You meet Chishiya's father in a hearts game, and you hate him from the start. You hate how quiet Chishiya gets even more.
You really wish he wasn't in the Jack of Hearts with the two of you.
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Chishiya has gone completely silent.
Someone who might know him less than you wouldn’t be surprised by that. They’d expect it even.
But you? You’ve partnered with him in these games for almost a month now, a month that has felt like eternity in a place like the Borderlands.
And you have spent a lot of time watching him in that time. While the intention hadn’t been to learn his tells, you were watching him because of the feelings you’re trying, and likely failing, to hide, you did learn them. Some of them.
And right now? He’s tense. He looks relaxed, sure, leaning against the wall, hands in pocket and his hood up, the cable of his walkman leading up to the earbuds in his ear, but he’s not relaxed.
For one, there has been no sarcastic comment when they walked into the romantic cafe that has turned into a game venue. You expected him to snide at the romantic setting.
But more importantly, he’s been ignoring you.
You’re good at spades games. Chishiya is decidedly not. But you don’t have Chishiya’s intelligence, so the two of you team up during the games. He keeps you alive during hearts and diamonds, you keep him alive during spades and do the socialising during clubs.
It works. You’re still alive. Both of you are. And you like to think you’ve grown on Chishiya by now.
The signs are small: His eyes aren’t quite as empty when they land on you. He’s stopped tensing whenever you have to touch him to help him during another physical game.
He always gives you one of his earbuds when he listens to music from his home-made taser while waiting for games to start.
Except now, apparently. Another sign he’s tense.
Why? Did he spot something you didn’t? If so, you have no clue what it could be. The venue isn’t likely to be spades, so it can’t be that. And even if it was, he has played some before. He despises club games less now that he has you to steer the crowd.
“Are you alright?” You whisper at him.
He glances at you without moving his head before watching the other players again.
Right. This is Chishiya. He doesn’t consider questions like that worth answering. But the glance already says something: You’d expect him to not even do that.
The game turns out to be a low level hearts game. The announcer says something about the importance of honesty in relationships as you’re led to the next room where you’re made to sit around a round table.
The game is point based. Of the group, only the three with the highest points will receive a game clear. You’ll get points by correctly guessing another’s statement as truthful or a lie, or by having other people be wrong about your own statement.
You’re not the best liar. Luckily you have Chishiya. However much he despises the human heart, he is objectively good at reading people.
You don’t need his help for the first two statements. A physically attractive man who claims to have cheated on his girlfriend? Truth. He’d been checking you out before the game started. A woman trying to say the same? A lie, she’d looked disgusted when the man said it.
It’s the third man that poses a problem.
His expression reminds you of one Chishiya often wears. Lips upticked just slightly so it could technically be called a smirk, and eyes so empty and cold.
He looks right at you as he states: “I love my family.”
He should, right? It’s his family. Even people whose families are messed up often still love them, when they hate them too. It’s how messy human emotions are.
But his eyes are so cold.
You glance at Chishiya, who’s looking at the man. You’re not allowed to talk, so you not-so-subtly nudge his arm.
You frown, nudging him again. He might be off today, but he can’t be off during the game itself. Your life is on the line.
This time he does look at you, but his eyes as cold and empty as they are when looking at anyone else.
You frown, pushing away anger and hurt. You only have twenty seconds left to choose.
You look at the man again, who has tilted his head now, still with those slightly upturned lips.
Your hand hovers between the two buttons in front of you, one for lie, one for truth. You really can’t tell.
You glance at Chishiya again, but he’s back to watching the man.
Maybe he doesn’t know either.
Truth. It has to be truth. Right? Most people feel at least a sliver of love for their family? For at least one person?
You take in a deep breath, and bring your hand to the truth button.
But before you press it, your hand is nudged away to the other button. Lie. Chishiya isn’t looking at you as he does so.
Like you have so often in these games, you trust Chishiya.
The lamp in the middle of the room turns green. You’re correct.
You’re very uncomfortable with the man still looking at you. There is something in his eyes. As if you’re a specimen he’s planning to vivisect, but would only feel mildly interested while doing so.
So, obviously, you give him a taunting smile back. You’re not letting yourself be an easy target.
The only reaction he gives is moving his attention to Chishiya, schooling his features back into neutral, if you can call that smirk neutral. Or those eyes.
Chishiya is quicker in helping you the rounds after that, the way he normally is. Still lazy as always, but no more last-second rescues.
As the rounds go by, the man’s attention stays mostly on the two of you. You give him that taunting smile each time you catch his gaze.
You’ve found that using this particular smile on men often tends to aggravate them. This specific man does not give a sliver of a reaction.
You’re delighted when the game ends and you have the third most points. You get to live for a few more days! You’d been worried when you heard the rules of this game, but you’re not teamed up with Chishiya for nothing. He has the second most points.
Unfortunately, the man made it as well.
You still flinch when the collars explode off the other, panicking players. Neither Chishiya nor the man give a reaction.
As you are not as emotionless as some others, you stand up to leave. The once romantic cafe is now littered with corpses. No need to stay a second longer than is needed.
“You’re both wearing locker keys. Are you with that cult?”
