The room, bathed in the warm glow of a crackling fireplace, was alive with a comfortable hum of chatter. Kaito, Aria, Ryouichi, Yuki, Sakura, and Hikari had settled themselves in the plush Christmas room. Some were seated on the floor while others lounged on the couch, their eyes occasionally flickering toward the fireplace, where the flames danced merrily in the hearth.
Kaito, his gaze drifting toward the entrance, caught sight of Ren, Daichi, Raiden, Airi, and Shin entering the room. Behind them, as if materializing from the shadows, came the infamous "villainous trio"—Haruka, Enishi, and Ayame. Enishi, as always, had his lower right arm wrapped possessively around Ayame's waist, patting her with his upper right arm in a surprisingly affectionate manner. They made quite the entrance, and though Kaito was expecting it, it still left him with a twinge of unease.
As Enishi unceremoniously dropped down onto the floor, not caring for any couch or seat, Ayame stood tall beside him. She gave Kaito a pointed look that made it clear she wasn't thrilled by the idea of sitting next to anyone, least of all him. Enishi, stretching his legs out in front of him, looked particularly unbothered by the change in scenery. The other trio took their spots, Ren and Daichi finding places to settle comfortably on the couch, while Raiden leaned against the wall, arms crossed, taking in the scene with quiet amusement.
Kaito sighed, a slight frown tugging at his lips as the room seemed to settle into an awkward lull. "Lighten up, everyone," he said, breaking the silence with an almost forced cheerfulness. "Let's do something more exciting. We can't just sit here staring at each other."
Enishi, glancing at Kaito with his usual, apathetic expression, shot back with a smirk. "Do something yourself, then," he muttered, clearly uninterested in being the one to take the initiative. He placed his lower left arm on his lap and leaned back against the floor with a relaxed air, his eyes half-lidded in indifference. Ayame, standing beside him, shot Kaito a brief but sharp look, as if silently urging him to leave them out of whatever mess he was about to stir up.
"Do not command Enishi," Ayame chimed in, her voice colder than usual, "Think of a way to lighten up the mood yourself."
Kaito blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. "I wasn't commanding! I was just trying to lighten up the mood," he protested, raising his hands defensively, but it was clear he had little hope of convincing anyone.
Aria, who had been quietly observing the group, seemed to sense the rising tension. She tilted her head thoughtfully, a small smile playing on her lips. "How about…" She trailed off for a moment, her mind clearly working behind her calm exterior. "How about we play a game?" she suggested, her voice carrying a hint of hope, though it wasn't quite clear if it was for the group or herself.
Ryouichi, his eyes flickering with mischief, shot a glance toward her. "Not like last time, I hope," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Yuki, ever the peacemaker, immediately came to Aria's defense, her expression softening. "It wasn't that bad last time, stop overreacting."
Ryouichi, incredulous, gaped at Yuki in disbelief. "No way you're saying that! Did you already forget, or are you intentionally messing with me?" His voice held a blend of frustration and mock outrage as he stared at her, clearly not expecting this level of support.
Before Yuki could respond, Shin, who had been silent until then, gave a thoughtful hum, his eyes twinkling with the faintest hint of amusement. "Hm… I might have an idea for a game we could play for starters…" he said, his voice low but commanding enough to capture everyone's attention.
The room grew quiet as everyone turned toward Shin, curiosity piqued. Kaito, eager to shift the atmosphere toward something more lighthearted, leaned forward. "What did you have in mind?" he asked, his voice laced with intrigue.
The group sat in a circle, the crackling of the fireplace the only sound that broke the otherwise quiet atmosphere. Shin, who had been sitting casually against the wall, finally leaned forward, a smile tugging at his lips. He looked around at the group, his eyes lighting up with a mischievous spark.
"Airsoft," Shin said with a grin, his words coming out like a challenge.
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed his suggestion. Kaito raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering from Shin to the others in the room. "That's... an interesting choice," Kaito said, his voice a mix of enthusiasm and hesitation.
Enishi, leaning back against the floor, smirked and crossed his arms. "We have Enes... And we are in a Christmas 'spirit'... Supposedly." He raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Are we going to play something related to Christmas or not?"
The question hung in the air, and the group exchanged uncertain glances, each person processing the idea of mixing their typical activities with the holiday spirit.
