We burst into the library, and everyone else is already there. The [Dragon] is at the end of a long table, reading, and speaks without looking up.

[Dragon]: You’re late.

[Yuri]: How can we be late when we weren’t invited in the first place?

He sets the book aside; I can’t read the title in this low light, but I do see the cover’s leathery scales.

The [Horse] and I take a seat, but the [Rat] continues to stand. He slouches near the shelves, rage in his eyes.

[Dragon]: [Horse], [Ox], [Rabbit], everyone I’ve called you all here for a reason. It’s-

[Rat]: -to confess to what you did? You masterminded that dumpster fire yesterday. No one’s going to believe you’re Town even if you call a meeting to save your skin.

The [Dragon] smiles uneasily, a taut, fragile expression. Then all the tension leaves him, and he leans back in his chair and laughs.

[Dragon]: That’s right. I’m a Wolf.

The [Rat]’s mouth is agape, whether in surprise or to interrupt, I don’t know. The [Dragon] bulldozes through, talking confidently but quick.

[Dragon]: Just because I’m a Wolf hasn’t meant I’ve lost the right to speak. Even a condemned man is granted his last words, though I’d rather pose a final question to everyone instead.

[Dragon]: Try to remember. What’s our true goal?

[Rat]: To win the game.

The [Rat] strikes the shelf, and books and dust fall to the floor. When the case stosp shaking all eyes turn again to the [Dragon].

[Dragon]: Take this seriously. Think about what we want as people, not as players.

[Horse]: To avoid murder?

The [Rabbit] raises her hand and murmurs.

[Rabbit]: To escape…

[Dragon]: Almost. Does it take only three days for us to lose hope? It’s for all of us to survive!

[Horse]: T-that’s true! Maybe we could build a boat.

But the silence that falls afterward gives her a better answer than what anyone can bring themselves to say.

No one here is a sailor, carpenter, or engineer. And to build a boat in a few hours that could last days in a great wide sea would be something only a fool would attempt.

[Dragon]: I have another proposal. In this room are two Wolves, three Town, and one Seer. Let’s do some math.

I expect the [Horse] to call out, but she’s lost in thought.

[Dragon]: I die today. The remaining Wolf kills at night. You kill them tomorrow, if you’re lucky. Town wins.

The [Horse] doesn’t shout, but whispers the answer, without the question having been asked.

[Horse]: Three people survive.

[Dragon]: On the other hand, the game ends when the number of Wolves and Townspeople are equal.

[Dragon]: “The Wolves win if their numbers are equal to or greater than the Town.” Those are the exact words. They never said that the losers are killed.

[Dragon]: So let’s say today we execute a Town. Then, I kill a Town during the night, and the Wolves win the game. If that happens-

[Horse]: Four. Four people survive.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

This is too suspicious. It’s true that the rules don’t say surviving townspeople will perish when they lose. But the other rules don’t mention death either.

Players are ‘murdered’ at night and are ‘executed’ during the day. This is the same language used in normal mafia where no one dies. Yet here the bodies keep piling up; I wouldn’t be surprised if the losers of this game are summarily killed.

[Rat]: We’re so close to a Town win! I can taste it!

[Rat]: We just have to kill him, and we’ll easily find that last Wolf! We’ve already reached the goal, we just have to convert.

I don’t know why the [Dragon] called this meeting when he was never going to get a unanimous decision to stop playing the game.

Even if we did agree to a drawing where the shortest-straws are marked for death, would those two really just agree to die quietly?

[Rat]: Hell no! You think we’ll throw away our pride and grovel at you?

With his wild flurried gestures, the paper he had snatched earlier from the [Horse] falls from his hoodie and flutters to the ground.

Meet in the library at nine am sharp.

I have something important to discuss.

Yours,

Dragon

Oh…

I know why the Dragon sent only four letters. And why he proposed this plan. My mouth goes dry.

[Yuri]: I’ll consider this.

[Dragon]: Will you? I thought you’d be warier, but I’d welcome your collaboration.

[Yuri]: I don’t like it. But like I said, I’ll think about it.

And I don’t like either how the [Dragon] is looking at me. It’s not because I detect pity or hate; it’s that in his benign mien there’s no emotion whatsoever, and this perfect concealment is what makes me shudder.

Another voice comes, this one a reprieve like a sunbeam through the rain.

[Horse]: I won’t follow this plan.

[Yuri]: Ah! If she’s not following it, then I won’t either.

The [Dragon] shoots me a sideways glance. Whose side are you on?, it’s as if that’s what he’s asking me. But in the end he turns towards the [Horse].

[Dragon]: Oh? Is there something wrong with the plan’s principles?

[Horse]: I like the idea that we’d work together and make sure the most people survive.

[Horse]: But the Town still gets blood on their hands during the day.

[Horse]: I’d only go along with it if at the Trials we always tie our votes, and the Wolves murder at night til the game ends.

[Horse]: With that new plan, we don’t need executions. The Town won’t need to hurt and kill anymore; when we go home, we’ll go home free.

[Dragon]: You mean, you’ll go home with a free conscience. The Wolves would shed all the blood.

The [Ox] leans forward.

[Ox]: I agree with the [Horse]. If we have to vote and kill someone to survive, I will vote. But if I can avoid that I’ll be happy.

[Ox]: If I return to my brothers and sisters a murderer, what would they think?

The [Dragon] presses his hands against his forehead.

[Dragon]: This plan is more complicated, but I think we can still make it work. [Snake]? [Rabbit]? Is this plan fine for you?

[Snake]: …I suppose I accept.

If those two both accepted, It’s not like I have a choice!

The [Dragon] nudges the Rabbit.

[Rabbit]: This has all been like a bad dream. I consent.

There’s Hope in this library. The charismatic dark-haired teen has conjured it once more; and almost everyone welcomes this faithful spirit.

But to me, it’s a frightful wraith summoned with the blood of the two that we will choose to sacrifice. The [Rat] must see it too, within those dark eyes. Or perhaps he sees something even more dreadful; that rather than a Hope carrying the keys to escape it's a Reaper carrying a scythe.

[Rat]: I’m on a team chock-full of stupid weak-willed wimps. You don’t deserve to win, but if I have to drag you kicking and screaming to victory, then I will.

[Rat]:. This isn’t about hope but pride. If we just let the game happen to us, if we don’t take control, then how will we ever be satsified with surviving?

[Rat]: We can either be victors over adversary or victims of a tragedy. I don’t want to remember these days as ones where we were powerless and traumatized.

Rather than inspiring, his speech is like a cornered animal’s claw - sharp, desperate, indiscriminate.

[Horse]: …but, this game is already something that makes me very sad. Killing Wolves won’t change that.

The [Rat] shoves both hands into his pockets and stares up at the ceiling. Everyone’s faces are shrouded with confusion, frustration, depression, and fear. But as for myself, I feel that I’m starting to understand the [Rat], the player-celebrity named ‘Shinji’.

Though of course I still hate him.

[Dragon]: There’s still some time left before the Trial; everyone can contemplate til then. I hereby call this meeting to a close.