Reminded of the moment he won, a shiver goes down my spine.

Slowly parting my lips, I take my time and begin to speak...

We return to our room, and when we sit down on the bed, Taki hugs me close.

Surrounded by luxury, I sit on Taki's lap, and we gaze into each other's eyes.

Taki: "You're my prize. That means you'll do whatever I ask, right?"

He's wearing the same victorious look he had when he bet all those chips.

and taking my hand.

Taki: "Let's go."

Y/n: "Okay!"

Shun: "It all came down to a single victory."

Kiyohito: "And what a victory it was..."

Taki: "You three can have fun on your own."

Although Yosuke and the guys seem a little exasperated as we walk off, Taki and I leave the casino.

--

around the table cheers.

The dealer pushes all of the chips over to Taki.

Yosuke: "Ugggh. But luck was supposed to be on my side today!"

Taki: "Keep your promise and leave Y/n alone."

Yosuke: "Fine, fine. You won't hear another word from me."

Taki says something to the dealer before standing up

?)

An instant later, the ball lands in a pocket.

(Please, let Taki win...)

Everyone around me holds their breath at once, staring at the same spot.

Then, as the wheel slows to a halt, I abruptly hear one person exhale.

Taki: "Black... I win."

And with that declaration, the crowd gathered

Kiyohito: "An amount representative of how much Taki cares for you."

Y/n: "What...?"

Shun: "You've got a way with words sometimes, Kiyo."

Y/n: "..."

No matter how many times I look at it, the sight of that chip mountain never fails to make me feel dizzy.

(That's how much he thinks I'm worth...

the crowd, Yosuke shifts his gaze back to Taki.

Yosuke: "Okay, then I'm all in on red."

The onlookers respond with a cheer.

The dealer spins the wheel, and the ball dances around its edges.

Shun: "They both mean business. This just got entertaining."

Y/n: "How much money did they bet...?"

asking me to switch seats with him.

Then, when Taki sits down at the table in my place, he brings a mountain of chips with him.

Dealer: "What's your bet?"

Taki: "Put everything on black."

Y/n: "!"

The next thing I know, people are gathering, eyes glued to the gigantic pile of chips.

Noticing

though."

Yosuke: "Ugh, you're so overprotective, as usual. But if you're going to be that way, why don't you make a bet with me, Taki? And if I win... You have to let me have as much fun with Y/n as I want... Okay?"

Taki: "...Very well."

(Taki...)

Taki discreetly places a hand on my shoulder,

himself between me and Yosuke.

When I look over Taki's shoulder, I can see his eyes are focused sharply on Yosuke.

Yosuke: "Quit making that threatening face."

Yosuke: "I just like to have a little fun with Y/n sometimes, that's all."

Taki: "There's a problem with the kind of fun you're having,

sell Taki off to be somebody's husband!"

Y/n: "!"

(That's obviously unacceptable... But I can never tell when Yosuke is joking and when he's not.)

(I've got to do something, but... What?)

Yosuke: "What? What do you say?"

Taki: "You're teasing Y/n too much."

Taki leans forward, inserting

it gradually begins to slow down.

However, the ball disappoints me by landing on black.

Y/n: "Oh..."

Yosuke: "Yes! Today really is my day. You're going to keep your promise, right? You'll let me do whatever I want with Taki?"

Y/n: "Well..."

(I mean, I DID lose the bet...)

Yosuke: "Maybe I'll

Look!"

Yosuke defiantly bets a few chips.

The roulette wheel starts to spin, and the dealer looks at me when he's about to toss the ball in, hurrying me with his gaze.

(I won by betting on red last time... I'll stick with that.)

I bet some chips on red.

The ball is dropped onto the wheel, and

just dumb luck..."

Yosuke: "Then why don't we do the same thing again this time?"

Y/n: "You don't mean..."

Yosuke: "Sure I do. Pick red or black and bet Taki."

Taki: "..."

Kiyohito: "Yosuke's been on a winning streak today. Be careful."

(Easier said that done...)

Yosuke: "It's just a game!

down at the red and black numbers before my eyes.

Yosuke: "You think you could scoot down a little, Kiyo?"

Kiyohito: "Sure, sure..."

Shun: "Y/n won big last time. I wonder if her luck will hold up today?"

Y/n: "What?"

Shun: "You remember. You won that bet with Taki in Taiwan."

Y/n: "That was

Yosuke: "But you're sitting right here. You might as well play one little game."

Taki: "Yosuke..."

Yosuke: "It's fine. I'll be fun. All right, go ahead."

Yosuke addresses the dealer, and the man immediately starts getting the game ready.

The table in front of us has a roulette wheel. I look

three men seem to be playing against each other.

Yosuke: "Okay, come with me, y/n."

Y/n: "Hm? Um..."

Yosuke tugs on my free hand so suddenly that I let go of Taki.

Without hesitating for a moment, Yosuke leads me over to where he'd been sitting.

Y/n: "I was just going to watch today..."

obvious?"

Taki: "That poor person mindset of yours never changes."

Y/n: "Give me a break. Casinos are one thing I'm still not used to."

Yosuke: "Hey, you two finally made it!"

I turn in the direction of Yosuke's voice and see him waving us over to his table.

Flanked by Kiyohito and Shun, the

yelling and cheering, enjoying their high stakes games of chance.

Taki is walking next to me.

I take his hand, and the contact grounds me, making me feel like I'm finally back in reality.

Taki: "Looking around like that only makes you seem like you don't belong."

Y/n: "Oh, oops. Was it that