Sakura, ever the one to keep things light, spoke up, "How about… Pick A Stick—"
But she was immediately interrupted by Ryouichi, his voice rising in exaggerated dread. "NOT AGAIN!!!" He practically shouted, shaking his head in disbelief. It seemed that the memory of their last attempt at "Pick A Stick" was still fresh and painful in his mind.
Yuki, sensing that the mood was about to shift into another round of playful arguments, decided to propose a safer option. "Calm down, everyone. How about a game of darts?"
Enishi looked at her and smirked. "The first one to shoot will likely break the wall. We aren't mortals, remember?"
Kaito chuckled at the statement, not missing a beat. "Okay, Mr. 'I almost ended the universe,'" he teased, making a quick jab at Enishi's overblown reputation.
Enishi simply shrugged both of his upper arms and crossed his lower ones, looking utterly unfazed. "That is unrelated to our current situation. Just shut up about anything unrelated."
Ayame, who had been quietly observing the banter, finally spoke up in her usual calm, yet assertive manner. "A game of darts. The burden of potential damages will be on Yuki for suggesting it." Her voice carried a slight edge of amusement, though she was clearly ready to see how the others would fare.
Sakura, her eyes glinting with competitive excitement, immediately raised her hand. "May I go first?"
Kaito blinked, startled by her eagerness. "Wait—can we… uh, reinforce the wall to not break? I don't want to be dealing with holes after this."
Enishi tilted his head and gave a casual shrug. "I could, but why?" He sounded completely unconcerned, as though the idea of broken walls didn't faze him in the slightest.
Sakura, undeterred by the potential for destruction, picked up a dart with a determined expression. She took aim, her eyes narrowing slightly, and then, with surprising precision, threw the dart. It hit the bullseye—dead center.
"HOORAY!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air. "A perfect throw! I have two more, correct?"
Kaito stared at her in disbelief. "Are you a secret world champion or something? And how did you not break the wall?" He couldn't help but marvel at her skill.
Sakura simply shrugged with a smirk. "Just throw the dart and minimize your power... if you can."
Raiden, who had been quietly watching, nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose that works." His voice was deep, almost as if he were evaluating the possibility of joining in on the challenge himself.
Sakura, not missing a beat, threw another dart. This time, it landed on the red 20 segment of the board.
"60 POINTS?" Kaito exclaimed, his jaw dropping in shock. "That's a total of 110 already…"
Sakura's smile faded slightly as she glanced at the board, calculating. "Damn it... With how many did we begin? 500?" She paused, looking back at Kaito. "She's already down to 390."
The others watched, some amused, some impressed, as Sakura took her final dart. She threw it with precision, but it landed on the 5.
"Agh, damn it..." she muttered under her breath, clearly frustrated with her performance on the last dart.
Kaito, still wide-eyed from her earlier throws, laughed in disbelief. "Wow... 385 in the first try. You're really showing us how it's done."
Sakura gave a playful shrug, her tone light. "It's just a game, Kaito. Don't get too excited." She winked, clearly enjoying the challenge.
Raiden, his towering frame casting a shadow over the dartboard, stood up with a determined glint in his eye. He cracked his knuckles, ready for his turn. "It's my turn!" he declared, his deep voice vibrating through the room.
Sakura, who had just returned to the couch after her own turn, nodded nonchalantly. "Well, go ahead... and good luck," she said, settling comfortably into her seat. She shot him an encouraging smile but quickly turned her attention back to the others, already anticipating the next round of competition.
Raiden took a few steps forward, his broad shoulders tensing as he focused on the dartboard. He carefully selected his first dart, holding it with the precision of a seasoned marksman. Without hesitation, he threw it, and it sailed through the air, landing firmly in the red 10 section.
"Uh... that's x3, so 30!" he called out, his deep voice filled with satisfaction. He was unfazed by the modest score as he prepared for his next throw.
The second dart followed swiftly, and once again, it landed on the red 10, confirming his earlier assessment. "That's another 30!" Raiden exclaimed, clearly in his element, and he quickly calculated the score in his head. "So that's 60... and now for my final throw."
With focused determination, Raiden hurled the last dart, watching it soar through the air before landing firmly in the red 20 segment.
"That's 60!" he said with a grin. "That makes a total of 120 points! I'm down to 380 points now!"
The room erupted in a mix of cheers and groans, impressed by Raiden's solid performance. Kaito, who had been watching intently, nodded approvingly. "Not bad, Raiden. You're off to a good start."
