Chapter 15: Fractures in the Dark
The metal door closed with a hiss behind Shun, the final sound of certainty in a game where everything else bent to suspicion. He stood, blindfold secure, before the entrance to the Blue Team's domain. His breath was even, but Aoi saw the subtle tension in his shoulders.
"Shun..." she said, stepping closer. Her voice was firm, but under it lay a thread of something softer. "You're the sharpest mind we've got. This game isn't about brute force. It's about being three steps ahead. Stay cold. Play smart."
She rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it just once. A silent contract passed between them in that gesture—hope, and the possibility of goodbye.
Shun gave a single nod, his jaw clenched. Behind the blindfold, no one could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
---
Blue Room
The heavy silence hung in the Blue Room like smoke. The Blue Team sat motionless, their blindfolds on, their ears straining for signs of the new arrival.
Mei's voice, soft and uneasy, broke the stillness. "Who is it? Why now?"
The intercom crackled to life. The Accountant's voice sliced through the quiet, cold and clinical:
"Alert: Red Team player has entered Blue Team's room. Blue Team, maintain blindfold protocol. Warning: Bomber detected in President's chamber."
Tension struck like a blade.
Daichi snapped to attention. "Bomber? Here? How—"
"We've lost a heart," Tatsuya said, his tone like ice. "Be ready."
The alarm buzzed. A mechanical hum signaled the end of the blindfold protocol. Slowly, the Blue Team removed their masks.
Eyes widened. Breath caught.
Ren's voice came first, low and shocked. "It's... Shun."
In the Red Room, Aoi staggered.
"Shun? The Bomber?"
The intercom returned, final and merciless.
"Everyone now knows the Bomber's identity. It's time to reset the game. Roles will change."
A colorless gas hissed into the room. Sleep took them quickly, suspicion the last thought before darkness.
---
Day 3: Morning
They woke groggy, disoriented. But the memory of the night before was clear.
The Accountant's voice resumed as if no time had passed.
"Day Three begins. Return to your team rooms. At the center, you will find a table with folded cards. Each of you must choose one. Your new role for this phase of the game."
---
Red Team Room
The silence in the Red Team room was thicker than ever.
Aoi stepped forward, facing Shun. Her eyes were firm, lit with restrained fire.
"You played the game with your mind... and with your heart. You were the Bomber. I don't like it. But I respect it."
Her gaze pierced him.
"You won this round. But next time? You'll lose."
Shun said nothing. He looked away, unreadable.
---
Blue Team Room
Tatsuya stood apart from the group, arms folded.
"So... you're the Bomber," he said, voice sharp. "You won this time. But next time, you won't."
Again, the words hung in the air long after he spoke them.
Ren leaned toward Mei, voice low.
"We have to be more careful now. The lines are blurry."
Mei nodded. "No more mistakes. Not if we want to survive."
---
The Accountant returned one last time.
"Discussion is over. Proceed to the tables. Pick your new roles. Remember—one Blue Team player will move to the Red Team tonight. Choose wisely."
Hands hovered above the folded cards. The air was thick with dread and decision. Trust hung by a thread.
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End of Chapter
Next: Chapter 16: Masks of Deception