The afternoon sun once again stood supremely in the sky exorcising indifference towards those underneath it. Noticeably, me, and the rest of the other five.

Picking up wood logs from taken down trees we had brought down earlier, Kuzan, with withered force, passed me the large wood log he was carrying with all of his might. Ultimately, with his weak breath combined, I received it.

"This is killing me... Do we really have to do this?"

"Don't complain, Kuzan. We are extending the length of the wooden house which was an idea that I made on my own along with the basis of our cooperation."

In addition to speaking to Sagasuga about our deal of cooperation, I proposed that we six would collectively help extend the house's length by adding a more stable and strict structure adjoined to the house itself. Mainly because even if unlikely, in the scenario of rain, it would all come crumbling down. Arguments rejecting this possibility were made yet through my arguments they were inevitably brought down. Admittedly also because Sagasuga lastly agreed with the possibility as he assumed that the weather and the environment of the island itself were two elements that we had no knowledge of concretely.

Thus, with the last log being adjoined by my worn-out hands, the small additional space was completed. It simply took us a great amount of six hours.

Before starting this endeavor, Sagasuga would tell Tatsu and Tsudo to cut the logs into very specific pieces so it would combine with the house's structure. His idea solely yet I argued not.

How would they cut the logs though? By utilizing a self-made ax with a razor blade. Rayazaki asked how Sagasuga built the ax. A clear assumption made by him alone that Sagasuga built the ax in the first place and noticeably, I was curious too, but his explanation was that he found the ax along the way. Tsudo and Tatsu aided his explanation, but Rayazaki remained skeptical in the end.

"Is this what you want, Kawahara? Or is it not ideal?"

"It doesn't have to be ideal, Sagasuga. It's enough."

Erasing the dirt in my hands through a simple continuous clasping, I gave Sagasuga that answer as he cleared his forehead's sweat with his right forearm. We six were glancing upon the wood house once more only with an additional space that would serve as a room. In order to form this room, it was necessary to retake the wood logs already adjoined to the left end of the house. The old logs were used for the purpose of adjoining the horizontal structure while these brand new ones were used to create a finalized linear end and a roof.

"Well, isn't this just strange... Are you really that afraid that it will rain and that the house will be brought down?"

Tsudo asked me that with pressed eyebrows and no signal of trust in his eyes.

"What do you even know about this island? How can you assume that it won't rain at all, Tsudo?"

"Oh, I don't know... Oh wait, I do! Maybe because this heat is killing everyone here?! How the hell can it rain in the first place when the weather is this horrible?!"

Do I bother and teach this numbskull why heat causes rain?

"Isn't this fine, Tsudo? I think that the real reason as to why Kawahara wanted to build more additional space was so that we could all sleep without being so sticky onto one another. As you mentioned, this heat is killing us which suggests that the scenario where multiple individuals are stuck onto one another could turn out to be a little bit annoying."

"I mean, yeah, true. Hm, but if so, then why didn't you just say this, Kawahara?"

He doesn't realize he's being played. In a ping-pong match, the two players can't play without the ball.

Tsudo is the ball.

"Because I don't support your gay agenda."

"Fuck you! I'm not gay!"

"Shock and terror, Tsudo."

Tsudo's complaints aside, we all walked into the new space and made a slight comparison with the one that was already established on the right side. Arguably, the truly noticeable difference would be that there were wood logs serving as a ground for them yet for us it was pure solid forest ground.

Enjoying the shadow that the roof allowed, Tatsu made a comment.

"Feels nice."

"Right? I kinda want to relax here for a bit..."

Already in agreement, Tatsu and Tsudo spoke out lazily.

"But sleeping here without a ground seems highly uncomfortable. Why not work a bit more to add a solid ground?"

"A bit subjective, Sagasuga. You're already assuming that we mind sleeping on this tender ground. And besides, who said that we were going to spend a long time here anyway? We gotta move out eventually, isn't that right, Kuzan?"

