Chapter Text
"Do you want to live?" A white Rabbit in a pink waistcoat asks Alice.
"No. I will die," replies Alice with a hoarse voice. He wants to see protective Prima and thoughtful Tertia again. And for that to transpire, he must die too.
So he shall.
The white Rabbit hops away.
Alice is adrift in a pool of tears.
The Rabbit has come back, a clear umbrella in her right hand to shield herself from the weeping of clouds. She has brought a companion with her, who kneels in front of him and brushes the wet hair from his sunken cheek.
It is a Mouse.
"Arisu-kun," she croons. He wants her to swim away, and leave him to drown in his grief.
"Thank you for taking me to him, Usagi-san." The Mouse stands up and bows deeply to the Rabbit.
The Mouse has sought him out? He has assumed that the Cheshire cat has long since ensnared her in his paws.
But the Mouse and the Cheshire cat like to play pretend. And so Alice will perform too.
Alice awakens in an unlit warehouse. The Mouse is gone. But the Rabbit remains, a pocketbook in her palms.
His mouth waters involuntarily at the sight and smell of tepid porridge.
He finds that it is still ingrained in himself not to be impertinent to one's host. Or so he tells himself.
In the morning, Alice devours the porridge.
It tastes like hope.
The Rabbit hops back from her race, a certain Mouse at her hocks.
The Mouse sits beside his cardboard mat and tenderly holds his hand. Both seem glad that he has eaten every last morsel.
"Say, Arisu-kun, do you want to join me for calisthenics?"
Alice's outside and insides feel warm, as he mimics the Mouse's fluid motions to an imaginary rhythm. The Rabbit's gentle eyes never stray from them.
Curious, thinks Alice.
He wants to...
There is a new set of clothes beside him. It smells faintly of roses rather than the scent of storage from the mall. Alongside it are a basin of warm water, toiletries, and a first-aid kit.
The Rabbit and the Mouse huddle away from him, counting all three of their visa days. He overhears that he needs to play soon.
The pair's hushed conversation halts when they see him approach. They beam at the pristine sight of him.
Curious, thinks Alice.
He wants to...
Alice might have mistaken the Mouse for the Rabbit by the way she bounces on the balls of her feet. Her lips curl into a dazzling smile as she brandishes what seems to be a five-meter measuring tape in front of his face.
"What are we going to measure?" The Mouse's eyes twinkle when he rises to the bait.
She brings him and the Rabbit to a parked vehicle.
It is a BMW 523d.
"I want to verify if it really is four meters and nine centimeters." She shrugs before facing the bemused Rabbit to recount their very first game together.
In this golden afternoon, Alice holds the measuring tape as the Mouse pulls it across the length of the car. She crows when she finds out that he has always been right. The Rabbit chuckles at her antics.
Curious, thinks Alice.
He wants to...
Alice follows the Rabbit down the rabbit-hole. They find themselves in Wonderland, about to play against the Four of Clubs.
Curiouser and curiouser, thinks Arisu Ryouhei.
He wants to live.
Usagi sticks one last Salonpas on his sore arm when Nezumi slips into the warehouse, still unchanged as the last time he has seen her with Chishiya. That feels like a lifetime ago.
"Oh, you poor thing," she teases when she sees and smells the sweat. Arisu is too weary to glare at her.
"What was it?"
"Four of Clubs." Usagi is the one to answer. Nezumi sits cross-legged in front of them. Her expression turns solemn before giving him a pale blue pouch.
"Here." He unties the knot and gingerly peeks inside. He sucks in a breath at the contents and blinks away tears. He has assumed that he already ran out but he thought wrong. Within the cradle of the small bag are Karube's favorite lighter and Chouta's wristwatch.
"Thank you, Nezu-chan." His voice is thick with so many emotions that they would have trouble parsing through all of them.
"You're welcome, Arisu-kun," she replies with a sympathetic smile. Usagi consolingly pats the unpatched skin of his arm.
He has not divulged to either of them what exactly occurred in the botanical garden and he might never will, but they have inferred enough. They both recognized the Seven of Hearts card in his possession. And now, more than ever, he never wants to play another one again. If he loses either or both of them while he survives, Arisu would not be able to bear it a second time.
"I want to locate the Beach," Arisu declares to the girls as they prepare to retire for the night.
"I know that you don't want to, Nezu-chan. And Usagi, you have no obligation to tag along with me. But I want to honor Karube's wish. And I want, no, I need to know the truth about this place." Usagi shakes her head and gazes at him with gentle resoluteness. He cannot help but feel selfishly relieved that she is not abandoning him.
