The Most Dangerous Game

After that, the three started walking together.

For a while...

Nobody spoke.

Then Katon suddenly stopped.

"I've decided."

Rurouni joined his hands.

"How about not telling us?"

Kara covered his face.

"...Oh no."

"I know that face."

"He's about to make random bets."

Rurouni looked confused.

"Random bets?"

"And what do you mean by 'you know that face'?"

Kara decided to stay quiet, since this was his home planet's story.

"Oh, that."

"Forget it."

"Those are minor details."

I swear, if this goes on...

He'll most likely murder someone and tell their parents this exact dialogue.

Katon corrected him.

"Reasonable bets."

Kara lowered his hands.

"That's exactly what a betting addict would say."

Katon tilted his head in power saving mode.

"You're making things up."

Kara smiled confidently.

"Yep."

Rurouni put a hand Kara's shoulder.

"Just continue, buddy. Otherwise my parents will murder me for coming home late."

Kara decided to tell him the real story.

"Fine, since it's a life or death situation of a poor guy. I have no choice."

"Last week, a boy with a similar expression to yours bet someone they couldn't survive the cafeteria's green-chili curry."

Rurouni couldn't imagine himself surviving that.

"...So, did they?"

Kara nodded solemnly.

"...Barely."

Katon crossed his arms.

"It must have been educational."

Rurouni dramatically grabbed his shoulders.

"...How?!"

Katon didn't answer, since it'll take more energy if he'll do so.

Kara whispered in Rurouni's right ear.

"Maybe he already tried and learned that curry is stronger than him."

Katon corrected him, since it's efficient.

"No, I won."

Kara gasped in surprise with extra drama.

"You survived?!"

"Obviously."

Kara looked genuinely disappointed, like he got rejected.

"...Aw, I see."

Rurouni rubbed his forehead in confusion.

"Hey, why are you so disappointed? Do you wanted him to lose?"

Kara got excited just by imagining that.

"Yeah. Because it would've been so funny to see."

Rurouni don't know how to react about this.

"Well, at least you're honest."

Katon didn't raised two fingers, since he can simply talk instead.

"I need two participants."

Rurouni immediately looked suspicious.

"...Victims?"

"Participants."

A short pause.

"...Potential victims."

Rurouni's expression dropped.

Should I be scared that he's dangerous?

Or should I be happy that he's honest?

"I genuinely don't like where this is going."

Katon announced, but didn't coughed like others do at this time.

"Tomorrow."

"Basketball."

Both listened carefully

"If either of you scores higher than me..."

He paused.

"...I'll confess to the first girl who walks through the school gate."

Rurouni gave an exaggerated reaction after hearing a dangerous word from his mouth.

Katon continued, ignoring Rurouni completely.

"And if you both score lower than me..."

"...you both have to confess to the first girl who walks through the gate."

Extreme silence.

Rurouni slowly turned toward Kara while his entire body was trembling.

What the…

He literally wants to play the most dangerous game I've ever heard of.

"...Being with him is dangerous for our lives."

Kara nodded as he agreed completely.

"...Yup."

"No doubt about it."

Rurouni tilted his head and begins his drama.

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Rejected.”

“Delete the idea.”

“Burn it and throw the ashes into the ocean.”

"...Please choose another victim."

"...I'm begging you.”

Katon looked genuinely disappointed.

At least, that's what he looked like.

"...That's unfortunate."

"I thought it was a fair wager."

Rurouni understood one thing about him.

Katon Ashford is anything but normal.

"...In what universe?"

Katon answered without hesitation.

"Of course, mine."

Kara suddenly raised his hand like a monkey.

"I'll do it."

Rurouni whipped his head toward him, shouted against his words.

"What?!"

"Why are you agreeing?!"

Kara looked completely playful.

"Because it sounds fun."

"You're going to confess to some random girl!"

Kara thought about it.

"...Oh."

He suddenly looked a little scared.

"Yeah, that part is really terrifying."

Rurouni gave an awkward smile.

"Then why did you agree?!"

Kara pointed towards the playground.

"Because I thought you meant basketball."

Rurouni's anger exploded towards Kara's ears.

"...WHAT DID YOU THINK THE REST OF IT WAS?!"

Kara put both hands on his injured ears.

"I stopped listening after basketball."

Katon seemed to like Kara's mindset.

"...Interesting mindset."

Rurouni gave him a cold look.

"Don't encourage him!"

Katon simply said, still no other reaction.

"I didn't say anything to encourage him."

Kara grinned even though he got no idea what they're talking about.

"See? Katon understands me."

"No, he doesn't!"

Katon resumed walking.

Rurouni still looked unconvinced.

Kara suddenly leaned toward him.

"...Don't worry."

"Those who make bets are most likely to lose."

Katon looked forward, thinking about which coffee brand he should try.

"...They can be technical losses."

Kara immediately replied,

"A loss is a loss."

"That's debatable."

Kara pointed at him.

"See?!"

Rurouni finally laughed seeing them so friendly.

"You two argue like you've known each other forever."

Kara looked at Katon, then nodded.

"Yeah."

Katon nodded as well, but just a little.

"It does feel that way."

Then Kara decided to do something he didn't do.

"King Kara."

"King Rurouni."

"King Katon."

Katon tilted his head, decided today he'll try ITLA brand coffee.

"...No."

Kara shocked as he didn't expected someone to do that.

"What? You rejected your own title?"

"Yes."

"It's more efficient not to add a title until it's necessary."

Kara looked at Rurouni, telling something absolute.

"He's definitely the weirdest one."

Rurouni laughed at Kara's reaction.

"You literally started this in the first place."

They finally reached the academy gates.

The afternoon breeze drifted through the trees.

The three stepped outside together.

Tomorrow...

There would be one basketball world war.

One ridiculous bet.

And, unfortunately...

Someone was going to risk their life...

All in the name of a technical loss...

From a perfectly reasonable bet.