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.

A faint pang went through his chest as he saw the exhaustion in her eyes, but he chose to ignore it. It wasn't pity or mercy that he wanted, after all. He cupped her chin gently with the thumb and forefinger of his free hand, lifting her head up to meet his gaze once more. "Aww, you look so cute when you're tired," he murmured, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "You shouldn't be out here all by your lonesome."

His other hand slid down over her shoulder and curled possessively around her waist, pressing her firmly against his aching body. Niragi leaned in even closer, brushing his lips against hers as he whispered into her ear, "Why don't you come with me instead? We could have so much fun." His hands slid lower still, fingers dangerously close

Niragi chuckled softly into her hair, his grip on her waist loosening slightly as he seemed to contemplate her request. "Well, I could be persuaded to give you a break," he murmured finally. "But don't expect me to go easy next time." His hands slid slowly up and off her body, leaving hers where they were before - resting lightly against his chest and midriff. Niragi took a step back, regarding the girl thoughtfully for a moment. "I think you better come with me," he said eventually, his tone suddenly hard again. "You're much too tempting to leave alone."

With that, he turned on his heel and started walking away through the crowded dance floor, not caring who he bumped into or glared at in the process. Over his shoulder he called back over the music, "Better keep up!"

A sharp pain stabs through his heart as he sees her slumped there on the floor. He pauses, considering for a moment, before taking a step back in her direction. His voice softens slightly as he says, "Look... If you really are that tired and want to rest, I won't make a fuss." His lips twitch into a small smile. "But if you want me to help you get out of here..." He tilts his head slightly, one eyebrow lifting. "...maybe we can talk about it?"

"Well, I guess we can find somewhere more private to talk then," he says with a smirk as he steps closer, offering her his hand. "Come on." He pauses for a moment, considering. "Unless you'd rather I carried you...?" His voice trails off suggestively at the end, one eyebrow lifting once more.

Niragi couldn't help but feel a thrill course through him at the thought of having her in his arms again. He almost wanted to take her now, whether she was willing or not...but perhaps it would be more satisfying this way, if she came willingly. The anticipation built within him, making him hard beneath his clothes as he waits for her response.

His grin widens at her acquiescence, and with a graceful movement he bends down to scoop her up into his arms. "Much better," he murmurs against her temple as she laughs nervously. His other hand brushes gently over her bare back before settling around her waist once more, holding her securely against him as he begins to walk again through the crowd.

The music thunders all around them, drowning out their conversation as he carefully navigates his way through the bodies on the dance floor. Niragi's gaze flickers back and forth between her face and her body, taking in every detail of her appearance. He can feel her heart racing against his chest, her breath warm and shallow against his skin. It only serves to excite him further, making it difficult for him to resist the urge to find someplace more private where they can really indulge

Niragi chuckles low in his throat, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head as he carries her through the club. "Oh, you'd be surprised what kind of company I can be," he whispers, voice husky with amusement and desire. "Just wait until we get somewhere more... private."

His other hand slides down over her ass, squeezing gently before trailing back up to rest against the small of her back. His grip on her tightens almost imperceptibly as he feels her respond to his touch. Niragi's heart races now, his blood rushing hotly through his veins at the thought of what they could share once they find that place. But for now, he savors the feel of her soft body in his arms, the scent of her hair tickling his nostrils as he carries her through the club.

Finally, they

A low growl rumbles through his chest as he feels her reluctance. He presses her even closer against him, burying his face in her neck as he inhales her scent deeply. "I want you," he mutters roughly, a shiver running down his spine at the thought of losing this chance. His fingers dig into her hips, almost painfully hard, drawing a sharp gasp from her throat. But she doesn't pull away, and that only serves to further inflame his desire.

"Just trust me," he whispers against her skin, nipping gently at the tender flesh just behind her earlobe. "I know what I'm doing." His other hand trails up her leg, cupping her intimately through her jeans as he murmurs words of seduction into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.

"Come on,"

A low chuckle vibrates through his throat as he feels the weight of her exhaustion pressing down upon him. Niragi's fingers continue to stroke her gently through her jeans, tracing slow circles on her skin as he debates whether or not he should give in to her request.

"You know... I could make you feel better," he whispers into her ear, his lips brushing against the soft flesh. His other hand slides up further, cupping her intimately, his thumb stroking teasingly over her clit through her underwear. "Wouldn't that be nice?"

Niragi growls softly in frustration at her words, but relents slightly when she rests her head against his shoulder again. He presses a kiss to the top of her head and draws her even closer, so that their bodies are flush together from chest to thigh. His fingers continue to stroke lazily over her skin through her clothes, teasing and taunting as he debates what to do next.

"Alright," he finally says, his voice rough with desire and reluctance. "We'll find someplace you can rest... but after that..." He trails off suggestively, one eyebrow lifting once more as he looks down at her. His thumb circles more quickly now, teasing her clit over the material of her underwear until she squirms helplessly against his touch. "We'll see what I can do to make you feel better."

