Chapter 137: Shifting Allegiances

Sera's gaze swept across the room, landing on Deku, who was standing quietly, observing the scene with a mix of curiosity and caution. "Deku, it's your turn," she said, a playful smile on her face. "Truth or dare?" Deku hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting to Bakugo and me, still locked in our silent stare-down. Then, he looked back at Sera and shrugged. "Dare," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Sera's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Okay, here's your dare: you have to perform a task for the person who's been most affected by the events of tonight," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. Deku's eyes scanned the room, and I could sense him considering his options. His gaze landed on Shinso, who was standing alone, looking a bit lost and uncertain. Deku's expression softened, and he nodded. "I'll do it," he said, his voice filled with determination. Sera nodded, a small smile on her face. "Great choice, Deku. What task do you think Shinso needs help with?" Deku thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Then, he turned to Shinso and said, "I think I can help you with something. Let me talk to you for a minute." Shinso's eyes lit up with surprise, and he nodded, following Deku to a quiet corner of the room. I watched them go, wondering what Deku had in mind. Bakugo, still glaring at me, seemed to sense my distraction and took advantage of it, looking away first. I felt a surge of triumph, but it was short-lived, as I realized that the dynamics of the room had shifted once again. The party was still going on, but the undercurrents of tension and emotion had become even more complex. I couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the night had in store for us. As I turned back to the party, I noticed Sera watching me with a thoughtful expression. She seemed to sense that something had changed, and she was waiting to see how it would all play out. I smiled wryly to myself, knowing that with Sera, you could never predict what would happen next.