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tsukumomei · 2 months ago

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AFTER ASHES | Itoshi Sae

Alice in Borderland AU | PART 1

Tags; •fem + afab!reader, •forced proximity (friends to lovers-ish) •nsfw •softcore •sae doesn't know how to communicate •rare sweet sae at the end Summary: when you suddenly find yourself in a deserted Tokyo, where participating in deadly games is the only way to survive, your mind is consumed by one goal: to escape and return to the comforts of the real world. Survival demands wit, courage, and the willingness to face unimaginable challenges. Yet, amidst the chaos and despair, something unexpected happens. You meet Sae. What starts as a reluctant alliance blossoms into something deeper. CW: •wc; 17k •MDNI •aged-up •violence •gore •murder •death games •psychological distress •depictions of survival scenarios •betrayal and manipulation •themes of isolation and despair •graphic injuries •explicit sexual content •coercion and power dynamics PART 2

You were being chased.

The frantic pounding of footsteps behind you left no doubt, they weren’t even trying to hide their presence. Judging by the heavy thuds, four, maybe five people were tailing you through this decaying amusement park.

Each breath burned your lungs, the metallic taste of adrenaline bitter on your tongue. The broken key to your escape dug into your palm as you clutched it tightly, cursing your bad luck. Why did it have to be you holding this thing? Why not Chigiri? He could’ve easily outrun them; this was his element, not yours.

The pressure of the past few days crashed into you as you stumbled over cracked asphalt, the haunted screams of distant animatronics mingling with the mayhem in your mind.

How did it come to this? 72 hours ago, you were still walking the familiar, lively streets of Shibuya, laughing with your best friend Kaede like everything in the world was perfectly normal.

“Come on!” Kaede had teased the previous day, her eyes alight with excitement as she tugged at your arm, weaving through the crowds, her beautiful blonde hair catching the breeze like a golden veil. “We’re going to miss the movie if you keep walking this slow!”

If only. If only that best-friend date hadn’t been interrupted by that blinding flash at the crosswalk. If only the world hadn’t tilted sideways in that unexplainable moment.

Now, here you were; desperate, breathless, and running for your life. Nothing had been normal since that day.

You thought back to the moment you regained consciousness, laid flat on a nearby bench. Shibuya, once alive with its bright lights and crowded streets, had turned into an eerie ghost town. No cars. No chatter. Not even a stray breeze to rustle the leaves.

“Kaede?” you had called, your voice trembling as you blinked into the unsettling void.

“I’m here,” Kaede had replied, her fingers gripping your arm like a lifeline. Gone was her usual confidence, her eyes darting around the empty city like a cornered animal.

You clung to her then, just as you do to her memory now, forcing your legs to keep moving. Kaede, with her bright spirit, was your anchor in a world turned on its head. Two halves of a whole. You’d survived the initial shock together. You’d survived the first game together. You’d survive this, too.

Wouldn’t you?

The snapping of twigs behind you killed your thoughts and solidified that this is reality. You tightened your grip on the jagged piece of the key. It felt like a joke. So small and incomplete, yet capable of deciding your fate. If you wanted to live, you needed the rest of it.

Just as your legs threatened to give out, a familiar flash of red streaked toward you.

“Y/N!” Chigiri’s voice cut through the chaos, his figure appearing out of the shadows. He skidded to a stop beside you, holding out two more fragments of the key. “I’ve got them. Kaede’s right behind me.”

Before you could respond, Kaede stumbled into view, breathless but determined. She waved the final piece triumphantly. “We’re not dying here, not today!”

Relief washed over you like a wave, but there was no time to celebrate. The pursuers were still on your heels, their shouts growing louder.

“This way!” Chigiri called, taking the lead as Kaede grabbed your hand. The three of you sprinted through the winding paths of the amusement park, dodging rusted rides and shattered glass.

When you finally reached the exit, Bachira was already there, as usual, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “You guys sure took your time!” he called out, eyes scanning the horizon. “Hurry, they’re right behind you!” To think he still had the urge to joke around is absurd.

You quickly fumbled with the key pieces, hands shaking as you fit them together. It clicked into place just as the first pursuer burst into view.

“Go, go, go!” Bachira urged, holding the gate open as Chigiri pushed you and Kaede through.

The heavy metal gate clanged shut behind you. On the other side, the shouts of your pursuers were abruptly silenced, replaced by the mechanical voice declaring “Game over” and the sickening, wet sound of blood splattering against the wall.

For a moment, no one moved, the reality settling like a suffocating weight—to live is to take away someone else’s life.

The four of you crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. Your chest heaved, your body coated in dirt and sweat. The metallic tang of fear lingered in the air as you exchanged fleeting glances, each face pale and hollow. But you were alive, though barely.

For a moment, no one spoke, the weight of your escape settling over you. Then Kaede broke the silence with a shaky laugh, attempting to mask her conflicted feelings. “That was way too close.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, clutching the now-complete key. It was over.

Bachira flopped onto his back with a grin that could only belong to someone completely unbothered by narrowly escaping death. “Man, that was fun! Let’s do it again sometime!”

“Fun?” Kaede shot him an incredulous glare, her voice still breathless. “We almost died back there!”

Before Bachira could retort, your phones vibrated simultaneously, a sharp buzz breaking through the tense atmosphere.

With trembling hands, you reached into your pocket, pulling out the device. The screen flickered to life, casting an eerie glow in the dim surroundings. On it was a single message, stark and bold:

GAME CLEAR7 of Clubs Complete

The realization hit you hard. You’d done it. Somehow, against all odds, you’d survived.

You nodded. “We wouldn’t have made it without each other.”

“Especially me,” Bachira chimed in, holding up his phone with a triumphant grin. “I totally nailed that waiting-by-the-exit thing.”

Kaede groaned, shaking her head. “Don’t push your luck, Bachira.”

Despite the tension, you couldn’t help but let out a small, weary laugh. For a brief moment, the brutality of this world seemed to lift, replaced by a fragile sense of victory.

But as you looked back at the eerie silhouette of the amusement park, the gruesome reality of your situation settled in once more. This wasn’t over. The games would keep coming, each more brutal than the last.

“Let’s get back,” Chigiri finally said, rising to his feet and offering you a hand. His grip was steady, and it gave you reassurance. “We need to get this to Isagi.”

He held up the 7 of Clubs card, its edges catching the faint glow of the moonlight.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You first met Isagi Yoichi’s team when you stumbled out of your first game with Kaede, a horrid game that left only the two of you as survivors.

Isagi was the one who approached you first. His calm demeanor gave him an air of leadership. “You made it through your first game. A heart one at that, impressive,” he said, offering a hand.

Kaede, though reluctant, shook it firmly. “We didn’t have much of a choice.”

Bachira, back then, was perched on the edge of a badly beat up, ripped couch, grinning widely. “I like them already. They’ve got guts.”

“Guts won’t keep you alive here,” Barou said flatly from the chair he was sitting at, his piercing red orbs assessing you and Kaede. His kingly demeanor added an edge to the room, making you instinctively cautious of him.

As you and Kaede settled into the group, you quickly found your rhythm. You worked well as a team. Your background as a high diver gave you focus and stamina, while Kaede’s part-time experience as a stuntwoman gave her an edge in high-pressure situations. The others didn’t make a big deal out of it, but it was clear that your skills were definitely a significant advantage when it comes to survival.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Back at your safe house, you sit with Kaede, reflecting on how drastically your lives have changed. You both knew you might have gone insane if you hadn’t found another person that day. Luck had led you to be saved by a group. Still, you’re acutely aware that this community is anything but permanent. Danger always lingers, yet the relief it offers is undeniable.

Then, without warning, a deafening explosion shakes the building. The walls rumble violently, plaster rains down in chunks, and smoke billows from cracks in the structure.

“Move!” Isagi shouts, his voice cutting through the confusion.

You barely manage to grab Kaede’s arm as the two of you bolt for the nearest exit.

Around you, the others scramble, coughing through the thick smoke and dodging falling debris. You and Kaede are among the first to break through to the outside, gasping for air in the cold night. Behind you, the safehouse collapses further, its frame buckling under another fiery explosion.

Shidou stumbles out, his eyes darting like an animal’s. “Well, that’s one way to clear out!”

“Where do we go?” Kaede demands, tugging you closer to her as the group gathers on the street.

“Anywhere but here!” Chigiri retorts, his reddish-pink hair catching the firelight as he scans the dark streets.

Before anyone can decide, the low growl of an engine tears through the air. A massive Jeep Gladiator skids to a halt in front of you, its steel frame glinting in the orange glow of the flames.

Its appearance makes it look as though it could withstand just about anything. A fortress on wheels.

The passenger-side window rolls down, revealing a man with sharp, mismatched eyes that glimmer even in the dim light. One eye is a distinct, almost hypnotic green, while the other is a deep, ocean blue. The contrast between them is unnerving, but there’s something about the way his gaze sweeps over the group that speaks of experience. His face is partially obscured by shadow, but his voice is steady and commanding.

“Get in.”

You and the others freeze, the tension thick as everyone exchanges wary glances. The man’s tone leaves little room for argument, but suspicion hangs in the air.

“Who the hell are you?” Reo snaps, stepping forward but keeping his distance.

“Does it matter?” the man retorts, his mismatched eyes narrowing. “Unless you’d rather stick around and wait for whoever bombed your hideout to come back.”

Bachira, standing slightly apart from the rest, tilts his head, his grin faint but noticeable. “I dunno about you guys, but this feels less explode-y than staying here.”

“Right?” Shidou adds, his wild demeanor returning as he strides toward the Jeep. “I love explosions but I’m not about to die all pretty like this.” Without waiting for anyone’s approval, he climbs in the back of the truck.

“Shidou!” Kaede snaps, her vexation boiling over.

“What?” he says with a shrug. “They’ve got wheels, and I don’t wanna walk.”

Bachira follows him without hesitation, jumping into the back of the truck as well. “Guess I’m going too. This thing kinda looks fun.”

You glance at Kaede, who glares at the vehicle as though willing it to disappear. “Kaede…” you murmur, gripping her arm. “We don’t have a choice.”

Yukimiya adjusts his glasses, his usual composure faltering just slightly. “They’re right. Out here, we’re vulnerable.”

Chigiri faces Kaede and nods reluctantly. “I can’t outrun another explosion. I’m in.”

Kaede curses under her breath, dragging you along as she heads for the Jeep. “If this is a trap, I’m throwing you out first,” she mutters.

The man with mismatched eyes watches silently as one by one, you all pile into the Jeep. You end up wedged between Kaede and Chigiri, the interior cramped but enough to offer a strange sense of protection.

As soon as Kaede slams the door shut, the driver with salmon locks floors the accelerator, and the vehicle lurches forward, speeding away. Inside, the air is thick with tension.

The man in the passenger seat finally speaks, his voice steady. “Whoever targeted you knows what they’re doing. If you want to stay alive, stick with us.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Reo mutters, his tone sharp. “Why should we trust you?”

The man glances back, “You don’t have to trust me. But I’ll remind you..” his mismatched eyes gleaming in the dim light. “Trust isn’t what keeps people alive here. It’s survival instinct that does.”

His words hang in the air as the truck roars down the deserted streets, leaving the destruction behind. You grip the edge of your seat, your heart pounding as you stare out the window, wondering if you’ve just escaped one danger only to run headfirst into another.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

It turns out they were taking you to another safe house. What was once a luxurious resort in the real world. Known as The Beach. The pristine pools glimmer and the sleek modern design of the resort still carries an air of opulence. People mill about in swimsuits and casual clothing, but the carefree appearance felt like a facade.

The atmosphere is heavy with tension, the invisible threads of hidden agendas simmer beneath the surface, you had just gotten there, but that much is obvious.

Your getaway driver from earlier, who introduces himself as Sendou, walks alongside you and Kaede, guiding you toward the heart of the Beach. It’s unbelievable how he’s unable to hide the fact that he has a thing for Kaede.

He’s grinning, his easy going demeanor the exact opposite of the nerves shivering in your chest and sweaty hands. “Welcome to the Beach,” he says, gesturing to the bustling crowd. “It’s not much, but it’s home, at least for me.”

At the center of it all stands Ego Jinpachi, the enigmatic leader of the Beach. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and sunglasses, he exudes control and intellect. His assertive tone cuts through the murmurs as he addresses the crowd from a raised platform.

“I created the Beach to bring order to the chaos of the Borderland,” Ego declares, his voice rising with conviction. “Here, we don’t rely on blind luck or brute force. We rely on strategy, intelligence, and teamwork. But none of that matters if you don’t recognize your own worth. You must believe in your ability to rise above the games. Because if you don’t, you’re already dead.”

If you’re being completely honest, you have no idea what this man is going on about—Ego this, Ego that. Sure, you get that he’s trying to give a pep talk to lift the spirits of a crowd that’s clearly beaten down, but wow, he does get carried away.

Beside him, Anri Teieri speaks next, her calm tone providing balance to Ego’s uncompromising tone. “The Beach’s structure is designed to give everyone a chance to survive,” she explains. “But cooperation and loyalty are non-negotiable.”

She pauses, letting the weight of her words settle before continuing. “There’s one more rule,” she says, her voice steady but firm. “All participants must adhere to the dress code. That means beach attire—swimsuits, casual clothing, leaves little to the imagination.”

The murmurs in the crowd grow louder, confusion and unease rippling through the participants. Anri doesn’t flinch, her gaze unwavering, determined. “The reason is simple,” she explains. “It ensures transparency and trust. No one can hide guns, knives, or any other weapons in beach clothes. This rule is about survival. The fewer opportunities for treachery, the safer we all are.”

Sendou gestures toward the raised platform where the Beach’s most prominent figures stand. “Let me give you a quick rundown,” he says, leaning in. “These are the big shots, the ones who keep this place running. Knowing who’s who can mean the difference between survival and, well, death.”

He nods toward the man who saved you all earlier, the one with the mismatched eyes. He was leaning casually against the railing. “That’s Oliver Aiku. Looks chill, doesn’t he? Don’t let it fool you, he’s got a brain that works faster than most, and he’s the guy you want on your side in a tight spot. If you’re lucky, he might even flash you that charming grin of his.” Kaede isn’t impressed.

Next, Sendou gestures toward the man with bleach-blonde hair, ice-blue eyes, and a self-assured smirk. “That one? That’s Michael Kaiser. The ‘I’m better than you’ aura? Yeah, that’s not just for show. He’s got a sharp tongue to match his sharp mind, and he doesn’t care who knows it. You’ll know you’ve done something right if he even acknowledges you exist.”

Sendou’s hand shifts to the figure standing close to Kaiser. “And that’s Alexis Ness, the guy with purple hair and a quiet vibe. Don’t underestimate him, he’s really loyal to everything that Kaiser does. When you deal with Kaiser, you’re dealing with Ness too.”

He then points to a man with tan skin and a buzz cut. “That’s Julian Loki, the ‘God Sprinter.’ When it comes to spade games, he’s the best there is. Fast on his feet and always one step ahead.”

Finally, his gaze lands on a towering figure with distinctive gold teeth (actual gold), exuding a laid-back demeanor. “And that’s Don Lorenzo. Big, quiet, and scary as hell when he wants to be. He’s the enforcer here, the guy who makes sure no one steps out of line. If you’re smart, you won’t give him a reason to look your way.”

Sendou pauses, his grin faltering slightly as his tone grows colder. “And then, there’s him.” He gestures to a figure seated at the edge of the group, his posture relaxed, but his presence commanding. His reddish-brown hair catches the light, his sharp gaze fixed like he owns the place.

“See that guy with the thick under lashes? Sae Itoshi. Quiet, deadly smart, and not someone you want to mess with. His eyes? They’re already sizing you up, figuring out what you’re worth before you even open your mouth.”

Sendou’s expression darkens, a trace of bitterness slipping through. “Sae doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He’s the type who’d throw you to the wolves if it benefitted him. Arrogant prick thinks he’s better than the rest of us, and honestly? He probably is, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying.”

He shakes his head, as if trying to shrug off his own words. “Trust me, if you can avoid dealing with him, do it. Life’s easier that way.”

Sendou steps back, folding his arms as he surveys the group. “That’s the crew keeping the Beach alive. Stick to the rules, show your worth, and you might just make it out of this place in one piece. But cross any of them?” He whistles low, shaking his head. “Well, you won’t be around long enough to regret it.”

You take a mental note on each executive, their demeanor, and the subtle dynamics among them. However, as Ego’s commanding voice thundered across the gathering, your focus began to waver. Not out of disinterest, but because your gaze had been drawn to someone among the Beach’s elite.

Seated near the edge of the platform, he was striking, like his face had been carved with meticulous precision. Itoshi Sae had an air of unshakable confidence.

Despite the chaos of the Beach, he remained unbothered, like none of it mattered enough to warrant his full attention.

His mere presence seemed to create a gravitational pull of a sort, and before you realized it, you were caught staring. How does someone carry themselves like that? you thought, barely processing Kaede nudging you to pay attention to Ego’s speech. Sae’s gaze flicked across the crowd like a predator surveying prey, but there was no malice in his eyes. Just cold detachment.

You knew better than to let anyone at the Beach intimidate you, but he wasn’t intimidating. No, he was something else; aloof, perhaps? The kind of person who made you want to know more, even if you sensed that getting too close might burn you.

“Y/N.”

Kaede’s sharp whisper pulled you out of your thoughts. You blinked and realized Ego was looking directly at you now, waiting for an answer to a question you hadn’t even listened to. Heat rushed to your face as you forced your attention back to the leader’s speech, inwardly cursing yourself for getting so distracted.

Still, as Kaede elbowed you again, mouthing, focus, you couldn’t help but let your gaze flicker towards the redhead one more time. He was watching Ego now, his expression unchanged, and utterly captivating.

As the crowd disperses, Ego’s sharp eyes land on you and Kaede. He gestures for the two of you to approach, and now you wonder where the boys had gone? Heart pounding, you step forward, Kaede close beside you.

“New arrivals,” Ego says, his tone neutral but probing. “What do you bring to the Beach?”

Kaede speaks first, steady despite the weight of his attention. “We’ve survived five games so far. We’re quick thinkers and adaptable.” A very basic textbook answer, but you figured it was better than just keeping your mouth shut.

Ego’s lips curl into a faint smirk. “Adaptability is a good start,” he says. “But remember, knowing your worth isn’t just about survival. It’s about domination. If you don’t seize control of your narrative, someone else will.”

You exchange a glance with Kaede, both of you silently resolving to prove your place here. As the Beach’s dynamics unfold, one thing is for sure; Ego’s philosophy of self-worth and survival will test every fiber of your being.

The blonde man, who you understood to be Kaiser, strides forward before anyone can speak, his icy blue eyes locking onto you with an intensity that sends a jolt through your chest. His lips curled into a playful grin but all you could notice was the distinct blue rose tattoo that adorned his neck.

“Well, well,” he drawls, his voice smooth and teasing. “I didn’t expect the Beach to get so much brighter today. Tell me, are you here to play the games, or just to distract the rest of us?”

Kaede stiffens beside you, protective instincts flaring, but you keep your composure. “I��m here to survive, just like everyone else,” you reply firmly, refusing to let him get under your skin.

Kaiser chuckles, clearly enjoying the exchange. “I like that fire! Don’t lose it, it’s rare around here.” He leans in slightly, his voice dropping just enough for only you to hear. “But if you ever need an ally, I can make things… interesting for you.”

Ness sighs softly, his gaze sharp as it flickers between you and Kaiser. “Kaiser,” he murmurs, his tone holding a note of warning.

Kaiser smirks but steps back, his eyes lingering on you for a moment longer. “Think about it,” he says before turning away.

Kaede leans in, whispering sharply, “What was that about?”

“I have no idea,” you mutter, catching a glimpse of the executive with reddish hair making his exit.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The nearby river feels like an entirely different world, away from the city chaos. The stars sparkle brightly in the cloudless sky, untouched by the glare of city lights.

