Ono Tsugahara, a man in his thirties, stood before us, his black hair tied back in a ponytail, his gaze imbued with confidence. He spoke confidently, captivating the assembly's attention.
"I'm Ono Tsugahara," he began, his voice echoing in the tense silence. "And I've discovered the way to survive this ordeal!"
His announcement immediately aroused interest and hope among the others, hungry for solutions to escape the terror of the explosions. Ono then continued, setting out his reasoning with clarity and conviction.
"There's something I've noticed," he explained. "The land that hasn't yet exploded since the first two explosions could well be our salvation. That's where the key to our survival lies."
His gaze scanned every face in the audience, seeking to captivate his audience with his argument.
"Unconsciously, we have all invested ourselves in this search," he continued, his voice strong and assured. "Together, we've discovered the terrain that won't explode. Our losses to date have not been in vain. We have taken a step in the right direction."
Everyone absorbed his words attentively, grasping the importance of his message. Ono Tsugahara had injected new hope into tormented hearts, and his plan seemed to be the long-awaited ray of hope in the darkness of despair.
A wave of relief and joy swept through the assembly at the news of Ono's discovery. Sighs of relief mingled with murmurs of hope, while faces relaxed, brightened by renewed optimism.
"So does that mean we're saved?!"
"We're not going to die!"
"All those sacrifices weren't in vain."
"Yes, we had no choice anyway..."
At last, a glimmer of hope was emerging from the oppressive shadow of fear.
However, amidst this flood of positive emotions, Kaisho distinguished himself by his caution. He raised a legitimate question, momentarily shattering the collective euphoria. His piercing gaze fell on Ono, and his voice echoed through the relative silence.
"Why would you help us like this, Ono, without expecting anything in return?" he asked, his words tinged with suspicion.
His questioning reflected the distrust present in the minds of some, a reminder that trust should not be given too easily, even in moments of desperation.
The mistrust of Kaisho, the master manipulator of words, was hardly surprising. Intimately familiar with the subtleties of persuasion and psychological stratagems, he left nothing to chance. His doubts reflected a caution honed by experience, a vigilance necessary in this world where truths were as fleeting as shadows dancing on a wall.
Everyone knew Kaisho's power of persuasion, his ability to twist words to shape the thoughts of others to his will. He had earned a reputation as a skilled manipulator, a craftsman of persuasion whose words could sculpt reality to his liking. It was only right, therefore, that he should question Ono's words, wary of the illusions that a well-constructed speech could weave.
Yet one of the survivors came to Ono's defense, contradicting Kaisho's argument.
"He can't be lying. The mere fact that he's standing here, in front of us, proves that he's telling the truth."
"It's true!" then outbid another. "After all, if he had lied, he would already have paid the ultimate price for his life in this ruthless world."
This confrontation between Kaisho's distrust and the other survivor's defense underlined the palpable tension that reigned among the group. Each had to navigate between shadows of suspicion and flashes of fragile trust, knowing that the truth could lurk in the darkest recesses of the human soul.
Kaisho, the ruthless observer of human nature, revealed a brutal truth that resonated in the heavy silence that enveloped the group. His penetrating gaze scrutinized each and every one of us, revealing the invisible flaws hidden behind masks of feigned courage.
"You're all cowards!" he blurted out in a scathing voice, his words sharp as blades. "The truth is, you're afraid to die, and that's why you cling to any hope, no matter how fragile."
The insult echoed through the air, stinging like a whip. But behind every syllable, a slight tremor could be discerned in Kaisho's voice, a crack in his usual armor of confidence. Even the master manipulator of words couldn't entirely hide the tremors of fear that gripped him.
Yet Kaisho didn't stop there. He continued, denouncing the weakness of those who hadn't had the courage to seek the solution, who had been content to rely on Ono's reassuring words without questioning their true nature. "Apart from Bun's group," he hammered with palpable bitterness, "we're all afraid of dying."
In his words, one could sense frustration mixed with fear, an explosive cocktail of emotions that permeated the atmosphere of the stage. Kaisho's revelation highlighted humanity's fragility in the face of adversity, reminding everyone that even the strongest can bend under the weight of terror.
Ono, looking calm and resolute, materialized behind Kaisho, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. His gaze expressed a peaceful determination, devoid of any trace of animosity towards those who doubted him.
"You don't have to believe me," he declared in a soothing voice, like a gentle breeze in a storm. "I'm simply looking to change as a human, to stop being selfish. I've realized that these riddles are meant to unite us rather than destroy us. If we don't take the right path, we risk repeating the same mistakes."
His words echoed in the electricity-charged air, bringing a semblance of comfort amidst the tumult of doubts and fears. Ono embodied quiet wisdom, reminding everyone that even in the midst of adversity, there was always hope for change and redemption.
His speech was imbued with truth and compassion, offering a glimmer of hope in the oppressive darkness of hardship. Listening to Ono, some felt their skepticism fade, replaced by a glimmer of confidence in a future where unity triumphed over division.
Ono then gave us two minutes to decide.
"Either follow me, or stand your ground."
An ultimatum that sounded like a challenge to our resolve. It was as if Ono had just created his own quest.
Without hesitation, Ryo spoke up,
"Pfff... I'm not going to follow a mutt like you."
His categorical refusal was heard in the tense silence that enveloped the scene, before he walked away, determined to follow his own path.
Ishikawa, for his part, remained skeptical. With the boy at his side, he knew he had no room for error. He weighed up every word, every option, aware of the colossal stakes involved in this crucial decision.
Saé tried to guide him towards the right choice, voicing her doubts about the sincerity of Ono's words.
"We don't know if he's telling the truth... Besides, I think I've found the solution to this ordeal!"
She implored him not to be blinded by Ono's seductive words.
In a moment of palpable tension, Ishikawa replied harshly to Saé.
"It's easy for you! You can afford to rely on incipient theories because you're sure to survive! But in my case it's different..."
Saé felt the coldness in Ishikawa's words, but she understood his point of view.
"I understand. Sorry, I didn't mean to force your hand."
"I know you want to help me, but I have people who rely on me. I have their lives in my hands, and I can't afford any mistakes. I'm forced to choose the safer of the two of you, sorry Saé."
Without insisting further, she let him make his choice knowingly, respecting the gravity of his responsibilities.
After two minutes had passed, the die was cast. Only two groups - Saé, Edano, Ryo and I - had decided to go it alone.
While the majority of the survivors chose to follow Ono, Saé watched with a touch of sadness as Ishikawa and the young boy drifted away, forming another group. It was in this moment that, for the first time since my crisis, I took the initiative to address her.
"Would... Would you mind leaving me.... Alone... Please?" I asked hesitantly, breaking the silence that had enveloped my words for some time.
Saé was surprised by my request, perhaps even a little taken aback by the fact that I had spoken. But despite this, in my words there was still this heaviness, this dejection that didn't seem to go away.