Ace in the Hole

(Apparently cleaning duty for today is a solitary confinement cell for a dangerous criminal… Let’s just get this over with…)

(But, man, that “King” guy I met yesterday…)

Kitakata Raito. …According to collected data, he is presently the leader of the most powerful faction on this island prison.

Also the founder of a metaverse community, an entrepreneur, and an investor. Ranked among the top in JPN’s “Most Desirable Lover” list for nine consecutive years.

Oh? You’re pretty informed.

Biometric scan results indicate that he is one hundred and eighty-two centimeters in height. His weight is–

H-hey! Bringing that up is rude!

Ahaha! You newcomers are rather funny.

As Number 17 said, I’m forming a group… or, rather, a gang in this prison.

There are other gangs too, but you would be better off joining one if you want to protect yourselves from people like the ones you just clashed with. If you wanted to join mine, I’d gladly welcome you.

Gangs…?

Right. Mine is the strongest, but there’s another one that rivals it.

I wouldn’t recommend that one though… Their leader is a bit difficult to deal with.

Number 10-kun, Number 17-kun. From what I’ve seen, you’re both model prisoners. So you two probably wouldn’t see eye to eye with him.

Invitation to faction declined.

Really… Any reason why?

A command system has already been implemented by the guards. Multiple command systems run the risk of lag in computational processing.

Processing…?

Well, Number 10-kun, what about you? Also, could you tell me your names?

Azekawa Kinari.¹

(! It really is Kinari²… It’s the same name…)

I’m… Kinouchi Tao.

Kinari and Tao. In numerology, you two would be 8 and 1.³ Those are good numbers.

(Nume… What now?)

Well, you don’t need to answer right away. My motto is to think fast, but you both have plenty of time, right?

…? R-right…

(Why is Raito-san saying that… as if he doesn’t have time?)

Just a warning, the leader of my gang’s rival is…

Let’s see… In terms of Euchre,⁴ if I were the King, then he’d be the Jack.

He’s dangerous, so be careful.

(By Euchre… He meant the card game, right?)

(The Jack is… something like a trump card. Kinda like a card that can change the course of the entire round in one go… I guess?)

(Raito-san seems like a nice guy, but I don’t really know if I want to join his gang.)

(Ever since I got here I’ve been trying to keep myself at arms length from people…)

Sigh… What a pain…

Well hello there, Black Haired Fiú.⁵ What’s got you sighing like that?

…! Oh, nothing…!

(Wha… Isn’t this a solitary confinement cell? Why’s the door open?!)

Ufufu. It’s okay, you can take a peek. Behold my castle, Fiú.

(What’s a… “Fiú”…?)

Umm, I’m sorry. I was just cleaning…

Cleaning? Why don’t you stop doing such a boring chore and come chat with me instead?

Ohhh… Are you one of the new ones that got here yesterday? Number 500010… What a perfect number. We should have a waltz to celebrate.

(What’s… with this guy? Wait a second, why is there a guard inside the cell…? And why is the guard giving him a back massage?!)

Oh, are you curious about him?

Poor thing, this guard creature here. He thought he was keeping watch, but ended up being the imprisoned one instead…

So I let him touch my precious body, for at least a bit of comfort.

Thank you very much, Kuguri-san…!

That’s it… You’re so good at this. Would you like to join us, Fiú?

I-I’ll pass, thanks…

(Hm? Could it be… Is this guy…?)

I heard the King offered you an invitation to his gang yesterday. You haven’t joined it yet though, right?

I’m Domeki Kuguri. This island’s Emperor, and the guy who’s one step above the King.

(…?! Domeki Kuguri! That would make him the guy that King… No, Raito-san, said was dangerous!)

Oh um… I’m sorry, I’m not really interested in the whole “gangs” thing…

Fiú, there’s a bit of despair in your eyes. If you hung around me, I think that sweet despair could shine a lot brighter.

Ahaha… Well, anyone that ends up in a place like this has to have some despair in them.

……

Anyway, I’ve gotta get back to cleaning… Pardon me!

Hmmm… What a maci.⁶

This should be a fun way to kill time.