Chapter Two: The Deadly Card Game
A sharp click echoed through the empty room.
Then came the voice—smooth, distorted, mechanical. It spoke with a chilling calm, as if narrating a scripted show for unseen spectators.
> "Welcome, players. The game begins now. Each of you has five lives. If you lose all five lives… you die."
A pause, just long enough to twist in the silence like a knife.
> "You may sacrifice one life to gain permission to eliminate another player. The game will be decided through various challenges. The first challenge is simple—a card game."
The six players stood still, absorbing the weight of the words. Nervous glances bounced between them like static electricity in the air. Some shifted their feet. Some clenched their fists. Aoi's hands trembled as she stared down at the black velvet table where six cards lay facedown, each with a faint red symbol painted in the center.
> "There are six cards," the voice continued. "One player will receive the role of the Killer, one the Detective, one the VIP, and the remaining three will be Innocents. Each of you must choose one card."
Tension thickened like fog. The room felt smaller now, the space between friends more distant than ever.
> "The Killer's goal," the voice explained, "is to touch another player three times within three days. Each day, they may touch one person. But they must touch the same person three times to win. If they succeed, they gain one life from each player they've touched."
No one moved. No one spoke.
> "The Detective," the voice carried on, "knows who the VIP is. Their task is to protect them at all costs. The VIP must survive, and the Killer must not discover their identity."
Aoi swallowed hard.
> "The VIP does not know who the Killer is. They must remain hidden… survive without being exposed."
> "The Innocents," the voice finished coldly, "must discuss and vote on who they believe the Killer is. If they guess correctly, the Killer is eliminated. But if they guess wrong… the voter loses one life."
The rules struck with clarity and cruelty. A game of deception, survival, and trust—none of which anyone had.
A cold silence followed.
Then, one by one, the players approached the table.
---
Aoi Himura was the first.
Her fists clenched as she marched forward. Her eyes, wide with fury, locked on the cards as if daring them to fight her.
"This is insane," she spat, snatching a card. "We're being played like pawns. A card game, really? They think we'll just turn on each other and play along?"
She gritted her teeth, holding the card like a weapon.
"I'm not going down easy."
---
Ren Sakamoto was next.
He stepped forward slowly, brows slightly raised. The usual smirk he wore was gone—or maybe hiding beneath a mask of false calm. He studied the cards for a second, then picked one with a shrug.
"Well… this just keeps getting more interesting," he muttered. "The VIP, the Killer… this whole thing is twisted."
He glanced around, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Don't trust anyone. Everyone's a suspect."
---
Tatsuya Kuroda approached with calm footsteps.
He didn't say much at first, only stared at the cards as if they were puzzle pieces in a larger mystery.
"We need to stay rational," he said at last. "Panic won't help us. We all have roles. Let's think logically—find the Killer before they strike."
He picked his card with steady fingers. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, scanned the others.
"This isn't just a game. It's a test."
---
Daichi Hayasaka hesitated.
His legs trembled slightly as he stepped up, eyes flicking nervously between the others.
"This... this can't be real," he whispered. "We're supposed to trust each other, but… how can we, when one of us could be…"
He couldn't finish the thought. His hand hovered over the cards, then grabbed one quickly, as if it might burn him.
"I don't know if I can do this."
---
Mei Tsukino stood still for a moment, unmoving, as if her body was reacting to something no one else could see. Then, without a word, she stepped forward and picked a card. Her pale fingers trembled.
"I feel something," she murmured. "Like we're being watched. Like this place is… wrong."
She looked at the others slowly, her eyes distant.
"Someone's out to get us… and we don't know who."
---
Finally, Shun Hayashi stepped forward.
His arms were crossed, his jaw tight. He stared at the cards with contempt.
"We're all expendable here," he said coldly. "This isn't about winning—it's about surviving. Whatever role I have… I'm not dying today."
He took his card without hesitation, then turned and glared at the others.
"I'm not trusting any of you."
---
Six cards. Six roles. One Killer among them.
They sat now in a circle of silence, each clutching their card. None dared reveal their role. None could be sure who was their ally… or their enemy.
The voice returned.
> "The game is now in motion. You each know your role. The Killer will touch one person per day. The Detective must search for clues and protect the VIP. The Innocents must vote—if they suspect someone, they may attempt to eliminate the Killer. But choose wisely, for a wrong vote will cost a life."
Suddenly, the lights flickered—once, twice—then stabilized into a cold white glow.
The intercom hissed.
> "Let the first day begin. The Killer has already made their first move. Who will be next?"
A dreadful pause. Then silence.
The group looked at one another, suspicion and fear blooming in every corner of the room. Their friendships, their memories, their trust—it all felt fragile now, like glass ready to shatter.
One of them had already touched a target.
One of them was the Killer.
And now, the game of death had truly begun.
Next in chapter 3:The First Accusation