A/N: this is a chapter event like the rantarou tsumugi kaede event in chapter 1! this would take place if you get the rock paper scissors cards from the monomono machine and talk to ichika before heading to the dining hall

our girl kaede needs more screentime so I give it to her

I found Ichika pacing the dining hall by herself, a pouty expression on her face.

"..." Ichika's pout remained on her face as I walked up to her.

"Good morning Aki-san." I said with a wide smile. "Is everything alright?"

Ichika looked up at me and gave me a wide smile. "Oh, well if it isn't Miss pretty girl! How can I help you?"

"Miss pretty girl...?" I blinked and shook my head lightly with a slight blush. "A-Anyway, you seem down. Something wrong?"

"Yeah!" Ichika's pout returned with a vengeance. "I'm so bored right now! There's nothing to do here except wander around this school which I've done enough of, I've looked literally everywhere, or go to my dorm and do nothing!"

"Well I mean... You could always try talking to other people here and make some friends!" I suggested, clasping my hands together with a bright smile. "Look, I have some Rock-Paper-Scissors Cards here!" I pulled out a deck of cards.

Ichika's eyes lit up. "I didn't know you had these! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" She pouted.

"S-Sorry, kinda forgot I had these on me haha..." I chuckled nervously.

"Well then, as punishment... Let's play a few games together! Cmoonnnn!" Ichika's eyes sparked in anticipation as she leaned closer to me. "Pleaaassseeee?"

Would you like to go with Ichika?

Yes ✔

No

I sighed and gave the small girl a light chuckle. "Of course, I'd love to."

Ichika high fived herself and cheered. "Yes! One point for Ichika! Let's play in the library later this afternoon. I need to practice my rock paper scissors skills nyufufu. I'll see you there Akamatsu-san!" She cheerfully skipped away, presumably to practice the card game.

I paused and blinked in realisation. "...Isn't rock paper scissors a game based on luck?"

***

Back in my dorm, I check the clock and notice that it's the afternoon. I should probably head over to the library now so I don't leave Ichika waiting.

Arriving at the library, I couldn't help but notice that the person in the library wasn't the one that I was waiting for.

"Huh? Harukawa-san?"

The twin-tailed girl stared me directly in the eyes and let out an annoyed huff. "Did you get dragged here by Aki as well?"

I blinked. "Dragged here? No no, I agreed to play a game with her, that's all." I chuckled, scratching the back of my head. Maki was radiating a very irritated aura and I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. "Speaking of Aki-san, have you seen her-"

I was cut off by someone jumping on my back and wrapping their arms and legs around my torso. "Boo!"

"Argh!" I let out a scream and tumbled forwards, losing my footing. I braced for impact when I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders press against them and push me back up, Ichika still clinging to my back.

"Thanks, Harukawa-san! Who would've thought you'd be so sweet. Isn't that cute." Ichika cooed, her grip on my torso tightening ever so slightly.

"Shut up, that was your fault." Maki snapped back at the giggling girl, still clinging onto me as I stabilized my footing.

"She's right!" I looked back and glared at Ichika, who was resting her head on my left shoulder. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Awww, but it was fun." Ichika pouted, sliding off me. "Anyyyywhoooo, did you bring the cards!? I even convinced Harukawa-san to play with us."

"You didn't convince me, you kept pestering me until I came with you." Maki sighed.

"The more the merrier right?" Ichika chirped, ignoring Maki's glare.

Maki groaned, rubbing her eyes. "I want to go back to my dorm."

"Haha, no you don't!" Ichika grinned at Maki.

"Yes, I do."

"No you don't."

"Shut up."

"How rude." Ichika pouted, then turned to me with sparkles in her eyes. "Now hurry up, get the cards out and let's play!" She sat on the ground and patted it, signalling us to sit down with her.

"Ugh..." Maki clicked her tongue and sat down to Ichika's right, and I sat down to her left so we formed a small circle.

"So... is this just normal rock paper scissors?" I asked, placing the cards in the middle of us.

Ichika shook her head. "Of course not silly! That would just be boring." She poked her tongue out slightly and took the box of cards. "Let me explain how we're going to play a spiced-up version of this game. After all, normal rock paper scissors would be over super fast with just three of us."

"And there goes my afternoon." Maki grumbled.

"Don't be such a grouchy pants, Harukawa-san!" Ichika snickered.

"Just try it Harukawa-san. I'm sure it will be a lot more fun than you expect!" I grinned at Maki.

Maki just sighed and pinched her nosebridge. "Just get on with the explanation."

"Yeah yeah." Ichika distributed 6 cards to each of us.

"Oh?" I picked mine up and took a peek. 2 scissors, 3 rocks, and 1 paper. "Now this is new!" I grinned and flicked through the cards.

"Ok so the way this game works... Step one! We challenge someone to a RPS battle. Step 2, those two play RPS as we normally would but here's the catch! The goal of the game is to get rid of all of your cards, so if you lose the match, you have to take the winner's card."

I clapped my hands together excitedly. "Ooh, that sounds fun, I can't wait! Like a uno, rock paper scissors hybrid!"

"..." Maki remained silent while looking at her 6 cards.

"A person can refuse the challenge, but they must pick up one card, capiche?" Ichika finished explaining while having her six cards fanned out with her left hand. "You pretty ladies readyyy?" She snickered.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I'll definitely beat you both!" I giggled.

Maki just sighed, completely defeated. "...I guess I have no choice."

***

"Ah-ha! I win! Now a little gift for you." Ichika held her rock card out to Maki, who took it and added it to her own hand, now counting to 2, while Ichika now has 3 cards in her hand.

"...And I was so close too." Maki sighed.

"Haha, nice one, Aki-san! We stopped her from winning!" I raised my hand to high five Ichika, who happily returned it.

"Yeah! Teamwork is dreamwork!" Ichika giggled.

"..." Maki stared at her two cards and gave a small smile, one which Ichika immediately noticed.

"Oh my muffins, look! Look! Harukawa-san is smiling! She's smiling!" Ichika grinned widely. "See, I told you you would have fun."

The smile on Maki's face immediately disappeared. "No. I'm annoyed that I lost and now this stupid game is going to be dragged out even longer."

"Oh please, you are totally having fun right now." Ichika smirked.

"Shut up. You're so annoying." Maki growled, looking over at me. "Akamatsu, let's get this over with." She held out a card to me, challenging me.

"Haha, c'mon Harukawa-san! Lighten up a little! This is plenty fun." I smiled warmly at the stoic girl whose face softened ever so slightly.

"...Whatever. Just get a card out."

"Y'know, you're actually really pretty when you're not scowling, Harukawa-san!" Ichika giggled, toying with the cards in her left hand.

"...You're so strange." Maki sighed.

"Whaaaat, can't I give nice compliments to pretty girls?" Ichika pouted.

"She's right." I nodded and puffed my cheeks out. "I think you're very pretty too, Harukawa-san!"

A light pink blush spread across Maki's cheeks. "Shut up. You two are so... weird."

"What can I say? I love pretty girls, nyufufu." Ichika snickered.

Once the game finally concluded, I bid farewell to Ichika and Maki and returned to my room.

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YES I WILL MAKE A POWERPOINT VERISON OF THIS EHEHHEHE JUST GIVE ME TIME I HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL WORK RN :")

Word count: 1309