Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

　　Merry Christmas Everyone! 

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After lunch.

　　Amamiya held Umi in his left hand and Chika in his right hand, and began to copy and paste 'role play'.

　　"I don't know what role I can play, I'm really looking forward to it."

　　Chika stretched out her legs, put them together, and gently swayed her feet left and right, making a light sound.

　　"I feel that the fit is related to liking and identifying with the characters." Umi held up a finger, "First of all, we have to sincerely like and identify with the characters we play. For example, if I were to wear a maid outfit, act as a Saber, or act as a magical girl, I would not be able to act successfully."

　　Amamiya turned around and looked: "So your hobby is succubus?"

　　"It's a Dream Demon, okay?" Umi corrected, "It's the super cute Dream Demon in the four-frame comics!"

　　You like biting other people's necks. You, a nightmare demon, are not serious at all!

"What kind of characters do you like Chika-chan?" Umi looked over curiously.

"Hm…" The pink-haired girl hesitated for a second, then quickly gave a thumbs-up. "I like detectives."

"Huh?"

"I originally wanted to date you as an ordinary girl, but I'm done pretending," declared Chika, lifting her chin to reveal her slender, fair neck. "I am the legendary Love Detective. The moment romance blooms, I'm on the scene to gather all the latest intel firsthand."

What does that even have to do with detectives? She sounds like a total paparazzo!

"Anyway, it's settled! I'll head to Akihabara with Umi-chan this afternoon, and the first outfit I'll try on is Conan's!" Chika announced, brimming with confidence. "I have full faith in the calling of a detective!"

Seriously? You're diving head-first into the role of a schoolboy detective-turned harbinger of death? Isn't that going a bit far?

Amamiya closed his eyes, then muttered, "There's something I feel I should say, but maybe I shouldn't…"

Chika immediately pressed her hand over Amamiya's mouth. "Then don't say it!"

"…?"

Finished with her monologue, Chika turned to check her game panel. "Looks like I've got some temporary skills," she noted.

"Let's head downstairs." Amamiya stood up, adjusting his bag. "It's nearly time for class."

A cool breeze swept through, rustling the skirts and hair of the two girls, bringing a welcome chill.

"Mmm, feels nice." Umi closed her eyes briefly, tucking a strand of windblown hair behind her ear. "The rooftop is even cooler than the classroom. Should we have lunch here tomorrow?"

"I'm in," Amamiya nodded, turning to Chika and whispering, "Could we have meatballs tomorrow?"

Chika looked away. "No meatballs."

"Fish balls, then?"

"Only coarse noodles."

"…Fine."

The afternoon classes flew by, and before long, the final bell signaled the end of the school day.

Amamiya closed his book and approached Kaguya. "Shall we?"

"Let's go." Kaguya stood up, clutching her bag. "Our driver's busy today, so we'll take the train."

"It's been precisely thirty minutes," Amamiya observed as they walked. "With some time to spare, how about flipping a coin?"

"Absolutely not." Kaguya turned him down immediately.

If so many unpredictable things could happen in an empty classroom, who knew what would happen outside?

"We'll search until 5:30. If we can't find it by then, maybe we can consider flipping the coin," Kaguya reasoned. "There's still time to reach a safe spot by then."

Amamiya suddenly chimed in, "Speaking of safe spots, I have a suggestion."

"What?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow.

"Remember that Snowstorm Villa where we cleared together?" Amamiya replied seriously. "There's nowhere safer than a sturdy iron cage." 

The girl in the cage seemed, paradoxically, both bound and free, though only temporarily. For the half hour she hid there, most of life's misfortunes couldn't reach her—aside from pesky things like flying insects.

Amamiya was increasingly convinced that locking himself in an iron cage was the surest way to "weather the storm."

Kaguya: "…"

Is he really considering locking herself in a cage? What is he even saying?

He could simply stay in the classroom alone and safely avoid any misfortune without risking his life.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Kaguya exhaled, a dark, ironic smile gracing her lovely face. "To be safe, Amamiya-kun should probably go turn himself in."

"I refuse."

"…"

Their banter continued as they walked out of school and reached the tram stop.

Though the afternoon train wasn't especially crowded, a few empty seats remained. After boarding, Amamiya scanned the surroundings before settling in a corner, with Kaguya naturally following him.

"By the way, what does that cat look like?"

Amamiya asked in a low voice.

"Ms. Suzuki(the ghost guide name) said it's a calico cat, with black, white, and yellow fur. It has a black spot on its mouth and a yellow patch near its tail," Kaguya replied softly.

"A calico, then it must be a female," Amamiya remarked offhandedly.

"Yes." Kaguya tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear. "It's a stray that Miss Suzuki adopted. She calls her Hood Meow."

"Oh, so it's Aunt Hood, the cat-stuffer."

