Inside the doorway stood a woman dressed in pure white. Her long black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her eyes—white sclera with calm blue pupils—carried a quiet, unreadable depth. She offered a gentle, almost too-perfect smile.
"Oh… you are?" she asked softly.
Kyujaki took a small breath before replying, "I am Kyujaki Shin."
The woman slightly raised one eyebrow, studying him for a brief moment. "Oh, I see. Come inside."
Kyujaki stepped in.
The interior was simple but structured—two rooms on the ground floor, neatly arranged, and to the left, a staircase leading upward. The space was quiet… unnaturally quiet, as if sound itself didn't fully exist here.
Kyujaki glanced around, then asked, "Where is Inumaki-san?"
The woman's expression shifted just slightly—her eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second.
"She's upstairs," she replied calmly.
Kyujaki turned toward a large pillar-lined wall where a long staircase extended upward. He placed his foot on the first step and began ascending, the quiet of the house following him like a shadow.
Step by step, he reached the second floor.
To his right, the wall was painted a deep red, lined with carefully arranged furnishings. Framed photos hung in neat alignment, alongside small tables and chairs that gave the space a curated, almost ceremonial feel.
Nearby stood a closed door.
Kyujaki stopped in front of it and knocked once.
A voice came from inside.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was softly arranged, centered around a bed designed with an elegant, almost blissful aesthetic. The lighting was calm, diffused, and warm.
And there—standing inside—was Inumaki.
She wore a black himekaji-style dress, detailed with delicate structural patterns that gave it a refined, almost ceremonial appearance. Her long black hair flowed naturally, and her eyes—white sclera with blue pupils—rested gently on him.
She gave a small, composed smile.
"Hello."
Kyujaki stood frozen for a brief moment as a faint blush rose across his cheeks.
"H-hello…" he muttered, his voice slightly unstable. His eyes instinctively drifted over Inumaki's appearance before he quickly corrected himself, trying to regain composure.
Inumaki tilted her head playfully, her expression calm but teasing. "Come in… or don't."
Kyujaki gave a small nod and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and slowly sat down on the floor, choosing a simple position rather than the bed.
Inumaki blinked once, then smiled softly as she looked at him. "So…"
Kyujaki echoed awkwardly, "So…?"
She glanced around the room briefly before continuing, her tone light but slightly hesitant.
"The purpose of calling you is…" she paused, pressing her lips together for a moment. "Umm… my mom is going on vacation, so I called you because I'm going to be alone."
She gave a gentle, almost bright smile afterward, the kind that naturally unsettled Kyujaki more than reassured him.
"Umm…" Kyujaki let out a small, uncertain sound, then forced a light smile back. "Okay… so what now?"
Inumaki didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she quietly stared into Kyujaki's eyes.
The room felt slightly stiller than before.
Inumaki's expression changed slightly as she spoke, her tone calm but carrying a subtle intensity.
"So…" she said, her gaze fixed on Kyujaki, "let's play something."
A faint, controlled smile formed on her face as she stood up and walked toward her bed. In the corner stood a four-layer drawer wardrobe. She pulled one of the drawers open and took out a triangular-shaped object—a folded paper booklet.
She returned to the center of the room and placed it carefully between them before sitting down again.
"We will play Truth and Dare," she said plainly.
Kyujaki rolled his eyes slightly, exhaling through his nose. "Truth and Dare?"
She nodded once. "Yes."
A brief silence followed. Kyujaki studied her for a moment, then let out a small breath, curiosity overtaking hesitation.
"…Okay. If you wish so," he said quietly.
Inumaki leaned slightly back and brought a bottle from behind her, placing it on the floor beside the paper book. Kyujaki's eyes followed it immediately.
"What are you going to do with it?" he asked, his tone cautious.
Inumaki gave a soft, almost playful smile. "This is for the decision blade."
Kyujaki tilted his head slightly.
She continued calmly, "The bottle will decide who tells the truth or accepts the dare."
With that, she placed it carefully at the center of the book, aligning it as if it had meaning beyond a simple game tool. Then she looked up at Kyujaki.
"Are you ready?"
Kyujaki held her gaze for a moment, then nodded with a solemn expression.
"Yeah."Inumaki adjusted the bottle slightly, making sure it stood steady between them. Her expression softened, the earlier intensity fading into something more relaxed and playful.
"Okay then," she said lightly, placing her fingers on the bottle. "Let's start."
She gave it a gentle spin. The bottle rotated smoothly, the glass catching the light as it turned… and slowly came to a stop—pointing at Kyujaki.
She smiled, a little amused. "Looks like you go first."
Kyujaki let out a small breath, scratching the back of his head. "Already…?"
"Truth or dare?" she asked, leaning forward slightly, her tone teasing but warm.
Kyujaki thought for a second, then replied, "Truth."
Inumaki paused, pretending to think deeply, tapping her finger lightly against her cheek. Then she looked at him with a small, playful smile.
"Alright… tell me," she said, her voice softer now, "do you like someone?"
Kyujaki blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Huh…?"
A faint blush crept onto his face as he looked away for a moment. "That's… kind of sudden."
Inumaki giggled quietly. "It's just a game."
Kyujaki sighed, but a slight smile formed despite himself. "No… not really."
"Hmm…" she hummed, watching him closely, her smile lingering just a bit longer than before.
"Your turn," she said, nudging the bottle toward him.
The room felt lighter now—quiet, but no longer tense. Just two people, a simple game, and something slowly beginning to form between them.
Inumaki gave Kyujaki a teasing look, her eyes lingering on his for a moment.
Kyujaki cleared his throat softly—"ahem"—then placed his hand on the bottle and spun it. It rotated smoothly like a wheel before slowing… and finally stopping, pointing at Inumaki.
He straightened slightly. "Truth or dare, Inumaki-san?"
She looked at him, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. For a moment, she covered part of her face with her hand, almost shy.
"I… can't pick anything else… so I'll choose truth," she said softly.
Kyujaki watched her, unsure how to react, while she slowly lowered her hand and revealed a small, playful smile.
"Go on," she said gently. "Ask me something, Shin."
Kyujaki hesitated, rolling his eyes slightly as he tried to think. "Okay… umm… what's your favorite food?"
Inumaki blinked once, then answered calmly, "I like vegetables… and fruits."
Kyujaki nodded. "Nice."
A small silence followed—not awkward, but quiet in a comfortable way.
Inumaki's smile didn't fade. Instead, she kept looking at him, as if waiting for something more than just simple questions.
Inumaki leaned in slightly, her eyes glinting with playful curiosity.
"Don't you want to know what my most favorite food is?" she asked softly.
Kyujaki gave her an uncertain look, then smiled faintly. "Maybe… in the next question."
"Oh, okay…" she replied, her tone light.
She reached forward and spun the bottle again. It turned smoothly before slowing down… and finally stopped, pointing at Kyujaki.
Inumaki's lips curved into a teasing smile as she leaned a little closer.
"So, Mr. Shin…" she said, her voice playful, "what do you pick—truth or dare?"
Kyujaki met her gaze, keeping a neutral expression. "…Dare."
Inumaki's smile deepened—soft, but with a hint of excitement behind it.
"Alright then," she said gently. "Let's see…"
She paused for a moment, thinking, her eyes still fixed on him.
"I dare you… to sit closer to me."