"…Do you even believe that yourself?"
Yukino's lips opened and closed, but she still couldn't resist her urge to retort.
Talking about enlightening with love, you clearly just moved your lips, without any actual action!
Yukino did not deny the existence of 'love,' but in her opinion, love that only stayed on the lips certainly wasn't true love.
If it were Natsuki's previous act of cutting his palm with a dagger, then it might be considered…
Impossible.
Yukino quickly denied it in her heart.
In her false memories, the two of them hardly ever interacted; they were just the most ordinary of classmates. They hadn't even gotten to know each other deeply, so there definitely couldn't be a feeling like love.
Haruno asked curiously:
"Um, can a Ouija board fall in love with a human too?"
"Although Miss Ouija spirit is not human, it also has emotions and even gender, so it can certainly be enlightened with love," Natsuki said righteously, looking at the Ouija board and asking, "Miss Ouija spirit, have you fallen in love with me?"
The Ouija board nodded silently, its gaze admiring, though its pale eyes were a little unsettling.
"Anyway, that's the situation," Natsuki stretched, getting up to move his body. "I've enlightened Miss Ouija spirit, so today's game ends here."
Who knew that upon hearing this, the Ouija board actually shook its head, then gripped the pen and slid it across the paper:
"Cannot stop."
"Hmm?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, his face hardening as he said, "You're not listening to me?"
Miss Ouija spirit quickly shook its head, a cautious, fawning expression appearing on its pale face:
"Once the game begins, it cannot be stopped."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly and said:
"What happens if it stops?"
Miss Ouija spirit seemed to be mute; it didn't say a single word, answering entirely with the pen:
"I don't know, but it cannot stop."
"Is that so?"
Natsuki already had a guess in his mind.
From another perspective, the Ouija board was actually a worker. If she went on strike and didn't work, she would probably be directly purified by the rules and replaced with a new Ouija board.
If the Ouija board game were forcibly stopped, some unpredictable things might happen… To be safe, the Ouija board game had to continue.
Natsuki pondered for a moment, then looked at Yukino and Haruno, spreading his hands and saying:
"Miss Ouija board said we can't stop, so it looks like we have to keep playing."
Haruno raised her hand and said:
"You guys play, I don't feel well, can I quit?"
When encountering danger, get away as quickly as possible.
Even with her true memories blocked, Haruno could still clearly assess the situation and avoid harm.
"Hiss~"
Miss Ouija spirit's current docile, puppy-like appearance was just a facade, limited only to Natsuki. When it heard Haruno say she wouldn't play the game, it immediately turned its head to look, its entire head of black hair twisting like venomous snakes, hissing.
"I suddenly feel better again," Haruno quickly raised both hands, her pretty face pale, "Everyone, let's continue playing."
Natsuki looked at Miss Ouija spirit and asked:
"Can the game be played without punishment?"
The Ouija board shook its head, quickly replying:
"Cannot."
Evidently, in the underlying rules of the nightmare, there had to be a punishment in exchange, regardless of whether it was equivalent.
Natsuki asked again:
"Can you freely decide the content of the punishment?"
Miss Ouija spirit nodded:
"Can."
"That's not bad," Natsuki smiled, reaching out to stroke Miss Ouija spirit's head. It felt cool and surprisingly smooth and silky. "With me here, everyone can feel free to ask Miss Ouija spirit questions."
"…"
The game continued.
With Natsuki's endorsement, Haruno relaxed slightly, resting her left hand on her chin, her eyes darting around: "What kind of questions would be good to ask… Oh, I've got it."
Seeing Haruno smilingly look over, Yukino couldn't help but ask:
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Because the question I'm about to ask is related to Yukino," Haruno said with a smile, "Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, please tell me, is the boy Yukino likes in the classroom?"
The Ouija board quickly gave its answer:
"He is in the classroom."
Seeing this answer, Yukino subconsciously looked up at Natsuki, who was sitting opposite her.