However, Nezumi's countenance remains unreadable. He understands her misgivings but there are also boons in joining a community, especially in a place like this. She sighs before burrowing her chin in her zipped up jacket.
"I've never seen a game arena go up in flames before. I thought the worst... and I was right." Arisu knows that it is not Nezumi's intention to make him feel ashamed but he cannot help it. It haunts him that he has not come back for her. And then she has squandered her visa days searching for him.
"It is idiotic to get attached to someone in a place like the Borderland. But here I am, being a fool." This is the first time Nezumi has revealed her sentiment out loud instead of him merely construing them from her mien.
"So I will go with the two of you. But the moment this Beach becomes too unsafe, we will leave at the very first opportunity. No objections or exceptions. Promise?"
Arisu cannot refrain from pulling them both into a tight hug.
"Which beach will we travel to first?" Usagi asks him and Nezumi, as they watch her set up the girls' tent like scolded children. She has given up on teaching them after she found out how hopeless they were when they almost broke it.
"Well, the nearest beaches to us are in Shonan, Izu, and Ito," Arisu enumerates. Nezumi pokes him on the cheek.
"Wrong."
"Eh?"
Usagi sits with them in the grass as Arisu bats away the offending finger.
"You must not take the name at face value," Nezumi advises.
"You mean it's a misdirection?" Usagi looks cute with her eyebrows furrowed, as she peers over the map he has spread out on the ground.
"Precisely, Usagi-chan!" Of course, Nezumi is already using that honorific for Usagi. And he is sure that she has cajoled Usagi into calling her Nezu-chan as well.
"If it's not an actual beach, then it'd take forever to check every place that has the name Beach on it," he whines and Nezumi lightly pinches his cheek this time.
"Wrong again. You must think like a Diamonds player, Arisu-kun. How are we going to find the Beach without wasting our time?" He soothes the sensation from his mistreated cheek as he mulls it over. He has no doubt that Nezumi has already figured it out and is simply enjoying leading him towards the answer.
"The wristbands!" Usagi tilts her head in confusion while Nezumi grins at him with pride. He proceeds to clarify his conclusion to Usagi.
"So all we have to do is keep an eye out for players wearing that specific kind of wristband and then shadow them." Usagi nods to herself as she spells out their new plan.
"Why do you think they call it the Beach?" Arisu asks as he folds the map close.
"Because the Beach is most likely a pool resort and the wristbands are the members' locker keys." He and Usagi whip their heads to gape at Nezumi, who has already plopped down in the open tent.
"And you want me to be the Diamonds player between the two of us." She shrugs before turning in. Usagi soon follows after stacking up their used utensils. Meanwhile, Arisu disposes of the bones of the fish Nezumi has luckily caught for dinner before rolling his sleeping bag beside their tent.
He recalls her anecdote as he lies down. Usagi has been teaching them how to clean and prepare the fish while Nezumi reminisced. Her friend has attempted to teach her how to catch fish, but Nezumi was none the wiser that her friend has little experience herself. Between the two of them, they only brought back one. But her friend has caught a large one and then shared it with the rest of their group, all the while lamenting over the fact that they missed sashimi and could not have it in the Borderland.
Arisu wonders if that is what Nezumi meant when she believed it unwise to get attached. Because why is she here with them and not with her friends? Where are they now? Are they truly dead? Or do they just play alone, like Nezumi used to do?
A mosquito bites him out of his reverie. The girls manage to coax him into their tent with their shared pragmatism. It is a snug fit and Arisu has half a mind to take his chances outside with the mosquitoes and other nocturnal insects.
When he stirs in the morning, Nezumi's blue hair is in his mouth while his arm is pinned and numb under Usagi's head. It is the best sleep he has ever had since Karube and Chouta have died.
They have found the Beach with visa days to spare, but at the cost of their freedom.
Number One, the so-called Hatter, turns to Nezumi. She is the only one between the three of them who looks nonchalant with their predicament. She is even leaning comfortably on the wooden chair the Beach henchman has shoved her into.
"You only have one card with you, why?" In spite of their situation, Arisu would like to know as well, seeing as he has witnessed her picking up the Three of Clubs and Five of Spades.
"I don't collect them," she responds in a casual manner.
"You can begin today for the Beach then!" She merely nods to appease Hatter.
"Tell me, what's the story behind this card?" Arisu swiftly suppresses the urge to flinch when Hatter flips Nezumi's card. It is the Five of Hearts.
"A moment of sentimentality."
"Ho~ How so?"
