythmic, each inhale and exhale identical in timing and duration.
But they didn't belong to her roommates.
Somehow, without her noticing, everyone else in this small dorm room had become...strangers.
Miko's body trembled slightly.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she lay back down.
Then—from right beside her pillow—a face emerged.
[Hello?]