Truth Game
Emily Swan hadn't been able to relax all day yesterday.
'Oh no, what should I do...'
She couldn't shake the feeling that Bianca Shama's disappearance was her fault.
—I'll take Carlyle.
She vividly remembered that flustered expression after she'd said those words.
'What was it, exactly...'
It was hard to put into words. Honestly, even Emily had been shocked by Bianca's reaction—it was more intense than she'd expected. Had she been too greedy? For a moment, pangs of conscience stabbed at her heart, leaving her stunned.
—Ah... whatever. I don't know why you're telling me this, but sure, go ahead.
Bianca's eyes had trembled so much as she said it. Emily had easily seen through her attempt to play it cool.
—Sunbae was acting weird.
That was what Bianca's pink-haired junior had said. She'd heard Bianca hadn't been herself even after that.
'Is it because of me? No way...'
So Emily bit her lip alone in her room, pacing anxiously in circles.
Of course, it bothered her that Carlyle had chased after her right away. No—honestly, it bothered her a lot. How could it not? The guy she liked had bolted after someone else like that. Bianca had clearly sensed the gap between herself and Emily.
It made her sad. Really sad. Her mood soured completely. Truth be told, just a tiny bit, she'd even wished those two would never cross paths again.
She was human, after all. Dark thoughts like that had flickered through her mind for a moment.
But soon, Emily shook her head.
'...What am I even thinking.'
Jealousy, maybe. Envy. Those shadowy emotions. Almost no one stays selfless in the face of love.
'But, but...'
Bianca Shama hadn't done anything wrong. Had she wronged Emily? Or anyone? Not at all.
No one was at fault. Really, no one. People just can't help their feelings.
Emily wanted Carlyle Schultz. Carlyle wanted Bianca Shama. And...
'And... Bianca, you surely...'
But even so. Even as rivals. Even if that rival had a huge advantage over her.
If something bad happened to Bianca Shama, Emily still wouldn't feel right about it. After all, Bianca was her friend.
Yeah, a friend. Just a friend, anyway. They weren't super close, but Bianca clearly adored her.
'So, come back safe.'
Emily hoped for her return unharmed, nothing more. That would put her mind at ease—even if a corner of her heart still ached.
"Hey, girls! They're back safe!"
So the morning news brought a tangle of emotions: relief, gratitude, and... the realization that those two were fated, after all.
'Yeah, that's good.'
But what mattered most was their safe return. Her pure, cute friend—who'd always shown her endless kindness—had come back.
Seeing her now filled Emily with genuine joy. She was a friend, after all. A good kid, no matter what.
Emily tried to approach Bianca, but the adults stopped her. She needed rest, they said.
The third day's schedule was at a nearby beach. But Emily couldn't enjoy it properly. She hadn't even gotten a proper look at her.
And when she returned to the room—there was Bianca Shama. To her own surprise, pure joy welled up in Emily.
'Thank goodness, really...'
Bianca didn't look badly hurt. Deep relief washed over her as Emily rushed forward.
"Bianca, you...!"
She hugged her immediately, and sure enough, Bianca panicked.
"E-Emily...?"
The girl who couldn't hide her crush on her. In that moment, Emily reflected on her past self—for having dark thoughts about such a friend.
"I was so worried... really, so worried...!"
This was sincere. Truly sincere.
"Waaah, Bianca-!"
Soon Shasha Noah joined, and the three embraced. Bianca was a bit flustered. Even Emily and Shasha's eyes welled up with tears.
"Sorry... it felt like it was my fault."
Emily apologized out of nowhere, blaming herself without context.
"No, really!"
Bianca tried to stop her, of course. It wasn't Emily's fault. Not from any angle.
'She... cares this much...'
Bianca had worried earlier that things might get awkward with Emily. Emily liked Carlyle, after all. And she'd noticed Bianca's feelings first—noticing and even guarding against them.
Would their relationship change? Those fears turned out to be groundless.
Bianca remembered why she'd fallen for Emily in the first place. Back when she'd despaired after losing to Carlyle. The girl who'd approached and comforted her.
—Yesterday to today, today to tomorrow. Just keep getting better, right?
That kindness was why Bianca had liked Emily Swan.
