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Chapter 90: Little Kaguya's Social Death
Ah, it was "Little Kaguya!"
Fujiwara Chika had only seen Kaguya Shinomiya in this fragile, regressive state two or three times since they first met in elementary school. It was a "super rare" occurrence that usually required a perfect storm of extreme exhaustion and high-stress vulnerability.
So, Little Kaguya missed me so much that she came to school just to find me?
Swellling with a surge of maternal emotion, Chika stood up, her arms open to greet her dear friend. But before she could speak, Kaguya—in front of the entire class, the stunned teacher, and over a dozen unfamiliar girls—cried out through her tears:
"Chika Mama!"
The heiress of the Four Palaces House then threw herself into Chika's embrace, rubbing her face against Chika's chest with unreserved desperation.
It took a few agonizing seconds for Chika's brain to process what had just happened. For a sixteen-year-old girl, even one as physically developed as Chika, being called "Mama" by her childhood peer was a shock to the system. Not to mention they were in the middle of a lecture!
Feeling the weight of dozens of shocked gazes and Kaguya's persistent nuzzling, Fujiwara Chika entered a state of total cognitive dissonance. In Little Kaguya's subconscious... am I already her mother?!
"Waaah, Chika Mama, I don't want to leave you! I want to be with Chika Mama forever~!"
"There, there, good Little Kaguya. Don't cry, don't cry. Chika Mama will always be by your side."
After the initial chaos, Fujiwara Chika seemed to truly awaken a dormant, protective attribute. Within minutes, she had instinctively adapted to the role, comforting Kaguya with a tenderness that would have baffled anyone who knew her usual carefree personality.
Fortunately, the "show" had moved. Ai Hayasaka had acted with professional speed, ushering the duo—and a bewildered Miko Yotsuya—into the Shuchiin Chairman's office. The current chairman was Kaguya's eldest brother, Kougan Shinomiya. While the siblings were distant, Kaguya's recent awakening of the Ripple had elevated her standing in the family, granting her the authority to use the office as a private sanctuary.
"Miss Miko, please explain the situation to Miss Chika. I have to go... handle the witnesses," Hayasaka said, her face a mask of weary professionalism.
As Japan's most capable maid, Hayasaka knew the magnitude of the disaster. The daughter of the nation's wealthiest zaibatsu had just had a public meltdown, hugging a politician's daughter and calling her "Mama." Even if Kaguya transferred tomorrow, this story would circulate through the halls of Shuchiin for a decade.
I just hope she wakes up soon, Hayasaka thought, rubbing her temples. This mess is going to be a nightmare to suppress.
Meanwhile, at Toyosaki High, Renji Miyauchi watched the "mother-daughter" scene through his Master Diary. He couldn't help but think the system was actually being merciful.
If I were deciding the punishment, Renji mused, I'd have her snap back to reality the second she finished shouting 'Mama.' Now THAT would be true psychological warfare.
The other girls in the chat group were not as amused. Seeing Kaguya—the pillar of their group—reduced to a sobbing child left them chilled.
Menma: "Wait, I remember Kaguya-san had a request to become the Student Council President. Can she still do that after... this?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "The Shinomiya name still carries weight. Students here understand power and interest better than most. It's not impossible, but the difficulty just spiked from 'Normal' to 'Insane.'"
Yukino looked around her newly approved Service Club room. She had her own deadline. If she didn't complete a student's request within a week, she might be the next one live-streaming her embarrassment. With Golden Week approaching, her window was closing. Do I need to go out and find a client myself? she wondered.
The fear was even more palpable for Hitori Gotoh (Bocchi).
Bocchi was currently melting into a literal puddle on her desk. She had accepted a request to form a band, fantasizing about her big debut. But after carrying her guitar around all day without daring to speak to a single soul, reality had set in.
Maybe failing won't be so bad, she had initially thought. Then she saw the "Chika Mama" incident. For someone with Bocchi's level of social anxiety, that wasn't a punishment—it was a death sentence.
"What to do... what to do..." Bocchi whimpered, her mental state reaching a breaking point.
Back at Toyosaki, Mashiro Shiina was the only one unaffected by the drama. In fact, she was intently staring at her Diary, sketching Kaguya's distorted crying face and the shocked expressions of the background characters.
"Great material," Mashiro whispered. She wasn't worried about failure; she knew Renji would help her. And even if she did fail, she assumed her punishment would involve Renji anyway, so what was there to fear?
Utaha Kasumigaoka walked over to Mashiro after class, looking agitated. "I bet that 'Mysterious Person' is laughing his head off right now. Mashiro, you have to be careful. And keep a close eye on Renji Miyauchi."
Mashiro tilted her head. "Why Renji?"
"My request involves consulting him for Reading Value," Utaha explained. She had already capped her weekly 10 points by pestering Renji about her novel plots. "If the 'Second Batch' of girls realizes he's a shortcut to easy points, they'll try to snatch him. If you see any unfamiliar girls approaching him, tell me immediately!"
Mashiro nodded vaguely, though she didn't quite grasp the concept of Renji being "snatched."
Back at Shuchiin
Fujiwara Chika sat in the chairman's chair, cradling a napping Kaguya. As Miko finished explaining the truth—about the hidden world, the "religious school" (Jujutsu High), and Kaguya's impending transfer—Chika's eyes filled with tears.
She didn't fully understand the supernatural elements. In her mind, the Jujutsu world was a place of ascetic monks, and Kaguya was fleeing her oppressive brothers to live a life of prayer and isolation.
"Waaah! Little Kaguya! I can't lose you to a convent!" Chika wailed, hugging Kaguya tighter. "What will I do if you shave your head and become a monk?!"
Chika's wailing woke Kaguya up. Still in her regressive state, Kaguya saw her "Mama" crying and immediately joined in with an even louder howl.
Miko stood in the corner of the office, watching the two girls sob in each other's arms, the sound echoing off the expensive wood paneling. She felt a profound sense of exhaustion.
The Mysterious Person was right, Miko thought. The Jujutsu world is dangerous... but my normal life is clearly much more terrifying.