You keep walking, ignoring the man. You expect Chishiya to do the same. Instead, to your surprise, he responds.
Chishiya’s voice is… off. You’re not good enough at reading him to tell what exactly, but your gut insists it is. However, it’s his words that make you turn around promptly.
The resemblances are there, you suppose. Had you not thought that his expression was similar to Chishiya’s? The same cold, empty eyes. Their facial structure is the same, although his father is taller.
“You’ll take me with you.”
Yes, Chishiya is definitely off. You’ve never seen him like this before.
No wonder Chishiya hadn’t wanted to tell you to press ‘lie’.
The earlier anger melts. Even for Chishiya, that must’ve been difficult to do.
You hate this man already. The game let you choose what lie or truth you could say. And he chose to, in front of his son, prove that he does not love him.
What you hate more is how Chishiya is acting differently. You’ve seen nothing faze him before. That his father manages…
As you sit down on the driver’s seat of the Beach’s car, you debate driving away before he could step in.
But it’s not your choice to make. It’s Chishiya’s. You check on him through the rearview mirror. He has a blank look on his face, wearing his earbuds as he leans on his palm, staring out of the window.
You’re glad his father sits down in the passenger seat. Away from Chishiya. But to your dismay, as you start driving, he starts to talk to you.
He wants to know about you. Your name (you curtly only give your family name), what you did before the Borderlands, your hobbies.
It’s Chishiya’s father. That’s the only reason you answer.
He’s good at this, you realise. His friendly, polite behaviour almost makes you forget his vivisecting smile earlier, or his cruel words.
In the back, Chishiya sits still as a statue, still looking out of the window, seemingly ignoring the both of you. You can only catch a single reaction even though you keep glancing in the rearview mirror a whole lot more than necessary.
It’s when Chishiya’s father offers to patch you up if you get hurt: His jaw clenches ever so slightly.
You remember Chishiya’s hands on you, sewing close a cut that’s now healed cleanly. It’d been a week after you partnered up, and his hands had been clinical, not touching you a second more than necessary, but you’d liked the focus in his eyes. The way his attention was solely on treating you.
No way you’d let his father treat you instead. Even if he has more experience.
You don’t trust his friendly face.
The man has the audacity to apologise for his son after Chishiya steps out of the car when you arrive, telling his father to follow him and leaves without saying a word to you.
Okay, maybe that’s reasonable. It was rude of him. But you’ve already decided you don’t like the man, and you know Chishiya.
A lack of goodbye isn’t unexpected. Especially as he knows you. And likely knows that you’ll go straight to his room instead of your own, because he’s scarily good at predicting you like that.
When Chishiya enters his room, his eyes fall on you immediately. “This is a private space.”
You decide it’s definitely more curt than he’d be normally. And you also decide to completely ignore his hint of wanting to be alone.
Even if it’s just as a silent presence, you want to be there for him.
“I know. But we’re friends. And that means I’m here for you when you feel bad.”
“Oh?” He removes his slippers calmly. “I’m feeling bad now?” His eyes stay on you, a calculating look in them you’re familiar with.
“At the very least you’re feeling off.” You’ve got no interest in arguing over semantics. “I’m not expecting you to get all emotional, ‘Shiya. But let me be here for you.”
He stays silent for a moment, tilting his head slightly. “You were talking with him.”
“I didn’t feel like it, but I figured I’d be polite.”
His eyes still don’t move away as he steps closer. There’s something else in them, aside from the calculation. You wish you were better at reading people. Jealousy? Defensiveness? Vulnerability? You don’t think you’re right. “Don’t talk to him again.”
You blink. “I mean, gladly, but why?” Maybe it’s protectiveness? That doesn’t fit either.
He stops right in front of you, cupping your cheek. He contemplates something, and then, with no hint at what he’s about to do, he leans in to press his lips against yours.
What? You freeze. You hadn’t noticed any sign he’d even liked you. Not like that. And from the way his eyes never strayed, even with all the mostly naked women and men of the Beach, you’d assumed he couldn’t like anyone like thatZ
Yet his lips are moving against yours, clinically but sure. It feels amazing. You love that feeling, you’ve wanted him for weeks.
But something isn’t right.
The kiss isn't long enough for you to comprehend what is happening before he pulls away, removing his hand from your face, putting both in his pockets as he takes a step back.
Distracted. That’s what he is. Even while kissing you, his full attention hadn’t been on you.
Neither is it when he speaks his next words. “We’ll go to pack your things tomorrow. You’ll stay here from now on.” He pauses, looking around the room as if he imagines what it’d look like. “As my girlfriend.”
You want that. Obviously, you want that. But this is Chishiya. Where is this coming from?
It certainly isn’t from a place of love or desire.
Normally you’d be over the moon. This isn’t normal.
You cross your arms. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
He tilts his head, blinking a single time. “I thought you’d want that?”
You are working with a genius who does not care for the human heart, you remind yourself. He might actually not know how to do this. “I do.” You admit. “But not like this. Your focus was barely on me. If we get together, I want it to be because you actually like me in that way. Not because… whatever is going on in your head.”
