Discussion Alice in Borderland

Chapter 11 was good. Opened to Shibuki running for her life, wanting to get away otherwise she'll be killed. Wonder if she's running from Arisu and the others, or other players in general? It seems both Chota and Shibuki don't expect to make it out alive.

What even is that attitude that Shibuki had to Arisu and Karube? Feels like she's trying to split Chota away from them. Do the not have a right to rest a little for the next game? Karube is probably injured worse than Chota, and was still trying to help them survive. It's probably the pressure of it, but giving some real **** vibes suddenly.

Chota is crumbling now too. Not wanting "nasty" canned food as a last meal, already accepting his death to them. Karube tries to get him to pull himself together, but this just ends up with Chota crashing out at him and trying to pick a fight. Arisu de-escalated the situation.

Arisu tries to talk to Shibuki about finding a game, and provide some encouragement about not worrying about the game with the four of them, but Shibuki is seemingly splitting them up. Somehow pitting it that Arisu and Karube won't participate because they have 6 days on their visa not 1. She's even spinning it that Arisu's "detachment" is making Chota "anxious". LMAO.

Karube tried to talk to Shibuki about what she said and did with Chota to try and resolve their issues to be able to work together, but she just asked him to leave them alone.

Karube finally reveals his wound to Arisu, and in concern now Arisu is wanting Karube to rest due to them both having six days. It's not invalid, but Karube just tells him to stuff it, obviously Karube is trying to keep the crumbling group together. Arisu agrees he was out of line.

So Karube hasn't told anyone about the information from the radio. He's only just now told Arisu 2 hours before the game to trust him, and if they can make it to the beach, things will go their way if they can survive the next game.

10 minutes before the game, Karube is trying to rally their support, asking them to forget their spats yesterday for their survival and to work together.

This game has unlimited participants, a 10 minute time limit and the prize is Ram's meat. They also have a table to pick weapons from. Before entering, they're directed to put on collars that presumably will explode, but also have some sort of eye piece, like a scanner maybe. Anyone that refuses will be "disposed of". So the sensors are for tracking pupil movements and locking onto moving targets.

The game is Hide and Seek. The rules are there is one wolf and the remaining players are sheep who must hide from the wolf. Once the wolf has a sheep in their sight, the sensors will trigger. The wolf and sheep will trade roles. After switching, the new wolf counts to three while the new sheep hides. The conditions for completing the game are when 10 minutes of game time has elapsed, whoever is in the wolf role will complete the game. The game pits them all against each other, as the sheep collars will all explode. The game guarantees a single survivor. Does that mean it's actually possible for others to also survive somehow?

Chota is the first wolf. He looks at Arisu asking for guidance, only for Arisu to become the wolf. Arisu is desperately trying to think of a solution that will allow them to survive. He looks at Shibuki making her the sheep, and she runs for it. It looks like even Karube has given up hope. Damn, looks like Karube has resolved himself to kill Shibuki?

 

All good dude. Again, no stress if we don't get 10 in a week, just whatever works out.

 

Chapter 12 was good. Damn, Karube really going in to kill Shibuki. Chota desparately yelling at him to stop. Shibuki used the butt of the axe to hit Karube's wound, throwing him off. Then she looked at Chota, switching him to be the wolf. While this madness is going on, Arisu is still desperately trying to think outside of the box to come up with a solution. The game is obviously designed to have them kill each other, and he realises that.

Chota is begging Arisu to not leave him to die, only for him to turn around with the, "Sorry, Chota, we aren't friends anymore." Damn. Even Karube is asking Arisu to come out, otherwise he'll hunt him down and kill him. To make it worse, the sensor's have an ear piece, allowing them to all hear each other. Arisu can hear their anger, frustration and despair as he hides. Arisu's just trying to think negatively about the group, so he doesn't give up his position of survival.

Chota is actually the one to come forward and not want things to end the way they are. He actually comes forward about the secret he and Shibuki had, that they were sleeping together while they were out playing their game. Chota actually feels that he betrayed his friends and is remorseful of "running away" to the point he apologises for being friends.