You stand at the edge, mindlessly skipping stones, each bounce rippling across the water's surface.

Despite the hope that the presence of companions can provide, moments like these remind you of the need for solitude.

In the real world, this place would be off-limits—a restricted area—but that never stopped you from sneaking in at night. Here, the only sounds were the soft splashes of stones meeting shallow water, a perfect place to clear your thoughts.

You were distraught. Grief clings to you like a second skin. The pain of witnessing death after death, the desperation etched on the faces of those who gave up, and the stifling feeling of uncertainty. You were a med student just fresh out of university, with dreams and plans that now felt like whispers from some past life. This was your life now.

The questions flood your mind, relentless and unanswered. Where are you? Did some God pluck "chosen" people and leave the rest behind? Had the rest of the world simply ceased to exist, or was this some distant, desolate future where humanity had burned itself out? Did you travel through time? There was no logical reasoning for any of this. All these theories haunted you until it was cut off by a voice you had never expected to hear so close to you.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he called out to you, carrying a tinge of curiosity.

Startled, you turned to see Itoshi Sae himself standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets.

His calm presence was almost jarring against the backdrop of your inner turmoil. After remembering Sendou’s description of this man, you opted to be casual, respectful but not too friendly. “Something like that,” you reply, turning back to throw the pebble in your hand. “It’s hard to relax in a place like this.”

Sae steps closer, his movements measured, until he’s standing beside you. His gaze follows yours, scanning the city lights that flicker like dying embers.

“You get used to it,” he says, his tone devoid of comfort but not entirely unkind.

There’s a sharpness to him, a precision that feels as if it could cut through the hardest of stones. But beneath that, you catch glimpses of something else, something you couldn’t quite explain.

If you had just nodded at him, you knew there'd be a 99% chance he wouldn't ask a follow up question, but against your better judgement, you keep the conversation flowing. “Do you ever think about what’s next?” you ask softly, breaking the silence.

Sae doesn’t answer immediately. “No point in dwelling on it. What matters is surviving the next game.”

His pragmatism doesn’t surprise you, but it frustrates you nonetheless. “And after that? Do you even want to go back to the real world?”

This time, Sae turns his head to look at you. “Does it matter?” he counters. “The real world wasn’t much better than this one.”

You frown, his words striking a chord. “That’s not true for everyone. Some of us have people waiting for us out there. Lives we want to return to.”

Sae’s gaze lingers on you for a moment longer before he looks away, his jaw tightening. “That’s a dangerous mindset to have here. Hope gets people killed.”

His words ignite a spark of defiance in you. “Hope is what’s keeping me alive.”

For the first time, Sae’s lips twitch, almost forming a smirk. It’s not mocking, though, if anything, it feels as if… he’s impressed.

“You’re stubborn,” he remarks, his tone neutral but carrying a trace of amusement.

“And you’re cynical,” you shoot back, a small smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

“Word of advice, Miss?” Sae asks, his voice casual but laced with an unspoken question.

You pause for a moment, then give a slight nod, understanding the subtle request. “Oh, it’s Y/n. Y/n L/n.”

“Miss Y/n,” he repeats, testing the sound of your name, and there was no reason for it to sound that nice rolling off his lips.. "Don’t let your guard down," he says, his tone steady, “even out here” more of a warning than just a statement.

You meet his gaze, nodding in acknowledgment, but you don’t say anything. It’s enough that you understand. And just like that, he turns and walks away, leaving you alone on the riverside. The faint echo of his footsteps fades, but his words linger, intertwining with the stillness of the night.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The air felt heavy as you stepped out of your room. You had to wear a swimsuit as per the beach’s rules so now you were donning a dark blue two-piece. As a former high diving athlete, you were used to wearing little to no clothing but it still felt uncomfortable in a place that attempted to claim your life every time, so you decided to drape yourself with a thin, white cover-up.

The lingering buzz of last night's encounter with Itoshi Sae stayed in your thoughts. Shaking the distraction from your mind, you focused on what lay ahead.

Ego’s summons had come at sunrise, summoning all of you to the main hall. He stood at the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, with Anri by his side. His voice rang out, sharp and calculated. “Today, we move forward with strategic assignments. Each of you will participate in a game tailored to your potential. Success strengthens the Beach, and failure...”

He paused, his glasses catching the light ominously. “...is not an option.”

Kaede, standing beside you, shifted uneasily. “They’re really splitting us up,” she murmured under her breath.

You didn’t reply, your stomach twisting as Ego continued.

The room buzzed with soft murmurs as people digested the assignments. Some whispered reassurances to their teammates, and others exchanged uneasy glances.

Itoshi Sae, as usual, stood apart from the group, his detached expression giving him an almost otherworldly air. He gave the list a brief, disinterested glance before turning to leave, exuding an air of quiet authority that seemed to draw attention effortlessly.

Kaede leaned closer. “I’ve got Aiku, and you’ve got…” She trailed off, following your gaze to where Sae had been standing. “...That guy.”

You tore your eyes away from him, giving her a small shrug. “Yeah. Lucky me.”

Kaede tilted her head. “Just stay on your toes. He seems… intense. Hot, but intimidating.”

“Don’t worry about me,” you said, trying to muster confidence. “Just focus on your own game.”

She gave you a lopsided smile, though the concern in her eyes lingered. “Deal. But you owe me a debrief after.”

“And you?” you countered, the thought of her under Aiku’s command making you uneasy.

Kaede smirked, the shadow of her usual bravado returning. “Aiku’s charming, but I’ll be fine.”

As the crowd began to break apart, you both exchanged a quick nod, a silent promise to make it through the day.

You found Sae waiting near the lobby, his tall, lean frame leaning casually against a pillar. Dressed in a white, button down shirt, the sharp angles of his features were only emphasized by the dim light. His teal eyes locked onto you as you approached, and for a moment, you forgot how to breathe.

“You’re here,” he said simply, pushing off the pillar with a fluid motion. “Good. Let’s get this over with.”

His tone was as detached as ever, but the way his gaze lingered on you betrayed a flicker of acknowledgment.

“Do you even know what we’re walking into?” you asked, trying to mask your nerves.

A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “You’ll either keep up or you won’t.”

Annoyance flickered within you, but you swallowed it down. “I’ll hold my own.”

He regarded you for a moment, his expression neutral. “We’ll see.”

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The meeting point for the game was deep in the woods, where a cliff loomed over a crystal-clear lake. The stillness of the forest made the setting almost serene, but the stark drop of the cliff and the ominous instructions on the digital board at its base shattered any illusions of peace.

Sae stood at the edge of the cliff, his features lit by the soft light filtering through the trees. His piercing gaze flicked from the board to the lake below, then back to the group. He hadn't spoken much since you arrived, but his quiet, commanding presence spoke volumes.

The other participants—Renji, Ayaka, Kaito, and Yumi—gathered near the base of the cliff, their faces a mix of unease and dread. Renji, tall and broad-shouldered, paced anxiously, while Ayaka clung to her jacket, her eyes nervously darting toward the drop. Kaito, who had seemed confident at first, now wore a deep frown, while Yumi, silent and trembling, struggled to mask her fear.

The holographic screen flickered and steadied, displaying the game rules:

5 of Diamonds: The Plunge

Setup: A button is located at the bottom of the lake, 20 meters deep. Pressing this button will deactivate the laser blocking access to the pathway on the shore, which must be solved to escape. A single participant must dive from the cliff into the lake and press the button.

Conditions: Only one participant can activate the underwater button. Time limit: 20 minutes. If the button is not pressed, or the number panel is not solved within the time limit, all participants will be eliminated.

The mechanical voice echoed through the clearing: “Select the participant to perform the dive.”

The tension in the air was palpable. Renji stepped back, shaking his head. "No way. That’s too much. I’m not risking my life like that."

Ayaka winced. "I can't swim well enough for this… I'd only slow everyone down."

Kaito crossed his arms, trying to mask his nervousness with bravado. "Look, I'm a decent swimmer, but that’s a long way down. If I panic, we’re done for."

You were genuinely appalled by this game; there was no reason for it to be classified as a diamond when it so clearly demanded physical dexterity—high diving, the skill you excelled in particularly. In this world, you’d learned to be cautious about revealing your strengths too soon, because your allies could easily become your enemy overnight—a lesson you learned the hard way when Kuon betrayed your former team.

The others looked desperate, their eyes darting around, but no one dared to step forward. The weight of their indecision pressed heavily on your chest, tightening the air around you. At the edge of the group, Sae stood still, watching, calculating. You could tell he’d already set a mental timer, ready to step in if no one volunteered.

But you weren’t naïve. This wasn’t just a test of courage; this was a test to all of you. This setup was all a part of Ego’s plan. This was your chance to prove your worth to the beach’s executive.

Before the silence could stretch any further, you stepped forward. "I’ll do it."

All eyes turned to you. Renji looked surprised, Kaito skeptical, Ayaka relieved, and Yumi scared.

Sae's gaze settled on you. "You?"

"I’m a high diver, I know the form." you said firmly, meeting his piercing eyes. "I can handle this."

Sae stood, scrutinizing you. "You understand the consequences if you fail?"

You nodded, your eyes unwavering. "I understand."

"Then don’t." His words were simple, yet carried the weight of command.

The words hit harder than expected, but you didn’t flinch. Taking a deep breath, you moved to the edge of the cliff. There was no need to strip down; the bikini you wore was already practical for the dive. The murmurs from the group faded into a dull hum, the pounding of your heart the only sound in your ears.

For a moment, you froze, staring down at the lake. The faint glimmer of the metallic button at the bottom felt like a distant star, unreachable.

The stakes were impossibly higher than anything you’d ever faced before. Fear clawed at the edges of your resolve, but you clenched your fists, trying to force the doubt away. You can do this. You’ve trained for this. This is just like the nationals, only colder, higher, and with no room for error. You’ve got this.

The wind whipped around you, tugging at your clothes as if trying to pull you back, but you planted your feet firmly. The world around you seemed to shrink until there was only the abyss in front of you and the target at the bottom of the lake.

With a final, steadying breath, you silenced every doubt and counted to three. Then, without hesitation, you launched yourself forward, leaving the solid ground behind cutting through the air in a smooth arc.

Plunging into the void below with precise, practiced grace, the splash barely audible over the sound of the group’s frantic breathing.

The lake was darker than it had seemed from above, the sunlight barely piercing the surface. You kicked downward, your lungs burning as you searched for the button. Finally, your hand brushed against the cold metal. You worked quickly, your fingers trembling as you pressed it.

From the cliff, the others rushed down the shore toward the number panel. Renji’s and Ayaka’s cheers barely registered as you swam toward the shore, your arms trembling with exhaustion.

Sae stood there, his sharp eyes watching as you pulled yourself out of the water. His expression was as composed as ever, but there was a faint glimmer of approval in his gaze.

Renji, Ayaka, Kaito, and Yumi gathered around you, their relief palpable. "You were incredible," Ayaka said, her voice shaking.

The tension from earlier had faded, replaced with a moment of shared relief, though the game was far from over.

The number panel needed a 6 digit number as the code, only flashing the following symbols as a clue: ◆-⏲-↕

Sae’s gaze flicked over the symbols. This was a level 5 diamond game, after all, and he knew the answer immediately. But before he could speak, Yumi suddenly slipped, losing her footing on the rocky shore. Her scream echoed in the air as she fell into the lake with a splash.

Without a second thought, you dove back into the water, quickly focused on reaching Yumi. The cold water was a shock again, but you pushed through it. Yumi was struggling beneath the surface, thrashing as she tried to stay afloat. You reached her, grabbing her tightly and pulling her toward the shore.

But as you made your way back, a sharp, unexpected pain shot through your foot. You tried to shift, but the rocks beneath you were unstable, and your foot became wedged between two heavy stones. The pain was intense, and it felt like the world was closing in.

With every effort to free yourself, the water began to overwhelm you. You gasped for air, but your head felt heavy. Your body was giving out. The heaviness of the lake, the pressure in your chest, and the darkness creeping at the edges of your vision were too much.

Then, everything went black.

The group stood on the rocky shore, the tension thick as Yumi sputtered and coughed, water pouring from her lungs. She had barely been pulled from the lake, her body trembling from the cold and the near-drowning. Renji and Ayaka crouched beside her, trying to help her sit up, while Kaito paced nervously, his eyes darting toward the dark, rippling water.

"Are you okay?" Ayaka asked, her voice tinged with panic.

Yumi waved her off weakly, water streaming from her mouth as she struggled to catch her breath. "I..." she started, only to be overtaken by another fit of coughing.

Sae stood nearby, his expression cold but his sharp eyes locked on Yumi, watching her closely. "Spit it out," he ordered, his tone cutting like a blade.

Yumi coughed again, clutching her chest as she finally managed to speak. "Y/n…" she gasped, her words broken. "She… she’s stuck!"

The group froze.

"What do you mean, stuck?" Kaito demanded, his voice rising in alarm.

Yumi shook her head, struggling to get the words out. "The rocks... under the water," she stammered, her voice hoarse. "They're falling apart… trapping her… she can’t get out!"

Ayaka let out a horrified gasp, covering her mouth with trembling hands. "Oh my god. She went back for you," she whispered.

Renji stood abruptly, panic flashing across his face. "What do we do? We can’t just—"

Sae cut him off, his voice sharp and commanding. "Enough." His patience had worn thin. Not only were the others incompetent; they were actively ruining their chances of survival. And now, their uselessness was putting the only other capable member of the group at risk.

He barely restrained the insult that threatened to escape his lips, his jaw tightening with the effort of doing so.

But his tone left no room for debate, “The code is 056020. Go.” There was no hesitation, he didn’t even wait for their acknowledgement, already turning towards the lake.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, their fear mounting as Sae began peeling off his shirt, his expression colder and more resolute than ever. The intensity in his eyes silenced any protests before they could form.

"You stay here," he commanded, fixing them with a glare that made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate dissent. "She doesn’t have time for your panic."

Renji, Ayaka, and Kaito scrambled toward the number panel, their hands trembling as they keyed in the code. The pressure of the timer and Sae’s scornful words hung heavy over them.

Without another word, he dove into the lake. The cold didn’t faze him. The lake seemed to swirl and writhe around him as he dove deeper, and in moments, his hand gripped your unconscious form. He pushed the rocks away from you, caring not to graze your bleeding leg any further as he tugged you closer.

He lifted you from the depths, your limp body weightless in his arms, as though you were nothing more than a plush doll. His voice was soft as he whispered, "You did well." The words, barely more than a breath, carried an unspoken admiration.

As he carried you to shore, the others, trembling and terrified, finally entered the code.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

When you finally regained full consciousness, the scent of disinfectants filled the air, waking your racing thoughts. The chaos of the game was gone. There was only silence.

You blinked, your vision foggy as you tried to process everything. As it cleared, you found Sae sitting beside you, his eyes focused on you with an intensity you weren't used to. There was an unfamiliar flicker in his gaze—concern, maybe, though it was quickly masked by his usual coldness.

You tried to sit up, but your body felt heavy, and a sharp pain shot through your leg. Looking down, you noticed your lower leg tightly bandaged. The weight of the game, the stress—it all clung to you like a second skin.

You were back at the beach, in your shared quarters with Kaede.

Sae was sitting beside you, his gaze focused on you. He handed you a glass of water, his cold fingers brushing against yours briefly. You drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing your parched throat but doing little to ease the lingering ache in your body.

“What happened?” you asked, your voice hoarse and unsteady. “What time is it?”

Sae didn’t respond right away. His eyes flickered to the side for a moment, as though weighing his words carefully. When he finally spoke, his tone was as neutral as ever, stripped of any emotion,

“You were unconscious when I found you. You did your part,” he said bluntly.

Your brow furrowed at his cryptic response. “And… my leg?” you pressed, glancing down at the bandage.

“I cleaned your wounds,” Sae replied flatly, his expression neutral. “It wasn’t deep, but you bled a lot. Someone had to make sure you didn’t get an infection.”

For a moment, you stared at him, caught off guard by his admission. From what you’ve heard from the others, he wasn’t one to say things like that, let alone do something so�� considerate. “Thank you,” you murmured, the words feeling heavy on your tongue.

Sae’s lips twitched, but whether it was the hint of a smile or a grimace, you couldn’t tell. “Don’t make a habit of needing help,” he said coldly, standing abruptly. “You’re lucky this time.”

With a final glance in your direction, he left without another word.

Just then, Kaede entered the room. The worry was clear on her face, and before you could react, she jumped onto your bed, pulling you into a tight hug.

“Hey, Kae,” you groaned, wincing at the pressure on your aching body. “I missed you too, but I’ll die of suffocation if you don’t let go soon.”

Kaede pulled back slightly, her face filled with concern. “I was so worried about you, Y/n. How could you be so reckless?! Putting others before yourself like that.”

“Now, now, I couldn’t just ignore someone who needed help,” you replied with a tired smile. “But hey, how was your game?”

Kaede’s expression shifted slightly, a heaviness settling in her eyes. She quickly masked it, but you caught the subtle change. Any other person might have missed it, but you and Kaede shared a bond that no one else had. You knew her well enough to see when something was off, even if she wasn’t saying it aloud. You weren’t gonna push the subject since it clearly bothered her.

“It was fine,” she said, brushing it off with a wave of her hand. “Nothing new.” She was quick to change the subject, though, her teasing tone returning as she raised an eyebrow. “But word is running around that you made the ‘oh-so-self-centered’ Itoshi Sae save you.”

You blinked, taken aback. “What?”

Kaede chuckled, clearly amused by the rumors. “Oh, yeah. Apparently, you had to get saved by him. Way to go, Ms. Irresistible, looks like you still have it in you.”

You sighed, sinking back into your pillows as you fought off the lingering exhaustion. “It’s not like that,” you muttered, but she wasn’t convinced and continued badgering you for answers about the game.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The following morning, you walked into the lobby, only to notice your name wasn’t on the assigned list and neither was Sae’s.

Instead, Ego had written you a personal note informing you that you’d been given a month off due to your injuries. Since you’d just completed multiple games, you had more than a month left on your visa. The news was a relief.

You headed toward the dining area, the scent of freshly prepared food filling your nose. There, at the end of a long table, Sae was seated, quietly eating his breakfast.

“Good morning,” you said, your voice low but steady.

Sae glanced up, nodding in acknowledgment but saying nothing. You stood there for a moment, feeling the unfamiliar quiet around you before you added, “Mind if I join you?”

With a minimal gesture, he motioned to the empty seat across from him, his eyes still fixed on the medium-rare steak in front of him. You slid into the seat, the sound of the chair scraping lightly against the floor filling the space between you.

The silence was awkward, different from the usual noise of Kaede and Bachira's constant chatter. It was strange, uncomfortable even.

You picked at your food, the eggs on your plate still warm but not particularly appetizing. The room hummed with soft voices from other tables, but the two of you remained quiet.

Finally, Sae broke the silence, his voice low and sharp. His words caught you off guard. “Why did you do it?” he asked, his gaze never leaving yours. You weren’t expecting such a direct question this early in the day. “Why put yourself in danger yesterday? It wasn’t your responsibility.”

You stole a quick glance at him, acutely aware of the weight of his gaze. His conversations were always so unpredictable, you thought. Still, you answered, keeping your tone steady, not wanting to sound defensive. “Someone had to save her,” you said simply. “I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.”

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze slicing through you. “You had nothing to gain,” he pointed out, his voice turning colder. “Most people here wouldn’t lift a finger unless it benefited them. Why are you any different?”

You let out a slow breath, this was starting to sound like a job interview. Your gaze drifted to the window, where the first light of day was creeping over the horizon. “Because I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t do what felt right,” you answered, your voice quieter now, less certain but resolute. “I don’t just want to survive, Sae. I want to remember who I am, even in this place.”

The words hung between you, and for a moment, Sae said nothing. His expression was neutral, his eyes fixed on his plate. He didn’t respond right away, as if weighing your response in his mind. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, almost introspective. “You think that’s enough? Being yourself?”

