Chapter Text
“So, you wanna make bets this year?” Satoru watched through the glass down into the player room.
Suguru joined him, placing his arms behind his back watching the same view, only his expression was more impassive than Satoru’s. “Four hundred players… the odds are too low for anything entertaining. You can go join the VIP’s in their games, but I’d rather just watch how it plays out than putting money on one particular person.”
“I dunno, I reckon this year will be different. Sukuna’s already given me clearance to go in there myself. Though I’m pretty sure he agreed just to get rid of me.”
“He did?” Suguru’s head spun towards him in his periphery.
“Mhm. So, do you still want to keep the bets off the table?” Satoru was pretty pleased with himself, he took one glance at Suguru to gauge his mood.
He was smiling. “Alright then, let’s make one bet.”
“Great.” Satoru noticed a worker enter the room with the player uniform. “Name it.”
“Who wins? You, or me.”
“You’re coming in too?” He pulled the zip of his jumpsuit down, never caring that the worker had not left yet.
“Why not? I think it’ll prove to be entertaining. Let’s wait for this game to play out and sneak in afterwards. Sound fair?”
“Last one to the final round wins, huh?”
The only advantage Satoru and Suguru had was knowing the games already. That being said, they had no information for what order they were going to be played which made it just as entertaining.
“No safety nets. No second chances.”
“You got a deal, let the best man win, right?”
Suguru took his hand and shook on it, Satoru was amused by the idea and stepped into the player's uniform with enthusiasm. The first game being red light, green light, as per usual like every other year, Satoru could play this game with his eyes closed going backwards.
Boring.
But the other games were new, exciting and he prayed that they would at least make his heart race so he could get a sense of what the other players felt. Even only for a second, he wanted to gain a scrap of fear for his life just to feel alive.
Because Satoru was never scared. He’d never experienced anything close, his life wasn’t as in danger as someone might think. But where was the fun in that?
With four hundred players in the beginning, two hundred and twelve made it through the first game. Not bad, but the number could be lower. The next game would be a pinnacle turning point for the game if the vote was in favour of staying.
Satoru and Suguru slipped in when the others trudged back to the player room, unknowing of the additional two men following them. He first noticed the depressive atmosphere along the winding staircase, where he was excited, glowing in fact.
Sukuna had never let Satoru join in, not once, let alone two people from high lines of management. That didn’t go to say he had not been down here before, Satoru remembered his ownership of a triangle mask and the perks that came with it.
Though the possession of a square mask had more perks, enough to get him going with the amount of control and power he could abuse. Satoru was the type of man who, unlike Suguru, took pleasure in seeing people beg and squirm. He adored seeing the weak at his feet, screaming and praying to live.
The rules of the game were simple, though Satoru enjoyed killing people just because he could.
The square mask approached the bunk room surrounded by triangles. “The vote will now commence. Press the ‘O’ to stay, and the ‘X’ to leave. If you decide to leave now, the prize money will be equally distributed between the remaining players.”
Each player went to vote and stand on the corresponding side, Satoru and Suguru stayed way back and awaited their numbers to be called.
Satoru rested his elbow against Suguru’s shoulder, talking in whispers. “Do you think they’ll vote to leave? Hope not.”
“The scared have a way of jumping ship, but the amount is so low. I doubt it. I don’t think they’ll be a landslide, it’ll be pretty close.”
“Ugh… this is so boring.” Satoru stretched his arms up and flexed his back, the waiting around made his eyes droop.
Suguru stifled a chuckle and watched the next player vote ‘O’. How can you be yawning already? We only just came in.”
“Because they take ages decidin’. It’s a yes or no, it doesn’t take long-”
The Square masked man called Suguru’s number. “Player ninety please step forward and cast your vote.”
“See you on the blue side, Satoru.”
He watched him stroll forward down the middle of the separated groups and pressed ‘O’ immediately. Then, Satoru’s number came up, ‘eighty nine’ , he had to stop himself from making a scene and grinning the entire way down. He watched the bright blue light shine in his face and collected the blue badge for his suit, wandering over to the side to stay.
“There’s more on this side than I thought, maybe this will be a landslide.” Satoru noticed the blue light go off again at the podium.
“Player forty two, please cast your vote.”
Suguru slyly shook his head to avoid attention, “It’ll slow down now, I think the majority of the rest of the players will vote to leave… Take her for example.” He nodded over in the direction of the next player. A frail minded looking little thing. “I bet she’ll vote to leave.”
“She’s cute. Want to bet on it?” Satoru watched you stand there, staring up at the giant money pig slowly blocking out more light the fuller it got.
“Easy. A million says she votes to leave.”
“One mil says she stays.” Satoru kept his eyes on you, silently speaking a mantra to telepathically tell you to press the blue button again.
“Deal.”
You looked down at the buttons, head flitting between the two in an undecided back and forth. Your hand hovered over the red ‘X’ and hesitated before taking one more look at the money.
“Come on… press the ‘O’.”
“Please!” A man's voice echoed through the bunk room. “Please consider leaving! Nearly half of us just died, and you want to play again?!”
Everyone’s head moved to face him, number ‘one hundred and sixty four’. “We have to get home and leave this all behind, we’re already going home with money we didn't have in the first place, so let’s just call it a day, yeah?!”
No one seemed to acknowledge his words, you turned back and looked at the money pig one last time, counting on your fingers before pressing the blue button without further hesitation.