“I see.” He actually sighs. “You misunderstand. You manage to stay in my head in a way no one else has. I find myself calculating your survival as a necessity. I have been wondering whether these are romantic feelings. But no, that is indeed not why I’m doing this.”
He thinks he might like you? That fills you with hope. A lot more than the kiss did. “So why?” You demand.
One of his hands leaves his pocket to tilt your head down to him. This time he doesn’t lean in for a kiss. “I am my father’s son.” He tells you. “And he is his son’s father.”
He’s quiet for a moment before continuing. “I barely feel anything. I’m vain. Selfish. I have that from him. I don’t like people. Nor does he.” His eyes stay strictly on yours. “He does not do smalltalk. Unless he has ulterior motives.”
Yet he’d spend the entire ride talking to you. Or better said, making you talk.
You frown. “What kind of ulterior motives? Maybe he noticed you acted differently around me? Maybe-”
You’re cut off by Chishiya actually snorting. “No. He has no interest in me.” The casual way Chishiya says so breaks your heart.
“The one difference between me and my father is his interest in observing people.” He tells you. His tone turns mocking. “How they react to obstacles. Tragedies. He does not care for his patients, but keeps contact with them and their close ones to see how they’re affected by tragedy. Or death.”
“We’re both healthy.” You point out.
“That we are. So I’d rather not take the chance his interest turns nefarious.” The mocking leaves his voice. “Health isn’t the primary cause of death in the Borderlands. To my knowledge, my father has never cared about anyone, and we both assumed I’m the same. You prove that wrong. I’m sure that’d make me an interesting case study.”
“You’re trying to warn me that he might attempt to kill me.” You say slowly, as if making sure you understand correctly.
“He wouldn’t do it himself, but indirectly, yes. He does not place value on a human life. I’d rather not chance it.”
You want to exclaim how messed up it is. You want to sympathise with him. But you know Chishiya would prefer you didn’t. “I could take him.” You confidentially state instead.
There’s something fond in his eyes at that statement, which makes you smile cockily. “You could.” Chishiya agrees. “So he’ll make sure that a direct confrontation won’t happen. He’s as intelligent as I am.”
“So why decide I’m your girlfriend?” The words feel weird in your mouth, even though you do want them to be true.
“Giving us a label might postpone his attempts.”
Us. This is actually happening. Maybe you should be more concerned about a genius who might attempt to kill you, but you got this genius on your side. And your month in the Borderlands has proven you’re not that easy to kill.
So instead, you bring your hand to the back of his head, burying it in his hair as you lean in. “If we’re doing this, I want a better kiss.” You tell him before pressing your lips against his.
This time, it is a lot better. Chishiya isn’t as distracted and you can feel his lips forming a smirk. His movements are more lazy instead of clinical, and he lets you deepen the kiss without hesitation.
He lies on his side when you go to bed. Perfect, as you cuddle against his back, burying your face in against the top of his head. His muscles lock under your touch at first, but you don’t move away. You’re rewarded by a gradual relaxation. “A face full of hair can’t be comfortable.” You’re glad to hear his sarcastic edge again. You answer by burying your face deeper into his hair. “Disagree.”
It’s only then that you realise a discrepancy. “Why did you take your father to the Beach?” With Chishiya fearing what he might do, it would’ve been better to keep him far away, no?
“Of course I did.” While you can’t feel a change in his body, his words are curt. “He’s my father.”
The next few days, Chishiya stays within your reach. Which you don’t mind. Not at all. What you do mind, is how each time his father enters the room, Chishiya changes in that same, quiet way. His sarcastic comments disappear. Whenever his father talks to him, his vocabulary lessens to “Yes, father.” Or “Of course, father.”
At least it’s just a mask. Or so you hope. Habits ingrained from childhood. Because Chishiya doesn’t actually tell his father anything. Not about the plan, not about the Beach, not about you. He lets his father navigate the Beach himself, granting him none of the benefits that could have come from his son being an executive.
Unfortunately, it does become known that Chishiya’s father is at the Beach. While most don’t seem to notice the small changes in Chishiya, some do. Fortunately, Niragi trying to provoke Chishiya by threatening his father does not work at all. Chishiya simply slowly blinks before moving on. Unfortunately, Mira, the Beach’s most capable heart specialist, definitely notices. While you’re not an executive, so you aren’t privy to all of their interactions, you can see how she purposefully situates his father around Chishiya. She seems to be delighted to watch their interactions.
But it shouldn’t be long anymore. Chishiya is planning to leave the Beach with stolen cards, and has told you the time will come soon. When asked, he’d assured you it’d be just the two of you who’d leave the Beach together.
Which doesn’t bode well for Arisu and Usagi who he’s planning to recruit.
Yet you’ve grown used to Chishiya using people as bait. You don’t like it, but you see the necessity of it.
The next game you play is the Two of Spades, Human Elevator. As you look at the metal bar you’re supposed to hold on to, you can’t help but be reminded of the horizontal bars on playgrounds as a kid. And the game said nothing against using your legs.
You hoist yourself up first while Chishiya watches, having that slightly irritated look in his eyes he gets whenever he’s forced into physical games. After you’ve hooked your legs around the bar, you help him do the same.
