hapter 171. Elysia's Little Thoughts~ (11/22)
A few minutes later, Bronya looked at Seele sitting beside her, wearing an oh-so-obedient expression, and couldn't help letting a cold smile surface on her face.
Just then, she felt her hand being taken.
She looked down and saw Seele quietly clasping her palm with those small hands.
Bronya gave a light tug and pulled free.
Very soon that little hand chased after hers again and held on, and Bronya tugged free once more.
Within a few seconds, her hand was held yet again.
She turned her head and met Seele's pitiful gaze, and her motion to shake free stalled at once.
"Tch."
Clicking her tongue, she shot Seele an annoyed glare.
Seeing this, Seele grinned foolishly and hugged Bronya's arm, acting like a clingy good little sister.
When it came to how to win over one's big brother and big sister, Seele had quite a few tricks.
"Alright then, looks like our adorable girls have all gathered~"
Noticing that Seele had run out of the room and come along, Elysia's smile deepened.
As expected, Seele came.
Sirin, cheeks flushed, had hurried back after changing into her nightdress.
The girls, each with her own charms, happened to form a circle.
Elysia clapped her hands and tilted her head cutely.
"Since we've got two new girls joining, let me restate the rules~"
Tapping the table to draw everyone's attention, Elysia continued.
"On the table right now we have UNO, playing cards, and Monopoly.
Each round's game type will be chosen by the loser of the previous round."
"After each round ends, the winner doesn't get points.
The final loser gets 1 point, and then must pick one from Truth or Dare and complete it.
As for drawing the Truth or the Dare, that will be handled by the first-place finisher."
Seeing Elysia point to two little boxes full of folded slips in the middle of the table, Sirin's cheeks reddened further, and a strong sense of resentment flashed through her eyes.
"When the tally reaches 10 points, that participant will be eliminated.
The remaining girls will continue into a new round until the last victor remains."
As she spoke, she produced a slip of paper that, at a glance, was clearly hand-drawn.
On it, in cute lettering, were the words "Free Command Voucher," and at the lower right was the conspicuous signature of Xander Masato.
At once, Bronya, Seele, Kaguya, and Sirin all had their eyes light up with fervor.
Kiana kept her face taut.
She suddenly felt like… she kind of wanted to compete for it too.
Only Mei smiled without being moved.
She had really come just to play games with everyone, and wasn't interested in the voucher.
"Wait.
If it's to 10 points, won't that take too long?"
Bronya suddenly spoke up.
Cards and UNO were fine, but Monopoly was a huge time sink.
By the time it came down to only one loser left, it would be the year of the monkey.
She was still planning to claim victory and then go back to celebrate with Xander.
"Aww, we don't have anything to do tomorrow anyway.
Since we've finally got this chance, let's have a proper good time~"
Kiana replied with a silly grin, and Sirin nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah, let's really play.
Everyone's usually so busy, it's hard to get together like this."
She had to nod, because she was the only one with points on the board.
If they reduced the target score, she'd probably be the first one out.
"Mm… fine."
After thinking a moment, Bronya nodded.
Seeing that no one had any further objections, Elysia immediately spoke with a smile.
"Ahem.
Without further ado, the game starts now.
The loser of the last round was Sirin, so Sirin, you choose this round's game type."
"Mm."
Sirin nodded, looked at the three sets on the table, and began to ponder.
First off, Monopoly was a straight pass.
That game depended too much on luck, and she felt no one could beat Kiana at it.
As for playing cards, that relied heavily on skill and teamwork.
She glanced at Seele and Bronya across from her and shook her head inwardly.
In the end, she fixed her gaze on the middle.
It's decided—UNO!
UNO was a card-type party game famous across the world.
It had Wild cards, Action cards, and Number cards.
Each player started with seven cards.
On your turn you had to match the color or symbol of the top card of the discard pile; if you couldn't play, you drew the top card of the draw pile.
The first to play all cards in hand won.
The rules were simple, and it played very fun.
Very soon, everyone's hands were topped up to seven.
As the dealer, Sirin led off.
She studied her suits and quickly played a card.
"Red 3."
Mei: "Red 6."
Seele: "Red +2."
Bronya looked at Seele's innocent face, sighed, and drew two cards.
Right after, she played a Green +2.
"Making me draw right off the bat—Ducky's got a bit of a mean streak."
Even as she said it, Elysia's expression showed no hint of regret.
She drew two cards with a smile and even started humming.
Sirin's draws in this hand weren't bad.
She was basically never stuck; the turns passed smoothly when they came to her.
Very soon, she had only one card left.
She called "UNO," and as the plays rolled around, it came to the player just before her—Kiana—and Sirin couldn't help getting excited.
Kiana scratched her head, found she couldn't play, and slowly reached toward the draw pile.
Hurry, hurry!
Clutching the single Wild card remaining in her hand, Sirin urged frantically in her heart.
