Let's try our luck at the escape room.
[player]Why don't we try our luck at the escape room? It isn't uncommon for people to not have enough people. Maybe the employee can help us find two other players.
[Sora Ichinose]So... do we have to team up with strangers?
[player]Isn't that better? Maybe we'll have two new friends to play mahjong with after this game.
Sora isn't at all shy, so he agrees to my proposal after a slight moment of hesitation.
[Sora Ichinose]That's indeed a great idea. Should we go there now?
[player]There's no rush. Let's rest here for now and save our energy for when we go to the escape room. Reviews for this boba shop seem great. Would you like something to drink?
[Sora Ichinose]I'll have the same thing as you.
[player]Go and get us some seats first. I'll be back soon.
After half an hour, Sora and I are standing in front of the doors of the escape room. The extensive advertisements have attracted a lot of customers like us to the store. Fortunately, the employees here are well-trained, and they didn't make any mistakes despite the busy business.
Sora takes the initiative to talk to an employee. He expresses our intention in a concise and clear manner and wants the employee to help us find others who would be willing to play together.
[Shop Employee]It's the weekend today, and there are many customers here today. You should be able to find others who are willing to play with you soon. I suggest that you decide which escape room you want to experience first. That would make things easier.
[Sora Ichinose]We want to experience the "Shrine of Another World" escape room.
[Shop Employee]Sure thing. I'll sort it out right now. Please go to the service counter and choose a time slot.
[Sora Ichinose]I'll come with you.
[Shop Employee]Right this way.
The employee makes a standard smile in my direction and leads Sora to the service counter. In my boredom, I flip through the customer log and try to get some clues in advance.
Just as I am about to extract some useful information from the many voice messages, I suddenly hear the sound of people chatting quietly.
[??? A]W-What's this? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? So it's true that straight-A students don't spend all their time in the library...
[??? B]It looks like he's with a friend.
[??? A]On my way here, I think I overheard them say they wanna play the most popular escape room, and that they haven't got suitable companions. Should we invite them to play with us?
[??? B]I guess we can... but I don't know him very well...
[??? A]Me too... I finally mustered up the courage to ask him about a math problem last time, but I got interrupted by something else.
[??? B]...Forget it then?
[??? A]That would be a shame. We rarely see each other at school. Since we're lucky enough to meet outside, don't you think we should give it a go?
These two voices sound very young. I look over out of curiosity and see two students wearing Aotsuyu Middle School uniforms. Although it isn't clear why they're wearing their school uniform when they're shopping on the weekend, it makes it easy to deduce what they're talking about.
Aotsuyu Middle School, straight-A student, with a friend... Based on what they said, it's clear who they're talking about.
As I expected, the two boys approach us after Sora returns from the service counter.
[??? A]Straight-A, what a coincidence!
[Sora Ichinose]Michihito, Akira, hello.
[Michihito]I didn't expect to see you here. It's such a coincidence. Ahem, I heard the employee say that you're looking for someone to play an escape room with. Akira and I are also looking for a team. Do you mind if the four of us form a team?
[Sora Ichinose]You want to team up with us?
[Michihito]Don-Don't worry about it if it isn't convenient for you. Just pretend I never asked...
[Sora Ichinose]I'm okay, but I need to ask PLAYER about it.
[Michihito]Eh?
Sora isn't too shocked to see his classmates who suddenly appeared in front of us. Maybe he saw them before I did. This child is used to keeping everything to himself... He probably agreed so readily because he actually really wants to interact more with his classmates.
[player]We're thinking of playing the "Shrine of Another World" escape room. You're welcome to join us if you also want to play this one.
[Michihito]No problem! By the way, this is our first time playing an escape room. Please guide us.
[player]It's also our first time coming to this place. We'll be relying on Sora to solve the puzzles.
[Shop Employee]Excuse me, have your companions all arrived? The "Shrine of Another World" escape room you reserved is almost ready. We can start at any time.
[Michihito]Ahhhh! Where did you suddenly come from?
The child called Michihito is obviously more energetic and outgoing than his friend. He seems to always have something to say, which makes the atmosphere between the four people in the room less awkward.
Even so, it doesn't look like Sora is that close with his classmates. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they are just strangers who know each other, which concerns me. When I store my belongings, I walk a little slower on purpose to try and find out the reason for this from his classmates.
