When Keijiro awoke, the first thing he felt was sunbeams warming his skin.

He sat up groggily and looked to the side to see Fujitaka still sleeping, curled up into a little ball. Michael, however, was already up and finishing the last of the soup.

"Rise and shine," Michael spoke then got right to business, "since we received our visas yesterday I'm guessing this would be day one of our day off, right?"

"Yeah," Keijiro said then yawned, "what's for breakfast?"

"Starve."

Soft groaning caught both of their attention and they saw Fujitaka finally waking up and rubbing his eyes.

Keijiro glared at his friend. "You woke him up."

"Good," Michael said and tossed the empty bowl of soup aside, "don't you want to go seek answers?"

"Did I say that?"

"Yes."

Keijiro yawned again. "Darn." He stood up and bit his lip. "How should we do this? Someone needs to stay behind to watch our stuff."

"We can take it with us and look for another place," Michael suggested but Keijiro disagreed.

"No that'll be a waste of time. What's wrong with this place?"

"It's not very secure," Michael explained, "someone could come in here at any time and kill us all. Staying somewhere with an actual door may be better for us."

Keijiro thought about it. "Fine but let's at least wait until after our next game when our visas expire. After that maybe they'll give us more days so we can find another place."

"Sounds good!" Fujitaka gave a thumbs up. "Although I'm not looking forward to playing another game..."

"So, who's going to stay behind?" Keijiro asked, "or I can just go alone."

"I'll stay," Michael offered.

"I... I can stay too," Fujitaka volunteered.

Michael laughed. "Do you really wanna stay here alone by yourself?"

Fujitaka's eyes widened as if he didn't consider that factor.

"Alright then," Keijiro said, grabbing his gun plus the bullets, "let's go, Fuji."

Fujitaka stood then was startled when Keijiro handed him something that he almost dropped.

"What am I going to do with this?" Fujitaka asked, staring down at the pistol in his hands that Keijiro got from the shop yesterday.

"After we get some answers, maybe I'll teach you how to shoot like I promised."

Fujitaka smiled. "Oh, okay!"

"You two be careful," Michael told them.

Keijiro waved him away. "Yeah, yeah, I expect lunch to be ready once we get back."

"Where do you think we are right now?"

Keijiro laughed then walked off with Fujitaka, leaving the mall.

The sky was bright with the sun beaming down on them and the world was still pretty much abandoned which they expected. Keijiro took note on how there weren't any birds in the sky or small animals roaming the streets.

"So, how exactly are we going to find answers?" Fujitaka asked while they walked in no particular direction.

"We just need to find a place where another game is happening," Keijiro said and Fujitaka shook his head in fear.

"Why?! We don't need to play yet."

"I know but maybe we can stop and ask someone before they go inside." Keijiro looked to the sky in the distance and spotted a faint red force field around a certain building. "Looks like we have a destination."

After some time walking, Keijiro and Fujitaka finally approached the building and saw that it was a hospital.

"Wow," Keijiro said, staring up at the place. It wasn't as run down as the rest of the dystopian world and looked completely fine.

"I wonder what's going to happen in there," Fujitaka spoke as they watched several people walk inside.

Keijiro walked closer to the venue with Fujitaka closely behind him and stopped one guy with black hair and curtain bangs from going in.

The guy turned to the two and blinked. "Huh? Are you trying to start something before we even get into the game?"

"We don't mean any harm!" Fujitaka held his hands up.

Keijiro rolled his eyes and stepped in front of Fujitaka. "Look, we just have questions about what these games are for and what these cards mean?" He took out the six of clubs playing card.

The guy observed the card. "You two must be new then. Wow, six of clubs on your first day?"

"What do you mean by that?" Keijiro asked.

The guy pursed his lips then glanced at the hospital. "Look, I have to get inside. My visa ends today so if you don't mind..."

"Oh, no worries, go ahead!" Fujitaka said although Keijiro was definitely going to mind that.

"I'll explain everything to you when the game ends." He then sighed. "I mean if I survive."

