The game continued.
And somehow—
somehow—
it had become serious.
Very serious.
Mahito was still suffering in the distance.
BOOOOM
CRASH
"WHY IS THERE A MAHORAGA MAHORAGA NOW?!"
Nobody reacted.
That was environmental audio at this point.
Yuji grabbed from the pile.
Looked.
"…Eight!"
He immediately slapped it down.
Flipped the card beneath—
King.
Silence.
Yuji stared.
"…Traitor."
He tossed it away dramatically.
Hakari grinned and grabbed next.
"…Watch greatness."
Flip.
Queen.
Silence.
Another card.
King.
Longer silence.
Nanami took a sip of coffee.
"…Impressive."
Hakari slowly lowered his hand.
"…I don't wanna play anymore."
Higaruma adjusted his cards carefully.
Grabbed.
Placed.
Flipped.
Placed.
Flipped.
Placed.
Flipped.
Three cards in a row.
Clean.
Perfect.
Yuji pointed immediately.
"HEY!"
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
"…He's good."
Nanami looked over.
Actually interested.
"…Hm."
Takeru looked around suspiciously.
"…Why does Higaruma feel like he's been preparing for this his entire life?"
Higaruma calmly adjusted his sleeve.
"…Card games are structured systems."
A pause.
"…I enjoy structured systems."
Across from him—
Nanami had already quietly revealed half his board somehow.
Hakari slowly looked between them.
"…No."
Yuji looked too.
"…NO."
Takeru stared.
"…They're locked in."
Behind them—
Mahito crashed through a pillar.
"SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEEEE!"
A Mahoraga variant sprinted after him.
Then another.
Then three more.
Nobody turned.
The card game had priorities now.