Like a thread snatched from a loom, Hori was jerked back to reality as soon as their eyes locked. The creatures head, barely visible, resembled that of a rams skull. With literal eye sockets lacking optics.
As if sensing Hori in its domain, it banished her back whence she came.
Hori collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath as if she'd encountered a specter. Mr Shiba noticed her panicking and asked.
"A-a-announcer! I just had a dream of some sorts!" Hori stammered facing up, searching for where Mr Shiba observed participants from.
Despite watching multiple participants lose their lives so far, the Bishop was not a fan of directly watching children die.
"Never! I cannot forfeit sir. I still have a long way to go!" Hori declared with unwavering determination, causing him to sigh.
She settled back into her sitting position and tried to decipher the meaning of such dream.
'What was that? A Sin? Yes, it must have been.... Sinners all have a black and red polka-dot pattern....' she frowned, 'And its hair.....dark blue just like mine.'
Hori let out a heavy sigh, 'If only Narrator were here, she would've made sense of it all....' later pouting upon remembering the cause of their fight.
Hori decided to ask Haruki about it, him being a Sin must have some knowledge of what she just witnessed.
In the meantime, she tried entering such a state again through meditation. However her efforts were left fruitless.
Hours later, and the amazement Hori felt from the ominous dream vanished. Replaced by a cold unforgivable hunger.
She sat on the cold floor, her stomach growled with a pain as if eating away at her insides. Hori's eyes were sunken and her skin pale and clammy. She hadn't eaten in days, and the weakness was starting to take over.
As she leaned against the wall, she felt dizzy, her vision blurring at the edges of her folks in the queue.
'My tummy hurts....' Hori held her legs tight.
She thought of food, of the sweet taste of an anpan, the warmth of a freshly cooked omurice. Her mouth watered but it was a cruel tease, a reminder of what she didn't have.
Mr Shiba on the other hand was fast asleep, the time in the outside world was 2:30 AM. Hori had been here for 4 days now, with only 8 more holographic men to go.
She closed her eyes, trying to will away the hunger, all to no avail.
Hori didn't even feel like using the small private bathroom in the lane, almost as if she was lacking in bodily fluids. Understandable given she hadn't drank water for so long.
'I....can do this. Just don't.... don't die!'
Hori warned herself. She believed that as long as she had resolve, she could fast for months. She just needed to stay alive, any moment of weakness would present her life forfeit.
Her breathing slowed down as she closed her eyes. For the 100th time, she passed out from hunger.
Hours later Mr Shiba awakes, not surprised seeing Hori unconscious.... again.
He tapped the announcer button and asked how she felt, no reply.
He sighed to himself. 'Should I just link her out of here? She's tried so far.'
It wouldn't be in accordance with the rules, since external intervention is not allowed no matter what. A participant may simply forfeit, something Hori was being too stubborn with.
Mr Shiba's gaze returned to screen, staring at the plain white bulb that illuminated the trial grounds, its subtle rays amplifying the tension whether Hori would survive this or not.
Our protagonist laid at the center of it all, her formerly slightly muscular frame now reduced from starvation, trembling beneath the weight of exhaustion.
Hori's eyes as well, once bright and fierce, now seemed dull and sunken, as if her very spirit was being drained from her body.
Days slowly came and went and Hori still hadn't gained consciousness.
The strain had been too much, any normal person would have died at least two days back.
As the trial drew to a close, Mr Shiba tried reminding Hori to get ready to leave. His voice only swirled around her, morphing into a cacophony of sound that grew fainter and fainter, until it was nothing more than a distant hum.
The time finally reached, the last holographic man had left, vanishing into code as it passed the door.
Mr Shiba slightly smiled and pressed the announcer button with its highest volume set.
He said then leaned back on his chair to observe her reaction. Nothing.
Hori was seated with her head slumped, resting between both arms placed on her knees.
Mr Shiba's smile faded and he pressed it again. Still no response.
"She can't be dead....her posture is seated," he looked closer. " I'll use link if she doesn't reply after this. He tapped the blue button and ordered announcers to be ready on her door, door 204.
Mr Shiba slowly pressed the buzzer again to wake her up.
He rose his voice which was rare for him.
