Leech at Night

We've searched the main lab and found only the essentials in chemical compounding. Those chemicals aren't harmful at all, nor can create huge combustion. It's more suitable for a display.

We also discovered that the water supply in the faucet in the laboratory tables and bathroom is working. The team's interpretation is that we don't need to worry about survival anymore just because there is a water supply.

We all searched the storeroom so that all of us could be watched and no one would take the bait and die. The essay Yukawa prepared earlier is just the calm in the storm, but they know that flood and tsunami would follow.

"For one week and five people? Dude, there are only five bags of small potato chips here!" Yukawa exclaimed after discovering the whole of the supplies. Even the match is scarce.

"Dude, that's only midnight for mine," Hirari commented. "The problem is how we divide it."

"But there's already unlimited water supply. Maybe this is only to buff our taste buds."

"I can't live without cravings!"

"Maybe just hold it in for a week," Yukawa said to Hirari with a slight smile. He seems to be troubled about the division of the food for us.

"There are logs and a few matches here. There are also blankets and a pillow for each of us," Manabu said. "With this, we might not expect electricity to help us."

"Eh? Don't they know how to compare needs and wants?" Yukawa complained.

"That's already a huge boost! I didn't expect this batch to be trained scouts," Hirari replied.

"Is there anything you can find besides anything in this stash?" Yukawa asked everyone.

"I… found two ropes," I replied as I give him the rope.

"Thanks, Saori! But seriously, what is this for?"

"We can escape through the window," I suggested.

"It's dangerous. That specific reason is what the announcement means of being laughed at for our stupidity," Yukawa replied in denial.

"Don't you have weapons in there? Maybe it's for binding the suspect until the last day? If we aren't sure, we can tie a hunter until he dies," Manabu suggested.

"Huh? Who says that a hunter will die?" Kino asked. "Is that included in the announcement?"

"Well, that's… maybe there's a condition why the hunters exist in the first place."

"You seem right, but it makes you more suspicious," Kino said with narrowed eyes.

"Huh? You're the one in denial. Aren't you more suspicious than mine? You seem more corrupt in the soul!"

"Since from the time we woke up, you're already observing the whole class. Are you readying your plan for the perfect murder?"

Manabu pulls Kino's collar as if he's threatening him. "If I was, I would have killed you right now! You're getting to my nerves, you unethical monkey!"

"Stop it!" I shouted as I pull them away from each other. "No more fighting, please! We can still find another way than this."

"Tsk… This brat…" Manabu said with a smug as he goes away. "Today's your lucky day, you monkey!"

After the momentary chaos, Kino stares at me with intent. The longer it gets, the more it gets uncomfortable. In response, I uncontrollably cross my arms and looks away.

"Is… there something on my face?"

"No. You actually look cute," he said with a warm smile before he goes away.

My eyes bulged, showing him a 'what' response indirectly. I didn't notice my face blush, but Hirari did.

"High school romance?" Hirari asked as a tease.

"I… It's not it!" I squealed as I tighten my arms. "I… I have no time for things like that."

"You might be right. I heard you're taking care of your grandma. What's her case?"

"She has Alzheimer's disease. She's prone to injuries and panic attacks, that is why I'm buying her medicine for those."

"I'm just making sure you're saying the real story. Does your grandma still remember you?"

"Sometimes, if she recognizes my face. It's real! If I still have my bag, there's still the medicine in it. 'Losartan' is one particular brand."

"Frankly, not because I'm complimenting you, but you seem to be a recognizable person. You have this strange long lank Sakura-colored hair and your rare blue eyes.

"You're also a pretty fellow, but I'm still confused why you're not popular. If you have joined the pageant, you should be the one to win, not that girl over there," Hirari said as she pointed toward a tall woman named Rise Shirogane.

"She's a beauty queen? She looks so gorgeous," I asked.

"Well, she shouldn't be. She wasted tons of money just for winning. No fair competition should be bought with money."

"How about our current state, senpai? Do you think this is fair?"

"Hell no! Kidnapping is the same as buying your body without consent."

"Is that so? Now you said it, it's pretty creepy," I said as I fidget my fingers.

"Do you know who else is pretty creepy?"

"Who is?"

"Pretty creepy," she said with a slow serious tone. She then starts looking down at me, or more comparatively, I felt like I'm with Alzheimer's and I'm being watched for every move I do. I still feel her suspicious aura even after she left our conversation. Does that mean she's suspecting me?

As the evening came, we prepared the logs and fire in the laboratory. We tried to open a bag of chips for today, and for just these days, we aren't still fully satisfied. For the next days, we will be using a bag for a day or even none. That's how scarce these resources currently are.

We are all sleeping on the laboratory floor with our blankets and pillows. Most of us didn't even use blankets because of the heat in the room. There is no electricity that can help cycle the air and ventilation, and even the window seems to be not taking in any air.

Comparably, this is a prison, a very special one. The room is partly lighted by the moonlight from the windows. Most of us already slept in comfort while I, Yukawa, and Hirari's group are still awake.

"Can't sleep?" Yukawa asked.

"I'm bothered by what's written on the board."

"Oh, that? It's just to scare us. Did you forget our school motto? 'Face the fear and it will be a memory tomorrow.' Whoever thought that must be a motivational person."

"How'd you say so?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

"I just thought. I remember my uncle with those kinds of phrasing. Every time we met, he always asks me that if I aim to be successful, I should be brave enough to prepare for the unexpected. Laying low is for cowards he said."

"That's too deep, even with just small words. I wish to meet your uncle soon."

"If he's still here, you can," he said, looking down with drawn eyebrows.

"Is he… Sorry… sorry that the topic came up…" I said with worry on my face.

"No, it's alright. You might like his words, but you might dislike him as a person."

He then puts the blanket on his body as he lies down. He seems like he doesn't want to talk about the topic anymore. There must be a deep reason why he shifted those eyes away from me.

The darkness took over after the fire from the logs have expired. No one can see the exact time from the clock. And it seems everyone is still sleeping when I woke up. I didn't wake up because I sense something away from me, rather I sense something in myself.

That's when I realize I need to pee. I should have drunk too much water earlier. I walk out to the bathroom, leaving the laboratory door open. Even in this darkness, everything is going smoothly. It is not until I go out.

The only light I can see is from the partially closed door of the laboratory, but it's not too visible. But there is this scary presence around me. I can't even move an inch of my body. Someone is here, and he whispers. "You actually look cute."

"W… Who are you!?" I'm shaking to even respond. Threats are continuously entering my head.

"Don't worry, we're going to die anyway," the voice of a man responded. He slowly undresses my coat and skirt, leaving my underwear remaining.

The moment he touches my chest, I knew I wanted to fight back but I'm frozen. He slowly crawls his fingers from my belly down towards my private parts. From this moment on, everyone heard my scream.

"NOOOOO!!!"