Laters better than never.

Chapter 11

"Your visa is expiring tomorrow, or so the rumor goes," Niragi mentioned to Arisu, who was now bound. The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Arisu, his wrists tightly secured by the rope and almost his entire face covered with tape, felt a chill run down his spine.

The thought of impending doom loomed over him like a dark cloud, and he couldn't help but wonder if this was the end of his journey.

The world outside, even with its deadly games, felt so far away now.

"You know, they say that when your time is up, you really start to appreciate the little things," Niragi continued, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "But I guess you won't have the chance to enjoy them anymore, will you?"

"Deprived of your hearing and sight, you're a sitting duck, waiting for the laser to pierce through your skull must be terrifying!" Niragi chuckled, his laughter echoing in the dimly lit room.

Arisu's heart raced as he processed the cruel reality of his situation.

The darkness enveloped him, and the silence was deafening, amplifying his sense of vulnerability.

He could feel the weight of Niragi's gaze, a predator reveling in the fear of his prey.

"Imagine it," Niragi continued, his voice low and taunting. "The moment you realize there's no escape, no one to save you. Just you and the inevitable end. It's almost poetic, don't you think?"

"See ya!" Niragi waved as everyone began to walk away, leaving Arisu to struggle against the restraints. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, each step a reminder of his isolation. Arisu's breath quickened as he twisted and turned, desperately seeking a way out of his bonds.

"How's it going on your end, Kuina?" Chishiya's voice crackled through the walkie talkie.

"It's fine, Aguni is still holed up in his room," Kuina responded over the walkie talkie, her tone laced with a hint of frustration.

"I'm bored out of my mind here," she added, her voice tinged with impatience. The monotony of waiting was starting to wear on her nerves, and she longed for some action, some kind of distraction.

"Let's proceed with our plan then," Chishiya replied, his voice steady and calm,

"I can't figure out if Arisu is clever or clueless," Chishiya mused as he entered the room, still communicating with Kuina through the walkie talkie.

"They wouldn't store the cards in an ordinary safe," he continued,

"So, where do you think the real safe is?" Kuina inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm not certain, but when Arisu discovered the fake safe, Aguni, who usually keeps a straight face, seemed distracted by something else," Chishiya recalled, his brow furrowing in concentration as he recalled the memories.

"I have a feeling that whatever is in that envelope isn't a code or a blank letter... I think it might just be a drawing," Chishiya concluded.

Chishiya approached the deer painting, his confidence evident as he removed it from the wall, unveiling a hidden safe.

"Got it," he communicated into his walkie-talkie.

"So this is why you decided to sacrifice them?" Kuina's voice crackled back.

"Yeah, you have to trade something to gain something. They were just pawns; it's part of the game," he replied nonchalantly.

"Right, well, I definitely wouldn't want to be your enemy," she shot back.

"Yeah, I hear that often," he said, setting the walkie-talkie aside to concentrate on the safe.

8022.

The safe clicked open, and a smirk spread across Chishiya's face as he glimpsed the box inside.

He retrieved it, opening it to reveal a set of playing cards, a satisfied smile crossing his lips as he pulled them out and closed the safe behind him.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" Usagi screamed, her voice echoing off the walls, filled with a mix of fear and defiance. The men surrounding her responded with a chorus of dismissive shouts—"shut up!" and "stop squirming!"—as they roughly tossed her onto the bed. Panic surged through her as she felt the weight of their hands pinning her down, while the other girls rushed in to secure her legs, their grip unyielding.

Just then, a sharp whistle sliced through the tension in the room, and Niragi strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. He paused for a moment, taking in the chaotic scene before him, his eyes narrowing as he observed Usagi thrashing against her captors. "Everyone, get the hell out," he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.

"What? Don't you need us to hold her down?" one of the men questioned, a hint of defiance in his tone.

"Who's holding the gun?" Niragi shot back, his glare piercing through the bravado of the group. The room fell silent, the air thick with tension as his words hung in the air. The men exchanged nervous glances, their bravado evaporating under the weight of his stare. They muttered in compliance, shuffling out of the room with a mix of confusion and reluctance, leaving Usagi alone with Niragi.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Usagi sprang up defensively, her heart racing. "Let me go, you jerk!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. She glared at him, trying to muster every ounce of courage she had left.

After a brief silence, Niragi regarded her with an unreadable expression. "Then get out," he replied, his tone surprisingly calm, almost teasing.

Usagi looked puzzled, her mind racing. "What do you mean?" she stammered, her instincts screaming at her to flee but her confusion holding her in place.

"Before I change my mind!" he barked, the edge in his voice cutting through her hesitation like a knife. That was all the motivation she needed. Without another word, she bolted past him, her heart pounding in her chest as she dashed for the door.

"Tsk, I don't have time for trash," Niragi muttered under his breath as she fled, his eyes following her with a mix of annoyance and intrigue. The sound of her footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Chishiya made his way along the damp path, approaching Kuina, who was propped against a lamppost at the beach's edge.

He pulled out his locker key wristband, declaring, "I suppose I can toss this aside now."

Without glancing at him, Kuina asked, "Don't you feel any pity for Arisu?"

He paused, contemplating her words. "Pity?" he echoed.

"Yeah, I know I do," she admitted.

Chishiya met her gaze before replying, "Sometimes, we must make tough choices to survive."

Kuina remained silent, and he continued, "If you're so concerned, why not lend him a hand?"

She shot back, "That's rich coming from someone who checks on him daily."

Ignoring her retort, Chishiya turned toward the exit, ready to leave, "No way..."  he then muttered.

Kuina pushed off the lamppost and moved to leave, prompting chishiya to call out, "Wait!"

Kuina halted, bewildered. "What do you mean, wait?"

Stepping back, he tossed his key through the
archway, only to see it struck down.

Kuina leaned forward, spotting the lasers guarding the exit. "Seriously?"

Chishiya spun around as more lasers emerged, encircling the beach.

"We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for staying at the seaside paradise, Tokyo. As a token of our appreciation, we will now commence a game with all 58 participants in the venue."

I started this chapter way back when I published my last chapter but never finished till now. I'm sorry if my writing changed at all and I'm so so so sorry about how long this took to get out.