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"Ah, truth or dare, such a wonderful invention, created at the dawn of time to sate the curiosity of the ancient cavewoman and their sleepovers. Could anyone even dare to think of a better game?" Asuka looked around at the circle of musicians sitting in the middle of her family's gigantic living room as if challenging the band to think of something better. Kumiko had been skeptical of the idea of a sleepover for the Kitauji High School band hosted by its vice president, but nobody had died yet, so she considered it to be going fine so far. Midori tentatively raised her hand. "Yes, Kawashima?"
"W-well, I've actually always liked charades-"
"Quiet!" Asuka snapped, standing up from her place perched on the coffee table and glaring down at the tiny girl. "Did you think that was anything but a rhetorical question?" Midori scooted away, muttering something about how gatherings with Asuka never went well. "Now, now, where were we? Ah, yes, truth or dare. Now, if anyone would like to drop out, feel free to do so. I won't judge!" Midori quietly walked out of the room. "Okay, so who wants to start?" There was no response. Everyone looked kind of sleepy, to be honest - after several hours of Asuka dragging them along to every possible attraction in the house and listening to her ramble about the Tanaka family's "great history," Kumiko thought that at least half of the band was ready to doze off right there on the spot. Eventually, Haruka offered herself to be the first player of the game, nervously playing with a strand of her hair as she sat in her seat. Asuka rubbed her hands together like a movie villain, cackling softly. "Oh, my dear, old, friend, so it seems you are the first to join us in this wonderful game."
"I'll do truth," Haruka decided. "I don't really want to lick my saxophone or dance on the couch."
"Well," Asuka sighed, "I know enough about you already, and you don't exactly have a treasure trove of important secrets, so I'll just wait until later to offer suggestions. Does anyone else have something to ask?"
"What's the biggest lie you've ever told?" Hazuki inquired. Haruka paused for a moment, looking pensively down at the carpet as if it would spell out an answer for her.
"I've never liked this game," Reina whispered. Kumiko had stuck close to her throughout the day, but this was the first time she had said anything. "Either you're forced to do a degrading act in front of your peers-"
"Like making out with a lamp!" someone called out.
"-or you're forced to reveal something about yourself that you don't usually want to disclose. It's a trial of humiliation, a jab at our own primal instincts, really."
"Why're you here, then?" Kumiko asked. "You could've left, I'm pretty sure that Midori's just hanging around in the kitchen or something."
"It would tarnish my pride to quit something such as this. It's a bonding exercise, simple as that. Besides, I might learn something about some of our bandmates."
". . . After that, I never considered myself to be anything but 'nice.' I guess it's kind of sad, but it's true." The band had been staring in rapt attention as Haruka recounted her tale, but Kumiko and Reina had missed all but the tail-end. Asuka seemed indifferent, clapping her hands together decisively as soon as Haruka finished.
"Okay!" she cheered, in English. "That was a great start. Who's next?"
***
Over the next hour or so, truths and dares were exchanged as Kumiko and Reina narrowly avoided their turns for the game. Kaori was asked for her secret potato recipes (a fact that she refused to disclose, even under Asuka's scrutiny), while Yuuko was dared to take off her ribbon. Natsuki held her breath as the girl slowly untied it and lifted it from her head, revealing . . . nothing in particular. Asuka gasped in mock surprise, resting a palm to her forehead as if Yuuko's lack of a ribbon was the most incredible thing she had seen in her life.
"I've gotta admit, ribbon girl," Natsuki sighed, picking up the ribbon from its place on the floor and twirling it around, "I was expecting more, like you'd be hiding rabbit ears or something under there." Yuuko snatched the ribbon back with a huff.
"You know, I didn't even want to be here!" she snapped. Natsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Why'd ya come, then?" Yuuko glanced in Kaori's direction. Natsuki rolled her eyes. "Oh. Right. I forgot that you're head-over-heels for-"
"Shh!" Yuuko clamped her hand over Natsuki's mouth.
"We-ell," Asuka interrupted, drawing out her letters in a voice that was clearly meant to be some kind of accent, "I think it's about time for our next contestant to step forward, hmm?" Hazuki scooted forward slightly. Asuka grinned. "Perfect," she purred. "Truth, or dare?"
"Truth," Hazuki answered without hesitation.
"What's the worst date you've been on?" Natsuki forced out from behind Yuuko's hand. Hazuki flinched at the question, and Midori stuck her head out from the kitchen to give Natsuki a disapproving glare. She didn't seem aware of what that question entailed.
"W-well, it was actually a few months ago, at the festival . . ." Hazuki trailed off, words catching in her throat. She fiddled with a nearby pillow, trying not to make eye contact with anybody.
"You don't have to say anything else if you don't want to," Asuka interjected.
"What, so now she's got a trace of morality left?" Natsuki muttered.
"I wouldn't want this story to put a dent in our fun times, you know!" the third-year continued. Natsuki groaned.
"It's been a long, amazing night, and we should probably all go to sleep soon, but it seems like there's someone who hasn't had a chance to play!" Asuka pointed to Kumiko with a flourish. "Now, what'll it be, truth or dare? Oh, and by the way, I'll be conducting the question this time."
If I choose truth, she'll probably ask me who I like or something like that, and I'm an awful liar, crap, I should've just gone with Midori, crap, crap, crap-
"Kumiko? We're on somewhat of a tight schedule here."
"Dare!" Kumiko blurted out. Asuka grinned.
"I dare you . . ." she began, the light of a nearby lamp tinting her glasses so that nobody could see her eyes, "-to kiss the person to your left." Kumiko looked to her left, hoping that it would be somebody who wouldn't mind a kiss on the cheek. It was Reina. Of course it was Reina. The other girl didn't seem particularly uncomfortable with the prospect, but Kumiko had always found her to be somewhat unreadable in these situations. Kumiko awkwardly put her hands on Reina's shoulders and leaned in, trying not to think about how soft her lips looked, trying not to think about how nice she smelled or how she felt kissing Kumiko right now- she was kissing her. She was kissing her. Kumiko vaguely heard someone yelling "keep it safe for work!" while Natsuki quietly cheered. Asuka looked on approvingly, clapping when Reina pulled away.
"Well, that was certainly a fitting end to the night, hmm?" Asuka sighed. "It almost makes me wish we could continue the game."