Chapter 19

[Skill: Outlaw]

[Details: You can rename an enemy unit to "Outlaw Zhang San"] 

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

After seeing Chika's new skill, Natsuki and Kaguya fell silent.

This skill... did seem rather useless. Neither could imagine what purpose it might serve.

"As humans, we should find joy in adversity," Natsuki consoled her. "Think about that pack of tissues yesterday. Doesn't that make you feel better?"

"That makes it even worse!" Chika covered her ears, scowling. "You just reminded me of an even more unpleasant memory."

"My apologies."

"You don't sound sincere. Bow when you apologize."

"..."

Next, it was Natsuki's turn to open a mystery box.

That morning, he'd checked the instructions but couldn't tell what was inside. He only got a vague hint about healing items.

As he opened it, a faint glow invisible to normal people appeared, and a band-aid materialized in Natsuki's hand.

The item's attributes soon appeared before the three of them.

[Item: Special Band-Aid]

[Manufacturer: Classified]

[Usage: Stick wherever it hurts to stop bleeding, relieve pain, and speed up healing]

 [Note: This product is exclusively endorsed by Ms. Shinobu Oshino. Please be sure to purchase it]

"Shinobu Oshino..." Chika blinked, muttering to herself. "Strange, I feel like I've heard that name before."

"No, you haven't," Natsuki said, his face blank as he quickly stuffed the band-aid into his schoolbag.

"I definitely have," Chika insisted. "I just can't remember where... Let me search on my phone."

Natsuki earnestly advised, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"I refuse." Chika raised her chin, took out her phone, and unlocked it. "Once a girl's curiosity is piqued, it can't be stopped."

Natsuki said nothing more. Chika was a high school student now; it was normal for her to be curious.

"Eh? Eek!"

A moment later, Chika let out a startled cry.

She quickly covered her skirt with both hands, her ears turning pink. The blush spread across her face like fire as she exclaimed:

"I... I actually looked up something so perverted! It's so obscene! That artist must be a devil!"

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

Everyone has curiosity. The "ice queen" was no exception.

"Don't ask, Kaguya," Chika said seriously, wagging her finger. "This is a forbidden topic you shouldn't touch."

Kaguya: "..."

It was still mystery box time. Next was Kaguya's turn.

Remembering yesterday's game team card, Kaguya was still nervous, but... her luck couldn't be that bad every day, right?

She'd watched a horoscope show that morning, and the host said her fortune today was very good.

"Chika~!" a girl's voice called from the classroom door.

"Ah, coming!"

Chika had friends everywhere. Hearing the call, she happily ran to the door.

Meanwhile...

Kaguya took a deep breath and opened her mystery box with a serious expression.

And then... nothing appeared.

"Is it empty?" Natsuki asked, surprised to see Kaguya's hands empty.

He'd read the box descriptions before. There was always supposed to be something inside, even if it was just a useless pack of tissues. What was the point of an empty box?

Kaguya said nothing, just bit her lower lip and gave him a wronged look.

A line of text appeared above her head:

[Liar liar liar liar...]

Natsuki was speechless. What's with that hurt expression? When had he ever lied to her? She should check her conscience before accusing others!

"Kaguya, what did you get?" Chika hurried back from the corridor after talking to her friend.

Kaguya silently moved her lips, sharing the attributes of her 'gift' without speaking.

Natsuki looked over curiously and soon understood why Kaguya's hands were empty.

The item was actually an interesting task.

[Task: Open your eyes to the sun]

[Details: Look at the sun for 10 minutes, or the first creature you make eye contact with. Choose one option. Don't blink or you'll fail and have to start over.]

[Reward: Permanently improved eyesight]

[Note: Complete before midnight today or fail]

[Failure penalty: Lose eyesight for 24 hours]

[Comment: As a child, I could look at the sun and see the tiniest details. I'd examine small objects carefully. That's why I became interested in otherworldly things.]

"This task isn't interesting at all!" Chika exclaimed. "Staring at the sun for 10 minutes without blinking will damage your eyes!"

"It is dangerous," Natsuki agreed. "Best not to try it lightly."

The world was vast, and there were always some gifted individuals who could look into the sun's eyes, but they were extremely rare. Most ordinary people simply couldn't do it.

For normal people, looking directly at the sun had only one result: sunlight would penetrate the eyes and damage the retinal tissue, causing stinging pain, tears, and in severe cases, even blindness.

"You definitely can't look at the sun, it'll damage your eyes. But luckily there's a second option," Chika said, giving a thumbs up. "I can look into Kaguya's eyes."

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

"Huh? Why not?"

"When I opened the box, the task started automatically."

Chika blinked, her eyes quickly moving to Natsuki. "The first person Kaguya made eye contact with was Natsuki?"

"Mm." Kaguya nodded glumly.

Natsuki raised his hand. "Should I apologize?"

"It's not Natsuki's fault," Chika shook her head, then comforted Kaguya. "Don't worry. We should find joy in adversity. Think about those wandering ghosts. It'd be awful if you made eye contact with one of them first."

Natsuki thought, 'Why does that sound so familiar? You're really applying what you've learned!'

Kaguya had no intention of experiencing blindness, so the task had to be completed.

"We can't stay in the classroom. Other students will be coming soon," Chika said, pondering for a moment before snapping her fingers. "Got it! Let's go to the board game club room."

At the board game club room, Chika unlocked the door. "No one's here, come in."

As they entered, Natsuki noticed a round table with tea sets and a sofa. Game posters on the walls were the only indication it was a club room.

"The games are in the lockers," Chika explained. "Want to play? A friend just bought a super fun new game yesterday!"

"Let's finish the task first," Natsuki said dryly.

"Okay, we'll play another time," Chika said, setting a timer on her phone. "Let's start!"

Natsuki sat across from Kaguya, their eyes meeting over the table.

A moment later, Kaguya pressed her brow and looked away. "No."

"It's been less than a minute! Are your eyes already sore?" Chika complained.

"My eyes don't hurt," Kaguya said, annoyed. "The task progress isn't activating."

Natsuki mused, "Seems the conditions haven't been met."

"Hmm..." Chika thought for a moment. "Could you two be too far apart?"

Kaguya looked up questioningly.

"Kaguya, did you ever play the 'staring contest' game as a kid?" Chika asked.

"No."

"What? You've never played such a fun game? It's a precious childhood memory!"

Chika sounded disappointed.

Natsuki was at a loss for words.