Alice in Borderland S1E3
Previously on Alice in Borderland
Now Episode 3
After reeling from the aftermath of last game, Arisu is croaching just outside where Usagi joins him. He isn't taking it well that it was a woman who had to die for them to live. Usagi assures him her blood is not on his hands. She bids him farewell but not without the parting words that if you aren't willing to do everything in your power to not die then just like...might as well just die. Worded more eloquently of course.
As the game concludes, Chisiya is seen just standing in the bloodied room where one of the taggers/players is dead, Taking a look in the pockets of the dead woman, he finds a piece of folded up paper with weird etchings on it. Weird.
It is afterall a new day and Shibuki uses her marker on a mirror to account for how many days has passed. She reflects on the life she had and the poor decisions she made that led up to that point. She sacrificed her morals to get up on the corporate ladder so she is going to continue using that same sentiment to survive this game.
Karube and Arisu return much to Chota's extreme glee as he limps over there with his one crutch.
Karube is a bit hurt from his scuffle from the 2nd tagger so Shibuki tends to his wounds. During so is when Karube tells the whole group about the "beach" he overheard on the dead player's walkie talkie. He's hoping that this is going to be their next destination and figure out what exactly is at this beach they speak of.
Welp. Shibuki and Chota's vias expire today so they have no choice but to play the game today which puts a pause on the Beach investigation.
Arisu reflects back on what Usagi last said to him as he is out on the balcony. Shibuki joins him as she lights her cigarette. They have a chat of their own but nothing too big just more of just survival talk anyway.
Karube makes his way back at the bar he used to work at to see if his ring was still there where he originally hid as he wanted to give to his boss' girl that he was romancing behind his back. Love triangles, man. Ugh. He takes the ring and joins back with his friends.
As time is ticking down, the group refuses to leave until Karube is back. Well, Arisu at least. Shibuki was just about to take Chota and take off since they don't have a lot of time before registration closes. Just in the nick of time he comes back and Chota snaps at him for nearly making their visa's expire but whatever he's there now so quit wasting more time then. Spit spot!!!
All four decide to face the same game together and make their way to enter the closes one and step over the scanner to seal their registration. It is currently located at a dreary botanical garden named Shinjuku. Conveniently, all 4 four phone are placed at a table BUT at the tables right next to 2 other tables with headsets and tools/weapons of some sort.
The time is now and graphics light up nearby signalling for them to place the headsets on them to commence the game officially. Which is the 7 of Hearts. Oooh sounds like a toughie.
It is noticed immediately that every time they look at each other is becomes a "locked target" due to facial recognition technology. Before the game begins, instructions are being instructed that the name of the game is "Hide and Seek".
Yes, Hide and Seek.
The object of the game is to hide from the "wolf" and they have 15 minutes. Whoever is "wolf" will win the game and the collars on the "lambs" will deactivate. That means dead, bro. Holy shit so that means only ONE player will survive. The wolf designated to start this game off is randomly selected and that is Chota.
He starts freaking the hell out and trying to take off his collar but Arisu tries to prevent him but in doing so Chota locks eyes with Arisu and now he becomes the new wolf. In further panic, it causes him to look at Karube. Now this motherfucker is the new wolf.
All four are still standing there as the timer is ticking down so what the fuck? The second Karube locks eyes with Shibuki she makes a mad dash into the botanical gardens.
That's when it really dawns on them that it is really the WOLF that should be hiding from the lambs! So Karube angrily chases after her.
Oh lordy he sounds so scary when he yells haha.
Poor Chota because he is still on crutches so he really cannot get that far.
Another thing to note is that there is also a communication system so all of them can hear and talk to each other in real time. Arisu and Chota tell Karube to leave Shibuki alone once they hear him catch him with her. He tries with all his might to get her to look at him and eventually does. He tries to skedaddle away but Shibuki gets the upper hand with clocks his side repeatedly with a rock. Cold blooded, yo.
Arisu gets close enough that at a simple wince of a glance to his right, now Arisu is the current wolf. Aaaand he runs off.
Chota is head on the headset sobbing and praying. Poor guy. He ain't doing shit though.
As the rest of the 3 are chasing each other with less than 10 minutes left on the clock Arisu implores is that all he needs is time to figure out how all four of them can survive this game. Shibuki and Karube got him cornered on both sides both saying they ain't no way out. Right when Shibuki was about to rush Arisu Chota makes a grand entrance and tackles her down to give Arisu a way to escape.
Karube is not too far behind now and grabs his ax along the way.
Thinking he has some ample time, Arisu used a couple of the tools from the table at the beginning of the game to attempt to pry open his headset/collar. All during this time Karube is yelling like a demented villain.
8 minutes remaining and he is frantically trying to do at least something ANYTHING! but he comes to conclusion this is one where he cannot use his wits to get out of. He now flashes back to his father and brother talking shit about him at the dinner table. Ehhh. But yeah he is just curled up in a ball somewhere while hearing Karube continuing to yell his obscenities.
Chota continues to hold Shibuki down.
Karube eventually stops his banter when he picks up his dropped ring he was intending to give to his special lady and just remineces the time he had with her. It is now less than 5 minutes left and he is finally facing his mortality.
Meanwhile Arisu continues to reminesce at that flashback that while his family is talking mad shit about him, Karube and Chota are outside which lights up his face and joins them outside where they have the time of their lives doing a montage of fun shit. And que the sad music because Arisu knows time is coming to a close as he is cherishing all the happy memories they all have together both the good times and the bad. He is now sobbing uncontrollably.
Arisu quits the game.
Uhh yeah I don't think that is possible but that is what he says but it ain't happening. Once calmed down, he is shouting for Chota and Karube running around to find them probably hoping to bestow them the new wolf but everyone is intentionally staying silent.
He continues to run and that is when the true meaning of the 7 of Hearts means in this particular game. When it was originally said for the lambs to hide so that the wolf won't find them is because if you care about someone the most, you would want them to survive, right? That's what I guessed anyway. Which explains why Karube ducked out when Arisu got close to him and why Chota was covering Shibuki's mouth.
Karube breaks the silence to tell Arisu to stop yelling and brings up other warm memories. Arisu begs for him to come out but they are all still refusing to make themselves known. Such a sad scene.
Less than a minute left.
As the timer comes to a close, Arisu comes nearly face to face with Karube whose face is slightly angled away but enough for him to say "Thank you." and timer ticks down and Karube's collar explodes just when Arisu runs up to catch up to him. His lifeless body falls to the ground and Arisu cries uncontrollably.
And cries. And cries.