The room was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA56b9rtY0n
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.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy0eIoHZGq
When the credits rolled, he didn't move.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJvs5Dc5w8
For several long moments, he simply stared at the black screen, replaying every twist in his mind.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9yK4orZrn
Finally, he let out a slow breath.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8lh6zXdWv
"Damn..."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45f853evdn
He rubbed a hand over his face before opening his messages.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFetO5iVmQd
His thumb hovered over Rei's name.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZcKgaG2Pv
He typed.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh5EcHWJrw
> I finished it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZvDQL4q9Y
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c1TS1T10z
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDwuI5czeS
He frowned and deleted it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn86IrGrzK
Too simple.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgqIvWq43k
He tried again.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnmptGq9ER
> That was insane.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrotPcftLzy
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXdTADua18
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUQdYfIAwd
Another pause.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkxpE5gi2c
No.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtId73l9QxR
That wasn't enough either.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwni2KSBVIl
He closed his eyes, remembering Rei's voice explaining every hidden motive and every psychological trap long before he had even reached them.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptKiXshvd6
A small smile appeared.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjY200PZzp
Finally, he wrote,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNicYQn8EXr
> I have so many questions... and I think I know exactly who I need to ask.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMZuJSszEq
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YGQNhozyt
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ItuQiWa8U
He hit Send and leaned back against the headboard, his phone resting on his chest.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD0F1mUOzd
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmasgItJK4
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYHKcHH3gE
A few minutes later, his screen lit up again.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqTkFajzvf
Rei had replied.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv14mPZJWU
> Oh... You finished it? It's almost three in the morning.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg7VnM6zJc
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYRjIDc48p
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4bJrX34Lt
Elias smiled.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ574FChhdCB
> I couldn't stop, he admitted. Episode Twelve is a trap. I should've known.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHwndMfE0v
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoT5PRyMYy
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0xdbaEQiE
After a moment, he added,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d9UpcErTK
> But you're right. It's late. Go to sleep, Rei.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd7FMpQQO3
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7Ml4mzM3
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRllhKM1ZZ
His fingers lingered above the keyboard before typing one more sentence.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5BpwEh0qO
> I'll save my questions for tomorrow... unless you're a night owl too.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb4UF7gAAJ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBOhlBIXUU
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt9fbWY1TZ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87ZTB1Yx7d
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi1QEYkZMf
Her reply came almost instantly.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNap5LZOyt
> I am.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTv6nR764M
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Oo9uqvLg
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAIdSZlvxH
Another message followed.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIHq2po2tr
> I'm awake now. You can ask your questions. I'm not sleepy anymore.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWPWIsghHI
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7HJrF4x8B
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIDwOEUDts
Elias laughed quietly.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxW0dKhdgu
A genuine grin spread across his face.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP9iNBOQU7
> You're dangerous, he replied. I should've known better than to trust someone who recommends psychological thrillers.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqFEFD1YuI
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVA04kmwCg
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQycbeYc0AC
He adjusted the pillows behind him and settled in.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG1xlryz0n
> All right... let's start with Yuichi.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLY2wxZ5Dh
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBBIRsJUwo
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mPyCkV0mm
> In that final confrontation... was he really protecting his friends? Or was he simply playing another role to ensure his own survival?
