[The memory opens with the sound of screaming and the stench of flesh and blood burning and melting. They’re in the center of a modern day Japanese court room with five tables arranged in a pentagon. In front of each person on their table, is a digital tablet with a chart of numbers from 1 to 100. Above their heads are giant justice scales filled with sulfuric acid. There are two freshly dead bodies and three living participants still in the game.
Chishiya sits to the right of one of the men who have just died, strapped in so he can’t leave. The ruined corpse is still smoking from the acid burns as it collapses against the table.]
Now this is more like a face card game. [The Chishiya in the memory speaks with an air of bitter resignation and then addresses the man with glasses sitting across from him.] Is this your idea of fairness?
[The man with the glasses—Kuzuryu, the King of Diamonds—doesn’t reply. Instead an alarm blares through the room and a computerized voice rings out, sounding strangely cheerful in the bleak atmosphere of the game. "Since two participants have lost, two new rules will be added."
On the large monitor behind Kuzuryu there are avatars of each surviving participant. Chishiya, Kuzuryu and a woman named Daimon. The points are arranged thus: Daimon, -7; Kuzuryu, -4; Chishiya, -8.
The computerized voice continues, "Rule 1, if two or more people choose the same number, their choices will be invalidated and they will lose 1 point. Rule 2, if the answer is guessed exactly, the losers will lose 2 points."
The new round begins and the three of them each choose a number on their tablets. Chishiya chooses zero.
As the round ends the computerized voice speaks again, "Here are the results for round 11."
On the screen it’s revealed that all three of them selected zero.
The woman, Daimon, finally speaks, sounding chilled by this turn of events, "Everyone chose zero."
"Since everyone chose the same number, their choices are invalidated. Everyone loses one point," the computer continues to explain.]
In the end, everyone chooses zero. [Chishiya sounds unsurprised and unconcerned as he speaks in the memory, but he knows that if that happens again, it’s game over. He'll die.]
[The next round starts and each player makes their choice, Chishiya, after a moment of thought, chooses the number 23.
"Here are the results for round 12," the computer speaks once again and the results appear on the large screen like so:
Daimon: 62 Kuzuryu: 1 Chishiya: 23
The average result x 0.8=22.93
Chishiya's avatar lights up as the winner. "We have an exact winner, so the losers lose 2 points." the computer announces as Kuzuryu and Daimon's point totals both drop by two points on the screen.
Daimon, who has now dropped to -10 points begins to panic. "No way. No way! Impossible! How come?" she looks at Chishiya accusingly, yelling at him, "You saw my choice, didn't you? That's against the rules! How else would you know what the hell I chose?"
Chishiya chooses to oblige her with an explanation.]
When round 12 began, you were at -8 points. I was at -9 points. Even if you messed up, you'd still have another chance. So, instead of going for the win, you bet that he and I would invalidate each other. So, I figured you would choose a random number.
["But what are the chances you'd get it right? Are you a psychic?" Daimon demands, angry and panicked.
Chishiya continues, helpfully. Calm and rational like he’s explaining a chess strategy:]
If he and I invalidated each other, you thought we'd choose from the first 50. So you avoided choosing from the first 50. [Daimon looks increasingly troubled and anxious, too terrified to yell at him as he continues to explain.] If you're going to run away, then it's only natural to want to run far. But even so, 90 to 100 is too extreme and doesn't feel right. So you avoided those too. Any doubles are too obvious so you avoided those, as well. The same goes for 60 and 70 and any easy numbers like that. The numbers that people often choose on a whim…that is 3, 5 and 8 were also out. All prime numbers are also out.
It became easy after that. Lastly any numbers you often see in life that can be easily imagined were out. A game console. A movie title. A brand logo. Then what we have left is 62 or 74.
[All of his talents of observation and insight sharpened to a fine point and weaponized to keep himself alive at the expense of another.]
That's as far as I could get. [He finishes with a sigh and offers a half-shrug.] After that, it was just luck.
[Daimon, still terrified but resigned to her fate seems to realize she was out played, "I should have chosen 74."
The computers voice rings out, once again oddly cheerful in the tense atmosphere, "There is a participant who has -10 points."
Daimon begins screaming incoherently as the acid bath in the scale above her head fills up and begins to tip. Chishiya watches impassively as the consequences of what he set in motion play out. The scales tip, the acid spills, the woman dies screaming as the acid eats away at her flesh.
