The connecting corridor that links the main hospital to the physiotherapy building is constructed as a metal bridge spanning the two structures – the walls and roof are made of clear, reinforced glass. Thick metal doors are placed to enclose the bridge at both ends, but thankfully, they are open.
“It won’t be a wasted trip climbing up the stairs,” quips Sakimura. “So, are we ready?”
“Let’s go!” cheers Shiba, full of enthusiasm. The two sporty students lead the march onto the blue-carpeted walkway. Kozaka follows behind them, looking rather blasé about the entire experience, while Uehara turns towards you with a smile.
“Come on, Shinoseki-san. You too, Mitsuki-chan.”
You step into the corridor at her urging, Mitsuki at your side and Amanozaki at your back. For some reason, the psychic had decided to tag along, to Uehara’s displeasure. “I feel that my destiny is best served in this direction,” was all that she would say in explanation, though Mitsuki later confided in you quietly that she thought Amanozaki was feeling lonely after all.
It is not exactly any of your business to prod, and so you left it at that.
As you stride along the walkway, you try not to look at anywhere else but the floor ahead of you – through the glass walls on either side, you can see the courtyard below, and something about it is making you nervous. Perhaps it is the height.
Finally, you reach the other side.
The moment you pass through the door, a small, piercing whine passes through your head. You squint behind your spectacles, grimacing at the unpleasantness. Besides you, you realize that Mitsuki is crouched on the floor, clutching her head. “Ow!” she shouts in protest. “That noise, what is it?”
“What noise?” Shiba and Sakimura turn back to look at her. It looks like they do not hear anything.
Kozaka is frowning while looking around curiously. “There is… something?”
“The doors!” shouts Uehara suddenly, her face all pale and scrunched up.
Amanozaki, the last to come through, whirls around just in time to see them slam shut in her face. She squeaks in surprise and falls on her butt.
The power goes out.
A second later, the emergency lights kick in, illuminating the hospital with their dim, soft glow. There is enough light to see by, although you cannot peer too far into the gloom. Uehara rushes to the closed doors and begins pushing on the handles. They seem to be clearly locked. The lock is likely controlled by the electronic keypad besides the doors, but even if you had the code, it would not be of any use at the moment. After all, there is no power.
“No… no use,” she huffs, “they’re shut tight… whoa-”
“Hey hey! Stand aside, Uehara! Let me handle this!” Leaping past a surprised Uehara, the irrepressible Sakimura lands a flying kick right at the center of the metal doors. His drawn out yell of strength turns into a yelp of pain. Sakimura bounces right off, clutching his leg in agony while having accomplished nothing more than making the doors creak slightly in apparent mockery of his efforts.
While he hops around in pain, Mitsuki grabs your hand tightly. You resist the urge to shake off her hand, even though her grip is making you even more nervous by the second.
“There’s no way to open it,” murmurs Kozaka fearfully. “These doors are too sturdy. We are stuck.”
“Well, the door is controlled by that keypad over there, right?” points out Shiba. “If we found the passcode, we could open it and get back!”
“Yeah… you’re right. I didn’t know you were that smart, Shiba,” grins Sakimura in friendly mockery while massaging his foot.
The tall girl blushes and snaps back at him, hands on her hips. “I-I score better than you at school! Where do you get off talking like that, Sakimura?”
“Fools,” cackles Amanozaki scornfully before their banter goes any further – you have to hand it to her… she knows how to disrupt the mood. “The spirits have sealed this door. Mere numbers will not suffice to break the seal.” She is actually right, but not for the reason she thinks she is… probably. Having the passcode is not sufficient; you would also need the lock to have power.
“Come on, it’s not the supernatural,” retorts Uehara quickly. Her arms are folded – a bead of sweat rolls down the side of her face. She seems rather frustrated for some reason. “Stop peddling that nonsense. The wind blew it shut, or there was a mechanical error, or something happened. Not spooky spirits out of nowhere.”
“A lot of excuses when you could just believe something simpler,” sneers Amanozaki.
“Okay then. Let’s take your word for it. If spirits did do it, great psychic, why don’t you unlock that door for us right now?” Uehara throws down the challenge boldly with quite some venom.
“That is what I will do,” replies Amanozaki without hesitation. She rummages in her bag and brings out a large, well-worn tome. “This is my book of rituals and spells. I have recorded within its depths the mystical practices of myriad cultures. The answer I seek will always be within.” She opens up the book, thumbing through the dog-eared pages quickly.
“Can we hurry up?” asks Shiba, looking around the darkened hallways anxiously.
“You cannot hurry spiritual work… but yes, I have found what I am looking for,” claims Amanozaki imperiously. Then, her expression softens as she gives everyone an apologetic look. “Hm… hm… I see. Unfortunately, I do not have the tools required for this spell at the moment.”
“Not even in that big bag of yours?” asks Uehara sarcastically.
“I do not yet claim to have mastered the ability to create a Bag of Holding,” says Amanozaki primly. “What I can carry is limited.”
“Well, if we are done with this nonsense, can we move on?” sighs Uehara, gracefully shaking her head as if a point has been proven.
You take a look at your surroundings again. Faint light from outside shines in from multiple large windows set into the ceiling and the walls. You are on what seems to be a balcony overlooking the swimming pool. The majority of the building is taken up by the pool: it looks to be Olympic-sized, and there are also diving platforms of various heights. Finding a map of the current floor, you note that the doors in the hallway ahead of you lead to the administrative offices of the building. The floors below you probably house the gymnasium and more physiotherapy facilities.
Looking at the pool, a nostalgic feeling comes back to you.
***
A. You can swim. The nostalgic feeling is one of pleasantness.
B. You can’t swim. That nostalgic feeling is decidedly unpleasant.
***
“Hey, is there something in the water?” Kozaka adjust his spectacles, peering over the balcony. You follow his gaze – indeed, there seems to be something glinting sporadically at the bottom of the pool as it catches the dim light from time to time. From this height, you cannot make out what it is, however.
“Hm? Come on, Sakimura, let’s go and take a closer look! It’s probably important, like a key of some sort.” Shiba grabs Sakimura’s hand and pulls him along.
“Ah, wait! Uehara, come on!” Sakimura calls out.
Uehara is still looking at the doors, frowning and pointedly ignoring a sulking Amanozaki. Hearing Sakimura’s call, she turns and replies. “Alright, alright. I’m coming!” As she moves off to join her friends, she looks at you. “Coming, Shinoseki-san?”
***
00:59
A. You decide to investigate the administrative office on this floor.
B. You decide to investigate the gymnasium on the lower floor.
C. You decide to investigate the swimming pool.
