Alice In Borderland: Riptide (Season 2)

EPISODE SEVEN: FEEL THIS MOMENT

You awaken to bright sunlight streaming across your dresser-and playing card, face down, with your name written upon it.

The three of you approach it, with great consternation, together.

"Well," Chishiya says quietly, staring at it, "turn it over."

You shake your head. "I can't."

"You have to," Niragi says, taking hold of your shaking hand and guiding it toward the card. It's slightly larger than the average playing card, and a cloudy, nearly transparent white with what looks like a circuit board in blue as the pattern on the back. You pull it toward you slowly and take a deep breath-

-and flip it over to reveal the Joker, a cloaked, masked figure wearing an extremely tall top hat and holding a creepy, scraggly hobby horse. Written across it in kanji, in a very black, very thick sharpie, was a location.

"Shinjuku Natural Botanical Garden," you read quietly, and Niragi takes the card from you.

"I wonder who else received a card."

You glance worriedly at Chishiya, biting your bottom lip.

"I supposed we should find out."

The three of you make it down to the lobby, where a crowd is gathering around six other people.

"So, seven of us are going in tonight. The game masters must want to try to kill us quickly," you mutter. Chishiya studies you with concern as Niragi rubs your back.

"Boss!" Tatta runs up to you, slightly panicked. He holds up a Joker card, identical to yours.

"Oh, Tatta," you sigh sadly, pulling him close in a hug. "Who else?"

He gulps. "Well, uh... Momoka, Karube, Takuma, and a couple of girls we haven't really talked to much."

You bite down on your lip, then nod decisively. "Okay. Let's gather tonight's players, then. Might as well train while we have time, who knows what we'll be facing tonight."

...*...

"Shinjuku Natural Botanical Gardens." You read aloud as the seven of you enter the laser grid enclosing the arena. "This is the place."

"Welcome! Sponsored by Shinjuku Natural Botanical Garden. Please wear the goggles and proceed into the botanical garden. Registration is closed. The game will now commence. There are currently seven participants. Difficulty, seven of hearts. Game: "Hide-and-Seek." Tule, one person will be the wolf, and the other six will be the lambs. The one found by the wolf will become the next wolf. Hide well so that the wolf does not discover you. Clear condition. Whoever is the wolf at the end of the game wins. Time limit, 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the collars around all the lambs will explode.

"Game—start.

"15 minutes remaining."

"Seven of hearts?" Tatta ask aloud before staring at the alien-looking collars on the table before you. You nod, and everyone takes a collar, attaching them and flinching almost as one as they adhere to your skulls.

"Nobody move, and don't look anyone else in the eye, no matter what." You order, keeping your gaze locked on the floor.

The computer system beeps, signifying that a wolf has been chosen.

"Karube, who is it? Who's the wolf?"

"What? Why does it matter?" He asks, and you can hear the panic in his voice.