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Hideo coer and worry His eyes lock on mine, and some of his expression dissolves into relief

"You’re awake," he says as he sits down on the side ofat the TV My"Pulled? Really? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Would you have me keep you both in and risk everyone’s lives?" Hideo replies "We didn’t kno long it would take for you to wake up I had to h it seems to be directed inward; his expression reminds me of how he looked as he spoke about his brother

"What about not caving to intimidation?"

"That was before Zero threatened you and other players"

"Hoill takingto do during the final gahtens "But I’d rather not see you involved in it The whole reason for entering you in the games was for you to have better access to infor you possibly can frohs "It’s o"

The thought of abandoningtheir chances at a winI closeto the police"

"He’s in custody, yes, and being interrogated"

I start shakingout of him that way His arrest will only alert Zero that you’re on to hiround Hideo, coame sponsored in the Dark World, I’ll have no--"

"You won’t be," Hideo interrupts His eyes searchyou off the job"

I blink "You’re firingyou the bounty," he replies Why does he sound so distant? His tensionBut--every locked door has a key I haven’t found the key yet--I can’t leave now "It’s not about the bounty," I say

"You’ve earned it Thein your account now"

The ten ust "You have to stop doing that Why do you always think you can just throw et them to do what you want?"

"Because it was the whole reason why you came here in the first place," Hideo says, his tone clipped "I’ you what you wanted"

"What the hell do you know about what I wanted?" My voice rises I can feel the burn of hts--then,to find a reason to live All of one, deleted, taken by Zero I can’t look back on my memories of my father if I wanted to "You think I’ by writing a check?"

Hideo’s eyes seeht"

"Orin our dorms before the bomb went off Listen--he didn’t show up there to threaten me just on a whim, or just because he noho I am We tracked down Ren and have proof that he’s connected to Zero’s mission You even have him in custody now Thatin, and that’s why he’s lashing out Planting a bo the authorities in an attempt to keep me off his trail We’ve backed him into a corner All of the momentum is on our side"

"And that means he’s at his most unpredictable," Hideo finishes "This is so to see another boo off just because I want you to catch him for us"

"Just because you take ain"

"I know That’s why I’ve cancelled every dome event"