But before anyone could respond, Shin shot out of his seat, his eyes wide with excitement. "Let me take a turn!" he exclaimed, his competitive spirit clearly ignited by Raiden's performance.
Shin darted over to the dartboard, grabbed the darts, and stood tall, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I got this!" he declared confidently. The others watched with bated breath as he took his first throw.
The dart flew through the air and landed squarely in the 15 section. "Alright, not bad!" Shin exclaimed, before quickly grabbing the next dart and throwing it.
This time, the dart hit the red 12, which caused a ripple of surprise among the group. He wasn't quite hitting the marks he'd hoped for, but it wasn't over yet. His final throw sent the dart flying to the 1 section, much to Shin's dismay.
"WHAT!" he groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration. "I only got down to... Uh... 53 points? So, I go from 500 to just 447?"
Ayame, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but sigh at the spectacle unfolding before her. She leaned towards Enishi, shaking her head. "They are fools," she muttered, clearly unimpressed with the performance so far.
Enishi gave a nonchalant shrug, not bothering to look away from the dartboard. "Indeed," he agreed with a smirk, his voice dripping with amusement. "It seems like the competition is a bit lackluster."
Kaito, always up for a challenge, stood up with an air of confidence. "Prove yourself then... Well, after me!" he said, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He stepped up to the dartboard, eyes narrowing as he focused intently. Without wasting a moment, Kaito grabbed his first dart and threw it with practiced ease. The dart sailed through the air and landed dead center in the bullseye.
"YES! THAT'S 50!" Kaito shouted, his fist pumping in the air as he reveled in his first perfect throw.
His excitement, however, was short-lived. His second throw missed its mark, landing outside of the dartboard entirely. "Uh, can I shoot that back?" Kaito asked, looking a bit sheepish.
Sakura, now fully entertained by the chaos of the game, chuckled. "Sure," she said, gesturing toward the dart. "But good luck with that."
Kaito, grinning despite his mistake, quickly retrieved his dart and tossed it again. This time, it landed on the 4 section. "Not exactly what I was hoping for..." he muttered under his breath. He wasn't deterred though, and with one final throw, he aimed and released the dart. It hit a red 20, bringing his score up a bit.
"Alright, I'm down to 386, I think," Kaito said, still processing his score. "Not bad... but I can do better next round."
Sakura, who had been casually watching, waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, whatever," she said with a slight grin, clearly not too impressed by Kaito's performance.
Yuki, who had been patiently waiting for her turn, stood up with a confident smile on her face. "I believe I'll have the best aim," she said, her voice calm but full of conviction.
Enishi, who had been lounging on the floor, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You all have no precision," he said, his voice laced with a bit of mockery. "Don't get too confident."
Yuki shot him a look that could have burned a hole in the wall. "Shut up," she retorted coolly, her voice as sharp as her aim was about to be.
Ren, sitting off to the side, sighed and glanced at Daichi, who was looking distinctly bored. "When's my turn?" Ren asked, clearly eager to jump into the action.
Yuki, without missing a beat, turned her head toward him. "After me," she said, a teasing edge in her tone. She wasn't about to let Ren cut in line, especially when she had something to prove.
With a final glance at the dartboard, Yuki took her place and threw her first dart. It landed in the red 10 section. "Not bad," she muttered, already calculating her next move.
The second dart flew from her hand and landed in the green 10 section. "Alright," Yuki said, nodding to herself. "That's 20." She focused, steeling herself for her final throw.
The dart left her hand with perfect precision, striking the red 15 section squarely in its center.
"I'm down to 405," she said, a satisfied smile crossing her face. "Not bad."
Enishi, who had been observing the game, smirked once again. "You said you'd be in the lead," he remarked with a taunting edge to his voice.
Yuki shot him a quick glance, unfazed by his challenge. "Unlucky, what can I say?" she replied nonchalantly, tossing the darts aside and looking as calm as ever.
Ren, visibly frustrated by the earlier turns, stood up with a loud sigh. His face contorted in determination, his resolve seemingly strengthened by the earlier failures. "Finally, my turn," he muttered, striding toward the dartboard with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
He selected his first dart, gripping it firmly in his hand. With a swift motion, he threw it, but the dart veered off course and landed in the red 1 section. He groaned in disbelief. "NO! ONLY 3!" he shouted, clenching his fist in frustration.
The others exchanged glances, each trying to suppress a smile at Ren's misfortune. He wasn't known for his precision when it came to games of skill like darts, but even so, they hadn't expected it to go this badly.
