You didn't know how long you were staring at the shimmering cocktail glass that had been handed to you by a charismatic, dashing looking barkeeper. You had insisted on something non-alcoholic, and the sweetness of the blue-ish colored syrup tasted like candy on your tongue. The barkeeper had advertised his creation as “Carribean night”, and although the name was fairly fitting, his bright smile had intrigued you in an odd way.

It simply had been way too bright considering the cruel world outside of this hotel named the Beach.

The recent days had been - to put it simple - a time of chaos and terror. Ever since these so-called games had been introduced, your only thought had been the one of survival, as running on adrenaline became the standard. To fight on your own without knowing any other soul in this city had been tough, even though you had been lucky enough to have found shelter in an abandoned building in between games.

But never, never, did the believe cross your mind that even in this world you would find a place that dripped of party and entertainment just like the Beach did. But here you were, holding a sugary drink in your hand while hearing a crowd of party-people cheering to some loud ass bass music from across the main floor.

Seems like I still get a sense of that vacation I was visiting Shibuya for in the first place, huh, you reminisced, a hint of sarcasm included.

Well, you wouldn't know about the Beach still, not if you hadn't met Chishiya in your most recent intelligence game, the seven of diamonds. You and him had been the only two survivors the game had spat out, and when the seemingly quick-witted guy in his white hoodie had promised you a safer place to stay, there hadn't been much left to consider. This world wasn't one to allow second guesses and to stay here, with the promise of having enough supplies as well as food definitely proved to be more useful than fighting on your own. Furthermore, the comfort of a warm hotel bed even allowed a few days of actual relaxation before participating in another game.

To be completely honest, there still were some thoughts lingering on your mind about the Beach, its dubious facade of being the perfect little party resort or the way Hatter presented himself - all of which you were smart enough not to voice out loud. Places like these were always easier to be dealt with if you kept the really important things to yourself. But if wearing a white bikini with a pretty flower design under your purple blouse and jeans shorts was the only thing you needed to do in order to guarantee yourself a mostly pleasant stay here, then so be it, you considered it a fair trade.

Your thoughts traced back to the man who got you here, the person who clothed himself in a white hoodie just as casual as a coat of charisma and slight superiority. Truthfully you were glad to have met Chishiya. Not only because he had taken you along, but he was also a very smart, witty and easy-going person. The diamonds game had held true to be a bonding experience for the two of you and as soon as he had realized that you were able to meet his intellect and proved yourself a trustworthy companion, Chishiya seemed to acknowledge you as some kind of partner, perhaps even a friend.

You admired him, especially his capability to maintain calm even in the most life-threatening situations. Being in his atmosphere granted such a strong contrast to the frightened and panicked faces you had met in the games before. His mind was working non-stop and he seemed to analyze his surroundings at any given moment. More so he was exactly the type of person who didn't feel the need to prove anything to anyone and it was somehow delightful to surf in that kind of laid-back and cool vibe. As if his confident presence spilled over and empowered your own natural skills even further.

You brushed over your necklace, mindlessly playing with the two fine silver pendants that dangled there in the shape of dandelion flowers. Small, but indestructable - just like everything in this irrational twisted place had to be in order to survive.

However, there was something else Chishiya had added after his short introduction about the Beach. And that pale warning was still dancing on your mind like a dandelion pappus in the wind:

“Oh, and if I might give you a genuine advice. Keep your distance from the Militants. Especially a guy called Niragi. Slim, dark half-bun, carries around his sniper rifle like a purse. If you happen to cross his path, be careful. He's the real unpredictable variable in this whole group.”

It was only your second day at the resort, therefore you hadn't met many people yet. But the few conversations you had shared with other guests so far had all brought up similar whispers of warnings whenever the topic had fallen on the Militants:

“Don't argue with them!” “Try to stay away from them if you want to live peacefully.” “They're only here for trouble!”

But for some reason - you secretely credited it to the adrenaline as a result of this hazardous lifestyle of games and survival - you were curious to get to know more. If even Chishiya cared to warn you about them...

You shook your head and stopped yourself from dwelling on any more thoughts. You were not actually looking for any kind of trouble. The easiest calculation, and therefore the smartest option for someone living at the Beach was to stay under any kind of radar, whether it was Hatters or the Militant's. And you did just fine with staying by yourself, and maybe Chishiya now.

