The Wish Bet
Chris, unlike her usual self, stared blankly out the window even during class. For the past few days, she'd been joining Emil and Sierra's morning training sessions. It was probably around then that her spacing out started happening more often.
"……."
In her mind, as she gazed into space, two figures surfaced: Emil and Sierra.
"Ugh…."
For some reason, the image that came to mind was the two of them getting along so well. Her fist clenched tight as she sat there, trembling with barely contained strength.
What the hell is their relationship…?
Chris released her grip, slumping forward onto her desk. With a sullen expression, she wandered through her thoughts, searching for answers.
Sierra. Anyone would call her pretty, and she had a friendly personality too. Maybe even Emil….
At that thought, her sharp eyes quivered ever so slightly.
"……."
Why did these thoughts keep creeping in? She'd been mulling over the reason these past few days. Of course, the answer was simple. Because she saw Emil as a man. And she wanted something more than just friendship with him.
"Ahem, Chris."
"……Yes."
"Even if you're tired, during class…."
"……."
"Eek! Ah, no… ahem."
She'd dozed off absentmindedly and got called out by the professor mid-lecture. But when their eyes met, the professor flinched and looked away. A reaction Chris was all too used to. Emil did the same.
Am I really that scary?
She hadn't even glared that hard this time. Yet both the professor and Emil shrank back preemptively.
"……."
Suddenly, that fact grated on her.
Whoosh—!
Clack!
Thwack!
Chris lightly parried my wooden sword and stepped back with graceful footwork.
"……."
She quickly assumed a defensive stance, waiting for my next move.
The affinity event is definitely working.
Her approach to sparring had changed. Before, she'd come at me fast and hard, heedless of whether I got hurt. But ever since the dungeon practical, she'd turned incredibly defensive during our bouts.
If I kept this up and nailed the main events, her route would be complete. But….
My goal isn't finishing the route—it's getting her to confess.
To earn a confession, simply conquering her wouldn't cut it.
So I need to boost her affinity even higher.
With Marie, I'd managed a confession somehow. But Chris had strong pride and was surprisingly shy. I had to nudge her toward thinking, I have to confess.
"Hey, Chris."
"Uh, yeah? What is it."
Sparring over, I sidled up to her during the break.
"Doing nothing but training like this every time—doesn't it get kinda boring?"
"……What?"
She blinked in confusion for a second, then mumbled, "Well… maybe."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, her expression a bit sulky.
She's not mad.
The old Chris would've snapped, Does training to get stronger need to be fun? But she just glanced at me and went along with it. Prioritizing my feelings over her own values.
That's what hooked me back then.
She wasn't my type at first, but after conquering her, that side of her had me hooked. Of course, then she stabbed me in the back.
"Anyway."
I pressed on with the receptive Chris.
"Wanna make it a bet?"
"…A bet?"
The bet that had sparked our connection this loop. Mentioning it got a big reaction—her eyes widened, sparkling with interest as she stared at me.
"Lately, you seem kinda unmotivated, y'know? Like your drive's dipped."
"Urk… N-not really."
"So maybe a bet would spice things up?"
"……What kinda bet."
She bit, asking for details.
I grinned. "How about a wish bet?"
"……W-wish?"
"Loser grants the winner one wish. Sound good?"
"……."
Her eyes trembled noticeably. She was hooked, big time. Wonder what wish she had in mind. Would be perfect if it was a confession.
"Hmph, pulling out such a lame idea… Guess training's gotten too easy for you?"
She blushed, turning her head away.
But her words said one thing—
"Fine…! I'll crush you this time. Get ready to lose."
"Haha, now that's the spirit."
Her mouth curved into a slight smile despite the tough talk. She really liked the bet idea.
"Gone soft on me lately, huh? Gotten cocky."
"Well… I have improved."
"Hmph, time you learned you're still a pup."
Chris and I faced off with wooden swords, trading barbs. Her eyes gleamed sharp and fierce, her expression as savage as ever.
But….
W-w-w-wish right…! Wish right…!
Inside, her mind was buzzing louder than ever, thrilled beyond control.
Wish right. In other words, anything—as long as it was something Emil could do.
Whoosh—!
Clack—!
The wooden swords clashed, signaling the start of the match. The two of us looked dead serious. But Chris couldn't calm her inner chatter.
What to ask for…? What can he do? How far would he go…?
This rare chance, and given our skill gap, victory was hers for sure. The match went to the first clean hit.
Way more favorable than the last bet, where she'd asked for sword lessons without wooden swords.
Chris was convinced she'd snag that wish right.
What to wish for…?
Even as she swung her sword, her mind fixated solely on the prize. Never once doubting defeat.
And the first wish that popped into her head?
Sierra. The girl who seemed so close to Emil.
…How he feels about Sierra… or something.
Or maybe….
…Keep your distance from Sierra.
"Urgh…!"
Whoosh!
Thwack!
Parrying Emil's strike, Chris squeezed her eyes shut, face burning red.
That's way too obvious…!
It was her own idea, but too direct—like a straight-up confession.
Something else… more natural….
She deflected his flurry of strikes effortlessly, lost in thought. A wish that satisfied her desires without giving her away.
And then it hit her.
A meal… that should be fine, right?
The thing people called a date.
Yeah, 'buy me dinner' isn't a weird wish at all….
Time alone with Emil, away from training. Maybe a chance to probe about Sierra over food. And above all, natural.
Perfect! That's it!
Chris locked in her wish: dinner with Emil at a nice restaurant. Done.
She refocused on beating him—but….
"Opening!"
"Kyaa!"
Thwack!
In that split-second lapse, Emil didn't miss. His wooden sword delivered a clean smack to the top of her head.
Chris clutched her skull and crumpled to the ground.
Bet over.
"Sorry, you were blocking so well without seeming focused. I swung without thinking…."
"Urghhh…."
Emil smiled apologetically at her pained groan. But the pain wasn't in her head.
What hurt was losing the bet.
I got careless…!
Overconfident in her sure win, she'd shown an opening.
"Haa…."
"That bad? You're even sighing."
"No… it's not that…."
How could she not sigh?
My wish right….
It felt like losing something she'd already claimed. The emptiness hit her hard, dark and heavy.
She'd finally found a good wish that hid her feelings.
Did Emil know? Or not? He just beamed, all innocent victory.
"So, I win—wish right's mine, right?"
"……Yeah."
Wonder what he'd wish for. Chris pondered briefly.
'No wooden swords next spar' or 'carry my bag'…?
Only childish pranks came to mind. Nothing else fit Emil.
He'd never wanted much from her anyway— just sword lessons.
…Does he not see me as a woman at all?
Another sigh threatened.
Then—
"So… wanna meet up this weekend?"
"……Sure."
"Wish rights are so straightforward."
"………Wait, what?"
She'd answered on autopilot, now staring blankly at his bright smile.
What wish was that?
"Meet on the weekend. Cool?"
"……You mean sword lessons on the weekend?"
"What? Haha, no way. Town square."
Emil said it casually, then returned their wooden swords.
"Training's done for today. See ya. Tomorrow."
He headed back to the dorms like it was nothing.
But Chris watched his back for a long while.
This is….
After much thought, she finally—
blushed crimson and bowed her head.
A date…?