[Absolute Only-Me King's Game] Something’s Off About the King's Game Started By My Childhood Friend Beauties With Me. A Story of Endlessly Fun Times with Girls Whose Personal Boundaries Keeps Going Off the Rails! - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Interlude

The next day.

I’m in a dreamy haze.

(All three were so soft…)

Even after a night, the excitement smolders inside me, refusing to fade.

Like a volcano on the brink of eruption, a boiling impulse surges from my gut, spreading through my whole body.

My first kiss with a girl—girls, plural.

Three in one day, no less.

The sheer, unreal luck of it fills me with both thrill and a touch of fear.

(All three said it was their first kiss, right…?)

For girls, a first kiss is supposed to be a big deal.

Of course, values differ, and it’s possible those three don’t care much about lip contact.

But having spent so much time with them as childhood friends, I have a near-certain gut feeling it does matter.

There’s a chance they don’t even see me as a “guy” in that way.

But…

(Would they kiss me so passionately if that were true?)

They gave me their precious first kisses, all three, at the same time.

(And Anna, no matter how you look at it…)

She felt something intense about Suzune beating her to it and took it out on me.

Normally, I’d have to think seriously about that.

But I don’t. I’m certain I don’t need to.

The time to confirm will come eventually. Their behavior’s been off from the start.

And they’ll show me the answer themselves.

I’m not dodging responsibility by leaving it to them.

It’s what they want. They don’t want me meddling unnecessarily.

We’ve known each other forever. I get that much.

“So, that’s how it is, right?”

“What’s that?”

“Whoa?! Oh, it’s you, Anna. Morning.”

Lost in thought, I’m startled by a voice from behind and nearly jump.

“Morning, Rei-kun. You okay after yesterday? We kinda left you like that.”

Anna gives a slightly sheepish smile. So, she’s a bit sorry, huh?

“Well, I narrowly avoided a black history moment.”

“Haha, what’s that?”

“Your fault for ditching me. Mom almost saw me in that mess.”

“That’s a sham—er, I mean, that was close!”

“You just said ‘shame,’ didn’t you?”

“Nope~ Didn’t finish saying it~.”

“You were gonna, though, weren’t you?!”

“Yaa~! You’re messing up my hair~!”

Something’s changed between us.

The distance in our hearts… Before, we were always gauging each other, but now it feels like we’ve figured out how to close that gap.

That’s the vibe I’m getting.

Thanks to those kisses, probably.

“…”

“? What’s up, Rei-kun?”

I stare at her. Silently, straight into her eyes, resting my palm on her cheek, just trying something…

“R-Rei… kun…?”

Her cheeks flush. Her eyes glisten.

I can almost tell what she wants, what she’s asking for.

With the faintest movement, barely noticeable, Anna tilts her face up and starts to close her eyes.

I lean in, my hand still on her cheek, slowly…

“Morning, you two~!”

“Good morning~!”

“Whoa!”

“Hyan!”

Startled, I realize we were in our own world, oblivious to everything else.

“Oh my~ What were you two about to do~?”

“N-Nothing! Morning, Fuwari, Suzune.”

“Yesterday was quite a time, huh~?”

“Totally~.”

“I won’t point out what you’re referring to, but thanks to you, I had a fun night.”

I thought they meant the first kisses, but nope—they’re clearly talking about leaving me tied up, judging by their barely-hidden smirks and “What happened after? Tell us!” vibes.

“Sadly… ahem. I got free before Mom came home.”

“That’s not sad.”

“Good for you~.”

“It was great, huh~ (Tch).”

“You’re not even hiding your true feelings.”

“Kyan!”

“Hin! That’s harassment~!”

I poke their sides for teasing me. Fuwari’s soothing voice, Suzune’s lively one.

I can tell their heart distances have shifted too, post-yesterday.

Before, I’d joke with them but never touch them.

I deliberately avoided it. No, I couldn’t, and I didn’t feel I had the right.

Call me a coward, whatever.

“Fnyaa~ My sides are off-limits~!”

“Let this be a lesson not to pull that again, geez.”

“Reiji-kun’s harassment skills are leveling up~.”

“Still talking, huh?”

“Hyan~♡ No more sides~!”

This new dynamic where we can mess around like this—it’s not bad.

I know that much.

“Oh, right. You free this weekend? I’m thinking we make the next game a bit bigger.”

“Oh? Bigger how?”

“Yup. So, the third game will be at Fuwari-chan’s apartment. Oh, and it’ll be a sleepover, so bring a change of clothes.”

“Got it. I’ve got work in the morning, but I’ll join after.”

“Cool, I’ll make snacks and wait. Dinner’s gonna be super fancy~.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“Sounds like a boyfriend-girlfriend convo~.”

“It’s a group sleepover, jeez.”

Yeah, things have changed. Our heart distances feel closer, more intimate.

But it’s not like we’re becoming typical lovers. It’s something more… special.

※◇◇◇※

“No… Something’s… definitely off!”

“What’s up, Friend A? Eat something bad?”

“Thanks for the lazy intro, pal! That’s not the point!”

“What’s got you so worked up?”

“You! What happened with those three?!”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Something’s different from yesterday! I don’t know what, but something’s changed! The distance between you—it’s closer, like you’ve been allowed to cross lines you held back from before, like a guy and girls who’ve gotten the green light!”

Sharp guy. Is he psychic or something?

“No need to worry, our relationship hasn’t changed.”

On the surface… We’re not dating or anything.

We’re still just childhood friends.

So nothing’s changed. No need to change it.

We’ll naturally accept how we interact as it comes.

※◇◇◇※

It wasn’t just our heart distances that changed.

Normally, any free time meant someone would show up at my place, but that stopped.

No one said to stop.

I didn’t either.

We just all knew we were eagerly awaiting the weekend king game.

After school, we’d go home, work our jobs, live our school lives, and quietly wait for the weekend.

These past few days, we’ve all been visibly antsy.

We avoided extra contact until the day arrived.

Because it was exciting. To make it even more vivid, it was like saving up for a fun group trip.

We built up anticipation, and more anticipation.

By Friday, the day before, we were all noticeably restless.

And finally, the weekend arrived.

Saturday, the day of the third king game, was here.