Who knew, maybe you wouldn't even meet the Militants up close, that would be perfectly fine as well. After all, the Beach was full of people, and what circumstances could possibly occur that led to a real interaction between you and one of —

“He, get out of the way, bastard!” Abruptly an annoyed shout reached your senses from somewhere around the corner.

Then you watched a blonde, lean man tremble backwards until he fell into the vending machine to your right. He looked startled, frightened even. Without a second thought you followed your instincts, crossed the distance between you and the vending machine and tried to help him up. Though the blonde merely even took a notice of you and as soon as he stood on his own two feet again he scurried away and ran off into another room. In a matter of seconds he was gone, without even a single word of thanks.

Well, that was... you're welcome, I guess, you thought to yourself.

You lifted yourself up on your own feet, intending to go back to your spot with the cocktail glass that you had hastily placed upon the vending machine, when suddenly a broad and exceptionally sturdy man appeared in front of your face. You gulped unintentionally, more out of surprise than because of actual fear, although the second one would have probably counted as an equally valid excuse.

A black tank top sat tight around his trained chest, and - taking a quick glance at his upper body - it didn't need much imagination to estimate how powerful a punch of him would be. His hair was cut short and black, and although his expression was grim and his eyes revealed no explicit emotion, his aura dripped of intensity. Suddenly the name of the Militant's leader jumped into your mind, having it picked up in some conversations before, and even this first impression left no room for you to doubt that the man in front of you indeed was their leader.

Aguni.

You sighed inaudibly. Perfect execution of staying under the radar, y/n.

To Aguni's left stood another guy, equally tall, but slimmer, his face and his shaved head covered in multiple tattoos that were clearly visible even under the dark hood that was pulled over his head. More tattoos dipped his upper arms in black ink. The guy shot a cold-blooded look in your direction, and taking in the tension of his body he seemed ready to strike forward with his samurai sword at any moment. You remembered hearing rumours about him, people calling him Last Boss. But this couldn't possibly be his real name, right?

Eventually your gaze fell to Aguni's right side, and if there had ever been any real chance to follow through Chishiya's warning before, it finally snatched away this very second. For a moment it felt as though Chishiya's words had manifested in the hotel floor syllable by syllable, creating the third man you had encountered in the process. In less than a heartbeat all of your attention was drawn to him, effortlessly to an extent that it almost felt foolish.

He was tall and his dark long hair was put into a neat half-bun at the back of his head. It instantly reminded you of a shiny ravens wing. A black-and-white animal print painted his long-sleeve shirt and you caught yourself noticing how the upper buttons were undone, giving away another welcoming trail of skin. He lazily rested an impressive sniper rifle on his right shoulder, as his relaxed body posture overflowed with arrogance and transferred dominance with every fiber.

Yes, this guy could definitely be no other than the person you were supposed to distance yourself from as far as possible. One of the most dangerous men the Beach - or perhaps even this whole crazy world - could offer, based on literally every information that had been given to you since your arrival at the Beach.

Niragi Suguru.

“Tsk, coward. Just running off like a frightened weasal!” Niragi mocked with an utterly amused tone towards the now empty space beside you. You instantly recognised his voice as the shouting one from before. So it must have been him, you suddenly realized, the one pushing the blonde into the vending machine. Its sound made you slightly shiver, although you couldn't quite distinguish if it was caused by his blatant humor for brutality or the fact that his husky voice sent goosebumps all over your skin. Either way, you craved for him to talk more.

Only now you spotted something shimmering in the dim floor lights: two silver piercings fancied his face - one at his left eyebrow, another one at his left nostril.

Like diamonds, you adored.

Inherently your attention also wandered over his entire face, the smoothness of his tender skin, the soft glow that made it look like a sun-kissed canvas. And his lips, even though they were curved into a malicious smile, shined rosy as if they were begging to be kissed. You'd volunteer if he asked.

And shit, you couldn't stop yourself. He was gorgeous. And you were starstruck. How on earth could Chishiya miss to mention what fucking eye-candy Niragi was?