"Mhm, doesn't that depend on whether or not Master wants to move out though?"

"You could show a bit of independence once in a while..."

As they all spoke out, I was pondering my choices yet a question completely partial to the previous comments made flew out of my mouth towards Sagasuga, who was holding onto a very sharp object. Midst all of this in specific, our gazes couldn't help but watch out for his left arm's movements.

"Sagasuga, for how long are you gonna hold onto that ax? Are you gonna come out of the closet and murder every single one of us here?"

"Oh, no. I was just curious to know your reactions after doing almost nothing but holding onto the ax."

More skepticism rose as Tatsu's sweat droplets hastily scourged down his cheeks. Tsudo couldn't help but gulp.

"Kawahara, we are trusting a guy that's holding an ax just to satisfy his curiosity. Please reconsider this..."

"But I'm not going to hurt anyone. This ax holds a lot of utility. For example; animal hunting."

"Another example: Human killing."

This time I spoke.

"Good grief, Kawahara, not you too. Do you actually think any of us could kill another and escape without getting caught in the process?"

"Isn't that why we are here? Because someone killed Yulia and that person hasn't been caught in the process of doing so?"

"No, Kuzan, you got it wrong. Nobody killed Yulia. Yulia killed herself, that's different."

I corrected Kuzan rapidly in order to adjust his focus and how he would conduct his words.

"Frankly suspicious, Kawahara... You talk about the situation like it was nothing. A person died and you are talking with barely any emotion behind your words. Nothing tells us that it wasn't you who did it..."

"I am speaking without any emotion because I had no attachment to her whatsoever. How can you expect me to talk with emotion behind my words if she meant nothing to me? What, are you the type of person to feel guilty just because another person died? Someone is dying right now, in this world. Why aren't you crying and feeling guilt beyond your comprehension? What's the matter?"

Just a little taunt. Let me see your reaction, Tsudo.

"She was your classmate, damn it. As soon as we are done with this exam, we will be back in a classroom where she won't be there. It just... won't be the same, you know?"

"Why? Has she even done anything remarkable for once? Actually, Tsudo, this is pretty beneficial to you right now."

"Excuse me!?"

That's more like it. Close your fists and grind your teeth. Form an offensive stance and allow your glare to fuel your rage.

Regardless, I will taunt you even further.

"Emotional arguments that represent a shred of humanity are pretty convincing, in all likelihood. Right now, you are portraying yourself as someone who feels guilt just because you won't be able to see Yulia the moment you, or rather we return to the classroom. That's right, you even used the word "we" constantly. In other words, you are speaking for others."

"You are so distorted! The way you use others' words for your convenience is sickening! I am saying what I think and I wouldn't do something as horrible as motivating her to kill herself!"

"Nothing tells me otherwise. Just like how nothing tells you that I wouldn't do the same. So, what's your point again?"

This is how useless his argument is. And besides, there is only one person who in specific that was close to Yulia to an intimate point yet that person is nowhere in sight.

But I won't mention that. Amongst the six of us, there is a person who has a clue that could make this whole exam faster.

Henceforth, as soon as I was done with my words and Tsudo was ready to argue back, that person in specific spoke thus not allowing Tsudo to proceed.

"Wait, wait, wait!! I think I just found something really important!"

"I swear, if this is a random bad joke, Kuzan, I will---"

"It's not! Hear me out, just do that!"

Upon seeing that I didn't interrupt Kuzan at all and that I was simply looking forward to what Kuzan had to say, Tsudo decided to calm down a bit, but, someone decided to go a bit further and calmed him down in a better effective way.

Sagasuga spoke transiently to Tsudo therefore.

"Kuzan's the dinner if it's a bad joke."

"Okay."

Ironically, after all those arguments about emotion and whatnot, Tsudo coldly agreed with Sagasuga without any remorse behind his words.

