Michael Kaiser #1

The television was still on, though neither of you were paying attention. Kaiser was lying next to you, his head resting on your stomach. He was pretending to be distracted, twirling one of the ribbons on your pajama tie between his fingers.

"How funny."

He muttered the phrase out of context, as if he had just remembered something that only amused him.

"Everyone is convinced that one day Isagi will surpass me."

He let out a nasal laugh.

"I guess they love stories where the hero ends up defeating the villain."

There was a brief silence.

Without lifting her head, her eyes sought yours.

"And you?"

He asked with an almost irritating calmness.

Are you waiting for that moment too?

You didn't have time to answer.

"Because it would be quite humiliating."

Now he looked up. He smiled with that elegant arrogance he wore like armor, although there was something odd about the way he held your gaze.

"Imagine that one day I have the worst game of my life."

"That he leaves me behind."

"That I am no longer Michael Kaiser."

The last sentence came out lower than the previous ones.

He looked away for just a moment, annoyed with himself for having said too much.

Then she smiled again.

"Will you stay with me..."

He paused deliberately.

"...or are you one of those who only know how to applaud the one who's winning?"