Vol. 5 Chapter 9.4

Translated by SoundDestiny Edited by SoundDestiny

We were gathered around the sofa set in the 『Confinement King’s Bedroom』.

Starting from me, going clockwise, there’s Kurosawa-san, Shima-san, Ryoko, Kyoko, Kanaya-san, and Masaki-chan.

As you’re aware, all of us are participants in the Death Game.

In reality, in each of our private rooms within the Death Game, there’s a door that leads to this 『Confinement King’s Bedroom』.

The reason we pretend to switch night and morning with President Kurashima and Pompoko-san and the reason we prohibit entry into other rooms without permission, is so that we can maintain our daily lives without interruption.

While pretending to be holed up in our rooms, Shima-san continues to attend club activities and I participate in radio callisthenics. Of course, Kurosawa-san and Masaki-chan are also living their lives as usual.

It’s currently past ten o’clock at night.

Aside from Kurosawa-san, who is supposed to be staying in Tokyo. Masaki-chan and Shima-san were scheduled to return home after this.

Currently, there’s a monitor temporarily set up in this room, the situation in each room is being displayed.

At the round table in the Death Game, only Hikami Kirito and Yamauchi Kiyoka remained. Hikami was holding Yamauchi’s hand, appearing to be persuading something earnestly.

On the other hand, in the President’s room, there was Akira Mitsuki.

The two of them sat down on the bed and a chair respectively, engaging in a serious conversation with grave expressions.

By the way, Pompoko-san was sprawled out sleeping. Surprisingly resilient.

“For now, thank you for your hard work.”

As I spoke, each of them responded with a [thanks for your hard work].

“We’ve just started, but is there anything concerning or any problems? Are you guys okay?”

“For the time being, we’re fine. It’s just started after all.”

Masaki-chan said with a wry smile and Kurosawa-san slumped down with a sigh.

“It was tough for me… having to do something so mean to Fumi-kun.”

“Is that so? Weren’t you quite enthusiastic? It’s been a while since I’ve had my head stepped on and it reminded me of a few things…Maybe you still dislike me or something…”

“N-No! Th-That’s not it! I-I don’t feel that way at all! S-Sorry! A–nn…Mouu, Fumi-kun, you’re so mean!”

As Kurosawa-san clung onto me while puffing up her cheeks, I chuckled and said [Ahaha].

She then looked up at me with a sidelong glance.

“If Fumi-kun wants to get back at me, you can do that right now… You see, there’s a bed right there…”

“Misuzu-chan, no sneaky moves! It’s not allowed!”

Masaki-chan, clinging from the other side as if threatening, made Kurosawa-san puff up her cheeks again.

“Now, now, you two. Kurosawa-san has to give her best tomorrow. And besides, I need to console Ryoko today… Ryoko, are you feeling okay?”

“Yes. Your kind words are much appreciated.”

In reality, Ryoko seemed as usual from what I could see. She had changed into new clothes as well.

“It must have hurt, right? I’m sorry.”

“No need to worry. I’m used to being penetrated by Master’s object..”

Even though I was trying to console her, I received a crude and explicit response. And that too, with a straight face.

In the midst of the indescribable atmosphere, Kyoko’s expression of astonishment made her glance at Ryoko twice.

Well, the real Ryoko doesn’t seem like the type to make such explicit comments.

“By the way… what’s up with that? Aramaki-san.”

“Can you not ask me about it?”

In response to Shima-san’s question, everyone simultaneously made subtle expressions.

Even I can’t comprehend that sense of humour. It’s just too mysterious.

From a devilish perspective, is that thing cute? In a way, it was certainly macabre.

“Well, anyway, aside from Aramaki-san’s matter, is there anything else that caught your attention?”

As I changed the topic, Kanaya-san pushed her hair behind her ear and spoke up.

“I’m bothered by how Yamauchi Kiyoka was unusually quiet… She’s a cunning woman, that one.”

“Maybe she’s just assessing the situation? If we’re calling her cunning, that makes even more sense.”

“Yes, I think so. She’s probably strategizing. At the moment, she’s definitely in a group that can secure four votes…but it’s about when she’ll betray. Probably around that point.”

And then I looked around at everyone again and spoke up.

“For now, in the first vote, let’s put all our votes for Kurosawa-san. Even if Kurosawa-san votes for Akira Mizuki herself, she’ll have at least five votes cast for her. Even if President Kurashima’s group and Pompoko-san gather votes for different people, it’ll be a tie at five votes each. The possibility of Pompoko-san and the president teaming up is quite low.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Shima-san shrugged.

“Kurosawa-san has to do her best since the goal is to show her taking on a mission and avoiding instant death… We need her to give it her all.”

As I turned my gaze towards Kurosawa-san, she nodded vigorously.

“Un…I’m still aspiring to be an actress after all.So, I’ll make sure to convincingly show that facing death is better than the alternative. ”

When I stroked her head, Kurosawa-san narrowed her eyes like a cat basking in the sun.

“Well, let’s call it a wrap for now…But before we disband, Kanaya-san, how are you feeling right now?”

