The room was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS43uoaInU
Across town, Elias sat alone on the edge of his bed, the glow of his phone illuminating the darkness. He had finally reached Episode Twelve of Tomodachi Game.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LUd2OlicE
When the credits rolled, he didn't move.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQDA6l0pIX
For several long moments, he simply stared at the black screen, replaying every twist in his mind.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzYc6BeLkv
Finally, he let out a slow breath.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLopSDSMFoP
"Damn..."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC2TKlt6eu
He rubbed a hand over his face before opening his messages.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f6hdSYAEZ
His thumb hovered over Rei's name.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3XmhJxBw5
He typed.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6cEkMZiAn
> I finished it.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6xnN9at5h
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLLpdUzIfG
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0tBVGUR1g
He frowned and deleted it.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4bEaFoW0m
Too simple.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCktntO4D63
He tried again.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eXJXRguZY
> That was insane.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4SxWSoJWD
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq64ENhgw5D
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr89qkbU1F
Another pause.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62hzQjFBEg
No.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIXc7YNgIW
That wasn't enough either.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSXURStezI
He closed his eyes, remembering Rei's voice explaining every hidden motive and every psychological trap long before he had even reached them.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvANngAmtG
A small smile appeared.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oz0rNGGKt
Finally, he wrote,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtyzTrkQX2
> I have so many questions... and I think I know exactly who I need to ask.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zSjLiVxdC
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBw0aPnP1k
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM2VVPAo63
He hit Send and leaned back against the headboard, his phone resting on his chest.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKKozEuo4J
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6G2XWYZv3
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMSBEchCtQ
A few minutes later, his screen lit up again.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn2YgsLXre
Rei had replied.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fwZZStEpG
> Oh... You finished it? It's almost three in the morning.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qZWB632PF
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SWNgilgFR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Mr0jghGr
Elias smiled.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDLFr92ESV
> I couldn't stop, he admitted. Episode Twelve is a trap. I should've known.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrbAWAJHAX
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBDfwHULPN
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZO1Itf9rl
After a moment, he added,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkQvX3HuNf
> But you're right. It's late. Go to sleep, Rei.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoN2dTsgpo
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHg7nLtnQA
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHEfDvN6c2
His fingers lingered above the keyboard before typing one more sentence.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbWJF8SBkP
> I'll save my questions for tomorrow... unless you're a night owl too.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQhMcbEo9t
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TCSTgYWwU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrhI7yoyQd
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bVttTaKXv
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt5FoMGWBe
Her reply came almost instantly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Dp9KO3Lq
> I am.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IEDWmm4IT
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S2XeAyNT5
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbdecRuUDc
Another message followed.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOsGgdHvHN
> I'm awake now. You can ask your questions. I'm not sleepy anymore.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VAoXH5dJ1
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDQqkj9B21
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dyNnNBAx4
Elias laughed quietly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeTgGzdpho
A genuine grin spread across his face.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxtiuiMUaK
> You're dangerous, he replied. I should've known better than to trust someone who recommends psychological thrillers.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WZxeDpQLp
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyIUnCdmki
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQygnzQ2hjI
He adjusted the pillows behind him and settled in.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlg7SYxyk5
> All right... let's start with Yuichi.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDawc3i5Lt
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfosbwVI1h
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSQCh03DHI
> In that final confrontation... was he really protecting his friends? Or was he simply playing another role to ensure his own survival?