"It was my first game." The henchmen on guard whistle while the Executives remain impassive. Hatter bursts into laughter. Arisu still cannot wrap his head around the idea of a Hearts card being somebody's first game. He wishes he can pull Nezumi into a hug right now.
"And what did you think of your fellow players?"
"Predictable," is Nezumi's cold answer. The female Executive in all black grins at her while Hatter guffaws once more. Arisu cannot tell if it is Nezumi's true perspective or if it is only what she supposes Hatter wants to hear.
"I like you, Nezumi! Say, have we met before?" She raises an eyebrow before pondering over it.
"No, because I would surely never forget someone as charismatic as you." Her forthright tone prompts another fit of laughter from Hatter. The Executives now look slightly irked while the henchmen uneasily glance at each other.
"You're right! How could anyone forget me? But I remember now." Hatter snaps his fingers.
"You're the brand ambassador of KISU." Her eyes briefly widen at the mention of the company name. Hatter has spoken many alarming things but this is what it takes to visibly disconcert Nezumi.
"Not anymore." She smiles wanly.
"Pity. I liked their hat collection. You should model mine in the future." Hatter pulls down his sunglasses just to wink at her.
"It depends. Can you afford me?" Hatter chortles at Nezumi's forced playful reply.
"Cheeky~ Anyway, once again, welcome to our utopia! We'll make a specialist out of you yet, Nezumi."
Arisu anxiously waits for the girls by the outdoor pool as they change into their swimsuits. He does not like being separated from them, especially now of all times. Nezumi is right; they should have never come here.
But the information they have just learned is worth it. This place that Nezumi and everyone else call the Borderland is another country that requires people to renew their visas by playing death games. He has been half tempted to ask Hatter if he knows whether this facsimile of Tokyo is the border itself or one side of a border. If it is the latter, what is on the other side?
And he is relieved to discover that only a handful of number cards need to be collected. But the Beach still has not come across and won a single face card. Is Nezumi right that no one has lived to tell the tale yet? Or are there no face card games after all? Arisu cannot even begin to imagine the cruelty of the Court but he will clear them all the same. Just so both Usagi and Nezumi can go home.
"A tart for your thoughts, Alice?" He jumps out of his skin as he feels Nezumi's breath on his ear. He whips around to greet them, only for him to choke on his own tongue.
The girls have arrived with their arms linked together. Arisu is not surprised that Usagi would pick a set of athletic swimwear but he has not predicted the uncovered midriff. Meanwhile, Nezumi has donned a purple gingham two-piece swimsuit. He is definitely not used to seeing them with this much bare skin, especially Nezumi who is always engulfed by her oversized hoodie.
"Eyes up here, Arisu-kun." Blood immediately rushes to the apple of his cheeks when Nezumi has caught him staring at their physique. Usagi has already zipped up her salmon-colored jacket.
"I'm sorry! You two just look so... cute." His eyes widen at his last word. What he is meant to say is exposed!
"I mean...!" But the damage has already been done as the girls turn to each other and start giggling like a pair of high school students.
"Oh, Arisu! You're so easy to tease," Usagi remarks before sobering when she catches sight of her own locker key.
"I'm rank 72 and they assigned me room 416."
"Oh! I'm rank 73 and got 417." Arisu is glad to find out that they are staying in the same floor and that those with malicious intentions towards the girls would have to pass by his room first.
But the games are another matter entirely.
"Thank you for holding Nezu-chan back, Chishiya-san." Arisu has made sure to only approach the older man when the meeting room and hallway are completely deserted. Nezumi has taught him how to hide his allies in plain sight after all.
"No need to be formal," is his terse reply. Arisu huffs. It seems that Chishiya has also remained consistent.
"Think of it as a favor for making Niragi's imagination run wild."
From the corner of his eye, Arisu has seen Nezumi, who has just come back from her own game, already gearing up to intercede in his and Usagi's confrontation with the militants at the poolside. Luckily, Chishiya is there to furtively grab and shush her. To protect both her and Usagi, Arisu has had to manipulate the situation.
He has quickly picked out Hatter among the tense crowd. Number One needs everyone to always be in high spirits and this is the perfect time to assuage their terror over the militants. That way, the cannon fodder just has to focus on staying alive within the games instead of in their utopia as well.
"I guess I was right not to choose your faction. You look like a violent group. If I'd gone with you, I'd probably be getting tortured or something by now." For someone who is a Diamonds specialist, the pierced man has failed to hide being caught off guard by his laidback confidence. Arisu has effortlessly read it from Niragi's contorted face that he thinks that he has valuable information that Hatter desires.
