Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

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Umi quietly waved Amamiya over, lowering her voice to a whisper. 

"Amamiya-kun, come in. There are only three people inside. Take a look and see who seems suspicious." 

"Got it." 

Without hesitation, Amamiya nodded and agreed. By this point, he had entered the women's bathhouses seven times during various scenarios, and the awkwardness had completely worn off. 

After ensuring the hallway was clear, Amamiya lifted the curtain with an air of unflappable dignity and stepped into the women's bathhouse. 

"It doesn't look any different from the men's side," he observed casually after a quick scan. 

On a wooden rack along the wall sat neatly arranged bamboo baskets for storing clothes. A curtain off to the side revealed a small washing area where guests could clean themselves before entering the baths, in line with traditional practices. Beyond that lay the open-air hot spring. 

"Why are you wearing a bathrobe?" Amamiya asked, turning to Chika. 

The pink haired girl had changed in the brief moments since they entered. She now sported the appearance of a quintessential hot spring guest, her hair wrapped in a towel and a fluffy white bathrobe draped over her petite frame. Her exposed neck, shoulders, and arms glowed under the soft light, her porcelain skin reminiscent of milk—both inviting and dazzling. 

"Kaguya-chan said we shouldn't alert the enemy," Chika whispered smugly. "Wouldn't it look weird if we just strolled in fully dressed?" 

Amamiya nodded in agreement. "You're not wrong." 

"It wasn't easy convincing Kaguya-chan and Umi to dress the part," Chika continued, her tone proud and triumphant. "But here I am, undercover. There are only three people in the hot spring—an elderly woman, a middle-aged lady, and a young woman." 

Kaguya, standing nearby, picked up the conversation. 

"The Nightmare Core must be one of the three," she said in a composed tone. "But Chika said they all appear ordinary, making it difficult to determine who it might be. That's why I asked you to come in. Your perception might catch something we missed." 

"I won't know until I see for myself," Amamiya replied evenly. 

"I'll scout ahead," Chika offered, her confidence unwavering. "Leave it to me!" 

"It feels weird," Umi muttered as she placed her hands on her hips, her brow furrowed. "It's like we're enabling something inappropriate by letting you peek into the women's bath." 

"Yeah," Chika added with a playful nod. "Amamiya-kun is such a perv!" 

"Fine, I'll leave then," Amamiya said, feigning exasperation as he turned to walk away. 

"Tsk." Umi rolled her eyes, her tone sharp. "Get back here." 

"Exactly my point," Amamiya quipped, stopping in his tracks. "If I leave now, I'll just look suspicious, like some kind of peeping Tom." 

Kaguya sighed, pressing her palm against her forehead. "I feel like I'm witnessing the collapse of human morality." 

"That only proves your inexperience," Amamiya replied, his tone dry. "Humans are inherently creatures without fixed morals or limits." 

"…" 

After a brief moment, Chika reappeared, beckoning them forward with an urgent wave. 

"They're all soaking in the hot spring," she whispered. "Come on." 

Amamiya exchanged a look with Kaguya and then followed. 

"Umi, stay outside," Kaguya instructed softly. "If anyone comes in, let us know immediately." 

"Roger that." Umi raised a hand in salute before taking up her post. 

The remaining three ventured deeper into the bathhouse. Passing through the corridor, they soon arrived in the open-air section of the hot spring. 

The courtyard was serene, illuminated by the soft silver glow of the moon high in the night sky. Its light bathed the landscape in a tranquil sheen. Stone lanterns stood scattered among gravel paths and rock formations, their dim light barely cutting through the thin mist rising from the hot spring pool. 

"Infiltration successful," Chika declared in a hushed tone, leaning close to Amamiya. Her warm breath tickled his ear as she whispered, "That's the hot spring. The three of them are inside." 

Amamiya squinted into the dim light, his eyes scanning the pool. After a moment, he shook his head. 

"It's too dark to see clearly," he muttered. 

Indeed, the faint mist from the steaming water, coupled with the limited glow of the lanterns, obscured the pool's occupants. 

"Is that so…" Kaguya paused to think for a moment before coming up with a solution. "Chika, go over there and lure someone here." 

"Eh? How am I supposed to do that?" 

"Just pretend you're in trouble and need help. Make sure to approach one person at a time. Don't involve too many people." 

