Round Three (KBTBB FF)

20 - Bluff

January 2, 2021

....Why can't I move?

My eyes struggle to adjust from the brightness as I wake up, but I can tell nothing is out of place. Rina is quietly moving about the room, organizing her things. Though I try turning over, it feels like I'm being held down by something. My body feels like a sinking brick.

I didn't eat anything bad last night, right? Eh, I'm probably just dreaming.

I close my eyes again, deciding to go back to sleep. Suddenly, something begins to slide on the side of my face. I open my eyes again and try to swipe at it, but I'm stiff as a board. The tickle grows stronger and travels down to my cheek, where pressure starts to build.

Rina's taken a seat on the space next to me, which concerns me that she doesn't notice my struggle. Something in my throat keeps me mute, and the tickle continues down to my neck. It wraps itself around and starts to build pressure, constricting the little air flow I already have. I'm suffocating, blinking away moisture and gaping like a fish.

Can't she see me struggling?!

I keep fighting to breathe, until I shut my eyes tight and finally gasp. I choke on saliva as I grip the bedsheets. Rina is staring at me with her brow furrowed.

"Are you good, Na?"

"...Was I acting weird?" I feel the tickle on my neck again, and one of her extensions falls onto my lap when I sit up.

That's what it was?

"Aside from right now you were fine. Sorry about this, by the way! I've been thinking about changing my hair again. What do you think about black?" She holds up the black extension to her face.

"Knowing you, you'd ask for platinum in a month. Your stylist is going to drop you if you do that." I make the bed. "The light blonde you're at looks good."

"Yeah, but my roots are showing. Anyway, your phone is going off. Are we going to work today?" She perks up.

"I don't know, let me check." I pick up my phone and read the last from a string of messages from Soryu.

> You're late. I'll be in the lounge when you come to pick up today's thumb drive.

"Looks like it. You have half an hour to get ready." I toss my phone aside and start to get ready, too.

"Ah, no way!" She panics.

"I mean, you don't have to come with me." I cross my fingers.

"Nice try, but you need Kumi or me there to support you when Baba's there."

"It's been like a week. I think I've got it, now." I continue.

"I kind of agree, but it just takes one little thing to send you on a spiral." She pats my head.

I resign, "Just be careful around Ota. He's more trouble than he's worth."

"You get your bad guy, I get mine." She sticks out her tongue.

Since my return to Tokyo, I've been busy by Soryu, updating files of data he has on the underground. This involves providing blackmail on different politicians, the connections CEOs have to crime syndicates and other things alike. It's pretty obvious he doesn't need me anymore and he's milking the remainder of our contract. Since it's a black job and he has five coins, he's able to officially end it through Canters, but I guess he's entitled to this.

He's so annoying. I know he's playing wingman for Baba and keeping me around longer for him. Soryu would probably deny it, but his conversation with Baba was pretty telling.