Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 1:THE YOUNG LADY TO BE CONQUERED

Episode 4: A rigged game

“Tendou-san, do you have some free time now? There’s something I want you and Eito to help me with.”

Yukimichi called out to me and Ojou after school, just as we were about to go home. In his hand he held a big paper bag that I didn’t recognize.

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll adjust my schedule to fit Ojou’s. But what exactly do you want us to help you with? That bag you’re holding seems to have something to do with it.”

“Sharp as always.”

“…… ‘Life Game (Provisional)’?”

“Oh. A friend asked me to make it, so I gave it a try. Since it’s finished, I thought you could help me with a test play.”

Inside the box was indeed a complete set of tools for a game of Life. At first glance, it was so well made that it was indistinguishable from a commercially available version.

“You’re really good with your hands.”

“Stop it. I just picked it up after being bossed around by girls for so long.”

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should feel sorry for him, but if he was happy with it, there was no need to rain on his parade.

“Kazami’s handiwork aside, this looks interesting. Let’s give it a try right away.”

“If the young lady insists…”

Perhaps it was the fact that it was handmade rather than store-bought that piqued her interest.

In fact, compared to commercial versions, a custom-made version was more likely to include unexpected and surprising elements that might have piqued her curiosity.

“The basic rules are the same as a regular game of life. You roll the dice and move forward by the number you rolled. Then whatever is written on the square you land on happens, or you have a task to complete.”

“Dice? Isn’t it supposed to be roulette?”

“Nah. I haven’t been able to do that part yet. Just go with the dice for today.”

As he said that, Yukimichi took out a ten-sided dice, but…

“Wait. There is nothing in this world less trustworthy than a dice you brought, Kazami.”

“That’s quite a harsh thing to say…”

“It’s because of your usual behavior.”

And to be honest, I agree with the lady’s opinion.

“Since we have to ‘follow orders,’ that means we’re being forced to do something, right? There’s a good chance you’re manipulating this to make the lady and I do something weird.”

“I’m hurt by the lack of trust… But I didn’t bring any other dice.”

Without hesitation, the young lady pulled out a black ten-sided dice from the pocket of her uniform.

” Young lady? you just happened to have a ten-sided dice with you?”

“That’s right. It just happened to be in my pocket.”

“H-Huh… I see…”

Is such a coincidence even possible…?

Maybe I’m thinking too much. After all, there’s no reason for Ojou to intentionally carry a ten-sided dice in her uniform pocket. She could not know that Yukimichi would bring the prototype of his “Life Game” today.

Besides, it’s at least more trustworthy than the cube Yukimichi brought with him.

“All right, let’s use Tendou-san’s cube and get started. Shall we go clockwise, starting with me?”

“I don’t mind. It seems like things will go more smoothly if the person who created the game goes first.”

“If the young lady agrees, then I have no objection.”

“Clockwise… Given our current seating arrangement, that means Yukimichi goes first, the young lady goes second, and I go third.”

“Okay. So I’ll borrow Tendou-san’s ten-sided dice… These are the game pieces. And these over here are the bills…”

The tokens were shaped like cars, and players would put pins in them to represent themselves.

Whether it was the paper money or the game pieces, their quality was almost indistinguishable from store-bought versions. His skill was so impressive that he could easily turn it into a business.

“Alright, that’s everything. Now we’re all set. …But before we start, let me make one thing clear: Whatever is written on the field you land on is absolute. You must follow it. Otherwise, it’ll ruin all the fun

“You. Don’t tell me you set up something weird.”

“I know, I know. Let’s get started. Wasting time is pointless.”

“Alright, alright. I’m going first then…”

I tried to check, but the young lady urged us to start the game without hesitation.

Since she was already motivated, I was reluctant to dampen her enthusiasm.

…Well, whatever. If it gets weird, I’ll just step in and stop it.

“The number rolled is… a ten right off the bat, huh.”

Yukimichi moves his checker ten spaces forward… but the space he lands on has nothing written on it.

“…Huh? Wait a second. This Life Game… none of the squares have anything written on them.”

“Hehehe. Actually, they are all stickers. When you land on a square, you peel off the sticker, and the contents underneath are revealed. Adds a bit of excitement, not knowing what’s written, doesn’t it?”

“Heh, that’s pretty elaborate.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed. It seemed like every space on the board was covered with a sticker.

Honestly, this might actually be kind of exciting.

“Alright, let’s see what this space says… Ugh.”

“Run ten laps around the school building. During this time, the player’s turn will be skipped.”

“Oh man… I really made a terrible mistake.”

“That’s too bad for you.”

“Oh man, this is really bad luck. And since my turn will be skipped until I run ten laps around the school, you two go ahead and continue the game without me.”

“That’s right. We’ll go ahead and continue, just the two of us, without hesitation.”

What was that? Just now… it felt like the two of them exchanged eye contact for a brief moment…?

While I tilted my head in confusion, Yukimichi stood up and disappeared into the hallway after school.

“It’s my turn next.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

The young lady rolled the dice as if nothing had happened… Huh? Wait a second. Before I looked away, wasn’t she holding the dice in her right hand? When did she switch them to her left hand?

“The number I rolled is… eight. Move forward eight spaces…”

The young lady moves her piece forward, then peels off the sticker on the space where she landed.

