Wicked Little Games (Worm/Kakegurui)

[Cold_Fusion]

Thank you for giving this insane idea of mine a shot. I couldn't find a crossover between these two anywhere (except The Whims of Fate on Spacebattles, which while enjoyable, didn't quite scratch that itch for me), so I started writing one myself.

I have no beta but myself. If you see any mistakes, please let me know and I'll fix them as soon as I can.

That's all from me. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it!

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Buy-In 1.1

Buy-In - The initial investment a poker game or poker tournament player must make to receive their starting chips.

As I trudged into Winslow on Monday morning, the weather matched my mood: gray, cold, and life-sucking. Spring had started a few weeks ago, yet winter refused to go away; I'd left the house wearing gloves and a heavy coat and still felt like the wind was carving gashes into me.

While the temperature improved once I stepped inside, my mood didn't. The population of Winslow remained as lethargic as always this early in the morning, but that didn't mean someone wouldn't jump at the chance to knock me down a peg. Thus, I kept marching toward my homeroom, making sure not to meet anyone's gaze as I walked.

Then Emma revealed herself from around a corner. Maybe I should have turned around after seeing her. I didn't see who precisely stuck out their leg, but their identity didn't matter: I tripped and hit the ground all the same.

"Wow, Taylor! I didn't realize you were so clumsy," Emma said, her smirk audible in her voice.

Several of her cronies laughed right on cue. I got up and kept walking, having realized there was no way to win long ago. If I ignored them, they continuously escalated until I couldn't take it anymore. If I lashed out, I'd get punished for hurting them, and while they might not get off scot-free their punishment would be a joke compared to mine. The only option that consistently worked was avoiding them, and that was difficult at best because they always sought me out whenever they wanted or needed a punching bag, which was often.

Fortunately, I suffered no other 'accidents' before homeroom. After arriving a few minutes before the opening bell, I entered a half-full classroom of half-asleep classmates and plopped down at my desk, ignoring the stares I'd gotten used to by now. My backpack stayed in front of me. Leaving it out of sight was a recipe to have something stolen from it, perhaps even the whole bag if the perpetrator was gutsy enough, and I had limited funds to replace anything I lost this way. Best not to take chances.

The morning crawled by as it always did, homeroom filling up as Mrs. Knott kept half an eye on the room. She marked people present when they arrived, but otherwise paid us little attention. Then the bell rang, and to my surprise, Mrs. Knott strode to the front of the room instead of remaining at her desk like usual.

"Today, I'm breaking the tradition of having nothing to announce during homeroom," Mrs. Knott said. "A new student will be joining us for the remainder of the year. She asked to be allowed to introduce herself, so she will be doing just that. She was finishing some paperwork in the office last I checked, but she should be here any minute."

As soon as Mrs. Knott finished speaking, the classroom door swung open and our new classmate entered. She was a girl and a very pretty one at that. She was about average in height, with long, straight black hair that fell almost to her waist, vibrant brown eyes, and a wide smile that appeared all sunshine and rainbows. She wore a simple red dress and black shoes, and her posture was so ramrod-straight it looked like her spine had been replaced by a steel cable. Definitely the popular girl type back home if how she was looking at us meant anything; hopefully, she wouldn't get as bad as Emma, Sophia, and Madison did.

"Hello, everyone," the girl said, her English noticeably accented but otherwise solid. "My name is Yumeko Jabami, and I moved to Brockton Bay a few weeks ago. I hope you will accept me as your new classmate, and I'd love to get to know you better."

As many of my classmates erupted into furious whispering, Yumeko bowed and took a seat at the empty desk to my left. Not a surprise, since it was the only available desk in the room, but it'd get my classmates' attention nonetheless. I idly wondered how long it would take for her to join the rest of the class in ignoring or taunting me. Probably about two weeks. Maybe less.

Mrs. Knott returned to her usual seat, and the rest of homeroom passed in relative peace. With everyone focused on Yumeko, it meant they had little attention to spare on me, for which I was grateful. Being ignored wasn't great by any means, but it was volumes better than their usual treatment of me.

The bell sounded far too soon. I left slowly enough not to draw attention, but quickly enough to get somewhere. As long as I was in the halls, getting hemmed in for a potential prank or attack remained a hazard. Emma, Sophia, and Madison were always planning, and if they weren't planning, they were up to something. Making myself an easier target than necessary wasn't on my agenda.

