Chapter-3: Alternative universe

[]The man in the black coat rushed in the office to submit some documents.

"𝘏𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘧𝘧. I am sorry for late "

" It's okay we still have some time to submit this pages "

"Then I will keep these documents here. I have done the sketching parts too. "

"You can go now "

"𝘉𝘻𝘻𝘻𝘻𝘵𝘵𝘵𝘵. Hello? I will go in an hour. The documents have been submitted as well. We just have to wait for 3 days. "

The man started to run again . While he was crossing the road, suddenly a taxi came closer to him and the moment he noticed, he stopped while wided his eyes ]

"𝘏𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘧. What the hell. Was I dreaming? The party and everything, it was just a dream? Wait, this is not my bedroom ."

When I looked around me I saw more six people besides me. The last thing I remember I was floating. I was floating alone . Into a deep sea, there was no one besides me.

" uhmm... What is this place? " Inaya just woke up.

But what about others? I can only see inaya , satoru, sota, hana, isamu, akiko. We are total seven peoples in this room. The room was enough big for the seven of us. The beds were bunk beds it was similar to the hostels.

"The last thing I can remember, I was floating and suddenly a shark ate me duhhh!!!!!!! It was horrible"

" yeah i have a similar dream"

"I don't think it's a dream. Look around you. Just where are we? "

"Hey satoru,where do you think we are? And what about others?"

"I don't know. My head is spinning. The only thing I can be sure of is we were at the haunted cave last night. All of us. "

"Do you think it's a kind of hotel? "

Everyone seems to be awake. Suddenly a person came through the door. It was female . I don't think I have seen any human have this kind of skin. It was dark gray. I mean just think about humans can be black but this is---what is this? She had green hair and her eyes were purple. Never have I ever seen purple eyes. I am sure it's not just some kind of costumes. It is way too real to be a costume.

"Welcome to BRANCHWORLD . "

"Eh? So - what is branchworld ? Like a kidnapping? That's what I am feeling like. " sota made an weird expression.

"Excuse me ma'am. Can I ask where are our friends? And the entrance wasn't fun at all. We nearly died. If you are looking for some interesting expression from us. Then I am sorry it was terrible idea to entertain customers. "

"I know you guys have so many questions. We have people like you every month who have totally no clue what is happening. I know it's expected. Your friends are safe.

This is BRANCHWORLD. This world is branched off from the main universe. You can call it a 'alternative universe'. I don't know how did you guys end up here . But since you choose to be played , you have to follow the rules. I bet you guys don't know the rules."

"Can I ask what does it mean to be played ? "

I don't know what kind of joke is this but Inaya really was serious. We were total 21 people when we entered the cave and if I am not wrong the room was devided by 7 or it was 3 .

"There will be a game that you have to attend physically. I can only say you the names. There will be four games that will be held tomorrow and they are 'save the king ', 'survive till the end', 'find the magic card', 'find the treasure hall'. "

"How do we play it?" Said satoru.

" The rules will be announced tomorrow. For now, you guys have to change your dress. I brought some t -shirts and pants. The girls will be coming with me"

"Hey I think they are pulling a prank on us. Think about it guys. 'different dimension' ? Is this is a joke? We aren't even stargazers. Why would we come somewhere like that, right? "

Isamu still wasn't serious. Even though what he said does make sense but also what we are going through doesn't make sense at all. After we get changed, the girls came. They looked like they are close now. The girls were wearing a t-shirt and a small skirt. It was white t-shirt and black skirt.

And the boys are wearing white t- shirt with black pants.

"Ano- "

" hey hana, is this only me? Or you and Inaya seem to be close with that person "

I was about to call Inaya. Well it is for the first time bit. Satoru cut me off -_-. This damn guy just ruined my first impression.

