Chapter 110: The Empire Strikes Back

The world has not ended, but it is definitely weird.

Fuji is sleeping on my couch.

My parents are terrified. They keep bowing every time they walk past him.

"He is defected! He is a refugee!" my dad whispered to me this morning. "Do we need to call the United Nations?"

I go to school.

Fuji comes with me. He is wearing yesterday's suit. It is rumpled.

He looks like a delinquent prince. It is a very good look for him.

When we walk into the school, it is not silent like before.

It is loud.

Everyone is cheering.

It is weird. I hate it.

We get to class.

The teacher is nervous. He does not know if he should scold Fuji for being out of uniform or bow to him.

Halfway through first period, the door slides open.

It is not Daiki.

It is Kenichi. He is the man in the suit. He is Fuji's father's assistant.

He walks in. He does not bow.

He walks straight to Fuji's desk.

He places a single, cream-colored envelope on the desk.

It has the Imperial seal on it.

"From your father," Kenichi says. His voice is devoid of emotion.

Fuji stares at the envelope.

Kenichi turns and leaves.

The whole class is watching.

Fuji picks it up. He opens it.

He reads it.

His face goes very, very still.

"What is it?" I whisper.

He passes me the letter.

It is short.

Kenji, You have made your choice. You wish to live a common life? Very well. You are hereby cut off. Your accounts are frozen. Your apartment is being vacated. You have nothing but the suit on your back. If you wish to return, you will do so on your knees, alone. - T.

I look up at Fuji.

He is homeless. He is penniless.

He has truly lost everything.

He looks at me.

And then he smirks.

"Well, Rival," he says, loud enough for the class to hear. "It appears I need a job. Are you hiring a Player Two?"

I grin.

"Player Two has to pay for his own tokens."

"Deal."

The war is not over. Takahito just changed the battleground.

Game on.