The laughter in the room was a living thing, buzzing and bubbling in the warm air.
Rika, perched awkwardly on Shin's lap, could feel every pulse of it — could feel Shin's steady breathing beneath her, the solid press of his thighs against the insides of her legs, the unmistakable, dangerous heat from where her hips rested over his lap.
When she had first sat down, Ai and Yuki had both scooted off him without thinking, laughing and clapping their hands like mischievous spirits setting a trap.
And now she was stuck — fully, squarely, sitting on Shin's lap, her lower body shamefully pressed against his crotch.
Her arms were crossed, her cheeks puffed out, glaring at the cursed bottle as it spun once again.
*Please, not me again, please, please, please...!* she prayed desperately.
The bottle slowed.
Wobbled.
Teetered.
And — clicked — stopped.
Pointing straight at her.
Again.
The room exploded into laughter.
"HAHAHA! It's destiny!" Ai crowed, throwing her head back in glee.
"Poor Rika~," Yuki sang with mock sympathy, grinning so wide his face might split.
Shin chuckled low under his breath, the vibration traveling up into Rika's body.
She stiffened, feeling far too much.
"This bottle is rigged," she grumbled, squirming slightly on Shin's lap — and immediately regretting it when she felt a slight twitch beneath her.
*I'm going to die,* she thought, horrified.
"Truth or dare?" Ai asked sweetly, batting her lashes.
Rika hesitated — but there was no way she could risk a truth. Not now. Not with her heart screaming Ai's name with every beat.
"...Dare," she mumbled, looking away.
"Yay!" Ai clapped. She leaned toward Yuki, whispering excitedly. Yuki's eyes gleamed.
They turned to her, innocent little devils.
"Rika," Ai chirped, "we dare you to whisper something... really dirty into Onii-chan's ear."
Rika felt her soul leave her body.
"EH?!"
"Something you'd say to a boyfriend," Yuki added helpfully, grinning like a cat who caught a mouse.
Shin arched a brow, resting his chin lightly on his hand, pretending to look politely curious — but his ears had turned pink.
The room waited in silent, delicious anticipation.
Rika wanted to run.
*I hate you! I hate you all!* she screamed inside.
But she couldn't back down now.
Slowly, tremblingly, she leaned closer to Shin's ear, her hair brushing his cheek, heart pounding so hard it hurt.
Her lips parted.
Her voice shook.
"...O-Onii-San... I want you to... pin me down and... and make me yours..."
The words left her mouth in a trembling rush, too fast and too hot.
She immediately slapped both hands over her face afterward, unable to believe what she just said.
Shin blinked, clearly stunned. His entire body went rigid beneath her for a moment, before he let out a breathless chuckle.
Ai and Yuki shrieked with laughter, practically rolling on the floor.
"You said it!! I don't know what it is but you actually said it!!" Ai squealed.
Rika groaned miserably, sliding down Shin's chest, hiding her face against him like a defeated kitten.
Shin awkwardly patted her back, careful and awkward.
"You're very brave, Rika," he said dryly, trying not to laugh.
Kill me now, Rika begged whatever gods were listening. Just end me!
---
"Next dare!" Ai declared. "Since Rika is soooo comfy on Onii-chan's lap..."
Yuki chimed in, "We dare you to... give him a kiss! On the cheek!"
Rika gawked.
"WHAT?!"
"Come on~," Ai giggled, swinging her feet. "It's just a cheek!"
"And you look so cute together," Yuki teased, his voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness.
Rika whimpered internally.
Still, a dare was a dare.
She twisted awkwardly in Shin's lap, her thighs brushing against his as she shifted to face him more directly.
Their eyes met — his cool, unreadable, hers wide and trembling.
For a second, she thought she saw something flicker in his gaze — surprise? amusement? something darker?
Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss against his cheek.
Shin didn't move.
Didn't say a word.
But his hand tightened slightly around her, almost imperceptibly.
Rika pulled back like she touched a live wire, her face crimson, her heart hammering wildly.
Ai and Yuki burst into fresh squeals of glee.
"Kawaii~!" Ai cheered.
"True love~!" Yuki cried.
Rika groaned miserably and buried her face against Shin's shoulder, too mortified to exist.
---
The next spin.
Rika barely even hoped anymore.
Of course, it landed on her.
"Truth or dare?" Yuki asked, grinning like a devil.
"...Dare," Rika mumbled into Shin's shoulder.
Ai clapped her hands with a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Okay, Rika!" she said. "We dare you to... straddle Onii-chan facing him until the next round! Whenever that comes~"
(In this version of truth or dare, the bottle needs to point toward everyone, which concludes a round. Since, the bottle is always pointing toward Rika, the same round is still going on.)
Rika almost choked on her own spit.
"WHAT?!"
"You're already halfway there," Yuki teased with a smirk.
"I-I can't—!"
"A dare is a dare!" Ai sang sweetly.
Shin remained completely still under her, silent, watching her with those cool, unreadable eyes.
*I'm gonna die. I'm actually going to die. This is how I die,* Rika thought, shaking.
Still — trembling like a leaf — she slowly twisted herself around on his lap, moving to face him fully.
Her knees slid to either side of his hips, straddling him, thighs pressing against his.
Her hands hovered awkwardly at her sides, unsure where to touch or how to balance herself.
The room was so quiet, she could hear every heartbeat pounding through her veins.
Shin finally shifted slightly, settling his hands lightly at her waist, steadying her.
"Careful," he murmured, voice low, sending a shiver through her.
Rika nodded shakily, feeling the heavy weight of his hands, the solid heat of his body pressed against her so intimately it made her dizzy.
Ai and Yuki were dying — literally collapsing against each other, wheezing with laughter.
"You look like a newlywed couple!" Ai squealed.
"First dance at the wedding!" Yuki howled.
Rika wanted to vanish.
*I hate you both so much,* she thought with burning fury.
But the worst part?
The feel of Shin beneath her — the steady warmth of him, the subtle strength in the way he held her — it was... confusing.
Dangerous.
If she didn't get off him soon, she might actually start to lose herself.
And that terrified her.
Because she didn't want Shin.
She wanted Ai.
And yet — her body wasn't listening to her heart at all.
---
END OF CHAPTER : 74 : TRUTH OR DARE : PART : 4
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