The guy hurried and disappeared into the hospital building while Kei huffed.

"What's wrong?" Fujitaka asked.

"We have to wait until an entire game finishes. That blows."

"But he said his visa ends today. What if he missed the game and couldn't find another one? He could've died!"

"And if he dies in there we won't be getting any answers." Keijiro kicked rocks then sat down on the side of the road and Fujitaka did the same.

"So," Fujitaka put his head in his hands. "What now?"

Keijiro got an idea than jumped back up to his feet. "Get your pistol out."

"Um." Fujitaka stared down at his hands. "I change my mind."

Keijiro gave him a look and Fujitaka sighed before obeying and taking out the gun. He stood and Keijiro positioned him into a shooting stance.

"Looking good." Keijiro scanned the ground and picked up an empty can before placing it on a log a good distance away from Fujitaka. He then explained the basic instructions and safety tips before letting the boy have at it.

The first time Fujitaka pulled the trigger he missed completely and dramatically fell onto his back.

"Pitiful," Keijiro criticized and pulled Fujitaka back up. "Did you even listen to what I said, Fuji?"

Fujitaka sniffed. "Yes."

"Plant your feet."

Fujitaka took another shot and was a lot closer although he didn't hit the target.

"That's progress I guess," Keijiro said.

Fujitaka smiled proudly but a noise caught their attention.

Zap!

Keijiro looked over at the hospital and saw that someone had tried to leave the game venue but got zapped through the head with a laser. The body collapsed in front of the entrance as smoke sizzled from their head.

Keijiro watched as two more lasers came down on the hospital and he hoped the guy they met earlier wasn't one of the victims.

Clang!

Keijiro turned back to Fujitaka who was cheering then spotted the can now on the ground with a bullet hole through it.

"I did it!" Fujitaka said with stars in his eyes, "did you see that?"

"No."

"What?!" Fujitaka gaped at him and Keijiro laughed.

"Just do it again," Keijiro told him.

"But what if I can't?"

"Then you learned nothing."

Keijiro spent time setting things up for Fujitaka to shoot and the boy wouldn't let him look away for one second, afraid of Keijiro "missing" his shot again.

After a while, the doors to the hospital finally opened and less people that went in came out completely drained and some slightly injured. Keijiro was starting to lose hope as the group began to disperse but then saw the guy they met earlier stumbling out with a bloody arm.

Now, that Keijiro had more time to look, he saw that the guy was a little short but still pretty buff. His hair was slicked with sweat and he froze once he saw the two.

"Oh," the guy said, approaching them, "you're still here."

"You were hoping we'd leave?" Keijiro crossed his arms.

"No, I just expected you to get impatient and move on." The guy mustered up a smile and gave them a thumbs up. "But patience is the key. It's a good trait to have."

Fujitaka smiled at that while Keijiro wondered if they should find a different informant.

"Anyways, you can call me Ousuke."

"Well, Ousuke can you tell us what the games mean and what they're for?" Keijiro got straight to the point.

Ousuke looked down at his bloody arm. "Can I get some medical help first?"

"You'll be fine."

Fujitaka poked Keijiro's shoulder. "Let's take him back to the mall. That way Michael can hear what Ousuke has to say as well."

Keijiro sighed dramatically. "Fine."

Keijiro took the lead, speed walking back to the abandoned mall while Fujitaka and Ousuke talked about whatever behind him. If it were up to him he wouldn't be bringing this stranger back to their hideout but Fuji seemed to trust the guy already.

When the three returned, Michael jumped up upon seeing them ascend the escalator.

"So?" Michael spoke first, "did you get any answers?"

"Not yet." Keijiro huffed and tossed his gun onto a mattress.

Michael then spotted Ousuke and furrowed his eyebrows. "So, we're just bringing strangers back to our hideout now?"

"Don't worry." Ousuke laughed. "I won't be here for too long, I promise."

Fujitaka took Ousuke by the arm and helped him sit on the mattress. He then grabbed a few medical supplies and attended to his wound. Keijiro and Michael sat as well.

