"The rules are simple: just like in any normal club, we'll take turns telling ghost stories. The first person to make a sound out of fear loses. Got it?"
It was 9:30 PM, and Iori's small room was packed with five big guys and one sweet, soft Nanaka-san. After Miyazawa Yu solemnly announced the rules, Iori Kitahara immediately raised a question: "What's the punishment for losing? And what happens if no one gets scared?"
"Well, the loser... barks like a dog?"
This idea was a temporary solution that Miyazawa Yu came up with after realizing he had been fully converted into a Pab Club member. He couldn't think of any specific rewards or punishments on the spot. He tentatively suggested a game you'd find in a normal club, only to be met with immediate contempt from everyone.
"I refuse! Barking like a dog is too humiliating. As a Pab Club member, I absolutely will not allow that to happen!"
"Ha! Do you even hear yourself? You didn't say that when we were playing strip rock-paper-scissors!"
This was the first time Miyazawa Yu had ever heard that the Pab Club was a "gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and yielding" club. He narrowed his eyes and mocked them, but this kind of attack was useless against Tokita-senpai.
"How about the person who gets scared has to drink? And if you don't scare anyone, you have to take off a piece of clothing?"
"Oh, that's a great suggestion, Kohei!"
"I agree with that too! What about you, Iori?"
"I don't care, but Yu, you scumbag, if you don't get off my pillow, I'll kill you!"
Tch, he noticed!
Miyazawa Yu clicked his tongue and silently pulled the pillow from under his butt to avoid a fight to the death with Iori. But at the same time, he vehemently expressed his opposition, and his reason was solid.
"No way! That's just the same as before! And Nanaka-san is joining us for this game today. Stripping is too perverse!"
"Hiss... Yuu does have a point."
The situation reached a stalemate. The six of them were now divided into two factions: the conservative faction, led by the old Pab Club seniors, Tokita and Kotobuki, and the reformist faction, led by Miyazawa Yuu, which was clearly more in line with public decency. The two sides were at a standstill... just kidding!
"Um... it's actually fine with me."
"Eh?"
Just as Miyazawa Yu was about to argue and try to take control of the game's rhythm, he was blindsided by a fire in his own backyard. The flag he had just raised was about to turn against him. He frantically blocked Kotegawa Nanaka's way.
"Wait, Nanaka-san! These guys are all jerks! You might end up getting naked if you play with them!"
"Hey, Yuu, you shouldn't talk like that! We know our limits when a lady is present!"
"That's right! We'll only make her strip down to her underwear at most! We would never cross that line!"
"Isn't that bad enough? Why do you guys look so normal!"
Miyazawa Yu held his head in his hands. He knew the Pab Club had a unique perspective on clothing freedom compared to normal people. He just didn't expect that it extended to female members! No wonder he hadn't seen a single female member since he joined. Who would want to join a club that played so rough?!
"It's okay, Yu. Since it's a club event, we should add some club flair, don't you think? What's most important is that everyone has fun!"
"Fine, if Nanaka-san agrees, then let's do it."
He wanted to put up a fight, but the flag seemed dead set on turning against him. Miyazawa Yuu had no choice but to concede.
"Yosh! That's more like it! Kotobuki, hurry up and bring the drinks!"
"Leave it to me!"
Tokita Shinji, who had been half-dead and bored, came back to life instantly when he heard there would be alcohol. Kotobuki Ryujiro also energetically brought in a whole case of the "water of life" and placed it in the middle of them with a thud. This, apparently, was the so-called punishment!
"You guys are unbelievable... at least give Nanaka-san beer!"
Miyazawa Yuu looked at them as if they were trash. The seniors were completely apathetic about a normal club event, but the moment alcohol was involved, they got as excited as hungry men who hadn't eaten in years and suddenly saw a grand feast. Were their bodily fluids made of alcohol? It felt like they would dehydrate in a minute if they didn't drink!
"Okay, then let's start with Nanaka, who's sitting by the door, and go clockwise. Everyone okay with that?"
"Mhm! Let's begin!"
"Ghost stories... hiss~ this is a bit of a problem."
Imamura Kohei bit his nails. He saw Kotegawa Nanaka begin her story in a gentle voice and discreetly scanned the room. He was third in line. As a proud anime fan, his internet experience was limited to magical girls, voice actors, and dating sims. He couldn't squeeze a single scary story out of his brain if his life depended on it. Even if he looked one up online, he wouldn't be able to scare anyone, which meant he would be the first one to get stripped! Damn it! This is a mess I created for myself! I have to find a way to fix this!
"...In the end, only one person made it out. Everyone else was a shapeshifter! That's all!"
"..."
When the story ended, a deafening silence filled the room. It was clear that Kotegawa Nanaka wasn't very good at telling scary stories. Her gentle voice even made Miyazawa Yuu feel a little sleepy.
"Eh? It's not scary?"
"How should I put this, it felt more like a bedtime story."
"I'd say it's more cute than scary!"
They all shook their heads. Kotobuki Ryujiro and Tokita Shinji tried to be as polite as possible, but their message was clear—it wasn't scary at all!
"I guess so. In that case, I'll have to..."
Tapping her head in frustration, Kotegawa Nanaka was embarrassed that her turn had fallen flat. She reached for the straps of her dress, looking like she was about to fulfill her promise.
"Ah! So scary! You scared me to death! (monotone)"
Miyazawa Yu rushed up and held Nanaka's hands down. His eye twitched, but there was nothing he could do. This was the only way to save her, but the price was... he had a sense of déjà vu as the ready-to-go water of life was placed in front of him!
"Glug, glug, glug, cough— next!"
"He's giving it his all..."
"Yuu, you don't have to do that. It's just one piece of clothing..."
Nanaka could tell Miyazawa Yu was pretending to be scared for her sake. She spoke, but he quickly cut her off.
"What do you mean, 'one piece of clothing'! I was genuinely scared! Iori, hurry up! You'll lose if you take too long!"
What's a little water of life when it's for Nanaka-san!
He had made up his mind that she wouldn't even lose a single sock. Miyazawa Yuu immediately turned the attention to Iori, successfully changing the subject.
"To go to such lengths... hey, Kohei, did you know?"
"Hmm? Know what?"
A chill ran down his spine. Imamura Kohei was about to ask Iori for advice, but now he felt like he was a hunted prey. He was on high alert!
"I saw an article just now that Mizuki Mai just announced that she's in a relationship~"
"What?! Is that true?! With who?! I'll kill him!"
His composure instantly broke. Imamura Kohei instantly appeared in front of Kitahara Iori, his canines showing and his murderous intent almost solidified.
"Kohei is so easy to trick."
"An announcement of a voice actor's relationship is more terrifying to him than any ghost story."
Tokita Shinji calmly acknowledged Iori's cheap trick and handed Kohei the drink. He was surprised that Kohei didn't even get mad when he realized he had been tricked. He just smiled and chugged the water of life.
"Thank goodness it's a lie. As long as Mizuki-san isn't in a relationship, everything is fine."
"Actually, it's not a lie. I saw that news article too. Her boyfriend seems to be a close friend of hers, a college classmate..."
Crunch! The glass cup shattered in his hand.
Imamura Kohei mechanically and stiffly turned his head. His voice trembled as he said, "It's not your turn to tell a ghost story yet, Yuu! Don't scare me, you jerk, haha..."
"..."
"Wait! Why aren't you saying anything?"
Miyazawa Yuu saw the pathetic two-dimensional boy's eyes widen. For his own safety, he pulled out his phone and found the article, letting Kohei read it for himself.
"No!!!"
A few seconds later, a miserable scream echoed throughout the night.