Determined not to let the first setback ruin his turn, Ren grabbed his second dart and threw it with more force. It hit the red 9 section. "27..." Ren muttered under his breath, his frustration only growing. He eyed the dartboard for his final throw, trying to steady his nerves.
The last dart flew from his hand, but it hit the green 13 section. "And 26..." he sighed, looking defeated. "Only a total of 56... So I'm down to just 444 points."
Enishi, who had been sitting quietly, watching Ren's turn with little more than a casual interest, finally sighed and stood up. "Really? You all are hopeless." With a shake of his head, he moved toward the dartboard. His usual air of confidence and superiority seemed to grow with each step.
He grabbed a dart from the collection and tossed it effortlessly. The dart flew through the air and landed perfectly in the red 20 section. His second dart followed suit, also hitting the red 20. With a third smooth throw, the dart landed in the same spot once more.
"A total of 180 points," Enishi announced coolly, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Maximizing my points. I'm down to 320."
The room went silent for a moment. Kaito, who had been watching with growing anticipation, was the first to break the stunned silence. He threw his hands up in disbelief. "WHAT???" he shouted. "How did you do that?"
Yuki, equally stunned, blinked a few times. "How?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration and awe.
Enishi, unimpressed by their astonishment, shrugged. "You're just fools. I don't know how you... Forget it." He turned away from the dartboard and walked back to his spot, sitting next to Ayame, who was smiling softly.
Haruka, watching the exchange with a faint smile of her own, added, "It's not complicated. The rest are just fools." Ayame nodded in agreement, her smile widening as she leaned in closer to Enishi.
Enishi, clearly pleased by the attention, looked down at Ayame and then back at the others. "Can we end this here? It's too boring," he said, his tone dismissive as he leaned back against the couch.
Kaito, frustrated but unable to argue the point, threw his hands in the air once more. "FINE! You win if that's what you want," he said, his voice tinged with a mixture of annoyance and resignation.
Enishi nodded sagely, a look of triumph on his face. "As I always do," he said with a smirk, clearly relishing the moment.
Ayame, still smiling at the interaction between them, spoke up. "Since the Heian Period, that is all you do," she said, her voice teasing. Enishi nodded in agreement, his gaze softening as he turned to her.
"Indeed," he said simply, a flicker of affection crossing his features as he patted Ayame's head with his upper right arm. She smiled in return, leaning into the touch as if accustomed to it.
Yuki, who had been observing the interaction with a bemused expression, sighed and muttered under her breath. "You two act like lovebirds," she said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Enishi, without missing a beat, turned to glare at her, his expression sharp. "That is not your business," he snapped, his voice cold but laced with an undertone of warning.
Haruka, sensing the tension between them, quickly interjected, trying to change the subject before things escalated further. "Hm... I got an idea," she said, a mischievous grin appearing on her face. "What about truth or—"
Kaito, always eager for a change of pace, immediately perked up. "I'm in," he said, interrupting Haruka eagerly. He was always up for something new, especially when it involved getting the upper hand in a game.
But Ryouichi, who had been sitting on the sidelines, raised a concern. "HEY, WE SPOKE LAST TIME ABOUT THIS!" he exclaimed, his voice slightly panicked. "WHAT ABOUT THE MINORS?"
Haruka waved off his concerns with a dismissive gesture. "Oh, shut up," she said, rolling her eyes. "The inappropriate stuff will be asked to adults. You—"
Before she could finish, Yuki, who had been listening closely, cut in sharply. "No such words here. Just relax," she said firmly, her voice holding a clear note of authority.
Enishi leaned back into his spot and smirked at Yuki. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he spoke. "Truth or Dare?" he asked, his voice calm, yet laced with an underlying challenge.
Yuki blinked, surprised by the sudden attention and the way Enishi posed the question. Her mind raced, and she quickly weighed her options. Truth meant potentially revealing something personal, but Dare... Dare could lead to something embarrassing. She hesitated for a moment before finally making her decision. "Uh... Dare!" she declared, a small, wary smile on her lips.
Enishi's smirk widened as he leaned forward, clearly pleased by her choice. "Hm... Lick a bottle of water," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. The room fell silent for a moment, everyone processing the odd request. Yuki's face twisted in disgust, but she could see the smirk on Enishi's face and knew there was no backing out now. She reluctantly grabbed the bottle of water from the table, glancing around at the others who were eagerly watching her reaction. With a sigh, she stuck out her tongue and licked the bottle, trying her best to ignore how ridiculous it felt. When she finished, she quickly wiped her tongue with the back of her hand.
