Archive of Our Own

You’re as focused as you’d be in a game when you’re putting the eyeliner on him, with Kuina painting her nails in the background. You preen when you finally pull away. “I told you it’d look great. Kuina, where did you leave the mirror?”

“On his nightstand.” Kuina glances up to look at him. “That does look good on you. You sure you’re not up for more, Chishiya?”

“Don’t stretch it.” Chishiya warns Kuina as he watches you reach over to get the mirror. Right now, there are none of the oddities in you he sees so often. Unless, and he should, you count the giddy smile you’re trying to hide at the attention he’s giving you. Futilely, of course. Kuina’s smirk betrays that she notices it too, but for once she’s keeping quiet about it. She knows she might ruin this hangout if she starts pushing him and you together again.

When you hold up the mirror in front of him, he shifts his attention to the dark lines now around his eyes. “I suppose it’s acceptable.” He gives, and again, you light up at that.

And that is an oddity.

You’ve been at the Beach for two weeks now, and you’ve played three games with him. You should’ve learned that, even if he might make a good ally when he won’t use you as bait, he really isn’t someone you should yearn at for attention.

Especially when you have no reason to believe he won’t use you as bait.

Yet you still light up at his attention, and he even spots the occasional blush you’re good at hiding. Just not good enough.

If that was the only oddity about you, he might not have noticed. Plenty of fools are blinded by what they consider love.

He was planning to use you as bait. He needs someone to sacrifice so he can steal the deck of cards, and the delight you show when he even just acknowledges you made him think you’d be easy to manipulate.

And yes, you are. Sometimes. You’re happy enough to spend time with him that you either miss or overlook it when he does. But you’ve also shown yourself to be capable in a way that makes him doubt you’ll fall for it when it matters.

So he’ll have to find someone else. But by the time he’d decided on that, Kuina had grown used to your presence, so now he’s stuck with you hovering around him.

That’s a lie.

He could’ve easily gotten rid of you if he wanted, and he would have, if it wasn’t for the secret you’re hiding.

He knows you think you’re hiding it well. You’d be right. You might think he hasn’t noticed anything, but that he doubts, as you seem to give him his due credit. If you think it’s why he keeps you around, you’d be right. 

“I heard you talked with Hatter again.” Kuina looks up from her nails. And there is your biggest oddity, isn’t it?

Immediately that light disappears, and you hide that hint of your secret behind annoyance. “I told you. It’s nothing like that. No judgement to whoever wants him, but he’s not my type.”

“Not blond enough?” Kuina wiggles her eyebrows, while Chishiya, as always, ignores her insinuation. You roll your eyes. “But seriously, be careful. Hatter has enemies, who’ll take notice. And he’s not exactly… stable himself.”

She would have been right. A week ago. But that’s where your biggest oddity comes in.

The moment you came to the Beach with him and Kuina you’d requested a private audience with the leader. Having just given him the Nine of Hearts, he indulged you. And, apparently, kept indulging you. Except, despite what Kuina thinks, now Hatter is the one calling on you instead of the other way around. 

Worse, Hatter has started to calm down. The downward spiral he’d been on, and Chishiya was counting on, has come to a halt. 

There’s that spark in the man's eyes. Genuine hope. His act has stopped being an act.

All because of whatever you had to say to him. When asked, you just shrug. “I’m good at listening.” True, but not the truth.

With Hatter becoming less mad, Aguni has started to relax too, even tightening his fists on the militants.

Anyone else would consider this a good thing. Except Hatter’s death, caused by becoming more and more desperate until the militants take him out, had been part of Chishiya’s plan. He should have been very annoyed at how you ruined it. And he is, a bit. But he’ll figure out something new.

But mostly he’s curious what you could’ve told Hatter to get the man to hope again.

