Sometimes, Takakai couldn't help but reflect—had his life become too indulgent?
He'd just narrowly escaped a life-or-death dungeon, gained powerful new blessings and Obsession Objects, and even uncovered part of the Black Watch's secrets through KP. With so much intel to process, so many plans to make, logically, he should be strategizing his next moves...
And yet—
Morning: A date with Maki and Chika, which turned into a solo date with Maki after Chika left for errands... which then somehow led to a hotel room.
Noon: Room service lunch, interrupted by Chika's return—and her noticing the evidence of morning activities.
Afternoon: A "casual stroll" that somehow ended in a private cinema with sofas and beds. (Nobody remembered the movie's title.)
Looking back, his entire day had been a haze of hedonism. Everything else—plans, dangers, the Sacrifice Game—faded into the background, replaced by a sugar-sweet lethargy.
...This really won't do. I need to get a grip. Can't let desire consume me.
His expression turned solemn.
Very well. I shall conquer my urges, suppress my impulses, and vanquish the darkness within!
...Aaand done~!
"You enjoyed every second of today, didn't you? You dragged us into things multiple times. Now that you've burned off energy, you're suddenly 'enlightened'?"
Maki's deadpan voice cut in.
Walking beside him on the pedestrian bridge, her torn stockings replaced with white knee-highs, she'd overheard his muttering and promptly judged him.
"Ahem, just some self-reflection. Today was a bit too... unproductive. Compared to the dungeon, it's like whiplash—from life-or-death tension to total slack."
He shook his head, sighing.
"...When you can relax, you should. Overthinking is exhausting."
Maki lightly punched his arm, her tone oddly maternal.
("Maki could be my mom!"—the reference almost slipped out, but Takakai held back. No way she'd get it.)
"You'd make a great mom, Maki."
He opted for a more universally effective tease instead.
"W-What kind of nonsense—?! That's... That's far in the future! After we escape the **[Sacrifice Game]!"*
As predicted, her face turned apple-red. She smacked his back halfheartedly, grumbling—but her words lacked any real rejection.
If we escaped now, we'd probably fast-track to marriage and kids...
The thought amused him.
His gaze shifted to Chika, who stood at the bridge's railing, peering intently at a distant plaza.
Preparations were underway for a fireworks festival in three days.
Having never experienced a traditional Japanese hanabi taikai, Takakai was genuinely curious. He'd already invited all the girls—Maki, Chika, Miko, Hayasaka, and Kaguya. A five-girls-one-guy combo that would definitely draw stares.
"Wonder what it'll be like..."
He mused aloud.
"No fireworks festivals in your hometown? I thought China loved fireworks for holidays?"
Maki blinked.
"Not really memorable ones."
He deflected smoothly.
(Truthfully, his orphanage days had included fireworks—and the joy of blowing up cow patties and outhouse pits. Once, he'd even caught someone mid-business. The ensuing chase from a furious, shit-stained man remained his pre-superhuman speed record.)
"Hope this one's fun."
He smiled, genuinely anticipating it.
"Yeah... It'll be nice."
Maki mirrored his expression—though her heart wasn't fully in it.
She'd wanted a solo date with Takakai, hand-in-hand under the fireworks. But with the group dynamic, she'd resigned herself to biting her tongue.
"Five days later, let's sneak off to X-Cheng. Their festival got postponed due to rain forecasts. Just the two of us—our own private fireworks. Sound good?"
Takakai, ever perceptive, whispered the perfect remedy.
"E-Eh?! I never said I wanted—! ...Hmph. Fine. You're... not completely clueless."
Her tsundere facade crumbled into a soft, melted murmur.
"Hiro-kun~! Maki-chan~! Let's scout the festival stalls in advance~!"
Chika bounced back, dragging them toward the plaza like an overexcited puppy.
Shinomiya Estate
In a bedroom larger than three average living rooms combined, Shinomiya Kaguya lay on her bed, eyes glued to her phone.
[I've wanted to take the beautiful, adorable Shinomiya-sama on a date for so long~]
The transcribed voice message from Takakai looped in her mind.
"Shinomiya-sama, you've reread that message forty-seven times now."
Hayasaka sighed.
"N-No I haven't! I'm just... planning my outfit for the date! As the Shinomiya heiress, I must present myself properly!"
Kaguya's cheeks burned.
A date... How does one even do that?
And what would Maki and Chika think? Their tangled relationships with Takakai were already a mess—yet they'd somehow navigated it effortlessly. Meanwhile, she'd needed Hayasaka's scheming just to get this far.
"It's time for bed, Shinomiya-sama. Rest well for tomorrow's date with Master—ahem—with Takakai-sama."
Hayasaka ushered her to sleep—half an hour early.
"Right. I'll rely on your support tomorrow too, Hayasaka."
Though "betrayed," Kaguya had forgiven her maid after hearing the necessity of her actions. With Hayasaka's help, she would make Takakai hers.
Lights out.
Kaguya drifted into peaceful dreams.
Hayasaka, however, didn't return to her duties.
Instead, she slipped into Takakai's guest room from last night.
"Mmm... Master's scent..."
Clutching the pajamas she'd secretly swapped for him, she inhaled deeply, her face flushing.
The canine-form side effects were impossible to suppress.
Not that she wanted to.
She'd already traced Takakai's current hotel location.
With 9-10 hours until Kaguya woke...
More than enough time.
A shadowy figure soon slipped out of the Shinomiya estate, vanishing into the night.