Alice in Borderland (今際の国のアリス)

Now, all the surviving players will be given a choice.

Please select whether you will accept permanent residence in this land

or if you will not accept it.

I…

don't want permanent residence.

I also…

don't want it.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THIS LAND ACCEPT / DO NOT ACCEPT

Of course, I'll take it.

I will gladly take it as well.

This place offers endless possibilities.

I saw a red light.

But…

I thought it was fireworks, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

I hid in a toilet stall with my friends.

I won't go into how we got there.

But then everything went quiet.

I don't remember anything after that.

The meteorite strike caused you to go into cardiac arrest, correct?

That's right.

Do you remember anything else?

There's nothing else.

Do you remember dreaming while you were unconscious?

Did I dream?

About games.

"Games"?

Did you?

A dream about games where your life was on the line.

No.

You didn't?

But…

But what?

I feel like I dreamed about a journey.

"A journey"?

Like I went to… a far-off land.

Don't push yourself too hard. Thank you for your time today.

Please, Matsuyama. No leading questions.

They might distort his memories.

Multiple survivors mentioned games.

You may have planted the idea.

Fireworks came up again. Multiple survivors mentioned that.

It was probably just the meteor.

They all clearly experienced the same thing.

A former genius researching the afterlife… He's lost it.

He wasn't always like this.

-The Shibuya meteorite changed everyone. -No, before that.

That accident five years ago, where the student died.

Oh, right.

That.

There was nothing I could do.

I'm sorry.

Forgive me.

The main hall is that way. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

I found your dream about a journey very interesting.

I'd love to hear more sometime.

Please contact me directly if you remember anything.

Okay, I will.

Even if it seems absurd.

"Absurd"?

Something no one else would believe.

All right?

This way.

Arisu.

Hey. Sorry it took so long.

-You must be tired. -Sorry. Were you waiting long?

This is my wife.

-Mr. Matsuyama is an assistant professor. -Hello.

My wife was also interviewed here today.

You were in Shibuya too?

-That's right. -I see.

Would you tell me your story next time?

-Okay. -I'm Ryuji Matsuyama.

ASST. PROFESSOR, DEPT. OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY SHUSHIKAN UNIVERSITY

I'll be in touch.

Sure.

What did they ask you?

A bunch of stuff about dreams and other things.

Like we could ever remember.

I wish my university was this big.

Have you gotten used to your counseling internship?

Yeah, pretty much.

I bet I'll get hired full-time after I graduate next year.

Wow! I finally get a proper husband.

Excuse me?

Takuma Hagio.

Sumiko Murakoshi.

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES

Saaya Ishii.

ANSWERS FROM THE AFTERLIFE

Shuto Aida.

In my study, the aforementioned ten subjects…

spoke of near-death experiences.

They all had…

COHORT STUDY ON TOKYO METEORITE SURVIVORS

…the exact same dream.

A journey.

A deserted city.

Games.

Fireworks.

MESSAGE

I CAN SEE YOUR AFTERLIFE

NEAR-DEATH SUPPORT GROUP INFO

THERE'S A SHADY GROUP USING GROUP HYPNOSIS

TELL ME MORE. I'LL PAY 100 COINS

DEAL. ASK "HIM" FOR DETAILS

MR. LORD VIEW PROFILE

100 COINS COINS SENT

MR. R, I FOUND A LEAD THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Whoa!

I can't believe this is Shibuya.

Seriously?

Whoa!

Are you Mr. R?

Yes, I'm R.

So… are you interested in that seminar too?

Yes.

Could you invite me?

I heard there's a strict referral…

Let me know when you're ready.

-Tea, please. -I'll have the same.

Okay.

I wouldn't recommend it.

But

if you do go, you'll understand

it's the real deal.

What sort of experience did you have?

We do strange things.

"Strange things"? Like what?

Games.

"Games"?

Yes.

They're exhilarating.

Like a sacred ritual.

You'll receive an email invitation in a week.

Go to the specified location.

(NO SUBJECT)

MR. R, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST

AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW, WE HEREBY INVITE YOU TO THE "SEMINAR"

TUE, OCT 14, 2024, 23:00 KOTO SIDE OFFICE

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ATTENDANCE, MR. R

Thank you for coming.

Please be seated over here.

Please take a seat.

On that chair.

You shouldn't move once you've sat down.

Now then, let's begin the game.

What game?

I came here for a near-death experience.

You can only take part in the journey if you win this game.

"Journey"?

Let's begin.

The game is Old Maid.

Please take your cards.

Any pairs in your hand must be discarded.

I have a pair!

Whoever has the Joker, aka Old Maid, at the end wins.

Okay, let's start with you.

drawn from their hand is eliminated.

What?

You all heard me, right?

You shouldn't move once you've sat down.

If you do, you're eliminated.

She's dead.

No way. It's just an act, right?

Now it's getting interesting.

Crap.

The odds are fifty-fifty.

One of us will die.

Welcome to Borderland.

Dad?

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Had a bad dream?

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I just need some water.

YUZUHA ARISU

RESIDENTIAL LEASE

We should consider buying someday instead of renting, right?

But first, we need to save some money.

Right.

We splurged on our wedding rings.

True.

What an unusual color.

That? I bought it by accident.

I really like this color.

You can have it.

Really? Yay.

Want some help moving?

No, I'll hire someone. I've got work too.

I'll let you handle this.

Sure.

Gotta go. Bye.

-Take care. -See you.

You're still brushing your teeth?

You'll be late. Bye.

Okay, see you.

On the 19th of this month, seven seminar attendees