The grand hall had transformed into a theater of intrigue, the tension thick as the participants gathered in pairs, waiting for the first challenge. The flickering candles cast dancing shadows on the walls, and the floral scent of roses filled the air.

  Satsujin Sha sat quietly at his table, his sharp gaze scanning the room. Next to him, Aira Kun fidgeted with a mix of curiosity and excitement. Across the hall, Mr. A leaned back in his chair, his expression as unreadable as always, while his partner, Naki Kun, gnced around nervously, her fingers twitching against the table’s edge.

  At precisely 9:00 AM, a masked figure stepped onto the stage, the hush that followed their appearance almost palpable.

  “Good morning, participants,” the figure announced, their voice crisp and commanding. “Today, the Game of Love begins. Your first challenge is *The Note Game.*”

  A murmur rippled through the crowd as they leaned in, listening intently.

  “This game will test your ability to understand and articute love under pressure,” the masked figure continued. “Each team will write a note describing how much your partner loves you. The notes will be judged on sincerity, depth, and creativity.”

  Aira blinked. “Wait, we’re writing about how much *they* love us?”

  “Yes,” the figure confirmed, their tone unwavering. “The goal is to reveal your partner’s love through your perspective. Be honest. Be heartfelt. And remember—only the strongest bonds will endure this game.”

  The air grew heavier.

  “You have one hour. Begin.”

  Satsujin leaned toward Aira, his expression calcuting. “You’ll write about me, and I’ll write about you.”

  She nodded, her brow furrowing. “But how do I capture something like that? I mean, how do I know exactly what you—”

  “Don’t overthink it,” Satsujin interrupted, a faint smirk pying on his lips. “Just make it good.”

  Across the room, Naki Kun stared at her bnk page, frustration bubbling under the surface.

  “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, her pen hovering uncertainly. “How am I supposed to know what you feel about me?”

  “You don’t need to know,” Mr. A replied coolly, his gaze fixed on the paper before him. “You need to *imagine* what my love might look like, if it exists.”

  Her eyes narrowed at him, but she said nothing, returning to the task at hand.

  The hall was filled with the sound of pens scratching against paper, occasional sighs breaking the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

  Satsujin wrote quickly and efficiently, the words spilling onto the page with a practiced ease. He didn’t just describe Aira’s supposed love for him; he painted it as something deep, consuming, and undeniable. He knew how to py to an audience, and he wasn’t about to lose.

  Aira, on the other hand, struggled. She chewed on the end of her pen, staring at her page. How could she put into words what Satsujin’s love felt like when she wasn’t sure if it was even real? Her thoughts swirled as she tried to focus, to distill their tangled retionship into a single note.

  At the far end of the room, Mr. A’s note was meticulous, his words precise and devoid of unnecessary flourish. Naki’s, by contrast, was raw, her emotions spilling out as she wrote. Her sentences were messy, but they carried an authenticity that couldn’t be denied.

  When the hour ended, the masked figure collected the notes, their movements methodical. The participants watched anxiously as the notes disappeared behind a curtain, where the judges would evaluate them.

  Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Occasionally, the masked figure returned to announce a team’s elimination, their note deemed insincere or cking depth. With each announcement, the tension in the room grew thicker.

  Finally, the masked figure stepped onto the stage once more, their voice cutting through the silence like a bde.

  “The winning teams for this round are... Satsujin Sha and Aira Kun, and Mr. A and Naki Kun!”

  Aira gasped, her face lighting up with delight. “We won!”

  Satsujin smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Of course we did.”

  Naki, sitting across the room, exhaled a shaky breath. “Well, that was unexpected.”

  Mr. A gave her a knowing smile. “It’s only the beginning. Don’t get too comfortable.”

  As the evening descended, the participants were given time to rest and reflect. The grand hall remained dimly lit, the soft hum of subdued conversations filling the space.

  In a quiet corner, Satsujin and Aira sat together.

  “Do you think the next game will be harder?” Aira asked, her voice tinged with both excitement and apprehension.

  “Harder? Definitely,” Satsujin replied, his tone calm but confident. “But this isn’t just a game. Remember that.”

  Aira tilted her head, confused. “What do you mean?”

  Satsujin’s gaze grew distant, his smirk fading into something colder. “Just... stay sharp. That’s all.”

  Across the room, Naki and Mr. A sat in silence, their dynamic quieter but no less charged.

  “So,” Naki began, breaking the silence, “what’s your pn for the next round?”

  Mr. A’s lips curved into a faint smile. “The same as always: win.”

  Naki rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile of her own. “You’re impossible.”

  As the participants prepared for the challenges ahead, a shared understanding settled over the room. This wasn’t just a test of love—it was a game of survival, strategy, and secrets. Day one had ended, but the real battle was just beginning.