Chapter 192: Winner

(Please add it to your Library! Please send Power Stones! Thank you! For more chapters, visit my patreon.com/Fanfic69)

100 stones = +1 Chapter

----

"That's it..."

Shimizu quickly recounted the events of the morning. "I need Hana-chan's ability!"

"So, Hana-chan has an ability too!" Chika remarked, crossing her right hand over her chest thoughtfully. "But since Hana-chan isn't aware of the game's existence, it might be tricky to get her to hold hands for five whole minutes."

"There are actually plenty of ways to make it work," Shimizu suggested with a knowing smile, raising a finger. "For example, if Amamiya-kun and Hana-chan were dating, they could hold hands freely every day!"

"Absolutely not!"

Two voices protested in unison.

Kaguya turned to see that Chika had also spoken. The pink-haired girl quickly looked away, coughed lightly into her fist, then said with a solemn voice:

"Dating is sacred and beautiful! Doing it with insincere intentions is nothing short of toying with emotions. It's absolutely unacceptable!"

Kaguya added calmly, "Besides, dating doesn't just happen overnight. If all that's needed is five minutes of hand-holding, there are other ways."

"Good point," Amamiya agreed. "Like using that red tea that makes you sleep for a couple of hours."

"That's sleeping tea!" Chika objected, "Using something like that on a girl is unthinkable, no matter how you look at it!"

Then she clapped her hands as an idea struck her. "Wait, I have it!"

She looked around conspiratorially. "We'll invite Hana-chan to the game club to play a round of Truth or Dare. Whoever loses has to hold hands for five minutes, and Amamiya-kun can copy her ability naturally."

Amamiya looked impressed. "Today's version of Chika is practically Sherlock Holmes. We can do that."

"…"

With the plan set, Amamiya headed back to the classroom to drop off his bag, then regrouped with Kaguya and Chika in the hallway.

"Amamiya-kun, did you send the message?" Chika asked in a low voice.

"Yes," Amamiya nodded. "Miko and Hana will be here soon."

To set this up, they needed Miko's help since she was the one closest to Hana. Inviting Hana directly could make her suspicious if it came from anyone else.

With Miko's involvement, they were sure it would work.

Best friends, always there for you—even when they're about to backstab you.

"Should we ask Umi-chan to join?" Chika asked.

"She's busy," Amamiya replied, shaking his head. "She's practically drowning in homework."

"Here they come," Kaguya announced, looking towards the women's restroom.

A girl with long black hair and a curvaceous figure emerged—it was Miko.

"Good morning, Miko-chan!" Chika waved, right on cue.

"Good morning, Chika-san," Miko replied with a slight nod.

"I'm a member of the game club and recently created a new board game," Chika said with convincing enthusiasm, hands clasped in front of her. "I need feedback to see if there's anything that needs tweaking. Miko-chan, and Hana-chan, would you be able to come to the game club with us to try it out?"

"Well, I don't have anything pressing right now..." Miko said, glancing at her friend, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "Hana, do you want to come along?"

This was no accidental encounter; it was a carefully laid plan. Even the timing of Miko's bathroom visit had been premeditated, all as part of the deception.

Hana had no idea her best friend was setting her up, so she cheerfully agreed, "Sure, I want to play!"

Chika quietly gave a quick wink.

Perfect.

The plan was in motion.

Amamiya followed the girls as they made their way to the game club's activity room.

"Everyone, come on in," Chika said, unlocking the door and gesturing for them to enter. Once inside, they all took seats around the table.

"I'll explain the rules first." With a newfound air of authority, Chika produced a pair of black-rimmed glasses and perched them on her nose. Holding up a box of cards, she continued with a serious expression, "Before we begin, each person draws an identity card and places it face down on the table. We'll play a board game, and the first to finish their cards is crowned the King, granting them the right to command the others… Understood?"

It was essentially a modified version of the King's Game.

Instead of drawing lots, the winner was determined through the board game.

"I understand!" Hana was brimming with enthusiasm. "I play board games with my sister at home all the time. I'm pretty good at them."

Amamiya sighed inwardly.

Poor Hana, there's no way you'll win.

A lottery might rely on luck, but in a board game, her friends' concerted efforts could ensure her loss. With four of them playing against her, it was practically impossible for Hana to come out on top.

Kaguya gave a small nod. "Let's get started."

The game began.

The game Chika had devised was actually a modified version of 'The Game of Life', with slight tweaks, but the basic mechanics remained the same and easy to pick up.

Amamiya, Miko, Chika, and Kaguya teamed up, determined to thwart Hana's progress at every turn.

Not long after, Amamiya encountered his first "life event."

>[On the day of the national entrance exam, you were hit by a passerby on the way to the test center. Your right hand was fractured, causing you to miss the exam. You lost an entire year, suffering from depression. Skip two rounds.]

Amamiya sighed in disbelief. 

"Missing the most important exam of my life? This isn't 'The Game of Life'—it's 'The Game of Misery'!"

"Oh, every year there are students who forget their admission tickets or the date of the exam," Chika replied, sticking out her tongue playfully. "I'm just keeping it realistic. Let's keep going!"

Next, it was Kaguya's turn.

She rolled the dice casually, landing on three.

>"One, two, three…"

>[After three years, you watched the person you secretly loved start dating someone else. You cried, drank heavily, and lost 200,000 in wealth.]

Kaguya stared blankly at the board.

Who would pine for someone for 'three' whole years without confessing? Clearly, that person wasn't worth it!

The game continued until it was finally Hana's turn.

>[In your first year of college, you developed a passion for horse racing and channeled your inner Silent Suzuka. Your wealth increases by two million.]

"Is this a reference to 'Uma Musume'?" Hana chuckled, blinking in surprise. "It's a bit outdated now, isn't it?"

Next, it was Miko's turn.

>[Special event triggered! You and a friend start a business together. You're in the spotlight and make a lot of money. Wealth is tempting—will you keep the profits for yourself, cut out your friend, or continue the partnership?]

Miko glanced at her friend with a pang of guilt. She pursed her lips, thinking it over.

"I'll continue the partnership," she said decisively.

>[Congratulations! Your wealth and your friend's wealth both increase.]

Shortly after…

The game concluded.

"I won!" Hana announced triumphantly, reaching the finish line as the winner in life. Amamiya and the others could only look on in disbelief.

They had all ganged up on her, yet they lost. There had to be something wrong with the game!

Chika cleared her throat. "Hana-chan, as the King, it's time to give your command."

"Let's see…" Hana pondered for a moment, then took out her phone. "I have a selection simulator app that generates random scenarios based on different inputs so let's use this for the command."

Everyone leaned in to look.

The simulator spun and finally stopped on a prompt.

>[Player No. 3, confess your love to Player No. 5.]