Chapter 16: RESEMBLANCE

The ceiling is in bright blue, these fluffy white clouds, running slowly with the invisible wind though the fresh and cool air couldn't feel at all. The mighty sun is not visible, no the right word would be, it has no sun, but the environment is well lighted by the three massive bulbs that look like a moon in the ceiling. It's all fake, the scenery and its ambiance.

"Did it surprised you, too?" Himari asked, stepping closer to the dumbfounded Mizu.

"A bit, I never imagined this floor to be like this. Prior to this place, it only contained darkness, a prison, a perfect symbol for being hopeless. Yet here, it seems, I stepped in another world, like it gave a player a hope to relax a little bit." Mizu replied, overwhelmed seeing other house players roaming to the place.

Himari chuckled a bit to her response, but the air of seriousness was still there, "We have the same reaction when we come here. That scenery at the ceiling will change according to the season and the weather outside. However, we can't trust what was shown here. Understand?"

"Umn-- Ouch!" Mizu suddenly felt the strong hit on her forehead when Akane flicked it.

"You did survive, however, you're so reckless!" Akane lectured her, pointing to the deep wound on her hand that still bleeding even if it was wrapped in bandages and her whole body, looking like a mummy. "I will train you hard after this! Now call me senpai!"

Scratching her scalp, laughing awkwardly, Mizu replied, "Please take care of me senpai!"

"Louder!"

"SENPAI!"

"Good!" Akane proudly said, satisfied.

Zhi rubbing roughly her head, butt into their conversation, "You did well there. I thought you were about to collapse again after a kill, but it awesome when you didn't. Moreover, that bold challenge to our House Master, give me chill! But anyway, what I'm excited about is the thought that you are finally here! and Team Karasu is the only group on this floor to have a complete member. This indicates we are all strong, no wonder, we are the apple of the eye. Thankfully, we are in the truce area." Zhi and his non-stop-loud-mouth.

Just like what he said, players in all direction was looking at them. They are all their 'RIVALS', an enemy to move forward. Checking the enemy in another house was the basic strategy in this 'game.'

"Man, but why do I felt a tremendous chill coming from one of them," Zhi muttered and instantly hide on Mizu's back, while on high guard. But he was suddenly lifted by Haruto in the back of his collar, away from Mizu to his side, "If I were you, I won't go near Mizu, for now."

"Ehh???!" Zhi shouted unbelievably following the stare of Haruto, he was surprised to see the Dark King and the others still not leaving the place. "Why they are still here?"

It caught Mizu's attention, specifically the person in the center of them, gazing at her so intently. His daring dark blue eyes, were wasn't his usual cold nor threatening, it was rarely this tender. Although his face was covered in a beautiful black mask and his hair was dyed in white, this strange feeling of familiarity, and years of longing for this person dripped a tear on her eyes.

"Shiro?..." she called in such a low and sad voice. But the person mentioned coldly turned his back and stepped away from her as if he didn't hear her. No way Mizu will allow this. "Shiro!" she called louder than before and chase after him, repeating the name like an echo. It was obvious how desperate she was.

This took everyone by surprise with the thought in mind, 'Does she know the Dark King? They seemed closed.' But just thinking of this was ridiculous. The Dark King and his team were famous for being cold to anyone, doesn't have a friendly atmosphere, indifferent, and FEARED. The whole area was covered in a whisper while looking at the star of the show.

"Shiro, are you Shiro?..." even on how loud and several times she called the Dark King never give her attention. Hopeless but stubborn, Mizu burst out, " Why are you LEAVING again?!" and gasped afterward.

The Dark King halted his steps, resulting in the crowd to sink in silence. Without giving a gaze to Mizu, he spoke in his cold tone, "I am not Shiro, nor know that person." He continued his steps and decided to leave the place along with his subordinates, silently. The Dark Queen clearly shows how irritated she was to Mizu.