This way, even if you’re supporting Chishiya with one arm the whole way through, your other hand on the bar, the game isn’t that difficult for you. Chishiya struggles a bit, but not enough to make you worry.
Unfortunately but foreseeable his father copies your strategy, just like the other players. A doctor spends long shifts on their feet, so he does have strength in his legs.
Still, it’s satisfying to see him start to struggle halfway through.
What you don’t admit is satisfying, is that this game clearly proves your capability. But you don’t have anything to prove, you remind yourself. Chishiya knows your worth, and his father’s opinion does not matter.
It’s only days later that Hatter dies, setting Chishiya’s plan in motion.
You had known Arisu and Usagi would be bait, but you still don’t like it. You’re not sure what prompts you to ask after not having before with any other. When you know the answer. “Don’t you feel guilty for Arisu and Usagi?”
Chishiya stops walking, tilting his head towards you. “You never asked that before. Why now?”
“I suppose it feels different.” You admit. “This isn’t one of the games. In the games it’s our survival on the line. We’ve known Usagi and Arisu for days now.”
“Ah. Instant gratification versus long-term benefits.” While there’s an edge of mocking in his tone, it’s not as prominent as it would’ve been with others. “How human. Don’t forget that this is a matter of life and death. These-” he holds out the cards to you, “will ensure we’ll make it out. The less time spent trying to return to the old world, the lesser the chance of dying in a game will be. Usagi and Arisu are no different from other sacrifices we’ve made.”
Right. He’s right, of course. He turns towards you completely. “Is there anything you won’t do to survive?” His voice is deceptively soft.
“I suppose.” You start to walk again. It’s better to put as much distance between the two of you and the militants as soon as possible.
We. He’d said we. But the cards will only allow one person to make it back, won’t they?
Your thoughts are interrupted by a loud explosion. Your head whips around. It seems to come from the direction of the cars. Did fire get to the gas tanks?
“I hate to imagine it.” You look at Chishiya next to you. “But I suspect the worst.”
He throws his locker key through the exit you were moments away from stepping through. A familiar swishing sound is heard as it hits the red lasers.
The Beach has become a game?
“Fuck. We- the Beach has become a game? Now?”
Chishiya’s voice is calm as ever. “The games are held in all kinds of facilities. Hospitals, schools, shrines. So it was bound to happen here eventually.” His eyes are fixated on the lasers, and you realise there is something else in his voice. “We only had one step left. Nothing ever goes according to plan ~♪”
You grab his shoulder. “C’mon. We have to make for somewhere centralised. Who knows what kind of game this is. We can’t grab attention.”
He tilts his head towards you. “But we do know. What else could it be but the Ten of Hearts?”
To make matters worse, you get separated from Chishiya almost immediately. He led you to the lobby, the most logical place for all of the Beach members to have to gather. There is a dead girl laying on the ground, knife protruding from her heart. Momoka, you remember. The game is clear: find the evil witch who murdered her.
Immediately her friend (Asahi?) is accused. You stay silent. The answer wouldn’t be so obvious, but you refuse to draw attention to yourself.
Luckily, others are more selfless than you. Usagi steps in. You glance at Chishiya, who doesn’t give a reaction. But you? You’re glad she’s still alive.
Chishiya catches your eyes, nods towards one of the exits and turns around, walking away. You follow.
Like most of his decisions, it was the smart thing to do. It doesn’t take long before gunshots ring out behind you and panicked screams start.
Yet you didn’t leave early enough to not start to run. Except, you realise after you’ve done so, you know Chishiya well enough you really, really, should’ve grabbed him before you ran.
You turn around. “Chishiya!” Because, as past experience in games have proven, the man will only run if you drag him along. “C’mon!”
But a stream of panicked Beach members flow into the hallway, followed by loud bangs.
You watch only for long enough to see Chishiya slip into the emergency staircase, away from you, before you start to run again.
You have no chance of finding the Witch on your own. Especially not with crazed idiots waving around their guns. At least, that is the reason you give yourself when you prioritise getting back to Chishiya.
But you’ll have to find him first.
You make your way towards the surveillance room. As expected, the cameras are still working.
What you see is a massacre. Swads of innocent people are getting mowed down without mercy. Even with the desensitisation the Borderlands has done to you, it’s tough to watch.
You know some of these people. The militants know these people. They die to the weapons meant to protect them.
You knew some of the militants were fucked up. But some of them had been nice. Some of them had been just like anyone else, the only difference being that they were placed in the faction with the weapons.
Now all of them kill with no discrimination.
You force yourself to look for a white jacket and a blond head of hair when the door behind you opens.
You swirl around, ready to duck for cover or attack, but it’s no militant.
You keep your Chishiya’s warning in mind, but the man doesn’t seem to have any weapons on him. In fact, his face seems friendly. But you know better.
“It seems I’m not the only one who thought of this as a hiding spot.” There’s sociable humour in his voice.
“I’m not hiding. I’m searching.” You correct him, keeping your eyes on the man as he approaches.
He, as if ignoring you’re a possible threat, comes to stand beside you, and focuses on the screens.
“Ah, my son. You’re quite enamoured with him.”
“Of course I am. That’s normal for couples.” There is none of that original, vivisecting smile on his face.
