CHAPTER 40

SLIDE.

"I don't think I can keep playing this game!" You heard Ippei sob. "It's so messed up. I thought that people were much better than this."

You looked over at him in pity. He didn't deserve to be put into such a cruel world. His soul was much too kind and innocent to have to watch everyone around him die.

"He won't last long in a world like this." You heard Chishiya say behind you.

"Yeah." You agreed.

Chishiya moved your jacket collar. "Spade."

Awkwardly, you readjusted the windbreaker jacket after giving the male a quick thanks.

"And you're a diamond."

The buzzer went off again, indicating the end of the round.

"Please give your answer."

"Spade."

The timer went to 0, and you heard the sound of someone's neck exploding. You could only guess that it was Ippei, and after you stopped by his cell to check inside, you saw his dead body on the ground. There was blood splattered all over the walls and a large pool of blood.

"Round thirteen begins now."

You were with Chishiya in the food storage area, both incredibly silent. Both of you were eating crackers, again. He was eating his own bland crackers, while you ate the strawberry ones that he recommended to you a few hours ago.

While the two of you sat peacefully and ate, Banda's partner walked in. As he walked to where the cookies were, you realized that he's taken the same brand before. However he picked a different pack than he had only an hour ago, he chose the white packaged one. You thought back to every hour for all the hours you've seen him with a pack of cookies. They would always be different, and there wasn't a pattern either.

When Matsushita turned around, you quickly turned back to look at the cookies that you had in your hand. Thankfully, he didn't catch you eyeing him.

After you were able to confirm that he wasn't in the same room anymore, you turned to Chishiya. However, as soon as he had left, someone else came in.

It was the woman who was with Yaba. You weren't sure what was more off; the fact that she was here without him, or the fact that she came in right after Matsushita left.

You and Chishiya watched as she tried to act normal while looking through all the aisles of food. She had picked up a bottle of what you guessed was tea. She had also looked at a few things before putting it back. Then she stopped, she stopped right in front of the same cookie section that the previous person had. The difference was that she ended up picking up the black packaged one. You weren't sure what it was, but you immediately felt that something wasn't right. This isn't a mere coincidence when there's only 6 people left, and only 4 excluding Chishiya and you.

She left the cafeteria as soon as she entered and grabbed the few things she wanted. She definitely wasn't breathing steadily with the way that she acted. It was probably just the situation that everyone was in though.

"Hey, don't you think that something is up with those two..?" You brought it up with Chishiya.

He got up and threw his cookie bag away. "They're working with each other."

"It makes sense." You followed behind Chishiya after grabbing a bottle of sweet tea. "You know, this round is going to be interesting."

"This is the last round." The male stopped at the center of the guardroom.

You sat on the wooden half circle podium. "I guess so."

"Before time's up, you're a heart."

"Oh shit I nearly forgot about that." You looked at the back of Chishiya's neck. "You're a diamond."

Just as you two finished exchanging, the PA went off.

"It is time to answer. Please enter a solitary confinement cell of your choosing."

You walked into the nearest cell this time. Since it was most likely the last round, you just wanted to get it over with.

Once you entered the cell, the PA relayed another message.

"Please give your answer."

"Heart."

Once the timer reached the end, there was only the source of the sound of someone's head exploding. This would be a perfect opportunity to check if Matshushita was really the Jack. You looked through the small window of space on the door. And you weren't surprised to find him standing outside alone. He was still while looking around him, and silent. That was before he started manically laughing.

Chishiya ruined Matshushita's celebration when he opened the door to his cell and stepped out. "I had a feeling you were the Jack of Hearts."

"How did you know..?" He looked like a deer caught in headlights.

You then decided to step out, and since your door was right across Chishiya's you were able to stand right beside him.

"I don't think most of us here are that stupid. There's no way that you could fully place your trust in someone like Banda that quickly; he's a murderer who's killed 4 women." You snickered, crossing your arms.

Once you finished, another door opened. "Most people won't even talk to a guy like me. But you wanted to kill me. I could sense that in you right away. So I wanted to see if you were smart, or just stupid, or whether you were a true psychopath."

"You mean.." Matshushita left his sentence hanging.

Band smirked and began walking towards the Jack of Hearts. "You thought you were controlling me this whole time. But I was manipulating you into thinking that way. Ultimately, it was your huge superiority complex that gave you away."

"That kind of self-importance usually comes from being put in a special position. Something that makes you feel untouchable. Like being chosen as the Jack." Chsihiya added.

Even though everyone knew that Matshushita was the Jack, he still put an effort into defending himself. "You guys are wrong about this. Banda is the Jack of Hearts!"

"Sorry, kid." Yaba stepped out of the staircase entrance and began advancing towards the group. "It's not Banda. You and Kotoko were connected. I told Kotoko what her symbol was. And yet, she still died. Which means Kotoko was being manipulated by someone other than me."

"Well, then." The Jack pointed at Chishiya. "You should be assuming this guy instead."

You sighed. "We all know you're the Jack, Matshushita. You and Kotoko would always get snacks at the same time and send each other messages with the cookies; each type would represent a different suit."

"And then, you told Kotoko to give me the wrong symbol. I really did trust her. Except at the end." Yaba said.

"When did the 4 of you guys start working together?"

Yaba spoke up first. "Well, the very first announcement said that this game is about how much we can trust each other. So we simply followed that principle. In order to gain someone's trust, you can't control, or manipulate, or guide them in any way. You can't brainwash or hypnotize them, lie to them or instill fear. It's called equality."

"Wait a second. What makes you so sure it's me? The Jack of Hearts could easily be one of you guys. Okay, maybe I did try to blame everything on you by setting you up, but look! But that's not enough, huh? What if it's Y/n? You guys don't have any proof that I'm the Jack of Hearts, huh?"

You were taken aback. "Huh?

"Are you sure about that?" Chishiya asked "There's no way that it could be Y/n, she's an open book to me. If she'd been the Jack, she would've gotten out a long time ago. You're the Jack because no one suspected you before the last round. Why didn't Banda lie? Tell you the wrong thing? The reason you're still alive is because you're the Jack. And these guys planned to keep you alive because they decided they wanna get information out of you."

"Round 14, start."

The sound of footsteps approaching caused Matsushita to turn around. He was faced by both Yaba and Banda. With Banda holding the nearest cell door open, Yaba pushed the male inside.

"What are you doing?" He panted.

You stood by the door frame, watching as things unfolded.

"There have been so few opportunities to really get to talk to the citizens of this place." Yaba took off the black tuxedo he wore.

Banda smiled, looking at the sharp knives in his hand. "We need you to tell us the ins and outs of this country. I'm sorry that we won't be able to kill you, but.. There are a lot of other ways to have fun."

Chishiya dragged you away before you were able to witness Banda even touch the Jack. As you neared the exit, you could hear Matsushita's screams.

"He's really going through it all." You commented.

The male beside you took the card that was on the white coffee table. "I'm sure he deserved it."

As you both walked out, you heard the sound of the airship above exploding. You looked up and watched as the large airship started falling apart, dropping the large card that it held with it.

Once you looked away, Chishiya stopped you. "Do you plan on running away again, or are you going to wait until I make you stay? Will you finally listen then?"

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7 LEFT EVERYONEE

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