“What is it that you really want with me, Regina? It’s already a bit weird for me to be here in your dark and creepy room… that is filled with weird insignias… wait, what the hell is up with this room?” I muttered, as I was slowly distracted by how creepy her room was. I could feel her grinning face oozing as I got creeped out by my surroundings, before completely snapping out of it and getting back on topic by asking, “Surely, this is not because you want to play with me, right? I heard that you don’t even like people.”

“I can’t make it any simpler for you than I already have: I want to play with you, big brother. And don’t call me Shirley,” she said.

“Wait, but I didn’t call you Sh—.”

“Is it really that weird that I’d want to be closer to my new big brother? I believe that a game would be the best way of achieving that goal,” she said, completely ignoring my interjection.

“Well…” I muttered.

I mean, it’s not really that bizarre, I don’t think?

“Then, you agree!” she gleefully cheered. But I don’t remember agreeing with her, however. And more importantly, I can sense that this cheer of happiness is not all that genuine.

That wasn’t all that I sensed. For some reason, my entire body was on high alert from the moment I entered her room. My gut was telling me to be wary of her, which may indicate that Regina is quite a dangerous individual. She was 2 years younger than Raina and I, so I’m confused as to what I should be aware of. I mean, just look at her, she’s just a sweet looking girl when you look at her. So, there’s no reason for me to be vigilant, like?

It’s not like time has slowed down again, like at the hospital.

“Worrying won’t do you any good, big brother,” she said.

Huh?

“There’s nothing for you to be worried about. You are not in danger and you’re always going to be safe here. There’s nothing dangerous about the game we’ll play. I am your cute little sister after all.”

“Uh… of course, yeah?” I muttered.

It’s not just me, right?

But something’s fishy around here. It doesn’t sound like I’m safe here, since no one says those words out of the blue. In fact, the only ones who say those things are the ones that are actually going to do those exact things to you.

And furthermore, it’s as if… she’s directly responding to my thoughts.

It’s not possible, right?

“So… shall we play a game, big brother?” she asked.

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, what game are we even playing?” I asked.

“A classic: Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

“Rock, Paper, Scissors? That’s what we’re playing? I thought we’d be playing something a lot more complicated or intricate, like chess or shoots and ladders,” I said.

“Board games are boring, they always last far longer than they’re supposed to. But with RPS, we can statistically determine our possible endpoints much easier,” she said

“RPS? What’s with you and acronyms?”

“Convenience.”

“Ah.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The rules to ‘RPS’, as Regina likes to call it, is simple enough to explain. Actually, I think everyone knows how it works. But for the benefit of those who don’t: scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, and rock crushes scissors. As far as games go, it’s as simple as it can get and it’s an innocent enough game, with the odds of victory being one in three chances.

It sounds pretty safe.

I can’t find anything dangerous possibly happening here.

“And to add more spice to our game, let’s have a punishment game on whoever loses a round!” she said.

“Why?”

“It’s boring to play a game without consequence, right? I mean, a lot of challenge videos are entertaining because of the threat of consequence for the loser! So, let’s have one here too! But don’t you worry, you can only be under the punishment game if you lose in a 5-match round,” she explained.

“So, that means I have to win 3 matches to avoid getting the punishment?” I asked.

“Precisely!”

“Is that really necessary?”

“It’s vital!”

“Vital? That’s… strong.”

I mean, she’s not really wrong with her assessment. RPS is quite a boring game when you think about it, so having stakes provides an exciting twist on the game. I suppose it’s fine that way and it does sound fun to play under those premises.

“Well, let’s start!” she declared.

For our first official round, I’ll go for rock!

And as we drop our picks, she plays paper and beats me.

“Yay! I won!” she cheered.

Okay, that’s just the first match, there’s 3 more chances for me to turn it around and beat her. As we both got set for the 2nd round, I planned on using Rock once more. The odds of the two of us playing the same ones from earlier is a bit unlikely, so I can catch her off-guard and get a point up.

“Janken!” we shouted, as we both played the same hand from earlier.

“What? I lost again?” I mumbled.

“I won again! In your face, big brother. One more and it’s time for your punishment game! Are you having fun?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s pretty fun.”

“Isn’t it exhilarating? Waiting for your punishment to arrive?” she grinned.

Something about that is messed up. But I’ll let that slide, since I just lost again! I should’ve known that using the same tactic will land me in this position. Now, I’m really worried that I’ll lose. She looks so confident and smug about her chances, and I still need to win 3 more games to be truly safe from punishment. Regardless of anything, I have to win this next one.

But what should I do?

Ah, I see. That could work.

“Man, you’ve beaten me with the same move twice in a row.. I should’ve known that using the same thing twice would bite me in the ass. But I suppose, you can’t beat three times in a row with the same move, right?” I said.

She was just smiling at me the whole time and said, “Bring it on, big brother.”

And like the cruel twists of fate, I lost for the third time to the same move. She used paper to defeat my rock once more. I thought I was able to trick her, but the opposite happened, It was a ruse that she was supposed to fall for and I was so confident in throwing my hands down, only for her to beat me at my own game.

And since I lost this match…

“Darn, I lost again,” I mumbled.

“How unfortunate, big brother. I guess it’s time for your punishment, eh heh.”

She saw through my plan like it was nothing, without sweat or hesitation, she was so confident that she would win this game. Three consecutive rounds, I lost three rounds of this game, and that means that it’s time. What could my punishment be?

“Well, fair’s fair after all. What’s the punishment then?” I asked.

“For your punishment, big brother…” she pondered for a bit. After a few moments, she gave me a smile that made me feel very uncomfortable and said, “You shall lose the control of your left lung.”

“What kind of punishment is that? How am I going to—...”

Wait, what the hell is going on?

I’m having so much trouble breathing, what did she do to me?

She just said those things and then almost immediately, I fell victim to it like a moth to a flame. I didn’t even see what she did, she was just sitting in front of me the whole time smugly. First, she’s seemingly predicting every move and thought that I have accurately, and now she’s even able to shut down vital organs with just her words.

That’s enough data.

Regina Valero… she’s accursed as well.