Chapter 5: Trust's Test
The humid air of the overgrown park was thick, gluing Kirito's t-shirt to his skin, the fabric clinging like a second layer of guilt.
He wiped the back of his neck, feeling the grit of Borderland dust under his fingers, its texture a constant reminder of the city's decay.
The sun, fractured by dense vines that had swallowed a rusted jungle gym, cast a sickly green-gold light over the clearing, painting their shadows in jagged streaks.
A faint, acrid scent of cigarette smoke undercut the damp earth, curling through the air like a warning.
"Anyone here is either a player or a predator," Kirito muttered, his voice barely audible over the faint hum of his phone, hidden in his palm.
The Visa Clock's cold pulse ticked against his wrist, its red glow casting faint shadows across his veins, each tick a reminder of their dwindling time.
[SYSTEM: QUERY: INITIATE 'SCOUT SURROUNDINGS' PUZZLE? (COST: 0 SP)]
"Yeah, do it. Need to know where the wolves are hiding," Kirito thought, his inner voice sharp with caution.
[SYSTEM: PUZZLE INITIATED: SCANS FOR ACTIVE PLAYER HEAT SIGNATURES (NON-ALLY). RANGE: 50M. PROCESSING…]
Usagi's boots crunched the dried grass with deliberate precision, her breaths sharp and controlled, the sound of someone always ready to bolt.
Arisu trailed slightly behind, his charcoal-dusted hands twitching, his eyes scanning the shadows as if expecting betrayal in every corner.
Before Kirito could suggest moving, a stiff piece of paper fluttered down, landing at his feet—a 4♣ game card, its clover suit glowing faintly in the dim light.
He looked up, heart lurching.
Perched on a low ginkgo branch was a woman, her long legs dangling casually, a cigarette curling smoke around her head.
Her grin was confident, almost mocking, her dark eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and wariness, her frame lean and athletic, clad in a worn tank top and cargo pants.
"Took you long enough to notice me," she called, her voice low and husky, carrying the rough edge of someone who'd seen too many games.
Kirito flashed a grin, masking the spike of adrenaline.
"Well, you're not a heat signature, so either you're cold-blooded or a ghost. What's the deal? Dropping gifts for strangers?"
She dropped to the ground with a soft thud, her boots kicking up dust, her cigarette glowing faintly as she exhaled.
"The deal is, I saw three people trying to survive, and I'm figuring out if you're dumb enough to trust each other or smart enough to use each other. Which is it?"
She flicked the card with her toe, her grin sharpening.
"And I'm not new. Just cautious. Betrayal's quicker than a Visa timer."
Kirito's smile widened, his flirty charm a reflex despite the tension.
"Betrayal's messy. I prefer alliances. Look, doll, you seem resourceful. Why not join our survival club? We could use a nimble partner."
He winked, deliberate and confident.
[SYSTEM: DEBUFF TRIGGER: FAILED FLIRT. 'WINK' MECHANIC ACTIVATED. COOLDOWN: 120S.]
The wink morphed into a frantic, uncontrollable blinking fit, his face scrunching like he'd bitten a lemon.
"Damn it, System, not now!"
He clapped a hand over his eye, his cheeks burning.
The woman threw her head back, her throaty laugh cutting through the humid air.
"Oh, man, you're a piece of work. Is that your signature move? The twitchy blink? Stick to not complimenting me."
Arisu stepped forward, his voice low and earnest, his hands smudged with charcoal.
"We lost friends in a game. We're not here to use anyone. We're here to survive and get out. Fight with us, and you won't need to watch your back."
Her grin softened, the cigarette's ember flaring as she extinguished it on her shoe's sole.
"Okay, kid. You've got spirit. And your friend's… painfully honest."
She nodded, her voice steady.
"I'm Kuina. Been running solo. Pull any crap, and I'll break you."
Usagi gave a curt nod, her ponytail swaying.
"Usagi. Let's move."
Their footsteps—four distinct crunches now—echoed through the park, heavier, more certain, as they headed toward the stadium.
The abandoned gym was a monument to decay, its dim yellow light filtering through cracked skylights, catching ash swirls in the stagnant air.
A peeling neon sign pulsed in the center: 3♣, its glow casting eerie shadows across the warped floorboards.
The game was a relay across the gym, dodging traps—nets, gas canisters, and hidden blades triggered by pressure plates.
Kirito flexed his knees, his pulse racing.
"Okay, my turn. I'm fast, so I go first."
[SYSTEM: ACTIVATE SKILL: AGILITY LEAP (COST: 50 SP). EFFECT: +50 AGILITY FOR 10 SECONDS. COOLDOWN: 5 MINUTES.]
He didn't run—he flew, vaulting a sprung net with a grace that felt unnatural, crossing the final ten feet in a single, impossible leap, passing the relay marker to Arisu with a breathless grin.
"Eat that, parkour gods."
The traps reset, their metallic clicks sharper, more menacing.
Kuina's turn came, her confident smirk faltering as a gas canister hissed, its spray aimed at Arisu, who froze mid-step.
Usagi's voice cracked like a whip across the gym.
"Move or die, Kuina! Now!"
Kuina sprinted, her body a blur as she executed a diving shoulder-roll under the gas's path, grabbing Arisu's shoulder and flinging him clear of a snapping net.
The net grazed her back, tearing her tank top, but she shoved the marker into Arisu's hand, her breath ragged.
"You're welcome, pencil-pusher."
The team finished the relays in a blur of desperate motion, their breaths syncing as the timer flashed 0:00, the neon sign dimming.
[SYSTEM: GAME CLEAR: 3♣. REWARDS: 3 DAYS VISA EXTENSION FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.]
[SYSTEM: SYSTEM POINTS GAINED: 30 SP.]
[SYSTEM: TOTAL SP: 170.]
They huddled in the gym's corner, their ragged breathing filling the vast space, the faint tick of their Visa wristbands a quiet reminder of their victory.
In the gym's far corner, the air cooler but still heavy, Kuina offered Kirito her hand, palm up, her grin softer now.
"You're weird, but you didn't ditch me. You risked your neck to distract that trap. That's… enough for me. Truce. Officially."
"Perfect. Handshake Ritual time," Kirito thought, his heart lifting.
[SYSTEM: INITIATE HANDSHAKE BOND PROTOCOL. TARGET: KUINA. REQUIREMENT: GENUINE ALLYSHIP DETECTED. COST: 0 SP. REWARD: 30 SP.]
He took her hand, his grip warm and firm, a quiet promise in the gesture.
Usagi glanced at Arisu's hesitation, her voice sharp.
"She fought. She saved you. She's in. Stop thinking."
Kuina squeezed Kirito's hand before releasing it, her eyes on Arisu.
"The gymnast's right, Sketch-pad. Besides, who'd I share my secret chocolate stash with? Not ditching you yet."
[SYSTEM: HANDSHAKE BOND CONFIRMED: KUINA. 30 SP GAINED.]
[SYSTEM: TOTAL SP: 200.]
Relief surged through Kirito, warm and grounding, like the first sip of coffee after a sleepless night.
"So, formalities done. We need a plan," he said, his voice steadier.
"The Beach—everyone's talking about it. A safe zone, maybe."
Kuina stood, cracking her neck, her voice dry.
"It's a cult. A death trap. But if it's got Visa extensions, it's worth a shot. I know a route."
Their footsteps echoed on the cracked pavement as they left the gym, the distant glow of the Beach a beacon in the twilight, the sound of four sets of boots a solid, unified rhythm.
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