Author Notes: Partially inspired by the volume 9 drama CD story involving Matsuri's love of games. Italics are Harumin's thoughts.
Harumi was standing outside the local arcade, looking at her phone screen with an exasperated expression. Yuzu had gotten sidetracked by the Student Council President while getting ready for their outing today. Of course.
"At least she'll be here in half an hour, but now I've got to find something to do to kill some time." Harumi sighed while sliding her phone back into her purse.
"Oh, Taniguchi-senpai!" Oh no. "Are you here all by yourself?" The newcomer with pink hair strolled up to Harumi while smirking mischievously.
"Only until Yuzucchi gets here, but she's running late today," Harumi replied, not dropping her guard around Matsuri.
"Oh, really? That's too bad for you then." Matsuri didn't sound convincingly sympathetic at all. "Say, if you're bored, why not play a game with me until Yuzu-chan gets here?"
Harumi paused to consider Matsuri's offer for a second. They were in public, so Matsuri couldn't do anything too annoying, could she?
"Alright," Harumi relented. "What kind of game did you have in mind?"
The two girls were readying their stances for the zombie shooting game.
"Okay, Taniguchi-senpai, the rules are simple. The first one to kill 5 zombies is the winner," Matsuri grinned.
"That sounds simple enough." In fact, that sounds too simple, she's obviously up to something.
"But, you know, a game is only fun as long as it's challenging and has something on the line, so let's raise the stakes." I knew it.
"What stakes?" Harumi questioned irritably.
"Oh, just the fate of some sexy pictures I've taken of my beloved Taniguchi-senpai on my phone." No way, those can't actually exist! How? When could she have taken such pics? She has to be lying.
"You're bluffing," Harumi called Matsuri out, stone-faced.
"Heh, if you want proof I'll be more than happy to give you proof." Matsuri then pulled her phone from her pocket and flicked open her photos app before holding her phone in front of Harumi's face. She started flicking through a series of pics of Harumi in various poses and outfits. "Here's you all wet getting out of the pool in your revealing bikini, isn't this a nice close-up of your boobs? Here's you in gym class all sweaty with your shirt practically see-through and clinging to your curves. Here's you after gym class with your shirt open and showing off your bra while you're fanning yourself with a test sheet. Here's..."
"Okay, that's enough!" Harumi gritted her teeth and grabbed Matsuri's phone from her hands when she saw the latest pic on Matsuri's phone screen. "How did you get a pic of me getting out of the shower?!"
"What can I say, Taniguchi-senpai? Taking pics of you is one of my favorite games," Matsuri chuckled. "I go all out and use stealth when necessary."
"I'm going to erase everything on your phone!" Harumi seethed, warning Matsuri.
"Oh, go right ahead. It's not like I didn't anticipate your reaction. Of course, I've got backups of everything on my phone," Matsuri grinned wickedly.
"You little brat!" Harumi was getting ready to lunge at Matsuri to put her in one of her signature headlocks, but before she could, Matsuri suddenly turned serious.
"Look, Taniguchi-senpai, it's simple, just win the game and the fate of your sexy pictures will be yours to decide," Matsuri spoke slowly. "But if you lose, then the fate of your sexy pics is mine to decide."
"And what do you plan to do with them if you win?" It can't be anything good. In fact, I'm completely sure it's going to be a catastrophe if she wins.
"I have no intention of telling you that until the game is over," Matsuri returned to grinning. "But for now I'll leave the possibilities to your imagination."
"I really don't want to imagine that." Of course, I can't stop myself from doing it though. Knowing her she'll likely post them online for creepy middle-aged men to stare at.
"I know what you're thinking Taniguchi-senpai, and just so you know, I'm sure there's plenty of creepy middle-aged women that would want to ogle pics of you too," Matsuri winked.
"Oh, shut up and let's just play already," Harumi fumed while starting to blush against her will. She re-steadied herself and got back into shooting position with her arcade gun.
"Game on!" Matsuri declared, while also resuming gunning posture.
I can't afford to lose this, or my reputation and privacy are toast. And even worse, what if my sister sees those pics of me?! She'll go on a rampage. I'll get chided for not being careful enough. The only good thing that would come out of that would be Matsuri getting what's coming to her since sis would level Masturi for being responsible for everything. But I can't let it come to that.
"You're looking a little pale, Taniguchi-senpai. Are you okay?" Matsuri questioned teasingly while adapting her stance to the moving targets on the game screen.
"I'm just fine, brat," Harumi responded while also trying to loosen up so she could react to the targets at a moment's notice.
"Got one!" Matsuri gloated. "And another one!"
"Don't think I'm just gonna stand here and let you win." Harumi put on her game face and started shooting like her life depended on it.
"I can't believe that I lost," Harumi was filled with despair. "It was so close, you only got the fifth target before me by 2 seconds."
"What can I say, Taniguchi-senpai? I play to win."
This can't be happening. I'm done for. Harumi could feel the sting of tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.
"Now Taniguchi-senpai, it's time for me to decide the fate of your sexy pics." Oh no, here it comes. "And I decide that I'm going to...keep them for my own personal collection." At the look of shock on Harumi's face, Matsuri gave her a small smile.
"Wait! Did I hear that right?" Harumi couldn't believe her ears. "You don't plan to show them to anyone?!"
"Of course not. Why would I want to share such intimate photos of my beloved Taniguchi-senpai with anyone?" Matsuri responded as if it were completely obvious.
Harumi was so relieved that she almost fell to her knees. That little brat was pranking me the entire time, but at least nothing bad's come of it, so I guess I can let it go this time.
"But if you don't plan to show those pics to anyone, then why not just delete them?" Harumi wondered.
"I told you Taniguchi-senpai, they're for my personal collection, so I'll still get use out of them," Matsuri responded with a lurid grin.
"Wait, you don't mean that you plan to use them to pleasur-" Harumi turned bright red at the revelation.
"Well, I've had my fun for today, bye Taniguchi-senpai!" Matsuri called out before sprinting away while Harumi was stunned.
"Wait, just a minute you little-" But Harumi was distracted from her pursuit by another voice calling out to her.
"Harumin, sorry I'm late! I'll make it up to you, so let's go grab some ice cream!" Yuzu called out to her best friend. "And was that Matsuri I saw running past me on my way in here? She seemed like she was in a hurry. Did something happen?"
"No, we just got done playing a game. It must've been time for her to go home." Harumi didn't feel like explaining anything about what just happened to Yuzu, so she hoped her friend would just let it go.
"Okay, maybe we can all play together next time then," Yuzu beamed.
"Sure thing, Yuzucchi." I really hope not.
"By the way Harumin, your face looks really red, are you feeling okay?" Yuzu asked concerned.
"Eh?" I guess I am still really red in the face, but I can't help it. How can I not be with the mental image of Matsuri doing THAT to pictures of me? "I'm fine, Yuzucchi. I'm just a little worn out from the game Matsuri and I were playing." In more ways than one.
"Oh, okay. Now let's get that ice cream." Yuzu locked arms with Harumi and the two made their way to the ice cream parlor.
Hopefully, the ice cream will help cool me down.
