"Shinomiya-san, what's going on?" Amamiya couldn't help but ask.
Kaguya remained silent, her teary eyes turning away.
The legendary Ice Princess—Kaguya, known for her strength and poise, who would rather bleed than shed a tear. But here she was, on the verge of tears.
It was as if she were a primary schooler who had accidentally eaten a bitter green pepper, trying desperately to swallow it under the strict gaze of an adult, holding back her tears!
"Kaguya-chan, are you alright?" Chika, still fanning herself from the borscht's bitter taste, leaned in, concern filling her voice. "It's true that borscht is super bitter, but it shouldn't make you cry, right?"
Shinomiya's pale face quivered, and through trembling lips, she finally whispered, "My eyes..."
"Your eyes?" Chika peered closer, her wide pink eyes full of curiosity. Bending over, the innocent sway of her figure made one think of Newton's cradle. "Did something fly into your eye? Don't worry, I'll blow it out for you."
Amamiya's gaze shifted to the bowl of borscht in Kaguya's hands. Realization struck.
Eyes... borscht that played on your fears...
Could it be?
Was she imagining horrifying things and seeing eyes in the soup?
Stop! This is getting out of hand! The more you think about it, the worse it becomes. A simpleton like Chika had no trouble eating it—she just dove in without a second thought!
"The meal time is about to end," boomed the deep, gravelly voice of the pig-headed butcher from the kitchen. "Please exit the cafeteria."
The resentful ghost students and unlucky players took that as their cue, hastily fleeing the cafeteria like prisoners granted pardon.
Kaguya immediately set her bowl down, ready to follow suit.
"Kaguya-chan, you can't run," Chika said firmly, placing her hand on Kaguya's shoulder. "If you waste food, the chef will be angry. What if he chases you?"
"It's all an illusion," Amamiya explained, a little exasperated. "There's nothing actually in the soup. You're scaring yourself."
"Ohhh!" Chika's eyes lit up. "That explains why everyone looks like they're suffering while eating it!"
Kaguya bit her lip, staring down at the borscht. Her tears welled up again. Every glance at the bowl revealed even more disturbing visions of eyes floating in the soup.
There's no way I can drink this!
"Shinomiya-san, you need to pull yourself together," Amamiya said, trying to motivate her. "Be like Fujiwara-san just pinch your nose, close your eyes, and drink it in one go."
Sadly, his encouragement didn't stir up any resolve in her at all.
"The cafeteria is closing soon, and there won't be time to get a replacement," Chika said urgently, tapping her forehead in thought. After a moment, her face lit up. "I've got it!"
She turned to Amamiya, eyes wide and hopeful. "Natsuki-san, you haven't finished your borscht yet, right? Why don't you swap bowls with Kaguya-chan?"
Amamiya blinked, caught off guard, then smiled. Of course. That could solve the problem. Kaguya wasn't able to drink her borscht because her imagination had gotten the best of her. Switching bowls would work.
"Sure, no problem." He pushed his half-finished bowl towards Kaguya. "Let's switch."
Kaguya hesitated for a moment.
"Kaguya-chan, what are you waiting for?" Chika's voice rang out again. "Now's not the time to worry about indirect kissing!"
"I don't care about that!" Kaguya retorted sharply.
What she cared about was the eyes floating in the soup. If it were Amamiya who had to drink it, well... her conscience would sting just a little.
"Don't worry, indirect kissing won't get you pregnant," Chika continued with complete sincerity. "And if we were trapped in the desert, we could survive by drinking [beep]."
What?! Whatever she was saying, it was too shocking to be left uncensored!
"Natsuki-san, please," Kaguya finally relented, pushing her bowl towards him.
"Remember, stay calm. Clear your mind. Learn from Fujiwara-san and down it all at once."
Amamiya took Kaguya's bowl, followed his own advice, and drank the borscht in one gulp.
"Shinomiya-san, you're up!" Chika said, hands on her hips. "And don't worry—you won't get pregnant!"
"Pregnant...?" Kaguya's eyelashes fluttered at the word, her grip on the bowl tightening.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The heavy, rhythmic footsteps of the pig-headed butcher echoed from the kitchen.
"Hey, the chef's coming!" Chika warned in a panic. "Kaguya-chan, hurry!"
"I... I understand."
Kaguya took a deep breath, grasping the bowl with both hands. She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling, and just like Amamiya had done, tilted her head back and drank the borscht.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
"Ulla—"
Instead of a victory horn, the only sound that followed was Kaguya coughing, covering her mouth in a mix of frustration and sorrow.
"Hurry up, we need to leave," Amamiya urged.
In the eerie quiet of the cafeteria, only the ominous footsteps of the pig-headed butcher could be heard. The three quickly bolted for the exit.