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“Arisu. You can’t hide! “
Karube’s voice rang out through his headset, Arisu just ran. He needed to find a way for them all to survive, as he arrived at the center of the game arena, he grabbed a bunch of tools and ran to find a good place to come up with a solution.
“Arisu, get back here! “
Karube’s tone is dark, he’s mad. Arisu understands. He knows Karube doesn’t want to die, none of them does. He finds a bathroom with mirrors and quickly gets his tools.
Looking closer at the collar locked around his neck, he sees the wires. He grabs a wire cutter and brings it up to the wires before hesitating. If he cuts the wrong wire, it’ll most likely explode. He sets down the wire cutter again and takes a closer look. There are 4 wires, all black. They all seem to be connected to the same part, this will be tricky.
“Arisu where are you? Was this your plan all along, huh?! To be the only one to survive?! “
“No.. No! I’ll find a way for us all to survive! I promise. “
Arisu’s voice is shaky, he knows that his friend's lives are in his hands.
“Ten minutes remaining. “
The game voice is clear. He’s got to hurry. He grabs the wire cutter again and brings it to the wires. What if he cuts all 4 at the same time? He has no time to waste, he’s got to be fast. He gathers all four wires and squeezes the cutter as hard as he can, he can hear the wire snaps. He closes his eyes, waiting for the explosion.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
No explosion.
He’s alive.
The color opens, and he takes it off, leaving it on the bathroom counter.
“Karube! Chota! I know how to save us! Where are you guys? “
He doesn’t get any answers, so he runs out with the wire cutter in hand
“Karube! Chota! “
Still no answer. He runs around until he spots the unmistakable blonde hair. Karube.
“Karube I know how to save us! “
He runs up to his friend
“Arisu. It’s too late. “
Karube doesn’t look at him
“Thank you for everything, Arisu. You need to live for us. “
“No, Karube, no! I can save us. Let me cut the wires, please. Look I got my collar off! “
He shows his neck, and Karube’s eyes widen.
“Do it. If you’re sure it’ll save us, then do it. “
Arisu finds the wires on Karube’s collar and cuts them.
No explosion.
The collar opens, and he quickly discards it on the floor.
“Chota, where are you? Arisu can save us. “
“Where you fought Shibuki. We’re still here “
“Five minutes remaining. “
Karube and Arisu runs as fast as they can to Chota’s location and finally gets there.
“Chota, let me cut the wires! “
And Chota lets him, Arisu cuts the wires and no explosion this time either, the collar loosens, and he drops it on the floor.
Now they only need to save Shibuki too.
He gathers the wires on her collar and clamps down, only to realize one of the wires slipped away. Her collar starts beeping and suddenly there’s an explosion.
Shibuki’s head blows up right in front of them.
“Game cleared. “
“Oh god. No. No. No. Why did I forget that wire? This is all my fault. “
“No, Arisu, it isn’t. You did your best. “
Chota’s voice was soft as he placed a hand on Arisu’s shoulder.
“C'mon, we should get out of here. “
And so they do. They leave the game arena.
Outside, they see two other people. One that they recognize from tag, the girl who climbed, and then another girl they didn’t recognize. However, these two were in a full on make out session, so they decided to ignore them and continue walking.
They walked the streets, their trio still whole. They’re all still alive. They are still together.