Good as Dead

The morning came, and I'm still breathing without any pain, just discomfort. I'm only alone in the storeroom. More like I'm in a prison inside another prison. The first one who enters the room was none other than Yukawa, bringing me a beaker with water.

"Hey, are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm… actually not," I replied with a shake of my head.

"Figures. Here, I brought you a water," he said as he put the beaker on my lips. I gulped down the water until it is empty. It's a requirement for survival to use scarce materials efficiently. After that, he tries to open the stash, but I noticed that his head flinched back.

"What is it?" I asked but he didn't even reply. Instead, he walks near me with dead eyes and puts his face near me, just an inch away. I can't help my face to redden. I'm not used to a situation like this.

"Eh? What? This is…"

After a moment, he steps back and confirms something. "Good, not I was expecting."

"What did you just do?"

"Ah, don't mind it. Just relax here," he said as he sits beside me. "Last night was a tough battle. I can't even express my true thoughts."

"True thoughts?" I didn't even notice him holding back his feelings.

"I need to be brave. It's for the whole group. If I'm even flinching, who else will follow me? If I didn't step up, we'll easily fall down."

"You're… quite right. How about Kino's body?"

"It completely disappeared. We should have checked it first. We are lacking an autopsy. Oh, and about your story… I'm sorry. I'm the one who put you here…"

"It's alright. You promised you're trying to find ways to protect us, right? And you're doing it for the class. If I'm just smart, I'll do the same as what you do."

"I believe you shouldn't trust people easily. You're too innocent for these things to happen. It's not like I'm judging you by your cover, but I'm feeling that it's unlikely you to be a murderer. I'm sorry again for my words."

"No, no… In fact, I'm happy that someone's believing me even if the world turns against me. But why are you trusting me quickly?"

"Curious about contradicting?" He then smirks as he looks up. "I'm kind, and that's why those kinds of people always go last. They're subject to abuse. And I think the second reason is personal."

"Personal?"

"I see my little sister on you. Innocent, oversensitive, and somewhat honest. Those are the kind of people that need to be protected. I already failed once, that is why I won't repeat my mistakes anymore."

Mistake? What does he mean by that? But judging from his regretful eyes, I shouldn't ask that. "I'm happy that you see a similar person like your sister. But if I'm here, I think you're being too overprotective."

"Of course! They're a life-worth treasure that needs to be secured no matter the cost. There's no heavy number of things comparable to family."

"So, you're a family guy, senpai?"

"That's a strike. Anyway, do you only have your grandma with you? What about your parents."

"They're… I'm sorry. I can't tell that," I replied with my eyes looking down.

"I… I'm sorry. It's too personal, I'm insensitive and I don't know how to read the mood. I shouldn't have asked about that," Yukawa apologized like a rap.

"No, it's alright. Don't be sorry. I'm sorry I didn't say about it."

"We're going to chain our sorries if we continue. How about a change of pace?"

"About that senpai, what did you talk about after I was transferred?"

"A new set of rules. I'm at fault, believing everyone in our class is clean like the motto. I must have misunderstood that. For now, you're put on a trial for two days. Because you're a suspect, it may be easy for us to prove your innocence.

"Why is that?"

"Someone will die, and it's inevitable. Probably, I'm the next target. They should be wary of those who are trying to clear the game as the greatest threat."

"Then…"

"Saori, look at me in the eye," he said with a serious stare on my face. "Hirari noticed that hole in your story yesterday, and I replied to an answer just for a cover-up. But I already have the answer since the start."

"What… do you mean?" I asked with my dilated eyes, knowing what he'll ask next. Our next conversation then became quite serious as both our truths are revealed.

Even if we were the only ones in the room, the tension rose. Because he's too sure of his words coming up from his conclusions, I can't help it but reply with silence. He then gave me a room for diversion as I shake with fear. Truth or lie, black or white, I can't even be gray in this situation.

Suddenly, Hirari opens the door of the storeroom and enters.

"Hey, Yukawa boy, what took you so long? Asking a girl isn't a hard task. Hey, Saori, why do you look like a dead person?" She might have noticed the blank look in my eyes after my conversation with Yukawa. We can't even look in each other's eyes.

"We're good as dead now, Hirari," Yukawa said.

"What do you mean?" She asked, and I can't help but tremble. I tried holding it so that she can't see it. It all depends on Yukawa now.

"My theory is right. I think you're the first one who should hear this."

"Is it that too serious?"

"For you, it is. I've checked the stash and it's in the worst state possible," Yukawa said.

"Wha!? Don't tell me…" She rushed towards the stash and see that her personal favorites are gone. She can't be the one who took all the chips away because her squeal says it all. "This is unacceptable! We should meet!"

"Should I bring Saori too?"

"She's both a witness and the suspect."

I was then brought to the main room. Everyone flinched back seeing me in ropes. Rise was the first who tried to badmouth me.

"You… why are you here!? You should have stayed where…"

"Oy, your mouth is too wide. That mouth may have some grudge from me later on, you know!?" Hirari replied with rage.

"What's this all of the sudden?" Manabu asked with a tilted head. "And where's the division of our food."

"DON'T TELL ME THAT FREAKIN' WORD 'CUZ I'M TRYING TO FORGET THAT! You're going to tell me who ate all the chips since now!"

Relying on water supply might be harsh for us. But rest assured, at this point in time, I can say that I'm not a hunter.