Still, he would have stopped Kuina from offering you a ticket to the Beach after you solved the Nine of Hearts oh so cleanly if he would have known.

~~~

Tokyo Small World.

The venue might actually make for an interesting game, Chishiya muses as he waits outside, listening to his music. Thus far, including him and Kuina, there are seven people gathered outside of the building. An older man, his adult daughter and a hooded man whose hand keeps creeping towards what Chishiya assumes to be a hidden weapon. The other two are a doctor and a nurse who Chishiya vaguely recognises from his parents’ hospital, but never bothered to retain their names. Unfortunately, they seem to recognise him as well, the nurse giving him an encouraging smile.

He hopes they won’t end up at the Beach. It’d be irritating if Chishiya’s field of studies became known, and even more if he’d be set to work. 

Just when they’re all about to go in, an eight player shows up. When Chishiya glances at you, the recognition in your eyes is unmistakable. As is the delight.

Huh. He doesn’t feel the faintest familiarity. How awkward that is for you. 

It doesn’t bother him, even if he adds it to your list of oddities later on. He often neglects to remember people, as they’re just not memorable.

That does make this a game with three people who recognise him. Chishiya wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be a hearts game.

“Are we waiting for something?” You ask, a bit too fearless. “Let’s go in.”

“The lights are still off.” The father reminds you, but you just shrug that away.

“There’s no sign telling us to wait, is there? It’s nearly six.” And you’d be right about that. When you, foolishly, brave forward in the dark entrance, Chishiya follows, pulling his earbuds out, with Kuina close on his heels. The others hesitate, but based on the sound of footsteps they follow as well.

At the end of the hallway the door leads into, there is a bright screen, signalling you’re likely right. It diverts attention from the dark shapes on the floor, but Chishiya supposes he’ll find out soon what they are.

The tv is on a table, behind eight neatly laid out phones. Chishiya picks up the one closest to him. Unlike normally, instead of a number as he registers shows the ID a picture of his own face.

Once everyone has registered, the screen changes. On the top half of the phone are eight icons with the word ‘LIFE’. In the middle is a single icon with the word ‘DEATH’, unnecessarily having a dramatic black background to diver from the life icons, and the eight icons in the lower half each have a picture of the other player’s faces on it. Noticeably, his own is missing. Instead there is a picture of an unknown, bald player. He glances at Kuina’s screen. His own face is present there, but Kuina’s is missing.

Black, bold letters appear on the tv, forming the word “Game.” as the announcer proclaims that it’s six, and the game will begin.

He glances back at the shapes on the floor he noticed earlier, intending to use his new phone to illuminate them, when the lights turn on.

Ah. They were body parts, belonging to the unknown player. He kneels over them as, expectedly, shocked grasps are heard behind him.

They are arranged well, he has to admit, giving the impression the man tried to leave but ran into the lasers, neatly cutting him into pieces while the lasers immediately would have cauterised the wounds so minimal blood is shed.

But it’s so undeniably fake to his medically trained eye.

So the Borderlands can use fake bodies. How interesting.

Yet the man is on one of the icons on his phone. Chishiya glances at the clean phone almost looking out of place in the prop’s hand. The eight phones had been arranged symmetrically on the table, with no empty spot suggesting someone already took one.

This body is likely laid here deliberately. Chishiya locks eyes with the doctor, also studying the imitation of a body. He obviously came to the same conclusion as Chishiya. But he doesn’t seem interested in sharing with the class, and neither is Chishiya.

He swipes the phone casually, hiding it in his pocket, as he gets up. There is a glint of irritation in the doctor’s eyes, as if the man had the same plan, but on this he remains silent too.

“He must’ve tried to leave.” Chishiya shrugs as he walks back to the group, and stops himself from adding ‘idiot’ as this is a hearts game. He should try not to make himself unlikeable from the start.

“The game is about to start.” The announcer proclaims. “The difficulty level is Nine of Hearts.” Oh? Either this will be a frustrating mess or it might end up being interesting. Kuina sends him a worried glance he meets with a calm gaze.

“The game is alien invasion.” The announcer continues.

Well. Frustrating mess it is.

Chishiya is unimpressed as the lights of the hall of the miniature New York City turns on. Even less when he spots the tiny UFOs hanging over the room.

“Aliens are about to invade. Take refuge in one of the shelter pods and survive the invasion.”

He lets out a long breath. But he does have to play, unfortunately. The shelter pods would be the very out of place egg-shaped structures, large enough to likely be able to house several people.

The announcer continues to explain the rules. A life card, represented by the icons on his phone, can only be used once a hall, and allows a player to enter one of the shelter pods. The death card invalidates a life card. Which, as the nurse helpfully notes, is why his own face isn’t on his phone. So no one can grant themselves a life card.

Except Chishiya might be able to with the second phone in his pocket.

Cards can’t be assigned to players who have been eliminated by the alien invaders. In order to clear the game, all nine cards have to be used. If a player doesn’t receive any life cards or can’t find shelter by the time the aliens invade, then their game is over. And everyone knows what that means.

“This is a game about giving players the chance to live. Save the people you care about from the alien invasion.” The announcer proclaims, as always declining to tell them what the inevitable twist will be. “The game starts now.”

Chishiya leaves Kuina to deal with the other players as he inspects one of the pods. He does listen of course, but truly, they’re not saying anything useful. He agrees most with the nurse, who notes the thing they have to do now is to swap life cards, as there are enough shelter pods for everyone. He’s not interested in their talk about how well-made the models of New York are.

There is a worn-down placard on the back of the shelter pod he’s inspecting. The only readable information shows that the max capacity is one person.

“They seem big enough to fit more than one.” Your voice comes from next to him, and he glances at you. He’d noted but ignored you following him, but your remark is true. Maybe you'll be one of the more interesting players this game.

“It does have some very convenient wear and tear ~♪” Chishiya glances at the otherwise new looking pod. He gets up to check on a different pod, and sure enough, while the wear and tear is different on each placard, they all clearly show that the max capacity is one person.

“Chishiya! We still have to trade the life cards!” Kuina calls out to him. It’s not like he sees anything else worth inspecting, so he makes his way towards her.

“Do you mind if I join your trade?” You’re still following him.

A heart game often does go easier with a handy sacrifice, and you seem to have some interest in him. “You can.”

Kuina glances at him, her gaze darkening the way it always does when he lays the stones for a sacrifice. Maybe one day she’ll disagree, but that day is not today. She has a strong drive to survive.

You take out your phone, and send him a life card without hesitation. His phone beeps, and shows him a larger life icon. He sends one to Kuina, and Kuina, that dark look lesser but lingering, sends one to you. 

He keeps an eye on the others. The father and daughter send one to each other, and the hooded guy interrupts the doctor and nurse at the last moment to join their trade. The doctor sends him a distrusting glance, but the nurse sends him her card without needing to be convinced.

She’s clearly still willing to try and get as many people to live as she can. Idiotic but useful. He’ll have to look out for the doctor. While the man hasn’t talked yet, he knows the advantage Chishiya has. And he’ll have to keep Kuina between him and the hooded guy, of course. He trusts Kuina’s martial capabilities a lot more than the stranger’s, assuming the man doesn’t have a gun. The father and daughter, while they haven’t shown much for themselves, are likely near impossible to break up if needed. The way they’ve talked to each other implies he’s the kind of father who would do anything for his child. He dislikes the man for that.

Meanwhile, the doctor and the nurse would be easier to split up. The way he chose to keep information to himself suggests he’ll put his survival above all else, which goes against the nurse’s play style. And Chishiya has his sacrifice serving yourself up to him without him even trying anything. Meanwhile he knows he has a solid ally in Kuina.

