Chapter 26: Shinomiya-san, Please Don't Blink

[Skill: Outlaw]

[Skill Details: Allows you to rename an enemy unit to 'Outlaw Don']

[Note: Lawless criminal Don, if I call your name, will you dare to answer?]

After seeing the skill that Chika received, both Amamiya and Kaguya fell silent. 

This skill… seemed utterly useless.

Neither of them could fathom any practical use for it.

"As they say, you should find joy even in adversity," Amamiya tried to console her. "Just think about that pack of tissues you got yesterday—surely this is better, right?"

"That just makes it worse!" Chika clutched her head in frustration, her face clouded. "Natsuki-san, you've only reminded me of even more depressing memories."

"My apologies."

"That wasn't sincere. Try again, and this time, step down when you apologize!"

"..."

Next, it was Amemiya's turn to open the blind box.

That morning, he had checked the blind box's instructions, but the contents remained a mystery—he only had a vague hint that it contained healing items.

With a slight glow visible only to them, a band-aid appeared in Amemiya's hand. The item's properties were soon displayed for all three of them to see.

[Item: Special Band-Aid]

[Manufacturer: Confidential]

[Usage: Apply it to any injury. It stops bleeding, relieves pain, and accelerates healing.]

[Note: Endorsed by Ms. Shinobu Oshino. Be sure to collect it!]

"Oshino Shinobu?" Chika blinked, puzzled. "That name sounds oddly familiar..."

"No, it doesn't," Amemiya responded with a straight face, quickly stashing the band-aid into his bag.

"I'm sure I've heard it before!" Chika insisted, her tone growing resolute. "I just can't recall where... let me search it on my phone."

Amemiya said calmly, "I advise against that."

"I refuse!" Chika lifted her chin defiantly, pulling her phone out of her bag and unlocking it swiftly. She clenched her fist. "Once a girl's curiosity is piqued, it cannot be extinguished."

Amemiya said nothing more. 

It was natural for a high school student like Chika to be inquisitive, and stopping her was futile.

---

"Eh?!"

Suddenly, Chika let out a startled cry. 

She quickly covered her skirt with both hands, a blush creeping up her ears, which soon spread like red ink in water. Her face flushed a deep red, and she shouted in embarrassment:

"How can that be allowed? So indecent! That artist must be a devil!"

"What are you talking about?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, curiosity evident in her voice.

Even the ice-cold Kaguya wasn't immune to curiosity.

"Don't ask, Kaguya-chan." Chika's expression grew serious as she wagged her finger. "This is a forbidden topic you mustn't venture into."

Kaguya: "..."

---

It was still blind box time.

Now, it was Kaguya's turn to open hers.

The memory of yesterday's bad luck with her team card still lingered in her mind, but… surely she wouldn't be unlucky two days in a row, right?

After all, the morning horoscope on TV had said her fortune was particularly good today.

"Chika-chan~" 

A girl's voice called from the classroom door.

"Oh! I'm coming!" 

Chika, who seemed to have friends everywhere, eagerly dashed toward the door.

At the same time, Kaguya took a deep breath and opened her blind box with determination.

And then… nothing.

"Is it empty?" 

Amemiya sounded surprised when he saw Kaguya standing there with nothing in her hands.

He had read up on blind boxes before, and there was supposed to be 'something' inside, even if it was just a pack of tissues. But an empty one?

"..."

Kaguya said nothing, biting her lip, her eyes showing a glimmer of disappointment.

Above her head, a line of text appeared:

[Liar, liar, liar, liar…]

Amemiya was speechless.

Why are you looking at me like that with such a betrayed expression? I never lied to you! Check your conscience before accusing me! 

Besides, if anyone's lacking conscience here, it's Chika!

"Kaguya-chan, what did you get?" Chika asked as she hurried back from talking to her friend.

"..."

Kaguya opened her mouth slightly but stayed silent, instead choosing to silently share the details of her 'prize' from the blind box.

Amemiya leaned in curiously and soon discovered the real reason behind Kaguya's empty hands.

It wasn't an item, but a task.

[You've received an interesting task: Stare at the Sun]

[Task Details: Either look directly at the sun for ten minutes without blinking, or maintain eye contact with the first creature you meet for ten minutes. You must choose one and complete it. If you blink, the mission will fail, and you'll have to start again.]

[Reward: Permanent eyesight enhancement]

[Note: Complete the task before midnight. Failure will result in the loss of your vision for 24 hours.]

[Note: As a child, I could stare at the sun and see even the smallest details. I marveled at tiny objects and their textures, occasionally finding beauty in things beyond this world.]

"This task is 'not' interesting!" Chika exclaimed. "Staring at the sun for ten minutes without blinking will definitely damage your eyes!"

"It's dangerous," Amemiya agreed. "It's not something you should attempt."

Sure, some people might possess the talent to gaze at the sun without harm, but they were a rare breed. For most ordinary people, doing so would only result in searing pain, tears, and potential blindness.

"You definitely can't choose the sun option," Chika said, giving her friend a thumbs up. "But don't worry, there's always the second choice! You can just stare at me for ten minutes, Kaguya-chan."

Kaguya bit her lip. "...I can't."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because the task started automatically when I opened the box."

Chika blinked, then her gaze fell on Amemiya. "Wait, the first person Kaguya-chan made eye contact with… was Natsuki-san?"

"Um, yeah..." Kaguya nodded, her face showing clear distress.

Amemiya raised his hand awkwardly. "Should I apologize?"

"It's not your fault, Natsuki-san," Chika reassured him, then turned to Kaguya. "Don't worry, Kaguya-chan. Find joy in adversity, right? Just think about how lucky you are that you didn't make eye contact with a wandering ghost or something."

Wait… why does that sound so familiar? You really know how to apply what you've learned!

---

Kaguya was left with no choice but to complete the task. Losing her eyesight was not an experience she wanted to risk.

"We can't stay in the classroom, though," Chika mused, arms crossed. "The other students will be arriving soon..."

Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. "I've got it! Let's head to the board game club!"