"...Human, what did you say?"
The spirit girl tilted her head toward him, her expression surprised.
Natsuki turned to look at the cat-eared girl beside him, his tone sincere, his gaze earnest:
"From the first moment I saw Shinomiya-san, I was already hopelessly captivated."
"Here and now, I must say it loud and clear—"
"Shinomiya-san is my most precious treasure. Far more important than my heart."
"..."
Everyone in the Game Club—unlucky players and spirit club members alike—all turned to look at Kaguya.
The long black-haired, cat-eared beautiful girl maintained her cool and composed expression, showing no emotional change on her face.
"Kaguya-chan, Amamiya-kun just confessed to you!"
Chika's eyes went wide as she let out a soft cry.
The cat ears atop Kaguya's head trembled slightly. She couldn't help but look at her friend.
Use that hateful chest fat of yours to think for a second. There's no way this is a confession—he clearly just wants to use me as a tool!
But... in all her years growing up, forget face-to-face confessions—she'd never even received a single love letter in her shoe locker.
And now, suddenly being "confessed to" in person by a boy—even knowing it was just an act, Kaguya's feelings were rather complicated.
Her first confession, and it was just someone wanting to use her as a tool.
Infuriating!
"Hehe."
The spirit girl chuckled lowly. Her sliced-open mouth made her look even more grotesque. Her gaze fell on Kaguya, her voice raspy. "You heard what he said just now. Are you willing to become this boy's wager?"
As a genius girl, Kaguya remained exceptionally calm. She said evenly:
"I am willing."
The spirit girl paused slightly. She raised her right hand—fingernails sharp, still wet with fresh blood—her expression sinister. "If he loses the game, I'll take out your heart."
Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest. "I trust Amamiya-kun."
"Tch~"
The spirit girl snorted coldly, clearly displeased. A vicious smile spread across her face. "In that case, don't either of you regret it later."
The unlucky players in the corner were dumbfounded.
"Hey, you can actually play it that way?"
"Using a girl as a shield—shameless!"
"Damn it, we're in a horror game and we still have to watch people showing off their relationship!"
"They have no idea how terrifying this game is. They won't even be able to cry later."
"..."
"Enough idle chatter." The spirit girl said impatiently. "You have one minute to choose your game. Then we'll settle it in one round. Win and you can leave. Lose, and I'll dig out that girl's heart."
"I don't need a minute." Natsuki's gaze swept across the activity room and he said casually. "Let's play dice. Whoever rolls the higher number wins."
The players in the corner were instantly shocked.
"That guy's an idiot, right?"
"Even a fighting game would be better—at least you could compete with skill and experience. Rolling for points? That's pure luck!"
"Such bad taste in men!"
"Damn it, such a cute girl, and she had to end up with a scumbag!"
"..."
"Very good, I admire your courage." A smile appeared on the spirit girl's face. She crossed her arms and gestured toward the mahjong table. "The dice are here. You go first."
"I'll go first."
Natsuki didn't decline. He stepped forward, walked up beside the spirit girl, picked up two dice from the mahjong table, and under everyone's watchful eyes, casually tossed them onto the table.
"A four on one, and the other is... a five!"
"Nine points total. Not bad luck."
Natsuki looked at the spirit girl. "Your turn."
The spirit girl picked up the dice and threw them onto the table. Both dice quickly began spinning.
One soon stopped—also a four.
Seeing this, several players let out breaths of relief.
"Also a four. For the spirit to win, she'd need a six. The odds of losing are only one in three."
Everyone's gaze fell on the second die—even Kaguya and Chika were no exception.
The spinning gradually slowed.
The second die was about to stop. It clearly showed three.
"Kaguya-chan, we won!"
Chika shouted happily.
The next moment.
BANG!
The spirit girl suddenly slammed the table. The die that was about to stop flipped over, changing directly to six.
"Oh my, looks like I win now."
The spirit girl's mouth split into a grotesque, terrifying grin.
"You cheated!" Chika was furious. "We clearly won!"
"I never said cheating wasn't allowed during the game." The spirit girl licked the corner of her mouth, her gaze falling on Kaguya, crimson flickering in her eyes. "A bet is a bet. Now I'll take out her heart."
Natsuki said expressionlessly:
"Cheating at a simple game? Can't you handle losing?"
"Human, what did you say?" The spirit girl whipped her head toward him. "Do you want me to tear you apart?"
Natsuki kicked over the table. "If you can't handle losing, then don't play."
"Human, you're dead!"
The spirit girl flew into a rage. Blood tears even seeped from the corners of her eyes as she lunged at Natsuki.
Natsuki quickly retreated two steps and ducked behind Kaguya. Then he turned his head and shouted:
"Dean of Students, someone's bullying a cat!"
"..."
BANG!
The door was violently smashed open.
The tall, silent Dean of Students walked in, shrouded entirely in black mist.
The spirit girl shuddered in fright, backing away in panic like a mouse seeing a cat.
"Look here, please."
Natsuki pointed at Kaguya's shoulder. "The blood on her hasn't even dried yet. She's a cat abuser."
"You're lying! I didn't!"
The spirit girl was so angry that blood tears seeped from her eyes.
That blood was clearly from when you touched her just now! You're framing a spirit—are you even human?!
"She's not only bullying cats, she's also running a gambling operation in the activity room." Natsuki said righteously.
"I'll kill you!"
The spirit girl's hair stood on end with rage as she lunged at him ferociously.
The Dean of Students silently extended his right hand, grabbed the spirit girl's head, and crushed it directly. His voice was low:
"Gambling is forbidden on campus. Severe punishment required."
"..."
At the same time.
A notification sounded in the minds of all players present.
[Critical data lost. Scene has collapsed]
[Congratulations, player. You have successfully cleared this game scenario]
"We actually passed?"
The players hiding in the corner were first bewildered, then overjoyed.
They hadn't done anything, yet they'd cleared it by lying flat. Life's surprises couldn't get better than this.
"Done." Natsuki put his right hand in his pocket and looked at the cat-eared girl beside him, praising her. "Shinomiya-san, eternal goddess."
Chika nodded and echoed: "Shinomiya-san, eternal goddess."
Natsuki continued: "Please allow me to keep riding your coattails."
Chika: "Riding coattails."
Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, finally reaching her limit: "...Will you two shut up."