[Michihito]I never expected the straight-A student to say yes to us. I was ready to be rejected.
[player]Why did you think Sora would reject you?
[Michihito]Well, the main reason is... he rarely comes to class, and even when he does, it's to prepare for the Math Olympiad. He rarely has any interaction with someone who sucks at studying like me. I feel like he should be more interested in more profound things like studying how a rocket is launched or extremely complex things. That seems to match his image of a straight-A student.
[player]Haha, don't make Sora out to be that extraordinary. After all, he's just a middle school student like you guys.
[Michihito]Haha, I know, but I couldn't get my head around it so quickly.
I know that Sora always has to take leave from school due to his health, but I never realized it would have such a large impact on him making friends. I keep thinking about this until after everyone has stored their personal belongings.
[Shop Employee]Everyone, please wear the blindfold because our adventure to another world is about to begin. This escape room consists of seven rooms, and the fastest completion time so far is 46 minutes.
The employee hands me a blindfold respectfully. I sense a hint of danger from this due to my familiarity with this practice...
[player]Can I not wear it?
[Shop Employee]For a better game experience, please cooperate with me.
Deprived of light and vision by the blindfold, I am guided forward by the employee. Along the way, Michihito screams and howls all the way as he calls out for Akira, which makes the employee guiding me laugh out loud.
[Michihito]A-Akira, are you there? AHHHH! I'm so scared! Why isn't anyone talking? Help me—
[Akira]...I'm here.
[Sora Ichinose]PLAYER... Are you there?
[player]I'm here too.
[Sora Ichinose]Okay...
As the employee's footsteps fade into the distance. The crisp sound of a lock signals the beginning of the game. Our escape room adventure has officially started.
I pull off my blindfold and regain my deprived sight. In front of me is the familiar scene of Japanese-style corridors, small bridges, and flowing water. This place is quiet and peaceful, which is completely different from the dark and scary escape room I was expecting.
[player]...The flowers, plants, and trees are arranged in exactly the same layout as the courtyard of the Mahjong Soul Shrine. Even the flowers have the same scent here! The designer of this escape room really put their heart into it.
[player]I wouldn't be surprised at all if Ichihime and Wanjirou suddenly appear. This place looks like just a miniature version of the Mahjong Soul Shrine!
[Sora Ichinose]The owner of this store once said in an interview that each escape room is based on a real place, and that a lot of money has been spent on spices and vegetation to give customers the most authentic experience.
[player]There was an interview? Sora, so you've been paying attention to this store for a while now?
[Sora Ichinose]I just did some research on our way here. Having more information will increase our chances of completing this escape room.
[Michihito]Is this what they call "the calm before the storm"? Will an evil god or rebellious priestess suddenly appear the moment we relax our guard?
[Sora Ichinose]The "Shrine of Another World" escape room we chose is more about solving mysteries. This type of escape room usually doesn't have many horror elements, so don't worry about that.
[Michihito]That's great! Haha, what are we doing now? Should we start looking for clues?
[player]After hearing that there aren't any horror elements, Michihito becomes more proactive almost immediately.
[Akira]...Um.
[player]Akira, you look like you have something to say. What is it?
Three pairs of eyes look at Akira, whose body is visibly tense. He doesn't react for a few seconds before finishing his sentence.
[Akira]Well, after all, he is afraid of the dark, heights, water, and ghosts.
[Michihito]Hey! Akira, don't expose me like that! I have a reputation to preserve too...
The light relieves the tension, and the boys become lively again in an instant. The relaxed atmosphere affects even Sora, who forgets about solving the puzzle for now.
[Guardian]Muhahahahah! Good afternoon, everybody! I am the guardian of this shrine! You can call me the "Divine Will". I have good news and bad news for you. What do you want to hear first?
A strange voice is broadcast in the escape room, interrupting the relaxed and pleasant conversation. Everyone unanimously chooses Sora as the representative to answer the question.
[Sora Ichinose]We want to listen to the good news first.
[Guardian]Muhahahahaha! I'll tell you the bad news first then!
[Sora Ichinose]...
[Guardian]To protect this shrine from the influence of evil forces, the kannushi separated this shrine from the real world and transferred it to this pocket dimension. However, this place has long been eroded by the power of darkness, and a demon is about to awaken. Everyone, including you, will become its sacrifice.
[Sora Ichinose]What's the good news?
