Life in Borderland

The Long Game

Kagami and Chishiya decided to rest for the night after witnessing the Queen of Spades blimp blowing up. Now there were only three games left: The King of Hearts, The Queen of Hearts and The King of Spades. Compared to the beginning of the Face Card games, things were looking up. The only real problem Kagami saw was the King of Spades. Daiki and Mira, who were clearly the King and Queen of Hearts were also going to be difficult opponents, but Kagami still felt confident. Especially when it came to her brother. She knew him better than anyone and knew all of his manipulation tricks. There was nothing he could do that would take her by surprise. But the King of Spades had her worried and it would really suck to be killed after defeating all of the other games.

Chishiya and Kagami were sitting around a fire, but it did nothing to stop the cool breeze that kissed Kagami's bare arms and shoulders. She was trying her hardest to not show Chishiya just how cold she was. Now she was really missing that cardigan.

"Do you think we can beat all of the games?" Kagami asked, looking to Chishiya who was sitting beside her. Her mind was still stuck on the King of Spades.

"Of course, I've never doubted it." He replied. "There's only three games left now. Why? Do you think we can't?" He asked and Kagami smiled softly before setting her gaze back onto the flames. She wished that she had the confidence that Chishiya said, but then again, it could also be arrogance.

"You really think you're smarter than everyone else here, don't you?" Kagami asked. Chishiya looked at her with his eyebrow raised.

"I am smarter than everyone else here." He told her and Kagami couldn't tell if it was the mask or the real Chishiya talking.

"Oh? Is that why I had to save you during the 3 of Spades game?" Kagami teased, pushing him lightly. Chishiya looked away from her and outstretched his hands to warm them by the fire. After a few more moments of silence, he spoke,

"That was your fault. I underestimated you." He told her with a smirk. "If I was playing the game myself I would have counted the steps like you did. But, I was distracted." Chishiya explained.

"Distracted with what?" Kagami questioned, turning her head to look at him. Chishiya met her gaze and his brow furrowed as if the answer was obvious.

"You." He replied. "That whole game proved that my first impression of you was wrong. It's also what started the long game." He told her with a light smile. 

"Are you finally going to tell me what this long game is?" She grinned, rubbing her cold arms. Chishiya smiled at her and took off his jacket before placing it around her shoulders.

"The 'long game' was about you." He told her. "It was my plan to win you over."

"I don't understand." Kagami said back with a frown. "I didn't think you liked me too much when we first met." She said with a soft chuckle.

"I didn't." He responded almost immediately. "But then we played the game together and I realized that there was so much more to you than I initially thought. I found you intriguing which is rare for me. So, I watched you for a week after that game to find out whether or not you were as smart as I thought you were. The more time I spent observing you, the more I realized that I wanted you for myself... The only issue was Niragi." Chishiya explained to her. "So, when I decided that I was going to steal the cards, I decided to ask you to join the plan so that I could get you away from Niragi. I had to test you again though, to really make sure your intelligence wasn't just a fluke, which is why I tried to betray you when it came to the safe. After you outsmarted me again, I knew you were worth all the effort I was going to. I also knew you were too good for Niragi." Kagami laughed lightly at his last comment as she placed her arms through the sleeves of the jacket.