"No, don't forget the rules of Battle Royale: it does not matter how many people you kill but that you are the last one alive."
"You'd manipulate everyone else, get them to kill one another."
"Correct! You get a cookie."
And to Kadota's astonishment Izaya actually offered him a cookie. Kadota took it.
"Battle Royale involved 9th graders but I'm imagining our high school class instead…I can see you winning the whole thing hands down."
"My problem would be that others would surely see it that way too. Namely Shizu-chan and Shinra both of which would happily team up to eradicate me."
"You think?"
"I have no doubt. Look around, Dotachin. What do you see? People in a peaceful environment going about their daily business. But if the parameters were to shift these same people could easily turn on one another. You could say that the veneer of civilization is thin, an acquired mechanism that the human species drops when brought back to the basics of survival. But it might be more than that. After all, civilization requires life and there are circumstances that demand one to kill in order to live.
Our class would be no exception. It might even be more aggressive than most of you consider Shizu-chan."
"Shizuo doesn't kill people, though."
"Not normally. In Battle Royale it'd be different. The only reason why he hasn't killed anyone so far is luck. Rest assured that as far as psychology goes he is a killer."
Kadota had his serious doubts. Izaya apparently sensed this because he added,
"Then again I don't expect you to take my word for it. Since I am biased. My hatred is hardly irrational as he has attacked me repeatedly. Shizu-chan is just as bias but his opinion about me is taken for gospel, though. One cannot expect the world to be fair."
"Like Battle Royale, some people get submachines and others get a boomerang."
"Indeed. In a very distorted way Battle Royale is supposed to represent the world. And what would you do if you found yourself in the program?"
Kadota thought about it.
"I'm not sure. I'd freak out, that's for sure. I guess I'd try to beat the system."
"That would be my guess as well. At least I don't think you'd join the hunt-down-Orihara-Izaya militia."
Kadota saw some progress in this.
"I wouldn't do that, no. Do you think they'd try to recruit me?"
"Oh yes. They would most definitely do that. One thing they'd hate is for us to team up. Although I doubt they'd consider it possible. And you don't even have to go for such an extreme scenario as BR. Shinra and Shizuo are hardly happy that you've been spending so much time with me. Expect some 'friendly advice' if you haven't received it already."
It crossed Kadota's mind that the reason why Izaya at all bothered with him was simply to annoy Shizuo. But he discarded it almost right away. Izaya had an agenda of his own and Kadota doubted it even concerned others.
"Even if they did recruit me there's not much I could do. In Battle Royale, I mean."
"Not too sure about that. You could easily win the whole thing. No one would suspect you or see you as a threat. Unlike me, who everyone would target right away. I suspect not a single student other than me would at all take into consideration that your strategy skills may come into play."
Kadota blinked.
"You think I have strategy skills?"
"I know you do. The question is whether you'd put them to good use or be too overwhelmed by the whole situation."
"You may have a point…"
Izaya bounced to his feet and slipped his hands into the jacket pockets, leaning forward slightly.
"What do you think of shogi?"
"Can't say I know how to play."
"Do you want me to teach you how to play? In case there is a shogi related anime marathon coming up."
"I'd like that."
"Wonderful. I'll text you the address to a place I know."
"Can't we just play at your place?"
"Call it a change of pace if you will."
Kadota could not help feeling an undertow of threat.
"Okay, sure."
"I had a lot of fun today, Dotachin."
Izaya gave him one of his brilliant smiles. It transformed him completely.
"Don't mention it."
"Tell you what, since I am free to roam Ikebukuro for once I'll go hit the crane machines."
"You want a plush toy?"
"It is part of the Ikebukuro experience and I know a trick."
"I thought those things were rigged."
"And they are."