You met his gaze now, steady but thoughtful. “Maybe not,” you admitted, “But it’s the only thing I have control over.”

He studied you for a moment, and the tension in the air seemed to shift, as though cogs had clicked into place. “You’re either brave or foolish,” he said finally, his tone still sharp but with the faintest hint of interest. “I can’t decide which.”

You let out a small, almost amused sigh. “A bit of both, probably.”

Sae huffed, his lips curling into the faintest of smirks, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Idealism isn’t going to keep you alive.”

You raised an eyebrow at him, a trace of a smile playing on your lips. “It’s not idealism,” you countered, meeting his gaze directly. “It’s just… who I am.”

“Who you are won’t matter if you’re dead.”

You held his gaze, unflinching. “Then why did you pull me out?”

The question made Sae pause. His jaw tightened for just a moment, and you could see a flicker of emotion—frustration? It was gone before you could fully catch it. He answered simply, his voice low, almost hesitant. “I didn’t want to waste the effort of watching you throw it all away.”

You smirked, a hint of sarcasm creeping into your tone. “Sure,” you replied dryly. “Because that’s all it was; effort.”

Sae’s expression shifted, his control slipping for just a fraction of a second. It was subtle, but you saw it. “Don’t misunderstand. You’re interesting, but interest doesn’t mean trust.”

“I wasn’t asking for your trust,” you said quietly, your voice softer now. “Just… trying to understand.”

For a long beat, he studied you. When he finally spoke again, it was with a quieter, almost distant tone. “If you want to survive here, don’t make decisions based on feelings. The only thing that matters is winning.”

You set your fork down, and with a probing question, you asked, “And what happens after you win?”

Sae didn’t answer immediately. He stared ahead, his gaze distant, as if considering something far beyond the confines of the dining hall. Finally, when he did speak, his voice was quieter. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

You chuckled, the corners of your lips twitching with amusement. “Just so you know,” you said, setting your glass of water down with a soft clink, “You really suck at making casual conversation.”

His expression remained neutral, but his tone softened slightly. “It was genuine curiosity.”

This was likely the beginning of your unlikely friendship with Mr. Genius. He was different from the rest of them after all. Perhaps Sendou had been wrong about him, or maybe he had only scratched the surface of Sae’s complexities.

It intrigued you, drew you in, even if you weren’t entirely sure why. You wanted to get to know him, not as a means to secure your survival or win his approval, but simply as a person. A normal connection in a world where everything felt anything but that.

Still, whatever lay hidden beneath his icy exterior wasn’t something you could grasp. Not yet, at least.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

“For the record, this isn’t part of the Beach’s all-inclusive package,” Sae said dryly, stepping aside to let you in his room despite his comment.

Even with the comfort and relief your month off afforded you, the boredom had crept in faster than expected. Kaede was frequently assigned tasks and spent most of her time with Aiku, leaving you with long, uneventful hours to fill.

By the second day, you’d already exhausted your limited entertainment options and that’s how you found yourself standing outside one of the Beach’s exclusive suites. The one occupied by a certain red-haired executive.

“Really? I thought hospitality was included in the package,” you quipped, striding into the room without hesitation.

He raised an eyebrow at your boldness, closing the door behind you. “And here I thought you’d find better ways to waste your time.”

“Believe me, I’ve tried,” you shot back, scanning the room. It was impeccably tidy, with no sign of personal clutter, no books, no scattered clothes, not even an empty glass on the counter. “But since you’ve got all this space to yourself, I figured I’d grace you with some company.”

Sae gave you a flat look, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “Company? Or are you just here to entertain yourself?”

“Can’t it be both?” you countered with a smirk, flopping onto one of the couches. “Besides, you owe me for saving your reputation as the cool-headed genius. Imagine what people would say if they knew you pulled me out of that game.”

He scoffed, but the faintest twitch of amusement tugged at the corner of his lips. “Let them talk. I don’t care about their opinions.”

You leaned back, folding your arms behind your head. “So, what do you do for fun, Mr. Itoshi? Or is brooding your only hobby?”

“I don’t brood,” he replied, his tone neutral but with a hint of defensiveness. “Unlike some people, I don’t need constant distraction.”

“Oh, right, because you’re too busy being a weirdo,” you teased.

He stared at you for a moment, as if debating whether to respond, before finally speaking. “If you’re going to sit here and bother me, at least make yourself useful.”

“Useful?” you echoed, feigning offense. “I’m the most useful person in this room right now. Without me, who’d remind you to lighten up?”

Sae let out a quiet huff, almost a laugh but not quite. “You’re insufferable.”

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Surprisingly, Sae Itoshi could be quite agreeable.

It started small, like quiet conversations in his suite, debates about the pointlessness of certain games, and occasional sarcastic jabs that somehow felt less biting each time.

You discovered that, despite his aloof demeanor, Sae had a surprisingly talkative side when the mood struck him. Through one of those rare conversations, you learned he was a professional football player. While your football knowledge was that of a toddler, your adventurous nature wouldn’t let such an opportunity go to waste.

If only there were a football field somewhere in this eerie city, you’d have eagerly asked him to join you. But since there wasn’t, you settled for dragging him to the Beach’s bowling alley instead.

You figured he might enjoy a ball-related game, even if it wasn’t quite the same. Of course, you didn’t dare mention your “logical reasoning” to him; he’d probably take offense at the idea that you associated bowling with his beloved soccer.

Instead, you framed it as something to pass the time, though his skeptical glance suggested he saw right through you.

“You think rolling a ball at pins is a worthwhile way to spend time?” he asked, unimpressed.

The irony wasn’t lost on you, though you held back the urge to point it out directly. And yet you play in a team that kicks balls for a living, you thought to yourself with a smirk. “Better than sitting in your room sulking,” you shot back.

The competitive glint in his sharp eyes became unmistakable, and his precision started to show.

Neither of you had paid much attention to the scoreboard until a sudden burst of confetti erupted from the ceiling, startling you. The sound of clinking mechanisms followed, accompanied by an unexpected jingle of triumph.

A small chute dispensed the prize: a plump seagull plush, its goofy expression and floppy wings entirely out of place in the empty, unenthusiastic bowling alley. You both stared at it for a moment before Sae picked it up, his expression a mixture of confusion and faint embarrassment.

“Here,” he muttered, thrusting it toward you without looking in your direction. His usual composure wavered.

You blinked, surprised. Your lips quirked into a small smile as you tilted your head slightly, leaning in just enough to catch a glimpse of his face. He was stubbornly avoiding your gaze, his ears suspiciously red at the edges.

“Are you going to take it or just keep staring?” he said, his voice gruff but lacking its usual bite. Finally, he turned to face you, his teal eyes flickering.

Biting back a laugh, you reached out and took the plush from his hands. It was soft and silly in design, a stark contrast to the brooding atmosphere Sae carried with him. Clutching the toy against your chest, you grinned. “Didn’t think I’d leave here with a souvenir,” you teased lightly, your tone laced with genuine gratitude. “Thanks, Sae.”

He scoffed, turning his head slightly, but not fast enough to hide the faint tint of red creeping over his cheeks. “It’s just a stupid plush. Don’t make it a big deal.”

Holding the seagull plush tighter, you couldn’t help but think that, goofy as it was, it might just be the thing anyone has ever given you.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You wondered if he’d actually warmed up to you. It didn’t feel as one-sided as it had at the start. Maybe this really had turned into a friendship—or something close to it. But the question remained: what exactly did you mean to him? Because you knew he wasn’t someone you could force into anything he did not want to do.

Sure, he complained. There were sighs, eye-rolls, muttered insults. But in the end, he always went along with it.

You were being delusional. Maybe, for him, this was nothing more than a way to pass time in this strange world. And if that’s the case you’d make the most of it.

That’s how you came up with the idea of dragging him to the karaoke rooms. It was stupid, sure, but the thought of getting someone like Sae to stand under disco lights with a microphone was too tempting to resist.

But when you opened the door to one of the karaoke rooms, you froze.

Lounging on the plush couch was Oliver Aiku, a girl straddling his lap. Her laughter rang out as Aiku whispered something into her ear, his grin as smooth and shameless as ever.

Your gaze quickly darted to the girl’s face, and you nearly choked on your surprise—it was Kaede.

Kaede, on the other hand, looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Aiku glanced up, his expression as smug as ever. Kaede flushed bright red, quickly scrambling off Aiku’s lap.

Still laughing, you waved Kaede a quick goodbye and followed Sae out of the room, unable to resist one last quip.

If you’d learned anything that day, it was that no matter how mundane or pointless he claimed a situation to be, he would still follow you. Yet, you couldn’t fully bring yourself to believe it, knowing that if you were wrong it would only crush the growing feelings in your fragile heart.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The night air seeped through the thin cracks of your window, the cold brushing against your skin as you sat cross-legged on the floor of your room. The faint hum of the Beach’s generators was the only sound. Kaede was sprawled across the bed, her head resting on her hand as she stared at you with a look that was far too knowing.

The conversation had started innocently enough, idle talk about the games, the people here, and the way life seemed to teeter constantly on the edge of chaos. But then her words shifted, growing softer, heavier with meaning.

“You know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I think I’m falling for him. For Aiku.”

You blinked, her words pulling you from the depths of your thoughts. Aiku, the ever-charming executive with his disarming smirk. The way Kaede spoke, her voice tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability, made it clear she was serious.

“I didn’t expect it,” she admitted, her gaze dropping to her lap. “It’s not like he’s been anything but himself—cocky, annoying, impossible to ignore. But there’s something there, something more to him.”

Her confession sent a ripple of recognition through you. That sense of being drawn to someone, of being unable to shake the weight of their presence—it wasn’t foreign to you. You felt it too, for Sae that is.

Kaede must have noticed the change in your expression because she lifted her eyes to meet yours. Her gaze was perceptive, and far too knowing. “And you,” she started, her tone gentler now. “Don’t even try to deny it. You like him, don’t you? Itoshi Sae.”

The words hit you like a blow, and your breath caught in your throat. You wanted to shrug it off, to laugh at her assumption, but the sincerity in her voice disarmed you. The cold of the room felt even sharper against your cheeks as heat crept up to them.

You bit your lip and gave the smallest of nods, your hands clutching the edge of your blanket like a lifeline.

Kaede’s expression softened, and she sat up, her hair falling messily over her shoulder. “It’s okay, you know,” she said, her voice quieter now, as if afraid to shatter the fragile admission you’d just made. “This place… it’s cruel. It makes us cling to things, to people, to anything that feels real. You’re human. So am I.”

A laugh bubbled out of you—soft, strained, almost bitter. “Yeah, but falling in love? Now? That’s not exactly the smartest move, is it?”

Kaede tilted her head, studying you. “Maybe not. But I think he cares about you more than you realize.”

You looked away, your gaze fixed on the open windowpane, it’s a bit far-fetched. “Even if he does… I can’t risk it. What we have now—it’s good. It’s safe. I don’t want to ruin that. If I say anything, if I… admit it to him, I might lose it.”

Kaede reached out, her hand covering yours, warm against the chill of the room. “You’re scared,” she said softly. “I get it. But don’t let fear stop you. We don’t know when this nightmare is gonna end, we might as well start living it.”

Her words lingered long after she’d fallen asleep, her breathing steady in the silence. You stayed by the window, staring out into the night, your heart heavy with the truth you couldn’t bring yourself to share with him. Fear wasn’t just stopping you—it was paralyzing. Because the thought of losing Sae, even in the smallest way, was unbearable.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The Beach, with all its illusions of safety and utopia, could only hold back reality for so long. If your visa runs out, no matter where you hid, you’re dead. Today marked your last day of time off—and you already missed most of it.

When you opened the door to your room however, Sae was already standing there. His expression was unreadable, his arm extended toward the door indicating that he was one second away from knocking it himself.

“Missed me?” you teased, leaning against the doorframe.

He quirked an unimpressed brow, his voice dry as he replied, “I just wanted to check if your idiot ass didn’t accidentally get flushed down the toilet.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at your lips. Without much thought, you suggested skipping stones by the nearby river—a callback to the night you first met him. You wouldn’t admit it to his face, but you’d been longing to see him, to spend time with him, no matter how mundane the activity, as long as it was with him.

Sae, predictably, was skeptical. His gaze fell to the smooth pebbles in your hand, his brow furrowing slightly as if they were alien artifacts.

You gave a small smile, clearly unfazed. “It’s therapeutic,” you countered, tossing a stone with a flick of your wrist. The stone skittered across the water’s surface, bouncing three times before it sank beneath the surface with a soft plop. “See? It’s about finding rhythm.”

Sae stared at the smooth, round stones in your hand as if they were strange objects. “Therapeutic? It’s a rock. And water,” he said, his tone more skeptical than anything else.

“Come on, show me what you’ve got,” you prodded, tossing him a stone with a playful smirk.

His first attempt was, to put it mildly, clumsy. The stone barely left his hand before it plopped straight into the river with no grace, no finesse. You couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light and genuine.

“The great Itoshi Sae, defeated by a rock,” you teased, leaning against the riverbank with a wide grin.

His gaze flickered over to you, he really did hate losing. “Don’t push it,” he warned, though the sharp edge usually present in his tone was absent. It was almost as if your laughter had softened him, or at least caught him off guard.

Determined to prove himself, he picked up another stone, his jaw set in concentration. This time, his flick of the wrist was smoother. The stone skimmed across the water—one, two, three, four, FIVE times—before it sank with a soft ripple.

You blinked, genuinely impressed. “Not bad for a beginner,” you said, a slight, almost reluctant nod of approval following the words though betrayed by your most beaming smile.

He didn’t respond, but you caught the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his expression.

“I used to come here whenever I felt overwhelmed,” you shared, breaking the silence. Then, with a teasing grin, you added, “I’m sure you already knew that, since you were stalking me my first night at the Beach.”

His gaze flicked to you, and with practiced indifference, he replied, “I was just passing by.”

“Sure, sure,” you said, letting the topic drop as you idly tossed a pebble into the air and caught it in your palm. Your gaze drifted toward the river, your tone shifting to something quieter, more reflective. “So, it’s our last day, huh?”

“It’s not like we’re going to die tomorrow or something,” he replied casually, but his words faltered when he noticed your eyes glistening.

“We could,” you said, your voice trembling. “That’s what’s terrifying—we could die.” You buried your face in your palms, your quiet sobs breaking the night’s stillness.

The month had passed in a blur. Your moments with Sae had become a comforting routine—quiet conversations, playful banter, and a silent understanding that grounded you in this surreal reality. But as the end of the month loomed, so did the overwhelming fear of what lay ahead.

What he did next was something you never expected. Sae stepped closer. Without a word, he pulled you into his arms, his embrace firm yet careful, as if you were a fragile piece of glassware, afraid you might break. The cool night air nipped at your skin, his warmth wrapped around you, calming your frayed nerves.

“We’ll be fine,” he murmured, his voice low but resolute. “And if it helps, I’ll look out for you. Whenever I can, always.”

You pulled back slightly, looking up at him through tear-streaked lashes. “You promise?”

His response caught you off guard—not the nod or silence you expected, but a firm, steady, “I do.”

The sincerity in his voice and the gentle pat on your head made your heart ache in a way that was both painful and reassuring. For now, it was enough.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Returning to the games, you found yourself shuffled between other executives.

One day, it was Kaiser and Ness, leading a Diamond game that required intricate strategy and manipulation. The next, you were paired with Don Lorenzo for a Spade game that pushed your physical limits, his menacing smiles exhibiting his golden teeth giving you constant discomfort. Even Loki’s charm couldn’t soften the brutality of a Club game that demanded relentless cooperation among strangers who knew nothing about each other.

No matter the variation in challenges or how cunning the leaders, the truth remained constant: this place was designed to break you.

During the times you were assigned to Sae, however, things were different. The casual interactions you once shared had shifted into something more professional. He was focused, sharp, and detached in front of others. Yet, even then, he didn’t fail to show that he cared. His gestures were subtle—an extra moment of consideration, a quietly murmured “be careful,” or the way he placed himself between you and danger without hesitation.

You were certain the others noticed the faint special treatment, even if Sae masked it well. But when no one else was watching, he dropped the pretense and treated you like a friend, like he always had.

It was during one of these unguarded moments that he handed you a bottle of water after a grueling game. His tone was brusque, but his actions were anything but, pushing it into your hand before walking off.

Or the time he lingered by your side after a particularly taxing Spade game. You’d been injured. It was just a scrape, really—but his gaze had darkened when he saw the blood. Without a word, he’d torn a piece of his shirt to wrap around your arm, his movements quick and efficient.

And then came that day.

One you could never have prepared for, no matter how much time you had.

In the Borderlands, there were no police, no FBI, no medics to retrieve the bodies. Death was final, and corpses were left to rot where they fell. But this time, it was different. This time, there was an attempt at retrieval—but it was far from professional.

The body was wrapped hastily in stained, reeking cloth, its outline grotesque, the pungent stench of death wafting through the air like a cruel mockery.

The sight offended every fiber of your being, not because of the lack of care but because of the unmistakable shade of blonde hair peeking out from beneath the blood-soaked fabric.

Kaede.

Your best friend.

You didn’t just cry—you wailed. Your voice tore through the air, a raw, guttural sound of anguish that clawed at your throat and left your chest heaving. The sobs wracked your body, a visceral release of the horror and grief that threatened to consume you whole.

It felt like the world had taken a blade and plunged it into your chest repeatedly, then run you over with a bus as the cherry on top. Your knees buckled, but you couldn’t fall. Not yet.

Bachira had explained the horror of the game she’d been trapped in, though you hadn’t needed the details to piece together the nightmare. A Heart game—vicious, cruel, and unforgiving. One player had been chosen to harbor the 9 of Hearts card, concealed within their body by the twisted hands of the game master; they would have to kill that person.

That player had been Kaede.

She had known.

They had all known.

Aiku, Reo, and Bachira himself had tried everything to protect her. Even if it meant fighting and shedding blood for her sake. But she had made the ultimate choice. By slitting her throat herself to spare them, she couldn’t bear to be the sole survivor in that awful, awful game.

Her life had ended by her own hand, but the horror didn’t stop there.

The card was needed to end the game. It was stuffed inside her lungs, to force the survivors to desecrate her body in the name of their own survival. Anri Teieri, a surgeon, was the only one capable of performing the task of retrieving it without as much as ruining her perfectly maintained corpse.

“No! Stop! Don’t touch her!” you screamed, thrashing in the lobby as they prepared to take her body away. Everything about it is sick, disgusting. Your voice cracked, and your struggles were wild, desperate, animalistic.

Sae had rushed toward you as soon as he heard the news. He was the only thing keeping you from collapsing completely. He held you back, his arms a steady force as you fought against him with everything you had.

“I’m sorry,” Reo muttered, his voice thick with tears. His face was battered, one eye swollen shut, his body covered in cuts and bruises. He cradled Kaede’s lifeless form in his arms as he carried her toward the basement where Anri waited.

“Where’s Aiku?” you screamed, your voice raw and broken.

Reo’s steps faltered. He didn’t look at you as he answered. “Unconscious. He’s in a coma… in the clinic.”

You felt like you were shattering, splintering into a million irreparable pieces.

You wanted to scream, to curse the world, to make it all stop, but Sae’s arms never left you. He had kept his word, that he’d always look out for you. He was your anchor, the only thing keeping you from being swept away by the tide of despair.

And even as the world seemed to crumble around you, his presence was the only thing that kept you standing.

That night, Sae didn’t leave you to face the hollow void of your shared room with Kaede. Instead, he let you stay in his. The silence between you was heavy, but not unbearable, it was better than the oppressive emptiness that awaited you in yours.

That night, as you lay curled up on his bed, you asked him, your voice trembling, if he swore he’d never leave you, cause you just lost Kae, and you couldn’t bear to lose him too.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled you close, his arms encircling you in a way that felt both protective and fleeting. You buried your face in his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and for a brief moment, it was enough.

