The Game of Best Matches

Dr. Agath, a man deeply intrigued by the concept of perfect matches, embarked on a mission to unravel the mystery behind them. He had forsaken years of research and built a remarkable machine to determine whether best matches were exclusive to humans or if they extended to inanimate objects as well. A nagging question lingered in his mind: Could living and nonliving entities truly be a perfect match?

The contraption was deceptively simple, consisting of two medal-shaped slots. Dr. Agath's plan involved collecting the blood of living creatures and particles from nonliving entities, blending them within the medals, and inserting them into the machine. The contraption, in turn, would determine whether these combinations resulted in the best match.

Now, in his laboratory, Dr. Agath prepared to test his theory further. He crafted a medal symbolizing a living thing, in this case, a bird, and another representing a nonliving substance, metal. With both medals in hand, he placed them inside the machine, eager to witness the outcome. To his surprise, the machine indicated a best match.

The reason behind this seemingly unlikely pairing became clear upon contemplation. Birds, known for their freedom and effortless mobility through the skies, represented the essence of liberty. Metal, on the other hand, stood for strength and immobility. Although birds could be vulnerable at times, when they found a connection with metal, they complemented and supported each other, forging a lifelong bond until their eventual demise.

As Dr. Agath, the enigmatic host of the next stage, heaved a sigh of satisfaction, a voice interrupted his thoughts from behind.

"Dr. Agath, are you fully prepared?" inquired Mr. Zel.

"Yes, Mr. Zel, everything is in order. Before I depart, allow me to ask: Would you like to discover your best match?" Dr. Agath replied.

Zel offered no immediate answer, but he issued a stern reminder. "Do not disappoint me, Dr. Agath. Ensure fairness and impartiality. You know precisely why I emphasize this."

Dr. Agath understood the weight of Zel's words. With that, Zel teleported him into the fifteenth compartment, signaling the beginning of the next stage.

Meanwhile, Jon and his companions ventured toward the fifteenth compartment. As they traversed the path, Germon recounted the journey from the train to the game stage, relaying the challenges they had faced during the survival phase. Shingo Suzuki, a middle-aged man who had long crossed the threshold of forty, listened attentively. Divorced and with a daughter studying abroad, Shingo's connection to Germon extended beyond their friendship. In their school days, Shingo and Rongi had also been close friends. Rongi admired Shingo's unwavering determination, though Shingo's commitment waned over time as he became slothful and neglected his work. Shingo had boarded the train due to mounting rent and his daughter's persistent prodding.

When Shingo remarked about being willing to go through hell in a scenario like theirs, Jon overheard only the last part. He whispered in Ashya's ear, "Isn't this old man peculiar?"

Ashya shot back, "Look who's talking. Show some respect."

Perplexed, Jon asked, "What did I do now?"

Unperturbed by Jon's comment, they arrived near the compartment and were greeted by an astonishing sight. The game's setup sprawled before them, split into two parts. The first portion featured a pool brimming with medals, dubbed the Forest of Medals. The second part showcased a machine bearing two empty slots, with the words "Best Match" inscribed in bold black letters above it.

Curiosity piqued, they were startled when the so-called princess awakened and found herself clinging tightly to Germon's back. She squeezed his neck, her voice laced with irritation. "I explicitly told you not to touch me again."

Observing the distressing scene, Ashya interjected, "What do you think you're doing, so-called princess?"

The princess retorted, "I don't want to repeat myself. I told you not to touch me."

To Shingo's bemusement, he pointed out, "Well, you're touching him now."

Jon playfully chided, "Hey, that was my line, old man."

In response, the princess leapt off Germon's back, almost losing her footing. Kyora instinctively moved to catch her, but the princess's gaze brimmed with vexation. Kyora, undeterred, voiced her intentions. "I was merely trying to help."

The princess retorted, "I don't need any help from you."

Momentarily lost in his thoughts, Jon pondered, "Why are there two people at this stage? Didn't Zel mention that only one person would be taken prisoner?"

Ashya playfully kicked Jon's rear, pulling him back to reality. "Why are you spacing out now? This isn't the time. Go and help Germon," she urged.

