Chapter 761 - Recreation
How one spends their time on a trip is, needless to say, different for everyone.
Do you visit tourist spots, wander through unfamiliar lands in search of local specialties... or perhaps, do you stay holed up in your inn, healing both body and soul?
University students exist in the space between adult and child, so the range of appealing options is practically infinite. My friends were no exception, and from early in the morning, they were engaged in a heated debate about the day's plans, going back and forth with 'how about this' and 'what about that'—
Honestly, as I watched them get all excited, I was already sure of one thing.
On the surface, they looked like your model group of cool university students, but all four of them, to varying degrees, were the type to pour all their passion into the things that captivated them.
In other words, they were nerds. Which meant...
"—And so, let's begin the First Annual Cutthroat Game of Life Tournament!"
With two players who were the objects of their greatest interest right there beside them, there was no way they'd even consider going out of their way to travel somewhere else.
On the morning of the second day of our trip, after we'd finished breakfast, the six of us—abandoned by the maid who had vanished at some point—gathered in the men's room, as expected.
After a heated debate, the motion that passed was the 'let's stay inside' plan. With me, who wasn't surprised in the slightest, and Sora-san, who had probably figured things out from my expression, caught in the middle, the other three applauded Shoko's high-energy opening statement.
You guys are full of energy. They were up making a racket until around three in the morning last night, weren't they?
"Just out of curiosity, are you guys not interested in the tourist spots—"
"Nope!!!"
"Not really."
"Not particularly."
As for Kaede, who remained silent, she probably wasn't completely uninterested, but simply chose to prioritize this. She was smiling gracefully like the well-mannered young lady she always was, but I know you're the most intense nerd of them all.
She'd probably get along great with Rinne. Anyway,
"Well, I don't really care either way... but what's with this title?"
It wasn't just Shoko's usual antics; the board sitting on the table really was inscribed with 'The Cutthroat Game of Life'. I don't mean to be rude, but I had a bad feeling about this.
"Well, I asked the proprietress if they had any games we could play, and she showed me to the playroom. She said to take whatever we liked, so I just grabbed all the interesting-looking ones—yay!"
"I see."
"Hey, did you see that, Toshiki? Shoko-chan's killer wink just got completely ignored."
"That was a wink? I thought your eyes were just dry."
"What's that, you looking for a fight? Let's take this outside."
You guys get along so well. I'll leave the bickering childhood friends be for now.
I glanced at my partner beside me, and it seemed the young lady of the Yotsuya family, an avid board game enthusiast herself, was staring at this 'Cutthroat Game of Life' with a curious gaze.
"I've never played one of these before, analog or digital. How about you, Sora?"
"H-Huh? Um... This is my first time, too."
I'd guessed as much from her reaction. It seemed we were both beginners. I knew the general idea, of course, but what you were actually supposed to do was still fuzzy... Well, either way.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road! And of course, the loser has to do a penalty game!!!"
"The most beautiful outcome for these things is when the person who suggests it ends up losing."
"Should we target her?"
"Ah, haha... Please go easy on me."
"Got it. We'll go easy on you while we target you."
"Wait, Kaede-chan?"
"Hey, that's not what I meant...!"
Being dragged into this high-energy mess, it probably wouldn't be a peaceful game.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—Hey, what the hell is 'Go bankrupt and put yourself up as collateral. Lose all turns'? What was this idiot me planning to do by handing himself over?"
"Nozomi, you..."
"Nozomi-kun, um, this is a little hard to say, but..."
"You have tragically bad luck."
"Heehee, what a difference from Sora-chan, who's been dominating the lead, huh, partner?"
"Don't just laugh, help me out here. 'Lose all turns' until someone shows you mercy? This game is fundamentally broken. Give me a break."
"Truly 'cutthroat'."
"Less 'cutthroat' and more 'heartless', don't you think?"
"Toshiki is making a face like he said something clever, which is annoying, so I'm not helping."
"Hey, my only lifeline just got cut. Seriously, Toshiki, give me a break."
"Don't redirect the hate to me for no reason—Whoa, what's this... 'Massive stock market failure. Lose half your money and get divorced.' ...Isn't that just a little too merciless?"
"Goodbye, darling."
"My wife is so cold it's making me cry."
"The other half is coming to me as alimony, so it's a win-win."
"Hey, give me a break, game."
"Hmph. Now you can taste what it's like to be at the bottom."
"Don't lump me in with the guy who's not only bankrupt but is also being kept by a pawn shop."
"Don't say 'kept'. ...Sora-san, what are you laughing at?"
"W-Pfft... I'm not laughing."
"You're not hiding it at all. Dammit, someone help me already...!"
"Oh, fine, fine. The merciful Shoko-san will help you out."
"What's with the sudden change of heart? I mean, I appreciate it, but..."
"Alrighty then, Nozomin, from now on, you're my slave."
"Huh?"
"Hey, that's what it says. Look, right here."
"Huh?"
"'Buy a player's human rights for 10 million yen times the number on the roulette and make them your slave.'"
"Huh?"
"By the way, I rolled a '1'. Okay, paying my ten million."
"Pffft...!"
"The lowest price..."
"Nozomi-kun..."
"................................"
"H-Hehe... Um, Haru. It's just a game, so, um, cheer up..."
"Dammit, all of you laughing at my misfortune, I'll never forgive you...! Prepare yourselves, everyone, for I shall now become the Asura of 'The Game of Life'—"
"Alright then, Mr. Asura Slave. From now on, ninety percent of your income is mine, so work hard, okay?"
"HUH???"
"Heeheehee—if you're a good boy, I'll take good care of you."
"........................"
"...Haru?"
"Wait, what? No. I was just trembling with humiliation right now, I definitely wasn't thinking anything weird or anything like that."
"By the way, as the first-place player, I have a card that lets me 'forcibly buy a designated player's human rights for half my current money.'"
"This game has way too little respect for human rights!!!"
The winner was the young lady of the Yotsuya family (Sora-san), who ran away with the victory after buying the human rights of the Asura Slave.