Demise Game

28.book club

It was late at night, just before midnight, when Isora had noticed the book and letter on his bed.  It wasn't just any book or letter, though.  He knew immediately what it was, his lips thinning.  Of course, today had been too good — something had to happen.  It was only a matter of time before he received his own urban legend.

        Isora read through the letter first.  It was short, with Kokkuri-san detailing the rules of the game and how he had to carry out his urban legend without dying.  Folding the letter to the side, he then picked up the book, reading it out loud.

        "Daruma-san...  The Bath Game?"  Isora was a bit bemused.  Daruma dolls were generally meant to be good luck; was it good luck that he would receive this game out of all of the ones to exist?

        Although Isora had promised to tell the others about his game, he didn't truly mean it.  Neither Hanami nor [Y/n] were the traitor.  He was certain of that.  However, he only trusted himself to get through this.  Besides...  Daruma-san was only a one person game.  Nobody could help even if he told them about it.

        "Isora, dinner's ready."

        Isora closed the book casually and looked up at his older brother who stood in the doorway.  "I'm not hungry."  Isora kept his face passive, almost seeming bored.

        Kousuke frowned.  "You need to eat something.  I know the funeral must have been tough for you."

        "Don't act like you really care," Isora scoffed, standing up from his bed.  "I don't have time for you right now."

        He didn't.  Isora couldn't afford anymore distractions.

        "I do care!"  Kousuke protested, his face drawn in concern.  "You're my baby brother.  Of course I care.  You've been acting weird before Dad even passed, and now...  I'm just worried.  So is Mom."

        Isora froze.  "You told Mom?"

        "Of course I did!  She's upset she couldn't make the funeral...  But she plans on coming back next week as soon as her business trip is over."

        Damn it all...

        Isora gritted his teeth in irritation.  His mother would only provide yet another distraction.

        "I should have gotten rid of you sooner..."  Isora mumbled, more to himself than to anybody else.

        "What?"

        Kousuke didn't hear his words, causing Isora to only sigh in feigned exasperation.  "I said, you're probably right.  I should have talked to you sooner."  The older brother's expression smoothed out slowly, and Isora picked up the letter, turning it over in his hands.  "In truth...  Well, it's hard to explain.  I think it's easier if you just read it."

        Isora handed over the letter.  Kousuke opened it slowly, and Isora couldn't hide the easygoing grin on his face as Kousuke's face went pale, his eyes widening in horror for a moment before his expression went slack.  His eyes...  Isora had never seen anything so dull and empty before.  It was as if Kousuke's soul had literally left behind his body.

        "What's the matter, Big Bro?  Cat got your tongue?"

        Kousuke didn't respond to Isora's quip like he normally would have.  He only dropped the letter, before robotically leaving the room.  As he left, Isora felt another weight lift off his shoulders.  Now that Kousuke would also be out of the way...  Well, Isora could get to work on figuring his own game out.

        Daruma-san...

        What an interesting game indeed.

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