The atmosphere in Bienfu's game show set grew tenser as Laphicet (Phi) found himself in the spotlight for the next round. Bienfu, clearly enjoying the chaos he was creating, floated before Phi with a gleeful expression.
"Alright, Phi, it's your turn! Time to spill the beans!" Bienfu announced, his voice dripping with mischief. "Confess who you have a crush on: Velvet, Eleanor, or Magilou."
Phi's face turned a deep shade of crimson. The sudden spotlight made him shift uncomfortably. Velvet, standing nearby, glared daggers at Bienfu. She was already quite aware of Phi's feelings but didn't appreciate being forced into this situation.
Eleanor's eyes widened with surprise, and she quickly interjected, "Wait a minute! Are you saying Phi likes Velvet more than he likes me?"
Velvet's glare hardened as she turned her attention to Eleanor. "Don't be ridiculous, Eleanor. It's obvious who Phi likes."
Magilou, ever the opportunist, saw the chance to add her own brand of chaos. She sauntered over to Phi with a teasing grin. "Oh, Phi, it's so obvious you have a soft spot for me. I've noticed you sneaking glances at me every now and then," she said, her tone dripping with mock sweetness.
The pressure was mounting, and Phi's face was now a full-blown shade of red. He looked around desperately, hoping for some sort of intervention.
Eizen, who had been quietly observing the spectacle, felt a pang of sympathy for Phi. "I can't believe Bienfu is putting you through this, Phi. Hang in there."
Rokurou, on the other hand, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Looks like Phi's quite the ladies' man, huh? Got them all vying for his attention!" he joked, ignoring Phi's desperate look for help.
Phi was almost on the verge of panicking. "I-I don't know if I can..."
Velvet stepped forward, her voice sharp with irritation. "Come on, Phi! Just tell them so we can move on!"
Eleanor, now looking rather competitive, joined in, "Yes, tell us! We need to know!"
The room was filled with mounting tension and impatient voices, each demanding an answer. Phi finally took a deep breath, his face still flushed.
"Alright, fine!" Phi said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I like Velvet."
A collective gasp filled the room. Velvet's eyes softened just a bit, and she couldn't suppress a slight blush. Eleanor's expression turned to one of disbelief, while Magilou's smile grew wider.
"Well, well, well," Magilou drawled, "looks like I'm not the one Phi has a crush on after all. Looks like you're the one who won this round, Velvet."
Velvet didn't respond directly, but the faintest smirk on her lips suggested she was satisfied with the outcome. Eleanor, meanwhile, glared at Velvet, clearly not pleased with the result.
Eizen put a comforting hand on Phi's shoulder. "There's no need to feel embarrassed, Phi. Bienfu's just being a nuisance."
Bienfu, however, was far from done. "Great job, everyone! You've all handled yourselves well under pressure. But don't get too comfortable. There's still more fun to be had!"