NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: The Dare
Mina was relentless. From the moment she announced her sleepover plan, the Class 1-A group chat was alive with excitement. One by one, everyone agreed to join. Even Bakugo, after several complaints and name-calling, eventually grumbled a reluctant, **"Fine."**
But Kikidori? He wasn't so easily convinced.
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**Mina Ashido:** "Come on, Kikidori! Everyone's coming! You HAVE to!"
**Denki Kaminari:** "Yeah, don't leave us hanging, dude!"
**Kyoka Jiro:** "He probably won't come. Let him be."
**Mina Ashido:** "Nope! I refuse to take no for an answer! Kikidori, pleeeaaassseee?"
**Katsuki Bakugo:** "For crying out loud, just say yes so she shuts up!"
**Mina Ashido:** "Kikidori, if you don't come, I'm going to spam you until your phone explodes!"
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Kikidori stared at the endless messages, debating how long he could endure Mina's persistence. But it didn't stop. Notification after notification. Finally, with a groan, he gave in.
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**Kikidori Kutima:** "...Fine."
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The chat erupted into cheers, with Kaminari posting a string of celebratory emojis and Mina declaring it the "Best Day Ever." Kikidori regretted his decision immediately.
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An hour later, Kikidori found himself standing awkwardly in Mina's dorm room, surrounded by the chaos that was Class 1-A. Mina had decorated her room with fairy lights, fluffy pillows, and an assortment of snacks scattered across the table. The energy in the room was loud and vibrant, the complete opposite of Kikidori's usual vibe.
He kept to the corner, observing quietly as everyone settled in. Bakugo looked annoyed as ever, sitting with his arms crossed and glaring at anyone who came too close. Kaminari and Kirishima were already raiding the snacks, while Jiro leaned against the wall, earbuds in but still half-listening to the conversations.
Mina clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Okay, everyone! Let's start with a game! And the first game is… *SPIN THE BOTTLE!*"
The room buzzed with a mix of excitement and dread.
"No way," Bakugo grumbled, already looking like he was ready to leave.
"Sounds fun!" Kaminari said, grinning.
Jiro raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? This is so cliché."
Kikidori immediately tensed. He had been skeptical about coming to this gathering in the first place, but *this* was definitely not what he'd signed up for.
Mina set up the bottle in the middle of the circle and gestured for everyone to sit. Kikidori remained standing, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm not playing," he said flatly, his voice quiet but firm.
"Aww, don't be like that!" Mina said, pouting. "It's just for fun!"
Kikidori turned toward the door, fully intending to leave, but before he could step out, something wrapped around him.
"Ribbit. Not so fast," Tsuyu said calmly, her tongue extending and wrapping around his arm. She gently pulled him back into the room, setting him down in the circle.
"Great teamwork, Tsu!" Mina cheered.
Kikidori scowled but said nothing. He reluctantly sat in the circle, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor as the game began. The bottle spun, landing on random classmates, who either laughed nervously or groaned at their dares.
And then, the bottle stopped.
It pointed directly at Mina.
Mina grinned mischievously, her pink eyes lighting up as she turned toward Kikidori. "Okay, my dare is for… Kikidori!"
Kikidori's expression darkened, and his sharp canines peeked out as his lips tightened. "What?"
Mina smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "I dare Kikidori to…" She paused for dramatic effect. "...kiss—"
Before she could finish, Kikidori's eyes began to glow faintly. The eerie green and blue light made the room fall silent. The air grew heavy, and everyone instinctively leaned back, sensing the shift in energy.
"Whoa, wait—hold up," Kaminari said, nervously waving his hands.
Mina froze, her playful demeanor faltering. "Uh… okay! Okay! New dare!" she blurted out, raising her hands defensively. "I dare Kikidori to… uh… eat a whole bag of chips in under a minute! How's that?"
Kikidori's glowing eyes faded, and the tension in the room eased. He didn't say anything, but the warning had been clear.
Mina laughed nervously. "Haha… okay, maybe I went a little too far. My bad!"
The rest of the group relaxed, with Kirishima breaking the silence. "Man, that was intense! But you've gotta admit, that glowing-eye thing is super cool!"
Kikidori ignored him, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. He decided then and there that he would never willingly participate in one of Mina's games again.
The game continued, but Kikidori remained silent, his mind elsewhere. For him, this wasn't fun—it was just another reminder of how different he was from everyone else.
End of Chapter 3