Before The Killer's Game Begins (1)

5/25/21 12:42 PM

I feel, I've been keeping you for too long.

It's . . . already been 3 weeks. Hm~ Shall we begin murder?

5/9/21 3:20 PM

9 hours, 40 minutes, 36 seconds left

"Question Club", a labeled door was slid open by Yokohama Nobuhiko.

"How is it THOSE two seem to be closer now!" Ayanami whined to Yokohama.

She plopped herself on a chair and flattened her face against the table, staring off where the sun should be, hidden by the clouds, with a crushed demeanor. Thinking of Akira, her eyes dulled. 'I love him, don't I . . . ?'

"Where's Kusanagi?" Akira said, already seated beside Yokohama.

Ayanami jumped on her seat.

Katsuragi flinched walking by her.

Ayanami mustered up a simper.

"Akira, are you—mad at me?" her voice cracked, his eyes not meeting hers.

Yokohama and Katsuragi huddled together pretending to watch Katsuragi play on his phone.

Akira looked at her, and their eyes met.

"It's Park." Ayanami heard. "Unless you don't want anything "important" slipping off your mouth right now, you might as well wait until today's club meeting is over. Like you told me, Ayanami Asuka."

"Yes," Ayanami said. "of course."

Her eyes became clearer. 'Is my confession even that important?'

'Ah . . .' Then the thought came to her, "Because Akir—Park is half Korean, calling a person by their full name means they're not close enough.'

"First Blood."

'And because Park is half Japanese, calling a person by their last name means they're not close enough. That's—'

"DOUBLE KILL!"

Yokohama frantically lowered Katsuragi's phone volume and aggressively whispered to him in a kind voice, "How are you winning mobile legend that quickly!"

Katsuragi awkwardly shrugged, getting a "TRIPPLE KILL!", "LEGENDARY!!!" announcements from a firm woman's voice in his smart phone.

"The system paired me up with a bunch of noobs again, I guess." Katsuragi muttered.

Akira watched out for the clubroom door, "Did Kusanagi pass her—"

"WUUUU!!!" Kusanagi barged in while pointing at Katsuragi. "Yo, why didn't you wait for me, bro?"

"Bro!" Katsuragi dramatically moaned while playing his phone with a stoic face.

"Bruh." Yokohama joined in, monotone but chuckling to himself.

"How has that not died yet." Akira sighed.

Ayanami exhaled a laugh. "Anyway, what's our new Quest—"

"Are ya winning, son?" Kusanagi wrapped an arm over Wu's shoulder while watching his gameplay.

Katsuragi's Fana arrowed through turrets while slicing off the last player other than him, a Nanny.

"Savage." the woman's voice ominously said.

Heading towards the enemy base, he stopped. His four team mates had just died mid battle. Enemy minions were gathering up, almost outnumbering company minions that were attacking the enemy's main turret's decreasing health bar. With the enemy minions enhancing numbers to protect it, the main turret's health bar was restoring.

🔵itlOGplayz: HOY FANA WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!!!!

🔵itlOGplayz: WE BOUT TO WIN THIS

"Hey can you check on Killer's Game after this?" Yokohama asked.

"Hold on," Katsuragi smirked while looking at the enemies respawning.

Akira stood by to watch the fuss.

Then Wu typed with a smug face.

🔵katsubowl: しね さこ:)

🔴redflag: XDDDDD

🔵itlOGplayz: GAGO ANO SINABI MO

🔵itlOGplayz: HOY KALABAN ANONG SINABI NIYA

🔴 GG_EZ: putang itlog

🔴 sora: the troll.

🔵 Ra3: What are you saying ToT

🔴 _Ira: Tattack on Titan

🔴 I_AM_DETH: KILL THAT MOTHERPACKER!!!

Katsuragi exited the game whilst getting massacred by enemies other than the idle Klint of "redflag" that had messaged, "You've served me well, Katsuragi Wu:>."

Akira's mouth opened.

"WOAH WOAH WAIT A MINUTE!" Katsuragi clicked back on the game but the loading screen appeared.

"Whats up?" Kusanagi looked at him with slight confusion.