"Hey!"

I heard someone's voice behind me, but I kept walking. They were talking to someone else.

"Hey, wait up!"

The voice sounded much clearer this time, but I ignored it once more. I was about to break into a run when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I whirled around, half expecting a trap, a prank, or even a punch. Instead, Yumeko stood right behind me, her cheeks pink. Between that and her heavy breathing, she'd expended far more effort than just about anyone else would to catch up with me. Most of the other students in the hallway must have made the same conclusion because they stopped whatever they were doing to stare at us. No one said anything, perhaps too afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of an unknown, but the implications were determinable without words. "You're seriously cozying up to Locker Girl? Girl, you can do better than her."

She didn't seem to have any tricks up her sleeve, but that didn't make the situation much better. "Was that really necessary?"

Yumeko didn't seem too bothered. "My apologies for that. I didn't think you heard me and that was the first thing I thought of. Your name is Taylor, right?"

I nodded. No reason to lie about something that simple.

"Good, you're who I'm looking for," Yumeko said. "If you have time to spare today, would you mind showing me around? I still have a lot to learn about this place."

That seemed suspect; Winslow wasn't that big a building. From what little I remembered of my freshman-year tour of the building, it didn't have much to offer besides the obvious. That sounded like bait to lure me somewhere secluded. "They didn't show you around before you enrolled?"

Yumeko giggled a bit, then shook her head. "Well, they gave me a tour, but it felt way too glamorized, and it was on a weekend so the school was empty."

She leaned in closer before I could respond, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'd like someone willing to show me all the worst Winslow has to offer. No offense meant, but given how I've heard everyone's been treating you, I'd bet you've seen plenty of it."

That answer had not been on my radar. She hadn't picked me as her tour guide in spite of my status, she'd done so because of it. Why she'd need someone with my reputation remained a mystery, but a few possibilities manifested without too much effort.

Was she part of an elaborate scheme to humiliate me again? Possibly. Unless she'd met with the usual suspects before school somehow, they probably weren't behind it, but plenty of people could have put her up to this.

Was she a potential gang member scoping out Brockton Bay's other criminal elements? Maybe. Yumeko seemed a bit too straight-laced to be involved with one, but looks could be deceiving and I knew little about their initiation procedures.

Was she just someone who wanted to know what to expect during her stint at Winslow? Discounting paranoia, this was the most likely option. No one with a brain between their ears thought Winslow was an easy school to survive in, at least by the standards of Brockton Bay. Getting advice from someone who'd been through much of what Winslow had to offer wasn't the worst decision she could make.

The rational part of my brain caved; I wouldn't know unless I tried. "How about during lunch? We have a full hour, so we'll have time to eat after we finish."

"That sounds lovely," Yumeko said. "Thank you. Is meeting by the cafeteria entrance okay?"

I nodded once more.

"Then I'll see you at lunch," Yumeko said. Once she finished her sentence, she disappeared into the mob of students packing the halls, leaving me to get to first period alone, as always. The students who'd stopped to watch our conversation began moving toward their first class of the day, but even as I did the same I still felt eyes on my back.

It disappointed me that skipping my lunch break felt like the sensible alternative, especially since most of the teachers didn't allow eating during class. At least it meant a break in routine. Worst came to worst, I'd find a bench somewhere and eat my lunch before I came home; I'd be hungry the rest of the day but a seat in the park, overlooking the ocean, or even in my room at home all beat the girls' bathroom by a mile.

Thankfully, I didn't run into anyone else in the hall before I made it to my first-period class. With a few minutes free before I had to write anything down, as soon as I had my things set I allowed my mind to wander.

The last time I'd looked forward to a lunch period had been in middle school, before Emma had turned into the bitch I knew now. And that was with me making my own lunches, so I had no complaints about the food itself. (I'd tried Winslow's cafeteria food on a whim once; it was edible, but my compliments ended there.). Good fortune didn't come my way often these days; hoping this was the start of something bigger was ill-advised, but I did so anyway.

Still, hope wasn't a substitute for reality. This would only be temporary. Even if she somehow wanted to be my friend, I doubted that sentiment lasted too long given my reputation and track record. She'd join the rest of the school eventually. I'd have to enjoy someone else's company while it lasted.

