The rules of the game may initially seem like something difficult to understand. Ah, these rules, layered like an onion. But if you cut it, no, even just look more closely, it becomes clear that everything's much simpler than one would like.
As mentioned before, the witch summoned six participants. Six figures. Six lives. Six stories. And all this to begin her own, personal, damn theatrical game.
The island doesn't actually exist in any dimension. Think about it, not in a single one. Not in the known, not in the imagined, it's something in between "nothing" and "too much." You could call it fiction... yes, you could, if it weren't standing right beneath our feet.
A paradox? Perhaps. But if it appears, it means it exists. And if it exists, it means it's... not fiction. Though perhaps even the non-existent can exist too, if the witch wants it.
It's located in the middle of an endless ocean. And this ocean isn't quite an ocean either. It's more like a metaphor. A sensation, an enclosed space of infinity. You can't reach it, it appears together with the island, like a bonus add-on. Like a shadow behind your back that you don't notice until you turn around.
But there must be reasons why the witch starts the game. She can't do this without motivation... right? Though... she can. She's a witch, after all.
She said boredom is her worst enemy. This sounded almost human. Boredom, loneliness... and at the same time, when there's no one around you besides yourself, it sounds like... a terrifying truth. Even in this dense, seemingly saturated forest, not a trace of life. Not a squirrel, not a mouse, not a mosquito. Only wind and emptiness.
Well, except for the seagulls. Yes, seagulls are constantly flying here. This is perhaps the only living thing surrounding us.
Living?
She's dead. Died long ago, but her soul, as they would say in ancient times, remained to wander. Sealed here forever. Forever, a word that reeks of cold.
Should one feel pity for such a person?
A trick question. A question with thorns. A question you can't answer "yes" or "no" to without selling yourself out completely. The answer might seem obvious... but not in this case.
She forcibly makes us play. A game of survival, to obtain something cherished... you must kill.
Kill, simply kill. Each other, for the sake of a phantom dream, what foolishness. No, what outright nonsense.
Though we all strive for something, even I. Especially I. Everyone had their own goals, their own dreams, but none of us managed to achieve them.
That's exactly why we're here.
They died without understanding the joy of life. The joy of life... an empty word for those who knew only suffering, and suffering is universal. It's like death, it comes to everyone.
Now they're given a new opportunity. A dream in exchange for survival. A toy with the smell of blood.
The task seemed simple. Survive until the seventh day, and you've won. But we all understood, this is a lie. A beautiful, ringing promise wrapped in a knife.
What will she achieve with this game? It's hard for me to believe all this is simply from boredom. Boredom capable of causing death.
However, I stopped thinking about this. Right now it doesn't matter. All that's before me is an enemy who must be dealt with.
I almost gave up, almost lost. Almost let go. Almost, but...
"A beautiful girl with a big chest is counting on me, how can I even allow myself to lose!"
That's the kind of hero we have.
"I can't wait to see your pathetic face again after another loss, Aragi!"
As if by a snap, Aragi came to. To find strength within yourself when there is none — that's victory. At least temporary. At least internal.
The witch has an advantage — magic. A simple answer to any question. Which means an unfair game. As if it was ever fair.
"Let's return to the moment when all the participants just reached the library door..."
And another round of words began. Like chess, only with jabs and screams.
"This is your doing, I know for certain..."
"You've decided to attack me in such a pathetic manner..."
I don't have a particular plan. I can only hope for what I have.
Sounds logical. Almost.
"Let's start with the fact that you can't claim my participation in this... Don't forget that the others' alibis were proven that night, but not his."
I knew this might not work, but I decided to try anyway... Because otherwise why even speak? A moment surfaced in my head. A shot, the bathroom. Seven bodies, seven! This isn't just a coincidence, is it?
And suddenly laughter. Laughter you want to stuff in a bottle and throw into the sea. Let the seagulls choke on it.
"Exactly so," the witch said, like a sentence. Like a compliment.
"What was that just now?" Aragi was truly in shock. He was too much in shock.
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
She'd been reading minds this whole time. Or only now, or always.
"Whatever, I was just surprised. Nothing but problems from witches..."
"Really? That's trivial... want me to show you something truly interesting?"
"Why such courtesies?" Aragi interrupts.
And rightly so.
"Got carried away," she replies. "Your arguments are so weak I almost fell asleep."
Aragi was left with his last trump card. His final ace up his sleeve. And if it doesn't work, all is lost.
"Opening the door," Aragi pronounced.
And the most important thrust began.
"In the first game on the second day, Yahweh opened the door, in the second — Cheryl. Why?"
Magic.
Manipulations.
A reset of the world and new rules. A new scene. A new performance.
The witch wasn't surprised, but... admired?
"You're a truly interesting person."
This sounded almost like praise. Almost like recognition.
Aragi didn't stop.
"In other words, Yahweh couldn't open the door because you changed the rules, but made a mistake, a glitch. And now everything's revealed."
The final attack. A strike right to the heart of her game.
"You really prepared well..."
But... her face was glowing. From joy, from excitement. From the fact that finally someone's playing worthily.
"Except everything's far from what you think!"
And laughter again.
"Then try to prove otherwise!" Aragi doesn't retreat.