He was still there for you in the ways that mattered most. When a game pushed you to your limits and you stumbled back into the lobby, bruised and battered, he was always the first to offer you water or silently leave a pack of bandages on your table. When nightmares jolted you awake in the dead of night, he would come moments later, as if sensing your distress, and sit beside you until you fell back asleep.

One evening, after a particularly brutal Club game, you found yourself limping back into the beach, blood trickling from a gash on your arm. Sae was waiting, leaning against the wall with his usual composed demeanor. He caught sight of your injury and immediately took your arm, leading you to a seat.

“Hold still,” he said, his voice low and steady as he cleaned the wound with practiced care.

“Thank you,” you murmured, searching his face for any sign of the warmth he once had. But his expression was unreadable, his eyes focused solely on the task at hand.

His gestures started to feel… distant. Like he was fulfilling an obligation rather than offering genuine care.

Later that night, you found a bowl of steaming soup left at your door, but when you sought him out to thank him, he was nowhere to be found.

More and more, it became harder to find him outside of games. He stopped lingering in the lobby after debriefings, his presence becoming increasingly scarce. Even during the times you were paired together, his demeanor seemed colder, more professional.

You tried to bring it up one night, catching him in a rare moment of quiet. “You’ve been distant lately,” you said, trying to keep your tone light, though the heaviness in your chest made it hard.

“I’ve been busy,” he replied curtly, his gaze fixed on the horizon rather than you.

“But—”

“You’re strong. You don’t need me hovering over you all the time,” he interrupted.

It was a contradiction, you realized. He was still there when you needed him, but he was pulling away in every other sense. It was as if he was trying to keep you safe while also building walls around himself.

You didn’t know if it was out of guilt, fear, or something else entirely. But as much as it hurt, you couldn’t bring yourself to confront him fully, not when you knew how much he’d already done for you.

And so, you let the distance grow, even as it tore at the fragile connection you still clung to.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You had always believed it would remain that way. No matter how distant he became, no matter how much he avoided you, he would never truly leave you. There was a fragile comfort in that thought, a belief that despite the growing space between you, some invisible tether still connected the two of you.

But now, curled up in your blanket after that one day, the truth weighed heavy on your chest. You had assumed wrong.

It was late that day. The Beach had settled into its uneasy quiet, the faint hum of electricity in the hallways the only sound. You had been in your room, lost in thought, when a knock startled you.

When you opened the door, Sae was standing there. His expression was unreadable, his teal eyes darker than usual, shadowed by something you couldn’t quite name.

“Sae?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t say anything, but he had sad eyes.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between you in an instant. Before you could process what was happening, his hand cupped your face, his touch surprisingly gentle, and his lips were on yours.

The kiss was sudden, and yet it felt like the culmination of every unspoken moment between you. It was rushed, desperate, as though he were trying to say something words couldn’t convey, as though he were racing against time, as if the moment were his only chance.

As if it was goodbye.

Your heart was pounding, your thoughts spiraling, but you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away.

And just as quickly as it started, it was over.

Sae stepped back, his hand falling to his side, his expression once again closed off. He looked at you for a moment—just a moment—and then he turned on his heel and walked away without a word.

You stood frozen in the doorway, your fingers brushing your lips, still warm from his. A thousand questions filled your mind, but no answers came.

The door clicked shut behind you as you sank onto the bed, your thoughts a tangled mess. Whatever had just happened, it had changed everything. And yet, as much as you wanted to chase after him, to demand an explanation, you stayed where you were, uncertain and unsteady.

Sae Itoshi had kissed you, and then he walked away.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

If you had the slightest idea of asking him for any sort of clarity, you couldn’t, not because you didn’t want to, but because you literally couldn’t.

He shut you out.

It wasn’t just the silence that stung, it was the absence of his presence, the subtle shift in the air when he was no longer around. He hadn’t spoken to you since that day, and the changes that followed were probably his doing as well.

You no longer saw him during games. Instead, you were constantly assigned to other executives.

At first, you thought it might be a coincidence, but as the days turned into weeks, it became painfully clear that it wasn’t. It was as though a door had been quietly, irrevocably shut between you.

The shift didn’t end there. The small gestures—those fleeting moments of acknowledgment or shared silence—became rarer. The places you’d once walked together were now foreign, empty.

Even the odd shared glance was gone. You couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked at you with any semblance of interest, let alone spoken to you. The brief connection you had once shared seemed to be slipping away, eroding, until all that was left was a hollow echo of what once was.

And for the first time, you felt what it was like to be truly alone.

The loneliness crept in slowly at first, like a shadow you couldn’t quite shake off.

There was a heavy emptiness in the spaces he used to occupy—his absence a constant reminder that whatever bond had existed between you had been severed.

The laughter, the fleeting moments of understanding, the quiet companionship in a world that felt too loud—it all felt like a distant memory now.

The others? They weren’t the same. Conversations with the other executives were strained, more transactional than meaningful. They didn’t ask about you in the same way, didn’t seem to care in the same way. You were a cog in the machine to them, just another role to fill.

Even the quiet moments you used to cherish—standing at the river, skipping stones, the comfort of being near someone without needing words—felt impossibly far away now. Those moments were yours and his, but now they felt like they belonged to someone else, to a version of yourself that no longer existed.

Each day, you woke up with the sense that something was missing, but you couldn’t put your finger on what. And maybe you didn’t need to.

The truth was already clear: you were alone. And you had no idea how long it would be before you could find your way back to something that resembled the connection you once had.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

It was around 2 in the morning when you heard the knock on your door. Groaning, you rolled out of bed, still caught in the haze of sleep. Stumbling toward the door, you swung it open, expecting a false alarm or maybe your overzealous roommate. Instead, your breath caught in your throat.

It was Sae.

He stood there, his usually composed demeanor fractured, discomfort etched across his face. His shirt sleeve was soaked with blood, the dark stain spreading ominously.

"I need your help," he said, his voice low but urgent.

His fatigue was unmistakable, and the rigid tension in his posture only made him seem more vulnerable—a version of Sae you had never seen before.

In all honesty, you were mad at him, no, you were furious. The audacity he had to show up now, seeking your help without so much as an explanation for his sudden and complete avoidance. Every ounce of anger you’d suppressed threatened to bubble to the surface, but you weren’t a petty person. You saw the blood, the pain he tried so hard to conceal, and that was enough to silence your protests. Instinctively, you stepped aside to let him in, but the sight of your roommate fast asleep on her bed made you pause.

Sae’s gaze flicked to her, and for a moment, his teal eyes softened, understanding the situation without you saying a word.

"I’ll wait for you," he said quietly, his voice uncharacteristically patient.

Grabbing the first-aid kit from your dresser, you followed him down the hall to his room. The silence between you was almost suffocating, the sound of your footsteps echoing against the walls.

When you reached his room, he was already sitting on the couch by the window, his back turned to you. The faint glow of the streetlights filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. He unbuttoned his sleeve, rolling it up to reveal the source of the blood—a deep, jagged gash carved into his upper arm.

The sight made your stomach twist, but you forced yourself to focus. Sitting beside him, you began to clean the wound. Sae didn’t flinch, but you noticed the faint tightening of his jaw whenever the antiseptic touched raw skin. His silence was heavy, as though he was holding back not just pain but words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

"What happened?" you asked softly, breaking the quiet.

Sae hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “It was a difficult one. spade game,” he said finally, his voice clipped and distant. “Got slashed during the final round.”

The weight of his words hit you like a wave. This wasn’t just about the gash on his arm—it was a brutal reminder of the relentless stakes in this world, where survival demanded more than just physical endurance. Every wound, every scar was a testament to the unforgiving cost of staying alive.

You gathered the first-aid supplies with steady hands, though your heart pounded in your chest. Sae sat silently, watching you prepare a needle and thread. The sharp metallic scent of antiseptic filled the air as you cleaned the wound, your fingers brushing against his skin.

“This is going to hurt,” you murmured, glancing up at him.

He nodded, jaw tightening as you began stitching the wound with precise, practiced movements. Each pass of the needle through his flesh was met with his silent endurance, though his sharp intake of breath betrayed the pain.

The room was heavy with quiet, broken only by the soft rustle of bandages and the subtle rhythm of Sae’s breathing. The tension between you felt almost palpable, lingering like an unspoken truth neither of you dared to voice.

When you tied off the final stitch and leaned back to inspect your work, you let out a small breath of relief. “That should hold,” you said softly, your voice breaking the silence. But as your eyes met his, the gratitude and something deeper in his gaze made your chest tighten, leaving you wondering what words he was holding back.

Sae’s teal eyes flicked to yours. For a moment, they softened, and the tension in his shoulders eased. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice stripped of its usual sharp edge.

You stood to return the first-aid kit, the sound of the latch snapping shut echoing in the stillness of the room. When you turned back, the air in the room seemed thicker, charged with unspoken tension.

Something unspoken hung between you, growing louder in the silence.

The weight of it finally broke you.

“Am I really just someone for your convenience?” Your voice trembled, the question carrying the burden of weeks of uncertainty. “It’s unfair, you shut me out, you drop me, and then you come to me for help like nothing happened. Everything you’re doing is so unfair, Sae.”

His expression faltered, guilt flickering across his face like lightning through a darkened sky.

You pressed on, your words spilling out like a flood you couldn’t stop. “One moment, you’re prince charming—pulling me aside, whispering, ‘Come, let’s get lost for a while,’ making me feel like I’m the only person in this godforsaken hellhole who matters. And the next? You vanish. Like none of it meant anything. What am I supposed to make of that kiss?”

Tears welled in your eyes, the ache in your chest tightening like a vice. Frustration and heartache bleeding into every syllable. “If I’m wrong, just say it. Just say the words, and I’ll walk away. We can forget all of this, if that’s what you want.”

Your voice cracked, the weight of your emotions making it difficult to steady yourself.

You clenched your fists at your sides, fighting to maintain your composure.

“I’m not asking for some grand declaration of love,” you continued, your tone softer now but no less desperate. “I just can’t keep going like this, stuck in this limbo, with all these questions in my head.”

The soundproof walls of the room seemed to hold your speech, amplifying the vulnerability in every syllable as the silence around you pressed in.

Sae’s gaze fixed on yours, intense, but he remained silent. His normally detached expression was etched with shame, regret, and something you couldn’t quite place.

“Why don’t you say something?!” you exclaimed, your hands gesturing wildly, to fill the void of his silence carved into this very room.

His eyes darkened, brows knitting together as if fighting some invisible war within himself. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck straining as though he were holding back an eruption of words. For a moment, it seemed like he might walk away, leave you drowning in the sea of your own emotions.

But then, without a word, he reached out, catching your balled fists in his hands.

He brought them to his lips, his kiss soft but weighted with unspoken apologies. “I’m sorry,” he finally murmured, his voice barely audible. His jaw clenched, as though struggling to get the words out. “I can’t tell you everything right now. I just… I need you to trust me.”

Trust him? The thought was ridiculous, a bitter sting rising in your chest.

Your hands trembled as you shook your head, voice cracking under the weight of unshed tears.

"You don’t care about me, Sae," you choked out, the words laced with raw hurt. "You just use me... like you do everyone else." Each syllable felt like tearing open a wound, exposing the ache you’d tried so hard to bury.

"No," he said sharply. "You don’t get it."

"Don’t I?" you shot back, your voice rising. "You act like I’m expendable, but here I am, falling in love with the most detached person in the world."

The words lingered in the charged air, your confession landing like a stone thrown into still water.

Sae’s eyes widened, shock flashing across his face. But beneath it, there was a flicker of longing, of pain.

Sae was never a man of words. You knew that all too well. But as you turned, the weight of the moment threatening to crush you, his hand caught your wrist, keeping you from running away.

Before you could protest, he stood, the quiet intensity in his eyes rooting you in place. In one swift movement, he pulled you into his arms, his embrace firm and unyielding, as if holding you was the only thing keeping him from breaking apart.

The warmth of his touch seeped into your skin, chasing away the cold ache in your chest. His hands rose to your face, trembling slightly as they cupped your cheeks, thumbs brushing away the tears that fell freely now. His gaze locked onto yours—raw, unguarded, and so painfully human it stole the breath from your lungs.

“Sae…” you whispered, your voice barely audible over the thundering of your heart.

He said nothing. He didn’t have to. The honesty reflected in his teal eyes spoke louder than words ever could—a silent confession, a unspoken yet undeniable promise.

And then, with agonizing slowness, he leaned in, his lips brushing against yours.

This kiss was everything the first was not.

It wasn’t rushed or desperate, it was soft and sensible, filled with a quiet intensity that made your heart ache. He kissed you as if trying to tell you everything that he couldn't quite put into words. A deep apology for the agony and isolation you went through.

You knew you should pull away, demand answers, cling to the anger that had simmered inside you. Instead, you let yourself fall deeper, surrendering to the emotions that you held back for far too long. Your hands found their way to his chest, then to the back of his neck, fingers trembling slightly as you kissed him back with equal intensity.

His touch was soft against you, one hand cradling the back of your head as the kiss deepened , the other resting lightly on your jaw. Each passing second melting into and the world around you dissolved into a hazy blur until all you could see, feel, and breathe was him.

You'd be lying if you said you haven't been with anyone else before, but it had never felt like this. A conflict between your rational mind and the rest of your body craving for his touch.

Slowly, you felt his hands move to cup your ass, gently squeezing the plush skin as you moaned against his mouth. He took this as an opportunity to slide his tongue into your eager mouth, gliding alongside his own like sweet honey.

His hands travelled lower, grabbing your thighs to lift you up and proceeded to carry you towards the bed, not daring to break that heated kiss.

The soft dip of the mattress against the small of your back sent a jolt of awareness through you, but you didn’t stop him, not when he was on the bed hovering over you, his lips trailing down, brushing lightly against your jawline, to the curve of your neck, nipping at the soft skin.

The thin fabric of your white silk cover-up had been tossed away in one swift motion. Not that you had much clothing left underneath, you had the beach to thank for that, feather-thin yet still an insurmountable barrier separating you from him.

His fingers carefully pull down the strap of your bikini, slipping away inch by inch.

But then he hesitates.

His breathing hitched as he pulled back slightly, his eyes searching yours, guilt flickering across his face. “Sorry,” he whispered, starting to shift away, his apology tumbling out in fragments, but you caught him before he could retreat any further.

“Don’t,” you whispered, your voice soft but firm, pulling him closer, your hands clinging to his button-down shirt as you brought him back to you. “It’s okay.’

It was the first time you saw them so closely—eyes the shade of teal sapphires, a treasure just as rare as the man who bore them. Guilt in his gaze was evident, but so was the yearning, emotions he couldn’t bring himself to voice. He hovered over you, his weight supported by his arms on either side of you, his expression conflicted.

You'd been the one who pulled him back, lips pressing against his, as he kissed back with a new intensity.

Sae’s fingertips gently went back to undressing you, this time he didn't falter, quickly pulling your straps down, your breasts bouncing as it came free from its confines. He gropes your breast, fingers pulling at your nipple, caring not to neglect the other and presses open mouthed kisses till he feels the hardened bud against his lips.

You desperately cling to him, one hand tangled in his hair, pulling and tugging wildly at his reddish auburn locks. Your teeth sinking on your lower lip, a futile attempt to stifle the moans threatening to escape you right this second, but a needy whimper slips out as Sae sucks one pert nipple.

Another hand slowly and steadily pushes the flimsy fabric of your panties to the side, exposing your glistening folds. tracing your slit with the pad of his thumb, and slides two fingers into your entrance and pushes it in.

You’re tight, it was unreal. Clenching and throbbing against the fingers he gradually pumps inside you.

He takes your hand gently, lifting it to give a quick kiss to your knuckles and lowers his face to your inner thighs, lips pressing against it, leaving behind a trail of dark purple marks. A reminder of his unadulterated desire etched on your soft flesh.

You were utterly helpless against the wave of sensations as he held your throbbing core close, devouring your slick folds. Head tossing back, and breath hitching as the intimacy of the moment left you feeling exposed yet cherished in a way that stole the very air from your lungs.

The bed beneath shifted with every movement. messy—wet, hungry, and filled with a raw urgency that lust ignites.

He just couldn’t get enough of you.

Sae pulls away to peel his shirt off, you peer up at him through half-lidded eyes. His hair is messy, courtesy of all your pulling and grabbing, the only source of light in the room coming from the soft glow of the moon.

He wants to do you just like this, appreciating the work of art that you are, eyes lingering on your flushed face, breaths coming in shallow, panting gasps.

You start pawing at your own panties, impatiently trying to yank the piece of clothing down mewling, “Nngh. Sae, need more of you”, voice trembling with such fervor from the depth of your need.

Who was he to deny you?

“Shh baby, I got you.” He stills your squirming, quickly discarding your underwear and his, throwing them aside, as if nothing more than an afterthought.

He lets you rub his leaking cock with your soft palm. He's holding back subtle groans when he feels you stroke up and down the length of him. You felt him nudge your legs apart, aligning his cock with your entrance, pressing his forehead against yours, waiting for a nod, or a squeeze of his hand— anything that would tell him that he could move.

The only response you could give was an impatient roll of your hips to meet his.

Your approval was all he needed to slowly ease into your dripping cunt.

"Don't ever say I don't care about you," he whispers softly between your ragged moans, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "Because every second in this fucked up world," he murmurs, brushing his lips over your cheek, "my thoughts are plagued." His kiss lingers on your neck, his voice a tender, loving murmur as he gently nibbles your ear. "by you.” and fully sheaths himself into your tight heat.

You’re tossing your head back from the sting of the stretch. But he was quick to whisper sweet nothings in your ear and kiss you stupid to catch your soft gasp.

His words, sweet as lullaby, a stark contrast to the rough way your walls are stretching to accommodate the length of him. You were utterly speechless by his bold expression.

This same man that never spoke so much more than blunt statements, now telling you just how much you really mean to him.

Wrapping your legs around his waist, you were desperately craving for him to be closer, as if he wasn’t already knocking on the gates of your cervix.

Your silent pleas didn’t come unnoticed, enticing him to lock one arm around your upper back, holding your thighs open as he began to rock into you. At this point he had his face buried on the crook of your neck, pushing his cock deeper and deeper into you, lost in the sweet euphoria of your tight, soaking core.

Your arms flew across his back, nails pressing into the firm muscle beneath your fingers. The look on your face made the corners of his mouth turn up. A rare smile that reached his eyes. You knew you looked just as intoxicated on this wave of pleasure as he did.

It felt perfect, heart pounding with so much adoration for the man you’re connected to at this very moment, making up for all the lost time.

“I missed you.” Sae whispers, each word laced with unguarded intensity that sends shivers down your spine. His voice is low, almost trembling, as if confessing a secret too precious to be spoken out loud.

“You idiot,” you replied, a shaky laugh escaping through the tears streaming down your face. Your voice wavered, caught between the weight of your emotions and the flicker of relief his words brought, the ache in your chest softening ever so slightly.

You feel yourself nearing your climax, a cracked moan broke from your throat, skin tingling with electricity as your body succumbed to pure ecstasy. He felt your cum all over his length as he chased after his own release. With one final thrust, as your velvety walls clench around him, and teeth grazing his shoulder. Emptying himself completely inside you. A warm sensation flooding your insides.

You felt him gently pull out, the warm fluid slowly seeping out your used hole.

You gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with the palm of your hand, a light chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned down to kiss you softly, before collapsing beside you, his breath steadying as he nestled you closer.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Sae never falls asleep before you, not even during those nights when you stayed in his room.

He always waited for you to drift off first.

But this time was different.

As you glanced over at him, you saw the lines of tension that usually creased his face had smoothed out. His features, typically stoic and guarded, now seemed calm—peaceful even.

It was a serenity you hadn’t seen before, as though the burden he always carried had, for a fleeting moment, been lifted.

The soft moonlight seeped through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over his face and highlighting the faint rise and fall of his chest.

“I love you,” you whispered, the words slipping effortlessly from your lips, barely more than a breath in the stillness of the room. You knew he couldn’t hear you, he was fast asleep.

