Alice in Borderland

Chapter 111

'Let's play a game, Sayuuri,' she stands up and stands next to me, I turn round with interest so that I can watch what she's looking at. 'Let's have a guess. What will the individual members of the leadership team vote for? We'll take turns to keep things interesting.'

'You want to make a game out of other people's suffering?' I raise my eyebrows and wince when
she puts her hand on my shoulder, demanding yet gentle.
'Niragi votes for the execution, no doubt about it,' Mira begins the game without my consent and looks at the black-haired sniper. Her eyes greedily scrutinise the man and her voice becomes more smug, she's in game mode. 'Don't get me wrong, everyone knows he has a soft spot for you and puts on the kid gloves, but still...his brutality has been on the rise since the Hatter stopped slowing him down. He craves blood and will get his kicks out of it. He'll probably shoot them himself.'
My eyes scan the conference room and my mind goes crazy. Who should I analyse first, Ann or the swordsman?
'Ann will vote against it,' I make my choice, analysing the crossed arms of the sunglasses-wearing woman.

'But she thinks rationally, eliminating a threat is logical,' Mira continues to goad me, but her calm voice signals to me that she just wants an explanation. She also suspects Ann won't vote to kill these people, but wants to understand my side of things.

'Forensic scientist. She's on the side of the law and won't just overlook it. She helped set up the Beach, I understand, she's sticking by the Hatter - despite his death. Not that he spared her, but I think Ann was his voice of reason.'
'Fine, I choose...Last Boss,' she says, one step ahead of me mentally. I was going to leave myself the option and choose him next, she takes away my subsequent move.
'You choose a person related to your last choice,' I snort in amusement, 'Isn't that boring?'
'I'll keep it in mind for the next round,' Mira grins and continues with her assessment. 'He follows like a puppy to our friend with the gun. It would be shallow to think he's of the same mind about that. But the grip on the sword hilt hasn't escaped either of us, has it?'

'It's definitely, almost playfully loose for a blade of this weight,' I nod and Mira lets out a contented sigh.

'It's your turn,' she whispers melodically in my ear and it's almost paralysing, almost luring me back to the call of her challenge.

'Yuji Mahiru,' I say more boldly. I've seen this man before, but today he's caught my attention. 'He's more difficult to judge. His hands are covered in blood after everything he seems to have done in Borderland. He regrets it, but represses the voices in his head. He will pause, but decides in favour of execution. If only to hide his emotional conflict from the leadership.'
'Very good,' Mira agrees, her eyes darting over the remaining players, lusting after their next victim.
'Haven't found one yet, or can you just not make up your mind?' I say provocatively, subconsciously trying to put her on the spot.

'Him,' she nods towards the man in the white waistcoat and I flinch imperceptibly. She still has her hand on my shoulder, she has noticed this physical reaction, which is why I have to remain more than neutral with her next chosen words. 'Chishiya, he used to have your post.'

'What about him?' I make my pitch sound inconsequential in my voice. My heart starts to pound, not just because our connection could be found out and I would be responsible. I must have closed a seal in front of it internally so as not to think about what his voice will be and what I expect him to say. For or against death?

'Hmm, he's quiet and leans back most of the time. But the wheels in his head keep turning,' this woman whispers in my ear, but I maintain my neutral expression. 'He already has a choice in his head. But only one that benefits him. He's not killing out of lust or greed, he's being strategic. I just haven't figured out why he's going to vote for death.'
Swallowing, I search the room for my next move to distract myself, but there are only two people left: the king and the former number two.
But I remember Chishiyas' lessons in chess, who you have to take down first is the king.
'Aguni,' I make an extremely bold choice and tighten my shoulders to look composed.
'The king, clever. I'm really curious,' she whispers in my ear before moving away again, 'I'm curious.'
'He'll wait until the end of this vote.'