Sure enough, time loop after time loop, eventually, things just fall into a far too tiring routine. At least, that's how it was for the two high schoolers, who almost always reigned supreme in the rest of the game. Taking a step back from all the files, it is a bit funny. Two teenagers, no older than seventeen years old, were within the top three of those with the best chance of winning.

While the real game goes on outside the box, the ginger sits in something of a blank room. There's nothing in here except her. And maybe the countless clown masks that she always managed to get her hands on after another test was run. Her eyes stare at the growing collection of masks that don't belong to her, but to someone she holds dear.

He can feel his senses growing distant, and suddenly, the dried blood on his hands doesn't feel so dry anymore. On that note, the blood doesn't run down his hands either. It feels like it simply evaporate, as if it never was there in the first place. If he thinks about it too hard, he wonders if it was ever there in the first place. It all gets reset anyways, doesn't it?

Of course, there's always one thing she can count on. Her eyes shut before she knows it, that yellow room that she slowly grows to slowly become more and more acquainted with fades.

It's dark for a while. He's used to the dark, especially in most of those attraction he's learned to clear with ease. The passage of time feels fast, but unbearably slow all at the same time. He wants to expect that woman's face will appear soon enough, talking to him with an oh-so tired voice. Sara liked to think she was just some scientist with nothing better to do than to talk to him. The dark presumes for a while, though.

And so, she waits.

And waits.

... And waits?

There's something different now. There's something... touching him. It's uncomfortable, almost, but he can't make any move himself until the click of a button is heard. As soon as he hears it, he steps back, red eyes shooting open to figure out what was going on. After all, that's never happened in any of these simulations.

Her eyes quickly land on a green haired woman in a lab coat, taking steps back themself. They look much closer than ever, as if there's no screen blocking the AI and the only form of connection she'd have with what goes on outside those simulations.

"A-Ah... um-" She opens her mouth, yet struggles to come up with some kind of quick answer. Sara waits, crossing his arms and looking the other up and down. The most he's ever seen was her sitting in some kind of chair, body almost slumped with a clipboard in her hands.

"... H-How do you feel?" The scientist inquires, looking up at the AI. All she can do is shrug before properly responding.

"Fine, I guess? A bit confused... I thought the real death game was already in progress." He shifts his gaze to look elsewhere, spotting a mirror in the strange room. He clears his throat before continuing. "What are you- What is that?"

She stares at a cord that hangs from behind her. She moves around a little, trying to shake it off, only to be met with nothing happening and a sigh from the other.

"... You've been transferred into a doll, Sara. For now. Since you were so um... distraught... by the passing of the real Anzu, I-I thought you'd appreciate it if you got to meet the closest thing we could get of her. On this floor, the participants are paired with those who passed in their first trials... w-which includes Anzu, as you can guess. That's a charger... once your battery goes out, you fall asleep until I put you back into the simulation port. Does that make sense...?"

If he were being brutally honest? Hardly. The only thing he really got from that was something about Anzu--the real Anzu--being here in something similar of a state as he was. A doll.

"... Are you saying I'll get to see them again?" She wonders, her voice sounding much more hopeful than she would've liked. Her eyes stare at Safalin through the mirror, who simply nods their head.

"Yes, that's basically the gist of it... Um- Anzu, along with the other five dolls, are currently getting things explained to them too... Y-You should be able to meet up again with her soo- H-Hey! Don't go yet-"

And without another word leaving him, Sara fumbles with the doorknob before pushing it open. The door closes behind her, and the scientist holds their head in their hands. Of course he wasn't going to listen.

The ginger hurriedly walks down the corridor, walls all so unfamiliar to eyes that thought all she'd ever know were the same rooms over and over again, with the same faces and voices, the same events and deaths and-

A figure dressed in mostly yellow passes by through intersecting parts of the hallway. Almost akin to a puppy, Sara's eyes light up, his pace quickening and his footsteps echoing much more. The other's footsteps seem to get drowned out in the noise, yet when he goes far enough down the hallway and makes a quick right, he can spot the doll pause in her steps.

"Um-" Anzu gives an awkward grin, waving her hand. "Hiya? Can I... Can I help you?"

For a moment, Sara's totally speechless. Another simulation hasn't gone on for weeks, solely because of the preparation and the running of the real death game, and so she was stuck in that room. She was there, all alone, by herself. The most company she'd get was the occasional check in from the scientist, who only came every once in a while when they weren't busy. Sometimes, the soft hum or whistle kept her busy enough, but aside from that? Just Sara and... herself, really.

To see Anzu here again, in person... He can't help this happy feeling that swells up inside him. Sara's learned better than to swoop the other up and hold them in his arms upon first seeing them, but man, he kind of really wants to.

"Oh, uh...! You look happy," Anzu pulls down her hoodie, mirroring her grin, even if it's a bit... awkward.

"No kidding," He rubs the back of his neck with one hand, the other resting on his freckled cheek. He shifts his weight onto one leg. "It's... been a while, huh? Still kind of a crime that they don't let you stay in the winner's room with me between simulation runs... But um- How have you been? When you'd get powered on?" He tilts his head to the charger that hangs from behind them, which Anzu looks at for a split second before returning their gaze, now fused with a confused look.

"... Just a little while ago, actually. I'm assuming the same way for you- Erm... sorry, I might just be like, totally scatteted right now, but like- Do I know you or something? I was gonna say maybe you're one of the participants, but you have a charger too, so..."

"... What?"

All that had really processed through Sara's head was that question. Does Anzu know her? Of course they do! They had to! Them becoming self aware wasn't intended, as the same was for her, but that didn't change when she got put into a doll! Why didn't Anzu remember? It's not like they needed to pretend they didn't know one another, and they weren't really the type for jokes like that.

"Sara!" Safalin's voice echoed through the dark hallways, footsteps sounding behind a doll in total disbelief. Sara simple stared at Anzu, red eyes furrowed in confusion, before a hand grasped his wrist. It didn't hurt, but it was enough to make him flinch a little.

"Why doesn't she know...?" Sara questioned, her voice almost upset yet so very desperate. She looked at the scientist for an answer, and in that moment, footsteps started departing from her again.

"L-Listen- I really have to get going. I was told if I don't get there, something really bad would happen, and I don't wanna find out what! Sorry, erm... I'll see you around, maybe!"

And with that, Anzu's footsteps echoed louder as they dashed off, getting away from the rather awkward situation.

—————

The feeling of something cold pressed against his fingers makes the faux blonde shiver. It’s quite unsurprising he’s gotten himself into a predicament like this, even with how bizarre it really is. Was this even making the cut of being ‘bizarre’? It really didn’t seem like such. Maybe he’s just gotten used to it.

What he isn’t used to, though, is the ginger that stands near him, impatiently waiting. There’s a knife in her hands, and her grip on it is steady, but the look on her face so clearly says she doesn’t want to do this. She looks so different in something aside from the uniform, but it’s the only thing he’s seen her wear since after the death game.

“I’m... really sorry,” Sara finally gets out, piercing the silence. The ice slowly melts on Keiji’s skin, each passing second making his thumb feel more and more numb. 

How is he supposed to reply, he wonders. There’s no saying “it’s fine” here, because really, it’s far from it. Instead, all he can do is shrug, looking up to meet the girl’s eyes. She looks so tired. Not only the eyebags indicate that either.

“... You’re not supposed to be doing it like this, are you?” He says, dodging her initial statement.