"How wonderful!"
Haruno's eyes sparkled: "To actually persist through over a thousand reincarnations for Yukino, never giving up, it seems Natsuki-kun truly likes Yukino a lot."
Natsuki looked at Hirano and said seriously:
"Yukino is the most important person to me in this world."
After a pause, Natsuki silently added 'one of' in his heart.
"...The most important person?"
Yukino's right hand covered her chest, feeling an indescribable emotion surging within her, as if about to overflow, her mood complex and subtle.
On one hand, she didn't believe someone would go to such lengths for her, reincarnating over a thousand times in the same scenario without giving up; how painful and terrifying that must be?
Putting herself in his shoes, she didn't think she could do it.
In the world, only parents' love for their children is truly selfless. Can the feelings between ordinary couples really reach this point?
"I have a question." Haruno raised her right hand, her voice filled with anticipation, "Natsuki-kun, do I have a boy I like?"
"I don't know." Natsuki shook his head, "Haruno and I aren't very familiar. You can ask the Ouija board yourself."
"Continue, continue." Haruno's eyes brightened, "I want to ask the Ouija board what kind of person I am in reality."
"..."
The Ouija board game continued.
Knowing that Miss Ouija spirit's true identity was actually the 'collective subconscious' of the three, the girls' fear of Miss Ouija spirit immediately dissipated a lot.
"Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, do I have a boy I like?"
Haruno asked curiously.
Miss Ouija spirit quickly responded silently:
[Yes]
"Eh, is there really?" Haruno blinked, her gaze shifting, sweeping across Natsuki's face, "I knew it, if Yukino can like a boy, I can't be single."
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head, saying:
"I feel offended."
"It's true!" Haruno stuck out her pink tongue, "Yukino is just a younger sister, as an older sister, wouldn't it be embarrassing if I couldn't get married before Yukino?"
"Actually, it's not embarrassing." Natsuki interjected from the side, "In the real world, the birth population this year will fall below eight million. Before this, May 20th every year was a popular day for marriage registration, but the number of registered couples this year was directly halved. Having fewer and better children is already outdated; the real world has entered an era of not marrying and not having children."
"Hmm..." Haruno blinked, "It feels like the real world is very tough."
Natsuki said:
"Be more confident, remove 'feels like'. Everyone has already given up."
"..."
[The game continues]
Miss Ouija spirit began to urge.
"Yukino, it's your turn." Natsuki looked at Yukino, "You have to follow the rules of the subconscious space."
"Mm."
Yukino nodded lightly, her gaze sweeping across Haruno's face, and she parted her lips to ask:
"Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, what is the name of the boy Haruno-nee likes?"
Miss Ouija spirit answers every question, unless it's a calculus problem it truly can't answer.
So a few seconds later.
The expressions of all three girls subtly changed.
"Eh?" Haruno's beautiful eyes widened, "The name of the boy I like is... Natsuki?"
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and she looked at Natsuki, asking in spite of herself:
"My sister likes you?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Natsuki denied three times, "There must be some misunderstanding."
The passerby player added from the side: "Miss Ouija spirit never lies."
Natsuki twitched his lips slightly, turning his head to look: "Got it, you've said that many times."
But then again, does Haruno really like him?
Apart from holding hands, there hasn't been any other contact... Is it a misunderstanding?
"Cough cough." Haruno lightly coughed twice, her pretty face slightly flushed, and she said in a clear voice, "Oh, everyone, don't argue, it's just the same name. Maybe it's someone with the same name, there are many boys with the same name in the world, right?"
"I can help ask." The passerby player gradually regained her liveliness, volunteering to hold it, "Miss Ouija spirit, Miss Ouija spirit, is the boy Haruno-nee likes, in the classroom?"
Miss Ouija spirit quickly gave the answer:
[Right here in the classroom]
Natsuki: "..."
Alright, it's confirmed.
It really is him.
What about 'the wise are not troubled by emotions'?
Haruno, you're so smart, don't inexplicably fall for a boy!
"Stare--"
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest, biting her lip as she looked over, her pretty face taut as she said:
"What have you done in reality? Why do both my sister and I like you?"
Haruno's pretty face was flushed, curiously enjoying the gossip, but she unexpectedly found herself involved. She quickly coughed twice and said:
"There are many kinds of liking. Perhaps it's not a liking between a man and a woman, but rather a sister's liking for her brother-in-law?"
Yukino turned her head to look, unable to help but retort:
"Sister, do you believe that yourself?"
Haruno: "...Actually, I don't."
But this is too bad, she actually likes the same boy as her sister. In reality, did they even fight over him?
Ahhhhhh!
No matter how she thought about it, it was too embarrassing!
However... if she really secretly did things behind Yukino's back, it felt so exciting.
Natsuki looked at Haruno and said: "This is the first time I've known that Haruno likes me. I always felt that Haruno wasn't the type to truly like a boy."
"What kind of talk is that?" Haruno puffed out her pink cheeks, unable to help but glare over, "I feel offended."
"Time is almost up, I'll activate the awakening procedure again."