"What do you mean by that person'? She have a name. It's Celestina. "

"The name, it looks like she isn't Japanese"

"What do you mean Japanese , didn't you hear what she said? We are not in earth! This world is different!! "

"Hey now you are really making us nervous stop it already. Can't you see we are already enough confused about the situation we are in! "

"Hey sota! Do I look like I am joking? We have visited the outside . I know it's hard to believe. But this situation we are in! We are really in different dimension!"

Everyone is silent. Celestina was gone. Inaya , Hana and Akiko were the only girls. Celestina showed them this place so they know some stories for sure. But What made them a believer so hard that they are saying these things with such a serious expression.

"Celestina showed us some important places at this mansion. We will show you after lunch "

" woo at least they are giving us free food.. I thought I will starve to death"

" wait what do you mean by mansion? "

"In this dimension, every mansion have 10 persons in total. Besides the seven of us ,there are more three peoples who live here to take care of us.

Among them celestina is an Informer she got her job last night. There is a cleaner in this mansion , his name is Sergio he has been working here from day this mansion was made. There is a cook who is originally a middle age man, his name is Zeno. "

A soft chime echoed through the halls.

"It's time"

"What time? "

"Lunch time . Let's go. We will show you the dining table. These people, they are very friendly. "

We walked through the room. The mansion wasn't that big. There is a library, a dining room, a big kitchen, a bedroom with 3 toilets and 2 bathroom. There is a garden below.

After I finished my lunch I found a balcony above our bedroom. There was a secret room with a balcony as well. Others didn't find it but since I was looking for a place to organize my thought I found it after checking up the mansion.

When I got there, I saw Inaya was already standing there. I silently joined her . According to the sun, it should be afternoon.

The sunlight we encountered together was sweet, a gentle breeze blowing past us with its sweet touch.

"Ummm .. Inaya--since you and Celestina looked really close.. Have you found out something? "

"Something what? Woahh... Never thought you will be the first to approach me. Things really don't go how we think it will. 'Cause look you really approached me first today. How nice it is. "

She grined before replying and even when she was talking she was smiling.

"Well...I never got the chance to speak first so-"

"Hmmm.. I know. Celestina she didn't give us much hints but after she told us the stories of her first experience in her job, It sounded like we will be attending a real game. "

"A real game?"

"Yeah, you know a game where we have to play it like we are the cards. "

"I have never played something like that. "

"Nor did I. But I don't think it will be easy. She said people can even die while playing. "

"How can a person ever die by playing a game? "

"I don't know. I just have a feeling that we are stucked in something dangerous. "

"The way you are talking it really sounds like it is dangerous. "

"She said the person who dies in the game, they die in real life as well. The story of their life will count as a loser. No one will ever remember that person ,even us.

Our memory of that person will be erased. So she said that since she really liked Hana and me she don't want us dead in the first round. "

She was talking such a thing with a serious yet calm voice. 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩.

It was almost evening. There were a few birds that were flying upon us . The timing was pretty. If I am not wrong then it's spring in this so called dimension as well.

"Shin"

"Yeah? "

"What's your favorite season? "

she didn't look at me while talking. She was too focused on the weather. The air was touching her hair softly. She didn't seem cold but instead she was enjoying it. I looked away.

"Spring. What about you? What's your favorite season? Inaya. "

"Spring" she said.

"Then I think we are pretty lucky. Because it's already spring here. "

"Pretty much lucky I guess. But shin why is spring your favorite season? "

"Why? Umm.. I don't really have any particular reason. I think it's peaceful, spring that is. What about you? Why do you like spring? "

"Because everyone is happy, whenever spring arrives. It's not too hot like summer we don't really get too much angry, It's not too cold like winter so no one have to suffer and shake by the coldness either. It doesn't rain much either so no one seem to be depressed.

Even if it's a bit sunny, we don't really hate the warmth of it. People don't sweat much, get annoyed because of the fresh and sweet air as well. Spring.. It's a beautiful season. I like it 'cause it's... Spring... Spring is.. My dream. "

She didn't smile while talking the whole time about it she was calm. But right when she said spring is her dream .She closed her eyes and when she opened them again she looked at me and smiled.

