[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Joint Custody

Yuta revealed where Mister X was placed, confusing those playing as the detectives.

"How in the world did you get over there?!" Lucas complained, looking at how all of the detectives had been trying to trap him on one corner of the board when he had somehow sneaked out in just five turns.

"Well if I told you that wouldn't help you, now would it?"

"It's fine, I'm on a subway spot. We can still catch him." Xiaojun tried to encourage, but he also knew Mister X was being passed onto WinWin now, so there was no possible way they were going to win.

Yuta, WinWin, Taeil, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jeno, YangYang and Jaemin were all playing Scotland Yard, a five player game. The board was a map of London that consisted of taxi, bus and subway spaces. The detectives were given the job of tracking down Mister X by only seeing what mode of transportation he took and being able to see his location every five turns or so.

Because there was more than five of them playing, Yuta, WinWin and Taeil had been taking turns as Mister X, switching off every time his location was revealed. The worst part was that the detectives only had a limited number of taxis, buses and subways they could use, but Mister X could use as many as he wanted.

"Guys, I've got a big brain play." YangYang started, making Jeno sigh.

"Last time you had a big brain play you let them escape. Jaemin, if you take the bus over there you'll be on the subway to stop them that way. Xiaojun, you've got to yeet over there. Yang, you can take that bus route through the park and that'll get you almost there. And Lucas," Jeno sighed, running a hand through his hair. "do whatever you want."

Lucas had been in all the wrong places the entire game, so they just counted him out of most of the plays. At least it kept Mister X from really spreading out.

"Okay mister one man team, where are you going?" YangYang crossed his arms as everyone moved their pieces according to Lucas's plan.

"I'm coming up from the side on a bus. In a few turns we'll have them."

"In a few turns they could be over by Lucas."

WinWin, Taeil and Yuta just snickered to themselves as they watched it all go down. They had started off the game wearing Haechan's sunglasses so their location couldn't be revealed, but they took them off when they realized they could use any help they could get.

"Can you two stop arguing? Both of you have good plans, but there's no way we can win against WinWin hyung. So just move your piece and shut up." Jaemin snapped, startling the two of them.

Seeing as they were too shocked to move, Jaemin did it for them, using both of their plans at the same time. Except by using both instead of one they ended up closer to Mister X in one turn than anyone could've planned for. There was still no hope for Lucas, though.

"I kept telling you guys you should listen to Nana." Taeil pointed out, taking the Mister X piece off the board now that the reveal turn was over.

"Yeah, but even Nana can't help you now. Prepare to be crushed, losers." WinWin taunted, writing down his next coordinates and using the double move.

By using the double move he got to go twice instead of once, but the detectives could only move once. He was actually going right in between them instead of around, knowing they would never think he would go that way. If YangYang moved one to the left he'd be caught, but the way he moved made it look like he was on the subway space by the park.

Jeno and YangYang didn't even bother trying to control the other players, waiting for Jaemin to make the first move and make suggestions. Jaemin, however, asked Xiaojun and Lucas for their opinions, working through the next moves with them and excluding Jeno and YangYang.

"Ooh whatcha guys playing?" Haechan asked, plopping down next to Taeil with a surprise kiss to his cheek.

"Scotland Yard. We're almost done if you want to hop in next round." Yuta informed, but Haechan wasn't interested.

"I'll pass. Where's Mark? I haven't bothered him in awhile."

"With his Mom. It's her weekend, remember?"

Haechan sighed, dramatically collapsing to the floor.

"I hate this joint custody thing. It's stupid. We obviously love Mark more, we should get him every weekend and his parents should get him on a dumb day like Tuesday."

Mrs. Suh and her sister had actually worked out a joint custody system when Mark's parents moved from Canada, their parents having held a mock court hearing to sort it out. Mrs. Suh had gotten every other weekend, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. None of that included holidays.

"I guess I'll just go bother Doyoung."

"He's at his house working on stuff." Jeno reminded him.

"Still?"

"Still."

"He needs a break. Guess I'll go bother the kids watching a movie. Jungwoo, wanna join me?"

Jungwoo groaned, shaking his head. He hadn't been feeling too hot after eating too many snacks, so he had come down to the basement to take a nap. That hadn't been going too well with all the screaming coming from the game, but they were trying to keep it down.

"I'll go bother them on my own then." Haechan got up from the floor and left, letting them finish their game.

On the last turn Lucas had almost moved onto the space Mister X was on just for the fun of it, but then Bella came and walked over the board, messing up all the pieces.

"Bella!"

"Aw come on!"

"That's my girl." WinWin picked her up and kissed her head, happy he could keep his six year winning streak.

He may have quietly called her over as YangYang and Jeno started bickering again, but that was beside the point.