As if on cue, Hori's body began to sluggishly move. She stumbled as she misplaced her steps, walking like a drunk from the pub. Her slightly tanned face now pale and drawn.
Hori's palm clumsily touched the door nob and she twisted it.
Her frame pushed the door open as she fell forward.
A male Hataki quickly caught her now light body, immediately assisted by two nurses on standby as well.
One checked her pulse, it was miraculously still present. The nurse raised a thumbs up to Mr Shiba to which he sighed with relief.
As the Hataki adjusted Hori's shoulder to support her better, he peeked at her face to make sure she was alright. Hori's eyes were still wide awake.
The Hataki shuddered seeing the participant still fully conscious. As if busted, Hori's eyes slowly closed and she began to snore....
-------------------------
The ceiling fan spun lazily, gently ventilating the room and the patients present.
A familiar scent woke her up, that of medicine and dry paint formed a comfortable aroma, sure to put anyone at ease.
The fabric as well, laid on a smooth fluffy surface. Hori stared at the white ceiling, her pupils dilating from the bright light that pierced her eyes.
She was in the med bay. Again.
Her eyes slowly widened.
'I'm alive!' she said, her face painted with surprise. In all honesty, she did not except to survive trial 3.
Hori slowly rose up, still on the bed. Her movements paused by a familiar but intimidating figure. Seated at her left was the one and only Bishop number 5:
Shiba Tadashi.
"Y-you scared me Sir!" Hori nearly fell from the bed.
The Bishop sat there silently, his long legs crossed casually as he stared at Hori with a curious gaze. His slim eyes examining her every being.
"Participant Inori. What would you gain from this?" He asked with an interesting tone, as if amused. Hori tilted her head, confused from his question.
Mr Shiba tried simplifying.
"Why are you trying so hard to pass? There's always next year." Hori now understood, what she did must have been drastic, especially given how young she was.
Anyone would be interested in knowing why a kid was so eager in passing the Sabbath Exams, at least for a specific year.
"Ehmm...." She fiddled with her white hospital gown, not knowing what to say. Confess about being the Prime Ministers daughter in front of a Bishop who actually knew her as a kid? Or make up a lie.
She decided to vaguely answer.
"Uncle Shiba.... There's actually someone I really need to meet. And his position makes that impossible from where I currently stand." She said quietly.
Mr Shiba seemed to lose interest from her un-informative answer, still staring at her, but now with an emotionless expression.
After a long pause, he stood up, pushed his chair back and spoke. "Unlike last time, I will not be convincing you to forfeit."
Hori nodded, appreciating his respect for her and decision not to influence her choices.
Mr Shiba walked around her bed, still informing her.
"You were asleep for 2 days, be thankful for that friend of yours. He advised us to simply feed you than give you medication, saying you have a fast metabolism."
Hori smiled, once again she was in Haruki's debt.
"Hurry up and get dressed, you're late for trial 4." He said approaching the door. Hori gasped and immediately got out of bed.
"Oh, and do try not to get hospitalized again.... it's getting old." Mr Shiba chuckled before finally leaving.
"I will try my best, Sir!."
Hori had her head bowed as he exited.
She hastily searched for a Hataki who would help her navigate to the trial grounds for the fourth.
Hori met a female Hataki who presented her washed and dried Sabbath Exams uniform, leading her to the empty female dorm to change.
'No wonder no one was with me! While I was busy sleeping, Haruki and Meadow were already giving their all at trial 4!' she nearly cursed at her laziness, zipping the extra large dark red track with a furious face.
Bursting the door open to meet back with the Hataki, Hori needed directions to a specific place before heading for trial 4.
2 minutes later, Hori was seen striding with a single rose, carefully tucked in-between both hands.
As she walked, following the instructions to a certain room, her mind couldn't help but wonder.
'But....2 whole days?!' she frowned at her long time of inactivity.
'Back when Arson attacked, I had a gouged out stomach but woke up the same evening! And I was fully healed! Is it because this wasn't physical damage like an injury?'
The questions were just too much.
Why did she wake up in Fukui?
How was she announced dead instead of missing?
Why could she regenerate damaged organs but still suffered from starvation?
Who was that Sin in her dream?
Why didn't she tell Mr Shiba who she was?