He won’t slack off, of course, but the cards are currently in his favour.

To get in the shelter pod, Chishiya has to hold his phone against the scanner on its door. After a beep, the door opens, and he steps inside, closing the door behind him.

He’s sure your comment will be relevant. There could easily fit more people in here than just him.

“Time is up.” The announcer says. “Aliens will now invade.”

There’s a buzzing sound from all around the shelter pod, followed by crackling and the sound of falling objects.

Once it stops, he opens the door to New York in shambles. The plastic is smoldering, emitting very toxic smoke that causes him to cover his nose and mouth with his arm, and the plastic buildings which were taller than him have collapsed into themselves, spreading debris everywhere.

The door to the next hall opens, marked helpfully by a sign as ‘Hall #2’. “Seems like they want us to scoot on over to the next hall.” The doctor says.

“There were enough shelters. So as long as we keep doing what we’re doing, we can survive this round too.” The nurse says, as optimistic and group focused as he’d expected her to be as she is the first through the door. Chishiya quickly follows so he can get away from the fumes. He can’t get away completely, but at least the smoke from the hooded man’s cigarette is less toxic. 

The next hall represents Italy, although landmarks from multiple cities are present. He spots Saint Peter’s Basilica from Rome and the Tower of Pisa along some other well-known architecture like the Colosseum.

And, which very much does not surprise him, seven shelter pods instead of eight.

“Good god.” The father gasps. “There are only seven shelters? One of the shelter pods is missing!”

“This isn’t a game about giving players the chance to live.” The doctor states. “This is a game of elimination. It’s musical chairs!”

So dramatic. 

“So ready to give yourself up to the game?” You ask as you walk up to the nearest shelter pod. “Haven’t you played any other games before? Hearts games like to hide a solution where no one has to die.” You crouch down to inspect the placard.

It immediately causes Chishiya to reevaluate you. From the limited heart games he’s played, and what he’s heard from others at the Beach, you’re right. Yet you’re a lone player. How have you learned that piece of information? Have you played, survived, enough games to figure it out yourself? 

“What else would you suggest?” The doctor’s eyes narrow, and his words have a condescending edge to them, but he is listening. Of course he is, the man knows of Chishiya’s second phone, and the chances of making it out of a game of musical chairs with eight people? Anyone would take a chance that all survive instead. Even Chishiya, who for now is content to lean against the wall to see if you’ll solve this game for him.

“The placard shows how many people are allowed in a pod.” You tell the group, putting on a friendly smile Chishiya is sure is fake. You wet your lips. “But the wear and tear conveniently erased the number, just like me and him saw in the last room.” 

With the attention on him, Chishiya nods. “She’s correct. And the pods are quite sizable ~♪” Nothing wrong with a little white lie so the morons will fall in line easier.

“Of course. The shelter pods are large enough to fit us all even if it’ll be a bit tight.” The nurse seems relieved. “We’ll just have to keep our heads calm and keep giving each other life cards.”

“You’re forgetting about the death cards.” The father demands. “Even if we all fit in the shelters, we need to use up all cards to clear the game.”

Has no one else seen the icon of the dead player?

“We can’t send cards to players who died due to aliens.” You remind the man deceptively gently. “But that dead man died due to the lasers.”

“Didn’t he die before the game started?” He continues to press. “How do we know that’ll work?” As if playing in a death game doesn’t come with its risks. Chishiya supposes a little bit of paranoia is only natural. For someone weak-minded, hearts games would always seem imposing. Especially a nine. To have such a clean answer?

But you’re doing well enough. Chishiya keeps leaning against the wall, just shy of putting his earbuds back in.

Unfortunately, you bring the attention to him again. “If his phone works, then why wouldn’t it work?” You hesitate, before adding: “White hoodie, does his phone work?”

Hmpf. You’d noticed him taking it then. He ignores the father’s indignant reaction as he pulls the phone out of his pocket, checking the screen before turning it to face the crowd, showing off an identical screen as the other phones, indicating it’ll indeed be possible to send the death cards to it.

“You took that without telling anyone? That means you have a huge advantage!” The daughter seems to have the wrong priorities. 

“I have ~♪” Chishiya agrees, and Kuina straightens up next to him, making herself imposing.

“It doesn’t matter.” The nurse steps in before anyone presses the issue. “We can all get out alive. Unless anyone wants to die, let’s work all together.”

“They’re right.” Kuina immediately agrees, stepping forwards. “Let’s try and make it out together. I like the idea of sticking it to the gamemakers.”

“Who will pair up?” The doctor asks, turning towards you. “You should have no problem with it, right? As it’s your plan?”

There is no hesitation to be seen as you immediately agree. Some might call it brave, Chishiya would call it foolishness. Except that if you don’t commit to your plan, others might refuse to follow. It would be idiotic not to, of course, but also very human.

The nurse is either too empathic, or she’s smart enough to see that too. So she offers herself up for the second half of the pair.

The shelter pod lets the both of you in just fine. You glance at him before you step in. Now that you’ve proven yourself somewhat competent, Chishiya tries to remember where you could know him from. But, a rare feeling that irritates him, he comes up blank. There’s not even a hint of familiarity as he watches you.

Chishiya isn’t surprised either when, after the devastation, he steps out to see you stepping out as well. He’s glad for it, assuming there won’t be another twist. While he does have the advantage of the phone, the others know about it, so it could be taken, which would have turned messy. And it would be annoying to have lost Kuina, who is a competent ally. Still, he won’t let that show on his face. The others all look visibly relieved, but Chishiya doesn’t linger, eager to get away from the toxic fumes of melting plastic and paints.

The rest of the game goes smoothly. Everyone trades life cards, which you insist on doing with him and Kuina, and waits the rest of the ten minutes in the shelter pods. In the last round, everyone gives their death card to the false body. It is annoyingly cramped with eight people in a single pod, but it’s not for long. You get out first, grabbing the Nine of Hearts card as soon as you spot it.

Chishiya makes to leave without acknowledging you, the doctor or the nurse. He doesn’t want anyone following him to the Beach who can out him. But, unfortunately for him, you call after them and Kuina stops. “You’re wearing those locker keys.” You phrase the question like a statement. “You’re with that group, right? Could I come?”

“You’re the reason most of us didn’t die. C’mon, we have a car.” Kuina agrees, purposefully not giving Chishiya a chance to respond.

You chat with Kuina in the car while Chishiya puts his earbuds back in. He puts on a calm instrumental on a low volume, so he can still eavesdrop. 

You’re pretending not to know him. Isn’t that interesting?

It’s only after he’s taken you to the Hatter, after you’ve boldly asked for a private audience with the man, that he’s alone with you, having been ordered to lead you to your room. There’s no surprise in your eyes as you witness the absolute mess you’ll have to live in, even if there’s discomfort you’re not attempting to hide. He leans against the doorframe. “How do we know each other?”

You stiffen, glancing at him. Almost as if you’re about to play clueless. “C’mon.” Chishiya asks in a deceptively soft tone. “You clearly recognised me.”

You wet your lips before you answer. Just like when you lied about the maximum capacity of the shelter pods in the first hall. “My younger sister was one of your patients. I assumed you wouldn’t recognise me.”

Chishiya tilts his head. What an interesting lie. “I’m a student. I haven’t had any patients yet.” Yet he was intending to specialise in paediatrics. It might be a coincidence, of course.

Your eyes widen momentarily. He wonders if you’ve seen his skills in action to make you assume. “It was a stressful time for me. You might’ve been an attending instead? I honestly don’t remember anything except her injuries well.” This time he doesn’t need your obvious tell to recognise the lie. But he leaves it be, for now. Pushing won’t get him anywhere, and this way you can delude yourself that he might’ve believed you.