"No such dare again, please..." Yuki muttered, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. She couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by the whole ordeal, though she maintained a stoic expression for the most part.
Kaito, ever eager to keep things moving, immediately shouted, "TRUTH OR DARE?" to Shin, his tone excited. Shin, looking slightly unsure of what was to come, hesitated before responding. "Uh... Dare?"
Kaito grinned, his eyes glinting with a playful challenge. "Kiss Airi. You two are very close, so..." he trailed off with a teasing tone, knowing that would likely make Shin squirm.
Shin looked at Airi, who was sitting nearby, clearly caught off guard by the dare. "Where?" Shin asked, clearly not expecting such a bold request.
Kaito thought for a moment, a mischievous look still in his eyes. "I'd say lips, but because it's the beginning, I'll say cheeks."
Shin, now feeling slightly more at ease, glanced at Airi. She gave him a shy smile, clearly amused by the situation. Shin leaned forward, planting a quick but soft kiss on Airi's cheek. "Done," he said with a relieved grin, glad to have completed the dare without too much embarrassment.
Without missing a beat, Shin turned to Haruka, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he asked, "Truth or Dare?"
Haruka, always confident and never one to shy away from challenges, replied with a smirk, "Truth."
Shin raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased with her answer. He leaned back, clearly taking his time to think of the perfect question. "Aw... Well... Is it true that you've never had intercourse before?" he asked, his voice playful but with a sharp edge of curiosity.
Haruka, unfazed, met his gaze with calm confidence. "I haven't dated a female before, so it is true," she replied matter-of-factly. There was a slight pause as everyone processed her answer, but Haruka didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable with the question.
She then looked to the next person in the circle and smiled slyly. "Truth or Dare?" she asked Sakura, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Sakura, her expression already half-amused and half-apprehensive, bit her lip before replying, "Uh... Dare!"
Haruka grinned. "Drink lemon juice. Literally lemon juice," she said, her tone playful but with an unmistakable hint of challenge.
Sakura groaned, already dreading the sourness of the drink. "Ugh... Fine," she muttered, rolling her eyes. She stood up, making her way to the kitchen and quickly preparing the lemon juice. As she returned to the group, she took the glass in her hand and looked around. Everyone's eyes were on her as she took a deep breath and downed the drink in one go. The sourness hit her instantly, and she grimaced, her face twisting in discomfort as the sharp taste lingered on her tongue.
"Not the best taste," she said through gritted teeth, but she gave a dramatic sigh of relief after finishing the drink.
Haruka chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Very well," she said, nodding in approval.
Sakura, now wiping her mouth, turned to Hikari, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, watching the game unfold with a curious expression. "Truth or Dare?" she asked, already knowing the answer might be more interesting than she anticipated.
Hikari, who was usually more reserved, hesitated for only a brief moment before replying, "Truth."
Sakura smirked, her eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Is it true that you like Haruka?" she asked, already sensing that this could be an intriguing question.
Hikari's face immediately turned bright red, and she stammered, clearly taken aback. "Wha- We just begun. Ask another question!" she protested, her embarrassment evident.
Sakura simply sighed in mock frustration, her smirk growing wider. "Is it true that you like reading Ao Haru Ride?" she asked, knowing this would be a much safer question.
Hikari's face immediately brightened, and she nodded enthusiastically. "YESSS! I LOVE IT!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement and passion. It was clear that the manga held a special place in her heart.
Kaito, who had been listening to the conversation with growing curiosity, leaned forward with wide eyes. "Wow. A very great choice!" he said, clearly impressed by her enthusiasm.
Hikari beamed at the compliment. "I know right?" she said with a proud smile, her cheeks still flushed from earlier.
She then turned to the next person, her gaze shifting toward Enishi. "Truth or Dare?" she asked, her voice now carrying a playful edge.
Enishi, ever the enigmatic figure, leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. He gave a slight chuckle before answering, "Dare."
The room grew quieter, everyone waiting for what Hikari would dare him to do.
Hikari, still holding the momentum of her turn, leaned forward with a playful glint in her eyes. She was ready for something a bit more serious this time. Her gaze settled on Enishi, and with a grin, she asked, "Have you ever felt desperate?"