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyulKY4P6f
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXCOtXf55G
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mXtIIbJgD
> Because I honestly can't decide if he's a hero... or the most efficient monster in the room.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROwBBn4wt9
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgbzzmulCm
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s669JDWSk
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNJ63T7uPu
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgZGkziO7h
Rei read the message carefully before answering.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kZyTeEJ0x
> "That's exactly what makes Yuichi such a fascinating protagonist."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqSqGnHOla
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGc5phPmZS
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ajnBdRNko
> "He isn't a traditional hero, but he isn't a monster either. He genuinely wants to protect the people he cares about."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjFWitbjzk
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtgmt5LcmI
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkArko4Dle
> "The difference is that he doesn't mind becoming the villain in everyone else's eyes if that's what it takes."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOFommIt7B
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Xrrug8uJ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre5xapsJhY
> "He'll manipulate people, deceive them, and even sacrifice his own reputation without hesitation."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe3hyYhYWZ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmLNLr1BGd
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtTaRL74EN
> "To him, being misunderstood is a small price to pay if the people he's protecting remain safe."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX6JXK64aF
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqX7fV5w50
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHOm2ceRcO
> "That's why he's so difficult to judge."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qEPyZ8Edw
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiEHOp3jb8
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN7D6PKCZ5
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWul3Q9D5jl
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtmMXXU3Ow
Elias read her explanation twice.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O4jLnyj5I
Then a third time.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGQ4kikGAi
He slowly typed,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XFUYkVoxT
> So... he carries the burden of being hated so others don't have to.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjcpxnLZPi
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYcfda3xic
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN6SIiX3vu
A pause.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMEyvwsXvz
> That's a heavy way to live.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYfI3OpRhv
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp6dDfhFlR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7AjMoTNRg
His fingers stopped above the keyboard.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzWfiYukBF
It reminds me of someone I know.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemyhmLUnlv
He almost sent the sentence.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjooQ9siEy
Instead...
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWPACDlFYI
He erased it.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd64vP8YZ9w
It was too personal.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmq6z3Jd82
Changing the subject, he asked,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkroDn2Tyo
> Then what about the game itself?
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzFjRcOdOM
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n0IAGSV1I
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMUY0lI0PN
> Was there ever a real chance for anyone to win honestly? Or was the entire system designed to destroy friendships from the beginning?
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvBT31Q9S8
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6Nwlkrrc6
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXSHmLgAEa
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6deNMF1lb
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfHEbWufaF
Rei smiled.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fum0LfDiK
> "I think the game was designed to break people from the very beginning."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ833FGosNyw
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTK4b4tCyx
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOkVh4HUmC
> "It forces friends into situations where they must choose between trust and survival."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVkM4CZPuo
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hx9FS3GzA
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2XoxWP7jH
> "Most people panic."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D0oGuOUmW
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTI3lI3ynI
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn2CQuR2N3
> "They lie."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tC3T1FjxY
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3kcZvGifV
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL4fvhQ0ge
> "They betray each other."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAGhIQqcrB
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT3EWDhkhE
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTMp7EnJvm
> "Because that's exactly what the game wants."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM2PmSGQBM
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuynykTRV5
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARbCvo7bS0
> "The only way to win is to stay calm... and think smarter than the game itself."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJba8BwGBo
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrU7fxtQAR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQxyM4vAfg
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCdWehlS3f
---
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i7T2H5ufH
Elias stared at those last words.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfzK9kgLb7
He whispered them to himself.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi1ks3LDzS
"Think smarter than the game itself."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhBj7doHik
A quiet admiration settled in his chest.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG7ovG6bcV
She made something so complicated sound almost effortless.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ElrFVSMSh
He began typing.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtOsXUSpXw
> You make it sound so simple.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqVKoKdWkT
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbANxb0FHg
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAyNzLzgQi
> But I think most people would fall apart long before they reached that point.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lcUYrzV1A
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi25XL1yTRK
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkQDQUD4E9
He paused.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHlvCz5WQf
Another sentence appeared on the screen.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslHTzoOuXK
> You're a lot like that, aren't you?
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebN0KNMY0R
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D629FwFWc
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFHQ7pgLuG
He looked at it for several seconds...
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVASedTyrj
...then smiled to himself and deleted it.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeCgk4zcp0
Not tonight.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YHjMZigUT
Instead, he simply sent,
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7PvPZZJbs
> I don't think I've ever enjoyed talking about a show this much.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Kusi3tni
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqeILLigq0
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX19dDdNa0
Outside, the city slept beneath the fading stars.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghM1UN18S4
Inside two different rooms, separated by miles but connected by a quiet conversation, neither of them noticed that dawn was slowly beginning to approach.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKEKJooP3Y
and then Add to home screen.