Healing Kisses (ch28)

Early release for my patrons! For nadie95! They asked for a fanfic version of the game where Starlight Kukugumi did the blindfold challenge! It was a bit tough to write it out (these are the kind of shenanigans that are best when seen in a video lol) but I tried!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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						Chapter 28. Relationship Challenge

The idea of an "intermission game time" had been casually suggested by someone from Class B.

When Seishou's longer stage performances would have breaks of twenty minutes or so, the actresses often found themselves with about half that time with little or nothing to do. And instead of having the audience look at a darkened stage for that amount of time, the suggestion of the girls playing some kind of game had been proposed.

The response was enthusiastic, and once the teachers had approved of the slight schedule alteration, the girls decided to have their first ever intermission game with their next big performance.

After a beautifully-executed first portion of their play, Class A's nine main actresses for this performance take a brief break backstage and drink some water while audience members grab snacks, use the restrooms, or go for a quick walk. But within five minutes, Karen, Nana, Maya, and all their friends are back onstage, ready for their first-ever game time.

"This will be brand new for us," Junna announces to the onlookers. "The game we'll be playing is one we've never done before. We're calling it the Relationship Challenge."

"Because-!" Karen cuts in. "When we're rehearsing and practicing for a play, the cast spends a lot of time together! So we're going to try out this game to see how well we really know each other!"

"Right," Junna agrees. "Since there are nine of us today, we'll divide randomly into groups of three. At that point one person will be chosen to be blindfolded, and the members of the other teams will be asked to perform some kind of action. The blindfolded person will choose one of the six and have to decide where in the order she fell."

"Our crew made up the prompts," Nana explains. "So none of us have any idea of what to expect!"

"Now then," Claudine says. "Let's decide our groups with rock-paper-scissors."

The nine girls circle up and play a few rounds, with any three who use the same hand motion being put into a group together. The results are one group consisting of Junna, Kaoruko, and Hikari, the second of Karen, Claudine, and Futaba, and the third of Mahiru, Nana, and Maya.

They stand in their respective trios as a couple of girls from Class B scurry onstage to provide the necessary equipment for the game; a pink blindfold, and a box containing the action prompts.

"All right," Junna says. "The first group formed was ours, so we'll have one of us be blindfolded first. Kagura-san, Hanayagi-san, let's rock-paper-scissor to decide."

"Okay."

"I wanna win!"

Everyone is eager to watch their match. Junna gets eliminated right away, and though Kaoruko tries to sneakily change her rock into scissors at the last second, everyone knows Hikari won with her paper. With a dramatic yelp of defeat, Kaoruko sinks to her knees.

"All right," Junna says, handing Hikari the blindfold. "Kagura-san, please choose an action from the box."

Hikari accepts the blindfold and slowly reaches in for a piece of paper. She reads out loud:

"Hug."

A chorus of squeals goes up.

"Ahh, so we get to hug Hikari-chan?" Mahiru smiles."That's a cute one!"

"Interesting…" Maya mumbles.

"C'est bon! Let's get started! Hikari, whose hug do you want to be guessing?"

"Hmm… Karen, I guess?"

"Of course."

"Saw that comin'."

"Hikari-chan, I believe in you!"

"All right," Junna says as Hikari puts on her blindfold. "Members of the other teams, please shuffle and get in a line. When you're ready, first person please come forward."

Nana starts at the front of the line and walks forward quietly with a smile. She opens her arms wide and pulls Hikari into a big, warm hug. Hikari visibly stiffens at first, but then gradually relaxes.

Kaoruko sighs. "What a pleasant hug, yes?"

"Thank you, first person," Junna says. "Second person, please go ahead."

Once Nana has let Hikari go, Futaba saunters up. She drapes an arm around Hikari's shoulders in a half hug, then lets her go.

After hat Claudine takes her turn, happily wrapping her arms around Hikari and giving her a comfortable squeeze.

Then it's Karen, who gives the girl a tight and exuberant hug, enough to make Hikari grunt with surprise at the force of it.

Then it's Mahiru with a much gentler embrace and a few pats to Hikari's head.

