Just Lucky

The rest of the week passed and now there are only nine days until the Election comes to a conclusion, eight before the school dance, making it the twenty-first day of the Election. It's getting close and Nagito is still only ranked third, only behind Celestia and someone called Miu Iruma. Maybe if he can gamble with Miu and win, he could be deserving of a gamble against Celestia Ludenberg herself.

Celestia Ludenberg and Nagito Komaeda. . .I wonder which of them would be victorious in a gamble like that. I'd sure like to see who would win. . .

"Hajime? Hey, earth to Hajime!" An annoyed voice calls out to me.

I shake my head slightly, letting my gaze refocus on a cross-looking Komaeda.

"Sorry," I offer sheepishly, "what were we talking about again?"

"I was asking if you wanted to do something after school. I don't have any after school gambles planned yet for today." He huffs, folding his arms over his chest.

I tilt my head. "Like all of us?" I question, "what would we even do?"

His eyes glimmer deviously. "Well, we've never all gambled as a group before and I've got a pretty nice basement. How about a game of Poker?" He suggests.

I shake my head firmly. "Are you kidding? You're just going to take all of our money, there's no point!"

He rolls his eyes. "It's not my fault you suck at gambling~" Komaeda teases, "besides, it's all in good fun. And we don't have to gamble money. We can gamble like potato chips or something."

I grunt. "I've had my fill of gambling, I get enough of it here. But sure, we'll hang out in your basement, sounds fun."

"You're just mad you can't win against me." He pouts. I take a step closer to him.

"I won your heart, didn't I?" I point out smugly, making his cheeks go pink.

"That-That's different!" He defends. I hum.

"Um-hmm, sure it is."

-

"Holy sh-this is where Komaeda lives?!" I exclaim incredulously from the backseat of Chiaki's car. Sonia looks down at her phone.

"Yes, this is the address Nagito gave and Shuichi confirmed." She responds.

In front of us is a large, eggshell-white villa-like mansion. It's got to have at least five flours and covers two-fifty feet of land or something. Komaeda lives like this? His family must be loaded. . . And to gamble how he does? He must be well taken-cared of. . .

"Why couldn't Shuichi come again?" Chiaki asks. Sonia giggles.

"He says he's off with that boy he so obviously likes, Kokichi Oma. I think we found our fifth wheel's date to the dance!" She responds confidently.

"So it's just you and Chiaki and me and Komaeda?"

"Yep! It's kind of like a double date." Sonia smiles.

Chiaki parks the car in his crazy-long driveway. We all clamber out of her car, stretching our legs before moving over to his front door. The peach-haired girl gingerly rings the doorbell.

It takes a second but we soon hear movement inside the home. The door is opened by a very tired-looking Nagito. His hair is all askew and his eyes are all red and puffy as if he had just been crying. He's wearing a white T-shirt over black sweatpants.

"Ah," He mumbles, "what are you guys doing here?"

I frown. "You invited us over, remember?" I respond. He blinks twice, shaking his head slightly.

"Right. It seems I've forgotten then. Please allow me a moment to freshen up then and then I'll bring you guys some refreshments. Let me show you all to the basement." He replies, stepping aside so that we can enter.

Once the door is shut behind us, he promptly begins leading us down one of the halls. He stops in front of a white door and points at it. "Please settle down there and I'll be joining you in five minutes." He tells us.

Sonia shrugs and begins descending the stairs, tugging Chiaki along with her. I glance back at Nagito who's moving back down the hall.

"Hey, wait!" I call out to him before I can stop myself. He freezes immediately, allowing me a moment to catch up to him.

"I can get you a drink in just a few moments but if you're really thirsty the kitchen is-" He starts to say before I cut him off.

"Are you alright?" I ask bluntly. He frowns.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"You look all disheveled and like you've been crying," I point out, "you can always talk to me you know. I am your. . .boyfriend, after all."

He smiles faintly. "Nothing you need to worry about, but I appreciate the sentiment, Hajime," He assures me, "now when you get down there, make sure you sit on one of the couches. I demand Hajime snuggles."

And with those words he begins moving down the hall once again, leaving me feeling suspicious.

-

Nagito arrives with his promised refreshments to the basement a few minutes later, leaving them in the middle of the four of us for anyone to grab at their leisure. He then settles down next to me on the couch I had placed myself on.

Sonia and Chiaki seem to be lost in a conversation of their own, leaving Nagito and I just sitting there awkwardly. With a light sigh, he wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer, me nestling into his warmth. In turn he bends down and kisses my forehead.

"You sure you're alright?" I mutter. He rolls his eyes.

"It's no worry, Hajime. Can we just skip to making out on my bed?" He responds casually. I flinch.

"Huh?!"

"I'm kidding. But if you're interested I'm all for it," He chuckles, "Now how about a game of Uno?"

-

After Nagito bested us at Uno (of-fucking-course) I ended up drifting off on the couch. When I woke up about two hours later someone had put a blanket on me and Chiaki and Sonia were gone. Curled up across from me with a thick book is Nagito. At the sounds of me stirring he looks up and over at me.

"Oh. Hey Hajime." He greets me with a nod.