"Though it's nice to know. Even in a place like this, there are people looking out for guys like me. That's all I wanted to say." Now Niragi has underestimated him by deeming him incapable of locating the Beach by himself and has had to make a deal to be invited.
He has managed to deliver this with his hand in his pocket and the other scratching his head. Even though deep inside, he has never felt more sweaty and frightened. Hatter's intervention has only further driven the point home to the militants that he has the man's backing. But because of his bluff, their eyes are on him now. And yet it does not matter, as long as it does not stray to Usagi and Nezumi.
"You have something against Niragi?" Arisu teasingly asks as they walk back to the outdoor pool.
"It's because he's a moron." Arisu has not expected Chishiya to be this frank that it makes him wheeze from sudden laughter. The medical student simply smirks at his reaction. His laidback demeanor has loosened the knot in Arisu's stomach. Despite Chishiya's position as an Executive, he is reassured to know that he has someone he can rely on from the inside.
They find that the girls have not moved from the chaise lounges. Usagi and Nezumi sag in relief to see him unharmed while Kuina raises an eyebrow when she registers Chishiya with him.
"Here." Nezumi offers glasses to both of them. He receives a mojito while Chishiya's seems to be a hard cider.
"How did you know my usual?" Because she guessed it right on the first try.
"Karube-san tried to guess what I would usually order at a bar and then we got into talking about everybody else's." His best friend was of the belief that one can know a person by what alcoholic drink they prefer to imbibe.
Usagi is nursing a yuzu cosmopolitan cocktail while Kuina is on her second Wednesday Cat. Arisu is surprised by the half-empty bottle of Yebisu Premium Black dangling from Nezumi's fingers when she has not drunk the classic Kirin beer that Karube let her have in the past.
He wishes that his best friends are here with them at the Beach. Karube would sagely impart his opinion of the group based on their drinks and their taste. Meanwhile, Chouta would mimic Karube's facial expressions and gestures while having a highball in hand. And he would surely have a great time with the people he holds dear.
Arisu takes a sip of his mojito. He only misses the one Karube makes for him.
Arisu smells of bourbon.
He crams himself in between her and Usagi on the bed. When Nezumi has learned that Arisu has been summoned to Hatter's royal suite alone, she immediately heads to Usagi's hotel room so they can wait for him together. Usagi has lightly dozed off while she continues playing on her Nintendo DS Lite.
Usagi rolls to curl on Arisu's side while he uses Nezumi's shoulder as a pillow to watch her get lost in Eterna Forest. His conversation with Hatter has definitely upset him but it seems that he does not want to talk about it. She cannot play with one hand so she leans her cheek on Arisu's shaggy hair instead to comfort him.
Nezumi misses the days when she has no one to care about. But meeting Arisu and watching him play has struck a chord in her. He has this instinctive way of reminding you that one does not have to be self-serving to survive in the Borderland and that people can still choose to be good even in this place.
When she has witnessed the botanical garden lit up in flames but not caused by an explosion on the bicycle ride back, Nezumi has almost forgotten what heartache feels like. She knows that only one of the boys has cleared the game. So Nezumi has searched for whoever it is, curious and hoping. It is merely by chance that she stumbled upon Usagi in a bookstore.
It is Arisu. How selfish of her to only feel relief when she learned that it is him who survived. She hates getting soaked by the rain and yet she still knelt on the wet asphalt just to console him. Her clever boy. Nezumi is no longer simply attached. She does not want Arisu to be whittled by the Borderland. He is a good person and living proof that love and selflessness can still prevail in this place.
Even Shuntarou is intrigued by him.
Nezumi wishes she never found out that he is also here. One of her reasons for wanting to go home has become tangible and she has even more to lose now. And she is terrified for Shuntarou and what the Borderland will prove to him. She is glad that he has met Arisu, the antithesis to his philosophy. Perhaps Arisu will be the one to succeed in sundering Shuntarou's impregnable walls where she could not.
She has never once regretted breaking off her engagement with him. She has always known that she is not the one he needs and will change for. And it seems that it may be Arisu. Nezumi has never witnessed Shuntarou not taking his eyes off someone until now. Arisu is good for him. That is why she will always choose to let Shuntarou go. But there are times when she wishes she can muster up the inclination to be selfish and jealous in a relationship.
Arisu's breathing has evened out and Usagi has fallen into a deeper slumber. Nezumi gazes at the sleeping pair and then thinks of Shuntarou and Kuina, a genuine friend of his ex-fiancé that she never imagined he would ever make.
She will get them home, no matter the cost.