.
"Rio, are you going to step into the ring with your luck again?" Roy asked, his eyes burning with a serious intensity.
Ishika stopped eating for a split second and looked at me intensely, then went right back to her food as if nothing mattered. I looked at Roy, totally lost. "What do you mean 'with my luck'? You planning to expose me as your company puppet? You've offered me jobs before, but this is different. What do you mean 'step into the arena'?"
Roy laughed, shaking his head. "Rio, you've got it all wrong. Look, you know our game, The Prince of Danger Heart... it's rank 4 globally, but it's tanking fast. People are trashing it with negative reviews, and that's our biggest nightmare. We started that project as kids, remember? Everyone thought you wasted my money, but looking back, it was brilliant. Then, after that accident, a 'lucky' guy like you just vanished from the world."
Ayesha cut him off sharply. "Shut up, Roy. Stick to the business." She turned to me. "For ten years, the world's biggest companies have been building a game called The Prince of the Hell God. Cheesy name, sounds like an anime, right? But it cost $3.5 billion to make."
"So? What's that got to do with me?" I asked.
"Everything," she said. "It's made for the elite—rich players and top-tier gamers. Launch is in six months, but the Battle Royale tournament starts in three. Every big pro—Lucifero, Danger Hunter—they're all being hired by big corporations to represent them."
Roy leaned in. "I want you to enter that arena for my company. Just use that insane luck of yours."
I looked at him like he was high. "Are you serious? You want a casual gamer like me in an international pro tournament? I won't last a second. And your dad? He'd never agree."
"I'm 100% sure you'll get wrecked in a fair fight," Roy grinned. "But I'm 200% sure your luck will bail you out. I've seen it. You always win against me because the stars just align for you. It's like the universe is on your side."
I grabbed his collar, gnarling my teeth. "Luck?! I win because of strategy! I designed the mechanics! Don't tell me it's just luck, Roy. Don't make me angry."
Roy just raised his hands, laughing. "Okay, okay! My bad! But tell me... that last time you beat me, how did you do it?"
"It was just a coincidence," I muttered, letting go of him.
Roy laughed even harder. "Exactly! Everything around you is a 'coincidence.' Two girls obsessed with you? Coincidence. Me needing your help? Coincidence. Even my dad agreeing to this—the biggest coincidence of all. Tell me, Rio, why are you even here?"
"Bad luck," I snapped.
Roy sighed. "Call it what you want, but I've seen things that can only be explained as pure luck. There's no other word for it."
I looked at my clothes. I was wearing Roy's suit, Roy's shoes, and my sister was eating Roy's expensive food. "I'm leaving," I said.
"Not so fast," Roy smirked. "I want my $1,000 back. Plus, our contract says if I'm not rude and you walk out, you owe me ten times that amount."
"You're heartless," I growled, sitting back down. "Fine. What else?"
Ayesha pulled out her phone. "Dad wants to talk to you." She started a video call. I felt a chill. I looked at Ishika—she had polished off ten plates and was still going. "Stop eating, you'll get sugar!" I hissed.
"Don't worry," Ayesha said. "It's healthy, sugar-free stuff. One day won't kill her."
The screen flickered, and a heavy voice filled the room. I knew this man. He was the one who had betrayed my father. I hated him.
"Rio," Ayesha's dad said. "It's been a while. How are you?"
"I'm fine," I said through grit teeth. "And you?"
"I know you're still mad," he smiled. "But our families have a deep bond. I've helped you, you've helped us. If you're free this weekend, come over. We need to talk. Roy has told me everything, and I hope you give me an answer based on that. You have rare talent—and rare luck."
"My luck is garbage," I said. "Bad things keep happening to me."
The man laughed. "You always were funny. Look, after you join us, you'll realize we're on the same side. After all, you're my future son-in-law. You and Ayesha have been engaged for a long time. We'll discuss the wedding after the tournament. I already have your family's permission."
"WHAT?!" Ishika screamed, almost choking. She lunged at me, grabbing my throat. "Big brother! What is he talking about?! When did you get engaged?! Why didn't you tell me?! You were going to betray me?!"
Ayesha smirked. "Calm down, Ishika. Rio just forgot to mention it. We were engaged before you even showed up."
Ishika squeezed my neck harder. "I'll call you back, Uncle!" I wheezed. Ayesha hung up.
"When did you get engaged?!" Ishika screamed, her face inches from mine. "Why did you lie? You monster! You tried to cheat before we even had kids!"
She finally let go, and I started coughing violently. Ayesha laughed. "You're quite the actress, Ishika."
Ishika grabbed me again, her eyes tearing up. "This isn't a joke! You broke my heart, Rio! I had our whole day planned out, and you ruined it!" She started sobbing with her eyes closed.
Roy looked panicked. "Ishika, listen, my dad was just joking..."
"Don't lie to her, Roy," Ayesha interrupted. "We've been engaged since childhood. Rio's mom kept it a secret so she wouldn't feel bad."
Ishika let go of me, looking completely stunned. Roy shrieked, showing Ishika his phone. "Look! Here's $10,000. Just take Rio and go. I'm sorry for the mess."
Ishika looked at Roy with cold eyes. "I thought you were my brother's friend, but you're a snake. I'm never letting him see you again." She turned to me. "I'm going home. I'll wait for you."
"Wait!" I ran after her and pulled her into a tight hug. Ayesha and Roy just stared in shock. I felt Ishika calm down a bit in my arms.
"I love you," she whispered. Then she started checking me all over, poking my stomach. "Are you okay?! Did they hurt you?!"
"What are you doing?" Roy asked, confused.
Ayesha was walking toward us, her face dark with rage. She didn't look at me as she headed for the door. "That was low, Rio. Really unexpected. I didn't think you'd do this to me."
I looked at her back. Great, now everyone is mad. I whispered to Ishika, "I'm sorry. They were messing with you, and I'm the one paying for it. I'm really sorry."
"I know, big brother," she said, her eyes clearing. "She's lying to pull us apart. I'm not going anywhere. In fact... let's just get married tomorrow."
People around us started laughing. Roy yelled at them to shut up.
My head was spinning. Ishika was clinging to me, talking about weddings. If I tell her we actually are engaged, I'm dead.
"Roy, stop the jokes," I pleaded. I looked at Ayesha. "Ayesha, stop sticking to me. Give me some space."
Ishika smiled that terrifyingly sweet smile. "Space? You want space?" She hugged me even tighter. "Is this enough space?"
"I'm sorry!" I yelled.
"Don't lie to me again," she said, finally letting go.
I looked around, searching for a way out. I took a deep breath and blurted it out: "Actually... we are engaged!"
Ayesha's face went red, and she looked like she was about to explode. I didn't wait to see the fallout—I turned and bolted for the door as fast as I could.
"Big brother! Why are you running?!" Ishika shrieked. "I need to talk to you! If you try to escape, it'll only be worse for you!"
"This is all insane!" I yelled back. "You're definitely in on this with them!"
"What are you saying?!" she yelled, chasing me. "Why would I team up with my enemy?!"
"You're all trying to trap me!" I screamed as I ran.
"Stop right there! Are you blaming me for your own mistakes? Now you're definitely going to pay for this!"