~~~

You’re chatting against him as you drive the car back from a game, hiding how bothered you seem to be from the death of the two other Beach members. Not all games he plays with you are as smooth as the Nine of Hearts was, but you are competent in hearts and clubs games, so he doesn’t mind having you accompany him. It helps him figure you out.

At least, in theory. Except he’s only found more oddities. You weren’t surprised when he sacrificed someone in front of you (although you did scold him once the game was over), you have a very good grasp on the game theory, even though you’re not good enough at strategic thinking to have figured those out yourself. Still, you put full trust on your gathered knowledge. Unlike the Nine of Hearts, you’re actually cautious in most games, unless when you seem sure about how to solve them. Then you get overconfident, trying to lead the group into as few deaths as possible.

He finds himself most surprised by how tolerable your prolonged presence seems to be. Normally by now he’d get irritated by people trying so hard to stay close to him. But with you? He agreed to let you do his eyeliner each morning. Both Kuina and you had been delighted at that. He even engages with your chatter, even if he keeps his words few.

But then your chatter stops suddenly, and you hit the brakes. He lifts his head, immediately at alert, until he realises you’re looking at the sky. As he follows your gaze, he spots what you’re currently stepping out of the car for to look at.

There are yellow-orange streaks in the sky. Countless of them, even for him. “Flaming arrows.” You breathe.

You’re likely right. “Another doomed game. Why are we stopping for it?”

You wet your lips. It’s been a while since you lied to him about something new. “Isn’t it pretty?”

He glances back at the sky. “Not enough to keep me from my bathroom.” He pointedly attempts to pat some of the soot of his jacket. Courtesy of the game the two of you just played.

You’re deep in thought the rest of the car ride. But his subtle probing does not get you to tell him a single word about your thoughts, even though you distractedly start chatting again when you realise you come across as suspicious.

It irritates him. You’re so eager to share anything else, except what bothers you most. What he wants to know most.

When you do his eyeliner the next morning, you’re too carefully casual as you ask him whether he plans to play this evening. 

“I am.” He confirms, watching your reaction keenly.

You keep that carefully controlled expression as you lean back to check your work. “Can I come?”

While you keep two days leftover, you never play more than is required for your VISA. So why now?

Does this have anything to do with yesterday? What do you know he does not?

“There’s no reason for you to play.” He reminds you.

You wet your lips. “I’m just feeling jittery. And it doesn’t hurt to have more than two days to spare in case I get injured.”

Unless you get injured or die during this game. Chishiya is well aware that it’s not exactly smart of him to play more games than needed, but he gets bored. And the games are the prime place where he might find someone interesting.

You are interesting. The thought comes up unbidden. But are you, really? Or is it just your secret?

While you lean against the wall next to him, he watches the people in the lobby of the apartment complex from underneath his hood. But he keeps a closer eye on you than on the others, searching for any anomaly.

And there it is. While you hide it better this time, there is that recognition in your eyes again an athletic woman walks in. As it’s there with two men, one with shaggy black hair and the other with short bleached hair. Arisu and Karube, he overhears their names. His eyes narrow as you keep watching them, subtly so as to not gain their attention. He hopes you’re not planning on tailing them like you did with him in the Nine of Hearts.

The rules are announced. Tag, the Five of Spades. A serial killer, or a tagger if you prefer that terminology, is on the loose. They have twenty minutes to find the safe zone.

He’s glad when you ignore the three, and make for the elevator instead, waiting for him to step in behind you before pressing the button to the highest floor.

You’re eager to get out of the elevator, choosing the spot in the middle of the southern walkway he would’ve chosen himself to lean over the railing, watching the same men as earlier. Closer to the centre staircase and you can't see anything, closer to the southern staircase and the distance to the centre staircase, to safety, would be too long.

Your two men have placed themselves in the middle floor of the west staircase, a leecher watching the stairs leading down, Karube the stairs leading up while Arisu watches the walkway.

It wouldn’t have been a bad plan if it didn’t leave them completely blind to the rest of the building. Nor does it help at all in searching for the safezone.

And the game had been so thoughtful too, choosing a L-shaped apartment complex. From Chishiya and your position, you can oversee most of the complex while standing in relative safety. Chances are that the safe room isn’t on the top or bottom floor, as to prevent people from finding them at the start. The tagger has a chance to emerge from the safe room, which would make their position optimal to see which room that is, and if it’s not, the tagger will likely move in patterns that will reveal the safe room, in an ironic attempt to guard it.

Why waste energy running and trying doors while you could just watch?

Unfortunately, he doesn’t see any door open when the sound of a door slamming echoed through the complex, which likely means the safe room is in the southern building.

As always, you stiffen next to him when the first deaths fall. He hadn’t expected the tagger to use a gun, but it’s good to know before they come close to the two of you.

Oh. The safe room isn’t in the southern walkway. Why else would the tagger attempt such an awkward shot from the southern building to the western from a lower floor to a higher one? He’ll have to keep track of their patterns to be sure, but it’s a dead giveaway.

The tagger comes into view as they chase the two newcomers who had the misfortune of not knowing yet to take the game seriously, and starting in front of the safe room. They die in front of your two men and their leecher, who foolishly thought taking a peek up close would be smart after hearing gunfire, and now they’re running down the staircase. Arisu seems at least somewhat clever, and chooses the walkway instead of the stairs down, which is impressive decision making under duress. The stairs down eventually lead to a walkway too, but by then you have nowhere to hide with the tagger behind you. Now the two are hiding in a door nook when there’s still multiple choices of direction, and the tagger misses them by continuing their way downstairs.

