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At the same time.
On the other side.
"Natsuki-kun, shall we go to a cafe for a bit?"
Tsubame Koyasu invited him with hopeful eyes.
Amamiya Natsuki looked at her: "Does Senpai still want an Evil Spirit Banishing?"
"I do." Tsubame Koyasu admitted gracefully, raising her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her fair, slender, beautiful neck. "The skill is super useful, but unfortunately, it can only be used once. I really want to draw Evil Spirit Banishing too. This morning when I opened the Blind Box, I even prayed for a while, but I only got a pair of stockings!"
Tsubame-senpai said resentfully, "All my hopes were dashed. What's the use of something like stockings?"
Amamiya Natsuki said from the side:
"If praying worked, what would luck be for?"
"Eh?"
"I previously obtained an item in a dungeon that can significantly boost one's luck for a short period. It's been tested and it works."
Amamiya Natsuki didn't hide it, taking out the Coin of Destiny and showing it to Tsubame Koyasu.
This thing needed someone to constantly recharge it, so the more, the merrier.
After seeing the coin's attributes, Tsubame Koyasu's heart fluttered: "Luck is something intangible, does it really exist?"
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze shifted to a wandering evil spirit not far away, and he whispered:
"For ordinary people, evil spirits are invisible and intangible, does that mean they don't exist?"
"That's true." Tsubame-senpai put her hands together and stuck out her pink tongue. "Since I was little, I've never won anything from scratch cards, not even a consolation prize, so I've never believed in luck."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at Tsubame-senpai and said:
"Because Senpai's luck has been used in other areas."
"Eh, what areas?"
"Look, Senpai has a great figure, is beautiful, has many friends, is super popular at school, and her family is harmonious with both parents present." Amamiya Natsuki complained, "Why, why are other girls, also girls, only cute in appearance, but have poor figures and not a single friend?"
"Mm-hmm, I'll take that as Natsuki-kun complimenting me." Tsubame Koyasu wrapped her arms around her chest, her ample curves becoming even more prominent. The corners of her lips curved slightly upward, revealing a pleased smile. "But it sounds very much like déjà vu."
"An illusion."
"If you repeated what you just said to Kaguya-san, Kaguya-san would surely be very happy, wouldn't she?"
Of course, she'd be happy! She'd happily sink both of us into Tokyo Bay!
"Natsuki-kun, I want to flip that coin too."
Tsubame Koyasu raised her hand and said.
No one could refuse something like explosive luck.
"Flipping the coin isn't that simple…" Amamiya Natsuki didn't hold back, explaining the coin's hidden rules. "Does Senpai still want to flip it now?"
"Maybe not." Tsubame Koyasu hesitated for a few seconds, then shook her head. "It would be embarrassing to be unlucky on the street, wouldn't it?… Come to the Gymnastics Club tomorrow."
The two chatted as they walked, soon arriving at a cafe on the street corner.
There weren't many customers in the cafe after the rain, and the air was filled with soothing, gentle piano music.
"Let's sit in the corner." Tsubame Koyasu's pretty face flushed slightly. She leaned close to Amamiya Natsuki and whispered, "The light in the corner is dim, so it's not easy to be noticed."
Amamiya Natsuki looked at her with a subtle tone: "Senpai seems very experienced?"
"What do you mean by experienced?" Tsubame-senpai puffed out her pink cheeks slightly and lightly tapped Amamiya Natsuki's shoulder with her fist. "I just often come to this cafe with friends, so I'm more familiar with it!"
"I'm sorry, Senpai, please forgive me."
"Hmph."
Tsubame Koyasu walked to the corner with her hands behind her back and sat down. Seeing Amamiya Natsuki about to sit on the opposite sofa, she reached out and tugged his sleeve, her pretty face flushed, and whispered:
"You can just sit next to me."
Sitting across the table wouldn't make it convenient to secretly hold hands, would it?
"Mm."
Amamiya Natsuki responded and sat down beside Senpai. The soft, sweet scent of the girl quietly wafted into his nostrils.
After they finished ordering and the waiter walked away, the atmosphere became quiet for a moment.
Amamiya Natsuki decided to act quickly; it might rain again later. He turned and said:
"Senpai, give me your hand."
Tsubame Koyasu: "…"
Pressing her beautiful lips together slightly, Tsubame Koyasu, blushing, extended her hand.
No need to say more about what happened next; the prerequisite of holding hands for five minutes was easily met, and during that time, everything went smoothly, with no accidents whatsoever.
After the skill was successfully pasted, Amamiya Natsuki and Senpai finished their coffee and each went home.
In a flash, it was nine o'clock in the evening.
The doorbell rang punctually.
