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The end comes like this: Ace Park is not unfamiliar with games that don’t hide the audience - they never quite say where they’re from, but the phrase woman of the stars comes to mind with her mother, so she knows not humans.
She also knows the Game Master fucked herself over.
Here’s the thing about an audience: you have to know what they want. Ace considers herself rather good at this.
The game they call today is kick the can . A simple game, except there’s 10 players, and they all are at odds and off balance.
Ace could have predicted this. In fact, he did, and on their first break, Meroro says this with laughter. She pulls Ace against her by her chest.
“More forward than usual,” Ace says.
“I’m sure we’re both missing Kanae,” Meroro replies. “Can’t I have a little fun?”
Ace frowns, standing up and away from her crazed patron.
“I thought you liked the love story,” she says. Meroro grins.
“Oh, I do,” she says. “But we already know this game is doomed. It’s hopeless without a partner. You’re a clever one, Ace Park, but you’re only human.”
If only that were true.
“It’s not doomed,” Ace says. “There’s always a chance.”
If nothing else, she owes it to Kanae to not get an entire section of her hometown erased.
Besides, it’s very rare that Ace ever loses. It’s always when Ace gets… distracted.
“And you’re wrong,” Meroro says. “I keep telling you to prepare, Ace. Why won’t you listen?”
“Because I always prepare,” Ace says simply.
Meroro hmms.
“Alright then,” she says. “Can you do me a favor, Ace?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“In this?” Meroro asks. “Sure! …but if you survive, please, go find Kanae again. I really do want you to live happily ever after.”
Ace hmms, unconvinced.
“I’ll consider it,” she says. But she learned her lesson on post game love… a very long time ago.
There’s a secret mission that’s key to clearing this game. A classic J a p a n e s e S e c r e t.
Cecilia isn’t subtle, giggling conspiratorially under the guise of a concierge. It was easy to tease the information out of her.
She’s clearly never been to Japan before, but Ace has .
The Ninja Buckle is hidden somewhere in the game area, and then they’ll be fast enough to clear the game! Ace has Boost in her pocket, besides, so there’s no chance she won’t win. The other contestants are clever, but they’re shaken from losing their partners.
It all comes down to Ace, but that’s fine. She’s only lost the once. Well, that and…
Try two comes around fast.
It’s still a little bit of a team game, you know?
It’s easy to manipulate another player with their back against the wall. Easy to save them. If there’s one thing Ace is good at, it’s playing with her rivals.
And that’s when she realizes she didn’t plan enough.
Secret mission: cleared.
“Oh good,” a familiar voice says. “I’m still in the system as promised!”
Ace turns, and leaning up against the other side of the wall is Kanae herself. She’s smiling.
And holding a box.
“What?”
Kanae laughs.
“I met your friend,” she says. “The weird girl you were always running off to see.”
“Cone—”
Kanae waves a hand.
“I’m not jealous, Ace,” she says. “In fact, I’m convinced you can’t love anyone!”
“You need to give me the box, Cone,” Ace says. “Or everyone here will die.”
“You know, Ace,” Kanae says. “I just don’t believe you anymore. You also promised we’d stay together, but here we are.”
Ace considers staying, trying to convince her… but she’s always been stubborn, and now she feels betrayed.
“I’m the only hope anyone had,” Ace says. “Cone… Kanae…”
Kanae turns away.
“No,” she says. “I don’t believe you are anything at all. If you’re the only hope, you can still win, right?”
Ace considers banging on the wall, yelling at her for her idiocy, but that is time she just doesn’t have, and fine them!. Ace will do her best with what she has. She’s a master in a pinch as much as with a plan.
She turns away from the woman she loved and sets Boost in her belt, running back to the fight. The Rider she saved sits there on the ground, confused and helpless.
It will always come down to Ace, and she’s used to it.
She loses.