With the Girl Who Comes to Mind

The one who had won the Musical Chairs was Gwen. She happily skipped towards Ivar to claim her prize, then ran back to her mother with the money at hand.

"Woohoo! Imagine the clothes I can buy~!"

Martha rolled her eyes at her daughter then crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Oh, please... buy something useful with your money," she suggested making Gwen scoff.

"Clothes are useful," she replied making the others who heard her laugh.

"Okay, guys... listen up," Ivar said as he snapped his fingers, clearing the chairs used for the game in the lobby. "Since it is already 30 minutes before 10PM, we will have our last game. It is Tuesday and Arvid and Angeal have a class early tomorrow."

"Aaaaw..."

Most of them reacted in disappointment when they heard Ivar but they understood also that they had to end it quickly because they still have cleaning up to do before they go to bed.

Also, the following day would be morning classes for Arvid and Angeal. It also meant that the servants would also wake up early in the morning to do their daily routine in keeping the mansion in place.

"What's the last game," Arvid asked excitedly and Ivar smiled as he clasped his hands together.

"We are going to play the classic game 'The Boat is Sinking'!"

"Aaaah," everyone exclaimed when they heard what the game is.

Everyone was familiar with it. It is a classic party game where the game master would call out numbers or other conditions and players would have to group themselves accordingly. If one or more were left behind, then it means that they are out of the game.

"For this last game, let's make the cash prize bigger. A whopping $25,000!"

Hearing Ivar shout the amount of the cash prize, Devin walked towards him quickly and had hit the back of his head rather harshly.

"Are you trying to bankrupt your master?!"

Ivar scoffed as he rolled his eyes at him.

"How could you ever be bankrupt? You're filthy rich! Besides... the money will come back to you anyway. You get rich every year," Ivar said, making Devin squint his eyes at him.

"Once this day ends... prepare yourself to be punished," the Soul Eater threatened making Ivar smirk.

"Ooooh... scary. Devin is going to eat my soul... waah, waah," he teased, sarcasm evident in his voice, making the others laughed at him.

"You—"

"Relax!" Ivar interrupted him. "Enjoy the evening, this is the last game," he added and Devin sighed as he walked down the stairs feeling ever so annoyed at his personal servant.

"Let's start!"

Everyone went silent as they were attentive enough to listen to Ivar.

"The boat is sinking, the boat is sinking..."

Ivar scanned his eyes at them, gave them a smile, then spoke.

"Group yourselves by gender!"

As Ivar was starting to do a countdown, everyone already ran as they grouped themselves according to gender.

Martha, Gwen, Angeal, Frey, and Ava formed their circles then held each other's hands indicating that they were done. Devin, Edwin, Gladios, and Arvid also did the same.

Feeling satisfied with the results, Ivar nodded then grinned.

"Okay! That is just a trial. Now let us get to the real game!"

Hearing that, they realized that the game was not the real one and that Ivar only said the first one to prepare them for the real one.

"The boat is sinking, the boat is sinking..."

Everyone looked at him attentively as he spoke the next words, making them furrow their brows in confusion and at the same time panic.

"10 multiplied by 4! The answer divide it by 20! Group yourselves with the final number!"

It was silent for a few seconds until the old man shouted.

"Oh, Angeal, come here!"

Now realizing that the answer is two, Angeal quickly ran to embrace her grandfather.

Ava quickly pulled Gwen into her arms, surprising the angel.

'She chose me of all people?'

Arvid grabbed the person nearest his. He held Frey's hand as he pulled her closer to him, making the girl bump her head on his chest.

The girl's eyes widened as she looked at the guy who grabbed her abruptly. The boy had a wide grin on his face as he watched the others panic, looking for their partners.

'Why is my heart always beating so quickly!?'

Realizing that there were three people left, Devin, Martha, and Edwin, the Soul Eater ran quickly towards the Unmovable God, making Martha run up to him as well.

"Oh!"

Devin was quicker. He grabbed Edwin by the arm, pulling him closer to him. Martha froze when she saw the position that they were in.

Without the Soul Eater knowing, he was now embracing Edwin as if he were a child clinging unto his father!

'Ah... I knew it his competitiveness would kick in,' Ivar thought as he stifled his laugh.

After a few seconds, everyone erupted in laughter seeing them in such an awkward position. Realizing what they were laughing about, Devin released Edwin, making the Unmovable God feel awkward.

'I didn't know that master was competitive...'

The room was full of laughter as they saw both of their awkward and embarrassed reactions. Even though Martha knew that she was out of the game, she laughed heartily as she sat on the couch, wiping her tears away.

"Oh, I didn't know that master can be this serious in a game," Martha commented, making the others laugh more.

"Sh-shut up... continue the game, Ivar," Devin ordered immediately, feeling embarrassed with the attention that the others were giving him.

As the night went on, the game night continued. During the game, Devin was pulled into his own thoughts about what he realized as he interacted with the people in his mansion.

Happiness is in everything. Happiness is enjoying the moment, being present for that gift that is living and allowing it to become intense.

The Soul Eater realized that there may be times of tragedy... but to enjoy what is good and to learn from the rest is also another way of happiness.

This time he now has with everyone made him realize that happiness is an absence of all negative emotions, and the presence of any positive ones. That is why joy indeed comes in so many wonderful forms...

Such as this.

After a few rounds, the only ones left were Frey, Angeal, Arvid, and Devin. The four of them stood on the floor expectantly as they were instructed by Ivar to keep their distance to make their game fair and square.

"The boat is sinking, the boat is sinking..."

Ivar's lips curled into a wide grin as he said the condition.

"Men should pair themselves with the girl who comes to mind!"

With the girls hearing what Ivar had said, they blinked their eyes a few times as they looked at each other in confusion.

'So the boys come to us!?'

In just a second, Frey was standing alone in the middle of the room as Devin and Arvid started running towards Angeal as if they were in a race.

'What the!?'

Devin held Angeal's left arm as Arvid, at the same time, held Angeal's right arm.

'Huh?'

Devin and Arvid looked at each other, as if lightning started to appear between their eyes, competing for Angeal.

Realizing that she was left alone without a partner, Frey pouted like a child as she crossed both of her arms in front of her chest, now that she is out of the game.

'Is this another way of saying that I am not attractive in the immortal being's eyes!?'