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It continued to rain. Shuya was slouched against the wet rock wall as he watched the rain dripping off the edge of the thatched roof. He heard rapid gunfire. Then about five minutes ago he heard gunfire again, this time two single shots. Both times it didn't sound too close, but it didn't seem too far away either. It was probably somewhere in the northern mountain, where they were camping. A large raindrop slid along one of the "roof" leaves and fell by Shuya's stretched out foot wearing Keds sneakers, splashing against the muddy water.

"Maybe Hiroki likes Kotohiki."

That's what Noriko had said. "If I were him…I would have done the same thing." She glanced at Shuya.

"I would find the person I cared about."

Was it true? Did Hiroki like Kayoko Kotohiki? Why, when he was so close to the prettiest girl in their class, would he be into a Plain Jane like Kayoko?

Well, maybe that's how it was. After all, Billy Joel sang, "Don't imagine you're too familiar…I'll take you just the way you are."

Then…who was involved (the second series of shots sounded like it was just one assailant shooting away) in those rounds of gunshots he just heard? If he were to include the gunfire he heard immediately after leaving the lighthouse, it meant he'd heard guns go off three times since noon. (This wasn't including what happened to Yukie Utsumi's group.) It would be reasonable to assume at least three people had died. Then there were only five left? Which three got killed? Or maybe no one died at all, maybe there were just confrontations, and everyone managed to escape each other. Then eight students, including Shuya's group, were left.

"Are you tired, Shuya?"

They were sitting next to each other in a row, but Shogo, who was on the other side of Noriko, asked,

"Maybe you should sleep a little."

Shuya looked back at them. "No." He gave a smile. "I slept a lot until noon. I bet you haven't had much sleep."

Shogo shrugged. "I'm fine. But Noriko. She didn't sleep at all waiting for you." Shuya looked over at Noriko, but she waved her palms at Shuya and smiled. "That's not entirely true. I dozed off a little here and there. Shogo's the one who hasn't slept for my sake." Shogo chuckled and shrugged. Then he held his right hand up to his chest in a salute and said, "I shall always guard you, Your Highness."

Noriko grinned, touched his hand, and said, "The honor is mine, Shogo." Shuya raised his brow and observed their interaction. It was odd how close Noriko and Shogo seemed now. Ever since the game began, Noriko seemed to speak to Shogo mostly through Shuya, but now things seemed different. They seemed like a good pair on their own. It was only natural though, given how they'd spent over half a day without Shuya.

Shogo suddenly pointed at Shuya and said, "Uh oh. Shuya's getting jealous." Noriko opened her eyes wide and looked at Shuya. She smiled and said, "No..." Shuya blushed a little. "I am not. What are you talking about?" Shogo shrugged. He raised his brow and said to Noriko in mock exasperation, "He says he trusts you, out of love."

Shuya wanted to say something, but he was speechless. Shogo began laughing. Clacking up, really. Despite the urge to protest, Shuya ended up going along with it and chuckled too. Noriko was smiling too.

It was a brief but wonderful moment. It was the kind of conversation and laughter you'd share with your longtime friends, hanging out with them after school at your favorite cafe Of course, looming over them was the feeling that they were all here only after attending a friend's funeral.... Still smiling, Shogo looked down at his watch and went outside to check again for a signal from Hiroki. Noriko grinned and looked at Shuya. "Shogo likes to kid around." Shuya smiled. "Yeah, but…" He squinted at the open space.

I might have been jealous.

Shuya looked back at Noriko again. He was about to tell her in a joking way, "I may have been jealous." Then Noriko would probably laugh and say, "Yeah right."

Shogo returned to the front of the roof. His stubbly face was moist with raindrops. "I see smoke," he said and immediately turned around.

Shuya quickly got up. He helped Noriko up with his uninjured right arm. They walked to where Shogo was standing.

The rain was light now, so he could make out the smoke drifting in the sky. As he followed Shogo's eyes…he saw a white column of smoke on the opposite side of the northern mountain. Two columns, in fact.

"Right on!"

Without thinking, Shuya gave a little holler out as if singing a rock and roll song. His eyes met Noriko's. Noriko, no less enthusiastic, broke into a grin and said, "So Hiroki's safe." Shogo took out the bird call from his pocket and teaked it as he observed the smoke. The cheerful chirping of a little bird rose and spread out into the rain covering the island. As he continued, Shogo checked his watch. Fifteen seconds later he stopped.

Shogo then looked over at them.

"Let's wait a little more here. My guess is he won't hear this sound unless he's close. It'll take time." They returned underneath the roof.

"Hiroki probably found Kayoko," Noriko said. Shuya was about to nod but stopped when he saw Shogo's mouth stiffen. Noriko also stopped smiling.

"Shogo…" Shuya said.

Shogo looked up. Then he shook his head. "It's nothing. I just think things might not be what they seem."

"Huh? But…" Shuya raised his opened right palm. "Hiroki would never give up though." Shogo nodded. "That might be true." He stopped and then looked away from them. "But he might have only found Kayoko Kotohiki dead."

Shuya's face became tense. He was right. Kotohiki seemed to be alive up until noon…but there was all that gunfire. They'd just heard those single shots. After searching around for two weeks, Hiroki might have ended up discovering Kayoko Kotohiki had died.

Shogo continued, "Or there might have been a totally different outcome." Noriko asked, "What do you mean?"

Shogo took out a pack of cigarettes and answered curtly, "It's very possible Kayoko didn't trust Hiroki." Shuya and Noriko both fell silent.

Shogo lit his cigarette and continued, "Well, in any case, let's just hope Hiroki can make it back here. We'll see then whether he's with Kayoko or not."

Shuya was hoping Hiroki would return with Kayoko Kotohiki. Then… there would be five of them. Five of them could escape.

Only five.

Shuya then recalled that Mizuho Inada was still alive, at least she had been at noon.

"Shogo."

Shogo glanced at Shuya.

"Inada is still alive. I wonder if we can't contact her."

Shogo shrugged. "I keep on saying this, but it's best not to trust the others too much in this game. To be honest, nothing against Hiroki, but I don't necessarily trust Kotohiki either." Shuya bit his lip. "I know but—"

"Well, if we can afford to, then I'll come up with some way to contact Mizuho, but," he blew out smoke,

"don't forget, we may not be around to do that."

That's right, Shogo had said, "At the very end. Once everyone else is dead, there's a way out." That meant no matter what, they would have to confront Kazuo again and also take on Mitsuko Souma. He wasn't sure about Mitsuko, but there would be no way around fighting Kazuo. There was no way Kazuo could die easily. Which mean that…everyone in Shuya's trio might not survive fighting him. Shogo puffed on his shortened cigarette and said, "I'm going to ask you again, Shuya." He exhaled a puff of smoke and continued to stare at Shuya, "Even if we manage to hook up with Hiroki, we're probably going to have to fight Kazuo again and Mitsuko___Are you prepared to be merciless?" So that's what it came down to. They could afford to contact Mizuho Inada only after they'd defeated Kazuo and Mitsuko. Although he wasn't comfortable with how he'd gotten used to the idea of killing his classmates no matter how extreme the circumstances were…

…Shuya nodded and responded, "I am."

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