And lastly, Maya walks up rather awkwardly, unsure of how to do this sort of thing with the person she's arguably not very close with, even for a game. She ends up loosely encircling her arms around Hikari's shoulders for a brief moment before stepping away.

"All right," Junna says. "Everyone, please shuffle your positions."

"Kagura-han?" Kaoruko prompts. "Those were some very telling hugs. Can you pinpoint Karen-han's position?"

Hikari removes her blindfold with a confident smile.

"I got it… Number 4."

Everyone erupts with applause.

"Wow!"

"She actually got it!"

"One point, first team!"

"Good job, Hikari-chan!"

"Hikari-chan!" Karen runs out and gives her another big tight hug. Hikari wheezes softly.

"It's obvious… Karen, your hugs are so tight…"

Everyone chuckles before switching up the groups. The next person guessing will be Futaba, and the actions everyone will do for her will be a simple handshake.

"And who will you be finding?" Claudine asks her as she blindfolds herself.

"Hmm… Mahiru."

"Eh-?!" Kaoruko nearly falls over. "Futaba-han!"

"You're too obvious! I've known you my whole life, Kaoruko."

Kaoruko pouts, but gets in line nonetheless.

So Karen and Claudine commentate as the other girls come to shake Futaba's hand. Junna does so with vigor, a strong and serious handshake, Maya does hers normally, Nana gives a loud clap as she takes Futaba's palm and gives a few big shakes. Kaoruko interlocks her fingers with Futaba's and wiggles them with a quiet snicker. Futaba snorts.

"See? Kaoruko, I know that's you."

"Wha-?!"

"Ahh, fourth person?" Claudine chides her. "No talking!"

Kaoruko pouts and limps away.

Next, Mahiru gives a very soft and pleasant handshake, and finally Hikari gives a very timid and short-lived one. When Futaba is invited to guess, she mulls over her options.

"Hm… I think Hoshimi was first, and that last one was definitely Kagura… So Mahiru was either second, third, or fifth… I think second was either Tendo or Nana so… I'm goin' with number 5!"

"Ooh!"

"Impressive!"

"You got it, Isurugi-san!"

"I was fifth," Mahiru smiles.

"Yay!" Karen grabs Futaba's hand and shakes it too. "That means our team gets a point!"

"So last team, please get ready," Claudine invites them.

Out of Nana, Maya, and Mahiru, Nana is decided to be the blindfolded one this round, and written on the paper she chooses is the word "poke."

"Hmm… in that case… I wanna find Kaoruko-chan!"

"Ah! So Banana-han loves me~"

This time, the six girls arrange themselves to have the selected person go first. Kaoruko ends poking Nana's cheek and pinching a little, making her giggle. Second, Claudine goes up and gently pokes Nana's nose. Futaba pokes her forehead, Hikari pokes her arm, Karen pokes her hand, and finally Junna pokes Nana in the side, causing her to squeal and shriek out loud.

"Kyaa! Junna-chan!"

Everyone laughs as Junna blushes pink. Nana giggles and removes her blindfold.

"I know the last person was Junna-chan because she knows I'm ticklish there. So Kaoruko-chan was definitely number one!"

"Correct!"

"Yaaay!"

"Wow! Everyone's pretty good at this!"

"So that means all three teams have a point."

"We're tied!"

"So… do we have time for a second round?"

"Yes! Let's do it!"

The audience is in agreement, so the girls switch back to the first group. Junna lets Kaoruko be the one blindfolded, and she chooses the paper that says "wrist slap." Kaoruko wails.

"Waah! Why is something so cruel in here?! That's not fair!"

"Sorry, Hanayagi-san," Junna chuckles. "So who will you be guessing?"

"Huu… Well, since Futaba-han didn't choose me, her own roommate, then I won't choose her either! I'll choose someone who's gentle… Kagura-han it is!"

"She's on our team."

"Oh, drat! Very well then, Tendo-han!"

The other six girls get into line as Kaoruko holds out her trembling arm.

Mahiru goes first, giving a surprisingly fair hit with two fingers. Kaoruko yelps and whines.

Next Claudine goes, making a solid sound as she makes contact. Kaoruko wails again.

