I pick a card and it looks familiar. Was the other one here...? I get a match. I choose another card and another, but don't get another match. "The camp is very nice! The schedule is easy to follow and I feel like you planned it out well!"

Yuuma gets a match too. He gets another one. But he fails the third time. "I'm glad to hear that. How are you getting along with the others? Are there any problems?"

I get another match. I fail the second time. We're tied. "I'm getting along with everyone well! I haven't really encountered any problems," I lie. I doubt he watches us that close. I'm technically getting along with everyone alright. I guess the only problems we've had are minor. Hisashi is a problem himself, but the other problems might have been caused by me. Everything seems to be fine for now though.

Yuuma gets a match. Another one. He fails the next time. "Very good. If you ever have any complaints, or the others are bothering you, please tell me. I'd like to help to the best of my ability. I want your stay to be comfortable."

I get a match. Another one. I fail the next time. I'm putting on a smile. It's hurting to hold it but I keep at it. "Aren't we criminals though? Isn't this camp our punishment? Should it really be comfortable?" I can't help but ask those questions. I feel like he's mocking me. Like I'm some child. It's not like I want to be a big bad criminal. But with no doubt am I a bad person. I'm a thief. One of the worst scum. I'm selfish and only care about how the current situation affects only me.

Yuuma gets a match. He fails the second time. "You're right... This camp is your punishment. But I didn't want it to be a scary and dangerous place. I want you to learn from your mistakes and be a better person by the end of this. I believe anyone can improve and grow. I believe you can especially, Akiara."

We meet each other's eyes. Yuuma's eyes never waver. They're always honest and pure. When he says he believes in me, I know he truly means it.

I don't like it. I look away. I get a few matches in a row but inevitably fail again. Even if I were to try and be a better person, I'll fail. I've been born from the most selfish people on the planet. It's in my DNA. I can't change DNA, can I? I've been destined to be like my parents. Even if I don't want to be...

Yuuma gets a couple matches. I get a couple more. I snag a third one before my turn is over. We continue the silent battle for matches. He doesn't go easy on me. It's like he knows where cards are that we haven't even uncovered yet. I refuse to give up and try to memorize where everything is. Yuuma is on the verge of winning with 11 pairs. But he slips up. I already know where all the pairs are. I get one match. I get another. And another. I hesitate when I go to grab another one. This is the right one, right? I remembered correctly, right? Doubt begins to seep in. If I mess up here, Yuuma will take the rest and win. If I mess up here, I'll fail.

I don't want to be a failure... I don't want to be like my parents... I hate how they act... I hate how they don't care for me... I hate how I have to be the one to care for them... I'm still a child... I still want them to give a shit... But they don't... Even when I became a criminal, even when I got arrested, they just wanted a sentence that was convenient for them. That didn't reflect badly on them. The camp for criminals was heaven-sent. They let me go there without a second thought. No more trying to get me out of punishment. And now I'm stuck at this camp that I couldn't care less about... With these random others who seem like they could have a lot of problems that I'd rather not deal with...

But my parents aren't here now. I don't have to take care of them for a whole year. I wonder how they're doing without me? Did they finally realize their child might be useful? Or do they still not care at all? Are they living in filth like pigs? Is the fridge stuffed with rotting food? Is the house a complete and utter mess? But why should I care...? That's right, I should stop caring. Why care about anything at all? If you don't care about anything, then there's no way to fail.

I pick up the card and get a match. I win the game by picking all the right cards. Yuuma stares at the empty table for a moment. Then he nods.

"Good job. Should we play again?"

I smile my fakest smile yet. "Sure!"

At the end of the bonding activity, I feel empty. There's nothing for me to care about. Even Kentaro looking like he's about to blow from anger, and Hisashi smirking behind him isn't anything I care to pay attention to. I feel like I'm isolated and am just watching everyone else from afar. None of it relates to me. So I don't care. I rest my chin in my hand and retreat into myself completely.