The Heart

"Very few people at this school could see through your tricks. I'd even go so far as to say there was no one. I'd always been confident in my own abilities—"

"But when I faced you, Seishiki Otonashi, I was utterly outclassed."

That was the first time Senior Kiryuuin had called me by my name, Star Color thought.

Looking closely, Senior Kiryuuin was a classic beauty. Her eyes were just a little too sharp, making her look somewhat fierce. As for her figure, Star Color's keen eye judged it to be on par with Tamiya's. In terms of figure alone, she was Star Color's type.

Star Color suddenly fell into confusion and contemplation. How had she managed to unleash strength so disproportionate to her muscles?

"I'll keep an eye on you. I hope the victory you speak of isn't an empty promise."

"You beat me, so you can't lose to anyone else. That's the condition—"

Fuka Kiryuuin looked at Star Color with an appreciative smile. She had come to acknowledge Star Color's abilities from the bottom of her heart.

Star Color returned to her usual soft, timid self.

"Um~ then, Senpai, just fill out the club application. Once it's approved, you're all set."

After signing her name, Fuka Kiryuin left the Board Game Club room with a brisk stride.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next, my junior."

"Phew~."

Star Color let out a breath and slowly steadied himself. Without the protection of force, he felt completely uneasy inside.

What Star Color had worried about most throughout the entire gambling game was the other side resorting to violence.

Inside the pocket of Star Color's coat was a bottle of Concentrated Chili Spray he had made with Kaneda Satoru.

Kaneda Satoru had bribed the chemistry teacher with points. The two of them picked a Sunday and spent the afternoon in the chemistry lab, using its equipment to extract and purify the capsaicin from chili peppers.

The purification of the concentrated chili liquid was slow. After an entire afternoon, they hadn't even filled a test tube. Left with no choice, the two had resorted to an old-fashioned method of heating and reducing the mixture to make chili water.

They poured pepper, mustard powder, ground chili, and medicated oil into a beaker, then added a certain amount of ethanol. After dissolving the mixture at high heat and bringing it to a boil, they let it sit for a bit, then poured it through filter paper to remove the impurities. That was how they made chili water using a simple, quick process.

(Dangerous behavior. Do not imitate. The above information comes from chemistry textbooks. Please carry out experiments under parental supervision!)

After pouring the chili water into a spray can, Star Color used a clever little trick to pressurize it.

(I can't say more, okay? Be good kids, everyone. Or go find that book by Poisonous Radio Waves and figure it out for yourselves.)

When sprayed downwind, the Spray Can could cover a distance of about five meters. After three seconds, its range began to fall off, since the can's pressure was limited. Still, it should be more than enough to deal with two or three people.

The only pity was that no matter how many points they offered, the chemistry teacher absolutely refused to sell them the strange little supplies stored in the chemistry lab.

Otherwise, their combat strength could have skyrocketed to a terrifying level. What a shame, what a shame. When would the hands-on crowd finally get to stand tall? So frustrating.

(A certain rabbit, Sakayanagi Usagi: The concentration's still too low.)

If Fuka Kiryuin really had resorted to violence... Star Color could only use this method to protect himself. The tiny bottle of Concentrated Chili Spray might exceed what skin could tolerate. Spraying it into someone's eyes could even leave them blind.

Star Color didn't need a powerful spray can. He needed a compact, effective concealed weapon that was easy to carry, so he'd chosen this one.

It was a lifesaving tool that could only be used once. As long as it hit the other person's eyes, it would mean total victory. But if the other person noticed what he was up to, he'd be finished...

Besides, there really were surveillance cameras in the Board Game Club room. Kaneda Satoru had been watching the whole game remotely. If violence broke out, he'd have to bring people in to save the day.

After all, a Cheat Gambler had to play both sides of the game: at the table and beneath it. What should you do if your opponent caught you cheating? And how should you respond if they flipped the table?

"Junior Otonashi, that was quite a performance. Even I didn't know humans could use echolocation."

"It was nothing."

Star Color scratched his cheek and blushed as he looked at Senior Asahina.

Asahina Nazuna couldn't sense the changes in Star Color's aura. She didn't have Fuka Kiryuin's keen powers of observation. So to her, Star Color was simply "a cute junior with a quick mind and a changeable personality."

"Could you teach me that skill, Junior Otonashi? The one where you click your tongue to use echolocation!"

"Um... I actually just watched a tutorial once and somehow learned it... Hahaha."

Star Color scratched his head and showed an innocent smile, like a white lotus.

"The internet... The internet really is amazing."

Asahina Nazuna murmured without pressing Star Color for an explanation. Then she picked up her shoulder bag and waved at him.

"Junior Otonashi, if you ever need anything, make sure to come bother your senpai more often."

"Okay~."

Star Color waved back to say goodbye to Senior Asahina.

Alone in the empty clubroom, Star Color looked up at the camera.

His hollow purple eyes sent the message [Successfully completed] to Kaneda Satoru through a screen, from a distance.

Whether by good luck or bad, the plan Star Color had devised was proceeding smoothly.

"Now all that's left is the marketing."

Miyabi Nagumo would spread the word among the second-years, promoting the Gambling House to the first-years.

"Now we just have to see how many points we get next month."

Star Color sincerely hoped the other classes wouldn't have too many points.

(In the dorm bathroom)

Looking at himself in the mirror—

Purple hair clung to his scalp, and droplets of water slid down his smooth, soft face, as delicate as milk poured out.

When had he stopped growing? Had it been after that surgery?

His heart couldn't pump enough blood, preventing him from growing to a normal height. In the middle of his chest was a hideous, shocking surgical scar.

Had he gotten used to it? That aged heart?

His brain asked and answered itself.

A child's heart in an old person's body. An old person's heart in my child-sized body.

Did I regret it?

He sank into self-denial.

Was there really any need for someone like me to exist?

He gently touched the wound on the person in the mirror. The only response was the cold glass.

If I hadn't done this, I wouldn't be standing here.

That suppressed resentment—

Star Color's smiling face, twisted into something terrifying and evil—

A form of [Nothingness] all its own—

The [Nihilism] that devoured everything—

The reflection in the mirror blurred, taking on a nonhuman form—

That figure, deep in the higher-dimensional reaches of his mind—

[????The?????Earth????is???the?????largest?????insane?????asylum?????in?????the?????world????]?????

[??????Ye?????????He?????Cai??????Ming???????]???????—

(I kind of want to write something with Poisonous Radio Waves.)