'Dear Kaito Arima and Sakura Yamada
For the next challenge, every player will be placed in teams of two to face off against a random fear of our choice. As such, we have assigned both of you
As partners for the next challenge. The game will be conducted on your world and for precautions if you were to disclose information about these games/challenges To any individual not participated within the games/challenges, you will be disqualified, and you will be reprimanded.
The game itself and the fear you'll be facing have yet to be determined, but please be aware of any letter in the next following days.
Yours truly
???'
"What does it say?" Kaito asked.
"We have to pair up for another game" Sakura responded.
"As in us two?"
"Sadly"
"OK, so what's the game?"
"Just read the thing" Sakura handed over the letter.
Kaito took the letter from her hand and began reading it. His eyes motioned back-and-forth as he trailed over the letters. Eventually, he finished reading the letter, and he crumbled it into a ball. Kaito took a deep breath, and he opened his mouth to speak, but instead, he yawned.
"Ok" Kaito remarked.
"You are oddly way too calm about this" Sakura stated
"Should I not?" Kaito asked.
"Well it doesn't matter. As long as you don't hold us down, then I'm fine" Sakura responded.
"Mhm" Kaito responded.
"Now back to studying" Sakura said as she reverted back to the previous topic.
"I don't need your help" Kaito replied.
"It's very funny that you saw that as a request" Sakura said.
Immediately, Kaito grabbed his bag , slung it over his shoulder, and made a bolt towards the door. He ran out into the hallway, attempting to make his way towards the school building's exit. He made his way closer to the exit while avoiding a few remaining students who were in his path. Kaito slowly turned back to see if Sakura had trailed after him or not, but he was met with a slight surprise when he noticed she was just walking towards him. He slowed down and stared at her in confusion.
Kaito shrugged his shoulders as he stepped out of the school building and made his way out the school premises. As he was making his way out, the school gates enjoying an anticlimactic stroll. The sudden feeling a hand tightly holding his shoulder stops him. Kaito turned back, and what caught his attention was a tall man wearing a black tuxedo with a matching black tie. The man had stern expression, and he didn't show any signs of releasing Kaito.
"Thank you Masamune" a familiar female voice emerged.
Kaito turned back, and his attention was brought to Sakura walking casually towards them with a small elegant smile. She finally reached Kaito and the stern man. Suddenly, a black Cadillac drove by and parked in front of us. Another man who was also dressed in a black tuxedo stepped out of the vehicle and made his way in front of us. He opened the door and bowed.
"So Mr. Arima, do you still wish to refuse?" Sakura asked with a forced innocent smile.
"Even if I could, I doubt this guy would release me." Kaito sighed "Fine I'll play along"
"Thank you for complying" Sakura said.
She entered the Cadillac, moving closer to the window seat. Soon, Kaito followed suit and entered the vehicle, and so did the stern man. The door shut, and the chauffeur returned to the driver seat, and he began driving.
Kaito would've been enjoying the ecstatic about being in a luxurious vehicle, but the silence and slight tension within the vehicle made him feel uncomfortable. He tried looking out the window, but the window seats were occupied by Sakura and the stern man. With no further options, Kaito took a deep breath, inhaling the gentle essence from the vehicle. Kaito closed his eyes and drifted towards his subconscious mind. Beside Kaito, Sakura began reading her book. The sound of each page flipping every few minutes was the only one that filled Kaito's ears.
How is she not car sick?
"Please refrain from involving me in your perverse thoughts" Sakura said with her usual bossy tone.
"One, you're not my type, so the mere assumption is invalid, and two, I was just wondering how you aren't getting car sick" Kaito responded.
"Whether your thoughts were perverse or not, please refrain from including me in them, and the reason why I haven't gotten car sick is—"
"Actually… I don't care"
"Then why did you ask?"
"I didn't really ask it was just a thought, and even if I did ask I'm pretty sure you were just gonna say 'the reason why I haven't gotten car sick is none of your business'." Kaito said while mimicking Sakura's voice.
