In just a few hours since arriving in that place, Yuta had learned many things. Adding to the knowledge he'd been gathering before, he slowly began to form a clearer picture of what was happening.
When he observed the man in the suit earlier, he noticed details that said far more than his words. The eyes of that man could only belong to someone who had seen hell—someone torn away from their comfort zone. There were no signs of deceit; his expression was sincere, more sincere than anything Yuta had seen in a long time.
Even so, he remained objective. He couldn't allow himself to be swayed by mere verbal claims.
The man's appearance spoke for itself: he hadn't changed clothes or bathed in at least four days. That single detail was enough to deduce that he had been in that empty Tokyo longer than they had.
"His haggard look, the unusual gun he carried—hard to obtain even from a police station, by the way—his bitten nails, disheveled hair, and the dried blood on his white shirt didn't lie. His voice lacked hope, and his dazed eyes weren't those of someone used to wearing expensive suits. Everything about him screamed that he'd been alone in this city for over a week."
Yuta didn't need the man to confirm it. His analysis alone was enough to understand he was telling the truth.
However, he couldn't rush. He needed to evaluate the data calmly, without seeking logic in something that might defy all reason.
"What were those games he spoke of with such fear?" Yuta wondered as he tried to find the answer. "What did he mean by saying that to live, we have to play?"
He tried to make sense of those words, but the more he thought about them, the more illogical they seemed. And yet, his intuition told him they weren't false.
If the "visas" were a counter, did they measure life itself? How could one know how much time they had left? There was no logical explanation that could account for everything Yuta had discovered.
With the information gathered, at least one thing was certain: Tokyo wasn't completely empty. There were other people besides Usagi and him. That single conclusion was enough to shatter the theory that the place was uninhabited.
His mind had abandoned logic. The illogical, though impossible, turned out to be the most likely.
After evaluating the solid facts, Yuta concluded that this world wasn't empty. There were other people in Tokyo, and perhaps everyone was being forced to participate in those so-called games to stay alive. If that was true, someone had to be overseeing everything.
It was very possible that this wasn't the real Tokyo. And yet, they had woken up in exactly the same place they remembered being before hearing the fireworks.
That meant a large number of people from that moment and place had been brought here; meanwhile, other people under different circumstances had also arrived, but from another timeline.
As for the "visas," they seemed to function as some kind of life clock. But he still didn't know how to see his own or how much time he had left.
"If this world is empty, there must be two explanations…" Yuta thought, no matter how crazy it sounded: "Either aliens manifested, or someone created a perfect copy of reality. And if it's neither, then the real world has completely changed."
If people arrived in that place at different times, then someone must have chosen Usagi and him. Otherwise, time functioned differently for everyone. But if that was true, from what point did the logic of whoever was behind all this begin?
"Are we alive… or dead?" Yuta asked himself, glancing at Usagi, who didn't notice his gaze.
Nothing made sense, but he understood that the only way to find the truth was by thinking illogically.
While his mind processed everything, Usagi and he arrived at a tall building, large enough to observe the city without exposing themselves too much.
"Look, this place will be perfect to get a clearer view of the city," Usagi said with a voice filled with anticipation and optimism. "I'm sure there are more people besides us and that man in the suit."
"Yes, this is a good spot… This building will do for now," Yuta replied, looking upward, beyond the rooftops. "For now, let's go inside and find a good place to settle before observing the city from above."
Usagi thought this was the best course of action. "Maybe nothing makes sense, but we must try not to lose our minds."
Yuta barely smiled. "You're right. We must stay calm, no matter how bad this situation looks…"
First, they gathered the necessary supplies to survive any emergency. Then, they headed to the building Yuta had chosen.
During the walk, Usagi noticed that Yuta remained silent, lost in thought. She knew he only voiced a fraction of what he was truly thinking.
She, who had learned to observe people in order to fit into society, understood that Yuta was different.
"We'll find everything out when night falls…"
Yuta glanced sideways at her, seeing in her calm expression a reflection of determination. Finally, after drawing his own conclusions, he spoke: "This place seems like an exact copy of our world. The rules are different, and according to that man in the suit, everything is controlled by the visas that determine how long we live."
"A different world?" Usagi asked, frowning in disbelief. She had thought Yuta was intelligent, but now she doubted it. "How can that be possible? Do you really believe what that man said?"
"He wasn't lying. If we think logically, we'll close our minds to what's really happening. Tell me, can you find a rational explanation for over two thousand people disappearing and us waking up a week later than others? Yet strangely, the timeline of our surroundings is exactly the same as when we heard the fireworks."
Usagi's face showed concern. She couldn't refute the observations she hadn't noticed before.
Yuta was right.
"Then how will we know how much time we have left, or what those games are?" Usagi focused on the games and their survival.
"We'll figure that out later."
"And how can you be so sure?" Usagi wanted to know more about what Yuta was thinking.
"If we woke up after him, that means we arrived in this place at different times. If we classify him as person A and us as persons B, and he's been here for a week, there's a very clear time gap."
Yuta crossed his arms as he reasoned aloud. "A normal person couldn't go several days without bathing and remain in that physical state. We, on the other hand, woke up without any signs of having been unconscious for that long. That can only mean one thing: this isn't our Tokyo, and the timelines of those who arrive here aren't exactly the same as ours."
Usagi watched him closely, and after thinking about it, she lowered her gaze, thoughtful. "Then… the games must be real, and at some point, they'll manifest. When that happens, people will gather to survive."
"Exactly. Even if my conclusions sound illogical, we have to confirm whether those games exist, see how difficult they are, their nature, and how they affect others. When we understand how this place works, we'll be closer to finding out what happened."
Usagi nodded, determined. "Let's go up and set up a shelter. We'll figure out the rest later."
"Alright," Yuta said, scanning the area. "The first thing is to secure this building."
They both went inside. The place held no surprises, but the lack of electricity forced them to use the stairs. Yuta was surprised by Usagi's physical endurance; she didn't seem to tire easily. In silence, he thought she would be a good companion to face whatever awaited them.
The sun was beginning to set. Before darkness completely covered them, they decided to set up their tents on a high floor—high enough to avoid anyone who might be wandering the lower levels.
The world had stopped making sense, and yet, it was in that absurdity that Yuta began to find the truth.