[Fun Mission: Kill a Hundred People]
[Task Details: It's time to show your true strength. Please defeat one hundred opponents by force before 24:00 today, and let your reputation spread far and wide.]
[Reward: Exclusive Bound Equipment]
[Penalty for Failure: Hearing will be sealed for 24 hours.]
[Note: The reward is very valuable. Don't miss it.]
[Note: Cheating is prohibited. Any secret collusion, advance bribery, or otherwise unfair dueling conditions will render the defeat invalid.]
"… …"
"Kaguya-chan, are you okay?"
Fujiwara Chika peered at her nervously.
Shinomiya Kaguya's lips were slightly pursed, but otherwise, her expression remained as calm and composed as always.
"I'm fine," she replied softly.
"That's a relief." Chika let out a breath. "Two weird missions in two days… If it were me, I'd definitely be crying."
You've been fooled. The ice sculpture girl just has maxed-out poker face. On the inside, she's absolutely not fine.
Amamiya Natsuki looked over and, sure enough, could practically see the emotional subtitles scrolling above Kaguya's head:
[Unfair! This is unfair! Why me again?!]
She was clearly having an inner meltdown.
Is someone secretly targeting me…?!
"Maybe you're just unlucky this week," Chika offered sympathetically. "Your horoscope might be affected by Mercury retrograde or something. Try watching the NHK morning astrology show tomorrow!"
I did. It said I was lucky. It lied.
Amamiya Natsuki steepled his fingers and said seriously "Let's focus on how to complete the mission."
The manly approach to crisis: Identify the problem, solve the problem.
"Hmm…" Fujiwara Chika rested her chin on her hand, muttering to herself. "Defeat a hundred people… it just sounds kind of..."
Their eyes met.
She and Natsuki looked away at the same time, a mutual understanding passing silently between them.
Experienced drivers know when not to say the wrong thing.
"Defeat one hundred opponents," Kaguya repeated thoughtfully, frowning. "It would be much easier if bribery were allowed."
As the heir to the Shinomiya conglomerate, relying on real power wasn't shameful—it was efficient.
If there were no anti-cheating rules, Kaguya could've hired one thousand people to lose on command before lunchtime.
"Oh! I've got it!" Fujiwara Chika's eyes sparkled as she raised her hand excitedly. "What if we use rock-paper-scissors?!"
"It's simple, fair, and super fast! You could do a hundred rounds in no time!"
"…That sounds sketchy." Natsuki shook his head. "Still, it won't hurt to test if it meets the conditions."
"Alright! Let's duel, Kaguya-chan!"
Chika struck a pose—left hand on hip, right hand raised.
Kaguya didn't think it would work either… but it was just rock-paper-scissors. No harm in trying.
And so began the duel.
Five consecutive matches later, Kaguya had lost five times.
"…I won again?" Chika tilted her head innocently. "I guess the horoscope was right. I am super lucky today!"
Kaguya stared at her, stunned, beginning to doubt her entire existence.
Am I cursed or something?
"Let me take over." Natsuki raised his hand. "Fujiwara-san's luck is too dangerous. It's best not to gamble with her."
Kaguya nodded, suppressing her pride, and began a new round with Natsuki.
This time, she won.
"…Well?" Chika leaned in eagerly. "Did it work?"
Kaguya shook her head, expression blank.
"…No effect."
As expected, rock-paper-scissors didn't qualify as a forceful duel.
"Hmm…" Chika flopped over the table dramatically. "This is hard…"
"How about a kyudo match?" she perked up again. "Kaguya-chan is an amazing archer!"
True.
Kaguya Shinomiya was the definition of an all-rounder: graceful in tea ceremony, elegant in flower arrangement, skilled in dance, guzheng, aikido, naginata—and at the top of all that, a national-level archery champion in junior high.
A kyudo duel could definitely help clear the mission.
Unfortunately—
"My stamina won't last," Kaguya said flatly.
She wasn't being modest. Despite her many talents, Kaguya had one fatal weakness: poor physical endurance. Her packed elite education left no time for mundane things like cardio. Her basic fitness was well below average.
In game terms: high attack, low HP, paper-thin defense.
She could win 100 duels—but her arms would fall off before she reached 10.
Actually, she'd already ruled out every sports-related idea due to that reason alone.
"…Then what about shogi?" Chika tried again. "You're a genius! You could totally sweep 100 matches!"
"The mission requires a display of force," Natsuki reminded her. "But… we won't know for sure unless we try."
"I remember the board game club has a shogi set!" Chika said. "Let's go check it out!"
The three of them walked to the board game club together.
Fujiwara and Kaguya played a quick game of shogi.
Ten minutes later, Fujiwara was utterly crushed.
"…Still no good," Kaguya sighed, frowning.
"Ugh, I can't think of anything else…" Chika slumped forward with a groan.
After a moment of quiet, Natsuki finally said:
"I might have an idea."
"Huh?! Tell us!" Chika sat up instantly. "Natsuki-kun, spill!"
"You know arcade fighting games?" Natsuki asked.
"I've heard of them, but never played." Chika tilted her head.
"I've never touched them either," Kaguya added.
As expected.
Kaguya was a refined lady. Chika was a sheltered goofball. There was no chance either of them had ever played a button-mashing brawler in a noisy arcade.
"It's fine. The important thing is that it's a one-on-one game that involves 'combat.'" Natsuki explained, "The rules are fair. The players are equal. It might just meet the mission's criteria."
"We won't know unless we try."
"There's a game center on the way to school," he added. "Let's head there now and give it a shot. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else."
"That sounds good!" Chika voted immediately. "Let's skip class, Kaguya-chan!"
"No need to skip." Natsuki sighed. "We've still got time before homeroom. If we walk fast, we won't be late."
Kaguya hesitated for two seconds, then gave a small nod.
"…Let's go to the arcade."