The stern man, most probably her bodyguard, let out a light chuckle at Kaito's impersonation. His laughter was cut short as soon as Sakura closed her book, and the bodyguard reverted back to his serious expression. Sakura placed her book on the side, and she opened her bag. She rummaged around, looking for something for a short while. Her hand stopped, and she pulled a pair of duct tape from her bag.
"You know, you're real annoying" Sakura said.
"Thanks! I actually take pride in it." Kaito remarked with a grin on his face.
"Masamune, please restrict Mr. Arima" Sakura requested.
With no hesitation, her bodyguard quickly grabbed Kaito's arms, and he held them with his usual tight grip. Sakura unraveled the tape, and she brought it closer to Kaito's mouth. Kaito sat in anticipation with no signs of resistance.
Moments later during the ride, Sakura continued leaning against the door while reading her book with a satisfied smile spread across her face. Sakura's bodyguard sat in his same unmoving, unfazed position with his serious expression.
In between Sakura and her bodyguard was the now binded Kaito. The feeling of the tight sticky tape binding his wrists together, slowly restricting the blood flow between his arms and the tape covering his mouth, restricting his mouth movement. Kaito sat there with his usual calm demeanor, focusing his gaze on his wrist.
Finally, after a while, they finally arrived at their destination.
"Ah, it seems we have arrived" Sakura stated.
Her chauffeur stepped out of the driver seat and quickly made his way towards Sakura's side and opened her door. When the door opened, Kaito was hit by the fresh afternoon breeze along with the sunlight of the evening sky.
"Mmph!" Kaito exclaimed in a muffled voice.
"Oh, I completely forgot you were still tied up. Masamune, please release our unruly guest from his binds" Sakura requested.
The man nodded his head, and he began working his way by unraveling the tape from Kaito's wrists. Upon freeing Kaito's wrists, he brought his hand to Kaito's mouth, and he quickly tore the tape off.
"Ow!" Kaito exclaimed.
Sakura placed her book within her bag, and she stepped out of the vehicle. Kaito placed his hand upon his mouth as an attempt to ease the stinging pain he then proceeded to step out of the vehicle and infront of him was a group of maids and butlers perfectly lined up bowing their heads for Sakura.
"Oh my you're rich, why am I not surprised." Kaito sarcastically remarked.
Sakura ignored Kaito's remark.
In front of Kaito's view was a luxurious courtyard sized mansion. The exterior had perfectly trimmed vibrant green bushes and the fountain with flowing crystal clear water within the center.
"Follow me" Sakura said.
Kaito shrugged his shoulders and followed Sakura towards the mansion. Kaito's eyes continued to dart around the servants who continued to bow their heads. Sakura continued striding past them with grace and elegance, her hair slightly flowing within the breeze.
As both Sakura and Kaito entered the mansion Kaito's eyes shot open at the spacious entrance from the clear sparkling polished floors, the dusted expensive well furnished furniture, the abstract paintings hunged up on the walls, the indoor lighting which highlights these extravagant objects and lastly the lovely welcoming smell of baked goods.
"Welcome to my—"
"If you brought me here to brag about your wealth, then I'm not interested" Kaito said with a frown as he cut off Sakura's welcome.
Sakura rolled her eyes as she led Kaito around the mansion. From the foyer, to the study filled to the brim with books of all genres, the bustling kitchen with the sizzling sounds, heat from the burners and chefs moving all over the place and lastly the outdoor garden filled with exorcist flowers and plants each section of the Kaito saw was more breathe taking then the other.
As Kaito continued trailing after Sakura, he took in the sight of the mansion. He turned his attention to Sakura and asked.
"So… can I go home?"
"No you may not" Sakura denied.
"And may I ask why?" Kaito asked.
"No you may not" Sakura denied again.
