The timeline is before Chapter 1.
The perspective is Hariu’s.
It seems they are playing an analog game.
“Is it a processed product?”
“Yes.”
“Is it sweet?”
“Yes.”
“Did it originate in Japan?”
“No.”
“Um, is it palm-sized?”
“Yes. I’ve never seen one that doesn’t fit in the palm!”
“…Is it sold at convenience stores?”
“Mostly, yes.”
“Does it come in variations?”
“Um, yes. There are some.”
“Uh… is it brownish in color?”
“There are brown ones, but not by default, no!”
“Hm? So it’s a sweet, right? And it doesn’t seem to be baked… so, is it warm?”
“…By default, no.”
“So, it’s not an anman? Then… does it contain eggs?”
“Yes! But be wary of misleading. I don’t think it gives off much of an egg impression.”
With that comment from Maito, Toriumi raised his hand.
“Yes! The answer is marshmallow!”
“Correct!”
“Yes!”
Yes.
Right now, we are playing!
Why, you ask? Because it’s summer vacation! And because it’s raining heavily outside!
It was supposed to be summer vacation, finishing work in the morning, and everyone going home early to play games or do homework, but then it started raining so heavily that we were a bit reluctant to go outside.
Suzumoto said, “We’re trapped by the rain,” using a vocabulary that’s strangely poetic, yes, exactly that feeling. Trapped by the rain.
So, we’re bored.
And since everyone is gathered, we play.
…And so, we started.
“20 Doors.”
A rather classic and quaint analog game.
The rules of “20 Doors” are simple.
First, the presenter decides on a theme and a topic. Oh, by the way, the theme was “food” and the topic was “marshmallow” from the earlier game.
Then, only the theme is disclosed, and the respondents ask questions to the presenter to figure out the topic. That’s all!
However, questions must generally be answerable with YES or NO. Ah, Maito was commenting beyond YES or NO earlier, but well, that’s up to the presenter’s discretion.
Also, the number of questions is limited. As the name “20 Doors” implies, you can only ask up to 20 questions. …But this time we set it to 16. We are nine, so there are eight respondents. We made a rule that each person can ask twice, going around in a clockwise direction for two rounds.
And then, the number of responses is also limited. Respondents can answer whenever they figure out the answer. But, each person can only answer once. You have to respond quickly before someone else gets it right, but you can’t narrow down the answer until enough questions are out. It’s a good balance of dilemma.
…And, this has nothing to do with the rules of “20 Doors.”
“So, I have the right to ask! Lucky me! …Please answer, Suzumoto-kun!”
“…What is it?”
“Please share your first love memory!”
…We made a dark game specification that the person who gets it right can ask anything from anyone except the presenter!
“Ah… so that’s how it is.”
Suzumoto crosses his arms, making a subtle face.
Yeah, you’d be curious. Suzumoto’s “first love memory.” …I’m glad it’s not me! Other people’s misfortune is the taste of honey!
…and everyone was excited about it.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve never, you know, been in love… So I can’t answer. Sorry.”
He said it with a very serious expression.
…Boring!
“Ah, that was a dud. Well, it can’t be helped. Alright, let’s move on to the next game!”
Yeah, setting aside the dullness, I’m aiming for the next chance to ask!
“So, I’m the next presenter. The theme is ‘Zaku.'”
“Hey, Katori, if no one gets it right, the presenter gets a penalty.”
Yeah, I think it’s impossible. I know there are dozens of types. Probably only Maito and President know about the red one that’s three times faster. Probably.
“Yeah, just kidding. Let’s go with ‘things in the house’ for the theme.”
Things in the house, huh.
Eh, that’s pretty broad, right? But well, since the presenter gets a penalty if no correct answer is given, I don’t think it’ll be too difficult.
“Then I’ll start! Can you hold it with one hand?”
“Um… this should be a NO. There are some that you can hold with one hand, but the one in my house is not light enough to be easily held with one hand.”
