After we finished filling our stomachs, a slow, sweet time flowed between us. I looked to my side, and she was wearing my gym uniform now. It was out of consideration-wearing that tight uniform all the time probably wouldn’t let her relax, body or mind. Well, I don’t even need to think about exactly what was getting squeezed and where.
By the way, I had changed into a navy hoodie and inner shirt I made by editing my uniform with ‘Material Editing,’ plus loose sweatpants-a rough, casual look.
”My, your eyes are being quite naughty, Manato,” Yuna remarked teasingly.
Maybe she noticed me staring, because Yuna pouted her lips like she was fed up.
”Sorry, I just..,” I scratched my head, looking awkward, but honestly, this was just unavoidable.
After all, the way she looked right now was way too defenseless and way too stimulating. What she was wearing was a guy’s gym uniform. Of course the size was way oversized, and from the collar, her white, smooth collarbone and the valley of her full chest were completely out in the open. And every time she stretched her arms, from the baggy sleeves, her pure white, clean underarms peeked out without holding back.
It’s not like I’m into underarms or anything, but when a beautiful girl’s defenselessness gets exposed in little moments like that, it’s only natural for a guy’s eyes to get pulled in. We were sitting next to each other, leaning our backs against the headboard, close together. The distance between Yuna’s delicate shoulder and mine was zero, and from the parts where we touched, her slight warmth felt nice.
”Hey, Yuna. Is it really okay to be this relaxed? We’re Rank 1 right now, but other pairs are probably desperate and could overtake us at any time,” I voiced my concern.
”Hehe, regarding that… I believe it is quite impossible, truly,” Yuna responded with composure.
”Why can you say that so confidently?” I asked.
”Hmm, I could inform you… but why don’t you attempt to deduce it yourself?” Yuna smiled mischievously, then tilted her head and rested it on my shoulder.
She was relaxed in a posture that showed she trusted me completely. She was way too cute, seriously! Her glossy long black hair softly touched my shoulder, ear, and cheek, making a smooth, pleasant sound. Whether it was her own body scent or not, a sweet, fragrant smell tickled my nose.
Still, the reason other pairs can’t overtake us, huh… Honestly, I have no clue. So then, is this one of those things? Like, because our hearts are connected and we’re bound by a strong bond-that kind of emotional thing? Basically, what people call “heart-to-heart” or “two bodies, one soul,” Because more than any other pair, we opened our hearts to each other and grew our love. Yeah, it’s got to be that!
”I got it! It’s because our hearts are bound by a strong bond!” I answered confidently with my chest puffed out.
Yuna laughed softly with her shoulders shaking. “Hehe, no. That is part of it, to be sure, but it is something far more concrete-a system-based reason.”
”Then I give up. I have no idea!” I declared honestly. When it comes to anything other than games, I’m a guy who gives up easily.
”Very well then, let me grant you a hint. Since we were confined to this room together, have you noticed any ‘peculiarities’?” Yuna offered smoothly.
Strange things…? I wondered if there was anything like that as I tried desperately to go back through my memories. If there was anything that came to mind, it was first the structure of this room itself: a room like a love hotel, with zero consideration for privacy. The bathroom and toilet were fully glass-walled, visible from outside.
Thinking about it calmly, that really is weird. No matter how much she’s my partner, I don’t want her seeing me take a dump. I wouldn’t mind seeing Yuna’s a little… but that’s an exception. But just the discomfort of being watched shouldn’t affect the ‘Trust Level’ score. In fact, Yuna and I followed “Rule 4: Always respect each other,” which we decided on day one, and we consciously looked away during toilet stuff, making sure we never did anything the other hated. Any decent person like us should be able to clear that no problem.
”The toilet and bath being fully visible, with no privacy at all?” I inquired.
”Yes, that is indeed one of the correct answers. However, if I were to say, there is something far more fundamental at play-a distinct malice inherent to this room,” Yuna explained carefully.
”Are there still more answers?” I prompted.
