“All right. Everyone ready?” Mashiron said. “It’s time to announce the first challenge. I’m a competitor too, so I’ll be seeing these for the first time, just like everyone else. One of the staff is going to hand me a slip and... Ah, there it is! Thanks!”
Here we go, the first challenge. What’s it gonna be?
“The first challenge is...” Mashiron unfolded the paper. “Everyone’s favorite test of upper-body strength—arm wrestling!”
At the reveal of the first challenge, a murmur spread among us competitors.
“Wait, that actually sounds kind of normal,” I said. “I was expecting lube wrestling or something like that.”
“Fun and wholesome!” Chami-chan cried out in alarm. “Remember what you just said about fun and wholesome?!”
“Let’s go!” Hikari-chan said. “Hikari’s going to win this one for sure!”
A challenge that didn’t rely on stamina at all. It seemed that the staff at Live-On still had a heart.
Mashiron continued reading the note. “And the staff left a P.S. here... ‘Enjoy the opportunity to legally hold each other’s hands to the fullest!’”
Goddamn it, Staff-san. This is the last time I stick up for you. Y’all are just weirdos.
“Good for you, Awa-chan,” Mashiron said.
“Huh? Why me?”
: holy shit Awayuki-chan did you see what the challenge is?!
: Awa-chan, congrats on the hand-holding (SEX)!
: Pshh!
: oof ouch my seiso hurting juice
: seiso hurting juice...sake?
: Awa-chan, sexual harassment in real life has consequences. make sure you don't go to jail now!
“Don’t think I don’t see you, chat!” I snapped. “They’ll never catch me. Who do you think I am, Sei-sama?”
“Yeah, chat. Ease up on her,” Mashiron said.
“Oh? Well, this is an unexpected face turn.”
“That’s the warden you’re talking to, not a prisoner.”
“Goddamn it, Mashiron.”
Meanwhile, as we had our jaunty exchange, Chami-chan and Hikari-chan were helping the staff set up the studio for arm wrestling. When they were done, Mashiron launched into a more in-depth explanation of the rules.
“Some ground rules. There are cushions on either side of the table. To win, you need to push your opponent’s hand all the way down to their cushion. Your elbow has to stay on the table the whole time. We don’t have time for a round-robin, so we’ll be doing single elimination.”
I see, I see. There are four of us, so we’ll start by splitting into two pairs. The losers of that round will wrestle for third place, and the winners will face off for first. Sounds simple enough, but that meant it was super critical I roll an easy first-round opponent.
“Says here first-round opponents are to be decided by rock-and-paper hands,” Mashiron continued. “Everyone throw either rock or paper and then pair up with whoever matches you.”
I needed either Chami-chan or Mashiron. I couldn’t be eliminated by Hikari-chan in the first round. If I couldn’t go for first, I needed at least second-place points! That meant this game of rock and paper was just as important as the arm-wrestling match itself. Bring this one home, Awayuki!!!
“We have our first matchups: Awa-chan versus Hikari-chan and me versus Chami-chan.”
“You know what? Maybe I am the One Piece...”
“All right, that’s enough sulking, Awa-chan, come here,” Mashiron said. “You and Hikari-chan are up first.”
: noice
: Chami-chan and Mashiron be thanking their lucky stars rn
: that's sulking?
: the one piece is the one piece manga box set (one piece in one piece)
: did you all just catch Hikari moaning just now???
Am I cursed? Maybe it’s time to visit my local exorcist...
Grr, enough moping around! If this is the hand fate has dealt, then I’ll just have to beat Hikari-chan! Beat her now or beat her later, it makes no difference!
With that, I steeled myself and took my seat at the table. Hikari-chan followed, sitting across from me.
“Um, Awayuki-chan?” she said in a soft, coquettish, almost bedroom-y voice.
“Huh?” I blinked in surprise. This was very unlike Hikari-chan. So very unlike Hikari-chan right before a competition, my heart rate spiked.
“L-Let’s make it a good one. Eheh. Eheh. Eheh heh heh...” She let out a sloppy, drunk-sounding giggle.
“Guys, help! Hikari-chan’s got crazy female pig ‘fuck me’ eyes!”
“Crazy female what now eyes?” Mashiron asked.
“That’s a phrase I wish I never heard,” Chami-chan said.
Help! Why isn’t anyone helping! I can deal with “fuck me” eyes. In fact, most times they’re kinda hot, but what Hikari-chan has going on right now is a whole different ball game!
Also, what happened to the old Hikari-chan? The one that would declare “I’m not gonna lose!” with a confident look on her face?! What the hell is “Let’s make it a good one,” anyway? What am I even making good?! I don’t want to make it good!!!
No, no, I have to focus. Focus!!! If I lose my cool and lose here, then I’ll really have to make it good for Hikari-chan!
Yep, okay. Calm, Awayuki, calm.
As I regained a semblance of composure, Mashiron took her place by the table as the ref.
“‘On ‘go,’ you’ll start. Now lock hands,” she said.
I said nothing as I firmly grasped Hikari-chan’s hand.
“Aah,” she moaned quietly.
Ignore it... Ignore it!!! In fact, just close your eyes and pretend she isn’t there!!!
“Ready, set...go!”
“HRRNNNNNNNGGGG.”
Immediately, I threw every ounce of strength into my arm, muscles straining as I tried to force her hand down.
Wait...what? I thought I’d be crushed right away, but—no—I’m holding my own! In fact, I’m actually gaining ground. Her wrist is buckling! Am I... Am I winning?