[Guardian]The good news is that the kannushi predicted this and left clues in the shrine. If you follow the clues and find the final secret room, you will be able to activate the portal of light and return to the real world.
[Guardian]If you fail to find the portal left behind by the kannushi before time runs out, you will have to face the demon's wrath alone.
[Sora Ichinose]What are the kannushi's clues?
[Guardian]Muhaha! Finally a question about something important! My answer is... I don't know! It could be a piece of paper or a painting. I do not have the courage to pry about the kannushi's business.
[Guardian]Of course, a nice person like me is more than willing to help you. If you get stuck, you can ask me for a hint. But... you'll be punished accordingly every time you ask for help. That's all for now. Good luck!
[Michihito]A demon, sacrifices, another world... EEEEK! I thought there are no horror elements!
[Akira]This is just a background setting to make the experience more immersive.
[player]Let's start looking for clues now. There's a lot to investigate in this room, and I'm afraid it'll take a lot of time.
The bright light saves us a lot of time when we search for clues. Michihito and Akira very naturally team up to help each other, forming a sharp contrast with Sora who is acting alone.
[player]Sora, is there anything you need me to help you with?
[Sora Ichinose]There's a combination lock on the door. PLAYER, you can keep an eye out for items related to numbers.
If this escape room really is a one-to-one replica of the Mahjong Soul Shrine, I'm definitely the one who knows this place best among the four of us. However, not long after I start searching, the broadcast notifies us that the puzzle has been solved.
[Guardian]Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Muhaha! I didn't expect you to solve the first puzzle so quickly. The demon lord will be very satisfied with such clever minds... Um, I mean, you must find the clues of the kannushi quickly to go to the next room and find a way to return to the real world.
So fast! That was my first thought when I heard the guardian. The puzzle of the first room of an escape room is usually not too complicated, but it's still amazing that it was solved so quickly.
[player]Haha, it's so relaxing to play problem-solving games with Sora.
[Michihito]Who am I? Where am I? What should I do? Everything happened so quickly, as if some wondrous experience is missing.
[Sora Ichinose]Eh?
[Michihito]Um, what I'm trying to say is that solving the puzzle shouldn't be our only goal. There are many easter eggs waiting for us to discover in the room, which will also be fun. Um... forget it. That's not important. Let's hurry to the next room.
[Akira]...Watch out.
[Michihito]Hmm? What out for what?
[player]Akira is telling you to be careful of the mechanisms in the rooms. After all, a demon can appear at any time to capture you!
[Michihito]No way! I'm not that unlucky, am I...? Akira, you have to protect me!
[Sora Ichinose]...
Sora doesn't participate in the playful quarreling of his peers. He is standing between them, but he doesn't know how to blend in.
Contrary to the first room, the second room is very dimly lit, and the lantern can barely illuminate the outline of the entire space. There is no furniture here, and everything is in plain sight. The room is so empty it makes one panic.
Fortunately, there isn't much room to explore here, and it isn't necessary for the four of us to take action separately. I lean on the wall and feel my way forward inch-by-inch, using the most primitive way to find the exit.
[Michihito]Everyone, come here! There seems to be a mechanism here.
Everyone pays attention to Michihito, who has been afraid of everything so far and has been walking between his two classmates to make himself feel safer. Because of this reason, Sora should have already searched the walls that Michihito can touch. Given Sora's attention to detail, he shouldn't have missed anything.
After pressing down on the raised mechanism on the wall with our fingers, secret doors open on both sides of the room with a loud bang. From time to time, strange noises can be heard from the narrow and deep corridors behind the doors. Although I know it is just music played by an employee, I still flinch in my heart.
[Guardian]You four must really be in a hurry to return to the real world. You managed to find the secret room so quickly. There is half a key in each of the two rooms. You need to split into two groups to complete the task at the same time to get them. Muhaha! I've wished you good luck many times already, so this time... I hope you stay safe and sound!
[Michihito]Ahhhhhhhhh! What does "I hope you stay safe and sound" mean? If we fail to complete the mission and get the key, would we be captured and eaten by the demon?
[Akira]...You are really absorbed in the story.
No matter how strange the background setting read out by the employee, our most important goal is to get the key and escape. According to my previous experience of playing other escape rooms, it'll be more efficient if we split into compatible groups, and everyone will even grow closer.
[Michihito]Since we need to split into two groups, why don't we...
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