“No need to be so hostile. Am I to assume that my son has been spreading tales about me?” No, actually. Ever since that first warning, Chishiya’s been deflecting each time his family came up.
“He’s been silent. But I have eyes.” You might not be able to accurately read the man in front of you. But you have made progress in reading Chishiya.
“I don’t mean to insult, but you’re not good at reading people.” Sheesh, this is definitely Chishiya’s father. You glare at him. “During the heart game, my son had to tell you most of the answers. You do clearly have your strengths, as you’re very athletic, but the ability to read people isn’t one of them.”
“I’m aware of my limitations. Get to the point.” Your eyes return to the screens, continuing your search for Chishiya. You want to be able to leave this conversation.
“I just wanted to warn you. I’m aware of what my son is like, and by now you must have too.” You’re well aware of Chishiya’s lack of ethics. He claimed his father was smart, surely the man can do better than this?
You shrug. “What we have works.”
“I don’t believe for a moment my son has joined the Beach because he believes in its cause or wants the benefits. He’s here to steal the cards, if he hasn’t already.” Your head shoots up at that, before you immediately try to force your face to be neutral. Too late.
“Don’t worry. I get no value in telling anyone. But you do realise he’ll sacrifice anyone to win? My son is well-versed in manipulation.” You know what he’s getting at.
“If you’re trying to turn me against him, you’re failing.” Chishiya can be cold, yes. But however naive it might sound, you’re an exception. He softens around you. He tolerates things from you that you’ve seen him harshly shut down with others.
“I’m not. I’m just laying out the facts. A complete deck will only allow a single person to leave, right?”
“So Hatter claimed.” You dislike that he does make a valid point. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes.”
“Will you?” He muses. “It seems my son isn’t with you. And if no face cards exist, the Ten of Hearts is the last card he’ll need.” You clench your jaw. Chishiya wouldn’t. To others? Without question. But to you? You refuse to believe that.
“I think it’s commendable that you want to see the best in him.” You might not be able to see past the friendliness on his face, but you highly doubt he thinks so. “But my son does not deserve that.”
There! Finally, you spot the familiar white jacket, climbing a staircase. It seems like Chishiya is making his way towards the roof.
“It’s not on you to decide that.” You tell the man as you turn your back towards him, eager to leave.
“I was wondering. Did my son disclose to you that he’s engaged?”
“To quite a lovely lady. She’s a doctor’s daughter. Smart, too. Shuntaro values intelligence.”
You turn around. You really wish that you could read minds the way Chishiya seemingly can. You can’t see a trace of the truth on his face.
“You’re lying.” There is just no way.
“I’m just trying to help.”
This is Chishiya’s father, you remind yourself. You don’t believe that he ‘just wants to help’ for a moment.
He knows you’re bad at reading people. He just told you. He knows you won’t be able to tell on his face if he’s lying.
Who you do know is Chishiya. You’ve shared tender moments with him. Those were real. What you have is real.
“You’re disgusting.” You tell the man.
That, finally, seems to make a crack in his mask as his lips go up in a smirk.
You find Chishiya sitting on the edge of the roof, staring in the direction of the courtyard where the fires are, cards scattered around him.
You pick one up, flicking it at him as you sit down next to him in a silent question.
“Enough is enough. Now I feel like there’s no point in collecting them.” To your surprise, he lays down on his side, so that his head is in your lap.
It would almost make you forget that you are in a game, if it weren’t for the tragedy in the courtyard in front of you.
“The game, ‘Shiya.” You remind him.
“Heart games aren’t for me. I’ll leave the game to him.” He moves onto his back.
“Your father?” You ask, your mind going back to the man. Engaged.
“I suppose that could do. But I meant Arisu.”
His eyes are studying your face. “You talked to my father.”
“Yes.” No reason to deny. “He approached me while I was using the cameras to find you.” You pause. “He claimed you were engaged.”
“Oh? Me?” Chishiya’s smile is one of his few where he’s actually amused. “I wasn’t aware. What’s her name?”
That makes you relax. You knew his father was lying.
“Some doctor’s daughter.” You tell him. “Apparently, she’s smart.” Shuntaro values intelligence.
“Unfortunately I’ll have to break the engagement. I’ve got someone much more to my taste here.” He lifts a hand to twirl a pluck of your hair between his fingers, his eyes on it as if fascinated by the simple action.
“I’m not that smart.” You remind him.
Chishiya blinks. “I’m smart enough for both of us.” He dismisses.
The game ends. You don’t learn whether it was Arisu or Chishiya’s father who solved it, but you don’t particularly care.
Chishiya in turn doesn’t seem to care about getting up, but the building is on fire and you do have to leave. He follows you towards one of the cars of the Beach, neither of you interested in teaming with the other survivors.
As you drive towards your apartment, Chishiya lets his hand rest on your knee.
You don’t believe his father, not for a moment. But you also can’t unhear his words.
Chishiya calls your apartment a cluttered mess, which you don’t mind. You bet his own place doesn’t have a single personal item, so his bar is high.
The next few days during the interlude aren’t that different from the Beach. It’s just that there are no more other people. He doesn’t mention his father a single time.
You leave the theorising about the granted interlude to him as you wait for the next stage.
