Fated to Meet(COTE X Tomodachi Game)

Chapter 17: The shadows behind her

(Ayanokoji POV)
Horikita sat still at the table. Not making a single move. Kei and Ryuuen were still arguing, jabbing back and forth.

She looked back at Katagiri again. She looked surprised, angry, and maybe even a little scared.
I wasn't sure what she knew about my involvement, but she also glanced at me.

In a few words, Horikita was being used.
It seemed she had just realized it.

It didn't matter if she won or lost this game.
If she won, then that was fine. If she lost, it didn't matter.

This gamble, the note, and the arguing we're all part of a plan. One that me and Katagiri had come up with. It was soon after we asked Kushida to be in our group.

We had planned to use Kushida, Horikita, and Chiaki from the very beginning.

In a rash decision, Katagiri told Chiaki everything to gain her cooperation.
To my surprise, she accepted.
She seemed to be interested in Katagiri. I didn't know if it was romantic or not, but it seemed she was eager to win. No matter the cost.

They were at least the same in that way.
If everything worked out as planned, Katagiri would severely wound Class B, injure Class C, and damper Class A.

All three classes would be wounded by one man.

I would of course have a part to play tomorrow, but I would like most credit to go to Katagiri if he wanted it.

As to how he was going to do this...I guess I will have to see when it comes to it.

What I knew right now was that this game didn't matter. But, this would be a big moment for Horikita.

She could either decide to agree to being used, or give up the game here.

She knew this now, it was a trap that went off the second she sat down.
She would either agree with Katagiri's ideas to win no matter what, or ditch them and give up.

But, Katagiri would give no thought to selling her. She would be sold the second she gave up, because I would agree to it as well.

It was an expertly set trap.

Now, I was interested in what she would decide to do.
I turned to Katagiri.
"What do you think she'll do?"
He turned back to me.
"I think she'll decide to win, she's not the type to give up."

I knew this and he knew this, that's why Horikita was given this role.

"So, are you okay for tomorrow, Ayanokoji?"
"I'll try my best."
He nodded.

I would be doing a lot of gambling tomorrow.
—

Horikita contemplated for another minute before she decided.
"Are you two going to keep arguing, or are you going to play?"

She agreed with him, no matter the cost. But, we knew she would.

Katagiri smiled, less sadistically than the other times.
"Happy now?"
He turned back to her.
"Let's see what she can do."

Now, we would observe the game.
—
Ryuuen: 9 cards remain
Horikita: 18 cards remain
Kei: 21 cards remain

Horikita's next move would decide the game.
She took the card from her deck, and later it down.

All three players placed a 2 on the table. All having the same idea.
Kei looked up to Horikita.
"Maybe I underestimated my opponent, right Ryuuen?"

Ryuuen leaned back in his seat.
"Play your cards, Shinomiya."

"Ah, your mean."
Kei smirked while he picked his card.
Shiho leered over his shoulder.

Ryuuen already had a card picked a card.
Horikita looked back to Katagiri, giving him a long stare.

Katagiri simply closed his eyes and nodded.

The result of this game was decided.

All players had added there second card, and proceeded to lay down the third card in there hand.

Ryuuen had counted on this game happening, but he was relying on Kushida's help. When he saw she was absent, he didn't panic, but with Kei's rather insane skills, he didn't have a chance.

Katagiri had planned this. To pull the rug out from Ryuuen, and of course Kushida as well.
-
Kei and Ryuuen played the same card. Horikita lost.
As she meant to.

But now, Kei and Ryuuen would play here to decide the winner. They both laid down another card, and picked the card they would play.

They both had 5 cards on the table now. With a sixth about to be played, a big bounty was at hand.

They both played another card, tying once again.

This has been planned from the beginning, so Horikita remained quiet.

"Looks like we think similarly, huh Ryuuen?"
"Heh, what did you do Shinomiya?"

He smirked.
"Little me? I did nothing."

They both laid down their final cards.

Ryuuen lost to an ace, laid down by Kei.

Ryuuen proceeded to lose two more rounds to Kei.

Which meant, Ryuuen would have to forfeit all of his money because he now had lost all of his cards.
"Maybe you should have asked how much I had Shinomiya."

He held us his current points from selling a player.
The screen displayed a mere 5,000 points.
Kei seemed slightly surprised.
"What's all that about?"

"I played a little before coming here, to lose a bit."

Ryuuen looked to Katagiri.
"Looks like I made a mistake, huh Yuuichi?"

Katagiri kept his eyes close while leaning back in his seat.
Everyone surrounding the table watching the game, looked to him.

Looking to the man who sort of defeated Ryuuen, with no true effort.

Ryuuen relied a bit to much on Kushida, but he inferred something like this would happen. So, he came here with little points.

His skills were nothing to scoff at, but he had still fallen into a trap that no one, out of over 80 students, has sensed.

I wonder when they may see it. It might be too late when that finally happens.
—
Ryuuen transferred his points to Kei, even though a winner had not been decided yet.
He left the Cafe.

Shiho and Ichinose looked to Katagiri.
Seemingly confused.

I received a text on my phone.
"I gotta go now."
I help up my phone to show it had to do with someone else.
"Alright, see you."

I got up and began to walk to the movie theater.

The rest of the game would just be a massacre anyway.
———————
Next chapter: Two dark meetings
A/N: