I only woke up again when the first rays of sunlight hit my face. When I opened my eyes, blinded, I almost felt as if I had risen from the dead.

My limbs felt a little stiff as I turned around to take a closer look at my surroundings. I briefly wondered why I didn't wake up on the floor like I usually did, but then the memories of the day before came flooding back. The argument with Chishiya and my hasty escape from his apartment. Then the game of the queen of spades. It all seemed so surreal when I thought about it in more detail.

I lifted my head because I suddenly had the smell of coffee in my nose. Then I heard soft whispering voices from the next room. I straightened up and pushed the blanket aside. Curious, I followed the voices and the smell of coffee and shortly afterwards ended up in the kitchen, where Mei and Kota were sitting together at the dining table.

"Good morning, Tsuki," Mei greeted me with a friendly smile and then got up to reach for the coffee pot. Kota also murmured a quiet good morning greeting. "We've been waiting for you. Would you like some coffee?"

She pointed questioningly at the pot in her hand.

"Morning. I'd love to," I said and sat down opposite Mei, while Kota sat to my right and noisily crunched a few cornflakes. "What time is it anyway?" I asked, because I had no sense of time.

Although it had taken me so long to fall asleep and I had only tossed and turned at first, I had nevertheless fallen into a deep, sound sleep after a while. I had obviously really needed it.

"It's almost 11," Mei replied as she poured me a cup of coffee.

I blinked in amazement.

"Wow, I must have slept really long."

"Well, from what I've heard, the game must have been very physically demanding. So no wonder. I hope you at least got a good night's sleep."

"It took a while, but all in all, yes."

I poured some cream into my coffee and then sipped my cup. The warm, bitter drink was really good and the caffeine gave me an instant energy boost.

Mei, meanwhile, was apparently trying to cook something edible on a camping stove. The mere smell of the food made my stomach rebel painfully.

"Do you like omelette with rice?"

I immediately pricked up my ears.

"Omlette? Are you saying you have fresh eggs?" I asked, stunned.

She laughed.

"Yes, Kota's parents had a few chickens in the backyard and yesterday they laid some again after a long time. I was surprised too."

She came to the dining table with her pan and divided the omelette into two parts and placed each on a bowl of rice. My mouth watered at the sight of it.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay here," I said, because once again I felt like I was a burden to someone.

"Oh no," she waved me off and then sat back down at the table. "We're glad we could help."

"I've finished eating. Can I continue reading my comic now?" Kota asked, fidgeting a little restlessly in his chair.
Mei nodded.

"Sure. But first you put your bowl away and later you have to help with the dishes."

"Okie dokie," he said and quickly jumped up to put his empty bowl in the dishwasher. Then he ran out of the kitchen and was gone.

I smiled a little.

"It's good that he doesn't have to be here alone. The whole thing here is horrible enough as it is."

Mei nodded hesitantly as I tasted my omelette with rice. It was actually the best thing I'd eaten in a long time. I devoured the contents of the bowl in no time and felt well-fed afterwards.

"That was really tasty, Mei. I haven't had an omelette for ages. Well, fresh eggs are generally hard to find."

"True, but I miss fresh salmon fillet the most," she sighed longingly.

"And I'd love some crispy chicken. I swear I was dreaming about those chicken bucks at KFC the other day. If we ever get back, I'm going to treat myself to a giant one. Alone."

Mei laughed with amusement.

"That's understandable. I've had dreams like that too. But at least it's a good incentive."

I nodded and then twisted a curl around my finger a little thoughtfully.

"What happened to your previous companions... if I may ask?" Mei asked a little uncertainly. "Are they-...?"

She paused dramatically while her eyes rested intently on me. I lowered my gaze and let my hair continue to slide nervously through my fingers.

"Well, a few of them are dead now. I was last out with someone in pairs, but we had a fight..." I explained vaguely, not particularly wanting to elaborate on the subject.

The thought of our argument was still unbearable for me. But even more unbearable was the uncertainty of not knowing how Chishiya was doing at the moment...and whether he was still alive at all. That was by far the worst thing about it.

"I see. I'm sorry about that," she said sympathetically, obviously realizing that I didn't want to talk about it, so she quickly changed the subject. "If you want to freshen up, there's a rain barrel outside in the courtyard with an improvised shower. There should be just enough water for you," she offered generously.

"Thank you. Do you need any help in the kitchen first?"

She raised her hands defensively.

"It's all right. Kota and I will take care of it. Just get some rest from yesterday."

I thanked her and she gave me a quick tour of the house. Then she showed me around the courtyard, where five hens and a rooster were running their rounds brightly, and finally she took me to the rain barrel with the private shower. At least there was a curtain to pull shut, almost like a real shower, but the shower head was just a repurposed garden hose.

So I got some fresh clothes out of my bag and tried my luck with it. Unfortunately, the water was unpleasantly cold, so I only lasted a very short time. It wasn't really any good for anything more than freshening up, but at least I found a bar of soap by the barrel that I could use. I was shivering after the cold shower, so I quickly slipped into my fresh clothes.

This time I wore a short denim skirt and a long, loose top made of dark blue cotton, trimmed with bobbin lace. The straps, on the other hand, were decorated with a few little bows.

Inside, I looked at myself in a large wall mirror and was amazed that I still looked halfway respectable after the events of the past. I had lost some weight since I had been here, but I still didn't look emaciated. Only the dark circles under my eyes bothered me a little. I rummaged in my bag for some light-colored powder and tried to cover them up as best I could - with moderate success. I left my hair, which had become a little damp in the shower, loose to dry.

I then went back to Mei, who was obviously cleaning the kitchen.

"Is there somewhere I could wash my clothes?" I asked a little hesitantly.

"Well, I always wash my clothes down the street on the left. There's a big pond there. You can't miss it. But be careful when you go out. You know...because of the king of spades."

I nodded and thanked her. Then I took the dirty clothes and threw them into a small pewter washtub that was sitting outside in the yard. I then made my way to the aforementioned body of water.

The warming rays of the sun on my skin and the crystal clear blue sky were soothing and almost a little motivating. But my dark thoughts were not so easily impressed. The more I tried not to think about him, the more often he crept into my thoughts. It was simply impossible not to worry about him, even though I hated myself for it at the same time. Chishiya caused such contradictory feelings in me as no one else had ever done before.

By now I could no longer deny the obvious: I was hopelessly in love with him. I could lie to myself as much as I wanted, but the signals from my body were clear. From the palpitations to the infamous butterflies in my stomach. I knew them all.

At first, it had just been a silly little crush that started with Chishiya sending Niragi to hell in a burning inferno. By now, however, it was so much more than that. I sighed heavily and then laughed bitterly. Once again, I had fallen for the wrong guy. Wouldn't be the first time....

When I finally arrived at the pond, I sank down on the grass on the shallow bank and filled some water into the large tin bucket. Since I had already added some washing powder, it foamed up a little as I pulled the clothes through the water several times to clean them. When I had finished, I poured the dirty water onto the grass and made my way back.

Just a few minutes later, however, I heard a strange monotonous beeping behind me. I paused for a moment and then turned around in amazement. An ordinary traffic light was there and the green arrow on it suddenly flashed. Then a voice sounded from the loudspeakers, which startled me so much that I almost dropped the washtub:

The next game will begin shortly. Please gather in front of the courthouse!

A new game?

I looked up at the sky and sure enough, in the distance I saw a silver airship rising from the horizon and hoisting its banner.

This time the tumbler actually fell out of my hands and landed on the ground, clanking loudly, while I audibly gasped and couldn't take my eyes off the banner.

It was the King of Diamonds.