Challenge: Drabble123
Prompt: 17. Hot Summer Nights
Summary: [Joker] Summer nights were made for fun, friends... and kimodameshi.
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: While just about any anime fan who has watched a high school, love comedy series is probably already aware of this, for those who don't know a kimodameshi is a test of courage. They're usually found in the form of a group of friends going somewhere that's supposed to be haunted to both scare each other silly and to have gratuitous excuses to hang off of their crushes.
. o . o . o . o . o . o .
"Waaa! Scary! Too scary!"
Alice sighed, wobbling only slightly this time when Pierce clung against her side in fright. She gave the trembling dormouse a comforting pat on the head.
"It's only Boris."
"I know." He shuddered. "But, that just makes it scarier!"
"Che." Lowering the flashlight from his face, Boris stalked towards the pair. His slit pupils dilating to adjust to the dark even as he narrowed his eyes irritably. "We haven't hardly gotten started yet, you stupid rat!"
"But it's scary." Pierce repeated with a sniff, pulling back just far enough to give the cat a wounded look. "Besides! It's mean to scare people! What if you scared Alice?"
"She's supposed to get scared! It's a kimodameshi!"
"What? You'd scare Alice on purpose? That's mean!" Alice gave a dismissive snort, but any comment she might have made was interrupted by Pierce snuggling her further. "Were you scared? You can always grab onto me if you get scared too, okay?"
"Why you little-!"
Watching the usual chase begin anew, Alice wondered if the true test of courage wouldn't be in facing Gowland's music once they got home.