You have enough days on your VISA. There’s no reason to worry about games.
One moment, a simple moment where he asks you to pass the salt during a meal, he uses your given name to address you.
It takes you a moment to realise, stilling mid-reach towards the shaker.
“Hmm. I do like the way that sounds.” You can hear the smirk on his face.
“Alright, Shuntaro.” You immediately throw back, although you can’t keep the smile off your face.
“Acceptable. May I have the salt now?”
You watch the announcement of the citizens on your couch together. Chishiya predictably mocks them. The blimps emerge the noon after, which the two of you observe from the roof of your apartment complex.
“Avoid the King of Spades.” He tells you. It’s the only blimp which hasn’t stopped yet. “It might be a free roamer.”
Even though you can tell Chishiya is itching to play the King of Diamonds, neither of you join games for the next few days.
At least, not until you’re forced to.
It’s when you’re out to scavenge that Chishiya notices the blimp of the King of Spades getting too close. Moments later, the sound of gunshots reverberate through the streets. Not at you. Not yet.
This time you grab Chishiya’s hand first before going into a run. Glancing backwards, the blimp seems to be going in your direction.
“A game.” Chishiya gets out between breaths. “They won’t mess with each other’s games.”
You glance up at the other close blimp, hovering above the prison across the street.
“Really? Hearts?” But he’s right.
Using cover, you make it across, and Chishiya’s right. There’s not even an attempt made to hit you.
You dislike that the venue is in a prison. You dislike that you’re made to wear a collar. You do like that no metal is allowed. That likely means a lack of weapons.
You hate that amongst the people waiting for you stands Chishiya’s father, leaning against a cell not too disfamiliar from the pose Chishiya prefers himself.
You move past him without acknowledging him, glad you can hear Chishiya’s footsteps following you.
You hate that Chishiya’s gone quiet again, not even rolling his eyes as the moaning starts.
Fortunately, the last two players enter soon. A woman in a hoodie with animal (bear?) ears and another with a hat.
Chishiya stays completely silent through the rules as well. It’s one of the more complicated games you’ve played, which was to be expected of a jack.
There are nineteen players and one Jack of Hearts. The identity of the Jack of Hearts is unknown. The players win if the Jack of Hearts dies while the Jack of Hearts wins if the players die.
A suit appears on the back of your collar. At the end of the hour, you’ll have to enter a solitary cell and guess what suit it is. If you’re wrong, it’s game over. The next round your suit is changed.
The only way to know your suit is to be told by others. Which means the only way to win is if someone lies to the Jack of Hearts. Which means players are incentivised to lie to each other.
So you’d have to rely on people incentivised to lie to tell you the truth.
You would’ve been so dead if you hadn’t come in here with Chishiya. But you have, so you’re confident about this game.
Neither of you will die. You don’t even have to search for the Jack. You just have to outlast them.
Next to you, Chishiya is analysing all of the players. You don’t follow his example. Likely, most of these people will die. You don’t want to learn about them.
One of the players, a big man, locks eyes with you for a moment. You smirk at him. You know his type, he’s searching for a victim to dominate. Which you are decidedly not.
The brute settles on someone else.
The other players start talking game strategy. You’re not interested, but you let Chishiya observe all he wants as a group and partnerships are formed. You glance at his father. He seems utterly uninterested in joining the group as well.
A shame. You have a bad gut feeling as to what his plan is.
And indeed, when the people disperse, his father walks up to the two of you. “Son. What is my suit? You’re diamonds.” He completely ignores you. There is none of that friendly mask now.
“Hearts.” Chishiya answers curtly. It’s not a lie.
You have a bad feeling about this. But Shuntaro won’t lie to you. And you won’t lie to him. It should be fine.
At least he doesn’t follow you as you explore the building. You can’t ask Chishiya to not include his father. The man might die otherwise. And even if Chishiya once warned you he might try to harm you, he hasn’t attempted a single time.
He’s lied, yes. Tried to wedge you away from his son. But that’s not enough to deserve death.
“Spades.” You state confidently in your cell at the end of the first round. Others aren’t as confident: the priest in the cell next to you is praying loud enough for you to hear.
But no one dies this first round. Almost everyone seems completely relieved when they step out of their cells, leaving you once again thankful that you entered this game with Chishiya.
The relief isn’t long lasted, as the brute immediately searches out his victim. Admirably, the man with the afro, who started the group, goes to defend him.
You consider joining him. The man with the afro doesn’t stand a chance, but you do.
You’re stopped by a hand on your shoulder. “Don’t intervene. Kiriu does not have restraint, and it’s against the rules to render someone speechless or worse. It’ll kill both of you.”
So instead, you make for the cafetaria. You won’t say no to free food.
Searching between the shelves is apparently enough of a separation for one of the men to approach you. “Hey.” He smiles awkwardly with a lowered voice. The man kind of looks like an emo, his hair hiding one of his eyes. “Do you mind if we trade suits? I’m scared of my partner.”
You try and remember who he partnered up with. Wasn’t it the guy who sat on the floor, staring at nothing? Kind of creepy, you suppose. Like with the others, you didn’t pay him much attention.