You lay nuzzled against him, head resting on his arm wrapped securely around you. Your fingers grazed absentmindedly over his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your touch.

It was a moment you didn’t want to end, your own weariness slowly pulling you under as his warmth enveloped you.

Despite the intensity of the love you had confessed to him earlier that night, he hadn’t offered you an explanation. No words, just this. But this was enough. For now.

A/N: If you've made it to this point, all I wanna say is; Thank You so much for taking the time to read this story <3

This is the most shocking fic I’ve ever written! Honestly so surprised by the outcome and the amount of time, I poured into it (was even more than my college essays). Though I barely had the time to edit it :<

17k words wow, I had so many instances in which I felt like I just wanted to drop this fic all together because it wasn’t connecting the way that I wanted it to, but every time I read the drafts, there’s this feeling like a silent sense of accomplishment waiting if I do finish it, and I’m glad I pushed through, because I’m proud of the result.

This was actually a challenge from a friend—play with the tropes of forced proximity (but not really) and friends to lovers with Itoshi Sae. I thought it was such an outrageous request, but then an idea struck when I was rewatching Alice in Borderland and binging Blue Lock. Out of nowhere, I thought: What if Sae were in this setting?

I hope I did justice to blending tropes, but either way, I really hope you all enjoyed reading it!

It was intentional on my part to leave readers feeling confused in this part—after all, if you were in that kind of situation and environment, and he treated you this way, you’d be confused too.

Should I write Part 2? If I do decide to write a second part it will start from Sae’s POV to explain his side of the story.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

if you enjoyed my work please consider donating on ko-fi ^^

PART 2

#(っ´ཀ`)っcienefics #itoshi sae AU #blue lock au #bllk sae #itoshi sae #itoshi sae x reader #itoshi sae x you #sae itoshi #sae itoshi fluff #sae itoshi smut #itoshi sae smut #sae itoshi x reader #sae x you #blue lock smut #blue lock x aib

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tsukumomei · 2 months ago

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AFTER ASHES 2 | Itoshi Sae

Alice in Borderland AU | PART 2

A/n: You asked for part two, and here it is. Tags; •fem + afab!reader, •forced proximity (friends to lovers-ish) CW: •wc; 16k •MDNI •aged-up•violence •gore •murder •death games •psychological distress •depictions of survival scenarios •betrayal and manipulation •themes of isolation and despair •graphic injuries •implied shower sex •coercion and power dynamics PART 1 | PART 3

Sae couldn’t remember the last time he'd woken up as well-rested as he did now.

In this shitty world, sleep was usually restless.

This morning, however, the room was quiet, the air warm and still, save for the gentle rise and fall of your figure nestled against him.

Your head rested against his chest, your breath soft and steady, and your legs were tangled with his beneath the soft covers.

He barely moved, careful not to disturb you as you shifted slightly in your sleep. His arm tightened around you instinctively, a motion so natural it surprised even him. His mind replaying the events of the night prior. Every word, every tear, every ounce of vulnerability that had passed between the two of you lingered heavily in his mind.

Of course he’d been in his fair share of arguments before. Ex-girlfriends walking out on him, shouting matches that left him feeling nothing but irritation or relief. But last night was different.

The anguish that he knew was to come if he had let you walk out those doors wasn’t something he was used to. It had clawed at his chest, an unfamiliar ache that he couldn’t ignore, no matter how much he wanted to. For the first time, he felt the weight of what it would mean to lose someone. Not an inconvenience, but as a wound that might not heal.

The thought of you leaving, of your presence disappearing from his life, had been unbearable in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

Closing his eyes briefly, his jaw tightened as the memory washed over him. Sae wasn’t one for grand gestures or emotional declarations. He prided himself on his reservation, his ability to remain neutral in any situation.

But with you, that facade had disappeared, exposing something unpolished beneath.

Now, in the quiet stillness of the morning, he felt an odd sense of calm. The world outside was still as cruel and chaotic as ever, but for this moment, he could pretend it wasn’t. He could focus on the sound of your breathing, the warmth of your body against his, and the quiet realization that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t want to face this world without you by his side.

He looked down at you, his teal eyes softening as he watched the way your lashes fluttered slightly, still lost in sleep. His hand hesitated for a moment before brushing a strand of hair from your face, the motion so gentle it barely registered.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Almost the entirety of his life, Sae had only ever cared about soccer.

From a young age, he has been deemed a genius, a prodigy. It was a gift bestowed upon him by whatever god that decided to favor him. He knew it, he embraced it.

He is fully aware that he did not excel at much else, except maybe having a sharp mind, but beyond that, his skill set was singularly focused.

For the majority of the human population, that kind of limitation would be–daunting, terrible even. A singular skill with nothing to fall back on might leave most people feeling hollow or unfulfilled. But Sae isn’t like most people. Since he was exceptional at the sport, his talent had paved the way for a lavish lifestyle. He’d been scouted by prestigious teams, earned endorsements worth millions, and enjoyed a level of admiration that bordered on worship.

What Sae couldn’t seem to manage, however, was maintaining relationships.

Take his family, for example. While he was certain his parents adored him, they had never been particularly close. Then there was Rin, his younger brother, a soccer prodigy in his own right but estranged from Sae for reasons he didn’t dwell on often. At first, he thought his brother was simply going through a rebellious teenage phase, but Rin is 24 now, so clearly that was not the case. Their relationship was strained to the point of silence, a rift that neither of them seemed willing to mend.

When it came to romance, he was even more detached.

Marriage wasn’t entirely off the table. He had thought about it a few times—but only as a practical obligation, to please his mother. Something that might happen someday, but if it didn’t, he wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

He figured he’d look for someone pleasant to live with, someone who wouldn’t irritate him, but love? That wasn’t a factor.

Over the years, he had cycled through multiple partners, though he wouldn’t consider most of them relationships. Maybe one or two had been serious enough to linger in his mind briefly, but they never lasted long. The truth was simple: he lacked any real interest in them. They were distractions, comforts, and once their novelty wore off, he found himself bored and ready to move on. He knew it was cold, but he also knew himself too well to pretend otherwise.

To Sae, love was subjective. A concept that held different meanings for different people. For him, it was fleeting and unnecessary. He wasn’t searching for fulfillment in a partner or expecting some grand romantic epiphany, because none of that mattered.

After all, being the best midfielder in the world was the only thing that did.

His thoughts about love had become exceedingly rare—if not nonexistent—since ending up in the Borderlands.

Never in a million years did he think he’d find love in a place like this.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

In all honesty, Sae initially thought his first game was some prank orchestrated by his teammates. It was the first time he’d humored their suggestion to wander around Shinjuku—just a typical boys' hangout. He’d stepped away to the bathroom for less than five minutes and returned to find the café completely deserted, save for one teammate who was just as confused as he was.

Sure, he’d trash-talked amateur players, even his own brother on the field with lines like, “You should’ve just stayed home and died a peaceful death.”

But nothing could have prepared him for the sight of his teammate’s lifeless body hanging on barbed wire, mangled and bloody. The sheer brutality of it sickened him.

Gruesome and disgusting, the image was seared into his memory. That was the moment it hit him—this wasn’t some elaborate joke.

This was real life, and it was merciless.

Damn, he wished he had answers. A scientific explanation for why he was suddenly trapped in a twisted place where survival hinged on playing cruel and absurd games.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Ironically, his reputation as Japan’s greatest treasure had proven unexpectedly useful. It exceeded his expectations when a tall man with a bowl-cut hairstyle approached him one day, extending an offer to join a "utopia" he was building. The man—Ego Jinpachi—knew Sae’s value. With his athletic physique, quick decision-making, and calculated nature, Ego claimed Sae would be a perfect candidate for an executive role.

Sae hated false facades, but Ego’s proposal piqued his interest. The man claimed he knew how to escape this nightmare: collect every card in a standard deck—all numbers, all suits. It seemed plausible, and as much as Sae preferred being a lone wolf, he needed a secure place to stay. Reluctantly, he took the bait.

Life as an executive was decent. Sae was primarily tasked with analyzing the members. Their strengths, weaknesses, and potential. He liked doing that; it appealed to his love of logic, seeing everything reduced to clean, measurable numbers.

It was a simple system: play the games, follow the rules, and the lower-ranked members would serve him like the prince he knew he was. But as days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, the reality began to weigh on him. The time it would take to return to his usual life seemed agonizingly long, each passing day dragging him further from the world he knew.

And with that time came a mounting toll.

A growing number of corpses he’d stumble upon, the sight of lifeless eyes becoming routine. Some of them, he realized, were casualties of his own hand. The weight of survival was a constant, gnawing burden, one he carried without complaint but could never entirely shrug off.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Being an executive came with additional rules, separate from the ones announced to the general population.

First and foremost, they weren’t allowed to monopolize one member all the time; executives had to rotate their focus to prevent alliances and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of betrayal.

Secondly, they cannot leave the Beach. Loyalty to the Beach is absolute, and those who will attempt to abandon the group would be hunted down and executed without mercy.

Thirdly—and most critically—don’t get attached. Ego could care less if they indulged in flings for personal pleasure, but genuine, meaningful attachments were strictly forbidden. Relationships were distractions, he believed, and could easily compromise the integrity of the group in critical situations where one might prioritize their partner's safety over the team’s survival.

Sae found none of those rules inconvenient—the third one, unnecessary, maybe. After all, who in their right mind would think about such things in a place like this?

These regulations were strictly for the Beach’s top-ranking members, and he had no issue adhering to them. Sae ranked number four among them, just beneath Loki and the enigmatic leaders whose motives were as unreadable as their plans were precise.

He assumed his high rank was due to his discipline and ability to follow the rules without question. Completing his assigned tasks efficiently and without unnecessary drama, he had earned the trust of the leadership.

Sae had no interest in the Beach’s politics or the power struggles that seemed to consume some of the other executives. While others schemed and whispered in the shadows, he kept his head down and focused on what mattered most to him—survival and a possible return to the real world.

The environment was tense, but the rules? They were simple to him. He didn’t understand how the previous executives—those who had held his position before—had struggled to follow such basic guidelines. Their inability to abide by them had cost them their lives, and Sae found it both baffling and pathetic.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Sae didn’t care much about the newcomers arriving at the Beach, but you caught his eye on your first day—though not in the way you might think.

You were staring at him while he sat on the corner of the stage. It irritated him. He figured you were probably one of those annoying fans from the real world. He didn’t care how pretty Kaiser had claimed you were; he dismissed you outright.

Typically, new members were covertly monitored by an executive of Ego’s choosing to ensure they weren’t planning any treacherous actions. For you and Kaede, that responsibility had been assigned to Aiku. But, of course, your restless, adventurous nature had other plans. Sneaking out like a little rat in the dead of night, you wandered far from the Beach, forcing Ego to redirect Sae to follow you.

That’s how he found you by the riverside that night, skipping stones under the moonlight. It wasn’t the first time someone caused trouble, but for some reason, this encounter felt different. Maybe it was the serenity of the scene—or the way you looked so carefree, a rare sight to him.

That was the night Sae discovered that you only knew him as Sae Itoshi, the beach executive—not the famous soccer player. He liked that. It meant you wouldn’t treat him like an idol, something most people failed to understand about him. He had been testing you that evening, gauging your character with every word exchanged.

Usually, such conversations would have dragged on longer, but you struck him as the honest and righteous girl he had presumed you to be, with a solid athletic background to match. So when he reported back to Ego later that night, he made a request—an unusual move on his part. He had asked for you to be assigned to him the following morning.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

He had been right, of course—you did pull through that game, proving yourself to be competent.

But there was one glaring flaw he couldn't overlook: your tendency to care for the other players.

Sae was convinced that one day, your misguided compassion would lead you to waste your potential. Precisely why he had pulled you out of the water during the plunge. Yet, at breakfast the following morning, despite the fresh injury you bore, that familiar glint of hope still sparkled in your eyes, unwavering and infuriatingly resilient.

Capable, impulsive, overly optimistic—was his conclusion after spending some time observing you. The trifecta of traits of a person that he couldn’t stand.

Yet, Sae decided he’d humor your antics. At least for the remainder of your time off. You were, without a doubt, the most peculiar and ridiculous person he’d encountered in this hellish world, and that said a lot considering how long he’d been here.

No one else dared to talk to him so casually, yet there you were, barging into his personal space like it was second nature, and, before he realized it, into his life entirely.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

With no games to participate in, you were still expected to contribute to the Beach. For you, that meant looting abandoned grocery stores for supplies. Going around town with him to complete the task should have taken all of 30 minutes, but it stretched into five hours because of a crying child you found in a narrow alley. While Sae stood off to the side, you spent those hours keeping the child company, sharing your loot, and telling hopeful stories to ease his fears until his battered and exhausted mother finally returned.

On the walk back, you ranted about the cruelty of a god who would send a child to suffer in such a desolate place. Sae didn’t interrupt; he just listened, silently observing the strange contradiction of a person so compassionate in a world that rewarded nothing but survival.

Capable, impulsive, overly optimistic. The same initial words he’d used to describe you the other day.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The more time Sae spent with you, the more obvious it became that his original intentions had shifted. At first, it was purely observational. But now? Now, spending time with you had become something he simply wanted to do. He didn’t just tolerate your presence; he found himself enjoying it.

Your ideas of a “hangout” grew increasingly absurd, yet Sae found himself indulging you every single time. Late-night expeditions to the rooftops to count stars you could barely see, or raiding old convenience stores for snacks long past their expiration date—it was ridiculous. He knew it was ridiculous. But there he was, letting you drag him along, unable to say no to you, even when it meant doing things he normally wouldn’t.

Like the time you had insisted on climbing a rusty playground slide you’d found during one of your outings. “For nostalgia,” you’d said with that mischievous grin of yours. He’d rolled his eyes but helped stabilize the structure anyway, grumbling about how dangerous it was, even as you laughed your way down the crooked metal.

Even the touchiest subjects with you came surprisingly easy. When you had asked him about his brother, his first instinct was to shut it down. But you’d been quick to assure him that he didn’t have to talk if he didn’t want to. Somehow, the sincerity in your voice had melted the usual barrier he kept firmly in place. Before he knew it, the words were spilling out. Stories of Rin, of soccer, of the rift that had grown between them. He told you more than he’d told anyone else, and for once, it didn’t feel like a burden.

You smiled at him then, though it carried a hint of sadness. “You must really love your brother, don’t you?”

Of course, he did. He just didn’t know how to fix their fractured relationship. You shared your own experience, telling him about your younger sister studying abroad, the distance between you since your parents passed, and how you’d only been able to connect through brief FaceTime calls.

“When do you think things started going south between you two?” you asked gently.

Sae hesitated before recounting the snowy day on the soccer field, his words to Rin cutting sharper than any blade, and how everything had spiraled out of control from there. By the time he finished, he glanced at you, found your face expressionless, your eyes narrowing slightly as though you were meticulously processing every detail.

You finally broke the silence. “Well, that explains a lot,” you said dryly. “I can’t believe you said those things to him. Seriously, Sae, what did you expect? Of course, Rin’s holding a grudge. You basically handed it to him on a silver platter.”

His brow furrowed, clearly annoyed. “What was I supposed to do? Lie?”

“No, not lie,” you shot back, crossing your arms. “But maybe not crush his dreams and insult him in the same breath. Just a thought.”

Sae’s lips tightened. “It’s not that simple.”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “What’s not simple about apologizing? You’re the older brother, Sae. Take some responsibility for once in your life.”

He scowled, clearly not a fan of your bluntness. “Apologizing isn’t going to magically fix everything.”

You gave him a pointed look. “Maybe not, but it’s a start. And let’s face it, you owe him that much.”

Sae scoffed. “Easier said than done.”

You leaned forward, resting your elbows on your knees as you tilted your head at him. “Look,” you continued, softening your tone. “Maybe you can start by telling Rin how you actually feel. Not the cold, calculated Sae stuff you feed everyone else. Be honest. That’s probably what he’s wanted from you all along.”

Sae didn’t respond right away, but the faint crease between his brows and the faraway look in his eyes told you your words had struck a chord.

You leaned back, letting the silence settle. “For what it’s worth, Sae,” you said after a moment, “it’s never too late to fix things. But you actually have to try.”

That was the day it hit him—how beautiful you really were. It wasn’t a grand revelation, just a quiet moment when you turned to look at him, laughing at something trivial, and the light caught your face in just the right way. He was stunned by the sound of your laughter, the way it seemed to echo in his chest.

He didn’t say anything, of course. He wasn’t sure he could without making it obvious.

The time you found a two-piece swimsuit in one of the mall’s abandoned stores was a whole other ordeal. You had held it up triumphantly, inspecting the fabric and twirling it with a teasing smile before disappearing into the dressing room to try it on. When you re-emerged, you were grinning, hands on your hips, the swimsuit hugging your figure perfectly.

“What do you think?” you asked, playful mischief in your tone. “Does this suit me?”

Sae barely spared you a glance, his scowl deepening as he crossed his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t suit you. Put it back.”

You tilted your head at him, a mock pout forming on your lips. “You didn’t even look properly!”

“I looked enough,” he shot back, turning away and feigning disinterest as he busied himself with an imaginary task on a nearby shelf.

After a moment of your dramatic sighing, you relented, changing back into your usual attire. What you didn’t know was how fast his heart was racing in defiance of his usual calm.

The truth was, he had looked, and the sight of you had made his throat tighten.

It wasn’t that it didn’t suit you—it suited you far too well. Too perfect. As if your usual wasn’t already revealing, you’d want to turn it up a notch? And the idea of anyone else seeing you like that, of their eyes lingering where it shouldn’t, ignited a possessiveness he wasn’t ready to confront.

As you rejoined him, tossing the swimsuit aside with a little shrug, he muttered under his breath, “Good. It didn’t look comfortable anyway.” You rolled your eyes at his grumpy demeanor, blissfully unaware of the turmoil you’d left in his chest.

But, of course, he wasn’t about to tell you that.

In quieter moments, the changes in him became even more apparent. He started looking forward to the little routines you’d established like the shared breakfasts where you always tried to sneak some of his food onto your plate despite his half-hearted protests. It was annoying, but not enough for him to actually stop you.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

On the eve of your last day off, Sae had no idea what compelled him to knock on your door. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself as he stood there in the dimly lit hallway. Seeking out others’ company wasn’t something he ever did, least of all yours. He had spent most of his life avoiding attachments, yet here he was, knuckles hovering above the wood, heart beating just a little faster than it should.

Before he could talk himself out of it, the door swung open, and there you were, standing in the doorway, just as surprised to see him as he was to find himself there. For a moment, neither of you spoke. His gaze flicked down to the soft creases on your shirt, evidence of someone who had spent most of the day in bed.

You broke the silence first, your lips curling into a teasing smile. “Missed me?”

He had, though he’d never admit it. You hadn’t shown up for breakfast, and despite telling himself it wasn’t a big deal, concern had gnawed at him all day.

He scoffed, muttering something about you being an idiot getting flushed in the toilet, but before he could retreat and pretend he hadn’t come all this way to check on you, your hand shot out, grabbing his wrist with a warmth that momentarily froze him in place.

“Come on,” you said, your tone light and full of intrigue as you began pulling him down the hall. “I want to show you something.”

To his surprise, you led him to the same riverside where he had first met you skipping stones. It was quieter now, the world around you blanketed in the soft hues of dusk. You picked up a stone and tossed it, the ripple patterns breaking the stillness of the water.

You cried that night. Not the quiet, dignified kind of crying he’d seen before, but the raw, unrestrained sobs of someone who had been holding it together for far too long. It felt like the world had cracked open in that moment, leaving nothing but you and the sound of your pain.

Sae froze, unsure of what to do. He wasn’t used to this. He didn’t know how to comfort someone, especially someone like you, who always seemed so unshakable. But as your tears kept falling, he couldn’t just stand there. Before he knew it, he had stepped forward, brushing the tears from your cheeks with the back of his hand.