After the body collapses Chishiya finally speaks again.]
You know, [He says slowly, sounding tired and a little fed up] she said the value of everyone's life isn't equal. I wonder if she still thought that just before she died.
[Kuzuryu doesn’t answer right away, and when he does, it’s not in direct response to Chishiya's observation.
"Have you seen the underside of this world with your own eyes?" The King if Diamonds asks, "Infants die because they can't get antidiarrheics that cost mete pennies. Little girls are sold to pay off their parents debts. All the people who can't escape the never ending cycle of poverty."
Chishiya turns his attention more fully to Kuzuryu then, looking intrigued. But before he can reply, the computer speaks again, "A new rule will be added. When someone chooses 0, whoever chooses 100 will be the winner."]
I see. [Chishiya says, focusing for now on the new rule and not what Kuzuryu said before.] Since the result is always the average multiplied by 0.8, as long as there are just two of us, whoever chooses the lower number will win. In other words, if you keep choosing 0, you'll win for sure. But thanks to this new rule, everything is fair now. If one of us chooses 0, the other will win if they choose 100. But if a person predicts that will happen and chooses 100, then the other person will choose 1. Those are the only three choices if you want to win this game. Now it's a fair and simple game that's a toss up between 0, 1 and 100.
[Then he adds, somehow sounding both amused and entirely apathetic at once:]
But I can't choose the same number as you even once if I want to win. I'm still in a difficult bind.
[Kuzuryu doesn’t respond to any of this, instead choosing to remain quiet. And so Chishiya speaks again.]
You know, you seem desperate to make things fair. What's making you do that?
[To this, Kuzuryu does respond, but with another question, "Tell me, if you had one million doses of a life saving vaccine, which one million people would you save?"
In spite of how indirect it seems to be, Chishiya seems to accept it as an answer, of sorts.]
I see. Now I understand. It's not that you're trying to measure the value of life. You don't want to have to measure the value of a life.
[At this observation Kuzuryu concedes Chishiya's point. "Yes. I don't know what makes one life more valuable than another. A life that's worth saving and a life that's not…what is the difference between the two?" he asks seeming honestly perplexed by this question. With a sigh he continues, "So, how would you answer my question? I'd very much like to hear the answer from someone like you."]
I'd give them to children without parents or money.
[Chishiya gives his answer without hesitation or another attempt to redirect this time. Kuzuryu seems surprised, "How unexpected, he says quietly. But Chishiya continues:]
That's what I would try to do. But ultimately it's money that talks. If you've got money, it's very easy to end the lives of poor children. I know you've seen that world with your own eyes, haven't you?
["Yes, I have," Kuzuryu confirms easily, "Since a certain company wouldn't pay a settlement, people died because they couldn't receive proper treatment."]
Then you know, [Chishiya interjects with clear bitterness.] there's no such thing as fairness or equality in this world.
["Because there isn’t," Kuzuryu counters immediately, emphatically, "Isn’t that why we should fight?"
And that gives Chishiya pause. It’s struck a nerve, a raw and open wound. Because he never fought. He accepted the ugliness of the world, hating it and hating himself for his own powerlessness, his inability to change anything. His refusal to even try.
He’s quiet for a long moment before taking a deep breath and responding.]
Very Interesting. I think I may have come to this land just so I could play this game with you.
[Kuzuryu once again doesn’t respond. An unfortunate and annoying habit of his.
After a pause Chishiya seems to come to a conclusion and adds:]
I’m choosing 100.
[This gets a reaction. Kuzuryu shocked and immediately suspicious, demands, "What are you up to?"
And there is something very close to madness in Chishiya's eyes when he replies:]
A little assistance.
["Are you insane?" Kuzuryu asks.
Yes, he might be. He’s tired. He’s done. He doesn’t care any more.
"If I know you'll choose 100, the only way you can survive is if I choose zero!" Kuzuryu continues as though Chishiya didn’t already know that.
Chishiya takes another deep breath and meets Kuzuryu's gaze, unwavering.]
Mine is a life that is charging headlong toward death. Does this life have value or not? I'd like for you to decide.
[Kuzuryu looks positively flummoxed by this, and Chishiya…well, he looks vaguely unhinged. He offers The King of Diamonds a bland smile, but there’s a bitter edge to it.
He absolutely believes he’s going to die.