"Waaah! You're all so mean to me!"

Next Karen goes, trying to do a good hit, bit she ends up missing and only really grazes her fingertips against Kaoruko's wrist, which Kaoruko is grateful for.

Next Futaba goes and ends up slapping her incredibly lightly.

Being that Maya is fairly close with Kaoruko, she gives her a solid hit and earns another shriek.

Finally, Nana gives a light tap to Kaoruko's wrist and then skips away to shuffle with the others.

As Kaoruko removes her blindfold she rubs her sore wrist pitifully.

"Uuu, this is difficult… Ah, but the person who missed was Karen-han, yes?"

"Uwah!" Karen bows her head and everyone laughs. Kaoruko contemplates.

"Hmm… I'm torn between a few of them… but I think I'll choose the second person!"

"Ahh…"

"Sorry, incorrect!"

"That was a tough one."

"Waaah!" Kaoruko whimpers. "Who was second?"

"Moi~" Claudine winks.

Kaoruko grimaces. "Darn it..."

"For the record," Maya says. "I was fifth."

"So our team stays at one point," Junna says. "Next team, please go ahead."

The second teams moves into position once more, and it's decided Claudine will wear the blindfold next. As she pulls a paper from the box she reads out loud:

"Hand massage."

"Ehh! That sounds nice!"

"I want that one!"

"Kuro-chan, who are you gonna guess?"

"Huh…" Claudine ponders for a moment. "Since Futaba's always giving Kaoruko massages, I kind of wish she wasn't on my team so I could try feel her massage."

Futaba grins.

"I'll give you one for free after the show!"

"Merci~" Claudine looks around at the remaining girls. "Then… I suppose I'll try to find the one who will stand out the most; Tendo Maya."

"Naturally."

"Good luck!"

"Tendo-san, don't get found out!"

So Claudine puts on the blindfold and holds out her hand while the other six girls line up. They shuffle Maya to the front of the line this time, and she takes Claudine's hand with care. Her massage is brief and gentle, and Claudine hums as she tries to make an assumption of who it is.

Next Kaoruko goes, but instead of massaging Claudine's hand she just grabs each of her fingers and then walks away. Hikari sort of just wiggles her fingers over Claudine's palm, while Mahiru actually gives a proper massage. Nana does too, holding Claudine's hand in both of hers as she does so. And finally Junna takes her turn, rolling her knuckles across Claudine's palm a few times before walking away.

When Claudine finally removes the blindfold, she puts on a contemplative expression.

"Hmm… Some of them were quite strange… But I think I've figured it out. Tendo Maya was the fifth person!"

"Bzzt!"

"Good guess, but nope!"

"Eh?" Claudine pouts.

Nana steps forward and waves.

"Number five here~"

Maya bows her head in feigned agony.

"Saijou-san… I thought our bond was stronger than this…"

"Oh hush, you…"

"All right," Junna interjects. "So no point for the second team either. We have time for one more round, so third team, please decide who will be blindfolded."

Nana leaves the decision to Mahiru and Maya, but Mahiru is a bit too nervous about being the center of attention in this game, so she invites Maya to go.

Maya accepts the blindfold from Claudine and reaches her hand into the box for the final challenge.

When she draws out the paper, she doesn't read it right away. Her friends crowd around her curiously.

"Well?"

"Tendo-han?"

"What did you get?"

Maya doesn't react one way or another. She simply turns the paper around to show them all.

"'Kiss,' or so it says."

"Eh-?"

"Wha-!"

But the entire audience seems perfectly enthused and eager for such a challenge.

"Oh my," Nana giggles.

"Those Class B girls…" Junna blushes for a brief moment before turning to Maya. "Tendo-san, would you like to draw another one?"

"This was the last one," Maya replies. "Either way, I am all right with it if the rest of you are."

"Sure!"

"I'll do it!"

"Aw," Nana pouts. "I wish I wasn't on Maya-chan's team so I could give her a kiss, too!"

"Kiss…" Mahiru mumbles. "If I'd gone, I could've gotten a kiss from Karen-chan…"

As everyone quiets down, Maya puts on her blindfold as Junna gives one last bit of information.