However, this only contributed to Kuzan's sudden fear and anxiety, but my eyes and his' met and with a simple nod made by my head, Kuzan spoke though reluctant.

"A-Aniki... I think he's the one we should look for... Because he and Yulia would talk a lot, wouldn't they?"

"...Now that you mention it..."

Instead of Tsudo, Tatsu whispered those words with his fingers linked to his chin and his glare on the solid tender ground.

"Wait, he has a point, Tatsu?"

Unable to know whether or not he should trust Kuzan's words, Tsudo exasperatedly looked at Tatsu who was with his back adjoined to the wood logs. Nonetheless, Tatsu took a step further in Tsudo's direction and formulated his point.

"I've seen them plenty of times together. Mainly with Arkalee, Sana, and..."

But he didn't finish his words exactly thus causing an abrupt note. It does leave me wondering just how many of us here know why he couldn't finish his words just now. For sure, I know why. Rayazaki and Kuzan too.

"Hyunda?"

Kuzan couldn't hold himself back as he doesn't know the meaning of the saying "read the damn mood" too well.

"...Yes, but that aside, there were more incidents. She did look at him a lot."

"So she liked him?"

Wanting a confirmation, Tsudo fastly fired a question at Tatsu. Naturally, I could've intervened and made way more plausible arguments to Tsudo, but there would be no point. He doesn't trust me. Even if what I have to say is the truth. Alternatively speaking, by not speaking, I'm allowing them to make soft discoveries on their own. I gain more with that.

"Possibly. And out of curiosity, I did look into everyone in the classroom. But this everyone did honestly..."

"Mhm, very true. This, we can all agree with, correct?"

Moral saint Sagasuga, attempting to reach a consensus and with everyone in his mind, delivered his words with spontaneous volume behind his voice.

Since Sagasuga spoke up, I followed him up. Rayazaki as well, who was trading looks from Tatsu to me and me to Tatsu all this time. He's questioning why I haven't spoken yet.

"They were also partners during the second exam if I recall correctly."

"And despite both of them failing the mandatory tasks, they would often smile to each other a lot through it..."

Not bad, Rayazaki.

Still, I won't speak anymore, despite having clear evidence that there is more to what we have just said. What's important here is calming the one who doesn't trust us; Tsudo.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"I'll agree with Kawahara and Rayazaki here. What do you think, Tsudo? Do you have something to say regarding what they've just said?"

Now, this is odd. Why is Tatsu going so much out of his way to change the way Tsudo thinks regarding us? Has he had enough of his dramatic mood or...? No, it's definitely something else. He could've applied this stance way earlier yet now, out of all the times? Is he simply speaking out because he has evidence to speak of? I don't think so.

Why don't I think so? That's because speaking out now is fairly convenient. We already essentially came to the conclusion that Daniel is a valuable asset to know who is behind Yulia's suicide. But using Daniel as a scapegoat is way, way too convenient.

Even so, I will not get in his way. I'll allow him to gain a sense of confidence and that he is in charge of the situation. Ultimately, he will reveal more and more without knowing that was the goal all along.

"...Honestly, you guys are speaking the truth. I did witness the same things you guys also did. I was just making sure that we were on the same pace."

This is how someone justifies their trust issues. By pointing out a flaw on their own. Simple but effective.

"There is one thing that's bothering me though."

"What, Tatsu?"

After choosing his words better, Tatsu responded to Tsudo subsequently.

"Even if we do assume that Daniel and Yulia had a close relationship, we still don't know much about Daniel, do we?"

"Hm, true, we don't know much about Daniel."

Conveniently, Sagasuga agreed with Tatsu. He hasn't spoken much at all. It's almost as if he's carefully observing the way this conversation is aiming towards. Even then, it's pretty clear that he's allowing Tatsu and Tsudo to conduct this conversation based on his own train of thought.

"He's got a jail sentence of 1000 years... How the hell is that even possible...?"

