Alice In Borderland: Riptide (Season 2)

EPISODE ONE: KINGS AND QUEENS

You awaken slowly, squinting and blinking your eyes against the bright sunlight streaming across your face from the open window. The clamour of gulls and other songbirds assaults your ears, and you roll onto your back, stretching your arms over your head with a wide yawn.

     A dark shadow catches your eye from the darker side of the room, and you turn your gaze in the direction, nearly jumping out of your skin.

     "L-Last boss? What're you doing, standing there like a ghost!?" You yank the covers up to your throat even though you're still fully dressed—but he remains as silent and still as a stone. A rustling and thumping from the bathroom draws your attention, and you watch in disbelief as Niragi exits, scrubbing his long hair with a fluffy towel.

     "He's been like that for hours, ever since he carried you in here," he tells you, looking over at the tattoo-covered man. "Aguni ordered him to keep watch over you, so that's what he's doing, I guess. Wouldn't even leave once I got here."

     "Where is Aguni? And the other two—Momoka and Asahi? Are they... settling in?"

     Niragi snorts and scoots onto the bed beside you, one leg bent and the other outstretched, his bare foot resting on the carpet. "Considering you've been unconscious for hours? Probably already settled. Aguni took the room beside ours." He pauses and looks uncomfortable. "He already knew you when they got here. Called you 'boss' and everything..."

     "Niragi, no," you say, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "It isn't like that. He was one of the first people I found that I recognized, that's all. He heard me out—I asked him to keep an eye out and find Usagi if he could. She went to that hat shop often for her dad before he disappeared, so Aguni knew who to look for. He kept an eye out for me, too—even when I didn't know he was protecting me—those first few days that I was gathering people up. He's like—a dad, or maybe a favorite uncle, y'know?"

      There's a soft knock, and the door is slowly opened, revealing Chishiya's face as he peeks around it.

     "Hey—you're awake." He enters casually and sets down a plate of assorted cubed fruit in front of you, slapping Niragi's hand away as he reaches for a chunk of pear. "It's for Aijin—keep your mitts off it."

     You smile wanly and take the pear between your thumb and forefinger, popping it into Niragi's waiting mouth. "It's fine, Chessy—there's so much here, I'm going to need help eating it all. Here—", you pick up a chunk of apple and gesture at Chishiya, who opens his mouth with an accompanying raised eyebrow. You hold it out to him and he leans forward, taking the apple between his teeth but then, shockingly sucking the juice from your thumb. Your mouth drops open as you gaze at him.

     Niragi grabs your sholders and then your wrist, pulling you backward away from his arch-nemesis with a glare at the blonde man, who merely smirks as he chews and swallows.

     You glance over at Last Boss—he stands, staring at you not quite impassively, but as though he is awaiting a reason to act—and then back to the two men closest to you.

     Chishiya leans close, eyeing Last Boss as he whispers in your ear:

     "Why are you worried about him? What do you know that you aren't telling us?"

     You glance at the tattooed man again, hesitant at first but then decide to jump in with both feet and simply confront him.

     "Hey. Last Boss, yeah? Are you actually a psychopath or did—I mean, does—that happen later?"

     He tilts his head as he considers your words, then meets your eyes, his expression deadpan.

     "I cannot see the future. But I do not believe I am yet insane."