It annoys him. You’re clearly distracted by them, similar to how you’re usually distracted by him. It would’ve been convenient if they’d been removed from the equation early.

Instead they prove to be the star players of this game. As does the woman, an impressive climber. She doesn’t seem to know the two men. Just how do you know them?

You seem conflicted. He sees your eyes flicker between the safe room and the people you recognise multiple times, yet, unlike you’d do normally, you don’t attempt to stupidly heroically end the game as quickly as possible. No, you seem to have taken a page out of his book to watch some of the better players instead.

He doesn’t think it would’ve irritated him so much if you hadn’t recognised them. If you didn’t have a look in your eyes usually reserved for him or Kuina. Are they why you wanted to play, to risk your life, today? As it is, he’s done with this game. “C’mon.” He tells you when the Tagger is at a reasonable distance from the safe room, and makes towards it.

“What?” You seem completely perplexed by his decision to end the game early. “We’re barely into the game. Aren’t there some interesting players you want to watch?”

“Not really.” He shrugs. “Don’t you want to save the more idiotic players?”

Your face falls. You hesitate, glancing one last time at the woman and the men, before following him.

It’s probably good they finished the game early instead of waiting like Chishiya originally intended. There are two buttons they have to press at the same time in the safe room, which might’ve led to trouble if they’d done it last moment.

He’s annoyed when he spots Karube on the walkway when he walks out. He’s grinning at the two of you.

Chishiya watches with narrow eyes as you explain your reasoning to the man. But fortunately, you don’t answer any questions about the nature of the Borderlands. But you do remind him that radio lives on, and even recommend him the taxi channels.

Where the Beach puts out their cryptic message to lure the better players in.

Chishiya ignores the other players after that, walking towards the car parked a block away from the venue. He doesn’t check, but you follow him. He can feel your curious eyes on him.

Why is it such a surprise to you? It’s not rare he gets bored with a game. “Aren’t we collecting the cards of the death players?” You ask him, confused.

“If you want to climb the staircases back up and get your hands dirty, go ahead.” 

You follow him to the car instead, and his irritation lessens when you start to chat to him like usual, as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

You spend the next morning in his room, playing card games with Kuina while gossiping as he fidgets with his taser. 

You’re clearly nervous about something. “Is this about Hatter?” Kuina confronts you when it’s nearing game time. “You can tell us if he makes you uncomfortable. We’ll figure something out.”

“No, it’s-” You stop yourself. “He’s intense, but he’s been fine. He’s been getting better, actually.” 

The irritation immediately comes back. He doesn’t comment, as he has no interest in you figuring out his plans, but that has made his plans so much more complicated.

You wet your lips. “Speaking of Hatter, he’d wanted to speak with me after his speech. I should probably leave. See you tomorrow?”

He’s glad you haven’t caught on to that tell yet. What are you lying about?

You wouldn’t go to a game again when you have a week and a half left on your VISA, would you? Without either of them?

He considers following you. But surely you won’t actually go to a game? He himself hadn’t been in the mood for one today.

He glances at you as you leave, staying seated.

If you plan on getting yourself killed, there’s no reason for him to stop you.

Besides, it really is unlikely that you’ll join a game. Yesterday was already an exception. If it’s about the people from the Five of Spades, they got a five day VISA. They wouldn’t play today either. 

Yet you’ve been displaying nervous ticks, the way you often get on game days. Yet you felt the need to lie.

He suppresses the urge to go after you. You’re not that stupid.

Apparently you are. Having been the executive in charge of gathering the won playing cards today, he watches your faux-innocent smile disapprovingly as you hand him the Seven of Hearts. 

You’d gone alone. You hadn’t taken a single Beach member with you.

“Idiot.” He tells you as he puts the card with the rest. “Do you have a single rational explanation as to why you would’ve gone alone into a game?” You hadn’t even taken any other Beach member.

“I actually do.” You keep up that smile. “But I’m going to tell you the lie. I was restless.”

He leans closer, keeping his voice low. “Are you not even keeping up the pretence anymore? What are you doing?” You’ve not actually given up, have you?

“Why bother. You can tell when I’m lying.” You glance away for a moment. “Why?” Then that faux-innocent smile turns into a genuine grin. “Are you worried?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He represses the urge to pull away. That’d only make you think you’re right. He’s quite sure he’s incapable of feeling worried. And why would he have an exception for you? “You know me better than that. I’d like to know if my allies decide to give up.”

But your eyes have softened, as has your voice. “I haven’t. I won’t join anymore unnecessary games from here on out. Promise.”

Good. Irrelevant. “Why did you?”

That soft look disappears for a defensive one. “I… does it matter?”

And maybe your secret doesn’t matter, but Chishiya still wants to know. He wants to know what you are hiding. He wants you to stop frustrating him so damn much. 

At first, he’d toyed with the idea of you being a gamemaker or a citizen, if those are different things. It sometimes seems like you know more than you should about the games. But you care too much about keeping people alive while not showing any guilt to have any hand in the making of the games. He’s sure he’d have recognised guilt if it was there.

Yet you seem so sure over some games while having no clue in others. Yet you recognise people who don’t recognise you. Yet you seem to know things you really shouldn’t.

He can’t figure you out. He hates it.

“Yes.” It does matter.

“It shouldn’t.” You set a step back. “Chishiya. I’m not- You can read me. You know I’m on your side. But I also do want people to live. You might not care, but I do. Can’t you just let me?”

He studies your face. You’re nervous, tired from the Seven of Hearts, and clearly don’t want to push him away.

You want to tell him, don’t you? You’re telling yourself you shouldn’t, but you want to. You might tell him if he plays his cards right. Right now, you’re vulnerable in a way that leaves you open.

But then footsteps sound in the hallway, and the moment is gone. You slip out of the room as one of the surviving teams for the day comes in to hand him their card.

His eyes linger on your back as you leave.

Worried. Him. If that's true, that'd be interesting.

The next morning, you don’t come in like you usually do to do his eyeliner. An unfamiliar feeling fills him as he reads through a medical journal, pretending not to wait.

But the time comes when the two of you usually meet up with Kuina for breakfast. Maybe you’ll be there?

You’re not.