Wow, that’s a vague answer already.
So this means there are versions of it that could be held with one hand, right?
“Is it my turn? So, does it use electricity?”
“Yes.”
This limits it to household appliances… I can’t think of anything else that uses electricity.
And since it can’t be held in one hand, it’s not a hairdryer or smartphone, and probably not a fan either, considering the earlier answers.
“Next is Hariu.”
“Yeah, I know. Um, is it used for household chores?”
“No.”
…Oh. That narrows it down quite a bit.
A household appliance not used for chores, mainstream, and probably, at least, in all of our houses.
What could it be? A TV?
“Is it my turn?… Then, does it have more than seven buttons?”
“Yes.”
…Hmm?
Wait, Katori answered without hesitation.
If it were a TV, I’d expect more hesitation, like “Does the remote count?”
Then what is it? An appliance that naturally has many buttons and can’t be held in one hand…
“I got it. It’s a computer, right?”
“Ah. Hagasaki-kun, correct.”
…and, aaah, someone else got the answer first…
“You kind of targeted that from the start, didn’t you? Were you guessing from the beginning?”
“Well, considering it’s Katori’s question…”
Hmm, this requires reading the presenter’s intentions or guessing what kind of things the presenter might choose as the topic…
“So, exercising the right to ask a question… Kadomi-kun.”
“Eh, me…?”
“The most embarrassing thing that happened to you recently, please.”
Ah! Terrible! How cruel to Kadomi-kun! But fun!
“Uh… um… well…”
Kadomi-kun is struggling! He’s really struggling! It’s fun!
“…During the summer English reading course…”
Yes.
“I… uh… pronounced ‘child’ as ‘chilled’…”
…Yes.
“And translated a sentence about not taking your eyes off children as… needing to monitor the freezer…”
…
…that wasn’t the embarrassing story I was expecting.
Alright, next, let’s move on.
The next presenter is President.
“Am I next? Then, the topic will be elements. For this round, you can look at the periodic table while thinking.”
Oh, we can look at the periodic table. Well, it makes sense. This game is about enjoying the power of deduction and questioning, not just knowledge.
“If no one gets it right, the presenter gets a penalty.”
…Yeah, that makes sense.
I’m the first to ask.
“Is the atomic number higher than 60?”
“NO.”
Alright. That narrows it down to half!
“Is it a transition metal?”
“NO.”
Ah, that narrows it down significantly.
But it’s still risky to answer now. Everyone only gets one chance to respond.
“Ah, is it my turn? Hmm… Does the first letter of the element symbol belong to A, B, C, D, E, F, or G?”
“NO. …You’ve come up with an interesting way to narrow it down.”
Ah, so that rules out aluminum, germanium, and others.
That also excludes gallium, cadmium, and calcium, right?
I kind of thought it might be aluminum.
“…Is it a metal?”
“YES. Maybe it’s about time to take a guess.”
Wow, what could it be!
Not aluminum…
“Have we used this metal in an experiment?”
“YES, you have. It’s a bit difficult to say in its pure form though.”
Used in an experiment?… Then it’s that! The one we used to make batteries!
“I’ve got it! Zinc!”
“That’s incorrect.”
Wrong! Ahhhhh!
“Ah, then maybe it’s magnesium?”
“Katori is correct.”
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!
“Right, we did use magnesium…”
“We use magnesium ribbon when we do the thermite reaction.”
“What did we use zinc for again…?”
“It was used in batteries…”
Ah man, I was so sure it was zinc! Frustrating!
That’s why! That’s why this game!
“Um, so I have the right to ask a question, right? …Then, Kariya.”
“Whoa!? Me? Please go easy on me!”
“Alright. If you were to be reborn, would you prefer to be male or female?”
Ah, that’s quite a gentle question. Katori is nice.
“Um, being a male seems easier, but I’d like to try being a girl if I could be a beautiful one.”
“Well, yeah. I see.”
