The bottle stood still again, trembling faintly from its last spin.
The room was thick with heat — the warmth of the night, the blushes painting every cheek, and the tension building and building with every dare, every whisper.
Ai nestled tighter against Shin, her face glowing.
Yuki, stiff and pink, was wedged between Shin's side and arm, too flustered to speak.
And Rika sat, legs folded, an impish glint in her wide eyes.
She was in control.
Or so she thought.
"Okay!" Rika chirped, brushing her hair back dramatically. "Who's next?!"
Shin chuckled. "Your turn to spin."
Rika eagerly grabbed the bottle and gave it a firm flick.
The glass spun, whirled — and pointed.
At Rika.
The room burst into laughter.
Rika blinked, confused. "Eh? Eh? Again?"
"Fate has chosen you, Rika-chan~," Ai sang sweetly, her head peeking from Shin's shoulder.
"No running now," Shin added, smirking.
Yuki snickered, enjoying her panic for once.
Puffing her cheeks out, Rika threw her hands up.
"Fine, fine! Bring it on! Truth or Dare?"
"Truth," Ai declared immediately, her voice sugary.
Rika paled.
Ai smiled way too innocently.
"Hmm..." Ai tapped her chin, thinking. "Who do you like?"
The room froze.
Shin raised his brows.
Yuki leaned in slightly, eyes wide.
Even Ai, though smiling, seemed to tremble in excitement.
Rika kept her cool.
Or at least she pretended to.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Dammit...! she thought, sweating inside.
Of course Ai-chan would ask that!! She's too dangerous sometimes!
But Rika was no amateur.
With the confidence of a seasoned liar, she placed her hands dramatically over her chest and sighed dreamily.
"I like someone super special~!" she declared.
"Oooooh~" Ai teased. "Who?"
Rika winked slyly. "Secret~!"
"Booo!" Yuki jeered. "You have to say!"
Shin shrugged. "The question was 'who do you like.' You have to at least say a type or something."
Rika laughed.
"Hmm... let's see... They're kind... super cute... and make my heart skip beats every time I see them!"
She spun once dramatically, falling into Ai's lap.
Ai caught her with a squeal.
"You're not taking this seriously!" Yuki protested.
But Ai was giggling too much to care.
Shin shook his head, amused.
No one suspected a thing.
Rika breathed a sigh of relief into Ai's lap, her arms curling around Ai's waist like a content kitten.
Safe...! she thought victoriously. I'm still safe!
---
The bottle pointed toward Rika.
Ai and Yuki huddled together, whispering.
They broke apart, eyes gleaming.
Ai cleared her throat.
"We dare you to… sit in Onii-Chan's lap for a whole round!"
"A round means everyone getting their chance."
The air shifted.
Rika froze.
Her heart did a stupid somersault.
Eh?! Sit on Onii-San's lap?!!
Nooo...! Not him! Not him!
I wanted it to be Ai's lap...!
Heat exploded across her cheeks.
Everyone stared at her expectantly.
Even Ai looked thrilled, beaming innocently as if this was the most natural dare in the world.
Rika wanted to crawl under the couch.
But pride was pride.
Slowly, cheeks burning, she got to her feet and walked toward Shin.
He opened his arms slightly, trying to look casual — but his ears were red.
Rika turned and awkwardly lowered herself sideways onto Shin's lap, sitting stiffly, her knees pressed together tightly.
Shin's hands hovered awkwardly before he settled one lightly on her waist — polite, careful.
"See? Not so bad," Shin said lightly, trying to ease the tension.
Rika couldn't breathe.
This is the worst! she cried inside.
His lap is way too comfortable! Damn it!! I want Ai...!
She folded her arms, scowling adorably as the others giggled.
Ai leaned forward, her eyes shining.
"Rika's blushing~," she teased.
"I'm not!" Rika snapped, burying her face against her shoulder dramatically.
Yuki laughed harder than necessary — probably from pure relief it wasn't him.
---
They played a few rounds while Rika sat frozen in Shin's lap.
The bottle spun again — and again — and again...
Each time it stopped, the others gleefully shouted.
"Rika again!"
It was almost absurd how often it happened.
Yuki howled with laughter, clutching his stomach.
Ai was wiping tears from her eyes.
Even Shin was shaking slightly beneath her.
"I swear, this bottle is broken!!" Rika wailed.
"You're cursed, Rika~," Ai sang sweetly.
"Cursed by love," Yuki added dryly.
Rika glared at them all, fuming adorably.
---
"Truth or Dare?" Shin asked, biting back a grin.
Rika, stubborn as always, gritted her teeth.
"...Dare," she said again.
Ai leaned toward Yuki and whispered.
Yuki's eyes lit up wickedly.
He clapped his hands.
"Okay! We dare you to... whisper something romantic into Shin's ear!"
Rika's eyes widened in pure horror.
Noooooooo!!!
She whipped around to glare at Shin, who was smirking slightly, clearly enjoying this too much.
Everyone was waiting.
Heart pounding, Rika leaned close — too close — until her lips nearly brushed Shin's ear.
Her face burned hotter than ever.
She cupped her mouth and whispered shakily, "I... I love your pancakes, Onii-San..."
Shin snorted — literally snorted — trying to suppress his laugh.
Both Ai and Yuki didn't knew what she said, but it was preety obvious to them, that it was embrassing.
Ai burst out laughing.
Yuki nearly rolled onto the floor.
"You're so lame!" Ai teased, wiping tears from her eyes.
"But cute," Shin said, patting Rika's head like a cat.
*I hate this!! Rika screamed internally.
I want to whisper sweet things to Ai, not Onii-San!!*
---
Another spin.
The bottle spun wildly.
Everyone leaned in.
It slowed... teetered...
Rika.
Again.
Another explosion of laughter.
Rika looked ready to scream.
"I'm going to break that bottle," she growled.
"Rules are rules!" Ai giggled.
"Dare again?" Shin teased.
Rika nodded violently, too stubborn to back down.
Ai and Yuki whispered furiously before announcing the next dare.
"We dare you to feed Onii-chan with your mouth!"
The room went dead silent.
Rika thought she had misheard.
"...Eh?"
Ai was beaming. "Like, hold something in your mouth and feed him! It'll be super cute!"
Yuki was bright red but nodded along.
Rika's brain short-circuited.
*Feed Onii-Chan with my mouth?! Like a bird?!*
There was no escape.
Ai quickly handed her a small piece of chocolate from the snack pile.
Rika took it between her lips, blushing furiously.
Shin leaned slightly closer, looking amused but trying not to laugh.
Everyone watched — holding their breath.
Shakily, Rika leaned forward...
Shin met her halfway.
Their lips almost — almost brushed.
Shin gently plucked the chocolate from her mouth with his own, quick and smooth.
There was a loud chorus of squeals and cheers.
Rika immediately buried her face in her hands, mortified.
Shin chuckled softly, ruffling her hair.
"Thanks," he said, voice low and teasing.
*This is the worst night of my life, Rika thought grimly. Why am I feeding the wrong person?!*
---
END OF CHAPTER : 73 : TRUTH OR DARE : PART : 3
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