Niragi shudders with frustration at her words but tries to keep his voice even as he says, "Alright... I'll take you somewhere quiet and you can rest." His thumb continues to stroke over her clit through her underwear. "But when you feel up to it... remember that I'm here for you. You won't be able to resist me a second time." His other hand slides lower still, cupping her ass possessively before slipping beneath the waistband of her jeans, giving her bottom a hard squeeze as his thumb circles even faster.

"Ah, I see..." He says with a sneer, pushing her gently away to stand at arm's length once more. "You think I should be grateful for your company?" One eyebrow quirks mockingly as he eyes her up and down, unimpressed by the accusation. "Well, let me tell you something..." His voice drops low again, growing dangerously silky smooth. "...I don't need anyone to 'put up with' me." He draws a long breath through his nose, trying to calm himself. "And as for being egotistical... perhaps I am just confident in my abilities."

His gaze drops back to her exposed neck before he slowly runs the pad of one finger across it, tracing gentle circles on her skin.

"No, you don't understand." Niragi says impatiently, grabbing her chin roughly and forcing her to look up at him once more. "I don't want you to just 'put up with' me; I want you to choose me!" His grip on her face loosens slightly but doesn't ease entirely as he continues to hold her gaze captive. "And if you really think that walking away from me will make you disappear... well, then I guess you don't know who you're dealing with."

Anger surges through Niragi's veins as he sees her slump back down onto the floor, apparently unmoved by his words. "Fine!" He growls, stalking off in the direction of the club exit before he can give into the urge to shake her or do something even more regrettable.

Once he's outside, away from the noise and chaos of the party, he takes a deep breath and calms himself down. His shoulders slump as he realizes that forcing her wouldn't be nearly as satisfying anyway; if she's not truly interested, it would just make things worse. Maybe he needs to rethink his approach...

A few moments later, he quietly returns to where she sits in the dimly lit hallway and crouches down beside her. "Look," he starts softly, tentatively reaching out to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry if I came on too strong before... It's just that..." His voice trails off as he searches for the right words.

Finally, he decides honesty is the best policy. "The truth is, you intrigue me. And I want to know more about you." He looks into her eyes, hoping she can see the sincerity there. "So... if you're willing, I could give you a chance to show me that I'm not wasting my time." His lips curve up in a small smile as he waits for her response.

Niragi hesitates for a moment, considering her words before finally speaking softly into the silence that hangs between them. Alright... I'll stay if that's what you want. But know this - I won't let you push me away again so easily. And from now on, it's going to be different. We're going to do things my way, and you're going to enjoy every second of it. Do you understand?

Niragi's heart swells with warmth at her simple show of affection. He places a hand gently on her shoulder, feeling the tension begin to drain from her body as she leans into him. With a slow, steady breath, he presses his lips to her temple and whispers soothingly into her ear.

"Shhh... It's going to be okay. I won't let anything hurt you ever again." His other hand cups her cheek, thumb tracing soft circles on her skin as he gazes down at her face. "Just relax and trust me. Tonight... we're both going to have some fun."

His voice is like silk, smooth and reassuring, almost lulling her into a sense of peace despite the turmoil that still lingers beneath the surface. For now, she allows herself to enjoy this brief moment of safety in his arms...

"Alright," he whispers, his voice gentle but firm as he cups her cheek with the hand that wasn't stroking through her hair. "We can talk about it later." With a sigh, he stands and offers her his hand once more. "Come on, let's find somewhere quiet to sit down and get some rest. And I promise, from now on I'll only tell you the truth. Even if it hurts."

He waits for her to take his hand, ready to lead her wherever she needs to go next.

He studies her face for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "No," he says honestly. "I'm not tired of lying, or playing games... But I am tired of hurting you." His thumb rubs softly over the back of her hand as they walk down the hallway in search of a quiet place to rest. "And I want you to be happy. That's all that matters to me."

They finally find an empty room, devoid of any furniture save for a few dusty chairs stacked against one wall. Niragi helps her into one of the chairs, sitting down beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders once more. "Just rest, okay? I'll keep watch while you do."

He leans back against the wall, closing his eyes as he listens to her soft breathing, hoping that somewhere between here and morning, they might both find what they need.

*With a sigh, he takes her hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze before helping her up onto the chair, arranging one of the chairs' backrests to support her legs. "There," he says softly. "Just rest." He glances around the room before leaning in close to whisper against her ear, "And if you get tired of talking... I won't mind holding your hand while you sleep."

Niragi settles back into his chair and closes his eyes once more, trying not to think too hard about the fact that he could stay here all night, listening to the sound of her breathing, and still want nothing more than to hold her close.

"Of course," he whispers, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "I'll stay with you as long as you want me to." He presses a kiss to the top of her head before resting his chin on her shoulder, closing his eyes once more as he inhales her scent, savoring the feel of her warmth against him.