And then, almost instinctively, he pulled you into a hug. It was awkward at first—Sae wasn’t the kind of man who offered affection easily—but as you buried your face into his chest, his arms tightened around you.

It was in that moment, holding you close as your emotions poured out, that something shifted inside him. He couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but the feeling was undeniable.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Sae found himself thinking about love—not as some abstract concept or fleeting notion, but as something tangible, something that terrified him because it might actually exist between the two of you.

Of course, it wasn’t that

He told himself it wasn’t that.

It couldn’t be that.

He couldn’t allow it to be that.

But the truth lingered in the quiet between you.

The second he tried to deny that he loved you was the moment he knew he did,

And he knew you loved him too.

He realized just then that he’d been dancing on the line bordering the executive rules he once claimed were basic, easy, and simple to follow.

The very rules that once felt like an immovable framework for survival now seemed frustratingly fragile under the weight of your presence in his life.

Rules were meant to be a lifeline in this chaotic world, something to keep him focused on the goal of getting out alive.

But with you, things were different. The boundaries he had drawn so clearly for himself blurred every time you smiled at him or pulled him into your harebrained schemes.

And as he stood there, he felt that line beneath his feet, thin and frayed. The rules had seemed so black-and-white before, but now they loomed over him like a quiet warning. Relationships were forbidden for a reason—attachments made people vulnerable.

And yet, there he was, realizing that his resolve had already cracked, his intentions no longer as detached as they once were.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The Beach harbored countless secrets—disgusting, gruesome, and morally irredeemable—but Sae chose to keep them from you. He wanted to protect your optimism, that rare light in his dark, unrelenting world.

He had no desire to tarnish your spirit, especially not with the controversies that surrounded Kaede’s death.

You didn’t know, of course, and he wasn’t going to burden you with the knowledge. Kaede’s death was complicated, far more than the simple loss of a life.

The rule at the Beach had always been clear in situations like hers: one must die for the welfare of the group. Sacrifice was the cornerstone of survival, even when it meant making decisions no one wanted to make. But your lovely best friend had managed to captivate Oliver Aiku, the mismatched-eyed executive.

Aiku had broken every rule to save her. During that game, he killed multiple Beach members, jeopardizing the very survival of the group, all in a futile attempt to protect her. The game was almost lost because of his actions. And though Aiku ended up in a coma, the Beach leaders had made it clear: the moment he woke, his life would be forfeit.

Romantic attachments were forbidden for a reason, and Aiku’s defiance was the perfect example of why.

Sae thought about this often, about what he would do if it ever came to that for him.

The rules were designed to execute the executive in question, it wouldn’t be you, and for him, that was enough. He could endure the consequences so long as you were safe. But then, during one emergency meeting, everything changed.

The meeting was called late that night while you were asleep in his bed. He’d slipped out as quietly as possible, careful not to wake you. In the dimly lit gathering, the upper brass announced a new, stricter enforcement of the third rule.

Attachments were no longer just discouraged—they were deemed a direct threat to the Beach’s stability. If any member, not just an executive, they would be executed without warning. The change wasn’t meant to be announced, only silently enforced.

Sae thought the storm had passed after the meeting adjourned. He had resigned himself to maintaining his distance, believing he could keep you safe by hiding the depth of his feelings.

But then, Julian Loki—a fellow executive—nudged him sharply as they exited the room.

“I know everything,” Loki whispered, his tone laced with venom. “You’ve got a week to drop her, or I’ll report it to the upper brass.”

He hated this—hated the helplessness that clung to him in this wretched place. If only he’d met you in the real world, somewhere untouched by the despair of the Borderlands. There, things could have been different. He would have wrapped the world in a neat ribbon and offered it to you without hesitation, but here? Here, he couldn’t.

That’s when Sae began to avoid you, distancing himself bit by bit. He reduced the time he spent with you, leaving conversations unfinished and giving excuses to sidestep your invitations. He hoped you wouldn’t notice, hoped you’d chalk it up to his usual aloofness.

But every moment spent away from you felt like a betrayal. Each time he turned his back, he could see the confusion in your eyes, the flicker of hurt you tried so hard to hide. And though he hated himself for it, Sae pressed on. Because no matter how much it tore him apart, he couldn’t let you become another casualty of the Beach’s unrelenting cruelty.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

By the end of the week Loki had given him, the Beach's darkness weighed heavier than ever. That day, whispers had circulated about a horrific incident—some girls had been raped and killed. As always, Lorenzo was tasked with the grim cleanup job. His faction, the only one with access to the Beach’s weapons, also handled the disposal of traitors' bodies, making the task both routine and sickeningly familiar.

Sae had overheard the grim details from a hushed conversation among the other members, and though he hadn’t been directly involved, he understood what it was.

That incident pushed him to your door that night. Sae told himself it was just to catch a glimpse of you, to reassure himself. To know that you were safe, alive, and breathing. He needed that confirmation, even if it was for the last time. You opened the door almost immediately, surprised to see him standing there in the dim hallway, his face shadowed by the flickering fluorescent lights above.

Before he could stop himself, he stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. He didn’t think, didn’t weigh the consequences—his body acted on its own. Sae leaned down, cupping your face gently, and kissed you.

The world seemed to pause, the tension in his chest melting away for the briefest of moments. This was everything he’d been holding back, everything he’d refused to admit, spilling out in one act.

It took everything for him to finally pull away, it felt like ripping himself apart. Your wide-eyed expression, the way your lips parted as if to say something, nearly broke him.

He wanted nothing more than to stay, to hold you and let the world outside cease to exist. But he couldn’t.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

During the time Sae spent apart from you, a certain blonde-haired idiot with pink, antenna-like strands framing his face had wormed his way into his orbit. The guy introduced himself as Shidou, but Sae decided that “demon” was a more fitting nickname.

Eccentric, violent, and disturbingly enthusiastic about his bizarre ideas of “passing on his genes,” Shidou was nothing short of a chaotic force. Despite Sae’s initial irritation, Shidou had an uncanny way of sticking around.

It didn’t take long for Sae to realize that Shidou had a connection to you. Apparently, he’d been part of your team before Aiku scouted you for the Beach’s ranks. For all his oddities, Shidou seemed to genuinely respect you—perhaps even adore you . He had once made a bold statement about you being “explosive” and “his type of person,” much to Sae’s annoyance.

Sae felt a faint prickle of threat in the air, but Shidou had assured him in his usual chaotic tone, “Relax, man, it’s just platonic. She’s like a firecracker—you don’t wanna get too close, or you’ll burn your face off.

To Sae’s surprise, he found Shidou’s presence tolerable, even useful at times. Shidou’s energy had a way of distracting other Beach members, creating just enough chaos to keep prying eyes off Sae’s dealings.

Shidou had somehow managed to introduce Sae to you and his former team, all of whom were now part of the Beach.

The Beach, once seen as a refuge of order amidst chaos, was beginning to show cracks in its foundation. The top brass had been making increasingly questionable decisions, ones that left even the most loyal members uneasy. Sae, ever perceptive, recognized the signs of an inevitable collapse.

Determined to stay ahead of the chaos, Sae decided to take a calculated risk. He shared the extensive information he had collected about the upper brass with the team, a move that was uncharacteristic for someone as guarded as him. Yet, watching how the team operated and seeing their dedication, Sae felt an unfamiliar sense of confidence in them.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

One day, while patrolling the grounds together, Shidou casually brought up a topic that made Sae’s blood run cold.

“You really think no one notices?” Shidou said, his sharp grin as infuriating as always.

“Notices what?”

“Oh come on mr. prodigy, the way you bribe players to keep an eye on y/n during games? Or how you threaten them if they're dumb enough to slack off? You’re basically her guardian angel, and it’s hilarious.”

Sae shot him a withering glare. “You’ve got a big mouth for someone who should be staying out of my business.”

“Hey, hey, relax!” Shidou laughed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m not ratting you out. If anything, I respect it. Kind of romantic in a creepy, stalker-ish way. I dig the commitment.”

Sae rolled his eyes and kept walking, but Shidou wasn’t done.

“Just saying, though, if you’re gonna go all knight-in-shining-armor, you might as well do it right. Want me to keep an eye on her too?”

Sae didn’t answer, but his silence was enough of an answer for Shidou. From then on, the demon became an unspoken ally of sorts. Whenever Sae couldn’t watch over you himself, Shidou had a way of stepping in, sometimes with his usual chaos and sometimes with a surprising amount of subtlety.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

There was one time Shidou went overboard, though. During a high-stakes game, he had taken it upon himself to “eliminate” a player who had been overly confrontational toward you. Sae had confronted him about it later, furious.

“I told you to watch her, not go on a killing spree,” Sae hissed.

Shidou shrugged, looking entirely unapologetic. “What can I say? The guy was bad vibes. Don’t worry, though, your princess is safe, and isn’t that what matters?”

Sae let out a frustrated sigh, knowing there was no reasoning with Shidou. Still, despite his irritation, there was a small, grudging sense of relief. For whatever reason, the demon was loyal to both of you.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

After the grueling spade game that left Sae with a deep gash on his upper arm, it was Shidou who suggested he seek you out.

“You look like hell,” Shidou commented, leaning casually against the wall. His grin was sharp, but there was a hint of something almost genuine in his tone. “You should go find y/n. I’ll make sure Loki doesn’t catch wind of it.”

Sae hesitated, brushing a hand over his wound. It wasn’t like him to need anyone, but the ache in his arm was nothing compared to the dull emptiness that had settled in his chest. Shidou’s smirk widened as if reading his mind.

“Don’t kid yourself, man,” Shidou added, a mocking lilt in his voice. “You miss her. I’ll cover for you.”

Sae scoffed, muttering something about Shidou needing to mind his own business, but his feet were already moving. Despite himself, he knew Shidou was right. He missed you—more than he cared to admit.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Thinking about all that now, makes him realize just how fucked he is. He was supposed to visit you, not spend the night with you. Then again, he’d never been good at sticking to his plans when it came to you.

Your eyes fluttered open, your hand instinctively rubbing at them as you adjusted to the soft morning light filtering into the room. It wasn’t until a moment later that your cheeks flushed, the realization dawning on you—you were bare beneath the covers.

Flustered, you shifted slightly away from him, your embarrassment evident in every movement.

Sae noticed. It was amusing, really—how shy you were now, as if he hadn’t seen every part of you the night before. Still, he didn’t mind. He found your bashfulness endearing, a trait that only made you more captivating in his eyes.

You quickly regained your composure, straightened your posture, and locked eyes with him, your gaze unwavering.

The intensity of your stare made his chest tighten. He knew exactly what you were asking, even though the words hadn’t left your lips.

You wanted the truth.

With a deep sigh, he leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair as if bracing himself.

“Alright,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, as he tossed you a clean shirt from his drawer.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

After you finished listening to everything Sae had kept from you, you had a deadpan expression —he couldn’t quite place. He wondered if you were about to swoon or lash out at him for being so stupid.

Before he could figure it out, you slapped him.

“I deserve that,” he muttered, surrendering without resistance, holding his hands above his head slightly, despite feeling the slight sting on his right cheek..

But what came next threw him off more than anything.

You leaned toward him and pulled him into a kiss—soft and sweet, yet enough to knock the breath out of him.

When you pulled away, your gaze softened, though determination burned brightly in your eyes. “I know you were trying to protect me, but you should’ve just told me. I don’t care about the threat, Sae. As long as we’re together, we can figure it out.”

He felt like an idiot. No—he was an idiot. An idiot for doubting you, for keeping you in the dark, for forgetting how strong and capable you truly were. Deep down, he knew he wanted to shoulder everything alone to protect your optimism, your joy—but that had been the wrong choice.

Without a word, he reached out, his hands cupping your face tenderly. “I’ll never keep something from you again,” he murmured before pressing his lips to yours once more, this time with a deeper intensity.

The moment was perfect until the door swung open, and a familiar voice broke the silence.

“Woah, you guys made up!”

You and Sae sprang apart, both whipping around to find Shidou grinning like he’d just walked in on something far juicier than it was.

“There’s a thing called knocking, you know,” you said, glaring at him in irritation.

“Tch,” was Sae’s only response, his mood visibly soured by the interruption.

Shidou ignored both of you, stepping inside and flopping onto a nearby chair as if he owned the place. “Anyway, I gotta tell you guys what I overheard this morning.” He paused dramatically, letting the tension build. “There’s only one number card left—the 10 of Hearts.”

You frowned. “Just one? And no one’s come across a face card yet?”

Shidou nodded, leaning forward, his usual grin fading into something more serious. “Not just that. There’s a rumor going around. Something about a traitor among the executives. Isagi’s the one who figured it out, but he doesn’t know who it is yet.”

Sae’s jaw tightened, and you could practically see the wheels turning in his head. “A traitor?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

You exchanged a tense glance with Sae, the weight of Shidou’s revelation settling over both of you like a storm cloud. The knock on the door shattered the silence, making everyone in the room flinch.

You turned to Shidou with an irritated glare. “Who else did you tell?”

Shidou threw his hands up defensively, his usual smirk absent for once. “No one, I swear. Chill.” He got up and strode to the door, muttering, “Let me handle it.”

The moment he opened the door, his cocky demeanor shifted to one of surprise. “Chigiri?” he asked, stepping aside as the red-haired man entered hurriedly, his expression grim.

Chigiri’s sharp eyes darted around the room, meeting yours with a silent understanding that seemed to say, Glad to have you back, Y/N. Then he spoke, his voice low and urgent. “We have a problem. Isagi’s been taken.”

Your heart sank, and Sae tensed beside you. “Taken? By who?” Sae demanded, his tone sharp.

“Ness,” Chigiri answered grimly. “He’s got Isagi tied up in some room, but we don’t know where. The leaders didn’t like the anxiousness from other players due to his speculations about the traitor and... they think he might be the one. They’re torturing him. God knows how far they’ve gone by now.”

Your fists clenched at the thought. “We have to rescue him,” you said firmly, looking at each of them.

Shidou raised a brow, his grin creeping back. “Oh, I’m in. Sounds like fun.”

Sae shot him a glare before turning to you. “We’ll need a plan.”

Chigiri nodded, stepping closer, his expression tense. “Yukki and Reo are already searching the grounds, but we need more people if we’re going to find him before it’s too late—”

He was abruptly cut off by the sound of screaming and the thunder of rushing footsteps echoing from the main hall. The tension in the room spiked as everyone froze, listening. The door burst open, and Bachira stormed in, his face pale but his eyes gleaming with discovery.

“There’s chaos in the hall,” Bachira said breathlessly. “You might wanna check it out.”

Everyone exchanged wary glances before immediately rushing down the main hall.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

All the Beach members were gathered, including the executives—everyone except the leaders, Ness, and Isagi. Blood was splattered across one of the walls, so much that it nearly covered the entire surface. The sight had everyone on edge, fear and confusion rippling through the crowd.

At the center of the room lay a pile of phones, next to a small sign that read: One per person. Even from a distance, you knew exactly what this meant. A game. And this time, everyone at the Beach was a player.

Your heart raced as you quickly grabbed a phone, joining the others in tense anticipation. Suddenly, the mechanical voice emanated from every device simultaneously, cold and unfeeling:

“Game Rules: 10 of Hearts: Bloodbound

Then came a riddle:

"In shadow, I watch and consume. My speech deceives. Set me free or strike me down, and the blood recedes."

The voice paused before delivering its final chilling instruction:

“Accomplish the riddle within 3 hours, and you win. Failure to do so results in death. Good luck.”

The crowd grew restless, their faces marked by confusion and fear. The riddle had left them baffled—no clear instructions, no obvious solution. The blood on the wall served as an ominous reminder of what failure might mean, and no one wanted to be the next victim.

Kaiser stepped forward, grabbing the arm of a random girl who had been seen alone in the hall earlier, her face pale with terror.

“What if I throw you out the window right now, hmm?” he said, his voice sharp and mocking.

The girl thrashed in his grip, tears streaming down her face. A few onlookers exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in agreement with Kaiser’s words, their own fear driving them to desperation. Together, they began dragging the girl toward the window as she screamed and fought against them.

“Enough.”

Loki’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife, his calm, almost friendly tone somehow more unsettling than the violence. “Let her go,” he said, stepping into the center of the crowd.

For a moment, the group hesitated. Then, slowly, they released the girl, who fell to the floor, trembling and sobbing.

Loki smiled faintly, his composure unshaken. “Everyone, return to your rooms. The executives will review the surveillance cameras to determine who set this game in motion. We’ll handle it.”

The reaction was immediate and volatile.

“That’ll take too long!” someone shouted.“There’s a time limit! We’ll all die!” another cried.A few people sank to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

Where are Ego and Anri? Why aren’t they here now?” a voice rang out.

Before the chaos could escalate further, you felt Sae’s hand wrap around your wrist. “Come on,” he murmured, dragging you through the crowd. His grip was firm but not unkind, a silent insistence that you trust him. Shidou, Bachira, and Chigiri slipped away with you, the six of you retreating into an office at the back of the building.

The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of panic from the hall.

Shidou’s laugh came first—low, unhinged, and far too amused for the circumstances. “So...someone’s playing a nasty little game,” he said, his grin wide and predatory. “Who’s the rat?”

“Shut up,” Chigiri snapped, his voice icy, though his composure was clearly fraying. “This isn’t a joke, Shidou. If this is the 10 of Hearts, then the whole Beach is a trap. We’re all in danger.”

Sae crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he repeated the riddle aloud:

"In shadow, I watch and consume. My speech deceives. Set me free or strike me down, and the blood recedes."

“What the hell does that even mean?” Shidou muttered, spinning a small knife idly in his hand, his usual smirk replaced by something almost serious.

He let the words hang in the air, their weight pressing down on all of you. “It’s clear what this means,” he said. “Someone has to die—the person described in the riddle.”

“Everyone’s gonna think it’s Ego,” you murmured, your stomach churning. “The way the Beach runs, how cold and calculated he is...he’s the obvious suspect.”

“That’s the point,” Sae said flatly, his tone razor-sharp. “It’s too obvious. Whoever set this up wants us to waste time going after him while they sit back and watch.”

“And what if it really is him?” Chigiri countered, his voice low and tense.

A beat of silence passed, heavy with the weight of unspoken fears.

“Then let’s find him,” you said firmly, already moving toward the door. “We can figure this out, but we need confirmation.”

Sae opened the top drawer of a heavy metal cabinet, retrieving several radios and handguns. His movements were swift and deliberate, the weight of the situation clear in his tense posture.

He tossed a radio and a gun to each of you.

There was no time to argue. Sae gave his orders with the efficiency of a commander: “Chigiri, Bachira—find Isagi. We’ll handle Ego. Stay sharp.”

You nodded, adrenaline surging through you as the group split up. Racing down the dimly lit hall with Sae and Shidou, every creak and distant sound made your heart pound. The air grew heavier the closer you got to Ego’s quarters, an unsettling chill settling in your stomach.

When you reached the room, you froze. The door hung slightly ajar, swinging faintly on its hinges. Sae pushed it open with his gun raised, and what you saw made your blood run cold. Ego sat slumped in his chair, a gunshot wound squarely in the forehead. Blood pooled beneath him, stark against the sterile floor.

Shidou broke the silence first, grabbing his walkie-talkie. “Ego’s dead. I repeat, Ego is dead,” he said grimly, his usual eccentricity replaced with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

Sae crouched beside Ego, checking his phone. His expression darkened. “The timer’s still running,” he muttered. “This game isn’t over.”

The radio crackled to life, Chigiri’s voice cutting through the tension. “Negative. We’ve checked the third and fourth floors—no sign of Isagi. But the main hall is a mess. Lorenzo’s faction went rogue. He’s given the order to kill everyone.”

“Damn it,” Sae hissed, standing abruptly.

Shidou cursed under his breath. “Of course that freak Lorenzo would pull something like this. It’s going to be a bloodbath.”

You clenched your fists, trying to focus. Panic threatened to overwhelm you, but then your thoughts turned to the riddle. You turned it over in your mind, piecing it together.