"Arghh! Narrator do your job!"
She got annoyed of her absence so far, if she remembered correctly, Narrator's job was to explain things to her and these...."readers" but was too busy being childish and had disappeared since their fight.
Hori almost felt herself aging from the stress of it all. She was too young to be playing detective.
Her mind kept wondering as she strided pass multiple doors in SHOs inner sanctum, looking for a specific room number.
"Just breathe...." She said out loud. "That doesn't matter now." Her face was suddenly calm despite being late for the fourth trial. As if something more important pushed everything aside.
Hori stared at the black number written on the door she finally settled with. "Room 20D" reading it out loud, praying she remembered it correctly from the Hataki who told her.
Hori breathed in, then out. Clearing her throat before politely knocking on the metal door.
"Yes?" A familiar voice spoke, causing a smile to tug at Hori's cheeks.
She pushed the door open with hardly contained excitement.
"Hello Mrs Takane." She whispered upon entering. Mrs Takane laid on a hospital bed with her new born at her side. The baby girl cooing softly as she enjoyed her mother's warmth.
"H-H-H-Hori?!" Mrs Takane almost yelled, trying not to wake her baby.
---------------------------------
Hori gently placed the single rose she managed to find on a counter close to the bed. "Awwwn you even got me flowers?" Mrs Takane said nearly crying as she rose up.
Hori smiled back then leaned in closer to the infant. Studying the baby as if seeing an alien.
"She's so adorable ~~~" she said with sparkling eyes, caressing her soft cheek with a finger.
Mrs Takane smiled and appreciated the compliment, as well as Hori visiting her.
"But sweety, don't you have the next trial to get to?" She said worriedly. "It's okay Mrs Takane, I really wanted to see the baby." She explained, brushing it off.
Their conversation eventually woke her up and she began crying for her mother. Mrs Takane gently carried her up and rocked her in her arms.
Hori smiled warmly at the beautiful scene, relieved her friend was a mother despite not giving birth at a hospital.
Hori's face immediately turned red as Mrs Takane began to nurse her child, she apologized for doing it in her presence but Hori simply hid her eyes.
After feeding her, Mrs Takane suddenly handed her to Hori. "Ehh?! A-a-are you sure?!" Hori panicked, she had never held a baby before.
"It's alright Hori, here Emiko, say hello to Aunty Hori!" Mrs Takane said handing her over.
"Emiko?" Hori asked, carefully collecting the child.
"Oh, yes....it was what we decided on.... when he was still alive." Mrs Takane said then grinned, smiling ear to ear.
Hori's heart skipped a bit, she must be talking about her husband.
She stared intently at the baby, slightly feeling bad her father died before her birth. But dismissed the bad thoughts since the name fit the infant.
"She's a Beautiful child after all."
Hori said, Emiko was a perfect name.
Emiko extended her hand to which Hori placed her index finger, nearly squealing from the infants adorable grip.
Hori almost asked if she could keep her out loud, but bit her lip realizing how creepy that would sound.
She made some funny faces, trying to earn a giggle but was met with a cute stare as Emiko tried grabbing her face.
Mrs Takane smiled watching the two, promising in her mind to make her daughter as beautiful a person as the girl who stood before her.
--------------------------------
10 minutes after her visit and Mrs Takane was already shooing Hori away. "You have to get going! Don't miss the next trial because of me!" She yelled collecting her baby back.
Hori whined, wishing she could stay a little bit longer but knew she was late. She leaned in and pecked Emiko's cheek, happily striding to the door with a satisfied face. "Are you sure you don't need anything?!" Hori asked before leaving.
"It's alright, I can summon a Hataki with this buzzer." Mrs Takane lifted a black remote and dangled it in her front.
Hori smiled, "Okay, see you later Emiko-chan! You too Mrs Takane!" She waved with enthusiasm before leaving.
"Hori....you can call me Akane."
Mrs Takane encouraged the only relative who visited her. Hori was family at this point.
"Ehmm, okay.... see you later, Akane-san!" Hori awkwardly corrected herself then waved with even more excitement. She gently shut the door so as to not wake her baby sister.
Gleefully skipping through the hall, she had no fear of what trial 4 held. Hori would do anything in her power to hold Emiko again.