Yokohama Nobuhiko curiously watched him.

"Did you decide on not trolling?" Ayanami lolled, cheek on her arms.

"Hold on . . . " Katsuragi waited until the game finished loading.

He was back on the main screen.

The battle had ended.

"Ah . . . it's . . . nothing." He said. "I just thought I saw something . . ."

Katsuragi thought to himself, "I could have been wrong . . . I was just seeing things."

"That player knows your name." Akira said.

Katsuragi turned to him, "You saw it, too?"

"Well, nevermind that!" Kusanagi elbowed Wu. "That's over now—Nobuhiko said you should go check Killer's Game! I played it last night and . . . and—I'd rather witness a pro gamer such as yourself, Mr. Katsuragi."

"Little Miss Hiroko got scared, didn't she?" Katsuragi wheezed.

Hiroko flicked his strand of hair.

"That doesn't even hurt me."

"Because I don't want it to!"

"Bro."

"Bro."

Wu Katsuragi and Hiroko Kusanagi leaned in for a kiss then jerked away laughing.

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA WE BOTH WENT IN AT THE SAME TIME!" Hiroko guffawed on the floor with a pinked face while Katsuragi blushed wheezing and giggling trying not to fall off the chair as his knees reached the floor.

Ayanami's face reddened, 'I remember how lovely a kiss could be now.'

Yokohama sat there watching, silently replaying the scene on his head.

Akira couldn't help but smile.

"HEY WHY IS YOUR FACE LIKE THAT!" Wu pointed at the short boy, embarrassed.

Ayanami's suppressed grin widened and wondered what it would be like if Akira and her continued where the two left off.

Akira's smile faded.

"Let's stop . . . " Kusanagi rose from the floor and panted, chuckling. "What's our—haha—! Topic for today, Park?"

Killer's Game. That's what Akira thought of.

"Did Miss Tainaka say anything about doing club activities right now?" Akira asked.

"Ohhhh~ Feeling mischievous~?" Kusanagi smirked. "Let's hang ou—!"

"I'm quite interested in this "Killer's Game" you three have been talking about." Akira deadpanned. "It's been mentioned three times today. Twice by Yokohama, once by Kusanagi."

"Wow, you really counted." Kusanagi pondered.

"So we're going to slack more than usual?" Ayanami appraised.

"Pffft—" Kusanagi sputtered.

"Well, clubs were made for socializing anyway." Yokohama said. "I don't think we'll get in trouble if we don't do anything too rash."

"Yeah." Akira said then suddenly pointed, "Now show me what this "Killer's Game" is, Katsuragi Wu!"

"Yes, Young Master." Katsuragi said with a deepened voice of seriousness as he loaded the game.

2%

The rest shuffled around the table. Before Kusanagi broke the silence and said, "Hey Wu, that was kinda hot."

"You're hot." Katsuragi said.

4%

No one said anything else.

"ONE OF YOU IS SUPPOSED TO SAY "STOP FLIRTING"!" Kusanagi cried.

"I like it actually." Akira grinned.

"And I'm just supportive of Wu having a girlfriend like you," Yokohama simpered.

Ayanami only pinked.

12%

Kusanagi stuttered gibberish with a red face. "Uh . . . Uh—ahah! I can't believe Park Akira likes romantic relationships now!"

"I'm just being supportive." Akira started. "Weren't you the one who said you wanted a boyfriend?"

Katsuragi looked at the loading screen with a red face.

13%

'Why take so long . . . '

"Tch—!" Kusanagi rose up blushing and pointed at Akira, "CHILDREN NOWADAYS!"

"Hey I'm not the one going to have a relationship here at 14." Akira deadpanned.

Kusanagi turned to stone from her futile attack.

15%

"Hey calm down, little Miss Hiroko~" Wu Katsuragi pulled her back to sit.

"I'm taller than that shorty over there."

"Hey my brother is taller than any of you here."

Yokohama chuckled watching.

24%

"Well, Hiroko." Katsuragi smiled at her. "Let's have a date after this and see if your mine."

"What the—! You sound so cool, Wu—how are you so smooth??" Kusanagi moaned. "That's unfair."