"Got it." Chika gave a confident nod, tapping her chest with two fingers. "But what if I mess it up? I'll do my best, though." 

Amamiya glanced at her and remarked, "You didn't even blink when you tricked me during board games." 

"That wasn't trickery!" Chika puffed her cheeks indignantly. "It's called strategy—it's all fair play in games." 

Amamiya waved her off. "Just go already." 

"..." 

As Chika wandered off to begin her task, Amamiya and Kaguya crouched behind a nearby rock to observe. 

"In about ten minutes, the dream will restart," Kaguya suddenly murmured, her voice barely audible. 

Amamiya turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" 

Kaguya pursed her lips slightly before responding softly, "Even if we've found the target, that doesn't guarantee we can eliminate the nightmare completely... There's a high chance the dream will restart, isn't there?" 

Amamiya nodded in quiet agreement. 

She was right. 

Simply identifying the target wasn't enough to break the nightmare. It wasn't some simple, instant-fix scenario. 

Taking a breath, Kaguya hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip before continuing, "If it does restart… promise me you'll find me first." 

Her face turned red as she recalled the earlier situation: being kissed by Amamiya in front of Chika and Umi was mortifying enough to make her want to bury herself alive. 

Amamiya, realizing her concern, sighed helplessly. "The problem is that I don't know where you'll be." 

In this strange dream world, Kaguya wouldn't consistently appear under the courtyard cherry tree like before. She only went there to read after completing other tasks. 

Anticipating this, Kaguya tapped a finger lightly against her temple. "I retain my memories from previous restarts. The last time, I was sweating it out in the steam room next door." 

Amamiya blinked. "You actually like steam rooms?" 

"Of course not. I hate the sticky feeling!" Kaguya huffed indignantly. "But for some reason, I always find myself there after a restart. Afterward, I shower, change clothes, and then head to the courtyard to read." 

Amamiya glanced back at Chika, who was chatting with someone under the dim moonlight, and whispered to Kaguya, "Tell me a secret. Something only you know." 

Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "What?" 

"Something only you'd know," Amamiya explained. "That way, if the dream resets, I can use it to gain your trust quickly. Otherwise, you might break my ribs before I even get close." 

Kaguya blushed furiously at the reminder of earlier events and leaned closer, her voice rising slightly. "Didn't you succeed twice already?" 

Amamiya shrugged. "Your level of caution is completely different when you're reading under a cherry tree and when you're sweating in a sauna, right?" 

"..." 

She couldn't deny it. 

Even in the dream world, she was still herself, albeit with some blocked memories. If a boy randomly approached her, she'd probably slam the door in his face without a second thought. 

"Hurry up," Amamiya urged in a low voice. "Chika's heading back." 

Kaguya looked up to see Chika returning, a short-haired girl in tow. It seemed she had successfully lured someone over. 

Time was running out. Gritting her teeth, Kaguya whispered hastily, "When I was little, I made a doll in art class…" 

"Prince Charming?" 

"No!" Kaguya shot him a glare, her cheeks turning red. "It was a doll of my mother. I've never told anyone about it." 

"Got it. Noted." Amamiya nodded. "Anything else?" 

"...You want more?" 

"You're only giving me one secret," Amamiya countered. "Do you really think that's enough to make you trust me?" 

"..." 

Kaguya fell silent. 

She knew herself well enough to admit that it wouldn't be enough. 

Kaguya had no other choice. Biting her pink lips in frustration, she continued speaking, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. 

"When I was in third grade, my class took care of hamsters together. Before the summer break, the teacher asked everyone to take a hamster home... I refused."

Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "But you wanted to keep one, didn't you?"

Kaguya hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

"Well, it's a small, round hamster. No one can resist something that cute."

Kaguya fell silent for a moment before softly admitting, "Although I didn't take it home, I gave it a name in my mind... Fluff Ball."

Amamiya blinked, startled. "You actually called it that?"

Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her expression one of genuine confusion. "Is something wrong with that name?"

"Of course, there's a problem! A big one!" Amamiya thought to himself, suppressing the urge to react further.

Kaguya elaborated, "During craft class, the teacher had us make handmade pompoms. They were soft and fluffy, like the hamster. That's why I named it Fluff Ball."

After a brief pause, Amamiya sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Eh? Why are you apologizing?" Kaguya asked, puzzled.

