Chapter 10 – An Unexpected Ally
Another month goes by. One day, just after Junto had finished a match, he went over to the reception desk to schedule the next one. Over 20 matches are in front of him. Whilst waiting for his game, Junto sits down on one of the benches.
“I hate the rush hour at the arena. It takes so long to get into a game.”
Junto sighs.
“Its not that bad when I have to wait with somebody else. But Genki and Kimiko tend to avoid rush hour battles.”
Someone sits next to Junto as he continues to speak.
“I need to get more experience in 2v2 battles, in case Azuma and Hiroki want to face me in one. I need a partner to team up with when the others aren’t around.”
The person sitting next to Junto speaks.
“It just so happens that I need a partner to play with too. Now that you’re rank 57 and I’m rank 65, we can play together.”
Junto looks over to see who’s talking to him and his eyes widen.
“Taisei Matsumoto…”
Taisei smiles.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself when we first spoke. I got to carried away with recounting the tale of the boy wonder.”
Junto looks hesitant. Taisei continues.
“Unlike your friends, I always play Killjoy during the rush hours. Plus, I’m experienced in 2v2 battles and open to playing with you. I once met someone a long time ago and the look in his eye was like yours. You don’t play this game to reach rank 100… do you?”
Junto stands up and smiles. He then extends an arm to Taisei.
“Let’s play Killjoy.”
They decide to arrange a 2v2 fight and wait until their match comes. When the match arrives, they face off against two people of similar ranks. One of the opponents makes a remark as they all sit down at the table.
“Let’s make this quick.”
Taisei takes offence to this.
“The only thing that will be quick is you hitting that button.”
The opponent looks condescendingly at Taisei.
“We’ll just see about that.”
The coin on the screen flips. Taisei and Junto go first. Junto nods at Taisei. Taisei smiles.
“This game is nothing but free points.”
Taisei plays the card that reads ‘Every time a player passes their turn, a nail is hammered into the opponent’.
The turn switches to the opponents and they each clench their teeth is pain.
“We can do this.”
The first opponent plays a card that reads ‘Your opponent is in a desert heatwave for the rest of the game’.
Suddenly, Junto and Taisei begin to sweat heavily. Junto turns to Taisei.
“Looks like they also need some climate control.”
Junto plays his next card, it reads ‘Your opponent is in a blizzard for the rest of the game’.
Suddenly the opponents begin to shiver.
The second opponent prepares her card.
“This is our secret technique. Eat the sands of the desert that you are in!”
The second opponent plays the card that reads ‘Your opponent’s mouth feels like it’s gradually filling with sand’.
Taisei then plays a card with the number 1 written on it.
“An extra point for us. Though, I doubt this battle will go the distance.”
The first opponent looks confident.
“This is the breaking point. You will now feel the sand fill your mouth as you suffocate.”
The first opponent plays his next card. The card reads ‘Your opponent can’t breathe until they end their next turn’.
Junto and Taisei do not react to this. The opponents are in shock. Junto plays his next card, it reads ‘Your opponent faces a surge of anxiety’.
One of the opponents makes a remark.
“Using low tier cards. How weak do you think we are?”
The second opponent plays the card ‘Your opponent cannot see or hear anything that is more than two metres away’.
However, the opponent made the fatal mistake of playing this card before they could calm themselves fully. Taisei notices this and grabs his next card.
“Most people consider this a weak card, but it makes a fine contrast to the cold that you are feeling. It sometimes make players jump out of their seat.”
Taisei plays the card that reads ‘Boiling water is thrown onto your opponent’.
It was as if Taisei could tell the future. The first opponent’s anxiety skyrocketed as the sensation of the boiling water hit his icy skin. He hit the Killjoy button and the game was over.
Junto and Taisei look at each other. Junto feels confident.
“Here’s to the next one hundred wins.”