“You don’t need to tell me mine. I’m good.” You shrug. “But I don’t mind telling you. You’re clubs.”
“Thank you.” He pauses. “You’re diamonds. You never know.”
Chishiya is exchanging suits with his father as you make your way back to him. He disappears before you reach them.
“You’re clubs.” You tell him, brushing his hair away with your thumb, purposefully touching his skin. There’s no reason not to believe his father won’t tell him the truth, but you won’t take the chance. Chishiya matters too much to you.
“Diamonds.” His fingers brush your skin too. Your skin tingles where he touched you.
“Someone approached me.” You tell him as you sit down at a table. “The emo guy? He’s scared of his partner.”
“Matsushita.” Chishiya informs you. He really is observant. “He should be. Banda Sunato is a serial killer. Although he has only killed women.” He glances at you. “Stay away from Banda. I suppose you can tell Matsushita his suit. Just don’t trust him.”
You shrug. “So what if he lies? I know you will tell me the truth.”
His eyes soften slightly at that.
This round, no one dies either. But it isn’t long into the round before an angry scream echoes through the cells.
You’re proud of the victim to see a knife protruding from Kiriu’s back. But that feeling doesn’t last long.
Chishiya predicted right. Kiriu does not have any restraint.
As punishment for bashing the victim’s face in, his collar explodes.
Suddenly, everyone is paranoid, as they whisper someone has to have told the victim, Seto, to do so. Likely the Jack of Hearts.
“Or someone who wants to get the game moving.” Chishiya argues as the two of you share a bag of biscuits. “Right now players fall into three categories. Loners, partners and the group. The loners will die soon enough, they don’t trust anyone. The group will follow soon after. They’ll eat each other up from the inside out. Most of the partners will last the longest.”
“And us? Which category do we fall in?”
Chishiya glances at you. “We’re partners.” The finality in his tone prevents you from asking where his father falls in that case.
Matsushita approaches you when Chishiya is busy with his father. You exchange suits again. “Your partner seems cold.” He notices. You don’t let him say more.
“Don’t. We’re together. I have no interest in continuing this if you insult him in any way.”
He doesn’t respond to that.
This round, three more people die. Two loners, like Chishiya predicted. One was partnered with the priest.
“Does that mean he’s the Jack?” You ask Chishiya, but he shakes his head. “She clearly didn’t trust him.”
The rounds after that blur together. You tell Chishiya and Matsushita their suits, and Chishiya tells you and his father.
The man has completely ignored your existence this entire game. You don’t mind. What infuriates you is how he treats his son.
Each round, he approaches Chishiya. Each round, he simply orders him to tell him his suit. Each round, Chishiya’s “Yes father,” gets quieter.
You’re not sure if you’re meant to hear it when Chishiya remarks: “This is the most I’ve ever talked to him.”
You glance at his father, who’s sitting on his own, watching the last group members sweat. You recognise that same vivisecting look on his face he had during that first game.
It’s ironic, you muse. He is similar to Chishiya, except that Chishiya lacks that morbid interest. Yet you love one and hate the other.
Not that you care about the irony. You can’t stand seeing Chishiya… lesser like this. Less of himself. Quieter. A complete lack of snark.
You can’t stand the implication that his parents weren’t there for him growing up.
That round, four people die. Only Afro and the priest remain of the group.
The next round, a new group is formed. A blond you haven’t paid any attention to is surrounded by his partner, the priest and afro.
Their plan sounds good to you. Keep telling each other the truth until the months worth of food runs out, no matter if the Jack is in their midst. That way you don’t have to worry about your VISA nor about the King of Spades.
You could live for months that way. Basically eternity in the Borderlands.
Except you would have to live in close proximity with Chishiya’s father. Chishiya would have. You don’t think you can stand this forced version of the man you love for much longer without snapping.
Chishiya stays once again silent through the announcement, his father wording instead what you could imagine Chishiya saying. “A human being needs uninterrupted sleep. You won’t last long with having to wake up in fifty-five minute intervals.”
The businessman dislikes their plan as well. The next round, he physically blocks the blond’s cell door before he can make it out. When his partner protests, pointing out while the rules neglect to mention letting people leave their cells, it’s forbidden to keep anyone from entering.
The businessman shoves him as he enters, and closes the door again.
You return to the cafeteria, Chishiya in tow.
Matsushita seems jittery this round. You watch as he disappears from the cafetaria.
“You’re not his only friend.” Chishiya says from where he appears next to you. “He’s been talking to Kotoko.” You’re really missing his sarcastic tone.
“Good for him.” You shrug. “I’m just telling him his suit because I see no reason not to. He’s the one who insists on telling me mine.”
That round, all of the members of the new group die. While you know the blond and his partner died because you’re not allowed to be with two in one cell at the end of the hour, you’re not sure how Afro and the priest died. You suppose they must have lied to each other. Maybe the new group’s mission was doomed to fail from the start.
“You’re hearts.” You tell Matsushita. When he turns around, his bangs move to the side. Briefly, but brief enough that you can see his other eye.
Or, notably, the lack of his other eye.
“We weren’t allowed to take metal into the venue.” Matsushita tells you with a wry smile. “Otherwise I could’ve taken my fake eye.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.” You smile back, embarrassed. “I was just surprised. Your hair hides it well.”