Men are more forgiven for not having perfect features. Yeah.
“And well, if I could become a beautiful girl, I’d like to try it out.”
“…Try what?”
“Oh, what a naughty question, Kadomi-kun!”
“Uh… eh…?”
…Yeah.
Despite being gentle, Kariya dove headfirst into hard mode on his own…
“Am I the next presenter?”
“What if I said no?”
“I’d present anyway. The theme is a European country. Oh, and it’s okay to look at a world map.”
Ah, I might do well here. Some of the group don’t take geography. Like Maito, who’s bad at all social studies!
Alright, let’s give it my all!
“So, I’ll start with the questions! Uh… is it south of the midpoint between France and Germany?”
Wow, what a way to narrow it down right off the bat. Kariya is quite strong in geography. By the way, as a handicap, he’s not even looking at the world map. Impressive.
“YES.”
Ah, so that rules out places like the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, etc.
“Hmm, then, is the name of its capital three letters or less (in Japanese)?”
“NO.”
So, the capital’s name has four or more letters. Italy is out, with Rome. Czech Republic too, with Prague, and Ukraine with Kiev?
What’s left are… to the southwest, Spain and Portugal, but I feel like it’s somewhere to the east. Yeah. Knowing Hagasaki-kun, he probably chose somewhere slightly obscure.
“Then it’s my turn! Is there a famous food associated with this country?”
Maito, weak in geography, seems to have attacked from her strength.
But even if it’s about food, I have general knowledge too!
“Food?… When it comes to this country…”
…Oh, why is Hagasaki-kun hesitating? What?
“…It’s a bit tricky to say about the food, but yes, there is something… so, YES…?”
Uh, what? What’s with that response…
Especially since Hagasaki-kun is reacting like this, it must be some weird food, right?
I have no clue. The next question is…
“I’ve got it! Bulgaria!”
While I was pondering, Maito answered.
And Hagasaki-kun made a really serious face. Then he sighed.
“…Correct. What the heck. It’s annoying to be guessed with such a question.”
…Ah. Yeah. I get it.
Hehe, Bulgaria, yogurt♪
…Yeah, Hagasaki-kun is allowed to be upset!
“So, exercising the right to ask a question! The target is President!”
“I don’t mind, but it’s an attack, huh?”
“Question: if all club members except you underwent a sex change, who would you date?”
Eh, this is kind of a full-on attack, isn’t it! Ah, President is seriously troubled! Yay, how fun!
“…If I have to choose the least bad option, then Kadomi-kun…”
“Eh…?”
“Why’s that?”
“Just as I said. The nicest personality, or rather, the least harmful.”
“Eh…?”
…Ah, yeah. I understand.
Out of everyone here, Kadomi-kun would definitely have the nicest personality if he were a girl. He’s the last man standing by process of elimination.
“Eh… am I really that unharmful…?”
“At least relatively so.”
It seems like President took less of a hit than Kadomi-kun. Well, yeah. Someone else’s misfortune is what they say…
…And, well, we played a few more games after that.
“…Maito.”
“Yes.”
“You know that if there are no correct answers, the presenter gets a penalty, right?”
“Yes…”
Now, Maito-san is in a rather critical situation.
Uh, the theme is “musical instruments,” but after 15 questions and 7 answers, nobody has gotten it right.
I hold the last question and answer rights.
On the blackboard, all the previous questions are written.
Can it be held in one hand… YES
Does it have a keyboard… NO
Is it a string instrument… NO
Is it a percussion instrument… NO
Is it used in classical music… I think NO
Is it a brass instrument… NO
Have we played it?… If I say YES, it’s YES, but I think I have to say NO
Is the name five letters or less?… YES
(Hagasaki’s answer: Harmonica)
(Toriumi’s answer: Recorder)
Have we used it in class?… NO
Is it made of metal?… NO
(Katori’s answer: Conch shell)
Does it have uses other than music?… NO, but some of us would say YES and go “ah, yes.”
