I Saved the First Victim of the Horror Game (The Idol in My Class), and She Became the Ultimate Sweet Heroine Who Smiles Only at Me - 32

Chapter 32: The Rule That Lovey-Dovey Couples Die First!

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“Lo-lovey-dovey…?”

Murase-san had completely overheated. The fragile, tragic-heroine-like air around her had been blown to smithereens by my far-too-forceful proposal.

“That’s right! Lovey-dovey! You know the rules of horror movies, don’t you? The lovey-dovey couples are the first ones targeted. We might be able to use that to our advantage!”

I desperately piled on the words. Even I was starting to lose track of what I was saying, but if I stopped, I’d lose.

“If someone’s targeting you, Murase-san, then we’ll create such an atmosphere that they’ll think, ‘What the heck are they doing at a time like this…?’ We’ll put up a barrier with an aura so happy and lovey-dovey that there’s no room for fear to slip in! Maybe it’ll even take the edge off the culprit’s murderous intent!”

“A-a barrier…”

Though still stunned, Murase-san covered her flushed face with both hands. Through the gaps between her fingers, her eyes—filled with confusion, and just the faintest hint of expectation—locked onto mine.

“…Ueno-kun, you’re kind of an idiot, aren’t you?”

She called me an idiot. Getting called that by a quiet girl hit hard. But then Murase-san’s expression softened, and she smiled.

“Okay. Instead of resigning myself to dying as my fate, I’d rather choose to stay with you… Even if it means causing you trouble, Ueno-kun.”

“Alright, it’s decided! Then first—”

Just as I was about to suggest our next move—

“Hey! You two, how long are you gonna keep whispering over there!? The curry’s almost done!”

Yamamoto’s voice tore through the silence of the night. When I looked, I saw Yamamoto wearing an unnaturally bright smile, Sato-kun stirring the pot, and Nanase-san lifting her face from her phone to observe us expressionlessly. Tanaka was rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Among them was the one trying to turn Murase-san into the “first victim.” I was going to find them no matter what…!

“Let’s go, Mio.”

I deliberately called her by her first name in a loud voice so everyone could hear. Murase-san looked startled for a split second, like a pigeon hit by a pellet gun, but then, her face turning bright red, she wrapped her slender fingers around my arm.

“…Yeah, let’s go. Satoru-kun.”

Good. Lovey-Dovey Barrier: Stage One, activated. Just like that, we returned to the circle around the campfire where our classmates were waiting. The smell of curry drifted through the air, though this was supposed to be the ominous night when the “first victim” would appear. I had no appetite whatsoever, but I decided to act more cheerful than anyone else on purpose.

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Man, when we’re alone together, we totally lose track of time!”

As I said that and wrapped an arm around Murase-san’s shoulders. Sato-kun’s hand, still stirring the pot, twitched and stopped.

“…Ueno, your personality shift is way too extreme. Is this some kind of jab at us?”

“Come on, what’s wrong with that? I’m happy.”

Smiling brightly, I took a plate of curry from Sato-kun. As I did, I carefully observed Yamamoto, who was standing nearby, but he still wore his usual carefree grin, as if to say, “Let’s hurry up and eat!” On the other hand, Nanase-san, who had been fiddling with her phone a little ways off, shot us a glance and said, “…You look like idiots. I can’t believe you’re doing that here.”

Murase-san’s body stiffened slightly. I squeezed her hand tightly in return.

“Here, Mio, let’s eat.”

“S-Satoru-kun, that’s a bit too embarrassing…”

Though looking down, Murase-san sat right up against me. Pretending to take a bite of curry, I sharply observed everyone around us. In just a few hours, someone was going to try to kill Murase-san. If they were a normal person, there was no way they could stay completely calm. I couldn’t miss even the slightest sign.

“Ueno-kun, say ahh.”

“A-ahh.”

Murase-san held out a spoon to my mouth with a trembling hand. N-no way?! Murase-san was making the first move!? I steeled myself and took the curry from the shaking spoon into my mouth. I couldn’t taste anything. All I could feel was the fact that Murase-san had offered it to me so earnestly, and that alone flooded my brain with happiness chemicals that painted over my fear.

“It’s d-delicious. Thanks, Mio.”

“Y-yeah… I’m glad…”

Our faces bright red, we avoided each other’s gaze while sitting closer than ever.

Alright, how are the others reacting?

“Ugh, Ueno’s so annoying! What is this, are you rubbing it in our faces? You’re ruining my appetite.”

Sato-kun spat that out. His eyes weren’t smiling. The way he set the pot down was a little rough.

“Hey, hey, that’s great! Woohoo! You two are on fire!”

Yamamoto cheered us on, but his eyes seemed to dart around slightly. Was he clowning around because he couldn’t handle the tension of what was coming next? Or was it something else…?

“…I’m sleepy already. I’m gonna turn in.”

Tanaka tried to head back to the tent. 

Wait, wait, wait! Don’t leave from here!

“Haa, Hoshino. What do you think about that?”

“I-I think it’s nice that they’re getting along.”

The girls sitting nearby were completely put off. Nanase-san, especially, was looking at us like we were something filthy. I’d brought this on myself, but it still stung a little.

But what about it!? If you’re classmates, then killing a lovey-dovey couple would hurt your conscience, right!? So let’s stop this revenge nonsense. Let’s just finish this courage test happily together and all go home from this horror game together.

…That was the invisible message I tried to send with my entire body. I had no idea if it was getting through.

“Hey, Satoru-kun. When you’re done eating, I’ll let you use my lap as a pillow.”

“Th-thanks.”

We awkwardly kept up the flirting. I’d said it myself, but honestly, I had no idea how to properly be a lovey-dovey couple!

“H-Hey, Yamamoto, why did you pick this place for the courage test in the first place?”

Feeling a chill run down my spine, I asked Yamamoto as cheerfully and carefully as I could. Yamamoto opened his mouth in his usual playful manner.

“By the way, what’s up with that rumor anyway?”

Nanase-san ignored us and changed the subject.

“That rumor?”

“The one about passing through the torii gate at midnight.”

“Ohh.”

Tanaka, still half-asleep, reacted to that. Hoshino-san lowered her gaze when she heard the topic.

“Even if you search online, that rumor doesn’t really show up anywhere.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Curious, I found myself joining their conversation.

“Maybe it’s just a baseless rumor.”

“……”

Nanase-san said that casually. Now that she mentioned it, we’d accepted the rumor part without ever questioning it.

“…Just to confirm. Who was it that came up with this courage test idea?”

“Yamamoto, obviously. He was the one who first said we should all go do a courage test.”

At Nanase-san’s words, I couldn’t help but turn toward Yamamoto. He was wearing a slightly troubled smile.

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