Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

Amamiya got up, opened the door, and found Miko standing outside. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, one hand clutching an umbrella while the other held her phone. She looked like a lost, pitiful animal that had finally found its way home.

"You… can see me?"

A hollow, eerie voice echoed faintly around her.

Standing just behind Miko was a figure—a woman in white pajamas with long black hair draped over her face like curtains. Her appearance was unsettling, resembling an unassuming neighbor at first glance. But beneath the veil of hair was a grotesque mouth, unnaturally large and bristling with jagged teeth, poised to strike at any moment.

Amamiya's eyes narrowed slightly. Without hesitation, he activated the Evil Spirit Repellent Aura.

Bathed in a shimmering halo of light, the monstrous spirit let out a piercing shriek. Its twisted form ignited in translucent flames, which devoured it entirely within moments. By the time the rain had scattered the last embers, nothing remained of the apparition.

"It's all right now." Amamiya reached out, gently pulling Miko inside and ruffling her hair. "Looks like your luck's pretty bad today."

"It's terrible," Miko sighed, folding her umbrella and setting it aside. Her tone brimmed with grievance. "I was just finishing a book and was about to go to the bathroom before bed…"

Amamiya nodded knowingly.

Everyone knows: no matter how tired you are, you have to make that bathroom trip before bed. Skipping it? Only the truly reckless dare.

"But when I came out, the evil spirit was waiting for me outside the door," Miko continued, her voice tinged with indignation. "I was still groggy and thought it was my mom. I instinctively dodged, but then it latched onto me!"

"It's been following me ever since, asking if I could see it. How could anyone sleep through that?"

Amamiya handed her a glass of water and sat beside her. "Didn't you once say there was a childlike evil spirit hiding in your bed? You still managed to fall asleep then."

"That was different!"

Miko wrapped both hands around the glass, took a small sip, and glared at him in frustration.

The past is the past.

Having tasted the peace of a restful night, who would willingly endure the anxiety of nightmares again?

"So, what now?" Amamiya asked, leaning back slightly. "Should I head to your place tonight?"

"No way." Miko shook her head emphatically. "Yesterday was risky enough. If Kyousuke catches us tonight, I'll lose any chance of explanation!"

"It's already past eleven." Amamiya glanced at his phone. "Kyousuke's probably fast asleep by now."

"Better safe than sorry," she retorted.

"Fair enough." Amamiya chuckled softly. "In that case, I'll just stay here. Unfortunately, the spare quilt isn't dry yet, so it looks like I'll have to sacrifice myself and share with you."

Miko's cheeks flushed as she shot him a sharp look. "Who said you could sleep with me?!"

A moment of silence followed.

Her expression shifted, and she groaned softly. "I was in such a hurry I forgot to grab my own quilt."

"What now, then?"

Amamiya's face remained thoughtful. The logical move was to return home for a blanket, though it wasn't exactly convenient.

"I'll lend you mine," Amamiya offered, rising to his feet. "I'll just wear an extra layer of pajamas tonight."

Miko frowned. "It's freezing out. You'll catch a cold."

"Don't underestimate me." He grinned. "I've leveled up plenty. I could carry you while sprinting a hundred meters without breaking a sweat."

Passive Skill: Sleeping Makes You Stronger

Completing challenges boosted Amamiya base attributes significantly. Combined with rare upgrades from the shop, his physical fitness had reached an extraordinary level.

Miko remained skeptical, her brows furrowing. "I don't believe you."

"Wanna test me?"

"No thanks. Get away."

"…"

After drinking her water, Miko helped him tidy the bed. They chatted for a while longer until she finally yawned, raising a hand to stifle it.

"I'm sleepy," she murmured. "Turn off the lights."

"Got it."

Amamiya switched off the lights, settling onto the sofa. The room fell silent, save for the soft patter of rain outside.

Miko lay on her side, hugging a pillow as she glanced at Amamiya sprawled on the sofa. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

"Isn't it cold without a blanket?"

"It's not too bad. It's summer, after all," Amamiya replied honestly. "Though it's a little chilly."

"Hmm…"

Miko murmured in response, then fell silent.

The room grew quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the night breeze.

Amamiya closed his eyes, gradually drifting toward sleep. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, he felt a hand fumbling toward him in the darkness. Startled, he instinctively grabbed it.

"Miko?"