“She didn’t actually go to a game last night, did she?” Kuina scans across the crows in an attempt to find you. 

“She did.” Chishiya confirms. “But she came back.”

“Is she injured?”

“No.” He would’ve noticed.

“What did you say to her?” Kuina asks him with an edge in her voice.

Her faith in him is touching. But she does have a point. You might’ve gotten scared that you’ll actually tell him. Are you avoiding him? For that? “She wouldn’t be bothered that I called her an idiot.” He sits down at their usual table. “Especially because she was. She went alone.”

Kuina frowns. “Why would she have done that?”

“It appears she doesn’t like that being asked.”

He only spots you when you appear for dinner that evening, which you grab and disappear towards your room with. 

You don’t appear to do his eyeliner the following morning either. On the third morning, he puts it on himself. As he stares at the result in the mirror, the perfect lines of his first attempt don’t feel as satisfying as your sometimes imperfect lines are.

“Have you talked with her?” He asks Kuina the fourth morning, that unfamiliar feeling stark enough that he for once forgoes his subtleties.

Kuina smirks. “I have. Why? Do you miss her? I did tell her you’ve been moody.” 

He’s not moody. He should’ve used subtleties. He knows Kuina will want something back for it. “I have to do my eyeliner myself.”

“Oh poor you.” Kuina doesn’t let him attempt to sidestep it. “Tell me you miss her and I’ll tell you what she told me.”

“Her absence is noticeable.” He admits. And unfortunately Kuina knows him well enough that her smirk turns victorious.

“She told me she’s nervous of telling you things she doesn’t feel ready for.” Ah. That must’ve hit close to home for Kuina. 

“It's not about your kind of secret, Kuina.” He makes sure not a hint of mockery slips into his voice.

“So? It’s her secret. Unless it affects us you should respect that.”

“It does affect us.” Chishiya points out, but he doesn’t elaborate.

He sees you again on the fifth day. He’s already irritable, but it spikes when he sees your two men, Arisu and Karube, followed by an unknown man with a clearly injured leg and a woman with long brown hair walk into the Beach.

Apparently, you must’ve spotted them from your window. His eyes narrow as you appear from the building to greet them. He walks up when all four of them actually seem relieved to see you.

Of the four of them, only Karube seems excited at the prospect of the Beach. He laughs at you as you talk to them. The feeling that has been plaguing Chishiya the last few days worsens.

“Hey, you’re from Tag.” Arisu notices him first. You stiffen, only for a moment, but long enough for Chishiya to notice. 

He ignores it, even though it causes an unpleasant tinge in his chest, offering to lead them to Hatter.

On the way there, he learns that, apparently, Arisu and Karuba had played the day after the Five of Spades. And you’d joined them in a game with only the five of you.

A game that had made it sound like only one could survive, but they’d been so fortunate that you’d been there and figured out quickly how to get them all out alive.

He has no idea why. He has no idea how you’d know they’d been playing. But he does know that they’re the reason you played those two days.

He wonders whether he can convince one or two of them to join his plan. He does still need someone for bait.

The next morning, he’s had enough. He’d spent the previous day on the roof, watching you introduce the four of them to life at the Beach with various levels of receiving enthusiasm, yet you hadn’t spent any time on him after weeks of attempting to grab his attention at any opportunity.

You’re right to be nervous that he’ll get you to tell you his secret. But to avoid him completely? Really?

He hadn’t expected a very old familiar feeling to appear again, hadn’t expected that your absence would be this… notable. 

So instead of doing his eyeliner himself, he walks up to your room, knocks on the door and lets himself in without waiting for an answer.

You startle up from beneath your blankets, hand reaching beneath your pillow, clearly about to pull out what’s likely to be a knife, when you recognise him. “‘Shiya?” You grumble, still half asleep.

He sits down on the bed next to you, and without your usual shields up yet, you blush, causing a satisfactory feeling through his chest.

“You haven’t been doing my eyeliner.” He reminds you, handing you the small tube.

Which you take, even if the movement is likely automatic. You glance at the tube in your hand, at his face and back at the tube again before sighing and unscrewing it, leaning towards him. “Be still.”

He sits perfectly still as you apply the makeup. You’re so close, as concentrated as you can be after waking up less than a minute ago.

The two of you sit in silence as he waits for you to be done. You’re pointedly looking at the brush you’re screwing back into the tube as you say, bitterly: “Chishiya, I… I’m not going to let you use me as bait for whatever plan you have for me. Nor am I going to tell you what you clearly want to know. So I’m of no use for you.”

Is that supposed to drive him away? A pathetic attempt. “You do my eyeliner each morning.” He reminds you.

Despite yourself, you snort. “As if you couldn’t do that better yourself with those future-surgeon’s hands.”

“I can.” He doesn’t deny. 

“What do you want from me, Chishiya?” You ask him, slightly hesitant as if you don’t want to hear the answer.

What does he want from you? “You’re frustrating me.” He admits. “That needs to stop.”

You blink. Then you clearly come to the wrong conclusion, and you let yourself fall back onto your pillows. “I’m not going to stop trying to save people, Chishiya. You know I’m being smart about it.”

He takes in the sight of you laying on your bed next to him, before following your lead and laying down next to you on his side.

Contrary to past experiences in his life, he’s enjoying this. You’re close enough that he can feel the heat of your body, and there’s this quick breath you take once you realise just how close he is when you tilt your face to face him.

“Your heroic tendencies are irritating.” He gives. “But they weren’t idiotic until those four. I’d like to know how you knew, but I’ll settle for you to stop avoiding me.”

There’s that delight again. Good, even if you try to temper it. Before you say anything else, he adds: “I dropped the plan to sacrifice you after a week. You wouldn’t fall for it.”

“So you just want me around because you’re trying to solve me?”

“I’m keeping you around because you’re tolerable.” That’s as much as he will admit. Your secret is interesting too, sure. And he will find it out one day. But your absence was too frustratingly noticeable when it’s clear you want to be around him.

Even Kuina has her hesitations about him. But you’re just so genuinely delighted each time.

It’s new. He finds himself wanting more.

Your face softens. He knows you want more. But if he tries now you’ll certainly think it’s manipulation.

You stay silent, so he does too, letting you think, just watching the small movements of your breathing.