Emily was kind, after all. Too kind. Bianca felt sorry for ever doubting her, even briefly.
"I'm fine...!"
She said it cheerfully, but tears pricked at her own eyes too.
In the end, the three clung together and sobbed their hearts out.
Women definitely cried more easily than men. And tears were contagious among them.
Bianca hadn't planned to cry at first, but somehow she got swept up. The weirdest part? Once she started, Emily and Shasha cried even harder.
Sniffle, sniffle—
Such sounds still echoed in the room. But eventually, it got awkward.
So the three looked at each other's tear-streaked faces and burst out laughing.
"Why'd we even cry...?"
"No idea..."
"Kinda childish, huh."
Childish, sure. But it didn't feel bad.
Suddenly sentimental, Bianca felt even closer to them. Her mood lifted, and she quoted an anime classic.
"Eh, it's fine, right? No one's perfect from the start in this world."
She felt a bit proud saying it.
'Was that kinda cool just now?'
Bianca tilted her chin up.
"Huh...?"
"Outta nowhere...?"
But Shasha and Emily reacted oddly. Bianca felt embarrassed.
And slowly realized.
'Damn otaku mode struck again...!'
Her fujoshi instincts had flared up. Was it the excitement? She'd spouted something totally out of left field for normal people.
Luckily, they played along after.
"Can't argue with that."
"Bianca's got some hidden philosophy."
"Haha... ha..."
Bianca laughed awkwardly. Good enough.
But that line hadn't popped into her head randomly. Emily herself had said it to her.
"Yesterday to today, today to tomorrow. Just keep improving—that's what you told me. Remember, Emily?"
Silence fell.
Shasha, not involved, just tilted her head. Emily looked puzzled.
"M-Me...?"
She even pointed at herself in disbelief.
'...Oh, crap!'
Then Bianca realized her massive blunder! Emily had never said that to "Bianca Shama."
She'd said it to "Vita Shama."
A huge mistake.
"Ah, uh... I heard it from my brother."
"Your brother, Vita...?"
"Yeah, Vita-!"
Saying her own name felt so weird. No one would know.
But right now, no choice.
"Vita oppa told me...! It stuck with me big time."
Bianca desperately covered for herself, barely holding back the cringe.
"So, Vita oppa!"
Ugh.
"Hmm, really...?"
Emily just tilted her head.
"For someone who heard it secondhand..."
Super suspicious.
Didn't she say it to me like that?
—Yesterday to today, today to tomorrow. Just keep improving—that's what you told me.
Clearly, to me.
A vague feeling nagged at her. Still, Emily did remember saying something like that long ago—to Vita Shama, of course.
She'd meddled because his moping was cute. And he'd remembered it enough to tell his sister.
Hmm. The context felt off, but Emily's mood wasn't bad.
"...Yeah, I guess I did."
She briefly pictured Vita—that innocent boy's face.
—We're friends.
Childhood friend or not, it was basically a rejection. But Emily had rejected him more curtly.
She still felt sorry toward him. Hence her ambiguous smile.
"I should apologize to Vita someday."
"No, no."
Bianca waved it off.
"Vita's pretty magnanimous, actually."
"Pfft—really?"
Emily's laugh warmed her. Shasha butted in teasingly from the side.
"You call your brother 'that guy,' Bianca?"
"We're close."
True, right? Who was closer to her than herself?
—I prefer more manly types...
It had hurt back then, but she'd already apologized for that slip-up.
"Don't worry, Emily. I'll pass it on for sure."
Emily hesitated at Bianca's words.
"Huh? No. I should say it myself when Vita comes back..."
That's who Emily Swan was. Everyone makes mistakes. But admitting them isn't easy.
Yet Emily apologized for even tiny slip-ups—or things that weren't her fault at all.
'Emily's so kind.'
That's why Bianca had liked her. No—still did.
Bianca felt like this school trip was teaching her all sorts of emotions. Her bond with Emily felt deeper now.
'And Carlyle...'
She thought for a moment.
'...No, not now.'
Her head got complicated, so she shook it off. Not the time for that.
The conversation wrapped up. Shasha grinned slyly at them.
"Hey, girls."
An ominous vibe.
"Think about it. Bianca came back safe—shouldn't we celebrate?"
