The Night Everything Changed
Obviously I'll Choose Him
August 23
Everyone gathered in the dining hall.
It looked like Shin's plan was finally moving into its next phase.
I don't know if everyone else had noticed yet...
But honestly?
It felt pretty obvious.
I'm actually getting secondhand embarrassment watching him pretend this is all about proving his innocence.
Come on, Shin.
You already know who the culprit is.
You just won't tell me.
...
Stingy.
Mine asked what we were supposed to do next.
Shin immediately divided everyone into pairs based on what happened during the day of the accident.
That left me with Shin, Mine, and Ukyo—the one who had gone toward the cliff afterward.
...
See?
I called it.
He's recreating the entire incident.
His goal was obvious.
He wanted me to recover my memories.
...
Shin.
Like I've told you before...
Memories don't come back instantly.
Even if you use your Spartan training methods.
After Mine and Ukyo left to search for the cliff...
Shin suddenly cornered me against a tree.
...
Excuse me?
What's with this dramatic situation all of a sudden?
Then he asked if I could switch rooms with Mine.
...
Why?
Before I could ask...
A memory flashed through my mind.
...
Those were the same words.
The exact same ones he said to 'me'.
He deliberately used the same conversation to trigger my memory.
...
So that's what he was doing.
In that memory...
'I' remembered something important.
Shin...
He didn't push me.
Then...
Orion suddenly disappeared.
...
My heart nearly stopped.
For a second, I thought he'd vanished.
Thankfully...
He came right back.
I almost forgot we were sharing the same consciousness.
Seeing him again made me breathe a sigh of relief.
Back at the lodge, everyone reported what they'd found.
Kent's group discovered bloodstains in several different locations.
...
That didn't make sense.
There was no way 'I' could've moved around in that condition.
There were even drag marks in the blood.
Kent showed everyone the photographs.
Meaning...
Someone had moved 'me'.
Toma and Sawa also found bloody handprints...
And footprints.
I glanced over at Shin.
...
There it was again.
That smirk.
...
Aiya.
Have mercy.
Can't you just tell me already?
Then Kent asked if I'd remembered anything.
I told everyone what I'd seen the memories of 'me'.
Someone...
Had tried to help 'me'.
Shin smiled.
...
Unfortunately...
Everyone still suspected him.
That night...
A scream echoed through the lodge.
...
Sawa.
I'd recognize that voice anywhere.
I looked over.
Her bed was empty.
Turn on the lights!
Everyone immediately gathered in the dining hall.
Kent pointed out that this could all be part of Sawa's plan.
If she disappeared...
She'd remove herself from the list of suspects.
...
Honestly?
Looking at it logically...
I probably would've thought the same thing.
What a mess.
While everyone was trying to make sense of the situation...
Shin suddenly spoke.
"Stay in my room tonight."
...
...
Eh?
Everyone froze.
Including me.
His room?
If I didn't know Shin better by now...
I would've smacked him with my slippers.
Toma and Ikki immediately objected.
They argued that leaving a woman alone with a man wasn't a good idea.
...
Well...
I can't completely blame them.
He is a bit of a pervert.
But...
When things become serious...
He's also the person I trust the most.
Kent still believed Shin might be the culprit.
So...
He left the decision to me.
...
Again?
Another hot seat?
Of course...
I chose Shin.
I couldn't choose anyone else.
Not even the girls.
Any one of them could still be the culprit.
Besides...
I remembered what Shin told me.
Stay close to him.
And honestly...
I trust him more than anyone here.
After that, Shin requested a wooden bat from the owner.
...
A wooden bat.
Not to kill anyone.
Just enough to protect me...
And stop the culprit if they attacked.
...
He's amazing.
Seriously.
After that, everyone goes to their own rooms
In his room just the two of us, I asked if I could stay right beside him.
But he refused.
He said he might accidentally hit me while protecting me.
...
As if he would.
I don't even know how to put it into words anymore.
I'm just...
Really grateful to have someone like Shin by my side.
He's gone this far...
Just to protect me.
Maybe...
He's always been like this.
...
He really is...
An amazing person.