"For this, I'd say any kind of 'kiss' is allowed. Everyone, let's shuffle."

"Maya-chan?" Nana asks. "Who are you going to find?"

Maya smiles.

"I would like to redeem Saijou-san's and my relationship. So I would like to locate her."

"Kuro-chan it is!"

Once the other six have shuffled, they get in line to begin the final round of the game.

Kaoruko goes first, tiptoeing up to Maya and straining up to press a soft kiss to her cheek. Maya blushes slightly.

As the audience coos, next, Futaba takes Maya's hand, curling her fingers up before kissing the backs of her knuckles chivalrously.

Junna follows, but she flips Maya's hand over and kisses her palm instead.

Next, Hikari timidly walks up, still trying to decide what to do. Ultimately, she does the same as Junna and bumps her lips quickly against Maya's palm.

Next, Karen runs up, grabs Maya by the shoulders and leans her down to plant a big kiss on top of her head before scurrying off.

The whole room is filled with laughter and amused voices while the other stage girls giggle and observe. Maya's face has turned a bit pink throughout it all.

But now when the sixth and final person steps up, it's game over.

Claudine walks up to her partner with intent, and all of her friends can sense it. Maya stands still, waiting patiently for the sixth and final person to take their turn.

Claudine rolls her eyes in a way that says "I guess I have no choice" and makes her move. Putting one hand on Maya's shoulder, she leans in and kisses her full on the lips, eliciting all kinds of squeals and shrieks from those around her.

Maya stiffens against her, but when Claudine pulls away Maya seems reluctant to have it end so soon.

As Claudine struts onto line, the rest of her friends are trying not to squeak.

"A-All right," Junna says. "Then everyone, shuffle."

"Truly, there is no need," Maya says, removing her blindfold. "I have to admit, I would be ashamed if I was unable to tell that Saijou-san was the last person."

"Ding-ding!"

"Maya-chan, you got it!"

"Yay!"

"Eeeh?" Kaoruko cries out. "Surely that was too obvious!"

"The prompt was literally 'kiss', dummy," Futaba reminds her.

"So team three wins!" Karen cheers. "Congrats!"

"We hope you all enjoyed this intermission game," Junna says. "We will resume our performance in five minutes."

As the nine of them head backstage, Claudine pointedly keeps turned away from Maya as she walks. But she can feel Maya following her like a hawk, and it's only a matter of seconds before she's caught.

"My, Saijou-san," Maya takes her by the wrist and pulls her aside from the others who are still chattering about the game. Maya is smiling that infuriatingly-beautiful smile of hers. "That was quite bold of you, wouldn't you say?"

"It was a kiss," Claudine says simply. "That was the prompt."

"But that kind of kiss was not a requirement."

"Everyone else had done all the other kinds." Claudine crosses her arms. "It doesn't mean I like you or anything."

"Of course not. Though, that was certainly not a staged kiss, for there was no placement of fingers to prevent our lips from actually touching. It was just a pure, genuine-"

"Would you be quiet?" Claudine grabs her by the collar and pulls Maya into another kiss just to shut her up.

Maya makes a surprised sound, but this time manages to hug her, preventing Claudine from pulling away too quickly. Maya keeps her there and returns the kiss, cupping her cheek softly.

Claudine relaxes just for a moment, sighing against her lips, and she even starts to kiss back-

"Um, excuse me?" Kaoruko says distastefully. "The game is over, you two."

Claudine shoves Maya off in a fluster.

"I know that!"

Maya chuckles and lets her go, touching two fingers to her lips.

"I must say, I quite enjoyed that game. We will definitely have to see if we may play it again sometime."

"Mechante va! We're going back on in two minutes!"

Claudine whirls around to get ready, and Maya happily follows, the smile never leaving her lips for a second.

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A/N: As I was imagining how the girls would do this and react and stuff I couldn't help but chuckle to remember how Kukugumi did it, Moepii always being a total weirdo whereas Nana would be a bit less intense, Futaba and Teru both being suave, Kaoruko and Ayasa being the exact same person. Biggest difference is Maya VS Mahonee lol

This was a fun one! Hope you enjoyed!