Logically flawless.
"Yeah, totally."
They agreed, and Shasha's eyes sparkled.
"So, we've cried enough, talked enough. One thing left."
What?
"A toast for the final night!"
Very Shasha-like. Her bulging bag had been a hint.
"I saved this for today. Ta-da!"
Sure enough, Shasha held alcohol.
"Booze...?!"
Bianca had half-expected it but panicked anyway.
"Even so, rules are..."
"We shouldn't, but if we don't get caught..."
Model student Bianca had never done this.
Shasha persuaded.
"C'mon, it's a school trip classic."
"Kinda tempting..."
"E-Emily...?"
Emily smiled sweetly. Even she was on board.
"Or, Bianca... any reason you can't?"
"Oh yeah! Aren't you on meds?"
She waved off their concern.
"No, it's fine! Nothing wrong with drinking..."
"Then no problem! It's basically a drink—low alcohol, just a little. What do ya say?!"
Shasha was extra pushy today. Bianca guessed why.
She'd seen the rift between Bianca and Emily up close. Stuck in the middle, Shasha must be anxious.
'Yeah, got it.'
After agonizing, Bianca caved.
"Fine, but condition! Just us three."
"Deal?"
"Yay!"
They accepted happily.
Somehow, the three ended up drinking together.
"Ooh, tasty."
"Super sweet and syrupy."
"Told ya, low-proof. Not even real booze!"
Shasha's snacks helped it go down easy.
Maybe intentionally, they avoided one topic: how Bianca returned safely. How she'd met Carlyle. Bianca was grateful they didn't pry.
Instead, school trip gossip. A boy caught peeking at the girls' bath on day one, chewed out. A girl getting hit on in the festival street—turns out he had a girlfriend there. Chaos.
Such trivial tales.
"That's cheating, right?"
"Total scumbag."
Time flew.
Lights-out broadcast, teacher check.
"Bianca, you okay? Ointment on the wounds?"
"Yes, fine."
"You two, make sure she rests."
"Yes, teacher."
Door closed—relief.
"Phew—"
"Close call."
"Almost busted."
Lights out. Corner lamp on—cozy vibe.
They'd nearly finished a bottle each.
"So, how was the beach...?"
Buzzed and happy, Bianca finally asked what she'd been dying to know. She'd wanted to go.
"Oh, Bianca."
"You missed it."
Sympathetic faces.
"Kinda lame, though."
"For real?!"
"Country beaches suck."
Even Emily dissed it.
"Tourist area was tiny."
Not as great as hoped.
"But Shasha."
Emily grinned.
"You were bold. Shocked me."
Shasha pouted.
"Sigh, so what? Zero gains."
"Gains...?"
Bianca asked, then Shasha squished her cheeks.
"Sha-Shasha-!"
"Chewy and squishy. You pure fox! Playing dumb?"
Emily giggled.
"Maybe she really doesn't know? Like you said, total airhead."
"Yeah, but..."
Shasha's cheeks puffed.
"Haa—"
Deep sigh. Alcohol made people honest about insecurities.
"Truth is... I've never had a boyfriend. Never."
Emily and Bianca gaped.
"For real?"
"You, Shasha?!"
Shocking—she was popular, bubbly, cute.
"Waaah, dunno—too intimidating..."
Shasha sniffled suddenly.
Bianca and Emily exchanged glances.
'How to comfort her...?'
'No clue.'
Then Shasha proposed.
"Hey, wanna play that?"
"What...?"
"Truth game, duh."
Shasha wasn't a love expert, but she loved this. And had motives.
"Friends shouldn't hide stuff!"
That way, no one gets hurt.
Bianca hesitated.
"...Sure."
Emily agreed first. She'd caught Shasha's intent.
Something clicked for her too.
'We need to know each other's feelings... clear the air.'
Keep their trio intact.
Bianca joined the mood. Truth game flowed naturally.
"Hated foods?"
Simple at first. Time passed, questions deepened.
Finally, Emily asked Bianca.
"Last one. Yes or no."
Here it came. Shasha tensed.
Emily spoke.
"So, Bianca. Do you like Carlyle?"
"Ah, uh...?"
Bianca's eyes froze.