Scene 7 - The final bouquet (3)

The next morning, as the first light of day broke over my face, I woke up, still haunted by Ryo's gloomy words from the day before. His pessimism permeated the atmosphere like a thick mist, clouding my thoughts and enveloping my mind in an aura of doubt.

I noticed that Ryo was already on his feet, his silhouette silhouetted against the tree trunk where he stood. His expression was inscrutable, his features drawn by an inner tension I could almost feel.

A luminous notification suddenly appeared, projected into the air in front of us. 

[The explosions will take place in 3 minutes.

From now on, it will be impossible for you to leave your grounds until the explosions are over].

"I see, the explosions must take place at 10:03 then," I say softly.

In a strange ballet, virtual padlocks and translucent barriers suddenly appeared, materializing around each pitch. They seemed to imprison us, confining us to a restricted space where every movement was scrutinized and controlled.

Each of us waited with growing anxiety for the imminent arrival of the explosions. Even though we were all separated, the tension was palpable, permeating the Okutama air with its oppressive aura. Glances crossed furtively, imbued with a muted anxiety as we waited in uncertainty.

Ryo, for his part, seemed unperturbed, as if nothing could shake his serenity. His apparent calm contrasted with the nervousness of the rest of us, adding a mysterious dimension to his presence.

For my part, having already solved the riddle and knowing that my team-mates were in the same situation as me, I tried to keep my cool. Despite the apprehension weighing on my shoulders, I tried to remain confident, hoping that this ordeal would soon be over and that we could finally continue on our way.

The countdown sounded on the notification windows, each second stretching out in unbearable anticipation. 

[Time remaining before explosions:

- 1 minute]

[Time remaining before explosions: 50 seconds:

- 50 seconds]

[Time remaining before explosions: 20 seconds:

- 20 seconds]

[Time remaining before explosions:

- 5 seconds]

[The explosions are about to sound!]

Then, after one last sinister tick, the horror erupted in a deafening din. Explosions rang out from every direction, shattering the oppressive silence and spreading chaos across the landscape.

The bombs seemed to explode endlessly, their detonations merging into a hellish cacophony that seemed to embrace every corner of the darkness. Their devastating blasts hurled shards of rock in all directions, while the earth shook under the destructive power of the explosions.

In the midst of this apocalyptic chaos, a decapitated head flew through the air, carried by the force of the explosion, before landing heavily right next to my pitch. A shiver of horror ran down my spine, freezing my body in icy terror.

Turning around, I was assailed by a terrifying sight. A tide of blood flowed over the ground, staining the earth a dark, macabre color. Heart-rending screams filled the air, mingled with the sobs of those desperate to escape imminent death.

Panicked figures struggled in a whirlwind of terror, their faces contorted in fright as they tried in vain to escape the raging fury of the explosions. The horror of the scene had left me totally stunned, petrified by the magnitude of the tragedy unfolding before my eyes.

My limbs refused to respond to my commands, my breathing jerked, my heart pounding in my chest. Unable to bear the desolate sight before me any longer, I staggered backwards, my mind overwhelmed by dread and disbelief at the horror of what was unfolding around me.

The last explosions died away in a heavy silence, leaving behind a field of ruins and desolation. But even after the chaos had subsided, the horrific images continued to swirl in my mind like a never-ending nightmare. The decapitated heads, the pools of blood, the gut-wrenching screams still echoed in the meandering recesses of my consciousness, a cruel reminder of the brutal reality into which we had been plunged.

Lost in my tormented thoughts, I barely heard Ryo's voice addressing me, his words coming to me like a distant whisper through the fog of my thoughts. 

"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes." 

For the first time, I could only agree with his words. I felt overwhelmed by a torrent of confused emotions. Terror, anger and disgust mingled in my mind, forming a tumultuous whirlpool of feelings that threatened to engulf me. But in the midst of this emotional storm, a persistent question emerged, insinuating its venom into the darkest recesses of my mind: 

How come I was so confident before?

For a moment, I wondered about the apparent confidence that had animated me until then. Was it a mask I wore to conceal my fear? Or perhaps a facade I'd created for myself to convince myself that everything would be all right? I remembered how I had moved forward with confidence, relying on my ability to solve puzzles, to find solutions where others saw only obstacles.

But as I reviewed my past actions, I realized that my confidence was not just a facade, but a deeply rooted state of mind. I had chosen to believe in myself, in my abilities, in my determination to overcome the challenges that stood in my way. And yet, this confidence seemed so fragile now, so vain in the face of the unforgiving reality that surrounded me.

Maybe I simply ignored the signs of doubt that had been there all along. Maybe I let myself get carried away by the illusion that nothing could get to me. Maybe my past confidence was simply the fruit of arrogance or recklessness. Was I overconfident because everything seemed so easy before? Did I overestimate myself, thinking I could overcome anything effortlessly? 

