The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the manor in a warm, golden glow. The dining room table, usually the site of their chaotic meals, was now covered in cards, small stacks of coins, and snacks hastily thrown together.

Ari leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he observed the scene. Yuri, Kimi, and Finoria were all seated around the table, their faces lit with varying degrees of determination and amusement.

“I still don’t understand why we’re doing this,” Yuri grumbled, shuffling her deck of cards with practiced speed. “It’s not like we don’t know who’s going to win.”

“Oh, don’t be such a pessimist,” Kimi said sweetly, her silver hair glowing softly in the candlelight. She arranged her own cards meticulously, her violet eyes gleaming. “A little game is good for morale.”

Finoria leaned back in her chair, spinning a coin between her fingers with an easy grin. “Besides, it’s not about winning. It’s about fun. And humiliating each other.”

“That last part is why we’re doing this,” Ari said dryly, his calm tone laced with subtle humor.

The game in question was one of Finoria’s ideas: King’s Bluff, a card game that combined strategy, bluffing, and sheer luck. The rules were simple enough, but knowing these three, Ari knew it was going to turn into a battleground of egos before long.

“Alright,” Finoria said, slapping her deck onto the table. “Let’s make this interesting. Loser does the winner’s chores for a week.”

Yuri’s eyes narrowed. “You’re on.”

Kimi chuckled softly, delicately picking up her hand of cards. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Ari sighed, picking up his own cards. “Let’s just get started before you all talk yourselves into another argument.”

The first few rounds went as expected: chaotic.

Finoria’s bold, aggressive strategy quickly made her a target, much to her delight. “Come on, is that all you’ve got?” she teased, throwing down a winning hand and scooping up a small pile of coins. “You’ve got to be more daring than that if you want to beat me.”

“Or less obvious,” Yuri muttered, her green eyes narrowing as she carefully placed a card. “You’re practically begging us to gang up on you.”

“That’s because I can take it,” Finoria shot back, grinning.

Meanwhile, Kimi played with an almost unnerving calm, her every move calculated and deliberate. “You’re all too busy bickering to notice the real threat,” she said softly, revealing a hand that instantly won the round.

Yuri groaned, slapping her cards onto the table. “Are you kidding me?”

Ari stayed quiet, playing just enough to keep the game moving but avoiding any flashy plays. He wasn’t particularly invested in winning—watching the others argue and strategize was entertainment enough.

By the time they reached the halfway point, the dynamic had shifted.

Finoria leaned forward, her playful grin replaced by a more focused expression. Her pile of coins had dwindled, but her confidence hadn’t. “Alright, time to turn this around.”

“Good luck,” Kimi said, her voice almost too sweet. “You’ll need it.”

Yuri, meanwhile, was deep in concentration, her green eyes darting between her cards and the others’ faces. “If anyone cheats, I swear—”

“Cheating?” Finoria gasped, feigning offense. “I would never.”

“Uh-huh,” Yuri muttered, clearly unconvinced.

Ari smirked faintly, glancing at his hand before placing a card on the table. “Raise.”

The word hung in the air for a moment, drawing all eyes to him.

“You’re raising?” Kimi asked, her tone skeptical. “You’ve barely played all night.”

Ari shrugged. “Figured I’d see what happens.”

Finoria’s grin returned, her competitive spirit reigniting. “Oh, I’m in.” She slapped down her card with flourish.

“Me too,” Yuri said, though her suspicion was palpable.

Kimi’s smile didn’t falter as she placed her card. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Ari revealed his hand: a near-perfect set that instantly crushed the others’ plays.

The table fell silent for a moment.

“...What?” Yuri said, her jaw dropping.

Finoria let out a bark of laughter, leaning back in her chair. “You’ve been holding onto that the whole time, haven’t you?”

Ari shrugged again, stacking his winnings without fanfare. “Like I said, I wanted to see what happens.”

“You’re insufferable,” Yuri muttered, though there was a grudging respect in her tone.

Kimi pouted slightly, resting her chin in her hand. “I underestimated you, Ari. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Finoria leaned closer, propping her elbow on the table and flashing him a teasing smile. “Careful, Ari. Keep winning like that, and I might start thinking you’re doing it just to impress me.”

“Or humiliate you,” Yuri added, smirking.

Ari shook his head, his tone as calm as ever. “If you’re all done talking, let’s finish the game.”

By the end of the night, the table was in disarray, snacks were half-eaten, and the tension had given way to laughter.

Unsurprisingly, Ari had the highest score, though Finoria had managed to claw her way into second place. Yuri came in third, grumbling the whole time, while Kimi gracefully accepted her loss—though her serene smile suggested she was already plotting revenge.

“So,” Finoria said, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied grin. “Who’s doing Ari’s chores this week?”

“Not me,” Yuri said immediately.

“I don’t mind,” Kimi said sweetly, earning a groan from Yuri.

Ari stood, gathering the cards and coins with efficient ease. “Nobody’s doing my chores. That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“Oh, come on,” Finoria teased, standing and brushing against him as she did. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m fun enough to win,” Ari replied, a rare flicker of amusement in his voice.

As they all filed out of the room, still bickering and laughing, Ari allowed himself a small smile.