They make their choices. Chishiya chooses 100, just as he said he would. The computer's voice chimes through the room, "Time has expired. Here are the results for Round 13. The winner is Chishiya-sama."
This isn’t the outcome Chishiya was expecting. His surprise is outwardly subtle but it’s definitely there.]
Did you seriously choose zero?
[He sounds incredulous and little angry when he speaks.
The acid bath above Kuzuryu's head fills a little more and the computer announces the start of round 14.
Chishiya chooses 100 again, and again he’s announced as the winner.]
Each of us only has one point left. The next round will be the last.
[Chishiya points this out calmly. Reasonably. If Kuzuryu keeps this up he won’t survive.
The computer announces the start of round 15. The last round.]
How about it? Can you decide? If you won't decide for yourself, then just kill me. That's a fair rule, right?
[Again he speaks with calm detachment, as if this is all entirely reasonable and not kind of insane.
"You think I am unable to decide," Kuzuryu asks finally, "Was that the reason you lured me into this tie?"]
I simply want to know what the last number you choose will be.
[Chishiya makes his choice and picks up his tablet, turning it around to show to Kuzuryu.]
If you choose 1, you will win.
[It seems like it should be a simple choice. But Kuzuryu is contemplative, "I don't understand the value of life or its meaning," he says slowly, thoughtful, "I'm sure I won't be able to make that decision in the future either. But what I need to do now is…"
And as he trails off he makes his choice.
"Here are the results for round 15," the computer announces.]
I see you've decided that determining the value of a life isn't your decision.
["For my ideals," Kuzuryu confirms, resolute.
"The winner is Chishiya-sama," the computer announces, "There is a participant who has -10 points. The game is over for this participant."]
What happened to your usual wry look?
[Indeed, Kuzuryu seems content. At peace. "At last, I think I've been able to decide how I want to live. It's thanks to you," he says, smiling, genuinely, tears in his eyes. He takes a breath and accepts his fate.
And with that, the scales above Kuzuryu’s head tips and the acid bath pours down on him, killing him.
Chishiya watches it all, appearing numb. Disappointed. Tired.]
It feels a little unfair. It's like you won and quit on me. I envy you.
[There's a faint mechanical clicking sound as the belt that had him strapped to the chair unlocks. He unfastens it and stands, pausing to take one last look around before turning to leave. The memory fades as he walks out of the room.]
CW for suicidal behavior, allusions to child deaths and child trafficking and…death by acid
Chishiya sits to the right of one of the men who have just died, strapped in so he can’t leave. The ruined corpse is still smoking from the acid burns as it collapses against the table.]
Now this is more like a face card game. [The Chishiya in the memory speaks with an air of bitter resignation and then addresses the man with glasses sitting across from him.] Is this your idea of fairness?
[The man with the glasses—Kuzuryu, the King of Diamonds—doesn’t reply. Instead an alarm blares through the room and a computerized voice rings out, sounding strangely cheerful in the bleak atmosphere of the game. "Since two participants have lost, two new rules will be added."
On the large monitor behind Kuzuryu there are avatars of each surviving participant. Chishiya, Kuzuryu and a woman named Daimon. The points are arranged thus: Daimon, -7; Kuzuryu, -4; Chishiya, -8.
The computerized voice continues, "Rule 1, if two or more people choose the same number, their choices will be invalidated and they will lose 1 point. Rule 2, if the answer is guessed exactly, the losers will lose 2 points."
The new round begins and the three of them each choose a number on their tablets. Chishiya chooses zero.
As the round ends the computerized voice speaks again, "Here are the results for round 11."
On the screen it’s revealed that all three of them selected zero.
The woman, Daimon, finally speaks, sounding chilled by this turn of events, "Everyone chose zero."
"Since everyone chose the same number, their choices are invalidated. Everyone loses one point," the computer continues to explain.]
In the end, everyone chooses zero. [Chishiya sounds unsurprised and unconcerned as he speaks in the memory, but he knows that if that happens again, it’s game over. He'll die.]
[The next round starts and each player makes their choice, Chishiya, after a moment of thought, chooses the number 23.
"Here are the results for round 12," the computer speaks once again and the results appear on the large screen like so:
Daimon: 62
Kuzuryu: 1
Chishiya: 23
The average result x 0.8=22.93
Chishiya's avatar lights up as the winner. "We have an exact winner, so the losers lose 2 points." the computer announces as Kuzuryu and Daimon's point totals both drop by two points on the screen.