But Mizu's mind is only focused on their leader. She didn't believe him. Her instinct and feelings are telling her he was Shiro, the frail kid she met before. Nevertheless, the idea that she always avoids thinking further might be true. The fact that Riku went to the slum just to retrieve Shiro, that they know each other, she was afraid of the idea that Shiro might be 'one of the players' of this hellish game. And now, this person walking in front of her might be proved she was right. Mizu was about to call him again but this time she was stopped by Himari.

"Don't chase after him, the Shiro you know was not in this place."

Mizu was confused, 'Why Himari was so sure about this. Does she know him?' but feeling the grip of Himari on her shoulder tightened, Mizu managed to look around, people were staring at her with full of curiosity and hearing their conversation about the Dark King as the top player, pointing the player Mizu believe was Shiro, she immediately responded, "Sorry I was wrong. Thinking deeper of it, Shiro can't kill people. He was a good kid."

It was just a delusional thought, she knows, she doesn't know anything about him.

Before the door of the elevator closed, the Dark King and Mizu once again exchange stares, but what filled this boy's eyes was sadness. Mizu gripped tightly her hand, "Of all places, why we meet like this, Shiro."

After thoroughly checking her again by doctors on the middle floor and give her medicine and instruction to visits them every day to heal her wounds, before they will be scheduled to a match again. The players were being cared for highly from this level going upward.

Like a honeycomb hallway where all the door of the room was in a hexagon shape. In-room 511, team Karasu was located. In its bathroom, water was running loudly, and on its sink, Mizu was vomiting secretly. Her hand was shaking, her complexion was pale, and about to threw up once again. This happened every time she remembers how she stabs the psychotic girl's throat, the blood that showered her, and it's the nasty smell. The aftermath of killing a person is massive to her. But this was nothing compared to losing consciousness and have a long dream that contained a nightmare.

"You looked sick," Haruto uttered leaning on the doorframe.

"How long are you standing there?" Mizu asked failing to notice his presence.

However, Haruto didn't answer her, instead said, "Your conscience can't accept the fact that you killed a human. Making you lose consciousness, a brain defense to forget those people you killed, their face, identity, and voice. Now as you partially accepted it, it sends signals to your body to threw up, just to maintain your sanity. Don't be a hypocrite."

His last phrase sends a chill to Mizu. Standing up straightly after washing her face, she replied firmly while looking at her face in the mirror. "I'm not. The player here was all a Killer... like ME."

Haruto was so observant and blunt, he doesn't like to talk, if so, it was just in few words, but Mizu never thought, one day he will approach her first. "Other's are already waiting, let's go."

Mizu smiled, "Haru, I never knew, you are such a caring person." Moreover, it seems to her that Haruto also experiences this kind of condition.

"Mizu, Mizu!" Zhi called while waving his hand, standing near the long table full of dishes in the cafeteria, along with Himari and Akane. Haruto standing with them, the group simultaneously greeted, "Congratulations White Crow for reaching level 11. Welcome to the middle floor and Team Karasu." Vibrant confetti was popped afterward.

Mizu's lips curving downward are trembling, her eyes are a bit teary to this unexpected surprised. Overwhelmed, Zhi pulled her to sit with them. Their bright faces, the dishes on the table naturally her favorites, the warmth, and the merry atmosphere, reminded her of home, her family, and the kids. Likewise the smell of the spring under the sakura tree, with Kuro and others, these unbearing bittersweet memories made Mizu cry happily. "Thank you."

Team Karasu is her new family in this place. The people that wholeheartedly accepted the fate they in. The hell place that they can't escape, nor once thought they could with the tight security. Furthermore, they have no clue where they are, and where is this place. They have no choice but to survive this place and level up even if those elites considered them just a game character for their amusement, and each has their reason and a goal why they are here.

For Money?

For Power?

Fame?

Freedom?

For Revenge?

Starting from today starts the Legend of Team Karasu that shakes up the whole system of this Arena. Where the name White Crow, rise to the top and destroyed everything on her way.

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