"You're freezing," Miko whispered, her hand lingering on his arm. "You'll definitely catch a cold if you keep this up... Come down and sleep."

"Huh?" Amamiya blinked, surprised. "You want us to sleep together?"

"You're heading to Kagoshima this weekend, aren't you? It'd be a hassle if you got sick." Miko placed the pillow in the center of the futon and fixed him with a serious look. "Sleep on this side. Don't cross over the pillow, no matter what."

Amamiya slid down onto the futon, lying next to Miko. He turned his head toward her and teased, "But what if I accidentally cross over?"

"Then I'll hit you," she huffed, her cheeks puffing slightly.

"That's fair," Amamiya chuckled, reaching over the pillow to gently take her hand. "Just don't hit my face, and I'll endure the rest."

"Pfft!" Miko let out an involuntary laugh, then muttered, "You're impossible…"

Despite the teasing, the two settled in quietly. It was the first time they'd shared a bed.

Apart from holding hands, Amamiya kept his promise not to do anything inappropriate. Their voices faded as they whispered to each other, eventually succumbing to sleep in the tranquility of the night.

No more words were exchanged.

At six o'clock the next morning, the alarm clock buzzed sharply.

Amamiya woke to a soft, fragrant warmth pressed against him. His hand rested against something equally soft and full, filling his palm perfectly.

"This texture…"

Instinctively, he gave it a light squeeze.

A low, sleepy hum escaped from beside him.

"Mmm~"

The sound jolted him awake. Miko stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet his in the dim light.

Their gazes locked.

"Good morning," Amamiya greeted her casually.

"Morning…" Miko mumbled, still half-asleep. But as realization dawned, her face flushed bright red.

"Wait, don't hit me just yet," Amamiya pleaded quickly, his tone serious. "As we all know, people talk and move in their sleep. I'm innocent here."

Miko's cheeks puffed in indignation as she reached out and pinched his waist hard.

"Ow! Okay, okay, I'm sorry! My bad!" Amamiya apologized without hesitation, bowing his head in mock surrender.

"Hmph." Miko sat up abruptly, her face still hot with embarrassment. She glanced down to inspect her pajamas, relieved to find them only slightly disheveled.

But something felt off.

"Wait a second," she muttered, looking around. "The positions are wrong."

She had clearly gone to sleep on the left side, yet now she was on the right. The pillow meant to separate them lay discarded on the floor. Slowly, it dawned on her: She had been the one to roll into his arms.

Amamiya sat up and sighed dramatically. "I can't believe I got pinched for nothing."

"It wasn't for nothing," Miko snapped, covering her chest and shooting him a glare. She quickly gathered her things and headed for the door. "I'm going back!"

With the morning sunlight beginning to filter through the curtains, Amamiya felt no inclination to go back to sleep. Instead, he decided to take his dog for a walk in the park.

By 7:50 a.m., Amamiya was at school, heading toward the gaming club.

As he walked, he spotted a familiar figure with pink hair.

"Good morning, Amamiya-kun!" Tsubame called out cheerfully, her voice clear and bright in the morning air.

"Good morning," Amamiya replied with a nod.

She approached him, a playful glint in her eyes as she leaned in slightly and whispered, "Hey, there's no one in the gymnastics club this morning. Wanna come toss a coin?"

"Not today," Amamiya replied calmly. "I need to head to the gaming club."

"Got it," Tsubame said with a small nod, clasping her hands behind her back. Her gaze wandered curiously toward Shimizu, who was clinging to Hana.

Tsubame had noticed the mysterious presence of Shimizu for some time now. Unlike ordinary spirits, she exuded an aura of composure and elegance, sparking Tsubame's curiosity.

Today, she learned something new: Shimizu was Kaguya's mother.

Sensing Tsubame's gaze, Shimizu turned toward her, offering a warm smile and a playful wink before returning to her clingy to Hana.

"Poke, poke—"

Tsubame stretched out a slender finger and gently prodded Amamiya's arm. Rising slightly on her toes, she leaned in closer and whispered,

"Amamiya-kun, I'm really curious."

"If she's Shinomiya-san's mother, why did she become your guardian spirit?"

Amamiya glanced at her and replied, "Senpai, have you ever played Pokémon?"

"I have! I really like it," she answered eagerly.

"Then you'd know that to catch a Pokémon, you need a Master Ball first. Similarly, to gain a guardian spirit, you need the corresponding binding qualifications."