“Don’t worry, I’m used to stares. You’re hearts as well.”
You make your way back to Chishiya, whose eyes are on you the moment you come into view.
You brush his hair away, your fingers lingering on his skin. “Diamonds.” You tell him, before turning your back towards him.
You can feel his fingers parting your hair, but he remains silent.
You can feel him lean in behind you, his breath tickling the side of your neck. “It is impolite to lie.”
You blink. What? You glance back, a feeling of bewilderment taking you over before you realise.
“You’re diamonds.” You repeat. “Why would I lie?”
He can’t actually believe you’d lie, could he?
He’s smarter than that. And he can read you better than that.
Except there’s only one person who could’ve lied to him.
And Chishiya acts off whenever he’s brought into the equation.
Chishiya’s eyes are as cold and empty as when you first met him. They roam over your face, as if trying to read the truth there.
“Shuntaro.” You try again, more desperate this time. You refuse to lose him. Especially to his asshole of a father. “C’mon. I’d never lie to you. Never you.”
He tilts his head. “Spades.” You don’t enjoy the return of the mocking in his voice as much as you thought you would. It makes you miss the meaning of what he said at first. Until he clarifies, still mocking, a slight faux-smirk on his face. “You’re spades.”
You freeze. He wouldn’t… Chishiya wouldn’t lie to you, would he? Even in this scenario? But why would Matsushita have lied? You’d helped him from the start.
“Shuntaro. Don’t be stupid. You know all of my tells.” The desperation is clear now. You can’t lose him. You don’t want to die. “You know I didn’t lie.”
The smirk falls, as does his mocking tone. “Your friend lied to you, then.” Suddenly, his eyes aren’t as empty anymore, as he moves to stand in front of you, cupping your cheek. “You are spades. I wouldn’t lie to you even if you lie to me.”
Damn it. Damn it-damnitdamnit. He can’t believe you’re lying.
“You’re diamonds.” You try again. “Please. You know I love you.” You’ve never said it out loud before. “Don’t believe that asshole over me.” You can’t prevent the venom from slipping into your voice.
Chishiya doesn’t react. He just keeps looking at you. Then he sighs, drops his hand, and starts to walk towards the cells.
You hadn’t noticed that it was time.
Before Chishiya enters his cell, he hesitates. He glances one last time at you. His tone is soft as he says in a lowered voice. “You’re spades.”
The door closes behind you with a click.
What are you supposed to say? You want to believe Chishiya. You really do. But… did he think you were lying? His silence in the end suggested so. Or was he digesting that his own father would lie to him?
Why would the man even do that?
Had he been watching that confrontation? Had he enjoyed it?
Chishiya’s smart. You remind yourself. He wouldn’t let something as silly as sentiment determine his choice. The facts clearly point towards you telling the truth. They have to be.
You don’t know Matsushita. Not at all. And you know you’re not good at reading people. So he might’ve lied without you noticing. You can accept that. But Chishiya?
I wouldn’t lie to you even if you lie to me.
You can’t believe he would lie to you. You refuse to accept that possibility.
So in the end, there really isn’t a choice.
A loud boom reverberates through the cells as the timer hits zero. Your heart is beating in your ears.
“Time’s up. Out of seven participants, the number that survived round 10 is 5.”
You push your celldoor open.
Banda and the businessman stand side to side. Chishiya’s father stands on the opposite side of the hallway.
Matsushita, Kotoko and Chishiya are missing.
Chishiya’s cell is right next to you. You don’t look through the small window before you throw the door open.
He’s standing in front of you, hands in pockets, his back towards you, completely still.
Relief floods your body, and before you realise it you’re hugging him.
For a while, the only reaction is a slight leaning backwards into your embrace. Then, he murmurs: “There’s no need to be worried over me.” He disentangles himself from you, although he does take one of your hands with his into his pocket, and finally steps out of his cell, with you right next to him.
“Disgraceful.” You fume at his father’s voice. “You’d really believe that girl over your own father?”
Chishiya looks his father into his eyes. “Yes, father.”
In the background, you notice Banda and the businessman watching you very closely. With a start, you realise Matsushita must be dead.
He lied to you. Still, that made you assume he’d be the Jack of Hearts.
Yet the game hasn’t ended.
“If you lied to your own son.” Banda’s voice sounds distant and low. “You must have a good reason for that. One might think you’re the Jack of Hearts.”
For one single moment, there is uncertainty in Chishiya’s father’s face. Strong enough for you to recognise it.
Next to him, the businessman gives a shrewd smile. “I have been dying for the opportunity to have a chat with one of the Borderland’s citizens.”
The Jack of Hearts turns to look at his son. “Shuntaro. You would let them do that to your father?”
Chishiya doesn’t even blink. “Of course, father.”
He walks away without looking back, and you’re right next to him.
Chishiya doesn’t seem all that perturbed by the screams echoing through the building, eating from a fresh bag of biscuits.
You’re still holding his hand, your thumb rubbing circles on his skin.
“Are you alright?” You ask when there’s a moment of silence.
Chishiya looks at you, a soft look in his eyes. For once, he answers your concern.