Although she had asked the Ouija board for the name of the boy she liked before, there were too many people in the world with the same name, so it could have been someone else. However, there were only four people in the classroom now, plus the name given before… it clearly wouldn't be anyone else.
In other words, she actually liked the boy in front of her very much?
Natsuki looked at Yukino and smiled:
"So, Yukino has been secretly crushing on me all this time?"
Yukino bit her silver teeth, feeling inexplicably annoyed. She took a deep breath and exhaled a few words through her lips:
"…Impossible!"
They were merely acquaintances who knew each other's names, with no deep interaction whatsoever. The so-called liking would be too pale and superficial!
Passerby player said faintly:
"Miss Ouija spirit does not lie. If it says you like him, you definitely like him."
Yukino: "…"
The Ouija board indeed did not lie.
In other words.
Does she actually like the boy opposite her?
Next is the punishment segment.
Since Haruno had just provided an assist, Natsuki naturally wouldn't make things difficult for her, and immediately said, "Miss Ouija spirit, just make Haruno meow."
The Ouija board nodded silently; it would do whatever Natsuki told it to.
"Meow~"
Haruno raised her right hand to her face and giggled, meowing once. As an adult female university student, Haruno's shame threshold was unfathomably low.
The game continued.
Next, it was Yukino's turn to ask a question.
Hirano, holding the pen, took a deep breath, having already decided what to ask:
"Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, when will the game end?"
The Ouija board responded silently:
[Until you clear it]
Yukino frowned slightly and pressed, "When can we clear it?"
The Ouija board remained silent, offering no response.
"Clearly, that's the next question," Natsuki said from the side, then added, "Miss Ouija spirit, make Hirano meow three times."
"Hirano?"
Yukino couldn't help but glare over, feeling inexplicably displeased with that address.
"Why are you looking at me?" Natsuki said sternly, "Miss Ouija spirit is telling you to meow, hurry up and do it, you don't want to be in excruciating pain, do you?"
Seeing Natsuki shamelessly take advantage of her, Yukino couldn't help but bite her lip and say, "...Taking advantage of others!"
"You're wrong," Natsuki spread his hands, smiling, "I'm clearly riding her coattails."
Yukino: "..."
It's like all actions that make big money are written in the "Criminal Law"; taking advantage of people is actually more enjoyable. No wonder so many people like to borrow the tiger's prestige, because it's quite enjoyable.
"Shameless!"
Yukino couldn't help but glare over.
"Hiss~"
The Ouija board turned its head, and its black hair instantly writhed like venomous snakes, ready to devour someone.
Under someone else's roof, one must bow their head. Yukino had no choice but to reluctantly raise her right hand to her face, her pretty face slightly flushed, and softly said, "Meow..."
"Good, I'm very satisfied," Natsuki urged, "Two more."
Yukino took a deep breath and closed her eyes: "Meow meow meow~"
Natsuki gave a thumbs up: "Full marks, excellent review."
As for whether Hirano would get angry after regaining her memory, that could be considered later. For now, happiness was all that mattered.
Next, it was the passerby player's turn.
Natsuki treated everyone equally; it was still meowing.
He himself didn't care; now the Ouija board was completely obedient to him. In other words, acting as both the examiner and the one grading his own test, it was naturally effortless.
Just like that, a round of Ouija board ended quickly.
"It's my turn again," Haruno's courage gradually grew, and she raised her hand with a smile, "My question is still about Yukino... Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, is Yukino's first kiss still there?"
The Ouija board held the pen and quickly gave its answer:
[It's gone]
"Eh eh eh?" Haruno covered her lips with her hand, her beautiful eyes wide, looking at Hirano in shock, "Yukino's first kiss is actually gone? Who did she give it to?"
"Impossible!" Yukino bit her lip in shame and anger, "That kind of thing... it's clearly still there!"
In her false memories, there was no memory of losing her first kiss at all.
The passerby player said faintly from the side:
"Miss Ouija spirit does not lie."
Yukino's lips twitched slightly: "...You've said that many times, you don't need to say it again."