Whether Kiana played or not, her Wild could be thrown down.
In other words, this was a sure-win round…
"Ah—+4.
Sirin, your turn."
Sirin's hand stayed frozen in the pose of playing a card as her eye twitched at the Wild Draw Four that Kiana had just slammed on the discard pile.
Wild Draw Four: change the current color; the next player must draw four cards and skip their turn; play passes to the following player.
In silence, Sirin drew four cards and added them to her hand.
She slowly calmed the murderous urge in her chest.
It's fine, it's fine.
As long as I'm not last, it's fine, Sirin consoled herself inwardly.
…
"Wild.
I'm out~"
Elysia happily tossed out her final card and looked toward the only player left—Sirin.
Sirin had just one card left too, and was now bowing her head in silence.
Kiana, as if she couldn't read the mood, patted Sirin on the shoulder and said cheerfully, "You're last again, huh.
Go on, pick—Truth or Dare?"
Shooting Kiana a glare, Sirin tossed her remaining Wild into the pile and said, a bit vexed, "Truth this time."
It might be embarrassing, but it should be better than the dare from before, right?
"Mhm~ In that case, Kiana, you took first.
Draw one for Sirin~"
Staring at the box pushed in front of Kiana, Sirin swallowed.
Her nervous look was like Kiana was about to open Pandora's box.
No—this was Pandora's box that would bring "disaster" to her!
As her nerves frayed, Kiana quickly pulled out a slip and unfolded it to read.
"What's the most sensitive spot on your body?"
The moment Kiana's voice fell, everyone's eyes turned to Sirin.
Her face flushed scarlet in a swipe.
Th-this—was this really something you could say out loud in public?!!!
"No lying~" Bronya reminded her with a merry look.
"I—I know…"
Lowering her head and cupping her burning cheeks, Sirin hesitated for a long moment before whispering, "Chest..."
"What are you saying?
I can't hear you."
Kiana frowned.
"Chest is the most..."
"Louder, can't hear you!"
"The front part of the ch..."
"Can't hear—again!"
Pressed again and again by Kiana's dissatisfaction, Sirin finally snapped.
Eyes shut tight, she shouted, "The very front part of my breasts! That's the most sensitive spot if touched, is that enough now!!!"
Her voice echoed through the living room, and for a moment, the air suddenly fell silent.
When she finished, Sirin panted hard.
She subconsciously glanced around for the others' reactions—only to be bewildered by those strange looks in their eyes.
What's going on?
Elysia's little face was tinged pink as she turned her eyes aside with a sigh.
"Sirin sure is bold."
"Underestimated you."
Bronya gave a thumbs-up.
"Amazing…"
That was Seele, eyes drifting about.
Mei and Kaguya were both blushing and saying nothing.
Only Kiana spoke, confused.
"Eh?
But I remember your most ticklish spot isn't the soles of your feet?
Every time I tickle there, you surrender."
"Eh?"
Sirin froze.
She opened and closed her mouth, her voice a little dry.
"So… by 'sensitive spot' you mean the place you're ticklish?"
"What else?" Kiana shot back.
"…"
Feeling the tacit agreement in the stares around her, Sirin saw black at the edges of her vision.
Her gaze turned hazy.
She slumped powerlessly against the back of the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Let the world be destroyed.
Her shame had exploded completely, Sirin thought bleakly.
Right—could she awaken a spatial power, so she could personally bury this damned world?
Heh.
Heh-heh.
Heh-heh-heh…
"She's broken."
"Broken indeed."
"Poor little Sirin~" Bronya held back her laughter, shedding crocodile tears.
…
Ten minutes later, Sirin's sense of shame finally ebbed back, and a new round officially began.
Still UNO.
Still Sirin leading.
But the result changed this time.
"Ah, looks like I lost~"
Tossing the ten-plus cards remaining in her hand into the pile, Elysia spoke a bit helplessly.
Her luck this round was just too bad, and Bronya kept stacking cards on her.
"Pick one."
Victor Bronya smiled.
"Then Truth."
Unlike Sirin, Elysia wasn't nervous at all.
She behaved quite composed.
"Truth, huh?
Then I'll draw."
Saying so, Bronya reached into the Truth box and fished one out.
"What would you want to wear when meeting the one you like?"
"Of course, the most, most, most, most, most beautiful little dress!"
Bronya had barely finished reading before Elysia answered on the spot.
She smiled sweetly and even expanded her answer.
"Wearing the most, most, most beautiful little dress, dress myself up as the cutest girl in the world.
Ah, the meeting place should be a flower field paved with blossoms of every color.
Then I'll hold the hand of the one I like and stroll with him through that sea of flowers, and under the setting sun we'll embrace, and with the world as witness, we'll brand each other with a kiss that promises a lifetime together…"
"Alright, that's enough!
Don't say another word!!!"
Seeing Elysia about to pour out her wolfish ambitions at length, Bronya hurried to stop her.
