Haruta grabbed a water bottle and placed it right in the middle of the circle they'd made on the mattress.
"Alright," he said calmly, giving everyone a sly look, "I'll spin it. Whoever it points at… is doomed."
The bottle spun fast, wobbling before it finally slowed… and landed right on Sera.
"BRO, GAME JUST STARTED, WHY ME?!" Sera groaned, throwing her head back dramatically.
"Truth or dare?" Souta asked immediately, smirking like he'd been waiting for this moment.
"…Truth," Sera muttered, narrowing her eyes.
Souta leaned in, grin growing. "So… what's your favorite thing to do?"
For a second, she hesitated. Her face turned the tiniest bit red.
"…I like making food for Rei and making him taste it," she admitted softly.
"AWWWWWW!" the whole group chimed at once, voices overlapping.
Rei froze, his own cheeks pink.
"Because," Sera quickly added, puffing her cheeks, "he ABSOLUTELY sucks at cooking. Like—utterly, hopelessly sucks."
"OUCH," Rei clutched his chest dramatically, falling back like he'd been shot. The whole group laughed.
Haruta nudged the bottle forward again. "Next victim."
Alya leaned forward, eyes sparkling, and spun it. The bottle whirled in circles before slowing… and stopped right on her.
"WAIT—NO! That's not fair!" Alya squealed, pointing at the bottle like it betrayed her.
"That's called friendly fire," Souta said smugly.
"Truth or dare?" Chris asked, looking way too excited.
"…Truth," Alya muttered, hugging a pillow defensively.
Chris smirked. "Tell us… the nicknames you've given Haruta."
Alya's face went scarlet. "Uhhh…" she mumbled, fidgeting with her sleeve. "…Haru, handsome… nerdy… emo boy—WHY DID YOU HAVE TO ASK THE MOST EMBARRASSING QUESTION?!" she yelled, throwing the pillow straight at Chris's face.
Everyone went silent for a beat.
"…Those are… some interesting names," Rei coughed, looking away nervously.
Haruta just smiled quietly, like he didn't mind one bit.
Rei reached out, spun the bottle this time, and they all leaned closer to see where it would stop.
It slowed… then landed on Chris.
"Truth or dare?" Sia asked, her tone calm, almost too calm.
"…Dare," Chris said proudly, crossing his arms.
The room erupted.
"HE'S FEARLESS!" Rei, Souta, and Haruta shouted at the same time.
Sia smirked, an evil glint in her eyes. "Well, well… you've got guts. But you're about to regret it."
Chris's confidence cracked immediately. "Shit."
"Can I change to—"
"NO." Everyone shut him down at once.
Chris turned helplessly to Airi. "…Am I cooked?"
She met his eyes with a completely serious face. "Yes. Very."
"Alright then…" Sia leaned back against the wall like a villain. "Haruta, how old is your maid again?"
"Twenty-three," Haruta answered casually.
"Perfect. Chris, your dare is to… go make her fall for you. Or at least, be cool around her. Impress her."
Chris's soul visibly left his body.
"THAT'S PURE EVIL," everyone gasped in unison.
Rei leaned in to whisper dramatically, "I am never choosing dare again."
Chris scrambled for an excuse. "She's probably asleep!"
Haruta tilted his head, sipping his water like this was nothing. "Actually, no. She usually does her late-night dance practice in the back."
Chris froze. Slowly turned toward Haruta.
"…WHY… YOU LITTLE—" Chris's inner voice screamed, while on the outside he was already sweating bullets.
Chris walked down the corridor like a man walking to his own execution, every step echoing louder than it should.
Behind him, the rest of the group followed—terribly.
Rei crouched way too low like some cartoon ninja. Souta was tiptoeing dramatically with his hands clasped in front of him. Alya had both palms pressed together like she was praying for Chris's soul. Haruta was the only one actually quiet.
Sera whispered, "We look like assassins."
"No, we look like idiots," Airi muttered, pulling her hoodie up so she wouldn't be recognized if caught.
They all finally reached the backyard door and peeked through the crack.
The backyard was dusted in snow, the moonlight bouncing softly off the ground. And there, sitting on the wooden steps with a bottle of water in hand, was Kezia. She was dressed in a flowing black-and-white gown, strands of hair sticking to her damp face from practice. She looked tired—but beautiful in that peaceful, moonlit way.
Chris swallowed hard. Alright. Showtime.
He walked up, trying his best to look casual, and stopped a step beside her. He tilted his head up at the sky. "…The moon looks nice tonight."
Kezia glanced at him, then nodded. "Indeed."
Chris forced a smile, heart punching his ribs. "…Well, y'know what looks even more beautiful?"
Kezia blinked, curious. "…What?"
Chris turned his head, met her eyes, and—while dying inside—said, "You. You look gorgeous in that black-and-white gown."
For a moment, there was silence. Then—
Kezia's entire face turned red. She grabbed her water bottle like it was a weapon. "HEY—ARE YOU FLIRTING WITH ME?!"
Chris chuckled softly, trying to keep his cool. "Speaking the truth isn't flirting… I think."
From behind the door, the peanut gallery exploded in whispers.
"Is this… the power of a God?" Souta gasped.
"He's perfect at flirting…" Sia muttered, covering her mouth.
"Kezia's falling…" Sera whispered, grabbing her head like she was watching a tragedy unfold.
"HEY—CHRIS IS MINE!" Airi whisper-yelled, fists clenched.
Haruta put a calm hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. She's not taking him."
Back outside, Kezia was still blushing furiously, her voice trembling. "Y-you can't just flirt with me like that just because you're… you're handsome as hell!"
Chris blinked, brain short-circuiting. "…Wait. What did you just say?"
The door creaked slightly as everyone leaned further out, eyes wide, waiting for the fallout.
-- to be continued
-~Rei