The fourth round began, and the cards in front of me seemed to shrink—just like the options in the mind of a man facing a decisive crisis.
I stared at them for a long moment… only five cards: an apple, bread, cake, grass, and a chair.
I let out a quiet sigh and said to myself, "I'm definitely going to lose…"
Despite how trivial the cards were, I still had to choose two.
I looked at them as if begging for a strong card to suddenly appear—but… no answers, only possibilities.
I reconsidered quickly.
The chair seemed like the only card that suggested strength… or at least stability.
But what should I combine it with?
An apple? Too harmless.
Bread? Useless—it would just become an edible chair.
Cake? Haha… a "cake chair." Funny image, but not exactly intimidating.
That left only grass… the weakest of them all, but maybe… just maybe it could add something natural to the chair's artificial strength?
Like a camouflaged chair? A living chair?
Before I could fully decide, Luxian's annoyed voice cut through my thoughts:
"Come on… what's taking you so long?"
I looked up to see that he had already placed his two cards in front of him, tapping his fingers on the table as if he'd been waiting for centuries.
I answered internally, "Alright… no more hesitation."
I picked my cards and placed the chair and the grass side by side in front of me.
Tiros had made his decision as well, calmly placing his cards on the table, just as he did every round.
Luxian looked at us with half a smile and said:
"Done? Then let's flip them."
We flipped the cards at the same moment, revealing them like a play finally beginning.
Tyros's cards: Knife + Pepper
Luxian's cards: Pizza + Bread
My cards: Chair + Grass
I stared at them, then blinked slowly, trying to suppress an internal laugh.
Pepper knife?!
Bread pizza?!
Grass chair?!
It felt like we were in a cooking competition… on top of a chair in an open field.
Tyros looked at all the cards, then said in a steady voice:
"So the results are: a pepper knife, a bread pizza, and a grass chair…"
He paused, then leaned forward slightly.
"The question is… who wins?"
Luxian smirked lazily.
"Hmm… I don't think a grass-covered chair will last long. Maybe it'll become a home for locusts—or firewood in winter."
I chuckled lightly and admitted:
"I know it's not very intimidating… but at least it looks comfortable."
Then I added thoughtfully:
"As for the bread pizza… it looks delicious, but I don't see it lasting more than two minutes before someone eats it."
Tyros let out a quiet laugh.
"Bread pizza? That's just a heavier version of a pie… Tasty? Yes. Strong? I doubt it."
He wiped his mouth with an imaginary finger and continued:
"Now… the pepper knife… that's different."
We all paused.
His expression turned serious as he went on:
"Think about it. It's a knife—a cutting, attacking tool—but combined with pepper, something sharp and burning. A sensory, aggressive mix… it might not just be sharp, but burning too."
Luxian nodded, starting to see the logic.
"Alright, I'll admit it… spicy knife? Imagine getting cut, then the pepper heat starts seeping into the wound… that's pain twice over."
I added, surrendering—but with genuine admiration:
"No, three times. Once from the cut, once from the burn, and once when you think about it later."
We all laughed.
Then Tyros clasped his hands.
"So… the winner is the pepper knife."
We nodded in agreement.
Luxian then said:
"I'll win the next round."
I replied sarcastically:
"A grass-covered chair would've made sense… if we were playing Super Garden."
Tiros chuckled softly.
"Let's move on."
I discarded my cards without hesitation, following the unforgiving loser's rule.
That round hadn't gone in my favor—something that was becoming increasingly common.
Luxian did the same, tossing his cards aside with that same arrogant indifference, as if they were beneath him.
As for Tyros, he kept one card—being the winner of the previous round.
Moments later, he announced in his short, serious tone:
"Fifth round… begin."
I looked at my cards and didn't need long to realize they were the worst combination I'd had since the start of the game.
Only three cards: apple, bread, and cake.
I stared at them like a man sentenced to death staring at the executioner's blade.
"This looks like a peaceful breakfast set in a café… not weapons for a battle round," I muttered internally.
I sighed, then looked at the others.
Both seemed focused, though Luxian, as usual, pretended not to care.
I placed my cards. The others did the same.
We exchanged brief glances, and Tyros nodded.
"Flip."
At the same moment, the cards were revealed.
Tyros's cards: Shirt + Apple
Luxian's cards: Mirror + Table
My cards: Bread + Cake
Tyros continued:
"So the results are: a shirt wearing an apple, a mirror with a table on top, and bread cake."
A brief silence filled the room.
Then—
Luxian burst into loud laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! A shirt wearing an apple?! How does that even happen?!"
Tyros's face reddened slightly.
"I meant an apple wearing a shirt. It was just a slip of the tongue."
But Luxian, as always, didn't miss the chance to mock:
"Looks like that apple wearing a shirt is friends with that potato that wore a shirt too—remember? What a lovely pair! Off to a job interview together! Hahaha!"
I looked at Tyros—he seemed more irritated than ever, but he held himself together impressively.
In a low voice, he said:
"It's because of these terrible cards."
Luxian laughed again mockingly.
"Of course. The cards… always the cards."
A sudden silence fell over the room.
Tiros broke it:
"Anyway… who do you think wins this round?"
I examined the cards carefully.
An apple with a shirt? No strength, no offensive meaning.
Bread and cake? Fragile—would crumble instantly.
Then I said calmly:
"Even though I don't want to admit it… I think the mirror-table wins."
Tyros raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
I answered:
"An apple with a shirt is just a dressed fruit—no strength. Bread and cake? Double fragility. But a table with a mirror? Strange, yes—but the table is a solid base, and the mirror might reflect attacks or confuse the opponent… at least mentally. Not powerful, but more stable than the others.:
Tiros sighed slowly.
"…You're right."
Then he looked at Luxian and added:
"I don't know how this guy keeps beating us… he doesn't even seem that smart."
Time froze.
Luxian slowly turned his head. The laughter vanished from his face, replaced by a cold, storm-like stare.
"What? What do you mean? Are you calling me stupid?"
Tiros replied coldly:
"And what if you are?"
In an instant, Luxian slammed his hand on the table, sending cards flying.
"Say that again… I didn't hear you."
But Tyros didn't back down.
"I said, what if you are?"
Luxian grabbed him by the collar.
"Look who's talking! Tiros the idiot, who's only won once! I've won three rounds—and you dare call me stupid?!"
Tiros stood up and looked him straight in the eye.
"Yes, you are. Your wins were nothing but repeated luck. No logic. No wisdom. Just luck."
Luxian tightened his grip, about to shove him—
But I stepped in.
I stood between them, pressing my hands against their chests and shouted louder than I ever had:
"Hey! Hey! What's wrong with you two?! We're fighting over a game! Just a game!"
Luxian snapped:
"He started it!"
Tyros shot back:
"I only said the truth!"
"You said a lie!"
The situation spiraled.
Their eyes burned.
Voices rose.
The tension in the air became tangible.
The small room we sat in felt like a battlefield.
I searched for words… anything to stop this—but found nothing.
Slowly… I stepped back.
I looked at them one last time, then turned and walked out quickly.
I wasn't a coward… but I didn't want to see how this would end.
Maybe I wished I had the strength to stop them… but all I had was the sound of their argument behind me.
I closed the door and thought:
"Well… it's not like anything serious will happen… right?"
But my heart… wasn't entirely convinced.