Enishi didn't flinch. His expression remained as unreadable as ever, his cool demeanor unwavering. He took a moment before answering, his voice calm and measured, as if he was speaking from a distant, detached place. "Never. I have never once felt such emotion," he said. "Negative emotions do not affect me, they are nothing to me... But to the rest of you—" he paused, casting a glance around the room, "—to the rest of you, it is something you experience frequently, I assume. That is why me, Ayame, and Haruka are better than the rest of you."
There was a collective silence for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Some of the group shifted uncomfortably at his proclamation, not sure how to respond to his superiority complex. However, before anyone could react, Shin, who had been half-listening, cut in sharply.
"Woah there," he said, raising a hand in mock surrender. "Do not... Just relax. No need to get so sophisticated randomly." His tone was light, but there was an unmistakable challenge in it, as if he were daring Enishi to show a bit more humility.
Enishi didn't respond immediately, his gaze turning slightly colder. He wasn't one to back down easily, but after a moment of contemplation, he simply shrugged. "What about the dare though?" he asked, his voice still calm, but now carrying a hint of annoyance that he couldn't fully mask.
Hikari blinked in surprise, realizing that she had become somewhat distracted by Enishi's words. "AH! Sorry!" she exclaimed, quickly shaking her head. "I dare you to... Drink a bottle of avocado juice."
The room grew quiet for a brief moment, everyone curious about how Enishi would react to the challenge. Without a flicker of emotion crossing his face, Enishi grabbed the bottle of avocado juice, uncapped it, and began drinking it without hesitation. His expression remained perfectly neutral, as though drinking the strange beverage was the most normal thing in the world.
"Done," he said after finishing the bottle, his tone as flat and emotionless as ever. The group stared at him, unsure whether to be impressed or unnerved by his complete lack of reaction. Enishi simply placed the empty bottle down, his gaze unbothered, clearly unaffected by the taste or the dare itself.
Raiden, eager to move on and not wanting the moment to linger too long, raised his hand and declared, "My turn for Truth or Dare." He looked around, waiting for someone to respond.
But Daichi, never one to sit quietly in the background, immediately interrupted. "NO! IT'S MY TURN!" His voice was loud, drawing everyone's attention to him. Raiden blinked in surprise, then raised an eyebrow as Daichi turned his gaze toward him.
"Truth or Dare?" Daichi asked, his tone playful but firm.
Raiden, always up for a challenge and a little bit of fun, didn't hesitate. "Dare," he said, flashing a grin. "But know that I hate you... just kidding," he added, winking at Daichi to let him know it was all in good fun.
Daichi's eyes lit up with mischief. "I dare you to slap yourself."
The room fell silent for a moment, and Raiden's grin faded slightly. "Are you serious?" he asked, though his voice held no real annoyance.
Daichi, clearly enjoying the moment, gave a dramatic nod. "Yes," he replied, his smile widening. "I want to see you do it."
Raiden sighed deeply, clearly amused, but he wasn't one to back down from a dare. Without further hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped himself on the cheek with a resounding smack. He didn't even blink, not a single change in his facial expression.
"Done," Raiden said flatly, as though it had been the simplest thing in the world. He looked back at Daichi, who was chuckling softly at the absurdity of it all.
Raiden then turned the tables, his mischievous grin returning as he asked, "Truth or Dare?" He was now staring directly at Daichi, a glint of playfulness in his eyes.
Daichi hesitated for only a moment before answering. "Uh... Truth."
Raiden's grin widened, clearly enjoying the prospect of digging into Daichi's personal life. "Is it true that you're a coward?" he asked, his voice light but with an edge of curiosity.
Daichi's eyes widened, and he quickly sat up straighter, his face flushed with indignation. "HEY! I'm not!" he protested, his voice louder than usual. "I'm no coward!"
Raiden simply raised an eyebrow, his grin never fading. "Yeah, sure," he said, clearly not buying Daichi's defensive response. "Just kidding," he added, though it was clear he enjoyed teasing Daichi.
The group let out a collective chuckle, though Daichi didn't look too amused. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned back, muttering under his breath as the game continued on.
Airi, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly spoke up. She looked at Shin with a mischievous smile. "Truth or Dare?" she asked, her tone light but filled with playful curiosity.
Shin, who had been quiet for the last few rounds, looked at her, then nodded. "Truth," he said, his expression unreadable.
Airi's smile widened. She had been waiting for just the right moment to ask her question. "Is it true that you... dislike Haruka?" she asked, her voice soft but direct.
