[Skill: Outlaw]
[Skill Details: You can change an enemy unit's name to "Outlaw Zhang San"]
[Note: Outlaw Zhang San, if I call out your name, do you dare answer?]
After seeing the skill Chika had pulled, Natsuki and Kaguya simultaneously fell silent.
This skill... did indeed seem rather useless.
They had absolutely no idea what purpose it could serve.
"In life, one should find joy amidst suffering." Natsuki consoled her. "Think about that pack of tissues from yesterday—doesn't that cheer you up?"
"That makes me even more unhappy!" Chika covered her ears with both hands, her aura dark. "Amamiya-kun just reminded me of an even worse memory."
"My deepest apologies."
"Not sincere enough. Please get on your knees when apologizing."
"..."
Next it was Natsuki's turn to open a mystery box.
After waking up this morning, he'd already checked the hint on his mystery box. Unfortunately, it didn't reveal exactly what was inside—he could only get a vague indication that it contained a healing item.
He opened the mystery box.
Accompanied by a faint glow invisible to ordinary people, a sheet of bandages appeared in his hand.
The item's attributes soon appeared before the three of them.
[Item: Special Bandages]
[Manufacturing Company: Classified]
[Usage: Apply wherever it hurts. Can stop bleeding, relieve pain, and effectively increase health recovery speed]
[Friendly Reminder: This product is exclusively endorsed by Miss Shinobu Oshino. Please verify before purchasing]
"Shinobu Oshino..." Chika blinked, murmuring to herself. "Strange, that name sounds familiar somehow."
"No, you haven't heard it before."
Natsuki remained expressionless as he quickly stowed the bandages in his bag.
"I've definitely heard it." Chika's tone grew resolute. "I just can't remember at the moment... Let me search on my phone."
Natsuki said earnestly: "I advise you not to."
"I refuse." Chika lifted her chin and pulled out her phone from her bag, deftly unlocking the screen. She clenched her left fist. "Once a girl's curiosity is piqued, it never dies down."
Natsuki said nothing more.
Fujiwara-san was already a high schooler. Having curiosity and a thirst for knowledge was normal—there was no stopping her.
"Eh eh eh?!"
Before long, Chika's startled cry rang out.
The airhead's hands flew to cover her skirt. A flush of red crept up her jade-white ears like red ink dropped in water, rapidly spreading. Her pretty face turned scarlet in an instant as she couldn't help crying out:
"Th-they use it for... Perverts! So indecent! That artist must be a demon!"
"What are you two talking about?"
Kaguya tilted her head slightly, a note of curiosity entering her voice.
Everyone has curiosity.
The ice sculpture girl was no exception.
"Kaguya-chan, don't ask." Chika's expression was serious as she wagged her finger. "This is a forbidden realm you shouldn't venture into."
Kaguya: "..."
It was still mystery box time.
Next was Kaguya's turn.
Remembering yesterday's party card, she still felt lingering fear. But... surely her luck couldn't be this bad every day?
She had specifically gotten up early this morning to watch TV. The host of the horoscope fortune-telling program had said her luck today was excellent.
"Chika-chan~"
A girl's call came from the classroom doorway.
"Ah, coming!"
Chika had friends all over the world. Hearing the call, she happily ran toward the door.
Meanwhile.
Kaguya silently exhaled, her expression serious as she opened the mystery box.
Then... nothing appeared.
"An empty box?"
Looking at Kaguya with her empty hands, Natsuki's tone was surprised.
He'd read the mystery box introduction before—there was guaranteed to be something inside. Even if it was just a useless pack of tissues. What was going on with getting nothing at all?
"..."
Kaguya didn't speak. She just bit her lower lip and looked up at him with an aggrieved expression.
A line of text appeared floating above her head.
[Liar liar liar liar...]
Natsuki was speechless.
What's with that lip-biting, aggrieved expression? When have I ever lied to you? Please consult your own conscience when speaking!
Fujiwara might not be able to find hers, but you definitely have one!
"Kaguya-chan, what did you get from your mystery box?"
After finishing her conversation with her friend, Chika came hurrying back from the hallway.
"..."
Kaguya's pink lips moved slightly. She didn't speak, just silently shared the attributes of her "mystery box gift."
Natsuki looked over curiously and soon understood why Kaguya's hands were empty.
The item in the mystery box was actually a fun task.
[You have received a Fun Task: Staring at the Sun]
[Task Description: Please open your eyes wide and stare at the sun for ten minutes, OR maintain eye contact with the first living creature you make eye contact with for ten minutes. Choose one of the two options to complete. You may not blink during this time, or the task fails and must be restarted]
[Task Reward: Your vision will be permanently enhanced]
[Please Note: You must complete this task before midnight today, or the task fails]
[Failure Penalty: You will be deprived of your sight for twenty-four hours]
[Note: "I recall in my childhood days, I could stare directly at the sun. I could see the tiniest details clearly. Whenever I saw small creatures, I would carefully observe their patterns. Thus I often found amusement in things beyond the ordinary."]
"Where's the fun in this task?!" Chika couldn't help crying out. "Staring at the sun for ten minutes without blinking—your eyes would be ruined!"
"It is indeed very dangerous." Natsuki nodded in agreement. "Best not to attempt it lightly."
The world was vast, and there were always some extraordinarily gifted individuals who could stare at the sun, but they were exceedingly rare. Most ordinary people simply couldn't do it.
If an ordinary person stared directly at the sun, there was only one outcome: the sunlight would penetrate the eyes and directly damage the retinal tissue, causing sharp pain in both eyes and tears streaming down the face. In severe cases, it could even lead to blindness.
"Staring at the sun is definitely a no-go—it would ruin your eyes. Fortunately, there's a second option." Chika gave a thumbs up, willing to go through fire and water for her friend. "I can do the staring contest with Kaguya-chan."
Kaguya bit her lower lip. "...You can't."
"Huh? Why not?"
"When I opened the mystery box, the task automatically activated."
Chika blinked. Her gaze soon fell on Natsuki. "The first person Kaguya-chan made eye contact with was Amamiya-kun?"
"Mm."
Kaguya nodded, aggrieved.
Natsuki raised his hand. "Should I apologize?"
"It's not Amamiya-kun's fault." Chika shook her head, then consoled her friend. "Kaguya-chan, don't worry about it. In life, one should find joy amidst suffering. Think about those wandering vengeful spirits—if you'd made eye contact with one of them first, that would have been super terrible."
Wait.
Why does that line sound super familiar?
You sure know how to apply what you've learned!
The fun task definitely had to be completed. Kaguya absolutely did not want to experience what it felt like to lose her sight.
"The classroom won't work—classmates will be coming in soon." Chika crossed her right arm over her chest, pondered for two seconds, then snapped her fingers. "Got it. Let's go to the Tabletop Gaming Club!"