“It’s not Ego,” you said aloud, your voice trembling with urgency. “It’s not about him. The answer—”

Sae looked at you sharply. “What is it?”

Your heart dropped as realization struck you like a bolt of lightning. “Anri’s the next target. She’s in danger.”

Without waiting for their responses, you turned and bolted down the hall, sprinting toward Anri’s quarters. Sae swore under his breath but immediately followed.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” he snapped, grabbing your wrist to stop you.

You looked at him, eyes blazing with determination. “I do. Trust me.”

Sae studied you for a beat before nodding. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Shidou trailed behind, muttering, “This better not be a wild goose chase, princess, or we’re all screwed.”

As you neared Anri’s room, you heard muffled voices and the sound of something heavy being dragged. Your pulse raced. You pushed yourself harder, desperate to reach her before it was too late.

“Stay behind me,” Sae ordered, raising his gun as he moved to kick the door open.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The room was silent except for the muffled sounds of Anri’s panicked breaths behind the cloth tied over her mouth. Kaito, the man you remembered from the high-diving game, stood in front of her, his gun trained on her trembling form. His hand was steady, but his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

You stepped forward, your hand outstretched, trying to stop him. “Kaito, don’t do this,” you said firmly, your voice steady despite the racing of your heart.

He glanced at you, his expression one of recognition. “I’m grateful for what you do for us y/n-san,” he said, his voice strained. “If she's not the answer to the riddle then she's the traitor. If I don’t do this, I’ll die. You know how this works.”

“That’s not true,” you argued. “Anri isn’t the traitor, Kaito. She’s not the threat. Don’t pull the trigger.”

Kaito hesitated, his grip faltering for a fraction of a second. “Then who is it?” he snapped. “Who else could it be?”

I don’t know. Your mind raced. You had to make up an excuse. “The traitor,” you said, your voice low but steady, “is one of the executives.”

Kaito froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look at Sae. “One of the executives, huh? Like him?” He raised the gun and pointed it directly at Sae.

Sae didn’t flinch, his expression cold and calculating as always. “If you think I’m the traitor, you’re even more delusional than I thought,” he said flatly.

Kaito’s face twisted in rage. “Shut up! You’ve been quiet this whole time, haven’t you? Acting like you’re above all this. You’re the one pulling the strings!”

“Kaito, stop!” you shouted, your voice shaking now. “Don’t do this!”

But Kaito wasn’t listening. His finger inched toward the trigger, and your heart stopped.

Time seemed to stretch and distort, every second dragging on as though the world itself was holding its breath. The faint hum of adrenaline coursing through your veins drowned out every other sound.

All that existed was the cold metal glinting in Kaito’s hand and the terrifying inevitability of his finger curling on the trigger.

You didn’t think—you just moved.

Your hand flew up, gripping the cold steel of your gun. The weight felt heavier than ever, the gravity of what you were about to do threatening to crush you. But there was no room for hesitation. A single thought pulsed in your mind: Stop him.

Kaito’s eyes flicked toward you, his finger tightening on the trigger. Time froze.

Then, in an instant, the deafening crack of your gunshot tore through the air. The recoil surged through your arm, the force jolting you backward as your ears rang with the violent noise. You couldn’t hear anything but that ringing, couldn’t see anything but the bullet’s merciless trajectory as it sliced through the space between you and him.

The impact was instantaneous. The bullet struck Kaito dead center, between his eyebrows. His expression froze in shock, the light in his eyes extinguished before he even realized what had happened.

There was no scream, no final word. Just the dull thud of his body hitting the floor. Blood spilled out in a dark, growing pool beneath him, staining the cold, hard ground.

Your breath caught, your chest heaving as if trying to force air into lungs that had forgotten how to function. The gun trembled in your grip, your arm still extended, fingers frozen in place.

This isn’t real. Right?. But the scent of gunpowder lingered, the blood creeping toward your feet.

Your hand dropped to your side, the gun slipping from your grip and clattering against the floor. It echoed loudly in the oppressive silence, jolting you back to the present.

You trembled as you lowered your arm, breath coming in shallow gasps.

Sae was the first to react, stepping forward. “You okay?” he asked, his voice unusually soft, though his face was a mix of shock and something you couldn’t quite place.

“I…” You swallowed hard, trying to find your voice.

Shidou moved quickly to Anri, pulling the cloth from her mouth and untying her. “Damn,” he muttered, giving a low whistle as he glanced at Kaito’s lifeless body. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

Anri gasped for air, Her tear-streaked face crumpled as she gasped for air.

You turned to her, your legs feeling like jelly. “Anri, what’s going on? Tell us everything.”

She nodded weakly, but her tearful eyes locked onto you with desperation. “You don’t understand,” she choked out.

“What are you talking about?” Sae demanded, his tone sharp but not entirely unkind.

Anri’s voice trembled as she continued, “The whole thing about collecting the entire deck—it was all a lie. Ego made it up. He wanted to give the survivors hope, something to fight for, even if it wasn’t real.”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

“He lied?” you repeated, your voice barely above a whisper.

Anri nodded, her tears falling freely. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell anyone. He thought it was the only way to keep everyone from falling apart. I wanted to believe in him...”

Sae’s jaw clenched as he looked away, his hands curling into fists. Shidou let out a low whistle, breaking the heavy quiet.

“Well, that’s one way to turn the world upside down,” Shidou said, his usual smirk absent, replaced by a grim expression.

You stood up, your legs feeling unsteady beneath you. “Then what’s the point of all this?” you asked, more to yourself than anyone else.

“The point,” Sae said, his voice cold, “is that we’ve all been pawns in a game we don’t even understand.”

At that moment, Chigiri’s voice crackled through the radio. “We found Isagi,” he said, his tone urgent but slightly muffled by the static. “He’s wounded but alive. Right now, he’s unconscious, but stable. We’re bringing him back.”

You barely registered the words. Your gaze was locked on Kaito’s lifeless body sprawled across the floor, the pool of blood beneath him staining the stark white tiles. The weight of your actions pressed down on you like a crushing tide, threatening to drown you in guilt and doubt. You’d pulled the trigger to save Sae, to stop Kaito from making a fatal mistake—but the cost was written in red right before your eyes.

Anri’s confession still echoed in your mind. Ego had lied. Everything you’d fought for, every sacrifice made, was built on a foundation of false hope. The thought made your stomach churn.

Sae’s voice cut through the silence, firm and unyielding. “This changes everything,” he said, his tone dark and heavy with resolve. “But it doesn’t mean we stop. We’ll figure this out, with or without Ego.”

You tore your eyes away from Kaito’s body and met Sae’s gaze. His expression was cold and unreadable, but beneath it, you sensed an unspoken determination. He wasn’t going to let this break him, and neither could you.

“I know the answer to the riddle,” you said suddenly, your voice steadier than you expected.

Everyone turned to you, their expressions a mixture of confusion and anticipation.

“It’s not a person,” you continued. “It never was. The riddle—it’s been misleading us this entire time. We’ve been looking at each other when we should’ve been looking at something else.”

“What are you saying?” Shidou asked, his brow furrowed as he glanced between you and the others.

You clenched your fists, the pieces in your mind clicking together like a puzzle finally coming into focus. Just as you opened your mouth to say something, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall—heavy, numerous, and fast approaching.

Your stomach sank. It had to be members of Lorenzo’s faction. Without hesitation, you turned to Sae and Shidou. “I need to get to the control room and use the intercom to call everyone. We need to stop this madness before it’s too late.”

Shidou cracked his knuckles, an eager grin spreading across his face as he stepped forward. “You go do your thing. I’ll handle this group.”

You paused, concerned, flickering across your face. “you sure you’ll be okay?”

He scoffed, his voice brimming with overconfidence. “Please, those small fries don’t stand a chance against my explosion.” His pink eyes gleamed with wild excitement, his smirk widening.

Despite yourself, you laughed, the tension in your chest loosening slightly. “we're counting on you.”

Sae stepped beside you, his expression calm but resolute. He glanced at Shidou with a small nod. “Go wild little demon.”

With a final smirk, Shidou turned towards the oncoming footsteps, his posture loose but ready. “Don’t worry, I’ll make this quick. Go save the day or whatever.”

As you hurried toward the control room, the sound of Shidou’s mocking laughter and the crash of chaos behind you reminded you of the high stakes ahead—but you didn’t look back.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The control room was eerily silent as your voice rang out through the intercom. “Everyone, stop the killings! I’ve figured out the riddle—it’s not what we thought. I need everyone to go to the rooftop. Trust me, this will all make sense soon.”

Your plea was met with hesitant murmurs from those still alive, but eventually, the survivors began making their way to the rooftop. When you arrived, the scene was sobering. The crowd had thinned drastically—only about 20% of the Beach’s original population remained. Some faces were etched with suspicion, others with grim resignation.

They watched you with a mixture of reluctance and curiosity as you stepped forward, stopping beside a large, cloth-covered crate.

“This game tricked us,” you began, your voice steady but tinged with emotion. “It turned us against each other. It made us think that to survive, we had to kill.”

You gripped the edge of the cloth, pausing for a moment to steel yourself. Then, with a sharp tug, you pulled it down, revealing the gruesome contents of the crate.

Gasps and cries of horror erupted from the crowd as they saw the pile of corpses—some old and decayed, with maggots writhing in the flesh, others desecrated beyond recognition. The freshest bodies looked like they’d been killed only hours ago.

But what drew everyone’s attention was the black crow perched atop the heap, pecking at the flesh. Its beak pierced the skin, causing fresh blood to drip through the cracks in the crate, mirroring the blood that had been seeping through the walls of the main hall.

You gestured to the crate, your voice rising to be heard over the murmurs and gasps. “This is the truth of the riddle. ‘Set me free or strike me down.’ It wasn’t about a person. It was about this.” You pointed at the crow, its black eyes glinting as it cocked its head toward you.

Sae stepped forward, his expression grim but focused. “The blood on the walls, the chaos—it all led back to this.”

You nodded. “This crow has been feeding on the bodies, causing the blood to drip. The riddle wasn’t about anyone from the beach. It was about freeing this creature—or ending its life.”

One of the survivors, trembling, stepped forward. “You mean...we didn’t have to kill anyone?”

You took a deep breath, the stench of the corpses threatening to overwhelm you, and shook your head. “No. This entire game has been a manipulation. We could’ve won without spilling any blood.”

Ignoring the bile rising in your throat, you reached into the crate and carefully grabbed the crow. It cawed loudly, its wings flapping wildly in protest. You turned to the crowd. “We end this now.”

You threw the crow into the air. It soared upward, its black wings cutting through the sky.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, a series of simultaneous chimes rang out from the phones of the survivors. The word “CONGRATULATIONS” appeared on every screen, accompanied by a message:

GAME CLEAR.

Relief and disbelief washed over the crowd. Some fell to their knees, others clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces.

You turned to face Sae, your expression heavy with guilt and uncertainty. The chaos was over, the game cleared, but the aftermath left you feeling lost. Sae, standing a step away, could see the turmoil written all over your face. He crossed his arms, his piercing gaze locking onto yours.

Your mind felt like it was fracturing, every thought fragmented and scattered. You struggled to meet Sae’s eyes. “The Beach is done,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. “It’s disbanded. And with everything that’s happened here... this place isn’t safe anymore.”

Sae stepped closer, his presence steady and grounding amidst the chaos swirling in your head. He leaned in, his voice low and calm as he whispered in your ear, “Let’s get out of here.”

Nothing more needed to be said. He reached for your hand, his grip firm and reassuring, and gently pulled you forward, away from the ruin and bloodshed behind you.

“Okay,” you said softly, your voice trembling as you squeezed his hand, nodding as you allowed yourself to follow him.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The group found refuge in a high-rise building nestled in the heart of Shibuya. It wasn’t ideal, but the third floor had a pipe leaking clean water, and in this world, that was more than enough to make it a good spot to rest for the night. As you stood by the window, your gaze wandered to the streets below. Vegetation had begun to creep across the asphalt and even the walls of some buildings. It was subtle but unnatural, the way the greenery seemed to grow faster than it should. The sight made your stomach churn with unease.

Right now, everyone else was scattered—some searching for food and supplies, others scouting for vehicles, and a few simply wandering to clear their heads after the chaos. Whatever the reason, it left you alone with Isagi, who was still unconscious on a makeshift bed.

You glanced around the dimly lit room, noticing Sae’s absence. He had disappeared somewhere, as he often did when things were too quiet.

The grime and sweat from the 10 of Hearts game clung to your skin, a constant reminder of the horrors you’d faced. The discomfort was unbearable, and the idea of washing it all away was tempting.

Deciding to take a moment for yourself, you wandered to the bathroom. As you opened the door, the sound of water cascading from the shower greeted you. You froze, realizing someone was already inside. The faint outline of a figure behind the fogged-up glass made it clear.

Your face heated in embarrassment. “Oh, sorry.” you blurted, your voice cracking slightly.

You were about to turn away when you felt yourself suddenly tugged back, your breath catching in surprise as your back pressed against his bare chest. His arm slid securely around your waist, pulling you closer. You froze as his free hand gently tilted your chin to the side, exposing the curve of your neck.

His lips brushed softly against your skin, trailing up until they reached the shell of your ear. His voice was low, almost a whisper, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

“Just join me,” he murmured, his tone laced with teasing warmth. “We might as well save water.”

Your heart skipped a beat, heat rushing to your face as you tried to find the words to respond. The playful smirk in his voice made it clear he was enjoying your reaction.

You felt his hands gently caressing your sides, his touch tentative yet steady. When you tried to pull away, whispering something about Isagi not having anyone to watch him, he leaned in closer, his voice low and reassuring.

“Isagi’ll be fine for a while,” he murmured, his tone steady but soft. “It’s not like he’s awake right now.”

You hesitated, caught in the moment, every muscle in your body tense. But his words and presence seemed to melt some of the heaviness in your chest. Maybe, just maybe, he was right. Maybe you needed to forget, even for a moment, all the horrible things that had happened.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened between you two.

The others didn’t press on it but they gave you knowing glances.

Behind you, Isagi stirred, a low groan escaping him as he finally woke up. His face was a mess of cuts and bruises, the pain evident in his every movement. You quickly handed him a bottle of water, kneeling beside him as he struggled to sit up. He took a shaky sip, coughing a little as the water soothed his parched throat.

“You’re awake,” you said softly, relief in your voice.

He nodded weakly, his voice raspy. “Yeah... barely.” He took another sip, his eyes scanning the group before settling on you. “But I need to tell you... what I know.”

Everyone turned to him, the room falling silent as they waited. Sae leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Isagi’s hands trembled slightly as he held the water bottle. “Ness wasn’t the traitor,” he began, his voice hoarse but steady. “He was being used... by the real culprit. I didn’t see them, but by the time everything went to hell, someone came into the room. I couldn’t see their face, and their voice... I can’t place it. Something about the second stage starting tomorrow morning.”

The air in the room grew heavy with tension.

“What second stage?” Chigiri asked, his voice sharp.

Isagi shook his head. “I don’t know. They didn’t say anything else. Just... ‘the second stage will commence.’” He paused, his gaze dropping to his hands. “Whatever it means, it can’t be good.”

Bachira let out a low whistle, trying to mask the unease in his voice. “Tomorrow, huh? Guess we’re in for another surprise.”

You glanced out the window again, the vegetation catching your eye once more. Something about it felt connected, like a silent omen of what was to come. “We need to rest and prepare. Whatever the second stage is, we’ll face it together.”

The group murmured their agreement, though the unease lingered like a shadow in the room. You couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

Waking up to the sound of an explosion, you bolted upright, heart pounding. You rushed to the window and froze. Blimps with massive face cards attached to them hovered ominously in the sky, their shadows looming over the city. The King of Spades blimp was the most menacing of all, dropping bombs indiscriminately across Shibuya.

Panic surged through you as you turned and shook everyone awake. “We have to move—now! The next stage is starting, and we could get bombed!”

Everyone scrambled to their feet, groggy but alarmed, quickly grabbing whatever they could carry. You led them to the window, pointing at the chaos unfolding outside. Smoke billowed from the streets, and the screams of people echoed faintly through the air.

As you made your way toward the center of Shibuya, the mechanical billboard flickered to life. In bold, glowing letters, it displayed: Next Stage. Good Luck.

The words burned in your mind as the screen abruptly went dark, and then came the unmistakable sound of rapid gunfire—an automatic rifle tearing through the air like thunder.

You whipped around to see people dropping to the ground, some screaming, others eerily silent. The King of Spades blimp rained down death with relentless precision, armed with weapons that could mow down entire crowds.

“Run!” you shouted, voice cracking as chaos erupted. The survivors scattered in all directions, terror painting their faces.

Sae’s firm grip on your arm pulled you back to focus. He dragged you behind the shell of a car, shielding you as bullets ricocheted off the metal frame. His voice was sharp and steady. “Stay low. Follow me when I move.”

You nodded, adrenaline surging. The gunfire didn’t let up, the deafening noise pounding in your ears. As Sae led the way, darting from cover to cover, you suddenly pulled him toward a nearby construction site.

“This way!” you urged, pointing toward the half-finished building just beneath the blimp marked with the Jack of Spades.

He didn’t argue, following your lead as the two of you weaved through debris and chaos. The shelter of the construction site offered temporary relief from the relentless assault, but the tension in the air remained palpable. Both of you leaned against a wall, chests heaving as you tried to catch your breath.

Ahead, you spotted a small group of players gathering under the half-collapsed scaffolding, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion. But it wasn’t them that caught your attention. Off to the side, huddled beneath a scrap piece of corrugated metal, was an old man.

His frail frame trembled, and his hollow eyes darted around as though searching for something—or someone. He clutched his stomach, his thin fingers shaking from either hunger or fear.

“Wait here,” you said to Sae, stepping toward the man.

Sae grabbed your wrist, his sharp gaze narrowing. “Don’t. You don’t know who he is or what he wants.”

You glanced back at him, your jaw tightening. “He needs help, Sae. Look at him.”

Sae didn’t reply but his expression spoke volumes. He didn’t trust the man, but he knew better than to try to stop you.

You knelt in front of the old man, careful to keep your guard up. “Are you okay?” you asked softly.

The man flinched at first, his hollow eyes darting between you and Sae before slowly reaching out. His cold, bony hand trembled as it grabbed your arm. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of his fear. “Today... today’s the last day on my visa. I—I’m scared. I don’t want to die here.”

Your heart clenched at the desperation in his voice. His frail figure seemed impossibly small under the weight of his fear.

You knelt beside him, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. “Don’t worry, sir. I’m good at spade games. Maybe I can help you.”

The old man’s lips quivered, and he shook his head frantically, as though unable to believe what he was hearing. “You’d... you’d do that? For me?” His voice broke, tears welling in his sunken eyes. “Thank you... thank you.”

Behind you, Sae leaned against the nearest beam, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the interaction. His expression remained impassive, but his silence carried unspoken skepticism.

When the game was announced, the rules rang clearly through the air:

Jack of Spades: Runner’s Gambit

Objective: Locate and deactivate the "key bomb" among several identical decoys before the timer expires.

Time Limit: 2 hours.

Conditions: Randomly detonating bombs will keep players on the move, and traps are scattered throughout the site, with some hidden under debris or disguised as safe areas. Failure to disarm the key bomb triggers a massive chain reaction, destroying everything within a wide radius.

The holographic instructions faded, and the timer began.

2:00:00.

The first explosion echoed through the site, deafening and close. Dust and debris erupted from a distant corridor, and you could hear the panicked screams of players scrambling to safety. You watched in horror as one unlucky man sprinted into a patch of seemingly stable ground—only for the tiles to collapse beneath him, impaling him on steel bars below.

“This isn’t even a game,” you muttered, your grip tightening on the old man’s hand. “It’s a death trap.”

“Stay sharp,” Sae warned, stepping over rubble as his eyes scanned for hidden triggers.

