Chapter Text
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In front of the escape room
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> (...It will be okay if we head inside.)
> (I've never been talked to by anyone.)
> (...But, the reception girl is-)
> "[An Escape from [UNNAMED COMPANY]] ...Here?"
> "Ah... yeah, it's here.
> "The title seems fitting."
> "Right? Well then, let's go in-"
> "[PROTAGONIST]."
> "-[NORMAL GUY]! Are you the receptionist at this time?"
> "No. I was actually supposed to be a little later but, I decided to take over for them."
> "I see... So that's what happend."
> "I see you've come with everyone today."
> "I also thought up the puzzles, so I'd be happy if you enjoy them.
> "Hehe, I'm looking forward to it."
> "...From what I see outside, it looks like the room is covered with blackout curtains though.., what's going on with this?"
> "That's something for you to look forward to when you go in."
> "Ah..."
> "[PROTAGONIST], if it's going to be like that, do you want to take up the role as the guide? You know the answers too, it would be a little boring to be a participant, wouldn't it?
> "Ah- sure."
> "It's pretty dark, huh..."
> "Is this how escape rooms usually feel?"
> "I don't really know but..."
> "-Now, everyone. Welcome to [An Escape from [UNNAMED COMPANY]]!"
> "Wha! What's with the sudden announcement!?"
> "Isn't it already starting?"
> "In the middle of preparing for the cultural festival, you've been imprisoned in the room by a mysterious person."
> "If you don't escape before the boss comes to check, you might get scolded with a "Why are you still here!?"."
> "-And with that, solve the puzzles that the culprit left behind, and escape from here."
> "...Isn't this sort of an unreasonable setting?"
> "Even though we're the ones imprisoned, they're going to get mad at us..."
> "Enough of the minor details, work together with everyone and solve the puzzles!"
> "Umm... but, where are the puzzles?"
> "Isn't it that? There's a paper on top of the chair."
> "Yeah, what's written on it?"
> "...[Look at a box that doesn't know of rust.]..."
> "[A box that doesn't know of rust]? what's with that?"
> "Hehe, the first one is a puzzle that [NORMAL GUY] thought of. Do you know what it is?"
> "Buy the way, that's the most simple one, so if you can't solve that, it might get rough later."
> "Ugh... wait, let me think-"
> "...I think i got it."
> "huh!?"
> "That was fast."
> "So... what's the answer..?"
> "I think it's, [look at the cleaning supplies locker]."
> "Huh? Why would [a box that doesn't know of rust] end up being a cleaning supplies locker?"
> "Not knowing of rust... being had to rust, is a trait of stainless steel."
> "Ah... I see."
> "Many cleaning lockers are made of steel, but this one seems to be stainless steel, so… that must be it."
> "That's true, even comparing to other meeting rooms, it's unusually shiny...!"
> "Alright, let's check the locker."
> "Ah..."
> "Found it. There's a piece of paper with the next puzzle on it."
> "You already solved it...!?"
> "But, there's still a bunch of puzzles. Keep on solving them so that you don't run out of time."
> "[When △〇△ is a red object, and ◆×◆ is a wonderful man, What comes next?]-"
> "This is the one I thought up, can you solve it?"
> "△〇△ is something red...?"
> "Ah... I think I know."
> "Eh?-
> "Eh!?-"
> "Because [PROTAGONIST] talked about how he saw this sort of problem on a quiz tv program before. Umm, in this case the red thing is-"
> "How do you remember something like that..."
> "[The animals living in this country are birds, deers, and bears, but what's the other one?]"
> "...I think it probably would be good to check out the drawing of the horse that's decorated over there."
> "Huh, why!?"
> "Because [PROTAGONIST] is good at geography too."
> "Wait, how is that related to geography?"
> "...You're right. Behind the drawing of the horse, there's the next problem written."
> "Ah, with how it's going, you'll clear everything...!"
> "Hey! I asked, what does geography have to do with this!?"
> "-Now, the next one is finally the last problem."
> "The last one is the puzzle that [NORMAL GUY] and I have as our trump card! Now then, can you solve it?
> "This time... wait, we've only got 3 minutes left though!"
> "Umm... there's a crossword over here but... I wonder if we should solve this?"
> "Hehe, there's no time so I'll give you a hint. You'll be thinking of the answer, from solving the crossword with the keywords you've gathered up until now."
> "However, use that answer as the basis to solve the last riddle, it's necessary to find the key so you need to hurry otherwise-"
> "Geez! If we did something like a crossword, won't it be game over before we know it!?"
> "U-mm... Ah!"
> "Hey, couldn't there maybe be a key around here?"
> "Huh? Why at the place where there are plushies...?"
> "Actually, it might not be good to think like this but... I tried thinking from the newbie's personality."
> "...?"
> "He wouldn't hide it in a place that's easy to figure out like inside a treasure box, right? I think he'd definitely add a twist to it."
> "But, that being said, something like under a desk or behind the curtain, I get a feeling it's different from stuff like that."
> "...Why do you think so?"
> "It's plain after all, if it's [PROTAGONIST] wouldn't he want to put it in a place that he'd like?
> "Ah, that's true..."
> "That's why, it's largely intuition but... I get the feeling it's hidden somewhere in this line of plushies. I remember he did talk about plushies or something once.."
> "Ah..."
> "There's two minutes left..."
> "Then how about we try splitting up and look for it?
> "...Ah! Inside this, there's something hard in it!"
> "Eh? really?"
> "Yeah! There's a zipper behind it, so it looks like it can be opened up!"
> "Haha, this makes at least one point for me... wait, huh?"
> "It says [too bad]."
> "Hah!? No way!?"
> "Time's up, everyone.!"
> "Huhhh~!?
> "You were so close! Almost had it."
> "Hold on a second, what was the answer?"
> "You were right that it was a plushie but- look above."
> "Ah... I didn't realize since it was dark, but there's a plushie hanging from the ceiling...!"
> "If you had solved the puzzle, the keyword ceiling would've le you to the stuffed animal with the key."
> "Ah..."
> "Ugh, we were so close to solving it!"
> "But it was just a lucky guess."
> "Shut up!"
> "Hehe, great job, everyone."
> "Don't forget to pick up your participation prize at the reception."
> (But-)
> (The original answer was actually there.)
> (At first, I thought about putting the key inside the stuffed animal on the desk-)
> (But then [NORMAL GUY] suggested we add a final twist at the end.)
> (Everyone really knows me so well.)
> (They remember what I say while I'm working, and how I think things through.)
> (When I'm with them, I can't help but smile.)
> (Spending time with everyone really means so much to me-)
> (And from now on, I want to stay with them, always.)
> (That's why-)