"To say that he's related would be an understatement, seriously... As Tatsu just said, he has a jail sentence of 1000 years, but we don't know much about him. But, you guys do."

Bait took.

"Do we?"

I fluently spoke my words towards Tsudo who clearly already assumed that we knew more than Sagasuga, Tatsu, and himself. Everyone here knows why we know more about him than they do. Or rather; they assume that we know more about him than they do for a very concrete reason.

"Yes, you guys know. It happened recently, for fuck's sake. He was in your team, which consisted of you, Kuzan, Rayazaki, Hyunda, Akihiko, and Daniel. You three spent way more time with him, you guys certainly, therefore, know more about him than we do!"

Going as far as pointing his right index finger at me, Tsudo launched that barrage of assumptions. As planned.

Proving him wrong would be far too easy. But why do that? His trust is at stake here. What do I gain by proving him wrong? A sense of morality? Accumulated wins in this "proving another person wrong in an argument" game? What a boring thought process honestly. It needs more color on it!!

"Gotta admit, you are smart, Tsudo."

Kill me.

"You discovered that we would have more connections with him because he was in my team which coincidentally involved Kuzan and Rayazaki. Props to you."

I'm not sounding sarcastic at all.

No, really, I'm making such a grand effort to have a cold emotion behind my voice just to make the atmosphere serious.

So... I have to address the facts and praise him regardless.

"Truth to be told, even a child could know that much. It's nothing that impressive. I'm sure you agree with this. I'm also sure you understand that anyone could use Daniel as their scapegoat in order to get away with the recent event. Therefore, I was confirming who would use it better. As you all are most likely aware, this exam was perhaps purposely made to lure out the one behind the recent event. So, whoever did it, would surely use him as a scapegoat. Because he's the one closest to Yulia. You can't use Sana here because she's not here. Evidentially, we are stuck with only the ten of us."

"I was thinking that Daniel is the actual source behind this though."

Neither agreeing with me nor disagreeing with me, Tsudo made his stand.

"Why would you think like that, Tsudo?"

Is Sagasuga asking that question while knowing that the suspicions of the person who would ask such a question would increase if they did ask that question and so he asked that on purpose because it would provoke that reaction?

"Do you even need to ask?! He has 1000 years of jail behind his back!! You'd have to be insane not to question him entirely! And besides, if he has a 1000 years behind his back, then what are the odds of him being a master manipulator? He's the primary suspect, no doubt here."

I see. So this is why you used him...

"That's rather convenient then. He's the perfect scapegoat, no matter how you look at it. Tsudo, you suspect that it was Daniel but utilizing him due to his jail sentence is truly convenient. In the end, it's a paradox of doubt."

It took Tatsu this long to realize the obvious here. I want to give these two the most sarcastic standing ovation in existence right now. But not your usual ovation. It's the type of standing ovation where you don't stop clapping and continue to clap even after it got extremely awkward.

"If it's alright with all of you, why don't we theorize this better when it's dinner time?"

Already outside of the house, Sagasuga looked at the far distant afternoon sun setting on a dusk status. Nevertheless, his proposition was quickly countered by Rayazaki.

"What exactly are you implying... You still haven't put down that ax, for crying out loud."

"That's because I'm suggesting that we do animal hunting with this ax. I'm additionally proposing a feast. And besides, our food supplies will go out fast. It's necessary that we do accumulate food after food. Because, realistically speaking, we have no idea for how long we are going to be here."

"I see, if that's the case, then I do agree with it. Any funny moves though---"

"You can kill me if I try anything funny."

Another bait laid out by Sagasuga. The normal mind would question the point of him telling him that to Rayazaki because Sagasuga can just kill Rayazaki first thus nullifying the whole logic here. Yet by being forced to think that way, the person would be forgetting that Sagasuga is making that on purpose to raise suspicions about him and to increase anxiety at the same time.

"It will be too late if you kill me though."

"It seems you don't trust me fully despite the argument that we made about not making much sense someone killing someone else... Then, Kawahara, if I try anything funny, chop all my limbs off."