“Until your next turn, hold hands with the person next to you in a ‘lover’s grip.'”

What kind of command is that?

“Ah, Ojou……」”

“Oh my. What’s done is done. And since the only one beside me is you, Eito… shall we? Lover’s hold.”

“Wait, isn’t this command a bit strange…?”

“Strange? I don’t think so. I think it’s a perfectly normal command.”

“Normal…?? Are you serious?”

Perhaps the definition of “normal” is different between the young lady and me.

“Following instructions is part of the rules, isn’t it?”

“If that’s what you say, Ojou, then I have no objections.”

“Mm.”

Shyly, I take the young lady’s hand and intertwine our fingers.

It’s soft. And warm. I can feel her body heat seeping through.

“Hehe. Eito, your hands have grown.”

“When exactly are you talking about?”

Before I knew it, the young lady had moved her chair closer… and somehow the distance between us felt even smaller.

“Is that so? When we do a lover’s grip, it should feel natural to be so close, shouldn’t it?”

“It can’t be helped. After all, we have to do a lover’s grip. Right?”

Still, is it really necessary to be so close that our shoulders touch?

Well, as long as she’s satisfied, I guess it doesn’t really matter…

“Alright. Let’s continue the game. It’s your turn next, Eito.”

☆

With the revelation of the “Prince of the Station Cookie Incident” – the case where Eito helped a passing girl and received cookies in return – I decided it was time to put into action a certain plan I had been considering for a long time.

“It’s rare, isn’t it? That Tendou-san is the one who calls me.”

“I have something to ask you.”

“A request? That’s even rarer. Could it be that you finally remembered that we are childhood friends?”

‘Childhood friends’? That’s rich, coming from someone who doesn’t open up to the people around him in the slightest.”

“Oh my, this is unexpected. I never would’ve guessed that the young lady would have any desire to interact with me in a friendly manner. Shall I call you by your first name from now on?”

“I refuse.”

This childhood friend of mine has never opened up to anyone, not even in the past. That’s why he insists on calling me “Tendou-san” in such a formal way. Not that I mind, but whatever. …The only person Kazami seems to have really opened up to is Eito. That’s why I guess he only calls Eito by his first name.

“…Shall we come to the main topic now? I hope you don’t mind.”

“Sure. But whether I accept or not depends on the reward.”

“That’s simple and helpful.”

In other words, as long as I can prepare a suitable reward, he’ll take action. I appreciate this straightforward aspect of Kazami.

“I need you to make something for me. You’re good with your hands, right?”

“Well, my mother is an engineer, and I used to help her out a lot, so I’m pretty good at that. What do you want me to make?”

” A life board game.”

“……Sorry, but could you explain that in more detail?”

“Sigh… I guess I have no choice. For someone like you who lacks understanding, I’ll explain it in more detail.”

“Much appreciated.”

“A game of life designed for Eito and me to legally flirt and get close.”

“You really should get some sleep.”

“Who said anything about sleep deprivation?”

“How rude. Of course I get enough sleep.”

“I’ve already worked out the detailed specifications, so I just need you to bring it to life. Also, it would be helpful if you could cooperate when I play with Eito.”

“Well… I guess that’s okay. It does sound interesting. But in return, I’ll expect proper compensation.”

“Fine. What do you want?”

“A favor.”

“To think I’d end up owing you a favor. Frankly, I’d rather you just ask for a pile of cash instead.”

“From my point of view, having Tendou Hoshine owe me a favor is worth more than money.”

I don’t like owing this guy a favor, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Since we started high school, more and more girls have been getting close to Eito. I was willing to take some risks.

“Much appreciated. Now, could you show me the specifications?”

“Deal sealed.”

Kazami completed the “Life Game” about three days after receiving the specifications.

After that, however, the real challenge began – how to get Eito to play the Life Game.

If I suddenly brought this game and just ordered him to play with me, it would just be an extension of our “master-servant” relationship. That wouldn’t do. The game would lose its purpose.

Of course-everything had to feel natural. If we played at the mansion, the atmosphere of our “master-servant relationship” would inevitably linger. But if we played at the school… Yes, that could work. In the academy setting, we could play not as “master and servant,” but simply as “fellow students.

That’s when I had the idea of having Kazami be the one to invite him.

That way, I could naturally create a situation where we were just “students hanging out after school.

However, there was one big problem with this plan-Kazami was just in the way.

“I can make up an excuse to leave if you want.”

“That would still seem unnatural. It has to be natural, inevitable… Yes, let’s have you leave at the command of the tenth room. If we manipulate the dice to always roll a ‘ten,’ there won’t be any problems.”

“Wouldn’t that mean that both you and Eito would also land on the tenth square?”

“I’ll switch the dice when I get the chance. I’ll make sure this one is rigged so that a ‘ten’ never comes up.”

“Wow. That’s a pretty elaborate setup…”

However, if we used the dice prepared by Kazami, it might raise suspicion. So instead, I made sure to eliminate the dice he provided and set things up so that I would be the one to provide them. That way, any concerns about tampering with the dice would be somewhat alleviated.

And then the day came.

Everything went according to plan, and I ended up playing the game alone with Eito.

An empty classroom after school. Just the two of us. The situation couldn’t be better.

Now I can flirt with Eito to my heart’s content.

But that’s not my only goal… I want to win Eito over with this game.