Daimon, who has now dropped to -10 points begins to panic. "No way. No way! Impossible! How come?" she looks at Chishiya accusingly, yelling at him, "You saw my choice, didn't you? That's against the rules! How else would you know what the hell I chose?"
Chishiya chooses to oblige her with an explanation.]
When round 12 began, you were at -8 points. I was at -9 points. Even if you messed up, you'd still have another chance. So, instead of going for the win, you bet that he and I would invalidate each other. So, I figured you would choose a random number.
["But what are the chances you'd get it right? Are you a psychic?" Daimon demands, angry and panicked.
Chishiya continues, helpfully. Calm and rational like he’s explaining a chess strategy:]
If he and I invalidated each other, you thought we'd choose from the first 50. So you avoided choosing from the first 50. [Daimon looks increasingly troubled and anxious, too terrified to yell at him as he continues to explain.] If you're going to run away, then it's only natural to want to run far. But even so, 90 to 100 is too extreme and doesn't feel right. So you avoided those too. Any doubles are too obvious so you avoided those, as well. The same goes for 60 and 70 and any easy numbers like that. The numbers that people often choose on a whim…that is 3, 5 and 8 were also out. All prime numbers are also out.
It became easy after that. Lastly any numbers you often see in life that can be easily imagined were out. A game console. A movie title. A brand logo. Then what we have left is 62 or 74.
[All of his talents of observation and insight sharpened to a fine point and weaponized to keep himself alive at the expense of another.]
That's as far as I could get. [He finishes with a sigh and offers a half-shrug.] After that, it was just luck.
[Daimon, still terrified but resigned to her fate seems to realize she was out played, "I should have chosen 74."
The computers voice rings out, once again oddly cheerful in the tense atmosphere, "There is a participant who has -10 points."
Daimon begins screaming incoherently as the acid bath in the scale above her head fills up and begins to tip. Chishiya watches impassively as the consequences of what he set in motion play out. The scales tip, the acid spills, the woman dies screaming as the acid eats away at her flesh.
After the body collapses Chishiya finally speaks again.]
You know, [He says slowly, sounding tired and a little fed up] she said the value of everyone's life isn't equal. I wonder if she still thought that just before she died.
[Kuzuryu doesn’t answer right away, and when he does, it’s not in direct response to Chishiya's observation.
"Have you seen the underside of this world with your own eyes?" The King if Diamonds asks, "Infants die because they can't get antidiarrheics that cost mete pennies. Little girls are sold to pay off their parents debts. All the people who can't escape the never ending cycle of poverty."
Chishiya turns his attention more fully to Kuzuryu then, looking intrigued. But before he can reply, the computer speaks again, "A new rule will be added. When someone chooses 0, whoever chooses 100 will be the winner."]
I see. [Chishiya says, focusing for now on the new rule and not what Kuzuryu said before.] Since the result is always the average multiplied by 0.8, as long as there are just two of us, whoever chooses the lower number will win. In other words, if you keep choosing 0, you'll win for sure. But thanks to this new rule, everything is fair now. If one of us chooses 0, the other will win if they choose 100. But if a person predicts that will happen and chooses 100, then the other person will choose 1. Those are the only three choices if you want to win this game. Now it's a fair and simple game that's a toss up between 0, 1 and 100.
[Then he adds, somehow sounding both amused and entirely apathetic at once:]
But I can't choose the same number as you even once if I want to win. I'm still in a difficult bind.
[Kuzuryu doesn’t respond to any of this, instead choosing to remain quiet. And so Chishiya speaks again.]
You know, you seem desperate to make things fair. What's making you do that?
[To this, Kuzuryu does respond, but with another question, "Tell me, if you had one million doses of a life saving vaccine, which one million people would you save?"
In spite of how indirect it seems to be, Chishiya seems to accept it as an answer, of sorts.]
I see. Now I understand. It's not that you're trying to measure the value of life. You don't want to have to measure the value of a life.
[At this observation Kuzuryu concedes Chishiya's point. "Yes. I don't know what makes one life more valuable than another. A life that's worth saving and a life that's not…what is the difference between the two?" he asks seeming honestly perplexed by this question. With a sigh he continues, "So, how would you answer my question? I'd very much like to hear the answer from someone like you."]
I'd give them to children without parents or money.
