King's Game

 “Rock, paper, scissors! Rock, paper, scissors!” The rhythmic chant of the game echoed through the train’s carriage as Akari found himself an unwitting spectator to the duel unfolding between Chiaki and Momo. The last available window seat was the prize at stake.

Akari released a resigned sigh, settling onto the edge of a seat next to Ayano who occupied the middle spot. Across from them sat Shinji while Nanami claimed the coveted first window seat in the private booth.

“If you both really want it so badly, I can give my seat to you,” A hint of weariness colored Nanami’s voice, her patience waning after observing their antics. The attention of the competitive pair snapped their heads toward her direction.

“No!” They both shouted in unison.

“Nanami won that seat fair and square already,” Momo asserted, a sentiment echoed by Chiaki’s nodding agreement.

“This battle isn’t just for the seat but it’s to see who’s the ultimate champion!” Chiaki declared with a determined flair, bracing himself for another round.

“Really though… both of you lost to Nanami in the first round,” Ayano stated with a smirk.

“That’s not important!” Momo pouted as she tied once again with Chiaki, both opting for scissors.

“Argh, you leave me no choice but to use my ultimate move,” Chiaki proclaimed, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “I’m going to play rock next!”

“3… 2… 1”

“Rock!” “Paper!”

“Gah- you didn’t fall for my trap!” Chiaki shot back in disbelief as Momo held her hand up smugly.

“You clearly told me you were going to play rock,” she reminded him.

“It was supposed to be a reverse psychology thing!” Chiaki moaned. “I overestimated how smart you are.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!” A playful argument sparked between the two contestants until Shinji’s intervention doused the flames.

“Enough, enough…” He interrupted with a sigh. “Please just go sit down. I’m regretting coming on this trip already.”

Sulking, Momo and Chiaki exchanged a final pout before begrudgingly yielding to Shinji’s plea, making their way to their respective seats.

“It’s a good thing we all passed our exams,” Ayano stated, trying to bring the fun mood back. She glanced over at Akari who appeared devastated upon recalling the results of their exams.

Indeed, Akari had managed to secure a successful passing score, a feat that should have lifted his spirits. However, despite this academic achievement that might have spared him from Misha’s playful reprimands, there was another aspect to his performance.

Himeko, in her typical competitive fervor, had not only passed all her exams but had also managed to surpass his overall score by a mere single point.

With an air of playful triumph, Himeko had let out a taunting laugh as she proudly displayed her test papers to Akari, marking her victory in the wager they had made. It was a moment of undeniable victory as she was declared the winner. Consequently, this outcome also sealed Akari’s fate – he was now obligated to fulfill whatever Himeko wished.

In the face of this predicament, Akari raced to seek an escape from whatever request Himeko might make. Fumbling for an excuse, he had hastily agreed to join his friends on a summer trip, a diversion to evade Himeko’s clutches. This getaway not only offered a reprieve but also served as a strategy to steer clear of the assertive young lady from the Viper gang.

So, as prepared by Chiaki and Nanami, the six of them were going for a fun hangout at an amusement park, planning to spend the entire day there for their first outing.

As someone who had never gone to an amusement park, Akari was rather excited. He was more used to action from healing with other gangs or at warehouses where there were… particular issues.

“It’s time for our first game!” Chiaki exclaimed, thrusting his arm skyward, causing Akari to sidestep to evade his exuberant gesture. Lowering his arm before the group, Chiaki revealed six sticks, one of which had a red end.

“King’s Game?” Ayano deduced as Chiaki rearranged the sticks to hide their differences.

“Correct!” Chiaki smugly brushed back his hair. “A pursuit of youthful amusement for our high school days!”

“Isn’t it the wrong time and place to play such a game?” Akari interjected, propping his head up with his hand.

“Silence, you mere peasant!” Chiaki shot a finger toward Akari with a deadly glare, causing the young gangster to stare back frozen in place. Chiaki then faced the rest of the group, his demeanor changing completely as his flowery smile appeared back on his face. “Besides, it was Nanami’s lovely suggestion in the first place!”

“I’m all for it!” Momo snatched a stick out of Chiaki’s hand. She pouted upon realizing she had picked a plain one.

Ayano let out a smile before reaching over and picking out a stick herself. The rest of them soon followed suit with Akari hesitatingly doing so.

“I get to go first!” Chiaki exclaimed, grinning mischievously. “Momo, I order you to switch seats with me!”

“Hey! That’s not fair!” Momo protested as she leaned forward from her cushioned seat. Chiaki teasingly waved his stick back and forth in front of her, symbolizing his power.

“Are you going to obey?” Chiaki taunted, a playful smile on his lips.

“What’s the punishment if I don’t move?” Momo mused, considering her options carefully.

“You have to sit on Nanami’s lap until the end of the next round.”

“Why are you roping me into this…?” Nanami sighed. Momo pouted, reluctantly standing up and nudging Chiaki’s ankle, signaling for him to switch. With a satisfied smile, Chiaki took the window seat, while Momo grudgingly settled into her new spot.

“Next round then.” The sticks were drawn once more. This time, Momo emerged as the king, and Chiaki’s smile quickly faded as Momo's glare settled on him.

“You already know what I’m going to order from you,” Momo teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Chiaki let out a resigned sigh.

“What’s my punishment?” He inquired, bracing himself for her response.