”Indeed. Allow me to enlighten you. This room was designed from the start to inflict severe mental stress upon its occupants,” Yuna revealed clearly.
”A room that causes stress…? No, but I don’t really feel stressed. What do you mean?” I questioned, leaning in.
”Quite right, neither you nor I feel particularly stressed. But pray tell, what about ‘the other Players’?” Yuna posited pointedly.
Yuna’s words hit me like a blow to the top of my head.
”I see, so that’s what it is!” I exclaimed as realization washed over me.
Now that she said it, every weird thing about this room was a trap to stress out the Players. The closed-off structure with no windows, the shower that only puts out cold water, being alone with a stranger of the opposite sex, a complete locked room with no escape. And more than anything, the pressure of the ‘task’ where failure costs you your life.
If a normal person got thrown into an environment like this, forget surviving 10 days-it wouldn’t be weird for their mind to break in a few days. Hygiene-wise and mentally, they’d definitely get pushed into a corner. Well, I had my unique skill, so instead I was enjoying the situation of being alone with a beautiful girl…
And we have the peace of mind that we can escape this locked room anytime we want. Well, it’s banned by the rules, so we don’t do it. Plus, since I can freely make hot water, the shower that should only give cold water is comfortable. Even if we wear the same clothes all the time, thanks to the ‘Inventory’ cleaning function, they stay as clean as new.
But for other pairs, it’s not like that. Each thing is a small stress, but by piling up, it probably pushes them mentally into a corner. Being told to build ‘trust’ with a partner in an environment like that is just cruel. Even if the ‘task’ says “Trust your partner and open your heart,” they’d just get suspicious and clash. In other words, it’s not even a question of deepening bonds.
”I see you have finally noticed,” Yuna observed approvingly.
”Yeah, so that’s what it was. The locked room, the hygiene, the fear of death-all of it combined makes this room a stress room that chips away at the Players’ minds, right?” I summarized intently.
”Precisely. And… there is likely a trap within this as well,” Yuna added thoughtfully.
Saying that, Yuna took out and showed me a ‘canned herring.’ That was one of the emergency food supplies given on the shelf at the start, along with several other kinds of cans and bland hardtack-Emergency Rations, though I’ve never eaten it myself.
Why? Because the food in my ‘Inventory’ is way more plentiful and has way more variety. Nobody would want to eat Emergency Rations by choice. Well, Yuna did eat a little after the first day’s ‘task’ ended…
”What about that can?” I asked, looking at the item.
”It is exceedingly dreadful, of course… yet immediately upon consuming it, I was overcome by such intense drowsiness that I nearly lost consciousness. Perhaps something insidious-such as a drug that impairs your mind or robs your proper judgment-was intentionally added. Other Players who have no choice but to consume this are being forced to ingest it. I was terribly careless, I admit,” Yuna confessed somberly.
”You’ve got to be kidding me..,” I muttered in disbelief.
So it seems I had misunderstood. After the first day’s ‘task’ confession, the reason I ate and then went to sleep almost without talking wasn’t mental shock. I picked up the can and used ‘Appraisal.’
[Item: Canned Herring]
[Description: Long-term preservation possible. Non-toxic. Edible.]
Even using ‘Appraisal’ on the can, I couldn’t find any drug components. This skill is pretty sloppy with item descriptions, honestly. Maybe that’s the weakness of the Appraisal skill.
”I didn’t know food could have a trap like that. From what I can see with my ‘Appraisal’ skill, there’s no instant-death poison or anything life-threatening, so that part’s fine,” I reassured her.
”I see… that is indeed a relief to hear. Truly, I would far prefer to partake of the fresh pizza and hamburgers you produce from your ‘Inventory’ than that horrid canned affair. I have no wish to ever taste it again,” Yuna expressed with distaste.
”Was it really that bad…?” I asked gently.
”It was positively dreadful… If you so desire, Manato, would you care to sample a bite?” Yuna asked with a faint playful smile.