Throughout high school, Chota and Arisu only had first period together. Arisu's initial impression of Chota was someone that was stupid, tried too hard to be liked, and wasn't someone to want as a friend. T his was while Arisu's father had max disappointment in him. Arisu actually picked up one thing he enjoyed thanks to a music teacher telling him that it wasn't a competition and was up to him how to enjoy it. With those words, he worked a part time job and practiced daily, not feeling the need to have to measure up to others. Arisu was devastated to find out the music teacher was transferred. Arisu's father had influence over that as the superintendent. He also threw Arisu's guitar away, viewing it as a waste and that he should simply study more. In his rage, Arisu threw a rock through the window. Coincidentally, Chota was passing by, and volunteered to take the blame. Chota took the blame, because he saw that Arisu had a sad look, and it was no skin off his back to do it.

Thinking back on the memories of their time as friends (Arisu, Chota and Karube), Arisu gets extremely emotional. Arisu elects to put an end to it, and has decided to forfeit the game. Chota's words and kindness really got to him.

 

Chapter 13 was good. Karube asked Arisu what he wanted to do after finishing school. Turns out Arisu actually did have something in mind, he wanted to be a "travel writer". I had the same question as Karube. A travel writer travels the world and writes about it for the papers, and he wanted to then compile the articles into a book. So, kind of like a vlogger, but back before that was really a thing. He also wants to travel to Australia.

Back in the game, Arisu announced he's heading to the door under the monitor, and the others can go and find him if they choose, if they want to live. Arisu's plan is, once becoming a sheep, he'll hide where a wolf won't find him.

Arisu has decided to reject the game, as he doesn't want to live at their expense. Looks like Arisu's words got to Karube too, and he's thinking the same thing. Karube thinks he shouldn't be the one to survive and is thankful they both reminded him of what was important after loosing himself.

Chota isn't going to find Arisu. He's utterly terrified of dying, but he can accept laying his life down for a friend.

Shibuki opts to search for Arisu, as she's desperate to live and "doesn't have time to play friends".

Karube confessed the reason for his dream to own a ranch in Australia is because Arisu said he wanted to go to Australia. Karube thought that Arisu may gvisit his ranch, in a few decades once they both had achieved their dreams. Karube would teach Arisu's kid how to look after sheep, and he and Arisu would have a beer and reminisce. That was Karube's dream.

Shibuki seems to be somewhat disgusted at how they set aside their previous behaviour, and assures herself that she'll have no remorse over her actions, over a "rotten lot" which seems like she may not be truthful. Sure enough, she breaks down at the thought of surviving with their lives on her back. But she did feel like that before they opened up.

Arisu is full despairing realising they have all resolved to let him live, and hide from him. Karube passes on to find the beach, and that there should be an answer there. As the counter hits zero, the seem to give their last words. To Karube, he was the best friend. Shibuki requests he lives on for them. Chota hits him with the "see you later". The collars seemed to explode. I really did expect it to end up with some fake out, where them not killing each other would give a hidden win, so in a way I'm glad it didn't pull some fake out shit. But also, RIP to them. Especially Karube, he was a real one.

Sure enough, the game is complete. Arisu gets his prize of Ram's meat. In pure rage and despair, Arisu declares he'll never forgive the one(s) responsible for the games, and will kill them. With the trauma, Arisu couldn't remember much, but he wanted to send them off himself, so he set the entire game area aflame. While Arisu kept telling himself, in exchange for his life, he'd avenge his friends. But he just was devoid of will and motivation, including what happened to himself.

3 days later, and day 7 of Arisu being in Borderland, he's got 10 days remaining on his visa. We see Usagi has a camp of her own, and has been hunting to survive. She comes across an emaciated Arisu and asks if he wants to live. She walks off after no response.

 

Chapter 14 was good. So, Usagi actually did help Arisu. He's saved, but still dazed. I wonder what he wanted to say regarding hi thoughts, before it was cut off by Usagi. It's curious that she actually helped him despite rejecting joining up previously. I suppose, she did help in the game too. She made some instant porridge. While anything fresh has perished by now, vacuum-sealed food is fine. Due to the starvation, it's the most delicious thing Arisu has tasted. Usagi even got him a set of clothes to change into, although she warned him about the fashion. The shirt has the text Depressed on it LMAO.

Usagi's flashback is a bit weird, but just kids being cruel and kids. She was invited to Megu's birthday, another kid. She asked her to not hang out with her other friend's group because "they're kind of sad" and Usagi could hang out with them because she's "kind of cute". On the flip side, Usagi's other friend heard that she went to Megu's party, and asked Usagi not to hang out with Mehu because she "was always bragging'.

