"N-n-now… is the ward really this way? But the door clearly says 'Restroom'..."
Yui Yuigahama's legs were like jelly, her whole body trembling as she clung desperately to Hozuki Nozomi's arm. In her fear, her soft, ample chest pressed firmly against him, creating a pleasant, if distracting, sensation amidst the tension.
Addressing her anxiety, Hozuki Nozomi offered a reassuring smile. "It's merely an illusion. Right now, it's best not to trust your eyes too much. Just trust in me."
The guidance from his Game Life System was absolute; it could not be wrong.
Sure enough, as he pushed open the door labeled "Restroom," the scene within shifted. They were back in the hospital ward. Misaki Mei, Sanshokuin Sumireko, Asuna Yuuki, and the sleeping form of Fujioka Misaki on the bed came into view.
"You've returned. Did anything… untoward happen?" Sanshokuin Sumireko asked, her voice laced with concern.
Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at Yui, who was still shamelessly clinging to Hozuki Nozomi and 'accidentally' tempting him with her generous assets, and allowed a faint, disapproving pout to touch her lips. "Actually, we did encounter some… disturbances."
She then recounted their experience—the impostors, the Demonic Flame Card, the narrow escape—to the three who had stayed behind.
Misaki Mei listened intently, her expression growing graver by the second. "So… it has truly manifested. The 'Non-existent Person' is here."
Hozuki Nozomi waved a hand dismissively. "That entity, in theory, can mimic anyone, but its impersonations are flawed. It lacks the target's memories. It merely puts on a superficial act, pretending to be our companion to catch us off guard before striking." He turned his gaze to the eyepatched girl. "Misaki, it seems you and your sister have indeed stumbled into something profound. And now, we've entered its domain. Leaving won't be simple."
"I… I'm sorry," Misaki Mei murmured, bowing her head, a heavy weight of guilt settling on her shoulders.
"There's no need for apologies," Yukino Yukinoshita stated firmly, her tone softening into one of earnest resolve. "Since we have encountered this, it proves our involvement was not in vain. We will definitely help you overcome this predicament."
This was Miss Yukinoshita's true nature. Beneath her cool, often aloof exterior beat a heart of genuine kindness and unwavering principle.
"That's right! We'll definitely help you, Misaki-chan!" Yui Yuigahama finally released her death-grip on Hozuki's arm, pumping a fist in a show of support. "Even if I can't do much, I'll cheer you on with all my might!"
"Uh, Yui… that's a rather spectacularly unhelpful declaration," Hozuki Nozomi remarked, looking at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
Yui's face flushed. "Well, what am I supposed to do?! Faced with something this bizarre, isn't it impressive enough that I'm not completely losing my mind and dragging everyone down? I'm not like Yukinon, who even has offensive magic cards to throw around…" She finished with a distinct, jealous pout.
Hozuki Nozomi couldn't miss the envy. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out three more of the small, intricately drawn cards, each sealed with a trace of his own demonic flame energy. He handed them to Yui. "Here. Now you have some too."
To ensure everyone's safety, he distributed several more to Asuna Yuuki, Sanshokuin Sumireko, and Misaki Mei. "For safety's sake, each of you should carry a few. If you encounter anything that seems off, just throw one of these. That should resolve the issue."
As for the risk of friendly fire? Hozuki Nozomi had already sensed the truth of their environment. In this isolated wing of the hospital, the only living, breathing humans were Fujioka Misaki and their own group. Any other doctors or nurses wandering the halls… were decidedly not human.
"Thank you. I will use them judiciously," Misaki Mei said, accepting the cards without question. She didn't inquire about the nature of "magic cards." Just as she possessed the sight to perceive the unseen, it was clear Hozuki Nozomi existed in a realm beyond the ordinary. His presence, paradoxically, filled her with a newfound confidence about saving her sister.
"Are we all prepared?" Hozuki Nozomi asked, his voice taking on a decisive edge. "Next, we move. It's best we stay together. With me here, I can ensure everyone's safety."
As his words faded, Misaki Mei cast a worried glance at her sister, slumbering fitfully on the bed. "But… what about Misaki?"