If she kept going, she'd probably be naming their children next.
"Aww, what a pity.
I wanted to share properly with everyone~"
Sirin nodded as well.
Yeah, why not let Elysia keep talking?
She was hoping to take notes and see if she could replicate it when she asked Xander out sometime.
What, you call that plagiarism?
She wasn't plagiarizing.
This was borrowing.
Learning from excellent experience.
You couldn't call it plagiarism, okay!
"Alright, next round now~"
"Okay~"
Elysia tapped the playing cards and chose the East-Far-side style Old Maid, a game suitable for many players.
The outcome was no surprise—Kiana, whose face-reading was the worst, lost.
"Ugh, unlucky.
I'll pick Dare."
Very soon, Kiana was sashaying around the living room with a deliberately goofy catwalk, and her exaggerated moves drew a chorus of laughter.
The games continued.
Even when the round moon climbed high, the atmosphere stayed lively.
It had been a long time since the girls had played so merrily.
Everyone was hyped up, trying hard not to be last, and they almost forgot about the prize.
Among them, Elysia turned out—unexpectedly—to be the one who lost the most.
Tonight seemed to be Elysia's day of bad luck.
Whenever it was a luck-leaning game, her luck was horrible—often second to last, or just plain last.
By the time the second-to-last tally reached 5 points, Elysia's ten points were already spent.
"How could this be…"
Being the first eliminated left Miss Pink Elf looking quite troubled.
She pressed her palms together and gazed pleadingly at the girls.
"Could you give me one more chance?
I really feel like my luck's about to turn~"
Mei softened for a moment, but when she noticed the others all shaking their heads, she closed her mouth without a word.
"Alright, alright.
I pick Truth.
Next game, choose Monopoly."
Pouting, Elysia watched Kiana draw a slip from the box.
"Who's the person you like?"
"Xander."
For Elysia, this question was the easiest of all—basically an instant reply.
The others, too, wore calm expressions; they'd long expected this.
Elysia had never hidden her feelings for Xander.
"Boooring~" Kiana gave a tiny tease.
Soon, the Monopoly game began.
At first, Elysia still sat at the loser's bench, smiling and pointing out squares.
After a while, though, her voice quietly vanished from the living room.
No one noticed that Elysia's figure had already slipped away from them.
In the innermost bedroom, Xander Masato lay on the bed, listening to the faint bustle of the girls from outside.
His heart itched to join in, but because of the "playing drunk" earlier, he felt too embarrassed to go out.
When he'd gone back to the room, he'd seen the yearning in Seele's eyes and urged her to go play, leaving himself alone to toss and turn sleeplessly.
Only when the night was deep did he grow drowsy, his consciousness going a little hazy.
Just then, the door eased open.
A pink-haired elf darted inside, flicked off her shoes with a deft nudge of her toes, and in one smooth roll slipped into the covers.
Feeling the warm softness against his back, Xander quickly opened his eyes.
Was it Bronya or Seele who'd come back?
As he blinked in confusion and turned over, his gaze met a pair of crystal-bright eyes.
"Elysia?"
"Mhm~"
She scooted up and hugged Xander's body, pressing his head into her ample chest.
Elysia stroked his hair gently and spoke in a soft voice.
"Xander, all alone in your room—you must feel lonely.
Don't be afraid, big sis Elysia's here to keep you company~"
"Elysia…"
"Xander worked really hard today and did great, so you must be tired, right?
Rest well in big sis Elysia's arms.
I'll always be right by your side."
"Why say that all of a sudden…"
Being praised so suddenly, Xander flushed with embarrassment.
"Because I want to praise you, of course.
Happy?"
"Mm…"
He nodded lightly and smiled, a little shy.
"Mhm-mhm~ Is big sis Elysia's embrace comfortable?"
"Very comfortable."
"Then rest easy.
This place will always be open for you~"
Seeing Xander obediently close his eyes, Elysia couldn't hide her smile.
She lay back on the pillow, cradling him.
He held her in return, nestled against her without the slightest guard, drifting gently into sleep.
A faint fragrance wafted past the tip of her nose—the scent left on the pillow by Ducky and Seele.
Recalling all that had happened earlier, Elysia bit her lip lightly.
After she'd said that line, Bronya would definitely give the alone-time chance with Xander to Seele.
Seele would also be lured out by that voucher.
Only then would the room be left with Xander alone.
If Seele and Bronya's positions had been switched, or if they hadn't had that little squabble and both gone back to the room with Xander, then the outcome likely wouldn't have been certain.
Also, what bad luck?
If you flipped over Elysia's remaining cards, you'd see she basically couldn't have lost—she only pretended not to play them.
Sorry, Seele.
Sorry, Bronya.
Whispering a soundless apology in her heart, Elysia looked at Xander's face, peacefully asleep in the moonlight.
She slowly lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss upon it.
Then let today's Xander… be hers.
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