(Kariya’s answer: Vuvuzela)
(President’s answer: Shakuhachi)
Is it a Japanese instrument?… NO
It’s a wind instrument, right?… YES
(Suzumoto’s answer: Whistling)
Is it made of wood?… NO
(Kadomi’s answer: Grass whistle)
Do you use both hands to play it?… YES
And, now it’s my turn to ask the last question and answer.
What is this!? It’s not a string instrument, has no keyboard, and it’s not a percussion, brass, or woodwind instrument! It’s not a Japanese instrument either!
It’s not used in classical music, and it’s not made of wood or metal…
Is there such an instrument!? Maito-san, did you choose an obscure instrument!?
“By the way, I figured it out.”
“I think I know it too. Probably that, right?”
While Hagasaki and Toriumi seem to have figured it out already! Both of them have already used their right to answer, so they can’t answer!
“Well, to be fair, I won’t give any hints.”
And he’s not giving any hints! How mean!
“Hariu—! Do your best! Otherwise, I’ll face a penalty!”
“I think you should just accept the penalty.”
“Waah! I never thought we wouldn’t get the answer—!”
…Hmm, I definitely think this is Maito-san’s fault.
But well, I still have the right to ask and answer. Shall I try a little harder?
Probably, the biggest hints are “Have we played it?” and “Does it have uses other than music?” Both answers were ambiguous.
So, we definitely know this instrument, probably from a field other than music.
Now, rather than figuring it out from the questions, I feel like I should read Maito-san’s mind.
Let’s see, what Maito-san has been obsessed with recently is…
…Games, I guess.
Yeah. Oh, I got it!
It can be held in one hand and it’s a wind instrument, made of a material that is neither metal nor wood, namely clay! It’s probably not used in classical music! Alright!
“Question! Is that instrument used in the subtitle of a game?”
The moment I asked, Maito-san’s face lit up.
“YES!”
Yes! So!
“The answer is the ocarina!”
“Correct!”
“…Maito.”
“Yes?”
“The uses other than playing it include warping, making it rain, summoning fairies?”
“Yeah. Creating Time Blocks, adjusting water levels, moving boats, talking with Saria.”
“And reversing time or turning grudges into masks.”
“Yeah.”
…Yeah. The Ocarina of Time.
Maito-san has been mainly trying out the human clip bug lately…
“Maito. Don’t count pressing the C button as playing an instrument.”
“That’s why I said NO!”
But I think the difficulty level of the question was too high!
So now it’s my turn to ask a question. Who should I ask?
Hmm, it’s a tough choice.
“By the way, has everyone finished their homework?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I’m getting there?”
While I was undecided, everyone started talking about something else.
“I have just a bit of math left, and geography.”
“I have a bit of math too.”
“I haven’t touched English yet.”
“It would be scary if Katori finished English quickly. By the way, I’m about to start Classics.”
“I’ve finished everything except Modern Literature.”
“Oh, you too, President. I haven’t done Modern Lit either.”
“Wait? Was there homework for Modern Literature?”
“It’s about creating tanka or haiku, or perhaps a short story or a poem. It’s a real challenge for me.”
“I saved the easy one for last!”
“Ah, I finished that before summer vacation started.”
“Toriumi, what did you make?”
“If it won’t sing, tonight a gisu sushi.”
“That’s awful.”
“And you don’t have a seasonal word in there, do you?”
“Well, actually, sushi is a summer seasonal word.”
“But it still lacks seasonal feel and aesthetic.”
…Ah… I’ve just thought of a really good question!
“By the way, Hariu, have you started?”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to say again, ‘The real challenge of summer homework starts after summer vacation.'”
Here, I raise my hand!
“Using my question right! The target is Toriumi!”
“Oh, okay.”
“Tell me the answers to the English homework!”
After this, I won a series of battles, so my homework progressed quite a lot. Yay.
Sometimes, a rainy day isn’t so bad. Ahaha.