Alice In Borderland: Riptide (Season 2)

EPISODE THREE: BAD BLOOD

Everyone is amazed upon entering the club, where the dance is going to be quite wild and possibly feature live music if anyone is so inclined, and in awe upon filtering through into the ballroom, where there's enough space for everyone to spread out and dance (whether sweet and slow or hot and sexy) and gyrate to their hearts content.

     "Okay—I programmed everything into the jukebox—it's got Bluetooth but without any internet I had to do some fancy techie stuff," Kuina says, highly impressed with herself as she should be. "All I need to do is press this button right here, and this party will practically run itself."

     "So what're you waiting for?" Chishiya asks.

     "Yeah," Takuma adds. "Let's get this party started!"

     Kuina smacks the button and there's a clink, a whirly-rev sound, and then the music begins—"Heat Waves" by Glass Animals. There are several whoops from the crowd, and the gyrating begins—bodies close, arms wrapping around shoulders even as hips roll and pelvises thrust. The room begins heating up quickly, and a few jackets and vests are removed and tossed aside.

     The songs that follow, "Into You" by Ariana Grande and "Yellow Flicker Beat" by Lorde, just get everyone more hot and bothered...

     ...and by the time "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden comes on, hearts are already pounding, sweat already rolling down faces, breathing already heavy—eyes and haunches already hot.

     Bodies draw closer together, foreheads touching and eyes gazing into each other.

     Chishiya and Niragi have been taking turns with Aijin, spinning, caressing, pressing their bodies close—but as the afternoon wears on, their intensity grows to the breaking point. It's like their battling for Ultimate Aijin Supremacy—only Aijin is basically on the sidelines watching the war.

     Suddenly there's a short pause in the music—then the next song begins:

     " 'Cause baby, now we got bad blood
     You know it used to be mad love
     So take a look what you've done
     'Cause baby, now we got bad blood

                 Hey!"

     Niragi and Chishiya stand completely still, faces tilted away from one another and eyes flicking up to meet the other's eyes. Niragi's fists clench, his knuckles going white before he releases them again, and Chishiya's nostrils flare, his lips pressing into a thin, tight line. He swallows the lump in his throat and turns his head away.

     At least the scuffling has temporarily stopped.

     Aijin scoots close to Kuina and leans close, their lips close to Kuina's ear and hot breath moistening the woman's lightly-tanned flesh.

     "Really good timing on that song," Aijin whispers. Kuina grins and pops a quick smooch to Aijin's cheek.

     "And it wasn't even intentional," she says. "I just really like Taylor Swift." She winks and grabs Karube's hand, tugging him back to the dance floor. Aijin marches up to the now sulking-but-still-vibrating-with-rage men and firmly punches each of them in the arm.

     "Ow!"

     "Ow! What was that for?"

     Aijin shakes their head and snorts. "For being stupid. Now are you going to dance with me, or should I entertain myself? Or maybe Kuina will rub up on me—"

     Aijin turns to walk away but Chishiya leaps forward and grabs their hand, pulling and spinning them into his chest. Aijin's hands come up, stopping their momentum.