"Now talk," Keijiro ordered.

Ousuke cleared his throat. "Well uh, no one really knows why we have to play these games so I can't help you there. But there is a theory that if we collect all the cards we'll be able to leave."

Keijiro nodded slowly thinking of the card in his possession. "So basically everyone's helping to collect all the cards. What about that comment you made on our first game? Are spade games bad?"

Ousuke shook his head. "It really depends what your strong suit is."

"Strong suit?" Michael questioned.

"There are four types of suit games as of now: hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. We haven't come across any face cards yet though."

"What's the difference between the suits?" Keijiro asked.

Ousuke winced a little from Fujitaka wrapping his arm then continued. "I'll start with spades since that's the first game you encountered. Spade games revolve around physical challenges such as running or climbing. Things that'll really make you sweat."

"That sure makes sense," Keijiro said, thinking of all they went through during the zoo game.

"I don't like spade games then." Fujitaka shuddered at the thought.

Michael sighed. "No wonder that man in the hat was so unsure about his survival."

"Next, I'll talk about clubs. Those games revolve mostly around teamwork but still have some spade elements to them. I like to think clubs are my strong suit since I am pretty much a natural born leader."

"I don't know about teams..." Keijiro murmured.

"I'm a good team player," Fujitaka said, finishing Ousuke's arm wrap.

Michael nodded at that. "Same. What about diamonds?"

Ousuke kind of chuckled at that. "Well uh those are mostly intellectual games. I'm... not too fond of those."

Michael looked over at Keijiro. "If we ever encounter a diamonds game then you're screwed."

"Hey, I'm smart!" Keijiro huffed. "How hard can they be?"

"What about heart games?" Fujitaka asked and Ousuke's face paled.

"I don't like that look," Keijiro said, "spit it out."

"I... heart games tug at your heartstrings. They're the worst out of the four because you can guarantee someone will end up dead." Ousuke ran a hand through his hair. "My... I lost my sister in a hearts game."

Fujitaka covered his mouth. "I'm so sorry. That sounds horrible."

Keijiro glanced over at Michael. It was a shame they're not told what kind of game they'd be playing before they enter the venue. If that were the case then he'd make sure he would go in alone.

"God, I hope we don't come across one of those games then," Michael said, "although it seems pretty unavoidable."

"We should stick to spade games, that was easy," Keijiro said and the two looked at him like he was crazy.

"Never again!" Fujitaka cried.

Michael declined. "You can have fun with that."

"What I just explained were the types of games but the numbers are important too," Ousuke told them, "the higher the number the harder the game."

"Wow, so we really weren't lucky with a six of spades, huh?" Michael said.

Ousuke laughed a little. "But you all made it so that's what matters." He stood up preparing to leave. "I guess I should get going."

"You don't want to stay the night?" Fujitaka asked.

Keijiro side eyed him. "Why do you want him to stay? You have us."

Ousuke politely declined. "I have my own group to get back to. Gosh they're probably thinking I died in the game... I didn't think this through." He waved goodbye to the three then left the mall.

"Well, at least we know what to expect now," Michael said.

"Tomorrow would be our second visa day," Keijiro stated, "after our third day we need to play again."

Fujitaka didn't like that idea but knew they had no choice. "Okay..."

"On our third visa day shouldn't that be the time we find a game?" Michael asked, "if we wait til the day after and can't find one then..."

"Yeah," Keijiro agreed, scratching his head, "I guess you're right."

The three then prepared to rest for the remainder of the day when Keijiro grinned at Michael.

"You know, I think Fujitaka's going to be a real sharp shooter one day," he said, "he was a natural."

Fujitaka perked up at the mention of his success. "Yeah, it was pretty easy!"

Keijiro gave him a look. "You fell back onto your ass on the first try."

Fujitaka pouted. "He didn't have to know that."

Michael laughed at that and began to search through the food he gathered. The three then ate, talking about whatever and before they knew it, it was already nightfall.