Traveling · Imperial Capital Arc (X): The King's Game (End)

10 PM.

As round after round of the King's Game came to an end, the party was drawing to a close.

"Eh~ Is it my turn to be king this time?" Dania said lazily. "Then I'll choose number seven and number seventeen. As for the orders..."

She casually drew a card from the instruction pool, looked at it closely, and then read out the contents of the card.

"Pocky game?"

"Oh, is that it? Two people each bite one end of the Pocky and then eat their way towards the middle; the first one to stop loses." Lynae exclaimed, "By the way, who are number seven and number seventeen?"

"Number seventeen is me," Xiao Ling said, raising her hand.

"That number seven..."

"... It's me." Chisa said, blushing and raising her paw.

As for why she blushed? Because that Pocky game was her idea.

Lynae was unaware that Pocky is mostly a game played between couples, and the young people who were willing to participate in this game undoubtedly had mutual affection.

Little Sister Qian's idea was simple: if she and her senior were drawn, and the King happened to get this card, then she could naturally advance her relationship with her senior.

However, playing such an intimate game in front of so many people was still too daring for her.

But in order to take her relationship with her senior to the next level, she was willing to go all out!

Chisa didn't like Pocky from the beginning.

When she first enrolled at the Star Torch Academy, she always had a serious face, and it was difficult to tell whether she was happy or angry from her expressions. She was also a loner, but her grades were excellent, giving people the impression of a cool and aloof female academic genius.

Until her classmate, with a smile, stuffed a bag of Pocky into her hand.

"Hey, I was saying, always having such a long face might cause low blood sugar, right? Here, have some," the female student said with a smile. "Smile more sometimes, you should."

Although Chisa couldn't see the other person's face clearly, she felt that the person standing in front of her must be a kind and beautiful girl.

By sheer chance, Chisa discovered that Pocky was indeed a great way to replenish her energy when she was thinking, and that chocolate bars were the most effective.

Chisa didn't actually know much about the Pocky game; she just happened to see several couples at the academy biting Pocky sticks from both ends, gradually moving towards the middle, and eventually kissing each other.

At the time, she didn't understand why two people should share a Pocky stick, as that would greatly reduce the efficiency of replenishing energy and seemed to offer no benefit at all.

"You're asking this? How am I supposed to explain it to a science whiz like you...?" The female classmate who gave her the Pocky puzzle pondered for a moment, "It's like solving a math problem; every problem has its unique solution. Relationships are the same. The Pocky game is just one way to solve a problem."

This explanation was actually quite far-fetched, but unfortunately, she was slow-witted at the time and failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind the other person's words.

Now, as she finally puts the Pocky game into practice, she understands the significance of its creation.

This seemingly ordinary game actually involves packaging affection and liking into a Pocky stick, and then using that Pocky stick to break through the invisible barrier between you and them.

"I'm saying, Chisa and her partner are each eating one side. What if they accidentally lose control..." Lupa suddenly said when she saw Chisa and Xiao Ling each biting into one side of their Pocky.

"That's a kiss, then~" Aemeath with a nonchalant smile.

"Didn't you know? Pocky was originally a game played between couples," Suisui explained with a smile. "This Pocky may seem ordinary, but it can make many unspoken feelings come to light."

Chisa was holding the left end of Pocky in her mouth when she heard everyone's conversation. Her already flushed face spread even further to the back of her ears, as if it were about to burst into flames.

"Ready?" Xiao Ling asked with a smile.

Chisa nodded gently, Pocky in her mouth.

Seeing that the other party was ready, Xiao Ling did not refuse and immediately bit the other end of the Pocky.

"Okay, three, two, one, go!"

As Lynae counted down to three, the game began immediately. Xiao Ling and Chisa each took a bite of a Pocky stick and started moving closer to each other.

Thump, thump.

My heart started racing uncontrollably, drowning out the laughter and cheers around me.

Her gaze was fixed on Xiao Ling, trying to find a trace of shyness on his handsome face, but he only responded with a mischievous smile and quickened his pace.

Xiao Ling: I lack nothing, so playing a mere Pocky game is a piece of cake!

"No, I can't keep going like this and I'll be led around by the nose," Chisa thought to herself.

She had planned to regroup and deal with Xiao Ling's sudden attack, but in the blink of an eye, she found that the distance between them was already very close, and their noses were even touching.

Thump thump, thump thump.

Chisa lowered her eyes shyly, avoiding the other person's gaze, but secretly she was delighted. As long as she could lightly kiss her senior's lips the moment she finished eating Pocky, everything would be settled.

What kind of expression will her senior make after that? Surprise? Astonishment? She cares a lot about whatever expression she makes.

Chisa's thoughts raced, her heart pounding louder and louder like a drum until all she could hear was her own breathing and heartbeat. The distance between them grew ever closer as Pocky gradually disappeared.

Yes, that's it! Chisa, seize this moment and press your lips against your senior's. This time, you must truly convey your feelings to him!

With only two centimeters left of the Pocky in front of him, Xiao Ling still didn't seem to be stopping, only continuing to close the distance with Chisa.

Chisa was a little nervous because of her senior's proactive behavior, and the last piece of Pocky fell out of her mouth.

"I messed up..." she thought to herself, annoyed.

She had chosen the perfect time, place, and occasion, and things had been progressing smoothly until now, but she messed up at the crucial moment.

Perhaps today isn't the right time to express your feelings?

Just as Chisa was about to suffer a regretful defeat, Hajiling suddenly touched her lips without warning.

?!

The annoyance in her heart was dispelled by the overwhelming joy, and Chisa's cheeks finally turned completely red. Her crimson eyes stared blankly at Xiao Ling, and for a moment she didn't know how to speak.

This was different from what she had expected, but the result was the same.

"Hey~ they really kissed!" Aemeath teased.

"What a sinful man..." Cantarella continued her sarcastic remarks.

The other girls watched Chisa intently, seemingly anticipating her response.

"Senior..." Chisa spoke in a voice barely audible.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Ling replied with a light laugh.

"I... I'm going back to my room now. Have fun with everyone!"

After saying that, Chisa fled the scene with her face completely red, leaving the others with a figure running away in panic like a frightened deer.