”No, I’ll pass. Nobody would want to eat it after hearing all that,” I declined quickly.
”Hehe, quite wise. To summarize, this room inflicts stress in every aspect of daily life. The other participants are likely at their absolute limits, both mentally and physically, merely from clearing the daily tasks. In such a strained state with no respite, deepening genuine bonds with a partner and earning ‘Trust Level’ points is utterly impossible,” Yuna explained thoroughly.
”I see… Yuna, you’re really super smart. I just thought it was inconvenient, so I totally didn’t get it!” I admitted with admiration.
”It cannot be helped. Even I was somewhat slow to perceive it. Above all, owing to your extraordinary power and skills, we are able to endure this ordeal in a remarkably comfortable manner. You have my sincere gratitude, Manato,” Yuna stated with genuine warmth.
Yuna moved the head resting on my shoulder a little, rubbing her forehead against my cheek like a cat, and expressed her heartfelt thanks.
”Hey, don’t worry about that at all! My power exists to protect you and to clear the game. So does that mean we don’t need to desperately earn more ‘Trust Level’ points?” I reassured her.
”Yes, precisely. We already possess more than enough of an advantage, so there is no need to rush or fret over the Ranking. From this point forward, let us proceed at our own leisure. Above all, I believe mutual respect remains the true key to clearing this game,” Yuna advised calmly.
”Yeah, you’re right, Yuna!” I agreed wholeheartedly.
I gently pulled her thin shoulder close, letting myself sink into that pleasant warmth, and spent a sweet time together.
And just like that, time flew by, and the third day of the ‘partner game’ was about to end.
”Day three is almost over,” I noted as the time approached.
”Yes, that is quite true,” Yuna acknowledged softly.
We decided to stay awake until the moment the ‘task’ ended. It was almost midnight.
”In the end, the Ranking hasn’t changed-still first,” I pointed out.
”Indeed, precisely as I anticipated,” Yuna affirmed smoothly.
We both stared at the Monitor screen.
[Trust Level Points: 253]
[Ranking: 1st]
The score had gone up a little since then. We didn’t really do anything special. We just spent time flirting normally in the room, and before we knew it, it had gone up on its own.
Then, a sharp electronic timer sound rang through the room. The first execution ended so easily it was almost a letdown. With this, some pair somewhere had dropped out and lost their lives. The number of remaining pairs shown on the screen had dropped to eight teams.
”Somehow, that was kind of anticlimactic… It doesn’t feel real. Even if you tell me someone actually died, I don’t really process it,” I admitted honestly.
”As do I. I do not quite sense it either. However, according to the rules, there should be at least two more days involving executions. Let us remain vigilant,” Yuna reminded me earnestly.
”Yeah,” I responded quietly.
We nodded quietly to each other. And the moment the date changed, a sharp, unpleasant buzz pierced the room again. It was the signal that the next task was displayed. Usually it’s announced in the morning, so I thought this was awfully early, but we looked back at the Monitor screen.
[Current Status: Day 4]
[Remaining Pairs: 8]
[Today’s Task: Restriction]
[Effect 1: Male Players lose sight for 24 hours.]
[Effect 2: Female Players lose limb mobility for 24 hours.]
[Time Remaining: 23:59]
”Huh? What on earth is this?” I blurted out.
”Kyaa!” Yuna gasped in shock.
The instant I read the words out loud, all light vanished, and my vision went completely black. My eyes should be open, but I can’t see anything. It’s a world of darkness so dark it makes my brain feel fear. And the last thing burned into my eyes before my vision shut was Yuna, her limbs robbed of freedom, losing her balance and collapsing onto the bed.
Trivia:
- Yuna figured out the room’s psychological trap mechanism and the drugged rations, showing her analytical mind works even under pressure.
- The canned herring’s Appraisal description says “Non-toxic” despite containing drugs that cause unconsciousness, hinting the skill has blind spots.
- Manato’s misunderstanding about why he fell asleep after the first day’s confession reveals he never connected his own behavior to the drugged food.