Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

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As soon as the three arrived at the arcade entrance, a group of elementary school students with yellow caps and backpacks immediately swarmed toward Kashiwagi.

"It's Sister Asuka!"

"Good afternoon, Asuka-nee!"

"…"

While the children surrounded Kashiwagi eagerly, they paid no attention at all to Amamiya and Kaguya.

"Good afternoon, everyone," Kashiwagi greeted them with a warm smile, gently engaging with the children until she could finally pull away.

"Kashiwagi-san," Amamiya teased, "you must actually be a goddess, right?"

"Huh?" Kashiwagi tilted her head, puzzled.

"Winning over every child so effortlessly...that's god-level power," he said with a mock-serious expression. "From now on, I'll refer to you as 'Kashiwagi the Goddess.'"

"That's a bit much!" Kashiwagi's cheeks reddened slightly as she protested, "It's honestly quite simple to get along with kids."

Amamiya remained silent, but turned his gaze to the stoic figure beside him.

Kaguya: "..."

Minutes passed, and not a single elementary student approached Kaguya.

The difference in popularity was striking, leaving no room for doubt.

"Ahem," Kashiwagi cleared her throat softly and leaned over to whisper, "Shinomiya-san is actually very cute, but her silence can seem a little intimidating. Try smiling more."

"Exactly," Amamiya appeared behind her with a grin. "I completely agree with Kashiwagi-san. A smile is the light of humanity! Even in the darkest of times, we mustn't lose it."

The true "light of humanity" would probably be Chika—Kaguya was more like an archetypal capitalist heiress.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Amamiya leaned close to her. "Kaguya-chan, give them a smile."

Kaguya's lips twitched slightly. "I refuse."

She thought to herself, 'Why smile when there's nothing amusing? Besides, if I tried, it'd just be an empty, forced smile.'

"Let's get this over with." Kaguya cast her gaze over the elementary students, crossing her arms with an imperious air. "Anyone who wants to challenge me, line up."

"I'll go first!" declared a student stepping forward, his expression fierce. "I've been practicing! This time, I'm sure I'll beat you."

"…"

Two minutes later.

The elementary student, now on his knees and slumped over, stared at the ground, doubting his skills.

"Defeated...defeated..." he murmured, stunned. Their last encounter had been a close match, but this time, he'd been overpowered.

"Next," Kaguya said coolly, looking over the rest of the students, her arms still crossed.

There would be no mercy. Losing, after all, was an important lesson. Better to teach these kids now that some opponents are unbeatable—spare them from issuing future challenges.

"Although I don't fully understand it," Kashiwagi murmured, watching the scene unfold, "Shinomiya-san seems to have grown much stronger."

Amamiya let out a long sigh. "I paid for this with my Golden Week."

"Huh?" Kashiwagi turned to him in surprise. "Amamiya-kun, you spent Golden Week with Shinomiya-san?"

Catching herself, she gave a small nod, understanding dawning.

Yes, Amamiya-kun and Shinomiya-san were always together, secretly close. Even if they weren't officially dating yet, it was likely only a matter of time. Spending Golden Week together seemed perfectly natural!

"I was put through the wringer all Golden Week," Amamiya said with a pained expression. "Shinomiya-san is so competitive; she wouldn't let me rest for a moment."

"No rest... at all?" Kashiwagi's eyes widened as she glanced quickly over at Kaguya, and an R18+ scene began to play out in her mind.

'Golden Week.'

'An afternoon in early summer.'

The room was dim with the curtains drawn.

"Why did you put your clothes on?" Kaguya, holding a short whip in hand and wearing a pair of devilish horns, looked down at him. "Took it off."

"I can't go on…" Amamiya groaned. "Just let me rest for a moment."

'Crack!'

The whip sliced through the air.

"A high school boy like you, and you're giving up already? How will you manage in the future?" Kaguya's tone was icy. "Try again."

"I really am being wrung dry…"

"Silence. Just stay put." She looked down at him, stepping over him with a pair of torn stockings, one foot teasingly close. "I didn't say we were done. You're not allowed to quit. Hang in there."

"!?"

No, impossible! Kashiwagi quickly shook her head, banishing the imagery from her mind.

'Shinomiya-san is sweet and reserved. She's not some insatiable girl who would put her boyfriend through that!'

"Why is your face suddenly so red?" Amamiya asked, raising a brow.

"I-I'm fine." Kashiwagi glanced at her shoes, flustered, then turned and fled. "I just need to...go to the restroom."

Unperturbed, Amamiya looked back at Kaguya, satisfied to have a moment of peace. He had been planning to start a simple arcade game when someone tugged gently at his sleeve.

"Hmm?"

He looked down to see Kashiwagi, who had quietly returned.

"Um…" Kashiwagi hesitated. "There's something I need to ask, Amamiya-kun…"

Seeing the blush on her face, Amamiya suddenly guessed. "Forgot to bring paper?"

"That's not it!!!"

Kashiwagi puffed out her cheeks indignantly, almost ready to bite him. 'If I didn't have paper, I'd ask Shinomiya-san for help, not you!'

"Look over there," Kashiwagi murmured, tugging on his sleeve and pointing discreetly toward a nearby elementary school student.

Amamiya followed her gaze—and froze.

A short distance away, a little girl with silver hair sat on a bench, silently eating an ice cream.

Not a big deal on its own.

But somehow, the way she ate it felt… oddly familiar.

"The way she's eating… it's just strange," Kashiwagi whispered in Amamiya's ear, her sweet breath brushing his face. "You'll understand if you watch closely."

Amamiya watched silently for a moment and studied the girl's posture. It 'was' strange.

"I'm sorry," he said, feigning righteousness. "I really don't get it."

"…I don't believe you." Kashiwagi puffed her cheeks out again and lightly smacked his arm. 'I, a girl, figured it out—so you, as a guy, definitely understand. You've probably even tried it with Shinomiya-san!'

"So…" Amamiya gave her a look. "How is it you know so much, Kashiwagi-san?"

"I accidentally saw it in an anime," she mumbled, blushing as her gaze darted away. "Anyway, she's still a kid! We can't let her continue like that; we have to do something!"

'Stare—'

An ominous chill emanated from behind them.

"…What are you two discussing behind my back?"