 

[Cold_Fusion]

When the bell rang at the end of World Issues, I almost knocked Mr. Gladly over in my haste to get to the cafeteria. Wanting to stay ahead of the crowd, I took the most efficient route I could and speed-walked the whole way there, only slowing down for the final straightaway. No one tried anything on me, and for that I was grateful.

Once the cafeteria was finally in sight, my hopes reignited. Yumeko leaned against the far wall about five feet from the cafeteria doors, other students streaming around her in their pursuit of lunch. About a minute later, when that stream had reduced to a trickle, Yumeko approached, her smile uplifting my mood several notches.

Yumeko spoke first. "Thanks again for agreeing to give me the tour. So, how's your day been?"

"My day was fine," I said, which for once wasn't a lie. During the first three periods, I hadn't been hit with anything worse than snide remarks; between that and my upcoming tour, this was shaping up to be one of the best days I'd had all year. "What about you?"

"Pleasant enough, thank you," Yumeko said. "This school's definitely a unique experience."

"That's one way to describe it," I thought. Thankfully, those words stopped just short of my mouth; there was enough negative energy at Winslow without me adding to it. "So, where would you like me to start?"

Yumeko went for the obvious answer. "How about the cafeteria? We're already here."

I nodded; the cafeteria was as good a place to get started as any. I'd never had a consistent place to sit without being bothered, which was part of why I'd taken to eating lunch in the girls' bathroom, but it was open and easy to surveil, plus it was technically where I was supposed to be right now so no one could kick us out.

When we entered the cafeteria, the unfolding scene was about what I expected. While there were exceptions, for the most part the cafeteria separated itself into the usual cliques. The skinheads and Empire Eighty-Eight sympathizers/junior members all sat together in the corner of the cafeteria nearest to us. What was left of the Azn Bad Boys' junior members marked their territory in the opposite corner, quiet and huddled together as if for warmth. The popular kids, including Emma, Sophia, and Madison, sat clumped together in the center, chatting and laughing; they hadn't noticed me yet but it was only a matter of time. Almost everyone else not waiting in line for the school lunch either sat with a small group of close friends or kept their heads down. I pointed out each group as I saw them, Yumeko appearing to take notes on her phone as she did.

I made special note of the Azn Bad Boys, since Yumeko was a potential recruit for them even if her gender didn't match their name. "They're down real bad, so the odds they make a pass at you are pretty high. You know what to do if they approach you?"

Yumeko nodded. "Just say no, right?"

That sounded about right. "If they keep pushing, get the Protectorate or the police involved if you can. Winslow has security systems in theory but they haven't done anything for me, and the security guards are a joke."

"Good to know," Yumeko said. "I'll fend for myself."

As I scanned the cafeteria once more to make sure I didn't miss anything important, Emma looked up from her lunch, and her gaze met mine. I took that as the sign to move on. "How about I show you the rest of the school?"

"I'd love to see it," Yumeko said. I exited the cafeteria with no resistance, Yumeko tailing me. As far as I could tell, Emma hadn't followed us out, but that look could mean anything these days. I thought about sending some flies to scout ahead for me in case this tour was the setup for a trap, but even though the odds of getting caught were low I didn't want to risk outing myself before I'd even gone on patrol.

Thankfully, trap or no trap, the rest of the tour was easy enough. While I showed her all of Winslow's prominent landmarks, such as the dated auditorium, the ancient computer lab, and the half-empty library, I also brought attention to things her earlier tour guide never would have. Blind spots where it was easy for someone to ambush you without witnesses. Faculty members I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw. The best places to go if you needed to hide from someone. The security cameras that I'd bet money didn't work. The security guards who didn't even attempt to corral us back to the cafeteria. Yumeko occasionally asked a question or two, but otherwise she just took more notes, her fingers moving so fast they seemed to blur. It took about thirty minutes for me to cover what I knew of the school, and I was pleased that I didn't feel even a bit winded by all the walking and stairs once I'd finished; my runs were starting to pay off.

"Don't take my words for gospel, I don't know everything," I finished as we began the trek back to the cafeteria. "This is just what I know. Hopefully, that should be enough for you to make it through the rest of the year unscathed."

"Some information is better than none," Yumeko said.

I agreed. Of course, having full control of the situation was preferable, but that didn't happen often anymore; anything I could control or obtain remained precious.

