Episode 1 of *Alice in Borderland* Season 3 opens with Arisu seated for an interview, recounting his experiences in the aftermath of the meteorite strike that devastated the city. Though his memories of the games and the surreal realm of Borderland remain elusive, a haunting sense pervades his mind—like waking from a profound dream of an epic journey to a distant, unknown land. Snippets of recollection flutter at the edges of his consciousness, yet he cannot grasp the full picture of what he has lost.
Leading this investigative pursuit is Ryuji Matsuyama, an assistant professor specializing in psychopathology at Shushikan University. His obsession with near-death experiences has driven him to interview numerous survivors of the meteorite's impact. Among the recurring themes in their accounts are mentions of mysterious games and dazzling fireworks. While Arisu’s account diverges slightly from the others, the overall consistency among the ten individuals Ryuji has interviewed is striking—including Usagi. However, Ryuji proceeds with caution, wary of inadvertently implanting false memories through his probing.
Arisu and Usagi, now married, strive to leave the traumas of the meteorite behind them. They share a cozy apartment and have settled into their daily routines, but Usagi is tormented by recurring nightmares—vivid replays of her father’s tragic leap to his death.
Ryuji, like a shark sensing blood in the water, continues his relentless pursuit of truth surrounding the games and the shared hallucinations. His investigations lead him to an invitation to a “seminar” at the Koto Side Office, where discussions on near-death experiences are to take place. This office building, however, serves as a grueling initiation—a test to determine whether Ryuji possesses the resilience and courage necessary to survive the perilous games of Borderland.
Upon entering the office, Ryuji finds himself surrounded by a group of strangers and a large table at the center, encircled by chairs. Almost immediately, he is thrust into a seemingly simple card game. Each participant holds a hand of cards, and the objective is clear: the last person remaining with the Joker card in their hand wins, while any pairs can be discarded to thin out the competition.
However, the moment the Joker card is drawn from a player's hand, that player faces instant elimination—a fate sealed by a colossal electric shock that delivers a lethal blow. The same dire consequence awaits anyone who dares to rise from their seat prematurely. The game rages on relentlessly until Ryuji, as one might predict, emerges triumphant, vanquishing all other contenders. As he claims victory, he is warmly embraced into the enigmatic realm of the Borderland by none other than Banda, who now appears to be serving as its recruiter.
At work, Arisu is met with a surprising visitor—Ann, who materializes before him and unveils that their paths have crossed before. She also hints at having discovered a means to re-enter the perilous games. Arisu, of course, is plagued by amnesia and can't recall a thing, but Ann stands firm in her assertion.
Meanwhile, Usagi finds herself at the Seaside Paradise Hotel, the very stage where much of Season 1 unfolded. The sight of the hotel triggers fragmented memories of the games, with visions of the massacre flickering across her mind's eye like fleeting shadows.
That night, Usagi calls Arisu in tears, her voice trembling with emotion as she offers heartfelt apologies. Arisu, alarmed, senses that something dire has transpired. When he consults with the police, they reveal surveillance footage of Usagi leaving the Waterfront Hotel in the company of Ryuji.
The authorities dismiss it as a mere affair, but Arisu harbors doubts. Delving deeper, he scours Ryuji's office and uncovers video clips featuring Usagi. In them, she speaks of a haunting nightmare and confesses her inability to share her harrowing experiences with Arisu. She knows she ought to move forward, yet finds herself trapped in the past, unable to break free.
That fateful night, Arisu found himself confronted by Banda, who sought to entice him back into the perilous games, this time alongside his wife. As Banda slipped a playing card into Arisu's pocket, a flood of memories from the games surged back. The card, as one might anticipate, was none other than the enigmatic Joker.
Meanwhile, at the hospital that very same night, Usagi lay in a comatose state, her condition dire. Arisu's heart sank with concern, his worries escalating when he discovered that she was pregnant. Yet, Usagi was not the sole occupant of the ward; lying in the adjacent bed was Ryuji, also ensnared in a coma.
Both men had borne Joker cards in their pockets when discovered, and Arisu couldn't shake the feeling that Banda was behind this ominous turn of events. Seeking answers, he turned to Ann at the sanitorium, who revealed a crucial piece of information: there existed a significant time gap, precisely two minutes, between the realms of life and death.
At this juncture, Arisu found himself entering a unique state, which Ann believed to be a manifestation of the collective unconsciousness and the very reason they had been able to experience that otherworldly realm. Time, she explained, flowed differently within the Borderlands; the entire span of two seasons had transpired in a mere minute in their own world.
Determined to rescue Usagi and Ryuji, Arisu had no choice but to re-enter the games. His own wellbeing was of secondary concern; he was willing to sacrifice himself to save them. Administered a shot to halt his heartbeat, he was transported back into the treacherous world of the games.
Upon his return, Ann had vanished, as had everyone else at the sanitorium, leaving Arisu in solitary solitude. However, a sign at the front door provided directions to the next game's location, propelling Arisu forward once more.
His destination was the Hikawa Shrine, a place adorned with exquisite lanterns. As he stepped inside, he found himself surrounded by other players, all gathered in anticipation. It seemed the games were about to commence once again.