Jon rebuffed her request, "I won't. First, give me something to eat. I'm hungry."

Shingo chimed in, claiming hunger as well. From an unexpected source, the sound of a stomach growling reverberated, catching Ashya's attention. She glanced to identify the culprit, realizing it was the so-called princess. Yet, she too hungered. Unfazed, Ashya approached, holding a rice ball in her hand, and said, "Do whatever you want with this."

Having satiated their appetites, the group decided to take a moment to rest and eat. Jon approached Germon to check on his well-being, inquiring, "Are you okay?"

Germon replied, "Yeah, she's quite a handful—stubborn and annoying."

The unanswered question continued to swirl in Jon's mind, compelling him to voice his thoughts. "By the way, why did we encounter two people at this stage?"

Perplexed, Germon sought clarification. "What do you mean?"

"Zel explicitly stated that only one person would be encountered at each checkpoint, but this time, we have two. How does that make sense?" Jon queried.

Germon contemplated the situation, slowly piecing the puzzle together. "You're right. The princess seems suspicious."

Interrupting their conversation, Ashya kicked Jon's behind once more, urging him to focus. "Why are you grumbling now? If you and Germon don't join us, you won't get anything to eat."

A mysterious voice whispered near Ashya's ear, "And what about me? I'm hungry too."

She turned, discovering a man in tattered clothes, covered in stains. Although disheveled, there was no trace of odor. His hair stood in disarray, and dark circles framed his eyes.

Shingo inquired, "Who are you?"

The man responded, "Me? I'm Dr. Agath, currently on a mission to guide people toward their best matches."

Ashya, moving closer to Kyora, muttered, "Another peculiar host?"

Dr. Agath reassured them, "Don't worry. I won't be a bother to you all at the moment. I'm hungry too. If you

don't mind, could I have something to eat?"

Jon's frustration grew, as he sat beside Ashya and complained, "You did this intentionally, didn't you?"

Ashya playfully retorted, "What if I did?"

Everyone settled down to eat, concluding their meal. Dr. Agath rose from his seat, addressing the group, "An insatiable appetite and delightful food—a perfect combination or best match."

Germon questioned, "What are you talking about?"

Dr. Agath retrieved a stained tie from his pocket, adjusted it around his neck, and replied, "Never mind. It's time I explained the game. Please listen carefully."

With their attention captivated, Dr. Agath expounded, "The game is quite simple. You will aid me in my research through this endeavor."

Jon interjected sarcastically, "Ah, so you're using us."

Ignoring the remark, Dr. Agath continued, "The game is called 'Who is the Best Match?' As you can see, the pool holds numerous medals, collectively known as the Forest of Medals. Each medal represents a unique craving. Your task is to select a medal from the pool and place it into the machine. The machine will then determine whether the combination of medals you provide constitutes the best match or not. You must deliver a total of eight best matches within one hour, without giving more than five worst matches."

Shingo pondered, "Is that the only challenge?"

Dr. Agath chuckled, "That is not the only hurdle. Once a medal is placed into the bucket, it cannot be removed until you provide either the best or worst match. Failure to do so will result in all of you being disqualified."

Germon mused, "That does pose a challenge."

Dr. Agath added one final detail, "Furthermore, only one person will collect the medal initially, and upon returning, they will place it into the machine. The representation of the carving will be visible upon its insertion. The other person must decipher the carving and find the best match among the remaining medals. After thirty minutes, you will switch positions with your partner. I have already determined who will participate in this game."

Kyora stammered, "Who?"

Dr. Agath responded, "The individual who tends to be incessantly annoying, persisting even after receiving numerous reprimands. The other person, who disapproves of that side, has already fallen for a different facet—an aspect that has ceased to manifest."

Confusion etched across Jon's face as he sought clarity. "Just tell us already, who are you referring to?"

Dr. Agath revealed, "You and Ashya!"

Both Jon and Ashya vehemently refused to play the game together. Despite their resistance, the others attempted to persuade them. The next chapter will reveal the outcome of their deliberation.