A Gamble For Your Fate
I frown. "A meeting with the Student Council?" I repeat, "Why? Since when?"
"Well not the entire Council, just the President and her Vice." He responds.
"Celestia Ludenberg and Kyoko Kirigiri." Chiaki supplies helpfully.
Celestia and Kyoko in addition to having the most powerful positions in this school are also the ultimate power couple. Apparently Celestia fell in love when Kyoko directly challenged her to a gamble or something. I mean, she lost of course because it's fucking Celestia Ludenberg but she didn't want to be rid of Kyoko after that. And Kyoko soon realized she loved her too or something and they got together.
. . .Come to think of it, that story sounds kind of familiar. Odd.
"What are we meeting with them about?" I ask cautiously. His eyes twinkle good-naturedly.
"It's a surprise, sweetheart," He replies, "provided everything goes right of course. After today I'll treat everyone to ice cream to unwind, if you guys want of course."
Chiaki beams. "I'm curious as to what this meeting's about. . .but ice cream sounds wonderful, thank you Nagito."
I interlace my fingers with him. "You do so much for us. You're incredible, Nagito." I murmur. His cheeks go pink.
"I-. . .It's nothing really." He mutters.
Chiaki's eyes widen as she stares at the exchange.
. . .Crap. I forgot she was here. . .
"Don't tell me. . .are you two dating?!" She gushes excitedly. Nagito opens his mouth to answer but before I can I clamp my hand over his mouth.
"Don't we have a meeting to get to?" I hiss, a hard edge to my voice. He smiles and nods, pulling my hand away from his mouth.
"Kind of sus. . ." Chiaki observes.
"Yes, let's not be late." He agrees, ignoring Chiaki. She'll probably bring this back up later though. And we'll have to tell her the truth.
What is the truth, now that I think about it? Is he my boyfriend, or. . ?
I guess I'll have to talk to him before Chiaki gets to us. But for now we have more pressing matters to attend to.
-
"Why are we here, Nagito?" Shuichi asks. Nagito grins, reaching up to knock on the door.
"Just a little surprise for Hajime and Sonia-err, assuming everything goes right." He explains. I frown.
"What do you mean?"
He waves me off as the door opens. Standing there is Kyoko Kirigiri. She has her lilac hair pulled into a low braid and her grape-colored eyes are glaring at us.
"Hello! I'm Nagito Komaeda!" The white-haired boy chirps. Kyoko folds her arms over her chest.
"I've heard of you."
"We're here to speak with Celestia."
"So I've heard."
Kyoko doesn't budge, leaving us to just awkwardly stand in the doorway.
". . .Can we come in?" Nagito asks finally.
"I suppose."
She steps aside, allowing us to pass through. Sitting on a large chair that mostly resembles a throne, is the president. She looks quite disinterested in the world around her, and she's sipping tea out of a saucer. Perched on the arm of her chair is a short boy with purple hair.
Sonia looks right at him, eyes lighting up as she aggressively nudges a red-faced Shuichi. Huh, this must be the boy from their science class they were talking about.
"Celestia!" Nagito greets her eagerly, running towards her but before he can she holds up a finger, halting him in his tracks.
"Stop that. You're acting like a child." She huffs. Nagito smiles sheepishly.
"Sorry, President."
Kyoko sighs heavily, crossing the room to come to a stop by Celestia's side. Celestia in turn lays her hand on the purple-haired girl's thigh, staring down Nagito.
"So, Komaeda. . ," She begins, "you had a gamble for us. . ?"
My body stiffens.
A gamble? With those two? Oh god, we're all going to die, aren't we. . .
Celestia gestures for Nagito to sit across from her and he complies. Shuichi and the purple-haired boy seem to be locked in some intense staring contest and Sonia has her arms wrapped tightly around her girlfriend's waist, chin on her shoulder, as if she's afraid that if she lets go of her she'll be taken again.