"No wonder." Tsubame nodded in sudden realization, then asked expectantly, "Amamiya-kun, can I join you at the game club sometime?"

"If you'd like to go, we can go together," Amamiya replied casually.

"Thank you!"

"…"

The two chatted as they walked, eventually arriving at the game club's door.

Knock, knock.

Amamiya raised his hand and knocked gently. It was always good manners to knock before entering.

"Come in."

The clear and pleasant voice of Chika echoed from within.

Amamiya opened the door and stepped inside. Because he had been delayed earlier, Kaguya, Chika, and Umi were already there.

As he entered, a soft cry came from behind.

"Kya!"

Before Amamiya could react, he felt his arm pressed against something soft, and a faint fragrance of orchids and musk filled the air.

"Tsubame-senpai?"

Amamiya turned to see Tsubame clinging to his arm.

"Sorry, sorry!" Tsubame quickly apologized. "I accidentally stepped on my shoes. Luckily, you were there."

"Stare—"

Kaguya's expression froze as her eyes locked onto Amamiya's ensnared arm.

How could it end up there?!

The sight made Kaguya bite her lip in frustration.

She's just a high school senpai! This is completely unfair!

Kaguya's mind raced. From an evolutionary standpoint, so much… excess fat doesn't make sense. It serves no practical purpose other than… pleasing men!

Sure enough, this Tsubame-senpai, like Chika, is someone who resorts to cheap tactics to attract attention!

But then—

Kaguya's thoughts froze. Her body trembled slightly as her gaze shifted around the room.

Chika, Umi, Miko, Hana… and today, Tsubame… Among all the girls here, I'm the only one who's an A!?

Could it be that I'm the one who failed to evolve?

Meanwhile, Tsubame smiled brightly, her earlier faux pas forgotten. "Good morning, everyone," she said cheerfully. "I'm Tsubame, a second-year student. I promised to help Amamiya-kun with a speech yesterday… Anyway, I'll be in your care from now on!"

There wasn't much need for introductions. As one of the school's "Three Goddesses," Tsubame was already a well-known figure on campus.

"Oh, haha!" Chika quickly approached, her smile wide. "Good morning, Tsubame-senpai!"

"Chika-chan!"

The two hugged enthusiastically, both social butterflies who hit it off instantly.

"Why is Tsubame-senpai here?" Umi asked curiously.

"We bumped into each other on the way," Amamiya explained as he took a seat beside Umi. "She decided to tag along."

"Got it," Umi replied, nodding. As a fellow gamer, she understood the instinct to find kindred spirits.

With introductions done, the group dove into their games.

For Kaguya, however, the session was less enjoyable. She couldn't shake her growing sense of unfairness.

Why is everyone else so lucky, and I'm stuck being… average?!

Kaguya silently pulled out her phone and sent a message to Hayasaka.

"Hayasaka, I need a way to make my breasts bigger within a month!"

In her own classroom, Hayasaka sighed as she read the message.

If such a method existed, I wouldn't need to wear padding every day.

…

As class approached, the group disbanded and returned to their respective classrooms.

Amamiya sat down and felt his phone vibrate. He checked it and saw a message from Hayasaka.

"I'm free until 5 p.m. If you'd like, we can grab dessert before then."

Amamiya was surprised. "She actually agreed?"

——

Hayasaka twirled a strand of her side ponytail with her fingers, resting her chin on her other hand.

Why agree? To gather intel, of course. Falling in love at first sight seemed highly unlikely. Surely, this guy had other motives.

Besides, Hayasaka was curious herself. At sixteen, she hadn't experienced dating. Life was short, and the game of romance unpredictable. If things ended before she'd even tried dating, she'd regret it.

So…

I'm sorry, Miss. I'll scout ahead, refine him, and hand over the perfect experience.

——

Amamiya: "No problem. Any place you'd like to go, Hasaka-san?"

"There's a nice dessert shop…"

The pair settled on a time and location, and Hayasaka sent a quick text to Kaguya.

"Miss, I'll be busy after school. Is it alright if you head home alone today?"

Meanwhile, Amamiya sent his own message to Kaguya:

"Something's come up this afternoon. No coin flipping today."

Kaguya stared at the two messages. Something felt… wrong.

The timing was too coincidental.

Could they be related?!