"Good evening, Senpai."
The energetic junior sister, dressed in a sailor uniform, stood outside the door, leaning slightly forward, subtly revealing a delicate collarbone. Her bright smile seemed to illuminate the night.
"Good evening." Amamiya Natsuki turned and entered the house. "Come in."
"Did Senpai miss Hanamori today?"
Hayasaka Ai's voice was clear. She sat down close beside Amamiya Natsuki, then took out a souvenir. "Senpai, have some egg tarts. The desserts from this shop are super delicious, highly recommended."
"Let's talk business first." Amamiya Natsuki looked at Hayasaka. "Is the speech ready?"
"Almost." Hayasaka Ai raised her right hand. "I guarantee it will be finished tomorrow."
"Then I'll trouble you."
"Does Senpai also think Hanamori is working hard?" Hayasaka Ai leaned closer, never forgetting her conquest plan. She tilted her pretty face slightly upward, revealing her fair, slender neck. "Feed Hanamori an egg tart."
Amamiya Natsuki picked up an egg tart and fed the Spy Maid, saying casually:
"There's one more thing… How do you increase a cold-natured girl's favorability?"
"Eh?"
Hayasaka Ai paused, her eyes widening slightly.
What did this man mean?
A cold-natured girl… Was he talking about her?
No.
She had to test him.
"I'm not eating anymore, I can't eat any more." Hayasaka Ai clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes filled with resentment. "Senpai wouldn't be cheating on me, would he?"
"We're not even dating, so of course it's not cheating." Amamiya Natsuki said righteously.
"You're clearly already cheating and still saying something like that. Senpai will get beaten, you know."
"I'll take the beating." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Just tell me quickly."
"I don't know." Hayasaka Ai pouted and turned her face away. "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell Senpai… Who is the girl Senpai wants to conquer? Is she as cute as Hanamori?"
"She's a girl from my school." Amamiya Natsuki leaned back, as if lost in thought, and said softly, "Blonde, side ponytail, always likes to eat lollipops… I noticed her on the first day of school. That morning in early April, she was leaning on the railing, propping her chin with one hand, looking at the scenery. I happened to pass by downstairs, and at that moment, she was etched into my heart, never to be forgotten."
Hayasaka Ai: "…"
Blonde, side ponytail, likes to eat lollipops—who else could it be but herself?!
Was the love-at-first-sight confession in the infirmary this afternoon real?
Was this man really lusting after her body?
It was strange.
It had been so long since school started, and he had never spoken to her before, nor had there been any love letters in her shoe locker. If it was love at first sight, how could there have been no action at all?
There was another possibility: this man had discovered her true identity and was deliberately bullying her…
Impossible!
Even Young Lady hadn't discovered her disguise. How could a mere Natsuki possibly do such a thing!
"I never said it before, but two days ago, when I entered a state of enlightenment, I suddenly understood." Amamiya Natsuki sighed softly. "There are too many regrets in life. No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first, especially for players; the future is even more unpredictable."
"Precisely because of this, when you meet a girl who makes you fall in love at first sight, you must follow your heart, pursue her bravely, and leave no regrets."
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
Why are you suddenly feeling melancholic?
Back in Haunted Town, you were still using my mother to threaten an elementary school student!
Others gain enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, but you gaining enlightenment under a girl's skirt is too much!
However... it does sound somewhat reasonable.
In every instance, there are unlucky people who die tragically. The game is never just a tea party; the future is indeed unpredictable.
"Follow your heart, huh?"
Hayasaka Ai bit her lower lip slightly, hesitated for a few seconds, and then whispered:
"Although I'm very unhappy, since it's a senpai's request, Hanamori won't refuse, even if I have to hold back tears."
Amamiya Natsuki glanced over.
You say you're wronged, but why aren't you shedding a single tear!
Hayasaka Ai continued:
"Senpai, you can try inviting the other party for dessert. It should work, because no girl can refuse dessert."
"I see."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded in agreement, "Come on, come on, let me apply an Evil Spirit Banishing to you first."
"Hmph."
"Are you still tossing a coin today?"
"Not only did senpai cheat, but he also asked Hanamori for advice. Now I'm so wronged I just want to cry, how could I be in the mood?"
"That makes sense." Amamiya Natsuki nodded, "Then after I apply the Evil Spirit Banishing, you can leave."
Hayasaka Ai bit her silver teeth, clenching her small fists in anger: "Senpai, you'll lose me if you keep this up."
"..."
After applying an Evil Spirit Banishing, Hayasaka Ai huffed and puffed as she took her leave.
"Goodbye, Senpai."
"No, Hanamori doesn't want to see Senpai ever again!"