Suddenly directed at, Kanaya-san displayed a slightly troubled smile.

“Well…I feel unsettled, thinking that revenge has finally begun. As promised, once everything is over, I’ll be yours. You can do whatever you want with me, cook me or burn me.”

Upon which, Kurosawa-san made a somewhat incredulous expression and spoke up.

“Somehow, that sounds more like an exchange condition… Like becoming Fumi-kun’s possession is a reward or something”

Masaki-chan and Ryoko nodded in agreement, Shima-san gave a wry smile and Kyoko seemed to express a look of disbelief, as if saying, [Is that even possible?].

“Sorry…but I still don’t really understand what’s so great about him. At least for now, I’m just using him.”

With that, Kanaya-san smiled somewhat sorrowfully.

×××

Yesterday, finally, I managed to win by just one vote against Rena-san and secured first place.

I think what made the difference was that I managed to steal some votes from Rena-san’s regulars by giving them a peek at my nipple.

Even if I drop from the first place, I have a two-day margin. But today, I’m in a pretty tough situation. Judging by the current situation, I’m probably in third place. The current first place is not Rena-san… it’s Mako-san.

“Mako-chi, you’re seriously amazing today. What’s up?”

“Un, Taka-chi is giving it her all, so I thought I should do my best too.”

“He, Heeee…”

‘Just you wait, I won’t let you interfere! Don’t get in my way!’

While stomping my feet internally, I forcibly put on a smile.

I could tell my cheeks were twitching. To be honest, I’m feeling quite anxious.

For now, Mako alone has gathered votes equivalent to Rena-san’s and my votes combined.

She’s really on a roll or, should I say, super enthusiastic…

“What’s up? Taka-chi, you’ve got a troubled expression.”

In front of me, one of Rena-san’s former regulars, whom I had just taken votes from yesterday, was still lingering around.

Do they plan to stay until they get to see my nipple?

“It’s not like that at all! Ryo-san, come join us, all happy and cheerful! I’m seriously overjoyed!”

I gave the slightly cloudy-faced customer my most charming smile.

Internally, I was stamping my feet, thinking, [Hurry up and put your votes in and leave. Don’t you realise the turnover rate is slowing down?!]

×××

After the closing procedures were done and everyone had left, in the locker room.

A dimly lit room with only a faint morning sunlight coming through a small window.

There, I tightly bit down on my lips.

In the end, in today’s popularity vote, I dropped down to fourth place.

The first place is taken by that damn clueless idiot Mako. Seriously… she’s just making things worse with her extra enthusiasm.

I banged my palm on the long table in frustration.

I had been cornered. Despite the summer vacation still being quite long, there was only one more day of margin left. From here on out, I had to keep the first place──or everything would be over.

If my relationship with Sensei became clear, the dream of a happy family that could have been achieved after graduation would vanish like a bubble.

Sensei would be fired. I would be expelled. Falling from being a diligent disciplinary committee member, we would be forcibly separated by society’s scornful gaze.

“What… should I do?”

I was at a dead end. The sense of suffocation was overwhelming. It felt like even when reaching out, I couldn’t grasp anything, and my chest tightened with frustration. At this point, I just wanted to throw everything away and run away from here.

In my current state, I even considered if I could survive by working in a place like a girls’ bar somewhere where nobody knew me, and lived like this.

“If you think you’re taking you time to return….what’s got you seriously down?”

Hearing that voice from behind, I turned around to see the cockroach maid standing there.

“…Shut up.”

“Are you giving up already?”

“Because, there’s just no way anymore! There’s still thirty days left of summer vacation! There’s no way this is possible, no matter how you look at it!”

“Haaa…”

The cockroach maid nodded with a look that seemed like she had given up.

“There’s no help for it, then. I shall offer you one solution, as an empty promise from me, Takata-sama.”

“Solution?”

“Yes, currently, I’ve been instructed by the Head Maid-sama to hire a promiscuous woman to take care of master’s sexual needs.”

“Haa?”

“Didn’t you hear me? A promiscuous woman to take care of his sexual needs. The reward is ten thousand yen per ejaculation. Since Master has inexhaustible stamina, earning a hundred thousand yen in a night is a feasible matter.”

“Wait a minute! Hold on a second!? You mean… your master… K-Kijima Fumio, right? You mean I have to… to, to, have sex with him?”

“Yes.”

“No way! Absolutely not!”

“Is that so? In that case, let’s pretend this conversation never happened… If it gets out that the promiscuous woman I’ve arranged is you, Takata-sama, I would receive severe punishment from the Head Maid-sama, so it would be better if you declined.”

“If it gets out… I mean, even he can tell how I look!”

“No, do you not recall that when you last spoke with Master, the room was pitch dark? Master is not aware of your current appearance. As long as you play the role of a vulgar promiscuous woman, it’s unlikely he’ll recognize you.”

‘Even me… he wouldn’t recognize me?’

The moment I had that thought, I felt my heart tremble intensely.

《To be continued.》

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