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2Lw7sGpTz
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ347Kl1diLJ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyVbHUDsXl
> Because I honestly can't decide if he's a hero... or the most efficient monster in the room.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND4Bb6oL0T
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA2oIlgnyu
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI1RgMoxf9
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ty3LPof2a
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ewlw0lLgm
Rei read the message carefully before answering.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAPEHyjKsk
> "That's exactly what makes Yuichi such a fascinating protagonist."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjXdbQQCtF
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniNSu4hkd1
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP8v3u2VeW
> "He isn't a traditional hero, but he isn't a monster either. He genuinely wants to protect the people he cares about."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMzTHV0AXv
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKFAInbjt2
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcWnbvajjk
> "The difference is that he doesn't mind becoming the villain in everyone else's eyes if that's what it takes."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnskfS0w5gD
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcjVPVhyFv
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG57ol2UViM
> "He'll manipulate people, deceive them, and even sacrifice his own reputation without hesitation."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P4DqraKtk
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdF6liPZxT
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKLy10IhYv
> "To him, being misunderstood is a small price to pay if the people he's protecting remain safe."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7tSdFNrGY
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUGMCKSLhf
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd6LRK2USC
> "That's why he's so difficult to judge."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijXGMXs82T
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkghDGFXOKR
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsde00KKw6h
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcg1inwoRT
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90J2FyHLen
Elias read her explanation twice.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmareVbc6M
Then a third time.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnQTGXH1ju
He slowly typed,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPZl7I4YT7
> So... he carries the burden of being hated so others don't have to.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ20svypfe7
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTixTfyr5f
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHZd4ls4cG
A pause.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkqYqbjg6P
> That's a heavy way to live.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hTOUhZND3
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS3KExIYFI
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sZCsKhNhY
His fingers stopped above the keyboard.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTvx3iROTp
It reminds me of someone I know.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxMiVb5AHH
He almost sent the sentence.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4wJtxzXeC
Instead...
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrYOvQ3guB
He erased it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeES7N68XjO
It was too personal.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExW3iBNxkB
Changing the subject, he asked,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABTZMnuPIm
> Then what about the game itself?
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodYWehapLD
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwLnyepxF5
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM21x4QgICV
> Was there ever a real chance for anyone to win honestly? Or was the entire system designed to destroy friendships from the beginning?
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCyICdJKKg
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPVKXKu4Mc
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKCPs9rrNv
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXTY8V49gR
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvGUeFXNEB
Rei smiled.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3Zhc9GGMN
> "I think the game was designed to break people from the very beginning."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI5Pf0NmXZ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OmKXFbCVi
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf6oyUursq
> "It forces friends into situations where they must choose between trust and survival."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHzdaJP9wl
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUVaeUguIG
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTykGl9a0T5
> "Most people panic."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJVmhIA61b
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmCG4BH6Ba
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRydZQddYd2
> "They lie."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv0dCuy9AI
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLEm7DnEfV
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb1DgCmdO1
> "They betray each other."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuldDDAzaz4
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCLbhIQyBS
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrMXOqF2QL
> "Because that's exactly what the game wants."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj16GHXq0Gn
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhD9JMCHWa
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1dgUN0UFZ
> "The only way to win is to stay calm... and think smarter than the game itself."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff9iAgmjlX
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOYoKOR5Wv
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv6R9XFlYB
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWALiYWxO6
---
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM9Wo1sSbo
Elias stared at those last words.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciPLt2vymg
He whispered them to himself.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUqj4cgztL
"Think smarter than the game itself."
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANuoATjavN
A quiet admiration settled in his chest.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWmRPkNgR5
She made something so complicated sound almost effortless.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqHNXVg6EM
He began typing.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztMv0mDn6m
> You make it sound so simple.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG0Vcuwi96
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPizkcNa4Sz
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0PJQLxwHl
> But I think most people would fall apart long before they reached that point.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnnAQDlDr0
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxenAMzXvCy
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPT7mJWxvO
He paused.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2xekSxEKR
Another sentence appeared on the screen.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKidNl6GAp
> You're a lot like that, aren't you?
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDPCYsX46u
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ5HFelRBQ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBRq6e7nkG
He looked at it for several seconds...
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhgYdg0d41
...then smiled to himself and deleted it.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ90QobJYl
Not tonight.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1D7FvsKcW
Instead, he simply sent,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaGV6rSuYC
> I don't think I've ever enjoyed talking about a show this much.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z2E17tCfr
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjOHJmryxx
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN1zNkiFyi
Outside, the city slept beneath the fading stars.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeKfzzeHdX
Inside two different rooms, separated by miles but connected by a quiet conversation, neither of them noticed that dawn was slowly beginning to approach.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3V734LOCu
and then Add to home screen.