Natsuki spoke while raising his right hand and lightly snapping his fingers.
Pop.
The mushrooms on Yukino's and Haruno's heads simultaneously burst open and disappeared, and the power of sin swept through their bodies.
"Hmm..."
Haruno let out a soft hum, subconsciously covering her forehead. As the sinful emotions took over her body, the already scarce fear quickly dissipated and vanished. Her eyes were momentarily dazed, then quickly cleared.
"I remember..." Haruno murmured, quickly regaining consciousness and her memories.
"Haruno-nee, welcome back." Natsuki looked at Haruno and nodded lightly, "I didn't take advantage of anyone. The mushroom exploded as soon as it matured... So, what sin is it now?"
"I..."
Haruno parted her lips, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. She quickly swallowed the words that came to her mouth and turned to look elsewhere: "N-nothing... Just let me rest for a bit."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly at her words.
He had cooperated with Haruno before, but the mushrooms planted were always sloth mushrooms, just like Tsubame. This reaction now... it didn't feel like the original sin of sloth, but rather another original sin mushroom.
In contrast.
Because Yukino had been trapped in the nightmare for too long, her eyes were still quite dazed at the moment, making it difficult for her to distinguish between reality and falsehood in a short time. However, many memories of her time with Natsuki did flood into her mind, including their first meeting, first hug, first kiss...
At the same time.
The original sin brought by the mushroom began to control her will, causing her to involuntarily stand up and walk around the table to Natsuki.
"Yukino, what's wrong?"
Natsuki couldn't help but ask.
"..."
Yukino remained silent, only her pretty face was flushed like fire, as if burning. A struggling expression appeared on her face. Finally, she sighed helplessly, suddenly opened her arms, wrapped them around Natsuki's neck, and then shamefully kissed him.
Natsuki immediately understood.
"It's not a lust mushroom... what else could it be!"
Kaguya often produces sin mushrooms, but he didn't expect her to also have a sin mushroom. Could it be that the more proper a girl is, the higher the probability of growing a sin mushroom on her body?!
"Yukino, don't be like this..."
Natsuki verbally resisted.
Kissing, naturally, is nothing; it's not like they haven't kissed before.
But at this moment, with other girls still present, it's hard to say whether Yukino would kill to silence them out of shame and anger once the sin recedes.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
Yukino only struggled slightly before quickly initiating another offensive. Under the dominion of original sin, an ordinary person's will is utterly incapable of resistance.
A moment later.
Yukino finally sorted out the false and true memories, firmed her resolve, and pushed Natsuki's shoulder, finally separating temporarily. She bit her tongue hard to stop herself from making further mistakes, panting and flushed with shame, she said:
"Liar, liar!"
Liar!
Big liar!
This isn't some consciousness space at all; it's clearly an anomalous hotel!
"I'm innocent," Natsuki said quickly, wiping the silver thread from the corner of his lips. "From a legal perspective, you are forcing me. I am the victim now, being forcibly molested by you. I am completely innocent."
"...Enough!" Yukino bit her tongue hard, struggling to suppress the desire to continue kissing, her voice trembling, "Get away from me!"
Natsuki knew when to quit: "Yes, yes, I'll get away immediately."
Yukino was clearly awake. If he hugged her now, she would most likely still be unable to control herself and continue kissing him. However, if he actually did that, he would be in trouble once the original sin period ended.
Just as Natsuki was about to get up, someone suddenly hugged him tightly from behind. Then, sweet, hot breath fell on his neck, and a very familiar voice said:
"N-no... I've reached my limit..."
Natsuki turned his head in surprise to look back: "Haruno-nee?"
Hey, hey, are you a lust mushroom too?
This is too much of a coincidence!
However, Natsuki quickly realized he was wrong; the mushroom Haruno had grown was not a lust mushroom...
"Why?"
"Why do I have to back off just because Yukino likes a boy?"
"Saying Natsuki-kun is a scumbag, that I should keep my distance to avoid being tricked... Do I not know if Natsuki is a scumbag?"
"He doesn't want to let go of any pretty girls, and he even openly says he wants to date them all. I've never seen a more scummy boy than him!"
Natsuki: "..."
It's truly my fault for being such a scumbag.
But there's nothing to refute.
Because everything Haruno said was true. In the eyes of others, I am indeed a terrible, super scumbag who should be hanged. It's pure luck I haven't been cut down by a cleaver.
Haruno continued:
"So what if he's a scumbag?"
"The end of the world is coming; what does it matter if he's a scumbag or not?"
"Besides, Natsuki is an open scumbag. That's better than those scumbags who say they only like one person but then go on dates with other girls. At least I don't dislike him."
Natsuki: "..."
"Yukino must have reached some agreement with Natsuki-kun, right?" Haruno gritted her silver teeth. "Why can you date him, but I can't? Is it because you're worried I'll steal your things?"
Without a doubt.
The mushroom growing on this Haruno's head was a jealousy mushroom.
Yukino subconsciously retorted:
"I'm not dating him..."
