The neon lights of the Shinjuku district flickered in the rain, reflecting off the puddles in the dark alleyways. Akira pulled his hood lower. In his pocket, the golden watch felt heavier than ever.
[Current Shameless Points: 850] [Status: Ready for High-Stakes]
He stood before a nondescript steel door with a sliding slit. This wasn't a school hallway; this was "The Gilded Cage," an illegal underground casino where the city's wealthiest sharks came to prey on the desperate.
"I'm here to play," Akira said, his voice dropping an octave.
The guard laughed, eyeing Akira's worn-out sneakers. "Beat it, kid. This isn't an arcade."
Akira didn't flinch. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the 5,000 yen he'd taken from Kenji. It was his last cent. "One round of High-Low. If I lose, you can have my shoes too."
Five minutes later, Akira was seated at a table surrounded by men in silk suits. The dealer was shuffling a deck with professional speed. The pot was already at 500,000 yen.
"Place your bets," the dealer droned.
Akira pushed his crumpled bill forward. The men at the table snickered. "That's all? Just five thousand?"
"It's all I need," Akira whispered.
The dealer flipped the first card: A King of Hearts. "High or Low, kid?"
Akira felt the sweat bead on his forehead. If he guessed wrong, he was back to eating trash. He gripped the crown of the watch.
CLICK.
The world turned gray. The cigar smoke from the man next to him froze into a ghostly swirl. [14 Seconds Remaining].
Akira stood up and walked behind the dealer. He gently peeled back the top card of the deck. An Ace of Spades. In this game, Ace is low, Akira smirked. He tucked the card back perfectly and returned to his seat.
[02 Seconds Remaining].
CLICK.
"—well? Speak up," the dealer prompted.
"Low," Akira said firmly.
The dealer flipped the card. The Ace of Spades hit the green felt like a thunderclap. The table went silent.
"Beginner's luck," the man in the suit growled. "Double it?"
"Let's go until the house is empty," Akira replied, his eyes glowing with a newfound greed.
[SHAMELESS POINTS EARNED: +300] [REASON: Blatant cheating in a den of thieves.] [WARNING: YOU ARE BEING WATCHED BY THE CASINO SECURITY SYSTEM.]
Akira didn't care. For the first time in his life, he wasn't hungry. He was the hunter.