Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 13 - Crisis Management

Asuka's POV:

''Alright, three! This brings me straight to the Luck Square.''

In the end, we did agree to play the Game of Life together. After all, it's Yotsuba's request, and none of us has the heart to turn her down. Besides, a little fun after class wouldn't hurt— Not Fuutarou too, bruh fucking mutant.

Everyone except Itsuki joined the game. It hits me a little that she isn't here, but I don't want to push her. I'd already said everything I needed to, and forcing her would probably just make things worse. Still, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bond with the girls— especially  with Nino.

''HA! Asuka-kun! You owe me 750,000 yen'' 

''Dafuq? I haven't even rolled the dice yet...''

Trouble with ribbons chuckled cheerfully. "Doesn't matter, hehe! The Luck Card says I take money from the player to my left. So... hand it over, or it's off to jail for you!"'

"...You'd make an excellent loan shark, you know that?" I groaned, begrudgingly handing over the fake Monopoly cash. ''Fuuuuck, fine.''

We all started with a million yen in game money, and now I had already lost 3/4 of it without lifting a finger. This gambling is definitely different from the ones on the computer. If this was a real gambling table, I'd be holding a gun to my head right now.

After leaving me brutally poor, Yotsuba counted all the money added to her coffers and spoke. ''Dice on you, Miku~'' Okay, now she's really showing off on purpose.

''Hum!'' Miku nodded seriously, clutching the dice with all of her focus. She tossed it with precision to the middle.

"Six. That puts you on a Random Event Square." I announced. "Pick a card."

You know what? This game's approach to random events is pretty hilarious. At any moment, you have the risk of a meteor falling on your head and fucks your whole progress— or you could just choke on a single grape.

Miku drew a card from the deck and read it out loud. "Best Friend Card: It says I have to go on a vacation with the person to my right."

A moment of silence.

Then, slowly, Ichika's lips curled into a smile. "Ara~ That's me! Oh Miku, you don't know how much onee-chan needed a vacation. Thank you!~"

Before Miku could react, Ichika had already latched onto her, pulling her into a warm, sisterly—but let's be real, suffocating—embrace. And then, to my absolute horror, she lowered Miku's head onto her strategically well-placed boobs. 

''I-Ichika!'' Miku murmured in a voice that was disturbingly... content? ''Uwaaaaa~''