The Beach is always eliven.

It is not at all comfortable for Ann Rizuna, a forensic who has grown accustomed to silence during autopsies. Thus, she found herself an abandoned basement and the medical tools needed for handling the corpses. This damn weird world can partly fulfill her desire to have her own lab.

During junior high, she was constantly teased about the anatomy books in her schoolbag. Having started working as a forensic, she got abandoned by her family members. Despite her extremely high income, her family just simply couldn't stand a woman who spent plentiful time on dead bodies.

Ann, somehow, gradually comes to terms with staying celibate and sticking to the forensic examination clinic all her life.

No friends, no one to fully rely on.

Therefore, on arriving to Borderland, unlike the other players, she managed to survive just because she wanted to discover this world. She has no idea whether she should come back or not.

Anyway, she has no one waiting for her to come back.

She cannot count how many times she wonders, "Does my life have any meaning?"

After having participated in Borderland's games and becoming No.3 of The Beach, one of her beliefs is "do not trust anybody." She tried to join in the individual games which she could clear herself, and Diamonds is always placed at the top priority.

She gives no damn about the thing called "friend".

It lasted until Kuina Hikari arrived at the beach.

Kuina is just an ordinary woman amongst over a hundred players of The Beach, and Ann is always at the basement so they, obviously, don't talk much. All the impression ever left in Ann's mind is that Kuina usually goes with a blonde man. She also heard that Kuina was the only one who successfully returned and contributed four Club cards, which represent team mate games.

At the very first moment, Ann didn't care much. She thought that just keep playing Diamond games and get the cards was the most optimal way.

Until the 134th day in Borderland, she reluctantly joined a Clubs game.

Ann remembers being hit by another player, and she couldn't walk or run. Other teammates had already reached their goals; no one ever looked back. Everything was a mess, the time was almost up, and she literally gave up. She thought this was the end of her life.

She just sat in the corner, waiting for death.

"Ann, hold on to my shoulder!"

She heard a shrill woman's voice. In a moment, Ann realized that the woman was using dialect.

It was Kuina Hikari.

Kuina grabbed Ann's arm and tried to pull her up. Her body was soaked with sweat.

"Go on, Ann, can you walk?"

"I'm trying my best."

"Just hold on to me, we'll get out of this damn mess together."

Ann dragged her bruised legs forward and stepped forward with Kuina. Despite the pain, she still had to grit her teeth to endure. And suddenly, Ann saw a rather long knife mark on Kuina's side.

It turned out that Kuina was also injured.

Ann didn't remember how long they had walked like that. Just plainly red bloomed in her eyes. Neither Diamonds nor Hearts. It was Kuina's blood.

They were the only two players who survived.

Kuina suppressed the pain and smiled, "Damn, we won it!"

"Why did you bring me along with you?" Ann asked while gasping.

Kuina wiped her sweat, and again she smiled: "'Cause i know how unmerited it would be if you die."

"Sorry?"

"You're smart. Not everyone can handle the diamond games. It would be a loss if you die and leave half of the Diamonds cards unsolved."

"Oh, so i have to apologize for not being as smart as you've expected. I almost died few minutes ago." Ann turned her head to the other side.

"No, Ann, you're really smart. You found the correct entrance, and that's the reason why only two of us survive." Kuina fetched a sigh. "You've just saved me."

Oh right. She had already stayed at the correct entrance when someone hurt her legs. She saved Kuina.

"If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't win this damn game." Kuina went on. "I couldn't leave you behind. Honestly, I had no idea we were at the correct entrance back then. That means I may have died with you there, and one of the other team mates would win."

Ann stared at Kuina in surprise. "But you still came back and brought me along with you?"

"H-m." Ann replied with her nasal voice. "Somehow, I felt that I must save you. It was just plainly based on the team spirit, in regards to the Clubs card's rule. Cooperation."

Ann couldn't say anything else.

"Sounds cringy, but I had a hunch that I could bet my life on you at that moment." Kuina laughed. "See? It worked now!"

Having taken a deep look into Kuina's eyes, Ann knew something was about to happen at that moment."