"Wait—bunny girl?!"
The moment Yukino issued her command, Utaha panicked.
Sure, everyone present had seen her dressed as a bunny girl before—but this situation, this atmosphere, was completely different!
Megumi had only seen her that way once, and that was an accident—Utaha hadn't meant to be caught.
As for Haru and Yukino, that time had been intentional. She chose to show them.
But even then, it was always behind closed doors. Utaha had the confidence to wear bunny ears around them—privately.
Now? They were in the middle of a card game!
Just imagining herself playing cards while wearing bunny ears was mortifying. How long would they tease her for this? How many pictures would Yukino and Megumi take?
"I refuse!"
Utaha gritted her teeth and rejected the order outright.
Yukino didn't seem surprised in the slightest. In fact, she turned gracefully toward Megumi and Haru, as if she'd expected this all along.
Haru had no choice but to remind her of the rules.
"The King's orders can't be disobeyed. That's the whole point of the game."
Megumi added softly, "You were the one who suggested the King's Game, Utaha-senpai. If you back out now, there's no point continuing."
Utaha's face was flushed, her breath growing uneven.
What was this?
A trap of her own making?
No!
She could still turn things around—the game had only just begun!
An idea sparked in her mind.
"Fine. I'll follow the rules… but I didn't bring any bunny ears today."
She felt a bit proud of that. After all, she had come here for a serious conversation. Of course she didn't pack bunny ears. Heck, she didn't even bring stockings or a garter dress—just a slightly seductive set of underwear, nothing more.
She was secretly feeling clever when Yukino let out a quiet laugh.
"No problem. I have a pair."
Haru and the others: "???"
Even Megumi couldn't hold it in. "Yukino, wait—you what?"
Utaha was stunned. "What did you just say?"
Yukino stood up and began walking toward her bedroom, her voice ringing softly through the air.
"Last time I saw how much senpai enjoyed wearing the bunny ears, so I went and bought a headband to keep here—just in case."
She paused, looked back with a teasing smile, and added,
"I'm always thorough. Since you didn't bring yours, let me help you put them on."
Utaha was at a loss for words.
That smug smile, that perfect jab—she couldn't match Yukino in verbal warfare. She bit her lip.
"No need. I'll do it myself."
With that, she stood up and followed Yukino into the room.
As the two beautiful girls disappeared inside, Megumi leaned toward Haru and whispered,
"Did you go easy on her earlier?"
Haru shook his head.
He hadn't. It was just his years of silent coordination with Yukino that had given her the edge in the game.
Megumi saw no sign of deception in his expression, which left her more confused.
"Is Yukino really that lucky with cards? It's only the first round and she's already dominating."
To avoid revealing the truth, Haru changed the subject.
"I'm more worried about what happens next."
Megumi tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Haru said seriously,
"The number cards will be reshuffled for the second round. If Yukino wins again, and she doesn't know who holds which number… what if I get picked to wear the bunny ears next?"
Megumi froze.
Then her eyes sparkled with sudden excitement.
"…What's with that look?" Haru asked warily.
"If that really happens, I'll make sure to take the best possible pictures of you," Megumi said sweetly.
"…Did you forget? You could be chosen too."
"I don't mind. If I'm wearing them with you, I'm okay with it."
Haru was stunned.
Megumi still wore that gentle expression, but her cheeks were tinged pink.
That line… might as well have been a soft confession. Subtle, yet devastating.
Just then, the two girls returned from the bedroom.
Yukino looked calm as ever, but the smile tugging at her lips refused to be hidden.
Behind her, Utaha's face was burning red, her eyes seething with quiet rage.
With each step she took, the bunny ears on her head bounced lightly—along with her generous chest.
"You're right, Yukino. She is very cute," Megumi said, offering her evaluation first.
Utaha visibly stiffened, sinking even deeper into embarrassment.
And of course, Yukino wasn't done.
"Haru? Your thoughts?"
He could only offer an honest answer.
"Very pretty."
Yukino chuckled.
"Come on, say your signature line… the one that goes, 'So cute, omg~'"
Utaha marched silently back to her seat, sat down, and said coldly,
"Let's just start the second round already."
Her thirst for revenge was clearly burning hot.
Yukino was happy to oblige.
She was confident in both her skill and strategy. As for luck?
With Haru's dexterous hands—hands she knew intimately—she had no doubt she could win again and again.
The second round began. Number cards were reshuffled.
This time, Utaha was careful. She shielded her card as she peeked, making sure not to give anything away.
Yukino was number 1. She made no attempt to peek at anyone else's card, and the game began normally.
They were playing a classic game of Blackjack.
Since there was no official "dealer," Haru took on that role. Whoever got the highest score without going over 21 would be the King.
In the first round, when Yukino easily hit 20 points, it was a crushing victory.
Now, the second round was underway.
Haru shuffled and dealt the cards again.
He wasn't some flashy casino croupier, but he had learned a lot of card tricks from online videos—and with his increasingly nimble hands, shuffling and dealing in a hundred subtle ways came naturally to him.
This time, Utaha's visible hand totaled 17—currently the highest.
She had the first chance to hit.
"I'll stay," she said, choosing to play it safe.
Yukino had 16.
Without hesitation, she said, "Hit me."
That calm and composed attitude made Utaha uneasy.
Doesn't she care if she goes bust?
Under Utaha's nervous gaze, Haru slid a card to Yukino and flipped it over.
A five of clubs.
"Impossible…"
Utaha stood up, staring in disbelief.
Yukino smiled, satisfied.
"Senpai, are you ready to receive the King's second command?"
Utaha took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure.
"You don't even know which number I am. Why single me out?"
Yukino's smile didn't waver.
True, she didn't know for sure which number Utaha had drawn.
But someone else did.
That someone was Megumi.
More importantly, before the round had started, Megumi had sent Yukino a quick glance.
One that said: Switching sides mid-battle? Why not?
Megumi had noticed Yukino's intent to tease Utaha, and went along with it. Using her position at the table, she'd caught a glimpse of Utaha's number card.
And in that fleeting moment, Megumi had blinked—just once.
Once, to signal the number 1.
Yukino understood instantly.
She accepted the offer graciously.
~~~~~~~~~~
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