"Hey, I can protect myself, stop."

Not going along with Rayazaki's words and while leaving out of the house to see the dusking sun, I followed Sagasuga's train of thought.

"Got it. It's a shame I won't be able to bring them back with me to sell them in the black market once the exam is done."

"Oi, I'm not some damsel in the distress! I can protect myself!"

It's around 7 pm according to the sun's position. Us six starred out at the posing sun while Kuzan posed a question thus breaking the silence.

"Do you guys plan on wearing your uniforms at all times? This isn't some Manga or Anime where the characters just wear their clothes fine all day long, for the record..."

A surprisingly logical argument made by Kuzan, would you look at that?

"Better than going caveman mode like you guys... What the actual fuck..."

"You guys are really planning on wearing your uniforms despite all this heat? I know it's calming down now due to the evening falling on us, but aside from that, it's pretty terrible, Tsudo."

"The logic is that we would get sunburnt if we didn't wear our uniforms at all times. You guys are the ones subjecting yourselves to getting sunburnt. As a matter of fact, you guys are surely going to feel the sunburns after a few hours. Because with all this wood log work, your entire body has been exposed to the sunlight. You guys are not coming out unscathed."

"It's as Tatsu says! I initially proposed this because it's better than exposing our bodies to this blazing heat and formidable sun. Regardless, we could potentially suffer from a couple of sunburns."

Starting to get afraid, Kuzan and Rayazaki both looked at me with teary eyes.

"Don't tell me you guys are afraid of some sunburns?"

"Wait, you knew?!"

"Master!!!"

"You wusses, it's nothing! And his logic only sounds good in theory, in practice living with that much sweat is unbearable!"

"..."

Forming a soundless silence, Tatsu and Tsudo didn't argue back. But this can't be said for Sagasuga.

"It is unbearable, but sunburns are a thousand times more."

"Subjective."

"True, it is subjective. Yet I wonder if a belief will save you from all the pain, later on, Kawahara."

"You underestimate how many times I've caught sunburns, Sagasuga."

"That's you, dumbass!! What about us?! What the hell am I going to go through?!"

"First time?"

Tatsu lightly laughing asked that question to Rayazaki, mildly taunting him from a reasonable distance.

"And you hate to see it."

Adding fire, Tsudo couldn't hold himself back.

"Don't listen to their taunts, Rayazaki. Nothing bad is going to happen. Remember, you are the lion of the jungle, right? Some sunburn isn't going to change how you perceive pain. Trust me."

"Y-Yeah! I'm the lion of the jungle! That's right! Natural physical effects on my skin mean nothing!"

Joy has consumed Rayazaki.

"W-What about me, Master?!"

"There can only be one lion of the jungle..."

"That's why I'm asking!"

He really bought the lion of the jungle argument.

"Kuzan, worst-case scenario, I'll protect you from anyone that tries to slap your back."

"That's somewhat reassuring!"

They will be a pain in the ass later on.

One hour later.

"Any specific reason as to why you picked when it was a borderline night to do this animal hunting?"

Hiding in a collection of bushes somewhere in the forest, east-direction, I questioned Sagasuga's reasoning. Obviously, I wasn't the only one hiding in the bushes and the rest was just as curious as I was when it came to knowing his answer.

"I remember waking up in the night and only then did I attempt to reach out to everyone, including Tsudo and Tatsu. However, before that, I walked through here and I managed to accidentally scare off a deer."

"Wh--- A deer?! Are you really planning on hunting something that big?!"

Shocked and surprised, Kuzan expressed his enthusiasm right away in a loud toned-voice.

"Keep quiet... Loud noises are enough to scare the deer away..."

"Ehhh... But it isn't here at all, Tatsu..."

"Not yet, at least."

"It's exactly as Tatsu says. I remember the deer being around here at this exact time."

