Begin.
Her laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls with a wild, electric energy. Suzui stood there, silent and stunned, as her laughter washed over him, nearly drowning out the pulse of dread and anxiety still thundering in his chest.
The dice had landed, and for a split second, he'd thought he'd failed. The numbers seemed to flash "snake eyes," and just as his heart dropped, the final roll revealed otherwise—a lucky eleven. A six and a five, glimmering on the table. He'd won by the slimmest of margins.
Yumeko burst out laughing, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "The look on your face," she teased, barely able to contain herself. He must have looked like he'd just stared death in the eyes—and all this, he realized, had only been twelve minutes.
"Oh, Suzui…" she purred, her gaze softening in that manic, yet somehow affectionate way. "Wanna go again?"
He answered immediately, a resounding, "No." The firmness of his voice only seemed to amuse her more as her laughter rose anew. Suzui could feel his heart pounding, faster than that of a birds, and he half-wondered if it might give out on him.
But as he looked at her, laughing and seemingly at ease, he felt a strange warmth wash over him. Somehow, despite the chaos, his goal had been achieved—Yumeko was in a better mood.
"Uh, Suzui…" she said, her laughter finally easing to a warm smile. "Thank you. That was… fun."
Fun? He still felt like he'd barely survived. "No problem," he replied, chuckling nervously, trying to catch his breath.
Yumeko glanced to the dice, her fingers drifting over the table as if she longed to start another round. "Though," she mused, her voice soft and wistful, "I do wish it could've lasted a little longer."
But Suzui saw right through it. He wasn't falling for her bait, not this time. "Oh, well…" he replied casually, shrugging as he pocketed his hands, fully ready to leave this dizzying afternoon behind.
They got up and made their way to the doorway, silence lingering between them as they stepped into the corridor bathed in the warm orange light of dusk. At the exit, Yumeko paused, looking back at him with a look softer than he'd ever seen. She tilted her head, her eyes catching the light in a way that made them gleam.
"Suzui… thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "I'm truly glad you're my friend."
His pulse stuttered, and all he could manage was a shy, "No problem."
And then, with a touch so light he barely registered it, Yumeko leaned forward, her lips brushing his cheek in a fleeting, delicate peck. Suzui felt the warmth spread through him like sunlight, grounding him after their chaotic game. With a final smile, she turned, leaving him standing at the doorway, his heart fluttering and a dazed smile breaking across his face.
END.