Kaito began pouting at Sakura's continuous denials, but he reluctantly still followed Sakura. As the two continued exploring the mansion, Sakura eventually stopped in her tracks. Kaito noticed her sudden stop, so he proceeded to stop as well. In front of their view was a well-dressed man with piercing blue eyes, an athletic built body, a stern facial expression, dark black hair, and a mustache.
The tall man was surrounded by servants on both sides. As the man was walking in Kaito and Sakura's direction, the air felt tense under his figure. With each step the man took, the more shivers, the more it would send up a person's spine. Eventually, the man stood in front of Sakura, and with no further introduction, he spoke.
"Sakura, I trust your grades are still adequate?" The man's voice was deep and business-like.
"Yes, Father" Sakura gave a light bow as she responded with the same business-like tone.
"Good, now who is this young man?" Sakura's father asked.
"His name is Kaito Arima, he's a fellow classmate" Sakura responded.
"And what business does Mr. Arima have here?" Sakura's father asked as he glared at Kaito's figure.
"He's—"
"Bro, firstly, what's with the death glare? Secondly, just call me by my name, hearing others call me 'Mr. Arima' is unnerving" Kaito said with ignorance and irritation laced within his voice.
"My apologies, Kaito, but I must ask what—"
"Business do I have with your daughter?" Kaito finished Mr Yamada's sentence expectantly. "Firstly, I'm amused by the mere assumption, but I'd rather fight a clown than date her. But if you slide me a couple of thousands per month, I might consider it."
Sakura's father's glare at Kaito intensified while Kaito stood there with a smug look on his face all the while Sakura stood there with an exasperated expression.
With no further words, Sakura's father left and soon did the servants that were trailing him earlier.
"Wow, so that's your father? Why am I not surprised?" Kaito asked.
"Sleep with one eye open tonight" Sakura remarked.
"Wha?"
Sakura resumed walking. Kaito shook off Sakura's warning, and shrugged his shoulders before following Sakura.
They eventually found themselves in Sakura's bedroom. The room was spacious and was very clean with the evening light seeping through the window, Sakura's queen sized bed, her closet near the wall, her desk which was used to study and to do homework a dressing table and a katana mounted upon her wall.
"Hand it over" Sakura demanded.
"Hand over what?" Kaito asked.
"Your phone" Sakura responded
"Why?" Kaito asked
"It's a distraction" Sakura responded
"From?" Kaito asked
"Your studying, obviously. Now be a good boy and hand it over"
"I'm not a dog, you can't just easily command" Kaito stated.
"Would you prefer I tie you up and forcefully teach you?" Sakura enquired
Kaito sighed and reached within his pocket and took out his phone. He reluctantly held his phone out for Sakura. With a fake smile, Sakura took his phone and directed Kaito towards her homework desk.
"Could I at least tell my mother I'll be running late?" Kaito requested.
"We already took care of it" Sakura stated.
"I'm not even gonna ask how"
As soon as Kaito took his seat, a stack of paper was slammed upon the desk. The sound of the slam made Kaito flinch slightly. As Kaito was looking at the papers, he noticed they were all previous test papers from years ago along with a few practice questions formulated by Sakura herself. Kaito jerked his head towards Sakura, who was towering over him.
"You're kidding?" Kaito asked, looking for any signs that Sakura was joking.
Sakura remained silent as she waited for Kaito to prepare.
"You can't be serious?"
Sakura remained silent and continued to wait for Kaito's cooperation.
"Our next test is next week on Monday. Do you really expect me to spend the weekend studying?" Kaito asked.
"It's either that or I tie you up" Sakura offered.
"Fine" Kaito said.
Kaito began examining one of the old test papers, and he set out a piece of paper to write on. He reached for his blue pen and clicked it. With his pen in hand, he commenced his studying. His eyes darted back-and-forth from his questions and the answer sheet he would write on. His pen would glide across the paper with each word he wrote. He was completely focused, and he had a serious expression, but only a single thought would repeat in his head.
I wanna go home…