A woman ahead reached for a suspicious box tucked under a steel beam. The moment she opened it, a smaller bomb detonated, flinging her backward into a concrete wall. Her lifeless body slid to the ground, smoke rising from her charred hands.

You averted your eyes, unable to stomach the sight of another corpse. The scene was all too familiar now, but it never got easier. Just then, the old man brushed his hand against the wall, and a faint click echoed ominously. Your instincts kicked in as you grabbed him and pulled him into the nearest empty room.

Behind you, Sae slammed the door shut just as the explosion roared through the hallway, the force rattling the walls and sending dust cascading from the ceiling. The sound of shrapnel tearing through the air was deafening.

“Don’t touch anything unless you’re absolutely sure,” Sae said firmly, his voice cutting through the ringing in your ears. His gaze darted to the old man, who looked shaken and pale, clutching his chest as he gasped for air. “We’ll stay here for a bit and figure out a plan. No more mistakes.”

The old man sat on the floor, his frail body trembling. He muttered an apology, his voice barely audible over the sound of your own racing heartbeat. “I—I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay sir,” you said softly, crouching next to him. You could see the guilt etched into his weathered face, and something about it tugged at your heart.

“I wasn’t always like this, you know,” he began suddenly, his voice carrying a melancholic weight. “I used to have a garden. My wife loved dandelions... She used to plant them everywhere. Said they were weeds, but beautiful ones. She always found beauty in the things other people overlooked.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt shift in conversation. The room fell quiet except for the distant echoes of chaos outside. Your gaze shifted to Sae. He was leaning slightly toward the door, head tilted as if trying to catch any sound that might signal danger. Yet, it was clear from the subtle flicker of his eyes when they met yours that he was listening too.

“She used to hum this silly tune while she worked in the garden,” he continued, a faint smile tugging at his lips before it quickly faded. “I haven’t heard it in years, maybe—” He stopped.

Your chest tightened. It felt like one of those moments where words weren’t necessary—where just listening was enough. Still, you found yourself reaching out, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at you, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears, searching for something—comfort, understanding, or perhaps just someone to hear him.

“I wish I wasn’t sick,” he said suddenly, his voice trembling.”

“Sick?” you asked gently, though your throat felt dry.

He nodded, his gaze distant. “The doctors said it’s only a matter of time... I’ve been running on borrowed time for years now.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that.

You stayed in that room a little longer, the tension easing just slightly as the old man’s story settled over you like a fragile peace.

1:07:00The old man, who had introduced himself as Seiichi Suzuki, kept talking about his life as you sat together in the dusty, dimly lit room. His voice was soft and unhurried, weaving tales of his late wife who used to plant dandelions in their garden and the quiet nights they spent watching old movies. His words warmed your heart, but they also stirred bitter memories of your grandmother and little sister—memories you’d tried to bury.

Sae leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his sharp eyes flickering between you and Seiichi. He didn’t say much, simply observing as you listened intently, caught in the old man’s melancholy nostalgia.

00:21:00

You bolted out of the room, leaving the bittersweet stories behind. Your heart raced as you sprinted through the treacherous maze of the unfinished building, desperately trying to find the central bomb. Traps were everywhere—loose floor panels, nearly invisible tripwires, pressure-sensitive tiles. Each step felt like a coin flip against death.

The timer ticked down mercilessly, its digits glowing ominously.

00:05:00.

As you scanned the area, the old man suddenly tugged at your sleeve.

You turned, breathless and confused. “What is it?”

Seiichi hesitated, his frail frame trembling, his eyes swimming with guilt. His voice cracked as he spoke. “I have to tell you something.”

You frowned, dread coiling in your stomach. “What do you mean?”

He took a shaky breath, his hollow gaze locking with yours. “In this place... you can live forever. The illness doesn’t bother me here. I can eat, sleep, and breathe without pain. It’s a paradise compared to what I left behind.”

“What are you talking about?” you whispered, your voice barely audible.

He lowered his gaze. “I’m the Jack of Spades.”

The world seemed to stop. His words hit you like a physical blow. “No…” you breathed, shaking your head. “No, that can’t be true.”

He nodded slowly, his voice trembling. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I swear. I—I just wanted to survive. But this game…” He gestured to the bomb strapped to his chest, the blinking red light a cruel reminder of the stakes. “This bomb is the key. It’s the one you need to disarm. If you don’t, everyone dies.”

Your voice cracked as you shouted, “There has to be another way! We can’t do this!”

Sae stepped forward, his face set in grim determination. “The rules are clear. There isn’t another way.”

The old man’s lips quivered as he forced a weak smile. “You’ve been so kind to me. Kinder than anyone has been in years. That’s why I’ll let you disarm it. At least I can do one good thing before it’s over.”

Your eyes burned with unshed tears as you clenched your fists. “But why? Why are you doing this? Why would you stay here? The real world—”

“The real world?” Seiichi cut you off, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “The real world threw me away. I worked my whole life, gave everything I had, only to be left with nothing. My wife’s gone. My body’s falling apart, and I couldn’t even afford to die in peace. Here…” He gestured around the building. “Here, I’m somebody. I’m alive. I’m... free.”

You stared at him, your chest tight. “What happens if we win? If we beat all the games? Do we just… replace the game masters?”

Seiichi’s smile faltered, his expression unreadable. “You’ll find out after you beat the last game.”

“That’s not an answer,” you whispered, your voice breaking.

“It’s the only one I can give,” he said softly.

With trembling hands, you reached for the bomb strapped to his chest. Seiichi remained eerily still, his weary eyes watching your every move. You could feel Sae’s tense presence behind you, his unspoken support grounding you as you worked to disarm the device.

Finally, with a soft click, the main bomb’s timer froze.

00:00:15

You let out a shuddering breath, relief washing over you.

But Seiichi wasn’t smiling. He looked down at his abdomen and then back at you, tears brimming in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you everything.”

“What?” Your stomach dropped as he pulled his shirt up, revealing a smaller bomb strapped to his stomach. The timer blinked rapidly.

00:00:01

“No,” you whispered, shaking your head. “No, we can stop this! There has to be a way!”

“It’s too late,” he murmured, his voice steady now. “This is my punishment for losing, for trying to survive as the Jack. But... thank you. You gave me something I hadn’t felt in years—kindness.”

The timer reached zero before you could say another word.

A deafening explosion rocked the room, and blood and viscera splattered everywhere. You felt warm droplets hit your face and arms, your vision blurring as the horror unfolded.

Sae grabbed your arm, pulling you back as the shock set in. His voice was distant, his words muffled by the ringing in your ears. All you could do was stare at the spot where Seiichi had been standing, now reduced to nothing but a memory and a pool of blood.

Sae knelt beside you, his face grim but calm. “It’s over,” he said, pulling you to your feet.

You couldn’t speak. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on you, suffocating. As the congratulations chimed on the surviving players’ phones, you realized there was no victory here.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The memory haunted you, a weight you carried but rarely spoke of. You were just 12 years old when your world began to crumble. It started with a phone call—a desperate call for help as your grandmother gasped for air, her frail body struggling to keep going. You’d fumbled with the phone, trembling as you dialed 911, your heart pounding in your chest.

The ambulance came quickly, sirens screaming through the quiet neighborhood as it whisked her away. You clutched your little sister’s hand tightly, her 8-year-old face pale with fear. “She’ll be okay,” you whispered, trying to sound sure for her sake. But deep down, you weren’t.

At the hospital, they admitted your grandmother immediately. The doctors spoke in hurried voices, throwing around words you didn’t fully understand: “surgery,” “critical condition,” “insurance.”

Insurance.

The word stuck in your mind like a thorn when the hospital administrator pulled you aside, explaining in the coldest, most detached tone that without insurance or the ability to pay, the surgery couldn’t happen.

You pleaded, tears streaming down your face as you begged them to save her. “Please! She’s all we have!”

But they shook their heads, their sympathy overshadowed by policy. They told you to take her home.

At just 12, you became the caretaker. You and your sister tried to make sense of medicine schedules and meals. Your hands, still clumsy and small, learned how to hold a damp cloth against your grandmother’s feverish forehead. You watched her grow weaker with every passing day, her once-strong voice now barely a whisper.

Your sister would cry herself to sleep most nights, and you’d sit beside her, stroking her hair and promising her that you’d figure something out. But you didn’t know how.

Eventually, your grandmother passed away in her sleep, leaving a void that nothing could fill.

The system stepped in after that, deciding you and your sister were too young to stay together. Despite your protests, your pleas, they separated you—sent you to different foster homes.

You were shattered, but you refused to give up. You clung to the one thing you could control: your education. You threw yourself into school, finding solace in textbooks and the hope of a future where you could take back the reins of your life.

Every scholarship application was a lifeline, every exam a stepping stone. You worked tirelessly, fueled by the memory of your grandmother’s love and your sister’s smile.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

The night was suffocating, heavy with silence that stretched endlessly between you and Sae. Your legs moved mechanically, one foot in front of the other, but your mind was somewhere far away, buried under the weight of the last game.

Blood clung to you, drying into your clothes, your skin, your hair. You looked like you bathed in it, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

Sae walked a step ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the area until they landed on a building with a generator buzzing faintly outside. He stopped, glancing back at you, his brow furrowed with concern.

“We’ll check here,” he said, his voice low but firm. “There might be water inside.”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t even look at him. Your legs continued moving only because his hand wrapped around your wrist, guiding you forward when you stopped. His touch was gentle, yet firm enough to pull you out of your daze, if only for a second.

The generator buzzed faintly as Sae pushed open the door. Inside, dim lights flickered to life, revealing an old but functioning water system. He walked over, testing the tap. Clear water poured out, and he exhaled softly, satisfied.

“Sit,” he said, glancing at you. His tone wasn’t sharp, but it left no room for argument.

You obeyed mechanically, sinking onto a low bench nearby. The blood, now sticky and drying, clung to your clothes and skin. Without waiting for you to protest—not that you would—Sae filled a bucket with water, grabbed a nearby cloth, and knelt in front of you.

The first splash of cold water on your hands made you flinch slightly, but you didn’t pull away. Sae worked silently, pouring water over your skin, the dried blood swirling down in faint red spirals. He didn’t look at your face as he rubbed your arms clean, methodically wiping away every trace of the nightmare you’d lived through.

He moved to your face, his touch gentler now as he dabbed the cloth over your cheeks. The coolness of the water stung where your skin was raw, but still, you stayed silent, your gaze fixed somewhere past him.

“You don’t have to talk,” he murmured, dipping the cloth into the water again. “But don’t shut down completely. Not from me.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, but you couldn’t muster a response. He tilted your chin up slightly, washing away the streaks of blood on your neck and jaw. His hand was steady, his movements careful.

You didn’t react, didn’t meet his eyes. Sae worked silently for a while, pouring water over your hair to rinse out the dried blood clinging to it. The water dripped down in rivulets, pooling around your feet, carrying away the evidence of everything you’d endured.

The weight of it all finally crushed you, and the words spilled out before you could stop them. “I can’t do this anymore,” you said, your voice trembling, raw. “I can’t keep going like this. It just—it never ends.”

Sae froze, standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. You felt his eyes on you, but it only made the emotions boil over faster.

“I tried to pretend,” you continued, your voice rising, frantic now. “I thought I could find hope when Anri told us that collecting the deck was a lie. But I can’t—I can’t! What’s the point of all this? Why are we even fighting? The real world isn’t any better than this place!”

Your chest heaved as you fought for breath, your hands gesturing wildly, aimlessly. You paced the small space, unable to stay still, as if movement could somehow release the storm raging inside you.

“Just relax,” Sae said quietly, his voice calm but firm, trying to anchor you.

“Relax?” you snapped, turning on him, your voice sharp with desperation. “How am I supposed to relax, Sae? Every day, it’s another game, another death, another reason to keep losing pieces of myself. And for what? To go back to a world that’s just as cruel? Tell me how that’s worth it!”

Sae stepped closer, his expression softening in a way that caught you off guard. But the weight of everything—the games, the deaths, the lies—was too much to bear. You backed away, your hands trembling. “Let’s just get out of here,” you muttered, your voice cracking under the strain.

You weren’t lying—you were grateful for him. But gratitude couldn’t stop the mental exhaustion tearing you apart. Your legs carried you down the empty streets, Sae keeping pace a few steps behind, his silence unnerving yet oddly comforting.

Then, it happened.

A sack was suddenly thrown over your head, rough hands yanking you backward before you could scream. You felt yourself being shoved into a car, the cold press of a gun barrel against your temple freezing your blood.

Your mind raced, but your body stayed limp, unresponsive. You were too drained, too dead inside to even react. It was as if your spirit had been snuffed out, leaving only a shell to endure whatever came next.

The car sped off, the rough motion making you dizzy. The sack over your head limited the already stifling air, and you began to feel the sharp pangs of oxygen deprivation. Each breath grew shallower, your lungs straining against the suffocating fabric. Your heart pounded in your ears, but even fear felt distant—a dull ache compared to everything else you’d been through.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The car jerked violently, the tires screeching as it swerved out of control. You felt the rear tires pop, the vehicle lurching to one side before skidding to a halt.

Before you could process what was happening, chaos erupted. Gunshots rang out, deafening and sharp, followed by sounds of shouting. Then, you felt hands grabbing you and pulling you out of the car.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You awoke to the sensation of cold water splashing onto your face. Gasping, you bolted upright, disoriented and panicked. Your heart raced as you muttered under your breath, “Sae….”

Your eyes darted around the dimly lit room. It was small and barren, with a few scattered supplies and a faint smell of smoke in the air. Then, you noticed him—a man with spiky, dark purple hair, a teasing smile playing on his lips. .

“Oi, relax, princess,” he drawled, his thick accent making the words sound both casual and cutting. “Yer not dead… yet.” He chuckled, his teasing tone laced with something almost mocking. “Though with that panicked look on yer face, maybe ya wish ya were.”

You scowled and backed away, only to notice another man lounging nearby. His hair was short and flat, mostly white except for a strand in the middle that was dark green, matching the underside of his hair. He leaned against the wall, smirking at you, his posture lazy yet somehow predatory.

“You’ve got quite the voice when you’re panicking,” he quipped, his tone smooth and flirtatious. “Almost makes me want to hear you scream again—though maybe for a different reason.” His dark green eyes sparkled with mischief as he winked.

Your skin crawled, and you instinctively put more distance between yourself and the two strangers. “Who the hell are you? And why did you save me?”

The purple-haired man snorted. “Save ya? Don’t flatter yourself, sweetheart. We didn’t save you.” He jerked his thumb toward the other side of the room. “He did.”

Confused, you followed his gesture to see a figure crouched by a campfire at the far end of the room. The man wasn’t facing you, his broad shoulders illuminated by the flickering flames. He seemed focused, stirring something in a pot over the fire.

“Barou?” The name left your lips in disbelief as he turned slightly, the light catching his unmistakable bloodshot eyes.

For a moment, you almost didn’t recognize him. His usual spiked hair was down, framing his face in a disheveled mess. The harsh lines of his features looked softer, though his intense gaze remained as sharp as ever.

“You’re finally awake,” Barou said gruffly, his voice low and steady. He turned back to the fire, dismissing your shock like it was nothing.

You blinked in surprise. “So, you were the one who saved me?” you asked, your voice soft but edged with curiosity.

Barou didn’t look up from the fire. He didn’t even acknowledge the question. His focus remained on the pot as he stirred its contents, the quiet crackle of the flames filling the silence.

You hesitated, then pressed further. “What happened to you after the bombing? Where did you go?”

He didn’t respond. Not even a glance in your direction. Instead, he grabbed a metal bowl, poured some soup into it, and handed it to you without ceremony.

“Eat,” he grunted. His tone left no room for argument.

You frowned, taking the bowl but still pressing. “Barou, you can’t just show up out of nowhere and expect me to—”

“I need your help to take down the King of Spades.” His sharp voice cut through your protest like a blade.

Your jaw tightened. “Barou, I can’t just—”

“Eat,” he repeated, already turning to leave. “You’ll need your strength. I’m not wasting time on your whining.”

And with that, he walked out, leaving you in stunned silence.

You stared after him for a moment, then looked down at the steaming bowl in your hands. Despite your frustration, you took a sip of the soup. The rich, savory flavor hit your tongue, warming you from the inside. Typical Barou. Even in a world like this, he somehow made the best food.

As you ate, the two other men—Otoya and Karasu, as they had introduced themselves earlier—approached and settled nearby.

“So, what’s your deal?” Otoya asked, leaning back against the wall with a casual smirk.

You glanced up at him, unsure of how much to say. “I can’t help you. I need to find Sae,” you admitted, your voice firm.

Otoya raised an eyebrow at that. “Itoshi Sae? That’s who you’re looking for?”

Your eyes widened slightly, surprised he knew the name. “Yeah... wait, do you know him?”

Karasu laughed, the sound low and amused. “Do we know him?” He exchanged a look with Otoya, who chuckled as well.

You tilted your head, confused. “What? Why is that funny?”

Otoya leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You really don’t know what he did before he came here?”

You frowned, your gaze flickering between the two of them. “I do know. He’s a soccer player. Why? Was he famous or something?”

Both men froze, staring at you in disbelief. Otoya blinked, his expression somewhere between shock and exasperation. “Was he famous?” he repeated, his voice tinged with incredulity. “You really don’t know who you’ve been hanging around with, do you?”

Your cheeks flushed slightly, but you straightened your back. “I knew he was good at soccer, okay? He told me. I just didn’t realize he was... that famous.”

Karasu smirked, leaning back again. “Well, now you do. You’re rolling with someone who’s been in the spotlight his whole life. No wonder you’re trying to find him—he probably makes a great bodyguard.”

You opened your mouth to retort, but decided not to.

───🃁🃜🃚🃖🂭🂺🃁───

You really wanted to escape that day. Just give your thanks and run away to find Sae. But your body was too worn down, your mind too frazzled. If you tried to leave, you’d probably collapse somewhere along the way. Staying with Barou and the others felt like your only option, even if it gnawed at your pride.

The more time you spent with the trio, the heavier the weight of your insecurities became. Watching Otoya and Karasu move with precision and ease while Barou commanded the group with unshakable authority only served to remind you of how useless you felt. Every task Barou gave you seemed to highlight your flaws, but you couldn’t bring yourself to argue. Guilt gripped you tightly, reminding you how much of a burden you must have been to Sae—yet he never once complained.

Over time, you pieced together the answers to the questions you’d asked Barou before. After the bombing of your previous shelter and before being scouted to the Beach, Barou had established a sort of trailer park community in the outskirts. He still carried himself like the all-powerful king, but to his credit, he worked just as hard as anyone else. He protected the residents, shared resources, and upheld a semblance of order. His gruff demeanor remained, but there was an undeniable sense of responsibility behind it.

For reasons you couldn’t entirely explain, you began following Barou’s orders without question. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was the desperate need to keep moving, to keep your mind occupied. Whatever the reason, you found yourself falling into a rhythm, no matter how uncomfortable it made you feel.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast the trailer park in a warm, orange glow, you sat by yourself, staring at the skyline. Exhaustion seeped into your bones, but the stillness gave you space to reflect.

Barou’s voice broke the silence. “Still sitting there like a lump?”

You turned to see him standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and his usual scowl in place.

“I’m not a lump,” you muttered, but the fight in your voice was weak.

He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a long shadow over you. “You’ve been moping around long enough. Either do something useful or stop wasting everyone’s time.”

Your lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m trying, okay? I’m just—” You stopped yourself, unsure of what to say.

Barou huffed, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “Trying doesn’t cut it in this place.”

His words stung, but deep down, you knew he was right.

You looked up at him, determination flickering in your eyes. “Then give me something to do. Something real. I’ll pull my weight.”

Barou smirked faintly, his sharp eyes gleaming in the fading light. “Good. Don’t make me regret saving your sorry ass.”

As he walked away, you felt a strange sense of resolve settle over you. You weren’t sure if you’d ever stop feeling like a burden, but for now, you’d keep moving forward. And when you found Sae again, you’d make sure to thank him properly—for everything.

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