'You're supposed to be all flustered and get all shy.' Katsuragi deadpanned with a pink hue.

Akira looked to Kusanagi.

"I wanna sound like a hot and edgy male voice actor, too!" Kusanagi's eyes sparkled.

30%

Katsuragi looked down from the loading screen to gaze up at her with a handsome pitch, "You wouldn't have to try as hard now that you'll have me, Hiroko."

Kusanagi screamed, but laughed, "Stop doing that! You're crushing my dreams here by how good you are right now!"

Katsuragi laughed at her jokingly shaking him by the shoulders.

31%

'They look so happy,' Ayanami, thought straight faced. 'And good together.'

32%

'If I look at Akira now he'll suspect me.' she felt him watching her every move.

43%

"Hey isn't it bad Wu's older than you, Hiroko?" Ayanami let out.

The laughing stopped.

"What do you mean?" Hiroko raised a brow.

57%

Akira stared silent.

"Oh, do you mean because I'm turning 16 and Hiroko's 14?" Katsuragi asked.

Ayanami's face brightened, "Yeah—!"

87%

"There's a difference between sexual interest and romantic interest, Asuka." Katsuragi said.

Ayanami felt stricken.

"And because I'm the latter," Katsuragi fondly pinched Hiroko's cheek while she gently attacked him. "You can't really say I'm a pedo."

Yokohama fatherly smiled of Katsuragi's decent answer.

Akira only studied Ayanami's face and wondered if she understood.

96%

"Ah, sorry for ruining the mood for you two!" Ayanami tried to smile.

'Then,' she thought.

'If I don't feel either of that for Akira—'

Ayanami saw an image of a middle aged woman, brown hair at the ends dyed black. She was by the tilted couch, in a dark room, only the tv lighting them as it played a song.

'And evolving from the sea would not be too much time for me.'

'To walk beside you in the sun.'

'I read something about a son of a gun.'

'Named Extinction.'

While a younger Ayanami watched from the doorpost. Shards of glass. A framed picture of a middle aged man with a ponytail had its face scribbled over with marker, a woman with brown hair dyed black at the ends simpering, the couple both formally dressed. Below was Ayanami beaming, and another much taller, older-looking yet similarly faced girl frowning slightly with boyish hair she seemed to have cut herself. "Where's daddy?" Ayanami said. A person looming over from behind, reaching for her shoulder.

'I don't want to be like her.' the face of the older woman turned to Ayanami as she thought. Barely tears falling down from the woman's dull shaded eyes. Stacks of manga Ayanami read as a younger kid helping her smile.

"—What am I feeling exactly?" Ayanami thought in silence with the same dulled gaze trying to think of Akira's visage. Shifting with another boyish haired person as their faces were indistinguishable.

"It's okay, Asuka . . . !" Hiroko Kusanagi grinned at her with slight concern, as Wu Katsuragi looked at Ayanami with a worried face.

97%

"Are you alright, Asuka?" Yokohama leaned forward with the same worried look.

Ayanami saw Akira's eyes watching, and her skin felt cold.

She looked away.

'What . . .'

98%

Others averted their eyes thinking, "What should we do?"

99%

Akira only stared, finally realizing a sudden vulnerability to Ayanami Asuka. Something her. Something genuine. Something he couldn't easily understand. Something more ambiguous in her silence of uncertainty than her brash decisions to become someone else for, somehow, the answer to be "found". Although, he didn't mind to know, "It's nice." he thought. "If you're not pretending anymore." She seemed to have become stuck. Has this girl finally rethought of who she portrayed herself as opposed to who she was? But Akira was one to talk. Was his assumptions even accurate at all? Did he even truly know himself?

Akira was silent.

He stared deeper at Ayanami. His thoughts falling to obscurity.

100%

"Glad you're awake,"

Akira's eyes widened.

"In my world of nightmares."

The voice of the black haired girl.

"Oh, hey . . ." Katsuragi saw his boy character labeled 'an akira'. "Killer's Game: Her Black Book of Nightmares is done loading."

"Katsuragi Wu," Akira said. "What did you just say?"