[Chishiya gives his answer without hesitation or another attempt to redirect this time. Kuzuryu seems surprised, "How unexpected, he says quietly. But Chishiya continues:]
That's what I would try to do. But ultimately it's money that talks. If you've got money, it's very easy to end the lives of poor children. I know you've seen that world with your own eyes, haven't you?
["Yes, I have," Kuzuryu confirms easily, "Since a certain company wouldn't pay a settlement, people died because they couldn't receive proper treatment."]
Then you know, [Chishiya interjects with clear bitterness.] there's no such thing as fairness or equality in this world.
["Because there isn’t," Kuzuryu counters immediately, emphatically, "Isn’t that why we should fight?"
And that gives Chishiya pause. It’s struck a nerve, a raw and open wound. Because he never fought. He accepted the ugliness of the world, hating it and hating himself for his own powerlessness, his inability to change anything. His refusal to even try.
He’s quiet for a long moment before taking a deep breath and responding.]
Very Interesting. I think I may have come to this land just so I could play this game with you.
[Kuzuryu once again doesn’t respond. An unfortunate and annoying habit of his.
After a pause Chishiya seems to come to a conclusion and adds:]
I’m choosing 100.
[This gets a reaction. Kuzuryu shocked and immediately suspicious, demands, "What are you up to?"
And there is something very close to madness in Chishiya's eyes when he replies:]
A little assistance.
["Are you insane?" Kuzuryu asks.
Yes, he might be. He’s tired. He’s done. He doesn’t care any more.
"If I know you'll choose 100, the only way you can survive is if I choose zero!" Kuzuryu continues as though Chishiya didn’t already know that.
Chishiya takes another deep breath and meets Kuzuryu's gaze, unwavering.]
Mine is a life that is charging headlong toward death. Does this life have value or not? I'd like for you to decide.
[Kuzuryu looks positively flummoxed by this, and Chishiya…well, he looks vaguely unhinged. He offers The King of Diamonds a bland smile, but there’s a bitter edge to it.
He absolutely believes he’s going to die.
They make their choices. Chishiya chooses 100, just as he said he would. The computer's voice chimes through the room, "Time has expired. Here are the results for Round 13. The winner is Chishiya-sama."
This isn’t the outcome Chishiya was expecting. His surprise is outwardly subtle but it’s definitely there.]
Did you seriously choose zero?
[He sounds incredulous and little angry when he speaks.
The acid bath above Kuzuryu's head fills a little more and the computer announces the start of round 14.
Chishiya chooses 100 again, and again he’s announced as the winner.]
Each of us only has one point left. The next round will be the last.
[Chishiya points this out calmly. Reasonably. If Kuzuryu keeps this up he won’t survive.
The computer announces the start of round 15. The last round.]
How about it? Can you decide? If you won't decide for yourself, then just kill me. That's a fair rule, right?
[Again he speaks with calm detachment, as if this is all entirely reasonable and not kind of insane.
"You think I am unable to decide," Kuzuryu asks finally, "Was that the reason you lured me into this tie?"]
I simply want to know what the last number you choose will be.
[Chishiya makes his choice and picks up his tablet, turning it around to show to Kuzuryu.]
If you choose 1, you will win.
[It seems like it should be a simple choice. But Kuzuryu is contemplative, "I don't understand the value of life or its meaning," he says slowly, thoughtful, "I'm sure I won't be able to make that decision in the future either. But what I need to do now is…"
And as he trails off he makes his choice.
"Here are the results for round 15," the computer announces.]
I see you've decided that determining the value of a life isn't your decision.
["For my ideals," Kuzuryu confirms, resolute.
"The winner is Chishiya-sama," the computer announces, "There is a participant who has -10 points. The game is over for this participant."]
What happened to your usual wry look?
[Indeed, Kuzuryu seems content. At peace. "At last, I think I've been able to decide how I want to live. It's thanks to you," he says, smiling, genuinely, tears in his eyes. He takes a breath and accepts his fate.
And with that, the scales above Kuzuryu’s head tips and the acid bath pours down on him, killing him.
Chishiya watches it all, appearing numb. Disappointed. Tired.]
It feels a little unfair. It's like you won and quit on me. I envy you.
[There's a faint mechanical clicking sound as the belt that had him strapped to the chair unlocks. He unfastens it and stands, pausing to take one last look around before turning to leave. The memory fades as he walks out of the room.]