“Ah, but it seems like he left us a little treat to play with!” Finally Niragi's attention fell on you as a rather lascivious grin creeped up into the corners of his lips. He menacingly leaned forward and bent down towards you, eyeing you up and down with a gaze so greedy that it literally dripped of danger and lust. Similar to the hungry eyes of a predator that enjoyed appraising its meal Niragi's gaze sneaked all over your body, not neglecting a single inch.

Niragi's lips curled into an even more predatory smile as he examined you once again, taking in your flustered expression. "So impatient," he purred, leaning in even closer. His breath fanned over your neck and sent a shiver down your spine. "I suppose I can't blame you..." He paused, tilting his head to the side as if considering something. "But don't get too confident, kitten." There was a dangerous edge to his words that sent another chill through you.

Suddenly, he straightened up again and glanced over at Aguni before looking back at you. "You interested in joining us, little one?" He raised an eyebrow, eyes gleaming with promise. "Or would you rather keep running from your fate?"

A sneak peek around the corner revealed that Last Boss had taken a step

Niragi's dark gaze traveled slowly across your face, studying every reaction and nuance. The longer he looked at you, the more captivated he became. Something about this stranger stirred a darkness within him that he hadn't felt in a long time, and it was intoxicating. He could feel his control slipping away, the promise of carnage looming on the horizon. It made him smile.

Finally, he leaned in close once again, breath warm against your ear. "If you decide to join us, know this," he whispered, his voice barely above a husky murmur. "I will show you things you've never dreamed of... but I can't protect you if you make the wrong choice." His fingers flexed at his side, craving contact with your skin. "What do you say, little one? Are you brave enough to face what lies ahead?"

Niragi's expression darkened as he took a step back, assessing your bold words and confident stance. Something in his gaze told you that he was impressed... but it was mixed with something else too. Pity? Contempt? He didn't hide the glimmer of annoyance as he straightened up again, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "Very well," he said softly, his voice still dripping with danger. "I admire your courage... but don't ever say I didn't warn you."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving you standing there alone with the other two Militants. Aguni and Last Boss shared a brief glance before they too disappeared into the crowd, vanishing from your sight as quickly as they had appeared. You were left shivering in their wake, still unable to believe that you had just

Niragi's lips twitch into a cruel smile as he disappears into the crowd, leaving you momentarily alone with your thoughts. Your heart races, and despite your brave words, you can't shake the feeling that something profound has just changed between you and the militant leader...

As you sit down at the bar and take a sip of your drink, you catch sight of Chishiya across the room, eyeing you curiously. He hasn't moved since the confrontation with Niragi and his body language seems tense. You decide to ignore him for now and focus on enjoying yourself... or at least trying to appear as if that's what you're doing.

The music picks up, filling the room with a pulsing beat that inspires movement in even the most reluctant of dancers. Despite your initial intentions not to seek out trouble, you find yourself glancing

With a slight nod toward Chishiya, you sigh softly, acknowledging his presence but making it clear that he's not your priority right now. Instead, you turn your attention back to the dance floor, watching as couples spin and sway to the rhythm. There's something about the energy in the air tonight...it feels charged, electric, almost palpable. You can't help but wonder what would happen if you were to let loose, to surrender to the music and become part of this twirling mass of humanity.

Your thoughts drift back to the confrontation with Niragi and the strange mix of emotions you'd felt in his presence. Though he'd seemed interested in having you join them, there was an undercurrent of danger that made your skin crawl. You take another sip of your drink, trying to steady your nerves and decide what path you want to take from here. The music grows louder, more insistent... Perhaps tonight, while no one's watching too closely, it would be the perfect time to see just how far you can push things without inviting trouble back into your life.

You glance around the room, looking for a safe place to start your exploration of the dance floor. The crowd seems to have thickened near one of the corners, where several vibrant lights create a secluded atmosphere. With a deep breath and a whispered prayer to whatever gods might be listening, you rise from your seat and make your way toward the lights.

As you approach the center of the dance floor, you realize that every muscle in your body is tense, preparing for some unseen threat. You force yourself to relax, closing your eyes as you feel the rhythm of the music guide your movements. The people around you seem almost to disappear, leaving only the sensation of sound and touch and movement. And then, like a shadow falling across the sun, you feel his presence: Niragi Suguru, watching from the sidelines with amused eyes and an unreadable expression on his face.