We began to circle back toward where we started, but I'd clearly drained my reservoir of luck dry. A bit less than halfway there, Emma, Sophia, and Madison stepped out from behind a corner, blocking the only way to the stairwell. Unfortunately, my usual strategy of avoiding them until the bell rang wasn't an option here, since leaving Yumeko alone with them felt exponentially worse than just taking my lumps.

Thus, I switched to Plan B. Going on the offensive didn't make my odds much better, but it was all I could think of. "Don't you three have somewhere to be?"

Sophia's grin went switchblade-sharp. "Don't you have a bathroom stall to be eating in?"

"Oh, Sophia, don't be ridiculous, Taylor's not eating in there," Emma said. "I mean, she's definitely jilling off. Why else would she be hiding in the bathroom during lunch?"

Madison made several exaggerated sex moans in time with suggestive motions, causing Emma and Sophia to crack up. Nothing I said here wouldn't just give them another comeback, so I clammed up. Yumeko's expression didn't change, but at least she didn't laugh with them. I'd take what I could get.

Once her laughter subsided, Emma addressed Yumeko. "I know you're new here, so I'll cut you some slack for now, but if you value your reputation, Taylor's not your friend. She isn't anyone's friend, and there's a reason for that. I ditched her as soon as I started here and everything's looked up for me since."

Yumeko didn't seem too convinced. "I'll make friends with whoever I please, thank you very much. And might I ask why you care so much about how I live my life?"

"We're just telling it like it is," Madison said.

"Well, so am I," Yumeko said. "If your opinions bothered me, I don't think I'd be here."

Sophia breathed deep. "Last chance, new girl. Play by our rules or you will regret it later."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Yumeko said. "She's been way more helpful than any of you have been. Besides, I have my own standards, and to say none of you meet them would be just a bit of an understatement."

Sophia's fists clenched at her sides and her cheeks flushed, but Emma got in front of her before things could escalate any further, then whispered something into Madison's ear. I didn't hear what it was, but after Emma finished, Madison took Sophia's hand and the two of them began walking down the stairs, presumably to return to the cafeteria.

"You know what? I'm not going to stop you," Emma said. "You made your choice, now you get to live with it." Once she finished, she spun on her heel and joined her friends.

"Have a great day," Yumeko called after them. I saw Emma flinch, but she didn't rise to the bait, instead disappearing from view.

Whether or not I could stop Yumeko in the future remained in question, but it was my duty to at least warn her about what she'd done. "I'm going to be straight with you: those three are the queen bees of the school. Emma's dad is a lawyer and Sophia is a track star, so they can get away with murder. You don't have to defend me, and go against them at your own peril."

"Don't worry about me," Yumeko said. "I can take care of myself. If they underestimate me, that's their problem."

As heartwarming as that sentiment was, reality wasn't that kind. Any further attempts at dissuading her seemed doomed to fail, but at least I'd tried.

Yumeko checked her phone, then broached the next topic for me. "We still have twenty minutes left before break ends. Do you want to have lunch together?"

"Thanks for offering, but I'm still full from breakfast," I said. That was a lie, I was starving. However, I'd had my fill of Trio encounters for the day, and entering the cafeteria was just asking for something nasty to happen at this point. I hoped my stomach didn't growl loud enough to give me away.

"No worries," Yumeko replied. "In that case, I'll see you tomorrow in homeroom!"

She began walking toward the cafeteria, leaving me with a smile. Even with the interruption, this qualified as the best thing that had happened to me since… the incident. If she actually looked forward to seeing me again and her statement wasn't just for show, then I'd just made the closest thing I had to a friend at Winslow.

In that moment, I made another decision. I'd been training physically and mentally for months, I'd assembled everything I'd need for a night on the town, and after a few weeks of finagling my costume was finally ready. I felt ready to be a hero. Most importantly of all, I wanted to keep this good feeling going.

Tonight, I'd hit the streets for my first patrol.

 

[pingas plight]

Why do I imagine Yumeko somehow beating a space worm at gamba and getting to decide what her power is

and then immediately making it, like, Shadow Game type shit

"Have a great day," Yumeko called after them. I saw Emma flinch, but she didn't rise to the bait, instead disappearing from view.

Click to shrink...

Wow! This genuinely felt like an exchange straight from the anime.