Chapter 13: Kuina's Stand
The gym arena was a furnace, its air thick with glowing ash and the metallic tang of sweat that coated Kirito's throat like rust. The open-sided structure amplified the ocean's roar, a relentless pulse that clashed with the sickly neon 8♣ flickering overhead, its light splintering off sweat-soaked mats and rusted equipment. Kirito's t-shirt clung to his skin, a damp second layer that chafed with every move, a bead of sweat stinging his left eye as his heart hammered an anxious rhythm. His fingers brushed the phone in his pocket, its faint vibration a secret lifeline, the Visa Clock's red glow a silent countdown on his wrist.
"8 of Clubs. Group physical challenge. Perfect for me to play cheerleader instead of gladiator," he thought, his sarcasm a thin shield against the dread knotting his stomach.
[SYSTEM: HOST STATUS.]
[STRENGTH: 5. AGILITY: 7. STAMINA: 6. SYSTEM POINTS (SP): 445.]
Kuina strode ahead, her steps silent on the padded mats, her posture a defiant contrast to the arena's oppressive weight. A cigarette rested behind her ear, its thin smoke curling against the neon's glow, her grin sharp and fearless. A low, cryptic hum escaped her lips, a melody that felt both familiar and unsettling, like a challenge whispered to the chaos itself. Arisu trailed her, his charcoal-smudged hands clutching his notebook, his eyes scanning the arena's geometry rather than the crowd. Usagi flanked them, her boots kicking up ash, her scar faintly pulsing, her sharp inhale a signal of her readiness to fight.
"So, what's the call, Queen of the Clubs?" Kirito asked, his voice laced with a flirty cadence, a deliberate mask over his nerves. "You look ready to own this place."
Kuina's chuckle was dry, untouched by fear. "Always ready, Kiri-chan. Physical game, my turf. Usagi and I handle the heavy lifting, Arisu times it, and you keep that Visa Clock from flatlining."
Arisu's gaze didn't waver from the arena's layout, his voice low but precise. "Rules are simple: keep the baton moving for five minutes, avoid the electrified edges. But 8 of Clubs means it's not just physical. It's trust. Who breaks first? Who do we rely on?"
Usagi's breath was sharp, her stance coiled. "I'll hold the line. Anyone tries to cut us off, they're done."
The game erupted into chaos, a frantic scramble to maintain the baton's relay. Kuina moved with liquid precision, her body a blur of kinetic force, dodging obstacles with a dancer's grace. Usagi was a storm, her staff carving space, her scar catching the neon's pulse as she shielded the team. Kirito watched, his vision flickering with System data, tracking their fatigue. Kuina's pace faltered slightly, her breaths shorter, her grin tightening.
"Kuina's fading. Gotta juice her up before the cult moves," Kirito thought, his focus narrowing.
[SYSTEM: QUERY: INITIATE 'TEAM RELAY' (COST: 50 SP)? TARGET: KUINA. SKILL: TEMPORARY STAMINA BOOST (+20%).]
"Do it. Make it look natural," he commanded.
[SYSTEM: TEAM RELAY ACTIVE. STAMINA BOOST APPLIED. TOTAL SP: 395.]
Kirito brushed past Kuina as she ran her lap, his voice a playful jab. "Looking tired, Queen! Pick up the pace!"
The boost hit, Kuina's stride surging as if spurred by his taunt, her grin flashing with renewed fire. "Oh, you want pace, Kiri-chan?" she called, her voice sharp with defiance.
A cultist slid from the crowd, his forehead slick with grimy sweat, a sly grin stretching his lips as he lunged for the baton in Kuina's hand. When she dodged, he pivoted, sweeping his foot low to trip Arisu, who was calculating the next rotation. Kirito's shout cut through the noise. "Arisu!"
His mind raced, panic spiking as he reached for his riskiest trick. He locked eyes with Kuina, aiming for a charming wink to distract the cultist.
[SYSTEM: FLIRTATION PROTOCOL ENGAGED. SUCCESS CHANCE: LOW.]
