Chapter 20: The Invisible Dare Paradox

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Invisible Dare Paradox

Mataguchi’s monologue, POV

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"What? No one saw us! We were perfect!" one student complained.

"Okay man, that isn’t funny" the other student who was having funny teasing earlier added. He didn’t look happy in the slightest.

"I know about the donation," i replied, finally meeting their eyes with a gaze that felt cold and heavy.

"And if I and the others you worked with know, then the act was witnessed. Logic dictates that total invisibility is an impossibility when an observer is waiting for the result. You were seen by the very intent of the dare itself."

"Wait... then nobody could’ve won?"

"Hold on, isn’t the observer part of the challenge?"

"So the whole game was impossible?" The group wondered analyzing the situation.

I should close the loop here...they seem useful

Either way this was not going to break our relationship but it could leave some gaps later.

Before they could protest, i brought out a smaller stack of bills and three handwritten notes from my pockets.

"A fee for your effort. And their schedules. If you stand by the east stairwell at 4:15 PM, you won’t have to dream anymore. Now, leave. Your presence is... loud."

"Where did you get that much money?" the students who had been teasing and laughing earlier asked. He seemed suspicious of the money.

"It’s mine"

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Is this fake?" Another asked from the group.

"Why are you giving this away?" Another student asked trying to figure that all this meant.

"Blowing off like it’s nothing" the student who had been quite the entire time muttered.

"....."

"I can’t help but think, this was set up from the beginning."

"What do you mean?" I questioned sounding confused though my calm and lifeless expression and eyes still remained constant.

"A dare of invisibility, sounds easy on the ears from the way you put it but it’s an impossibility to begin with logically" the student added.

"...."

"Well I did feel it was a bit interesting to see, people trying to escape that logic" i replied.

"I for one thought it was strange but it was all a game in the end" another added from the group.

"Is that why you are giving us this payments and locations?" The quite student questioned.

"...." i paused for a few seconds before answering.

I should just come clean.

"I did felt bad for tricking you guys like that in the first place."

"I ultimately wanted to give you guys these to begin with, Syousan was it a bad idea" i added.

"Well I do understand, but I don’t like underhanded tricks....you know how our school is..." The quite student Syousan replied

"....must be exhausting dealing with something similar everyday at school" i muttered sounding tired.

"Anyways, enough of school. We finally free for that for like two weeks...we should make the best at of it" one of the student intersected.

"I guess" both me and Syousan replied in synchronized tone and pacing.

"Oh would you look at that, you but are in sync...if one of you guys were to be a girl..you would have been the perfect match."

"Huh?" Syousan uttered.

"....." i remained silent showing no expression what so ever.

I don’t know what to say to that, like where did that even come from? But I won’t lie though if Syousan were a girl he might be my type. I mean who knows right?

Oops, I think I waited too long.

"I will be late" i muttered to myself enough for Syousan to noticed.

"Right you did mentioned heading home from hear before we dragged you along"

"Sorry to have kept you long" Syousan apologies

"It’s no problem"

"These guys forced you to play along" Syousan added point one of them.

"Well it fun having Prez around every once in a while, plus we’re all friends for some time now so it’s natural" the student replied smiling.

"Right" Syousan replied.

"Okay guys let’s get out of here. Prez we should hang out again next semester if possible" ..the students walked away in excitement.

"Oh yeah, here" I stopped them before they could walk further.

I place the money on Syousan hand.

"Wait dude, ate you okay woth this. We kinda just wanted to leave it with you" the teasing student inserted.

"Yeah we’ll feel bad taking it for a game we lost fair and square" the other one who was teased on added.

"No, it’s nothing. Don’t forget I did give an crazy request knowing you we lose" I added.

"It was funny seeing you all work a sweat doing nothing for fail"

"Serious, rich kids..." Syousan muttered. He let out a sigh, I think he doesn’t have it good with those types.

"Anyways, thanks" he added.

"Wow seriously, thanks bro" another said from the group.

"Alright, I’ll text you later" I uttered, wavin to the group and Syousan as they walk off. The group’s dynamic was still warm and stable.

A reconciliation between Oota and Shion is simple human task honestly. I would just walk there a talk to Oota and settle it.

I’m just not used to that, I wasn’t trained that way none do I see it interesting that way.

The art of pleasing is the art of deception...

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I walked towards the hospital, it was a bit far from my position but I didn’t mind walking normally, I didn’t need to quicken my pace.

Maybe I should try the heavy walk tutorial I saw on tiktok?

I took out my phone, tracking the time, it was already 5:07PM, the day was already coming to an end. I won’t be able to Interact with any one for the next two months.

Well things will work out, with the pieces in place for next semester. This was fun.

I clicked on my phone discord app seeing multiple messages already popping here and there. Information had spread like wide fire.

I was an unknown variable in the group chat, leaving my name anonymous.

I wiped out of the app and clicked on Tiktok next. Seeing a video of anime edit. It was well done, the acount was for the boy the group I was with was teasing to go ask out a cheerleader. His account name was a bit, I should I put it..... fascinating? Yyxx.

I walked watching another people walking, it was a bit calm for me for some reasons I can’t explain.

At the hospital, Shion was adjusting her bag, her expression a mix of lingering awkwardness from her friends and a sudden, sharp annoyance when she spotted me leaning against the wall.

"There you are!" she snapped, crossing her arms. "I looked everywhere. Why didn’t you call me?"

My eyes remained fixed on a distant, arbitrary point on the floor. I should try keeping a neutral expression. Even though I might pee my pants.

"I saw you with the group from Class 4B," i said, my voice flat.

"You looked like you were having fun. It seemed... inefficient to interrupt a positive social experience for something as trivial as a phone call."

Shion’s face flushed a deep crimson. "That’s...that’s not the point! You could have at least sent a text or something, you idiot! Don’t just decide things for me!"

She huffed, kicking at a stray pebble, but her anger quickly lost its edge as she looked at his lifeless expression. She sighed, her shoulders dropping. "Whatever. I wasn’t having that much fun anyway."

"I see," i replied, though I didn’t care either way. "Then shall we go?"

I began to walk. I didn’t wait for her, but i didn’t move fast enough to leave her behind.

"W-wait up!...aren’t we visiting your friend-" Shion uttered as she tries to keep up with me

"No, forget it...it was just an excuse to ask you out for a date" i replied.

Honestly all this wasn’t actually a excuse but it actually do work like one. So yeah, it’s cool.

"Ahh, w-what?" Shion stuttered. She complained as we walked further but then with time it subsides.

That day, I went for a date with Shiwogata for the second time since Elemetary school

I can’t say for sure if I actually enjoyed it or not

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Present, September 1st, 2025. Monday

At the student counsel clubroom both me and Shion arranged the books on the shelves.

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic thud of book spines hitting the back of the wooden shelves. I moved with mechanical efficiency, slotting three heavy reference manuals into the historical section without a word. Shion worked a few feet away from me, her movements deceptively casual, though her eyes continuously tracked my peripheral shadow.

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"We are never deceived, we deceive ourselves...."

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