#after ashes

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.

PART 3