“Do you have to steal the cards?” You finally ask him.

He really needs to know how you know that. But instead he’s honest. “They’re likely the way out of here.”

“But what if they're not?” You ask him. “Hatter’s found a reason to hope again. You’ll be hunted down by the Beach.”

His lips find themselves in a smirk. “Which morons? They won’t be able to find me.”

You like his cockiness. He can see the corner of your lips lifting. But you’re also fondly annoyed. 

“What if I told you I believe them to be useless?” You ask him.

Huh. If it were anyone else, he’d have called them moronic. Even if his gut has whispered the same for a while now. The cards really are the only clue they have.

But you’ve proven to know things you shouldn’t know.

Still.

“You think I’d let these morons win?” He asks you.

“But you can win so easily.” You counter. “I know you can. Is that really a point worth proving? It’s not worth the price.”

Maybe a little manipulation you both know about. He lifts his arm to rest his hand on your waist, shamelessly slipping it beneath your pyjama shirt. The gasp you make, the way your cheeks redden, makes it worth it. And your skin does feel pleasant beneath his fingers. “Don’t worry about it.”

“‘Shiya.” You breathe. “I’ll stop avoiding you if you at least think about not doing it.”

Oh? “Deal.” He’ll even actually think about it for you. That won’t change his mind.

You must know that. Yet he spots the relief in your eyes.

True to your word, you stop avoiding him after that. You had laid in that position for a while, not saying anything, until Kuina knocked on your door to get you for breakfast.

She’d been delighted to find Chishiya with you. And the following days, she has this smug look on her face whenever she notices there’s just a little bit less distance between the two of you than before.

He ignores her insinuations, although he does enjoy the blush you try to hide each time.

He enjoys less that you keep hanging around with those four. He does join you, unwilling to leave you alone with the people you got idiotic for. 

As requested, he thinks about his plan. The deck is slowly getting more complete, so he really should put it into action.

Yet he finds himself postponing it. Just a week. A week longer where you visit him each morning, where you’re just so delighted to be around him, where occasionally he lets himself feel your skin under his fingers.

He shouldn’t have given himself a week.

On the sixth day of his week, he’s playing a card game with you, frowning as he notices your nervous ticks. You still have enough days left on your VISA. There shouldn’t be a game to be nervous about. Your eyes keep flickering between the TV and him.

“You told me you won’t join any more unnecessary games.” He reminds you.

You actually startle at that, opening your mouth, closing it and glancing at the tv again.

He follows your glance. It’s as if you’re expecting something to happen.

The games are held in all kinds of facilities. Hospitals, schools, shrines. Hotels. Shouldn’t it happen here too, eventually?

As if to prove him right, the TV turns on, showing off the word ‘Game’.

But Chishiya takes whatever cards he’s dealt with. Even if Aguni has had a firm hand on the militants ever since you gave Hatter hope again, it’s likely the game will quickly devolve into gunfire and chaos.

No better time than to execute an adjusted version of his plan.

Except you have to mess it up again, of course.

The game is a murder mystery. When all members of the Beach are gathered in the atrium, Hatter sweeps in to tell everyone to stay true. That this is what they’ve been waiting for.

Chishiya’s once again reminded of his resemblence to a cult leader.

In the middle of the atrium lies a schoolgirl with a knife protruding from her chest. Her friend is draped over her, sobbing.

The rules declare that they have to find the evil witch who killed her, and throw their body into the bonfires started outside.

He can see the glint in Niragi’s eyes. He knows Last Boss must be gripping his katana tighter.

Chishiya touches your hand to signal for you to leave with him.

But you don’t.

Instead you step forwards.

Moron. He can’t stop you, as all eyes are already on you. He should cut his losses. Leave you for the wolves.

Instead he stays. At least he’s not stepping behind you. Kuina does that in his stead.

“Heart games like to have a twist where no player has to die.” You loudly claim. “I bet Momoka killed herself.”

Instantly, people react. The ones Chishiya focuses on about are accusing you of being the witch. Idiot. You really shouldn’t have brought attention to yourself. Niragi steps forwards, and-

“Niragi.” Aguni warns as Hatter steps forwards as well, saying your name.

“You’ve won us both the Nine and the Seven of Hearts!” He endorses you. “It would be wrong of us not to listen to your advice. But first, we should investigate the body. Ann? What do you say as our forensic scientist?”

She kneels over the body the moment her name is said, knowing Hatter’s words will be the best shield she can have. People whisper to each other as the body is being looked over, until she takes a handkerchief from her pocket to take out the knife. “The knife isn’t a decoy. It is her cause of death.” She announces. “We have the materials for me to check the fingerprints. If Momoka is not the witch, I’ll be able to compare the fingerprints with any other suspects we have.”

Chishiya, while still keeping an eye on the militants, who Aguni is busy whispering to, does take note of Hatter’s mannerisms.

His dramatics have always been a mask. But-

You knew. He’s sure of that. Just like you knew in the Nine of Hearts. As you must’ve known in the Seven of Hearts.

Does Hatter know too? Did you prepare him?

Hatter’s summons of you have always been for you only, and whatever you did went on behind closed doors. All Chishiya knew is that, somehow, you’d given Hatter enough hope to stop his downward spiral.

Did you share that much of your secret with him? While you avoided Chishiya just so you wouldn’t tell him?

Something bitter curls up in his gut.

What if I told you I believe them to be useless?

You know how to go back to the real world. And you could prove it. What else would have given Hatter hope?

Yet you didn’t give Chishiya a single word.

It’s time to leave the Beach. And if you’re right, which you are, however tantalising, the cards aren’t worth the trouble they’d bring.

And even if they are, he’s too late. The final game is about to be cleared, and they’ll go for the deck immediately after. He’s not sure how Hatter will excuse the lack of his disappearance, but Aguni might not be able to control some of the militants when that happens.

He has no desire to be there for that.

So when the crowd moves with the two militants to the bonfires outside, Chishiya instead slips away to make for the cars.

You must’ve noticed, as he hears footsteps behind him to catch up with him. Had you kept your eyes on him? “Chishiya! What are you doing?”

