Chapter Text
The beach was a hotel ran by some maniac Karma had never met before called Itona. But apparently, Teraseka had taken a liking to him, so fine. They'd formed a small group. Himself, Nagisa, Rio, Kayano, Isogai, Mahera, and Teraseka met up near the beginning of the games and had stuck together. Now they'd found this Haven called the beach. It was all bullshit. Still, they'd only been at the beach a day. Time to explore. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't the smallest bit relieved when he saw Asano at the bar with a drink in his hand. He walked on over to him. "I didn't realise you drank." He grinned at him.
"Wow, you're alive."
"Don't sound so disappointed. Where's Ren and the others you hang out with?" He hated to admit it but his friends weren't the smartest, so it would be nice to have some diamond players on their team. Though perhaps Asano was a hearts player. But the other four were definitely diamonds.
"Dead."
Ah, well. "I'm sorry. You can join our group if you want."
"I won't, thanks. I'd rather not see people I know die in front of me. Besides, neither of us trust each other enough. We'd betray each other the second it benefitted us."
"C'mon. Me and you then. Let's play a game tonight."
"Fine."
-
"Game, two of diamonds, human elevator. Rules, hang onto the elevator until it reaches the top."
It was just the two of them. They could do this. Karma and Asano held onto the elevator as it began to rise. Silence. All concentration on not letting go. Karma's arms were screaming at him. "Shit." He cursed. He'd gotten so far. He'd cleared four of diamonds and five of spades and four of clubs. He couldn't die now. But he let go.
Then a hand grabbed him arm and hauled him back onto the elevator. Asano's face was strained. "Don't you dare." Don't you dare die. Don't you dare let go.
They cleared the game.
-
Asano had finally joined their group. "Do you want to leave?" Asano asked them.