“What did you do to me? What are you?” I asked her, while I struggled to gasp for air.

“It was a punishment game, it wouldn’t be one if it didn’t inconvenience you on some level, don’t you think? That’s exactly why you’re a one-lunged man right now,” she said in glee.

“But how did you do it?” I said.

Even talking normally was troublesome, as it impairs my breathing as well. This is no joke, this is seriously messed up.

“Ready for the next set?” she asked.

“What makes you think that I’ll even consider playing after all that?” I replied.

“Hmm… I suppose I see your point. So, that means that you’re forfeiting the game, right? Which means that you’ll have another punishment game, right? Isn’t that right, big brother?” the genuine joy in her face as she says all this is a bit too much for me, she’s really enjoying my suffering here.

But damn it, there’s no escaping here. If forfeiting the game means I’ll suffer another punishment game, then there’s no way I can get my left lung to function again. I mean, I can still breathe with one lung, although barely, but I desperately need this win and bring back my left lung as her punishment game. But if my hunch is correct, then how am I supposed to beat her?

“So, do you forfeit?” she asked.

“Let’s keep playing, damn it.”

“Oh, goodie gumdrops!” she jumped in joy.

We played another set.

“Janken!” she screamed out, while I struggled to say it.

Scissors beat paper.

Paper covers rock.

Rock crushes scissors.

She beat me in a clean sweep once again, but this time it was under rapid-fire rounds. For some reason, she was able to predict every move I planned on doing and beat me that way.

How is this happening?

What is her accursed blessing?

There has to be a way for me to turn the tide here.

“You lost again, big brother. That means, it’s time for your second punishment game!” she gleefully declared.

Oh, great. How could I forget? What could this punishment be this time? I’m already struggling as it is, but now this is just ridiculous. Whatever you pull, I’m going to reverse it when I find a way to beat you.

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“Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy for you this time. As your punishment is… that your left nostril will close up completely!” she declared.

“What?!”

And just like clockwork, my left nostril did completely close up. With only one lung and one open nostril, my breathing has been completely diminished by a significant amount. She’s torturing me through my breathing, and that’s just sadistic. I really need to turn this around now.

“How are you doing all this?” I asked.

“Eh heh,” she snickered.

“An accursed blessing, I presume?”

“Bingo! I am indeed blessed with the accursed, and this is my ability, big brother! However, you have to guess which one is my actual ability,” she said.

“What?”

“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. If you can beat me, that is. And since you know what forfeiting leads to, you really don’t have a choice in the matter,” she laughed.

“Why are you doing this to me? I barely know you!” I asked her.

She didn’t answer, but she started gesturing to start the next round. She ignored me, so that’s how it is, huh? Damn it, I can’t think straight with my air intake being so little. I don’t know what I should do here. What’s taking my accursed blessing so long to activate?

“Janken!” she screamed out.

Whatever, just throw whatever!

Paper covers rock.

“Ugh!”

I won? I finally won my match, much to her chagrin. She looks surprised as well, it’s unbelievable. What happened? Did I surpass her or something?

“You got lucky, big brother, that is all,” she muttered.

We played once more and scissors cut paper.

“W-what?” she mumbled, as I’ve beaten her for a second time now.

There has to be a trick in here somewhere, she has been dominating the game for the past few moments but now, I’ve somehow turned the tables on her. It doesn’t please her in the slightest, and I think this is almost over.

“This is not over yet,” she said.

I see.

I’ll throw rock again and let’s see if I can win with it this time. I really need to win and fix myself already, so let’s do this.

“Janken!”

Paper covers rock.

She sighed with relief as she was able to beat me in the third round. What is it now? Was it luck or did I figure something out? Nonetheless, I only have 2 more chances to win and this is a ride or die situation.

Should I go with paper? Or scissors? Rock seems to be a horrible choice, so it’s one of those two options. Paper or scissors?

“Janken!”

Scissors cut paper.

“I win again!” she celebrated.

Darn it, a last minute choice cost me. I’m seriously losing oxygen in my body, it’s really all or nothing now. It’s all down to this last match, since it’s possible that I would die if this goes forth.

“Feeling nervous, big brother?” she asked.

“Oh, the opposite… because this time, I’ll beat you with rock.”

“Oh?” she muttered and then laughed at me saying, “Do you really think that you can win with a weak tactic like that? It didn’t work before, don’t think that it’d work out this time. But, let me just put you out of your misery, big brother!”

“Bring it on.”

“Janken!” We both screamed.

Rock crushes scissors.

And the last match has concluded.

“Darn it.”