“I’m just going for a drive ~♪” he chooses a non-descript car and opens the driver door. In the distance, he can hear the announcer congratulating the players for a game cleared.

You open the passenger door, stubbornly sitting down. “I’m joining you.”

“Hatter would hunt you down.” He reminds you in a light voice, although the coldness does seep out at the man’s name.

You shrug. “You told me yourself they won’t be able to find you.”

You told Hatter over him. Why are you not staying? The Beach would laud you over the Ten of Hearts. Hatter would.

He sits down, and wordlessly starts the car.

He’s silent during the ride, listening to you desperately trying to engage with him. He can sense your confusion at his behaviour, but it only grants him dark satisfaction.

He hides the car a few blocks away from his apartment, walking the last part.

You hide your unease as you light up when you realise it’s his apartment, following him into his bedroom as you talk about one of the philosophers whose book you spotted on one of his bookshelves.

He kneels in front of his wardrobe, feeling your curious eyes on his back as he pushes away the false floor where the light glints off of metal.

His gun.

He’d won it in his very first game, but had hidden it before he’d let himself be taken to the Beach, well aware they wouldn’t have let him keep it.

He’s sure it would make you talk. You know him well enough to not know for sure whether he’d pull the trigger. 

You’d forgive him for it. You admitted yourself that you thought he was keeping you around as a sacrifice. By now, the Beach is aware that you left. They’d be suspicious of you if you went back, and that wouldn’t end well. You’ve already thrown your lot in with Chishiya, so he could use the forced proximity to get you to forgive him.

Does he care about whether you’d forgive him?

You’ve thrown your lot in with him. He can easily imagine the hurt written all over your face if he'd take out the gun.

He closes his eyes.

He’s acting irrationally. You hadn’t expected him to leave, yet hadn’t hesitated even a moment to join him, knowing full well that Hatter would perceive you a traitor. That if he catches you, he’ll kill you for it.

Yet you didn’t hesitate to choose Chishiya over Hatter, over the Beach.

Yet you told Hatter and not Chishiya.

Why? That should’ve been his first consideration.

Because you want to save lives. 

The Hatter had been on a road to self destruction. With him dead, Aguni wouldn’t have tried to control the militants during the Ten of Hearts. You would’ve been first on the bonfires if you’d attempted to suggest throwing the body into the fire, and the rest of the Beach would’ve soon followed.

“Chishiya?”

He opens his eyes. The gun would be so easy. But there are other ways to get you to tell him. He’d almost had you after the Seven of Hearts, hadn't he? He puts the false floor back and stands up, turning to face you.

That uneasy, confused face trying to keep up a smile quickly turns into confused blushing as he takes your cheek into his hand. He considers you for a moment, his gaze lowering to your lips.

You’d never with Hatter. You’d vehemently denied it whenever the subject came up without once wetting your lips. He’s never seen any sign of attraction on you towards the man.

He’s seen plenty of it towards himself.

He’s sure you’d let him. 

To prove it, he presses his lips against yours.

Your surprised, happy gasp is endearing. Your warm, wet lips against his make him dizzy in a way he’s never been. Your hands bury themselves into his hair as you start kissing him back, parting your lips slightly in pleasure. He takes the chance to explore your mouth.

Delicious. You’re delicious. Your noises, the feel of you, the taste of you… all so delicious in a way no one else has ever been.

An irritating voice in the back of his head reminds him of the second reason he’s doing this.

He gently pushes you towards the bed. Your pupils are blown wide as he breaks the kiss to look at you, as you easily let him push you down.

You look so good like this, laying beneath him.

He’s tempted to go for your lips again, but instead he tilts your head so he can explore your neck, keeping his lips pressed for a moment to feel your heightened pulse.

It’s difficult to recall the memory of that earlier bitterness.

“You’d told him.” He says against your skin before pettily pressing another kiss beneath your ear. “And not me.”

You stiffen, immediately knowing where he’s going, but you melt quickly enough as he comes up to press a kiss to the corner of your lips. “Asshole.” You breathe. “You…” You lose your train of thought when one of his hands slips beneath your shirt. 

“And here I thought you liked me more.” He gently chides, pulling back to look at you properly.

“I do!” You protest. “I just… you…”

Maybe he went a bit too far. He seems to have broken you. 

Still, the confirmations brings a satisfied feeling to his chest, and he can feel the corners of his mouth tug up.

He stops hovering over you, laying down next to you instead, moving his hand to your cheek to keep your eyes on him.

“Imagine how I feel.” He continues in that same voice. “You avoided me for days for information you freely gave someone else.”

“I needed his cooperation!” You blurt out. “The Ten of Hearts…” He strokes his thumb against your cheek in tantalising slow circles, which causes you to short-circuit again.

“Is over.” He finishes for you. “You saved the Beach. Surely you can trust me now?”

“I do trust you!” You protest. You do? Naive, but the satisfaction in his chest, wearing an edge of an unfamiliar stark feeling, intensifies.

But. “Yet you haven’t told me.” The playfulness leaves his voice.

“I trust you with me.” You correct yourself. “But you’re a wildcard, Chishiya. I couldn’t have trusted you to help me save the Beach if I did tell you.”

You have that right.

He leans closer. “But now the Beach is over.”

You seem nervous, but he’s patient. “What if you think it’s silly?”

“Then it’s silly.” He dismisses.

You take a deep breath, tentatively reaching your hand out towards him to rest on his cheek. To show some support, and to enjoy your touch, he leans into it. Your nervousness dissipates.

“Are you familiar with isekais?” You ask him.

Isekais.

Isekais.

He lets out a laugh. An isekai, really? That’s how you’d know all of these things?

He supposed it makes more sense than foresight or some other rubbish. He knows of the existence of two worlds, the old one and the Borderlands.

Surely there could be a third.

“I’m aware. You’re claiming to have read this all as a story in your old world?”

You seem relieved. “Yes. You believe me?”

You’re not wetting your lips. The thought of your tell brings his gaze to your lips again. He moves to press a lazy kiss against them.

“‘Shiya!” He likes the way you say his name. “Don’t you need proof? I could give proof.”

“Go ahead.” He murmurs. And he does listen. But Chishiya is great at multitasking, and he enjoys how you lose your train of thought when his lips are on you.