Chapter 21: She Almost Said ‘I Love You.’ Then Reina Started the Dare Game.
The campfire crackled.
Everyone was seated in a circle.
Yuna was roasting marshmallows like it was her last meal.
Riko was staring into the flames like they owed her something.
Airi was calculating how many seconds each girl looked at me.
Akari? She was sitting close enough to burn me without fire.
Then Reina stood.
She held a clipboard and a deck of cards.
"We're doing something special tonight," she said. "It's called the Midnight Dare Game."
I felt my soul leave my body.
---
The Rules:
Draw a card
If it's red, you give a dare
If it's black, you take the dare
Refuse a dare? You have to answer one truth question—publicly
This was emotional death by card game.
---
Round One – Riko's Slip
Riko drew a black card.
Yuna grinned. "I dare you… to whisper your biggest secret into Kaito's ear."
Riko stared. "Seriously?"
"You can chicken out," Yuna shrugged. "And answer a truth."
Riko walked over.
Kneeled beside me.
Leaned in close.
Her breath hit my ear.
Then—
> "I think I might be in l—"
She stopped.
Pulled away.
Everyone froze.
Even the fire seemed to pause.
"I'm going to bed," she muttered, face blazing, and left the circle.
My brain short-circuited.
---
Round Two – Airi's Strategy
Airi drew a black card.
Reina: "Your dare… is to wrap a blanket around you and Kaito and stay like that for three minutes."
Airi nodded. "Acceptable."
She pulled the blanket out of nowhere.
Wrapped us up.
Sat beside me like we were on a honeymoon.
"Temperature stable. Emotional proximity… rising."
I blinked. "You're doing science again, aren't you?"
"Shh. You're my variable."
Reina took notes like she was grading a thesis.
---
Round Three – Akari's Bomb
Akari drew red.
She stood and smiled at me.
"I dare Kaito to tell everyone about the time he wrote me a love letter in 3rd grade."
Yuna: "He did what?!"
Riko (from inside the cabin): "EXCUSE ME?!"
Airi dropped her marshmallow stick.
I died.
"I WAS NINE," I yelled.
Akari just grinned. "It had hearts drawn on it. And glitter."
"I WAS NINE!"
---
Reina's Final Twist
She shuffled the cards one more time.
"Last round," she said. "Kaito draws."
I reached out. Prayed.
It was black.
Reina smiled.
"Your dare," she said, "is to choose one girl… and sleep next to her tonight."
Silence.
The girls stared.
My soul begged for mercy.
I looked up.
Four girls.
Four different eyes.
Four ticking time bombs.
I whispered:
"…Can I sleep in the woods?"