As I let myself be overwhelmed by these tormented reflections, an inescapable truth slowly emerged from the darkness of my thoughts. 

Perhaps I had simply ignored the signs of doubt that had been there all along. But what had changed in me to cause this confidence to fade? IT'S BECAUSE UNTIL NOW I'VE HAD THE HELP OF THE FILM! Maybe I got carried away by the illusion that nothing could touch me. Maybe my past confidence was simply the result of arrogance or carelessness. Was I overconfident because everything seemed so easy before? Did I overestimate myself, thinking I could overcome anything effortlessly? 

My seemingly solid confidence was bolstered by the illusory comfort of the film, which had been my lifeline in this hostile world. But now that I no longer knew what would happen next, and was confronted with the ruthless reality of life, where horror and death had become my daily routine, I realized that my confidence was just a fragile mask concealing my deep, insidious fear.

In that moment of brutal lucidity, I understood that I was no longer the same. The blind trust that had animated me until then had given way to a nagging fear, a dull anxiety that gnawed at me from within. For now, I no longer had the luxury of taking refuge in the comfort of 'The Deficient Piece'. I was confronted with the raw, naked reality of this ruthless world, and that terrified me more than anything.

The silence that followed Ryo's words was deafening. My breath taken away by the horror that had just unfolded before my eyes, I stood there transfixed, unable to find the words to express the unspeakable shock that ran through me. 

"I'd better get some food, otherwise I won't last much longer..."

Ryo, impassive, walked away, leaving behind him a palpable emptiness.

My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, a storm of nightmarish images haunting me relentlessly. Reality had cracked, and no mental shield could protect me from the tangible horror that surrounded me. The film that had been my anchor, my psychological crutch, was no longer there to provide me with an illusory refuge.

It was in this state of despair that Saé and Edano found me, leaning against a tree, staring into space. Their voices seemed far away, like echoes in an unreal world. Saé tried to speak to me, to bring me back to reality, but my thoughts were elsewhere, trapped in my own inner torment.

"Sorry to disturb you Bun, I just wanted to know if you had a plan for what's next?"

Saé had asked me a question, but my lips remained sealed, unable to find the words to express the torment raging inside me. I shook my head weakly, a mute gesture that said more than all the words in the world. For in that moment of despair, I realized that I no longer had a plan, no longer had a goal, no longer had anything to hold on to in this ruined world.

Saé, noticing my sudden change of state, bombarded me with questions to which I initially remained mute, drowning in an ocean of dark thoughts. 

"Is something wrong? You seem really distant." "Are you sure everything's okay?" 'Did something happen to put you in this state?' "Do you want to talk about it? I'm here for you, you know Bun." "You look really down." "I'm worried about you!"

The words swirled around me like distant whispers, and I felt engulfed by a suffocating silence. But finally, after a long moment of oppressive silence, I decided to open my voice.

"Is it something I've done? You know you can tell me." "You look really tired and depressed." "Don't you feel like fighting to survive anymore?"

!

...

"What's the point of having a plan?", I muttered in a barely audible voice, heavy with disillusionment. "After this riddle, death may strike us at any moment."

My words echoed in the air, tinged with deep bitterness. I felt the weight of every syllable, every thought escaping my lips like chains binding me to this cruel reality. For in this moment of despair, it seemed to me that even the very concept of planning was vain, futile, in the face of fate's implacable cruelty.

Edano was taken aback by my words, his expression oscillating between confusion and incomprehension. He stepped towards me, his gaze tinged with a hint of concern, and uttered words that echoed in the tension-laden air.

"You were the first to be optimistic in this apocalyptic world, Bun," he began, his voice laced with perplexity. "But now you're playing deaf, playing dead. What's got into you? Is it because you've realized there's too much to do and decided to run away from it all?"

I felt his words resonate within me, a kind of dull remorse emerging from my tormented thoughts. But before I could muster a response, Saé intervened, her voice soft but imbued with seriousness.

"I've been thinking about this change, Edano," she declared in a measured tone, her gaze settling on me with unsettling clarity. "At first, I too wondered how Bun managed to adapt so easily despite the circumstances. But now I think I understand."

Edano still seemed perplexed, his gaze seeking to pierce the mystery surrounding my behavior. It was then that Saé revealed her theory, her words sounding like a revelation in the darkness of my troubled thoughts.

"Bun has hikikomori features," she announced, leaving a heavy silence in the air. Her words seemed to float between us, carrying a raw, undeniable truth.

"It's not so much survival in this chaotic world that frightens him, but rather the idea of facing society again, the gaze of others, social interactions, the weight of expectations and norms. Now that he no longer has the film to protect him from them."