Nagito leans forward in his seat. "Indeed. Have you thought about my request?" He asks. Celestia takes a sip of tea.
"I have."
"And?"
"Counter offer."
"A counter offer?"
"Yes," She sighs, squeezing the lilac-haired girl's thigh, "your starting offer was intriguing; a gamble wherein if you won you would be allowed to pay off Sonia and Hajime's debts out of your own pocket. But that doesn't really do much for us. So, how about if you win you may pay off the debts but if not they'll both receive life plans and you'll live like a Housepet. How about it?"
Hang on. . .he wants to pay off our debts?! Of his own accord?! Not that we asked, just that he wants to?! But wait. . .if he loses a gamble like that Sonia and I are screwed. . .what in fuck's name is going on here?
"Nagito. . ." I start to say but he flashes me a smile, instantly shutting me up.
"Sounds lovely," He answers, smirk deepening, "which of you will I play? Perhaps yourself, Miss President?"
"No. I have more pressing matters to attend to. You can play with Kyoko." Celestia replies, standing up. The purple-haired boy skips to her side. President gestures for Kyoko to sit where she just was.
"The game we will play," Kyoko explains immediately, "is Three Hit Dice."
Ah. I watched Nagito play this with Shuichi before. Someone rolls the dice and they guess whether the number will be one-through-three (Up) or four-through-six (Down).
"I'm familiar. I play it from time to time." He responds, crossing one leg over the other. Kyoko sighs.
"Then, let's begin. I have a die right here. Kokichi will roll for us."
"Splendid."
I cautiously slide into the spot next to Nagito. He smiles at me before taking the pen and paper offered to him by Celestia. He writes his answers straight away (although there was nothing straight about him); writing 'Up, Up, Down' in his elegant handwriting. He then folds the paper in half and slides it over to the purple-haired boy, Kokichi. Kyoko also writes down her answers before surrendering her paper as well.
The purple-haired boy, Kokichi, then produces a single die from his blazer pocket.
"Okay then, let's get a move on with this game, people. Let's make it quick, because I'd like to gamble with the raven-haired boy there," He drawls, causing Shuichi's face to heat up, "Round one. Here it goes!"
There's so much riding on this game. Not just me, but Sonia and Nagito too. But, I'd like to believe in Nagito. I've never seen him lose before and I don't think he intends to start now.
Kokichi throws the die.
It turns as it glides across the table, eventually coming to rest on the number five. A Down.
"Kyoko got it correct! However," Kokichi smirks, "Nagito got it wrong. You three are already on the way to having a far worse school life."
Nagito grins lazily. "Looks that way, doesn't it? However I'm feeling good about this gamble. Throw it again, Kokichi."
"This is quite a tame, quick gamble for something so huge on the line." The lilac-haired girl observes dryly.
"I don't mind," The white-haired boy hums in reply, "do you, Miss Vice-President?"
Kyoko shakes her head. "No, I have no problem. Do continue, Kokichi."
Kokichi throws. It comes up a Two (Up). Nagito is the only one successful this round. Kyoko and Nagito are now tied. It all boils down to this one final throw.
Neither of the competitors waste any time, demanding the small grape-like boy hurry up and throw the damn cube already. And so he does.
It's a Six (Down). IT'S A SIX!
Sonia and I are no longer going to be Housepets! Nagito is making all the problems in our lives go away one by one, huh?
Nagito smirks. "Well, well, looks like my school life remains the same, Kokichi," He looks up at Celestia, "do email me the debt amounts so that I can provide the money for you guys tomorrow," and then at Kyoko, "it was an honor to gamble with you, truly it was. Thank you so much."
Kyoko huffs, looking away. Celestia sighs, laying her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. "It was a mere game of complete chance, Kyoko. However, you will make this loss up to me tonight." She tells her, voice dipping seductively at the end.
. . .Alright then, moving on.
Sonia rushes to Nagito's side and kisses his cheek. "Oh Nagito," She exclaims, "thank you so much!"