Haruno countered:
"Not dating him, and you'd kiss a boy?"
Yukino: "..."
"Let me say something fair," Natsuki said, raising his hand. "The first time I kissed Yukino, it was actually to save you."
Haruno looked over, puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"It was when you first encountered the strange tale..." Natsuki explained the situation clearly, then said, "You could say Yukino sacrificed her innocence for you. That's how it was."
Yukino bit her silver teeth in shame and glared over:
"...Stop talking!"
Natsuki said aggrievedly:
"I only said it because Haruno-nee misunderstood you."
Haruno paused slightly. She indeed hadn't heard Yukino mention this. She wrapped her arms tightly around Natsuki's neck, took a deep breath, and said:
"I see... Then sharing with Yukino is fine too."
Yukino bit her silver teeth and couldn't help but say:
"Sister, control yourself. Don't say strange things."
"I'm very clear-headed now." Haruno suddenly tilted her head and kissed Natsuki on the cheek. The original sin of jealousy had clearly not disappeared. "Anyway, the end of the world is coming, and there are still many things I haven't experienced. Experiencing them with Yukino is fine too."
Yukino couldn't help but shout:
"Sister, stop talking, calm down!"
But she couldn't control it.
lewd is merely a physical original sin, but jealousy is an original sin of the soul, even harder to control than lewd.
"Why does Yukino have to stop me?" Haruno tilted her head and retorted, "The end of the world is coming, and there are still many things in life I haven't experienced. Yukino wouldn't want me to just find a stranger to experience them with, would she?"
Yukino: "..."
The most bewildered person was actually the passerby player watching the drama.
Who am I?
Where am I?
They were clearly playing a Ouija board game, so why did it suddenly take such a strange turn?
"Th-that..." The passerby player couldn't help but remind them, "Let's continue the game. Ouija board will get angry."
"Exactly, let's continue the game." Natsuki pushed Haruno hard into the chair and pushed Yukino back. "The rules of the Ouija board game cannot stop."
A moment later.
The original sins on the two girls slowly dissipated.
Yukino was fine; it was just the lewd original sin of the body, which she could barely endure.
Haruno, however, couldn't hold back after regaining her sanity. She covered her face and let out a shameful wail:
"H-how could this be...?"
Even she couldn't remain calm and composed after such a shameful self-exposure in front of everyone. One can only say her mastery of the Machiavellian arts was still lacking.
"What I just said wasn't my true feelings at all." Haruno spread her fingers and looked at Yukino. "Everyone, don't believe it. It's null and void, null and void."
Words spoken are like water spilled; you can't just nullify them because you want to!
"Let's talk about it slowly when we get back." Natsuki coughed twice and stood up. "Yukino, come here. I'll tell you about the current situation."
...
Yukino bit her lips with her pearly teeth, silently stood up, and followed Natsuki to the corner of the classroom.
The passerby player was still there, so he couldn't let her know too much for now.
"It's been almost a day since you entered the anomalous hotel..."
The two came to the corner. Natsuki looked at the dark night outside the window and whispered the situation.
The vanguard team was completely wiped out, with no news coming out. Everyone took on the commission, entered the hotel to deal with the anomaly, and found that there were nightmares in every room. Upon entering, memories would be blocked, and they could only use the method of growing mushrooms to dispel fear with original sin, and so on.
Yukino listened silently, then exhaled lightly and talked about the situation of the vanguard team.
In the face of strange tales, all personal matters must take a backseat. Even a Sisters Rice Bowl and such things can be discussed later.
"The situation I encountered was the same as yours..."
"After entering the hotel, the entire hotel was empty, deserted. However, the rule at that time was not 'no looking back,' but 'maintain silence.'"
"Everyone was very cautious, and no one triggered this rule, so we didn't know what would happen if the rule was violated."
Yukino raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and continued:
"According to the planned action, everyone first went to the staff lounge to see if they could find any staff... Unfortunately, there were none. All the rooms, without exception, had their doors tightly shut."
"To be safe, the captain stepped forward and entered a room with another team member for exploration. We stayed in the hallway to guard... and they never came out again." Yukino gently bit her lips. "At that time, everyone only knew there was danger inside the room, but they didn't know what kind of danger it was specifically."
There are nightmares in every room. Once you enter a room, your memories will be blocked, and you will be pulled into a nightmare, fueled by the fear and terror of the guests. If you cannot wake up, you can only sink endlessly into the nightmare... No wonder the players who entered the rooms never came out again. Once their memories are blocked, players are no different from ordinary people.
After a pause, Yukino said softly: "We thought at the time that we were just unlucky and happened to enter a dangerous room, so we chose to enter the room next door to explore and see if we could find a way to get into the adjacent room and provide help."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow:
"Is it this room?"
Yukino nodded gently: "That's right."
Natsuki asked in a deep voice:
"Why are you the only one?"
Yukino said softly:
"At that time, everyone decided to draw lots, and I..."
"Don't say it, I understand." Natsuki complained, "As expected, she's a non-chief girl."
Yukino: "..."