Part 1

Two months before the school festival
Kamiyama High School - Class 2-B

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1

Mizuki

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Cool. So our class is gonna run an escape room this year...?
2

Toya

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Yes. We decided during homeroom last week, and we've already begun preparing for it this week.
3

Mizuki

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Yeah, I guess it already is that time of year.
4

Mizuki

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(So much stuff happened since I last came to school. But that's also sorta business as usual.)
5

Mizuki

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(Still, an escape room.
That could be pretty fun since we get to come up with the riddles for it.)
6

Toya

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I should also mention that we were initially considering either a maze or a haunted house.
7

Mizuki

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Oh, those are tried-and-true standards!
What made you guys decide against those?
8

Toya

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Because they're festival standards.
It turned out that classes in other grades had already chosen to do those.
9

Mizuki

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Some classes ended up doing the same things during the last festival, so I feel like you guys didn't have to change course.
10

Toya

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No, we didn't have to.
But now that we're second-years and know what to do, we decided to go for something more original.
11

Mizuki

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More original...
12

Mizuki

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Yeah, an escape room would be more of a new experience compared to a maze or haunted house. It could end up being a really big draw!
13

Mizuki

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So, have you guys already decided what kinds of riddles you're gonna make?
14

Toya

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No, we're still in the middle of gathering ideas.
However, we have already begun work on the interior design, posters, flyers, signs and such.
15

Mizuki

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Okay.
16

Mizuki

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(If they've already begun working on it, then that probably means groups have already been decided.)
17

Mizuki

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(I wonder which one I'm in...)
18

Mizuki

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(Come to think of it, I remember my teacher last year saying that anyone who wasn't around was allowed to ask to join whichever group they liked.)
19

Mizuki

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Actually, quick question...
20

Mizuki

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What happens to the people who weren't present when you guys decided groups and stuff?
21

Toya

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Ah, my apologies.
I failed to mention that.
22

Toya

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You're free to join and work with whichever group you like, Akiyama.
23

Toya

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You currently have your choice of interior design, advertising by making and putting up flyers, signs and the like and...
24

Mizuki

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(Basically the same deal as last year. Which should I join?)
25

Mizuki

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(My teacher's been on my case about having to come in at least once every two days because I need to take a bunch of supplementary classes, so I wouldn't really mind working on festival stuff...)
26

Mizuki

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(But it feels pretty awkward to go ask one of the groups to let me join them.)
27

Toya

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What do you think...?
Are there any groups that you'd like to join?
28

Mizuki

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Oh, yeah. A couple seemed interesting...
29

Mizuki

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Actually, Toya, which group are you in?
I might try joining yours.
30

Toya

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...!
31

Mizuki

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Hm? Toya...?
32

Toya

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No, I've failed you...
33

Toya

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I'm sorry. I'm actually not in any of the groups.
34

Toya

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I've been asked to come up with all the riddles, so I'll be focusing on that for the time being.

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35

Mizuki

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Wait, you're not in a group...?
You're coming up with the riddles all by yourself?
36

Toya

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Yes. I have asked the rest of the class to give me any suggestions, but...
37

Mizuki

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That sounds like a ton of work, though?!
Are you sure you can do this all on your own?
38

Toya

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Well, it may be a lot of work...
39

Toya

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But I do enjoy puzzles, so I felt I'd be able to handle this job.
40

Mizuki

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Oh, you like puzzles?
I knew that you liked reading mystery novels...
41

Toya

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Yes, they've been appearing on my social media feed from time to time. I've found that I really enjoy the feeling I get when an answer comes to me.
42

Mizuki

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The answers just come to you...?
43

Mizuki

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(It makes sense. Not only is Toya really studious, he also seems good at thinking outside the box.)
44

Mizuki

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(Hmm... I was hoping to join his group, but based on what he just told me...)
45

Toya

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Akiyama...
Would you like to help me come up with riddles?
46

Mizuki

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(Oh...)
47

Mizuki

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Haha. You don't have to do that for me!
It'll probably go faster if our riddle expert handles everything.
48

Toya

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No, I fear that there isn't going to be much variation if I alone come up with them.
49

Toya

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Which is precisely why I've been asking the others in class for any suggestions they may have.
50

Mizuki

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Oh, that's what you meant...
51

Toya

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I don't know if it's because they're trying to come up with the best riddles they can, but I'm yet to receive any from them.
52

Toya

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Which is why I'd really appreciate it if I had someone else helping me.
53

Mizuki

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I see...
54

Mizuki

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Well, if you're willing to say that, then I'll be happy to hop on board!
55

Mizuki

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(And I'll be a lot more comfortable helping Toya instead of trying to join a group that already has a ton of people in it.)
56

Toya

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Great, thank you!
57

Toya

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Since you're here, do you think you could take a look at the riddles I've come up with so far?
58

Mizuki

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Yeah, totally! Show me what you got!