A Liar's Truth [UNDER FINAL REVISION]

Ch 27: Tea

Third-person point of view 

"The boys can't take their eyes off you! Spill it!"

"I-I'm serious!" Kanzaki shrieked, bursting into laughter, her voice cracking from the tickle attack. Tears formed on the corners of her eyes as Yada joined in the ambush, while the others egged her on.

Right then, the sliding door opened with a click.

"You guys having fun without me~?" Ginka asked, banana milk in one hand, the other adjusting her slightly rumpled yukata. 

"Finally," Hayami called from her seat by the window. "Did you win your dumb arcade war or what?"

Ginka sighed like a tragic heroine and flopped down next to Kataoka, who instinctively moved her pillow aside. "Nope. Lost. Crushed. Defeated. My honor's in shambles."

The girls laughed again as Ginka tucked her legs beneath her yukata, settling into the circle.

"Okay, drama queen," Nakamura grinned with a glint in her eye, "You're just in time. We're talking about boys."

Ginka raised a brow, already sensing where this was going. "Dangerous territory~"

Nakamura leaned in, grin widening. "We did some voting. Isogai's top pick. Maehara's second. But Karma wins on raw looks alone."

"Oh?" Ginka sipped her banana milk like it was a wine glass, "Can't say I disagree."

"Alright, Miss Idol," Hinano teased, scooting over along with the other girls. "It's your turn! Time to fess up--What's your type?"

"Yeah!" Kayano leaned forward eagerly. "Like, what kinda guy actually gets your heart going?"

The question was so familiar it felt like muscle memory. Ginka didn't even hesitate. "Someone who can make me laugh, I guess?" 

"Ooh, the classic~" 

"You have so much to offer and that's all you ask for? Anyone could be a clown!" 

Exactly. 

It's easy. Non-controversial. No mention of height, face, weight, or body.

Instead, Hayami clocks her. "That sounds practiced."

Bingo. Ginka couldn't even argue with that.

"Girl, this isn't a press con—drop the PR answer and give us the real tea!"

"Do you even know what you're into?" Yada asked, tilting her head slightly. Her intuition is on point. 

Ginka paused.

"I don't really get the chance to think about it." She casually shoots the can into the trash close by, "When most of your life is rehearsed, even your preferences feel.. borrowed. What won't disappoint. What they would want to hear."