In the end, Usagii just wanted to be friends with both of them, and continued to do so, but when they found out she was still friends with the other, she was a "liar" and a "traitor" so they didn't want to be friends with her anymore.

Over time, Usagi came to hate majority rule, as she found that being in the minority meant your views and values are dismissed usually. When she got home, she was extremely happy to see her father home. It seems he's absent a lot due to his mountain climbing. He is off to climb Everest next, after just getting done with Aconcagua. The route he was going was one which hadn't ever been traversed and he was doing it solo without oxygen or outside help. Her and her father bonded over mountain climbing, and she didn't have to worry about other things.

The media painted her father as a liar and accused him of using oxygen cartridges. As a result their house was graffitied with insults. Usagi found his dead body after he hung himself. He left her a note that he didn't lie.

Day 1 of Usagi's borderland, has her waking up outside of their house, so at the very least, it's based on their world, but could be their actual world transformed somehow. Day 4 showed her meeting with Arisu and day 9 her meeting Arisu again, and him actually saying he wanted to live, just barely. Usagi see's a lot of herself in Arisu, both having lost what was dear to them, but still striving to survive. So, they'll live on together.

Arisu resolves to avenge the others and put an end to the games, so he and Usagi can escape.

At the end, we're shown a snippet of the beach. Things don't look good. At first glance, people seem appy and partying, but then we cut to people throwing corpses out. If they aren't corpses, I suppose they're just drugged up people.

 

In that case, you'd have thought she'd have latched onto Karube, but I guess if we go with that, maybe she just went for the easier target, and drive a wedge into the group to her favour.

I swear, it's like Karube is the only one trying to actually help the group and survive.

 

I'll be honest, I still don't get Shibuki's "plan" of intentionally (seemingly) dividing the group lol. I guess it was just her trying to ensure her own survival but weakening the group, but it's still vague if it was actually a plan like that.

Yeah, this game is brutal. Mask off game, where they are just blatantly like the one to kill everyone lives.

 

Chapter 15 was good. Day 4 of Arisu being in borderland, has him out scouting on a bike asking people if they've heard about "the beach". So far, he's had no luck. Arisu has jut been tracking down the game areas before sunset, not joining, and asking the gathered players for any information they have on the beach.

Arisu is impressed with the survival skills Usagi has from her time outdoors. He actually has motivation to try and learn from her. Maybe part of that might be to impress her. Arisu tried to sleep outside, but kept getting eaten alive by mosquitos. In the end, Usagi forced him into the tent. Her view is any impairment from sleep deprivation could be fatal. She rolled over onto her side to sleep and Arisu thought she was giving him a "hint". Christ. Probably will happen, as was hinted with Chota.

Day 9 of Arisu's visit, he's been picking up tracking quickly from Usagi. She seems impressed. He's continuing to question various people about the beach. They either get annoyed at him as they're "busy", think he's crazy, or are somehow uppity and don't want to talk.

Day 10 has Usagi teaching him about cutting trees it seems, presumably for fire wood, or building a shelter. Wandering around, it seems that he's profiled people at this point into potential groups for "the beach". He's convinced if he asks specifically about the beach, they won't say a word as part of a "test". I assume he's profiling people on how they are acting, if they're calm or not. I presume this is under the thought the beach is a safe haven of sorts.

Damn, the snippets of that game were absolutely brutal, and it ended up with some large explosions too, or the various games over the city did. Seems Arisu and Usagi are in luck, the group they are tailing all survived the game.

So, what Arisu actually picked up, is that they groups are always groups of four people in an organised manner, and they always wear keys of some sort on their wrists. Damn, it seems this group even has a working car.

Day 11 has Arisu having caught a frog which is his food. The next group also have arrived. Again, they've got the keys and are using a car.

Day 12 and they've found some Radishes to eat. A bit small, but should still do. No people that day.

Day 13 notes Arisu with 4 days left on his visa and Usagi with 5. Looking at the map, Arisu finally found the beach, by note of the Tama Pacific Beach Resort Hotel. Sure enough, arriving there, they see a large amount of people enjoying themselves in/by a pool. It seems that Arisu is disappointed at finding the beach. He thought that everything would be fine when found, but he senses that the answers they want won't be there.

The "number one" of the beach seems like a psychopath. Seems like they're in a very dangerous place. According to him, it's their ideal utopia. Apparently, they have the answers they seek.

 

Yeah, legit. Karube's the MVP.