Being Played by the Rules

POV: Ikeda Akihiko

"AIMI!?"

Aimi Tsuji, she was our ally in the previous game. She is short and slight with honey skin. She has gray eyes and very short, curly, medium-brown hair. She is a very likable and adaptable person, and I can't imagine her getting angry.

"I knew it! It just sound familiar! Mayumi and… eh? Why are you naked? Can you please put some clothes on?" Aimi said as she averted and covered her eyes.

"He's kind of like that since our journey, bragging about his body. Can you please put your clothes on now? I told you, you look shameful in there," Mayumi said like she isn't the one who ordered it to me.

She goes back to her usual social self like she did in the last game… no, every time she goes out in the social world, she's like this. She excludes everyone that those who knows her secret from her social world.

We went into that house as she let us in. We all sit down in the table while she serves us water.

"Finally, an ally. Did you walk your way here?" Aimi asked.

"Pretty much, really. We've been sunbathing in the plains for thirty minutes. By the way, did you scout already this village for supplies?" Mayumi asked.

"Yes. Some food crates are stocked in the warehouse on the far east."

"Any supplies other than that? Don't worry about us hoarding. We've been seeing us as allies of the first game."

"If you're looking for weapons, we only have a dynamite."

"It's more than enough already. Are you sure it is included in the supplies?"

"Of course, yes. We can't see the coffin underground to farm for those."

"That's what I'm also thinking."

"By the way, Ikeda, how are you after being naked under the sun?" Aimi asked me midway, giving me a chance to talk.

"My body itches. It hurts more when I scratch it."

"Too bad, there's no water supply in the faucet. We can't find some water source near here."

"Don't worry. We already found a lake nearby so it's no problem."

"Did you!?" Both of them shouted with dilated eyes staring strongly at me.

"Wait… Why are you guys in shock?"

"Why are you shocked, Mayumi? Aren't you with him since earlier?" Aimi asked after noticing Mayumi in shock.

"N… No. We've only seen each other in the cabin in the center of the plains," Mayumi chuckled with embarrassment.

"Is there a cabin there? I can't see one from here. You really traveled a long distance from what can I tell. Why won't you rest here a little bit?"

"Just a bit. We could still utilize our strength back to the maximum. After that, we'll continue our journey to the towers. Our allies might be staying in there. How about you? What are your plans?"

"It's the same thing like you guys. I wanted to regroup everyone. I don't know if we're playing hide and seek because there's no way we could win against machine guns."

"That coffin mechanic shouldn't have been put here in this game. Those admins deserve some beating. Even in real life, being buried alive is a rare occurrence.

"What's more… They added a mechanic in that coffin. You guys are lucky you unblocked that cube in the puzzle," Mayumi said, but that only made our heads tilt.

"What!?" I and Aimi asked.

"Why are you both looking at me like that? Shouldn't you guys be unblocking the cube to unlock the coffin?"

"No… It's not like in me. In my case, there is a screen in which I need to click the button in time. If I got three consecutive strikes, the coffin will open," Aimi said.

"Are you guys not buried underground?" I asked with a narrowed look.

"We are. The dynamite will clear the way above us," Mayumi said.

"Oh, so that's what the dynamite is for?"

"You seem alienated. What's your coffin look like?" Aimi asked.

"A wooden coffin."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

"Hmm…" Aimi pinches her chin with a serious look. Suddenly, she got a reason to be positive. "If you're still fine, then it's fine. You might have taken the most difficult escape of us all. You're lucky you didn't suffocate."

"No, he's just dumb to find for a way to escape. There might be something useful there that he can use. He's lucky because the dynamite didn't explode before he got out," Mayumi said.

"There's only a knife in my coffin, nothing else," I said.

"We could call your coffin 'nothing else'," Aimi joked.

"Are you all alone in here? Didn't you saw any other… damn! I don't want to call them zombie. So disgusting," Mayumi asked.

"Ahh! You mean ally? Kenshin just got out earlier, searching for the… Wait… Didn't you encounter anyone with a gun?"

"No. It's still the grace day, yes?"

"Earlier, I just passed down a mine when I saw him. He's completely pale and breathless, like he's escaping something scary."

"Isn't it just his coffin? Or are there any external entities present in this world?"

"No, this is what he said. 'We need to go away to that place as soon as possible. There's a lurking survivor in that mine.'" Aimi explained.

"Survivor? You mean our enemies!?" I exclaimed.

"Impossible! There's a poison barrier, isn't it? They shouldn't be able to pass that!" Mayumi shouted with rushed speech.

"This is how he describes it. The man is completely covered with heavy armor and a gas mask. It also carries a heavy oxygen tank behind it. They move slower, but their guns are heavy as well," Aimi continued.

"They didn't included it in the rules, aren't they?" I asked.

Mayumi replies. "No, they're playing by the rules. What's worse, we are being played by the rules. It says that they will give the survivors weapons and equipment, and I didn't think of the immunity to the poison as well.

"So, why did Kenshin left? Is it related to the masked scout?"

"He didn't say the exact reason. He rushed towards the forest to the east where the mine can be found. He just told me to stay here if possible and don't suddenly open the door to someone without a voice," Aimi answered.

"I didn't think this first day would be problematic already."

I realized that it's too late for me to tell Aimi about Saori. "Oh, sorry to say this late, but we also have another companion with us. Can we bring her here as well?"

"Are you sure she isn't a survivor?"

"I assure you that it's not. She's just having breathing problems that's why she's vulnerable in collapsing."

"Yes, you should bring her here. If she's your ally, she's my ally as well."

"Thank you."

I set out towards the previous house but I see the door opened. My heartbeat quickly rose as I rush towards the house, and when I see the couch.

"She's gone…"