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As I stood on the rooftop, the morning sun cast a golden glow over the city, but my focus lay elsewhere. Before us, an intricate seal pulsed with an otherworldly energy – the entrance to the Culling Game. Its sudden appearance had caught everyone off guard, and we'd hastily assembled our group. Satoru, Yuta, Megumi, Nobara, and Yuji flanked me, their faces set with determination.

Elara stood beside me, her expression carefully neutral, playing the role of a concerned friend to perfection. I'd asked her to keep up the charade, to avoid arousing suspicion. But my gaze kept drifting to Kuroshi, his brooding eyes fixed on the seal.

Our conversation still lingered in my mind, the tension between us palpable. I'd had to swallow my pride and ask for his help, despite our strained relationship. "Come on, Kuroshi, don't make me beg," I'd said, annoyance lacing my voice. His response still stung: "You're being selfish, Y/N. You always are." The memory ignited a spark within me, fueling my devilish grin.

"Still think I'm selfish?" I whispered, nudging him with my elbow.

Kuroshi's gaze snapped to mine, his eyes narrowing. "We're not done discussing this, Y/N."

I chuckled, low and husky. "Later, brother. We have a game to crash."

The rooftop's gravel crunched beneath our feet as we shifted, our eyes fixed on the seal. The Barrier, a shimmering veil of energy, pulsed with an ominous power. Its sudden appearance had transformed the city's skyline, casting long shadows that seemed to writhe like living darkness.

"This is it," Satoru said, his voice low and steady. "The Culling Game's entrance. We need to be prepared."

Yuji's eyes gleamed with determination. "We'll get through this together."

Megumi's gaze lingered on the seal, her expression thoughtful. "The rules are unclear. What kind of challenges will we face?"

Nobara snorted. "Who cares? We'll smash 'em all."

Yuta's eyes flicked between us, his brow furrowed. "Are we sure we're ready for this?"

Elara's casual demeanor faltered for an instant, her gaze meeting mine. I nodded, almost imperceptibly.

"Let's get this over with," Kuroshi muttered, his eyes locked on the seal.

With a deep breath, I stepped forward, my devilish grin spreading across my face. "Time to play."

As my fingers grazed the seal, the air shimmered, and two Kogane materialized before us. The creatures were adorable, yet unsettling, with fluffy bodies, large eyes, and tails that swished back and forth as they hovered in mid-air.

"I am Kogane!" they chimed in unison, their high-pitched voices like a cacophony of sugar-fueled excitement.