Night had fallen over Shirokuma High. The school, empty and silent, felt alive with anticipation. Hiragi moved through the halls, each step deliberate, senses alert. Tonight, the web of shadows would reach its climax.
Earlier, an anonymous note had appeared:
"The labyrinth awaits. Find me, or remain lost."
Hiragi traced the faint traces left behind: misaligned floor tiles, faint ink smudges, subtle dust patterns. Every clue screamed Daichi, but the layout was designed like a maze—twisting, turning, testing his perception at every corner.
The labyrinth wasn't physical alone; it was psychological. Rooms were rigged with minor distractions—books out of order, windows slightly open, soft echoes mimicking footsteps. Every misstep could mislead him.
Finally, Hiragi reached the music room—its door slightly ajar. Inside, Daichi waited, hands behind his back, leaning against the piano.
"You've made it," Daichi said calmly. "Few notice the threads in the shadows. Fewer still can follow them."
Hiragi's eyes narrowed. "Your game ends tonight. All your manipulations, all your tests… it stops here."
Daichi tilted his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Does it? Or is the game only beginning? Look around. Every clue you've followed, every pattern you've seen—it's still part of the labyrinth. Only one question remains: do you understand it, or does it understand you?"
Hiragi stepped closer. "I see the labyrinth for what it is. And I see you—not just the player, but the mind behind it."
Daichi's smile widened. "Clever. But understanding isn't enough. You must predict, anticipate, and adapt. Are you ready for that?"
A sudden motion—Daichi moved to the piano, pressing a hidden key. A section of the floor shifted, revealing another hidden note:
"The final trial is perception. Trust what you see… or trust yourself."
Hiragi studied the note, then the room. The maze of shadows was layered, but the pattern was clear: Daichi wanted him to chase, to question every clue, and to confront uncertainty head-on.
"You've tested me," Hiragi said softly. "Now it's my turn to test you." He moved deliberately, reading Daichi's subtle tells—the slight tension in his shoulders, the shift of his gaze, the rhythm of his breathing. Each micro-expression a clue in itself.
Daichi chuckled. "Impressive. But remember… the labyrinth doesn't end with this room. Shadows are endless, and minds are patient."
Before Hiragi could react, the lights flickered and the room was plunged into darkness. Only the faint outline of Daichi remained.
"You've reached the heart," Daichi's voice echoed, "but can you leave it with the truth?"
Hiragi stood still, absorbing every sound, every subtle hint in the darkness. The final labyrinth wasn't about force—it was about perception, insight, and patience.
The night stretched on, silent but alive, as Hiragi prepared for the last move. He knew one thing for certain: the mastermind was within reach, but the shadows were still watching.