"Ah, sorry for falling asleep," I mumble, "Where's Sonia and Chiaki?"

He waves me off. "It's no worry. Something came up and Sonia had to go. I didn't want to wake you so I offered to bring you home if you want. Of course I can feed you first." He replies.

I frown. ". . .Aren't your parents mad for overstaying my welcome? I'd hate to be any more trouble. . ."

"You don't need to worry about that," He chuckles, "I live alone. My parents have been dead for years!" He stands, heading over to the staircase, "come on, let's go."

I hesitate. Pardon?

I run to catch up to him. "Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. . .(what am I supposed to say?!) but I don't need any more hospitality. I'll call a cab." I offer.

"Nonsense. I'll drive you home myself."

-

"So you live in that big huge mansion alone. . ." I start, "doesn't that get lonely?"

He shrugs. "I don't mind it much. You get used to it eventually."

"Still, before we met didn't you only have Shuichi? You must have been lonely all the time." I continue, glancing out the window.

"Like I said, I was used to it. I spent my time gambling, it filled up my time and kept me out of the house. Eventually I just got good at reading people and I just have this uncanny luck so it was good for me," He smiles wistfully, "now it's just fun for me. The despair on the opponent's face. . .it's thrilling."

". . .So you use gambling as some sort of a coping mechanism?" I ask.

"I suppose so." He hums in reply.

"And about earlier. . .no one else is around now. . .are you sure everything's okay?"

He sighs. "You seriously don't need to worry about that, Hajime, I'm fine. But is there something you want to talk about?"

"I'm just worried about you, that's all. When you opened the door. . .I don't know, you just seemed to be like a completely different person or something." I admit.

"Yeah, I'd. . .just woken up from a nap, I was pretty tired," He decides, "I'm sorry I concerned you."

I frown. "Fine. I'll trust you. But if you ever feel-"

"I'll talk to you." He assures me, rolling his eyes. I lean back in my seat.

"Good then."

-

The twenty-second day of the Election. Eight days until the election comes to an end, seven until the school dance.

Somehow, Nagito has arranged to have a gamble with Miu Iruma after school tomorrow. As for last night, nothing else was brought up on his strange behavior.

-

The twenty-third day of the Election started out with yet another wall-slam. The second I shut my locker, two pale hands slammed down on either side of me and I am once again pinned to my locker by none other than Nagito Komaeda.

"Hey ya how ya doodle do?" He greets me. I wrinkle my nose.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing," He huffs, "I just want a kiss."

"In public?"

He fake-pouts. "Are you ashamed of me?"

I roll my eyes. "Of course not, you idiot." I grumble, quickly pecking his cheek before shoving me off.

"Anyways, you're going to come with Shuichi and I to gamble with Miu, right?" He wonders. I sigh.

"Of course, whatever you wish, Komaeda." I assure him. He beams.

"I'm so excited! If I can beat Miu Iruma in a gamble, I can probably gamble against the President herself!" He gushes dreamily, "That's been my dream since I first came to Hyakkaou Academy!"

I take a step back. "Alright, calm down there. Don't get ahead of yourself, just focus on the gamble in front of you," I instruct, "we're so close now, this can't be screwed up."

He thumps his chest twice with his fist. "I don't intend to let you guys down, Hajime. I already told you all I'll demolish everyone who stands in my path." He declares.

"I know, Komaeda. We're grateful. I don't know how we'll ever repay you for everything you've done for us so far." I mutter.

"Oh please. . .if anything I've put you guys in danger time and time again." He muses.

"But you saved our asses time and time again." I counter.

"I guess you're right," He mumbles, "anyways I've got to get going to class. I'll see you, Hajime."

"Yeah, bye Nagito."

-

"Nice of ya to finally show up!" The strawberry-blonde girl huffs, leaning back in her chair. Nagito smiles easily.

"Sorry, I lost track of time." He apologizes, sitting at a desk across from her. Shuichi and I each pull up a chair so we can sit next to him across from Miu. Hovering next to Miu is Kaede Akamatsu, hand resting on her girlfriend's shoulder.

She asked us to meet us in an empty classroom so no one would "come and ogle at her" or something. She seems to be. . .quite full of herself. But apparently she's one of the best according to the weekly rankings.

"What game are we going to play then, Miu?" Komaeda asks, "the choice is yours."

Miu sniffs. "A simple game of Guess The Card, ehe."

The gamble is played between two people, one serving as dealer and the other as the player. Three cards are played: two are X (Miss) and one is O (Hit). The dealer first mixes and lines up the cards face down, the player is then allowed to bet any portion of their funds. After the bet has been placed, the player must then guess which one is Hit. If Miss is picked the dealer gets the bet money. If Hit is picked, the player receives three times the bet. The game continues until either the dealer or player loses their funds and thus are unable to continue.

Nagito leans forward in his seat. "Oh, I know that game! Yes, that sounds wonderful, Miu. What shall we stake?" He asks eagerly.

Miu huffs. "How many votes do ya got?"

He smiles. "I'm up to nine-hundred now. So, how about we each use five-hundred?" He suggests.

"Ha!" She barks, "fine, you cowardly fuck. That'll do!"

"Excellent," He grins, "Then let's begin."