"Oh."
The passerby player nodded silently, falling silent once more.
Yukino raised her right hand and lightly touched her lips: "...Is my first kiss really gone?"
The Ouija board does not lie.
So, it was highly likely gone.
But why did she have no memory of it at all?
Could it be that the other party used some illegal and criminal means, such as drugged tea, forced alcohol, sleeping pills, or even hypnosis?
Yukino's gaze quickly sharpened, as she looked at Natsuki and simultaneously questioned the Ouija board:
"Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, was the first kiss... against my own will?"
In criminal law, violating a woman's own will and assaulting her constitutes either rape or indecent assault. It's worth noting that men cannot be raped; male-on-male assault and female-on-male assault can only constitute forced indecent assault.
For example, the common act of 'picking up a corpse' outside a bar is actually a crime in the legal sense, with a standard starting sentence of three years, so one must think twice before acting.
"Don't worry," Natsuki assured, "Although I like to take advantage of people, I never force anyone."
"Eh?" Haruno blinked, tilting her head to look over, "So, the boy who took Yukino's first kiss was actually Natsuki-kun?"
Seeing Yukino biting her lip and glaring sharply, Natsuki raised his hands and said:
"Before me, Yukino might have kissed other people, you can ask Miss Ouija spirit."
"Of course I will ask," Haruno urged, "Hurry up, hurry up, I can't wait."
At Natsuki's suggestion, all the punishments given by the Ouija board were meowing, so the questions and answers were very quick, and it was soon Haruno's turn again.
"Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit~" Haruno said expectantly, "Who was Yukino's first kiss with?"
The Ouija board quickly gave its answer.
"Eh, it really was Natsuki-kun," Haruno's eyes sparkled, and she covered her chest with her right hand, feigning grievance, "We agreed to be single, but Yukino secretly dated someone else, that's too much."
"I didn't!"
Yukino bit her lip, unable to help but retort.
There was no memory of a first kiss in her mind. If it weren't for the Ouija board, she would definitely suspect the other party was lying.
Natsuki said meaningfully from the side:
"Perhaps you just don't remember, Yukino."
"What do you mean?" Yukino frowned and looked over.
Natsuki said nonchalantly:
"I don't mean anything."
Yukino: "...You clearly do!"
"Oh, don't argue, you two," Haruno said expectantly, "Hurry up, hurry up, I still have so many questions to ask Miss Ouija spirit."
Soon, they entered the next round.
Haruno asked again:
"Was Yukino's first kiss initiated by Yukino, or by the boy?"
The Ouija board gave its answer:
[It was Yukino who initiated it]
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Yukino instinctively shook her head in denial.
Not only did she lose her first kiss, but she was also the one who actively kissed the boy?
She would never do such a shameless thing!
Yukino bit her lip, her eyes full of shame and anger as she looked at Natsuki: "Are you making the Ouija board lie?"
The passerby player said faintly:
"Miss Ouija spirit does not lie."
Natsuki followed, "Miss Ouija spirit indeed does not lie."
Yukino frowned tightly: "Then why do I have no impression of the answers Miss Ouija spirit is giving?"
Natsuki glanced at the mushrooms on top of Yukino and Haruno's heads. After playing the Ouija board game for so long, the mushrooms on their heads were almost ripe, so it was almost time to end it. He sighed deeply, his voice low:
"At this point, I can only tell you the truth..."
The three girls looked over, curious and waiting for him to continue.
Natsuki interlaced his fingers and said seriously:
"Have you noticed anything unusual about the candles?"
Hearing this, the three girls looked at the candles on the table.
"What's wrong with the candles?"
"They look perfectly normal, though."
"Wait a minute..." Yukino's gaze sharpened, and she finally noticed the anomaly, "It's been so long, why haven't the candles gotten shorter at all?"
"Eh, it's true." Haruno gasped, "The candles are so strange."
When trapped in a nightmare, one subconsciously ignores the illogical aspects within it; only when reminded can one suddenly realize them.