“If you don’t switch, you’ll have Aki sit on your lap until the end of the next round!” Momo turned the situation around on Chiaki as she let out a hearty laugh.

“Fine then!” Chiaki conceded. But instead of rising, he patted his lap invitingly, signaling for Akari to take a seat. “Bet you didn't think this through, did you?”

“You’re not playing fair,” Momo pouted, her annoyance evident. Chiaki playfully stuck his tongue out. Akari sat down, visibly embarrassed while Chiaki casually draped an arm over him. The others chuckled at the awkward yet amusing sight.

Shinji drew the next king’s stick and promptly ordered Momo to become Ayano's footrest.

“Hard pass!” Momo declined, crossing her arms. “What’s the punishment?”

“Just answer this simple question,” Shinji slyly smiled. “Do you have a crush on anyone?”

Momo’s ears turned a shade of red, her embarrassment written all over her face. She fidgeted nervously, occasionally glancing at the group before finally speaking up.

“Y-yes… I do…” She admitted shyly. The other girls gasped, and Nanami clapped her hands together in interest.

“You have a crush on someone?” Chiaki asked, very interested in the situation as he leaned forward. “Who is it? Who is it?!”

“A-as if I’m telling you of all people!” Momo retorted, averting her gaze in defiance before muttering under her breath, “You’re the last person I would ever tell.”

“Why?!” Chiaki gasped in disbelief.

“Alright, next round,” Momo announced, trying to avoid any more questions as they redrew sticks. Successfully grabbing the red one, Momo redirected her attention back to the blue-haired boy. “S-Shinji! Tell me who you have a crush on!”

“No one,” Shinji responded calmly, his face devoid of emotion. Momo sulked, realizing her revenge plan had fallen flat. Nanami offered her a comforting pat on the shoulder as Momo let out a defeated sigh.

“Let’s have one final round then,” Nanami declared as she drew the red stick. “Shinji, since you claimed not to have a crush on anyone, I suppose you wouldn’t mind if I asked you to simply share a kiss, would you?”

“If that’s what you’re ordering, sure.” Shinji shrugged nonchalantly, his demeanor unwavering.

“If that’s the case, I order you to kiss Ayano,” Nanami’s lips curled into a sly smirk, her eyes glinting mischievously

Akari’s heart pounded in his chest as he absorbed her words. His gaze flickered to Ayano, whose surprise was evident though she remained silent.

No, Akari couldn’t let that unfold. His fists clenched, determination settling like steel in his veins. He was prepared to put a halt to this, but before he could voice his protest, a soft chuckle resonated from Shinji.

“I think that’s a bit too much for her sake…” Shinji politely declined, the weight of his words lifting a burden from Akari’s shoulders.

“Fine, kiss Aki then.”

“Me?!” Akari pointed at himself in disbelief.

“Is that my punishment?” Shinji asked. He took a deep breath before nodding his head, much to Akari’s surprise. “I’ll do it.”

“Hold up hold up hold up,” Akari’s hands shot up in a gesture of defense. “What’s happening here?”

“Simply something I wish to witness,” Momo’s eyes glinted with curiosity, her gaze locked onto them with gleeful intrigue. Chiaki's grin mirrored Momo’s enthusiasm, his amusement dancing in his eyes as if he was on the edge of laughter.

“Hold still, Aki. It’ll be quick,” Shinji declared, a calm command that propelled Akari’s thoughts into chaos. He watched as Shinji rose from his seat, the room around them seemingly constricting, sound dimming, replaced by the thunderous rhythm of his own heartbeat.

The atmosphere thickened with a potent mix of anticipation and tension. Akari’s wide eyes were locked onto Shinji, his heart pounding, his breath shallow. Shinji’s face inched closer, a magnetism drawing them inexorably closer, the world outside their bubble fading to a distant hum.

“Stop!” Ayano’s voice sliced through the charged air, a plea laced with urgency. Akari’s gaze snapped to her, realizing her discomfort and flushed cheeks.

Shinji merely offered a serene smile, his intentions becoming clear to Akari. It had all been a ruse, a brilliantly orchestrated act.

“What’s the matter, Ayano?” He asked as he looked towards her. Ayano’s heart raced as realization hit her, her thoughts scrambling for an excuse. “T-there’s a chance you might catch a cold from Akari if you do so!”

“A cold?” Nanami asked. “Were you sick, Akari?”

“He was!” Ayano interjected, her words tumbling out in haste. “He had to go to the infirmary at school!”

“But wasn’t that you, Ayano?” Chiaki’s voice cut through the conversation, a flash of recognition in his eyes. Ayano’s face flushed as she came to terms with her mix-up, the memory slightly skewed due to Chiaki being in the same class as them.

Chiaki’s grin grew impossibly wide. “Did you and Aki—”

“Bathroom!” Akari abruptly shot up from his seat, his voice almost frantic in its urgency. “I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”

Hurrying out of the booth, Akari covered his face with a hand as he found an empty seat down the hall of the train.

Reflecting on that particular round, Akari felt a wave of gratitude for Ayano’s timely intervention. Even though Akari had grown confident that Shinji had no plans of kissing him, the image of Ayano’s flushed face in that almost-kiss moment lingered in his thoughts as he attempted to steady himself.

“Darn it... she’s too cute.”