"That's simple enough."
He walked to the bedside, drew back the covers, and carefully slipped one arm beneath the girl's bent knees, the other supporting her back. He lifted her with effortless ease, cradling her against his chest. Her head lolled gently against his shoulder.
"Let's go."
He adjusted his hold, ensuring the sleeping girl was secure. "I have a strong feeling the epicenter of this incident is somewhere within this hospital. And you two sisters… you're special. You're the key that attracted it here."
Since Hozuki Nozomi had declared it, the girls offered no objection. Together, they pushed open the ward door and stepped back into the corridor, falling in behind Hozuki Nozomi as he followed the golden arrow only he could see—a systematic cheat code pointing directly toward the source of the malignant energy.
The hallway was deceptively normal, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, casting a sterile white glow over clean linoleum. Yet an oppressive, chilling atmosphere clung to the air, raising the hairs on the back of their necks. The girls trailed closely, their expressions a complex mix of fear, determination, and curiosity.
Asuna Yuuki's legs trembled slightly, but alongside the fear, a thrill of excitement buzzed in her veins. For a girl raised to be proper and predictable, this surreal, dangerous experience was the most exhilarating thing she had ever encountered.
Sanshokuin Sumireko and Yukino Yukinoshita, in contrast, maintained an outward calm. Their trust in Hozuki Nozomi's capabilities was absolute, a bedrock in the shifting, uncanny reality.
They hadn't walked far when a figure rounded a corner ahead.
"Sumireko! Hozuki-kun! What are you all doing here?"
It was a handsome young man with a bright, welcoming smile—Hazuki Yasuo. He looked genuinely surprised to see them.
"What a coincidence running into you here…" he began, walking toward them with an easy gait. Only, one of his hands remained conspicuously hidden behind his back.
Sanshokuin Sumireko exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Yukino Yukinoshita.
Understanding immediately, Yukino didn't hesitate. She pulled a Demonic Flame Card from her pocket and flung it toward the approaching figure with practiced precision.
The dark flames erupted on contact, engulfing "Hazuki Yasuo" in a silent, hungry inferno.
"GAAAH—! Sumireko…! Why?!"
Within the consuming black fire, the figure thrashed and writhed. It stared at the group with an expression of profound betrayal before its features twisted into something grotesque and unfamiliar. A chilling, distorted giggle escaped its burning lips.
"Hehehe… it's useless… you will all become my sustenance in the end… just wait a little longer…"
With those final, echoing words, it dissolved completely into a small pile of inert ash.
Yui Yuigahama clamped a hand over her mouth, her free hand clutching Hozuki Nozomi's sleeve so tightly her knuckles turned white. She trembled violently, her other hand instinctively patting her own chest as if to calm her racing heart.
Hozuki Nozomi's brow furrowed. "It impersonated Hazuki. That means it's already gleaned some information about our social circles." A grim realization dawned. There's a saying about a tiger having its cubs. The entities they had eliminated so far were likely mere extensions, puppets of the core malevolence.
Considering Misaki Mei's tale of a curse spanning generations in that isolated town, it stood to reason that all those who had died by the entity's hand—or by their own hand under its influence—had become part of its collective, a legion of tormented shades under its control.
So, were these puppets merely testing their defenses? Or perhaps… a more insidious strategy?
"Maybe it's intentional," Hozuki Nozomi voiced his suspicion. "It's trying to make us expend our magic cards."
The implications sank in, painting worried expressions on the girls' faces. If their limited offensive resources were depleted, they would be left dangerously vulnerable.
Hozuki Nozomi, however, chuckled softly, the sound devoid of fear. "Have you forgotten who created these cards in the first place? Don't worry. As long as that thing dares to show its true face, I will ensure it regrets ever crossing our path."
He adjusted his grip on the sleeping Fujioka Misaki, his gaze fixed ahead down the seemingly endless corridor, following the unwavering golden guide.
"Let's keep moving. We must find the source. If my reasoning is correct—and since we are already trapped within its domain—then its true form, its core, must also be here somewhere."
He took a decisive step forward. "Everyone, stay close. Follow me."