"Spring.. What? Spring is your dream? Why?... Why is it your dream? Isn't it just a season? Then why? "

"Well.. "

"Guys. We need to discuss something important. It's already evening. The cook will serve us dinner at 7:30 pm. Let's get down. "

Before she could say one more word , Satoru came with his serious face. No it wasn't only his face, he was serious. Perhaps something happened while we were at the balcony.

"Then where is everyone. " I spoke up.

"At the bedroom. They are waiting for us. "

"Let's go. "

When we got there, everyone was already waiting for us. After we sat Satoru told us about how he wanted to get close with the cleaner of this house Sergio and wanted to get information from him but he failed. I guess while Inaya and I were enjoying at the balcony, Satoru met the cleaner.

But the way he explained about the cleaner, the cleaner wasn't friendly as Celestina. We didn't meet the cook Zeno as well. But then Hana said that we will able to meet Zeno in the dining tonight.

"Guys since we don't know what's coming at tomorrow's event for us we should take a chance before the game start to escape this place. If what Celestina and Hana explained is right then staying at this place till tomorrow won't be any good for us. We have to leave before the sun rises. "

"Hey Satoru it's not like we want to stay at this place either but Akiko and me, we had already checked if there is any escape and guess what there was no escape from this place. "

"Isamu is right. When Inaya and I were at the rooftop we couldn't see any more mansion or any houses . It was just a huge green field with some trees and no end to it. The interesting thing is, there were only few birds with no animals around this mansion."

" If that's the case then we have to make a plan. We didn't check through all the places around this mansion and have you realized that our smart phones are gone? That's mean we can't contract the emergency departments as well.

If the cleaner is working here since the mansion was created then he must know something and hiding something from us. We have to get information from him and also we have to find our smart phones and find out any information about this house . "

"Then what's the plan? What do you suggest that we should do?"

Sota spoke up.

"Okay so someone have to follow Sergio till we find our phones and there will be others who will distract Zeno and watch out for Celestina as well. "

"Who will follow Sergio? We don't even know him. We haven't even seen him. "Asked Isamu.

"I will. "

"Then Inaya , Isamu and I will-"

"No I will follow him alone. In the meanwhile Hana and Isamu will look for the smart phone and you will look for some other information.

I think it will be better since if you will follow Sergio again It will be too obvious that we are doing something suspicious. And Sota, Ema and Shin will distract the others. "

"But shouldn't you go with someone? " I asked with a serious expression.

"Hey I said I can go alone. When I say I can do it, that's mean I am confident that I can do it better than anyone here. So stop questioning my strength. "

"Well guys while I and Isamu were wondering around this mansion ,we found a closet for clothes. There were so many clothes for all of us. I mean Inaya will stand out too much if she just follow him in this dress, right?

So while we are working together, I think the boys should wear black T-shirts with black pants and the For us, we will wear Black mini T-shirts with black mini skirts and black footed tights with black boots. "

"Wait wait... Hey Akiko! Don't you think girls are wearing too much clothes? Huh? Are you guys going on a night party? "Sota shouted. He literally lost his peace.

"Isn't it obvious for girls? Of course we won't wear similar clothes as boys. Are you dumb? " 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩.

The bell rang. I don't know why but I really like this sound I guess I have to get used it. This is a similar sound as the temple but it's way too softer and dreamy. It's already dinner time. About what Sota said about Akiko, I guess even other girls are thinking that way. I mean even we are in a situation like this she is still thinking about those ridiculous facts.

After we finished our dinner, Zeno said he will answer our all questions about what he knows. After listening the side stories from him we proceed as plan. And then after We wore our black clothes ,they started to work as plan and then Akiko, Sota and I were keeping Zeno busy. Since Celestina didn't show up it was easy to keep him busy.