"I misunderstood."

Kaguya bit her lips again, lowering her voice to a near whisper. "No one else knows these two secrets. Is that enough?"

Amamiya met her gaze calmly. "Not enough. The more secrets, the better."

Kaguya's face turned red with irritation as she sharply looked away. "There aren't any more!"

Her expression shifted suddenly as she realized something. What was she doing? Was she helping him strategize ways to win her over?

---

The rhythmic 'clack-clack' of wooden sandals against stone drew their attention. Kaguya and Amamiya fell silent, holding their breath as they peeked beyond the rocks.

In the pale glow of the moonlight, the figure of a girl walking alongside Chika became increasingly clear. She was tall—possibly taller than Hayasaka—with short, neatly cut hair and healthy, sun-kissed skin. Her posture exuded vitality.

Amamiya squinted slightly, observing the newcomer.

[A sporty girl who loves music and struggles with conversations around men… Upon closer inspection, you determine that this girl has no connection to the nightmare.]

"Not her," Amamiya whispered, shaking his head. One possibility eliminated; two remained.

As the conversation subsided, Chika and the girl passed by, unaware of the duo hiding in the shadows.

"There are only ten minutes left," Amamiya murmured, straightening up. "We need to act now."

Kaguya followed his lead, and together, they emerged from their hiding spot, heading towards the hot spring.

---

The sound of splashing water reached their ears as they arrived at the edge of the spring. A woman was stepping out of the bath, wrapped in a towel, her movements leisurely as she prepared to leave. But when she turned and noticed the two figures behind her, she froze.

"Ahhh!" The woman's startled scream broke the silence.

Faced with her panicked expression, Amamiya smiled disarmingly. "Madam, we've finally found you."

"Y-Young man, don't do anything foolish!" Another older woman, still soaking in the spring, shot him a wary glare, clearly ready to intervene.

Before tensions could escalate further, Kaguya spoke, her voice icy and commanding. "Please refrain from unnecessary movements or loud noises."

Despite the incongruity of her bunny girl attire, Kaguya's sharp tone and frigid stare silenced the older woman instantly. If anything, it was a testament to Kaguya's ability to project authority when needed—something neither Chika nor Hayasaka could pull off with such ease.

Amamiya stepped forward, his expression calm but firm. "Madam, rest assured, we mean no harm."

The woman, a delicate teardrop mole near her eye betraying her anxiety, looked unconvinced. "You... You say you're not dangerous, but who would believe you after barging into a women's bath?"

"I detest using force on beautiful ladies," Amamiya replied seriously. "So, please answer my questions truthfully."

The woman hesitated but nodded reluctantly. "Go ahead."

"Good." Amamiya's tone softened as he continued, "First question: What is your name?"

Caught off guard by the simplicity of the question, the woman answered hesitantly, "Nakagawa Mikasa."

"Your age?"

"Twenty-nine years and... seventeen months."

"Marital status?"

Ms. Nakagawa's gaze dropped as she replied, "Unmarried. My sister and her husband died in a car accident. I adopted their child, so I've been single ever since."

Amamiya silently processed the information. Ms. Nakagawa's responses painted the picture of an ordinary woman—a hardworking office worker, a dedicated guardian, and someone celebrating her child's accomplishments with a hot spring trip. 

[Through your persistence, you finally identify the core clue target of the nightmare. But you know you'll have to act decisively to achieve your goal.]

If it weren't for the clear clues in front of him, Amamiya would have suspected that he had found the wrong person.

As Amamiya considered his next move, hurried footsteps echoed through the area. 

"Amamiya-kun, I couldn't hold them off any longer—hey, what's going on here?" Chika appeared, confusion written all over her face.

Amamiya gestured towards Ms. Nakagawa. "We've found the target. It's this Mrs."

"Excuse me," Ms. Nakagawa interjected softly. "I'm not married, so please stop calling me someone's wife."

Ignoring the protest, Amamiya continued, "There's no time left. Arrest her."

Chika nodded. "Understood."

"Answer me, Don!"

As the lady shouted "Don is here." Amamiya grabbed Ms. Nakagawa's wrist gently but firmly. 

"Will this work?" Chika whispered.

"We'll know soon enough," Amamiya replied.

"…"

　　One minute later.

　　The dream world restarts again.