Amamiya Natsuki said indifferently:
"Don't forget my speech tomorrow."
"Senpai is the worst!"
Clenching her small fists, she lightly tapped Amamiya Natsuki's chest twice, then the Spy Maid turned and ran.
Stepping out of the house.
The huffing and puffing expression on Hayasaka Ai's face quickly disappeared. She calmly took out her phone, unlocked the screen, and switched to her alternate account.
Blonde side ponytail, likes lollipops... nine tenths chance it's me, and one tenth chance it's someone else.
The school is so big, there might be someone with the same attributes.
The verification method is also very simple, just see if I receive a message later...
Ding-dong.
An unread message popped up at the top of the screen.
Hayasaka Ai stopped, slid her finger across the screen, and looked at the message.
Amamiya Natsuki: "Hayasaka-san, are you free tomorrow afternoon? Let's go for dessert together?"
Confirmed.
That guy was indeed interested in her.
Hayasaka Ai slightly pursed her pink lips, pressing the phone to her chest.
Life is short.
If you don't want to have regrets, it's best to follow your heart... Should I agree to tomorrow's date?
Amamiya Natsuki waited for a while, but didn't get a reply from Hayasaka Ai. He didn't mind and sent a message to Miko.
"When should I come over?"
Miko: "Don't come over. I'm sleeping alone tonight."
Amamiya Natsuki: "What if an evil spirit suddenly crawls out from under the bed?"
Miko: "Urusai!"
"..."
Due to yesterday's defiance incident, Miko, in order to protect her chastity, ultimately decided to stay at home.
As for evil spirits, she could just pretend not to see them. She used to sleep alone anyway.
After talking with Miko for a while, Amamiya Natsuki clicked on other unread messages.
Kitagawa Marin: "I'm finally back. I worked for so long today, and now my shoulders are sore."
Amamiya Natsuki: "Did you see that scythe-wielding evil spirit on the way?"
Marin: "No, I didn't. It must have forgotten about me by now."
"Don't let your guard down."
"I know~"
A video call invitation popped up on the phone.
Amamiya Natsuki clicked to answer.
Kitagawa Marin, with a white towel wrapped around her head, appeared in the video. She was leaning against the bathtub, the water covered in white bubbles, subtly revealing her delicate collarbones. She was clearly taking a bath.
"My hands are wet, replying to messages is too much trouble, so video call is more convenient." Kitagawa Marin looked over with a mix of joy and annoyance, "Tomorrow is Thursday, Natsuki, when are we leaving?"
"Your dad is in Kagoshima, which is quite far." Amamiya Natsuki pondered for a moment, "We'll go on Friday, after school."
Kagoshima Prefecture is located in Kyushu, the southernmost part of Japan. It is over a thousand kilometers from Tokyo, a long journey, so Marin's father can only return home twice a year, during New Year's and Obon.
"Natsuki, what mode of transportation are we taking?"
Marin asked again.
"By plane." Amamiya Natsuki said casually, "I'll book the tickets right away."
"Um..."
Kitagawa Marin stammered, her pretty face showing a hesitant expression as if she wanted to speak but held back.
"Just say it." Amamiya Natsuki said, "Being so hesitant isn't like you."
Kitagawa Marin hugged her knees: "Can't we take the Shinkansen instead of the plane?"
Amamiya Natsuki said: "Taking the Shinkansen requires a transfer."
"It's only one transfer, it's not troublesome." Kitagawa Marin looked over pitifully, "And the time difference won't be that much either."
Amamiya Natsuki had already seen through the girl's outwardly strong but inwardly weak demeanor: "Are you afraid of flying?"
"It's not just me who has a fear of flying; I'm sure many people are in the same situation as me." Kitagawa Marin mumbled softly, "When I was little, I watched a horror movie with my dad, and there was one about a plane crash. The imagery was super vivid at the time, and I still remember it clearly now. I'm still afraid of flying."
Amamiya Natsuki silently gave his assessment: "All bark and no bite."
Afraid of watching horror movies, yet unable to resist watching them. All bark and no bite, that's you.
Kitagawa Marin puffed out her cheeks, weakly refuting in a low voice: "That's because I watched it with my dad. If I were alone, I wouldn't watch horror movies."
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"This Friday afternoon, we'll take the Shinkansen."
"Yay!"
"..."
After discussing the travel time and method, the two talked for a while longer before Kitagawa Marin reluctantly hung up the video call.
In a blink of an eye, it was eleven at night, and a light drizzle began to fall outside again.
Amamiya Natsuki had just laid down and hadn't fallen asleep yet when his phone on the chair suddenly vibrated.
He turned his head to look and saw it was a message from Miko.
"Open the door, let's sleep together!"
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