So that's why he picked this time in specific. Because the deer is supposedly around here this time. And just as I was about to get slightly skeptical about the deer's existence, from the shrouded forest's west edge, a deer walked in slowly basking in the virgin white moonlight.

"Wait, isn't tha---"

Unable to speak any further, Kuzan's mouth was tapped by Sagasuga's right-hand fingers. No one else spoke except Sagasuga, in an extremely low-toned voice.

Furthermore, we delved deeper into the bushes thus completely erasing our physical presence out of the deer's sight.

"There is a small lake nearby. The deer is walking into its direction. You will notice how the deer is linearly walking into a single direction only. That's because the lake is in that direction."

In other words, after Sagasuga had scared off the deer, he saw where it was heading and he captured the sight of that lake. Supposedly. According to his words and what they imply.

"Here is the plan of action. I will need you five to launch a preemptive attack onto the deer---"

"How can we do that when our distance is so damn large though...?"

Interrupting Sagasuga, Rayazaki turned skeptical and asked the reason behind his words impatiently.

"The deer won't come any closer. We are fully assuming that. That's why we need to, or rather, you five need to launch an attack onto him, and here is why..."

2 minutes later.

"If I die, you'll have to avenge me, Kawahara."

"Unless Sagasuga has a terrible aim, that shouldn't happen."

After reaching a consensus with Sagasuga's short plan, Kuzan, Rayazaki, Tatsu, Tsudo, and I were softly getting up from the bushes in a crooked position. Closer and closer, we took very small steps.

Sagasuga, on the other hand, remained on the bush without moving; only with his ax on his left hand's edge, ready to get thrown.

"All we have to do is scare it off, right...?"

"Sagasuga wouldn't propose something so illogical without a valid reason behind it. Remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Tatsu... But, why can't he just do that from that distance? Why must we five have to scare the deer? Also, whoever pussies out is dead. Are there any pussies here?!"

"Not the time to glorify your existential status, Tsudo."

"Why did I even bother to ask..."

Tsudo aside, our distance towards the deer was still large. Our footsteps couldn't be loud and we had to purposely look out for anything that would make a cracking sound if that would get stepped on. Although we were moving at the same pace, we weren't glued to each other. We hid behind the trees while moving forward in order to avoid being on the look.

Around 10 meters or so closed us from the deer who was walking slowly in a horizontal direction, moving from west to east. Everything was going smoothly and I started to notice that Sagasuga had joined us from behind, though with a noticeable distance as he wasn't glued to any of us. A 3-meter distance, so to speak.

Another step is taken; nothing cracked on. Avoiding being patient was far too essential to miss out on. The thought of scaring the deer away too early was stuck onto our minds after Sagasuga purposely had repeated way too many times to be careful about what you are about to step. Especially, he said that it would be ideal if we moved from tree to tree at the same rhythm and not in a random one, so we took caution while moving.

Scaring the deer away too early would make the task harder he said. The closer we are to the deer when we scared it off, the easier.

Yet another step into account. Remarkably only around 4 meters are left now. The end game is drawing far too near.

As we thought we could take another step, a crack was made onto the ground thus causing the necessary noise to alert the deer of its surroundings. Opting not to care about who had made that noise, I screamed the loudest shout from the depth of my lungs right away.

"NOW!!"

Producing war cries, we five attempted to grab the deer to make it easier for Sagasuga. Earlier while discussing the short plan, he had said that it would be optimal if the deer could be captured although the likelihood would be extremely small. And just like that, the rush had failed as the deer ran towards the east direction.

Falling on the ground shortly, Tatsu, Tsudo, and Kuzan looked back on Sagasuga. Ultimately, Rayazaki and I did the same but our glances were unable to fully connect with Sagasuga because a sharp object thrown obliquely towards the deer who was on the run was all that we could capture.

"Wh----"

Instantly reacting, Rayazaki declared his preoccupation as he felt the fear of the ax being spun around rapidly beyond his eyes' control.

