Chapter 48: NG Words Game
"Everyone! Let's play a deduction game!"
✧｡◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜✧*｡
[Deduction Game]
A classic genre of games, played in groups, each person taking on a different role with their own goal.
The most well-known game is probably Werewolf.
Werewolves kill villagers and the special-role citizens, while the villagers and citizens must vote to banish all the werewolves. The rules are simple, but playing it isn't easy at all.
Schemes, lies, backstabbing... you can encounter pretty much all the scum of the internet in this game.
That's why every time Sakurai plays Werewolf, he feels like he's having a verbal war with people on Twitter.
All those who talk illogically, ramble nonsense, and when you point out the flaws in their statements, they insult you—but Sakurai really enjoys it, because he's quite confident in his trash-talking skills.
"There aren't enough people for Werewolf, so!! Ta-da~~" Fujiwara Chika took a stack of cards out of her bag.
"We'll play the NG Words game!! As soon as you say or do a word or action written on your card, you'll be considered out! Everyone has three lives!"
٩(˵˃̶ω˂̶˵)◞*
At her invitation, everyone's expressions were different.
Sakurai Saki wanted to get back at her for chasing him around with all that "nyan nyan" just now.
Shirogane Miyuki had finished his work, but wanted to use the time to study more. As the top student in his grade, he wouldn't allow himself to slack off even for a second—the perfect example of an ultra-competitive academic ace.
Study secretly and amaze everyone!
Shinomiya Kaguya let out a yawn.
So boring~
Ishigami Yuu didn't even bother to look up. He had just finished calculating the budget data and was now playing on his handheld game console.
As a total noob at online games, Ishigami had zero interest in traditional tabletop games—or rather, he looked down on them!
But he always got dragged into playing by either Sakurai Saki or Fujiwara Chika.
Just as everyone was about to refuse—
Fujiwara Chika put a finger to her chin and spoke with an expert tone:
"This game is really hard, especially when all the players are strong! Everyone will try their hardest to figure out how to get others eliminated while avoiding it themselves, so—whoever wins this game is the number one in intelligence out of everyone here!"
( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
"Oh right!" Fujiwara Chika glanced at Ishigami Yuu, "Ishigami-kun doesn't need to play! Anyway, you'd just drag the quality of the game down, so sit this one out!"
(≖⩊≖)
No sooner had she finished speaking—
Ishigami Yuu looked up: "Fujiwara-senpai, someone who ranked 93rd in the last exam like you is also dragging the quality of this game down, right? The 93!"
He lowered his head and continued playing, fingers still pressing buttons, playing while speaking:
"A whole 90 ranks below Shuchiin's Top 3, and yet always confidently proposing games. Fujiwara-senpai really has no shame. If it were me, I'd have dug a hole to crawl into by now after losing so many times."
"Sakurai-senpai always goes easy on you—haven't you realized that? I actually feel bad for Sakurai-senpai. If he played with you less, his grades might be even better."
( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀) tck
Fujiwara Chika: "But, Ishigami-kun, when you first entered school you were ranked dead last, right?"
( ≖‿ ≖ )
Hearing that, Ishigami Yuu paused for a moment, then after a few seconds, went back to playing.
"It's fine. I've always been that kind of person."
（￣へ￣）
Ishigami Yuu—a guy who, once he gives up, no longer cares what anyone thinks.
Fujiwara Chika showed a disgusted look and waved her hand at him like shooing away a mosquito.
Across from her—Shinomiya Kaguya looked at everyone and spoke in a disinterested voice: "If you guys want to play, go ahead. I don't care."
She didn't actually want to play—not because of lack of interest, but because she didn't want to lose.
To Shinomiya Kaguya, the time she was ranked below Shirogane Miyuki on the academic leaderboard was a disgrace worthy of being recorded in the humiliation ledger of her life, and a stain on the Shinomiya family name.
(◣ _ ◢)
As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya household, Shinomiya Kaguya wanted to prove that her intellect surpassed everyone else in the student council.
Shirogane Miyuki glanced at Sakurai Saki and said:
"I'll play too. This game sounds interesting."
This man! On the surface, he looked relaxed and easygoing, but inside, he had already transformed into a demon who knew nothing but victory!
As the student council president and top-ranked student in the school—his pride didn't allow him to lose!
This game—he wanted to win!
(ಥ益ಥ）
Sakurai Saki said nothing.
He simply nodded silently.
This man... right now, just wanted to escape from this terrifying place as soon as possible!
Is there anything more humiliating than accidentally letting out a "nyan~" while playing this game?
Probably not…
Ishigami Yuu kept on playing his game.
This god of giving up, who had offered his grades and worries as sacrifice, had now transformed into the God of Abandonment.
At this very moment—!
He was no longer a monster!
He was a god!
A god cannot be defeated by mere mortals!!
But what kind of monster is Fujiwara Chika?
She was also a god!
The god of chaos! Cancer of Earth!
A terrifying woman who could crush Shinomiya Kaguya by a whole 5 cup sizes!
The F in Fujiwara Chika stands for F cup!
( ͜ₒ ㅅ ͜ ₒ)
Chika-chan descended with divine words:
"Ishigami-kun, we're all playing, you're really not going to join? If you don't get along, you'll end up isolated by everyone~ Of course! We won't isolate you, but Ishigami-kun, you should try to get along better with your classmates~"
Ishigami Yuu slammed the game console button hard.
"I... will join!"
Shirogane Miyuki asked worriedly: "Are you sure? It's just a game, you know."
"No, Shirogane-senpai! I'm in!"
Ishigami Yuu put down his game console.
Sakurai Saki also spoke up:
"Don't force yourself too much, nyan."
Ishigami thought: 'Sakurai-senpai said nyan on purpose to cheer me up...?'
"If you don't want to, then don't push yourself, seriously."
Shirogane Miyuki advised again.
Ishigami Yuu shook his head:
"Fujiwara-senpai is right, people should learn to get along."
( •̀ - •́ )
Right after that—just when everyone thought he was about to become more positive, about to evolve into a shining boy...
Ishigami Yuu opened his mouth:
"I think I can ditch all classroom relationships, as long as I'm close with the student council members, that's enough. Even in society later, I only need to keep in touch with you guys."
Fujiwara Chika: ∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?
Ishigami-kun, your evolution is getting more and more problematic~
From a normal gloomy otaku, you've now evolved into a full-on social reject~
Shirogane Miyuki could only sigh when he heard that—In the end, Ishigami Yuu's mindset could only be changed by himself.
This evolution—does it count as a good thing?
Probably, right? At least from someone who didn't want to connect with anyone, now he wanted to get close to the student council members.
"Save the talk about social rejects for later, right now is game time, isn't it, everyone?"
Shinomiya Kaguya said coldly.
"Social reject... social reject..."
(ಥ﹏ಥ)
Ishigami Yuu shrank back when he heard that, hugging his knees.
"You're always putting yourself down like that… Ishigami-kun! President Shirogane and General Affairs Sakurai helped you last year not so you could just sit there feeling sorry for yourself."
"You're amazing, stand, don't belittle yourself."
Ishigami Yuu looked up.
So, Shinomiya-senpai could say nice things...!
Kaguya glanced at him.
"If you've come to your senses!"
Shinomiya Kaguya pulled a card from the game deck.
"Then shout it out loud for me!!!"
Ishigami Yuu straightened his back. Shouted loudly:
"CLEAR!!"
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