Harem of Side Characters [Rewrite]

Event - Truth or Dare

"I promised not to say mean things. I didn't say anything mean."

"W-w-what!? You didn't even let me pick truth!" Chihiro sputters out.

"I thought it was an unwritten rule that after saying truth twice you must pick dare." Himeno tilts her head slightly.

"She's right. It is indeed the unwritten rule." Kozue agrees. "Haven't you seen the Truth or Dare movie?"

"W-what unwritten rule!? I don't know any unwritten rule!"

"Just do the dare, Chihiro." Kobashi jumps in.

"Y-Yume! I thought you were supposed to be on my side!?"

"I am. But it doesn't mean I can't have a bit of fun every now and then." Kobashi innocently smiles.

"Uuu..." Chihiro reluctantly gets up, and plops herself down on my lap. She looks like she wants to curl in on herself and die...cute.

"Hmm...not even a hint of red on your face." Kozue says.

"Yeah, she's right! Your pulse didn't even speed up in the slightest, either!" Sayo exclaims while checking my wrist for my pulse. "I'm telling you, he leans more towards men."

"I do not..." Trust me, I am as straight as a pole. "If I can keep calm around you, who confidently flirts with me constantly, do you really think that Chihiro who is not only very shy, but is one of the most unremarkable and exceedingly average human beings I have ever encountered, can make my heart skip a beat?" I say.

"Un... remarkable... Exceedingly... average?..." The realization of my words finally hit as Chihiro's eyes widen. "Are you calling me... b-boring!?"

"Yes." I nod.

"Oof." Kozue says.

"...Oof?" Kobashi restates, more confused than anything.

"Oof indeed." Sayo follows up while nodding.

"W...Why!? Did you come here just to...hurt me!?" Chihiro cries.

"Hey, being boring isn't bad. I like being with you because it's relaxing and I don't have to worry about getting beaten up or stabbed by a compass." I clarify.

"W-who are you hanging out with that makes you worry about these things!?"

"Surprisingly I hang out with a lot of people like that, more than you would think. Which is why I like you. It's a nice change of pace."

"That's a really... strange compliment, Kiyotaka. If that is in fact, a compliment." Kozue comments.

"I think you may be making Chihiro uncomfortable, Ayanokouji." Kobashi cuts in. Has she already forgotten that she agreed to putting Chihiro in my lap or is she doing this on purpose?

"I'm not uncomfortable...I think I'm...offended..." Chihiro mumbles.

"Offended?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Y-yes. You made me mad, and for that...you will pay." She tries her best to glare at me.

"..."

"...Hah...I tried being intimidating to change things up, but I just sounded stupid, didn't I?" Chihiro sighs.

"Well, you're about as intimidating as a small kitten. Actually, a kitten is probably more intimidating because at least they still have claws...or do they? How sharp are a kitten's claws?" Kozue rubs her chin in thought.

"I'm just... going to accept the fact that I'm boring... and Kiyotaka has no use for me anymore..." Chihiro sulks.

"Hey now, I wouldn't go that far...and why do you make it sound like I'm only friends with you to use you? I'm not that evil." I say while poking her cheek, which she futilely tries to avoid.

Boss, you are fooling no one. Shut it, beast. Why are you even here? There's a girl sitting on your lap, of course I'm here.

It was true though. I stay close with people like Horikita, Ichinose, Kushida, and more because they are useful to me. Recently though, I've been befriending a lot of, as I said before, unremarkable and exceedingly average people. They aren't exceptional enough to warrant using, yet I still stay close to them. Why is that?

...

We play a few more rounds before I decide to leave. I learned quite a few things about the Class B girls.

Chihiro can actually play the drums. Sayo made a joke about how she likes a good pounding, but was quickly shut down by Kobashi. I don't understand the joke.

Sayo likes watching cartoons aimed at small children. She's never going to live that down, by the way.

Kozue almost caused a fire in her dorm when she tried to cook instant ramen. How she managed that when all you need to do is add water is beyond me.

Kobashi has gotten so distracted while reading a book, that Amikura managed to draw a mustache and monocle on her face with a non-permanent marker without her noticing. Again...how?

Himeno wants to die. Surprising, I know.