I didn't react, but my breathing was stimulatingly heavier than usual, as the thought of being killed came across my mind the moment my glance collided with the air-moving ax.

Concluding, the deer was taken down by a perfect headshot delivered by Sagasuga himself. The reason as to why he wanted us to scare the deer off was so that the deer would walk into a direction and would start to panic. I can only imagine and I'm mostly sure that he launched the ax towards a direction that the deer was not yet under but would be in a matter of seconds thus noxiously causing the deer's life fatality.

"What the fuck was that just now..."

"Dog-eat-dog world. Never heard of the saying, Rayazaki?"

"Let's check if it's still alive---"

"It's not, Tatsu."

That interruption felt way too natural. Over-confidence was all over his speech just now. What sort of expression was he wearing while behind us; or rather, in the exact moment he threw the ax? I regret having my focus placed on the deer now.

"See? It hit its brain's right side. If it was on another spot, then the death wouldn't be that certain. Brain damage; it's inevitable to escape from once delivered."

Blood scattered on the forest's shallow ground became far too visible in this exposed stark moonlight.

"Now, let's carry it to the house, shall we?"

Upon hearing Sagasuga's suggestion, Rayazaki looked perplexed.

"How though...? Are we going to drag it?"

"B-But isn't this like... carrying a corpse?!"

"Kuzan, this is carrying a corpse. An animal's corpse."

Just had to clarify that.

"We are six. There should be an easy way to carry the deer."

"Tatsu's right. So, we should grab each part and hold it up high."

Tsudo's a dumbass.

"I think the most effective way to do it is to grab the deer by the up and front parts. For example, Tsudo you grab the deer's end and Tatsu grabs the legs. Kuzan and Rayazaki will handle the middle part while Kawahara and I will take on the up parts such as the neck and head. Agreed?"

"Sounds good."

Tsudo immediately agreed.

"No objections."

Without showing backlash, Tatsu went along just nice.

"Yeah, fine."

Kuzan as well.

"I still think we should drag it."

By contrast, Rayazaki held immense faith in his belief of dragging the deer.

"We are not dragging it, Rayazaki."

And I denied him as I grabbed the deer's neck after Sagasuga removed the bloody ax on the deer's head and thus placing the ax on the back of his uniform pants in order to utilize both of his hands.

"Would save us a lot and we wouldn't have to do this heavy lifting session. Just saying."

"Nothing wrong with a heavy lifting session though."

"Facts."

Ultimately adding that agreement to my words, Tatsu grabbed the deer's legs and with everything ready to go, we set our movement in motion with our end goal in mind being the house.

Around one hour or so later.

Our way back was prolonged due to the fact that we were quite literally doing a heavy lifting session. Yet something alerted us because we were inhaling more oxygen than usual. Borderline toxic smoke infiltrated our nostrils making us all cough simultaneously.

The first one to speak about this was Tsudo.

"W-What's up with all this smoke... I can't breathe..."

"Up ahead... Why is the light so strong...?!"

Expressing his worry, Rayazaki's eyes opened wide as he dropped the deer's part that he was carrying.

"R-Rayazaki?! Where are you going?!"

"I'm sorry, I'm gonna go ahead too! I'm having a bad feeling about this..."

Tatsu's confirmation taken into consideration, both Sagasuga and I at that time already most likely had a clear idea of where all of this smoke was coming from.

"We'll get the deer later. We must make haste!"

Officially dropping the deer, Tsudo, Sagasuga, and I sprinted towards the strong light's direction.

Stopping our tracks, after a grand total of four minutes had passed, we six witnessed the parameter indulging itself in a braze of scourging flames. The house that was built even further and the main part itself was corrupted with widespread fire not showing any signs of stopping soon.

"Damn it!"

"Who the fuck did this?!"

Tsudo and Rayazaki impulsively and dramatically showed discontent as they saw their work being put to flames' mercy.

Without a doubt, we've been had.