Guess the Beads Game

Fuka Kiryuin's expression carried a hint of disdain.

"Are you pitying me?"

Star Color just shook his head, looking dazed and innocent.

"Not at all."

Asahina-senpai cut into their conversation at that moment.

"Then Star Color-kun will be the [Defender], and Kiryuin-san will be the [Attacker]."

"When the [Offense-Defense Battle] begins, Star Color-kun needs to put on the [Blindfold], and I'll turn on the speakers to play music at random."

Fuka Kiryuin started thinking.

"For the [Defender], that's hell-level difficulty. Unless luck keeps smiling on you."

"Luck? Believe in that stuff? I'd probably be dead by now."

Star Color just closed his eyes and replied calmly.

When he opened them, those bright purple pupils transformed into a chaotic tape—black, only a grotesque black visible. Dreadful threads of chaos wriggled and multiplied meaninglessly.

It was a decayed darkness, pupils formed from malice that couldn't be described. The kind of gaze that only someone whose heart was filled with pure [Malice] could have.

Even though it was just an instant, it drove Fuka Kiryuin's instinctive [Disgust] to its peak. She held back the urge to use violence, suppressing the impulse to punch this androgynous, effeminate freak in the face.

"Let's start, then."

Star Color just smiled gently, speaking to Asahina Nazuna.

"First round—"

"Wait!"

Fuka Kiryuin cut off Asahina Nazuna's countdown.

"I need to inspect the equipment."

Fuka Kiryuin first picked up the [Blindfold], confirming it was opaque and not some kind of magic trick prop. Then she checked the paper cups for any tampering. Only after fully verifying that nothing was wrong and that the other party couldn't possibly cheat did she speak.

"We can start now."

Fuka Kiryuin walked behind Star Color.

Star Color tilted his head back to look up at her. His purple hair cascaded like a waterfall, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight. His cute face made Fuka Kiryuin steal a few glances, and the two stared at each other in that strange posture.

"I'll tie it. No problem?"

"Mm, no problem at all."

Star Color just obediently tilted his head up, docile and meek like a cat.

Fuka Kiryuin covered his eyes with the cloth, and Star Color's vision plunged into darkness.

Hair as smooth as silk fell into Fuka's hands. Even though he was a guy, his hair quality was so good it made her, a woman, jealous.

Without thinking, her hand tightening the knot suddenly jerked.

"Ow—"

A pitiful cry like a small animal escaped him, making Fuka's heart skip a beat.

Then she lightly chopped his face with the edge of her hand.

"Don't yelp like that."

"First round of the [Offense-Defense Battle] begins."

The speakers placed on the table where the two sat facing each other turned on. A piece called Nocturne played from them, the long, drawn-out piano notes ringing out. Even at maximum volume, the melody was so beautiful it left one in silence. But occasionally, a few notes seemed off-key...

Fuka picked up a Steel Ball first, looking at Star Color.

Star Color's cat-like lips trembled slightly, his mouth opening and closing...

"A tactic?"

Fuka felt a surge of irritation inside. She got the sense that Star Color wasn't taking this seriously at all.

Five paper cups, a one-in-five chance. This game was purely a test of luck. The [Attacker] won by not giving anything away—just managing their expression was enough.

Fuka placed the ball in the second cup from the left. She'd use the [Eyes-Closed Tactic] from here on. No matter what Star Color said, how he tried to bait her with words, or how he watched her expression—as long as she ignored him, she'd win.

Fuka nodded to signal Asahina.

As the music stopped, the entire tabletop gaming club space fell into silence.

"Star Color-kun, please remove the blindfold."

Star Color took off the cloth, and what came into view was Fuka Kiryuin with her arms crossed and eyes closed.

"The second cup from the left. Open it."

Star Color's voice—soft yet eerily firm—cut through Fuka Kiryuin's nerves.

"How is that possible?!"

Fuka Kiryuin opened her eyes, her wine-red irises filled with disbelief.

She immediately observed Asahina Nazuna's reaction. Even Asahina Nazuna looked at Star Color with surprise. That wasn't an expression that could be faked—it was a genuine emotional response. And she trusted Asahina Nazuna's character.

Asahina Nazuna hadn't helped Star Color cheat.

"Interesting! Very interesting!"

Kiryuin decided to get serious. She already knew this brat was cheating one hundred percent. As long as she could catch evidence of his cheating, she'd have a legitimate reason to beat him up.

Star Color earned one Steel Ball, rolling it in his hand.

"Can we start the second round now? Kiryuin-senpai~."

His purple pupils stared at her with innocent, watery eyes, but his tone was unusually flippant and exaggerated.

A way of speaking that clashed completely with his appearance. Kiryuin felt this guy's usual hobby was pretending to be "kind, innocent, and cute," then using his dark inner side to look down on and observe everyone.

"A lady isn't afraid."

Fuka Kiryuin flashed a crisp smile. As long as she got serious, she would win.

Kiryuin walked behind Star Color, checking if he had any communication devices or other equipment. Nothing in her line of sight. She reached out and directly touched Star Color's body.

"Ah—Senpai, what are you doing?"

"Don't... don't! Not there!"

Star Color squealed and squirmed on the stool, his body instinctively trying to escape, but he was pinned down firmly.

Star Color's face flushed red as he collapsed panting into the chair, his entire body having been "inspected" by Fuka Kiryuin.

"My body's unclean now... I'll never find a girlfriend."

Kiryuin tossed the Blindfold onto Star Color's face.

"Ow ow ow—Senpai, go easy!"

Feeling the terrifying, brutal force of the cloth strip forcibly cinching around his own skull, Star Color realized if this kept up, his head would turn into a crushed watermelon... He stopped his smart mouth and immediately begged for mercy.

Asahina Nazuna watched their interaction helplessly.

"Ahem, I'm not a third wheel, you know."

"Asahina, start the second round!"

"Second round: Offense and Defense, begin."

Star Color sat up straight, both hands on his legs. Though his most distinctive eyes were covered, the blindfold somehow added a strange sort of allure.

This time's music was the famous track Flower Dance from the Italian sci-fi cult film Assignment: Outer Space.

(Music translation: Flower Dance)

A very beautiful piano melody, though a few incorrect notes appeared.

When she placed the bead under the rightmost cup, the melody seemed to shift a few tones.

(The author doesn't know how to play piano, so don't roast me.)

Star Color gently swayed his head to the melody, his lips moving silently, mouthing something unknown.

Suddenly she understood! Star Color's cheating method!

This round, she planned to test it—whether Star Color could hear!

Kiryuin nodded to signal she was done.

Her sharp gaze locked onto Star Color like a leopard about to catch a lamb—that killing intent.