"Shinomiya-san, what are you doing?"
Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but ask.
"…"
Shinomiya Kaguya didn't answer, but glanced sideways with tears welling in her eyes.
You're the legendary Kaguya-hime of ice who bleeds but does not cry—so what's with this tearful expression? It looked just like a primary school kid who accidentally ate a bitter green pepper, desperately trying not to let tears fall under the stern gaze of an adult.
"Hey, Kaguya-chan, are you okay?"
Fujiwara Chika, still sticking out her tongue, looked over with concern. "Why are you crying? Borscht is super bitter, but it shouldn't be bitter enough to make you cry, right?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's pale face trembled as tears brimmed in her eyes, her voice quivering as if about to break:
"Eyes… eyes…"
"What's wrong with your eyes?"
Fujiwara Chika leaned forward, her clear pink eyes wide with concern. The little rabbit on her chest bobbed as she bent over, making her look even more like Newton's cradle. "Did a bug fly in? Don't be afraid, I'll help you blow it out."
Amamiya Natsuki's heart skipped. His gaze dropped to the borscht in Kaguya's hand, and suddenly a chilling possibility struck him.
Eyes…
Borscht that turns fear into hallucinations…
No way.
You weren't just imagining strange eyes — it was real, a dangerous illusion spawned from the soup!
Stop those wild thoughts now!
The more you think, the more dangerous it gets. A big-breasted, brainless idiot like Fujiwara-san can get away with it easily, but not you!
"The meal time is about to end," the pig-headed butcher's deep voice echoed from the back kitchen. "Students, please leave the cafeteria as soon as possible."
At his command, the resentful students and unlucky players in the cafeteria stood as if pardoned, and began fleeing one after another.
Shinomiya Kaguya quickly set down her bowl and tried to rise.
"Kaguya-chan, you can't run away."
Fujiwara Chika's right hand pressed firmly on Kaguya's shoulder, her expression suddenly serious.
"You can't waste food, or the chef will be angry. What if he chases you?"
"It's all hallucination. There's nothing in the soup. You're just scaring yourself."
Amamiya Natsuki quickly explained the hidden rule.
"So that's how it is," Fujiwara Chika suddenly understood. "No wonder everyone looks so scared and struggles to swallow it."
"Even if you say so…"
Shinomiya Kaguya bit her lower lip, eyes fixed on the borscht. The dewdrops in her eyes threatened to spill.
More horrible ingredients in the borscht were now clear.
I can't drink this.
There's no way I can drink it!
"Kaguya-san, can you please be a little more capable?"
Amamiya Natsuki tried to encourage his teammate, "Hurry up and learn from Fujiwara-san—pinch your nose, close your eyes, and swallow it in one gulp."
Unfortunately, his encouragement fell flat. Shinomiya Kaguya's fighting spirit remained dormant.
"The cafeteria is about to close for a break. It'll be too late to buy another bowl…"
Fujiwara Chika was anxious. She pressed two fingers to her forehead, then suddenly her eyes lit up.
"Ah! I have an idea!"
"Amamiya-san," Fujiwara clasped her hands in front of her chest, her wide eyes fixed on him like a beseeching Bambi, "You haven't finished your borscht yet, why don't you swap bowls with Kaguya-chan?"
"Um?"
Amamiya Natsuki paused, then understood immediately.
This method was perfect.
Kaguya couldn't drink her borscht because the hallucinations in her mind were too terrifying. Switching bowls would solve that.
"No problem."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and pushed his half-finished bowl toward Shinomiya Kaguya.
After all, she was his teammate and classmate—he couldn't ignore her.
"Let's switch bowls."
Kaguya looked hesitant.
"Kaguya-chan, what are you hesitating about?" Fujiwara Chika snapped. "Now's not the time to worry about indirect kissing!"
"I don't care about that kind of thing!"
Shinomiya Kaguya snapped back.
What she cared about were the bad ingredients in the borscht that looked like eyes. If it were Amamiya Natsuki, her conscience might ache—that was all!
"Don't worry, indirect kissing won't get you pregnant."
Fujiwara Chika jabbed further, "If we were trapped in a desert, we could even drink [beep] to survive."
Damn it! Whatever she said to get censored like that?!
"Amamiya-san, please."
Shinomiya Kaguya made up her mind and handed over her bowl.
"Remember—keep calm, don't let your mind wander. It's best to learn from Fujiwara-san—close your eyes and swallow it in one gulp."
Amamiya Natsuki drank it down in one breath.
"Kaguya-san, drink quickly."
Fujiwara Chika placed her hands on her hips. "Don't worry, you won't get pregnant."
"Pregnant…"
Kaguya's long eyelashes trembled, and the borscht before her changed again inexplicably.
Boom boom boom.
Heavy footsteps sounded from the kitchen.
"Hey, the chef is coming out!"
Fujiwara Chika whispered nervously, "Kaguya-chan, it's too late."
"I… I understand."
Kaguya took a deep breath, gripped the bowl with both hands, closed her eyes—her long lashes fluttering—and mimicked Amamiya's earlier move.
She tilted her head back and drank.
Tons. Tons. Tons.
"Ulla—"
No triumphant fanfare, only her coughing fits covered by her hands in frustration.
"Hurry up and leave."
Amamiya Natsuki urged.
In the empty, cold cafeteria, only the dull footsteps of the pig-headed butcher echoed.
The three hurriedly left.
"It'd be nice to stay in the cafeteria forever,"
Amamiya Natsuki said wistfully.
The cafeteria was a rare treasure trove, and it felt great to borrow the pig-headed chef's reputation to bully others.
Unfortunately, all good things must end. He wasn't sure if he'd see the chef again.
"Where to next?"
The trio returned to the signpost.
"Hmm…"
Fujiwara Chika folded her right arm, pondered two seconds, then quickly raised her hand.
"Shall we go to the examination room?"
"Kaguya-san is super smart. She's always been top of her class from elementary through high school. She'll pass the exam easily."
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki felt like this idiot was setting a flag.
It sounded like: "I'm going to ace this and go home and get married after this battle."
But as students at Shuchiin Academy, all kings of involution, no one feared exams.
"Let's check it out."
The three followed the signs and entered the teaching building.
"Hey, my body is moving on its own."
Fujiwara Chika, walking ahead, suddenly shouted.
The same happened to Amamiya Natsuki and Shinomiya Kaguya behind her.
An unknown force controlled their limbs.
They involuntarily walked to a classroom door, pushed it open, and stepped inside.
A spooky, terrifying voice echoed faintly:
"It's full again. The exam starts now."