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VIDEO: Himatsubushi-hen | TIP 4: The Chick in the Trunk
BGM: Silence
SFX: Crickets
But he didn't know any more than that.
For not only was he blindfolded, but locked in the trunk of the car.
How could people become this powerless just by being robbed of their sight? He absolutely wouldn't have known this without experiencing it firsthand.
He soon realized it was pointless to try and undo his bonds, with the confines of the trunk quickly making him lightheaded. He had no choice but to let this mild torture dull his senses.
That's why, when the car stopped and the unpleasant vibration ceased as the engine was killed, he couldn't help but delude himself that he was being set free, even though nothing had been resolved in reality.
Of course, he was soon removed from that delusion.
He strained his ears when he heard one of the men who had abducted him and an older man he was hearing for the first time strike up a conversation...
"...Ohh, musta been a handful."
The trunk opened, letting in a blast of fresh, cool air.
Even though up until just now he had been thinking about getting out of that stuffy trunk, when it was actually opened, he suddenly became uneasy.
...Enough so that he wished that the lid of the trunk would once again close, separating himself from them.
Suddenly, somebody stroked his head.
Of course, since he was blindfolded, he couldn't tell if the hand was petting him or simply evaluating how easy it would be to remove his scalp. Unable to tell the difference, he could only freeze as he imagined the worst-case scenario…
The older man said that kindly as he gently stroked the boy's head.
"This mus' be real tough for ya... But ya see, yer gramps is a nice man. 'E'll 'elp ya soon enough..."
Having heard nothing but the average standard dialect his whole life, the older man's distinct intonation left a deep impression on the boy.
But he had no idea what he was saying.
For 'yer gramps' to register as meaning 'your grandfather' took a while to process...
"...Can't keep his eyes covered... if he splits his face open it'd be bad."
"Hm... An' with tha'... We migh' as well take out tha gag. 'E kent breathe like tha'..."
"...It'll be trouble if he yells... Leave him to us..."
"...Geez, ya guys dunno how ta treat somebody!! ...Tha main family said no rough stuff. Ya better remember tha' well..."
"Yeah. We won't do anything stupid. ...As long as the kid cooperates, that is."
A rugged hand, unlike the affectionate one that had been stroking his head before.
Just stay cooperative.
If you struggle, there's no guarantee what will happen. That cliched threat was literally beaten into his head.