“Oof, you owe me one mil, Suguru.”
After you received the blue badge, you turned and noticed how the man had stepped out of the red side in the aisle to face you. “I-I’m sorry, but this won’t even cover a quarter of my debt. My friend is ill and if she doesn’t get the medicine she needs, she’ll die.”
Suguru shrugged and remained indifferent. “Fair and square, I guess I misjudged her.”
The man stomped towards you with a scowl across his face. “What happens to your friend if you die here, huh?! Then she’ll die anyway!”
You paid him no mind and kept your head down, making your way from the podium. Satoru watched you with curiosity, a friend was not family and by your words, you meant that you had purposefully put yourself in debt to help them. An odd sentiment, but that might be why he took a sudden interest.
“Hey! I’m talking to you-” A triangle pulled the trigger of the assault rifle and shot three rounds over the crowd, the man along with the majority of the player’s cowered in fear.
The square mask stepped forward and moved his head to watch the crowd, including Satoru and Suguru who never moved or flinched. “May I remind you, this is a voting system. Any attempts to sway the vote in your favour will not be tolerated and will be met with consequences... Please, continue. Player thirty three, please cast your vote.”
Satoru watched you study your badge and stand next to him once the other player’s had composed themselves, you included. He decided to break the ice, seeing as you were there all on your own.
So he nudged you with his elbow. “You did great voting how you wanted, don’t let assholes like that try and scare you.”
You glanced up at him, your fingers still fiddling with the badge. “He’s just worried. I don’t blame him. But I can’t leave without more money, or the loan sharks will take more than just my kidneys.”
“Player number nineteen, please step forward-”
Satoru got in closer, interested in how the other half lived. “How much are you in deep for then?”
You cleared your throat, embarrassingly turning away to avoid eye contact. “Twenty million Yen.”
Twenty million... Being in the position Satoru was in, yeah it was a lot of money, but it was nothing crippling to him and he could pay it off in a heartbeat. A measly twenty mil wound you up in here with loan sharks after your body and here you were, calm and somewhat collected.
He bet deep down you were terrified.
“What about you?”
“Hm?”
“How much are you in debt?” You looked back at him with sad eyes, glassy and innocent.
“Player four, please step forward to cast your vote.”
How much should he say? He had no idea. The same? No, it could look like he was suspicious, but it had to be something memorable so he didn’t forget. “Er, I’m about-”
Suguru poked his head out with a warm smile and spoke for him. “He’s in it for thirty, I’m around the same. We like taking bets, so our need for money isn't as honourable as yours. We hope your friend makes a recovery after this.”
“Yeah, well that’s if I make it out alive.”
Satoru wanted to play around with you a little bit, really get inside your brain to see that fear complex. He was curious to see how you’d break, how you’d bend to adhere to the rules and cope with the drenched colour red that was already beginning to stain your uniform.
“I think you will, just stick with us and you’ll be fine.” As far as he was concerned, you were safe with him. For now.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Suguru’s smile was as sweet as ever. The charming bastard. “I think it’s a good idea to form an alliance for now until we know what the next few games are at least.”
You nodded and smoothed your badge down, facing front and watching the rest of the players vote. It was a close call just as Suguru predicted. But the blue vote still won.
The next game was on.
Satoru didn’t find out much about you that night before lights out, only that you were Suguru’s age and lived close by in the city.
He still hadn’t even gotten your name yet, you were elusive about it though he put it down to fear and lack of trust just yet.
But he’d earn that trust in the next game.
Satoru turned in his bed and saw that Suguru was laying awake in his bunk, staring up at the ceiling with his eyes wide open.
“You okay man?”
He huffed and turned too, adjusting his pillow under his head. “How do these people sleep with that light on?” He was referring to the chorus of snores and whistles from the other players, suddenly dead to the world for the night.
“I dunno, blood and guts sorta takes it out of you I guess. Hey, what do you think about her then?” Satoru nodded in your direction just three beds down.
Suguru adjusted himself and leant on his elbow. “She might last, but her will seems strong.”
“Exactly what I thought.” Satoru got that tingle in his stomach. “I can’t wait to break her.”
He heard a soft chuckle from his friend before he turned over for the night, placing the pillow over his face. “Now get some sleep, I know what you’re like without your beauty sleep, Satoru.”
The next morning, the regular music that Satoru loathed rang through the bunk room. Players climbed out of bed and transfer on towards the square masked man and the triangle shooters.
“The next game will begin shortly. Please line up.”
Walking towards the game hall was solemn and quiet, though Satoru was ecstatic to finally be playing instead of spectating.
“See you on the flip side, huh man?”
Suguru nodded and shook his hand. “Remember our deal, I'll see you after this.” Then, he disappeared into the crowd as the large doors opened.
You stuck close to Satoru, your eyes darting about the pitch where red light, green light took place.
Ugh… so boring.
Satoru hoped for a change of pace, something more… interactive.
Well, he did until the game was announced as every player filtered onto the pitch so that the doors could shut behind them.
“Welcome to the second game. The game will be played individually. The game is Bulldog. All players will line up in the marked area on the side of the playing field and you will all run from one side the the other and avoid the five bulldogs, there will be six rounds. Those who are captured or touched by the bulldogs will be eliminated.”
Five circled masks strolled out onto the pitch and stood out across it evenly before the voice over the speaker continued.
The game was on.