His cheeks pinken. "Oh no, it's nothing. . ."
I frown. Stupid Sonia making his cheeks go pink, whatever, it's not like I care-
"Hajime," Nagito speaks up, snapping me out of my thoughts, "you look troubled. Are you alright?"
I scratch the back of my head. "Perfectly fine. Just. . .thank you so much for this. I promise I'll get you the money one day." I promise. Nagito fully faces me.
"Oh. . .is my Hajime jealous? Does he want to kiss me too?~" He teases. The tips of my ears burn bright red.
"N-NO!" I squeak. He shrugs, leaning in real close.
"I'm always open to anything you want to do to me, sweetheart," he murmurs before addressing the rest of our friend group, "and now, ice cream!"
-
It was a tight squeeze, all five of us mushed into a booth. There weren't any large booths left in this quaint little ice cream shop and we all wanted to sit and celebrate together. Eventually Shuichi decided to get a chair and sit on the side so it was Chiaki and Sonia sitting closely across from me and Nagito dangerously close to my side, fingers lightly trailing on my thigh.
He raises his glass of water with his free hand. "To Hajime and Sonia, Housepets no longer!" He cheers. We all share in the toast happily.
"Oh no," I say once he's finished, "we should toast to Nagito-the one who's changing our lives for the better one at a time."
He blushes. "Ah, stop-" He whines.
"Ah that reminds me," Chiaki starts, leaning forward in her seat, allowing room for Sonia to comfortably slide her arm around her waist, "before we met with Celestia and Kyoko, those two had a moment."
I stiffen.
Sonia's eyebrows lift. "A moment? Do go on." She prompts. Shuichi turns his attention in our direction curiously. I sigh.
"There was no moment-I was just. . .praising him on his gambling skills." I defend awkwardly. Nagito chuckles under his breath next to me, giving my thigh a squeeze.
Chiaki's lips twitch playfully. "you leapt into his arms and held his hand." She points out. My face heats up.
"St-Stop talking!" I groan, burying my head in my hands.
Shuichi frowns. "So, what are you two?" He wonders.
"Do you even have to ask? They're dating. They're boyfriends!" Sonia declares excitedly.
"We're. . .It's not like that." I mutter.
"Isn't it Hajime?~" Nagito hums mischievously. I groan again. "In fact, we're going to the dance together. As in, like dates!" He informs the table.
"You did not have to tell them that!" I protest.
"So it is like that!" Sonia squeals, "pay up."
"Pay up." Chiaki agrees.
I turn to Shuichi, desperate. "Pay up." He tells me.
I slowly turn back to Nagito who's gazing down at me with a smug smile. "Pay up," He says, "darling."
"You stupid little cloud boy," I grumble, "I don't believe you're exposing this."
"Aww, don't despair Hajime, I'll make you happy~" He giggles, draping an arm over my shoulder. To my dismay it feels wonderful and I find myself nuzzling into his bodily warmth.
"You two do make a cute couple." Shuichi admits.
I roll my eyes, reaching for my spoon.
-
"Thanks for giving me a ride home." I murmur as Nagito pulls into my driveway. He smiles.
"Not a problem. I promised you a ride to school and home, did I not?" He chuckles, "still, it was nice to see you admit there's something between us~"
I throw up my hands, letting them fall lamely back to my lap. "What choice did I have? All four of you pressured me to admit. . .but, it's nice to have the band aid ripped off. I guess I don't mind it that much." I admit.
Nagito smiles smugly. "I liked hearing you admit it. It makes me so happy~ Now we just need to find someone for Shuichi. He's like a fifth wheel, poor dear."
"What about Kokichi?" I suggest, "did you feel the sexual tension between those two?!"
"I did," He muses, "the question is how we'll get them together. . ."
I sigh. "Ah. Well, I'm going to go inside now. I'll see you. . .darling."
His face lights up. "Yep, sweetheart!"