A Game of Three
The hospital hallway felt heavier than usual. Naoki had just finished wiping his eyes after visiting his mother's room, where he poured his heart out in whispers she couldn't answer. He was still carrying that lump in his chest when he stepped into Hope's VIP hospital room.
But today wasn't just Hope.
Sitting in the chair by her bed was a mountain of a man. Broad shoulders. Arms thick as tree trunks, marked with winding tattoos that peeked out from under his black T-shirt. He had a jaw that looked like it could break steel and eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
Naoki froze in the doorway.
Hope's eyes lit up when she saw him.
"Naoki!" she called cheerfully.
The giant slowly turned his head. His gaze landed on Naoki like a hammer dropping.
Naoki swallowed hard. …God help me.
"Ah… hello," Naoki managed, forcing an awkward bow.
The big man didn't reply. Just stared. His silence felt louder than thunder.
Naoki shuffled in, sat stiffly on the chair across from Hope, and tried not to look directly at the beast of a brother looming near her.
Hope, oblivious to the silent pressure, clapped her hands.
"Let's play cards today!"
"C-cards?" Naoki repeated, glancing nervously at the giant who still hadn't blinked once.
"Yes! It'll be fun. My brother will play too," she said casually, shuffling the deck with practiced hands.
Naoki's soul nearly left his body. He's playing too?! Oh no. Oh no, no, no…
The giant finally spoke, his voice deep and low like rolling thunder.
"…Deal."
Naoki stiffened.
"Yes, sir."
Hope giggled. "Why are you calling him sir? He's my brother!"
Naoki didn't answer. He was too busy trying not to sweat through his shirt.
The three of them sat around a small foldable table in Hope's room. Hope handed out cards with a bright smile, her frail hands steady with excitement.
Naoki glanced at his hand of cards. Not great. Not terrible. He tried to focus, but every time he looked up, the giant's piercing gaze was already on him. Watching. Measuring.
Hope cheerfully placed her card down.
"Seven of hearts!"
Naoki scrambled.
"Uh—uh, six of hearts!"
The giant laid down his card slowly, deliberately.
"Eight."
Naoki flinched. "Good card… very… very good card…"
Hope laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
"Naoki, you're acting like you're being interrogated!"
"Am I not?" Naoki whispered under his breath.
The giant shifted, cracking his knuckles. Naoki nearly dropped his cards.
But then—Hope leaned closer to her brother, grinning.
"Don't scare him. You're making him nervous."
"I'm not doing anything," the brother rumbled.
"That's the problem!" Naoki blurted, then slapped a hand over his mouth.
For a moment, silence hung heavy. The giant stared at him. Naoki's life flashed before his eyes.
Then, unexpectedly… the giant let out a small, low chuckle.
"…He's funny."
Naoki exhaled so loudly it was almost a sob.
"Thank you… I think…"
Hope burst out laughing again.
As the game went on, something strange happened. Naoki realized the giant wasn't just watching him like prey—he was actually playing. And not badly, either. He even had a habit of dramatically placing down his winning cards with a smirk, like he was showing off.
Hope rolled her eyes.
"You always do that! You think you're some kind of champion."
"Because I am," the brother said matter-of-factly.
Naoki dared to grin.
"Well, champion, you just walked into my trap. Full house."
Hope gasped.
"No way!"
The giant's brows lifted. He looked at Naoki's hand, then at Naoki himself, and finally gave the faintest nod of respect.
"…Not bad, kid."
Naoki sat up straighter, a spark of pride slipping through his nerves.
They played round after round—sometimes Hope won, sometimes Naoki, and sometimes her brother, who clearly wasn't holding back. The air in the room slowly softened, filled with laughter, teasing, and the sound of cards snapping against the table.
For a moment, Naoki forgot he was in a hospital.
After a few hours, the game ended with Hope stretching her arms, satisfied and glowing from laughter.
"I'm so happy," she murmured, smiling brightly at both of them.
Naoki's heart swelled at the sight.
Then Hope's brother stood, towering over Naoki.
"Naoki. Come here."
Naoki's blood ran cold.
"…Y-yes?"
He followed the man a few steps away, half-expecting to be shoved against the wall. But instead, the giant crossed his arms, looking down at him with a serious expression.
"…Thank you."
Naoki blinked.
"…H-huh?"
"Hope doesn't smile much anymore," the brother said quietly, his voice heavy with something softer than before. "Not since she got sick. But today… she smiled. She laughed. That's because of you."
Naoki's chest tightened. He didn't know what to say.
The brother placed a massive hand on his shoulder.
"You have no idea how much that means. So… thank you."
Naoki swallowed hard, his eyes stinging.
"…I'm just… glad I could do something."
The giant gave him one last firm nod before walking back to his sister.
Naoki stood frozen, heart pounding—but this time, not from fear. From something else. Something warmer.
And when Hope looked at him and smiled again.
✨ End of Chapter ✨