"Cat-stuffer?" Kaguya tilted her head curiously.

"That's an ancient tale…" Amamiya's tone turned somber as he switched into storytelling mode. "Back when Hood was still young, she had a fated rival named Bismarck, whom she both loved and resented. Over time, Bismarck grew proud and distinguished, while Hood remained just a regular girl. Left with no choice, Hood had to start… stuffing a cat to fool everyone."

"…"

Kaguya didn't need further explanation; she already knew what it meant to "stuffing a cat."

After all, she knew someone who did it herself—

That's right, Hayasaka Ai.

Kaguya had often asked Hayasaka to help her with different tasks, and she knew well that Hayasaka's bust was exactly the same size as her own. Yet before stepping out, Hayasaka would always "enhance" herself with various things.

But using an actual cat? That seemed impossible. Besides, what if it scratched her?

Amamiya's gaze drifted down a bit, pausing just above and below Kaguya's face. "Just like with Chika and…"

"and who?"

Kaguya tilted her head with a sweet smile, her bangs casting shadows over her eyes. "Life only comes once, Amamiya-kun. Some things, once said, can never be taken back."

"How terrifying!"

A nearby elementary student caught Kaguya's intense gaze and instinctively hugged his backpack, trembling on the verge of tears.

"Hurry up and let's go," Amamiya urged, taking Kaguya's hand. "If we don't leave now, they'll think we're bullying elementary schoolers."

Just as they reached the corner, two elementary school students in yellow caps looked up, then suddenly approached Kaguya, calling out with surprising respect:

"Aniki!"

"Hmm?" 

Kaguya raised an eyebrow, looking down at the two young students who seemed oddly familiar.

Amamiya recognized them first and whispered, "It's the kid who challenged you at the arcade."

Realization dawned on Kaguya.

Of course—they were the elementary schoolers she'd "bullied" at the arcade. But why were they calling her "Aniki"? Doesn't that make her sound like some kind of delinquent?

One of the children asked eagerly, "Aniki, why haven't you come to the arcade lately?"

The other clenched his fist, determination in his eyes. "After losing to you, Aniki, I practiced hard. I've been waiting for a rematch!"

She had only been there for a mission. Once it was complete, she naturally hadn't gone back.

Unable to tell them the real reason, Kaguya pursed her lips and said vaguely, "…I've been really busy lately and haven't had time."

One of the elementary students shot a look at Amamiya and asked innocently, "Busy dating Onii-chan?"

"Eh… hey?!" Kaguya's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed visibly red. "D-Date? W-We're not…"

"That's right," another kid chimed in, pointing to the evidence, "You were holding hands just now."

"…"

Kaguya found herself speechless amidst their repeated calls of "Aniki" and remained flustered until the train reached the station.

"See you tomorrow, Aniki!" the two elementary schoolers called cheerfully as they waved and got off the tram.

"S-See you tomorrow…" Kaguya replied reflexively.

Amamiya was speechless. "You really agreed to that?"

"Eh?" Kaguya blinked, startled. "Agreed to what?"

"They said they'd be at the arcade tomorrow, and you nodded along."

"I didn't…" Kaguya quickly snapped out of her daze.

"You nodded," Amamiya pointed out.

"I…" Kaguya's eyes widened as she replayed the moment in her mind. "That was because the train shook! It doesn't count!"

Amamiya looked out the window. "Then how about getting off and explaining it to them now?"

"…"

"Forget it," Kaguya sighed, shaking her head. "Since I already agreed, I can't go back on my word. We'll head to the arcade after school tomorrow."

"As expected of the Aniki who keeps her promises," Amamiya remarked with a thumbs-up before his tone took on a mischievous edge. "In that case, you should fulfill your other promise too."

"What promise?"

Kaguya blinked, momentarily puzzled.

"The King's game punishment from this morning," he reminded her.

"You… you actually remembered that?" Kaguya took a step back, face flushing with embarrassment and annoyance. "Turn yourself in!!"

That kind of thing should be consensual, not a punishment!

They fell silent as they continued on their way.

Half an hour later.

Amamiya and Kaguya got off the train and made their way to an older residential neighborhood.

"Ms. Suzuki came to Tokyo from Hokkaido for work and rented an apartment here. It was rented out by the building manager," Kaguya explained softly. "From what we've found, the cat escaped through a window, so it didn't starve. Locals have reported sightings nearby."

"Let's hope we find it," Amamiya nodded. "Miss Hood might not be keen on being adopted again. We'll see."

"Mm."

The two continued their search, flyers in hand, until they reached an abandoned factory.

"There are stray cats here," Amamiya observed, peering inside. "I wonder if Miss Hood is one of them."

Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly. "Probably not…"

At that moment, they both heard a familiar game prompt in their ears.

[Random Challenge: Cat and Mouse Game]