A lonely masked figure waited in silence on the couch. His usual threatening aura had faded and he seemed spaced out until he turned his attention to the approaching champion. He laughed in a weaker manner and struggled to sit up more straight. “The King probably expects me to congratulate you for the victory but I cannot do that,” he said genuinely with his voice still robotic and distorted, breaking the silence. “I wish it hadn’t been you. I always liked you and your honesty. You seemed like a good guy. You shouldn’t be cursed with such a fate,” he half muttered with a hint of agony in his voice. He would have stood up to face the winner properly if he wasn’t in the condition where he was fighting to stay conscious.
“I guess it’s too obvious by now. So much for my dramatic reveal moment,” he referred to his wounded condition and held a hand against the wound that was covered by the fabric of the shirt. He didn’t have much time, he knew this well. So he went for it. He reached for his mask and removed it to show his face, slightly pale by now with cold sweat on his skin. “Surprise,” Sho ripped off the small voice distortion devices that had rested against his neck and he glanced at the older male with tired eyes. “I guess now you are wondering why the hell did I do this .. it’s a long story and I doubt that I have much time to tell everything,” he grimaced in visible agony and sat on the couch more lazily, weakening gradually. “Truth is .. I’m a former champion. I used to be like you. I became a so-called victor of this game once, too. It’s been .. few years. I’m not sure. My prize? I became the man who would do the King’s dirty work during the next game. If I refused, he would destroy those close to me. I have a lot of blood on my hands .. but the King tricked me. He lied to me. Even though I obeyed to him, those I treasure the most got involved and destroyed. That was when I had enough,” he confessed with a lowered, hoarse voice, his eyes closing and tearing up as he fought to stay conscious.
“I wanted out of the game .. I wanted the good people out of the game with me. I already tried it once before but Matsujun managed to stop me. He failed the second time .. He was too busy mourning my “death” to notice the gun I had hidden underneath my sleeve .. one pull of the trigger and I had saved him. Another pull of the trigger and I had saved Dara. I wanted to save you, too, but the King wouldn’t allow it .. he turned my attempt into another sick twist of his game,” he laughed bitterly with his eyes shut. “He is always one step ahead huh .. “
He groaned weakly in pain and fell slowly to lie on his back on the couch. Not long now. “I guess that you are angry, maybe disappointed. But honestly I did like you and would have saved you. I’m sorry, Yuuji-kun .. if you wish to have your revenge .. there are few items on the table. A knife .. a string .. there is no gun since the King doesn’t exactly trust me for some reason,” he chuckled slightly with his eyes closed. “I truly wish that you won’t have to go through the same fate .. please take care,” he muttered, his grip on consciousness becoming weaker.