"Not only that," Natsuki continued, "It's summer vacation now, what do you think the temperature is like?"
Haruno quickly said, "It's neither cold nor hot, the temperature is just right."
"Something's wrong..." Yukino frowned, "Even at night, the temperature wouldn't be this comfortable."
The passerby player had regained some vitality and thought hard: "It's too quiet... There should be a lot of mosquitoes and insects in summer."
The anomalies were increasing.
The three girls all looked at Natsuki, unable to help but ask:
"What exactly is going on?"
"You might not be able to accept the truth right away, but please listen patiently," Natsuki said in a low voice, "This is actually a consciousness space, not reality."
"The three of you encountered an accidental car crash while out playing, and you all fell into a coma. You are currently in the Hospital receiving treatment..."
"Wait..." Haruno pressed her forehead, unable to help but say, "Why does this feel so familiar?"
Of course it was familiar, because there was the same story in "World's wonderful Stories"; he had simply copied it.
"Because this is your subconscious space," Natsuki's voice was faint as he continued, "Yukino and I are dating. The first time we held hands, the first time we hugged, the first time we kissed—it was all me."
Yukino's pretty face flushed, and she clasped her hands across her chest. Although she was still very skeptical, for some reason, she inexplicably believed half of it in her heart.
If that were the case, it could explain why she had no memory of dating at all...
Natsuki continued:
"Besides being Yukino's boyfriend, I also have another identity: a folk scientist, or 'min-ke' for short. Of course, not the kind of 'min-ke' who creates perpetual motion machines."
"I don't know if you've ever played VR game?" Natsuki talked nonsense with a straight face, "I've bought all the Pico4 and Quest on the market, and I've upgraded and modified them based on that, then connected them to your consciousness space."
Yukino asked in confusion:
"Are folk scientists that wonderful?"
"It's just a coincidence." Natsuki waved his hand, "Many great inventions in the world are born out of coincidence... Listen to me continue to make things up."
"What did you say?"
"Ahem, I'll continue." Natsuki pretended not to hear and continued, "I found that your memories were confused, which is probably why you couldn't wake up, so I've been trying to wake you up."
"And Miss Ouija spirit is actually the collective subconscious of all of you." Natsuki looked at Yukino and said seriously, "Miss Ouija spirit didn't lie, it's just that you forgot everything."
"...Is that so?"
Yukino subconsciously covered her chest.
This fabrication was too deceptive. Besides Natsuki and Miss Ouija spirit, all three girls somewhat believed it. After all, the classroom formed by the nightmare was indeed very fake. The candles burned continuously without getting shorter, it was summer but the temperature was neither hot nor cold, and though the windows were open, there were no mosquitoes... There were too many flaws.
"I have a question." Haruno quickly said, "If it's true, why didn't Natsuki-kun say so at first and only tell us now?"
"I actually said it many times." Natsuki sighed, "The consciousness space doesn't really have a concept of time. If you don't believe me, ask Miss Ouija spirit, how many times has the same question-and-answer game started?"
The task of asking was given to passerby player, as it seemed she had been trapped in the nightmare the longest.
"Miss Ouija spirit Miss Ouija spirit~" Passerby player hesitated and asked, "How many times has the same game started?"
Miss Ouija spirit quickly gave the answer:
[One thousand two hundred thirty-eight times]
Seeing the answer Miss Ouija spirit gave, Natsuki couldn't help but look over in surprise.
Although he knew the other party might have reincarnated many times in the nightmare, he didn't expect the number of reincarnations to be so high. No wonder she almost had no emotions left.
This was probably the so-called 'wear and tear'.
Natsuki continued to talk nonsense:
"I tried to tell you the truth when the Ouija board game first started, but it was no use. After one time after another, I gave up. In fact, I'm still not sure if I can wake you up now. If not, then we'll do it again."
"It's been over a thousand times." Yukino couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you give up?"
"Because..." Natsuki looked at Yukino and said seriously, "I will always love Yukino."