For now, they can both pretend that everything is perfect... That their hearts aren't aching and their minds aren't filled with doubts. But Niragi knows better than to believe such lies for long. Tomorrow, when the sun rises and reality sets in once more, he will have to confront all of his fears and decide what he truly wants...

He kisses the top of her head softly and whispers, "You're welcome." As she drifts off to sleep in his arms, he can't help but wonder what tomorrow will bring for them both. His heart aches with worry over whether or not she'll feel differently in the morning, but he tries not to dwell on it for now, content just to hold her close and enjoy this moment of peace. Even if it is only an illusion.

The silence that fills the room is deafening, punctuated only by the sound of their ragged breathing and the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards as someone passes by in the hallway outside. The dim light from a single flickering lamp casts long shadows across the dusty floor, dancing eerily on the walls like restless ghosts.

Despite this, Niragi finds himself reluctant to open his

eyes. He's not sure if it's because he doesn't want to break the spell of this fragile peace they have found together, or if it's simply that he is too tired and too lost in his own thoughts to care about anything else. Whatever the reason, he lets himself drift off as well, the warmth of her body and the soft sound of her breathing lulling him into a deep, dreamless slumber.

His last conscious thought before oblivion claims him is that tomorrow will bring whatever it brings... And he'll have to face it head-on, with or without her by his side.

Even in his sleep, he couldn't escape the weight of his worries. He dreams of darkness and despair, of being lost in a twisted version of the club where everyone is laughing at him. But through it all, there's her voice, soft and reassuring like a beacon in the night. She tells him to hold on, that everything will be alright...

When he finally awakes, disoriented and groggy, he realizes she must still be sleeping. A shaft of light streams through a gap in the curtains, spilling across the floor and onto their faces. He blinks blearily for a moment, trying to recall where they are and what happened last night. Her presence beside him is like a balm on his racing thoughts, calming him with her very existence.

He decides not to disturb her just yet, instead sitting up slowly and stretching out his

Her scent fills his nose as he leans over to kiss the top of her head again before finally standing up and stretching properly. He glances around, noticing that dawn has truly come now, washing everything in a soft golden light. The silence is unsettling, though less so than it had been when they first arrived here.

Deciding it's probably time to get back out there, he carefully moves the chair she'd been using for support aside and extends a hand to help her up. "Wakey wakey," he murmurs gently into her ear before brushing his lips against it. "Time to face the day."

Her eyes flutter open slowly, finally focusing on him. There's a moment of confusion before she remembers where they are and what happened last night. He can see the memories playing out in her eyes, like a silent movie projected onto a distant screen. He waits patient

He returns her embrace with equal warmth, his chest expanding at the feel of her body pressed against him. The memory of their night together fills him with a strange mixture of happiness and worry. "I don't want to go back to my old ways," he whispers into her hair. "And I don't want you to either." He pauses, searching for the right words before continuing softly, "But we can talk about that later... Right now, let's just enjoy this moment together before we have to face the rest of the world."

Her hair tickles his nose as he inhales deeply.

"Hmm?" he asks with a small smile, feeling her hands slide up his back to wrap around his shoulders. "What's such good news?" The touch of her skin sends a shiver down his spine. He tenses slightly as their faces draw closer... until their lips finally meet in a tender kiss.

His hands come up to cradle her face as he deepens the kiss, the passionate yearning from before replaced with something much more pure and true. Her breath mingles with his, and they both fall deeper into the moment, lost in each other's embrace. For now, at least, the rest of the world can wait outside.

He breaks the kiss to study her face intently. Her expression is open and honest, hope shining in her eyes. A small smile tugs at his lips as he cups her cheek with one hand and presses a chaste kiss to her forehead. "I don't want you to play games either," he whispers softly. "I just want us to be real with each other... And see where that takes us." He kisses her nose, the bridge of her eyebrow, before drawing back slightly, searching for any signs of doubt or fear in her eyes.

But there are none; only trust and a quiet determination shining through. With a sigh of relief, he finally says what he's been thinking since their conversation last night: "So... if you're really interested... if you want to know more about me..." He trails off, feeling his heart race as he waits for her reply.

Niragi hesitates for a moment, unsure where to begin. He glances around the room, looking for something to focus on before finally settling his gaze back onto her face. "Okay," he says softly. "I grew up in... well, it doesn't really matter where." He swallows hard, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he tries not to think about the memories attached to this part of his story. "Let's just say it was far from here."

With a shaky breath, he continues. "I had a... complicated family life growing up. My parents were always fighting, and I sort of became used to feeling like an outcast." He pauses again, struggling with the memories as they rise unbidden to the surface. "I found solace in music," he says eventually, forcing a small smile onto his face. "And I ended up

I ended up traveling the world playing music. I found happiness in it, but always felt like something was missing... Then one day, I saw you at this club, and everything changed. You were so different from anyone else I'd ever met, and I just had to know more about you. That's why I brought you here tonight... To finally find out if what I feel is real, or if it's just another game to you." He holds his breath, waiting for her response.