[SYSTEM: DEBUFF TRIGGER: FLIRTY FUMBLE. MANDATORY 15-SECOND NON-LETHAL FAILURE. PUNISH: HICCUP SEQUENCE.]
His eyelid twitched, refusing to close smoothly, and a series of loud, cartoonish hiccups jerked his head. "HIC—Hey, HIC—Kuina! You're, HIC—the best!" he sputtered, his face burning crimson.
Kuina froze, then burst into laughter, her eyes flicking to the cultist, who hesitated, confused by the absurd noise. "Pfft! Bad luck, Kiri-chan! Your charm's glitching!"
The hiccups, mortifying as they were, gave Kuina the split-second she needed. Her laughter faded, her leg sweeping in a cobra-fast strike, connecting with the cultist's shin. He crumpled with a pained gasp, releasing Arisu, who scrambled back, his face a mix of shock and gratitude. Kuina snagged the baton, her strength carrying the team forward.
"Back to business," she said, her voice a low growl. "Less flirting, more winning, Kiri-chan."
The final rotations were flawless, the baton crossing the finish line as the neon 8♣ flickered out. Their visas extended by eight hours, and relief washed over them, a heavy tide that softened their ragged breaths. They jogged from the gym, the ash and ocean's roar fading behind their shared focus.
"That was close, Kuina," Arisu said, his voice tinged with lingering fear.
"Yeah, but we won," Kuina replied, her tone simple but firm.
The sandy shore stretched before them, the waves' rhythm a soothing counterpoint to the arena's chaos. The stars dimmed under the ash-heavy sky, the Visa Clock's ticks loud in the quiet. Kuina turned to Kirito, her cigarette's smoke curling lazily, her smile small but genuine. She extended her hand, palm up.
"Truce, Kiri-chan. Thanks for the… hiccup distraction. Saved Arisu's butt."
Kirito clasped her hand, feeling its rough strength, a quiet warmth cutting through his adrenaline.
[SYSTEM: HANDSHAKE RITUAL INITIATED. COST: 0 SP. REWARD: +30 SP (TEAM TRUST ACHIEVED). TRAIT UPDATE: KUINA LOYALTY +10%. TOTAL SP: 425.]
"30 SP for a handshake? The System loves loyalty," Kirito thought, a flicker of satisfaction easing his tension.
"Anytime, Kuina," he said, squeezing her hand.
Arisu and Usagi watched, a shared sense of unity settling over them. Arisu's voice broke the quiet, hesitant but grim. "The cult won't stop. They targeted the relay to split us. I'm betting the J-Card's next, something intellectual to isolate me."
Usagi nodded, her voice flat with resolve. "Hatter wants us broken. Small groups winning makes him look weak."
Kuina clapped her hands, the sound sharp in the stillness. "We're family now. Betrayal doesn't touch family. Arisu, you do your logic thing. Usagi and I keep you safe. Simple."
They retreated to a half-ruined hotel room, the dawn's dusty orange light painting the horizon. Kirito's phone glowed with a J♦, its neon pulse a looming threat.
"It's the J of Diamonds," he murmured, his fingers tracing the screen.
[SYSTEM: PUZZLE INITIATED. COST: 0 SP. OBJECTIVE: STRATEGIZE J♦ (INTELLECTUAL). PARAMETER: ANTICIPATE SOCIAL RIGGING.]
Arisu sketched probability charts, his voice steady. "If it's Mahjong or a riddle, they'll rig the clues or distribution."
Usagi shifted, her anxiety breaking through. "I'm worried about retaliation. They won't let this slide."
[SYSTEM: 8♣ VICTORY REGISTERED. SP GAIN: +80 SP. TOTAL: 505.]
Kuina flicked her cigarette butt away, her stance bold. "Relax. Worrying's their game. We've got trust and a plan. We'll crush their J-Card and their leader."
Their feet crunched on the sand, driven by resolve, the neon's hum growing louder as they approached the next arena, the J♦ a sharp promise of challenge.
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