Shin's eyes flickered for a moment before he replied, his voice calm, but tinged with an edge of truth. "Isn't it obvious?" he said with a shrug. "He's our enemy, you know?"
Airi's expression shifted slightly, her brow furrowing as she processed his words. "Oh, right..." she said, though she didn't seem entirely satisfied with the answer. The room fell into a brief silence as everyone digested Shin's response.
Enishi let out a small sigh, a faint flicker of impatience crossing his face as he stood up from his seat. The others paused, looking at him as he slowly turned his gaze toward them. His usual cold demeanor had softened, but there was still a sense of finality in the way he spoke.
"Enough," Enishi said firmly, his voice echoing slightly in the now quiet room.
Kaito, ever the curious one, furrowed his brow in confusion. "What?" he asked, not quite understanding what Enishi meant.
Enishi's gaze flickered around the room, briefly meeting Ayame's eyes before he continued. "Let's end the game here and leave," he stated simply, as if the decision had already been made long before he had spoken the words. His tone carried an air of finality, yet there was no hint of malice or anger in it—just a quiet resolve.
The group exchanged glances, but after a brief moment of hesitation, they all nodded in agreement. It seemed that the game had run its course, and the atmosphere in the room had shifted into something more serene. Slowly, one by one, everyone began to stand up. The warmth of the fire, which had been crackling merrily throughout the evening, began to wane, its glow dimming as the logs burned down to a few smoldering embers. The air, once filled with the sound of laughter and conversation, grew quieter as people began gathering their belongings.
As Enishi walked toward the door, he glanced back at the room, his eyes lingering on the others for a moment longer. There was a slight shift in his expression, almost imperceptible, but it suggested something rare—a touch of contemplation, or perhaps even fondness. He spoke softly, mostly to himself, but loud enough for those nearby to hear.
"It wasn't too bad after all..." Enishi muttered, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. It was hard to imagine him admitting it, but it was clear that even someone as detached as Enishi had enjoyed the evening in his own way.
He rested his lower right arm around Ayame's waist, pulling her a little closer to him as they began to make their way to the door. Ayame, as always, was by his side, her steps light and graceful as she followed him. Haruka, trailing behind them, gave a small nod of farewell to the others before walking out in silence, her presence as enigmatic as ever.
The last few members of the group lingered in the room, watching as Enishi and his companions made their exit. The door closed softly behind them, leaving a quiet emptiness in their wake.
Ryouichi, who had been quietly gathering his things, glanced back toward Kaito and Aria. His voice broke the silence, carrying a warmth and sincerity that was unmistakable. "Goodbye, it was nice," he said with a soft smile, his words carrying a sense of finality but also a quiet appreciation for the time they had spent together.
Raiden, who had been standing near the door, turned to face Kaito with a gentle smile on his face. He looked at him for a moment, his eyes filled with a sense of affection and gratitude. "I still like you, all. Everyone of you is great in their own way," he said warmly, his voice steady but with a hint of emotion underneath. His gaze lingered on each of them as if to say that even after the game had ended, he would always remember this night and the bonds that had been formed here. "Goodbye," he added, his words soft but sincere, before he turned and walked out of the room.
Kaito and Aria exchanged a look, both feeling the weight of the moment. They had shared something special that evening—a brief but unforgettable memory that they knew they would carry with them. Kaito gave Aria a small, bittersweet smile, his heart full of both warmth and a tinge of sadness. "This was a great memory... One to remember, forever," he said quietly, his words almost a whisper, as though he were speaking to himself as much as to her.
Aria, understanding the depth of his sentiment, wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. It was a comforting embrace, one that said more than words ever could. She rested her head against his shoulder for a moment, savoring the warmth of the hug before slowly pulling back. Kaito's eyes softened as he gazed at her, a mix of emotions crossing his face.
Together, they walked toward the door, side by side. As they stepped out into the cool night air, they paused for a moment on the doorstep, taking one last look at the now-empty room. The quietness that had settled over the house was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere they had just left behind. But it was a peaceful quiet, one that marked the end of an evening full of laughter, games, and camaraderie.
With one final glance at each other, they turned and walked off into the night, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. The memory of the evening would remain with them, a cherished moment that would last far beyond the passing of time. As they walked, their hearts were light, knowing that despite the challenges and differences they all faced, they had shared something truly special—a bond that, even in its simplicity, would endure.